#taking a bath under a sunlamp

[episims]

Jonas ...Maybe the noise used to make my head quieter, eh, now it just makes it hurt. I'm becoming too old to be a nightclub mascot.

[mehektaguldermaclinic]

Sunburned Skin- How to Ensure Skin Health- Tips by Skin Doctor

Have you been to a high-altitude location on your vacation and ended up having sunburned skin? Or did you get your skin sunburned due to prolonged, unprotected skin exposure to the sun’s UV rays? In either case, this article has got you covered!

Here you can learn everything about sunburned skin. Don’t miss Dr. Gulhima Arora, Best Dermatologist in Delhi recommended tips to ensure skin health and prevent sunburned skin this summer. Dr. Gulhima Arora, a renowned dermatologist is available for consultation and treatment of sunburned skin at Mehektagul DermaClinic.

About Sunburned Skin

Sunburned skin is a dermatological condition that features- inflamed, red, hot to the touch, and painful skin. It occurs in areas where the skin is overexposed to the ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Detailed Signs of Sunburned Skin

Inflamed skin or swelling

White skin appearing pink or red; black or brown complexion may hardly show redness.

Skin feels warm or hot to the touch

Itchy, painful, tender skin

Small, fluid-filled blister formations, which can easily rupture 

Gritty or painful eyes

Fever, nausea, headache, and fatigue (in severe cases).

The above-mentioned signs usually become noticeable within a few hours of sun exposure and take a few or several days to naturally heal.

Causes and Risk Factors of Sunburned Skin

Sunburned skin is caused by excessive exposure of a particular area of the skin to ultraviolet light, coming from the sun or artificial sources like sunlamps and tanning beds. The sun’s light has UVA rays that can go deep into the skin to cause extensive damage over time, and the UVB rays, which only affect the skin surface and cause sunburn.

The direct UV light can significantly harm the skin, damaging the cells. The body’s immune system response causes increased blood flow to the areas affected, causing erythema- the inflamed skin, also known as sunburned skin.

Sunburned skin is not necessarily caused on hot days. It can happen on cloudy or cool days due to reflecting surfaces like snow, sand, and water.

The risk of sunburned skin is higher in people:

Who are fair and red-headed

Who had sunburn previously

Working or swimming outdoors under the sun

Living or being on vacation in a place at high altitude or a place with sunny, warm weather

Who doesn’t use sun protection

Taking photosensitizing medication

Who mix outdoor recreation and consume alcohol.

Tips to Maintain Healthy Skin and Prevent Sunburn

Everyone should follow these skin doctor-recommended tips:

Daily, generously apply broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 above, even if it's cloudy or cool outside. Reapply the sunscreen after every 2 hours, if you've been swimming or perspiring a lot.

Avoid going outside, especially in the afternoon. If going outdoors, stay more in the shade.

Wear sun-protective clothing to fully cover the sun-exposed areas. For better UV protection, make sure the fabric is tightly woven and dark.

To protect the eyes and surrounding skin, wear proper sunglasses.

Keep the skin well-moisturised and hydrated with proper moisturisers and sufficient water intake.

Avoid smoking, alcohol intake, or anything that affects skin health and can cause sunburn.

Avoid using sun tanning beds.

Have a balanced, skin-friendly diet.

Go for routine skin health check-ups to keep monitoring your skin for any unusual changes.

Tips for Healing Sunburned Skin

For those having their sunburned skin, they should follow these tips until their affected skin heals:

Apply, damp, cool clothes or take cool baths or showers to soothe pain and inflammation.

Restore the skin’s moisture with aloe vera or hyaluronic acid-based moisturiser.

Drink sufficient water to address dehydrated skin and cool down the skin.

Take painkillers to alleviate pain or discomfort.

Use anti-inflammatory or anti-itch cream, on a doctor’s prescription.

Avoid topical products that have alcohol, harsh ingredients, or anything that can irritate and worsen the sunburn.

Let blisters heal on their own. If they rupture, clean the area with gentle soap and water, apply an antibiotic, and then cover the area with a sterile bandage.

Schedule a visit to a skin doctor in case of severe sunburned skin. 

When to Visit a Skin Doctor for Sunburned Skin?

Do not delay in seeing a Skin Specialist In Delhi for sunburned skin if you have:

Small or large blisters on the face, hands, or genitals

Intense swelling of the affected skin

Signs of infected skin

Worsening pain, headache, nausea, confusion, chills, or fever

Eye pain or vision changes

Sunburned skin not healing despite at-home care

Fever

Confusion

Signs of Dehydration

Faintness, Dizziness, or Cold skin.

If one has skin tanning and pigmentation, they can get it managed with best dermatological treatment and advice shared by Dr. Gulhima Arora, a leading dermatologist who practises at Mehektagul DermaClinic, a leading and best Best Skin Clinic In Delhi.

From sunburn, tanning to pigmentation management all treatments are offered by her at the clinic. Visit now for details!

[teetlestansecond]

it's a little past midnight which means it's officially my birthday so i'm back to offer headcanons 🥺🥺

rise turtles dealing with brumation

i know nothing about turtles and their brumation cycles i just thought it'd be cute to think about

raph! ❤️

the big sleepy hits him so hard.

like seriously. my boy is so sleepy. the sleepiest of them all. if he doesn't have to be out, he's in his room taking the world's biggest nap.

that being said, it's still brumation. he's sleepy, but he's not about to spend all winter sleeping.

he is about to spend a lot of it sleeping, though. he's just not up for doing much this time of year. if he's going to do anything, he's gotta spend a good few hours under the sunlamp before he can properly wake up.

snapping turtles usually brumate underwater so sometimes raph will simply pass tf out in a cold bath and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

winter hits him the hardest, but raph's brumation is shorter than his brothers'. he's the first to enter it and the first to get out of it.

leo! 💙

he's so dramatic about brumating, lord help anyone having to deal with him.

sometimes he tries to avoid it and will spend all day under the sunlamp or bundled up in warm clothes to discourage the urge to sleep.

red-eared sliders also brumate underwater and leo is even worse than raph about it. he has, on multiple occasions, found various bodies of water to just sleep in for a whole day.

if anyone tries to wake him he acts like he's going to die. and the way he feels, he just might die fr.

but because he knows he's so insufferable, he does try to keep himself on a normal sleep schedule in the winter.

he doubles down on tea like nobody's business. even if he's going out, he's bringing a thermos with him. it's usually a green tea because that gives him the most energy.

donnie! 💜

he's so prepared for this, okay?

he's got his own sunlamp, he brings the coffee machine into his room, he comes up with a long list of projects to keep himself busy. donnie is ready.

this is a lie. he makes it all of six weeks and then he sleeps forever.

when i was looking up brumation cycles for softshell turtles i kept seeing people say they actually hibernate so i'm taking that and running with it. it doesn't hit him hard but when he sleeps he sleeps.

because he's actually hibernating he deals with it the longest. it sets in right after raph and ends after everyone else has already shaken it off.

the cycle repeats every year. everyone knows his efforts are futile but donnie will dutifully make a plan to keep himself awake and he'll act like this will be the year it works out.

mikey! 🧡

mikey is the most normal about brumating, and has the easiest time with it.

no one knows how he's learned to balance sleeping with being awake, but everyone is jealous.

mikey already has an easier time balancing wants and needs, and while it's easy to want to sleep a little more than he already lets himself this time of year, he does an amazing job of resisting the urge.

he sleeps in his shell when he's brumating and it's very precious for everyone involved.

he's also the most likely to go curl up with one of his brothers, he's very affectionate this time of year.

mikey also has the easiest time shaking off the sleepiness once spring begins setting in, and shakes it off right around the time raph does.

[from-a-reckless-writer]

iii. Luthor

read on ao3

She got hit by a bus. She definitely got hit by a bus.

No, no, wait.

She's-

"You're awake. Oh, thank God."

When her eyes blink open, it's to the extremely bright florescent lights of the DEO med bay. Senses come back to her slowly; the sharp smell of alcohol, the dry cool sheets against her skin, and Alex.

Alex's voice, then her heartbeat.

She tries to sit up but Alex puts a hand on her shoulder, gently pushes her back down.

"Ugh," she groans as dizziness overtakes her. "How long was I out?"

"30 hours, give or take. You need to take it easy, Kara,” her sister sighs. “You’re lucky we got to you when we did. Lillian got away though, I’m sorry.”

“T-they had Kryptonite, Alex.”

“I know.”

She breathes in deep, lets it out through parted lips, hand coming up to massage her temple.

“Lena? Where’s Lena?”

“Nia said she found her passed out on your bed,” Alex says, adjusting the sunlamps so it isn’t glaring into Kara’s face. “She’s been staying vigil by your side since yesterday. That woman needs to learn how to rest. I swear to God, the both of you—”

“What?” she asks.

“I wanna go home,” she tells her. Alex makes a sound of protest, so Kara argues, “You know you hit two stones with one bird if you keep us together.”

She hears Alex halt in her movements.

She squints against the remaining brightness of the unadjusted sunlamp. Her sister arms frozen mid-way.

Alex is giving her a strange look.

Alex’s eyes narrow at her.

“What did you say?” Alex demands. “Just now, what did you say? Did you say two stones with one bird?”

Kara shakes her head, trying to clear her thoughts enough to rewind back the last few seconds. She finds she can’t remember. She was saying something about Lena, about-

Going home?????

Her head feels fuzzy. Heavy.

“Mm’sorry must still be a bit out of it.”

“I’m doing another scan,” her sister says, words final and Kara groans loudly.

“Ughh, Alex. Please. I want to go home. There’s probably nothing wrong.”

Alex wheels her out nonetheless.

******

Something is wrong.

Something is very wrong.

“Alex?”

She doesn’t understand, why is- why does Alex look like that? Alex’s eyes are bloodshot. What- Why is her head fuzzy? Why is she-

She pulls a hand to her temple. She can’t. A metallic clang echoes.

She’s cuffed; strapped and held-down. There are restraints around her ankles, her waist even.

And then it occurs to her, the whole room is bathed in red.

Red sun emulators.

What?

Why?

There is a familiar buzzing in her ears, too. Tinny. Painful.

Kryptonite.

“Alex,” she croaks.

Her sister is standing stiffly at the far end of the bed (if you can even call this piece of metal a bed.). Her lips set in a thin line. There are dark bags under her eyes. Kara feels like shit. But Alex, Alex looks like shit.

“W-what’s happening? Wha- why am I—”

Rao, even her mouth feels disgusting.

“Wha-what happened?”

******

Game night comes early. It’s only the middle of the week, but everyone had decided to camp out at Kara’s living room floor after her kidnapping and mini-coma adventure just last night. So, Wednesday game night it is.

Everything is warm and good, Kara thinks, as she hums contently under her breath.

She’s filled with potstickers and wine. Her head on Alex’s lap, her sock-clad feet and calf being massaged by Lena on the opposite end. Nia is laughing loudly at something Kelly said, and Kara lets herself melt against the couch cushions.

“Darling,” Lena says, tapping a hand on her thigh. Kara looks at her, sees her gesturing at her empty glass, and promptly removes her legs off of her lap.

Alex’s fingers stop running through her scalp, as she reaches across to hand Lena her wine glass, too.

“Hey, Luthor, can you also-”

Everything goes black.

******

It happens so fast.

Alex was just deciding whether or not to switch from wine to brandy, when Kara lunges straight for Lena.

J’onn instantly transforms into Martian form at the commotion, and Alex is still sitting there; stunned, wine glass still clutched by the stem, as she watches Kara pin Lena to the floor, as she hears Lena shriek, as the room bursts into action.

Alex sees the glow of Kara’s eyelids, and it sparks her into action. She jumps from the couch and latches onto Kara’s back.

Her hands press into her sister’s eyes and immediately she can feel the heat filter through her skin. “J’onn!!” she shouts, Alex manages to pull Kara off of Lena, as J’onn grabs the brunette to safety.

Kara growls, stands up with Alex clinging. Kara grabs her, flips her over. She crashes on the floor with a sickening thud. Kelly gasps out her name. From here, she can see how Nia has wrapped her girlfriend and Lena into a bubble of forcefield.

Just as Kara is about to turn around and head for Lena, J’onn flies straight at her, grabs her sister by the arm, and crashes into Kara’s TV. J’onn manages to wrestle her into his grip, and he flies them out through Kara’s window.

Brainy picks her up from the floor. Her heart is beating so fast in her chest. How did she miss this? What has gotten into Kara?

Alex is panicking, all of them are panicking really.

What the fuck just happened?

“Brainy,” Alex says, voice firm, the cloudiness from the alcohol finally clearing. “Get the Legion ship, we need to track down Kara and J’onn. Disperse Kryptonite on sight. We have to detain her.”

Alex looks around the room, Nia retracts her forcefield, Kelly goes straight for her.

“Go,” Kelly says, “I’ll take care of the neighbors, I’ll take care of the mess here. Go. Find Kara.”

“I’ll stay with her,” Nia pipes up and Alex gives her a stiff nod.

She looks at Lena, red marks already blossoming on her neck.

“Are you o-”

“Do not ask me that.” Lena warns. “Now, let’s go. I’m coming with you.”

******

“You’re in the Legion ship,” Alex tells her sister, “what’s the last thing you remember?”

The base of her skull throbs with pain. “I-I don’t- I can’t remember. Ugh. Alex, can you- can you turn down the Kryptonite? Please, please?”

“I can’t, Kara. I’m sorry, please. I can’t-”

“Why?” Kara rasps out, her eyes closing shut.

“I need you to listen to me, Kara,” her sister says, she hears her stepping closer. “I need you to keep calm when I tell you.”

Kara’s heart beats faster, skin crawling at every awful thought curling from the depths of her mind.

“I-I’m calm. I’ll keep calm,” she promises, “please, Alex. Please, tell me.”

“CADMUS did something to you, Kara.”

******

Kara’s going to be sick.

She hurt Lena. Oh, Rao, she hurt Lena.

“Kara, Kara, listen to me.” Alex’s voice is distant, far-away. “Lena is fine. She’s fine. It wasn’t your fault.”

But it was her fault. She hurt her, her hands wrapped around Lena’s fragile human neck, and she almost lasered two holes into her pretty skull.

Oh, Rao. She almost killed her.

“Don’t let her near me,” she instructs, voice firm but eyes flashing with unshed tears.

“Kara, no. I don’t think she—”

“No. No, Alex, listen to me,” she urges her sister.

“Keep her away from me.”

*****

There are wires connected to her temple and her spine.

Brainy is sitting next to her bed, typing away on a little screen in front of him.

Her hippocampus and most of her somatic nervous system were experimented on, it seems. It was Kelly who cracked it, they tell her.

Kara’s brain was reconditioned in the short amount of time she spent in that CADMUS facility. A code word implanted to trigger her.

Luthor.

What a cruel joke.

*****

The next time Kara wakes, she is warm.

So warm, and-

Not alone.

She gasps loud. Lena is here. Lena is tucked to her side. Her breaths tickling Kara’s collarbone.

Lena is not supposed to be here.

Kara’s squirming seems to rouse her.

“Mmmm, stop thinking so loud, 'm trying to sleep.”

“Lena—” Her voice is bordering on hysterical.

“Shhhhh.” Lena shifts, ignoring Kara’s racing heart, ignoring Kara’s protests, just presses closer to her, lips kissing her collarbone.

“Nothing could ever keep me away from you, y'know," she slurs sleepily, "not even you, Kara Zor-El.”

Lena’s eyes are still closed, and Rao, Kara doesn’t even remember the last time she saw her like this. So pretty, so peaceful, so relaxed.

“Lena, you’re not supposed to be here. It’s not safe. Please, listen to me.”

Tears fall down from Kara’s cheek onto Lena’s skin. The contact seems to finally wake Lena.

“Oh, oh, darling,” she coos, hands coming up to cup Kara’s face. The blonde leans into the touch, presses her lips to Lena's palm, uses the touch to stifle her sobs.

“You’re not going to hurt me, Kara. You’re not,” Lena tells her, resolute and so full of trust.

Kara can still see the marks on Lena’s neck where her fingers have dug into her skin, and this time a sob breaks free from her throat.

“Lena, I could hurt you, please. Please, leave now.”

“Oh, Kara,” Lena murmurs, “you know I could never do that.”

Why is she so effin stubborn?

“I’m not scared of you, you know?” Lena whispers. She hooks a finger under Kara’s chin, “Look at me, look at me, Kara. I am not afraid of you. I am not going to leave you. I will never leave you.”

“You don’t understand. Lena, I hurt you.”

“No,” Lena answers her, “no, you did not hurt me. They made you hurt me. That wasn’t you, Kara. You will never hurt me.”

“No,” Kara echoes, voice breaking, eyes shining, “no, I would never hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I know, baby, I know.” Lena wipes the tears flowing on her cheeks, kisses them away. “We’ll figure it out together, okay?”

“Nothing can keep me away from you, you hear me?” Lena tells her, and all Kara can do is nod silently, sniffling. Lena presses a soft kiss to her lips and lets Kara break apart in her arms.

[redrobin-detective]

Anyway here’s the really messed up DP dream I had last night. 

Pots-reveal Danny comes home and his parents are there, they greet him. They chat as families do, Danny talks about school, they talk about ghosts. All is well or at least normal. Maddie mentions she’s drawn a bath for Danny after a long day of school, nice and hot. Danny is not really interested, he’d much rather go to sleep and, as an ice core, heat tends to bother him. Maddie is insistent though, both she and Jack follow Danny upstairs as they try to persuade him. Now Danny is getting weirded out. 

They’re front of the upstairs bathroom when Jack suddenly reaches out and grabs Danny is an iron tight grip and forces him into the bathroom. The bath is drawn and its practically boiling and the room is filled with space heaters and sunlamps so it’s like a very hot, humid sauna. The hot air disorients Danny and thus can’t resist much when Jack forces him into the water and holds him under. A second set of hands joins Jacks in holding Danny under the hot water as he’s thrashing. He can’t breathe as a human, making him panic and not think straight. The overwhelming heat, the agonist to his core, makes it difficult to use his powers. Plus the psychological factor of it’s his mom and dad who said they loved and accepted him who are doing this to him.

Luckily for him, Jazz comes home and hears the commotion and uses the Fenton Peeler on her parents. It turns out they’ve been possessed by very strong, very capable ghost assassins hired to take out Phantom by using friendly faces to get close enough to use methods to counter both his forms. They’re sucked in the thermos and the threat has passed. Except for Danny who is All Kinds Of Traumatized. Pulled out of the water by his now clear headed folks and dragged into the hallway, Danny is hyperventilating and doing his best to get away from them. Because its not that he didn’t realize they’d been overshadowed (they’d acted so normal) or that he’s spitting up water from his lungs and his core aches so bad from the heat. It’s the fact that he didn’t even really question the idea that his parents had worked out a way to eliminate him and had decided to go through with it. 

In the end, the assassins didn’t succeed in killing off Phantom (always a difficulty) but they did severely rattle him and cause serious problems in his support system.

[sixpillarsofgenesis]

The world is quiet. The boy who had taken her reeks of worry-tired-concern for her. All of the people around her were worried-concern-love, some of which was directed at her.

She didn’t understand why. She was but a weapon - sent to fulfill her mission. Could they not recognize the threat she posed?

… Then again, she could not even move until the boy who carried her - not target, friendly, worry-tired-concern - released her in a room that seemed - at first - ordinary and easily escapable. And then, sparks of a purple-like color danced over the whole room, the strange boy standing there with a reluctant smile.

“Sorry Cassandra,” he says, body twisting in worry-safe-protect. “Please stay here. We’ll try to let you out soon, okay?” He says softly, and she just watches him. Strange boy.

Why was he so gentle to her, why did he call her Cassandra? The door closes, and the same purple sparks dance over it. Heaving a deep sigh, she walks around the room, hands pressing against the walls and trying to find a weak point. The air vent is promising, but when she reaches for it, the same sparks of purple push back against her hands, gently nudging her back into the room.

No… She couldn’t escape that way and complete her mission. She paces back and forth, eyes scanning over every inch, only for all escape routes to be blocked by the same omnipotent power that had denied her escape when the boy touched her.

Finally, she curls up on the bed.

Her punishment for failure would be severe… she curls even tighter, afraid.

~~~~~

Kon sighs, leaning comfortably against Bruce when the man sits next to him, Bruce unconsciously slinging an arm over his shoulder to provide some measure of comfort.

“Are you okay?” He asks, and Kon smiles drowsily.

“Mmhm. Just tired. Gotham’s sun situation sucks,” he mumbles, and Bruce huffs a laugh.

“I’ve got a nice sunlamp if you want to take a nap under it.” Kon mumbles a sleepy agreement, and Bruce gestures with his free hand. “Clark?” He asks softly. The rustle of fabric, the warm touch of Clark’s hand to his head, and Kon found himself bathing in artificial sunlight, a sleepy Jon deposited into his lap by a smiling Lois.

“He missed you,” Lois says when he blinks open his eyes blearily, fighting to stay awake. Jon whines against Kon’s stomach, the child wiggling in his lap to sit up and press his face against Kon’s shirt.

“Kon!” Jon giggles, and Kon smiles down at him with a fond smile.

“Yeah, it’s me, baby boy,” he says fondly. “Man, it’s been a day, hasn’t it?” he says to the tired two-and-a-half year old child. Jon sticks his tongue out at him. “Yeah, I feel like that too,” he agrees. Next to him, he can hear a faint pfft leave Bruce’s mouth, the man’s shoulders quivering in amusement.

Across from him, Tim is looking at him in curiosity, and the fifteen-year-old blushes slightly at the amused way Tim looked at him. God, everyone was so different in this world. Clark, Bruce, Jason… Hell, even Lois. Everyone was so different.

Around him, voices murmur - making a game plan, he thinks. He distantly feels the touch of Jason when the young adult returns, a hand squeezing his shoulder.

“Hi…” he mumbles tiredly, and Jason returns, ruffling his hair.

“Ayo,” Jason says, a smile in his voice. “You’re bushed?” He asks softly, and Kon nods.

“Yeah, I’m bushed,” he admits, and Jason hums, ruffles his hair again.

“We’ll wrap this up quickly and let you get some sleep. Can the girl who can kill us all with a paperclip keep until breakfast?”

“Yeah, I can hold her. ‘S nowhere near as hard as blocking Kryptonite radiation,” Kon mumbles sleepily. Bruce’s thumb gently rubs against his shoulder, and he gives a happy little noise. Jon, in his lap, squeaks too, and he can’t help the pleased smile on his lips as his baby brother burrows closer. Or was it nephew? Or son? His life has been weird lately.

“I have so many questions,” Tim says, and Kon lets his smile soften.

“Mmm. Lemme sleep a few days and then I’ll answer ‘em,” he promises. There’s a bit of his Smallville drawl in there, something that his old Tim used to tease him about, but he can’t help it - Tim’s been his best friend since forever, stood up to Superman for him, decked Batman when people thought he was working for Waller…

It’s not fair to this Tim, Kon thinks, but he’s too tired - this new world was too fresh, everyone too nice, a week’s worth of new surprises compressed into a single twenty-four hour timespan that honestly left him reeling. He just wanted to curl up and take a goddamn nap.

“Rest, Kon,” Bruce says, his heartbeat a gentle, constant reassurance. Kon doesn’t remember when he fell asleep, between Clark joining them to talk strategy and Tim putting a blanket on him and Jon, he was gone.

Waking, Kon finds himself laid out on the warm duvet of what he was pretty sure was Clark’s room in this place. The room is floor to ceiling windows, facing the sunrise, and Kon aborts his move to sit up when Jon whines sleepily on his chest.

“Hey cutie,” he greets the little boy, and Jon yawns at him.

Awww. cutest baby bro on this side of the universe.

“Knock knock?” Tim’s voice makes him blink, twitching slightly in surprise. “Hey - Ma and Pa Kent made breakfast and asked if I could run some breakfast up to you.” Kon’s mild irritation immediately brightens.

“I’d appreciate that. Sure Jon’ll stop eatin’ my arm now too,” he jokes, the little boy chewing down on his arm with a determined glower. Tim’s voice is bubbling with laughter as he walks in, balancing the tray on his hands with a familiar crinkle in his eyes that takes Kon’s breath away. Tim presses the door shut with a foot, the boy settling the tray on the bed close enough to grab, but easy enough to keep Jon from lunging towards. Tim is watching him with a sort of fascination, a curiosity that makes him flush slightly as he settles Jon in his lap and brings a bowl of oatmeal closer for his baby bro to eat.

“We were friends, weren’t we?” He asks, and Kon freezes.

“Uh.” His face must look exceptionally funny, because Tim’s lips are twitching slightly.

“It’s okay, you know. I’m just asking because sometimes you look at me, and you get this really bittersweet look on your face,” He tells Kon, who swallows nervously.

“... Yeah. We knew each other,” Kon says weakly, and Kon expects Tim to ask more questions - his Tim would have, nosy brat.

This one simply nods.

“Okay. Maybe we can talk more about it later?” He asks, and Kon manages a nod. “But Kon…” The boy reaches out to tuck a strand of black behind his ear. “I know I’m not him, but I’d like to be your friend. If you’d let me.”

Kon’s throat closes up at the sincerity dripping from his lips. His cheeks heat slightly.

“Yeah… Yeah. I’m - I’d love that.” Tim gives him a warm smile, and for a second, everything is okay, everything will be okay.

Tim’s never been wrong.

~~~~~

Jason is a puddle in the middle of Bruce’s bed, which normally Bruce does not mind, but his son hasn’t moved for forty minutes.

“Is he okay?” Bruce asks, taking a seat near the edge of the bed, Clark’s hand resting on top of the teen’s head.

“Slowly recovering,” Clark tells him with a fond smile. “He was a bit of a wreck last night, according to Barb, but the shock is good for him.”

For the time being, Bruce really couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t stop the girl who had tried to kill his lover, he couldn’t even for the life of him find out where David Cain - his mentor - was until he gave himself away. That man deserved a fucking punch to the nose for it.

“I don’t feel it,” Bruce hears Jason grumble, and he laughs a bit, leans over to press a kiss to the top of his blanketed son, can feel Jason shift under them and whine at being babied. He stays there for a minute, before pulling back and giving Clark a kiss.

“Stay with him?” He asks, and Clark’s mouth quirks into a smile.

“Sure. Is this about the thing you refuse to tell me about?” Clark teases, and Bruce grins wryly.

“Yeah. If we’re lucky I’ll be able to deal with this in full before Christmas.” Bruce straightens his jacket, pats the top of Jason’s head, and then gets ready to go.

Dick catches him at the bottom of the stairs, mouth pressed in a thin line, but he softens when Bruce kisses his forehead.

“Are you sure everything’s good for you to leave?” Dick asks, and Bruce smiles.

“Even if it wasn’t, I have an incredibly important meeting I can’t afford to miss. I need you to trust me when I say that, Dickie.” Dick’s expression is weirdly twisted, but the boy definitely backs off, only gives him a hug and lets him go. Alfred is waiting for him, a large case in his hands.

“Master Bruce.” Well. That answers if Alfred looked. The man looked slightly weirded out, even with his typical poker face, and Bruce smiled grimly.

“Trust me when I say that there’s a reason for this… unusual package. I promise I’m not dealing in anything illegal.” The fact that he’d lined it with lead was a bit worrying, but there was some things Bruce had to do, and while he loved Clark, this was one responsibility that was his alone. He’d already promised to tell Clark about it after… if it all worked. Taking a deep breath, Bruce accepts the heavy package and gets inside the limo.

It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but he merely keeps his nerves limited to the tap of his fingers on the large case.

“Good morning,” he greets, and the doorman smiles and tips his cap in greeting. “Has my guest arrived already?”

“Yes sir. Mr. Constantine and his companion are both waiting for you in the office.” Bruce smiles at him, the CEO entering the elevator to his floor without further ado.

The rise up is silent, Bruce humming to himself as he waits. The door opens with a cheerful little ding!

“Mr. Wayne.” Constantine is a bristling, worried presence, but all he does is offer a bland smile to the man.

“Constantine. Thank you for escorting my guest here, it’s much appreciated.”

“Wayne,” Constantine tries desperately, but Bruce shakes his head.

“I know you want to say no, but I really must insist. This is very important to me.” The strange man’s mouth twitches at that.

“Few people say that an appointment with me is that important,” the man says, eyes crinkling. Bruce smiles tightly back.

“I really do have to insist on this.” Constantine twitches again, but sighs.

“Your funeral,” he mumbles, and that handled, Bruce politely opens the door to his office.

“After you, Mr. Morningstar.” The black-haired man grins, hands spread open.

“Are you this generous with every guest?” He asks, his British accent stronger now with his amusement.

“Only the important ones,” Bruce says, and Lucifer laughs, striding in.

“I rather like this,” he agrees, entering and plopping himself into the seat opposite of Bruce’s desk. “I feel quite like a star.” Bruce firmly closes the door behind himself, and Constantine is left in the lobby, looking bewildered and frankly worried. He makes sure to shoot the man a reassuring smile, and Constantine merely twitches. “So, what can a mere nightclub owner do for you, Mr. Wayne?” He asks, and Bruce sets the case down, turning it to face him.

“Let’s dispense with the bullshit, Mr. Lucifer. I’m here for other business.” He gestures to the case. “I am asking a favor in return for giving what is yours back.” The man’s brow rises, and there’s a flicker of darkness in his eyes, before he reaches out. A snap, and the man’s brow shoots to his hairline.

Sitting pretty on the cushions was a pair of bright white wings.

“How -” Lucifer’s mouth opens and then closes. A look of stunned disbelief is on his face, and Bruce swallows.

“I’m asking for a favor I know that is very difficult to pull off,” Bruce says, as if he wasn’t giving the Devil his wings back.

“I’m listening.”

“On April 27th, my son Jason was killed by the Joker.” Bruce forces himself to look up. “It was… the second time I have ever contemplated murder as a solution, to kill him in anger.” A careful swallow. “I chose to take the slower route. Next month, on December 1st, the International Court of Justice will be trying the Joker - Jeremiah Valdeska - for bioterrorism, crimes against humanity, and for the subversion of justice.”

“Well… That’s certainly a tall order, but I don’t understand what you want me to do.” The man was fishing. Bruce had expected it. Another deep breath, and Bruce swallows.

“I’m asking for you to take Joker - body and all - if he’s found guilty. I never want even a shadow of a chance for him to come back. I promised my son justice,” Bruce’s hands tremble on the desk. “And I like to think I’m a man of my word.”

Lucifer considers him; and then the case.

“That’s it?” He asks, and Bruce nods tightly.

“Please get rid of this temptation, I’ve had it for almost two weeks and I just -” Bruce clenches his hands into fists. “I promised my boys I wouldn’t take revenge without cause.” Bruce’s lips tighten slightly. “Please.”

Lucifer takes the case, buckles it closed, and gives him a smile.

“I see.” The man digs into his pocket, pulling out four business cards and offering them out. “Here you are, Mr. Wayne. My number is on these cards,” the man explains with a broad grin. “Let me know when the trial starts - I’d hate to miss what would be the trial of the century,” Lucifer says, grinning. He takes the cards, though he frowns at them, a little bewildered.

“Much obliged, Mr. Morningstar,” Bruce says, frowning at the cards a little. “Not to be rude, but why the extra cards? Wouldn’t one be enough?”

“I’ve been hunting my wings down for centuries,” Lucifer explains, cheerful. “Call the extra cards… favors.” Bruce’s expression twists, and he grimaces, to the man’s amusement. “Thank you kindly - I’ll be getting out of your hair now,” he says, standing with the briefcase and making his merry way out.

“Fuck me,” Bruce says to the empty air of the office.

He was not keeping these extra cards on his person. Anywhere.

… Time to tell Clark, he supposes.

~~~~~

“You met with -” Clark is staring at his boyfriend, mouth slightly slack.

Diana has abandoned all dignity to howl with laughter, her hands pushing her pillow to her face, hiccuping with her amusement after a long moment.

“It was the only way I could think of for us,” Bruce says quietly. “I want Joker dead, Kal. Dead. I promised myself I wouldn’t kill him if Robin didn’t ask, but I know it’ll wreck me, and you, to do it.” Clark’s eyes soften, the man pulling closer and pressing a kiss up under Bruce’s chin, knows that Bruce is quivering with his anxiety as he waits for Clark to answer him.

Clark wasn’t happy that Bruce hadn’t told him, but he remembers the long nights, the endless hours he’d spent pouring over old books, reading the scripture. He’d been rather bewildered - Bruce might celebrate Christmas for his boys (and to make the media happy), but he was as Jewish as they came, and the many times he’d helped Bruce light a menorah, or cook a feast (under Alfred’s disapproving eye), or meditate quietly during Yom Kippur with his sons while reflecting on the last year were fond, prominent memories.

Clark had been raised by strongly Christian parents, but he liked the quiet of how he and Bruce worked together in those moments, the soft serenity of their lives together and how gentle his worship was.

It felt very much like a home, and less like an obligation.

Diana had quieted, watching them both with shrewd eyes, and he gave her a shy smile over Bruce’s shoulder, cheeks flush.

“So why are we here?” She asks when Clark parts from his lover. Bruce grimaces.

“He gave me three additional favors. None of which I want to keep on me. I wanted to give you and Clark one each… but I didn’t know who to give the last one to.”

“I vote for Flash.” Clark mumbles against his neck, pressing a little kiss to Bruce’s neck. Diana opens her mouth, finger raised, before lowering it.

“I was going to recommend Lantern, but after a moment of consideration… He is a bit too self-aggrandizing for the role,” Diana says reasonably. “Would you like me to call him?” She asks, and Clark can feel how Bruce’s pulse quivers gratefully.

“Please. We rarely call him except for emergencies.” Diana nods with a smile and steps away, dialing a number with an amused smile.

It doesn’t take long for Barry to appear and catch up with what’s going on, his mouth opening comically when the truth comes out.

“You scare me, but if you guys want me to hold onto it in case of an emergency I mean - uh. Um.” Barry was always adorable, but now he just looked precious. (Look Clark was aware that Barry was only three years younger, but still.) “Sure? To be honest, the idea of having a favor from the Devil is terrifying so I’ll probably lock it up in a safe deep, deep in the lab and never use it, but. Yeah. Uh.”

Clark laughs against Bruce’s throat, and Bruce’s mouth is twitching. Mercifully, neither of the trio tease him.

Clark stays with Bruce until the other two are gone, kissing up his neck and humming.

“Now what?” Clark asks, and Bruce sighs, tilts his head further to one side. “You’re patrolling tonight, right?”

“Mmm-hmm,” Bruce groans in pleasure as Clark’s fingers skim up his side. “You’re shameless,” Bruce says weakly, and Clark grins against his throat.

“So are you, Batman.” Bruce’s pulse jumps at that, and Clark indulges himself, nibbling at Bruce’s throat. Much quieter, Clark asks, “What, exactly, are we doing?”

Bruce merely tilts his head to the side, sighing in pleasure. His lips were much more obscured, his hand lifting up to cradle the back of Clark’s head.

“Cain’s here. Probably has been for a while now.” Bruce’s voice is a bare whisper. His mouth curls into a smirk, and Clark can feel how Bruce calms his heartbeat. Clark hmmms, and pulls Bruce closer, smirking back.

“I see.” He murmurs softly, the touch of his lips tugging at an ear while Bruce relaxes against him. “Now what should I do with you until then?” He wonders at a more normal volume.

It’s a whisper. Soft enough that had he not been waiting with Bruce, if he hadn’t been on high alert, he would not have known. He and Bruce part, his beautiful vigilante fluidly bursting into motion, a scything kick sent out to aim for the man’s throat, and Clark’s hand flashing out to knock the glittering green stone away. He’s slightly weaker than he’d like, but it barely matters; Bruce is on the man in seconds, his beautifully brutal efficiency a sight to see as Bruce pins Cain down.

The Kryptonite is too close for Clark’s taste, but it’s fine. He’s been in closer proximity to Kryptonite and been fine for a few minutes. It’s for the best if he ignores it, and doesn't allow weakness to be seen. Cain struggles under Bruce’s hands, the man kicking and flailing. But Bruce is no longer the same twenty-five year old man that Clark had met, who would still lose his grip occasionally to a stronger opponent. Now, at a delicious thirty-three years old, Bruce was much stronger than most people would even dream, and he had the scars and muscle to prove it.

Clark snaps out of it quickly, but Bruce is smirking, clearly aware of his distraction, and Clark focuses on the assassin to hide his slight flush.

“Mr. Cain. We’ve been expecting you,” Clark’s tone is politely even, just a hint of disdain in his words. “I see you put your faith in Luthor’s intel.” Almost casually, Clark cups the man’s chin in a hand, fingers digging in as he makes Cain look at him. “I shouldn’t be surprised - after your daughter went after Batman, we’ve been waiting for you.”

Cain twitches.

The girl meant something to him, Clark realizes, hears the elevated heartbeat. It should have been quiet. His heartbeat was quiet - slower, and softer - compared to Bruce, but it still beat and Clark would use it.

“Tell me about your daughter,” Clark says mildly. Cain wriggles in Bruce’s grasp, and he digs his fingers into the man’s jaw. “If you struggle, I will end up breaking this,” he warns cordially. “And I will be less than amused.”

Bruce’s eyes are dark when their gazes meet. Anger. He knows that Bruce was not pleased by the state of the young woman sent to kill him, his generous heart yearning to take her into his arms and keep her safe the way he would his sons.

“I am hired to kill you,” Cain rasps. “Nothing else.” Clark hums, thumb sliding up the man’s jaw just so.

“I see. Then perhaps you will enjoy the hospitality of the Lasso of Truth, if we cannot get our answers from you the normal way,” Superman says, a calm, sharp tone entering his voice. He was not Clark Kent, at this moment. He would have to pull on the Kryptonian, the alien, the conqueror.

It was not his favorite feeling.

“Can you hold him?” Batman’s low rasp makes him smile.

“Forever, if needed.” Batman nods at his answer, stripping Cain of all his weapons and then handing him over, Clark’s hand closing around the man’s throat and holding him off the ground. A quick scan showed no other weapons, and Bruce made sure to take the Kryptonite with him. The moment Batman is gone, he turns unyielding eyes on Cain. “I am normally a patient being,” Superman says evenly. Icily. “But attempting to kill what is mine is a step in the wrong direction. You will talk. One way, or another.”

Cain quivers in his hold, and Clark smiles.

It’s a rare day that Clark uses what he’s learned as the second Batman against others as Superman. And rarer still that he will enjoy what’s to come.

(In a room down in Gotham, a weapon sits, curled up and waiting for a judgment that will never come.)

Good morning, please have this thought:

Due to shenanigans that Clark cannot possibly comprehend, let alone understand, Bruce has somehow talked him into being Batman for a week.

He comes out of the experience bewildered and wondering how in fuck's sake Batman ever held onto his no-kill rule.

And then he runs into Dick Grayson who is staring at him with starry eyes.

Clark is ten seconds away from a meltdown can you please help him Bruce -

No, help does not mean lean against the doorframe sipping coffee and hiding laughter dammit Bruce HELP HIM -

Clark thinks it's over.

And then he fills in when Jason is Robin. Ten minutes in, and Clark is infinitely fonder of this Robin. Robin gives him magic? God, so cute.

Tim is entirely too smart and sleep deprived and scares him, but at least he puts his brain towards being a menace on main towards Luther.

Stephanie is a national treasure, he thinks, and they join forces for sassing sessions against Bruce.

Damien... He's totally not helping this kid sneak in a tiger, Bruce, just look the other way.

This is perfect

Thank you for the thought

I am enjoying it immensely

I will probably spend a significant portion of the day ruminating on this idea