#the brown sisters
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still waiting for the brown sisters trilogy by talia hibbert to get a movie or (preferably) series adaptation. so many books being adapted into film and none are by popular Black authors, especially the romance books that are the easiest to adapt without the pressure of turning them into a big franchise. there is a severe lack of adult romcoms for Black women but a huge market for it, it's so frustrating
#talia hibbert#the brown sisters#get a life chloe brown#take a hint dani brown#act your age eve brown#movie adaptation#books#booklr
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Get a Life, Chloe Brown
Rating: 5 stars
Pages: 384
Tagged: couldnt-put-down, romance
Holy shit, one of the best romance books I've ever read. I don't think I've ever identified so much with the main character of a book. I loved the exploration of how chronic pain affects your life & relationships, without it being too much (or the conclusion being that you can't have relationships, romantic or otherwise!). This was saccharine-sweet, and also pretty seriously smutty, so warning for that!
Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5975076567
#keep trying to make all of my friends read this book but have so far not been very successful#booklr#books and reading#books#reviews#get a life chloe brown#the brown sisters#talia hibbert#fibromyalgia#chronically ill#chronic illness#chronic pain
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”Something jagged and broken inside him smoothed out, slotting back into place so firmly that he felt like he should’ve heard the click.”
- Talia Hibbert, Get a Life, Chloe Brown
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Quick Review: Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert (Narrated by Ione Butler)
Screenshot This is the second installment in the Brown sisters series. I kicked off last year with reading about Chloe Brown so it made sense to start the year with reading about Dani. And, oof, this one is so good. Dani and Zafir are both so awesome. Dani is an academic and Zafir is a former rugby player and current security guard at the university. Zafir suffers from anxiety and also started a…

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God, I just know that the family hates playing Scrabble with Jason, because they agree being casual and not search for unusable words through dictionaries intentionally - side eye at Tim, who prior the Scrabble night learned by heart the whole dictionary and spluttered words the next day without even remembering their meaning just because he wanted to win - and then they forget that Jason is English & Literary major. And his casual words are like. Unknown by the half of population.
Jason: Hm-m, geoluread. Dick: There is no way this word is real. Jason: It means yellow-red, actually. Poets and writers used it to describe-- Damian, aka. Nerd Jr: He is right, it is a real word. Tim, groaning: Can we play Uno? Duke: No, no, wait, I use Jason's bizarre knowledge for making my own dictionary to use in school essays and impress teachers, let him cook. Cass, nodding: Good source information. Dick, frustrated: THIS IS NOT EVEN FAIR Stephanie, reaching for her phone: I smell a fight--
#Dick is big sister (he cannot handle losing in family games night and will fist-fight Bruce if he wins him in the Monopoly)#Jason DOES use these words intentionally but he also thinks that it is others' fault if they are not educated like that.#Tim is also competitive asf but Dick banned him from acting on it. like a true hypocrite.#Damian used to be competitive but the older he grows the more he realises how ridiculous and embarrassing it looks from outsider POV#so he drops it and spends his time to bully his brothers#jason todd#red hood#batman#dcu#dcu comics#dc universe#batfamily#bruce wayne#batfam#dick grayson#tim drake#damian wayne#stephanie brown#duke thomas#cassandra cain
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Undoing Fate
neglected to regressor batsis! reader x platonic batfam

what if after 20 years of neglect from your family full of vigilantes, you face an unfortunate death, only to find yourself regressed back to when you were 16?
⤷ lots of emotional neglect, reader was batgirl, reader was a tryhard and an overachiever, reader had no social life in her first life, mentions of drugs, mentions of human trafficking, mentions of death, regression themes, toxic and unhealthy relationships, dysfunctional family, toxic mentalities, reader and everyone else needs therapy…, canon divergence, major character death(s) | tba | based on this
⤷ info! (background) 1 | 2 | read this first to understand the plot and each batfam better :)
⤷ art!!! 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
⤷ if you’re bored m.list—under reconstruction
00 | And she cried over nothing
01 | Sixteen again
02 | A quitter? | ?
03 | Everything is awesome…
04 | Until it’s not | .
05 | Untouched memories
06 | Another suffocating day | .
07 | 1–Paranoia at its finest
| 2–To care or not to care
| 3–Sneaky link?
08 | 1–We’ve been here before (13/4)
| 2–Tricks and Riddles (16/4)
| 3– (TBC) (19/4)
09 | —
taglist is closed‼️
(1/3): @.fangxout @.dusk-muse @.quethekillerqueen @.isupportorbitalbombardment @.nxdxsworld @.vanessa-boo @coffeeaddictxd @moonsbluekingdom @yuya-bubbly @percythebitchwitch @anonymousdisco @.jason-todd-fangirl-14 @.redsakura101 @.what-0-life @.idkwhattoputhete @.secretyouthcomputer @.witch-waycult @.allycat4458 @.dazed-lavender @.eclecticfurylady @.wizzerreblogs @.marsmabe @.daddysfangirls-dc @.hoeinthehouse @.beeweensblog @.ilxandra @.agent-nobody-knows @.thethingwiththefeathers @.mochiivqi @.pix-stuff @.narration-ator @nebulousmoon3990 @delias-stuff @froggy-voidd @jjsmeowthie @kore-of-the-underworld @nen-nyy @juthesillylesbain @vikkus-main @emilylouise123 @blueiones @horror-lover-69 @chaotic-fangirl-blog @wassupbroski55555 @reallyromealone @plsfckmedxddy @sea-glasses @203moonysello @luvly-writer @dovey-quacks2332 @love-theangel @hotdinoankles @vebbiewuzhere
(2/3) @animegirlfromvietnam @estreiiuh @simply-lovely78 @twismare @ssak-i @g4bbi3xx @buddee @alor-thes @kiyoramen @weirdothatreads @bat1212 @actuallysleepingrn @k1arar3 @zelabee @just-pure-trash @mindless-rock @heartjwonie @nickey-diano @goldfishsmemory @infirebaby @thephantomdanny @madkill44 @w31rd3rg1rl @fishstcks @yvesnoteve @otterluver05 @lilithskywalker @vanilliona @definitely-not-sammie @strwberryglass @f0rtunej @cottage-worm @darkfaethedestroyer @cloudserenity @bigchungusdrinksspritecranberry @cooldeermagazine @fightmebissh @fantasyhopperhea @sirenetheblogger @dind1n @stupidvodkka @lilithquillete @unamused-boss @insomniaccorner @paastaboi @octavius-world @yukixies @imguce @jellyedkazoo @jsprien213 @bad4amficideas @farmerboywakatoshikun-blog @rissareader @itsberrydreemurstuff @i-am-here3 @eyeless-kun @jayjayjayson @rosy-myhouse34 @verypersonadazzel @ehh-im-just-here-to-read @thesehandsarerated-e
(3/3) @glitchmshade @prongs-moon @jjllmx @thegothamsiren @v3vina @levi-09 @leovergurl @dazailover4ever @sofiaswrittendelusions @yukinaabutlazy @sbrewer21 @ryuushou @batboygirlie @simp-hub
(idk why i can’t tag some of y’all, must be your settings i think 😓) (or let me know if i accidentally spelt ur user wrongly 😭💀)
#angst#batsis#batfamily#batfam x batsis#batfam x reader#batsisreader#bruce wayne x daughter reader#damian wayne x sister reader#dick grayson x sister reader#jason todd x sister reader#tim drake x sister reader#cassandra cain x sister reader#bruce wayne#dick grayson#jason todd#tim drake#damian wayne#cassandra cain#alfred pennyworth#barbara gordon#stephanie brown#duke thomas#x reader#batman#imagine#regressed reader#regressor reader#platonic batfam#platonic batfam x reader#undoing fate
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it’s implied in the third book dani might be autistic, but it’s not confirmed. chloe and eve are canonically disabled though.
i try not to read into everything but also my brain is my brain and i will read into everything…do y’all not find it weird that the majority of peoples favorite brown sister is dani and she’s also the only one who isn’t canonically disabled 🫤…
to be CLEAR since i know people like to read words that aren’t there, you can have dani as your favorite, she’s an amazing character with many likeable traits i just think it’s interesting
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Bruce: Nothing in life is free.
Dick: Love is free!
Stephanie: Adventure is free.
Damian: Knowledge is free.
Y/N: Everything is free if you take it without paying!
All: *slowly turn to Jason*
Jason: *smiling proudly at Y/N* I knew I taught you something!
#batfamily x reader#batfamily incorrect quotes#dc incorrect quotes#batfamily#dc x reader#jason todd x reader platonic#jason todd x reader#jason todd x sister reader#jason todd#bruce wayne x reader platonic#bruce wayne x daughter reader#bruce wayne x reader#bruce wayne#dick grayson x reader platonic#dick grayson x sister reader#dick grayson x reader#dick grayson#tim drake x reader platonic#tim drake x sister reader#tim drake x reader#tim drake#damian wayne x reader platonic#damian wayne x reader#damian wayne x sister reader#damian wayne#stephanie brown#stephanie brown x reader#stephanie brown x reader platonic#stephanie brown x sister reader
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Everyone say: FAMILY VACATION!!!
#fan art#art#dc#funny#dc comics#batman#bat family#fan comic#bat brothers#bat sisters#bat siblings#bat kids#Bruce wayne#dick grayson#Nightwing#Jason todd#red hood#tim drake#red robin#Damian wayne#robin#duke thomas#the signal#Cassandra cain#batgirl#Barbara gordon#oracle#Stephane brown#spoiler#alfred Pennyworth
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Is it a Wonder I Broke?
Batfamily x Neglected! Reader
Author's note: I really did NAWT want to write a two parter but hey, I should have expected it with how much I write. I am so new to writing angst but I've had a thirst for writing and reading angst lately and I just NEEDED to cure it!!! ENJOY
Warnings: The Bats being kinda shitty, Neglect
Part 1 // Part 3
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Damian was sure something was missing. He woke up that day and as he had breakfast, he had noticed something odd about Alfred. There was a certain sadness in his eyes that Damian couldn't place. None of them had gotten injured in last night's patrol. Jason's deathaversary (as he loved to call it) wasn't near. No one had fought, quite the contrary, he'd say this has got to be one of the weeks where they had best behaved and gotten along. Even Bruce and Jason were relaxed. So what plagued the man? Damian looked around the house and wondered what could be the problem. Maybe he was tired? Or Sick? That could be it. Sensing the young man's gaze on him, Alfred erased all emotion from his face and looked at Damian questioning.
"May I help you with something, Master Damian?" he asked with a raised brow. Damian inspected him thoroughly and hummed.
"You are different, Pennyworth" observed Damian and the butler gave the boy a deadpan. Nop, he's good, never mind. Maybe he was just thinking something unpleasant and it showed in his face.
And yet, the feeling didn't leave Damian. There was something odd in the house. Thankfully, it was Saturday, so he had the rest of the day to walk around and investigate. He had visited the gardens, and overseen the entirety of the first and second floor, yet nothing came to mind. What the fuck was wrong in this damn house?
He had decided to empty his mind in the art room. There, he spent the rest of his afternoon sketching a portrait of some plants he had seen in the garden. His 16th birthday was soon approaching and he really needed to get some new art supplies. The ones he had were old and very worn out. As he finished, he noticed the time and realized he had spent the majority of the day in the art room. He had gone to clean his hands and headed to the cave to suit up, hoping tonight's patrol would clear his head. What was missing?
So into his thoughts, Damian hadn't noticed the rest of his siblings down at the cave suiting up as well.
"Hey, Littlewing! What's got you looking so constipated?" Asked Dick with a hint of humor in his tone.
"Have any of you noticed that the manor feels rather odd?" he questions as he suits his boots up.
"What do you mean, bat brat?" Asked Jason raising his eyebrow.
"The manor, it feels….odd. As if something is missing. It feels emptier and I can't help but ask why. Not only that, have any of you noticed Pennyworth looking….strange lately?" He questioned and the group fell into silence, all thinking of his observation.
"Now that you mention it, Alfred has been looking a little tired lately. Like, you know, as if his age is kinda showing." Tim recounted
"And he has had this sort of sad glaze in his eyes" Steph added.
"It's not my deathaversery, I can assure you that" hummed Jason.
"And no other impacting date is near, so what could have caused him any sort of discomfort?" Asked Dick.
The group looked at each other, clueless about what could have caused their beloved butler and grandfather to feel odd.
"You don't think he might be sick and is hiding that from us?" Asked Duke
"But why would he be sad about that?" Barbara question.
Plagued with the heaviness of confusion, none of them noticed the patriarch of the family arrive all suited up and looking at them.
"Is everyone ready?" sounded Bruce's deep voice snapping everyone out of their thoughts. They all nodded still a little bit distant and lost. Bruce, not wanting to push his kids, nodded and clapped his hands to gain their full attention. "Tonight we have a slow night as it seems. Everyone has their patrol route, let's hope that we can be already finished by 2. Everyone, dispatch.
It was a relatively slow night. So much so, that it had allowed them to goof around a little as they went on. Midnight had arrived and Damian was crouched next to his father as they overlooked the city. He could hear Jason, Stephanie, and Dick joking around in the back and smiled a little as they laughed. That's when he felt it. The lingering gaze in the shadows. Surely, he looked up to his father who had felt it as well.
His mother.
After years of being separated from her and getting only a handful of visits, he had gotten used to her gaze when she was lingering, watching him. He knew it was her. Damian stood up and turned towards his left and there he saw her. Black, gold, and green armor shining in the night. The sudden silence told him that his siblings were on high alert as well. What could Talia want?
She finally noticed their gaze on her and began running. This alerted every one of them.
"Oracle, send Red Robin and Orphan our coordinates. We encountered Talia Al Ghul and are on the move." Ordered Batman
"Copy that, B." Answered Barbara in their comns.
What did the League of Assassins want now? If they meant no harm, she wouldn't have run, so what happened?
They followed Talia as she led them farther from the city and closer to the harbor. As they went, he noticed that more assassins made themselves visible and surrounded them and that alone raised his suspicions even more. Normally, when his mother wanted to talk to him, she came alone. Why were they here?
Finally, she stopped in front of a boat…the same one where I met my father…WITH Y/N. Damian came to a sudden halt. That is what was missing! He tries to think back on the past few weeks and he couldn't conjure up the slightest memory of seeing his sister. As a matter of fact, he hadn't seen her in the past few months…Where was Y/n? Was that why Pennyworth looked distressed? Why did he just notice now?! Had he been so busy that he couldn't recall his sister? No….that's imposible. She probably has been in practice. She was busy with her own life as well. Especially now, that it was getting closer to the Ice Skating National Competition. He had been keeping tabs on her competition schedules. Yeah, that was probably it. Any time a competition got closer, she would either be locked in their home rink or her practice rink making sure it was perfect. Yeah, that had to be it. She probably left early, was busy in practice, and came during the time he was in the art room or getting ready. Damian wanted to believe that..he really did, but something was nagging at him in the back of his mind. Why would Alfred be sad at that? Had she gotten hurt in practice? Ice skating meant the world for Y/n so that was probably it. Alfred adored watching her skate. Per Damian's request, he would record her practices and competitions so that once he got back from a mission and patrol, he could watch her. She was truly wonderful. That could have been it. She got hurt before Nationals and had been resting in her room lately. That could be why Damian had not seen much of her in the last few weeks. Before that, he had stayed a few months with the Titans, so that could also explain the lack of memories in the past year o so. That was the logical conclusion, right? But if she was hurt, why did Pennyworth not mention anything? He would have to ask him when he arrived later because now he was concerned for his sister's health.
He looked forward and realized that all of them had stopped further. He ran and reached his father's side. Observing his surroundings, he noted that there were 10 or so assassins on both of their sides. Why would his mother need so many?
"Ah, Damian, finally, you are here," Talia spoke up with her back to them. If she was a threat, she wouldn't be giving them her back. Ras taught them better than that.
"What are you here for, Talia?" questioned Bruce.
"Well. Beloved, I have come to extend an invitation, per my daughter's request" She smiled turning around to look at them fully, "I had to lure all of you out here so that we could settle this private matter without the sounds of the city." she explained.
"My sister is resting back in the manor, Mother, what could you mean?" Damian questioned narrowing his eyes at her.
"Is that what you all believe, my dear?" She smirked and watched each of their reactions one by one.
"Where is our daughter, Talia?" Asked Bruce slowly
"You mean to tell me that MY daughter was left under your care and you have no clue where she is?" asked Talia, venom slipping into her words. "Is that what you are letting me know, Batman?"
"Our daughter is safe in the manor" Bruce answered. Damian looked at him and if he wasn't doubtful himself, he probably would have believed him.
"Well, that's not entirely true, beloved. Y/n has not been living in the manor for almost two years now." Talia corrected and everyone froze. "Can't believe you would lie to my face like that"
Jason, Dick, Tim, Stephanie, and Cassandra looked at Bruce expetantly. Surely what Talia said can't be true. They all take a moment to digest the information. Y/n was in the manor, right?
Tim tried to look back but he couldn't think of a moment he had seen her. He lived in the manor as well for fuck's sake. Had he been too busy with Wayne Enterprises and Red Robin that he hadn't noticed his sister's absence? Then again, Y/n was always training so it was difficult to tell….or was it?
Dick and Jason looked at each other. They didn't live in the manor anymore but surely, they had seen her at dinners. Y/n rarely spoke up so she could have been there but they just didn't notice? But as far as they can remember, Y/n loved to talk about her competitions in the hope that they would be able to go to one. They thought she had finally given up on asking them….and that left a bitter taste in their mouths. Why had she all of a sudden gone silent?….or was she just not there at all?
Cassandra had noticed what Damian had said earlier. The Manor had felt different. It seemed as if one presence was lacking but she was constantly with Stephanie so it was rather difficult to keep up on the whereabouts of her life. Besides, Y/n was always training…
Bruce stiffened. Where..was..his..daughter? Since when had she not been living in the manor? When did that happen? He had noticed that Alfred had gone out less and figured Y/n began transporting herself to her things, but that was odd because the old man loved taking her. It was the one moment where Bruce could tell he had peace. Y/n had always been such an independent child from a young age. She didn't need the same training as Damian because she abandoned that life once she was in Gotham. He was truly so glad that she wouldn't follow in his footsteps, that she had chosen to be normal. When was the last time he had seen her come to dinner? When was the last time he heard her songs blasting from her room? When was the last time she used her rink? He would always watch footage of her through Alfred's recordings and the security cameras installed in the ice rink. He still remembers the day he surprised her with it. "I didn't think you'd even know" she whispered thinking he hadn't heard, but he did and those words had plagued his mind ever since then like a broken record. Why wouldn't he know? Sure they were all busy but they cared for her.
"Oracle, search footage of all of the security cameras in the past two years. Find anything and everything about Y/n."
"Right on that, B."
"What invitation does Y/n have for us, mother?" Asked Damian, unsure whether or not he wanted to hear the answer.
"To her coronation as the new Heir to the Demon Head and Future Leader of the League of Assassins, of course" She answered almost instantly.
.
..
…
"WHAT!" yelled Damian. Everyone felt their blood run cold, "My sister, my beloved twin sister, would never NEVER desire that. You must not be serious! Y/n Wayne Al Ghul has never EVER wanted to be like grandfather. She is better than that. She is too good for the Demon Head. I was the one trained to be the heir an-"
"And you weren't the only one trained. Have you forgotten that both of you endured the same training and whilst your grandfather disciplined you, I was disciplining her." interrupted his mother harshly. "Y/n moved back to the League a year and a half ago and has been training endlessly to become the next Leader of the League, Damian. You would have all known that had you chosen to not neglect my daughter. She is safe and well-"
"My sister will NEVER be happy-"
"Because you know her oh so very well, my son?" Talia let her gaze linger on her son. Her disappointment was palpable. He had failed to be there for his twin….
"Nightwing, Red Hood, do one last round on the city, then head to the cave. The rest of you, you are dismissed. Head straight to the came, now. Especially, you, Damian. I have to speak with your mother first." Batman's left no space for argument. They all nodded and left, aside from Damian.
"Father-"
"Go, Robin"
"Father, this is just my problem as it is yours"
"To the cave, now. We will discuss this later."
Damian wasn't happy with the outcome, but one look at his mother and father; and he knew he wouldn't want to be part of this discussion when he had many important matters to attend to.
Once Damian left, Bruce turned to Talia.
"Tal-"
"You neglected my daughter-"
"Our-"
"MY daughter. You spent six years ignoring one child and favoring the other and you THINK you can make demands and look at me as if I have done something wrong? I went to her practices, I went to her competitions, I visited on their birthday every. fucking. Year. Bruce, I may not be the example of motherhood, but at least I was as present as I could be and I didn't even live with her." She hissed at him coldly.
"This is different, she wanted to be a professional ice skater. I know my daughter well enough to remember that. Damian is right. Becoming the Leader of the League of Assassins will never make her happy-"
"Because you know her so well? Bruce, I believe in what Y/n can bring to the League. She has astounding potential as a leader. She is levelheaded and diplomatic, she understands my father's ideal and vision without a vengeful eye. Unless you intend to be supportive…Do not cross her path. I came here to extend the invitation per her request as cordiality, not because I planned to. It will be a week after her birthday. I will not repeat myself. Farewell, Batman"
"Talia" Bruce tried, but she was already gone.
---
Author's note: Well fuck it's gonna be three chapters. I swear, part three will BE THE LAST ONE!!! I SWEAR!!! I HAVE ANOTHER ONE SHOT THAT I WANNA WRITE DAMN
#batfamily#tim drake#dick grayson#jason todd#batman#batfam#cassandra cain#alfred pennyworth#stephanie brown#damian wayne#bruce wayne#dick grayson x you#batfamily x reader angst#bruce wayne x reader fic recs#damian wayne x reader#dick grayson x reader#nightwing x reader#jason todd x reader#x reader#batfamily x you#batfamily x reader#batfamily x neglected reader#batfamily x batsis!reader#batfamily angst#damian wayne x female reader#damian wayne x y/n#damian wayne x twin! sister#bruce wayne x daughter!reader#bruce wayne x fem!reader#bruce wayne x reader
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People always do how Danny is related to Bruce. Could you please do one where they’re related to Babs instead. Maddie is Gordon’s ex. Babs chose to stay with her dad when they divorced and eventually Maddie moves to Amity/loses touch. It’s actually Babs that Danny and Jazz are related to. Babs is shocked to find out she’s a big sister (twice over) when a girl who looks near identical to her younger self comes to check out some psych books for classes at Gotham U.
(For a minute, I was absolutely horrified to get this ask bc I thought it was Maddie x Babs and I was like ???!?? but then I reread and gave a sigh of relief bc it’s actually the Commissioner x Maddie)
Part 2
Barbara was fervently typing on her computer, pulling up records and social media accounts and old posts. She was typing so fast and hacking into so many databases that everyone who was invading her Tower and her space stopped and stared at her with worry in their eyes.
Jason, as he was bothering Stephanie to go help him on a case, paused and stared at the screen.
“Damn. Who’s that hottie?” He asked, pointing at a picture of a girl with long red hair.
Barbara slapped his hand away and hissed. “Don’t you dare! If you even touch her, look at her, or even breathe the same air as her, I’m posting your blackmail online! And I’m sending Bruce all of the stuff I’ve kept hidden for you!”
“Jesus H. Christ!” Jason shrieked, recoiling with his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay! Touchy! Sheesh!”
Stephanie asked, “Wait, O, who is this? And who’s that boy too?”
Cassandra leaned closer. “Cute.”
Barbara whirled around to glare at her. With the glow of her computer behind her, she looked a little crazy, but no one was going to say it to her face.
Cassandra took a step back with her hands up in the air. She eyed Barbara like she was about to pounce.
“Don’t worry about it,” Barbara took a deep breath and then grumbled. “I’m just figuring something out.”
She muttered something and then continued to type, scrolling and finding more information. At some point, she was pulling up photos and school records from elementary school websites too. There were papers that showed grades from even pre-kindergarten.
Jason, Cassandra, and Stephanie all shared a look. Then they all quietly slipped out of the Tower, leaving Barbara in her information gathering frenzy.
“… so that was weird, right?” Jason said. Stephanie nodded quickly.
Cassandra said, “She was protective over them. She knows them. Or doesn’t, but is trying to.”
“Overcompensation, mayhaps?” Jason hummed. “You think we can find out who they are before she can approach them first?”
Stephanie and Cassandra looked at each other and then nodded at Jason. “I’ll do it only because I’m curious.” Stephanie paused and then looked at Jason and Cassandra with narrowed eyes. “Wait a minute, are you two just interested because the two people she was looking at were cute?”
Jason smiled, batting his eyes innocently. “No?”
Cassandra made a zipping motion between her lips.
Jason grinned and then said, “Well, it’s not like you can stop us, right? We’re in this together. If Babs is going to spread my embarrassing moments online, I’m taking you all down with me, because if we get caught, I’m going to be a snitch. So let’s go!”
Then he took out his grappling hook and then shot it, swinging off of the Tower. Cassandra also quickly followed without any hesitation.
Stephanie sighed loudly, her head hanging. “I’m so going to regret this.”
From a Gotham City apartment, two siblings sneezed in unison. They blinked and then looked at each other oddly before moving on.
It sure was windy tonight.
#dpxdc#dcxdp#dp x dc#dc x dp#danny phantom x dc#dp x dc crossover#ask#anon ask#jazz fenton#danny fenton#barbara gordon#jason todd#cassandra wayne#cassandra cain#anger management ship#hardcover ship#jason x jazz#danny x cass#dead silent ship#half sister au#stephanie brown#ty for the ask!
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Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Rating: 5 stars Pages: 400 Tagged: couldnt-put-down, romance
I was looking forward to reading this ever since Eve first showed up in Chloe Brown, and it was not a let down! It was just so adorable, I loved the setting (a B&B with an upcoming gingerbread festival?! c'mon that's perfect), and Eve's journey of realising she has autism was realistically and beautifully written. An all around great romance!
Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3413670438
#i just enjoyed this one so much it was so cute that i couldn't stop reading it#booklr#books and reading#books#reviews#sofreviews#talia hibbert#the brown sisters#eve brown#act your age eve brown#take a hint chloe brown#autism#autistic
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spider society meeting more like gay brunch
#across the spiderverse#spiderverse#pavitr prabhakar#hobie brown#gwen stacy#chaipunk#bestfriends who kiss each other 🥰#their relationship means the world to me. also pav my angel my beloved#saw the movie twice this week already but i cant wait to go again with my sisters#my art
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Steph: Put something you love in the box.
Dick: Can I put Tim in the box?
Tim: …
Steph: No.
Tim: Wait! You love me?
Dick: Duh, but I want you to fuck off right now, so get in the box.
#he’s the mean older sister who loves you but is so done with your shit#dick grayson#Tim Drake#stephanie brown#dc incorrect quotes#dc#batkids#batfam#batman#dc comics
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odi et amo - (03) i, ghostly
negelected! meta! reader x platonic! batfam
masterlist / prev / next
(TW) : emotional neglect, self-destructive behaviour, self-harm, suicide, depression, unhealthy coping mechanisms, underage smoking, underage drinking, alcohol abuse, depression, bpd, depictions of mental illness, violence, trauma, ...
you can't tell what's louder, the thumping in your chest or the ringing in your ears.
your breath comes out shaky, the smoke curling out your nose and mouth, caressing your face.
it's hard to grasp reality. you don't know how you ended up here, nothing feels certain.
nothing feels real.
the sting on your now dried tear streaked cheek is the only feeling you grasp, a reminder.
and it's haunting.
did it hurt? fuck yes. but you're used to it.
you've been hurt your whole life.
you are nothing more than a body that hurts.
you never expected anything from that family, a family that isn't yours. but, perhaps, it was wishful thinking that if you made yourself forgettable enough, they would leave you alone. it didn't matter anymore, the fact that they were never there - you've done this before, you've been alone before. the heart could only grow brutal from feeding on fantasies.
fantasies of loving arms, fantasies of warmth and peace.
fantasies of being seen. fantasies of being wanted.
but you're never seen.
and you're never wanted.
expectations only lead to disappointment.
you're staring down at the deep drop, somehow finding yourself back at the same abandoned building years ago. the sharp sting of the wind barely felt through the thick of the hoodie engulfing your form, the hood protecting your identity. the pack of the nearly empty cigarettes you had burned through along with your lighter layed scattered besides you, mixing with the discarded butts.
"didn't take you for the rebellious type."
a sense of déjà vu, a voice, a similar scenario and the same setting - recognition washes over you - the voice of the vigilante that stopped you from jumping. and now, now you just can't seem to find the same sense of finality and courage to do it again.
you didn't even flinch, no signs of making a move to acknowledge his presence, the burning cigarette still in hand as it nears your lips once more. a sigh and footsteps were heard before he was seated next to you, plucking the half-smoked cigarette out of your trembling hands and flicking it out the building.
"that's littering", you mutter, and he let out a surprised laugh despite your deadpan tone and the depressing atmosphere.
you're grateful that the hood makes you unidentifiable, thanks to the shadow it casts upon your face, further assisted by the blanket of the night: you don’t want to be seen right now, you just need to be heard.
he looks at you, a moment of prolonged silence as his laughter dies out. you didn't even stir, defeated.
your voice was more mature, your stature taller but despite your unseen features, he can still sense how hollow you were - just like the first time he saw you.
despite everything, it was still you.
he's thankful that, at the very least, you weren't making a move to jump off this time, the memory of it still unnerves him everytime he revisits it. although admittedly, smoking is just another way to achieve what you had come here to do before.
"… do you want to talk about it? ", he hesitates.
a beat passes. he desperately wants to help you, but also wishes not to overstep.
you asked your own question, one that had lingered at the back of your mind ever since that day:
"why did you stop me?"
he's surprised.
you're waiting.
your head tilted slightly, the moon light barely illuminated the edges of your face.
"because your life has value. i couldn't watch you, just, throw it away like it meant nothing.”
"it does mean nothing, i have nothing to live for", you reply, your tone grim and finalized.
his heart aches, the burden heavy in your voice - you sounded tired. broken.
his hand finds its way on your shoulder and pats awkwardly. "i'm sure that's not true. you may think that now, but you don't have to carry this weight alone."
"but i am alone."
“that’s not true, i’m sure there are people who care about you!”
he nudges your arm lightly, a light and reassuring smile on his face. you stare at him, at how the moon perfectly encapsulates his presence, at the tender warmth and genuine care radiating from him - the personification of life. the opposite of you, who's haunted by the idea of death.
you, who’d always remain in the shadows, remained in the desolated and dark corners of everyone’s mind, ignored, forgotten. dead to them.
“you don’t even know me,” you breathe out, “nobody knows me.”
the weight of your words weigh heavy on his soul. “that may be true, but that doesn’t mean i can’t care,” he offers. “you know, kid, you actually remind me of one of my siblings. around the same age, actually.”
your curiosity peaked as you silently urged for him to continue.
“but they came around eventually, i think. the hurt doesn’t go away, but you have to reach out for help.”
“…have you talked to your family about it?”
you scoff and stood up, making your way out of the building. he hurriedly follows you, frustration tainting his carefully crafted positivity. “you can’t just push people away like this. why won’t you let anyone in?”
you’re annoyed, it’s not like you did so deliberately, had anyone ever tried to get to know you? let alone care about you? you had abandoned that wishful thinking long ago, especially after today’s events.
“what’s the use,” you snarled. “nothing ever changes.”
“nothing can change if you don’t try!”
“sure, whatever.”
you paced hurriedly to where you left your bicycle, his presence hot on your trail.
“don’t dismiss me. your life matters, damn it.” he grabs your wrist.
you exhale sharply, yanking your arm out of his grasp. he falters back a bit, sensing that he crossed a line, trying to tone down how aggressive he was coming onto you.
“just- just remember that people care about you.”
“sure, like you do?”
“yes!”
you still for a bit, looking at him skeptically. you both awkwardly stood there, the situation almost comical in a sense, especially since his eyes can't remain trained on any visible feature of your face.
“hmm, thanks. i guess.” you trailed, hopping on your bicycle.
“be safe, alright?” he watches you, unsure if he should follow you to assure your safety.
“i will.”
he watched you ride off into the night, unable to shake the feeling of helplessness. he wanted to help, but also didn’t want to make you uncomfortable and scare you off. he stood there contemplating before he dashed off to continue the rest of his patrol.
the distance between you both grows larger, moving in opposite directions, but your thoughts lingered on each other's words.
despite continuing his patrol, he couldn't shake off the feeling of responsibility: for you - the mystery person tonight, and then, his mentioned sibling. he recalls how they were when they first entered the manor, and how they quietly adapted to the new lifestyle, growing up with the habit of concealing their emotions behind the facade of indifference, thinking that he didn’t notice. but he did, he was just never confronted with the drastic measure it would lead to if everyone in that manor just let that feeling of hopelessness fester within them. in a way, he's thankful to you: you gave him a wake-up call.
that sense of urgency nagging him to check on his family as he made a mental note to visit them after his patrol, your words lingering at the back of his head.
you retreat to the bathroom of the manor, the storm in your mind temporarily tamed. the cold water trickling down your arms, the soapy smell in the air to wash away the smoke clinging on your skin. the hoodie you wore hanging in the shower after you'd hand wash it, not wanting to expose yourself in case alfred gets a whiff of it.
despite what had happened, you can't help but want his approval - the only person who actually gave you the time of day in this manor.
your expression focused, your eyebrows knitted, lips sucked in as you scrubbed your arms raw. you feel more grounded. your eyes dart to the reflection in the mirror, reminding yourself to keep it together.
keep it together.
keep it together.
keep it together.
subliminally. consciously. repeatedly
keep. it. together.
you release the death grip and push yourself off the sink, sighing harshly.
keeping it together, you made way to the kitchen, planning to get some tea.
and then, you see him.
richard grayson.
in the same vigilante suit, mask off.
your breath lodged in your throat, you stand frozen watching him wait for the coffee while seemingly deep in thought, troubled. anxious.
you can't believe it. richard grayson, the oldest sibling, the vigilante, was the person who pulled you off the ledge, was the person who actually listened to you.
you can't describe this feeling in your chest, gripping your heart like a vice.
he was here all along.
you recall the mention of the sibling, was it you? did he actually… notice your struggles? maybe he had good intentions all along, trying not to overstep, hoping you'd come to him?
you don't know why you're trying to make excuses for him, but the mere fact that he saw you was enough.
you finally let out a noise, snapping him out of his trance and his eyes snapped to you.
he looked a little caught off guard, surprised he didn't sense your presence.
you. hoodie off.
“oh. hey.”
he rubs the back of his head. maybe he felt embarrassed that this was how you found out? but it's alright, because now he’ll finally notice you-
“have you seen tim?”
“what?”
he sighs and grabs the finished coffee, settled on a tray with a dish holding an assortment of cookies.
“i’m a little worried about him. i mean, since the cat's out of the bag, you should know he does a lot of work to contribute to us keeping the city safe- actually, you wouldn't understand.”
he cuts himself off, deeming it not important enough to explain, and completely overlooks the horrified expression that now settles on your features.
your vision starts to swim, your neck feels hot - unsure if it was embarrassment or rage.
embarrassed at the fact that you were deluded enough into thinking anyone in this house would ever give a shit about you, that anyone would care about what you're going through.
angry at the fact that you are never the person who gets asked for, never the sibling whose struggles are acknowledged.
dick had left the kitchen in search for tim, deciding to check out his room first. you absent-mindedly trailed behind him like a kicked dog, not saying a heap.
you didn't register him knocking on tim's door.
you didn't register how dick affectionately asked a tired tim to spend some time together.
you didn't register them conversing while walking inside.
you didn't register tim giving you an odd look and closing the door to give them more privacy.
now, you sit in your room once more, alone, back against your bed, the torn shirt bundled in your hands. the grip on the fabric tightens, your knuckles whitens, and your shoulder starts shaking.
tears made its way down your face as you silently sobbed once more, occasionally chuckling at how pathetic your situation was.
you give up.
you can't keep it together anymore.
expectations only lead to disappointment.
despite your lethargy, you somehow made it through another school day. time started to bleed into each other, you resorted to going on auto-pilot.
so it didn't matter when onlookers would sneakily glance at you and the hand print on your cheek, resting under your red rimmed eyes and heavy eyebags that no one thought could get worse.
you had to keep moving. at the very least, you still had something that defined your worth - your intelligence.
so what if you had no family, no friends. your grades would never betray you, you'll continue your plan: study hard, get into a good university and then get the fuck away from here, from everyone.
no one will miss you.
no one would even notice.
“hey that's a bit much. what are we, chopped liver?”
the deafening ring of the bell signalling the end of school somehow went unheard, but the sound of your friends somehow pierced through the barrier of your haze, jolting you back to reality. your eyes flickered to them, trying your hardest to offer a weak smile, but somehow failing.
they offer you a sympathetic smile, their face painted with worry. that alone almost sent you into crying again. you find yourself in their embrace, soothing you while you try to hold it together, shielding you from the world.
yes, you're not entirely alone.
you still have your friends.
they would miss you.
they would notice.
so it didn't matter when the students gave you an odd look, putting some distance while you stood to the side engulfed in the arms of your friends. it didn't matter.
you had them.
you had someone.
the path back to manor somehow the sky looked clearer, the grass looked greener, and the lush bushes of wildflowers were glowing - noticing the little things that you usually disregard, walking your bicycle while chatting away with your friends.
they never pried on why you were upset. they knew you, they knew. they knew because you knew. and that was enough, a wordless understanding, unconditional. they had insisted to keep you company, maybe spend some time together in your room.
you really needed the company, but despite being too ashamed to communicate it, they knew. so now, even if you arrived home later than usual, the sky turned dark and cold, you felt warm. that's the safety and comfort that no one else has been able to provide you, and you're so grateful that you at least had them - your precious friends, your reason to stay.
so when you opened the door to the manor, still chattering and giggling with your friend, alfred had heard from the other room.
he felt somewhat relieved, the guilt over his actions had started to consume him, and so he had waited impatiently for your arrival that had been later than usual; but before he could fuss over you, the sound of your laughter had effectively calmed him down knowing you were safe and happy. he'd never heard you this happy before, and it hurts knowing that you had never been able to find joy while surrounded by the walls of this house.
he straightened his shirt, cleared his throat, and put on a kind smile while making his way out of the room to greet you in the doorway, your smile that could light up a stormy day, contrasting the gloomy room.
your friends shrunk back a bit, seemingly nervous of the tall and poised butler, feeling out of place.
you grabbed their hands and gave a reassuring squeeze, telling them it's alright.
“oh, hey alfred! i know this wasn't informed but my friends were wondering if they could stay for dinner?” you turn to him, “we won't be much trouble, i promise!”
you beam at him, waiting expectantly for alfred to welcome your friends.
while alfred could only stare in horror at the empty space next to you.
howdy skibbidis, i am not feeling very sigma :pained_heh:
lowk work has been ass and so has everything else but hey we move. i appreciate every single one of your comments and reblogs yall are so funny lol, but fr the support has been like saving my ass from burning out. grassy ass my skibbidi sigmas.
(TAGLIST) closed due to limit :sadge:
@confused-they @hoeinthehouse @strwberryglass @heartjwonie @glitchmshade @bat1212 @buddee @eyeless-kun @thereeallink @icantcryicantstopcrying @bunbunboysworld @gh0str00m @wizzerreblogs @lazy-kari202 @dotomuses @gwyneveire @gh6st24 @roseapov @kore-of-the-underworld @kingshitonly @plsfckmedxddy @unknownloner1345 @lilithquillete @v3vina @froggy-voidd @angrybuttooshorttofightyou @sami0169 @m3vlOvesu @pix-stuff @bunbunbread @agent-nobody-knows @cxcilla @horror-lover-69 @redkarmakai @mariadvorak @shirp-collector-of-fixations @batboygirlie @diejager @noclue-0 @sick2mystmch @novs9011 @kitkatkitmeow @crazycaoticsimp @majonla @hebaoffside @randomlyappearingartist @blueiones @shycreatorreview @simpingpandas @splaterparty0-0 @bk-4-trash-fire
#batfam x reader#angst#batfamily#batsis reader#batman fanfiction#batboys x batsis#batsis!reader#damian wayne x batsis#batfam x batsis#meta!reader#bruce wayne x batsis#jason todd x batsis#batfam#dick grayson x batsis#tim drake x batsis#cassandra cain x sister reader#stephanie brown#dc x reader#barbara gordon#barbara gordon x batsis#stephanie brown x batsis#neglected reader#srs: odi et amo
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07-3 | SNEAKY LINK?
m.list | prev | next
Your face was burning.
Not from anger. Not from shame.
But from sheer, secondhand embarrassment.
Because what the hell was that?
You had just—what, snapped at Tim? And not in the normal, passive-aggressive, “I’m going to make this as difficult as possible for you” kind of way.
No. You had gone dramatic.
Full “No, Tim. Don’t. I’m not here to listen to whatever you have to say” levels of dramatic. Like you were starring in some self-indulgent soap opera about betrayal and lost trust.
And then, because that wasn’t enough, you had kept going.
“The least you can do after following me like this is help out with the kids with your friends.”
Like you were some righteous saint, personally assigning him his penance.
And then, to top it all off—
“You don’t have to bother yourself with me anymore. I’ll make sure of that.”
You’ll make sure of that.
You’ll make sure of that?
Make sure of that how?
What were you going to do, take out a restraining order? Get a new identity? Flee to Europe?
Who did you think you were?
God, the moment you had walked away, the sheer mortification had hit you like a brick wall. You had barely managed to keep yourself from cringing so hard you collapsed in on yourself like a dying star.
And now here you were, sitting in some abandoned corner of the orphanage’s yard, forcibly repressing every memory of the last ten minutes before you actually had a stroke.
You inhaled sharply, running a hand down your face.
No. You couldn’t afford to let this mess with your head.
Not right now.
Because you had work to do.
Mrs. Cole was out on errands. At least, that’s what you had overheard from one of the staff members you’d befriended. If there was ever a time to do some snooping, it was now.
You just needed to—
“Wow. You look like you just had the worst conversation of your life.”
Your entire body tensed.
Because of course.
Of course.
Slowly, you turned your head—only to be met with the sight of none other than Conner Kent standing a few feet away, arms crossed, an easy grin playing at his lips.
Because apparently, the universe hated you.
For a moment, you just stared at him, trying to gauge what he wanted, the sarcasm practically dripping from your voice. “Finally making use of that superhearing of yours, huh?”
Kon’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Only when it’s worth it,” he said, tilting his head slightly, clearly intrigued.
“You looked like you were about to burst into flames back there. Just thought I’d check in on you.”
Of course he noticed that.
You let out a short, humorless laugh. “Well, you checked in. You can go now.”
Kon raised an eyebrow. “Not even a ‘thank you’ for my concern? Cold.”
You rolled your eyes and turned away. “Go bother someone else.”
“Nah.” Kon said simply, pushing himself off the wall and stepping closer to you. He plopped down beside you in that effortlessly casual way of his, as though it was totally normal for him to invade your space like this. “I’m good, thanks.”
You sighed. Loudly.
Because of course he wasn’t going to leave.
Of all the people to find you, it just had to be him.
You and Kon had never really been close.
You’d only ever known him as Tim’s best friend. Tim’s partner-in-crime. Tim’s “I’m going to try and clone you 99 times because I have attachment issues” best friend. The guy who didn’t really fit into your orbit. But now, here he was, standing right in front of you, apparently more interested in whatever you were doing than the kids in the yard.
Other than a handful of stakeouts and a few missions where you’d been forced to work together, you had barely interacted.
And yet, somehow, somehow, he was the one who had found you.
You were already trying to fix things in your head, and now Kon—Kon, of all people—had decided to join you for the pity party.
Fantastic.
You exhaled sharply. “If you’re just here to talk, don’t bother. I’m not in the mood.”
Kon tilted his head. “Not in the mood? Or trying to be sneaky?”
Your fingers twitched.
Because that was dangerously close to being an actual observation.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you said flatly.
Kon hummed. “Sure you don’t.”
You shot him a warning look. “Are you done?”
“Not really.”
You sighed again. “Then what do you want?”
Kon grinned. “Needed a break. The kids get exhausting after a while.”
That, at least, was something you could understand.
You huffed, shaking your head. “Yeah. I don’t know how the others do it.”
“Right?” Kon groaned, dropping down to sit beside you. “One Bart is enough. A whole room of them? No, thanks.”
That caught you off guard. You hadn’t expected Kon to be so honest about his frustration. And, to be honest, you felt it too. You let out a soft, surprised chuckle, a real one.
It was soft. Brief.
But Kon heard it.
And when you glanced at him, he was staring.
Brows slightly raised, lips parted just a fraction.
Like he had just witnessed a goddamn miracle.
You raised an eyebrow, suddenly wondering what had caused the shift in his mood. “What?”
Kon blinked, then grinned. “So even you can laugh, huh?”
You deadpanned. “What, am I not allowed to?”
Kon held his hands up. “No, no. Laugh all you want. Just thought you’d be more of a carbon copy of your pops.”
The words hit you harder than you expected. It was like a sharp stab to the gut. You weren’t sure why, but it made you feel something close to irritation.
And without thinking—
“Don’t compare me to him.”
Kon froze.
You weren’t angry, per se.
But there was a sharpness to your voice that hadn’t been there before.
A warning.
Kon, to his credit, immediately backtracked. “Right. My bad.”
And just like that, he dropped it, his face shifting to one of genuine apology as he raised his hands in defeat.
No jokes. No teasing.
Just a simple, straightforward apology.
That… was unexpected.
You glanced at him, considering. Then, reluctantly, you decided to cut him some slack.
You stood up from your crouched position, brushing the dirt off your pants. “Well, I’ve got work to do.”
Kon looked at you, mildly confused. “Work?”
You gave him a pointed look. “Staff needs help around here. I’ve got my hands full.”
Which was true—on the surface. You had offered to help out with some of the administrative tasks the orphanage had, but in reality, your purpose was entirely different. You had to move, to snoop. Mrs. Cole would be out for a while, and you needed that time.
Kon’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’ll tag along.”
“No.”
Kon blinked. “No?”
“No.” You said it too quickly, too firmly, and you knew it.
Kon squinted at you, eyes narrowing with exaggerated suspicion. “Aww, why not? Thought you’d be grateful to get some help around here. After all, isn’t that what you wanted Tim to do?”
Your stomach dropped.
Of course, he’d heard that.
Of course, with his super hearing, he’d caught every single word.
You forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, even as your mind raced for an out. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”
Kon grinned, leaning back against the courtyard railing with all the ease of someone who had all the time in the world. “Nope.”
You exhaled sharply, rubbing your temple.
Kon, still lounging like he owned the place, tilted his head at you. “So, are you gonna let me help you out, or—”
“I like to work alone,” you cut in, shutting him down before he could finish.
And then, before he could argue, before he could get another teasing word in, you turned on your heel and walked off, heading straight into the orphanage building.
You didn’t look back.
But you could feel his gaze on you the entire way.
For a moment, it seemed like he wasn’t going to follow. You could feel his gaze on your back, but he didn’t move.
Good. You needed him to leave.
Once inside, you made your way toward the front desk, where one of the orphanage staff members—Miss Jenkins—was standing, sifting through some paperwork. She wasn’t as unsettling as Mrs. Cole, but she was efficient, always delegating tasks to whoever was willing to help.
You cleared your throat, catching her attention. “Miss Jenkins.”
She looked up, offering a polite smile. “Ah, good timing. I was just about to look for someone to help with some tasks.”
Perfect. The more she trusted you, the easier it would be to sneak around later. You forced a pleasant expression, nodding. “I can help.”
Miss Jenkins looked relieved. “Great. There are some supplies that need organising in the storage room—”
A sudden weight landed on your shoulder.
You stiffened instantly.
You knew who it was before you even turned your head.
Because of course.
Of course.
Slowly, almost dreading what you’d see, you glanced to the side—only to be met with the insufferably smug face of none other than Conner Kent, grinning down at you like he had just won something.
And technically, he had.
“So,” he drawled, his arm still slung casually over your shoulder, “what are we helping out with?”
You have got to be kidding me.
You just stared at him.
Flabbergasted.
Because what part of “I like to work alone” had been unclear?
You were sure you had said it clearly. Firmly. Finally.
And yet, here he was.
Looking entirely too pleased with himself.
Miss Jenkins, completely unaware of the silent war you were now fighting, simply smiled. “Oh, perfect! That makes things easier.”
No, it does not, you thought, barely restraining the urge to pinch the bridge of your nose.
You wanted to strangle him.
But you couldn’t.
Kon was watching you expectantly, clearly waiting for you to argue.
To fight him on this.
To give him some reaction he could latch onto, poke at, use as an excuse to keep going.
And you refused to give him that satisfaction.
So you swallowed your frustration, inhaled sharply, and turned back to Miss Jenkins.
You forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding as if nothing was wrong. “Yeah,” you said, voice strained. “Great.”
Miss Jenkins handed you a list of things to check, still clearly pleased by the unexpected extra help. “If I’m not around, just put the list back here when you’re done.”
“Got it.”
If she noticed the way your voice was slightly strained, she didn’t comment on it. She just nodded, already moving back to her paperwork.
That was your cue to leave.
You turned on your heel and walked briskly down the hall, doing your best to ignore the very solid, very annoying presence that was now trailing after you.
And, to his credit, Kon didn’t say anything.
Not right away.
He just kept up easily, hands tucked into his pockets, his usual air of relaxed confidence somehow making it even more obvious that he was enjoying himself.
You could feel it.
The sheer smugness radiating off him.
It was unbearable.
The second Miss Jenkins was out of eyeshot, you grabbed Kon by the arm and dragged him toward the nearest empty hallway, shoving him against the wall.
“What are you doing?” you hissed, voice low but sharp.
“What are you doing?”
You clenched your teeth. “I asked first.”
Kon raised an eyebrow. “Look, I know I might be a hot hunk”—
You rolled your eyes. Seriously.
Kon chuckled. “But that doesn’t mean I’m dumb. I know you’re up to something.”
You crossed your arms over your chest, narrowing your eyes. “So, what if I am? Are you going to snitch?”
Kon pretended to think. But you knew from one look that he was only playing with you.
“No. Never. As long as you let me join in on whatever it is you’re planning to do.”
Damn it, you thought, internally groaning. The last thing you needed was Kon sticking his nose into your business. “Why?” you asked, your voice dripping with exasperation.
Kon shrugged nonchalantly, completely unfazed by your frustration. “Why not?”
You gave him a look. “You’re wasting your time.”
Kon shrugged, his smile still intact. “So? I’ve already given Tim my time and day to spy on you. Might as well use the rest of it on you again.”
You raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Not funny.”
Kon sighed dramatically. “Right. Got it. I’m just… offering help, like a good citizen, y’know.”
You narrowed your eyes. “You’re not a good citizen.”
He gasped, feigning offense. “Wow. Rude.”
You weren’t in the mood for this. “Conner.”
“Call me Kon.”
You sighed sharply, rubbing a hand down your face. “Kon, I swear to—”
“So what exactly are you snooping for?” he interrupted, leaning against the wall, arms crossed. “Because let’s be honest, you’re not exactly a volunteer type.”
You glared. “And you are?”
He shrugged. “Nope. But I can recognize a lie when I see one.”
You clenched your jaw, mind racing. You had two options: make up some excuse or tell him the truth. Both had risks. If you lied and he caught on, he’d definitely tell Tim. If you told him the truth, there was still a chance he’d tell Tim.
Neither outcome was ideal.
Kon, as if sensing your internal battle, grinned wider. “Man, you’re really overthinking this, huh?”
You huffed, crossing your arms. “I’m considering my options.”
“Options?”
“Yeah. Like whether I should knock you out or just leave you here.”
Kon chuckled. “Right. That’s an option.”
Silence stretched between you.
Then, after a beat, Kon leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a lower, more curious tone. “Seriously though. What’s going on?”
You studied his face. He wasn’t just messing with you anymore. There was genuine curiosity there. Maybe even concern.
You hesitated. That made it harder to brush him off. Because it didn’t seem like he had any other agenda.
Then, finally, you quietly mutter, “Something isn’t right about this place.”
Kon blinked, the teasing glint in his eyes dimming just a fraction.
You expected him to brush it off, to laugh, to call you paranoid.
Instead, he tilted his head. “Yeah?”
That threw you off. You had expected teasing. Maybe a sarcastic remark. But he wasn’t mocking you. He was listening.
You nodded. “Yeah.”
Kon considered that for a moment. Then, with a shrug, he said, “Alright. Guess I’m in.”
You stared. “What?”
His smirk returned. “You heard me.”
It made you pause.
“You believe me?” You asked slowly.
Kon blinked. “Yeah?”
You frowned. “Just like that?”
“Just like what?”
“You don’t think I’m being paranoid or overreacting?”
Kon shrugged. “If there’s one thing I learned after working with Tim and you Bats, it’s to trust your instincts. Because somehow, for some godforsaken reason, you guys are always right.”
You froze.
The way he said Bats. Like it still applied to you.
Like you were still one of them.
You weren’t Batgirl anymore. You weren’t—one of them anymore.
You swallowed, staring at Kon’s face, but he wasn’t looking at you like he’d said something strange. He wasn’t looking at you with pity either, or like he was trying to backpedal. He’d said it so naturally, so easily, like it was a simple fact.
Your throat felt tight.
You looked away.
“You do know I’m not Batgirl anymore, right?” Your voice came out quieter than you intended, and you hated how it sounded—how it almost wavered.
You saw Kon hesitate, as if trying to find the right words to say.
“Yeah. I heard.”
You waited.
Waited for the inevitable Why? that always followed.
But it never came.
He didn’t ask. Didn’t press.
Just accepted it.
Your brows furrowed slightly, caught off guard.
“You’re not gonna ask why I quit?”
Kon shrugged. “Nope.”
And that… that was surprising.
You blinked. “…Why?”
His smirk softened, losing its usual cockiness. Just a fraction. “Because if you wanted to tell me the reason, you’d do so without any prompting.”
You stared.
Something deep twisted in your chest.
That was—unexpected.
People always asked.
Over and over, like they needed to hear you say it out loud.
But Kon…
He just accepted it.
Like he didn’t need an explanation.
Like your choices were yours.
You had no idea what to do with that.
Your throat felt tight again, and you cleared it quickly, shifting your weight like that would somehow shake off the sudden heaviness in your chest. “Well. Uh. Thanks, I guess.”
Kon’s grin returned in full force, his usual playful energy slipping back into place. “Anytime.”
You rolled your eyes but couldn’t quite shake the feeling in your chest, like something had settled in there, unfamiliar and warm.
Pushing past it, you nodded toward the hallway. “Come on. We have an orphanage to snoop through.”
Kon chuckled, pushing off the wall with ease and falling into step beside you. “Lead the way, not-Batgirl.”
You shot him a look, but he only smirked wider, clearly enjoying himself.
The search was… frustrating.
You and Kon had started with the staff rooms, slipping through the halls unnoticed, careful not to make a sound.
But there was nothing.
No weird documents, no strange behavior from the staff, no hidden files. The most suspicious thing you found was an outdated carton of milk in the break room fridge.
Then you moved onto Mrs. Cole’s office, lingering outside the door, waiting for the perfect moment.
“Seriously, what are we looking for?” Kon muttered beside you, shifting his weight.
“Anything suspicious,” you whispered back.
Kon snorted. “Right. Because that narrows it down.”
You shot him a look before cracking the door open and slipping inside, Kon following behind you.
Mrs. Cole’s office was surprisingly neat. A single desk sat in the center, with a few filing cabinets lined up against the walls. Everything was orderly. A little too orderly.
Kon leaned against the desk, arms crossed, watching as you surveyed the room. “Alright, detective, what’s the plan?”
You rolled your eyes. “Just—check the drawers.”
Kon gave you a lazy salute before crouching down and yanking one open. Meanwhile, you moved toward the filing cabinets, quickly skimming the labels.
Most of them were standard. Financial records, employee files, supply orders. Nothing remotely suspicious.
Kon, however, had taken a different approach.
“Hey, do you think she’s hiding secret documents under here?” he asked, knocking against the bottom of the drawer like it might pop open to reveal a hidden compartment.
You turned to see him casually opening and shutting random drawers, half-heartedly rummaging through them.
“You’re terrible at this,” you muttered.
“Excuse you,” Kon shot back. “I am fantastic at this.”
You huffed, moving toward the desk instead, running your fingers along the edges. Sometimes people had false bottoms in their drawers, or a safe tucked underneath. Maybe that was the case.
Meanwhile, Kon had apparently decided he was bored of the search already. “I’m just saying, if I were running a shady operation, I wouldn’t be dumb enough to leave evidence lying around in a desk.”
“Well, lucky for us, not everyone is as smart as you, Kon-El,” you deadpanned.
“Damn right.”
You ignored him, crouching down to check the bottom drawers. One was locked.
You tried tugging on it again. Still locked.
Bingo.
Kon, of course, noticed immediately. “Oho, what’s this?”
“Locked drawer,” You murmured, studying it.
Kon’s grin widened. “Want me to break it open?”
You stared at him. “And make it painfully obvious that someone was snooping around?”
He shrugged. “I could put it back together. Maybe.”
You pinched the bridge of your nose. “No. No breaking things.”
Kon sighed dramatically but backed off, leaning against the desk again. “So, what’s the plan, oh wise and paranoid one?”
You pulled a bobby pin from your pocket.
Kon’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you seriously about to pick that lock?”
You held up the pin. “Why else would I carry these?”
He looked vaguely impressed. “Okay, I take it back. That’s kinda badass.”
Rolling your eyes, you crouched down and got to work. It wasn’t a particularly difficult lock. You had it undone in less than a minute.
Kon gave a low whistle. “Damn. The big Bat really did teach you guys everything, huh?”
You didn’t respond to that. Instead, you pulled the drawer open, feeling a flicker of anticipation—
Only for it to disappear just as quickly.
The drawer was filled with basic paperwork. A few financial reports. Some school records. Nothing remotely unusual.
You flipped through them quickly, hoping for something, anything that would justify the nagging feeling in your gut. But after a good five minutes of searching…
Nothing.
No hidden records. No cryptic documents. No damning evidence.
Just… nothing.
You sat back on your heels, frustration clawing at your chest.
Kon, peering over your shoulder, let out a low hum. “Sooo, either Mrs. C is really good at covering her tracks, or—”
“There’s nothing to find,” you finished bitterly.
The words tasted wrong in your mouth. Because that wasn’t possible. You knew something was off about this place. You could feel it.
So why wasn’t there anything here?
Your mind started spiraling. Had you misread the situation? Had you let paranoia cloud your judgment? Were you just wasting your time—wasting Kon’s time—chasing after nothing? Just because of something you conjured up in your mind?
Your fingers curled into a fist.
Then—
A warm hand suddenly landed on your shoulder.
You blinked, pulled out of your thoughts as Kon gave you a small, reassuring squeeze.
“You’re spiraling,” he said simply.
You stared at him, caught off guard.
He wasn’t teasing. He wasn’t mocking.
He was just… grounding you.
You swallowed, exhaling slowly. “I just—” You hesitated, struggling to put it into words. “I know something’s wrong here, Kon.”
Kon nodded, like he believed you without question. “So, we’ll keep looking.”
You frowned. “Even though we just found nothing?”
“Yeah,” he said, like it was the easiest thing in the world. “If you still feel like something’s off, then I’ll help you figure it out.”
You blinked. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
You hesitated.
It was stupid.
This was stupid.
You should refuse. You should just let this go.
You shouldn’t drag him into this.
But…
Maybe—just maybe—it’d be nice to have help.
Without it feeling like you were being dumb. Weak.
Without feeling like someone who wasn’t capable of doing things on her own.
Without the skepticism, the side-eyes, the exasperated sighs.
Kon wasn’t doing that. He might be humoring you, but he wasn’t questioning your decisions, either. He was just… there. Standing beside you, unwavering.
You let out a slow breath, forcing yourself to unclench your fists.
“Alright,” you muttered. “Fine.”
You looked up at him. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
Kon grinned. “Of course you do. I am pretty great.”
You rolled your eyes, pushing yourself up. “Come on. Let’s wrap this up before someone finds us.”
The two of you made quick work of putting everything back in place, slipping out of the office unnoticed.
And you guys quickly cleaned up and organised the storage room, before rejoining the others in the courtyard.
You exhaled a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. It was so typical. So stupid. You had thought—no, you had to believe—that something was off about this place. That there was something hiding beneath its surface. But now, after sifting through Mrs. Cole’s meticulous paperwork and pristine office, as well as clean fhe storage rooms and found absolutely nothing, you couldn’t help but wonder if you were just seeing shadows.
Or worse… you were going insane.
It is plausible. After all, you somehow came back to life and you still don’t know how or why—
“Looks like we’re back to square one.”
Kon’s voice was casual, the kind of tone that suggested he wasn’t bothered by the dead-end. But then again, he always had that air about him. Like everything bounced off. You watched as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, glancing over at you with a half-smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. His eyes weren’t teasing. He wasn’t giving you that cocky grin. Instead, there was something else there. Something quieter. Something more… understanding.
You weren’t sure if you wanted to dive into it right now. Maybe you were too tired to unpack the layers of meaning in his expression.
So, you did the next best thing—you rolled your eyes and muttered a half-hearted, “Yeah, no kidding.”
Kon chuckled softly, a little sound that felt almost like a weight lifted from your chest. It was strange how much he could make you feel lighter, even in the most absurd situations.
Maybe that was why Tim kept him around. As his friend.
You shook the thought away, rubbing your forehead as if that could erase the last few hours of frustration. It wasn’t his job to take away your weight.
“We’ll find something,” Kon said, voice steady, though there was a hint of something that sounded like reassurance. “We just gotta keep looking. No need to make it harder than it is.”
You exhaled slowly, glancing at him. “We, huh? You were really serious about helping me out with this?”
Kon shrugged, his smile returning, albeit a little more teasing. “Of course! What do you take me for?”
You sighed. “Alright, fine, you win this time, Kent.”
His grin returned, lopsided and teasing. “Damn. Must’ve been hard admitting that, Wayne.”
You rolled your eyes. “Go back to Tim before I decide knocking you out is a viable option.”
Kon smirked but backed away with his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright, I’m going. Don’t miss me too much, partner.”
You groaned, shaking your head, and turned on your heel.
You walked back toward the courtyard where your friends are, feeling that ever-present weight of unease still sitting in your chest. But it wasn’t as heavy as before.
Maybe because you weren’t the only one carrying it anymore.
Your friends were scattered, lounging on benches and idly chatting, before you felt it.
A familiar pang in your chest.
A gut feeling that you knew very well.
Adrien and Caitlyn were already watching you, and it wasn’t a gaze of mere curiosity. No, it was that unmistakable, mischievous glint. The kind that always meant they knew something.
And they did.
“Uh-oh,” Adrien said, his eyes lighting up. “Look who’s back, Caity.”
Caitlyn’s grin was practically ear-to-ear. “Don’t think we didn’t notice who you came back with, hun.”
You couldn’t help the sinking feeling that settled into your stomach. God. You hadn’t even said a word and they were already making assumptions. You rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the heat rising to your cheeks.
“Oh, shut up,” you muttered, even though you were already bracing for what was to come.
Adrien raised his eyebrows, a knowing, too-perfect smirk on his face. “What?” He pretended to look innocent. “It’s just funny. You disappearing with Mr Hotshot—and coming back with him. Alone. After what? Hours?”
“We’ve been gone for barely an hour—”
Caitlyn nudged him in the side. “Totally suspicious.”
You tried to hide your irritation. “It’s not like that.” You crossed your arms, fighting the warmth creeping up your neck. “Kon just helped out with some of the stuff around the orphanage, which is what we’re supposed to do as volunteers by the way.”
“Already calling him by nicknames, eh?” Caitlyn teased, folding her arms and giving you a look.
Ok, this was too much.
“That—“
Adrien’s grin widened, impossibly smug. “Uh-huh. Sure. You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say something’s going on between you two.”
“Nothing’s going on,” you snapped, but your voice came out sharper than you meant.
That only made them more excited.
“Right.” Adrien’s tone was playful, but there was a sharpness to it, as though he knew exactly what buttons to press. “Then why are you getting all defensive, huh?”
“I’m not defensive.”
“Oh, you so are.” Caitlyn insists, raising a finger to tap her chin. “I think she’s hiding something, Adrien.”
“I’m not—”
As you said it, you turned slightly—and your gaze landed on him.
Kon, who was now on the other side of the courtyard.
Kon, who had somehow gotten himself into what looked like a heated argument with Tim.
Tim, who looked seconds away from beating his ass over something.
The two of them were practically going toe-to-toe, Kon’s arms crossed and his posture that of someone who didn’t give a damn, while Tim’s posture was stiff with irritation, his words sharp and fast.
Yikes.
And at that exact moment, as if he felt your stare, Kon glanced up—right at you.
You both froze.
The moment your eyes met, something shifted.
His gaze softened, his expression pulling into a quiet smirk. It wasn’t teasing this time. It was something a little… fonder.
Then, ever so casually, ever so smugly, he winked.
The small, silent gesture hit you like a jolt, making you freeze.
And, with a knowing smirk, he lifted a finger to his lips in a shush motion.
You blinked.
It was a promise.
He wasn’t going to tell Tim.
The thought swirled in your mind as you processed his gesture. Your breath caught in your throat, a small smile curling up your lips before you could stop it.
It was small. Grateful.
A silent thank you.
You dipped your head at him, and he gave you a lazy salute once more before smoothly dodging a half-hearted swipe from Tim.
The moment was fleeting.
But it meant everything.
“Did you fucking see that?”
You whipped your head back toward your friends, but the smile on your face was gone, replaced with a forced indifference. “What?”
Caitlyn gasped. “Conner just winked at you, didn’t he??”
“No.” You were emphatic, trying to brush it off, but it didn’t feel right. You were lying—to them, and to yourself.
“Uh-huh. You’re smiling way too much by the way.”
“Shut up.”
But they weren’t done. They never were.
Adrien leaned forward. “You totally like him, don’t you?”
Before you could answer, there was a sharp cough from behind you, followed by the sound of boots striking the ground.
Damian.
Your stomach dropped.
You barely even noticed him standing beside your friends.
And before you knew, Damian was heading straight for Kon, his eyes narrowed with barely concealed fury.
You could see his fists tightening as he closed the distance, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Kon, oblivious to the brewing storm behind him, was still bantering with Tim. But you could see it in his posture now, that little glint of recognition in his eyes as he noticed Damian’s approach.
RIP.
—
A: “I swear I’ve seen that guy somewhere before.”
“No, you haven’t.”
A: “He kind of looks like Lex Luthor if you squint—“
“Nope. Definitely not.”
Tim was not having a good day.
It had been one of those afternoons where the lines between “whatever” and “I’m about to snap” blurred, and now he was pacing the courtyard, trying to ignore the incessant buzz in his mind. He’d been looking for Kon ever since his argument with you. Well, if he can call it that.
Cassie and Bart were just a few paces ahead of him, chatting casually, but Tim couldn’t focus on their conversation. Not with Kon completely disappearing out of his sight. He had a bad feeling about it. More than usual. Something about today—about Kon’s behaviour—had felt off. So, Tim just… asked around.
“Hey, Cassie. Bart. Have either of you seen Kon?” Tim asked, his voice tight, trying to keep his growing irritation in check.
Cassie shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes scanning the area. Bart just raised an eyebrow, looking far too innocent, as if he hadn’t been the cause of half of their chaotic antics.
“Nope,” Cassie answered, glancing at Bart, who gave a shrug of his own, and Tim could tell they were both just as clueless as he was.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Where the hell was he?
And then it happened.
There, emerging from the orphanage building, was Kon.
And—what the hell?
You were with him.
Tim’s stomach twisted as his gaze shot to the two of you. You were walking side by side, talking in low tones. A small smile tugged at your lips, a genuine smile, the kind Tim hadn’t seen in what felt like forever.
Why were you smiling at him?
Tim’s breath hitched. You looked comfortable—too comfortable. That smile wasn’t something you gave just anyone. It wasn’t something you gave him. So why the hell were you smiling like that at Kon?
A red flag.
The first one of the day. What were you and Kon talking about?
Tim swallowed hard, trying to steady his thoughts. He needed answers. He had to know what the hell was going on. He wished for a moment that he had superhearing, just to catch even the smallest fragment of your conversation. What were you saying to him? What was Kon saying to you? His gaze never left you both. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the way you stood there with him, the subtle way you nodded your head as you exchanged words, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. His fists clenched, but he stayed silent, watching.
The second you broke away, walking back toward your friends, Kon turned and made his way back toward theirs. And that’s when it hit Tim—he couldn’t let this go.
Tim immediately stepped forward, his feet bringing him toward Kon as he approached the others. There was no more waiting. No more uncertainty. This time, he’d get answers. He had to.
“Kon,” Tim said, his voice edged with irritation, “where the hell did you go? And what were you doing with (Name)?”
Kon’s face was a mask of casual indifference. He leaned against the wall, his posture relaxed, as if the world was his to do with as he pleased. “Oh, I was just helping her out with some cleaning,” Kon said, the words rolling off his tongue as if they were completely innocent. But Tim could see it. He was lying.
That much was obvious.
“Really?” Tim asked, crossing his arms. “Just cleaning? You’re telling me you spent all that time in there just… cleaning?”
Kon shrugged, giving him that easy-going grin that Tim hated so much right now. “Yeah, sure. There was a lot of stuff to organise, so I helped out.”
“Right...”
Kon raised an eyebrow. “What? You don’t believe me?”
“Well, yeah,” Cassie added, crossing her arms together. “I bet you guys were doing more than just cleaning.”
And Kon—
Kon just shrugged.
And that itself was an answer.
“What the hell.” Tim snaps, but he immediately was about to interrogate the half-kryptonian full on.
But then he saw it.
Kon’s gaze, drifting elsewhere. His attention shifting. Tim frowned.
Kon wasn’t looking at him anymore. He wasn’t focused on Tim’s interrogation or on his friends. His eyes were elsewhere.
And then, like a slow-motion train wreck, Tim’s gaze followed Kon’s, and his breath caught.
Kon’s eyes were on you.
And your eyes were on him too.
Tim couldn’t help but feel a knot tighten in his stomach as he watched Kon wink at you, his expression mischievous, his grin more playful than Tim had ever seen it. But it wasn’t the wink that caught Tim’s attention—it was the damn shush that followed. Kon placed a finger to his lips, and Tim’s world seemed to slow down, his heart beating out of sync with everything else.
What the hell?
And as if that wasn’t bad, you smiled back.
You smiled at Kon. You actually smiled at him, the same smile that you didn’t just give anyone.
Tim’s mind spiraled, crashing into chaos. His thoughts were all over the place, every tiny movement, every subtle glance now magnified in his mind.
First Damian, now Kon.
Why does it feel like everyone else can move forward with you, but when it’s you and him, it’s always two steps back?
What had he missed? What had happened between you and Kon?
That smile. That damn smile.
He could feel the tension in his chest rising, his hands clenching at his sides, fighting the urge to storm over and demand answers from both of you. Why the hell was he acting like that? What was Kon hiding?
“Yeah, okay, I’m done,” Tim muttered, hands clenched into fists. He took a step forward, his voice tight with something he couldn’t quite place, and definitely didn’t want to admit. “You winked at her.”
Kon chuckled. “What? I think you’re seeing things, Timbo.”
“You winked.” Tim repeated, louder this time, his frustration reaching a boiling point. “What are you guys hiding? What did you two do?” He struggled to find the words, his brain running a mile a minute.
Cassie, sensing TIm’s growing frustration, leaned back on her hands. “Whoa, whoa, hold up. Calm down, Tim, I’m sure they didn’t do anything bad.”
“If it’s nothing bad, Cassie, why isn’t he telling us?” Tim shot back, his voice dripping with exasperation, before his eyes darted over to Kon.
Kon, predictably, didn’t back down. Instead, he chuckled, clearly enjoying the chaos he was stirring up. “Relax, Tim. We can’t keep secrets now? We were just having fun, alright?” He shot a quick look at Tim’s clenched fists, before shooting him a grin. “How about we all take a chill pill?”
Before Tim could snap back, another voice interrupted him.
“Kent.”
“Oh boy, here we go…” Tim heard Cassie’s sigh. He didn’t even have to turn around to know that Damian Wayne was approaching their group.
The younger boy, clearly agitated, marched over to Kon with an intensity that matched Tim’s own. The way his eyes narrowed, fists clenched at his sides, told Tim everything he needed to know—Damian was pissed.
“Tell me what you did with (Name). Now.”
For the first time in a long while, Tim felt a strange sense of solidarity with Damian. At least someone else was as frustrated as he was. Maybe together, they could pry the truth out of Kon. Maybe, just maybe, they’d get the answers they needed.
Kon barely had a chance to react before Damian was on him, arms crossed, gaze murderous.
“You,” Damian seethed, “are going to tell me what exactly you and she were doing.”
Kon blinked, caught off guard for maybe a second—before his trademark smirk slid into place.
“Oh?” he drawled. “Why do you want to know, Damian?”
Damian’s glare sharpened.
Kon grinned. “What? You jealous?”
Before he could so much as breathe, Damian lunged.
The sky had begun its slow descent into evening, streaked with warm hues of orange and pink as the day at the orphanage came to an end. The kids were beginning to settle down, some still clinging onto the last bits of playtime before dinner. You stood at the entrance of the courtyard, watching as Caitlyn and Adrien said their goodbyes to the kids they’d grown especially fond of over the past few days.
Meanwhile, Tim and his friends, as well as Damian, were nowhere in sight. The last you saw them, you watched Damian pounce on Kon and the rest was a mystery.
Elliot, as usual, was pressed against your side, his small fingers fidgeting with the hem of your sleeve. He hadn’t said much in the past few minutes, content just to be next to you, but you knew that look on his face—the gears in his little mind were turning, the questions were forming.
And sure enough—
“Hey,” he started, tilting his head. “Who were those people that came today?”
You froze.
You should’ve expected it. Of course he’d ask—he was an observant kid. He had been there after all, when you confronted Tim and his friends who had been spying on you from the bushes, and brought them in to play with the other kids.
It was a simple question, an innocent one, but something about the way he asked it made your mind stall. Your throat tightened slightly, and you hesitated longer than you should have.
Your mouth opened, then closed again, as you scrambled to come up with an answer that wouldn’t feel like a lie.
“They were… my brother,” you said at last, your voice even, careful. “And his friends.”
Elliot’s eyes widened in excitement. “Oh…! So Tim is your brother too? You have two brothers??”
There was an odd weight to that word—brothers—when spoken so freely by someone else. You hesitated, then gave a slow nod.
“…Yeah, I suppose so.”
You weren’t going to tell him that, technically, you had two other brothers and a sister as well—if you could still call them that.
If they still wanted you to.
If you still wanted to.
If they ever really were that.
But that wasn’t something you could even begin to explain to a kid.
Elliot, blissfully unaware of your inner conflict, perked up at the answer, his excitement growing. “That’s so cool!! I wish I have siblings. The other children here are fun, but it’s not the same as having a brother or sister.”
You exhaled slowly, bracing yourself for the wave of questions.
“Is Tim older or younger than you?”
“Older, by a year.” Not really.
“Wow! So you have an older brother and a younger brother. That’s so cool!”
“There are cooler things, Elliot.”
Elliot giggled, his face lighting up with amusement. “Maybe, but siblings are still cool! Do you guys fight a lot?”
You paused, then snorted. “You have no idea.”
Elliot gasped. “Like, actual fights?”
You hesitated again. “…Something like that.”
“Do they ever fight you?”
“Not physically.”
“Then how do you fight?”
“We… argue.”
He made a face at that, as if arguing was a far less exciting concept. “Oh.”
Before he could go down another rabbit hole of questions, you reached out and ruffled his hair. “Alright, buddy, calm down. Having brothers isn’t always fun.”
Elliot looked genuinely confused by that. “Really?”
“Really.”
He furrowed his brows, then shook his head. “But Tim was real fun today!”
That threw you off.
You blinked at him. “…He was?”
“Yeah!” Elliot nodded enthusiastically. “He helped us build that giant block tower after teatime! And when his friend, the really fast one, accidentally knocked it over, he helped put it back up again—twice! And he did that really cool thing where he guessed all the card matches without looking. How’d he do that? Is he magic?”
You stared at him, your thoughts grinding to a halt.
Tim… did all that?
After everything?
After that whole argument—confrontation you had with him, after storming off on him earlier, after being frustrated, and snappy, and distant—he still… sat with the kids here? He actually did what you told him to do and spent time with them? Helped them?
You weren’t sure why that surprised you. It wasn’t that Tim was heartless or incapable of kindness—but you hadn’t expected this.
Hadn’t expected him to listen to you.
Hadn’t expected him to go out of his way to be there, even in the smallest of ways.
Not after how everything had felt today.
You exhaled slowly, ruffling Elliot’s hair again. “…I see.”
Elliot grinned, pleased with himself, and you offered him a small, fond smile.
“I’m just glad you enjoyed yourself, kid.”
Elliot’s grin grew, and he leaned into your touch, his small head pressing against your palm.
Before you could say anything else, he looked up at you, voice softer this time. “Will Tim and his friends come back?”
Your smile faltered slightly.
You didn’t know how to answer that.
Because what were you supposed to say?
That Tim and his friends did not have any obligation to come again? They had no other reason to come again?
That wasn’t something you could explain to Elliot.
So instead, after a beat of hesitation, you simply said, “When they have time, maybe.”
That was enough for Elliot. He beamed, nodding, before waving excitedly and running off to join the other kids.
You exhaled, watching him go, before turning to find Caitlyn and Adrien walking up to you, both looking entirely too smug.
“You two definitely have favorites,” you accused, crossing your arms.
Adrien scoffed. “We have favorites? That’s rich, coming from you.”
Caitlyn smirked. “Yeah, let’s not forget your little moment with Conner earlier.”
Your expression immediately soured. “We’re not talking about that.”
“Oh, I think we are,” Adrien said, grinning.
“You two are the worst.”
“Love you too.”
You groaned, shaking your head, before clearing your throat. “Anyway—same time tomorrow?”
Caitlyn and Adrien exchanged glances before Caitlyn winced. “Actually… I can’t make it tomorrow. I promised my aunt I’d help out with some stuff in her shop.”
Adrien nodded. “ And I have that to serve detention for that stunt I pulled in Ms H’s class, remember?”
You paused, the answer catching you slightly off guard. “Oh.”
You quickly schooled your expression, nodding in understanding. “Got it.”
A quiet beat passed before Adrien nudged you. “You still gonna come?”
You hesitated. Your eyes flickered back to the orphanage, watching as the kids ran around, playing, laughing—completely oblivious to all the complicated things that sat heavy in your chest.
Your gaze found Elliot again, still smiling, still happy.
“…Yeah,” you said finally, voice softer. “I’ll come.”
The late afternoon sun cast a hazy glow over Gotham, though Jason barely registered it. His focus was on the ongoing call in the earpiece pressed to his ear as he walked, voice low and even.
“So, let me get this straight,” Roy drawled on the other end, the sounds of clanking metal and some kind of electric buzz filtering through the call. “You just finished dealing with a gang shootout last night, probably haven’t slept, definitely haven’t eaten, and instead of—I don’t know—taking a second to breathe like a normal human being, you’re already running off after another lead?”
Jason exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip on his gun as he navigated quieter side of Gotham’s industrial district. “Pretty sure I didn’t ask for a lecture.”
“Oh, no, you definitely didn’t. That’s just a fun little bonus,” Roy quipped. “Seriously, Jaybird, do you even know what the word ‘break’ means?”
Jason’s expression remained flat. “Sure. It’s what your bowstring does when you don’t maintain it properly.”
There was a loud clang from Roy’s end. “First of all, rude. Second of all, false. I take excellent care of my bow, thank you very much.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I do!”
Jason chuckled, stepping off the curb and weaving through the alleyways.
“I just don’t get it,” Roy continued. “You could’ve taken a day off—gone to a bar, watched a movie, literally anything else—but no, here you are, chasing down some random lead for God knows what.”
“It’s not random,” Jason corrected, rounding a corner. “Weapons smuggling. Shipment came in last week, no record of it anywhere. Thought I’d check it out.”
Roy sighed. “And who told you about this?”
“…I have my sources.”
“That’s code for ‘I found it in a back alley conversation, and now I’m running with it,’ isn’t it?”
Jason smirked faintly but didn’t argue. He had more important things to focus on—like the unmarked warehouse he was now approaching.
“I gotta go,” he said, tone shifting back to business. “I’ll check in later.”
Roy groaned. “Yeah, yeah. Try not to get shot, explode, or mysteriously disappear, alright?”
“No promises.”
Jason hung up.
The warehouse was quiet. Too quiet. No guards, no movement. Just the eerie stillness of a setup that was either abandoned or a trap.
Jason slipped inside through a window, boots making barely a sound as he landed.
Inside, it was dim, dust motes swirling in the filtered sunlight. Crates were stacked haphazardly, some half-open, revealing stolen tech and firearms. Jason moved silently, boots making no sound against the concrete as he picked through the scene, scanning the contents—stolen tech, modified weapons, and—
Jason frowned.
There was something off about these. They weren’t standard black-market stock. They looked… almost gimmicky. Like they weren’t meant for your average arms dealer.
His fingers barely brushed against one of the devices when—
Click.
A sharp hiss filled the air.
Before Jason could react, a fine, invisible gas burst from the crate, dispersing into the air around him.
Jason recoiled, but it was too late.
His throat tightened. His head swam. His pulse spiked in alarm as a heavy, sluggish sensation crawled over his limbs.
His breath hitched. His vision blurred. His limbs felt like lead.
Shit.
Jason shoved back, forcing himself toward the exit, but his body was already betraying him. His head swam, nausea curling in his gut as he stumbled out onto the street.
His nearest safehouse wasn’t far. Just a few blocks. If he could just—
He barely made it past the first alley before his legs buckled.
His body was already shutting down on him.
Jason lurched against the nearest wall, breath coming shallow, mind fogging with every passing second. He forced himself to stay upright, but his body wasn’t listening anymore.
His vision tilted.
His knees hit the pavement, the rough brick of the alleyway biting into his shoulder as he slumped against it, legs giving out beneath him.
His mind fogged, the city sounds around him distant, muffled.
He barely registered the way his breathing slowed, the weight of unconsciousness dragging him under.
He gritted his teeth, trying to fight the darkness clawing at the edges of his mind.
Stay awake. Move.
But his limbs were numb. His breath was shallow.
His fingers twitched toward his comm—
And then—
Darkness.
The walk to the orphanage was supposed to be uneventful.
But the moment you turned down your usual route, something in your gut twisted.
You hesitated mid-step.
It wasn’t a noise, not anything obvious. Just an instinct, a quiet pull at the edges of your awareness. A feeling you couldn’t quite shake.
Your fingers curled at your sides.
Ignore it? Keep going?
The orphanage was only a few more blocks. If you were lucky, Elliot and the other kids would be outside playing already, ready to bombard you with their usual chaos.
…And yet.
Your feet had already shifted before you made the decision. You veered left, cutting through an alley that wasn’t part of your usual route.
The air here was heavier, the city quieter. Not unusual for Gotham, but enough to put you on edge.
You didn’t know what you were expecting.
But it wasn’t—
A figure slumped against the brick wall.
You stopped short, breath catching in your throat. For a second, your brain struggled to process what you were seeing.
Leather jacket. Boots. Black hair complementing the dark red of his helmet—
No.
Not his helmet.
It was off, discarded a few feet away like he hadn’t had the strength to hold onto it. His head was tilted to the side, eyes barely open, unfocused.
Jason.
lololol finally part 3 and end of chapter 7 🤗 (don’t hate me for the cliffhanger, but its pretty obvious that Jason and reader are going to interact in chapter 8 so stay tuned for that emotional turmoil) posting this before attending my vb training (yes i’m fasting and still have to attend vb training 🥲—tho i get to chill if i’m tired so that’s ok)
taglist is closed‼️
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