#my scrapbucket

[sharksarewaterdogs]

Now I know "Bruce knows the League's secret identities while they have no idea who he is" is a thing & all and it can be used for some fun scenarios, but consider—

A Clark who knows Bruce's secret identity and a Bruce who doesn't know Clark's.

And better, a Clark who doesn't know Bruce doesn't know.

It's Bruce Wayne's first years as Batman. He is Mr. Edgy Loner Man to the max, except he's just recently had a brightly colored child following him around (???? Is it a demon, is it his spawn, who knows). Very little is known about him outside Gotham except that he is a cryptid-ass Dark and Brooding type who wants other heroes to keep tf out. He's encountered Superman a few times and seems to despise him.

Clark, our young investigative journalist, looks into Batman to make sure he's not actually the Devil of Gotham, a vampiric creature with an iron fist over the city draining its lifeblood, as the rumors go. Finds the dots. Connects them.

Almost immediately ends up covering an event attended by Brucie Wayne and his new ward.

Oh god. The Bat knows. Backtrack backtrack backtrack, get through this & never meddle in the affairs of the Bat or Gotham again.

Except, the thing is—Clark is nice. He is a sunshine guy, bleeding heart, he exudes hope and comfort.

And Bruce is actually in his Overstressed Emo Loser era.

He's in way over his head. He's got trust issues ×1,000. He's a new dad and a CEO and a superhero in one of the most crime-riddled cities of America. The press is his mortal enemy & he's battling it now to seem like a good enough guardian for Dick when he's not even sure if he is. He's running on caffeine and anxiety.

And Clark is the first reporter who he feels actually seems to see him & his kid as people, and who is just so... kind.

So he tries to pull strings to get Clark to interview him more often.

(The Batman might not be known much outside Gotham, but Bruce Wayne is a celebrity & a mysterious one at that, who disappeared for years after his parents' death and only semi-recently started out in public life again. Any newspaper, not just Gotham ones, would leap at a chance for personal interviews with him.)

(Probably idk how newspaper shit works tbh go with it for the Story.)

Clark? Panics. This is a power play. This is a threat. The Bat is dangling it over his head that he knows that Clark knows and maybe the Batman can't defeat Superman (debatable, Clark doesn't wanna push his luck), but Bruce Wayne can Absolutely defeat Clark Kent. Sure, if Clark disappears in Gotham his bestie Lois will come in swinging with the steel chair, but he's not even sure she can take on Bruce Wayne.

Goodbye world it was nice knowing you.

Clark reluctantly accepts the jobs, and gradually starts to know Bruce Wayne. He is still convinced it's a threatening power play, esp as Bruce will occasionally let slip that his grudge against Superman (he is convinced there are some skeletons in that guy's closet, no one is that nice—except Clark, Clark's the one (1) exception). But Bruce is just so good at his nice guy/tired dad front it pulls at Clark's heart strings anyway and Oh No he's getting feelings this is bad bad bad bad bad.

(Yeah Bruce isn't putting up much of a front with him actually, and doesn't realize it but he is Crushing Hard on Clark.)

Dick liked Clark immediately and also probably immediately recognized him as Superman but he's not going to say that, are you kidding, he's a feral goblin child, his middle name is Mischief.

Alfred really wishes Bruce was less oblivious to his crush but he's too Reserved British Butler to say so clearly. He very much approves though.

Eventual Superbat happy ending ofc but it is a Trip to get there.

[jedi-order-apologist]

Senator Amidala, Can You Please Come Collect Your Astromech?

There isn't much need for a recruitment drive for a war fought with clone troopers, but an unusual candidate tries to enlist anyway. Written for Fandom Empire Prompt Tables 2024 - Prompt: "Useful"

Based on this post I made a while ago.

Excerpt:

“Think you scrapbuckets are lost,” the recruiter grumbled. If ever a droid could be said to look taken aback, it would certainly describe this protocol droid. “Pardon me,” it said, “but the plaque outside indicated this was the Galactic Armed Forces Enlistment Center?” “That it is.” “Oh!” the droid sounded relieved. “We are in the right place, then. I am C-3PO, and my companion,” it gestured at the astromech, “is R2-D2, who insists he has a matter of great importance to discuss with you.” The recruiter just stared blankly at the droids as C-3PO turned to R2-D2 and continued, “Now, what is this mysterious matter you brought me here to relay to this gentleman? Don’t take too long; I’m sure he’s very busy and doesn’t have all day to talk to us!” R2-D2 whirred and chirped. C-3PO opened its mouth to translate, then abruptly cut off before even beginning, and whirled on his companion. “R2-D2, that’s absurd! You cannot enlist in the army!”

READ ON AO3

[ahrencmeptn]

They'd finally gotten this interloper on the backfoot, something that was no doubt leaving them sure of their victory at this stage, but that was once more snuffed out when another flash came through. Along with the all-too-familiar shifting of mechanical parts that left the two hammer minis flying across the room. Soundwave taking a notable step back at the sight of what could only be in their eyes, someone that looked like a Prime. Even if not in title, the appearance was uncanny.

"Don't just stand there, Soundwave, keep the pressure on!" Came the shrill voice from above, as the fighter jet Decepticon fired a few blasts Ben's way even now. "I take my orders from Megatron." It was said firmly, even in their expressionless voice. Nonetheless, the cassette beasts charge all the same as they all converged toward the now hulking Cybertronian. Soundwave themselves looking like they were more focused on freeing their controls.

Which, as the speakers on his chest let out a mighty boom that sent a sonic blast Ben's way, he achieved.

"We need to fall back-" He began, with that same assured tone in his voice.

"No! Megatron is gone and I'm in charge!" Starscream shouted, leaping down from his advantageous position just for the sake of getting in the other Decepticon's face. "I am finishing this Autobot scum off to prove I am better than that glitch-ridden scrapbucket. You're either with me or I'll deal with you after, which will it be."

Soundwave didn't reply to that, featureless face staring down at the other with such a silent intensity that even Starscream seemed to second-guess what he had been saying.

These guys' loyalties rather quickly fell apart without that Megatron woman, it seemed.

The maneuver had done as intended, stifling the minion master's attempt at calling in more reinforcements and sending him hurtling down into the plant below... unfortunately, the effect as intended was very noisy, and soon enough Ben was being set upon by the cassette beasts, returning to protect their commander.

The Necrofriggian crying out in a grunt of pain as he was shot out of the sky by a laser, being quickly chased by the two others trying to pounce upon him- Ben narrowly having time to phase through the both of them, freezing everything on his way through.

Ben dodging backwards with held breath, already clocking that there was another, larger robot looming over them from above.

This wasn't looking good.

"Alright, Omnitrix...!" He wheezed out, undoubtedly having to weave & phase through attacks from all angles. "I really need someone good!" Clawed hand reached down to the device on his belt.

F L A S H

The blinding green light, this time, would have been accompanied by the familiar sound of mechanically shifting of parts, of metal portions locking into place, and heavy metallic slam of large robotic feet upon the floor... all happening in an instant, before the two hammer-armed assailants would be suddenly struck flying away.

The light dissipating to reveal a large, pinnacle Cybertronian standing where the Necrofriggian had been formerly. Looking down at his hands for a moment of surprise, before smirking back up.

"Oh yeah, this will do." He said, fingers clenching back into fists as he readied himself to fend off the now outmatched cassette beasts.

[cupcakemulti]

“Tch, this is hardly a mansion! It’s an overglorified summer home.” Loki, I put a lot of effort into this. “Do you have floor plans?” No, I can’t draw a straight line to save my life. “Then what you’re telling me is that this is just a figment of your imagination with no real form whatsoever.” ...Well, when you say it like that. “Ah, yes, that’s what I thought. Still, I can work with it. I’ll be taking the uppermost floor for myself.” Loki, that’s an entire floor! “And?” Your housemates will be mad? “And? None of them could do much to oppose me in the slightest. A lizard, a girl with a wand, a woman pretending to be a villain, an actual dog, a highschooler, three scrapbuckets, some woman with a lot of rifles (who is ironically the biggest threat to me), and a child that’s been turned into a machine. Not that scary of a line-up, honey.” ...I really hate you.

[sharksarewaterdogs]

"I didn't come to pick a fight."

Wukong raises a brow, and Nezha's face burns. He knows, his very presence here is an affront, a threat, but—

He squeezes the child tighter, defeat bitter in his throat. "I didn't have anywhere else to turn." 

Wukong's eyes flicker, softening. He can be—kind, Nezha knows. In his own way. It is on that that this desperate chance hangs.

The Lotus Prince & the Infant Au

Baby MK is known to be the Harbinger of Chaos by the Celestial Realm once he's born. They want to kill/control him, and Nezha Has Feelings about this. Read: Mutinies

How tf does one save a baby from the Celestial Realm???

Oh

Oh no

Fuck.

Brotherhood (+Iron Fan) are Rebels Against the Celestial Realm

Nezha? Not a fan. Especially of Wukong.

Bc. Betrayal.

They were friends, family, they were like brothers and Wukong ditched him and turned traitor and maybe he should've expected it but it still hurt

But. Baby.

Cue, reluctant rebellion from the Lotus Prince, trust issues by the boatload, angsting over betraying duty to save a child, chaos monkey baby, and slowburn re-found family

[sharksarewaterdogs]

The Better Future Leo AU

Future!Leo is the last surviving brother as the Future rebels crew manage to defeat the Kraang without time travel

Casey Jr. still has Casey Sr. to look out for him, so a grieving Leo, unable to face rebuilding over his brothers' graves, decides to try universe-hopping as a hero instead

Kicks Kraang butt across multiple dimensions, though never staying long enough/being social enough to make connections & steering clear of his alternate brothers & self

Ends up in a version of the 2012 'verse and makes (accidental?) contact

This universe's Splinter is dead RIP

12!Leo is fresh out of a coma & Not OK (despite what he insists & Ghost Splinter pushes)

Yeah his leg injury is an Actual Problem

They're coming back to fight the Kraang but find the Kraang defeated by some weird guy

Another turtle, cool, but also??? Who tf are you buddy. Suspicious.

Future Leo can't just look at these orphaned kids and not adopt them

(Omg their Raph is so tiny wtf)

(&This Leo is the oldest?? But they're all also the same age??)

The orphaned kids have trust issues and they WILL bite

F!Leo is the dad bc age. 12! Leo is the dad bc Splinter raised him to look after the others & be self-sacrificial & said the whole "you'll have to take on my role" thing. He is a little parentified. 12!Raph is the dad bc he's had to be the one looking after things when Leo was in a months-long coma, & Leo is Still Not OK, & Raph is kinda traumatized by it. There is Tension.

Donnie is ecstatic to have a new guinea pig full of exciting revelations about other dimensions and their scientific advancements. Mikey thinks F!Leo is The Coolest Ever and really wishes his big bros would get along

Everybody's struggling with grief.

F!Leo lost his brothers & dad, & essentially everyone now from leaving them behind. He's spent months at this point as a roving, Kraang-butt-kicking loner, and years as a rebel.

Leo's just woken up from a coma, trying to push himself past his limits, feeling helpless and useless and frustrated, and just found out their dad is dead. He's playing catch-up with things his brothers have known for months.

Raph, Donnie, and Mikey are all mourning the loss of Splinter, who they saw die. A couple months gave them some time to adjust, but not nearly enough, esp as they're moving back into the city. Donnie has pulled away from his brothers, socializing mainly with April & Casey. Raph pulled away hard, too, when watching over Leo. Mikey really misses his brothers & has been trying to be the glue & emotional support (via being the upbeat one lowering the tensions and bringing up the mood).

Mikey is team Dad F!Leo. Donnie is interested in him, but emotionally withdrawn. Raph & Leo both don't trust or like him.

[askhoofandheartswirl-blog]

(Mun note: hey OP can I fucking deck Smoke please)

part 4

previous

[sharksarewaterdogs]

He used to imagine the end of it all would be like—well, rather like that fantasy movie April got them all to watch so many years ago, for the memes. Like a weightless, desperate relief, it's gone, it's done, the veil of darkness lifting, sunshine and smiles and all the most beautiful of memories once more flooding his senses, washing away the worst of the harrowing miseries they've been mired in for so long.

And yes, he knows that was probably stupid. But the image stuck with him, even if the movie itself didn't much; an example, a ray of hope for what it might look like after the world went to absolute shit and started to come back out of it. Sure, the hero never fully healed from his trauma—that much anyone could expect—but he did get that moment of reprieve.

Leo feels... nothing. Not so much a weight lifted, not a flood of joy, just... nothing. A void of apathy so numbing he almost thinks he died.

Around him, an explosion of cheers. Casey has tears in his eyes, like diamonds, and for perhaps the first time ever they are happy ones.

"You completed the mission. The world is saved."

"Yeah." Leo rests his hand on Casey's shoulder and smiles something warm and bright and fake. "It is."

But my world isn't.

He cannot build a new home over his family's ashes.

——

"Wow, you guys are small. Like, really small. Not so much Mikey, I guess, but very much Raph."

Little Raphael's eye twitches murderously, which, fair, but truth is truth.

"Fuck you!" Raph spits. "We're practically the same size!"

"I know, and it is weirding me out."

—‐—‐—

The Better Future Leo Au

In another world, with Future!Leo's help, the Kraang were at last defeated and a new world slowly reborn.

Leo, however, is mourning the loss of his brothers, and with Casey Jr. safely with Casey Sr, April, and the other surviving members of the resistance, he bids them a loving farewell and takes off dimension-hopping to fight more Kraang across the multiverse.

Until he stumbles across some turtles that really, really look like they need help of a longer duration.

Aka, the one where Rise!Future!Leo shows up in a variation of the 2012 'verse and decides to adopt his alternate self and brothers, much to (half of) their chagrin.