#league of assassins au

[sillystringpasta]

so, i see all these aus where danny gets help from the justice league for the anti ecto acts, and they're great. but hear me out. ghost king danny. classic setup, acts need to be repealed or war.

so danny goes to the league, of course.

the league of assassins.

Ra's is already familiar with death, and ghosts, and the realms. ya man's had the lazarus pits for centuries, he knows a little bit of what's what. maybe there's already some trade relations going on. more importantly, he has a massive group of hyper competent people who can pull strings in the government very stealthily, and have no outside affiliation or loyalty to that government.

but why not the JL? most of them are based in the USA. they work with the government (danny assumes). surely they are aware of the Acts. surely they would conform to them, enforce them.

so ghost king danny meets with ra's, who gives rancid vibes, but is able to, and wants to, do a smear campaign against the JL. against the USA. to gain favor with the guy who is the king of his most sacred resource, and knowledge about how to use the Pits to gain some basic liminal powers.

danny doesn't like the solution, exactly. but he's king. and this is what will protect his people. this is what will get expedient results. this is what his advisors who will still permit peace will allow.

so danny takes the deal with Ra's.

the initial outrage begins online, perhaps through MikMok. a mega famous influencer is cosplaying as superman, doing a twerking sort of dance to the most current haha funni meme song. the text overlay reads: when the superheroes condone genocide because they aren't human, ANTI-ECTO ACTS (whatever law/section code they were passed in).

it goes viral. and then someone finds the Acts (prodded along by the League) and it goes from a hit sensation online to every. single. news outlet flooding with information (puppeted by the League).

is this real? the Acts are real. but why? if these people(?) don't exist, why the Acts? the outrage. the mass confusion. the conspiracies. the new subgeddits and trending xitter tags. 4kun greentext be me: a ghost, becomes the new thing.

at this point, the GIW are scrambling to keep their involvment on the downlow. there are acts, sure, but they're not enforced :DDDD

vlad is in a similar situation. he cloned a guy. he def experimented on other ghosts to get to that level of knowledge. naturally, this is about when lex luthor gets involved. because, wouldn't you know it, but project CADMUS? yeah. that was a collab with DalvCo. they both wanted non-human clones from green stuff. they got it, and now luthor's sitting on some unpretty information.

he promptly shoves vlad under the bus, which is rapidly becoming less of a bus and more a trainwreck.

the league is surprised this happened, but goes with it.

the US governemnt is still trying to deny, deny, deny.

it's at this point that the JL gets themselves together. they don't know if the papers by Drs fenton are biased, or if ecto entities really are mindless creatures bent on destruction.

constantine says they're biased. green lantern concurs.

they decide to summon an ecto entity and find out what is going on.

danny is pretty stressed. it's a stressful situation. he's on break for the first time since they got a solution to this problem. he's not gonna answer a summoning. he has people to do that for him.

so they don't get the ghost king.

but they do get-

dani. and jazz. at the same time.

maximum possible psychic damage.

in the room at the watchtower is the big 3, green lantern, martian manhunter, flash, constantine, zatanna, raven, and black canary (legends of tomorrow experience? cool headed? there for arrow who is busy?).

dani doesn't like superman. he treats clones badly. jazz doesn't like batman, see Arkham.

dani doesn't know who c, z, raven, or bc are. jazz kinda knows of them, but not well.

so the actual negotiations go down with WW and MM.

they have a lot of questions. dani (abomination form) introduces jazz (basic looking human) as a princess of the realms. jazz says that the Acts are real, the realms want war, go suck a creamsickle (that was dani), they want restitution for the lives lost from the GIW.

then they leave the JL wondering who the GIW are.

someone (LoA) manages to hack the watchtower and post the meeting online as soon as it happens. or maybe they livestreamed it on Switch.

my spamblr, the result of my space buying tumblr in 1999, gains its first sexy women (jazz). jazz/WW fiction springs up on AOL3 overnight.

the GIW goes public. they try to push the envelop of ghosts being non-sentient. they try to use jazz being ambassador for that meeting to help their case. the JL is fighting accuations, but they are being pidgeon holed into siding with the GIW by the media.

it's at this point that things go from trainwreck to airplane runway crash.

dalvco and luthor are in a lawsuit. the usgov is under pressure from everyone. people are calling for impeachment of the president. the GIW is getting raided and having their evil posted online. the drs fentons are absent (in the ghost zone, either being evil or having mimosas with pandora). ra's is trying to use new knowledge of the Pits to reanimate tim's spleen. the JL is under constant fire. everyone who has ever had a malicious opinion about super or meta control is getting new platforms. danny can't use his intimate knowledge of what's going on to write his essays for school.

the world is galvanized. there are calls to action. liminals of Amity Prak come forward. you could be liminal too! the Acts get repealed. the GIW gets cleaned out, all prisoners rescued. the realms get restituition. the meta protection acts get expanded.

people will learn about phantom, the superhero. the dead boy who saved them all when the JL didn't answer amity's calls. the JL comes under more fire. they lose funding, defund the police style. for maximum chaos, this can be when the miraculous ladybug crossover starts.

phantom gets a bajillion features on true crime podcasts. tucker keeps sending links to the episodes to them. sam will never admit it, but she listens to them.

but things will never, ever be the same. arguably it's a bad end. but...

black canary restructures arkham from what jazz said to batman in that meeting. many of the rogues get actual help. the joker is transfered to a supermax. he never escapes again. nightwing takes the discowing costume back up in celebration.

vlad loses the lawsuit, and uses his powers to get one over on luthor, who has a mind control suggestion implanted to (amongst other things) never be able to work on these projects again.

there is greater transparancy in superhero work. this makes some people start social programs for villians who have a point. it works for a few of them. the JL is cleared up to handle more extraterrestriel threats, not leaving the burden on one person alone in the cities. the child sidekicks have less work.

amanda waller is fired. ironically, she had nothing to do with any of this, but people assume that she did. either way, everyone agrees it's deserved.

the league of assassins makes a lot of money. they get hired a lot in turbulent times.

disney, which is utterly unchanged in this dimension, makes a documentary about everything. they get dani in for an interview. it's in very bad taste. there is at least one death pun and CGI'd animal.

danny graduates.

clockwork smiles.

[anjuschiffer]

Do We Dare To Dream? Chapter 5 - Finale

...a year later, huh? But hey! It's the finale and hope you enjoy it :D

Tags: @toodaloo-kangaroo @vixen-uchiha @hammalammadamdam @laurcad123

Prev | AO3

-

It didn’t take long to find the brat despite the lights in the manor having gone off, Jason hearing his yell echo throughout the halls, the yells getting louder as he neared his room. 

The minute he turned the corner, he watched as Damian was being pushed against the corridor wall, the perpetrator overwhelming the kid despite their small frame, their bo staff holding its own against Damian’s katana.

“Damian!” Jason yelled, hating that the goggles he had on were a bit too snug for him and the mask he slipped over his mouth muffled his voice. 

Sure, the assailant might know what he may look like a bit, but if their mask didn’t have built in cameras to help magnify things, then they shouldn’t know his face…meaning they shouldn’t know who he was and he needed that advantage.

The assailant turned to acknowledge him, kicking Damian back into his room before running towards Jason, snapping him from his trance when he saw the bo staff mere inches away from his face. 

Stepping back, Jason felt a shiver run down his spine when he noticed the floor tiles crack when the assailant’s staff met it with a loud clang. 

Oh, there was no fooling around, was there?

He quickly withdrew his blades, not having a second to compose himself as the assailant quickly threw themselves at him, Jason gritting his teeth as he did his best to fend off the bo staff that clashed against his two katanas.

Jason danced with his opponent, dodging all of their attacks, save for a few hits that managed to make him feel the bruises starting to form on his arm and legs. He managed to land a few cuts onto his opponent, a few punches to their stomach and yet-

“Fuck off brat!” Jason yelled at Damian who got in his way for the third time, causing the two of them to knock backwards, Jason hissing as he felt something in his bone break inwards as the assailant’s staff collided with his ribs.

“I don’t need your protection!” Damian roared as he dusted himself off as he got back up. “I am the grandson of Ra's Al Ghul, the heir to the League of Assassins-” Jason began to drown his voice as he focused back on the person who kept trying to kill him with every move they charged in his direction, “-trained in the way of killing. I don’t need some foot soldier protecting me! I can handle this-” Damian letting out a scream was not something Jason expected. 

He also wasn’t expecting to see Deathstroke withdrawing his katana from Damian’s shoulder.

“Damian!”

“Well done finding the objective, Rouge.” Deathstroke praised them, Jason watching as his opponent quickly stopped attacking him and went to Deathstroke’s side. “And as promised, I’ll-”

“Do you think I’ll just let you do that to me?” Damian growled, charging towards Deathstroke, clicking his teeth when the assailant parried his attack and pushed him away.

“Foolish boy. There’s a reason as to why Ra’s sent you to your father’s instead of chasing after me.” Deathstroke sneered. 

Jason watched as Rouge continued to guard Deathstroke. “Despite the fact that you were trained by Ra’s, you lack the one thing that separates you from him and your father: patience.”

Damian yelled as he charged once again towards Deathstroke, only this time, Rouge parried him and dropped their bo staff, stabbed Damian in his forearm and proceeded to pin him against the ground. 

“Damian!”

“Let me go!” 

As much as Jason enjoyed seeing Damian get what he deserved, he knew he had to save this kid if he wanted to keep living.

Jason quickly grabbed the abandoned staff and whacked Rouge against the stomach, causing them to crash into the wall, widening the distance between Rouge and Damian.

“Damian, we need to go and-”

“I’m not a coward! Keep that vexatious nuisance away from me.” Damian ordered as he dusted himself off, locking onto Deathstroke. “I’ll handle him!” Damian said with a roar as he chased after Deathstroke.

“Damian!” Jason yelled knowing it fell onto deaf ears. “That fucking-” Jason muttered, after to go after the brat when he caught something pink move from the corner of his eye.

He felt the heel of Rouge’s foot connect with the side of his head, his vision shifting greatly. His head hit the floor, Jason feeling his goggles begin to overheat, low crackling filling his ears. 

As quickly as he could go, Jason struggled to take the damn thing off, making sure that none of the shards of the goggles’ lens decided to impale him. 

“Ra’s isn’t going to be happy about this,” he said out loud, only then realizing that something was off.

Why did Rouge stop attacking? 

Jason looked at the enemy in front of him, having the balls to just stand there, as if waiting for a command. For something to happen. Anything. 

“Is…that you…Jason?” Jason heard the person speak for the first time. 

“How the hell do you know my-“ 

“He told me you were dead.” They said, Jason watching as they took off their mask, Jason watching as strands of her short hair framed her pale face as she pulled down her hood. 

There was no way…no…but it was…

For some reason, he felt relieved more so than confused. He didn’t know why, but he did. 

“I saw you die before my eyes.” Jason managed to whisper despite the frog in his throat, taking a step towards Marinette who did the same. 

“Slade told me that Ra’s had killed you for trying to defend me. He told me-“

“You literally bleed to death as Ra’s dragged me away from-“

“Slade told me that Ra’s had made an example of you for conspiring against him.”  Marinette said, cupping Jason’s face into her calloused hands, Jason placing his own over hers. Marinette noticed a red ribbon tied around his wrist. 

Her ribbon! 

So that’s where it went. She had searched for it upon waking up, only to find it missing from her hair. “I mourned you for days.”

“So did I.” Jason whispered, proceeding to hug Marinette, wrapping his arms tightly around her, scared that if he let her go, she would leave him again. “You’re supposed to be dead…”

“So are you and yet here we are…” Marinette didn’t want this moment to end but she had to. There was something she had to do. “Jason.”

“Yeah?” As he pulled away, something met his lips, Jason staring at Marinette with wide eyes when she pulled herself away from him. He stared at her for a few seconds before he cupped her face with his hand. “Can we do that again? I don’t think I processed that first one.” Jason asked, running his hand through her hair, disappointed at the fact that it was so short now. 

It just barely reached her ears, falling back to frame her face every time he tried to run his fingers through it.

With a nod and giggle from Marinette, he brought himself closer to her, returning her earlier kiss, smiling into it.

“Jason!” Marinette squeaked, giggling as he then peppered her in chaste kisses. “We have to focus!”

“I’m just making up for lost time.” Jason said as he kissed her one last time. “I don’t plan on breaking that promise we made two years ago, got it?” Marinette pursed her lips, causing Jason to scowl. “Don’t tell me you’re staying with-”

“I’m not going back to Deathstroke. My role in this has already been completed. I’m free to go wherever I please… but what about you?” Marinette curled her fingers into her palm, looking down to her feet, watching as a blade pierce right through her chest. “Didn’t Ra’s personally make you Damian’s guard? Won’t he expect you to stay by his side?” She watched as blood dripped from the tip of the blade. “How…how will you get him off your back?” She stuttered, bringing her trembling hand over her heart.

She snapped from her trance once Jason placed her hand on his cheek.

“Mari, he’s not here.”

“I don’t want to suffer under him because of me again.” She admitted, pulling her hand away. “I caused you to suffer because of my stupid-”

“You taught me to dream again. To hope.” Jason cupped her face. “Is it wrong of us to try and make our dreams come true? To complete our promise?”

“No.” 

“So, are you willing to fight for it?” Jason asked her, watching as the fear in her eyes dispelled, watching as they gleamed brightly with passion.

“I am.” Marinette pledged. “I’m in.”

“That’s the Mari I know,” He praised, causing her heart to soar.

“But if we’re going to make it out of here tonight, then I have to tell you everything about Deathstroke’s plans for tonight. Starting with his end goal.”

“Isn’t killing Damian his end goal?”

“Killing Damian isn’t his actual goal, if anything, Damian’s death would be a nice achievement. Another trophy if you would.” Marinette confessed. “I’m sure you’re well aware of that Deathstroke was the one behind the-”

“-attack on the League just a few weeks ago. Yes. I’m aware of that.” He didn’t dare want to let her know that her dead body was highly ingrained into his memory from that night. She’d only add it to her growing guilt.

“Then you’re aware of his obsession with taking over the League of Assassins. 

But that was just a ruse he wanted us to think was his true objective. In reality, he wants to kill Ra’s and everyone related to him and those who are connected to his family.”

“Ra’s? He thinks he could kill Ra’s? Jason scoffed. “No one can-”

“He might not be able to kill him head on, but definitely using underhanded methods, such as coming after his heir. He also wants to kill anyone who he sees as a threat in achieving this, which includes Talia and…” Marinette went quiet.

“Who else Mari? Who else could possibly stand in his way of killing Ra-”

“Wayne.” Marinette whispered. “He wants to kill Bruce Wayne, his ultimate rival…the man who he blames-” A ringing started to grow in Jason’s ears.

Jason stood there, frozen as he attempted to process those words through the ringing that was slowly starting to leave his ears.

“-son! Jason! Stop!” He felt something tug at his arm. “Snap out of it! Please!” Marinette pleaded, Jason turning to see why she was screaming when it was just the two of them-

Why was she panicking? Why were her eyes so glossy?

He reached for her to try and calm her down, only for her to step away from him, her eyes darting from his face to his hand and back. “Ja-Jason, it’s m-me.”

“I know it’s you.” Jason easily answered back, only then noticing something was wrong with him. Why did he sound-

“Can you hear me?” Marinette asked. “Can you tell me, what’s my name?”

“Mari, I’m…fine now.” Jason let out a breath. “I’m fine.” When she wouldn’t approach him, he decided to sit down and waited for her to come close. But she never did. “Marinette, I’m-”

“You remember him, don’t you?” She asked him. “That’s why you reacted that way, right?” Jason opened his mouth to answer, only to close it. “When…when did you regain-”

“How did you know Bruce Wayne was my father?” Jason threw back at her, wondering why she didn’t bring him up in the first place. “Why did you assume that Slade’s objective of killing Bruce Wayne was the reason I lost control of my-”

“Slade didn’t tell me Bruce Wayne was your father. He didn’t even tell me that Damian was Ra’s grandchild and Bruce’s son. 

It wasn’t until I started to do some research after the mission briefing that I started to connect the loose dots Slade had given me.” Marinette confessed.  “And I confirmed my findings with the first portrait I saw upon entering the manor, upon entering Bruce’s office.” She smiled. “You were very adorable as a kid, you know? The bow tie just added to your cuteness.”

“Portrait? What-” It clicked. “He still has it?” He whispered, feeling Mari’s hands pull him up.

To think Bruce still had their old family portrait and in his office for that matter… he thought…he thought Bruce would have already stored it somewhere to rot. Somewhere where his face wouldn’t cause him any suffering…

“Jason.” Marinette held onto his hand, grasping it tightly. “We need to stop Slade. We need to stop him from killing Damian and your father.” Marinette then grinned ferally. “And I need him to pay for lying to me about you being dead.”

“Let’s rip him up a new hole, shall we?” Jason proposed, causing Marinette to laugh before the two ran out to search for the bastard.

-

Dick knew something was off the minute he stepped into the manor after so much needed bath after last night’s patrol. And no, it wasn’t the out of whack tension in the manor’s air due to Bruce’s kid-

Bruce’s kid…Damian…his son…

Dick sighed as the thought muddled his mind. 

He never thought Bruce would actually end up with a kid of his own flesh and blood despite his countless flings he had throughout the years, but that was just it. While Bruce had intimate relationships, he made sure they never got to third base…

To think that he had a kid with Ra’s Al Ghul’s daughter out of everyone out there…

What was he thinking?

Ever since Damian waltzed into their world, everything had felt off balanced, something had shifted in their home and yet Dick couldn’t figure out why. Sure, Damian’s arrogance was a pain in his ass, but that couldn’t be the reason for Dick feeling this way. 

This feeling, it was the same feeling Dick would feel after Bruce would return from a business trip. A feeling of familiarity, of someone waiting to be greeted back.

But Bruce had been at the Manor for the past week, making calls between Lucius and lawyers regarding the new addition to the family. 

So why was he feeling like this?

Deciding to check on his new brother, Dick turned the hall that led to his room, only to stop like a deer in headlights. 

The doors to Damian’s room were busted down, clear cuts adorned the hallway and flooring, nearby decorations obliterated into scraps of paper and wood. 

How did all of this go unnoticed? Why didn’t any of the alarms-

Dick felt his phone start to ring in his pocket, quickly fishing it out only to see Bruce’s phone flashing across the screen.

“Bruce? Do-”

“Slade got into the manor.” Bruce cut off, causing Dick’s heart to stop.

There went a name he thought he would never hear again…

“What do you mean Slade-”

“Talia just contacted me and filled me in on the situation. Seems like he’s taking his revenge on me through Damian…and Ra’s.”

“Ra’s? What do you-”

“He’s dead.” Dick had to take a moment to process what he was just told. “He killed him a few days ago, leaving the League in shambles.”

Ra’s…dead? He never thought he would ever croak- wait. He’s after Damian? “-need you to find Damian and make sure-”

“Seems like he already found him.” Dick bluntly informed Bruce, hearing the other side get quieter than usual. “The furniture inside his room is thrashed about and right outside the room, it seems like he got into an intense battle with Slade, although…I don’t think he’s alone, or rather, neither of them are alone.”

“Explain.” Dick crouched to examine the crushed tile beneath him. 

“We know both Damian and Slade excel in using katanas but there’s evidence of a bo staff being used and based on the damages, they couldn’t be any older than me but definitely older than Damian and younger than Slade himself.” Dick then noticed the shattered mask shattered across the floor. “But there’s evidence of another person fighting the one with the bo staff. Perhaps the person Damian told us was selected by Ra’s himself to protect him.”

“Figure out what is going on and make sure Damian is safe. I’ll be there in ten.” Dick listened as the line went off, signaling his hunt for Damian. If only he knew where to start when it struck him. Why didn’t he think to check there in the first place?!

-

The Bat Cave was everything but the best place to fight against an opponent who trained under the same master you did. Especially one who fought with vengeance in his mind. 

Yes there was a plethora of weaponry to throw towards Slade, but that was it. There wasn’t much footing Damian could jump onto or jump off of to increase the forces of his blows which he so desperately needed right now. 

Damian had no qualms in fighting against Slade, but the mere fact that he was running out of stamina wasn’t sitting well with him, feeling the soreness and burning sensations of his wounds starting to affect him. 

And as his mind focused on these issues, it was also starting to notice that the aching in his calves were starting to feel more than just slight tingling. They were starting to weigh him down too much, fusing with the floor beneath him.

It burned every time he would have to lift them up, hell he didn’t have to lift them to feel it. Just moving them felt like they were on fire.

Cursing himself for his weakening state, it was only then that he realized he had allowed himself to get distracted, feeling his foot start to slip on the railing leading to the second floor of the base. 

That’s when a flying blade prevented Slade from piercing his blade through his abdomen. 

“You really do enjoy getting yourself killed, don’t you brat?” Jason lectured, throwing more blades towards Slade who dodged them with ease.

“And he calls himself Ra’s heir.” Marinette added, launching herself off of Jason’s shoulders and placed herself between Damian and Slade, quickly kicking Slade off the stairs. She watched as the man stumbled back, catching his footing as he got off the last step. 

“Rouge. What do you think-”

“The hell does it look like I’m doing?” Marinette asked, sliding down the railings and proceeding to attack him. “I’m helping Jason.”

“Oh? So the minute you found out Jason was alive, do decided to betray-”

“Betray?” Marinette scoffed, whipping out a kunai after dodging a swing from his blade. “More like making you pay for taking advantage of me and using me for your own gain.”

“We had a mutual-”

“You told me the guy I liked was dead, asshole!” Marinette screamed as she shoved her weapon into his eye, grinning as she dug the kunai deeper in his eye socket, a laugh escaped her as his screams filled her ears. She twisted it before jumping away from him. “Jason!”

“On it!” Jason yelled, running his katana through Slade’s abdomen before taking it out. He watched as Slade collapsed to the floor, cradling his wound before attempting to stand back up only to yell in agony as he dropped back down to the floor. But this time, he remained still.

“That ought to keep him down.” Damian said as he withdrew his katana from Slade’s back, digging his heel into the fresh wound. “Serves him right.”

“The fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jason snarled, pushing Damian off. “He’s down. He’s out of-”

“What is going on-” a voice started, only to trail as they fully stepped into the cave. Jason didn’t need to see their face to know who they were. While he hadn’t heard it in a while, he could recognize that voice anywhere. “Jason? Is that you?” 

All Jason could hear was his heart in his ears as he watched Dick get closer to them when Marinette’s blood curdling scream brought him back to his senses.

As he turned to see her, all he saw was red as he watched Slade run his katana through her leg. He watched as she stumbled to the floor, watching as she tried to mend her wound.

He watched as she turned to look at him, watched as she tried to tell him something but he couldn’t really make out what she was trying to say. He watched as she tried to stand up, but fell down once again.

Suddenly, Jason watched as a pool of blood started to form around her, watching as blood started to get closer to him, watched as her blood- he had to pay.

Slade better run before he got to him and-

“-okay. Jason! She’s going to be okay!” Dick shouted at him, causing him to snap from his thoughts, only then realizing that he was standing right in front of him, almost digging his fingers into his shoulders. “She managed to stop the bleeding Jason. You don’t have to go after-”

“He played us for fools Dick! He hurt Marinette! He should-”

“So, her name’s Marinette.” Dick said with a smile, Jason wondering where he was going with this. “She’s a very nice girl.”

“She is.”

“So take her somewhere safe. Somewhere far from here.” Dick suggested. 

“What?”

“As much as I want you to stay.” Dick turned to see Marinette, who was casually preventing Slade from escaping the Batcave as if she just didn’t get stabbed in the leg just a few seconds ago. Jason watched as she teamed with Damian to subdue Slade once more. “You should use this opportunity to leave.”

“Dick, I…there’s so much- I know I need to leave, I promised Mari but that doesn’t mean we’ll be free. Ra’s-”

“Ra’s is dead, Jason.”

“What?”

“Slade somehow managed to kill him and now Talia is trying to keep the League from completely falling. You should use the chaos to leave the League for good. And we’ll handle the rest from here, okay?”

“We?” Jason listened as a vehicle entered the Cave, its soft motor a noise Jason only then realizing he had forgotten how it sounded like. 

He listened as it came to a stop, a hissing echoing through the Cave as someone stepped out. Jason knew immediately who it was even with his cowl over his face. He took a step towards him, thinking the man would do the same, only for him to turn his attention elsewhere.

He watched as the man headed to where Damian was…or rather, to where Slade and Marinette were- oh no.

He probably thinks Mari is an enemy!

Just as he was able to head towards their direction, Dick grabbed his arm.

“Take these.” Dick placed some keys into his hand. “Use it and bring it back when you can. Just make sure you don’t break it, okay? Even if Bruce can get me a new one, I’ve got a soft spot for his bike, ‘kay?” Dick ended with a grin. 

Jason simply nodded, making his way towards Marinette, Dick following right behind him

-

Sometimes she wondered if Batman really was as cool-headed as the rumors made him to be because this…this was the complete opposite of said rumors. 

He didn’t make a complete assessment of the situation, but the minute he saw that her gear was similar to Slade’s, he thought she was an enemy, which touché, she was. But not anymore, because unlike Slade, she had been protecting Damian for the past two minutes and prevented the kid from losing an eye…twice.

The minute he got within their range, he completely separated her from the other two.

“You’ve got the wrong target, Bats!” Marinette yelled as she narrowly dodged Batman’s swing, letting out an ‘eep’ as she almost slipped. 

She glanced towards Damian’s direction, letting out a relieved sigh when she knew Damian was joined by Dick. “I’m making sure your kid-”

“Marinette!” She watched as Batman froze for a second, causing him to miscalculate his next swing. “We’re leaving!”

She didn’t need to be told twice, running towards Jason after slipping past Batman, following Jason towards another part of the Cave when a soft voice spoke behind them. 

“Jay?” Jason heard Bruce say, causing him to come to halt. He recognized him? 

He recognized him even though it has been years since they last saw each other?

He thought he wouldn’t…

Jason slowly turned around, looking past a worried Mari, turning to see his father stare at him with glossy eyes. “Is…is that you?”

“Jason.” Marinette softly spoke, her heart twisting when he didn’t look at her. So, she followed his gaze, her eyes widening when they landed on Bruce, realizing how big this moment was. After all, Bruce had just taken his cowl off even though he was just fighting her just moments ago.

To take his cowl off in front of a stranger…oh…

Oh…so this was it…this is where they’ll part…isn’t it? “Jason.” She softly called out once more. When he didn’t respond, she took a step towards him and tugged on his hand, finally getting his attention. 

“Marinette, I-”

“Stay.” She proposed, letting go of his hand. “You can stay if you want.”

“What? No! Mari, I’m not going to-”

“We can always meet again.” She said with a smile, but he knew that smile all too well. He’d known her since they were 15, that’s a whole 5 years of knowing each other. And when she died…

“I’m not letting you go again…” Jason grasped her hand. “I just got you back.” Jason said with a croak.

“So did they. They haven’t seen you since you’ve died and here you are, once again among them, alive…” she smiled, placing her hand on his cheek. “They missed you as much as I have. They’ve grieved you just as much.” She took a step back. 

“Mari.”

“Jason…” Bruce spoke up, getting their attention. Oh, how did they forget he was there? “You can stay at the manor if-”

“No.” Jason quickly cut him off, slowly stepping away from Bruce and shielded Marinette. “I’m not staying if Marinette can’t. It’s either-”

“Damian. He’ll be Talia’s main focus when she drops by in a few hours. You stay in the manor where I can ensure she-” 

“Talia?” Marinette asked, looking at Jason. “Why would-”

“She’s the new head of the League.” Jason informed her. “Isn’t that right, Pops?”

Bruce took a moment to answer.

“She took charge of the League just a few days ago after Ra’s death.”

“Ra’s is dead?” Marinette squeaked out, not believing it one bit. “There’s no-”

“Pops would never lie about something like this…would you?”” Jason asked Bruce who simply shook his head. 

“So…” Marinette started, feeling something overcome her. She felt tears start to well up. “We’re…we’re free?” Marinette dared to ask, feeling Jason bring her into a hug. “We can…we can go? Just like that?”

“We’re free.” Jason confirmed, pulling her closer. “We can go wherever we want to. We don’t have to ask anyone to go anywhere.”

Jason felt Mari begin to shake in his arms. Just as he was about to tell her something, Bruce placed a hand on his shoulder. 

“She can stay if she wishes-”

“You said it yourself.” Jason took Bruce’s hand off of him. “With Talia on her way here, we should be using this to get as far as possible from here.

While we may not be on her mind at the moment, we would be if she sees us here and I don't plan on letting her use us as Ra’s has these past few years. While you two may stand on equal status, who’s to say she would actually keep her end of the bargain…she is an Al Ghul after all. 

And besides,”: Jason grinned. “We can’t exactly start a family with you keeping an eye on us 24/7, now can we?”

“Jason!” Marinette squeaked, not daring to face Bruce at the moment. Just what the hell was he saying?!

“So, for now,” Jason held Mari’s hand. “We’re going to make up for lost time…see you later Pops!” 

Jason turned and tugged Mari’s hand, ensuing the two of them to run towards Dick’s motorbike, Jason quickly getting on and starting the bike.

“Are you sure about this Jason?” Marinette asked one last time. “We don’t know when-”

“They know I’m alive. I told them I would catch up later…I’ll come back to see them again one day, Mari.” Jason vowed, sliding on a helmet and handing her one. “But for now…I just want to get out of here.”

Marinette slid it on and got on the bike. “Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere.” Marinette said softly, wrapping her arms around him. “Anywhere, as long as you’re there.”

Without another word, Jason revved the bike, bringing it to life and making his way out the Cave. The two watched as the bike made its way through a dimly lit path before noticing the end of the tunnel, a bright light showering them as they entered the outside world for the first time of their own accord.

Jason listened as Marinette gasped at the sight of everything around them while he looked at his rear mirror.

He watched as Wayne Manor began to shrink in size, watching as it got smaller and smaller before completely vanishing from the mirror.

One day…one day he’ll return.

But for now…he had a pinky promise to complete and dreams to achieve…

So until then, he’ll just dream of the day he’ll come back home…

And hopefully it wouldn’t just be him, but with a family of his own.

Epilogue

[thisiswhereikeepdcthings]

AU where Jason comes back to Gotham and begins his plan to confront Batman and all that. Except after only like a week the Joker gets hit by a bus and then shot by a little old lady with a shotgun and dies.

Jason’s plan is now in shambles because the dramatic climax of his plan is no longer possible. But that’s fine. He’ll think of some other suitable alternative. Granted, it’s not quite the same if he uses some other villain. Making Batman choose doesn’t mean nearly as much when it’s not about the person who killed him.

And really, is he going to try and get Batman to kill Black Mask or something? Scarecrow? Red Hood is competent; he could do it himself so why bother.

So Jason lays low continues to build his criminal empire with astounding speed and efficiency. If only he could think of a good way to announce his return. Nothing he can think of is dramatic enough.

Meanwhile, the Bats are freaking out because who is this guy that’s taken over half of the Gotham underworld in like a month? He’s obviously trained, but they just can’t seem to get any information on who he is or where he came from. It is beyond frustrating.

After a few months Jason is frustrated that he just can’t seem to find any dramatic good way of making Batman prove himself. It has to be something big! Something magnificent!

During his weekly chat with Talia he complains about his problems and she suggests he come back for a visit. He argues that he can’t just leave, but she says if he has competent enough lieutenants it’d be fine. He spends the next three weeks making sure that everything will be fine if he leaves for a week. He will not have all of his hard work falling apart and going to waste due to incompetence. Absolutely not.

So then once his lieutenants are sufficiently prepared (and the rest of Gotham’s criminal element sufficiently cowed), he heads to Nanda Parbat, only to find Ra’s on the phone with Bruce, who is demanding to know if the Red Hood has any affiliation with the league.

Oh. Oh. He can give them affiliation.

A new plan begins to form.

He’s going to be the most affiliated he can be. Jason immediately goes to Talia with his newest plan: Overthrow Ra’s and takeover the league. Talia whips out her forty step outline for overthrowing Ra’s and tells Jason she’s so proud of him.

Jason has a new goal now, so he gets to work. He checks on things in Gotham, but everything seems to be fine and there haven’t been any unplanned explosions so it should be fine if he stays here for a bit.

Taking over Gotham really was good practice, as it turns out. Thanks to Talia’s plans and previous foundational efforts the takeover happens in no time.

Meanwhile the bats are still freaking out. Red Hood hasn’t been seen in three weeks, he may or may not have league of assassins connections, and even in his absence his goons seem to be managing things competently.

Back in Nanda Parbat, Jason and Talia finish their takeover. And now, finally, he’s ready to confront Batman.

He arrives in Gotham as the new head of the league. His arrival is loud, elaborate, and dramatic enough to fulfill his inner theater kid’s dreams.

Batman is speechless. And not his usual grunts instead of words, but actual surprised speechless. Jason is alive?!?!?!?

Jason was not expecting all the tears. And hugs. And mother henning. Goodness gracious, this was not part of the plan.

Bruce is obviously struggling with Jason’s revelation that he took over the league, but the newest little birdie seems almost relieved at that(?) and Dick and Alfred both seem strangely proud. Whatever. Even Bruce seems to be at least mostly ignoring that for now.

Then someone asks him if he knows Red Hood. Jason blinks. Says that yeah, he knows Red Hood. Everyone seems to ease at that. One mystery solved. Jason quickly realizes that most of them have no idea he is Red Hood. Cass seems to be the only exception but also appears amused and willing enough to not mention it.

Dramatic appearance complete, Jason now has a new goal: see how long he can keep the bats (minus Cass and potentially Alfred) in the dark about his crime boss identity.

He will bribe Cass as much as it takes to keep her on board with the causing chaos plan, but she seems eager enough. Favorite sibling status definitely unlocked. (The whole killing thing is fought over at great length and a truce of sorts is eventually made)

David Cain is never heard from again.

Damian shows up at some point.

At least one league member has suddenly found themselves as an HR rep for Gotham criminals? They’re still not quite sure how that happened.

[clownzaf]

No one in the family understands the connection between Tim and Talia, not even Damian.

Talia would be in Gotham to visit Damian and will fight and disagree with every movement of Tim’s like a disappointed mother, but the moment Tim get distressed or even a little bit upset Talia will be tripping onto herself to be with the boy.

They think Talia adopted the boy like she did with Jason.

They absolutely don’t know that Tim has long ago accepted Ra’s invitations for dinner, (even if it’s only to ensure the safety of his family and friends from the league of assassins) and Ra’s has long ago since pseudo-adopted Tim. He will call to ask about his day, and give shovel talks to his partners via assassins, and just simply drop to his apartment to watch a movie.

He is still trying to get Tim as his heir but eventually decided to drop the ball (for now). He kept Tim tho, at this point he simply grew fond of the boy.

One time Tim spent a entire week training with the league—It was a plan of Ra’s to make him see what he could have if he joined him and Tim agreed only for the extra training and maybe he could get some extra intel just in case— and in that week he became friends with Talia. They were practically siblings right now and it was useful for both parties. Tim would tell Talia all about Damian, even the specific details (Like his favorite breakfast food, one thing in particular he gained interest recently or if he made any new friends in school) and Talia would train him to the best of his capabilities. It also made “Family dinners” a lot less awkward. He has come to be quite fond of Ra’s over the time but sometimes it was better to have someone a little bit younger to talk to and not just the 6000 years old man.

So, now every time Talia drops to the manor to say hi—Knowing things about Damian or the family that she shouldn’t know— she always ends up in a corner watching TikTok’s in Tim’s phone and petting his hair like it’s something that happens everyday.

Damian and Jason were furious about this, it was THEIR mom/mentor and it was unfair for Tim to take that away like everything else in their life.

But they don’t suspect anything else until one day they are invited to have a formal dinner with the Al Ghul’s, just to find Timothy Drake-Wayne (Al Ghul) already in the table dressed in a green silk robe with golden accents chatting with the ninjas in the walls like they are good friends and kicking Ra’s down the table.

It was in fact the most uncomfortable dinner ever, even more so because Tim refused to give them more information about any of this more than a “I’m still in the good side don’t worry”

[goingtoast]

demon twins

[empire-of-the-words]

AU where Bruce and Talia get married and Ra'd just... hangs around

He finds Wayne Manor’s version of the mother-in-law suite and refuses to leave

He had LoA meetings there for a while, but Bruce kept spying on them ("It’s my house!") so confidential information isn't discussed there, but everything else is fair game

Alfred's cookies means the League book club is suddenly very popular

None of the kids can bring friends home without having to explain "Yeah that's my (step)grandpa wearing the dramatic robes cursing my dad for stopping him from killing the mayor. Yeah the ninjas are his too. Same with the endangered animals wandering around the house. No it's actually pretty calm today"

Alfred starts cooking larger amounts of food because there’s always a ninja or two (or ten) hanging around, and he’s determined to be a good host ("Why is there a cake tonight?" "It’s Bob's birthday, Master Bruce " "Ninja Bob? Damn I forgot to get him a gift.")

Ra's always spoils his grandkids rotten, of course, but in the weirdest ways possible. Mainly pets. Bruce does not appreciate this.

When Cass shows up, she and Ra's have a staring contest for an hour straight. No one's quite sure what happened, and no one really wants to know

And his shenanigans aren't confined to private either! If there's a gala, he's there, and he does not care about social etiquette. That man makes headlines way more often than not ("'Wayne FIL Has Bodyguards Attack Socialite For Wearing Fur'." "That fur comes from an endangered fox; how else was I supposed to react?")

Ra's likes to match gala outfits with Talia, Talia likes to match with Bruce and Damian (and whatever kids consider her their mom), and the other kids like to join in on the joke, meaning the entire family is matching except for Dick, who refuses out of spite (a picture of them all together quickly becomes a meme format)

The Halloween gala is filled with people in ninja "costumes"

The Court of Owls tries to assassinate Ra's once, not because of the League of Assassins thing, just because he got on the nerves of one too many members. Taking them down is one of the few times Ra's and Dick get along, and it freaks everyone out so much they're determined to never let it happen again

The family is divided on whether they find him and his shenanigans amusing or not. Talia, Jason and Duke do. Bruce and Dick don't. No one's quite sure about Cass, and Damian won't say either way. Tim starts a mini war with Ra's, with the casualties ending up as 2 chandeliers, 5 computers, 4 antique vases, at least 7 League plots, the microwave and Tim’s spleen

He does manage to find the Lazarus Pit infecting Gotham’s water supply and isolate it. So. That's nice.

[bluerosefox]

Another DPxDC idea with twins Danny and Damian.

'He knows.'

That was only message Danny received before he felt like he had dropped in freezing cold Arctic waters naked and felt if he remembered to breathe at this moment he would see his own breath, even though he had an ice core and no longer felt actual cold anymore, and for a moment the world around him faded into nothing.

No sound, no touch, not even smell.

Nothing.

Then like a supernova, everything around him exploded.

Everything was too loud, to strong, his skin felt hot and cold at the same time somehow. The feeling of dread crawled up his body.

He needed to go.

Run.

This message was his only warning. The only thing his birth mother could send him in regards of help. He knows it, he knows she can't do anything else but this. He also knows she wants to do more but in order continue to be the eyes and ears inside of the hellhole he once called home, a place he both hated and feared yet somehow still loved if only for the memories of his mother and brother, she could not do anything more.

"Hey Dan-no! Anything good in the mail today!?" Came the loud voice of Jack Fenton, his adopted dad, from the doorway. The same man who took one look at a muddy, dirty, tense, untrusting, almost fully feral little six year old Danyal al Ghul who held onto his only daughter hand when she dragged him home after finding him behind the Nasty Burger looking for food, and decided point blank that he was now a Fenton. That Danny, Daniel was his son as if he always was.

Danny could feel his lip tremble when he realized if he ran, if he booked it out of Amity now, the people he loved, the people he would happily die for, would be targeted. It wouldn't matter if he faked his death, or just left with no warning and never contacted them ever, ever again.

They would be killed for just knowing him.

For their deaths would be his punishment.

Danny could feel the rest of the mail in his hands, the ones he had went outside to get before breakfast cause his mom asked him to, fall out of them, the only one staying was the message from his birth mother. He took in a shaky uneven breath and turned around.

His face no doubt was pale, paler than it normally was, and his body trembled, and Danny had no doubt that despite all the training he had learned when he was in the League that even if he brought it out and pretended he was fine, his dad would be able to tell something was wrong.

Because his dad's happy cheerful face shifted to a concerned worried frown, a frown Danny hadn't seen in a few years, a frown that was common when Danny would wake in the middle of the night screaming, begging, or cursing in his native language or when he would be spooked enough to reach for a knife. But even with those moments the man never ever found fault in Danny, instead he would lower his voice and speak softly to Danny, waiting until he calmed down before asking if it would be okay to touch or hug him. Then he would sit with Danny for hours, keeping his normally loud and booming voice soft as he talked about random things, like family fudge recipes and how they came to be.

"Danny?" Jack asked softly as he took a small step forward, one of his hands lifted up as if asking permission to reach out.

Danny wanted nothing more than to rush into his dad's arms and hide in his large frame. Hide from the world around him but Danny knows he didn't have time, none of them did.

He took in one more breath and could feel his body stop shaking, his mind no longer chaotic, and his nerves steeling up. For the first time in a long, long time, he wasn't Daniel 'Danny' Fenton anymore.

He was Danyal al Ghul again.

"Dad. Get mom and Jazz into the GAV. Now." Danny ordered, his eyes narrowing as he clutched the message in his hand tight.

His dad knew something big was going down.

And he trusted Danny enough to do so quickly.

Danny closed his eyes as his dad ran into the house, yelling for Maddie and Jazz to get into the GAV. Danny opened them when he could feel the message in his hands slowly being covered in ice and knew his eyes were now glowing green.

He didn't have a lot of time. He needed to get his family, Tucker, and Sam out of Amity.

He needed to get them someplace safe.

He needed backup. More than his family and his friends.

He needed-

Danny nearly jumped when he realized who he can call to help.

In a flash he took his phone out of his pocket and quickly dialed a number he barely liked calling but needed to do so at this moment.

He waited, it felt like ages and it was agonizing, before the person on the other line finally picked up.

"What do you want-" came a somewhat same but rougher sounding of his voice but Danny cut him off.

"Dan, he knows." was the only thing Danny needed to say because he could hear the sharp intake of breath.

"Get them here now." was the order.

"Already on it. Is Ellie and Vlad with you?"

"Yes."

"Good. We'll be there shorty. Keep them safe."

"And then what?" Came the gruff question.

"Then... Then we'll prepare and call in Father and Damian. We need all the help we can get."

".....He won't be happy... About everything. Our... your fake death you know."

".... I know. But hopefully Father and the rest of his batclan will keep him from lashing out too much, especially with civilians and innocent lives on the line."

The two, Danny and Dan fell into a silence for a moment. Danny could hear his dad trying to hurry his mom and Jazz into the GAV despite their questions

".... Explaining all of this is going to be a shit show isn't it." Came Dan's voice after a couple of minutes.

Danny winced because yeah, not only explaining his actual past as Danyal al Ghul to the Fenton's, Tucker, Sam, and to Ellie, and Vlad but also having to explain his new life to his birth father and twin brother, a brother who thought he was dead, was going to be a hell in a handbasket.

"Yeah... it will be." Came his only response as he heard the GAV starting up and the garage door opening. Dan must of heard it over the speaker phone and said "Get Sam and Tucker and get here soon. No stops. We'll fortified Vlads dumb place in the meantime."

Dan didn't wait after that and instead just disconnected the call. Danny removed his phone from his ear and quickly pull up the group chat he had with his friends, sending them a quick message to meet him now. He used the code they had set up incase the Fenton's didn't take to him being Phantom well, he never had to use it since they took the news good, well as good as one could be after finding out their invention had half killed their son and that they had been hunting his ghost side down, but since this was important he needed them to be ready now.

He frowned as the Fenton GAV pulled up towards him and knew that what happens next would be...

Stressful.

[starry-bi-sky]

this just in: danny fenton is just as much of a mask as Brucie Wayne? - another danyal al ghul au

Turns out, being placed in a civilian family who have no knowledge of your background is actually detrimental to the health and development of a child assassin due to lack of proper support! Surrounded by strangers in a foreign city, Danyal Al Ghul does as assassins do best. He hides. Espionage is one of many teachings one learns in the League, and it only takes half a day for Danyal to construct a new persona to hide behind: Daniel Fenton.

By the time dinner rolls around, Danyal al Ghul is safely and securely tucked behind the face of Danny Fenton; brand new adoptive child of the Fenton family who came from overseas. A shy, quiet little boy with a thick accent and curly hair, with brown skin and blue eyes, and an avid interest in the stars. The best fictions are always cobbled together in a little bit of truth, it's some of the only truth he ever lets through. He apologizes in a meek voice for his behavior early, he didn't mean to be rude, and he watches the three of them eat it up with coos.

Lies roll like silk against his lips, he struggles to meet their eyes and offers them his weakest, shyest smile. It's too easy. It's easy to go from there.

Danny Fenton, adoptive son, shy and awkward and unconfident but friendly. Who struggles in his classes and isn't the brightest, but tries his hardest. He makes bad jokes and has a quick tongue and a sarcastic mouth. He wants to be an astronaut. He's got the best aim in school, and is a terrifying dodgeball player. He's one of the least athletic kids in his grade.

It's like playing two truths and a lie, but there's only one truth, and the rest are lies. It's easy to pretend when he knows it's insincere.

Danyal Al Ghul, grandson to the Demon Head. Deadly, trained assassin. Has spilled blood, has had blood spilt from. Environmentalist, animal activist. He loves the stars. He owns a calligraphy set. A sharp tongue, an even sharper blade. He's clever, quick-witted, he would be top of his grade if he tried harder. He purposely doesn't.

He misses his family. He misses his mother, and he misses his brother. Mother visits a few times a year, so few times that he can count it on both hands. He cherishes every visit, as brief as they are. It helps remind him who he is.

Sam and Tucker are Danny's best friends. They've never met Danyal, but Danyal's met them.

It becomes routine to become Danny Fenton. As familiar and as easy as pulling on a shirt in the morning. Danyal wakes up and is always first to the bathroom in the mornings; stares at himself in the mirror until he can finally see Danny staring back at him. At night, he locks his door and sheds the mask.

Dying throws a wrench in his mask; splits a crack straight through the porcelain. He's able to smooth it over with sandpaper and liquid gold, but it's a little hard keeping his ghost form under wraps. It instinctively wants to shift to show his true self. Danyal can't have that, he's spent four years as Danny Fenton, he'll spend another four as him as well. Even if the feeling of the hazmat suit in his ghost form feels restrictive, like a too-small shirt suctioned to his skin that needs to be peeled off.

He'll live. Er-- well, you know what he means. It's frustrating however, trying to keep his Danny Fenton mask up even as Phantom - fighting in the air is something he needs to get used to, and the sudden propping of powers throws him off. But he is nothing if not adaptive, and he hates that he needs to slow his own skills down in order to keep pretenses up in front of Sam and Tucker.

The first time Danyal summons a sword when he's alone, is one of the few times Danyal gets to grin instead of Danny. He's fighting Skulker, and from an invisible hilt he draws a katana from thin air. It startles them both. Skulker takes a step back at the smile that spreads across his face.

They're both silent as Danyal examines his new sword.

"Do you know what people like me do to people like you, poacher?" Danyal finally asks him, the accent he began to hide a few months in slipping through. He drops all pretense, dragging the flat end of the blade slow and appreciatively against his palm. It's a good make, and when he cuts it through the air, it slices through like butter. He looks up at Skulker with a smile; "are you ready to find out?"

When Sam and Tucker ask about why Skulker seems so skittish around Danny now, Danny shrugs at them and says with a playful smile; "I don't know, I guess I kicked his butt too hard after our last fight." and he watches as Sam rolls her eyes exasperatedly, and Tucker snickers with his own joke.

By the time he reunites with Damian before their 15th birthday, Danyal is buried beneath so many layers of Danny Fenton that his brother will need a shovel to dig him out. He's not sure what he'll find.

[charlietheepicwriter7]

R̸̜̈́u̵̟͘t̶̺̓ḧ̵͇l̷̟̋ē̶̘s̵̨̎s̵̩͒ṋ̵̋e̵͙̐s̵̡̈́ś̸͙

Get in the Water prompt Storm alternate version Animatic Fanart

There was a spell, Constantine had explained after his own trip to the afterlife. Something to contain Danyal's soul long enough to resolve his unfinished business, to keep him still and away from the influences of his fellow dead. And if that didn't work, Constantine continued, then there were ways to force a spirit to rest. It was better for a ghost to move on by themselves, but if there was no other choice...

Damian hoped Danyal would choose to rest on his own. That he'd let him explain, finally.

Danyal had been weak. Strong in a fight, but too weak to kill, and that infuriated Damian. But he was scared more than he was angry. Because that weakness would get Danyal killed, could get Damian killed, could get the League killed. Even the newest recruits had a stronger desire to kill than Danyal.

He was the weakest link in the chain. And while their mother had taught them to be ruthless, Danyal had remained limp with mercy.

They needed Danyal's body. It would be Danyal's tie to the earth, Constantine explained as he joined them on the Batplane. The souls of the dead don't often linger on the mortal plain. The magician had speculated that the only reason Danyal had managed to manifest in the waters below Gotham was because of Damian's presence, but his remains would keep him stable this side of life for however long it took to heal his soul.

But was that even possible?

"I don't know, kid," Constantine admitted during the plane ride. "Wish I had a better answer for you, but... Your brother is a siren now. And from the sound of it? He really wants you dead."

"Then why didn't he kill me?" Damian argued. "He had hours to do it... or minutes..." The time he spent in that green world felt longer than the ten minutes Father couldn't find him, but... "He had me in his grasp and let me go. Doesn't that mean he didn't want to-"

"Have you ever heard the phrase 'Playing with your food?'" Constantine asked instead. "Sirens aren't known for letting their prey go. If we're out here, its because he wants us here."

They--Damian, Father, Constantine, Grayson, and Todd--landed in Nanda Parbat after a few hours. There was a crypt inside for members of the Al Ghul family who didn't use the Lazarus Pits. It was there Danyal's body was entombed. They would have to steal it.

And it was unfortunate that Constantine got them caught within five minutes of entry.

Damian glared daggers at the man as they were led towards the Lazarus Pit. Constantine shrugged. "What? I don't want assassins chasing after me because of some light grave robbing! Besides, we need to explain the situation anyway-"

"And what, precisely, needs to be explained?" asked a woman from inside the chamber. The heroes were pushed inside, only to see Talia Al Ghul standing where her father should have been. The Lazarus Pit hissed and boiled behind her, casing the cave in a ghoulish light.

Damian could hear laughing.

Father stepped forward. "Talia. Where's Ra's?" Grandfather was the biggest threat to their plan succeeding.

Mother... looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "I do not know. At the present moment... the Demon Head is missing."

You could hear a pin drop. "What do you mean?" Father demanded.

"It's as I said; he is missing. Yesterday, he was alone in the Pit, and hours later, no one could find him." She glanced behind her, at the waters, before looking back at them. "I had assumed he'd left to care for the League's interests. Now-" She tilted her chin up, looking down at them. "What exactly do you need to explain? What is so important that you break into my home to tell me?"

Stepping forward, Constantine explained. Mother looked grim as he spoke of Danyal, but did not interrupt. "We want to put his soul to rest. But for that, we need access to his body-"

"You dare ask for such a thing?" Mother snarled. "As if I even believe you. My son would never-"

"Your son?" Grayson snapped. "From the looks of it, you didn't care for either of your children!"

As the group descended into an argument, Damian heard laughter again, Danyal's high pitched giggle harmonizing with something deep and bone shaking. The Lazarus Pits loomed over him, beckoning him, whispering. Damian took a step towards it as his mother said, "I don't even have his body!"

"What?" Damian snapped at his mother, focusing back on the conversation. "But the crypts-"

"After your brother's murder, the Demon Head ordered for the culprit to be found. But they were never discovered." Because the culprit was Damian, he knew, and no one else ever learned about it. "I wanted to place him in the Pits immediately, but I was ordered to stay my hand until the murderer was caught. But..."

"He never was," Damian finished for her. "And then you put Danyal into the waters?"

"Yes." She closed her eyes. "And he never came back out. Even if it was too late, he'd still come back as the undead, but he never rose from the waters."

"Then this is entirely my fault."

"Finally," Danyal whispered in his ear, breath chilling his skin.

Damian did his best to ignore it. Danyal was haunting him. Danyal needed to be put to rest. If they couldn't do it Constantine's way, then they had to put him to rest another way.

Grayson looked troubled. "Robin, it's not your fault-"

"I'm the one who killed him," Damian confessed. Everyone stared at him. Grayson, horrified; Mother, blank; Father, betrayed. Damian continued, "I overheard you and Grandfather arranging a fight to the death, and I knew who would win. I couldn't... I couldn't allow Danyal to die without the Al Ghul name, in disgrace as the one who wasn't good enough. So I killed him, assassinated him, and now he's haunting me for revenge." Damian looked at the Pit. "So go ahead, Danyal."

"Damian, what are you saying?"

"Danyal wants revenge on the person who killed him; I'm giving it to him." Todd was staring at him. Damian might not be able to see past his helmet, but he could feel the respect coming off the man. "Danyal, I know you're here. Please come out." If he focused long enough, he could just making out wheezing breaths. "I can hear you, please-"

Father grabbed Damian by the shoulders. "Damian, listen to what you're saying! You're offering your life up for nothing!"

"B's right." Grayson placed a hand on his shoulder. "There's got to be another way. You don't have to do this!"

"Yes I do!" Damian ripped himself out of Nightwing's grip. "I'm the one who killed him! I'm the one at fault! My brother is suffering because of me, I have to save him-"

Stepping between them all, Mother slapped him across the face.

And the Pit's whispers fell silent.

Damian stared up at his mother, cheek throbbing with pain. She glared back. "Cease this behavior at once," she snapped. "There's no need to get so worked up over a ghost, of all thing-"

"T̴̯̃al̵̬͂ị̴̿a̵̮̕ ̵̼͐A̴̗̕l̷͈̆ ̴͚̓G̵͎̀h̷̻͒u̶̜͋l̴͍̀."

This time, everyone could hear Danyal's voice, filled with static and corrupted. Damian swallowed as his dead brother continued,

"D̸͕͠o̶̪̅ ̸͍̆ỹ̵̗ö̸̲ũ̸̧ ̶͖̚k̶̻͊ņ̸͐o̸̹̚ẘ̸̙w̷̛̹ḧ̸͚́o̷͉̅ ̵͈̑I̶̪̽ á̵̞m̶͙̂?̸̻͂"

The cavern shook as the Lazarus Pit bucked, a wave forming in the absolute center of the water. The wave rose, pillaring up above their head and brushing the ceiling. A cold wind rushed through the room and blew out the torches on the walls, leaving only embers and the occasional florescent behind. Damian braced himself for the waters to rush out and flood.

Instead, the water fell back into the pit, like it had never risen in the first place, leaving behind a lone figure in its wake.

"Danyal," Mother whispered.

And the dead boy glared back at her with pure contempt.

[ghost-bxrd]

Look away, there’s nothing in that warehouse for you…

[redsray]

Red Robin Au where after Battle for the Cowl, Jason (instead of donning that ridiculous pill helmet) goes back to visit Talia and blow off some steam with the LOA; it's an effective way to do so at first, as long as he keeps Ra's at arms length and has all the Bats away from him. Except is that Timothy fucking Drake working with Ra's al Ghul.

So now Jason's like oh my god are you kidding me why is Tim here working with Ra's of all people??? Last he checked, Dick was Batman now and Tim was part of that gaggle of Robins in Gotham. Not here, in Nanda Parbat.

Tim, fresh from a splenectomy: Jason?!

Jason: What the fuck are you doing here?

Tim: ??? I could ask you the same question??

Jason: No the fuck you couldn't?? I trained with Talia and now I'm back here for a bit, and I'm not the one missing an organ right now?! Why aren't you back with Dickbat in Gotham??

Tim: Well. Let's say I'm not Robin anymore

Jason: ... Not... Robin?

Tim, scowling: Dick gave it to Damian.

Jason: Dick is Batman for like a month and already gave the traffic light leggings to a mini assassin? Nice.

Tim: Ugh

Jason: And... this was enough reason to run away and get impaled by assassins in Iraq? While working with Ra's al Ghul?

Tim: Well, not really. I need to find Bruce, and Ra's is the only one who will help me. Even if he's a freak of nature.

Jason: Bruce... are we talkin' about another Bruce or did I miss a memo? Bruce is dead, Timbo.

Tim: He's not. He's trapped in the timestream and trying to get back. And don't- don't tell me I'm going insane with grief or in denial. Laugh all you want, then leave. I don't need this shit again.

Jason: Trapped in time? Damn motherfucker can't even stay dead?

Tim: ... You believe me?

Jason: Sure. Not the craziest shit we've seen. I have a feeling you wouldn't go as far as Ra's if you were actually going off nothing. (mumbling) stealing my schtick. What a bastard.

Tim, blinking: Wow. That... just wow. That was easy. Dick thought I was losing it with grief and so has everyone else.

Jason, shrugging: B is definitely stubborn enough to get lost in time instead of dying and, frankly, I know what being off yer rocker looks like, and this ain't it. I climbed out of my grave, for god's sake, is time shit really off the table? Wouldn't hurt t'look if the old man's still kickin'.

Tim: Uh-

Jason: First stop: away from Ra's, preferably. Talia's not bad, but Ra's is a whole other can of worms. Get up or I drag you.

[anjuschiffer]

Do We Dare to Dream?

*looks at WIPs and notices this old work* *posts it so that it could actually see the light of day*

-

Tags: @toodaloo-kangaroo @elijahcrevan @vixen-uchiha

-

MASTERLIST | AO3

Chapter 1:

“I’ve already taught her everything she needs to know about the Miraculi.” Jason snapped his attention from his books to Ra’s guest’s voice. When did they get here? “But combat…I could only think of you to train her…Brother.“ This was where Jason finally raised his head to look at the guests for the first time since he heard they had arrived. 

Or at least, one of them. 

The shorter of the two men had to be his mentor’s guest, if judging by the blue monk-like attire he had on under his red shawl.

Ever since Ra’s announced some important guests coming to visit a week ago, the entire place was made to make the place presentable and more…comfortable. 

More fauna was added around the place, more shrubbery and small nooks of rest scattered the place. Although Jason wasn’t fond of the new flowers added to the barracks, he found out he quite enjoyed the little spot he found near his room. 

A nice zen place with just a few shrubs and a boulder whose view was that of the ocean. 

As for the odd choice of decor, Jason found himself hating the choice of reds and gold accenting the League’s monochrome scheme.  Not to mention the motif of the zodiac constantly present at the banquet hall and every hall he walked.  

Aside from that, much didn’t change in Jason’s routine, though he didn’t fail to notice the way Ra’s began to act. 

He was stricter with the League members, gave Talia more work to do, nitpicked at every little thing - it was starting to get on Jason’s nerves. 

Maybe it was because Ra’s was constantly reminding him to be practically invisible once the guests came. Or rather, to never talk to their guests unless asked. 

That everything had to be perfect.

So when the guests appeared at the library while Jason was there during his free time, he knew better than to greet Ra’s or to even go near him and his guests. 

He had decided to retreat further into the library, deciding to go to the upper level and read a bit more of the Art of War. 

But he didn’t expect to hear that of all things. 

“If that was all you wanted from me, you could’ve easily-“

“I don’t have much time left.” The shorter man interjected. “You, of all people, should know that the Miraculi only extends your lifespan by a few hundreds of years, not grant immortality…” The shorter man looked at Ra’s with a somber look on his face. “Brother…I only have a few years to live and I can’t just leave my successor on her own.” 

“Fu. You know, you can easily-“ Fu shook his head. 

“I know better than to mess with your creations, even as ambitious and beneficial you claim them to be. After all, nothing good could ever come out of something born out of raw chaos. There’s a reason why the elders never chose you to-“

“There’s a reason they are now dead, Brother.” Ra’s seethed. “They never wanted to use the Miraculi to their full extent. To their true potential. I simply-“

“It’s bad to talk ill about the dead.” Fu interjected. “Especially in front of a child.” Ra’s huffed, knowing that his brother was referring to their earlier conversation in front of his successor. 

“Child? Your successor is about the same age as my latest student. And he’s already seen more death than life in his 15 years of living. 

In other words, they’re both old enough to comprehend the reality of life. Of changing to survive and if not, die in the process of protecting old and useless ideologies.” Ra’s argued, causing Fu to sigh. “Or tell me, am I wrong, brother of mine? Or is wanting me to teach your successor not your true motive for this announced visit?”

Despite the various centuries that have passed, it seemed like his brother never changed. 

“You are correct as always, Ra’s. Change is the only way we can survive these chaotic times.” Fu responded. 

“Glad to see we are on the same page.” Jason watched as Ra’s let out a huff. “I know you’re there, Jason. Come now. It’s rude to keep a guest waiting.”

Without another word, Jason jumped off the ledge, landing next to Ra’s with a soft thud. “Fu, this is the student I was talking about. Jason, met our guest, Wang Fu.”

While Jason wanted to ask whether or not they truly were siblings, he simply bowed, watching as Fu frowned upon seeing him. 

“He oozes of the Lazarus’ water.” Fu furrowed his brows and looked at Ra’s with narrowed eyes. “What have you done to the boy?”

“Saved him.” Ra’s simply answered, deciding to walk ahead. “Now, let’s go see how your protege is doing, shall we?”

—

Jason didn’t quite remember what exactly happened, as in, how the conversation went from talking about education to Jason having to spar with Fu’s student, but it happened. So here he was, starting to get out of breath as he looked at his opponent beneath him.

“Seems like I got my hopes up too high.” Jason found himself saying as he knocked down the girl in front of him for the umpteenth time as she attempted to get back up. “Is this really the best you’ve got?” 

After hearing Fu’s praises about his student being a quick learner and already mastering some Guardian martial arts, Ra’s found it appropriate to put said teachings to the test.

“That is enough!” Fu’s voice roared within the training hall’s walls, Jason smirking as he left the bruised girl on the floor, her lip busted from their sparring, dried blood caking her lip. The bruises on her cheekbone and jaw were finally starting to bloom. “How was this a friendly-“

“Friendly doesn’t necessarily mean soft, dear brother. Or did you forget the torture they used to put us through as children?” Ra’s reminded.

Jason didn’t know what Ra’s meant by that, reveling in the praise he gave him, a small pat on his back. 

“Is this-“ Fu took a deep breath, “-is this the type of training you’re going to place-“

“Of course.” Ra’s said, Jason standing by his side, a smile replacing his grin. “If you’re saying your protege is as intelligent as you say she is, then that means she should be able to catch up with the rest of my students. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Fu remained silent, rushing to his student’s side, inspecting her bruises. “Furthermore, she can’t continue to be coddled if you want her to grow as a Guardian. You should already know the consequences of-”

“You think I don’t know that already? Don’t you think that’s the very reason why I came here in the first place? To prevent her from suffering the same fate we did when we were younger?”

The two men stared at each other, the tension thick and starting to become suffocating.

“Master…Fu.” The girl managed to slur out.

“Save your energy Marinette,” Master Fu hushed, looking at Ra’s. “Where is your nearest medical bay?”

-

“I see you’re finally awake.” Marinette blinked a few times before realizing where she was.

Oh right. She wasn’t in their little shop in China. They were at her mentor’s supposed brother’s…establishment? Organization? Clan?

She could remember the tour of the place and then separating from Master Fu to have some lunch before having to fight Ra’s latest pupil…who she lost to…

“How long was I out?” She asked, fighting off the aching throbbing around her body, not failing to notice the remains of magic lingering behind. 

Was she injured so badly that Fu had to heal them using the Ladybug? 

“Only a couple of hours.” Fu managed to answer, Marinette humming in response. “Marinette.” She turned to look at him. “I’m leaving you here, to stay with my brother.” Master Fu calmly said.

“Wh-what?” Marinette quietly asked, processing the words that just came out of her master’s mouth. Maybe it was because she had recently woken up, or perhaps her body was starting to finally feel the consequences of the spar from earlier despite the magical assistance. “Like, just for today?”

“As in you will be staying here by yourself until-”

“Why?” Marinette cut off, wincing as a pang of pain shot up her arm as she used it to sit up.

“I know, it’s a bit to process, but here, here you will get the opportunity to grow. To widen your view of combat and defense from people who have years of experience in the field.”

“But why should I stay just for that? If anything, we can always come here together during the week. The walk here isn’t bad- it’s just a few hours from-”

“Marinette. Travel isn’t the problem. Nor is the place. It is time.”

“But Master Fu, if it's time, then we can simply use the Horse to get here-”

“Marinette. I can no longer be with you as you continue to-”

“No.”

“Marinette. I can’t be a hurdle in your-”

“No.”

“Marinette,” Fu softly said, Marinette feeling her eyes begin to sting. “I have to go. It’s for your own good and the good of-”

“Master Fu, please! Please don’t leave me here!” Marinette begged, grabbing hold of her teacher’s shawl, tears brimming her eyes.

“Marinette,” Jason heard Fu softly say, the guilt in his chest becoming heavier.

He shouldn’t have come, but…he had. 

Ever since Ra’s told him to go back to his room, Jason was left with nothing but the mixed emotions of his spar with Marinette.

While a part of him was soaring over being complimented by his mentor, guilt began to gnaw at him upon seeing how Fu worried over his student. 

How it reminded him of someone he once knew. How that person reacted the same way whenever he got hurt. Someone who he couldn’t quite remember how he looked nor how he sounded, but Jason just knew was a kind person. 

A person who he was taken away from…

With no other option left, but to check on the girl, Jason had made his way to try and apologize to the girl, but found himself walking into…whatever this was…

He knew better than to actually go inside the medical bay, so he stood by the entrance.

“Please Master Fu, you can’t leave me here! You can’t! There’s still things you have to teach me!”

“Marinette,” Jason heard him take a deep breath. “There’s nothing left for me to teach you.”

“No,” she quietly said, “no, there has to be- there has to be something left. Something, anything!”

“Marinette, you’ve already learned everything there is to the grimoire, about the Miraculi themselves, about the Guardian language, martial arts…I have nothing left-”

“No!” Marinette yelled, feeling her throat starting to close up. “No!”

“I’m sorry.” Fu said, attempting to get up from his seat beside her cot.

“Don’t say that Master Fu!” She pleaded, gripping onto him for dear life. “Please, dont-”

“Sisylarap.” Marinette felt as her body went numb, her hand slipping from Fu’s shawl as he stepped away from her, watching as he glanced at her with unclouded eyes, his already small back turning smaller and the lump in her throat growing larger. “Take care, qiān jīn (thousand gold, darling daughter).”

That was what finally set her loose.

“Yé yé (Grandfather)!” She screamed. “Yé yé! Don’t go! Yé yé!”

Jason bit down hard on his tongue to try and stop the tears threatening to fall, to prevent himself from letting out the scream whirling in his chest as he continued to hear Marinette scream after her teacher, after the person whom she saw as a grandfather, hell, maybe even a father.

“Jason.” Wang Fu spoke up, causing Jason to jump, Fu giving him a small smile upon seeing the unshed tears in his eyes. “Please, take care of Marinette.”

Jason couldn’t say a word in response as Fu placed a carefully wrapped red box in his hands, looking at Jason with tears trailing down his face. “Promise me you will look after her, okay?”

“How do you I would-”

“While I know you grew up in this place, there’s still something in your heart that still makes you more human than them.” Fu told him as he pointed a finger at Jason’s chest, more specifically his heart. “Make sure they never take that away from you.”

With that, Jason watched as the old man bowed and left, never to be seen again.

He looked down at the box, a box no bigger than the palm of his hand with a tag that read 

For my beloved pupil, congratulations on finishing your training.

I’ll always cherish the time we spent together, qiān jīn.

NEXT

[space-dreams-world]

All Al Ghuls must Die:

Danny is related to the Bat family in a different way: He is Ra’s Al Ghul father or grandfather.(If you include or exclude Lord Deadman)

Danny during a job for Clockwork, Danny travels back in time and meets Ra’s Al Ghul’s mother or grandmother.

They start a relationship and a baby Ra’s is born. Danny during the time period he is in, actually creates a group to protect the Earth from destroying itself calling it the league of Shadows meant to protect humanity.

Danny is actually the protector of the pits as he was the first ones to discover them. He wrote about them in a journal. He knows that these pits are excess ectoplasm leaking through a rift in the Ghost Zone and know how many spirits would love to come back in the living world.

Basically, Danny forbids anyone who isn’t on the verge of death to use these pits as he know that these pits will twist someone’s mind up and give them liminality as well as slight healing and immortality. At some point Ras ‘ mother dies of old age or disappears and Danny has disappeared back into the timeline.

Ra’s discovers his father’s journal and decides to exploit his knowledge to insure he stays in power. He kills all of his father’s loyal followers and erases his father’s legacy from the LOS, rebranding that he created the league.

(Those loyal Followers of Danny’s follow him into the GZ and become his new guards once he is king.)

Years pass and dear old Ra’s has gone a little mad with power.

( Ra’s constant uses the pits, has contaminated it, and is willing to drive anyone to madness. Their treatment to keep the pits from shrinking or drying up is slowly not working anymore, and Ra's must face the eventually that he may die.)

[phoenixcatch7]

Wayne doll house: demon children.

Idea: each of the batkids is theorised to have a different origin.

Thing is, there's so many of them. The oldest is actually the youngest in body. It seems to be able to share memories with those who follow. It changes design right before a new bat appears.

The hero in the town over is definitely one of them, but what's it doing over there?? Asking just gets non-answers.

What happened to the ones that the Joker tried to destroy? One - the oldest and smallest - came back, but different, whereas the other - the purple and orange one - came back for a while and then vanished again for good.

None of them seem to age??

The first, smallest, oldest, it seemed to be some sort of circus performer? It gave its acrobatics to the blue one when it arrived, grew clever and defensive. It gave that to the skull headed red one, focused on technology and detective work after the Incident. Then again, and again, and one time even the bat changed along with it, but though the bat returned to normal the little Robin didn't, and now it's just as stabby and creative as it is small and creepy.

It's a good sort of creepy now, after over a decade of beating up bad guys and comforting victims, Gotham has gotten used to it, but outsiders don't much like it.

The justice league have a different opinion.

They know, or at least can observe, that the... Souls? Brains? Programs? Switch around, that it's not memories but persons that bring the new bats to life.

They just don't know where batman gets them. The new one, especially, is very circumspect.

For all this talk of the blood son, all the bats calling it demon child with varying levels of fondness, the way batman doesn't deny the claims...

Thing is the bat doesn't have blood. Everyone's well aware of this by now. Whatever sulpheric black tar he and the bats leak probably-certainly isn't blood, or at least... Not anything with dna.

So... What blood?? If not the bat's, why does it tie the newest mind of Robin to him?

Captain marvel is the first to think of an idea.

A blood child of a demon for a blood ritual for a demon.

Constantine and Zatanna second the notion - it's perfectly possible. Reasonable, even. The bat admitted himself he had no way to procreate the way humans did, nor any interest in doing so. Wanting a legacy was perfectly normal.

Except he already had, what, seven, eight, nine kids? He loved all of them, it was clear, and he'd always seemed happy with them. He'd even sighed over how many he had, had rebuffed the teasing about getting more. The new Robin mind had been a surprise to everyone, and the old one in a new body had been a little salty about it.

So the new theory was that batman hadn't decided to get a new Robin. Maybe the old mind had been ejected unwillingly! It had happened at roughly the same time batman had gotten a new personality - maybe the incidents were related?

But if batman hadn't done the ritual... Who had?

Who would do something like that???

Cultists. Cultists would do something like that. But giving the bat a son unwillingly seemed... A very odd goal, even for that type.

So... Had they messed up? Had they tried to summon the bat with a blood sacrifice ritual, and summoned a demon instead? Had it partially worked? Was the bat susceptible to demon summonings?? Did the summoning damage his own mind/consciousness/soul in some way, and that led to the creation of the new demon child while the bat changed until he'd healed????

How kind of batman to take it in!

Tldr; the league thinks Robin V is a demon born/created through a failed summoning ritual involving blood sacrifice that made batman like puns until he healed. The truth is the canon events of Damian arriving at the manor only for b to get tossed into the time stream, becoming the Robin to nightwing-batman while Tim, who is much less annoyed about it than canon, focuses on getting him back. Lmao.

[too-much-tma-stuff]

I Don’t Believe You Care

Y’all are my beta readers XD if you see any errors please let me know. I’m going to post this on AO3 later.

Part one here

------

The scolding that Bruce gave Damian was the gentlest either of them had ever received, but it did cow Damian enough that he behaved while meeting Cass and Stephanie. It helped that they were sweet, Stephanie was a bit energetic and overwhelming but Cass was quiet and seemed to understand them better. She helped reign in the over-enthusiastic family friend and Danny was glad to have her as a sister. She didn’t speak much, she communicated in signs that he didn’t understand but he thought that he could learn in time, and he wanted to. When he told her so she smiled and Steph squealed, insisting loudly and brightly that they would be happy to teach him!

He couldn’t help but feel relieved that when Alfred asked Stephanie if she would be staying for dinner she joked that she should actually spend some time at home for once. It seemed like she didn’t live here, though they knew of her identity as Spoiler and her involvement with the bats, all her noise and movement wouldn’t be a consistent presence around the house. Not that Danny didn’t like her! He just thought he’d like her best in relatively small doses before she could overwhelm him.

He would ask Cass to teach him when Steph wasn’t here, it might be just slightly trickier, but he could use the excuse of letting the two friends spend the time they had together. And maybe Tim could help him practice? He must know how to communicate with his sibling after all, and Danny could already tell he and Tim were going to get along.

He was even more glad that Steph had gone when Dick arrived because as the man came barrelling in like a hurricane Danny didn’t want to think of how much chaos and noise they would be together! For all his practice in social graces they really should have prepared him for this chaos, crowds, and friendly contact. But the compound had been short sighted and ill prepared in such regards.

Dick was the worst, Danny was almost jealous of Damian who could snarl and squirm and draw a knife on the man when Dick tried to hug him. Danny put on a smile and forced a laugh and pretended that his instinctual reaction to being held like this didn’t make him want to bite and rend. He knew that Dick meant well, or at least he thought so, the man was honestly famously good natured and cared for his family. Danny wanted to be on his good side, and couldn’t bring himself to actually say he didn’t want to be touched, or at least wasn’t used to it. The sudden, quick, and broad movements Dick favoured with his dramatics made Danny want to flinch though he had better self control then that!

He dodged hugs as gracefully as he could for the rest of the night and managed to sit him and Damian between Bruce and Tim for dinner, with Danny sitting next to Tim of course. The food was good, and everyone in the family was very welcoming, but by the end of it Danny was exhausted.

He was good at this sort of thing, trained to charm, and redirect apparently effortlessly, but the thing was it wasn’t effortless, and these sorts of situations were harder to simulate then battle. Danny had done a good job, he could tell that he had them charmed, and had them warming up to Damian too actually, but he also knew that he was drooping. He should hide his fatigue, but he was still human, he yawned.

“You’ve had a long day young masters,” Alfred said, instantly picking up on the mood, he was an impressive man and they both knew it. “Now that you’ve eaten why don’t you go settle in your rooms and get some rest? I took the liberty of going to buy you some pajamas and basics that should fit the two of you. I’m sure Master Bruce will be happy to take you both out to buy clothes more suited to your taste tomorrow,” he added.

“I think that’s a good idea, don’t you Damian,” Danny asked, glancing over at his brother.

“I’m not tired,” Damian harrumphed, of course he wouldn’t admit defeat. “But I would like to see where we will be staying,” He added. No doubt he’d thoroughly check security and for any potential surveillance before he slept. Danny wasn’t going to bother.

“Very good young Masters,” Alfred said with a nod, pausing to look back at Dick. “Will you be staying the night as well?” He asked the older man, who gave a rueful smile and shook his head.

“I’m needed in Bludhaven, I was able to come for the day on such short notice but I couldn’t get more time off. I’ll schedule a proper vacation as soon as possible so I can come back and visit!” He said giving Danyal and Damian an encouraging smile, and Danny did a good job of looking disappointed that Dick was leaving even though he was glad to have some time to get his feet under him before more of the family would be under the same roof once more. Maybe he hadn’t been as subtle as he thought about dodging Dick’s affection though, because he didn’t try to hug either of the boys goodbye.

He bid their siblings farewell and followed Alfred up to his bedroom, seeing Damian into his first and then going into his own. He was quick to brush his teeth and change into the comfortable, soft pajamas they’d been bought which did fit perfectly. Unfortunately when he flopped down into bed, regardless of how exhausted he was, he couldn’t sleep. He kept replaying the events of the day, how he did, how he could have done better, what he had learned about the family and what it meant.

After maybe an hour once things had gone quiet on the other side of the wall and he thought Damian was asleep Danny sighed and got up. He opened his window and climbed out, he braced his feet on the sill and shoved off, jumping unnaturally high for a human to grab on the edge of the roof and drag himself up onto it. He scrambled up gracefully and silently, finding a comfortable place to lay, looking up at the sky. He stayed there, zoning out for a while before he heard a soft thump on the roof near him.

“How did you get up here?” Bruce asked, dressed as Batman this time, Danny glanced over and gave him a small smile.

“You can’t really see the stars here,” he said, looking back up at the sky. “I won’t miss much about the compound, but I’ll miss the stars.”

“Not settling in particularly well?” Batman asked, sitting down on the ridge of the roof, a respectable distance between them.

“Oh I’ll be alright,” Danny said with a shrug. “They always raised me to be your heir after all, Damian will have more trouble than me. Want some advice?”

“Hm,” Batman said, an affirmative sound.

“Take him to a zoo, buy him art supplies. He’ll deny he cares about such things, but I know him better then anyone and he does. Once he realizes he really can be himself out here, that’ll help start undoing the brainwashing.”

“How are you so insightful about the situation? You can’t have avoided the brain washing.” Batman asked, and Danny shrugged. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Danny asked, glancing over just for a moment.

“How do I bond with you?” Bruce asked, and Danny laughed.

“You don’t have to. I don’t need to be won over or convinced. Our grandfather is a violent fool who only cares for himself, teaching me to recognize manipulation showed me what he really was years ago. If you turned me away entirely I still wouldn’t go back to the league.” He said with a wry smile.

“Hm,” Batman sounded unimpressed. “You’re still my son. I’d like to bond with you?”

Danny sighed, not sure why Batman was being stubborn when his energy was best spent elsewhere. He sat up and looked over at Batman, tilting his head slightly. “I don’t need you,” He said somewhat bluntly. “Damian does, give him your focus. If you truly want you can buy me an instrument, and books on astronomy.”

Batman nodded thoughtfully and Danny lay back down, there was a few moments of quiet between them before B spoke up again. “How did you get up here?” He asked again and Danny sighed.

“I guess you have to know eventually,” He murmured. “Part of the reason we’re both here is because Grandfather couldn’t decide who he wanted to be his heir, it was always supposed to be Damian but something happened and suddenly I was a much more attractive choice.”

“What happened?” B prompted after a moment.

“You know about the Pits? Most people dunked in it come back less, in the mind usually, sometimes less human, feral and monstrous. But rarely, once in the blue moon, someone comes back more.” Danny glanced over at Batman, and when he blinked he let his eyes flash green, glowing with the vile waters the kept Ra’s limping along. He could have explained more about the ways that he was different now, but he didn’t want to let on more then he had to at this point. He wasn’t naive enough to trust Bruce just because they shared blood, so he simply said; “I came back More, and I mean, I’m still a trained assassin, I probably could still have gotten up here even if I hadn’t.”

“But seemingly being chosen by Lazarus made me seem like a better option to grandfather, and your… complicated feelings towards empowered people is well known. So they didn’t know if you’d like me anymore.” His eyes faded back to blue and he looked up at the sky again, he couldn’t read Bruce’s expression under the cowl anyway. “It took a lot of subtle work to convince them to send us both so you could ‘decide which of us you wanted’.”

“Do you expect me to choose one of you?” Bruce asked, unreadable as ever.

“No, not really, you clearly like having many children. Damian still thinks now that you have a biological heir you’ll turn your adopted children away, but that’s grandfather talking and he’s a fool. If you do choose one then choose Damian, I’ll be fine on my own but he needs the help navigating this world. He’s strong, he’s clever, he’s more observant than me, he’ll make a good detective. He’ll be more loyal than me once you win him over too. He’ll be harder to break of the bad habits, I’ve never been as good at killing as him, but once he learns the way you do things I think he’ll be a good Robin.” Danny said, pulling up his knees and wrapping his arms around them, it was a bit chilly on the roof.

Batman hummed and nodded, which was good, if he had continued to push Danny would have had to bring up Jason. He knew that Jason was alive of course, but Bruce didn’t and Danyal would say he was more likely to end up like Jason if he had to but that was a last resort.

“Well I want you to know that both of you are very welcome here. And neither of you have to be Robin, or anything that you don’t want to be. I’ll support you in whatever you want to do, and you being a meta doesn’t change that at all. Both of you have a home here,” Bruce assured.

Danny nodded and gave Bruce a smile before standing up and smiling. “That’s good to hear,” He said, while not believing it at all. Bruce couldn’t and shouldn’t offer such unconditional support after just meeting them. “I should get back inside, it’s getting cold, and I am tired,” He said, wandering over the edge of the roof and stepping off, twisting around to grab the edge and swung off and back through the window before closing the window and brushing himself off so he wouldn’t get to much dirt in his sheets before crawling into bed.

He wasn’t fully asleep before the door to his room opened just enough for Damian to slip inside, he wasn’t surprised, Damian and he weren’t as independent from each other as they acted like they were. “You should have locked your door and blocked it somehow. We cannot trust the mongrels Father has taken in,” he hissed at Danny.

“Damian, shut up and get over here,” Danny mumbled sleepily, not bothering to open his eyes as he lifted the blankets on the other side of the bed. He heard a scoff and waited as Damian did whatever he needed to to feel like the room was secure and then came over to slide into bed next to Danny. Danny held out his arm, they didn’t exactly cuddle even when like this, but Damian liked to hold Danny’s wrist and feel his pulse. He had done it when they were younger but he had stopped for a while, it had only started up again after he had watched Danny die, it was understandable.

Damian wrapped one hand around Danny’s wrist, seeking out his pulse and tucked the other arm under his pillow, no doubt stashing a knife there. “None of them are going to hurt us Dami. They’re used to having multiple siblings, they probably compete, but other then one notable exception we’ve never heard of any of them trying to kill each other have we?”

“You don’t know that, Father’s has never had a biological child before, they must recognize we’re more of a threat then the others,” Damian argued in hushed tones.

“They won’t, we haven’t even proven ourselves yet. We could be incompetent.”

“We’re not!” Damian objected, his voice raising just a little and Danny hushed him softly.

“No, we’re not, but they don’t know that. I would suggest we keep out heads down for at least a month, we learned what we could about them from a distance but we should observe them. We’ve never been out of the compound except on missions, we have a lot to learn and whoever does end up his heir will have to be able to pretend to be normal. I intend to take Tim up on the lessons on popular media, perhaps it isn’t practical, but what about when we inevitably have to interact with people our own age at parties? What about interviews?

“We don’t want to reflect badly on father and if we don’t know Anything about such thing, or have any hobbies, or anything of the sort people will assume he treats us poorly.” Danny murmured and Damian harumphed, even without opening his eyes Danny could tell Damian was gritting his teeth.

“Why should we care what the uncultured masses think?” He hissed furiously and Danny cracked a small smile.

“Because father does. As the Bat his reputation is half of his weapon, and his identity as Bruce Wayne is carefully crafted to both divert suspicion from him being Batman and to make people like him. Father understands well how ones image is a tool, and being a good father is part of his image as Bruce Wayne, we will have to play into it if we want to succeed.” Danyal explained as gently as he could, he didn’t believe all of what he was saying really, or at least the way that he was framing it. He was framing it in the way he thought was best to make Damian start giving the outside world a chance, and hoping that when he did give it a chance he would find he liked it.

It was quiet for a long time which was good, it meant that Damian was properly considering what Danny had to say. He was nearly asleep before Damian spoke again, rousing Danny from his half doze. “Alright, knowing these ‘siblings’ patterns would help, and I can concede the point on the importance of reputation,” He said stiffly.

Danyal had to suppress a smile at his brother’s tone. “Good. And try to remember that unlike Mother and Grandfather batman has a rule against killing. Anything you do you must make sure it is never tracked back to us, especially because he’s not going to suddenly stop caring about them because we share his blood. If he finds out we hurt one of them it would absolutely ruin our chances, or be a huge set back at the very least,” He added, again trying to gently steer his brother in the direction he wanted. He was being manipulative, but it was the way he knew that worked.

“Father should know better then to develop such misplaced attachments,” Damian grumbled but then after a moment of silence he sighed and nodded. “All of our missions have had to be done in secret anyway, with time and planning we’ll manage.”

Well, it had bought them time and that had been Danyal’s goal so he nodded as well. “Good, now sleep Ahki, we’ve both had a long day and I’m tired.”

Damian let out a soft hum and that was all, he kept hold of Danny’s wrist even as he fell asleep, as he always did. Danny liked it too, the physical reminder that Damian was there, that they were safely together. He didn’t think that either of them would have to sneak out before dawn to make sure they weren’t caught and punished for such childish behaviour, he truly felt like they could rest.

Part three

[violetsyrenart]

Okay listen. Hear me out. What if Stephanie Brown was picked up by Ra’s Al Ghul instead of Batman.

She’d be a member of the League of Assassins.

I’m going to be obsessed with this AU for a while.

Idea given to me by @river9noble