zombiegrll06

[zombiegrll06]

As black history month in America approaches, I really want to see more black batman/batfam content. Give Duke Thomas his flowers, more recognition for the Fox family. Fuck it even fanon versions, bring back John boyega red hood. And on that note if you think race swapping is wrong, question why Selina is allowed to be black in everything apart from comics (yes Eartha kitt but even then why was that fine for you). Black Bruce Wayne and all the interesting questions that brings to his character.

What does blackness look like in gotham. Especially with the state in batman comics today with the fear mongering present currently. What's it like for the average black person living in gotham city, do they actually trust their heroes? did they ever bring an unconscious bias to crime fighting and before we're quick to claim our heroes as perfect symbols of justice, think on their backgrounds and how much they'd have to learn and unlearn to get to that point.

Like more on Duke Thomas because imagine how that would have felt. Being black and in this city where the politicians don't help you, where you most probably had family members that did what the needed to do to survive and provide who came out of those choices with broken bones and scary stories about the creature your city hails as a knight. Imagine one day, in the middle of the day, when you thought you're alone and nobody was coming for you, you're saved. You're saved by a figure in bright yellow and when he speaks, his words are like yours and his skin is only a couple shades off and he most probably smiles and shines a little bit. Imagine the feeling of seeing a streak of yellow dart across the city and feeling like they're there just for you.

[zombiegrll06]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH !!

Duke Thomas

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS The kind where Gotham felt too big, too broken, too murky, like the whole city was sinking under its own weight. The kind of day where only wonky fro-yo in lopsided cups could fix things.

Back when things were… different, before everything changed, he and his mom used to go to Only Fro-Yo whenever they had a reason to celebrate. When Duke aced a spelling bee (he liked those) or when the two of them just felt like going out. It was their place.

Sure, if he really wanted, he could’ve asked someone else to take him. But Bruce and Cass were out of the country, Dick was tied up in Blüdhaven, Tim was buried under a case, and Jason… well, who even knew where Jason was?

They’d be fine on their own.

So after school, Duke shot a quick text to Alfred to let him know they’d be home late. No details—just a heads-up.

The bus ride wasn’t too bad. Damian had claimed the window seat, practically pressing his face to the glass, eyes wide as he took in the colorful murals streaking across the buildings they passed. Duke knew he appreciated Gotham’s art scene more than he let on. He’d caught the kid sketching in the margins of mission reports before, tracing out the same sweeping lines he saw on city walls.

Everything was fine. Mostly.

Then an older woman and a young boy—her grandson, probably—stepped onto the bus. Duke didn’t even have to look up to know what was coming.

There was an empty seat beside him. The woman saw it. Considered it. Then her gaze flicked over to him, and her expression twisted, like she’d just stepped in something unpleasant. Without a word, she guided the boy toward the back instead, choosing to squeeze into the more crowded rows rather than sit next to him.

It stung. It always stung. But you learned to go numb to it. He’d grown up with that feeling, learned how to brush it off like rain sliding off a windshield. Just like he’d learned to recognize the telltale red-and-blue of patrol lights trailing him down the sidewalk, slowing just enough to remind him they could stop him if they wanted to.

“You should not allow them to treat you that way,” Damian murmured. His voice was low, the same way it always was when he was about to say something he knew was right.

“Dami… it’s—”

“Thomas, if the next words out of your mouth are it’s alright, I—”

“It’s not alright,” Duke cut in, because he knew Damian would keep pushing if he didn’t. “It’s just… better to ignore it. Not cause a scene.”

Damian frowned, unconvinced, his fingers drumming against his knee.

Duke sighed, leaning back against the seat. “Trust me, man. Some fights? They’re just not worth it.”

The bus rumbled on, the silence between them filled only by the hum of the engine and the faint chatter of the other passengers.

Damian didn’t look away from the window, but after a beat, he muttered, “I still don’t like it.”

Duke huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. Me neither.”

Duke and Damien are my favorite duo if you couldn’t tell

(this is also based off that one scene from your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man btw!)

[zombiegrll06]

In an art block rn so some Duke and Damian art.

1. Duke taking Damian to get a sweet treat after an altercation at school

2. Talking shit at a Gala

3. Falling asleep on Brucie after shit talking (a sketch because the art block hit full force in that one. 😭)

Also they’re wearing matching earrings because I said so. I also think Dick would also have a matching set with them. I feel they all would share jewelry their mothers passed down to them.

[zombiegrll06]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH !!

Duke Thomas

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS The kind where Gotham felt too big, too broken, too murky, like the whole city was sinking under its own weight. The kind of day where only wonky fro-yo in lopsided cups could fix things.

Back when things were… different, before everything changed, he and his mom used to go to Only Fro-Yo whenever they had a reason to celebrate. When Duke aced a spelling bee (he liked those) or when the two of them just felt like going out. It was their place.

Sure, if he really wanted, he could’ve asked someone else to take him. But Bruce and Cass were out of the country, Dick was tied up in Blüdhaven, Tim was buried under a case, and Jason… well, who even knew where Jason was?

They’d be fine on their own.

So after school, Duke shot a quick text to Alfred to let him know they’d be home late. No details—just a heads-up.

The bus ride wasn’t too bad. Damian had claimed the window seat, practically pressing his face to the glass, eyes wide as he took in the colorful murals streaking across the buildings they passed. Duke knew he appreciated Gotham’s art scene more than he let on. He’d caught the kid sketching in the margins of mission reports before, tracing out the same sweeping lines he saw on city walls.

Everything was fine. Mostly.

Then an older woman and a young boy—her grandson, probably—stepped onto the bus. Duke didn’t even have to look up to know what was coming.

There was an empty seat beside him. The woman saw it. Considered it. Then her gaze flicked over to him, and her expression twisted, like she’d just stepped in something unpleasant. Without a word, she guided the boy toward the back instead, choosing to squeeze into the more crowded rows rather than sit next to him.

It stung. It always stung. But you learned to go numb to it. He’d grown up with that feeling, learned how to brush it off like rain sliding off a windshield. Just like he’d learned to recognize the telltale red-and-blue of patrol lights trailing him down the sidewalk, slowing just enough to remind him they could stop him if they wanted to.

“You should not allow them to treat you that way,” Damian murmured. His voice was low, the same way it always was when he was about to say something he knew was right.

“Dami… it’s—”

“Thomas, if the next words out of your mouth are it’s alright, I—”

“It’s not alright,” Duke cut in, because he knew Damian would keep pushing if he didn’t. “It’s just… better to ignore it. Not cause a scene.”

Damian frowned, unconvinced, his fingers drumming against his knee.

Duke sighed, leaning back against the seat. “Trust me, man. Some fights? They’re just not worth it.”

The bus rumbled on, the silence between them filled only by the hum of the engine and the faint chatter of the other passengers.

Damian didn’t look away from the window, but after a beat, he muttered, “I still don’t like it.”

Duke huffed a quiet laugh. “Yeah. Me neither.”

Duke and Damien are my favorite duo if you couldn’t tell

(this is also based off that one scene from your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man btw!)