#unfortunately for him the next time they meet jason is in his red hood get up

[methoughtsphantom]

soulmates identifying marks prompt

Jason didn’t love the idea of fate. That your path was already drawn ahead of you and you were just following. However, fate was tricky like that, threads that tangled and mingled and lead you to meet your soulmate. Most at some point do—and the mark that identified each other always always disappeared upon it.

But well, at least Jason could take solace that marks were just that. A promise to meet. When that happened was anybody’s guess, but your mark never disappeared if you hadn’t gotten to meet, (in death or until it torn them apart)

Which is why Jason was floored when he came back without one.

[yourcutelittlegayfriend]

So this is basically just a thought I come up after watching the movie, I haven't got a chance to read the book but I'll try to when I have free time.

So short summary this might be headcannons I've come up for the time being before making a whole series about this.

This series might end up as Yandere Platonic Batfamily x Nimona!Reader

Nimona!Reader headcanon:

Reader is gender neutral since they can shape-shift into anything and anyone, the concept of being a girl or a boy is confusing to them, They are Y/N simple as that.

Y/N's power is like Nimona's minus the magic sparkles you see in the movie, their body shifts each cell to anything they want but like her or even Beast Boy they have telltale signs that it's not just any animal or person.

When Y/N shifts into any animal they have the hint of red on the skin, fur, scales or feather while if they shift to a person they have red stripes of hair on their head.

I would like to keep Nimona's red/pink-ish hair because why not? it's Iconic and I love it, really pops out in Gotham that Y/N is a the main character.

The rest of the other physical description is up for the readers to decide.

The setting of their origins goes back to the mid-early Gotham days, where the corruption is it's highest, a perfect plot to explain why they became so hateful to the city and later to the world.

Batfam Headcanon:

Bruce Wayne

Let's start with this bat pajama wearing vigilante

As I told before Y/N is already a citizen of Gotham at the beginning ahead of Martha and Thomas Wayne time and few generation of Wayne's and the original known influencial families in Gotham.

When Young!Bruce met Y/N it was the day Bruce fell in a cave/well at the back of the Wayne mansion

Except instead of Thomas rescuing Young!Bruce it was Y/N who did

Y/N save Young!Bruce and calm him down, he still became afraid of bats but the memory was tied together with their first meeting making it hard for him to forget Y/N

Young!Bruce and Y/N (who shifted to a young child) became friends behind Thomas and Martha's back

The two loving parents would always listen to their son telling stories about his new friend who can shape-shift

They only smile and encourage him to talk about his new friend because they thought Y/N was an 'imaginary' friend he made up after the traumatizing event.

Then here comes the canon event, I got two scenarios with me first is that Y/N was there when the death of the Wayne's happened and they shifts into a large deadly bat after the trigger was pulled and killed the mugger making Young!Bruce traumatized and call them a monster.

Second that Y/N was gone and came back after that night and Young!Bruce blames them for not showing up when he needed them because they promised to protect him.

Fast-forward to the present Bruce became Batman and already when through Dick, then him now as Nightwing Barbara from Bat-girl to Oracle (still in the process of healing), Jason, Jason's death, adopting Tim and making him Robin, Stephanie to Robin before Spoiler as well as adopting Cassandra before Damian came after Talia introduce and told Bruce to 'get to know his son' unfortunately no Duke yet because in order for him to be introduced everything in the batfam should have settled in including Jason but I will put him later on the series and He'll have his own introduction to Nimona!Reader.

Reread that again Jason's death but no reconciliation with him and here comes the next part I love.

Imagine this setting, it was raining in Gotham and Bruce as Batman was in pursuit of the Vigilante named Red Hood.

After finally cornering him, Bruce found out about Red Hood's true identity being the revived Jason Todd, his late Robin and son.

But before he could apprehend Jason, the younger male only smirk and whispered something before a pair of red blood bat wings emerge behind Jason.

A person rose up from Jason's back having a that familiar her color and a pair of glowing eyes looked directly at Bruce's as the mysterious person's with uncanny features that stood behind his son tickled the back of his brain.

Before he could utter a word he was cut off by a one strong flap of wings, soon Jason and the figure was up in the sky, the large bat wings flew up in the middle of the moon's form and their large wings spread open as if to mock the symble of the Batsignal before disappearing.

Headcanon for Nimona!Reader relationship with Bruce

At first I was planning on making Nimona!Reader as Young! Bruce's childhood first love before making it a sibling relationship

Still open to a romantic one if people are ok with it but I'm more fine with a sibling dynamic

You already see Young!Bruce as your Brother and you still do even after the harsh fall out the two of you had.

You already knew he was Batman by scent but never bothered with telling him or showing yourself

It's fun to wreck stuff at Gotham and making the big bad Bat frustrated and angy.

The only thing he's glad about is you never interacting with the Joker

for the Yandere part is that you being a big influence to his younger days being his only friend and literally the one who save him from the well/cave accident.

You became one of his fears and inspiration to become Batman

and seeing you again made his feeling from before come back and resulted to needing to find you and to reunite with you again.

Jason Todd/Red Hood

I'll pick him as second since I think I should put the order of how close the members of the Batfam are to Y/N

I can imagine him as Ballister to Nimona!Reader but more dark and is actually a villian that Y/N is going to join and become his sidekick

I was planning on mixing two version of Red Hood/Jason Todd maybe Arkham!Red Hood/Jason and Young Justice League!Jason Todd? weird but I need to this two version of him to connect for the plot I have in mind so stay with me

So Jason died by the Jokers hand at Arkham and his dead body was snatched and revived by Ra using the lazarus pit and became the League of Assassins puppet for a few years before escaping and became the Arkham Knight

He started a few solo missions, killing criminals and making a name -remember not Red Hood yet- first before moving on the recruite people not yet joining forces with the scarecrow

Y/N saw the Gotham news and found out about The Arkham Knight and was like

News reporter: He's a criminal

Y/N: He's awesome

News reporter: He blew up a building and killed people

Y/N: He's fucking metal

News reporter: He's Evil

Y/N: He's perfect

After that they broke into one of Jason's secret hideout and tell him about becoming his sidekick making Jason's ptsd come back about being a robin and Batman's sidekick

Jason threaten you with a gun since he's still angsty and depressed because of Bruce but you're more stubborn than him

First time you ever shape-shift he asked you if you were Beast Boy/Garfield's relative but you genuinely don't know who that is

He freaked out a bit but warm up to you little by little since your actions remind him of his kid days and unfortunately when he was Robin as well

As Arkham Knight he needed you for escape plans, distraction but most importantly on stealth missions seeing that your shape shifting powers was handy

But stealth missions are the ones you hate so when you end those missions You.Break.'Some'.Shits

He was pissed of course but quickly shut his mouth when you already had everything covered, now he doesn't even get bothered by your 'metal' moments

Then the whole Arkham happened, Gotham City was still fixing and healing but then the criminals still came back, Batman is still alive (Scarecrow didn't get to expose his indentity as Bruce Wayne because Jason save him in time) but didn't make up with Bruce and after that he finally became Red Hood

Headcanon for Nimona!Reader relationship Jason

When you met him you already smelled Bruce's phantom scent on him

It's smelled normal like a lingering scent but enough to tell you that Bruce is not Jason's biological father but still somewhat close with him, how you have that skill? I'll call it a weird mutation you have being a shapeshifter

You call him Boss but you actually treat him like a younger brother or act like mother/aunt-ish around him most of the time

Jason always think you could as well be his younger sibling but we all know your older than him by a few decades.

I kept Nimona's red colors since I think it'd be fucking awesome that two of the person that hated Bruce or became Bruce's nightmare and pain in the ass are both wearing or have the color red in their character palette. (Tim......is orange? Idk fckn know some of the fandom give him the orange color)

Damian Al' Ghul-Wayne/Robin

Before anybody say 'why jump to him quickly?' Well Lemme tell you something, Lemme tell you something

Damian's origin is connected to Y/N's origin story, remember when I told that Y/N existed early mid-Gotham days?

Well guess what Y/N was the connection of Ra to the Lazarus Pit and they became one his inspiration to use it.

Damian's grandfather speak highly of you, how you were the perfect being in this world that could widthstand the force of the Lazarus and continue to live forever.

Damian became influence by his grandfather's, mother's teaching and stories about you that deep down he wished to see you face to face

He still is an annoying brat from time to time but after staying at the Wayne and finally experience the life of living instead of surving he tone down for a bit

Ra's words still linger but now he has his own morals he keeps.

The first time he meet you might actually be pretty normal, him in his civilian Identity and you guys being you.

I guess maybe at the park? him just looking out for Titus and taking for a walk and you were just in the grass or the swings chilling.

He wouldn't care for the first minutes but when he saw Titus getting pretty close with you and he just watches as Titus let's you pet him.

He was intrigued and decided to introduce himself since he was in the midst of getting lessons about 'making friends'

Headcanon for Nimona!Reader relationship to Damian

How about like Mother-ish Aunty as well? and Damian also thinks you have a caring moments since you usually care even though you act crazy

Crazy? I was crazy once, they lock me in a room, a rubber room, a rubber room with rats, Rats makes me crazy, crazy? I was Crazy once-

and casually talk about killing and blood, lots of blood, buckets of blood.

He has alot of respect to you since you're this high being his grandfather talks about everytime

Likes that you can shape-shift into animals more

Follows you around after discovering your real identity and doesn't mind your 'metal' moments as well

----

This is not the last of headcanon but I might add more in the future for now I'm just gonna put this in before I forget.

[anonao3author]

untitled fic, ch 1 - i've done a lotta things

—

"We know what you did." Superman loomed over Red Hood, every word a booming threat that if he didn't cooperate, it'd be more than his helmet smashed to pieces.

"I've done a lotta things," Red Hood said. "Ya gotta be more specific."

—

"I'm almost there, Roy, there's no need to get pissy." Jason flipped off the old woman he just passed, the one who'd been doing twenty under the speed limit since Pike Ave.

On the other end of the phone, Roy sighed. "I know, Jay-" Jason adjusted the phone, speeding up on his bike- "-worry about you. Bikers get in three times more accidents than cars. Three times!"

"Maybe 'cause their boyfriends won't stop nagging them while they're tryna-" he swerved around a pedestrian who should not have been crossing there, holy f- "-drive!"

—

His reintegration into the Batfamily had been... a little rocky, mainly on account of the whole "trying to kill Tim thing", which he would admit was definitely his fault.

—

Getting to hang out with Damian again was a plus, too. He'd met the little shit in the LOA, and they actually hit it off pretty well, in his opinion. Given, he had no idea what an actual sibling relationship was supposed to be like, but stabbing was probably normal.

All in all, the Wayne's, being one of them? It wasn't that bad.

—

It had seemed impossible, for a while.

He was finally getting his life back together.

He stepped out onto the road.

Someone stopped him.

He looked up, and was greeted with an (unfortunately) familiar face. Oliver Queen, Green Arrow, Roy's father. He was in his full Emerald Archer get-up, little green booties and all.

—

Hal slammed his hands down on the table, leaning towards Red Hood. "What do you need the money for, Hood?" He growled.

"Raising children isn't cheap, dickshit, have you seen the price of fucking sheet metal these days?"

"What does... what does sheet metal have to do with raising kids?" Clark asked, puzzled.

"My son is a picky eater."

—

Decided to try my hand at the "Batfamily meets the Justice League" trope, filled to the brim with my own headcanons and favourite dynamics. This fic is entirely self indulgent, but I'm gonna post it anyways because I'm so bored.

If you liked these snippets, you will probably like the fic (or at least the first chapter). I tried to pick out the funniest bits of the 4k ish words I wrote.

First chapter will hopefully be posted before January next year

[fiction-is-the-new-reality]

Pt 3: if only you knew

An Unfortunate Incident

word count: 5k

warnings: major violence, adult language, and angst

A/N: Ok sooooo. Thank everyone for all your support!! It means the world. Also I want to explain my inspiration for our main girl. I want her to be a bit darker than the other vigilantes. Someone that’s similar to Red Hoods vibe. I like to imagine her outfit similar to Azrael’s in AK, just without the full mask. I changed the name to Vulture instead of Phoenix because I felt like Phoenix was a little too cliche. As always please give feedback and love you guys!

series masterlist previous part next part

Blinking a few times, you take in your surroundings. You’re on a cot in Panessa Studios. There’s a tightness in your side that tells you they stitched you up. Pushing yourself up on your elbows, you look around. There are other cells identical to the one you’re in, with people in them.

“Great, you’re up,” Tim pops into view, donned in his Robin suit. “Batman told me not to let you out.”

You look at him, opening your mouth to argue when he cuts you off. “Lucky for you, I know he needs help out there. You’re free to go, that is, if you’re feeling like it. I know it can be scary to get back out the–”

“This isn’t my first time getting my ass beat,” you remind him, “but that did sound like it was going to be a great pep talk, though.”

Placing your feet on the floor, you begin to stand. Your body aches from the beatings, and you can feel the itchiness of the stitching as you walk to the door. The door slides open to allow you out, and you finally see the other people in the cells.

Looking at them, you see they all have pale skin and green hair, and even their mouths look slightly deformed to an upturned smile. While you’re staring, they all begin to yell and taunt you. Seeing the confused look on your features, Tim quickly explains who they are and why they’re locked in the cells.

Turning away from the people, you begin walking toward the elevator. “How long was I out for?”

“Couple hours. It’s gotten worse out there.”

“Has Bats asked for any help?”

“If he has, he hasn’t asked me.” He frowns like a disappointed kid.

And as you stare at him, you remember that he is just a kid. He’s barely older than Jason was when he became Robin. Your heart clenches at the thought of Tim possibly meeting the same fate as Jason.

“Don’t take it personally. He’s just looking out for you in his own way.” You grab his shoulder and squeeze it. He smiles back.

He calls out to you as you get on the elevator to go up.

“Kick some ass for me!”

As you leave the studio, your ears are filled with static before a voice emerges.

“Hello, Miss, I wanted to let you know your suit is complete. I have the Batwing sending it, along with new devices for you. I hope it is to your liking.” Lucius sounds pleased with himself.

“Thank you, Lucius.” The Batwing comes around the corner, and you watch in awe as the pod rockets down, slamming into the ground.

It opens with a loud hiss. Inside, the light reveals a two-piece suit. The dark green and black colors contrast against the bright white light. Putting it on, you instantly notice the reinforced fabric and the extra padded areas. Lucius had included details you hadn’t even thought of, like attaching a cape to the hood of your top and new boots. You take a moment to get used to the new suit and place your new gadgets and weapons on so they adorn every inch of your body.

Pressing on your comms, you call out to Oracle, but there’s nothing. A chill runs down your spine. That’s unlike Barbara. You try again, but there’s still nothing. As a final attempt, you use the tempad on your wrist to call her but receive the same response - silence. Shooting out the grappling hook, you feel the tug as it latches onto the next building. With your legs moving at top speed, you leap from building to building, feeling the wind rush against your face.

The moment you get closer to the Clock Tower, the reverberating sound of multiple shots fills the air, echoing from the Batmobile and the militia tanks. The Tower itself has an overwhelming amount of militia presence. Jumping down, you make quick work of taking them out. Taking your chain whip, you wrap one end around your left hand and use your right to swing and deliver blows. Utilizing the chain, you swiftly neutralize several men, effortlessly reeling in the remaining ones and defeating them with your hands.

There’s a quick, almost too fast black mass out of the corner of your eye. As you glance in that direction, you notice Batman has entered the fray; his powerful presence gains the attention of the men. Most of them leave you to go deal with him. You and Bruce do good at avoiding each other, until the last second of the fight.

There’s only one man left, and you punch into his core as many times as possible, forcing him to move backward and toward Batman. Sweeping out his feet, you kick him back, letting Bruce deal the final hit that puts the guy to sleep.

The robotic voice of Arkham Knight comes over the comms of the fallen militia men. “I’m impressed. But your tricks don’t stay new for long, Batman. I see you’ve added another person that you’ll get killed.”

Your eyes widen as you look at Bruce. He looks back at you before grappling at the top of the Tower. You’re right after him.

You both land in the room, and while looking around, you notice only one thing out of the ordinary. There’s no sign of a struggle, just an empty turned-over wheelchair that lays in the middle of the floor.

“What the hell happened?” Bruce ignores your question. Turning to see what he’s doing, you notice a glossy look in his eyes as he stares at the wheelchair. Strange. He still doesn’t respond or acknowledge you’re there, even after you call his name multiple times. He finally snaps out of his daze and places the wheelchair back upright.

The elevator dings open to show Commissioner Gordon. As he enters the room, you push yourself into the shadows, hoping to become a fly on the wall as you watch what unfolds.

Jim’s foot lands on a picture frame of him and Barbara. While he kneels, he lightly runs his fingers across it. Bruce speaks up, “This isn’t your fault, Jim.”

“Of course it is. Crane’s done this to get to me. I should have been here.”

Your heart breaks as you watch him blame himself.

“There’s something I need to show you.” Bruce turns, walking to the retina scanner.

Jim stands back to full height, following him. “We haven’t got time. She’s not like us,” Jim frets.

“Batman?” You question him, making sure he wants to do this. He doesn’t seem to care about the consequences.

As the machine whirls to life, the room soon converts into Oracle’s domain. And before you can say another word, he reveals the secret that Barbara fought so hard to keep from her father. You watch as Jim digests what's happening, his eyes darting back and forth between the room and Batman. You know it’s clicked when his face goes from sadness to anger.

“She’s strong, Jim, stronger than you realize.”

Not only do you see the anger, but you can feel the anger radiating off of Jim as he turns back to Batman.

“She works for you?” He scoffs as he shakes his head, walking toward the elevator. “This is all your fault.”

“I will find her,” Batman’s stern voice was an unspoken promise.

You stare in surprise as Jim punches him. Batman takes the punch unfazed.

“She’s my family! MY DAUGHTER! She’s all I’ve got.” He gets on the elevator, turns around, and tells Bruce, “I never should have trusted you. Never!” His face was full of pain and betrayal as he threw down his communicator.

“I’ll do this on my own. Stay away from my family.” His voice wavers a little but remains stern. He slams shut the elevator door and leaves.

Once the elevator is gone, you turn back to Bruce, “What’s our next step? How do we plan on finding Barbara?”

“I’ll hack the municipal CCTV system. I should be able to monitor all access points in the building.” He filters through the footage from the last few hours.

“There!” You watch as two militia vehicles pull up. The Arkham Knight hops out of one, enters the Tower, and soon returns with what looks like an unconscious Barbara. He puts her in the back of the car and takes off with her.

“I’ll be able to program the Batmobile to track the tires, their AmerTek D60s.”

“Great, I’ll come with you.”

“No, you need to be out on the streets. There are militia checkpoints and riots that you can help with.”

“I don’t work for you, Bruce,” you remind him. “I’m in this for Barbara, and the best way for me to help is to get her back.”

“There’s no time to argue. If you want Barbara back faster, you’ll listen to me and stay back.” He insisted.

“You better find her.” You sneer at him,

You’re out of the tower, watching the streets from above. You can’t stop yourself from seething with rage towards Bruce. Who does he think he is to tell you what to do? And who are you to listen? You hate that you’re not helping find Barbara; you hate that you’re stuck doing busy work.

A flashing light catches your eye, causing you to turn and see Bat Burger in the distance. You and Jason had gone there before everything, and you wish your smile were genuine, but instead, a bittersweet feeling washes over you. Your smile is one of self-pity. Your last moments with each other were marked by faces red with anger, furrowed brows, and tear-filled eyes as you desperately pleaded for him to listen. Closing your eyes, you think back to that night.

There’s snow covering the ground, Jason’s complaining about Bruce treating him like a kid, and you just listen as you stare up at him while waiting in line to order.

You grab your food and sit in a secluded booth, far from the bustling crowd.

“I’m not a kid. I haven’t been one for a long time. He treats me like I’m still in the learning phase. Like, I haven’t been with him for almost two years! You know, after Dick had been with him for two years, he had joined the Titans!” He takes a massive bite of the burger in his hands, and with his mouth full of food, he speaks again. “I’m going to show him. Hell, I’ll go after Joker if it shows him to take me seriously.”

You giggle at him, “Yeah, great idea, Jay. I’ll take down Croc while we’re at it.” You look up from your meal when you don’t hear him laugh.

“I’m not kidding,” he had a stern look on his face.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” He stops mid-chew to look at you like you’re crazy.

“Look, Jay, I know how hard it is to deal with Bruce, but don’t you think that’s a little too much?” You shrug, trying to ease the uncomfortableness that’s fallen over the table.

“Actually, you don’t know how hard it is to deal with Bruce.” Great, you think. He’s putting up a wall. “You don’t think I can do it?” he accuses you.

“It’s not that, just…maybe wait a little longer.”

He scoffs, “I could do it. I could take any of them.”

“I’m sure you could, but wouldn’t it be better if you didn’t risk it? Wouldn’t it be better if you could confidently take them down in a couple of years?”

“The only ones not confident in me are you and Bruce.”

“Don’t lump me in with him. I just think there are other ways to show him you’re ready to move on from being the dynamic duo.”

“None of that will be as effective as this. If I show him, I can hold my own. He won’t be able to ignore it.” Jason’s being stubborn as always, and usually, you love that about him, but right now, it’s adding to your aggravation.

“Unless you get killed!” You toss your hands up, trying to make your point more clearly.

“I can’t believe this. You’re supposed to support me. Why don’t you see that I can do this?” His eyebrows furrow, his face getting slightly flushed as he grows angrier.

“Jason, it’s a stupid idea! There’s such a high chance of you getting injured or, worse, killed! Why do you not care about that?”

“I bet if Dick had told you this, you’d bat your eyelashes and tell him he’s so brave.” He jeered. Your eyes soften slightly, knowing how he constantly compares himself to others. He had a wicked jealous streak, not to mention his fear of not being good enough. You know he wants to impress Bruce, to show that he was better than Dick, that he was the best yet.

“Don’t be an ass, Jay. I’m trying to look out for you.”

“I don’t need you to look out for me. I can do that myself.” He stands from the table, and you lunge up after him. Following him outside.

“Just forget I said anything. No one trusts me. No one believes in me. I’m just Jason, the poor alley kid Bruce Wayne so generously took in. I’m just the second Robin, constantly compared to Boy Wonder.” He whips around to face you. “I’m so fucking tired of it! I want to be seen for who I am, not for where I came from. No one has faith in me, but I’ll prove it. I’ll show all of you that you’re wrong.”

You step back from him, your face twisting as you empathize with me. He notices immediately, and his anger just furthers.

“Don’t you fucking dare look at me like that. I don’t need your pity. I don’t need anything from you.” He turns back around and begins stalking toward the nearest alley. You chase after him, the cold air nipping at your burning face.

You feel your eyes welling up with tears but refuse to cry, “Jason, wait, please!”

His pace doesn’t decline. “Jay, I just want to keep you here for as long as possible! I don’t care about where you come from or who’s been here before you! I just care that you’re still here! You can’t do this.” You finally catch up and grab his arm.

Turning quickly, he grabs your arm and shoves you off him. His eyes are full of fire, and they’re glossy with tears. “Nothing you say can stop me. I was just hoping you’d be different and that you’d understand. I hoped you’d be a good friend and at least lie, but you didn’t because you’re just like them.”

“Please don’t do anything stupid, please, Jason.” You grab at him again, but he dodges your hand. You feel the tears overflowing, and your throat gets tight as your nose burns.

“Jason, please, just listen to me. Just think about this. Please don’t, Jason.” The tears have started to fall as you beg him.

The tears that roll down your face feel like knives slicing him open. He has to turn away. He can’t stand to see you cry, especially since he caused it. He doesn’t respond to your pleas as he makes his way up and out of the alley.

A huge booming noise towards Miagani pulls you back to the present. You can hear multiple rapid shots exchanged between tanks and the Batmobile. Pressing a button on the tempad on your wrist, you hear the low rumble of your motorcycle nearby. You jump off the building and press the button again. From around the corner, your bike appears. Positioning yourself on the bike, you grip the handlebars tightly, feeling the engine's vibration reverberate through your hands as you accelerate towards triple-digit speeds, racing towards Miagani Island.

Arriving at the scene, it is obvious you’re too late. Destroyed tanks fill the area, with some still burning. The thought of following Bruce crosses your mind, but it quickly vanishes once you see the tunnel. You’re very intrigued by the tunnel. The pull is irresistible, like a pirate under the spell of a siren's song.

As you slowly roll down, you’re stunned at the realization that there had been a massive militia presence under your feet this entire time. Your eyes dart from one direction to another, constantly scanning your surroundings. Despite the appearance of a complete evacuation, you remain on high alert, not lowering your guard. The tunnel opening fades from sight, leaving you with a pounding heart and a sense of unease. As you venture deeper, an unsettling feeling of being watched washes over you. You just blame it on nerves.

There’s a room on the left side of the tunnel. You wonder if there’s anything in there that could help find Barbara. You position your bike nearby in case you need a quick getaway. Walking around, you examine every piece of paper, nook, and cranny. Luckily, your search isn’t wholly void; you find some Batarangs.

As you stand from picking up the Batarangs, the feeling of being watched is so strong you quickly whip around to look at the door. Your blood runs cold as you come face to face with the Arkham Knight.

“It must be my lucky night, getting two of you little heroes in a row. Even better is that you brought yourself to me.” His modulated voice adds to echoes around the room.

Without meaning to, you’ve taken a step back. Arkham Knight matches by stepping forward.

“If we’re going to fight, let’s get on with it.” What sounds like a laugh comes through his helmet before he lunges at you.

His fist met your body quick and hard. Blocking as many as you could, you landed some of your own. Each punch from you lands with a resounding thud against his combat suit. You're doing well until he grips your shoulders, forcefully slamming you against his knee. The impact of his knee against your stitched-up side sends a lightning bolt of pain all over. As the pain rattles your body, you crumble to the ground, feeling the hard surface beneath you. His towering body seemed even more looming as he stared down at you.

He straddles your body, not even flinching as you thrash and punch him. He tightly grips your neck, his hands constricting like a vise. You know you’re going to be bruised. As he tries to suffocate you, you swiftly wrap your legs around his waist, desperately seeking leverage. You attempt to gain an advantage by extending your arms as far as possible, pushing against the front of his helmet, and contorting your body to move his head back. His grip on your neck relaxes ever so lightly as you twist his neck further to the side.

With his grip still on your neck, you brace your arms in a triangle-like shape under his. Slamming them against his, you break out of the lock he has on you. Following it with a kick to his chest. The impact is jarring, sending a shockwave of sensation up your legs. With a backward roll, he allows you to rise to your feet. When you turn to face him, you see the Knight back on his feet, ready for another round. Both of you stand there, eyes locked, the tension palpable. He waits for you to bolt out the door as you wait for him to lunge at you.

He jerks his head at the doorway, “Go ahead, run.” Even through the voice disruptor, you can hear the smirk he’s wearing.

You break the stand-off by slinging the batarangs at him. They take him by surprise, and he instinctively swipes at them in self-defense, giving you time to run towards your bike. You hear his footsteps thudding behind you as you approach your bike. Before you can swing your leg to get on, you’re being picked up and slammed down onto the dirt. Your brain rattles in your skull from the force, and you go blind with rage.

Going ballistic, you start punching and you don’t stop. Even as he blocks, you keep going, sidestepping his fist and his legs as he attempts to kick. You circle him so fast that he gets dizzy. Ducking down, you strike his midsection with jabs, then deliver an uppercut to his metal head. In a twisting motion, you aim to deliver a roundhouse kick, but he successfully catches your ankle as your foot comes close to him. You support him by propelling yourself towards him.

He wobbles backward. You entwine your legs around his waist and thrust yourself towards his center of mass. He falls to the dirt with a thud. Your strength doesn’t waver, not even when you’re on top. Straddling him, you slam the front of his helmet with both hands. Despite repeating the process, the glass remains unbreakable. Yanking out one of your blades, you aim for his unarmoured neck. Just before the blade hits, he grabs your arms only centimeters away.

“I wonder how Batman will feel about this murder attempt?” He taunts you.

Determined to get the blade through his neck, you push as hard as you can. “I wonder how it’ll feel when I slice through your vocal cords.” You snarl back at him.

He chuckles, pretending he doesn’t feel the blade against his Adam’s apple.

You lean forward, using your body weight to press the blade down. It backfires and allows him to ram his helmet against your forehead. After you tumble off of you, you attempt to crawl toward your bike. The black spots in your vision make it almost impossible to see it.

Arkham Knight stands there, watching as you crawl to your motorcycle. He almost for half a second feels for you. For half a second, he thinks back to when he was Robin. He thinks of that little boy so full of red-hot rage, so stubborn to prove himself. He sees Jason Todd in you. Soon, images of himself crawling away from Joker derail his mind. The asylum’s grimy, moldy floors squeak as he moves away from Joker. The new Robin suit being caked with blood and the massive headache he had all the time.

He can’t breathe. He hates watching you crawl. He hates seeing you. He hates Batman. He wants him to pay, to feel how he feels. He needs to send a message.

He stalks over to you, and once he’s close enough, he kicks you in the side so hard you flip over. He places his boot on your chest, applying enough pressure to make you wheeze.

“Don’t blame me for this. Blame Batman. He wasn’t here to protect you. He left you all alone.” He says it like he’s pitying you. No teasing or taunting, just pity.

He takes a small gun and aims it at your chest. You double-click the button on your tempad that alerts your bike to come to your location. It roars to life and charges in your direction. The speed of the bike causes his instincts to kick in, and he swiftly leaps aside. With lightning speed, you mount the bike and zip away. As you emerge from the tunnel, the sight of the Gotham streets greets you, and in that moment, a wave of relief washes over you.

Standing there, the Knight watches you disappear into the distance, the sound of the motorcycle reverberating off the walls. He raises the gun, his finger hovering over the trigger, but then abruptly lowers it, a moment of hesitation flashing in his eyes. He’ll wait until the perfect moment. He wants Batman to witness your death. Nothing and no one is safe from the Arkham Knight, and he’s going to make sure that Bruce knows that.

taglist: @thegirlwiththeyarn @pank0w @geminizmoonz @emilia527 @elizamay @anime5005 @babypaperwitch @skypperlegacy @rwylm-things @mayo-0-o @ex-cla-ma-tion @pheonixfucu @not-herexo @g0atmansbridge182 @theg0ddesshera @redhoodedangel @just-lost-inbetween-worlds @marigiano @lyralibra @lilocapoca @misaki-kira8 @blackcanary130 @ykyouluvme @kiwi03 @xbonniepricexx @definitelynotanalien @ghostlyleech @pinkmaggit666 @0littlestwolf0 @stupid-ninja @reanie-xoxo @kittykatchicha @bunz-lover @justalittleb1tcrazy @gghoulpool @snackeyalleyjuice @deadplantluver @comealivedaya @thefandomdiaries07 @peter-parker-tony-stank-trash @awstrck @gemini-bichxx-blog @jennifermoyas @xdrin @harleycao @screamingsilence3 @ex-pinguina @kat-nee

[vera-bees-hyperfixations]

My Jason/Red Hood Headcanons

Warring! I've only read about him in fanfics and researching info. I've never read a comic on this man in my live yet but he is bb to me.

JASON

He is a mother hen friend. [says a mother hen friend, i know the signs of one bitch]

He is the big brother you go to if anything bad happened to you, because whoever hurt you will no longer exist.

He is also the brother you go to to hide a body, most questions not asked.

He was [and still is] a theater kid 1000%.

He secretly drinks tea like a 1700s/1800s lady.

He would take the role of "housewife" in the relationship.

His love language is cooking; if he cooks for you, you are loved.

Stress cleaning. due to living on the streets, Jason likes his space(s) to be clean and tidy, he did it to control his environment. Which means he stress cleans, fortunately and unfortunately. Fortunately because his safe houses are always clean but unfortunately because he will clean whatever room he is in [e.g. one of the bedrooms in the manor, bruce's offices, meeting rooms, other peoples safe houses, you get it what I'm saying]

When Jason is anxious or panicked he cooks and he cooks a lot when that happens.

He is always carrying at least five knives and two guns on a good day, eight knives and four guns on a bad day.

How many knives and guns he carries depends solely on his paranoia level for that day.

Jason when dealing with a horrid mental health day(s) or week(s) and knows he can not bring himself to cook anything, will text or call Alfred; his grandfather Bruce Wayne's butler will stop by the next day with a fresh batch of his famous cookies and three to seven tupperwares of his cooking for his grandson, Jason to heat up when needed.

as RED HOOD

He 1000% mother hens the Alley Kids, they've just learned to accept it [and the Alley Kids 1000% do not fear red hood and sass/mock/tease him to no end].

Red is like a BAMF Mama Bear TM.

To help ease Tim after the "TTA" whenever they are together [and not in harms way] he dismantles his guns and removes his knives from his person to show vulnerability .

all safe houses have at least two books in them even in the other bat's+bird's safe house. Most of them are Jane Austen books.

All food cooked when anxious/panicked he gives out to the homeless and the alley kids, sometimes the working girls too depending on how much he makes.

Jason as a HUGE knife collection.

With the knife collection he hands them out like candy to the Alley kids and working girls.

He gives them [the Alley kids and working girls] self defense classes every Tuesdays and Thursdays where he teaches them ways to get away and/or detain men two to three times their own size.

Also gives classes in properly handle a knife, and use it to your advantage in a fight; and normal day to day survival [for Alley kids], and how to conceal carry with few clothing on and still be easily accessible [for the working girls].

If any of the bat clan need shelter because of a storm or to hide after a fight they will crash in one of Hood's many safe houses.

Due to this, all Hood safe houses are stocked with change of clothes for each bat member.

[lambsouvlaki]

Moments in Between - Ham, Cheese, & Tomato

Characters: Jason Todd x fem!OC

Rating and warnings: G, no warnings

Summary: Jason & his Definitely Not Girlfriend volunteer at a community kitchen making sandwiches. Shenanigans ensue.

Masterlist

-------

Jason scowled and carved another piece of ham on the industrial slicer. The tranquil peace was shattered, the contentment of good work done well lost. 

Across from him Andy tried and failed to stifle her giggles. Her face was scrunched up adorably. 

Maybe he wouldn’t mind so much if she weren’t so fucking cute about it. 

“There he goes,” she said, holding her breath.

On her phone screen a youtube video played, drone footage of the Red Hood getting his foot caught on the edge of a building and face planting on the roof.

She burst into laughter once more. She was almost in tears.

Jason sliced another piece of ham and tossed it down on the upturned sandwich. 

“You are falling behind on the tomatoes,” he snapped. 

“I was ahead of you anyway,” she said, closing the sandwich without looking and putting down the ingredients for the next. 

It was five in the morning and they were helping out at a community kitchen. His arm was still in a cast and he was antsy enough to need distraction. Andy had suggested volunteering as a joke, then they had both egged each other on right up until they were writing their names down and getting assigned a time and place. 

Now they stood in hair nets and plastic gloves, in an old but clean kitchen making three hundred sandwiches. 

Andy clicked the replay button. They were, unfortunately, well ahead of schedule. 

Jason considered snatching her phone and throwing it into the tub of mayonnaise. No, she’d fish it out and watch it thirty more times just to rub it in. 

He considered dangling whoever sent her that video off the edge of a roof. Upside down. In their underwear. 

“I don’t see why it’s so funny,” he said. “That could be a really dangerous injury. Maybe he broke his ankle and he’s in hospital right now. Or maybe Black Mask’s goons shot him in the head and you’re laughing at a dead man.”

“This video is from a year ago.”

It looped again. He could hear the crunch of his own boots slipping. The ‘oomf’ of impact. 

The sniggering. Dear Lord, the sniggering. 

“Didn’t you meet him, once?”

“Yeah he saved my life.” She wiped away a tear. “Scariest motherfucker I have ever seen.”

He looked at her. “Really?”

“No footage really does him justice.”

“You don’t look very scared,” he said evenly. He slowly sliced another piece of ham. 

A wide grin spread across her face. “Well, he’s not looking, I think I’m safe.”

The temptation to do some very stupid rose within him. He scowled at the deli meat in his hands and called upon his great reserves of restraint. 

“Besides,” Andy said, giggling again, “it’s important for us all to remember our protectors are human. So we don’t take them for granted.”

“I’m sure he’s feeling very appreciated.”

She looked at him funny. 

“Why do you care?”

“Those tomatoes are not getting sliced.” He pointed at her chopping board and knife. 

Her eyes narrowed. “Do you know him?”

“Tomato!” He slapped a piece of ham down. 

“Ham!” She shrieked in return, slapping the next piece of bread down. 

“Tomato!” 

“Ham!”

“Would you two stop yelling sandwich ingredients at each other?” the organiser called from down the hall.

Andy jumped and Jason hiked his shoulders up. 

“Yes, Miss Silvie,” they called in unison, and meekly returned to their work. 

Andy smothered a giggle. 

Jason mouthed ‘tomato!’ at her. 

Next>>

[cxrdioectomy]

@ryusokcn asked, "i generally have several madness-inducing hallucinations before breakfast. - To Law (Sabo's joking. Mostly-) AS SAID BY JASON TODD/ROBIN/RED HOOD || Status: Accepting

He was pretty sure that was a joke. But unfortunately he had accidentally overslept, woke up five minutes before it was time to open the clinic, had a headache and was half dead from only being awake half an hour with no time to drink coffee.

So as far as he was concerned it was to early in the morning to pretend like he was up for humoring him so instead he just crossed his arms and said, "I don't know how I can help you with that. If you need a referral to a psychiatrist you will need to go to the next island over. Because I'm the only doctor in town and I don't get the chance to leave to meet professionals that are well versed in your problem."

And the idea of meeting one and them even having an inkling that he might need help rubbed a nerve that Law himself honestly tried not to think about.

[deadsetobsessions]

Clark was used to being, at the very least, respected by Bruce’s brood of birds.

Nightwing loved him as Robin, Red Hood and Red Robin was equally awed when they met him as Robins, and the current Robin… respected him on the field. Mostly.

So, whatever he’s done to receive Red Robin’s gimlet stare and blank face of immense disapproval, he needs to fix it. ASAP.

But what did he do wrong?

——

Tim Drake was a vigilante on a Mission. No, he was a Bat on a Mission. And that mission is to make Superman’s life as hellish as possible for as long as it took for the man to get his head out of his ass.

While Tim understands the violation that the man must have felt with Conner’s existence coming into life by his nemesis, it doesn’t excuse how the grown adult had been treating Connor, who is still not an adult. In fact, he’s practically a child!

And any good vigilante or person would take offense at a kid being treated badly!

Well, even if Connor was forty, Tim would still feel the same way. His best friend is his best friend. Tim knows himself well enough to admit he is kind of intense and extremely protective of the people he gives his trust to. Ride or die? No, he’s ride, get revenge, and then die. Only Tim and Connor’s other, cherished, friends can hurt his feelings without fear of retaliation.

So when Superman failed to step up to his adult status, Tim Drake went nuclear. First, neutralize Superman’s allies. Fortunately, this is the easiest part of the entire operation. Unfortunately, this included Bruce. Oh well, Bruce should have picked better friends. Tim shrugged and sent a message to his fans and mentor.

RR: If you help Superman or try to stop me, I’ll tell Alfred exactly how many minutes you spent not resting after the last Arkham Breakout got contained and [img. 32] [blackmail 14. pdf] B-man: …Understood.

That’s one down.

RR: Wonder Woman. Can I interest you in a collector item originating from the first world war that currently legally belongs to Drake Industries? W-W: In exchange for my silence, no doubt. RR: It'll be delivered on Wednesday. I'm sure you'll have no time to visit the watch tower.

That's two of the main ones that would defend Superman. By the end of the week, Tim had blackmailed, bribed, and casually distracted everybody that could be in the watch tower next Wednesday, save for Superman. Tim strolled into the cave, locked eyes with the rest of his siblings and Bruce as he cracked open the encryption lock on the kryptonite container and plucked a sizable chunk out of the reinforced safe. He smiled politely at Dick, who stopped in his tracks, and strolled right back out.

"... You know, I don't want to get in between that." Dick muttered.

"Agreed." Damian crossed his arms, looking uneasy.

"That's the smile he gave me when he went to fuck up a gang that mugged Benard. The crime rates went down for a good half a year after that." Steph grimaced.

"I'm sure Supes deserved whatever Timbit's got in store for him. I'm not risking my hide for him." Jason went back to cleaning his guns.

Bruce simply sighed. He couldn't say anything, having been threatened into compliance ages ago. He mentally wished Clark good luck and may his gods have mercy on him, because Tim sure as hell won't.

RR: got the ok

RR: ready?

Cassieeee: Yeah, Bart's got the stuff.

RR: kryptonite secured. Kon?

Cassieeee: Jaime's distracting him

For the rest of the week, he needled and glared at Superman. Tim made sure Superman's existence on the Watch Tower was as miserable as it could be, starting with cold coffee that never heated no mater how much Superman lasered the liquid. Let it be said that Tim gave the man adequate warning.

At meetings:

"Regardless of Superman's less than adequate report-" Tim would say, reveling in the blatant insult because the man's an accredited reporter.

Or, when the League spoke with the present members of Young Justice, they'd do the opposite of Tim's heavy murder glare and ignore Superman the best they can.

With Zatanna's help, he'd concealed his presence from Superman's senses and stalked him around Metropolis for the remainder of the week, perching on the top of his headboard when Clark woke up, appearing behind him during meetings or casual conversations only to glare him.

Tim thought about shredding the man's personal life... but that would be a step too far. He's not a villain. Yet.

And when Wednesday came, Tim, flanked by a blood thirsty Cassie and a coldly cheery Bart, equipped his new kryptonite knuckle rings and stepped into the transporter. Clark was about to be on the receiving end of the most patient Robin. Only fools disturbed a dozing dragon, but Clark was an idiot and Tim is nothing but a full blooded Drake.

——

"What made you change your mind?" Dinah asked Clark. The man had been going to therapy more often, and had been interacting with Superboy more. He tried to check his tone.

Clark held a hand to his cheek. "Red Robin's reckoning," he muttered in a haze. Clark refused to elaborate, even as he glanced around warily.

Dinah stared at Clark. What the hell was he looking for? No one's here.

I love the idea of Tim being openly pissed at Clark for Conner's sake and just scaring the shit out of superman

[yasmindifference]

if ur still doing the title meme, "suffer with my ghost." make me cry plz

Okay anon, from the title+request for tears, I assume you were hoping for some character death here. Unfortunately that's not the way I roll, so instead I offer a different kind of angst:

A scenario where Jason is working with the Bats on...let's say friendlyish terms. They're a long way from BFF and he is very quick to shoot down any kind of indication from Bruce or Dick that they consider him family, but they're cooperating for the sake of Gotham.

Only thing is, Tim doesn't seem willing to play.

He never speaks out against Jason working with them. He even seems to indirectly support it; he'll turn up some piece of intel that might be relevant and mention that someone should pass it on to Red Hood, or he'll reference Jason having something covered when they're splitting up work, or whatever. But despite these regular shows of trust(?), Tim will not actually work with Jason himself.

Oh, he's subtle about it. There's always a really good reason he speaks up and assigns himself somewhere far away from Jason whenever Batman's passing out team-up assignments. It's not like he says or even hints that he's unwilling to partner up with Jason.

It's just that they're a bunch of frickin detectives, so yeah, everyone picks up what he's carefully not laying down. Tim is not willing to play nice.

And, okay. Jason has an attitude problem, they've all experienced it. And yes, he's crossed a lot of lines in the past. But he's working with them now, he's playing nice, and Tim's refusal to meet in the middle is hindering their effectiveness and also risking their alliance, because it's not like Jason's missed that Tim is very carefully avoiding him.

So Bruce starts trying to put his foot down and force Tim to partner with Jason, because this is never gonna get settled if Tim keeps weaseling his way out of even being in the same room as Jason. Unfortunately, Tim is a world-class weasel-er and keeps managing to slip off to other, totally legitimate and very important work before Bruce can get a word in. Tim's tricky that way.

It gets to the point that Bruce and Dick are honestly annoyed by Tim's unwillingness to cooperate. Working with people you don't like is honestly just part of life and Tim is being downright childish; it's extremely frustrating.

So the next time there's a team-up, no one gives Tim a chance to speak. Dick physically covers his mouth while Bruce jumps right into saying "Tim, you'll be partnered with Jason" before even telling anyone what the plan they're teaming up to enact is. He's counting on Tim, who's thus far been very subtle about avoiding Jason, being unwilling to make a scene with Jason right there.

....But he's counting incorrectly, because when Dick lets Tim go, Tim flat-out refuses. It's not happening.

Jason's offended by this frankly rude rejection, and says so. Bruce is annoyed at Tim's disobedience, and snaps at him. And Dick is at his wits' end with everyone in this clusterfuck of a family, so he brings up the 'childish' argument.

Tim waits until they're done, then very coldly points out that the issue du jour is that Scarecrow is out of Arkham. Scarecrow. AKA the guy who frequently exposes people to chemicals that make them hallucinate their worst fears. It's therefore tactically unsound for Tim to work with Jason, because he won't be able to tell the difference between Jason and any potential hallucinations.

The implication there is that Jason is one of Tim's worst fears. To a degree that he expects to see him when exposed to fear toxin.

Everyone is horrified, Jason most of all. They're also shocked, and Tim is openly disdainful about this.

Jason, as he reminds them, has tried to kill him more than once. Jason openly hates him. Jason regularly insults him using the same terminology he applied before the murder attempts. Jason has all the height, weight, and training advantages. Tim has never beaten Jason in a real fight.

Of course Tim is terrified of Jason. He'd be a moron not to be.

His piece said, Tim slips away to go fight Scarecrow not at the side of a man he's likely to hallucinate under the effects of fear toxin. It takes Bruce and Dick quite a while to follow.

Jason doesn't go out that night. He's a little busy hating himself.

[camsthisky]

"you’re not alone . you’re stuck with me forever . sorry . ” + Jason and Dick (and anyone other family member)?

“Everyone okay?” Dick croaks as the dust and rubble settles around them. He’s lying on his back, kept still by something pinning his legs down. He doesn’t dare assess himself quite yet. “Hood? Batgirl?”

“Okay,” Cass says, and Dick watches as she stumbles over to him, looking dusty, but relatively alright. She kneels next to him with a frown. She meets his eyes—well, relatively since they’re both wearing masks—and asks, “Okay?”

Dick grimaces. “Not really.” Louder, he calls, “Red Hood?!”

“Here, here,” Jason says, coughing into his fist. He’s missing his helmet and there’s a gash sluggishly bleeding from his right cheek, smearing a trail of blood down his face. He’s also limping, but only slightly.

“Can you move?” Cass asks Dick as Jason pulls out his flashlight.

Dick winces at the sudden light, his mask having already automatically switched to night vision. He huffs. “Jay. Off.”

“Names.”

Dick scowls. “The light.”

“Deal with it,” Jason snaps. “My night vision isn’t working.”

Dick turns off his own night vision feature, if only to not be blinded by the damn flashlight if it passes over his eyes again.

That’s when Jason’s flashlight lands on where Dick is pinned.

“Crap,” Jason breathes.

“Can you move them?” Cass asks, sounding a touch more impatient, and Dick realizes that Cass has already asked once. “Your legs.”

“No,” says Dick, just barely trying. He’s tired, but he knows that time is up. He can’t get away with ignoring his own situation any longer. Probably shouldn’t have even waited this long. His legs are tingling from lack of blood flow, mixing with a sharp pain shooting through them both. Still he’s lucky, because—“I can still feel them, though.”

“We’ll lift,” Jason says to Cass, who nods. Dick closes his eyes and braces himself for the inevitable pain of rubble being lifted off his crushed legs.

“Hhh.”

The sounds he makes is nothing more than an agonized hissed through his teeth, and Dick can’t help the cold sweat that sweeps across his body in a slow wave as his siblings manage to move the slab of—wall, maybe? who knows, really—from where it’s crushing his poor legs.

Something taps against his shinbone and then his kneecap.

“Stop, stop, I feel it,” Dick gasps, bringing his legs up in a protective curl as pain throbs through most of his lower body. His left hip hurts like hell, and his every muscle, bone, and tendon feels like they’ve been squeezed and then flattened like a pancake. He rolls over onto his side so he can bring his knees up to his chest, to wait out the lingering intensity of the pain.

“Breathe,” Cass says.

Dick breathes.

He closes his eyes and blocks out everything and, again, just breathes. His siblings let him.

When he has a better grasp on his agony, Dick finally relaxes. The world filters back in. Cass is running fingers through Dick’s dusty hair (something she one hundred percent learned from Bruce, because only a select few know how much the motion tends to calm him down).

On the other hand, Dick blinks his eyes open to find Jason agitatedly pacing.

“The hell?” Jason murmurs, his flashlight whipping back and forth with his movements as he surveys their surroundings. “Did we get completely sealed in?”

Dick wishes desperately he would stop. Even without night vision, Jason’s impromptu strobe light effect is causing Dick’s head to ache. Instead of saying this, he hums contemplatively. “Wonder if there’s a signal this far down.”

Jason huffs, not slowing in the least. He’s searching for something, and dear god does Dick want him to find it already. “You’re the one with the comms in your ear. You try it.”

They’re in the sewers, is the thing. And while Bruce and Babs have designed the comms system to work incredibly well, even in the sewers, the signal still needs to be able to make it to the system in order to be functional.

With the three of them sealed in this place, seemingly with no way out, pretty deep in the sewer system where they had been disabling bombs throughout the city, Dick isn’t optimistic about their chances of getting a signal.

(They’d just been a few seconds too late for that last bomb, which unfortunately led them to their current circumstances.)

While Jason grumbles, Cass activates her emergency signal and the comms. She calls out, “Batman? Oracle?”

Jason shuts up for the five seconds before Cass looks between both Dick and Jason and shakes her head.

Dick lets out a slow exhale through his nose. He hadn’t really held out much hope for that anyways.

Jason groans. “Holy batcannoli, I can’t believe we’re stuck down here. And where’s my hecking helmet?!”

Cass helpfully points to the rubble sealing them in. Jason kicks a rock with a yell. Dick sighs.

“Well, at least you’re not alone down here,” Dick says as optimistically as he can—although, given the circumstances, it does fall a little flat.

Jason snorts. “Right. Sure, Batgirl is an asset, but you’re a sack of bruised bones right now. That’s not helpful in the slightest, Dickface.”

Dick’s eyelashes flutter of their own accord. He hums. “Too bad. Looks like you’re stuck with me. Sorry.”

“Dick,” Cass says, her fingers tracing lightly over his face. “Stay awake.”

“I am awake.”

“You’re starting to—” Cass pauses. Dick can’t see the look on her face, because somehow, his eyes have fully closed without his permission, and he can’t seem to find the strength to open them again. “—to slur.”

The sounds of Jason’s pacing stop. Silence rings loud in their sealed section of the sewers. Then, “Did he hit his head?”

“Not sure,” Cass answers.

“Dick,” Jason says, sounding quite a bit closer, like he’s maybe crouching down next to Cass or something—but Dick hadn’t heard him move, and Jason’s boots are too clunky to not make sound against the concrete. “Dick, did you hit your head?”

Dick’s eyebrows furrow, but he doesn’t open his eyes. He doesn’t remember hitting his head. The only thing he clearly remembers about the blast is heavy pieces of rubble crushing his legs. “Maybe?”

“Great,” Jason says. He’s pulling out his I’m-rolling-my-eyes-at-your-ridiculous-incompetency voice. “So my bruised bones of a big brother probably also has a concussion. Just great.”

“It’s not his fault he’s injured,” Cass tells Jason. “He was disarming the bomb.”

Which means Dick took the brunt of the blast when it was remotely activated.

Dick really means to tack onto Cass’s statement, maybe tease Jason a little and try to reassure both his younger siblings that not everything is hopeless, because he’s the best big brother ever, of course.

Only, he can’t find the strength to open his mouth and talk. Instead, the voices around him become watery, distorted, and Dick’s head flares in pain.

When unconsciousness comes to take him, he doesn’t resist.

—

“—manage to even find us in the first place?” is the first thing Dick hears as he swims back to consciousness. Jason almost sounds relieved.

“The seismic device didn’t just affect the sewers,” someone replies. It takes a lot of effort for Dick to recognize it as Tim. “A couple buildings partially collapsed, and since we knew the three of you were down here, it was a good starting point to look when none of you would answer the comms.”

“Huh,” is all Jason says.

“Nightwing,” Bruce says, startling Dick from the dazed lull he’d been in as he listened to his brothers talking. He opens his eyes, blinking up bewilderingly at what he can see of Bruce’s face behind the cowl.

“B?” Dick murmurs. He doesn’t move, yet, from where’s curled on his side, but he feels an abortive twitch of his fingers at the reassuring sight of Batman. “‘S goin’ on?”

“What do you remember?”

Right. Bruce did not give easy answers. Life is a series of puzzles, Dick Grayson, fueled by none other than Bruce Wayne himself.

Dick frowns and casts his mind back. “The wall blew up,” he decides. “I got hurt?”

He’s only half sure about that last one, but considering his position on the ground, the throbbing in his head and hip, and Bruce’s concerned dad frown that’s taking over his Batman grimace, Dick thinks that he’s probably on the right track.

“Concussion,” Cass says, startling Dick when she pops her head over Bruce’s shoulder. “Also, ‘a sack of bruised bones.’”

That—sounds familiar. He thinks he remembers Jason saying something like that.

Bruce’s frown gets deeper. “Straighten your legs.”

“Please,” Dick tacks on for Bruce when he lacks the manners to be nice, basically on instinct at this point, even as he—slowly, and with a great deal of agony—does what Bruce tells him to do.

They go through a couple more tests, until finally Bruce, unhappy, deems, “We need to move you.”

Dick blinks when Bruce turns away to murmur something to one of the others. A conversation washes over him, and Dick can’t help but let himself tune it out. The noise settles as vague humming—indistinct and comforting.

“—two, three,” Bruce says as Dick’s entire vision goes white.

He only manages to come back to himself in increments.

There are arms holding him tight. Familiar murmurs in his ear. The comforting sound of Batman’s heavy cape brushing against concrete.

“—there, Chum,” Bruce is saying, and if Dick had the capability, he would have teased Bruce for pulling out both the concerned dad frown and the concerned dad voice in one night.

As it is, the only thing that comes out of his mouth when he opens it are harsh pants for air. Every step jostles him, and agony is his constant companion throughout the entire journey to the surface.

Somehow, Dick is still conscious when he’s laid down in the backseat of the batmobile. He’s grateful he’s not moving anymore, and carefully doesn’t think of the upcoming ride back to the Cave.

He only really starts to relax when Bruce settles the cape over him. Wrapped up inside it, Dick almost feels like he’s ten years old again. Batman’s has always felt like warmth and protection and home. This time is no different.

“Batgirl and Robin, keep Nightwing as still as possible. Red Hood, in the front. Start updating Oracle.”

“Why do they—”

“You’re too bulky, Hood. Me and Batgirl are smaller than you. It’s still going to be a tight fit, but it’s the most comfortable for everyone this way.”

“Whatever.”

“Enough. Car. Now.”

There’s lots of careful but hurried scrambling. Dick thinks he passes out a few times on the way back. He doesn’t remember much, either. Just bits and snatches here and there—His siblings talking to him, Bruce giving orders, Jason being snappy and unwittingly dragging Tim into an argument.

And then—he wakes up. A lot more clear-headed than he’d felt the last time he’d been conscious (though, that wasn’t saying much).

To Dick’s surprise, he’s on his side again, dressed in sweats with a pillow between his legs. He opens his eyes to the Wayne Manor living room, and—yes, he’s on the couch. The curtains are drawn, but it’s clearly sometime past sunrise.

Bruce is sitting cross-legged in front of him, reading a book.

“Bruce?” Dick calls, his voice still somewhat slurred. “Why’m I on the couch?”

“You started crying when I said you had to stay in the infirmary,” Bruce tells him, grabbing a bookmark and setting his book off to the side.

Dick frowns. He doesn’t remember that. Still, he manages to say, “You’re such a pushover.”

“How do you feel?”

Dick blinks a dozen times in a row, trying to assess his body and keep up with the change in subject. “Kinda woozy. My hip hurts a lot.”

“Hn.”

“Think I need to brush up on my Bat speak,” Dick murmurs. “Dunno what that one meant.”

Bruce hums again. “You’re incredibly lucky. We’ll need to be careful for the next few weeks.”

“What’s the diagnosis, doc?”

“Crush injuries to your legs and left hip. Not overly severe, and we managed to stabilize you once we realized you were in shock.”

Dick thinks about that for a second. “Concussion? I’m pretty sure I remember something about a concussion.”

“It’s mild,” Bruce tells him. “It was the shock that was the real problem.”

“Oh.” Dick sighs into the pillow under his head. “I’m tired.”

Bruce gives him a soft smile, just slight enough that if Dick hadn’t been so familiar with Bruce’s microexpressions, he would have thought he’d been mistaken. Fingers lightly card through his hair, and Dick’s eyes start closing of their own accord.

“Then sleep,” Bruce says.

Dick sleeps.

[cyraniadebergerac]

If you're also a Batman fan,

Hogan being the second Robin after Dick but before Jason, taking on the mantle with Dick's blessing. He had been orphaned by his mom dying in Cleveland and arrived in Gotham to live with his uncle Crane aka Scarecrow. He made himself useful to him by using his charm and skill for deception to get him research money, not knowing the full extent of what Crane did. Then one thing leads to another and Batman ends up saving and taking him in. Then after a while as the 2nd Robin, WWII breaks out. He decides to enter the war and leaves home, from there ending up in Stalag 13th.

From Alfred's letters, he hears the news about Jason becoming the next Robin and some other news. But there's never a letter written to him when Jason dies. So after the war's over and he goes home, he's expecting trouble with Bruce. But he's also expecting to get to meet his little brother.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), Jason comes back as Red Hood soon after Hogan comes home and so they both meet for the first time that way, while Hogan is struggling to adjust after the war and is trying to decide what he really aims to do in life. One thing's for certain. Eagle is not about to become his hero name.

Bonus points if you have Klink, after a name change to William Clark, end up getting employed as a Wayne Foundation accountant without Hogan's knowledge. And then having the crew end up in Gotham and slowly learning Hogan's true background, starting with Kinchloe who uses a number Hogan gave him to contact because he's struggling to find a job.

Do you ever write a fic and part way through you don't necessarily become stuck, but you have to write "boring" chapters that eventually lead you to the more meatier chapters. And you don't want to have to write them. But you do if you want to finish your fic. But because you don't wanna have to do that, you try to come up with another story to write that will be a little more fun?

Well, that's me right now. The problem is, I can't think of any (short!) story to write. All my WIPs are long stories.

So, if anyone wants to throw out some ideas for me, that'd be nice. I may not actually write anything, but I find that having ideas thrown my way help get my creative juices to start flowing.

[ayamari-no-goshi]

And Think of Him as Living - Danny’s chapter

AO3 — > Companion to this fic, To Join the Whispers

Fandoms: Danny Phantom (DP) / DC universe

Summary: THIS IS A CROSSOVER. What was supposed to have been a normal mission to stop  members of the League of Assassins became something so much more when  their family accidentally tangled with a ghost. And sometimes, the  details leading to the resolution were obvious to some while completely  missed by others. Companion chapters to ‘To Join the Whispers’ written from the POVs of some of the others

Warnings: rated T for violence, mentions of death, and questionable mental health

Parings: none

Notes: originally uploaded to AO3. Cross-posted to tumblr

Danny tuned out his parents as they ranted about how ghosts must have infiltrated the various hero organizations throughout the world. They’d never be able to see the flaws in their own logic, especially not after they interacted with Jason the previous night.

He had the shock of a lifetime when he woke up in the hotel room the Bats were using to find out what happened after he’d been knocked out. Jason was officially a halfa like him, like Vlad, and he felt so conflicted about it.

Jason had made it very clear he didn’t want superpowers. While Danny didn’t want to pry, he figured it had something to do with his criminal past. If he’d done even half the things the Red Hood had been reported to do in the years after his appearance, then it made sense he didn’t want that temptation. On top of that, the way Vlad triggered that transformation… It just wasn’t right.

But, Jason was like him now. He was someone else who was unfortunately trapped between life and death and was forced to deal with the uncertainty of it. There’d be several weeks of adjustment as he figured out how to control his new powers and deal with the changes to his body.

And, according to Dick, Nightwing, and the others, Jason had fiercely protected Danny from his parents. While he knew the Bats wouldn’t purposely allow their allies to be harmed, there was just something about it that deeply touched him. It was true Jason didn’t know he was in his ghost form at time, didn’t realize just how dangerous ghost hunting gear was to him now, but he still made that decision to protect him.

He also cared, like legitimately cared. For example, Jason had called him out on how he tried to minimize Vlad hurting him. It was so strange to hear someone who understood being a hero scold him for shrugging things like that off. Sure, Jazz had warned him about it too, but it meant more coming from Jason.

He could sort out his mixed feelings later. Right now, he needed to conspire with Jazz to make sure his parents don’t do something stupid, like deciding to go after Batman, or Ancients forbid, Superman, because they think they’re ghosts. Danny loved his parents, he really did, but once they got a wrong idea in their heads, sometimes nothing could change it.

….

“Took you long enough.” Irritation laced Sam’s voice as she watched him approach their favorite spot in Amity’s Marley Park from her perch in a large and old maple tree. “You better have one heck of an explanation for us after what happened last night.”

Tucker glanced up from his PDA and gave a slight wave. “The news has been freaking out all morning over the appearance Batman and the other heroes from Gotham in Amity. Normally, I would have given my left arm to have gotten a chance to meet some of them, but, dude, you got seriously hurt. I thought you said they weren’t here for any ghost business.”

“They weren’t.” Danny sighed as he collapsed at the foot of Sam’s tree. “Vlad decided to get them involved.” After debating for a moment, he added, “I’m not going to be able to tell you everything because parts of it I just can’t. I don’t need to be watching over my shoulder because Batman thinks I gave away too many secrets.”

Tucker took a seat next to him and sympathetically patted his shoulder. “I get that. Tell us what you can.”

“I think I told you they were originally here investigating those weird people we saw around town. Nightwing and Red Robin gave me a bit more context this morning once they were sure I was okay.” That was a tense meeting. Once they made sure he was okay and provided a little more information in case more assassins showed up in the future. Then he found out what happened to Jason. “I guess the leader of those guys is researching things associated with immortality and coming back to life. He’s already somewhat familiar with ectoplasm as he owns a corrupted pool of the stuff.”

The echoes of Jason saying, ‘A regular pain in the ass watches over something similar to your parents’ Portal. He mostly uses it for healing injuries and keeping himself young and insane,’ repeated in his head. Just how problematic was this guy?

“And with Amity being filled to the brim with ghosts,” Sam climbed down from the branch to sit next to them, “and your parent’s portal, it would make sense they’d come here. Your new friend, Jason, he’s one of the Bats, right? That’s why he asked you if you could check outside.” When he raised an eyebrow at her, she backtracked, “Secrets related to Batman, right.”

“I told you I was curious about Jason because I could feel the ectoplasm in his body, right?” When his friends nodded, he continued, “Well, Vlad was also aware of that. Frostbite told us he was still technically human but with enough ectoplasm to be a bit ghostly. But Vlad didn’t get that memo and though either the process was still ongoing, or he had a dormant core or something. While his family was distracted outside, Vlad … I guess he decided it would be easier to get Jason to go along with his plans by showing how strong he was by overshadowing all of the guests.”

“Guys, what Vlad ended up doing…” He couldn’t finish. Jason’s screams were going to haunt his dreams for weeks. Had he sounded anything like that when he was dying in the portal?

And then there was the scramble to get Vlad out of the way so they could get Jason out of that thing. Batman hadn’t even cared if he got hurt trying to break that glass. There was just a tangible feeling of fear and desperation because his family had no idea what was happening to him.

To make it worse, a growing horror had gnawed at Danny in the tense few moments after Jason was pulled to safety. His form was flickering. It wasn’t the same as unstable invisibility. No, there had been a very real possibility he could have faded. There were a lot of hushed debates among ghosts if that meant they passed on properly or just ceased to be, and not knowing that was not something he wanted to admit to a devastated Batman.

“… I can’t even talk about it.” He ran his hands through his hair as he tried for find words. “If… if what happened to me when I went into the Portal was anywhere near as bad as what Vlad did to him, I’m so sorry I put you through that.”

His friends didn’t say anything. Instead, they moved closer, so they were touching his shoulders with theirs as a silent form of support and comfort. After a moment, Sam started moving her hands in comforting circles on his back while Tucker pulled up a few photos of animals getting the better of the G.I.W on his PDA to help lighten the mood. He really didn’t deserve his friends.

As the mood lightened some, Tucker uncomfortably shifted before asking, “I hate to be the one to ask, but is Jason okay?”

“Mostly?” He was starting to get into territory where he had to be careful what he said again. “You know how I was after my accident? Well, that’s how it’s going to be for him for a while.”

“Wait, you’re telling me Vlad succeeded? Dude, that’s seriously messed up. Wait!” Tucker sat straight up. “Is… is that why the Red Hood looked like that? I couldn’t figure out why he was wearing blue.”

“I’m not allowed to confirm or deny that.”

“Pushing that aside, are we just going to ignore the fact that your new friend is a mass murderer and now has ghost powers?” Of course, that was what Sam would end up focusing on. “I knew there was a reason he bothered me.”

“He didn’t want powers,” Danny snapped at her before reigning in his temper. She didn’t have all of the information he did, and he had to remind himself of that. “I asked him about it, and he was very honest about what he has and hasn’t done. After talking to Frostbite, he told me he’d ruin my reputation if he was unlucky enough for things to become permanent.” While he wasn’t able to see it on his face due to his gear at that specific time, Danny hadn’t missed the bitterness and possibly self-loathing in Jason’s expression when he tried to get him to use his powers before the transformation happened. He really didn’t trust himself.

Nightwing, Dick, had told him that Jason was working on redeeming himself. Did it erase everything he’d previously done, no? But, the fact that he was aware of that and actively trying to do better said a lot about his character.

Was it the loneliness talking? Maybe. Jason would officially be the only person, other than Vlad, he could talk to about the weirdness of being half-dead. Though, when he left for Gotham, would they even have a chance to talk again? With how busy Jason and his family were reported to be with their hero duties, it was a real possibility.

Danny could worry about it later. He still had to explain things to his friends.

“Frostbite mentioned the corrupted ectoplasm in his system affected his thoughts,” Danny continued as he pushed aside his thoughts about his new friend leaving, “and his brothers used the term ‘pit madness’ when we were trading information before he woke up. They’d seen similar behavior in others who’d been exposed to it like him, but those guys didn’t have the same permanent effects.” And even if he hadn’t said anything, Danny hadn’t missed how some of the tension in Jason’s shoulders lessened when Frostbite told him things would get better.

“Woah, back up,” Tucker scooted so he could look him in the eyes. “Are you saying there are others, other humans, who have been driven crazy by ectoplasm?”

“I guess? Both Frostbite and Jason and his family suggested it happened, but it’s not like I’m going to get any more information about it from Batman. I might be able to coax Frostbite to give me more info… I could ask Clockwork, but you know how hard it is for me to get him to directly tell me anything.”

As he thought about it for a moment, he jolted slightly. “Guys, I forgot to tell you about the damage control Jazz and I had to play before I met up with you. If you want to talk about crazy, my parents are currently making a list of all the heroes they think might be ghosts.”

“I’m sorry,” Sam stared at him, “I think I misheard you. What are your parents doing?”

….

As dinner rolled around, Danny found himself wandering the streets of Amity with his friends. While his friends still wanted more information about what happened the previous night, they knew he needed a bit of normalcy. One of the things about being a halfa was that he didn’t get a lot of time to just be himself and not worry about the next ghost attack or whatever nasty plot Vlad decided to pull.

As they turned onto the street where the majority of the non-Nasty Burger restaurants were located (Sam had decided to treat them), Danny noticed a few familiar figures. The Wayne family, minus Jason and Bruce, were arguing at across the street. As their voices wafted towards them, he could catch bits of insults from mostly Tim and Damian and talk of dinner.

Before he could decide if he should wave or not, Dick noticed him and caught the other’s attention. Soon they were across the street and had somewhat surrounded them. Their postures weren’t threatening, but after what Danny saw of what they could do the previous night, it still made him a bit nervous.

Cass must have noticed as she tapped Dick on the arm. “He’s wary.”

“Huh, oh!” Dick gave Danny an apologetic grin. “Sorry about that.”

“We’re just out to grab some grub,” Duke explained as he glanced around. “Living in a mansion is nice and all, but we don’t get a lot of chances to grab take out.”

“Don’t let Alfred hear you say that. You’ll break his heart,” Dick teased before noticing the confusion written on Danny and his friend’s faces. “Alfred is Bruce’s butler and unofficial dad.”

“I know that feeling,” Sam grudgingly admitted, “but my parents just think that any food that isn’t bought from their upscale markets or whatever isn’t fit enough to eat.” She made a face. “And yet the vegan options they’ll bring home for me are bland and tasteless.”

“Sam, vegan options are already bland and tasteless.” Tucker put his hands up with a shrug as she turned around to glare at him. “What? I’m just stating the facts, and let’s not forget your ultra-recyclo-vegetarian phase. You tried to convince us that grass on a bun was edible.”

“I already told you that all of that was perfectly safe to eat. You’re just mad that my individuality upset a ghost.”

“Yeah, a ghost who threw ovens that spat ghostly fire at us.”

“I am not sure I understand,” Damian interrupted with a huff. His eyes were darting between the three of them. “A ghost did not appreciate vegan options and attacked as a result?”

“Has anyone ever told you that you speak like an old man?” Danny asked before he could stop himself causing Tim to start laughing. “Sorry, that was kind of rude. But, yeah, the ghost who most of call the Lunch Lady wasn’t happy that someone,” he glanced at Sam, “changed the school menu. That was the first major ghost attack in Amity.”

“I was just properly educated unlike the majority of the ignorant population.”

“Just keep telling yourself that, demon,” Tim muttered before glancing at Dick. “Is it a bad thing I want to know who’s worse, this lunch lady ghost or Condiment King?”

“Condiment King? Should I ask?” When he noticed the varying looks of annoyed frustration, Danny amended, “I guess he’s Gotham’s version of the Box Ghost, got it. Anyways, is Jason around too?”

Dick’s smile slipped off his face. “No, he’s back at the hotel room. Him and Bruce are bonding which means we should probably figure out what we want for dinner and head back. You’re welcome to join us, if you’d like.”

“I…”

Before Danny could make up his mind, Tucker made a show of checking his PDA. “Crap, I totally forgot it’s meatloaf night. Sorry guys, you know I won’t miss that for the world. Nice meeting all of you.” It definitely wasn’t meatloaf night – that was on Wednesdays. Tucker was purposely giving him space to handle Phantom related business.

Was he really that transparent? He wasn’t that worried about Jason. Okay, maybe he was.

“Guess I should get going too,” Sam mentioned taking a cue from Tucker, though she couldn’t quite keep the scowl off her face. “Keep us up to speed with what your parents are doing. I want to know what crazy plan they creating to take down the Batman. You know full well he’s going to end up on the list of heroes they think are ghosts.”

“Right now, they’re still in the debating phase, but Dad was talking about possibly modifying that ice ray they have on the GAV.” Danny did everything he could to ignore the stares of the heroes circling him.

Sam just rolled her eyes before glancing at the Waynes. “There’s a new Thai place that’s opened up down the road. We’ve heard it’s pretty good. Anyways, you better send a text when you get home tonight. I don’t want to find out tomorrow that you got knocked out and ended up sleeping in a ditch.”

“That only happened once!”

“It shouldn’t have happened at all.” She glanced at the Waynes and gave them a very flat look which clearly said, ‘See what I have to deal with?’

“We’ll make sure he gets home,” Dick assured her while some of the others tried to stifle laughter.

While Sam’s slightly raised eyebrow clearly stated she didn’t exactly believe him, she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she said her goodbyes before heading off.

Glancing at the Waynes, Danny rubbed the back of his neck as he apologized for his friends. “They’re super protective of me. I didn’t tell them who you are, if you’re worried about that,” he added quickly. “But they know you know about me and that I trust you with that knowledge.”

“Don’t let B hear you say things like that,” Tim warned him. “I don’t think you want to hear the secret identity lecture, but we are going to have to help you take better precautions. We had you figured out within in a few hours of meeting you.”

He sputtered as the others laughed. “You guys are smarter than like the entirety of Amity Park combined!”

“No, we’re just good at our jobs.”

….

The Waynes decided to take Sam’s suggestion and check out the new Thai place. They seemed to be pleasantly surprised at how large the menu was and quickly picked what they wanted. Danny wasn’t as familiar with some of the ingredients, but Damian surprised him by explaining what they were.

Once all the orders were in, Danny found himself having a nice chat with Duke as they waited. With Duke being the newest member of the family, he was still getting used all the quirks of living with the others. He entertained Danny with some of the things in the manor that seemed so normal to the others but baffled him. It was surprisingly nice to hear.

When the food was ready, they made their way back to the hotel. Things were pretty chill between the siblings until they started discussing if they should openly take action against Vlad in the business world. While they agreed that it would be wise to slowly start cutting off the man’s wealth, they didn’t agree on whether or not to take action before or after the police investigation.

When he asked what they meant, Danny had the displeasure to find out that Vlad had been brutally killing people, and that the Waynes had tipped off the police. They had gotten word that the police had begun mobilizing to get the needed documentation to begin looking. It helped that Superman had given them confirmation that there were bodies and where they were.

He must have made some sort of look (because who just causally mentions they know Superman in a conversation?), because the others laughed at him before continuing the conversation. But things went from pleasant to tense as the assassins got mentioned and a fight sprung up between Tim and Damian.

“Normal,” Cass told him when he attempted to speak up.

“Yeah, from what I’ve learned, as long as they’re not openly trying to kill each other, it’s mostly fine,” Duke added.

“Mostly?” He wasn’t given any further explanation. What was with this family? Even Jason openly mentioned he had tried to kill the others, and it was just treated like nothing was wrong with it. Was it a superhero thing? He really hoped it wasn’t a superhero thing.

Damian and Tim were still fighting when they reached the hotel room. “Do I even want to know?” Jason questioned when he watched them tumble into the room. He wasn’t even phased by the sight of it.

“It’s just the usual,” Dick’s tired voice immediately lightened as he gestured to Danny. “Look who we ran into! Hope it’s okay we invited him.”

Danny watched as Bruce Wayne gave Jason a fatherly smile before welcoming him inside and grabbing the food off of him so it could be moved to the kitchen area of the suite. He wasn’t going to lie. It was kind of unnerving to see Batman act like a regular person. Duke and Cass took the other food from them and joined Bruce in the kitchen as Dick attempted to half-heartedly stop the fight.

He glanced at Jason, who didn’t seem to be bothered by the scene. “Shouldn’t we stop them?”

“Why? Means more food for us.”

“You better not touch my dinner, Todd,” Damian announced as he lost interest in Tim and hurried to the table where the others were starting to take everything out of the bags and set the table. Tim made a face before he and Dick followed.

When Danny sent Jason a questioning look, he just winked. Whatever magic tactic he just watched, he needed to learn to help stop Sam and Tucker’s fights.

Still feeling a little uncomfortable being so around so many heroes, he took a seat next to Jason. Even before Jason’s transformation, Danny had found himself relatively comfortable in his presence. Sure, there had been some unease when he first felt the strange ectoplasm in his body, but he guessed the feeling of finding someone who understood overwrote it.

The others seemed to sense he was uneasy as they started sharing stories of their early days and some of their fumbles on the field. Danny found himself fascinated. These were trained heroes, but they were openly admitting that they weren’t perfect and made mistakes too. It made him hopeful that things were going to get better.

“So, Jason, you never did explain how you broke your friend out of prison.” Duke crossed his arms as he waited for an answer.

Curious, Danny looked between him and Jason, who didn’t seem to want to explain. That was something Danny noticed during the stories. Jason hadn’t been as willing to provide details as the others, especially if it was something that happened after he stopped being Robin.

“Dressed as a priest, infiltrated the prison, and broke Arsenal out.” He tried taking another bite of his food only to have his fork slip through his fingers. “Dammit.”

“Oh no, you’re not getting away with not giving us details this time.” Dick poked Jason in the side a few times. “Spill.”

If you asked Danny, Jason’s sigh seemed staged as he began his story. Unlike his other stories, he was more animated as he explained how he broke in and gave Arsenal, who Danny had gathered was an archer, his bow right before he was due to be executed. Jason had revealed himself at that time, and the two escaped exchanging fire with the others in the jail.

The others didn’t seem to be familiar with the story either. Duke and Dick seemed openly concerned with the close calls. Damian oddly seemed bored but would nod his head on occasion as if he approved of some of the kills Jason reported. Tim argued with him a few times about why he decided to do certain things.

“Will you shut up and let me talk, Timbo?” Jason eventually snapped at him. “Not all of us like planning every single move out. Besides, I like having room to improvise. Makes life more exciting.”

“But you could have avoided half of what happened!”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

Bruce sighed and rubbed his forehead. He’d been oddly quite during Jason’s story, but he did frown several times. Danny knew he had a no kill policy, so he figured that was at least part of it. “Tim, let him finish. You can talk about what could have been done differently later.”

“We have a guest,” Cass reminded with a slight nod even if she’d frowned at Jason a few times as well.

“Now that that’s settled, where was I? Right, we were trying to get away.”

Once Jason finished, Danny debated a moment before deciding to share a story of his own. “Um… So, I might have kinda caused a prison riot and breakout in the Ghost Zone once.” As he told the story of how he first met Walker and got on his bad side, the heroes around him listened in awe. It felt great to be able to openly talk about it.

Once he finished, a few questions got asked. He had to remind himself that there was a lot about the Zone and ghosts that the Bats didn’t know yet. Once they were satisfied, Tim asked if he was willing to share another story. With a smile, he told the story of his first encounter with Vlad.

…

After dinner, Danny was shocked to learn that the Waynes were going to be returning to Gotham the next day. He figured that they’d stay at least a few days to let Jason adjust before getting him on a plane. He wasn’t going to admit that he wanted them, especially Jason, to stick around for a little longer.

But he understood. They had a duty to their home in Gotham, and from the reports he’d heard, crime was so common that them being away from the city for too long could be disastrous. It was somewhat like Amity Park in that regard.

When they were cleaning up dinner, Danny barely caught Bruce give Jason a look. After a quick nod, Jason pulled him into the living room area of the suite. He seemed almost uncomfortable which struck Danny as strange. What could make someone who has faced the villains of Gotham and death nervous?

Turns out, the answer was having a heart-to-heart chat. Who knew the Red Hood had trouble with stuff like that?

“Bruce and I were talking while you guys were getting food.” He glanced towards the kitchen to scowl at his siblings. Judging by how they moved out of sight, they must have been listening. “He’s offered to set up a Zeta Tube, something that allows near instantaneous travel, between here and Gotham. If you’d like to, we can provide training and gear and even help with medical needs. I think Bruce might want scans for a baseline first though. He’s also offered to provide a safe house if something happens, and you need to hide out for a while.”

Danny’s thoughts stopped for a moment as he registered what Jason was trying to tell him. Batman, THE Batman, was offering to help him, but if that was the case, why was Jason telling him about it?

Maybe it was because it was too good to be true. With the exception of his friends and sister, no human had ever offered to help him to that extent before. Sure, the people of Amity occasionally did little things, but nothing to that extent. And there were still large groups of people in Amity who thought he was just a mindless monster. But Jason wasn’t exactly human, and he trusted Batman…

There was the also an unsaid part of the offer. Danny would be able to help Jason adjust. While he wasn’t certain if Jason felt the same sort of loneliness he did, he’d at least be able to keep in regular contact with someone who was like him. He wouldn’t be alone anymore.

“You don’t have to agree if you don’t want to,” Jason quickly when he didn’t reply. “I know you have issues with Plasmius, and with Bruce being a billionaire too, it’s probably weird…”

“It is kinda weird, I’m not going to lie about that,” he admitted, “but I think I’d like that.”

Danny didn’t miss the slight smile that momentarily appeared on Jason’s face as he quickly wrote down a phone number before handing it to him. “Look, I might not be able to answer immediately, but if you need me… I’ll do my best to respond.”

After taking it from him, he stared at the number momentarily before giving Jason a hug. There was something about the gesture that seemed to be more personal to Jason then it would be to the average person, and Danny wanted him to know just how much he appreciated it.

He felt Jason stiffen at his touch, but he quickly relaxed. It didn’t last long as his siblings silently started teasing him. Somewhat embarrassed by their response, he pulled away and let Jason deal with them.

A text from his sister reminded him of what time it was, and he explained he had to head back home, which rather hilariously interrupted the rough housing that started. He really wished he would have taken a picture of how they stopped – Dick had been trying to stay out of the grip of Jason and Cass. Damian had climbed on Jason’s shoulders in some attempt to stop him. Tim had been cheering from the couch while Duke was trying to stay out of it. Bruce just looked tired.

After a round of goodbyes, Jason surprised him by ruffling his hair. “Stay safe, Glowstick. We’ll be in touch.”

As he left, Danny could feel his core thrumming. He recognized the sensation as the same one he sometimes got when he spent time with his friends when ghosts weren’t involved or when he visited Pandora. Sure, he was still learning some of the weird things about being a ghost, but he at least knew it was something positive.

Glancing up at the stars which were just starting to appear, he reminded himself he needed to send Jason some links in the morning.

[soulmate-game]

Curiosity Killed the Exorcist

“And then, see here? You have to be on the lookout for subtle signs like these. This indicates that he’s…” Marinette nodded as Tim continued explaining, pointing out various body language and other clues out on the Batcomputer. It had only been about six months since the Batfam collectively adopted the little ladybug into their menagerie of heroes, and started teaching her deductive habits and skills. She would not allow them anywhere near Paris on pain of death (some of them had already tried, and Bruce was still recovering from the bruise to his ego. The bruise on his ass from being teleported out of the city and onto the stone of the Batcave was gone, though) but she welcomed any help they could give from within Gotham’s city limits.

Usually, at least in the beginning, they did their mentorship at a distance over video call. But then Tim found out her identity, and Marinette made the excuse of wanting to meet with them in person to gauge their trustworthiness for herself and erase their memories of her identity if they failed her test— and, well, it all snowballed from there until she was teleporting to the Batcave every few days for detective lessons. She was practically a Bat herself, if not for her out of theme codename. And she found herself surprisingly comfortable with the thought of them being a… very eccentric extended family.

Tim was flipping to another saved video in the Batcomputer archives to show another example of his current lesson, when Tikki flew up to Marinette in a hurry. She was holding Kaalki’s glasses. The little kwami whispered something in Marinette’s ear, instantly making the teen blanch and force on the glasses.

“Sorry Timmy, gotta cut this short! I’ll come back tomorrow to make up for it! Okay? Okay! Awesome, you’re the best, bye!” She ignored all of Tim’s protests and rapid fire questions, instead opening up a portal and jumping through it as fast as humanly possible. The portal has barely disappeared before an all-too-familiar voice rose up from behind Tim.

“Maybe I’m still drunk, ‘cause I could’a sworn I just saw a portal closing in the damned Batcave, of all places,” the British-accented drawl was accompanied by the flick of a lighter and accompanying fizzle of a flame. Tim groaned, mentally making a note to ask how in the world Marinette had known that John “Annoying asshole” Constantine was showing up soon, and if he could be in on the warning next time. Bruce, cowl still off, walked over from where he had been sparring with Damian and crossed his arms. He had also heard Marinette’s hasty exit, and made a few mental notes of his own before focusing on the exorcist in front of him.

“What do you want, Constantine?” he grumbled. Any time the blond brit showed up, things only got far more complicated than he ever enjoyed. And he always gave Bruce a migraine, to boot.

“Two things actually, Batsy,” John held up to fingers as his free hand tucked his lighter away in his pocket. His unlit cigarette stayed in his mouth though, probably just for the familiar feel of it. “One; I’m gonna need you to tell me why there was a portal closing when I walked in, because I’ll be honest. The implications there are way more interesting than what I came here for in the first place.”

“None of your business. What’s the second thing?” Bruce immediately shot him down, but John was not one to be deterred. He never fucking was.

“But you hate magic! You make sure I know that all too bloody well every time I pay you a visit, so why the sudden change in heart? Huh?”

“Drop it, Constantine. What. Do you. Want?”

“Fine, fine. I need your help with…”

— * — * — * — * — *

A week later, Marinette was sitting with Jason and Damian in one of the manor’s sitting rooms, the three of them just minding their own business and silently enjoying one another’s presence. Even if two of them would never admit it. Jason was reading Jane Eyre for the millionth time, Damian was leaning against Titus on the ground as he sketched, and Marinette was embroidering a sunhat. Unfortunately for her, Alfred the Cat was currently asleep on her lap and thus holding her hostage.

Even as Tikki flew up to her ear in a panic and whispered, making Marinette prick herself with her needle. She hissed for a second but shrugged off the familiar pain, much more concerned with whatever news Tikki had given her. Damian and Jason were already on high alert from the second that a whispered curse had left her lips, and were staring straight at her and her kwami and Marinette frantically tried to find a way to get up without awakening the cat sleeping on her.

“Uh, what’s wrong?” Jason asked, feeling thoroughly confused and left out. On one hand, he knew that if they were in physical danger she would have moved Alfred the Cat without hesitation. On the other, he did not like the sheer amount of anxiety he could see her experiencing. Marinette’s frantic eyes shot over to him, pupils mere pinpricks and hands mouth agape as she tried to form some sort of plan.

“Uh— “

“Ah! You must be the fair maiden that the Bats are comfortable with using magic around them,” John goddamned Constantine threw the door to the sitting room open wide, making it bounce off of the wall and lightly smack back against his shoulder. He ignored it as he grinned at the three younger people in the room, waltzing in casual as anything. He wagged a finger at her playfully. “I’ve been awfully curious about you, ya know? Brucie boy knows a shit ton of magic users, but he never likes seein’ any of us do our thing. And to not only allow you to teleport without any apparent discomfort but to actively protect your identity from me? Now that’s a damn accomplishment and I really gotta applaud you for it,” he mockingly clapped his hands a few times. “So what’s your secret, huh? I won’t tattle.”

“No thanks. Kaalki, a little help?” Marinette carefully pushed Alfred the Cat off of her lap before diving into the portal that Kaalki whipped up for her, the entire process happening so fast that Constantine couldn’t even get out a proper “hey!” before she was gone and the portal closed. He just nodded, hooking his thumbs in his pockets.

“Ya know what? Fair. That’s fair.”

“Goddamn it, Constantine!” Jason threw up his hands in frustration. “Why the fuck do you have to scare away one of the only sane people in this family?”

“Part of my charm, little red riding hood.”

— * — * — * — * — *

“You know, I’ve been pretty damn nice not teleporting right over to you whenever you disappear. So why don’t you just tell me why you’re avoiding me now that we happen to be in the same room by complete accident, huh?” John asked from where he sat in one of Bruce’s lounge chairs sipping on a beer. Marinette mimed choking him, clearly fed up. He had been trying to have a conversation with her for the past three months, ever since that one time he caught the tail end of her portal closing in the Batcave. Three. Long. Months. And he hadn’t given up, because something about this little Parisian teenager intrigued him. She was sixteen, that much he had gathered from the Bats. But to be sixteen and not only in possession of the Horse miraculous but also clearly the Ladybugs, since he had seen Tikki more than once as well, now that was interesting.

Anybody being in the possession of more than one Miraculous was already cause enough to be keeping an eye on them, which was why he had been keeping an eye on the Paris situation and had pieced together on his own that the presence of Tikki meant that this little parisian teenager was none other than Ladybug herself. Now, that? That was a whole new level of concerning, especially since he knew firsthand that the old Grand Guardian was gone and passed his title down to— yeah, Ladybug.

After that deduction, his interest in Marinette had swiftly switched from curiosity to fuck-I-need-to-know-what’s-going-on-here. Because no kid should have to deal with that kind of weight, and Constantine always looked out for kids when he could.

But right then, Marinette was glaring at him. She had been just coming over for a normal “family” dinner with the Waynes, which she attended from time to time. And apparently they had decided to have Constantine already over so that they could chaperone a meeting between them that would hopefully appease the stupid british magic user enough that he left them all alone again until the next time he needed help.

“Believe me when I say, you’d rather not know,” she replied sharply, glaring Dick. He was the one who had convinced her to come despite her recent close calls with Constantine in the past few days. He studiously avoided her gaze. “I just would rather not cross your path, and there’s no reason for us to interact. Why do you care, anyway?”

“You see, now that is an excellent question!” he chugged the last of his beer and gestured to her with the empty bottle. “Normally, I wouldn’t give a flying rat’s ass. But I’ve put two and two together, since I know who Tikki is,” he nodded to the red and black Kwami. “And maybe I just wanna keep an eye on the new Grand Guardian to make sure she’s doin’ alright. That’s an awful lot of magic and responsibility that you don’t deserve, but I’m not about to try to take it away. Keepin’ an eye on you is the next best thing.”

“Try again,” Marinette shot back, crossing her arms. “You were interested in me before you learned about me being Ladybug.”

“I’m nosy, what do you want me to say? I saw a portal in Batman’s man-cave, I get curious. Sue me.”

“Well. I have Bruce and everyone else already watching out for me, so you can leave me alone now. If I need your help, I’ll make sure to ask every other magic user first before contacting you.”

“Woah, now what’s all this venom for?”

“Uh, maybe we should go and actually eat dinner?” Dick tried to step in, hands up. Constantine had stood up from the chair he was in, which was usually a cue to change the subject as fast as possible. “Before Alfred has to come get us?”

“Maybe I’ll be less venomous if you let the subject drop and leave me alone!”

“Context would be nice, though.”

“Seriously guys, let’s go! Food!” Dick was once again ignored.

“Context is the last thing you need in this situation,” Marinette’s voice was suddenly soft, her arms dropping to her sides. “We’ve had this conversation so many times in so many now-deleted timelines. Just drop it this time.”

“If those timelines are now-deleted, then I obviously don’t remember what’s so bad about telling me why you’re acting like I’m some hated family member you’re avoiding!”

Silence.

Pure. Fucking. Silence. As they all watch with front row seats as Marinette flinches at the word ‘family��.

Pure silence as Constantine’s shoulders drop at the sight of her flinch, realization slapping itself on his face.

“No.”

“See? I fucking knew you would— that this would happen. This always happens, you always hate finding it out, but you’re so— so stubborn!” Marinette was blinking away tears, digging in her pockets and bringing out Kaalki’s glasses. “You’ll drop it now, at least. You always do.”

“Now what is that supposed to mean?” Constantine rubbed his forehead, still trying to sort through his amalgam of emotions. Marinette just shook her head, turning to Kaalki.

“Do you mind showing Monsieur Constantine the way out, Kaalki? I’ll grab you a load of sugar cubes afterward.”

“No, wait, hang on a second!”

A portal opened up under him, making John “Stubborn Idiot” Constantine drop ten feet down onto the hardwood, polished floor of his house. His bruised tailbone would take a while to heal, but his frazzled mind was by far the more concerning development. He staggered to his feet, reaching for the nearest bottle of tequila.

“Ugh, fuck my damn life.”

— * — * — * — * — *

“Marinette..?” Damian nudged the girl with his shoulder, frowning. It was after dinner that same day, and as much as he hated to admit it he had grown to actually like having her around. She was a good friend to have. And seeing her slumped back on one of their sofas, sketchbook covering her face and not a single rambling conversation to be had or heard? It was very concerning. She just made a groaning sound to answer him, prompting his frown to deepen. “Are you alright?”

“I just can’t believe that such a sweet, adorable thing like you is half made up of Constantine’s genes,” Jason mused bluntly from the opposite couch, where he tossed a rubber ball up and down out of boredom. “But now I see where you get all of your Disaster Bi-ness from.”

“Shut uuuuup,” She groaned, chucking her sketchbook at him. He caught it in midair, replacing his rubber ball with it and tossing it up and down in the air. “I’m just frustrated. This timeline is still perfectly stable, so I can’t erase it. And I can’t exactly ask ‘hey, can someone commit a horrid atrocity that makes this timeline split from the main one so that I can erase it and we can start over from four months ago?’ because that would be horribly irresponsible of me. But seriously, Jason. If you’re gonna ever commit, like, city-wise arson? I’d probably condone it right now if only so I have an excuse to use time travel to get out of this situation.”

“Not committing arson unless you give me a better reason for it, Pigtails.”

“Damn.”

“But are you okay?” Damian asked again, seeing as she had completely ignored him.

“I’m fine, Damian,” she finally sighed. “And I know how this is gonna go. He’s going to totally ignore me now, until we meet during some magical crisis and he only interacts with me when necessary. Then he pretends we never met, we have a private little one-sided whisper-argument about how he will never make a good father figure and I would be better off leaving him alone, blah blah blah. Avoidance is a coping mechanism I guess I inherited from him.”

“Guess it’s a good thing I’m trying to bite that in the bud then, eh?” Marinette startled out of her sitting position, seeing John stumble into the room…

Drunk off his ass. But apparently still at least mildly coherent.

“I agree with deleted-me’s, I’m not gonna be a dad. Not me,” he tripped, landing on his still-bruised ass and hissing in pain before continuing from the floor; “So if you’re looking for another Daddy dearest, that ain’t me.”

“See, I knew this is how you’d—”

“Let me finish,” he interrupted. “I don’t know how long the booze is gonna last and I need it’s courage here. ‘Kay? ‘Kay. Where was I? Right. But I know magic, ya know. The kind that doesn’t rely on little bobblehead gods to do. I got— like, a million books. Shit ton of books. At my place. Ya can read ‘em. My books. At my place. But I ain’t gonna parent, but I can lend ya books. Maybe give magic advice. Teach a little. Little bit. Didn’t think I’d have a child, but apparently I do and she’s the fuckin’ grand guardian and a damn hero, and I don’t know how the fuck I was able to help make someone like that. But whatever, it’s not like the world’s ever fuckin’ been easy on me,” He pulled out a sample-sized bottle of whiskey from one of the pockets on the inside of his trench coat and chugged it. After a brief wince and hiss at the burn, he kept rambling. “My door’s open, is what I’m tryin’ to say. No guarantee I’ll be in any state to talk to when you walk through it, but it’s open.”

Deciding to steadfastly ignore the tears streaming down her face, Marinette just swallowed thickly and nodded.

“I, uh. I think I can work with that.”

John barely made it to the nearby bin in time to vomit into it.

— * — * — * — * — *

I hate my imagination sometimes, guys. I started imagining a convo between Mari and Constantine at like 4am and it wouldn't leave me alone until I got it down. but by the time I wrote it, I kinda forgot like 60% of the original convo and just winged it. And this was born. I 100% blame @multifandomscribette because their Bio!dad John Constantine headcannons are amazing and even though this isn't in that universe, those headcannons are exactly what inspired this. So blame them, lol.

[invisibleanonymousmonsters]

Could you please write Jason and Y/N (Father of Mine Universe) with prompts 48, 31, and maybe 30? could go either way.

Even if you choose not to write this, thanks for creating Father of Mine, it's one of my favorite fics!

Father of Mine

48. Using your body to shield them from attack.

31. Hurriedly checking for their pulse.

30. Performing CPR when they stop breathing.

Jason and Y/N were walking along the water after getting dinner.

Most of the harbors in Gotham were run by one crime lord or another. Which meant that there were very few areas on the water for civilians to enjoy – or feel safe. 

But Jason knew of a strip that was under the radar.

There were a few other couples with the same idea. And random groups of kids and teenagers hanging out and messing around.

Jason was relaxed.

That was his first mistake.

Jason had immediately clocked a random middle-aged man who was covered in sweat and was visibly trembling.

Being far too familiar with the sight, Jason assumed the guy was another unfortunate addict. 

But then he noticed the man was carrying a backpack.

Jason had all of 5 seconds to realize what was about to happen.

He shielded Y/N with his body while screaming as loud as he could, “Get down!”

Jason knew he couldn’t save everyone, and Y/N would always be his number one priority.

The next second, the bomb exploded.

The impact knocked Jason unconscious.

For how long, he had no idea.

He was disoriented from the explosion, his ears ringing from tinnitus and his vision struggling to focus from the vertigo. Yet, somehow he could still hear the beating of his heart in his eardrums. 

People were screaming in pain around him and others were crying as they looked down at their loved ones. Half the harbor was on fire from the explosion. Cement and debris was everywhere. Jason’s hair was grey from it.

He blinked and then panicked.

“Y/N!” Jason screamed when he realized she wasn’t anywhere near him.

He jumped to his feet and whipped around in every direction looking for her.

“Y/N!” He screamed even louder, his throat burning from the effort.

Then he realized when the explosion when off they had been standing next to the railing that blocked off the water. The railing that had now been blasted away and into the harbor.

Jason sprinted to the edge and looked down at the black water below.

Without hesitation, he dove into the depths.

It was almost impossible to see anything.

But just seconds later, he found Y/N unconscious and completely submerged.

Jason had never swam faster in his life.

But when they breached, Y/N didn’t gasp for air.

She was completely unconscious.

Jason’s eyes darted around, trying to find their escape.

By some miracle, there was a rusty ladder that led back up to the pier from the water.

Jason put Y/N’s body over his shoulder as he climbed the ladder, silently praying that the metal didn’t break under their combined weight.

When they reached the top, he gently laid her down and his fingers shot to the pulse point at her neck.

Nothing.

“No, no, no,” Jason mumbled. “Y/N. Come on, baby. You’re not doing this to me.”

He found his Red Hood comm in the pocket of his jacket, and put it to his hear.

“Contact Bruce,” he commanded the AI as he started performing CPR on Y/N.

“What is it?” Bruce answered with slight panic. 

Jason had never called him like this before. And therefore Bruce knew immediately something terrible happened.

“Get the fucking jet here right now,” Jason growled.

“What’s happened?” Bruce asked, but it was obvious he was moving around already to leave.

“There was an explosion. She doesn’t have a pulse and she’s not breathing,” it was all Jason was capable of giving him. “Just get the fucking jet here now!”

He didn’t have time to explain more and hung up. And he didn’t have to say Y/N’s name for Bruce know who he was talking about. There was only one woman in Jason’s life that would have him sounding so panicked and desperate.

Jason continued his CPR, fully focused now that he knew Bruce was on the way.

Still nothing.

He did another round of compressions.

Jason’s eyes started watery as his mind began to believe that Y/N wasn’t going to make it.

He wouldn’t survive.

Y/N had changed his life. She made him better, made him good, made him want to worker harder – do literally anything to become the man she deserved and to continue to be deserving of her love.

“Please,” Jason whimpered. “Please don’t leave me.”

But then Y/N’s eyes shot open and she immediately turned over and started coughing up water.

“Holy fuck,” Jason gasped in relief at the sight.

Y/N continued coughing until her throat was scratched and dry.

Jason rubbed her back, trying to comfort her without preventing her body from getting all the water out of her lungs.

After she finished, she was shaking from being freezing cold and from the shock.

Despite him also being wet, Jason put his coat over her shoulders.

“Don’t ever fucking do that to me again,” Jason begged Y/N as he pulled her into his arms. 

He kissed the crown of her head and hoped his body heat would be enough to warm her up.

“What happened?” Her voice had never been raspier and it was now quivering.

“A bomb went off. I thought I shielded you from it, but the impact must’ve thrown you into the harbor.”

“I’m OK,” she tried to tell him. But her shaking voice was unconvincing. 

Jason wasn’t letting go of her anytime soon.

It was only 5 minutes later that the batplane touched down on what remained of the pier.

Jason looked up to see Dick, Tim, and Damian jump out and immediately start helping the injured.

But Bruce, dressed in his Batman uniform, was walking straight to Jason and Y/N.

“She needs to go to a hospital,” Jason called out when Bruce was a few yards away. “Her heart stopped beating and her lungs took in too much water.”

Jason knew Bruce wouldn’t argue with taking Y/N there immediately.

Bruce was clearly relieved at seeing his daughter alive and conscious. But that didn’t mean she was in the clear. Nearly drowning still had its risks. If her heart stopped beating, she was in danger of brain damage or pneumonia.

“I’ll take her. You help the others,” Bruce ordered as he stepped forward to take Y/N from Jason’s arms.

“Like fucking hell I am,” Jason growled as he stood up with Y/N in his arms.

Bruce was about to fight him on it, but then he met Y/N’s eyes. Her skin was pale and almost had a blue tint to it. She looked so small and vulnerable in Jason’s arms. Not like the strong and grown woman that had first strutted into Wayne Manor.

“I’m not leaving her,” Jason added for good measure.

Bruce finally sighed and nodded. “Take the jet. You know where to go. I’ll meet you there.”

Before Jason could carry her away, Y/N whispered, “What about the others?” 

Her eyes tried to look around her boyfriend’s broad shoulders to see the other victims.

“B is going to help them,” Jason gently told her. He even angled his body to block her line of sight. She didn’t need to see any of it. 

“We already have ambulance and firemen on the way,” Bruce added, hoping it would convince her further not to worry herself. 

There was nothing she could do for them anyway. 

Then Bruce locked eyes with Jason. “Go. Get out of here. Take care of her.”

“Always,” Jason muttered quickly before hurrying Y/N to the jet.

————————

Y/N woke up to two low voices clearly having a serious discussion, but trying to keep their voices down.

When she opened her eyes, Y/N realized she was in a hospital room. But it wasn’t just any room. It seemed like a five-star hotel with how fancy it was. It didn’t have that sterile smell or those harsh fluorescent lights that caused headaches.

“It was a turf war,” Bruce told Jason quietly. “Carmine has jurisdiction over the harbor the two of you were at tonight. But Farrelli wanted it for himself. He forced his latest victim to bring the bomb.”

Jason crossed his arms. “So, the guy was dead either way, Farrelli just thought he’d put him to some use before he murdered him.”

Bruce nodded. “And kill five more people with him.”

“Five people died?” Y/N burst out without realizing it.

Both men’s heads whipped in her direction.

“You’re awake,” Jason sighed and immediately rushed to her side.

“What hospital am I at?” She mumbled, looking around again.

“Gotham General,” he told her as he sat on the edge of the bed to face her.

Jason gently grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. But he had no intention of letting it go, keeping a tight hold and rubbing his thumb back and forth across her skin.

Bruce was slower to join them as he walked with his hands in his pant pockets.

“This isn’t Gotham General,” she commented with a suspicious gaze. 

Jason scoffed and rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Well, as soon as Bruce arrived, they realized that you’re Gotham royalty by blood, and brought you to a special suite.”

Then Y/N’s eyes slowly moved to her father. “Five people died from the explosion?”

She needed to know. But she also knew that both men would try to protect her from possible survivor’s guilt.

So Bruce just nodded.

“How are you feeling?” Jason asked, trying to distract her by changing the subject.

“Tired. And my throat is sore,” she admitted with a light shrug.

Then she looked up at Jason and really took him in.

There were dark shadows under his eyes – the eyes that were still a bit bloodshot. 

Had he been crying? She hadn’t registered that. 

His hair was a mess, probably from drying haphazardly after jumping into the water to save her.

“Are you OK?” She asked.

It would be right on brand for Jason to risk his life saving her, but ignore any and all injures that he’d received from the same life-threatening travesty.

“I’m fine. Always am,” Jason reassured her too quickly.

Bruce chimed in,“We were all just worried about you, Y/N.”

Both men knew her next question was going to be about the well-being of Damian, Dick, and Tim.

“Can we go home?” She asked softly.

Y/N had always hated hospitals. And once her mother got cancer, Y/N absolutely despised them. Now all she had attached to them was bad memories that constantly threatened to trigger her. 

“They just need to get a scan back, make sure everything’s good,” Jason tried to comfort her. “Once that’s good, I’ll take you home.”

He knew her distaste for hospitals and was prepared for her to want to escape at the earliest opportunity.

“Scan?” Y/N questioned.

“You didn’t have a pulse,” Bruce explained. “You have a concussion. We need to make sure there was no brain damage or any lasting side effects.”

“Right,” she mumbled, trying not to sound worried.

“You’re gonna be fine,” Jason reassured her as he cupped her cheek.

“Perhaps you should stay at the manor for a few days,” Bruce offered. “You can relax and not be bothered.”

“She can not be bothered in our apartment,” Jason interrupted, giving him side eye.

“Jason…” Y/N warned gently.

She knew the signs of Jason getting worked up. The fire in his eyes was always something Y/N could read – more than anyone else.

Bruce wasn’t offended by Jason’s little snipe. He was used to his temper. But his gaze did turn rather serious. 

“Could I talk to you outside for a moment?”

Jason was about to refuse, not wanting to leave Y/N’s side. But he knew that would just most likely lead to an argument. And Y/N didn’t need to hear or see that. She was already exhausted and recovering. The last thing she needed was to witness was her father and boyfriend going at it – especially over her.

So Jason just nodded and stormed out of the room.

The quicker they got this over with, the better.

As soon as the door closed, Jason was sizing Bruce up.

“What exactly is your next move?” Bruce questioned.

“I’m going after Farrelli,” Jason rumbled, as if it was obvious.

No one put Y/N in danger and got away with it. Jason had already come up with a plan on how to seek his revenge. 

It was going to be gruesome and dirty, but nothing less than what the bastards deserved.

Bruce clearly had expected this answer. “So do you plan on doing that while you take care of Y/N?” And he tilted his head as he challenged Jason.

“Are you really trying to stop me?”

Bruce took a step forward. “No, Jason. I’m trying to protect you from yourself. You get blinded by vengeance. And I let you get away with it. But now your actions don’t just effect you…they effect her, too.”

Jason blinked.

“Y/N needs you right now. Even though she will act like she doesn’t.” Bruce inhaled. “If you’re going to put revenge over her wellbeing, she should stay at the manor.”

This was a somewhat of a warning – an opportunity for Jason to do the right thing before he could make his mistake.

Jason’s head hung low now. “I can’t let him get away with it. She almost died, Bruce.”

“And he won’t. But we’ll take care of it,” Bruce promised.

Jason thought it about a moment, before he finally nodded slowly. “I think the manor would be good. But I won’t leave her.”

“I never said you had to,” Bruce corrected.

Jason nodded again and made his way to the door of Y/N’s room again.

“Jason?” Bruce called.

He turned around with an eyebrow quirked.

“Thank you for saving her life.”

Jason tried not to roll his eyes, but took a few steps back to Bruce. 

“You have your opinions about me and her, I’m sure. But I want to make this is clear: I’m always going to protect her. Always. What happened tonight is never going to happen again. I’d die protecting her.”

Jason didn’t wait for Bruce’s response before turning back around. 

But just as he opened Y/N’s door her heard, “I know, Jason. I’ve always known.”

—————

Jason was able to convince Y/N to stay at the manor.

And she surprisingly agreed – as long as he came with her.

Alfred spoiled her rotten with all of her favorite meals. He was constantly bring her tea or coffee. 

Damian ordered all of his pets to keep her company and cuddle with her. To the point where Jason was annoyed because there was literally no space for him.

Tim downloaded a hundred movies for her to watch. 

Dick sent flowers and chocolates. 

Even Clark stopped by when he heard what happened. 

Unbeknownst to Y/N, all the boys and Bruce were working on taking down Farrelli. 

If Jason was the man from just a few years ago, Farrelli’s corpse would already be rotting somewhere in Gotham. But he had changed. Now they had to do things the right way.

Jason stuck to Y/N’s side like glue. He hovered, watched her like a hawk, wouldn’t let her do anything on her own.

After of a few days of this, Y/N finally had enough.

“You gonna talk to me anytime soon?” She asked him in bed on their third night.

Jason broke their eye contact.

“Jason. Please?” She whispered.

Silence filled the room.

“I can’t do it.”

Her brow furrowed. “Can’t do what?”

For a split moment, she thought he was about to try and break up with her. 

“I can’t watch you get hurt again. I just…I can’t.”

She cupped his cheeks. “But I’m right here. And I’m fine, Jason.”

“When I…” He hesitated. “When I died. I knew it was coming. I saw the bomb counting down and I knew there was no escape. I accepted my fate. I knew I was going to die. And I was scared.” 

Jason shook his head and took in a deep breath, “But Y/N…that was nothing compared to what I felt when I was convinced I’d lost you. I’m never been so fucking terrified in my life.”

Y/N smothered him with her embrace. “I’m so sorry for scaring you. But I’m OK. Please just focus on that. Please.”

“I can’t lose you, Y/N.” Jason whispered into her hair. “This place was hell before I met you. And I have no fuckin’ interest in fighting it without you.”

Y/N wished she could promise Jason that she would never leave him. But she was the child of a mother who passed far too soon. She knew life and death could be so cruel, ripping the loved ones away with or without warning.

No, she didn’t die this time. But who was to say something like this wouldn’t happen again? And maybe next time, she wouldn’t be so lucky. They lived in Gotham after all.

“Fate may have other ideas…But I never plan on leaving your side, Jason. I love you too much to do anything else.”

Jason actually laughed. “I can fight fate.”

He’d done it once before.

----------------

I have a few more of these prompts for bonus material. But let me know what you think 🤗

[arty-shadow-morningstar]

Graveyard Siblings (3)

Some for revenge and some sibling bonding.

[Masterlist]

(Part 1)(Part 2)

-------

Adrien was next to be visited. Plagg woke him up from his sleep.

-------

“Kit, wake up. I want camembert.”

“Plagg, silence. You are not getting any cheese if you do that.”

“Sorry, Adrien but you are not my ‘master’ anymore.”

“Plagg? Why are you here? Where’s the ring?”

“The ring is as far away as possible and kept safely away. I am here because someone wants to talk to you.”

“Who?”

A cloaked, hooded figure stepped out of the shadows to his room.

“Kitty. My Chaton. Did you miss me?” A sweet, familiar but yet so terrifying voice came from the figure.

She pulled down the hood to reveal Ladybug with a wicked-looking black mask with white lenses.

“What am I talking about? You do miss me. Your Bugaboo. Too bad I don’t feel the same, Adrien.”

Lightning flashed and it started to rain. The mask was gone, revealing his dead classmate, Marinette with chilling red eyes. The pigtails grew longer and curved upwards, giving the illusion of her having horns. Twin blades flashed and she leaped towards him. (Damian gave them to her with some lessons in exchange for spending time with, babysitting, the kwamis.)

Adrien scrambled away from the bed in the nick of time. A sword impaling the spot where he just was.

“Plagg, help. Where is the ring? I need to transform.”

“Sorry, kitten. I am not telling you. Even if you did have the ring, it’s not going to be much help.”

“Kitty, stay still. Then, we can be together. Just like you wanted.”

Adrien continued to dodge.

“What do you mean?” He all but screamed at Plagg.

“Pigtails, here, is a vengeful spirit. She’s not going to stop until she is satisfied. How about asking her what she wants?”

“Ladybug, what do you want?”

“What I wanted was a partner I could rely on, someone I can trust with my life, someone who wouldn’t stab me in the back for his own selfish gain. I wanted a friend who would have my back and not tell me to keep quiet at the price of my mental health and my relationships with people I care about. WAS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?!”

She managed to get a cut on his left cheek.

Soon, he was on the ground, bleeding out on the round.

“Tell Hawkmoth that he better watch out. Because-” lightning struck and Plagg and Ladybug had disappeared, “his downfall is coming.” Her voice echoed through his room.

Adrien laid bleeding until Natalie opened the door after hearing a crash from the room and came to check on him. As she called an ambulance for Adrien, she wondered if it wasn’t too late to ask for redemption and be spared from Ladybug’s wrath for her part in her murder.

Adrien had the word ‘TRAITOR’ carved into his back. Forever reminding him of his crimes.

--------

He wasn’t in school for a week after the incident. They all were told that Adrien had an accident while fencing.

Gabriel was a little panicking now.

He hired an exorcist, (John Constantine got a hefty amount and did a few flashy magic tricks to appease Gabriel but he didn’t lift the curse Maria put on the place. She is not someone to be on the bad side of and he thinks that he can’t lift it even if he wanted to.)

Emilie gets a little sus at Gabriel when he brought this strange man with a British accent into their home after their son got attacked in his own room with security tighter than Fort Knox.

She doesn’t buy that ‘accident’ bullshit that her husband, son and even Natalie tries to sell her. She thinks it is connected to what happened while she was in a coma.

-----

Adrien has a curse too.

(Credit to @raeuberprinzessin for giving me an idea)

He couldn’t act like the ‘Perfect Adrien’ in public anymore. Acting more like Chat Noir at first then, later a spoiled brat. His friends thought that he was finally rebelling against his father and encouraged it a lot.

Adrien started criticizing other people, strangers at first then to the people working on the photoshoots to his fans to his other school mates, people in his class and his friends. (The curse planted ideas into his head about what he should say and he said them all without thinking about the effect it has on other people)

People started avoiding him not liking his attitude and his comments about how they should behave and change something about them because he doesn’t like it that way and guilt-tripping them when he doesn’t get his way. Even Nino started to distance himself after he saw how Adrien talked to a fan.

The public thought it was a phase but as he got progressively worse, people started despising him. Adrien doesn’t realize this of course so far, happy that his father let him get away with ‘ruining the Agreste image.’ (Gabriel was worried about a potential vengeful ghost and making sure his wife didn't know about his stint as a supervillain. There was also the fact that the Afterlife made more sales than him again and managed to get on the cover of Vogue when he should have, dammit.) He was finally able to say what he wanted to without repercussions. Until he realized when Nino and everyone else cancelled for a hangout for the third time that week that he was slowly losing his friends.

He panics and tries to fix the situation. He didn’t want to be alone again.

He talks to Nino about it and to his horror, he couldn’t stop himself from saying many things that were a little hurtful. (Second part. The moment he realizes he is going to be alone. He is going to find out that yes, lies can hurt people. He is going to see it happen firsthand.)

Nino moved seats and told Adrien that their friendship was on hold until he apologized.

Soon, nearly every time his mouth opened, lies and insults about his friends or their embarrassing secrets came spilling out. Everyone hated him now and Mme. Bustier tried to give him a reprimand about his behaviour, which when he tried to defend himself, he found himself unable to speak.

He managed to explain to his father what caused his unpopularity by writing what happened to him. Unfortunately due to his poor behaviour before the second part of the curse was activated, his fan base was dwindling and people didn’t like him anymore so there was a hit on the Gabriel brand.

He no longer has to do modeling, clearing his schedule. But no one would spend time with him.

The best solution he could do with his predicament was to keep quiet and endure the loneliness and the glares of his classmates at school. Adrien was relegated to the back and nearly everyone avoided him. He was now a social pariah.

Even Lila avoided him because of her own curse which made Adrien turn into one of her previous victims. (She also didn’t ponder why Marinette rarely appears compared to the others.)

If Adrien felt a tiny bit remorseful or guilty for making Marinette keep quiet or betraying Ladybug, he can gain a little control over what he says.

The curse can be broken if he apologizes to Maria herself or to her grave.

------

The first few months, while Marinette adapted to living with the Waynes, Jason stayed over at Wayne Manor because having Maria living with him at his apartment wasn’t a good idea and he had no clue how to take care of a teenage girl.

On paper she is adopted by Bruce because Jason can’t. (Some CPS reasons.)

Making Jason a little more salty towards Bruce. “I found her first. I called dibs.”

Brought Maria to meet the other Outlaws and they adopted her too. “Hey, guys. She’s my sister first.”

Jason was the one to teach her how to shoot a gun because he was ‘the most capable’ of teaching her.

The first few months were a little tense with Marinette not fully trusting them and the same with the rest of the Batfam.

Jason warmed her up a bit to him by telling a little of why he took her here.

He was also the one to book them flight to Paris with Bruce’s credit card so she can tell her friends that she wasn’t dead in person.

They bonded more after stopping some nefarious plot in Paris while they were there. Let’s say Gentleman Ghost and something involving the catacombs in Paris. (I watched some Batman: Brave and the Bold for childhood nostalgia.)

Kwamis were animal-shaped and they were interesting creatures to be around. And very very curious.

There was a stressful day for Maria when all the Kwamis decided to play hide and seek. Damian somehow got roped into helping her as the only available person in the Manor and he will deny that he enjoyed it.

Damian is the little brother she always wanted and she is more tolerable compared to his brothers. There is also the fact that she trusts him with the kwamis and deep down, he feels super-honoured. (I just love older sister!Mari)

Tim and her being insomniac/coffee buddies. There has been many many interventions to stop this.

I get that Marinette is this selfless person and loves making people happy but she has siblings now and them eating the stuff she made for herself to enjoy, should get on her nerves after a while.

She makes a box with booby-traps in which she puts in her cookies and food.

There are many different layers of traps because this is the Batfam and each of them is non-lethal and more ridiculous.

Okay, I once read a fic about Marinette making a bear-trap style box to hide the Miracle Box so this box is also like that but kept for food. (Traps and Sneaks by quicksilversquared)

Someone (I vote a hungry Dick or Jason, maybe a suspicious Bruce) made a mistake of putting their hand into the box and the first trap activated.

Screams filled the house.

Everyone came down including Marinette.

Bruce asked, “Who did this?”

“It was me.”

“Why?”

“They kept eating the cookies.”

“There are other ways to stop them from doing that you know like a ‘Do Not Touch’ sign not a death trap box.”

“They are non-lethal.”

Bruce locked it away but Tim later stole it to tweak it and store his coffee. ------ (Part 4)

[kyberphilosopher]

Cerise

Those are people who died, died Those are people who died, died They were all my friends and just died.

Word Count: 5736 Warnings: Crime, Weapons, Mentioned Murder of a R/pist, Crude humor.

Jason’s friend and roommate, another Gotham villain, is ordered to return to Task Force X.

ce·rise/səˈrēs,səˈrēz/ [noun] a bright or deep red color.

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Let’s open up our story on a colorful note: Fuck Amanda Waller. 

Nobody likes her. You don’t like her. Jason doesn’t like her. None of the characters in this story like her. Arguably, none of the characters in your present universe like her, either. There’s a reason why people call her “The Wall”. It’s because that’s what it’s like talking to her. And that’s what it would be like trying to deny the request she’d passed on to you in her letter. 

It weighed on your mind briefly as you walk up the stairs of your apartment building. By the third flight, the weight’s pretty much disappeared. Sure, there’s anger at Waller for violating your agreement, but it’s so useless being annoyed with her that it washes away fast. So by the fourth flight, the whole thing is settled in your head to completion. You’ll go back to your Suicide Squad- or a Suicide Squad, considering most people Waller selects are idiots. Then you’ll do the job, and walk away bing, bang, boom. 

You tip your head politely as if in salute to the older woman, Mallorca, who occupies the apartment across from you. She returns a warm smile that raises her prominent and wrinkled jowls, igniting the fire in her warm brown eyes. “You need me to do your laundry again?” 

Of course an angel such as Mallorca would make such an offer. It’s not a bad offer, either. Your dark, silver lined chest plate is splattered with blood all over the front. It’s nobodies blood that doesn’t deserve it, as per your agreement with Waller. Just some perverted little prick who thought with his dick instead of his brain with the wrong girl. She looked frightened, and you saved her, and since the prick had just hit 18 (a fact you learned after rummaging around his wallet after), you had permission to bash his brain in. Hence the blood splattered vigilante armor. 

The first time Mallorca had seen such a sight, she had no reaction whatsoever. You weren’t sure what else you were expecting from an old woman living in a back alley apartment building, but it certainly wasn’t that. She offered no shock to your red masked, blood stained roommate either. Mallorca is simply an otherworldly being. And is that cocaine you see on the collar of her shirt?

“I got it,” you throw in return, rounding the corner so she’s at your back, and nearing the climb up the next and last flight of stairs. “Hey, is Jason home?” But when you turn around fully, Mallorca shows no intention of responding and has disappeared down your previous staircase. You clasp your hands against the sides of your thighs, “Oh, okay.”

You make your way up the final steps and stick a hand in a secret back pocket to fish around for your keys. You wince when you begin the rigorous task of tugging the lanyard free from the depths, which unfortunately fell near to your back hole. Then you slip the key into the lock and twist. 

Inside your apartment is near emptiness. There’s a couch, a rug, some windows, a TV, and to your immediate right is a small kitchen beside a hallway that leads to a bathroom and two bedrooms. You see the large plant you’d stuck in the corner is wilted and tinged brown, and the TV is playing some movie with the sound muted. No sign of your roommate, however. 

You toss your helmet and keys onto the couch. Then you make your way to the kitchen to search the fridge for a snack (that you know is not there) or perhaps some water. You bend down to peek an eye in, only to stand back up and close the thing. Then you pass over to the counter, and reach up to now peek an eye in the overhead cabinet. 

“You’re home early.”

You let out a short-but cathartic- scream, jumping as you turn around. You relax quickly. It’s only Jason, and your face changes from shocked and panicked to simply annoyed. 

The man at the other side of the room pulls his infamous red helmet from atop his face. Underneath is a classically masculine, handsome face with eyes that blend between green and blue. Black hair falls free in messy strands, accented by the one white tuft that you’ve claimed reminds you of a skunk. You tilt your head lazily in defeat. “How many times have I told you not to do that?”

Jason shrugs in his red hoodie and jeans, walking across the room to set the helmet on the coffee table. “Four. Any particular reason you’re home so early?” he flops himself onto the couch and kicks his feet up, crossing them tastefully next to the Red Hood helmet. 

You turn back around to continue the task of grabbing a cup from the top cabinet. “It’s been five, and I apologize for assuming I could do what I wanted in my own home.”

“If you have to ask me to stop sneaking up on you five times, you’re probably a really bad vigilante.”

“Fuck,” you mutter as you fill the cup with tap water. “That’s true.”

You turn around to face Jason. His eyes are already on you, illuminated by the blue glow from the television. They linger purely on your form for a moment, then they dip down to narrow at your armor. “Were you the one who killed that guy on the back of main?”

You furrow your brows and look up with pursed lips in thought. “Are you talking about the main diner or the main records shop?”

“Main diner on main street.”

“No, that was Azrael. This was by the records shop.” You raise the glass to your lips.

Jason snaps his fingers. “Oh, that guy. The kid?”

You nod and take another sip of the water. “He just turned eighteen, so you know. Free game. So, what do you want for dinner? Pick something good. I’m going back to the squad so I won’t be here for a few weeks.”

Jason’s brows furrow for a split second, then he perks up attentively. “You’re going back to the task force?” he repeats, though it sounds defeated and disbelieving. Distraught- is that the word you’re looking for?

“Yeah,” you shrug. “I got the letter-” you set the cup of water down and reach a hand into your pocket. Then you pull the crumpled envelope free of its confines and toss it onto the counter, “-today.”

Jason’s eyebrows furrow again. This time the movement is quick and curved and almost offended. “So, that’s it then?”

“What’s wrong, Jason?” you smirk. “Did you finally fall in love with your roommate turned friend? I always knew this day would come.”

“Uh, no?”

“Suit yourself.”

You turn back around and begin rinsing the cup out. Jason watches your back, something in his chest sinking. You weren’t his best friend. Besides living together, you weren’t really all that close. You were living a life a lot like his, running around at night as some antihero vigilante. The only difference was that you’d crossed paths with Waller and had managed to make it out of her system alive. Most antihero vigilante’s weren’t so lucky. Most of them died. But now you’re telling Jason right to his face that you’re going back. That you think you’ll only be gone a few weeks when it could just be forever. Sprayed with dark blood all over... what if it was yours?

“Actually,” Jason leans forward. His legs drop from the table and spread open, elbows resting against his knees with a hunched back. “Why don’t you pick dinner tonight?”

The glass clinks against the metal of the sink as you set it inside. Jason almost always picks dinner. Most of the time he chooses burgers or Chinese. Your apartments stove isn’t working, so eating from home really just means a BLT sandwich for the both of you. 

“Are you offering because you’re hoping I’ll choose that new steakhouse?” you smile.

“I’ll get you anything you want,” the man replies. “It’s on me.”

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Jason meets you on the roof of the building about an hour and a half later. You wanted to go with him, since you’d say his behavior is different from usual, but he was very adamant about you staying in. Jason even encouraged you to go ahead and pick your favorite movie to watch while he’s gone. 

When you told him you’d decided on the steakhouse option, you meant it ironically. Between the two of you, money could be described as ‘tight’. Going to a new place like that would mean saving for a while. Furthermore, you hadn’t even given him your order before Red Hood was gone. 

To his credit, looking at him now, you wouldn’t change a thing. The first bite of the food is phenomenal. The second bite is just perfect. Jason must have mind reading powers to be so aware of your taste in food- you’d thought he never noticed. 

He gets a steak, as predicted. Jason loves steak. 

Gotham looks most like itself at night, a view shared between the two of you. Two sets of legs dangle over the side of your building, both of which are clad in heavy boots and armored knees. Jason had decided to go out as his alter ego- a fact he thought he could keep from you by putting his hoodie under his leather jacket. 

“I saw you put your helmet by the door,” you tell him. “I know what’s under that sweatshirt.”

“No you didn’t,” is all he says back. 

The wind tickles the back of your neck. It ripples through the air in lazy waves, making Jason’s hair ruffle. The white skunk streak disappears and reappears between the darker-than-midnight-sky strands. Behind Jason, the moon is full and lonely. Its only company is the two of you. 

“Oh my god,” you stuff your mouth. “This is so good.”

“Hm,” Jason hums in agreement, stabbing his steak once again with a fork in his black to-go box. It’s the next movement of his shoulder that catches your eye. 

“Jason, is that cocaine, or powder donut dust?” 

Jason glances over at you. 

Your eyes linger on the white splotch of something in the wrinkles of red fabric. “Because I asked you not to eat them since there’s only two left.”

Your face slowly falls to one of horror as Jason stays still. With a face of steel, he finally says, “It’s cocaine then.”

“Then?”

“Look what I got you.”

Jason sets his box to the ledge beside him and leans down. 

“Worst subject change ever.” You take an angry bite of your meal in an attempt to both silence yourself and to make you feel better. Unfortunately as you pull away from the bite, crumbs attach themselves to your chest plate and stick to your fingers. “Crap. Jason, your dumb food is getting shit all over my stuff!”

When you look over, Jason’s orbs are already on you. His eyes pierce yours, almost unintentionally daring them to look away. The skunk strands glow this close. He holds two things in his hands. The first is a small, brown pot you could balance in the palm of your hand, filled with miniature yellow and red flowers. Scarlet tulips, golden sunflowers, and blonde alstroemerias. In the other hand is a Blu-ray copy of your favorite film. 

“Oh,” is all you can muster out. 

When was the last time the two of you had actually exchanged gifts? You weren’t lovers, or best friends. You were just friends. It had to have been last Christmas, when you had gotten him a TV subscription for South Park and a pair of socks. Jason had gifted you a new bedframe that he later helped you put together. 

A big smile reaches your eyes and makes your cheeks sore. “I haven’t been able to find this anywhere,” you say, taking the movie from his fingers. Your voice comes out pure and genuine. “Thank you.” Your smile grows even larger when you cup the pot of flowers with both hands. 

“All of the flower shops were closed,” Jason explains. “Those are plastic. They won’t die anytime soon.”

At that moment, you swear you could’ve kissed him. He’s looking at you like this is all nothing, like he didn’t just drop big money on dinner and flowers for you. Jason knew what food you wanted before you did. He knew your favorite movie when you can’t even remember saying a thing about it. When had any other man or woman been so thoughtful? So romantic? So caring?

You glance down to the film in your lap. “I didn’t think you payed attention this well.”

Jason’s brow quirks upwards. Something flashes in his eyes as he adjusts his position, seven stories up from the ground. “What kind of roomie would I be if I didn’t?” he asks. Something tells you there’s a shyness blooming in that broad chest of his. Jason’s eyes flit downward to the blood on you, before his head dips back upwards to lock a stare with you once more. “You smell nice,” he states.

You look up at him simply. You know your eyes are filled with pure adoration, and that it’s showing all over your face, but you don’t care. Your red hooded, drug pedaling, bat wrangling, gun toting equal roommate is your favorite person in all of Gotham at this exact moment. 

Behind Jason, a small bird flits overhead with a flash of crimson. “Hey, look,” you pat Jason’s shoulder. His eyes follow yours until they land on the floor of the roof behind you. “I think it’s a robin.”

“I know that bird,” Jason scowls. “That’s the son of the bitch that keeps waking me up in the morning.”

“Hm?”

You watch as Jason swings his legs over the side and pushes himself from the ledge. One hand reaches into the back of his pants while the other searches his leather jacket pocket for something. After a few seconds, he produces both a clip of ammo and a gun, which connect with a click. 

“Ah!” you yelp, placing both the flowers and movie on the brick before copying your friends actions and standing on the roof. Jason hasn’t shot yet, but the gun in his hand is aimed right at the little birdie. He’s got a clean shot. His face remains neutral and unmoving as you take your place beside him. 

It’s a full minute, and the robin is still alive and intact. He nibbles on a little crumb of bread. “He looks happy,” you think out loud. The air of Gotham goes quiet up on that roof, despite the distant sirens, music, and people throughout the city. “Are you gonna shoot?”

Jason’s finger lingers over the trigger. Even the slightest of a squeeze would set the weapon off at this point. The balls of your feet move to and froe, anticipating the bang you’re so familiar with. But then Jason lowers the gun completely, and the robin flies away at the movement. “Nah. He’ll feel the pain I dish out in the morning.”

“Don’t be sad,” you nudge Jason. “He’ll be back at six AM tomorrow to wake you up.” You turn to return to your beckoning food on the ledge. “Thanks for all this, anyway.”

“You’re welcome,” you hear Jason respond. “Hey Y/N?”

Jason watches you spin until you’re completely facing him. He can see the blood again. How it’s completely standing out against the darkness of your outfit. You look powerful, yeah. And you look like the antihero you’re labeled as. But all Jason sees is a corpse of a... of a friend. “Yeah?”

“You’re sure about this Waller thing?”

“Yeah?” you reply, as if it were obvious. The stain on you is so haunting it’s easy to think otherwise. “It’s not like I have much of a choice. It’ll only be a few weeks. I’ll be back before you know it. Then I can show you this sick ass movie.”

Then you go back to walking towards the ledge to retake your seat. But Jason remains standing. He watches as you, the person he thinks of naked so often, get comfortable, your back facing him. And, despite your word, Jason has the sinking feeling that some Suicide Squad mission isn’t the only place Amanda Waller will send you to. 

This time, Amanda Waller will send you to your grave.

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.★.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

This was supposed to be out on August 16th, for Jason’s birthday. But the concept came to me too late and I spent too long on it. Anyway, here’s some symbolism for ya.

Tulips symbolize unconditional love. Sunflowers symbolize adoration. Alstroemeria’s symbolize devotion. The reader describes the plant in their apartment as turning brown, suggesting it may share a similar fate as the reader as plants go brown when about to die. Robin’s symbolize optimism, a trait the reader displays towards the idea of returning to the Suicide Squad. Robin was also a former identity of Red Hood. Both of which could be why Jason decides to spare the bird. 

I’ll go back and proof read this in the morning.