#oh god bat venom... that's a horrifying thought

[wheels-of-despair]

"Loving Eddie was easy. Even on the hard days."

Aftermath | Chapter 11 | Eddie Munson

Eddie Munson x Female OC | E.M x Karmen Jones

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 Chapter 15.

Chapter Summary: The worst nurse on the ward makes a decision for Eddie that he isn't comfortable with. Karmen thinks about her family and then her compatibility with Eddie while giving up a Saturday morning sleep-in.

Story Summary: Eddie wakes up in the Upside Down after 'dying' in Dustin's arms. He wakes up again in the hospital and is reunited with his loved ones. This story covers Eddie's time in the hospital and overall physical recovery after the Upside Down.

This fic is part of the She Feels Like Home series. It sits between Boxing Day and Drop Out.

Chapter Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort , Fluff, ASL, (American Sign Language), ASD !Eddie, Autistic Eddie, Non-verbal Eddie, , Healing, Getting Better, Season 4 Spoilers, Found Family, Family Acceptance, Lore Drop, Mentions of kinks, Specifically Mommy!Dom Kink, Mentions of past relationship trauma/cheating/trust issues, patient abuse, medical abuse, talk of murder, past child abuse, mental health issues, panic attacks, suicidal ideation.

Words: 8k

~~

People don’t forget. Nothing gets forgiven.

Eddie remembered someone saying that once. He couldn’t remember who, just that it had resonated with him in an unexpected way.

The quote had burrowed itself into his subconscious and sprung forth again after Chrissy’s death. When he was hiding alone at Rick’s place before the Gang found him. Before he knew about The Upside Down and Vecna. It had become a mantra in his mind. A repeating phrase that promised him no hope.

After defeating the mysterious Dark Wizard, when his life was saved and his name was cleared. He thought that the words would stop swirling in his head and finally let him rest. That things would feel normal again and he could believe if only for a little while that even if people didn’t forget, that they would forgive.

But deep down Eddie knew better than that. That whatever wise man had spoken that truth to him was correct and he was fucked, plain and simple. 

People wouldn’t forget what he ‘did’ and they wouldn’t forgive him for it either. If his treatment from the staff at Hawkins Memorial Hospital was any indication of how Eddie was to live the rest of his life interacting with other people. The general public. Then he wasn’t really sure he wanted to get better and go home.

He hated the staff that worked whatever floor of the Godforsaken place he’d landed his sorry ass on. They were cold, rude and most of the time just downright nasty.

He’d gotten to know most of the nurses names by now. Recognizing them as they entered his room and gauging how his day was going to be based on the quality of care he could expect from the person that was assigned to him.

They were all terrible he’d decided before he had conversed with Nurse Jo. She had changed his mind about hoping that the whole ward burned down with all of the staff inside. 

He’d let her leave with the other patients before he lit his match.

But the others could all go to hell. He ranked them in his mind from awful to atrocious and changed their places weekly based on how horrible they’d been to him.

But there was one person on the leaderboard whose place had never wavered. The top spot for number one most hated Nurse in all of Hawkins, went to Sally.

Nurse Sally had a special place in his heart. 

The place he liked to keep every person that had ever wronged him in his young life. A place akin to hell where he could use them to warm his chest at the thought of them burning alive.

If being recently dismissed of a murder charge wasn’t a memory he had to sober him, he sincerely worried that Nurse Sally would finally push him over the edge.

He’d never met another person in his life that induced such a rage in him with as few words as Nurse Sally was able to.

She wasn’t even trying.

He didn’t think.

She was just… Like that.

The raggedy old bitch was only in her 60s according to intel he’d acquired while partaking in his new favorite pastime. Which was honestly just eavesdropping but he liked it better when he pretended he was watching the Hawkins spinoff of General Hospital.

Eddie had a hunch that Nurse Sally had lied on her resume and her formal medical training consisted of putting leeches on patients during the smallpox pandemic. 

She was a horrible woman. The meanest by far. He felt that he knew deep down in his soul that it wasn’t even personal. It didn’t matter who he was or what people had thought he’d done. She didn’t discriminate. She hated everyone equally. 

He wished he could have asked Steve about it when he’d visited. No doubt he had to deal with her as well, being on the same floor.

He could just tell she was the type of person that chastised new Mothers for not putting socks on their baby when it was 90 degrees out. The type that would watch a news story about the rise of rent prices and then call the generations after hers lazy. 

She definitely drove twenty miles an hour under the speed limit and then honked at people for overtaking her. 

He hated everything about her from the sting of the cold rings she refused to take off to the stench of cigarettes that followed her around. He usually loved a good cigarette but after not having them for a few weeks, the withdrawals were finally over. So if the rotten smell that brought on waves of nausea wasn’t enough to convince him that this woman was a Reptilian in disguise; The fact that her rings never warmed to what should be the natural temperature of her hands, would have him sure. 

He hated her more than he hated Maureen and Eustace from a few trailers over and they had always been at the top of his mortal enemies list, just above Principal Higgins and Karmen’s neighbor Margrette.

Yes a lot of his mortal enemies were elderly women but to his defense they tended to be the demographic that hated someone like him most. Older men hated him too but their hate tended to blossom into indifference and then they left him the fuck alone. It was the women like Sally that couldn’t keep their mouth shut about his appearance or the hobbies he held.

Despite all of the flaws Nurse Sally exhibited, the decidedly worst part of her existence was that she always worked the morning shift. He had never seen her after midday and while that should be a fact that brought him comfort once she was gone. He found it extremely unnerving in the middle of the night when his painkillers were starting to wear off and his body refused to rest, that there was a chance she would be the one to come stomping through the doorway in the morning when he was at his worst and really just needed someone to take pity on him. 

This particular morning she’d arrived twenty seven minutes later than usual to give him his cocktail of medicines. He understood the staff were busy and things didn’t always run smoothly in a hospital. But this was spiteful. It had been a quiet morning. 

She’d rolled her eyes at his un-finished breakfast while he struggled not to writhe in pain. It had taken all the strength he had not to flip the tray table over in response to her grumbles about the cereal he couldn’t stomach, going soggy. 

It would have only hurt him in the end. The strength he needed to do something so wild would drain what was left of his determination when she left him to rot in wet, milk blankets until shift change.

Instead he had closed his eyes and fantasized about running into her when he was finally free of this hellhole. 

Physically. 

With his car.

He wondered where she liked to take her lunch break while he shivered and gagged through the awful ordeal of swallowing his pills. Having finally graduated from morphine in the IV to oral medications.

He never thought he’d miss the icy feeling of medicine being injected directly into his bloodstream but not only did he now have to force himself to actually eat a little so he could swallow the tablets but he had to be awake and make the conscious decision to take them instead of the brief reprieves where they would inject into his IV while he slept.

He was pretty sure they weren’t supposed to do that. Probably were supposed to wake him every time but some of them just didn’t want to be forced to talk to him.

He wasn’t one to complain about going to sleep and then waking up again relatively pain free. He would have rathered it that way every time if he had the choice.

The oral medicine had nothing but drawbacks. It didn’t work anywhere near as fast and he wasn’t careful his stomach would reject them. The nurses refused to give anymore if he threw them up. He knew that technically they weren’t allowed to for safety reasons but he couldn’t help but feel that they took a little too much pleasure in reminding him of that fact.

He’d realized pretty quickly that it was important to take them as soon as he was able to have another dose. Because he would start to feel the pain again long before he was allowed to have more and if he pushed it back any further than the allotted 6 hours, there was a risk that not only would it become severe enough that it would feel like the medicine barely did anything but it would be bad enough to have him vomiting which rendered the oral medication useless anyway.

It was a horrible catch twenty two that repeated in cycles until he was lucky enough to accidentally stumble upon the combination of actions that would settle his belly and let him keep the medicine down despite the pain.

Usually the correct action was to have a few bites of food, swallow the pills as soon as he got them with as little water as possible and then lay incredibly still for several hours. Sleep if he could. But the staff was still insisting on doing his vitals every few hours and it had been long enough now that talk of Physical Therapy had started to amp up.

They wanted to get him walking again. They, being Owens men. Probably the hospital staff too but only so they could finally tell him to walk his ass out of there.

He wasn’t complaining about that part. He couldn’t wait to get out. But he was not looking forward to being yelled at by the Therapist for not walking far enough or long enough. Not trying hard enough. Despite his injuries being entirely unique to any other case they would have ever seen.

They didn’t know that and he couldn’t tell them.

He’d finished taking his pills, putting the little paper cup back down on the table hard like he’d just taken a shot. Water dripped from his lips as he took in several shaky breaths and pushed the tray away with an equally shaky hand.

He’d gotten them down. It was time to lie still now.

Except Nurse Sally had other plans for him. She’d been grunting at him for weeks now that he was an absolute mess. That even being in the hospital, not being able to walk and only having one thorough sponge bath in that timeframe was not an excuse to give up on one’s appearance.

Eddie wasn’t sure why she cared. She seemed like the type of pearl clutching witch to condemn him based on his fashion choices alone. He didn’t miss the irony that even if he did try to make an effort, she wouldn’t be happy with what he looked like. They had two entirely different ideas of what ‘presentable’ meant and only one of them was reasonable.

“-A matted rats nest!” 

Eddie tuned back into her ranting mid sentence and tried to figure out what she was on about as he slowly slipped back down the bed. Intending to slide under the covers and pretend like he was in a coffin until around lunchtime when the painkillers would actually start to kick in. About 45 minutes before he was due for another dose. 

He jolted away as he felt cool metal on his upper arm. Those damn rings just about giving him frostbite where she had tried to still him with her grasp.

He felt an overwhelming urge to hiss at her in response. Swat her over the head a couple of times, no claws and hope she was weirded out enough to not come back.

He didn’t.

But it was the closest he’d ever come to giving into that particular fantasy.

Instead he stared up at her with barely concealed fury. Paused in the middle of sliding down the mattress, his shaky arms barely holding himself up as she motioned for him to sit back up and snapped her fingers at him when he didn’t immediately move.

‘It’s just not in his nature.’

Wayne had told Nancy.

Good Lord Nurse Sally was starting to make him ponder if Wayne was wrong all along.

“I won’t have it for a second longer.” She continued, Eddie unsure what the hell she wasn’t having anymore as she practically yanked him back up the bed by the arm. 

She pulled a groan from deep in his stomach where his medication was still deciding if it wanted to play nice with the spoonful of cornflakes from earlier. 

She had some unexpected strength behind her wiry frame. Either that or Eddie had lost more of his bodyweight and muscle tone than he had realized while recovering. 

The bats alone were generous enough to relieve him of that extra 2 pounds people were always trying to lose in magazines. 

Eddie’s body protested as he shifted to get comfortable. He hadn’t wanted to sit up at all but had to, to take the pills. He’d learnt the hard way that he couldn’t dry swallow them lying down. 

His wounds didn’t ache all the time for no reason anymore like they used to. But they did randomly flare up now and again even when he hadn’t overexerted himself. It was a strange sensation unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Kind of half way between a burn and a sting. They throbbed like an ant bite but the pain was also sharp and pointy like a wasp sting. The difference was that it wasn’t focused on just one small point. It was the entire wound and the baseline of pain was consistent like a burn but amped up in waves depending on how he moved. 

When this happened it was like that for every wound at the same time. Even the ones that had started to heal really well. Even the small cuts on his hands and face that were all but gone. 

If he didn’t know any better he would think that all of them were still infected and he was feeling the effects of that. 

He couldn’t explain it to the doctors. All he could do was answer yes or no questions about pain levels that ranged on a number scale. He had no idea if this was normal or not for the type of wounds he had.

Even if it was normal, what was the ‘normal’ they were comparing it to? Burns like his cover story? Being mauled by an animal? Because they knew deep down these were bites and not anything else? 

Even if they knew exactly what happened to him that meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. They didn’t know anything about Demon bats from another dimension. It wasn’t like they had been extensively studied like every other animals on the planet.

For all he knew, their little fangs contained some sort of venom that would torture him for years to come like a stinging nettle.

Karmen had told him once about the colloquially known Gympie-Gympie plant from the state she grew up in. The most painful plant in the world. The kids were taught about it in early schooling because it left unsuspecting victims that accidentally touched it with a sting so painful it had driven grown men to suicide and it lasted weeks… Sometimes even months.

Was that what was happening to him?

It was a terrifying thought. That the pain might not actually ever go away. That he might be stuck like this for months… 

If not forever.

That he could potentially spend the rest of his life in sporadic agony with no one understanding why or believing that he was actually still in pain. Being labeled a drug addict and blacklisted from all hospitals as a med seeker.

The train of thought he was on made his throat feel like it was going to close up. His breath came short and sharp as he realized he had spiraled himself into a panic attack out of nothing.

“Calm down.” Sally directed flatly as Eddie’s chest heaved with the shallow breaths he was taking. His wide eyes watering as he looked around the room desperately to try and find something to ground himself. Anything else to think about to distract his brain and bring him back from thoughts of a lifetime of suffering.

“Ah!” He yelped in surprise as his head was jerked backwards. The shock of the motion forcing air out of his lungs with the cry and affording him the chance to take air back in without stuttering.

That’ll do it…

A long gasping breath was inhaled and held inside him for a long few seconds before he was struck again against the back of the head and it was forced out in a way that left his lungs completely empty.

He finally took a relatively normal breath. Tears in his eyes as he turned to look at Nurse Sally with fear clouding his brown orbs.

Did she just... h-hit me?

He asked himself, surprised by how fearful he sounded inside his own mind. His stutter was brought forth without even speaking. All thoughts of running her down in his van had vanished and suddenly he was again that scared little boy that had been struck over the head for not talking fast enough.

He was that kid, trapped in a room with an adult that didn’t care that he was afraid.

Tears spilled over and down his hot cheeks as he blinked at her. Realizing as he did so that she hadn’t been hitting him over the head to try and stop his panic attack.

She may as well have though, considering his body’s reaction to the touch he wasn’t ready for. It had triggered him in a way he hadn’t been expecting.

His eyes fell to the object in her hand. He looked between it and her frustrated face as his fear started to simmer down and was replaced with anger. The tears continued all the same as he glared at her with as much hatred as he could possibly muster in a vulnerable moment.

You fucking bitch.

~

Saturday morning was Karmen’s least favorite day of the week to wake up early. Every day it was a slog, no matter how she looked at it. But Saturdays used to be her reprieve. Friday nights were fun to look forward to even without plans and knowing she had nowhere to be in the morning was a kind of freedom she rarely chose to give up.

Which is why it was so damn hard to be walking through the hospital doors just after 9am on the one morning of the week she usually enjoyed.

She had afforded herself a little extra window of sleep this morning and while she felt a little more rested than usual, she had wrestled with whether or not it was worth it for the amount of guilt she held in her belly over making Eddie spend the beginning of his weekend alone.

She had told him the day before that she wasn’t getting up at the crack of dawn today. That she was burnt out and needed a couple of hours after work to focus on herself before a solid 8 hours of sleep. She had framed work as the issue and while it was technically the crux of it. Not spending more than an hour most days on her own basic needs and neglecting the miscellaneous ones was weighing her down in a way she hadn’t been ready for.

She’d practically spent the whole week Eddie was missing in bed but not a second of it was restful and since he’d come back she’d given it her all to make sure he had a reason to stick around.

He’d understood when she said she needed a sleep-in. Lord knew Eddie wasn’t a stranger to an all day lounge-about to recover from a shitty week. But she knew inside that he was sad about it and would never say because he loved her and wanted her to be happy too.

She had tried not to let it get to her. Even Wayne had stopped her as they left together the night before and told her that he thought it was great she was taking a moment for herself. He knew better than anyone how full on Eddie could be and she knew he felt the same weight on his chest that she did every time he had to leave the hospital. 

He had tried to convince her it was okay to take the whole weekend. That Eddie would be fine if she just didn’t show up again until Monday lunchtime. She knew that wasn’t true but she appreciated him for trying. At the very least he had convinced her that sleeping in was an okay thing to enjoy.

That he didn’t judge her for it.

But that fact hadn’t stopped her from dragging herself out of bed at 8:30am and eating her toast in the car on her drive across town.

Granted, 8:30am was still a sleep-in for her. But it wasn’t exactly the one she had in mind when she’d gone to bed purposefully without setting an alarm in the hopes her body clock would forgo waking her in a cold sweat, thinking that she was late for work.

She hadn’t bothered to get ready to leave the house in any capacity. Her unwashed hair still in a bun from the day before and the oversized shirt she’d worn to bed was ruffled by the whoosh of the automatic doors.

She couldn’t remember who’s shirt it was at this point. Just that it had been too big for them and it was the most comfortable ‘dress’ she’d ever worn in her life. She’d had it for a long time. It was one of her favorites that never usually left the house with her. No matter how comfortable it was, it wasn’t exactly a full outfit on its own and usually, she tried at least a little to seem put together with the way she dressed.  

She looked down at it as she waited in the elevator. A cartoon galah wearing sunglasses, surrounded by palm trees on a lavender background.

Oh, it was Bradie’s. 

She realized. Remembering suddenly that it could only belong to her older brother. The rose-breasted cockatoo was an Australian animal. The irony of that fact being that despite currently residing in Australia he hadn’t purchased the shirt there but in a gift shop in Thailand 5 years before he moved across the ocean back to the country they were born in.

She thought about him briefly as she headed towards Eddie’s room. Wondering what he would make of all this if she called him up and told him the story she had and tried to act as though it wasn’t fishy as hell.

No doubt he already had opinions but there was no way she was hearing them any time soon. 

She could pretty much guarantee that her Mother had barred him from calling her or asking about it if he did. Bradie was opinionated and pig-headed but if he liked you he’d give you the world. He was also fun-loving and laid back but it varied person to person if they had ever seen that side of him.

He hadn’t met Eddie yet but he’d gotten an earful about how fantastic he was a couple of months earlier. Strangely, not from Karmen. 

Karmen’s Mother Carla, had loved Eddie when they’d visited. 

She was one of the first after Wayne to tell her that there was no way Eddie did the things he was being accused of. She’d only met him a few times but she knew and she was an ‘amazing’ judge of character…

The fact that her Mother had immediately said that Eddie was innocent should have worked in his favor but if anything, it hindered his case. Her mother was a lovely, gorgeous hearted woman that trusted blindly.

In other words, she was gullible and prone to being hoodwinked by nefarious people.

But she certainly did have her moments. She tended to be right about people more often than she was wrong. It was just that when she was wrong, it was always a doozy.

‘Doozy’ didn’t exactly describe the magnitude of how wrong she would be if she was wrong about Eddie... 

But Karmen had overlooked it all the same. Said ‘thank you’ and decided to believe that Mum was right because she was just as gullible but only when it came to love.

Yes, Carla had loved Eddie.

He was exactly the type of boy that she wanted Karmen to find. Kind, polite, funny, a little bit silly and:

“So, so handsome!” She had cooed, her fingers pinching both of Eddie’s cheeks as he looked down at her with stars in his eyes.

He was her new favorite! She had proclaimed, slurring her words after several wines at the first dinner they’d shared.

Eddie blushing and kicking his feet as Carla’s other son Parker sat across the table, mouth agape.

He had traveled across the country to be there. Not to meet Eddie but to alleviate the guilt he felt that his Mother was ‘alone’ and ‘lonely’ since he, her last baby, had left home.

He’d only been living in L.A for a few months at that point.

Karmen knew her Mum hadn’t meant it the way it came out but she silently understood why Parker had bought a return ticket for only two days after his arrival and Bradie hadn’t visited in years.

Speaking of Braide, she was glad he hadn’t heard it. He was petty like her. Petty enough to renounce his citizenship just so he had an excuse not to come back for Christmas.

Parker had just rolled his eyes and written it down in a notepad when he thought no one was looking. 

He’d take the hit to have more material for his musical comedy.

He’d drink about it when he got back to L.A.

Besides, he liked Eddie. He already knew him vaguely from school. 

Karmen wondered what he thought about it all. Not that she really cared for his opinion. He was a worse judge of character than her Mum.

Their Mum who had just been trying to make Eddie feel welcome. 

She had succeeded. 

He hadn’t shut up about how much he loved Carla for several weeks afterwards. 

Karmen was happy with that result, if not a little worried that he’d leave her for the mature model of herself with better cooking skills. 

There was a small part of her though that found Eddie’s excitement at being accepted profoundly sad. Knowing Eddie had never really had a Mother figure in his life. He’d certainly never had one that outright said they liked him. 

The man had Mommy issues but not in the way she was used to. Most men she had dated that showed their hand early and ticked Mommy Issues off the list off Red Flags were total Momma’s boys but liked to pretend they hated every second of her doting on them. 

It was to the point that Karmen played second fiddle to Mother and put up with behavior she shouldn’t have from the in-laws that were just ‘protecting their baby’ from the mean lady that he asked to date him.

Eddie’s issues were very different. He hadn’t had a Mother to dote on him. He’d never been doted on before, period. He’d never really been taken care of before outside of basic needs and the kind of strained and stunted emotional talk that Wayne could offer.

Affection before Karmen was sparse and often came from inappropriate places and people. Like the Elementary School teacher that he latched onto because they were a little too nice when he was struggling to make friends or the person he had a crush on because they didn’t tell him to go away the first time he spoke to them.

Just two examples of the many people that were kind to him in the past that he went on to develop a strange parasocial relationship with.Thinking he meant more to them than he actually did. It always ended in the reality crashing down on him before he got too comfortable.

A big reason he had been surprised when Karmen actually turned up at the Hideout on that fateful Saturday night. He hadn’t misconstrued her general friendliness for affection or imagined the connection they shared.

She cared for him in a way he didn’t truly know he needed until he had it and Eddie liked being cared for. 

He liked it a lot.

That was what it came down to. It was something he’d only just begun to really open up to her about before everything went down. He’d had no problem sharing his tastes early on but a few weeks before he’d gone missing the can of worms had been pried open and emptied out all over the bed.

Just another checkbox at this point for why exactly she knew in her heart of hearts that Eddie was innocent. 

No one really knew him like she did. What he was really like behind closed doors. 

He wasn’t scary, macho or self-assured.

If anything he was timid, gentle and soft. 

He wasn’t capable of snuffing the life out of someone.

Also, despite not being able to tell her with his words, she knew there was nothing between him and Chrissy.

She had worried at first. Having been mistreated in the past there was always that deep seated fear of it happening again. Of being so gullible that she had not been able to see the signs. That fear of being blindsided by someone you trust, again. 

But after having time to sit with the information she had, she knew he was telling the truth about that at least.

There was just no way a barely legal highschool girl was worth giving up what he had found in her. 

Not in a conceited way. She didn’t believe she was hot shit or the best thing to ever happen to him simply because she was great and he couldn’t do better. 

But in the way of the deep understanding she had for who he was and why. What he liked. His personal tastes when it came to sex as well as everyday life.

Their shared predilections inside the bedroom and out.

She was happy to indulge any and all of his fantasies as he was her. There was no reason for him to stray when he’d already confessed his most awkward desires and she’d responded with enthusiasm. 

What would be the point of starting again with someone else? Even Eddie on Ketamine knew that was a frivolous endeavor.  

She worried sometimes that she had accidentally melded the inexperienced man she’d met into her ideal partner. Someone that catered to her specific tastes without regard for his own. 

But she checked in on that regularly. Every time the anxiety creeped in she’d revisit the idea with him and he was never anything but enthusiastic and excited. Telling her she was being silly and to forget the idea that she had somehow tricked him into wanting the things she wanted.

It hadn’t taken him too long to feel comfortable expressing some of his own kinks and the more he divulged, the less she worried. Each erotic fantasy had an anecdote or explanation attached that pre-dated her involvement in his life by at least 5 years.

The man knew what he liked, what he wanted and most surprisingly, why. 

He was incredibly self-aware in that regard and she envied the confidence he held in his desires. The ability he had to explain to someone that was basically a stranger how and when he’d realized that he wanted to be coddled by a maternalistic Dom.

There had only been a few times over the year where one of them hadn’t felt up to what the other had proposed. Eddie had no trouble voicing that with her and she’d happily compromised on something else, as he did for her.

Good sex certainly wasn’t everything she looked for in a relationship. To be honest it wasn’t even on her top 5 list of things that a partnership needed to be successful.

But accidentally stumbling across someone so compatible was rare. Someone that took her wants and needs into consideration during the act. Someone that not only shared kinks but outside of that was kind, compassionate, funny, just plain fun and:L

“So, so handsome!” 

Her Mother’s voice echoed in her head.

It was basically unheard of.

Eddie was an enigma in the best way possible. Even if he turned around the next day and said he never wanted to do anything along the sexual vein again she would be okay with it.

She could go without. She had always been happy to take care of herself.

Eddie had so much more to offer her than shared bedroom preferences. She felt she’d hit the jackpot with this man and she was willing to put up with just about anything to keep him around. 

The only thing she had to think twice about was giving up her Saturday mornings. But when faced with the prospect of getting to sleep until noon but waking up alone forever, the choice was easy.

Loving Eddie was easy. Even on the hard days.

She thought maybe she should tell him that, in those words. That he’d probably like to hear it.

But it would have to wait as she’d just arrived outside his room and her eyes twitched as all thoughts and emotions outside of anger disappeared into the abyss.

She wondered sometimes when rage at a sense of injustice overtook her, if the fury washed over her brain and made it smooth like a river rock. Only one thought allowed at a time when she was so mad that she wanted to cry.

Right now the single thought was Nurse Sally being flattened by her sedan. Unaware that she and Eddie had yet another fantasy in common. She exhaled a shaky breath as she watched Eddie wince at every rough tug of his scalp. 

His nose was scrunched and his jaw set in a way that told her it was taking everything he had left to keep his own anger and hurt inside. However it may present when released, she had no idea. 

It was ironic that he thrived on routine but had become extremely unpredictable of late.

Judging by the redness of his eyes, she was pretty sure he’d already let something out and it had been ignored. She could see if not tangibly feel the barely restrained furor that was bubbling in his gut at every unsolicited touch from that vile woman. 

Karmen rushed forwards as the dull thunk of the hair brush hitting against Eddie’s scalp bounced off the walls of the room. She held back her snarl just barely as she stepped into Nurse Sally’s view and held out her hand in a way that demanded attention.

Eddie startled at the sight of her. The way she had bustled into the room not giving him time to adjust to the intrusion, even though he was grateful to see her. 

He’d never been great with surprises but watching him get startled now was heartbreaking.

Karmen softened, realizing she had frightened him. Feeling bad for how she had approached even if it was because she was jumping to his aide. She should have been more mindful of how skittish he was at the moment.

“I’ll take care of it.” She ground out curtly, gesturing at her outstretched hand and waiting for the brush. Sally looked at her with condescending eyes and for a brief moment Karmen actually thought she was going to argue. To which she definitely would have shouted. Scaring Eddie again and getting herself kicked out without the chance to comfort him.

The other woman wrinkled her bumpy flesh as she smiled in a wholly unfriendly way before placing the head of the hairbrush a little too firmly into Karmen’s palm. 

Karmen suppressed the urge to wince as the bristles dug into her hand. Instead, staring down the older woman silently as she made a show of lingering to clean up things that didn't need to be cleaned before leaving the room just to see if Karmen broke her resolve.

She didn’t. Not saying a word or easing up on her glare until the old hag was completely out of earshot. Eddie watched his girl warily, knowing what she was doing and wishing he had the emotional energy to be proud of her.

She turned and watched as he moved his gaze to his hands. Unable to make eye contact when she finally put her attention on him fully.

“Hey.” She greeted him softly. 

He nodded to acknowledge her, not looking up as she put a gentle hand on his knee. 

“I was going to help you do this.” She said as she took a piece of his matted hair in her fingers. She had been wanting to tackle it since she saw it for the first time. Knowing on a personal level how hard curls were to maintain and how quickly it could get to the point of a buzzcut if they weren’t taken care of.

Eddie’s gorgeous curls were anything but taken care of at this point. Basically just a few matted dreadlocks in the back and a few free stands she had managed to conspicuously wrangle under the guise of giving him a nice little head pat while he was sleeping.

His bangs were relatively untouched and looked as normal as ever. The only issue with that being that they were in his eyes constantly and desperately needed a trim. Eddie wasn’t exactly a barber shop kind of guy. He’d cut his own bangs in the mirror 3 years ago and made peace with what they were. Before her, they were often uneven due to the fact that the only time they ever got a trim was when he got sick of blowing them out of his face while he was trying to do delicate painting or writing at a desk.

Giving into the 3am urge to say ‘fuck it’ and cut chunks off them in the bathroom of his trailer.

Karmen liked them anyway. But she had become his unofficial hairdresser in the time they’d been dating. She’d watched in horror one night as he had growled in frustration and stood up from where he’d been sitting at his desk, taking some random stationary scissors from his drawer and leaning into his mirror to snip them straight across in one go.

If Uncle Wayne had a job with regular hours he probably would have burst into the room to find out what she was screaming about as she jumped up to take the scissors away and offered to do it for him properly.

Not that she knew anything about cutting hair really. But she’d spent enough time at the salon in her early 20s to emulate what they did to a better standard than Eddie was used to.

Eddie nodded at her again, still staring down at his lap as he pressed his lips together in an effort to stop himself from spiraling again. 

“Eddie.” She cooed, dropping the piece of hair and sliding her palm underneath his locks and across his back. He leaned his side against her. Resting his cheek against her chest as she put the brush down on the bed and brought her hand up to run her fingers through his long bangs.

Why are they all so mean?

His voice sounded small, even though it was just inside his head. It was tired and weak, just like the rest of him.

He knew deep down of course why and that he didn’t do it. But it didn’t stop him from getting to the point on days like this where he started to question whether or not he truly deserved it.

There seemed to only be a select few people that thought he didn’t.

He never wanted Sally to do his hair. Never asked for it or consented at all. In retrospect she might have told him what she was planning but she certainly didn’t care if he was listening or not. Didn’t wait for his okay to touch him.

He didn’t want to be touched by anyone else. Least of all that horrible bitch or any of the assholes that chittered and chuckled in his direction all day long as if he couldn’t hear or see them. 

Just because he couldn’t talk right now didn’t mean he was stupid. 

That he didn’t understand how much they hated him.

They didn’t care if he got better. They cared about him looking better so they could get him out of there one way or another. Luckily, they cared if they lost their jobs. Eddie shuddered to think what someone might do to him if they thought they could get away with it. If Wayne and Karmen weren’t a constant around here to attest to the fact that he was getting better. 

If he didn’t have people to kick up a stick and ask questions if his health suddenly declined or worse.

“Can I help you with this today?” Karmen asked quietly. Knowing deep down that he had not asked for or wanted the nurses to do it for him. “It’s alright to say no.” She reminded him when he hesitated a moment. Thinking about the answer.

His stomach was doing flips and he was still in a lot of pain. It was a miracle that he hadn’t thrown up thus far. Cold sweat beading on his forehead at the reminder that it was a possibility. His body taking the thought as its queue to remind him that the painkillers still hadn’t fully kicked in and this might be as good as it got if he pushed himself far enough to vomit.

The thought of someone tugging at his scalp for hours on end was enough to make him gag.

Soon?

He asked, moving his hand in a sign and looking up to her with worried eyes. He had been studying that book religiously and learning rapidly but he was pretty sure she didn’t have time to do the same.

She didn’t understand the sign but knew that it wasn’t a simple yes or no all the same.

“Maybe?” She asked, copying the sign with her hand as Eddie shook his head in response.

“S…” He tried, stuttering out a hiss for the beginning of the word as he moved his palm away from his body in a pushing kind of motion.

“Soon?” She asked, quickly. Catching on fast. She’d played a lot of charades in her time and for her 26th Birthday in June the year before, John had bought her Pictionary. To his dismay, she and Eddie were a well oiled machine at silently communicating. Often guessing each other’s pictures first try or with just a glance to tell the other how to pivot their guesses.

Eddie nodded happily. Bringing a hand up to his face and signing:

Sleep.

He didn’t actually want to sleep, having woken up not too long before. But it was the only way he knew to convey that he wanted to lie down. 

She understood. Disengaging from him and giving him the room to move as he needed to.

“Hey.” She said again as he settled himself on his back. Catching his attention and making him look at her curiously. “I’ll be right back.” She assured him as she pointed towards the open door. “I’m just going to make a phone call.”

~~

The phone by Eddie’s bed only called one way. People could call him if they had the direct line but he wasn’t able to make his own calls on the hospital's dime.

Not that he really had anyone to call anyway. Not that he could speak to them even if he wanted to.

But it meant that when Karmen needed to make a call she had to play nice with the nurses at their station so they would let her use the one patient phone on the floor.

She had come back not long after leaving without elaborating. Eddie had actually started to doze off and only noticed that she was back when the dip of the mattress under her weight alerted him.

She laid with him for a long while. Both of them fell in and out of a light sleep as Eddie’s painkillers finally managed to do their job and some of the tension left his body at the relief coupled with the feeling of a warm body next to him.

Karmen finally got her sleep-in as they were woken up by the lunch delivery. Eddie was surprised to find that he wasn’t in anywhere near as much pain as he usually was around this time of day. Maybe the late tablets meant that they were still working strong or maybe he had been overreacting earlier and actually getting a good rest next to a loved one would help him heal faster than he thought once he left the hospital.

He had griped over the food and Karmen didn’t blame him. Soggy peas mixed into lumpy mash and a questionable source of protein that they silently argued over the origin of until things got out of hand. 

Karmen was convinced it was beef while Eddie insisted on pork. 

Neither of them wanted to try it.

Eddie had gotten frustrated at her not understanding him and started snorting like a pig to which Karmen mooed at him repeatedly in response. 

A nurse had walked in at that moment with his next dose of medicine, both of them falling silent and watching her as she picked up his chart and wrote something down before leaving again without a word.

They waited until she was gone before bursting into laughter. Karmen smiling from ear to ear at the sound of Eddie’s chortling. She had missed the sound.

She promised him that when Wayne arrived soon she would go and get him some proper food from the cafeteria.

She made good on her promise. Disappearing to buy everyone coffee and Eddie a bowl of pasta shells in a red sauce that the lady behind the counter heated for her in the microwave.

She had hoped they would have pigs in a blanket on offer but she never got lucky enough to be that funny.

Eddie ate more of the pasta than she was expecting. She made a mental note to bring him some food and snacks from home during the week so he was eating at least one meal a day.

After he’d finished, Wayne produced the plastic bag he’d brought with him and Karmen handed him some money in return. Wayne had tried to refuse it but she’d forcefully stuffed it in his fist. He’d taken it but winked at Eddie behind her back as he slipped it into her handbag.

Karmen looked through the purchases and that was the moment Eddie realized that she had called Wayne earlier, asking him to bring her things on his way over so that she didn’t have to leave him.

He was grateful. 

She started placing things on the table beside his bed and he sighed deeply, recognizing them as haircare products and resigning himself to just getting it out of the way.

“I know.” She’d said, without looking up. “But I want this to be as quick and painless as possible and I only want to do it once.”

~~

A/N: I know I'm probably repeating myself a little in this chapter and will continue to do so in the coming chapters. I just really want to drive home how in his own head Eddie is at the moment and how frustrating it is for him to not have an outlet for that other than thinking about it and spiralling himself. Sorry if that's boring, but it's intentional.

Eddie is everyone's parents favorite child except his own 😂 @wheels-of-despair has an amazing series where Eddie is reader's Mom's fave as well. High recommend this fic that features this dynamic. 🥰

Part 12 will be linked here when it's finished. In the meantime...

Read the rest of the series here :)

This series is so personal to me, so it means the world to me when someone let’s me know they enjoy a work from this series. If you guys liked this please pleaseee consider letting me know via comment, reblog, message, anon ask etc.  

Tag List: @3ddi3-daydreamer @micheledawn1975 @munson-blurbs @wheels-of-despair @browneyes528 @stevemunsons

[puppetwoman17]

I would like to expand on the joker junior idea. Imagine Batman going to arkham to interrogate Joker for another case, leading to him getting beaten by bats while laughing about how he not only failed Jason but Tim as well. Laughing about how he tortured him, revealing his identity, how easy it was to break him. Batman then threatening to end him and joker replied with "Oh Batsy, if you truly were capable of doing it then Junoir wouldn't have needed to shoot me".

While that was happening everyone except was listening in the whole time and are seething about everything they heard until Tim put his ear piece back on that he took off before Batman started his interrogation because he knows it will get them nowhere so he tries to find a new lead (not because the very sound of Joker's laughter sends him back to when he was screaming as he was getting electrocuted and injected with joker venom that ridiculous he's fine) and told Bruce that he found another lead, getting him to stop pummeling Joker and leaving while he was left there laughing.

Sorry if this is all over the place it was something I came up with after reading your posts. Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much for this!

God that would honestly be mortifying for everyone involved(except the Joker obvi). All the kids are expecting him to taunt Bruce about Jason, and he does. He teases him on how he couldn’t get there in time and how his son still blamed him. Which, sure, Jason has his own gripes with his death, but the Joker is the person who he is LEAST okay with saying this.

But then things take a turn. The Joker starts talking about his SON, and since when did the Joker have a son? He calls him Junior. Teases the Bat that he was too late in saving him, and his boy would ALWAYS be a part of your little Red Ro—

Holy fucking shit.

Nightwing is screaming now. He demands that Batman tell them what the Joker meant. Why hadn’t he been told? What happened to Tim? Why did the Joker know him so well?

Jason is close to having a panic attack, because not only is the one person who scares him anymore on the loose, but he did the same to Tim. To his little brother. To someone who he’s grown close with over the years. Who definitely had a rocky relationship with him. Who talked with him despite that and worked with him despite that. To hear that that very same little brother had been attacked the same way he had, and worse, is more than enough to send the Red Hood on a rampage. The Joker isn’t escaping again, that’s for sure.

Cass is not one to make her presence known. She knows how to keep quiet. How to wait for the right time to strike, but she’s on the Joker in the next possible minute. Even Batman steps back and watches as she beats the person who hurt her brother into the ground. Batman doesn’t know whether to cheer her on, or tell her to stop.

Spoiler is the only one with Tim, and she can’t help but just stare. She doesn’t speak, she doesn’t yell or cry or accuse him of keeping such a heavy secret, she just looks at him. Not with pity, but with the sinking realization that no one knew. Not even her.

Damian wasn’t allowed to leave the cave. He’s sitting by the Batcomputer with Alfred behind him. While he and Drake didn’t have the closest relationship, it’s been some time since he truly thought of him as anything but his brother. He learned from him frequently, how to handle a specific gadget, how to deal with the Batman when his temper flared(slightly, he’s not an asshole anymore Dami(WHAT DO YOU MEAN ANYMORE??)). To hear about this horrifying experience and not be able to comfort Drake made him squirm in his seat.

He’s even more surprised when Pennyworth doesn’t give a single indication that he knows. Nightwing demands that Agent A tell them why he hid this from them. Everyone is shocked when he tells them he is just as clueless.

This is all background noise to Red Robin, because he just got a lead on where the Joker’s goons could be. He doesn’t pay attention to anyone’s words, instead telling Batman that he has a lead and to meet him at a location.

When all this is over and the Joker is back in custody, all Commissioner Gordon can do is pat Tim on the back and tell him to go the fuck home and sleep.

When all this is over, Babs locks up the Clocktower because she’s not dealing with this shit til she’s had her morning coffee.

[aconitemare]

[jaydick] Before That, And Colder

Chapter Three

Previous Chapter

AO3

A large mirror — a looking glass — or so it seemed to me — now stood where it had not been before. As I walked toward it in terror I saw my own form, all spotted with blood, its face white, advancing to meet me with a weak and uncertain step. 

  Four knocks sound at the door, quick and heavy, impatient: Suzie Su. Jason glances up from his book, a collection of Poe’s works mailed to him from Wayne Enterprises, Office of Bruce Wayne, C.E.O. It’s no library book — an expensive collectible, probably, judging by the silver-edged pages, embossed cover, and massive size. Jason is more tolerable of this gift, however, compared to the first edition volumes of Great Expectations sitting in a box in his bedroom closet. Sometimes he has the urge to bring them outside, douse them in kerosene, and roast marshmallows over them. He once got as far as unearthing the box and running his hand gently over the topmost volume, registering its rough texture beneath his weathered palm, before he lost his momentum and tucked the box away again. 

“What is it?” he calls out. The doorknob jiggles. “It’s locked,” he drawls, tipping his chair back a little with his toes. Upside down, he looks out the wall-to-wall windows behind him. The final dredges of sunlight bruise the Atlantic Ocean purple. 

Suzie Su kicks the door futilely. “No kidding,” she gripes. 

Jason sits back upright. He shifts the paperweight off his open book, moves to close it, and is promptly reminded of the photos spread across the desk. They’re why he had begun reading. He had grabbed a book off his shelf and slammed it down, burying the bodies. Now, dead boys stare up at him, their dark hair rusted with blood and their hollow bones crunched. They look like crows, like a murder, infused with tragedy and beating broken wings. 

“What do you want?” he asks roughly, eyes transfixed but mouth still — as always, he knows — moving ahead of him. He needs to get these out of his sight or he’ll lose his mind. 

“Well, it’s not a social call,” replies Suzie Su. 

“Be right there,” promises Jason. He shoves the photos into the book, crushing his doppelgangers between the final pages of William Wilson. Then he bats the book away, towards the corner of his desk for later.

Jason unlocks and opens the door to reveal Suzie Su in a plain, button-down shirt damp with sweat. It pools beneath her pits like dolphin fins halfway down her sides. He raises an eyebrow. “What, no little black dress?”

 “You don’t pay me to be beautiful, ass,” says Suzie Su, brushing past Jason into his office. 

“Shit, am I supposed to be paying you?” he jokes, watching her over his shoulder. He’s about to follow when James darkens his doorway next. James is less sweaty but sporting a badly busted lip. Of course, the interesting part is the man he’s got wrapped in his arms with a potato sack over his head. 

Jason spreads his palms in delight. “Oh, good, you’ve found someone for the internship,” he says with cheer. He cocks his head to check around James’ hulking form. “Any other incapacitated applicants? No?” He sighs and shakes his head remorsefully. “Low turnout.”

James just stares at him, unamused. Probably sour over the punch Potato Sack got in. “Let me in, please,” he says. Jason courteously steps aside, closing the door behind him. James immediately releases Potato Sack, who sags to his knees and leans against James’ leg for half a second before regaining his balance. He’s more conscious than Jason would have thought for a bound and gagged kidnap victim. 

Jason points at him. “Who’s the fool? He just come from the county fair’s three-legged race?” he inquires. Potato Sack is dressed nicely; his outfit is a tad disheveled, but there’s no blood or sweat on him, at least not from the neck down. His peachy pocket square is halfway out his paisley blazer. The cuffs are folded to his elbows, exposing muscular, nicely tanned forearms. 

Suzie Su flops into one of Jason’s chairs, the white leather one with too much cushion. “The sack came straight out of Big Guy’s car. I don’t even know,” she remarks. She sounds tired despite being uninjured, like she might’ve chased Potato Sack all the way here. 

Jason contemplates making a Karate Kid reference, something about chasing chickens, when James chimes in. “We can’t have suspicious figures knowing where your office is,” he justifies. “Especially right now with the — photographs,” he finishes, visibly uncomfortable.

Jason shrugs and shakes his head in amused mystification. “A suspicious figure?” he repeats, making a “so what?” gesture with his hand. “Is that all he is?”

James grimaces. “Not all. He’s weirdly… agile. Freakishly quick.”

Suzie Su laughs, a husky and wheezing sound in her current state. “Agile is right. He pirouetted James right in the face.” Pirouette, Jason thinks. The word spins into his mind, a flurry of movement, and then neatly halts on a striking thought. Jason turns his attention to the well-dressed man on his knees. 

Meanwhile, James is sending Suzie Su a glare across the room. “It was a roundhouse kick,” he corrects as if the name affords him more dignity. “Just a really spinny one. I don’t think he was actually even on the ground — ”

Impatient, Jason rips the sack off the man’s head. His jaw clenches so tightly he’s aware of the ache. Dick is noticeably unharmed, except for perhaps a small patch of dirt accentuating his sharp right cheekbone. His hair is in disarray, silky strands breaking from what once must have been perfectly molded curls to fall smoothly into his alert blue eyes. He looks more like a pampered socialite returning from a joyride with the windows down than a hostage. Dick blows a rich black lock of hair out of his eyes and gives a toothy grin that positively dazzles. “Hiya, Hood. Fancy seeing you here,” he greets and, for added impertinence, he even winks at Jason.

Claustrophobia looms over Jason’s back like an invisible but palpable enemy, breathing down his neck, crowding him against Dick and Bruce and Tim. He never should have contacted Tim, this was the respect they showed, the audacity. He has a flash of himself yanking Dick up by the throat and dangling him out a window, letting him drop to the icy ocean. Then he sees Dick’s golden face turn cold, eyes white and face pale, and the horrifying vision is gone just as fast. 

“Everybody out,” Jason orders. He feels stiff, his spine stiff, his voice stiff. He’s still staring at Dick, the smiling piece of work. Suzie Su stands up and lumbers towards the door, but James lingers. 

“Is he one of your, you know,” James starts out. He brings his fingers to his head and Jason knows he’s about to form little bat ears, but fortunately, James drops his hands to his side instead. James swallows dryly. “I’ll be outside.”

“Yeah, way outside,” Jason agrees sharply. “Outside the casino, if you can.”

Dick watches the two of them with glass-blown eyes. He smiles cheekily at James and says, “Maybe you can keep an eye on the parking lot, make sure no one touches Hood’s bike.”

James narrows his eyes at Dick but says nothing more. He turns around and stalks out the door, trailing after Suzie Su. “The door, ” Jason adds, mildly amused when James grabs the doorknob and slams the door shut. “Touchy,” Jason tuts. 

Dick springs to his feet and begins undoing the knot around his wrists. Jason just barely resists shoving him back to the floor. “What the hell, Dick!” he shouts. “What happened to the fucking parking lot!” he demands, waving his arms. 

Dick’s wrists come free, the rope falling to his feet in one final and fluid motion. “I got lost,” Dick says. He smoothes out his shirt, which draws Jason’s eyes properly to how the pink highlights the rosy warmth of his skin tone. He looks good.  

“Oh, my god,” Jason mutters, turning away from Dick and pinching the bridge of his nose. There’s tension building there, a volcanic tension Jason is always pushing down, keeping dormant. Stupid, stupid, letting the Bat in. He can only blame himself because if he blames Dick he’s going to go on a rampage, and anyway, holding the bats accountable has never worked for him before. 

“You know what,” he says after a moment wherein Dick wisely stays silent, “it’s my fault,” he informs, holding his palms up in surrender. “I, despite many opportunities to learn from my mistakes, entrusted your hegemonistic troupe with private information and somehow expected you to respect my rules.” Jason holds a hand over his heart and leans forward in apology, causing Dick to have to tilt his chin slightly upward. Jason stares intently at him, going for venomous sincerity as he says, “This is on me for thinking what I said matters to any of you psychos.”

Jason watches Dick blink owlishly at him. He’s still in Dick’s space, waiting for a response, when finally Dick smiles and pats him on the shoulder. “Woo!” he says, wiping his forehead, “Glad we got that over with! Very mature of you, Hood,” he chirps, stepping around Jason. Jason imagines grabbing him by the neck and holding him in place, pinning him still like one might do to a butterfly that lingers too long for safety. Jason does not do that.

Dick begins rooting through his desk, wiggling drawers to find they’re locked and checking beneath his Poe book like he’s in a clue game. Jason can’t help but release a weary sigh. Jason begins, “Would rather you just let me die, if we’re being hon — ”

“By the way, what you say does matter,” Dick abruptly interjects, looking up from another locked drawer to stare Jason down. Dick’s hair has fallen into his eyes again, providing a thin buffer between their gazes. Jason awkwardly shifts his weight and suspects, with some bitterness, that the terms of the mission have just switched hands. Then Dick is pushing his bangs out of his face and wrestling his curls out of their mold. “It’s just that your life matters more,” he explains, and the whole line is just so nonchalantly sentimental, so easily spoken, that Jason wants to throw them both out a window. At least Dick has stopped staring at him, and he looks like slightly less of a prick now that his hair is closer to its naturally relaxed wave. 

“The curls make you look gay,” Jason informs, trying not to pout like he’s sixteen again and Nightwing is refusing to partner up with him on a case. 

Dick smirks. “Those who live in glass casinos, Jay,” he retorts. “Feel like unlocking any of these for me?” he asks.

Jason crosses his arms. “Not particularly, no,” he replies, shaking his head. 

Dick twists his lips in irritation before, apparently, moving on, expression blasé. “That’s fine,” he dismisses. “What’s not fine is that security of yours,” he adds, unimpressed, as he scoops the Poe collection into his hands. Jason’s heart seizes in his chest.

“Hey!” he protests, marching towards Dick and reaching for the book. Dick’s shoulder cuts between them, blocking Jason off. 

“Your bruisers couldn’t land a real hit on me — and they just take me to you without, apparently, informing you ahead of time?” Dick criticizes. He’s sifting through the silvery pages now, fanning them with his thumb. “What if I had been your stalker? What then? They deliver me unto you where I’m free to shoot you point-blank?”

Stalker, Jason thinks, is a tad dramatic. “What, they didn’t pat you down?” he asks, already knowing they did. James is too paranoid not to and Suzie Su knows who lines her pockets. 

Dick purses his lips unhappily. The overall effect is charming against Jason’s will; it’s a beautiful mouth, full and fair, and easily admired when idle. But then his lips are framing around words, as they frequently are, and Jason has to focus. “Well, technically, yes, they checked me for weapons,” Dick admits. He holds a finger up and points at Jason’s chest. “But there are other ways of killing you.”

Jason pats his chest and then holds out his arms like wings. “And yet I am not dead. Security seems just fine to me.”

Dick’s expression sobers. Jason can barely keep up with Dick’s emotive face, the ups and downs of his duel humor and sincerity. “You’re not dead because there’s been no attempt. You’re the endgame and these boys are just,” language fails Dick here. 

“Pit stops?” Jason offers, raising both his eyebrows. Dick clearly doesn’t appreciate his word choice, because his brows knit and he turns his fine cheek further away from Jason. He wants to keep pushing, though, so he says, “How about appetizers?”

Dick has reached the end of the book, but before Jason can feel relief, he starts fanning the pages again. “Sure,” Dick concedes, albeit moodily. 

Jason leans against his deck and watches Dick flip through. He considers ripping the book out of his hands, but he doesn’t know if it’s worth the trouble, so he holds back and drums his fingers against the edge of the table, letting his anxiety bleed out through his tips. 

“Appetizer makes sense,” Jason proposes. “Sociopath like him, he likes to whet his hunger when he can, but he’ll never be full,” he explains, almost absently, his mind drifting away from the office and towards the ocean facing him, and across that ocean, too, all the way to his return to Gotham. He remembers his own hunger. 

He hears Dick slap a page down. Jason doesn’t bother looking; he knows Dick found the photographs. A tiny sigh escapes from Dick beside him. Jason glances at him from the corner of his eye, sees Dick tapping his fingers against a face, communing with some boy’s preserved pain. Jason looks away.

“Except he’s not ‘whetting’ anything,” Dick says. “These kids aren’t for his benefit. They’re for yours.” 

“None of these kids died,” offers Jason, partly as an agreement with Dick’s point, partly just to remind himself. They’re all alive. They’re breathing. They didn’t lose everything. 

Dick hikes himself up on the desk and sets the book down in his lap, legs pretzeled. The white slacks curve keenly around his thighs. “Makes sense for a reenactment, which the assailant’s going for. You didn’t die, after all.”

Jason’s jaw flexes. “I did.”

Dick does not respond, which Jason is grateful for. Having the photos open, their bodies inspected while he stands off to the side, is such a keen breach of privacy. He feels it like a direct violation, yet he knows better than to snatch the evidence from Dick’s hands. Dick always comes bounding back after a rebuttal, Exhibit A: this whole thing. The only way Dick would be gentler is if he needed to be, and Jason refuses to give him a reason. 

After a minute, Dick breaches the silence. “Full discretion?” he says. 

Jason hangs his head and braces himself. He’s never noticed before, but there are tiny fishes painted onto the ceiling. “Yeah?” he asks, figuring Dick is seeking permission, or whatever. 

“I watched the tapes.”

That gets Jason’s attention. He faces Dick whose fingers rest on the open pages, whose brow is furrowed in what must be guilt or nervousness. Jason opens his mouth, closes it, and then shakes his head. “What tapes, Dick?”

Dick taps his index finger on the first kid: Terry Weind. The name he learned from a news report the same day his picture was stuck to his bike. No pictures were released to the public, but Vale spared few details in her verbal description. Jason didn’t have to do much digging for the boy’s identity. He had shown up at the hospital with flowers, telling Terry’s mother that he was just a concerned citizen. He also told her that Gotham’s heart went out to her son, that there was a community right outside that hospital room, even if it felt the only souls around were her and her son’s. He hopes she believes it better than he does. 

“B has had Park Row Memorial recorded around the clock for years. He has — every one of the attacks on camera. We watched them while he was prepping me for this case.” Dick says this like it’s a confession and Jason has the power to pardon him. 

Jason nearly scoffs. “Yeah, well, it’s your job,” he says instead. If he was stronger, Jason would hold this breach of privacy against him. He would take advantage of the one aspect in all of this that Dick appears penitent for. He should be sorry. Dick got to watch not just three kids brutally beaten, exploited helplessly, he got to watch Jason. Jason had to experience his death completely alone and now he had to experience it again on a stage. Neither Bruce nor Dick were there for him as partners, but they are here as an audience. Jason’s grave has been violated by more than just a hooded figure in an alleyway, but Jason does not have the energy to be judge, jury, and executioner. He doesn’t have the energy to give Dick what he wants.  

“So, what’s the plan?” asks Jason, propping his elbows on the desk. Dick doesn’t answer, so Jason says, “You must have one since you went to all the trouble of getting James to deliver you personally to my office like a sack of potatoes.”

“Who keeps a potato sack on them, by the way?” Dick asks. Jason shrugs. “That’s just weird,” Dick comments. 

“Yeah, he’s kind of weird,” Jason agrees. “But so is everyone in your corner. Those who live in glass batcaves should not throw batarangs?” he asks, irony lacing his words.

“Wingdings, actually,” Dick corrects, which reminds Jason of the Microsoft font and he wonders if Dick’s stupidity is contagious. He’d hate to start calling his guns ‘bat-barrels’ or ‘Times New Hoodlum.’ “Also, the plan might just take place in the aforementioned glass house,” Dick adds. 

Jason shakes his head. “You’ve lost me.”

Dick sighs, the perfect picture of put-upon. Jason knows where this is headed: he’s the unreasonable one here, somehow, despite arriving by car like a normal person instead of on a suspicious person list. “Your hired muscle isn’t the best,” Dick begins with an insult, so Jason knows it’s going downhill from here. “Bunker’s observational skills are decent, but not up to par. Your ‘James’ is sloppy. And the, uh,” Dick licks his lips here, “ lady — insulted you about five times between the budget interrogation and the bumpy ride to your office. Wherever her loyalties lie, they’re not with you.”

Jason groans dramatically and pushes off his desk. He reclaims his book from Dick’s lap, closing it shut and walking towards the whale-shaped bookshelf mounted on a non-windowed wall. “Su’s loyalties lie with her money, and her money lies with me,” Jason refutes. He gently slides the book between a copy of The Orphan Master’s Son and Hamlet. “You tell me where a man gets his corn-pone, and I’ll tell you what his opinions are. Mark Twain,” Jason cites.

Dick watches him from his seat on the desk. His lips are pressed in wry amusement, although the amusement may be wishful thinking on Jason’s part. He’d like to say he put something on Dick’s lips, and humor is good enough. “Yes,” says Dick flatly, “that sounds familiar, thank you. But money only goes so far when another pocket reaches farther. Me, telling you she’s bad news,” he cites himself. 

“Alright, fine,” Jason says, shoving his hands in his jacket pockets. He moves them so his jacket fans out in a textile shrug. “Tell me then — Suzie Su the figure you caught on tape? I assume it’s only a figure and not a clear profile since you’re sitting on my desk like it’s your college dorm bed and not out there apprehending my so-called stalker.”

“So-called because they are stalking you, Jason,” Dick says gravely. 

“Thanks for the clarity, dickhead, the situation could’ve been really lost on me. Almost forgot I’m the Case of the Month.”

“Sorry,” says Dick, wincing. 

“Ugh,” Jason says, hanging his head back with the burden of Dick’s personality. The confession-booth sincerity might be ingratiating if Dick wasn’t as oppressively righteous as an Elf on the Shelf. 

“And no,” Dick resumes, “the figure is definitely not Suzie Su. Average height, it looks like, although he’s — bent, most of the time, so it’s guesswork. His frame is neither slim nor broad.”

Jason laughs. “Really? That’s the best you got? Not tall, not short, not big, not small?”

“Well, he’s wearing a hoodie, which obscures a lot of their physique,” explains Dick. He raises his eyebrows then, a questioning movement, and glances out the windows. The room has crisped to an orange color without Jason noticing. In a few minutes, the sunlight will be directly in Dick’s eyes, and then shortly afterward night will fall. “Specifically, he was wearing loose-fitting denim jeans, black combat boots, and a red pull-over with the hood up,” Dick describes. 

The last revelation pulls a clownish ribbon of laughter from Jason. It’s a nervous one, which must be obvious to Dick, but he can’t help it. The laugh bubbles in his chest, acidic, and pops on his tongue with acerbic heat. “I bet,” is all he says. 

Dick musters a half-smile and says, “Points for theme?”

Jason snorts. “Yeah, sure, he can get all the points for theme. But why?” he asks. “What the hell is this theme? He’s dressed himself like me to kill me. Am I killing myself? Is that the idea? Is he saying it was all my fault, that I got myself killed?” 

Jason envisions himself as he is now, face veiled in red, bring metal down on Robin. The warehouse builds itself around the nightmare, boxes stacking atop boxes, men milling about indifferently, and then running out. Except that it’s not the warehouse, it’s Crime Alley, and the walls collapse revealing narrow city streets. The Joker falls away and Batman stands in his place. Jason looks down, expecting a bloody crowbar, but he holds in his grip a simple, slightly rusted tire iron. Both are red though, in the end, aren’t they?

Jason flexes his empty fingers. The floor beneath him is plush, white carpet that’s been bleached more times than he can count. “Why Park Row?” he asks.

Dick’s voice is muted, almost hesitant, actually, or perhaps just attempting to hush and soothe. “It could be coincidence. Park Row is conveniently vacant, especially at night, and he wouldn’t know there were cameras watching,” Dick speculates. He approaches the next possibility more tentatively. “Or he might know what Park Row means to you, to Robin. He could even be showing off how much he knows.”

Jason blanches. “He knows a fucking lot then.”

Dick does inventory: “If Park Row is coincidental, he wouldn’t necessarily know you as Jason Todd. He would just know that the Red Hood was Robin and that the Joker killed — ”

Jason cuts him off. “With a crowbar, he got it to the exact weapon .”

The weapon troubles Dick as well, Jason can track the rumination on his face. The crowbar is specific, purposeful, and not common knowledge. The details of Jason Todd’s untimely death were not released to the public — and as far as his other identity went, Robins may change but they don’t die. “Bruce has a theory about that,” Dick shares. 

“Oh, yeah?” Jason asks. He can’t keep the sarcasm from entering his voice. Rationally, he knows Bruce can help him and that’s why he’s willing to work with him. But also, what aspect of Jason’s life hasn’t Bruce analyzed through a microscope, poured into a beaker to see if it would blow up, and uploaded for his future reference? What aspect of any of their lives has Bruce not thought through for them?

“Joker, or someone who worked with him that day,” Dick supplies. “They would know about the crowbar, and if it’s the Joker, he makes almost everything Batman does his business, he might even know about the cameras. He could be taunting B by making him watch.” 

What a theory it is, too. Jason starts laughing until Dick trails off and asks, “What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, sorry,” Jason says, holding up his hands in mock apology. He pretends to wipe away a tear. “That is just some crazy narcissistic bullshit. I’m getting the photos of these mutilated kids and he’s the reason why?”

Dick must know Jason has a point because he flounders briefly before restarting. “Maybe not the reason, but logically Batman is connected. I know it doesn’t feel, I don’t know, satisfying, but it’s the only plausible theory so far. The Joker’s games almost always lead back to him. He used you to get at Batman, it’s at least worth considering how Bruce might factor into — ” 

Jason holds up a hand to shut Dick up before he loses his patience. “So, none of this is about me?”

Dick’s expression turns confused. “That’s not what I’m saying. I know this is about you.”

“But my death wasn’t,” Jason practically spits. He shrugs, tries to play this casually, but he wants to upend the desk Dick is still sitting on. He’s overcome with the suspicion that everything in this room is a prop to Dick, a piece to a gameboard he’s playing with Bruce alone. The both of them are entitled to waltz in with some half-baked disguise, lounge on his furniture, look through his books, watch his death over and over again. Jason himself is just another clue.

“You can say it,” Jason encourages, “I died for Bruce. It was never about me, it was always his war and I,” Jason pauses for the right words and when they arrive, the anger building up in him blows away. “I was just a good soldier.” 

Dick’s eyes don’t sharpen with recognition; they cloud over with it. Jason repeats the plaque’s inscription in the Batcave: A good soldier. It shines, encased in gold, commemorating Jason’s death while in defiance of his life. Here, in this conversation, it is soaked in venom. Jason doesn’t mean it as an attack; nonetheless, Dick shifts physically away as if to hide the bite mark. 

Jason takes a fortifying breath. This isn’t where the conversation is going, he vows. “This isn’t the Joker and this isn’t Batman’s case,” he says steadily enough. Dick has slid from the desk and finally stands, his gaze level with Jason’s. Jason gestures broadly, indicating everything around them that Jason has built for himself the past few years. “ This isn’t Bruce’s life and I’m not about to give him mine again.”

Jason thinks he’s made his point. He just wishes Dick didn’t look like he had slapped him. “No one expects that,” he assures before amending with a tiny frown, “I don’t expect that. I won’t speak for Bruce.”

“That’ll be a first,” Jason replies wryly. 

Dick actually laughs, kind of, more of a huff but it’s not without humor. “That’s fair, I suppose. I know everyone thinks I’m his champion, but I try to support everyone in our bat-themed infantry. Family, or so I like to call it. I defend you, too, Jay. I hope you know that. I guess he just seems to need me in his corner the most. Or maybe his corner is where I’m used to being, I don’t know, either way — it was just his theory and I thought it was worth sticking to the wall.”

Jason’s impulse is to criticize half of what Dick just said, but he leaves it be. Dick may be here for Bruce, but more importantly, they’re both here for the case. “I get it. But it’s a theory for Batman, not for Red Hood. I know Bruce is already halfway to commandeering the case and you’re here as a favor to him because we infamously don’t get along, but if you’re going to work with me, you gotta respect what I’ve got going on. Because whoever this person is, they’re not going to all this effort over the Joker or Batman. I’m not a soldier caught in their crossfire this time around. They know me as Robin and as Red Hood. This is very, very personal.”

Dick’s eyes drift to Jason’s bookshelf. He’s thinking of the pictures and how these kids were hurt because of Jason. Jason is, too. Dick folds himself across his chest and nods. “You’re right, you’re right. This is your case.” When Dick looks back at him, his face is intense. “I am here for you, not him. Well, I’d like to think we’re all in this together and so in a way I’m here for both of you, but. I don’t see this as a favor to him. Just so we’re clear.”

Jason breaks their gaze before he can accidentally believe him. When Jason became Robin, Dick avoided him because he was upset with Bruce. When Jason became Red Hood, Dick chased after him because he wanted to help Bruce. And when Dick faked his own death and told Jason nothing, it was because of Bruce. Why Dick wants to expand their relationship now is beyond him, but he’ll take help where he can get it. 

Besides, he does like the idea of Dick leaving Bruce’s corner for his. If Jason plays his cards right, Bruce’s plan for a middleman could backfire with Dick not apprising him of every time Jason’s nose twitches. Even Dick can’t resist a mission in Gotham without the Bat breathing down his neck. 

“Good,” Jason finally says after moments of Dick patiently awaiting the reception of his little olive branch. “Well, if it’s not a favor to him, then you won’t care that one of my caveats is keeping B on a strict need-to-know basis.”

Dick furrows his brow. “Define ‘need-to-know.’”

“Uhh, unless I say, ‘hey, Bruce needs to know this,’ he doesn’t need to know this.”

“Bruce is a good resource, Jay,” Dick insists. “You’re important to him, believe it or not, he’ll want to know everything is developing safely and efficiently.”

Jason cocks his head left and right like an unbalanced scale. “Yeah, well, I don’t want what he wants and it’s my case.”

Dick purses his lips thoughtfully. His forehead relaxes as does so, and it occurs to Jason that Dick is actually quite expressive. He can see the reluctance fall off his face, track the movement of thoughts across his gray-blue eyes. It’s strange to think that this man with all these open emotions and mercurial playfulness was raised by Bruce and his shadows. “Okay,” Dick eventually says, somewhat pensively, “what do you want?”

It’s an honest question, not rhetorical in the slightest, and that catches Jason off guard. He isn’t equipped to answer it. Jason knows what he doesn’t want, but that’s easier. He’s learned not to want things. He remembers wanting immensely in the life before this one. Jason is more careful now. If he was reckless, he would say he wants Dick here. He likes that Dick has all but literally chased him down to give him that help. He might want Dick to keep chasing him. He wants to be found, to be saved. But Jason knows from experience that those wishes don’t come true. 

“I want you to leave the Bat out of it,” Jason reiterates. He says it because it’s easier, and on the outside wanting an absence is like wanting nothing at all. But it is a want secretly, a real one, because he wants to know if Dick is chasing him like he suspects, or if he’s holding a scalpel behind his back, ready to scrape off a sample of Jason and deliver it to Bruce. 

Dick doesn’t roll his eyes or argue. In fact, he doesn’t react to the sarcasm Jason had safely wrapped his answer in at all. Instead, he breathes in through his nose, inhaling the terms and conditions, and then breathes them out through his mouth, fully processed. “Within reason,” he acquiesces. It’s not enough and Jason is about to say so when Dick holds up a hand. “I will not contact him without telling you first. And if he sends me anything about the case, I’ll forward the information right away,” he modifies.

That’s another fear to pile onto Jason’s plate. Dick doesn’t even plan on Bruce being forthcoming about whatever he might find on Jason’s rogue. “Yeah, Dick, details are kind of life-or-death here!” he exclaims, utterly bewildered. “I would freaking hope you don’t let Bruce hijack my case.”

Dick has the social graces to look contrite, although Jason knows he’s no different from any of the bats when it comes to secrets. They’re all hard-pressed to feel real guilt over things as petty to them as privacy. Boundaries, like all obstacles, are easily circumvented with a just cause and some zipline. 

Once Dick’s done pretending he’s sorry with his face, he sticks out a hand. “Our case,” he offers.

Jason laughs quietly. “Nah, but sure,” he agrees, shaking Dick’s hand. Then he leans back and crosses his arm, shifting his weight to one leg. “I guess the only thing left to sort out is for you to meet the in-laws.”

Dick tilts his head. “In-laws?” he repeats curiously.

“The Outlaws,” Jason specifies as Dick nods and makes an “ah” sound. “Or what’s left of them at least,” he says. 

Dick finds his way back to Jason’s desk and hikes himself up. He begins swinging his legs like a child. “I think I already did meet them. What did you call them? Sweaty Su and Fat Lip?”

Jason doesn’t think he’s heard Dick roast nearly enough people to be satisfied. “Yeah,” he says, grinning despite himself. He really should defend them, they’re all he’s got at the moment, but also they suck. “You should call them that to their faces, they’ll love it.”

Dick points at him and winks like the two of them are onto something. And maybe they are. 

[puppetmaster13u]

Brutalina! I knew they had a ship name and I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was lol. 

(Apologies if I bounce around, I have been on new medicine long enough now that it’s actually taking effect along with new stuff lol) 

Food! Bruce (& Gothamites in general) definitely have built up the habit of eating some things raw or alive, yeah. He definitely horrifies Aquaman who can in fact talk to aquatic creatures when he eats the crab alive. Though he did make sure to dispatch it humanely! It didn’t live long or feel a lot of pain! … That might’ve been the venom talking though. Y’know. Just some numbing and slight paralyzation, absolutely mild compared to the necrotoxins and myotoxins and everything else Gothamites have. But I realized! They’d (with Poison Ivy’s help) definitely hybridize plants. Tomatoes for example! In the Nightshade family! Gotham has definitely created a belladona tomato hybrid they call Bella Tomatoes. Usually savory, but sometimes cut into wedges, roasted, & drizzled with honey or in fancy parties brûléed to make a sweet-peppery snack. Parfaits are wild at parties, but you get the really crazy ones from a small mom & pop place by the Narrows that includes a build-your-own option. Comes in small one-person size to big enough buckets to feed 3 large-sized Cursed at once. Don’t even get started on the craziness of things like cocktails & their alcohols. Jams and herbs you literally can not find anywhere else because they grow and alter them from scratch. Ivy uses the proceeds to help fund her greenhouses & saving areas outside of Gotham once she’s no longer an active rogue. Even the honey tastes different because the bees have adapted to Gotham. Like even the stuff that isn’t actively poisonous has a completely new flavor and seasoning because of this. Even the fish & chickens & ducks have adapted. (Maybe adapted too well, with how many times pairs of golden eyes glare from the water, mimicking the Talons, have startled someone) 

 Gotham definitely has their own language! Chirps, clicks, whistles, warbles, barks, practically any aquatic or semi-aquatic noise there is, they can make some variation of it. But the Bats are the only ones who sing. Twitters and croaks and choruses like someone hashed some sort of frog and bird and whale together in a haunting melody. 

 You’re very right about the semi-blanket of resistance! That’s actually a real thing, with people who build up resistance enough to enough amount of poisons, it doesn’t give them immunity to new poisons, but they do have a head start with things that already have similar shit if that makes sense. So yeah, poor local hero if a rogue who uses Pollen or Gas or Venom decides to take a traipse outside of Gotham. Shit goes hard and bad fast if they don’t call a bat to take care of it. Probably helps them all agree not to go into Gotham like Batman demands though lol. One encounter of the walking nightmares is enough for most people. 

 Oh my god the younger Cursed needing blood, yesss. Everyone else thinks it’s adorable when a toddler gnaws on their parent’s fingers until they start bleeding. I bet after the curse makes its rounds & people start getting born with it there’s a notice of canines being the first teeth to grow like, 98% of the time. Once more, dentists & orthodontists in Gotham must be paid wildly. And have a strangely good knowledge of marine biology too. As does most medical people. Hm…. Whelp! Just another weird thing about Gotham, they’re sure! 

 The JL are cooing over the tiny baby. Like yeah, Batman has shown pictures to anyone who has monitor duty (he doesn’t usually stay long after meetings, but he does arrive early to them so sometimes will show them there too) but they never thought they’d get to see the lil one in person! She’s so tiny! Tiny lil baby-safe domino mask scrunching up as she gnaws on her dad’s armor. (Helena might’ve thrown (though that’s such a strong word, dropped is probably more accurate) her teething toy) They just can’t focus on the meeting when there’s a baby! So precious! So tiny! So er… bloodthirsty, as Clark finds out when he lets her hold his finger, because it’ll be fine! He’s invulnerable! And then tiny fangs break through skin. And Batman looks down at it as everyone else freaks out & with slight audible concern tells Clark to check in the medbay that there isn’t venom in that wound. Excuse them, what- Bruce does not explain, he’s too busy bouncing the baby who is UPSET her new chew toy was taken away! She will throw a fit! Cry! Glare at her father and- Oh, bottle! Nevermind she’s sated and content now. 

 That vampire rumor is back with a steel chair, you’re right lol. Nightwing & Red Robin even get in on it within their teams, since it’s not their fault said teammates didn’t believe them when they said Batman was their dad. 

Oh I bet there’s at least one annual Gala in Gotham that has Outsiders so no hunting or pools to the grumblings of everyone. But needs must, connections to be made, pleasantries to be had and all that. I bet there’s one that the Justice League, or at least some of the heroes, is invited for as guests. Even if it’s in civilian identities. And I bet there’s at least one in the Wayne Manor. Tim is the best at interacting with Outsiders probably, thanks to going to some galas outside of Gotham with his non-cursed parents. But the league members are probably shocked. Everything is ornate & warm and extravagant and would be inviting in the rooms the party is taking place in if not for the… paintings.  A large one of twisting creatures amidst murky waters framed by equally dark (yet well cared for) aquariums. Paintings of forms sinking into the depths, blood staining waters darker, birds or gargoyles or ships circling above, spires and hands or something Other reaching up below. And the Waynes- or is the Wayne-Kyles, or even the Wayne-AlGhuls- themselves are friendly enough, but there’s something equally… Off about them. About all the Gothamites. Who apparently share Batman’s & the other Gotham vigilantes habits when it comes to seafood & strange snacks that they themselves can’t seem to get their hands on. (The staff are professionals at their jobs after all, no need to cause an accidental murder scene) There’s even an intrusion by Cobblepot & Poison Ivy! To the league’s shock and they’re ready to fight, but no. Apparently they’re invited. Along with Harley Quinn who hugs the Wayne patriarch & proclaims that “Brucie, you just hafta visit the greenhouses soon, Ives is doing some work with crossbreeding some o’ tha’ medical plants an it’s goin wonderful!” Gordon would have pity for the lost looking outsiders, but he’ll admit he finds it funny as well, if only internally. He willingly hangs around the Waynes and Bats both after all. 

Mermay Special Prompt 3

“Are you kidding? No one goes to Gotham, that place is like,” Aquaman made a motion with his hand, a not-quite grimace on his face. “Like things should not be living in the water, like it should be impossible, and things should be dead, but they aren’t and it’s like, like the equivalent of an undead apocalypse over there!” 

Bruce rolled his eyes behind his cowl, taking a sip of his coffee as the others continued drinking. Socialize, they said, it’ll be fine they said. Well excuse him, but the waters weren’t that bad. Sure there were always dumped bodies, and chemicals from the rogue attacks, but it was far worse at one point.

One thing he’ll always be relieved for is how the… curse (thank you broken statuette back in the beginning of his vigilante career that fused with the other many curses of Gotham) made the people of Gotham actually care about the waters around them. 

Though also, he couldn’t help but thank anything that might be listening for the fact that the curse only interacted with Gotham waters, because losing legs with any risk of a drop of water would be downright annoying. 

“No dude, you don’t understand, no one goes there for a reason! That shit is horrific- someone saw a big thing with bits of rebar stabbed straight through it and still chased after a big alligator-thing!” Oh. Oh that had been him. Oops. Hopefully his kids didn’t find out about this, but they were probably already on the cameras. Dammnit. 

[maladaptive-ninja-returns]

It’s The Avengers (02x02)

Loki x Reader Avengers The Office AU (Slowwwwww Burn)

Season 2 Episode 2 (SEASON Premiere): You, Me & V

Warnings: a tiny bit of violence, anger, tears, lost beans.

Word Count: Don’t ask. Just know that I have never appreciated that one time I was searching for some good smut so much. My mom’s mad that I keep writing all the time but she has seen me smile the goofiest smile only when I am writing so she doesn’t mind it as much. I love you mommy! <3

Season 1 E01, E02, E03, E04, E05, E06, E07, E08, E09

Season 2 E01

MASTERLIST

Everything happened fast.

One moment you were standing in the empty parking lot, another moment four men were trying to push you inside a van. The next, you were being pushed down into the vehicle, the horror barely registering inside your head when a figure landed on top of the van, denting nearly half of the metal inwards, making Javier come to a halt as his feet skid and he fell on his back, never once pointing the camera away from the scene that was unfolding in front of him.

The men gripping your limbs paused at the sudden shift above them, giving you enough window to kick one in the groin, inviting double the force on your wrists and ankles by the others to hold you down on the van’s floor.

“You bitch,” cursed the man still bent forwards, writhing in pain you just gave him.

“Let her go you dumbfuck!” came a somewhat tired feminine voice from above the van.

“Who the *censored* are you, you *censored*?” the man holding your hands spat out.

“Tonight I'm least of your worries you sick pieces of shit,” the figure spat back.

“Get out of here before you become lean meat just like her, ya hear me?” the man with the cigar stepped under the streetlight.

The guy who’d crept from behind you to pull you inside the van got out to take a look at who was perched up on their vehicle; the figure turned her neck towards him tiredly making his eyes go wide in horror.

“Oh, I’m not the one you should be watching out for,” said the figure again.

“Holy shit,” the man at the back shouted as he backed away from the van, “Billy, that’s Jessica Goddamn Jones! Run!”

But before that terrified man could turn, huge mass of black came out of the dark and took his wailing body away, making the rest of the predators pause.

“What the *censored* was that?!”

“Warned you,” Jessica huffs before shouting, “hey! Take this one in the blue flannel next. He doesn’t seem to *censored* realise what consent means!”

And so the black mass did.

The man with the cigar, Billy, ordered the guy on the wheel to drive already, making the latter turn the key in one second and give out a blood curdling scream in another

The grasp on you got loose as everyone registered an arrow struck right through the driver’s hand through the window with a note scribbled with the words: “Hawkeye was here.”

Jessica: *scrunching her face* show off

“Clint,” your voice broke. “CLINT!” you shouted as you got up from the floor.

The men around you were already out of the car, taking out guns from their back as they looked in every direction to find a reason to shoot something.

“You okay, kid?” Jessica came down from behind and leaned over the car door.

“Yeah,” you mentioned in your breathless state, “and just so you know, I’m a full blown adult? Have been for a while now, unfortunately.”

“Yeah, I know it sucks. Whatever, dude. Just stay here while these superdorks take care of them, okay?”

You nodded, smiling at the woman in front of you. Jessica took off her Jacket to cover your shivering figure that had left her jacket inside the tavern. You were about to thank her when Jessica’s body felt itself recoil and you let out a gasp at the sight of one of the men hitting her with a baseball bat from the back, calling for her wrath within seconds as she picked the man up and slammed him into the ground; clearly not satisfied yet.

“Get the girl, Gary, goddamit!” Billy shouted as the guy who’d been holding your legs came back for you only to be swept away by a figure screaming “Geronimo!”

“Peter?” who heard yourself as you and the last bad guy apart from Billy tried to get a look at the apparently swinging figure that fell down in the parking over the cars - along with the guy he dragged with him- as he ran out of buildings to shoot his webs at.

“I'm okay,” a groan came from somewhere in the midst of the cars as the camera zoomed in on the thumb's up.

Billy long pressed a number on his phone before speaking, “Get every weapon you got,” and cutting the line.

He went to the back of the van and the camera shifted it’s position to get a better view of the shotgun he was taking out.

“You, little s-*censored*. I will kill every last of these bastards before I let them take my property.” he announced as he loaded the gun, making all the blood in your body go cold as you watched his every move cautiously, the fear in your eyes quite evident from where the camera could see it, “and when my boys and their big guns are done with every last one of your *censored* friends, you will be paying me for that damage. In kind.” and stepped over to come back to you.

He stopped as another strange figure stood by the van's door in front of you, the crisp white shirt’s sleeves being rolled up, taking even you by surprise for a second, a heavy breath leaving you as the street light reflected in your wet eyes.

The camera zoomed out to reveal Loki giving one final tug at his rolled up sleeves to flatten any creases while your eyes just blinked in his presence and your lips parted to let in a fresh breath of air.

“Touch her,” he stated in the most calm, composed manner as he picked up the baseball bat from the front seat of the van- the driver already lying unconscious over the wheel- and rested it on his shoulder, “and you won’t be walking again even in the afterlife.”

The camera focused on your face frozen at the view of the side profile of the God standing in front of you, a light smile of relief hovering over your shaking lips.

You wanted to move towards him but the threat lingering in front of you both stopped you from making any sudden moves.

“Are you hurt?” Came Loki's smooth low-toned voice; a cool healing balm post the storm you had just witnessed yourself getting caught in. You carefully withdrew your hands beneath the jacket hanging over your shoulder, not wanting to answer the question with a lie.

Billy stood frozen for a second at the audacity of a man in a suit with nothing but a baseball bat in his hand, threatening someone who had a loaded shotgun.

“Loki,” your whisper of a voice wavered as you watched him, his hair veiling his face from your line of sight, “he has a gun.”

Billy spat on the ground, cocking his gun and aiming it at the God.

“I'll touch her however I want and there is nothing you can do about it,” he growled.

Loki's stance didn't falter for one moment as he heard the click of the weapon, his long fingers flipping the bat in one smooth movement before swinging it forward towards Billy's head, who pressed the trigger but not before the bat made an impact with his skull, sending his head back, his arms up, the bullet fired into the air.

The camera recorded your dropped jaw and wide eyes as you tried to come in terms with everything that took place within two seconds.

You: *your figure wrapped up in Jessica’s jacket* *your hand raised as if telling someone to hold steady while your brows constricted in a serious thought* That…*eyes coming back to face the camera* that was an action sequence that I would have watched at least twenty times...before watching it ten times more.

*a small smile coming at the corner of your lips before you press it away* too bad it was a one time reality when my life was on the line.

*lips turn down into a sad frown as you shrug*

“Did you just kill that guy?” You shrieked.

You could not see it but from your horrified and somewhat surprised expression, you know Loki was rolling his eyes.

“Loki, did you just kill him?!”

He finally turned towards you, his hands coming up to rest over his hips.

“Yeah, no problem, Y/N,” his flat note and dead expression for you, making you  pause whatever horrid thought was going in your mind, “No need to thank me for saving you from a potential rapist-”

Venom sprang out of nowhere and jumped over the van before gulping up Billy's body and revealing Eddie's face.

“Oh he was definitely a rapist,” the reporter announced, “and your boyfriend didn't kill him. But this guy did,” he stated, pointing at the glossy black surrounding him.

“He's not my boyfriend,” you corrected the man being wrapped up in the muck, turning back into Venom.

“Hiiiiii,” his hoarse voice boomed as he waved his black claws at you, making your hand subconsciously grab Loki's arm as you slowly tried to plant yourself behind him, waving the other hand back questioningly at the symbiote.

“Get away from her you filthy piece of alien shit,” a voice came out of nowhere as a figure dressed in black jumped at Venom, displacing him merely by an inch.

Loki helped you out of the van, keeping you steady with one hand on your back while you balance your weight on his shoulder using your arms, noticing his ripped exposed muscles for one lingering gaze while trying to figure out who this new character was in another.

You: Hmm? Oh. Yeah, I think so too. Loki seems to have good muscle strength. Weird, right? Because I have never seen him *clears throat* *flushed in your cheeks* workout.

*camera zooms in*

*whispers to self* why did say that?

“Now who's this idiot?” You asked Loki, who just shrugged with a ‘beats me’ expression, his arm still supporting you.

The figure in all black was picked up by the symbiote in one hand as he tried to kick him in his abdomen while Venom looked at him with sheer curiosity.

“Eddieeee! Do we eat him?!”

“Yeah! Eat me up you thirsty terrestrial thot! I don't have a will to live anyways! “

And suddenly your expression changed from genuine confusion into tiredness.

“Oh shoot,” you groaned, “that's my idiot.”

“V!” You shouted in Venom's direction, “stop inciting the symbiote and get back here! Sorry, Eddie, that's my cousin.”

And at you word, Venom safely threw ‘V’ in your direction.

“Seriously, dude,” you looked down at your tanned sibling, letting out a frustrated breath, “throwing hands at Venom? The Venom?”

V lay there on the ground, his black trench coat covered in dust all over, letting out a defeated sigh. “I'd rather be throwing hands at Venom than give my finals next week.”

Peter, who had swung by in his normal clothes and the spider-man mask, came back devoid of the mask- that was safely tucked in one of his pockets somewhere- giving your cousin a hand to get up.

“Peter, V. V, Peter Parker,” you introduced the boys to each other, watching them shake hands and nod at each other with some silent understanding that passed through them.

V: sup. I'm V. I'm Y/N's cous. More like her real brother than her ‘real’ brothers. No one hurts her without going through me first. *camera zooms in* No, seriously. Just hurt me man. Kill me already. I've been tired and done for the last eighteen years.

Peter: *who's walking by with a sub in his hand* Mood. *fistbumps V and goes about his way.*

“You alright, kid?” Clint's voice came from the shadows as he strutted towards you, his bow swinging with a controlled grip right next to his legs.

You nodded in affirmation, passing a smile towards him. Javier came out of his hiding place, the camera focusing on the judgemental gaze Clint was giving Loki's hands on your waist and yours around his shoulder.

“Are you hurt somewhere? Not able to walk?” He abruptly but sweetly threw the words in your direction, suddenly making you and Loki conscious of the close proximity between the two of you, making both of you retrieve your hands in your personal space- Loki's going in his pant pockets while yours brought the borrowed jacket closer over you.

“No, I'm good,” you nod in assurance before taking in a huge gulp of air and wetting your lips. “Listen, it’s not that I'm not grateful for-” you look around and take in the site of Peter, Loki and Clint- “all of you being here but...what are you guys doing here?”

Clint, without so much as a blink, looked at you with his ultimate death stare, forcing the camera to zoom in on to his features that seemed they were about to explode from the mundanity surrounding him. “We thought of registering into the local biker gang.”

You: *stretching the corner of your lips* you see I know he was being sarcastic but I wouldn't put it past him to be a part of a badass biker gang. *nods* But they'd probably kick him out after he either finishes their one month's coffee stock in a day or oversleeps and forgets their usual meetup.

“We should leave b-”

“Zip it for now, witch of the west,” Clint cut his words and eyes towards Loki, who clearly was offended at the icy response while the camera zoomed at Peter eating his sub behind them, his eyes moving between the assassin and the God with pure anticipation between huge bites.

Barton turned back towards you about to speak something when the roar of multiple engines caught everyone's attention.

Bikes and jeeps rolled in and around them, covering all the exits of the parking lot. Men with the most malicious grins on their faces stepped out or stood up over their vehicles as they took out their personal weaponry and pointed it at you, your cousin and your friends.

“Oh God,” you whispered, making Loki turn to face your worried features, the camera catching the fear in your eyes while the God's wrinkled brows gazed at you in some keen observation of his own.

“Where's boss?” One man with a rough voice asked, his gun aimed at Clint, who had moved in front of you with careful discrete steps while Peter had taken his place by your side and V was forced to stand behind you, pouting because you wouldn't let him step out and stand in the line of fire.

“He's dead.”

At Clint's blunt declaration piercing the air, the camera turned as a few guns were cocked. “Tell us who killed him and we'll let you walk away from here,” the same man spoke with weight in his voice.

And like a signal waiting to go off, his warning brought a visible streak of light in the sky closer by every second till the camera could finally make out a what seemed like a pair of lit up eyes carrying a star in their chest, brooding as it flew directly in your direction.

Before anyone could make sense of it, the streak landed on the ground with a thunderous crack and freed at least fifty six mini rockets from his suit in the direction of the people with guns, letting his suspended weapons with white fire in their tails mock them.

“Do not give me a reason to be pissed more than I already am,” Tony Stark declared in the air as the suit gracefully trickled away from his face, bringing the temperature around him down by degrees as every person in his vicinity felt chills run down their neck.

Before anyone from the bad guys club could reply, surprise-bombs and guns started  dropping from their side, flailing their hands as if they'd touched hot stove. Curses and growls and even whines left the unwanted crowd while everyone else looked at the scene unfolding in front of them with surprise. Someone had squealed ‘ANTS’ and screamed while running away, stripping to the bare minimum.

“You got it from here officers?” A familiar voice made the camera turn towards the top of the van, bringing Scott's figure into view. The same bikers who had outed Javier came out of the shadows with more cops that cuffed the entire mob before giving Scott a casual salute and walking away with their bounty.

V tsked. Peter turned towards him and the camera caught the two of them leaning on the van. “Wanted more action?” Peter questioned in a low tone.

“At least one broken hand or leg. I could've really used it, you know. Tip- don't take morning classes if you are not a morning person. Like...ever.” V responded, gathering a nod of appreciation from the spiderling.

Watching the last of those rough miscreants trickle down into the police vehicles, Tony finally turned towards the direction where everyone stood. His eyes straightaway pulled Loki out of the gathering with a gaze speaking nothing but murder.

The camera turned, watching the Iron Man walk towards the God, the vibration of his footsteps being felt in Peter and Scott's expression, their faces looking at each other in mild horror.

Tony's steps faltered to come to a halt when you stepped between him and Loki.

Javier's tiny gasp could be heard behind the camera as it panned to adjust all figures along with the all the eyes on you- especially Clint's distasteful ones.

“Mr Stark…” your voice faltered as you raised your hand a bit from your sides, not much but enough to make Tony's eyes change a shade- going from burning swords to pure white shock.

Before either of you could say another word- or the camera could record the moisture building up inside your eyes, the space near you split open with sparks, revealing Pepper, Stephen, May and Happy on the other side.

“Come on,” Pepper ordered, “this is no place to discuss family issues.”

Without even a squeak from anyone the split space one by one allowed all of you to step inside the warmth of the Avengers facility. The camera turned back towards the now desolate parking lot where Eddie and Jessica stood, looking tired and bored after sliding your suitcase along with V's into the glittery portal.

“Y/N knows Tony Stark?” Eddie murmured, getting only an eye roll from Jessica as she walked back towards the tavern, already throwing an open invitation to the journalist to have a drink with her.

Avenger's Facility- Dead of The Night

“I was not in any danger. I was working with Ms Jones. A student had gone missing day before yesterday and Jones was kind enough to help me out.”

The dead quiet lingered a bit more, making the camera catch your pained features and fingers forced into the red skin of your palms.

Scott picked up your ‘Title of Your Sextape’ mug filled with piping hot tea and brought it to you. You thanked him before shaking your head, showing disinterest in having anything while Tony stood there, his silence killing everyone on the inside. Even Clint could be seen feeling the discomfort as he sat on the sofa, covering his mouth with his fist.

Pepper stepped forward, opening her phone, playing the video you had recorded as a low-key farewell, making your eyes go wide for a second before they turned towards Javier with nothing but pain and distrust.

“This was not supposed to reach you before you came back-”

“We're sorry-” Tony interrupted you, almost making you flinch- “for not telling you sooner.”

Silence.

“I never really thought it was my truth to tell,” he finally looked at you. “Yes, I was selfish in keeping it from you while trying to find out if you were really my...my…”

He struggled to complete his sentence, his hands scratching away the dirt on the marble over the fireplace.

Eyes went wide around the room. So did the mouths. Turned out Tony didn't have to say much.

Peter and Scott: *incoherent but excited mumbling about y/n and not being able to figure this out sooner*

Clint: *cross-armed* I'm happy...and sad. *turns to see Loki walking by the window of the recording room*

*camera pans at the death stares Clint throws towards the window*

And smad.

V: Hot damn! My sis is the daughter of a freaking billionaire?! Are you kidding me?

*looking up*

What did I do wrong? And why her? *looks back at the camera* I mean I'm happy and everything but I know her. The most she's spent her money on is buying me nachos once. That woman doesn't even care about the buck.

“We received a letter a few months ago from the hospital where you'd been put up for adoption,” Pepper finally took over, her hands already caressing Tony's back. “The documents stated your name and the whereabouts of your current family. They were instructed to be shared with your blood relative in case something happened to your birth mother. We weren't able to find out about her or what happened to her- mainly because all the hospital received was an anonymous letter with the request and verified signatures and numbers- but we did find you.”

Your quivered gasp through the free flowing tears reverberated through the stillness of the lounge.

“So…” your voice was barely audible, “I'm your...daughter?”

“I thought you saw-”

“No,” you shook your head vigorously in response, eyes filled up to the brim, “I didn't have it in me to find out. I was... scared.”

“Scared? Are you sure?” Strange questioned your statement, making everyone turn towards him in confusion. “Last I heard you were somewhat…relieved on knowing that you were adopted.”

“I think you should stop, Doc,” Scott announced, allowing the camera to catch the uneasiness he felt the moment your arms crossed across your chest on Strange's words.

“No,” Stephen continued, “my good magician. Hear me out. You felt like it and I quote ‘makes sense’. How I know that is not of importance. You were sure as hell not going back to your so-called parents to look for answers. So, why did you leave everyone here; everyone who I'm sure according to them did their level best to make you feel at home.”

He stood there, his green eyes facing you. His hands casually in his pant pockets, waiting for you to drop the ball. But you didn't.

“She left because she was scared of what would happen if Tony Stark was confronted with this knowledge,” an unfamiliar voice came from one of the sofas. Everyone turned to register V member laying there, trying to run his fingers through his hair, using his front camera from his phone as a mirror.

“She left because she was scared of losing one of best fams she'd ever had the honour of staying with. Because she didn't want to be thrown away, she decided it was better to call it quits from her side.”

Every single eye that had been on V now turned towards you, making you grit your teeth and curse your cousin under your breath.

You: *deep inhale* *tired eyes* If he weren’t my brother...*camera zooms in* I wouldn’t have aimed that ashtray for his head.

*shrugs*

Good thing I have a messed up hand-eye coordination.

“One more word and it’ll be your head next,” you spat at V, who got up from the floor- where he had so messily flattened himself to save his head from your attack- and threw sofa cushions in your direction before aiming a half filled bottle of water at you.

You ducked and missed the bottle by just an inch, the camera catching the tiny gasp leaving your mouth before it zoomed in on Peter and Scott looking at you and your sibling, wide eyed.

Scott: Remember that meme you showed me yesterday?

Peter: The one with the gasping Pikachu?

Scott: *nods* Yes. Y/N’s face reminded me of that meme.

Peter: *looking into some unknown void* *hits realisation* *eyes go wide* *gasps* Oh my-

Scott broke your run-and-pounce midway, lifting you up by your torso.

“Alright. Easy. Easy. Smash each other’s heads later,” Scott announced for the both of you before he was sure you were calm enough to loosen his grasp on you, “I think Pepper and Stark have something to say.”

“You thought we would chuck you out of here?” Pepper looked at you with sincerest form of confusion mixed with an unspoken apology, melting your features further.

“Why would you think that? Did I do something?” Stark inquired, his face too carrying a hint of hurt over them.

“What? No, Mr Stark that’s not-”

“Did someone here say something inappropriate?”

“Oh, no! Not at all!”

“Was it because of Loki?”

“No, Mr Stark please just-”

“The why the heck-”

“Because of me,” your raised voice finally confessed, your back bent down by some invisible weight that you carried on your shoulders while your hands pointed at you- appearing as if they’d pierce your chest and grab your pulsating heart for everyone to see. The camera caught your tears flowing freely down your heated cheeks.

“I am not normal, Mr Stark. I am far from a functioning human. I am broken in ways you don’t know. I am broken in ways even I don’t know. I have failed time and again in relationships. With my father, my mother, my brothers. And let’s just leave out the people I have dated or thought of dating. Half of my life has withered away trying to fight the anxiety and darkness deep rooted within me. I am far from being a daughter that quite possibly carries your genes.”

Silence.

Clint: Please *closes his eyes in a prayer* let me tell her. Please!

Scott’s voice: No.

*camera zooms out to Scott’s figure sitting beside Clint, shaking his head*

Scott: We are not telling her where she gets all of this from. God, Clint be a little empathetic you lazy ass bird. Go look at the security footage from your nest.

Clint: *stares at the camera, done for the day*

The silence engulfing the room was followed by the camera going about recording everyone’s expressions; Peter’s empathetic brows, May’s head tilt as she placed her hands on her chest, Scott’s restrained urge clearly dripping from his face as he fought himself to not pull you into his arms, Strange’s relieved sigh as he turned towards Tony for what was to happen next, Pepper’s appearance taking in everything before closing her eyes for a moment and taking in one lungful of breath and releasing it with a smile. Lastly, Tony’s face, his twitching lip as he looked at you and then at his wife before turning back in your direction.

All through this, one figure stood apart from the entire crowd gathered in the lounge.

Loki sat behind the kitchen counter, sipping the still hot tea from your mug, listening to everything, observing each change in expression, every counter reaction to your words, all the movements made around in the room. And even as he did so, he didn’t break his languid stature for the camera, deceiving the audience for the better part.

“You, young lady, are anything but broken,” Stark announced, taking you by surprise. “Happy, where is it?” He brought his hand forward as everyone else observed an envelope you were way too familiar with, thanks to the encounter with that Jim guy yesterday morning. The mere thought of what he had done to you made you shiver where you stood now.

“I haven’t opened it yet,” Stark spoke to you and only you; his voice soft and audible to your ears. “I don’t want to. Pepper and I have known you for quite some time even before you knew me or any of us. Based on that and purely that...and of course our repo together-” Tony ripped the envelope and its contents with his hands before throwing them into the fireplace- “I am officially adopting you as my daughter.”

Scott & Peter: *screaming and jumping in the recording room while the camera stationed outside can hear their muffled excitement*

“That is, if you’re okay with it,” Tony added as he raised his brows in question before clearing his throat and blinking a little too fast.

“But Mr Stark, you are...you and-”

“You should be okay with it. Shouldn’t she, V?”

V came forward and wrapped his arm around your shoulder. “Screw her, what criteria do I need to fulfill to be adopted by you?”

“First, get a haircut, man. I can barely see your eyes under all that darkness your goth persona keeps carrying in your hair over your face. Seriously.”

“I don’t think you should be adopting someone like me-”

“Oh so, you are cool with the idea of adoption,” Scott cut you in, stepping forward to stand next to you, “perfect. I’d like to adopt you then. I’m not a genius billionaire philanthropist but I’m a dad and my daughter feels I’m pretty good at it.”

“Back off, Mono Pharaoh,” Tony warned, “you already have a daughter,” to which Scott just stepped back and raised his hands in defeat.

“Do it,” Clint spoke from the sofa, half of his body already sliding off the seat, “adopt him as your dad. I want him to suffer with all the worries of a father of a young daughter for every second of those nasty missions he sent me on. Do it, Y/N.”

“Guys, I think you’re forgetting how huge a deal this is. Despite everything I’ll have to talk to my family first,” you tried to break the humming going around you when your eyes settled on Pepper’s hand taking Tony’s arm and looking at him with a veiled question in her eyes. Tony did the same.

The camera zoomed in on the change in shade on your face when the constriction in between your brows loosened.

“You already asked them.” The statement was more for you than them.

The camera focused on Loki captured a pause in between him taking the edge of the cup to his lips as his eyes turned towards you. The mug slowly went back on the counter as you took in your first- and a quite evident- deep breath to stabilise your features.

Loki’s thumb gnawed at the edge of the cup, his gaze stuck on you while his expressions reflected an implicit calculation.

Before anyone could say any words of comfort to you, you nodded at some thought floating in the air. “You know what, it’s fine by me.”

“Adopt me. Just tell me where to sign and I’ll do it.”

And just like that the entire room took a breath of relief.

“Don’t tell me later on that I didn’t warn you,” you stated before hugging Pepper.

Tony looked it you with lighter eyes, his smile stuck there in one corner of his lips. “I almost lost a kid once before-” the camera panned to a happy Peter hugging May saying ‘I’m so happy for Mr Stark!’- “I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I’d lost one today.”

And the tears you thought had died down, came up again, spilling over the edge.

“And speaking of hurting people and forgiving-” Tony sniffed before turning in all the directions, finally letting his glare rest on Loki- “I believe someone needs to learn ethics one-oh-one on earth.”

Before he could walk over to the God, you took Tony by his arm and stopped him.

“It’s alright, Mr Stark. Loki regrets what he did. He already apologised.”

The unprecedented surprise on everyone’s face, even Loki’s- everyone except May and Peter- was captured quite effortlessly.

Tony stood there looking between you and Loki before finally deciding to give up. “Fine. If you say so. But if he does anything else you promise me-”

“I promise you will be the first one to hear about…”

Before you could finish the sentence, a sneeze left you.

Then another.

And another.

And another!

“Oh shoot!” you tried to speak with your nasal passages blocked, “I think I caught a-”

“Room. Now! You are grounded till Pepper and I come back from our honeymoon.”

Confusion.

Surprise.

Offense.

Frustration.

Every expression that passed over your face was captured with a perfect zoom over your weak features now looking at the camera.

Tony: First day as my kid and I’ve already grounded her. I'm already turning out to be a- *stops and turns his head, making the camera follow his direction and look at Pepper standing by the door shaking her head with a stern warning*

*comes back to the camera* I put some Skittles and hot chocolate mix in her bedroom. And a few cold medicines. You and Javier make sure she doesn’t go out in the cold, got it? Good. *shouts towards the door* hey Pepper! I forgot to keep teabags and a kettle in her room!

*gets up to follow Pepper out of the room before turning back*

Don’t let her out of your sight.

Everyone trickled away bit by bit from the lounge, towards their flight, their home, or their rooms, tired from the long and eventually happy day.

“Oh shoot!” you tried to sniff through your blocked nose as you faced Loki at the kitchen counter, “I think I forgot your jacket.”

The camera turned towards Loki, who in turn looked at the camera while it effortlessly captured the suit jacket he was already wearing now.

“I wonder where I left it,” you muttered as you took a sip of fresh hot tea Stephen had prepared for you before your hands grabbed your throbbing head.

The other camera sat by the sofa, recording a surprised Scott ducking down a bit where he sat with his phone in his hand, directing the camera person to shush so he could hear into your and Loki’s conversation.

“How did you know?”

You looked up at Loki, trying to make sense of his question, which dawned upon you a little late.

“Oh. May told me. She’s called me up when I’d decided to go on a weekend trip with V to clear my head and make sense of what was going on. She even told me something about some gift?”

Loki raised his head a little as if trying to look down at you for a second there.

“Don’t think of this as some sapling of warmth between us. My actions were a bit...malicious in ways but that does not mean I have grown to like you in any sort of way.”

Scott rolled his eyes where he sat before mouthing ‘are you kidding me’ while you chuckled.

You put your mug down a little too fast, forcing it to make some noise as it collided with the marble surface.

“Mm hmm-” you licked away the remnants of the tea from your lips- the camera catching the flicker in Loki’s eyes as they shifted between them and your gaze- and turning to look at the God- “and what makes you think I’ve forgiven you?”

The sudden shift in the current around the two of you forced a silent gasp out of Scott.

A flash of confusion passed over the trickster’s face.

“You are not the only one who can hide from the audience what hurts, Mr Odinson.”

Passing a gentle smile towards him, you got up from the counter and went towards the dorms.

“Scott, thank Cassie from my side, would you?” you shouted weakly in his direction on your way before whistling for Zuko.

Loki sat there, motionless for some time, watching your figure disappear at the dorm entrance; a sigh escaping him as he stared into a nameless void ahead of him while Scott saw an opening and tiptoed his way out of the lounge.

Moments passed before Loki finally got up, putting his hands inside his jacket pockets, freezing midway and looking down at his hand.

A neatly folded tissue came out of the pocket. Unfolding it, he scrunched his nose before turning towards the camera along with turning the tissue towards the lens as well. A small chibi character with long black hair sat on a straight black line drawn by a pen, his head tilted to one side, looking towards a tiny dog sitting next to it, its head tilted in the same manner, mirroring the chibi- both of them having one question mark each over their heads.

“Who are these sorry creatures?” Loki scoffed before half-throwing the napkin on the counter and walking away.

The Lounge, one hour later

A camera turned on and recorded the noise of it being awkwardly but quickly carried out of a dark room, into the corridor before stopping at the turn towards the lounge, ducking down behind a plant next to the wall.

A lone figure walked about the space before picking up the tissue Loki had left over the counter. The pale fingers carefully evened out the crumpled piece and brought them closer to the fireplace to watch it in better light, revealing the identity of the figure to the camera that was still trying to adjust and hide itself well.

Sparks pierced through the air and Tony stepped inside the lounge with a blue tee and black track pants on him.

“Couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Stephen commented, still gazing at the tissue in his hand.

“Murdock wants the results just in case,” Tony responded lining up the two mugs kept over the counter.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Tony’s tongue went over his teeth in one hard thought as Stephen brought out the manila envelope out of thin air to present it to the newly self-proclaimed father.

Tony took the envelope, his fingers running over the edges of the opening.

“Someday, maybe,” he finally declared, “but not today.”

A smirk of content found its way on Stephen’s lips which Tony mirrored before both of them shook hands.

“Now send me back before Pepper finds out. Oh, and give my love to May,” he commented, making Stephen narrow his eyes towards him as familiar sparks ripped the space in two places and both of them disappeared like they were never there.

The camera waited for a few seconds before getting up from behind the plant and turning towards the dorms, to walk back only to flinch and shake violently at the presence of a figure standing in front of it.

Bucky stood there, his hair a mess, his eyes filled with pure innocent confusion.

“What did I miss?”

TAGLIST

Permanent

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Loki

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(The tags are open. Come over in my asks and tell me how this made you feel! xx)

[santiagoswagger]

to know him is to love him

For week 8 of B99 Hiatus Creations, and the prompt was: favorite episode. 

The morning after Six Drink Amy makes her debut, Amy's forced to deal with her feelings.

Or, a missing moment from 'Beach House.'

Read it on ao3. 

Her brain was sludge, maybe even mostly vodka, yet it was somehow still able to jackhammer away at her head in its liquid form.

Amy slowly blinked her eyes open, immediately shying away from the sunlight streaming viciously through the window and further disturbing her fragile head. As her senses slowly rebooted, her first thought was that she was lying on something soft and bouncy – a bed. God, she didn’t even remember putting herself to bed last night in her drunken state.

A cautious glance at the nightstand revealed a tube of bubblegum chapstick and a fancy, artisanal glass bottle of water: Gina. If her head weren’t pounding steadily, Amy would be touched by the genuine gesture of friendship.

She clumsily reached for the water and gulped it straight from the bottle, relishing the cool feel of the water as it ran down her dry, scratchy throat. Feeling somewhat revived, she slowly untangled herself from her bedsheets and stumbled over to her bag for her emergency pharmacy, downing a couple of Advil to relieve her headache.

Amy heard voices wafting from the kitchen down the stairs, along with the smell of bacon, and she groaned internally. She was so hungry and in desperate need of caffeine, but that only meant that she would have to face her coworkers after embarrassing herself in front of them last night. She’d been drunk in front of the squad plenty of times before, but Six Drink Amy had never made an appearance. She only hoped they would let it slide.

“Sasquatch!” Gina yelled as soon as Amy stepped foot into the kitchen. So much for letting it slide.

“Morning, Gina.” Amy winced as she tried to smile, her hangover starting to take effect on her face muscles. She covertly handed Gina her forgotten chapstick; to her credit, Gina looked sheepish at being given hard evidence of her friendship with Amy Santiago.

Jake and Rosa were eating at the dining table and discussing strategy for this year’s upcoming tactical village, Hitchcock and Scully were asleep on each other in the corner (as usual), Terry was doing his Sudoku on the couch while simultaneously lifting a small weight she assumed had come from his fanny pack, and Gina informed Amy that Holt was on a morning beach walk before she left the room to put her makeup on.

Charles was cooking up what looked to be normal, edible pancakes so Amy made herself a plate and slathered her pile in butter and syrup before sitting down at the dining table. She felt Rosa gently punch her shoulder as she got up from the table.

“Woah, Santiago, extra butter and syrup? You must be feeling pretty bad if you’re having the Peralta special.”

Amy looked up from the (blessedly) giant mug of coffee Charles had just handed her to see Jake’s smirk. She rolled her eyes and regretted it immediately as the slight movement made her woozy.

She groaned and dropped her face to her hands. “I feel like someone used my head for batting practice.”

Jake snorted as he inhaled his own pancakes. “Yeah, you were in rare form last night.”

Amy looked up, horrified. If Jake thought she had been a disaster, that didn’t bode well at all. “Oh god, how bad was I?”

He laughed slightly. “Well, you fell asleep on the couch while we were playing Real Ray or Fake Ray and then woke up yelling, ‘Forever alone!’”

Amy stabbed her pancake with venom. “Great.”

He cleared his throat awkwardly. She looked up to find him staring at her with softer eyes than she’d ever seen on him before. Her stomach swooped, and she tried very hard to tell herself it was hangover-induced nausea and not in any way a response to Jake Peralta.

“For the record, I don’t think you’ll be alone forever.” He was staring down at his plate now, awkward and earnest, and she honestly thought she might cry. “You’re too good for that, Ames.”

He looked back at her as he finished speaking, the same puppy dog eyes fixed to his face. Amy stared right back, unable to look away from this rare honest moment with him.

They had hardly been alone together since their disastrous road trip upstate two weeks previously and Amy had intentionally kept her distance from him since he started dating Sophia. It was all just so complicated and hard, and she hated having feelings (because she can admit now that she has them for him.) And even though various members of the squad were scattered around the room and they certainly weren’t alone, she felt his presence acutely and was comforted by it.

She nodded and allowed him a small smile. “Thanks, Jake. That means a lot.” He smiled back, and they both continued eating breakfast in contented silence.

That is, until his phone rang and an unfairly beautiful picture of his girlfriend appeared on the screen.

Jake jumped in his seat and snatched the ringing device from the table, staring at the caller ID. “I should take this.”

Amy swallowed down a snarky comment about significant others not being allowed to interfere with their detectives’ getaway, instead nodding at him. “Sure, I’ll see you later.”

As he walked out of the room, Amy gulped her coffee, willing the caffeine to bring her forcefully back down to earth, and hating herself just a little bit for the sharp pang in her heart that started as soon as he left the table.

[britishraptor]

Mahiru’s Bad Day

So...uh...I basically wrote a crack fic. But like, took it seriously? Crack taken seriously. Yes.

Fandom: Servamp

Characters: Ryusei, Koyuki, Mahiru, Kuro. Two sublcass OC’s I guess.

Summary: Mahiru has a bad day at school.

Warnings: slight OOC for Mahiru (cause he’s tired as hell), Memes.

Ever laughed so hard writing a fic you had to take a break so you could calm down enough to write a fic? Me.

Ryusei yawned, stretching his arms above his head as far as they could go. “Man, that lesson was the pits.” Grumbling under breath, he grabbed his booked and haphazardly shoved them into his background, before giving the room a cursory glance. Koyuki was packing up next to him, a mild smile and light tune bubbling from his lips as the other boy stood.

 “I swear, I don’t think I listening to half of that lesson!” Ryusei complained to his best friend.”It was so boring!”

 “I thought it was a little interesting,” Koyuki insisted hesitantly.

 “Interesting?! This is history! Those two words are like, the complete opposite of each other!” Ryusei replied dramatically, using a healthy dose of mock rage and arm waving for emphasis. Koyuki laughed lightly at his friend’s antics, before turning, eyes sweeping the room as the shorter student continued his complaints.

 “Do you think Mahiru will let me borrow his notes? He would, right? Mahiru is too nice for his own good, I swear.” Ryusei said suddenly.

 “Maybe that means you shouldn’t rely on his so much, then,” Koyuki teased. Ryusei pouted in response.

 “Where is Mahiru, anyway? Usually he meets up with us right away.”

 “Um…there. I think.” Koyuki pointed to an ominous figure sitting at a desk. Miasma seemed to saturate the air and nearby students seemed to subtly edge away. Brown ruffled hair was the only indication that the student had, at one point, been one Mahiru Shirota, as his face was thoroughly pressed up against the top of the desk.

 “Is he dead??!!!” Ryusei yelped. “Mahiru, Mahiru, stay with us! You can’t die! If you do, who’ll organise this year’s cultural festival?! Mahiru-sama!”

 The figure shifted sightly and a muffled string of words escaped where his face continued to press into the desk. The two took a step closer, ears straining.

 “What was that?” aske Koyuki politely.

 “I said,” Mahiru snapped, peeling himself from his desk, eyebrows twitching in rage. “Don’t call me that! And I’m not just a convenient excuse to slack off, ya know! Pull some weight!”

 “He’s alive!” Ryusei cheered. Koyuki however, frowned.

 “Mahiru,” he asked. “Are you okay?” Mahiru turned to look at his timid friend. Heavy bags hung beneath both eyes, and the twinkle of enthusiasm that normally dwelled there seemed dull. His skin was pale, and everything about him screamed ‘tired’! “You look a little unwell.” he tried.

 Mahiru’s left eye twitched.

 “I’m fine,” he sighed. “I’ve just had a lot on my plate lately.” He added.

 “You shouldn’t overexert yourself-” Koyuki began, before being interrupted by Ryusei.

“What could possibly wear out the great Mahiru-sama? You’re like, inexhaustible, a forever moving steam train of practicality!”

Mahiru stared at them, almost through them, actually, like he was looking beyond into the void itself.  

“Cats,” Mahiru said finally. “Cats and foxes and hedgehogs and stupid angels and mad scientists, and then my budget was  blown out the water because Kuro let the heater run all night, and now the athletics club needs new equipment so I have to do up a proposal for that, and the student council put me in charge of the bake sale, and I’m still behind the massive amount of schoolwork because THE SCHOOL BLEW UP and oh god its spring next week and I need to start cleaning, with the added stress of the fact that the whole apartment is just. Black cat fur everywhere, no one warned me about that and god-”

 “Woah, woah, woah, slow down. Your cat knows how to run the heater?”

 “MORE importantly,” Koyuki interjected, giving Ryusei a glare. “You sound ike you’re running yourself ragged, Mahiru. You’ve got to take care of yourself too. You’re our friend, remember? Don’t run yourself into the ground, and don’t forget,” he smiled encouragingly. “If you can’t ask your friends for help, what’s the point?”

 Mahiru stared at him for a moment before relaxing, and letting out a small, genuine smile. “Thanks, Koyuki. I needed that. But still,” he grumbled, pushing himself from behind his desk roughly. “If just one more thing goes wrong today, I,” he said venomously. “Will have a meltdown.”

  For the second time in a year, an explosion rocked the school. Ryusei let out a startled scream as plaster rained down from above, and his pen rolled off his desk.

 “What the hell?” he gasped. Never one to ignore his curiosity, he sprinted for the classroom door, ignoring the panicked call of his teacher, and flung it open. At the end of the hall, there was a hole in the wall. A big hole at that. And in that hole stood two people Ryusei could confidently say he had never met in his life.

One man was tall and spindly, wrapped in a thick gray cloak, with long greasy purple hair and glaring red eyes. The other was dressed in the standard denim jeans and green hoodie, with blonde hair and, again, red eyes. The first sneered at the faces of shocked students, while the other looked bored. Fangs flashed as one hissed and the other yawned.

 “Greetings!” the greasy haired one called. “Puny mortal high school students! Tremble before our might as your new vampire overlords!”

 “Oi, oi,” the blonde one scolded softly. “We’re stopping for a snack and to spread a little chaos. None of this ‘overlord’ crap. We can’t stay long anyway. Don’t want that brat’s friends to show up, after all.”

 “Ah, yes, the brat!” the other purred, eyes scanning the room. “The slavemaster of sleepiness, sloth’s servant’s master, the eve himself of the most unholy of sins-”

 “Would you shut up?!” the other snarled, hitting the other over the head. The dramatic act interrupted, the cloaked man whimpered.

 “What the hell,” whispered Ryusei. “What the actual hell. Did they say vampires? Are those teeth real?”

 “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” The familiar voice had Ryusei whipping around in seconds. There stood Mahiru Shirota, tired eyes and white plaster lightly dusting his hair.

 “I,” he growled. “was in the middle of a math test. That I spent ALL NIGHT studying for.”

 “Mahiru,” Ryusei squeaked. That…was a very scary look on Mahiru’s face. Mahiru could lose his temper sometimes, but this was a whole ‘nother level. Oh yeah, someone was definitely going to die.

 “Um,” lost for words, Ryusei searched or a way to lighten the tension (it’s what he did best, after all). “I don’t suppose vampire hunting is one of your endless skills at all? Cause otherwise,” he joked, glancing back at the leering vampires. “I think you might want to sit this one out. Unless of course you’re planning on scolding them to death,” he added, laughing nervously.

 Mahiru was trembling. “One day. Just one day!” he muttered hysterically, slowly shuffling forward. A small meow drew both sets of eyes as Mahiru’s small black cat, appeared from nowhere, winding itself around the other students legs. And maybe Ryusei was going mad, because there was no other reason as to why there were vampires in the school and how that cat looked so concerned despite being, well, a cat.

 Mahiru suddenly smiled. Watching him go from enraged to smiling was quite literally the scariest thing Ryusei had ever seen. Including the vampires behind him and that car accident he’d supposedly been in.

 “You just stay right here, Kuro,” Mahiru chirped. “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry. This wont be hard. And I’ll just ask Lily to clean up after me, okay?”

 The cat looked vaguely horrified, if that was a thing. This cat, Ryusei decided, was very relatable.

 Mahiru began to stalk toward the two vampires, and, like a wave, the student body parted before him. Everyone knew Mahiru Shirota was the most responsible person around; of course they’d let him through. He’d know what to do. No one wanted to acknowledge the maniacal gleam in his eye.

 Soon enough, he stood before the two vampires. “Eh?” the blonde one blinked. “You’re that brat.” He noted.

 “Sorry,” Mahiru said lightly. The two blinked in confusion. “Normally, I’d much rather talk than fight. But,” saying this he pulled off the armband he always wore. “I am having a very bad day and that,” he said coldly. “Was a very important test.”

 A bright flash of blue light blinded the student body for a second. Ryusei quickly opened his eyes to see Mahiru, his best friend Mahiru holding a spear. A spear made of what looked like black electricity, of all things. And more importantly, the vampires? Looked. Terrified.

 Mahiru raised the spear, face blank but eyes dancing crazily, before he swung the swear like a baseball bat. The spear collided with the right vampire, pushing him into his partner with a grunt. Dust and wind exploded, and the two vampires screamed in terror, before they were rocketed backwards through the hole in the wall, launched almost faster than he could blink.

Adding to the surreal experience, some kid next to him laughed manically, and some thoughtful student in the back managed to shout ‘YEET!’ before the crowd began to disperse.

 Mahiru stood there silently for a moment, before tuning back to face the student body. A flash of light and the spear was gone, and a tattoo ringed the student’s wrist instead. Mahiru still looked tired, and somewhat strained. But the stiffness in his shoulders was gone, and no longer did the flames of wrath burn in his eyes. He made his way to Ryusei silently, before picking up his cat.

“That was fun,” he commented to the cat. “I’ll try not to do it again, and Sakaya and Tsubaki are going to be pissed, but it was fun.” The cat meowed. “I know it’s a pain. I can’t imagine trying to explain to Lily what happened. Ah well,” he sighed. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

  Omake:

 “What did you just say?” Lily asked, bewildered.

 “Mahiru yote two vampires out a window at his school.”

 “Kuro, it wasn’t a window, it was a hole in the wall, which they caused-”

 “You yote them?”

[animefandomshipper]

hey babe! for the suggestive sentence starters could you maybe do, “i can tell you’re hot and bothered from all the way over here.”

@catwoman10001

Suggestive Starters Meme (NSFW)• I can tell you’re hot and bothered from all the way over there •

I decided to make second chapter (which is why I stubbornly refused to not post this until it was done) so those who are interested for what happens after can find it on ao3.

*

There were eyes everywhere here, bolted to the windows of their soul inside out, their stories behind, beyond his understanding. Such as to them in this dimly lit, shallowly depressed room, him the same.

The ice sunk to the bottom, bubbles rising to the surface to take one last breath.

He huffed a laugh, the ends of its tune crackling with a dryness that was once foreign.

They didn’t know, they didn’t know a damn thing.

The drink sloshed slowly with nimble fingers, a smile no longer true crawling to the corners like pinned needles, stuck in place and in no favor of delicacy. He briefly pondered his appearance as he downs the liquid down, the mirrors in his flat no longer in use. Was it as bad as how he felt? Even so, it didn’t matter. Nothing did.

His smile widened, so bitterly and big, he could feel the old bigoted man inching to him in the last few minutes recoil backwards. The thick odor of cigarettes and rat shit whifting away from him. Good, his claws are no longer in his control.

Wordlessly, he gestures the man behind the bar for another refill, a bitter eagerness for his one and only welcomed company. The sweet formula for another ten minutes of forgotten pain.

He situates himself comfortably in his seat, his bottom long going numb and now, with the drink slid into his view, so will his heart’s heartbreak.

With enclosed precision, the burn meeting the back of his throat is a divine poison so sweetly spiced, the flickering image of a face is gone for a for a few eternally grateful, silenced seconds.

But never is time ever so kind to stop its race with pain.

He’s back with another pulse of quickened breath, memories he thought he burned in the fire of hatred and betrayal coming back in form of whispering ashes. In a single moment, everything they had was gone. And for what? A night with the bitch he’d been eyeing.

Oh, Mikaela. Why oh why had you not seen it? Their growing distance in the many months before the cheating bastard’s departure was now, through the new Mikaela’s eyes as clear as day. His boyfriend’s disinterest in him batted away for tiredness of a long day as he unknowingly veiled himself from the many clues littering their home. Now dubbed his home once again after he kicked him out.

His hand cradled his face, the other dug into a fist. ’Do you miss him?’ His mind coldly inquired, forcefully wisened to a fault.

’No,’ he reminds himself, ’I no longer miss him, I merely miss every moment with the me I no longer remember.’

The one he loved to be. The one that stood so strong and unreachable for the hands of mortals with lecherous intentions. He had fallen from that height, and now his wings have singed to dust. How dare he take that Mikaela away, leaving only a bleeding heart and a crippled stranger in his own skin?

A stranger, left behind and unsatisfied with every moment after.

He clamps his quivering mouth shut at the thought, the curled fist dropping into his lap to swipe softly yet unsatisfactory to his shaking thighs.

Unsatisfied. What a lenient description.

As much as he wants to deny it, he’s grown desperate. Desperate for a caring hand ready to please, a hot mouth worshipping his starving body with praises. Of soft kisses not asked to be given, gifted by their own will.

Is that so wrong to want? A passionate lover who he could trust his frail heart with, no worries for it to be thrown back, disinterested and one only capable of loving it as strongly as he?

Passion fueled nights died as quickly as it started. And him with it.

But that might not be the case anymore.

”Another drink for the beautiful blond, on me.” He perks in suspicion, discreetly narrowing into defense as a man plops into the seat beside him.

His muscles simultaneously bunch in tension and soften to quiver when those bewildering and gorgeous green eyes lock onto his in a dominating stare. A gasp, so frail and small is stolen from his lips.

Who is this beautiful man?

He’s convinced the second those dazzling emeralds lid over dark lashes he’s been put under a spell.

”Please,” he grips his thighs helplessly together, that purring voice a baritoned choir, ”a gift, take it.”

He’s defenseless, shaking a small thank you passed surprisingly in a steady voice, ”I appreciate it.”

The mysterious man grins brightly and Mikaela internally swoons, why did he look so accomplished? His gratefulness was expected, it would be rude to not say a thing.

”I’m glad. Oh!” He chuckles, white teeth reflecting another perfect aspect of him, ”my apologies, my name is Yuuichirou but you can call me Yuu.”

”Ah um… my name’s Mikaela…” he chided himself, was it wise to tell this gorgeous- though still unknown- man his name?

”Angelic.”

”What?” He jumped, uncharacteristically blushful at the strange word, even more so at his unwavering stare, his soul bared for him to see. What was angelic precisely?

”Your name.” He explains. ”I’ve never heard such a beautiful name.”

”Th-thank you,” he stutters, the steadiness from before waining the more he interacted with the man- Yuu, he corrected.

”I can’t help but notice that you’ve always come here alone.” He carefully treads to the topic Mikaela would rather forget about, his reasoning for being here. To drown his sorrows like the coward he’s associated himself with.

”Oh.” He dipped his head to his lap, lips scrunched and hands nervously playing with each other.

”No it’s alright you don’t have to elaborate.” He hurries to clarify, ”wrong conversation starter huh?” He chuckles and Mika can’t help but appreciate his turn of humor.

He shifts the conversation to talk about himself, Mika leaning more and more interested the more he rants and jokes.

Strange. He can’t help but sober up and join in, the aching that persisted his heart for month tampering down with every new piece of information Yuu allows himself to give.

He laugh, loud and strained with unuse as Yuu accidentally spills a drink to his attire and all he does is curse, never chastising Mika for laughing and joining in just as easily after grabbing a handful of napkins given to him by the bartender.

He’s free or whatever is close to that and lets himself go with Yuu and comes to a decision when he sees the raven struggle to find something else to talk about. He squashes the buzzling echoes of warnings away and began to retell his story, catching him of guard to quiet down.

He’d be a fool and a liar to not notice his predatory eyes when he mentions the unveiling attraction that led to him here.

”It’s his loss.” He spears his opinion out of clenched teeth so strongly Mika is left breathless by its unquestioned honesty, ”if he let go of such an angel of a person so willingly then I can’t help but think there’s something wrong with him.”

They’ve gotten closer somehow in the past hour, their legs touching and hands briefly coming to connect only to separate with the territory unknown just yet. But now, Mika wants nothing more than to drown in his arms and cry, those words having never been spit so strongly and venomously before in any situation in his twenty-two years of life.

He almost can’t take it.

”Yuu-chan…”

”No wonder I could tell you were all hot and bothered from all the way over there. You haven’t been taken care of like you should have been.”

He freezes and so does Yuu, him in a bashful liquid of embarrassment and Yuu, like he’s just been cornered by a pack of lions.

”Oh God tell me I didn’t say that out loud.” He stumbles out with a hand suspended in mid-air to his horrified face, shooting daggers at the silently dying pink-haired bartender kneeling down the floor.

Mika can’t compute, ”what?”

”Forget it forget everything I said-”

”No no no,” his heart hammers against his ribcage, something foreign squeezing inside that wills him to catch Yuuichirou’s shoulder. ”What did you mean by that? ’Haven’t been taken care of like you should have been?’” he hastily requotes, a moan pressing his tongue as he does.

”I…” he sees his chances of bolting away has lessened with the pale hand gripping his still, ”I just mean that…” he doesn’t want to say it if it causes Mika to run away, that wasn’t his intention.

”Its okay, you can tell me.” Mika softly runs his tongue to swipe at his quickly chapping lips, ”I won’t be mad.” No, he won’t, and the coiling embers so close to the match agrees.

”I wanted to take my chances with you when I saw you all those weeks ago but never had the courage until now and all that time you looked so sad and needy and I… I don’t know I just really wanted to talk to you?? I don’t know you’re pretty and I can’t think right now with you so close.” Yuu gasps out every word and Mika can’t say he isn’t flattered.

Mika blinks and snorts, ”you’re secretly a dork.”

”Is that a bad thing?” He twiddles his thumbs without looking back to Mika, ashamed and more than a little embarrassed.

”No,” he breathily rasps, shuffling his legs to make contact with Yuu’s, ”it’s not a bad thing at all.”

Yuu catches on and slithers a hand to his leg. ”Careful Mika,” that tone ripples a tremor, rapidly smoothing him into an addiction with how he practically purrs his name, ”I’m still a hunter.”

”From what I got I don’t have to worry,” Mika chuckles, a mischievous smile (true and real he can’t believe-) coming to tempt his hand to discover new places, loving the bewitched effect he seems to have on Yuu. ”Would you really let me go?”

”That’s the last thing I want to do.” His growl is low-pitched and Mika instinctively offers his unmarked canvas of a neck as a peace offering. And he doesn’t have to wonder if it works, Yuuichirou’s pupils dilating into black rings brimming with unquenched lust.

”Mika, let’s go.”

With a smirk of triumph, he does as told and when he leaves the bar with a hot mouth chasing his, and the next time he walks in here, he will no longer be alone.

[bluboothalassophile]

Hey Blu! Could you do a fic where the batclan finds out that Jason slept with Talia and all their reactions to it. Thanks in advance.

Hello,

I’m so sorry that this took so long, I’ve approached it and written it many different ways and I honestly don’t know how to approach it. I kind of feel like this is a box of dynamite, and I was playing with matches around it. I hope that I have pulled it off to your satisfaction, but it was a true challenge no matter how I did it. 

I was not sure of what the middle ground was and I spoke to other people in the fandom, and even tried to find other stories covering this topic and did not find many. I will probably offend other readers, and I apologize for that now, but honestly, there are many other opinions on this topic. However, this story is not my personal opinion on the matter, just the solid middle ground I could find.

K, now before others start reading:

-Yes, I know men can be raped

-Yes, I know men can be sexual assaulted

-Yes, I know that Jason consented

As I said, this is not my personal views on the topic, or even sure how these characters would react if they found out. But this was the middle ground.

Thank you for your patience in waiting.

DefineIt

Jason had never really been concerned about his past, or hissex life coming to light as that would require his family actually giving adamn. Not that they ever had before, and it wasn’t like he had much of a sexlife to begin with (he was too fucked up in the head and did not need to addsex to his list of problems or distractions). As to his past remaining asecret, that was by his choice, and Bruce had no fucking right to his missingyears or his missing time. A lot of shit had gone down in his missing time andthere were things he was very proud of, things he was not proud of, and shitthat just wasn’t their fucking business.

Like who his first kill was, or the child smugglingoperation he’d blown to hell, or the Russian mafia’s attempt to create a terrorpanic in London, or any of the other crazy shit he’d done, learnt or the people(both good and bad) he’d met, or the shit he’d thwarted. No, all of it was his.

Including one detail he would have happily kept to himselfand gone to his grave with:

He’d fucked Talia al Ghul.

Lost his virginity to her, had learned all the tricks topleasing a woman from her, and learned how to use sex as a tool for exploitingother. Of course, he’d only been sixteen or seventeen at the time (Jason was abit muddled on what his actual and technical age were so he wasn’t ever surewhich age he really was), and he’d really rather have not alerted his fatherfigure and Talia’s son of their brief intercourse. On the plus side, he hadknown from the get-go he hadn’t loved her, so he hadn’t been an idiot teenseeking her love. No, he’d just been an idiot teen who had briefly been ruledby his hormones and desperate for something that he had let her use him as shelet him use her. It was nothing more, and since then had sorted itself out soshe was more of a ‘motherly’ figure towards him. Jason used the term motherlightly, however she still funded him, provided him with connections, andaliases that the Bats didn’t know about, and they talked about once a week. Hekept her in the loop about Damian and himself, and she would… well, mother him.

And no one in the Bats had known, and that was the way Jasonwas keeping it.

Well, they hadn’t known until now, and Jason was sitting inthe cave, staring at all their faces; they all had different expressions andJason was just itching to escape.

How did they find out?

Well, that was a funny story, that involved Lex Luthor withan experimental truth serum on Talia and Talia had come to Gotham for help andvery, very, very complicatedly long story short:

She was babbling in the Batcave and that had slipped out.

Actually, what had actually slipped out from her lips was‘I’m sorry for having sex with you Jason, I was just using you’ or something tothat affect. He had kind of froze hearing her say his name, with the word‘sorry’ and ‘sex’.

Everyone’s eyes were on him, he twitched under theattention; any sharp or witty come back he had was gone from his mind as hebolted before the questions could start. Leaping on a bike he tore out of thecave as he made mental notes about the farthest safe house he could get to onthis bike, then how far out of Gotham he could go before collecting the neededfunds and getting off continent or world (he wasn’t sure which would get himfarther from the Bats at the moment). He’d have to ditch all his gear, Babsmight have laced it with trackers, but that was alright, where he was going hedidn’t want all his gear because he’d stand out.

But No Matter What HeWAS NOT Sticking Around For TheComing Interrogation.

Nope!

Zinging around the corner he booked it to his Crime Alleyapartment, leaping off the bike as he scaled the building and slipped into hisapartment. Kicking up the floorboards as he stripped he pulled his emergencybag; a bag he swept once a day for trackers and shit as he changed, once hisgear was discarded he pulled a clean ID as he kicked the floor boards back intoplace and ran out of it. Hoping onto a clean bike; one he had hidden out of theBats knowledge he roared the engine to life as he rode out of Gotham like a Batout of Hell which had him laughing as he pushed the neck breaking speeds forNYC. Then he’d head upstate.

Jason relaxed about an hour on his drive as he continuedriding the freeway for the city, the further from Gotham he got the calmer hefelt as he continued riding. He’d plan his next moves in the cabin he hadupstate New York, and from there he’d leave the Bats for a bit. At least untilthey got the message that he WAS NOT talkingabout anything that had happened between his resurrection until the Bats hadwelcomed him home. Nope.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Dick was just baffled, Bruce had barely managed to sedateTalia when she had blurted that out, and then Jason was gone, and Dick feltlike he’d been creamed by lightning. Damian looked like he’d just eaten a vatof acid, Tim looked completely and utterly confused, Bruce and Alfred lookedhorrified, Stephanie was just gaping, Duke looked baffled, and Barbara lookeddisgusted.

And Jason…

Dick didn’t think he’d ever seen his little brother move so fastand now he was gone.

“What the hell just happened?” Dick managed looking at Brucefor help, but his adoptive father looked just as much at a loss as Dick felt.

Dick had never been fond of Talia, not when he’d firstencountered her as a kid, and certainly not since discovering she had keptJason away from them and she had manipulated Damian to the point where his babybrother was never going to be straightened out. Now he was hearing this! Dickglowered at the unconscious woman, God he hated her so much! If he was guessingright he would have to guess that she had had sex with Jason during Jason’smissing time because since Jason’s return he had: wreaked vengeance on them,run off with the outlaws, formed a tentative truce with them, helped with theRobin Wars, and everything else since Jason hadn’t had much time around Talia.

And if she had slept with Jason during his missing time thatwould make him…

Dick snarled as he turned on the unconscious woman.

“She slept with Todd!?” Damian muttered in disgust.

“No, she raped Jason!” Dick spat out venomously.

“We don’t know that,” Bruce started.

“The only time she’d have had him was when he was missingBruce! He NEVER Talks About It! But he was a kid if she had sex with him!”

“If Dick! We don’t know if she did or didn’t!” Brucecountered.

“I don’t think Jason would have run like that if therewasn’t something there,” Tim piped up.

“Someone should go check up on Master Jason, this might haveupset him,” Alfred said.

“I’ll go,” he and Tim said in unison as they ran for thebikes to track Jason.

“His tracker is reading him at his apartment,” Barbaraannounced as he and Tim rode into the city on the tail of Jason. No doubt Jasonthought they were disgusted with him or they were going to cast him our orsomething like that and he was running; again, before they could. All Dickwanted to do was hug his baby brother and tell him it wasn’t his fault. Godhelp them because if Jason was thinking they hated him again they were nevergetting him back.

They stopped at Jay’s apartment and Dick carefully scaledup, Tim rattled the window open. Dick and he both walked in.

“Little wing?” Dick called out as he flicked on the lightsand quietly moved through the safehouse. He stopped when he nearly tripped overone of Jason’s boots.

“Oh no,” he muttered. There was another boot, there was asock, another sock, Jason’s holsters and weapons, the pants, his boxers, then hisjacket, more weapons, his body armor, the undershirt, more weapons, and thenthere were his gloves, and Dick stopped at the haphazardly settled floor boardsby the bed; he’d never noticed this. Pulling them aside he reached in andpulled out a small metal box, opening it he started going through it; Jason’sIDs.

Shit.

“O, he’s gone,” Dick said into his coms.

“What? But all his trackers… shit,” Barbara muttered.

“We’re coming in then start from there,” Dick sighedtiredly.

“I’ve got nothing,” Tim said. “Which is surprising.”

“He’s not stupid, if Jason disappears I don’t think evenBruce will find him,” Dick sighed.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Tim was probably the closest to Jason of all their family;and for some odd reason that’s just how it was. Jason was also Tim’s favorite brother.However, it was times when Jason ran that he realized just how little he knewabout his elder brother past his love of literature, explosions, and vehicles. Timhad NO idea where Jason would run to, or about where his brother would have nodoubt hidden stashes of money and supplies, or what Jason was going to do nowthat he was running.

Jason had safehouses all over the world.

Also, the other think he was trying to comprehend was Taliaal Ghul having slept with Jason, it wasn’t that he didn’t see it, but he just…

EW! She was Bruce’s age! It was disturbing, it wasdisgusting! And it was kind of understandable.

Talia was a very attractive woman, even for as old as shewas. And if Jason had been a teenager well… Tim might not always get thehormones, but he didn’t think Jason had done anything wrong. If anyone was tobe ashamed of what had happened between Talia and Jason it should be Talia,seeing as how Jason did not have many people he trusted and he’d obviouslytrusted Talia at one point.

“He’s cleared out, his things, I think he’s got an identitywe don’t know about, probably a cash and weapons stash, but he’s cleared out,”Dick said when they walked into the Cave.

Where was the least likely place Jason would go for refuge,that was where Tim would start. He also opened all the frequencies; from theLeagues, the Outlaws, the Titans, the Assassins, Talon’s, and everything hecould think of in between as he started in on his man hunt for his big brother.

“I’ve got all the cameras in and out of Gotham looking forhim,” Barbara announced.

“I’m scanning all frequencies, and dumping all his knownaliases, and bank accounts,” Tim answered; though that meant shit if Jason hadgrabbed cash and knowing Jason that was very likely. Jason always had obsceneamounts of cash on hand and stored.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Damian was disturbed by his mother and the mere thought ofTodd and his mother having…

He could not even dare to think it. No, he did not want thatimage in his head, it was bad enough to think of his father and mother thatway, but Todd and his Mother!? EW! He kind of wanted to strangle Todd forhaving slept with his mother; their mother! Yes, he had heard many times fromhis mother that Todd was like her son as well, and Damian had accepted that asa fact; much sooner than he had accepted Todd as father’s son as well. Still itwas disgusting! And Todd’s fault! It had to be Todd’s fault! There was no wayhis mother would ever… fornicate, he shivered at the thought there, with anidiot like Todd.

“Where is Todd?” Damian growled when Dick walked into thecave again.

“Gone,” Dick answered.

“I will find him!” Damian snapped and was ready to go on themanhunt for Jason Peter Todd so he could gut him like the pathetic monster hewas. A hand caught his hood. “Release me Grayson! Todd Will Pay For This!”

“Why!? It’s not his fault!” Dick snapped.

“The Hell It Isn’t!” Damian shouted back.

“You Will Not Touch Him Damian!” Dick growled, and Damianpaused as he looked over at Dick. “Jason was in your mother’s care, if anyoneis to blame for anything it will be Talia, Jason was a kid and she should nothave touched him; in ANY WAY! Teenager or Not! He was a kid, and he should havebeen safe and protected; especially with someone who was taking care of him.Whatever happened between them, it’s her fault! And she raped him!”

“Men cannot be raped!” Damian spat, and he had never seenDick look so livid as he did then.

“You’re going to go over there Damian, and you’re going tothink really hard about what you just said and if you still think that we’rehaving a long chat about rape, and its definition, when I get back after I findJason,” Dick grounded out and Damian glared at him.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll kick your ass,” Dick snapped and Damian blinked atthe threat as Dick released him and walked over to Gordon and Drake. Damian lookedup to his father who was working at his own set up, and he scowled.

He hadn’t said anything wrong so he didn’t understand whyDick was so furious with him. The one they should be furious with was Todd,he’d violated his mother! Damian still huffed as he sat in a chair and glaredat the wall. Damian had merely stated a truth:

Men could not be raped.

He was sure of that, which was why he did not understandDick’s fury or why that fury was directed at him. The one who they should bemad at was Todd. It was always Todd’s fault.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Jason pulled up to the cabin he’d bought upstate under hisclean identity as he swung off his bike; which he tucked in the shed, before hedisarmed the security and walked into the cabin. Once in the cabin he turned onthe security again, arming the property and its traps as he released ashuddering breath before falling on his back across the couch to stare at theceiling.

The things he didn’t want his family knowing about him wereprobably going to come to light if Talia was still babbling. After all, she wasin on some of his dirtier secrets (pun intended). Which meant he was going tohave to sever all contact with Artemis, Kori, and Roy, figure out how to getoff world and start over; again. He didn’t think he could handle the Bats ifthey knew about his dirty laundry; even if he didn’t want to run.

He really was tired; exhausted really; running from them.All he wanted was to go home, to have Bruce say he was proud of him, to haveDick like him, Tim’s friendship, and Damian to tolerate him. Not to mention hethoroughly enjoyed the movie nights he had with Steph and Cass, he fuckingloved those girls, they were his favorite members of that family. Duke wascool, new and still an unknown, but Jason liked the teen. He also wanted tohave his literature talks with Alfred, because God only knew how much he hadmissed them when he’d been running from the Bats. He also… He also just wantedto go home.

But now that Talia was no doubt spilling the beans oneverything he’d ever done, between the murders, his training, the… fuck, she’dtell the Bats everything! They’d never look at him again, they’d hate him,they’d be disgusted, he’d be kicked out before there was three ways about it!

And just when he had started to think that he may have hisfamily back.

Just when he started to think he might be able to have hishome back.

Jason ground his teeth as he threw an arm over his eyes.Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! He Hated His Life!

Because, as always, just when things started to turn in hisfavor, just when life started to not look as hellish as it usually did,something reared its ugly head to bite him in the ass to remind him; again; hedidn’t belong there. Perhaps this was just yet another sign that he did notbelong with them, that they weren’t his family.

Suddenly his phone buzzed, the burner he reserved foremergencies. Which had him reluctantly opening it; making a mental note toditch it.

The message was from Dick, Jason just sighed as he shut offhis phone, not willing to read whatever the perfect golden child had to saybecause Jason didn’t want to hear it.Dick-Fucking-Grayson-Who-Could-Do-No-Wrong was the last person Jason wanted totalk to right now. For the moment, Jason was just going to rest then figure outhow to get off this planet.

~~~*~*~*~~~

“I got a ping, upstate New York, but the it’s a fifteen-mileradius, and I think he’s pulled the phone apart; I can’t turn it on right now,”Barbara said.

“We’ll start there,” Bruce said. As he walked for the jet,Dick a step behind him, they were going as civilians because Bruce had afeeling they were about to be a lot of door to door knocking and while theycould hide the Jet, it wouldn’t do to have Batman and Nightwing looking for theRed Hood when mostly likely Jason was a civilian at the moment.

No, it was easier to dress down as civilians, a father and ason looking for Jason rather than Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson looking for thedead Jason Todd. Better to be anonymous at this moment.

“You know if he’s still in the area he’s not going to wantto talk, right?” Dick asked.

“He’s coming home,” Bruce stated. He had mixed feelingsabout Talia blurting out she’d slept with Jason and apologizing for it.

On one hand, he had felt jealous and furious, because Taliawas a woman he had loved, a woman he had a child with, a woman he had beeninvolved with.

But on the other hand, he was horrified, and furious on adifferent level because she had molested his son! After everything Jason hadbeen through in life, after all the hells Jason had gone through, he just… henever seemed to get a break. Also, there was the disgust which he felt at theknowledge that Talia had claimed Jason to be her child but she had dared tobetray him that way. An abuse Jason had managed to avoid all his life, and shehad inflicted it on him. He wanted to hate that woman so much right now, butfirst they had to find Jason who was probably thinking all these emotions weredirected at him and not Talia.

God, Jason was only nineteen, which would make him a childwhen Talia had seduced him, the thought horrified Bruce to his core.

Bruce knew Jason was not virgin when they had startedreconnecting. But it was just as Bruce was aware that Dick had lost hisvirginity at seventeen to Barbara in the front of the ‘68 Corvette (Dick hadblabbed it happily), and Tim had lost his to Stephanie (the blushing hadn’tstopped). Also, Bruce was a father, and he was not stupid, and though Jason didnot talk about it, Bruce knew. He hadn’t known with whom, and he could not evenhazard a guess as to who his son had trusted enough to try sex, but he hadknown from the moment he had started reconnecting with Jason. The main reasonhe had never pried with Jason was because their relationship was strained as itwas, and prying at this point would have Jason bolting.

But apparently, Jason would also start running if hismissing years were brought to light, and that scared Bruce. What had his sonduring those years that had him ready to bolt at the mention on one aspect.True they had figured out Jason’s connection to the League of Assassins, it wasnot new news when Talia openly funded him. But other than that, he had notpried in fear of Jason bolting.

Apparently, he should have pried more.

Now he was on a manhunt for his one child, who, unlike theothers, could and would drop off the face of the earth and not be found.

This was not to say that Dick, Tim, Damian, Cass, or Dukecouldn’t drop off the grid, but with Jason it was different. Jason was a streetkid, pure street, and if he were to ever fully disappear; unlike his otherchildren, Jason could ditch everything, his identity included and walk away, hewould know all the best ways around the law, and the criminals, he’d know hisway out of the country and off the world before they caught up to him, and he’dleave. He’d sever all ties and walk away without hesitation, and that was whyhe’d disappear.

Dick, Tim, Duke, Cass, and not even Damian, could sever tieslike that anymore and walk away anymore, they were family, a unit. But Jasoncould, and he would, because Jason was on the outskirts of the family, even ifthe family was slowly pulling him. Jason also, no doubt, had stashed theresources he would need to vanish, and could forge his own papers perfectly ifhe had to, which would cut out the middle men of fences, and suppliers. Jasonwould just steal what he’d need, and it’d be in so small of supplies it wouldnot be reported. And then he’d be gone, like the wind. Which was why the windowto find him, to track him down and drag him home was narrowing. Jason waslikely already plotting where he was going to go, and how to get there, andwhat he needed from point A to B.

“I will never understand what you saw in that vial woman,”Dick hissed venomously.

Bruce didn’t respond.

“I can’t believe she raped my baby brother,” Dick growledand Bruce agreed with Dick.

“We will deal with Talia when she wakes up,” Bruce saidevenly.

“Keep her away from me, I might not hold back,” Dick warned.

Bruce nodded as they used the reflection panels to fly lowand be invisible as they headed for upstate New York. Why Jason was coming uphere he didn’t know, but he and Dick would be finding his wayward son anddragging him home. Also, possibly calling Black Canary for a therapist forJason because it was time for them to pry to help him. The boy could notcontinue fighting all his demons alone, no matter how gruesome. Though Brucehad a feeling some of Jason’s demons were far more gruesome than they couldever know.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Jason had woken up at evening, which had him groaning as herolled into the back of the couch as he internally debated turning on the runto town to pick up a meal and tea. He was inclined not to go, but he was alsohungry and he wouldn’t be running on an empty stomach. In any case he wasn’tsure he wanted to tempt fates or just wait until he was in Canada beforeeating. He could get over the boarder tonight, and from there he’d get on thetrains and take one to his safe house in Quebec City, from there he’d sort outwhat he needed to do.

Reluctantly he sat up on his couch, before pulling out thesecure laptop which he had; it wasn’t something Babs knew about so he didn’tthink she’d be hacking it. Still, it had the Assassin’s network on it, so hedidn’t think she’d trace it even if she hacked it. Opening he sat on the couch,propping his feet up as he started looking over the chatter, and theinformation, as he started planning how he was getting out of here.

Since the cabin didn’t have a lot of power, and itsgenerator was powering his laptop he got up to light an old fashion oil lanternhe kept here for emergencies before sitting down and starting with his workagain.

His stomach growled but he ignored it; escaping thedisappointment and horror of the Bats was his priority, he had just… he had toget away from them. Jason couldn’t stand the thought of them giving him theboot now that they’d no doubt know just how truly fucking evil he was, howfucked up he was, how he didn’t even fit in their family. It was important hejust scram before they kicked him to the curb. This way he couldn’t let themdown again.

Also, he didn’t even want to think about how Bruce wouldfeel about him having sex with the mother of his only blood child. It was acringing thought now that Jason looked back on it, but at the time of himsleeping with Talia it was kind of a ‘Fuck You!’ to Bruce behind his back.Afterwards it… it just was.

Jason stiffened when one of his perimeter alarms went off,and he looked up from his work and pulled up his security screens.

He felt his heart tighten in his chest at the sight of Dickand Bruce there, but he didn’t stop as he blew out the light, turned off hisgenerator, and darkened the screen as he moved to an area of the cabin no lightwould be seen as he watched. A part of him screamed to run, but he couldn’t. Hewanted to, but he was just…

Stuck!

Biting his lip, he pressed himself into the corner as smallas he could go, which was probably not that small since that fucking growthspurt he’d had when he was sixteen. And he tried to disappear as he staredhopelessly at the screen.

“Come on, this is the last cabin Barbara had on the thermalreading, he could be here,” Jason heard Dick’s tired voice. Jason shut thelaptop as he focused on being invisible when he heard feet on his porch. Jasongripped his .45, one he hadn’t drawn from his holster since he had startedrunning, and he shook as he heard them.

“Look Jay, we just want to talk,” Dick’s voice again. Jasonfelt an anger well up in him, this was going to be a righteous moral momentfrom Dick-Fucking-Perfect-Grayson! No thank you, he was staying here and quietuntil they were gone.

“Jase, we’re not mad at you,” Bruce’s voice, which had Jasonbiting his lip to keep his breathing even and quiet, his back pressed firmer inthe corner as he tried to will them away. Not that it was going to work, but fuck!,it was worth a shot.

“We know what Talia did, little wing, we’re not mad at you,”Dick’s voice again, level over the curtained window near him which had himtrying harder to disappear. He didn’t want to talk about Talia, or the missingyears, or anything with them. No doubt Talia had blabbed it all with that drugin her system and now Bruce and Dick were coming here to play the part ofconcerned father and brother before the ripped his ass anew about the shit hehad done, and had to live with, before they kicked him to the curb.

“Come on Jay,” Dick said, sounding exasperated.

“Bruce, I got him, he’s here,” Dick shouted. Jason pressedhis face into his knees as he dragged his hands through his hair, never daringto release the familiar, comforting weight and feeling of his .45.

“Jason, we’re coming in, okay, we’re just going to talk,nothing else,” Dick said through the window. Jason growled a bit; silence wasfucked now so what was the point in staying quiet.

About ten minutes later, after many muffled curses his doorwas opened, and Jason cocked the gun as he held it in their direction; no, hewasn’t going to shoot them. At least not lethally. Dick appeared first, handsheld up nonthreateningly.

“Stay away,” he hissed as he pressed his back firmer againstthe wall, if he needed to use it as a push he could, and the door was opened.It would take him twenty seconds to get to the bikes and be gone. He’d evenditch the pack again, he had other identities he could use.

“Okay, okay, I’m just, I’m going to sit right here, okay?”Dick asked as he slowly sat on the back of the couch. Bruce was in the door,and Jason growled a bit seeing Bruce looking at him with that expression. Theone filled with guilt and pity; not that either were for him, no, that wasBruce’s ‘It’s My Fault’ face, and nothing about the missing years had a fuckingthing to do with Bruce. Not a single thing! Aside from maybe motivation, thedemand, he destroy Bruce, surpass his mentors and teachers to do that even, butthat was all Bruce had to do with that time.

“What do you want?” he growled out, he really wanted toshoot them and run, because he didn’t want to do with their moral high ground,he didn’t want to deal with their disappointment, and he really didn’t want todeal with their final blow to him which would have them washing their hands ofhim. After getting so close, and having a taste of family again, to lose itnow… well that was a blow Jason didn’t know if he could handle right now.

Damn Talia to Hell! And Luthor! They were taking everythinghe wanted away from him before he had even fully appreciated it.

Not that it was new, and he supposed he really only hadhimself to blame, but he still didn’t want to deal with the pain of losing itso he was going to run before the crippling blow could be delivered. Just kneecap Dickhead and Bruce and run, it sounded like a solid plan since he was theonly one with a weapon in hand. And he was fast. Faster than Bruce or Dickwould be expecting because he rarely pushed his limits as hard as he could, butthis time he’d make an exception.

“Just to bring you home,” Dick answered.

Jason let out a bitter laugh at that, but he didn’t lowerhis weapon, Bruce moved and he glared at the older man. “Back off!”

Bruce didn’t move then.

“We’re only here to bring you home, Jase,” Bruce saidevenly, he kept his posture relaxed but Jason knew Bruce was looking him overfor weak points and calculating how to take him out. But Jason had the gun, andJason would use it, and Bruce was probably forgetting that in his mentalcalculations because they’d been on good(ish) terms.

“Yeah right,” he growled. “Talia blabbed it all, no doubtyou’re rather I was dead again.”

“Yeah, she talked about the rape,” Dick said.

“I didn’t rape her!” he spat out, his hackles rising at theuse of that word for what had happened. No, Jason could never rape a woman, heremembered to vividly what his mom had gone through. His mom, not Shelia, hismom, the one who had loved him, had nearly been raped, and she had beenbrutally beaten, and shit… Jason couldn’t ever do that to a woman! Especiallynot to Talia or someone! Besides, they had consensual sex, and it was more offucking than anything else, just another lesson and an outlet.

“I never said that,” Dick said quickly.

“And she started it!” Jason venomously spat out to try toget it through their heads. Jason hadn’t done anything wrong there. Nothing andhe stood by that.

“My point,” Dick said.

“She was looking out for you Jason, she should not have donethat,” was Bruce’s strained reply. Jason glared suspiciously at the two ofthem. Oh, he wanted to believe them, to believe that they were going to tearhim a new one, but Jason didn’t. He no more believed them than he believed thatthe Joker would stay in Arkham for a change. No, he didn’t believe them.

But another thought clicked into his head then which had himgaping at them.

“Wait? You think she raped me?” Jason stammered out.

“You were a kid in her care Jason, yeah, any sex between youtwo was rape,” Dick said and Jason laughed bitterly as he shook his head.

“I wasn’t raped,” he said coldly. Underage he might havebeen, but he was perfectly aware of what he’d been doing and he wouldn’t havelet her near him if he didn’t want it. Jason wasn’t a victim anymore, he hadsurvived the worst there was, he just wasn’t a fucking victim anymore.

“Jason, you were a kid,” Dick repeated.

“I was a teenager, I was curious, she offered, I said sure, Ididn’t get raped,” he spat out. Jason knew what rape was, and he would haveknown if he were raped.

“It’s okay Jason,” Dick said so soothingly Jason wanted toshoot the fucker on principle.

“Fuck, are you deaf? She didn’t rape me!” he snapped, andthat had him on his feet as he glowered at Bruce and Dick.

“Jason, we aren’t judging,” Bruce started.

“All you do is judge! Talia al Ghul, bitch she may be, didnot rape me, I’m pretty sure I was at the legal consenting age at that point ifthat helps ease your conscious about who the hell I had sex with and when!”Jason spat out. “And since that tumble in the sack she’s never touched me! So,you two can quit talking to me like I’m some poor fucking victim! It was justsex!”

“Jason, you ran,” Dick sighed tiredly.

“Because she was blabbing!” He shouted, dragging his handsand the gun through his hair he saw Bruce flinch at his action but he was sofucking frustrated with them. “There’s shit I’ve done that is not any of yourfucking business, it’s not her fucking business either and she was blabbingabout it!”

“We wouldn’t have been mad Jason,” Bruce said.

Now Jason shook with bitter laughter, oh, they’d have beenmad, and he could not bear the thought of the disgust and horror they wouldlook at him with if they knew about just what he had done, what he was trulycapable of. Because if they knew that, there would be no way they’d stand inthe same room as him. There was movement again which had him glaring at the twoof them.

“I’ve been through a lot of shit, but rape wasn’t one ofthem,” he firmly stated.

“Then why run Jason, because we weren’t mad at you,” Dicksaid.

“Because it’s not any of your fucking business and she wasblabbing!” he shouted. That should be enough of a reason! “And If You Knew Half The Shit IDid You’d Hate ME!”

Jason could feel the tears in his eyes, but it was thetruth. If they knew, they’d hate him. And he was trying, trying so fuckinghard, to get back in their good graces again, to have Bruce trust him, but ifthey knew everything they’d hate him! And Jason could not stand that thought.Not when he was so close. So, it was best to run before he got the boot;staying a step ahead of the boot was his goal right now and so far, he wasfailing miserably. He wiped the tears away as he glared at them, his hand kepta firm grip on his .45 because he could still knee cap them and run. Less thantwenty seconds, he’d be gone; that’s all he needed.

“We’d never hate you, little wing,” Dick was on his feet andJason aimed the weapon at him which had Dick staying back, Bruce just blinked,like Jason had hit him over the head with a hammer.

“Really, you tossed me in Arkham,” Jason snapped. “And hepicked the Joker!”

Both of them looked taken aback at his words.

“So, I don’t really believe you, especially not aftereverything I’ve done, but I also know you’d hate me if you knew everything,” hestated, he felt his voice waver as the tears blurred his eyes. There was anache in his chest, but he did not truce Bruce, or Dick, with information abouthimself. Not when he was working so fucking hard to earn their trust back;however, they were the people who judged people off past actions, and whilethey had some of Jason’s actions, and they had the basics of Jason’s backgroundthey had no fucking clue what he could really do. Confirming that to them… itwould be a way for them to either pitch him in Arkham with his killer, or tocast him aside and have him pinned up on the League’s wall as one of their mostwanted.

And the Only Person, besides himself, to know the full ofwhat he’d done was Talia al Ghul and she’d been high on a truth serum!

He was so fucked!

Having sex with Talia was the tamest of his sins. And hecouldn’t seem to get them to understand that. Besides, it was just sex, justanother one of Talia’s lessons, it had not meant anything. It was nothing else,even if it had hurt just a little bit to know she’d just leave. But Jason wasvery used to people just leaving.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Bruce just stared at his son, partially in pain but alsoshock. Jason hadn’t lowered his weapon, not once, and the way his son looked.Jason looked like the scared nineteen-year-old he was. Jason never looked hisage, always looking older, tougher, and meaner than everyone, he’d never lookedlike a boy, he’d never looked like a young teen, and upon his return; Jasonlooked older than Dick most the time. But right now, right now he was lookingevery bit the part of a scared nineteen-year-old, and a feral animal. Like he’dbeen cornered and was assessing the fastest way out of his corner with the mostdistraction or pain so he could get away. The son who normally leapt head firstinto danger, heedless of the possibility of harm or death, looked terrified andabout to fly now. Jason was going to run, Bruce couldn’t have that happenbecause Jason would be gone the first chance he had.

“Jase,” Bruce spoke, Jason’s gun was on him, Bruce kept hishands up and shook his head when Dick looked ready to spring for Jason. Morethan likely Dick could beat Jason in a fight, however, if Jason was aided withhis flight or fight instincts it would be brutal and he’d rip Dick apart. Therewas a time when one had to appreciate the sheer ferocity Jason had in skill;Bruce had a feeling he held himself back but if pushed Jason was not afraid oflethal force And Bruce did not want either of his sons hurt. “We would neverhate you.”

“Bullshit!” he hissed and Bruce saw the tears rolling downhis face. How had they gotten here? They’d been good, Jason had reigned in hiskilling instinct, and he was… he was coming home. Now they were here again, andJason was ready to bolt. How was it that Talia’s simple apology (whichinfuriated him because she had unforgivably abused his son and would not beaccepted by anyone in his family, and was reason enough to have him severingall ties with her and threatening her with harm if she ever came near any ofhis children ever again, especially Damian or Jason), had done all this.

“Jason, we’re not kicking you out, nor would we for whateveryou did in your missing years,” Bruce said evenly. And he believed that, he hadto. It was not like Jason’s missing years could be worse than his revengerampage on Gotham. The family had forgiven him for that even, and Bruce… Bruceknew Jason had stepped up when he couldn’t remember his sons, and Jason wasTim’s main partner, and how Jason was changing. Bruce knew all of that; he alsovividly remembered the hug he and Jason had shared when he did not rememberJason, and since Bruce’s return home he had tentatively started to hope thatperhaps things could change between himself and Jason as well; not now, but intime. However, all that progress seemed to have disappeared as he stared at hissecond son who looked like the scared kid he’d never been.

“We’re not losing you Jason, we’re trying here, can youplease put the gun down?” Dick asked.

“I don’t believe you,” Jason grounded out, aiming the weaponat Dick who had shifted slightly. Bruce tensed, he didn’t like this, and Jasonseemed to only be growing more agitated. No doubt his son would leap out thewindow if he was provoked, for his escape.

“Jason, Talia didn’t say anything besides her apology,”Bruce said, cutting off whatever Dick had to say. Bruce had used his cold,detached voice to get through to him, knowing that it would be the fastest wayto Jason’s head. Facts, and if he said a fact it could not have an ounce ofemotion else Jason would not believe it. But Jason had come to believe facts.

“She didn’t,” Dick quickly agreed.

Jason trembled for a moment before sagging on the wall,Bruce moved faster than Dick pulling the gun from Jason’s firm grasp as hehanded it to Dick. Dick took the weapon, and Bruce pulled Jason close notknowing what else he should say or do for Jason. Jason was never the been thechild to seek comfort, or help. However, his son was sobbing, in fear or reliefBruce didn’t know, and Dick joined the hug.

How could Talia do this to his child? Why would she havedone this to his son? Bruce could never fathom harming any of his children insuch a vial manor. And when he was done dealing with the hurricane that wasJason Todd he would be tearing into Talia for having dared to touch his child.It was revolting, it was very sickening, and despite whatever Jason said, itprobably had messed him up. How, Bruce wasn’t sure, but there was no way Jasongot out of this undamaged.

“You’re alright Jason,” Dick muttered.

The younger man didn’t respond to that, but Bruce sensed thelad was emotionally drained at this moment, which was likely for the best. Theymight get Jason home and into Alfred’s expert care without him fighting themevery step of the way. Because if there was one thing Jason could and would doit was fight until his last breath and Bruce was tired of fighting.

“Come on, Jase, let’s get you home,” Bruce said sternly, theyounger man made no response, but there was a tremble in his form. Bruceworried about what Jason was keeping to himself, but for now he would get Jasonhome and deal with Talia.

“Hey, Jay, where’s your bike?” Dick asked.

“You’re not touching any of my bikes,” Jason’s muffled replydid not have its usual bite.

“Then how am I getting home?” Dick asked.

“Walk,” Jason snapped.

“You’ll both fit in the jet,” Bruce sighed tiredly; grantedit would be a tight fit but Bruce wanted all his kids home.

“I’ll take my bike,” Jason muttered.

“You’re not taking a bike anywhere Jaybird!” Dick snapped.Bruce saw the needle in Dick’s hand before he could protest. Jason didn’t evensee it coming.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Jason didn’t know how, when, or why he woke in the Manor,which had him tensing. Especially when he noticed his jacket and boots weremissing. Bolting up he quietly started to move to leave. He didn’t want to behere, he didn’t want to deal with them or whatever they were thinking abouthim.

And he did not want to deal with Dick and his ‘Talia rapedyou’ talk.

Not that he didn’t believe guys could be raped; but shit,whatever the hell had happened between him and Talia; aside from being yearsago, was not rape, just confusing. Jason would admit he didn’t want to think aboutit or that time ever again.

He was about to get to the door when it opened.

“Master Jason,” Alfred greeted, looking stoic and British,and disapproving. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Away?” Jason answered with a nervous grin.

“Get back in that bed, Master Jason, you are not goinganywhere,” Alfred said. “Not until you and I have spoken about your rashattempt at running off.”

“Uh…” he backed up quickly from Alfred. If it were anyoneelse he’d have told them to ‘Fuck off’ and shoved his way past them. But thiswas Alfred, and Alfred was futile to resist or fight.

“I am not angry with you Jason, but you will explain whythat vial woman’s words had you running,” Alfred said sternly.

Jason pursed his lips to keep himself from defending Talia.Except, there was no defense for what had happened. Jason knew that, he was toblame just as much as Talia, but he didn’t know what to tell Alfred. What didone say to their grandfather figure about something like this!?

‘I was not thinking with the right head’ or ‘I was curious, hormonal,and stupid’ or ‘I regret it, but it’s a giant ‘fuck you’ to Bruce at the time’or ‘I have no idea what I was thinking but she came onto me and it went fromthere’. Jason did not see any of those reasons (which were really the onlyreasons that it had even happened), flying with Alfred Pennyworth, or Bruce, oranyone in the family. However, he would not stand there and let Dick callwhatever the hell that had been, rape! Jason had to put up with a lot of shitbecause of his background, and he could proudly state no one had raped him (notthat it was something he should have to be proud of, but he was from CrimeAlley, and he’d been a ‘pretty one’ so he was pretty fucking lucky to haveevaded that hell!).

“What do you want me to say?” Jason asked hesitantly. He didnot dare to look at Alfred. “It was stupid, it was brief, I Was Not Raped. I consented. And it never happened again and it’snever going to happen again.”

“Master Jason, no one is mad at you about that,” Alfredsaid, which had Jason biting his lip. On that he called Major League Bullshit.“I am concerned that you ran.”

“She was blabbing!” Jason hissed as he glared at Alfredthen. Damn! Did no one get that he did not want them to know the shit he’ddone!? The shit they knew about was bad enough, but if they knew everything…Jason would be in Arkham right by the Joker. And Jason didn’t want to go toArkham, not when he was so close to having his family back. It might not be asit was before, but Jason didn’t think anything was ever going to be as it wasbefore.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Damian was sitting in his mother’s room just wondering whyDick was about at her but not Todd. Obviously, whatever had happened was Todd’sfault; it usually was. But this time he did not want to think about it. It washorrifying to think that Todd and his mother had been involved at one point. Hehated the thought and it had him shuddering in revolt.

“Father,” he greeted when his father walked in.

“Damian, go help Dick with his case,” his father said.

“I presume Todd will be properly punished for this grievanceas well,” Damian said firmly. For he had to believe that it was going tohappen. There was no way Todd was not at fault here.

“Damian, it is complicated, and the only guilty party hereis Talia as she was the adult and knew exactly what she was doing, now go toDick.” His father’s tone was so hard, Damian blinked in shock at it beingdirected at him when normally Todd was the one receiving end of that tone, andit was usually when father and Todd were engaged in one of their yellingmatches.

Damian huffed as he stalked off, not willing to be on thereceiving end of his father’s temper as he walked for the Batcave.

Stupid Todd was to blame, Damian was sure of that.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Tim was now avoiding the Manor, hiding out at his apartment.After the immediate return of a drugged Jason (Dick was to blame for thatapparently), and Tim was not hanging around for the blow out of when Jasonwould wake up and find out he’d been drugged. Not that Tim blamed Dick forthat; more than likely it was the only way they’d have gotten Jason homewithout a lot of injuries, kicking and screaming.

Dick was on a bike trip, because Jason was going to kick hisass for 1) drugging him, 2) taking his bike, 3) on principle. Even Tim knewthis which was probably why Dick was procrastinating on coming homeimmediately. A furious Jason was something which required both an arsenal and aplan against if one intended to get out of his wrath alive.

Trust them, they’d been here, done that.

Then there was the other touchy topic of Talia admittingshe’d slept with Jason. Tim didn’t see what the big deal was there, Talia was abitch and more than likely she’d done it with a purpose. Besides, it wasn’tlike any of them; aside from the little troglodyte; hadn’t slept with someonethey regretted. And trust him, this family had had enough questionable bedmatesfor them to leave Jason’s alone.

Which was exactly what Tim was texting Jason, right at thisvery moment. Leverage on Dick and Bruce should they come at him for sleepingwith Talia. Tim felt no shame about this as he worked and continued consideringthe drug ring operating on the west side.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Alfred just stared at his grandson and he sighed. Havingnever been fond of Talia al Ghul to begin with he was thoroughly infuriatedthat she had dared to molest one of his grandchildren in such a manner. Butworse, it was the thought that Jason did not define it as abuse, merely anotherof many mistakes he’d made when the only person at fault here was Talia al Ghulherself.

“My dear lad, you’ve done nothing wrong,” Alfred assured himas he stepped forward. “That is no reason for you to run away because of thatwoman’s words.”

“She knows shit Alfie, and she was blabbing!” Jasonrepeated.

Alfred shook his head. No doubt Jason had done many thingsbefore his return to Gotham, and before his real return to them, but Alfredcould not find it in him to be angered over just what Jason might have done.And Alfred was no fool, he had a good idea of what his grandson might have beenup to in those missing years. It was not hard to guess at, but it was all justspeculation on the family’s part because Jason would never confirm, or deny, orspeak of his missing years. Alfred would be remedying that as soon as Jason wasnot likely to bolt. The lad was a skittish soul when it came down to it. Jasonmight have been brash, loud, surly, temperamental, and angry, but beneath allof that, the lad was skittish and ready to bolt.

“Master Jason, there is nothing you could have done whichwould ever have us casting you aside, or have you needing to flee,” Alfred saidthat firmly as he caught Jason’s wrist before the lad could back away further.Jason flinched. “Your spot is right here in this family. No matter what mayhave happened between you and Miss al Ghul. And whatever it is you are afraidof her saying, rest assured we would never cast you aside so there is no reasonfor you to run.”

“Really, because you all looked pretty obvious when shestarted blabbing,” Jason muttered sourly.

“All feelings about Miss al Ghul’s apology are for herdaring to use you in such a manner, Master Jason, not for you.”

Jason looked up to him hesitantly then. “You’re not…?”

“I am furious, disgusted, and horrified, Master Jason, butnot with you,” Alfred stated. For that was how the entire family was feeling;aside from perhaps Master Damian, but there would be talks with the young boyabout this later.

“Really?” Jason asked so softly Alfred might have missed ithad he not been watching the lad’s face so intently.

“She was your care taker, she is to blame for whateverhappened,” Alfred firmly repeated before he pulled the lad into a needed, rarehug. Jason wrapped his arms around him, and just shook. Alfred was againbaffled at how large Jason was and how terrifyingly small at this moment.Nineteen he may be, but he was still that scared boy from Crime Alley at times.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Bruce was waiting for Talia to wake as he sat there fuming.He was disgusted with the woman; disgusted with himself, and the situation, andyet another thing to add to the list for things Bruce should have protectedJason from. Bright, lively, wild Jason, who had believed in the Magic of beingRobin once. However, that was gone, and Bruce now had to handle the surly,angry, and wilder Jason who Jason had grown up to be.

Talia had taken his son from him.

True, she had saved Jason, and she had resurrected him.However, she had not brought him home, immediately so his family could help himprocess being alive again, she had not told any of them about Jason beingalive, she had manipulated and wound Jason up, and now, as Bruce had come tolearn, she had molested his son.

If Jason said he had not been raped then Bruce believedthat, however, it was molestation no doubt.

Talia roused slowly, and Bruce’s eyes narrowed on her pronefigure in the bed. Oh, how he loathed the woman he had once loved. But therewere some things which were unforgiveable, and she had crossed too many linesto be forgiven now. Between what she had done to Damian, and now what he’ddiscovered she’d done to Jason, he wanted to break every bone in her body. Buthe would not, as he leaned back in his seat and glared at her as she slowlyrose.

Her green eyes met his, widening a bit then.

“Beloved,” she started.

“You sexually abused my son,” he grounded out.

She snorted. “I do not believe that it was abuse if he wasmore than a willing participant.”

“He was a boy,” Bruce snapped.

“Yes, and a quick study,” she countered.

“Talia, he was a child, a child in your care, no doubt notin the right state of mind because of the Lazarus Pit and your manipulation,and you took advantage of him.”

“I’d hardly call it taking advantage of him when he was morethan eager to participate,” she stated coldly.

Bruce lowered his clasped hands then. as he stood up,keeping his glare on Talia. “I do not particularly care about how you look atthe situation, or how Jason looks at it, the matter here is you were the adult,and you were his care taker Talia. It’s abuse. So, if you should ever come nearany of my sons, particularly Jason or Damian, I will ruin you.”

“You cannot deny me my children! And Jason is just as muchmine, as he is yours, perhaps even more so,” she snapped as she surged to herfeet.

“You abused them Talia! Do you not understand the damageyou’ve inflicted on them!?” he demanded coldly and levelly. It would not do tolose his temper now.

“I never harmed them!” She shrieked.

“All you’ve done is manipulate them, harm them, and usethem, and apparently you see nothing wrong with what you’ve done to Jason!”Bruce stated evenly.

“I did nothing he did not want!” she defended.

“He was the child, you were the caretaker, you should nothave ever touched him, and you should have returned him to me immediately,”Bruce repeated the argument he’d had a thousand times already. “He was neveryours Talia, you kept him, manipulated him, and abused him, you neglectedDamian, manipulated him, and abused him. Do you not see what you’ve done tothem?”

“I have never harmed them, beloved,” Talia started.

“Do not call me that.” Bruce grounded out through his teethbecause he could barely contain his rage at her term of endearment at thismoment. “And You’ve Done More Than Enough Harm Talia. Leave, Now. And Do NotEver Come Near My Sons Or Family Ever Again.”

She opened her mouth to no doubt argue this but Bruce wasdone as he walked out of the room. She would leave, she always did, but thistime Bruce intended to see to it that she hurt if she ever came near any of hischildren again.

Now there was going to be the emotional wreckage of Jason tohandle and Bruce did not know where to even begin with repairing that damage.Jason would have to talk to someone, and Bruce sighed. He’d call Dinah tomorrowto talk to her about one of the in-League shrinks speaking to Jason. It wasgoing to be important that Jason talk to someone, enough was enough, it wastime Jason’s issues were sorted out. And if that meant the whole family went tocounselling then so be it. But this would be straightened out; for the better.

Bruce paused in front of Jason’s room, seeing the door ajar,and he softened. Leave it to Alfred to comfort Jason. The only man who couldsay the right thing to Jason, when everyone else seemed to say the wrong thing.Sighing he shut the door and left them. He would speak with Jason later; forthis would be straightened out.

~~~*~*~*~~~

Jason couldn’t seem to stop the shakes as he hung ontoAlfred.

“You’re not going anywhere, Master Jason,” Alfred assuredhim. And a part of Jason full heartedly believed that, for Alfred was never theone to lie.

But there was that small part of him which held out on thatstatement.

“You are home, we’re not send you away,” Alfred said, andJason stiffened feeling fingers in his hair but he didn’t leave the embrace hehad on Alfred.

“Bruce and Damian will hate me again,” he muttered.

“Nonsense, the only one at fault is Talia,” Alfred stated.

And Jason wanted to believe that. But he’d didn’t know howto define whatever had happened, and he didn’t remember ever saying no to her.

He did not think he was blameless.

But for now, he was going to be quiet as he held onto Alfredas he tried not to worry about this newest impending disaster.

“Did Dick drug me?” he asked hoarsely, remembering thecabin. Bruce had been hugging him, and Dick had been there, and he did not thinkBruce had released him, but he was pretty sure Dick had moved behind his back.

“I am not aware of that,” Alfred answered.

That meant yes.

“I’m going to kill him.”

[kindaangelic]

Protection - a Batman Fic

Damian was doing his regular rounds of the house before his bedtime when he stumbled upon an unexpected scene. The door to Grayson's room was open a sliver, revealing the eldest Robin to be slumbering peacefully. What was odd was the hand stroking his cheek. There was a strict no-stroking policy at Wayne Manor, due to its tetchy inhabitants. Tim was likely to lick the offending hand, while Damian would throw a fit at any affectionate overture that did not come from Grayson. It was useless trying to curb Grayson's hugs, for the man simply would not cease in his efforts to cuddle. It was far easier to give in. Jason would just shoot the hand off. Bruce would allow the stroking, but it was exceedingly uncomfortable for the stroker, as Bruce's stubble was as hard and unforgiving as his personality. Alfred was not to be touched, period. So the question was, who was the mystery stroker? Damian crept towards the room, his heart thudding. Who dared to fondle his Grayson? Some lech who had managed to sneak past the Manor's defenses, no doubt. Peering through the door, Damian saw a masked man leaning in close to the sleeping Dick, his hand traveling to cradle the man's neck. Damian saw red. No one would touch his Grayson. With a swift jump, Damian jumped on top of the attacker and stabbed him with his trusty dagger. Instead of dying on the spot like Damian would have liked, the villain rolled away, and the stab meant for his jugular only sliced his shoulder. The masked intruder yelled and leapt away, and out of the window. "Away with you, vile scum, and may Lucifer's hounds feast on your innards!" Damian cried as Dick leapt out of bed. "Dami, what happened?" Dick gasped, smothering him in an unnecessary hug. By this time, the rest of the Bats had gathered in various states of undress. Bruce looked dishelvelled, having fallen asleep in his suit, and Tim was clad in only a large shirt, no doubt stolen from Bruce's wardrobe. "Damian, what happened? Is everyone alright? Tim, why do you always steal my clothes? Don't I buy you enough of your own?" Bruce thundered. Before Tim could open his mouth to spout some inane reply, Damian butted in. "I saw an intruder! He was caressing Grayson, so I stabbed him. Unfortunately, he was skilled, and avoided my blade, but I still cut him," Damian said proudly. Bruce looked horrified at Damian's latest attempt to murder, and looked ready to lecture him, but was cut off by a loud squeal emanating from Dick. "My brave, little, brother! You protected me! My sweet, little, killer cake!" "Mmph!" Damian protested as he was affectionately strangled. Bruce smiled at the sight and led Tim away to strengthen the security around the manor, leaving Damian to suffer Dick's love. ------------- The next time it happened was on patrol. Dick has just walloped Two-Face and was in the process of tying him up for delivery to the authorities when he heard the patter of small feet and the clang of metal-on-metal. Pushing a bound Two-Face aside, Dock looked up to see Damian giving chase to a masked man, yelling obscenities at him. "You dare to spy on my partner, foul creature! I shall gouge your eyes out and present them to Beelzebub!" Damian was crying. Beside him, Two-Face let out a low whistle. "Damn. You ought to bring the new kid out more. He's enough to make any thug shit his pants." Dick knocked the villain out and called Commissioner Gordon, who arrived on the scene to see Nightwing placating an angry Robin. "Commissioner," the new Robin said, advancing on the older man. "This is the second time that a masked man has been spying on Nightwing! I will provide you with what little I was able to discern about him, and would request that you execute the man!" James Gordon gaped at the raging child, as Nightwing proceeded to calm him down. "It's alright, baby Bird, you were there to watch my back. I trust you, no one's going to get me." "But what if I'm not there!?" Robin asked, hysterical. "What if you are with Red Robin, or worse, Red Hood? They're both imbeciles!" Taking a deep breath, the boy continued, "There is only one thing to do. I shall be your permanent partner from now on, so that I may take care of you." "But Robin is Batman's partner," Gordon butted in. "That's how it's always been." Damian shot the man a look of pure contempt as he stalked off to tug Nightwing away. Dick allowed himself to be dragged away, pointing to the trussed up villain in the corner and waving merrily. Commissioner Gordon watched the duo walk away, with Nightwing suddenly swinging Robin onto his hip to smother him with happy hugs. Incredulous squeaking filled the night, as the commissioner happily read Two-Face his rights. ------------- "Father, I would like to request a transfer for both myself and my partner," Damian announced, clamerbing angrily onto a sleeping Bruce's lap. Bruce thrashed awake and stared down at his pint sized doppelgänger. "Where to?" "I was thinking that we could go and visit grandpa," Damian said. "Grandpa's dead, son." "Grandpa Al Ghul, not Grandpa Wayne," Damian said, exasperated. "I have appraised him of Grayson's stalker, and he agrees with me that a change of scene would be good." Bruce scowled at the thoughts of the interfering, old, coot. "I'm wise to your grandpa," he growled. "Not only does he want to take you away, he wants to take my other sons as well!" Damian frowned. "Don't be ridiculous. Grandfather doesn't like Todd at all." "I'll bet he loves Dick, though," Bruce grumbled. "Stupid, son-stealing, old codger." "He also invited Drake." "No!" Damian walked away in a huff, leaving Bruce to brood angrily. It was time to take action. ------------ "Goodnight, Dick," Bruce said warmly to his eldest son. "Goodnight, Bruce. Why're you fiddling with the door?" "I've installed a new lock," Bruce said proudly. "See you in the morning." "Bruce!" Bruce shut the door, pleased with himself. In the distance, he could hear Timothy screaming blue murder. "Bruce! Let me out!" Bruce whistled all the way to his room, finally at peace. ------------ The masked menace would not let up. Damian had caught him ogling Grayson through the library window, on patrol, in the park, and he even had the audacity to lay a hand on Grayson's back during an especially brutal fight. Curiously, Dick did not seem fazed, and continued with his life as per usual. Convinced that there was more to the story, Damian followed him back to his apartment one day, with his friend Colin in tow. "Now, remember, when you see the man get close to Grayson, you transform and kill him, okay?" Colin nodded meekly and the boys hopped on their bikes to follow Grayson to his apartment. They had scarcely approached the door when they heard hushed voices coming from the kitchen. "Damian's getting suspicious. I wish you'd just come over without the mask one day, so we wouldn't have to meet in secret like this," Dick's agitated voice was whispering. "Yes, because that would go down so well with your old man," the masked man grumbled. "He'd disown you too." The man sighed. "Baby, I missed you." "I missed you too," Dick whispered, closing the distance between them. The man placed his hand on Dick's firm tush, and that was when all hell broke lose. Colin transformed into his monsterous alter-ego and rushed the man, who went flying into the stove. Dick tried to diffuse the situation which had now become both Abuse and Damian pummeling the man who was now in fetal position. "Boys! Boys! Stop that this minute!" "He touched your b-bum!" Damian choked out angrily. "Stand back, we're protecting you! Die, masked scum!" He cried, and went back to pummeling the man. It took several minutes before Dick could coax Colin back into his human form, deposit him on the sofa with a cup of cocoa, and then drag Damian off of the man. Damian gnashed his teeth as Dick murmured consoling words to him, and the man finally crawled out of the oven to nurse his wounds. "Reveal yourself, foul goat excrement!" Damian yelled. "How dare you lay hands upon my Grayson!" The man groaned and undid his mask, revealing a bruised and battered Jason Todd. "Ow," he saidd, as way of introduction. "Dickie, I'm hurt. C'mere and kiss me better." Damian gaped at the unrepentant man and leapt up once more, only to be restrained by Dick. "It's alright, baby bug," Dick cooed. "Jason and I have been seeing each other for ages now. We wanted to tell the family-" "You wanted to tell them, not me-" "-but it was never the right time. I'm sorry you found out this way, but we love each other. You understand that, right?" Damian pondered over Dick's words before burrowing into his brother's hold. "Don't let him take you away. You belong with me! You're my partner! He'll ruin everything!" "Oh my God," Jason muttered in horror. "Don't tell me that my competition is my ten year old brother!" "No, no," Dick laughed. "Damian, I promise that you'll always be the first man in my life, and you'll always have a special place in my heart. I swear," he said, hugging the insecurity out of his brother. Damian accepted the snuggle and glared at Todd, who was gingerly poking a bruise. "You're too good for him," he whispered venomously to Dick. "There's still time, leave him for someone better. I know several men in the League of Assassins who would love to court you." Jason leapt up in rage. "Why you little-!" He growled, reaching to throttle Damian. Damian expertly dodged and ran off, with Jason in hot pursuit. The tense night air was split by the genuine laughter of Dick Grayson. ------------- "What's with the spread for dinner, Alfred?" Bruce asked, settling into his chair. "Tim, are you wearing my scarf, you loathesome boy?" "But you don't look good in it!" Tim protested. "You have a really thick neck." "I can't believe that you let that murderous maggot talk us into this," Jason muttered as Damian glowed beside Colin. Dick patted his hand soothingly and cleared his throat. Bruce paused in his chastising of Tim to look up and spot Jason for the first time. "Agh!" "Bruce, be nice," Dick pleaded. "Jason and I want to tell you something." "I'm doing Dick, I'm not going to stop, and there's nothing you can do about it," Jason snarled. Bruce looked like he was going to pitch a fit, so Dick intervened. "I love him, Bruce. And he loves me too," he said. "Yeah," Jason agreed. "I love him more than life itself. Granted, my life's pretty shit, but the sentiment holds. I took a bullet for Dickie just last week." "That's because you were standing in front of him and goading gunman," Tim interjected. "I could have moved, but I didn't! I love him, dammit!" Dick simpered and took Jason's hand while Bruce waged an internal war. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. Just don't do the nasty where we can hear or see you," Bruce grumbled. After a while, he smiled. "I just want all my boys to be happy." "Aw, thanks, Bruce." "Thanks, B." "The feeling is reciprocated, father." "I love you and your scarves, B." "Thank you, Mr. Wayne." Bruce looked up at the last voice, eyes focusing on a small redhead seated next to Damian. "Who are you?" "I'm Colin, sir." "Did I adopt you?" Bruce asked, panicking. At Colin's shake of the head, he relaxed. "I'm here with Damian, sir," he added innocently. It took five minutes to dislodge the baby carrot from Bruce's windpipe.

[hgfstreamchats]

Pokemon Yellow Nuzlocke: Part II

Hello there, Starscream! Hello! Greetings. What madness is this? Who knows? Is the screen blurry for you? Not terribly, no. Ahh, it was on my end. It looks normal to me Hello! Hello! Seems legit. Why does he have no shoes? I do not like that the small creature has no shoes. .... ... "As bitch" Did you pause it, or is the stream doing something bad? Post-update, the stream's always doing something bad.

... Seems legal! Looking for one without the logo in the corner because it annoys me. Wasn't "snakes" code for... some ethnic group or something Knowing humans, probably. Mobile poob. Oh my god Oh boy Oh my god Well said. Oh my god. they cannot help but be dysfunctional with every breath Brief 30 second advertisement. Maybe they could take bitcoin! OH BOY Of being kidnapped and mugged. Oh my god. ............ ewwwwwwww Holy shit Dear Unicron. The flashing was distracting I can imagine. I still can't believe we named the pig monkey that. I think it's appropriate. AND hilarious. Agreed! I had to run an errand, what have I missed? What was happening in the stream when you left? Oh! Naming! Suggestions! Fluffy. 😃 The beginning of a staff meeting was going on when I had to leave. Well, basically, the people they invited into their "Paddy's Wagon" were not impressed and they kind of... kidnapped and mugged a bunch of people And dropped them off in the woods. That can happen when one signs up to a drinking convoy. Also, the "leprechaun trap" caught a guy They had an argument over whether he was a leprechaun and kinda... tortured him a bit. Eventually it turned out he was a pickpocket. And they dumped him in the woods, too. A fine adventure. I am sorry to have missed it. And it also turned out that maybe he was in fact a leprechaun? Or maybe the paint-drinker was hallucinating. I'm sorry we can't get this crysalis thing I'm thinking of trading someone out for the new rock. Yes, get Fluffy big and strong Put Witwicky in the Box. Make him suffer neglect It's What He Deserves Fluffy's sturdy. That might save a life down the road. Unless it learns self destruct. Unless that. Also, Alpinacee already knows a fighting move and is capable of learning more. Is... that a thing? Do geodudes blow themselves up? When they get bigger, I think it is a thing they do. Huh. That said, I never claim to know that much about these monsters. I am certainly too old to become a pokemon master myself. That sprite looks... weird. Fluffy has some very unusual growths. Maybe they're like... round stalagmites Oh, Fluffy, I already like you. I'm going to take you far in the world. Love how we just cut in line every time. Outta the way, kid! Pokemaster coming through! We were destined to either run into a geodude or one of those horrid bats no one likes and I'm thrilled at our luck. I just realized. He looks like a cabbage! We will still somehow end up with a bat. Just out of spite. What is Alpina, again? Nidoran female. Ohhhhh, right! Ohhhhh, right! Time for another mugging! "I'm waiting for my friends to find me here" doesn't exactly make it seem like SHE'S attacking US We are absolutely attacking the other children, killing their pets, and stealing their money. Tonight's theme is mugging. It is, isn't it. Oh! A paras! 😀 Even that leprachaun from the first video might've been plotting to mug them. There are so many lovely and hideously venomous pokemon in this game~ Did that guy have... a whip? probably Yes, that's a whip 😕 For whipping disobedient children. Is that better or worse than if it were for whipping pokemon That would depend upon who you are asking. Cabbage vs orange Wait, what just happened Ohhhh Wheeljack! Red! About to hotbox the frag out of my ship What is this Excellent. Knock Out is beating up children... and the occasional weird adult... and their pets, for $$$ Pokemon Yellow, Nuzlocke run. If the little monsters faint, they die. nice Also, limited to catching the first wild pokemon we meet in each area so it IS possible to make it to the end of the game and not have enough of a team to survive it what is that, a rock? Yeah, it's a Geodude A rock with arms. .... Rockman? Red, is that rockman?? Rock with fists! Rockman Returns Son of Rockman Unicron blessed. Rockman Messiah. If we find a Clefairy, I'm taking it for no other reason than they're rare and we'll almost certainly never use it. Do it. It would not be the first cheat we have overlooked. Go, Fluffy! Anakin You know. Because sand. Take the dome fossil. Do they do something? It is the superior one. You can revive the pokemon that it once was. Why can't you just grab 'em both, I mean you beat this kid into the ground already-- Ohhhh. Nice. Jessie! James! 😀 I love these idiots. Gasp How dare you hurt Meowth. He must be killed. GASP. All who oppose must perish. He's just sleeping. Gasp! Our monsters are growing up. She looks so TRIUMPHANT. As she should be! She's ruthless! blasting off agaiiiiiiiind *again Is this a new area? Are we allowed to get... A NEW POKEMON? That was entirely too close a call. In the future, no more skimping on antidotes. It would have been a terrible anticlimactic end. Oh--poison continues out of combat? Yes. Ahhhh. Sounds vaguely unsavory. "Haha, Bill will do ANYTHING for rare pokemon, if you know what I mean" Well, time to pay Bill a visit! Starscr, can't believe you don't even name your pokemons. It's like you don't care. ...Okay, two cheat cards. Oh--oh no! Special. Little. Boy. Not Lambo! That never happened. I didn't see anything if none of you saw anything. I was looking at something in another tab, personally. Seems unfair that pokemon names get more characters than player/rival names. That's right, Night human. You were. Putting the most disposable first? Another Mankey? More like the most in need of training. Be right back. Well done, Rat With No Name! Always with the poison. And those horrifying flashes. Back! Oh, so THAT'S what the flashing is. I thought it was just... part of that area. What'd I miss? No one died. Ominous but okay. Fluffy's saving Lambo the indignity of being repeatedly killed by small birds. Fluffy's nice that way. Lambo seems to be very fragile. And the game will never let him evolve. I'm starting to consider him more of a pet than a battling Pokemon. That's valid. He is your mascot. As you travel the world, killing everything in your way. Awwwww, you can't ACTUALLY join Team Rocket? You just say no in a cutscene? Bah. To be fair, with all the trainers we've been mugging, they're not good enough for US That's fair. I'm convinced that was my offscreen response. Ha. Oh, the people on the bridge scare you, and then someone comes along and beats all of them, so you attack that person? Thinker of the year award! Name! Audrey II Yes! !!!! TEN characters for pokemon names. And only seven for your own name !! : D So I missed... exactly HOW you got Rodimus there? That kid just gave you him? Apparently. Gosh. Gosh. Time to train. He's just a baby. But we'll raise him up into a beautiful, full fledged disaster. I've actually never met a Rodimus in my life. You're missing out. I hear they are noisy. Baby's leveling up already. Oooooo. I like this one. Violet? GASP. Oh is this because of its evolution It's because of its eyes and mouth. Oh, come on! It's cute! Moth, fly. Doesn't matter, I'm clever. Absolutely adorable, right up until it becomes a moth with mandibles that take up half its face Still adorable. If down the road we all decide we love it, we'll rename it Violet. There's NOTHING WRONG with having mandibles that take up half your face. Agreed! I just love it when it's a fuzzbug ...also, you can rename things? A few towns on. Nice. This is SO Zelda overworld. Isn't it just? : D Love that Nidorina. I'm glad you got her. *is concerned* Seems like they should've gotten more xp for that. That was brutal. I forgot how much psychic powers suck for you in this game That was brutal and concerning. I thought for sure we were going to lose someone. we're gonna be fine for a few gyms, but then we have to face the Psychic gym We will need a ghost. And will likely still lose party members. Well, that's sobering. "I wish my guy was as good as you!" I get that a lot. Ha! I wouldn't normally hike back after one battle, but that slowpoke encounter terrified me. Yeah, me too. And really, why NOT get all the free healing you can? Does running away have a failure chance? Yes. Sometimes you cannot escape. Ah. Baby's first solo kill! ... Good work, little creature. Great, now Rodimus can leer. Inevitable. Get your own clefairy, you moocher. So this is Bill. A little TOO into pokemon, if you know what I mean. All aboard the S.S. Bang Ship. Bill's favorite mode of transportation. Pfffft! Innocent bystanders are always dressed like team rocket. "I'm an innocent bystander," says the guy with a whip and a shirt with a big R on the front "And if you don't believe me, I'll kill you!" But we get to keep the stolen property we recovered, right? Or course. So shines a good deed in a naughty world. !!!!!! She BUFF. yuuup Guy over there just chilling in the water. Lambo''s benched, so we need that Bulbasaur. So she offers you the Bulbasaur if she sees you giving potions to pokemon? If the pikachu is happy enough. Ohhhh. ...What WOULD be a good name for a Bulbasaur Leafy Doom? Doom Bloom Tailgate? I love a good theme and it's stubby. Hee! Go for it. No Audrey II? Audrey II's face makes me uncomfortable. Shall we leave it there for tonight? I'm tempted to bump these up to weekly; I'm having that much fun with this. Weekly? Yeah! That sounds great. I would be on board for weekly sessions. It's all I can do to put it down now! Gambling with these little creatures' lives is addicting. All in good fun. One never knows when it will all go horribly worng. Exhibit A, slowpoke. Yeah. All right, all right, to be continued! I look forward to it! And for our sign off video... .... That is not an encouraging title. ..... "They found him reading the bible, without his pants" .... Well. The correct way to end this evening. The only correct way. Goodnight, and thank you for hosting. Until next time! I look forward to it! Good night! Yes, thank you for the stream! And see you next week! See you then!