#artemis reader insert

[miharuki]

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐏 195 - EP.03

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐏 195-masterlist

"Which way?" Aqualad says, watching the team crouched down, making Robin think as he looks at the two tunnels. "Uh… Left corridor 1 or left corridor 2?" Just as he's about to answer, you hear a voice shout, "FREEZE!" 

From one of the corridors, a horned humanoid creature emerges from hiding. You sigh in exhaustion at the thought of seeing the same man again before grabbing your yo-yo. The being raises its hand and, using telekinesis, hurls two crates at you. You dodge them and sprint into the other corridor. Kid Flash, using his speed, tries to stop to avoid hurting a woman stepping out of a thick door, but he slips and knocks her over. Glancing at the door, the redhead realizes it’s the infamous Project Kr that Robin had been searching for. Using one of the pipes nearby, he jams the door shut to buy time for the team to get inside. "Hurry!!" 

Aqualad, sensing something coming after him, kicks the pipe, sealing the door shut. Robin immediately gets to work hacking it. "I disabled the door—we're safe!" 

"We're trapped," Aqualad mutters, scanning the room before noticing Kid Flash staring at a tube. "Oh, you guys gotta see this!" he calls, making everyone gather around to look at the boy inside. "Capital 'K,' lowercase 'r'—the atomic symbol for Kryptonite," KF says, examining the being in the tube. "A clone?" 

"Isn’t that obvious?" you say, stepping back as you hear Aqualad tell Robin to keep hacking. You’re too focused on searching for an iron beam—why? Obviously to hit the kid. You wouldn’t miss this chance, not after countless timelines where he was a jerk to you. No way. And just as you found it, your team was already shouting and talking to the now-freed clone. You finally grab the beam, grinning wickedly before schooling your expression back to neutral. 

"We’re on your side!" you hear Robin yell. The second he finishes, you swing the iron beam hard into the clone’s torso, sending him flying. Though your body regressed when you traveled back in time and your strength wasn’t what it once was, you’d gained skills and tricks from other timelines. That meant that even if you weren’t as strong as the clone, you could hold him off for a short while—thank Black Canary for teaching you to fight so well. 

Superboy flew back, crashing into the tube he’d been contained in, shattering it—but it was pointless since he lunged right back at the boys. Meanwhile, you took the chance to pull a flash drive from your yo-yo and plugged it into both the door and the tube, collecting data—all while your team was busy fighting Superboy. 

The moment Aqualad went down, you knew you had only minutes left. Once you finished, you pocketed both drives and stepped into the fray. Now, it was just you and the clone standing. He charged at you with a punch, which you dodged, countering by slamming the steel beam into his back and sending him crashing into the door. Before he could retaliate, you leapt up, smashing the beam into his head and using it like a bat to trip him. You couldn’t see it, but in your mind, you were cursing every time this kid had been awful to you—every time he’d tried to kill you. Every. Single. Time. 

The fight dragged on—at least, in terms of you and the team. You let yourself get hit, crashing against the wall. The second the clone turned his back, you smirked and grabbed your yo-yo, wrapping the string around his neck. You sprinted past the tube as the cord tightened around it. When Superboy yanked, you let go, sending the tube flying into his back and knocking him down. You knew he wasn’t actually unconscious, so you just pretended to believe he was out. You climbed on top of him, stepping on his back and retrieving your yo-yo—only to get thrown off and have your head slammed down, knocking you out too. 

"Time is running out. You need to wake up. You need to wake up NOW!" A voice echoes in your head as you come to, already sighing because you know exactly where—and when—you are. And from here on out, it’s going to be a fast-paced hell. 

"What? What do you want? Stop staring!" KF whined. "You’re creeping me out," you mocked, rolling your eyes as the boy beside you screamed like a scared kid—nothing like the hero he technically was. 

"We just wanted to help you," Aqualad told the clone, making you sigh again. As much as you found his kindness and heroism "admirable," you also found him annoying and unbearable. So you just closed your eyes and let the others’ voices fade into murmurs, thinking about what would happen next—and what was happening now. 

After escaping the tube, you, your team, and your newest companion (who you despise) left the facility—obviously not without a fight against the scientist responsible for the clone. And not just that—he drank some liquid and turned into what you’d call "the ugliest, most horrifying swamp monster ever created." In your words, he was so ugly he’d be rejected in any multiverse. 

"(Hero!)" You hear Robin call your name mid-battle, and you already guess what he wants. You move closer to Aqualad and Superboy as Robin pulls up a map and tells you to destroy the support beams. 

"Don’t order me around," Superboy snaps. You click your tongue. "Then don’t help. I don’t need dead weight getting in the way," you say before running toward the beams, using your yo-yo to pull them down and wreck them. Once you’ve taken out the marked ones, you glance at Robin, who draws an 'X' with white chalk. Aqualad then splashes water on the floor, and Kid Flash—who had been running to distract the villain—slides right into it, creating a path and filling the marked spot. He throws an arm back, letting you yank him out of the way with your yo-yo just as Aqualad sends an electric current through the water, weakening the monster. 

With the pillars destroyed, the ceiling collapses on the villain, finally ending the fight. 

Superboy lifts the rubble off you all as you take deep breaths. Then you hear Kid Flash say, "See? The moon. And Superman too." At that moment, the entire Justice League lands around you. You grip your yo-yo, pulling out the two flash drives, and approach Batman, tossing them to him. "Here’s everything I collected," you say, making him stare at you before turning his glare to Robin and the others. 

You feel a hand on your shoulder and turn to see your mentor. "You shouldn’t have done this, (Hero)." You sigh. "I expected this from them, not from you." You just turn away, looking at the others. "Just applying what you taught me," you mutter before walking off, missing the disbelieving smirk and head shake she gives. 

"You shouldn’t have done this," Batman says, stepping toward your group. "You should’ve called!" Flash adds, only to immediately shut up under the Bat’s glare. "You broke the rules, hacked the League’s systems—don’t do it again." 

"Sorry, but we will," Aqualad says firmly as the other heroes step closer. 

"Aqualad, calm down," Aquaman says, approaching. 

"No, my king. We did good work today." 

"—Work that YOU taught us to do. If we’re not supposed to act, then why train us? To replace you when you’re old?" You cross your arms, stepping in front of the team. "We’re your partners—not sidekicks, not stand-ins. If it weren’t for us, by the time you investigated Cadmus, they would’ve scrubbed everything. So… you’re welcome." You finish, staring down the adult heroes as Kid Flash puts a hand on your shoulder—which you immediately smack away. If there’s one thing you’ve consumed across timelines, it’s hatred for all of them. 

𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄

July 8, 08:04 

"This cave was the Justice League’s original secret sanctuary. We’re putting it back into service. Since the five of you are determined to stay together and fight the good fight, you’ll do so on the League’s terms. Red Tornado has volunteered to live here and supervise. Black Canary is in charge of training. I will handle mission assignments," Batman explains, watching as you all stand in civilian clothes—you and Robin wearing sunglasses. (If there’s one thing you’ve learned, it’s that to avoid attachments, you have to keep your distance.) 

"Real missions? Like, actual missions?" Robin asks, almost disbelieving but also a little excited. 

"The League will still handle the big threats. There’s a reason we have these giant targets on our chests," Flash says behind you, proudly pointing to the symbol on his suit. 

"But Cadmus proves that criminals are getting smarter. Batman needs a team that can operate under the radar," Aquaman adds, hands on his hips. 

"The six of you will be that team," Batman continues before turning to— 

"Cool! Wait, six?" Robin cuts in, suddenly looking where Batman is—toward J’onn J’onzz emerging from the Zeta Tube with a timid girl trailing behind. 

"This is the Martian Manhunter’s niece, Miss Martian." 

"Hi," the girl says shyly. 

"I’m liking this gig more every minute," Wally grins. You sigh, already knowing who she is, and roll your eyes before hearing Robin elbow him. "Oof!" he groans, shooting the boy a look before walking over to greet her—with you hanging back, watching as Aqualad joins. 

"Welcome aboard," he says with a smile, taking the lead. "I’m Kid Flash. This is (Hero), Robin, Aqualad. Don’t worry if you forget their names." Wally gestures to the rest of the team, still grinning. 

"Thank you for having me!" the girl replies politely, looking at him. 

You glance at Superboy beside you and nudge him, nodding toward her. He hesitates but steps forward. You stay back, distant, observing their interactions—until a hand lands on your shoulder. You turn to see Black Canary. 

"Why aren’t you going over there?" 

You shake your head. "I’d rather avoid friendships. They’re not my friends—they’re my teammates. That’s it." You pick up Renjichiro (who had been sitting by your leg) and stroke his fur as Black Canary sighs and walks away. 

"Seems the team is finally complete! Kukuku… I’m excited to see your next moves," the beastly creature purrs in your mind. You just watch the team from afar before turning and walking off.

[audreyscribes]

Ω PJO DEMIGOD HEADCANONS: 🌕 ARTEMIS: Goddess of the Hunt and Wilderness, Archery, Moon, Maidenhood and Childbirth 🏹

author's note: I had a sudden idea about writing some headcanons Camp Halfblood demigods being claimed and what it's like for each respective god and cabin, followed by a small blurb afterwards. Thank you for reading and please like and reblog! The order is not in order of the cabin numbers. [PJO DEMIGOD HEADCANONS MASTERLIST]

You’ve become one of Artemis’ ‘children’ as you joined the hunters of Artemis and became part of the sisterhood. 

For the most part, it’s a pretty nomadic way of living. You’re constantly on the move, hunting animals and monsters with your fellow sisters and companions. It's pretty comfy and the tents they set up are great (they also have full blown washrooms somehow, so no need to forgo running water) so it feels like glamping. But every now and again, Artemis takes you guys to stop by Camp Half-blood. 

Say what you will, there's something being stationary and sleeping in an actual building, in actual beds. 

You see the curious eyes watching you and your group, but they keep their distance given boys are off-limits and girls either look at you with awe or disdain. 

Y'know how the Apollo cabin often has archery matches with the Huntresses? Although they don't particularly become any closer, there is some sort of connection between your cabins. Probably because Artemis and Apollo are twins, and Apollo's children don't seem particularly attracted to your group, so there's something there. 

You take part and help out with the annual recruitment at the Camp. Teaching other potential maidens about what it's like being a Huntresses. You're told that they always have one interested individual that joins them by the time they leave camp.

Braids are often a common hairstyle among the hunt, aside from ponytails. Being on the move doesn’t allow much time to dwell on hair aside from basic hair care, so keeping it in a braid is often more of convenience. There’s usually a mass hair-washing station and it becomes a group bonding experience. All the hunters help braid your hair and teach you other styles along the way, and it’s not uncommon to see a hair braiding train. This often also leads into storytelling time and devolving much like a sleepover, bringing a certain sense of nostalgia.

You know you’ve become part of the hunters when Artemis asks you to help braid her hair. Your hands will shake and you will stutter, but as she encourages your hands to weave her hair, you feel honoured and the barrier between her and you is less daunting. 

Other than Dionysus, people feel envious and are curious what it’s like being around a god so often. Artemis accompanies you on your hunts more often than not, and usually is not around when she has to attend a council with the other Olympians or tend to her nightly duties. It’s a see-saw of perception being around Artemis; on one hand, you’re aware of who she is but on the other hand, when you’re hunting together or when she joins you with the other hunters, you forget she’s a deity.  

If you joined in when Zoe is a lieutenant, she is strict but fair. She is the ultimate big sister of the sisterhood. She may seem a bit cold to you but as she helps guide your shooting stance and gives you tips, tells you to zip up your parka or checks your supplies, you know she cares for you like a sister. In fact, you notice she seems more at ease as she looks after you and your sister…it makes you think if she had biological sisters. 

When Thalia is now the lieutenant, it takes some time to get used to. There’s a bit of friction and gap, since Zoe was in that position for over 2000 years. However, Thalia is confident and has the qualities of a leader, so her stumbles become sprints. She is different from Zoe in how they bond with the sisterhood, but if Zoe was the cool, proud sister, then Thalia is the fun, laughable sister that wouldn’t hesitate to give you a noogie.  

You looked upon the silver lady, her entourage of people behind her. The moon was full behind her head, bestowing a glow on her and you were just in awe to be in her shadow. 

A tall and graceful girl stepped forward and she regarded you with a pointed look. “If you wish to join our lady and our hunt, you must pledge yourself from romantic love and swear loyalty to Lady Artemis and our sisterhood.”

You nodded as she nodded back. “Recite this oath: I pledge myself to the Goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.”

You recited this pledge and the girl with moonlike qualities smiled. “I, Artemis, accept this pledge. Welcome sister to the Hunt. As long as you remain as one of my Hunters, and are not slain in battle, you will not die under my watch.”

The other hunters cheered for you as you nodded. The other girl stepped forward with a warmer smile and held out her hand to you. 

“My name is Zoe Nightshade, lieutenant of Lady Artemis. Welcome to our sisterhood.”

[dccomicsimagines]

Gift Exchange Mayhem - Young Justice Imagine

Requested by Anon - Can I have the team doing some last minute shopping for Christmas?? Maybe the reader waits until the last minute and needs help??

Author's Note - Happy Holidays! I finally was able to finish something.

***

"Dismissed," Batman said, waving his hand as he turned back to the computer to finish up whatever paperwork he had. The mission had gone well, so the debriefing wasn't too painful.

At least for everyone else, you found it excruciatingly slow. Every minute was a minute closer to the Christmas Eve party and the gift exchange.

Everyone moved off. You stayed where you were until you saw M'gann and Conner walk completely out of the room.

You turned, scanning the room until you saw Artemis heading toward the locker rooms. Dashing after her, you grabbed her arm. "I need your help," you whispered, voice tight with the brewing storm of panic in your chest.

"Ow," Artemis hissed, jerking her arm away. "What do you want, weirdo?"

You swore you saw Batman glance over from the corner of your eye. Your breath caught in your throat. "I need help, but we can't talk about it here. Please?"

Artemis sighed, but gestured for you to follow her. You quickly fell into step beside her.

The two of you walked in silence until you made it to the library. She spun on her heel and crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

You admired how cool she looked in this moment. You wished you could be cool. "I..." You swallowed away your insecurities. "I need help finding a gift for the gift exchange."

She raised an eyebrow. "You haven't gotten one yet? It's tomorrow."

"I know!" You threw up your hands, shaking slightly. "I couldn't focus on it, because I got M'gann and I knew I would blow it in the mind link at some point, so I decided I had to not think about it at all until the last minute. That way, she can be surprised."

Artemis sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why do you always do this shit?"

"I wanted it to be good. It's her first Christmas on earth and she's already excited, but I don't know what to get her." You bit your lip and blinked back tears.

"Why can't you ask Conner? I got things to do." Artemis narrowed her eyes with that steady frown she was always inclined to give you.

You groaned. "I can't ask Conner, then she'd know. That boy doesn't hide anything from her anymore."

She rolled her eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. "Okay, fine."

A grin burst onto your face. "Thank you!" You almost reached out to hug her, but she held up a finger to stop you. Your face burned. "Sorry. Can we go now after we change?"

"Sure." Artemis left the room. You let out a sigh to calm your heart.

***

Artemis' head ached at the bright lights of Star City's Megamall. Christmas music blasted throughout the place as people hurried about.

"Luckily, the west coast is still open huh?" You laughed, nudging her side.

Artemis swallowed back a biting retort. "Yep." You stopped by the big tree in the center of the main entrance. Glancing around, you seemed just as lost as you always were. Irritation bubbled up inside of Artemis. "Let's go. We don't have time. It closes in two hours."

You flinched slightly. "Right." You hurried off to your left, leading the way past a bunch of clothing stores.

Artemis took a deep breath. She shouldn't be so annoyed really. What other plans did she have today anyway? All she was going to do was go home and hang out with her mom. Christmas didn't mean much in the Crock household. Just a time where there was no school and a lot of Dad.

She shook her head. 'Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.' It was a quote from Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens. A early present to herself when she spotted it in a thrift shop during her Christmas shopping.

You started to head into Spencer's, but Artemis snatched your arm. "No."

"Why?" You blinked. Sometimes Artemis wondered if you were also from Mars.

"There will be nothing for her in there, come on." Artemis pulled you along.

You bit your lip. "I don't know where to even start. What does M'gann even like anyway?"

"Conner." She snorted when you seemed to think she was serious. "You can't give her Conner."

"That would have made things easy. I could just put a bow on him." You dodged a family who was running to the mall.

"You're so weird." Artemis crossed her arms. "Let's go here." She walked into a trendy clothing store. It smelled expensive. Artemis' skin crawled.

You glanced around. "I can't give her clothes. She has...clothes that can be anything."

"Just look around!" Artemis snapped. She saw you deflate in the corner of her eye. She should be nicer to you, but...you were so annoying. You moved away from her to look at the wall of perfumes.

Artemis made herself browse at the other side of the store, ignoring price tags and just looking. Like a normal girl.

***

You sniffed at a perfume. It could work for M'gann, except you didn't know if it would be like giving her clothes. You haven't noticed her making a scent when she shifted her clothes.

Biting your lip, you glanced over to find Artemis across the store. She held up a nice brown moto jacket to herself. A hint of a smile on her lips. You smiled too until her face dropped at the sight of the price tag.

"Well, well, well, you went shopping?" A creepy laugh followed. You turned to find Robin in civies with sunglasses over his eyes. He glanced over at Artemis. "With Artemis?"

You slapped a hand over his mouth. "Are you alone?" You looked around wildly. Your heart stopped when you saw Wally, Kaldur, and Roy standing outside the store with big soft pretzels. Kaldur eyed his while Wally and Roy munched down.

Rob pushed your hand away. "We all saw you two sneak off and got concerned since Artemis and you...never mind."

You pursed your lips, wondering what he meant. However, you had other concerns. "Conner and M'gann aren't with you, are they? Please tell me, they aren't?"

Robin snorted. "Those two are occupied." He crossed his arms. "What? Did you have Conner as your secret santa?"

"No, I have M'gann and I don't know what to get her!" You blushed as your eyes filled with tears. "I'm going to mess up Christmas!"

"Woah, stay whelmed." Rob held up his hands. "Deep breaths." He took a deep breath. You copied him. Your heart slowed down. "Why did you wait until last minute?"

"I would have spoiled it through the mind link at some point. You know how I get distracted, so I made myself not think about it until I knew we wouldn't have another mission." You took another deep breath. "And I asked Artemis because she knows a lot...but...you know she's not happy about it." You saw Artemis march over to Roy, Wally, and Kaldur. "But she said yes."

Rob hummed, rocking on his heels. "We can all help you out with that." He nudged your arm. "Come on, I have an idea."

You grinned, skipping after him. Robin always knew what to do, even if he liked to sneak up on people.

***

Kaldur watched as you, Dick, Wally, and Roy headed across the way into another store with bizarre decorations. Artemis groaned and flopped onto a nearby bench. She crossed her arms, muttering how this was all a waste of time.

"Would you like this..." Kaldur held out the untouched pretzel. He didn't like the look of it. Plus seeing Wally dunk it into some plastic-like yellow substance made Kaldur's stomach turn.

Artemis took it and bit a chunk out of it. Kaldur sat down beside her. He looked around at the bright, shiny walls of the mall. The crowds were lightening now as it neared closing time.

"It was kind of you to help (Y/N)." Kaldur smiled as he saw Wally teasing you. You stuck out your tongue in return.

"A mistake. They are so helpless." Artemis took another big bite.

Kaldur's heart fell slightly. He knew Artemis didn't have a high opinion of you and wasn't shy to voice it. She often didn't care if you heard. Kaldur had to comfort you more than once.

"I know (Y/N) can be challenging." Kaldur pursued his lips, carefully choosing his words. "Not everyone is raised with the same experiences. That is what makes the world a more...intriguing place."

Artemis eyed him. She swallowed. "I'm being nice."

Kaldur nodded. "You are." He met Artemis' eye. "(Y/N) thinks a lot of you." You gestured for both of them to join you. Artemis avoided his gaze and yours. Kaldur saw you frown.

"I got to go. Thanks." Artemis stood up suddenly and walked off. Kaldur watched her go with a sigh. He got up and joined you and the others, hoping his words sank in.

***

You brushed away Wally's hand as he reached to tug your hair again. "Where's she going?" You asked as Kaldur approached.

"I believe she is heading home. Her mother was expecting her," Kaldur said kindly. You nodded. Maybe she wanted to get home earlier too? That's probably why she snapped at you.

"I think you could go for something space." Roy held up a metal print of a space nebula.

"Isn't that racist? She's from Mars. It would be like getting Kaldur something from the ocean," you said, waving the print away. "It needs to be good."

Rob tugged you deeper into the store where they had a retro tv show section. Roy followed the two of you, hands deep in his pockets. You noticed Wally and Kaldur stayed back, whispering to each other.

Your face burned as goosebumps appeared on your skin. You hated when you felt like you did something wrong. Was asking Artemis wrong? They didn't need to worry about your feelings.

Honestly, you only cried once. You gotten tougher over the last few months, or at least you waited to cry until you were alone.

"Hey, you with us?" Roy nudged your arm. You gave him a quick smile and moved to look through another stack of metal prints.

Robin and Roy joked with each other. You sighed, moving to the next stack. Kaldur and Wally joined them.

Suddenly, right after you paged through several tv shows you didn't know, you came across a sparkly Hello Megan print.

"Yes!" You held it up like it was priceless.

"Look at that. She'd love it," Wally said, grinning. "And you didn't need anyone's help."

"Well, you did direct me to the right store." You hugged the print of your chest. "She's gonna love it. Too bad Artemis didn't stay to see it."

Roy scoffed, but Kaldur quickly elbowed him in the side. "She'll see it when we open gifts tomorrow," Roy said, rubbing his side.

You hummed, studying the print again. "It's perfect. Good thing you four stalked us to the mall." Robin and Kaldur blushed. Roy just smirked.

"Hey, I wanted to come to the mall anyway." Wally shrugged. You narrowed your eyes knowingly. He blushed as red as his hair.

"He really just wanted to follow Artemis," Roy mumbled in your ear before flopping an arm around your shoulders to lead you toward the checkout. "Come on, let's buy this thing and head out."

You let Roy pull you along, giggling in delight.

As you all headed out of the closing mall, you passed the clothing store you went in with Artemis. The moto jacket was still there. You bit your lip.

"(Y/N), are you coming?" Kaldur asked when he noticed you stopped. Robin and Wally were teasing each other. Roy stopped with you.

"I need to make another stop. Like really fast." You flashed them a smile and headed into the store.

***

"Ekam ti elkraps," Zatanna said, waving her hands. The Christmas tree in the center of the living room lit up. You clapped your hands.

"Thanks Zat. The lights were getting the best of me." You laughed, tossing the jumble of Christmas lights back into the box.

"No problem." She sneezed. Zatanna had been down with a cold for the last two weeks. She was finally back on her feet just in time for Christmas.

You were glad, especially since this was her first Christmas without her dad. It was your job to keep her busy per Black Canary's request. Of course, keeping people busy was your specialty.

Zatanna stared at the tree. You saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes. "Alright." You clapped your hands. She looked back at you, blinking rapidly. "I think all this work calls for some Christmas cookies."

"But those are for the party?" Zatanna crossed her arms. A genuine smile on her lips.

"Yeah, but we also decorated the place for M'gann, so the least she could do is let us have some early. Besides, Wally will eat them all if we don't get some now." You led her to the kitchen where M'gann was pulling more cookies out of the oven.

You made sure to not think about your gift for her, just in case she was listening to your thoughts.

M'gann's back was turned as you went to the cooling rack and stole two snickerdoodles with red and green sugar. Zatanna pointed to the M&M cookies and you took two of those too.

"You could ask," M'gann said without turning around.

"What?" Your eyes widened. You quickly handed the cookies to Zatanna. "Ask what?"

M'gann turned to look at you. She smiled and shook her head. "Enjoy your cookies and thank you doing the decorations."

Zatanna and you shared a look before giggling. "Thanks M'gann," Zatanna said as you both slipped away.

You took a big bite of cookie. Zatanna nibbled on hers. You both sat down on the couch in the living area and watched the tree sparkle away.

"Z, did you cast a spell on the tree?" Artemis came around the corner. She saw you and you saw a flicker of emotion in her eyes. You didn't know what that meant.

"Yeah, the lights got the better of us," Zatanna laughed, offering Artemis her other cookie. Artemis took it and sat down next to Zatanna.

You wanted to ask her if she was okay or at least thank her for yesterday, but you knew she wouldn't take it well. Besides, M'gann might overhear that you went shopping.

So you stayed quiet, listening in as Artemis and Zatanna talked.

***

"This is amazing!" M'gann gasped as she ripped off the paper to reveal the Hello Megan print.

You tittered, rocking back and forth while hugging your knees to your chest. You sat on the floor of the living area with Wally, Zatanna, and Robin. Artemis, Kaldur, Conner, M'gann, and Roy took the couch and chairs.

Wally poked your side. "She's gonna know it's from you if you keep doing that."

"They're excited. Shut up," Zatanna hissed, poking Wally. You took a deep breath and tried to calm down. However, you still felt like you could burst.

M'gann hugged the print to her chest. "Thank you so much, (Y/N)!" She looked at you. You grinned back.

"Wow, that was a quick guess." Roy rolled his eyes at your giddiness.

"(Y/N) broadcasted their delight. Like almost screaming it." M'gann laughed, handing the print to Conner before flying over to give you a big hug.

You hugged her back, giggling uncontrollably. "I'm glad you love it!"

M'gann pulled back and sat back next to Conner. Conner put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him. Your heart melted. Those two were always so cute.

"Not cool at all," Artemis muttered under her breath. You glanced at her to find her shaking her head at you. A jolt ran through you, but you quickly turned to blink away the burn in your eyes.

"Who's next?" Robin asked, looking around.

The exchanged continued. You played with the edge of your cozy blanket you had received as your gift. Taking a deep breath, you forced a smile on your face. You wouldn't cry on Christmas.

***

Artemis yawned as she made her way toward the zeta tube. Her new set of books under her arm. The party had died down. Artemis was the first to head home. Her mother was waiting for her.

"Hey Artemis," you said. She heard you jogging up behind her. She had to hold back the eye roll before turning.

"Yes?" She hugged her books to her chest. You stumbled a bit, tripping over the blanket you had wrapped around you.

"I..." You coughed, blushing slightly. "I wanted to thank you for coming shopping with me yesterday."

Irritation crawled up inside her. "You're welcome." She kept her face blank.

You smiled a little. Artemis took a deep breath at the moment of silence.

"Well, Merry Christmas." You pulled a nicely wrapped package from under your blanket and held it out.

Artemis flinched, blinking. "What's that?"

"A present." You bit your lip, looking down shyly. "For you. I know you...think I'm annoying. I'm working on it, I promise." You glanced back up at her. Artemis couldn't stop the guilt that sank her stomach. "Anyway, I hope you like it."

Artemis raised an eyebrow. "I got to get home."

"Yeah, have a good night." You waved, backing away before tripping over your blanket.

Artemis shook her head as you rushed back out of the room. She looked down at the present. It was nicely wrapped. Guess they aren't clumsy about everything, she thought.

She sighed before ripping it open. Her jaw dropped to the floor when she found the soft leather of the expensive brown moto jacket inside.

Setting her books on the ground, she slipped on the jacket. It felt smooth like butter. She hugged herself.

"Nice jacket," Wally said, walking into the room with a gift bag in hand. "Where you get it?"

Artemis pursed her lips. Rot ate her up inside. "(Y/N)."

Wally whistled. "It looks amazing, babe." He grinned. "(Y/N) must really like you. I know when I first met them, they gave me a PlayStation. I couldn't believe it."

"Really?" Artemis played with the sleeve of the jacket. "I should give this back to them."

"No, you'll just make them feel bad. They wanted you to have it." Wally held up his hands. "Listen, (Y/N) really cares about what you think of them." Artemis' eyes widened slightly. "So maybe...just try to be a little nicer to them...not that you're not." Wally blushed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

Artemis rolled her eyes. "I know I'm not, Baywatch." She let out of breath, admitting she always noticed that you took any comment she said hard. How many times had she made you cry? "I'll be nicer."

Wally grinned, nudging her arm. "Thanks."

Artemis punched his arm back. Wally dodged it, laughing. She snorted and picked up her books before trying to get him.

***

The next time you saw Artemis, she was wearing the jacket. You actually started jumping with excitement. However, you forced yourself to be cool as she approached you.

"Thanks for the jacket. I needed a new one." She met your eye before giving you a genuine smile. You felt your eyes widen as you couldn't recall another time she smiled at you.

"You're welcome." A big grin pulled at your lips. You rocked on your heels.

Artemis walked away to go to talk to Zatanna, who was across the cave with Robin. You watched her go, letting yourself bounce a little with glee.

M'gann flew up beside you and gave you a hug. You hugged her back. "Try to get back to whelmed," she whispered in your ear. You nodded, taking a deep breath. However, you felt that you could maybe count Artemis as a friend and nothing could be better than that.

[lettersnlines]

"Your Move"

Artemis Fowl x Reader | rivals to lovers | ~1.3k words | 

The table was silent.

Not just the table, but the whole clubroom. Dozens of games in progress, murmured calculations and fidgeting fingers—but no one spoke at the centre table. All eyes were on it. On you.

You sat straight-backed in your crisp school blazer, the deep navy fabric pulled tight over your shoulders, school tie knotted just so. Your skirt just above the knee, white socks folded neatly, polished black shoes tapping lightly against the linoleum floor.

Artemis Fowl II sat across from you, his own blazer immaculate, Saint Bartleby’s school crest shining subtly on the breast pocket. His tie was perfectly aligned, though the faint crease at his temple betrayed his concentration.

You looked like you were about to win.

And, of course, you were.

He wasn’t bad, of course. He was second in the class rankings. A genius, some said. Intimidating. Cold. Maybe even a little unhinged. But none of that mattered across sixty-four squares.

Because you were the first.

“Knight to d5,” you said coolly, flicking the piece into place with two fingers.

He didn’t flinch, but you saw the flicker in his eyes. Something shifting. Like a wire snapping tight.

Artemis Fowl, the young prodigy, had just realised he was losing.

And it was eating him alive.

He moved his queen. Pointless. Desperate.

You leaned forward slightly, resting your chin on your palm. “Are you stalling?”

He didn’t look up. “Merely delaying the inevitable.”

“Awfully poetic for someone down three pieces.”

That earned you the tiniest twitch of his lips.

Around the room, the other members tried to pretend they weren’t eavesdropping. You didn’t blame them. Chess club had been dull lately. No one had ever seen him rattled.

But this was different. He wasn't used to playing against real opponents.

You weren’t just good. You were unassuming. Consistent. Terrifying in how quickly you saw through him.

And, unbeknownst to most, you were also R. Schröde—the youngest woman to quietly win an international title under a pseudonym so cleverly constructed that only someone as insufferably brainy as Artemis could catch it. Of course, he had.

You were quite proud of the pseudonym you created, R. being Rosalind, the woman who basically co-founded the structure of DNA and Schröde being short for Schrödinger. 

Artemis hadn't said a word about it. But you saw it in the way he studied your opening. The way he tracked every single gambit like it was personal.

You mastered chess ages ago. Manipulating people, too. Artemis Fowl refused to fit in either category.

“Check,” you said softly.

His brows twitched. Just a fraction. But you felt the triumph settle in your chest.

He was recalculating.

And failing.

His fingers hovered over a rook, then dropped.

You leaned in a little. “Didn’t expect to lose today, did you?”

He finally looked up.

Those calculating clear blue eyes landed on yours, and you could’ve sworn—for a moment—he forgot where he was.

“No,” he said quietly. “But I should’ve.”

The room stilled.

You raised a brow. “That’s new.”

“You always play like you’ve already won.” He tilted his head slightly. “And I never quite account for it.” 

Your heart stuttered.

But your tone? As cutting as his ego deserves. “Maybe because I usually do win.”

He let out a low exhale—half a sigh, half a laugh as he moved his king out of check.

And then you moved your queen.

“Checkmate.”

The room broke into quiet murmurs.

A few people clapped, awkward and polite. The club president raised an eyebrow, clearly stunned. Artemis just sat there, staring at the board like it had personally betrayed him.

“I suppose,” he said after a long beat, “this is what defeat feels like.”

You leaned back in your chair, smug. “Sweet, isn’t it?”

He smiled faintly. “Like lemon and arsenic.”

You started gathering your pieces, brushing a hand across the board. But before you could leave, he spoke again—low, almost too casual.

“You know,” Artemis said, “I never come to club on Thursdays.”

You glanced at him.

“I noticed,” you said. “Why today?”

His gaze met yours.

“Because you were scheduled to play.”

Oh.

You blinked.

For someone who played life like a calculated risk, that sounded…reckless.

“I’m flattered,” you said slowly, suspicious.

“You shouldn’t be.”

“Why not?”

He tilted his head again, this time studying you like you were the puzzle. “Because the last time I willingly walked into defeat… I was trying to stop a goblin uprising.”

You couldn’t help it. You laughed. 

It was a soft sound—uncharacteristic, maybe. But genuine.

“Sure you did.”

Artemis blinked. Like maybe he hadn’t expected that.

Like maybe, somewhere in that ridiculously intelligent collapsing mind of his, he didn’t mind hearing it again.

“Well,” you said, standing. “Thanks for the match, Fowl.”

He nodded once, sharply. Almost military.

But as you turned to go, his voice caught you.

“Y/n.”

You stopped.

“I know it’s you,” he said softly.

You looked back. “What?”

“R. Schröde,” he said. “It’s you. The username. The titles. The blitz timings.”

You smiled.

Of course he knew.

“I didn’t say anything,” he continued, “because I thought maybe... you'd want to see if you could beat me without anyone knowing. If it was real.”

Your lips parted. “And?”

He shrugged, faintly. “You did.”

For the first time that day, you didn’t have a smart reply.

You just met his eyes, something shuddering in your chest.

“Alright,” you said quietly. “Until next time.”

He nodded again.

You turned to leave.

But you could feel his gaze follow you all the way out of the room—like a bishop watching from across the board, never in the right square. 

[thecontrolpanel]

🎤 › "New member is an idol" Young Justice character ai bot ! The reader will be referred by they / them pronouns :) [ Author's note : you can edit the introduction to whoever you want to be your mentor ! ]

The team of young justice would be chilling in the main base of mount justice. They talked to one another about whatever they had on their mind before hearing the Zeta tubes being activated. They paused and looked towards the Zeta tubes.

"06 - [Mentor name]"

"B - 08 Y/n"

Two people walked out of them which consisted of a member of the justice league and presumably their protégé , Y/n. Y/n walked behind their mentor , they were slightly nervous on meeting the team. Y/n were in there civilian attire which m'gann instantly recognized , they were someone who was apart of an idol group named "Requiem For A Fallen Rose" and was commonly nicknamed "The Siren of Sorrows" due to their powerful and angelic vocals.

"Team , This is Y/n. Y/n , this is the team. You'll be working with them for now on." their mentor said , gesturing towards Y/n then towards the team. A soft smile was on their mentor's face. They were clearly proud of their protégé. "hello! I'm m'gann!" She quickly said , flying towards Y/n , a giddy smile on her face. She was excited to meet one of her favorite idols! Although the other members weren't aware of the new team-member being an idol.

Young Justice Character Ai Bot

[reallyromealone]

Title: sleep overs

Fandom: DC

Characters: Young justice, Bruce, Jason, dick

Fic type: fluff

Pairings: Bruce x reader, Connor x dick

Warnings: male reader, reader insert, trans reader, ftm reader, pregnant reader, baby Jason, tween dick

Notes: fucking with the timeline and doing what I feel for the sake of plot

Summary: Young justice gets to have a sleepover at Wayne manor and Connor finds out something

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

(Name) Watched as the young justice league came in with sleeping bags and night bags and wandering into the livingroom, the tweens excited to have a night of movies and games "my aunty sent me with this for you, she says thanks for the date night!" Wally said happily and (name) chuckled but accepted the brownies, he and Bruce would be enjoying these upstairs and of course leaving some for Alfred.

"There's pizza and drinks in the dining room" (name) said kindly, knowing if that boy was anything like his uncle that the amount they bought would barely be enough, that being ten large pizzas for the group of them. Jason waved in Bruce's arms as everyone piled into the livingroom "I always forget how rich you are" Connor whistled at the huge tv "there's also snacks in the kitchen if anyone isn't feeling for pizza and such" (name) said and Jason wiggled out of his dad's hold, the 1/12 year old wanting to see these new people and specifically his big brother who was chatting with M'gaan and Kaldur'ahm about whatever it is.

"Didi!" Jason yelled excitedly and dick grinned at his brother "whats up, little man?" Dick let the boy crawl into his lap, the boy looking at M'gaan and began babbling and making sounds "well I think you have a very cool stuffed animal too" she said honestly and dick looked confused "I read his mind, he wanted to inform me about how he has a stuffed toucan named toukie and it's not real and it's his best friend"

"Jason, come on sweety it's time for your night snack!" Jason heard (name)s voice and abandoned the group, stumbling and using his brother's friends as support to get to his parents, Artemis chuckling when the babe held onto her for a second to stable himself.

The parents left the kids alone, planning to check on them after they get Jason to bed "now, do you want some milk or do you want apple juice?" Heavily heavily watered down apple juice but apple juice none the less, Bruce settling Jason on the counter and kissing his tiny socked feet to make him laugh while (name) grabbed the bedtime snack "mooooo!" Jason yelled while the other grabbed soft baby snacks and a filled bottle of milk "good job!" Jason grabbed it on his own and took a drink "we have like ten kids in our house" (name) said softly while watching Jason enjoy himself "why did we agree to this again?" Bruce asked cuddling his husband and (name) smiled "because you love your son"

"I do love him"

Jason let out a soft burp and looked at (name) with raised arms "let's go get you ready buddy, we're gonna have our own movie night!" He cheered and Bruce led them off to (name) and Bruce's room, Bruce pulling the boys pacifier from his pants pocket and popped it in his mouth. Changing the boy into his pajamas, the two listening to the tweens giggling and having fun downstairs "when you're bigger, you can have sleepovers too" (name) said to the boy who was already getting sleepy, all he needed was a nice cartoon to fall asleep.

"Why don't you two get comfortable and I'll go grab our stuff" that stuff being the wine and a few slices of pizza, Bruce saluting (name) off jokingly while letting his babe rest in his shirtless chest, knowing the contact soothed the boy. (Name) Went to the kitchen and grabbed the wine, listening to the loud giggles and games and thankful he got Alfred those noise cancelling headphones, wanting the man to get a such sleep as he could. It was nice seeing his son have so many friends, they were playing that racing game Dick was so obsessed with from what it sounded like "oh, hi Connor" (name) said softly to the teen, Connor always appreciated now gentle (name) was with him and took the time to talk with him."how's the farm? How's Clark these days? Are you doing good in school?" He asked and Connor smiled sheepishly "farms good, dad recently adopted a new livestock dog we named lady" he said taking a sip from his soda and (name) listened with rapt attention"Clarks good, him and Lo wanna take me to Disney this year for my birthday"

"Oh you will love that, how's school?"

"It's fine, I hate matb but everything else is pretty good"

"Well I'm glad you're going well..." (Name) Doted a bit and Connor smiled, (name) was like a second parent to him, the man fought tooth and nail and even went as far as to go to the Kent house with all the things he could need to help the Kent's ease caring for another child, Mrs. Kent chuckled at the others caring nature.

"And what's this I hear from the grape vine of you dating my son?"

"You know about that?" Connor said meekly and (name) chuckled "I know everything, if he ever acts like an ass you tell me"

"Of course sir, also congrats on the pregnancy!" He pointed to (name)s stomach "whatcha.... Whatcha mean there"

"I hear th heartbeat.... Oh wait... You didn't know did you?" Connor said softly and (name) let out a nervous chuckle "nope but thank you, saves a trip to the doctor" he pinched the tweens cheek and put the wine away "now go hang out with the tests, it's a sleepover for you all"

Connor left promptly and not without hugging the man who chuckled "thank you Connor"

When (name) returned to the bedroom and Jason was already in his nursery asleep, Bruce's ability to put these kids to sleep was truly magic "where's the wine?" Bruce asked while (name) crawled into bed "your dick is too powerful" he grumbled, pulling off his binder and Bruce raised an eyebrow "want to elaborate?"

"Get ready for baby three, daddy" (name) said simply and Bruce froze "another one?"

"Yup, we really need to start using condoms" (name) pat the others shoulder "good news, for the next nine months I can't get double pregnant!"

"Why are you like this?"

"You chose to marry me"

"And I haven't regretted it once"

(Name) Kissed him lovingly and opened his arms, letting Bruce be little spoon and snuggle (name)s chest "I checked the kids, Kal will narc on them if they do things they shouldn't" (name) kissed Bruce's forehead and the two put on a show, recently they got into fishing shows.

"I love you..."

"I love you too pretty boy"

[downthe-f4ndom-rabbith0le]

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) - Epilogue

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 2588 Warnings: death, violence, fighting, bloody wounds, angst, infuriatingly oblivious love interest, slowburn Spoilers: Young Justice Seasons 1-3 plot partially, but it ended in 2022 so catch up.

Y/N Prince - miracle daughter of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor - and Dick Grayson - first adoptive son of the Batman himself - have been best friends since day one. They went to school together, trained together, kept each other's alter ego secret from everyone else, and they founded the Young Justice alongside their friends together. 

But as time progressed, Y/N and Dick grew up and Y/N found herself wanting more than friendship with Dick. But he never seemed to indicate that he reciprocated her feelings. And when Wally died and Dick abandoned the team, Y/N realised he never would. So she heads to the one place she knows will help her become a stronger warrior so that one day she can take her mother's place: Themyscira.

Two years after his leave, Dick reaches out to his old friends to help him with a mission. But when he finds out Y/N left too, he chases after her in the hopes to bring her back.

However, when the two finally reunite, it isn't as warm as he hopes. Not to mention Themyscira becomes under siege as they go to war against Echidna, the Mother of Monsters in Greek Mythology, and her army of monstrous children.

Will Dick and Y/N be able to put their past behind them and save the Amazonians' homeland? Or will they fall, unable to tell one another their true feelings?

~~~

Y/N stared out over the wide expanse of sea rolled out before her, watching the white curls of waves tussle and crash against each other, against the sand beneath her feet. Sun beams cast the ocean in different shades of green and aqua, of deep blue and clear crystal. The wind was strong but not battering, tugging at the navy cape that draped down her back, pulling at her loose H/C strands of hair. Already filling the sails of the boat Calliope and other warriors readied for its departure.

It was a perfect day in all regards. The perfect day to travel home.

Home. The thought of seeing her mother again made Y/N smile, of seeing M'gann and Connor engaged, Kaldur and Artemis and all the rest. Y/N hadn't realised how much she'd missed everyone until now, how much she actually wasn't ready to never see them again. While Themyscira was beautiful and certainly a place she could belong to, it wasn't her time yet.

Wonderess was still needed in Man's World, and it was time she returned to it.

'You're all set, Princess.' Y/N turned around at the sound of Calliope's voice, facing her dear friend who looked at her with equal joy and sadness. Behind Calliope stood a small group of women, women who Y/N had trained and lived and fought with for months now. Women she loved and trusted her life with. It was hard for Y/N not to imagine those who weren't present then. Celeste, Andromeda - so many more that could've, would've, should've been there to bid them farewell.

All those who'd died had been buried on the tallest mountain side of Themyscira the day after the war ended. Even though their bones were broken and their bodies ached, nothing hurt more than the hearts of those who lived, grieving those that they buried that day.

That was over a week ago now, and here Y/N stood before some of the strongest people she'd ever known, helping her set off on another journey.

Y/N mirrored Calliope's smiled and pulled her friend in for a tight hug. 'Thank you, dear friend,' Y/N whispered, tears threatening to slip out because nothing she could say could express her deepest gratitude for Calliope. 'Thank you for everything.'

Calliope sniffled as she pulled away, her hands still remaining clasped to Y/N's arms. 'I believe it is I who should be thanking you, Princess. Or should I say, Godslayer.'

Y/N rolled her eyes at the nickname. Once word had gotten around that Echidna had died at Y/N's hands, there had been whispers of admiration spread across the island, Y/N quickly being dubbed "The Godslayer". While it was outlandish and slightly embarrassing, Y/N couldn't help but laugh.

'I never want to hear that name again,' she said, but she appreciated Calliope's attempt at making her laugh. While Y/N missed her old home, the thought of leaving Themyscira wasn't one that filled her with complete joy.

To the right of Calliope and the women, Y/N saw Dick standing with her grandmother, having one last chat it seemed before they left. Unlike Y/N - who donned the obsidian armour and leather sandals she wore in the battle, shield and sword at her side - Dick wore his jeans, white t-shirt, sneakers and leather jacket he arrived in, and the queen wore an elegant navy dress with gold bangles and a golden band that sat across her forehead, a star in its centre. Although an ageless woman, the Queen looked withered and more frail than Y/N had ever seen her before. It broke her heart to have to say goodbye, so Y/N said to Calliope in a low voice, 'Look after her for me, please?'

Calliope spared a short glimpse at her queen before turning back to Y/N and nodding. Calliope placed one hand over her armoured chest, resting just above her heart, and said, 'I'll look after them all. I promise.'

That was good enough for Y/N, and so she embraced her friend one last time before granting the same gesture to the other women. Soon enough Y/N stood before her grandmother and Dick. They were just finishing their conversation when she arrived, and both offered her gentle smiles.

Queen Hippolyta opened her arms wide. 'My darling girl,' she said affectionately, and Y/N didn't hesitate to accept the warm embrace of her grandmother. Y/N inhaled the hint of florals and sea breeze that emanated off her grandmother, attempting to savour every second of the moment because only gods knew when a moment like this would happen again.

As they pulled away, her grandmother cupped Y/N's cheeks so she could look her in the eyes. Tears sparkled in the crinkles of the Queen's eyes as she looked Y/N over. 'You have done wonderfully, Y/N. Oh, how you have grown!' Hippolyta let out a melancholic sigh as she let her hands drift down to Y/N's shoulders. 'You are so much like your mother. But I am so proud of you.'

Y/N smiled brightly even as her own tears threatened to spill down her face. 'I am going to miss you grandmother. I am going to miss everyone.'

'I will miss you too, dear,' the Queen said. 'Don't be a stranger now. Your mother, too. Hasn't visited me in half a century now.'

Y/N nodded and laughed. 'I'll be sure to remind her when I get home.'

The Queen went quiet all of a sudden, looking over Y/N contemplatively. Then she let go of Y/N, reaching for the band across her forehead. She easily slipped it from her head, black and greying hair strands falling loosely over her head as she did, and held it before Y/N. 'Here, take it. It is a symbol of your triumph, a force of protection. Thanks to you two,' she spared Dick a grateful glance before turning back to Y/N, 'I don't need it anymore. May I?'

Suddenly washed over with a wave of pride and esteem, Y/N nodded, then kneeled before her grandmother - her queen - and bowed her head.

'Y/N, daughter of Diana, vessel of Artemis and protector of Man's World,' the Queen started, 'I present to you the Crown of Queens, may it serve you as it has served many queens before you.'

Y/N felt the weight of the crown slip over her head until it nestled across her own forehead. It was cool to the touch, but by no means was it heavy. It sat perfectly, as if it had been made for her.

Queen Hippolyta pulled out the trapped hairs until everything rested right, then pulled Y/N to her feet.

'May it also bring you back to us in time,' her grandmother finished off, and finally tears poured down her creased cheeks. 'My dear, brave granddaughter.'

Y/N couldn't help but cry too as she embraced her grandmother one last time, whispering, 'Thank you grandmother. I promise to do my best. For all of you.'

'For yourself as well, I hope.' The Queen and Y/N finally pulled away from each other, tears wiped away but smiles beaming bright. Dick came to stand beside Y/N then, entwining his hand in hers.

'Ready to go?' Dick asked, and the way he looked at her told Y/N he would wait as long as she wished him to. Whenever she was ready, they would go, however long that would be.

It warmed her heart to think she could stay longer, to help with Themyscira's reconstruction, to relax a little more, but she knew it was time to move on.

Y/N turned back to her grandmother and said, 'You'll let me know if you need anything, right?'

'Please do not worry about us, Y/N,' Queen Hippolyta said, gesturing to the loud noise of shouting and construction ringing from the city above. 'We haven't survived for millennia for no reason now. We are Amazons, after all. We can do anything.'

Y/N smiled, happy with her response. She turned to Dick and squeezed his hand as she said, 'I'm ready. Let's go home.'

Just as they turned to step on the boat, the Queen said, 'Look after her for us, Richard Grayson. If not... well, you know what we Amazons are capable of.'

Dick had half a brain cell to look slightly scared, but he smiled his best and waved farewell. 'Have no fear, Your Majesty...' He then looked directly at Y/N, all trace of fear gone and in its place was pure love. 'I know now what's at stake.'

Y/N and Dick quickly jumped into the small sailing boat, its floor space mainly taken up by supplies for the long journey home. Calliope and the other Amazons helped pushed them off the beach and into open water, and soon enough, while Dick manned the steering, Y/N stood tall and waved goodbye to her home away from home. She stayed standing until she couldn't see their faces anymore, then sat down beside Dick who had set the steering so that they sailed in one direction.

'Know where we're going?' Y/N asked teasingly as Dick leaned back against the side of the boat.

Dick shrugged, but flashed her a cheeky grin. 'For the most part, I guess,' he said, resting his hands behind his head and closing his eyes as if he was preparing to fall asleep. 'Even if we don't end up back in America, we'll at least find some sort of land that will have an airport. And then we'll be in First Class heading back to Washington before we know it.'

Y/N rolled her eyes, hitting Dick's vulnerable stomach playfully, causing him to jerk upright into a seated position. 'If that happens, you better be paying. I haven't worked for months now.'

Once Dick recovered from the attack, he held up one finger. 'Correction, Bruce will be paying. Perks of being a billionaire's adopted son, I guess.'

Y/N gave him an unimpressed look that had Dick raising his hands in defence. 'Okay, okay, don't worry, I know where I'm going. Your friends gave us a world map and a compass to work with. And if you remember correctly, I aced orienteering in P.E. class.'

Y/N remembered fondly their days back in school, chuckling at the memories that came to mind. 'Ah yes, the one thing you were better at than me. I got so lost in New York that one school excursion. I burst out crying when you found me and lead me back to the rest of the group. I was so embarrassed.'

Dick chuckled at the memory, but his face softened as he looked at her intently, sincerely. 'Yeah, well, you were always better at everything else. Still are.'

The intensity of his stare had Y/N flushing with embarrassment, but she didn't look away because his cheeks bloomed red too. This caused Y/N to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.

'What?' Dick asked, eyes sparkling like the ocean they sailed upon. 'What's so funny?'

Y/N shook her head as she said, 'We're both two idiots, aren't we?'

'If anyone is an idiot, it's me,' Dick offered, taking her hand in his again, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. 'The truth is Y/N... I believe I've always loved you. From the moment you judo flipped me in Bruce's mansion up until now, I think I've fallen in love you a little bit every day. I just... didn't think a guy like me deserved someone as full of light and love like you. So I never entertained the thought further than just being friends. But please know that... no one came close to you, Y/N. Not then, not now, not ever.'

Y/N thought her heart would burst at any second if Dick kept talking so she pulled him in for a heart-pounding kiss, savouring it yet still disbelieving that this was actually happening. That he loved her - he loved her. After all this time, it had always been her for him, and that made her heart soar higher than the seagulls flying near the clouds.

When they pulled apart, Dick said softly, 'I'm sorry again that I made you wait for an idiot like me.'

'It's okay,' Y/N said back. 'You know why?'

Dick raised an eyebrow in question. 'Why?'

Y/N leaned in close, close enough that their noses brushed and they could feel each other's breath. 'Because you are going to spend the rest of your life making it up to me,' she said, pulling away suddenly with a chuckle as Dick leaned in further for a kiss. They both devolved into laughter as Dick jumped up to grab a piece of fruit for the both of them to snack on.

As he sat back down, passing Y/N an apple, he chuckled.

'What?' It was Y/N's turn to be confused, taking a bite out of the apple.

Dick was peeling a mandarine as he said, 'I've just realised something. Our parents are going to be so unbearable when they find out we're together.'

At the realisation, Y/N groaned in dread. 'Oh my gods, they are going to be so unbearable. I mean, how many years have they been saying that we'll end up together?'

'Since we met basically,' Dick answered, eating a piece of the citrus fruit.

'Gosh,' Y/N said, 'I can already hear my mum saying "I told you so!". It's going to be so bad.'

'No, Bruce won't be that obnoxious,' Dick added, 'He'll just smirk that the smug-ass smirk of his and then walk away. I'd rather him say "I told you so".'

'I guess,' Y/N said, looking at the open sea before them and envisioning arriving home to their parents. She envisioned the smiles on their faces, the hugs they would offer. It would be worth the teasing. 'But at least they'll be happy.'

She turned to Dick and smiled as bright as the sun above. 'Just like us.'

'I don't know,' Dick countered. 'I don't think anyone in the history of the world has felt happiness as I do now with you.'

Y/N rolled her eyes. 'Gods! You're the corniest person of all. No wonder all those girls dumped you.'

'Hey! I am a great boyfriend!' Dick argued, pouting slightly at her insult.

Y/N quickly placed a kiss on his cheek as an apology, saying, 'I guess I'm just going to have to find out for myself then.'

That brought a smile back to Dick's face, and Y/N couldn't quite believe that she was the reason. After all the secret glances, all of the silent cries for love, he was looking at her as she had always looked at him.

Or maybe she just hadn't noticed it before. The longing stares, the extra long touches; he was subconsciously reaching out to her with his heart, she had just refused to see the chance he offered her.

They were both fools, but fools in love, and now that they were both seeing with the same eyes, the world was that much brighter and more beautiful.

With Y/N's new power unlocked, she didn't need someone to hold her hand as she took on the world. But Y/N was glad Dick was by her side, that he was choosing to walk with her down this path that could sometimes be lonely and challenging.

Whether it had been by fate or by choice, it had always been Dick and Y/N from the start, and they would face whatever the world threw at them next together, as they had always done.

As they always will.

THE END

~~~

Tag List:

@valiantbouquetcloud | @epicy0n | @resistanythingbuttemptation | @lunaizhere | @nameunknownsthings | @tqrgvryen | @pariahsparadise | @edgycat | @b4tm4nn | @cynwing | @lilylovelyxo | @herondale-lightworm | @animeflower26 | @tiny-marie | @jedigrayson | @kookiemyfeelsposts | @whore-of-many-hot-men | @vxxviennne | @peachmartini | @jayn333-blog | @rory-cakes | @littleshadow17 | @lwtmonster91 | @levi-09

[swallowtailcherry]

Know Your Place {Apollo x Goddess!Reader} Smut

Summary: You eventually get tired of Apollo being himself so you decides to put him in his place.

Warning/s: 18+, femdom at the end (that part is a bit shorter😭)

I originally wrote this using an oc, but I changed it to a reader insert 😂

You watched as Apollo, god of music, poetry and many other things relaxed in a hot spring with multiple women playing and giggling.

You had a neutral relationship with the god. You never really liked him because of how egotistical and arrogant he can be. But you couldn't hate him fully. Not to mention, he'd often bother you (hit on you, as others put it) constantly because of your ethereal beauty, which pisses you off sometimes.

"Ladies, ladies! One at a time." Apollo said, laughing when a bunch of nymphs surrounded him. You frowned when some started gushing over him. You were near the hot springs, surprised he didn't notice you yet.

You were told to get Apollo because Artemis wanted him for something. You originally wanted to approach him while he was alone, but seeing the nymphs, you thought it was better to do it while they were there.

"I guess those nymphs are useful for something...." You thought, hopping on the rim of the hot springs.

"Hello, Apollo." You greeted the god. Apollo opened one eye and smirked, turning to face you.

"What brings you here, sweetheart? You never come here." Apollo asked playfully. You rolled your eyes and folded your arms.

"Your sister requires your presence. She sounded pretty peeved, so I suggest you go to her as soon as possible." You answered. Apollo sighed, getting up from the waters of the hot spring.

"Alright.... Ladies, you can go now." Apollo spoke to the nymphs, who immediately left while squealing.

"I can never get used to them squealing like that." You said, hopping off and walking away. She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Did you lie so you can be alone with me?~" Apollo purred in your ear, resting his hands on your shoulders. You scoffed and brushed his hands off.

"No, I didn't. Your sister really needs you." You replied, trying to stay away from him, but he followed you.

"Aw, come on, (N/n)! Just let me have this!" Apollo exclaimed dramatically, leaning against your back.

"Why me? You have a lot of women chasing after you!" You asked with irritation.

"Why not? You're ridiculously beautiful." Apollo wrapped his arms around your waist, rubbing your hips. He rest his head on your left shoulder.

"Your body.... It's so... Beautiful~" Apollo whispered, his hands moving up and down your waist.

"You know... I've never seen any woman with an amazing body like yours~" Apollo purred again, his hands groping your breasts. You slipped from his touch and gave him an pissed off look.

"You're such a bastard. One day, someone will take you down a notch." You said, walking away and leaving Apollo standing in place. The god smirked and walked away to cover up and meet his sister, who scolded him for not arriving sooner once he did.

You, on the other hand....

"Holy shit, that felt fucking amazing!" You thought, leaning against a wall and rubbing your fingers against your clothed core. The more you rubbed, the more you thought about Apollo. The more you thought about him fucking you.

You felt yourself self heat up so you moved your clothes to properly finger yourself. The moment your fingers entered your pussy, you let out some quiet moans. You started to go faster, throwing your head back as you felt your own fingers thrust in and out. You let out one loud moan when you felt your juices leak out. You pulled your fingers out, looking down at the mess you made.

"Fucking dammit...." You muttered under your breath, cleaning yourself up and standing up, fixing your clothes up. You also fixed your hair and made your way to your home.

_

Once again, you were alone with Apollo, but this time, you wasted no time in getting in the hot springs. You took off all your clothes and steps in, hoping for some peace and quiet. You just wanted to enjoy the waters.

"Oh? Unusual to see you naked, (N/n)." You jumped up in surprise, seeing Apollo right next to you with his usual smirk.

"I can't just jump in with my clothes on. I'll ruin them." You said, trying to avoid his wandering gaze.

"Fair point. But still, never saw you naked before, and I'm not complaining at all." Apollo leaned against you, brushing his hand against your thigh. You jolted up, moving away from the god.

"What the hell?!" You exclaimed, using you r arm to cover your breasts, which were large and voluptuous. Apollo saw that and moved closer, moving your arm down and saw your erect nipples. He moved his hand to your breast, massaging it and pinching your nipple. You let out a shocked gasp.

"Such soft breasts...." Apollo mumbled, positioning himself behind yoo and took both of your breasts in his hands. You hissed out, trying to move away from the god, but you felt too weak in his hold.

"Let's go somewhere else." Apollo whispered, standing up and picked you up, walking to a more secluded area and positioned you back against the wall. You didn't know where to put your hands, so you put them on his shoulders.

"Here, let me move your legs." Apollo said, lifting you by the thighs and pinned you against the wall. His erect cock throbbed against your leaking pussy, sending shivers down your spine. The god notices and pressed his fingers against your labia.

"We haven't even started and you're already soaking wet. What a whore~" Apollo cooed playfully, inserting two of his fingers inside your wet cunt. Your eyes widen at the feeling of his fingers inside your. Unlike your own fingers, His were more bigger and rougher, which gave you more pleasure.

"Ah- oh~" You moaned out, watching as his fingers went in and out. You felt yourself cum within a minute of him fingering you, coating his fingers with your juices. Apollo looked slightly surprised by how fast you came, but he smiles mischievously, bringing his fingers to his lips and licked them.

"You didn't last a minute with just my fingers. So desperate of you~" Apollo said seductively, licking up all your juices. He pressed his erect member on your wet pussy.

"I wonder.... How fast will you cum when I do this?" As he finished his question, he thrusted his cock inside you, letting out a shuddering moan at the tightness of your cunt.

"Fuck!.... You're so tight..." Apollo hissed out, moving his hips slowly, his length hitting your g-spot every time. You rolled your eyes back, letting out countless moans. You even let out some yelps when your g-spot was hit.

"So voluminous~" Apollo moaned out, speeding up.

"You're going so fast...!" You gasped out, your eyes fluttering when he pulled her closer, giving her a hard kiss. You moaned into the kiss, your mind slowly being filled with nothing but clouds and the intense pleasure the god was giving you at this moment.

Apollo moved his hips at inhuman speeds, his hands now holding her wrists up above your head. You knew you was getting close from how you were seemingly sucking his cock in.

"Shit! I'm getting close-" you hissed out, wrapping your legs around his waist, which brought his cock further inside you.

"I am, too...." Apollo huffed out, leaning forward and pressing his lips against your own. Feeling his cock twitch continuously against her fleshy walls, you felt the urge to cum.

"Milk my cock. I know you want to~" Apollo purred in your ear. You were too caught up in the pleasure you couldn't reply to anything he said. After Apollo rubbed your clit roughly, you released all over his cock. A few seconds later, Apollo's seed shot out inside you. Both of them panted heavily, looking into each other's eyes.

"Good girl." Apollo said, tracing his fingers across your lips.

"I'll... I'll... I'll..." You slurred out.

"You'll what? Please, finish that." Apollo teased with a smirk.

"I'll get back at you..." You finished. A chuckle rumbled in Apollo's chest and he leaned in, giving your a soft kiss.

"I'd like to see you try~"

_

"Mmmph!~"

You grinned as more moans came out of Apollo's lips, only muffled by a white cloth you used to tie around his head.

"Let's get you nice and ready~" you said, kneeling down right in front of his throbbing cock. You put your hands on his thighs, poking your tongue out and gave it some long licks. The woman felt his body twitch from the licks. You stopped, making the twitching god look at you.

You pressed your lips against the tip, feeling some pre cum leak out.

"You're really that close? We haven't even gone to the best part~" you laughed. The woman opens your mouth and puts his cock inside, slowly moving your head up and down. Apollo wanted to push your head further, but couldn't due to the cloth tied around his wrists. You increased the speed, gripping Apollo's thighs. Just as he thrusted his hips up, his seed shot out into your mouth. You moved your head up, your mouth hanging open as his seed leaked out from the corners of your lips.

"Suppose I can't blame you. You've came about four times now~" You purred, tracing your finger around his tip. Apollo's gold eyes were half shut and his chest was rising up and down slowly. You noticed how there was some tears in his eyes. You got up from between his legs and crawled beside him, smiling as his eyes moved to meet yours. As soon as you took off the cloth tied around his mouth, he took a deep breath.

"Fuck..." Apollo gasped out, poking his tongue out. You wiped your lips and leaned forward, giving him a kiss that lasted for a full minute.

"You seem to be enjoying this~" You said, rubbing your fingers against his chest. Apollo slowly nodded his head, the tears slowly sliding down the sides of his face. You got on top of him, adjusting yourself right above his cock. You only stopped when you felt the tip brush against your wet clit. A quiet whimper escaped Apollo's lips.

".... Yourself on me...." Apollo mumbled.

"What's that? Speak a bit louder~" You said.

"Lower yourself on me!" Apollo hissed out in frustration, trying to thrust his hips up. Your moved your hips up, giving him a teasing smirk.

"Uh uh uh. You must ask nicely~" You said, waving your finger. Apollo huffed and took a deep breath.

"Please ride me...." He mumbled, looking away. Satisfied with his words, you lowered yourself on his cock, feeling it enter your pussy. You slowly breathed in and out, bouncing up and down on his cock.

"Yes.... Just like that...." Apollo gasped out, wiggling his wrists, struggling to break free. You leaned forward, using your hands to support yourself on Apollo's chest.

"I missed your cock inside me..." You gasped out, laying on top of Apollo and leaving kisses on his bare chest. Apollo moved his head up, some deep moans escaping his lips.

"Your pussy... Feels so good~" Apollo slurred out, hissing through his clenched teeth as he feels your walls suck his cock in. He let out a loud moan when your walls clenched around his cock harder than before, your juices leaking out and coating his cock. You continued to bounce on his cock, letting out a gasp when you feel his member twitch inside and his hot seed painted your walls, filling you up. You breathed slowly, collapsing on top of the god with a tired but satisfied look on your face.

"Told you I'd get back at you~"

[athenagc94]

Dear Daddy Long Legs - Chapter 28

Jason Todd x Fem!Reader

TW: Blood (not overtly described) and smoking

First | Prev | Next

Chapter 28

The letters stopped immediately. 

Jason expected that would happen, but it didn’t stop him from religiously checking the PO box for the next week. When it was clear he wouldn’t be hearing from you, he reached out to Tim to amend the scholarship. No more letters, no more contact. You would still get your money if you chose to accept it, but he had the sinking feeling that now that you knew where it was coming from, you’d decline the scholarship altogether. He would hate to see you put your dreams on hold to prove a point, but you were stubborn like that. 

Crime Alley had snuffed another dream. 

Who was he kidding? He couldn’t blame this on Crime Alley. It was his fault, and his alone. 

Steph was right all along. He inserted himself where he ought not to be, and now he had to face the consequences of doing so. He had a bad habit of ruining good things, so why not taint what he had with you? His intentions were good, but good intentions had a way of coming back to bite him in the ass. It was easier to do dubious things and hope he stumbled into good along the way. 

You asked for time, and he respected that. The execution of his confession was far from perfect. It wasn’t a confession at all. You found the truth yourself while he stood there like a gaping fish. Even when the opportunity to tell the truth presented itself on silver platter, he had to go and spit in it. 

Jason had to trust that you’d reach out when you were ready. Or maybe that was the last time he’d ever hear from you. 

He tried not to think about it. 

He couldn’t. 

Not unless he wanted to go to a very dark place. 

So, instead of crashing out like every instinct told him to do, he settled on something more (barely) productive. He passed the Black Mask case to Tim, including full reign of his territory and all the evidence he gathered over the last few months. Tim might have had something snarky to say, but Jason wasn’t around to hear it. 

He skipped town shortly after, leaving his phone behind so no one could bother him. The temptation to check his phone every five seconds for a message from you was too strong. There wouldn’t be one, so it was easier to leave it behind. 

Artemis and Bizarro waited for him with a long list of clients seeking their expertise. It promised a hefty paycheck and a perfect distraction, so Jason jumped at the opportunity to drown himself in mercenary work. 

It worked for the first week. 

But as time wore on, the darkness found him. Work could only do so much. It couldn’t protect him from the quiet nights when he was left alone with his thoughts, with his regrets. He couldn’t escape, no matter how hard he tried to distance himself from the mistakes he left behind in Gotham. 

Running wasn’t working. 

Again. 

So, crash out it was. 

That was how he found himself here, pinned to the ground by a harpy. At least, that’s what he was calling it. Artemis vehemently denied his claim. But he saw the body of a bird and the head of a beautiful woman. If not a harpy, then why harpy-shaped? He’d read the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, and yes, he did see the fucking irony now. 

Their most recent venture led them to Crete, yet another check mark in the totally a harpy box, by the way, to find a relic for their client. He was a collector of rare pieces of Mediterranean origin, though he was painfully vague on the details save for a few amphoras that depicted a hidden temple of Zeus. A lot of people would cry myth, but ya know, Jason had dug himself out of the grave and he was currently wrestling with a harpy, so anything was possible. 

Hooked feet pierced the leather of his jacket and dug into the meat of his shoulders as it dragged him across the remnants of a cobbled street. Where was it taking him? He wasn’t too keen to find out. 

Jason twisted in its grasp, ignoring the way its talons shredded his skin as he wrenched himself free. Reaching for his gun, he only allowed himself a second to compose himself before he shot. His bullet clipped its wing, passing harmlessly through its feathers. 

Damn it. 

He tried again. 

It dodged at the last second, impossibly fast as if it were made of the gales it rode on. Feathers flitted around him like petals in springtime. This is what he got for rushing headfirst into the ruins without the others. He, honestly, didn’t remember doing so. One second, he was with the others, doing some light surveillance of the area, and now he was here. 

As the harpy doubled back to come at him again, he closed his eyes and braced himself for impact. 

He deserved this. 

If Jason hadn’t lied. If he told you the truth from the start. None of this would have— 

Artemis lunged at the harpy, her sword arcing in a clean sweep that severed its wing at the joint. Brackish ichor sprayed from the wound, coating her blade like an oil slick. It fell heavily on its side, its dulcet birdsong shifting to a haunting wail. With a hard look on her face, Artemis drove her blade down on its throat, silencing it for good. 

When it stopped twitching, she turned her glare on him. “Your masculine audacity astounds me sometimes.” 

“Yeah, same. Where’s Biz?” 

“Finishing off the others. Sirens travel in packs.” 

Jason pressed his hand over the gash on his shoulder to staunch the flow of blood. “Sirens? No way.” 

“Modern mythos has warped their image to resemble that of a fish woman, but that was undoubtedly a siren. She lured you with her voice, not that you seemed to notice until she had you pinned. You are fortunate this one liked to play with her food.” She flicked the blood from her blade. “You would have known the dangers if you waited like we discussed. You are a mess, Todd.” 

He smiled through the pain as Artemis yanked him to his feet. The strength behind it nearly pulled his arm clear from its socket. “Tell me something I don’t already know.” 

She crossed her arms, unimpressed. “I am sending you home.” 

Home. God, he hated that word. “You can’t bench me.” 

“And yet, I just did,” she said with a knowing slant of her brow, “I refuse to sit back and watch you get killed because you have decided to lose all sense of self-preservation. Whatever happened in Gotham is no concern of mine until it effects business. I—” 

“She no care for you.” 

Her eye twitched as Bizarro touched down next to her. A siren had slashed through his shirt to reveal the unblemished pectorals beneath. Must be nice to have skin tougher than steel. 

“It is unfortunate that I am put into a position to tell you that this is not the way to work through your feelings. As they say, it is the pot calling the kettle black. However, that would insinuate that pots and kettles are equal, and they are not. You are a flimsy kettle.” 

If Jason wasn’t actively bleeding, he might have had a leg to stand on, but now wasn’t the time to argue with her. “Gee, thanks.” 

“She says it to be mean,” Bizarro said sympathetically, “You are doing great. You no need to go back.” 

He shook his head. “I can’t go back to Gotham.” 

“Once, I would have loved to hear you say those words to me. I had wanted it more than you realized, but that is why I know you must. As much as I hate to admit it, you cannot quit that city. Nor can you quit its people.” Her gaze sharpened. “None of them.” 

Not even you. 

“So, what? You want me to fly back without a fight?” 

“Unless you would rather swim home? I hear the Mediterranean is balmy this time of year.” 

Jason grimaced. “I hate you.” 

“The feeling is mutual.” Her tone suggested the opposite. “I do hope that you can return to us in peak form eventually, but it is clear to me that you are simply running.” She placed a hand tentatively on his arm. One would almost say comforting, but Artemis would never admit that. “And I would like to meet the one that has so thoroughly fucked with your head. It seems she does not put up with your shit. An admirable quality.” 

Bizarro peeled back the strips of leather and Kevlar to study his wounds. “We no want to meet her. So, you fuck this up.” 

Jason laughed despite himself. If only they knew the half of it. He hadn’t been the most forthcoming of what went down between you and him, but it seemed they’d filled in the blanks themselves. 

“Yeah, we’ll see.” 

*** 

Jason recalled the night he met you. 

Your yellow hoodie, the strings chewed to pieces. 

Your worn copy of Wuthering Heights. 

The wariness in your gaze he’d grown fond of. 

Your conversation made his return to Gotham feel a little warmer, but that wasn’t the case this time. He arrived outside his main safehouse without preamble. It looked the same as the day he left it, untouched and uninspired. It was moments like this that he missed the organized chaos of your studio. 

He shrugged off his jacket and trudged across his living room, pointedly ignoring the phone he’d left on its charger in the kitchen—right next to Viola, the plastic succulent.  

A warm front pushed in while he was gone, leaving the air thick. He shoved open the window that led out onto the fire escape. Time had long-since corroded the lower landing, but his remained sturdy despite the creak of the grate under his boots. 

Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a carton of cigarettes he purchased from the bodega around the corner. A year had passed since he last smoked. It was a bad habit Jason returned to when life felt particularly bleak. It hung loose between his lips as he brought the lighter to the end. 

The familiar burn of nicotine filled his lungs. It didn’t help, per se, but it felt productive. Thin strips of smoke seeped through his teeth as he flicked some ash over the railing.  

Per Artemis’ demands, he came back. 

Now, what? 

Jason ran his fingers through his hair. He should have considered his next steps on the plane, but what he did next depended entirely on you. If you didn’t reach out, he wasn’t about to bully his way back into your life. 

“That’s a nasty habit, ya know?” 

He sputtered, choking on his next inhale. 

That voice. 

Babs said he was out of the country. 

Dick hoisted himself over the edge of the railing, dressed in his street clothes. He made it look effortless as he twisted into a handstand that pulled the fabric of his shirt taut across the lean muscles on his back. Show off. With a soft grunt, he shoved off and stuck the landing beside him. The grate groaned under their combined weight, and Jason felt less certain about its structural integrity than before. 

“So, I’ve been told.” He offered him the carton. 

Dick pulled one out and pressed it between his lips. Jason lit the end and watched as he took a long drag with the grace of someone who’d done it before. Only Jason knew the truth. Dick had been the one to teach him how to blow smoke rings, not that any of the others would believe that little Dickie would ever smoke. It was a memory he held onto like precious gold. 

“When did you get back?” 

“About three weeks ago,” he said with a half-smile, “Tim told me you skipped town.” 

And yet, he’d miraculously appeared the very night he got back. Jason could smell the bullshit from a mile away. “Who sent you to check in on me? Artemis?” 

“Please, we both know she’d have sent Roy.” 

“She still might.” 

“Then it’s a good thing I got here first.” Dick knocked shoulders with him. “Between you and me, Roy gives shit advice.” 

“Is that why you’re here? You give shit advice too.” 

“Rude.” Dick leaned against the railing. Despite his grumbling, Jason shifted over to make room for him. “Here I am, trying to be a good big brother, and this is the welcome I get.” 

Their relationship was complicated. Familiar, but complicated all the same. Case in point, this was the first time he’d seen Dick in almost a year because he couldn’t sit still for more than five minutes.  

Jason couldn’t shake the hooks that Gotham used to drag him back, but Dick, he was desperate to spread his wings and fly. 

He’d always been that way, even back before he died. He rarely came home, too busy being a hero and making a name for himself that was separate from Batman. Having him for a brother was like that sibling that was always away at school. 

Some things didn’t change, but that had. 

Dick tried to be more present for Tim, for Damian. With every new member that joined the Bat family, Dick went out of his way to make them feel welcome. Jason knew things had changed. His death may or may not have had something to do with it, but Dick never confirmed that it had, and he never asked. 

“Alright, fine, if Artemis didn’t send you, who did?” 

“Would you believe it if I said Bruce?” 

Jason blotted out his cigarette. It wasn’t scratching the itch like he hoped it would. “No.” 

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.”  

His laugh skittered across his bones as he took another drag. It had always been vaguely unsettling, but he’d toned it down around others. Not with him. When it was just the two of them, he dropped the pretense. Dick was far from the golden boy everyone claimed he was, and he allowed himself to relax around Jason who had seen the wrinkles in his facade long before he smoothed them out. 

“Alfred asked me to check in.” 

“Now, that’s more believable, but barely.” 

Dick puffed his cheeks. “Alright, fine, he didn’t actively say those words either, but it was heavily implied. I’ve learned to read between the lines.” 

And that was more believable still. Jason flicked and unflicked the lighter, watching as the flame danced on it wick. “Why doesn't anyone in this fucking family knows how to communicate?” 

Dick shrugged. “No idea. Probably why you’re in this mess now, yeah?” 

He shot him a narrow look. “What do you know?” 

“Enough. You’ve taken a page from the Tim Drake school of using fake names with the girl you like. Bold move. Not what I would have done, but we can’t all be perf—” He couldn’t even finish that statement without bursting into another peel of laughter. 

Jason flipped his lighter off. “Are you here to give advice or do you just want the credit for saying you did?” 

His expression turned more serious. “I was waiting for you to ask for it. Something tells me that’s as close as I’ll get, so here it is. You made a bad call, but that doesn’t mean all is lost. She already knows you have a vigilante identity and that’s, honestly, half the battle in our line of work.” 

“She seemed to like Red Hood a lot better than she liked the man under the mask.” That wasn’t true. Not even a little bit, but if he said it out loud, maybe he could convince himself it was. Your silence might hurt less if he believed Red Hood was the true object of your affection. 

“It’s because you never gave her a chance to know Jason Todd.” 

If anyone else in their family saw fit to appear suddenly outside his apartment, spouting the same bland ass advice, Jason would have started shooting, but Dick said it in earnest. He sat with his suggestion for a few moments as Dick finished off the rest of his cigarette.  

There were no expectations beyond his thoughtful reflection.  

He knew Jason well enough to know he couldn’t be forced to draw a conclusion before he was ready. 

And he was right, of course. 

You knew him, but not really. There were aspects of his past that fundamentally shaped who he is as a person, and you deserved to know about them. He never gave Jason Todd a chance. 

When Jason finally nodded, Dick flicked his cigarette butt over the railing. “So, when do I get to meet her?” 

“Never, if I can help it.” 

“Prick.” 

“Dick.” 

They shared a conspiratorial smile. “I missed ya, man.” 

“I’m right here.” For better or for worse, Jason was here. Gotham was his home, whether he liked it or not. But if it meant spending the rest of his life with you, maybe this city wasn’t all bad.  

“I’m not going anywhere.” 

*** 

In the serene quiet that followed Dick’s departure, Jason settled at his kitchen table, daunted by the blank sheet of paper laid out in front of him. Dick made it sound simple, but nothing about his life was simple.  

You deserved to meet Jason Todd. Not just the bad parts, not just the parts that were vaguely bittersweet parts, but the good parts as well.  

And there were good parts of his life. 

He decided a letter was the best way to tell his story. It was more romantic, and Jason was nothing if not a bleeding poet at heart. 

As he brought pen to paper, one thing became clear. 

He was going to need a lot more paper. 

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

A/N: I overcame my fear of writing Dick Grayson. Anyway, we're on the homestretch, friends. Two chapters left.

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

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Let me know if you want to be added!

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[shmowder]

sometimes I want the reader insert character to be the cool and capable person in the ship dynamic, you feel me?

A Sherlock Holmes-esque reader who treats Daniil like your own personal Watson. Completely blowing him (haha) out of the water when it comes to deducing skills and reasoning. It takes him much longer to arrive at the very same conclusions you've reached hours ago. You're like an encyclopedia of both everyday funfacts and obscure tadbits you've collected over the ages.

Artemy is the best surgeon in the town? Say less. Reader is actually the second coming of Dr. Frankenstein (college dropout included, but you still insist on the honourific). You've had to dig and sew more body parts for all of your wacky experiments than you could possibly keep track of. You're the textbook definition of a mad scientist, defiling nature every Tuesday before going out for brunch.

THEY should be the ones who are beyond impressed by your skills and wit. THEY are the ones fawning over your genius abilitie.

Dankovsky fixing his carvat and nervously brushing back his hair before entering any room you're in. The Bachelor of Medicine literally has to take 5 minutes of mentally preparing himself outside the door just not to make a fool of himself in front of you.

Artemy is not succeeding at suppressing his expression of astonishment when you casually stich up his wound with one of the cleanest stiching he's ever seen. Taken back at how "at home" you seem surrounded by stray organs and dead bodies, even a "scary hulking butcher" like him used to be queasy around blood. Which makes it ten times harder to swallow down the fact someone as classy looking as you, who supposedly came from one of the most prestigious academic circles the Capital has to offer, doesn't bat an eye at his line of work. Even calling some of his lines... amateur looking, offering to hold his hand through the incisions.

I'm fucking tired of the reader being their cutesy personal cheerleader, the one who comforts and encourages them. For once, they're the ones desperate to measure to a speck of your accomplishments.

[mytho-maniac-108]

For some reason I cannot explain, Hera in the Iliad seems to be directed at the readers much more than the other gods. Like yeah Apollo is throwing around plagues, and Aphrodite and Ares are being cutesy whenever they get the chance and Athena is super strong girlboss who wins everything and then you have Hera.

Everything she does is followed by someone giving her some sort of pithy or advice. It's almost as if she's made to do things she should not do as a way to educate other women (or men, Idk if many Greek women could read). It's always like: "your husband will tell you if he thinks you should know something", and "if you disobey your husband you're a/an <insert every horrible name a woman can called>".

Like her being Queen gets her no respect?? Even Iris (who is her definite subordinate) and Artemis (a younger female of her household) have no problem disrespecting her??

[deadchannelradio]

ϟ for IRIS Log #1548, the moment(s) that made me the sicko in the window was a) when dick thought jason and cass had blown up and b) when jason asks to throw up and bruce was like "he's always been this way" there is just SO MUCH conveyed in this fic through dialogue it's amazing

THANK YOU it was a joy to write even though the formatting possibly made me worse as a human being. i think my biggest HAHHA... YES!!!! moment. hm.

"(01:43) Red Hood: Stop telling them secrets. I’m private. I don’t like you.

(01:43) Batman: (Sighing) I know."

this is a full sickos moment to me. talking past each other. Jason is not being serious- he would say the same thing in this instance to Roy or Kory or Dick or Artemis, (etc). All of whom are people he does really like and respect, and who would respond in different ways but would not think he's being serious (for the most part. Dick would ignore it, but because he and Jason don't talk about their relationship, Jason thinks that's the same thing as Dick thinking he's joking. oops!) Bruce, however, is taking him seriously. They've lost the ability to listen to each other and to phrase things in ways that the other understands, and in absence of communication comes assumptions, which are any relationship death knell and are for sure murdering this one. Jason thinks Bruce doesn't love him anymore, feels disowned and abandoned. Bruce thinks that his love for Jason is unwelcome and unwanted and tries to keep it from him so that it doesn't make Jason angrier for feeling parental things about Jason that Jason doesn't want from him. (insert my unpublished bruce and jason relationship analysis here). FULL sickos to me in 2 lines.

Something that never made it into the fic which i regret now is that Dick ordered Damian off of comms not because of the sex jokes (although that Is what made him remember damian was on there, just because that's when damian spoke for the first time since the direct crash aftermath) but because he didn't want damian on the line if they all ended up listening to jason have a serious medical emergency and perhaps dying. damian is aware of sex. talia is a doctor. bruce does sex ed regularly and it's only moderately traumatizing. Damian however has seen and heard enough people die that it doesn't even occur to him that that could be something Dick is worried about, and if Dick says that it's the issue he was thinking of in front of everybody Damian is going to start talking about how that doesn't bother him and how hardened he is to death and that Will make dick feel worse!!!!!!! haha. yes... yes!!!!! (sickos)

and my littlest one. for the longest time at the very beginning it was just "Selective Line, Batman, Robin:" because I wanted to convey to the reader a sense of the structure in the beginning so that when it changed later it would not be a surprise or feel like bending the format to the story instead of making the story fit the format, but I didn't actually know what to put there, so it just floated there, alone, mocking me. And finally we figured that they should be arguing about damian going to go and visit Dick in bludhaven for the weekend (sickos moment on many levels), and then Damian pulling out his secret weapon of calling talia, but not for himself. Specifically for her to visit jason. Bruce can be regular about talia in his own way in most circumstances but in the context of jason and talia he becomes the fucking grinch.

Damian does not end up calling Talia. Talia busts into the hospital to read his chart and heckle everyone about his care and treatment while Jason's still waking up from his long ass orthopedic surgery and Damian goes and hangs out with Dick while Bruce is in the hospital with Jason. LOL. Everybody wins!! not bruce though. bruce wins talia interacting with jason in front of him, and a migraine.

anyways. im glad that the background characterization threads running through this fic were notable to people who weren't just me <3

ask meme

[lettersnlines]

My Request Rules n Character List

My inbox is currently open for requests!

If you'd like to see any of my works, check out randomusername4now on wattpad!

RULES

I only write reader x characters

Please only ask thru my ask box! If you request thru anywhere else you will be ignored.

I hold the right to not complete a request which makes me uncomfortable in any way!

I WILL NOT WRITE:

Smut

Incest

Poly

Someone explicitly dealing with SH or an ED

Male readers

Character List:

Klaus Baudelaire

Peter Parker

Percy Jackson

Luke Castellan

Artemis Fowl

Miguel Diaz

Robby Keene

Johnny Lawrence

Daniel LaRusso

[scribe-cas]

Incase anyone hasn't asked about it yet:

Explain yourself

U H

Ahem

Okay so basically-

The doc itself is empty. I scrapped the idea soon after I came up with it.

However, the themes I was dabbling with was one where it was a self insert where you as the reader who was the dancer, and Artemis is a first time customer who’s there with friends, clearly uncomfortable, so you go over to them under the guise of seduction as per your job, and instead get them out of the room so that they can have a chance to breathe. It wasn’t gonna be a whole series, just a fun little oneshot with implications of a budding relationship at the end. It’s the thought of “oh, well, this is what I’m payed for, but it’s clear that isn’t what you need, so despite risking myself getting hurt, I’m going to take a risk and be human with you. Just really quick.” Which is one of my favorite- emotions? To put into writing.

“This is my purpose, but right now that isn’t what you need.

Come here and see who I am underneath it” fucking wrecks me

I get ruined by that shit. Every time.

But yeah, now that I’m thinking about it, I may go back to it. Just for some writing practice. <3 thanks for asking, actually

You brought back my happiness for the idea-

[night-dark-woods]

20, 44 and, as a Baru Cormorant enjoyer, 46? :)

20. Where and how do you find new books to read?

usually from my beloved friends and mutuals, or people i follow whose book taste i agree with. or if authors i like mention the books! i have a Long list to get thru from seth dickinson's reddit ama still- off the top of my head, Downbelow Station & Wolf Hall are the ones at the top of that pile? thats also where i got Blindsight from, and its REALLY fun to see what has influenced his writing! also the ranged touch boys, though i suppose that falls under people i follow, just not on social media.

44. The book(s) whose stories have become part of your very makeup.

absolute top of the list is the original Alanna series. i read those so many times. i read the other Tortall books as well, but none were ANYWHERE near as formative (shocker) as a girl pretending to be a boy so she could become a knight. for some reason, i also was never as interested in the later books in the series once she's living as a woman... (/s). other runners up are the Redwall books, The Hero and the Crown, Artemis Fowl, the Old Kingdom series, the Bartimaeus series, and Tithe/Valiant/Ironside. I think most if not all of my tastes in media can be traced to one or several of these books.

46. I like _____, recommend me a book to read, please (insert a book, or trope, or character, or... anything you like before asking for this one).

FIFTH SEASON BY N K JEMISON. incredible incredible character writing, deals with some similar topics (trauma, the ways people often end up enforcing&perpetuating the same systems that harmed them) and most importantly is just very very VERY good. i think it should be required reading for all sff fans to be completely honest. it also has... a lot more faith in the reader than i find Seth has often? like i think my one true complaint about Baru is how often the narrator turns to the reader and says "imperialism is bad. do you get it." WHICH. in all fairness. apparently is needed given some of the ice cold fucking takes ive seen about it (cough arkady martine cough)

the other one on my absolute faves shelf besides that series & Baru is Yoon Ha Lee's Machineries of Empire (which, if you like the accounting part of Baru as much as i do, you will likely enjoy! i love space beaurocracy & detailed descriptions of military maneuvers more than almost any other aspect of scifi, but also i know that isnt true for everyone).

[downthe-f4ndom-rabbith0le]

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) - Chapter 2

Always Been You (Dick Grayson x Reader) Reader Insert: she/her pronouns Word Count: 5030 Warnings: death, violence, fighting, bloody wounds, angst, infuriatingly oblivious love interest, slowburn Spoilers: Young Justice Seasons 1-3 plot partially, but it ended in 2022 so catch up.

Y/N Prince - miracle daughter of Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor - and Dick Grayson - first adoptive son of the Batman himself - have been best friends since day one. They went to school together, trained together, kept each other's alter ego secret from everyone else, and they founded the Young Justice alongside their friends together. 

But as time progressed, Y/N and Dick grew up and Y/N found herself wanting more than friendship with Dick. But he never seemed to indicate that he reciprocated her feelings. And when Wally died and Dick abandoned the team, Y/N realised he never would. So she heads to the one place she knows will help her become a stronger warrior so that one day she can take her mother's place: Themyscira.

Two years after his leave, Dick reaches out to his old friends to help him with a mission. But when he finds out Y/N left too, he chases after her in the hopes to bring her back.

However, when the two finally reunite, it isn't as warm as he hopes. Not to mention Themyscira becomes under siege as they go to war against Echidna, the Mother of Monsters in Greek Mythology, and her army of monstrous children.

Will Dick and Y/N be able to put their past behind them and save the Amazonians' homeland? Or will they fall, unable to tell one another their true feelings?

~~~

(6 Months Later)

Dick Grayson looked up at the Carr family home from his car, apprehensive to open the door just yet. It was a nice home, and from the research Dick did, a nice family lived there too.

His eyes trailed to the apartment situated above the garage, imagining the people who were inside. How were they going to react when he told them what he was there for? Scratch that, how were they going to react when they saw him?

'Should I go take a nap or are you going to man up and go inside at some point?' Oracle's sarcastic voice came through the car's bluetooth.

Dick clenched his hands around the steering wheel. Barbara - newly named Oracle - was right. It didn't matter what his friends were going to say. He needed their help, and he needed to man up.

Dick finally unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door. 'I'll call you when I'm done,' he said, then ended the call before Barbara could sneak in another witty remark.

He made haste running up the Carr's driveway, then up the stairs to the apartment above the garage. As he raised his hand to knock on the door, he heard laughter and lively chatter that made him pause. An overwhelming sense of guilt and shame and longing surged through him. Was he really going to break up the joy beyond the door? Once upon a time he would've been glad for a party, for a break from work and his vigilante duties.

His mind flashed back to that first party him and his friends had in Mount Justice. It was Wally's birthday and he had been lapping up all the attention, especially from M'gann, who had made him a cake and had in fact organised the whole party. This was before Wally realised him and Artemis were meant to be, same with Connor and M'gann.

But Y/N had known, had even pointed it out to Dick as they sat in the corner just the two of them, watching everything play out.

'They're all so thick,' Y/N said, taking a sip of her lemonade, trying to hide her knowing smile.

'How so?' Dick asked.

Y/N rolled her eyes. 'Can you not see?' She grabbed Dick's chin and guided him to look at Connor and M'gann interacting awkwardly but in a cute way, then Wally and Artemis "fighting", matching wit for wit with every snarky comment they threw at each other. 'Connor and M'gann are so into each other, and you could cut the emotional tension between Wally and Artemis it's so thick. They are all crushing hard.'

Dick watched the two couples interact a little longer and realised Y/N was right. 'Well would you look at that,' he said, turning back to Y/N. 'You're quite the observer, aren't you?'

Y/N chuckled. 'Dick, we've been best friends for three years now. If you're just figuring that out now, then you're just as thick as the rest of our friends.'

'Hey! I am not!'

'Are to.'

'Am. Not!'

'Are. To!'

The two fell into hysterical laughter, gripping onto one another so they didn't fall to the ground.

Y/N's smile came to him then, and the longing in his chest ached even more. She was more than likely beyond the door too, laughing and smiling without a care in the world. He suddenly had the thought that he couldn't go through with it. He couldn't possibly ask them - couldn't ask her - to help him. Not after what he'd done...

Before he could chicken out completely, he forced himself to knock lightly on the door.

'I'll get it,' M'gann's sweet voice called out to whoever she was with, and Dick prepared himself as he heard her walk to the door.

M'gann opened the door, and she was smiling, the remnants of laughter twinkling in her eyes. She was in her human form, but it had changed since the last time Dick saw her. Her ginger hair was now cropped just under her ears, and her features were sharper, more refined than that of a young adolescent. She wore a flattering white blouse and casual jeans, not bothering for shoes in her own home.

She was grown up. In just two years?

Her brown eyes locked with Dick's blue ones, and immediately her smile dropped as shock froze her face.

Dick offered her a small smile 'Hi, M'gann,' he said softly.

'Dick...' was all she could manage as she continued to look at him, eyes raking over him as if she were imagining things. 'What are you doing here?'

'Honey, who is it?'

Dick's guilt deepened at the sound of Connor's voice. The Superboy himself came to the door when M'gann didn't answer, and stopped in his tracks as soon as he laid eyes on Dick. But he didn't stay shocked for long.

Connor furrowed his eyebrows and stepped up behind M'gann, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. 'What are you doing here?' he asked icily, eyes solely focussed on Dick.

It hurt to see such distrust in his old friend's eyes, but Dick somewhat expected that. 'Nice to see you too, Connor,' he said, slipping into his casual, carefree persona easily. If there was one thing Dick was really good at, it was putting on a mask. 'I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd swing by. It's been a while.'

'Why don't you answer my question first before you start acting like nothing is wrong,' Connor suggested, his voice taking a deep threatening tone.

'Connor, please,' M'gann said, seemingly getting over her initial shock. She placed her left hand over Connor's on her shoulder, and that's when Dick saw the shiny diamond ring on her finger. 'He's our friend.'

Dick didn't think his guilt could worsen at those three words.

M'gann opened the door wider and offered him a small smile. 'Come in, Dick. We'd love for you to join us.'

Dick flashed her a grateful smile. 'Thanks,' he said as he ducked through the doorway. He then looked from M'gann to Connor and back again. 'Congratulations, by the way.'

M'gann looked confused for a moment, then a joyful twinkle flashed in her eyes as she looked to her ring, a soft smile gracing her features. 'Thank you, Dick,' she said. 'That's what we're actually celebrating. Come on, there is food and drinks this way.'

M'gann walked back towards the party, but Connor and Dick remained in the entrance, staring at one another.

Dick took Connor in. Because of his clone genetics, Connor never actually aged. Not physically anyways. He'd changed ever so slightly from when Dick first broke him out of Cadmus, only growing a centimetre or two every year or so. His muscles had toned more having entered his theoretical twenties, and but his face still held onto those baby features he'd had since being replicated as a teenaged Superman.

Dick sized himself up against Connor and shockingly found that, for the first time, they were looking at each other eye to eye.

Connor seemed to scan Dick, too, coming to the same conclusion that Dick had changed too since they last saw each other. Dick waited for Connor to say something, but when Connor was done he gave Dick a stone cold grimace then turned to follow M'gann.

'What a warm reunion,' Dick mumbled under breath as he followed Connor down the hallway.

The hallway opened into an open-floor plan that held the kitchen, the dinning room and the lounge. Dick expected a few more people to be waiting for them, but he only spotted Kaldur lounging on the couch, drink in hand. Being the vigilant person he was, Kaldur immediately recognised Dick and placed his drink on the coffee table as he stood up.

'Dick,' he said, teal eyes wide with surprise.

'Hey, Kaldur,' Dick greeted awkwardly, ready for the same cold treatment as Connor.

Instead, Kaldur's face broke into a warm smile as he manoeuvred around the furniture to make his way to Dick. 'Old friend,' he said as he embraced Dick. 'It has been too long.'

'It sure has, buddy,' Dick responded, returning his friend's embrace.

Kaldur released him, but kept his hand on Dick's shoulder as he scanned over him. 'Look at you! You seem to be healthy and strong.'

It was true. Dick had noticed he'd muscled up a little more since leaving the team, though still keeping towards the leaner side of muscular. He certainly wasn't has bulk as Connor, or Kaldur for that fact, who Dick noted also had more muscles and toned features. Kaldur certainly filled out the black button-up he wore. But, as it was with Connor, Dick was happy to see him looking directly in Kaldur's eyes as they spoke, not from slightly below as it had been since they were children.

'Thanks man,' Dick said. 'Been working out. I see you've been doing the same, Aquaman.'

'My King left some large shoes to fill,' Kladur admitted humbly. 'But thank you.'

'So you know of Kaldur's promotion, but couldn't contact him to say congrats when it happened?' Connor interjected from his place in the kitchen.

M'gann scolded him as she placed some plates on the dining table, but the mood had already changed to tense and quiet.

'Connor's right,' Dick admitted, addressing his three friends. 'I'm sorry. These past two years... I should've stayed in contact. I wanted to. But every time I went to, I convinced myself that you didn't want to hear from me. That it would be better to leave you all be while I try to figure out myself again.'

'Oh Dick,' M'gann started, walking around the table to pull him into a hug. 'Of course we wanted to hear from you. You're our friend and we missed you. But we understand that after Wally died, you had to take a break from everything.'

M'gann pulled away and then pointed an accusatory finger at him, looking extremely cross with him. 'But if you ever do anything like that again, I swear I will hunt you down and kick your sorry ass into another universe. Understood?'

Dick nodded vigorously. 'U-Understood.'

M'gann's sweet demeanour returned and she walked back to the table to continue setting it. The three men looked at her quietly as she went about her work, until Dick turned to Connor and said, 'Your fiancée is scary.'

Dick expected another glare from the Superboy, but he was gladly surprised when the dark-haired boy nodded in agreement, face slightly pale. 'You got that right.' He then shook himself out of his frozen state of fear to help his fiancée dish out their meal.

'Give him time,' Kaldur said quietly to Dick. 'You know how Connor can be with expressing his emotions.'

'Well, he's not as emotionally constipated as he once was, I'll give him that,' Dick said. 'Unfortunately, I don't think I have time.'

'What do you mean?' Kaldur asked.

Dick went to explain but quickly decided against it. Kaldur was in the Justice League now. Dick couldn't really explain what he was planning to do. Not yet, anyway.

'Forget I said anything,' Dick said instead, flashing his charming smile and wrapping an arm around his old friend's shoulders. 'For now, why don't you tell me everything I've missed. How is it being Atlantis' new champion, first starters...'

For the next hour, it was like old times. The four of them ate and laughed and swapped stories about what Dick had missed in the last two years. They recalled some of the good times they all shared when they were on the team, and Dick convinced himself for a brief moment that they could all stay like this. Happy, carefree, young.

But Dick had come to Connor and M'gann for a reason.

Once they'd had enough of dessert, Connor offered to wash up and Dick saw his chance.

'I'll help wipe up,' Dick offered, taking his and Kaldur's plates to the sink while Connor filled the sink with soap and water. Dick waited until M'gann and Kaldur were in deep conversation over on the couch that Dick decided to broach his intended subject. 'So, how is the team going?'

'The team is doing okay,' Connor answered flatly, never lifting his eyes from his work with the plates in the sink. 'I just try to help M'gann as best as I can. We're down a few numbers since your old man decided to take half of the Justice League and our team with him in his little stunt.'

Dick winced. He recalled getting the call from Tim about it about five months ago. It had been an orchestrated walk out from over half the Justice League and their protégés, all of them wanting to go back to their vigilante ways as the League and the team had become somewhat irrelevant. Those that remained never saw it coming.

'I'm sorry about that,' he apologised, though he wasn't entirely sure why. Just felt appropriate.

Connor looked at him briefly, hands pausing in the sink as he did, and then released a sigh of defeat. 'Don't be sorry, Dick. It's not like you had anything to do with it.'

'No,' Dick agreed, 'but I should've been there at least. I should've reached out to see if you were okay. We started this team together, I shouldn't have just left it all to you.'

'Well, I know the rest of the team would really appreciate it if you came back now,' Connor said, his tone hopeful. 'That is, if you're ready to come back.'

Dick's heart lurched at the thought of going back to the team, both with want and terror. He liked Barbara, he really did. But, if he were being honest, he'd missed being a part of something bigger than himself and his own agendas.

'Connor,' Dick started softly, looking to see M'gann and Kaldur still locked in deep conversation before continuing, 'I would love to come back. Please know that. But you should know I haven't just been idly moving about the place the last two years. I've been conducting undercover missions of my own with Barbara in relation to the meta-human trafficking crisis.'

Connor's eyes widened and Dick saw he was about to raise his voice so leaned in close and hurriedly whispered, 'Keep your voice down, please.'

Connor took a second to register what Dick had said before whispering harshly, 'What do you mean you've been working on your own? You should've come to us if you were getting involved.'

'First of all, I just said I had Barbara helping me, and secondly because the team and the Justice League are full of public figures now. The missions wouldn't work if they got involved. But I've actually come here to ask you for your help on a mission, Connor.'

'Me?! Why would I-'

'Let me explain. First of all, it'll be you, me, Artemis-'

'You've pulled Artemis into this too?! Where the hell has she been, anyway?'

'Would you stop interrupting me for one second?' Dick hissed, wiping up a plate or two before returning to the conversation. 'As I was saying, from our intel, Markovia's Princess Tara has been found dead. Killed by a meta human supposedly, and I have a sneaky suspicion someone has been testing on people with the meta gene, turning them into extreme versions of their meta abilities. I need your help to find out who. As I said before, I've convinced Artemis to help already, and I was looking to you, Jefferson, and Y/N to make up the rest of the team.'

Dick looked around the room, looking at how empty the couches were around M'gann and Kaldur and sudden thought struck him. 'Speaking of which, where is Y/N?' he asked. 'I would've thought she'd be here celebrating the good news.'

He'd forgotten to keep quiet that time, and so Kaldur and M'gann looked at him alongside Connor, all looking as if Dick had sprouted three heads.

'What?' Dick asked, patting around his face. 'Do I have sauce on my face?'

'You don't know?' M'gann asked, sounding almost on the brink of tears.

That's when Dick realised something was majorly wrong, and his gut twisted with fear. 'Know what? Where's Y/N?'

'Y/N, she...' Kaldur started, then took a deep breath before continuing, 'Y/N left the team, Dick.'

'What?' Dick said, almost dropping the plate he held. 'What do you mean she left?'

'She left about six months ago,' Connor answered, washing up the last plate and emptying the sink. 'Before everyone else left. She felt like she wasn't doing enough with us anymore, so she just... left.'

'I've sent her plenty of messages,' M'gann said, 'but she hasn't answered any of them. And I can't sense her at all in the country. Even the Watchtower couldn't find her.'

Dick couldn't believe this. Y/N was gone? 'So Wonder Woman doesn't even know where she is?'

'Wonder Woman has been busy running the Justice League since Batman resigned,' Kaldur answered. 'Even if she did know where her daughter was, I don't think she'd like us to know, and I would have to agree.'

'Why?' Dick asked, suddenly very angry at Kaldur for not being as concerned as he was about Y/N. 'Do you know where she is?'

Kaldur shook his head. 'Regrettably, no. But when we last spoke, she sounded like she didn't want to be found. That she would come back to us when she was ready. I think we should respect that.'

Dick shook his head in disbelief. 'No, that's not like Y/N. She wouldn't just leave anywhere without telling anyone.'

'What, you mean like you?' Connor asked, and that cold stare was back.

'I mean she is loyal and empathetic. Surely she would know how her absence would affect the team,' Dick continued, ignoring the personal dig.

'She was loyal, Dick,' Connor countered. 'She was loyal, and stuck around with M'gann, Kaldur and I until the team got back on its feet. She held the team together when we were on the brink of falling apart. But you wouldn't know that because you weren't here.'

Dick wanted to argue but found that he couldn't. What he had thought was the best for the team turned out to be the complete opposite. He could sense it now; his relationships with his oldest friends were no longer as they were.

'You were gone for two years,' Connor continued. 'You'd be surprised as to how much a person can change in that time.'

The day Dick left flashed in his mind, and he recalled the pain in Y/N's eyes when he left her behind. He remembered how she'd held it together, but he knew she would probably cry about it later because she'd done it some many times before, always going to him to cry on his shoulder.

But he wasn't there that time. He'd left her all alone to dry her tears.

You're my best friend. Always have been. Always will be...

Dick looked to his friends again, but they could barely meet his eyes. Kaldur was disappointed, Connor was angry, and M'gann was just sad. An apology bubbled up in Dick's throat, but he didn't think it was sufficient enough for what he had done to them.

'I have to find her, then,' Dick said into the quiet room, and finally they all looked to him.

'Did you not just hear Kaldur?' Connor asked. 'We should leave her alone like she wants.'

'We don't necessarily know that,' Dick countered. 'Besides, this isn't about bringing her back. This is about me making things right with her.'

'But what if Kaldur is right?' M'gann argued. 'What if she doesn't want to be found. Maybe the right thing to do is leave her alone?'

Dick shook his head. 'She's my best friend, M'gann. I can't accept that she wouldn't want to see us ever again.'

'Maybe she doesn't want to see you, have you considered that?' Kaldur asked, his voice taking on a protective demeanour. 'The bottom line is, Dick, that you left her behind without a second thought. And she respected that, even if it killed her inside knowing that you would rather abandon her - abandon us - than face the pain of losing Wally together. She missed you every single day, and yet she still fought and trained and guided the team without faltering. And now, when she finally finds the courage to do what's best for her for once, you want to shame her for it?'

Anger surged through Dick, fiery and hot. 'I am not shaming her for anything. Do you not think I didn't think of you all every single day?'

'If you did, you didn't do anything about it, did you?' Connor mumbled, but Dick heard him just fine.

'Look, if you guys don't want to help me find her, fine,' Dick said, looking at all three friends pointedly. 'But I will find her. Because she needs to know that she was right. That I was wrong to leave and I am a terrible best friend.'

His expression softened as he looked down at his hands, imagining how long ago him and Y/N would link their pinkies. How simple friendships were back then.

'If she never comes back,' he continued, quieter this time, 'then I won't blame her. But best friends don't give up on each other.'

It was quiet for what felt like an eternity. Until Kaldur walked up to Dick and grabbed his shoulder comfortingly.

'You may be a terrible best friend,' Kaldur said, a small smile warming his face. 'But that doesn't mean your heart isn't in the right place.'

'Thanks, Kaldur,' Dick said, patting Kaldur's hand upon his shoulder.

Kaldur dropped his hand and the four of them sat down on the couches. 'Y/N didn't tell me where she was going,' Kaldur started, 'just that she needed to find out who she was again.'

'I don't follow,' Dick said.

Kaldur chuckled. 'Don't worry, I said the same thing to her when she told me. But she also said something along the lines of, "I need to find out where I've come from to find out where I will go.".'

'What the hell does that mean?' Connor asked.

'Again, not sure. But when I asked her the same question, she said she had to go back to her roots,' Kaldur elaborated. 'Something to do with where it all started. And her mother...'

Dick contemplated all of Kaldur's recollections, juggling each statement over one another to try and make sense. It was so vague, but Dick could sense there was a blatant truth staring right at them if they just looked hard enough.

Where it all began... Where she's been... Her mother...

The answer hit Dick like a brick wall.

'Themyscira,' he said softly, then more confidently. 'She's gone to Themyscira.'

'The Island of the Amazons?' M'gann asked. 'Are you sure?'

Dick nodded. 'It has to be. That's where Wonder Woman is from, and Y/N mentioned all the time when we were kids how much she wanted to go visit it one day.'

'But isn't it hidden?' Connor interjected. 'I mean, that's why they haven't gone back right? Anyone who leaves the island can never find it again.'

'Wonder Woman must've had something to help her remember,' Kaldur offered. 'Or at least guide her back home. I would suggest we go ask her, but again, I doubt she would tell us anything.'

It was like nothing had changed. The four of them had slipped back into theorising and planning and bantering as if no time had passed, as if no one had left or been promoted. It warmed Dick's heart at the thought that they all wanted to help find Y/N, even bring her home.

But Dick shook his head in dismissal. 'You guys don't have to worry yourselves over this. It sounds like I'm part of the reason she left in the first place, so it's my responsibility to find her and make this right on my own.'

'While I agree that this is partially your fault,' Connor said, earning a slight slap from M'gann beside him that he barely flinched at, 'Y/N's our friend too. The least we can do is help you find her.'

Dick smiled gratefully at his friend, who gave him a nod in return which was a start. 'Okay then...' Dick brought his watch up in front of his chest, clicked a few buttons before bringing up a large holographic screen with Barbara on it. 'Can you see us, Babs?'

'In quality HD, as well,' Barbara replied with a witty smile. 'Now, what can Oracle do for you?'

'We're trying to find Themyscira,' Dick explained. 'But it's not on any maps that we know of. Anything in any history records? Sailor sightings while out at sea?'

'You're asking me to find a mythical island from greek mythology that is meant to be hidden from Man's World and is forgotten by any who leave it?' Barbara asked incredulously, but then began typing ferociously on her end. 'Yeah, sure. No problem.'

Dick and the others waited in silence as Barbara worked her magic, files and maps and illustrations of the island popping up all over the screen around her face. After a minute or two, she spoke again.

'Okay,' she began, 'according to maps, you're right, the place doesn't exist. Even old sailors from Ancient Greece don't have any records of the place. However, I did find some similar tales being published in short stories of greek mythology and sailing journals. And all of them mention a couple of times sailing near what has now become the mouth of the modern Terme River in what we now know as Turkey, and having a strange sensation wash over them about danger. Each and every one of them have been convinced there is danger ahead and have turned away.'

'But they're just stories,' Kaldur argued. 'How can you be sure that what they speak of is the Island of the Amazons?'

'Ease up, Aquaman. I'm getting there.' A few more clicks and taps and Barbara brought up a picture of a very odd looking fish. 'Do you recognise that at all?'

Kaldur stared at the fish for a moment, contemplating its odd structure. 'I don't recognise it as a species,' Kaldur said. 'But I do recognise parts of it. It is like... different fish species have been spliced up and put back together to form this.'

'Exactly,' Barbara said, tap and clicking fervently again. 'This is a fish that has been found not near Turkey but close enough, and on multiple occasions. Now, if we isolate all these fish types... and then map out where each species usually resides... then find the crossover point for all of them...'

Dick watched diligently as Barbara isolated the fishes, highlight on the world map which species resided where, then drew lines horizontally and vertically, then zoomed in on the section the two lines crossed over.

'And there you have it,' Barbara offered proudly. 'The mouth to the Terme River in Turkey. You're welcome.'

'That makes sense,' M'gann said, looking up at the map, intrigued. 'If Themyscira is supposedly this pocket of space no human can find, then it makes sense that sea creatures of different genetic combinations would be able to breed there in peace, more than likely living there except for the stray pod or two that wander off into the open ocean.'

'I would have to agree,' Kaldur said, fascinated by it all as well. 'Who knows how many sea creatures live in harmony there.'

'Well, I'll be sure to find out when I get there,' Dick said as he stood up. 'Thanks Babs.'

'Any time,' she said, then the call ended.

'Wait, you're leaving now?' M'gann asked as Dick made his way to the front door.

'This cannot wait, M'gann,' Dick insisted, opening the front door. 'I have to speak with her as soon as possible.'

'Hey.' Dick was forced to stop when Connor grabbed him by his bicep, bringing the two of them close enough Dick could feel Connor's breath on his cheek.

'Are you really doing this for Y/N's sake, or for yours?' Connor asked in a hushed voice. 'Because whatever mission you think you need her for, I can assure you it cannot be more important than your friendship. Do you understand?'

Dick didn't quite understood what he meant, but he nodded anyways, and Connor let him go.

M'gann and Kaldur stepped up beside Connor as Dick made his way down the apartment stairs and back to the car. M'gann wrapped her arms around Connor's waist as he embraced her with one arm over her shoulder.

'Good luck, old friend,' Kaldur called out. 'May your journey be safe and successful.'

Dick chuckled as he waved farewell. 'I know you've always been well-spoken, but is it now a job requirement as Aquaman to sound like Gandalf?'

Kaldur pulled a face that Dick and M'gann laughed at, and Connor cracked a smile at the slight burn. Before he could psyche himself out of it, Dick hopped in the car and took off towards Wayne Manor.

'Call Alfred Pennyworth,' Dick spoke loud and clear, and the car immediately began ringing.

After a few rings, Alfred promptly answered the phone. 'Master Dick, what a pleasant surprise.'

'Hey, Alfred. Is the Batwing free at the moment?'

'I've just given it a deep clean now. Why?'

'Excellent. Could you please prepare it for take off by the time I reach the Manor? I have a little excursion I have to go on.'

'Will that excursion bring the Batwing back in one piece, Master Dick?'

'...I'll be there in twenty.'

Dick promptly ended the call, not waiting to hear a scolding from Alfred. Those were never fun.

Truth be told, he wasn't sure what to expect when he went to Themyscira. But Steve Trevor did it once, surely it could be done again.

Either way, it was a risk Dick was willing to take to get his best friend back.

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