#nightwing could probably pull it off tho

[leoleolovesdc]

The batfamily must be fucking scary. Imagine being alone in the middle of the night picking a lock from some bank you want rob, you hear nothing but you can feel someone watching you. You look around, a bit suspicious but see nothing, however, the feeling doesn��t go away. You hear a light footstep, it sounds just distant enough to be threatening. You wait for someone to appear and try to arrest you but nothing happens. No one comes. You go back to the lock, but the nervousness isn’t letting you do the job right, with that amount of paranoia just before you’re about to give up you can see a dark bat-like figure jumping out of the nearest building, flying down with an inhuman speed and knocking you out. You don’t have time to think, or run, just scream hoping that you won’t die tonight.

[ladytauria]

Would you consider writing 13 and/or 18 from the prompt list for jaytim?

i would!! <3

i wrote them both bc i thought they worked very well together, though. i did change the wording of the second prompt to make it fit. (it is still bolded tho.)

i went through… 3 or 4 different concepts for this fic before i finally settled on reverse robins, bc i have been thinking about another reverse robins au (i blame @bi-bats). this is not that au, but instead a different one which ran away with me as soon as i got into the flow of writing it <3

there is also a part in it that is inspired by something @deepwithintheabyss said in a chat once. (which i’ll clarify in the tags & end notes on ao3 lol).

ANYWAY. this is more in the gen/pre-slash vein as it technically covers tim & jason’s first time actually meeting / speaking to each other, &. as it ran away with me the way it did, probably kind of messy? ^^; but i hope you like it, nonny, & thank you very much for the prompt!

It isn’t very often that Tim comes across Robin. Both Batman and Nightwing do their best to keep them separate and—so far at least—the little Robin hasn’t made an attempt to circumvent their efforts. Except tonight, though he has a feeling that the little bird didn’t necessarily mean for their paths to cross.

He’s sitting in an alley; canary yellow cape wrapped around his body. Tim drops, silent, from the roof, landing six feet from him. This close, he can see the tremors wracking his frame.

“Robin,” he says.

Robin flinches, hard; nearly smacking his head back against the brick. Guilt rises in Tim’s throat. There are shiny tears trailing down his cheeks, though the white-outs of his domino are still down. Tim feels the moment Jason’s eyes lock on him.

He immediately shifts into a non-threatening stance. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he says, holding up his hands, fingers spread wide.

“Hood?” Robin’s voice wobbles.

“Yeah, it’s me,” he says; crouching down to Robin’s level. “Are you alright?” There’s a mild strain of fear toxin being sold right now. Tim’s been working on tracking down the source, but so far, all of his leads have led him to dead ends. Could Robin have been hit with a dose? That would explain his upset—maybe the lack of Batman, too.

Robin shivers. He draws his cape tighter around him. He shakes his head—though whether in answer or not Tim couldn’t say. He buries his face in his knees again, muffling a soft sob.

Tim’s chest twists. “Do you want me to call—”

Robin’s head jerks up again. “No!” he says, immediately, the desperation in his voice nearly knocking Tim back. “Please, please don’t—”

“Okay,” Tim says, gentling his voice. He doubts it does much with the voice modulator in the way. “Okay, I won’t call anyone.” He bites his lip. He can’t leave him here. Whatever’s happened, whether it’s fear toxin or not, it’s affected him deeply. “Do you feel safe enough to come with me?” He offers his hand.

Robin stares at it, biting his lip. Then he nods, taking Tim’s hand. His grip is tight—almost too much so.

They rise to their feet together.

“I’ll call my bike,” Tim says, still in that gentle tone. “Do you think you can hold on?” The hand not holding Tim’s is still clutching his cape, holding it around himself. He’s still shivering. Even the fingers in Tim’s hand are trembling.

Robin nods. “Y-yeah.”

He gives his hand a squeeze. He hopes it’s reassuring. Then he pulls out his keys and presses the button that will summon his bike to them. It takes less than ten minutes for it to roll up to the mouth of the alley. Robin finally lets go of his hand when he goes to climb on the bike. As soon as Tim is settled, he climbs on behind him; his arms snug around Tim’s waist, his front plastered against Tim’s back.

Tim drives. Not to his Nest, but to one of the well-equipped safehouses he has on this end of the Narrows. As soon as they’re off the bike, Robin drifts close to him again; so close their arms are almost brushing. He walks them around to the alley. He offers an arm to Robin automatically, and though Robin’s own grappling hook—and the spare—sits on his hip, he steps into Tim’s arm, against his chest.

Tim is not a tall man. Despite that, and the fact that there are only three years between them, Robin barely comes up to his shoulder. Tim secures his grip on him, holding him close, and grapples up the fire escape.

When they land, Robin doesn’t move; staying pressed against Tim’s side, his forehead pressed to his shoulder. Tim doesn’t make him move. It’s easy enough to wrap both arms around him, let him stand within the circle of them as he disengages the security on the window.

Then he nudges him. “C’mon, Robin. Let’s get inside.”

A beat passes before Robin moves. Tim follows right behind him, re-engaging his security after he shuts the window. He pulls off his helmet with a soft, mechanical hiss, letting it dangle from his fingers. Robin has pulled his cape around him again. He stands, something almost unsure in the stance of his body.

“C’mon,” Tim says, laying a gentle hand on Robin’s back. He leans into it, but doesn’t resist when he walks them forward, until they reach the couch. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get us something to drink.” Something warm, preferably, but even just water or a sports drink would suffice.

Then he’ll get to the bottom of whatever’s going on here.

He finds some tea; one of the few herbal blends he keeps. He brews two cups. While he waits, he takes off his domino, gloves, and the most prominent of his weapons. Then he takes the cups to the living room. Like Tim, Robin has removed his gloves and domino, alongside his boots and gloves, leaving Jason Wayne sitting on his couch. His cape is wrapped around him again, and he’s tucked all of his limbs into it, curling into a ball so small he takes up only one of the couch cushions.

Tim’s chest pangs.

“Here,” he says, offering Jason the cup.

Jason takes it, both hands curling around it and pulling it to his chest. His eyes are rimmed with red.

Tim hesitates a moment—and then sits right next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Jason melts into his side.

“Sorry,” he says softly.

“For what?” Tim asks, stroking Jason’s bicep with his thumb.

“Being difficult. I didn’t— I know you’d rather have called someone. I. I promise I won’t stay for long.”

Tim turns his head, tucking his nose into Jason’s curls. It’s not the most pleasant of smells—he smells like sweat, like Gotham night air. Under that, there’s a hint of soap. “You’re not being difficult, Jason,” he says gently, carefully. “And you can stay for as long as you need.”

Jason exhales slowly. “Thanks,” he says.

He doesn’t sound convinced. Tim tightens his arm. “I mean it. It’s not… I don’t mind having you here.” He doesn’t. He may not be on the best terms with the bats, but that animosity, that strain, doesn’t extend to Jason. He may not be happy that some other kid took on the cape he died in, but he could acknowledge that Bruce and Damian had learned from their mistakes. Jason patrolled far less than Tim ever had, and almost never on his own. He was kept away from the worst of the rogues, too. Most of his life was focused on the non-cape side of things; school and hobbies and friends, and, recently, working with the Martha Wayne Foundation.

Tim would have despised it.

Jason thrives.

And Tim admires what he’s accomplished. He’s a good Robin. A good person. The only reason he’s never reached out—

Well. Bruce and Damian barely tolerate his presence, reaching out only when there’s no other choice. Cass— He’s not sure she’ll ever forgive him for choosing this path. His relationships with Steph and Alfred may be fine, but the other three could easily make things difficult, and— Honestly. He has no idea what Jason has been told about him.

The way he’s curled against him suggests it may not be all bad.

There’s also his philosophy on vigilantism. He’s chosen a different path than the others; a path with far more blood and violence. It’s no secret that Jason has fought with Bruce about methodology before, and Tim— As tempting as it is, sometimes, to steal Batman’s partner right out from under him… Tim won’t make that worse. Spending time with him could very well fan those flames higher.

He’s not going to explain all of that right now. Or maybe ever. Instead he says, “My problems with Damian and Bruce have nothing to do with you. They would probably rather you avoid me—and that’s fine—but… you’re not unwelcome in my territory, or my safehouses,” he says. “If you need a place to go, back-up—you can call me.” He pauses. “And that goes for civilian life too. You need me, you call. I’ll answer.”

Jason twists. He presses his face against Tim’s shoulder. It can’t be comfortable—he’s still wearing his armor, a sturdy kevlar-weave. “Thanks,” he says, and his voice is watery again.

Tim moves his hand to cup the back of his head. He kisses Jason’s crown.

They stay like that until Jason pulls away.

By now the tea has cooled. When his cup is about half gone, he asks, “Do you want to talk about what happened tonight?”

Jason bites his lip and shrugs. “I dunno. A lot,” he says, quietly. “Bruce an’ I are fighting again. About my mom.”

Tim hums. Steph has complained to him about Sheila Haywood more than once. He’s never met the woman himself, but from everything he’s heard—and looked into—he’s… not impressed, to put it mildly. “Sounds stressful,” he says.

“Yeah. He thinks— He says she’s taking advantage.” Jason sounds disgusted. “But— He doesn’t get it. She’s had a hard life. The system fucked her over, and she didn’t have the money to fight it. She just needs a little help, that’s all, and—” He cuts himself off. “I just wanna help her. Like I couldn’t help my other mom, the one that raised me. An’ it’s just— Every time I bring her up now, Bruce gets this pinched look on his face. Damian’s no help. Steph’s no help. Even Cass isn’t any help! I just— It sucks. An’ we fought about it again today.

“So I— Tonight, I told him I wanted to patrol on my own. Clear my head. ‘Cause he said I could now. An’ it was fine, it went fine, until. There was this robbery, an’ I guess— I guess they had that new fear toxin— an’... I just…

“What if he gets tired of fighting? What if— What if he— What if he decides that he doesn’t— My mom can’t. She can’t afford a kid right now, an’ I— Damian— He’s in this too, and Steph, an’—” He’s working himself up now, voice cracked and wavering, little hitching sobs threatening to burst with every word.

Tim puts his mug down—takes Jason’s, too. Jason lets it go without a fight. Then he pulls him into a hug; tight and all-encompassing, like he can shield him from all the hurt he’s feeling. “Bruce will never kick you out,” he says, voice quiet and sure. “He gave you his name, he signed the papers. You're his now, permanently. He’s not going to go back on that. It’s the same with Damian. You’re family to him now, and Damian— If he’s nothing else, he’s loyal to his bones. Steph adores you. Cass does too. Fighting— It’s not going to change that.” He pauses. “But if I’m wrong. If they kick you out, or— If you just can’t stay there anymore—

“You have a place with me.”

Jason sobs, then.

Tim holds him.

He’ll keep holding him—as long as he needs.

[uncharted-constellations]

Batwoman Beyond

Was originally gonna be a genderbent terry but dana was calling to me so~

Theres obviously a few ways you could go about it but personally my interpretation would be that Rebirth goes the Same until Powers and Mr. Fixx track down Terry on his way to the police station, and Terry ends up badly hurt, maybe in a temporary coma, (i refuse to kill my boy lmao). Since Dana was the one to drop off Terry at Mr. Waynes right before this, she ends up going to confront him after she gets the call about Terry, however Wayne passes her on the road, going to the police with his information after finding out what happened on the news. Dana sneaks into the manor, and just like Terry, finds the cave, articles still pulled up about Powers and the affects of the nerve gas.

I can’t imagine her first instinct would be to steal the suit, at least not until she hears Wayne come back, complaining upstairs about the police being unable to do anything without the actual evidence. In a moment of determination she grabs the suit and sneaks out. Bruce shuts down the suit the second he notices it missing this time, as theres no obvious culprit, but when Dana pleads just wanting to get the evidence to put powers behind bars, Bruce relents, telling her the rest of the story on the way. The rest of the episode obviously goes differently, but Dana obviously gets more involved than planned, stopping the operation and creating blight.

Wayne ends up recruiting Dana, acknowledging that while gotham might not need a batman, it does need a hero. I imagine logistically he probably has to make her an entirely new costume because while terry was smaller than bruce dana is probably tiny in comparison lmao, thing would be baggy and probably not as effective as it should be. Pretty much the same exact design tho. She would also probably cut her hair shorter because full cowls are not long hair friendly. Bruce doesnt care if you like your hair, he’s not risking head wounds.

Dana’s career probably starts with more spying than action seeing as while she might know some stuff from her brother (hes from the comics, and was involved in jokerz shit but ill keep him) shes not as physically ready to be Batwoman, but then again we didnt get a lot of background on Dana. Maybe she plays the future equivalent of softball or something... Terry recovers probably in time for the Willie Watt/Golem episode, although he probably has some lingering physical issues that prevent him from being quite as active as he had been before, at least for a while if not permanently.

I imagine he takes a minute to figure it out but takes it in stride, forcing Wayne to hire him as well. He doesnt ask for a costume, instead helping Wayne more with the mechanical stuff which we know he’s fairly capable in based on his original observations of the suit, alongside occasionally helping with backup or undercover work, and probably as a starting sparring buddy for Dana. He might very occasionally put on the other batsuit when needed (like when inque captures batwoman, taking the place of bruce in that instance), but he’s probably more likely to throw on the nightwing mask, run in and help or deliver a necessary gadget, and then bust ass back to the batmobile, i don’t want him too too involved but more so than Max was originally.

Im undecided on whether or not Max still figures it out, but shes still a close friend for both of them. I imagine the relationship with Batwoman and 10 is also very different, partially because Dana and Terry wouldn’t have most of their relationship issues. Maybe 10 is more involved with her families schemes in this au, becoming more of a rival than a kindred spirit.

[httpsobi]

TEAM, MEET... GREEN LANTERN, AT YOUR SERVICE!

WARNINGS/TAGS + sfw, gender neutral o/c or reader insert, vague descriptions of violence, blood and injuries from fights.

A/N + it's a ghost town in here but enjoy!

★ chaotic on the verge of war criminal but also somehow calm, mature paternal figure

★ gets the feral 'i will bite your ankles off' from hal, gets the calmness more from john ♥︎ has probably bit hal at least 5 times when she/he/they were little

★ pretty battle smart, and while she/he/they aren't physically the strongest in the team without her/his/their constructs, has knocked out people with a punch ♥︎ dumb as HELL as a civilian for some reason... like god where does her/his/their intelligence go in daily life

★ best described as the golden retriever/husky friend. smart (sometimes), dramatic, dumb 90% of the time, friendly, clingy

★ most likely part of the og (also known as the cadmus mess) ♥︎ or at least a witness

★ if she/he/they were directly a part of cadmus, probably was going to be grounded for life by the corpse men

★ if she/he/they weren't, probably arrived with the leaguers n' laughed their ass off the WHOLE time the sidekicks got yelled it ♥︎ until they got scolded by john

★ great buddies w/ everyone on the team ♥︎ somehow manages to be good (even great?) buddies with connor ♥︎ i love the idea that connor's this blank n' dead faced dude then there's just someone who's never stopped smiling ♥︎ had a bet w/ robin n' artemis to see how many pranks they could pull on wally before he caught on. it was a tie between all three of them when they all unknowingly set up traps in the same room at the same time n' wally caught all of them

★ calm n collected during fights, usually the one saving kid flash from his demise when he decides to run off like an true idiot ♥︎ often jokes about them being the new speedster n' green lantern duo until they actually turn into them n' she/he/they are just like "... fuck."

★ despite the fact that they are mostly calm, has gone manic n' insane a couple times during battle ♥︎ most likely times: battle w/ amazo, fight with the injustice league, episode 16 in the simulation (i see them going manic as a way to give the rest time to escape, ends up 'dying' to the beams)

★ makes fun of batman like it's her/his/their full time job. they do it like rent's due next month ♥︎ it's a hal jordan thing- started when he would babysit her/him/them n' had no one to cover for him during JLA meetings so she/he/they grew up witness batlantern bicker n' fight like there's no tomorrow

★ the team LOVES listening to her/him/them talk about their time on other planets. ♥︎ m'gann clings onto her/him/them so much when she first joins the team cause like "omg! someone who is spends time off earth!"

★ if she/he/they got a chance to face hal or john during s1e26 when they were under klarion's control, you best believe she/he/they beat his ass n' proceeded to take photos with them unconscious ♥︎ definitely did the rapper poses where they squat with like prayer hands or peace signs over their unconscious bodies ♥︎ if she/he/they had social media for their green lantern persona, you BET they posted it with no context n just "😈🙏🏻🥱🗣" ♥︎ did it w/ p much every other male leaguer too ♥︎ left the women alone cause 'respect our big sexy buff talented women' ♥︎ made robin email the photos to all the leaguers as holiday cards

★ as the team grew n got older, she/he/they either joined nightwing in leading the team or moved on to the justice league w/ zatanna n' rocket ♥︎ probably preferred staying w/ nightwing tho ♥︎ 10/10 is the :D bubbly nice fun mentor who's all joking n' giggles then she/he/they go into missions n' the younger team members are like "what in the hell"

all work n' writing is work of @httpsobi. i ask you please do not copy, rewrite, translate or post on other platforms without my consent.

[hetaliafucker]

Hungary is Wonder Woman. England could literally be John Constantine. Like. That's literally Arthur but more Northern

I am sorely disappointed by the lack of Batman content in the Hetalia fandom. (Particularly BTAS.)

Yes, there's all the art of America and England as Batman and Robin, but that's just two characters and they're not really shown doing anything besides America having fun while England's embarrassed.

Plus, while it makes sense that America would want England to be his sidekick, Robin isn't really a fitting choice for England, so I'm not that into the art. If only England had gotten to be the Riddler (one with an actual suit) or Penguin.

I'll make the content myself, sure, it'll just take a while since there's so much content I want to see (in general, not just Batman Hetalia) that nobody else makes.

[river-bottom-nightmare]

Nightwing #80 Review

woot woot i’ve kept it up for three issues lets gooo. i liked this issue more than the last one. there’s a lot of fanon dick characterization peppered in, but not so much that it puts me off entirely. also, i’m getting increasingly concerned about bitewing. but i did like tim in this one, very nice

look at all the blue and purple and pink. honestly at this point, i’m a broken record but come on come on come onnnnnnn. the blue and pink is very pretty though. this cover’s a bit offputting at first, and a bit spiraly, which i’m sure was the intended effect.

this is a genuine concern of mine. dick’s a vigilante, and he doesn’t have the same sprawling network and resources that bruce does. (even if he is a billionaire now, he hasn’t amassed the same collection of crime-fighting equipment that bruce has.) 

i’m not sure if he’ll be able to take care of bitewing. damian’s got plenty of pets, but alfred used to take care of them, and now bruce plus the rest of the batfam is taking care of them. as far as we know, babs only drops by occasionally, and the same goes for dick’s family and friends. will dick be able to give bitewing the love and time and affection that a traumatized puppy like her needs? i really hope so.

she does look adorable in this panel tho.

dick. richard. richie. baby. why are you shirtless.

you have scars upon scars. probably chemical burns. bullet wounds. weird fucking squiggly lines from knives that only psychos with blade fetishes use. no normal person has the body that you do. and you don’t think that showing up shirtless in front of the police is going to raise suspicion? you don’t think that the people accusing you of murder are going to look at someone who looks like they’re a fucking mob enforcer and go hmm that’s a bit suspicious?

put on a SHIRT jesus CHRIST it’s like you’re not even trying to hide your identity.

look at this pompous little princess demanding only the highest quality head pets i’d burn down latvia for her. (no offense latvians it was the first country that popped into my head.)

pretty boy pretty boy pretty boy pretty boy-

no seriously kudos to the artist here. his expression is so human i wanna cry. dick, right now, is sheepishly asking a question. he knows he’s not going to get into any real trouble, he knows that he’ll be able to talk his way out of or somehow maneuver his way off this mess. but he’ll play nice for the police, so he’s asking a friend for a favour, part self-condescendingly and part oh-well-what-can-you-do.

and his expression reflects that. rather than a stoic expressionless face most male comic characters have when asking someone for something (or all the time really), rather than the weird desperate supposedly “seductive” face that most female comic characters plus dick grayson have when asking someone for something (or all the time really), he’s making a face that i pulled like yesterday. or the day before that. it’s kind of silly, kind of casual, very much human. i like it.

thank god. proper (in character) acknowledgement for officer grayson. yea, fuck cops in general, but i like that they included this line.

obviously, he’s not talking about the actual criminals, he’s talking about the police force itself. the bpd was too corrupt, and dick realized that he wasn’t helping. not only does one clean cop not make a dent in an overall dirty force, but dick was putting his allies in danger too. not only that, but it wasn’t good for dick’s mental health either. he was spreading himself too thin, and surrounding himself with some of the worst of crime 24/7 did a number on him. dick’s got a history of self-sacrificing tendencies, and i’m just glad he’s not a cop anymore.

dick has a gotham rogues mug. they make gotham rogue mugs, and dick has one.

what kinda city looks at it’s frankly horrible crime history and long list of certifiably insane serial killers who are all still alive and actively committing war crimes and goes “oooooh yea imma put that on a coffee mug!” gotham, that’s who.

this isn’t important i just like how all of bitewing’s barks are blue

back straight, hand on his hip, cheerful smile on his face as he says he’s being accused for murder. love that for him.

they couldn’t have said “yea it’s complicated” in a better way even if they put the words “yea it’s complicated” right there on the page in bold red letters. literally all the love to the artists.

dick please. you’re KILLING ME what the actual fuck IS THAT???? WHY DO YOU HAVE A MUG OF THAT???

anyway nightwing collects novelty mugs confirmed.

this paneling is so beautiful. 

tim’s the focus, but he’s not the first thing you see. he’s placed in a way that forces the reader to drag their eyes all the way up the page in order to reach him. it us know just how high up tim is carelessly crouching, especially close to the ledge of the building too. i cannot think of a single better way to introduce a character, and this character in particular: you instantly know this is a version of tim with plenty of experience and training, is comfortable in his body and knows his limits, but still hangs onto that civilian awe of being in a high place and overlooking a brightly lit city.

absolute classic robin. i love it. 

this isn’t even that important but it made me happy. this is how you train surf.

you don’t crouch or bend over when you get to a tunnel, which is oddly enough what most people think (at least from my experience). you bend backward. that not only 100% ensures that you’ll make sure you’re low enough to make it through the tunnel (because you can see the top of the tunnel, unlike when you crouch or bend), but it also makes it easier to get up: all you have to do is push up with your arms into a bent stance, and you’ll be in a ready, moving position. from a bend or a crouch, getting up is more awkward and more slow.

on a meta level, i like that this creative team knows what they’re doing when it comes to the small, almost unimportant stuff like that, because it makes the action more real. (as real as you can get with a guy running around stealing hearts.)

on a in-universe level, it once again drives home both dick and tim’s experience and professional level skill.

regardless of who you side with in the “should tim drake be robin again?” debate, you gotta admit that tim’s rebirth robin suit is r a d as fuck. if i’m not mistaken, this is the same one he was wearing in 2019 young justice for a little bit? it’s cute and hella cool i like it.

remember what i said about human expressions? doesn’t happen as often to tim bc he’s a Child, but it’s still nice to note when someone humanizes him, too. (that’s why i love the duckboy panel so much lol.)

me, at first: that’s not a “good call” dick that’s just common sense

me, now: sprinkled throughout the entire comic we can see dick bending to tim’s instructions if only briefly, joking with him to keep the mood light while still maintaining a serious mood and retaining control over this particular outing. this implies that dick’s doing it intentionally, purposefully leaving places in his sentences blank and offering affirmations, in order to encourage tim and train him in things bruce might not necessarily touch on, such as social chameleoning and misdirection techniques and love/affirmation from a family member. dick is not only a loving and supportive big brother, but he never stops training his younger brother in better vigilante tecnhiques because he wants tim to be better than him. in this essay i will-

d o g g o

also bitewing is getting so many head pats today i’m living for it

look at him, standing on a telephone wire with ease. nice flex, dick.

also look at how he’s silhouetted. the moon’s full bright, bright enough that the sky around dick is light, too. (at least. i’m like 99% sure that’s the moon.) not like most batman comics, where it’s sometimes hard to distinguish bruce from the background, which is entirely on purpose.

gotham is a dark gritty city, and so is bruce. the two of them are one. bludhaven may be a bit of a mess, but it’s being portrayed in all these different shades of blue and purple and pink, that are all light enough that dick stands out from the background. he hasn’t been swallowed up by the city, and chances are that he won’t ever be. also, the colouring helps establish bludhaven as a city too. there’s still hope for it. the light colouring means that it’s not going to sink into a pit as deep as the one bruce wove gotham into. the whole point of this nightwing arc in particular is to turn bludhaven into a better place, and it’s (most likely) letting us know early on that dick is going to accomplish that. he’ll struggle, but he’ll do it.

so dick??? dick designed his escrima sticks with a situation like this in mind? he created his signature and most iconic weapon (other than his chatty mouth), with a built in feature that turns his escrima sticks into tim’s signature and most iconic weapon???? just so that if he and tim ever got into a situation where tim didn’t have his staff, dick could make sure tim had the thing that would give him an edge over anyone he was fighting??? he’s such a big brother oh my goddd.

also tim’s smirk in this is just *chef kiss.* a staff is something he can work with, a staff is something he wields like an extension of his arm, a staff is means that someone’s about to get their ass kicked because tim’s about to beat the shit outta them.

this is my new phone background.

they really made sure we remembered that hey, those first few months when bruce was grieving too much to be any sort of a mentor to tim and was still unwilling to properly train him to be robin out of fear that he would end up like jason, dick was the one who stepped up (once he got over himself and his own fears and hangups with bruce) and trained tim to be robin, trained him how to fight and flip and fuckin fly out there, all while changing his own style a bit to be the more experienced one in the partnership while still trusting said partner to hold their own, so dick and tim have a very unique and cohesive fighting style that makes it hell for anyone who fights them together, didn’t they?

[i-may-be]

Hi my name is rex, i’m queer and use they/them pronouns and i’m 15. And i would prefer someone not over the age of 18 plz.

have like a caramel colored skin-tone and im 5’3 (short king). Rn i have a purple-pink short mullet and i have pretty curly hair(the ethnic popped off hehe), im pretty chubby but i have an hourglass shape, im pretty busty(im a fuckin k bro😭) and thicc thighs(thicc thighs save lives, sorry i’ll stop). I dress pretty alternative but i cant just choose one subculture tho, i wear a lot of heavy eye makeup. I could say i dress kinda “showy” but thats kinda what only fits me, but also who gives a fuck.

Im a libra sun, scropio moon, and gemini rising. This means that im a pretty social person and always wanna hang out with friends and just have fun, but moon in scropio makes my emotions rlly haywire and kinda boosts any sorta negative emotion. I really like making people laugh, it makes me feel helpful, but im also good at being to mother figure for people.

My hobbies include art (painting, drawing), sleeping (because i stay up mad late😭✌🏽), reading comics, Marvel and D.C superheroes, and super villains, cartoons, and anime/manga.

My favorite music genre’s are rock, alternative, emo, rap, and a little bit if indie music.

Personality: funny, sarcastic, creative, kind, inappropriate and the right times. Like im not gonna pull out a dick joke in front of your family

hello! thank you for choosing this blog for your matchup <3

ROMANTIC MATCHUP: Tadashi Yamaguchi

HOW YOU MET

I always feel like a cop out when I say this but school. You guys were put on a table together(if your school only has single seats uhh not anymore).

Mutual friends because sometimes people at school are cool and Yams was one of the cool ones.

It's really boring but that's basically it, you just kinda became friends because all solid relationships start with the good friendship as a foundation.

I think you guys would just have a good few common interests so it was easy for you both to find things to talk about when you were both bored in class.

It was kinda sweet n' nice, your friendgroups(friend rather? Yams mostly hangs out with Tsuki in the source so I dunno mate) got along well so it was very cool and awesome and nice how things ended up.

RELATIONSHIP HEADCANONS

If you want him to not die like I don't want him to die, please refrain from being funny when he is eating/drinking because he will choke, and it will not be fun. Also the inappropraite jokes, especially infront of other's because their reactions just add to it.

A though has occured... if you were to paint him.... he would lose it/pos. He'd be like "you!! you made me look so pretty and awesome!!" genuilnely so excited whenever you show him any of your art actually.

Mans is so supportive and understanding of you <3 You're havng a bad day? He's getting you your favourite snack. You're in an unmotivated slump? He'll find something really cool to inspire you!!

His love language is words of affirmation, so he likes complimenting and reassuring you. He makes a habit of complimenting you especially when you're more comfortable with each other.

HANGING OUT

Listening and finding music together. I feel like you both have similar music taste ya'know?? It was probably one of the things you both reall bonded over when you first met so I think it'd be a cool lil thing that helps bring you both together!!

Do his makeup PLEASE. He is so bad at it because he keeps blocking his face from where he can see so please help him however you can I beg. You guys doing eachother's makeup though <3

No thoughts just the two of you talking about superheroes together. He likes Nightwing a lot methinks. I imagine you'd both share your comics because some of them are ridiculously hard to find+expensive so it would help :]

YOU GUYS WATCHING CARTOONS!!! Not sure what cartoons you like but he really enjoys Looney Tunes and The Owl House. He'll watch basically anything, especially if it's with you.

[fanpom-imagines]

Being Spider-woman and being part of the Titans whilst also having a rivalry with Jason.

Masterlist

Fandom: Titans

Words: 2192

Warnings: like two cuss words

(Female Reader)

I swung my legs back and forth as I sat on one of the many billboards in the city. With my mask pulled up just up to my nose I took another bite of the burger I was eating. Looking across the streets I gave out a happy sigh and took another bite. As I was about to take another I stopped as I felt my senses tingle.

“Enjoying the food?” Came a voice from behind me.

Turning around a spot a man in a black and blue suit covering him head to shoulders with his eyes covered with a domino mask. I finally mask eye contact with the stranger and take another bite of my burger and hold eye contact with him as I finish chewing and swallow.

“Who are you?” I ask him as I bring my hands down, with the burger, to rest in my lap.

“Nightwing.”

“Spider-woman,” I said before turning back my eyes to the view and picking up my milkshake, taking another sip from it.

“I’ve seen what you do, and what you can do with your abilities,” Nightwing started as he came to sit down next to me, “and I’ve gotta say I’m impressed.”

“Thank you, I guess,” I told him as I gave him a sceptical side eye.

“Look I’m not here to fight you or anything, I’m actually here with an offer.” My ears perked up at that and I looked over to him encouraging him to continue.

“I have this team, of sorts, a lot of times they’re more like family to be honest, but anyways they have abilities, like you. And I’m guessing that you know that society and people with abilities that seem to defy logic don’t really mix well,” I have out a small puff of air at that and took another sip of my shake, “and so I help them. Not just with their abilities, but to have a better life than the one they’re living and to give them a chance to help people.”

“You asking me to join?” I ask him, looking at him once again.

“Yeah, I am,” Nightwing said as we made eye contact. Well more eye contact on my side as you couldn’t make out my eyes through my mask.

I pondered over the offer for a second as I broke eye contact and looked forward staring off. Still feeling Nightwing’s eyes on me my thoughts start to run. Thinking of the benefits of having a team, and the downsides rushing in and out creating a tally system.

“If it doesn’t work out can I leave?” I asked him after a few minutes of contemplation.

“Door will always be open for you to leave or join,” he said simply.

“Ok,” I said, “I’ll take your one week free trial.”

“Good to hear,” he said getting up and making his way to the edge of the billboard. Not getting up I still keep sitting and finishing my meal. Realizing this Nightwing turns around to look at me.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Let me finish my food first.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“Guys, this is (F/N) (L/N) a.k.a. Spider-woman,” Nightwing, or Dick Grayson, as he later introduced himself told the rest of his team.

“Hello,” I gave a slight wave to the group of four standing in front of me.

In front of me stood four other teens or young adults. One was a boy probably in his late teens or early twenty giving me an awkward, friendly grin as he gave me a slight wave. He also had green hair which oddly did not seem dyed or look like a wig. There was a pale girl standing next to him who also had the same hair situation, but hers was purple. There was also this red gem in the middle of her forehead, but she also seemed kind as she gave a kind smile. Next came a boy who seemed to be in his early twenties with brown hair sticking out in different directions and his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes studied me, as if trying to analyze my weaknesses. Then last was another boy who also seemed to be the same age as the other two, he was the tallest of the four and hand a red Superman symbol on the chest of his black shirt, but other than that he seemed to be normal. To be fair tho I don’t look out of the ordinary either and I can stick to walls.

“Oh my God, I’ve seen you on YouTube!” The green haired male said in excitement as he took a few steps to stand in front of me and greet me. “Hi I’m Garfield, but just call me Gar,” he greeted as he gave out his arm for me to shake it which I gladly did.

“Hi Gar,” I reply.

“That’s Rachel,” He turns to point at the girl.

“Gar I can introduce myself,” the girl says playfully rolling her eyes as she comes up to me and shakes hands with me. “Hey, (Y/N), I’m Rachel, good to finally have another girl on the team. The testosterone levels were getting too high in this place,” she jokes as I chuckle a bit.

“How do we know we can trust her?” Came the voice of the one with the brown hair as he still didn’t take his eyes off me.

“Jason, I know that what happened with Rose may make this hard, but we need to learn to accept others onto our team. We can’t let one bad experience automatically disqualify anyone new from joining,” Dick replied as Jason scoffed and left the room.

“That’s Jason, there was a girl who joined our team awhile back who ended up-�� Rachel was cut off by Dick.

“Rachel,” Dick told her in warning.

“Anyways,” Gar continued as he motioned for the boy with the Superman symbols to come closer. “That’s Conner, but he’s like a newborn...kinda,” Gar trailed off trying to look for the right words.

“What?” I asked as I looked from Conner to Gar in confusion.

“We’ll explain later,” Rachel said as she grabbed onto my arm and rugged me out of the room. “Now come on let me give you a tour.”

“Let us give you a tour,” Gar said as him and Conner followed.

“Yeah, whatever,” Rachel replies.

~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been almost a year of being part of the Titans, and honestly it was amazing. I have been looking for a place to live to finally move out of Aunt May’s, though she says I can live with her as long as she wants. I wanted to relieve her of having to take care of two rather than just herself. So now having the opportunity to live in this place with the rest of my team who also double as my roommates is a pretty good deal, plus it’s not too far away from home. So I’ve been able to sling by Aunt May’s a couple of times for a visit.

Being with the Titans has been great. Dick’s been like a father always looking out for me and the rest of the Titans. He also cooks for us a lot which is honestly great because all I can really make are eggs.

Rachel has been like a sister slash best friend. Her and I have hung out a lot and I could see she was glad to finally have someone who was a little more alike to her, not just in gender, but in experience. As both of us struggled at controlling our abilities at first and both have negatively affected our family members, though hers is a bit more extreme than mine.

Gar and I have been binge playing video games staying late up just smashing away at buttons. Good thing I brought over my Xbox as ten two of us played online with each other as we screamed into the microphone at one another.

Conner was sweet and I learned that he was actually a clone, a fucking clone! Honestly to me that was super cool which he didn’t seem to understand, but appreciated nonetheless and I’ve enjoyed showing and teaching him new things.

Jason on the other hand, well he had to warm up to me. Apparently the last new recruit actually ended up betraying them and Jason had a thing for her, so his slight hostility and distrust in me was completely understandable. Yet, overtime as we became closer he warmed up to me and we became friends of sorts. Although, him and I have this playful rivalry going. We literally made everything between each other into a competition. Who can take down the most bad guys? Challenge accepted. Who can get back to the tower the fastest? Challenge accepted. Who can do more pull ups? Challenge accepted. Who can fold their laundry faster? Challenge ducking accepted. But with this friendly competitive relationship between the two of us also came some attraction towards the newest Robin, and honestly I don’t really know how to deal with it so I’ve just been keeping my emotions on lock down till by some miracle he reciprocated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I grinned to myself as I crawled on the ceiling looking down at Jason. Slowly I made my way closer and closer to where he was training with his metal staff as he swung again as he let out another breath. As he faces away from me giving me time to jump down silently onto the ground behind him and jab at his right knee pit causing his leg to bend and for him to fall forward.

“What the hell?” Jason yells as he ends up falling into a kneeling position as he has one hand on the floor. He uses it to push himself back up and turn around to swing at me.

Blocking one of Jason’s blows with my hand I move to jab my fist into his abdomen to push him onto the mat. Not expecting it, the new Robin fell to the floor with a loud thud. I gasped out thinking I may have used my super strength to knock him back and made my way to him to make sure he was okay. However, in a sudden movement Jason took the staff and put it behind my neck to trap me to the mat with him.

“Where are your Spidey senses now?” He grinned up at me as he flipped us over on the floor with him on top with both hands still wrapped around the cool metal of the staff.

“Shut up,” I groaned, punching his side lightly. He chuckled at my “attempt” of getting out of his hold.

“You know you’ve been getting the upper hand in this rivalry of ours at every corner, but it seems like for once I’ve got the upper hand. I think I deserve a reward,” he grinned down at me cheekily.

“Oh, and what would your reward be?” I questioned him with a raised brow.

“This,” right as the words left his lips he leaned down to capture his lips with mine. My eyes widened for a millisecond before I smiled into the kiss and closed my eyes whilst pushing my lips back on his. Jason let go of the metal staff and instead led his hands up my throat to hold my face as he deepened the kiss. Biting my bottom lip he swiped his tongue on it right afterwards and I groaned in response before opening my mouth to allow him entrance with his tongue. I in turn had my arms trail from his side one fisting his shirt to pull him closer while the other going up into his hair to slightly tug at it, eliciting a groan from him.

“Are you two serious?” We heard a voice coming from my right and his left. The two of us pull apart, me panting on the floor and him sitting up straddling me whilst also trying to catch his breath, and we both whip our heads to the voice to see Gar standing there with his arms crossed. “Jason you literally asked me to come and train with you.”

“Whoops,” Jason said as he looked back at him giving me a wink before standing up and offering me his hand. Gladly accepting it I grab onto his hand and he pulls me up. “Sorry Gar, kinda loses track of time,” Jason told him, not even taking his eyes off of me.

“I’m sorry ‘bout this Gar,” I said turning to the green haired boy and giving him an apologetic smile. “I’ll see you guys later then,” I told the two before walking out of the entrance opposite of where Garfield entered from.

“Really dude? Why did you have to come in? It was just getting good,” I heard Jason complain at his friend before hearing him pick up the staff and take a whack at Gar which in turn solicited a yelp from the other boy.

“Ow, what the hell, Jason?” I heard from Gar followed by another whacking sound and another yelp from Gar.

[wearetakingthehobbitstogallifrey]

Kdrama recs Part 1

Hullo and welcome to the kdrama life @camsthisky​! The following list is not in any particular order, other than the fact that I start with a more rom/com vibe and head toward more romantic/action or action. All the following kdramas are set in the modern day, and part 2 of my recs for you will be either darker kdramas set in present day or historical dramas.

Let the list begin!

1. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon: 

Do Bong Soon is a v smol woman who has super strength and who wants 1. To create her own video game 2. Get her police officer crush to return her affections. Which like, police officer is kinda cute but he ain’t that special. Bong Soon winds up becoming a bodyguard to Ahn Min Hyuk, the extremely rich, kinda spoiled, ridiculously extra CEO of a gaming company who does not like the police for secret reasons, and sadly does not have a good relationship with his family. (He a lonely boy underneath everything.) Min Hyuk finds out about Bong Soon’s powers, is in TOTAL awe of her, offers to train her in fighting, and literally falls head over heels for her.

The caveat with this show is there is a subplot or two that annoy me, BUT I just use the 10 second skip button and it is totally worth it because the romance is super cute—SUPER CUTE (also I have a list of favorite actors and Park Hyung Sik is def on it—one minute he is an adorkable, blushing bby the next he can be intense and sad)

He cute

2. Her Private Life: 

Hello fake-dating!! Ryan Gold (an adoptee who didn’t live in Korea for a while) is a former artist who stopped painting because he couldn’t deal with his Stendhol (?) syndrome (among other traumas). Deok Mi is the classy art curator of a famous museum who definitely does not have any secrets she wants to keep from the world—well, other than the fact that she is the number one fangirl of kpop idol, Cha Shi-an (who also appreciates art) and has a major crush on him. Ryan becomes director of the art museum and there is a whole thing with getting Shi-an involved in an art show.

Following this and a series of unfortunate events a false rumor starts that Deok Mi and and Shi-an ARE dating. It’s a little complicated to summarize, but basically what you need to know is that Ryan and Deok Mi become a fake couple so there won’t be a scandal for Shi-an or violence done to Deok Mi by rabid fangirls. I enjoy the fake-dating trope a lot, and how it becomes real for both of them! The leads are played by Kim Jae Wook and Park Min Young, who both have incredible range. Lots of soft moments in this one! Good kisses, a scene where the faves bake together, and also Ryan wears a lot of deep v-neck shirts and jackets which is an attack on me personally.

The show also contains a bit of angst, which I LOVE. Hand-holding becomes an important theme 😊

RYAN NO

3. Crash Landing on You: Rich South Korean heiress/fashion designer Se-ri accidentally winds up in a North Korean village, and really REALLY wants to go home. Mostly because there are no scented candles or spa-like bathtubs in the vicinity, but also because she could easily disappear into a NK jail and never return. A North Korean captain named Ri Jeong Hyeok finds her and decides not to turn her because, one, he’s a good guy who doesn’t want to turn an innocent person over to what might be her death, and two, turning her over might get his four underlings in trouble for reasons. Said underlings are his family, basically, and they are a deLIGHT. One is an argumentative proud sort who likes to drink and to feel important and who tries to provoke (and gets provoked by) Se-ri at every opportunity, one is a lover of banned South Korean dramas, one is a 17 year old bby who misses his mom, and one is the silent but most loyal follower of the captain. 

Besides all these people, there are two other characters (including a surprisingly wise conman) who become faves and major players in the plot.

There is a great mix of humor, romance, found family, and angst, and I love it very much. A few things don’t go the way I want them to near the end, but a bit of imagination and fanfic can fix anything 

ALSO I FORGOT THE CAPTAIN GETS SUPER SULKY FROM TIME TO TIME AND IT IS HILARIOUS

Show of hands, who thinks they will meet again

4. Are You Human Too: A FAVORITE SHOW OF ALL! TIME!

What do you do when your husband dies and your evil mega-rich father-in-law takes your son away from you and keeps you from seeing him ever? Well, if you are scientist with more genius than positive coping methods, you build yourself a robot son who looks exactly like your real son. Great solution, am I right?

Nam Shin III is the name of my favorite robot son, played by the inestimable Seo Kang Joon. He is the purest bby you will ever meet, being designed so that he never lies and so that he will immediately go to hug anyone who cries. He seems quite a contrast to the bitter human Nam Shin, who hates his gilded prison life, hates his Grandpa, and tries to sneak away from his right hand man, Secretary Ji Young Hoon, his only friend in the world. The girl in the show is Kang So Bong, an ex-UFC fighter who was so badly injured she had to quit. She is at first a bit jaded and mercenary because of her past, but she has a golden heart that just needs to be reminded of its existence.

Not going into details to avoid spoilers, but everything upends when the robot Nam Shin has to take the place of the human Nam Shin. The show is a soft, funny, angsty exploration of what it means to be human, with some good found family throughout. The character development is phenomenal, and the connection between So Bong and Nam Shin III is *chef’s kiss*. I just want to give a shout out to Seo Kang Joon who plays a duel role like you wouldn’t believe, to SKJ’s smile, to the soundtrack, and to the character of Young Hoon, a loyal, steady, and self-sacrificing secretary that we do not deserve  (gosh tho he looks good in blue!)

Look at my robot son getting a long-looked for affirmation! (his lil smile!!!

5. W: Two Worlds: 

This show unique because it  meta as HELL! Oh Yeon Joo is a junior doctor and the daughter of a webtoon artist whose big hit, W, is coming to a close. Much to her surprise, she gets pulled into the world of the comic where she encounters and saves the main character, Kang Chul, a former Olympic shooting champion who was blamed for the murder of his entire family, and whose sole desire is to find the real killer. It’s a good romance between them, and I also love Kang Chul’s relationship with his hyung, which, tho it is not always a main focus, is present and wonderful. Kang Chul himself is both intelligent and adorably bratty, charismatic and angsty, soft and fierce, and he is one of my favorite kdrama characters for sure.

As for the meta, the show does a fantastic job exploring the rules of the comic world, of how one can enter and leave, the importance and power of main characters and supporting characters, and the purpose of an author. There is always another twist coming, and it is just so much fun!

UM SIR PLS POINT THAT ELSEWHERE

6. Healer: 

I watched half this show and never realized that the female lead is played by Park Min Young, same actress as in Her Private Life. Someone had to tell me lol! She’s just so good at playing different people. In this show, she is Chae Young Shin, a reporter for a celebrity tabloid who has big dreams of becoming a famous reporter who investigates stories that actually mean something. She is a bit quirky, very cute, very brave, and probably one of my favorite female leads. She lives with her dad above his coffee/teashop bakery and is friends with all the ex-cons he has defended while doing his other job of lawyering.

Anyway this show is more of a romantic/action drama. To get an idea of the titular Healer, picture what you would get if you took some of Batman and Nightwing’s aesthetics (wearing black, hanging out on rooftops, punching people, flipping around, etc) and put them into a night courier who likes to watch National Geographic and dream about one day going off to an island where he can live all by himself for the rest of his days because oh yeah he is a loner whose only friend is an older woman who sets up his jobs and whom he has never actually met.

There is also an older reporter that Young Shin looks up to, the fun tabloid office where she works, a heck lot of mystery surrounding some tragedy involving a group of reporter best friends/found family back in the 80’s/90’s, and of course both members of the OTP have childhood trauma that has made them who they are today. One of my favorite things that happens in the show is that Healer has to go undercover for a while, Clark Kenting it up in Young Shin’s tabloid office, which overnight becomes a real news agency for reasons.

The action is LOTS of fun, and the romance is really soft and cute, and better still, when there is a misunderstanding or something that gets in their way, they almost immediately talk about it and resolve issues. They TRUST each other and give the benefit of the doubt where many tv couples would break up or get in big fights. I find it (plus the character development) very refreshing.

I couldn’t find a gif of my favorite fight sadly. This will have to do

7. Lawless Lawyer: This has Lee Joon Gi. Watch it.

Just kidding, there are many other reasons to watch the show, but it is true that Lee Joon Gi is one of my favorite actors. The man has phoenix eyes, a jawline that could cut silk, diamonds, you name it, and such a deep well of emotional acting that it literally kills me when his characters rage/weep/love/etc.

Anyway, in this legal thriller/romance/action drama, LJG’s character Bong Sang Pil is a beautiful, very extra ex-gangster/now lawyer who opens his own office, ready to fight villainy and avenge his mom with the law or with his fists, whichever is more useful at the time. He has a right hand man named Manager Tae and recruits a bunch of thugs as his minions, and they all become a weird sort of family as the show goes on.

Ha Jae Yi is a quiet badass lawyer who has no time for sexist idiots and gets her license suspended for smacking one of said fools. She gets recruited to assist Sang Pil, and they find their goals align as both their mothers were destroyed by the villains.

Speaking of the villains? EXCELLENT acting by them all, like they need to go down obviously, but you can’t help but be in awe of a few of them or even get attached to one or two in a weird way. Props to the show for having one of the best female villains I have ever seen

What an icon

Here you get two gifs of him

Sorry I needed to make it a magical three lol

~~

Tune in next time for historical dramas and modern dramas that are a bit darker!

[jinmukangwrites]

hi! i love ur bad things happen bingo!! i was wondering if u could do electrocution? (and even tho it’s not on the card could u do fear toxin? maybe w all dicks brothers seeing?) sorry if it’s too much to ask i just love ur writing!!!

The car came to a stop and Robin couldn’t help but wince as the movement pulled ruthlessly at his bonds. He was tied up in such a way that made his shoulders and collar bones ache, with cuffs cutting off circulation to his wrists behind his back and tape digging into his upper arms and chest, making it difficult to breath.

He was disappointed in himself. He hadn’t felt this useless since… since Grayson was Batman. He shouldn’t have been caught. He could have easily fought off a hundred thugs by himself and still be home in time to take Titus on a walk, however he had been recovering from the flu, which made him a bit below par in his fighting abilities. It didn’t help that he and Batman decided to split up to cover more ground and that he was completely alone when the very people he saved from getting mugged started to attack him. A cliche, yet apparently an effective one. Fighting off seven muggers and two faux victims became his down fall when combined with his weak state. It was only a matter of time before a taser was jammed ruthlessly into his gut.

He blacked out, then woke up a second later to find himself restrained and crammed into the trunk of Kia.

He heard the sound of footsteps approach the back of the car and he tensed up. He wasn’t about to allow them to do whatever they wished with him. If he had to fight then with just his legs he would. He could, even. He was trained by Ra’s and Batman themselves, he could one hundred percent take on even Grodd with just his legs.

The trunk popped open and Robin was about to jump out and kick ass, but it unfortunately seemed that kidnappers were not about to take any chances and he was suddenly being pinned down by multiple pairs of hands. His shoulders were roughly pressed further behind his back, making his chest protest in agony, as his head was shoved hard enough down for him to see stars. He kicked out his legs, catching one of the kidnappers under the jaw, but it was a short lived victory when his legs too were being locked down. He violently twisted himself, attempting to get free or at least bite the hand bruising his cheek, but he could hardly do a thing. He was helpless. Tt.

“I told you to tie his legs,” a deep voice said. Robin couldn’t see who spoke and who was holding him down with his face pressed down the way it was.

“Ran out of tape,” explained a second voice.

“I gave you a whole roll?! How-”

Robin worked a leg free and kicked the hand that had been holding it. His foot slammed the hand between it and the wall of the trunk he was stuffed in and he heard satisfying //snaps and an agonized scream.

“The brat!” The man who now sported a broken hand snarled with tears in his voice.

“Just get him to the chair!” The first voice yelled as he himself grabbed Robin’s legs.

Robin lashed out, counting four pairs of hands on his body and calculating in his head how long it would take to kill each of them. The hand digging into his cheek was removed but before Robin could even think about moving his neck, rough fabric was shoved over his head. He yelled out in frustration as he was forcibly lifted from the trunk with bruising grips on his upper arms and legs. He kicked and squirmed, trying to get free and trying to get the bag that smelt like flour off from his head. It was all for naught as he was eventually shoved into a hard wooden chair and held down as his legs were shoved against the chair’s legs and duct taped in place.

“Let me go!” Robin snarled in frustration, shaking his head, as three pairs of hands held him against the chair and another worked off the layers of tape around his chest, moving his cuffed hands behind the chair and taping his chest back again with a new roll of tape.

A new voice suddenly called out. “Holy shit, is that the demon brat?”

Robin was so surprised by the voice that he stilled just long enough for the kidnappers to finish securing him to the chair.

Todd…?

“We’re all in suits,” spoke another voice suddenly. Drake.

Or, Red Robin, more like it.

Great. Not only had he been kidnapped, but he had been kidnapped with Red Robin and Red Hood, two of the most annoying people he knew.

“Enough,” said one of the kidnappers. A new voice. How many kidnappers were there?

The man must have given some kind of silent command, a nod or something similar, because suddenly the flour bag was ripped off Robin’s head, tugging some of his hair with it. He winced as a bright beam of light assaulted his vision but thankfully it didn’t take much blinking to focus on the scene before him.

His gaze darted around rapidly, instantly taking in the underground parking garage, the number of kidnappers (12, most men, some women, all had guns. Each bat protege had their own guard behind them, the others were spaced around the garage), and his so-called adoptive sibling’s states.

Red Hood was missing his helmet with only his old mask covering his eyes. He looked worse for wears, like he had actually managed to put up a fight (scoff, as if), but didn’t look too injured; he was blinking furiously, trying to focus—probably the beam of light that came from a rather large LED lamp directed mostly towards him. Red Robin was doing much the same as Robin, taking in the surroundings. He had a stream of blood running down his left temple and there were signs of black bruising poking out from under his mask. To the other side of Red Robin, was Nightwing. Robin hadn’t realized that Nightwing would be there too, probably because he hadn’t made a noise till then and had lived a few hours away in Blüdhaven. There was also the fact that Robin had a bit more faith in Nightwing compared to the others. He looked fine, just a little ruffled and really pissed. He was glaring at the man who must be the leader, probably had already completed his assessment of their situation.

They were a tied up similarly to Robin, hands forced behind the chairs and tape forcing their backs to press against the support and their legs taped trapped. Robin looked over to the leader who was standing in front of them all with his hands folded across his chest. He had a hospital mask covering his lower face and nose and a buret sitting on top of his head. His suit looked fancy, though the purple color threw Robin off. He was standing on the other side of the LED lamp, so it was hard to get much details about him, but Robin could swear he saw tuffs of green hair.

His stomach dropped.

“Joker,” Nightwing growled, gaining the came conclusion.

Red Hood startled in his chair and Red Robin’s lips pressed together paper thin as the leader suddenly began to wheeze a very familiar laugh. Robin stared at the villain, for the moment, very unsure of what to do. He hadn’t had much contact with the Joker in his time working with Batman. Joker doesn’t stay out of Arkham long much anymore, with Batman getting more alliance and Joker getting almost predictable, but Robin had heard so many stories about Batman and Joker in their younger years, when Joker was new, insane, and a complete mystery. When he tortured Grayson, very early into Robin’s career, because it was a good laugh. When he killed Todd. When he had massacred entire neighborhoods and it was all Batman could do to find a trace of him.

The Joker today wasn’t calmer, per se, but he was more like an earthquake than the ticking bomb like he used to be. Earthquakes could be deadly, they could topple buildings, kill thousands in one fell swoop. They could start tsunami’s and wipe out cities. They could open up the ground and crumble mountains. Yet, humans were more prepared for them than they used to be. They could look and see that they live in the area of occasional 5 point magnitude earthquakes and that they should prepare for it, that way when those quakes hit, their buildings aren’t demolished, just slightly shaken.

Still didn’t make the experience of meeting an earthquake any less scary though. Didn’t matter how many times in your life you had felt the very ground beneath you shiver and the walls tremble, it was still terrifying.

“HAHAHA,” Joker laughed. He bent down and whacked his knee with a skeletal hand. “Way to ruin the surprise, Champ! I wasn’t expecting to be recognized so quickly!”

-o-o-o-o-

Read the rest on AO3

[notstars-doors]

What Are Friends For?

~~~~

Dick manages to send Wally a weak smile before the speedster is gathering the younger man up in his arms in a tight hug.

“Hey…”

Dick melts into Wally’s touch, letting out a deep sigh against his shoulder and curling both arms around his waist. “Hi…”

“You okay?”

“Not really.”

“You want a burrito?”

~~~~

Fluffy little fic about Dick and Wally being the weird, cuddly best friends that should really figure out that they're in love.

read it on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14860538

dickhead: dude u awake

kid idiot: yeah man

kid idiot: why tf are you tho

dickhead: who r u talking to rn

Wally rolls his eyes, tossing the controller down beside him on the bedsheets and rolling over onto his back to pay better attention to his phone. It’s after midnight in Palo Alto, but it’s a Friday night and he finished his lecture notes earlier. He’s half expecting his best friend to roast him not going out on a Friday, but midterms just finished, and he’s wiped. All Wally wants to do is sleep, but dammit he’s been doing nothing but writing papers and taking exams for the last three weeks, he’s gonna stay up late and play some video games if he wants to.

kid idiot: true

kid idiot: still man, what time is there rn

dickhead: 4:36

Wally sighs, frowning up at the bright screen. If Dick’s sleep schedule didn’t kill him, Wally would just for staying up this late. The poor guy needs rest more than most people.

kid idiot: dude go to BED

dickhead: cant sleep

dickhead: can u come over

He blinks, the question throwing him for a second. Then he’s on his feet. Usually when Dick asks for Wally’s company like this, without beating around the bush, he’s having a bad time. The fact that it’s 4am in Gotham and Dick isn’t on patrol probably means it’s worse than usual.

He’s halfway through tugging on a pair of jeans over his boxers when his phone buzzes again.

dickhead: can i come over****

dickhead: sorry

dickhead: its ok if ur busy

Wally bites his lip, taking in a deep breath through the nose. His chest hurts with worry and all he wants to do is run over to Gotham and hug his best friend. But Dick probably wants the time it’ll take to use the Zeta beam to compose himself. Which is dumb because Wally could be there in two minutes and has seen him like this a million times before. But he knows that Dick needs the time.

Sometimes Wally wishes he didn’t know his best friend so well.

kid idiot: dude of course you can

kid idiot: nothing to be sorry for. meet you at the zeta in ten?

dickhead: ok

Wally tugs on the rest of his clothes in a few seconds, tripping over an untied shoelace as he slips out of his room into the dark hallway. The apartment he shares with a few other students is quiet, most of them either asleep or out partying. Dick chose a good night to visit.

He’s pacing in front of the seemingly-decrepit phonebooth for about eight minutes before the light of the zeta beam signals Dick’s arrival and the 18-year-old is stepping out. Wally’s heart sinks when he takes in the sight of his friend.

Dick’s hair is rumpled, which isn’t all to unfamiliar when he’s Robin - no, Nightwing now – but as Dick Grayson it can be an odd sight to see if you aren’t used to it. He’s usually the picture of composure. Tonight, however, Wally can see the dark circles under his eyes, even in the fading light of the streetlamps. His duffle bag is slung over a slumped shoulder, one hand in his jacket pocket.

Dick manages to send Wally a weak smile before the speedster is gathering the younger man up in his arms in a tight hug.

“Hey…”

Dick melts into Wally’s touch, letting out a deep sigh against his shoulder and curling both arms around his waist. “Hi…”

“You okay?”

“Not really.”

“You want a burrito?”

Dick chokes out a laugh, and Wally smiles at the sensation of Dick’s rumbling chest against his own.

“Do you ever stop thinking about food?”

“Hey, I’m thinking about you! Burritos always make me feel better when I’m down, I thought you might be hungry.”

Dick pushes away from Wally, shaking his head but unable to hide the smile tugging at his lips. “You’re an idiot.”

Wally grins. “Yeah, but I’m your idiot.”

Rolling his eyes, Dick shrugs his duffle bag more securely onto his shoulder. “I guess I could go for some pizza?”

“Pizza it is!” Wally slings an arm around Dick’s shoulder again and guides him out of the alley into the main street ahead; if he knows anything about Dick Grayson, it’s that the best treatment option is always constant physical contact. “You wait, Palo Alto has the best pizza.”

Dick snorts, poking Wally in the ribs, but very obviously not objecting to the arm still around him. “Liar. You’ve had Chicago pizza, you know that’s not true.”

Wally wags his index finger in front of Dick’s face. “No-no, my friend, this city has changed my pizza opinions. Seriously, just wait.”

Dick chuckles quietly but doesn’t object. Which isn’t the best sign. No banter is a bad sign.

The two find their way to a 24-hour pizzeria around the corner from Wally’s apartment, Dick ordering a slice of pepperoni and Wally taking the last three-quarters of a deluxe. It’s not long until they’re tip-toeing back into Wally’s building, creeping through the apartment until they’re back in his room.

“Alright, that’s pretty good pizza.” Dick finally admits, polishing off the last piece of crust and sucking some tomato sauce off his thumb.

“Right?” Wally gestures vaguely, speaking through a mouthful of his own last slice.

Dick looks a little brighter, having just eaten some fantastic pizza and settled comfortably against his best friend’s side, but he’s still not the bouncing ball of energy that Wally is accustomed to being around. So, it’s time to get to the bottom of this.

Wally finishes the last few bites of his pizza, then slings an arm back around Dick’ shoulders. Dick tucks his head in against Wally’s collarbone, who then rests his cheek against soft black hair as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“So, what’s goin’ on, little bird?”

Dick huffs at the nickname but doesn’t comment. He’s quiet for a while, probably trying to pull his thoughts together into something coherent, so Wally just waits. Their legs are tangled together on the bedsheets, barely any space between them, and Wally can feel the tension in every one of Dick’s muscles. The guy is wound like a clock, always ready to spring into action. Not that Wally doesn’t know what that feels like, but he hadn’t grown up with the World’s Greatest Paranoid.

As if on cue, Dick takes a deep breath. “Bruce and I had a fight.”

Wally closes his eyes in frustration and tries not to have a bodily reaction to the admission, but he knows he’s failed when Dick slumps against him even more. “…again?”

“Yeah.”

“What was it about this time?”

“Um.” He fidgets against Wally’s side, clamping his lips together for a moment until- “You.”

Wally blinks. “Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Uh… Why?”

“He doesn’t…” Dick pauses, letting out a sigh of frustration, bringing his hands up to rub the heels of his palms into his eyes. “He doesn’t understand why I… need you around…”

Wally looks up at the ceiling in confusion, as if the peeling paint could answer the questions banging around in his head. “Wait, what do you mean?”

Dick huffs out another sigh, then sits up abruptly, detangling himself from Wally and moving to face him in a cross-legged position. “I don’t know! He just said something about having too much dependency on you and how that can compromise my ‘emotional integrity’ and I need to have ‘distance’ and all this other bullshit.”

He spits out the last word with so much venom that Wally’s taken aback. Dick never talks about Bruce like this, no matter how angry he’s been with him. He’s always had some modicum of respect for his mentor, but it sounds like Bruce really hit a nerve with this one.

“He’s just… so fucking frustrating these days. It’s like talking to a brick wall.” Dick’s running his hands through his hair in distress. “I mean, it used to be like talking to a very sturdy door with like seven different locks, but at least that had some give to it. Now it’s like… he’s just… he’s different, since Jason.”

They both go silent for a moment, the room suddenly filled with such poignant presence it’s almost like the boy is in there with them. Wally slings his leg over Dick’s own crossed legs, and Dick lays a grateful hand on his knee in response.

“I just… I don’t think he understands how different we are as people.” Dick’s shoulders slump again, all self-righteous anger rushing out of him in one swift motion. “He’s never needed people, even with me and Alfred, and even Jason around. He’s never wanted to need people, he doesn’t get what its like…”

Wally purses his lips. “I don’t think that’s true.”

Dick blinks, looking at his friend in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Well…” Wally sighs, sitting up a little straighter against the headboard, crossing his legs underneath him. “I mean, I don’t think it’s true that he doesn’t need people. I don’t know Bruce was well as you do, Dick, but… I mean, you don’t see the way he looks at you.”

There’s more silence after that. Dick is contemplating. Wally just waits.

“How… what do you mean?”

“Dick… Bruce loves you.” Wally shakes his head and reaches out, taking Dick’s hand in his. “He’s… he’s your dad. He needs you just as much as you need him. Sometimes he’ll look at you and it’s like… like you’re made of porcelain or something. It’s never when you’re looking, because he knows you’d hate it. I think… I think he’s just afraid of losing you.”

Dick leans forward and rests his forehead against Wally’s chest. “Then why is he being like this?”

“Maybe it’s easier for him to push you away?”

“Easier than what?”

“Than you not needing him anymore.”

Wally can feel Dick screwing up his face, like he’s trying to hold back tears. “I’m always gonna need him, Walls…”

“I know that. But does he?”

It’s a while before Dick even moves, let alone continues the conversation. After a minute of silence, Wally lifts a hand to start rubbing small circles into his lower back. Dick relaxes into the touch but doesn’t respond in any other way. He just sits there, his head against Wally’s chest. He’s crossed-legged and bent forward in a really weird way, but that stopped bothering Wally a long time ago.

Finally, Dick sits up and away from Wally. He’s quiet for another minute, and Wally is prepared for a few more moments of silence, until Dick lifts his head. With the slight amount of moonlight shining in through the window, Wally can just about make out the tear tracks running down his cheeks.

“Dick…”

Wally doesn’t even think about it. It’s just instinct to reach out and wipe a thumb along the edge of his friend’s jaw, to catch the stray bit of wetness still lingering there. His skin is soft, even covered in tears, and Wally doesn’t think anything of it. They’re always touchy, always have been. It’s just the way they’ve always needed to be.

He barely notices the change in Dick’s expression: the look in his eyes that’s desperate and needy and just a little bit wild, before a sudden pair of soft, salty, tear-stained lips are pressed against his own and he’s being kissed by his best friend.

Wally doesn’t react. Sort of. His body just kind of freezes and his eyes go wide and his hands raise up (god knows why), but he doesn’t pull away. He doesn’t think his body knows how to.

The kiss doesn’t last long. Maybe five seconds, tops, until Dick seems to realize what he’s doing and moves away very quickly. He slaps his hand over his mouth, either in shock or just from the feeling, and then they’re just staring at each other in confusion. No disgust or anger, just mild confusion. And a strange dawning sensation.

“Huh.”

“Yeah.”

“That’s…”

“…new.”

“Mhm.”

Wally realizes his arms are still in the air, so he drops them back down onto his knees. Still staring at Dick, though, who’s looking back at him like a deer in headlights at this point. He doesn’t know what to do, what to say. He’s just… confused… and now Dick is biting his lower lip and Wally can’t do anything but stare at that and that’s weird cuz he’s never done that before and whyishestaringatDick’slipsthatsaweirdthingtodobutsoiskissing yourbestfriendandDickjustdidthatsomaybehe’stheweirdoneinthissituationbutitwasn’tthatweirdsowhyishefreakingoutrightnowheshouldn’tbefreakingoutit’sjustDickandDickisDicksoitshouldn’tbeweirdbutisitevenweirdorjustdifferent-

“-lly… Wally!”

Wally blinks, and suddenly Dick’s face is really close to his and the guy’s hands are on his shoulders and wow he’s like a furnace, when did he get so hot? Not like that hot, like warm hot, ‘cause Dick’s always been hot hot, and whoa where did that come from?

“Are you okay?”

“Um.”

Dick sighs. His big blue eyes are wide and concerned and looking directly into Wally’s and jesus when did they get so blue?  “I’m sorry, I didn’t… I don’t know what came over me.”

“Dude…”

“No, I know you’re not… I was just emotional and you’re my best friend and I think I just had a weird… need… I shouldn’t have just-“

“Dude.”

“-done that without your permission, I’m sorry, I won’t-“

“DICK!” Wally grabs Dick by the shoulders, the same way his friend is holding him, and shakes him just a little to stop the rambling.

Dick sucks in a gasp of air and bites down on his lower lip again. He’s looking up at Wally like he did the night he told him about his family, about Bruce, about his whole life. Like he’s scared. Like he’s expecting Wally to bolt and wouldn’t blame him if he did.

Wally just stares down at his lips again, still not understanding what’s so damn fascinating about them, until he’s reaching up and watching his own thumb pull Dick’s lower lip out from under his teeth and gently run along the chapped skin.

And then it’s clear.

Dick lets out the softest puff of air and Wally can feel it on his fingers and then he’s looking into those big baby blue’s with a question that only Dick could ever know he’s asking. Then those baby blue’s are disappearing behind fluttering closed eyelids and he’s kissing his best friend.

And… it’s magic.

That’s the only way he can describe it. It’s like it just… fits. Like this was always where they were going, and they were idiots to think they were just friends. Best friends. Touchy, handsy, lovey-dovey, emotionally-secure Best Friends.

Fuck, they were so stupid.

Dick’s hands are still on his shoulders, but Wally’s have moved to gently cup Dick’s face and pull him a bit closer. Their mouths are closed. It’s barely a brush of the lips, both of them just a little too scared to push it any further. But it’s still like fireworks and Wally thinks his heart is about to burst out of his chest, but that’s too cliché, so instead he just starts to fucking vibrate.

Dick breaks the kiss with a laugh, his eyes opening to look up at Wally in a mixture of amusement and adoration that’s just about giddying, so Wally starts to giggle in response, because everything is ridiculous and still manages to make sense, because it’s Dick and it always has been.

Suddenly they’re tumbling over sideways in a tangle of limbs and laughter, and it’s the most natural thing in the world. They’ve got both arms around each other now and whether they’re breathless from the kiss or the laughter, neither of them will ever know, but it’s wonderful.

“Well, that’s certainly one way to cheer a guy up.”

Wally’s still chuckling, but the comment makes him snort out a few more giggles, his abdomen aching in the best way from the exertion. “You can say that again.”

Dick rolls onto his side in Wally’s arms, resting his cheek on his shoulder. Wally turns his head to look at him, knowing Dick would just stare at the side of his face until he did. “So…”

“So…?”

“So, what now?”

Wally purses his lips, looking down at his friend – wait, could he still say that? – in mild amusement. “I dunno, man, this was your idea.”

Dick’s jaw drops, and Wally does his best not to break down into giggles again. “It was not! You’re the one who touched my face!”

“I’m always touching your face, you’re the one who decided to get all up into mine.”

“I was not! It just happened!”

“’It just happened.’ ”

“It did! Don’t mock me, you jerk, where do you ge-”

In a split-second Wally leans over to kiss Dick again, just to see if it shuts him up, and when he pulls away he discovers that it does.

“Like that?”

Dick blinks, his mouth a little open in shock from the kiss and Wally realizes that his mouth had been open when he kissed him. Well, that’s even newer.

“…yeah.”

They’re quiet again for a bit. Wally lifts a hand to brush a few stray hairs out of Dick’s eyes. He’s done it a million times before, but now it feels different. Everything feels different. In a matter of minutes everything between him and his best friend had changed.

Except, it hadn’t.

And now Wally’s not really sure where he stands.

“Dick?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re my best friend.”

“You’re mine, too, Walls.”

“This doesn’t… this doesn’t change that, right?”

Dick looks up at him, and this time his gaze is calculating. Like he’s trying to solve a problem. “Not unless you want it to.”

Wally shakes his head immediately, then reconsiders. “I mean… You’re always gonna be my best friend, no matter what.”

“Same here, man.”

“But… we can still be best friends and… do that, right? ‘Cause…. ‘cause I think I wanna do that more.”

Dick smiles. “Kiss?”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, we can do that.”

“And still be best friends?”

“Dude, yes. Of course. Those are the best kinds of best friends.”

Wally smiles back now, pressing his forehead against Dick’s. “Okay.”

His best friend in the world curls an arm around his waist, like he’s done so many times before, and pulls him closer. “We don’t have to talk about this right now, Wally. We can just… enjoy it. We can figure everything else out later.”

“That sounds good.”

Dick chuckles and closes his eyes, relaxing against Wally’s chest in a way that’s both familiar and entirely new. It’s nice.

Wally grabs the blanket that been bunched up behind him and yanks it over top of them both, snuggling in for a good night’s rest that he figures neither of them have had for a while. Then he remembers the reason they were here in the first place.

“Hey Dick?”

“…hm?”

He’s falling asleep already.

“You feeling better?”

Dick blinks his eyes open, lids heavy, then nods with a tired smile.

“I think so. Thanks, Walls.”

Wally smiles in return, snuggling lower into the blankets and nudging his nose gently against Dick’s.

“Hey, what are best friends for?”

[totesmccoats]

Doomsday Clock #3

The opening to this issue, which recreates some of the first pages of the original Watchmen comic perfectly illustrates the biggest problem I’ve had with this series’ art since issue one: the coloring. This isn’t to say that Anderson is doing bad work, just that the aesthetic he chooses for the Watchmen universe undercuts what Watchmen is, and makes its position relative to the DCU awkward.

What the “realistic” colors of the Watchmen universe in Doomsday Clock tells me is that the team behind the book forgot, or are ignoring that Watchmen is – first and foremost – a satire. It’s not parody, but it is heightened all the same, and Higgins’ oversaturated colors – like the red in the original Comedian murder sequence – help the reader understand that they are reading a heightened universe. And where the original Watchmen is a heightened version of the real world and the universes typically expected of comic books at the time, Doomsday Clock, in its coloring as well as its text, seems to position the Watchmen universe as a more realistic take on the superhero genre than the DCU, which, it’s not. While Watchmen ostensibly takes place in a universe that superficially more closely resembles the real world, it is and always has been exactly as fictional as the comics it deconstructs. Right now, the impression I’m getting from Doomsday Clock is that the DCU is some sort of cartoon world that the Watchmen characters are jumping into when that really shouldn’t be the case.

Doomsday Clock corrects this course with the characters of Marionette and Mime, whom represent probably the single best part of the story so far in terms of originality while also fitting perfectly into both universes; and whom have the best scene in this issue that also answers one of the most pressing questions the series has introduced.

Other than that delightful scene, this issue concerns the reunion between Comedian and Ozymandias in Lex Luthor’s office which favors mirroring their earlier fight for references’ sake rather than meaningfully add to the story this book attempts to tell. Rorschach gives Kovak’s journal to Batman to learn about, well, Watchmen; while we learn a bit more about the new Rorschach. And Johnny Thunder, still stuck in assisted living, waits for his children to rescue him while this book’s version of “Tales From the Black Freighter”, a noir movie, plays on a TV in the same room. There’s a lot going on this issue, seemingly lots of thematic set-up with the introduction of the noir movie parallel, but right now it’s mostly lots of scrambled pieces. Not necessarily a bad thing this early in what is ostensibly a mystery story; but a little frustrating that Doomsday Clock still doesn’t feel like it has a point to it beyond crossover appeal.

  Nightwing: The New Order #6

Well, it’s a happy ending, at least. Shades of Kingdom Come, for sure.

In exchange to make Jake no longer a target of the state, Dick leads the Crusaders to the Titan’s Metropolis hideout; but Jake refuses to just go home with his father. Managing to convince his father to switch sides – yet again – Jake and Dick return to try to turn the tides in the last stand between the resistance and the Crusaders by restoring the greatest hero of all to power.

I don’t know, there’s something about having Dick flip-flop one last time for the end of the story that feels unearned. And then the actual end of the conflict involves everyone suddenly dropping everything to fight a new third thing, and it feels like the book drops the ball on actually resolving it’s central conflict of fascism vs. antifa for something more easily digestible.

  Wild Storm #11

Skywatch and IO both continue gearing up for all out war, pushing the limits to get the other to cross the line first. Bendix tells Lauren of the last time the two fought head-on to prepare her for what might come this time. Spicia upgrades herself. Lucy warns Cole that things will get much worse than he expects.

The stand-out part of this issue is Bendix’s flashback, which presents itself as a black-and-white 50’s sci-fi B-movie, with fake looking flying saucers and cold-war panic included. Other than that though, the book continues it’s slow build up to…whatever it’s building up to.

  Amazing Spider-Man #794

It’s been exactly a year since Spider-Man threw Scorpio, the leader of the Zodiac syndicate, a year into the future to prevent him from using future knowledge to conquer the world; and he and Horizon are preparing for his return. Meanwhile, in a secret underwater vault, some Goblin agents retrieve a world-threatening object for their boss.

We’re three issues out from Slott’s last arc of Amazing Spider-Man, and judging from this issue, the next two are also going to be one-shot stories that also set up that last story. And, as long as they’re all as tight as this issue, that should be fine. This issue’s A-plot feels like a distraction in kind of the worst way, but it’s also fine; it’s a short, low-stakes Spidey story that Slott can probably write in his sleep by now. And Immonen, Grawbadger, and Gracia are still delivering some gorgeous art to go with it.

  Black Panther #169

I hope this issue’s cover didn’t get you too excited for a huge Black Panther, Avengers, X-Men team up because none of those characters are even in this one. As Klaw, Stane, Faustus, and Zenzi prepare to sacrifice Ayo to revive Klaw’s sister using a process that unleashes enough sonic energy to render everything else in the issue completely silent; Aneka frees herself from Klaw’s guards, breaks her chains, and goes to rescue her lover.

It’s fine. Basically an issue long action sequence with a sneaky conceit that makes Aneka’s ability to stealthily go through Klaw’s base more believable. That cover is bound to set people up for disappointment though. Heck of a final page tho.

  Marvel Two-in-One #2

Ben and Johnny return to the site of their first adventure, Monster Island, to look for the device Reed left them to explore other dimensions. But instead of the device, they find themselves in the middle of a political dispute between Mole Man and the monsters over who gets to rule the island. Instead of an election, they agree that whichever side kills the interlopers will rule. And, there’s one more visiter to the island who could prove friend or foe.

Zdarksy starts the issue off with Ben in an uncomfortable place, having just told a huge lie to one of his best friends, and having to keep it going to keep that friend in high spirits. Luckily, Ben hides it well, and is able to pal around with Johnny as the latter discusses how he hasn’t showered or brushed his teeth since getting his powers. By the end of the issue, though, while he’s kept up the lie to Johnny, he’s also found a piece of deeper truth to hold on to from his friendship with Reed, a poignant memory regarding one of their other early adventures.

As with Howard and Star-Lord, Zdarsky settles nicely into his protagonists’ melancholy while also digging up what keeps them going. While Johnny is in this to rescue his sister and Reed, Zdarsky makes it clear that Ben is doing this for Johnny. He hates that he has to lie to the kid, but the responsibility he feels to keep Johnny going is also what’s pulling him back into the Fantastic Four swing of adventure.

  Sex Criminals #21

Six months after the break-up Jon grew a beard! Also, he works at the now Apple-Store themed Cumworld sex-shop, full of Zdarsky’s trademark hilarious background jokes. It’s fine, he’s fine. Suzie started dating a museum director whose fine and moved back in with her mom. Again, fine. Not great, but fine. And then they see each-other at a party, and are wearing the exact same outfit. Also fine. It’s fine. He’s fine. She’s fine. Everything’s fine. It’s fine.

Gosh this is a rough issue. Because if you can’t tell, everything’s not fine. Both Jon and Suzie have settled, and neither is happy with it. Not completely. Things are fine, and that’s a problem, because they could be better. On the bright side, Dr. Glass and Dr. Kinkaid seem happy together.

Comic Reviews 1/24/18 Doomsday Clock #3 The opening to this issue, which recreates some of the first pages of the original Watchmen comic perfectly illustrates the biggest problem I’ve had with this series’ art since issue one: the coloring.

[iphoenixrising]

Hi! Hate to bug you when you are probably busy, but I need a story on this! A story where Tim somehow becomes a bat earlier. Possibly with some Dick/Tim or Jason/Tim, or all three later? Please and I love you!

Hi babe. This? Would be so just adorable. All the adorable please. Hm. Robin!Jason maybe? Ah, just a short thing tho, okay?

**

The little kid is such a tiny thing, Robin has no fucking clue how he got all the way up the side of the Wallstone with just his hands (and apparently a camera). But the inevitable fall is something he already banked on.

With an easy swoop down, the Boy Wonder snatches the small child in one arm, pressing the button on his grapple gun to haul them back up to the roof.

“Gotcha ya, hold on!” Robin kicks off the side of the Royale so they don’t slam into it mid-swing. His cape flutters, caught in the wind, and small arms wind around him silently.

He gets an eyeful of the waif when they reach the top, and he’s got the kid hefted up on one arm, amazed at how small he looks.

“It’s way ta late fer anyone your age ta be out,” he lectures in his deeper voice, putting the kid down. “It’s Gotham, kid. Don’tcha know any better?”

The little kid just scuffs his nice sneakers and hunches his shoulders, cradling the camera around his neck like the most precious thing in the world.

“S’allright. I getcha, okay? So, yer gonna tell ya name, and I’ma taking ya home. We’ll right it off as an adventure, you feel me?” He reaches out to ruffle the kid’s too long dark hair, grinning a little when those blue-violet eyes peer up at him through the night.

“My name is Alvin Draper and I live in the Narrows, above the old theater,” the kid tells him, all eyes and please believe me on his mug.

Not likely.

“Uh-hu, and I’m Red Arrow. Nice ta meetcha, Alvin. You ain’t from the Narrows. That camera? Ya didn’t steal it. Someone bought it f’ ya. Sneakers, Class A. Pricey. Jean, even the hoody probably cost more than most people in the Narrows make in a day.  So, ya not foolin’ anyone.”

Those brows draw together, the eyes dart to the side of the building—

(Stupid move, kid, but Robin’s body tenses anyway)

—and over his right shoulder. The change is immediate, the jaw-dropping awe, the eyes widening, a small gasp taking in abrupt air, all of it making Robin throw up his goddamned hands because someone is landing it on the roof with them.

And it’s just gotta be—

“Aw, Little Wing! You have a fan!” Nightwing comes striding up, zip line wound in hand, and a smile that would light up the night. The asshole comes right up and kneels down to the speechless kid and holds out a hand.

“Hi. I’m Nightwing. What’s your name?” The vigilante all but coos.

“Tim. I’m Tim. Hi Nightwing, it’s nice to meet you,” and the boy turns his face down, pink suffusing his cheeks, shy and adorable. The combination just hits the vigilante right in the heart.

“Oh? I thought it was Alvin,” Robin smirks because gotcha.

The kid takes a second to come out of his fanboy haze to look up at Robin with a sigh, “you were going to take me home. And…and even if my clothes are nice and I have a camera, there’s no on waiting for me there. I…I don’t want to get anyone in trouble, but it’s really okay, Robin.”

And the unwavering certainty makes Robin take the same pause Nightwing is because this kid?

Another sigh when both vigilantes just stare.

“Give me a curfew and I’ll do what you say, but please don’t turn me in.”

Slowly, Robin and Nightwing look at one another and share an understood nod.

Plan B time.

The kid gets to wear Robin’s cape while he clings to Nightwing’s shoulder and the older vigilante shimmies down sly-like to the street for some burgers, fries, and a kid’s meal with hot chocolate (you want coffee? You’re nine, no!).

The two vigilantes listen to the sparse deets over the food while the kid lays it out for them.

He’s Tim Drake. A neighbor to Bruce Wayne and the heir to a large Fortune 500 company. (That’s apparently living spans of months with nannies in the daytime and nights to himself in the large estate on the edges of Gotham.

Robin and Nightwing had raised the whiteouts at this little piece of news, but they got the whole story before making a ruling.

On the way to the Batmobile, Nightwing holds Tim on a hip while perched three stories up as Robin takes out a few muggers with a little fast and furious. 

(He knows he’s not as fast as N, probably never will be. Will never be half the crime fighter, the partner, his predecessor. Who fucking could be?)

And by then, the kid is finally showing some wear by the time Nightwing lays him down in the back seat and Robin digs out a fluffy blanket from under the passenger seat to cover him (he’s not taking on the fight for his cape. Nope. it’s gone).

He and Nightwing fired the big car while those eyes drooped in the back seat. A full belly and warm fuzzy, little Tim Drake sighs because it’s been absolutely the best night ever (and he’s already planning contingencies in case they tell the police or Mom and Dad or something comes out of this).

He’s about half aware when he asks, “where are you taking me now?” with a kitten yawn and only his eyes peering from the warm fuzzy and Robin’s cape.

“Home,” Robin looks around the seat, giving that smirk, his eyes so deeply blue outlined with the domino. “Ya promised to go in by curfew, so’s we’re taking ya home, Timmy.”

And he’s sleepy enough that he lays back down on the back seat, the leather firm, holding him just right. He fits here like he fits in the window in the attic room.

So he isn’t out-thinking himself when he says, “okay. At least you’ll be closer to home, patrol is over, right?” and closes his eyes to try falling half asleep with the vibrations under his cheek and side.

The big car slows to a crawl and eases to a stop. Very slowly, both vigilantes turn to look at him around their seats.

“Tim. What did you say?” It’s Nightwing asking, his voice deeper and suspicious.

Robin’s brow is arched over the dominio, his expression disbelieving.

Oh no.

He fumbles to sit up, still wrapped in the blanket, and stuttering out, “what?”

Both of them give him the look.

Oh…no…

Tim buries his face in his hands…and tells them the truth.

It’s Dick marvelling at the perceptions of the kid (natural detective), and Jason grinning at him in wonder.

So…they’re out of plans for this one.

Time to call

The Boss

Who is stuck in the Cave monitoring while healing up from a terrible run-in with Killer Croc (ironically the reason Nightwing is in town for a while, to patrol with the Boy Wonder and maybe try bonding).

B’s voice over comms is calm and somewhat petulant when he gives the Executive Order to bring the young man back to the Cave (He’s probably driving Alfred up the wall). 

In the background, the butler is musing aloud if they have any clothing to fit a nine-year old boy. Perhaps some of Master Dick’s old things are still in his room. (Of course they are.) And as young men have a rousing appetite, perchance, what is the boy’s favorite pizza topping?

And since he doesn’t seem to be in trouble, Tim goes with it, rubbing the slick, thick Kelvar lining with his thumb and forefinger while Jay puts his feet up on the dash and wiggles his toes in the pixie boots.

They draw more details out of him on the way to Wayne Manor: where he goes to school, what his activities are, where his parents are constantly going to leave him at home alone. (“I mean it. It’s fine. They can’t hate me if they never see me, right?”) And when he thinks they might kill him, driving straight into the side of a hill, the secret way parts and complete darkness settles around the car.

Jay slides a gloved hand back behind the seat, and Tim latches on to it, leaning between the seats to see the cave in the headlights.

Lights give way and he is in complete awe.

“Welcome to the Batcave, Timmy,” Dick grins over his shoulder as the car parks by an impressive bank of computers, and Jay squeezes his hand before the top rolls open…

And he meets, the Dark Knight.

Batman is suited up. He has a walking cast around his leg and has a cane, but that nothing to retract from the total bad ass emanating from every pore.

“Wow,” Tim breathes softly as the vigilante that started it all limps up to him, and tilts the cowl down to size him up.

“Hello, Tim.”

“H-Hi.”

“My partners tell me you figured out our secret identities.”

Tim blinks and swallows, his hands fisted down at his sides. “Mr.—Mr. Wayne, I’ll never, ever, ever tell anyone. Not even if the Joker gets me and—and, I’ll just! I’ll tell him I don’t know. I will never give up your secret!”

A scowl under the mask makes the young boy sweat a little, but he tilts his chin up and waits.

“I think,” the Batman starts slowly, and his free hand moves up, taps the side of his cowl, “it would be a better idea—”

And the cowl goes back, showing electric blue eyes and dark brows, black hair, and cut cheekbones. Bruce Wayne.

“—if we teach you how to defend yourself. In case that ever happens.”

The breath goes out of him in a rush. “Teach me?”

Nightwing and Robin pull off the masks, move to stand beside their Mentor and regard him. But B sees exactly what would happen here.

If they put Tim Drake into the system, reported neglect to the police, he would probably go through an unforgiving system for a while and go right back to his normal life since the Drakes were independently wealthy.

Nothing for him would change.

But, since he could do this as Bruce Wayne, and not just as Batman, they could give this young detective a chance.

“Something tells me you’re going to have a place here, Tim, but I’m going to warn you. What we do is dangerous. There’s always a risk. Until you learn the rules, you do it my way or no way. Deal?” Bruce sticks out a hand without looking away, his gauntlet spikes gleaming in the overhead light.

And Tim Drake straightens his small back, anticipation trembling on the edge of his tongue. But he shoves his hand in Mr. Wayne’s

“Deal!”

and shakes on it.