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hoodedwing · 3 years

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Soldier, Tell Me

Summary: Roy may have banished his demons but we know that demons, and bad habits die hard.

Characters: Jason, Roy, Cheshire and Lian

Warnings: Implied shipping? (not really actually), Drug abuse, depressive thoughts, major canon death. Vomiting and blood

Additional Notes: This was the 3k fic I spent months working on. I hope you like it as much as I did writing it :))

Word Count: 3,499 words

***

Jason drums his fingers against the handles as he leans a little and presses himself into the seat. His earpieces played some old school song that he didn't bother changing as he took a left turn to a rather deserted road.

Up ahead, a huge building stood in relative isolation, save for a scatter of trees. Jason flips the indicator and takes another right towards the entrance of the car park before finding a small, vacant spot and parking his bike. Switching off the bike, he took a deep breath of the deep gasoline smell lingering.

It assaulted his senses in a good way, preparing him for what was going to happen incoming. He doesn’t know how to start everything with Roy. It’s not as if he could strike up a conversation about a mission like the yesteryears. He couldn’t slide up to him, smile and talk straight away to have expectations that Roy could catch up to speed.

He could try. Pretend everything was normal. Pretend everything was okay and that no one was sinking underneath the weight. Pretend they were still happy despite being scarred all the way through.

He had to accept the fact that Roy was probably in a cleaner slate than when he last saw him. Sometimes, he felt irrational hatred at himself for not seeing it earlier, for not stopping him, A part of him felt that he could’ve saved Roy from hell. He could be the barrier, the small glass shard that held the rest of the pieces up.

Hell, nothing could’ve almost prevented him from collapsing onto the floor when he found Roy out cold on the unforgiving tiles of the damp bathroom floor, a used needle on the floor and empty syringes. A discarded lighter and spoon told the shameful truth Jason wanted desperately to not be true, to not be real, to simply fade and become a figment of his imagination, a hallucination to be exact. An unresponsive Roy sent Jason towards a panicked call to the ER and a shot of Narcan he had in his military-grade belt. There was a splutter and then the vomiting out the offender and the slight feverish touch of the skin. Jason carded his hair and tore a piece of his shirt to keep his forehead cool and try to get his fever down.

Jason had waited outside the ER with trepidation, hoping he really caught him in time. Nurses came in and went. Oliver Queen was suddenly there and Jason doesn’t know what’s next but he sees Dinah Lance as well and all he could pray was that Queen hadn’t disowned Roy. All he registered was a faint squeeze of a shoulder and a soft voice of “He’ll be fine, they’re good at what they do.”

He doesn’t know what to do as he pushes himself off the bike and locks it twice to double-check. Tossing his bag over his shoulder which had a spare set of clothes, shoes and essentials for Roy, he shoves his keys in his jean pockets and his other gloved hand tightening around a Narcan jab.

He’s at the counter.

Jason lazily leans against one of those plastic colored chairs that's plain uncomfortable to sit on. His eyes draw slowly towards the anti-drug videos playing on the screen. Sometimes he wonders if it remotely worked, at all as he watched a video on psychedelics and withdrawal symptoms. He thinks about how the initial years would be hell, suddenly the high was taken away and the addict was suffering. He was shaking, chills and absolutely losing it. He briefly thought about heroin and opium. Then he hears the low whine of machines and the counter number calling for him.

He tiredly gets up and waits at the counter, an all too smiling nurse who kindly gave him a bunch of paperwork to sign. His grip on the pen was so loose the nurse had to gently remind him that his hands were shaking. Steeling himself, he signs the last few release papers.

“You don’t look old to be Mr Queen, don’t you?”

“I’m..I’m his friend. Here to take him home.”

He exhales, a hand in his frazzled bangs making everything a little more messy. The nurse takes it as her cue to take Roy and she leaves.

Jason tries to not imagine what Roy might look like after an entire year. In his dreams, it’s either he was a bag of bones or a hollowed face. Other days, he couldn’t see him, it was a blur of shadows and nothing much. All he remembers is the empty longing for his companion to make his trio complete. Sure, Artemis and Bizarro were lovely company but Roy was the one who truly understood him to the core. He knew so much about Jason it was almost as if he was psychoanalyzing him instead. Roy knew Jason’s preferences like straight black coffee, novels with petrichor or simply a rainy day. He knew too much to not be there and it ached Jason’s bones badly.

He wouldn’t admit it, he missed his best friend.

The nurse returns and the first thing Jason registers is the way Roy’s threadbare olive shirt was hanging off his shoulder blades. The constant micro adjustments he did to push the shirt back up to the collarbone to hide the rest of the boned wisp of a muscled and lean man he once was. The same went for his jeans, rolled up at his shins and looking half-dead yet terrified. He shuffled his feet and chewed rather loudly at a ridiculously pink bubblegum. Jason hasn’t had the chance to look into his eyes and see how much was lost.

Suffice to say, Jason needed time to get Roy back to himself completely. He quietly hoped that there was enough Roy to heal back.

Roy finally looks up and smiles imperceptibly, the corners of his mouth curving up as he held a hand out to Jason. The bones were jutting out and it hurt so much to just take his own hand and try to not shatter his fragile ones. Scarred ones with numerous arrows he’s shot in another life.

Another life, Jason reminds himself, something stinging behind his eyes.

Jason stands up and gently embraces Roy, almost afraid of breaking his body completely into nothing. Roy returns the embrace, his hand running down Jason’s back. The nurse was holding Roy’s bag which Jason quickly snags with his free hand and quietly nodded as a sign of gratitude to the lady who walked away to rejoin her colleagues.

“Jason, I’m gonna go home, right?”

Jason lets Roy lean into him, lets him take in the warmth of his leather jacket he’s never quite ditched and into the sleeve of his ash-colored shirt. It was almost light-weight as he half-drags Roy into the carpark and towards his bike.

“Yeah, I'm taking you home."

He pretends to ignore Roy's rather weak grip around his midsection as he revved up the bike and drove out of the centre hopefully for the last time.

Jason made the last turn to his safe house he spent some months converting into a livable house to aid Roy's recovery. The few azaleas he's grown are starting to gain height as he takes the bags and a half-asleep Roy to his doorstep. With some difficulty, he hunts for his keys from his pocket as quickly as possible before anyone nearby starts questioning him.

The door opens with a lazy whine as Jason hurriedly dumps the bags on the couch and drags Roy to his own bedroom. He lowers him gently onto the bed softly before opening his closet and fetching out a pair of his own clothes. He leaves them at the foot of the bed, pre-empting Roy needing to take a shower when he wakes up.

He heads back to the kitchen and starts prepping for a simple soup. After adding the last few vegetables (Roy needed strength on a weak stomach) and closing the lid to let the soup simmer, he takes out the folder of discharge papers alongside a whole host of anti-drug pamphlets which he promptly threw away.

No need for them. He thought.

Taking the remaining papers, he heads back to the bedroom where he settled down in a ratty armchair beside a worn out and asleep Roy.

The first sentence already starts to hurt to the bone and his hands shake again. His eyes keep darting towards Roy and back at the paper.

He OD'd twice during his stay. One time, they had to almost restart his heart because he was unresponsive.

Like that day in the bathroom

Jason mentally supplied, the free hand clutching at the arm of his chair. He doesn't want to read the rest of the letter anymore and carefully folds it, slipping it into his pocket.

He gently holds Roy's hand, lets his fingers trace along the veins standing out against the thin, almost transparent skin. Anger floods through him, how everything had hurt Roy so much. Jason rubbed gentle circles with his thumb as he waited for Roy to stir up.

Roy awoke to a cotton-like feeling in his head and a remnant of sickness in his stomach. He laid there, staring at the repainted ceiling to force himself to not throw up as he blindly reached for a glass of water left by his table. With the blanket pooling at his waist, he sat up and leant against the headboard and tried to get his head on straight because he hasn't exactly processed anything in the last few hours.

He hears the clinking of a metal ladle and then the creaky cabinet with the dishes. A soft breeze filtered through the slightly ajar day and started a fresh bout of chills for Roy. He feebly rubs his arms against his sides and tries to stay warm. He threw a pillow on his head because his stupid, stupid weak body couldn't regulate body temperature right.

He stumbles out of the bed with the blanket draped around his shoulders. He opens the closet and takes out one of Jason's hoodies. He slips it and is instantly comforted by the warmth of the other. It smelt faintly of stale cigarette smoke (He knew Jason had dropped the habit when he was gone, determined to change himself) and gasoline.

Roy pressed his ear near the doorframe and heard other ambiguous noises as he quietly closed the remaining gap of the door. A sudden wave of nausea hits him and he dashes into the joint washroom in his room.

He barely got onto his abused knees before spitting out the little he had in him. Bile dripped down his pale face and he leant against the cool surface of the bathtub. His eyes trail across the almost spotless tiles except for the occasional blood smears. Those must've been Jason's bad days.

Roy briefly wonders what bad days were to him. Every day kept throwing him off balance and he was always unprepared.

He tried swimming to shore before, but his ankles always caught the anchor and he couldn't get out in time always.

When he does free himself, he's so far into the past, it's just their ghosts teasing him and he's bloody trying but he's so tired. He's given up fighting against the waters.

He just opens his arms and welcomes the gush of cold and then the freak warmth of it all. He's so used to breathing without air and inhales water into his lungs. He knows what being waterlogged is like; he's been waterboarded a few times before. Oxygen was so sweet, such a promising relief.

The darkness however still held its charm.

Roy's shaky hand pats against himself, making sure he's still whole and not in pieces. Sometimes he doubted he was still human, the cracks too sharp for his fingers trying to join himself together. His fingers snag between, cuts open and warm blood always follows with the sting.

The sting was so much like when Queen ditched him. God, he never felt so fucking lonely before when his mentor left him to the wolves hungry for his skin. He was weaponless, powerless and defenseless. It was so easy to follow the shadows to the dark alleyway when you're alone, cold and desperate.

Even if it meant you'd sell your soul for relief.

Roy slowly flexed his arms, finding the feeling return to his emancipated limbs. Shaking, he's on his knees in a prayer position before getting up. His busty knees give way and he's so angry he can't even get up.

He felt like a failure. Was he going to be one for the rest of his life? Was he going to forever be trapped and feel he's lost control and never regained it back in any form?

He manages to return to the bedroom without cracking his skull open at the bathroom area. It would be a real shame if Jason brought him home just for Roy to die because he couldn't walk right. He chuckled darkly before making his way to the bag he left the facility with.

He slowly unzipped the bag and felt his way through. The sudden touch of stale fabric signaled to him that Jason hadn't touched the bag yet only because the fabric softener scent Jason used hadn't assailed his nose yet. He always liked the flower ones.

His fingers reached a faux compartment and he lifted the fabric covering the pocket compartment. He fumbled at the zip before untying the zip tie. His hand plunged in deep and a crinkle sound pricked his ears.

He fished it out and unwrapped the gift box. Taking apart the next few layers, his eyes hungry for the prize.

It was at this moment Jason opened the door, a tray of the food in his hands. His eyes took one look at Roy and the offending item in his hands.

He dropped everything, the soup splashing on the ground and spreading so fast he doesn't know where it ends. Glass fragments lay out on the ground, offending weaponry to the victim. Roy is frozen and his eyes are locked onto Jason's wildly open eyes.

In one swipe, the broader man grabs the prize and throws it so far across the room Roy doesn't know where it is anymore.

He felt his shirt being pulled and then the familiar feeling of being slammed into the wall. Light headed, his eyes pinched close in pain as he felt the shift in his skull.

Roy doesn't register someone leaning so heavily into him. It suffocated him before he attempted to throw a punch towards the offender.

That punch was quickly blocked and he was maneuvered right into the bed. Roy didn't have time to process anything before he was reaching out for the prize, body almost primal. Jason blocked him-

"Dammit- Stop fighting me."

Jason grits out, wrestling Roy away from where he spotted the prize. His heart is trembling as he pushes Roy with such force back onto the bed.

"ROY."

Jason yells out, anger flooding his veins with something hot and haunted searing through him.

His eyes threaten to cloud but he forcefully shakes the tears. Roy is spent, panting on the bed as he sweats again. Jason kicks the prize away and rips Roy's bag away from the side table. He slaps him with such ferociousness, Roy is left reeling.

The room is silent. Not even breathing could be heard.

Jason dumps the contents onto the floor. Pens fell out, some artwork he was tasked to do at the facility. A picture of Lian.

Lian.

Jason was livid at the world and it hurts him to the bone as his eyes look at the glossed picture staring back at him from the floor. Her sweet smile formed cracks in his heart as she rode on the rodeo, his leather jacket draping her small figure. Roy's old cowboy hat sat askew on her mop of jet black as she grinned at the camera.

The pain of burying such a smile six feet under sobers him as he watches Roy regain his breath and sit up, a wince gracing his features before he freezes at Lian's picture.

Jason doesn't want to know what kind of scars Roy has sewn shut beneath his clear face. Sometimes Jason thinks he's run out of skin and soul to scar when Roy's at battle. Other days, he couldn't get out of bed and that's where Jason sees Roy for who he is.

A friend.

A friend he cannot afford to lose ever again.

"I miss her."

Roy starts, curling himself in and Jason doesn't look at his expression, all pain and hurting as he closes himself up into a ball, face buried in between as loose strands cross his features. Jason wants to reach out to squeeze a hand on his shoulder but it was still tingling where he slapped Roy.

Jason thinks about napalm skies and burning cities all crumbling when he presses the stinging palm against his cheek, still radiating residual heat and some of the headache. He merely wondered if this was the price they paid for all those nights.

Nights that don't end. Nights that see them running for their lives.

Was this what Jason wanted? To be headhunted, to have a bounty on his head so high the numbers keep flowing. To keep repairing himself and sew up like a doll. To never be able to live completely conscience free when he wakes up one cold night and realise another kid had died and he could've prevented it.

With the photo in Roy's hands, he absentmindedly stroked his fingers against Lian's lit face, trying to remember what her skin felt like. Warm and soft on a summer morning and always decked in daisies or sunflowers depending on which fields she ran to. His lap feels so empty but his heart is gone.

"At one point, I had the power to bring Lian back."

Roy starts, voice rather strained with tears as he rests the photo on the bedside table. Jason's ears prick in confusion as he looks from where he's been brooding.

"I didn't, even told Cheshire no. I think.."

He bravely draws in a breath to calm the incoming gush of throat-tightened and raw emotions he's not ready for.

"I think I'm doing her a kindness. If I brought her back, it isn't fair for her because she's gonna spend the rest of her life wondering what happened to her and why she doesn't remember. She's always going to be angry at a world that refused to stop when she died. I don't want her to end up like us.

I wanted her happiness because she's my angel. Angels do not deserve pain."

Roy quietly ends it, eyes all darting as he buries himself to cry again. Jason is thumbing his fingers because he hates where he is right now and he doesn't want to go too deep.

He still wants to be able to float.

"I think you did the right thing. You let her be free."

Jason softly says, his own eyes shining with tears as he reaches Roy for a hug. Roy inches in and there's nothing in between them as Jason's slightly larger frame encircled Roy a little, protecting him.

At that moment, nothing could hurt them. Not anymore as they both stayed there till sunset dusted their room in the soft afterglow of yesterday.

"I'm sorry, Jay. Don't cry-"

Jason looks up from where tears have drenched Roy's shirt as he blinks a little. Jason false starts before swallowing back shared glass

"I'm not. You're gonna ruin my bad boy reputation."

Jason jokes lightly as he playfully shoves Roy where a small smile appears on his face. There was still so much to do, so much to see-

"You can't do this alone."

Roy cocks his head, his fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. Every color died outside the window as night came, a sense of serendipity crosses him and he turns back to Jason.

"I know, but you're here."

"Don't do this for me. Do it for yourself, okay? I..I don't want to see you suffer anymore."

No one deserves to suffer alone.

Jason smiles and bites at his reddened lips. Roy's eyes dart over Jason before he turns back to the bed and falls back, a sigh escaping him. He nods to an exhausted looking Jason to lie down beside him too. Instinctively, he reaches for Jason (he was such a big heater) and curls himself against Jason.

"We're gonna be okay."

Jason says, carding Roy's hair to the side who closes his eyes and leans into Jason's gentle touch. When his stressed breathing evened out into calmer ones and later sleep, Jason swore that nothing would ever hurt him again.

He'll make sure of that.

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secondgenerationnerd · 7 years

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Broken Arrow pt 2

Author’s note: I REGRET NOTHING!!!!!!

Rating: M (swearing and some implied sexy times)

Words: 4331

If you asked Lian what happened in the three days that followed her parents’ deaths, she couldn’t tell you. Because she doesn’t think much over the next three days. Things come and go in flashes. Grandpa Ollie shows up with Grandma Dinah, telling her not to worry about the funeral arrangements. Jai holding her at night, even though she doesn’t sleep. Damian sitting with her. Jon asking if she needs anything. Irey getting her her favorite food, which she doesn’t eat.

The first day, she keeps telling herself this is all a hoax. Just a training simulation gone wrong. The second day, she tells herself that Mom and Dad probably lost their memories. They’re coming to find her. They have to come home. The third day. she stops telling herself anything. She doesn’t cry, doesn’t scream, doesn’t talk. She wouldn’t even bother getting out of bed if it wasn’t for her friends. Irey and Mar’i take turns changing her clothes, as the three of them have had to sew each other up so much there’s nothing they haven’t seen. Lian lets them. What’s the point in fighting?

She lays awake in bed, as the sunlight drifts over the sheets. She can feel Jai shift beside her. She turns over to look at him. Jai smiles at her, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind her ear,” Hey, you sleep at all?”

Lian doesn’t answer. Jai kisses her forehead, his arm slipping around her waist. Lian closes her eyes, letting his warmth spread to her icy bones. No one else has touched her in the last few days. Even Mar’i and Irey are careful to not touch her too much when they change her clothes. God, she just needs someone to hold her. She needs someone to hug her, to assure her everything will be ok. But none of them do that. Because in their eyes, when she’s upset, she doesn’t like anyone touching her. Even Jai is pulling away from her.

“I know today is gonna suck ass, but know that we’re all here for you. Ok?” Lian doesn’t respond,” I love you, Lian.”

Jai rolls out of bed and heads out of the room. Lian sits up and looks around her room. Titan’s tower has always been a third home to her (behind her house and wherever Uncle Jason was staying). One wall has her guitars on them- from the Gibson Les Paul grandpa Ollie got her for her birthday to the classic acoustic guitar from her dad. A few photos are placed around the room. One of her and the team in their uniforms, taken about a year ago. Another of her and Jai at a prom (was it his or hers, she can’t remember). One of her, Irey, and Mar’i, none of them older than 11, squished in the back seat of a car, giggling like crazy. Another of her and her dad.

Lian stares at that photo. She’s about four and it’s Halloween. All the other girls in her preschool had come dressed up as princesses. She, on the other hand, had told her dad she wanted to go as her favorite superhero. She’d gone dressed up as him, in a costume that was meant for a little boy, but she didn’t care. He’d even dressed up in his uniform while they were at home. Ollie had taken the photo of the two archers. Lian grabs the photo and slams it down. Her heart pounds in her chest. Why does this have to be so fucking hard?

She dresses herself. God, she’s been to so many funerals that she knows exactly what to wear and what to do. But then, she hasn’t been on this end before. As she pulls the dress on, she decides that today, no matter what, she will not cry. She won’t give the assholes who hate her, who judge her, who are supposed to be her allies, the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

Lian looks at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes are brown, like her mother’s. Her hair black as midnight, like her mother’s. She has her father’s nose. She has his smile…well when she can smile. Her mother’s coloring for her father’s features. A sick twist of fate. She looks up at the knock on her door.

Irey is shocked to see Lian dressed. Lian hates seeing Irey when she’s dressed for a funeral. Her long fiery hair is pulled into a messy bun on top of her head. The black dress doesn’t match her colorful spirit. Lian hates this. Why do they even have to wear black?

“Oh, you’re ready.” Irey gives her a kind smile,” We’re ready to go when you are.”

Lian nods. This is gonna suck….

The church is packed with heroes. Her dad didn’t have many civilian friends. As far as they would know, he’d be on sabbatical until Lian turned 18. Then they’d say he died in a car crash. Or an accident. Or something. A few heroes give their condolences to Grandpa Ollie and Grandma Dinah. Most people avoid Lian. It probably doesn’t help that she gives off ‘talk to me and I’ll rip your fucking head off’ vibes.

Lian sits away from the crowd. It’s a sad commentary on her life really. But she doesn’t care about most of the people here. Most of these heroes, who’d loved her father dearly, made her a pariah once they learned about her mother. They could go to hell for all she cares. She glances back, trying to find her team. They sit with their parents. Uncle Dick has his arm around Mar’I, the teen resting her head on her father’s shoulder. Is she thinking about her mother’s funeral? Jai and Irey are squished between their parents, holding hands. Something she hasn’t seen them do since they were 11. When Jay Garret died. Jon and Damian are at their fathers’ sides, both mini versions, both quiet and somber.

She whips around to the front as her breathing changes. Not now, please God, not now. Grandpa Ollie’s walking to the podium. Lian steels herself for what’s to come.

“Thank you all for coming today,” he begins,” I wish it were under happier circumstances.”

Lian listens as her grandfather talks about her father and his past. Surprisingly, he talks about her mom too. She recognizes the story he tells. Her dad told it to her once. Oliver doesn’t paint her mother only as a villain. She was a human who did horrible things and made bad choices, but wanted to change.

“Now, Roy and Jade didn’t agree on a lot. The two fought like cats and dogs more often than not. One thing that they both could agree on though was how much they both loved their daughter, Lian Alice,” Lian’s breathing stops,” Roy told me once, the reason Jade left was so she could get her head on straight. To be the mother that Lian deserved. 13 years ago when Lian was killed-“

Lian has a flash of her premature death. Her house crashing down around her. A banister hitting her head. Dust stinging her eyes. Screaming for her daddy to help.

“-When Lian was killed and before she was resurrected, Roy was devastated. We all were, but Roy Harper loved his little girl more than anything in this world. When she was brought back, Roy cried every night for weeks. He’d been given a second chance with this beautiful girl. He’d often say to me ‘I’m not raising her to be like me or not be like her mother. I’m raising her to be Lian. I’m raising a headstrong, sarcastic, mischievous little girl. If I do my job right, she will still be all those things, but she will know that the world isn’t black and white. She will make her own path and have the strength to move past any obstacle.’”

Lian’s throat tightens as he continues, this time speaking directly to her,” Lian, sweetheart, I cannot begin to imagine what you are feeling. I can’t imagine what’s going through your head the last couple of days. What I do know, sweetheart, is how much your parents loved you. They were so, so proud of you. Your mom once said in an interview ‘I saw Lian on the news the other day. Little Red Hood. She roundhouse kicked some dumbass robber in the face. Sent him to jail. I’m happy she didn’t end up like me.’”

Lian can feel everyone’s eyes on her. They’re waiting for her to react. They’re waiting for her to cry. They’re waiting for her to fall apart. They’re waiting. She doesn’t move. She can’t move. The second she does, she’ll break. And she’s not sure she can put herself back together.

“We lost two lives this week,” Oliver starts wrapping up,” It’s not the first time we’ve lost someone. Every Hero that goes into the field knows the risks. Roy knew this better than anyone and he was always scared about how he would leave things with Lian. So he made her videos. Every time he left for a mission, he recorded a video for her and asked me to show it at the funeral. I never asked why.”

They look at the screens. Her dad’s smiling face shows up,” Hey, pum’kin.”

Lian is out of her seat. She doesn’t care that everyone is staring. She stands in front of the screen, reaching out to touch her father’s face. It’s like she’s little again, in an over-sized t-shirt and stuffed bunny in hand, talking to him on the communicators,” I’d hoped you would never have to watch one of these damn videos. If you are then…I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry, squeaker. I’m sorry I won’t be there for your birthday. I’m sorry I won’t be there to walk you down the aisle or see you holding any of my future grandkids.

“I am sorry. That’s what I need you to understand. I am so, so sorry. I didn’t want to leave you. Lian feels tears burn her eyes,” but I did. It was my time I guess. And let me tell you, pum’kin. I had a hell of a go. I made a difference in this world. I saved so many lives and touched so many more.

“Most importantly, I got to see my baby girl grow into a strong, intelligent, smart-ass woman,” Roy wipes his eyes,” God, Li. If I’m remembered for anything, I hope it’s being your dad. You, my magnificent, beautiful, beloved daughter, are a fucking force to be reckoned with. You hold back so much. I know some assholes have given you shit about your mom, which is why I made Ollie promise to show this video at the-my funeral. Because I want you to know I have your back. I saw what they did and I saw how it drove you to be the best. And you are. I am so incredibly proud of you, Lian Alice Ngyuen- Harper.”

“I am proud of your passion, your temper, your loyalty. I am proud of your perseverance and your drive. I’m proud of all your accomplishments. Doesn’t matter which one, I’m proud of everything you have done and will ever do,” Lian feels something wet dripping from her chin. Her breathing is shaky. Dad smiles at her. With her smile.

“I love you, squeaker. I love you so fucking much. I have loved all the hugs and kisses you’ve given me. I have loved every day I’ve gotten with you. I’ve loved every Halloween and every Christmas and every Father's Day. I’ve loved every day we spent all day listening to old records and talking. I’ve loved every first day of school and hearing about your newest crush,” He chuckles before teasing,” Maybe not Jai. But he’s treated you right so far. As long as he does right by you, he has my blessing.

“God, Lian. I’m going to miss you. I’m going to miss everything about you. I’ve made this video hundreds of times by now. It never gets easier. So, I’m not saying goodbye. Because I’m not really gone. I’m right next to you, by your side. And I will always be there, cheering you on. If there’s anything I want you to remember, any last-minute advice I can think about, it’s this. Draw the arrow back, breath, then let it go.” Lian releases a sharp breath,” I love you, pum’kin. Don’t you ever forget that.”

He blows her a kiss. Lian stares at the screen after it’s faded to black. Her heartbeats one, two, three times. Then she’s running. Her heels fly off and she’s sprinting down the aisle and out the door. Someone calls her name. Her lungs burn and her muscles are tight after days of not being used. Her braid hits her back and her dress restricts her legs. But that doesn’t stop her.

She runs. She runs. She runs. Until she collapses at the edge of Star City. Her feet are raw and every muscle burns. She’s still crying. Why? Why is she crying? She needs to stop. She needs everything to stop. She needs her dad-

“Lian?” Lian looks up. Mar’i floats down beside her. Lian curls away from her friend,” I would ask if you are ok, but I believe that is a stupid question to ask.”

“Does it ever stop?” It’s the first thing she’s said since Jason told her she’s an orphan.

“Does what stop?”

“Does the…the pain ever stop? Feeling like-like you can’t breathe?” Mar’i is the only person on their team who has lost a parent who was her entire world,” What was it like when your mom died?”

Mar’i is quiet for a moment,” When my mother died, I did not know what to feel. I was only 8 years old. All I understood was my mother went to bed one night and did not wake up. For days, I waited for her to come into my room. To pick me up and hold me in her arms. Tell me everything would be ok. That did not happen. It was not until I was leaving Tamaran that it…hit me. I cried for days after arriving on Earth. It did not feel like I was unable to breathe. More like I would never be happy again.”

“Does it ever stop?”

“It fades. I still have days where I ache for her. I ache to hear her voice sing me to sleep or feel her hug me once more. To tell me she loves me to the ends of the universe.”

Lian whimpers,” I lost both my parents, Mar. I don’t even remember the last time I talked to my mom and I miss her.”

“Do you love her?”

“Huh?”

“Do you love your mother?”

“I-Yes.”

“Then it does not matter what you said. You love her and she loved you. Do not let anyone make you feel as if you are wrong to mourn her,” Mar’i offers her a handkerchief. Lian takes it, wiping her eyes,” Do you mind me asking a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“What did your father mean when he said ‘draw the arrow back, aim, and let it go?”

“When…when he was teaching me archery, I had a habit of trying to aim the arrow before shooting. Then I’d hold it too long. I missed a lot and got really angry. D-Dad told me I was holding on too long. ‘Draw it back, aim, let go. Simple as that, squeaker.’” Lian sniffles,” As I got older, we would say that to each other when things are hard. Life is just getting ready to send us something better.”

“So he’s telling you not to hold on to all of this?”

“More or less.”

“Will you?”

“I-I don’t know.” Lian shakes her head,” I just…I want to go home. My home. Not the tower. Not Uncle Jason’s apartment. Not Grandpa Ollie’s place.”

“Okay,” Mar’i stands, holding her hand out for her godsister. Lian accepts it. Mar’i has her friend wrap her arms around her neck before flying into the air. Lian is aware of how warm Mar’i’s skin is, the May sunlight overcharging her powers. It does nothing to the chill in her bones. They stop at her front door,” Do you want any company?”

“No,” Lian shakes her head,” I want to be alone for a while. Can you tell Uncle Jai and Grandpa Ollie that I’m ok?”

“Of course,” Mar’i pauses,” I love you, Lian.”

Lian gives her a half smile that neither of them believes,” Love you too, Falling Star.”

As Mar’i flies away, Lian braces herself before entering the house. It’s wrong to be here without him. Knowing he won’t be coming home soon. He’s everywhere she looks. In the pictures on the wall, in the boots by the door, the crappy music on the CD rack. Lian stops in the living room. One of his old jackets hangs over an armchair. A few dishes sit in the drying rack. The house is quiet. Then the phone rings. She lets it go to voicemail.

“This is Joe’s crematorium. You kill ‘em, we grill ‘em- DAD!” Lian's voice laughs on the recording.

“Ignore my daughter. You’ve reached Roy and Lian,” Her dad’s chuckling,” We aren’t here at the moment, but leave a message and one of us will get back to you-“

Lian rips the phone from the wall and throws it as hard as she can. It crashes through the window. Lian starts screaming again. She hears dishes shatter on the ground, cutting her feet. She throws books and tips the furniture. She’s not sure how long she sits there afterward. She looks at the shattered remains of her life.

“Lian?” Jai’s voice calls out as he walks in the front door. He enters the living room to find her sitting on the ground, surrounded by glass shards and broken plates,” Oh, baby.”

“My dad’s dead.” Her voice is hoarse. Jai steps over the mess and lifts her into his arms,” My dad died trying to save my mom. To bring her home to me.”

“I know, babe,” He carries her upstairs to her bedroom,” I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He sets her on her bed. Carefully, he pulls her dress off. Lian feels goosebumps rise on her skin as the cool air touches it. Jai starts to move away, but she grabs his hand. She makes him look at her,” Don’t leave me.”

“I’m not going to leave y-“ Lian jumps to her feet, throwing her arms around his neck. The kiss is desperate on her part, pressing her entire body against his. She needs him. She needs something to take her mind off the pain in her heart. Jai gently pushes her back,” Babe-“

“Don’t,” She begs,” Please don’t push me away. I-I don’t want- I need- please.”

“Lian, you’re grieving,” Jai is trying very hard to not stare at his half-naked girlfriend’s body.

“I’m going to be grieving for the rest of my life,” she says bitterly,” No one’s- I need someone to touch me. To let me know I’m still here. I need to not feel empty. Please.”

“Lian…”

“Jai. I need you.” She’s desperate. The words in and of themselves are desperate. But they work. She knows she’ll regret it later, but right now she loses herself in the taste of his mouth. Ripping his shirt off, running her hands down his burly chest, unbuckling his belt. Jai lifts her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Lian lets him. She lets him rip her bra and panties off. She lets him lay her on the bed, his tongue in her mouth. She lets him kiss her neck, her breasts, her belly, between her legs. She lets him thrust inside her, taking her the way she needs him to.

This time is different. Usually, when they have sex, they talk almost nonstop. Teasing each other, obnoxiously flirting, hell they once had an argument about guitars while screwing. But this time, neither of them speak. He’s gentler than normal, which she hates. She doesn’t want gentle. She wants bruises that won’t go away. She wants to not be able to walk in the morning. She wants him to use his super strength as much as he wants. But it works. If just for a while, she forgets everything. All that matters right now is her and Jai.

Later, she lays on her sweaty sheets, staring out the window. Jai spoons her from behind, pressing soft kisses to her shoulder,” Do you want to talk?”

“I don’t know,” She turns to face him. He gently pushes her loose hair from her eyes,” I’m sorry.”

“For what?” He asks, genuinely confused.

“I don’t know. It just seems like that’s what I need to say here. I more or less just forced you into screwing me-“

“Hey,” Jai makes her look at him,” I wanted that. I always want you. You told me that’s what you needed.”

“I just… I don’t know what to do, babe,” Tears start to form in her eyes,” How am I-where am I going to live? I turn 18 in less than three months-“

“Hey,” Jai holds her face with one hand,” you don’t have to think about that.”

“But I am. Everyone keeps telling me what I do or don’t have to think about. I am thinking about it. I'm thinking about where I’m going to live. I’m thinking about how I’m going to pay for college. I'm thinking about how my parents died. I’m thinking about it and I can’t stop,” Lian feels Jai wrap his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. She nuzzles her face into his neck,” I can’t stop thinking about everything my dad is going to miss. My high school graduation, my college graduation, grandkids, our wedd-“

She stops talking. She and Jai have been dating for close to three years now, and she’s more than certain he’s the one. But they haven’t talked very much about marriage. She wants to marry him. She wants to be his wife. But she’s not sure if he wants that.

“Hey,” Jai makes her look at him,” did you hear him on that video? He’s gonna be at our wedding, Lian, right by your side. He’ll be there with your mom. And they’re going to see their baby girl get married.”

“w-what?” Lian meets Jai’s eyes. They’re brown, somewhat like hers, but much lighter. Almost golden. She thinks it has something to do with the speed force. Lightning in his eyes.

“Lian, I’m not proposing. Not yet. But I want you to know I love you. I love you and I can’t imagine my life without you. I know you’re hurting right now and you won’t be ok for a long time. That’s ok. Because I’m not going anywhere.” He gives her a loving smile,” I’m never going to leave you. So, whatever you need to heal, whether it’s being alone or having meaningless sex or crying or screaming or sparring, I’m happy to help however I can.”

Lian starts crying again. This time, Jai holds her tight. He rubs soft circles on her back, kissing her temple. He murmurs sweet nothings into her hair, assuring her that she’s ok. They’re ok. She’s going to be ok. He’s right there. He’s not going anywhere. She cries into his neck, waiting for her parents.

She cries for her dad. For all the Sunday mornings they spent watching cartoons. For all of her performances that he came to. For all the fights they had-about boys, about chores, about her mom. For the nights they’d stay up late talking about everything and anything in the world. For the afternoons he spent teaching her archery. For the summer nights when he’d take her camping and teach her the constellations. For the nights he would hold her after she woke up screaming, unable to breathe, having seen her death again.

She cries for her mother. For the few times they had truly connected. For the look of pride she gave Lian, even when they were on opposite sides of a fight. For the hugs, she’d given. For the coy bits of advice. For the performances she’d come to, leaving a note in her bag afterward. For the few times, when Mom and Dad had gotten along, that she’d make pancakes. From scratch, not from a box.

Lian cries and cries and cries until she can’t anymore. Her eyes hurt and her throat is raw. Jai gently wipes her tears away with his thumb. She looks up at him,” I love you, Jai-Jai.”

“I love you too, Li,” he kisses her once before pulling the covers over them. Lian rests her head on his chest. She can feel his heartbeat right against her cheek.

“Promise me you won’t go. Promise me you won’t leave too.”

“I promise,” His voice is low, head tilting to the side. Lian lets the sound of his even breathing and forever-rapid heart lull her to sleep.

In a few hours, they’ll have to wake up. She’ll have to answer all the worried messages from her friends and family. She’ll have to talk to her Uncle Jason and Grandpa Ollie. She’ll break down crying when she talks to them. Jai’ll stop and hold her while she sobs. She’ll have to shower and then she’ll realize how cut up her feet are. She’ll have to clean up the living room and kitchen. Then, maybe not now, maybe not this week, maybe not this month, but she’ll have to go through her Dad’s stuff. She’ll go through it and it’ll kill her.

But that’s hours away. For now, she’s in the arms of one person who loves her.

For now, she’s not alone.

And, for now, that makes all the difference in the world.

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ambrozians · 3 months

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how do you feel about Jade's half brother + will he be showing up in any of your fics ?

whoa, anon, are you in my head or something? i was literally thinking about him last night 😭 luke chaumont has only appeared one time in comics and it’s enough to send me into a late night spiral about jade and her family.

tw / abuse mention, trafficking mention

luke is someone i would love to see brought back into the fold because he opens up a lane where we can start to dig into jade’s story more. in only one appearance there are a few things we can glean about the chaumonts and luke in particular: jade’s family moved to australia after selling her, the chaumonts are wealthy, luke is her older brother, he is a respected (and likely high-ranking) agent in checkmate, and is aware that his sister is cheshire. all of that can be understood in one story and it makes for so much room to explore. it’s also worth noting that luke is clearly white-passing and a man while jade is neither. luke growing up in australia and becoming very successful while his sister was being subjected to multiple forms of abuse is a stark contrast to say the least. his entire life is the exact opposite of jade’s. basically, if you bring luke back into the fray then you can start examining andré and anna more. i really like the idea of all three of them knowing that she’s alive and knowing that she’s cheshire because that makes her a ghost made real. she’s always there, lurking, haunting, (staring back in anna’s case); a reminder that whether it be death or imprisonment, their reckoning is inevitable.

as for including him in my fics, i’ve been trying to figure out how to factor him into structural integrity (which will be published soon) but there’s so much i want to explore within that story since it’s the one that takes place in the “present”, and i have to be careful not to detract from the main point of the story (which is building a home literally and figuratively). so, i don’t think he’ll “physically” appear in that story but don’t be surprised if you see mentions of him because i am itching to write and explore jade’s reaction to lian and roy knowing luke. cause it’s like, her long lost brother has been to her daughter’s birthday parties, and is in a position where he can contact her and he just. hasn’t. crazy.

there is definitely a story idea that has lingered in my brain for quite sometime though where jade takes it upon herself to go find her family and possibly enact some much-needed vengeance (justice, really). something very cathartic, you know? again, jade functioning as the ghost of chaumonts’ past that is very much alive and in a position where her mere existence threatens whatever andré and anna have created in regards to their livelihood now is just too good.

#🎤#💭#📝#jade nguyen #if she can’t kill wen and pullman then she should be allowed to do it to andre and anna #or at least haze them a bit and threaten to expose them #good ol fashioned blackmail but retribution edition #as you can see anon i have a lot of thoughts about luke and the chaumonts #i really do want to bring him into this current series some way

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remosdeerica · 3 years

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Batshit AU Pt #2: The Grandkids

So I mentioned in the last post Batshit AU Pt. #1 that I cover Dick and Jason's kids but since I've been thinking (read: fantasizing) about the future of the Batfam I figured I'd just do a post with ALL the grandkids!

Just a heads up: this is a LONG post.

First we shall start with the Grayson's:

Mar'i and Jake (Jake is not my original name I've seen it pop up in other media- dunno if it's canon in any timeline but I'm going with it).

Mar'i Grayson: Mar'i is the biologically daughter of Dick Grayson and Koriand'r of Tamaran (aka Starfire). Kori is unknowingly pregnant after one last one-night-stand with Dick before going back to her home planet to take over as queen. Unfortunately, because of Kori's sister Komand'r (aka Blackfire) causing civil unrest to try and usurp the thorn from her, Tamaran becomes unsafe for Mar'i as she is Kori's only heir.

-Kor'i goes back to Earth with an infant Mar'i and begrudgingly hands her over to Dick so she can live with him and be safe from Blackfire.

-Kori of course visits while she can but has a lot of responsibilities on Tamaran. When Mar'i is older she is able to go back to Tamaran to visit her mother.

-A few years later when Dick and Barbra get married, Barbra officially adopts Mar'i. Seeing both Kor'i and Barbra as her mothers Mar'i decides so call Kori "Mama" and Barbra "Mom/Mommy".

Jake Grayson: don't have much of an exciting backstory for him. He was basically just an orphaned infant Dick and Barbra decided to adopt after his bio-parents had been murdered.

Now he have the Todd family:

Because I am a heartless monster I decided that since Roy died in the comics without any sign of Lian and Jason was pretty fucked up about it, I would have Jason adopt Lian because Roy wasn't round to take care of her. So this is basically what happened:

Lain Harper-Todd: 1 year or so after Roy's death, Jason is visited by Jade Nguyen (aka Cheshire) who is carrying an infant Lian. Jade explains that she hadn't realised she was pregnant with Roy's child until after he was already dead and since she is not ready to give up her life as an assassin she states that Lian is better off without her. She then asks Jason if he would be willing to take Lian in as Roy's former partner (read into that how you will).

-Jason agrees, and decides to hyphenate her last name Harper-Todd so that she will always have a piece of Roy with her even if he can't be there for her in person.

it's not that I don't think JayRoy is cute! It's just that I honestly I don't really picture Jason dating anyone in my mind and the thought of him being a single dad is just precious. I'm also allergic to OC's (of my own making) so I usually try to keep to characters that are at least canon in some timeline and Lian was the first to come to mind.

Also I'm a angst-hungry monster so...

Drake-Wayne/Dowd/McGinnis household:

Lol, this family has too many names.

I already went over Terry and Matthew McGinnis' backstory in Batshit AU Pt. #1 but if you are too lazy/ don't feel like reading it I'll try to make sure to cover the important details.

Terry & Matthew McGinnis: A few years down the road, Tim is the current Batman and married to Bernard Dowd (my new fave batship). One night on patrol he finds the boys hunkered down behind an garbage container and approaches them.

-Terry is extremely protective of his younger brother Matt and becomes immediately aggressive, swinging a baseball around and threatening Tim to leave them alone.

-Tim finds it admirable/endearing that Terry is willing to face Batman alone in order to protect his brother and tells him so. He then asks them where there parents and and Matt (trusting Batman) tells Tim that they were killed by the 'Bad Men' who are now looking for he and Tarry.

-Tim is worried for the boys safety and offers to take them to the Police, but Tarry only says that they already tried that and that there are spies in the GCPD who ratted them out to the 'Bad Men'.

-Tim figures out that the boys are in more danger then he first realized and takes them home with him in order to protect them.

-Tim eventually finds out about Project Batman Beyond, an experiment orchestrated by A.R.G.U.S. in order to create the perfect child to usurp the Cowl and give A.R.G.U.S and 'in' with the Justice League and the super-community as a whole. A part of this project is making sure the children are biologically Bruce Wayne's in order for them to also gain influence over Wayne Enterprises.

-Tim realizes that there is no real safe place that he can send the boys and after discussing it with his husband, Bernard, the two decide to adopt the boys.

I think this adoption story is one of my favourites. Especially because I find the idea of Bernard not at all being surprised by his husband brining home black-haired blue-eyes orphans, hilarious.

Bernard: I figured since you are now Batman it was only a matter of time.

Tim: >:(

Wayne-Kent situation:

DamiJon is one of my absolute favourite ships in existence. But since both boys are so young in canon my version of their future relationship truly is creature of my own design, I will explain them a little and then the kids. I'll be quick about it. Promise. (There is also a 2 part series I'm working on that goes into my version of events called "Jon and Damian" if anyone is interested. Jon's chapter is done but Damian's is still in the works).

Jon: he is the one that I really have to explain. I call my version of him "Dark-ish Jon" or 'dark ish jon' for the tags. For those of you who already know the deal (or don't really care) y'all can skip to the *** for the kids.

-basically Jon was kidnapped by Jon-El (Clark's Kryptonian Bio-dad) in order for Jor-El to mold Jon into the perfect weapon for his plan to conquer the universe. They have a machine that Jumps through various timelines so no one can find them, and Jon-El trains/tortures Jon for 2 years.

-Jon eventually discovers new powers that allow him to kill Jor-El and escape but he ends up spending the next several years trying to find his original timeline.

-He eventually meets the Legion of Superheroes that help him get home, but once he arrives home he realizes that for him it has been 7 years since he was kidnaped, but only 2 weeks for his family/friends.

-Because of this he and his family find it hard to adjust to the new situation and Jon ultimately decides to return to the Legion but visit occasionally.

Damian: Honestly I don't think I really have to explain much about Damian for y'all to get the kids but I do want you to know:

He has long hair

He has peirced ears

Possibly tattoos?

He's has more of a slim figure than Bruce's bulky one

He is a fashion icon and kinda has 'bitchy white girl' energy

Bacically he very pretty and looks a LOT like Thalia

And yeah. The two eventually reconcile after Jon is done moping in another timeline and they decide to retire from crime fighting and build a cottage/farm and live in peace.

***

Athanasia: So she is actually Bruce's bio-kid from the Injustice timeline. And for my AU she is still Bruce's biologically and she does recognize him as her father, but because she and Damian are 13/14 years apart and she knows him better she lives and defers to him as her caretaker. I shall explain:

-Athanasia was created by Thalia in a fit of madness after Damian's death. Because of what happened to Damian, and because Athanasia turned out to be a girl (and therefor Ra's would have no use for her), Thalia keeps the little girl locked away and a secret so that no one can harm her.

-Years pass and Athanasia has never seen the outside would. Eventually something happens (will depends on the Fic -because I will get around to writing this shit eventually) and Athanasia is given to Damian (the only other person Thalia ever told her about.)

-At this point Bruce is getting older and most of his current children already have their own kids, so both he and Damian agree that because Athanasia is mostly attached to Damian and doesn't really know who Bruce is outside of being her father, that she will live with he and Jon.

-Athanasia get's older and eventually meets another girl at her school named Carrie Kelley. The girls form a quick bond, Carrie's louder personality complementing Athanasia's more quiet one.

Carrie Kelley: being best friends with Athanasia leads to Carrie spending a lot of time over at her house. This allows Jon and Damian to get to know the girl and become quite fond of her.

-one night after a sleepover at Jon and Damian's house with some of their other friends, Carrie's father comes to the house drunk and carrying a shot gun. He accuses Jon and Damian of being pedophiles because of their sexual orientations and calls them a variety of homophobic slurs.

-It's his attempts at shooting Jon that leads to Carrie calling 911 and having her own father arrested.

-Because her mother had already left and Carrie only had her dad to take care of her, Jon and Damian offer her a place in their home and eventually adopt her along with Athanasia when the girls are teenagers.

So, yeah! That's it for now. I am absolutely obsesses with this AU. I just love the idea of Bruce deciding to take in Dick leading to him having an army of children and grandchildren so large that all family gatherings have to happen at the Manor because nowhere else is big enough.

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an-actual-changeling · 3 years

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"Pre-New 52 Roy would never befriend Jason and would probably hate him, because Jason is a bad person who kills people blá blá blá"

The same Roy that have a daughter with Cheshire? This Roy? You guys are joking right?

"It makes no sense for your fics to have Jason knowing about Lian, because he was dead wile Roy was raising her"

He was literally there when Jade told Roy, he was literally the first person in the hero community to know about her

"Roy doesn't need Jason as a friend, he already have the Titans"

So since people already have friends from the highschool times they can't get new friends after graduation? Like, he can still be friend with the Titans AND be friends with Jason and a lot of other people, those things are not mutually exclusive

"But he was friends with Dick first, he can't talk with Jason"

Do you understand that you can befriend 2 siblings without this being a big of a deal? I have mutual friends with my younger brother cause we went to the same highschool so a lot of people that I new when I graduated was still there in the next year when my brother started

"But Roy and Jason can't be best friends cause Roy's best friend is Dick"

I'm gonna tell you a secret: you can have more than one best friend. Shocking, right? And you can have different relationships with both best friends. Because people are different and you aren't supposed to have all your friendship needs met by only one person. This is so weird and a really disturbing monogamous mindset towards friendship

I get that y'all hate Jason and the characterization of Roy in the New 52, but seriously, what the actual fuck?

#roy harper #jason todd #you all suck #you all spend too much time on the internet

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sun-moon-stars-jedi · 3 years

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Ficrec List: JayRoy + Lian Edition

One of my lovely readers asked for ficrecs focusing on stories with JayRoy and Lian, and I was super happy to oblige =D

You can find my other Ficrec Lists here.

Enjoy reading!

Like the Wind Needs the Trees by poisonivory (M/M, 15.2K, Rated Explicit): It's been a couple years since Jason's seen Roy. He's not prepared for Roy to suddenly have a daughter. He's even less prepared for how that makes him feel.

Can you even go wrong when it comes to JayRoy written by poisonivory? The answer is quite obviously no. This fic is a glorious mix of hot dad Roy, adorable Lian, and insecure Jason who thinks he's not good enough for them. (I think this was the first JayRoy + Lian fic I read and now I'm writing them myself, so that clearly tells you how much I love this fic.)

Laughter Lines by TimmyJaybird (M/M, 55.6K, Rated Explicit): Roy had fatherhood thrust upon him, and honestly, he's terrified. He doesn't know how to be a dad, he doesn't even know if he can be one. At least Roy doesn't have to do this alone - not as alone as he expected.

An absolute must read in my opinion. This fic spans the time from Robin!Jason to Red Hood!Jason and gives a wonderful view of how the relationship between Roy and Jason develops over the years. (To be clear, there's no underage in this story.)

Also, the same author has written a lot of other fics that fit the JayRoy + Lian category, such as Growing Pains (M/M, 7.2K, Rated Teen), This Was (Not) a Good Idea (M/M, 2.8K, Rated Teen), Blending (M/M, 3.0K, Rated Teen) and a few more, though I won't list them all here.

Halloween Wonder by alecmagnuslwb (M/M, 1.7K, Rated Gen): Jason and Roy take Lian trick or treating and she has a specific request for their costumes.

Little Scallywags with Fiendish Gags by poisonivory (M/M, 2.6K, Rated Gen): Roy's caught up on a case and someone needs to take Lian trick or treating. Is the big bad Red Hood up to the task?

Both of these are fluffy little slice of life stories set around Halloween and they always make me smile. Also, the mental picture of them all in their costumes is awesome ;)

(Another story that fits here is Short Pants by Shenanigans (M/M, 4.0K, Rated Explicit), though it focuses a little more on the smut than on the family trick or treating.)

We Dream in the Dark, for the Most Part by Sohotthateveryonedied (M/M, 2.8K, Rated Gen): Jason is in the middle of lathering his hair with shampoo when suddenly the lights go out, leaving him in darkness. An instinctive chill runs down his spine, only to be replaced with annoyance. Of course. Beyond the shower spray, he can hear Lian shriek in fear, followed by Roy muttering curses.

A sweet little story full of conquering the fear of the dark, Hello Kitty band-aids and domestic goodness.

Some Cupid Kills with Arrows by poisonivory (M/M, 37.7K, Rated Teen): Roy has been dead for a little over a year, and Jason isn't anywhere close to coping with his loss. Then Roy's ex, Cheshire, comes to Jason with shocking news and a plea for his help.

I know, this fic doesn't seem to fit into this list, but trust me, it absolutely does. Another wonderful fic by poisonivory, though do heed the warnings because this one's a little heavy at times.

Stitch by Stitch by pixie_rings (M/M, 17.8K, Rated Explicit): Jason is injured and finds a safe harbour in Roy Harper. An old teenage crush comes bubbling to the surface, even through Jason's innumerable personal demons. There is also the complication of Roy's daughter Lian.

Do you want even more adorable Lian, hot dad Roy and insecure Jason? Then this is the fic for you. Lian is a sweet angel in this who makes Jason realise he isn't as broken as he thought and adult Jason finding his teenage crush reawakening with each minute he spends with Roy is amazing.

Want to read even more? Let me direct you to my own series Vignettes from the Harper-Todd Household and my ongoing story Unexpected Blessings, both rated Teen.

Or you could write your own fic ;) I'd love to read them!

#jayroy #jason todd #lian harper #roy harper #ficrec ask #ficrec #red hood #arsenal #red arse #lol that ship name #as always read the tags and warnings on each story #and leave the authors a nice comment if you like #you'll make their day I guarantee it

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consistenthero · 2 years

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Lian fix it fic but it's literally just about Cheshire and Lian reconnecting.

#jade nguyen #lian harper #hate the way people talk about jade it bothers me greatly anyway #i think she should get all her multiverse memories back so that seeing lian now really shakes her #she lost both her children months apart pre-reboot and it sent her spiraling wanna see someone handle that competently #anyway im writing this #dc comics #jade: you dyed your hair? lian: ...yes jade: hm

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thequiver · 3 years

Link

Chapters: 5/6

When Lian turns 18, she finally gets to start planning which mantle she'll take up when she becomes a hero like the rest of her family. The only problem, is that she won't let Roy know what name she's planning to take up.

#fanfiction #fic #cheshire!lian fic

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ao3feed-brucewayne · 2 years

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Common Ground

by Thestrawberrybreadfanfics

Roy unfortunately passed away. Donna was written down as Lian’s caretaker. However in the will, Roy states that he wants Lian to still have her mother in her life. The league give Cheshire an ultimatum of reforming her ways or jail. Both women now come together to raise Lian. They constantly fight at first and cannot stand eachother. Jade struggles with her identity outside of Cheshire. Donna struggles trusting Jade. And both women struggle over their shared loss in the form of Roy Harper. And eventually hatered turns into friendship. And after much bonding friendship turns into more. Maybe these women had more in common than they thought.

This is my very first fanfic pls go easy on me

Words: 769, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Teen Titans (Comics), DC Comics, Justice League - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Major Character Death

Characters: Donna Troy, Roy Harper, Jade Nguyen, Dinah Lance, Oliver Queen, Diana (Wonder Woman), Bruce Wayne, Garth (DCU), Lian Harper, Koriand'r (DCU)

Relationships: Roy Harper/Jade Nguyen, Roy Harper/Donna Troy, Donna Troy/Jade Nguyen, Roy Harper & Donna Troy, Lian Harper & Jade Nguyen, Lian Harper & Donna Troy, Lian Harper & Dinah Lance, Dinah Lance/Oliver Queen

Additional Tags: this is my first fic, i don’t know what i’m doing, i love jade and Donna equally, And I respect both their relationships with Roy, Enemies to Lovers, Slow Burn

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/40495869

#IFTTT #bruce wayne #batman #the dark knight #the cape crusader #gotham #dc universe #ao3 #ao3feed

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peterxwade24 · 3 years

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Friends can be Family

For Maribat March 2021, day 19 Prompt Guardian.

Marinette Dupain-Cheng has barely been the Guardian of the Miraculous for a year when she senses a disturbance at Master Fu's old parlor. She didn't realize that going to check on the parlor would lead to her becoming a mother, that going to the parlor would lead to her finding her closest friends.

Let me know if you want to see more of this fic/AU. I had fun writing this and I kind of want to expand on the idea (like so many other things I've written for Maribat March).

Anyways, enjoy~

Marinette Dupain-Cheng had always known that she was destined for greatness. That she was destined for more than just being a baker like her parents, and her destiny started one day shortly before she graduated from Lycée.

---

Marinette was minding her own business just trying to finish her homework when she felt a jolt go through her. She glanced behind her, her eyes looking for the source of the jolt, and when she found nothing she just went back to her homework. She had several things to finish before she could leave the school but she felt compelled to simply finish the sheet she was working on and pack up to leave. So, that’s what she did. She hurried through what was left on her math worksheet before packing up to leave. She slung her bag over her shoulder after she was sure she had everything secured, picked up her purse where Tikki was still sleeping, and walked out of the library.

Marinette was on her way home when she felt drawn towards Master Fu’s massage parlor so she corrected her course to take her to her former master’s parlor. She would usually avoid going to the parlor since the building itself was filled with nothing but painful memories of happier times, but she knew that something in the parlor was calling to her so she picked up her pace and was practically running.

The moment Marinette stepped into the parlor, there was the tip of a sai at her throat. Her eyes went wide as she took in the situation.

The woman holding the sai was beautiful but looked world-weary as though she had always been looking over her shoulder. She had long black hair and beautiful green eyes but her face was twisted in pain as she let out a groan. The hand not holding the sai to her throat was cradling her abdomen.

“Are you okay?” Marinette asked, her eyes scanning the woman for what could be causing her pain.

“Who are you? How did you find this place?” The woman demanded through gritted teeth.

“I’m Marinette, this was my Master’s parlor. I can help you, with the delivery I mean.” Marinette placed a hand on the woman’s arm and hurried to wrap her arm under the woman’s arms to catch her when a wave of pain knocked her legs out from under her.

---

The woman, who gave only the name “Jade” in response when Marinette asked what to call her, lay atop a futon with several blankets around her. Her brow was covered in sweat but laying against her chest was a healthy baby girl.

“What’ll you name her?” Marinette asked as she collected her tools. “If you don’t mind me asking, that is.”

“Lian Harper. Lian Marie Harper.” Jade looked at her baby before looking up at Marinette.

Marinette nodded and began to write down the information she’d need to register the birth certificate. “I’m going to need your name, and her father’s, so I can register her as a legal person.”

Jade’s eyes darkened momentarily before pressing a kiss to the top of Lian’s head. “Jade Chaumont. Her father’s name is Roy, Roy Harper.”

Marinette nodded. “I’ll fill out all of the paperwork with the government and then we’ll figure out logistics.”

---

Marinette stared at Jade in shock. “So, you’re telling me that you have innate magic that resonates at a similar frequency to the Miraculous. And when you discovered you were pregnant you spent months searching for the Guardian of the Miraculous. But when you were unable to find them you decided your best case of action was to find the place with the most concentrated energy from the Box of Miracles and you found the massage parlor. Did I miss anything?”

“Just that I was searching for the Guardian so that my child and I would be safe from our enemies.” Jade turned back to Lian and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll take care of her for me, won’t you?”

“Of course. I would rather throw myself on top of a blade than let Lian be hurt. You will always be welcomed back into her life.” Marinette smiled sadly at Jade, Jade had become one of her closest friends in the time Jade had been in Paris. However, the two friends knew that Jade would have to go back to the League of Shadows at some point, or they would track her down and kill whomever she was with.

“Thank you for this.” Jade quickly wrapped Marinette and Lian up in a hug before pulling back and collecting her bag. “This isn’t the last you’ll see of me.”

---

Marinette moved Lian into her apartment after Jade left Paris, but she always made sure that Lian knew about Jade. They would scarcely see Jade, for their own safety of course, but it was starting to weigh on the pair of friends. However, it would be just after Lian turned three that Jade would pop back into their lives for more than just a handful of stolen moments.

Jade would crash in the massage parlor the first night and when Marinette went to check the next day she would take Jade back to her apartment. Marinette would protect her friend from the League of Shadows, and help her deliver a healthy, beautiful, baby boy.

“Do they have the same father?” Marinette would ask while writing down the information she needed to register the boy.

“No. His father is Thomas Blake, and he’ll be Thomas Blake Jr.” Jade kissed her baby’s forehead. “You’ll take care of him for me when I have to leave, right?”

“Of course.” Marinette pressed a kiss to Jade’s forehead and knew she would help her friend however she needed to.

---

Jade’s visits became more sporadic after the birth of Tommy, but Jade left the phone number of Lian’s father with Marinette for just in case of emergencies.

Marinette woke up one day and just felt off. She whispered with Fluff about precautions she should take. So, just before the force of the aura of the Lazarus Pits crashed over her, she asked Fluff to open the Burrow and stashed her children within its safety because she knew Fluff would be able to keep them safe.

“Tikki, spots on.” Marinette uttered barely above a whisper. She blinked and suddenly she was Ladybug, heroine of Paris.

Her suit had changed since her debut, and it had changed drastically. The base of it was a dark red kimono with a long red haori over it covered in black polka dots with visible black armor covering her chest, waist and shoulders. The lower half of her face was covered by a face veil while her eyes were simply obscured by black face paint.

Ladybug scoured the area, looking for the threat, before letting out a puff of air. She had barely gotten the first syllable of “Tikki” out when she was suddenly blinded.

Lady Shiva stood over her as she laid on the ground in pain. Lady Shiva scoffed before kicking Ladybug in the gut. “Pathetic.”

Lady Shiva turned and left the apartment, but Ladybug didn’t drop her transformation until she stopped feeling her aura.

“Tikki, spots off,” Marinette cried and felt her friend sink down into her outstretched hands. “Tikki, I’m so sorry.”

---

Marinette packed up their stuff, knowing that her apartment was no longer safe for her and her kids. She was waiting for Roy to pick up as she balanced her phone between her ear and her shoulder.

“Who is this and how did you get this number?” A man who Marinette assumed was Roy growled as soon as the call connected.

“I’m sorry, I’m looking for Roy Harper?”

“Why’re you looking for my boyfriend?” The same man continued to growl before Marinette heard a second man’s voice come from the background.

“Jason? Who’re you talking to?” The other man’s voice was thick with sleep and Marinette could only hope the other man was Roy.

“I’m sorry, I just really need to talk to Roy Harper. I was given this number by Jade Chaumont to only use in case of emergencies. I was just attacked by Lady Shiva and I need to disappear. I was hoping he would be able to help me and my children.” Marinette hoped the men were who she thought they were.

“How do you know Cheshire?” The second man asked, his voice turning hard with anger.

“I helped her deliver her children. Lian Marie Harper and Tommy Andre Blake. Please, I need to know I have a place to go after I leave my apartment.” Marinette moved to Lian’s room to begin packing her clothes into a bag.

“Lian, Harper?” The second man, the man Marinette was hoping was Roy, whispered to himself. “Is she, is she mine?”

“Legally, according to the country of Paris her birth parents are Jade Chaumont and Roy Harper but I adopted Lian soon after Jade left her in my custody. I did the same for her little half-brother.” Marinette took the bag with her to Tommy’s room and packed him some clothes. “I just, is this or is this not Roy Harper?”

“Yes. Yes I’m Roy, Roy Harper.” Roy’s voice rose an octave, his joy clear in his tone. “Cheshire told me that we had a daughter but I never believed her.”

---

Roy, Jason, and Kor’i met Marinette, Lian, and Tommy at the airport. Roy and Jason were holding their bags while Marinette passed Tommy to Kor’i so she could more easily guide Lian through the crowd and securely hold her carry-on which held the Box of Miracles.

“Where are we staying while here?” Marinette clutched Lian’s hand as she spoke to the men who were escorting them out of the airport.

“Technically, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Lian Dupain-Cheng, and Thomas Dupain-Cheng are staying with an estranged relative of the elder Ms. Dupain-Cheng.” Jason muttered while keeping his eyes peeled for danger. “We’ll stash you somewhere safe where the League won’t dare try to retrieve you from.”

Jason ushered Marinette and her kids into the car they’d brought with them to pick them up. Jason waited for Kor’i to get into the backseat before he closed the door and got into the driver’s seat. Roy got into the passenger’s seat and made eye contact with Lian in the rearview mirror.

“So, Lian, how old are you?” Roy asked his daughter.

Lian held up six fingers with a grin, displaying a missing tooth. “I’m this many! And Tommy’s this many!” Lian put down three of her fingers and giggled.

---

Jason, Roy, and Kor’i helped Marinette get the kids out of the car and helped them into the manor.

“My grandfather will help you set up new identities.” Jason said after he closed the doors behind him. “We’ll set you up in one of the ground floor rooms so you don’t have to remember the floor plan of more than one floor while you’re getting settled.”

“Thank you. So much for all you’ve done.”

---

Marinette, Lian, and Tommy Dupain-Cheng became Martha, Auriane, and Remi Hensley after a day of filling out paperwork. Martha traded her earrings for a thin, open ended, rose gold ouroboros bracelet, and agreed to let her kids eventually wield a Miraculous.

Martha debuted as Vipère shortly after learning that the Waynes, the family she had somehow found herself adopted into, were the Bat Family. Vipère was mostly seen accompanying Red Hood and Arsenal but was also seen following Nightwing and Starfire on occasion.

If Vipère occasionally had shadows of her own, then no one aside from the family needed to know that they were her kids.

#maribat #ml crossover #mlb crossover #ml x dc #mlb x dc #kwami swap #marinette dupain-cheng #guardian marinette dupain cheng

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