#Adam and Robin are good parents who love their family

[forever-eternal]

Idk of any of you have taken in the type of parents Adam and Robin are from what I’ve written, but lemme explain because I Am Having A Moment.

Adam and Robin are the parents that have the same general rules as anyone-- keep up hygiene, clean up after yourself, etc. But those are the lax rules. Those are the rules that their kids can get away with breaking quite often-- even if they don’t break them, because their parents disappointment is an emotionally painful experience.

It’s the rules they put in place purely for their kids safety that their children try to follow like they’re the Rules of Existence Itself.

The Kids were allowed to go wherever they wanted for however long they wanted, so long as they kept their parents informed of it. They could destroy or build whatever they wanted, climb all over the house, bring home wild animals-- so long as Adam and Robin were informed of it.

Each State has a few rules set for themselves, because of their personalities and the Actual State itself.

California, Brooke, can’t wear warm clothes during fire season. He needs to tell someone if he has a dizzy spell because of earthquakes.

Florida, Ian, needs to have a plan in place in case of evacuation or if he just needs to duck it out in his Florida home-- because if the Waffle Houses are closed he is not staying in the area.

Alaska, Ivan, needs to actually wear Proper Warm Clothes when it’s cold. He may not be affected by it, but it’s better safe than sorry. He always needs to be with someone when they go out, because he gets lost easily.

Arizona, Eric, needs to keep a water bottle on him at all times, because the high temperature may not affect him as much but he dehydrates faster than humans because of it.

(There are more personal rules, ones I haven’t figured out yet, ideas welcome :>)

Breaking important rules, such as their Personal Rules, or the widespread Important Rules (ie, no physical fights during meetings) usually comes with a natural consequence. An injury of somekind that the rule was in place to prevent.

That’s why their kids listen so easily (and why most of ya’ll’s Floridas would be astonished at how Ian or Gabriel behave when they recieve The Look), because when their parents have a rule in place, or say that this thing needs to be done by them-- and no one else--, they know it’s for the best.

Adam and Robin’s parents/uncles, the OG’s, enforced these rules in the time between the Civil War and when Adam took over Meetings again. They added a few of their own as times changed and technology improved, but it was generally ‘don’t do dumb shit’.

So-- yeah. Adam and Robin are good parents who let their kids be kids, and let them learn from natural consequences most of the time (being grounded, in time-out, etc, have also come into play depending on the time period).

Their kids listen because they trust their parents to always have whats best for them in mind when rules or expectations are set. The OG’s listen because they trust their kid/niece/nephew to have their backs, even when the Government Organization itself doesn’t.

Adam and Robin prioritize their family having fun in a safe manner, above all else. Even as a semi-immortal personification, life’s too short to worry about perfection (they expect themselves to be perfect but we don’t talk about that in front of the family 🤫)

✨Goodnight✨

[eddiesxangel]

Could you do a smutty Eddie Munson fic where he’s your older brother’s bsf?

maybe reader has had a crush on Eddie for a while and when she finally decides to move on and date someone Eddie gets jealous?

What Eddie Doesn’t Know | Eddie x f!reader

AN: I hope you enjoy it! Sorry it took a while to complete. Thank you for the request; I haven’t been inspired by anything non-Christmas-themed in a while. I was literally barking at the trope.

wc: 7.1k oops

Cw: f!reader, reader is 19 and in collage and Eddie is 22 and a full time mechanic, reader goes by a nickname, jealous Eddie, jealous reader, angst, cheating (on the reader but not by Eddie), smut (pet names, oral, dirty talk, p in v), the fluffy ending!

Pathetic. That was how you felt at this moment in time. Here you were at your college homecoming party, and all you could do was be a wallflower, watching in self-pity as the love of your life. ( who doesn’t know is the love of your life) is pressed up on some girl in the back of the room.

"What are you doin' here, Tink?" you pop out of your daze to see your older brother, Adam, addressing you.

Did your parents name you Tink? No. Were you so obsessed with Peter Pan as a child you demanded to go by Tinkerbell? Yes. The nickname kinds just stuck.

"I go here?" You sass him back.

"This party is for upperclassmen only. How did you get in?" Adam was only three years older.

"Eddie's here, and he doesn't even attend school..." You gave him a pointed look.

"Yeah, cuz he is my best friend... like I said, how did you get in?"

"It's a house party, not Studio 54... I walked in."

"I'm going to kill Cory," He mumbled under his breath. Cory was supposed to be manning the door.

"Yeah, you should definitely get better security, all I had to do was let him feel up my tits, and we walked right on in..."

The Neanderthal didn't actually touch you, but the look on Adam's face when you let Adam believe he did? Priceless. You only lied so Adam would leave you alone.

What actually happened was you, Nancy, and Robin scaled the fence and got in through the back door.

"Cory!" Before you knew it, Adam was out of your hair, and you were back to being a wallflower….

"Tink there you are! You wanna continue to mope in the corner, or do you wanna get out of here?" your two best friends/roomies, Robin and her girlfriend Nancy, approach you.

"I guess let's just go." you sigh.

You can no longer bear the sight of Eddie, the boy you've been crushing on since the sixth grade, and your older brother’s best friend, leading the random girl up the stairs hand in hand.

Your stomach lurched at the thought of her hands running all over his body, how he would be on her, kissing her... inside of her. He didn't even know you were here... You should have gone up to him, maybe said hello. Perhaps he would have seen the ridiculous amount of effort you put into your ensemble just to catch his eye. But your efforts were lacking because, to him, you're always going to be Adam's annoying little sister.

You knew you had to get over this, but how could you? He has been in your life for fifteen years and always will be. Adam and Eddie have been friends for as long as you can remember. Your brother stuck by him throughout Eddie's family struggles. Your parents even took him in for a few weeks before CPS found his uncle took over full custody. He was basically your big brother, too, until your pesky teenage hormones started to kick in, and boom! You've been head over heels ever since.

''Good, let's get some greasy burgers and fries to end the night, ok?" Robin smiled.

In the 24-hour diner on campus, you were sitting at your regular booth with the girls across from you, eating your feelings, trying not to think about what Eddie was doing with that girl.

"So that party was a bust, huh?" Nancy spoke first.

"Yeah, totally... probably because Adam's house hosted." You giggled.

"Not to mention Eddie still didn't see you -OUCH." Robin looked over at Nancy, who was giving her a look of distaste. "Sorry, I meant he is an idiot, and you need to get over him! There are plenty of eligible guys on campus who you could date!"

"Even though my girlfriend is being is harsh, she is right, Tink. It's been so long, and you'll kill yourself over this if you keep this up."

"Ugh, I know! Do you think I'm a masochist or something? I hate to break it to you, but I do not enjoy this. I hate it. I hate that he is the one I think about every day when I wake up. I hate it when I go to sleep; he is the last person on my mind. He takes over my thoughts, and I don't know how to stop it!" You shove a fry into your mouth so you can take a breather.

"What if we found you a new guy? Someone to take your mind off Eddie?" Nancy perked up at her idea.

You heard the diner doorbells chime from behind you.

"I don't know..." Putting all your time and energy into someone new seemed like a lot of emotional work you wanted to avoid going through.

"Yes! Oh my god, Tink, you have to. It's the only way you'll get over him!"

"Get over who?" The silky, sweet voice of a male came from behind you.

You and the girls froze as Eddie, your brother, and a few other guys approached the table.

"No one." You mumbled, trying to fight off the blood rushing across your chest and cheeks.

"You can tell us, Tink! Who are we fighting?" Eddie laughed.

"Tink? What kind of stupid name is that?" one of Adam's jerk friends spoke.

"Excuse me?" you turn to see the guy you've never met.

You heard Adam burst out laughing with the rest of them, but not Eddie.

"Hey man, not cool!" Eddie stood up for you.

And there went the butterflies in your stomach. Eddie was always your protector. Even as kids, when Adam picked on you, he always stood up for you. Even if you weren't around, Eddie always put Adam in his place when it came to you.

You saw, out of the corner of your eye, Eddie shifted his weight down so he could sit beside you. Then, you felt a protective arm wrap around your shoulder.

Fuck. This shit right here is why you can never get over Eddie Munson.

You dared to look up; there he was in all his glory. The way the fluorescent light from above had cast down on him made him look like an angel. He smiled at you, but not before you noticed the dishevelled sex hair he tried to fix and the small amount of pink lipstick that stained the skin on his neck that he didn't quite get off. And the smell… sickly sweet perfume that was definitely not his signature musk.

You quickly turn your head back to your plate because you think you're about to puke up everything you just ingested…

"You, if you don't leave us alone." Robin piped up. She saw the look of pure disappointment in your eyes. You didn't need Eddie to rub in the fact that he hooked up with someone, especially since now he is smelling like a cheap hooker.

Robin and Nancy thought it was incredibly rude of your brother to flaunt Eddie in front of you like this. Of course, he knew your mega super infinity crush on his best friend. Yet here he is with his drunk-ass buddies, antagonizing you about the guy you needed to get over.

"Woah, Birdie, take it easy; we are just saying hello," Adam chimed in.

“You said hello at the party. Now leave!” You gritted through your teeth.

“You were at the party?” Eddie asked. His voice hitched high. High enough, it was embarrassingly so. Thankfully, his friends were too drunk and hungry to realize. A deep blush crossed his face when he saw you noticed the tone in his voice change. You just have a slight nod and continue to play with the food on your plate.

That’s why you were so dressed up. Eddie thought you looked so pretty, too pretty to be sad about some looser in a diner at one in the morning.

"Do we have a problem here?" A voice none of you recognized came from the booth beside you.

You all look over and see a cute guy with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing your school's rugby jersey. He was so not your type, but you can still admire beauty for what it is. He was a jock; that was clear as he stood up. He was big, more significant than your brother and Eddie, that's for sure.

"Nah, man, it's cool. This is my little sister and her friends." Adam slurs. Clearly, he had more shots since he left you to find Cory.

"I don't care who you are. You're clearly bothering them."

"It's okay, they were just leaving," Nancy said confidently.

"Whatever, let's go, guys," Adam commanded the pac, but Eddie lingered. He didn't like this blondie guy. He didn't like the way he was looking at you.

"Ed, come on!'

Eddie got up and slowly made his way to his friends.

"I'm Jesse," Eddie heard the musclehead speak, and he cringed internally. Something wasn't right. The feelings of anger and protectiveness were filling his mind.

Eddie looked back again and saw you smelling at the stranger as he reached out to shake your hand before sitting beside you.

What kind of freak is alone in a diner at 1:15 am? Eddie thought.

But it didn't seem to phase you or the girls; you were all blinded by his shiny hair and pearly white smile.

Eddie walked out and felt like he wanted to punch something. He needed to get away. He needed to know what the fuck was wrong with him? Why was he feeling this way? Why were you the one causing him distress? You were just Tink? Or so Eddie thought.

Jesse turned out to be really cool. You exchanged numbers, and he asked you to go to the movies next Friday. You hadn’t been on a date in forever; you had been so hung up on Eddie that any other guy seemed uninteresting. But this time, you were determined that Jesse would be the one to break the cycle. He was much different than you’re generally into, but you have some of the same interests, like movies and music, so you thought you’d go for it.

Jesse picked you up, bought the tickets, and insisted on buying the snacks and drinks. He held your hand and then slowly made his way to wrap his arm around your shoulder. It gave you butterflies you hadn’t felt from anyone else. Before you knew it, you willingly leaned in to make out with him in the back of the theatre.

You were so focused on Jesse that you didn’t notice Eddie was also on a date in the same theatre. But Eddie noticed you. He was seething the whole time. He didn’t pay any attention to his date or the movie. He hogged the popcorn and munched away as he watched you giggle and flirt with the blockhead jock. Eddie didn’t care that he had pissed off his date. He hardly said two words to her when they parted ways, not even offering to drive her home.

He didn’t want to go out with her but had hooked up with her at the party and felt terrible about it then. Now, he can’t even remember her name or why he went upstairs with her in the first place.

You were there, at the party, but he didn’t see you. Now he sees you everywhere, and it’s pissing him off. Why were you on his mind all of the time? For the past week, why have his dreams been consumed by you and you alone? Why did he want to hold you, be with you, talk to you, dare he say… kiss you? You were Adam’s little sister. Well, not so little anymore. You were a late bloomer, but boy, did you bloom.

Eddie hated how the blonde meathead’s hand rested too low on your back. His hands grazed your skirt a little too closely. Eddie wanted to jump the guy, but he couldn’t. He was twice his size. He would be pulverized, and that would be mortifying in front of you. You wouldn’t want him like that anyway, even if he did win in a fight over you!

What the fuck was Eddie thinking? He wasn't… that's the problem. He's now thinking about getting into a physical altercation over you. He isn't able to sleep now without thinking about you. He needed to get his head on straight and quit fucking around. He hoped that if he just focused on the cars at work, this little thing would go away on its own. Maybe he can't remember that he had slipped and hit his head? Yeah, that's it. He hit his head, and now his brain is just confused. He didn't like you like that! This will all go away by tomorrow.

Wrong.

Eddie was plagued with thoughts of you. He caught himself in numerous daydreams about you while doing mindless tuneups and tire changes at the shop. It was getting out of hand; it’s been another week, and he still can’t get you off his mind… Eddie needed to be proactive. The guys were starting to give him shit about it too. They knew he was focused on a girl. They could sense it.

There was another party tonight that Adam mentioned. He will go home and get cleaned up. Then he will go to the party, he will find a nice pretty girl who will let him bury himself inside her, to forget about his thoughts of splitting your open with his cock, and this will all be over.

You walked into the party hand in hand with Jesse. He was starting to make waves in your life, being only two weeks, but still. He would walk you to your classes and help you study in the library. He would walk you home and kiss you goodbye like the perfect gentleman. He hadn't tried making any advances as of yet. The two of you had only made it to first base. Maybe tonight you would get lucky? You felt ready.

“You want something to drink?” Jesse guided you to the kitchen.

The house was hot and sticky; you were worried about your hair getting frizzy. You worked so hard on it to look good for Jesse. He even complimented it when he picked you up. Forever the gentleman.

“Whatever they have is good.” You smiled up at him.

As the two of you walked into the packed kitchen, you tried to squeeze your way around but got stuck in the crowd. It was much easier for Jesse to get by just with his size alone.

“Excuse me,” you repeated three times, but no one was budging.

“You should be a little bit more assertive,” the voice behind you said. It sent a shiver down your spine.

As you turned, you saw Eddie smirking down at you. He was drunk. You could see that and smell it.

“Hi, Eddie.” You smiled meekly before you felt the weight of Jesse’s arm wrap around you, passing you your drink.

“There you are,” Jesse smiled. "Who's this?"

"That's just Eddie...Eddie, Jesse. Jesse, Eddie." You introduced awkwardly.

Just Eddie. The words stung.

"How do the two of you know each other?" Jesse gestures between the two of you.

"Brothers best friend." You smile.

"That's all I am to you? You wound me, Tink."

The fuck was that supposed to mean?

"Eddie, man! I got us two hotties over by the pool. Let's go!" In comes your obnoxious brother with perfect timing, as always.

"I guess I'll see you around." Eddie sighed.

"Nice meeting you, man." Jesse stuck out his hand.

"Whatever." Eddie brushed him off and left with Adam.

"I'm sorry about him. That was very rude. I don't?- He's usually not like that?"

"It's okay; I can tell a jealous guy when I see one." Jesse shrugged.

You almost spat out your drink. "Jealous?!"

"Oh, it's clear as day, honey."

"No... there is no way. He's never and will never like me... like that." It broke your heart to say that out loud. Your chest felt so heavy as the words came out of your mouth.

As the rest of the night went on, you and Eddie tried avoiding one another like the plague. Those words about him being jealous were swimming around in your head for most of the night, and Eddie was trying to avoid his feelings by being with another girl, but not one stood out to him.

Adam tried getting lucky but struck out when Eddie refused to go with the friend.

"What the fuck is your problem, man? She was like a solid eight out of ten."

"I wasn't into it..." Eddie's eyes found you, and he couldn't break his gaze. You were curled up in the blockhead's lap, sitting by the fire pit, all cozy and giggly. What he would give to have you in his arms like that.

"Oh fuck, not you now." Adam groaned in frustration, seeing where Eddie's googly eyes were directed.

"Huh?" Eddie said absentmindedly, not really paying attention.

"You can't be serious?! That's my little sister, dude; come on!" Adam was always one for the dramatics; that's why he and Edie got on so well.

"Woah, man, I never said anything about your sister."

"Well, it sure is clear by the way you're making heart eyes at her."

"Yeah, right," Eddie scoffed.

"Trust me, dude, it's that same way she looks at you." Adman shook his head. He thought he would be clear of this. That this would never happen, and yet here it is, happening.

"Wait, what? What do you mean?-"

"She's been in love with you since she was twelve... come one like you didn't know?"

"No way, you smoked too much tonight, so something? Maybe my stuff is off?"

"She likes you, dude. Never fucking shuts up about you."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Didn't think it was relevant... I was never going to allow her to be with you! You serious? It's Tink, she's so...ew. You're so above that."

"She's not new," Eddie snapped. He hated how hard Adam had always been on you.

"Whatever, man, too late now. About time she has moved on."

Eddie stood up and walked out of the party without a word. He heard Adam call out, but he ignored him completely. He needed to process what Adam told him. He needed to sober up so he could think clearly. He needed to either make you his or find a way to get over you... and fast.

That night of the party, you didn't end up getting lucky. You tried making advances, but you inevitably were shot down. He said he didn't want your first time to be when you both had been drinking and in some random bathroom. So you accepted it, even though your horny gremlin was starting to come back to life. But what did happen was he asked you to make it official with him, and you said yes!

Tonight, you had to leave the apartment for your roommate's sake. It was their anniversary, and you told them you could have the place to themselves for a romantic evening. When you told Jesse, your new boyfriend, you needed a place to crash, he offered you his bed. You would go to your classes and then return to his for your first sleeepover as a couple. You were so excited!

Jesse ended class at one in the afternoon that day, and you ended at five, so it worked out perfectly. Luckily enough for you, your professor for your last lecture was ill, so they cancelled class that day. You thought it would be fun to surprise him by showing up early.

When you got to his house, his roommate let you in and said he was in his room with his friend Connor. So when you knocked on the door and walked in a few seconds later, you did not expect to see the two men in bed, naked...

You screamed and covered your eyes, absolutely mortified that you had walked in on them. You were so unbelievably hurt that you had been deceived. Why would he ask you to be exclusive if he was sleeping around?! And on the night when you thought you would get to have sex with your new boyfriend.

You did not give Jesse any time to explain himself as he tried to get out of the tangled sheets and arms of the other man. You heard your name being called out, but you ran out of there like a bat out of hell.

Tears stung your cheeks as the cold autumn air began to settle in. The rumble of the dark clouds was also looking quite ominous.

Just your luck. Of course, you would find your boyfriend in the arms of another man, and of course, the universe would make you walk him in the rain. How poetic.

A crack of thunder rumbled in the distance, and that's when the rain came down in buckets. At least it could cover up your tears. You continued walking, but you couldn't think of a place to go? You could not ruin your roommate's night. There is no way Adam would let you stay in his frat house, not that you would want to anyway, and your friends from the class went home for the weekend. Shit... maybe you could spend the majority of the night in the diner and then just walk home really late once they were defiantly sleeping. But your clothes were soaked and---

“Tink, what’s wrong?” you were snapped out of your thoughts by none other than the man who was the cause of this whole mess.

Eddie rolled down the work van window. He was covered in motor oil and dirty from working all day. His muscles ached, and he badly needed a hot shower, but now all he could focus on was you and why you were upset.

“Leave me alone, Eddie.” He hadn’t ever heard you speak to him like this?

“Tink, come on, it’s a literal thunder storm. Let me take you home.”

“Can’t, girls are having date night… told them to have the place to themselves.” You continued to walk as the chill from the rain was beginning to seep through to your bones. Your teeth betray you as the chatter starts.

“Where were you supposed to be right now?”

“None of your business!”

“Tink, don’t make me pull over!”

“Screw you, Eddie!”

“That’s it.” Eddie parked the car and got out. “You’re coming with me.” Eddie picked you up over his shoulder, and you let out a screech.

“Eddie! Put me down, you caveman!” You screamed. If anyone saw you, it looked like you were being kidnapped and taken into a murder van.

“No, can do Tink. I’m taking you home to warm you up. Then you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on.” He commanded. And if you weren’t so mad, you’d say you were a little turned on by his voice.

You hear the car door open before he plops you into the passenger seat.

“Get in” he points to your legs hanging out of the car.

“Make me.” you shiver.

“You’re being such a child! Let me help you.”

“Fine!” You swing your legs into the van, and Eddie slams the door closed, making you wince.

The car ride was quiet besides the radio and your chattering teeth. You tried to wrap your arms around yourself, but it was of no help. Your t-shirt and jeans clung to you like a second skin, and the car heater was only blowing cool air. You swore you thought your nipples could cut glass.

Eddie said nothing as he tugged you over on the bench seat and wrapped a warm arm around you. You broke out into another chill, but this time, you weren't sure if it was from the rain or from Eddie.

Even though Eddie was self-conscious of smelling like motor oil and body odour, he was more worried about you catching hypothermia.

Once you were inside Eddie's warm apartment, he noticed how your body was on display. You would be the clear winner if you were in a wet t-shirt contest, that's for sure. Eddi's eyes were wide with desire, but he returned to reality when you asked if you could use his shower to warm up.

Eddie nodded absentmindedly as he thought about you being naked in his shower.

"Uh, you mind if I borrow a towel and some dry clothes? I have mine, but they got soaked through my overnight bag..."

"Yeah! Uh- I mean, sure, yeah, whatever..."

You blushed slightly at Eddie, trying to play it cool. He ran to his bedroom and returned with a handful of different fabrics. You took them and then headed into the bathroom.

The hot water defrosted your bones, and when you stepped into Eddie's clothes, his sent hit you like a tidal wave. You brought the old black corroded coffin band tee that he had from high school up to your nose and inhaled deeply. You felt immediate comfort being here, with Eddie, wearing his clothes.

As you stepped out of the bathroom, hair wrapped in the towel, Eddie couldn't help but smile at the sight of you.

"Not a word," you warn.

Eddie mock zipped his lips, then gestured to the couch for you to sit beside him.

"Sorry about being a pain earlier; you caught me at a really, really bad time."

"It's okay, Tink, you're here with me now; that's all that matters." Eddie let the towel around your head fall back so he could see your natural hair. "You wanna tell me what happened? I've never seen you so upset."

"You shook your head no, "It's too embarrassing."

"Come on, it's me we are talking about here."

You paused for a deep breath and decided to just lay it all out on the table... how much worse could it get, right?

“You remember Jesse, right?” Eddie could feel his fist tightening, but he said nothing while nodding his head with a tight lip. What the fuck did he do to you? “Well, he asked me to be his girlfriends no less than a week ago, and I was supposed to spend the night at his place… but I went over early and found him in bed with… someone.” Eddie went to say something but realized you weren’t finished and let you continue.

“Pathetic, isn’t it?! I finally get a boyfriend, and the moment I want to actually sleep with someone who isn’t you, they are in the arms of someone else! Am I really that undesirable?! I was practically throwing myself at him, and it turns out he was fucking his “friend” the whole time.”

You had missed your slip-up, but Eddie hadn't. Eddie didn’t hear anything after “I want to sleep with someone who isn’t you,”

So Adam was right…

“Eddie? Eddddiiieee?” You snapped your fingers in front of his face to try and get back his attention.

Great, so now you’re undesirable AND boring.

“Sorry what?”

“Forget it… you don’t wanna hear about my pitty party. I’ll call a cab and head back to… oh shit, I can’t even go home!”

“Stay here.”

“Eddie, I couldn’t possibly-”

“Yes. Stay. Take my bed; I’ll take the couch.”

“Eddie, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not, Tink?” He brushed a fallen piece of hair behind your ear, and those pesky butterflies erupted within your core.

“Because…” because I’m in love with you and don’t know if I can hold back my feelings any longer.

“Exactly, you can’t come up with one. Let me take care of you.” Eddie’s voice dropped an octave.

A chill travelled down your spine. His touch is electric. Any time you’re with Eddie, your body feels like it’s been recharged.

As you gaze into Eddie’s eyes, this undeniable magnetic pull connects you. Was he leaning in? Or were you? Maybe it was the both of you? There was little to no space between you. Never in a million years did you think you would be sitting here, alone with Eddie in his apartment.

“I should get cleaned up,” Eddie whispered. He was so close you could taste the spearmint Nicorette gum he had been chewing. It took everything in his power to pull away. He wanted to kiss you so very badly, but he got a whiff of himself, and he needed to wash up. I would be unfair to you.

“Oh, okay,” you breathed in, and Eddie slid back.

“You can make yourself at home, okay? Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I’ll be 10 minutes.”

Eddie was freaking out in the shower, and you were freaking out in the kitchen. While Eddie scrubbed his skin so hard he thought he would scrub it off completely, you went to the fridge to find anything to help calm your nerves.

There wasn’t anything in the fridge, but the freezer, on the other hand... Bingo. You poured yourself a shot of vodka and almost threw up, but you held it together with a chaser of orange juice. You took one more for good measure and then made your way back to the couch. As you waited for your liquid courage to kick in, you flicked around on the TV but didn’t really pay much attention. Your thoughts were swimming with questions and possible scenarios that could play out this evening.

You were taken away from your inner thoughts when Eddie exited the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. You tried not to make it obvious, but the alcohol clouded your awareness of your face.

“Sorry, I left my clothes in the bedroom” he saw you eye fucking him and gave a little smirk.

“It’s okay. Totally okay.” you sighed.

The sight of his wet, bare torso makes your heart race, his flesh covered in goosebumps, his nipples perked, and his hair soaked yet still so sexy. Your stomach simultaneously flip-flopped. And as for your pussy… well, she got a little excited at the heavenly sight in front of you.

“Yeah,” You wanna see more, Tink? Eddie thought to himself.

“Yeah.” You sighed before he disappeared into his bedroom.

Minutes later, Eddie returned, and the two of you acted as if nothing happened. Neither of you willing to break the tension first. So you both sat silently, watching some random TV movie while you prayed to come up with something to discuss. You wanted to talk so badly with him.

“This couch is pretty lumpy; it wouldn’t be fair to make you sleep on it.” You felt terrible that he offered his bed. “I’ll take the couch.”

“Nope. No way.” Eddie shook his head.

“Eddie.” You huffed.

“Tink,” he mocked back.

“You need a good sleep! You work a strenuous job…And my back can take it.”

I bet your back could take it, Eddie thought.

“You calling me old, sweetheart?”

Sweetheart, your stomach did a flip-flop again.

“No.” You snicker at his accusation.

“I don’t think I believe you” Eddie’s tone dropped again.

“Well, I’m not letting up”

“Neither am I; you’re sleeping in my bed whether I’m on it or not.

“Oh...”

“Yeah, oh.” Eddie sat back and the both of you finished the movie in silence.

You didn’t know when you fell asleep, but Eddie shook your shoulder awake.

“Come on Tinkerbell we are going to bed.” You think you hear Eddie whisper.

Were you dreaming? Did Eddie just tell you the two of you were going to bed?

“Mmm?”

“I’m not letting you sleep on the couch, remember? Don’t think you’re getting out of this so easily.”

“Okay, Eddie, “ you agreed in your sleepy haze.

You feel his arm wrap under yours as he helps you off the couch.

“There you go.” Eddie coos as he places you down gently.

The moment your head hits the pillow, you’re suddenly wide awake. You’re in Eddie’s bed. Eddie is getting in next to you.

“Figured we would compromise.” He slid next to you but over the covers with a throw blanket.

“Thanks for letting me stay… and giving me a shoulder to cry on.” You cringed with embarrassment at the last part.

“Thanks for letting me stay… and giving me a shoulder to cry on.” You cringed with embarrassment at the last part. “You seem to always be there for me…” you turn to your side to face Eddie.

“I’ll always be there for you, Tink, whether you like it or not…” Eddie also turns so he is facing you.

“Eddie.” Your breath hitched.

“Yes Tink.”

Fuck are you really going to spill your guts to him here and now?

“I… I wanna-need to tell you something.” You close your eyes, not daring to look at him.

“I think I might have an idea.”

“You-what?” Eyes still closed

You feel the bed shift and feel Eddie's warm breath fan your lips.

“Do you trust me?” Eddie whispered.

You aren’t brave enough to speak. So you tentatively nod your head yes.

“Do you trust me, Tink? I need you to say it.” He asked once more.

You slowly opened your eyes and bravely opened your mouth. “Yes, Ed’s, I trust you.”

A slight smile graces Eddie’s before you watch him lean in with a pucker.

Your heart skipped a beat the moment his lips touched yours.

Holy shit.

Eddie Munson was kissing you. Eddie Munson, your older brother's best friend, who you’ve been in love with for seven years, is now kissing you… in his bed… late at night… with no one else around. It was like fireworks were going off. It was everything you ever wanted and more.

It was all you had ever dreamed of, and now he was blowing your expectations out of the water. You had to have more. You needed this to last forever.

Your hands moved up to cup his face. His cheeks were rough with stubble, contrasting his soft plush lips. Eddie shifted closer to you. You could feel his body through the thick blankets that separated the two of you, but you wanted to be closer to him. You threw the blankets and all caution to the wind when you shifted to wrap your legs around him.

Eddie rolled so he was on top of you. To your surprise, you felt his firm cock pressed to your thigh, which made you moan softly.

“Fucking hell, Tink”

“Eddie, please, I need you.”

“Didn’t take you long to beg,” he chuckled darkly.

“Well, it took you long enough to see me.”

Eddie gazed into your eyes like he was looking at you for the first time. Like really seeing you. He muttered your name, your real name, for the first time, and you couldn’t fight the smile that spread across your face before you strained your neck to take his lips once more.

Eddie’s strong hands grazed your waist and settled on your hips, pinning you down to the mattress. His weight is entirely on you now. Your knees hitched up, and you opened your hips more to give him more room.

“Eddie,” you gasped into his mouth. Eddie ground his hips into yours, and you let out another soft moan.

“Tell me what you want.”

“You, it’s always been you.” You confessed.

Eddie didn’t say anything in reply but instead worked his fingers to the waistband of his sweatpants that you dawned.

“This okay?”

“Oh my god, yes,” you rushed. You’ve waited too long for this moment.

“Eager, aren’t we?”

“Don’t be mean,” You shove the pants off your ankles and go for your shirt.

“Wait… let me.” Eddie sat up so you could as well. His hands brushed the hem and slowly pulled the shirt he let you borrow off of you.

He took in your naked frame in front of him.

Shit, you weren’t wearing your panties this whole time? They must have been soaked as well from the rain. Eddie thought.

Eddie saw you shy away as you sat there naked in front of the boy you loved as he took you all in.

It didn’t take long before Eddie’s hands roamed your skin, finding your breasts.

“You’re so soft.” Eddie moaned into your neck as he took in the fact that you now smelled like him. He sent all over you; he was feral. He needed to claim you as his own. How could he be so blind all these years? You were perfect; you were everything he ever wanted.

“Do you like soft?”

“Very much so.”

Eddie melted into you once more as he travelled down your body, kissing and nipping at every inch. You softly moaned when he flicked your nipples with his tongue, and you really moaned when he reached your wet pussy.

How Eddie loved the noises he was pulling from you. He would do anything to make you sing for him.

“You like that baby? You want me to touch you… here?” His index finger grazed your wet slit.

“Yes” you replied quickly, a little too quickly.

“Good, I don’t know what I would have done if you said no.”

You giggled, but it was cut off by the feeling of Eddie’s fingertips grazing your clit.

You’d daydreamed countless times about how his fingers would feel while you watched him while he and your brother jammed in your garage.

He circled your clit before dipping his head down to kiss your lower lips. Reality hit you once again. Eddie was eating you out. Eddie was eating you out like a man starved, in fact. How was he so good at this? Scratch that you didn’t want to know. Your thoughts slowed down as Eddie’s thick fingers entered your wet hole.

“Eddie!” You yelled with pleasure.

“Oh yes, sweetheart, say my name.”

“Eddie, Eddie, Eddie,” you replayed like a mantra.

As his fingers grazed that spot that only you managed to find when you were alone in your bed, exploring your body. You fell apart in his hands.

“Your pussy grips me so good, god I can’t wait to fuck you.”

“Please, Eddie,” you begged in your blissed-out daze.

“Let me hear it again,” he smirked.

“I need you, please. I want your cock so badly."

“Mmmmmm, as you wish.” he pulled back so he could strip. You watched as his tight muscles flexed as he pulled off his shirt, then scrunched as he bent over to take off his bottoms.

His cock sprung out of their confines, and your breath hitched for what you thought was at least the fourth time that night.

You’ve imagined what it would look like, but none of the times ever did you imagine he was this hung. No wonder he was so confident and cocky around women. It was long, thick, and straight. No curvatures, just pure rod.

“I don’t think that’s going to fit,” you blurt out, not thinking.

“Don’t worry, Baby. It’ll fit.” he slunk back down on you, peppering your lips with more sensual kisses. His fingers travelled down to your pussy, stretching you out again, only this time, he used 3 fingers to make sure you were nice and ready.

“Please, I’m ready” You ground your pussy into Eddie’s hand.

Eddie reached over into his drawer, pulled out a condom, and slipped it over his shaft as quickly as possible. Seemed that he was just as eager as you.

Eddie kissed you hard as his cock slipped past your wet folds and inside, splitting you open. The wonderful burn of his cock burying itself inside of you. What could you say? It had been a while, and Eddie was the biggest you’ve ever had.

“Slowly,” you guided Eddie as he rocked his hips, giving you time to adjust.

“God, you’re so tight”

“Mmmphmm”

“Your noises are so pretty.” Eddie tucked a piece of fallen hair behind your ear.

Eddie took your breath away as he looked into your eyes. He was being so soft and gentle with you as if you could break.

“Eddie, please.”

“I got you, Princess”

Eddie rocked his hips with more emphasis; his body was moulding into yours. As his cock grazed your tight walls, you felt your body was brought to life.

“Oh fuck” your words slipped, not even realizing you were speaking.

“Come’on baby, let me hear you”

“You’re making me feel so good, Eddie!”

“More, tell me who you belong to.”

“ You! always been you, Eddie, please, I wanna come. Please make me cum on your cock.”

“Good girl. You’re being so good, f’me” Eddie's hips slapped into the backs of your thighs, and he plummeted into you, making you cry out in pleasure.

Eddie grabbed the backs of your knees and pushed them back to your shoulders, only making the angle more delicious as he fucked you. He watched as his cock disappeared into your wanton pussy. He watched as you clenched down on his cock, and he almost lost it as he tried not to cum right then and there.

“Fuck me, Tink! Your pussy is too good,” he gritted through his teeth, trying to keep the pace without blowing his load.

“Eddie!” Your body was on fire as his cock continuously hit your g spot. Your lower belly tingled as the feeling of your orgasm built up again.

“You close, baby?”

“Yes”

“Cum for me.”

“More, I need more.”

Eddie slipped his hand between you and gently circled your clit once again.

You moan, cockdrunk as your body begins to spasm around Eddie’s cock.

“Yes, that’s it, come on baby. Keep cuming. That’s my girl.”

Your eyes roll back into your head, and you clamp your jaw. Every muscle tightens and clenches as your second orgasm rips through you.

“Good girl. Good fuckin girl.” Eddie praises as he empties himself into the condom.

After a few moments of the two of you catching your breath and Eddie discarding the used condom, you break the silence.

“I can’t believe we just did that,” you chuckled in disbelief.

“Adam is going to kill me,” Eddie laughed.

“Good, I’ve been meaning to get him back. You roll over to snuggle in his arms.

“And to think you were supposed to be in another man’s bed tonight.” Eddie hated that idea.

“At least I ended up in the right man’s bed.”

Tagging those who seemed interested: @lofaewrites @lavendermunson @imyourdaninow @itsfreakingbats @allthingsjoeq

[welcometogrouchland]

It's mostly the fault of poor editorial practices that B&R is so heavily misaligned continuity-wise w/ the main batman book. But walk with me for a minute:

You are Damian Wayne. You are 14 years old and have had one of the worst years of your life last year. Which is saying a lot.

Your brother, one of the people you were closest to, got shot in the head and forgot who you were. Your best friend went to space for a week and came back 3/4 years older than you, taking away your previously established dynamic and leaving you to have to bond all over again w/ a new one. You may or may not have gone wayyy too far with your new superhero team, who now all hate you, because you fucked up big time*

And worst of all, when you do try to do the right thing, you end up forced to watch Alfred, a father figure to you, the only one at your birthday that year, the person who has been so patient, loving and trusting with you, even when you probably didnt deserve it...die. you watch him die, and feel it's all your fault.

And your dad never corrects you on that last point. So you run away.

First to your mom who can tell something's up with you, she knows you don't give up that easy, you decide not to stay with her because you remembered how actually, neither of your parents are good at communicating with you despite their best efforts, so now you're 14 and flying solo.

And you do fly solo. For a while. Make new friends, new enemies. You think you're better off for it. You've got your best friend and your brother back. They're not around as much. It's fine.

And eventually your dad tells you that it's not your fault that Alfred died. Bit late but it's appreciated. Really. There's a bit of a hiccup where you get possessed by a demon and wage war against your father but after that, all in all, you two are...together again.

You start to think maybe you want to give him another chance, for the two of you to be father and son.

And in a change of pace, it works out! It's going good, mostly. He insists you go to highschool, you resist, feel like he wants you to be something that you're not (wants you to be normal), but eventually you acquiesce for your own reasons. He cheers you on at soccer and nosies around at your fundraising events with the other parents and gives you a stern talking to about your choice of girlfriend. Because he cares.

Except all the while this is going on, your dad is currently having his brain slowly taken over by an evil version of himself that he created and every time you look away he's slowly tearing your family apart (your brothers are just barely keeping it together. The ones who didn't get lobotmized that is Jesus Christ). You keep taking his side in these conflicts, for whatever reason. Maybe because he promised it would be different this time, and it isn't** and you're going to stick with him until he keeps his word for once.

But at the end of the day?

It's like your brother says. You're not the one who saves him. Broadly speaking, you've made things worse and needed others to come save you. And what else is Robin really for? You thought it was about redemption and teamwork but guess you're wrong. It's about saving your self destructive, apparently two-faced and erratic father. And you can't even do that right.

* TT (2016) by Adam Glass is a racist ooc mess, but unfortunately it's still canon so I'm referencing here, though like a lot of works authors clearly wish weren't canon but are, it's been subsequently glossed over. Win? Maybe? Or not?

** again Zdarky's characterization of Damian is so outdated as to be ooc, and considering the way he constantly and explicitly uses it to illustrate Tim's strengths as robin, I'd argue there's. Also implications there. But the batshit insanity of the main batbook compared to B&R rn is crucial for this post, so I'm attempting to justify it. This time..

[justsomerandomfanfic]

Fake Dating, Real Feelings - Steve Harrington X Female Reader

Title: Fake Dating, Real Feelings

Steve Harrington X Female Reader

Additional Characters: Reader's mother (Mary), Reader's father (Frank), Jeanna (OC) (Mentioned), Dustin (Mentioned), the other kids (Mentioned), Tommy (Mentioned), Carol (Mentioned), Robin, and Jeanna's son (OC) (Mentioned)

WC: 10,220

Warnings: Reader has a mother and father, nervousness, fake-dating, anxiety, embarrassment, cursing (two words), fighting (verbal), family drama, Upside Down mentioned, crying, bullying mentioned, during Season 4/5, StarCourt mentioned, teasing, taunting, Blondie mentioned, Queen mentioned, movie references, failing tests mentioned, break-ups mentioned, insecurity, PTSD mentioned (Steve), ST reference, awkwardness, scars mentioned, one nickname, shade thrown, confessions, a hint of suggestiveness, slight angst, and fluff

This was the most uncomfortable dinner yet, and you've sat and eaten through some uncomfortable dinners. It was silent, tension was high in the air, your mother and father across from you eating as you pushed your spaghetti around with your fork. You glanced at your parents, your father was chewing on his food, a newspaper in one hand, reading the sports section. On the other hand, your mother eats, back straight, eyes solely focused on you, like always. You accidentally make eye contact, quickly looking back down at your plate, maybe she didn’t notice. Your mother speaks from just that slight interaction; you inwardly sigh. You’re in for it now.

"Y/N, dear," She began, before taking another bite, chewing, and swallowing before speaking; anticipation was her strong suit, "Have you met anyone recently?" She asked innocently, yet it was practically the same question she asked you almost every night during dinner. If she were one of those pull-string dolls, that would be one of her lines. 

Now, she wasn’t asking if you went out and had a conversation with anyone or even if you made a new friend. No, she was highly invested in your love life and it was stressful.

It seemed that your mother was adamant that you find someone to settle down with, and you were tired of it. She'd ask about your love life constantly, every day; even if it was only a full-on conversation or just a little remark. It really annoyed you, and honestly, it broke you down. As a kid she’d do the same thing, as if befriending a boy in Kindergarten was a sign that you were soulmates. 

Even when you tried to voice that you wanted her to stop meddling in your life, she'd come up with some sort of excuse, 'I just want what's best for you,' and, 'I won't be here forever, you need someone to take care of you,' and, sadly, 'I just want you to be happy, don't you want me to be happy too?' She always tried to guilt-trip you, and you were getting tired of it. You wanted her to stop for good.

"No, Mom," You muttered, poking at your food, "Can we please drop this?"

She quickly dropped her fork on her plate, interlacing her fingers together as she rested her elbows on the table, staring at you, she gave you a stern look. "Y/N," She said calmly, but sternly, "I'm trying my hardest to understand you..." You felt your face flush at the statement, confused as you waited almost patiently at what she was going to say. "But you must find someone, you're not getting any younger. You know, you shouldn't be so selfish. You should go out there, find a man, and give me grandkids."

Well, that struck a nerve.

You clenched your hand, the edges of the fork's handle cutting into your palm lightly, "Mom, I told you, my main objective in life is not to just have kids." You were growing more and more frustrated.

"Well, it should!" Your mother snapped, glaring down at the table, before digging back into her food angrily, "We raised you better than this." You couldn't help but frown at her words. "Right, Frank?" Your mother then turned to her husband, who hummed and nodded, taking a sip of his beer.

"Yes, dear." He numbly responded, making you roll your eyes; unfortunately, your mother noticed, pointing her fork at you.

"Don't give me that attitude, you are an adult; act like one. Once you turned eighteen, I should've pushed you out of that front door! But, yet here you are, a year later, in my house, under my roof, without someone financially stable enough to help and take care of you and your future children!" You began to tone her out, poking at your food once more. You didn't understand her. What was her problem with you having kids anyway? "When are you going to grow up!?" She continued to rant, continuing to jab at her meal angrily. The rest of the dinner was silent, aside from a few angry whispers and huffs, all of which you pretended not to notice. You didn't want to deal with this right now. You wanted to go to sleep and forget the whole thing. "Why do you keep doing this to me?! I've fed you, clothed you, taken care of you, given you a proper education, and yet you still won't go out and find yourself a decent husband." Her voice quieted down slightly, though she was still upset, angrily stabbing the meatball on her plate.

She always made everything about herself.

You tried to convince yourself not to cry from frustration as you swallowed thickly, "Why do you have to keep bringing this up?" You asked, trying not to sound weak as you cleared your throat, "At this time, I don't want a boyfriend. I am happy on my own." You tried to sound assertive and confident, but you were starting to break down again. Your stomach tightened, and suddenly, you weren't feeling very hungry anymore, well, you weren't to begin with. You didn't realize you had been holding your breath until you let it out, letting it fill your lungs. "Please," You added, hoping she would just shut up.

She stared at you, her knuckles turning white before she let out a forceful and seemingly irritated exhale from her nose, "Y/N," She began, "Dear," She then gritted her teeth, "I just want you to go out and get a boyfriend."

Groaning loudly, your brain felt like it was going to explode as you slammed your hands on the table, startling your mother and father, who both stared at you with wide, shocked eyes as you spoke, "I have a boyfriend!"

Your mother, slowly overcoming the shock, smiled, "You do?" She was practically glowing as her smile went from ear to ear; a Joker-like smile, "Really?" Her voice was soft, like a mouse, but held so much excitement.

You sat down, your hands shaking. God... What have you done? 

"Yes," You swallowed thickly, "I do." You continued to lie, looking at your mother as your mind was begging you to stop. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, her excitement obviously showing, practically bouncing in her seat.

"Well," You began, glancing around the room, trying to come up with a story, "I just... I wanted to wait and see if the relationship was going to work out, is all." You shrugged a shoulder, looking back at your mother. "I, uh, wanted to make sure he was the right guy... For you, Mom." You eased her ego, as she stared at you with her bright eyes and wide smile, listening intently.

"What's his name? What does he do for a living? Is he successful? Are his parents well-known? Do I know them? Is it Jeanna's son, oh, he's just lovely-!" She gushed, talking like a child.

You sighed deeply, rubbing your forehead, getting a headache, "Mom, please stop, it's not Jeanna's son." You pleaded, exasperated, "I don't think I can-"

"I must meet him! Bring him to family dinner Sunday. Oh, I'll make my meatloaf!" She almost squealed, turning to Frank, "What do you think, Frank, dear?" She asked, only to get a hum in response, but she took it; Frank's lack of response wasn't going to ruin her mood.

At her words, you froze. Everything was in slow-motion as her mouth moved, the words coming out in a low tone that made you feel like you were in a cartoon. You gulped, your heart hammering inside your chest, pounding against your ribs as you tried to figure out what to do. This was bad, this was very, very bad; you knew that this wasn't going to end well, and you just wanted to scream. However, you stayed quiet, not wanting to upset your mother again. If she found out that you lied... She'd be upset, no, heartbroken. She'd really kick you out of the house this time.

"Well!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands together, "I'm going to get the ice cream, this is a celebratory moment!" She stood up, and you mirrored her, grabbing your plate, scrambling. 

Your mother watched you, her grin slipping for a moment. You tried to keep eye contact as you stood, "I'm going to head to my room. I'm a bit full from dinner. Thank you, Mom." You spoke, as your mother just nodded her head.

"Oh, well, that's alright. You probably have to call that boyfriend of yours about Sunday. I understand. Don't stay up too late!" She cheered teasingly, as you gave her an awkward grin after putting away your dirty dish and heading upstairs to your room.

Shutting your door, you let out a groan, running your hands down your face before you plopped face-first onto your comfy bed. You let out another groan, becoming frustrated with yourself as you slowly rolled over, staring at the popcorn ceiling. You hated your ceiling. You glanced around your room, looking from your posters to the bookshelves, to your desk, closet, tv, and so on. Wondering how you could have messed this one up so badly. Why did you always have to be such an idiot?

You pulled yourself off the bed, sat upright, and looked outside, watching as a light breeze blew through your open window, the sheer curtains flowing slightly as you took a deep breath; your lungs filling with the night air. Everything was so peaceful here, you could pretend that nothing happened in the dining room only minutes ago. You could pretend that your mother didn't badger you about relationships. You could pretend that you didn't just tell her you had a boyfriend.

Just then, you got an idea. 'Yes,' you had thought, 'It might work.' What if, by Sunday, you broke up with your imaginary boyfriend? Then you wouldn't have to deal with the mess of telling the truth to your mother. Yes, but then she'd go back to her fighting ways, trying to fight you into finding another boyfriend. You scoffed out a laugh, she'd probably say something along the lines of, 'Better luck next time! Why don't I invite Jeanna's son over?' But, really, that plan to break up with your imaginary boyfriend wouldn't work... Sunday was three days away.

You felt defeated, slumping your shoulders, you laid back on your bed, falling deep within the pillows and soft blankets of soft greens and blue. Your mind raced as you tried to calm down and figure out what to do. Until you had one more idea. You saw it in a movie once, where the lead girl and boy began fake dating in high school. They were both in it for different benefits. The girl wanted help with homework, while the boy just wanted to get another girl jealous. In the end, they both fell in love. You laughed a little, shaking your head. Yeah, that wouldn't happen if you did it. But, as ridiculous as the idea sounded, it was something you could try.

Once again, your smile dropped. You didn't have anyone you could ask to help you. You didn't have any friends really. You had Robin and that was sort of it. After high school, people did their own thing and moved on, getting jobs and moving away to different cities, towns, or states. What were you going to do? You were just full of bad ideas today, weren’t you?

'Call Robin?’ You asked yourself, and then nodded, ‘Yeah, call Robin,’ before you got into bed and turned off your lamp light. You'd call her tomorrow.

~~~

You twirled the curled line of the phone with your finger, tapping your foot impatiently as you waited for Robin to pick it up. When you heard her voice, you let out an audible sigh of relief.

"Thank you for calling Family Video, my name is Robin. How may I help you?" 

"Robin, hey. It's me." You let out a sigh, as you glanced around you briefly.

It was silent on the other line for a moment, "Y/N? What- Why are you calling me? Are you alright?" She asked, sounding worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Uh, I really need to talk to you. I really need your help and advice or anything… Really." You spoke, a bit desperate as you continued to tap your foot.

“That’s a lot of ‘really’s.”Robin sighed on the other line, "What is it?" She asked, sounding concerned. “And where are you calling me from?”

"A phone booth,” You glanced around, feeling a bit cramped, “Okay, anyway, so I kind of..." You paused, cringing slightly, "... Told my mom that I had a boyfriend..."

"And you don't," Robin answered, before continuing, "Unless you do, and you just didn't tell me... Your best friend." She spoke in an accusatory voice only for you to shake your head as if she'd see you do that.

You ran a hand through your hair, "No, I don't, and that's the thing. She wants me to bring my imaginary made-up totally real boyfriend to dinner. Sunday!"

You heard a soft hissing, Robin was definitely cringing, "Oh, that's bad... Really bad. Why would you lie about that? I mean, I know that your mom's a bit... Eh." 

"I just wanted her to stop badgering me about getting into a relationship, getting married, and having babies," You spoke in a mocking tone, "I've had enough of it." 

"Well," Robin spoke, and you could tell through the phone that her gears were turning, "I could maybe help you. Depending on how desperate you are."

You let out another sigh, rolling your eyes slightly, "Robbie, I'd do anything. What's your idea?"

You heard shuffling on the other side of the phone, "Anything?” She asked, and you sighed, nodding.

“Yes, anything!”

“I know someone who could help. I'll ask him." Robin answered and your eyes widened.

"Wait," You paused, your eyebrows furrowing, "What do you mean, 'I know someone who could help'?" You began to panic.

"I mean fake dating, Y/N/N!" She laughed a bit, and you hummed, realizing you had that same idea the night before. Great minds think alike. "It'll work, just go to dinner and wait a couple of weeks before telling your mom that you and your boyfriend broke up."

Your mind raced, thinking it over, "I mean, that'll work... But then she'll get on my case again." 

"She won't for the time that you're with your fake boyfriend," Robin added, making a point.

You pursed your lips, staring at the yellow phonebook on the small table below the payphone. "Fine, I'll do it. Now, who's this someone you know?" It was silent on the other end for a moment, worrying you, "Robin..?" You called out, hearing no reply. Did the call end? Did you need to add another quarter?

"I'm here. Sorry, uh, it's Harrington."

Your eyes widened, "Steve? King Steve?" You asked, closing your eyes as you let out a breath from your nose, becoming frustrated. "You know that he used to bully me in high school."

"Yeah, I know… And, I am not saying that what he did is okay, but " Robin tried as you groaned.

"He called me baby, and not the good kind of ‘baby’. I only cried that one time! And he was a jerk, the biggest jerk! And you know I tried to confront him about it, but he just brushed it off." 

Robin sighed, "I know… He's changed, Y/N. He's not the 'King Steve' you used to know. Thankfully, he’s become a loser. Hasn’t scored with a girl in a long time," She laughed at the end, and you remembered the story she told you about the time at StarCourt Mall, the whiteboard she had for him, and what she and Steve had gone through. “I bet he’d agree to it. Pretending to have a girlfriend might be good for him. Might flip a switch in his brain and turn him from mister doofus to mister casanova once more.” She teased, as you bit your lip.

You glanced around the phone booth rapidly, before sighing, "I know. You’ve told me. I’ll do it, only if he wants to, not because you force him. Even though he’s a jerk, I’m a nice person.” You hear her laugh on the other line, “And thank you, Robin. You're the best."

You could tell that Robin was smiling on the other side, "I know. Now let me get back to work!"

You couldn't help but laugh too.

~~~

Flipping through your magazine, you kicked your legs in the air behind you, laying on your stomach as you listened to your radio playing the latest hits; Blondie, Queen, and so on. Robin sat on the bed with you, her legs propped up, bent at the knees as she leaned her back against your headboard; she was also looking through a magazine. You and Robin had planned to watch something, maybe The Breakfast Club or Back To The Future, but you both ended up just reading some magazines Robin had brought over. They were the typical magazine, fashion, gossip, and even a National Geographic which Robin loved to read when she wasn’t invested in a book. Sometimes, though, Robin and you would bake chocolate chip caramel scotchies cookies together, and rarely you’d get Robin to draw with you. She said that she wasn’t much of an artist.

This was usually how your Fridays went, spending time with Robin after her shift at Family Video. You also had a job, so you didn’t see Robin as often as you used to, but on Fridays and sometimes the weekends, she’d come over. You always had a great time, she had been your friend for years, ever since third grade. Speaking of her job though, you had almost forgotten about your unfortunate predicament. 

You closed your magazine, getting bored of the gossip, sighing softly as you leaned your palm on your cheek, resting your elbow on the bed below. "Have you spoken to Steve?" You abruptly asked, tearing the bandaid as Robin glanced up from the magazine at you and back down.

"He'll do it," Robin answered simply, making you raise an eyebrow.

"Really?" You asked, slightly skeptical, observing Robin's face for any signs of deception, but Robin was the master of the Poker face, though you always beat her at Poker. "How did you convince him to do this?"

Robin shrugged, flipping to another page, "He owes me."

"He's okay with it?" You asked, continuing to worry, "If he isn't, I don't want to force him. I told you I don’t want to force him into this at all."

"Y/N, Steve said it was fine. He said he wanted to help," Robin said, smiling at you as you let out a small groan, rolling your eyes. “Plus, I thought you liked him or something?” Robin added teasingly, making you glare at her. 

You decided to ignore her, placing your arm over your eyes, "This is stressing me out. You’re stressing me out."

"Don't stress too much," Robin spoke, leaning forward, placing the magazine on the side table beside the bed, and reaching out, placing her hand on top of yours, giving it a squeeze before going back to grab another of her magazines. "You'll still be coming to FV to talk to him, plan everything out, right?" She asked as you nodded, sitting up.

"Yeah..." You swallowed, licking your lips, "You told him that I was coming by during lunch to plan it with him, right?" You asked as Robin gave you a nod.

"Sure did." She smiled, giving you a thumbs up.

You hummed softly, plopping back down on your bed, and landing on your back, you watched your fan spin round and round above you. You looked around your room, turning your head to the side to look at the clock on the wall. You let out another sigh, knowing the next couple of days were going to be pretty stressful.

~~~

Walking down the sidewalk the next sunny day, you took a deep breath, letting out an exhale as you took in the world around you. The sun was shining brightly down upon you, which was not usual for Hawkins, Indiana. Normally the sky was gray and there were constant gloomy clouds in the sky, but today, the sun was high in the sky and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. Everything seemed so alive today, birds chirping, people driving down the road off to shop, work, or return to their families, children playing roller hockey in the streets near their houses, and even the trees seemed healthy and bright green today. 

As you walked, you looked up at the sky, watching as tiny white flocks of birds flew between the leaves, landing on branches. It brought a smile to your face as you finally turned the corner and found yourself in front of Family Video. You paused, unstuffing your hands from your jeans pockets before giving yourself a moment to think and prepare yourself; giving yourself a pep-talk. You hadn't seen Steve since you both graduated, and you haven't even been in the shop after Robin told you that both she and Steve got the job. You didn't want to deal with the awkwardness and whatnot when being in the presence of Steve, or having to talk to him. That's why Robin always got your movies for you. You got a discount too.

Now you didn't want to say you felt rude or petty for holding a grudge against Steve for about two years, but what he did to you really hurt your feelings. It started in your Junior year when you failed your science test. You had spent weeks and stayed up late into the night to study for that test, and you were devastated. You cried until you couldn't cry any longer. You were mentally out of it. You had lost so many points and probably dropped your GPA. And Steve did not make that any better. You were at your locker, putting away your books after the third period, Science, when you just snapped, covering your face with your hands as you cried. You could hear their snickering, Tommy and Carol, before Steve had called out to you, calling you baby. But with his tone, and the way Tommy, Carol, and some other students all laughed, you knew it wasn't good. Steve's face was adorned with a smirk, his arms crossed as he leaned against some lockers across from you. You were embarrassed, mortified! You speed-walked to class that day and avoided Steve at all costs since then. But that didn't stop him from calling out to you with your new terrible nickname.

Aside from being incredibly upset with Steve, you were disappointed with yourself; for ever even having feelings for the guy in the first place. Yes, feelings, for King Steve. You didn’t know why you liked the guy in the first place. He was mean, a jerk, rude, but… He had great hair, a cute face, pretty eyes… Minus his popular bad boy persona, he was perfect. Thankfully, after that bullying and torment, you were able to push those feelings away, seeing an ugly side of Steve, the ruthless and uncaring side. But, from what Robin had said, Steve seemed to have changed. You didn't know for sure, though it was a small town, you avoided him as much as possible. But Robin was your best friend, and you would believe anything she told you, to an extent. You planned to just have a nice, peaceful conversation with Steve, and get all this over with. Let bygones be bygones. So, with your head held high, you entered the store.

As you entered the video store, you noticed no one was at the counter, so you slowly walked over, noticing the cardboard cut-out in the corner or the room before ringing the small bell upon it. It rang, the sound echoing throughout the store as you waited for a few seconds until a voice echoed from the back, and the sound of steps heading to the counter.

Steve entered, freezing when he spotted you, his eyes widening slightly before he cleared his throat, making his way around the counter. Pretending everything was hunky-dory and that he wasn’t a bit nervous. He stopped a good few feet from you, which you were thankful for. You crossed your arms, looking away from him as tension soon filled the space between the both of you.

"Hi." Steve finally spoke, clearing his throat. You nodded in response.

"Uh… Hi." You muttered back, keeping your gaze averted from him as you dropped your arms and fiddled with your fingers slightly.

It was silent again, and you were dying. You just wanted the world to open up below you and swallow you up. 

"Uh," Steve spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck as he gave you an awkward smile, "Buckley told me you needed help."

You finally met his gaze, albeit reluctantly, "She told you the whole story?" You asked, wanting to make sure Steve knew what he was getting into.

He nodded, seemingly nervous or embarrassed, or something, "Yeah, and I'm willing to help. I know I might not be your first choice of a fake boyfriend, but I'll do my best to help you with your situation." He spoke, very professionally, surprising you. 

You shifted your weight from side to side, "Well… Thank you." You muttered before Steve spoke up again.

"I'd also like to apologize for the way I treated you back in school. I didn't have good friends and had bad influences, and I know that isn't a fair excuse, but I still would like to say that I'm sorry. I was insensitive and an immature kid, and I shouldn't have done what I did. You know, trying to be ‘King Steve’ and all that." Steve spoke sincerely, looking at you seriously as you stared back at him for several moments. You weren't expecting such a sincere apology, and you weren't quite sure how to respond. 

You bit your lip briefly, "Uh," You swallowed thickly, "Thank you, Steve. I appreciate that." Steve watched as you fiddled with your fingers, your hands clasped before you as you continued, "I'd like to apologize for this situation. I know what I'm asking you to do is a bit... Weird. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. And if don’t have to if robin is making you."

Steve gave you a smile, waving his hand, dismissing your thoughts, "No no, it's fine. I'd like to make up for what I put you through." He said, and you nodded, taking in mind Steve's very obvious personality change. Maybe Robin was right. "So..." He began, "How do you want to do this?" He asked and you glanced around the large store, nervous.

"Well, uh, could we talk more in private? Is there a break room?" You asked, and Steve nodded rapidly, before leading you to the back of the store, opening the door for you as you both entered the roomy break room. Shutting the door, Steve gestured to the chair at the table, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms as you sat down. You cleared his throat, glancing down at the table, trying to find the words to say. "My mom is having Sunday dinner, uh, Sunday, and she believes that I'm bringing my supposed boyfriend to meet her and my dad. It's just for that Sunday, in two days, after that we fake break up and that's that."

Steve nodded, staring down at the ground briefly. It was sort of an odd situation, something that could be in a movie or a book, but Steve didn’t really mind. He dealt with the Upside Down multiple times. If he could survive that, he could survive an uncomfortable dinner. Steve cleared his throat before looking back over at you. "Alright." He mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. "No offense, but is your mom really that bad? You can’t just tell her the truth?" He asked, and you nodded, letting out a small mirthless laugh.

"Yes, she is. And if she wasn’t, I would not have had to lie in the first place. She’s practically wicked." You ran a hand through your hair, "Sadly, you'll deal with her first hand." Soon, it was silent once more, and you stared down at the table before you, drawing shapes with your finger on the surface, "Uh," You began, looking up at Steve, "Do you have paper and a pencil or pen?"

Steve nodded with furrowed eyebrows, pushing off the wall and heading to his locker on the opposite wall, opening it, he pulled out a pad of paper and a #2 pencil. He walked over, handing them to you in which you thank him softly, before writing down a list. Steve watched, tilting his head confused before he sat in the chair across from you. He watched as you wrote in big letters, 'Rules' on the top of the page. 

"What are you doing?" Steve asked as you looked up.

"Making the rules. We have to have rules for this so that both of us are comfortable and won't step over each other’s boundaries." You explained, before turning the pad of paper to the side.

Steve raised his eyebrows, "That's smart," He confessed, impressed.

One by one, the two of you added rules for each other to follow, and then, when everything had been completed on two separate sheets of paper, you signed your name at the bottom of the lists, before turning the pencil towards Steve; he took the pencil and signed his name below yours on both papers. You looked up at Steve as he did so, your eyes looking over his features, admiring his beauty; he brown eyes, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, the soft swoop of his hair, but you quickly looked away, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. You cursed at yourself mentally, feeling your heart begin to race; your feelings were coming back, and they were stronger than ever. Double-checking it between yourselves, you glanced at the clock on the wall, grabbing your copy of the rules before abruptly standing up from your seat; the metal of the chair scraping oddly against the floor. 

"I- I have to get home. Thanks for helping me again, Steve. Uh, dinner's at six." You began as Steve turned around in his seat, accidentally cracking his back slightly as you quickly wandered to the door.

“Wait, Y/N,” He spoke up, making you pause mid-step, looking over at him, “Do you want to meet tomorrow at that diner on Millberry Road? Say three? Do some planning or whatever?” He asked, rendering you silent as you thought, making Steve speak up again, “I’ll buy you a milkshake..?” He offered and you bit your lip, looking at the ground before looking back over at him, nodding with a slight hint of a smile. 

“Yeah, that sounds good. See you tomorrow.” You spoke before you rushed out of the break room and out of the store. 

Steve watched as you left, before turning back around to stare at the table, he mentally noted that dinner was at six, and to ask Robin for your address. Steve let out a sigh, his brown eyes looking over at the pad of paper, reaching over to slide it over to him. He re-read it, his thumb brushing over the lines and strokes of your signature; slightly smudging the lead. Steve sighed deeply once again, both of his hands going into his hair, shutting his eyes as he pursed his lips. Glancing at the clock, he reluctantly got up, getting back into work after clocking back in. Walking to the front of the store, Steve rubbed his chest, taking note of how fast his heart was beating.

~~~

You stared down at the paper in front of you, re-reading the rules over and over. You didn't put it on the list, but you mentally added, 'Don't fall in love'. That was definitely a given. You collapsed on your bed, your head falling back into your plush pillow. You couldn't stop thinking about Steve. His bright honey-brown eyes, his soft-looking, brown hair, the way he talked to you, the look of absolute determination in his eyes as he signed the contracts. When he apologized to you, you slowly realized that maybe Robin was right. Steve definitely seemed nicer, he was polite and kind, and most importantly, he was kind enough to help you with this whole 'fake dating' lie to your mother. 

Your mind began to wonder, wondering how things could go horribly wrong.. You weren't sure you could keep things under control if they did. What if something happened? What if you both weren’t believable enough and your mother saw right through you? What if she got suspicious enough that you had to prove to her that you were dating? You wouldn't know what to do. If your mom found out about the lie, she'd kill you, or worse, kick you out of the house.

You closed your eyes, your mind was blank until immediately picturing Steve, which made you groan, grabbing your other pillow and smashing it in your face. Why did he have to be so cute? Why did he have to have such nice hair? Why did he have to make your heart race and butterflies erupt in your stomach? And why did he have to be nice to you? It was easy to hate him when he was mean to you. But he was so understanding and sincere when he apologized to you. Opening the door for you… So gentlemanly and charming... You were really questioning things tonight. You shook your head, refusing to think about these things any longer. Somehow, you were able to get to sleep, anxious for the next two days.

Steve, on his end, was feeling more or less the same. Staring up at his ceiling as he repeated his interaction with you earlier in the afternoon. Steve still felt terrible about his actions towards you years prior, and he hoped that you'd forgive him. He then thought back to when Robin came to him about your dilemma, about your lie, how unbearable your mother was, and that he owed her and needed to help her best friend. Steve was a bit hesitant, more confused than anything, but he wanted to help you; as said before, he wanted to make up for the things he had said to you.

Steve tried to sleep, but it was hard. Turning to his bedside table, he reached over and grabbed the notepad, re-reading the rules. Flipping the paper up to re-read your address that he got from Robin, and next to it in red ink from his favorite pen were the words, 'six pm'. What was he going to wear? Is this going to be a fancy dinner, or should he just wear jeans and a T-shirt? Button-up? Should he bring you and your mom flowers, so it was believable? You and he didn't really talk about how to really act in front of your parents, except to act like 'we like each other.' You even gave rom-com movies as an example. Steve understood this was going to be acting, pretending to like each other, to love each other. And Steve knew that this was going to be awkward, but he also knew that you weren't asking for much. He could tell you were serious, dead serious, and you probably would've done anything to keep your lie a reality. Steve chuckled lightly to himself, thinking back to the making of the rules, it felt like a school project. Shutting his eyes, Steve fell asleep, preparing himself for his diner meet-up with you the next day.

~~~

Steve let out a shaky breath, fiddling with the two bouquets of flowers in his hands; one of Lilies for your mother, and one of the roses for you. He didn’t know what flowers were your favorite, so he chose roses, and he hoped you’d like them. Steve then double-checked his outfit, making sure his nice blue button-up was wrinkle-free, along with his dark jeans. Steve made sure while he was planning his outfit that the shirt wasn’t the hue ‘true blue,’ the color haunted him and reminded him way too much of his old Scoops Ahoy outfit. He only hoped he could play it cool and make everything believable for you. Staring down at his shoes, he went through your conversation with him yesterday. 

"I just want to warn you, my mom is really overbearing. She'll probably ask us a lot of questions about our relationship, so we have to be sure we are on the same page here." You spoke, swirling your straw around in your milkshake as you sat across from Steve at a small diner. 

Steve gave you a small awkward smile, "So, what did you have in mind?" He asked and you shrugged.

"Well, let me know if you want to change anything. But, I had told her that we had been together for a while, so let's just tell her we've been together for like six months. That's believable."

Steve nodded, agreeing, "Sounds good, where'd we meet?"

You shrugged, "I don't know, where do you want us to meet?"

Steve paused, thinking before he did his one shrug, "The arcade? I mean, I bring Henderson and his friends there sometimes when I babysit them." He suggested and you hummed, pursing your lips as you thought before nodding.

You furrowed your eyebrows, taking in his sentence, “Babysit? You babysit that Henderson kid and his friends? When did that happen?” You asked, taking a bite of your fries.

“It started a few years ago. I just sort of fell into the job really. You know, driving them places and then driving them back. Giving them life advice…” Steve took a bite of his burger, “I may be a pretty shitty boyfriend, but… Turns out I’m a pretty damn good babysitter.” He laughed awkwardly, as he ate, making you let out a chuckle. Steve paused briefly, rolling his eyes, “Yeah, I’d laugh too. Great with kids, but terrible with the ladies.”

You waved your hand, shaking your hand, “No, no! I’m not laughing at that… It’s just… Life advice? You? No offense, but I just don’t think that ends well.” If anything, Steve knew how to make you laugh.

Steve couldn’t help but smile, stirring his melting chocolate milkshake with his red straw, “Yeah, I see what you mean. But, I give great hair advice!” He exclaimed proudly, making you chuckle once more.

“I’m sure you do.” You spoke up, your laughter dying down as the two of you just stared at each other, until Steve cleared his throat and you looked down at your milkshake. Glancing at Steve one more time, you thought you saw the softest pink shade appear on his cheeks. You shook her head, wishful thinking.

“So…” Steve began, “The arcade...” Steve prompted and you nodded, getting back on topic.

"Y- Yeah," You took a sip of your milkshake, "I like the arcade. Been there before. My mom would believe it." You agreed, "I- I don't know what else she's going to ask. We might have to make stuff up while we go."

Steve nodded, taking a sip of his own milkshake, "That's fine. I'm good at making things up. You know, from my partying days."

"You don't party anymore?" You asked, tilting your head to the side, as Steve nodded.

"Yeah, don't really have time for that anymore. I spend most of my time at work, or watching Henderson, or..." Steve paused, glancing down at the table as you stared at him confused, and slightly worried. "Just trying to survive life, I guess." He tried to joke, giving you a nervous smile before running a hand through his hair. You watched him run his fingers through his soft brown hair, almost in slow-motion, wishing you could just reach out and touch it. But, you had other important things to pay attention to, like this fake dating scheme.

You cleared your throat, having a slight inkling of what Steve was talking about, Robin had mentioned it to you before. It reminded you of a fairy tale, something not possible in this world; magic and whatnot. But you had seen the scar on Robin's calf, and Robin would never lie to you. "Robin told me about that." You spoke up softly, causing Steve to glance over at you, "She said you had gone through a lot over the past few years. Dealing with the... Side Down or something... I forgot the name." You finished, as Steve's eyes widened.

"She told you?" His voice was filled with shock.

You nodded, "Yeah... She tells me everything." You explained and Steve nodded, biting his lip as he looked away from you, a sad look in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I- I shouldn’t have brought that up.” You apologized, but Steve shook his head.

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry.” It was silent, tension high in the air, almost suffocating you as you regretted bringing up something so traumatic. Steve, however, broke the silence, clearing his throat nervously before speaking up again, "So... Is there anything I should bring to dinner?” He asked you, looking back at you, as he took another bite of his burger.

You thought for a second, glancing around the room before shrugging, "I don't know. You've dated before. What do you usually bring to family dinners?" You asked, before finishing your milkshake completely.

"Well," Steve began, clearing his throat again, as he felt slightly embarrassed, "I've only had one, and I’ve brought flowers, candy, a bear once, you know, those romantic, sappy types of things."

You nodded, dabbing your lips with a napkin, "Well, you don't have to bring anything if you don't want to, but my mom loves Lilies. She thinks their scent can rejuvenate her skin or something…" You rolled your eyes.

Steve couldn't help but chuckle a little, feeling a bit more comfortable as he smiled slightly, "That's- That's good to know."

Letting out a breath, Steve raised his hand up and knocked on the door. Looking down at the cobble steps of the open porch, the door opened, revealing your mother. Your mom's smile widened at the sight of Steve, immediately stepped aside to let him in. Steve smiled awkwardly as your mom shut the door, turning to him. 

"You must be Steve! It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Y/N's mom, Mary, but you can just call me 'mom'." She exclaimed happily as Steve gave her a polite smile, realizing that you were right and that your mom was a bit overwhelming. Your mom then noticed the flowers in his hand, placing her hands on her chest as she gasped. "Are those for me?" She asked and Steve nodded, handing them to her. "They are my favorite!"

"Your daughter told me you liked them," Steve mentioned as your mom sighed after sniffing the lilies, subconsciously petting the white petals. 

"Speaking of my daughter..." She then turned towards the stairs. "Y/N! Your boyfriend is here!" She yelled up the stairs, her tone sharp, but still holding that excitement, causing you to quickly walk out onto the landing, a blush spreading on your face.

Steve froze. There you stood, wearing a very nice outfit, a little bit nicer than what you usually wore, and you even did your hair. You looked very pretty and Steve's heart skipped a beat as your eyes met his, and you gave him a gentle smile. "Hi," You whispered quietly, shyly, and Steve returned the gesture, clearing his throat before speaking as he felt his mouth dry up slightly.

"Hey, Y/N." He greeted you before handing you a bouquet of roses from behind his back. "These are for you." 

You couldn't help but let your smile widen, taking the flowers in your hands, staring down at the perfect twelve roses as you felt your heart begin to race, your stomach twisting anxiously. After taking in the familiar scent of the roses, you looked up at Steve and he smiled down at you, "Thank you, Steve. They're beautiful." Your cheeks flushed, and you couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed by the whole thing. 

Steve rubbed the back of his neck, "No problem, sweetheart." 

'Man,' You thought, as your face began to flush wildly from his nickname for you, 'He's a good actor.'

Your mother then ruined whatever moment you were both having, snatching your bouquet from you and giving Steve a smile. "Well, dinner isn't ready yet, so we can get settled down at the table until it is. I'm going to put these in some water." You both followed your mom to the dining room, where Steve pulled out your chair for you, waiting until you were situated before pushing you in and sitting down next to you. He gave you a small smile and you smiled back, hoping that the night would go smoothly. "I hope you're hungry because I made your favorite; fried chicken."

Your jaw dropped in surprise, "Oh wow, thank you, Mom." You said, pretty shocked and Steve chuckled at your reaction. "I thought you were going to make your meatloaf?"

She gave you a shrug, "I changed my mind, this is a special occasion after all." She smirked, giving you and Steve a wink as you groaned slightly after she left for the kitchen.

Your dad then entered the room, took his usual seat, opening his newspaper. Steve went to stand up to greet him but your father stopped him. "Don't need to stand up, son." He spoke gruffly, nudging his thick-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose, "You have my blessing."

Steve's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as he sat back down. You covered your face with your hands, your face feeling hot as your embarrassment flowed over you in giant waves. Steve noticed this, his small, embarrassed smile turning into a frown as he looked at you. He hoped the night would move swiftly, for your sake. Wanting to comfort you, he reached out and placed a hand on your back, gaining your attention. You sat up, dropping your hands from your face and looking over at Steve, reveling in the way his hand gave off a soothing warmth. He then gave you a reassuring smile and you managed to give him one back. 

Taking a bit of a risk, Steve reached over to grab the bottom of your chair, giving you a grin and wink and with a small tug, he drew the chair closer to him. You gave Steve a look, smiling at his ridiculousness just before your mom came back into the dining room, holding a giant plate of homemade fried chicken; wearing pink oven mitts with little red hearts on them. Bringing back some sides, and placing them on the table as well, she sat down across from you before looking at both you and Steve expectantly. 

"So," She trailed off, "Tell me about yourself, Steve." 

"Me?" He questioned, as your mom nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, tell us about yourself. What you do for a living, and so on," Your mom exclaimed as she began to put food on her plate, scooping mashed potatoes on her plate; next to a fried chicken thigh. "I want to know more about the young man who is dating my daughter."

"Alright," He said, putting chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes on his own plate, you following beside him. "Well, I was born and raised here, graduated high school, work at the Family Video down the block, and occasionally babysit a few kids." He listed off casually, as your mom's brows furrowed slowly the more she listened to his sentence.

"You work at Family Video?" She questioned suspiciously, almost as if she was judging him, and you knew she was. Many times your mother wanted you to marry a rich man. It was irritating.

Steve nodded, swallowing a bite of food as you chewed slowly beside him, "Uh, yes. I work there." He answered simply, and your mother frowned, before getting back to her food. 

"Well, I can only hope that you'll find another better-paying job once you marry my daughter?" She hinted, throwing some shade, as Steve took his turn to frown slightly, but did well hiding his true feelings; as you turned to stare down at your food. The four of you ate in an awkward silence, as you tried to think of something to say. Finally, after several minutes of silence, your mom decided that it was time to speak up again. "Well, Steve," She swallowed her food, "What do your parents do for work?" She asked, and Steve looked up from his food, pausing his eating to answer.

"My father's a business owner, and my mother and him travel for work." He answered simply, trying to get past the subject of his parents as your mother seemed pleased with the answer.

You felt terrible. You didn't mean to upset him or to make him uncomfortable. You began to regret asking Steve to do this. You should've just told your mother the truth. It would have been the right thing to do. Glancing over at Steve, he slowly ate his food, though he seemed alright, his eyes told a different story. Those brown eyes stared sadly down at his plate, upset and probably embarrassed that he had to explain himself to your mother. Slowly reaching over, you placed your hand over Steve's on his leg, giving his hand a slight squeeze. Steve glanced up at you, his eyes softening at the sight, as he gave your hand a light squeeze in return.

After dinner, your mom led you and Steve to the living room where the three of you sat on the couch, and your father sat in his recliner. Your mother then reached over to grab your baby photos, making you groan as your mother handed the book to Steve. “Mom, please, no-”

"This is Y/N when she took her first steps, oh, and this is her when she lost her first tooth!" Your mother exclaimed, interrupting you as Steve smiled, looking at the pictures of you as a young kid. You felt your cheeks flush once more as your mother continued to show Steve picture after picture of you. Steve glanced over at you, before taking your hand in his placing both his and your intertwined hands in his lap. 

You began to pay attention to Steve's hand in yours rather than your mother’s ramblings on how you used to have a baby blanket named ‘Blakie,’ but focusing on how small your hand was in his. His palm was warm and calloused, fitting perfectly into yours. It calmed your nerves slightly as you listen to your mom describe every single photo, your eyes never leaving Steve's hand in yours. 

"So, Steve," Your mother then spoke up, gaining your attention along with Steve's as she shut the photobook. "How many kids are you thinking of having?"

You felt like your heart dropped to the pit of your stomach, completely notified as Steve almost choked on his own spit, clearing his throat as his own cheeks turned pink; his grip on your hand tightening slightly. "Uh, well, I think we're a bit too young to plan that out right now." He came up with an excuse on the spot.

Your mom let out a small sigh, disappointed, "Well, if you ever decide to have children, you better start planning soon. But not before getting married. I don't want any grandkids out of wedlock."

He nodded, still unsure of what to do or say. "Will do, ma’am..."

Your mother gave Steve a smile and nodded happily, letting out a sigh as your mother stood from the couch, "Well, I'm going to get dessert ready. How about you two love birds go upstairs for a while?" She asked, but it seemed more like a command as you quickly stood, pulling Steve off the couch with a slight tug. You didn’t care what she was insinuating, you just wanted to get away from her. You quickly made it out of the living room, making it halfway up the stairs before your mom called out to you and Steve again, "Behave yourselves, you two." She teased, as you ducked your head and led Steve to your room. 

Shutting the door, you ran a hand through your hair, before pacing your room as Steve stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets, taking in your room before looking over at you. "I can't believe her." You exclaimed, "She is so... Upsetting!"

Steve laughed softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, she really is." He agreed with you, watching you pace around your room. "You really weren't kidding when you said that she was overbearing."

You stopped, letting out a sigh, and turning to Steve, your shoulders dropped, "I'm sorry about her. I'm sorry in general. I mean, I should've just told her the truth. Instead, I’ve put you in this awful situation.” You crossed your arms around yourself.

"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it," Steve replied, walking over to you. "I agreed to do this."

You only shook your head, moving past him and sitting down on the edge of your bed. "Yeah, but I wasn't expecting her to be so pushy." You mumbled, looking down at your hands in your lap.

Steve sat next to you, grabbing your hand in his own. "Y/N, hey, look at me." You didn’t really want to, but you looked up at Steve, meeting his eyes as he held your hand gently in his, his thumb rubbing softly over your knuckles. "It's going to be fine. If anything, I should be thanking you for asking me to do this."

You looked at Steve, furrowing your eyebrows, "What? Why?"

"Well, because now I know that you like Bon Jovi." He said as if it was a common fact, pointing at your large poster of the band. “And that you like Return Of The Jedi,” Steve then pointed to the wall beside him, the wall adorned with a giant poster of the movie, featuring R2D2, C3PO, and the Ewoks. “I just love those teddy bears.”

You couldn't help but laugh, covering your mouth with your free hand as you did so. "Teddy bears? That is so random!" You laughed out as Steve chuckled lightly too.

Steve then looked over at you, his eyes widening slightly as he watched you laugh. Steve's mind went blank, as he only focused on you; your sweet laugh, the smile on your face, everything about you just seemed so perfect to him. God, you were beautiful. As your laughter subsided, his eyes traveled down to your lips before looking back up at your bright eyes. You were still smiling as you looked over at Steve, pausing slightly as you tilted your head to the side.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" You asked, noticing Steve's expression, so gentle; soft.

You watched as his lips parted slightly as if hesitating to tell you the reason behind his behavior. After a few seconds of hesitation, Steve opened his mouth. "Because..."

"Because... What?" You asked curiously, albeit worried.

"Because..." He paused and took a deep breath, staring down at his hand in yours in his lap, "Because I think I might have feelings for you." He finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

You blinked, your smile faltering as your eyes widened slightly. "Oh." Was all you could manage to say as Steve's eyes drifted away from yours, feeling as if someone was just squeezing his heart, squeezing it until it burst in his chest.

"I'm sorry, it was stupid, I shouldn't have said-" He started apologizing, but you cut him off, reaching forward and placing your free hand on his arm briefly.

"No, no," You interrupted, "Don't apologize. Please." You pleaded. "Please don't apologize, Steve." You then looked down at your hand in his, "I really like you too, Steve."

"But..." He trailed off, having a feeling that there was something more, but you quickly looked up at Steve and shook your head.

"No, Steve. There are no 'buts'." You insisted firmly, giving him a reassuring smile as you saw the hurt flash across his eyes. "I like you too. I... Uh, I have since high school."

Steve furrowed his eyebrows, "But I bullied you..." He said sadly.

You nodded, "Yeah, I liked you before you did that." You glanced up at him, "And I still like you now. I was a bit nervous about you helping me because of the huge crush that I have on you." You confessed, looking back down. 

Steve let out a deep breath of relief, becoming overwhelmingly happy, relaxing slightly under your touch as you squeezed his hand gently, "Well, that's a relief, believe it or not, I've had terrible luck in the ladies department for the past couple of years." He tried to joke, making you laugh lightly as you felt your cheeks become pretty warm.

"Yeah, I know. Robin's told me." And Steve sighed dramatically, letting his forehead fall on your shoulder, mentally noting to talk to Robin later, "She told me all about how much of a loser you are." You couldn't stop giggling.

Steve couldn't help but start to laugh too, lifting his head, "The whiteboard?" He asked, and you nodded, covering your mouth with your free hand again, as you nodded.

"The whiteboard." You confirmed, as Steve just shook his head, gazing down at you with a smile.

"Can I kiss you?" Steve then asked, making your eyes widen slightly as your laughing died down again, causing Steve to panic for a second. "Unless you don't want to. Sorry if that was a little forward, I guess I didn't even think about-"

You placed a finger against his lips, his lips becoming smushed against your finger, effectively shushing him. "Steve, I would love for you to kiss me." You said, a shy smile creeping onto your face.

Steve smiled at you, leaning in closer to you, his nose brushing lightly against yours. "You know," He began, his voice low as you stared into his hypnotizing brown eyes, "We're breaking a lot of our rules." He finished as you shuffled slightly.

You bit your lip nervously, "Are we?" You asked, glancing down at his lips.

He simply smirked, and suddenly closed his eyes, slowly bringing his lips down to meet yours. Your body tingled as he pressed his lips to yours, one arm wrapped tightly around your waist as the other rested on your cheek, holding you close to him as your hands wrapped around his neck, your fingers tangling themselves into his thick brown hair.

After what seemed like hours, Steve pulled away, resting his forehead against yours as he exhaled heavily. "That was... Wow." He breathed. His breath ghosted against your skin, making goosebumps run along your body, "God, okay, one more time." He practically begged quietly, running his thumb over your cheek before you pressed your lips to his once more. You melted into his embrace, you let out a little giggle as he kissed you repeatedly, pressing peck after peck to your lips, cheeks, forehead, and nose. Pulling away, you couldn’t help but smile, Steve mimicking you. "I don't think I will ever get tired of kissing you," Steve admitted, a soft grin forming on his face. 

"Me neither." You whispered, smiling softly as he grinned at you. 

"We should probably go see if dessert is ready," Steve muttered and you rolled your eyes, not really wanting to go back downstairs.

"I was thinking we should skip dessert, and watch a movie..." You suggested with a shrug, as Steve couldn't help but grin. “I’ve got Return Of The Jedi on tape.”

"Marry Me." Steve sighed out, before tackling you back onto the bed, making you erupt into a fit of laughter.

By the end of the month, you had a happy mother, a lie that never had to be revealed, and a real boyfriend that made your heart soar. Now, Steve didn't immediately become your boyfriend. After the dinner with your parents, Steve wanted to go on a proper date with you; taking you to a diner and getting to know each other better. By the end of the month, you moved out of your mom's house and moved into Steve's parent's house, looking for an apartment out of Hawkins. And moving there wasn’t really a problem, seeing as Steve’s parents were never there. You never thought that your fake dating would turn into such an amazing relationship, but as you gazed up at Steve's sleeping form beside you as you curled into his arms, you knew that you wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world.

_______________________________

Taglist: @nix-rose-q

[renegade-diamonds]

The idea of Alpha!Nancy slowly becoming physically affectionate in public with Omega!Robin once they start dating/courting is rotting in my brain right now.

I have a AU in my head where arranged marriages are considered the norm in ABO culture, but it's encouraged for alpha and beta youth to explore themselves after presenting in order to gain some real-life experience.

Omegas, however, tend to be treated different depending on the religious views of their families and culture.

Robin comes from a poor family in Hawkins, although their family history goes far back to the town's founding. Her parents have the wonderful idea of arranging a betrothal for her during her Sophomore year, and Robin's scared as hell about what that means. She tries to run away several times, only to return later because she has no way of driving or supporting herself at this point.

Her friends don't see the big deal; it's normal for betrothals to be formed in order to foster community relations, and because parents are typically viewed as 'knowing what's best' for their offspring. She barely gets along with her group anymore, and her parents don't actually seem to see her when it comes to what she wants.

Eventually she gets the nerve to tell her parents that, at the very least, she cannot be paired with a male. They seem to get it, although that severely limits her options. There aren't many female alphas around her age group, and those that are there tend to migrate towards male omegas in order to keep up the "Adam and Eve" religious theme that dominates Christian culture.

Everything happens the same in the show, and following the Battle of Starcourt, after she has her first heat (besides her presentation), her parents inform Robin that they've found her a match that should please her. It's customary for the courting alpha to first make their intentions known by offering a gift picked out by the omega's parents before the omega is told of their identity, and Robin is left with little information on which family her parents organized her betrothal with.

To make matters worse, the whole Upside-Down group is currently being rocked by the Byers (and El) moving away, Jonathan and Nancy's unexpected break up, Max's slow distancing of herself, and Robin's new spot in the group.

By the time the Summer is over, Robin's ready to get back into the swing of school. She doesn't think of her loaming betrothal, or her mysterious future-mate. Robin figures she'll probably run away before things get serious anyway- Operation Croissant is still a possibility after all.

Steve is a good friend and listens to her worries, but he's got a weird gleam in his eye- like there's something he knows but can't say. He's shifty when confronted, and Robin eventually just excuses his behavior as him being distract or busy with his complicated love-life (she's so envious of the freedom his parents give him to date who he wants, even if it's only because they never have time for this son anymore).

The remaining kids seem oddly interested in her life as well. Mike's constantly asking her questions, wanting advice, trying to learn everything he can about her. Robin's not too weirded out by it, she knows he's probably trying to make up for El and Will's absence. Dustin and Lucas are a bit more reserved, but no less friendly, while Max unofficially adopts her as a big sister in a surprising turn of events.

She never sees Nancy, although she hears through the grapevine that the girl's been fighting with her parents lately- something that's gotten worse ever since the alpha's breakup with Jonathan. Robin doesn't push it there, since Nancy hasn't really given her any real reason to consider themselves' friends.

Her parents stay up late the night before the first day of Senior Year. She hears them on the phone, softly talking with someone else about whether or not their daughter has the 'gift' ready, and if everything was still good to go. She knows right away that they're talking about the betrothal gift, and Robin's terrified to realize that the courtship process was going to start soon.

She's completely unprepared to be greeted first thing in the morning by a frowning Nancy Wheeler, who arrives at her house instead of Steve to take her to school. Her parents are giddy the whole time, and Robin has a gnawing feeling in her gut that won't go away. Nancy drives in silence, hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. She's obviously upset, but at least had the consideration to wear scent suppressers so it didn't overwhelm the omega. Robin barely reacts when they pull into the parking lot, find a spot, and sit in the car blankly for a few minutes- watching the other students go by.

Nancy finally asks her if she knows what's going on, and Robin swallows uneasily but replies that she has a pretty good idea. Nancy sighs in response and pulls out a small bracelet box- a rather expensive one too. She gently opens it to show the omega the beautiful piece of jewelry within, and Robin feels her heart shudder in her chest. It's a silver piece, with dark gems cut into leaf-life shapes decorating it. It's not something she'd usually wear, but it goes well with her colors and style. Robin hates how much she actually likes it. Nancy reaches over and fastens the bracelet around her wrist, something tight and unhappy in her expression.

Robin realizes with a sinking heart that this must be what caused her breakup with Jonathan. Nancy looks at her so intently- there's anger, but it's not directed at her. Still, she understands the hesitation in the alpha's gaze. Despite the craziness of the last summer, they barely know each other, and Nancy's just lost the person who many thought was her soulmate.

Robin knows without thinking that she can't possibly compete with that.

Still, Nancy is oddly pensive. More students start to arrive, and Robin knows they're going to get a lot of rumors flying around now that this seems to be official. She doesn't know how she's going to handle it- she doesn't know how she's going to handle Nancy. This whole situation is properly fucked.

Finally, the alpha talks and Robin tries to listen without letting her own nerves show. She knows what's expected of her now, she doesn't want to give Nancy any more reason to hate this. Not when they're still not exactly sure what this is. (beyond the whole betrothal aspect of their, still very new, relationship).

However, she doesn't expect Nancy to tell her to get out of the car, because they're going to be late. She doesn't expect to be so hurt by the way Nancy disappears into the crowds as soon as she's able to. She doesn't expect the ache in her chest to form so easily, but Robin knows it was going to show up sooner or later either way.

[tumblingxelian]

Bruce/Batman - Gritty or Gentle

There's often a lot of bickering about Batman's character.

Whether he should be cruel or kind, his stories gritty or gentle.

His character a serious man with a heavy weight in his shoulders but who handles it well; or a paranoid, toxic and controlling man trying to do good.

I've enjoyed or at least engaged with both incarnations and found worthwhile stories in both. The nicest Batman outside of things like Adam West would be Batman 2004, while for the more cruel Batman, well there's plenty of comics XD

Having enjoyed both, I think I found a way to contextualize why I tend to prefer my Batman to be kind of a fucking mess in comics but can and do really enjoy the more chilled out versions like 2004's in other media.

See, when Batman was first conceived of he didn't have a tragic backstory. You didn't need a reason to go beat up corrupt cops and mobsters, that was just what cool swashbuckling people did or should do.

But when they did give him a backstory it was that he lost his parents was raised by a relative and resolved to fight crime; then supporting character Alfred got retconned in as his parent ETC, you know this part.

The thing is, during this period, while he could be odd and or rather stiff. He wasn't like, a huge asshole or anything, or notably abusive outside of like, stuff that was normalized like spanking which wasn't that omnipresent anyway.

(He did kill that guy one time in an early comic, but if you wanna call that early installment weirdness I'll allow it cos its not very relevant.)

What matters is that there is enough there that I could easily see Bruce and Dick coming to have tension down the line with Bruce not really knowing how to handle Dick growing up and beyond their comfortable dynamic, even if he does try to handle it well. Especially as he likely struggled with being able to slip into the role of a parent.

IE, he and Dick are partners, mentor and student, friends, brothers and father and son. Which is a lot of emotional weight and also means when Dick starts growing more independent I could easily see Bruce bracing against it even if things never escalate to estrangement.

Then Jason is introduced and he gets a Bruce who is much more equipped to fill the parental role without uncertainty, and things seem fine.

But there's also some issues.

Some tied to the occasional misstep on Bruce's part and some of Jason's unaddressed trauma.

But others problems emerging could easily be be tied to Bruce being, ya know, affected by seeing so much crime for so long and also engaging in violence so often that its starting to change him.

Not to a degree where its unmanageable but definitely a problem.

For example, both he and Jason beat the ever loving fuck out of perps who upset them after getting too emotionally invested in a case. Both of them off, not just Jason.

This could have been dealt with, overcome, maybe even a vacation like he took post UTRH.

But then Jason dies.

Now he's traumatized all over again but this time its a parent losing his child rather than a child losing parents but still having a safety net in the form of other family/adoptive family.

Its something more explicitly 'his fault' because of the Robin business and how they ended up there.

Its something he does not have over a decade to come to terms with, process or grieve because he has to get right back into the fight to get Joker and then he doesn't stop.

So his and Dick's relationship starts decaying as Bruce starts lashing out more.

He does so because he has become more and more desensitized to violence and its use as a means to solve problems and coping mechanism that its becoming ingrained instinctual.

He's exhausted, grieving, filled with direction-less anger and isolating. So he doesn't have the chance to start getting better. In part cos there's no one who can really make him do so given the independence, resources and skills he has available and due to his personality always having been stubborn and strong willed.

Because even before he became as fucked up, he was still a very willful person. Its not like he told his uncle his plans or let Alfred dissuade him from becoming Batman. So he's always had an element of being if not isolated, inclined to keep his thoughts to himself and push through resistance to his ideas.

Which could and is easily made much, much worse by these traumatic events and lack of healthy outlets.

After which its basically a case of increasing paranoia from all the ongoing threats, nominal improvements with a somewhat expanded support network. Follow by steps back, steps to the side, good days and bad days.

Events like Stephanie's death, Tower of Babel, his crime control plan and Jason's return all reflecting and enhancing his ever compounding trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Put simply, I can totally see why Batman would become the kind of person he does in a lot of his more unpleasant comics, and I feel its relatively coherent.

Certainly more so than just ignoring it all and framing him as this emotionally intelligence sweetheart who's all about getting rid of police and prisons with perfect and uncomplicated relationships with those he loves.

[bowiebond]

Canonically, Steve wants lots of kids. Likely because he grew up lonely. But I’m curious about the others so here’s my thoughts on whether or not they want kids:

Nancy: She will probably settle down eventually, but she doesn’t have the urge to have a family until her mid 30’s. She’s adamant to others for so long that she would work till they day she died, happy with her life with her partner, but one day she wakes up and realises she desperately wants to share all her achievements with a baby girl. She’s carved a path in this world and she wants to lead her daughter, to have someone to walk through it with her. She likely only has one child, but she is perfectly content and adores her.

Billy: He doesn’t want kids because he grew up scared of his own dad and is afraid of becoming like him. After his shit trial run with Max, he’s pretty put off kids but would likely get one dropped on his doorstep from some one night stand and try so damn hard to be a good father and mother figure to the kid so they never lack anything.

Robin: She isn’t fussed on children. She makes the assumption she will never have any in her life due to loving women. I think she would be happy with a bunch of fur babies, nephews/nieces and a loving wife, but she would be delighted to be a step-mom too, as long as she has some guidance from her girlfriend on how to take care of them.

Eddie: He is unsure of kids. Mostly because he feels he himself could never be a good role model for them so why do that do a kid? He’s better off as a fun uncle who lives an obscure life you only hear about during holidays. But he has no family outside Wayne after his dad got locked up, and late at night he kind of desperately wants to have a real family filled with unconditional love and support like the kind his Uncle showed him. Just one kid would be enough for his wistful dreaming, but if he found the right person he’d have a big family and a warm home.

Jonathan: He wants kids. He’s not too fussed on when, but he wants to have at least one, three at most. Maybe it’s the deep seated resentment towards his father, but he wants to be better than Lonnie. Gets himself a good job, a gorgeous partner he treats right, and eventually a kid (or maybe twins) that keep him up day and night. He chooses to be a stay at home dad until they start schooling and he never regrets his decision. He loves his kids more than anything and they know it. That’s more than he could say for his own dad.

Chrissy: She adores children!!! It’s her dream to be a stay at home mom and build her children’s self esteem up better than hers ever was. After cutting her mother off for good, she has her first child with her partner. Having a daughter is like healing to her, and she cries as she holds the tiny bundle, promising to be the best mom in the world, that she would never feel so low about herself or her body as long as Chrissy lived. She has two boys after that, both spitting images of their father, but her girl is all hers and she grows up to be the most confident, beautiful woman around with the ability to shake off insults like oil against water.

Argyle: Yeah, why not, I think he’s the kind of guy who talks about having a big family of his own since that’s how he grew up and what his parents want, but down the road of life he finds he doesn’t have a huge household. Just a kid, a partner, and few birds, a dog. He’s pretty content to focus all his energy on just being happy, opens up a small business of his own and trains the little one to help about, laughing as his child trips up and being scolded by his partner for letting a toddler crawl around even though Argyle insists they “wanted to help!” Argyle cries hard over photo memories Jonathan takes because “they grow up so fast!”

[lumilasi]

Azul's bro next. He also had almost ready ref, I just adjusted his outfit somewhat and fixed his face. Also finally drew his spirit form. (he does still wear pants in that form btw, he's not nakey)

Texts + more info below:

Reuben Samaros, a Fire Spirit mage/Folk hero

Basics:

Age: 26

Family: Older brother Azul, adoptive parents Lionel and Annabell, little brother Adam, ancestor Amaros. (Amaros mainly interacts with Azul though)

Love interest: Isabella, commonly known as Izzy, a local baker & cafeteria owner in Valerna

Being type: Human turned half-blood Fire spirit.

Familiar: Djinn Athem, a former Arthanosian warrior

Abilities:

Reuben is a fire mage, but is also adept at some wind magic tricks, such as levitation and gliding short distances. Because of his unique situation, Reuben can fully turn his body into living fire, making him mostly invulnerable to physical attacks in this form. He can also take control over any type of fire there is.

While he can’t channel his ancestor’s magic, Reuben is immune to it thanks to his heritage; for example, his soul can’t be harmed by the crystalline blades one can create using Amaros’ magic.

Personality summary:

Reuben is mostly the opposite of his big brother: friendly, cheerful, and an openly kind person, who’s always willing to help people out without complaints. He might seem naive and oblivious, but is far smarter than people give him credit for. He can read his brother better than anyone else, able to see if Azul is heading for a rare breakdown before anyone else suspects anything is wrong with him.

Role summary:

Reuben’s current state of being a half-blood spirit is due to their father’s experiments, trying to strengthen his magic powers. These attempts went horribly wrong and caused Reuben to lose control over his powers and burn everything to the ground. Azul managed to neutralize his powers at the time briefly to prevent his brother from burning himself to death as well, and Reuben lost his memories about this traumatic incident afterwards.

Reuben learned to control his powers properly with the help of his adoptive parents and other residents of their new home Mirthas, a Kingdom of magical beings. He also found his familiar companion around this time, who also did his part in helping Reuben adjust to his new, slightly unusual body. (His memory of what happened did start returning overtime as well as he stabilized, but he still disassociates from the memory, feeling as if he was watching it happen to someone else)

After moving to Valerna, as the Queen had requested Azul’s expertise in dealing with certain type of demons related to his heritage, Reuben becomes kind of a folk hero for the citizens after battling a large beast that attacks the popular market place, driving it away. (Azul dealt with this Lost Soul Demon later behind the scenes.) He is often seen helping people, be it saving someone’s life or just finding a kid’s lost pet. While he is not directly involved in Azul’s quest to save the trapped souls of Arthanos, he does still help him in any way he can, even standing up for his brother against Amaros, if he feels the Deity/ancestor is being unreasonable.

OTHER FACTS

Reuben is closer with their mother and little brother Adam than Azul, and often helps Adam practice his magic tricks.

Annabell, being a songbird, has bird-based nicknames for the boys; Reuben is "Robin" and Azul "Bluebird."

Reuben is one of those people who can make friends with just about anyone, and is especially close with the younger prince of Valerna, Diojas' younger twin Arenn. They're both similar in being the younger, kinder brothers who can read their overdramatic sibling better than anybody else. (Well, to be fair The prince's little sister Mia can also do this with Diojas, not just Arenn)

Reuben is also good friends with the Sailor siblings, Captain Scarlet Sevinova and her brother Alexei, as well as Alexei's boyfriend, Aiden.

Reuben uses his green scarf robe thing to carry things easier, be it injured animals, lost kids, or just snacks.

Reuben comes after their biological mother more, who was also a fire mage. Their ancestral connection to Amaros comes from their father.

Officially, like his brother he is a mage working directly under the Queen of Valerna and therefore is technically part of the Palace Staff, but in practice he tends to mainly look after the citizens and be around them more. To the point people often forget he's a "Royal mage" and are surprised when someone refers to him as such. (Reuben doesn't really like the title, it makes him feel weird)

Reuben does technically have his own Deity who guides him, its just not exclusive the same way; Reuben was chosen by the Fire sister Samsara of Mother Nature's daughters to be one of her champions. (Mother Nature is an ancient uber powerful creator-type Deity in this world, who "split" herself into the four elemental sisters after helping create this lifecycle of the world, or so the legend goes)

While he is "useless" for Amaros' purposes for the most part, he is still fond of Reuben nevertheless, since he reminds him of the woman who gave birth to the boys' bloodline. (Amaros had many concubines and therefore quite a few heirs, but the woman whose child got to be the next ruler after Amaros Ascended was the direct great great great and-so-on grandmother of Azul and Reuben, someone who was always his favorite too, even if Amaros never had any romantic feelings towards any of them)

[loorain]

Sims 4 Fontenot Legacy Gen 3 Spotlight - Kira Akiyama/Lay

Kira is the younger daughter born to Maisie and Taku Akiyama. She was a child bursting with personality and sass and was super lovable. She lost her mother during her childhood years and continued to be raised by her father, who also had help from her Uncle Clay and his husband Adam until his passing. As a teenager, Kira fell madly in love with a boy named Ezequiel (pictured to the far right in the third picture) and they began dating. She became pregnant with his child, and he was not supportive. He wanted nothing to do with it, and she eventually broke things off with him. His mother was also not supportive of the situation and blamed Kira more than her own son, so they never had a good relationship. Kira gave birth to Anya with her big sister Scarlett by her side. She fell in love with her daughter instantly and was devoted to her child and finishing her high school education. She did so with her family's support and did not date again until she became a young adult. She was very protective of those around her daughter and was not comfortable introducing just anyone to her. That is, until she met Armani. Armani was a man well into his adult life, just going through his own day-to-day life when they met. He was interested and pursued her, and she eventually really fell for him. When he finally met Anya and took on that fatherly role, Kira knew she found her person. He proposed in front of the family home and they got married, Anya by their side. After enjoying a period of married life together, raising Anya, Kira discovered she was pregnant. The two were absolutely ecstatic and more than ready to become parents together. Armani was active in the birth and very supportive during the pregnancy. Kira gave birth to their son, Robin, with Armani by her side this time. Their family was complete.

Kira was also very supportive of her older sister Scarlett when it was her turn to become a mom. She helped her juggle parenthood, giving her tips and caring for her niece when she could. It prepared her for her second pregnancy as well, since it had been a while since she cared for a young infant.

Kira died of anaphylactic shock from a bee sting when Robin was still very young. She left Robin and Anya to be cared for by her older sister Scarlett and husband Armani, who vowed to protect and love both children to the best of his ability.

[grey-sides]

can we have some billy jealous of eddie and steve, rather than angry jealous, billy is just sad </3 p.s. im in love with your writing!!

Greetings, anon! I'm so glad you love my writing, that's very sweet of you! Here is your request, vague spoilers for S4 in character names and such. I hope you enjoy!

Billy is aware of Munson in the off-hand way he’s aware of most of the people he goes to high school with. He knows the guy is a super-senior and that he hangs out with a bunch of nerds. Some of whom also hang out with Harrington, which seriously cramps Billy’s style. But his biggest problem with the guy is that he gets along with Steve. Too well. 

Billy’s not worried that Munson is going to replace him. (Okay, he’s a little worried about that). But Munson and Steve just seem to get each other sometimes. Which is strange because sometimes it sounds like they’re having a conversation in two different languages. By the end, they’re both usually grinning though so Billy figures it makes sense to them. 

The other thing is, the thing that makes Billy feel like a real piece of shit is that Munson has threatened Steve too. But Steve doesn’t flinch when Eddie touches him, not like he would the first couple of weeks after their fight. The one where Billy tried to kill him. 

Billy hadn’t been there for the actual threat, which is good because he might have actually killed Munson. But from what Henderson has said, it wasn’t sunshine and rainbows or Eddie immediately trusting Steve. And Billy knows they have mutual trauma or something, but Billy has mutual trauma with Steve too. For one, Steve saved him from the Upside Down. And two, well, they have sex sometimes. So that has to count for something. 

After Billy’s mom left him with Neil and Neil got remarried, Billy started to feel like a puzzle piece. He was part of the family, but also not, like he didn’t quite fit. He knows that’s where some of his anger has stemmed from, feeling like his father was trying to replace him before he was even out of the house. And now, he feels like Steve is doing it too.

Eddie already comes pre approved by Steve’s group of kids because he plays their role playing game with them. Billy is approved by Max and Steve, tentatively by Dustin, sometimes by Lucas, and never by Mike. He’s not certain where the junior Byers stands, but his ticket to the group is tenuous at best. Which usually doesn’t bother him, but it does when he feels like he’s being forced out. 

Now, Billy doesn’t know what the nature of Steve’s relationship with Eddie actually is. He doesn’t know if Eddie likes guys like that at all or if Steve has even told him that he’s bi, but Billy’s trust doesn’t come easily. He just sees Eddie and Steve with their jokes and their easy camaraderie and Billy knows it’s never been that easy for him and Steve. 

Steve tends to host get-togethers for their group the most. His house has the space and lacks the parental figures who will ask complicated questions. And after Billy came back, he was adamant of never stepping foot in the Wheelers’ house again. So it’s Steve’s these days. Which is cool by Billy, that means he can usually crash after instead of having to head back to the trailer with Max. 

But today, Eddie’s already there, drinking a beer with Steve, laughing about something. Billy’s heart falls through his stomach, straight down to his feet. It’s official, Munson is replacing Billy as Steve’s second best friend because Billy’s adult enough to admit that Robin is his first best friend. And he feels childish and stupid for how his heart breaks about it. 

Max pushes past him to get the best seat at their dungeon table or whatever and Billy clears his throat to announce his presence. 

Steve turns and gives him a megawatt smile, lifting his beer in greeting. “Billy! Hey man, grab a beer and come join us!”

Eddie sticks his tongue out playfully and lifts a baggie of weed. 

Billy swallows back the hurt and heads for the fridge. It’s fine. Munson probably doesn’t want to fuck Steve so Billy can settle for getting to see him naked. He pulls out a beer, cracking the top and taking a long sip. It settles warm in his gut as he joins Eddie and Steve in the living room. 

“Okay, so once I finish with the kids, I have an ounce for us to split, no need to throw in. Oh and while I’m gone, I brought that Scorpions album Steve wanted to check out,” Munson explains, giving Billy a smile. 

Billy settles on the other side of Steve so he’s in the middle. He nods a little, sipping his beer. “Didn’t know you were into Scorpions, Harrington.”

Steve grins ruefully and shrugs. “Well, when two of my friends can’t shut up about them, I gotta do something, huh?”

Eddie drains his beer and crushes the can as he gets up. “I’ve taught you well,” he teases with a dramatic bow. “I’ll see you losers later, don’t have too much fun without me!”

Eddie bounds down to the basement where the kids play and Steve shakes his head with a grin. “He’s crazy, but like fun crazy, you know?”

Billy nods, drinking his beer faster than he should. It’s the fancy shit, with a high alcohol content because Steve is still bougie. He goes to get a second, spending another moment wallowing in his self loathing. The kids call Billy crazy, but never fun crazy. 

When he returns, Steve has the Scorpions album playing from his sound system. He’s bobbing his head along to the beat and he grins up at Billy. “You seem to be in a bad mood, what’s up, man?”

Billy just shrugs, drinking his beer. There’s nothing to say, he just has to get over it and take what he can get. “Just a long day, man.”

Steve scoots a little closer and nudges Billy with his foot. “You’re drinking that beer like it was. C’mon, tell me about it.”

Billy shakes his head, looking down at the label. It’s already started peeling on one corner, he picks at it a little more. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Steve sips his beer and lets a few songs play. He can be good like that, giving space where it’s needed, distraction when it’s needed. It’s probably part of the reason Billy just can’t let him go. 

But Billy gets two beers deep and his tolerance is not what it once was, so he rolls his head along the back of the couch to look at Steve. “S’just fucked up, pretty boy.”

Steve furrows his brow and looks up at Billy. “What’s fucked up?”

“Just- Munson and you, you know? I thought we were friends but now you’re hanging out with him all the time and it just…it sucks,” Billy mutters, lifting his beer for the last swallow. 

Steve frowns a little and looks down, blinking hard. “We are friends, Billy. Eddie and I have just had a lot to talk about.”

Billy sits up more, his sadness mixing with anger and turning into messy irritation. “And I couldn’t know what you’re talking about? I can’t be part of it?”

“What? No it’s not that! It’s- nevermind, sorry for making you feel left out, blondie.” Steve grins, trying to get Billy to perk up with the nickname. 

Billy just rolls his eyes and shoves to his feet. “You know, maybe I should just walk home, I know when I’m not wanted.”

Steve makes a grab for him, shaking his head hurriedly. “No, Billy, sit down, I’ll tell you what we’ve been talking about.”

Billy stops for a moment, but he’s not strong enough to resist Steve. Not really. He nods and sits back down, looking at Steve expectantly. Get it out in the open, open the wound so it can heal. 

Steve takes a deep breath and holds out his hands. “Okay, look, I know you say I’m terrible at giving girl advice, but Eddie came to me first. Because he likes Chrissy and since she broke up with Jason, he’s thought about asking her out. So I said I could help him out with some ideas and we got to talking.”

“And I couldn’t be part of that because…?”

Steve flushes a little and looks skyward at the crown molding of his ceiling. “Well because in the process of talking about who he likes, we kind of got into who I like. And Eddie’sbeencoachingmeonmetalmusic.”

“What?” Billy asks because Steve mumbles a lot. 

Steve blows out a long breath. “Eddie has been teaching me about metal music or rock or anything like that so I can appreciate your music taste more.”

Billy furrows his brow, looking over at Steve. “Why?”

“Because! Because I wanted to make sure that I could share some of your interests.”

Billy shakes his head slowly. “I don’t understand.”

“Eddie likes Chrissy and I like…” Steve gestures to Billy. 

It takes a moment for his inebriated brain to catch up. “Me?”

“Bingo!” Steve points a finger at him and laughs nervously. “God, it seems so stupid now.”

Billy feels foolish and a little self-centered at that, but he does his best to let go of the sadness and feelings of betrayal. Because Steve is a dork who had to go to someone else to learn about the music Billy likes. So he could be prepared the next time Billy makes him a mixtape. 

“It’s not stupid,” Billy tells him, when enough time has passed for Steve to start squirming. “I feel stupid for getting jealous of Munson. Dude doesn’t even have a conditioner routine.”

“I know! I told him that’s step one of asking Chrissy out, but he doesn’t believe me.”

“That’s why you needed to involve me,” Billy drawls, spreading his arms confidently. 

Steve laughs a little and scoots closer. “Yeah, yeah, I know you’re the authority on picking up chicks.”

Billy grins at him, licking his lower lip. “And dudes apparently since you’re smitten with me.”

“And dudes,” Steve agrees, leaning in to kiss Billy. 

When Eddie makes his way back to the living room later, Steve is still pressing lazy kisses to Billy’s skin and Billy has his shirt unbuttoned. Eddie grins and holds up the weed. 

“Celebratory smokes on me!” He cries and mimes playing guitar. 

Steve sits up and mimes playing the drums and Billy just rolls his eyes. Dorks. 

[forever-eternal]

Oh, Maine 💙 I have a little bit on him;

Maine is the 23rd State and the 10th State to be raised by Adam and Robin; Gov and Assistant. Granted Statehood March 15, 1820.

Now, despite him being raised by a younger Gov and Assistant, he’s still very much a Northeastern State. He’s just better about talking through his feelings than the Oldest of Old Men, the OG 13.

Like most of the older children, he can get protective of the younger ones when they form, because they’re all incredibly small children when they form as State personifications.

This does not mean he sees them as siblings, it’s more like…the bond kids raised in a tight-knit community have. Not to say some States don’t have sibling-like relations, Gov and Assistant just never forced them to see each other as family.

The only ones who are by blood are the Carolinas and Dakotas. It’s why they always say ‘the other kids’ instead of ‘my siblings’ in my stories. Gov and Assistant are their parents, but that does not mean they see each other as family.

They aren’t human nor are they ‘born’, there is only blood relation between the Dakotas and Carolinas.

For a long time, mostly his youth, he didn’t really have any form of contact with the OG’s; especially since the younger States usually stick around Gov and Assistant until they’re at least 15-in-body. This is the age they usually attend their first meeting, as well.

The thing about the Northeastern States is that they’re very protective of their loved ones, and Maine came around after the OG’s pulled back from Gov and Assistant, and, by association, the younger States and Departments. Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio are really the only States who got the Grandparents the OG’s are. Louisiana, too, but he was really young and barely 2-years-a-State when the Ultimatum went into effect.

Maine is very much that one kid who doesn’t want anyone near his parents.

They’re too nice to be friends with you, so shove off! — Little Maine to nearly every human he’s seen his parents interact with. Not swearing because it makes his parents upset when he does.

Maine was one of the few who took the change from Optimistic Congress and Forever-Smiling Assistant to the ever-exhausted pair of Stoic-but-caring Gov and Always-Worried-but-hiding-it Assistant the best; it took the rest awhile to get used to, but Maine got used to it quick.

They were still his parents, after all. He loves them and knows they love him.

A few more little extras about him!;

—Congress and Assistant made each of their kids a stuffed toy based on any animal of their choosing, even stitching the doll’s name somewhere on the toy. Maine’s is a blue lobster named Ebenezer, because he was an old man even at five. The name is stitched in red on Ebenezer’s left pincher.

—He most definitely owns a lighthouse and uses it to hide when he’s done dealing with people.

—He has a Maine Coon named Persephone and she’s Satan in disguise. She will eat your socks while they’re on your feet. He will hear no word of her wrong-doings.

—Maine, Louisiana, Hawai’i and Alaska have fist-fought bears together. It is not good for Gov or Assistant’s health. They don’t do it as often anymore, but they do hang out a lot.

—Massachusetts is Maine’s favorite Grandpa and Maine is one of the favorite grandchildren.

—Do not believe the OG’s when they say they do not have favorite grandchildren. They are liars.

—He’s very ‘Maim First, Ask Later’. He gets it from his Mama, except Robin is more likely to murder as a warning.

—One of his Cities got him a shirt with ‘Maim First, Ask Later’ printed alongside a Moose. It’s one of his favorite shirts.

—Very much has that ‘lumberjack’ aesthetic. Alaska would too if it wasn’t almost always freezing. The cold doesn’t bother him but it’s become habit to bundle up for the cold weather.

—He enjoys hiking and camping, and takes at least two months every year to just vibe in the woods.

—He was a lobster fisherman in the mid-1800’s to and everyone on the docks adored his Ma whenever she came by, even if they never really remembered her face. Most likely because she made the best blueberry pie any of them ever had.

—He’s not entirely sure, but any food his Ma and Pop makes is more delicious than anything else he’s ever had. Other states agree and so do the few humans they make friends with. At this point, the consensus is either magic or a blood deal.

—He’s sure it’s probably because they grow and make most of their food by hand, no matter how busy they are, or buy from local farmers. They once said its relaxing and they always seemed to have fun, so even Baby Maine didn’t make a fuss like he usually did when they were overworking themselves. (Probably because they bribed the toddler with homemade blueberry jam. They taught him how to make it when he was older. His never tasted as good as his parents.)

—He doesn’t do the fishing much anymore, but he still goes out on his own boat once in awhile for fresh fish, crabs, oysters and lobster.

—He, like all states, can play instruments. Most States know piano, taught by Gov and Assistant, along with whatever other instrument they chose. Maine chose the acoustic guitar as his second favorite.

[dyaz-stories]

spoilers for season 4 of stranger things; some thoughts i have on stancy, jancy, and steve, nancy and jonathan’s characters in general

okay so i think stancy obviously weren’t right for each other in season 1 and season 2. in season 2 specifically, nancy was clearly growing and changing as a person, and staying with steve meant doing the ‘safe’ thing, but also stifling her growth. steve was adamant about staying the same, wanted to hold on to his status, and his ‘act like you don’t care’ attitude, which is essentially what he wanted nancy to do about barb, lost both him and dustin the girl.

meanwhile, jonathan and nancy are this obvious ‘power couple’, like robin mentions. they’re obviously right for each other, or at least, they were in season 2. tbh a large part of the issue jancy is facing for the viewers is that we’ve never seen them be even a semi functional couple, unlike stancy, but that’s another problem. it’s only hinted at in s4, but they seem to have investigated together for the school’s newspaper. the journalist and the photograph. it writes itself.

but.

but everyone’s changed.

nancy’s had the biggest part of her character growth by s3. not that she’s been stagnating since, but she’s already had a big part of her arc, is what i mean. steve has also grown immensely by then, and in s4, robin mentions the fact that she’s advised him to ‘just be himself’, and he’s been ‘getting girls’ ever since. and that advice would definitely work on nancy, since since s1, she saw through steve’s bullshit — even before the Upside Down happened.

jonathan is... well. i have complicated feelings about him. i loved him in s1, still really liked him in s2 and s3 but... let’s be honest. he definitely didn’t get his time to shine in either of those, and so far, it’s been even worst in s4. it’s not like i don’t understand how he’s feeling here, but him lying to nancy just can’t work. i’m... not even necessarily mad about what happened to his character. look, could the character have had a different growth? yeah, 100%. jonathan had so much potential, i really believe that. but he’s clearly crushed under the responsibility he feels he has towards his family, something that i don’t think joyce has done a good job shielding him from. and sometimes, that kind of responsibilities completely stifles you. it’s a sad result for his character, and i wish the writers had chosen differently, but it’s a choice i can respect.

either way, if jonathan’s the one who’s stuck now (and correct me if i’m wrong, but i don’t think his character’s changed a ton since s1?), like steve was in s2, they might very well be preparing us for another break-up.

now, here’s the thing: i’m not sure what future steve and nancy have together.

a large part of nancy’s character is that she has ambition. she doesn’t want to end up like her mother, like her parents, and it’s clear that she has the potential to do great things. that’s one of the reasons why her and jonathan made so much sense, because they had a clear trajectory they could take together. at first glance, her and steve getting together seems likely to mean that they’ll end up stuck in hawkins, getting a house at the end of the cul-de-sac.

it doesn’t have to be like that, though. if steve’s willing to... i’m not sure, but nancy and steve could be a cool ‘detective duo’ together. not that different from joyce and hopper tbh? steve’s generally chiller than hopper, and nancy more methodic than joyce, but they’re not that different. what’s for certain is that they aren’t the steve and nancy from season 1, and the issues they have then don’t apply anymore. steve isn’t the steve from season 2. they could make it work.

then, if jonathan ‘unstucks’ himself, and the writers choose to give him the opportunity to 1) lose his shit, as he really deserves to do and 2) finally get some time to be heroic, well... we might have an actual love triangle on our hands, guys.

and i don’t think i’ve cared about a single love triangle since high school, but i just might be here for that one.

[thekillingjoke-haha]

We’re Batshit Crazy

@spnquotebingo​ Word count:1,609

Summary: Love isn't all that perfect sometimes love is crazy especially when the Hero is in love with said crazy.

Gotham AU

Jason Todd(Jensen Ackles) x Villan!Reader

Enemies and Lovers (none of that "to" bs)

Gotham Recasting: Batman=John, Dick Grayson(second Robin not first) =Sam ,Tim Drake=Adam, Joker(ledger style)=Lucifer, Harley Quinn=Lilith,ect.

Warnings: Mention of death, blood, guns, and violence

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The mad laughter rung out into the night sky as the purple Lamborghini hit corners with violently sharp turns. "Oh puddin I just love family night!~" The pale platinum blonde giggled as the man with green dyed hair licked his smiling lips. A bubble of laughter came from the back seat he turned around to see his princess looking out the small back window. "Batsy batsy batsy" Her low/high pitched giggle caused a crazy chain reaction as the bat mobile hurried to catch up. "Always ruining our fun,huh,princess?" The clown king shifted his gray-ish blue order into the mirror grinning making the scars on his face raise into a sinister smile at the look of pure chaos in his daughter's e/c eyes. "Not tonight! Not on my birthday!!" She said as she smiled reaching under the seat to pull out a Tommy gun. Climbing to the front seat sitting on her mothers lap she leaned out the passenger window. "Go back to the Rat cave your not gonna put a downer on my weekend!" Y/n yelled shooting off round towards the tires,windshield,and headlights.

The mobile didn't seem to have a scratch as as a motorcycle pulled up beside it. Slipping back in the car the younger women pouted looking at get parents. "He called his little birdie no doubt the replacements in the car." Y/n huffed as she dug around for more fire power. "Puddin we have a visitor.~" The red mask gazed at us as he lifted a forearm pistol. Shots were fired and Joker took a hard right almost like tron the motorcycle quickly turned into a ally to avoid being hit. "Sorry Princess might have to cut tonight shot." He said licking his lips as a thump came from the roof making the youngest clown snarl her eye crazed as she shot above her as the purple car swerved wildly. "YOU'RE RUINING MY BIRTHDAY,BATS!!!" Y/n cackled madly a mixture of her parents laughed till the magazine ran out.

They got to one of their warehouses where Jokers men were armed to the teeth. The clown mask had black soulless eyes and immediately fired the moment the batmobile entered. Y/n skipped out of the purple Lamborghini she got on her tippy toes and kissed her dad on the cheek. "I got the hooded punk. Can you clip the bats wings for me...a little present?!" He laughed as he armed himself with a shotgun. "Anything for my princess." The f/c sf/c female clown skipped away knowing that the motorcycle riding vigilante was hot on her tail. That's how she found herself on the roof tops jumping the gaps as heavy footfalls followed. Her loud laugh echoed as she leaped to a smaller building hiding behind a vent the moment the brown leather jacket came into view she tackled the tall man. They were both panting as a grin pulled on the clowns lips.

Y/n POV

"Caught ya,Jay bird." I giggled pulling of the helmet his apple green eyes covered by a second mask stared at me he chuckled as his hand slipped above his head in mock surrender. "Yeah you caught me,beautiful." Leaning down I kiss him my hands pushed into his cheeks my thumb running over the scarred J. We've been dating for awhile now ever since dad kidnapped the second Robin at seventeen. I was fifteen at the time and dad had me at his side as he tortured him.I was always there to stitched him up and put burn cream after shock therapy I didn't know how we got attached maybe because he wanted to rebel a little by talking to me or someone around his age saw the same if not worse shit.

Six years ago(Y/n 15 Jason 17)

"Why are you helping me?" Looking up his head was strapped down along with his arms and legs. I shrugged my shoulders I knew who he was if I wiped off the make up and temp dyed my hair I was the honor student in the same class as him. Jason Todd anyone with eyes had a thing for him,but after removing his mask it wasn't hard to piece together who the bat fam is. "I know what my dad has planned for you Jay. This is just a band-aid on a gunshot wound and might I say that's very unhelpful." This was the first I spoke to him and it wasn't long before Dad beat him to death.

Two years later.

I sat in the back of the car as Frost drove. We just left the cemetery. "Why are we doing this,n/n." He asked looking in the rear view mirror at me. I'm seventeen now my thoughts screamed at me. Why was I trying to bring him back? "Because I crazy that why!" I giggled as we grew closer to the lazapit. He was dressed in a black suit with red tie his body sunk into the water as I waited. A loud gasp drew my attention as he shot up a white streak in his hair. "Heya sleeping beauty." Looking over in shock he lowly made his way looking like a baby deer. "I'm alive,but h-how?" His green eyes looked at me. "A Ghoul owed me a few favors I just asked to use his fountain of youth." Handing him a towel and some clothes. "Sorry about the outfit,but Arkham does have one size fits all." Jason chuckled as he started to dry off.I realized why I brought him back. I was crazy about him.

Two more years later(two years ago)

Jason wanted to stay dead he didn't go back to His dad and brother after he realized that neither of them tried and save him. It was sad to see,but it brought Jason closer to me and he started to trust me and I gave trust in return. Blood coated my hands while some was on my face. Looking at Jay some was speckled on his cheeks taking the pockets square out of the mobsters coat I wiped it off he looked down at me his arm slipped around my waist pulling me closer my breath hicked. "Will you be my girlfriend,my little jester?" A large smile grew on my face as my arms went around his neck pulling him down further. "Gladly,Jay bird." I kissed him not caring if my lipstick stained his lips and he didn't seem to care either as the kiss grew more intense. We shared our first kiss at nineteen surrounded by dead bodies as sirens and the unmistakable sound of the armed batmobile. At least he's as crazy about me as I am about him.

One year ago. (Jason POV for a sec)

I came to Bruce I hate to admit it but I needed advice about the one think he knew best. Women. It was just a couple of months ago he found out I was alive and shocker he managed to drive Dicky boy to Blüdhaven to get away from him to get his own image and not just Robin. Oh and surprise surprise when out of robins he had a spare like a tire and it's name was Tim. Nevermind that I stood across from Bruce in his home main office he had a frown on his face. "You're dating someone and its serious and I didn't know about it?" He asked trying to deduct everything. "I've been dating her ever since I came back. As strange as it might sound,but I want us to be something more." That's when the billionaire playboy stood up standing just a inch shorter then myself.

"Life is short Jason and you've experienced that first hand if you feel that both of you are perfect enough to be more then go for it." Perfect wasn't realistic nothing was ever perfect my life isn't perfect her life sure as hell isn't she's the clown princess I'm a bat son. Maybe that what makes us so good together the fact that it would have never really happened any other way life is just crazy like that.

Present

Staring into those vexing green eyes always brought me back. We're both twenty-one him being older only by a couple of months. "Happy birthday,gorgeous." His voice brought me back as my smile grew. We were standing up now he held a box wrapped in my two favorite colors. "Awe you shouldn't have." I grab it and opened it a gun was inside it was red and gold revolver it looked like my moms love/hate gun,but it said King/Queen. Looking at Jay I reached to hug him when suddenly he dropped to one knee pulling out a box with a beautiful f/c ring and ruby gem. "This feels over due. You took care of me when I was considered enemy number one. You brought me back from the grave when my own family didn't try. And this might sound stupid,but I had a crush on you in middle school you were one of the only people that didn't give me pity after Bruce adopted a street kid." He licked his lips as he gave of a small smile. "Together we are far from perfect, but we are good. You complete me...Y/n M/n Napier become my queen?" My eyes glossed over with tears my make up running down the pale foundation. "Oh my god of course!!!" I jumped into his arms hugging him tightly before letting him slip on the ring. "I love you." "I love you more crazy." I chuckle it sounded watery in my throat. "If I'm crazy then that makes two of us. You wanted to marry me." Yep we're both batshit crazy.

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A/n: Quote= We are far from perfect, but we are good. ~Supernatural

Is it just me or does Jensen look fucking hot as Red Hood?! I'm mean he's definitely a reason to move to Gotham

Well first crossover AU in my bingo card

[psychovigilantewrites]

Chapter 14 - A Different Point of View

Summary:  Things that happened that you weren't aware of.

Word count: 9,163 words

A/N: Thank you for being so patient with me. I struggled with this chapter due to its nature. I had to further dive into Bruce and Dick's character that I wasn't too familiar with.2020 was a very tough year for me. I lost lots, learned lots. And I thought that the quarantine would mean I would write more. But I was wrong. Life hit me hard, and I stopped doing a lot of things I used to enjoy.Despite being virtually absent last year, you guys stuck by me anyway. Thank you. I love you all for that.Special thanks to my two beta readers. You know who you are. Here it goes.

(i recommend you guys read previous chapters to refresh coz I had to lol)

Ao3

Masterlist

The roles that people played were false- a mere necessity for their career or survival. Everyone was playing a role, whether it was of their own accord or not.

Bruce Wayne was a role- superficial, fake, yet vital to Gotham. Batman, on the other hand, was a completely different role, born out of exigence and a sense of justice.

Dick Grayson, however, genuinely enjoyed playing his role.

Nightwing felt right to him. Being a police officer felt right to him. And especially, if not ultimately, being an older brother.

He listened to the dial tone of his phone, which rung for a few seconds before you finally picked up.

“Hey,” Dick heard your voice, the usual chirp absent that day.

Dick frowned to himself. Bruce was right about you being troubled after all.

“Hey, sis!” he forced the concern out of his voice. “You busy?”

“Nah, I’m just going over some old case files. What’s up?”

Dick leaned back into his sofa. Aside from the traffic blaring outside, the silence in his apartment made it easier for him to concentrate on analysing your speech patterns.

“Can’t I call just to ask how you’re doing?” he teased, easing into the conversation.

Everyone had always told him how he was natural at talking.

“You already called last week…”

Dick smiled to himself. He could already picture your narrowed eyes regarding him with suspicion.

It was good that you were always on your feet, but it was becoming borderline unhealthy. It reminded him of Jason and how he was always so guarded .

He pushed the memory away.

“I can’t call you again?” he rolled his eyes at no one.

“Bruce put you up to this,” you accused.

That’s because he’s worried about you, kid.

If only you knew how much Bruce had changed for you. Dick was glad that you were being loved by Bruce, yet he still couldn't help but feel slightly bitter that he never got that kind of treatment from his father- not the same treatment he gave you.

But he would rather die than admit his selfish thoughts to anyone.

“Yeah,” he conceded, “He was worried about you after last night.”

“I’m fine, Dick,” you insisted.

How many times has he heard those very same words from Jason?

“Well, if you’re not, then you can talk to me,” he offered.

A short pause.

Your response would be what differentiated you from his late brother.

“Actually, yeah,” you admitted.

There it was. No matter how stupid he knew it was for even comparing the two of you, he found that he always had to remind himself not to.

“How did you deal with it? Did it affect you?”

Dick told you his own experience with gore and dead bodies, how he overcame it, how he coped. There was silence after, and he just somehow knew what you were going to ask next.

“How did, uh, he deal with it?”

Your voice came in a whisper, hesitation evidently clear.

Dick was expecting it, but his heart still sank. He knew how everyone acted when Jason was brought up in conversation- he was guilty of reacting as well. He also knew how you were smart enough to avoid that topic.

It had been years. They should all have moved on, because Dick knew that they were also hurting you.

“He came to me as well.” Dick recalled Jason’s hesitant voice over the phone, never directly saying what was wrong, just rambling about things other than what was really going on in his head.

“Then he gradually called less and less when he learned how to deal with it himself.”

The day Dick noticed it, he was happy for Jason, but a small part of him was saddened that his little brother no longer needed him.

“I’ll have to look for that cognitive therapy, then. Thank you for calling, Dick. Talking to you helped.”

Did it really? He noticed your voice had changed again. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone on about Jason like that.

“No problem, kid. Call me if you need to talk, okay?”

The familiar beep left him isolated with his thoughts, wondering if you would trail in Jason's footsteps.

When will the day come when you eventually stop calling altogether?

***

He felt indebted to his city- the city he loved. The city he hated. The city that robbed him of his childhood.

He felt indebted to his family- the family he would give up everything for, the family he couldn’t stop hurting.

And he was sorry. God, he was sorry.

Sorry for everything he’s said and done- or didn’t do. But he still couldn’t stop. Because he didn’t know how.

Yet, no matter how much he claimed to love his family, the problem with Bruce Wayne was that he always expected them to be the people he wanted them to be.

Never like himself, though. No, he would never want them to turn out like him.

“That’s an order. Stay-”

The silence that followed the click in his ear represented the first time you had ever disobeyed a direct order.

It was a little late on your side. Dick and Jason had begun to disobey him within their first six months in uniform. But you had always been obedient- which made it easier for Bruce to trust you in the field.

This first time came as an unexpected and unwelcome surprise. And Bruce was…

Disappointed.

He grit his teeth when he saw you on the ground with the warehouse burning behind you. If he had just been a few seconds late, would you be in the fire, too?

“I almost had him.”

Bruce didn’t miss the wince of pain as you got up to your feet.

He had heard those exact words before countless times from J- no.

Bruce shoved that thought away.

“He would have gotten away, and we wouldn’t have known who it was that did this,” you argued, brows drawn together in a frown, mouth downturned. Your respiratory rate was high, and you were having trouble breathing.

When did you grow so tall? So confident?

Bruce silently pointed to the active security camera he noticed the minute he arrived and saw your expression fall- only for a second.

“I still think I made the right decision,” you insisted.

“You disobeyed a direct order.” He hated his own voice. The way he spoke sounded too militant.

“I acted how I saw fit,” you continued, “You always say to follow my instincts-”

“Not if your instincts contradict my orders.” He regretted his words the moment they left his mouth. He thought he had changed. But no, Bruce was still a dictator.

“Wow. Just- wow.”

He could see the little twitches of annoyance within the disbelief on your face. He understood it completely.

You were walking away, clutching onto your side and weakly limping to your bike, adamant on not seeking his help.

He hated seeing you injured, in pain. It was his fault. If only he was faster, he could have stopped Red Hood from beating you up. If only he predicted it sooner, if only-

“I’ll be heading back now.”

He missed what you had said before that.

“Robin,” Bruce forced out, “Have Alfred check your injuries.”

He should have been there.

When you drove away, he lingered at the crime scene.

Bruce flipped a switch in his helmet, and his lense changed. Non-organic material lighted up bright white. He noticed a fractured piece of shrapnel lying on the ground, less than a centimeter long.

He picked it up and placed it into a test tube from his belt. Switching his view to normal, he saw that it was red, maybe made from fiberglass. He could only deduce that it was a piece of Red Hood’s helmet.

Despite Bruce’s frustrations at you for disobeying him, he felt a swell of pride. You probably landed a hit hard enough to crack the helmet just a little bit that you yourself probably didn’t even realise it.

He shone a UV light on it. A small portion of it glowed.

Bruce had always been numb when he played investigator so that he would remain impartial and objective. That was true justice.

But when he pocketed the evidence and sped to the Batmobile, he felt something he had never felt before.

Against all logic and rationality, he found himself dreading to uncover who the blood belonged to.

***

Bruce never drank his sorrows away. It was dangerous, too easy to develop an addiction to. He could have easily drowned in alcohol at any given chance, like when he thought of his parents, or when he thought-no, knew- he wasn’t enough.

But no, he only restricted his drinking for leisurely activities. He was disciplined. It was the reason why he was who he was.

However, in that moment, staring at the results of the DNA analysis after hours of anxious waiting, he wished he allowed himself a drink.

Not because he was distraught, not because he was in grief- but because he just didn’t know what to feel.

It wasn’t numbness. It was just plain confusion, an internal tornado of emotions whirling inside him all at once.

Footsteps.

He tapped on a button once, immediately closing the window of the test results displayed on the screen.

Composing himself, he clicked on another pending case to pretend he wasn’t on the verge of a breakdown. It’s just another role.

“Master Bruce.”

Why was he still up at this hour?

“Yes, Alfred,” he turned to meet the butler’s tired eyes- just as tired as his own.

Tired because of him.

Alfred was always up because of him. Because Bruce was a disease, constantly burdening others, dragging them down, keeping them up at night.

“I made some sandwiches. They’re light. Please do eat them,” he set the tray on the cluttered desk, simply pushing aside the numerous stacks of papers.

“Go to bed, Alfred,” he told him. Alfred was too old to be up at this hour. And whose fault is that?

“In due time,” he responded calmly, “What of the blood results, if I may ask?”

“Inconclusive,” Bruce lied.

“I see.”

Suspicion shrouded Alfred’s voice.

“How are her injuries?” Bruce asked, the pain finally creeping in, seeping into his bones.

“I commend you for asking about your daughter’s injuries after only four whole hours of staring at the screen, Master Bruce. You would definitely win father of the year.”

“I was occupied,” he sighed, “Please.”

“Her injuries are only superficial,” Alfred said, “Surface contusions at most.”

He still hurt her.

“Thank you, Alfred. Now go to bed.”

“It was only a little more than two decades ago when I was telling you the same,” he grumbled away.

Bruce made sure Alfred was gone before pulling up the results on the screen again, the glaring ‘MATCH’ sign staring angrily back at him as if it were shouting at Bruce, yelling in rage.

And Bruce understood completely. He had failed Jason Todd. He had betrayed him. And now he was back, vengeful, and full of resentment.

But that didn’t matter to Bruce.

Because despite it all, his son was alive.

In the end, that was all that mattered.

***

What did my son do to my daughter?

Bruce watched in horror as you lay unconscious on the hospital bed, hooked to the IV bag. He couldn’t stop staring at the bruises littering your neck.

Bruises that were far too small and evenly shaped to be the effect of a mere throttling.

He knew how the people close to him viewed him. He knew they thought he was strong, unforgiving, cold, emotionless. Especially when they put him side by side with Clark.

But he forced himself to be those things, because if he didn’t, he would have broken down years ago.

He was used to it. The pain. The darkness.

But this time, he felt like he was being crushed.

He felt like he was hanging on by a thread- no. A delicate strand of thin, brittle hair.

“It’s okay, doctor,” you had said, “I know what you’re going to ask me. No, my genitalia does not hurt. He didn’t do anything to me.”

He felt a wave of relief crash over him.

Jason wasn’t that far gone, then.

But as Bruce looked at your neck again, he still couldn’t help but feel nausea crawling into his core.

He still touched her.

Jim left after his questioning, and you drifted to sleep. He went over to you and looked down at your face, taking everything in.

Since when did you look so mature? When did you get so beautiful?

He couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. Even in sleep you had your eyebrows tugged down, as if you were angry that you had to go to bed. He didn’t know why he never saw that small part of you that shouted rebellion despite you almost always following his orders.

He realised that when he watched you sleep, you looked a bit like- no. Don’t ever compare the two.

He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to your forehead, trying to convey all of his feelings to you.

He was sorry. So god damned sorry for dragging you into this, for hurting you, for pulling you down to the depths with him.

Hoping you didn’t feel the teardrop that fell to your forehead, he quickly wiped it away before leaving for his press statement.

***

“Master Bruce, please!”

Another crash.

Alfred’s plea snapped him out of his blinding fury, his crushing pain.

He was standing at the hallway near the Manor entrance, glass and broken wood shattered at his feet, feeling the walls closing in and narrowing as Alfred looked at him in alarm.

“I-I’m sorry, Alfred. I-” he stammered, feeling like the small, helpless boy who watched his parents die before him.

He remembered the time when he was little, only a couple of months after the tragedy. He had done the exact same thing, taking out his anger and anguish by destroying things, triggered by something he had long forgotten about.

At that time, Alfred had held him closely in his arms as he stained the butler’s suit with his snot and tears. Again, a burden to the man who raised him.

This time, he refused the old man’s offer of comfort, walking past to descend to the cold darkness of the cave he was so familiar with.

Bruce didn’t usually drink his sorrows away, but this time, he did.

***

Dick wasn’t a good person. He was far from it.

Case in example, it was the first time he saw you after your kidnapping.

He meant to come sooner, he really did. But he was just so busy in Bludhaven, he couldn’t spare any time to rush over the moment he heard his sister was hurt. He tried to justify it in his head by thinking that you were probably handling it fine.

But he was just trying to make himself feel better.

What a great brother he was.

“So, why are you obsessing over violent crimes?” he asked, trying to keep his voice from breaking.

Desensitization was one thing when you worked in that field, but obsession was a whole other problem. And he didn’t want to see his sister walk down that path.

“A lunatic just kidnapped me a couple weeks ago, Dick, maybe this is my coping mechanism,” you huffed, giving him your signature eye roll.

A lot of things start with just a coping mechanism, kid.

Dick knew it about it all too well. The people he brought in on an almost daily basis, high as kites. The accident last week on the highway at three in the morning, two innocent lives taken because of a drunk man who had started drinking three years ago to cope with his mother’s loss.

The man downstairs in the cold cave, who was just a little boy when his parents died, now living with the trauma while going out night after night to beat up criminals, sleeping only three hours a day at most.

“I don’t want your pity, Dick,” you huffed, “I’m fine.”

Yeah, you were. And that was what worried Dick the most.

“I know you are,” he tried to smile, “Which is why I don’t think this is your coping mechanism.”

You talked to Dick about Red Hood, sharing your concerns about him. This is what made you, you. Opening up to him, offering your thoughts and feelings. It was something he never had with Bruce or Jason. The both of them were similar in that sense.

“He won’t tell me either,” Dick huffed, “It’s always been like that with him. No matter how hard I try to get closer to him, sometimes it feels like he’s getting further away.”

It was the same with Jason as well. Did everyone he cared about just end up running away from him?

“I can relate to that,” you sighed.

“But I have a feeling that he will tell you eventually,” Dick tried to comfort you, “It seems too important not to.”

Dick knew better. Bruce had always excluded information from him, whether it was important or not.

“And,” Dick hurriedly tried to change the subject, “I heard from Alfred that you’re not talking to Bruce. May I ask why?”

“So that’s why you’re here,” you eyed him suspiciously. . “I came to check up on you,” he stated, “I’m sorry I couldn’t come here right after, but my little sister did just get kidnapped.”

When are you going to stop putting your guard up around me, kid?

“I told you, I’m fine,” you insisted.

“Then you’re fine enough to tell me why you haven’t been talking to Bruce,” Dick pushed, “I won’t judge. I’ve had my fair share of cold shoulders and fights with him too. I know first hand how frustrating he can be. So come on, tell.”

He saw you hesitate for just a moment, before conceding.

“We fought,” you began, “It was when I got back from the hospital. He wouldn’t tell me who Red Hood was. And he- he called me ‘Jason’.”

Ah, fucking hell, Bruce.

“Jesus,” he whispered, “What did he say exactly?”

“‘Back down, Jason’,” your voice cracked.

Dick saw the way Bruce spiraled after Jason’s death, and he would never tell you this, but deep down he was against Bruce adopting you so soon after. He thought that Bruce was using you to fill up the hole he too felt with Jason’s absence.

You were so like him, yet so different. Still, Bruce must have been really distracted if he could slip as badly as he did.

Dick would ask later.

“Now that’s something I haven’t heard in years,” Dick chuckled humorlessly.

Jason arguing with Bruce about using excessive force. Jason sneaking out to go for patrols whenever he was grounded. Hell, even Jason stealing whiskey from the cabinet at the age of fifteen.

He could still remember it so clearly. Jason with his dark hair poking into his eyes that were full of fury, cheeks puffed up and red as he pouted angrily at Bruce for making him stay at the Manor on nights Bruce insisted on going alone.

Dick tried to shove the past away. He knew he was making you even sadder.

“Has Bruce made any attempts to reconcile?” Dick remembered the conversation he was having with you.

“Yeah, but I’m still mad at him,” you pouted.

“And you have every right to be,” Dick nodded, “But Bruce, well, you know Bruce. He keeps these things to himself, but obviously he’s still hurting.”

You have know idea how much he’s hurting, Little Wing.

You avoided Dick’s eyes, looking down at your fumbling thumbs as the room became silent.

“I’m seeing someone,” you changed the subject.

“You are?”

Interesting.

“Yeah,” you blushed, “It’s still very new, and we’re not official yet or anything. But we’re definitely testing the waters.”

“That’s great,” Dick grinned, “Who is he? Tell me the deets. Spill the tea.”

He sort of loved gossip. It wasn’t a secret.

“I met him in the library a while back,” you excitedly said, “We exchanged numbers. Started texting, meeting up from time to time. He’s really cute.”

Ah, young love. What Dick would give to be at that age again.

“I bet he is,” Dick teased.

“What’s with that face?” you laughed, “He is! He’s slightly older, and he’s got this sexy bad boy look, you know?”

“I thought you liked the nerdy types?” Dick responded. He saw a picture of you and your classmates on your Instagram. Typical prep school kids.

“I never had a type, you ass!” . “You’re right. I thought you were completely uninterested in boys,” he wondered out loud, “Is he nice, at least?”

“Yeah he is,” you smiled to yourself, “He didn’t know I was Wayne until 2 weeks ago. Before that, we were mainly texting. Now we’re meeting up more. I feel like I can be myself with him. I don’t know, there’s just something about him that makes me trust him.”

So you still have some of your walls up with me, but you trust a stranger? Who is this guy?

“I’m not going to tell him anything!” you quickly added, “I’m not stupid. I know I shouldn’t trust someone I just met. It’s not about the confidential stuff. It’s the little things like how I feel, and my problems, and just- stuff, you know?”

The thought didn’t even cross his mind. Dick trusted you enough with their secret, just as how Bruce did.

“I get it,” Dick tried to rationalise, “You don’t know what it is about the person, but you feel like the two of you just click, am I right?”

It had been like that with Barbara. It had been like that with Kory.

Now Dick was alone, and deep down he knew that they saw him as how he truly was. Selfish.

“Exactly,” you smiled, “Been with anyone like that before?”

“One or two,” he brushed it off, “People like that- whom you just click with- they’re hard to come by. You should see where this leads. Who knows, maybe he’s one of those that would stick around, huh?”

What he would give to have at least one person who would stick with him.

After he met with Gordon, Dick went to the cave to see Bruce who was, of course, facing the computers.

“I know what you’re going to say,” his father’s voice echoed without even turning to look at him.

“Then you know how much you’ve hurt her?” he crossed his arms.

Bruce did turn around to face him, and Dick suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.

He knew that Bruce hardly ever slept, but this was different. He looked disheveled, his complexion pale, his eyes more bloodshot and the dark circles even more prominent.

Alfred did say how badly Bruce took the kidnapping, finding him passed out on the cave floor with an empty bottle of scotch in his hand, but he thought that Bruce would have gotten himself together by now. It was surprising to see him that way, and Dick felt… Uncomfortable.

Something was wrong, and it wasn’t just the kidnapping, nor his fight with you.

“You found out something,” Dick narrowed his eyes, “Something important. What is it?”

He caught a flash of guilt in Bruce’s eyes. “I’ll tell you some other time.”

“Bruce,” Dick groaned, “This is why you keep on hurting her.”

Hurting us.

“I’m protecting everyone.”

“You can’t use that excuse with me anymore,” he sighed, “I don’t need your protection. So tell me.”

“No.”

That was his final word, and he knew that Bruce would never budge.

“Fine,” he let out a breath, “Did you know that she’s seeing someone?”

Bruce frowned.

Which made Dick frown. Since when did Bruce miss things? What the fuck was going on with him?

“Name?”

“Dunno. Didn’t ask. And no, don’t you dare,” Dick pointed an accusatory finger at him, “Do not do a background check on him. She deserves privacy. Hell, don’t even bring it up. You have no right to go poking into her relationships.”

Dick was being defensive, but that was because he was trying to convince himself as well, which was why he didn’t ask you for a name. He knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.

“I wasn’t going to,” Bruce reassured, “She… She deserves a life. A normal life. Not this- not-”

Dick knew then he had to leave, because Bruce’s voice breaking meant he was far from okay, and he knew that Bruce hated to show his vulnerability to anyone.

“Bruce,” Dick said, this time softly, “You’re not alone, you know. I’ve been with you since the beginning, and I’m still with you now.”

And with that, Bruce turned his back towards him again, silently going back to his goddamned computers.

“He’s been that way ever since the kidnapping,” Alfred informed him when he walked up to the manor.

“I don’t think it’s just the kidnapping, Alf,” he frowned at the butler, “There’s something more to it. Did he figure out who Red Hood is?”

“Perhaps,” Alfred pursed his lips, “But he refuses to tell me.”

“That means we know him personally,” Dick theorised, “Who the hell could it be that he’s so adamant on keeping it a secret?”

“I do not know Master Dick, but it can’t be anyone good if he’s got Master Bruce drinking during the day.”

***

Bruce knew that he was wrong to call you by his dead son’s name.

But his dead son was supposed to stay dead instead of haunting him with that glaring red bat across his chest, and having that thought in his head all the time, he slipped up.

He prided himself with his contingency plans and detective skills and preparations, but no amount of time could ever prepare him for when he found out his dead son had sexually assaulted his daughter.

You seemed to have dealt with it surprisingly well, exceeding his expectations. In fact, Bruce thought it was a bit odd that you weren’t as affected by it.

And then he saw it.

He saw what he thought was the internalized anger you felt finally bursting through the seams of your tightly lidded emotions.

And he wasn’t prepared for it.

Bruce didn’t think you had it in you, or else he would never have made you Robin.

But there you were on the ground, beating a man beyond recognition.

He couldn’t dread this moment because he never saw it coming. Not from you. Never from you.

He hurriedly ripped you off the man, flinging you away with force.

Pulse was present, but weak. Flail chest. It took him only a few seconds to observe the damage you did to the man’s face. It didn’t look good.

“Stay back,” he growled at you when you came close.

He couldn’t look at you. He didn’t want to.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” he heard you whisper.

“Call an ambulance,” he ordered.

There was no other choice. He had to take the fall for you.

“NOW!” he snarled at you again. In the background, you were on the phone, but Bruce’s thoughts were elsewhere, calculating what needs to be done.

You moved-

“Leave. I’ll deal with this.” You needed to go. You couldn’t be here when the ambulance and police arrived.

“Batman-”

“I said leave,” he snapped. He couldn’t even hear your voice.

He waited for the ambulance to come before leaving, making sure they saw him escape. Making sure he would be the one the media would attack.

And while he drove back to the Cave, he decided to give his son a call.

“Bruce?”

“Dick,” he sighed. He knew he had always been unfair to his eldest, giving him so much pressure to perform, pushing him to be his best- and ultimately away. He knew that he never showed it, but he was proud of Dick. He always had been from the very beginning.

“What’s wrong?”

It wasn’t a surprise that Dick picked up immediately that something was wrong. If it wasn’t for the fact that calling him out of the blue was what gave it away, Bruce himself trained Dick.

“She- she crossed the line tonight,” he tried to explain, “Jerome Miller. She attacked him. The damage she’s done to him is irreversible. I suspect he will be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.”

“Jesus,” Dick breathed from over the line, “Why didn’t you stop her?”

“I wasn’t there,” he grit. He thought he could trust you.

But deep down Bruce knew that it was all his fault after all. Who was he to act so righteous when he was the reason your parents died?

“I don’t know if she’ll talk to me, Bruce,” Dick sighed, “Not about something like this. She’s probably beating herself up over this already.”

“As she should.”

“Bruce.”

“Please,” Bruce asked, “I’m worried. She isn’t herself and I can’t blame her for it, but the chances of her talking to you are much higher than if I were to try.”

“I’ll try,” Dick agreed.

“Report to me after.”

“Bruce, we’ve talked about this,” Dick grumbled, “I am under no obligation to report to you. I’m doing this for her. Not you.”

He was trying not to go back to the man he was before, but sometimes he couldn’t help it.

They’re your children, not your soldiers.

He had to remind himself time and time again. It was easier to be just a father to you as compared to Dick and Jason, yet even then he made slips.

“I know,” he apologised. “Thank you.”

Click.

And then Bruce was alone again.

***

Bruce watched you from the corner of his eye when you came back. He noticed that you had put more effort into dressing up when you left the house that day.

There was a slight bounce to your step and a small smile that played on your lips.

Dick was right after all. There was someone you were seeing.

But no, he couldn’t look into it. In fact, it would be hypocritical of him if he did. Dick had many girlfriends and flings, and Bruce didn’t want to know about any of them. Mainly because Dick was his first, and the thought of a boy he raised maturing and having relationships made him feel confused about parenthood.

Not that many of them lasted too long anyway.

Jason was a little different. While Dick had girls lining up after him all the time, Jason was much more subtle about the girls he liked, and that made Bruce more curious- but not enough to investigate.

He thought about when Barbara had caught Jason looking at her, making him turn red. He wondered if Jason would like you.

A tight squeeze in his chest.

He didn’t let his mind linger there.

Bruce felt obligated to protect you, which tempted him to investigate the boy you were seeing. It could be a trap, it could be someone using you for fame and money, or something even more sinister. Hell, it could be Jason himself after that stunt he pulled off.

But there was no evidence, and Bruce wanted to be a father to you this time instead of Batman the mentor. So Bruce would have to trust you on this one.

***

There was something holding Bruce back from telling everyone the truth about Jason.

And because he is who he is, Bruce knew what it was.

Guilt. He blamed himself for what had happened, and telling others about it meant owning up to his mistakes. Bruce never ran away from his fears and feelings despite what others might think. On the contrary, he held to them very strongly, using them as a motivation to fight head on.

This time, though, he felt more self destructive- the worst he had ever felt since he carried Jason’s corpse from the rubble- and so he tried to delay the inevitable.

But time was running out. He had enough time to wallow in self pity. It was time to pull himself together, and the first step began with Alfred.

The Cave was colder than usual that night, air thin and darker despite the illumination he had provided. Bruce was slumped in his usual wheeled chair, cowl resting on the desk after patrol, the weight of his suit almost crushing him in his weakened mental state.

“Alfred,” Bruce sighed, “Please, take a seat. I have something to tell you.”

“I assume this is about the identity of one criminal who has been terrorizing your daughter?” Alfred retorted, sitting down anyway.

“Yes,” Bruce nodded, “This… This won’t be easy, Alfred. I suggest you prepare for the worst.”

“And the worst being..?”

Bruce wheeled himself closer to the butler, leaning forward. “It’s Jason.”

Alfred merely blinked. “I’m sorry, sir, but I’m afraid my ears have caught up to my age. I must have misheard you, because for a moment, I thought you said that Red Hood is Jason.”

“You didn’t mishear me, Alfred. It’s him.”

Bruce saw the confusion in Alfred’s eyes, the frantic search for reason. “Our Jason? Jason Todd?”

“Yes, Alfred.”

And then, Bruce felt it. The pain he had been suffering with for weeks spreading to the man who raised him. Alfred clutched his chest with one hand, the other clenching tightly over the armrest of his chair, his breathing quickened.

“Impossible,” he whispered, “Jason died. How?”

“There was an event regarding The League and Superboy punching reality. I won’t get into details, but I suspect that was what caused the initial resurrection. The restoration, however. We know of someone who has been continuously restored time and time again.”

“Ra’s Al Ghul,” Alfred concluded, “But why? Why on Earth would he restore Jason?”

“I don’t know,” Bruce frowned, “But it is an almost perfect revenge plan. I would like to entertain the idea that he has brainwashed Jason into thinking we are the enemy, but I can’t put it past him to develop a hatred for me. I… betrayed him.”

“Master Bruce, this is not your fault,” Alfred rose to his feet, “If it is indeed Jason, we can still help. I have faith in the boy.”

“Me too, Alfred. Me too.”

Bruce didn’t miss the sob that echoed faintly through the cave when Alfred ascended back up.

***

As if in slow motion, he saw every change of emotion on Dick’s face. The way he blinked once in confusion, the surprise approaching as he widened his eyes, and then his eyebrows stitching together in a deep frown, his lips downturning and nose flaring in anger.

Bruce saw the punch coming, but he did not do anything to counter it. Gladly, he took the right hook Dick gave him, appreciating the sting that radiated from his cheekbone to his jaw.

“How long have you known?” his son shook in anger.

“Dick-”

“HOW LONG, BRUCE?!” Dick roared, fists clenched, voice echoing in the cave.

“Since the night he blew up the warehouse,” Bruce replied.

“Jesus, fuck,” Dick ran his fingers through his hair, “Jesus, Bruce. That was over a month ago.”

“I know.”

“We-” he choked on his words, “We deserved to know.”

“I know.”

“So why the fuck didn’t you say anything?!” he slammed his fists on the desk. Bruce caught a few drops of tears that fell to the ground.

“I’m sorry,” Bruce apologised, and meant it. But he just couldn’t bring himself to say anything more.

“You’re sorry?” Dick looked at him with eyes far too cold than he knew, “He was my brother, Bruce. He told me things he never told anyone else. We shared secrets and jokes. We went to the same diner once a week to catch up. He asked for my help and I asked for his. And then he died. Just like that, because you couldn’t keep him on a leash. And now he’s back, and you knew it was him, and you’re just sorry?”

Dick’s eyes were wet and red, and filled with contempt. Bruce couldn’t blame him. He hated himself, too.

“Does she know?” he whispered, “Does she know that the man who attacked her is your son, and is my brother?”

Like always, he pushed the pain away efficiently, logically, objectively.

“Yes,” he confirmed, “I told her this afternoon.”

“And she’s not angry?”

“If she was, she did not show it,” Bruce described, “In fact, she looked… Worried.”

“Of fucking course she would be worried,” he snarled, “She’s worried that she’s going to be irrelevant to you now the dead Robin is back.”

“She’s not,” Bruce growled at that, “She’s not his replacement. She never was.”

“Does she know that, Bruce?” Dick snickered, “Did you finally get over yourself and tell her that? Because the last fucking time I spoke to her, you called her Jason.”

Bruce didn’t know how to respond to that. He was good at smiling at the cameras and making speeches and charming an audience, but he was never good with words, real words that described his true feelings to the ones he cared for the most.

“I’m sorry,” he simply said, now numb to everything throughout years and years of practice. “I promise, I will bring him back. Will you help me?”

“What can I do that you can’t?” Dick scoffed.

“You knew him, Dick,” Bruce said, “You knew him in ways I never did. I can predict his movements, but to accurately guess what his motivations are- you knew him better than I did.”

“Fine,” Dick conceded, “But I’m not forgiving you for this, Bruce. I swear, you’re going to pay for all the secrets you’ve kept from us, be it by my hand or someone else’s.”

***

“Did you know that your daughter went out last night to see a boy while we were patrolling?” Dick brought up.

He was looking at Bruce’s back, as he always was.

Bruce was on the computers, going through hours upon hours of security footage and traffic cams for Red Hood- for Jason.

It was difficult for him to put the two together. Jason had always been his little brother. Young, naive, inexperienced. And now that same person was the leader of the underground.

It was definitely difficult.

“Alfred mentioned she went out, but I didn’t know it was to meet a boy,” Bruce replied without glancing his way.

“Well, she lied to me about it at first,” Dick sank in a chair, looking at his nails. “Got pretty defensive when I brought it up. Even tried to deflect by using Jason against me.”

Dick knew you meant to hurt him with your words, and it worked.

He was definitely surprised that you would stoop that low because he always saw you as a sweet, kind girl.

People change. That’s what happens when you stick with Batman.

But Dick didn’t expect you to change so fast.

“She… used Jason against you?”

Bruce finally turned towards him, the ever constant frown a little bit deeper that moment.

“Yeah,” Dick straightened, “It was the first time she’s ever spoken to me that way.”

“What did she say exactly?”

“That I was distracting myself by using humor as a coping mechanism, and that I should come to terms with the fact that it was my brother who kidnapped and sexually assaulted her,” he repeated bitterly.

“What did you say to her that she responded that way?” Bruce asked.

“I was just making fun of her boyfriend,” Dick shrugged, “Why? Do you think she’s hiding something?”

At first, Dick thought that you were genuinely angry at the both of them because you were right- Jason did kidnap you. Jason did do those things to you. And Jason was supposed to be under both Bruce and Dick’s responsibility.

Dick didn’t blame you for it, because he would have probably been angry if the situation was reversed.

It was one of the mistakes he always made as Robin when Bruce was teaching him how to accurately deduce by reading people. Never assume that someone’s motivations would be the same as your own.

“She hid that she has… someone from me. There must be a reason why.”

“Or she knows how you are and would rather not have your nose in her business, Bruce. She did find out about that tracker you put in her necklace. How did she even react to it?”

Bruce had done the same with both Dick and Jason while they were Robin, though it didn’t come disguised as a pretty, shiny piece of metal.

On the contrary, during Dick’s Robin days, Bruce had hid it behind his third molar while he was unconscious. He only found out after a year, when he was held hostage by a mercenary who wanted to use him to lure Batman. Said mercenary had detected the tracking device and pulled it out along with the tooth.

It made him increasingly more hostile towards Batman and his never ending need for control, but at least it saved him a trip to the dentist.

From what Dick knew, Jason died with his tracker on him.

Bruce had said that it was all done in the name of safety.

But would you tell Jason the same thing now?

“I apologised and never replaced the one Red Hood damaged. I thought that would have been sufficient for her to trust me again.”

Dick let out a bark of laughter at that, but it was void of any humor. “Only you would think that not replacing her damn tracker would make her trust you. No wonder she hasn’t told you anything.”

It was probably best not to mention that you were now also sexually active.

“Do you think she’s hiding something important?” Bruce asked.

“Are you actually asking for my opinion?” Dick smirked, “No, but it’s too soon to tell, anyway. Relax, Bruce. It’s like you forgot what it was like to be young and in love.”

That was obviously a joke. Bruce grew out of his childhood the moment he saw his parents getting killed in that alley.

As for being in love, did Bruce ever allow himself that?

***

“What did you say she called herself?” Nightwing asked softly.

The poor girl was scared out of her mind to the point where Dick found it difficult to extract important information from her ramblings.

Well, that’s what happens when someone makes you kill a person.

It was difficult, so difficult, to face the fact that it was Jason behind all of that.

“I t-think, V,” the witness- Elena- stuttered. “She with him. But try to stop him.”

Behind him, he felt Batman pause. He was walking around the club and analysing evidence while listening to the conversation.

“She tried to stop him? Him as in Red Hood?” Dick frowned.

“Yes,” Elena looked down and rubbed her arms.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but,” Dick tried, “You told me they were partners.”

“Yes, but she try to stop him,” she repeated, “I don’t know.”

“It’s okay,” Dick offered a smile, “Thank you very much. You’ve been a huge help.”

“Am I going to prison?” she looked at him with big, wet eyes.

“We’ll make sure you won’t,” Dick assured, “You’ll get the best defense team in Gotham.”

“You can do that?” she asked, hope in her voice.

“It’s the least we could do,” Dick answered, a sad smile playing on his lips.

He’s our responsibility.

“Thank you,” she gave a watery laugh, “Even prison better than with him, I want to be free.”

Dick heard footsteps approaching. As he turned around, Gordon entered the crime scene, followed by his team.

“Of course you’re here first,” he sighed at Batman.

“Gordon.”

“You might have to speak to the police again, okay?” Dick told Elena who was suddenly nervous again by the presence of so many people. “I’ll make sure they know you’re innocent. Gordon is the only one you can trust, okay?”

She nodded, her gaze turning downwards.

“Gordon,” he approached the aging man. He was used to talking with Gordon in Batman’s stead, even when he was Robin, and remembered feeling proud of himself whenever he finished speaking to Gordon regarding cases without Batman having to add anything.

“Nightwing,” he blinked, “It’s been a while.”

“Desperate times calls for desperate backups,” he grinned, “Anyway, the girl. She’s a victim of Victor Ibenescu’s human trafficking trade. Romanian, only thirteen when she was kidnapped. She was forced to shoot Victor by Red Hood.”

“This Red Hood likes his poetic justice,” Gordon snickered.

“It’s still first degree murder, or at least, that’s how the law would make it seem,” Dick reminded him, “But I assure you she’s innocent. Red Hood threatened to kill and rape her if she didn’t shoot.”

That was a lie, on both his part and Elena’s. Judging by the way she averted her eyes and touched her own arm, Dick could tell that she wasn’t telling the whole truth about being threatened by Red Hood- but he also knew that he couldn’t expose her and get into more trouble.

He wanted to let out a tired sigh, but that would give him away in front of Gordon and the other officers. He still needed to maintain his air of hopefulness, and he couldn’t seem like he was troubled by his thoughts.

Time to meet Bruce back at the cave and watch the surveillance footage.

***

“He’s got a partner now,” Dick voiced out his findings, “Since when did Red Hood partner up?”

Bruce’s frown was deep as he stared at the screen.

Dick pursed his lips. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Whether this is Red Hood or Jason?” Bruce hummed, “This definitely does not seem like anything Red Hood would do. He’s always tried to separate himself from others because it furthers his authoritarian agenda. He does not get friendly with people because people are disposable to him.”

“So you think this is Jason, then?” Dick concluded, “Well, Jason never had much of a problem working with others in the past, and he made some friends. He wasn’t the type to be hostile to people.”

“He did have trust issues,” Bruce pointed out, “At the very beginning.”

“Yes, and he kept a lot of things to himself,” Dick agreed, “But he did have friends.”

“Special friends,” Bruce added, “Friends who gained his respect and trust. So the question is- who is this girl and how did she manage to gain his trust?”

“Hey, play it back again,” Dick said, “Those moves.”

Bruce played the security tape, showing the mysterious girl and Red Hood taking down Victor’s men.

“Arnis,” Bruce pointed out.

“It’s a little different.”

“She has incorporated silat in as well. Low stance,” Bruce observed. “She’s skilled, but not polished. It could be anyone.”

There was something familiar about the girl that Dick couldn’t pinpoint. Dick usually had strong intuition- a gut feeling that enabled him to know which facts to focus on during an investigation, or a strong ability to see through people.

But the problem was that it wasn’t solid proof or evidence, something Batman heavily focused on. It was a gut feeling that told him he knew who the girl was.

“Do you think it’s-” he broke off without completing his sentence. There was nothing to back his claims.

“She has no reason or motive to work with Jason,” Bruce shot the idea down, “He’s hurt her. And… She wouldn’t betray me like that.”

“She’s been keeping secrets, Bruce,” Dick reminded, hating the fact that this time it was him who was suspicious.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

Because he never would have thought that Jason was capable of torture and murder, either.

Why didn’t he come to me?

“As you clearly pointed out prior to this,” Bruce grit, “She has her reasons as to why she’s keeping secrets. And it is most probably because of me. All of you kept secrets. But this time, I’d like to let her keep hers.”

It was sweet, seeing Bruce that way.

“Is it guilt?” Dick asked.

“It’s repentance.”

Dick hated playing the bad guy.

Because he wasn’t supposed to be. He was the one people looked up to for inspiration, he was the light to Batman’s darkness, he was the smiles and charms and laughter.

He wasn’t the one who would accuse his little sister of fraternizing with the- was Jason the enemy?

Shit. Jason had messed with his senses. Dick’s head was chaotic, his emotions causing him to tense up.

Was he wrong? Was he just like Bruce? Was he jumping to conclusions just because Alfred told him you were out? Should he investigate this Carter you said you were with?

No. I’m not Bruce.

And now, you were looking at him with angry eyes, betrayed and appalled by his accusation.

*** Large.

That was the first thing that came to Dick’s mind when he saw his little brother.

The last time Dick saw him, he was much shorter, and definitely not as bulky.

And the last time Dick saw Jason, he was giving him a hug goodbye, complaining that Dick had messed up his hair.

And now, Jason was aiming a gun at him.

The gunshot didn’t hurt nearly as much as the thought that Jason had indeed shot him. Did Jason hate him that much?

You’re almost as guilty as he is, Jason’s voice echoed in his head.

“Bruce,” he gasped in the comms, “I’m down. They got away.”

“I heard a gunshot,” the deep voice in his ear spoke.

“Yeah, Jason shot my leg,” Dick winced, “Didn’t hit bone but I think it nicked my artery.”

“There are children here,” Batman said, “I was right. He’s sabotaging the Powers’. Gordon should be here soon. You control your bleeding.”

Dick nodded to himself and took a deep breath before plunging his finger into the gunshot wound to keep himself from bleeding out.

***

“...suspects that the crime lord only known as Red Hood and an unidentified female were behind the home invasion. Maria and Joseph Powers were left in a gruesome state according to reports, but their only child Carrie Powers was unharmed. The authorities are not sure what Red Hood’s motive was, but more will be elaborated during Commissioner Gordon’s public address later this afternoon...”

Dick heard you close the door.

“You didn’t come home last night,” he lowered the volume of the television.

“Uh, yeah,” you answered.

Dick looked over at you. You seemed tired, eyes swollen and red from crying, wearing an oversized t-shirt that he didn’t recognize.

“I was at-”

“Carter’s?” he finished your sentence for you.

“Yeah,” you nodded, sitting down next to him on the sofa.

Dick frowned to himself. Your arms were crossed, you were avoiding eye contact, your body was angled away from him.

“You heard about the Powers’?” he turned his gaze towards the television.

“I saw the news on the way here,” you monotoned.

You smelled like a different shampoo. It was familiar, but Dick couldn’t remember where he had smelled it before.

“So you know that-”

“Yes, Jason did it,” you said rigidly.

“Along with-”

“His partner.”

Ah, now he remembered the smell. Jason’s favorite shampoo. He used to make fun of him for choosing one that was called what it was called. He didn’t really care about it, Dick kept his hair soft and fluffy with multiple women’s hair products. He just liked to rile Jason up because he was so defensive about it.

And with that, Dick let out a long, disappointed sigh.

“Bruce is in the cave. I suggest that you think long and hard about what to tell him,” Dick offered you a soft smile, “But no matter what you choose to say, you’ll always be my sister, and I’ll always love you no matter what, okay?”

You gave him a look of shock, and then realised that he had figured it out.

“I’m sorry, Dick,” you lips trembled, your eyes started brimming with tears.

“No, kid. I’m sorry,” he replied, “Go.”

You nodded and left.

Despite being right all along, he didn’t feel any sense of achievement. Dick couldn’t help but partly blame himself. For being so absent, for being neglectful, for being a bad brother.

Dick wasn’t perfect, but like hell would he stop trying to be.

***

For years Bruce had tried to stop feeling guilty for being relieved whenever someone else takes care of a problem he couldn’t solve- especially when it involved murder.

Bruce had tried to take down the Powers for almost a decade, and everytime he got close, there was always another obstacle in the way. It was difficult to expose the rich and powerful without resorting to violence, without resorting to breaking his principles.

So Bruce was ready to stop himself from internally celebrating their deaths. This time, however, he wasn’t as pleased. Because this time, it was Jason who brutally murdered two people. Jason, who was supposed to be under his care and responsibility.

“Bruce?” he heard your timid, small voice from behind him. “I have to tell you something.”

And there it was.

Bruce turned around and looked straight at you, piercing your eyes with his own as he waited on your confession.

A minute passed.

“I’m V,” you struggled to speak, “I’ve been meeting up with Jason for a few months now. I didn’t know he was Red Hood until you told me. But when you did tell me, I chose to confront him and team up with him anyway.”

Bruce didn’t say anything.

“He- he’s not a bad person, Bruce,” you justified, “He’s just really hurt. He needs help.”

You were telling Bruce things he already knew.

“I- I fell in love with him,” you continued, “And I let my feelings cloud my judgement and betrayed your trust. At first I thought that he was onto something, that his… methods were better than yours. And I was angry that you kept secrets from me. But after last night- after what I saw- I couldn’t- I couldn’t stay.”

Bruce clenched his jaw.

He suspected it. Dick suspected it. But for your sake, the both of them chose to put their trust in you. He had tried so hard to change from his old ways. He learned his lesson with both Dick and Jason.

He didn’t want you to go through the same thing they did.

So, he chose to blindly trust you anyway, hoping that he wasn’t right.

“I’m sorry, Bruce,” you were sobbing now, “I’m so sorry. Please, say something.”

After another minute of watching you break down in front of him, Bruce finally spoke up.

“Hang up your colors. You’re no longer my Robin.”

[w00wzerz]

~The Grayson orbit 🥺💙~

(All that matters in Titans season 3 ep 8)

I have so much to touch on in such little time! So let’s jump right into it shall we?

Kory has got it bad… and I mean bad - bad. From the very moment that her beautifully long legs strutted into the room, her eyes were locked solely on Dick and his polished ensemble. I adore how she harbors a keen eye for the little things - like when she hands her husband a napkin to wipe the crumbs from his mouth.

Dick on the other hand, is simply that - a Dick. Comparatively in this scene where he takes a bite out of his sandwich - the man wants to have his cake snd eat it too!

He is handsomely dressed down in a black suit, his hair slicked back ever so evenly as it glistens the reflection of the dimmed lights in the room. He has plans for a “date” to a gala with Barbara 🙄 but remains at home shooting his pearly white smile and puppy eyes over to an ever so smitten Koriand’r. Gosh this man makes my blood boil.

Now moving on to the next “it” couple of the season! Let me also be clear that I might just be a grand wizard for the amount of accuracy in my thesis of Kom and Conner’s sex life here.

This scene was so HOT! 🥵 I almost found myself stripping right along with them! Lmfaoo that might be a stretch however, despite how entrapped I am by these two love birds - I find it incredibly hard to root for them in the long run.

Who knows what Kom actually has in store for the Titans? And by the way she was so adamant-on her stance of “no second chances” I believe that the writers are probably foreshadowing her role in the soon to come, ultimate betrayal of the team.

Now lets shift our focus onto Dick and the interesting dynamics with Tim.

For starters, can we all appreciate how incredibly smart and persistent my baby Tim is / was in this episode! He had to let Dick know that he WILL not be gaslighted like an idiot. He even got the job done quicker than Dick did in a day 🥴

Personally I believe that once Tim requested to be the new Robin, Dick instantly felt an emotional pull to him, similar to his connection with Jason. However, that chapter has long been shut. Who would’ve thought that Jason would be the first page huh?

Can Tim replace Jason and be the better Robin? In my personal opinion based on the comics - I think so.

Once Tim is shot by Crane, the writers choose to immediately highlight the parallel between Dick and himself. Tim’s impulsiveness, persistency, and determination is the blatant exemplification of the old Dick and his strive. This theory becomes evident when Dick suddenly pictures himself in Tim’s place.

This could also be another foreshadow of Tim’s new spot within the Titans as this particular moment could evoke the parent within Dick and cause him to take Tim in - with the sole intention of keeping him safe and growing the family. Along with his other stray kids Conner, Rachel and Gar.

After Dick discusses the deal with the team that he made with Jason to have him turn in Crane and return home, he ultimately enters extremely hot waters. For many reasons, one being that he made the selfish decision without including his family AGAIN - and two because his hard headed nature just simply will not allow him to listen to anyone!

Once Dick makes a decision, there is no getting through to him. Even as Kory tries to reason with him and call out his BS, he inevitably blows her off - clearly displaying that her words went in though one ear and straight out the other.

I am also really not a fan of the route that the writers have chosen to take these two. They barely have more than 2 scenes together in an episode and they never remain in the same damn room together for more than 2 seconds! They just said screw Dickkory and ALL of their fans huh?

However in the clip Kory brings forth the ultimate one liner from Bruce “be a better batman.” She also highlights that there is a clear distinction in that term, in other words, there is a Batman who kills in cold blood and one who does not.

Kory’s breakdown of the line also properly touches base on the symbolism that ran rampant throughout the last few minutes of the episode. The eminence of fire and water, good and evil. They both cause major destruction however, one is intentional and the other is just simply erratic.

This points out that even some humans with the intention to do good, may ultimately gain an evil label. Kory using her powers to accidentally leak Crane’s gas into the water drain of every civilian in Gotham, will be the prime example of this.

The next step in the Titans future will be as rocky as ever, but with each new step also brings about new beginnings. Hopefully a Wanted title will be enough to wake them up!

But thats all I have for this week’s analysis! I have full hope that Tim will survive because he is my little baby of courseee, anyways see ya next week 💕

[wits-writing]

What’s so Funny About Vengeance, the Night, and Batman? – Two Superhero Parodies in Conversation

Back in 2016, the first trailers for Director Chris McKay’s The Lego Batman Movie hit. A spinoff of the take on the iconic hero, voiced by Will Arnett, from 2014’s The Lego Movie. Those trailers spelled out a plot covering how Batman’s life of crimefighting is turned upside down when Robin unexpectedly enters the picture. It was a funny trailer, promising another insightful comedy from the crew behind The Lego Movie. A promise it handily delivered on when it came out in February 2017 with an animated feature steeped wall-to-wall jokes for the sake of mocking Bruce Wayne’s angst filled crusade that can only come from understanding what’s made the character withstand the test of time.

But there was a thought I and others had from seeing that trailer up to watching the actual movie:

“This seems… familiar.”

Holy Musical B@man! is a 2012 fan-made stage production parody of DC Comics’ biggest cash cow. It was produced as the fifth musical from YouTube-based cult phenomenon Starkid Productions, from a book by Matt and Nick Lang, music by Nick Gage and Scott Lamp with lyrics by Gage. The story of the musical details how Robin’s unexpected entrance ends up turning Batman’s (Joe Walker) life of crimefighting upside down. Among Starkids’ fandom derived projects in their early existence, as they’ve mainly moved on to well-received original material in recent years, Holy Musical B@man! is my personal favorite. I go back to it frequently, appreciating it as a fan of both superheroes and musicals. (Especially since good material that touches on both of those isn’t exactly easy to come by. Right, Spider-Man?)

While I glibly summarized the similarities between them by oversimplifying their plots, there’s a lot in the details, both major and minor, that separates how they explore themes like solitude, friendship, love, and what superhero stories mean. It’s something I’ve wanted to dig into for a while and I found a lot in both of them I hadn’t considered before by putting them in conversation. I definitely recommend watching both of them, because of how in-depth this piece goes including discussing their endings. However, nothing I can say will replace the experience of watching them and if I had included everything I could’ve commented on in both of them, this already massive piece would easily be twice as long minimum.

Up front, I want to say this isn’t about comparing The Lego Batman Movie and Holy Musical B@man in terms of quality. Not only are they shaped for vastly different mediums with different needs/expectations, animation versus stagecraft, but they also had different resources at their disposal. Even if both are in some ways riffing on the aesthetic of the 1990s Batman movies and the Adam West TV show, Lego Batman does it with the ability to make gorgeously animated frames packed to the brim with detail while Holy Musical often leans into its low-fi aesthetic of characters miming props and sets to add extra humor. They’re also for different audiences, Lego Batman clearly for all-ages while Holy Musical has the characters cursing for emphasis on a regular basis. On top of those factors, after picking through each of these for everything worth commenting on that I could find, I can’t say which I wholly prefer thanks in part to these fundamental differences.

This piece is more about digging through the details to explore the commonalities, differences, and what makes them effective mocking love letters to one of the biggest superheroes in existence.

(Also, since I’m going to be using the word “Batman” a lot, I’ll be calling Lego Batman just “Batman” and referring to the version from Holy Musical as “B@man”, with the exception of quoted dialogue.)

[Full Piece Under the Cut]

Setting the Tone

The beginning is, in fact, a very good place to start when discussing how these parodies frame their versions of the caped crusader. Each one uses a song about lavishing their respective Batmen with praise about how they are the best superheroes ever and play over sequences of the title hero kicking wholesale ass. A key distinction comes in who’s singing each song. Holy Musical B@man’s self-titled opening number is sung from the perspective of an omniscient narrator recounting B@man’s origin and later a chorus made up of the Gotham citizenry. Meanwhile, “Who’s the (Bat) Man” from Lego Batman is a brag-tacular song written by Batman about himself, even playing diegetically for all his villains to hear as he beats them up.

Holy Musical opens on a quick recap of Batman’s origin:

“One shot, Two shots in the night and they’re gone And he’s all left alone He’s just one boy Two dead at his feet and their blood stains the street And there’s nothing, no there’s nothing he can do!”

We then get a Bat-dance break as the music goes from slow and moody to energetic to reflect Batman turning that tragedy into the driving force behind his one-man war on crime. Assured by the narrator that he’s “the baddest man that there’s ever been!” and “Now there’s nothing, no there’s nothing he can’t do!” flipping the last lyric of the first verse. For the rest of the opening scene the lyrics matter less than what’s happening to establish both this fan-parody’s version of Batman and how the people of Gotham (“he’ll never refuse ‘em”) view him.

Lego Batman skips the origin recap, and in general talks around the death of the Waynes to keep the light tone going since it’s still a kids movie about a popular toy even if there are deeper themes at play. Instead, it continues a trend The Lego Movie began for this version of the character writing music about how he’s an edgy, dark, awesome, cool guy. While that movie kept it to Batman angry-whiteboy-rapping about “Darkness! NO PARENTS!”, this one expands to more elaborate boasts in the song “Who’s the (Bat) Man” by Patrick Stump:

“In the darkest night I make the bad guys fall There’s a million heroes But I’m the best of them all!”

Batman singing this song about himself, as opposed to having it sung by others aims the crosshairs of parody squarely on the hero’s ego. His abilities make fighting his villains effortless, like this opening battle is more an opportunity to perform the song than a life-or-death struggle. Even Joker’s aware of that as he shouts, “Stop him before he starts singing!” This Batman doesn’t see himself as missing out on anything in life, even if he still feels that deep down. Being Batman is the coolest thing in the world that anyone would envy. He’s Batman, therefore everyone should envy him.

The songs aren’t only part of the equation for how these two works’ opening scenes establish their leading hero. While both songs are about Batman being cool, they’re separated by the accompanying scenes. Lego Batman keep the opening within the Joker’s perspective until Batman shows up and the action kicks in. Once it does, we’re shown a Batman at the top of his solo-hero game. Meanwhile, Holy Musical’s opening is about B@man building his reputation and by the end of the song he has all the citizens of Gotham singing his praises with the titular lyrics. Both are about being in awe of the title hero, one framed by Joker’s frustration at Batman’s ease in foiling his schemes yet again and the other about the people of Gotham growing to love their city’s hero (probably against their better judgement.)

That’s woven into the fabric of what kind of schemes Batman is foiling in each of these. Joker’s plan to bomb Gotham with the help of every supervillain in Batman’s Rogues Gallery is hilariously high stakes and the type of plan most Batman stories, even parodies, would save for the climax. Neatly exemplified by how that’s almost the exact structure of Holy Musical’s final showdown. Starting with these stakes works as an extension of this Batman’s nature as a living children’s toy and therefore the embodiment of a child’s idea of what makes Batman cool, his ability to wipe the floor with anyone that gets in his way “because he’s Batman.” It also emphasizes Joker as the only member of the Rogues Gallery that matters to Lego Batman’s story, every other Bat-villain is either a purely visual cameo or only gets a couple lines maximum.

The crime’s being stopped by B@man are more in the “Year One” gangster/organized crime category rather than anything spectacle heavy. Though said crimes are comically exaggerated:

Gangster 1: Take these here drugs, put ‘em into them there guns, and then hand ‘em out to those gamblin’ prostitutes! Gangster 2: Should we really be doing these illegal activities? In a children’s hospital for orphans?

These fit into that model of crime the Dark Knight fights in his early days and add tiny humanizing moments between the crooks (“Oh, Matches! You make me laugh like nobody else!”) in turn making the arrival of B@man and the violence he deals out a stronger punchline. Further emphasized by the hero calling out the exact physical damage he does with each hit before warning them to never do crime again saying, “Support your families like the rest of us! Be born billionaires!” Later in the song his techniques get more extreme and violence more indiscriminate, as he uses his Bat-plane to patrol and gun down whoever he sees as a criminal, including a storeowner accidentally taking a single dollar from his own register. (“God’s not up here! Only Batman!”)

A commonality between these two openings is how Commissioner Jim Gordon gets portrayed. Both are hapless goofs at their core, playing more on the portrayal of the character in the 60s TV show and 90s Burton/Schumacher movies than the serious-minded character present in comics, Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, and other adaptations. Lauren Lopez’s portrayal in Holy Musical gets overwhelmed by everything thrown at him, eventually giving up and getting out of B@man’s way (“I’m not gonna tell Batman what to do! He’s Batman!”) Hector Elizondo’s Gordon in Lego Batman clearly reached the “stay out of Batman’s way” point a long time ago, happy to have “the guy who flips on the Bat-signal” be his sole defining trait. While the characterizations are close, their roles do end up differing. Lopez’s Gordon sticks around to have a few more comedic scenes as the play goes on, where Elizondo’s exist to set up a contrast with his daughter Barbara and her way of approaching Batman when she becomes Police Commissioner.

These opening sequences both end in similar manners as well; the citizens of Gotham lavishing praise on their respective Batmen and a confrontation between Batman and the Joker. Praise from the citizenry in Holy Musical comes on the heels of a letter from B@man read out on the news about how much they and the city of Gotham suck. They praise B@man for his angsty nature as a “dark hero” and how they “wouldn’t want him any other way!”, establishing the motif of Gotham’s citizens in Holy Musical as stand-ins for the Batman fandom. Lego Batman uses the praise of the Gotham citizens after Batman’s victory in the opening scene as a lead in to contrast their certainty that Batman must have an exciting private life with the reality we’re shown. Which makes sense since Lego-Batman’s relationship to the people of Gotham is never presented as something at stake.

Greater contrast comes in how the confrontations with the Joker are handled, Lego Batman has an argument between the hero and villain that’s intentionally coded as relationship drama, Batman saying “There is no ‘us’” when Joker declares himself Batman’s greatest enemy. The confrontation in Holy Musical gets purposefully underplayed as an offstage encounter narrated to the audience as a Vicki Vale news report. This takes Joker off the board for the rest of the play in contrast to the Batman/Joker relationship drama that forms one of Lego Batman’s key pillars. While they take different forms, the respective citizenry praise and villain confrontation parts of these openings lead directly into the number one common thematic element between these Bat-parodies: Batman’s loneliness.

One is the Darkest, Saddest, Loneliest Number

Batman as an isolated hero forms one of the core tenants of the most popular understanding of the character. Each of these parodies picks at that beyond the broody posturing. There’s no dedicated segment in this piece about how these works’ versions of the title character function bleeds into every other aspect of them, but each starts from the idea of Batman as a man-child with trouble communicating his emotions. Time’s taken to give the audience a view of where their attitudes have left them early in the story.

Both heroes show their loneliness through interactions with their respective Alfreds. Holy Musical has the stalwart butler, played by Chris Allen, try to comfort B@man by asking if he has any friends he enjoys being around. When B@man cites Lucius Fox as a friend he calls him right away, only to discover Lucius Fox is Alfred’s true identity and Alfred Pennyworth was an elaborate ruse he came up with to protect Bruce on his father’s wishes. Ironically, finding out his closest friend was living a double life causes Bruce to push Alfred away (the play keeps referring to him as Alfred after this, so that’s what I’m going to do as well.) After he’s fired he immediately comes back in a new disguise as “O’Malley the Irish Butler” (same outfit he wore before but with a Party City Leprechaun hat.) That’s unfortunately the start of a running gag in Holy Musical that ends up at the worst joke in the play, when Alfred disguises himself as “Quon Li the Chinese Butler” doing an incredibly cringeworthy “substituting L’s for R’s” bit with his voice. It’s been my least favorite bit in the play since I first saw it in 2012 and legitimately makes me hesitate at times to recommend it. Even if it’s relatively small bit and the rest holds ups.

That disclaimer out of the way, that conversation between B@man and Alfred leads into the title hero reflecting on his sadness through the musical’s I Want Song, “Dark, Sad, Lonely Knight.” The song’s split into two halves, the first Alfred reflecting on whether he played a part in Bruce’s current condition and the second B@man longing for a connection. The song does a good job balancing between the sincerity over the hero’s sadness and getting good laughs out of it:

“Think of the children Next time you gun down the mama and papa Their only mama and papa Because they probably don’t have another mama and papa!”

The “I Want” portion of the song coming in the end with the repetition of the lryics “I want to be somebody’s buddy.”

Rather than another song number, Lego Batman covers Batman’s sadness through a pair of montages and visual humor. The first comes after the opening battle, where we see Batman taking off all his costume except for the mask hanging out alone in Wayne Manor, showing how little separation he puts between identities. Compared to Holy Musical where the equivalent scene is the first we see of Bruce without the mask on, which may come down to practicality since anyone who’s worn a mask like that knows they get hot and sweaty fast. Batman is constantly made to appear small among the giant empty rooms of his estate as he eats dinner, jams on his guitar, and watches romantic movies alone.

Ralph Fienne’s Alfred coming in at the end of this sequence witnessing Batman looking at a photo of himself as a boy with his parents for the last time. Alfred outlines Batman’s fear of being part of a family again only to be met with Batman denying he has any feelings ever. Pennyworth’s role as a surrogate father gets put into greater focus here than in Holy Musical, as we get glimpses of Alfred reading a book titled “How to Deal with Your Out-of-Control Child.” Also shown in smaller scenes of Alfred dealing with Batman’s insistent terminology for his crime fighting equipment, like calling his cowl an “armored face disguise.”

Batman’s denial of his pain contrasts how B@man wallows in it. Though he’s forced to confront it a little as the Joker’s plan ends up leaving him with no crimefighting to fall back on to ignore his issues. This montage gets set to the song “One” by Harry Nilsson and details Batman, unable to express his true feelings, eventually letting them out in the form of tempter tantrums. There’s also some humor through juxtaposition as Batman walks solemnly through the streets of Gotham City, rendered black and white, as the citizens chant “No more crime!” in celebration, while flipping over cars and firing guns into the air.

A disruption to their loneliness eventually comes in the form of a sensational character find.

Robin – The Son/BFF Wonder

Between both Bat-parodies, the two Robins’ characterizations are as close as anyone’s between them. Each is nominally Dick Grayson but are ultimately more representative of the idea of Robin as the original superhero sidekick and his influence on Batman’s life. The play and movie also both make the obvious jokes about Dick’s name and the classic Robin costume’s lack of pants at different points. Dick’s origin also gets sidestepped in each version to skip ahead to the part where he starts being an influence in Batman’s life.

Robin’s introduction to the comics in Detective Comics #38 in 1940, marking the start of Batman’s literal “Year Two” as a character, predating the introduction of Joker, Catwoman, and Alfred, among others. Making him Batman’s longest lasting ally in the character’s history. His presence and acrobatics shift the tone by adding a dash of swashbuckling to Batman’s adventures, inspired by the character’s namesake Robin Hood, though both parodies take a page out of Batman Forever and associate the name with the bird for the sake of a joke. Robin is as core to Batman as his origin, but more self-serious adaptations (i.e., the mainstream cinematic ones that were happening around the times both Holy Musical and Lego Batman came out) tend to avoid the character’s inclusion. These two works being parody, therefore anything but self-serious, give themselves permission to examine why Robin matters and how different characters react to his presence. Rejection of Robin as a character and concept comes out in some form in each of these works, from Batman himself in Lego Batman and the Gotham citizens in Holy Musical.

The chain of events that lead to Dick becoming Robin in Lego Batman are a string of consequences for Batman’s self-absorption. A scene of Bruce barely listening as Dick asks for advice on getting adopted escalating to absentmindedly signing the adoption paperwork. Batman doesn’t realize he has a son until after his sadness montage. Alfred forces Batman to start interacting with Dick against his will. The broody loner wanting nothing to do with the cheery kid, played to “golly gee gosh” perfection by Michael Cera, until he sees the utility of him. Batman doesn’t even have the idea to give Robin a costume or codename because he clearly views the sidekick’s presence as a temporary measure for breaking into Superman’s fortress, made clear by how he lists “expendable” as a quality Dick needs if he wants to go on a mission.

This makes Robin the catalyst for Batman’s shifting perspective throughout Lego Batman. When Robin succeeds in his first mission, the Dark Knight is hesitant to truly compliment him and chalks up his ward’s feats to “unbelievable obeying.” Other moments have Robin’s presence poke holes in Batman’s tough guy demeanor, like the first time Batman and Robin ride in the Bat-mobile together, Robin asks where the seatbelts are and Batman growls “Life doesn’t give you seatbelts!”, only for Batman to make a sudden stop causing Robin to hit his head on the windshield and Batman genuinely apologizes. They share more genuine moments together as the film goes, like Batman suggesting they beatbox together to keeps their spirits up after they’ve been imprisoned for breaking into Arkham Asylum. Robin’s representative of Batman gradually letting people in throughout these moments.

On the exact opposite end of the spectrum, B@man needs zero extra prompting to let Robin into his life. Nick Lang’s Robin (henceforth called “Rob!n” to keep with this arbitrary naming scheme I’ve concocted) does get brought into his life by Alfred thanks to a personal ad (“‘Dog for sale’? No… ‘Orphan for sale’! Even better!”) but it’s a short path to B@man deciding to let Dick fight alongside him. The briefest hesitance on the hero’s part, “To be Batman… is to be alone”, is quelled by Rob!n saying “We could be alone… together.” Their first scene together quickly establishing the absurd sincerity exemplified by this incarnation of the Dynamic Duo. An energy carried directly into the Act 1 closing number, “The Dynamic Duet”, a joyful ode between the heroes about how they’re “Long lost brothers who found each other” sung as they beat up supervillains (and the occasional random civilian.)

That song also ties into the contrast between the Batman/Robin dynamic and the B@man/Rob!n one. While Holy Musical is portraying a brotherly/BFF bond between the two heroes, Lego Batman leans into the surrogate son angle. While both are mainly about their stories’ Batman being able to connect with others, the son angle of Lego Batman adds an additional layer of “Batman needs to take responsibility for himself and others” and a parallel to Alfred as Batman’s own surrogate father. It also adds to the queer-coding of Batman in Lego Batman as Batman’s excuse to Robin for why he can go on missions is that Bruce and he are sharing custody, Robin even calling Batman’s dual identities “dads” before he knows the truth.

In the absence of the accepting personal responsibility through fatherhood element, the conflict Rob!n brings out in Holy Musical forms between B@man and the citizens of Gotham. “Citizens as stand-ins for fandom” is at it’s clearest here as the Act 2 opener is called “Robin Sucks!” featuring the citizens singing about how… well, you read the title. Their objections to Rob!n’s existence has nothing to do with what the young hero has done or failed to do, but come from arguments purely about the aesthetic of Rob!n fighting alongside B@man. Most blatantly shown by one of the citizens wearing a Heath Ledger Joker t-shirt saying Rob!n’s presence “ruins the gritty realism of a man who fights crime dressed as a bat.” It works as the Act 2 opener by establishing that B@man and the citizens conflicting opinions on his sidekick end up driving that half of the story, exemplified in B@man’s complete confusion about why people hate Rob!n (“Robin ruined Batman? But that’s not true… Robin make Batman happy.”)

Both Robins play into the internal conflict their respective mentors are going through, but what would a superhero story, even a parody, be without some colorful characters to provide that sweet external conflict.

Going Rogue

Both works have the threat comes from an army of villains assembled under a ringleader, Zach Galifianakis’s Joker in Lego Batman and Jeff Blim as Sweet Tooth in Holy Musical. Both lead the full ensemble of Batman’s classic (and not so classic) Rogues at different points. As mentioned before Joker starts Lego Batman with “assemble the Rogues, blow up Gotham” as his plan, while Sweet Tooth with his candy prop comedy becoming the ringleader of Gotham’s villains is a key turning point in Act 1 of the play. Part of this comes down to how their connections to their respective heroes and environments are framed, Sweet Tooth as a new player on the scene and Joker as Batman’s romantic foil.

Lego Batman demonstrates Batman and Joker are on “finishing each other’s sentences” levels of intimate that Batman refuses to acknowledge. Shown best in how Joker’s plan only works because he can predict exactly how Batman will act once he starts playing hard to get. When he surrenders the entire Rogues Gallery (without telling them) and himself to police custody, he describes it as him being “off the market.” He knows Batman won’t settle for things ending on these terms and tricks the hero into stealing Superman’s Phantom Zone projector so he can recruit a new, better team of villains for a take two of his masterplan from the start. Going through all this trouble to get Batman to say those three magic words; “I love hate you.” Joker as the significant other wanting his partner to finally reciprocate his feelings and commit works both as a play on how the Batman/Joker relationship often gets approached and an extension of the central theme. Batman is so closed off to interpersonal connections he can’t even properly hate his villains.

Sweet Tooth, while clearly being a riff Heath Ledger and Caesar Romero’s Jokers fused with a dash of Willy Wonka, doesn’t have that kind of connection with B@man. Though there are hints that B@man and his recently deceased Joker may have had one on that level. He laments “[Joker]’s in heaven with mom and dad. Making them laugh, I know it!” when recalling how the Clown Prince of Crime was the one person he enjoyed being around. This makes Joker’s death one of the key triggers to B@man reflecting on his solitude at the start of the play.

What Sweet Tooth provides the story is a threat to B@man’s new bond with Rob!n. Disrupting that connection forms the delicious center of the Candy King of Crime’s plan in Act 2. He holds Rob!n and Gotham’s people hostage and asks the citizens to decide via Facebook poll if the sidekick lives or dies (in reference to the infamous phone hotline vote from the comic book story A Death in the Family where readers could decide the Jason Todd Robin’s fate.)

With the rest of the villains under the leadership of the respective works’ main antagonists, there’s commentary on their perceived quality as threats. When Holy Musical has Superman talking to Green Lantern about how much B@man’s popularity frustrates him, he comes down especially hard on the Caped Crusader’s villains. Talking about how they all coast by on simple gimmicks with especially harsh attention given to Two Face’s being “the number two.” Saying they’re only famous because B@man screws up and they get to do more damage. Which he compares to his own relationship with his villains:

Superman: You ever heard of Mr. Mxyzptlk? Green Lantern: No. Superman: No, that’s right! That’s because I do my job!

Lego Batman has commentary on the other villains come from Joker, recognizing that even all together they can never beat Batman, because that’s how a Batman story goes. The other villains get portrayed as generally buffoonish, struggling to even build a couch together and described by Joker as “losers dressed in cosplay.” Tricking Batman into sending him to the Phantom Zone provides him the opportunity to gather villains from outside Batman’s mythos and outside DC Comics in general. Recruiting the likes of Sauron, King Kong, Daleks, Agent Smith from The Matrix, and the Wicked Witch of the West, among others. When I first saw and reviewed The Lego Batman Movie, this bugged me because it felt like a missed opportunity to feature lesser-known villains from other DC heroes’ Rogues Galleries. Now, considering the whole movie as meta-commentary on the status of this Batman as a children’s toy, it makes perfect sense that Joker would need to go outside of comics to break the rules of a typical Batman story and have a shot at winning.

The Rogues of Holy Musical get slightly more of a chance to shine, if only because their song “Rogues are We” is one of the catchier tracks from the play. They’re all still more cameo than character when all’s said and done, but Sweet Tooth entering the picture is about him recognizing their potential to operate as a unit, takeover Gotham, and kill B@man. The candy-pun flinging villain wants all of them together, no matter their perceived quality.

Sweet Tooth: “We need every villain in Gotham. Cool themes, lame themes, themes that don’t match their powers, even the villains that take their names from public domain stories.” (Two Face’s “broke ass” still being the exception.)

Both Joker and Sweet Tooth provide extensions of the shared theme of Batman dealing with the new connections in his life, especially with regards to Robin. However, Robin isn’t the only other ally (or potential ally) these Dark Knights have on their side.

Super Friends(?)

The internal crisis of these Caped Crusaders come as much from how they react to other heroic figures as it does from supervillainous machinations. In both cases how Batman views and is viewed by fellow heroes gets centered on a specific figure, Superman in Holy Musical and Commissioner Barbara Gordon (later Batgirl) in Lego Batman. Each serves a vastly different purpose in the larger picture of their stories and relationship to their respective Batmen. Superman reflecting B@man’s loneliness and Barbara symbolizing a new path forward for Batman’s hero work.

Superman’s role in Holy Musical runs more parallel to Lego Batman’s Joker than Barbara. Brian Holden’s performance as the Man of Tomorrow plays into a projected confidence covering anxiety that nobody likes him. Besting the Bat-plane in a race during B@man’s Key to the City ceremony establishes a one upmanship between the two heroes, like Joker’s description of his relationship with Batman at the end of Lego Batman’s opening battle. Though instead of that romantically coded relationship from Lego Batman, this relationship is more connected to childish jealousy. (But if you do want to read the former into Holy Musical B@man, neither hero has an onstage relationship with any woman and part of their eventual fight consist of spanking each other.)

B@man and Superman’s first real interaction is arguing over who’s the cooler hero until it degrades into yelling “Fuck you!” at each other. B@man storming off in the aftermath of that gets topped off by Superman suggesting he should get the Key to the City instead, citing his strength and longer tenure as a hero (“The first hero, by the way”) as justifications. This only results in the Gotham citizens turning on him for suggesting their city’s hero is anything less than the best, which serves both as a Sam Raimi Spider-Man reference (“You mess with one of us! You mess with all of us!”) and another example of the citizens as stand-ins for fandom. Superman’s veil of cocksureness comes off quickly after that and stays off for the rest of the play. Starting with his conversation with Green Lantern where a civilian comes across them, but barely acts like Superman’s there.

One of the play’s running gags is Superman calling B@man’s number and leaving messages, showing a desperation to reach out and connect with his fellow hero despite initial smugness. Even before the first phone call scene, we see Superman joining B@man to sing “I want to be somebody’s buddy” during “Dark, Sad, Lonely Knight” hinting at what’s to come. The note it consistently comes back to is that Superman’s jealousy stems from Batman’s popularity over him. This is a complete flip of what Lego Batman does with the glimpse at a Batman/Superman dynamic we see when Batman goes to the Superman’s fortress to steal the Phantom Zone projector. The rivalry dynamic there exists solely in Batman’s head, Lego-Superman quickly saying “I would crush you” when Batman suggests the idea of them fighting. Superman’s status among the other DC heroes is also night and day between these works. Where Lego-Superman’s only scene in the movie shows him hosting the Justice League Anniversary Party and explaining he “forgot” to invite Batman, Superman in Holy Musical consistently lies about having friends over (“All night long I’m busy partying with my friends at the Fortress… of Solitude.”)

Superman’s relationship to B@man in Holy Musical develops into larger antagonism thanks to lack of communication with B@man brushing off Supes’ invitations to hang out and fight bad guys (“Where were you for the Solomon Grundy thing? Ended up smaller than I thought, just a couple of cool guys. Me and… Solomon Grundy.”) His own loneliness gets put into stronger focus when he sees the news of Rob!n’s debut as a crimefighter, which makes him reflect on how he misses having Krypto the Super-Dog around. (The explanation for why he doesn’t have his dog anymore is one of my favorite jokes in the play and I won’t ruin it here.)

Where Superman’s a reflection of B@man’s loneliness, Rosario Dawson as Barbara in Lego Batman is a confrontation of Batman’s go it alone attitude. Her job in the story is to be the one poking holes in the foundation of Batman as an idea, starting with her speech at Jim Gordon’s retirement banquet and her instatement as commissioner. She has a by-the-book outlook on crimefighting with the omnicompetence to back it up, thanks to her training at “Harvard for Police.” Babs sees Batman’s current way of operating as ineffectual and wants him to be an official agent of the law. An idea that dumps a bucket of cold water on Batman’s crush he developed immediately upon seeing her, though that never fully goes away.

Her main point is that Batman “karate chopping poor people” hasn’t made Gotham better in his 80 years of operating. A contrast to Holy Musical’s Jim Gordon announcing that B@man has brought Gotham’s crime rates to an all-time low (“Still the highest in the world, but we’re working on it.”) She wants to see a Batman willing to work with other people. A hope dashed constantly dealing with his childish stubbornness as he tries to foil Joker’s schemes on his own, culminating in her arresting Batman and Robin for breaking into Arkham to send Joker to the Phantom Zone.

Barbara’s role as the one bringing grown-up attitudes and reality into Batman’s world does leave her in the role of comedic straight woman. Humor in her scenes comes from how she reacts to everyone else’s absurdity rather than anything she does to be funny. This works for the role she plays in Lego Batman, since she’s not there to have an arc the way Superman does in Holy Musical. She’s another catalyst for Batman’s to start letting people in as another character he grows to care about. Which starts after she lets the Dynamic Duo out of prison to fight Joker’s new army of Phantom Zone villains on the condition that he plays it by her rules. Leading to a stronger bond between Batman, Robin, Alfred, and her as they start working together.

The two Batmen’s relationships to other heroes, their villains, Robin, and their own solitude each culminate in their own way as their stories reach their conclusions.

Dark Knights & Dawning Realizations

As everything comes down to the final showdowns in these Bat-parodies, the two Caped Crusaders each confront their failures to be there for others and allow themselves to be vulnerable to someone they’ve been antagonizing throughout the story. Each climax has all of Gotham threatened by a bomb and the main villains’ plans coming to fruition only to come undone.

Holy Musical has Sweet Tooth’s kidnapping of Rob!n and forcing Gotham to choose themselves or the sidekick they hate sends B@man into his most exaggerated state in the entire play. It’s the classic superhero movie climax conundrum, duty as a hero versus personal attachment. Alfred, having revealed himself as the “other butlers”, even lampshades how these stories usually go only for that possibility to get shot down by Bruce:

Alfred: A true hero, Master Wayne, finds a way to choose both. B@man: You’re right, Alfred. I know what I have to do… Fuck Gotham, I’m saving Robin!

B@man’s selfishness effectively makes him the real villain of Holy Musical’s second act. Lego Batman has shades of that aspect as well, where Batman gets sent to the Phantom Zone by Joker for his repeated refusal to acknowledge their relationship. Where the AI running the interdimensional prison, Phyllis voiced by Ellie Kemper, confronts him with the way he’s treated Robin, Alfred, Barbara, and even Joker:

Phyllis: You’re not a traditional bad guy, but you’re not exactly a good guy either. You even abandoned your friends. Batman: No! I was trying to protect them! Phyllis: By pushing them away? Batman: Well… yeah. Phyllis: Are they really the ones you’re protecting?

Batman watches what’s happening back in Gotham and sees Robin emulate his grim and gritty tendencies to save the day in his absence makes him desperately scream, “Don’t do what I would do!” It’s the universe rubbing what a jerk he’s been in his face. He’s forced to take a look at himself and make a change. B@man’s not made to do that kind of self-reflection until after he’s defeated Sweet Tooth but failed to stop the villain’s bomb. He’s ready to give up on Gotham forever and leave with Rob!n, until his sidekick pulls up Sweet Tooth’s poll and it shows the unanimous result in favor of saving the Boy Wonder. Despite everything they said at the start of Act 2, the people want to help their hero in return for all the times he helped them. All of them calling back to the Raimi Spider-Man reference from Act 1, “You mess with one of us. You mess with all of us.”

Both heroes’ chance at redemption and self-improvement comes from opening themselves up to the people they pushed out and dismissed earlier in their stories. Batman takes on the role he reduced the Commissioner down to at the beginning of the movie and flips on signals for Barbara, Alfred, and Robin to show how he’s truly prepared to work as a team, not just with his friends and family but with the villains of Gotham the Joker pushed aside as well. Teamwork makes the dream work and they’re all able to work together to get Joker’s army back into the Phantom Zone but like in Holy Musical they fail to stop the bomb threatening Gotham. Which he can only prevent from destroying the city by confessing his true feeling to Joker

Batman: If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have learned how connected I am with all of these people and you. So, if you help me save Gotham, you’ll help me save us. Joker: You just said “us?” Batman: Yeah, Batman and the Joker. So, what do you say? Joker: You had me at “shut up!”

The equivalent moment from Holy Musical comes from B@man needing to put aside his pride and encourage a disheartened Superman to save Gotham for him. This happens in the aftermath of a fight the two heroes had where Superman tried to stop B@man before he faced Sweet Tooth, B@man winning out through use of kryptonite. That fight doesn’t fit into any direct parallel with Lego Batman, but it is important context for how Superman’s feeling about B@man before Superman finally gets his long-awaited phone call from the Dark Knight. Also, the song accompanying the fight, “To Be a Man”, is one of the funniest scenes in the play. What this speech from B@man does is bring the idea of Holy Musical B@man as a commentary on fandom full circle:

B@man: I forgot what it means to be a superhero. But we’re really not that different, you and me, at our heart. I mean really all superheroes are pretty much the same… Something bad happened to us once when we were young, so we dedicated our whole lives to doing a little bit of good. That’s why we got into this crazy superhero business. Not to be the most popular, or even the most powerful. Because if that were the case, hell, you’d have the rest of us put out of a job!

This speech extends into an exchange between the heroes about how superheroes are cool, not despite anything superficially silly but because of it. Bringing it back to the “Robin Sucks!” theme that started Act 2, saying “Some people think Robin is stupid. But those people are pretentious douchebags. Because, literally, the only difference between Robin and me is our costumes.” The speech culminates in what I genuinely think is one of the best Batman lines ever written, as B@man’s final plea to Superman is “Where’s that man who’s faster than a gun?” calling back to the trauma that created Batman across all versions and what he can see in someone like Superman. So, B@man sacrificing his pride and fully trusting in another hero saves Gotham, the way Batman letting Joker know what their relationship means to him did in Lego Batman.

Each of these parodies ends by delivering a Batman willing to open himself up to a new team of heroes fighting at his side, the newly minted Bat-Family in Lego Batman and the league for justice known as the Super Friends in Holy Musical. Putting them side by side like this shows how creators don’t need the resources of a Hollywood studio to make something exactly as meaningful and how the best parodies come from love of the material no matter who’s behind them.

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