#Batman is a criminal’s worst nightmare
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- Bruce Wayne, to his kids as he dresses up for his next “Brucie Wayne” appearance where he plans to make several scenes, sing Britney Spears’ Toxic on the karaoke machine, and spill red wine all over Lex Luthor’s new suit
#Batman is a criminal’s worst nightmare#Brucie Wayne is his children’s worst nightmare#bruce wayne#brucie wayne#batman#dc universe#dc#batfam#batfamily#lex luthor
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We’re such a good team!
#the riddler#the batman#batman#riddlebat#batman 2022#edward nashton#bruce wayne#he’d be the worst. he’d do all the research and constantly push Bruce to be harder on criminals#nightmare partner in crime#illustration#digital art#my art
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ROBIN DICK WAS A WILD CHILD GIGGLING MANIAC
THEY STOLE THE BATMOBILE! THEY STOLE THE BATMOBILE AND TOOK IT OUT FOR JOYRIDING!!!
THIS BOY WAS CRAZY. HE WAS A CRAZY LITTLE PSYCHO WHO BEAT TO THE SOUND OF HIS OWN DRUM.
He's the kid you see in shows where you're like this kid is a goddamn psycho but he's a cute goddamn psycho so it's okay.
Dick didn't need a leash because he was an angry robin.
Dick needed a leash because the world wouldn't be standing if he was set free.
Batman-BRUCE-probably lost 10 years of his life with Dick. Hanging from chandeliers, taking the batmobile out for joyriding, taking down Gotham's worst criminals.
Also Dick doesn't fight monsters, okay? He plays with them.
What? Want proof?
DICK'S CRAZY IS SO INSANE THAT HE SCARES THE JOKER INTO SUBMISSION AND ISN'T THAT THE BEST?
Do you know what the situation here is? There is no situation.
He literally just dropped into Arkham to play with the Joker and leave after having fun.
You what happens after he leaves?
The Riddler asks the Joker, "Know the visitor?" or something and the Joker replies,-
"Why don't you just go riddle yourself, Eddie."
How bonkers do you have to be to seek out the most insane, use them for fun, and then throw them aside like a used toy?
Deranged little boy with a heart of gold. There's a reason criminals run when they see him.
"Every now and then, I have the feeling I've totally lost my mind."
"It's a great feeling."
CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!!!
Characters who have dual personalities are the freaking best. On one hand, he's a ruthless psycho with a penchant for walking the line but never crossing it. On the other, he's the darling of the universe with heroes and civilians feeling possessive, proud, and awed by him.
To the good, he's known as the Savior and the Light. To the bad, he's the stuff of their nightmares and hated obsessions.
A man who can wield his personality like a double edged sword is a man who can't be defeated.
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So... Thoughts on The Penguin trailer?
youtube
I'm trying to reign in my optimism a bit and be a little more cautious, but so far: ahahahah oh man, oh man oh man, I'm really excited for this.
God I gotta get back on my Sopranos watch, I gotta start making time for it again. I mean, it's been a terrific show so far, I'm not just watching it because of this, but out of everything we've seen so far this trailer is the biggest "we're doing The Sopranos" thing I've seen from them yet.
I love the mention of Rex Calabrese here and the recontextualization of his character, and how Oswald views him. For comparison's sake: In Batman Eternal, Rex Calabrese was brought up as a brutal ruler who ripped throats out with his teeth and terrified all the other cops and crime families into obeying him and who understood the natural order through which he was supplanted by Falcone, who was then supplanted by Penguin. But here, he talks about Rex Calabrese as a childhood hero who helped people, who was given a funeral parade as a show of love from the people. That's the kind of person Oz idolizes, the kind of life he wants and is starting to think he will never get to have.
Here's one of the big reasons why this is already the best take on Gangster Penguin there's ever been, and the thing I love the most about this trailer, and something that absolutely defined him in the movie as well: Oswald is completely delusional about what being a gangster actually means.
Oswald here is a guy who had his heart broken in the movie because Falcone, the guy he followed and obeyed and looked up to with every breath, turned out to be a backstabbing piece of shit, with Oswald clearly kept in the dark about the nastier things Falcone got up to. He gets very offended at the suggestion he murdered Annika or that he did the Riddler's serial killer rat maze trap, and in that deleted scene where he tries to pay Selina and keep her from going underground, he clearly wants to be the guy who treats his staff allright and pays them what they need and tries to shield her from the grubby animals downstairs that he on some level finds disgusting (even though they're on his club, and he's providing them with what they want, and he's shielding the worst one of all).
And now he's sitting here talking about his old hero, a gangster from his neighborhood who reached out to people in the street and helped them, who died with his pride in hand and was beloved by his community for it. The kind of guy that Oswald emotionally talks about as someone he wants to be like, as he's getting ready to go to war and shoot and stab and blow up people in a crumbling nightmare city.
This is, in spite of everything, a guy who is very, very preoccupied with being some kind of gentleman, or at least more of a gentleman than the criminals he cavorts with, and a guy whose vision of himself doesn't match the reality of what he does, and a guy who has made a ridiculous cartoon of himself in order to try and forcing that childish idea into reality. This is a Penguin who lives and dresses and acts as an absurd child's idea of a rich and powerful man, except what that entails has changed.
Instead of wanting to be the romantic aristocrat, instead of playing the cultured gentleman thief, this Oswald wants to be the friendly gangster. He wants to be the neighborhood king who runs soup kitchens and helps old ladies cross the street and inspires beaten-down insecure loser kids like him to strive for more, the mafioso who looks out for women and kids and isn't scared of the cops and gets funeral parades for being such a swell guy who just does a little crime ova here every now and then, eeyy, c'maan.
Oswald here has the same dream as Giorno Giovanna, from JoJo Part 5, and he saw Rex Calabrese as the distant mysterious gangster who looked out for Giorno and invisibly kept bullies from picking on him and made the neighborhood treat him decently, who showed him what real power, power to protect himself and others, looks like, and he very clearly wanted to project that kind of fantasy onto Falcone, who is an actual gangster, and thus doesn't act remotely the way Oswald thinks they ought to act.
Oswald here wants to be the Depression-era honorable mafioso, just as outdated and fictional and mismatched a character in our time as the gentleman thief aristocrat was to the 1940s, and to me that feels like the first time anyone's really made Penguin-as-Gangster be a concept worth it's weight and play into makes him so engaging a character. It's just instead of being a burglar and crimelord who reads Raffles and quotes Shakespeare, this Oswald is a Tony Soprano who prays every night to be Don Corleone once he grows up.
And he might even get his chance! Because the way things are going in Gotham, with the city destroyed and in need of rebuilding, with the entire infrastructure crumbled and the mob having lost their figureheads and supply, and Oswald holding one of the few structures not completely totaled, he has the opportunity of a lifetime here to swoop in and play the Capone/Dillinger to this Depression-flavored Gotham.
And I'm really curious as to where he's heading within the show: whether he's going to make this fantasy of his work and be the reasonable flexible-but-unbeatable crimelord and the sole player remaining in town, or whether the downfall of organized crime in Gotham and the rise of the weirdos means that our beloved waddling freak is going to have to come to terms with what he actually is, and grab his colorful suits and his new name and make some umbrella guns to embrace and ride his bizarre awfulness into the sunset.
#replies tag#superheroes#dc comics#batman#penguin#the penguin#oswald cobblepot#colin farrell#matt reeves#hbo max#the batman
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Dick:
What he should be: the leader of the (NTT) Titans and a respected and experienced superhero on the same level as as any member of the JL
What we’re currently getting: spends 50% of his appearances still being Batman’s sidekick and the other 50% being used for sex jokes/fanservice.
Jason:
What he should be: an extremely dangerous crime-lord that’s ruthless to criminals but gentle to their victims
What we’re currently getting: a dumb oversized teenager that act as “spare Batkid #3“
Tim:
What he should be: doesn’t have his shit together, but somehow still get things done
What we’re currently getting: an obnoxious Peter Pan that constantly has his ass kissed by the narrative + other characters
Damian:
What he should be: an intelligent warrior-prince with skills beyond his years
What we’re currently getting: an angry incapable white kid
Duke:
What he should be: The Batfamily’s rookie that’s taken under everyone wing and is slowly building relationship with each member while discovering his place in Gotham City
What we’re currently getting:
Cassandra:
What she should be: Batman’s true successor and an undefeated powerhouse who is every criminal’s worst nightmare.
What we’re currently getting: a silent, mild-mannered Asian girl who can’t function in life without someone (mostly Barbara) telling her what to do.
Stephanie:
What she should be: a-surprisingly-positive-despite-her-rough-past solo superhero that has a unique presence in Gotham and the superhero community.
What we’re currently getting: a bubbly blonde valley-girl who is attached-at-the-hip to Cassandra at all time with no relationship to anyone except other Batgirls (and Tim)
Barbara:
What she should be: a 30-something year old disabled woman who act as the backbone and tech-support to the entire superhero community.
What we’re currently getting: a ditzy young Batgirl who’s constantly infantilized to remind old men of their childhood crush on her.
#dick grayson#barbara gordon#Jason Todd#Tim Drake#Stephanie Brown#cassandra cain#Damian Wayne#duke thomas
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Yandere alphabet w/ Jason Todd
Affection — how do they show their love and affection?
He'll give you small touches and cook you small meals
Blood — how messy are they willing to get when it comes to their darling?
Very messy. Someone looks at you wrong, dead. Someone makes you uncomfortable or touches you, dead. He'll kill anyone for you.
Cruelty — how would they treat their darling once abducted?
Depends on how you act and when he took you. If your a brat he'll be cold and rude and not gonna put up with it. If your sweet he'll treat you like a queen/king. If he took you during the time he was with batman he'll be bratty but caring. If he took you after he was in Ras a Ghul pit he would be very unstable and you'll most likely die. If you were taken after he was sorted through you'll be fine for the most part.
Darling — aside from abduction, would they do anything against their darling’s will?
Yeah. He respects you and all but sometimes he has urges an can't help it.
Exposed — how vulnerable are they when it comes to their darling?
You would have to have gained his trust and been with him for over 2 years. When he does he is very sweet.
Fight — how would they feel if their darling fought back?
He would hate it and punish you by either isolating you til you crawl back to him or spank you til your blue.
Game — is this a game to them? How much would they enjoy watching their darling try to escape?
It isn't a game to him but he would find it amusing to see you try to escape. But after the third time it woul irk him and he would punish you.
Hell — what would be their darling’s worst experience with them?
If he kidnapped them right after he escaped the pit it would be him constantly yelling at you and his constant mood swings. But if it was him after he got all that sorted through it would be when he lost his temper and took it out on darling.
Ideals — what kind of future do they have in mind for their darling?
You and him married. Living in a nice house with no one to bother you.
Jealousy — do they get jealous? How do they handle it?
He gets jealous easily. He'll just whisk you away and fuck the insecurities away.
Kisses — how do they act around or with their darling?
He can be gentle and caring and shower you with love. But he can also sometimes be a nightmare and be rough and harsh.
Love letters — how would they go about approaching their darling?
He would send little gifts and that get more expensive then send you a letter confessing his undying love to you and then kidnap you when your sleeping.
Mask — are their true colors drastically different from the way they act around everyone else?
Kinda. He'll be blunt and rude towards people but towards you he'll be loving. Only if your good.
Naughty — how would they punish their darling?
Spanking and isolation. The only time you'll see him is when he drops off meals. Or he'll spank you til your blue and sore and begging him to stop with tears spilling out your eyes.
Oppression — how many rights would they take away from their darling?
A lot. But you have some that you have to earn.
Patience — how patient are they with their darling?
Decently patient. But after a while he'll get tired and just take what he wants.
Quite — if their darling dies, leaves, or successfully escapes, would they ever be able to move on?
No. If you escape he'll keep searching no matter how long it takes. If you die he'll shut down for a while and self destruct. He's then even crueler to criminals and he blames himself for your death.
Regret — would they ever feel guilty about abducting their darling?
No but he does look back on it to see if he could have done something different.
Stigma — what brought about this side of them (childhood, curiosity, etc)?
Probably childhood and the pit. He didn't have much when he was a child and the pit fucked up his mind.
Tears — how do they feel about seeing their darling scream, cry, and/or isolate themselves?
He doesn't necessarily enjoy it, he rather much see you happy and loving on him but he kinda likes it. He kinda shrugs it off to you being a brat but after a while he'll get pissed.
Unique — would they do anything different from the classic yandere?
He doesn't chain you up. You can freely wander around his house/base. He has cameras everywhere so he doesn't bother.
Vice — what weakness can their darling exploit in order to escape?
His temper. He get mad and storm off so he doesn't do something you'll both regret and accidentally forgets to lock the door and then you can leave. But it wouldn't last long he would've able to find you quickly.
Wit’s end — would they ever hurt their darling?
Yes but only if you deserved it. He doesn't want to hurt you but sometimes you don't give him a choice.
Xoanon — how much would they revere or worship their darling?
He would worship you to an extent.
Yearn — how long do they pine after their darling before they snap?
Not long probably a couple months.
Zenith — would they ever break their darling?
He would but accidental or if you never gave in to him. Breaking you would be a last option.
#x reader#gender neutral#gender not specified#gender neutral reader#jason todd#yandere jason todd#yandere#yandere Jason#jason todd x gender neutral reader#jason todd x reader#jason todd x male reader#jason todd x fem!reader
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U know it’s pretty funny. Batman was created because Bruce and his parents just happened to run into the dumbest fucking mugger in Gotham. Like tell me why this man killed two of the richest people in Gotham over the jewelry and money they had on them. Like bro. Be so Fr right now u could have had it all and instead u kick started every petty criminal’s worst nightmare in spandex. Embarrassing.
I mean desperate people do desperate things and if I had to mug anyone in Gotham I too would 100% go after two of the richest bitches bc theyre the most likely to have a good amount of money or have their jewellery be worth something besides martha and Thomas were the stupid ones I know crime ally wasn't known as crime ally when they decided to take a casual stroll but is still was a dark ally they should have been more careful very rich people of them to think nothing bad could have happened to them just bc they had money
#ask#anon#im not into victim blaming#unless its a rich vs poor thing#then yeah no they had it coming#also kinda off topic#but still to do with joe chill#really hate when dc are like#hes actually a really evil dude#i like it better when he is just an average guy who needs money
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Arkham! Jason Todd Relationship Headcanons
I’m feeling soft, so here’s some wholesome Arkham Knight Jason Todd headcanons. Most of these are my own personal ones, but please be respectful if you disagree with any of them.
Warning ⚠️: Mentions of torture, PTSD, trust issues, Jason learning to open up, Reader losing her composure for a moment
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As we all know, Arkham Knight! Jason has a lot of trust and abandonment issues and has very few people he can trust
You’re one of the few people he trusts for quite a collection of reasons, that I will elaborate on later
You met either one of two ways: When he’s the Arkham Knight or when he’s the Red Hood
As Arkham Knight, you were a citizen left behind in the evacuation and the Knight and his men manage to find you
He kept you safe until the night is over and he returns you to your home
Meeting him when he’s Red Hood, you were jumped by thugs and he happened to be passing by.
He escorts you back home and makes sure that no one bothers you
However, getting into a romantic relationship with someone is a challenge for him and may take some time
He hasn’t had any prior romantic relationships or experience, even from when he was a teen, or at least, none that we know of
Not even a known crush or showing any interest in dating
Probably because his only prior example was his parents and that was not a very healthy example of a partnership
Not to mention, the torture and pain he endured as Joker’s captive instilled some insecurity and paranoia in himself
In his mind, he probably thinks that he’ll drag his partner down with his baggage and trauma (which couldn’t be further from the truth, like we can suffer together, babe!)
That no woman would want a man who spent most of his life, fighting for his life and the lives of others, only to be ripped away and be turned into another man’s personal fail safe for killing his worst enemy (again, couldn’t be further from the truth…)
However, he was in for a surprise when you came bursting into his personal bubble
He was not ready for all the affection, affirmation and reassurance you gave
Like the first time he had a nightmare about Joker when he started dating you, he couldn’t stop going off about how he was broken and a monster, a messed-up jigsaw puzzle of himself, Batman and Joker
To which you responded with:
“No. You are you. You’re not Joker’s pawn. You’re not Batman’s ward. You are Jason Todd… The fucking Red Hood… The last thing criminals see before meeting their maker. So, what if you’re messed up, both inside and out? Nobody is perfect and no one should have to live up to that ridiculously high standard, anyway! You’re not broken! You’re a beautiful mosaic and I love you!”
He couldn’t even hold back his tears, that’s how how relieved and happy he felt after so long in misery
He learned to trust you more after that day and let you know if he was ever in a horrible state of being or mind
~Now to the meat of this course~
This man is an absolute fucking teddy bear
Like, his job is being a gun-slinging, crime-busting vigilante with a big disdain towards thugs and high-profile villains
But, at home, he’s a sucker for the little things
Cannot go to sleep properly without listening to your heartbeat
He hasn’t had any intimate connection or contact with another human being in forever, so this is just one of his many methods for getting affection
Loves when you fall asleep on top of him
The fact that you have so much trust in him to fall asleep next to him makes him feel alive
Will go wherever you go, both to protect you and spend time with you
Whether it’s the grocery store, the gym or you’re just in the drive-by, getting fast food for dinner, he’s there with you
Kiss his fucking scars… He was so overwhelmed with emotion…
Kiss his ‘J’ marking and he is not letting you go for a long time…. And by that, I mean ‘cuddles for days’
Rubs your thigh as a form of comfort or to help calm himself down
Like if he’s starting to feel distressed, feels a panic attack coming on or if he’s driving, he places his hand on your thigh and rubs his thumb against your skin
Cooking together is a big part of your nightly routine
Especially if it’s trying out new recipes or just making some comfort foods
Helping out at shelters and orphanages
Watching Jason interact with the kids is the most precious thing in the world
Movie or TV dates every Friday or Saturday
Reading books together or suggesting books for one another to read
Crashing at each other’s places after work
Treating his wounds after nightly patrols and missions
If you’re a vigilante like him, then you both will be treating each other’s wounds
Basic premise: Jay is rough around the edges but you love him for it and being him and he loves you for being you
#jason peter todd#jason todd#batman#dc comics#arkhamverse#dc universe#arkham knight#jason todd imagine#jason todd x reader#batman arkham series#arkham!jason#arkham knight x reader#red hood x reader#red hood#redhood#screw you joker#jason todd deserves better#reader insert
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Fandom: Batfam
Complete oneshot, 3.7k
Rating: T (No Warnings Apply)
Category: Gen (no ships)
Relationships: Dick Grayson & Jason Todd
Major Tags: Alternate Universe - TMA Avatars, (I'm not tagging this as a crossover because I’m just stealing the power system), Human Jason Todd, Hunt Avatar Dick Grayson, Protective Dick Grayson, Dick Grayson is terrifying, Feral Behavior, Fearing your rescuer
Jason thought he'd seen the peaks of Gotham criminal stupidity, and then they kidnapped Robin. Seriously, from the bottom of his heart, what the fuck were they thinking? In what world does that not end badly for them?
(Certainly not the one where Jason's new family are monsters summoned directly from your worst nightmares, who decided to be "nice" about it.)
WOO, finished another one! This has to be one of my favorite moments from this AU, but getting it written has been like pulling teeth.
I am pleased with how it finally turned out, though!
Come get your Hunt!Dick being violently protective of his little brother & Robin!Jason trusting his big brother even when he's a feral Fear monster!
#tma crossover#batfamily crossover#batfam tma crossover#batfam tma fusion#batfam#batfamily#batfam tma#bat fam#bat family#batbros#batbrothers#batkids#bat bros#bat brothers#bat kids#batsiblings#bat siblings#dick grayson#jason todd#Hunt aligned Dick Grayson#Desolation aligned Jason Todd#(he's not there yet but there ended up being hints of it and that makes me very happy)#my writing#mine#robin#robins#robin jason#robin!jason#monster dick grayson#talon!dick
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Full Masterlist
Criminal Minds
Aaron Hotchner
I Do Bad Things With You
You don't feel like you're a good agent. Aaron assures you that you are. And then he fucks you.
Glorious Happenings of Happenstance
You get Aaron to accompany you to a wedding. It's the only night you have together, so you might as well make the most of it. Right? (as requested by Aaron deficiency anon)
You Know I’m Not that Girl
You don't want to be tied down. You've lived almost your whole life running from commitment. But Aaron wants more from you. You don't know how to handle that.
my only one
You and Aaron are getting married in a month. An unplanned accident brings up other questions for you.
Brought Me Back to Life
You're married. Aaron's ending his marriage. You should end yours. But it's not a good story without overlap.
The Batman
Bruce Wayne/Batman
Justified Sin Masterlist
Series that is still ongoing. Based off of “Desperate Things” by The Killers. Reader’s husband is abusive and she refuses Bruce’s help… Will she accept Vengeance? Specific warnings at the beginning of each chapter; does contain smut at some points and very very graphic depictions of violence in certain chapters
You Must Fix Your Heart
Genuinely the best request I’ve ever received. It’s Bruce and the reader’s reactions to the new MCR song featuring special guest Dick Grayson :) just fluff and me being a cringe emo but fuck it I deserve it and Bruce would approve
Sleep Pretty Darling, Do Not Cry
Requested! Dick goes to reader and Bruce after a nightmare. Just fluff and hurt/comfort and it makes me want a child in the worst way 😭
Law & Order: SVU
Rafael Barba
Being Alive Masterlist
based on “Being Alive” from Company. Deals with Rafael’s fear of commitment and being alive in cohabitation with another person. It is especially fun if you have seen Company because it is littered with references that I think are hilarious. It was the first fic I’ve finished and it’s been over a year now that it’s been out :) good memories here even though I’m not in that fandom anymore. Warnings at the beginning of each chapter but in general there is smut in some chapters as well as mentions of sexual abuse par for the course of an SVU episode.
Sonny Carisi & Rafael Barba
i hope he’ll be a beautiful fool that takes my spot next to you
This is a one-shot reader insert based on “exile” by Taylor Swift (yes I took the title from another song I know). Kind of a spin-off of Being Alive that I wrote when I was aggravated with it. Genuinely a bisexual disaster. Basically, the reader was in a long-term relationship with Barba until she wasn’t anymore… and she left him for her partner Sonny. Bisexual twists here. Smut. Honestly, I remember this being a blast to write so I hope it’s as much fun to read!
Elliot Stabler
A Dwindling, Mercurial High
One-shot. Based on ”Illicit Affairs” by Taylor Swift. This is just smut honestly. There is some background here for their relationship but basically just an excuse for smut.
House of Cards
Claire Underwood
Oh, My Precious Whore
Idk what this is but like. Have it. This is one part of a two-part fic I never finished. The reader is married to Duncan Shepherd… Claire is interested in her. Implied smut but I never get to that part and idk if I ever will lol
#batman x reader#Batman smut#bruce wayne x reader#bruce wayne smut#rafael barba x reader#sonny carisi x reader#Elliot stabler x reader#Claire underwood x reader#the batman#batman x you#bruce wayne x you#batman#bruce wayne#barba x reader#sonny carisi#elliot stabler#ada rafael barba#rafael barba#svu fanfiction#batman fanfiction#Rafael barba smut#Sonny carisi smut#Elliot stabler smut
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bruce wayne week day 2: brand new at batman rated t, no archive warnings apply, tagged: implied/referenced violence
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the night it happened, it was warm. the twenty-sixth of june, bruce had that date burned into his heart, carved deep into the marrow of his bones. the humid air had enveloped bruce like a hug the minute he stepped outside the movie theatre, holding on to his mom with his right hand and his dad with his left, reveling in a gotham night that wasn't shock-cold, for once.
tonight, though, it was freezing, and even through the three layers of his casual suit, a steaming hot shower in his upstairs bedroom, and a thick jacket, bruce was still trembling.
he'd been batman for a year now, he'd cultivated a mutual hatred with the gcpd barring gordon, he'd turned the symbol of a bat into a two-sided coin, into janus himself, striking utter terror in the hearts of criminals and a sense of shelter in the rest, and yet he still couldn't—he couldn't—
bruce was still fucking cold. and tired. he could hear alfred headed towards his door, the steps deliberate.
there wasn't really a way to drape how he's feeling in spider-silk cloth and call it poetic, call it meaningful. there wasn't a way to turn it around in his hand to find a new angle, one that makes sense. there just was. bruce wasn't the howl of furious waves in a tempest as they battered teeth-first onto the rock. he was angry. he wasn't springtime, mercurial as she is, gently drawing out young daffodils and tracing their petals like oil paint before pounding them into the dirt under the force of a rainstorm. he was hurting. he wasn't the glittering windowpane in the backseat of a car, coated with condensation except for the line he's traced with the tip of his finger, revealing nothing but the uncaring night on the other side. he was empty.
alfred opened the door and entered the room.
bruce was on the edge of his bed, still shivering. alfred looked like he was going to wait bruce out, then caught sight of red lining the base of bruce's palms—nails that have gotten a bit too long pricking his body into bleeding—and decided to speak first.
"tonight certainly brought back memories," alfred said. if it weren't for the waver in his voice, bruce would have decked him then and there, damn the consequences, for the cavalier way he said it. "the boy was a little older than you were, though."
"doesn't matter," bruce mumbled. "his parents are still gone. and i couldn't save them." a jerk of his arm, almost like he was going to punch the bedpost before he decided against it. "what's the point?"
"bruce—"
"what the fuck," bruce spit out, "is the point of all this—this money, this training, this whole life, if i can't keep another kid from ending up just like me."
god, that was his worst nightmare: that the kid's going to end up like him. bruce does not dream of the gunshot or the screams or of his parents' murder. he dreams of his mother's pearls scattered across the grimy pavement. or maybe he dreams of bone, peeking out of his mother's flesh, glinting like pearl in the moonlight. he can't remember which one is real. maybe the kid ends up like him; instead of dreaming of the screaming crowds, the snapping of the rope, the two figures plummeting to their deaths as the reach up towards the trapeze platform, towards their son—instead of all that, maybe he'll dream of the tuft of his father's gorgeous, handmade costume, askew on the ground.
"well, that hasn't quite happened yet."
"what?"
alfred shifted, facing him. "when that poor boy's parents fell, what did you do? stand gawking like everyone else in the crowd?"
"well, no."
"no, you didn't," alfred said. "you leapt up and hid him from the press as soon as he was on the ground. you held him until the police came. you didn't let them question him that night. in fact, you demanded he be checked over by a medic before anything else. you made sure he was at least slated to go to a foster home instead of being tossed into juvie, though lord knows what'll actually happen. as i recall, you had none of that on the twenty-sixth of june."
bruce remembered the kid trembling into his side as he pulled him close, a stick-thin body more hollow than flesh. maybe that's why bruce can't stop this goddamn chill.
"i tried," bruce croaked out. "i tried to help him. i did what i could but it," he broke, "it wasn't—his parents are still dead."
the was a pause. the night was soundless outside. bruce almost wished it was raining, just so his own breathing wasn't a third voice in the room.
then, alfred said, "well. you haven't done everything."
"what?"
"the child is still an orphan in a place he's never been before, probably overrun by the paps already, where he knows no one. you're most likely the first friendly face he's seen in gotham."
there was absolutely no way alfred is holding up the pieces bruce is putting together. none. "you want me to take him in?" bruce said incredulously.
"it's an idea," alfred said.
"and what, you think growing up in this empty house with the portraits of all my dead ancestors and the fucking bats in the basement is a good way for the kid not to end up like me."
"i think i tried my best to give you all the love i possibly could," alfred said, his voice like gossamer, "but there was no one else who understood. no one else who could possibly understand what you went through."
"if i take him in," bruce almost whispered, "he'll have someone who gets it. someone who understands. i know that. but is it enough?"
alfred's silence was a fathomless reply. then, gentle as blown glass, he said, "faults aside, you're not such a terrible person to end up like. i can hardly think of someone more caring, more giving. your heart's on your cheek, always, helplessly. nobody else tries so hard to save a city most would deem lost already."
alfred stood. he knew when bruce had a whirlpool of thoughts he needed to leech out alone. he knew exactly what to say to bruce to make him stop in his tracks. he knew bruce. and he still somehow believed bruce was good.
just before he left the door, though, alfred turned. "it's only your first year as the batman, my dear boy. and maybe you couldn't save the child's parents. but you can still save him."
---
me going insane over glaringly purposeful parallels btwn bruce and dick's backstory like i'm a teenage boy in the 1950s
@brucewayneweek
tag list: @woahajimes @birdy-bat-writes @subtleappreciation @catxsnow @pricetagofficial @screennamealreadyused @clamityganon @maplumebleue-blog-blog @sundownridge @thatsthewhump @xatanna-troy @red-hood-redemption @capricorn-stark @batshit-birds @buticaaba @comics-observer @newsical @queenofbooknerds @scattered-winter @amillionandonefandoms
#brucewayneweek2022#bruce wayne#batman#alfred pennyworth#dick grayson#robin#bruce wayne fic#batman fic#alfred pennyworth fic#dick grayson fic#robin fic#dc#dc fic
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i wanna know ur opinion on like all of these but i'll show restraint and just send 3, 6, 15, and then a more positive/tell us about something good with 18!
3. screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr
i've seen a lot of g-dawful ones but this is one boost subjected me to a screenshot of last night.
these characters are all the same age one just has adhd & autism. guess which. Lmao
6. which ship fans are the most annoying?
honestly i think because i avoid certain popular corners of dc comics fandom to this day it is the c0ldflash people from dctv flash. literally an unending nightmare.
15. that one thing you see in fanart all the time
tbh so the biggest problem really is just Whitewashing which isn't like a fun answer it just sucks. but for slightly more petty grievances i hate "ohhh it's all of the flash family" art that excludes ace lol
18. it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on...
read anything that isn't a batbook i am fucking begging you. read firestorm read jla's vibe read the shade read hourman read secret six read doom patrol. read fucking. astro city or something. read a popular book without batman in it like the flash or green arrow. Or Read An Indie Comic For The Love Of G-d.
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Year of the Bat - Number 26
Welcome to Year of the Bat! In honor of Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin, and Richard Moll, I’m counting down my Top 31 Favorite Episodes of “Batman: The Animated Series” throughout this January.
TODAY’S EPISODE QUOTE: “They’ll never slip past me again.”
Number 26 is…Lock-Up.
While many of the great villains who appeared in “Batman: The Animated Series” – and, indeed, throughout the DCAU in general – were taken from the comics, there were quite a few baddies that were original to this universe. Some of these villains became so popular, they later were adopted into the comics themselves. Harley Quinn is, by far, the most well-known example of this, but she’s far from the only one: case in point, Lyle Bolton, a.k.a. Lock-Up.
In his titular episode, Bolton is introduced as a recent new Chief of Security at Arkham Asylum. He gets his job done well: breakouts and other disasters in this home of the criminally insane have become increasingly rare. HOWEVER, after apprehending a recently-escaped Scarecrow one night, Batman & Robin soon realize that Bolton’s success is coming at a dangerous cost. At an inquest into his time as head of security, the inmates are at first too scared of confessing their fears…but finally, when Bruce Wayne suggests perhaps Bolton should stay on the staff for a while longer, they break their silence. It’s revealed that Bolton violently abuses the inmates, even threatens their very lives, whether they’ve done anything wrong or not. Enraged, Bolton tries to attack those who have singled him out…but is restrained and kicked out of Arkham, terminated immediately.
Before leaving, Bolton makes a point that, before his arrival, Arkham was a revolving door for many of the worst people Gotham City has to offer. His methods, brutal and wicked as they might have been, kept the rest of the city safe. Upon being fired, Bolton decides to seek revenge on the ones he believes are TRULY responsible for all the chaos he’s tried to keep contained: “the gutless police, mindless bureaucrats, and coddling doctors.” He thus becomes the supervillain Lock-Up, hoping to bring his own brand of justice to Gotham City.
Lock-Up is a great villain – and his episode a great story – because it taps into a fundamental question about superheroes, one which has been brought up many times, perhaps ESPECIALLY in the world of Batman: how far can one really bend or even break the law before they step over the line from hero to villain? Bolton is not someone who seeks power or money, but rather sees what he does as something that SHOULD be done: in his mind, he’s just helping to keep Gotham safe. Batman, of course, will take extreme measures (not AS extreme, but still beyond the norm) towards the same basic goal, and can be quite violent on his own terms. The difference, however, is that Bruce recognizes the value of human life: even when people are terrible, horrible people, they are still human beings, and considering the ones Bolton targets are also people who are mentally deranged, and are supposed to be on a path to rehabilitation rather than simple punishment, he cannot allow Lock-Up to do what he does. He certainly can’t allow it once Bolton decides to go after other people who, really, are not responsible for any great wrongdoing.
In a way, I feel like Bolton is a great example of who and what Batman should NEVER be: Lock-Up is more interested in punishing wickedness, and takes sadistic pleasure in what he does. He is a cruel person at heart, despite his preaching of wanting to do what is just and right. Bruce is the opposite, and always should be: underneath his dark demeanor, past all the punches and kicks, he wants to help people find a better life, no matter who they are, something which the series touches on several times. Lock-Up is a nightmare vision of who Batman could have been, if he had not retained some semblance of humanity in his quest to avenge his parents’ murder; we don’t know why Bolton is the way he is, but I’m certainly glad Bruce didn’t end up the same way.
Tomorrow we move on to Number 25!
Hint: “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like you to meet the great Batman! He’s here because he hasn’t got a clue!”
#list#countdown#best#favorites#new year's special#year of the bat#top 31 btas episodes#btas#batman: the animated series#dcau#dc#batman#animation#tv#number 26#lock-up#lyle bolton
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Request: When the Knight Comes (The Riddler x Abigail OC x Scarecrow)
"I had a nightmare." Abigail admitted quietly.
"Oh really?" Jonathan turned, suddenly very eager.
"No. No. No. No. No. I'll handle this. You get out of here."
"My daughter wants to tell me about a nightmare-" Jonathan protested.
Edward snorted. "Get your ass out that door, don't think I don't know that's like dangling drugs in front of an addict. Out!"
Edward pushed Jonathan out the door before closing the door. He let out a sigh.
"Now, you know nightmares aren't real, Abby." The Riddler reminded her as he moved towards the bed and sat on the edge of the bed.
Abigail's eyes fluttered down to her bed covers. The Riddler sighed and prompted her to lie down before lying beside her. "You know our minds are like superpowers right?" He began, taking Abigail's hand and brushing his thumb across her little fingers. Something he secretly relished knowing one day those hands won't be so little anymore. Abigail nodded. "Well, sometimes, our brain can go a little overboard and imagine things we think are possible and in the moment, we think they're real because our mind can't tell the difference. However, they can't hurt us and just because we can dream them, doesn't mean they're real or could happen.”
"I had a dream that the Batman took you and dad away." Abigail admitted quietly. "I begged him to give you back but he wouldn't and he took you away into the dark and I was alone."
"Does that scare you?" Edward asked.
"The thought we wouldn't come back to you?" Abigail nodded. "I don't want the Batman to take you away. I don't want him to hurt you or dad."
Edward pulled a lock of her hair behind her ear before stroking her cheek fondly. "Batman can't take us from you, Abby. No one and keep us from you. No matter where anyone takes us, we'll always come back to you. You're our daughter." Edward wrapped his arm over her. "You know that when we aren't here, Uncle Oswald will look after you. You don't have to worry about a thing, Abby. We have everything taken care of. We've thought about everything you could ever imagine."
There was a moment of silence. "Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?" Abigail asked.
"I'll stay for five or ten minutes." Edward replied with a slight smile.
Forty minutes passed and the door slowly opened. Jonathan peeked his head in. "I was beginning to wonder if you had fallen asleep and if I should lock up." He said quietly.
Edward smiled back.
Abigail's lips were slightly parted as she pressed her face into Edward's arm. Her arm across his ribs as far as she could reach. She was out cold and didn't react two the low hum on amusement Edward made. "I think my criminal career has come to an end. A six year old has me hostage. If I move, she'll wake up." Jonathan chuckled. "Our six year old, specifically. Who knew the Riddler would be bested by a six year old?"
"With a cuddle." Edward grimaced. "How embarrassing. I think I have no choice but to live out the rest of my time here in captivity." Jonathan huffed out a laugh. "She's not the worst captor." Jonathan admitted.
"I'll be sure to give her a five star review online." The Riddler playfully remarked. "How do I get out of here, Jon?" He whispered.
Jonathan shrugged with a shake of his head.
"Useless." Edward deadpanned before slowly creating space and slipping free from Abigail's grasp.
"Not planning to stay?" Jonathan asked.
"I have important work to do and I'm not a pushover." Edward said quietly as he got all but his arm free. With a slick movement, he maneuvered his arm free.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Ed." Jonathan smirked. "I recall you giving her five to ten minutes."
"So you were listening, you-" Edward said a little louder but Jonathan cut him off with a finger pressed to Jonathan's lips with a low hush. Edward rolled his eyes. The moment he and Jonathan got out of Abigail's room is the moment Edward was going to give Jonathan a piece of his mind.
#request#Abigail Nygma-Crane oc#the riddler#scarecrow#batman#batman villains#edward nygma#jonathan crane#one shot#oneshot
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‘ i’m a bad man, if i’m just being honest. ’
✦ Lyric ✦ @batmanwholxughs ✦
Everyone at some point knew exactly who Batman was, a vigilante who stuck fear into criminals, hate in others, and gave Gotham this sense of... hope for real justice. Someone who cared for the state of the city and wanted to see actual change. A man who refused to kill, stern, dare she remember him somewhat cynical, no, perhaps reserved. But everything had changed. And it felt like a nightmare. She couldn't believe the Joker could manage to push Gotham's hero over the edge and have a punchline at the end that could and would devastate the entire world as they knew it.
At first, she tried to ignore it, Harley really wanted to believe it to simply be a horrible rumor. But then came the first time she had seen him, his attire was entirely different but what really left her chilled to the bone was his LAUGH. By the Gods, his laugh. A familiar sound but with something far more sinister than what the Joker had to him. She wondered if he had seen her standing in the shadows, if he had, he let her slip away.
But it wasn't until later would she actually encounter him directly. It felt strange looking at this nightmare version of Batman, his grin was unsettling, but perhaps it was his words that were worse. Her lips pressed together as she swallowed hard, her mouth felt so dry at this moment. Harley stood there for a moment longer, her mind replaying distant memories of the Batman she once knew, and looking at this Batman who laughs... grins, and kills.
"A bad man..." The words were whispered, almost trailing as she thought of the first time she had met BATMAN as Harleen, sane and looking to help people, just as he used to. She offered a fake smile and shook her head, so much for whatever little light this city had in it, "I mean, at least yer bein' honest, so what brings the bad man 'round?" Harley could only safely assume the worst.
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2022
the power of the dog
ghostbusters afterlife
the lost daughter
sing 2
belfast
finding you
hotel transylvania transformania
best sellers
cinderella
the card counter
house of gucci
marry me
king richard
i want you back
the tragedy of macbeth
nightmare alley
west side story
the batman
drive my car
spies in disguise
turning red
cyrano
parallel mothers
respect
the french dispatch
the tender bar
shimmer lake
fresh
the unforgivable
the bubble
as they made us
apollo 10 1⁄2 a space age childhood
moonfall
uncharted
red rocket
overboard
death on the nile
the bad guys
doctor strange in the multiverse of madness
the lost city
the worst person in the world
deep water
sonic the hedgehog 2
moonshot
morbius
chip n’ dale rescue rangers
fantastic animals and the secrets of dumbledore
just married
fire island
the unbearable weight of a massive talent
jurassic world dominion
hustle
senior year
everything everywhere all at once
baby boss the family business
the night clerk
good luck to you, leo grande
the royal treatment
355
together
man from toronto
metal lords
ligthyear
after yang
the hating game
x
c'mon c'mon
purple hearts
not okay
elvis
minions rise of gru
lucky
dog
secret headquarters
day shift
the valet
look both ways
nope
after we fell
wszyscy moi przyjaciele nie zyja (all my friends are dead)
spin me around
where the crawdads sing
thor love and thunder
pinocchio
cha cha real smooth
about fate
marcel the shell with shoes on
paws of fury the legend of hank
tree thousand years of longing
do revenge
spiderhead
fatherhood
dc league of super pets
emily the criminal
the bullet train
blonde
catherine called birdy
school of good and evil
bros
rumble
ticket to paradise
don't worry darling
roseline
love in the villa
weird the al yankovic story
bliss
wendell and wild
the woman king
enola holmes 2
black panther wakanda forever
the people we hate at wedding
black adam
disenchanted
lyle lyle crocodille
cars 3
spirited
luckiest girl alive
bones and all
avatar the way of the water
bodies bodies bodies
the banshees of inisherin
scooby doo the zombie island
trick or treat scooby doo
tar
mrs harris goes to paris
glass onion
strange world
see how they run
pearl
the phantom of the opera
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