gothams-silver-reaper

[gothams-silver-reaper]

As a Bat it's par for the course that Kage would go on undercover missions every so often, and for that they need a cover identity… and much like Tim, Kage has had to play the part of both a man and a woman on these missions, so they needed a new name while working as the latter given how they pass for the former by default.

Katherine Aster (aka Kaia), then, was the alias they came up with, insistent on using that one over any that Alfred came up with. Despite the need for discretion Kage can never fully shirk their flair for the dramatic or their showmanship, adamant that their alias mirror their real name in a subtle way that wouldn't blow their cover but still be obvious to themself.

Bruce, try as he might, has failed to break this habit of theirs.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

As a vigilante, Kage didn't always go by Harbinger. Most of the other Batkids started with another mantle before making their own, and Kage is no different.

Originally they went by Batgirl, for a short while. Having been adopted shortly before Jason died as Robin, they saw Bruce's decline mentally and his ruthless escalation as Batman, but what could they do as themself? Nothing. So they went to the only person they thought could help them that was still in Gotham - the recently paralyzed Barbara Gordon. Despite her inability to walk, it was her experience as Batgirl that Kage was after and, not wanting a Jason repeat, she picked up on Kage's training where Bruce left off right after the second Robin died.

By the time they started patrolling she wasn't calling them Batgirl, and Kage didn't ask for it, given what that means to Babs, although they did use her original suit (with some adjustments) to start so their identity stayed a secret. After around 3 months of crime fighting the name “Batgirl” slipped out of Barbara’s mouth by accident, but before Kage could correct her she stopped them.

By then they'd earned it, although they only acted as Batgirl for 2 years before becoming Harbinger when Cass took up the Batgirl mantle.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Between their mother being slightly distant during their childhood and their father working almost non-stop for the two years he lived in Gotham with his children, Kage grew up rather starved of physical affection. Being adopted by a man who routinely has to play the part of a billionaire playboy also had its effect on Kage, and as they grow up they bounce between several relationships that are short but sweet.

It wouldn't be until they were 16 that they got into their first proper, committed relationship with a 17 year old girl named Jade Morgan…

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Kage might be more or less fluent in English nowadays, but when they first moved to Gotham as a 10 year old? They didn't know a lick of the language, just the Greek they'd been raised in. By the time Bruce adopts them 2 years after that, the best they can do is some rough and short sentences in broken English.

It became a strong bonding moment with Cass, though. Even after they were both grown up, they'd still sit together in the manor library or at either of their apartments reading in silence. Once to learn, now just for fun and peaceful bonding.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Thematic Headcanons. A series of subject-specific headcanons you can ask your favorite blog and muse.

hc + 🤝 for a headcanon about a connection with one of the receiver's mutual

hc + 👪 for a family-themed headcanon

hc + 🧡 for a friendship-themed headcanon

hc + 💌 for a romance-themed headcanon

hc + 💕 for a loved-themed headcanon

hc + 💔 for a headcanon about a sad experience

hc + 🤥 for a lie-themed headcanon

hc + 😶 for a headcanon about a secret they know of / keep

hc + 😴 for a sleep-themed headcanon

hc + 🌇 for a headcanon about morning- or evening rituals

hc + 🧼 for a hygiene-themed headcanon

hc + 🏠 for a home-themed headcanon

hc + 😃 for a happiness-themed headcanon

hc + 😨 for a fear-themed headcanon

hc + 🤕 for a pain-themed headcanon

hc + 🚶‍♂️ for a habit-themed headcanon

hc + 👍 for a headcanon about things they like

hc + 👎 for a headcanon about things they dislike

hc + 💪 for a sport-themed headcanon

hc + 😡 for a headcanon about something that makes them angry

hc + 👻 for a headcanon about supernatural occurrences

hc + 🥣 for a food-themed headcanon

hc + ☕ for a drink-themed headcanon

hc + 🐈 for a pet/animal-themed headcanon

hc + 🌸 for a plant-themed headcanon

hc + 🌄 for an outdoor-themed headcanon

hc + 🌍 for a travel-themed headcanon

hc + 🗡 for a weapon-themed headcanon

hc + 🎡 for a hobby-themed headcanon

hc + 🚗 for a transportation-themed headcanon

hc + ⏳ for a time-themed headcanon

hc + 🌘 for a night-themed headcanon

hc + 🌞 for a day-themed headcanon

hc + 🪐 for a universe-themed headcanon

hc + 🌂 for a weather-themed headcanon

hc + ⛄ for a season-themed headcanon

hc + 🎉 for a celebration-themed headcanon

hc + 🏆 for a goal-themed headcanon

hc + 💯 for an achievement-themed headcanon

hc + 🚬 for a headcanon about a bad habit

hc + 🎭 for an arts-/crafts-themed headcanon

hc + ✂️ for a hair-themed headcanon

hc + 👗 for a clothes-themed headcanon

hc + 💍 for a jewelry-themed headcanon

hc + 💄 for a makeup-themed headcanon

hc + 🎓 for an education-themed headcanon

hc + 📿 for a faith-themed headcanon

hc + 🎵 for a music-themed headcanon

hc + 📱 for a media-themed headcanon

hc + 🎥 for a film/tv-themed headcanon

hc + 📔 for a reading-themed headcanon

hc + 💰 for a money-themed

hc + 💼 for a job-themed headcanon

hc + 💉 for a medical-themed headcanon

hc + 🛒 for a shopping-themed headcanon

hc + 🔞 for a nsfw-headcanon

hc + ❓ for a headcanon of the receiver's choice

[gothams-silver-reaper]

The first major trauma of Kage's life would turn out to be a lie. When they were 10 they believed their mother, Cassiopeia Argyros, to have died in a gruesome car accident. That death was the sole reason their father moved himself and his two children to Gotham and away from Greece, to allow his kids a clean slate to heal instead of constantly being reminded of their late mother wherever they went. However… Shortly after Kage's time spent trapped in Hell, they discovered a trail that eventually led back to their mum.

As it would turn out, Cassiopeia was an infamous hitwoman who had bitten off more than she could chew two years before Kage was born. With a steep price on her head and half the European criminal underworld after her, Cassiopeia went into hiding in her homeland and began seeing Theodore as part of her cover. What she didn't plan was actually feeling affection for him, nor did she plan to give birth to twins two years later. When Kage and Hikari were 10 Cassiopeia was presumed dead or MIA in Europe and was safe to resume her prior work, so she faked her death and vanished with most of the family savings in tow.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

//taking a hiatus from Tumblr for a bit, dunno how long. Won't be posting on any of my blogs aside from some Kage Lore thrown into the queue.

Be back eventually

[gothams-silver-reaper]

When they were 19, Kage finally managed to heal enough emotionally from Jade to try dating again. Their second serious romantic relationship would be with M'gann M’orzz aka Miss Martian. They were only together for a year and a half and had plenty of wonderful moments during that time (including the fun of M'gann shapeshifting into dozens of other appearances on their dates after they noticed the paparazzi kept following them), and although they did break up it was surprisingly amicable - their lives were just going in two different directions and the difference would only widen in time.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Despite being primarily fluent in Greek and English (and ASL for Cass), Kage is also quite proficient in French, Arabic, Dutch and Japanese. They also understand a particular dialect of Latin used almost exclusively by the occupants of Hell, although they can only interpret rather than speak it - the ability is one granted to them from their demonic arm and its connection to Hell rather than anything they learned.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Kage's first proper girlfriend was called Jade, a girl who seemed like any other at first, except she actually made Kage work for her affection. Whether she was teasing them or just playing hard to get, it worked out as Kage committed fully to her and eventually fell for her - and their loyalty and dedication had Jade falling for them.

For 7 months they dated properly, and neither could remember a time they were happier… Until Jade’s true loyalty is tested by the ones holding her leash - The Court of Owls. Jade Morgan, a seemingly ordinary if alluring girl that Kage loved with everything they had… was a Talon.

They gave Jade an order and a choice. Her order? Eliminate Kage Argyros. Her choice? Obey or die. She obeyed without hesitation despite her love for Kage being as strong as it was; her loyalty to the Court was stronger. Only Kage's reflexes prevented a dagger to the heart but the scar above their heart would always be a reminder of Jade’s betrayal.

She wasn't seen again by Kage after that night, but whether she survived the Court’s punishment for her failure is unknown to them.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Back in Kage's home universe there was a very low point in their life shortly after they turned 18, a routine patrol went awry and landed Kage in Hell after a very angry demon dragged them back down with itself. 3 hours later? Kage returned to Gotham with a new katana in hand, their bat suit battered and torn and a look in their eyes that spoke of horrors most would never see.

That's because for Kage, it wasn't 3 hours but nearly 6 months. One day in DC’s Hell is one minute on Earth, and since they went missing in the middle of patrol almost nobody bat an eye at Kage presumably going radio silent for 3 hours. Only Steph thought something was wrong but there wasn't anything she could do about it at the time.

They don't often talk about what they went through in Hell save two details. 1) They spent 90% of their time in Hell fighting, often for hours at a time and letting their arm’s influence do the heavy lifting. 2) The only reason they made it out was because of Yamato, a demonic katana they stole that could cut space, even acting as a tether between Earth and Hell.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

It's almost impossible to catch Kage without some kind of music. Between the hallucinations of their dead sister and the whispering of their demonic limb, Kage's brain is almost never quiet and music is the best buffer they can find. Their go-to in civvies is a small MP3 player that usually dangles around their neck with a pair of wired clip-on headphones that attach to their ears. When out on patrol they usually have Oracle’s comms in one ear and their music in the other, playing over the Bluetooth earpiece built into their cowl. When they aren't in the mood to talk at all and want to make that obvious they switch to a pair of wireless headphones and their phone, something especially useful with the noise cancellation.

Listening to music isn't their only buffer though. If their emotions get a little too wild and they need to vent or express something, they have a cello in their bedroom at Wayne Manor that they can play. Usually they play it inside or on their balcony but occasionally they'll play on the roof while looking at the moon.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Well you're definitely smarter than my little brother. He keeps trying to steal it...

It's called Yamato, it can cut space and I... May have stolen it from Hell.

Only someone with demonic blood can wield it though - anyone else would not survive more than five swings.

Is that an actual demonic sword? Like, from the underworld? It’s so cool looking…

Unfortunately it is, straight from Hell itself. I wouldn't touch it though, it's... Incredibly sharp.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Kage's full name (Kage Argyros) is a mix of Greek and Japanese, but they don't actually have any Japanese ancestry - their mother however did study in Japan during her youth and loved the culture. Their name when translated into English roughly means “Silver Shadow”.

Conversely, as their biological twin, their sister's name is meant to mirror and pair with their own. Hikari Argyros translates to “Silver Light” in English, also being a blend of Japanese and Greek like her twin sibling.

In a way… Hikari was Kage's light, keeping their hope and positivity alive while they were Hikari's shadow, tempering her optimism and naivety with perspective and keeping her grounded in reality instead of up in the clouds all the time. Kage's light literally died with their sister.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Is that an actual demonic sword? Like, from the underworld? It’s so cool looking…

Unfortunately it is, straight from Hell itself. I wouldn't touch it though, it's... Incredibly sharp.

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Vivian.

Safe to say you definitely hate her more than you hate Jade.

Batpookie

how do i scare your ex 🙏🏽

How do you what now-

Why are you trying to scare M'gann?

Wait is she here?!

[gothams-silver-reaper]

Hate to break it to you, but... You don't.

She fears only one person alive, and aside from that? Oddly only my death would set her off.

Batpookie

how do i scare your ex 🙏🏽

How do you what now-

Why are you trying to scare M'gann?

Wait is she here?!