#tim & roy (thread)

[arobinwithoutbatman]

@freckledarcher from [x]

"Oh sure he's-" There's some frustrated grumbling and 8-bit game over sounds making Tim snort in amusement. "-upstairs arguing with the arcade game again. I'll walk you, I need to stretch my legs anyway."

It wasn't exactly hard to get lost in the Belfry, they only had a couple of floors but if Tim sat with this boring essay any longer, he was going to riot. "And I've been okay, getting on with things." His eyes drifted to the Batman memorial as they passed by. "About the same as the others really. What about you? Anything new?"

[gilverrwrites]

Discretely touching them down there to their parts and gently squeezing when no one is looking and them not being able to do anything (since it's in public).

Ft. Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim, & Roy. AN: Anon you're a menace and I love ya!

Bruce

You get exactly one, which he acknowledges with a stern pout and a cocked brow. Flawlessly concealing the fire you’ve ignited but for his laboured breathing and blown-out pupils. You’re walking a thin line, behaving like a brat in front of Gotham’s elite.

If he sees you reaching for him again, and trust, he will see; it will take him precisely 0.8 seconds to lock you in an unsuspecting death grip and pull you close. He wants you to feel the increased tempo of his heart against your chest. To feel the growing stiffness of his hard-on grazing your hip as he tells you assertively to; “Behave.”  

Dick

Dick sees your game; he raises you tenfold. He knows you’re up to something when he clocks the determined bite of your lips as you survey the subway car, and the mischievous glint in your eye as you look back at him. When your hand snakes under this shirt, caressing his v-lines, he juts his hips forward, presenting himself to you; daring you to take it further.

When you sink your fingers below his waistband he sucks in a deliberately loud breath. You freeze to survey your surroundings, but Dick does not. Dick starts grinding on you until he senses you growing nervous. He locks a sturdy hand around your elbow just in time to prevent you from pulling away, leans in close and whispers; “What’s wrong baby? Thought you wanted to play?”

Jason

“Is that a gun in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” You giggle at your own joke, because Jason is always packing some form of heat. He might have laughed too, might have trapped your wrist in his hands and rocked against your outstretched palm if you’d been at home, or the club, or even the casino. But not the fucking grocery store, you little perv.  

“Are you drunk?” He offers you an out, glaring down at you with a gaze fierce enough to make a nun blush. You respond with a brazen-faced shake of your head, and he can’t help but imitate it out of disbelief at your cocky attitude. You stay like that, locked in a stare of, rock vs hard place, until Jason cracks first, noticing a couple rounding the corner at the other end of the aisle.

He grabs your arm with an unapologetic level of force, spinning you around and trapping you between his body and the trolley. Hiding his hardness by pressing it against your back. “You’re in for it later.”

Tim

Tim is the most taken aback. His pale blue eyes are rapidly examining your surroundings the moment he feels your devious fingers ghosting over the top of his thigh. He’s cute when he’s flustered, with pink cheeks and blown-out pupils. Nobody is looking, too focused on the conference speaker.

“What are you doing?” He hisses, but before he can get his words out, your hand is gone, casually pulling a non-existent thread from your sleeve.

You don’t reply, you just smile and shoot him a playful wink which puts him even more on edge. So much so that when you abruptly return, this time cupping his half-hard cock through his jeans that he fucking flinches. His knee hits the chair in front, and he sucks in a loud breath, earning him many pointed glares from multiple members of the audience.

“Babe.” Be tries to warn, but his hushed breathy tone makes him sound exactly as aroused as he feels.

Roy

You get it, you do. It was a long trip, and he’s starving but you’ve really been feeling his absence over the last few weeks, and the fact that you’re currently sat in a Burrito Bucket, watching Roy devour a tray of tacos, instead of being at home and watching him devour you, is a problem.

He seems to have noticed your sulking, but too late. “You okay ho- “

His question is halted by your foot tactfully situating itself between his legs. His gaze flits between his food and you, defiant eyes watching you through a mop of shaggy hair. A knowing grin spreads across his queso-stained lips as you answer faux-sweetly. “I’m fine, baby.”

“Right.” He huffs, breath hitching, freckled cheeks turning red when you press your toes down and something firm pushes back. He knows what you want, but he just loves to play dumb. So, he takes another bite, jerking every time you tap or roll your foot but never acknowledging what you’re silently begging for. “Is this one of those things where you say you’re fine, but actually you’re not fine?”

“I’m going home.” You finally concede with an exaggerated sigh, dropping your foot back to the floor and gathering your things.

“I’m coming with you.” He’s on you the moment you stand, draping his arm over you and placing kisses to the side of your neck, your face, whatever he can reach as you struggle to move with his deadweight over your shoulders. Notably, there’s still half a tray of uneaten tacos left on the table. “Funnily enough, I’m hungry for something else now.”

Taglist: @wandalfnation

[fckbatmanhiskidsareminenow]

batfamily as conversations i’ve had with my male coworkers part i forgot

steph: i’ve had this headache for days now it’s pissing me off

damian: maybe you need a lobotomy

steph: ur so right

duke: you could just get the strongest man in the world

tim: yeah me

babs:

duke:

jason:

tim: anyways

roy: was that your dad?

jason: yeah..? why

kori: his beard is luscious

jason: omg

roy hiding his beard: i feel like i need to hide my face

kori: you?? what about me??

jason: he’s growing it out purposefully

roy: he looks majestic like a wise wizard

cass goes to answer the phone

bruce: don’t answer the phone

cass: why is it because i have bad customer service?

bruce: yes.

cass: aw fuck 😬

jason: *uses tape dispenser*

damian: why is it so loud

jason: it’s ancient

damian: very old

jason: it’s as old as alfred

damian: omg

babs: dick why do you have spiderweb on ur pants

dick: idk *removes web and places it on jason*

jason: ew no! wait this isn’t spider web it’s thread

babs: no it’s not look at his pants it’s got all web stuff on it

jason: i’m not looking at another mans ass

babs: it’s not his ass it’s his hip

jason: and what’s beside that?

steph: did one of you piss in the girls bathroom?

jason and duke: what??

tim: why?

steph: cus the toilet seat was up

tim: oh yeah my bad

steph: you had me gaslighting myself like did i leave the seat up??

tim: yeah it was you

[glamourscat]

ᴘᴀᴏʟᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʀᴀɴᴄᴇꜱᴄᴀ | Jason Todd x Reader

reader is a magic user | i had this little one shot idea so here it is lol | Jason wasn’t supposed to be here. A quiet Friday night uined by Roy and a magical screw-up. He didn’t expect the too-bright house, the strange group of people, or the girl who walked in holding Dante’s Inferno like it was second nature. You didn’t expect much from the night either, just another mess to clean up. But then there’s him. A stranger who knows your favorite passage before you say it, who looks at you like he’s trying to read every hidden line beneath your words. This is a stroy of two people who met by chance, in the quietness between chaos. And found something in each other they weren’t looking for.

Jason was starstruck.

No, he wasn’t exaggerating. The moment he saw you walk into the room, his eyes widened instinctively. He didn’t know why. Maybe it was your style, uncannily similar to his. Or maybe it was the massive, spray-edged copy of Dante’s Inferno in your hands.

When Roy had said, “Hey man, sooo… I might, hypothetically speaking of course, have set off some magic curse loose and I need to meet with some people who work with magic—but I need you to come with me,” Jason had looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

Not just because it was December, close to Christmas but not quite. Which meant Gotham was a chaos pit and vigilante hours were hellish. But also because this particular Friday night had been, against all odds, a rare moment of peace. Free time. And now it is gone. All thanks to Roy’s persistence.

So here he was. In a questionably loud house with too much pink and too much light. With Roy, for some reason Stephanie and Tim, who showed up uninvited for some reason. And then there was the group that Roy had told him about, but there was one missing. And until they showed up he was stuck in this pink hell for the foreseeable future. 

As Jason stood there, mentally debating the quickest way to disappear without offending anyone, his eyes wandered across the room. The bookshelves caught him first, a huge display of three bookshelves with everything on it. From fantasy to classics, manga and anime figures scattered among them. Whoever lived here had taste. No doubt.

And as he was lost in his thoughts, he almost missed it. The way the group talking to Roy suddenly shifted their attention to the opening front door. You walked in. Poised, calm, like you were used to this. Tired, maybe, but you hid it well thanks to the way you held your head high. You smiled when Stephanie and Tim greeted you with hugs, like a group of old friends reuniting. You welcomed Roy like he hadn’t just dumped another magical disaster on your plate.

And then, your eyes met his.

Jason felt his brain short circuit. You said something, he could see your lips move but everything else faded. Sound, movement. He just stood there, staring like a dumbass. Real smooth Todd. 

“I—shit, sorry. Uh, nice book.” Nice book? Really? Pathetic.

But your eyes lit up, a smile crossing your face, as your eyes flick briefly to the cover. “You think? I’m studying it for my classical literature program.”

“What’s your favorite passage?” he blurted out before he could stop himself. His mouth had fully betrayed him now. “Mine is—”

“Paolo and Francesca,” you both said at once.

There’s a pause. Not long, but long enough that Jason feels it stretch between you like a thread pulled too tight until it snaps. Your eyes flick to him with curiosity. His heart beats faster than he’d like to admit.

He doesn’t know what to say to that. He doesn’t want to sound too cynical. The way you are yapping about the book is not in a negative way, just… resigned, like you’ve thought about this before. Like maybe you've seen too many things you couldn’t explain away.

“I liked that it was written with compassion,” you add after a beat, your thumb brushing the book’s cover. “Dante judged them, sure. But he still let them be together.”

Jason watches you quietly. There’s something soft in the way you talk about tragedy. Not indulgent, not performative. Just… understanding. You didn’t flinch at the weight of it. And maybe that’s what struck him so much about you. Not the book, and sharing the same passage as your guy's favourite. Not the confidence. But your quietness, that was louder than any loudness he has ever heard in his 24 years of life. Like you could tell the difference between suffering that mattered and suffering that didn’t.

He clears his throat. “Didn’t expect to meet someone who could make hell sound comforting.”

You give him a look that’s unreadable, but not cold. “It’s not comforting. Just familiar.”

And again he doesn’t know what to say to that. So he just stays there, standing across from you, as you carry the conversation. The hum of the room fading out as his mind focuses on you and only you. 

Neither of you notice when Stephanie leans over toward Tim and Roy on the couch, all three of them whispering and side eyeing the two of you like you’re part of some cheap television show that they’re consuming in real time.

“She’s never talked this much to anyone new,” Stephanie murmurs, impressed.

“She quoted Dante back to him,” Tim adds. “It’s over. We have lost her”

Roy grins like he’s won something. “You’re welcome.”

Meanwhile, Jason hasn’t moved. He watches the way your fingers graze the pages of the book. You look like you’re thinking about something else already. Or maybe about him. Your conversation. He can’t tell. He’s never been great at reading people like that.

But he wants to learn. Just this once. He feels the unexplainable urge to know everything that the pretty head of yours is thinking. To know your deepest fears. What your heart desires. 

He doesn't know why. Jason doesn’t act like this, usually. Always. And he wants to hate it, he wants to protest against his head, but he can't. He can't find it in him to mind it. Not even a little bit. 

© GLAMOURSCAT (all rights reserved. do not share, modify, translate and re-upload my work outside of tumblr)

[flamingpudding]

Fictober23 Prompt: 7 - "Do you recognise this?"

Fandom: DPxDC

Rating: G

Warnings: -

"So, who did it?" Bruce asked, eyes narrowed at the children before him. Clark was next to him trying once more to persuade Bruce that it was unnecessary to go after the kids like this.

The 'kids' in question were the assembly of three of his children, Clark's child and clone and a couple of their respected friends.

"Father, I do not know what you are talking about." Damian piped up offended and crossed his arms. Next to him Jon scratched the back of his head in mild confusion and Dani despite not knowing what was going on but still glaring in defiance at Bruce.

"If this is about our prank war it was definitely not necessary to interrogate our friends too." Tim added looking every bit like he would be somewhere else than here. Kon and Bart were with him. Kon looked rather unsure while Bart had gone and gotten himself popcorn for whatever was going to happen.

"Look old man, how was I supposed to know Replacement would trigger the glitter bomb inside the Batmobile. I already cleaned that up!" Jason put in his two cents, Roy eyeing the other with a raised eyebrow.

Bruce stared at them quietly, not saying a word as Clark continued to fuss next to him to not make it a big deal and that a deep clean would surely fix everything.

"It's not your prank war I am talking about. Alfred will deal with you about the chaos you caused." The three respected batkids swallowed audibly while their friends chuckled. "No, what I am asking is which one of you decided it was a good idea to dye Clark's hero suit and my cape pink."

"Wait, someone actually did that to Dad?!" Jon piped up wide eyed as Dani broke out laughing causing Damian to eye the ghost girl with narrowed eyes and suspicion.

"Who would…" Tim started but didn't finish as his mind came up with possible suspects. Kon on Bart next to him went onto their phones, trying to search up pictures of Superman in a pink hero suit.

Jason and Roy broke out laughing too, voicing their respect to whoever managed to do that.

Bruce's eye twitch at the children's reaction. He then proceeded to pull out an opened can of pink dye and placed it on the table in perfect view of everyone. "Do you recognise this? Jason? Tim?"

"WHY ME?!" They both cried out in protest and Bruce narrowed his eyes on the two. "Jason, your last prank on Tim involved a glitter bomb with pink dye, the Batmobile's seats are still strained pink. Tim, you dyed Damian's shirts pink a couple days ago at the beginning of your prank war."

"So it was you Drake! You are going to pay for this!"

"And I will do it again if you ever touch my laptop again, Demon Brat!"

"How does that even prove that one of us did it!"

"It doesn't!"

"Do you think there might be someone else that fell victim to the pink dye in the JL?"

"Maybe?"

"Why would someone even go after Clark? He has nothing to do with our prank war."

"Jason, my friend. You are indirectly admitting that you would dye Batman's cape pink."

Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose as the children before him (he ignored that at least two of them were over 20, they were children period) started to argue among themselves while Damian's newest friend the Daughter of Phantom, who recently joined the Justice League Dark, was by now rolling on the ground laughing.

Not far from the interrogation Danny sat by a table next to Alfred snacking on some of the best cookies he had ever gotten to eat. He had originally come by to hang out with Tim, Kon and Bart but now he was threaded to some A+ entertainment, Dani was clearly enjoying.

"You recognize the can, don't you Mr. Daniel? I believe you accidentally left it behind in the cave." Danny side eyed the butler next to him and grinned into his next bite of a cookie. "Supes deserved it."

The man hummed and Danny smiled as he was offered another cookie. "I believe I know why but would you please elaborate on why Master Bruce also got targeted? I will most likely be the one who will have to wash out the cape."

The half ghost didn't say anything at first before shrugging. "Kon wasn't the only one who deserved some Justice for how he had been treated in the past. I know they get along now but still… a little pay back for past mistreatment wouldn't hurt anyone right?"

"Ah, so it was for Mr. Conner and Master Jason." The butler smiled in understanding, pushing over a box of take away cookies to Danny. "May I suggest that next time you seek out justice for the boy, that there are other -embarrassing- ways to achieve it."

Danny only gave the man a feral grin as he hopped off the chair with the box in hand. It was time to release the children of Bruce's interrogation. He would just put the blame on Constantine somehow, like a spell gone wrong instead of actual dye being the cause. The man owned him anyway since he had gotten most of his soul back aside from a couple of pieces he was still negotiating over in the Ghost Zone.

[maj-b-s]

Jason: I can't leave Reader and Dick together.

Tim: Why?

Jason: Together they become idiots, their intelligence goes away.

Jason: It's so bad it could kill them, like the time they were stupid enough to cut the wire on the wrong bomb.

*flashback*

Reader: IT'S THE BLUE THREAD GRAYSON!

Dick: OF COURSE IT'S NOT THE RED WIRE!

Dick: Well, let's cut them both at the same time.

Reader: ok!

*after*

Jason: What happened to you guys?

*Dick and Reader covered in soot*

Reader: We cut the wrong wire.

Dick: It was the green...

jason: I'm not even going to say anything.

*end of flashback*

Jason: They are smart, but together they become dumb!

Tim: just like you and Roy, the dirty one talking about the badly washed.

Jason: Dude, you're here to listen to me, not to argue.

Tim: Do I look like a psychologist now?

Jason: You know what, go the fuck home.

[zahri-melitor]

What's the Williamson thing? I don't think I've read much of his work

This is not exclusive to Williamson in any way, but he's part of it.

There are a bunch of DC writers who have a decided tendency to place more emphasis on biological relationships than adoptive ones. Williamson's a known example.

This affects variously families differently. Flashfam are less affected because they're almost all actual interrelated family members, however it's particularly noticeable in the writing of Bat, Super and Arrow titles.

(Aquafam is its own special case because 'biological v adoptive v foster' dramas extend back to the Bronze Age. Fortunately nobody seems to have let these writers near the Marvelfam/Shazamily much)

But essentially, it shows up as a tendency to define Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, Connor Hawke and Emiko Queen specifically by their biological relationships to Bruce, Clark and Ollie, and minimising the importance of adoptive bonds.

This is where you'll see things like Dick Grayson referred to as "Bruce's ward" in a title published in the 2020s, or Dick mention Bruce to Damian as "your father" (not ours), or have Ollie thinking about "my son Connor and my former sidekick Roy", or describing Roy as "like a son", or suggestions that there wasn't a Super Family before Jon arrived and that obviously the only possible Superman replacement for Clark is Jon, and so on.

It's this insidious "adoptive relationships and foster relationships are great but this here is your own flesh and blood, your biological child, and that is something that has its own special importance above and beyond any child you have chosen to look after". Which is something that some people do think and struggle with in blended families! But which gets really noticeable when it's prioritised in properties that were originally about families of choice.

Because we're talking about Joshua Williamson, and I was referring to his writing of Damian in particular:

It's having Alfred say to Damian “Bruce would have wanted you to be Robin” and claiming that is a scene that happened during Batman R.I.P., even though Tim was very much still Bruce's Robin at the time, had been promised by Bruce that he could be Robin as long as he wanted to be, and was literally in costume as Robin trying to hold the city together and track down and imprison Hush with Dick.

It's the attitude that Damian was entitled to be Robin because he was Bruce's son, and being Robin is a marker of being Bruce's Blood Son, whether or not Damian is actually doing the job of Robin.

It's scenes of Bruce and Damian going "Father and son. Batman and Robin. We don't need anyone else" even as Tim is currently also Robin and a very important thread of Bat family storytelling for the last 30 years is that yes, actually Bruce does need his family, he does need more than one single connection, the network is important at keeping him grounded and sane and able to do the job.

It's just...sigh. Joshua Williamson at it again.

[l0singsdogs]

when the masks fell by mercuriiovenus.

Justice League → No information available. Try searching for "judicial system" or "football league." Gotham vigilante → No reports of vigilantes in Gotham. Breaking news: Oswald Cobblepot has been found guilty of multiple crimes and mafia associations. Life sentence expected. Nightwing → Urban myth or a term linked to aerial acrobatics. Did you mean: Nightwing Gymnastics Academy? Robin → A small red-breasted bird. Would you like to learn more about robins?

Tim Drake is the first to start searching, scanning every corner of the internet—or so he hopes—because the laptop resting on his legs feels off. The technology here isn’t what they’re used to, that much is clear. Their phones, usually advanced tools for gathering intel, seem… ordinary. The search results are strange. But more than that, everything feels strange.

Bruce, Tim, and Damian are absorbed in their frantic search, eyes darting across screens as if a different result might suddenly appear if they refresh enough times. But if anyone took a moment to step back and look —they’d see it. The same passcodes unlock their phones, but the content inside is different.

Jason and Dick are the only ones who seem lost in the photo galleries.

Grayson scrolls through pictures, searching for some thread of recognition, but everything is hazy—just out of reach. There are endless images of him: standing on podiums, dressed in gymnastics gear, grinning with medals hanging around his neck. There are pictures with friends, too—so many of Wally West, Donna Troy, and Kory Anders. He smiles despite himself, but the feeling twisting in his gut is unfamiliar. This isn’t his life. It’s a life , yes. But not his.

Jason… Jason is worse off. He stares at the images on his screen as if they’re mocking him. There are pictures of him traveling, laughing, and existing. He finds shots of himself with Roy Harper and Artemis—his chest tightens at that—but there are also faces he doesn’t recognize, memories he never made. Birthday celebrations, candid moments, snapshots of him curled up with a book. There are so many pictures of him smiling . And that’s what finally breaks something deep inside him.

It’s impossible. It’s impossible.

His grip tightens around the phone as rage coils hot in his chest. He flicks his gaze toward Grayson, catching the same confusion in his brother’s expression.

None of this is real.

Without a word, Jason pushes himself up from the couch, drawing everyone’s attention.

Tim and Damian’s argument hums in the background—Tim snapping at Damian to search properly, Damian snapping back that everything is useless.

Jason doesn’t care.

"Have any of you seen Alfred? Or the others?" His voice is sharp, cutting through the tension. "We're sitting here like idiots, but Thomas, Brown, and Cassandra were with us. Where the hell are they?"

Bruce watches his second son carefully. It's difficult— painful —to look at him. He seems younger, lighter, like a version of himself that never carried so much weight. A version Bruce last saw when he held Jason’s broken body in his arms.

"Have you found anything else?" Bruce finally asks, voice steady, unreadable.

Everyone shakes their heads. They're still searching, still trying to figure out where the hell they are and what kind of reality they’ve landed in.

"I’ll look for Alfred," Jason announces. He knows the protocol, but right now, he just needs to see a familiar face—something to ground him after staring at the images on his phone, images that feel like a life he never lived. "Come with me, Grayson."

Dick glances at him, hesitant. He doesn’t want to leave, not yet. He needs to keep digging, to figure out what the hell is going on. But Jason doesn’t give him the option.

"Come. Now."

WHEN THE MASKS FELL AO3.

[blu3-ja3]

Chapter 8

Bruce's POV

I woke up today and could immediately tell something was wrong, not just with me but my children too as well as Selina and Alfred. Whatever it is it's been a slow escalation, at first I thought it was because I had spent time on a different plane of existence; an eldritch's domain as Zatanna put it, but slowly whatever was wrong with me spread to my family.

First it was Jason, almost instantly, then it was Dick and Tim both at the same time. Cass, Steph, Duke and Damien all followed a day later with Selina and Alfred later that same night. I immediately began experimenting and testing on myself to learn what was wrong.

Kon didn't seem to be affected and neither did Kori and Mari but that could be because of their alien biology. Thankfully Roy and Lian also haven't been infected with whatever is affecting us and none of the the other heroes who came to assist in the chaos have been affected.

Not even Zatanna or John, though when I brought up the symptoms and my concern to Zatanna she insisted on helping even after I told her it was unnecessary.

"Bruce, you fell into a domain of an eldritch being and not only encounter the entity itself but the soul of a young girl whose most likely it's vessel. The girl whom is naturally gifted in eldritch binding enough so the soul of a teenager and the physical body of a person could withstand. Or the girl has been taught by an extremely powerful practitioner." Zatanna's image in the video moved from one room to another and the sounds of books being opened and pages turned could be heard in the background.

"And the only two people who could teach her that level of skill is my father who is currently possessed by Dr. Fate and me. And last I checked I have no such apprentice so..." A small stack of books floated behind Zatanna as she moved to find another to add to the pile.

"You're going to let me look into whatever is happening with you and your family, especially because from what you've told me and John about the encounter." Zatanna finished as she moved into another room.

"I really don't understand what's so important about the threads Zatanna," I let out a tired sigh, extremely grateful to my younger self for making allies with Giovanni all those years ago.

"And that's why you are going to let me help you with this Bruce, we both know the ways of the arcane is not your strong suit. Let me help you if not for yourself then for your family," Zatanna begged, I let out a sigh and heard Zatanna do the same before we both said our goodbyes.

That was last night. This morning everyone seemed significantly worse, tired eyes and sluggish movements like they'd all come down with the flu. But there was more to it than just sickness, something that ran bone deep was off... Altered. I can feel it and I can tell my kids are feeling it too.

Then I got a call from the hospital telling me that the teen girl I was paying medical bills for was awake and that Commissioner Gordon was escorting the young girl back to her home. I thanked the receptionist who called and immediately started getting ready to leave to meet Gordon when all of my children decided they were going to join me.

Now I'm sitting on a small couch with a CPS agent sitting next to me and Commissioner Gordon standing on the other side. Looking at a newly wheelchair bound teenage girl who looks exhausted, while I try desperately to ignore the looming amorphous figure standing behind her that everyone else can't seem to see!

I'm mentally preparing myself on how I'm going to explain this to Zatanna when the rest of my kids tumble into the apartment and most follow Tim to Jillian's room. Damian doesn't follow, instead my youngest stands in front of Jillian and the two talk about the sudden foster cat; Queenie.

I sat for the hours it took for everyone to help Jillian pack; Damian was given that task of distracting Queenie so she wasn't anxious, and talked with Jillian's social worker and finalized paperwork. The entire time boxes and furniture were moved out, Jillian eventually rolled herself back into the living room with Tim and Duke carrying two open boxes with plants.

"Mr. Wayne, I wanted to say thank you... Again, I hope I don't cause you and your family too much trouble," Jillian says as she pets her cat and Damian works to set up the cat carrier. It takes me a moment to respond, too caught off guard by the choir of whispers that echoed around Jillian's words.

Eventually everything was sorted and Jillian's room and bathroom was packed into the SUV, Dick took Jason, Damian, Steph and Cass back to the manor while Jillian, Tim and Duke would ride with Alfred and I. Before we left Jillian was stopped in the hallway by Maria, her neighbor's daughter.

The two talked for a bit before Maria handed a box to Jillian and the two held each other in a long hug. I saw Maria crying before pulling away and wiping her cheeks, Jillian said something and the two laughed afterwards Maria helped Jillian roll back over to me and the two boys.

I took the box from Jillian's lap when she asked and began pushing herself towards the elevator. Once everyone was piled into the elevator and rode down to the lobby Jillian stopped at the front office. She exchanged a few words with the younger man at the desk; Rickie, before handing over a set of keys and saying goodbye.

It wasn't a long drive back to the Manor with Alfred driving but Tim and Duke kept up conversation with Jillian. Tim made jokes about needing Jillian to catch up on notes in AP Calculus and Jillian asked about the track team's competition that she missed. Duke informed her as much as he knew and Tim did the same.

As we drove up the driveway I noticed Dick and another figure who was talking animatedly. As we drove closer the figure became more familiar and dread began to eat away at my chest. Vickie Vale's newest hire one; Lilly R. Goldberg, was currently being dealt with by Dick.

Lilly likes to 'push' the boundaries of reporters and treads a little closer to paparazzi when trying to get information. Thankfully all of my kids know how to deal with her, so all I have to do is focus on Jillian and make sure she doesn't get overwhelmed.

I hear Tim and Duke explaining to Jillian who Lilly is and how they're going to help her deal. I feel a little more relaxed but still the dread remains as we pull up next to the SUV Dick drove. I'm the first to move when we stop and immediately Lilly is at my door.

"Mister Wayne! There's a rumor that you're adopting another child and again following the trend of adopting from the worse side of Gotham! Is this child from the Narrows or the Alley? Will this become a common trend? Is it another son? Why is Cassandra the only girl you've adopted?" I keep quiet as I move to the back of the car and open the trunk to pull out Jillian's wheelchair. Then walk to the back passenger door and let Duke out.

"Bruce hasn't adopted me, I'm his ward until my cousin has graduated college," Duke is quick to correct Lilly who immediately starts writing. Both Alfred and Tim step out and come around to stand in around the car door and help block the view of Jillian as she moves and sits in the wheelchair.

"This lady is crazy," Jillian whispers under her voice, Tim laughs and I don't hide my smile. Jillian begins to push herself towards the house ignoring Lilly's bombardment of questions.

"What's your name? Do you have any options on Bruce Wayne adopting you? You look to be a lower class how does it feel to have money? Are you permanently wheelchair bound?" Another bombardment of questions and Jillian doesn't seem to hear as she continues up the path with Jason and Damien staying by her side the entire way.

Suddenly Lilly jumps in front of Jillian and grabs one of her arms. Before anyone else could react, Jillian's other gloved hand came up and slapped Lilly across the face. The woman slightly dazed let go of Jillian and took a shocked step back.

"Don't fucking touch me, you can hover like a damn pest but don't fucking touch me," Jillian seethed as she continued to push past the still shocked Lilly and up to the steps of the manor.

It took everyone a quick second but Jason was immediately helping Jillian up the stairs and into the manor. The whole time Jason could be heard laughing. Lilly leaves soon after and we finish unloading everything of Jillian's.

I find Jillian sitting in the front parlor with Selina and Kate, the three are simply talking and trying to get to know each other. Cass and Steph eventually join and Selina gives me a look that tells me all that I need to know. Leave it's girl talk, don't let the boys in.

I meet with Dick, Jason and Damien and stop Duke, Tim and Kon from going into the front parlor. Instead we all find ourselves in the kitchen asking to help Alfred with dinner and setting up the table.

He's reluctant to let us help at first but eventually caves when Jason and Duke say they'll help monitor. I'm currently chopping vegetables for whatever Alfred is making when Selina pops her head in.

"We're going to help Jillian unpack and set up her room, call us when dinner's ready." Selina leaves with a smile after Alfred gives a confirmation.

It takes some time but eventually everything is done and Alfred is having the boys set the table and bring food to the table. Damian helps gather cups and silverware while Tim, Duke and Conner set out plates and mats. Jason is setting out cups and Dick is bringing the pitchers of drinks.

Alfred goes to the door to greet the arriving families, Kori and Mari arriving a little before dinner was finished. Barbara and Gordon arrived at the same time as Roy and Lian did, after the table was set they found their seats and started chatting.

I was assigned to go find the girls. It's on the first floor as a guest room, it's a temporary room for Jillian until she can move upstairs more consistently. I pass by Alfred's room and go three doors down to find a door open with music playing loudly.

I knock on the door frame to let them know I'm there.

"Hey ladies dinners ready, Alfred said to come eat at the table," I say with a smile as Steph and Cass immediately go to help Jillian get back into the wheelchair. It looked like the three were stretching.

"Jill, I can't wait for you to meet Kori and Babs! They always come to Sunday dinners," Steph looks at me before asking, "Are Roy and Lian joining us, Bruce or are they with Oliver?"

"They're here, Lian wanted to see Mari," I explain as we walk together through the halls.

"How big is your family?" Jillian asked looking at Cass, she just shrugs as we round the corner to the dining room.

Steph takes a seat on the other side of Tim with Cass sitting next to her. Kate sits next to Alfred and Selina sits next to me at the head of the table. Jason is sitting across from Roy with Lian and Mari sitting next to each other. I don't take my seat just yet as I stay standing next to Jillian and clear my throat causing everyone to look over towards us.

"I'd like to introduce everyone to Jillian, she'll be staying with us for the time being." A choir of hellos and nice to meet you come from the table before Duke opens the empty chair in-between him and Jason. Jillian cautiously moves to sit next to the boys and greets the new faces.

Dinner goes well, it's lively and not nearly as loud as I expected it to be. Everyone talked and bantered while we enjoyed Alfred's amazing cooking, Jillian even joined in on a few occasions with other conversations besides the one she was holding with Duke and Damien.

The Gordons were the first to take their leave followed closely by Kate. Roy and Jason said their goodbyes after Lian and Mari played for a bit together, Dick and Kori left soon after with Mari. Steph would be staying over to patrol with Cass tonight and Tim and Kon slipped away to play a video game. (Yes I know it's probably not what the two teens are doing Selina but I've given Tim the talk and neither of them can get pregnant so it's fine.)

Damian left to check on Batcow and Jerry as well as making sure the dogs and cats are inside for the night. Duke stayed behind to help Alfred and Selina went to our room to wait for me. I walked with Jillian back towards her room.

"I know that was a lot for your first night here." Jillian stopped outside of her room and simply smiled.

"It was nice, a little overwhelming but nice... Um thank you again Mr. Wayne, for everything you've done for me." I smile at the young girl and we exchange goodnights before she enters her room and closes the door.

I go to the study and immediately head down to the cave, I have patrol tonight with Step and Cass but before that I have to inform Zatanna of what I've been seeing around Jillian.

Jillian's POV

I can't sleep, I guess that's what happens when you've been asleep for literal days on end. I'm incredibly restless and the only thing that sounds appealing is working on my leg strength again. Duke told me about the small indoor pool somewhere in the manor, he said it was next to the gym...

The problem is this place is actually massive and it's not like there's plaques or signs above each door. After about 45 ish minutes I found the room I've been looking for. I push my way into the room and set my towel on the small bench lining the wall. If I had a phone I'd probably set up some music but for now I'll just deal with silence.

The tricky part is making sure I don't fall over when getting into the pool. My legs aren't completely paralyzed but I'm a far cry from what I used to be. Torture, starvation and I guess a coma does that to you...

I lock the wheels of my chair and stand up slowly, I feel like a new born dear with how wobbly my legs are under me. I make it to the stairs leading into the pool and use the railing as support. I don't actually plan on swimming but I need the slight weightlessness to help me.

Eventually I'm submerged up to my mid stomach and I can feel the difference, it's a drastic change that gives me confidence. I start my standing leg stretches and walk around the pool. Nothing goes deeper than my chest so I feel confident in my abilities to walk the pool. I don't want to wait longer than I have to, I'm going to run again as soon as possible.

I'm not sure how long I'm in the pool, my hands start to prune and my legs ache. I'm not tired yet so I keep going letting the dull ache in my legs become a burn. It's only then do I decide to get out of the pool, though that's easier said than done.

I realize my mistake as soon as my hips leave the pool, the sudden feeling of my weight makes it almost impossible for me to get to my wheelchair. I keep myself stable against the railing and try to force my legs to stop shaking. It's no use and I suddenly realize I've made a horrible mistake.

"Need some help?" I look up to see Mr. Wayne stood near the entrance and nodded my head at his question.

Mr. Wayne quickly grabs the towel I brought and wraps it around me before gently picking me up. He places me into the seat of the wheelchair before unlocking the wheels and moving behind to push me.

"What were you doing in the pool so late?" Bruce asked as he began pushing me through the halls.

"Couldn't sleep, can't really run like I usually do so I figured working my legs in the pool would help," I answer, I have to fight a yawn as exhaustion takes over.

"Makes sense, do you have trouble sleeping often?" Bruce asks as he navigates easily through the halls.

"It depends, why were you up? How'd you find me?" I ask, this time I can't fight back the yawn.

"Same as you couldn't sleep, usually I got through and check on everyone. I went to your room and couldn't find you," Bruce explained as he turned down a hall and suddenly we're a few doors away from the room I'm staying in.

Bruce helps me gather a change of clothes and stands outside the door while I change. Once I'm done he helps me get into bed before whipping down the wheelchair. As he's about to leave I say a quiet goodnight and he responds in kind.

I feel my eyelids get heavier as I slowly slip into sleep. As I drift away I recognize the familiar dark expanse around, not one of lightless sleep. This is the void that I often dream of, even before the kidnapping and cult shit. Back then I just thought they were dreams, strange dreams.

"Hello dear child..."

Part 1 /// Previous /// Next

Cursed Gotham Masterpost

[that1emowitch]

“The sun shines in the bedroom/When we play/The raining always starts/When you go away”

(AO3 link)

- - -

Roy eased the door to Lian's room shut, the soft click barely audible over the thrum of his heartbeat. He lingered for a moment, hand still on the doorknob, his eyes scanning the grain of the wood as if he could see through it. She was fine. She was safe. He knew that. He’d tucked her in, kissed her forehead, and even double-checked the stuffed bunny she clung to for any frayed stitching.

The apartment was a fortress—Batman-grade security, outfitted with contingencies crafted by everyone from Tim Drake to Oliver Queen. Jason had added his own deadly traps and redundancies, ensuring not even a ghost could get in uninvited. Lian was protected. She was home. Safe. Yet Roy's chest felt like it was caving in under a weight that he couldn’t explain, not entirely.

His knees buckled slightly as he stepped away from the door. He caught himself against the wall, his palm pressing hard into the cold plaster as his breath came shallow and ragged. It wasn’t just the shooting earlier today. It wasn’t just seeing a gunman walking into Lian’s school like a specter of every parent’s worst nightmare. It was how close she’d been to danger, how quickly it all could’ve gone wrong.

He was too familiar with school shootings, having experienced them and stopped them many times over the years. But this, knowing his baby girl was so close to—

It was the familiar itch beneath his skin, the gnawing whisper in the back of his mind. One hit. Just one. One to quiet the storm, to push everything down and make it bearable. His nails bit into his palm as he staggered to the couch, collapsing onto it with a weight he couldn’t shake.

Heroin made everything better, just for a while, but he knew he’d regret it. That didn’t stop the craving.

The door to the kitchen swung open, and Jason’s heavy boots thudded softly against the hardwood floor. His lover carried two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, the scent of cinnamon and dark chocolate wafting into the room. Jason paused, immediately clocking the way Roy sat slumped forward, his hands trembling slightly as they fidgeted with a loose thread on the couch cushion.

“Hey,” Jason said softly, setting the mugs down on the coffee table. He moved with an ease that belied the tension in his shoulders, slipping a fleece blanket off the armrest and wrapping it gently around Roy's shoulders. The sensation of warmth and Jason’s solid presence made Roy's throat tighten. He didn’t deserve this—this care, this love—but Jason never gave him the chance to argue otherwise.

Roy leaned back instinctively, letting Jason’s arms encircle him. The warmth of the blanket and Jason’s familiar scent—gunpowder, leather, and something faintly woodsy—washed over him like a balm. He turned his face up, and Jason met him halfway in a soft kiss that lingered for just a moment before morphing into a tender press of their foreheads.

Jason pulled back just enough to sit beside him on the couch, taking Roy’s hand and rubbing soothing circles into the back of it. He didn’t push, didn’t press for words, but Roy could feel Jason waiting, his patience infinite and steady.

“Fuck, I— I’m feeling like shooting up,” Roy murmured, the words a low confession that barely broke the silence. His free hand went to his pocket, his fingers unconsciously tracing the outline of where a syringe might’ve been, if he hadn’t already emptied his stash of heroin years ago. He clenched his fist, trying to banish the phantom weight of the addiction he’d carried for so long.

He could still see faint lines where track marks used to be. Some small, scary part of him wanted to see those scarring his arms again.

Jason’s grip on his other hand tightened, grounding him. “Okay,” Jason said simply, his voice calm, steady, like a lifeline thrown into dark waters. “Talk to me.”

Roy exhaled shakily, his gaze darting to the coffee table, then back to Jason. “It’s just... today. Seeing that guy walk into Lian’s school, knowing what could’ve happened if we’d been even a second slower.” His voice cracked, and he swallowed hard. “I keep thinking, what if it happens again? What if I can’t save her next time? What if—”

“Hey,” Jason interrupted softly, scooting closer until their thighs were pressed together. “She’s safe. You made sure of that. We made sure of that.”

Roy nodded, but the reassurance didn’t reach the knot in his chest. His fingers trembled again, and Jason caught the movement, holding Roy's hand tightly and pressing it against his own chest. Roy could feel the steady thump of Jason’s heartbeat beneath his palm, anchoring him.

“You’re not alone in this,” Jason said firmly. “I’ve got you. Whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re thinking, I’m here.”

The dam broke then, a flood of tears spilling down Roy’s cheeks as he let himself fall into Jason’s arms. Jason held him close, one hand threading through Roy’s hair while the other rubbed soothing circles on his back. He murmured soft, nonsensical things—comforting sounds that didn’t need to be words—until Roy’s sobs began to subside.

When Roy finally pulled back, his face was blotchy, his eyes red-rimmed, but the tension in his shoulders had eased slightly. Jason cupped his cheek, wiping away the last stray tear with his thumb.

“Do you want to stay out here tonight?” Jason asked after a moment. “We can make it a living room campout. Or,” he added with a small, mischievous grin, “we could ask Lian if she wants her Papa and Daddy to have a sleepover in her room.”

Roy huffed a laugh, the sound watery but genuine. “She’d never let us leave if we did that.”

“True,” Jason admitted, leaning back against the couch. “But if it’d make you feel better, we can stay close. Whatever you need, Roy.”

Roy considered the offer for a moment before shaking his head. “No. I don’t want her to see me like this. She shouldn’t have to worry about me.”

“She’s a tough kid,” Jason said, “but I get it.” He reached for the mugs of hot chocolate he’d placed aside, and handed one to Roy, the warmth seeping through the ceramic into Roy’s hands. “How about we stay out here, then? Just us. I’ll put on some music, and we’ll hang out. No pressure. No expectations.”

Roy nodded, taking a sip of the hot chocolate. The rich, slightly bitter taste was comforting in its own way, grounding him further. Jason got up briefly to grab his phone, queuing up a playlist of Nirvana—Roy’s favorite—and setting it to play at a low volume.

As the familiar chords of Son of a Gun filled the room, Jason returned to the couch, sitting close enough that their shoulders brushed. “You know,” he said after a moment, his tone light, “This hot chocolate. It's Alfred’s recipe, which was apparently his grandma's recipe. Top secret. That's why Lian always tells me to make her cocoa, not you.”

Roy snorted, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips despite himself. “Oh, please. Lain loves my ready mix hot chocolate just as well. She just asks you to do it ‘cause it makes you happy.”

Jason gasped in mock offense, clutching his chest dramatically. “You did not just compare Alfred's grandma's hot chocolate to powder mixes.”

Roy chuckled, the sound soft but genuine. The heaviness in his chest hadn’t disappeared entirely—he still felt like he craved drugs to soothe the pain—but it felt more manageable now, like something he could carry with Jason by his side.

They sat like that for a while, trading quiet jokes and sipping their hot chocolate as the music played on. Eventually, Roy rested his head on Jason’s shoulder, letting the rhythm of the songs and the steady warmth of Jason’s presence lull him into a sense of peace.

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t a cure. But it was enough. For now, it was enough.

As long as Jason was there, Roy could get through anything. He knew that. He loved that.

[mothasaurus]

Wednesday Wip Game Fill 11/13/24

The fill I forgot to post last week for @post-and-out. Thank you for pushing my to write!

Requests were made in the amazing Wednesday Wip Game Community. Thank you so much for pushing me to write! I hope you check us out and play!

Written in tandem with @ditzyredrobin

BW24 - 269/Kit (CW: for needles, minor blood and injury)

-

Jason’s threads the needle through flesh with the ease of a man who’s done this a million times over, fingers nimble and quick yet with an air of caution. Their little bird was already starting to crash, hitting the wrong side of adrenaline, listing to one side. His eyes glazed over and the dark bags under his eyes more prominent.

On Jason’s other side, Roy is perched on the kitchen counter, swinging his legs like he was five. The tackle box of a first aid kit was spilled out between them, a fresh suture kit neatly laid out and ready.

“Can you stop?” Jason growls, not looking up from his continuous row of sutures. The cut was clean and not very long but the piece of shrapnel had cut deep—deep enough butterfly stitches weren’t enough. “I don’t know if you can tell but I’m in the middle of something right now.”

“I can,” Roy grins but continues swinging his legs.

Jason has to suppress a groan, trying to focus on the task at hand, but the steady thump thump thump of Roy’s socked feet again the kitchen cabinets made his jaw ache.

Deep breath in, hold, deep breath out, he reminds himself.

“I can finish up by myself,” Tim mumbles, words almost incoherent. He looked dead on his feet even before he was sat down. “I’m sure there’s a lot of stuff to do—I can’t —I can finish the stitches and you can—“

“Yeah, no, sorry to burst your bubble, sweets, but that ain’t happening.” Jason snaps. “You couldn’t even get out of your suit on your own. So stitches? That’s outta the question.”

Tim glared up at him, looking more like a child upset they weren’t getting a second round of dessert, than a fearsome Red Robin.

“Ahhh, you know you look like one of those little kid memes when you’re mad.” Roy grinned.

If looks could kill, the one Tim turned on him would’ve had Roy vaporized on the spot.

“Roy,” Jason warned. “If you don’t knock it the fuck off, I’m not going to stop Tim when he decides enough is enough, you feel me?”

Roy snickered, “C’mon, Jay, you know you wouldn’t let Little Red hurt me.”

Jason paused, shooting Roy a look. “What makes you so sure about that? This whole thing is your fault so as far as I’m aware, it’s fair game.”

“Aw, don’t be like that. You know you love me.” Roy pouts, crossing his arms. “And it was an accident and you know it.”

“Babe, I said I was sorry, plus it’s not my fault I thought you said go, not no. My comm was busted, remember?”

“There were options, Roy, you almost got him killed.” A green haze was starting to creep along beyond the field of his vision, liquid and oozing like the pit. “And you-“ Jason snapped, turning his ire on their little bird. “Why hadn’t you cleared out? If I remember correctly, you called the all clear before Roy got trigger happy.”

Tim’s expression twisted, and he looked down at his newly sprinted wrist and ankle. “I’m sorry. I thought I had more time.”

“Yeah, no, sorry isn’t gonna cut I this time. That was a stupid call even for you.” Tim opened his mouth to speak but Jason cut him off. “You’re lucky a broken wrist, a sprain ankle, and some stitches is all you got away with. For that, you’re benched.”

“No,” Tim snapped quickly. “You can’t do this you’re not my—“

“You want me to call Dickie.” Jason countered. “‘Cause I will and you know how he gets when one of his little birds is hurt.”

“You wouldn’t.”

Jason smirked, “Wouldn’t I?”

Tim grumbled under his breath but didn’t say anything else, earning a laugh from Roy.

“And you,” Jason turns to Roy. As far as he was concerned Roy wasn’t getting away with shit either. “You’re out too until Timmy is better.”

“What? Why me?” Roy said, aghast.

“Did the crime, face the time. You caused Tim to get hurt, you get to put him back together.”

[starwarsmum]

Day 5's prompt is To Have Loved and Lost

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

@maribat-calendar-events

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64338052/chapters/165592963

When Roy had seen Marinette wielding his bow, he didn't think he'd seen anything hotter in his life. She had been confident and brutal with her efficiency, managing to wound people with pencils of all things. The goons that had been unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of one of those were going to need medical attention to have them safely removed. 

No, this was definitely the pinnacle of hotness and he was distracted enough that he couldn't put a stop to his own fight easily. Jason was never going to let him hear the end of the fact that he had stepped in to help end it. Roy was fairly sure he was going to care at some point, but right now he just wanted to talk to Marinette again. Fortunately, he had a great excuse because she was still holding his bow. 

After Jason stopped trying to antagonise her, Roy thought their conversation was going pretty well. She was blushing and stumbling over her words in a way that boosted his ego greatly and he was on the verge of trying to see if he could convince her to leave with him when she looked at him strangely. 

“Shit,” she hissed, eyes widening and blush subsiding completely as she gave him a scrutinising look. “Dammit, of course it's you.” 

“Uh, did I miss something?” He asked, voice coming out of the flirty tone he had been using moments before. “Are you okay?” 

“I'll be fine, I just should have guessed this. In my defence, I was actively trying not to work anything out but your hair is kind of distinctive,” she said, eye darting around at almost inhuman speed. 

“Ready to go?” Tim interrupted, apparently oblivious to Marinette's panic and Roy's realisation that she had totally just worked out who he was.

“Yep! Nice to see you again, R- Arsenal!” 

Marinette could feel Arsenal's eyes on her back as she pushed Tim towards his bike.

“Care to explain what the heck is going on?” Tim hissed, glancing back at Arsenal suspiciously. 

“Not now,” she sighed, climbing on behind him and poking him to get moving. “I'll tell you about it once you're back in your civvies, okay?” 

_ _ _

“Okay, I'm ready for you to explain what the heck is going on now,” Tim said as he slumped into an armchair in the drawing room they'd ended up in. 

“So you remember how I needed you to stop Nightwing being an asshole a couple of weeks ago?” She ventured, playing with a thread in her jacket that had come loose during the fight. “Well, that was because I got caught up in a theft and gang fight at the casino. And I was in a shitty mood because I thought I met a cute guy that wasn't an asshole but it turns out he was using me for a cover while he tried to download their servers or whatever.

“Then tonight I find out that it was Arsenal that did it and he was flirting with me again, and now I'm confused and overwhelmed. And I only met him because I was doing that dumb list from Adrien so I feel weird about that too, and I just don't know how to handle all of this and then Red Hood will badmouth me to Batman and-”

“Whoa, nope, not happening Mare,” Tim said, reaching out to stop her. “If Red Hood tries to do that I'll wreck his suit and helmet. But he wouldn't because he doesn't even like Batman most of the time.” 

“Okay, but Roy - God, I don't even know if that's his name - is way too attractive for my own good. And if he knows your family I'm going to have to see him again if I want to stay in Gotham-”

“Nope, not allowed to spiral! Listen, Roy - yes, that is his name - isn't a bad guy. If he was flirting with you he meant it. But he's…not really the long-term relationship type. Which, if that's what you're looking for, great! He's usually pretty upfront about how casual he is.” 

“Huh, well okay then,” she said, biting her lip and thinking.

“Before you say anything else, I need to tell you that I really don't want to hear any more about your love life if you're going to start hooking up with people I know,” Tim said severely. But he moved over to her sofa and hugged her tight. “And if he hurts you, I'll make it look like an accident.” 

_ _ _

Roy followed Jason to Wayne Manor, still unsure what exactly had happened. Was it a little skeevy of him to use his alter ego to flirt with her? Sure, but he knew he'd already blown it as Roy. And she was way sexier than anyone he'd met in a long time. 

“Do you think Tim will tell me how he knows her?” He asked, making Jason groan. “What? She clearly knows him and she already worked out my identity.” 

“Dude, I get that you wanna hit that, but if she's friends with the replacement then she's probably not as fun as you want her to be,” Jason said, rummaging in the fridge. 

“I'm pretty sure she's exactly as fun as I think,” Roy said with a smirk. “Did you see her at the casino? And when she handled my bow-” 

“I really don't need to hear any of this,” came Tim's disgusted voice. Roy turned to the door and found him glaring at the pair. “You're in the way of the coffee, jackass.” 

“Bite me, Timbo,” Jason said, but there wasn't any real heat. “So, who's your hot friend? And why does she know Red Robin?” 

“Her name is Marinette, and it's none of your business,” he fired back, shoving past Roy to pour a fresh cup of coffee. 

“I already knew her name,” Roy offered helpfully, taking a half step away from the coffee. “She was something else with that bow earlier.” 

“Okay, let's cut the crap, shall we? She already told me how you met the first time and I already warned her that you don't do long term. You should probably apologise for using her as a cover if you want her to talk to you again.” 

“That's…surprisingly helpful of you,” Roy said, eyeing the boy warily. He didn't know much about the teen and he didn't think he liked him all that much because of his friendship with Jason. 

“Yeah, I'm all heart. Having said that, I want to make something clear. Marinette is a good person who's been through some real shit in her life. If you hurt her, I'll make sure you bleed. Be up front with her and she can make her own decision about what she wants to do.” 

Done with his coffee, Tim gave Jason a one finger salute and left. 

“You know what, I think I'm starting to respect that little freak,” Jason said when he was sure Tim was gone. “So, planning to shoot your shot with the Pixie?” 

“I mean, if Tim thinks I've got a chance…” 

He probably would have said more but then Marinette stumbled into the room with an empty mug. She paused when she saw who was in the kitchen but eventually the allure of coffee was too much. Roy was glad he hadn't moved too far from the coffee machine because she stood right beside him to pour a cup. 

“Oh, I should go and…yeah, I got nothing. Don't fuck this up, Roy.” 

Marinette looked over at Jason with amusement but didn't step away from the coffee, or Roy. She moved quietly, and he tried to think of what to say. She lingered, stirring sugar and milk into her coffee and glancing up at him from under her lashes. 

“It's nice to see you again,” he said at last, putting a hand on the counter and leaning over her. “I'm sorry for ditching you at the casino, Jay was being paranoid. Did Dick get you home okay?” 

“That's a lot of names,” she blinked, tilting her head. “Am I supposed to know who these people are?” 

“Uh, I guess I just assumed…” Roy grimaced as he realised that he absolutely misunderstood how much she knew about the Batfamily and their identities. “You know what, let's just forget about that, focus on the fact that I'm really sorry for how things happened that night.” 

“I’m sorry I freaked out, I was pretty drunk,” she said, jumping up onto the counter. She hugged the mug between her palms, looking small and vulnerable. Roy hadn't expected to feel protective of her at that moment but he leaned in. “In my defence, it was a really weird night and I was already kind of keyed up.” 

“Drunk you is almost as hot as badass you, if it helps,” he said flirtily. She giggled and sipped her drink. “And if you feel like cutting loose some time, I'm more than happy to help.”

“As much fun as that sounds, I'm not really a one night stand kind of woman. And even if I wanted to be one, starting with someone that knows one of my closest friends seems like a bad idea. So…friends?” 

“...sure,” he said, pushing back the disappointment that reared. She was right, hooking up when she was a family friend would be a stupid move. 

God he wished she was feeling stupid.

Part 6

[arrowsnsarcasm]

OOC: Who has been one of your favorite characters pop up to roleplay with?

Any of the former Titans he’s run into along the way! I feel like since they’re basically family to Roy they’re fun to write against.

I also really enjoyed the thread he had with Tim (shoutout to @timbits-drake.) It’s a dynamic I wish they’d explore more in the comics. I mean we’ve seen Roy with Dick and Jason obviously, and there have been a couple issues with Roy and Damian being in a rivalry, but Tim potential isn't really explored at all if I’m remembering right, and they could bond over hacking!

[brucewaynehater101]

I wanna get into dc (I’m enjoying reading batfam fanfics) but don’t know where to start, any recs?

Hello! Two notes real quick. One, DC stands for Disregard Canon. I say this because DC has a hard time keeping their storylines, characterizations, and basic facts straight. If you switch between creators (even if the media is the same, such as two separate comic creators), you might get very different ideas.

Second, I'm going to organize this by media.

Comics

There are a ton of blogs on Tumblr that are dedicated specifically towards comics for DC. They would know the very specific details of comics that I wouldn't. I recommend choosing one character and searching for reading lists (e.g. searching "Roy Harper's comic list" in Tumblr's search bar).

Live Action TV Shows

Gotham is a great show for introducing Jim Gordon, various rogues, and the general consensus of how Gotham may work. It follows Bruce Wayne right after his parents died and pre-Batman

Titans follows Dick Grayson, the first Robin, and the Titans. Later seasons show Jason Todd and Tim Drake as Robin. I haven't seen past the first season, though.

The Flash or Arrow. Both shows obviously have little to do with the batfam. However, they give more perspective on heroes outside of the batfam. I personally enjoyed the first 2 or so seasons of both.

Animated Movies

There's too many for me to get into all of them, but HBO has a ton of animated DC movies and shows (from what I've heard).

I personally recommend Under the Red Hood as a must watch. It's hands down a masterpiece

Lego Batman

Video Games

The Arkham Series includes 3 games plus a prequel game. I've played the three regular ones, and I HIGHLY recommend them. The third one made me cry (for a lot of reasons)

Gotham Knights. I haven't gotten too far into the game yet, but it's good so far! I've seen videos of the interactions between the batfam (healthy batfam interactions!!!!) that I'm excited for.

There are other ones as well, but I haven't played them personally

I think there may be Lego Batman video games

Animated Shows

Teen Titans is a classic. Obviously, this focuses more on Robin and his team than the batfam

Harley Quinn Show focuses on Harley but shows a lot of the villains in Gotham. There's a ton of focus on various characters that are usually not given so much spotlight

I will not recommend Teen Titans Go

Young Justice is way different from the comics, but still good to watch

Live Action Movies

Suicide Squad

I'm sure there's a thread or two out there arguing the best live action Batman movies. I don't remember him having any kids in those, but you could still watch them for the lore ig

Joker.... I don't really consider that movie to be canon, but knock yourself out. It's a good film if you distance the idea of Joker from it.

I am most definitely forgetting stuff, but I'm also falling asleep (barely keeping my eyes open). Ask more questions if you want 👍

[dramatisperscnae]

Headcanon - Dick Grayson

I've been noticing in various threads the different levels of contact and comfort Dick has with different people.

Dick is a very tactile man. He's a cuddler by nature. Loves to snuggle. If he likes you, he will invade your space [pending your comfort level; looking at you, Bruce] with casual touches or hugs or leaning over your shoulder or whatever else. The more comfortable he is with you, the more familiar the touches get.

That said, when it comes to accepting touch the rules are...a little different. Dick is far freer with initiating contact than he is the other way around, because if he's the one initiating then he can control how far it goes.

I have said this before, and I will keep saying it because it is important: Dick is a two-time rape survivor [even if he has trouble calling both instances what they are] and has been sexually harassed since basically puberty in one form or another. Several of his 'on-screen' kisses in canon have been without consent, he gets comments nigh-constantly about his body and appearance, and far more people seem more interested in him purely for his looks [or his connection to Bruce Wayne] than for him as a person.

This has resulted in a man who is demisexual and wary of being touched out of sheer self-defense. He does not even begin feeling attraction to someone until he feels secure around them. An easy way to tell if you fall into that category is if he leans against you. Until and unless Dick actually trusts someone enough not to take advantage of that kind of proximity, touch - especially touch not initiated by him - is generally limited to a hand on the shoulder or a brief nudge.

Family, of course, gets a pass; Dick trusts his family implicitly. The Titans, too - especially the four who he grew up with; Wally and Roy and Garth and Donna - he trusts without question. He knows them, he knows they would never take advantage of him or his trust. He'll probably always go still and tense up a bit for a fraction of a second if he's not expecting the touch - like if Tim or Donna hugs him from behind, for example - but it's very hard to notice because he'll immediately relax into it when he realizes who it is.

It is important to note that he was not always like this. Anyone who knew him when he was younger - and especially anyone who knew him before Nightwing, while he was still Robin - would have known a boy [or young man] who was absolutely free with touching and being touched. This is a change that is comparatively recent for him; it began after Mirage took advantage of him, but didn't become truly noticeable until after Catalina and the rooftop in Bludhaven.

[flowerparrish]

FIC WRITING REVIEW 2024

Thank you to @42donotpanic for tagging me in this!! I am so pleased with how much fic I actually ended up writing this year, and I was only recently compiling my stats, so I've been really excited to share since you tagged me!

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some qualitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either.Artists and gif makers, please also join in with any quantitative or qualitative stats or facts you want to share about your year.

Words & Fics

56,756 words posted across 51 works!

Average length written per posted fic: 1112 words!

Drabbles written: 5 drabbles, 4 double drabbles, 1 triple drabble, 1 quadruple drabble

Months I posted the most fics: October (12), Dec (10), and August (10)

Months I posted the most words: August (14,248), Dec (11,882), and Feb (9,441)

Months I didn't post any writing: June & July

Top Fandoms

Star Wars (13 works, 17,035 words)

Danny Phantom x DC (11 works, 15,258 words)

Marvel/DC (10 works, 8,858 words)

Marvel (4 works, 7,134 words)

DC (8 works, 2,968 words)

Top Ships

Danny Fenton/Jason Todd (4 works, 3365 words)

Tim Drake/Danny Fenton (3 works, 7110 words)

Bucky Barnes/Clint Barton (3 works, 6158 words)

Bucky Barnes/Clint Barton/Jason Todd (3 works, 2156 words)

Clint Barton/Roy Harper (2 works, 3675 words)

Top 3 By Comments

So I Choke On Sun (DPxDC, gen, 2.5k words) - 51 comment threads

How to Put Your ADHD Gremlin to Sleep: A Guide by Jason Todd (DC, gen, 810 words) - 25 comment threads

Can I have your autograph? (DPxDC, Tim/Danny, 5k words) - 21 comment threads

Top 5 By Kudos

So I Choke On Sun (DPxDC, gen, 2.5k words) - 1,201 kudos

Something Magical (DPxDC, Danny/Jason, 925 words) - 858 kudos

Green String of Fate (DPxDC, Danny/Jason, 1.4k words) - 773 kudos

Can I have your autograph? (DPxDC, Danny/Tim, 5k words) - 726 kudos

How to Put Your ADHD Gremlin to Sleep: A Guide By Jason Todd (Batfam gen, 810 words) - 668 kudos

Fandom Events I Wrote For in 2024:

I wrote for many Who Wrote That? games for @haunting-heroes-creative-games! Those included:

WWT - Olympics: 4 fics, 8567 words

WWT - Demon Twins: 1 fic, 2576 words

WWT - Soulmates: 3 fics, 2445 words

WWT - Lightning Round: 3 drabbles (300 words)

WWT - Ancients: 1 fic, 250 words

Likewise, for @marvel-dc-crossover-event s, I did:

WWT - Poly Pool Noodles: 1 fic, 391 words

Title Roulette: 1 fic, 2001 words

Marvel/DC 48 Hr Exchange: 5 fics, 4939 words

Holiday Elfing: 1 fic, 2868 words

Other Events Included:

@pod-together, for which I wrote 1 fic of 2,494 words

@clonebang (2023), for which I co-wrote a 10k fic, 4122 words of which were mine

@marveltrumpshate, for which I wrote 1 fic of 3,090 words

@voiceteam Mystery Box (2023) & VT 2024, for which I wrote 1 fic each, of 825 words & 466 words respectively

Yuletide, for which I wrote 3 works totaling 4075 words!

& lastly, Cozytober 2024, for which I wrote 4 fics & exactly 800 words total!

Writing Reflections:

This year, majority of the writing I finished & posted fit one of two categories: "event" or "I had this fun little idea and wrote it out real quick". I think what I can draw from that is twofold. First, I really do thrive when writing is a community activity. I like to write when it's part of a greater effort at engaging with people and building friendships and spreading joy. Second, I got way happier about writing when it began shifting from something I felt like I had to do / should be doing, to something I could just do for fun with quick little things and then toss out into the world. Majority of my fics this year were only cursorily checked over for SPAG issues or not beta'd at all, and a significant number of the short ones were written directly into the ao3 text box and posted without further thought, including "A Guide to Putting Your ADHD Gremlin to Sleep," which ended up being one of my most popular works of the year & honestly all time. This is not to say I put no thought into anything I wrote, because my other most popular work ("So I Choke on Sun") is one I spent weeks working on, despite how short it is, because I knew what I wanted to try to convey in it, and I ended up intensely proud of how it turned out. But I think I wrote so much this year because I really fell back in love with writing for fun first and foremost, and writing as an act of community involvement as a close second, and I really hope to carry that into the new year!

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Thank you again to 42dnp for tagging me, this was so good to reflect on and such a positive way to spend my morning! <3