#damian and jon think its the worst thing ever

[catxsnow]

PRETTY EYES D.W.

Summary: Being the daughter of Superman had it’s perks, being human, did not. Being best friends with Damian Wayne, that had its ups and downs too. 

Warning: mentions of blood, 

A/N: I just recently starting loving Jon Kent, I couldn’t resist 

GIF not mine

Word count: 2.7k

Being Superman's daughter had it's ups and downs.

For example, you could fly around the world in a matter of minutes and return as if nothing had happened or uproot the largest trees. It was incredible how powerful you were. You loved having these powers and you loved being able to save people along side your dad... and your brother.

Jon was the baby of the family, even if it only was by a few minutes. The two of you got along as much as any other sibling. You had your arguments, your fights, screaming matches, but you also knew you could always rely on him. Whether it was out fighting crime as a family or you were feeling unwell and wanted someone to confide in.

Jon, as much as a pain in the ass that he was, could be an amazing brother and you truly appreciated everything that he did for you. That included, introducing you to Damian Wayne - Robin. The two of them had been friends for a while and each time that they had a team up, you always felt a little bit left out.

It was easy to notice your disappointment each time he said that he was going to see Damian until he finally asked if you wanted to join him the one day. He would never forget the smile that was on your face.

The three of you slowly became inseparable. Damian was weary of you at first just as he was of Jon. He would never admit it, but the two of you were his best friends. Yours and Jon's bond grew even more. The three amigos - at least that was what your dad called you guys.

You would wander the streets of Gotham at night with Damian and sometimes he would come to visit the farm. There were very seldom times that you would get to see Damian without Jon. Damian could be very uptight at times, and Jon always seemed to be able to ease him back to normal - you were still struggling to find out how to do that yourself.

While Damian liked to train as a hang out, you and Jon often opted for something more fun - like getting ice cream at the park or flying so high up that neither of you could see the people anymore. Of course, Damian hated when you did that, especially when you dragged him up with you as well.

That afternoon, you guys had decided to train. At least - you and Damian did. Jon watched the two of you with very little interest. It was the same thing every time - Damian doing all these extensive moves, slashing you with his sword - that never did any damage anyways - and you would use your brute strength to try and take him down.

You weren't sure why Damian always liked to spar with you, you felt as if you could never be enough to help him learn anything. He needed someone who was a fighter, not a Kryptonian.

However, the nice thing about being able to spar with Damian, was that you had an excuse to watch how graceful he was. No matter how violent he was with his actions, you always found that there was a delicacy to his movements. It was entrancing to watch him work, it always was.

You never told Jon that you gained a little crush on Damian. He would only tease you about it or with your luck, blab about it with his big mouth. So, you kept your feelings silent to everyone. It was just a harmless crush and you were sure it was just because Damian was the only boy your age that even looked at you. 

"Jon, when did dad say we had to be home by?" You asked, mid-fight. Damian just got frustrated that you were so nonchalant about the battle. You floated just barely about the ground, making it easier to dodge all of his attempts to hit you.

Jon perked up at the sound of his name. The worst part about the three of you hanging out together, it meant that one person always felt left out - this time it was him. "Dinner time, I think," he answered. He paid more attention to the fight going on before him.

"Awe, I was hoping we could stay here for supper, I miss Alfred's cooking," You whined. Jon silently agreed with you. "I bet Bruce could ask if we can stay. What do you think Dames?"

"I think that you should focus on the task at hand," Damian snapped. You rolled your eyes but did as he wished. The two of you became even more engrossed in the spar and this time, you were going on offense. Damian was quick on his toes and managed to dodge a few of your punches, but was caught off guard with your left cross.

Your fist collided with his cheek and if you had been using your full strength, you would have been worried for him. Damian's head flipped to the side with the force of the punch and he turned back to you with narrowed eyes. You knew this look - he was angry.

Damian came at you with full force, his sword clashing with the ground as he missed your body. With each dodge, he seemed to be getting more and more angered with you until final he managed to jab the sword right at your abdomen. You didn't have time to dodge it, but normally you wouldn't have needed to worried.

This time, you felt a pain in your stomach that you had never felt before and a sudden lack of air in your lungs. Damian hadn't picked up on what he had done until the sight of blood dripped down your shirt.

Being the child of Superman was awesome - you were impenetrable, bullet proof. However, being the child of Lois Lane? Your powers were not always reliable - just the same as Jon. They were so unpredictable that sometimes you could bounce a bullet of your chest while other days you could bruise from bumping into something.

Within the last year, you thought that you had grown out of this. You never had problems with your powers being out of whack. You thought that your genes had finally settled on the Kryptonian side of things rather than the human side. You were wrong.

"Dames?" You trembled. Your hands went to the fresh wound that he had just created. The sword that was covered in your blood dropped to the ground, the echo of it ricocheting off the walls. Damian caught you as your knees buckled from under you and fear like never before grew on his face.

What had he done?

"Jon!" Damian yelled. Your brother stood there in shock about what was going on before him. Tears rolled down his face as he saw your lifeless body dangle in Damian's arms. Pain ached through your entire body and you felt like you couldn't breath. Was this was being human felt like? "Kent, get Bruce, your father! Jon!"

Jon finally snapped out of his daze. He wiped his face and ran out of the room to go find anyone that was near. Damian cautiously lowered you to the ground. His hands were tightly pressed against your wound. "(Y/N), stay with me. You're going to be fine," Damian tried to keep you awake.

"Dames..." You weakly called out. He always hated when you called him that. Nicknames were stupid to him, yet you continued to call him it. You placed your bloody hand over top of his.

"Stay awake," Damian told you. He was still in shock over what he had just done. The two of you had fought like that dozens of times and each time he had ever pulled that move, your body protected itself and you were imperishable. He forgot sometimes that you weren't like your father - you weren't fully Kryptonian.

He should have known better. Damian had seen Jon scrap his knees while falling and you get a concussion when you were tossed to the ground during gym at school. He knew that neither of you were as strong as your father and yet he assumed just as you had, that you were going to be just fine.

Blackness slowly started to take over your vision. You tried your best to stay awake but it was too hard. Damian's beautiful green eyes bore down at you. They were filled with concern. You could see his lips move and that he was talking but no sound reached your ears. Was this it? Your final moments?

Damian looked away from you, the sound of footsteps catching his attention. Bruce, Jon, and Clark were all coming towards you. Damian looked back down at you just before blackness finally won.

"Pretty eyes..."

><

You woke up to bright lights staring down at you. Pain raked over your abs and you felt paralyzed in your place. With a groan, you managed to be able to shuffle around enough to know that you hadn't truly lost feeling in your body.

After a few moments of being able to grasp your surroundings, you remembered what had happened to you. Damian stabbed you. His sword drove itself right into your torso as if you were fully human. The pain that erupted through your whole body put a chill down your spine at the thought of it.

"(Y/N)!"

You were in Bruce's home in an unfamiliar room. A heart monitor beeped beside you. After all, Bruce Wayne was just human, he needed medical supplies within his home when things went wrong.

The bright lights were replaced with your brother's face peering over you. Without thinking, he nearly pounced on you to give you a hug. His body weight caused you to wince in pain. "Kent," Damian scolded. Jon got off of you with a sheepish look on his face and a string of apologies coming out. "How are you feeling?" Damian questioned you.

"Sore," You muttered. The hoarseness of your voice started you and you attempted to clear your throat. It wasn't until a glass of water was handed over to you did you finally feel normally again. As you thanked Damian, you could see how upset he was about the situation. There were very few times that he ever felt bad about something he did.

So, just like you had before when you were bleeding out in the training mat, you placed your hand over top of his. He nearly jumped at the touched but relaxed as you dragged the pad of your thumb across his skin. "It's not your fault, Damian. We've trained like that dozens of times and we've never had an issue. Besides, speed healing, right? I'm going to be fine."

"You didn't look fine, earlier. I thought I killed you," Damian harshly spoke. He ripped his hand away from you and furrowed his eyebrows. With a sigh you turned your attention to Jon, there was no point in trying to argue with Damian when he was in a mood. It was like talking to a brick wall.

"Where's dad?" You asked.

"I'm pretty sure he's currently trying not to rip Bruce's head from his body," Jon told you. He sat on the opposite side of Damian. There was a tension between the two and you were sure your brother was piping mad at the boy wonder. "I'm glad you're okay. I'll go get dad." Jon patted your shoulder before leaving you and Damian alone.

"I should leave you to rest, too," Damian tried to stand up and follow Jon out the door. He had trouble looking you in the eye with the guilt he was feeling. You were his friend, you trusted him, and he had nearly killed you because he was frustrated that you were effortlessly winning a fight against him. That wasn't something that friends did.

"Sit down," you nearly snapped at him. The tone in your voice took him by surprise and he immediately did as he was told. You peeled the bandage back from your stomach to see only a deep scratch rather than the gaping wound it once was. You were healing and everything was going to be okay. 

"Damian this wasn't your fault, okay? I'm serious. I'm not letting you blame yourself for this. It's no one's fault - not mine, not yours, not Jon's and certainly not Bruce's. I'm half-Kryptonian, things like this happen. Just be glad it was within the safety of your home and not out in the field."

"I'm sorry," Damian still apologized. You were pretty sure that this was the first time he had ever spoken those two words to you. The feeling was foreign. "You are a respectable opponent, I never intended to do this."

"I know," you assured. You weren't mad at him, not at all. "We all make mistakes in life, gods knows I've made a lot. As long as you accept that you've done something wrong and learn from it, that's all that matters. We all do things that we regret, it's just a matter of what kind of person you become afterwards."

"You're much wiser than your brother," Damian spoke - you swore you could see him try to hide a smile.

"I get it from my mother," You weakly chuckled. "I know you're not a hugger, but I am going to pull the guilt trip card on you and say that I deserve one, so come here." You sat up straight and opened your arms for him to hug you. Damian reluctantly followed your order once more and awkwardly embraced you in a hug.

"I meant what I said," you whispered to him while enjoyed the short lasting hug. He was warm, and smelled nice. Damian pulled away from you with confusion written on his face. He stayed close to you, now leaning against the bed you were on rather than all the way in his chair. "When I said that you have pretty eyes. I could look at them all day."

Damian wasn't used to getting compliments. He was told by his mother where his mistakes were made and that he needed improvement. Bruce had told him that he was doing well in training, but never had he received a compliment like that before. So, when the truthful words left your mouth, his cheeks became red.

He heard them when you had passed out, though hadn't thought of what you had said. Damian was more worried about your safety than some compliment that you surely couldn't have meant. While waiting for you to wake up, he hadn't thought about them again. To be honest, he hadn't thought that he heard you properly.

You liked seeing him flustered, it was a rare occasion. You were always so jealous that Damian was always able to maintain his cool when in tough situations. Seeing him like this just reminded you that he was human too.

"I liked training with you more than Jon because I never knew how to approach you otherwise. Grayson - Dick, he's helped me become less like a League member and more like you guys, it's hard though. Feelings, these feelings that I'm having right now, I never was allowed to act upon them growing up, I don't know how to act upon them now."

You smiled at his words. Jon and yourself grew up in such a loving household that you never really thought about how hard it must have been for Damian. Even know, with Bruce as his father, it must have still been difficult for him to express his feelings. You were always open about how you felt, your parents instilled that upon you.

Damian was close enough to you that you could easily reach over to him. Your hands ever so delicately cupped the side of his face. He felt the need to flinch at your touch, but restrained himself. This wasn't the League that he was in company with, it was you - the person that he knew he could rely on.

The soft touch of your hand was a foreign feeling to him. His mother was never affectionate and any kind of hand that was placed on him, was often meant as a punishment for doing wrong. Bruce was better than his mother, but Damian didn't get the same feeling in his chest with his father as he did with you.

Damian wanted to lean into you hand. He wanted to embrace the feelings that you gave him, no matter the fear that he had to do it. However, your hand dropped down to rest over his and he felt an instant chill without your warmth. This time, he didn't flinch away as you placed his hand between both of yours.

"Well, Damian Wayne, if you'd let me, I'd like to help you with that too."

#damian wayne #damian wayne imagine #damian wayne oneshot #damian wayne x reader #jon kent #dc #dc imagine #fluff #batfam #batfam imagine

[superboyz]

clone/human error (timkon)

in which Damian plays inadvertent match maker but only so Tim will stop being such an embarrassment.

--------------------

Damian’s mind had drifted off, brow furrowed and hunched in his patented thinking position. How long had he been staring at the same words? But he couldn’t stop puzzling over the odd behavior he had witnessed- a kind tone of voice shocked him out of it.

“What?”

Grayson leaned over the back of the chair and began reading the screen, “what’re you thinking about?”

“Nothing,” he responded, a gut reaction. But he soon thought better of it: Dick understood that some actions that might seem normal to other people were incomprehensible to a thirteen year old ex-assassin- no judgement if Damian asked. And he was sometimes the only one who could make sense of Tim’s actions like the time he had starting investigating the Illuminati and filled a board with red string and pictures of the Denver airport, Dick knew that it was time to feed him and put him to bed. 

He cleared his throat and waited until Dick’s eyes were fixed on him expectantly before asking, “Drake, and that kryptonian clone… I don’t understand.”

“Yeah, Timmy and Conner- understand what?”

“Well,” he had to remind himself that Dick wouldn’t reprimand him for asking questions- force of habit. “Are we not supposed to acknowledge- is father-“ it was odd for him to stumble over his words, even more odd that Grayson was looking at him with a very confused expression.

“I’m missing something Damian.”

“Well,” he started impatiently, “I asked Jon about them, and he claimed that he was unaware they were in a relationship together. And Brown laughed, although it’s all very obvious… was I not supposed to mention it?”

Dick’s initial response didn’t help- he blinked listlessly before covering his hand with a guffaw. Damian’s face hardened and he quickly turned somber, “I wasn’t laughing at you Dami. It’s- well, Jon was right, they aren’t dating. What would make you say that it’s obvious?”

Now it was Damian’s turn to laugh, maybe Grayson was that obtuse. “Physical affection, pet names, dates, gifts: these are all signs of romantic partnership. You should know this better than me, Richard,” he admonished with a smirk.

“They’re just friends Damian.”

“He brought the clone as a date to the Christmas party,” he deadpanned.

“Not as a date per-say.”

“You would never invite Wallace to the Christmas party!”

“Exactly! Because- ... well-,” Damian smiled to see Dick falter for a few seconds. “Hmm,” he said finally, cupping his chin thoughtfully. “Good question,” he said finally.

“Well?” Damian prompted, impatient again.

“Well what?”

“Was it wrong of me to mention it? I’m aware father doesn’t allow meta-humans in Gotham, and they’ve somehow convinced people-“

Dick shook his head, "they aren’t together Dami.”

He sighed heavily, "Grayson, I find it hard to believe you already forgot our conversation of a few seconds ago-“

“They’re not dating."

“Well why not,” Damian exploded. He was even more confused than he had been before Grayson arrived, it didn’t make sense. At this rate he would never understand his peers, their actions were so counter intuitive. And just when he thought he might understand more than Grayson.

Dick laughed softly, "calm down Damian. If you care so much, why don’t you ask Tim? He’s coming home to pick up some things tomorrow.”

“I don’t care, only that it’s stupid,” he scowled as Dick continued to smile his amused smile, “and I will ask.”

“Good initiative Robin, tell me what you find,” Dick encouraged. Damian smirked ‘I will’.

-----------------

“What are you starring at me for, demon spawn?” Damian’s gaze had been unsettling him all night, and did even more when he just smiled softly when Bruce yelled a half hearted ‘knock it off!’

Tim was confined to the table until he finished his food, a childish punishment that was sure to frustrate him in addition to Damian’s tactics to unnerve him, which seemed to be doing their job. The perfect conditions to launch his attack. Tim mocked Bruce under his breath but continued to sit petulantly, just pushing the spinach and bits of chicken across his plate with his fork. More confusing to Damian than his relationship-not-relationship was the fact that anyone would want to date Drake when he had such an affinity for acting like a petulant child.

“Don’t you have anyone else to torture,” Drake mocked with a mean smile. Damian responded tactfully with a kind one which made succeeded in making Tim even more frustrated and unnerved. “Fuck off.”

Bruce yelled something else unintelligible and Alfred peeked his head in to give Tim and his plate an unimpressed look before ducking his head out again.

“I’m hoping,” he started finally, “that you can answer a question for me.”

“Are you the worst Robin?: yes. Now leave.”

“You and your Superboy,” he continued.

“What do you want with Conner, demon spawn,” Tim snarled. ‘Protective’ Damian noted, as if ticking off a mental checklist.

“The nature of your relationship seems to be… close.”

“Yeah Damian, it’s called friendship- I’m sure its completely foreign to you,” Tim sneered. He punctuated this with a bite of chicken that he chewed noisily, and with his mouth open.

“Colin and Jon are my friends,” he pointed out good-naturedly. “But we’re not as close as to use pet names,” Tim cocked an annoyed eyebrow, suddenly clued into the line of questioning, “and I don’t take them as dates to social functions.”

Tim was silent, staring levelly at Damian and taking little bites every so often. After about a minute of the stand-off Damian finally continued as if Tim had replied, “those types of things could be mis-construed by some people, some very rational people, into thinking that the two of you might be in a romantic relationship.”

“Very rational is objective,” Tim said, suddenly calm and reasonable as if he was suddenly engaged in a debate in class, “for example I would say killing people isn’t very rational, but to a little psychopath like yourself, it could seem normal to a point of being instinctive.”

Damian felt a tt of annoyance if only because he found it irrelevant and unnecessary that Tim would dredge up the past, “killing is no longer something I can justify. I haven’t done that in a long time.”

“I’ve never killed anyone ever.”

“We’re not talking about me,” Damian said, trying not to let his frustration bleed through.

“Right,” Tim said, with his mouthful of a dainty bite of spinach. He punctuated his words with his fork, “we’re talking about how you’re obsessed with me and my relationship- I’m not entitled to answer any of your questions.”

“I only have one,” Damian tongued the inside of his cheek, “and I haven’t even asked it yet.”

“Fine, what is it?"

“What are you planning to do about your feelings for him?”

You could’ve heard a pin drop. Tim stared at him, eyes comically wide, before he suddenly started choking on an invisible bite of food. Damian smiled to himself, watching as Tim seemed to flounder. 

“What the hell are you talking about,” Tim eventually choked out.

“Surely you don’t think that people wouldn’t notice,” it was his turn to sneer. “Physical affection, pet names, extended amounts of time alone, together, gifts, all markers of a romantic relationship. And if that wasn’t enough you talk about him incessantly, call for him in times of emotional distress, prolonged stares, and a rational person might say that when someone dies, the obvious next step isn’t attempting to clone them.”

“You wouldn’t know how to interpret that behavior, let alone understand it,” Tim said, face livid at this read.

“Wouldn’t I? For example I can interpret Graysons caring actions towards me and understand it as brotherly love. Maybe you’re just saying that because your actions aren’t being interpreted or understood by the clone, and maybe you’re too afraid to voice them aloud. Or maybe you never realized it, which would be surprisingly idiotic even by your standards, or you have never let yourself acknowle-“

Damian was cut off by the loud sound of Tim’s chair scraping as he pushed it back. In a tense moment Tim considered his now empty dinner plate for a second before lobbing it at Damian’s head and storming off. It shattered behind Damian’s head and from upstairs Bruce swore loudly. He had gotten too off track with his line in questioning, Damian concluded, and then became annoyed with himself, he never got his question answered.

----------------------

“I just don’t understand why you’re pushing this unless, of course, you care about Timmy and want him to be happy because you’re his brother,” Grayson teased him. Damian didn’t feel the need to even justify that with a response.

“It’s just frustrating.”

“Frustrating why?”

“I find it insulting to Father that he would chose to entertain partnership with someone so stupid. And you too, Grayson.”

“Gee thanks,” Dick scoffed, “but I still don’t think that that’s the reason.”

“Think what you want," Damian said, combatively, “but I’m going to bed now.”

“Goodnight Dami.”

“Goodnight Richard." He ended the call and set his phone on his bedside table. He looked restlessly around the room. Of course Tim would choose to whine to Dick. The idiot had stormed off without even grabbing the files he came for in the first place and had to double back for them, more than that he broke a plate that had been in the Wayne family for generations- thoughtless. In hindsight Damian guessed he could’ve been less pointed, but he just wanted Timothy to realize how stupid he was being and hopefully push him in the right direction. It may even be a nice initiative, but as shown by tonight, Timothy was filled with so much spite he would sit in front of his dinner for an extra hour just because he didn’t like steamed spinach. It was embarrassing by proxy. 

And hey- maybe if Timothy started dating Superboy he would come home even less. And maybe if Todd started dating his useless partner Roy Harper, he wouldn’t come home either… 

Just as Damian was being lulled to sleep with the nice prospect, Titus, who was at the foot of Damian’s bed gave a start. He rushed to the open window, ears alert and eyes trained on something in the darkness.

“What is it Titus?” His ear twitched, but he wouldn’t move when Damian called for him again. Damian climbed out of bed and shuffled over to his pet, intent on making him settle on the bed so Damian could sleep without interruption but when he gazed into the night sky he could see two blurry shapes on the horizon. He shied away from the curtain on instinct but wasn’t very much afraid as Titus’ tail began to wag and he began to whine, the way he did when he saw someone he knew… Through the open window he could hear the latch to Tim’s balcony open and without any warning Krypto came sailing through the open window, immediately hyperactively jumping around the space between Damian and Titus. He tried to quiet the Superdog, giving him a hug to keep him still and shushing him, but it was no use- over the panting he couldn’t hear a thing. Krypto wriggled in his arms, trying to get to Titus or to Damian’s closet where he kept some dog treats but he kept a tight hold on the dog, straining his ears to catch the conversation next door, but it would be impossible to make out from in his room. And if he let Krypto go he would surely make enough noise to alert Bruce that Superboy was in the house and then it would all be over, whatever it was.

It was a dilemma, but ultimately Damian knew what he had to do, he had to keep the dog still. He spent a whole five minutes wrestling with the pup until he started whining and pulling Damian towards the open window. He tried to hold on but ultimately couldn’t as Krypto began to pull him off the ground. In a last ditch effort he grabbed the stupid cape the clone kept tied around his neck but it ripped with what seemed to be an earsplitting sound in contrast the the quiet night. Krypto went sailing out the window and crashed the glass balcony door, so eager to get to his owner. Damian face-palmed, there was nothing he could do now. 

He walked to Tim’s door and pushed it open without knocking, but the sight inside gave him pause. Superboy was straddling Tim on the floor, the two of their faces only a inch apart and they only looked away when Damian announced himself to the two of them. “I hope it was worth it to bring that stupid dog.”

“He was only protecting me from the glass,” Tim stuttered pathetically.

“Whatever you say Drake, but father will see through that straight away if your boyfriend doesn’t leave before he gets up here.” That sentence was punctuated by Bruce’s feet thundering up the steps. Within a second both boy and dog had cleared and Tim was left laying in the middle of the floor when Bruce came barreling in.

“What the hell happened?” He didn’t even bother to grapple with which one of them did it, immediately and harshly yanking Damian around to face him.

“I’m sorry father, it was childish of me. I just wanted to give him a fright.”

“I thought you knew better than that Damian. I’m very disappointed in you- no patrol for a week.”

“Fine,” he said. If he sounded oddly compliant, or didn’t notice the way Tim looked after Damian as he padded off to his room, Bruce didn’t seem to notice.

------------------

The window was fixed within a week but by the time Christmas came around Todd not only knew about the incident months later, but kept bringing it up. 

“-sent a drone to attack him in the middle of the night!” Dick didn’t even try to give the proper response to what Jason considered to be a very funny story, and just gave Damian a costly look. Grayson’s admonishments had hurt much more than Bruce’s and continued too. He almost wished had just told the Dick the truth in the moment, it would’ve even sounded more likely than the lie, but he didn’t for some reason. He just waited until Jason left to go get another glass of “adult eggnog” and avoided Tim’s eyes. 

He honestly couldn’t tell if Tim was still preoccupied like the incident like Todd or if he just missed his boyfriend, but it soon was clear that the latter was the truth because Conner showed up a couple seconds later wearing a hideous ugly sweater, Tim didn’t look at Damian for the rest of the night. Their PDA had become more tolerable with time but Jon, who had tagged along, stuck out his tongue and mock retched when the clone pulled Tim in for a kiss under the mistletoe.

So his plan to get Tim out of the house had backfired, and now he had roped his stupid boyfriend into coming by too. Even if Todd became as annoying as Drake with his partner, Damian decided that he wouldn’t intervene in anymore romantic relationships, ever. Drake still wanted to rub his victory in Damian’s face however. When he got to his room in the evening the idiot had scrawled him a little ‘thank you’ on a holiday card. Damian put it in a box under his bed for safekeeping, but only so he would never have to look at it again.

#timkon #tim drake #red robin #superboy #kon-el #kon el #conner kent #timkon fanfiction #my writing #young justice #teen titans #robin #damian wayne

[fishfingersandjellybabies]

What Dogs See - fic

Characters: Titus, Krypto, Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, bits of others Summary: Dogs see more than we think they do. A/N: A gift for @mayleebaby28! Thank you for being such a supportive, unconditional and kind human being! I hope everything is going well for you and yours and know you are so loved and appreciated, especially by those furbabies. Also sorry if this is jumbly and not good, ugh! You deserve better D:

From the second he saw him, Titus loved him.

The man had talked to him on their way to the house. Warned him.

“He’s a little…prickly.” The man said with a chuckle. “An attitude that…I still don’t know how it fits in his little body.” He sighed. “But…he’s good, deep down. I know he is.” Then almost bitterly. “Dick tells me he is. I wish…” Now a sigh. “Why can’t I see what Dick has?”

But when he saw the boy, in a big dark, cold place, scowling and alone, wearing silly clothes, he knew.

This was his boy.

His to love, his to protect. His forever.

The boy – Damian – scoffed when the man presented him. Said something about being indifferent, barely looked at him.

But then Titus followed the boy up to his bedroom. Watched as he prepared for sleep and laid down. Without any command, or the boy even looking at him, Titus walked silently over to the bed, and laid his head on the mattress.

Damian was facing away from him, but Titus waited. Only huffed a breath once.

I know what you’re doing. I’ll wait as long as I have to.

But eventually Damian rolled towards him, and let those silent tears Titus already sensed drop freely. Titus licked at his face, licked those tears away, and just rested his head on Damian’s when the boy hugged his neck tightly.

Yes. This boy was his.

~~

Krypto met Jon when he was born. He was in the room. He helped Kal-El tend to his wife, tend to his baby.

And when it all settled, when Lois was asleep, and the baby was clean, Krypto just couldn’t stop staring.

This child was beautiful.

A perfect mixture of his parents, of a human and a Kryptonian. Of two worlds, two universes.

The baby squealed in amusement as he tugged absently at Krypto’s ear, and Krypto felt like it was the most important moment in the history of every universe ever created.

He would protect this child. This miracle. But not for Kal-El, not even for the memory of Krypton.

For himself.

Kal-El muttered apologies as he removed the newborn’s fingers from Krypto’s ear, and he almost whined at the loss. Instead, he trailed after the father, watched as he put the baby in a crib, and then curled around its base. Even when Kal-El called to him a while later for some food, Krypto ignored him.

His watch started now.

~~

Damian was his life, to the point he didn’t care to learn about any of the other humans around. He recognized them of course, but beyond that could not care less.

So it was frustrating, when sometimes Damian went places that he couldn’t go. He’d pat Titus’s head, sneak a kiss when the one he called Father, or Batman, wasn’t looking then chase after the man like a shadow.

It was even more frustrating when Damian would return covered in blood or bruises, or unconscious and being carried by that man.

Titus hated it, hated the man for it, actually. Growled at him when he returned with Damian in this state. At least until he realized it wasn’t the man causing his Damian pain, and that he was just upset as Titus was about the predicament.

He also learned over time that his boy only seemed to come home injured when he put on the heavy, bright fabric. So, one day, when the man and Damian were resting, Titus went through those lockers, sniffed out his boy’s uniform, and ripped it to shreds in his teeth.

Damian wasn’t happy with him when he discovered what Titus had done. But Titus noticed a smirk of satisfaction on both the Batman’s face, and the old man with the mustache.

These terrible moments had a small upside, though. When Damian was injured, the mustached man always demanded he rested for a long time. Tucked him into bed and forced him to stay there. During these long times, Titus lounged next to his boy, head on his leg and Damian’s fingers scratching at his ears.

Quiet and safe and with his boy. Sometimes the men joined them, sometimes not. Sometimes Damian used Titus as a pillow, and sometimes Titus would curl around him like a barrier between him in the world.

He just wished these times came when his boy wasn’t hurting, too.

~~

He’d seen the universe. He knew the galaxies – many of them – and all the beautiful, wild secrets they held.

But nothing was as magical, or as breathtaking, as Jon discovering something new.

The way his face lit up the first time he saw a butterfly. His laugh the first time he jumped in a puddle. His gasp the first time he saw blue and yellow paints mix to create green.

It was the most amazing sight, every time. No matter how many times it happened over the years.

And when Jon discovered his powers, his heritage – Krypto was sure that there were literal stars in that boy’s eyes. He hooted and hollered, jumped into the sky and did a lap around the barn’s roof.

But when Jon swooped back down, tried to take Krypto on this first flight, Krypto took the chance to give Jon another first.

Before Jon could grab him, Krypto jumped into the air himself, swirling and spinning playfully away. He watched with a grin of his own as Jon’s violet eyes widened, and slowly, a gap-tooth smile spread across his cheeks.

“My dog can fly!”

Jon immediately flew after him, and they began a skyward game of tag. Jon laughed the whole time, and it was absolute music to Krypto’s ears.

To think – Kal-El was once the last of Krypton. The last hope of an entire race. An entire planet. An entire universe, light-years away.

And now, here’s Jon too.

Learning and growing and the best of them all, here was Jon too.

~~

His boy was strong. Cunning. Genius. A warrior.

But that was not Titus’s favorite part of Damian. His favorite part of his boy was how kind he was. How thoughtful. How he looked at the world around him like everything was new, smiled when he found something beautiful. How he tried to recreate it in his drawings and in his music.

His least favorite part, though, was how much his boy hated himself. And he knew that. He knew that from the day he met him. So he always stayed close. Gave Damian all the kisses, love and protection he could, every time he saw him. Every time he could.

But it wasn’t enough, and sometimes that hurt. He could see it, when Damian separated himself from his family when they were all together. How he blamed himself for things that were not his fault. But worst of all, how he didn’t feel worth anything, or deserve anything.

Like the nights he came back in that colorful costume alone, limping and bleeding. How Titus would try to lick his wounds and Damian would shove him away. How the old mustache man would offer the same, and Damian would snap sharp words at him instead. All but crawl to his bedroom and close the door even to Titus, and allow himself to suffer in silence. Suffer alone.

Or the times Titus would see the man yelling at him. Scolding him. And maybe sometimes it was deserved. Titus would see the mustached old man nodding when it was. But other times it wasn’t, and the mustached old man would furrow his brows and hold his hand over his mouth.

But even if it wasn’t deserved, Damian would not fight back. Not like he was capable of. He might have a little attitude here and there, but generally allow the hateful words to wash over him. Allowed himself to believe them.

The moments with the one frequently called Tim were bad. They would yell at each other, and insult with a purpose. Sometimes it would come to blows, and Titus would do all he could to separate them. Pull Damian back by his clothes. Growl at Tim until the other backed away with his hands raised in surrender.

And then when everything settled down, Damian would retreat. To a corner or the cave, to his bedroom, sometimes down a wandering path around the manor. And he’d repeat what Tim said to him. Repeat it and lament about how correct his brother was in his awful assessment.

It broke Titus’s heart. If only Damian could see how wonderful he was. How lovely. He deserved nothing but kindness, and Titus still did not understand why he did not get it from everyone around him. Why he did not see how much he deserved it.

But his boy could not understand his barks or whines. Just whispered “It’s okay, boy. Everything’s okay,” even when it so clearly absolutely wasn’t. So Titus did the only thing he could. Followed Damian when he tried to disappear, and stayed at his side when no one else would.

Maybe that was why Titus knew how kind this child was, because Damian only seemed to allow himself to be when no one else was around. When no one could see it. Maybe that’s why he always snuck off to be by himself. It was the only time he thought he could be himself.

You are not alone. You can be yourself. Titus would say loudly in his head, hoping against hope that maybe somehow his boy could hear him, or sense his words.

You are not alone, and you are loved.

~~

Krypto would do anything for Jon. Anything.

He’d destroy worlds for him. He’d change the climate. He’d tear another being limb from limb if they so much as looked at him wrong.

But he realized, over the years, that there was one thing he couldn’t fix. One thing he couldn’t do.

Jon was lonely. Krypto couldn’t fix that.

Jon was a good kid – a nice kid. Too nice, some said. Too naive. And instead of those traits flocking the people to him like, in Krypto’s opinion, it should – it brought out the bullies instead. Got him teased and mocked, and shoved into lockers.

And Jon tried to handle it on his own, he did. He’d take a deep breath, fix his glasses and smile. That’d just get him teased more.

On most days Jon could shrug it off. But not all. There were some days he’d come home and go straight to his room and cry. Other days he wouldn’t make it into the house at all. He’d hit their long driveway, or just pass the barn. Krypto would bark a hello, and Jon would hide his face in Krypto’s fur and collapse into tears.

He never believed the hateful words. Of course not, Clark and Lois raised him to be smarter than that. But he had no one else to lift him up. No one else to hold him in these darker moments. And this wasn’t something he could talk to his father about. His father was Superman - what kind of loser would that make him look like?

So he suffered alone, sometimes in silence.

And oh, Krypto tried. Would like Jon’s face raw if he could.

Even if you have no one else, you have me. You will always have me.

Jon never heard him, of course. For all the brilliance of his powers, animal translation was not one of them.

So Krypto did was he could – which here, was not much. No amount of laser vision or super strength would do anyone any good. So he’d whine a little, in solidarity with his cub, and laid with him until the tears dried, or his boy was able to smile again. Let himself be a pillow, a teddy bear, or just a plain shoulder to cry on if he needed to be.

You will always have me, he’d always try. Maybe one day Jon would hear him. Maybe one day Jon would know.

Always.

~~

They were meeting someone new today, and Titus was shocked when the man said that Damian could bring him along. Damian seemed to be too, and the smile remained on his face until they jumped into the car and took off.

The drive was long, and took them out into the countryside somewhere. Titus didn’t mind. He spent the whole time sitting with Damian in the front seat, making him laugh and getting his ears scratched by Damian and the man both.

It was nice.

They arrived at what looked like a farmhouse, and immediately, Titus smelled something interesting. He hopped out of the car and immediately went on alert, wrapping around Damian’s legs. Damian just snorted, and pet his head again.

Suddenly, the door to the farmhouse slammed open, and a large man appeared. He greeted them as he walked down the steps, followed by a woman and child, and then another dog.

Krypto locked eyes with Titus immediately, and a silent truce was formed. Don’t threaten my family and I won’t threaten yours.

Titus remained wrapped around Damian, even as Krypto did the same for Jon. Titus hadn’t paid that boy any mind, not until the woman pulled him forward and introduced him to Damian.

His first thought was: This boy is so sad.

Krypto watched Damian with the same intensity, and took in his posture, his crossed arms, his gaze off to the side of the conversation at hand.

His first thought was: This boy doesn’t like himself.

After the introductions, the adults moved towards the house, leaving the two children alone. So Krypto and Titus stayed with them too.

The boys stood staring at each other, but the dogs approached, sniffing.

“Why does your boy not like himself?” Krypto asked immediately.

“He does not believe he is good enough, that what at, I’m not sure. And he has no one in his life to tell him differently. Though I suppose they don’t realize they need to.” Titus explained. “Why is your boy so sad?”

“He does not have many friends, probably because he has to keep many secrets from the children around him. He struggles to cope with the loneliness sometimes.” Krypto glanced up to Damian and Jon, when Jon sounded like he raised his voice. “…They do not appear to like each other.”

Titus looked back, gave a small scolding yip towards Damian. Damian didn’t seem to hear him. “They don’t.” He looked back to Krypto. “But you know?”

“Hm?”

He looked back at the boys. “I have a good feeling.”

“Funnily enough, so do I.” Krypto agreed. “I just…get the sense this may be the best thing to ever happen to either of them.”

“Perhaps,” Titus thought out loud. “Perhaps with each other, maybe they won’t be so sad and lonely anymore.”

“We can only hope.” Krypto nodded. “Our boys deserve better than that.”

“That they do.” Titus hummed. Jon and Damian appeared to be mid-argument, so Titus barked loudly, making them both jump.

They went quiet as they looked towards their dogs. Damian narrowed his eyes in warning to Titus, but then glanced at Krypto. “…Your dog is beautiful. What breed is he?”

“Uh…a mutt I think.” Jon mumbled sheepishly. “Do you know yours?”

“Le Grand Danois.” Damian said proudly. Jon just stared. “…A Great Dane.”

“Cool.” Jon smiled. “…Can I pet him?”

“I suppose.” Damian sighed. “Only if I’m allowed to pet yours.”

“Sure! Krypto loves belly rubs.” Jon exclaimed. “Don’t you, boy?”

Krypto barked and flopped over. Damian laughed softly as he rubbed his hand over his ribs. Titus graciously accepted Jon’s chin scratches.

As the boys pet the other’s dog, their conversation picked back up. Not into argument this time, but rather a simple conversation about dog toys.

Jon rambled slightly, seemingly thrilled to actually have someone to talk to. Damian smiled as he spoke too, not trying to hide his true, gentler nature.

The dogs looked at each other and grinned.

They finally found exactly what – and who – their boys needed.

#Damian Wayne #jon kent #Titus #krypto #mayleebaby28

[ranger-jedi-knight]

A New Hero Chap 16

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20887313/chapters/61274620 Taglist: @bluesimani TAGLIST IS OPEN STILL

So here’s the next chap!! Man this was quicker than my newest usual update speed lol. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this newest chap. Also, so some of you might be annoyed the Steph, Cass, and Duke havent shown up. I get that, but its only cause i dont really know em. So theyre more background characters. I’ll try having them appear, but dont get mad if theyre ooc cause like i said, i dont know em the best. And as I said in the last chap, here’s the post showing what the Grayson siblings look like!

https://ranger-gothamite.tumblr.com/post/622996250510409728/the-grayson-siblings

Alya was buckled over laughing. One arm was wrapped around her as the other whacked away Xavier’s hands as he continued to try tickling her. She moved about trying to get away from his tickling fingers while he followed with a grin and laugh himself. “I give! Stop! Uncle!” she yelled from her rocky spot on the edge of the break rooms couch.

A small smile decorated Dick’s lips as he watched Xavier pulled away laughing. Alya leaned against the armrest, getting her laughs and breathing under control. “How do you feel now?” Xavier asked and Alya grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Better. Tho, I think tickling is cheating,” she said, a teasing smirk on her lips as Xavier shrugged.

“Well, you never said how to make you feel better. Besides, I know you already talked to Dick about it, so I figured, a distraction would work,” he explained and Alya had to nod.

“Ok, that’s correct......how did you know I talked to Dick?” Alya asked giving him a look and Xavier smiled cheekily at that.

“Lana. she heard you and decided to tell me. She knew we were close,” he said and a resigned type of look crossed Alya’s face.

“Of course she heard,” Alya said shaking her head fondly.

“Well, looks like you two had fun,” Dick said walking into the break room, a smile on his lips as he looked at the two.

“Beware Xavier. He’s a tickle fiend,” Alya said pushing herself upright to glare at Xavier who just smiled unabashedly. Dick smiled as he made his way over as the coffee machine started another batch.

His smile turned to a smirk and Alya gave Dick a look. “He’s not the only one!” Dick called going to and tickling Alya as well. Alya shrieked out a laugh as she started going into Xavier’s personal space to escape only for Xavier to join in. she twisted to and fro trying to escape their tickling but they surrounded her with smirks.

“I-I take-back you’re-both-fiends!” Alya shouted between laughs. The two continued tickling her for a bit longer before relenting. When they finally stopped she leaned against Xavier, panting for breath as Dick stood in front of her smiling softly. “You two.......are the worst,” she panted out, tho she had a smile on her face even tho her cheeks and sides hurt from laughing so hard.

“Nah, we’re the best,” Dick said and Alya nodded slowly at that. But then she looked closer at him, its been a few days since that frantic call and the disagreement.

“How are you and Babs? I haven’t heard you talk about her in a little while,” she asked and Dick gave a rueful smile at that. Never get anything past her, he thought with a small shake of his head.

“We’re talking some things thru,” he admitted with a shrug. Seeing Alya pat beside her, having moved a bit so there’s space between her and Xavier, he sat down and the two leaned against him. Xavier rested an arm on Dick’s shoulder while Alya had a hand on his leg, while her other let him squeeze her arm.

“I have a feeling that’s not all of it,” she whispered and Dick nodded.

“That would be correct,” Dick replied with a sigh, his smile from tickling Alya savagely with Xavier gone. “We got into a disagreement. We....maybe.....breaking up,” he said and a sorrowful look crossed Alya’s face.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, squeezing his leg reassuringly as Dick squeezed her hand. Xavier gave his shoulder a squeeze.

“It’s ok. We’ve been drifting apart for a bit now. We were just denying it,” Dick replied with a shrug.

“That may be, mate. But it still gotta hurt. You were with her for, what? A decade or more?” Xavier asked and Dick nodded.

“On and off,” he offered.

“Well, even so, it’s got to hurt still. And no one is going to judge you for hurting,” Xavier continued and Dick nodded, a small smile painting his lips as he looked between the two.

“Ya, maybe.......maybe that’s why I never felt the want to propose to her. It’s probably because I knew it wasn’t the right thing for me,” he whispered feeling their hands giving him reassuring squeezes.

“I guess there is that bright side. If you ever need someone to talk to, you have us,” Alya whispered as Xavier nodded agreement.

“I know, thank you,” Dick said looking between the two. Alya gave his hand one last squeeze before getting up. She went over to the machine and made Dick his coffee, exactly how he liked it. She sat back down next to him and hand him the mug. He hummed softly with a smile as he sipped the drink. “How did you know my drink?”

Alya scoffed with her head tilted as if she was insulted. “I’ve worked with you for how long, Dick? It’d be a surprise if I didn’t know how you take your coffee,” she said and Dick laughed softly as he nodded.

“Of course. I should have known that after all this time you’d know my at-home comfort coffee,” Dick said and Alya nodded firmly with a smirk.

“Obviously,” she agreed, leaning against him as he sipped his coffee.

“Mind telling me it?” Xavier asked and Alya laughed.

“Sure, I’ll show ya next time,” Alya said and Xavier smiled and nodded. Dick just shook his head between the two of them.

“Ganging up on me now, huh?” he asked.

“But is it ganging up if it’s giving you coffee? Cause, I feel like this is just being nice. Now, what you did just minutes ago with the tickling, now THAT was ganging up,” Alya said and Dick smiled unabashedly at that.

“You enjoyed that tickle session and you know it,” Dick said and Alya rolled her eyes since, yes she did enjoy it since it helped distract her and she had fun with it. But she didn’t have to tell him that.

“I don’t have to answer that,” Alya retorted and Dick smirked as he leaned in to mock whisper to Xavier.

“That means she did,” he said and Xavier laughed with a nod at the look that crossed Alya’s face then.

“It does,” Xavier agreed moving out of the way when Alya tried slapping his arm. But she did manage to slap Dick’s arm hard enough for him to laugh as he leaned against Xavier, trying to escape her wrath, more without dropping or spilling his coffee.

“You’re ridiculous,” Alya said standing up then and heading out. “Feel free to tell Jason that I’m telling Lana who actually got her that necklace!” she yelled out as she left the break room and went to her desk. That had Dick laughing harder just imagining how Jason would react.

“Necklace?” Xavier asked as Dick straightened finally. Dick turned to him and nodded, an easy smile on his lips.

“Ya, a while back Alya’s sister Lana got out of a.....abusive relationship,” he said after a pause, the smile dipping off his face a bit. “She had a rough go and Jason had this necklace he bought for a family friend, Marinette you were there when they visited with Xan, but instead gave it to Lana with Alya promising not to tell who gave it to her. See, Marinette believes in crystals having mystical powers and it seems Lana does too. The reason Alya didn’t say that Jason gave it was because her ex did something when she first met Jason making her be afraid. She’s now way better and knows that she’s safe from him,” Dick explained and Xavier nodded slowly as he processed all that.

“Ah, ok. I got it. I’m glad she’s doing better now,” Xavier said smiling softly to him before humming softly. “Say, does Lana go to GU?” he asked and Dick nodded.

“Yeah, why?” he asked with a tilt of his head as he finished his coffee.

“I’m pretty sure that’s the same Lana my sister is friends with,” Xavier said and Dick started laughing.

“What a small world,” Dick commented and Xavier nodded.

“Small world indeed,” he agreed as the two went out to work on their shared case.

~~~~~~~~~~~~(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧~~~~~~~~~~~~

“We’re really going to tour Gotham University?” Lila asked excitedly and Mari nodded with a smile.

“Ya! We get to see Lana again and meet a few of her friends there!” Mari said excitedly.

“But why? I didn’t think GU was part of Wayne Enterprises?” Adrien asked confused as Nino laughed wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

“It isn’t. But Bruce does donate money to it since his sons have gone there. Dick went there for a bit to get his Criminal Science Degree, Tim did his Business Degree here, when Jason got back, he got his English Degree. As for Damian, I don’t know what he’s planning, I think I heard talk about business or law. Duke is almost done there for his Literature and Film degrees. And then Cass is going somewhere else for her medical while Steph is doing community college as she figures out what she wants. But she will transfer to GU if they have the degree she wants. But I am thinking of going here for a double major of Business and Fashion,” Mari replied and had her friends nodding understanding.

“Jon said he was going to go here to get a Journalism Degree like his parents!” Chloe said excitedly and Mari beamed at that. “Hey, maybe you guys should apply here too! We could all be here in Gotham!” Mari suggested and they nodded agreement.

“Do they got a great sports program?” Kim asked and Mari nodded.

“A really good one. A few Olympians and champions are Alumni from GU,” she explained, and that had Kim shaking with barely contained excitement.

“Do they-?”

“Yes, they visit and help the couches,” Mari said and Kim did a victory dance in his seat on the bus.

“I was thinking of checking the place out,” Lila commented and Mari smiled at that.

“Hey, even if you don’t go to GU, maybe you guys will find a college that’s close enough that we can still hang out! And Chloe, Adrien, you could ask Lana about the Journalism Program they have since she’s apart of it!” Mari said and the couple sitting to the side nodded agreement while Lila giggled from her place next to her.

“Ya! We will. I’m sure Jon will like knowing more about the program!” Adrien said and Nino grunted. Adrien moved his arm out and almost knocked Nino off the seat.

“If you wanted the seat to yourself, you could have just said, bro,” Nino joked as he slid into the seat across from Kim and Max next to Sabrina.

“I didn’t-!” Adrien started as everyone laughed and a blush dusted his cheeks as Nino reached over and patted his shoulder.

“Totally, bro,” Nino said smirking and enjoying seeing Adrien flush and cover his face.

“Didn’t Xan say he was going to GU to talk with the Dean?” Lila asked and Mari nodded.

“Yeah! Since he couldn’t apply with the others, he’s applying to come in during next year’s Spring Semester,” Mari explained happily and Lila nodded with a smile.

“If we’re lucky we’ll see him and get to wish him luck!” Lila said excitedly and the group nodded agreement.

“Oh! Did you guys hear the news? Luna uploaded a new music video!” Kim said excitedly and the group nodded.

“Ya! I listened to their new song five times!” Mari said happily.

“I can’t wait! Apparently the group is coming here to perform!” Adrien said and that had them getting more excited.

“Really?” Mari asked.

“Ya!” Adrien shouted back and Mari and Lila squealed excitedly.

“I wish I can go! I love their music!” Mari whined out and Adrien shared a smirked with Chloe.

Queenie: you got the Luna tickets right????

Demon: Of course. I bought them months ago. Including Backstage passes to personally meet the members.

Little Wing: i’m insulted you’d think that.

NERD: don’t worry. even if we hadnt, the group would still love to meet Mari cause of her business mdc

Queenie: just had to make sure ttyl

Demon: You are at GU right?

NERD: of course they are. thats part of the program for their we internship. but why? id imagine youd rather surprise them somewhere else

Demon: I don’t need to explain myself to you

Chloe just shook her head while Adrien snickered softly while the others were too busy discussing Luna. Well, Max wasn’t. Max was typing away on his phone. While he enjoyed their music, he wasn’t crazy about it like his boyfriend or the others.

“Did you see Eunjoo’s outfit? It was soo cute!” Mari said and Lila nodded agreement.

“It was! Honestly, all of the Lolita outfits she wears are adorbs!” Lila added.

“They’re cute, but look at that rockin’ outfit she wears in the newest music video!” Kim said showing a blown-up pic of Eunjoo wearing black cargo pants with a deep red-purple sports bra-like top with a black button-up tied under it, heeled combat boots were on her feet that matched her crop top. She still had her hair-wig really- up in pigtails with the princess cut bangs. It was interesting to see pastel purple hair with a dark hat on top with dark clothes.

“You may make Max jealous with how you’re talking about Eunjoo,” Mari said with a teasing smirk.

“Oh, he agrees with me,” Kim said and Mari snorted at that.

“Kim is correct. I agree with his analysis. Her outfit in the newest music video is cool. It has a Lara Croft vibe,” Max replied and everyone shook their heads as they laughed. “But also, did you hear the news? Luna is going on tour with Clara and Jagged,” he said and that had Mari and Lila looking in awe.

“Really?” Mari whispered out and Max nodded as he pushed his glasses up.

“Really. After their concert here, they’ll be heading out on tour with them, meeting up at Washington D.C.,” he explained.

“Wow,” Mari breathed. “Oh! Maybe I can get Uncle Jagged to introduce us!” Mari squealed as she pulled her phone out to rapidly text Jagged as Lila and the others maneuvered her out of the bus and onto campus.

“Marinette?” a familiar voice called out. The group turned to see Lana looking at them confused with a few people with her.

“Lana!” Mari beamed over at the redhead and went over to her giving her a tight hug. Lana tensed in Mari’s grip, squeezing her friend’s hand as she forced herself to relax. “Sorry,” she mumbled seeing Lana tense.

“It’s fine. Just....gotta push thru,” Lana replied.

“Still. I swear, if I see his stupid face again,” Mari began and Lana patted her shoulder.

“Thank you, but I doubt I’ll ever be seeing him again,” Lana assured and Mari nodded slowly.

“See who’s stupid face?” Adrien asked curiously and watched as Lana gripped her dagger necklace.

“No one,” Lana replied and Mari gestured she’d explain later which he nodded at. “What are you guys doing here by the way? And who are some of these people?” Lana asked and Mari beamed as she pointed to each person.

“That’s Kim, Adrien, Lila, Sabrina, and Max. Remember Chloe and Nino?” she asked remembering that only those two joined her when she dropped off cookies all that time ago.

“Hi,” Lana greeted giving a wave to the group.

“We match! Nice!” Kim said laughing and that had Lana cracking a small smile when she noticed they indeed matched. Just not in the normal way. Her hair was practically the same shade as Kim’s sweatshirt, just faded a bit.

“Mind introducing us to your friends?” Mari asked and Lana jerked and nodded.

“Sorry, ya, I can do that,” Lana said giving a small smile as the group laughed softly. “That’s Belle, Bee for short,” she pointed to the short young woman she squeezed her hand with who had black hair and brown eyes. She then pointed to a woman on Bee’s other side with brown hair and black glasses over her blue eyes, “This is Cahaya, but Bee and I call her Haya,” she then pointed to the Italian in the wheelchair. She had purple-dyed hair and blue glasses over her teal-green eyes. A scar ran along her cheek. “And that’s Lila,” Lila waved with a laugh.

“Oh my god! I watch your channel!” Lila said from beside Mari, causing the girl next to Lana to laugh.

“Is it because we share a name?” she asked with a giggle that Lila returned. “So there’s no confusion, you guys can just call me L or even MC for my channel name,” she offered, smiling happily at that.

“MC?” Kim asked confused and looked over Max’s shoulder as he typed rapidly on his phone before showing Kim.

“Mythical Crafter. You know, that resin and clay crafter. The girls talk about her a lot,” Max explained and Kim nodded with an ‘oh’ look.

“Oh, yea! I just never heard the name,” he said sheepishly scratching the back of his neck as the group laughed.

“Anyways, why are you guys here?” Lana asked, tilting her head curiously.

“As much as I’d like to know, I need to get to class,” Bee said softly and Lana nodded understandingly as Bee then started off toward a different building with Haya close behind. “It was nice meeting you,” she called out over her shoulder.

“We’re here for a tour of GU!” Mari said beaming and Lana smiled softly.

“That’s cool. I hope you enjoy your tour,” Lana said and Mari nodded agreement. “Speaking of wish, it looks like your teacher wants to get a move on,” she continued looking behind Mari. Mari glanced back and pouted.

“Ya, will you still be on campus at lunch?”

“Ya, I’ll be in the cafeteria,” she answered and Mari beamed.

“We can talk more then!” Mari said as she and the others rushed over to their class.

“Later!” Lana called before walking with L rolling right beside her to their next class. Ms. Bustier looked at Mari and her friends a bit annoyed.

“Marinette, you shouldn’t run off like that,” she scolded and Mari scowled at that shocking the teacher.

“I didn’t run off. I walked a few steps away from the group with my friends to talk with an old friend of mine that goes here,” she said bitterly.

“Why don’t you introduce us to her then. Maybe she’d be able to give us some pointers,” Bustier said smiling sweetly.

“No.”

“What?” Bustier had the gall to look confused.

“She said no, Madame Bustier. She doesn’t have to do anything for you,” Adrien said with a scowl as well.

“Why! That is no way to speak to me, Adrien!” Bustier said looking at the two annoyed.

“Actually, they can. Because you’re being unfair. You’re trying to get Mari to do something she doesn’t want to do, nor do we know if the person you want us to meet wants to meet more people. You actually need to get the person’s consent first if you want them to talk with our class about school-related things,” Chloe said as she inspected her nails. “Even if you didn’t, you can’t force Mari to do anything.”

Bustier fumed at that and instead started leading them to the meeting point.

Ok, so here it is!! This was actually pretty long lol! I hope you enjoyed this newest chap! Yes, I’m still a bit bitter at how stupid Bustier is. She’d be better as a kindergarten teacher really. So ya, we get some Bustier salt. Espeically next chap! Just wait! So, until next time!! -Love Willa<3<3<3

#fanfic #fanfic update #update #my writing #ANH #A New Hero #chap 16 #daminette #maribat #ml x dc #Lana Grayson #Alya Grayson #OCs

[renaroo]

Super Brothers (3/12)

Disclaimer: Superman and associated characters are the creative property of DC Comics. Warnings: Child Abuse, Gender Dysphoria, PTSD and Anxiety, Character Death Rating: T Synopsis: Jon Kent knew he pretty much had the perfect family life, but something still felt wrong with himself. At the height of feeling like an alien in his own skin, however, his world got turned upside down when his parents took in a troubled child who embodied everything he felt he lacked. However, becoming a brother ended up being the smallest of the trials brought by adopting Christopher Kent. And being best friends with Damian Wayne has not exactly helped keep a neutral perspective on the matter.

A/N: Apologies for taking a bit longer to update this one, I had some extra work to get done in the last week and that cut into my writing time rather than my Animal Crossing time (who could have seen that coming?) and all my fics got a slight push, though I tried to get back on track by this one’s update. Ah, partial points for effort I suppose!

As always, I need to thank everyone. for the wonderful support that this story is receiving. It means so very much to me and I wouldn’t have the motivation to keep working and improving if it weren’t for those of you who promoted and commented on it! Shout outs to @mirrorfalls, @secretlystephaniebrown, @thistleknight, and @karagordon.

Chapter Three: The Runaway

Lor is in immeasurable pain.

He can feel his skin taut and broken across his back, too painful to lay on overnight. He can feel his cheek inflamed and pressing up against his eyelid. He can feel his ribs sensitive and cracked, aching against his every breath.

And the worst of it all is the way the rage against him has still not diminished.

In the past, Lor has been disciplined. It is not an unfamiliar sensation. But his parents finished with the consensus that a lesson of some sort has been learned. Lor even finds himself in agreement with them.

Not this time. Not today. He is hurt and they finished the discipline without any commentary or any softness to their expressions.

No, though, that is still not the worst. Not as Lor lays on his bed in hysteric contemplation alone in the dark.

The worst thing of all is that he cannot shut his eyes, cannot sleep, without the hideous cracking of Ti’ahl’s arm sounding off between his ears. The echos of her cries and the horror of the crowds reverberate throughout Lor’s body and send cold shivers through him.

His family is not loved when the masses of Jakuul bow. And Lor’s entire universe is turned upside down knowing this.

Before this terror in his life, Lor still did not have a full understanding of his world or his life. He is, after all, a child. But he thought he understood what he was to his father and mother.

He is the Last Son of Krypton. He is the future of the House of Zod.

But he also knows that not living up to such things means that his parents’ approval is gone. And if it is gone, bad things will happen.

Now, as he understands with the display involving Ti’ahl, those consequences are far greater than anything he could have imagined beforehand.

Suddenly, horrifically, Lor understands that his life is not the most valuable part of him.

And he is scared.

In the middle of the night, alone in his room, Lor feels the strongest impulse he has ever had in his short life.

Lor-Zod knows, without a doubt, that he needs to leave.

The instinct comes from deep within him — thoughts of the Phantom Zone and its endless prison, how escaping it meant never staying somewhere he didn’t want to again. He can see it, his old dreams of leaving for different worlds the moment he was scared or unsafe.

The only home he had ever known had been the promise of leaving the places that were wrong and painful.

And, now, Lor needs to go. He’s scared. It isn’t safe.

Thinking of his lessons on the sunstones, Lor moves, sluggishly and painfully through the palace toward the transportation lab. What little Kryptonian equipment and weapons they have managed to gather and to create — or have the Jakuul create — rests in there, including the Phantom Zone pod.

The spiral pod is bronze in color with no seeable thrusters, only a thin screen that allows its occupant to see outside the pod. It does not steer, does not operate as a ship in any way, but as a bullet to be fired in a singular direction. Once someone is inside of it, outside of a Phantom Zone Projector, nothing will be able to tear the pod off its course. It will phase through matter, it will burst through time and space. And whoever is within it will sleep until they are released, heal until they are done.

And that is all Lor needs. Peaceful, forceful sleep without interruption. He needs comfort and rest, to heal up his ribs and his back and his eyes so that when he is done, he can return to being what his mother and father need him to be.

So that he is not treated and left in pain that someone like Ti’ahl experiences.

He can’t imagine there’s something better, something in between.

Lor loads his burdens onto the pod and begins setting his coordinates. He has not lived out of the Phantom Zone long and can only think of a few places he can go.

One is Krypton, his home he never knew and is no longer there.

One is Earth, his father’s enemy, and his only other point of contact.

If he can make it to Earth and back, perhaps Lor can make it through anything else. Including his parents’ anger.

At least, that is his sincere hope.

Just like that, Lor leaves his family’s palace.

***

Father doesn’t look surprised by Damian’s intrusion on his meeting with Cassandra. He barely acknowledges that it means Damian is missing school and instead asks him if there is anything Damian would like for him to know.

Within Damian’s heart, he feels the judgment, knows the look of his father searching him for something Damian isn’t giving. It’s frustrating. It’s painful. And it’s a look he’s never seen given to Cassandra.

Damian has nothing to say except for what he feels is obvious.

“I am better than any of you see in me,” he informs his father haughtily.

His father gives him a sigh and waves him off, dismissive and annoyed. Like swatting at a fly.

“We’ll talk about it later, Damian,” Bruce Wayne says in a voice that is distinctly lacking Batman in it. It’s weary and light. Others in the family call it the Brucie Wayne voice, but for Damian, it’s something far worse.

It’s basically baby talk toward him.

Cassandra doesn’t get that treatment either.

“I doubt it,” Damian glowers, crossing his arms.

When Damian looks back up toward his father, he is met by sharp blue eyes piercing his own gaze. That is more like Batman. It sends a shiver down Damian’s spine.

Much better than baby talk, that is for certain.

“I have something important I need to discuss with Cassandra,” his father reminds him darkly. “Give us some privacy.” He gives a purposeful pause before continuing, “Please.”

For a few long moments, Damian stands cross-armed beside Cassandra, facing his father’s large executive desk. The entire suite is large and deceptively slick and modern. Devices and trick switches are hidden behind the ostentatious decor and smatterings of family photographs framed and preserved seemingly forever. Newspapers are mounted with new stories of interest over the decades.

Everything is large, squared, and imposing.

Just like their father.

When it reaches the point that Damian feels as though the silence is threatening to eat them all whole, he finally relents and turns around. It takes him nearly double the strides it would require his father to make to exit the room, just as it would take him twice the height to meet the same reach his father does.

Logically, Damian knows that the unspoken part of his father’s request for privacy was for Damian to continue from his way out of the room down to the street level where Pennyworth and the car would be waiting. Then Damian could receive a whole other lecture on manners and family and general behaving that he has received over a dozen times before.

He’s tired of it before he’s even done processing the thought of it.

Making an executive decision of his own, Damian does not leave for Alfred and the car but instead takes a hard left at the elevator shaft. Having memorized the blueprints — the actual blueprints — for Wayne Tower, Damian knows that in the blindspot of the stairwell security camera is an always taped off custodial closet. In that custodial closet is a secretive shaft that will lower into the bowels of the Tower itself.

Once a part of the robust subway tunnel system beneath the streets of Gotham, the old junction now serves as the open space for research and development of their nightly activities. At least, one of the spaces for R&D at least.

It is also the one place where Damian can open up the Oracle Network safely in Wayne Towers and check in on others without causing too much of a fuss.

Anyone who notices will assume it is Batman and everyone leaves Batman alone to his devices for the most part.

Stepping up to the large silver monitor screen, Damian watches as everything in the room begins to activate — light by light, display by display. It is a very sleek and intimidating presence.

His father is good at maintaining certain aesthetic sensibilities, Damian will give him that, at least.

Looking around, Damian sees the computer chair, built for the size and magnitude of Batman, and immediately jumps into it. His body impressively slumps into the cushions, leaving him staring straight ahead in annoyance.

Recovering from the momentary sag of his body, Damian scoots the chair up, hands gripped to the armrests so tightly his knuckles whiten. Then he leans forward to the keyboard and begins typing.

Using spy satellites is an unfortunate habit that Damian has picked up from his father, but he assures himself it is for good reason.

There is still something so wrong and disconcerting about the way that Jon reacted to Professor Pyg.

Few things dig themselves into Damian’s guts and leave him unsettled. His friend being hurt somehow by the madman was one of them. Whether it was Damian’s sense of guilt or genuine fear for Jon, Damian is still working out.

Either way, he wants to hone in on Metropolis and see how his friend is doing for himself.

It isn’t a difficult maneuver. There is already a preset coordinate to the exact location Damian needs.

Damian expects no less from his father, after all, there are a myriad of reasons to keep watch on the family and wellbeing of the most trusted and power being in the world, if not the universe.

He watches with vague interest as two figures — Superman and Superboy — approach the balcony of the Metropolis apartment in question. One has a suitcase, the other a backpack beneath his cape. Then, in a dash of color, they are both gone long before a less accurate or powerful satellite or camera would be able to capture them.

At least, Damian would hope so.

Leaning his head forward, chin sharply balanced on his palm, Damian tries to think of the expression on Jon’s face. It’s hard to tell, even with Wayne Tech advances, the nuances of someone’s face at that distance. The pixelation hides the crevices and intensity.

But Jon seemed to be smiling. Which is, really, all Damian wants to make sure of.

At the end of the day, Damian does not have many friends. The ones he does have are important to him.

And he’s still not sure that allowing himself to be in the equation frees his friends to have good things happen to them.

The thoughts are still heavy on his mind when the monitor and all of the Oracle Network change in an instant.

A red flash comes across the screen with a blare of a signal. Then again and again. It continues.

Damian jerks into sitting upright again. His shoulders drop as he looks around wide-eyed toward the different monitor screens.

Something is happening in Metropolis.

Reaching for the keyboard, Damian zooms out from the tiny apartment and widens his view to the city. Even above the city, there does not seem to be anything he can see at a distance. But, as he begins to wonder if he should switch to news coverage, Damian sees that the sky is the source of the danger alert.

Heading directly for Metropolis is a fireball the size of a car.

Before he even thinks about contacting his father or anyone else, Damian is leaping for the closest plane his father has been working on.

He knows he might not get there before the crash, but Damian is definitely going to be there to help his friend with the aftermath.

***

Jon still feels off-balance in the air. His leg wobbles a lot, the plank-like rigidness he needs to maintain for a smooth flight can still tire him. He’s working on it.

And it always feels easier in the morning with his dad.

When his pa smiles down at Jon, he feels like no matter how weird his thoughts for the morning, the whole world is going to be okay. That Jon is going to be okay. Because how can the world be anything less than perfect when Superman himself smiles like he means it at you.

Holding onto the straps of his backpack, Jon readies to part from his dad and head down to the Siegel and Shuster Middle back gym entrance, but his ears begin thumping.

Just like when he listened for his mother’s heartbeat earlier, Jon can feel every noise, every vibration of all of Metropolis at once. His jaw tightens and he tries to push the noises out. The screech and scream and bark and cry and pop all at once, but he knows that there is something still off about them. There’s something different from normal if he can hone in and direct himself to it.

He halts in the air, raising his hands up to his ears and begins mashing the heels of his palms into the ear canals. It does nothing to help him out, but he tries it anyway.

“Ow! What is that scratchy noise?” Jon can’t help but whine.

Ordinarily, Pa’s soothing voice would put him at ease, explain everything away. But it’s different this time.

Instead, Jon glances over his shoulder and sees his father also stopped in the air. Superman stares, wide-eyed and slack-jawed for a long moment before tensing up.

“Stay here, son,” Clark orders before disappearing in a dazzling whirl of red, blue, and yellow.

The whiplash of it all nearly makes Jon go crosseyed. He regains his position in the air, hovering with far less security than his pa manages to. Then he looks around in concern.

With a simple scan of the surroundings, Jon can see what got his father’s attention and it nearly makes him gasp.

Falling from the sky, seemingly from nowhere and at ludicrous speeds, is a flaming ball of metal aimed right for the city.

“Where did that come from!?” Jon asks clouds around him.

As to be expected, he doesn’t get an answer. But Jon does know what he needs to do next, even without an omniscient reply to his questions.

At full speeds, Jon pushes himself forward, his fists held out in front of him as he aims for the exact place in the sky where his father is lining up with the mystery object.

Even at his highest speeds, Jon is too slow to get there when his father first makes contact with the object and begins flying back, resisting with all his might despite the hurdling force. He is engulfed in the flames, slowing, but still heading for the skyline of Metropolis.

There needs to be more force on Pa’s side and Jon intends to provide it.

He swoops down between the city buildings and positions himself just like he saw his father do before him. He holds his arms out wide and holds out his hands to catch.

It feels like only a blink before his hands are filled with his dad’s cape, and Jon is suddenly falling back through the skies as well.

“Jon!” Superman chokes out between gritted teeth, straining with all his power.

“Pa!” Jon manages to get out alongside him

The particulars of their conversation are forced to wait as they buckle underneath the heavy metal and flames. Jon pushes into his father’s back, his father pushes into the machine, and they progressively slow as they drop through the sky.

“Feet! Flatten your feet!” Pa orders before showing Jon with his own.

Jon obeys, the soles of his tennis shoes directed toward the ground. It still shocks him when his feet hit and the air nearly leaves his lungs, or when he skids backward with the asphalt crackling beneath them. They keep moving, backward, with the space between them getting tighter and tighter as the broken roads rise up and push Jon into his father’s back.

When they stop at long last, Jon full bodily collapses against his dad and breathes a sigh of relief.

People are already on the streets, looking on in awe, which limits the conversations they can have out loud. That doesn’t keep Jon’s pa from turning on his heels, hands on his hips, and looking at Jon very seriously.

“Son,” he says sternly. “Go to school.”

“What, no way, you’re not going to let me even look in it?” Jon asks, circling around his father as widely as possible to get to the hull of the copper-colored machine. “It’s so weird and looks like a snail shell, I bet it’s an alien!”

His father is about to continue with words of wisdom or some all-important notes on responsibility, but Jon cannot hear them. He looks instead at the strange screen on the machine they stopped together and tilts his head. It’s fogged up, like the mirror after he uses the shower, and he can’t see in it. But he can see a strange, blue glow from within.

Squinting, Jon taps on the glass-like structure only to jolt as the metallic shell opens up.

A thick fog hisses out of the opening and forces Jon to wave it away from his face.

And when it’s gone, Jon looks into the face of another boy, no older than him, with strangely cut brown hair and a swollen eye and lip.

“Whoa!” Jon exclaims.

Then he is punched in the face with more force than he has ever felt in his life.

It hits so fast, so hard, Jon is sent soaring through the air backward, headlong into his father’s chest as the larger than life superhero moves in to catch him.

“Superboy!” Pa yells out in code that still can’t hide his horror or anger.

“Ow,” is all Jon can manage to get out, feeling like stars are still busting behind his eyelids.

By the time he’s set back on his feet, Jon can see that the boy from the pod is floating above it, eyes wide and confused. He turns to run.

Suddenly, Pa isn’t behind Jon holding him up anymore.

Jon realizes his dad is in front of him now, next to the boy, stretched out so his large, kind hand is wrapped almost gently around the boy’s wrist. It keeps the boy back, but he isn’t fighting, isn’t resisting. He’s looking at Superman with terror, tears in his eyes.

But Jon can feel his entire face swelling, he grabs at it and looks frantically to his dad. “Dad! He punched me!”

“Hold on, son,” Superman says without looking Jon’s way. He lowers his arm, the boy slowly dropping with it, head bowing and shoulders jerking uncomfortably. Then, Superman pulls the mystery boy to his chest and holds him. “Hold on.”

Confused and more than a little betrayed, Jon shakes his head at the nonsense and rubs at his aching face.

He doesn’t know what’s going on, he can’t even contemplate it. But he’s hurt and he has a bad feeling it’s going to get worse.

#Chris Kent #Damian Wayne #Jon Kent #Clark Kent #writing #super fic #Super: Super Brothers

[bigskydreaming]

I know what you like from Dick (your post are really extensive and detailed, which is great because I love seeing people talk about what they’re passionate about) but is there any type of arc, friend expansion or themes you’d like to see with other robins like Damian or Jason?

Jason, definitely. I actually talk a lot about possibilities for him unrelated to things involving Dick - I’ve got lots of thoughts and feelings about what if he’d had a bigger support system when he was a teen, and how that could have led away from his inevitable death. Like how there was always that age group of YJ and Titans members who were just a couple of years older than Tim so never quite meshed with his YJ crew, but not as old as Dick and his friends....the Ray, Damage, Anima, etc. Like there’s more than enough there for Jason’s own Titans lineup of in-betweeners. I also have a lot of thoughts about Jason and Damage being potential BFFs, and also the idea of Jason dating Tom Bronson aka Tomcat, the werepanther son of Wildcat, Ted Grant. 

And post death and return, I think Jason, Obsidian and Damage could make a great trio of misunderstood (and horrifically misused by DC) friends who’ve been through hell and back and toe the line between hero and anti-hero, but often not even so much because of their own choices but because of how they’re inevitably perceived due to things outside their own actions (like Obsidian often assumed the worst of because people are afraid of his shadow powers, and Damage has a long history of being demonized for the destructive nature of his powers by people in universe, etc).

So like, I definitely have those posts, I just suck at tagging....like search my blog on mobile for those characters’ names and posts with them should come up fairly easily.

My thoughts on expansion for Damian at the moment are currently consumed by GIVE HIM BACK HIS FRIENDS DC, WTF, FIRST COLIN, THEN MAYA, NOW JON, WHY WON’T YOU LET HIM KEEP ANY OF HIS FRIENDS EVER.

And with Tim they’re mostly like.....give Young Justice to anyone but Bendis, who I can’t stand, lol, but otherwise I’d be interested. Like, I know ppl don’t believe me lol but I genuinely don’t inherently dislike Tim, as long as he’s not being written as what I perceive to be at Dick’s expense, like, people getting pissed at Dick on Tim’s behalf for something that I will always maintain was not as cut and dried as people make it. But like, separate of stuff like that....I loved the YJ book from the nineties and was a big fan and so I’m actually really glad to have all of those characters back and reunited, its basically what I would have wanted and done with them myself all along, its just....Bendis. Why. Stop.

Also, Tim’s new superhero name will never not be the dumbest thing ever, there are SO MANY CHOICES you could go with instead and you have him like...Fail at Secret Identities AND Striking Fear Into The Heart Of His Enemies all at the same time. Good plan.

Like, when you need your hero to stop and explain to the bad guys that no, actually, his namesake is actually a pretty bad-ass bird in real life, honest, like...that’s not good. I don’t know who said that was good but like. They lied.

Cass and Duke, I just need more of together. Them in Batman & The Outsiders is again, actually a canon thing I really enjoy, even though the insistence on Cass’ broken English can go die in a fire any day now, seriously. But I love the two of them together and think they’re such an underrated dynamic and they play off each other well, and I would love to see them explore the hidden aspects of both their backgrounds together....like there’s still so much Cass doesn’t know about Lady Shiva and her intentions for Cass like what she even wants from her, and literally everything Duke learned about/from Gnomon in Batman & The Signal needs following up on STAT, even if its just to say Gnomon was full of shit and Duke should not listen to him about anything. 

I also have some older posts about the possibilities of tying Duke’s powers and his family tree into the emotional entity of hope that empowers the Blue Lantern Corps, like the same way Jade - Alan Scott’s daughter - is connected to the green lantern energy and powers without actually needing to be one herself. Like, some of that meta needs tweaking because later stories I read with Duke made certain things about that not work, but like...there’s stuff there that I still would love to see played with even if just in fic, because I love the Lantern CONCEPT as a whole, and also I’m really really in love with the idea of one of Duke’s direct ancestors having maybe been an avatar of hope at some point like Kyle was for Ion, and Duke’s powers were derived from that....like we know his mom Elaine had some kind of powers as well, with the implication IMO being that they were light connected, and that’s why Gnomon was fixated on her in the first place, even if he’s lying about being Duke’s biological father....anyway, like I said, there’s definitely stuff about that lurking around my blog, I just....desperately need to get better about tagging, but also I say that a lot and then it never happens. LOL. Like I’m great at remembering to tag for trigger warnings, but tagging for organizational purposes? My brain’s like lol why would we ever do that.

But yeah, I for sure have lots of thoughts and ideas for all the family members at various times, but there’s not a whole lot of rhyme or reason to when they pop into my head or when I shift to one in specific....just that inevitably, I always shift back to being Dick Grayson hour, lol. I even have some broader Batfam/franchise posts like.....there’s one I wrote about how I’d give other Rogues than the Joker a derivative character or sidekick, like Mister Freeze, the Riddler and Poison Ivy (I think I named them Kid Chill/Tundra, the Memetic and Hemlock). 

And there’s one I keep meaning to revisit about how I’d love to see the Batfamily go up against...a whole rival family, like if a branch of the Falcones returned to Gotham to try and retake power in secret, and they had a matriarch kinda like how Bruce is the patriarch of the Batfam, and then various kids and cousins to act as foils for the Batkids. Like a hacker named Smokescreen to work on hiding their activities from Oracle’s eyes, or a rival to Jason called Red Herring who like, pits the family against each other by framing crimes on various members of the family and testing their trust in each other.

Stuff like that. So I’m not a totally one track mind. Just 90%! LOLOL.

I occasionally remember to take longer meta or ficbits and put them in this sorta catch-all fic posting I have here:

 https://archiveofourown.org/works/18557212/chapters/43986025

But like, by occasionally I mean I’ve remembered a grand total of four times, but hey, whatever. I’m a WIP. The first one is an old magic AU I’m pretty fond of....it was mostly focused on how Dick, Jason and Tim might grow up if they’d been adopted by Zatanna instead of Bruce....though Bruce ends up adopting Cass, Steph and still has Damian. Unfortunately it was written before I got caught up on DC stuff so it doesn’t have Duke in that one....though he’s in two of the others which are more just general Batfam shenanigans.

*Shrugs* Basically I’m random as fuck and hop around a lot, but I’m definitely interested in all the various Batkids, so can happily ramble about any of them with the right prompt, whether a reblog or an ask - just assuming I have the time or energy or am not being a cranky asshole at a particular character because I’m overprotective of my personal chosen fave and not above admitting it. LOL. Quelle problematique.

Like, this is a bit broader of a question then I typically know what to do with, other than just like...point to other things I’ve written that are related, lol, because like....there’s SO MANY thoughts I have or ways I could answer that, I generally don’t know where else to start haha. The more specific you are with an ask or a debate point, the better your chances of getting something definitive from me, lmao.

[rayewriting]

Things Left Unsaid

Fandom: Batman

So… I’m using Damian’s new Teen Titan group. Or parts of it anyway. But I absolutely refuse to touch the “Ric Grayson” bull DC was shoving my way. So, Damian is just beginning with this new group, Damian’s first team (I use that phrase very lightly), of Starfire, Raven, and others did not happen—but Wallace did work with Robin from sometime, I don’t know, like a one-time-off-deal-type-thing, okay? Okay.

Dick finished his Sypral mission and is recovering at the Manor with some type of injury.

Damian Wayne, Troublemaker?

Dick picks up the Gotham Gazette issue, lets out a sigh, and begins to read the article, wondering if he should call the lawyers, his sides protesting from the lingering injuries from his long-term stint as a spy as he takes in a too deep breath to release another sigh. The paper in his hands already rustled from Bruce’s reading when he was eating breakfast before he left for the office with Tim.

Damian Wayne was seen in Brooklynn, meeting with at least two other unidentifiable people. Witnesses say they had skin so pale it looked blue, the taller one had a chain and the other one wearing a bizarre suit. Rumors are spreading about the youngest Wayne…

Dick’s reading was cut off as Damian rushed into the room, grabbing a spare apple from the fruit bowl and lunch from the counter before Damian was about to leave the room, but Dick spoke up, “What, no hello?”

“Hello, Grayson. Now I have to get to school, Alfred is waiting for me at the helicopter pad,” Damian informed, running out of the room. Dick rolled his eyes and finished reading the article and eating his breakfast. The article was full of lies, but Damian was spending a lot time in Brooklynn, and Dick can’t remember the last time Damian had free time. Obviously, this caused Dick to feel anxious for a second opinion, maybe he was being paranoid? Or Damian more friends than just Jon? Why was Damian even in Brooklynn?

By the time Alfred returned, Dick was in the Cave, finishing his reports from the Sypral mission, prompting Alfred’s frown of disapproval. But Dick could not stay in the Manor all day doing nothing and he was going to worry himself crazy until someone told him what Damian was doing, because last time Damian was acting this secretive there was a clone. Speaking of someone knowing what was going on, “Hey, Alfie?”

“Yes, Master Dick?”

“Has Damian been around the Manor very much? Because I can’t remember the last time he actually sat down,” Dick asks.

“I believe Master Damian is usually in the cave by eight to prepare for patrol and eat dinner. However, between dropping him off at school and him showing up for dinner, I do not see him. He requested that I only pick him up on days when the young master patrols with the younger Mister Kent, on other days he brings himself home,” Alfred informs.

“Do you know what he is up to? Because the paparazzi figured out he is in Brooklynn,” Dick’s voice is hesitant, not wanting to cross a line, but willing to find any evidence that Damian might not be safe.

“No, what Master Damian does outside of the Manor and city is his doing, unless I am informed otherwise. Is there anything else you need Master Dick? Perhaps a cup of tea, or sleep?”

Dick’s head drops in embarrassment, “Um, a cup of tea would be nice. I’ll be up in half an hour, okay?”

“Splendid, Master Dick, I will set it out for you then.”

Damian’s pattern of rushed mornings and staying out all day continued for a couple of weeks, sometimes resulting in more Gotham Gazette articles and Dick read every single one of them. But this last one was the last straw.

Confirmed, Damian Wayne, Brooklynn Bad Boy

The article in question was describing Damian’s actions in Brooklynn- ranging from rooftop meetings with a dark-skinned girl, meeting in alleys with two males, and even meeting Emiko at a small café. It also has a picture of Damian with two dark figures, Damian holding out his hand in a handshake with the tallest figure. Dick was beginning to worry about his brother, needless to say, not that Damian was getting into trouble or anything like that, but that Damian would feel he could not come to Dick with his problems and needs to run off to feel better.

So, Dick called Damian’s school, saying the thirteen-year-old is sick and would not be in today. And when Damian runs in the kitchen Dick calls out, “Damian, sit down, please.”

“I can’t, Grayson, I—”

“I called you in, said you were sick. Now please sit down and eat something better than an apple. You look thinner than normal,” Dick gently demands, pulling out a chair for the teen. Now that Damian was in Dick’s view for more than a minute, Dick notices Damian’s physical changes from the last time he saw the teen. He was thinner, shirt and jacket hanging off his frame slightly, bags under his eyes look like bruises, and his hair-though perfectly styled- had lost part of its shine. Dick calls out to the kitchen, where Alfred is, “Alfred, can you make Damian something to eat, I would try, but—”

Damian cut him off, “As I would eat anything you make, Grayson.”

“Exactly.”

“Of course, masters, in fact I already have something prepared,” Alfred walks into the room, with an omelet with green bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions and a small cup of Greek yogurt with strawberries and granola, then places them in front of Damian. Alfred’s eyes shine in a way Dick knew that Alfred wants to smile as Damian began to eat, so Dick smiles at both of them instead. “What would you like to drink, Master Damian?”

With cheeks turning a slight pink, Damian finishes his bite of egg and requests, “Anything is fine, Pennyworth. I appreciate it,”

“Of course, I believe tea with brown sugar, fresh lemon, in a china cup would be best,” and with that Alfred walks away, leaving the younger men alone.

Dick lets Damian eat silently for a few more minutes before bringing out the newspaper and placing it on front of the teen, “Anything you would like to say, Little D?”

“Nothing that you need to know of, Grayson,” Damian answers as Alfred places his tea on the table and exits the room again.

“Really, Damian? Because I can list multiple reasons why I would need to know why you are being spotted in Brooklynn.” Damian gave Dick a dark look as he finishes his eggs and begins his yogurt, but Dick did not let that detour him from his goal, “I could be asked why you were in Brooklynn by reporters, like Vicki Vale. You could be having an emergency and I wouldn’t be able to find you. I could—”

"Father does not care about my afterschool activities, so why should you?" Damian says, then he takes a sip from his tea.

Dick’s shoulders slump slightly at that, "Bruce does not have a good track record of asking his family what they are up to. I just want to make sure you are safe. Because if something happ—"

Damian stands up from the table, food forgotten, and yells, “I get it! I do! But it is not like you have not kept secrets from me! Perhaps it is my turn to keep you in the dark, make you feel unnecessary emotions and think of 'what if's!”

Dick’s temper is beginning to spark, but Dick stomps it out before he says something stupid, “I’m sorry that I hurt you—”

“It was not just me your fake death affected! Todd went off on a killing spree, Drake left the Manor to work with the Titans, and if Gordon visited- she would not look me in the eye! But the worst was that I came back from the dead—the dead to find out that you were never coming back! I could do things people could only dream of! I could fly, I could lift the Batmobile, I was bulletproof! But none of it mattered- nothing mattered because you were not here…” Damian screaming pattered off into whispers as he looked down, as if these thoughts were sacred, as if this was the first time he ever spoke them into existence.

“Oh, Dami…” Dick starts to get up pushing his chair back, but Damian leaps backwards as if burned and turns his back to Dick.

“So, I do not think I can trust you, at least not yet. Perhaps it can be recovered- over time and space- but not—not right now,” the teen’s voice wavers and hiccups at the end.

Dick can see a tear hit the carpet, feels his heart shatter- all the pieces jagged and sharp, but he accepts this- this distance if it means that one day Damian can trust him again, “Okay, Damian. Take the time, all the time you need. I’ll be here when or if you are ever willing to give me a second chance.”

#This was not how I pictured this prompt #It was supposed to be fluffy #But the angst grabbed me and said NOOOOOO #so here we are #Damian Wayne #Dick Grayson #DickandDamiweek2019 #might post a sequel later\ #RayeWriting

[hellyeahheroes]

Best Ongoing Team Books of 2018 - In text because I cannot make it in video

Okay, so my mic is broken, I have barely time to make it work with how many ever hours I’m working recently, so screw it. Last part of my promised list is long overdue anyway, so I’ll just drop it as a text. Apologies for this but yeah, sometimes stuff just piles up. I hope you’ll still enjoy my picks and check the 3 parts that made it to the video

Welcome to Best Books of 2018, the long-awaited final part. I’m terribly sorry it took me so, so terribly long but I had been forced to take many over hours at my day job and it just ate in my time. The rules are as before. The book must still be ongoing in 2018, even if only for a single issue. It also must have more than two issues published in two thousand eighteen. However, if a book got relaunched as effectively the same title, they count as one. This time we’re doing team books. So if you can, go check those titles out at your local store.

Number Ten: Super Sons and its continuation, Adventures of the Super Sons. Work of writers Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason with artwork by Carlo Barberi with issue twelve of the first series draw by Tyler Kirkham. Super Sons continue to be an absolute joy. The greatest asset of this story is that Jon and Damian are written as a pair of actual kids, with behavior we would find too childish with other people but appropriate with them. Which only adds charm to an already book that captures joys of being a kid and going on adventures and that embraces silver age weirdness with all kinds of strange stuff, from a bunch of alien kids idealizing Earth supervillains and modeling themselves after them to an alien versions of Cain and Abel and their House of Secret Mysteries. It is a book that you can just pick up, relax and enjoy, lose yourself in fluffy fun. Its time is limited as Adventures is just a mini but I think if there is one title on this list that is just pure escapism, bar themes touched in an issue where our heroes meet their future selves, it is this one.

Number Nine: House of Whispers by writer Nalo Hopkins and artist Domonike Stanton. One of my favorite out of the new Sandman Universe books, it tells a story of a spell gone wrong that results in the tied fate of goddess Erzulie from Vodou religion and girl named Latoya. The former ends up trapped in the Dreaming, cut from her worshippers and desperately needing to come back before she starves without worship. The latter loses her soul in the same accident and now is affected by Cotard’s delusion, a mental disorder that makes a living person believe they’re dead and worse, she can spread it like an infection. While absolutely fantastic with the weaved narrative I will say that at the time it might be even too heavy as the parts that deal with people affected by the delusion, especially Latoya and her girlfriend Maggie, often feel so outright depressing I had to put the book down and take a break. It is not a bad thing, not every comic book has to just make you feel entertained, especially not one aiming at evoking different emotions. But I need to recommend this one with a warning it is not for everyone as people who already feel down might only feel worse. Still, if you are looking for a book either heavily using themes from religion by far underexplored by literature and pop culture in a respectful way or for a book that might leave you shaken and made think, appreciate your life even, this is a book for you.

Number Eight is a tie: Justice League Dark by writer James Tynion the Fourth and artists Alvaro Martinez and Daniel Sampere as well as Justice League Odyssey by writer Joshua Williamson and artists Stjepan Sejic and Philipe Briones. Two of the new Justice League titles have their problems, I’ll admit it. The main villain in Justice League Dark comes off as invincible for the sake of it and the establishment of the Sisterhood of the Sleight hand only to destroy it rubs me the wrong way and Odyssey feels to have missed its impact moment due to delays and artist change. However, both books are still excellent in what they set to do, opening this new age in Justice League books and bringing them back to the flagship role. Be it dark atmosphere of JLD that isn’t mitigated by inclusion of either Detective Chimp or Wonder Woman, in fact it is a stroke of genius to have her confront the darker side of magic, or the outlandish space opera of Odyssey, with super likable cast playing game of cat and mouse with Darkseid himself, the books do bring new to the table and truly make the Justice League currently one of the strongest if not the strongest lines in the big two.

Number Seven: Rogue & Gambit and its continuation Mr & Mrs. X by writer Kelly Thompson and artist Pere Perez on the former and Oscar Balduza and David Lopez. I’m counting it as one book even if an important part, the wedding, took place in a different title and was fairly controversial. But Kelly Thompson has really shown that she feels the two and their relationship and uses as much of their history as possible to build on and inform said relationship. It is in how natural it comes off as, how strong their bond is but also how unafraid of testing it through their adventures Kelly Thompson is that really makes this book so unique. With the cancellation of X-Men: Red and Exiles and with how Uncanny X-Men and Age of X-Man seem in a contest who can drop more balls, this book is now the best ongoing in the X-Line and you will be doing yourself a disservice if you won’t check it out.

Number Six: Justice League by writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion the Fourth and artists Jim Cheung, Jorge Jimenez, Doug Mankhe, Mike Janin, Francis Manapul, Fazer Irving and Guillem March. This book decided to bring the Justice League back to its greatness and to my great surprise, it succeeded. Scott Snyder’s over the top imagination is a perfect fit for this title and in just a few issues he proved he is not afraid of breaking established boundaries and showing us that cosmology of DC Universe is much greater and more amazing than we might have thought, that everything we thought we know hides more secrets and there is always a new adventure right behind the corner. It asks important questions that, while not intended to be political, by Snyder’s own admission, I feel are still questions about life, a current state of the world and our expectations and ourselves. Upon seeing how flawed the world is, how flawed other people are, how flawed, in the end, we ourselves are, what is a correct course of action? Deny it and try to grind yourself into the idea of perfection you want to be even if it is impossible? Embrace your worst and care only about yourself? Or accept you have flaws, that you feel pain and trauma and realize you can still be a good person regardless? That is the theme of Justice League that makes me enjoy this book so much.

Also, they have hired Ferdinand the Minotaur to work at their cafeteria, that’s awesome.

Number Five: The Dreaming by writer Simon Spurrier and artist Bilquis Evely. The Dreaming is in peril. Dream of Endless has left his dominion, there is a hole in it through which strange things come, citizens find themselves in state of unrest and all beloved characters, from Lucien and Matthew to Merv Pumpkinhead and Eve to Cain and Abel are set on a course that will challenge them and will change them in unexpected ways, all while old faces like Glob and Brute come back and new ones like mysterious Dora and merciless Judge Gallows leave their mark on the place. The Dreaming plays with obvious political undertones but on a meta sense, it is another case of what Simon Spurrier is driven to do, to deconstruct the darker corners of comics and try to explore questions of responsibility and morality through it like he did with Legion and X-Force. This new, heavier, darker take on the Dreaming sucked me in instantly and I really hope the ride Spurrier has prepared for us is a long one.

Number Four: Exiles by writer Saladin Ahmed and artists Javier Rodrigues, Rod Reis and Joe Quinones. Exiles had another short-living comeback and it saddens me to see that it has already been cancelled, though not before qualifying on this list. I love Exiles as a series and a concept and the return with all-new cast and Blink was a welcome one. With adventures that are in equal parts fun and serious and characters with such amazing charm as a cartoon kid Wolverine or Valkyrie. What’s more is that the book had such amazing creative artwork, with Rodriguez especially giving it his all and creating some amazing visuals that truly matched increasingly crazier visions that Ahmed has weaved in front of him through the script. This was a top-notch creative team that I sure hope we’ll see them team-up once again on another project in the future. Meanwhile, while brief it it was still a pleasure to come back to this team of weirdos and outcasts hopping between dimensions, one crazier than the other.

Number Three: Wild Storm by writer Warren Ellis and artist John Davis Hunt. Now here is a book that benefits from its stated twenty four issues run. Wild Storm is a slow burn. But it is by far one of the most glorious slow burns in the history of comics. Ellis continues to create a gritty narrative that combines aliens, conspiracies, secret agencies, technological inventions and movie-like decompressed storytelling into a chilling, dark story that absolutely dominates with the atmosphere. The vision of Wildstorm Universe Ellis and Hunt created for us is absolutely captivating and the feel of the world at the verge of total war between two agencies that long time ago stopped caring for common folk, while Jacob Marlowe, Jenny Sparks, and John Lynch, each in their own way, race to stop them or deal with problems they unleash, is unlike any other. There is plain and simply no other book like this on the shelves right now and it is very unlikely there will be such a book soon after it ends.

Number Two: The Terrifics by writer Jeff Lemire and artists Ivan Reis, Evan Doc Sharner, Joe Bennett, Dale Eaglesham. Out of all New Age of Heroes Books this is undeniably the best one. A loving tribute to the original Fantastic Four stories that finds a new quality through use of characters that may fill similar archetypes but are different enough that each brings their own thing to the table, creating new dynamics that liven up known narratives while at the same time the artists manage to get creative, especially the issue that divides each page into a sort of camera following each of the four protagonists one panel per person and uniting them and dividing as they join together or split up, pushing the very boundaries of graphic storytelling as we know it. It is also a book full of warmth and joy and optimism we often do not see in books like that. It is truly a title that has a heart and imagination on its side and it is using them to their full potential.

Honorable Mentions: West Coast Avengers, Champions, Teen Titans

And our Number One is Runaways by writer Rainbow Rowell and artists Kris Anka and David Lafuente. It couldn’t be anything else. Runaways this year was plain and simply the best book on the shelves. Kris Anka’s beautiful art brings to life Rainbow Rowell amazing heart for these characters as she lets them face new challenges in their lives, creating story if teenagers at the verge of adulthood as they try to wrestle less with supervillains and more with their own fears and insecurities and this feeling of childhood and innocence lost for superhero life they never wanted, all as they try to rebuild and maintain their family. It is a story where greatest victories are not supervillain battles, which they seem to win by a fluke most of the time anyway, but to take a step forward, overcome your fear and doubt and admit to yourself that yes, you are worthy of happiness and you will be happy. In that Runaways is without a doubt the book that speaks to me the most and one I wait for every month. I cannot recommend this book enough.

So here are my final picks. I’m exhausted. I will say that recently all stuff in my life made working on the videos harder, especially now that i’m trying, against any better reason to record myself  and I might not be able to do it as regularly. I might think of reinventing the format and maybe relegate the channel to a different role in relation to my blog, which I think is by now much more popular. I still have learned a lot in that time of doing these videos and I wish to continue, maybe with a more focused vision. Thank you all for being so long with me and putting up with my nosense and rest assured, I shall return.

- Admin

#Runaways #The Terrifics #Wild Storm #Exiles #the Dreamind #Justice League #Rogue & Gambit #mr. and mrs. x #Justice League Dark #Justice League Odyssey #House of Whispers #Super Sons #Adventures of the Super Sons #Marvel #DC #Vertigo #Sandman Universe #Dark Matter #New Age of DC Heroes

[spandexinspace]

ok my notifs are still fukced but i think u reblogged the dc asks. u should answer all of them

Haha, yeah, probably my fault, I reblogged it but then I removed it (I also sent you an ask earlier but idk if you received it or Tumblr ate it?). But let’s do this thing!

1.“Duet” from the Flash or “Mayheim of the Music Meister” from Batman the Brave and the Bold?

Mayhem of the Music Meister. Great stuff.

2. Do you like the arrowverse? If so what’s your favorite show?

Nope, not at all.

3. First comic read? 

Either the tie-in comic for Teen Titans (Teen Titans Go, ironically enough?) or the tie-in comic for the Legion cartoon.

4. What introduced you to the DC universe? Was it a show, comic or movie?

The cartoons. I used to watch the DCAU at my aunt’s house because I was only allowed to stay up late enough to watch them when we were over at her house, and then later on I would watch the TT cartoon at my own house because it was on at a more resonable time. 

5. Favorite character?

I mean, probably Querl. 

6. Favorite canon ship?

Salu/Ayla, I think. Maybe Pink Lightning. I don’t ship either of them super hard but they’re good ships.

7. Favorite non-canon ship?

Querl/Lyle, to absolutely no one’s surprise.

8. Pre-N52 or N52? 

Pre-n52 so hard. Not much good came out of the n52 and it killed a whole lot of good.

9. Rebirth or N52?

Early Rebirth? Like, the first year to year and a half were great, but right now it’s starting to become very meh again. Snyder and Bendis are not good, King is incredible hit and miss and Johns’ shit is taking too goddamn long and hogging so many good characters.

10. Death in the Family or Death of Superman?

I’m not a huge fan of either of them, to be honest. I guess DitF is at least a little shorter?

11. Favorite live action movie? 

I haven’t watched the older stuff, but probably one of those. Or nothing at all.

12. Favorite animated movie?

It’s a tie between Crisis on Two Earths and GL: Emerald Knights.

13. DCEU or DCAU?

DCAU all the way, it is so much better even at its worst.

14. Favorite member of the trinity?

Superman. I love his supporting cast and how much of a straight laced farm boy he manages to be even as one of the world’s most powerful men.

15. Dark trinity or trinity?

Trinity.

16. Outsiders or Titans?

I haven’t actually ever read a full Titans run, I just can’t seem to get hooked on them. Not that I’m a fan of the OG Outsiders either, but the second team were pretty great while they lasted.

17. Teen Titans or Young Just Us?

I have read most of YJ, so due to the above mentioned reason it’d have to be them. I didn’t really love YJ either, which is weird because it feels like I fall in love with almost every teen team Marvel puts out, but most of DC’s just don’t seem to stick in the same way.

18. Favorite animated show? 

Batman the Brave and the Bold. It’s funny and has a lot of re-watch value even though it might not be the deepest show.

19. Favorite superhero family?

I guess the Doxs don’t count on account of producing like 1.2 superheroes in five generations.

The Superfamily. Good people, nice family interaction and appropriate amounts of uninvited stepfathers.

20. Young justice(show) or Teen Titans(show)?

TT is good nostalgia, but it hasn’t aged all that well. Faux anime isn’t a good look in 2018. YJ is more fun to watch right now but is slightly less enjoyable as a whole.

21. Do you watch Teen Titans Go?

I’ve seen some episodes, but I have since stopped caring.

22. Favorite Robin?

Tim.

23. So you prefer Superman and Wonder Woman or Batman and Wonder Woman? 

No.

24. If you had total control what would you change?

Almost everything? As of right now I’d probably limit Snyder and Bendis’ control over anything but a very small sliver of the universe, either find an additional artist for Gary Frank or a way for him to speed up his artistry, cancel Superheroes in Crisis or whatever it’s called and launch a few new books (Booster Gold and L.E.G.I.O.N., off the top of my head).

25. Batgirl or oracle?

Oracle.

26. Whos your favorite batgirl?

No one. 

27. Batgirl and the birds of Prey or Redhood and the Outlaws?

RatO, marginally.

28. Favorite comic run?

L.E.G.I.O.N.+R.E.B.E.L.S. or DnA’s Legion Lost.

29. Favorite comic artist?

Francis Manapul and Olivier Coipel.

30. Favorite comic writer?

I’m not entirely sure to be honest. Bedard and Johns are good, and Giffen is great when he’s on top of his game. 

31. Do you like the joker?

Nope, not in the least. He should be dead.

32. Who do you think is the most overused or overrated characters?

Batman, the Joker and Harley Quinn share that title. None of them are really interesting enough to warrant the popularity they have and I don’t get what people see in them, especially not the latter two. You’ve got droves of cool sci-fi characters who do all kinds of shit, but for some reason people want to read 50 different and usually not particularly good books about them instead.

33. Batman the animated series or Superman the animated series?

STAS.

34. Legion of Superheros or Batman Beyond?

LoSH and I will fist fight anyone who says anything else.

36. Justice league or Justice league Unlimited?

I kind of view them as the same thing, and they both have high and low points. JL does have Comfort and Joy though.

37. The Batman or beware the Bat?

Haven’t seen either.

38. Who do you think is the most overlooked or underused character?

Vril and his unwilling group of not-friends. They could have been a good counterweight to the GLC that appeared from time to time, but instead they seem to have gotten thrown into limbo. (Yes, they had awful sales but it’s not my fault that people have shit taste.)

39. Do you watch Gotham?

No.

40. Do you like marvel?

The company or Billy? Yes on both accounts though.

41. Jon kent or Damian Wayne?

Jon, even if he can be a bit annoying at times.

42. Renee Montoya or Vic Sage 

Vic, but they’re best as a team.

43. Kate Kane and Renee Montoya or Apollo and Midnighter?

Apollo/Midnighter

44. Barry Allen or Wally West?

Barry, though I don’t care that much.

45. Kara Zor-El, Stephanie Brown or Cassie sandsmark? 

Kara.

46. Kord Industrues, Wayne Tech or Lex Corp?

Lex Corp is more fun as a company? Because Lex is a huge bastard who actually uses his company for something and interacts with it and his underlings on a regular basis.

47. If you could have any characters powers who’s would you have?

Shape shifting akin to how the Durlans do it. 

48. Favorite villain?

Brainiac or Lex. Brainiac is cool because of his aesthetic and general behaviour, but Lex is just the best kind of petty bastard on a personal level. Brainiac is a somewhat predictable character while Lex can do almost anything as long as he thinks it will hurt or piss of Superman.

49. DC Bombshells, Injustice or Kingdom come?

Bombshells is pretty, Kingdom Come is actually readable.

50. Injustice or the Arkham Asylum?

Injustice has Querl? I haven’t played either though, they’re not my kind of thing (because they’re not the same four rpgs I’ve replayed 11 times already).

51. Justice League or League of Assassins?

The JL, all the way. How is that even a competition.

#dc comics #this became very long and I have lot of opinion #fade-steppin

[unavenged-robin]

(something for your way to work? Have a good day!)

So I kinda want Jons first date to be with someone who ISNT Damian. Like he has the biggest crush on Damian in the world, but he thinks its not reciprocated (cause you know damian and feelings). So this cute boy from his high school asks Jon out and Jon agrees. Jon tells Damian and Damian is just SO JEALOUS. Just grinding his teeth to dust jealous. But he can’t complain, or do anything about it. Some other guy just had the guts to tell Jon, “Hey, you’re cute. Wanna get dinner and watch a movie with me?” While Damian can barely manage a nice thing to say to Jon. (even though the thought of Jon laughing or smiling at a dumb joke keeps him up all night). So what does he do? He tells Jon to enjoy his date and that he’ll see him on patrol the night after his date; calling himself a coward the whole time he writes out the message and sends it.

The next day is just a moping Damian. After training and a shower, its just moping all around the manor. Eating breakfast? Full of sighs. In the library? Titus is sitting in his lap and hes curled around his dog, looking out of the window. Listening to music? Sad songs. 

“Damian?” Dick asked, carefully removing one of Damians earbuds. Damian grunted. “Everything okay, bud?”

“Peachy, why do you ask?”

“You seem…off.” Dick said careful of his words. 

“’M fine.” Damian grumbled, taking his earbud back. 

Tim comes strolling in with some tea for Damian, and ruffles his hair. “Jon’s going on a date because poor Damian here can’t sort out his feelings like the rest of us.“ 

“How do you know?” Dick asked

“Kon told me.” Tim answered, typing something on his phone. “I told him that i’m gonna sabotage his little brothers date.”

Dick perked up and was about to open his mouth until he heard a gun getting loaded. “WE’RE NOT GONNA KILL HIM, JASON.”

“Damnit.”

Stephanie comes skipping in with some pictures, “his name is Clay. What an unattractive name, CLAY. Like Ew. Put a face after that and you have a villain name. ANYWAYS. Cute kid. Gray eyes, blonde hair. He’s on the basketball team. So if Mad Dog Jason gets out, make sure he doesnt break his wrist.” Stephanie relays all of this information while stroking Damians hair. Damian would normally hiss and growl and promise her demise, but today he just lets his head rest on her hip. (Damian ofc cant hear anything. He just thinks his siblings + steph are just keeping him company)

“Fuck you, Steph.”

“Don’t you wish, honey.”

So it’s friday night. Jon and Clay are at a diner. (Damian is patrolling with batman. B notices that Robin is a little more aggressive tonight than normal) 

Jay steals Clays wallet making Jon pay for everything.Jon doesnt mind. Hes just a little annoyed cause Clay said it was his treat.  

Since Jay still has Clays wallet, Jon also has to pay for the movie tickets. 

Anytime the other boy wants to touch Jon, hand over shoulder holding his hand Dick shocks him. 

Jon is miserable. This was a shit date. Why did he even come? Even during dinner he realized they had nothing in common besides sports, and the fact they’re in AP Calculus. And they’re not even on the same sports team! (Jons in baseball) Every conversation he had with him was an absolute bore, He seemed so charming in school! Jon sighed as they finally pulled into the driveway to his house in metropolis. 

“Sorry about tonight! I guess, I just wasn’t on my game.” Clay laughs. Jon tried not to cringe at yet another sports reference. 

“We all have our off days.” Jon smiles, ready to put this dumb date behind him. 

Clay holds his hand, and Jon finds himself desperately wishing that it was someone else holding his hand. Someone hes trying to get over. Someone whos too tied down to crime fighting. Someone whos passionate about animals and art and literature and his city. 

“Thanks for being so understanding.” Clay says leaning forward. Jon found himself leaning forward too. The hell with it, maybe at least the kissing will make up for this lousy excuse of a date. 

Tim hacks the boys car before his and Jons lips touched, making the car alarm go off in the dead of night. The batboys tried not to snicker, that would tip off a certain someones super hearing. 

Jon grits his teeth and get out of the car. “Thanks for the ride.” He calls over his shoulder and retreats into his house. 

Jon sees his mom waiting up for him in the living room. “Hey, honey.” Jon super speed runs to her and plops himself on her lap. 

“Im taking your date went bad?”

“Oh you have no idea.” he mumbled into her lap, holding her closer.

“Think of it this way, this just sets the bar for all of your other dates!” Lois said, carding her fingers through her sons thick black hair. 

“Mom, anything lower than this would be my date not showing up. And honestly, that’s still probably better than tonight." 

Lois had to laugh at that. 

"I dated the captain of the basketball team when I was your age too.”

“Howd it go?”

“God awful. He ran off with god knows who in the middle of our date. I had to walk home myself.”

“What happened after that?”

“I started dating your father.”

“Think he asked batman to scare the other guy off?”

Lois laughed at that. “Somehow, I dont doubt it." 

Lois pressed a kiss to Jons cheek and went off to bed. He could hear his Dads thunderous snores as she opened the door to their bedroom. 

Jon pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Damian. 

Worst date ever, and it was my first one. Tell you about it on patrol tomorrow. Night!

Damian opened the message as he waited for the GCPD to pick up the would be bank robbers he just busted. A big smile spread across his cheeks. Looks like Damian will get his second chance soon.

BONUS: when Batman and robin strolled into the cave, Tim, Jason, and Dick were all napping in random spots with their suits on. 

"They didn’t tell me they went on patrol.” Batman frowned. The pieces clicked into place for Damian rather quickly. He had to hide a smile from his father. He also made a mental note of finding out ways to thank his brothers. 

@desolationofzara OMG I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! And i legit laughed out loud, thank you so much darling!

#damijon #these boys are killing me #desolationofzara #submission #damian wayne #dick grayson #tim drake #jason todd #jon kent #supersons

[ellana-ravenwood]

Hatred and Grief - Clark Kent x Reader

Summary : Clark loses the thing he loves the most in the World...And the worst thing ? It is his fault. 

I was in the mood for something angsty today. Yeah yeah yeah I didn’t follow the schedule I put up not long ago, but I really wanted to write this story. I was in the mood to write something kinda sad (or not). Hope you will like it, as usual, feedbacks are very welcome :-) : 

You can find my masterlist here : @ella-ravenwood-archives

______________________________________________

The second he sees your body hit that wall violently, and hears the terrible crack it makes...He knows. 

He didn’t mean to do it. It wasn’t him...it wasn’t him ! 

This was a nightmare. 

Just a bad dream. 

He was going to wake up in your arms, nuzzle his face in the crook of your neck. He was going to wake up in your arms, and tighten his grip around you. You were going to reassure him after this stupid nightmare...No. 

No you weren’t. You would never reassure him again.  

He knows he committed the irreparable. And that’s what brings him back. 

Of course, only you would be able to take him out of this weird daze he had been for a while. Only you would be able to snap him out of it. He thinks he remembers you yelling : “Clark, this isn't you ! Come back to us baby, come back to m...”, but you were never going to be able to finish this sentence. 

He doesn’t remember much, but what comes back to his mind, is being captured by Lex Luthor and him...doing something to his brain. 

And then falling in a state of semi-consciousness, where he just couldn’t control his movements, and didn’t even care about it. 

He doesn’t really remember much of his actions, as if he just woke up from a dream that refused to be remembered, but when he regains his senses, and, horrified, looks around him...half of Metropolis is destroyed, giving him that much hints about what happened.

He knows this carnage is his fault. Though he wasn’t master of his movements, the guilt that washes over him is endless. And when he fully realizes what he has just done, what brought him back...It’s more than guilt. It’s agony. 

It’s his arm that hit you with all his might as you were approaching him, and that send you crashing into that concrete wall. With just a small swipe, as if you were nothing, though you were everything to him, his arm went own its own accord to shove you out of his way, with so much force that you flew across the street. His arm. His. 

It’s his arm that killed you...

He’s starting to understand what is going on, what happened, when an ear piercing scream resonates in the street, and he feels as if he just got hit by a sledge-hammer. 

Batman. With a kryptonite brass knuckle. A krytonite knuckle. Of course. Only him would have such a thing. 

For a slight second, Clark doesn’t understand why his best friend just hit him. But then the reality of what is happening downs on him, and he doesn’t budge. 

No. He deserves this. He deserves to be beaten to death by Bruce. By your brother. He deserves it...

He barely registers Diana, Arthur, Oliver, Hal and J’onn catching the bat, and holding him with all their might. Your older brother is in such a rage that they have all the trouble in the World to keep him from killing Superman. 

He pushes away Zatanna and Shayerah trying to help him to his feet, and for a slight seconds, they’re afraid he’s still under Lex’s control...But when he says : 

-Let him. Please. Let him hit me. 

They all know the nightmare is done. You were right. You had been able to snap him out of Luthor’s grasp. Clark was back, unfortunately, too late. And you paid the biggest price to save the one you love...

It’s Bruce’s turn to loose control. It’s his turn to go rogue, though he does it completely consciously. His kryptonite laced fist punches the mighty Superman over and over again, as he lets out growls of anger. 

That man he trusted with his life, that man he considered, until a very short while ago, his best friend, that man who married his precious little sister, that man who was his nephews’ father...That man just killed one of the thing he loved the most on Earth. 

You. (Y/N) Wayne Kent. The best person that ever walked this planet. You, who was the opposite of him, all light and smile. You who took away his broodiness and tears with your mere presence, and that, ever since you were a tiny kid. You. His beloved little sister...

For the first time in a very, very long time, Bruce looses control. And he doesn’t want to regain it...But the league members can participate in this. They can’t just look as the Batman beats Superman to death, no matter what happened. Once again, they take hold of a screaming Bruce and drag him away from the kryptonian. Diana doesn’t let go of him until the ever so stoic man broke down in tears in her arms...No. 

They don’t let the Batman beats Superman to death, even though what he’s done is unforgivable. 

Because they know it’s not his fault, they know he couldn’t control his own body, and that the last thing Clark wanted was to hurt you in any way. 

And when Clark, on the brink of unconsciousness, crawls as best he can to your lifeless body. Pulls himself up and sits next to you. Grabs your tiny corpse in his strong arms and...Let out a scream even more powerful than Bruce’s. A scream filled with pain and misery, with agony and horror. When Clark buries his face in the crook of your neck, tears running down his battered cheeks. When he rocks you in his arms, letting himself go, crying like he never did before. When he begs you to come back, to not leave him alone, when he says he cannot live without you, when he professes his love to you over and over again...

They know that they shouldn’t hold him accountable for what just happened. Because out of all of them, he was the one that was suffering the most, and that would probably never come back from his sorrow. Followed closely by Bruce, whose pain was also to grand to ignore, too heartbreaking to stay in front of him without any reaction. 

And soon enough, all the league members present are crying. 

But the wails of the strongest man on Earth, and of the greatest detective ever, are the worst. 

************

Damian breaks his hand hitting his jaw. Dick tears away his cape. Jason shoots him, without much success. Tim yells and also break his bones trying to punch him. Clark lets them. He deserves it. He deserves every insults they throw at him, every punches though he doesn’t really feel them. He deserves all of it.

He deserves Damian trying to tear his eyes out, while yelling that his aunt was the best woman on Earth. He deserves to be shot a million times by Jason, even if it’s just to release some pain off of the boy’s heart. He deserves to have his hair pulled by Tim, as the kid screams in his hears that he’s a monster. He deserves Dick’s tearing his trademark “S” off of his costume, saying that he doesn’t deserve hope anymore...He deserves all of it.  

Bruce is silent. He doesn’t have the strength to do anything anymore, and just wants to go to bed. To wake up the next morning to the sound of your laughter down the hall, to the sound of your feet running after your nephews, giggling like a child. Ready to wake up with a six years old you in his arms, because you snuck into his bed, being afraid of the thunderstorm that was raging outside. 

Yes. Bruce doesn’t have the strength anymore, and collapses in the arm of a grieving Alfred. 

The butler just lost a daughter. And though he wished he could kill Superman too, he’s got to be there for his family. Besides, his grandchildren, not the batboys, your own sons, already lost a mother...They needed more than ever their dad. But he cannot help it. The hate he feels below his grief is too great. And the murderous gaze he gives Clark is enough to break the Superman even more. Though, right now, Alfred cannot do anything. 

He needs to take care of the one he came to love as a son. He needs to take care of your broken brother, who just lost one of the best thing he had in life. 

Clark leaves your body in the cave, knowing you would have want to be buried next to your parents. And because he did not want his sons to see you like that. To see your broken body, your expressionless face, how cold and white you were...no. He couldn’t bring you back to where they were. And so he left you there. And with a last kiss to your frozen lips, trying to ignore as best he could his nephews holding onto each others, looking at him with a hatred he never saw in any of their eyes before, he flies away. 

************

Just like he didn’t try to fight Bruce or his nephews, he lets them. 

He lets them hit him with all their might. 

It hurts. Like Hell. They’re powerful, almost more than him. They don’t break their hands as their fist hit him repeatedly.

When it was discovered that he went rogue because of an experiment Lex Luthor made on him, you took them to the family farm, away from any danger. You took them to his Ma’, knowing they’d be safe there...

Coming back alone, without you, his face a bloody pulp, and explaining to them what happened was the most difficult thing he ever had to do. More than once, he thought he wasn’t going to be able to...but he owed them that much. 

Because he just killed their mother. 

And when they took their grief and anger on him, he let them did it. 

Only the intervention of their grandma stopped them. 

Little Jon, who looked exactly like his father when he was a kid, except for his eyes, he had your (E/C) eyes, well...Little John holds on tight onto his grandmother, not able to stop crying. His mommy is no more. She wasn’t coming back. She wouldn’t come to tuck him in anymore, read him the best bed time stories ever. Inventing them often, oh, he loved it even more when she invented them. Never would she cook his favorite meals, or scold him because he still wasn’t showered and in bed. Never would she wakes him up lovingly to get ready for school, with a soft kiss on his forehead and a warm hug. Never would she...do anything. She was gone. Forever. His screams of pain were yet another stab in Clark’s heart. 

You were the first one who ever showed love towards Conner, and as his grandma stops him from killing his father, he falls to his knee. And he imagines that the hand of Martha Kent through his hair isn’t hers, but his mother’s. He imagines that the fingers massaging lovingly his scalp isn’t his grandmother’s, it’s his mom’s. She’s right there with him. She isn’t dead. It’s ridiculous to think she could be dead. She’s the famous (Y/N) Wayne Kent. She can’t be dead. She’s the one that accepted him as a son first, convincing her husband afterward...She’s the reason he has parents. She can’t be taken away from him ! She can’t...As his grandmother tries to soothe his shaking body with a loving hand brushing his hair, he imagines its his mother. Just one last time before he has to say goodbye...

Clark cannot takes this anymore. He cannot. And before his mom can say anything, he flies away. He can't. He can’t look at his sons breaking down like that and knowing it’s his fault. He’s not strong enough...He’s not strong enough.

************

Alone at last. In his fortress of solitude. 

But he doesn’t want to be alone. He wants you here. With him. He wants to kiss you, hold you in his arms, he wants to talk to you, to see your smile once again...To see your smile once again ! 

He takes his phone out of his pocket. Miraculously, it still works, even after the severe beating he went through. The screen is damaged though, but it’s alright. 

No. It isn’t alright. As he puts on a video he made of you just a few days ago, right before being taken by Lex Luthor, he lets out a scream, almost a growl, and throws his phone, shattering it on the icy walls of his fortress...

When he put on the video, the crack on the screen made your face look horrific.

 It looked broken. Your smile, because of the cracks, was twisted and unnatural. Not at all the smile he wanted to remember. And because the phone went through a lot, your voice was distorted and terrifying...almost as if your ghost was talking to him. 

It was too much. Everything was too much. He wanted to go back in time and stop all of this from happening...unfortunately, though he had a wide array of powers, coming back in time was impossible. No matter what. He wished your joke about flying around the Earth opposite to its orbit would take time back was right...but no. He couldn’t do that. Only Barry Allen could turn back time, and knowing all the shit that happened whenever he did, he would never agree...No. He lost you forever. And it was his fault. 

He’s the one that killed you. 

Tears streamed down his face as he closed his eyes and focused on your image. He tried to remember your voice as best he could, this voice he loved so much, and made you say things like : “I love you Clark” and such in his head. 

But it was more painful than anything else. Because never again were you gonna come back hime and tell him those words. Never again were you going to smile at him, to tell stupid jokes, to laugh with your sons. Never again was he going to be able to hold you, to kiss you, to make love to you. 

No. He killed you. 

And as he destroyed every single piece of ice that made his fortress of solitude, as his fist broke everything around him, he let out his grief and anger. 

It was his turn. 

His turn to be mad. To be sad. 

His turn...

And his fault. As he destroyed his fortress of solitude, turning it into a pile of ice dust, screaming at the top of his lungs, he fully realized what he did. 

He killed you. 

It was his fault if you were never coming back. 

You sacrificed your life to save him. The league was planning, reluctantly, on killing him because he was impossible to contain, to stop. And yet, you begged them for a last chance. 

You sacrificed your life to save him, and he wished you hadn’t. He wished you had let them kill him...The boys needed you more than they needed him. 

Bruce and his children needed you more than they needed him. 

Alfred needed you more than they needed him. 

The entire World needed you more than they needed him.

He was just a brute, you were a living sunshine. You only ever did good in your life, even though you went through terrible things. 

He was just a man that didn’t belong here, that was way too powerful for the planet’s own good, and you were the sweetest thing that ever walked this Earth. 

He was the one who should’ve died, not you...

He fell on his back in the pile of ice that used to be his fortress of solitude, and as tears blurred his visions, the cold floor representing his own feelings, he thought he saw your face in the sky. 

In the shape of the clouds. 

And later, in the stars. 

He stayed a long time laying on his back on the cold ground. And he saw your face everywhere. He was doomed to see your face everywhere for the rest of his life...

Fin.

_____________________

Hope you liked it, and that it made you feel things. If it didn’t, I completely failed and that fucking sucks. Thank you very much for reading. 

#Superman x Reader #Superman imagine #Superman x you #Superman x y/n #Clark Kent x reader #Clark Kent imagine #Clark Kent fanfic #Superman fanfic #Bataunt #Bataunt x Batfam #Batfam #Batfamily #Bruce Wayne x reader #bruce wayne imagine #bruce wayne fanfiction #Clark Kent one shot #Supermom #Supermom dies #angsty fanfic #Damian Wayne imagine #Damian Wayne x reader #Red Hood imagine #Red Robin imagine #Robin imagine #Nightwing imagine

[damijon-supersons]

I may have submitted this fic request before but the fic would be about the anniversary of Damian's death coming up and jon is there to make him feel better.

Oh man, this was hard. Damian isn’t exactly good with his emotions so making a dramatic dialogue for him was…tough… XD

Anyway I hope you enjoy this.

Also, sorry if I take like, ages to do prompts. I cant bring myself to write them unless I can think of a cool thing to make it pop.

Superboy and Robin were just about done patrolling from the rooftops when Damian’s voice stopped Jon in his tracks.

“Hey, Jon…”

Jon turned to look at Damian. His friend never called him by his nickname unless something serious came up…or if Damian was teasing him. But Damian didn’t seem like he was in a joking mood.

“Hey, what’s up?” Jon asked cautiously.

“Go on patrol without me tomorrow,” Damian said, a hint of melancholy in his tone. “I have business to attend to.”

“What business?” Jon asked again.

“Damian business,” Damian emphasized with a bit of irritation.

“I thought we agreed that Damian business is also my business?” Jon complained.

“Not this time,” Damian said firmly. He fired his grapnel and leaped off the roof’s ledge, leaving Jon behind.

***

The air was still, save for the soft pitter-patter of raindrops on Jon’s umbrella. The clouds were a murky gray, almost as if the sky was giving off one huge sad sigh. Water seeped in through Jon’s red sneakers, and he remembered a book he’d read where the thirteen-year old detective protagonist said that the feeling of walking with wet socks was the worst. Jon agreed with him.

He walked up the stone steps and searched for the right footpath. All around him, headstones jutted out of the grass like rows of very depressing teeth. It didn’t take long for Jon to find the right place. It was just a simple patch of grass with a seven-foot-tall obelisk as a headstone. He’d have thought that Bruce Wayne, of all people, would have a fancy mausoleum or something built for his family, and not just another square patch of soil like everyone else in Gotham. It wasn’t exactly the most cheerful thing to ask Batman.

In front of the obelisk, just as Jon had expected, was Damian. He was wearing a simple black shirt and track pants, as if he were just another jogger who just happened to detour into a depressing graveyard. He stared intently at the obelisk, whose inscription looked so faded that there were barely any letters left.

Jon rolled his eyes. Damian didn’t have an umbrella and his usually well-groomed hair was wet and plastered to his forehead. Typical, Jon thought. There’s no better way to look miserable than to visit a graveyard on a rainy day without an umbrella. He approached the boy, but Damian didn’t pay him any attention. Jon put the umbrella over them both.

“Hey,” Jon called out cautiously.

“Hmm,” Damian grunted.

“You’ll catch a cold,” Jon chided.

“How did you find me?” Damian asked without lifting his head.

“You have three brothers and a super awesome butler that I could ask. It wasn’t hard.” Jon hoped that Damian would smile. Damian still looked disinterested.

“Hrrn,” Damian grunted again.

“Soooo,” Jon began, unsure what to say, “That’s where…you were…uh…”

“This was my grave, yes,” Damian said in a monotone. “I was buried here when I…died.” Damian sounded like he almost choked. “Today’s the third year since that day.”

Jon bit his lip as Damian trailed off and went silent. Finally, he couldn’t stand it.

“Come on, let’s get out of the rain.” He grabbed Damian’s hand and dragged him out of the graveyard, ignoring the latter’s indignant protests.

***

Jon’s first thought was to try a café, but he didn’t think Damian would feel like talking if there were any other people around. He needed a place where they could be alone and relaxed. He thought of the quietest, most serene place he could think of. That’s how he ended up flying Damian all the way to his family’s former farm in Hamilton County. Damian didn’t even complain when Jon carried him in his arms, much to Jon’s surprise.

The city gave way to vast plains blanketed by yellows and oranges. The rain hadn’t reached the county, and the autumn breeze swirled with the scent of leaves and hay. Jon set Damian down under the shade of a huge oak tree—his favorite spot on the farm. Damian remained silent as he leaned on the massive trunk. Jon settled beside him and kicked off his sneakers. The texture of the papery grass between his toes always gave him a comforting sensation, a vague memory of home and warmth.

“So, do you always sulk alone on your death anniversary?” Jon asked, trying to sound light-hearted.

“It’s not the kind of thing you forget easily,” Damian said.

Both boys looked at each other when they realized the same thing.

“You sound like Jason!” Jon giggled.

“Now I feel even worse,” Damian said, but he sounded like he was trying to stifle a laugh. The air between them felt lighter.

“Dick told me, you know,” Jon began, “about how it happened. How everyone mourned. How your dad punched Darkseid in the nose to bring you back to life, which was way awesome, by the way.”

“I don’t think that’s exactly how it went down,” Damian smirked. Then, he adopted a more serious expression. “I was immature. I believed myself unbeatable, I went out of my way to find trouble and fight, to prove myself the best. My hubris got me killed.”

“You don’t need to be so philosophical about it,” Jon said offhandedly.

“No,” Damian said casually. “It was actually literal, in a way. I was killed by my own adult clone, one that still held on to its beliefs of superiority and other nonsense from my mother and the League of Assassins.

“I’ve gotten better,” he continued. “Now I know that it’s useless to die trying to prove you’re better than anyone. You should die for something worth fighting for.”

“Idiot,” Jon chided. “Have you tried not dying at all? Maya and Starfire both told me you were practically suicidal, going off trying to sacrifice yourself to anything every chance you get!”

“I’m not afraid to die,” Damian declared.

Jon sighed and stared off into the distance. He watched a flock of birds flying to the west, and the breeze kicked up a few leaves that settled on Jon’s hair.

“Back then, before either of us was born, my dad died, too. He was fighting Doomsday for the first time.” Jon sounded anxious, as if he was glad he wasn’t alive when it happened.

“My mom took it hard. So did everyone who knew my dad. His friends, relatives, and everyone in the world ever saved by Superman.”

“What’s your point?” Damian asked.

“My dad told me that while he was fighting, he was scared. He was terrified.”  Jon said quietly.

“Superman was scared?” Damian repeated, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah. He told me that no great warrior ever goes into battle without being scared. He was scared what would happen if he didn’t fight, or if he lost. He fought because he was scared he’d lose his family to Doomsday. He needed to stay alive to protect us, he didn’t want to die. But in the end, he did.”

“You are not very good at cheering people up,” Damian mused.

“What I’m trying to say is,” Jon said adamantly, “it’s okay to be scared to die. You should be, and you should try your hardest to stay alive for the people that love you.” He gave Damian a meaningful look.

Damian considered his words before he replied. “My life is forfeit to my father’s cause. I’m his heir.”

Jon shook his head. “You’re not your dad. Your life is yours. Have you even talked to your dad for longer than ten seconds? He’s not obvious about it, but he just wants what’s best for you. I bet, if you told him you didn’t want to be Robin anymore, he wouldn’t mind, and he’d even help you find a school and stuff!”

At the mention of ‘school’, Damian’s face wrinkled. “You presume too much, Jon. Besides, outside of being Robin, I have nothing.”

“Sure you do!” Jon huffed. “You have brothers, friends, family…you have me.”

Damian looked Jon in the eye, his expression a mixture of confusion and annoyance.

“Why do you care so much? What am I to you?”

Damian’s gaze was so intense that Jon had to look away. He started picking the grass.

“You’re someone that I’d protect no matter what,” Jon said softly. “I’d fight even if my hands go numb until you get it in that thick head of yours to stop throwing away your life like it’s your answer to everything—until you learn just how important your life is to people who care about you.”

“And if I did?” Damian asked quietly. His shoulders relaxed and his hands fell to his sides.

“Then…” Jon gulped. The sheer honesty of the moment made his heart pound in his chest. “I wouldn’t have to be so scared anymore.”

Damian felt Jon’s hand on top of his own. He held it and gently squeezed.  His friend’s words echoed in his mind: the greatest warriors fight because they’re scared to lose the ones they love.

The two boys spent a few minutes just listening to the oak’s branches rustling in the breeze.

“Don’t tell Jason,” Damian finally said. He sounded much more cheerful.

“That you were getting touchy about dying even more than he does?” Jon asked with a grin. “Maybe for a double scoop of triple chocolate ice cream, I will.”

Damian rolled his eyes. He was smiling.

“Deal.” 

#prompt #fic #Damian Wayne #jonathan kent #robin #superboy #damijon #super sons

[pomfry]

Okay so @desolationofzara and me talk regularly and I have been teaching her the ways of angst mwahaha.

Anyways she sent me a message. And I turned it into this. What was the message, you say?

It was this. I can also see Jon on a hospital bed, face as white as a sheet, lips only red because of all the flowers hes been coughing up and tells Damian he loves him and Damians trying to tell him reciprocates those feelings, but Jons like “You dont have to lie Dami. It’s okay. But before I go, thought I should let you know.”

Ehehehehe she regretted sending that.

Anyways, here it is!

--

Damian’s heart is tumbling and straining, and it’s all because of that boy in the bed. Jon smiles at him, face white as the snow on the Himalayas, and Damian thinks that this is what Snow White would have looked like if she was male. Hair black as ebony, skin white as snow. There’s one attribute missing, and Damian can’t be bothered to remember it. “Damian,” Jon says, and his voice is rough and scratchy, but it’s still the most beautiful thing Damian’s heard. “Jon,” Damian replies, and it feels like the world is shaking beneath his feet as he takes a step forward. “How are you feeling?” Jon grimaces, a cough tearing its way from his throat, and Damian rushes forward, panic bubbling, but Jon waves him off. “I’m fine,” he croaks, and Damian sucks in a breath, sitting down heavily in the hospital chair. “Better than the last few days, at least.” Jon gives him a crooked grin, and Damian finds himself giving a small, bittersweet smile back. “Maybe you’re my lucky charm,” Jon jokes, and Damian gives a weak laugh, clasping his hands together to stop the trembling. “I’m gonna die soon,” Jon says quietly, and Damian bites his lip. “It’s okay. I’m fine with it.” “You shouldn’t be,” Damian murmurs, and Jon looks at him, just as beautiful and radiant as he ever has been, Hanahaki be damned. The words rise, deadly and loving, and Damian bites them off. “Yeah, well, I am,” Jon sighs, and petals slip from his sheet to land on the ground. One drifts onto Damian’s shoe. “There’s one thing I need to tell you,” Jon starts, and Damian holds up a hand to stop him. “Can I go first?” At his best friend’s nod, Damian takes a deep breath, looks Jon right in his wonderful eyes, and says, “I’m in love with you.” Jon blinks. Then starts to laugh. “Okay, nice joke. Thanks for cheering me up. Anyways,” he says, still coughing, and tears sting Damian’s eyes. “You are the reason I have Hanahaki. I love you, Damian, and you don’t have to lie to me just because you reached the end of your list. I just thought you need to know before I die in a few days.” Damian grabs his knees to keep himself from jumping up. “I’m not lying! I am in love with you! I’ve been trying to say this for over a week!” Jon rolls his eyes and leans back. “Whatever you say. I’m gonna take a nap.” Damian stares in despair as Jon slowly falls asleep, and resolves to tell him again tomorrow. – Jon doesn’t believe him. He laughs and then starts to talk about other things. – Jon still doesn’t believe him. He coughs up petals and red and in the panic Damian forgets to convince him. – Jon coughed up the flower today. He's… He’s dead. Damian stares at the floor, that red covered floor as Jon’s covered in a sheet and slowly, ever so slowly, starts to sob. Hair black as ebony, skin white as snow. And… Lips red as blood. Jon really is Snow White. But he won’t wake up, and that’s the worst part.

#jon kent #jondami #damian wayne #my writing #petals and blood #i love writing angst it's so fun

[fishfingersandjellybabies]

Whole (Part 2) - brood au

Characters: Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Dick Grayson, all the kiddos Pairing: implied/past/future superbat Summary: Despite his kids’ claim, Clark didn’t make all these photo albums just for himself. A/N: Equally as bad as the first part I guess. Conner is also in this album, I just didn’t mention any specific ones. Jon’s gonna take over this reunion at one point. And despite his ridiculousness, Bruce absolutely loves him already. The ending is probably a little too figurative, but it’s basically Clark thinking ‘oh man, I want to spend all this alone time with Bruce.’ but then also: ‘God I fucking love these kids so much, and I love these little moments of spending time with just them just as much as I want to spend time with Bruce.’

Part 1.

Other Brood AU things.

~~

It was like herding sheep, getting everyone back inside. The kids could barely let go of Bruce, and Dick was already off, chatting Bruce’s ear off before he could properly climb the porch steps.

They piled into the living room, Lois motioning to the sofa, offering it to Bruce. Bruce nodded silently and took it. His children began to swarm around him, Cass and Tim on one side, Damian tight to the other. Jason was going to sit next to him, but Jon beat him to the spot, curling his legs up and leaning against Damian like a scared puppy. Jason just snorted, ruffled Jon’s hair, and sat on the arm of the couch next to him.

Lois took the other chair, Conner mimicking Jason’s position on its arm. Dick and Clark remained standing.

“Do you want any photo albums, Bruce?” Lois asked, trying to cover a laugh. “Clark loves to document. Especially milestones.”

“I think there’s a whole album for each of us about losing our teeth.” Jason added quietly, smirking. Clark returned the grin.

“I just…wanted to make sure Bruce didn’t miss anything.” Clark mumbled sheepishly.

“For Jon and Conner too?” Dick teased.

“…Well, Batman does like to be informed.” Clark laughed. “…I do have some, if you want, though.”

“…Sure.” Bruce hummed. “I’d love to see some.”

Clark nodded, swallowed the lump in his throat, and silently moved up the stairs towards his bedroom. Heard Dick take over the conversation, asking Bruce about his ride here, what city he came from, if he’d seen Alfred yet.

So far, so good.

But still, ever the dad, he worried, even his small distance away. Were Bruce’s kids coping okay? Was this too much? Should he have reintroduced them one by one? And what about his own children? Conner isn’t feeling left out, is he? And Jon? Just…Jon?

As he reached under the bed for the box, he thought about maybe worst of all – his own heart. It was thrown back into the emotions of ten years ago. And he realized, more than his worry for the kids, more than his worry about how today would go, he was worried about the realization that had been smacking him in the face every second since he’d set eyes on Bruce getting out of that car.

He was still in love.

Hell, he was still head over heels. And now really wasn’t the time to be focusing on that, was it?

It needed to be about the kids. He needed to focus on the kids.

He sighed and shook his head, grabbing as many photo albums as he could carry. Made sure they were all about Bruce’s kids, though brought one down for Jon and Conner each, in case Bruce wanted to see them. Would look at them himself, if not.

He hadn’t just made these things for Bruce after all. He wanted to relive his own kids’ lives too.

Things were still calm when he went downstairs. Dick was still in charge of the conversation, still rattling on. Bruce was listening intently, matching soft smiles on both his and Lois’s faces. Jon was still as close to Damian as possible, but Jason had somehow convinced him to now lean back, against his knee. His eyes were darting between Dick and Bruce, and he was still clearly on edge, though the fact that Damian was letting him hold his hand seemed to be helping.

Dick just kept talking, even as they became aware of Clark’s return. Clark didn’t interrupt him, just carefully set the stack of books on the coffee table, handing Bruce the one on top – the one his mother Martha had made, when they all believed this custody agreement was temporary. Before Conner and Jon, for the most part.

The book was ragged and old-looking. Not because of Clark’s frequent looks through it, but because of the kids themselves. Damian looked at it a lot, when he was missing his father, or his older siblings as they went off into the real world. Jason looked at it when he was starting to feel like he didn’t belong. Cass liked to go through it with Jon, who found such a simple joy in seeing his family before he existed.

“Ho, boy.” Dick commented, as Bruce took the volume, staring almost nervously at the front cover – a picture of Clark sleeping on the floor surrounded by all five of Bruce’s kids, then babies and barely above his hip. “Good luck, Bruce.”

Bruce smiled and opened the front cover almost eagerly. Tim and Damian immediately leaned over his arms to look themselves.

Jason snorted in amusement.

The first page, and the few after, as Bruce learned, was the kids’ first day on the farm. Or rather, their first day with Grandma Martha. She was in each picture, holding Damian, wiping Jason’s face, carrying Cassandra on her back, holding Tim on her hip between her and her husband. Dozing with Dick on the sofa, and then dancing with him in front of the barn right below that.

The next page was groupings. Tim on Dick’s back. Jason holding Damian, the two with matching pouting faces. Cassandra and Damian both napping on Clark’s lap. Dick and the dog, Tim sitting on a cow, Dick climbing the barn rafters, Damian petting a horse from Grandpa Jonathan’s arms.

There was one of Dick holding Damian, squishing their noses together. But in the background, almost too blurry to be seen, was Jason. He was crying, hands balled into tight fists, held at the corner of his eyes. Clark was kneeling in front of him. Trying to calm him down, soothe him any way he could.

Bruce silently wondered why he was crying. If anyone would remember.

Though if he were honest with himself, he already knew.

“What was it like?” Bruce found himself asking. “Growing up here?”

“Quiet. Good. Nice.” Dick answered. Despite being asked to the room it was most likely aimed at him. “Different from Gotham for sure.”

“Clark actually made us do stuff.” Jason grumbled, but it was almost fond. “I spent the first year here asking why we couldn’t call Alfred to milk the cows.”

“You tried to teach Damian ‘Where’s Alfred?’ as one of his first sentences when you were mad at me.” Clark reminded, a nostalgic smile appearing on his face too. “Right behind ‘Clark is stupid.’”

“To be fair, you were being stupid.” Jason countered, pointing thoughtfully at Clark. “So, I mean, it’s not like I was trying to teach the kid how to lie.”

“Still just as bad.” Clark laughed. “I’m glad Damian decided to find his life influencers elsewhere.”

“He didn’t, quite.” Dick added. “He’s totally the one who taught Damian how to swear.”

“Jon too, apparently.” Lois chimed in pointedly. Both Jason and Clark looked at her, and she shrugged. “He had a…slip-up, a few weeks ago. And immediately claimed ‘Jason says it all the time!’ as little brothers do.”

Jason glanced down at the boy leaning against him. Jon smiled nervously, then tried to hide against Damian, even as Jason wrapped his arms around him and began to mess up his hair once more.

“I didn’t know what else to do!” Jon whined, pulling against Damian’s sleeve to save him. Damian ignored him, still looking into the photo album. “I didn’t want to lie!”

“No, you wanted to save your own little butt.” Jason cackled teasingly. He released Jon slightly, then looked back to Lois and Clark. “But see? Never taught either of them how to lie.”

“And we’re very proud.” Lois laughed. Clark smiled too, but kept his eyes on Bruce. Did it bother him, the easy relationships his kids had with not only him, but Lois? If it did, he didn’t give anything away, just quietly listening, quietly smiling, while turning pages in the book.

Damian suddenly lashed out, pointing at a picture. “That was when I started getting my teeth.” He explained.

“Oh yeah?” Bruce grinned instantly. Glanced at him, then pointed to a handwritten scribble beneath it. “And what’s this note down here about?”

“For which album the rest our dental milestones are in.” Tim smirked. Bruce looked at him now. “We’re serious, Bruce – Clark documented everything.”

“I’m glad.” Bruce laughed, then raised his gaze, absolute mirth in his eyes. “I just hope he was as thorough in his journalism.”

“Well, I still have a job, so I hope so.” Clark joked.

“Clark taught all of us to be that thorough, in everything we do.” Dick hummed. “Taught us even to be detectives just like you, Bruce.”

Bruce’s smile faded a little. “I…heard.” He muttered. Glanced up at his oldest. “…Nightwing, huh?”

“Can’t be Robin forever.” Dick countered. “And Clark isn’t the only hero dad who inspired us, B.”

“I’m Robin now.” Damian quipped.

“Will be, eventually.” Jason added quickly, even as Tim opened his mouth indignantly. “Timbo is now. And Conner is Superboy. You and Jon are still too young, squirt.”

Bruce glanced at Clark for clarification. “I benched Dick after you left them with me, for safety. But then when it was clear you weren’t coming back…well, you know as well as I do how hard it is to keep Dick in one place. And once they saw big brother doing it…”

“Not to mention when Conner came along with his own abilities.” Lois hummed. “But don’t worry, Bruce.  Robin always went out with Superman.”

“Still does.” Clark said sternly. “And on the rare chances he doesn’t…I listen.”

“One of the downsides of having Superman as a dad.” Tim sighed dramatically. “He can hear me anywhere in the world.”

“But we can’t complain too much.” Dick smiled. He suddenly glanced protectively up at Jason, and Jason instantly looked down at Damian and Jon, fussing with their shirts. “Some of us would be dead if it wasn’t for that.”

Bruce didn’t ask. Just made a mental note to ask Clark later, when they were alone. If they were alone. Just another question to the list of a million.

Still, he could sense this taking a dark turn, so returned to his original query. “Isn’t Nightwing a Kryptonian legend, though?”

Dick snorted. “I’m not old enough to be Batman yet!”

“Damian went as Batman for Halloween a few years ago.” Cassandra added quietly.

“I was five! That’s more than a few years ago!” Damian argued haughtily. “Besides, Tim went as Batman for Halloween once too.”

“You all did.” Clark smiled. “At some point. Except maybe Dick. He just chaperoned your trick-or-treating and stole all your candy as payment.”

Bruce pointed to a page, a laugh bubbling out of his throat. “I can see that, here.”

“That’s a perk of being a big brother.” Dick grinned, waving it off. He glanced back at Bruce, who was turning another page in the book. “Whatcha got now, B?”

Bruce had a small smile on his face. Emotion in his face and a near-tears mist in his eyes.

“If I’m correct,” Bruce tilted his head. Damian and Tim looked up at him, even as he glanced over at Jon. “The birth of your youngest.”

Jon’s face exploded in a blush, even as Jason dragged him back against his leg and kissed his hair.

“Oh boy, what a day.” Lois chuckled, fanning herself in memory. “Dick snuck into the delivery room when he heard crying.”

“I see that, too.” Bruce laughed, pointing to another photo. “Hopefully he let the two of you hold Jon first.”

“Barely.” Clark snorted. “He also left the other kids in the waiting room alone. Damian ended up in the nursery screaming because thought the nurses stole his little brother, as he wasn’t there yet.”

“Oh my god.” Bruce kept laughing. The chuckles grew louder and louder, and Bruce eventually had to cover his face, the amused tears slowly starting to leak out. “I am…so sorry.”

“It was…something else.” Lois admitted fondly. “Wouldn’t want it any other way, though.”

And even when Bruce lowered his hand, Clark could see the tears still flowing. Still amused, still happy, but…quickly turning into something else. A sorrow of being left behind. A sorrow of missing out. A sorrow the kids definitely didn’t need to see, not right now.

Bruce always kept his emotions hidden. Was always pretty good at controlling them. But it was no surprise that his threshold here, today, might’ve been a little thin.  That he might’ve reached emotional exhaustion a little quicker than normal.

Clark silently tapped Lois’s shoulder, and waved a lowered hand at Dick. He got the memo.

“Bruce, are you staying the night? You’re going to need a room to stay in.” Dick asked, already pushing off against the wall he’d been leaning against. “Damian, Jon, Jay. With me. We gotta get the rooms set up.”

Damian groaned, and kicked his feet in a small tantrum as he reluctantly left his father’s side at the request of his brother. Jon followed sheepishly after.

“And I’m no housewife – I’m going to need help in the kitchen getting all the food out and set up. I’m sure you’re starving, Bruce.” Lois stood. “So the last three of you, with me.”

Conner scoffed in amusement as he disappeared into the kitchen first. Tim and Cassandra followed silently behind. Lois winked at Clark as she took up the rear.

Bruce kept looking at the book, flipping through the last few pages, smiling every so often, even though he continued to cry. When he reached the back cover, he sighed, staring at it as he ran his hand down it. “…Thanks, Clark.”

“I know how you are about emotions. I know how that’s not the first thing you want your kids to see.”

“I mean.” Bruce started, looking up. His eyes were still pouring those silent tears. “…For everything.”

Clark smiled, heart fluttering, just a little. “We can talk about all that later. For now, this is probably the only moment they’ll be separated so you might want to make it count.”

Bruce smiled, running his fingers along the edge of his eyes. “Yeah, I will. I just.” Another sigh. “Can you give me a minute?”

“Whatever you need. I’ll go help them in the kitchen.” Clark nodded, backing up a little. “And Lois and Dick understand, so, you know. If you need more time or whatever, just let them know, and they’ll help you out.”

“…You turned him into an outstanding young man.” Bruce smiled weakly, leaning forward to put the photo album on the table. “All of them, really.”

“No, you did, Bruce.” Clark promised. “I just tried to clean up the rough edges.”

He left it at that, spinning away into the kitchen. He kept his eye on him, though, and his ear. Kept peeking into the living room when he felt he needed to, listened to his heartbeat when he didn’t. After he had cleared his face of tears, Bruce had picked up another photo album. And another, and after that – another.

And suddenly, Clark had a vision. He couldn’t wait until everything died down. Until the kids went to bed, or went out or just left them in peace. So he could go sit on the couch with Bruce, and go through those albums together. Talk about the things the kids wouldn’t want to, like why Dick looked at Jason when talking about almost dying, or what Bruce was actually doing during those ten years.

He couldn’t wait.

But then – Damian and Jon came stumbling down the stairs. Jon flopped onto the sofa on Bruce’s right, and Damian retook his perch on Bruce’s left. Bruce smiled, and answered all of the questions thrown his way, laughing when Jon admitted they snuck away from the older two. Let Damian take control of the book he was looking at, watching fondly as he flipped the pages to the ones he wanted.

Just a dad and two of his boys.

(In your dreams, Clark.)

He smiled as he turned back into the kitchen, and continued to help Cassandra and Conner set the table. Just a dad and two of his kids too.

(Because sometimes dreams do come true, right?)

…Maybe he could wait a little while longer after all.

#superbat #clark kent #bruce wayne #Lois Lane #dick grayson #brood au

[thesportssoundoff]

It’s been a good long while: The UFC’s return to Sweden

Joey

May 26th, 2017

After a successful UFC 211 and some time for us to all ponder its magnanimous impact on the MMA world, the UFC returns with a show live from Stockholm, Sweden on Sunday. With an early start time from Sweden on a Sunday, I'm not expecting a ton of buzz for this show among the hardcores or the casuals (although Gustaffson is one of those guys who tends to generate a healthy amount of fan interest) when he's promoted. In truth, this card is decidedly UFC European with a lot of guys who fight primarily only on their shows in Europe and while they rock mixed win-loss records, they normally put on very good fights and that in and of itself is a draw for fans abroad. There's slim to none in terms of divisional relevance and if you're chasing big names, you're probably going to be disappointed. If we believe the idea that undercards mean less than ever before, this show is just fine as both the main and co-main events are really good fights well worthy of your time.

Fights: 12

Debuts: 1 (Oliver Enkamp)

Fight Changes/Injury Cancellations: 4 (Christian Colombo,Damian Grabowski cancelled/ Mairbek Taisumov out, Reza Madadi in/Emil Meek out, Oliver Enkamp in/Magnus Cedenblad out, Trevor Smith in)

Headliners (fighters who have either main evented or co-main evented shows in the UFC): 5 (Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, Marcin Held, Nico Musoke, Reza Madadi)

Fighters On Losing Streaks in the UFC: 2 (Marcin Held, Chris Camozzi)

Fighters On Winning Streaks in the UFC:  4 (Misha Cirkunov, Pedro Munhoz, Damian Stasiak, Joaquim Silva)

*So I wanted to do something a little different. There are 24 fighters on this card and if we remove these 6 guys who are trading wins and losses, we're at 18 guys. Remove Oliver Enkamp because he's new and then remove Jessin Ayari and Damir Hadzovic because they've had just one fight. That brings us to 15 guys. Of these 15 guys, how many of them are 2-2 in their last 4 UFC fights?

6 (Gus, Akhmedov, Trevor Smith, Nordine Taleb, Chris Camozzi, Nico Musoke)*

Stat Monitor for 2017:

Debuting Fighters (Current number: 12-11)- Oliver Enkamp

Short Notice Fighters (Current number: 6-11)- Oliver Enkamp, Reza Madadi and Trevor Smith

Second Fight (Current number: 12-15)- Damir Hadzovic, Jessin Ayari, Abdul Razal AlHassan and Volkan Oezdemir

Twelve Precarious Ponderings:

1- The main event and co-main event represent the absolute best and worst for the 205 lb division. Divisions with no depth often times mean that every fight in the division has divisional relevance. As such, a fight between a guy with one fight in the company and a guy who has primarily fought on the prelims is now a co-main event with a lot of relevance inside the division. A fight between a dude who got KO'd in under a minute two fights ago is headlining vs a guy who is 2-3 in his last five fights AND the winner could, in theory, skedaddle his way into the title picture. Maybe even into the #1 contender spot. Whenever there's a fight at 205 lbs featuring anybody in the top 10, it opens the door for there to be discussion about whether that fight is or isn't a title fight. Now the worst part of 205 is that in any other division with any sort of depth, Glover vs Gus is not even in the discussion of title contention. In any other division, it's just a fight between two popular guys. Gus and Glover will be fighting for potentially the second in command spot behind Jimi Manuwa which is somewhat sad if you try to think too hard about it. Furthermore in any other division, Misha Cirkunov vs Volkan Oezdemir would be just two talented younger-ish guys in a fight where somebody is going to prove themselves. Instead it's now the ONLY young prospect in the 205 lb division (other than Tyson Pedro who may still drop to 185 lbs) vs arguably the only rising potential star who remains in a wasteland division. Good and bad.

2- In 2014, there were people who thought Gus vs Jones II would do 1 million PPV buys. In 2017, I can't imagine they'd get half of that and it's not all on Jones' foibles either. Gustafsson beat Jimi Manuwa by KO and it looked like we were all set for Jones vs Gus II in September. Gustafsson got hurt, as he tends to do all the time, and Cormier took his spot and his thunder. Once "the guy" in a division that was chasing a Jones replacement from the public's perspective, Gus was stalled up. Gustafsson fought "Rumble" Johnson and came up short, getting finished in Sweden in the UFC's first stadium show. Injuries cut short the first scheduled Gus/Glover match and Gus still got a title shot in October of 2015. He gave Cormier hell and nearly finished him en route to a decision loss. From there, he's been hurt. And hurt some more. And hurt even a bit more. Somewhere between back injuries, Gus beat Jan Blachowicz in a fight where he almost looked timid on his feet. And yet, despite all of the setbacks and losses in clutch situations, Gus is back here knocking on the door of a potential fight fight. The madness of 205 lbs.

3- As much as it's fun to deride Gus, we can look at Glover and have the same questions as well. Since beating Jones, he's gotten outwrestled by Phil Davis (no shame there I suppose), KO'd by Rumble (same) and KO'd a bevy of guys he probably was supposed to KO. Against Ovince St. Preux he looked really shaky at times on the feet before submitting him. Against Jared Cannonier, he looked REALLY off on the feet but his wrestling was more than enough to save the day. Now part of that could simply be due to the fact that Glover was coming off a KO or maybe he underestimated how good Jared Cannonier is on the feet. Whatever the case, there are questions here with Glover as well. When he's on, he has pressure, boxing and the ability to force people to panic wrestling with him which often leads to submissions. When he's off, he's a guy caught between not being a great enough wrestler to wrestle, not having the athletic ability to pull off submissions if he's put on his back and not having the proper range to strike. So in a way, Gus vs Glover is a battle between two guys who are capable despite being a collection of broken p arts.

4- There's no question that Misha Cirkunov is the better talent when compared to Volkan Oezdemir. On the other hand, Oezdemir's win over OSP is better than any win that Cirkunov has on his UFC ledger.

5- So let's chit chat real quick about Volkan Oezdemir. Oezdemir was training for a Titan Fighting HW title clash when the UFC called. He dropped the weight to make 205 (something he was planning on doing anyways after the HW title fight) and wound up beating OSP by split decision. Volkan started off hot and then basically came to a crawl all throughout the third round. Still it was an impressive enough debut and at 27 years old he's one of the few guys alongside the likes of Ion Cutelaba and Tyson Pedro who have some youth at 205 to go along with a bevy of skills to actually make a dent in the division. His hands and his ability to control the range vs OSP were pretty impressive before he completely gassed out.

6- So Cirkunov is in somewhat of a weird spot. If Glover wins or loses, he'll probably have no issue fighting Misha Cirkunov given how Glover rarely turns down a fight. On the other hand, Gus has turned down Misha Cirkunov in the past and could easily decide to do the same going forward if he wins. The winner of Glover vs Gus could fight Jimi Manuwa at UFC 214 for the #1 contender spot but Gus might legit just sit and wait on a title fight with two wins to back him up for it.

7- Gotta admit they may be essentially filler fights but I'll always the jib of these Razak AlHassan/Omari Akhmeov and Oliver Enkamp/Nordine Taleb fights. Big fan of up and comers getting veteran litmus tests at 170 lbs.

8- MAD DOG IS BACK! SHORT NOTICE! AGAINST ONE OF THE BETTER BRAZILIAN UP AND COMING LWS IN THE WORLD! I PRAY! WE SHOULD ALL PRAY!

9- So I'm not exactly buying this Peter Sobotta "he's a good fighter guys for real" comeback but he's winning and he gave all kinds of hell to Nicholas Dalby who at one point was a promising young fighter. Ben Saunders on paper is the sort of fighter that Peter Sobotta should get beat up against BUT Saunders looked really poor against Patrick Cote, Court McGee and Kenny Robertson. Sobotta wins this one and I'll be on board.

10- This will be our first fight from Niko Musoke in quite some time and it's easy to forget that Musoke was kind of becoming a thing in the UFC prior to a loss to Kelvin Gastelum. Even in that fight, Musoke gave Gastelum fits early before Kelvin's body work and his overall better skillset wore Musoke down and beat him up. Against Albert Tumenov, Musoke made an honest day's effort but again came up short. Musoke's been gone for a while so let's see if he's found a way to improve or if he just one of those guys who is who he is.

11- Speaking of guys who have been away a while, Darren Till is back! TIll looked to be on the fast track to superstardom when he was wiping dudes out in Brazil and England. He took on Nicholas Dalby and looked more than capable of finishing him before he hurt his arm and gassed out. Till has all kinds of skill but who knows what he's got in the tank after taking a long time off to deal with a wealth of injuries.

12- It feels almost mean to give Sweden a Trevor Smith vs Chris Camozzi fight. That's not nice at all.

Must Win

Alexander Gustafsson

Something with Gutstafsson is off and I have no idea what it is.  The same guy who took Jon Jones to the limit and KO'd Jimi Manuwa is not the same guy who looked petrified of Jan Blachowicz or who seemed shell shocked at times vs Daniel Cormier. Gustafsson was one of the UFC's upcoming stars in 2013-2015 but something is wrong. Figuring out what that something is seems as important as the result of this fight. If he wins, Gustafsson will be in the driver seat as a potential #1 contender option. I know the focus has gone to Jimi Manuwa as "the back up" but Gus beat Manuwa, has issues with both Jones and DC and I swear he's more popular than Manuwa is. Gustafsson is not going to get a lot of variety from Glover Teix, he's going to get a good boxer with the ability to sporadically wrestle.

Pedro Munhoz

Pedro Munhoz is main card worthy but it's all on the same show and same channel but whatever. He's facing Damian Stasiak who is a complicated guy to figure out. He's a solid fighter who moves in slow motion but still seems to figure out how to win fights. At 135 in the UFC he's undefeated with two submission finishes in enemy territory. If Pedro Munhoz is going to ever take the jump from fun action fighter to potential top 10 bantamweight, these are the sort of dudes he has to beat.

Marcin Held

This one goes without saying. In two fights, Held has shown the ability to compete with the "names" of the UFC but he's 0-2 and his cardio continues to be frustrating. He got a bad deal vs Joe Lauzon but he didn't push to leave no doubt and as such, there was doubt. Held has gone from co-maining in his first two fights to holding up a spot opening up the prelims. It's a low pressure situation against an opponent who will probably not bother him much (Damir Hadzovic).

Five Underlying Themes

1-  The crowd! As of this point, the UFC hasn't been back to Sweden since early 2015 when Gus got eradicated by Rumble. Gus tends to guarantee a traveling group of fans so how will it look when they go back to his home?

2- The hype of Misha Cirkunov. As discussed previously, Cirkunov has been slowly coming into his own recently but he's still kind of untested. What's more, this is a big chance for him to maybe get the exposure he should get. Don't forget that Cirkunov reps Canada as well and given that markets complete and utter deterioration, he might be very important going forward. Consider it an investment for the future I guess.

3- There was a time where Sweden looked like it was on the verge of becoming an MMA superpower or at the very least one of the bigger countries for MMA. A lot has changed since then but could a revitalized Gustafsson plus a host of guys on the comeback lead to a turnaround?

4- FS1 broadcasts that start really early in the day tend to have a lot of dry spells in between fights. Will they speed this one up to get us out of here early or is it going to be the same old same old?

5- What will be THIS WEEK's "Adventures in MMA rules" scandal?

#MMA #Precarious Ponderings #Sweden #UFC #Gus #Glover

[sonofsuperman-archive]

(error1nmycode) "I miss you" (*evil laughter*)

Send me “I miss you” to know what my muse will say after 1 year, 5 years, then to 10 years after your muse’s death. || Not Accepting ( @error1nmycode​ )

1 YEAR.

My fault. My fault. MY FAULT.

The urge to hit something grew stronger and stronger as the same two words echoed in his brain loudly, drowning every heart beat he could hear around Metropolis, even his own. Instead of punching something and waking up his college roommate (and being forced to explain how he could punch a hole through cement), Jon’s hands clenched into fists, finger roughly scratching his own skin as he grabbed his messy hair. Rather than ruin the building he was in, his hands roughly tugged at his hair, body curling towards itself in an attempt to make himself smaller and more invisible. Maybe if he made himself smaller, if his presence looked far more insignificant, maybe this never ending grief would pass him. 

Teeth grinding against one another, jaw tightly clenched, and eyes shut, the teenager tried to survive this wave of depression that hit him as he was trying to go to sleep, forced to listen to his own self-deprecating thoughts and the voices he imagined. His only salvation during the hour was that in those voices, somewhere behind his father telling him how disappointed he was for him not being a hero anymore and Damian’s insults of how weak he was, he could hear Viv. He could hear her voice, and while the words that left her mouth were far from kind, far from the Viv he truly knew, it allowed him to cling to the illusion that she wasn’t dead. She hadn’t died to protect him from an invading enemy as he healed the heavily injured civilians in the battlefield, that he hadn’t failed to run and protect her when his vision caught sight of the lethal looking blow. He’d rather have her alive and hating him than dead. He could deal with her hate, as long as she was alive. 

Tears stung his reddening eyes, heart aching once more as new thoughts circled his mind, one that hurt far more than blaming himself over her death. Maybe if we didn’t meet again, you wouldn’t have died. Hands clenched tighter and pulled his hair harder as the new thoughts grew louder and louder, almost drowning the voices he made up, yet not enough to give him a sense of relief. Jon’s only reprieve appeared as the sun started to rise, a reminder that he’d gone through the night once more without sleep, and his roommate awoke from his slumber with a loud yawn. 

Wiping away his tears, the 18 year old steeled his heart, copying what he had seen from Viv many years ago. She had buried her emotions, hide them from the world who had hurt her, and he did the same. Inhaling to get rid of his shuddering breath, his red eyes turned a cold shade of blue as he prepared himself, staring unemotionally at his roommate as he opened his mouth to greet him, before moving to prepare himself for one more tiring day. 

5 YEARS.

5 years. It’s been 5 years since she’s died and only a year since he’d finally truly accepted it. 3 years he had clung to the hope that someone would be able to fix her, to revive her. It should be easy, with the technology available and yet… it never happened. A part of him had wished to do it himself, to make up for being the reason to her death, yet he didn’t know how to do so and so he waited. Years may have passed until he accepted her death but it only took a year before someone could tell his broken self that repairing her was impossible unless they wanted to create another being that looked like her but without her personality, the thing he fell in love for. 

It had taken time and taken effort but he did it. He’d visited his parents one spring break and broke down, asking for help. They had expected it, of course, even with all the things that happened with him, Jon was still an innocent soul, a person with an amazingly happy life. While his dad had the death of Krypton to subdue him, remind him that death was inevitable even in his satisfied and happy life, Jon had nothing to tell him that. He had lived a sheltered and satisfied life, with troubles easily fixed by his parents and siblings. While others could easily shrug off such a thing due to their troubled childhoods, he couldn’t. Her death had shook him, more so than being injured and almost dying. He felt far too much, held far too much happiness and innocence, that one death was all it took to break him, ruin the illusion of his satisfied life.

They all struggled to get him back, to give him back a sense of worth, to implant the idea that it truly wasn’t his fault she died, to permanently accept that one of his closest friend and love for far too many years was dead. It was still a struggle today but it was working… slowly and surely. She’d love it if I was back to being me, he thought to himself as he lightly fiddled with the House of El necklace she had kept for 7 years, one of the two gifts he’d obtained once he’d finally accepted her death, and a physical reminder of what she wished him to be… happier in life. 

“ I miss ya…” he spoke quietly, blue eyes observing the metal and looking at the little scratches it held, all but one from its days with Viv. His lips twitched to form a sad smile as his finger brushed a barely seen (for normal humans) scratch, the one he’d made a day before Valentine’s as he nervously practiced giving her gift and panicked as he imagined Viv’s response. 

Dried lips pressed against the necklace he wore, blue eyes fluttering shut as he tried to ride through the pain he was feeling. “ Viv, it’s been 5 years and it still hurts. My eyes still drift to look for you whenever I’m in New York, I still get that fluttering in my chest when I see your skin color, I still wake up in the early mornings to look for your messages…” Jon trailed off, shaking his head, how foolish was he to think that he’d only liked her as a friend when all of this showed otherwise. Lips parted to say something else but the sound of barks echoing throughout his dorm room halted his advances.

“ Sparky,” baby blues shined as he caught sight of the metal dog that he took care of whenever Viv’s father was on a mission. “You heard her name, didn’t you?” cheeks stretched to form a fond smile at the bark he received, hands drifting down to pet the dog. He’d been a help in pulling him out of his depression and Jon willingly accepted one of the few reminders of her. “I miss her too, bud…” a sigh left his lips as he hesitantly moved the necklace back to its original position, underneath his shirt. He may still grieve about her but it was lesser now, far safer and happier than the years before. Jon could only hope that soon enough, with time and support, he’d truly be back to what he once was. 

‘You wouldn’t have liked seeing me this past few years, Viv, and I hope you never had to endure it…. I was a mess, a total mess. I’m trying to get better though. I’ve had.. the worst of years and the worst reaction to you dying but bear with me, I’ll give you the Jon Kent you befriended, I promise.’

10 YEARS.

“ Sparky!! Krypto!! We’re home!!” Jon shouted as he entered his apartment in Metropolis, one hand shoulder buried with carrying several bags and another holding one special baggage. A wide grin formed on his lips at their barks, listening them grow louder as they got closer and as his feet lightly closed the door. Shrugging off his bags and gently settling them on the floor, the 28 year old patted the two seemingly immortal dogs before sitting in front of them and presenting the most precious gift he’d gotten his entire life, more so than the necklace he’d given to Viv years ago or Sparky who he had kept after several years of dogsitting. 

“Meet my daughter, Viv Kent,” his announcement let a proud smile to form on his lips, fondly looking at the most precious being in his whole life, a 9 month old baby girl he signed to foster and eventually adopt, his process being quickly moved by his uncle Bruce and Damian. It’s been 10 years since Viv died, 7 since he pulled out of his depression enough to get help, 5 until he finally could cope with it and start truly grieving (in a healthy manner) and a year since he decided that its time to find someone to fill the void she left.

The void he needed filled wasn’t romantic though. Jon was happy being by himself and a whole life of being in love with one person ever since he’d seen her couldn’t be matched nor filled. Instead, he decided to gain another precious being in his life, a family he could love, a child who he could give his heart and soul too, as much as he’d given his heart and soul to the girl he fell for since day one. 

A soft hum left his throat, watching the baby in his arms shift, somehow smiling wider as he felt small fists slam against his chest and saw eyelids fluttering open to reveal blue eyes closely similar to his own. “Hey there, baby girl,” he cooed, fingers lightly brushing her chubby cheeks, a soft laugh escaping his throat as a small hand drifted down to grab his fingers before drifting to reach for the dogs patiently waiting for her attention and affection. 

As the child’s laughter echoed throughout the apartment, followed by playful barks, Jon’s thoughts drifted once more to the woman he longed to be here with them yet fully accepted that she couldn’t be. “ Viv,” he whispered softly to the air as he shifted his child to a sitting position, fully supporting her weight, “ I hope you were able to ignore everything that happened the past years. I hope you didn’t see my worst moments. I hope you could look now… You’d be happy Viv.. at least I hope so. I’m kind of back to the person you befriended, back to being a hero… well, besides the accent. I’ve lost that years ago. In fact, I’m the Big S now, got my own Superboy and all. I think you’d be proud.” 

Jon drifted off from his small and quiet speech, humming a small lullaby and lightly bouncing his legs as he was forced to lightly pull away baby Viv from the dogs to place a towel behind her back, he didn’t need her getting sick from sweat. “ I even have my own child… I got her today, you know. Her name’s Viv Kent and I think you’d love her. She kinda has my eye color, my skin tone, the messy hair though its brown like your brother’s and Wanda’s instead of black, and she has dad’s weird curl… It’s actually adorable on her…. I still wish you were here but I understand. I’m just grateful that we met during your lifetime, that you became a part of my life, that you taught me how to be brave again and what being human truly meant. I miss you.. and I love you Viv. ”

#when the happiest of people get such a traumatizing event. well this happens #Also when I said I loved angst. I really meant it. I LOVE ANGST. #error1nmycode #╰★ | 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗 ( answered ) #╰★ | 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 ( viv ) #tw depression #depression tw