thebatdadnomad

[thebatdadnomad]

ℂ𝕠𝕠𝕝 𝔻𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕄𝕖

Pairing: Lifeguard! Dick Grayson x Fem! Reader Summary: Your friends try to trick the hot lifeguard into saving them. But little did any of you know, he was more interested in rescuing you. Tags: Lifeguards, Beaches, Flirting (but there IS smut in pt 2) A/N: It's summer, and jeez is it HOT ASF so I thought I’d write something. This was prompted by @sillywillyco's breathtaking dick grayson lifeguard fanart 🥵 thank you sm for the inspo, you legend. I hope you guys enjoy this <3 Parts: Part 1, Part 2 (end - coming out tomo!)

1

It was hot, way hotter than you expected when visiting the beach with your friends. 

The moment you got there, you hurried through the sand with a purpose, desperate to reach the shore. You were sweating with every stride, but were too convinced the chilling depths of the ocean would be the only protection from the violence of the sun's rays that wanted to cook you for dinner to slow down. Your vision was hazy, it was that bad.

Once you reached your destination, with your closest friends in tow, the coolness of the waves felt like heaven on your skin, and the parts of your body not submerged like purgatory. But you had to keep your head above the water, contrary to what your friends were daring each other to do. It was obvious that completely submerging provided little relief if they just took into account the toll holding their breath would take on them. But you weren't there to judge.

Instead, you floated, feeling more shark than human as you absentmindedly surveyed the beach. There was a pair of old ladies lazily fanning themselves as they relaxed under a parasol. There was a group of tween boys playing volleyball, stuck on what sounded like a tie. There was a couple in their twenties making out as they walked out of the waves. 

And there was a lifeguard standing beside a small hut. 

Impossible, you gaped, not quite sure you were seeing him correctly. So you shut your eyelids, held for a few beats, then reopened them. No change. You couldn't believe your eyes. 

The sun was hot enough, but somehow this man put even it to shame. Effortlessly. He was drop-dead gorgeous. Like, hold on, did I see that right? Levels of attractiveness. No, more than that. This was beyond the point of wanting to ask him out and instantly breached the ‘who the hell birthed that siren?’ territory.

It was worse when he caught your eyes, absurd how warm his skin glowed, how his pecs, exposed by a blue and yellow V-neck, glistened like meat on a grill, how sultry his smile was as he tucked his wavy black hair behind one of his ears. 

It was so insane that, with this heat, you honestly didn't even want to look any longer lest your cheeks catch on literal fire. So you quickly broke eye contact and tried to will your body to calm the fuck down by attempting to forget he existed in the first place.

Unfortunately, you and your friends hadn't mastered telepathy yet.

“Oh my god, he's a 10. I've never seen a 10 in person before, but that's a 10.”

Dammit.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The lifeguard.”

“Holy…shit,” there was nothing holy about that sinful man. 

“Who is he?”

“I know, right?”

“He's hotter than my ex.”

You were willing to bet he was hotter than 99% of the population, so yeah.

“No wonder they hired him.”

“His legs are plump.”

“What if he has abs under there?” 

“There’s no way he doesn't have abs.”

Your heart fluttered at the thought, so you shut your eyes and sank until only your eyes and nose were visible. This was decidedly not your day.

“You see those girls over there? They’re going to talk to him.”

“Yeah, good luck with that. No strategy, no mindset. We could do better.”

“Do you think he's single?”

Silence. 

“He has to be, right?”

“Why'd you say that?”

“I don't know, if I was his girlfriend or boyfriend or whatever, I would rather die than let him work here with all that exposed skin,” you couldn’t help but agree. 

“I guess.”

“So he’s probably single, and those girls clearly failed, given the way they look right now.”

“Damn, they look like they’re gonna cry.”

“Why’re they so upset?”

“I mean, if you fumbled that, anyone would be upset.”

They all, you included, made noises of understanding. 

“So, what are we doing, girls?”

“It's a classic. One of us just has to pretend to be scared or injured.” 

“Can I do it? I’m the best actor.”

“Sure?”

“As long as one of us gets him, I’ll be content.”

“Honestly, I wouldn't mind just seeing him up close and having a conversation with him.”

Valid. 

“Same.”

“Sweet.”

“But it'd be better if we got him to come to us instead of what they did.”

“Yeah, he'll be nicer that way.”

“I think I got it. I'm going to pretend I think I saw something in the water, and I'm scared shitless.” 

“Sounds good.”

Mhm. Good for them.

“OK, act like you just saw the kraken.”

“Yeah, yeah. I got it.”

“Someone should get his attention.”

“Hmm…”

“Y/N!”

Your lazy eyes darted over, still only half listening as you tried to return to your regular body temperature to no avail. Was the weather getting hotter or something? You shuddered at the thought.

“Yeah?” 

Your friends fondly rolled their eyes when they saw your confusion. “We're going to pretend we saw something in the water,” one reiterated. “When we start ‘panicking’, can you get the lifeguard's attention?”

“Uh…sure,” well, if it made them happy. As long as that was all you had to do, you would do it. 

“Thanks, you won't regret it,” they winked and just like that, it was suddenly show time because this was your life.

Your friends were bold; you gave them that. When the chosen ‘victim’ let out a loud gasp, it was with conviction that brought the attention of innocent bystanders, and when the others started to ‘calm her down’, you could've believed it yourself. You almost felt bad for the poor lifeguard but put your game face on all the same.

“Lifeguard! Lifeguard!” You yelled, raising an arm and channelling all the dismay you had towards the heat onto your face. It was easier than you thought.

The lifeguard rushed over before you even finished calling, reaching the shoreline and gracefully swimming to reach your little group with ease. He was more handsome up front, and he smelled good, which was unfair. Who smelled good in this weather? He was a metahuman; he had to be.

“Is everyone alright?” The lifeguard asked you the moment he was in range, sapphire eyes sparkling with something soft like mirth as he appraised you again. You used every bit of your mental strength to ignore it.

“Yeah, it's just my friend,” you pointed to her, swallowing harshly at the sudden proximity and the way his wet hair fell on his extremely attractive face. “She thinks she saw something in the water. Like a big fish? I'm not sure if it's dangerous, but…I'm just worried.”

You hadn't expected something like upset, anger or disappointment to flutter across his features then, too quick for you to parse. You would be worried, in fact, you were sort of concerned as the mirth faded just a tad, but it didn't take a second longer for the lifeguard to follow your words, as professional as he should be. 

You watched him move towards them and introduce himself as ‘Dick’, which you thought was a joke before you remembered one of the many old nicknames of the name ‘Richard’ you had heard about somewhere and stopped yourself from laughing.

Your friends made a little fuss, asking Dick the Lifeguard for help and to check if this area was safe. He did so dutifully, diving down to look with a form that you think should’ve landed him in the Olympics. He acted like a gentleman the whole time he searched the sea floor and when, of course, he found nothing, he even made a dumb joke out of it. 

“Looks like the coast’s clear! Literally,” Dick joked, and someone giggled, making you smile as you resumed your shark position. You were happy for them. Mission accomplished. 

Now it was time for him to leave. 

“Thank you so much!”

“Yeah, thanks, Dick.”  

“I guess I was just panicking for no reason.”

And for you all to do whatever it was you planned to do while at this beach.

You hoped they had gotten what they wanted because this man was still too close, your blood was rushing up and down your body, subsequently heating you up again. You couldn't wait for him to finally leave. You wished he would leave already. 

So, of course, he didn't. 

“It’s no problem. Does anyone else need any more help?” Dick politely asked, looking directly at you for some reason. You frowned.

You? Why you? There was nothing wrong with you. Did you really look that distressed, floating like this? You were halfway to saying no and explaining that the heat was the problem and he couldn’t control that, when all of your friends shoved you into his body without warning.

Thump!

You had to stabilise yourself with kicking legs and a hand pressed on his blessedly exposed pecks. You felt your cheeks flare up at the contact, but given that the warmth was unwanted, you swam away before he had a chance to push you off.

“Sorry,” you tried to collect yourself, glaring at the snickering hyenas your friends had turned into. Talk about embarrassing. And after everything you just did for them, the snakes. “I don’t know why they did that.”

Dick shook his head with a poorly restrained smile as he studied you, that colourful mirth returning. “It's alright, we all have that one friend.”

“I guess,” you nodded. “OK, I'll let you go now. Thanks again for helping us.”

But in a strange turn of events, Dick hesitated, looking like he wanted to say something more, so you waited. Curiosity getting the better of you. 

The eye-candy wasn’t a bad touch either, if you were being completely honest. 

“You know, you were pretty good at flagging me down. Like, it was almost… skilful,” he started, and you snorted because what? “You could do a good job. We're understaffed right now, and I could use someone with good vocal cords.”

Uh-huh. “Haha, thanks.”

“No, really,” Dick grinned, simply placing his hands on his hips like he was saying something very normal. “Why don't you take a break from the water and come hang out with me for a bit? You could probably put it in your CV.”

And that took you aback. It took all of you aback judging by how quiet everyone got.

What?

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Was…?

Was he joking? 

“Is that…allowed?” You blinked.

But no, he looked serious.

Dick tilted his head. “Why wouldn't it be?”

What?

No.

“I…”

He raised a brow. “You?”

Or you would say no, it was boiling and you couldn’t even begin to imagine how hot this man would make you just after a couple of minutes, but this time it wasn’t your friends who interrupted the denial, it was yourself. 

You couldn’t help it. He was so gorgeous, your mouth couldn't move right, and something like an ingrained backup system, designed to stop you from making stupid decisions, kicked in.

For fuck’s sake. It really wasn't your day.

“O…K…”

Dick beamed, and it felt like the sun truly had a rival. “Great!” He swiftly turned to the group. “I'm gonna borrow her for a sec, is that cool?”

“Sure!” They all seemed to have no issues with that, sending you eyes that promised death if you didn't spill what happened after he was done with…whatever he needed you for. Considering they pushed you into this, you would definitely be making them beg for it with snacks and apologies, but that was something to think about later.

So you reluctantly climbed back up the beach with him, ignoring the sound of your friends' pleased laughter as you left.

It took less than a minute to reach his lifeguard hut, but that time did nothing to resolve your nerves. Dick, on the other hand, seemed to have no such qualms about standing by a literal stranger as he gave you that same complex look of his whenever he wasn't watching for drowners. 

“So, how have you been enjoying the beach?” Dick began when it became clear you wouldn’t initiate conversation. Hell, you were still surprised you were even here with this heartthrob. Weren’t fever dreams only supposed to happen when you were sick?

You shook your head. “The view is nice, but the weather...”

Dick nodded in agreement. “The weather’s been crazy lately.”

“How are you dealing with it?” It was already worse without the waves, so this was crucial information if you wanted to prevent yourself from melting.

“Oh, I brought my fan with me. Here!” Dick pulled it out from somewhere and waved it around in front of you, and you did something stupid because the system didn't work perfectly when it was overheating. 

You reached out and steadied his hands so you could take it. It was only when he didn’t let go and raised his eyebrows that you realised what you had done and that he hadn’t been offering.

“Shit,” you were an idiot. “I thought you meant—”

But Dick just barked out a laugh. “You trying to steal it from me?” 

“No, it was just instinct! You put it in my face, so I just kind of grabbed it. It's hot, I blame the heat,” you rambled, yanking your hands away.

Dick snorted, waving you off. “It's fine, it’s fine. If you want it, I can give it to you. But you have to promise to stay here with me and help me resolve any problems until my break if you use it.”

You considered this. “How long will that take?”

“Mmm,” he tapped his chin. “30 minutes?”

“That's not much of a punishment,” you smiled, and it was your answer. With the fan and him in view, being here might be more enjoyable than floating.

Might.

Dick returned your smile and happily handed it over.

Probably.

You people watched together, not knowing what to say as you looked out for what he called ‘problems’.

The pair of old ladies were now eating pre-sliced watermelon under their parasol. The volleyball game had just ended with one team dancing in delight and the other drinking bottled water. The couple in their twenties had stopped kissing and were now walking up towards a car, probably about to make it rock back and forth. Then there were your friends who not so subtly looked up at the hut you were both standing in front of every two minutes.

You were surprised he seemed to want exactly what he said he had, your company, and it piqued your curiosity.

“So,” you turned to him after some time, his fan pleasantly blowing cool air on your skin. “Why a lifeguard?”

“Why, you ask?” Dick turned back to you, tilting his head. 

“Wait,” an idea struck you, and you extended a hand out to stop him from talking. “Let me guess. When you were young, you were a talented swimmer who cared about the people around you so much that you wanted to get into a career that let you save them while developing your skills in water.” 

Dick hummed, shifting from foot to foot in thought before sending you an approving smile. “You're not far off.”

“Really?” You grinned, keeping the fan on you. 

“Well, it’s close,” he explained. “I wouldn't say it went like that exactly, but…”

“How did it really go?” 

Dick huffed, stretching his hands out. It seemed he was a mover; he didn’t like standing still, that was for sure. You found yourself really liking that. “I needed some cash, I'm a good swimmer, I have good instincts, and I like being in public and helping people, so I thought I'd be able to do this job. So far, I've got a good track record. I’ve saved a couple of people from drowning, and I’m always making sure no one gets into the restricted areas. I've got to blow this whistle a couple of times…” Dick gestured to the yellow whistle on his neck before playfully smirking at you with curved eyes. “And now I've recruited my very own intern.”

You pointed to yourself with your free hand in mock shock. “You mean I'm hired?” 

He snorted.

“What are you paying me?” You briefly turned the fan on him, putting him on the spot.

Dick spluttered, hair blowing effortlessly back like he was a model in an ad. Which wasn’t fair either. “That's your first question?”

“In this economy, yes,” you deadpanned.

Dick laughed so brightly, it sounded like a choir of angels – or devils – had suddenly emerged. “Whatever salary you want.” 

“OK,” you stroked your chin, turning the fan back on yourself. “What are the duties?” 

“I don't know, I've got most of it covered, I think I just need you to stand here and look pretty.”

You looked at him in real shock this time. Was he blind? “You've got that covered, too, though.”

Dick chuckled at your reaction, finally confessing, “You're so cute,” and knowingly watching your eyes widen, as if he could see the way your heart had flickered off and on from that statement. As if he knew it was now out of order. Suddenly, his fan wasn't strong enough. “I noticed you the moment you walked on the beach.”

“...Are you trying to give me a heat stroke?” You blurted, and Dick’s grin widened until all you could see were his pearly whites.

“No. No, sorry, I'll stop,” Dick mumbled, teasingly. “I just wanted to let you know.”

“Noted,” you breathed, looking away. He was making you warm again, it wasn’t good, but it was exhilarating hearing that this gift to the Earth thought you were anything worth looking at or being around. It was beyond flattering. It was almost too flattering. “You act as if you're not the hottest thing on this side of the world.” 

Dick paused, then watched you carefully in the corner of your eye. “...You really think that.”

You refused to face him. “Yeah. I don't know how anyone can do anything here when you're looking at them, I swear you must get hundreds of people coming up to you just to flirt.”

Dick sounded weird when he said, “But not you.”

It was a question without the correct intonation, but you answered.

“Well,” you pouted a little, cheeks positively burning. “I was overheating.” 

Dick hummed, complex eyes locked onto you. “Are you still overheating?” 

“Yeah, actually,” pause. You looked at him to see that his face was closer to you than it had been before. You jumped at the sudden proximity, a matching flush on his face. “W-Why?”

Dick’s lips quirked enough that you knew whatever he said next would be extremely dangerous. “Well, I'm going on break in ten, and I'd be happy to give you somewhere to cool down,” he nodded to the lifeguard hut.

You hesitated, nervous, unsure, captivated.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“But…” You glanced over to your friends, then back at him. 

“We've got cold drinks,” he added. 

“Sold,” the system kicked in. 

Dick cheered at that and led you away when it was time.

⇨ Part 2 (end)

MASTERLIST

[thebatdadnomad]

🍂 🍃 Hello and welcome to our fifth annual Flufftober 🍂 🍃

Wow, we’re so excited to be back for our mini-anniversary and even more excited to have you here with us!

As has become our tradition: let’s fill the month of October with as much fluff as possible 🥰 since it's our mini-anniversary, we have a little surprise for you aside from the main list of 31 prompts and the alt prompts you're used to...😏

As with all our events, our standard blog rules apply, and you'll find answers to most questions on our FAQ post.

Below the cut, you'll find the necessary posting info and all the prompts in writing. If you have any more questions, please feel free to send us an ask.

Prompt Extras

Once again, we're offering you the option of Prompt Extras. You're more than welcome to replace prompts from the original list if they don't work for you for whatever reason - no explanation needed.

Aside from last year's fan favorites, we once again have a challenge for you: five rather romantic prompts - but make them platonic!

But wait, there's more...

As a little treat for our mini-anniversary, your Modmins got together and voted on their favorite prompts from previous years. We present:

Remember, you can use the Prompt Extras however you like:

to replace a prompt from the original list

to create even more content aside from the original prompts

mixed together to enhance one or more of the other prompts

Whichever way you use them, have fun and go wild 💚

We hope you like these prompts, and now

Happy Creating 🥳

Posting

Posting to tumblr

Our tag is #flufftober2025 Please make sure there is NO SPACE between flufftober and 2025! We will NOT be checking the other tag this year!

Since tags are sometimes wonky, make sure to also mention us with @flufftober in your post

We will try to catch them all, but please don't be mad if we miss a post or if it gets reblogged a bit late

If you're absolutely certain a post has slipped past us, feel free to send an ask with the link to your post

To make reblogging easier for us, make sure to add the following tags: #flufftober2025 #day [xy] #[fandom] #[ship and/or main character(s)]

If you're using a prompt extra tag it as #alt [number]

Posting to ao3

You can add your creation to the collection Flufftober 2025 (either as flufftober2025 or as flufftober_2025)

Late entries are always welcome, on tumblr as well as the ao3 collection! Neither will close - but like always, reblogs will become less regular the more months have passed...

Prompts

1. Anniversary

2. Pet Sitting

3. In Vino Veritas

4. Set in another time

5. Early Morning Walks

6. Late Night Talks

7. Moving Day

8. Cursed

9. Coming Home

10. Set up by Friends

11. “Double or nothing?”

12. Blizzard or Heatwave

13. Hosting a Holiday Event

14. Stuck or Lost Together

15. “This looks fun.” - “Not the word I would use, but okay.”

16. Pillows, Plushies, Piles of Blankets

17. Making or Buying a Costume

18. “Is this seat taken?” - “That depends...”

19. Risky Rescue Mission

20. Fake Relationship

21. Pumpkin Carving

22. Polar Opposites

23. Group Hug

24. Letters

25. Cold Hands

26. Co-Parenting a Pet

27. Meeting in the Middle

28. “Is that my hoodie?” - “... No?”

29. Book Shop AU/Library AU

30. Sharing Earphones

31. “Stay?”

Prompt Extras

Last Year's Favorites

Alt 1. “This is spooky.” - “Really?”

Alt 2. Fantasy AU/Mundane AU

Alt 3. Lost Pet Meet Cute

Alt 4. Hoodie Weather

Alt 5. Only One Bed

Challenge "Make it Platonic!"

Alt 6. First Date

Alt 7. “Can I kiss you?”

Alt 8. Moving in Together

Alt 9. Planning the Perfect Proposal

Alt 10. And They Lived Happily Ever After

Your Modmins’ Favorites

Alt 11. Up Against the Wall Kiss

Alt 12. Keeping someone safe

Alt 13. Caught in the Rain

Alt 14. “You kept this?”

Alt 15. Soulmate AU

Alt 16. Fireplace

Alt 17. x + 1

Alt 18. Swoon

Alt 19. First Dance

Alt 20. “I’ve got you”

Alt 21. Fireman’s Carry

Alt 22. Wearing Each Other’s Clothes

Alt 23. “I hate you” – “I love you too”

Alt 24. Winning a Teddy for the Other

Alt 25. “I’m cold” – “Here, have my jacket”

[thebatdadnomad]

He's a baby and that's that 💔

Re: Batkids Calling Bruce 'Dad'

"The Batkids wouldn't canonically call Bruce 'Dad' because they're not used to it" "They wouldn't call him 'Dad' because their relationships are much more complicated than that"

Alright, sure. Whatever. But imagine if they all started to regularly call him Dad, not exactly bc of sentimental value, but more so to disarm or mess with him?

On The Watchtower

Bruce: Now that I have informed you all of your roles in this mission, we must look over our various strategies. Once we have uncovered their base of operations, it is imperative that we— Dick, entering the meeting room: Hi everyone! Bruce, unhappy: Nightwing, you're lat— Dick: Hey Dad, I know. Sorry I'm late, there was just this thing Clark, waving: It's fine, Nightwing Hal: Yeah, don't sweat it, kid Diana: We are happy you managed to come at all Barry: I was almost late too Dick: *winks and grabs a chair* Bruce: Barry: Diana: Clark: Hal: Er Clark, smiling: Batman? Barry: You were saying? Bruce: Diana: Clark: Hal: Barry: Diana: My friend, do you need assistance? Clark: Batman, are you alright? Bruce, snapping out of it: Of course, I am Da— doing just fine. As I was...saying Dick: *stifles his laughter*

In The Cave

Tim, half listening: Oh, word? Jason, on his fifth monologue of the day: I don't think it's asking for too much for the police to do their jobs. Am I? Am I asking for too much, Timbo? Tim: Nope Bruce: *sighs* Jason, pacing: But they're STILL covering up Gotham's dirty work all the damn time and it makes me sick. You should see the stats of how many crime rings would've been discovered if it wasn't for GC-fucking-PD not throwing out their own trash Bruce: *shakes his head at the language* Tim: I made the stats Jason: Exactly! And I just don't understand why someone like DAAAAAAAD can just sit by and let this happen! Bruce: Bruce: Bruce, softly: ...me? Jason, overhearing: YES, you, who else?! Tim: It was pretty obvious he was talking about you, Dad Bruce: Jason: You should be ashamed! Bruce: Bruce: but Jason: ASHAMED! Don't you feel ASHAMED? Bruce: Bruce: yes Jason: Good

On A Grocery Run

Cashier: That'll be $37.90 Bruce: *pulls out wallet* Cass: *smiles, holding his other arm* Cashier: Aw, that's so— Wait, I'm sorry, what is your relationship...? Cass, to the cashier: It's fine, we don't look alike but this is my dad Bruce: Ye— Bruce: *looks at her* Cashier: Oh really? It's always nice to see family spending time together even after everyone's over 18. It can be hard to find the time but it's worth it Cass: Yes, I agree :D Bruce: Cashier, turning to him: $37.90, please sir Bruce: Bruce, clears his throat: Right Bruce: Here Cashier: Cashier: Sir, you can't press your whole wallet onto the card reader Bruce: Oh right Cass: Bruce: Cashier: Cashier: That is your business card Cass: *laughs under her breath*

In The Zoo

Damian: I am being reasonable Bruce: You aren't Damian, we've been over this. You currently have a dog, a cat, a turkey, a monkey, a cow, a dragon bat and now you want a what? Damian: *points at a twitching lion cub viciously scratching at the cage doors* Bruce, wincing: Son. That thing will eat us the moment we take it home Damian: She. Bruce: Pardon me? Damian: Tt. The lion cub is female. She is a lioness. Bruce: Apologies. That lioness will eat us the moment we take her home. She's now being raised in captivity, but we've ensured that the animals here are receiving the best treatment possible. We oversaw the hiring of half of this zoo's staff, didn't we? Why do you still want to take her home? Damian: She would make a fine addition to our household. Bruce: It is hardly legal to raise her out of— Damian: It is hardly legal to run around at night as a bat— Bruce: *slams a hand over his son's face* Bruce: Damian. Damian: *to himself* Fine. *removes the hand* Damian: Baba >:( Bruce: Bruce: Bruce: Stop that Damian: But Baba >:( Bruce: Bruce: Bruce: *sighs long sufferingly* Bruce: *to himself* I'm being used Damian: >:( Bruce: Fine

Later

Alfred, glaring at the lioness cub violently attempting to claw through her metal cage as if it killed her entire family line: I beg your pardon! Bruce, angry: He called me Baba! How could I say no? You weren't there, you don't understand! Alfred: *slowly turns his look to Bruce* Bruce, flinching: I'm sorry... Bruce: ...Dad Alfred: Bruce: Alfred: *holding back a smile* Alfred: Well, I never Bruce: :') Alfred: I appreciate your apology Alfred: Alfred: However *reaches for a broom* Bruce: *bolts*

[thebatdadnomad]

Thanks for this boost in dopamine! Yh, this is my defense too but some people say this doesn't really count yk? Like these are flukes and not how they really feel most of the time. My post is more in response to those pople :')

Re: Batkids Calling Bruce 'Dad'

"The Batkids wouldn't canonically call Bruce 'Dad' because they're not used to it" "They wouldn't call him 'Dad' because their relationships are much more complicated than that"

Alright, sure. Whatever. But imagine if they all started to regularly call him Dad, not exactly bc of sentimental value, but more so to disarm or mess with him?

On The Watchtower

Bruce: Now that I have informed you all of your roles in this mission, we must look over our various strategies. Once we have uncovered their base of operations, it is imperative that we— Dick, entering the meeting room: Hi everyone! Bruce, unhappy: Nightwing, you're lat— Dick: Hey Dad, I know. Sorry I'm late, there was just this thing Clark, waving: It's fine, Nightwing Hal: Yeah, don't sweat it, kid Diana: We are happy you managed to come at all Barry: I was almost late too Dick: *winks and grabs a chair* Bruce: Barry: Diana: Clark: Hal: Er Clark, smiling: Batman? Barry: You were saying? Bruce: Diana: Clark: Hal: Barry: Diana: My friend, do you need assistance? Clark: Batman, are you alright? Bruce, snapping out of it: Of course, I am Da— doing just fine. As I was...saying Dick: *stifles his laughter*

In The Cave

Tim, half listening: Oh, word? Jason, on his fifth monologue of the day: I don't think it's asking for too much for the police to do their jobs. Am I? Am I asking for too much, Timbo? Tim: Nope Bruce: *sighs* Jason, pacing: But they're STILL covering up Gotham's dirty work all the damn time and it makes me sick. You should see the stats of how many crime rings would've been discovered if it wasn't for GC-fucking-PD not throwing out their own trash Bruce: *shakes his head at the language* Tim: I made the stats Jason: Exactly! And I just don't understand why someone like DAAAAAAAD can just sit by and let this happen! Bruce: Bruce: Bruce, softly: ...me? Jason, overhearing: YES, you, who else?! Tim: It was pretty obvious he was talking about you, Dad Bruce: Jason: You should be ashamed! Bruce: Bruce: but Jason: ASHAMED! Don't you feel ASHAMED? Bruce: Bruce: yes Jason: Good

On A Grocery Run

Cashier: That'll be $37.90 Bruce: *pulls out wallet* Cass: *smiles, holding his other arm* Cashier: Aw, that's so— Wait, I'm sorry, what is your relationship...? Cass, to the cashier: It's fine, we don't look alike but this is my dad Bruce: Ye— Bruce: *looks at her* Cashier: Oh really? It's always nice to see family spending time together even after everyone's over 18. It can be hard to find the time but it's worth it Cass: Yes, I agree :D Bruce: Cashier, turning to him: $37.90, please sir Bruce: Bruce, clears his throat: Right Bruce: Here Cashier: Cashier: Sir, you can't press your whole wallet onto the card reader Bruce: Oh right Cass: Bruce: Cashier: Cashier: That is your business card Cass: *laughs under her breath*

In The Zoo

Damian: I am being reasonable Bruce: You aren't Damian, we've been over this. You currently have a dog, a cat, a turkey, a monkey, a cow, a dragon bat and now you want a what? Damian: *points at a twitching lion cub viciously scratching at the cage doors* Bruce, wincing: Son. That thing will eat us the moment we take it home Damian: She. Bruce: Pardon me? Damian: Tt. The lion cub is female. She is a lioness. Bruce: Apologies. That lioness will eat us the moment we take her home. She's now being raised in captivity, but we've ensured that the animals here are receiving the best treatment possible. We oversaw the hiring of half of this zoo's staff, didn't we? Why do you still want to take her home? Damian: She would make a fine addition to our household. Bruce: It is hardly legal to raise her out of— Damian: It is hardly legal to run around at night as a bat— Bruce: *slams a hand over his son's face* Bruce: Damian. Damian: *to himself* Fine. *removes the hand* Damian: Baba >:( Bruce: Bruce: Bruce: Stop that Damian: But Baba >:( Bruce: Bruce: Bruce: *sighs long sufferingly* Bruce: *to himself* I'm being used Damian: >:( Bruce: Fine

Later

Alfred, glaring at the lioness cub violently attempting to claw through her metal cage as if it killed her entire family line: I beg your pardon! Bruce, angry: He called me Baba! How could I say no? You weren't there, you don't understand! Alfred: *slowly turns his look to Bruce* Bruce, flinching: I'm sorry... Bruce: ...Dad Alfred: Bruce: Alfred: *holding back a smile* Alfred: Well, I never Bruce: :') Alfred: I appreciate your apology Alfred: Alfred: However *reaches for a broom* Bruce: *bolts*

[thebatdadnomad]

Hear ye, hear ye! Ye AU-gust 2025 prompt list is here!

What is AU-gust? It stands for Alternate Universe August, and it is a creative challenge for everyone. Writers, artists, fans; anyone can join! Be sure to check out our FAQ for more answers! Join us on BlueSky, AO3, Discord and under the tags #au gust and #au gust 2025.

The AO3 collection for AU-gust is now open! :)

Special thanks to @yaoyorozoops for creating our wonderful graphics!

[ID] 31 days challenge prompt list as follows: 1 Romance, 2 Bakery, 3 Dragons, 4 Illness, 5 Witchcraft, 6 Broken Up, 7 Masquerade Ball, 8 Medieval, 9 Will-o'-the-Wisp, 10 Peaceful World, 11 Camping, 12 Vampires vs Werewolves, 13 Monsters and Horrors, 14 Chimeras, 15 War, 16 Rest, 17 Healers, 18 Crossover, 19 Alignment Swap, 20 Aquarium, 21 Space Exploration, 22 Private Detectives, 23 Personal Trainer, 24 Journalists, 25 Streamers, 26 Bikers, 27 Rich and Poor, 28 Hackers, 29 Assassins, 30 Gateways Between Worlds, 31 Two of the Above. You have four Jokers: Pretend Relationship, Cyberpunk, Unusual Sports, Gardening.

[thebatdadnomad]

Re: Batkids Calling Bruce 'Dad'

"The Batkids wouldn't canonically call Bruce 'Dad' because they're not used to it" "They wouldn't call him 'Dad' because their relationships are much more complicated than that"

Alright, sure. Whatever. But imagine if they all started to regularly call him Dad, not exactly bc of sentimental value, but more so to disarm or mess with him?

On The Watchtower

Bruce: Now that I have informed you all of your roles in this mission, we must look over our various strategies. Once we have uncovered their base of operations, it is imperative that we— Dick, entering the meeting room: Hi everyone! Bruce, unhappy: Nightwing, you're lat— Dick: Hey Dad, I know. Sorry I'm late, there was just this thing Clark, waving: It's fine, Nightwing Hal: Yeah, don't sweat it, kid Diana: We are happy you managed to come at all Barry: I was almost late too Dick: *winks and grabs a chair* Bruce: Barry: Diana: Clark: Hal: Er Clark, smiling: Batman? Barry: You were saying? Bruce: Diana: Clark: Hal: Barry: Diana: My friend, do you need assistance? Clark: Batman, are you alright? Bruce, snapping out of it: Of course, I am Da— doing just fine. As I was...saying Dick: *stifles his laughter*

In The Cave

Tim, half listening: Oh, word? Jason, on his fifth monologue of the day: I don't think it's asking for too much for the police to do their jobs. Am I? Am I asking for too much, Timbo? Tim: Nope Bruce: *sighs* Jason, pacing: But they're STILL covering up Gotham's dirty work all the damn time and it makes me sick. You should see the stats of how many crime rings would've been discovered if it wasn't for GC-fucking-PD not throwing out their own trash Bruce: *shakes his head at the language* Tim: I made the stats Jason: Exactly! And I just don't understand why someone like DAAAAAAAD can just sit by and let this happen! Bruce: Bruce: Bruce, softly: ...me? Jason, overhearing: YES, you, who else?! Tim: It was pretty obvious he was talking about you, Dad Bruce: Jason: You should be ashamed! Bruce: Bruce: but Jason: ASHAMED! Don't you feel ASHAMED? Bruce: Bruce: yes Jason: Good

On A Grocery Run

Cashier: That'll be $37.90 Bruce: *pulls out wallet* Cass: *smiles, holding his other arm* Cashier: Aw, that's so— Wait, I'm sorry, what is your relationship...? Cass, to the cashier: It's fine, we don't look alike but this is my dad Bruce: Ye— Bruce: *looks at her* Cashier: Oh really? It's always nice to see family spending time together even after everyone's over 18. It can be hard to find the time but it's worth it Cass: Yes, I agree :D Bruce: Cashier, turning to him: $37.90, please sir Bruce: Bruce, clears his throat: Right Bruce: Here Cashier: Cashier: Sir, you can't press your whole wallet onto the card reader Bruce: Oh right Cass: Bruce: Cashier: Cashier: That is your business card Cass: *laughs under her breath*

In The Zoo

Damian: I am being reasonable Bruce: You aren't Damian, we've been over this. You currently have a dog, a cat, a turkey, a monkey, a cow, a dragon bat and now you want a what? Damian: *points at a twitching lion cub viciously scratching at the cage doors* Bruce, wincing: Son. That thing will eat us the moment we take it home Damian: She. Bruce: Pardon me? Damian: Tt. The lion cub is female. She is a lioness. Bruce: Apologies. That lioness will eat us the moment we take her home. She's now being raised in captivity, but we've ensured that the animals here are receiving the best treatment possible. We oversaw the hiring of half of this zoo's staff, didn't we? Why do you still want to take her home? Damian: She would make a fine addition to our household. Bruce: It is hardly legal to raise her out of— Damian: It is hardly legal to run around at night as a bat— Bruce: *slams a hand over his son's face* Bruce: Damian. Damian: *to himself* Fine. *removes the hand* Damian: Baba >:( Bruce: Bruce: Bruce: Stop that Damian: But Baba >:( Bruce: Bruce: Bruce: *sighs long sufferingly* Bruce: *to himself* I'm being used Damian: >:( Bruce: Fine

Later

Alfred, glaring at the lioness cub violently attempting to claw through her metal cage as if it killed her entire family line: I beg your pardon! Bruce, angry: He called me Baba! How could I say no? You weren't there, you don't understand! Alfred: *slowly turns his look to Bruce* Bruce, flinching: I'm sorry... Bruce: ...Dad Alfred: Bruce: Alfred: *holding back a smile* Alfred: Well, I never Bruce: :') Alfred: I appreciate your apology Alfred: Alfred: However *reaches for a broom* Bruce: *bolts*

[thebatdadnomad]

This was ADORABLE, plus Namjoon was mentioned, it can't get better than that 😔☝️💕

hello!!! i saw ur nightwing stuff and by god i love them i love ur writing so much 😭😭😭😭 feel free to ignore if ur not taking reqs btw but thoughts/hcs on dick/nightwing who has an idol!s/o? (this is just me wanting to see dick geeking out over a photocard of his beloved)

hiii! i'm so so sorry this took me so long but here it is and i hope you enjoy! thank you so much for the req (this was so fun hehe) and i hope you enjoy very much anon ⋆˙♡

idol ! ‧₊˚⊹

what dick grayson would be like dating an idol!s/o (thoughts + drabble) wc: 1.16k + sfw! + fluff + fem!idol!reader x dick grayson + kpop references (bonus points if you get them)

while dating an idol!s/o, dick grayson...

would be the most supportive bf ever.

he’s somehow at every concert, every fan meet, and every pop-up event even if it’s halfway across the world (he's really putting bruce’s bank account to use)

completely shameless when it comes to cheering for you

has the biggest, most obvious signs ever, with your name written all over it in big bold letters.

always winks at you from the crowd when he: 1) isn’t cheering his lungs out for you and 2) knows you’re looking at him.

teases the crap out of you during fan meets

“have we met before?” “you look like my future girlfriend.” “mind if i get your number?” (all while smirking at you)

your shared apartment is filled to the brim with your merch

it got so bad that you had to convince him to move it since it was taking up so much space 

he begrudgingly said he would move it. (he did not)

he has every album, every CD, every remix, every version of your light stick, posters, hoodies, shirts, etc etc

embarrasses you every time you’re in the car together because he’ll only play your music

will also unabashedly scream the lyrics to your songs (in the car, during karaoke, while watching your performance vids, honestly whenever he can get away with it)

teases you by asking for live performances at home 

also teasingly asks for signatures (which he already has many of; all of his albums, photo cards, and CDs are signed)

on days he can’t attend concerts, he’ll always watch the livestreams, performance vids, or fancams as soon as they come out

several residents of bludhaven have, more than once, seen nightwing perched atop buildings while watching your fancams intently on his phone, humming and bobbing his head to the music. 

has also been spotted (as nightwing and dick grayson) watching and re-watching several of your interviews and variety show content videos. 

it eventually became a widespread fact that infamous bludhaven vigilante nightwing was a huge fan of yours

nightwing’s phone case also made news headlines for having one of your rarest photo cards displayed in the case. 

many fans jokingly beefed with nightwing over the card, asking him to hand it over

(he’d rather die than give it up)

“NOOOOO!” 

You hear Dick’s cry from the living room and whip your head around. “Dick-! What happened?”

Your boyfriend is slumped over the coffee table, one of your albums laying in front of him, open, with photo cards laying haphazardly on top. He lets out another groan.

“Babe…”

You rush over to him, placing a hand on his back.

“What is it?” Eyes scanning his body, you urgently check for wounds. “Is it an injury? Did a stitch reopen?”

Dick lifts his head to look up at you. 

“…I…”

His hand is trembling as he points to the photo cards. 

“Dick-”

“I…already have those photo cards…”

“…huh?”

“I- I didn’t get the one I wanted…”

“…”

Smack!

“Ow!” He yelps, wincing, hand coming up to rub his shoulder. “Wha-what was that for?” 

You point an accusing finger at him. “I seriously thought you just got stabbed or poisoned or- or shot or something, for god’s sake, but you’re freaking out—” you pick up the cards. “—over my photo cards?!” 

Dick laughs nervously, shrinking back a tiny bit as you glower down at him. “Ah- haha…sorry babe. I’m just- uh- a passionate fan, y’know?” 

With a huff, you turn away, stomping off to your bedroom. 

“Hey babe, where are you- wait- I’m sorry! Shit.”

Dick sighs, running a hand through his hair. He’s about to stand up and follow you, but before he can, you’re stomping back into the living room, something sparkly in hand. 

His eyes widen at the sight. 

“Is that-“

Sighing, you hold out the card to him. 

“The original 5th anniversary debut photo card you’re looking for, yes.” 

Dick’s eyes dart from you to the card to you and back to the card.

“Can I really have it?” He gapes at it like he’s won a million dollars. 

“Yes, Dick, you can have it.” 

His wide-eyed look of excitement is almost cute enough for you to forgive him for nearly giving you a heart attack earlier. 

He takes the card from you slowly, as if he was afraid it would evaporate from his hands, and after admiring it for a solid minute, he leaps up from the couch. Humming the catchy melody of your most recent single, he jogs to the bedroom before returning with a mini-photo card binder. He plops himself back down on the couch.

Sliding his newly-acquired card into a specifically designated spot (decorated with sparkly deco stickers?), Dick happily admires the card while tilting it, beaming at your smiling face from all angles. “Nice! I finally have all the photo cards from the debut album.” 

You tilt your head at him, eyebrow raised, hands on your hips. “Huh?”

“I’m only missing a few from the ‘READY TO BE’  album, and one from your ‘Love wins all’  single release. I might go to Barnes & Noble tomorrow to see if they have any of those in stock…” 

You stand there, mouth slightly agape. 

“And I think I already have everything from the ‘Feel My Rhythm’  EP… maybe I’m missing something from your third mini-album?” He strokes his chin thoughtfully. 

“Dick…” 

He looks up at you. “Hm?” 

You seat yourself across from him, leaning forward to place your elbows on your knees, hands tucked under your chin as you narrow your eyes. 

“What was the name of my debut album?” 

He squints at you. “What?” 

“What was the name of my debut album?” You repeat, voice grave.

“Uh…’Romanticize’ ?”

“And what was my first collab?”

“‘South End’ featuring RM.” 

“Which of my albums broke the most records?” 

“Mm…probably ‘READY TO BE’  in terms of sales? But ‘dreamscape’  broke the most record for Spotify streams in 24 hours-”

“And what was the most popular B-side in that album?” 

“In ‘dreamscape’? Well, I think ‘seoul city’ was, looking at the audience reception and streams…” his brows furrow in thought.

“But personally, I think that ‘people’  was the best. Like, the lyrics? The production? I mean come on, everything about that song is an absolute masterpiece. I get chills every time I listen-” 

You burst out laughing. 

“D-Dick- ”

Leaping over into his lap, you wrap your arms around his neck, grinning into the crook of his neck. 

“You really are a fan, huh?” 

He blushes a little red, scratching the back of his head. “Can you blame me?” Dick laughs back, playfully poking your cheek. “I’m dating you. Who also happens to be my long-time celebrity crush and a world-famous idol.” 

Beaming up at him, you curl closer into his chest. 

“Maybe I’ll give you another original photo card.”

“Wait, really?” 

“Only if you buy me dinner tonight.”

“You absolutely have a deal, princess.”

[thebatdadnomad]

𝔸 𝔻𝕒𝕫𝕫𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕄𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣-𝕋𝕠-𝔹𝕖 𝟚

Pairing: Bruce Wayne x Fem Pregnant! Reader Summary: You were a mother-to-be, too stunning for your own good, from a city where the sun shone bright. He never expected you to ask to see him again; he never ever planned for it. But when you did, how could Bruce resist? Tags: First Date, Fine Dining, Paparazzi, Classy Flirting A/N: I was originally planning for this to be a one-shot, but @magicaldestinyharmony asked for a sequel, and I couldn't resist, so here it is :D Original

That night, when Bruce returned to Clark’s bedside, his friend was all ears. 

“So what did you say then?”

“I told her I would make a reservation.”

“This is great,” Clark sighed happily, sitting up to look at Bruce who was currenjlty hovering by the door, watching for signs of fatigue in his Kryptonian friend as he begrudgingly told his story.

Bruce’s eyes instinctively sharpened to a glare as he squashed his agreement far below the surface. “You are currently undergoing the irreversible physical side effects of an unbreakable spell. Nothing about this situation is ‘great.’”

“I mean, you going on a date, Bruce! How long has it been?” Clark rolled his eyes. It wasn’t a behaviour Superman would have done, Bruce noted, bemused. 

“Twenty-four days ago, I took Jessica Hornes to a private jazz bar in downtown Gotham.”

Clark’s smile faded a bit.

“We…kissed on her doorstep,” Bruce added. 

“You know that’s not what I meant. I mean how long since you actually cared about the person you were going on a date with?”

Silence.

“See. It’s been too—” Clark’s words cut off with a pained groan. Bruce jolted forward, alarmed, but a hand held up stopped him. Under the power of the yellow sun, his friend was indestructible. Inside and out. Bruce had had to lace the painkillers with kryptonite in his Metropolis safehouse so they would weaken Clark enough to be metabolised. If this hadn’t worked after all the experiments…but then Clark smiled, wide, genuine and comfortable again. “Too long. And you said she's pregnant?”

“...Yes,” Bruce nodded. 

“Huh,” Clark looked away, scratching his chin in thought. “What do you think you'll do if this goes well? I don't want to ask if you, of all people, have a plan, but you can be pretty sporadic when it comes to your personal relationships compared to…other things.”

Bruce shook his head, resting his weight on the door frame. “If it comes to that, it comes to that. For now, I just…”

“You just want to enjoy it,” Clark finished. “Yeah, no, I agree, I think that's good. Ignore me, don't worry about that yet. Besides, if she really was so against the idea of having another man in her life during this period, then she wouldn't have asked you. You might be exactly what each other needs.”

Bruce pondered the thought.

When playing up his socialite persona, Bruce dressed as extravagantly as possible. As a businessman in boardrooms, he tended to wear three-piece suits. Tonight, on this date a couple of weeks later, he wanted to be more true to himself. So Bruce dressed in a pressed white button-down, brown belt and black slacks. He hoped, as he he drove to Metropolis and waited in the lavish reception of one of your city's finest private restaurants, that he wouldn’t come across as too snobbish.

The few paparazzi that followed him there were not allowed to enter but hovered by the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The sight of their obsession led more than a few passersby to whisper, but his eyes weren’t focused on them. Instead, Bruce was studying the streets, watching the clock as the time for your meeting neared, and you were…you were…you were here.

There.

Summer made Metropolis’ evenings just as sunny as its days. The sun was brighter than Bruce originally expected, but none of its rays stunned him as much as your natural beauty or the radiance living in your skin. Bruce felt rejuvenated by the look of you in a long gown, by the glitter in your eyes as you calmly approached him and caressed your swollen middle.

You were glowing.

You were precious.

Bruce's protective instincts were untamable as he paced over to assist you, ignoring how the paparazzi’s yelling increased exponentially at the sight. You smiled and let him lead you upstairs until you sat down across from him, separated only by menus, napkins and cutlery.

“I take it you're famous?” You said, in greeting. And he supposed it was one.

Bruce hummed, thoughtful. “You could put it like that.”

When you had initially exchanged names via text messages, he had been worried. But either Bruce wasn't as well known by Metropolitans, or you weren't interested in celebrities, because it was clear his name didn't register for you enough to search it up.

“And you didn't think to tell me that because…?”

Your eyes were sharp now, analysing, just as you had back in that parking lot. It was an incredibly attractive trait.

“I didn't think it was the most important thing about me.”

“...Those people seem to think differently,” you surmised, approval in your tone.

Bruce’s jaw clenched as he attempted to keep his voice just as light. “Those people have no sense of boundaries. I don't particularly care what they think.”

You choked on a laugh, shifting heavily in your chair and filling out the seat just right. “I guess so. I can't imagine it, being followed I understand. I've experienced that, but the shamelessness of it all? It's an industry that needs to be abolished, that's for sure.”

Bruce nodded in agreement and let a quiet fall on you both. 

It was times like these on his usual dates that he would start asking the standard surface questions, complimenting your appearance and flirting with the waitress. But you didn’t deserve that. He didn’t ask you to come here to be a headline to keep the press from prying for a while. He asked because looking at you made Bruce, a man frequently confronted with death and sorrow, believe in life all over again.

So instead he said, “How was the travel here? I hope it wasn't too inconvenient,” truly curious about the answer for once.

You shook your head, still smiling. “It was fine, I just took an Uber. I thought I'd splurge since it's a special day.”

“Is it?” Bruce prodded. “And what is so special about today?”

“Not what,” you sent him a gentle look. “But who.”

Oh.

Bruce felt his athlete’s heart quicken to a more regular beat.

“I am flattered,” he breathed under your soft gaze. Flirty, his mind supplied. Motherly, he dreamed. “But I think I'm the one having the better day.”

Your smile widened as you licked your lips and took that to be the right opportunity to look at the menu. It only took a moment for your eyebrows to rise. Bruce looked down at his but wasn’t sure what the problem was. Was there a hidden message on yours? How had that slipped his notice?

“What made you pick this place?” You continued before he had the chance to speak. There was a hint of embarrassment in the creases of your face, your suddenly avoidant eyes. “I didn't want to admit it when you sent me the reservation, but I can't pay for more than a starter.”

So that was it.

“Pay?” Bruce was taken aback. When was the last time one of his dates didn't expect him to cover the cost? He couldn’t remember. It was refreshing, but he absolutely refused. “Do not worry about the bill.”

“...I'm not a gold digger,” you seemed almost offended. Bruce couldn’t have that.

“No, but you are a future mother, and I would like to treat you as such. I have the means, and you should hold onto the money you have to take care of your baby,” Bruce kept his voice firm. “Allow me to do this for you.”

You stared at him.

“Please. I want you to eat your fill.”

“...Fine,” you relented, looking pretty in your abashment. “Thank you. You didn't answer my question, though.”

Bruce nodded as he tried to rein in his intense relief from showing on his face. You would let him pay after all. “This is a haute cuisine restaurant, but unlike the others, it avoids dishes involving raw seafood, raw eggs, many cheeses and prides itself in serving experimental juices in place of alcohol.”

“You were being thoughtful,” you mumbled after a beat.

Those were all things that women were advised not to indulge in during pregnancy. Bruce chose it so you could order from the menu without having to worry about what you were consuming. He hadn’t expected you to notice that and he wasn’t entirely sure how you felt about it now that you had.

So Bruce stiffened then, awkwardly clearing his throat. “I apologise if I—”

You batted your eyelashes. “I like that.”

God.

Bruce harshly swallowed at the sight, and you both placed your orders.

“So…” his mind raced across various conversational topics once you were finished. It was abnormal for him to be the one to break the silence twice in a row, but he found himself too interested in you to care. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been alright,” you smoothly answered, looking as though you knew what was going on in his head, and maybe you did. Bruce had alluded to his thinking habits back in the parking lot two weeks ago. “My back has been aching since that night, but my friends came over the other day and cheered me up. They brought me food for my cravings so I didn't have to go out and buy them.”

“That's nice,” Bruce grunted, meaning it. “It's good you have them to help.”

You laughed under your breath. “It is. What about you? What have you been doing since we last met?”

“A growing community project I have been sponsoring met their financial goals for the year.”

“That sounds good,” you said, amicably. “What is the program about?”

Bruce hummed. “Assisting metahuman 0-18s in finding more appropriate guardians in the foster care system and training those guardians to be better prepared for what such care entails.”

“That's amazing, Bruce,” you looked almost in awe but it was undeserved. He couldn’t accept it. “What did you say you did again?”

“I'm…a businessman.”

You tilted your head, eyes narrowing. “Hm…you don't act like one.” 

“Excuse me?” Bruce asked, mirth warming his abdomen.

You waved him off, taking your drinks from the waiter. “I didn't mean to offend you. You just have a demeanour about you that's very down-to-earth. You've barely asked me any questions about my background or why I'm single. I'm not someone who is used to this kind of luxury but you're treating me like I can have a place here and it's nice,” you can have a place here. “Maybe you really do have ulterior motives, after all.” 

Bruce fondly shook his head and sipped his drink to hide his building amusement. “What is the theory this time?”

“Well, the bank heist theory is unrealistic,” you replied, playfully. “So now I'm thinking embezzlement. Do you—?”

Bruce laughed before you could ask.

“Don't laugh at me,” you gaped, but it was a game, a joke. He felt refreshed once more by your presence and it was as if you were someone he knew. Someone he already trusted. Bruce couldn’t understand the feeling, and that in itself was an even stronger draw.

“I’m sorry, it was just…funny,” he told you simply. “I think I should be the one asking the questions, perhaps.”

“Fine, what would you like to know?” 

“Everything,” Bruce admitted.

You only smiled. “Everything…might be a bit of a mouthful. How about I tell you about this year?”

So you did. You told him about becoming pregnant. You told him about how it felt to grow bigger and bigger. How scary the checkups were when your friends were busy, when your family couldn’t visit, once your ex abandoned you. But then you also told him about the kicking, the parenting books, designing rooms with your baby in mind, filling out forms and thinking of all the things you would do together.

You told him about how happy you were despite it being the most stressful period of your life, a time where you couldn’t truly rely on anyone but yourself to take care of you and Bruce thought of the case of the first metahuman orphaned children this project saved, bruised, battered, but not broken as they breathed life into their little hands. Vulnerable, the papers wrote. Brave, the project leaders stated. 

Precious, Bruce believed.

You looked like them to him now, as the pair of you ate food you enjoyed to the fullest. You looked just as lively, and he wanted to be there. He wanted to be the one you relied on in the coming months. He wanted to ask this question again in a year and hear his name scattered around until he was fed up with it. But you weren’t a child, and you had a choice. He needed to know you wanted this.

Midway through your talk on maternity leave, Bruce stopped you to say, “You're beautiful.”

“...Thank you,” you studied him, eyes drooping ever so slightly. “So are you.”

Bruce froze. In four decades on this planet, he was sure he had never heard that particular compliment pointed towards him.

But you insisted. “You are. Your eyes, your hair, your cheeks, your nose…you're breathtaking, Bruce. How did you not know that?”

The thing was, he did know. At least, he knew he was conventionally attractive. But it sounded like new information when uttered by your lips. Like a revelation he was unaware of.

Bruce suddenly leant in and desperately grasped your hand, revelling in the way your smile turned crooked and your hand grasped your swollen middle.

“I want to see you again,” he confessed lowly, like it was a secret, like his emotions weren’t leaking out of his wrists, turning towards your sunshine.

“We haven’t even finished eating yet.”

“Please.”

“...Me too,” you whispered. 

“I want to take care of you,” he kept going, mind a mess.

“I know.”

“Will you let me?” Bruce prodded.

There was a pause where he prayed to everything he ever knew that you would— that you would— until.

“Yes,” you smiled, choosing him.

And that, in itself, was precious too.

Original

MASTERLIST

[thebatdadnomad]

Lantern Reblog Challenge Recs

For my lovey mutual @writing-for-marvel, thank you for such a fun challenge! 💚💚💚

Moon Without Stars (Sam Winchester series)- @ambiguous-avery

Laws Unspoken (Sam Winchester a/b/o) - @stusbunker

Mr. Holme's Maind part 7 (Sherlock Holmes angst)- @holylulusworld

You Are My Sunshine (Chubby Thor fluff)- @slothspaghettiwrites

Outage (Joel Miller smut)- @taeslarityy

King of the Joust (Medieval Konig series)- @vivwritescrappythings

The Secrets We Keep (Dom Aaron Hotchner series)- @show-your-fangs

Heatwave (Cooper Howard smut)- @multi-fandom-imagine

You Called? (Castiel fluff)- @cyanide-siren

Sunny Side Up (Sam Winchester fluff)- @southernimpala

Untitled drabble (Billy Butcher smut)- @muldermuse

Yours (Knight Din Djarin angst-ish)- @indianamoonshine

Delicious & Expecting (Dick Grayson fluff)- @thebatdadnomad

Are You Done? (Leroy Jethro Gibbs fluff)- @kdogreads

Instructions (Eddie Brock smut)- @cinnxmxngxrl

Untitled fic (Leroy Jethro Gibbs angst to fluff)- @novamariestark

Secrets in the Bureau (Aaron Hotchner fluff)- @dismalflo

Untitled fic (Aaron Hotchner hurt/comfort)- @ellecdc

Say It Again (Aaron Hotchner fluff)- @whoswitchybabyanyway

[thebatdadnomad]

Fic interaction is unfortunately dwindling, and I think we’re all feeling it. So this is my small attempt to help boost some engagement through the community and potentially help some writers earn new readers!

The challenge: to shine a light on as many fics as possible and show writers some love by reblogging with thoughtful comments

When: 11th - 31st July 2025

Who: all over the age of 18 are welcome, writers and/or readers alike. Not limited to any specific fandoms, let’s spread love and lanterns 🏮 far and wide!

Challenge Info:

There is no minimum or maximum number of fics to read, or words to leave in a comment. Only do what you are able to and what you feel comfortable with

Comments are the most motivating form of interaction writers can receive, so I encourage you to try your best to show writers appreciation with thoughtful reblog comments. Here are some links if you’re not sure what to comment or how to start leaving comments:

Fanfiction Comment Guide

Comment Starters

Guide to Leaving Long and Detailed Comments

No need to officially sign up, but it would be appreciated if you could let me know if you’re interested and share this post to spread the word

If you’re looking for a higher difficulty to this challenge, there are some prompts below the cut to help you spread your fic reading horizons! This part is completely optional

Please reblog the fics you read with #lantern reblog challenge and use the challenge banner below so we can spread love and lanterns 🏮 throughout the community this July!

Either throughout the challenge period or at very the end, collate all the fics you reblogged and post a Fic Rec Masterlist to help promote all those amazing fics even more! Please also tag me so I can create a Challenge Masterlist

Prompts for Challenge Hard Mode (Optional)

Read from three writers you have never read from before

Read three fics which were posted prior to 2020/give some love to older fics which may not have received a reblog comment in years

Read three fics which currently have less than 50 notes (posted more than a week ago)

Branch out and read for a fandom you have never read from before

If you traditionally read x reader stories, spread love to our writers with OCs

Help boost new writers joining our community and read a fic from a writer who has posted less than five fics total

Give your mutuals some extra love and reread your favourite fics from them

Read a long fic (10k+) or start a series you’ve been meaning to get to

Read a fic which has been sitting in your TBR list for far too long

Tagging some mutuals who might be interested in participating, but absolutely no pressure!

@yenzys-lucky-charm @intrepidacious @elixirfromthestars @thereoncewasagirlnamedjane @mercurial-chuckles @just-dreaming-marvel @marvelstoriesepic @holacia3 @navybrat817 @seitmai @daydreamgoddess14 @mrsbuckybarnes1917 @stellar-solar-flare @treatbuckywkisses @crazyunsexycool @fandoms-writings @saiyanprincessswanie @ozwriterchick @nekoannie-chan @jobean12-blog @blackwidownat2814 @mrsmischief209 @soulgazingwithbucky @brandycranby @goldylions @bigtreefest @thevillainswhore @buck-star @perdidosbucky-yyo @jackys-stuff-blog @lives-in-midgard @our-marvel-universe

[thebatdadnomad]

𝕄𝕠𝕟 𝔸𝕞𝕚

Pairing: Dick Grayson x GN Informant! Reader Summary: Finally, you knew. Tags: Pining, Strangers to Friends to Lovers, Eventual Confession A/N: Aaannnd we're done! Feedback? Criticisms? Lemme know what you think once you're done reading!! 🥺🙏 Parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 (end)

4

It went on for a while, your staring match. It was only when the end credits rolled, five minutes later, that you said something.

“Dick,” you slowly blinked. “I think I know what you want to tell me.”

“Oh?” He lazily smiled.

You spoke with a strange softness in your tone. It almost sounded pitying. He would’ve hated it had it not come from you. “But then again, I might be confused.”

Dick shook his head. “You're probably not.”

“Right.”

With nothing left to lose, Dick lowered his hand to rub your hip and looked deep into your lovely eyes, which widened and widened until they burst with realisation.

“Why me?” You breathed.

Dick raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“I don't know, because you have a thousand friends you get along with and a thousand people who would want to be with you like this, so why are you here kissing me right now instead of them?”

“...I don't know.”

“Well, that's encouraging,” you licked your lips, but Dick with how close you were to him, he could almost feel the blood rushing from your wrists to your cheek bone.

It drove him wild.

Dick took a deep breath, bracing himself. “All I know is that when my nights end and I go to bed…I always want to be here in your arms instead,” he continued, biting his bottom lip when you took a sharp intake of breath. “I've wanted that for a long time. Maybe,” definitely, “since I first met you.”

“Oh…that's crazy.”

“‘That's crazy’?” Dick couldn’t help but chuckle at the phrasing. “That's all you have to say?”

“Well, what am I supposed to say to that?” You spluttered, incredulous, and he just held you tighter, cruelly wondering when exactly you would force him to let go and making sure to commit the feeling of your body against his to memory. To cherish every time he got to touch you like this for as long as he lived.

“I don't know, I'm sorry. It's just— I just couldn't resist you anymore,” Dick huffed. “And just to be clear, I don’t mean that platonically.”

“No, this isn’t platonic at all,” you shuffled around but didn’t leave. Not yet. “It’s— I'm not really like your exes.”

“No.”

You lightly snorted despite the sombre mood that had befallen the both of you. “You don't need to say it that quickly,” Dick hummed, bemused. “Well, your exes are so…different from me. Batgirl, who turned into Oracle – the well-established data handler and coordinator behind nearly every successful vigilante case in this state and worldwide. Or— or Starfire – the gorgeous warrior princess who leads or assists nearly every successful space travel mission. They’re your exes, right?”

Dick blinked then smiled despite feeling like he was screaming inside. This was how you were rejecting him? Really? “How do you know all of that?”

“I wouldn't be a good informant if I didn't know my stuff,” you said with the undertone of mischief in your voice. “Anyway, back to my point. They are not like me at all. I don't know why you would be into me…if you are actually into me…”

“I am.”

You swallowed audibly. “Well, I don't know why you would be when you were dating them or yo— you’re in-between dating them or whatever.”

“You’re implying that liking someone makes any sense in the first place,” Dick knocked his forehead into yours and stunned you silent. “By all rights, I should like Wonder Woman. She's in the league, so we understand each other, not to mention she’s talented and stunning. But I don't. I could like Donna, she's been my friend for ages and she's so attractive in so many ways. But I don't. I could like Raven, who I'm close with as well and who has a look that's out of this world and a way about her that draws anyone in. But I don’t.”

You listened along, and Dick grasped your hands too, unable to stop his mouth from telling you everything that’s been on his mind forever. From telling you how he felt all this time. “I could like a grocery store clerk who I get along with and banter with. I could like any of the people I hooked up with at bars or clubs. I could like the rich kids at galas with parents who obviously want me to be with them. I could like anyone in this universe for any number of reasons, but I don't. I like you. I...I love you.”

Dick made sure you saw his devotion to you through his touch, through his verbal conviction.

You looked like your breath had been taken away, so he kept going. If only so you could gain it back.

He grinned. “And obviously you're pretty and funny and cute and reliable and caring and good. You have a hundred different great qualities, but it's not really about that. It’s— when I'm around you I feel the need to be as close to you as possible, and I haven't felt that since I dated my exes. Actually, I'm actually not sure it felt the same way with them as it does with you. Sometimes I kind of – not trying to be weird, even though it is – I kind of want to sit inside of your pocket and just stay in there. That’s how down bad I am,” Dick sighed, leaning back and feeling his momentum near its end. “I’m sorry for hiding this from you for so long. I just didn’t want to ruin the flow of things, you know?”

You…were you even breathing anymore? He didn’t know. All Dick knew was that he had your hands in his, had cracked open his chest, and was prepared to hear you pass judgment with a smile on his face.

“It’s OK,” you eventually said, blessedly still in his arms. “That wasn't weird, that was nice. I’m just…I need to process…all of...that.”

Dick nodded. “Sure, take your time.”

“Yeah,” you nodded back.

Dick bit his lip then decided to say this regardless. “Feel free to reject me, because I did just turn up one night and kept you from sleeping and—”

But you shook your head. “No, it's cool. I’m happy you told me…I don’t blame you for hiding this, I like to go with the flow sometimes, as well. Being friends with you has been…nice. And, I mean, hugging you like this has been just as nice. I just hadn’t thought this meant anything else…”

“I’m sorry,” Dick dropped your hands.

You shook your head again, gripping his fingers. “Don't be. I don't know how to explain it yet, but you make me...feel things I've not felt for anyone before too.”

…

What?

Dick’s heart was in his throat as it jumped to conclusions. “‘Feel things?’”

“Now that I think about it...” you nervously avoided his eyes. “I think I have some feelings for you, Dick.”

He froze completely still, statues moved more than he did in that moment.

There was no way.

“It’s not like I’ve been harbouring them!” You quickly defended, gaze darting away immediately once yours met his. “If anything…I’ve been avoiding seeing you in that way since the very beginning. I tried not to take what you said or did seriously since everyone said you were a people-person. But I guess it didn’t work. I never considered it…but now I’m considering it. You know?”

There was no way.

“Does that mean...?” Dick mumbled, dazedly.

“Yeah, I think it means—”

“Does this mean we can kiss?” Dick blurted out, excited beyond comprehensible thought.

“What?” You stared, alarmed, and he froze.

Dick immediately backtracked, throwing the question back. “No! What? I didn’t say anything.”

You clearly hadn’t been expecting that. “…You want to kiss?”

“...You don't want to?” Dick withered.

You paused. Then, “I…do…but…”

“Does that mean you,” Dick interlocking your fingers together as he looked at your face for signs of falsehood and found none. There was no fucking way! “Actually, like me too?”

“…I’m not sure,” you admitted, which was fine. More than fine, he could work with this. This was amazing, this was a miracle, you were everything. Oh man, Dick loved you so damn much he could cry.

Dick joked, trying to make things light despite his heart slamming against its cage so it could be with its rightful owner. “That makes sense, you friend-zoned me so hard I was honestly impressed.”

“You did that to me too,” you pouted. “You said early on that we were friends, and I thought you weren’t open to dating, so I don't want to hear judgment from you, sir.”

“I guess it's kind of karma.”

“Well, not really, since I'm not saying…no.”

Dick choked, gaped like a fish and then tried to force out the words around a smile. “Then it’s karma for…making you wait and not being completely transparent from the start. I just had no idea you were even interested.”

You huffed, playing with his fingers. He played back. “Well, of course not. I was intimidated by you guys. All of you in the Titans are pretty attractive for the most part, so…”

“You're saying I blend in?” Dick teased with warm cheeks at the fact that you just basically admitted that you found him was attractive after all this time.

You denied it, but not in a bad way. “Oh, no. You’re the worst. Don’t you remember how tense I was around you the first few times we hung out? Haven’t you noticed that I barely let you touch me at all until recently?”

“I…have,” it had been disappointing.

“Exactly. Why do you think that was?”

Dick connected the dots, and boy, oh, boy. He might leap for joy if you weren’t careful. “You're saying it was because you found me…hot?”

You seriously nodded. “Extremely so, yeah. More than anyone else. I didn’t want to get attached, so I avoided it,” a familiar tingle greeted him in his stomach. Dick knew he could be charming in all the right ways, but it hadn’t mattered unless you thought so too. And to know that you did?

“That’s great,” Dick grinned, and you just stared into each other's eyes until you wore matching smiles. Dick could not believe this and neither could you. “So, you really think I look good?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Dick, you’re gorgeous. I’m oblivious, not blind.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Dick couldn’t hold back a shit-eating grin and you looked away in a poor attempt to hide a similar expression. He would’ve called you out on it had he not been vibrating with glee.

“This is by far the most disorienting confession I've ever experienced,” you admitted a beat later.

“Sorry, I should have brought flowers,” Dick wanted to get up, but he feared breaking whatever spell had given him this once-in-a-lifetime magical fortune. “I was just tired, you know, of not saying anything and— and now the relief is just making me even more tired.”

You laughed, meeting his eyes again with something warm, something tender, something he hadn’t ever seen before. “Why don’t we sleep then? It’s late.”

“Mmm,” Dick repositioned you to lie on your side and slid down right next to you. He slotted his legs between your warm ones, feeling more content than he had felt in a long time as he squeezed your interlocked fingers and dropped them over your bodies. He then turned your jaw towards him, kissed the top of your forehead before Dick gently tucked your head beneath his chin. “I need you to make me a promise.”

“Promise…what?”

“I need you to promise that you won't be gone when I wake up. Promise you won’t go on that date with him.”

“That’s a given. I...was never that interested in him, it was just...he reminded me of you, I guess.”

The man who couldn’t manage to CC him in an email reminded you of Dick?

“Really?”

“Really,” you yawned cutely, it shoved the slight offense from his mind. You were so cute and you were willing to give him a shot. Dick was so damn lucky he wanted to scream it off of the rooftops. He probably would later. “Do you still want me to promise?”

“I do. I might sleep in for a bit, not too long, promise me you’ll stay?” Dick shut his eyes in apprehension.

“It is my house, I don’t plan on leaving.”

Dick made a noise of protest.

“I promise,” you passively agreed.

“I don't believe that,” Dick shifted back just a bit so you could see each other and playfully asked. “Where's your pinky?”

“My pinky is here, sir!” You returned with the same energy, releasing a hand only to hold your pinky up ready between you.

“Right, soldier, show me your pinky. Extend it, yes, and curl it with mine. Yes, good job!” You laughed along, and Dick loved how easy it was to make you do so. It had always been easy. “However,” he pushed. “I still don't think I believe you.”

“Well, that's unfortunate, sir. What could I possibly do to convince you?”

This was cheeky, but. “Lay one on me.”

You blinked, surprised. “…What?”

“You heard me,” Dick’s voice lowered, punch-drunk as he greedily tapped his lips while staring at yours. All soft and plump and tasty. “Lay one on me.”

“I-I don't think that's very professional, sir.”

Dick laughed. “Well, sometimes it's fine to go a bit off-the-book, soldier.”

You leaned in, staring at his in return. “…And this will seal the promise?”

“Certainly,” you hesitated and for a second, Dick was going to take it all back, go slow instead of full speed ahead.

When you whispered, “Anything you say, sir.”

Before Dick could move in first, you closed the short distance between the pair of you and pressed your lips against his. He could not even begin to describe the euphoria the sensation gave him, all he knew is that it was something he would never forget.

Dick tightened his hold on your pinky finger as he kissed you right back, over and over and over again until you were out of breath and pulled away to catch it. He let you go for a beat, panting like he had taken you for a ride instead of kissing you a little, and oh, he already couldn’t get enough.

“Dick—” Dick slotted his lips between yours this time, slowly separating from your mouth before sucking on your bottom lip. He lapped at the plush flesh of your soft lip between his, intoxicated by the feeling of it in his mouth. He had been right all those times. You tasted as sweet as you sounded.

“Dick,” you repeated, quiet.

“Yes?”

“Is this? Do you…?” Dick couldn’t help himself from pressing in again before you could form a complete thought. He used his other arm to hold your jaw as he kissed you some more, gentle as he went so as to not scare you away but firm enough that you felt all the passion he had hidden from you all this time.

“Do you believe me now?” You gasped the question against his lips when he kissed the corner of your mouth.

“I believe you now…mon ami,” Dick relaxed, bringing you close so you could rest, whispering the term like a pet name.

“You better,” you replied just as gently, flustered like it was.

And when he woke up, finding you in his arms holding his fallen heart in your hands, he felt completely at peace.

Dick Grayson had many friends, yes.

But he had never had one as remarkable as you.

⇦ Part 3

MASTERLIST

-

Tags: @nightwingsgilfriend

[thebatdadnomad]

Bruce wakes up with the worst headache ever known to man, and all of his children are simultaneously in his room for some odd reason, which, as you can probably guess, does not help him in the slightest. Of course, it had to be today of all days, when he physically couldn’t tell them to shut up or redirect their chaos to something else.

Bruce lets out an inaudible groan as he hears Jason’s voice rise up to an indignant shriek, most likely protesting something that he most definitely did.

“Dickie.” Bruce’s voice crackles quietly, making Bruce wince. “Baby,” Bruce calls again, suppressing the cough that wants to rise up in his throat.

Dick, who is sitting next to him calmly (even though Bruce knows his firstborn is the person who most likely brought the chaos to his room so early in the morning), tilts his head. “Dad?”

“Take my card. Take your siblings. Go get breakfast somewhere, anywhere, and bring me back some food.” Bruce orders, trying to keep how miserable he was feeling out of his voice.

Judging from Dick’s face, he was failing.

“You doing alright?” Dick asked quietly, his eyebrow knit in concern, a look Bruce hates putting there.

“Yes, Birdie. Just a migraine.” Bruce reassures, reaching over and squeezing Dick’s hand lightly, and feeling the tension in his shoulders lessen just a millimeter from seeing Dick’s smile.

Dick rummaged through his bedside drawer, knowing exactly where he kept his wallet, and pocketed one of his many black cards. “Any meds you need me to pick up?”

Bruce tried to think and pull up a mental image of their medicine cabinet, but his head throbbed painfully, leading him to give up. “I trust your judgement.” He said simply, leaving it all in Dick’s hands.

Dick nods and squeezes his hand again, leaning over and pressing a soft kiss to his forehead, just like Bruce had done ever since he was a child and had his own migraines. “We’ll be back, and we’ll be safe,” Dick says.

Bruce knows a promise when he hears one.

“I love you.” Bruce managed to raise his voice enough so all his children could hear as Dick ushered them out of his room, and from the sounds of it, threw Damian over his shoulder.

Bruce couldn’t help but smile as there were murmurs of agreement and scattered ‘love yous’ back before his room was once again plunged into silence and darkness, one of his children turning the lights off just as his door closed.

It’ll probably be a good day.

[thebatdadnomad]

on the two types of Jason to write-

I think the first one is very much him as Red Hood, confident and flirty and in control, whereas the second one is how Jason is underneath the bravado.

Sure, he can dirty talk like a motherfucker with the helmet on, whispering filthy things into your ear, but he's never actually done any of them.

He doesn't sleep around because he doesn't trust people like that (and he'd get too attached immediately to anyone he fell into bed with), he just puts up a convincing act from being raised on the streets and having informants who do sex work.

...oh no, that gave me a cute idea. Jason opening up to a group of older prostitutes who work as informants for him about. Not knowing what the fuck to do when his crush comes onto him. He's given sweet advice, lots of it very good, but he ALSO feels his ears start to burn from the force of his embarrassment as he's relentlessly teased.

Just imagining the girls laughing good naturedly as he stomps off after they got competitive over who had the weirdest and most bizzare sex story.

Oh my god, you're a genius. 1 is who Jason wants to be and 2 is who Jason actually is. Like it's an act he's perfected until he realises his crush is a human and needs something real. I can see it so clearly now. Thanks for answering my question!

This scenario too...Jason talking to prostitutes about his crush is just so him.

The Alley

"Hey girls, I've got a sitch," Jason landed silently behind the group one night, red hood on and white lenses fixed on the ladies working the corners he trusted best.

"Sure, darlin', what's up?" Vanessa, the oldest, gleefully asked, running a hand through her short ombre black-white hair with interest.

"It's been slow, but I could always call in my regulars for info," Tiffany, the blonde with dark monolid eyes, added, casually cleaning her short pink nails.

"Anything you need, Hood," Olive promised, her long locks swaying behind her hips as she pursed her soft lips in genuine concern.

They were all beyond stunning, dressed in clothes that would make anyone with a libido weak at the knees. Jason always worried he would fall for one of them until he grew infatuated with someone else. Speaking of which.

"It's nothing serious. I just. I'm kinda coming here for some..." He swallowed, tossing the words around in his head before saying. "Advice."

The trio paused, carefully looking him over.

"Sounds serious," Tiffany eventually said, noncommittally.

Jason grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets and jerking a nod.

Vanessa picked up quickly, always the one with the best instincts from all her years on the job. "Love advice?"

Jason was about to shrink away, but this was what he wanted, so he reluctantly admitted, "...Yeah."

They all mumbled to each other until Olive's eyes widened and she stepped towards him. "You seem plenty experienced. What's the problem? What went wrong?"

"You no good in bed?" Tiffany tagged on, earning a glare from him that only seemed to make them laugh.

"I'm just. I don't know what to do about...sex, alright?"

"Bull," Vanessa snorted. "You made me wet with a few words the first time we met."

"That's different," Jason snapped, anxiously untucking his hands and crossing his arms, breaking eye contact even from beneath his hood as he thought of his pretty crush. "That was business. This isn't."

"What's the difference?"

"His crush must not be like us, then."

"Aw, so you actually like this person?"

Jason's arms tightened around himself with embarrassment. "Yes. I guess. Fuck."

"And the problem is...?" Tiffany prodded.

"The bedroom. We've been hanging out, but recently my...crush has been coming onto me, and I can flirt and all, but I don't know what to do after that. I've never actually gone all the way before, you know It'd leave me too..." vulnerable, and Jason didn't do well with feeling exposed. But for you, he found himself wanting to push himself.

Vanessa grinned. "Call them pretty names, talk about what you like about them. You do know."

"Exactly," Olive smiled as she visibly reminisced. "You said I was a 'cute little thing' when we first met. Say shit like that and they'll want you for sure."

Jason shook his head. That would be too much, he was certain. You were flirty, sure, but he didn't want to come off too strong. It wasn't like the job when the goal was to get close to his target. All he wanted was to see what his crush wanted from him and to give exactly that. That meant he couldn't be too forward or too timid. He had to be just right. But what did that even mean when he had never done this before? What would happen if you actually wanted him to be bold and take charge, and he just sat there like a bumbling idiot, not knowing what to do when it was finally showtime—?

This was why he was here.

Ugh.

"I'on want to be too much," Jason lowly confessed. "I'on wanna scare them off."

"You won't," Vanessa rapidly shook her head.

"But..."

"In all seriousness, you're a sweet guy behind all the bravado," Olive swore. "So just trust us. If you're already this careful, I doubt your crush will be overwhelmed no matter what you do."

"And if they're bratty about it, just drop them on your big fat thighs the next time they say anything wise and carry fuck them until they shut up. That's how I lost my virginity," Tiffany smirked.

The idea of holding your like that...Jason could feel the heat rush to his ears and was so relieved he was wearing his hood.

"Or let 'em lead," Olive sweetly continued. "Wrap their arms around your itty-bitty waist and—"

"OK, thanks," Jason pushed himself off the wall, a little hysterical.

"That's nothing," Vanessa huffed, amused, turning to the girls. "I once had sex upside down in one of Gotham Museum's hallways."

"Whatever," Jason needed to go home. And he needed some lube and a tissue. "Shut up."

"Yeah, that's exactly what he said when I made noise," the trio laughed, and he took to the rooftops, wondering as he thrust up into his hand thirty minutes later if maybe he had been overthinking things after all.

[thebatdadnomad]

HELP bc am I the only one who violently battles with the idea of Jason Todd (in a romantic relationship) being one of two characters:

Certain, sexy, speaks with slang all the time, knows what he wants, learned to go for it, confident around women, knows all about s*x from the streets (could be heavy angst here), just an all round cool guy, comfortable around you, has issues ofc but is happy to be the rock you rely on, wants you to follow

VS Insecure, might be a virgin, speaks with slang when nervous, isn't used to girls but respects them heavily ofc, parental issues, physically strong but emotionally fragile and not used to relying on others, quick to assume the worst, late to ask for retribution after perceived wrongdoings, has low expectations, worships you for giving him the time and day, needs you to lead

I feel like both of these descriptions fit him so well and I don't know why 🥴

the answer

[thebatdadnomad]

𝔻𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 & 𝔼𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘

Pairing: Dick Grayson x Fem Pregnant! Reader Summary: There you were, soft, round, and in need of help and suddenly Dick wasn't hungry for his spicy papadums anymore. Tags: First Meetings, Late Night Conversations, Cheeky Flirting, Suggestive Themes mmm A/N: So here's the Dick one! I am a huge flirty! Dick traditionalist, so apologies in advance for how much he comes onto you in this 🫢 Stay tuned for Jay's one, it's the last in the trio and it's incidentally the longest (though not by much)

There was a pregnant lady in the parking lot of the supermarket Dick was leaving.

Today was one of Dick's rare off days. He had just been coming to grab some spicy papadums to snack on since he had run out almost thirty minutes ago and was already in severe withdrawal. Fortunately, it wasn't too late, and his local store was open; otherwise, he didn’t know what he'd do.

The inside of the store had been barren at this hour, but not quite as eerily barren as the parking lot was, or had been before he left, a bag in hand, and you in sight, struggling to carry what had to be three bags worth of food to your car.

Must be for the baby, Dick thought as he rushed forward.

"Hey, do you need any help?" He asked light-heartedly, not wanting to flag any alarm bells that must be ringing in your head at the sight of a strange man approaching you at midnight in Blüdhaven of all cities. Despite being recognised much less here than in Gotham, Dick had kept his head down until this moment because his identity be damned, you needed help and he would offer it, with a smile and—

But then you turned to him, as any normal human would, and his smile froze.

Woah.

It should be illegal to be that cute.

Seriously, somebody should have given you a fine already to tell you that you couldn’t walk around like that.

Holy hell.

And that round belly of yours. Dick didn’t have a pregnancy kink, did he? He didn’t think he did. But just the sight of it, your posture, it just...it was doing things to him.

This had to be public indecency, right? He’d have to talk to Amy about this. Or Jim. Because this was not OK.

What was in the food you were buying that made you look so goddamn edible?

Dick wanted to eat you.

Oh, you were staring at him.

Dick smiled again, trying to ignore your cute squint, your cautious look. "I," he cleared his throat. Jesus. "I just noticed you hobbling to your car and thought I could offer my services."

You paused, but seemed disarmed by his expression. "...I guess help would be nice?"

"Cool," Dick grinned, carefully tugging your bags away from your hands.

He walked the rest of the way with ease, putting the bags beside the car you had been looking at before rushing back to help you, too, but you brushed him off with a wave. Pushing through what had to be the uncomfortable weight of your unborn baby to get to where you needed to be. And was it strange to find that extremely hot? Dick didn't think so.

God, you were cute.

"Thanks," you smiled mildly, still wary – smart – but less so now. "I admit I don't usually accept help, even when it's offered, but those bags were just a bit too heavy," you sighed.

Dick honestly hadn't thought of them as hefty, but hey, he wasn't a regular guy. And he wasn't pregnant. "Anything specific weighing them down? Don't tell me, is the baby in one of them?"

You paused then barked a laugh so bright it lit up the whole parking lot. Ugh. He needed you. Immediately.

"Oh, I wish. But no, it's just liquids mostly. And fruit. My doctor told me I have to add more vitamins to my diet, so..."

"Well, it's always good to listen to your doctor. Mine kinda hates me right now."

"Really?" You smirked, inquisitive. "What did you get?"

Dick smirked back, leaning on the car. "Papadums."

"A respectable snack," you nodded.

"One of my favourites. Although," Dick paused. "I’d wager you’d probably come close behind. If I ever got the chance."

You startled, eyes slowly darkening as you took in his meaning.

"But not above it?" You ended up asking.

Dick lowered his voice, smiling eyes glancing at your empty ring finger, how your stomach swelled and your legs trembled. His blood rushed down. "Well, I haven't tasted you yet, so I don't know."

You licked your lips, studying him from where he leant with a raised brow.

"How do you know I would let that happen in the first place?" You challenged.

"I guess I’ll just have to wait and—"

You suddenly sucked in a pained breath and Dick was already shifting to a stand, realisation coming to him later than it should’ve. The trembling, of course, was a sign of fatigue, not— he was such an idiot.

The pleasant tension brewing between the pair of you lifted momentarily.

"I'm sorry.”

“Do you need help?”

“I’m alright, but could you move to the side so that I can put my things in my car? I just really need to sit down right now," you tried a smile, and it was just as tasty-looking as it seemed tired. "I think I'm a bit winded."

Dick moved out of the way without protest and proposed. "I'll raise you one better. I'll put your things in your car while you sit down inside it."

You hesitated, but something in his eyes must've cemented that his intentions were good – though not pure – because it took no time at all for you to comply.

That same pleasant tension returned with every snuck look you gave him from the driver’s seat, and every sneaked glance he sent you from the boot. You both caught each other, bringing matching smiles back to both of your faces. But this time, instead of desperately wondering the fastest way to get between your legs for dessert, Dick was left wondering whether you would be open to becoming a more regular meal too.

"Was there really no one else who could have helped you with this?" Dick casually called, repositioning a carton of milk in front of a watermelon in one of the bags to prevent it from rolling around during transit.

"Are you asking about a partner?" Your voice came back from the front, almost melodic.

"Maybe...do you have one?"

"...Not anymore," Dick sent you a look. "And I don't regret breaking it off with him. I'm not a fan of talking badly about my exes, but he was...the worst. I didn't want someone like him in my baby's life."

"What about someone else?" He asked, finishing with the bags and rounding the vehicle to stand by your car door, resting an arm on the hood of your car with his most charming grin.

"Someone like you?" You hummed.

"You read my mind," Dick winked.

"I'd have to be stupid not to," you choked a laugh. "You're being pretty flirty."

"It's fun."

"Mhm, it is," you looked a bit shy now, and he drank the sight up greedily. Dick found he was already strangely insatiable when it came to you and he had just met you. What would he be like after a couple of months? "You're fun too. How old are you again?"

"Jeez, calling me old already?" Dick told you his age and you told him yours. There was only a year between you both. Perfect, he inwardly purred.

"Good enough for you?" He asked.

"Yeah. I will say, though," you held the bottom of your round belly. "I was more so asking your age so I could gauge whether you’re capable of being with me when I'm..."

"Expecting?" Dick contemplated this. "Honestly, I've never been with a pregnant woman before. I didn't even think I ever would be with someone like yourself unless I had – you know – been the one to put the baby in there."

You snorted. "That's got to be the silliest way to put it."

Dick felt almost offended. "No, I can think of something sillier."

"Like what?"

"Put the bun in the oven," Dick replied, trying to keep a straight face. "Or a pea in the pod."

You giggled, and Christ, you were somehow getting cuter and cuter the longer he spoke to you. "Or a bat in the cave."

"Good one," Dick couldn't hold back his laughter at that joke in particular. 

You shared his joy until the pair of you just resigned to staring at one another for a moment. Slowly, Dick dropped to his knees, hungrier than ever, but finding himself sated enough by the sight of you, by your laughter, to wait to taste the other parts. In fact, he knew the wait would make the rest of you taste sweeter.

"Even if I never expected it, I love kids,” Dick told you, staring directly into your eyes, gently pressing a hand on your tummy. “I would be willing to try if you are. What say you?”

You looked down at him, biting your lip for a long while before reaching out to rub your fingers down his face.

“I say yes.”

Dick smiled, tilting his head back to bite at your hands and you gave him a delicious, full-bellied laugh in return.

MASTERLIST

[thebatdadnomad]

hating on x reader fics is genuinely like. so weird to me .wowww someone wants to imagine dating a fictional character. wow someone did the mortal sin of pretending their fav loves them.. boo fucking hoo people are dying

[thebatdadnomad]

Your Mentor, My Dad

Summary: How Dick transitioned from seeing Bruce as his mentor to seeing him as his dad.

Words: 9.5k

Relationship: Dick Grayson & Bruce Wayne

Important tags: Father-Son Relationship, Relationship Study, Time Skips

Extract:

As Batman signed for him to add his backup smoke pellets in his belt after forgetting to in a recent patrol, Dick was suddenly hit with the memory of the man scolding him for it. He remembered how Bruce had walked towards him, brushing the dirt off of Dick's face and pinched his cheeks. He recalled sticking his own tongue out at the man and the low — but free, so free — chuckle Bruce let out in response. And Dick reminisced on how warm he felt in its wake.

Large age gaps between friends existed.

It made perfect sense.

Except...it didn't.

Read the rest here!