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You have to get up pretty early in the morning to lead your gift horse across that burnt bridge but you can’t make a watched horse eat all your cans of worms in one basket

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okay my thing is that, in any canon-era golden age au where morgana is good and arthur knows about merlin's magic, then, whichever one of them is arthur's court sorcerer, the other needs to be his spymaster

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At some point when Jason and Dick are hanging out Dick goes on a rant about how as Nightwing he can’t lose it like red hood can and how he is sick of everything and how he is angry and how he would love to be able to lose it like red hood does every night just once

About a week later when Dick got back to his apartment after work there was a red hood suit crafted specifically for Dicks measurements with a note saying

“Go nuts Dickhead”

Now he should NOT do this it was a bad idea…but Jason is out of town for a couple of days and he wouldn’t want the ally left unprotected

Bruce was very confused when he saw his son who was supposed to be out of town blow up a warehouse

He was even more confused when said son looked like he had lost some of his bulky muscle it wasn’t super obvious but he was Batman and that was not red hood

He was gonna go stop the fake red hood when cass put a hand on his arm and said that he needed this and to let him have his fun

Dick blew shit up didnt hold his punch’s got to say the things he wanted to say but couldn’t cause they were to mean as Nightwing

Jason and Dick never discuss this but when ever Jason’s outa town he always makes sure that the red hood suit is on his brothers bed

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For all the writes out there (me included)!!!

some people think writers are so eloquent and good with words, but the reality is that we can sit there with our fingers on the keyboard going, “what’s the word for non-sunlight lighting? Like, fake lighting?” and for ten minutes, all our brain will supply is “unofficial”, and we know that’s not the right word, but it’s the only word we can come up with…until finally it’s like our face got smashed into a brick wall and we remember the word we want is “artificial”.

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Merlin Magic reveal

Gwaine: Let's play two truths and a lie

Merlin: I'll go first. My favourite colour is red, Gaius is my uncle and I have magic.

Arthur: Come one Merlin, this is supposed to be difficult. It's obviously the last o-

Gwen: Gaius and Merlin aren't actually related.

Arthur:

Gwaine:

Gwen:

Merlin: 🙂

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Reading magic reveal fics from the Merlin fandom Is funny to me because Merlin always says something like- “I only used my magic for you!” “My magic only exists to serve you!” Ect. Ect.

But I feel like that completely skips over the fact MERLIN USES MAGIC JUST TO BE GOOFY ALL THE TIME- LIKE-

…. Also his first ever time using magic near near Arthur was to literally fight him and prove a point… which he lost technically

I JUST FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE COOLER IF HES MORE LIKE “yeah I use magic fuck off. I’m not hurting anyone. At least- not anyone that doesn’t deserve it.” Y’know? Instead of technically lying AGAIN by saying he ONLY uses it for Arthur. Because that’s just not true 😭

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I love the headcannon that Gwaine knew about Merlin’s magic, and without question, kept it a secret.

Gwaine probably saw Merlin use his magic during a fight with bandits (saving everyone in the process) and looked at him for two seconds like ‘I fuckin knew it’

Never talked to Merlin about it, never told a soul. If anyone ever caught on that Merlin had magic he would steer them in the complete opposite direction.

I mean, Merlin never told anyone that he was of noble blood, so it’s only fair obviously.

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Sometimes, I think about how Merlin purposefully turned Arthur against magic twice—the first time to save his soul and the second to save his life—so when he finally told Arthur he was a sorcerer, it was the ultimate bamboozle.

“How could the bumbling idiot I’ve known all these years have been my greatest protector the whole time?” Yeah, sure. But also: “How could a sorcerer have chosen me over magic? Over his own freedom and the freedom of those like him? Over the gods who created him and the religion that saves him?” It’s one thing to die for someone and another thing entirely to give up who you are for them.

Obviously, Merlin was wrong, and that’s why playing God had an effect opposite to what he’d intended. But I think it’s so interesting to consider how Arthur might have viewed this confession. He was betrayed by Morgana because she loved herself more than her own brother and betrayed by Uther because he loved himself more than his own son. And all of this while Merlin, at first, fell in love with the cause and, then, even more with the man behind it. His loyalty to and love for Arthur was so pure it turned sinful, and I don’t think Arthur would have ever gotten over that. If he hadn’t died.

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I really don't understand how "without getting kudos or comments a fanfiction author is going to assume that people who clicked their fic didn't like it" became a controversial take.

I don't know why some people think an author should imagine, or guess that people who click their fic enjoyed it it when nobody is telling them that.

If you're re-reading a fic constantly, or leaving it up in your tab so that it re-loads every day for a hundred days the author is not going to know that unless you tell them. They'd love to hear it. It would make their day.

And if you don't tell them you liked their fic, there's no reason for them to assume you did.

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Tim, looking through a drawer: What even is this stuff?

Damian: We don't have time to mess around with trinkets Drake, we must be searching for clues as to where Richard is.

Tim: I don't visit his apartment every second weekend like you, and I am looking!

-Click!-

Tim: Woah, why does he have a fake back to this drawer?

Damian, raising an eyebrow: Seriously Drake?

Tim: ...Fair point.

Tim, holding a bottle of pills: I didn't know he took pills.

Damian, grabbing it from his hand: I didn't either... What!

Tim: What does it say?

Damian: These are for Hallucinations, they're prescription.

Tim: Could be for Fear Toxin?

Damian: No he keeps those separately.

Tim: How would he have gotten them? They're not on his file.

Damian: Leslie, I'm going to call her.

Tim: There could be another explanation? ...I hope this isn't what we think it is.

Later

Leslie: It is exactly what you think it is.

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Daddy issues... son issues??

Jason: Can a parent have daddy issues?

Tim: Obviously. They-

Jason: No I mean can they have daddy issues for their child?

Tim: What the actual heck are you on about?

Jason: Because I SWEAR Bruce has daddy issues for Dick.

Tim: WHAT? WHAT?!! What the actual-

Jason: No, think about it. Someone with daddy issues has: Fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting a partner, feeling insecure in a relationship, being clingy or possessive, needing constant reassurance, being easily jealous or suspicious, and attracting abusive partners.

Tim: *panicking* Hold-

Jason: *on a roll* NO. Bruce literally stalks dick and gets mad and scared over him leaving, he doesn't trust his robins to meet his standards, he constantly trauma-dumps on Alfred about his and Dick’s relationship, and he’s super clingy and possessive when it comes to Dick—like, look at the Titans! He’s obsessed. He literally asks Dick if things are alright between them CONSTANTLY. Abusive partners? I don't mean to talk shit about Talia and Selina but they're literally villains.

Tim: *having a crisis*

Jason: Bruce Wayne- the first man to have daddy issues... in reverse.

Tim: *whimpering* Please stop talking.

Jason: ...But wait... all these things... doesn't Dick have some of them too?!

Tim: NO!

Jason: *speeding up* No, no.. HOLY SHIT, IT'S A CYCLE! Bruce is feeding into Dick's issues and Dick is feeding into Bruce's because Bruce is looking for validation from Dick and Dick is looking for validation in Bruce and they-

Tim: *frantically calling* KON, COME PICK ME UP. I'M SCARED.

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Damian: Why did Richard quit being Robin and move out?

Jason: He- wait, why did you?

Dick: Joker shot me in the shoulder.

Tim, scoffing: You wouldn't quit because of that, c'mon tell us the actual reason.

Dick: How would you kn- Oh yeah, your stalker years.

Tim: I wasn't a stalker

Dick: Keep telling yourself that.

Damian: Richard stop deflecting the question.

Dick:

Jason: Dick

Dick, sighing: Bruce got really upset and didn't want me getting hurt as Robin.

Tim: You wouldn't listen to that without a fight so do tell what else did he do to make you quit?

Damian, catching on: Did Father fire you?

Dick: He did it to keep me safe.

Tim: If he fired you, did he kick you out too?

Dick: I guess...

Damian: Richard was 17 at the time, was he not?

Jason: Roy mentioned you staying at his place once. Did Bruce not give you a place to stay?

Dick, getting increasingly nervous: I only spent a few nights, and I could make money perfectly fine.

Tim, growing pale: B didn't help you?

Dick: Don't worry, I don't think he'd do that to any of you.

Damian, appalled: I'm his blood son but what difference is there between you and Drake?

Dick: Well, I was going to age out in a couple months anyway.

Jason: Age out?

Tim, dread filling him: The articles only referred to him as B's ward.

Jason: Why are you mentioning that now, there's some more important things to be thinking about!

Damian: ...Was Richard not adopted?

Dick: I'm still here, y'know.

Damian: Apologies, but I require a proper response. Were you adopted?

Dick: I am now.

Everyone:

Jason: I'm murdering Bruce.

Tim, grinning: I have some alternatives in mind

Jason: Oh?

Damian: I shall sharpen my blades in preparation.

Dick, exasperated: stop, please. Not completely canon compliant, sorry for any confusion caused

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Jason, Tim, Damian, Dick, and Stephanie met up on a rooftop, the others were on bed rest after a bad fight with Joker a few days ago. They were preparing to confront Two Face, who was making a commotion. It wasn't the type of commotion a Rogue usually caused so it had to be on purpose. That was very bad, it usually meant a trap.

They made their way over to where Two Face was spotted, he eventually came into sight. He was twirling around a bat, it was caked with dried blood. "He might be trying to get a rise out of us by flaunting a murder weapon" Tim started analyzing, "Spoiler, Wing search the area, I'll talk to him while Robin and Hood sneak up behind"

Each of them took off... except Nightwing. "Get a move on Wing, lives are likely at stake"

Dick took in a deep breath- it was audible over the Coms and jumped down onto the same building as Two Face.

"Nightwing! Just the little bird I was looking for" is the trap for Dick? What is he doing?

"is there no other way to get my attention?" Huh?

"Seeing as it's worked both times I don't think I need another way"

Damian landed on the roof before any of his siblings could stop him. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Oh? You don't know?" Two Face smirked and showed off the bat "See the blood? That's the blood of the first Robin"

Jason spoke into the Com "Wing, Is what he's saying true?"

"that was a long time ago"

"But you still remember it! I beat you within an inch of your life, you would have died." He cackled "The Bat wouldn't leave your side for months afterwards."

Please deny it, please deny it.

"What do you want?" He didn't deny it.

Two Face smirked "I've been having some trouble with people in Bludhaven stealing my weapons, I was hoping that we could work together?"

...

Steph opened her mouth hesitantly before closing it and trying again "Wing, when you said that it was a long time ago, what did you mean?"

Dick sighed and looked down. "I think it was my first or second year as Robin so I was around... 10?"

Frowns adorned everyone's faces and though he'd never admit it, once Damian and Dick were alone Damian gave him a tight hug in an attempt of comfort.

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Dick started his truck back to the cave. "How can you live with yourself after letting me die?" Dick ignored the hallucination, the real Jason wouldn't be anywhere near here.

The hallucination this time was ruthless, mocking him every chance it got, bringing out his fears and making his gut sink. By the time he arrived at the cave his eyes stung a little but the hallucination had finally disappeared. Dick took a breath to compose himself.

"Wing! How'd it go?" Tim called out when he entered the Batcave.

Dick smiled back. "Great, got the information we needed"

Damian came over. "Did the new gas mask work?"Huh?

"Why would I have used a gas mask?" Dick swore that every head in a twenty foot radius snapped to him instantly.

Jason started checking him over with his eyes. Mother-hen "Because there was a shit ton of left over Fear Toxin in that building"

Oh "Is that why the hallucinations were worse this time?" Maybe it was the Toxin in his system, maybe it was the fact he was exhausted but he didn't think it through fully before those words tumbled out of his mouth.

Jason's hands were cupping his face now, moving his head whichever way to get a better look. "You have hallucinations often?"

Shit, There's no way I'm getting out of this, am I? "only once in a blue moon"

"You had hallucinations and you didn't tell any of us?" Oh gosh, Bruce is mad too.

"We weren't talking when they started, didn't think it was a big enough deal to call about"

"When did they start? Why didn't you tell me when we started talking again?"

I'm getting interrogated, aren't I? "Not long after Jason died and I knew how to deal with it by the time we talked again.

Tim started mumbling incomprehensibly- if it started shortly after Jason died... -before asking Dick a question. "What are your hallucinations of?"

He was reluctant to answer, Jason might blame himself if- Damian was hugging him, his head tucked into Dick's side as he rested under Dick's arm. "You don't have to deal with it alone, imbecile."

"..I taught you that" Damian only grunted affirmatively into his side. Dick couldn't find the heart to lie anymore. "I saw Jason"

Jason let out a pained sound, from the pitch Dick could tell he was trying to hold it back. Tim seemed to be in that state between caring brother and analytical vigilante. "Did you continue to have Hallucinations of him after he came back?"

"Stayed the same, the only real difference is now Jason's older sometimes."

Jason let out a croak "I'm sorry, Wing"

Dick's heart clenched, this was what I was trying to avoid "it's not your fault, if anything I'm to blame"

Jason pulled him into a hug, Damian didn't fight it either. "Shut up Dickhead."

Tim finished typing what he learned and dragged Bruce into the hug with him, he'd have to ask Dick more about his hallucinations later.

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Ghost Jason sees Dick hallucinate him.

Jason was floating around Dick's apartment, snooping around best he could without being able to interact with anything. He heard the door click open and turned around to see his older brother in the doorway.

Jason didn't bother with a greeting, Dick couldn't hear or see him. "Jason?" -or maybe he could? Dick's voice wobbled but that makes sense, he's been dead for over four months now.

"Dick? Can you see me?" Jason didn't know what he felt except for hope that maybe, just maybe someone he knows would be able to see him.

"leave me alone Jason, just go" what? Does Dick not want me around? The whole thing was deeply unsettling, Dick could see him apparently but refused to look anywhere except the ground. Dick sounded almost broken. "Stop saying stuff like that!"

Jason's gut kept sinking lower and lower. "I didn't say anything dickhead" Dick was crying, Dick was crying, Jason's never dealt with that before. Jason rushed forward to hug him, to shake him for answers, to do something. he went right through. Damn being a ghost.

"it wasn't my fault, it wasn't my fault, I swear it wasn't my fault." Dick was wiping his tears and talking to pleading with him. Dick was looking the same direction he was before... but now Jason was behind him? It became crystal clear that no; Dick couldn't see him like he thought. "I'm sorry I never picked up the call, I'm sorry you're dead, I'm so sorry- everything was my fault"

Is he... Talking to a hallucination? No, this can't be happening. "C'mon, I'm over here, Wing"

"it should have been me instead" NO!

Jason's heart was thoroughly shattered. "He's not real! You shouldn't have died, you fucking Dickhead! Stop saying stuff like that!"

Dick didn't hear him, he cried himself to sleep on the kitchen floor.

Dick never heard him, yet Jason never stopped trying to scare away the other things that haunted him...

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Previous part

While cleaning up Jason heard a knock on his door so he got up and looked through the peephole. Why is Dick here? After mentally preparing himself for social interaction he opened the door. "What're you doing here?"

"What? Don't want to see me?" There's his stupid smile again.

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not when you show up at my safe house without warning, one of these days you're going to lead someone right to me, safe houses are supposed to be secret y'know?"

Dick walked in and looked around the place. "Sorry, Little wing"

"If you're going to stay here atleast help me clean" Jason tossed a broom his way.

Dick didn't complain- a small blessing -so Jason walked to the kitchen and started putting things away. A few minutes later he worked his way back to the living room, where Dick was still sweeping for some reason. Is he sweeping with one hand?

"It's a lot easier if you use both hands Dickhead" Dick turned around and his sleeve rode up his arm just enough for Jason to see a bit of white peak out. Jason stalked forward and ignored whatever it was Dick said in favor of pulling his sleeve up to reveal bandages.

"What the hell Dickhead, you're injured?!" Jason was suddenly wishing Dick had complained when he asked him to clean.

"It's just a broken arm"

Jason narrowed his eyes. "Then why isn't it in a cast?"

Dick's smile faltered a little. "I didn't go to the cave yesterday" That explains why Alfred didn't give him a cast but it opened a whole nother can of questions.

"Why didn't you go to the cave?"

"Didn't want to see B, you'd know the feeling" Jason does, he knows it better than anyone else.

"Did you get into a fight?"

"No -just didn't want him to know something" Everything Dick said just gave Jason more and more questions.

"Fine keep your secrets" Jason pulled out his own med kit and spent the next half hour redoing Dick's bandages and nagging him about not telling him sooner. He wouldn't push anything just yet, he wanted to do some research first.

---

Jason looked into whatever caused Dick to break his arm but there wasn't any clues, he'd even spoke about it to Tim to purposefully peak his curiosity and get him to look into it. Tim had found out it'd been caused by a fall but not much else. Bruce acted the same way too, he's hit a dead end so the next thing to do is get information from the source.

Jason observed Dick for a few months, most of the time he acted normally but every once in a while he noticed Dick become more quiet, less focused. He didn't know if it was related to what he wanted to keep Bruce from knowing but he investigated it anyway.

He noticed that sometimes Dick would wait for others to interact with him before doing so himself, everytime he did that he'd send him an unsure look. Those weren't the only times Dick sent him that look though, it was getting concerning.

Does he think I'd get mad? Is he scared of me? It'd make sense to wait for others to interact with him if Dick was judging his mood, it'd also explain the looks. Am I really that bad of a brother?

There were still so many questions, why did Dick only act like that some of the time? What is he keeping from Bruce? Did he do anything to make Dick so cautious? It hurt his brain so Jason decided to get it over with and confront him.

Dick was talking to himself inside his apartment, Jason didn't care about what. He slipped into the window and waved. Dick gave him a look, it looked reminiscent of one he couldn't place half a year ago but now? Jason knew it was Panic and... Fear.

I was right, he's scared of me.

Jason didn't approach, he gave a smile too. It was forced but hopefully it'd make Dick calm down. Dick didn't calm down, if anything he looked more panicked, his eyes darted between Jason and a spot near the hall.

Dick's behaviour was similar to one of a cornered animal ready to run and it made Jason sick. How could he have missed this?

Here goes nothing. "I'm not mad at you, I don't know what I did to make you think that but I'm not."

"What do you mean?"

He should've expected him to not admit it. "For months you've been hesitant to interact with me, you observe my movements, you keep acting strangely. I'm not going to attack you! ...sorry for whatever I did"

Jason knew that wasn't how they were trained to act in these situations but he just couldn't stay calm right now. He accidentally knocked into a chair in Dick's living room, Dick's eyes snapped to the furniture. Dick seemed relieved? Dick glanced back to the hall and finally started walking towards him.

What just happened? Dick hugged him. "I'm not scared of you, Little Wing"

"Then why?"

Dick squeezed just a bit tighter. "I can't tell you"

"So you are scared of me"

Dick shook his head. "No, I'm not. Just- I have hallucinations... of you" Jason pulled out of the hug and looked for any hints of dishonesty. This had to be a lie. "I've been acting weird cause I didn't know if you were real"

Jason's brain shut down, Dick's eyes were so full of sincerity, it made sense. It wasn't supposed to make sense.

"I'll have to tell the others"

"I know"

"You can't keep shit like that a secret"

"I know"

"You're not leaving my sight"

"Can we atleast cuddle in the bedroom?" Jason nodded into Dick's shoulder.

Dick couldn't have felt more love for his brother and Jason happily welcomed the cuddles into his life if it helped Dick with his hallucinations.

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After Jason comes back Dick still has hallucinations of him on very rare occasions. The main problem is that now he can't be certain it's not real, which makes keeping his hallucinations a secret much harder.

Dick notices Jason by the window in his apartment. He's alone so no one will see him talking to the air if he's not real. Dick isn't willing to risk pissing Jason off by ignoring him or touching him abruptly while they're still rebuilding their relationship either.

Dick spends an hour talking to Jason before grabbing a glass of water and turns back around to see nothing. Dick's disappointed Jason didn't actually come there to hang out with him.

Dick comes down to the cave to see everyone there discussing a mission. Jason's silently leaning against the wall. Dick ignores him and tries not to stare before catching Tim's eyes dart directly to where Jason is. Dick instantly relaxes and stalks over to start a conversation.

Dick sees a familiar red helmet on top of a rooftop before heading up there and feeling dread sink into his stomach. There's two Red Hoods. Suddenly Dick is very glad the domino mask covers his eyes or Jason would have caught onto Dick's eyes flickering between the two positions.

Jason 1: Ayup, how's your night been?

Jason 2: Leave me alone Goldie.

Dick: What am I supposed to say? I can't ignore him, is there any response that'd work for both of them?

Dick: I was feeling lonely, wanted to see you, little wing.

Jason 2, angry: I said leave.

Jason 1, amused: Cut the sentimentalities.

Dick: Okay, okay, I'll go.

Jason 2: Finally.

Jason 1: I never said to go, dumbass.

Dick: Shit, what to do?

Jason 1, noticing his hesitance: Huh, you really don't want to be around me that badly?

Dick, mildly panicking: no!

Jason 2, furious: You just said you'd leave, don't go changing your mind!

Jason 1: What's wrong with you?

The first Jason starts approaching and Dick has to suppress a flinch because the other Jason might notice. Jason 1 reaches out and puts his hand on his shoulder. Oh, he's concerned... And real. Jason 2 is nowhere to be seen, leaving Dick to deal with a concerned Jason alone.

Dick's running from Killer Croc, his survival instincts have taken over so when he sees Jason reaching down for him he doesn't hesitate. He leaps off the wall onto Killer Croc's back which he uses as a springboard to bounce up and grab Jason's hand- That wasn't there. Jason was with the outlaws today, not in Gotham.

"Crack!" He lands on his arm, breaking it and bruising a few ribs. Dick gets back to his feet in an instant- still too late to completely dodge the claws wanting to tear him to smithereens. He gives a powerful roundhouse kick in retaliation and just hopes B doesn't notice anything's wrong.

Upon request here's part 2