#Cass can understand Ghost Speak

[secretlythatsme]

i really love dc x dp tbh but i hate how so many fics end up making the batfam dumb as shit. and i don't mean in a "loveable goof" kind of way but in a genuine "these people don't have the skills or intelligence to be heroes" kind of way. which is just antithetical to their entire thing

sometimes it's because the writer just genuinely doesn't know anything about the batfam or what they've been through so they come across as idiots. and other times it's because the writer is writing op ghost king danny or just generally op danny and they genuinely think he could outsmart or beat them. more often than not, it's a combination of the two.

it's just so sad. like not only is it disrespectul to the batfam, essentially getting rid of all the skills and experience they have just to prop up danny, but it also makes things a lot more boring imo. don't get me wrong, i don't mind the occasional "main character is super op" kind of story, but it's boring when like 70% of fics are like that and there's no real challenge or obstacle for him. part of why the show danny phantom was so fun was that it was exciting and chair gripping to see danny have to deal with his new ghost powers, figuring out how to deal with ghost attacks or vlad, and dealing with school and his parents on top of that.

but often, dc x dp fics just,, get rid of any challenge for him. sure batman is a skilled detective but danny will always be able to trick him! sure cass has been trained since birth to read people's body language but this random ghost teen knows how to conceal and control everything!! yeah damian has also been trained since birth to fight and kill but this random guy from the midwest who just started fighting in his teens is so much better!!! like, alright. it's fun every now and then but it sucks when so much of the dc x dp content is just people acting like the batfam are the worst vigilantes/detectives in the world.

and honestly i still feel this way even with the ghost king danny fics because how? he's never had to deal with people obsessively reading his body language or reading between the lines. he's had to deal with hiding stuff sure but his parents aren't the most observant people - their whole deal was being neglectful. even as a ghost king, why would he know how to outsmart, take advantage of, or beat the batfam in any capacity when he would still mostly deal with ghosts. it's a completely different skill set here - one that he likely wouldn't be prepared for. it'd be fine if they at least attempted to explain why danny would have those skills (like league danny aus) but most of them don't.

and i'm not saying danny couldn't do it at all, especially if it's a ghost king au, but i'm just tired of seeing the batfam constantly downplayed in these fics Just to make danny look better, smarter, stronger, etc. ik most people in the fandom are just danny fans but it really shows with how they treat, characterize, and shit on the dc characters just to prop danny up. it also serves to occasionally make danny look like an asshole when he intentionally messes with them and basically commits psychological torture for a goof.

#man... #i Do like this crossover but i completely understand why so many dc fans hate it #the oocness the fanon the constantly making these skilled trained characters fumble around and get outsmarted by Some Guy #ghost king danny isn't even canon to dp! which isnt a bad thing by any means ik the dp fandom goes crazy for fanon #and generally speaking the fanon Is a lot more fun and engaging than dp's canon #but as a dc fan its insane to watch #i want to engage more with dc x dp content so badly like this crossover is really interesting to me #but so much of it is just 'the bat.fam are actually fucking useless and my blorbo is so much better :)))' #it's almost like they dont even like the bat.fam!!! they keep saying they just dont know/understand them #but it fully feels like they straight up dont like the dc characters #it definitely comes across as 'hey this is a fun world to put danny in lets do that while also shitting on it and all of the characters' #'lol bruce is so stupid this random teen can outsmart him and he can lie to cass and he can beat dick in a physical fight lol' #there's a point where it stops feeling like indulgent op blorbo and more like insulting anyone who isn't danny #<thats actually exactly what it is and its insane to me like why even like crossovers if you dont want to engage with anyone but danny #how can you say you like them when you outright refuse to know them or respect them? #and obviously im using 'you' in a vague way im not specifically calling anyone out #ik there are people in the fandom who are genuinely fans of both and Do know and respect the dc characters #but so far its very few and far between which is just such a fandom culture shock for me #like in most fandoms im able to read a lot of fics and only occasionally think 'thats not right' #but with this one its the other way around - im constantly going 'they wouldnt say/do that at all why does the op think that?' #like 9 out of 10 fics im like 'oh yeah this person has never read a comic in their life' #i can immediately tell when someone has only read the webtoon its extremely obvious unfortunately #maybe i should make a dc masterlist for dp fans... like here you can write about them again After you do your homework ajdhgl

[bet-on-me-13]

Cass has a new friend

So! Cass has trouble making Civilain friends.

Because of her selective Muteness and general shyness, she doesn't really have an easy time communicating with people enough for them to want to be her friend.

Even when those people know ASL, she still doesn't feel like they can understand her at all. Her life is just too complex, and her emotions are too complicated for her to really feel like she has connected with anyone.

The only people who she feels she can relate to are the Batfamily, because they know about her past and most of them have similar enough experiences to understand her more intrinsically than others.

This changes when she meets Danny.

He is one of her classmates at Gotham Academy, and he sits next to her for most of her classes.

And he becomes her friend surprisingly quickly. She doesn't understand why, but he gets her in a way none of the other students do. She can also tell from his body language that he isn't trying to be her friend for the money connected to her name either, unlike some of the others who have tried approaching her.

She just clicks with him, and he becomes her first civilians friend.

And it's not a case of Ghost Speak being her instinctive language due to Liminality or anything like that, Danny just understands her because he has gone through a rough childhood as well and can relate to her in ways that neither of them can fully understand.

They just both instinctual knew "they are like me" without consciously realizing it.

This is a Danny/Cass ship if you haven't caught on yet. Whether it's a platonic ship or a romantic ship is up to you.

#Dp x dc #Dpxdc #Dc x dp #Dcxdp #Danny Phantom #Dc #Dcu #Cassandra Cain #Danny Fenton #Danny/Cass #Platonic Ship #Romantic Ship #Your choice on which one is better #I wrote this at 2 am #No story just fluff

[disillusioneddanny]

Crackling Flames and Humming Electricity

Prompt courtesy of @stealingyourbones Jason gets his neck sliced by Bruce’s batarang. It irreversibly damaged his vocal cords.

Pros: He can still use ghost speak

Cons: None of his family knows ghost speak (as it’s sounds aren’t for living men to understand)

It had been an accident when it happened. That’s what Bruce had said anyway. He had been so focused on saving Joker from being killed by Red Hood that he hadn’t even realized what he had done to his son . That he had permanently disabled Jason in a way that could never be repaired.

The slice to his throat had destroyed his vocal chords. He hadn’t been able to say a single word in over a year now. After a year of vocal therapy, Jason had learned how to do these strange chirps and growls, these weird noises that didn’t seem to come from his throat at all but moreso his very being let out the noises. The only problem was that no one understood what he was saying.

Cass had been a blessing and had taken the time to teach Jason how to successfully sign. She had taken it on as her mission as the only other person in the family who was mute to make sure that Jason could effectively communicate.

He hadn’t been back at the manor since the accident, hadn’t been around Bruce since it happened. But each of his siblings had come to check on him, they checked in on him every so often and they had even managed to develop their own way of understanding the strange rumblings that came from Jason’s body that were now his only form of vocal communication.

A chirp meant that he was happy.

Two chirps was a yes.

A short growl was no.

A long snarling growl? He was pissed and you better leave him the fuck alone.

It wasn’t the best, but it worked when they spoke with him on comms. They couldn’t understand any of the other noises that came from Jason, the wails, the crackling of fire that somehow espaped him sometimes. A sound that could only be described as the sound of smoke itself slipping through the air. They were sounds that didn’t have names, there were no true words to describe the noises that would come from Jason at times.

His family tried. Oh his siblings desperately tried to understand this new way of communication with their brother but none of it was effective. No one truly understood him anymore. Not even Cass could always understand what Jason was trying to explain in his broken sounds and strange chirps.

That had all changed one fateful day, though.

Jason had gone to pick up a coffee from the only functioning shop in Crime Alley. It had just opened a few weeks before and he had been meaning to try it out. Wanted to see the brave bastard willing to open up such a pretty coffee and tea shop in the middle of Crime Alley of places. Something had been tugging at Jason’s gut about the place, almost as though it was calling Jason here, like he needed to be at the coffe shop.

Seriously, though, as he inspected the layout, it looked like the kinda place to be opened in one of the fancier neighborhoods in Gotham, not Red Hood’s home.

Red Hood had managed to keep his operations running even after the accident. If anything, it had made his people even more loyal to him. Those closest even taking the time to learn sign language just so that they could communicate and translate. They had all seen the way he had tried to take down Joker, only for the fucking Batman attempt to murder him just to save the very man who tormented the people of Gotham. Of course, the people of Crime Alley were more commonly his victims, less likely to be noticed if they were murdered, less likely to be taken seriously.

So it had come as a personal offense to all of them when Red Hood had been nearly killed. They had all respected Red Hood even more after it had happened, realizing that not only had he gone against the bat, but he had done it and lived out of pure spite.

Jason slipped through the door of the shop, Phantom’s Oasis it was called and looked around. Dark black metal chairs and tables lined the walls, Boston ivy grew along the charcoal grey walls. Any parts that were not covered by ivy were covered by bookshelves overfilled with books. And while tables and chairs lined the walls, comfy, overstuffed chairs filled the corners with small coffee tables, the middle of the area sat large velvet green couches. It was like it was the perfect oasis for Jason.

He made it up to the back counter where a single employee stood cleaning the counter. He was young, probably just a year or two younger that Jason. He was tall and lanky with deep black hair pulled back in a pony tail, showing off the shaved sides of his head. Cosmic themed earrings hung from his lobes and cartilage and when the man glanced up, Jason was also surprised to find a ring on either nostril in the man’s nose along with a septum piercing. For all that his looks screamed edgy, though, he exuded nothing but safety and warmth. Something in Jason’s very being ached to be close to the man.

Unable to stop himself he released a soft sound, the sound of walls breaking under strong flames. The man’s head shot up and he smiled at Jason before releasing a sound of his own.

It was the sound of the stirrings of a storm. Hello, it said. How are you?

“You know what I’m saying?” Jason asked, only the words came out in the sound of a roaring flame, those of a bonfire finally growing higher and higher. He signed the words as well causing the barista to grin in response.

“Of course I do, we’re the same,” he explained through sounds of a building creaking against harsh winds.

A childlike peel rang from Jason’s mouth unable to stop himself. It was the laughter of a child who thought Robin was magic. The laughter of someone who had finally found someone who understood him.

“How?” Jason asked, tilting his head to the side, his heart racing.

The barista smiled and a single black painted finger nail beckoned him closer.

In English the man whispered in Jason’s ear once he approached. “Because just like you, I died wrong and came back wrong,” he murmured before he pulled away and took in Jason’s form. “It’s why you were drawn here.”

Smoke crackled in the air showing Jason’s curiosity, his confusion.

The barista smiled. “You don’t know what you are, do you?” after a shake of Jason’s head the man smiled. “Jason Todd, you are an extraordinary being that is both of life and death. A being that has lost more than he ever gained but continued on stubbornly, refusing to back down. You were called to Phantom’s Oasis because your core heard my ghost speak and like calls to like.”

Ghost speak? Is that what the sounds that escaped Jason were? A language of those who had died and come back wrong? Or didn’t come back at all judging by the name. The sound of fire crackling filled the empty coffee shop.

“I’m Danny, by the way. Now, what would you like to drink? I can make it real quick, close up shop and we can talk.”

The crackling of a sparkler escaped Jason’s being causing Danny’s noseto wrinkle in amusement. “You’ve got yoursel a fire core, huh?”

Pops and crackles slipped from Jason, showing his curiosity.

“Order first, then I’ll answer your questions,” Danny said in the form of the sounds of electricity crackling through the air.

Jason frowned and started to sign his order only for Danny to push his hands down. “Use your words,” he said quietly. “I’ll understand.” The sounds that came from Danny were reminiscent of an old generator turning on for the first time in years, the electricity hummed the words out for Jason to understand.

Rustling and crinkling of a fire’s flames going out sounded throughout the room. “Vanilla late with sweet cream,” it said to Danny.

The hum of white noise came through in response, telling him that Danny understood as he got to work. He waved a hand causing Jason to look back as the door to the shop locked itself.

“I’m a halfa,” Danny told him through the sizzling of lightning that had just hit the earth. “You are what feels like a revenant. Someone who died a brutal death and came back to seek revenge. You have someone we ectoplasmic entities call a core.”

Jason listened as Danny spoke in sounds of crackling electricity and quiet hums of white noise as he explained ghost cores to Jason. Ghost cores were their very being, they were created in result of the person’s death. In their examples, Danny had died by electocution, it was why his ghost speak sounded like electricity coursing in the air and lighting crackling angrily and wildly. He didn’t need Jason to confirm before he had said that the revenant had died in a fire of some sort. He explained that all ghosts had the basic chirps and growls for ghost speak but that the rest was specific to their cores as they were all different.

It wasn’t Jason making the noises that came out of him but his very core himself. For the first time in a year, though, Jason was finally able to speak to someone without sign, to use his words to explain what happened to him, the pain he had gone through when realizing that his father would rather kill him than let him get revenge. He had finally found someone who understood the ache of not being able to exact revenge on the person who had killed him.

For the first time in Jason’s life, he had finally found someone who understood. Danny had sat there drinking his own London Fog as he listened to Jason’s tell. Responding in chirps, whistles and a gentle hum of running appliances. He gave insight and advice, had even given Jason his number explaining that yes, they could use ghost speak over the phone as well.

He had never felt so seen in all of his life.

Maybe that explained why he kept coming back to the coffee shop. Every day he would come, order his coffee, using a language that just he and Danny knew and curled up on a couch and read for hours, feeling at peace in a way he hadn’t experienced since he had died.

Maybe it explained why he went out on a limb and asked Danny on a date, demanding that the halfa come over to his place for dinner.

Of course, Danny had only agreed if Jason promised to make the halfa’s favorite. The night had quickly ended with their cores singing for one another as their legs tangled together under the safety of Jason’s blankets.

Rustling and crackling of a candle flame sounded through the room as electricity hummed along with it, creating a symphony of white noise that Jason loved more than anything in the world. The noises provided a sense of comfort and safety unlike anything he had ever experienced. He wanted to drown in the sounds, drown in the sounds of Danny’s crackling electricity that whispered promises of happiness and safety. Just as the whispering flames of Jason’s core told Danny stories of love and promises of companionship, holding him close, wrapping around him in a warm comforting blanket.

The air crackled around Jason as he stood in the kitchen quietly making breakfast, revelling in the feeling of Danny surrounding him from all sides.

His fire chirped at the halfa in curiosity. One or two it asked him.

Two, electricity said with a charged hum, thin arms snaked around Jason’s waist.

“I think you’re going to have to invite me over more often,” lightning crackled, a crash exploding from Danny in a way that made Jason shiver in delight.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let you leave,” fire roared, flames licking high in the air, causing wood to shatter and break under the heat. Danny just chuckled and kissed the side of his neck softly.

Electricity flowed from Danny along with a series of chirps, whistles and growls, telling Jason he had no problem with staying by Jason’s side.

#dead on main #dead on main ship #dis writes #dp x dc #dc x dp crossover #dc x dp

[tanglepelt]

Dc x dp idea 120

Danny falls through a natural portal into dc. Another dimension. Cue language barriers.

No one can understand him and vice versa. He fell through as phantom in the middle of some villain fight. So first thing he witnesses is chaos and destruction.

After use of his powers, ghostly wail and his blasts he bolts. He can’t understand these people and wants nothing to do with them.

So why are these people chasing him. And tell the green one his ring does nothing. He just wants to get home.

Just Danny accidentally messing things up trying to get home.

Bonus if either Cass connects with him. Those two absolutely need more interactions. Cause they’d be cool. Or for Deadman to speak ghost with Danny.

#dcxdp #dpxdc #dcxdp prompt #Danny does not understand them #his lab is unkown #he is a problem #yes he showed very powerful powers #and phased through green lanterns shield #leave me alone #potential for him and cass to vibe #maybe deadman as well through ghost speak #i just want him causing problems unable to get his point across

[dcxdpdabbles]

Hey there! Halfa!cass anon here

Holy shit that was such a good read, I've gone through and re-read it over a dozen times now

Can we please please get a part 2?

When Cass wakes, she knows that something is seriously different about her body. There is a lightness to her bones that she only associates with flying through the air or even leaps during her dance.

The fact she is lying in a bed completely still makes the lightness a worrying sign. Cass doesn't sense anyone else in the room, and if there is, they do a wonderful job hiding from her instincts.

Carefully she cracks open an eye, careful to not move any other part of her body. She does a slow look around taking in the room that for all purposes seems to be a hospital of some kind.

There are even informational posters on the walls, the kind that doctors put up to help citizens with basic hygiene. She can't see any windows, which isn't promising for her if she needs to escape, but there are no restraints on her body.

Despite the weightlessness, there also doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her body that would hnder her movement. If she is being held against her will, then this is an oversight.

Either her captors are underestimating her or there are no captors at all. Cass carefully goes to stand up, trying to stay as silent as possible, when suddenly she finds herself floating.

She panics, attempting to go back down, but the more she moves the higher she goes. She ends up on the ceiling trying desperately to figure out what is happening- is there a telepath in the room? Anti-gravity ray she got hit by?- when the door opens and in steps a man in his early thirties.

He looks around the room, body language screaming worry and confusion before he glances up and makes eye contact with her. At once his face softens, amusement and relief bleeding into his body language.

"Hey there." He says flouting up to her level slowly. "Need some help adjusting?"

"Adjusting?" She asks her voice slightly rough from disuse. "From what?"

The man's smile turns slightly sad. "I'm sorry to have to tell you but you were in an accident and it killed you."

Cass blinks at him and then shakes her head trying to gather her thoughts. She knows that she was electrocuted- it was like a blink had passed since the shock, really and she isn't surprised that it was strong enough to kill her. But she doesn't feel dead.

Doesn't feel much different at all. Does that mean she died quickly? Was that a mercy?

The man must have mistaken her head shake for denial for he only smiles sadder. He pulls out a mirror from his chest- that was only slightly alarming after all she's seen in life- turning it around and showing her reflection.

Or someone who looks like her but is so very obviously not human. Cass reaches up, afraid to touch the dirty silver hair that stands straight up like someone had gone at it with gallons of gel. Her reflection does the same staring back at her with glowing silver eyes Her skin is now an ashy grey, covered in blue Lichtenberg marks like a full body tattoo.

She gasps.

The man's body sings of regret, of sadness for her, but most of all comfort. "You're a ghost now. That's your ghost from. We can work on getting an understanding of your powers at a later date. For now, let me help you set in."

He takes Cass's hand- making sure his movements are slow and allowing her to pull away if she wants. She doesn't. He uses their linked hands to descend back to the ground. It's only then that she notices there is no light in the room- the glowing she had been using to see is coming from her.

Cass is glowing because she is dead and now she is a ghost. Somewhere her corpse is lying in an abandoned town where it will likely stay until her family realizes she hasn't reported in.

She hopes it's not Bruce who finds her. Her dad has already suffered enough. Cass wishes he saved the view of her corpse if only to save him from that heartbreak.

The man leads her towards the door. He is speaking but Cass can't hear a single word that he is saying. Her head is buzzing, she's trying to come to terms with everything so when he pushes open the door she nearly walks right off the edge of a cliff.

"Careful now." The man says yanking her back. Cass swings wild eyes at him, at his flaming white hair and glowing red eyes, before she looks around.

She is shocked to see floating purple islands, each top with a building flying around. The floating islands are close by, barely kept apart by small gaps, gently moving around in the wind.

All around here is green, the sky is the bottomless floor, and even some flying beings are green. If it were not for the few human-like beings she could see jumping to and from between the islands she would think of herself on an alien planet.

"This is the Ghost Zone. We're in Phantom's Keep." Her guide says gesturing around. "The locals call it New Amity Park. Said locals are the humans and Phantom's only rule here is that no one harms the humans. Understand?"

So they were humans. But how did they get to the Ghost Zone? Who was Phantom? Were they the missing people of Amity Park?

Something on her face must have given away her thoughts because the man- a ghost? Is he like Cass- gives her a weary smile. "The humans are stuck here. See a few years back their hometown was attacked by the old King, and were sucked into the Ghost Zone. When Phantom defeated him the town returned but the people couldn't."

Why she wants to ask. Why can't they go home?

He shrugs as if though he heard her question. "You know how if you eat food offered by the Fae you are trapped in their world? Same concept. Phantom has been trying to get them home, but it's been seven years now. Everyone pretty much adjusted to this place."

He nods to the flouting island that proudly proclaims a large mall that is slowly passing overhead. "When they first arrived the humans were all stuck on one large piece of rock that used to be their park. It was Phantom that slowly pulled islands towards them, linking them to a gravitational pull he designed and powered, that let the humans expand into this web-like conany."

Cass thinks back to the large crater in the middle of town. She remembers passing by a half-buried sign that proclaimed "Amity Park" but she never realized it was literally snatched off the ground.

A group of children- likely born after their parents were trapped- jump by, laughing in a carefree way only those with wonder can. They land gracefully on the flouting rocks that form makeshift stairs as they race up toward- an ice cream shop.

Cass realizes those rock stairways are all over, connecting all the parts of the town into one. They all lead to a large green field that a castle sits on. Likely the old park.

""By the way, my name is Dan. I'm in charge of Phantom's Keep while Phantom is away." Dan says. He shrugs at Cass's questioning look, somehow aware of her question without her having to speak it again.

Could ghosts read body language in the same way she could?

"I'm basically the mayor/ enforcer. Phantom stuck me with the job as a form of community service. I can't leave because, like the islands, he trapped me here with a gravitation pull."

Trapped?

Then was this Phantom evil?

Cass opens her mouth to ask- when a strange tightness in her abs makes her jerk to the side. She doubles over, pressing a hand to her stomach and Dan pauses. "Are you alright-"

Twin rings of pure darkness appear, running over Cass's form before vanishing without a trace. At once Cass feels her whole body become heavy- the familar heavy she had known all her life as her balance.

She also realizes that she had been flouting the whole time before she fell to her knees right at the edge, using her hands to cushion her fall. Her now normal human hands- the deadly grey nowhere in sight.

Dan sucks a hiss through his teeth. "You're a halfa."

Cass looks up at him, watching the ghost rub the space between his eyes while his hair flickers around in irritation. "Of course the new ghost I come to welcome turns out to be a halfa. Right when my shift was ending too."

The ghost rolls his shoulders and then sighs "Alright come on. We have to report this development."

Where are we going?

Dan's smile turns sharp. Cass isn't sure she likes "To See the Fentons."

She follows him anyway for she has no other choice. As she hops along the rock stairways down to the castle, she notices multiple people stop to stare at her. Some beings that are obviously not humans- ghosts her mind supplies- gape at her with just as much wonder.

She picked up bits of conversation as she scurried after Dan's floating figure.

"A new human? Has Danny finally found a way home?"

"Maybe she fell through a natural portal. Poor thing"

"Will never see her family again. That's going to be the hardest part. My dad said he was only passing through Amity Park the day it was attacked. My grandparents might still be looking for him."

"If King Phantom leaves, what will happen to ghosts like us? His Keep is the only place that welcomes us!

"Calm yourself, the King never stays on Earth long. Not when his entire family is trapped here like the rest of the humans. We will be safe."

Cass doesn't like the implications of this place one bit

#dcxdpdabbles #dc x dp crossover #Cass the halfa #Part 2 #Cass wakes in her ghost form on the other side #The rest think she is a new ghost #The missing poeple of Amity Park have been claimed by the Zone' #They living life as best they can #While Danny tries to get them home #Dan just wants to clock out #Cass is now a halfa #Do you like her ghost form? #Yes ghost speak in body lauange

[rainybyday]

I keep thinking about how all of the bats always have this near by death experiences like Candy and I thought about how Danny meets all of the Bata when they are near their death experiences or if they did did but got revived

like maybe it started with Jason when Jason first died.

Jason just calling out for Bruce, slowly thinking that he is going to die alone with the Jokers laughter as the last thing he hear when he feels a hand over his own. He tried to look, to see who it is but all he can do is twitch in pain.

“Its ok. He’s coming little bird, he’s coming. Your dad’s coming for you.”

And Jason died with the reassurances of a stranger telljng him his dad is coming for him. Unfortunately he forgot about him when he was dipped in the pit

The next would be Steph who felt herself die and was expecting darkness but she was instead standing in front of her own body with the world around her looking like she was looking through green tinted glass.

“your not gonna die you know.”

And then she turned to see a boy with black hair and green eyes next to her, staring at her body.

she tried to speak, tried to say something but nothing won’t come out. Instead she just stood there with the body, standing still as they watch as Steph was revived and suddenly she was back in her body. She didn’t know if it was her mind trying to soften the blow about her death or if it was real but she kept that interaction to herself.

(once she learned of Jason thou she thought that maybe that was the ghost of a former Robin)

After that there were multiple near deaths situations where bat members are hearing voices of a boy with black hair and green/blue eyes. Sometimes he is reassuring them, sometimes he’s helping them to safety, and sometimes he just watches them.

Other events like Barbara getting shot or Dick killing the Joker would also manifest the boy as well.

Bruce, Dick, Steph and Barbs thinks it’s Jason reappearing at their most desperate time, when their tethering the line of death and life. Tim and Cass know it’s not Jason but they don’t know who the kid is or what he is exactly.

The problem was when they found out that Jason was alive and they still see the boy was when they started to understand that it wasn’t normal now. That the boy was not their mind guilting then or scarring them with the death of Jason.

When Jason also had a vision of the boy was when they started to worry. Who is this boy that they see when death is near?

[Meanwhile, on the other side of the world Damian gets ready to finally meet the family with the knowledge of the Spector (Danny) decided to give to him so he may know of the family he will soon meet.

It was time to meet the family, just the two of them.]

#Been awhile #college is college #But anyways #dc x dp #dp x dc #jason todd #stephenie brown #danny fenton #damian al ghul #damian wayne

[rubydubydoo122]

Jason gets de-aged because I've seen fics of Tim or Dick being de-aged, and Bruce losing his memory, but no one has realized the potential for angst if you de-age Jason.

Bruce couldn’t do this. Sure he fights criminals on a daily basis, he’s fought aliens, hell, he’s been to space, for crying out loud. But he could not look at his dead- undead son. He could barely look at Jason as a 21 year old, much less looking how he had weeks before he died. 

“Bruce, I know this is hard, but–”

“No, Dick, you don’t, because you were off planet to even know what was happening.” It was a low blow. Bruce knew that. He knew he was burning bridges, but he wanted to be alone. He didn’t want his kids to see him break down. He could fix those bridges later. 

For a moment, Bruce could see the fiery 20 year old Dick desperately trying to be let loose, but then Dick glanced at his siblings, “Why don’t you guys go upstairs, while Bruce and I talk things through.” Dick wasn’t asking though, and they knew.

So the four of them headed up the stairs, leaving Bruce with Dick and Alfred.

“Are you going to slap me halfway across the cave again? Are you going to take away my keys again? We’ve been down this road before, Bruce. It wasn’t fun for either of us.” Dick leaned against the table and crossed his arms, “The only reason I’m not screaming at you right now is because I know that I have to be here for those kids. Cass, Tim, Steph, Duke, Damian . They need me here, but Jason? Jason doesn’t need me , he needs you . He wants you.”

Bruce thought about all the things that had driven a wall between him and his second son. “No he–”

Dick groaned, “B, when he saw me come out of the Batmobile instead of you, I could see his expression crumble.”

“When he realized you were in the cave, he was so eager to see you, Master Bruce. He was hurt when you barely acknowledged him.” Alfred placed a hand on Bruce’s shoulder, “The boy upstairs is not the broody Red Hood nor the Robin who died in that warehouse yet. He’s the child you brought into this manor to make sure he was loved. The boy, who despite all the darkness around him, still managed to shine brighter than the sun. We’re not saying this situation will be easy, Lad, but you have to try. For Jason.”

“I don't know if I can .”

“Jesus Christ. I forgot you don’t speak Emotions . Fine. I’ll give you a language you understand.” Dick went over to the computer and opened a new Mission planner “Mission: Fun Sized Jason. Rule number 1, Don’t make him upset. Rule number 2, don’t brood more than usual. Rule number 3, Don’t let Jason know something’s up between your relationship with him because that will probably break Rule number 1. Mission Objective, keep Jason happy until we can get him back to full size. Alfred is allowed to add rules and Objectives. Understood?”

And suddenly, Bruce had a little empathy for Damian’s Robin under Dick’s Batman. “Got it.” Bruce gave his oldest son a slight smile. “Honestly, this might be my hardest mission yet.”

Dick and Alfred shared a look, “You’ll do fine, Master Bruce.”

“I’m gonna check up on everyone, I can come back down once I’m done, if you want.”

“I’ll be fine, Chum, I’m just going to call Zatanna and finish putting a bit of info in.”

Dick nodded, “Alright.” He made his way to the stairs, “Goodnight Alfred, Goodnight Bruce, tell Z I said hi.”

Dick’s first destination was the kitchen. It was usually the first place Cass and Steph went after patrol. Because Steph grabs a midnight waffle for her ride home. 

Though when he got to the kitchen, it was just Cass sitting on  the counter with a mug of tea in her hands. She tilted her head, the question of are you ok clear as day. 

If Dick tried to lie, Cass would just see through him. He sat down next to her, “Everything went well with Bruce, it’s just that…”

“It’s strange, conflicting. Seeing Jason.”

“Yeah.”

“He is a cute child.” Cass rested her head on Dicks shoulder. And Dick rested his hand on hers. “Tiny.”

“Yeah,” Dick chuckled, “Like no one would’ve expected Jason to be as tall as Bruce.”

They sat together in silence until Duke came into the kitchen, and Dick patted the space next to him as an invitation. 

“I’ve been thinking, if you, or Bruce, or even Alred, need me to keep Jason company while you take a moment to work through… memories, I’d be happy to do it. I don’t have any history with him, we’re close enough to the same age.”

Dick patted Duke’s shoulder, “You’re a good brother. Just don’t let Bruce throw him on you too much because I’m trying to get him to try .”

“Maybe it’ll be easier for Bruce after he gets over the initial shock. Even Damian was shocked. He didn't even try to stab Jason. He was wearing Jason’s jacket.”

Right! Damian! And it was strange. He was having a very different reaction than Dick had expected. Dick had to talk to him, but first “Did you get a picture?”

A grin spread across Duke’s face. “I already sent it in the groupchat.”

Dick hopped off the counter, “Lovely. I’m gonna go check on him. And then I’ll check on Jason.”

“Anything you need us to do?”

“Um.. yes, there is one thing.” Dick paused for effect, “Go to bed.”

Damian was leaning on Titus in the corner of his room, with Alfred the cat in his lap. It was a strange revelation that his Akhi was his wayward brother all along. Yet, it also made perfect sense. They both were in the League, and Todd had said something about mother taking him in.  He just did not expect Todd to be Akhi . He didn’t even think that Akhi was still alive. One day Damian had been drawing next to him and the next he was gone. Akhi had two modes; Stay still, or protect. He would immediately fight whoever Damian was supposed to spar and pull him out of reach of any attackers. Akhi would hold Damian while mother was busy, or sit next to him, or follow him if Damian started to wander too far. Yet he rarely ever spoke. Maybe that’s why he never drew the connection between Todd and Akhi. Because even though Todd could be silent if he wanted to, he spouted out the signature Robin quips like second nature. Or yelled at father, taking shot after shot, barely giving father a chance to speak. And above all else, behind Todd’s eyes you could see the calculations, you could see him taking in his surroundings or contemplating risks he was willing to take in the moment, you could see him playing out plans in his head to see every possible outcome. Whereas Akhi had alway had a far off look. Like his mind was never really there. 

There was a knock at the open door, Dick leaning on the door frame, “Are you ok, Damian?”

“Tt.” He started drawing swirls into Alfreds fur, and then smoothed them out.

Dick moved to sit next to Damian. They sat in silence, though it felt like Damian could hear Dick staring with concern.

Damian spared a glance at Dick, “Todd spent time in the League. At Nanda Parbat. Under my mother’s care. With me.” Alfred’s fur was suddenly a lot more interesting than it had been minutes ago, “I didn’t even know it was him, not until a couple of hours ago. I’m the son of the greatest detective, and I didn’t even realize that my Akhi was my brother.” It was making him feel young, seeing Todd like this again, “I thought they killed him, but I- I guess they put him in the Lazerus pit after that, and then he couldn’t come back, because he had to come here, but I wish mother had– Todd, He protected me, Baba . It was only for a little while, but he protected me. He showed me kindness.” Damian met Dick’s eyes which were slightly glossy.

“Well, that does sound like Jason. He’s always had a soft spot for kids.” Dick let out a wet laugh, “He was like… your Guardian Angel.”

“That was horrible Richard. Not funny at all.” Yet Damian could feel a soft smile pulling at his lips, “But yes. He was.” 

“It’s his Bruncle instincts.”

Damian frowned, “Bruncle?”

Dick grinned “Brother-uncle. Since you see me as your Baba .”

he groaned and shoved Dick out of his pet cuddling area, “Nope. That’s it. You do not get any more speaking privileges for the rest of the day.” though he could feel a warmth spreading across his chest. 

“Come on-”

“Nope. Bye! Bye!”

“But–”

“Goodnight, Baba .”

And Damian could see Dick completely melt, “Goodnight, Bibic.”

The first thing Jason did after he stormed upstairs was grab his journal from the hidden drawer in his dresser. Screw Bruce, he was going to figure out what happened to him. 

The only problem was the dates only went to April 25, 2018. He didn’t even finish the notebook. The entries didn’t seem like something was wrong–

Sheila Haywood .

There was a gun pointed at his back as betrayal and shock sunk into his stomach. “I lied.”

A blonde woman turned away from him while lighting a cigarette.

He read through the page. Sheila Haywood was…his mom? But what about his Mami? The one who raised him? Does that make her his step-mom? 

Jason scrambled back to the drawer to take out a pen and flipped to the next page. He was going to figure this out. 

First off, Bruce was a lot colder. Like close to Kelvin cold. 

Second, all the scars. There’s a certain amount of scars that made sense for whole vigilante gig, but the amount he had was closer to the amount torture victims had. 

Third, If Ms. Haywood was his mom, is Jason in her custody now? Well, he’s 20, so probably not currently, but did he have to leave Bruce? Is that why his room is pretty much the same? 

Fourth, Why was he at the League of Assassins? If he asked Damian would he give him a straight answer?

He heard footsteps coming down the hall, and almost immediately jumped up. And then relaxed when he realized they were Dicks, and they were stopping at the room before his.

He crept closer to the wall to try to catch the words.

“...But I- I guess they put him in the Lazarus Pit…”

Oh.

Guess he had his answer to number four. Though why would he need one? Did it have to do with number two? Maybe number two should be number one, but he’d already written in pen. 

That also probably answered why his eyes were more green than blue. And the white streak. It did feel a bit too emo for him.

He heard a laugh come from the other side of the wall and felt a twinge of jealousy flare in the pit of his stomach. Sure, he and Dick had their good moments, but it wasn’t usually that easy. There was still tension that loomed over any attempts of brotherly bonding. Sometimes Jason wishes Bruce actually introduced him to Dick before he took up the mantle of Robin, because maybe then they’d be closer brothers.

“Goodnight, Baba.” And just like that a wave of guilt washed over him because he had thoroughly misinterpreted their relationship. Jason honestly thought Damian was Bruce’s. They had very similar facial structures. 

And then there was a knock at the door, before it slowly opened, “Hey, Jason–”

“I didn’t realize you were Damian’s dad.”

Dick just gaped like a fish, “I– what?”

“I was under the impression Bruce was the kid’s dad, baba.” Jason swatted Dick with the back of his hand.

“Oh.” Dick laughed, “No. He’s Bruce’s. He’s also twelve.”

“So?” Jason shrugged, “You’re like, 30. It’s possible. And why else would he call you Baba?”

“Stop calling me old! I’m 27! Also, your math makes that barely legal.”

“‘Barely legal’ does not stop Talia Al-Ghul.”  Jason frowned. He thinks he was 18 when that happened. “Hold up, I’m not 18 yet.”

Dick was suddenly standing ramrod straight, “Excuse me, what?” 

That was his scary voice. Abort, abort, abort , “Why was I in the Lazarus Pit?”

“How much of our conversation did you catch?”

“I zoned out after Lazarus.”

Dick crossed his arms and huffed, “No, we’re going back to Talia–”

“Is Bruce depressed because he lost custody of me to Sheila Haywood?”

And that seemed to send a slap across Dick’s face, “How do you know about Sheila Haywood?”

Jason crossed his arms “I’m a detective, Dick.”

Except so was Dick, and he immediately spotted the journal on Jason’s bed. “It was in your journal?”

Jason nodded.

“What’s the last date in there?” Dick sat down on the edge of the bed.

Jason went to go sit next to him. “April 25, 2018”

Dick nodded, his normally clear blue eyes looked stormy.

“Something bad happened, didn’t it?” 

Dick looked like he was contemplating something, and then turned to face Jason, “I’m only going to tell you this because I know if your older version was here he would tell you.” Dick took a deep breath, “You would say, “I ain’t tellin’ you shit, you don’t need to know.” You would do that while leaning against a wall or something.”

Jason blinked at Dick, because that buildup was rude. “I wouldn’t say that! Also, it’s me . I would tell a younger version of me every moment of my life. I’m pretty sure an older version of myself would too.”

“Look, Jason, I was in space at the time. I don’t know all of the details, and Bruce never felt like filling me in on it.”

“What about the report?”

“Ok, yeah, I’ve seen it, but you know the reports are nothing like actually being there, or hearing the story. And it’s never something you or Bruce want to talk about. You’ll probably get the memory back once you’re back to full size.”

Jason huffed and pulled himself into his sheets. “You’re no longer my favorite sibling. You are dead last. Getting my hopes up that you would give me an answer. That was just cruel.”At least he knew there were reports on the bar computer about what happened. He could sneak down there and figure this out himself. 

“Eh, fifth place is not that bad.” Dick stood up, “or are we counting Stephanie?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re still in last.” Jason turned over to face Dick as he was leaving, “Though, I do accept bribes.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Little Wing.”

“‘Night, Dickiebird.”

#jason todd #batman #batfam #dc comics #dick grayson #bruce wayne #damian wayne #robin jason todd #duke thomas #cassandra cain

[trust-and-jump]

FANON batfam things to (dis)like

To like:

Tim Drake taking photos at night - you know what I'm talking about.

Lazarus Pit's influence as some intrusive thoughts.

Jason Todd being literature nerd.

Not mentioning Cassandra Cain's second "adventure" with Lady Shiva, because I love Cass and I'm happy for all the stories it didn't happen.

Not destroying Clocktower.

White streak in Jason Todd's hair (I know, I know, it was in some comics too, but I consider it as fanon thing because— the ones who read comics would probably understand (I hope) what I mean).

Cassandra getting her name even without Barbara Gordon naming her.

Bruce accepting Tim Drake as a son almost immediately.

To dislike:

Bruce accepting Tim Drake as a son almost immediately.

Cassandra Cain having no personality outside of her weird body-reading thing/outside of her being Batfam therapist (which is— just WHY???? She's the worst option for this! I love her but she can't be perfect and she has SO. MANY. PROBLEMS. She deserves better than being that!) Guys she will beat all the criminals up if it means she doesn't have to talk about feelings and all that. Besides, knowing the person's intentions or guessing emotions doesn't mean knowing how to talk through it or how to handle these emotions or how relationships between people 'should' or 'should not' work.

Assuming that she understands everything people say before she learns how to speak.

Not mentioning her problems with reading&writing and thinking she would learn ASL immediately (and MAYBE she would, in some stories, IDK, but I saw only one fic that actually discussed why ASL would be as difficult for her as other languages)

Fucking... autopsy scar. it should not exist.

"Replacement". It's a good thing, actually, I just don't like it.

Shiny Dick. (KDJDISKSOXBXJSKOSSLSS I LAUGHED AFTER I WROTE IT I WON'T CHANGE IT)

Jason slitting Tim's throat at the Titans Tower. I know it would be kinda poetic after THE BATARANG ™ but - no. I remember Jason/Clayface thing with Hush and I accept this canon but all I see at the Titans Tower fight is beating. I'm not even sure Jason wrote the note in blood, because guys, have you ever tried to write big letters with BLOOD? I DID. It's so fcking inconvenient. and takes too much time! and oh my god, even if Jason DID write it in Tim's blood, why slitting his throat? do you have any idea how ridiculously difficult the whole thing is? I think people just kinda confuse Tim-Jason situation at the Titans Tower and Tim-Jason situation with Hush. Because. Slitting throat thing. And they often forget about that Jason/Clayface thing with Hush. I forget it too, sometimes.

Lazarus Pit Madness as a form of mind control or something that excuses everything Jason did. And turning him to a different character.

Impulsive Jason Todd who has no control at all. like with the white streak - I mark it as a Fanon thing despite it being in comics. not because previous reasons but because. because retcon. fuck off. I mean, as Robin he could be, sometimes. But all Robins were like that sometimes. And they all still were professionals. Well. Can vigilantes be professional????? I don't think so but who knows.

Shiny Dick [2]. I won't apologise. (wow I just found out that apologise and apologize are both correct, just British and American variants. Cool!!)

Duke Thomas having half-existence. - would it hurt to actually choose if Duke exists in your story or not? he's an amazing character and it's better not to write him at all if he's a ghost here, my guy.

Weird Tim who worships Jason while getting beat up by him. Did you see how Tim's all sassy while fighting? NOT a deer with big eyes at all. ROBIN. He's Robin!

Not acknowledging what Damian al Ghul or Damian Wayne has been through. I get it, you like Tim and Damian's acting hostile makes you hostile towards him but— seriously?

Woobifying any character while completely changing personality. Dick, Tim and Jason are suffering the most from it. Damian is there sometimes too.

"Jason doesn't try to kill Bruce anymore". He never tried to kill Bruce except this one time in Lost Days where he decided not to do it after all.

Not acknowledging Jason Todd being a hypocrite.

guys do you remember Jason's dead eyes in Lost Days. literally the last glimpse of life in him was when he found out that Joker was alive. It's sad.

___

okay there's a lot more than that but I just can't remember anything else right now. And I'm not going to touch all the fandom's opinions on Bruce Wayne as a parent because it's even more meaningless.

___

sorry for bad English.

#batman fanfiction #batfam fandom #batfamily #batfam #lost days #red hood lost days #fanon #batman fanon #bad english #or should i say #BAT english #tim drake #jason todd #damian wayne #cassandra cain #cassandra wayne #fanon vs canon #comics panels #dc comic panels

[quillsareswords]

Hi! Me again, I was hoping I could request a little blurb? Like how Damian and the reader met, like under the crooked grin arc? If not then I totally understand, just thought I would ask. Have a nice day!! 🤓❤️

No I'm not answering this like two years late ahahaha no like what who even does that

Anyway here's some thirteen year old Damian Wayne and John Constantine's apprentice. See my Swords and Spells collection for more ❤️

WARNINGS: language

MASTER LIST in BIO

It's too loud.

That's all he cares about at the moment.

Still nursing a headache, as result of a hard hit he took the night before, this place is far too loud for his liking.

Why his father dragged him along is beyond him. Mingle. He'd scoffed this morning and he's scoffing now. The heir of the Demon and son of the Batman does not mingle. Especially with...these people.

The only reason he'd come at all was because, as Pennyworth pointed out this morning, it would be useful to have a standing relationship with some of the other vigilanties of the world, in the event that he has to call for backup.

He's been Robin for three years now, after all, and he's still only really got Superboy and some Teen Titans he could use for a fallback. What if they betray him?

He splits off from Batman almost immediately. Every person he's been introduced too between the main hall and the Zeta Tubes has only commented on how cute he is and joked about how alike they look. Introducing himself hopefully won't have that effect.

Plus, it's quieter on this side of the room.

"Right, but like, theoretically, how would you punch a ghost?"

His eye twitches. What.

He whips around to see who's asked such an absurd question. More accurately, who to avoid.

It's Wonder Girl. Of course.

She's leaning on one of the tables, in a new suit, bright hair brushed and straightened neatly. She's obviously here to make friends.

Whoever she's talking to, however, obviously is not.

You're slouching in a chair, leaning both arms on the tabletop, squishing a cheek onto one propped up palm. You don't seem to be wearing a suit of any kind, nor a mask, which is probably why Cassie came up to you in the first place. Instead, you're in jeans and combat boots, huddled into an oversized jacket. There's a ring on most of your fingers, and he counts three necklace chains from what he can see from here.

"Iron knuckle dusters. And it's not theoretical." You blink at her slowly.

"Really? Have you ever punched a ghost?"

You sigh quietly. "Nope."

"Then how do you know it's not theoretical?"

"Because I've seen it done before," you grumble. "It's my job to know."

She rolls her eyes good naturedly. "You're like, ten. You don't have a job."

You glare. "I'm thirteen. And it is my job."

Interesting, to say the least.

He walks over, squaring his shoulders and putting on his most professional face.

Cass sees him first. "Robin! Oh, I didn't know you were coming, I would've told Diana to tell Superman to bring Superboy!"

He sighs, deeply. "I have quite enough interaction with the Supers, Sandsmark."

You glance over, boredly. He watches, from behind emotionless white lenses, as you give him what he can only assume is a standard once-over.

It's coincidence that he only speaks up once your eyes reach his face again. "Who are you?"

It doesn't escape him that Cass looks at you expectantly, too. As if she's been talking to you this whole time without ever asking your name.

"Hellblazer's apprentice."

He crosses his arms. "Do you have a name, apprentice?"

Your gaze shifts from disinterested and passive to something very sharp and very much directed fully at him. "Do you, jackass?"

Cass goes wide-eyed and sucks in a silent breath. She glances between you and Robin.

This is the point at which, usually, Damian would have smelled a challenge, threw his metaphorical hand of cards down, and barked a challenge right back. But there's just something...different.

And it has nothing to do with the way his heart stutters in his chest now that he has full view of you. That's– Well that must be part of your powers, or whatever your thing is.

He decides to keep his cards in his hands. He minds his tone, just to see what happens. "I'm Robin."

You notice the shift, and react accordingly. Your gaze softens again, to something indifferent. "Oh, right. With Batman, yeah?"

He nods.

You nod too, leaning back in your chair and crossing your arms. Opening your body language, just a little. You give him your persona name.

Cassie can only stare.

She doesn't know Robin personally, exactly. Strictly through vigilante work. But she's still seen him get into brawls with men three times his size over far less than getting glared at and called a jackass.

"I'm gonna go find, um–" she scrambles for a name, for just long enough that you take notice, "Diana. It was really nice to meet you, though!"

You nod once, but she's gone before you get a real response out. You both watch her weave through the crowd of costumed adults, until she's out of sight.

"What was that about?" you wonder, assuming that his use of her last name meant they know one another.

"I don't know," he replies, squinting in her direction.

He catches sight of the Titans while he looks out into the crowd. He supposes some familiar company would be nice. Beast Boy is awfully loud, though. And Kori has such high energy...

You, on the other hand, seem to be just as much of a reluctant attendant as himself. You're sitting here, alone, quietly. And you seemed content talking to Wonder Girl, so you probably don't mind company—you seem like you'd have no problem running him off if he's wrong.

It would be very smart to have a contact with supernatural knowledge and experience. Father has Hellblazer, after all. And he's needed him many times.

It's a strategic choice. Obviously.

"What did you mean, when you told Wonder Girl that it's your job to know how to punch spirits?" He looks down at you.

You snort, but meet his eyes all the same. "Okay, I mean– Firstly, that's not my job, just part of it. Well...I guess it is." You stop and shake your head, looking away from him quickly.

You suck in a breath. "See, my job is to know how to fight things like ghosts. Mostly demons. Ghosts aren't much of a threat to the general population."

Demons? Like Raven's father? Now that would be a useful contact. He uses his heel to kick the chair beside you out from under the table and takes a seat. "Explain."

Your posture shifts a little. A little more towards him. A little more open. Like nobody's been asking you the right questions until now. "Well, I study demonology..."

#god i love them #im sorry i started writing this LITERAL YEARS AGO on my birthday and then it got buried in my drafts #ask me literally anything for them this collection has my whole heart #got some serious fucking angst cooking up for them though... #damian wayne #damian wayne x reader #damian wayne imagine #damian wayne blurb #quills swords and spells

[cookiesncreamlover17]

Yandere!Damian Wayne X Reader Pt.9

⚠️Warnings⚠️: Potential Hallucinations, Lying, Guilt Tripping, Physical Harassment, Pedophilia, and Cursing.

🇺🇸Word Count🇺🇸: 1,643

👾Characters👾: 8,879

As Steph raced out of the room pulling you with her, you could only begin to think about that chauffeur, that had acted so-so….. weirdly. You just hoped that nothing paranormal was going to happen. Little did you know that this wasn’t going to be about a ghost. But simply some people who you assumed were your friends. But tomorrow was only day 2.

############################## “I’m afraid you can’t. You did sign a contract after all”. Mr.William’s said. Damn that contract. But you couldn’t go against the richest school in all of Gotham! So as you made your way downstairs to your locker you put a note in it that read “Tim”. After all, you heard from Cass, that he was creepy.

Betrayal. The act of one or multiple people breaking a very serious promise. Sure, no one promised that you be safe at Gotham Academy, but that was what a school was for. Protection. But to you, whoever left that note in your locker clearly didn’t care about you. Their so called ‘love’ wasn’t love. It was an obsession! One that you didn’t deserve. Not now not ever. And even though you desperately wanted to leave, who’s to say you won’t get hurt in the process? That’s why you decided to stop fighting against those who wanted to keep you here. You were going to figure out who was trying to harm you and why.

Today was only day 2. And you were currently walking away from your dorm with Steph yapping behind you. Ever since yesterday, she kept trying to tell you how sorry she was, but didn’t know how to help you. You didn’t want to hear it. If she wanted to help, she could give you her phone. But she didn’t and said she wouldn’t. She said that you were going crazy and the note wasn’t real. Mr.Wilson had indeed seen the note, but chose to lie about. If you couldn’t prove to anyone that you were speaking the truth, then what’s the point in trying? It wasn’t like you were going crazy!

Right now, you were heading to art class. How lovely. Damian was expectedly talented in the side of art, so maybe, just maybe he would leave you alone for most of the time. He had tried to talk to you about the note, but if he didn’t believe you, you weren’t going to waste your time talking to him about it.

As you walked into the beautifully lit room with posters on the wall with ‘inspirational’ quotes, you saw Damian waving you over to a table in the back left corner of the room. You desperately wanted to ignore him, but there were only so many chairs open for you. And you weren’t about to waste your time with others who weren’t necessarily descent looking or acting. So with a heavy sigh you gently placed your black purse on the table next to the chair you invited yourself to sit in next to him.

“How are you, Y/n, on this lovely morning” Damian asked properly.

“Fine” you shrugged.

“About last ni-“

“It’s fine Damian. I’m over it”.

“You don’t seem over it”. He said with a scoff at the end.

“And what the hell would you know?! You think I’m crazy like the rest of the people her! So why don’t you do yourself a favor, and stop talking to me!

As you went to stand up you felt a very aggressive grip your arm and yank you back down!

“Don’t you dare try and start something! You are going to sit here until I tell you you can leave! Do you understand L/n”?! Damian said dead serious.

When the hell did he become the boss of you? You desperately wanted to leave and say something back, but you couldn’t. Not when everyone was staring at you, shocked, and you had just been threatened by someone you thought was your friend.

And so, as you slowly sat down, with tears ready to burst out of your eyes, the lesson began. You could feel him staring into the side of your head. He even tried to touch or hold, you couldn’t tell, yours hands! It wasn’t fair. You were going to report him and put him on the note inside your locker.

As art soon ended you rushed outside of the room and quickly walked upstairs, not even giving Damian a second glance. English was next. And of course you had to do a project with him. Yay.

Surprisingly, he hadn’t said anything or tried to touch you again. Thank the Gods! And then Math and study hall passed like a breeze. Now it was time to talk to Cass, Steph, and Jason about what Damian had done. And now you were going to get your revenge with a little bit of…..drama!

And now, as you were walking towards your lunch table, a small little grin slid up to your mouth.

“Hey Cass! You’re never going to believe what happened in art cla-“ you stoped abruptly. Damian was sitting at your lunch table with Steph, Cass, and Jason looking at you sadly.

“Y/n” Steph said disappointingly. “How could you have done that”?! She questioned while shaking her head.

“Done what”?

“You embarrassed Damian in front of everyone, and you hit him”! Jason said angrily.

“What are You talking about”?! “I never hit him! You don’t know half of what he said to me”! You said angrily. How could they believe him over you?!

“Apologize” Cass said angrily.

With your mouth slightly open you spoke-“How about you sick my dick” you said angrily and then sticking up your middle finger and then walking away towards the principles office.

There was absolutely no way you were going to be bossed around by people who had only known you for two days! They were arrogant, stuck up, little pricks! And as much as you hated Mr.Wilson, you knew that they were not getting away with it. Even if you had to see the worst person in the world! And so that is what you did. You entered Mr.Wilson’s office before taking a seat in a chair.

“Hello Mr.Wilson. Such a lovely afternoon, isn’t it? But! There’s no time for joy. I have a report I would like to make”. You said sternly.

“Y/n, if this is about yesterday evening, we will not be disc-“

“NO! No. It something else. It’s about Damian. And Steph and Cass and Jason”.

“Mhm. Go ahead……”

“Well, this morning, in art class, Damian and I were arguing about last night. And for the record, I never actually wanted to talk to him about, but that’s not the point. When I snapped back at him, and told him to stay away from me, he completely freaked out! He grabbed me very roughly and left bruises! He also told me that I had to sit with him and that I was not to start anything! And then I went to tell Cass, Steph, and Jason about it, and Damian got to them first and told them that I had hit him! I hit him?! He’s such a, a, a, LIAR!

“Um Ms.L/n, I-I do-don’t. Huh wew. Ms.L/n, I know you had a little bit of ,um, trouble adjusting to this school and its way. And taking in the deep concern of your little letter. I think it’s right to just ignore those people. It’s not like I can just kick them out, right? He said with nervous giggle at the end of his sentence.

“A-are you fucking with me right now? I just told you I’ve got a two threats and it’s not even the end of the week! How can you not take this seriously”?!

“We don’t tolerate this language Y/n! If you can’t handle the truth than I am afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave me office now”.

“The-the truth”?! You said confused with your voice cracking at the end. “And your-your-you’re worried about my language! I-I wanna to speak to Mr.William’s! Right now! How do you think he’ll react to a principle not taking threats seriously? Huh?! You shot back at him.

“Listen to me you little bitch! I was kind to you because that’s what I was instructed to do. You take orders from me, and I don’t have to let you see Bruce! Don’t you ever talk to me like that you little shit! Mr.Wilson snapped back making you stand still and stare at him with nothing but shock.

“Fuck you”! You said angrily as you stormed out. But once you left his office you weren’t expecting to see four people in front of you. It was Damian, Cass, Steph, and Jason. Of course.

You weren’t talking to them until they apologized, so you walked away from them. Or At least tried. When you went to turn towards your dorm Jason stepped in front of your small form with his arms crossed.

“Well”? Steph said with an obvious tone like you were suppose to know what she was talking about.

“Well what”? You questioned staring at her ocean blue eyes.

“Are you gonna apologize or not”! She screeched back.

“I’m not the one who should be apologizing”. You said as you rolled your eyes. “Just piss off”. You once again spoke before moving to walk between Cass and Steph. But not before hearing them mutter to one another as you went to walk down to your locker instead. But even as you walked away from the group of four, you still felt like you were being stared at by something. Or maybe it wasn’t something, but maybe it was someone? Though, as you slipped the note inside of your locker, the persons name read “Mr.Wilson”. As much as you knew that it would be very illegal, Mr.Wilson always had it out for you. Throwing away the note made him look even more suspicious. Even more than Damian. But you still had five more days left. And tomorrow would make it day 3.

Written: Wednesday, August 30, 2023

#Warnings #Yandere Damian Wayne #Bruce William’s #Jason Todd #Cassandra Cane #Stephanie Brown #Mr.Wilson #Rude Principle

[starseternelle]

a modern one shot for @nightstriumph - rhys's amnesia arc

he looks so fragile underneath the tubes and equipment. bruises & cuts pepper his face & she is careful as she takes his hand into hers, her touch almost ghosting for fear of hurting him further. worse than she already has. " hey stranger, " she whispers to him. the doctor had been rather adament that rhys probably couldn't hear them, but she tries anyway ( for at least a brief moment, she has him back in her life. forgive her the indulgence, to speak to him while she can even if she can never receive his answer )

his brothers have excused themselves to give her privacy & she cannot restrain herself from the truth any longer. " i have missed you more than anything, you know. i've missed my best friend. " the confession stumbles along her tongue & she blinks away the burning in her gaze. her heart tears itself into pieces. she forces herself to feel its sting, it's the least she can do. " i'm so scared, rhys. you told me i'd never be alone again, but i am. "

she chokes on her words, her breathing shudders through her chest painfully. does she imagine she feels his hand squeeze hers ?? she must have. " i wish i could tell you why i did it. i wish i could tell you i never would have done it if i had a choice. no one knows & i have to lie to every single person in my life. i had to lie to you. " it's the one lie she's ever told him in a relationship built on mutual understanding. it's the one that mattered most.

" we need you to get better, rhys. az & cass & mor. " he is the only thing that makes sense in any of this. her star to guide her home in the blackest night. " i need you to get better. " her voice cracks & she feels the tears on her cheeks, but makes no move to wipe them away. " you have so much good to give to the world yet. even if you never believe another word i say, please believe this. the world is a better place with you in it " come back, come back, come back !!

she hears the doctor politely cough behind her, give his apologies that visiting hours are over. until tomorrow, she'll fight for sleep unsuccessfully at home, the image of his hurt seared into her memory. she learns forward, gentle fingers brushing his pesky curl behind his ear ( it causes her heart to catch, some things never change ) " i love you. still. always. " her lips brush a kiss against his temple before she vacates the room.

under the harsh lights, his lids flutter, as if dreaming of her touch.

gone as quick as it came.

#nightstriumph #au; my soul calls to yours across the years (modern) #one shot.

[needleanddead]

12 and 26 for everyone? c:

under the cut for length! fgbnkjgfn you guys love just asking for everyone. understandable. thankfully, i like to talk at length

What’s their ideal vacation like?

Answered for Cass and Constance here.

Van would like to see wonders of the modern world. He’d love Tokyo or somewhere equally tech-savvy; he’d love anywhere he could see all of the things that humankind has made and ask questions about how they’re made and try all kinds of sugary Japanese sweets. He’d find capsule hotels incredibly interesting. He’d find anything with complicated automated controls a lot of fun to fiddle with! I’m not sure he’d fit in a capsule hotel (and certainly True Form Van would never allow this kind of vacation; his idea of a vacation is being able to be in the woods in nature away from the Winter Court for as long as possible) . . . but he’d have fun!

Lucas is perfectly happy where he is, thank you. He doesn’t want a vacation. He likes the routine and the work; feeding the chickens, doing the chores, checking the electricals and water-- he supposes, in an ideal world, his vacation would involve no campers or hikers or uninvited guests stumbling across his private territory, so he could simply enjoy uninterrupted peace with his adored beloved. 

Percy would like to laze around and eat nice food with nice views. Places with interesting folklore and large libraries are a bonus; just in case he gets tired of indulging himself. He likes the heat a lot! He speaks several languages and can make himself liked anywhere, really - so as long as the first few conditions are met, Percy will make the most of it. 

Thorne needs to be having adventures, and preferably with someone else. He spends so long on the Athena all alone (and even when on land, he can’t actually stay away from the Athena that long - if he spends longer than the ship wants, he starts to become less and less corporeal to other people until he’s a much more traditional ghost, and he only regains shape and weight and ability when back on deck). He’d like those kind of holidays where one goes to an activity park; zip-line, cave, climb mountains! He wants to be doing things! 

Rose likes quiet holidays. They’d like a cultural break, probably; seeing nice architecture, visiting museums, in the off-season where tourists aren’t quite so loud or prevalent. In an ideal world, they’d have someone they trusted to share it with (this is not Teddy’s speed), who wouldn’t get angry if they needed to press closer to them or cut a trip short. They’d love places with a spooky history; think Salem, Whitby, New Orleans, London. Some of those places are probably . . . better, quieter bets than others. They’re not generally a big fan of outdoorsy things, but they could definitely be convinced to enjoy a quiet country cottage and hikes and walks, with the right person!

Teddy wants to do something fun! He’s the most likely to enjoy a ‘fancy cocktails, relaxing on the beach, clubbing at night in hot weather’ holiday. He can’t afford that kind of getaway right now, but he does daydream about it! Drinking pink sugary things and flirting with cute barkeepers and people by the pool and people in the club, perhaps making himself the centre of attention in any way he can manage . . . Sleeping in until noon, spending nights with people willing to be a little mean to him . . . He wants to make the most of it!

What’s one topic they could never get tired of researching or learning about?

I think, with everything he’s gone through and how he’s been used, Cass would be forgiven for finding art a chore - but he really, really doesn’t. He loves making things. He loves being somewhere else. He loves trying new mediums, he loves wandering art galleries and reading books about art history and just finding out as much as he can. He knows he’s good at what he does, but he prefers not to be complacent about it - it’s a constant cycle of learning and research and practise, and he honestly does enjoy every moment of it. 

Constance is absolutely fascinated by medical procedures. This started when she was young, on the days her father would bring her into his office; she loved seeing all the glamorous people who came to him for cosmetic surgery, and she especially loved seeing how it could change a person. Her obsession with medical memorabilia and cosmetic surgery in particular hasn't dulled at all; when she has an interest, she clings onto it mercilessly. She likes to read medical journals and keep abreast of all discoveries she can. She basically taught herself everything she knows - and she wants to continue to learn. She just . . . doesn't want to have to start from the bottom again, as a lowly med student, to do it.

Lucas doesn’t really have anything like this, honestly; his favourite subject to learn about, nowadays, is his beloved. He’ll tolerate any amount of info-dumping or knowledge that they want to give him - and he wants to know about them (within reason), too! Tell him about your favourite colours, your favourite seasons, your favourite foods. Maybe avoid telling him about your ex-partners and your dreams of exploring the world. 

Percy likes clockwork and mechanics. He’s an expert in folklore about dreams and sleep, because he has to be - but that’s not his passion. What he likes doing is taking apart watches and time-pieces and fixing them and putting them back together. He also likes learning about antiques a lot! He’s got a lot of esoteric knowledge about types of woods and precious stones and what exactly that hallmark on your silver ring means, and he’s always happy to discover more!

Van likes learning about electronics. He’s fascinated by just how many facts they can hold in such tiny little bodies! In general, he likes learning about how things are built and made and developed; he’s constantly amazed by human invention. It’s one of the things that keeps him wandering back into the cities - mortals are just so . . . interesting. 

Rose likes urban legends; they read a lot of horror books, they want to know where the inspiration comes from! They are extremely likely to get lost in internet rabbitholes about such things for hours at a time, especially at night. There’s something, too, comforting about all of these old first-hand accounts . . . other people, in the past, who saw things like Rose did. It’s nice not to feel alone!

Teddy isn’t much of a ‘research’ guy! He does have those things he’s interested in (he loves his job; he knows a lot about the Create-A-Cub Limited Editions of the past and is always happy to talk about them. He loves his other job, too - he can talk about musicals and dance technique until the cows come home), but he doesn’t really go out of his way to learn things so much as he just soaks them up!

Thorne became a pirate partly for adventure and partly to see the world; and he really doesn’t tire of the last thing, no matter how many centuries he lives. There’s just something so fascinating about learning about other cultures; trying local foods, hearing the languages, finding out their histories and talking to the people about what it’s really like living there!

#🦇 pip ocs

[vipier]

@gurrillero  sent  :  a kiss attempting to convince the other party to stay .

          IT IS SO EASY TO DISAPPEAR IN THE SLUMS OF CITIES SUCH AS THIS, IN THE CRACKS OF SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE LIKE THEM DO THEIR BEST WORK.       since he has been on ord mantell, it feels as though the only eyes he cannot fully escape are cassian’s  -  and he cannot claim, either, that he wishes to.  there’s certainly a danger to it and the other man invites further danger by even engaging with him here.   (  in the depths of his heart, small and unexpressive as it may often be, he knows he would tear the throat from another who would put cass in this kind of   DANGER,   an utterly baffling double standard from a man who cannot find it within himself to play anything but a  contradiction.  )   rich neon lights from the wealthier gambling sector of the town illuminate the dingy room  -  and his lover sitting on the edge of his bed, reaching for his socks, his shirt, any piece of clothing still missing from their desperate, passionate,   AGGRESSIVE   encounter.  vibrant pink and blue illuminate a few new bruises on cass’s neck, shoulders, and collarbones ;  tristan had wanted to mark him,  needed to mark him as his own,  before letting him back into the world.   (   AS IF HE BELONGED TO HIM,   as if he ever could, as if tris were capable of giving voice to the yearning that rots inside of him to possess what he simply cannot.  )   as he lays reclined on the thin mattress, his thumb ghosts along his own hipbone, along the raised lines of scratches where cassian’s fingernails had clung in those last desperate moments when they had possessed each other, and he swallows back the wave of emotion that hits him near like nausea,  unprepared  as he is to feel it.

          it is then that cassian turns to look at him, shirt in his hands.  they know each other too well now,  such that tris easily detects the trouble behind his gaze, an uncommon uncertainty in a man so schooled and talented in the art of   LIES.   he prefers him this way, stripped remarkably bare in every possible way ;  they aren’t the sort to shed their armor completely in front of anyone, and they’re perfectly aware that they are the last people the other should trust, but there is an inevitable   VULNERABILITY   in that shared knowledge.  they have shared  years  between one another now, years of betrayals and camaraderie and committing every last curve of each other to permanent memory, in case each encounter might be their last.   (  every so often, such as in this very moment, tristan is faced with the terrifying reality that, perhaps,  cassian  knows him better than anybody else in the galaxy.  )   

when cassian finally speaks, his voice rasps slightly, a bit hoarse, as if he can barely force the words.   ❛   i look at you & it is like my throat being cut.   ❜

          tristan pauses at that, nostrils flaring in his virile attempt to restrain the lump that immediately rises in his own throat.  it’s brief,  almost infinitesimal,  but it is a feeling he cannot take back, at least not from himself.  cassian’s words are like their own knife, threatening to spill all that tristan has ever been onto the dingy ferrocrete floor beneath them  -  and it is   UNBEARABLE.   more than anything, tristan wishes he did not understand what it’s like, wishes he did not understand the sensation, what it feels like for each glance to be a  little death.   (  he’d sworn to himself that he would never be subservient to emotion and yet here he is.  )   his fingers dig briefly into the paths cass carved into his hips, the bite of pain drawing him back into reality, willing him to sit up in bed, the thin sheet slipping to drape around his bare waist.  he doesn’t know what force compels him to reach out his hand, to grasp firmly at cass’s wrist, but for a moment they just stare at one another, suspended in time as they search for something undefined and unspeakable.  tris pulls then, leans in, and claims his mouth somewhat desperately, open-mouthed, tongue sweeping over a full lower lip as the other man leans into him.  don’t go.  stay.  removing the shirt from cassian’s grasp, he drops it back on the ground and slowly,   TEMPTINGLY,   leans back to the mattress.  pretend time doesn’t exist until morning.  when he feels the other man’s weight settle above him, he knows he’s won.  stay. 

#gurrillero #contract accepted. ( responses ) #you've undone me even with my knife plunged in your heart. ( gurrillero ) #i took a page out of ur book and combined two #in order to rip my own feelings to absolute shreds because what the fuck

[redrobin-detective]

What meta abilities would you give to each of the batfam?

I'm always changing my mind lol

Alfred- Immortal, Alfie is definitely immortal and has been around for ages just doing his thing. Working for Thomas and Martha was a temporary thing to humble himself after centuries of being an arrogant warrior but now finds he likes serving his Master/son and their crazy brigade. Also taught B like so much stuff and is a great resource on history and battles. One reason B is so chill with metas and eventually adopts a bunch.

Dick- Telekinesis, he's always this in my mind. I think I read a fic of it and it just stuck in my head. I especially like the idea that his folks weren't metas and he just kind of appeared with this ability by chance. He'd have this whole arc of disliking his powers on and off maybe because he DID fall with his parents but instinctively caught himself midair on part of the broken trapeze. The survivors guilt and not feeling like a "true" Flying Grayson (like he's cheating) haunts him. This was one reason B trained him in human martial arts to kind of ground him.

Babs- Enhanced reflexes/strength, not something to do with technology you ask? NO! Barbs journey is about finding herself and where she fits in. She was a natural athlete d/t enhanced strength and reflexes, not crazy superhuman but enough to give her an edge over normal people when she became Batgirl. Losing the use of her legs devastated her but she moved past that to become the all seeing Oracle. She still can kick your ass from her chair even as she frames you for tax fraud.

Jason- Pyrokinesis, I also usually stick with this for Jay, probably leftover from the ATLA Au me and a friend kicked around for a while but it just fits. Young Jay was so gentle with his fires, lighting candles, warming Alfred's lukewarm tea that when he becomes Hood he just lets loose with these infernos to try and burn away his whole life. The first Bat who is outed as a meta and the rest of the Gotham community is watching Hood commit mass arson like "Bats how did you keep a lid on this kid" not knowing how Robin Jay used to be. Jay lords using his powers in public in his siblings' faces.

Tim- Death Communication, able to speak to the dead for certain periods (how long a person stays after death always depends). Got involved with B bc Jason's ghost came to him begging him to help his father. Tim got scared when Jason suddenly moved on midway through Robin training not realizing he'd been resurrected. Hood hates Tim for knowing what Jay used to be like. Whispers to murder victims and helps solve their cases. Thinks he can handle death fine but is both relieved and devastated when his dead loved ones move on quicker than he's ready.

Cass- Empath and low level psych, Cass's ability to read people comes not just from body language but also picking up on their emotions and some surface level thoughts if she works at it. Also able to project emotions or her thoughts into others minds. Its why she never learned to speak normally, she just communicated with her mind. Always attuned to her families emotional needs, she likes to go around projecting love and safety onto them. Its nice but sometimes Cass forgets things like Boundaries.

Steph- Precognitive Abilities, Steph gets flashes of the future at random, sometimes barely understandable snippets, sometimes long drawn out episode that last minutes and look (from the outside) like a seizure. Its how she got in the vigilante game, foreseeing not only her father's crimes but also her friendship with the fam. She drives B crazy by knowing some future events but not with any accuracy and just kind of making stuff up as she goes.

Damian- Invulnerable, well not quite but Damian is very, very hard to kill and ages slower than most humans as a result of growing up around the Pits. He's not quite invulnerable but it is harder to break skin and he heals much faster than a human. Was at first dismissive of his human father but now sees the value of his mortality. Is probably gonna be '10' for a while and the thought scares him. B is throwing crazy amounts of money to try and let Damian age as normal, even if it means cancelling out his abilities.

Duke- Light powers, nuff said

#batkids meta au #bruce is very tired #Dick is floating cereal and fixins through the kitchen #Tim is sleep deprived and is he arguing with his dead father again or just hallucinating? who knows #Cass is projecting a kpop song into everyones heads to brighten the mood #stephanie has burst in wearing pjs saying killer croc is going to flood the sewers tomorrow... or possible next year #Jason decided the toaster wasn't working fast enough and is immolating his bagel with his hands #Bruce just wants coffee and some sleep

[dripping-starlight]

A new life

Okay here we go, chapter 4! Gods okay so we get Another Azriel Poverties as well as more time with Rhys!! Words, 2032 so almost double the usual amount! Hope you guys enjoy. Xx

Chapter I, Chapter II, Chapter III, Chapter IIII

Zeph,

You could feel the colour draining from your face, you hadn’t told him that you were a witch. You only told Asteria and she’d sworn that she wasn’t going to tell anyone. The only people who knew were the ones who lived in Ironcrest, but they rarely left. And the ones who lived here in Windhaven didn’t leave either. The two camps didn’t mix.

You went over every possibility in your head trying to figure out how he’d known.

You could faintly hear Rhys saying something but you weren’t paying attention, ”Zeph, hey he was just joking. There was a rumour going around a few months ago about some witch living in a basement at Ironcrest.”

”Half-witch, and it was an attic.” You whispered.

The room went quiet, everyone was looking at you. The first one of them to make a sound was Azriel with his soft, ”What?” You could hear the surprise in his voice and something else that you couldn’t place.

You took a deep breath before you answered them again, ”Not a witch, a half-witch. And it wasn’t a basement, the house didn’t have one. Only an attic.” Cassian looked like his eyes were going to fall out of their sockets, Rhys was for once caught off guard staring at you with his mouth open. Azriel was the only one who looked somewhat normal. To hell with it, they would’ve found out sooner or later.

Rhys was the first to speak, ”So what can you do then?” You were taken aback by the question. You weren’t sure what you’d expected but it certainly wasn’t that.

”Nothing.” You didn’t lie. You never learned so in all honesty you actually couldn’t do anything.

Rhys just grinned at you, ”That’s what Azriel used to say about his shadows, and look at him now.” You didn’t look at him though. You looked at your hand. Swirling around your fingertips was a small black shadow, it seemed shy. It slowly made its way up your arm and to your shoulder where it decided to stay. It never stopped moving but it never left either.

All of a sudden Cassian just pointed at you and loudly exclaimed,” What the fuck did you do to make it stay that still??” Scaring the shadow and making it hide in your hair.

”I- I didn’t do anything I swear, it just came to me.” You didn’t realize what all the fuss was about until you looked over at Azriel and saw his face. He looked mortified. All of a sudden the shadow left your hair and returned to him as fast as possible.

”I’m sorry, are you okay?” He was staring at you, looking as if he’d never seen you before.

”Yes? Why wouldn’t I be?” You didn’t understand what the issue here was. It wasn’t like it’d done anything. It was just being friendly.

Azriel relaxed a bit even though he still looked like he’d seen a ghost, ”They’ve never done that before.” He answered with a rather small voice for someone who certainly was anything but small.

Rhys seemed to have decided to brush past what had just happened and started talking, ”I have a plan. Zeph, we’re going to find out what you actually can do. I know that we promised we would teach you how to fight too. So I’ve made a schedule. Every morning right after breakfast you’ll be on the balcony with either me, Cass, or Az, training. Then in the evenings you and Azriel are going to try and figure out what kind of power you have. Something is telling me that your powers will mix well considering what just happened. Then when we know what it is you can do, I will work with you and teach you how to control it.” You just slowly nodded.

Rhys got up, ”We start today. Go change and meet me on the balcony in ten.” Before you even had time to respond he’d left the room.

You were up on the balcony with Rhys. Looking down on all the people you turned back to him a bit concerned, ”Won’t they see us up here?” This seemed so stupid. Devlon would shut this down immediately if he heard about it. Or worse, saw it.

Rhys just grinned, ”Well Zephyra dearest, that’s the point, isn’t it?—” You raised a brow at him, he had lost it. At your questioning gaze he just sighed, ”—Don’t worry, we’ll just be working on your balance and footing today.”

You laughed, ”And you don’t think they’ll catch onto what we’re doing?”

He contemplated it for a moment then shrugged, ”We will tell them that we’re dancing. I will even personally go as far as to tell Devlon myself. Especially how shit your balance and footing are. After that, he won’t be able to say anything.” It would never work.

”Come on, let’s get started shall we—” He waved you over, closer to the middle, ”—First, the placement of your feet.” After he’d arranged your feet into what he deemed to be an acceptable stance he told you to keep that position for five minutes without moving. You were on your ass after one and a half minutes.

Laughing he walked up to you and held a hand out helping you up on your feet, ”Okay that’s good, now do it again but try to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.” You did. You fell again, two minutes this time.

”Now we’re talking, come on up again, we’ll keep doing it until you get to five minutes.” He helped you up again.

At midday, you’d done it.

You had to shower. How the fuck was it possible to get this sweaty from standing still. You didn’t understand, how it was going to help but you trusted Rhys.

He’d left to go meet Cass and Az around fifteen minutes ago, you were planning on joining them as well.

Grabbing an apple you left the house and went towards the sparring rings. You knew the whole layout of the camp like the back of your hand by now, it’d taken you a week to figure out where everything was. No one paid attention to you, except for a few people who would watch you from a distance. Most of the time you were left alone though.

When you reached the others they were already taking a break. As you walked up and sat down Cassian stole the apple you had brought for yourself, complaining about how he’d pass out if he couldn’t have it.

”I think I deserve the apple more considering how I passed out after I’d left Ironcrest. And not only that, but I passed out against a tree.” You argued before you stole back your apple.

You were so tired, you could barely even stand up. You and Az had spent hours that evening reading about witches and their abilities and how they used them. Turns out there wasn’t much to be found about witches. Except for a text that focused on how witches rarely shared their ways of life and how they would burn the books about them in order to stay hidden. That’s where you’d stopped for the evening, the two of you realized pretty quickly that you would have to find a different way.

Everyone was asleep, the house was deadly quiet. Everyone except for you. You had been laying in your bed twisting and turning for three hours now. It was hopeless, never in your life before had you felt so abandoned and lost. Giving up, you left the bed and walked through the house up to the balcony. As soon as you opened the doors you took a deep breath, feeling how the cold night air calmed your razing thoughts.

”Can’t sleep?—” You looked over to the figure resting against the railing only to find no other than Azriel. Realizing that he maybe wanted to be you took a step back, ”—Stay, I don’t mind. Unless you wanted to be alone?.” He hadn’t even needed to look at you to know what you were thinking, a shiver ran across your back, how?

”Alright then.” You almost whispered it, scared of something you didn’t know what it was. You made your way onto the balcony, letting your wings out as you came up and took your place right next to him. It felt right as if you belonged. You could feel him as he looked at your wings only to feel cold as soon as he looked away again. You took another deep breath as you looked up at the stars and closed your eyes you felt heat flood your face. As if a weight had finally been lifted from your shoulders like you could breathe again. You could feel him watching you as a single tear slid down your face.

Az,

He didn’t understand why he could never hear her as she walked up to him. It had been one of the reasons why he’d tried to stay away at first. The fact that he could never see her coming. This time it was almost painful, he hadn’t heard her but as soon as she had opened the balcony door he could feel her presence, he hadn’t even had to turn around. He just knew.

When she’d taken the place right next to him he’d thought he was going to die. It didn’t help either that she’d let her wings out, knowing that he was the only one who’d seen them.

Watching her tilt her head towards the stars all he could do was hold his breath, as one single tear fell down her cheek, the freckles on her face started to glow. Her freckles were stars, not only that but they represented the entire night sky. All of it. Her whole face was filled with constellations of different stars, he felt as if he couldn’t breathe. How had he missed that? She didn’t only look ethereal under the stars, she became it.

”Your mother, did she ever tell you about it?—” She opened her eyes and looked at him, he breathed in before he kept going, ”—Your power, or hers. Especially how your freckles glow under the stars.” He whispered the last part, afraid that she would leave.

She blinked a few times before she opened her mouth to speak, ”My mother—” She hesitated before she kept going, ”—Used to tell me how the stars in my freckles symbolized the power gifted to me from the old gods. She made it into this whole story, every night she told me about it, and when she did she always used her magic to recreate the night sky above our bed. After her death, I tried to make my own stars, every night. Desperate to get some sort of light in my room, but I never managed so when I turned nine I gave up and started to explore instead.”

He could see the pain in her eyes and it made him ache but he needed to see it, ”Try it, try it once more. Just once. If it doesn’t work then we’ll try something else but if it does then we have somewhere to start.” She just looked at him her face blank, she was tired. Tired of trying to create something she’d given up on so many years ago. But she did it anyway, realizing she had nothing to lose.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she cupped her palms and whispered, ”Please.” Suddenly her hands started to glow and something formed in her palms. He sucked in a breathe not believing it, it was a star. A small one, but a star nonetheless. She just stared at it, and for the first time, she looked truly happy and content.

She looked at him and smiled, as she did she grabbed his hand and turned it over, cupping his palm before she placed the star in it and whispered a soft, ”Thank you, Azriel.” Before she turned and left.

He couldn’t breathe, and as he looked down into his palm at the small star resting there he smiled.

#azriel x reader #azriel #a new life #azriel shadowsinger #rhysand #cassian #azriel fluff #azriel x reader fluff #azriel acotar #azriel x oc #azriel x you #Azriel x female oc #female oc

[anniebuddy]

Cassandra Cain and Ghost: Shared Trauma, Shared Motivations

ababababa okay not a huge analysis, started as just a little character thing i liked w/ Cass (+ Elisa, more on her) in Ghost/Batgirl: The Resurrection Machine,,

Early story spoilers ahead.

CW: Sex Trafficking, CW: Drugging (Complicated by a mid-story reveal but clearly coded as such), CW: Kidnapping (As much resonance as I find with how some of these subjects are dealt w/ by the characters, they’re all potentially not as gently delivered/handled as they could be. I did get triggered.)

In the Ghost/Batgirl series, Batgirl meets...well, Ghost. From what I know, she’s a Dark Horse character. But basically, she has a similar story to Cass; having been used and manipulated to be a weapon. Batgirl doesn’t know this at first. Nor is either girl aware of the fact they’re investigating the same missing persons case. When they do stumble upon one another, each acquires confirmation of just what happened to the missing women. They were victims of a form of sex trafficking. Specifically, they were sold to a very skeevy strip club “under the influence” and forced to perform. 

And without any words, I feel there’s still already a clear understanding between the two on just how morally vexing this is for them;

Ghost/Batgirl #1

“But I’m glad to see I’m not the only one in the world with a sense of moral outrage.”

Now, this could just be referring to the fact that Cass happened to be following the case too. But even so, I think it speaks to the connection they share in this moment.

Cass & Ghost both sympathize with these girls for a distinct reason. Unlike most of Cass’s exploits beforehand, this isn’t down to her trying to save a life from certain death (which, don’t get me wrong, is still certainly important to her and tied to her trauma, as well as just important in general) - it’s to save a life from falling into the hands of another person. From having their bodies used for another’s benefit.

It obviously isn’t the exact same as what Ghost and Cass went through, but it strikes the same chords. Hits the same triggers. Brings out that same urge for justice in each of them.

For Ghost’s part, we got some indications on just how personal this case will feel for her before she could even put the pieces together on what’s going on. She has this to say upon arriving at the strip club;

Ghost/Batgirl #1

Can I just say how much I appreciate the clear lack of slutshaming in her frustration? What she’s upset about is how the power imbalance between the performers and clientele can be abused. Much like she was.

And immediately after meeting and rescuing Debbie Scoggins, the girls start following leads. And they aren’t shy about their anger with this sleazebag.

I believe Cass pretty quickly picked up on a lot of where Ghost’s rage was coming from. And could certainly relate to it.

Which is why she almost immediately feels she can trust her.

Ghost/Batgirl #2

So, Cass and Ghost are a cool duo! And Cass continues to morally kick ass.

I’m actually really sad these girls never met up again (to my knowledge). And how obscure Ghost seems to be in general...

Bonus: Cass & Ghost threatening more gross men;

#cassandra cain #elisa cameron #cw: sex trafficking #cw: drugging #cw: kidnapping #batgirl #black bat #orphan #ghost #ghost/batgirl: the resurrection machine #dc #comics #this was supposed to be way smaller skjdhskdhs #may edit later #analysis #headcanon #it would be cool if you followed/interacted 👉👈