#joker's being a dick again big surprise

[jasmines-library]

Hey, I love your Batfam work! Is there any chance you could do a whump/angst one of batsis being kidnapped by a villian(you can choose whoever you want) and she’s tortured for days with it being broadcasted to the Batfam while they try to track the footage. I feel kinda bad but can you do maybe some head trauma md severe burns? Maybe she has to be put in a medically included coma or smth because of the damage? Also is there any way you could include Barb and Duke along w/ the four robins? If not that’s totally cool! Sorry for the long request but I hope you have a great day!!

Anonymous Requested: batfam x batsib reader whos the youngest and newest robin and is just really goofy and doesn’t take anything seriously (ex: them blaring “who’s the (bat)man” on the comms during patrol [that songs stuck in my head i had to mention it]) and something happens, maybe their first close encounter to death or a run in with the joker and they just become a shell of who they were and stuff

Jokes On Me

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Note: My god im so sorry this literally took me forever to write, thank you so much for being patient. I've been trying to write this all week but just couldn't sit down for long enough to finish it.

Warnings: Torture, blood, burns.

Word Count: 2.5k

⛧ BATFAM MASTERLIST ⛧

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“Y/N, turn that shit off.”

Jason grumbled at you over the coms. You had been blasting some wretched song that you’d found on the internet over and over again and it was beginning to drive him mad. 

“Nope.” You said, popping the ‘p’ loudly. 

“Seriously.” Dick deadpanned. He had found it amusing at first, but it was now beginning to test his patience. 

Agitated, you sighed and turned off the music. “Fine.”

“Thank you.” Jason expressed gratefully, turning his eyes back to the road he was patrolling. The night was cool and quiet besides the odd dog walker or couple returning from an evening out. It was one of those nights where patrol would end early and he could return home to take a warm bath and read a book before turning in for the night. Or so he thought. 

You were rounding the corner, humming that tune that was still stuck in your head when his laughter ricocheted across the walls. You stiffened, eyes widening and hands fumbling for your weapon as your breath hitched. No amount of turning and craning your head allowed you to catch a glimpse of the dreaded figure, and you thought for a moment that perhaps it had just been a trick of your mind, or one of your brothers playing a cruel joke on you as payback for winding them up earlier. But then you heard it again, only this time to your left. You clutched your weapon tighter, eyes scanning the area with a new found sense of urgency. 

“Wing…” You whispered into the coms so quietly that you were surprised he heard it.

“What now?” He somewhat snapped. 

“We have a problem.”

Dick’s heart sank through the floor, his ears pricking up and his demeanour changing completely. “Where are you? What’s the matter? He was trying to let his panic show, but you hadn’t been patrolling as a vigilante for very long, and while you were well trained, you lacked the experience to deal with something big on your own. And from your tone of voice, he could tell that you were in some deep shit. 

Jason worked his legs harder to push himself to reach the direction he had seen you head off in. Albeit it seemed even his hardest wasn’t enough.

When he stepped out of the darkness, the first thing you noticed were his eyes. Wide and bright, easily mistakable for a cat’s as they flashed in the darkness; wild. Rabid. As he emerged fully with that infamous twisted grin splayed out on his face, you felt like a cornered animal; a deer in headlights. You froze, unable to move despite how your heart screamed at you to run as it pounded, trying to break free from your ribcage. 

“He’s here…” A mere whisper sliding over your tongue, so fragile that you weren’t even sure if you had actually said it aloud. Jason had heard it. 

“Who?” 

The Joker was circling you now, dragging out his strides in lazy circles. You should have fought but in that moment all of your training had drained out of you, along with the colour in your face. He smirked, leering down upon you as you tried to keep your trembling hand still. He pouted in mockery and at your silence, Jason repeated his question to you, but you never got the chance to respond. 

“Oh…Just an old friend, Jay-bird.”

“Joker.” Urging his body to move faster, Jason grit his teeth. 

Dick paled. “You leave them alone.” Dick spat. It tried to be a command, but the effect was lost somewhere in transmission.

The joker pursed his lips, tilting his head as he analysed. One of his hands had found his way to your jawline and he trailed it with a cold, gloved hand. You wanted to lean away, to run and find your brother but you knew that now he had you in his grasp there was no point in even trying. “And why would I do that? They’re right in front of me. I could just…snatch them up.”

“Don’t you dare!” Dick was frightened now. “Y/N, you stay there as long as you can, okay? You fight. We’re coming, you hear?”

The Joker frowned at you. “D’you hear that? Big brother birdy coming to the rescue. How sweet.”

His grip on you tightened. “Too bad you’ll be long gone by the time they get here.”

With one swift motion, he had thrown you harshly to the side, your head colliding with the wall with a sickening crack. 

The two boys skidded to a halt just a second too late. You were already gone. 

~

Your head hurt when you woke up. Your eyes squinted against the sterile light. They did no favours to your pounding headache. With a groan, you tried to twist, to roll over and soothe the crook in your neck but instead all that happened was the jinging of a metal chain. You craned your head and spotted the thick chain that had been wrapped around your wrist, confining you to the chair. Struggling, you tugged on them, trying to free yourself only for them to rattle and scrape against your skin. 

“Yeah, that’s not going anywhere, birdy.” The joker chided.

You glared at him through narrowed eyes, trying to mask the thumping of your heart. The joker grinned wildly at your frightened complexion. 

“It was such a shame that Grayson and Todd didn’t get to you in time, but it was far too easy to catch you, little bird: you completely froze.” He snapped his fingers to emphasise his point. “Didn’t batsy teach you better?”

“Don’t talk about them.” You snapped. 

The joker raised his hands, palms facing toward you in surrender: taunting you as if you were the one with the power in the situation. “Touchy subject I see. Too bad.” 

He gestured above you to an incessantly blinking light. “Smile for the camera, you’re live.”

~

Babs had been monitoring the street cameras when the computer beside her flickered to life. She had been searching for any sign of you ever since Dick and Jason came flying through the grandfather clock. Everyone was on edge. 

The moment the screen flashed on, her eyes perked up to watch it, alarmed. She hadn’t turned it on. And there were very few people who could bypass the caves system. So when she saw a small frame curled up in a chair she knew immediately what was up. 

“Duke…” she called to the dark haired boy who was trying to help decipher your whereabouts. “Go and get B.” 

It did not take long at all for everyone to gather around in the cave. Duke was fast, and everyone dropped what they were doing to race down: even Alfred had taken his leave from his duties to see. 

It was almost like some sick irony because as soon as they were all there, you began to scream. A guttering, perfect scream that cut that through them like a knife: unclean and pinging into them messily again and again. 

The joker had taken a knife to your left thigh, his smile dripping with malice as he watched the camera, somehow knowing that at least one of them would be watching. 

Your face was contorted in pain, twisting in agony as tears rolled flatly down your cheeks from fearful eyes. Damian felt sick, his stomach churning. Jason wanted to leave. But all of them were stuck watching. Barbra was tapping away, trying to locate the signal from the video to no avail. 

“I hope you’re watching this Batsy…” He moved round to trail your face with the edge of the knife. You whimpered. “I’ve got your little bird here and I must say, you need to work on their training. They were far too easy to catch.”

Bruce felt his jaw tightening and Tim had to place a hand on his arm to remind him of his place. 

“Anyway I thought we would play a little game… how long can little y/n survive for. I wonder if it’ll be any longer than our very own Jason Todd.”

Jason twitched. 

“I’m testing you here, Bat. Tick Tock.”

The transmission cut to black. 

~

It seemed hopeless. Even though they had been searching for days, they were no closer to finding you. And to make matters worse, they could see you. Not long after the first transition ended did it start up again. It had been lifestreaming since then, and although they had tried to block it from their minds, it was hard to ignore. Especially when your agonised screams ricocheted throughout the halls. 

You looked like hell. Dark bags occluded under your eyes and there wasn’t an inch of your skin that wasn’t marred or stained with drying blood. The burns were worse. Damian could still hear the scream you let out when the joker first brought the hot poker to your skin. It had bubbled and blistered as the skin peeled away; you had thrashed against your restraints violently. Tim was certain that they were going to get infected if they didn’t reach you soon. 

It felt as if they had searched everywhere. Dick and Jason had even asked around to see if anyone had heard anything, going as far to talk to the Jokers closest associates in Arkham, but even if they did know, nobody said anything. Duke had even gone as far to go back to the area to use his powers to see if he could trace anything, but nothing seemed out of place; they had hit a brick wall. That was…until a small light appeared on the monitor. Babs had managed to trace the signal to a small building on the outskirts of the city. 

They were suited up in minutes, making a beeline for the building. They stormed it, recklessly taking down the Joker's goons before Batman chased wildly after the Joker, his face stony and his fists burning with anger. The other four boys chased down the winding corridors, flinging open the doors until they found one that was locked. Tim wasted no time, picking the lock with ease he peeled it open. His breath hitched when he saw you. 

Your face was gaunt, hanging low by your chest. Your suit was torn and there was less of it on your body than there was ripped away. You looked so fragile as your chest heaved sporadically. 

Jason nearly had to take a step back. This place reminded himself too much of his own encounter with the Joker not too long ago. But he pressed forward, fighting his instincts. He had to be strong. Instead of turning back, he kneeled in front of you, whispering your name. His hand came up to cup your face. You flinched away. 

“It’s okay kid. It’s us.” He tried to reassure you, but you shrank back into yourself. 

“We’re so, so sorry kiddo.” Dick tried placing a gentle hand on your arm before moving to work on the cuffs around your wrists. “We’re going to get you out.”

You said nothing, just continued to stare at the black space before you, and Dami wasn’t sure if you even knew they were in front of you. But when Jason moved away from you to help remove your restraints, your fingers latched onto him and you squeaked in protest. 

He sighed shakily. “Don’t worry kid. I’m not going anywhere.”

Damian twisted from where he was guarding the door. “We need to leave.”

Dick nodded bluntly, finishing with the last of the locks. “I’m going to have to pick you up, okay sweetheart?”

You barely registered what he had said. Everything had grown numb, you nodded anyhow. Moving his arms underneath your legs and slipping one arm behind your back, Jason began to lift you. He nearly recoiled when you cried and whimpered with the way your wounds jostled as he sprinted out of the building to get you back to safety. 

~

You were yet to say anything since you came home. You had been back a few days and your wounds were healing up nicely thanks to Alfred’s handywork, but the air was eerily silent around you. It wasn’t as if you hadn’t been communicating with them; you spoke to them with gestures or writing but no one was used to not hearing your voice. The stark contrast between your loud and bustling personality and you now was unsettling. No one wanted to push you too far but the manor was beginning to grow lonely. 

It was one particularly rainy night when you finally spoke.  You were curled up in a large armchair by the window in the library, sinking back into the plush leather as you watched the raindrops race down the glass. Jason had been watching you from afar, contemplating whether to talk to you or not when he walked over. 

“What are you up to?” He asked you, making sure you knew that he was there before he spoke. 

You gestured toward the window,then to the half opened book at your feet and shrugged. 

“I see.” He nodded, taking a seat on the armchair opposite you. A comfortable silence settled between the two of you. Jason wasn’t much of a talker. He knew more than anyone what you were going through, which was why it was nice just to know that he was willing to sit with you, just so you knew that he was there if you needed him. It made you feel safe. But you also couldn’t help but feel guilty, and frustrated with yourself for being in a place that made him feel as though he had to do that. 

“I’m sorry.” You whispered. 

Jason had to do a second take. His heart swelled. “What for?”

You sighed. “This. When I saw him…i-i froze. If I had run then this would never have happened.”

“Shh. This isn’t your fault.”

“But-”

“I promise, Kid. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

You nodded, looking away from him. But then you furrowed your brows and turned back to him. “How did you do it? How did you deal with this, Jay? Every time I close my eyes he’s there.”

“I guess I don’t, really. Or sometimes it feels like I don’t. I still get scared sometimes. I still see him in my dreams. But over time it gets easier. I had people around me to help me. And so do you, kid. We’re here. We’ll always be here.”

Jason shifted to brush away a rogue tear and you leaned into his touch and then wrapped your arms tightly around his middle. 

“I’m here. Always. We’ll get through this together.”

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BATFAM TAGS

@aestheticdaisies @hearts4robs @xxrougefangxx @mamapucket @hell-o-kittys @harleycao @batfamsstuff @alicedawitchbish

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[gothamhappiness]

Being in a relationship with Bruce Wayne: a journey - Hi, Jason (Part V)

It's a big series about an afab!reader who doesn't like Bruce Wayne and who still falls in love with him (he fells quicker and harder)

Reader's origin story // Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4

Warnings: no proof reading, Jason's relationships with Bruce and Dick are discussed, mentions of Joker, violence, death

You met with Dick again in a bookstore. At first, you thought that it was quite a strange coincidence, until you saw him trying to talk with a very big boy who didn’t seem very interested in talking with him. Dick appeared upset ; the other boy was just shrugging and trying to focus on the books in front of him. 

You hesitated to go to them; you didn’t want to intrude. You weren’t too sure to recognise the other boy, but his face somehow seemed familiar. What decided you was where they were standing: the classic literature aisle of the store. Which was what you were looking for when you entered the shop.

You thought you could just say hi and then leave them alone if your presence was annoying them. You carefully walked to them.

“Hey Dick” you greeted the boy who turned around and instantly smiled at you. 

You weren’t too sure if it was a real smile yet, so you didn’t come closer to him, but his answer showed he was actually glad to see you.

“Hey, Y/N! What are you doing here?” he asked

“Buying books I guess.” you teased “I was looking for Mansfield Park or Emma, now I finished Pride and Prejudice” you said. 

The big boy to whom Dick was trying to talk to, quickly turned around and looked you up and down. He watched you with curiosity sparkling in his green eyes. Dick took his chance before his brother could go back to the cover of the book he was holding.

“Y/N, this is Jason, my little brother. You seem to share the same taste in books” Dick introduced the two of them

“Hi, Jason” you smiled as you cautiously observed him, remembering who he was now you knew his name.

You remembered what you read about Bruce and his son “who came back from the dead” and all the headlines about “Bruce arguing with his adoptive son”. It had quite broken your heart at the time.

“You’re Bruce’s new girlfriend?” he asked you quite bluntly

“I hate titles and I hate to feel like a possession. But yes, I'm currently seeing Bruce.” you replied and Jason nodded “I’m surprised you heard about me.” you added. 

“Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. It's just that things are rocky with Bruce.” Jason said and you reassuringly smiled at him “And yeah, everyone is talking about you in the “family”. Dick and Tim said you were nice.” Jason explained his first coldness to you

“I understand; Bruce isn’t always easy and you don’t know me” you nodded

“Ah yeah?” Jason arched an eyebrow at you. 

He had expected you to take Bruce’s defence, like everyone else.

“Let’s say that I like challenges.” you smiled “And I’m not Bruce’s lawyer” you joked

“You should thank god for that, or you would have a lot of work” Jason grinned and you could tell Dick was quite happy about the current interaction.

“Can I buy the two of you a drink or something? Or a meal” you asked. “There is this sweet little café right outside the bookstore” you offered

You actually wanted to know more of them. Jason was curious about you so he agreed. Dick wanted to come as well, but he quickly received a call from Büdhaven. He reluctantly left the two of you together. Dick would have enjoyed some time with his brother too, but maybe you would help. If you helped with Bruce, he was certain you could do pretty much anything. At the same time, he really hoped Jason wasn’t going to scare you away from the family as a way to avenge himself.

But you knew better; you had met Red Hood before and you liked him.

You settled in the café. You started to talk about literature at first. You were both passionate so it was a good conversation starter. You gave each other some recommendations and debated on characters you liked or disliked. Your point of views on characters were often based on your experiences, so it naturally led to a conversion about each other’s lives. And of course, you arrived at the subject of Bruce Wayne.

“I’ll tell him to apologise to you. He shouldn’t have acted that way even if I do agree with the no killing rule” you said “You’re both right in a way, but… Bruce should have talked to you, he should have let you know what was going on with the Joker and why he couldn’t kill him. Why you couldn't kill him either. He should have been there to appease your anger, not the opposite” you said

“You’ll quickly learn that he doesn’t talk much. Especially not about his feelings. If it gets too personal, he’ll push the subject away. If it can hurt him, he’ll run away. He's a bad dad for that. And he might be a bad partner to you as well” Jason told you

“I’m sorry about what happened to you. It must have been so difficult to wake up without your family. And in a body you didn’t know. You did good, despite the murders and everything. Actually, Red Hood has always been my favourite vigilante” you admitted without commenting on the last part of Jason’s words. You wanted to believe that Bruce would make an effort for you.

Jason chuckled as you mentioned his vigilante persona.

“It’s true you never wrote anything bad about me. I thought you were scared of me… Until I realised we actually met” he teased, his eyes litting up

“Oh you remember? Yes I used to live in your territory, and now I’m nearby. I stand by what I said that night: I know what you did for people like us, that’s why I thanked you. Bruce can’t understand what it is to be poor and lost and to have to do bad things to survive. But I’ll make sure he does better with you.” you said “Just promise me to speak with Dick. Your brother looks like he is very eager to have you back in his life. He seemed very sorry you weren’t speaking with him earlier” you added

“I will try to talk with him again then. Thank you for… Thank you. I think I really needed to have this conversation with somebody but no one wanted to have it and I couldn’t really go to a therapist. You’re easy to talk with” he whispered, a little bit awkward

“I know” you smiled “I’m glad if I’ve been able to help”

“Is it your good action of the day to go to Heaven?” Jason joked 

“Absolutely” you giggled

A moment of comfortable silence engulfed the two of you. You both enjoyed your tea before you resumed talking:

“Hey you know what, this is my phone number. You can call or text me whenever you need it.” you offered

“Why?” Jason plunged his eyes onto yours. 

He was definitely not used of adults being there for him, especially without a catch

“Well I’m afraid I’m a family woman and my own family sucks very much. And since Bruce wants me around, I’d prefer it if I can get along with his people. I’d like to take care of you all.” you admitted, feeling a little shy to say all of this out loud.

Jason was also very easy to talk to.

“I don’t think I’m one of his people. Not anymore at least.” Jason sadly smiled at you

“You can be one of mine then. Take it as a repayment for allowing me to go back home every night without having to worry about anyone slicing my throat off” you insisted

“All the pleasure’s mine” he chuckled before saving your number onto his phone “You know, everyone says Bruce is nicer since you’re around. I have to admit this is true. Maybe happiness can truly change a man” 

“Even a bat?” you joked because Jason’s words were touching you a little more than you wanted to show it

“Even a bat” Jason nodded

A few days later, you received a message from Jason, clearly tasting the water with you.

J: Hey wanna go have some lunch together today or tomorrow?

You: Today sounds good :)

After this, you regularly had lunch together and Jason clearly started to see you as a motherly figure, and you saw him as a son. He crashed at your place more than once after patrol, so you could eat together. Bruce never commented on your relationship with Jason, but he heard you when you asked him to apologise.

Which he did.

Jason accepted it and tried his best with Dick and his other siblings. He was still feeling awkward around everyone, but he was slowly spending more time at the manor, even when Bruce was there. 

When Bruce asked if you wanted to meet all of his children anytime soon, you agreed but you instantly sent a message to Jason to make sure he would be there as well. He eagerly agreed because he couldn’t wait for you to be officially a member of the Batfamily.

--

PART 6

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Taglist for this series <3

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[black-cat-luck]

I like to think about Jason coming back and he’s angry and Bruce, angry at the world, but he never expected to be angry at Dick. Sure he could’ve killed Joker for him, but really it should’ve been Bruce, so Jason’s truly not too mad at Dick, until he sees how Dick treats Tim. Until he hears stories about Dick being a big brother, Dick taking Tim under his wing, Dick being nice. That’s what really upsets Jason, above everything else, to find out Dick was capable of being a big brother, that he could be nice, and accept having a little brother, he just couldn’t do it for Jason. He didn’t want to do it for Jason.

What Jason doesn’t know, what really no one except Alfred and Bruce know, is how hard it was for Dick to accept Tim, how Dick screamed at Bruce, threw things, and cried because how could Bruce just replace Jason?

And it wasn’t Dick, or Bruce, or anyone in their family that encouraged Dick to be better, it couldn’t even be entirely on Jason either, but Dick will never admit it was because of Joker. How when Dick was beating him to death for killing his little brother, Joker smiled through bloody teeth and asked Dick. “You didn’t even like him when he was alive, why do you care now that he’s dead?”

And Dick has to live with that. He has to live with knowing how cruel he was to Jason, how all Jason ever saw of him, was him screaming at Bruce, being angry over Robin being given away, in front of the boy it was given to. Dick was not an older brother to Jason, and Jason died knowing that.

As hard as it was for Dick to move on, to allow himself to live knowing Jason couldn’t, when he looked at Tim, when he saw him in the Robin outfit, trying so hard just to help them, he couldn’t make the same mistake again, he couldn’t let Tim die thinking Dick could never love him, god forbid it happens again. So Dick becomes the big brother he never wanted to be, he takes care of Tim, he’s kind to him, he spends time with him just because, not because they’re vigilantes, or stuck together, but because he wants to. He wants Tim to know he loves him.

So Jason hates Dick, because Bruce replacing him can’t even really be that surprising, but Dick? Jason couldn’t accept that. Jason can’t forgive Dick for choosing to ignore Jason, but treat his new brother kindly. Jason doesn’t know that he’s the reason why Dick is so kind, he might never know, but when he catches Dick staring at him sometimes, even years later, when they’re both full grown adults, living as normal, Dick has the same look of fondness, sometimes even remorse as he stares at Jason, because no matter what, Jason was his first little brother, Jason was the one that meant the most to him, Jason was the reason Dick is who he is now.

Little Jason didn’t get to know Dick as his big brother, but Dick will make sure big Jason never forgets it.

[bubblesxo]

for my gotham!bruce de-aging au

bruce casually calling every single rogue by their real name. sometimes their first name, sometimes their last name, sometimes their full government name (he's coming from mid-s5 so he'll probably call the riddler edward nygma while scowling profusely. still depends tho).

the batfam progressively gets more and more confused as to how bruce knows every single rogue in gotham at the age of 18. then when he refers to the joker by jeremiah they just lose it.

"you knew who the joker is the whole time?? how come you never told us??!! you led us to believe it was a big mystery that no one in gotham could ever figure out!!"

bruce's response would just be "well him and his crazier twin brother have been very publicly known multiple times so if you haven't somehow come across this information yourself then i've got reason to doubt you're all *actually* detectives."

jason starts frothing at the mouth in rage. babs and tim knew the whole time (babs because her dad was there?? he was basically the general in a war?? he definitely never told her about it aside from vague advice he never contextualizes but people come up to him sometimes and thank him for various things he's done over the course of the show. tim because that boy was on the streets so much as a kid when he snuck out that he's heard ALL of the stories that people refuse to talk about in polite society for fear of scaring the children/offending sensibilities. and tim loved answers. jason was just trying to survive and stay distinctly out of rogue business when he was on the streets.). dick is a bit offended because he's been with him for over a decade?? but ultimately begrudgingly understands a bit because there is a lot of stuff he hasn't told bruce about and the way he says the name reminds him of himself in his worst moments. damian is angry (and will be even more so when he finds out abt ra's) and just storms off. duke kind of didn't want to know (he has too much joker trauma already). steph is just like ?? but not that bad bcuz she still says that he's "not her dad!!" so how could she feel like he doesn't trust her? (ignore her being lowkey hurt.) cass is on her dad's side 100% (even more so because tim doesn't seem surprised).

basically it's a whole mess and it's not going well but alfred explicitly forbade them from ever mentioning the joker around bruce again so they can't really do anything about it (for now). hehehhe

[sunny-mercya]

Parents Regret

Batfamily x Male Child Reader | Slight AU

Masterlist

01. New addition

Adopting you had been a spurt of a moment for Bruce. Something he hadn't planned to do nor did there were a properly rationally process of thinking about it.

It had been during a round of Patrol, when Bruce had heard a sound from an alley. Checking it out, he found a cardboard box and inside was you. Laying in there, almost deathlike, crying out for anyone and drenched wet from the rain. Bruce picked you up in a instant and brought you the Children Hospital.

That was three days ago and now Bruce was yet again in the Hospital, waiting for the Nurse to bring you. The Doctor had informed him about your well-being and current health.

Besides the obviously signs of malnourishment and possibly shock trauma, you were as healthy as a three year old could be. Though the doctor advised to keep you warm, huddled up in blankets, to avoid a possibility of Pneumonia.

«Mr.Wayne? You'll have to sign a few papers before you can take the little one. Also, additional we would like to ask you to name him, in case of emergency and the sort of.» The Nurse tells him, handing him the papers.

A name for you? Huh, so you were born nameless and not registered. Then it would much easier to get Custody rights for you. While signing his signatures, Bruce thought for a bit, racking his brain for a fitting name for you.

[Name] Wayne. Yeah, that name sounds about right for you. Perhaps he could add one or two middle names too, but not right now—later, middle names are need to be chosen wisely.

Bruce smiled when he finally could hold you in his arms. Holding his index finger out, which you grabbed tiredly. He nodded along to what the nurse tells him about medication and check-ups.

~~~

Jason, with the rest of his siblings, was sitting in the living room, waiting for Bruce. Whatever surprise Bruce had planned to bring home, Jason hoped it was either food or Joker's head. Anything else he didn't care for.

Whatever the surprise was, it had to be something big and important, when Bruce let them have a day off from school today.

They acknowledged when Bruce had stepped in, giving a short greeting and resuming back to what they were doing; watching TV. One of the few shows they all could agree on to watch.

«I would like you to all welcome your new brother, [Name].»

Bruce watched with slight amusement how at first they all mumbled a "yes" and "that's nice".

«WHAT?» like a chorus they shouted it, whipping their heads towards Bruce and looking at the bundle in his arms.

Dick was the first one to get out of his perplexing state. Jumping up from the couch, with full excitement and hopping towards Bruce—taking his new sibling, a baby sibling even, from him and into his own arms. Cuddling the small human and cooing at him.

Dick found you adorable, so damn adorable—the way you blinked at him owlishly, with dopey tired eyes. Never wanted to let go of you and chatting you up already.

«What's the meaning of this Father?!» asked Damian, scoffing and glaring. A new sibling? Doesn't father has already taken in enough strays over the years?

«If you all would calm down for a minute and let me explain.» Bruce sat down on of the armchairs.

And explained he did.

To be honest, Jason rarely sides with Damian or shared the same opinion, but this was one of the few moments he does.

The anger rises in Jason, glaring at the Brat in Dick arms with much hatred as Damian does. They, he, doesn't need a new sibling. Another unnecessary addition to this—in his humble opinion, dysfunctional family.

Like does Bruce wants to raise you as another Robin? To ruin your mental health too? To bring you to deaths door, like how he did with Jason. Or perhaps, Bruce saw you as some sort of publicity accessory.

Either way, Jason doesn't care. Ready to get up and leave, to get some fresh air and blew off some stream of pent up anger. Cassandra stops him, shaking her head in a way to tell him to sit back down.

«You don't expect us to act all lovely dotting now or? If you so desperately want to adopt that brat here, sure, but I won't babysit or to any sort of that shit. Seriously Bruce, yer just fucking insane now!»

«Jason! Don't say such things!»

«Oh, piss off Dick! It's the truth! Bruce's what? 45 years old? Almost 50 and he wants to raise a child in that age? That's ridiculous!»

«Should I have just left [Name] in the alley?» asked Bruce, trying not to raise his voice at Jason.

«No. But there are orphanages or foster care to bring him. Why should we have him anyways?» it was Damian who answers.

«He needs a family, Damian.»

«We're already enough of a family! We don't him!»

A shouting had erupted.

~~~

Dick had left the room before they all, mainly Jason and Damian, begun to shout. He didn't want you to hear this. So Dick decided to walk with you through the manor, to show you everything.

«You will love it here [Name]! Jay and Damian will come around to love you, trust me, they're just a bit grumpy at first.»

«Aah, Master Dick, do you want perhaps show the young master his new room?» asked Alfred, spooking Dick a bit, because he hadn't heard the Butler at all.

«Room?»

«Yes, Master Bruce had set it up some days ago, it's upstairs.»

Dick followed Alfred, rocking you a bit as you looked a bit fussy.

«Say Alfred, what's your opinion?»

«Well, I certainly don't mind little [Name], he brings some new life to this manor, but I admit Master Bruce could have discussed it beforehand. We're here, I will prepare a bottle for the young master.» with that being said, Alfred walks away.

Dick grins down you, excited to see your room.

«Ready? Can't wait to see your room too! It probably looks really cool and –»

Dick stoped when he had opened the door. To be fair and honest, Dick didn't expected that Bruce would know how to decorate at all, but this? This was a utterly disappointment. Only the bare necessities furniture, no colours on the walls and about two stuffed toys.

«Yeah know what, jellyfish? We're gonna go shopping on the weekend and I will spoil you rotten with Bruce's money.»

[zerogravityinq]

On the eve of the new season starting I wanna talk about baby.

As in who the older kids consider as their "baby" you know, the one they let get away with anything and are around the most.

Tom, the most obvious, has Tim. He literally brought Tim into the family so no surprises there but secondly he claimed Cullen and Damian as his. Cullen because he's pretty serene and Damian because of his relationship with Tim (see below) and he has to mentor the little Slytherin.

Dick has Terry. Not only Terry was made to test of it's viable for him and Tom to have a kid via ritual but he genuinely adores Terry. Other babies are Tim (by Tom association) and Danny.

Cass latches onto Harper but her actual baby is Lilith. She was still unsure about children when Terry was born (and wasn't in the family when Damian was born) but she adores Lilith who is beyond willful but determinedly goes to be around her big sister because Cass lets her get away with a lot....and has similar vibes as her Dad.

Jason's baby is actually Conner but everyone thinks it's Damian or Lilith. They aren't completely wrong because he does claim Lilith since she's a whole gremlin but Conner was the first one to make him feel like an actual big brother. His other baby is Terry. He just connects with him a lot for some reason.

Harper's baby is obviously Cullen but also Danny. Danny who is deep into tinkering like she is is up there in terms of her favorite and their exploits building things are legendary (we are not talking about the sentient Batmobiles that managed to mate...somehow).

Conner's baby is the twins. He connects with them the most and loves teaching them how to use their powers once they kick in (read: taking them flying til they tire and carrying them back at full speed since it won't bother them like it would his more squishy friends and family). Aside from them he really likes Damian and one of the few who can get physically close to him when he is rescued.

Considering canon, Tim's baby is a surprise: Damian. Tim was devastated when Damian was taken, blaming himself for not being there to stop them (despite being 10 and untrained). He was the first that was able to connect with Damian when he was returned. Maybe Damian had some memory of Tim's care when he was a baby or he just wanted to connect to someone who wasn't trying to pressure him into being what he was. In any case they swiftly became close again and Damian was beyond furious when Tim was harmed by Chemist Joker. He expressed this fury by throwing himself into helping Tim recover, sticking to him like Velcro.

Cullen's baby is Terry. They just vibe well.

Damian's baby is also Terry but also Lilith.

[zahri-melitor]

Fear State: Joker War was better.

Sitting with it for a bit: I don't think this was a bad event. I think it underdelivered, and that your interest and affection for it is going to revolve around your interest in the three main plot strands and the characterisation in each.

If anything, it reminded me in particular of Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul and of Legacy: the main plot is getting an assist from people's affection for the character dynamics in the B plot. (Hands up if your definition of what happens in Resurrection heavily revolves around the Dick-Tim-Damian beats and then goes 'oh yeah Ra's comes back to life by stealing the White Ghost's body').

There was the Batman, Scarecrow, Simon Saint and Miracle Molly plot. There was the Dick-Babs-Tim-Cass-Steph plot. And there was the Harley-Ivy-Selina plot.

I think the main weakness is that the three plots didn't come together fully enough at the end to tie things off; they had three separate resolutions, that didn't overlap sufficiently in terms of 'we have fixed things, now Bruce you can go have your big emotional confrontation' or 'these three things blend together and we couldn't succeed if any of them had failed'.

Which: fair. I've read worse events. I've read worse Bat events in the golden age of Bat book events (Oh Officer Down, what if you were good).

In terms of the Bruce plot: I don't mind all of Tynion's character creations, I just had the 'well that was nice, do we ever get to see any of them again' feelings about it. Three years down the track with the benefit of hindsight: Ghost-maker looks like he's got potential sticking power. Punchline has some value as a villain option to pull out. The rest are...well, that's nice. Next?

I think Tynion's work was stronger when he was focused more heavily on rebuilding and embroidering existing narratives (though as I said, his opening intro of Ghost-maker was solid). But it's still perfectly enjoyable and readable. He hit some very caring-Bruce beats through this story. (The Scarecrow unfortunately got overshadowed as a threat through this as there was simply too much other stuff going on).

In news surprising to nobody, I enjoyed the Queen Ivy storyline far more when it was in Catwoman than when it was in Harley Quinn. I shall not be continuing to pick up HQ. Sad to see Ram V's Catwoman run wrapping up here, as I feel like he lost a lot of page space to events. Also can see direction for the Poison Ivy launch in the wake of this.

The Batfam storyline mostly to be found in Nightwing (and back ups) was very...yes okay I get why people are infuriated by Tom Taylor because it's so close to great. The elements I wanted to see were there. He blew up the Clock Tower because apparently he wanted to redo that element of War Games as part of the 'reflect but change Devin Grayson's era' push. The characters he had together all have the ability to bounce off each other in interesting ways. Everyone is being a bit too nice to each other. We didn't need round...six? of someone tries to take over Oracle (Various Calculator plotlines, Brainiac virus, Gus Yale as Oracle, the Burnside AI, Oracle Robot...). But there were sparks there I enjoyed and moments I want to draw hearts around and look, there are relationships being re-established here that have been off panel for a WHILE.

[goldenraeofsun]

A Case for Defenestration

Also on AO3!

At noon, Dick moves the glass of orange juice to the crook of his elbow and uses his free hand to knock on Damian’s door. In his other hand, he carries a plate with an egg salad sandwich. “Hey, can I come in?”

Bedsheets rustle and Damian’s bed creaks, but Damian says nothing. 

Dick squares his shoulders. He isn’t the best big brother in the world because he gives up easily. “It’s me,” he tries again. “Can I come in?”

A noise comes from the other side of the door, and Dick freezes. Did Damian just… blow a raspberry?

Maybe the lawnmower backfired. It is the first nice Spring day in a few months, so Alfred headed outside an hour ago to tend the back garden and trim the lawn.

“Enter, if you must, Grayson.”

Dick winces at the use of his last name. He gamely pushes Damian’s door open anyway. Hopefully, the kid’s just cranky from his injuries and being stuck in his room all morning. “Hey,” he says, pitching his voice low. “How’re you feeling?”

Damian scowls and doesn’t meet his eyes, his face reddening. Despite the warm weather and wide open, Damian has the sheets pulled up to his chest. “I am fine,” he says stiffly, “as you can see. You may go now.”

Dick sets down the plate and glass on Damian’s nightstand.

“You took quite a beating last night,” Dick says gently. “Of course, you gave as good as you got,” and Damian must really be out of it, since the compliment barely registers with him. Dick forces his smile to widen. “And on your thirteenth birthday of all days too.”

“Tt. I still do not see the point of commemorating the day of one’s birth when there are so many more momentous occasions to celebrate. The mastery of a new technique, for example or…” he drifts off, his voice going deadly quiet, “spilling of first blood.”

Dick stares. Damian sounds… off, even for him. More stilted. Formal. He’s retreating, and Dick cannot let that happen. Not after all the progress they’ve made. “Hey, Dami,” he says, consciously trying not to talk down to Damian because he hates that. “Is everything OK? Really? You don’t seem like yourself.”

“I – I – ” Damian stutters, hunching down further into the bed.

“Whatever it is, you can tell me,” Dick says, fighting to keep his concern from showing too much because it makes Damian defensive. “You know that, right?”

Damian’s face screws up as his fingers twist in his sheets. “He was special,” he says, his breath hitching to Dick’s utter horror; Damian never lets himself get this visibly emotional, “and I defenestrated him.”

“Hey, hey,” Dick says, and there goes his commitment to holding himself back. He reaches out to grasp Damian’s good shoulder. Damian shudders under his touch, and Dick’s heart breaks. But if Damian killed someone, Dick needs to tell Bruce the whole story. “Did you,” he swallows and restarts, “Did you throw someone out of a window last night?” 

Dick didn’t have eyes on Damian throughout the whole fight; Arkham breakouts mean the Bats are spread thin, and it was all hands on deck. They started out the night in teams. Bruce, Damian, Dick, and Cass took on the Joker. Tim and Steph got the Riddler. Duke and Jason went after Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. 

By the time they trooped back to the Manor, they had switched targets several times over, when Jason got a face full of Harley’s baseball bat, when Bruce fractured two bones in his right leg in a bear trap, and, of course, when the Joker shot Damian in the shoulder and dislocated his left hip.

Damian blinks rapidly. “I did the deed this morning.”

Dick blinks in surprise as Damian looks away.

Because that makes no sense. Damian’s been bedridden since they came in from patrol last night. 

Unless… an intruder snuck into the Manor and ambushed Damian in his room? Damian is good, but the kid was wiped after running around until four am in his condition. 

But that also doesn’t make sense because someone would have heard. Jason and Tim even had an argument outside Damian’s room at half past ten, and Alfred had to chivvy them away to keep them from waking Damian up.

“Okay,” Dick says, “I think I’m missing something here. What exactly happened, Dames? From the beginning, if you can.”

Damian inhales a sharp breath. “He flew into my room, no doubt scared off from Pennyworth’s actions in the garden,” he says in a rush. “And I tried to provide an attractive, safe haven,” he gestures to his ocean blue bedsheet, “as I know beetles prefer bright colors –”

By sheer force of will, Dick does not facepalm.

Damian was all riled up about a beetle.

Dick bites his tongue as Damian narrates the whole saga: of the beetle settling on the blanket, Damian getting startled by a noise outside his room, Damian twisting under the blanket to hear better, and the beetle getting launched out of the window as a result.

“Damian,” Dick says as he stares at Damian’s huge green eyes, slightly more shiny than usual, “beetles can fly. I’m sure he’s fine.”

“You do not know that, Grayson!”

Dick does not snort, but it is a close goddamn call.

“Just because he wasn’t very big does not make him any less important,” Damian insists nonsensically.

“Of course not,” Dick soothes. “Hey,” he leans in, “I think you need a hug.”

“I do not –” Damian squawks, but too late.

Dick’s arms wrap around his ridiculous littlest brother, squeezing tightly, careful of Damian’s injured shoulder. “I can’t stop you worrying, but you do know that beetles belong outside, right? He wouldn’t have been happy cooped up in here.”

Damian nods. “I suppose you are right,” he huffs against Dick’s cheek.

Dick freezes as he inhales a pungent, smokey scent he’s never associated with Damian. “What the...?” He glances over his shoulder, like he might find Jason hovering outside the window, splashing the good scotch on the gardenias just to piss Bruce off.

“Richard?”

“Have you been drinking?” Dick pulls back to stare at Damian, noting the flush to his cheeks that Dick initially attributed to the warm weather and the way Damian’s eyes don’t quite focus on him, which Dick had written off first from pain, and then from embarrassment. But no, Damian was just showing classic signs of alcohol consumption.

Damian fiddles with the edge of his blanket. He nods once.

“Oh my god,” Dick groans. “What the hell, Damian? Why – how? ”

Damian scowls. “It was not my idea.”

“Fine,” Dick says as he grabs the sandwich and forces it into Damian’s hands. Damian needs to fill his stomach with something other than alcohol, stat. “Then whose idea was it?”

“Todd,” Damian says, entirely unsurprisingly. “No, I misspoke. It was Drake.”

“What.”

Damian wrinkles his nose in distaste. “Drake apologized for not celebrating my birthday properly. He said he first sampled alcohol on his thirteenth birthday, when he became a man, and he wanted to carry on the tradition, so to speak.”

Dick’s jaw drops open. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Exactly how much did he give you?” 

Damian lifts his chin in the air. “The same amount that Father occasionally imbibes.”

Dick runs a hand down his face. “Great,” he mutters. Bruce usually sticks to doubles, but after a rough patrol he’ll pour himself a triple. Damian doesn’t seem like he’s on the verge of alcohol poisoning, just good and tipsy, based on his emotional reaction to a beetle, so hopefully Damian only had two shots’ worth.

“And then, about ten minutes later, Todd visited me.”

Ah, damn.

“So it was Tim and Jason?”

“I just said that,” Damian says disdainfully. “Richard, keep up.”

“Right, right.” Dick nods along. “And what did Jason do? Never mind, I know exactly what he did.” He points to the sandwich. “Eat. Now.”

Damian obediently takes a bite.

“What I want to know,” Dick continues, “is why he gave alcohol to a thirteen-year-old.”

Damian swallows. “He said it was a reward for facing the Joker by myself during the fight.” He pauses, contemplating his sandwich. “He gave me slightly more alcohol than Drake.”

“Of course he did,” Dick despairs. He runs a hand through his hair, planning his next steps. Bruce can’t know about this. He would hit the ceiling if he heard Tim and Jason plied his youngest with enough booze to make Damian tear up over an insect. Dick is so going to have words with them. And then a drink or two for himself.

Damian picks up his sandwich. “I understand your concern. However, it is unfounded. No doubt due to my superior genetics,” he announces with a proud little smile, “I am capable of holding my liquor.”

“Mm hm,” Dick hums as he violently tries to keep it together without dying of laughter. He inhales a deep breath and lets it out before saying, “I’m just glad to see you’re OK, Dami.”

“Of course I am,” Damian sniffs.

Dick grins and squeezes his shoulder again. “Eat up. You’ll thank me later.”

[coolgirl32]

How would nightmare aka Jacqulyn aka batmom get angry at her family

Bruce

It all started when Bruce was being patched up by dick he was attacked by the zombie things that were working for the court of owls Bruce was waiting for Damian to come home so he could give Damian a Stern lecture and to ground him that's when Damian appeared in his room thinking no one was there when Bruce turned on the lights he asked Damian where he was Damian told his father he was just out Bruce then saw the sai Damian was hiding

That's when Bruce and Damian started arguing Bruce said some things Damian said some things. After Bruce said that if Damian ever tries to sneak out and do patrol on his own again he'll be sent to a School in Switzerland and before Bruce could say anything else his wife Jacqulyn appeared with a angry expression on her face. And that's when he heard her say it his full name Bruce Thomas Wayne he had never ever heard her say his full name like that in a long time the first time was when she got mad at him for yelling at Jason back then he hoped she never did it again because it freaked him out but he was surprised and all he could see was rage and anger but also hurt and pain of course his wife made him apologize to Damian and she made Damian apologize to Bruce she even gave them a lecture on that they are family in that family sticks together and that Damian needs to go outside once in awhile and that she understands that there are dangerous people out there looking for Bruce and for the rest of the Wayne family she also told him that it wasn't a good idea to threaten his own kids if he wants to be a good father he has to take this a gentler approach be tough but be fair

Dick

It all started after dick and Damien first met dick was being patched up by Alfred dick was very upset at Bruce because Bruce well actually Jacqulyn gave all those lectures about using protection and using birth control dick felt a little pain Alfred being concerned asked dick if he was okay dick answered Alfred by saying he could take the cut Damian said something insulting to dick before Dick could say anything he heard the three words he never wanted to hear from his own adopted mother his full name Richard John Grayson his eyes widen when he heard them from his own adopted mother and looked at her he could tell she was not happy that he was about to say something to Damian Jacqulyn then gave dick a lecture about being a better big brother and that Damian is his little brother now and that he needs to act like an adult and not like a child and need to think about how he would feel if somebody said all those things to him dick thought about it and understood that he wouldn't feel good about it so he apologized to Damian. Damian wanted to say something but he had a little respect for Jacqulyn

Jason

It all started after Jason resurrected from the dead and learn that Bruce didn't kill the joker and grieve Jason's death so after a few weeks of planning and becoming the Red Hood Jason was finally face to face with his adopted father and adopted mother of course his father being upset but when he looked at his adopted mother he knew something wasn't right there was anger and sadness and you could tell that she's been grieving and crying but that's when he heard it those three words Jason Peter Todd his full name Jacqulyn had never said his full name before only when she gets angry but that was rare but this felt different he felt guilty so when Jacqulyn gave Jason a lecture on that he cannot kill innocent people and he cannot just throw a little hissy fit because he's not getting his way and he cannot play God because it's wrong and she raised him better than that Jason understood and knew better than to piss his adopted mother off so he gave her a hug and apologize to her and Bruce so after they went back to the manor Jason started going to therapy and started to think about things that he's done that was wrong

Tim

It all started when Tim was having his sleep paralysis and him drinking too much coffee of course everybody tried getting him to sleep so when is adopted mother walked in his room and tried to get him to go to sleep he snapped and yelled at her which to be honest was a very stupid idea 1. Yelling at his mom is a wrong thing and 2. He forgot that his own adopted mother was from Mississippi so when he heard his full name being called by his own adopted mother he knew he fucked up he had never heard her call him by his full name which was Timothy Jackson Drake and when he looked at her he could tell there was anger in her eyes and the look of what did you say he knew he had to fix things up so when he went to his bed and went to sleep he knew he had to apologize the next morning and he did and he told his adopted mother and everybody else that he will change

Damian

It all started after Damian's 15th birthday Damian was a teenager now and as all teenagers they all have attitude apparently Damian was in one of his bad moods everything was not going as planned this morning he stumped his toe and then he bumped into Tim where Tim accidentally spilled his coffee on Damian but the last straw was when his adopted mom Jacqulyn walked in and try to say hi to him with a smile on her face apparently Damian accidentally yelled at her and that's when he heard it his full name Damian Thomas Wayne he had never heard her say his full name not ever since he was 8 years old he immediately apologized to her Jacqulyn then gave Damian a lecture that if he's having a bad day he needs to breathe and go somewhere by himself so he can calm down he immediately apologized again and then he apologized to everyone else he knew not to yell at his adopted mother ever again that day

And that is how nightmare would get angry at her family I hope you all love this also please don't judge

[zeroducks-2]

“Judging by how the sales of comicbooks dropped from post reboot onwards” does this refer to N52 or Rebirth or the former but keeps declining even with the latter? I’m curious bcs 👀 like, well, it should be obvious the reason why but ig it’s true that many execs/marketing team in that huge kind of company do not have the biggest brain 🤷🏽‍♂️

I don't actually have official sources on hand, sorry about that! I remember reading an interview with Dan DiDio saying that in the past 10 years or so "they lost an entire generation of readers", which leads me to assume there has been a consistent drop in comicbook sales after Flash Point Paradox -ish. Not sure if precisely with Rebirth of N52. Which doesn't surprise me given that they butchered entire decades of worldbuilding, character building and established dynamics for a half assed parody of what they had before.

To expand a little on that. When the reboot happened, despite being hella pissed, lots of fans (me included) thought it was a way to set in stone some key events of what we can call the "main comicbook continuity" because a lot of things concerning New Earth (which is the "main continuity" going from the early '80s to 2010ish) made absolutely no sense, temporally and logically and what have you. For example, when exactly Dick had worn the Batman mantle. Or, that bullshit with Joker being ambassador of Iran. Or the ages of the characters, when they started wearing their mantles etc. Nothing of this happened. Instead they got rid of a number of characters that they didn't really want in their stories anymore (like Cass and Steph who literally disappeared despite having had successful and beloved runs as Batgirls), and they cherrypicked what to keep as canon (Joker shot Barbara and rendered her paralyzed BUT she can walk thanks to an implant, so she's Batgirl now and also she looks and acts as if she was 20 despite she should be in her late 30s. It's unclear if everything she did as Oracle and with the Birds of Prey happened or not).

As you can imagine, that didn't sit well with a lot of pre-existing fans, but also made it extremely confusing for new fans. Things make even less sense than before and it's even more intimidating to approach the comics since to understand a shred of what's happening you should read 30+ volumes of the New Earth continuity AND ALSO everything that happened post reboot and probably you still would have zero idea tf is going on. I don't most of the time to be honest.

This is also why people tend to be weirdly attached to stuff that happened in one single comic even if it was never brought up again, imo. For example Dick, Cass, Jason and Tim having been legally adopted by Bruce. I don't believe there is one single mention of that in any comic except the one comic where it happens - kinda like the writer who wrote it wanted it to be like this, but then the one who came after them pretended it never happened, and nobody brought it up again. So is that canon? It surely was at some point but how about now, is Dick "legally a Wayne"? As far as I know the answer is no, but again, nothing makes sense so people keep on cherrypicking what they like about canon.

Sorry I went on a tangent but yeah they made a mess. Toss in the mix the fact that many of the writers that handled these characters post reboot really hated them (and to this day I cannot understand for the love of me WHY they gave them to writers that hated them. Just see what happened with the whole disgrace that was the Ric Grayson situation), and you have barely readable storylines that contradict previous canon, make no sense and are boring and uninspired as fuck, trying to bank on cheap tricks like "let's pretend these people love each other and are a big happy family because that's what the public wants to read, right?? The Batfamily sells!". That's the extent of their effort to make a story good.

[princesspuresarahk]

The Batman Au: Riddler’s Reform

Chapter: 3 Down below and Oh no?!

warning for slight language

Edward regretted being down in the sewers wondering how Killer Croc or any other villain, was able to go through here, especially with the awful smell of the sewer with who knows what’s in it as he navigated his way around it walking where he believed was North. After what felt like he was walking for hours just as he was about to make a turn he heard the echo of a sewer lid crashing into the ground with a great big splash that was coming from the east hearing familiar groans it was Joker! and Penguin! They were now in the sewer! With him! but how?! They must have figured it out he was somewhere down here! NNNOOO NO NO CRAP NOT AGAIN! Edward was now running on instinct ('I can hear the echoes of their footsteps and splashing!') he thought knowing that they must have heard his splashing as he kept running ahead of them hoping they must be tired out by now cause he couldn't think of anything else right now! He kept running feeling as if his lungs and legs must be on fire by now! But kept running until Edward found himself slipping the next thing he knew he was in the sewer water 'splashed!' as he wrangled out of the icky water ('First garbage now this!?)

He thought frustrated but had no time to gloat about being grossed out the footsteps were approaching faster he quickly got to his feet and kept running until he stopped at a corner and noticed pipelines above maybe..?

It was another chance he was willing to take as he used as much little strength and energy he had left in him Edward hoisted himself up above the ground hoping the shadows would keep him hidden as Penguin and Joker halted to a stop to figure out which way as Oswald argued "I Swear I heard footsteps coming this way I know Nygma's down here!" he went on as Edward has felt his grip beginning to slip as he desperately held on while struggling to hold his breath praying that they leave ('come on, you two damn imbeciles just leave! Leave already!') just as he felt he couldn’t hold his breath any longer more footsteps were heard rushing toward the direction Joker and Penguin were interrupting their arguing as what was behind them their eyes widening in panic and annoyance as they started running past the tunnel Edward was hiding unaware of his presence as Batman was already hot on their tails with Batgirl and the RWhen he released his breath the 2nd Robin suddenly stopped a minute noticing Edward as he got down, how was he aware of his presence? Edward panicked worried the sidekick would alarm his presence but to a surprise he didn't, as the young one just gave him a gentle smile and put a finger to his lips form of quiet seeming to understand his situation. Edward felt he could trust the little one as he mouthed a quiet "thank you," to him as the littlest Robin gave him a thumbs up as a no problem he quickly ran to catch up with the Bats and other Robin making Edward sign in relief as he continued in the other direction having a feeling that he was safe as he continued walking he couldn't help but mouth the words 'riddle me this riddle me that I couldn't be happier to see the big black bat and his little band of robins’ okay that last part wasn't a riddle but you get his point.

“Well Riddler, decided to take the scenic route through the Gotham City sewer system?” asked Batgirl cheekily who knew that despite the dangerous situation couldn’t help but say that. Batgirl knew that Riddler was in serious danger, especially with a certain clown Prince of crime and a smaller fat crime boss with bird-like proportions now after him.

“Yeah… like, isn’t this Killer Croc’s turf?” asked (Dick) Robin who could hear both Joker and Penguin bickering just a wee bit further away. Anticipating a skirmish, Robin readied his yellow lightweight staff. “OOHHH Isn’t this just cute!! The entire Batfamily is here, it’s a rather nasty spot to gather!!! AHahahaha!!!” cackled the Joker as his metal playing cards could be seen in his hands, he and the Penguin started walking towards the heroes. “All of you, stay behind me! When I say go, run to the first latter to the surface. I programmed the Batmobile to meet us up on the surface” said Batman softly, only for the members of his team team to be able to hear.

“WAAA!! Stay outta the Batjerk! But unless you want to have a taste of revenge too, then I suggest you STAY OUTTA MY WAY!!!!!!” said Penguin as he began running towards the Bat Fam with the tip of his umbrella scraping the cement floor of the sewer. As quickly as possible, Batman activated special sunglass-like lenses to protect his eyes before throwing a batterang that emitted an extremely bright light. “MOVE” shouted Batman his team moved running from the area he noticed Edward in the direction for where they were running looking like he was ready to pass out from exhaustion with quick reflexes he quickly scooped Edward up bridal style as they ran causing Edward to let out a squeak in surprise who was not expecting that! as Bats hurried his teammates and the Riddler away from the two supervillains and up the latter towards the surface. Using every precious moment. Batman hurried everyone towards the Batmobile and got them in quickly, while the Penguin and Joker were struggling to recover. covered in icky stinky sewer as Penguin mumbled "Damn Riddler, Damn those Batjerks!" “The Joker and Penguin won’t find us, we’ll get you to safety Riddler,” said Batman who had sped away from the area and was making his way back to the Batcave. Riddler was in the back seat awkwardly with Batgirl and Robin No. 2 on her lap having to make room in the backseat, Robin No. 1 was riding up front. Batman knew the only place in all of Gotham City to keep the Riddler (his..secret lover…what? maybe..? his mind was so confused..right now he had to focus on the situation right now) safe was the Batcave as it was safe and hidden as the vaults of Fort Knox.

“Alfred, we’re on our way back. Also, we’ve got a guest in tow” said Batman whispering on the Batwave communicator; "Right away Master Bruce, young Master Timothy is still taking his nap and I'll be down to the cave quickly," Ah he remembered Tim was at home early today due to a stomach bug he caught at school and has spent most of the afternoon it was good he was still asleep resting Bruce was glad as he didn't want Tim to be down at the bat cave right especically with their unexpected 'guest' Alfred asked a question "By the way Sir as to who are guest?" he could tell that Alfred was going to be surprised at who they were taking back with them in the meantime better not risk Edward seeing anything right now he reached for something in one of his compartments pulled out a scarf handed it towards the back as Jason gently took it from his black clawed hand "I'm Sorry Nygma but it's you shouldn't see anything as a risk," speaking in his hushed and steely voice surprisingly Edward complied in comprehension leaning back gently shyly as he closed his big blue eyes let 2nd Robin tie the scarf around his head blinding his sight in the darkness.

About 30 minutes later, the Batmobile disappeared through one of the many secret entrances that were around the city. Now beneath the streets, the Batmobile was driving along the hidden underground tunnel and was soon back in the Batcave, with a patient Alfred  (wearing a simple face to hide his identity for the time being) waiting. Though Edward was grateful he was a bit shocked and silent by the whole ordeal happening so fast there was one thing though he had to get to his cousins "Thank you Batman and young ones but I must get back out there and make my way to my cousin's she's probably beyond worried sick by now." He said shyly knowing his cousin was going to have a good scolding with him by the time he got there.

That's when Alfred came in while wearing a face mask to cover his identity as well in Nygma's presence "Not to worry Mr. Nygma we will assemble a taxi for you but I'm afraid that we'll have to keep the blindfold on you as we don't want any risks." which Edward understood as he helped him get out of the batmobile and gently place a blindfold over his eyes as Alfred helped escort him out of the cave before he was blinded by darkness Edward softly looked at the family his big ice blue eyes giving a grateful "thank you," as he was gently walked/guided out to one of the hidden open areas far from the caves where a taxi was called and would be waiting for them.

Chapter:4 Going home and Cousins reunite

credit to Queenie aka https://theivylinerart.tumblr.com/ for being a part of this Fanfic.

[random-movie-ideas]

Batman's Mightiest Adventure (Movie Outline)

This is another outline for a movie set in the cinematic universe I've been plotting out, this one technically outside of the universe proper until the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, instead part of a series of animated films focused on more Golden Age heroes and villains.

The movie begins with our Batman and Robin, both very heavily based on Adam West and Burt Ward, in the middle of yet another battle with their villains. Likewise, these villains (Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, and the Riddler) are heavily based on their actors from the old show. The battle has a lot of comic flare in the sense of big animated POWS! and ridiculous bat-based weapons. In the end, Batman and Robin win, and the baddies get away.

The scene zooms out and we get to see a little imp from another dimension dressed in a Batman costume. He nerds out over Batman, using a remote to switch between various Batman universes. He does lament, however, that the universe he’d just been watching didn’t feature many of the later characters that appear in other worlds. Then he gets an idea (visualized by a literal lightbulb over his head).

We then cut back to our four villains sulking in their lair, annoyed by their latest loss and getting into interpersonal arguments because of it. A sudden burst of black smoke fills the lair, and a cloaked figure appears. This figure avoids giving his name, but tells them he wants to help them against Batman. He shows them a glimpse of all the other Batman universes, specifically scenes of all of Batman’s villains, from the Joker all the way down to Condiment King. He then uses his powers to bring them to life.

Batman and Robin are back at their mansion, having breakfast. Much like the Superman animated movie, I would like there to be a distinct visual difference to the characters (i.e. Clark had a scrawny nerd art design, but then Superman was the big top-heavy musclebound design with a big chin). For this distinction, I would like Bruce to have the snooty rich snob design to him, while Batman is a broody “L” type constantly in shadow. Likewise, Dick would have a teenage heartthrob vibe, while Robin would transform into a diminutive chibi-type. After a brief comedic scene between them, they get a call on the Bat Phone that the villains are up to no good again.

Our heroes rush to the bank where the villains are pulling off their heist. At first, they only see the main four again, and are taken by surprise by the army of other villains ambushing them. After a chaotic battle with lots of visual gags based on the various villains, Batman and Robin are defeated and retreat back to the Batcave.

As they are dramatically lamenting their loss, our imp appears, introducing himself as Bat-Mite, their biggest fan from the fourth dimension. He tells them he saw their last battle and says he wants to help. He shows them the same view of other universes, with hundreds of different Batmans, Robins, and other allies from all over the universe. Batman and Robin accepting his help, he brings them all to reality as well.

We cut back to city hall, where the Joker and his army of villains have the mayor, Commissioner Gordon, and everyone else important all tied up, and have a few deep-cut jokes between them all. The lights shut off, and Batman and Robin make a dramatic entrance, followed by their army of Batpeople. A war between the two sides ensues.

This war goes on for a while, with lots and lots of visual gags, but soon begins to spread its havoc over all of Gotham as the people flee in terror. Through all of this, we get the reveal of Bat-Mite and the mysterious figure being the hooded figure, and he laughs hysterically at the chaos, nerding out over all the different little battles going on.

Eventually, as Batman and the Joker are dueling in the middle of the city, they stop and notice all the carnage their war has caused on the city itself. They do a bunch of finger-pointing at each other until they both put together that they both received help from someone from an alternate dimension, and realize they’ve been played.

Bat-Mite is so busy having fun watching it all that he proves far too easy for Batman and the Joker to track down. The pair confront him and try to beat him, but he proves too slippery with his otherworldly powers. However, they notice he becomes annoyed whenever they act too friendly with each other, claiming it’s out of character. They then start going on a rampage of acting completely out of character, roping in the rest of their allies to act in ways they’d never act until finally Bat-Mite breaks down in a tantrum about them breaking canon. Batman and the Joker then point out that he broke it too. The little imp sheepishly admits defeat and zaps all the characters he summoned back to their own universes. He tries to ask for an autograph before everyone tells him to get lost.

The final scenes are narrated by Bat-Mite, lamenting that he lost but saying it was fun while it happened, watching with annoyance as the six characters left behind hang out at a diner after the battle. He clicks over to a different universe and notices slight cracks forming between those universes, asking if he did that.

What do you think? I thought utilizing Bat-Mite here might be a fun twist, and give some fun visual appeal, while also working in a bit of meta-humor about fans and fandom. Next up, we return to the main universe for "Son of Batman."

[thatstheproblemwithnapkinman]

ok very quickly

in the main continuity as of the current timeline (just roll with it) there have been 5 or 6 robins depending on who you count plus other bats, currently there are 2 using the robin name

1. dick grayson, the first robin and gave the role the name, parents murdered at the circus and became bruce waynes ward, was robin for about a decade before getting fired by batman and is now nightwing, an incredibly important character for dc as a whole. in fanon he's the flippy bimbo one (*cries at the mischaracterisation*)

2. jason todd, was taken in by bruce after stealing the wheels off the batmobile (like straight after he fired dick) and was robin for around 3 years before he was lured into a warehouse, beaten to almost death by a crowbar, and then blown up, all by the joker. he came back as the red hood years later after some timeline and reality shit caused him to come back to life and he’s sort of a part time vigilante and part time crime lord, more towards vigilante these days. in fanon he's the angry *tries to murder tim* one (also just no)

note under jason, the lazarus pit did not bring him back to life, he came back bc of the reality shit with superboy and was put in the pit by talia al ghul a good bit after he came back. he also doesn’t really get the green over his eyes and the whole pit controlling him thing.

3. tim drake, was robin then not robin then robin again then red robin currently robin again. i know, nice and confusing, i will explain more in the next 2. he convinced batman to take him on as robin after jason’s death, he also figured out bruce wayne was batman, dick grayson was robin 1 and jason todd was robin 2. in fanon he's the sleep-deprived coffee addict one (still a big nope)

tim often goes by red robin in fanfics bc a) it's easier for hi to have a different name to the other robin and he has been red robin before, and b) wayne family adventures

4. stephanie brown, the forgotten robin. she is the daughter of clue master and the first robin to be her own vigilante before taking up the role, spoiler, when tim drake’s father made him quit and some things happened and she didn’t it to prove to herself and tim that she could. she got fired pretty quick and has been spoiler and a batgirl. in fanon she's the bimbo *not surprised is she isn't mentioned* one (also the girl one)

she is sometimes portrayed as a bimbo which is kinda rude to her as a blonde woman bc she is also super smart but because she is more comedic and quippy, she gets belittled to being a dumb blonde (similar to dick tbh)

5. damian wayne, tHe BlOoD sOn, long story but he’s real and bruce’s biological kid. raised in the league of assassins and had to learn to be less violent and also not kill anyone when he moved, he’s doing better now, also currently robin. in fanon he's the stabby *loves animals more than people* one (ok yeah that's pretty similar to canon, he is still mischaracterised but *shrugs*) EDIT: damian took over from tim forcing him to be red robin until recently when he went off to be with the teen titans and tim took over being robin for batman

6. duke thomas, not a robin under batman but was a robin during the we are robin movement and so some people do include him in the list. metahuman with light-based shit that i am not qualified to talk about as i’m only just starting to read his character but he is awesome and also just as batshit mental as the rest of them and is signal. he is the also forgotten *not as crazy as the others* one (just nope this dude risked his life and saved loads of people specifically during the robin war event with no powers and no suit and is wild he's great)

also need mentioning is cassandra cain aka either orphan, black bat, or batgirl depending on the writer, has her disability constantly mischaracterised but is a badass and is just so cool and i’m also starting to read more of her. in fanon she's the mute and uses sign language one (not how her disability works tho, it's a developmental disability as she never learned who to read or write or talk so she struggled to actually find the words which is something that sign language doesn't help with. she is not mute in the comics and has been learning how to read and talk and is almost at the same level as everyone else now)

and barbara gordon aka the original batgirl and now oracle or sometimes batgirl she is amazing, she got shot and more by the joker which paralysed her and she became the eyes and ears of the bats and then most of the hero world, has had experimental surgery and braces so she can walk again and currently in the comics acts as both batgirl and oracle. she is actually not done too badly in fanon bc she's just that awesome, she is often still wheelchair bound bc fanon isn't scared to show that physically disabled people are also badass

other potential figures that are less part of the family but still feature sometimes that i don’t know a lot about (i am reading up on them more)

- kate kane aka batwoman

- harper row aka bluebird

- luke fox aka batwing

and theres still more than hopefully other people elaborate on but there’s a super quick overview :)

oh and on the dying note, they have all died and come back, have fun with that

i want so badly to understand the batman lore because i want to read the fan fiction and actually know who’s talking but there’s just.

so.

many.

people.

why are there so many robins? from what i’ve gathered i think one of them died, came back to life, and isn’t TECHNICALLY a robin anymore but kind of sort of still is? i have that one narrowed down to being either nightwing or red hood, but i DONT KNOW because i’m trying to keep track of another two dozen children whose hero names are just variations of Robin.

there’s also someone named Signal who can maybe i think see ghosts or something? who is he? where did he come from? was he also a robin?

i just need like a google doc or something with summaries of who everybody is, with personalities and generally agreed upon fanon descriptions, along with WHO IS CURRENTLY OR USED TO BE A ROBIN. (WHY ARE THERE SO MANY OF THEM)

[puttingfingerstokeys]

[untitled]

Nanowrimo day 11 and 12 Featuring Batman, Harley Quinn, Ivy, the Joker, Jim Gordon and some fishies Shit’s a batman ficlet idk B A T M A N... lemme see, abuse implications, kidnapping, no ACTUAL abuse in here, but there’s definitely residual emotional manipulation Unfinished and unedited

Rain pelted the pavement mercilessly as the storm which had been hanging over Gotham finally broke. It was a release of days and days of merciless humidity and a stillness unlike anyone had seen in a very long time. The farmer’s almanac called for vicious storms for several days and the way this was looking, the Dark Detective had no choice but to believe it. 

“Master Bruce,” Alfred’s calm, cultured tone filtered gently through the warble of static caused by the storm. Batman touched his earpiece and responded with a grunt. 

“Need I remind you that being out in this weather is somewhat hazardous? No common criminal would bother with a robbery in this.” 

“No,” responded the Bat gravely, “but I’m not after a common criminal.”

Batman had been stalking the culprit of a series of murders which smacked of his nemesis, the Joker, so random they had been in nature and each one a pun of the victim’s favorite hobby. The Joker had managed, somehow, to turn relief and relaxation into hell for theses ostensibly innocent people. In fact, had Batman not seen this type of pattern a thousand times before, he might have chalked it up to a common serial killer. Oh, how he yearned for one of those for once. 

It was an awful sentiment, he knew, and one for which Clark would surely scold him. Boyscout, Bruce thought with an odd ring of affection to his internal monologue which, in general, maintained a steady, harsh monotone. Batman had settled himself on the roof of central Gotham’s largest cathedral, looking for all the world like a gargoyle even when lightning lit up the city for a brief second or two, when the Bat Signal shone off the low-hanging clouds. 

Without a thought, he was off like a shot, gliding through the city on bat wings of a patented Wayne Tech polymer. If anyone could find a clue to the identity of the next victim, it would absolutely be the Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon. The man had the sharpest mind in the city, aside perhaps from Bruce himself. 

Still the rain roared on, washing the gutters clean and affecting a feeling of ablution upon the soiled city. It was an awful place, Gotham, and had appropriately gained an awful guardian. Batman knew damn well that he was no hero. He did what needed to be done, an opportunist at the best of times, with only a strong sense of justice to separate him from men like the Joker. 

Alighting upon the roof of the Gotham City Police Department, a lovely old building with vestiges of the art deco era in which it had been erected, he approached Jim Gordon from the shadows, as ever. The man did not move, an unlit cigarette hanging out of one side of his mouth, hands stuffed into his pockets, waiting in the rain, impassive, for Batman to arrive. 

Something was amiss. There was no way to properly place it beyond a “gut feeling”, but Batman had been in the business, as it were, long enough to know when to listen to those. He moved like a shade as the figure turned and brought a massive, toy-looking mallet down upon the spot where he had just stood, cracking the concrete of the rooftop. 

“OOPs! Ah well! Mistah J woulda been mad if I’d hitchya anyoo,” came a screechy declaration from the figure of the person who was supposed to have been Jim Gordon. 

“Harley,” Batman rumbled, his entire body coiled like a spring, watching the possible trajectory of her mallet, but also observing the woman herself. She affected, as always, a joyful grin and a bouncy, playful countenance, but it did not reach her eyes. He would not have required a flash of lightning to ascertain that, but the sky obliged him nevertheless. “I thought you’d moved on.”

“Oh no, nope, not me, no way--me an’ Mistah J are ‘mad love’ y’know? Endgame stuff, Batsy! So if you’ll just hold still so I can ding ya up a little!” Batman evaded a swing yet again, observing the sluggish movements, wondering if she had been drugged. Her heart was not in this. “Maybe one day you’ll undah-stand!”

Somehow, he considered internally, I doubt that. He did not pity her, per se, Batman knew better than to stoop to such a level, but the Dark Detective also knew an abuser when he saw one. The Joker was no lover, nor was he a fighter. Point of fact, the man was a deranged bully. Harley was a survivor, though at this point, she was a victim, caught once more in the tangled web of her misplaced devotion and the Joker and his utterly inexplicable charisma. 

“Put it down, Harley,” Batman warned. He did not want to do her harm, especially if she was not fully in control of her faculties. Something must have happened between her and Ivy, he thought, if she went back to him. It was probably bad. His mind, honed to a fine edge, quickly settled on a course of action. 

“Nope!” She swung again, a little harder this time. The lightning made itself known, followed by a peal of thunder, well-timed given her swings. Once more, Batman danced around the end of her mallet, a hair’s breadth from being clobbered. This was, of course, by design. If he could keep her swinging, he might be able to tire her out. Tiring her out meant speaking with her, which was the ultimate goal here. 

“Where has the Joker taken Jim Gordon?” His words came out measured, even, without panic. He knew he had the upper hand and he surmised that Harley Quinn knew it too. It was only a matter of time before her previous commotion with the mallet alerted the rest of the police department and Captain Harvey Bullock raced to the rooftop to find this scene. 

Batman was of the opinion that Bullock was far more apt to pull his service revolver on him than he was upon Harley, which was just as well, given that she was not wearing armor of any kind. What was the Joker thinking, sending her like this? There was really no explaining his motivations in the end, but that did not stop Batman trying. Delving into that mind was a dangerous game, he knew, but to beat them, sometimes you had to be them. 

“Harley,” he barked, “start talking or the GCPD will likely open fire.”

They had no love for the Joker and his on-and-off companion and would spare no bullet taking her out, especially if there was a chance she had harmed the beloved Jim Gordon. If they could take out Batman as well, all the better. Bullock harbored him no love. Indeed, none was lost between them. 

“I’m not here to talk, sweetie,” she mocked, dancing about and then bringing the mallet down violently between them. This time, Batman laid a hand over hers and stopped the movement with firm, downward pressure. 

“Harley,” he said, his voice just audible above the deluge. “I know you’re scared. I can protect you, but you have to tell me where Jim Gordon is.”

“I don’t need your protection, Bats,” she hissed. “I’m jus’ fine on my own.”

He had no doubt she was, but that was not what was motivating her. Either she and Ivy had fought, as he had first assumed, or the Joker had Ivy and was essentially using her as incentive, e.g.: “do as I say or the broad dies”. The idea turned Batman’s guts, which meant that it was most likely the case. 

“He has Ivy too, doesn’t he?” He did not release the mallet’s handle and at his words, her struggles ceased. She looked him in the eyes, her big, baby blues watery with what she would like to have said was rain. “You don’t have to say a word, just nod.”

Her head moved up and down, ever-so-slowly, a motion that was almost imperceptible. Batman’s jaw tightened. He swallowed down volcanic rage, mastering it as he mastered all things in his life, with calm persistence and incredible willpower. Insead of unleashing it unjustly upon Harley Quinn, he redirected his attention to the very real threat of the police department just below them. 

Ra’s Al Ghul had done him a favor by granting him use of the Lazarus Pit, but so too had the man doomed Bruce Wayne to a lifetime of recalibrating himself to his new, enhanced senses, perceptions that were beyond human ken and yet hardly foreign to him. He heard the stamp of footsteps upon the stairway leading to the roof access door and, without another thought, grasped Harley about the midsection and tossed the two of them off the side of the building. 

At the last moment, Batman deployed his grappling hook and, with preternatural strength, supported their weight as they swung away from Gotham City law enforcement, spearheaded by no less than Harvey Bullock himself. Batman was not surprised. A few buildings away, it was much easier to enjoy this sensation. Any closer and they would have had bullets whizzing past their heads. 

Harley was clinging to him, her gaze far, far away, staring into some middle distance that may or may not have existed at one point or another. She was mumbling something, but Batman was too focused on potential pursuers to listen properly. After a moment, he refocused, but she was done speaking. 

“Harley,” he prompted, speaking her name for the fifth time that evening. This time, it was followed by no other sentiment but his demand for attention and consciousness. She wrung her hands, having abandoned the mallet on the roof of the GCPD. That was just as well. They would feel they had a clue and might just leave the Bat in peace. Unlikely, the detective reminded himself, but I’ll take any head start at this point.

“I’m here,” she whispered, finally, her knees giving way. She sank to the rooftop of the building they’d found and wrapped her hands about her knees. Batman did not move to aid her. Lightning flashed and thunder roared at them, the heavy rain continuing its torrential downpour upon their heads. Wordlessly, Batman lifted his cape and solidified one section of it, using his cutting edge Wayne Tech patent for little more than an umbrella for the soaking woman in red and white spandex. 

“Are you really?” 

He was not expecting an answer. Batman just needed to keep her taking. She was a chatty one when she wanted to be, but in distress, the poor thing had a tendency to clam right up. Batman did not bother to wonder where she had learned that. 

“Yeah,” she said after a few moments. “I’m here. Mistah J jus’... he needed a favor y’see? An’ I didn’t wanna help him. So he made an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

“He took Ivy.” This was not a question. While Batman was surprised the Joker had somehow found a way to overcome the plant woman’s frankly prodigious strength, he was not surprised at the depths to which the so-called Clown Prince of Crime would go to extract obedience from his subordinates, even those who no longer considered themselves such.

She tilted her gaze upward to meet his. The response was evident in her expression, painted as it was. The rain would have made short work of anything less than full clown makeup and, unfortunately, the Joker never settled for anything less. Harley’s face, therefore, was a mask of sorrow and manufactured glee. 

Batman wasn’t certain he could continue to meet her gaze the way it was now. Pity was beneath him, but if anyone was pitiable, it was Harley Quinn in her current state. She was not a weak-willed woman, but the Joker had always held some kind of sway over her that Batman both found distasteful and completely, utterly, inexorably understandable. He despised this latter principle, finding it, like pity, base and beneath him. 

This time, the Joker had taken things one step further it seemed, and had withdrawn a compelling insurance policy. There was nothing Harley would not do for Poison Ivy, and who could blame her. Ivy had given her a new lease on life, autonomy she would not have known at Joker’s side, and a sense of self worth that had been well-deserved, but long in coming. 

Batman’s fist closed, tight and threatening, though he was not directing it at her. It was yet another tool he used to control his rage. She did not detect the gesture, focused instead upon the city’s skyline, highlighted randomly by flashes of lightning. Harley was worried about Ivy, almost paralyzed with that fear. Sitting here was doing her absolutely no good, however. 

“We gotta… go,” she said, forcing herself to speak and then, shakily, to stand. “Mistah J has ‘em at the aquarium. Saltwater ain’t too good for a plant y’know?” Her speech was casual, upbeat and almost a little manic, as always, but there was an edge to it that suggested to Batman that, were he to deliver the Joker to these women, there would be little left. 

He was sorely tempted. 

“Where?” The repetition of the question felt grating even as it passed his lips, but he spoke it anyway, Harley would snap back to herself at least long enough to tell him where he could find those whom he sought. She could sit this one out. She was shaken and in no condition for combat of any kind, in his estimation. 

“Aquarium,” she said, shoulders sagging even as she stood erect, swaying a little, but still upright. Her resolve was impressive, there was no denying that. All the same, pushing herself would do Ivy no good and might jeopardize the lives of both hostages. 

“Stay here,” he instructed. “I won’t be long.”

An iron grip around his arm stopped him mid stride. Batman turned to look once more into Harley’s eyes. She was not a tall woman, at all, but she commanded a remarkable presence and held his attention with little more than her own charisma. This attribute, he thought, more than rivaled the Joker’s. It was a more sincere sort of charisma, to boot, almost endearing. The Dark Detective reminded himself that she was, of course, a world-class criminal and could have killed him on more than one occasion. Only his luck and the Joker’s arrogance had stopped her. 

Now, they had a common goal and Batman wondered just what her formidable intellect could do when put to a use other than something maniacally nefarious. She held tightly to his arm with one hand, the other one balling into a fist beneath her downturned face. It appeared, from this angle, as if she was chewing intently upon the middle knuckle of her first finger, as if weighing her options. 

“We don’t have long,” he warned, knowing she of all people understood this, but feeling the need to reiterate. She shifted her weight a little then and released his arm. Harley brought one fist into her other hand, hard and looked up from under pale lashes. 

“I’m gunna kill him,” she hissed, jaw tight. Batman laughed through his nose, a dry sound, barely audible above the growl of thunder. He was not laughing at her, but rather at the circumstances which had forced this strange union. Pity was beneath him, sure enough, but for a brief moment, he pitied the Joker. He had little time to consider this strange turn of events because she, without warning, took off toward the edge of the building in the direction of the Gotham City Municipal Aquarium. Tossing herself over the ledge, Harley Quinn fell without a care in the world, knowing damn well the Dark Knight was there to catch her.

True to form, he did, and guided them expertly through the labyrinthine streets of Gotham City. Overhead, the storm raged, driving pedestrians inside and drowning the sounds of enraged nighttime traffic, softening the glow of neon and muffling much other than the maelstrom itself. The wind tossed rain this way and that, forcing it every direction save downward, though it all eventually ended up in the same place. The sewers would be a nightmare this evening. Batman silently thanked whatever god was listening that he was dealing with Joker and not Killer Croc. 

When they landed near the rear entrance of the aquarium, Harley was sufficiently worked up and it was only physical intervention which stopped her marching right on in. She bristled and tugged her arm away from Batman’s restraining grasp. He loosed his grip but gave a warning shake of his head, indicating that if she just stormed in, the Joker would know exactly what had happened and would perhaps execute both hostages. The man was woefully unstable, but he was no fool. 

On the other hand, it was very likely the Joker had anticipated this, as well. 

“Get me in there,” Batman said, “and I’ll handle it.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” She was utterly incredulous, almost irritated at the very idea that the Joker would believe that she actually managed to lay low the Dark Detective himself with only her silly mallet which, notably, she no longer possessed. It was only at that point she seemed to realize just how twisted his perception of her must have been. Her hackles rose once more. I’ll show you, she thought venomously. "What, are we supposed to play pretend or somethin'?"

“I have a feeling the Joker won’t buy whatever we’re selling,” Batman observed. Harley seemed to understand his meaning and nodded, cracking her knuckles menacingly. He could feel the shift in her demeanor. The rain would not be enough to cool her down and it was falling harder than ever. The dismally hot spell had broken spectacularly and made for a cacophonous backdrop to their entry. 

Batman stooped to pick the lock of the employee entrance. He felt a rush of air and tilted his body to the side just in time to evade Harley’s heel, booting her way through the set of double doors, kicking them inward with an almost animal fury. He wondered what the Joker had doped her up with, because the old Harley Quinn wouldn’t have been able to break a stick over her knee—or maybe she just hadn’t been inclined.

“Afta you, Bats,” she said, in her usual timbre, but without that manic enthusiasm characteristic of her villainous persona. She’s pissed. Batman made a mental note to give her a wide berth when they finally came upon the Joker and his prey. For now, he would allow her to be at his back, but the moment he saw the Clown Prince, he resolved to make certain he was never between the two of them. Batman inclined his head slightly and moved into the dark beyond, his cape and cowl blending seamlessly in with the utter lack of illumination. Before his eyes adjusted, he was forced to rely on his other senses. Batman had learned years ago that technology could only get you so far and, where the Joker was concerned, less really was invariably more.

The shift in noise level as the door closed was almost enough to mask the incoming blow. He had all but expected this and shifted his weight, whirling to deflect her two-fisted blow which had likely been aimed at his upper back. She stumbled a few feet and hit the wall with a thud. The sound of her sliding downward told him all he needed to know. She was not out cold, just defeated, assured that she could not hope to attain that which her “puddin” so desired.

“Can’t blame a girl for tryin’,” she offered. The fight—with him at least—had gone out of her. He hoped this would be the last instance of it. The Fury who had kicked the door in was better suited to rescuing Ivy and Jim Gordon than making an attempt on Batman’s consciousness.

“No,” he confirmed, “I can’t.” He offered her a hand. She groped blindly for it and allowed herself to be pulled upward. She was light, more than usual, and he wondered how long she had been in the Joker’s service. How long had he been holding Ivy? What promises had he uttered? What threats? It did not bear consideration, but Batman could not stop himself.

“Yowch, easy!” He had been squeezing her hand and only her cry drew him back from dark contemplations. He released it with a grunt and turned his attention up the hallway. Even the auxiliary lighting had been shut down, so the exit sign above their point of entry offered no help. They were in a windowless, concrete corridor which felt as if it sloped down, probably toward the larger tanks. The Gotham Municipal Aquarium was known for its diverse specimens and rehabilitation program, but most of all for its rescued orca. A bad-tempered, giant dolphin with teeth, Batman thought. He knew that the species was not inherently vicious, but anything kept in an enclosure that was barely a drop in the bucket compared to its natural habitat was bound to have bouts of aggression. He was willing to place money on the chances that the Joker’s great game revolved around the whale.

Batman shuddered inwardly at the thought. There were few methods and forms of combat with which he was unfamiliar and he had all but mastered most of the ones he did know. Aquatic combat was far outside his range of expertise, however, and he would have been more than willing to defer to Arthur Curry, better known as Aquaman. But they did not have time to raise the League. Only Alfred knew where they were. If he suspected trouble, he would raise Nightwing and the others as quickly as possible, but there was simply no guarantee of timely arrival.

Every single day (and night) in Gotham was a game of chance, however. Batman knew this better than most and threw himself into each foray into his hateful, beloved city with fervor and conviction. He reflected that the risk into which he willingly stepped was something the citizens of Gotham navigated every second of every day on their own, without his unique set of skills. He admired that kind of tenacity. He was a hero born of that tenacity, though if one had asked him, Batman would hardly have used the word “hero”. I do what needs to be done, he reminded himself as they made their way down the sloping corridor, now side by side. Harley, he was sure, was going to make no more moves against him, but he did not get where he was by being careless.

“He’s in the whale cage,” she informed Batman in a harsh stage whisper. There was little point in sneaking, they both knew. The Joker’s plans usually came to at least some form of fruition and that usually meant the Dark Detective showing up right on time for the “main event”.

“I know,” he said, holding his hand up, signaling that she should stop. She did not. Harley bullied her way past him and strode right down into the orca enclosure’s backstage area. This door, she did not need to break, and simply walked right through before Batman could stop her. He was right behind, but with an air of caution she simply did not possess. Calling out to her at that point would have done no good. She had already seen her target. He stood center stage, so to speak, with the pair of them, Ivy and Gordon, tied firmly, one off to the side and clearly unconscious, the other awake and struggling, standing precariously at the end of the performers’ high dive. Below, the orca circled, his massive, drooping dorsal fin trailing in the water like a shark’s.

[escelia]

This is a follow-up/one-shot based on the fic I wrote here, which was based on the prompt by @ghostreblogging

I'm really having fun with Big Brother Danny AU~ big thanks to everyone taking the time to read it!

Not So Normal

Daniel Fenton-Wayne had been with the family for a while now. To say that he was odd would be an injustice because he wasn't really. At least, not compared to the rest of the costume wearing vigilante family. Danny was a civilian, albeit a strange one. Danny and Damian were close in age, and everyone could tell that Danny wanted to be a good big brother; he'd never had the chance to before. The strangeness came in when Damian brandished his many weapons toward Danny, and he... caught him mid launch. Just snatched the little bird out of the air for a hug. Damian had thought he was putting up a fight, but it was clear that Danny wasn't struggling. He seemed so casually unbothered by Damian's behavior, but he was normal, ya know?

Damian sneers and waves his fork menacingly at Danny during dinner?

"He's fine! He's like, what, 10 years old?"

Damian growled that he was clearly 12 and threw himself over the table at him.

Damian threatens him with his swords?

"Damian! No!"

"Nooooo! Don't discourage him! He might lose interest!" And even as the rest of the family assured him that that would be a good thing, he handed Damian the blade and asked if lessons were on the table so Damian could have a "competent sparring partner." He still tried to stab Danny after that.

As concerning as it always was when Damian tried to stab someone, they were all relieved that Daniel seemed to be able to handle the demon brat better than most. Eventually the baby bird would warm up to him and stop stabbing him so often, but until then, Danny could handle himself.

~~~~○•○•○~~~~

Let it be known that Damian did not have a favorite brother! They were all imbeciles with poor taste in humor and mediocre fighting skills. That being said, Danny did have a leg up over the others for inquiring about sword lessons to improve his fighting prowess, even if he was already surprisingly adequate for a civilian. Well, that and other things that Danny had admitted only to him in the months he'd been with the family. It was strange being the one he confided in, but he felt a sort of pride that, even though he'd tried to stab Daniel, he was still the one he went to when he needed to talk about stuff he hadn't told the others. So perhaps it wasn't that surprising that when he'd gotten in trouble, Danny was the one Damian called for.

Patrol that night had been boring and quiet. Too quiet. Way too quiet for Gotham, which meant that something bad was brewing. Batman had handed Robin off to Nightwing for the night while he poured over all the reports and data from the last few weeks to figure out what the rogues of Gotham could have planned. Nightwing was ashamed to say that the Joker had gotten the jump on them. He'd tied the two up, leaving their comms on so the rest of the bats could hear all of the terrible things Joker had planned for them. He included terrible reminders of how he'd murdered Jason and how he couldn't wait to pluck the wings from Batman's other birdies. Damian wanted to rip his throat out for that, but he was in no shape to fight. His family was in danger, so he called out to the only other person he trusted.

"DANIEL!" Damian screamed long and loud for his brother, the plea surging forth from deep in his chest. Dick looked horror stricken that his baby brother had called out for the one member of the family that wasn't a vigilante, painting a huge target on his back. But even as he could hear the commotion coming through the comms and see the panicked look on Dick's face, he called for Danny again. His brother would help. He would come!

The room's temperature dropped in an instant, their panting, panicked breaths fogging the air while the lights flickered. The Joker paused in his maniacal laughter to observe the Lazarus green pool forming on the ground between him and the birds. Frost and ice cracked through the concrete of the warehouse as a head of white hair with a crown of crystalline ice rose through the small pit and the Joker's veins flooded with dread at the too wide, too sharp smile on the thing's face.

"Don't worry, I'm here. You're safe," he cooed comfortingly back to Damian, his voice an otherworldly echo in the large space. "But you?" He gestured to the Joker with claw-like fingers. "Well, let's just say, I've been d̵͔̦̩̒̒̊ẙ̴̧͓͕̺ḯ̸͖̪͔n̶͉͛g̵̻̾͒͜ to get my hands on you."

It happened so fast that no one really knew if the Joker screamed or not. In one moment, the boy's body had morphed into a cloud of inky black scattered with what looked like honest to God stars that smothered the Joker, and in the next, he was gone. The being who, upon closer inspection, definitely looked like Danny if he had white hair and green eyes and was a literal Eldritch creature, was untying them with care.

"Danny?" Dick questioned. He acknowledged him with a quick nod before turning back to Damian, the one who had called.

"You came," the youngest mumbled.

"You called," Danny answered with a soft smile. "Did you think that I wouldn't?"

"No. I knew that you would. You're not incompetent like the others."

"You guys heard that, right? That was definitely a compliment!"

Damian huffed but sagged in relief once he and Dick were both untied.

"You- you're-" Dick stumbled over his words in astonishment. "Danny, you're a meta?"

"Technically, it's a medical condition, but details," he responded, waving off the rest of the question with a cheeky smile.

In Nightwing's ear Bruce asked to speak with Danny. He removed the earpiece and tapped Danny's arm with it, gesturing to his ear. The "meta" slid it on just in time to hear his adoptive father shout.

"We will be talking about this as soon as everyone gets home safe, am I understood!"

"Loud and clear, boss man!"

"Let it be known that I knew something was weird about Danny!" He heard Jason exclaim. "No offense man."

"None taken, my Revenant sibling mine."

"Where did the Joker even go?" Someone over the comms asked. Danny thought it was Steph.

"I sent him to clown jail. I hate clowns. I've literally never met one that hasn't tried to kill me or my family."

Upon learning that the Joker wasn't the first homicidal clown that their, before now, seemingly normal brother had met, the comms erupted into chaos. Danny tossed the earpiece back to Nightwing before whisking them away back to the cave under the manor. He had a lot of explaining to do.

[to-the-stars8]

Learning to Love Slowly

Jason Todd x Reader All Chapters AO3

34- Deep Breaths and Brownies

It was a bad night, to say the least, and Jason was itching to get out of his suit. It started with him and Bruce getting into a big fight that he over something couldn’t even remember. Then, when he was out with Dick he was hit on the back of his helmet with a tire iron that just set him on edge. Before Jason could lose his mind, Dick intervened, telling him to go. So, Jason left, with every nerve and gruesome thought coming to life. 

He hated being like this, these small moments when his mind was filled with the Joker’s laugh and his mother’s voice. For a while, Jason didn’t know what to do, and as he tried to clear his mind, one clear thought was coming through. He needed to get somewhere safe.  

The moment his feet land on your apartment floor, he’d already started unlatching his helmet and was scouring every room to find you. Jason knew you were home, all the lights were and your favorite show was playing on the living room TV. He turned the corner into the kitchen where he saw you there, surprised, in the middle of you licking a chocolate-covered spoon. 

You smiled at the sight of him and started to step forward to hug him. “Hi, Jaybean…”

Before you could touch him, Jason shuffled back. “Please…no.”

“Alright, alright,” You said quickly. “Is everything okay?”

Jason just shook his head, closing his eyes momentarily to get his thoughts together but that fucking clown kept coming back. Sitting on the floor, Jason tried to calm down and could feel you get closer as you kneeled to his level. “Just…just, please, don’t touch me.”

“I won’t,” You said quietly. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Fuck, no.” He said and noticed a tear drop onto his hand. Damn, Jason didn’t even know he had started to cry. He felt like he couldn’t breathe, everything had all of a sudden become too much. 

“Okay,” You mumbled, looking down as you ran through all the things you could do to help him. “Hey, you’re safe here, Jay. You’re home with me.”

“I know,” He sobbed. 

“Good. We’re making brownies,” You cooed. “Doesn’t it smell good, Jay?”

It sounded stupid to ask, but Jason realized he hadn’t noticed the smell when he first came in. He always liked the smell of your kitchen when you baked, especially on the fall afternoons you spent together huddled up with a good movie. He wanted to know only that, not the nightmare echoing in the memories. When you asked him to take a breath, Jason thought about telling you that wouldn’t work and to leave him alone when he remembered he came to you to feel safe. You would leave him alone he asked, he knew because you were so fucking respectful, but he also needed you there. You were grounding him, slowly, and it was working as he drew in a breath. You smiled when he did, it felt good to see your smile so he did it again.

 “Good, Jay. Thank you.” You turned away for a second to look at the timer. “The brownies are about to be done, so if you give me a few minutes I’ll bring you a plate of some. With some hot chocolate, of course.”

Jason tried to smile to show you that he appreciated the effort you were putting in for him, but he couldn’t. Instead, he just nodded, leaning back against the wall as he took some more deep breaths with his eyes trained on you. 

He made note of everything you were doing, just so he could focus on something. Watching you, he reminded himself that there was no one there but you and him. It was your home, and Jay knew you would be damned if you let anyone else that wasn’t invited inside. He took off his gloves, throwing them in some random corner before he placed his hand down on the cool wooden floor of the kitchen. 

“Let me get you a blanket,” You said, voice still soft. “You look cold.”

“I don’t want a blanket,” Jason said, probably in a bit too stern of a tone by the look on your face. He tried to soften it for your sake. “I…the brownies will keep me warm.”

You nodded, turning around again and grabbing the plate you had put the brownies on before moving over to him. “Here,” You held the plate out toward him. “I’ll get you that…”

“Fuck the hot chocolate,” He said, pointing to the spot you had originally sat. “Sit.”

You did as he instructed and dropped into place. Pulling your knees close to you, you rested your chin on your knees as you watched each other. After a few seconds, Jason held his hand out to you. You took it, interlocking your fingers together, and Jason sucked in a breath. 

He liked touching you, and he liked to be touched by you. Sitting there, he thought back to a few months ago when he was so scared of your touch, afraid that’ll burn him in some way. Now, he was in the middle of a bad episode with you holding his hand. 

“Thank you,” Jason said. 

You caressed the back of his hand with your free one. “Don’t thank me, honeybee.”

“Babe, do me a favor,” He said. 

You smiled, fuck did he love it. “Of course.”

“Never stop being this fuckin’ lovely.”

You kissed his hand and the world slowly started to fall back into place. “Hm, then don’t come over on Tuesdays, I tend to be less lovely then.”

Jason snorted, glad that, above all else, he didn’t scare away your humor. He put his head back against the wall again, closing his eyes again, still seeing the Joker in all his manic glory, but his laugh was gone instead being drowned out by your voice. You were talking about something, but he wasn’t entirely paying attention to what you were saying. Instead, he was focusing on the sound of your voice, the way you said your words. 

Through the cruel images and terrible memories, Jason realized one thing was clear. In the worst moments, he could always come home to you.