#Greetings from Deathstroke

[charlietheepicwriter7]

"Grandfather."

Ra's knew who the boy was the moment he'd snuck into the room. He'd allowed the child--more man than child now, but everyone was a child compared to him--moments to steel himself while Ra's refrained from acknowledging his presence. The boy's breath was barely audible but unsteady, and a drop of something fell to the floor.

His grandson was injured. "Danyal," he greeted and finally gazed upon him for the first time in seven years.

Danyal had grown into his father's height, yet stayed lean in regards to his musculature. His black hair had grown out of the League-regulation haircut, held back in a messy braid. He held himself as strong as he could, but kept an arm wrapped around his stomach. His shirt--standard American teenage garb, he dismissed--was spotted with blood and he could see bandages poking out from under the cloth.

With great care, Danyal knelt before the Demon Head and recited the Oath of Loyalty.

Ra's watched.

The boy's tongue, fat with English, spoke the League's variant of Arabic with the grace of a mace to the head, yet his words were clear. He took his time speaking the oath, carefully sounding out words, working hard to avoid mispronunciation. The Oath in question was the older version, from before Deathstroke's insurrection, but Danyal spoke it with a calm certainty that it would be accepted.

And without a doubt, it would be accepted.

Talia's eldest son had been born from her body instead of through science, a mistake that nearly cost her the child and damaged him upon birth. While the best doctors in the world saved his life, Danyal Al Ghul would always be weak in a fight, always prone to illness, always struggling to excel. When it became clear that the boy couldn't become the next Demon Head, Ra's sent Talia to create a replacement while arrangements were made for her first child to be taught business and science, for the betterment of the League. Danyal, very much his father's child, thrived in his intellectual pursuits while Damian grew and developed into a budding assassin.

But Danyal was more like his father than he'd ever knew. Ra's couldn't miss the signs of one of his family turning away from the League. Not the mission--Danyal had written several university level papers defending the environment by the time the boy was 10--but Ra's methods...

Ra's had a conundrum. Danyal was a dedicated conservationist; once the boy was an adult, Ra's was certain he'd take the world by storm and bring the League to new heights. But if he forced his methods onto Danyal, he could create an enemy of him, just as his father was.

Ra's gave Danyal an offer; Danyal would be allowed to leave the League and live a normal life if and only if he faked his own death in such a way that reinforced Damian's loyalty to the League of Assassins.

Danyal had been hesitant at first, but past his test with flying colors. Instigating one of the more unstable assassins into organizing a coup, cutting the insurgents off near immediately, but "dying" protecting both his younger brother and mother. It was a masterful performance. Even Talia hadn't known about the deceit.

And yet, here he was, on his knees, pledging loyalty. Danyal knew what that meant, knew what he was returning to, which morals he would be allowed to keep.

"And what do you bring with you, child of no one?" Why should the League accept the return of this child, who left once before?

Danyal met his eyes. "I bring with me, my team, who are loyal to me and me alone. I bring with me, research surrounding the Lazarus Pits, in origins and further uses for the waters." Ra's raised an eyebrow, and Danyal smirked. "I bring with me, my knowledge, nurtured within this very home and sharpened in the world outside. I bring with me, my weapons, built with my own hands. I bring with me... my body, finally healthy and whole." He brought his head down to the floor, trembling with pain. "I bring my whole self to the Demon's Head, for Him to accept or reject."

Ra's smiled. "By the shadows that guard our order and the blood that binds us, I accept this oath. From this day forward, you are an instrument of the League, a harbinger of justice, and a weapon in the hand of Ra's Al Ghul."

Danyal returned to his feet, swaying percariously. He needed immediate medical attention. Despite this, he continued, "Long live the League of Assassins. Long live Ra's Al Ghul."

And he collapsed onto the floor.

[thevoidstaredback]

Hey! So, it's been a while, but I finally remembered to come back to this! But, it's not gonna go the way you'd think.

If Danny had it his way, he'd be at his Aunt Alicia's house for the summer instead of New Jersey. This place is gloomy, grimy, and soaked through with so much crime that it's a Problem(TM). Like, seriously? New Jersey hasn't allowed the death penalty since he was seven, but can't they make, like, one exception? Get rid of The Joker and half of Gotham's problems are solved.

Unfortunately, he's only here as a guest, so he can't really do anything. Which, for the record, is a shit rule. Call a goose and goose, and that's exactly what Gotham City, New Jersey is.

It isn't all that bad, he supposes. Sure, the pollution blocks out the entire sky at all times, the buildings that aren't condemned are only feeding the rich while stealing from the poor, an entire twenty-four block are has been given up on by mostly everyone, the local vigilantes won't kill the recurring problems like the cockroaches they are- There was a good point to all this.

Oh! He has family here. That's it. That's the only silver lining, and it's bronze.

But, hey, it can't be that bad. From what he understands, his half-brother and company don't actually live in Gotham. Bristol, according to Talia is technically outside of Gotham City Limits, but is still considered as part of the city. Makes sense, aside from the fact that there's no bridge between Bristol and Gotham. Weird design, but he's not rich so he's not really inclined to care or understand.

Half brother, right.

Danny doesn't like Damian much, but that's because he's a clone...of Damian. Danny's a clone of Damian, not the other way around. Ra's makes that very clear

The only reason Talia wants him with Damian is because she's upset with Bruce Wayne. What is it with divorced parents and putting their kids on the middle of their fights? Or maybe that's just Talia?

Anyway.

Gotham, New Jersey is a dismal place. Danny's not germophobic by any means, he can't really afford to be, but even he's having a hard time being in the city.

It was so much easier hiding out with the Fentons.

Well, 'hiding' is a subjective term. Ra's and Talia knew where he was, so did Deathstroke, probably, but that was it.

Essentially, everyone he should be hiding from knows where he's been hiding, which means he's just been on some kind of twisted, extended vacation.

As far as Danny knew, Bruce Wayne had no idea he was coming. Damian knew because Talia had wanted him to pick Danny up from the airport. Weird because while Damian is technically older, Danny is still legally two years older.

Well, 'legally' is a stretch. He doesn't technically exist, outside of the LoA and Amity Park.

The point is that Damian is waiting for him at the end of the terminal, looking as much like an excited puppy as he can, with an older gentleman. Talia had given him nothing to work with, but Danny didn't really care who this guy was as long as he didn't try to make him do anything he didn't want to.

...living in the Midwest was doing wonders for his mental stability, but Ancients was it making him soft!

"'Danny', I presume?" the old man asked, his accent heavy.

Good, so Talia did give Damian his actual name. "Yep. You are?" He may not want to be here, but he still knows his manners. Even if he's only going to use the bare minimum of them. Malicious Compliance and all that.

"Alfred Pennyworth, the family butler." He didn't extend his hand to shake. Danny didn't mind. In fact, he actually preferred that.

Okay, so maybe he's a little bit haphephobic. Leave him alone!

"Danny," Damian greeted, a smile of excitement in his voice but not his face, "It's good to have you here. How did Mother convince you to come?"

"Bribery." Mostly.

Damian seemed to deflate a bit. "Father and the others don't know you're here."

"Do they even know about me at all?"

"No."

"Perfect! Then I can stay at a hotel-"

"For the entire summer?" Alfred raised his eyebrow, "I must insist that you stay at Wayne Manor while in Gotham. Master Bruce will most pleased to meet you."

"Why?" Danny scoffed, "I'm not his kid, nor do I want to be."

Damian slouched a little bit more. "Come, we must get back before the others send out a search party for us."

"Dramatic much?" Danny scoffed.

"Not at all," Alfred took both of Danny's bags before leading the way out to the car, "It' happened before in less time."

"I don't doubt it for a second. I'm calling Bruce a dramatic bitch."

Alfred smirked ever so slightly. "Quite right, Master Danny."

"Don't call me that."

"Alright then, what should I call you?"

"'Danny'. No honorifics, no add ons, no trying to fullname me, nothing else."

"And when you go out with the rest of the family?"

He scoffed again. "You really think they'd let me go out with them? I'm an assassin. In fact, the first thing I'll do the second I'm let out of the house is kill the clown bastard."

Damian rested his hand on Danny's arm. "They let me out with them and I tried to kill Drake. As long as you uphold a promise not to kill anyone, you'll be allowed to patrol with us."

They reached the car, Damian sat behind the driver while Danny sat behind the passenger. Alfred put the bags in the trunk. "So? What will you be called on patrol?"

Danny rolled his eyes, popping his headphones in and not looking away from the window. "Respawn."

Masterpost Part 2

[aealzx]

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Update Post

Prologue | AO3

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Even though Damian had contacted Raven before lunch they had decided to wait until the next morning for her to actually come for a visit. The hemoperfusion treatment had gone well, there didn’t seem to be any complications that Leslie and Bruce hadn’t already planned for. As expected Danny’s platelet count, blood sugar, and a few other components of his blood had ended up slightly lower than desirable. But the half donation from Danielle had been more than enough to compensate for it. They had just opted to wait the rest of the day, and only carefully monitor Danny’s condition to be 100% sure the treatment had benefited him before they wanted to do any other kinds of exams.

So, it was only within an hour after breakfast that Raven was stepping up the stairs to the manor entrance, getting let in by Damian instead of Alfred.

“Good morning, Raven,” Damian offered as a short greeting.

“Good Morning Damian,” Raven returned, not quite over being pleasantly surprised when Damian was polite with them.

 “I appreciate your assistance with our guest. Danielle and the other two are with Jon in the barn, brushing Goliath and Batcow. But I will lead you to Danny,” Damian informed, closing the front door and pausing for a moment to allow Raven to choose whether to leave her jacket on the coat hanger or not. It was chilly outside, but her jacket seemed to be more for fashion than warmth. As proven when she didn’t move to take it off.

“It’s no problem. I’m happy to help,” Raven assured. “I didn’t know Jon was going to be here too. Did Superman send him as a way to keep an eye on everyone without ignoring Bruce’s wishes?”

“No,” Damian admitted, gesturing for Raven to follow him as he began to lead her towards Danny and Jazz. “We had a pre-established overnight appointment. I simply asked him to help keep the others entertained while we took care of business. Especially since Allen returned home and left only West to follow through with monitoring Grayson and Todd.”

Ah. Jon and Damian apparently had a sleep over scheduled for that weekend, and they didn’t feel the need to cancel it. That was good to know. “I see,” Raven acknowledged, getting distracted by the ever growing presence of a sensation she had noticed when she’d reached the house. It didn’t seem malicious. Just one that she was somewhat unfamiliar with. It distracted her enough that she didn’t have more to comment before they reached the bedroom. Dick and Jason were on monitoring duty since it was easier for them to stay at the house while the Justice League thought they were Deathstroke’s targets. And while they’d managed to get everyone to start the night in their own rooms, the Phantom kids had inevitably made their way back to Danny’s room for the latter half of the night. Jazz had returned there once again after breakfast, but the others hadn’t. Opting instead to keep themselves entertained as well as aware of what was going on in the rest of the house.

When they entered the room Raven briefly glanced at Jazz before her gaze was drawn to Danny’s form in the bed. Not because of how he looked, all the tubs and machines surrounding him, but because he was the strongest source of the sensation she had been picking up on. There was still a faint residue of sorts clinging to Jazz, but Danny felt like a source of the oddity. Even if he did seem more like a nearly empty power source, he still felt like the substance was part of him instead of it simply lingering on him.

“Jazz, this is Raven, a friend of mine. Raven, Jazz is Danny and Danielle’s older sister,” Damian’s introduction broke Raven out of her slight daze, gesturing to each of the girls in turn.

“Hey Raven, thanks for coming,” Dick greeted with a wave. Jason simply raised his hand wordlessly.

“...Hi,” Jazz responded after they were introduced directly. She was a little wary, but Damian couldn’t blame her. Raven had mentioned before that people didn’t think she was an easy person to get along with, and she might look a little intimidating to some.

“You’re uncomfortable with me being here?” Raven guessed, having easily noticed Jazz’s anxiety but not finding it anything to be upset over. “I understand. I wouldn’t want strangers near someone I cared about when they were in this state either.” For that reason Raven decided to remain where she was by the entrance instead of approaching anyone closer. “I promise I won’t intentionally hurt him further. I’m here to help.”

The bluntness with which she spoke was unexpected, and while Jazz wasn’t completely calmed by her words the openness did hold a certain amount of charm to it. She was apparently a bit like Damian and Jason, who just said what they meant and didn’t try to soften words to get their way. It made it so Jazz wasn’t sure how to respond, but Damian could see her shoulders fall just a little less tense than before.

“Like I told you last night, Raven is here to see if she can locate a better source for the ectoplasm we need. It’s just easier for her to get a reading from a source rather than a substitute,”  Damian further explained, not wanting a repeat of before when Jazz thought they wanted to experiment on Danny. 

“Ectoplasm?” Raven repeated, mildly curious. “Is this what you’re calling that?”

“It’s what they’ve been calling it,” Damian clarified, nodding towards Jazz.

“Is there another name for it?” Jazz asked, curiosity starting to win over the wariness.

“...Perhaps,” Raven admitted, remaining where she was until Jazz was just a little more at ease. “I can recognize something different about you two. It’s stronger in him, but you both radiate it. I noticed it when I got close to the manor, but I’ll need to take a moment to analyze it before I can say for sure I know what it is.”

“Analyze it how?” Jazz asked quickly, her hands lacing tightly on her lap as her lips pursed slightly. She hoped Raven would follow Bruce’s example and explain everything before she did it.

“It would take a long time to explain the exact details. My methods are not common to cultures like what predominates Earth,” Raven explained, apologetic but not wanting to delve into her personal skill set too much. She didn’t mind Jazz’s protectiveness though. She couldn’t feel any hostility from Jazz, just fear. And that was something Raven couldn’t fault her for. “I use magic, but for this you can think of it as a type of clairvoyance if that’s easier to understand. My readings are painless. I’ll only need to touch the sides of his head for a moment, and I should be able to tell if the substance in him is one that I’m familiar with,” she assured, giving Jazz a faint smile.

Jazz seemed confused  and skeptical about the process after Raven mentioned magic, but considering she lived with ghosts at home she figured she could give Raven the benefit of the doubt. She didn’t even seem to want to take anything from Danny either, so it didn’t seem like something she should decline. “...Okay…,” she finally agreed, gesturing towards Danny briefly to reinforce that she accepted.

“Thank you,” Raven nodded, finally entering the room fully, hedging towards Danny and carefully sitting on the edge of the bed. She could feel Jazz’s skepticism, but didn’t pay it any further attention. If she got them what they needed that would be proof enough that she wasn’t trying to hoax them. And even if she wasn’t of any help, she didn’t need Jazz to believe in her powers. 

Clearing her mind with a steadying breath Raven leaned forward just enough to rest her fingertips on Danny’s temples, closing her eyes. Once she had the contact it was easy to read Danny’s existence without trying to filter through the rest of the environment around them. A delicate state of being, held in perfect limbo between two sides. As she’d noticed before, while Jazz felt more like someone who was just exposed to a substance for a long time, Danny’s central being radiated it. But he definitely felt weak, and closed off. Energy burned too low and reduced to a survival mode, trying to salvage what was left to allow for him to continue to function at minimal health instead of restoring what was missing.

It was enough to confirm her suspicions, and Raven couldn’t help smiling a bit wider when she opened her eyes and pulled back. “You really are a lucky one, Damian,” she commented, her amusement just barely leaking through. “You’ve got quite the rarity in your home.”

“What do you mean?” Damian asked, brow scrunching mildly in confusion. He’d asked Raven to help locate a rare substance, but it seemed she was referring to Danny himself in her response.

“Do you recognize what he needs?” Dick asked, having remained quiet until now since Raven seemed to have been handling the situation well on her own. His curiosity about what she’d found won over his decision to let them handle it though.

“Yes,” Raven confirmed, answering Dick first since it was easier. “The term ‘ectoplasm’ has been used for other substances before, so I wasn’t certain I was thinking of the same thing you were. But, this is indeed true ectoplasm from the Liminal Realm.”

“The Liminal Realm?” Jason repeated, face scrunching in confusion at the unfamiliar name. He’d heard of liminal spaces before, and that made sense considering those were usually associated with being haunted. But he’d never heard of an entire realm before.

“That is the most common name I’ve heard used for it in my studies, but it’s known by many other names as well. The Realm Between. Infinite Realm. The Lingering Space. Median Realm,” Raven confirmed, adding further explanation.

No one missed how Jazz flinched and stiffened when Raven mentioned ‘Infinite Realm’, but they didn’t comment on it just yet.

“Can you access this realm and get what we need?” Damian asked, ready to get moving as soon as Raven confirmed she had a way to get them to the realm she mentioned. They could discuss realm studies at a later time, after they had a steady supply of the nutrient Danny needed to live.

“Perhaps,” Raven admitted, stilling Damian’s haste with a single word. “But it will be difficult, and I can’t guarantee what comes of it will be pure,” she persisted, continuing when the others remained quiet to allow her to explain further. “The Liminal Realm isn’t one that likes outsiders accessing it. Those who try to open a gateway to it without having a prior connection usually end up destroying themselves, or corrupting the outcome.”

“Excuse me?” Dick raised a brow, suddenly a lot more concerned about their next mission.

“I’m not joking,” Raven reinforced. “Throughout my time as a student we were allowed to travel between other realms at will once we learned how. But we were forbidden from attempting to access the Liminal Realm without adopting it as a lifetime study. Because no one I knew had ever successfully created a gateway to it, but there were plenty of records of potential gateways exploding, imploding, or more often simply failing. And those who attempted to pull something from the Liminal Realm instead of going there instead ended up with vile substances that caused people to go mad. It was only through studying these samples that people realized there was a pure form. And from that we were able to recognize certain beings who had close ties to the Liminal Realm.”

“Yeesh,” Dick grimaced.

“That sounds oddly coincidental considering these kids got in trouble for stealing Lazarus water because it was the closest thing they were looking for,” Jason pointed out, eyes narrowing in discomfort both about the topic and because it seemed this wasn’t going to be as easy as they thought. “Is that one of the ‘corrupted outcomes’ you know of?”

“I believe so, yes,” Raven confirmed with a nod.

“So… how do we get in there? Sounds like trying to just find ectoplasm floating around somewhere isn’t a promising idea,” Jason prodded, following Dick and Damian’s gaze to look at Jazz this time instead of Raven. It seemed they all agreed that now was a good time to address her reaction earlier.

Jazz did her best to act like she couldn’t understand why they were addressing her. “What are you looking at me for? I don't know anything about this interdimensional realm stuff,” she sputtered, waving her hand.

There wasn’t anyone in the room that couldn’t tell she was hiding something.

“What about the Infinite Realm then?” Jason prodded with a mildly amused smile.

Jazz flinched again at the call out, and one look between them was enough for her to realize they already knew she knew that particular name. Her demeanor stilled significantly, and her smile fell. But she maintained her stance of not answering. “...Nothing,” she openly lied.

“You do realize this may be the only way we have to help Danny,” Damian pointed out, folding his arms and falling more into an interrogation mode than maintaining friendship.

Jazz’s mood fell significantly, but her resolve remained. Even if it upset her to do so. “...I can’t.”

This time Dick held his hand up to stop his brothers from answering, realizing they were getting a little too aggressive with their questions. “...Why not?” his own voice came a lot more gently than the others. More concerned about the situation than irritated with the secrets being held. It caused Jazz to lower her gaze to her own hands, unable to answer, but trying to think of how to without telling them anything.

“Probably because that realm is arguably the most catastrophic one if damaged,” Raven spoke up in Jazz’s stead, raising her hand to pause questions while she continued to explain. “You’re familiar with the concept of realms almost like isolated spheres that certain people are able to draw power from, or travel between. If one of those spheres is destroyed the others may lose certain abilities or traits, but will continue to exist. But the Liminal Realm isn’t another one of those spheres, it’s the space between them. All realms are connected to the Liminal Realm, and all travel passes through it temporarily. It’s the structure that holds all realms together, and if it’s damaged, or even destroyed, then all realms will probably be lost as well. That’s most likely the main reason it’s so hard for people to access, and why so few people even know about it. It’s easier to protect something when everyone is oblivious of it… right?”

As Raven explained the risk tampering with the Infinite Realm had, and even accurately guessed the reason Jazz was being so adamant with her silence, Jazz’s mental barrier around the topic fell. Everything Raven had said was true as far as Jazz knew, so there probably wasn’t any reason to remain ignorant. And therefore, Jazz nodded when Raven spoke to her at the end of her explanation.

The revelation was enough to make the boys take time to reorient their minds back to being investigative instead of interrogative. Damian’s demeanor didn’t outwardly change other than a subtle relaxation of his brow. But Jason averted his gaze after a moment and breathed a calming breath. “Right… That makes sense,” he agreed, then added a quick ‘my bad’ in apology for his earlier intensity.

As the room calmed back to a more conversational tone, Dick brought them back to the question they still hadn’t been able to answer. “So… any ideas on how we get some ectoplasm from such a closed off realm?”

It seemed like a question that they would have to take some extensive time to answer, but to their surprise Raven spoke up easily enough. “Ask it for permission,” she said simply, the faint smile returning as she pointed at Danny.

“.... You lost me there, Raven,” Dick admitted with a slight huff chuckle. “Are you implying that Danny is some sort of personification of an entire realm?”

This time Raven gave a tiny laugh, and shook her head once. “No. But he is the perfect catalyst between the Liminal Realm and any other realm, being what he is.”

“.... Which iiiis…?” Dick prodded when Raven didn’t automatically continue this time.

It earned another small laugh from Raven before she obliged and continued. “Danny is what scholars from Azarath came to call a perfect liminal being. As you’re aware, different realms sometimes have entities that originate from or are otherwise tied to them, and the Liminal Realm is one of those realms. I think the most common names given to beings tied to the Liminal Realm are ghosts or spirits.”

“That’s what Dani and the others said they were. Or, more specifically they said she and Danny were ‘half ghost’,” Dick added, connecting the older information with what was just given to him. “So the Liminal Realm is the realm of the dead?”

“Somewhat. But not quite,” Raven shook her head once. “The Liminal Realm is where people go who, for one reason or another, did not want to die, and are unwilling to accept it. Most beings who die pass through the Liminal Realm and continue on to one of the afterlife realms. Hell, Heaven, Paradise, Field of Aaru, Valhalla, and the like. But those with a strong enough reason to refuse death, despite being unable to stay alive, end up in an in-between state stuck in the realm between realms.”

“Okay… I think I’m following,” Dick confirmed when Raven paused, and Jason and Damian nodded to agree. “So Danny and Danielle are… half dead people clinging to life?”

The question earned a slight smile from Raven. “Maybe,” she half agreed. “They are not fully like the beings that dwell in the Liminal Realm. But they are also not like anyone that is in the dead realms, or living realms. It helps if you remember that life is a spectrum, not a single state that switches into death. People on the living side of that spectrum are what you’re more used to; those who have bodies, age, physically grow, and such. But there are some people who are just closer to the side of death than others. Diseases, illness, critical injuries and other similar ailments are things that would be easy for most people to understand. Those who are dead no longer have those traits and, like I said before, most of them pass on to an afterlife realm with very few lingering in the Liminal Realm. All beings who are part of the Liminal realm or any of the dead realms are on the Death side of the life spectrum. In general, entities are usually on one side or the other, dead or alive to varying degrees,” she explained, raising one hand to one side, and then the other hand to the other side as she did so.

“But if there’s two sides, then there’s a middle point. And if people exist on either side of that point, then there’s the possibility of something existing exactly in the middle.” Dick added, following Raven’s lecture and also realizing where she was leading to.

“That’s right,” Raven nodded again, placing her hands together. “It’s an almost impossible feat. If a decimal number was naturally generated between zero and one hundred, the chances of it being exactly fifty is extremely small. And with Liminal Realm entities being rare already, a perfect fifty percent was something no one I knew had ever seen before…. Until now,” she finished by looking back at Danny, still smiling and wondering what the scholars back in Azarath would do if they met him. “Danny, and his sister, are rare beings that exist in that perfect state between realms, and therefore are more easily accepted by other realms when trying to travel between them. If one of them was present when I attempt to extract some ectoplasm, I believe I may be given some allowance, and obtain a pure sample.”

“..... Like bumming off your friend’s membership card to a club,” Jason commented, making his own connection to be able to understand what Raven was suggesting.

It earned a small snort from Jazz even as she was considering what Raven was saying. Raven appeared to know so much more about the Infinite Realm than Jazz did, and also held just as much concern over the safety of it and the others. Taking so much time to explain whatever they had questions to, and remaining patient with them when they had misunderstandings. So Jazz only had two more questions before she allowed Raven to have Danielle help her try to get some ectoplasm. “If I let Dani help you, she won’t be doing anything dangerous, right? You’ll keep her safe?”

“Of course,” Raven promised without hesitation. “I expect just her presence will be enough, and I would prefer for her and everyone else to remain at a safe distance.”

Even if it was a half lie, Jazz wouldn’t have been able to tell with the way Raven responded to her. She decided that she wanted to trust Raven though, both because of their time just now but also because she was the one Bruce and his family had called to help. So she nodded. “Okay. You can ask her to help you then.”

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Biiiig info dump of headcanons for this story that made sense in my brain based on the concepts I had been given and found. I'm also basing Raven off of the only movie I've seen of her X'D (Justice League vs Teen Titans) So I'm writing her as more of a subtle/reserved/subdued emotions girl and not a completely apathetic girl.

I also had to rewrite this part like 3 times before it had a coherent flow X'D

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[momo-minomo]

Fic Fairy Friday: Dick Grayson-centric Recs

My second favorite Robin! Some of my favorite comics are the ones where Tim and Dick team up to be brothers and kick ass. Fandom often assumes he's just the happy, cheerful brother but Dick definitely has a dark side to him and is constantly struggling with his own anger issues. Dick is fiercely protective and possessive of his family. With each new person Bruce or Tim want to bring into the family there's the inevitable period of Dick being very untrusting and unwelcoming until they slowly grow on him and he decides they're his now.

Tim was the sibling he accepted the fastest, since both Dick and Bruce were drowning in their grief and loneliness and Tim was determined to help. Jason and Dick love each other but they're just as likely to punch each other in the nuts as help each other, their mutual anger problems getting in the way of a more affectionate relationship. Cass is someone Dick never really knows what to do with and unfortunately isn't very close to. Damian is something between a brother and a son after the year he spent as Damian's guardian. His relationship with Bruce is always troubled and rocky but like with Jason there's a lot of love there, too.

The Fic Fairy Friday Masterpost

BTW this list isn’t as long as I usually like to make them due to a storm coming through and knocking out our internet and power. I’m struggling to get this posted on our overburdened 5g network but I didn’t want to not post for two weeks in a row. (I’m blaming the AO3 curse)

persephone's in hell by Whiskey

Summary:

He’d been mistaken – never in his life has he experienced pain like this. It’s like staring in a funhouse mirror at the carnival, Dick’s reflection coming back distorted and horrifying and otherworldly as he watches everything he’d worked for be taken from him, again, for the second time. Tony Zucco snapped that first line and then Bruce Wayne kicked off him right off the edge into the abyss. Dick Grayson has just been fired. Dick Grayson wakes up in a world with five Robins.

Momo's Notes: TRIGGER WARNING for Deathstroke being suggestive and threatening towards a teenage Dick. Okay, this one is pretty heavy but I love the look inside 16 year old Dick's head and his relationship with his Titans team. Fair warning though, this fic is not very kind to either Jason or Bruce. Bruce is legit a terrible dad in this (and that's fair considering the canon comics it's drawing from) and since this is set before the New 52 and Rebirth Jason is still mostly viewed as a villain with flashes of something more sympathetic here and there. That part was hard for me to see since I love the Outlaws and seeing a Roy that kinda hates Jason hurt. This fic does a great job of exploring Dick's flaws (his anger issues, his fear of emotional vulnerability, and his need for control) in a realistic and sympathetic way. It's also one of the only explorations I've seen of how Dick's belief system might be shaped by his Roma heritage.

Laundry and Movies by short_bc_of_coffee

Summary:

He'd be okay when the rain stopped. He always would be. He wasn't even outside, he was being irrational. He was okay. Yes. He was. His phone ringing drew him out of his thoughts. He fumbled it out of his pocket and stared at the caller ID. Tim was calling. For what, Dick didn't know. "Hey, Dick," Tim greeted. "I, uh, I need some help." - Tim calls Dick whenever it rains, until he doesn't.

Momo's Notes: TRIGGER WARNING for non-graphic references to Dick being SA'd by Tarantula in Nightwing (vol. 2) #93 and the resulting trauma. Dick never told Tim about what Catalina did to him on that rainy night, but somehow his little brother knows and is determined to distract him on dark rainy nights when the memories get too loud. This is a great example of Tim and Dick's relationship as brothers, how they both support and rely on each other, and a great look at how their falling out during Bruce's "death" would affect Dick.

Blüdhaven Sucks by TimDrakeIsMyPatronus

Summary:

Dick, while on duty, stumbles on to a bad car wreck. Things get complicated when he finds Tim gravely injured in one of the cars. Prompt: pinned down by wreckage

Momo's Notes: TRIGGER WARNING for a major car crash causing life threatening injuries and the first responders attempting to save the victims life afterward. I can't think of a better example of Dick Grayson's personal hell than for him to be forced to watch helplessly as another member of his family is slowly dying in front of him. At least this time he has some hope they can be saved.

A Thousand Ninjas by silverwhittlingknife

Summary:

Dick and Tim, through the years: from Lonely Place of Dying, through Tim's Robin years, and beyond Red Robin. "Watch me on the trapeze, Tim. I'm going to do my act - 'specially for you." (B 441) "Who the hell are you?" (NT 60) "Dick Grayson is my brother. My best friend." (R 181) "You're my equal. My closest ally." (RR 1) "I can't see him. You can't see him. But I know Robin. And Robin's always there when you need him." (TT/O Secret Files) "You're my brother. You'll always be there for me." (RR 12) "And then I think... no... it's for Tim. For him, a thousand ninjas is just the start of what I would do." (N 138)

Momo's Notes: TRIGGER WARNINGS for Dick dealing with the trauma from canonical SA. Goddamn I love this series. It explores some of Tim and Dick's most iconic comics moments from their brotherhood together. I'd wager a lot of fandom has never even heard of some of these moments and that is a CRIME for any Tim or Dick fan. My personal favorite in this series is the one about that time Dick gave Tim a happy Christmas when his dad ditched him for a trip with his new girlfriend despite Christmas Day being the anniversary of his mom's funeral. (God Jack Drake was the WORST) The author does an amazing job delving into Dick's head and how he feels about Tim as his brother and their shared history.

A Darker Shade of Gotham by JackHawksmoor

Summary:

Dick and Tim are stuck in a crappy alternate universe where most of the heroes they know are dead, Bruce Wayne's bad health meant he never became Batman, and Tony Zucco runs Gotham City's underworld. When Dick is shot by the mob, they take a risk and go to Bruce for help. Alternate Bruce didn't have children, but as he gets to know Dick and Tim, he starts wishing he did.

Momo's Notes: Okay, let's check out something with a better Bruce, yeah? This one is technically an unfinished two shot but the chapter we do have feels complete enough to me to qualify as a one-shot. This fic has so much to love. A Bruce Wayne that never became Batman meets his kids from an alternate universe and catches a glimpse of the warm, loving family he never got to have. Bruce and Alfred in this are kinda tragic and trapped in their grief as they meet and are kinda dazzled by the reality of Dick and Tim and the future they could have had. It's bittersweet but kinda hopeful. This fic isn't a direct sequel but was written in response to another one from Tim's pov called Not So Large but Definitely In Charge by dottie_dc. You don't have to read that one first but it definitely gives more context to how the situation developed before Dick woke up.

do more harm by dizarys

Summary:

"Hey," Jason laid a hand on his shoulder, "We’re gonna get him back." "Yes," Dick growled, drawing his escrima sticks and clenching them tightly. "We are." He flipped off the stack of shipping containers with a tight somersault, landing lightly. A split second later Jason landed heavy and solid behind him. The four guards didn't stand a chance. --- Dick's temper isn't usually a problem. But when Robin disappears...crossing the line seems a lot easier.

Momo's Notes: There aren't enough fics delving into Dick's serious anger issues and how it's wrapped up in his trauma. After losing his parents and Jason, Dick in the comics is clearly terrified of losing someone else he loves. Whenever someone badmouths or dares to threaten Tim he absolutely loses it. Tim has had to bodily pull him off of people before. So what happens if the brother Dick usually depends on to keep him from going to far has been taken from them? I love the relationship between Jason and Dick, here. Neither of them is sure of the situation or each other but Dick needs an anchor, Jason wants his family back, and they both want to save their baby brother.

darling boy by deitybird

Summary:

His comm crackles to life. “RR’s suit is in a pile on the floor,” Jason says, voice grim. “But no sign of him. Something bad must’ve happened if he ditched it all.” “I wouldn’t say it’s bad, per se,” Dick replies, gazing down at the kid nestled against his chest. Now that he’s looking properly, he can see hints of his little brother in those small features. “But at least I can confidently say that he’s not dead.” Or: Tim gets de-aged to four. Dick takes care of him.

Momo's Notes: TRIGGER WARNINGS for references to past SA, torture, and kidnapping as well as a few dissociative episodes. Don’t be fooled by those trigger warnings tho, because for the most part this fic is goddamn adorable. It’s not solely in Dick’s pov but his viewpoint, feelings, and relationships are a big part of this. Other chapter povs are Jason, Bruce, and Damian. This fic has a lot of family bonding, good dad Bruce, and Dick’s complicated feelings towards being both a big brother and a parent to his dad’s kids. Bonus points for FTM trans Jason, Dick/Wally, and bisexual Bruce Wayne.

[first-boy-wonder]

*Ren knocks on the Manor door*

hey kiddo? I didn't go to that bad man.

@stargazertheofficial

[Dick looks down from his bedroom window, eventually deciding- this could go awful or it couldn't! He was too alert to just open the front door and let her in if she had gone to Deathstroke, so in acrobat fashion he climbed out his window to greet her!]

Mmm I don't believe it, but okay!! Why'd you come here though? I was busy!!! Not really, but I didn't wanna move so-!

[002yb]

More secretary au w/ dickjay + slade

It's not often that Dick is struck so utterly dumb. Blanking out isn't something someone like him can afford, yet there he is at Jason's apartment, absolutely baffled, because Slade Wilson answers the door with Damian balanced casually on his hip.

Dick's scowl is immediate. It prompts a low laugh from Slade, all smug amusement to provoke Dick's ire.

"Richard." Slade greets him. An acknowledgement. A taunt.

"Slade." Dick intones. Disdainful. Petulant.

For the life of him, Dick can't figure out what's happening. He's loathe to believe that this encounter is a coincidence. Either Deathstroke was contracted to harm Jason or the bastard is here to torment Dick. Hell, if this is another attempt to coerce Dick into working with him—

It might work.

With narrowed eyes, Dick turns his attention to Damian. Scrutinizing the tyke because Damian is suspiciously unbothered. While it means that Jason is okay, that there's no immediate danger, it's also a damning indication that Slade isn't a stranger here. He's been around long enough to earn this menacing child's tolerance and begrudging respect.

"You know each other?" Jason asks, shuffling close to Dick in the entry. Using him as a balance as he pulls on his boots. The joy Jason's casual touch and eagerness to get going gives him is severely undercut by the mercenary standing across from them. With Damian. And it occurs to him that Jason doesn't even know; not anymore.

Dick is almost tempted to throw his secrets to the wind. He'll expose what a menace to society Slade and he are if it keeps Jason and Damian safe.

"We're acquainted." Dick grumbles at the same time Slade cheekily says, "We're quiet close."

The scathing look Dick shoots Slade's way has the man smirking. Between catching Dick off guard, then messing with him - Dick is glad one of them is having a good day. It was supposed to be Dick's good day, damn it. He has a date.

Slade's words prompt Jason to startle, looking between the two of them with wide eyes and a slack jaw and no. Fuck no. Dick can see where Jason's thoughts start to wander and it has him turning on Slade with a nasty glower.

"I've been actively recruiting him for work." Slade explains, innocent as can be. A small truce that makes Dick all the more suspicious.

"Oh." Jason says, breathing a small sigh of relief. When he smiles, it's brilliant - sharp and wicked as he teases, "Keep at it, would you? He needs to get out of that pigpen."

"Been trying. Shame to see his talents wasted like that." Slade hums, bouncing Damian up on his hip. He looks at Jason with a small smirk and, to raise Dick's hackles, lightly jokes, "Sell him on me."

"Make him a worthwhile offer." Jason quips, coming to stand beside Slade to take Damian's little hand - pressing a kiss to it and snickering when Damian holds on to kiss his hand back.

"How about I make you part of the offer?" Slade taunts, gaze cutting over Jason's head to watch Dick—a wicked smile at the corner of his lips as Dick visibly bristles at the threat. "That might be a deal he can't refuse, hm?"

"Hah." Jason laughs, humorless, because, as always, Jason is oblivious to the fact Dick would never refuse him. Slade knows it, too. The mercenary knew it from the moment he opened Jason's door to find Dick standing at the doorstep. "You can't leverage me, old man."

Only Slade very much can. He will, too, depending on his mood.

The exchange puts Dick on edge. There's no way Nightwing and Deathstroke won't be having a fucking row over this later.

It's as Dick spirals that Jason throws him for a loop. Again. Because Jason starts going over house rules and expectations and schedules. Talking to Slade like the man will be looking after Damian while they're out, which—what?

"You're babysitting?" Dick asks, dumbfounded.

"It's in my contract." Slade says, looking none too pleased until Damian pats his eye patch. A begrudging, bitten back smile follows as Slade takes Damian's hand to hold and keep still, disconcertingly patient.

It's weird, but there's a familiarity that tells Dick that everything is fine. While Dick doesn't trust Deathstroke, Slade has a fondness for Jason and Damian. It leaves a bad taste in Dick's mouth if only because there's clearly history here that he's not privy to—that he wasn't a part of.

Maybe that's Slade's goal. To make Dick regret not joining him to have gotten to Jason sooner. The crafty bastard.

He laughs despite himself, caught up in the ridiculousness of it all. Slade and him will negotiate later. For now though, Dick glares daggers at the man as Jason drags him out the door.

=========

Just a silly jumble of words and thoughts. It's very rough, sorry! orz But yes, in secretary!AU, Slade is absolutely a fixture in Jason's life and Dick is lowkey high-key pissed about it lol.

Talia hired Slade as an instructor to teach Jason self-defense. Or to find out where his abilities are and to brush up on them.

This is less as a gift to Bruce and more as an assurance that Damian is protected and cared for. //3///

Can't shake the feeling that Slade and Jason fooled around.

No one will ever know if it's because Slade was genuinely charmed by Jason or if Slade was aware and playing a long con against Dick (or both)

Slade being something like an uncle to Damian. He's babysat in the past, though it was a one-off because Jason came back to see Slade teaching Damian how to handle knives or something equally as dangerous for a baby.

Cue Jason v Slade and Slade being wholly unprepared for Jason's paternal wrath. This man gets laid out flat so quick and oh, that's probably when the fooling around starts lbr

Omg also!! Slade purposefully answering the door despite Jason’s protests because it’s Slade’s intention to intimidate the guy taking Jason out hahaha. Then of course Dick answers the door and Slade’s mood goes from ornery to stupidly pleased lol.

[sellyoursoulforagoodfic]

Promptober Day 12

Orange

Slade Wilson x reader

Word Count: 159

Halloween, aka the only time of the year when Slade’s signature Deathstroke gear actually blended into his surroundings. The mercenary was currently watching over you from the roof of a skyrise across the street, looking right at home among the pumpkins that dotted its edge.

“What’re you smiling about?” his voice rumbled pleasantly through your earpiece.

“So are you a proponent of the spooky season or do you just like orange? I’ve never gotten around to asking?”

It sounded like his answering chuckle/scoff was surprised out of him. “That’s what you’re thinking about? You do know we’re on a job right?”

“Oh, am I not doing a good enough job being eye candy?”

“Now, I didn’t say that--”

“Exactly. Now answer the ques--”

“Sorry, sweetheart. Looks like the target spotted you.”

“We’re continuing this later,” you muttered before turning at the shy ‘hello’ to your left. “Hello yourself, handsome,” you greeted flirtatiously.

“Sure we will.”

Then, a gunshot.

[kisses-for-you]

betrayal - d. grayson

dick grayson x fem!reader

summary: you're Deathstroke's daughter, which nobody knows. however, you never could've expected that this secret would ultimately lead to your death.

w/c: 1.9k

⚠️: death.

You were about to do something you never wanted to do — betray Dick and the rest of the team. This wasn't meant to happen. You weren't meant to get so attached, but it happened, and now it was all crashing down on you. The emotions, the memories, the realization. Everything. It had all started as a task your father had assigned you: infiltrate the Titans, gain their trust, gather information, and report back to him. You never expected it to spiral into this.

When you first met Dick and Kory, you were 'fighting' your father. They had stepped in to help, and when Deathstroke fled, Dick extended a hand towards you. "You have potential," he had said. "We could use someone like you." You should've known then that this would all go terribly wrong.

The Titans had become your second family, by far a better one than the one you grew up with.  And Dick? You never planned to love him, never expected the way his presence would bring you peace. The thought of betraying him, of breaking his trust, shattered something deep inside you. The bond you had formed with Dick and the team seemed unbreakable, yet there you were, about to ruin it all.

This wasn't what you wanted. At all. But you had no choice. If you refused, your father would kill you and the Titans would certainly be next.

You woke up that morning with Dick's arms wrapped securely around you. His steady breathing tickled your skin, his warmth grounding you in a way you knew you didn't deserve. You turned slightly, watching the way his face softened in sleep. "I love you so much, Dick," you whispered, your voice so soft it barely existed.

Carefully, you slipped out of bed, moving as silently as possible. You made it to the door before you heard him stir. "Where are you going, Y/N?" his voice was thick with sleep. You hesitated, then forced a smile, "Just getting some fresh air. I'll be back soon." He hummed sleepily, already dozing off again. You swallowed the lump in your throat and walked to the elevator to leave, each step feeling heavier than the last.

The plan was simple: meet your father without anyone noticing, give him intel, prepare to attack the team and then actually do it. But you wouldn’t tell him everything. You could still control this. You had to. You knew the Titans were strong but they could also use the extra help — your father was very strong after all, even for such a team.

The meeting place was an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city. Classic Deathstroke to choose such a sketchy place, away from prying eyes.

When you arrived, he was already waiting, arms crossed, his presence suffocating. "Y/N," he greeted you with a cold nod. "Tell me what you know. And don't leave anything out."

You hesitated before giving him a version of the truth. Enough to satisfy him, but not enough to destroy the people you loved. When you finished, he nodded approvingly. "Good. You've done well," he said, his voice laced with satisfaction. Then his eyes darkened. "Now it's time to prove where your loyalty lies."

You felt the fear starting to bubble up in your chest. "What do you mean?"

"You will bring them here. You will lead them into the ambush. And when the time comes, you will stand with me."

Your breath caught. "Dad, I-"

"No hesitation, Y/N." His voice was cold steel. "You've already betrayed them by being here. Don't be a coward now."

You clenched your fists, nails digging into your palms. "Fine."

As you made your way back to Titans Tower, the weight of your betrayal felt heavier than ever. Every step was a struggle, each beat of your heart a reminder of the choice you were about to make. Should you be doing this? Is this really the only way to keep them safe? Your mind raced with these thoughts, trying to come up with other solutions — but there was nothing. You had to go through with the plan and that was it.

By the time you returned to the tower, the weight of your decision threatened to crush you. As you entered the common area, you noticed Dick sat on the couch, his expression a mixture of concern and anticipation. It appeared as though he'd been waiting for you

"Hey, Dick," you said, realising he still hadn't noticed you were back. His head snapped up at the sound of your voice, his gaze locking on you. He stood up from the couch abruptly, starting to walk over to you. "Babe, where were you?" he asked, his voice laced with worry. "I woke up and you were gone. Is everything okay?” It seemed he didn't remember you leaving earlier.

You forced a smile, trying to push down the guilt which felt like it was clawing at your insides. "I'm fine, Dick. Just.. needed to clear my head,” you lied.

He studied you for a moment as if trying to decide whether you were really telling him the truth. "Okay," he said finally, though his expression still held a hint of scepticism. "Just... let me know when you're leaving next time, okay?"

You nodded, swallowing hard against the lump forming in your throat. "I will," you promised, unable to meet his gaze for long, afraid that if you did, the guilt would suffocate you. You kissed his cheek before retreating to your room, curling up in your bed, trying to ignore the voice in your head telling you that this was the end.

Hours passed, and the sky darkened. You left the tower, and now stood side by side with your father. It was a dark and empty road, a contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of the city. This was, however, perfect for your father as it meant no one was around to see what was about to go down.

As a part of the plan, you would have to lure the Titans here and you knew exactly how. You picked up your phone, staring at the picture of you and Dick — smiling, happy, in love. It was from the day that Dick had asked you to be his girlfriend. The memory made your stomach turn and threatened to overwhelm you as you dialed his number, waiting for him to pick up.

"Y/N?" His voice immediately sounded alert from the other end, as if he just knew something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath to prepare for what you were about to do. "Dick, I need your help," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "I'm in trouble. Please, you have to hurry."

There was silence before he spoke again, voice urgent. "Where are you?"

You gave him the location, your heart breaking with every word you spoke. This was it. The point of no return. You had to see this through, no matter how much it tore you apart inside.

As you hung up the phone, you turned to face your father, steeling yourself for what was to come. "They're on their way," you said, your voice steady despite the emotions you were struggling against.

Sure enough, minutes later, Dick arrived, concern evident in every movement as he ran toward you. "Y/N! What happened?" You were so sure he would've brought the team with him but apparently not. You just hoped your father wouldn't be too mad.

Tears brimmed your eyes as you anxiously chewed on your bottom lip. You couldn't speak. You just couldn't. If you did, you were sure you'd break out into sobs.

"Hey, babe, what's going on?" Dick asked, his voice tight with worry. "Are you okay?"

Then Deathstroke stepped from the shadows. Dick visibly tensed, readying himself for a fight. "Y/N..." Dick said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What the hell is going on?"

"She finally understood where she belongs," Deathstroke said, voice laced with smug satisfaction. "With her father." He turned to you, a cruel smirk playing on his lips, "Isn't that right, Y/N?"

You felt a lump form in your throat as you struggled to maintain your composure. Every instinct screamed at you to tell Dick the truth, to beg for his forgiveness and plead for his understanding. But you knew that wasn't an option. Not with Deathstroke watching your every move.

"I'm sorry, Dick," you whispered, tears threatening to spill from your eyes. "I had no choice."

Dick's expression shifted from confusion to betrayal, his eyes narrowing with hurt and anger. "Y/N, what the hell are you talking about? What's going on?"

You took a step back, unable to meet his gaze as the weight of your betrayal bore down on you. "I'm sorry," you repeated, your voice barely a whisper. "I had to do this to protect you."

Dick's eyes widened in disbelief, the hurt etched deep into his features. "Protect me?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Y/N, how could you...?" He couldn't even seem to be able to look at you in that moment, it hurt him too much. "I loved you! I let myself fucking fall in love with you! And what? All that time that I thought you loved me too, was it all a lie?"

As your chest tightened painfully, tears streamed down your face, mingling with the rain that had started to fall. "No! I do love you, Dick. That's why I had to do this. I don't expect you to understand," you choked out, your voice breaking with emotion.

You wouldn't let your father kill Dick, the man you'd fallen in love with. With the guilt weighing you down like an anchor, you couldn't bring yourself to meet Dick's gaze.

"Enough," Deathstroke interrupted, stepping forward, his blade glinting under the streetlights. "This is over."

Then he moved.

It happened too fast.

The blade was aimed at Dick.

And you moved without thinking.

Pain erupted in your chest as the sword pierced through you, burning, searing, stealing the breath from your lungs. You barely registered the way Deathstroke's eyes widened in horror, the way he stumbled back as if realising what he'd just done.

You fell, but Dick caught you, his arms holding you close, hands pressing desperately against your wound. "No, no, no," he murmured, voice breaking. "Stay with me, baby. Please."

Tears blurred your vision as you reached up, fingers brushing against his cheek. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"Then don't leave me," he pleaded, his voice raw. "You have to hold on."

But you could feel the darkness creeping in, could feel the warmth leaving your body. "I love you, Dick."

"No. No, you're gonna be okay," he insisted, pressing a shaking kiss to your forehead. "You have to be okay."

You smiled weakly, the pain fading into numbness. "You're stronger than you think."

Dick's tears fell freely now. "I can't do this without you."

You exhaled shakily. "You have to."

Then, with one last breath, you let go.

A broken sob tore from Dick's throat as he held you, rocking you gently as if he could will life back into you. But the warmth was gone. You were gone.

In the days that followed, he found himself standing by your grave, fingers ghosting over your name etched into the stone.

A constant reminder of his failure.

A constant reminder of you.

He had loved you. And you had loved him. But in the end, love hadn't been enough to save you.

DC masterlist

[theglamorousferal]

Samantha al Ghul

Rain raced down her window as she looked out to the gloomy surroundings. Sam had never felt more at home than in Gotham she's realizing. The architecture and general vibe of the city resonated with her on a level she had only felt when in the Infinite Realms.

Sam's parents stuck out like a sore thumb, all bright and hopeful. They looked like you took two characters from a children's show and dropped them into a grimdark HBO classic. Sam loves them, she really does, but just one look at them would have muggers salivating.

She's been somewhat looking forward to this particular gala, if only because she managed to convince her parents to let her wear a dress that's mostly black with details of roses and thorny vines twisted around the bottom of the skirt. She would be blending in for once, something she had mixed feelings about. At least there would be some other kids her age there, at least according to her parents. Hopefully they weren't the usual stuck up people like Paulina, Sam was sick of her being the only one to talk to at functions in Amity.

They pulled up to a large gothic manor and the driver came to the door with umbrellas for the family, helping them out of the car. Sam's first thought when looking at the house was envy, she would love to live in a place like this. Her second thought was of getting out of the rain so that it wouldn't ruin her favorite combat heels. At the door, they were greeted by a butler who took their coats and introduced himself as "Alfred Pennyworth, head butler of the Wayne family." Which gave Sam momentary pause, the dredges of a memory popping up.

Why is that familiar? What does Wayne mean in accordance with Gotham?

As she walked in to the gala, she got her answer.

Standing next to a tall man with a streak of white through the front of his hair was someone she hadn't seen in years. Someone she thought had died that day ten years prior. Someone she always felt guilty for.

She was moving before she even realized, skidding to a stop before him.

"Ahki" She mutter low so only he could hear. The boy froze and then slowly turned to look at her.

"Ukht" He said back and suddenly they were both hugging, clinging to each other like they had when they were so much smaller. Tears rarely spent were shed. "How are you here? How are you alive?"

"I survived the fall. I don't know how, but I survived the fall but then I had amnesia and didn't remember anything. I was taken in by this couple who had wanted a daughter. By the time I remembered anything, it was too late for me to return to the League. How'd you get out? I thought you died that day!"

The tall man put his hands on each of their shoulders. "Maybe you should take this to a private setting? We don't want anything leaking to the press."

Damian seemed to think it over for a moment before looking at the crowd who were all staring at the two teens. They let go of each other and made their way to a balcony. "I managed to kill the interloper that held me, but when I looked over the cliff's edge, you were nowhere to be seen. I had assumed you had been swept beneath the current. I searched along the riverbanks to no avail." He glanced over her face, seeming to drink in the sight he had missed for so long. "How are you here?"

"I came with my adoptive parents. They're the ones who stick out like a sore thumb. I've been living with them in Amity Park, Illinois since I was found. They're good people, but they have their eccentricities. They want me to wear bright colors all the time." Sam's nose scrunched up in distaste. Damian chuckled.

"That hasn't changed I see."

"What about you? How'd you get out?"

"There was a coup, one of Grandfather's apprentices, Deathstroke, attacked him. In the chaos Mother managed to get us out and she brought me to Father. I've been living with him for five years now."

"Oh, so Father is here?" Sam thought for a moment then whispered. "I know Father is the Bat, but what is his real name? I know mother told us once, but my memory is still kinda foggy."

"It's his gala you're attending, Father is Bruce Wayne."

"That airheaded himbo?" Sam snorted, then thought a bit. "Wow he's a much better actor than I expected then."

"We should probably go make an appearance again, the vultures are probably talking about our outburst."

[batboysoneshots]

Vampires? (AU)

Hey its been literally months since I updated anything so here is a request.

Request: Can you make a fic where the Justice League realizes that the Bat-Family are vampires (wait and see if you understand me) please

(I literally bought DC VS Vampires (the graphic novel) yesterday)

Third person pov...

The Justice League Watchtower was abuzz with an unusual tension, a palpable unease that even Superman's sunny disposition couldn't entirely dispel.

It wasn't a villainous threat looming, at least not in the traditional sense. It was something far more insidious, something that gnawed at the edges of their understanding of their closest allies: the Bat-Family.

It started subtly, with observations that were too easily dismissed as quirks. Bruce Wayne, known for his nocturnal habits, seemed to avoid sunlight with an almost religious fervor.

Dick Grayson, his former ward and current Nightwing, had a startlingly fast healing rate after a recent encounter with Deathstroke.

Jason Todd, the volatile Red Hood, was seen avoiding garlic bread during a casual pizza night – a detail that, in hindsight, was a glaring red flag.

Tim Drake, Known as Red Robin and his quick strategies, was seen managing to talk down one of the villains thugs from setting off a large bomb.

Damian Wayne, the youngest Robin known for his temper and finest when fighting was seen taking down a man that was three times his size and weight with out breaking a sweat.

Then, there were the whispered rumors from Gotham's underworld. Whispers of a bat-like figure moving with impossible speed, of a crimson streak that materialized and vanished in the blink of an eye. Whispers that were quickly dismissed as the ramblings of paranoid criminals.

This confused and worried the Justice League, "There's something…different about them," Diana had said, her voice low, her brow creased with concern, during a tense meeting in the Watchtower.

At first, the others were skeptical. Superman, ever the optimist, believed there was a logical explanation, some advanced technology or a new breed of Gotham criminal responsible for the strange occurrences.

But Diana's convictions, coupled with the increasing number of unusual observations, began to chip away at their doubts.

Flash, with his super speed and ability to traverse time, was tasked with gathering evidence.

His quick trips to various crime scenes and Gotham's back alleys revealed a pattern—strange bite marks on victims, an unnatural speed during attacks, and a complete lack of any trace of conventional weapons.

The pieces slowly fell into place, building a grim picture that painted the Bat-Family, their own allies and friends, as something far more terrifying.

"Vampires," Green Lantern said, his voice heavy with disbelief. "The Bat-Family? It seems impossible."

His words, though spoken in stunned astonishment, echoed the sentiments of everyone in the room.

Superman then spoke after a moment of silence as the revelation of what the Batfamily where sunk in. "...We should confront them about it...just so we are curtain" he tells them, his blue eyes lookong around at the rest of the heroes.

Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter all give a nod of agreement with the Kryptonians words, the Justice League take the zeta tubes teleporting down into the Batcave.

As the five of them step off their arw greeted with a surprising sight, Batman was sat the batcomputer chair turned towards the Zeta rubes, Beside him stood Knightwing arms crossed as he leant against the chair.

Red Hood was standing in the shadows a book in his left hand that he was reading, Red Robin was sat to the right on the floor tapping away on his laptop.

Robin was infront of the zeta tubes, as if they knew the Justic League would come down to the Batcave, they watch the Heroes as they step off.

Superman steps forward his mouth open to speak. "...Bruce-" He's cut off by Red Hoods voice. "...bets off..you win Dickiebird" came the teens voice as he continued reading.

Nightwing cheers from his spot against Batman's chair. "..Hah! Told you...you three owe me 10 dollars each" he tells his little brothers who each groan and grumble annoyed before digging into their pockets and tossing the bills at the man's face.

Nightwing only grins as he grabs his money, Batman then speaks. "...how did you find out?" He asks the stunned heroes, Flash then speaks. "Well...it all fits in, avoidance to sunlight, speed, strength, fast healing" explains the speeders as they watch the Batfamily infront of them.

Robin speaks up watching the league. "...you aren't as idiotic as I thought then" he tells them as the Bat-Family smirk at being found out, they weren't worried about the league finding out, they just hoped that the heroes would've found out sooner.

Nightwing smirks. "...Any questions?" He asks before they get bombarded with questions from the League which they take turns answering, it was a strange conversation but in the end it made sense why they Batfamily were as mysterious as they were.

The end!

Hoped you liked this one shot so sorry for thr wait I know its been months since I last updated, sorry for any grammar and Spelling mistakes.

Requests are open!

Word count: 875

[romanyeva]

Been seeing a bit about of the MAwS version of Deathstroke on my feed recently with not a little outrage at his twunkiness or not-dilfness or something and that he might be a little bit pathetic.

Well!

Comics Slade Wilson can be VERY MUCH a pathetic wet meow meow of a man. Here he is in the series end of his latest title, Deathstroke vol. 4 # 50 (2016-2020):

This takes place after his showdown with an alternate Slade Wilson from the Dark Multiverse. He's reconciling with his ex-wife - you know, the one who shot his eye out - and cooking Christmas Eve dinner for the family. Of which, William "Billy" Wintergreen is an honorary member. Just look at Slade's little purple house slippers!

More scans from this series end under the cut:

Rose and Joseph, Slade's kids, and Adeline also greet Wintergreen. So domestic! And look at Joey using wifi to speak through his mom's house speakers. Yes, Joseph Wilson aka Jericho - canonically bisexual - is very much alive in DC Rebirth (and his story is wild and dramatic, tragic and uplifting)! [If something awful happened to Jericho after this issue, let me know.]

Then Slade and Billy go down to the basement to have a little chat.

Looking at the basement, Slade is definitely settled in for the long haul. He has his 'man-cave', need I remind you, in the basement. He's definitely playing nice with the ex no matter how many knife fights they get into with each other. And here he explains to Wintergreen, that he was going to play dead because it would be best for everyone - meaning his family. He may be absolutely sure of his deadly abilities, but his personal ones? Not so much. He's a dangerous guy! It's bad for the kids!

But he's still retired, just not in hiding anymore. He's going to be a responsible partner and father, darn it!

Take a long look at his famous Deathstroke sword, placed in retired honor on the wall, because it will be important in a bit.

You heard the man, Billy, Deathstroke is done! And they still have Christmas dinner to take care of!

Aw, look at this picture of domestic bliss. Adeline and Wintergreen are talking shop; Rose and Joey are playing a video game and being very sibling. But, OH NO, look at Slade and his body language. He's sitting pressed against the corner of the sofa, still in his little purple house slippers, just absolutely slumped and not having a good time. SLADE! SLADE WILSON! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!

His family's chatter just becomes noise in the background as he replays - from earlier in the issue - darker Slade's words in his head. And darker Slade said these same words to him TWICE. Telling him that he - our Slade Wilson - ruined all the good things in his life, that he did it to himself.

So he goes to get the turkey out of the oven.

More domestic stuff, aww 🧡 But where's our man Slade? Billy goes to check.

Turkey abandoned. Back door open. And the infamous Deathstroke sword RIPPED OFF THE WALL AND OUT OF RETIREMENT.

And there he is folks, Deathstroke, back in the shadows. Slade Wilson abandoned his family AGAIN! Slade Wilson, you pathetic wet meow meow of a man! You just cannot - absolutely CANNOT - allow yourself to be happy.

I would say that he isn't doomed by the narrative, but that he dooms himself; but if we were talking CLASSIC TRAGEDY, he has this absolutely fatal flaw that dooms him to be alone. And in a metatextual sense, that's also true, because he's become one of DC's banner villains. They will not let him retire, become anything but a morally dark gray character, so they gave him this ironclad flaw:

What can you take from a man who has nothing? Give him something first.

And Slade Wilson would rather have nothing because he's already lost too much.

[anawrites3]

Ooh could I ask about 'dimension travel' and 'universe swap - royalty'

Of course you can 💕💕 Ask all you want!

Dimension travel is a story that I started writing for dc poly week that I didn't get to finish in time. I'm still very excited about this one and I hope I'll get to finish it soon! It's a SlaJayDick fic where Dick accidentally gets send into another dimension. Everything seems pretty much the same except for the fact that in this world Dick Grayson never was Deathstroke's apprentice. But it doesn't mean that Slade never got his hands on any little bird ;)

It's a pretty dark one, with Dick just wanting to get back home and instead getting right into a trap that wasn't even set.

A little snippet;

“Looks like the little bird fell right into our grasp.” Slade purred out. He walked around Dick in a circle, watching him carefully. "Good work, apprentice."

Dick flinched, not able to conceal his reaction. He couldn't help it, even years after he managed to escape from him, something ugly twisted in his stomach hearing those words again.

"I am not your apprentice anymore." He growled.

Slade froze. Dick had to crank his neck to look at him but he saw the way the man stopped mid-step, almost like he was caught off guard. His brow furrowed just barely with confusion.

"You're not…?" He echoed, looking almost… surprised.

Then, very slowly, his lips curled into a satisfied smirk. He looked Dick over again, as if he was seeing him for the very first time and was curious, wanting to know everything, his every little twitch and reaction.

"I wasn't talking to you, boy. But that's a very interesting piece of information you gave me." Slade hummed.

He stopped in front of Dick, next to where Jason was still just standing with his back straight and hands clasped behind his back. Slade looked at the younger boy with something Dick didn't want to name.

"Don't touch him!" Dick snarled, struggling against the chains when Slade reached out towards Jason.

Slade ignored him. He wrapped a hand around Jason's neck and Jason let it happen without a word of protest.

"Such a good boy." He praised and Jason's eyelids fluttered. "What you brought me is even better than I thought."

And uniwerse swap - royalty is also a kind of dimension travel 😂💕 It's been sitting in my wips for so long, damn, it's one of the first things I started writing for this fandom. So, one day Dick wakes up in a soft bed that's not his, in a grand bedroom that's definitely not his. Then Alfred walks inside and greets him, calling him His Highness. Dick doesn't know what happened or why he's a literal prince but he doubts he can talk about it to anyone without being called a lunatic or being accoused of witchcraft or whatever people in medieval times did to freaks who talked about other worlds. So he tries to not destroy this Dick's life and he does his best to just... live his life, until he finds a way to go home. You know, be the crown prince of Gotham. No big deal.

Slade's there too of course. To make everything just a little bit more difficult for Dick :3 But while in Dick's world Slade is just a mercenary that tried to kill him multiple times, in this world their relationship is a little more... intimate (They're in a secret relationship because king Bruce would kill them both if he knew about their affair (and the feelings that came with it)) So, in order to not fuck up this Dick's life, Dick has to survive not only being a prince but also Slade's Wilson lover. Again, no big deal.

Have a snippet for this one as well;

Dick sprang up from his chair with a gasp. He was aware that everyone was looking at him, most concerned with a frown adorning their faces but he couldn't bring himself to care. Not when Slade Wilson was standing in the doorway, dressed in dark armor, with a sword at his hip and at his back.

Dick didn't know what Deathstroke could want from them in this world but he doubted it would be anything good. Not to mention that none of them were armed while Wilson had on himself two visible swords, at least five hidden daggers that Dick could see and a whole lot more that he couldn't.

"Dick." Tim murmured, gripping his sleeve. "What is it?"

Dick didn't answer him, didn't even look in his direction. Slade was still just standing there, furrowing his brow as well and looking at Dick with something almost soft, as if he was worried. Which was… stupid.

Bruce cleared his throat deliberately before rising to his feet himself, more gracefully and slowly than Dick did. Slade's eye immediately snapped to him.

"Grand General Wilson." Bruce greeted.

Slade inclined his head, just barely. "Your Majesty."

"It's good to see you back in one piece, general. I take it everything went according to plan?"

"Of course."

Dick couldn't breathe.

Thank you for asking, anon 💕💕

You can find the list of my wips here

[marsable-27]

Jason and his big sister

"Why am I surprised that you're creeping in here?" Tessa Theles said, as she heard her window from the patio click open, a six-foot-four guy slipping in.

"Aw, come on, you know I barely visit as it is." he said, pulling off his red helmet as he tossed it on her loveseat.

"I know, I'm just messing with you baby bro." Tess replied, as she pulled him into a hug. It lasted for about a second when she smelled his very strong and very present body odor. "Hit the showers, dumpster nugget, you smell rank."

Jason laughed as he ruffled her black hair, but did as he was told, and Tessa pulled out her phone as she ordered delivery for Chinese takeout.

It'd been a strange 6 years since Jason had tracked her down sorting through some old records of their shared mother's information. Tessa had stayed with her father in Trenton, as her mother had moved off to Gotham with her new lover (i.e, Jason's Dad.), and then once Tessa had moved out from her Dad's house, she'd moved into her apartment and pursued an art career, with of course a lawyer degree.

She'd been 26 when a 14 year old boy clad in a cape, and orange and green suit had greeted her in this very apartment, had warned her about their mother's situation.

And though Tessa had accepted him, she would never go back to saving her mother.

Jason, or Robin as he had introduced himself, had understood, telling her his real name when he left.

It'd been a silent two years, before he decided to come back, this time as Red Hood.

Now that had scared her shitless, his silence and then gradual remembrance of the older half-sister he managed to find. Tessa had let him stay with her, though sometimes he disappeared to help someone named "Talia."

It'd been a while since he came to visit, so she wondered what he had in store this time.

"Tess, you finally listened to me and remodeled your shower!" he exclaimed, as he came back out, hair damp.

"I told you, you have your own! And, are you using the shampoo I got from my trip Cancun?!" she answered, and Jason shrugged.

"I thought it smelled really good."

Tessa rubbed her temple, and before she could scold him, her doorbell rang. She opened it, and grabbed the Chinese food that had been placed on the floor.

"So, Jay, what brings you back to Trenton?" she asked, as she handed him a sealed plate of beef lo mein and dumplings.

"I just wanted to see my favorite sister." he replied, stuffing his mouth with noodles.

Tessa let it go, eating her own portion as they ate together, her thoughts trailing to the meeting she would have to attend next Friday.

"So, there's this girl..." Jason started, as he looked at his plate, not meeting her gaze.

"And you liked her?" Tessa finished, but Jason shook his head, his blush giving him away. "Well, what about her?"

"I'm pretty sure her dad is doing something shitty. Or is up to something shitty." Jason confessed.

"And you know who her Dad is?"

"Of course, his name is Deathstroke." Jason replied.

Silence.

"Her Dad's name is Deathstroke?" Tessa asked.

"No, his name is Slade Wilson, but he goes by Deathstroke, and I'm pretty sure he's going to try to start a war with Damian's mother and father."

That caught Tessa's attention. Jason had opened up to her about his adopted family, giving her details of each family member. She felt like it worried him that she had missed out so much of his lifehood.

"Alright, tell me what happened."

An hour later...

"Damian tasered you?" Tessa said, looking at him surprised.

"He only did it as a way to distract me so he could escape to the Lazarus Tournament." Jason explained, finishing his soda.

Tessa drunk her wine slowly, ignoring Jason's open hand reaching for her glass. It didn't matter how old he was, he was still her younger brother.

"So, Damian has a twin that was made with Slade's DNA and Talia's and his name is Respawn, and Respawn happens to be the younger brother of your girlfriend Rose..." Tessa trailed off, drinking the rest of her wine down.

"You're missing the point." Jason replied, lounging on the couch. It looked quite funny because he was too tall to lay on it comfortably, his legs dangling to the side.

"What...was the point?" Tessa asked instead.

“My girlfriend wants to track down her father without caring about the potential war that will be brewed because Slade is furious about how his son was treated, and I’m pretty sure Talia is pissed that Slade killed her father because of it. So, how do I ask Rose to sit this one out?” Jason finished.

“Not possible.” Tessa replied.

“See, I was thinking that too, but maybe she’ll listen to my dear sister-“

“Jay, I love you, you’re my brother, but if she won’t listen to you, what makes you think she’ll listen to me?” Tessa asked.

“…I just don’t want her to get hurt.” Jason replied softly, staring up at the ceiling.

 “I’m pretty sure she feels the same way when you run off on your missions and don’t tell her anything for days or months.” Tessa teased.

“Okay, that is very untrue.” Jason replied.

“Really? Does she know that you’re here instead of Gotham?”

At his silence, Tessa laughed.

“You worry so much, little brother. That sounds stressful. You can only control so much.” Tess said, as she ruffled his hair.

Jason sighed, swatting at her hand half-heartedly, but giving her a relaxed grin.

“You staying over? I don’t have work until next Friday.” Tessa informed him.

“You don’t mind?”

“Of course not, you idiot. Now, let me show you these Wonder Woman joggers I found for men. I think they’ll fit you, but you’ve been bulking up a bunch.”

“I’ll make them fit me, Tess.”

[katzynia]

Writing Pattern Tag Game

Rules: List the first line of your last 10 posted fics and see if there's a pattern! (I'm going to use the first few sentences/the first paragraph as "line" is up to interpretation IMO )

(Thanks for the tag @bittercape)

Hold on (to this lullaby)

The kitchen lights up with a decisive click of the switch. Alfred blinks.

2. Kindle and char

“I object!” Slade shouted as he kicked the doors open. For a moment, the massive wood tried to resist, magic flashing on its surface, but, creaking, it bent under the greater force. The double doors slammed open with all the dramatic flair one could hope for. Slade let his smirk grow into an obnoxious grin and strode in, Rose flanking him a few paces back. Deathstroke danced at the back of his mind, alert but not alarmed, enjoying the promise of lovely little payback waiting for them.

3. Smell a cookie baking (what are we making)

”Help me,” Slade hisses on the phone, and Jason – a horrible, terrible little brat that he is – laughs.

4. Call me maybe

”Heyyyyy,” a vaguely familiar voice says in Slade’s ear, stretching the vowel frankly unacceptably, completely undeterred by Slade’s customarily terse greeting that does not invite such shenanigans. Especially since he is in the middle of a job. Granted, in the boring part that consists wholly of waiting, but it is the principle of the thing.

5. Straddling the line (in discord and rhyme)

Jason whirls around to look behind him, guns raised. A thin rat sprinting across the alley nearly gets another hole in its coat. Jason pulls his hands back closer to his body, but the feeling coiling in the bottom of his belly doesn’t abate. His hands twitch, fingers longing to hook around the triggers and start shooting. Unfortunately, all he’d get would be shadows.

6. strangers looking from afar (getting closer)

The second wave of thugs dropped in, and Slade was getting impatient.

7. Shifting in the wind

Well, Slade contemplated philosophically, now that his thoughts were no longer an amorphous soup, this was one way to solve the problem of what to do with his free week between jobs. He had vaguely thought about going to a cabin in the middle of the woods far away from people, but. Well.

8. Let it bleed

In the cover of darkness, Slade waits. Ambient sounds of the night, full of life here in the middle of nowhere, go on around him, fluttering by him, but nothing catches his interest. No yells, no alarms, no frantic movements. Nothing to interrupt the almost tranquil calm enveloping the castle.

9. Connectivity issues (you seem to be having)

Slade should really stop accepting jobs in Gotham, no matter how tempting the pay for an easy job. It never stayed easy. “You gotta be shitting me!” A case in point.

10. Eyes (wide) shut

Len sighs. This job is already one of the most boring he’s ever been on, and that’s saying something. He thinks he’d rather take some infighting and muscle flexing than this tense silence and standing around. Nothing of note is going to happen tonight. He doesn’t even know why he’s here.

Ah, patterns. I like to think I do intrigue with slam openings. :D One-line starts are very typical for me (you know, for emphasis), and I always (okay there might be an exception somewhere) start in media res, mostly for intrigue reasons. I also like to establish POV character fast, cause I like to write very close/limited third person, hence it's very important to know whose head one is in.

Anyway, if you notice / have noticed patterns in my openings (or writings in general), I'd be super interested to hear about them

Tagging: @notherdeadrobin @nonbinaryjaybird @aziraphalalala

[starwalker03]

Oh you'll pay me huh? well I can't do that but uh... it's dangerous to go alone take this *throws this at you*

The hallways of Lexcorp were familiar by this point. Conner knew the time it would take to get from point a to point b off the top of his head. The only difficult calculation to make was the elevators and foot traffic. Conner tended to prefer the stairs anyway.

Luthor tended, at this point, to treat him as a particularly strange mix between secretary and bodyguard. He did the same to Mercy, so Conner found he had to balance tasks with the droid more often than not.

today's weight on his side of the scale: to greet one of Luthor's appointments.

Luthor was going to have this meeting in one of his more private offices (less cameras, more comfort, his preferred bottle of whiskey, easily defensible) so Conner assumed this wasn't a normal civilian meeting. Possibly a member of the light, more likely one of their lackeys sent in their stead. Most likely, they were whatever private contractee Luthor had chosen for his latest exploits.

He knew how long it would take to get there, how long it would take to get back, and whatever few words he needed to speak to them shouldn't tip things too much.

He met the hallway on the minute, hand on the doorknob the second, and swung it open as his inner clock ticked over.

He knew what few words needed to be spoken- I'm here to collect you for your meeting with Mr. Luthor, follow me this way, something like that- but the words disappeared in his mouth as his eyes caught on who awaited him.

A tower of a man, tall as Superman, with shoulders square and broad. His hair was silver, cut in a simple military-esque fashion that didn't quite fit with the businessman clothes he wore. what struck out was the eyepatch.

He didn't recognise the man, but that eyepatch... that made something cold spark in his gut. Something like dread.

The man shifted slightly, noticing Conner's appearance, turning just so, and a much smaller person appeared, from behind his silhouette as they fell into place at his side.

Now him... him Conner recognised.

Or did he? he wasn't sure. on first look his eyes knew him, on second his heart didn't.

clean cut dark hair, brilliant blue eyes, short. But not short because of stature, only because of age. Because he was young.

His skin was perhaps a little paler, like he hadn't been in the sun for a while. His hair cut an inch or so shorter. A fair bit more muscle on his frame, just enough to notice.

Richard Grayson.

Certainly not Robin anymore.

And that meant this man before him... Deathstroke.

Deathstroke noticed his gaze, the way he'd halted in his step, and a cruel smile pulled slightly at the edge of his mouth.

"Yes, I forgot you two were old friends," Deathstroke drawled to Dick, not even looking at Conner, then added, "I wonder if he'd have recognised you before you took the wig and contacts off."

for a moment, the real tragedy was that Conner couldn't have seen Dick in a wig and contacts and made fun of him for it. The thought was almost enough to shake him out of his dread, but it fell away quickly as he realised exactly what situation the two of them were in now, and remembered what had lead them here.

Dick didn't move. Didn't so much as twitch. His gaze settled on Conner, flitting from head to toes and back like he was categorising him. Adding to a mental file. He was dressed in a similar business casual way as Deathstroke, fallen into line behind him like a well trained soldier.

Conner wanted to hug him. Something in his chest ached as the past three years flashed before his eyes and he re-experienced it all at once in shocking clarity. His posture shook for a moment as the line of his shoulder once more took on weight he didn't know how to carry.

"Luthor sent you as a middle man, then?" Deathstroke said, for the first time turning his attention on Conner. He didn't like it. His breath caught in his throat for moment as he remembered kryptonite sickness, pain and screaming, destruction, his world falling apart around him-

As he remembered this very same man running through the now at his side, shoving a blade through his chest without flinching, like it was easy.

There had been so much blood. Conner's hands had been stained with it, outstretched and shaking, fingernails grating against stone as he tried to crawl himself just an inch closer to his dying friend.

That was then, this was now.

"he's waiting for you in his office," Conner finally managed to say, "follow me this way."

No hello. No how are you. No moment to speak to the ghost before him. He knew he wouldn't be allowed.

Dick was so quiet, standing there at Deathstroke's side. Silent. He shouldn't be silent, he shouldn't be quiet, he shouldn't be-

Alive.

He turned on his heels as he led them towards Lex Luthor.

(I was gonna write a bunch of scenes but it'll make this post so long lmao. So if I can keep the motivation I'll write it as it's own Conner centric chapter but we'll see what happens)

Did WMLP Slade or Dick ever take jobs from Lex Luthor in person? Have they been in his office in Metropolis?

oh yeah for sure.

Lex is someone Slade would mostly deal with in person, because he's such a frequent customer he is worthy of that level of respect. Plus, sometimes Lex has certain appearances to keep up because he's so high profile, so if money is just going to faceless account it gets suspicious. But if you physically have some guy coming in doing business with him it's easier to hand wave. "Oh that's Mr. Wilson, Luthor pays him for security stuff" or whatever, y'know? so yeah they've been in his office.

[deathstrokesladewilon-blog]

Greeter

@katarinawilliams

“Unless you’re here to hire me, I would recommned you leaving. I’m not in the mood,” Slade growled and took a sip of his drink.