#dammit babs

[thattimdrakeguy]

I’m gonna sound like a prick, but I genuinely find the fact that Tim’s big queer reveal going the way it has to be insulting. Like I keep trying to put nicer ways to say it. But honestly in the end I just find it fucking insulting how Bernard has been reduced to a fucking stereotype in every story but Travis Moore’s addition. And having Tim’s relationship with him be talked about in a way that almost feels like he used him to figure it out, while talking about his ex in a way that comes across like they’re talking down Bernard’s relationship with Tim to a level that doesn’t matter as much as his past romance for the sake of a ship rather than natural development given other things is also insulting.

Like I never flat out say it much anymore, but the main reason I harp on what Bernard looks like is because I cannot believe that no one is fucking bothered by the Bat-Family’s queer representation being partly a pre-conceived character being shrunk into the stereotype of a twink. And past that, barely ever show up in the majority of the stories supposedly about their relationship. I'm at a point where I wonder why they even bothered using Bernard. It's practically not even him besides bizarrely the guy who isn't writing Tim's ongoing story. That hurts.

I don’t damn feel represented. I feel like I’m being talked down to. Like the second story not having him was weird enough, but him being a background item to the stories, like set decoration or a plot device, to two stories in a row by the same writer just feels condescending.

The ship is held up by fans who went out of their way to learn more about Bernard, while we only have one freaking short story about them in the comics. And he's barely in that too!

It’s been MONTHS now. How come we can barely reach bare minimum?

#and i hate hate hate hate hate saying it cuz i know people love it and i really dont wanna take it away from them #its why i never outright say it #But just realizing how little they matter when it meant so much to me is feeling like its killing me #LIKE IT WAS SO EXCITING DESPITE CERTAIN THINGS #and ut has some of the most consistently amusing next posts in the fandom #But dammit I just cant stand how the actual comics handle it #WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS #like this isnt just typical me not liking certain things #Im actually just offended #Breadcrumbs for over half a year??? #like r u fucking serious that is crazy #AND FOR FUCKS SALE WHY DOES HE LOOK SO STEREOTYPICAL #he looks like Babs gay friend in that awful Killing Joke adaptation for fucks sake #ITS THE SAME HAIR #He already existedand they draw Tim draw Tim so damn well #its so onpoint #Why can only Travis Moore draw his signature expressions HIS vibe #HOW DID HE WRITE THE BEST REPRESENTATION #COMPARED TO THE MAIN WRITER #that is wack #And I get the whole Steph was his ex #But fucks sake not everything needs to be dictated by the fandom #We are missing out on heartfelt genuine emotion for empty HUSKS that look sweet on the outside #and i know its at least a bit selfish #again i dont want to take it away from ANYONE #But for me its devastating cuz of how I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW it cpuld be so much better

[reidsmouthbabys48]

make your move baby

Summary: spencer and y/n have a complicated friendship, spencers imagination overpowers him one night and y/n teases him because what he was imagining made him hard.

Warnings: sub!spencer, virgin!spencer, nerdy!spence, sexual themes, leg humping, slight mommy kink, coming in pants, other small things.

18+ minors do not interact (unless you do I dgaf)

"hi spence" y/n says, walking up beside me. I give her a hopefully subtle once over, she's wearing tight black dress pants and a pink long-sleeved shirt the sleeves are rolled up to her elbows, and her long black hair is pulled back in a ponytail, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever layed eyes on but i can't tell her that, we're to close and the last thing I want to do is ruin what we have.

"Hi, how'd you sleep?" I ask giving her a small smile, she ruffles my hair and I blush as I move my head away, she laughs "you are adorable" she says and i blush even redder.

"Hey guys" Penelope says as we sit down at our desks, "Hello sweetheart" y/n says, quickly looking over at me then smiling at Penelope, I almost didn't see the hint of, amusement? in her eyes.

Almost.

-

Me and y/n are driving to my apartment to hangout and watch a movie, I want to ask why she looked at me like that but I know I shouldn't.

"Why did you uhm look at me like that when you were talking to Penelope?" I ask turning so sideways so I'm looking at her, she shoots me a questioning glance "what are you talking about spence?" She says, her tone is teasing. Maybe im just thinking to much about it.

"Actually N-never mind" I say moving to look back out the window but she puts her hand on my thigh, "what's up with you Spencer? You have been so short with me the past few weeks, did I do something?" She says looking at me, her eyes are filled with hurt and it breaks my heart because that's the last thing I want to do. I need to tell her, we've know each other too long for things to completely fall apart if I confess my feelings.

"No no, y/n you did nothing I would never be upset at you and not tell you why. you know that, it's just I've been trying to figure out my feeling for the last few weeks, I didn't think k I was being short or anything" I sigh, she squeezes my thigh tightly, i know it eas mean in a co.forting wat but its to close to whenr ive imagined her hands at, I grab her hand, "d-dont do that" I say trying to compose myself, she looks at me questoningly then looks down at her hand, removing it from my thigh.

I try my best to think about anything but her squeezing my thigh like that but my mind drifts off and I lose control of my thoughts, I imagine myself under her moaning as she kisses my neck, and rigid me. if only this shit would really happen- "spence?" I hear her voice ring through the air and I jump a bit.

"Y-yea" I mumble praying that she couldn't tell what I was just thinking, she looks at my crotch and a slight smirk appears on her face but she says nothing, I blush.

"Were here, I'll give you a bit to take care of that" the says still smirking, I let out a whine of embarrassment.

"No need to be embarrassed baby it happens to all of us it's natural to have dirty thoughts." She says winking at me, dammit.

"Unless..." she says moving her hand back to my thigh, "you want some help with it" she finishes squeezing my thigh roughly once again, I let out a whimper and bite my lip, embarrassed of the sound that came out of my mouth.

"Yes or no baby?" She asks and I nod "y-yes please, help me" I whine the end of it cutting off into a moan as she palms my bulge over my slacks .

"So responsive" she says and I whimper bucking my hips into her hand for more friction.

"No no baby, get out and go to your apartment" she says and I nod opening the door and immediately slide out of the car.

-3rd person pov-

You get out of the car a few minutes after spencer and slowly walk into the apartment complex, giving him some time to regroup.

Once you get to his apartment you knock on the door, "it's me baby open up" you say and the door immediately opens and you're being pulled inside and shoved into the now closed door, before you could protest his lips are on yours hungrily, you return the kiss, turning you both around and shoving him into the door, he moans at the roughness of your push and you grab his hair causing a low moan to rip from his throat.

You move backwards to his couch, your lips still on his, we both fall onto the couch, he moves to straddle your lap and he starts to kiss you again, "i-i uhm I haven't done anything like this before so I'm sorry if I'm not good" he says looking down at your lap, "baby it's ok" you say and he nods starting to hump your thigh, he moans loudly at the friction provided by your leg and you bounce your knee in time with him coming down on you, making the pleasure he feels almost unbearable, "f-fuck mommy I need to cum, please please I need it so bad" he moans and your eyes widen at the word 'mommy' mixed with his begging, his humping beame quick and frantic, his moans getting louder and louder, "come on be a good boy and cum for mommy baby" you whisper in his ear, moving down to kiss his neck. That's all it takes for the boy to fall over the edge, filling his boxers with his sticky release.

He leans his head into your neck, panting as you card your fingers through his soft hair "mommy?" You ask and he whines.

"Shut up" he says lightly kissing your neck.

"Hey no judgement here baby I just didn't think you were so... kinky" you say and he laughs, "you should see some of the stuff that I imagine when I'm wanking" he says, now you're the one laughing.

-

Ok I'm sorry this probably sucks I haven't had motivation for a long time and I wanted to write something before it left again lmao

#sub!spencer #spencer reid #spencer reid smut #sub!reid

[sketchesandmesses]

Little Max went on an ✨adventure✨

Featuring Lev, Exi, and Haunt! Mah BABS!

(MY BABS WHO FOUND THIS ACCOUNT GOD DAMMIT)

#sam and max #sam & max #sam and max freelance police #samandmax #sam and max freelance husbands #freelance police #freelance husbands

[glowinghae]

meet me at midnight || c.four

[Chapter Four- Waves]

𝐉𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐃 + OC

meet me at midnight masterlist 𝟏𝟖+, lots of various torture, trauma, angst, suffering, cheating, violent death, women not supporting women, arguments, fluff but really a lot of angst. smut of all kinds. all characters are over 18,

to be a vigilante requires only three things: a broken heart, the resources, and the will.

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝟏𝟖+ 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘! as always a gargantuan thank you to @hllokttyairhead for being an amazing support, editer and friend. truly you are my muse. pls pls pls go and follow her because that is one QUALITY blog.

 A path was forming on the floor where Esther paced back and forth, staring at the screen of her phone as she chewed on her fingernails.

“He could be fine.” Esther muttered to herself repeatedly, the red flashing vitals saying otherwise. “Fuck.”

Essie stormed across the room and snatched her suit from where she’d laid it out on her bed. It took her a minute to get it on, but it felt weird to wear it in the light of day; this couldn’t wait for nightfall, though. 

Tightening her weapon’s harnesses, Esther swore under her breath. She had her blades, but her gun was missing. Dick must have taken it. This made things ten times harder.

The computer here wasn’t strong enough to make a tracker from the chip that Jason had left her, but Esther knew of one that was. As she slipped her mask over her face, Esther slid her Khopesh into its leather sheath. 

Getting to the computer system she needed wouldn’t be a problem, but getting around its guard dog might be.

…

No sound was made as She-Wolf’s feet landed on the balcony outside the expensive loft in East Gotham. The sliding door was unlocked, as Esther knew it would be.

Barbara Gordon was used to masked vigilantes using her balcony as an entrance.

Luckily it seemed that no one was home as Essie silently closed the door behind her. That was good; the last thing she needed was Babs asking a million questions. The living area looked normal, but Esther knew better. Stepping over to the vintage telephone on the bookshelf, Esther lifted the receiver off its stand and rang in the numbers 5-7-4-5-6. The moment she placed the receiver back down, the room began transforming.

The bookshelf split open, and a massive computer screen console emerged. The window curtains drew themselves shut, and the tv disappeared into the floor, replaced by an enormous display case that came from inside the wall.

The case gave Esther pause. Inside was Barbara’s old Batgirl suit. The purple and gold detailing made her smile, and she placed her hand over the glass.

“Teach me that move!” A ten-year-old Esther screeched after getting landed on her ass by Babs. Barbara moved her cape out of the way and reached out to give the girl a hand standing up. 

“I’ll teach you that move after you’ve learned to block it.” Batgirl laughed, “If you’re gonna be Bat-Girl-”

“With a hyphen!” Esther clarified, eliciting an eye roll from Babs.

“With a hyphen,” She conceded, “It’s more important you learn how to stop an attack before knowing how to start one. I will say, though, you seem to be picking this up rather quickly.”

A sad expression settled on Esther’s tired face. This had all been so easy and fun when they were kids. She could still remember the first time she donned the mask; Barbara had snapped a million pictures, squealing something about her ‘mini-me.’

So much had changed.

Esther refocused herself, rushing over to the Watchtower systems and entering Barbara’s password, ‘justinbeiber4eva!’ only to curse as she was greeted by an ‘incorrect password’ screen.

Dammit, that had been Babs password for years. There were only two attempts remaining. Esther looked down, noticing a picture framed on Barbara’s desk. 

It was of Dick, Jason, and Esther.

It was from middle school. They were all in uniforms, lined up outside the principal's office. Barbara had snapped the picture of them after Esther had thrown a glitter bomb inside the boys' bathroom with Dick and Jason inside. Essie had been mad because they had eaten the last of her cereal that morning.

Esther smirked at the picture frame, the two boys covered head to toe in glitter, angry expressions on their faces, with little Esther cackling between them. No wonder Jason switched to public school the following year. He was probably so sick of her shit.

“I changed the password.” Esther hung her head as Barbara’s voice came from behind her. When Essie turned, Babs was seated in her wheelchair, the door to her bedroom open behind her. Damn, even in a wheelchair, Babs was quiet. “It’s ‘Timstaythehelloutofmystuff12’. Damn, kids broke into it about six times in the past month.”

“Barb, I-”

“You’re not usually the one breaking in here to use my stuff; it’s still annoying, though.” Babs came to the desk and typed in her password, pushing Essie out of the way, “But I’ll admit it’s nice seeing you when you’re not absolutely wasted.”

Esther grimaced at the foggy memory of her stumbling into this very apartment a few months back. Humiliating, honestly. No wonder she hated to drink.

“Let’s just… forget about that.” She blushed. “I don’t mean to be rude, Barbara, but I’m in a bit of a crisis here-”

“I told you not to do it.” Barbara crossed her arms and stared up at her friend, “I know you were angry about Jason, and I know that my incident pushed you over the edge, but I told you not to go after Joker for me.”

“I don’t know how many times I need to say this: it wasn’t me.” The She-Wolf’s tone was impatient. “You know me, Babs, stringing people up for the world to see isn’t my M.O.”

That was true, but Barbara frowned anyway, “Once upon a time, I knew you, Essie.” Barbara said, “Before you started with this She-Wolf persona. Before you started killing people. Before you abandoned all of us.” Esther wished Barbara didn’t say all this with that heartbroken tone. Essie had never meant to cause all this suffering to Barbara and Dick. She knew it was as if they had lost two of their family members that day. “So if you’re here to get help to continue this murder crusade, you can just go.”

Pulling the chip out of her phone silently, Essie handed it to Barbara, who studied it closely before clicking into her computer. Her screens lit up with Jason’s vitals, which looked even worse than the last time Esther had checked. “No killing today. Trying to save someone. This person is important, and I don’t know where they are.”

Barbara searched Essie’s face. She did look concerned, which was weird. Babs turned her attention back to the screen, “Well, they don’t have much time by the looks of it.” She brought up some new screens, “I’m assuming you wanted to make a tracker piggybacking off the signal of the life support system? Hmm, it’s pretty weak. You probably wouldn’t have been able to do this on your own.” Her fingers raced against the keyboard, “But luckily, you’re not on your own.”

Her words hit Esther like a bag of bricks. Esther hadn’t realized how much leaving had hurt Barbara. But she was still so ready to help? “Thanks.” She said awkwardly.

“So, who is it?” Babs didn’t look away from the screen as she asked, “Must be someone you care about, but we share all the same friends. As far as I know, Dick finished up patrol and is over at the manor. Roy and Wally are in their respective cities. So who?”

“Someone…” Esther’s face lit up red, “Important.” She repeated, and Barbara flashed her a smile.

“Someone important to you?” Babs couldn’t believe this. It had been ages since Esther had even shown a little emotion over someone; other than Jason. If only she knew.

“Babs, please. They’re in bad shape.” Esther couldn’t look away from the vitals on the screen. 

Barbara glanced at them, too, “Oxygen levels are dropping. Wherever they are, the air is getting thin-”

A loud thumping and crashing sound interrupted her words, and Esther was lightning fast, drawing her blade and getting defensive, “Stay behind me.” Essie moved to protect Barbara, taking slow steps to the glass door where the sound had come from.

Watching her move, Barbara studied Esther Wayne. She was the closest thing Babs had to a little sister, and there had been a time when they were thick as thieves. Even when they both had feelings for Dick, they’d never let it come between them.

But when Jason died, everything changed. Barbara knew it wasn’t just that, though. For seventy-two days, Esther sat beside Jason and experienced unknown hells. All while never knowing that there wasn’t a single night her ‘big sister’ wasn’t out there looking for them. And then to watch Jason die the way that he did. To have Bruce show up only moments too late. 

She disagreed with Esther going out and killing criminals, but she’d be lying if she didn’t understand why Essie did it. 

Today, however, there was something different in Esther Wayne. That anger that had ruled her for the past year seemed… less hot to the touch. And there was a new confidence in her when she wore this suit. Barbara hated admitting it, but maybe Esther was never meant to be her replacement. Or at least, perhaps the Joker truly had killed the Bat-Girl; it’s just that something else had survived.

She-Wolf stood with a strength that Barbara knew all too well. It was how she’d felt being Batgirl. How she felt now being Oracle. It seemed less like a mask and more like an extension of Esther. Esther was now moving the curtain out of the way of the glass door, only to freeze. Oh shit, it must be something startling to make Esther freeze up like that.

Barbara wheeled herself over to be by Esther’s side and gasped as she saw what Esther was staring at outside the window.

The bodies Esther had left behind the dumpster a few nights earlier had been dropped from the roof of Bab’s apartment onto her balcony. The bodies were in bad shape, and half froze, but that wasn’t what concerned Esther.

It was the katanas that were impaling the bodies through their chests. Not just any katanas, either…

“Care to explain why the League of Shadows is sending you an invitation? Using my terrace?” Babs was right; this was the League’s way of leaving Esther a message. They’d been watching her, and now they wanted to talk.

Esther didn’t have fucking time for this. She needed to find Jason before it was too late. “How long before the tracker is up and running?” Esther asked.

Babs narrowed her eyes, “You know, you and your brother are more similar than you’d like to think.” She referred to Esther ignoring her questions. Bab’s wheeled herself back to her computer, “It’ll be about an hour before the program is ready. This signal is weak.” 

An hour?! Sure, it gave her time to find out what the League wanted, but Jason was running out of time. “Do whatever you can to get that time down.” Esther sighed, tinkering with the control panel on her hip that operated her suit's systems.“I’m sending you my suits comm channel; tell me when you’ve got the location.”

“Exactly like your brother.” Barbara huffed. “You better be back later to get those dead guys off my porch.”

…

There had been no note on the bodies to hint at where Esther was meant to meet the League, but that only left her assuming that the bodies themselves were the hint. She’d left them on Ninth, so that’s where she stood now.

The alleyway looked much the same, still dirty, still… alley-like. It was empty, but then again, the League would never be caught dead somewhere as nasty as this. It took Essie only a moment before she looked up and saw the swish of a cloak disappearing over the edge of the rooftop.

Using her grapple hook, Esther followed suit, and a moment later, she was standing face-to-face with Ra’s al Ghul himself.

She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but the Demon was not it. As if her body moved without permission, Esther lowered her head to avoid looking him in the eye. What the hell? Seriously, she hadn’t planned on doing that. 

“Ra’s.” Essie acknowledged him, lifting her chin up to stare him down. He looked a little older than what Bruce typically described; it seemed he needed to take another dip into the Lazarus pit. But other than that, the dark features, the pointy cape… It all checked out.

“You’ve grown tall and beautiful, Sadiyah; you’ve become a fine warrior.” His words had a smooth, silky accent to them. 

“I got your ‘message’ where’s Jason?” Esther snarled, unsure why he’d called her that name, but it sounded weird… familiar even. 

“I was hoping you could tell me.” Ra’s took long, slow strides, circling around where Esther stood.

Her shoulders deflated, “You don’t know?” But the look in his eyes didn’t quite add up. It took Esther a second, but after a moment, she sighed heavily, “But that’s not what you said, is it?” Ra’s knew exactly where Jason was; he just wanted Essie to figure it out on her own. “This is a test.”

Ra’s gave her a charming smile, “Think of it as more of an opportunity. A challenge. I want to see what you’re made of. The time is fast approaching when you will need to be prepared.”

This was the same weird bullshit that Ra’s spewed every time he saw Esther. Wait, no. That wasn’t right. Esther had only ever seen him in pictures. Her brain felt foggy, but she shook her head to clear it and snarled, “Listen, old man, I have no interest in the stupid games you like to play with Bruce; You already cost me Jason once. I won’t let you do it again.” She drew her khopesh from its sheath and lowered her center of gravity.

Ra’s stopped in front of her and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, “You would do well to remember some respect, child.” His facial expression darkened, “Too often, you seem to forget that you only exist because of me.”

Too often? What was he talking about? Esther wasn’t sure, but her head felt like it was going to split open, “Big deal,” She squeezed her eyes open and shut, trying to see through the headache, “You defrosted me in a microwave and then left me to be poked at by doctors for the better part of a decade. It doesn’t mean I owe you anything.” Essie grunted, lifting her blade a bit higher.

“Is that how you remember it? Pity.” Ra’s had a smug smile on his face, but his expression faltered as he got a better look at her sword. “Shifrat Mumazaqa.” The Shattered Blade. “Where did you find such a weapon?”

Esther squinted in confusion, pausing to inspect her khopesh. Its blade was an onyx black, some kind of old writing etched into it. “I paid a visit to my family’s exhibit at the museum. Found this on the way out, figured it was a shame to leave a beautiful weapon to rot while ten-year-olds gawked at it.” Sometimes, late at night, Esther would notice scratches in the blade with an almost violet hue.

Ra’s studied her blade, moving in closer for a better look. “How interesting that this weapon should call to you. It’s quite ancient. I have not seen it with my own eyes in many centuries.” He reached out a hand to examine it, only for Esther to lightly smack it with the blade. A warning. “You’re not foolish enough to fight me, girl. We both know you’re not quite there yet. Perhaps soon, but not on this day.”

He was absolutely right. And she knew it. To fight Ra’s al Ghul was a death wish, but Esther felt desperate. “Just tell me where Jason is.”

“I look forward to your success.” Ra’s smirked and dropped a smoke pellet onto the ground. 

Esther reached up to turn on her mask, but he was gone by the time its lenses powered on. She switched it off as the smoke cleared, angrily sheathing her weapon and kicking at a loose shingle.

So Ra’s was testing her, and he wanted to be sure that she knew it. Why? Not to mention, Jason was working for him, shouldn’t Ra’s care a little bit whether or not he lives? He couldn’t be that confident in her abilities, could he? Ra’s hadn’t even seen Esther fight before.

Ra’s al Ghul had never bothered with Esther Wayne since placing her parents' samples into a surrogate, not since Bruce had taken her away from the clinic where she’d spent her life as nothing but a lab rat. So why was he here now? 

She didn’t really have time to think about it, though. There was too much to do. Esther flicked on the mic in her mask.

“Babs, please tell me you have good news for me.” Esther sighed into the comm link, staring at the place Ra’s had been standing a moment before.

“I got good news, bad news, and news you just won’t like.” Bab’s voice rang from inside her mask. 

“Go.” Esther huffed.

“Good news is that I got the tracker working.” Esther let out a breath of relief, thank God. “Bad news is I no longer have access to your suit's systems, so you need the physical chip.”

No. Esther didn’t have the kind of time to go back to Barbara’s apartment; Jason’s vitals looked bad the last time she’d seen them. Who knew how bad they were now.

“Babs, is there any way you could just tell me the coordinates?” But Esther knew what her answer would be.

“I could, but that’s too broad an area. It would take you too long to narrow down the exact spot. Now,” Essie could hear Oracle’s finger clicking on her keyboard, “The last bit of news is good, but don’t get mad at me.” 

An eyebrow raised from underneath Essie’s mask, “Okay.” She drew out the ‘y’ in suspicion.

“The chip is on its way to you right now. It should be arriving any minute-“

“Looking for us?” The smooth voice was all too familiar to Essie, and her shoulders slumped. A silent groan went off in her head as she turned to see Nightwing in all his glory standing behind her.

“Who’s us?” Esther growled, knowing the answer even before Robin flipped from the building above them onto the rooftop they were all now standing on. “Okay, Babs, I understand sending Dick, but why the fuck is the kid here?”

“Training.” Nightwing looked her up and down; damn, she looked hot in her She-Wolf suit.

“Train somewhere else.” Esther spat and held her hand out, “The chip now, please.” 

Tim Drake pulled the chip from his pocket and held it out to her, “Come take it from me.” He grinned. It was a challenge and not one that Esther was in the mood for right now. She had enough challenges on her plate at the moment.

Looking between the two of them, Esther’s eye twitched. Does this kid think this is a fucking joke?

“Tim,” Nightwing warned, “This might not be the time for” Too late. She-Wolf had already flipped Robin over her back and had her foot on his neck, pinning him to the ground. “You’ve got to stop letting her get in close. That’s where she does her best work.” Dick sighed. Esther kept the pressure on Tim’s neck as she snatched the chip from his fingers, adding a light smack to his face for good measure, “Okay, I think that’s enough, Essie.”

She released him and clipped the chip into the side of her mask, her visuals lighting up with a map and Jason’s vitals, all bordering her sight range. Jason’s heart rate was slowing down rapidly. When Essie saw his location, she groaned. Please, not the old Gotham South Elementary... 

“Fuck.”

“I’m assuming that means you’ve seen our other problem?” Oracle said, and Esther palmed at her forehead. “Whoever your friend is, they need to pick better friends. Black Mask has been using that abandoned school as one of his safe houses for a while now. It’s his best guarded one.”

“And it’s far away.” Esther chewed on her cheek. “They’ll be dead by the time I get there.” Tears welled up in her eyes behind her mask, but she choked them back. This wasn’t the time to get emotional; it only clouded her judgment. “And I don’t have my guns.” She glared at Dick.

Tim sat up from the ground, grunting in pain, “I can take you on Bat-Wing.”

“No.” Esther shot back, not knowing what the fuck ‘Bat-Wing’ was.

Nightwing shifted on his feet, “Essie, Babs has two dead guys at her apartment courtesy of Ra’s al Ghul, if you need help-”

“I can’t.” She was pacing again, trying to come up with some way to get to the school in time. Dick got ready to argue, and Essie relented to telling him a little bit of truth just to save some time, “He’s issued me a challenge.”

The blood rushed from Dick’s masked face. “Shit.” He muttered, running his hand through his hair.

“That is… not good.” Barbara’s voice chimed in, and Tim got to his feet, his expression somewhat confused.

“Uhh, I’m lost.” The young Robin stared between the two older vigilantes.

Nightwing clenched his jaw, “When Ra’s wants to test the measure of a man, he’ll often set up impossible situations and set them loose to see if they can find a solution. He calls them ‘challenges.’ Bruce has done more than I can count, but Essie..?” He glanced at her, “Ra’s has never extended one to Esther before. And she’s right; we can’t help her. Much.”

“Uh, why?” Tim asked, and this time Esther answered.

“He’ll kill you.” Her words sent a shiver down his spine, “The challenge has been extended to me. If I receive too much help, I fail, and we all get picked off one by one by the League of Shadows as punishment for disrespecting their traditions. ‘Tuqus Alshaytan.’ The Rite of the Demon.”

Tim’s eyebrow raised, “You seem to know a lot about that.” Esther paused. He was right. She knew little from what Bruce had told her in the past, but… She didn’t remember him telling her the challenge's name, let alone its name in Arabic. Of the languages that Esther knew, Arabic wasn’t even one. “But there’s literally no other way to get across the city in time, not in broad daylight at least.”

“He’s right.” Babs said, “Ra’s has always allotted Bruce a little help. A good assassin uses his resources. Let us help as much as we can. As long as it’s just you that goes into that school, I don’t think Ra’s will punish you. It is convenient, though, that Bruce is busy working on a missing person case. I wonder if Ra’s didn’t want him helping you.”

Dick put his hand on Esther’s arm, and for once, she didn’t flinch away, “We’re right here, Essie. Let us help.”

Esther bit her lip and then huffed, “Okay. What the fuck is this ‘Bat-Wing’ thing?”

Nightwing did a double-take, “I’m sorry what?” Was she actually agreeing to their help? They hadn’t worked together in so long. “Wow, whoever’s in that school must be important.” He said under his breath.

Tim looked shocked as well, “Uh, right, then… It’s probably better if you just… see for yourself.”

…

“Don’t you ever, ever mention this again.” Esther hissed but could barely be heard over the wind roaring past them.

Turns out the ‘Bat-Wing’ was a new toy that Bruce made. Basically, a glorified hang-glider that went very fast. Unfortunately, it was only built for one rider, so Esther was holstered like a baby against Tim’s chest.

She looked like a fucking idiot.

“Dick got enough pictures to last us a lifetime.” Tim laughed, “And you get no pity from me. Because of you, I had to take my school pictures with a broken nose.”

“Uhh, right. How’s that coming?” Esther yelled over the wind.

“Still broken, thanks.” Tim griped, making a sharp turn to the right. Esther felt her stomach in her throat, “You okay? Lookin’ a little green there. Dick gets sick on this thing too.” He was enjoying this.

“I’m fine! I’ve been flying since before you knew the quadratic formula.” Granted, that was using her old Bat-Girl cape, but it was pretty much the same. It had… just been a while.

“Oh, I know!” Tim sighed, “Dick never shuts up about it. Apparently, you and Todd ditched out on a lot of responsibilities to take midnight flights around Gotham. He’s still salty that you guys left him to deal with the Christmas Charity alone.” It disturbed Esther to hear Tim talk about Jason, the Robin he’d replaced. But she tried to remember that she was mad at Bruce about that, not Tim. “Truthfully, I’m jealous of you guys. You all have so much history… You’re a family. I know you’re mad at them, but they still miss you so much. I’ve… never really had that.”

Esther’s heart melted. Maybe this kid wasn’t as bad as she thought. “Listen, kid,” She sighed, “I’m sorry about your nose. It’s hard for me to go easy on you. I- I don’t do it to be mean... Most of the time at least. Losing the last Robin… Truthfully I don’t think anyone should be Robin anymore. But since you are… I don’t pull my punches because I know someone else won’t either.”

“I know!” Tim’s voice hinted at the possibility that he was smiling, “That’s what Barbara said. She told me not to hold it against you. They talk about you and Jason all the time. And Alfred… Well, you need to come see him. No one talks higher of you than him.”

Alfred. Esther missed him so much. What she wouldn’t give for one of his famous cookies right now. “And… Bruce?”

“Oh.” Tim took another hard right. They were getting close now. “Well, you know Bruce. Always hard to read. If anyone brings you up, he gets really quiet. I think he feels like he failed you. You and Jason. Sometimes I see him sitting at the piano, but he never plays it. But you did, didn’t you? So… I guess he thinks about you a lot.”

The piano was one of the few things that Esther had brought from the clinic with her. To this day, she never felt as peaceful as she did while playing the piano. After everything with Joker, it was the only thing that relaxed her.

But the fact that Bruce would sit there to think about her..? It was hard because Essie was so mad at Bruce. So angry at him for so much. For being too late to save Jason, leaving the Joker breathing and replacing Jason. It hurt so much. But he was her brother.

Jason wanted him dead. Esther could tell from how he’d talked about him the night before. Sometimes… Sometimes so did she. On the bad nights. The nights when she’d wake up and swear that Joker was about to start cutting her up again. On those nights, filled with terror and rage, she wished Bruce would suffer for not saving them.

But on the good nights? The nights where she’d find hidden packages on rooftops filled with medical supplies and a note asking her to come home. The nights when they’d run into each other, and she knew for a fact that he was letting her go. On those nights, Esther missed him too.

Grief and trauma were just- just so hard to process. Even with Jason back now, it didn’t erase all that had happened.

Esther could see the school quickly approaching, and she felt Tim start to bring the glider down gradually, “Hey, Tim?” She called to him, and Tim nodded in acknowledgment, “If you go into my room at the Manor, there’s an old Monopoly board under my bed. Thursdays around noon, Bruce and Dick eat lunch in the kitchen. It’s physically impossible for them to reject playing a game.”

Tim’s eyes softened, not that she could see them. He’d mentioned not feeling like he was a part of a family, and now she was giving him tips to experience it. 

Maybe Esther wasn’t as bad as he’d thought she was.

“But if you go through any of my other shit, I will literally skin you alive.”

Maybe.

…

The windows to the school were boarded over entirely, and from the outside, any passerby would assume it was abandoned.

“Should I go through the front doors?” Esther scanned the area, not seeing much to be worried about from the outside.

“Is that a joke?” Barbara laughed over the comm link. “That place is probably swarming with Black Mask’s boys.” Esther squinted, spotting a side entrance around the corner of the building. It was blocked off, but the window next to it was shattered. With a bit of maneuvering, she could probably get through.

“I’ve got an alternative, but I’ll need help getting through the building.” Esther made her way to the window, pushing slowly on the board that covered the open frame.

“I’ve got the blueprints here!” Dick’s voice sounded through the comms, and Esther sighed.

She almost laughed at the fact that she heard Barbara sigh at the same time as her. Some things never change. “Sorry, Dick decided he wanted to ‘help’ from my end.”

“I don’t know what you’re apologizing for; I’m a delight.” Dick grumbled, “Anyways, that window goes to the old guidance counselor's office.” Dick paused, “Also, uh, Esther. I know it’s kinda weird timing and everything but um… Bruce is making me do this charity volleyball competition next month… it’s kind of lame… but you know-”

Esther heaved herself over the ledge and into the building. “If this can wait, Dick, please let it.” She grunted, and Dick went silent. The office was empty, as she expected. She left the window unblocked for a quick exit later. 

“The tracker is coming from the west end of the building. It looks like it’s in the old cafeteria.” The building was starting to fall apart. This elementary school had been shut down in the 90s, and boy, did it look it. There was a poster on the wall of cartoon children holding hands around the world, and some other ethnicities were a little too… on the nose.

“Jesus,” Esther mumbled, silently exiting the room to walk the dark hallways. Here and there, little beams of sunlight peeked through cracks in the walls.

Footsteps stomping down the hall forced She-Wolf to jam herself into one of the dark cubbies in the wall. It wasn’t the best hiding spot, but it should be dark enough for her to go unnoticed for a little bit.

“Asshole’s gonna die soon either way. He'll run out of oxygen even if we can’t get the safe open.” Two of Black Masks men pass her, pausing a few feet past her to look around, “Or bleed out. Kenny got him pretty good earlier.”

Esther’s fists balled up. She wanted to kill them and be done with it, but that didn't feel right with Barbara and Dick listening in. Today just kept getting harder and harder.

Sneaking up behind them, Esther grabbed both of their heads and smashed them together as hard as she could. A sickening crack echoed throughout the room, and Esther blinked, blood pouring from one of their heads. 

She may have overdone it.

In her defense, Essie hadn’t been pulling her punches for a while now.

“The effort was appreciated,” Barbara noted, and Esther was grateful for the acknowledgment. “Turn left up ahead.”

“Did she just murder those guys?” Tim’s voice came through the comms, and Esther inwardly groaned. Were they watching her like a sick soap opera?

Following Barbara and Dick’s instructions was easy, despite the winding hallways, the real challenge came when she peeked into the window of the cafeteria. Fuck. She ducked down quickly.

“Oracle, there’s like twenty guys in there. It looks like Black Mask put a giant safe into the old kitchen walk-in freezer. I think my guy is inside.”

“If they got into a shootout with that many guys, your friend probably locked themselves inside to try and wait them out.” Barbara sighed, “I don’t suppose you have any explosives on you?”

“I do, actually.” Esther hoisted herself on top of one of the cubbies and pushed a ceiling tile aside, jumping up and catching the ledge with her fingers before pulling herself up into the crawl space. “Problem is, if I blow the door, the pressure will melt my friend's brain.”

Crawling until she was over the cafeteria, Esther smirked, “I might have a better idea for them, though. Cover your ears.” And with that, she cracked open the ceiling tile just above where the men were using a blow torch to try and break through the vault. Esther lit her bundle of little bombs and waited precisely three and a half seconds before dropping them from the crack.

The timing was perfect. The bombs had barely touched the ground before exploding with a violent BOOM. Stronger than Esther had been expecting because it caused the ceiling tiles to give out, dropping her about 13 feet off the ground and landing her on her ass. 

“Oh, did she just eat it?” Dick asked.

“Yeah.” Barbara laughed, “But when doesn’t she?”

Esther sat up, the smoke clearing and a couple of the men stirring as well, “Shut up.” Esther groaned. She got to her feet and smacked a couple heads into the floor, knocking them out and possibly causing permanent brain damage. Whoops. One guy was definitely dead, but Esther kept that detail to herself.

“You don’t have long before someone investigates that noise,” Barbara informed her, and Esther sighed. One problem at a time, and right now, her next problem was the six-inch thick steel safe she needed to open.

“Great. Now I just need to magically know the code.” It was a digital keypad; theoretically, she could hack it to open it, but that would take time she just didn’t have. “Let’s see… Seven letters long. Password hint: your favorite movie.”

Esther blinked. Black Mask’s favorite movie? Seven letters… No. It couldn’t be that easy, could it? She started typing into the keypad.

T-H-E-M-A-S-K

The safe gears whirred and clicked from inside until the door cracked open an inch. No way.

Esther swung the door open, and ran inside, pausing as she took in the sight in front of her.

Gold. Jewels. Weapons. Gold weapons that were bejeweled. Piled as high as her knees. At the far end of the safe, on top of one of the piles, sat Red Hood, his head lulling to one side, a pool of blood soaking into the stacks of gold coins he sat on top of.

Esther made a sound almost like a whimper in the back of her throat, rushing forward and kneeling at Jason’s side. He’d been shot between the armor plates on his abdomen and his thigh. Yeah, Kenny really did get some lucky shots in.

Jason wasn’t moving.

Taking his head in Essie’s hands, she shook him softly, “Hey, hey. Come on, don’t do this to me.” She put her forehead against his, “Wake up.”

No response. 

“I still need you,” Esther whispered, tears stinging in her eyes. She couldn’t be too late. Not again.

Suddenly Jason let out a raspy cough, his body shifting slowly, and Esther nearly let out a sob of relief.

“Hey, you.” Jay was smiling under his mask. “I got you the Hana- the Hanuk- The candle stick thing.” Jason lifted the solid gold Hanukkiyah in his right hand off the ground by an inch before weakly dropping it again. Esther let out a strained laugh, letting her head fall to his chest.

“It’s a man? You’re saving a man? Who is he? Ask her how tall he is.” Esther’s ear twitched at how loud Dick was talking from Barbara’s side.

“Dick, be quiet.” Oracle sighed, “She-Wolf, Black Mask has another safe house about a mile away. If he knows you’re there, it won’t be long before reinforcements show up.”

Understood. But Jason wasn’t going anywhere in this state. Esther pulled a small black device from her belt, which, even with his mask on, Esther could tell Jason was staring at. “That’s gonna hurt, isn’t it?”

With a nod, Esther uncapped what appeared to be a lighter. Inside, however, was carbon subnitride which burned a hell of a lot hotter than the average lighter. With the push of a button, a blue-white flame lit itself, and Esther placed Jay’s hand on her thigh with her free hand, “Hold tight.”

The room filled with Jason’s strained grunting, his teeth gnashing together as Essie cauterized his wounds to slow his bleeding. His gloved fingers dug into the flesh of her leg, her heart aching; Esther had hoped never to hear him again in this kind of pain.

Once his wounds weren’t bleeding as bad, Esther hooked his arm around her shoulders, “We need to go.” Jason nodded in response, bracing himself as she lifted him up. They limped out of the safe, Esther taking Jason’s gun from his holster and holding it in her free hand.

“There’s not much ammo left.” Jay grunted, “You didn’t need to come. I was figuring it out on my own.”

“That’s what it looked like.” Esther’s snark made him roll his eyes. She moved them out of the cafeteria, “You swore up and down to me that you had this handled. I’m never listening to you again.” 

Jason could tell that even though she was relieved that he was alive, Essie was pissed at him. So he mustered all the charm he could in his condition and hit her with it, “Have I mentioned how fucking tiny your waist looks in that suit? It’s hot.”

Her face heated up, knowing he was just laying on thick, but… it was working, “That’s nice; put your tongue back in your mouth.” They were headed down the main hallway, sticking close to the walls in case Esther had to drop Jason to fight.

“Oh, these two definitely smashed.” Barbara’s voice gave away the fact that she was absolutely beaming.

“No way, this guy’s just being a creep!” Dick was panicked.

“Does Dick always make an idiot of himself in front of Esther?” Tim asked, crunching on what sounded like… popcorn? That little shit.

“No!” “Yes.”

“Es, watch out!” Jason pushed his body weight against her, and they stumbled into a side hallway just in time to miss getting shot by some men hiding behind an open door. Esther got back on her feet, helping Jay back up, when she realized that her comms had gone dead silent.

That was until Dick Grayson broke that silence.

“I’m sorry. What did he just say?”

Fuck. “Did he just call you Es? As in Esther? As in, Esther Wayne?” Dick’s voice had gone up an octave, and he was clearly freaking the fuck out.

“I’m gonna need you to bring it down about three levels, please. I can explain later.” Esther spoke through her teeth as she shifted Jason to her other shoulder.

“Is that Night-turd?” Red Hood smirked under his mask.

There was a moment of silence over her headset, and Esther knew why. Only one person had ever called Dick ‘Night-turd’. But as far as Dick Grayson knew, that person was supposed to be six feet under. But suddenly, many things were making sense; she could hear the gears moving in his head.

Surprisingly, Barbara broke the silence, “Esther, what’s… going on?” Esther’s head was spinning; in one hand, she was supporting Jason’s weight; in the other, she was shooting anything that moved, and now her comms were blowing up in her ear… She was starting to miss working alone.

“You have got to learn to keep your mouth shut,” Esther grumbled, the two lurching down the hallway until they came to a three-way intersection. Shit, which way had she come in again?

“So it is Bird-Brain.” Jason laughed. “Long-time no see, Dicky-bird.”

Barbara gasped, and Dick was in complete shock based on the moment of silence.

Tim’s voice chimed in, “Is that…?”

“It’s not possible.” Barbara sounded like she was on the verge of tears. Honestly, so was Esther, but for entirely different reasons. 

“Can he hear me?” Jason asked, not bothering to wait for an answer, “Hey, Dick? Fuck you.”

“It’s him.” Dick’s voice was deadpan.

“Everyone shut up right now, or I’m going to fucking rip someone’s throat out.” Esther exploded and everything went silent. She was extremely overwhelmed, and her head was spinning. Taking a deep breath, she re-centered herself mentally. “Barbara, which way? Now.”

“Right.” Was her only response, and it was eerily silent on their end now. Maybe it was the threat, but more than likely, it was the shock.

Esther hadn’t meant for them to find out this way, but what other options had she had?

“You’ve got Black Mask’s boys coming to the north.” Dick’s voice was cold like steel. 

“Take the main exit.” Jason coughed, blood splattering across the front of his suit from it. “To the left, up ahead.” Esther followed his instructions, freezing in her tracks as, about 10 feet ahead of them, a man the size of a minivan stepped out from one of the side rooms.

“Ooooh… fuck.” Esther and the goon made eye contact. Now, Esther was a tall girl. But damn, this man was HUGE. Her incident with Bane had already proved that she wasn’t much of a match for guys this big.

Jason glanced at her, “Shoot him.” His tone was incredulous that she hadn’t done so already.

“I can’t.” Esther muttered, setting Jason down against the side of the wall as the behemoth stepped closer to them, “There’s a child present.” Jason shot her a confused look, and she tapped the side of her mask.

“Thanks for thinking of me!” Tim squeaked over the comms. “But I think you should be more concerned about Barbara. She hasn’t blinked in like… two minutes.”

She-Wolf gave the gigantic thug a wide berth, inching circles around him in a defensive stance. The guy was missing an arm, dragging an enormous sledgehammer in the other.

“Tim! One arm, massive, giant hammer, what intel have you got for me?” Esther could see his dark eyes locked onto her, like a wolf hunting a mouse.

“I-I don’t know- Barbara and Dick are in front of the computers, and they aren’t moving.”

“Abramavici!” Jason called from behind her, “He used to work for Joker. And who the fuck is Tim?”

That’s why he looked sort of familiar. He was there the night Joker’s men took her and Jason.

“On second thought, Tim. I’m gonna put you on hold.” Esther reached up and turned off her mic. This guy wasn’t walking out of here alive. And a gun was just too easy. “Alright, Big Boy, I guess this is round two.” 

“He doesn’t speak English.” Jason grimaced through his pain. Good thing Esther hadn’t paid him any mind because it was at that exact moment that Abramavici charged at her.

He wasn’t swift, but god, was he just big. And he swung that hammer around like it didn’t weigh anything. As soon as he got total momentum, Esther ran straight towards him, sliding across the floor at the last minute to dodge his hammer. She slid right between his legs, ramming her elbow straight up as she passed underneath, making Abramavici stumble as he clutched at his private parts.

Jason clenched his teeth, not exactly feeling sorry for the guy but at least glad he wasn’t facing off with her.

Coming up on the other side of the giant, Esther scrambled to her feet. His back was now to her, and she dug her heels into the ground, bolting towards him. She veered to the side, kicking off the side of the wall and catapulting herself onto his shoulders, locking her thighs in a vice-like grip around his thick neck.

Abramavici stumbled around, shocked that she’d easily gotten on top of him. He swung his hammer fruitlessly as Esther locked her wrists together and brought her elbows down as hard as she could against his head, again and again, and again.

The man must have had an iron skull because he just took it like she was simply an annoying fly he was trying to swat away.

One enormous hand came up and grabbed her thigh, clamping down and throwing her like a towel across the room with a twist of his body. Esther rolled across the floor, absorbing the shock in her knees and elbows. 

She used the momentum of the rolls to twist herself into a kneeling position, one hand resting on the floor and the other reaching up for her blade. Anger flared up in her chest; Esther was so over this.

In one fluid movement, Esther pushed herself off the ground and unsheathed her khopesh. Abramavici was waiting for her, swinging his hammer once more. Esther felt the air shift just millimeters from her face, but her body was moving independently, entirely confident in itself and its timing.

The hammer missed by a hair.

And as soon as it was past, Esther forced her feet off the ground, kicked off of the thug’s knee, and, using the power of her speed and her legs, shot herself into the air. Her body twisted in mid-air, adding to the thrust of her dark blade before she brought it down hard and unrelenting against his neck.

There was a moment of silence as her feet hit the floor, landing in perfect position.

A moment later, a loud thwack sounded as Abramavici’s head landed beside her, rolling a few feet away.

Jason watched with a dropped jaw, “Es,” His eyebrows furrowed, “Where did you learn that move?” His tone was hesitant, and Esther herself faltered.

“I-” She didn’t know. Batman had never taught it to her, and it wasn’t one she’d learned on her own. And yet Essie’s body had just… known exactly what to do.

Esther stood up, her head rushing as the adrenaline passed. She rushed over to help Jason back up. If they didn’t have time before, they were significantly out of it now. She could hear more men running down one of the hallways.

Jason kept glancing at her as they rushed towards the exit, “That… was a League technique.”

There wasn’t time for Esther to think too hard about what he was saying as she kicked the door open, mid-day sun flooding their eyes. Gunshots sounded behind them, and Esther cursed under her breath, “It doesn’t matter. We need to get out of here!” Esther let the doors slam behind her.

The daylight disoriented Jason, and his body started to shut down from his injuries. “Over there.” He pointed weakly, and Esther saw what he was referring to… his bike. Esther dragged him across the street, throwing her leg over the side of the motorcycle. “Do you even know how to drive one of these?” Jay’s voice was concerned, but Essie had a feeling it was for the bike and not for her.

“Shut up.” She growled, Jason getting on behind her, his muscular arms holding her tight around her waist. Esther couldn’t lie- it was kind of hot. Her thighs clenched together tightly at his hands gripping her hips. “Just hold on.” She mumbled, her cheeks turning pink as he rested his head against her shoulder.

Revving up the engine, Esther tore off, bullets whizzing past them. Esther zoomed down different streets, riding in silence before noticing Jay's quietness. “Hey!” She called over her shoulder. No answer. “Jason!” She yelled. Essie could feel his arms slipping from her waist.

He was unconscious. 

And just in time, two black cars pulled up on either side of her, windows cracking down and bullets blasting through the air. Esther Wayne just could not catch a break today.

Releasing one hand from the handlebars, Esther elbowed Jason in his gunshot wound, internally apologizing as he groaned loudly, arms tightening around her again. Thank god.

“Ouch.” He grumbled.

“Now would be a good time to use the gun!” Esther yelled over the wind, using the size of the motorcycle to her advantage as she wove in and out of traffic.

The Red Hood reached down her thigh and pulled his gun out, firing at the tires of the car to their right. The tires imploded, and the vehicle veered off the side of the road; into the side of a building.

Just one left. 

Esther glanced ahead, ducking her head to avoid getting shot as Jason and the other car exchanged gunfire. The light about a hundred feet up flicked red and opposite traffic began to move through it. Shit.

She thought the word too soon, groaning as an eighteen-wheeler slowed to a stop in the middle of the approaching intersection.

Jason wasn’t going to like the idea brewing in her head.

“Jay!” Essie called back to him, and his shots paused.

“A little busy here, sweetheart!” He shouted back.

She-Wolf swallowed hard and hit the throttle, the bike jolting forward suddenly, “Stop firing and just hold on!” 

Jason’s eyes went wide as he realized her plan, “No, no, no!” Too late to stop her now, Jay gripped her hips with a deathlock as Esther pushed all their weight onto one side of the bike, tipping it over and skidding them parallel with the ground as they slid underneath the belly of the semi-truck.

As soon as they were clear on the other side, Esther used all her strength to tip the motorcycle back onto its center. “Holy shit!” Jason moaned in her ear, and Esther bit down on her lip. She’d always known that adrenaline made her horny, but damn, she needed to calm down.

“You just earned a fucking lifetime ban from my bike!” Jason yelled over the wind, Esther slowing down as no other cars were in pursuit. 

Esther grinned under her mask, “That was fun!” 

She turned to the right, and Jay looked around. “Where are you going?” He asked, but he had a feeling that he knew.

“I’m sorry!” Esther sighed, “I don’t know how to fix you up, and you keep going in and out of consciousness. I gotta take you to Alfred.”

“No.” Jay tightened his grip on her; a warning. “Take me to my place,” He coughed up some more blood, “I have what I need there-”

“Jay-” Esther’s eyes flickered.

“Just do it!” Jason groaned against her, “Seventh and Twelfth.”

…

Esther pulled the bike into the alleyway, practically falling down the steps of his stoop as she held Jay against her. They stumbled into his apartment, and Esther blinked.

It was… charming. An apartment beneath a townhouse on the upper west side of Gotham, a nice neighborhood. It was small but had tall, Victorian walls and surprisingly large windows for being level with the street outside. A living area and kitchen greeted them, and Jay had clearly been renovating the space as it was half painted and plastic covered everything.

“Wow, and here I am squatting in a church.” Esther blinked before helping him to his room.

Jason was losing consciousness again, but he managed a “Door at the end of the hallway.” Before drooping weakly. 

He was going to die. Again. If she didn’t do something soon. But she was honestly out of her depth on this one. Who knew what kind of internal bleeding he had?

Esther opened the door and threw him onto the bed inside. Now, this room seemed more like Jason. Neat and tidy. Weapons decorated the walls, and a bookshelf was over his bed frame. Essie laid him up in his bed, removed his mask, and shook his shoulders, “Red. Come on, Red. I need you to tell me what to do. Where’s your stuff?”

His eyes remained shut, but Jason lifted his hand to point at a dresser across the room. Esther scrambled to it and searched the drawers, finding nothing but clothes. Until she noticed the false bottom on the lowest drawer. She pulled it up and saw a box. This had to be what Jason was talking about.

Ripping it open, two silver pendants were nestled into a velvet cushion. What the hell? Esther picked one up with shaking fingers, eyeing it closely. There was a thin ridge a third of the way down the pendant, and Esther realized it wasn’t a pendant at all. It was a vial.

Rushing to Jason’s side, Esther twisted the vial open and forced his mouth open, pouring the glowing green liquid down his throat in one fell swoop.

Esther sat back on her heels beside him, her hand on his cheek. Her breathing was labored as she studied him, waiting for any response.

Jason stirred, coughing harshly. Esther could see the pink rush back to his cheeks, and she let out a sigh of relief, “Jesus Christ.” She laughed in reprieve.

“You don’t even believe in that guy,” Jay smirked, his eyelashes fluttering as he peered up at her. He looked so lazy like he was melting into the bed. “You mind helping me out of my suit? The blood is sticky.” He grimaced, and Esther made quick work of pulling his suit from his skin.

A sickening squelch sounded as she removed the armor around his gunshot wound, but once it was gone, she stared in shock. There was no wound. Just a scar. Essie traced the mark with her fingertip. “That liquid… Was that..?”

“From the Lazarus pit? Yeah.” Jason sighed, already looking about a hundred times better. “A little souvenir I brought back from North Africa when the League returned to Gotham. I made it this long without using one, and now I’ve only got the one left.” He rubbed at his face. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know I promised I’d be back before you woke up.” He lifted his hand and brushed her hair away from her cheek, his eyes scanning her body as Essie worked on removing his tactical pants, “What about you, are you okay?”

Esther stifled a laugh, and she pulled his boots off, “You’re asking me if I’m okay? You were literally dying not even two minutes ago.” Her fingers were trembling as she stood up and returned with a wet rag to clean his wounds. But Jay’s eyes were lasered in on her tremors.

“When did those start?” It felt good as the warm rag gently wiped the blood from his skin.

“The shakes?” Esther asked, and he nodded. “After the Joker.” She sighed, “They come and go. How does this feel?” She was pressing lightly on his thigh, where his other bullet wound was. She was kneading her knuckles into the area, which loosened the muscles in a way the Lazarus water just couldn’t. 

Jay moaned softly, “Really nice, actually.” He stretched his leg out, sighing in contentment as she brought both hands to work into his tired muscles. Esther squirmed on the bed, swallowing hard at the noises falling from Jason’s lips as she rubbed out the tension from his thigh. “Essie,” Jason peeked an eye open, “You’re bleeding.”

Sure enough, she was. Her hip had a rose blossoming from it. One of the bullets must have grazed Essie while on the bike. “Oh, shit.” She muttered, peeling her own suit off until she was standing in her spandex shorts and sports bra. The shorts barely covered her ass cheeks, and the sports bra didn’t do her smaller-than-average breasts any favors.

Yet Jason was drinking in every inch of her with greedy eyes. 

The cut on her hip was a few inches across but, luckily, not that deep. Esther held the rag tightly against it to stop the bleeding.

Jason pushed her fingers aside and held the rag there, pushing her, so she sat on his lap. The pressure he applied to her wound was firm but tender. “You shouldn’t have had to come save me. I-” He rolled his eyes, “I was distracted, and Roman’s boys got the drop on me.”

The truth was that all night his mind had kept wandering back to his time with his girl. His girl. Even now, that sounded so delectable in his head. The way it felt to fill Esther to the brim the night before, to finally, finally, claim her as his. Yet it hadn’t been enough, and he knew from the beginning it wouldn’t be. Jason knew that the moment he tasted Essie, there’d be no quitting her.

Esther could see him getting lost in his thoughts, and she wiggled on his lap until she was comfortable, enjoying how her movements pulled him from his head. “That’s okay,” Esther bit her lip, “We all get distracted sometimes.”

Was she- Flirting with him? Jason studied her expression, how she batted her lashes at him and how her chest had turned bright red. She was. She was flirting with him.

“Oh,” Jason raised an eyebrow, “You mean like how distracted you were on my bike?” He smirked, remembering how she’d pushed up against him when he wrapped his arms around her waist and how her facial expression lagged when he groaned in her ear. Esther looked away in embarrassment, and Jay snatched her chin in his hand, “You thought I didn’t notice?”

He forced Esther to look at him, enjoying the way her chest was suddenly rising and falling rapidly. Jason moved to sit up, but Esther put her hands on her chest and pushed him back down, “No.” She said firmly, her bottom lip jutted out in an enticing pout. “I wanna help you relax.” Essie’s fingers traced the edge of Jay’s black boxers, and Jason felt himself twitch from underneath the soft fabric.

Esther palmed at Jay's growing erection through the thin cotton, causing Jason to exhale softly. Sometimes this still didn’t feel real. Esther Wayne wanted Jason Todd. It was inexplicable, and yet, as she freed his cock from its fabric prison, she was looking at him like she wanted to devour him.

She snaked her body downward, resting between his thighs. Jay’s massive thighs made her look small, and as she took his dick in her hands and licked a stripe from base to tip, those thighs tightened and flexed. Jay was so fucking hard right now. His hand tangled in her hair, trying and failing to hold it back for her.

Gentle kisses were placed along his shaft, followed by her sweetly licking at his swollen and throbbing head. She lapped at the slit there, tasting that salty bead of pre-cum that had escaped. “O-oh God.” Jason groaned, his hips pushing himself against her lips, desperate to feel them close around him.

“He’s not here right now.” Esther smirked, swirling her tongue around his pulsing red tip, “Just me.” And without wasting another second, Esther pushed his fat cock past her lips and down her throat, letting her mouth pool with spit before pulling back off of him, a line of saliva connecting her mouth and his cock together.

Holy shit. Jason couldn’t look away from her; she didn’t even look ashamed of the spit line; instead, she just let more drip off her tongue and down his shaft. “Fuck, you’re a messy girl.” He breathed, so fucking transfixed by her. 

Esther nodded, never breaking eye contact as she relaxed her jaw and went back to sloppily sucking his dick. Her pace was achingly slow, her fingers wrapped around his base and matching time with her ministrations. Essie’s spit dripped down over her fingers, only making her movements more messy and wet.

The sounds coming from her mouth and fingers were unholy. God, Esther was so messy, and Jason fucking loved it. His grip in her hair tightened, and he forced her to take the entirety of his cock; causing her to choke around it. “You like sucking my cock?” Jay asked, holding her still with his dick halfway down her esophagus.

Esther’s eyes started to water, her face becoming pudgy and pink, but she nodded anyway, “Mhrgm.” Essie garbled, laying her tongue flat against him, and she bobbed her head up and down a little faster.

“Oh, holy fuck, you do.” Jason breathed heavily, using his grip on her nape to guide her movements, trying not to cum at the sight of her hot tears falling against his lower stomach. 

He just knew she was giving him all she had, and it was more than enough. Jason could see her nipples through her sports bra, and he fought the urge to rip through her clothes again. Jason held her head steady suddenly, caressing her cheek for only a moment before rutting his hips up fast and hard.

If she was going to give it all to him, Jay would take it all from her. Jason fucked himself roughly into her mouth, relishing the warm, wet sensation around his shaft. She looked so perfect, getting fucked into like this. “You take me so well, baby. You do such a good job taking this cock.” He growled, his hips moving at an almost rabid rate at this point.

And Essie fucking loved every second of this, her thighs clenching together tightly at the sight of Jason turning animalist above her. She was soaking wet at the sight of him. And those praises tumbling from his mouth? Esther would do anything just to hear those words said so sweetly yet carnally again. 

Esther looked up at Jay through her lazy, fucked out eyes, moving her fingers to caress his balls. Jason couldn’t look away from her; she looked like a goddamn wet dream of his. “O-Oh shit-” He squeezed his eyes shut briefly as Esther hummed around his shaft, the vibrations sending him to another fucking planet, “Oh baby, you keep doing that, and I’m gonna cum in that pretty mouth.”

There was literally no fucking thing she wanted more.

Pushing her hair back from her face, Esther swallowed down more of Jay, more than she thought was possible. As he bottomed out inside her throat, Essie gave him big innocent eyes, and that was it for Jason, “Fuck, sweetheart, I’m gonna cum. I-I’m g- I’m gonna-” He panted multiple times, fucking into her mouth at a crazed, uneven pace before pulling out just enough to coat her lips and gaping mouth with his hot load of salty cum. His stomach twitched and seized as he squeezed his eyes shut, his mouth hanging open as he moaned loudly.

Esther swallowed it down, licking at her lips and savoring the taste of Jason on her tongue. He opened his eyes in time to watch her clean his cock off with her lips, and Jason seriously considered fucking her into the next week.

Once he was all clean, Esther wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, grinning up at Jason, who was still breathing heavily, eyes half-lidded in ecstasy. Jay pulled her by her hair until she was eye-level with him before bringing her in for a lazy, slopping kiss. He could taste himself on her tongue, and he growled from the back of his throat.

Pulling herself from the kiss, Esther placed a tender peck on Jay’s forehead, “I’m gonna go get a drink.” She bolted off of him, Jay sighing in contentment as he slipped his softening cock back into his boxers.

Oh god, that was so much better than he’d ever imagined it. Even now, as he could hear her rustling in his kitchen, his body was like jello, as if he had no bones in his entire body.

When Esther returned, she had two glasses of water in her hands. Jason eagerly took one and gulped it down, not remembering the last time he had drank some water. “Thanks.” He placed the glass on the side table before hooking his arms around Essie’s waist and pulling her onto the bed, cradling her in his arms. Jason littered kisses all over her face, which screwed up in mock sourness. “Oh, don’t act like you hate me now,” Jay teased, “Not after you left me face fuck you like a little slut.”

Esther’s face heated up, and she laughed aloud, smacking Jason in the arm, “Asshole.” Jay yawned heavily, his eyes struggling to stay open. Esther brushed his cheek with her thumb, “But an asshole that needs to sleep.”

Jason huffed, “No, I need to follow up on some leads. Can you bring me my laptop from the office?” He yawned again, and Esther gave him a guilty look.

“See,” She scratched his scalp soothingly, “I thought you might say that….”

Red squinted at her suspiciously, “What..?”

“You need to rest.” Essie pouted, “No if, and’s, or but’s… So I maybe crushed up like six of your melatonins and put it in your drink.” She said it so fast that Jason almost didn’t catch any of it, but he still managed to decipher her words and groaned.

“Es, those are prescription strength.” His eyelids felt so, so heavy. And wow, had his pillows always been so comfy?

“I know.” Esther bit the inside of her cheek, “Sorry.”

She slowly got off Jason, his eyes closing a moment later. Esther threw a blanket over the top of Jay and placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Stubborn little bitch.” Jason mumbled before dozing off into a deep, drug-induced, but well-needed sleep.

…

The shower pressure in this apartment was heavenly.

Esther hadn’t had a proper shower in ages. At least not one where she wasn’t nervous that a nun would hear her and call the cops.

So its high pressure and warm, soothing water felt amazing against her skin. As if all the tension in her body was melting from her skin and swirling down the drain. She missed this, having a space of her own to deflate. At the beginning of striking out on her own, Esther had tried renting multiple times, but each time Bruce would show up to try and ‘talk some sense into her.' Even when she tried using fake names. So going entirely off the grid was the only option he’d left her with.

And this place really took Essie by surprise. It was… genuinely stunning. A model of old Gotham architecture that looked like Jay was renovating to have a touch of modernism. But why? Seemed like a weird hobby to have in between working for the League of Shadows.

Coming out of the shower, her bare feet shivered at the cool touch of tile beneath her. Her eyes caught on the drain in the middle of the black and cream patterned tile… Okay, now that made sense. She could picture Jay washing down the blood from his exploits.

She wrapped a towel around her battered, bruised, and scarred body before walking back into Jason’s room. Jason was sprawled out across his dark comforter, snoring quietly. The sight made her smile. Safe and sound. Before walking to his closet, Esther paused at his bookshelf. Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Wuthering Heights… Twelfth Night. That one caught her eye. Jason loved the regency era but hated Shakespeare. Twelfth Night was Esther’s favorite. 

Thumbing at its spine, Esther pulled the hardcover from the shelf and flipped through the pages to find countless notes in sloppy black ink. One particular part was underlined and caught her eye…

“Make me a willow cabin at your gate,

And call upon my soul within the house;

Write loyal cantons of contemned love

And sing them loud even in the dead of night;.”

Esther’s heart thumped in her chest. Of all the lines, he liked that one. Shaking her head and trying to hide the meek smile on her lips, Essie put the book back on its shelf before walking to the closet and picking out an old gray t-shirt and a pair of black sweatpants.

As she dropped her towel, Esther caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her body looked… broken. But the part Esther hated most, that made it hard to look at her reflection was the three gashes across her stomach. 

Esther typically covered them with makeup, high-waisted pants… or just any way she could. Those three gashes were from day fifty-six with the Joker… The day he invited Victor Zsasz to come and play…

Shivers ran down her spine, and Esther quickly slipped the oversized shirt over her head. If it was out of sight, it was out of mind. The sweatpants hung loosely around her hips, but that’s how she liked it anyway.

A sound made her freeze. Clinking was coming from outside of the room. Like… Someone was in the kitchen. Esther snatched a gun from Jason’s nightstand. She slowly eased the bedroom door open, slipping around the corner, and unclicked the safety as she pressed herself against the wall that separated the hallway from the kitchen.

More shuffling could be heard, and Esther recognized a distinct chopping sound. Someone was definitely in there, and they were… cooking?

“I know you’re there, alsaghir.” Little one. Esther’s eye twitched, wondering again why she could understand that word. And why that silky, smooth voice sounded just so… recognizable. 

Esther peeked around the corner to find a strange sight.

Talia al Ghul cutting up vegetables in Jason's kitchen.

“I brought ingredients for tabbouleh.” Talia was achingly stunning, her clothing accenting her otherworldly beauty. Her voice was dripping honey, “You loved it when I would make this for you.”

Esther approached slowly, lowering her gun, “I- We’ve never met before.” She squinted, and Esther was greeted with the same splitting headache from earlier in the day.

“Are you sure of that, alsaghir?” Talia’s soft brown hair fell perfectly around her oval face, her skin like moonlight. No wonder Bruce had a soft spot for her. “My father sends his congratulations on completing your rite. The first of many to come. Although he would ask that in the future you accept no help from your… comrades.”

Leaning against the wall, Esther studied Talia. “That’s… nice of you to deliver the message.” And also highly inconvenient for Talia to come all this way. “I hope it wasn’t a long drive.” She raised an eyebrow, and Talia laughed at her attempt at small talk.

“Jason is doing well then?” Talia asked, turning her back to check on the flatbread she was warming on the stovetop. Esther couldn’t lie. It smelled heavenly. But something in Talia’s tone caused her eyes to narrow.

“He’s resting.” She answered simply. “Why are you here, Talia? You didn’t come all this way to check on Jason and me. One of your handmaidens could have done that for you.”

Removing the flatbread from the heat, Talia turned back to Esther and placed the fluffy carb onto a plate at the small table. “Sit.” She instructed, and Esther felt the urge to obey for some reason. Slowly, she sat at the place that Talia had prepared for her, taking a sip of the water that had been placed there.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed a significant lack in your memories by now.” Talia raised an eyebrow at Esther, and Essie blinked. How did she-? “Probably starting from the moment my father met with you this morning. Things you can’t remember, things you shouldn’t know but do… Perhaps even a change in your fighting skills.”

What the hell was going on here? How could Talia possibly know what was going on in her head today?

“Jason begged my father to leave you out of his plans, but as I’m sure you know, the Demon is not easily swayed by the demands of others.” Talia chopped some parsley into fine pieces, “So tell me, Sadiyah, what do you remember of your childhood?”

There was that name again, so foreign, yet… it didn’t feel wrong to answer to it. “Stop calling me that.” Essie’s eye twitched again, but her voice was much more timid than usual. 

“Why wouldn’t I use the name given to you at birth?” Talia tossed all the chopped ingredients together, “But I suppose I should be more understanding. It’s not like you remember.”

Her words made Essie’s head pound, “What… are you talking about?” Esther rubbed at her temple.

“You have had something stolen from you, Sadiyah, and you don’t even know it.” Talia placed the bowl of food in front of Esther before squeezing a lemon over the top, “Do you truly believe that my father would have created something like you- something with so much potential and then just left you in the care of strange doctors? Eat.”

The food did look fantastic, and Esther was starving. She eyed Talia; Esther used the soft, warm bread to scoop up some of the salad(?) that Talia had made. The moment it hit her tongue, her head panged like it was going to split open. She had tasted this before; Esther knew it. But she also had no memory of it. “You’re saying… Ra’s has my memories?” She choked out, eyes squeezed shut in pain.

A flash of an image crossed her mind, Talia al Ghul sitting criss-cross in front of her, swords laid out between them, as they both ate from bowls containing food that looked a lot like what sat in front of Esther right now.

“Ahh,” Talia hummed, “I knew you’d remember this. You would have eaten my tabbouleh every day had I permitted.” She leaned against the kitchen counter, “And not necessarily. He stole them, yes, but he never truly took them from you.” Esther continued to eat (What could she say, it was really good), “They live inside you yet. Just… locked away. And all you need is the key.”

A sigh escaped Esther’s lips, “A key, I’m guessing, that you have?”

“An astute observation, Sadiyah.” Each time Talia used that name, Esther winced. “Yes, I have what you need to remember….”

The older woman trailed off, and Esther rolled her eyes, “And you want something in return?”

Talia placed the dirty dishes in the sink before she turned once more to give Esther a sly smile, “You need not concern yourself. It’s an easy task. I simply need you to deliver something for me to your brother.”

“Deliver what?” Esther’s eyes narrowed once more, wondering if it was a weapon, a message, or some weird sex thing. All three of those sounded annoying at best to deal with.

“Aidkhul!” Talia called over her shoulder, and Jason’s front door opened. A small frame entered the room, covered in a heavy cloak with snowflakes decorating the dark fabric.

The figure removed its hood, and Esther’s jaw tightened. Perhaps a child would not have been so shocking, but it was the child’s face that astonished her- the boy child couldn’t have been older than eight years old, and yet he looked exactly like…

“Sadiyah, this is my son. The rightful heir to the Demon.” Talia put her arm around the boy, whose eyes were examining Esther like she was his prey. Esther met him with the same calculative stare.

“Damian.”

.

.

.

tags: @niphredil-14 @honeybee54321 @princesscumdump444

#jasontodd #jason todd fic #jason todd x oc #robin jason todd #jason todd #batman #bat family #batfam #batfamily #dickgrayson #dick grayson #nightwing #robin #redhood #red hood #red hood x oc #red hood fanfiction #red hood fic #red hood smut #jason todd smut #brucewayne #bruce wayne

[madds-is-ace-trash]

Chapter 8: Visiting Hours

Summary: Danny gets to go to the library, Jason meets the baby, Dicks co workers thought they saw this coming, and Clark talks to the boys.

Come read on Ao3

This chapter took a while but here it is!

Warning this chapter dose include this Fics mandatory dick joke but its one and pretty short.

Ok Serious warnings, This chapter includes more mentions of Dannys injuries, References to past child abuse and trauma. This chapter also includes a bit of self digression. If any of this makes you uncomfortable please feel free to skip.

Dick woke up with a yawn. As he stretched his arms up over his head, he felt a weight tug and wiggle against his side. Looking down, he spotted a mop of messy jet black hair, sticking up off his son's (and yes dick had made that mental leap dammit) head as if defying gravity. After Danny’s display of power and their talk with Clark, Danny refused to let Dick leave his sight. He thought it was cute the way Danny clung to him. 

  The kid had obviously been touched-starved, melting at any sign of affection and Dick was glad to provide it last night but… But this morning he had to go into the station. He had already skipped yesterday and he could only have so many “family emergencies” in one year. Gordon would have his head if he was late. 

  Wait…. frick! Who was going to watch Danny? All his brothers either had school or work. Cass had a case she was working on, same with Steph, he… he can’t leave him with Jason.  Don’t get him wrong, he loves Jaylad but they aren’t on the best of terms at the moment. B would drop whatever he had in a heartbeat but he can’t just leave Danny with Bruce. Danny can barely coexist in the man’s presence. He can’t ask Al. He’s got too much on his plate already. 

  Well, only one option left. Looks like he's gotta call Babs. 

  And as if on cue, seriously could Danny read his mind? Danny’s eyes flutter open as he pushes himself up. “ Pa? Good morning” Danny grumbles sleepily. 

  “Morning, North Star,” he ruffles Danny’s hair, sending the already chaotic mess in every direction. His chest swelling at the name. Danny had called him papa last night as he drifted off, it seemed like it stuck. “How would you feel if you got to spend the next few days hanging out at a library while I’m at work?” 

  “A library!? We can go! Really?” Danny shot up, eyes lighting up with excitement, the boy curls in a little pulling tension away from his stitches.  

  “Yes, buddy! Imma ask if my friend can watch ya for a bit. She works at the library. I'm sure she would love to have you.” Dick grabbed his phone.

  You-Can’t-Hide-Your-Sins

Of course I would love to watch Danny 

  Disco-Never-Dies

I didn’t even..

  You know what, whatever, thanks a ton babs I owe ya!

  You-Can’t-Hide-Your-Sins

You can pay me back by making sure you pack that kid a lunch when you send him 

  Disco-Never-Dies

Np! 

  “ She said yes, we’re in the clear little man.” He ruffled the boy's hair again only for him to squeak in retaliation, but did not actually pull away from the touch.  Dick hopped out of bed, wandering over to his closet as Danny hung on to his sleeve as he floated behind him. 

  Dick laid out the pieces of his uniform on his bed. Then he reached over by the night stand and pulled a bag off of the floor. Out of it, he pulled out a t-shirt that had a cartoon bear made of stars and a pair of sweatpants. He also laid out Danny some clean underwear and socks. Duke had dropped the bag off this morning, apparently he stopped by a little mom and pop clothing store that morning when he ran out to grab something for Al. Why the store was open at 4:30 am Dick will never know. Danny hovered, peaking over Dicks shoulder as he arranged their outfits for the day. 

  “Ok Danny, can you take your shirt off so I can clean your stitches?” Danny curled himself into a ball mid air, defensively clutching the shirt he had on in his hands. He was still so protective over his chest, he had trusted dick enough to sleep next to him but not to clean his wounds? “ We just need to clean the area with some alcohol wipes.I promise no more, no less.” He raised his hands into the air showing the pack of alcohol pads he held in one hand and the dry gauze in the other. 

  “Promise?” Danny asked, his voice low and soft. Like if someone overheard him the world would crumble. 

  “Yes, of course.” Dick thought for a minute about the boy's past instances about doing anything related to his chest himself.”Tell ya what, how about we do it together? Would it make you feel better if you got help?” Danny nodded. Dick scooped the boy out of the air and into his arm and made his way to the bathroom attached to his bedroom. 

  The rest of the boys' morning went relatively smoothly. Danny’s stitchings looked good. He let Danny dress himself in the bathroom. While he got into uniform, on the other side of the door in the room to give him some privacy, Dick helped Danny comb his hair, and then the boys brushed their teeth and headed down stairs. When they got downstairs, Alfred had packed Danny a To-go bag. It was in a black drawstring that Damian had brought home from school one day. Al had packed him lunch and some snacks. Dick couldn’t thank him enough. 

  Danny scarfed down his breakfast and he and Dick were off, borrowing Cass's car (she had picked up a car seat) and making their way to Gotham library. 

—————————————————————-

James was having a lovely morning, he really was.  Shoot, he even decided that he was going to walk to the station this morning. You know, exercise and all that jazz.  However, that nice peaceful morning was thrown out the window when Officer Grayson pulled up by the library as he was walking past. 

  Grayson just pulling up wasn't what ruined his morning. No, in fact, James thought Dick was a swell guy. It was when he walked around to his back seat and pulled out a kid ! Like a whole ass child. Young too, no way it was his youngest brother. And the kid was small, so very small. When did Bruce Wayne pick up a new kid?  Was this the family emergency he called out for? His dad scooping up another kid? Grayson didn't even live at home any more. Why was it his problem? 

  “ Star shine if you don't calm down, you're gonna float away at this rate,” Dick giggled at the boy in his arms. 

  “But papa, I can't help it!” The boy jumped for joy as Dick set him down to lead him up the steps. “Do you think they're gonna have a book on the Mars rovers?” Wait a minute, Papa. Shit this wasn't just some kid his dad picked up, this was Grayson's kid. When the hell did he have a kid? He looked like he was what, maybe 3, and to his knowledge, Dick was still sleeping around.

  “Ok Danny, one sec. Can I get a picture?”  The boy, whose name is Danny apparently, whipped around an eager expression on his face, “ I'll be fast, promise. Then you can go have your day with Aunty Barbara.”  

  “Ok but just a quick one!” Danny smiled for the camera holding on to the straps of a drawstring backpack with excitement. 

  “ Ok got it! Have fun and be good, ok? If you need anything, you can have Babs call me, ok?” the boy nodded in agreement. “I'll come get you after work.” With that, Barbra opens the door to the library, gestring for the small boy to follow her inside. Dick walks back to his car, glancing over his shoulder at the library one more time before driving off. 

  James stood on the sidewalk, blankly staring off into space, trying to process what he had just witnessed. By the time he snapped out of it and checked his phone, there was no way he was going to make it to the station on time. There went his peaceful morning as now he was going to have to run to work!

—-------------------------——————————————————

  Danny followed the women through the doors and into the library. His core was humming with excitement as he tried his best to keep his feet on the ground.  Danny took a moment to take in the size of the library, the multiple floors lined with books seeming to stretch for miles.  He hopped in place, flapping his hands so fast he might generate enough lift to get him off the ground with that alone. 

  “Glad to see you're excited,” the woman chucked off to the side as she shut the door. “ Honestly you might give Jason a run for his money.” 

  “Which ones Jason agia-” Danny cut himself off as he turned to face Barbra. Her hair was red, like the warm tones of a sunset.  Fuzzy memories danced through Danny's head of smiles and kind words, of safety, of warmth. He felt himself lift into the air; shoot, he wasn't supposed to do that. But she nevered cared. The one who made sure he got the feed. The one who sat by his side and held his hand when the yelling was too loud. He can't. Why can't he remember her name? Why did she leave? This isn't her. this woman's different.  She's not-

  “Danny, are you ok?” She asked in a calm voice, a hand outstretched,offering for him to take it. Danny scans her up and down, noticing the woman is on wheels, yet despite that Gotham wraps around her. She is one of hers so she's safe. She has to be safe.  “ Danny, it's ok. I'm here.” 

  Red was safe.

  Red was home.

  Danny’s core screamed SAFE, LONGING, SAFE, TRUST, LIKE HER.

  So Danny takes her hand, letting her guide him back to the ground. When his feet make contact, he remembered to breathe. “Your chair is cool.” He blurts out trying to break the tension.

  “ I..oh.. my.. pfff” she chuckles, placing her hand over mouth in a attempt to hold the laughter in. A gentle smile settles on her face, “Are you alright? You kinda froze.” 

  “Yhea I’m sorry,” Danny tugs on the strings of the backpack, twirling them in his fingers. “ You just reminded me of someone for a sec. I'm sorry.” 

  To Danny’s relief, she seemed to move on from it pretty fast. “ We’ll let's get you set up for the day, hm? “  she rolled over to a group of tables set up behind the front desk of the library. It was probably meant so people could sit in the library to study. “ You can pick a table and set up shop. That way if you need me, I’ll be right here,” she gestured over to the raised front desk, “ Dick said you like to read,so if there’s anything you would like I would be more than happy to help you find it.”

  Barbra took her place at the desk while Danny set up. He hung his bag on the back of his chair, pulling out the metal thermos of water he had been sent with. He placed it on the table so he would have it when he needed it. He remembered someone always nagging him that he needed to drink more water( as well as get more sleep, and study ect.) He asked her where the astronomy section was. She pointed him in the direction and off he marched. Scanning the shelf of slightly dusty books at his eye level, he still wanted to see if he could find a book on rovers.  

  When the books at eye level didn't seem to hold what he was looking for, Danny looked around, making sure no one else would see him forfeit gravity. He lifted into the air sitting with his legs crossed as he scanned the shelf. When he found a book,  cataloging the building and launch of Spirit and Opportunity, the book was big, about the same size as his whole torso. But Danny didn't care, as he landed back on the ground and made his way back to the table with his new treasure. 

  Danny laid the book out on the table, his core humming with content excitement. He hadn't gotten to read much lately; not from what he could remember. So he buried his nose in his book, the sound of thunder rolling gently over the library. 

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The day dragged on and on  and Barbra was busier than she thought. Between helping Signal  on his patrol and the watch parts that Tim sent her, she got pretty busy. So busy in fact that Danny pretty much went ignored all afternoon. Not that he seemed to mind. The boy sat at the table taking books back and forth from the self to the table. Even after Barba informed him he could just leave them on the cart and she would get them.  

  One or two other people stopped by early afternoon, Danny seeming to tense when he was walking by. Sad really,the poor boy. “Excuse me miss,” a male voice called from the front of the counter. 

  “Oh yes I’m sorry. How may I help you.” She tucked away the Tech she was working on. 

  “I need some help finding a book? I went and checked the cards but I can’t find it on the self.” The man in his 50s explained politely. 

  “I’ll be more than happy to help you find it. what book are you looking for?” 

  “It called—“

  ———————————————————————-

  Jason sat in his apartment reading a book on his couch, a rare occasion these days. But something itched at the back of his mind. This weird desire to go, protect, help.  But where, Jason had no idea. He felt so restless. 

  He pulled out his phone scrolling threw last night’s group chat. His brother brought home a kid. Planned to keep sucker too; the whole family worked out his cover story late last night from the sound of it, though he was in pretty bad shape. He hated it when people targeted kids. He wouldn’t stand for it. 

  Wait,Babs said she was gonna watch him right? Maybe if Jason met the kid, he could get a lead on who’s skull he needs to cave in for thinking they can get away with torturing children. Maybe it will quit this never ending itch to go do something . 

  Jason changes into his civis, still Bolstering a leather jacket and a hidden gun. He hops on his bike and sets off for Gothams library. 

  ———————————————————————-

  “Danny, what are you doing!” Barbra calls as she returns to the front of the library only to see Danny at the table tinkering with the watch. The busted watch that Tim had sent her because he couldn’t fix it. 

  “I…I!” Danny stuttered and froze a screwdriver in his hand.

  Barbra Rolled over and snatched the device from the boy.” Danny! that could be dangerous what were you-“  she looks at the watch in her hand. The now fixed and working watch is in her hands. “Danny did you?”

  “I’m *hic* sorry please I. I just wanted. Help” Danny started sniffing, tears falling down his cheeks as he held his arms  up to shield himself. Did? Did he think she was going to hit him? Oh no. 

  “Danny I’m sorry for yelling. You fixed it! That’s amazing!” She set a hand gently on his, guiding his arms back into his lap. “ I was just worried you could have hurt yourself. I’m sorry for snapping.”  He held his eye shut,still leaning away like he was waiting, waiting for something Barbra would never dare do. “How did you know how to fix it? Do you like fixing stuff like this?” 

   “I’m sorry I just….” His breath was shaky as he opened his eyes and fiddled with his hands. “ I just. I fix stuff, I like to fix stuff I used to help sometimes I just.”  His breath picking up again almost to the point of hyperventilating. 

  “Hey it’s ok. Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it. How about next time you just ask first ok?”

  “Mhm I…I can do that.”

  “ Ok how about we have some lunch hmm? I heard Al packed it. He would be sad if you didn’t eat it.” 

  “Ok Yhea, I can eat.”

————————————————————————-

  You-Can’t-Hide-Your-Sins

The van is definitely connected to Danny. The  watch that me and Tim couldn’t figure out. The kid just fixed it in the 10 minutes it took for me to help someone find a book. 

  Caffeine-High is typing…

  ————————————————————

Dick walked in through the front doors giving the receptionist a polite nod as he made his way to the check-in clock. 

  “Officer Grayson! Good to see you’ve made it in time.” The commissioner called from his office that was down the hall from where the check-in clock was, his door wide open. 

  “Yhea, I’m sorry about yesterday,” Dick gave the man an apologetic smile, “ I had a bit of a situation I had to take care of.” 

  “ It’s quite alright, emergencies happen. However Officer Grayson, your reports are still due by the end of the night.” The older man said, his voice gave away no malice. 

  “Yes sir. I’ll be sure to have them in.” Great. Now he would have to stay cooped up at the station. He was hoping to at least get to go on patrol. After all, he wanted to swing by that alley in the daylight to look for any more clues to where Danny had come from.  From the looks of it, he was gonna have to see if Duke could make time. 

  Hours rolled on with Dick filling out his reports and paperwork. And on top of that, he was also reviewing some of his colleagues’ reports as well. A few of Gothams police officers aren’t above tweaking reports for their own gain. 

  “Hey Grayson, so when were you gonna show us your little guy?” James leaned up against the side of Dick’s desk leaning on both of his arms. Dick quickly closed the reports he had been checking. 

  “Ok wait, hold on there Kirk, first of all, I don’t typically swing that way. Second of all, we’re at work man. I’m not just gonna whip it out. Third of all-“

  “No! Oh my God,no. Your kid man! When were you gonna tell us you had a kid? “ The sudden shout had caught the attention of all of the officers in the office space. 

  “I um uhh-“ Dick stumbled over what to say. What in the world was Officer Kirk talking about.

  “Grayson has a kid!?” one of the other officers rushed his desk. “Since when?” 

  “Guys I-” James cut Dick off again.

  “Must have been for a hot minute . Saw him dropping the kid off at the library. Kids gotta be like 3 or 4.” Shit this wasn't happening, not yet. Dick was gonna claim Danny anyway but he hoped he had more time to get the paperwork in order for the cover story. 

  “Look guys I just,” the other officers gathered around his desk. Those who weren't were doing a terrible job at pretending they weren't listening.

  “I wanna see the baby!” Georgia rushed his desk, pushing through the small group to get to the front.”Show us a picture!”

  Dick stuck his hands up in the air leaning back in his chair away from the ecstatic women who rushed his desk. “ He’s not exactly a baby, guys.” 

  “I don’t care, you do have photos don’t you?” Of course dick had photos he took plenty yesterday but those were the only ones he had. But if he had all those photos of Dami he always showed, and none of his supposed son. 

  Dang it photos it was. “ Fine, fine just give me a second.”  Dick pretended like he couldn’t find the photo app given him enough time to send a text saying that whatever cover story they had they were going to have to stick to it because the cats were out of the bag. “Oh and here we go!” He turned his phone around the image of Danny he took this morning on his screen. 

  A rupture of coos and complaints followed. “He looks just like you!” she leaned into the phone. “ his nose is different though and his freckles! Oh my look at him!” 

  “What's all this commotion?” Gordan barked as he made his way into the office space. 

  “ oh nothing just that Grayson has been hiding the cutest little munchkin.” Officer Georgia Leimon bounced on her heels. 

  “ A munchkin?” The commissioner questioned. Dick wasn’t exactly hiding Damian, in fact he showed him off like a-

  “Yhea Grayson has joined the dad club.” Kirk added. “How the mighty have fallen.” 

  “Get back to work, all of you.” He said exasperated, dick felt him, sometimes the station felt more like a high school then a police station with all the drama. 

  “ Grayson, may I talk to you?”  The commissioner asked, a hand placed on his shoulder after everyone had gone about their business.

  “Yes sir,” dick stood, his stance slumped. He was so tired his muscles were still aching from the bust before he found Danny. His shoulder felt awkward in its socket where Danny had grabbed him in panic. 

  Gordan led dick back to his office, closing the door Behind him. “ you look tired son,” gordan said gesturing for dick to sit down on the opposite side of his desk.  Dick took him up on the offer. 

  “You have no idea,” dick chuckled to himself. It's not the first time dicks come to work half dead and most likely won't be the last. Especially not until they figure out where Danny came from. 

  “I understand new babies can be hard, if you-” the older man began.

  “Dannys not a baby,” dick released a breath sinking into the chair. “ He's about 6 actually, I only found out about him the other day.” 

  “Oh? If you don't mind me asking why only now. I know you well enough to know if you did have a kid you would never shut up about him.” 

  Here go’s nothing, dick pulls out his phone, sending the group chat a quick text saying the story made its way to Gordon. Then he pulls up the photo album he had( yea he already made Danny his own folder sue him) of danny on his phone. Handing the phone to the older man. “ I met his mother when we're teenagers, she never told me she got pregnant. After a bit she just cut contact I just figures she was done with me. Apparently, she had Danny in secret and married some guy. “ Dick elapsed his hand over his knees. “She didn't want Danny but I guess she felt obligated to keep him, lets just say that didn't exactly lead to the best environment.” 

  “So how did you find out about him?” the older man asked gently. Gordan could tell by looking at the boy that he was not well taken care of. He was small for a boy his age, And his wrist to thin, his eyes had heavy bags, and his skin was pale.

  “ His uncle took him, rescued him even. Then the guy called me, I have no idea how he got my number. He called me saying that he had my son and he was bad and he needed me.” Dick began to fidget with the sleeve of his uniform. “ Even if there was a chance Danny wasn't mine I couldn't just leave this kid there so I drove to meet him the night before I called off. When I got there I just knew, I took one look at him and knew he was mine.” A soft smile crossed his lips,” took him for a check up and the blood work all but confirmed it.” 

  “and when you say he wasn’t in the best environment, is that affecting him?” Gordon handed dick his phone content with the pictures he saw. 

  “You have no idea,” dick chuckled grimly. “ obviously other than the lack of nutrition and him being way too small for his age, he’s kind of sickly and his socialization is totally messed up. He’s clingy and easily scared. He doesn’t really understand normal social cues. And that not even getting in to all the signs of abuse-“ dick stops himself

 taking a shaky breath. 

  “I’m sorry that sounds difficult ,” Gordon try to reassure him. 

  “Yeah I just… I just wish I got to him sooner” dick couldn’t bring himself to look the older man in the eyes. He was supposed to be a cop, he was supposed to be a hero, yet Danny managed to slip through the cracks. Something so terrible happened right under his nose. 

  “Don’t beat yourself up Grayson, you couldn’t have know. What matters is you're here for him now.”

  “Yeah well we’re on the topic I really need my weekend off, you know normally I don’t mind coming in but we’re still trying to get him settled.” 

  “Yes of course, if you don’t mind me asking where is he now?” 

  “He’s actually spending the day with Barbra at the library, little man loves books.” Dick smile returns his shoulders releasing some tension he didn’t realize he was holding.

  “Perfect, I was going to go out to dinner with her anyway. We can go together. I would love to meet your son.” 

  “Yeah ok,” dick said, doing his best not to internally panic. “Just um come get me when you're ready to head out I dove today.” 

  “Of course,” he got up, walking out of the office and shutting the door behind him.

  Shiiiiiiiiiit

  ———————————————————————

  Jason’s head was fuzzy, something rumbling in his chest. He parks his bike behind the library tucked away from prying eyes. He locks it just in case.

  He then walked to the front, something scratching at his mind to go. Something telling to find.   No matter what he did he was having a hard time ignoring it as the storm that had been brewing finally decided to drizzle. Forcing him to the entrance faster in fear of being soaked. As he crosses the threshold he spy’s a suspicious amount of tennagers all cluttered around the tables that take up the library’s open space. One of the schools must be doing a big project or something. Danny is nowhere to be seen amongst the hoards of students. He sends a wave to babs who seem Stuck helping groups of teens find books. She shoots him a smile and then gives a nod Towards one of the isles of books. 

  That must be where Danny went. As Jason makes his way through the strangely dimly lit corridor, the static in his head reduces itself to a soft hum in the back of his ears. He sees a small figure in the distance back turned as they gaze off into Gotham's dark stormy sky through a bay window. As he moves forward quietly and slowly, he doesn't realize he's holding his breath until a cool chill shocks him forcing him to take a gasp of air. Before Jason can even blink-

  ~Thunk~

  Something metal crashes in his skull as he fumbles to catch it in his surprised state. Holding the object in his hand, he realizes that it is one of Tim's thermoses. Did? Did the kid just throw a thermos at his head… he slowly trails his gaze back to the window. Ice blue eyes staring into his soul. The boy before him propping himself up on one hand, his other still outstretched like it froze the minute the metal container left his hand. He's panting his whole body shaking like a newborn foul.  Princkling cold stabs at the back of his neck. The noise in his head screaming mine, scared,  fix, mine. 

  Thunder rolls threw the clouds outside the window framing the boy's shaky state. O̴̙͑ú̸̮r̸̝̈́ś̷̠ ̶͕̍ . The static from the storm corrects. A presser Jason was holding in his chest released as Danny leaned back still shaking but instead of fear, it was with the strain of holding back tears. Jason stepped forward, his hand out reached and Danny leaned in to meet it . A silent conversation passes between the two as they make contact. 

  ᴴᵘʳᵗ, ˢᶜᵃʳᵉᵈ

  Safe,  ours

ᵀᶦʳᵉᵈ, ᴳᵒⁿᵉ

Safe, same , here

They said nothing yet everything as Jason continued forward his body meeting Danny's at the seat to the bay window as he pulled the boy into a hug. If Jason could he would shield him forever. Something deep inside him sang. This boy was important, this boy was home, this boy was meant to be safe. As Danny went slack with exhaustion, Jay loosened his grip, sliding off his jacket and draping it over the child's shoulders. Pulling the kid into his chest as he joins him on the soft surface, gently guiding his head to rest in his chest. 

  Tears trickled down Danny's face as he tugged on Jay's shirt. “ I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry.” the boy mumbles softly and Jasons knows it's not just about the thermos that he threw at him. It is deeper, a sorrow that Jason feels with every fiber of his being as Danny's hand easily finds the spot on his head where the crowbar hit him, to the center if his autopsy is scar, even without being able to see it. He feels seen, an apology so sincere ,as Jason rubs his hands along Danny back doing his best to get the boy to sleep. 

  “Me to kid, me to.” Jason finally manages to choke out as the kids' eyes flutter shut. Jason takes his other hand as wipes away his cold tears from the boy's cheeks. The rain pattering against the window pain. Jason welcomes the sound like an old friend. 

  After all the rain had been the first thing to greet him as he clawed his way out of the dirt. When his lungs were full of soil and he couldn't even scream, it had been the rain that came to welcome him. 

  Jason's eyes finally felt heavy danny's bone deep 

exhaustion becoming contagious, for the first time since he clawed his way out his grave His head is quiet. He goes to close Danny's abandoned book. A white flower adorns the page. 

  White Chrysanthemums

        These flowers are often left at graves as a sign of grief and lamentation……

  His eyes trail the first few lines and he shuts the book. A deep Sigh escaped his chest. With the rain, his new nephew and the newfound silence, for the first time he truly rests. 

  —-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clark hovered in front of Lois’s door unsure of how to break the current situation to Jon. He already called Lois the other night telling her to keep the boy home from school and he had been pretty bummed. He always looks forward to his classes with Damian now that they both went to Gotham Academy. But how does he explain this? Even he doesn't have all the details. Kon already shut down according to ma locking himself in his room, culled up under his covers. He doesn't want to freak out jon too, but he needs to make sure he doesn't go sneaking off. 

  Lois flings the door open eyeing Clark with a disappointment look, “ please don't tell me buces is 

Brooding is contagious. Is not a very fitting look for you boy scout.” 

  Clark lets out a strained chuckle. Things may have not worked out between them but she would always be a dear friend to Clark. “Bruce's boys said the same thing, “ he lets out as sighs some of the tension in his shoulder relaxing at the exhale. 

  “Do you wanna come in? Jon said you've been standing here for like 5 minutes.” a slight tinge of worry creeping into her voice. 

  “Yes that would be nice thank you,” Clark crosses through the doorway only to be slammed in to by Jon. He pulls him in to a big hug but he can hear the boy's heart quiver with worry. “Why hello there, it's good to see you too baby.” Clark chuckles as he rubs the boys hair playfully. 

  “Dad! Why can't we go to Gotham? I was supposed to have a sleepover this weekend with dami.And what about school?” Jon pulled back, pouting slightly. 

  “Well I have good news about that, but I umm…” Clark rubs at the back of his neck, “I also have some bad news, I think we should sit for this.” 

  Lois guided the two to her living room, Jon clinging to Clark's trousers with anxiety. As they walked around the well-loved sofa to take a seat. 

  “ What's going on Clark,” Lois finally breaks the silence that had fallen upon the room, her interviewing gaze forced upon Clark. He hated being on the receiving end of that glare, it's pointed and demanding despite its polite appearance. 

  “Well let's start with the bad news,” clack leaned forward lacing his hands together, “ we think we found another clone.” 

  Lois flinched, “ ok that's bad news but I don't see how that bars you from going to Gotham, shouldn't you be there to help handle it?” 

  “No because it's not just a clone,” he glances at his little boy knowing that if he kicked him out he would only listen in, “ we believe he was used to test and exploit Kryptonian weakness. He also has a different power build then me, Jon or conner.He.... was left abound in an alley, there was a lot of blood, and a note, but no body. We have no idea where he came from.” 

  “Why do you think he was being tested on? Did he say so?” 

  “He’s… shoot Lois… he’s covered in scars from head to toe, he thinks you play tag with guns,  and they…”

  “They what Clark?”

  “They vivisected him, and put a piece of that damn green rock inside of him. It’s in his bloodstream,when he bleeds it contains green flecks. We can’t even get him properly tested because he’s terrified.” Clark squeezed his hands together, his knuckles going white, “ and on top of all that they kept him a child, he didn’t get aged up like Conner did.”

  “How..how old is he?” A new voice called from the entryway to the kitchen. It was Kon, shock in his tear stained face and his fist shook at his sides. 

  “Oh my baby boy”, Clark called, stretching his arms out for Conner to join him. 

  Conner did not come closer.

  “How. old. is. he. dad.” 

  “Six at most, but he's small,so very small.” Clark gestures about Danny’s height. 

  Tears once again fall down Conner's cheeks he collapses forward into Clark’s arms. He lets him sit there and sob as he brings his hands up to hold him. 

  “But dad, you said there was good news?” Jon tugs at his shirt, his voice begging for a twinge of hope. 

  “Good news is, he bounded with Dick so he is in the care of the bats.” Lois made a sound of agreement, the gears in her head clearly turning. “ and he and Dick are coming to the farm this weekend, I'm sure if I ask Damian can come along.” 

  Jon gave Clark a weak smile clearly still worried but doing his best to look on the bright side. 

  “Does he have a name?” Lois asked,” leaning back in her chair, hand on her chin. 

  “Danny, his name is Danny.” 

  “Yhea well when we find the fuckers who did this to Danny… they're gonna have hell to pay.” Kon muttered in to his chest. 

  And for all Clarck was a Boy Scout, he couldn’t help but agree. 

  ————————————————————————

Tim sat at his desk in his office, his head in his hands. He can’t focus. He had even more blood to test when he got back to the cave, Duke swung by the crime scene to do some ground work. 

  His prognosis, little sign of struggle, little actual blood, the rain having rinsed most of it, and one way out. No other massive clues. Even his ghost vision had picked up very little, only being able to as far back as when dick found Danny. 

  If only they had known sooner, if only it never went this far. If only there were just a little bit faster. 

  But that was Tim’s life wasn’t it, it’s never enough. Something always slips through the cracks. 

—————————————————————————

Dick was tense the whole time on the way to the library, the commissioners following behind him in his own car at least.  

  Dick wasn’t worried about Barbora. He knew that all of the bats could keep the story straight. His worries were with Danny himself. The boy had a habit of just blurting things out, thinking it was a totally normal thing to say. 

  Which dick knows isn’t necessarily Danny’s fault, but he’s gonna make keeping the cover story harder if he says things that contradict it. He just kinda prays that he’s asleep in hopes any words he might say can be written off as dream grumble. 

  When he makes his way up the library steps, Gordon joins him. Barbara is there to meet them at the door with a small smile. Dick looks around, scanning for any sign of Danny. none

  “Ah, babs where…” 

  “ don’t get your panties in a twist, mama hen. He's just asleep.” Babs siad , chuckling at his expense,  the commissioner gave the pair a soft smile.

  “Then where is he, I can go get him?” 

  “Don't worry jay is bringing him,” babs said with a slightly pointed look telling dick not to panic.  Which meant Danny was fine.

  “ Shhhhh,” his brother chimed in as he strolled over carrying Danny's bag as he carried his jacket draped over his chest. It takes dick seeing the mess of Dannys once combed hair for him to relax. 

  Jay stood in the doorway removing his jacket with his free hand after handing dick the kids bag. 

  It was only after the jacket was removed did the commissioner really understand what dick meant by small. The jacket that Jason had wrapped around the boy was a short cut, the kind that rested above the hips and it had been able to hide the child’s full form as he laid boneless in his arms. His features were sunken, and his skin was pale. If Gordon didn’t know any better, if he couldn’t see the boy taking shallow breaths. He might have mistaken him for dead. 

  He watched as the two men awkwardly figured out how to pass the child off without waking him. But when his head was lifted gently off Jason’s chest the boy sprung to life  jerking and swinging at the air. 

  “No no please no more stop!” The boy yelled in a panick.

  “Danny it ok it me buddy it me,” dick called keeping his voice low. Danny flung himself back forcing Jason to shift his weight to keep his grip.  Danny took a wide swing clocking Jason square in the nose. 

  “Star light it’s papa,” he siad holding his soft tone. Sliding his hand acros the boys back as he took the still flailing boy in to his arms. “Shh. Shh. Shh.” Dick repeated as he he placed the boys head in his chest. The child clinging to his shirt like if he let go he would surely sink into the darkest depths. 

  Danny relaxed, but still clung to dick. Light tears running down his cheeks. “I'm sorry.” the boy mumbled before finally drifting back off. The little energy he gained was lost in the out bust. It was only then the trio of adults realized that Jason’s nose was bleeding. 

  “Oh shoot ja-“ Jason stuck one of his hand out cutting off dick. 

  “I’m fine he didn't break it ,it’s just a nosebleed” Jason said cupping his face as the blood started to dip through his fingers. “ Barbra do you have like.. I don’t know tissues?”

  “Yes come on Jason,” the pair headed inside to tend to Jason's nose leaving dick and the commissioner on the steps to the library. 

  “ I’m approving you for some paternal leave.” Gordon said after the pair had left. 

  “Waite what… But what about- I already missed so much work this year. I can't.l” Dick fumbled on his words, he had to stay at work. He was so close to outing some of the cops involved in a smuggling ring he just needed more time. 

  “ Grayson, you're a great cop and one day you'll make an even better detective, but right now that is not what you need to be.” He places a hand on his shoulder, “We need more officers like you no doubt but, Gotham has plenty of heroes and right now Danny needs you to be his.” He looks dick in his eyes, his gaze soft at the edges, “do you think you can do that, not for me, not for you, do it for him.”  he pats Danny on the shoulder frowning at how he jerks away from the light touch. 

“Yeah I hope I can” dick swallows a growing lump in his throat. “ Yhea for him I think I can try.” Dick wasn't a hero, he would never call himself that but for this kid his kid, he would try .

Next chapter ,Chapter 9: Already to late, In which the computer finally gives some results back and it not what they where hoping for. Now having a clear view of Dannys DNA what conclusions will they draw and how will Danny fair being out side of Gothams influence. How will Kon handle having to finally intact with Danny. How will ma and pa react upon learning of Dannys supposed origins. All of this next time on "oh god these chapters are just gonna keep being longer."

Even if this fic has some slight long hiatus it is being worked on, in fact the plot is planed all they way out to about 12-14 chapters, after that we see where the wind takes us. That being said this fic will begin to ramp up a bit, to this readers who are uncomfortable with heavy themes of child abuse, death, descriptions of corpses, and depictions off self harm I recommend you come around once this arc we are entering meets its end. There will still be happy moments and family bounding, but this is a story of death and grieving. I understand that some reader discretion is advised.

As always hope you're having a wonderful day. Any feed back is appreciated!

May the stars forever be in your favor, Madds( Ace_trash studios)

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#danny phantom #dc x dp #danny fenton #dp x dc #dp #phandom #ghost king danny #i write some times #dpxdc #ms&sc #de aged #babby boy

[ficreadergirl]

Part-156 ↓ Kory: Did he really say that? 😤 Babs: Yes. He directly told him they're split up.🙁 Kory: This guy really can't keep his mouth shut!😠 Babs: Tim tried his best to save it but... 😔 Kory: Wtf happened to her dammit?? 😠 Babs: Wish I knew girl... 😔 Kory: They both waited so much for this and now... I don't understand! 😤 Babs: Me too Kory.. 😞 Kory: 😠😖😢 Babs: Come here... 🫂 ↓

Other chapters

#jason todd x y/n #jason todd x reader #red hood x y/n #red hood x reader #batfam #dc #incorrect quotes story #kory anders starfire #barbara gordon oracle #story not so secretly goes into a babskory one 😐

[akela-nakamura]

WIP Tag Game

@die-erlkonigin6083 and @thewritingowl both tagged me in this! A couple days late but here we go.

Rules: In a new post, post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet of it or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

Gonna say rn I am NOT tagging as many people as I have WIPs lmao.

Okay, first few are WIPs that are currently on AO3: 1.) We're Running For Midnight

2.) Back to the World, In the End

3.) We're Pausing for Dusk

4.) Inhumane (It's All In Gray)

5.) Lock the Last Open Door

6.) Beneath A Different Light (Collab fic with @summerssixecho and @tourettesdog)

And now we dive into the depths of my docs.

7.) Dick/Danny

8.) Sad Yetis fic (Collab with @tourettesdog)

9.) Ghegg Possession

10.) (Something Wild) Dammit Susi 2: Electric Boogaloo

11.) DAMMIT SUSI 6: I HAVE A PROBLEM (after NB explosion)

12.) Dammit Susi 5 for Akela

13.) Ohana

14.) (Jason Sees Dead People) Dammit Susi Numero Uno

15.) Babs & Book Danny

16.) Tucker/Damian Enemies to Lovers

I think that's it. I have some things I want to post to AO3, but they're previous Who Wrote That entries and not so much WIPs lol.

Feel free to ask about any of them!

Uhhhh tagging: @halfagone, @chromatographic, @disillusioneddanny

I am not doing 16 people lmao

#WIPs #Akela's Antics #Links #DPxDC #AO3 #Fanfiction #Gods I have too many #And once more #With feeling #DAMMIT SUSI #(Susi is Tourettesdog by the by)

[batfam-rewrites]

Batfam During Quarantine: First Patrol (Remastered)

Batfam During Quarantine: First Patrol

Hey, quick heads up, this is a slightly reworked version of the second post I made for this series. My continuity on this series got really messed up for a bit and I have so many drafts that I still yet to publish so I'm going through all of my old stuff to fix the chronology of the stories and also put a bit more pressure on me to finish this series. Please keep in mind that my writing skills kinda improve throughout the series, so this is not my best but just somewhat reworked, and there is a good chance this will be reworked again in the future.

Dick: Unfortunately there was a homicide down in crime ally a few hours ago...

Jason: Ooooooh! What are we talking about? Was he shot, strangled, mangled, stabbed?

Dick: He was cut open and the killer dug around in his organs. Only the lungs were missing.

Jason: So mangled, got it! I will give you $50 for the case!

Dick: It’s not a bid, I’m going to assign the

Damian: $100 for the case!

Stephanie: $125!

Duke: $200!

Jason: $210 and I won’t use any fire arms!

Dick: Interesting, who thinks they can top that?

Tim: $225 and I’ll give you my secret stash of Keurig coffee cups!

Cassandra: $250 and I’ll let you take my mini fridge!

Jason: $350 and I would exchange my lethal rounds for rubber bullets and I won’t cause property damage or kill anyone!

Dick: SOLD!

Cassandra: DAMMIT!!!

Dick: Okay, so cases will be assigned as normal with the exception of Jason’s. Now because we’re in the middle of a strict city wide lock down crime has reached a low meaning some of you will have shorter nights on patrol. Each sector has been divided between all of us so make sure to stay in your sector. There’s been a little bit of activity caused by Scarecrow in sector 1, Babs I’m putting you in charge of putting a stop to it. Kate you have 2. There isn’t much going on there but there has been a reports that bags of heroine and cocaine are being left against some windows. It could be nothing but just take a look to see if anything is going on. Tim and Steph you have 5....

Tim: Woah, I thought we weren’t partnering up!

Dick: You’ll partner up for an hour, but mostly on calm nights you and Steph will patrol for 3 hours by yourselves. You’ll get half of the shift and Steph will get the other half. Anyway, Selina you have 3. Cass, 4. Harper, 8. There’s not much going on in those sectors but just patrol for a little bit. Duke, last night there were some gun shots heard in sector 9, go investigate. Jason you’re in sector 6. Julia and Alfred, you’re going to be here updating us on anything that happens. And Damian you’re going with me in sector 7.

Damian: Because you don’t trust me!

Dick: No, because you’re Robin. It would be weird for Batman not to be with Robin while you’re in Gotham.

Damian: Oh, yeah that makes sense.

Dick: We’ll be dealing with Two-Face. There’s been chatter that he’s going to make a move on the Falcone crime family. I’ll take sanitation duty tonight. Keep your radios on and contact someone if you needs help. Now, move out!

Batgirl

Batgirl: *she flies over the civilians in sector 1 in the bat-jet and sprays an antidote for the fear toxin until noticing Scarecrow, then drops down beside him and kicks his side*

Scarecrow: *falls to the side* Ah! Batgirl! *he gets up and tries to run away*

Batgirl: Oh no you don't! *chases after Scarecrow*

Scarecrow: *turns a corner and hides along the side*

Batgirl: *turns the corner too and is immediately stabbed in the arm with a syringe, she is then standing in her apartment and hears a knock at her door* No, no, no, no, no! *she then moves forward towards the door and places her hands on the door knob*

Scarecrow: Oh yes Batgirl! Not even you, let alone Batman, could stand this new batch that I made specially for you lot. *moves closer to Batgirl and kicks her side*

Batgirl: *she opens the door and is shot in the stomach, then falls to her side, she sees the Joker standing in the door frame, staring at her limp body, as he begins to start kicking her* Ouch!

Scarecrow: *he keeps kicking Batgirl as she is lying on her side in the street*

Batgirl: NO!!! *she tries to fight the feeling of paralysis, she begins to bring her knees to her chest*

Scarecrow: *he kicks her again and this time Batgirl rolls to her knees with the last kick* Stop fighting Batgirl. There is no use in doing so! *he moves closer and winds up for another kick*

Batgirl: *she rolls backward and gets back to her knees and sees the Joker shoot the floor of her apartment but the recoil makes him stumble a little bit, which allows her enough time to stand back up and she squares up*

Scarecrow: I anticipated this much resistance, but I know that you are still seeing the boogeyman that lives in your head. *he walks closer to Batgirl*

Batgirl: Rent fucking free. *she throws her punch but the Joker dodges it*

Scarecrow: You're slow.

Batgirl: *kicks in the direction that the Joker was standing in but he dodges*

Scarecrow: Weak. *he begins to reach forward to inject Batgirl with more fear toxin*

Batgirl: *grabs Jokers arms as he tries to grab her, but he pushes her against a wall*

Scarecrow: Stop resisting, you can't fight me and the toxin at the same time.

Batgirl: *continues to try and push his arms away, then kicks up at his balls*

Scarecrow: Ah! *he hunches over only to get kneed in the face which causes him to fall back* Fucking Bat-bitch!

Batgirl: *she reaches for her utility belt and reaches for the antidote, and stabs it into the inside of her thigh and leans against the wall*

Scarecrow: *he gets up and lunges over*

Batgirl: *dodges Joker and kicks him again, she reaches for a sleeping agent*

Scarecrow: *stands back up*

Batgirl: *stabs Joker with the sleeping agent and continues to punch and kick him until Joker falls to the floor unconscious, she looks around and notices that her soundings have changed, she then sits down for a minute and collects her thoughts* Batgirl to Bat-cave.

Julia: Go ahead.

Batgirl: Scarecrow is down.

Julia: Copy, go ahead and tie him up then survey the area and continue to help spread the antidote.

Batgirl: Got it.

Red Hood

Red Hood: *looks at the the crime scene and finds a pair of bloody latex gloves from behind a trash bin* Penny-two.

Julia: Yes, Red Hood?

Red Hood: I’m going to stop by to run some finger prints and a blood sample. 

Julia: Alright, I’ll set it up.

Red Hood: *he rushes over to his motorcycle and rides off to the Bat-cave*

Batwoman

Batwoman: *spots a girl in a sky blue hoodie and a dude in a yellow hoodie, and drops down into the alley as they place drugs against the windows*

Girl and Dude: *turn and look at Batwoman* Run! *they begin to run*

Batwoman: *She kicks the boy into the wall, grabs the girl by the shit and pins her against the opposite wall* Why are you doing this?

Girl: You know exactly why! Not all of us could run around the city playing dress up, taking down criminals and claim to protect this city! Some of us need this just to get by!

Batwoman: Where’s your boss?

Girl: Don’t have one. We make it ourselves.

Batwoman: *she grabs her grappling hook and fires at the top of the of the building and reels her up, then lifts the girl over the edge* Where’s your boss?

Girl: I’m telling you, we don’t have one!!! Don’t drop me, please!!!!

Batwoman: Who's we?

Girl: Me and my boyfriend!!!

Batwoman: Leave, take your drugs! If I see you or your boyfriend again I won’t hesitate to drop you from a rooftop! *they lower down to the ally*

Girl: *grabs her boyfriend and they run*

Batwoman: *she reaches for her utility belt and places the card of a local rehab center in between the windows, then continues to patrol the area to make sure there is no more drug activity*

Red Hood and Julia

Julia: The blood definitively belongs to the victim.

Red Hood: Run the prints then.

Julia: Already done. They belong to a man named Doug McGrath. He’s a crook arrested several times for drug trafficking, drug possession, and suspected for robbery but was not convicted. He is also has 3 accounts on a HENCH.

Red Hood So this could be the work of one of Bruce’s rogues.

Julia: Indeed.

Red Hood: Can you send me his location?

Julia: I’ll get on that now. Done, his coordinates

Red Hood: Got it, if you could, hack into his HENCH account and see what offers he has recently received. *he begins walking back to his motorcycle*

Julia: It’s insulting that you even asked.

The Signal

Signal: *he drops to the street and walks around where the shooting occurred and notices the two bullet holes in the buildings, but witnesses have said they heard three. He walks down the ally and searches for anything but can’t find the bullet, but finds blood on a few trash bags. He opens the backs and looks inside and finds a pair of lungs and a few other organs*

Thug: Hey kid!

Signal: *turns and runs towards the thug, throwing a few punches*

Thug: *pulls out a gun and shoots far over Signal's shoulder*

Signal: Nice shot, I heard the Empire is hiring. *he sweeps the thugs legs from underneath him* Maybe you should get a job as a Stormtrooper. *he throws a few more punches knocking the thug out. then examines the body and notices on his phone that there was a notification from HENCH*

Red Robin and Spoiler

Red Robin: I don’t get it! I could patrol the entire time and still help Bruce. It’s called never going to sleep.

Spoiler: You realize you're the only person I know that has ever made me worry about their health, right? Why can’t you be normal?

Red Robin: Ask my parents.

Spoiler: Dick.

Red Robin: No, I’m Tim. You’re getting your Robin’s mixed up.

Spoiler: HA!. Don’t you think you’re spending too much time with Nightwing if you’re making jokes like that?

Red Robin:  Eh, maybe.

Red Hood: Hey, Red Robin, I need you to patrol 6 for a bit. I’m following a lead. I got the okay from Batman.

Red Robin: Got it. *he then takes off, jumping from roof to roof off to the other side of the city*

Batman and Robin

Batman: Got it Red Hood. Robin, Red Hood is on his way.

Robin: I hate Red Hood!

Batman: You realize you’re quite a bit like him, right?

Robin: NO I’M......

Batman: SHHHH! We don’t want to attract too much attention.

Robin: I am nothing like Red Hood.

Batman: *looks out at the site and sees Bane and Two-Face then grabs Robin's head and turns it towards the direction of where the two are standing, then watch as a black SUV drives in and Carmine Falcone steps out*

Falcone: I see you brought your muscle. Where’s my drugs?

Two-Face: I have it where it should be. 

Falcone: I'm not playing games, Dent! Give me my drugs or there will be consequences.

Two-Face: Hit me with your best shot!

Batman: Signal, Spoiler, Red Robin I’m sending you the coordinates to our location. Somethings about to go down. Red Hood, where are you?

Red Hood: Not too far.

Batman: Everyone else stand by, in case this goes south.

Falcone: Release the beast.

Batman and Robin: *jump in between the few crooks and start throwing punches and kicks, when they hear a gun click from the behind them*

KGBeast: I've been waiting for a while to put down "The man who killed Batman" on my list. *aims right for Batman*

Robin: *turns and looks at KGBeast* You ASSHOLE!!!! *rushes towards KGBeast*

Batman: ROBIN! NO! 

Bane: *rushes towards Batman*

Batman: *attempts to evade Bane’s each strike, eventually diving towards Two-Face, knocking him down*

Bane: *punches towards the two*

Batman: *rolls out of the way, causing Bane to punch Two-Face in the head*

KGBeast: *fires towards Robin*

Robin: *dodges each bullet then jumps on KGBeast's back, he then reaches for a batarang and slashes at KGBeast's back*

KGBeast: *tries to get Damian off of his back*

Red Hood: *shows up and starts shooting at KGBeast*

Robin: *jumps off of KGBeast's back, throwing a few explosive batarangs at KGBeast's feet*

KGBeast: *flys back a few feet*

Robin: *rolls forward landing next to Red Hood* You could have shot me!

Red Hood: I would have enjoyed that! *lifts up his arm and shoots Falcone a few times*

Falcone: *falls to the floor*

Bane: *throws Batman into a wall*

Signal: *arrives and runs right for Bane* Red Hood, boost me!

Red Hood: *squats down and gets ready to launch Signal towards Bane*

Batman: *throws a few batarangs at Bane's face causing Bane to look away*

Signal: *throws an uppercut to Bane's face*

Batman: *runs up at Bane and punches him in the face*

Red Hood: *jumps on Bane's back and puts him in a choke hold, hanging from his neck*

Bane: *tries to swing Red Hood off but falls to the floor*

Dick: *huff* Anyone else feeling the aster? *huff*

Jason: AHG!!!! NO MORE WORDS FROM YOU!!

Dick: Come on.............

Jason: NO!

#batfam #catwoman #selina kyle #batwoman #kate kane #batman #nightwing #dick grayson #batgirl #barbara gordon #red hood #jason todd #red robin #tim drake #spoiler dc #stephanie brown #orphan dc #cassandra cain #blue bird #harper row #signal dc #duke thomas #robin #damian wayne #julia pennyworth #alfred pennyworth

[oh-soo-diabolik]

Hello again! So I wanted to ask beforehand because I wanted to request a certain pathetic... Attention starved depresso of a vampire Ritcher. This is a nonromantic ask btw.

Imagine if, while in the early stages of being obsessed with Cordelia and still had a way out (hard to believe, I know but IMAGINE) he was attacked ked by a small group of vampire hunters from a church. Goes to the church, wrecks havoc and while doing so finds a little boy primary school age nonverbal in the basement. When he checks it out, all the other church members were killed and the child is dirty, wearing what amounts to a potato sack.

He quickly reduces the child was abused and neglected and this stunted the child's growth with 🌟religious trauma🌟

Ultimately he takes the bab in and raises him, practically spoiling the child in what ways he wasn't and his brother was. When the child sees that Cordelia's a bitch, Ritcher eventually drops her because she's toxic and caught her abusing his adopted child the way she does Ayato.

Basically I'm asking for soft head canons or short little blurb of Ritcher being a good dad and learning that "omg love can be precious."

Father Figure!Richter

A/N: I rushed this because I didn’t want to keep you waiting 😭 but i will definitely write more content for him 🩵

Remember guys my inbox is open! 🥹🩵

His eyes watch as she dances with her beloved husband.

Richter hated his brother, the good for nothing man he called his brother, KarlHeinz.

“My dear husband, you’re the one who completes me.” she mutters to KarlHeinz. Richter sucks his teeth in response, consumed by the feeling of jealousy.

He stalks towards the entrance of the manor and exists.

The cold bitter air greets him, he needed space, he couldn’t bear facing the bewitched woman named Cordelia, and her wish-washy ways. She didn’t care for him, per se, she just wanted fun.

There he begins his journey into the forest, he continues to walk before approaching a large church, there it stands with pride and beauty, taunting him with their ill faith in a man who doesn’t exist. But what did humans know anyway?

The sound of a child whimpers catches his attention. He teleports to the source of the cause, appearing in front of a boy no older than the age of seven or eight years old.

He was skinny, and frail, his hair was unkept, and he stinks. As if he was left for dead, the older vampire peers down to the boys level.

“What happened?” Richter questions, he waits for the boy’s response but to no avail. “Speak child.” he says more firmly.

“They told me to be a good boy, t-they said it’s what God wants.” he finally replies, Richter’s ruby colored eyes stares down at the boy.

As if he almost felt guilty?

“Get up, come with me, child.” He orders, he watches as the boy struggles to stand, but nothing surprised him more than what he did next. The sudden feeling of the boy holding his shirt for support, catches him at bay. His cold being felt something he hasn’t felt before, he felt responsible. Responsibility of caring for this child.

“Shall I carry you?” He questions, the sounds of men shouting and yelling causes him to turn to face them.

“Step away from the child, Vampire.” An old man snares, gripping the stake at hand.

Truth be told, Richter was tired, tired of dealing with selfish people, first the damned woman Cordelia and then his brother and now these lowlife vampire hunters.

“Your stakes have no effect on me, I will take my leave and I will be taking the child with me.” he replies, as he picks up the child and vanishes.

“Dammit! That fucking bastard took him.” another man says.

“After him, you fucking idiots.” another man shouts, the men grunt in response as they start on their journey into the world of the unknown.

The boy grips Richter’s shirt, “Worry less, you shall be safe with me.” He mutters the boy could only nod in response.

Richter knew, from this day, he would risk his life to ensure that child was safe. Even if it meant killing His own blood and the townspeople, along with that damned woman.

He finally felt a purpose, protect the unprotected. Even if it meant losing his life.

#richter sakamaki #diabolik lovers fandom #dialovers #request #admin a #ayato sakamaki #kanato sakamaki #laito sakamaki #reiji sakamaki #sakamaki brothers #subaru sakamaki #diabolik lovers #shu sakamaki #shuu sakamaki #cordelia sakamaki

[sapphire-candor]

Yo, Batman Unburied is like my new fav adaptation of Bruce Wayne. Dude's just so sincere about everything. Like he doesn't just make sure his employees are paid well; he keeps tabs on them and approaches them when they have a problem. Emphasize with them and even has a contingency to ensure they are taken cared of. He out here being genuinely upset when he realizes Arkahm inmates are being experimented on. Belives they truly get help in there & it's part of his job to make sure that happens. My guy so self-depricating when his subconscious had the chance to make a reality where his parents lived he decided that they would be disappointed in him. But also self-aware enough to reexamine that point of view when given the chance. He loves being Batman. Loves it so much that he decided to punish himself cause what do you mean having fun & self healing is allowed?? Homie heard Ivy say multiple times touching her would basically be a death sentence but he still reached out to help her when she was hurt. This man listened to Babs describe how a dirty cop is getting away with bad shit & when she tried to blame it on Gotham corruption with no hesitation he was like "nah cops just be like that". So committed to the bit that even when everyone around him knows Bruce Wayne is Batman he is not going to break character! He will use his special voice dammit!! Some adaptations makes Gotham feels like Bruce's burden. But here; It's just like on multiple levels he so deeply wants to take care of Gotham and the individuals in it. He just such an endearing guy trying his best.

#batman unburied #bruce wayne #i LOVED this #so excited for season 2 #plz note every character featured in this podcast was great #all of them winner

[zwy01]

Jia doodles!!!

Doodles of my noblesse oc from my Millennium AU, Jia Ru! She is the second child of Kei Ru and Claudia Tradio, and the younger sister of Luzia Tradio.

Jia’s hobby is sparring and she likes to train for strength just as much as her father Kei does. She loves her musclehead Ba very very much, and inherits his incredibly burly build. Smashes bedrock like styrofoam.

1. Jia painting!!! She has messy white hair just like Kei. She leaves her bangs as is and keeps the rest in two braids on either sides of her head. Her hair accessories were gifts from her mother Claudia; she cherishes them very much and wears them everyday. Though Jia is so powerful if she turns her head just a little too quickly her braids might slap someone unconscious. Free nap time. Oopsie, sorry hehe. You shouldn’t stare at her for too long not because she minds; she actually doesn’t. Instead to her prolonged eye contact means an invitation to spar so if you’re not ready for an unforgiving workout session, mayybe move on lol.

2. Jia side profile! She loves to spend time in the Ru territory’s bamboo forest. The breeze is nice and cool, and she loves her heritage.

3. The moment lil’ Jia gets her hair accessories from her mother Claudia! Jia’s hair is naturally messy and Kei doesn’t really know how to style hair either, so her hair just flies everywhere. Jia is curious about her mother’s hairstyle, and mommy Claudia gets an idea. She had always wanted to give her second daughter a gift but she never knew what to give, until now! Jia is super happy. Her parents are amused. Claudia promptly teaches Kei how to style their bab’s hair.

4. Kei is stoic and dense. Very very dense. He doesn’t really express love in the conventional way, maybe just one or two nicknames in private, but that’s it. No matter what, Jia knows he loves her, and Kei knows she loves him. He gets super flustered and confused as to what to do when his daughter pulls him into a massive hug. He rarely hugs back and in return just “praises” her but she knows what it really means. Cmon just say those three words Kei. They share a close relationship throughout their entire lives.

5. Jia likes Alois hoooooooo. Alois is the firstborn of the entire nextgen cast and being the shy and reserved boy he was, he spent a lot of time with the Clan Leaders before his peers were born. Specifically, he liked hanging out with Kei because Kei doesn’t talk much and he’s a good person. Alois feels relaxed around him and visits the Ru manor often. He especially enjoys the company of the Ru tigers, and routinely visits and takes care of them even after becoming an adult. Jia is curious about this random dude and accompanies him in her home. Gradually she begins to realize how caring, delicate and beautiful he is and falls for him. She’s usually loud and blunt but around him, she’s super shy. Girl is totally in love. Probably even already imagining their beautiful red and silver haired kids together (lol). Holddd up girl. Right now she doesn’t know that Luzia also likes him, and that he likes Luzia. She will find out one day and it’s gonna be quite chaotic. But at the moment muscle girl is happy with just hanging with him. Though she can’t seem to hear anything but her own heartbeats. Dammit, who’s rolling the drums at this hour.

6. Jia is kinda… dense. In a dumb way. People go “huh?” when they learn that she and Raegyn Kertia, son of Rael Kertia and Regis K. Landegre, are actually good friends. Because Raegyn doesn’t hang out with nobodies. He’s a picky extrovert, because he’s a smartass and being super smart means he finds most company to be dull and boring, and manipulating people with his charm is always easy. So in order for him to genuinely enjoy hanging out with someone, they have to be completely immune to his manipulation either by being super smart/just as smart as him, or…. by being SO dumb his smartassing just doesn’t work. Jia is… clearly not the first type. But their unusual friendship just so happened and they always have a lot to talk about. Jia is always so flattered because Raegyn “compliments” her so often. Ehh maybe try to analyze it just a bit more? Maybe asking too much from her one active brain cell tho. Lol.

#noblesse #manhwa #myart #fanart #oc #ocs #original character #millennium au #jia ru #kei ru #claudia tradio #alois elenor #raegyn kertia #jia has 1 brain cell and all it wants to do is fight

[bluebeetle]

Also kinda annoys me that we have 2 teenage robins and neither go to school. Steph and babs also dont go to college anymore. I want my secret identity drama, dammit!!!!!

Unironically one of my biggest grievances qith modern comics is the lack of interest in the dramatic irony of secret ids and civilian lives of heroes.

#dc #txt

[comedydoctor18]

Teleport Time!

Babies' first teleport! And mama Ezzie's first time witnessing it XD she rightfully freaked out but her siblings made sure to help her out XD and yes Opal teleported Lucky back safely

So all of the babs can officially teleport now XD

**edit** dammit I forgot Ezzie's scars in one panel XD oh well

#pokemon sanctuary

[morgansunflower]

What Batman Doesn't Know 2/2

Requested tags: @too-strong-to-lose

Batman! Damian X Pregnant! Reader

Batmom! Reader

Warnings:explicit language, suggestive content, morning sickness.

Words:1151

Arthur's notes! Batfam age reverse Bruce Wayne is dead so some major angst.

Batman finds out.

I open my eye's squinting from the daylight. I blink adjusting to the brightened sun shining through the double window from the left side of the room. I feel my body laying on the bed, the blanket laid on me below my chest. I lift my head and sit up. I'm wearing my f/c nightgown. I look, Damian no where to be seen. I slightly roll my eyes with irritation. I could have told him! I then realized when he held me in his, arm's. It was the closet we've been in weeks. Dammit I wish he'd hold me. I then feel my impending headache mixed with nausea and sore breast. I groan in annoyance. I lay my head down. I hear the door knocking.

"come in" I said

The door opens I smile sitting upward and lean against the pillows. I see, my adopted son Jason. His face straight, and breathes swift. Before I could ask him what's wrong he swiftly spoke.

"ok, so listen I'm gonna be straight up with you. Dick, told me you're pregnant so I have to be cool and all that shit. Are you really pregnant? Or is the kid, trying to make me be nicer to him"

I sigh. Two of my kid's and Alfred know and not my husband. Splendid. Well he's eventually gonna find out "yeah, Jay.. I'm pregnant"

He takes a deep breath in relief "fuck that's a relief. I can't believe.. I mean you and Damian--" he shivers "gross"

"such a horrid thought" I chuckled "and watch the language, Kid"

"damn" I raise my eyebrow he rolls his eye's "I know, I know but can we please talk about something else?!" he demanded, he sighs "you need anything Ma?"

"no I'm good thanks though. Want to keep me company?" I ask patting on the free spot beside me

He shrugged his right shoulder "sure"

Usually, Jason would plop himself on the bed as we would read together for hours. Though instead he carefully crawled onto the bed. He sat next to me. I place my hand on his head and ruffle his hair. He softly smiled and rolled his eyes. He always tried to hide his kind side.

"so when do I get to meet, lil' trouble maker"

"hmm, I'm roughly 14 weeks. So we got 25 weeks left but it'll be time to see, the baby before you know it"

He gently nodded in response, he takes a deep breath "is this one of those secret things. Cause we all know Grayson can't keep a secret to save the poor kids life. I mean I already know"

"it is a 'secret thing'. I want to tell, Damian and then tell everyone else. If I even get the chance to"

"he's in the Bat-cave. Doing whatever the hell--" he lifts his hand telling me to not scold him "heck Bat's does. Hey can I be there? Because I am burning with curiosity on how he's going to react"

"nope" I answered

"Aww come on, Ma" he childishly begged

I laugh and kiss his head. I need a, snack!

"well I'm going to go get something to eat!" I announced

"can I get it for you? What are you craving for?" he offered

"oh its OK I have to look for myself anyway"

I get out of my bed and I open the door.. Dick, Stephanie, Tim, Cassandra and Barbara all ran away from the door. I sigh deeply. They all know.

"alright kids come back here!" I ordered

They each came back with dramatic innocent smiles. I need to sprint to, Damian before anyone accidentally tells him. This family can not keep a secret. Narrow-minded of me to think I could have kept the secret from my loving children any longer. They all stood with a mixture of guilt and excited faces.

"congrats, Y/N" Barbara innocently said

"thank you, Babs"

"I can't believe--" I cut Stephanie's enthusiasm off

"sweetie, I am talking to Dami first. Speaking of which I'm going to go talk to him now. I want you all to stay away from the Bat-cave"

I go to the Bat-cave. I did not see, Damian anywhere. I sigh in defeat. I call my husband. He answered on the phone.

-"beloved"

"where you off to? I was wanting to talk to you"

-"tt, I'm foolish for forgetting. Forgive me. I shall be home after the meeting at Wayne Tower"

"I understand. I love you"

-"and I you"

He hung up. Well that didn't go as planned. When does anything ever go to plan. During lunch time I sat on the chair in front of the table. With my daughter's and my son's. As we ate dinner my mind lingers to telling, Damian the news. I'm so nervous.

"mom, deep breath" Cass said softly

I softly smile to my daughter doing as she instructed.

"thank you, dear"

I then feel my breath hitch seeing my husband. He's here. Tell him! I can't just blurt it out! All eye's on Damian. He cleared his throat obviously uncomfortable with all the attention. He sits among his chair. The kids go back to eating though I can't stop looking at Damian. Is now a good time? How well he react?

"you needed to discuss some important matters with me" he bluntly said

"I'd rather speak in private with you" I answered

"very well" he muttered

After the awkward silence during lunch, Damian and I step to our room. I shut the bedroom door behind us. It's simple just tell him. Though it's not simple. I turn his arms folded as if preparing for my perhaps what he may think argument. So I'm just going to say it.

"Damian, I'm going to have a.. A baby" his face unreadable as he seemed to be frozen in place ".. Like I'm pregnant"

I wait and wait my heart pounding. Please don't be mad or upset. Damian, smiles he genuinely smiles. My heart melts as I gasp, he's happy. He's not mad. He then began to cry.

"oh Damian" I said with tearful eyes

I then started to cry unable to stop the tears. Damian, hugs me gently. I wrap my arms around him fighting my tears. He parts and lifts my shirt above my small but now evident bump. He places his hand on my bump covering it with his large hand. The moment is nearly too much to bear as I am holding sobs back.

"I've been blind, Beloved"

He moves his hand to my hip and places a gentle kiss on my abdomen.

"I love you, Damian"

He softly smiled uncaring of his tears. He leans up touching my chin and kisses me gently. He parts cupping my cheeks.

"thank you" he heavily said, placing his forehead on my own "thank you for giving me such a wonderful life"

#Batman X Batmom #Batman! Damian X Reader #Batman! Damian #Bruce Wayne is dead #Batfam age reverse #Batfam #Batfamily #Fluff #Angst #Humor #Batfam shenanigans #Loving Batfamily #Kid batfam

[much-obliged-timothy]

Whumptober #9

Day 9 - Batboys - "You're a liar"

*

Jason fired his guns with a certain glee. The gang scattered behind cover, yelling at each other for someone to take Jason out.

“Someone can try!” Jason called cheerfully, launching over a dumpster to kick one of the gang members in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Jason easily flipped his gun around in his hand and smacked the butt of it into the man’s temple to knock him out. 

Tim leapt over the crates they were using as cover to take out a few more with smooth, practiced moves. He clearly wasn’t taking as much glee in the mission as Jason, but he didn’t chastise Jason for his fun.

After all, why would he? They were cleaning up a poorer section of Gotham. This gang had formed to prey on the poor who didn’t have transportation or couldn’t afford good security in their homes. They’d break in, steal what little they had, or jump them as they walked or biked home after a hard day of working to feed themselves. 

Just two days ago, they’d jumped two young boys who’d earned some money with a lemonade stand. They boys were on their way home, elated that they had enough money to go on their school field trip at last, when the attack hit them. One boy was left hospitalized. 

Jason could picture so many times he’d walked around after dark. It could’ve been him if he was still young. No little kid deserved that.

Tim had agreed to help him stop the gang when Babs got wind they were planning to pull off a bigger job on a delivery truck tonight. Jason was grateful for the support, because Tim knew what this particular mission meant to Jason. 

And Jason was having a great time making these streets safer for kids like he had been once, right up until he heard the gunshot and Tim’s scream.

“No!” He whipped around, his joy gone in an instant. Tim laid on the ground, blood pooling out from his body, his hands pressed to his abdomen.

Jason barely remembered the next few minutes. He became a whirlwind of furious, protective movement, taking out every single gang member he could get his hands on, barely suppressing the urge to kill the bastards. They deserved it; they all fucking deserved it.

But he held back just enough to knock them out instead. When the last fell, he leapt over the unmoving body and raced to Tim’s side.

“Hey, hey!” he said, grabbing Tim’s wrists and trying to pull them away. “Dammit, let me see, Tim.”

Tim moved his hands and Jason’s face paled at the gunshot wound in his abdomen and the blood pouring from it. He put Tim’s hands back, applying pressure.

“Babs, Tim was shot,” he said into his earpiece, his voice tight. “Get us help. Now.”

She was replying, but he didn’t hear the words. He was too focused on Tim’s face and the way it was contorted in anguish.

This was Jason’s fault. He hadn’t been taking it seriously. He hadn’t been properly watching Tim’s back.

The wound was so bad.

“You’re going to be fine. Just stay with me,” Jason said.

“You’re a liar,” Tim choked out with a weak laugh. Jason was horrified to see blood leaking out of the corner of his mouth. “A good man, but a liar.”

“Tim-”

“I know what you’re thinking. It’s not your fault, Jason. I let my guard drop.”

“But-”

“No. It is NOT your fault this happened.”

His voice was fierce despite how weak his movements were growing and how pale he was becoming. The blood just kept coming up between his fingers, spilling out onto the ground.

“You protected…t-those kids. All those p-people,” Tim said, giving a faint smile. “I’m proud of you. P-Proud to help you.”

“Shit,” Jason whispered, feeling the tears in his eyes. “Hang on, you bastard. Don’t you- Just hang on. Please, Tim. Please.”

Tim’s eyes dropped shut. Jason let out a despaired noise and applied more pressure to the wound, knowing it was all he could do as he prayed help came in time and no one else had to die on these streets.

#whumptober2023 #no.9 #you're a liar #batboys #fic writing #jason todd #tim drake #jtdoeswhumptober

[dramatisperscnae]

SHIPPING INFO:// Answer the following for your muse(s) so people know how shipping works on your blog

REPOST. DON'T REBLOG

What’s your OTP for your Muse(s)?

Oh hell. Let me see if I can remember all of them Stucky, Wnterhawk, Frosthawk [which I have accepted will never happen but I can dream dammit], Loki/Sigyn [HE LOVES HIS WIFE], Jaydick[any flavor; platonic or romantic], Dick/Babs, Dick/Roy, Remy/Rogue, Hyuroi, Hughes/Gracia[this man loves his wife okay], and the others either don't have an OTP because I haven't found one I like or they're OCs whose partner is another OC and therefore kinda pointless to list here XD

What are you willing to RP when it comes to shipping?

I'll try anything once. I'm a sucker for soulmate AUs, I'm great with deep platonic bonds -points at both Jaydick and Stucky-, gimme the romance, gimme FWB, just...-grabby hands- ship ALL THE THINGS Haven't ever really dabbled in toxic or hateships, but I would not be opposed to this with the right pairing and partner, either.

How large does the age gap have to be to make it uncomfortable?

This depends entirely on the relative ages involved, since I have two muses on here that are both over 2000 years old and at that point worrying about age gaps is really kinda pointless. That being said, I will not ship anything beyond purely romantic with muses below the age of 18 as a general rule, and that only because I have two muses with minor-aged verses [Dick and Conrad].

Are you selective when shipping?

To an extent; I ship chemistry above all, so there's no guarantee that - as an example - my Bucky is gonna be solidly romantically attracted to any given portrayal of Steve, or that I the writer am gonna click with the writer of any given Steve out there. Chemistry does not just mean chemistry of the characters; if our styles clash or we don't really mesh well then shipping's probably not gonna happen.

How far do steamy moments have to go before they’re considered NSFW? 

I tend to be very lenient here, but in general once the bits below the belt start getting named and/or there is full nudity I start tagging. Unless my partner starts tagging and/or readmore-ing first, in which case I follow my partner's lead and do the same.

Who are other muses you ship your muse with?

Oh lord. Okay. Arthur: Bruce ( @cxpedcrusxder ) Dick: Marcus ( @hacker-codeq ), Roy ( @thecreativeforge ), Clint ( @normaltothemax ), Jason ( @lazaruspitreborn , @messeduphood , potentially one or two others to be determined later) Kyle: None yet Loki: None yet Remy: Matt Murdock ( @defectivexfragmented ) Bucky: Clint ( @normaltothemax ) Corwin: None yet Clive: None yet Greyson: None yet Conrad: As my shameless self-insert I have a list I'd love to ship him with, but none have happened yet XD TJ: I used to ship him with Steve back in the day; currently none. Caspian: Michelle ( @misstisalir ); otherwise, none yet Hughes: None yet Judas: Gabriel ( @misstisalir ); otherwise, none yet Lucifer: also Gabriel XD [it's complicated] otherwise, none yet

Does one have to ask to ship with you?

Yes. Like I said earlier, even the 'obvious' ships [like Stucky] might not actually work out between us. Consent is always key. Also, it's more fun to let things develop naturally, that's how the best ships happen!

How often do you like to ship?

So long as there's chemistry, all the damn time

Are you multiship?

100% I have only ever considered limiting ships once and that was because the character involved had just been so built around his ship partner that playing him off anyone else was just weird. That is the exception to the rule here.

Are you ship obsessed or ship more-or-less?

-shrug?- Depends on what mood I'm in at the time and who happens to be loud and demanding XD

What is your favorite ship in your current fandom?

Uh. -looks at current DC obsession- do I have to just pick one? Probably Jaydick, but in all its permutations. It scratches that delightful Stucky itch of 'can be just very deeply platonic but also so goddamn romantic under the right circumstances' and I kinda love it. But also I've a softspot for Batcat when they're written right.

Finally, how does one ship with you?

Hop in my inbox and ask; it's a more reliable way to get in touch with me than messenger at first XD Chances are I already ship it to some degree, or will start shipping it if I haven't already thought of it and can see the potential -sideeyes his Aquabat ship with Fox as evidence >w>-

tagged by @defectivexfragmented tagging: You. With the face.

#dash games #psa #sure this counts as one of them XD