#Steph: let him speak his truth

[rubydubydoo122]

Why is it that Batman’s ok with Antiheroes if it’s Catwoman or Talia Al Ghul, but when it’s the Red Hood, suddenly he’s beating the shit out of him

~Jason Peter Todd at some point

[charlesswife]

Una Noche En Mónaco ii

Mateo Con Una T (Mateo with one t)

unem masterlist

pairing: charles leclerc x latina! reader

summary: after a one night stand between you and charles, he continues on with his formula one career. until two months later, you come back claiming to be pregnant with his child.

warning: bad writing, charles is a bit of an asshole at first, google translate because i dont speak french, teen pregnancy, english isnt my first language so there might be some grammatical error.

a/n: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU GUYS HAVE SHOWN IN THE FIRST EPISODE! It makes me so happy to know that you guys really liked it. I really have sooooo many ideas and twist for this book, like you guys have no idea, so always expect the unexpected hehehe

Just to clarify y/l/n is your last name. This is your story so I didn't want to give reader a last name.

second A/N: for some reason i can't write chapters on my phone because the letters are black. I have it in dark mode but i didnt have that problem before. does anyone else have that problem?

gif is not mine!

May 2018 

Charles Leclerc was a gentleman. That's how I remember him. The way he took care of me after the several rounds of sex we had. He is definitely the kind of man I don't ever want to forget. He was very sweet and caring. 

But he was only a one-night stand. I don't really know him, as him. The fact that I have to tell him I'm pregnant with his child absolutely terrifies me. I wish my parents were here. If they were, I don't think I would be in this situation. 

Charles sent me the address where he was staying at. As I got closer to the place, I realized it was the same place where I woke up. Is this his apartment? 

Steph left me at the doorstep. I needed her as moral support, just in case things didn't go as planned. 

"Go," Steph said as she hugged me. "I'll be waiting in the car, don't worry. If he does anything, we'll sue him. You have the money for it" 

Money wasn't a problem for me. I just wanted him to be there, I'm scared and I don't want to do this alone. I know Steph is here for me, but it is not her responsibility at all, it is mine and his. 

I took a long breath and rang the bell. Steph went back to the car and after a few minutes, Charles opened the door. 

He had such a bright smile on his face. "Oh, cara mia," he pulled me into his apartment and then close the door. He grabbed my face with both of his hands and try to kiss me but I pushed him slightly by his chess. His thick brows frowned a bit and then he asked, "What's wrong?"

I looked at him in the eyes and said. "We need to talk" 

February 2023 

I walked to my bookstore with Mateo in hand. Steph was the first one to greet us. 

"Auntie!" Mateo let go of my hand and ran to my best friend. 

"Maty!" Steph got down to the level of my kid and hugged him. "Uff, why are you getting so big, huh? How is my favorite godson doing?" 

Mateo laughed. "I'm your only godson, tia" (aunt) 

"How would you know, Alexander Jules?"

"Mommy told me, and Mommy would never lie," he pointed at me. "Verdad, mami?" (right, Mommy?) he looked back at me. 

"Si, mi amor (yes, my love)" I nodded at him. "Stay with your tia (aunt) while I check stuff in the store, okay? And don't forget to pick up a book" I told him, to which he nodded. 

Mateo Alexander Jules Y/l/n is four and one quarter. He likes to remind people of that. He is the most educated boy I know, and I'm not saying that just because I'm his mother, but because it's the truth. I have seen other kids and they are horrible, ungrateful brats. I hate kids. Except for my son. I want to think I did a good job raising him. He looks a lot like Charles. From the eyes' color and shape to the dimples to the hair, to the lips. 

I walked around the store, checking books that needed to be restocked and putting some books back in place. I went to the cafe and got my regular iced coffee. 

I walked around again until I got to my favorite section. Murder & Mysteries. In there, I saw a lady. Probably in her mid-50s. Blonde hair, she was dressed casually. She was looking around at the books. Picking one up, reading the back, and then putting the book back on the shelf. 

"Do you need any help?" I asked her. 

She turned around and looked at me up and down. "Oh, dear. I thought I was alone. You work here?" 

"Something like that," This answer seemed to confuse her. "Is there anything I could help you with?" 

She turned her sight to the books again. "Well, I'm trying to find a good mystery book but none of them catches my eye. I'm looking for something similar to Alexander Y/l/n or Perla Campos. They are my favorite authors" 

I stared at her for a second. What are the odds? I looked back at the bookshelf until I found the book I was looking for. "This one should do."

She looked at the cover and asked "The Seven and 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle?" 

"It's not as near as good as what Alexander Y/l/n and Perla Campos used to write, but if you like their books, I'm sure you'll like this one," I explained as I see her read the back of the book. "Another option would be 'The Secret Inheritance' by Cassandra Matthew." (lmao idk if that book is real) 

I handed her the book and she took it gladly. She read the back and then looked at me. "These are very good suggestions! Thank you, dear. What's your name?" 

"Y/n," I told her. 

"Nice to meet you, I'm Pascale" 

August 2018 

Pregnancy wasn't easy. I never thought I would cry so much in the span of 5 minutes just because I ran out of my favorite gelato. 

Today was my fifth visit to the doctor, and I was nervous as hell. I am more bigger than a regular pregnant woman, it has me fearing for my baby's life or even mine. 

"Okay, Y/n. You know the drill. Lay down, and lift your shirt up. As always the gel is cold" Dr. Williams said. She is always so gentle with me. Maybe she pities me. 

"I have concerns," I told her. She looked at me as she was putting on the gel. "My belly looks bigger than normal, is that okay?"

"It depends, in most cases, yes. It means the baby is healthy. But let's take a look" She moved her sight to the machine. The image of my baby appears immediately in the sonogram. She moved the transducer to another spot on my belly and I could see her eyes widen a bit. She was going on up and down in the same area. "I think I have a better answer to your question." She looked at me and said, "You're having twins" 

February 2023 

"Mami, can I read Nancy Drew?" Mateo came running to me as he showed me the first book in the series. 

I looked at the book and say "I don't think so, love. It might be too much for you. This is for bigger kids" 

"But I am a big kid!" The old lady, Pascale, laughed. 

"This is your son?" she asked.

I nodded with a smile. Mateo looked at Pascale and stayed quiet. He knew it was rude to interrupt conversations. He got behind me, hiding.

Pascale tilted her head for a moment, narrowed her eyes a bit, and murmured "He kind of looks like... never mind. What's your name, little boy?" 

He looked at me for a second. "Answer her, baby. It's rude to not answer to elders" I told him.

"I'm Mateo with one T" he lifted one finger.

This made Pascale laugh again. "Nice to meet you, Mateo with one T" 

"Why don't you take the book to Tia and tell her I say to check it out" Mateo nodded and ran towards the register, he stopped for a second and came back walking. 

"Goodbye," He said to Pascale while giving her a little waving and then walking back to the register. 

"He looks like a bundle of joy," Pascale said as she sees Mateo walk away. 

"He is," I agreed. "Is there anything else I can help with?" 

"No, that's all. Thank you for the help. I'm ready to check out." 

We walked to the register and started the process to check her out. I did the usual routine. I asked if she had an account with us, which she didn't, but she decided to get one. 

"Okay, Pascale. What's your last name?"

"You can just put an L," I did as she told me. As I was checking out her books, she said "This is such a pretty bookstore. I have never been here before." 

"Thank you," I said. 

"She's the owner," Steph spoke as she was playing hands with my son, who shushed her for butting in the conversation. 

Pascale looked at me with wide eyes. I laughed at her reaction. She inserted her card and paid. I put her books in a bag and grabbed one of the coupons. "Here is a ten-percent coupon to use on your next visit!" 

"I will definitely come back. I need to tell you if I like the books or not." 

"Oh boy," I laughed.

"I might even bring one of my sons with me" Oh boy... This isn't the first time a mother has try to set me up with their kids. 

"Please do!" Steph yelled. Mateo put his small hands in her mouth and murmured a small 'no tia, don't talk'. 

"See you next time, Pascale" 

"Bye Y/n," She walked to the entrance as she passed my boy, she turned and say "Goodbye, Mateo with one T" 

"Bye-bye." 

After she left the store, Steph turned to me. "She didn't say goodbye to me. How rude?" 

"Jesus Christ, Steph. Why would you tell her that?" I elongated the a in 'that'. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

I know I left you guys with open scenes between the first and third scenes but everything is for a reason!!! I might do Charles POV on the next one!!! Trust the process guys, things are going to get sooo good.

If you guys don't know (just in case) Pascale is Charles' mother.

Please let me know what you think of it. I would really appreciate any type of comment, whether is your opinion or just anything! It would def motivate me to keep going. I would really appreciate if you guys like and repost as well! So other people can be aware of this story.

@mac-daddy-210 @infinite-wanders @rbrsavage @itsyogurlkel @bbygrlllllll  @nerdreader @imnotcryingyouare1 @killerangel88 @obx-mylove-things-blog @triorion @daniellarogers @insssanemind @bosinclairsgf @rb-danny @shyshva @booksobsess @ogfangirl @ravenqueen27 @masonspulisic @yunnie-f1 @simxican @ushygushybaby @graceverstappen11 @maximoff-xmen @severenswife @ferraribabe @pjofics @harrysdimple05 @mloyer @teti-menchon0604 @imagineadream @reidsworld @heavengirls111 @scentedskydreamer @christianpulisic10 @formulas-bitch @topguncultleader @hc-dutch @moonclaine @miureiz @tall-tanned-tattoo @madisontaxarn @bisexualbith  

For some reason, it's not letting me tag some of you so people make sure your tag is correct. I want everyone to get the notification and this is beyond me.

[closetnerd62]

Brotherly Advice

A Lautski + Spankoffski Bros Fic inspired by Writing Prompt #2504 from @promptsforthestrugglingauthor

Summary: after months of watching Pete fail to actually make a move with Steph, Ted refuses to let history repeat itself and offers some brotherly advice

“Bye!” Pete said shyly, holding the door for Steph.

“Bye!” She smiled.

“Bye!” He repeated dreamily.

“You already said that.” She giggled.

“Oh! My bad.” He rubbed his neck sheepishly with a blush.

“See you later Spankoffski!” Steph shook her head with a smile.

“Yea- yeah,” he stuttered as she descended the apartment stairs. “Definitely.”

As he shut the door, Pete pressed his forehead to the door with a groan.

“That. Was painful.” Ted cringed. “You two have been ‘hanging out’ for three months now without making a move. Look, if you ever wanna get with her you have to be smoother than that.”

“I’m not like you Ted,” Pete snapped. “I don’t just want to ‘get with her’ asshole. I really like her. But there’s no way she’d ever actually reciprocate.”

“You’ve gotta play the field pal.” Ted said, slapping Pete on the back. “Go find another girl and take her home with you. Then little Lauter here will get all jealous and when you play hard to get, she’ll be on her knees practically begging for you.”

“No-NO! She’s not like that,” Pete interjected defensively. “Sure, she acts like she doesn’t care but she can be so incredibly passionate and she makes me feel like I’m worth something for once! I know you wouldn’t understand but I would be willing to suffer if it meant that she got to be happy!”

Ted was hit with a wave of recognition. He was amazed. He himself had only ever experienced a feeling that strong once, for one girl… Jenny.

“Holy shit.” Ted softened. “Pete, are you in love with this girl?”

“What? No!” Pete hissed.

“Yes, the fuck you are.” Ted pressed. “I can see it!”

“Then maybe you need to get glasses too, dickhead!”

“Listen to what you just said jackass! You love her!”

“No I don’t!” Pete cried, “I can’t!”

A memory flashed in Ted’s mind. He could see himself in college, laying on his dorm room bed saying the same thing about Jenny.

“I shouldn’t.” Pete continued.

“Maybe.” Ted offered. “Maybe it is the worst thing you could possibly do. But I’m sorry buddy, you do. You love her. And there’s no moving forward until you admit that to yourself.”

The brothers sat in a heavy silence. Ted could see the gears moving in Peter’s head, the calculations being made. A look of defeat slowly crept across his face. Mournful of the bliss of willful ignorance.

“I love her.” Pete breathed, miserably.

“You gotta tell her Pete.” Ted sighed.

“See you don’t understand Ted!” Pete thundered. “I can’t!”

“You have to.”

“No!” Pete insisted. “It feels safer to love her from a distance.” His face twisted as if he was trying to work up the ability to face his worst fear. “I can’t lose her if she doesn’t know.”

He looked exhausted. As if the mere thought of her not being in his life had drained him. Ted stared at him, as if looking in a mirror to his past self. Spankoffski’s had a knack for making history repeat itself, but Ted refused to let that happen this time. This time he had been given the chance to go back and save his brother from everything he had done wrong.

“I’ve made that mistake before.” Ted admitted. “Don’t do it.” This was the most sincere that Peter had ever heard his brother speak. “Anyone worth loving should know the truth.”

Pete nodded.

“I’ve gotta tell her.” he confessed, rising from the couch and grabbing his coat. “I’ll be back in a bit Ted.”

“Go get her!” Ted called as Pete rushed out the door of their apartment and into the hall, heart pounding against his chest. He barreled down the stairs, tearing through the halls, fueled by intent and need and yearning. He yanked open the door, ready to race to the Lauter house, only to find his mark already at the door, about to press the button to be buzzed in. He stared at her in amazement.

“Oh Pete! I was just about to call up, I accidentally took your calculator with me.” Steph’s face was pink from the outside cold. Peter stared, soaking up everything that was the girl before him.

“Pete?” she repeated.

“I have something I need to tell you.” He said breathlessly.

“Okay?” she prompted, intrigued.

“I- um…” He stuttered. “Uh… we’ve been hanging out for so long and well… after everything we’ve been through together, I just- I-”

“Take your time.” Steph encouraged, placing a supportive hand on his arm.

“I think I’m in love with you.” he blurted.

Shock plastered itself across Steph’s face. She blinked, trying to process.

“I’m sorry,” Pete rambled. “I understand if you don’t feel the same way and I don’t expect anything from you, I just thought it’d only be fair to let you know and I understand if you don’t ever want to hangout again or talk or-”

“Pete!” She cut him off. “Don’t you dare fucking apologize.” And with that she grabbed the collar of his button up and pulled him into a kiss.

As Ted glanced through the window he was filled with pride. Even though he knew it was too late to go back and get it right himself, the satisfaction of knowing maybe eventually he could, if he could only be more like his kid brother, gave him a new hope. He meandered his way over to the phone in the kitchen, dialed a number, and listened as someone picked up on the other end.

“Hey Char,” He murmured, “I need to tell you something.”

[temperamentalaquarius]

so what do i have to offer to get a post with a scathing comparison of fanon Tim and canon Tim? 😂 this is an official request! the amount of cardboard cutout & self-insert Tim ocs i have found in the fanfics… it’s been really bothering me lately and your “bitch i might wing” posts give me life

I'm glad ur enjoying my descent, I am too ha ha!!

And boy do I agree with you. Tim is juuust white and twinky enough(but not nearly as much as fanon Tim enjoyers seem to think) on first spec for a lot of ppl to project on, so he gets...idk let's call it diluted. Short answer is that canon Tim would drop kick fanon Tim for speaking about Jack Drake the way he does.

Long rambling analysis is that fanon Tim leans into his time as Red Robin(because it's the only Tim comic they've read IF they've read it) which was more supposed to be a story of how someone behaves when they are so deep in their grief that they literally can't see which way is up than a display of how Tim normally behaves and thinks. Everything else is just kind of.. assumed filler based off of what his wiki says. As a result Tim gets written as this shy, spineless, borderline megalomaniac child who is ignored and undervalued when in 85% of canon he's the complete opposite(nu52 Tim is a blight). Where fanon Tim is a genius prodigy, canon Tim is the average smart kid with a big mouth who chose to be a hero. He had to contend with the knowledge and fear that he is not on the level of the other heroes and adapts to it by bringing antagonists to his level instead of meeting them where they are. He's interesting because he literally has to think differently but he's written as Bruce junior for some reason.

Also, unlike most of the batfam, he has(or had) strong ties to his civilian life, and had to find a way to balance them, something that is completely ignored in fanon when that was his appeal in the first fucking place. Instead, fanon warps his parents into these grotesquely neglectful charicatures to justify the truth of Red Robin when again, Red Robin was about grief through the lens of an unreliable narrator. Jack and Janet were just... parents? They were neglectful in the way that any teenage superhero's parents have to be so that they can be a superhero on the DL, and he loved them. Taking that away takes away the impact of their deaths on him, and strips away yet another element of his character. Also, I literally cannot overstate the impact that Steph had in Tim's life. Because ppl want to ship him with other male characters, their formative and thematically integral relationship gets tossed to the side along with all of the nuance that came with it.

Because I can't stop talking I also think that fanon Tim is also probably tied with Dick when it comes to suffering from the poor attempt at TMNTing of the robins- i.e. Dick is the face, Jason's the angry one, Tim's the smart one, and Damian's the fighty one while Steph&Duke don't exist because I guess there aren't any more one word traits to assign them. Tim is very smart, yes, but hes not the smartest(because obviously area of expertise is a factor) or the best detective of the Robins- and DEF not the smartest of the Batfam by any measure of intelligence- and it certainly isn't his defining feature like fandom wants ppl to think. He's got other things to him that are more interesting.

I just blacked out for 15 minutes, is this anything?

[sebasmcginnis]

Today the sequel to “Enough” is out, chapter 101 of the Webtoon, Wayne Family Adventures Talking with Erik, a boy who is the son of a thief whom Spoiler arrested, she understands that he did it to get his father's attention, stealing to make a better robbery.

The way how Stephanie empathizes with him, speaking from her experience as the Cluemaster's daughter, he chose crime over his daughter, when Steph tried to let him know, it was unsuccessful in breaking his heart.

Eventually Steph found a family with Tim, Barbara, Cass, and the rest of the BatFamily, being the ones who prioritize her, putting her first without exceptions or conditions, because that's what a family does, they love you no matter what.

Of course Erik should choose, which path follow, because there will be mistakes and failures, but it is in the same person to get up and try learning from that experience, but the truth is that no one is alone, because in the end everyone deserves someone who cares.

[the-alice-of-hearts]

DickTim Week Day 6: Slade’s Apprentice Meets Ra’s Heir

Rating: Explicit, word count 8483, no archive warnings would apply. It is omegaverse though. A lot of characters get to make an appearance in this one. Hope you all like it!

@dicktimweek

Dick had a handle on things. Or, well, he at least felt like he did… He would…God he hoped he was doing the right thing. Tim had left though, Dick needed the omega and he left. Gotham needs Batman, and Dick was the only one who could fulfill that role. He was the only one of Bruce’s sons who could step into the suit and god is he didn’t hate that that was the truth. Dick looked over at Damian before nodding. 

“Robin, that’s enough for tonight. Go back to the cave and I’ll be there soon.” 

Damian stared at him for a moment and then that look of disgust came over his face. “You’re going to look for the pretender again aren’t you?” 

Dick grit his teeth and took in a deep breath. “I’m going to see what progress Oracle has made in tracking him down, yes.” Damian went to speak again but Dick held up a hand. “Robin, you will return to the cave. I don’t want to hear anything more on the topic.” 

Damian held his stare for a moment and Dick knew that if he could see through the whiteouts he would see Damian’s eyes lit up like fire. Finally the teenager nodded and ran off. 

Dick reached up and pressed the button on his com. “Agent A, I’m sending Robin home. If he’s not back in the next twenty minutes please inform me.” 

“Roger that Batman.” 

Dick let out a sigh and then started his way to the clock tower. He wanted to see how Babs was doing, and he actually did have a small bit of hope that maybe she had found some trail of Tim. 

He landed on top of the tower and waved at the camera that she had set up next to the bat entrance. It took less than five seconds for her to open the hatch, but it was enough time for him to worry that she wasn’t going to let him in. 

“What do you need Batman?” She asked as he landed behind her. 

“How are you doing?” He asked softly. 

“I’m fine.” She won’t look at him and he knows why. He knows that she is angry, but god it hurts. 

“Babs, I-” He tries to talk to her, but then she turns her head and looks at him. 

“Don’t. I have the birds looking for clues, but no one has seen him. If Tim doesn’t want to be found then he won’t be.” She looks back at her setup and sighs. “He’s good, and if he needed help he would reach out. If he accesses any of the bat tech then I’ll know, but he’s gone to ground. Maybe this is a good thing, maybe he’s out.” 

Dick hangs his head and squeezes his hands tight. “You know that he isn’t. He’s out there somewhere, and I honestly don’t know that he will reach out. Cassie hasn’t seen him, Steph can’t track him, he hasn’t called or written…” 

Babs kept typing for a moment while Dick stood there hoping she would say something else. “If you keep that up then the scent blockers are going to fail you before you get back to the cave. Gotham still thinks Batman is a beta.” Her cutting tone was harsh, but it snapped him out of his head. 

“I’ll head home.” Dick gave in. 

“Be safe out there Batman,” Babs called out to him and Dick waved at her before leaving the tower the same way he came in. 

Dick ran his hand over the cowl and glared, he hated this stupid suit. Dick started his way back to where the batmobile was stashed in an alley. He kept an ear out for anything that was happening, but it was starting to crest into morning and crime had slipped back into the shadows for the day. Dick made it to the car and then stopped short. Because there was a bright red note on the windshield, and the tires were stacked next to the car with a tire iron sitting on top. 

“HOOD!” Dick screamed. 

He smelled the other alpha before he stepped out of the shadows. “Might want to get it together fast. Sun’s comin’ up in little over an hour,'' Jason snarked at him through the voice modulator. 

Dick launched himself at Jason and tried to strike fast. “What the hell?” 

Jason easily sidestepped his strikes and danced further into the alley. “Needed your attention,” Dick growled loudly and Jason just laughed. “Oh, is the big bad bat playin’ at bein’ an alpha?” 

Dick sneered at him. “Don’t make me bite you.” 

“Cool it, golden boy, I have information.” Jason struck out and Dick had to back up to avoid the fist. 

“What is it?” Dick demanded. 

“Deathstroke,” Jason responded. “He left a message with me.” Jason nodded to the car. “Don’t know what it says, but he paid me good to give it to you.” 

Dick pulled back and turned to look at the letter. “Why not just drop it off?” 

Jason shrugged. “Because he told me that he’d know when you read it, and that if you didn’t then he’d make my life miserable.” 

Dick glared at the paper as though he could make it disappear. 

“What does orange and black want with you?” Jason asked. 

“Nothing good,” Dick muttered. 

“Well, read it, yeah? I’ll put the tires back.” Jason walked over to the tires to start the process. 

Dick walked over to the letter and picked it up carefully. He didn’t know what Slade wanted, but he knew whatever it was, it was gonna be bad. He looked at Jason and stepped into the alley so that he wasn’t too close in case there was poison or something inside the envelope. Turning it over he saw there was nothing on the outside, and the seal was just the normal glue seal that envelopes came with. With shaking fingers, he grabbed a Batarang from his belt and sliced open the envelope. No puff of smoke, but he could smell that Slade had scented the paper. He pulled out the letter and unfolded it. 

Renegade,

I know whom you seek, and better yet, I know where the wayward Robin is. You know what I want, you know I can deliver, and you know that this is how it will always end. Come back to me, and I will help you get your omega back. 

-Deathstroke

Dick held his breath. No one knew Tim’s dynamic, not even Bruce knew that Tim was an omega, hell even in her brainwashing of Jason, Talia had never known that Tim was an omega. Damian only found out because when Tim left he had left the cave filled with the scent of an omega in distress. Dick assumed that Alfred knew, but nothing made it past the eyes of him. He looked over at Jason, did he know? Did Babs? He took a moment to wonder if Kon or Bart knew before… 

“So, anything interesting?” Jason asked from where he was putting the second tire back on.

“Just more of the same old same old.” Dick lied. “He wants to meet with me, I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.” 

Jason studied him and then turned back to the tire with a small hum. “Any word on the replacement?” 

Dick shook his head. “Not yet.” 

“He’s still out there, Oracle will find him.” Jason walked over to grab the third tire and then tilted his head. “What?” 

Dick shook his head and swallowed back his instincts. “Just worried about him, he’s been no contact since Steph.” 

Jason stared at him for another moment. “Take my bike and go home. I’ll bring the car back.” 

Dick gave a small smile. “Thanks Little Wing.” 

“Whatever, just give me your keys.” Jason tossed his bike keys at Dick and Dick tossed back the keys to the batmobile. 

He made the trip back as fast as he could. Damian was most likely waiting up for him, and he needed to get him to bed before the pup fell asleep in the cave again. He let himself pull on his bond with Tim just once, hoping that maybe the omega would respond this time, but like every other attempt Dick was met with a wall of nothing. Tim’s bond was still there though, so he was still alive, and for now, that was all Dick could know. Tim’s silence was hard, but he had survived so much, and he would come home… probably. 

---

Tim could admit that maybe his plans were not always the most thought out. Lying in the dessert bleeding out next to the only remaining member of his team he could see how this could have gone a little differently. 

“B-b-b,” Pru tried to talk but Tim just shook his head. 

“Not dead yet,” he gasped out. “I’m gonna get us out of here.” 

He slowly turned on his side and clicked the emergency beacon that Ra’s hadn’t taken from him. There was a slim chance that he’d make it back to the hotel for the drop, but maybe Dick would come for him. Curling up in a ball for just two seconds he allowed himself to close his eyes and imagine the alpha scruffing him and telling him it was all going to be okay. “Get up,” he hissed at himself. 

He pulled a pressure bandage from his bandolier and applied it to the hole in his side. It wouldn’t do much about the blood loss he was already suffering, but maybe it would at least keep him alive long enough to get Pru safe. 

He stumbled into the motel room and laid Pru on the bed. “I’ll contact the league, it’ll be okay.” 

One moment he was holding the radio and the next he was kneeling on the floor trying not to throw up. Taking in a deep breath and clenching his eyes shut he kept himself together. Tim reached out to the radio and flipped it on. “We’ve been attacked. Two losses, myself and one asset are back at base.” 

If a reply came Tim wouldn’t have known. The last thing he heard before passing out due to blood loss was footsteps and a deep voice.

“Finally caught you little bird.” 

---

Tim woke up in a room that was glowing. Shit. He rolled away from the source of the light and stood up to see that he was indeed in the Lazarus room. His fingers itched to grab a weapon but he was in a loose gown without anything on him. 

“Ah, Detective, you’re finally awake.” Ra’s sauntered toward him from the side of the room. “I was beginning to worry that we would have to throw you in the pit after all.” 

Tim grasped at that information and reached for his side to feel where the stab wound was. 

“Fickle things stab wounds, yours wouldn’t stop bleeding so we had to remove your spleen. The stitches will come out in a few days and you’ll be back to finding the Bat.” Ra’s was within arm's distance now. 

Tim cleared his throat. “What about-” 

Ra’s held up a hand. “You’ll have very few questions when I am done, I’d save them.” 

Tim glared but held his tongue. If there was one thing he was good at it was getting adults to not lash out at him. 

“Prudence was brought back with you, her failure in keeping her team together will be punished after her own healing is done. The man who brought you here let slip a beautiful nugget of information that was quickly confirmed. I believe you know Ms. Fox? Or at least her father?” 

Tim went cold. Tam Fox was a good person who as of yet hadn’t really been wrapped up into the whole Batman thing. If she was here…

“You’ll be escorted back to your chambers and she is there waiting for you.” Ra’s continued shattering Tim’s hold on himself. He was endangering a civilian. “I have a proposal for you, one that I believe you will be interested in this time. But, before I tell you I think you may want that reunion first. You’ll have time to ask your questions later.” 

“Ra’s-” 

He held up a hand and Tim fell silent as the doors opened and a few assassins came into the room. They surrounded Tim and Ra’s made his exit before he had another chance to talk. 

“Come with us, detective.” One of the assassins turned and started to lead him down the hallways. 

He couldn’t decide what was the worse reason for being escorted through the compound. Because on the one hand, were they afraid he would get lost because he didn’t know his way around? Or was it because he was a threat and Ra’s wanted him observed closely even while in his sanctuary… either option was a bad one. 

He stepped into the room that Ra’s had been keeping him in while he was here and stood by the door when the scent of angry scared beta came over him. 

“Stay right there.” Tam hissed from the bedroom. “I’ll come out there.” 

Tim stayed still and waited, attempting to control his scent like Pru had been teaching him to do since blockers weren’t allowed to be worn within the compound. “Tam, it’s Tim.” 

The sudden movement into the room by the beta woman was a lot and Tim acted on instinct to avoid her. 

“You idiot! Why are you out here? Why haven’t you reached out! What are you doing!” Tam yelled at him. 

“Back up, why are you here Tam?” He asked softly. 

“My father sent me, we need you back at WE. Things are going back and Dick isn’t handling anything well with having so much on his plate. We need you back so you can help.” She went for the logic route and Tim couldn’t hold back the half growl. 

“He’ll be fine. He has the rest of them, and I’m needed here. Besides, I’m almost done.” Tim had the last bit of evidence he needed to prove to the JL that Bruce was out there. “All I need to do is to get Ra’s to deal.” 

“Drake, you’re an idiot if you think he’s gonna let you leave here.” Tam sat down at the coffee table and glared at him. “He’s taken me hostage so that you can’t, and you know it.” 

Tim nodded sadly. “Yeah, yeah I know.” 

---

Three days. That’s how long Ra’s gave him before summoning Tim to his inner sanctuary again. 

“Detective,” Ra’s greeted him. 

“Ra’s,” Tim responded, refusing to bow to the insane man and give him any semblance of submission. 

“Timothy, you know that there was a time that I sought out the Bat as my heir.” Ra’s started in. 

“And put his son on the path to kill me, yeah, I remember.” Tim snarked. “What’s the point here?” 

“I have a proposal for you. I want you to be my heir, I want you to carry on the league and lead it into a new era.” Ra’s smiled at him. “It would be so simple, for you to take over the league would take very little.” 

“Be your heir? Or bear your heir?” Tim felt the need to clarify before anything more came of this conversation. 

Ra’s laughed. “Detective, not to offend, but I am an old man and it has been a long time since I have kept up with another Omega, the league can only be headed by someone with a strong mind, holding onto the bonds of loyalty for all of the league members is something you will need to be trained into. It will be easier if you have a mate, but obviously, I have proven that with a strong enough mind you don’t have to have one.” 

“What would I have to do?” Tim asked. 

“Simple, give up the Bat’s way of thinking. Accept a bond from me so I can teach you the league’s ways better. Finally, if there comes a time that you wish to mate you would need to understand that you will be mating for the good of the league, love has very little to do with that.” Ra’s smiled at him. “You are already a trained fighter, you need only history lessons and the passing over of the league would be ready once I am ready to let go.” 

“Can I think about it?” Tim asked quietly.

“I will expect your answer at dinner.” Ra’s agreed and then motioned for Tim to leave.

Tim started forming his plan as he was escorted back to his rooms. There was a way to get Bruce back to Gotham, and that’s what mattered really wasn’t it? That Bruce was Batman again, and that he was safe. Tam also needed to get home, and he now had something that the demon’s head wanted. 

He walked into the room where Tam was writing something in the little journal she had been allowed to keep. “Listen, I’m gonna get you home. There’s just one thing I need you to do for me.” 

She looked at him warily. “What?” 

“I need you to tell Oracle that I’m dead, and I need you to give her this.” Tim walked over to his suit and fished the hidden flash drive out of it.

“What do you mean you’re dead?” Tam demanded. “Tim, what are you doing?” 

Tim sighed. “Okay, I’m not dead dead, but I do need them to stop looking for me okay? Gotham needs Batman, and he needs to keep his head there and not go looking for the lost Robin. Hood came back, Oracle is established, and Nightwing chose the next Robin already. They don’t need me, they need to get Batman back, and they need to stay away where they’re safe.” 

“I’m not telling your family that you’re dead,” Tam responded. 

“They will get themselves killed coming after me if you don’t.” Tim glared. “Just trust me, please.” 

Tam finally nodded. “Fine.” 

---

Barbara was having a typical night, running coms from her clock tower, keeping her ear to the ground for any sign of Tim, and making sure that her boys didn’t do anything too stupid. So she was very taken aback when someone was waving at the camera hidden in the broom closet on the main level. She turned on the mic from that room to listen. 

“-and I know you don’t really know me, but I have a message that I’m supposed to bring straight to you.” 

“Who are you?” Barbara asked. 

“My name is Tam Fox. He told me to say the birds only fly because the augury watches over them.” 

Barbara hit the button to open the door to the hidden elevator before Tam even finished the code that Tim told her. It was an old joke of his that she was reading the skies by the trails of her birds so she was less oracle of delphi and more an augur.

Tam stepped into the room and Barbara looked her over. “Where is he?” 

Tam nodded. “I have a line I’m supposed to say, but before any of that happens you need this. He told me that you’d be the only person who could decrypt it.” Tam handed her a flash drive and Barbara looked at it. It was one of hers that Tim had borrowed some case files on years ago. 

“What’s on it?” She asked as she plugged it into a spare laptop that wasn’t connected to anything just in case it was corrupted. 

Tam bit her lip and then nodded to herself. “Tim said it’s the proof he was looking for. He said if you use this you’ll find the real Batman.” 

Barbara stilled for half a second and then started typing quickly to get the files off the drive. That idiot had done it. He actually found Bruce. 

Tam fidgeted and Barbara looked up to see her playing with the bracelet on her wrist. “I-I think that Nightwing needs to be here to hear the rest of the message.” 

Barbara studied her and then nodded. If Tim wanted them to know something he sent the right person. Tam was strong, she had her father’s strength. Barbara turned back to her computer and flipped on the line to Dick. He was on his regular route and nothing major had popped up so he could come here for a quick update. “Batman, you’re needed in the tower. Feel free to bring Robin-”

“No!” Tam interrupted her. 

Barbara looked over and tilted her head. 

“Trust me, please,” Tam whispered. “Oracle? Everything okay?” Dick asked in her ear. 

“Nvm on that, I need you, let Robin patrol solo or send him home. Either way, you need to be here five minutes ago.” She nodded at Tam who relaxed a little. 

“We’re kinda in the middle of patrol right now O.” Dick sounded conflicted. 

“There’s someone here who’s spotted your wayward bird. They have a message for us from him.” Barbara responded. 

“I’ll be there momentarily.” Dick’s response was curt and she knew that he was going to be angry. 

Barbara set aside the laptop after seeing that Tim had everything organized the way he usually did and knew that she’d be able to get everything to whom it needed to go in the right order. “Can I offer you some tea?” She asked Tam. 

Tam shook her head. “Actually, do you have a coke? Or something carbonated in general? I’ve had so much tea in the last month I’m not sure I can stand another glass for a while.” 

Barbara laughed and motioned to the fridge in the corner. “Help yourself, will you grab me two bottles of water?” 

Tam went over and grabbed the drinks and then Dick’s tracker showed him on the roof. “Incoming,” Barbara said as she wheeled over to accept the waters after having opened the trap door for Dick. 

Dick landed in the room and looked around before zeroing in on Tam. “Where is he?” 

“Hello Batman, how are you? Do you know Tam Fox?” Barbara interrupted.

Dick turned to glare for a second. “Oracle.” 

“No, it’s okay.” Tam gave a sad smile and then gestured to the chair. “You might want to sit down.” 

Barbara stilled her fingers on the laptop and saw that Dick was standing completely still for the first time in a long while. “Where is he?” She whispered out. 

Tam steeled herself. “Tim’s exact words to me before I got out were. ‘Tell them I’m dead because there’s no way I’m breaking us both out of here alive. Not without compromising who I am.’ Then I was being led out of the compound as quickly as possible.” 

“What compound?” Dick asked. “Where is Tim?” 

“He’s with Ra’s Al Ghul.” Tam looked at them with a fire in her eyes. “And if it weren’t for my stupidity then he would probably be delivering that flash drive himself, but he isn’t. He wants you all to be here, he wants you to save Batman, and he wants you to let him go. Ra’s offered him a choice and he took it. If you care about him, if you ever cared about him, you’ll let him do this.” 

Barbara winced when Dick let out a slightly hysterical laugh. “He told you to say that, didn’t he?” 

Tam nodded at him. “Told me that it was the only way to get a group of stupid alphas to trust his judgment.” 

The stunned Dick into standing still again and then he looked at Barbara. “Find Bruce, he’s gonna be the only one who can convince the little shit that self-sacrifice is an idiotic move.” 

“Tim already found him.” She replied, having gone back to looking in the folders. “We need a time machine, but Bruce is located and will be okay. I’m calling Clark.” 

Dick nodded at her. “I need to run. Ms. Fox, thank you for getting this information back to us.” 

Before either of the women could say anything Dick was grappling out of the clock tower and Barbara just stared, wishing she could give him better news. 

“Nothing ever happened between Nightwing and Tim did it?” Tam asked. 

Barbara shook her head. “Not to my knowledge, besides, as far as I’m aware Nightwing is only into Omegas.” 

Tam snapped her head to look at her and then just nodded in understanding. “Oh, I see.” 

“I’m about to have a lot of company, you should leave the way you came in.” Barbara turned to look back at her system. “Seriously, thank you, you have no idea how much this means to all of us. If you ever need anything, get in touch.” 

Tam gave a small smile and nod and then headed to the elevator. “Please, if you guys do get him to come home, tell him that I didn’t say a word more than he told me to.”

---

Two weeks, it took two weeks for Bruce to be back in the watchtower. Another week and a half to get him decontaminated so that he could come back to the cave, and a fourth week was spent letting him rest before Dick finally cornered him in his office. 

“We have to go get Tim.” Dick opened with the only thing he cared about. 

Bruce nodded like he had known that that’s what Dick was going to say. “I know he’s important-”

“He’s the only reason you came home, ‘important’ doesn’t begin to cover it.” Dick cut him off. 

“Dick, I know. But he made his choice.” Bruce was talking to him like this was when one of the Titans left the team to quit the hero life. 

“What are you saying?” Dick demanded. 

“Tim has asked us not to come after him.” Bruce tried the gentle voice again and Dick growled. 

“He is in an unknown situation, where he was keeping a civilian safe, he doesn’t need us to sit back and do nothing!” Dick clenched his fists and could feel his nails digging into his palms. “He didn’t give up on you-”

“Enough!” Bruce cut him off this time. “I’m not giving up on Tim. I’m respecting his final request. It’s likely he’s dead Dick, based on the message he sent to me with Tam he made an impossible choice, and if we go after him they will dunk him in the pit and hope for the best. He begged me not to come after him, told me he’d rather stay dead then be whatever twisted form that the pit would bring back.” 

Dick held impossibly still not daring to even breathe. He took two seconds to try to control himself before turning and stalking out the door. “Fine! If you won’t go find him, I’ll find him myself!” 

Damian scrambled out of his way as he stalked past. Dick knew that the pup would be upset, but he couldn’t think about that right now, his omega was out there in the hands of the demon himself and Dick needed him back. 

Cass stepped in front of him when he reached the front door and held out a notebook in one hand and the keys to his bike in the other. “Find him, save him, come home.” 

“I’ll do my best,” he whispered. “Watch out for Dami?” 

Cass laughed and nodded. “Pack will still be standing when you get home. Rescue your omega.” 

He accepted the items from her hands and pulled her into a hug. “Promise.” 

His first stop was his apartment. He had a go-bag stashed there and there was only one more person to see and the easiest way to do that was to be suited up. He slipped into his apartment and then paused. There was a scent lingering in the room, one that he hadn’t been this close to in months. Dick rushed to his bedroom and changed as fast as possible. The other alpha clearly hadn’t been there in a few hours, but he had left his scent for a reason. Once he was suited up as Nightwing once more Dick grabbed his go-bag and slipped out the window. If he was going where he thought he was then he wouldn’t need the bike again for a long while. 

Dick slipped his com in his ear and waited for Babs to contact him while he made his way in the direction of Crime Alley, he didn’t miss the fact that the other alpha’s scent was going the same direction. 

“You’re being an idiot, but I get it. Bring him home yeah?” Babs’ voice came through the com unit. 

“If no one will help then I need to do this on my own. I’ll do my best to bring him home.” 

“Just don’t get dead yourself.” She responded. “I’m gonna scramble your unit. Take it with you and use it if you need extraction.” 

“Love you too Oracle.” Dick smiled and then pulled the unit out of his ear. He placed it into a lead-lined container that Tim had given to him months before his disappearance. 

“Yo! Golden child!” Jason’s voice came from his left and Dick stopped short to see him approach. “Daddy bats back up and moving?” 

“He better be.” Dick nodded. 

“You going after the wayward bird?” Jason asked seriously. 

“Someone has to,” Dick smirked. 

Jason nodded. “Get Deathstroke out of the alley before you leave yeah? He says he won’t leave until he talks to you and he’s makin’ my guys nervous.” 

“Don’t worry Hood, I think he’ll be leaving real soon.” Dick smiled. “Keep them safe, yeah?” 

“Don’t get mushy, just bring the bird home.” Jason rolled his eyes. 

Dick nodded and then went back to tracking Slade’s scent through Gotham. He found him sitting at a little rooftop cafe near the alley and recognized some of Jason’s men milling about trying to remain inconspicuous. 

“Nightwing.” Slade greeted him and gestured for him to sit down. 

“Help me.” Were the first words that Dick could get out of his mouth. 

“I can help you get to your Omega, however, it will take time. Time that you will need to follow my orders, and time that you will need to do what must be done. Are you willing?” Slade asked him with a voice that bordered on straight out commanding. 

“Two years.” Dick held out a hand. “You have two years or I’ll go get him on my own.” 

Slade smiled at him and nodded. “Let’s go.” 

~~~

“I want a mate.” Tim requested one day. 

Ra’s looked him over for a moment and then tilted his head in a motion to continue. 

Tim steeled himself for the conversation. “My heats last a week and a half on average, this is fine, but I know that they would be shorter, and far less painful if I had a mate. You wish for me to take on the league’s bonds, I believe that I will have a clearer head to learn from you if I’m experiencing heats in a regulated fashion.” 

“Detective, it’s been a while since you’ve stepped foot out of the halls of Nanda Parbat, do you have a suitor in mind? Or-” Ra’s paused as Tim held up his hand. 

“My chosen mate will fight for me. Let the champions come, and I will choose the one who can one day help me carry the league into a new era.” 

Ra’s smiled and nodded. “I’ll arrange a tournament.” 

Tim had made this decision with a lot of thought, but he was still nervous about letting just any alpha touch him. A part of him hoped that Talia let slip to Bruce that he was going to be mated, but the rest of him knew that the beta wouldn’t let any of his sons come after him, not after Tim’s ultimatum. It was comforting in a way that he had been left alone for this long already. Ra’s was a difficult teacher, and each fight against him had been fought tooth and nail, but it was going to be worth it when he finally took control of the league. He could change things, he had to change things. Maybe Bruce would even let him come home… six months and counting was making it seem like maybe Bruce wouldn’t. 

“Stop it,” he whispered to himself. “You can’t think like that.” 

It took Ra’s three days to let Tim know that the tournament was on. Three of Ra’s best fighters, someone hand-picked by Lex Luthor himself, and two other champions that were chosen by mentors that Ra’s had contacted. Tim knew that the Justice League would know something was going on when all these people showed up in Pakistan, but Tim was just hoping that either Bruce would keep them away or would be one of them. 

The tournament was set to be in a week, the actual fighting wouldn’t start until Tim’s pre-heat started softening his caramel smell, but he would have a chance to have dinner with the potential suitors before the fight began the next day. He needed to remember that whoever won would be a faceless nobody, someone who didn’t know him, and he needed to keep his head on when he came out of a loveless heat. 

Slade was the first to arrive at the compound. His apprentice was tall and strong and unfortunately wore a mask just like his master to hide his features from the world. Slade referred to him as Renegade and told Ra’s that the man had been trained by the best that Sade would accept. Tim felt like a bug being inspected anytime Renegade was in the room. He moved silently like most of the league, but Tim could feel the alpha’s eyes on him whenever he stepped into a shared space. Ra’s champions were often following Tim, one of them had been his bodyguard when he first got to the compound, and the other two were unknown to Tim. The next to arrive at the compound was Lex Luthor, his champion was promised to be there at dinner but Tim hadn’t caught sight of the alpha yet. Finally, Ra’s informed him that Lady Shiva had accepted the summons and brought her own alpha champion to fight for his heat. When she arrived the league went silent at the sight of the young alpha in her wake. The One Who Knows All hadn’t been back on league territory since she joined the bats and Tim was ready to destroy everything he had fought for if it weren’t for the fact that any fight he started would end with him jumpstarting his heat. He may love Cass, but he didn’t expect her to be the bat that showed up first. In fact, he had partially expected Dick to find his own way into the compound to fight for Tim’s hand. But he couldn’t think about the alpha that could have been right now. He needed to figure out how he was going to get Cass out of Ra’s hands when she won the right to his heat. 

The dinner came and Tim suddenly had a whole new problem.

Tim walked into the hall behind Ra’s and then froze. Because sitting next to Lex as his champion was Conner. “Kon,” Tim breathed out and Kon looked at him and lifted his mouth into a smile. 

“I reject you.” The words were out of his mouth before he could think. Ra’s had told him that he was allowed to reject one of the champions, he had thought originally he would use this on one of the league alphas, but seeing Kon sitting there he knew what he needed to do. “My lord, I reject Kon-el, Connor Luthor, champion of Lex Luthor. We would make a poor match.” 

“Tim-” Kon tried to step forward but Renegade was suddenly before him with a knife that looked to be tinted green from where Tim was standing. 

“He rejected you kid, get out.” Renegade’s masked voice was deep and gravely and Tim hadn’t heard it before. Cass was just watching what was happening from her own seat but he could see that she was conflicted. 

“If you don’t leave it will take me three seconds to out the identity of the second superboy to everyone sitting in this room, and I’ll make sure the knowledge goes public.” Tim hissed under his breath and Kon paled. “Do not think for one second that I’m bluffing, ask Batman why he hasn’t come for his wayward bird and you’ll know I’m a bigger threat than any of you have ever faced.” 

Kon studied his face and then nodded. “Okay, I’ll leave… I just needed to know that you’re alive.” Kon turned on his heel and then in a burst of air he flew out but not before Tim felt his TTK brush a lock of his hair back from his face. Lex followed his son out of the room.

Tim blinked the tears that had formed while he was threatening his best friend back and looked to Ra’s and bowed low. “I apologize, my lord.” 

Ra’s smiled at him and gestured to the table. “Come sit, it’s time to eat.” 

Tim gracefully sat down on the cushion on Ra’s right-hand side. This put him right next to Renegade and that made him nervous. The alpha still hadn’t fully removed his mask, rather he had just taken off the bottom so he could eat. On Ra’s other side was Lady Shiva and then Cass who was watching Renegade as closely as Tim was. Tim knew that he could take any of the league champions in a tussle even when all heated up, and Cass would be gentle with him, but Renegade he had no idea about. 

Tim watched as everyone selected food and waited for Ra’s to eat. Tim followed suit and pulled some food onto his own plate. Ra’s took the first bite and then everyone started to eat quietly. After a time Ra’s struck up a conversation with Lady Shiva and Slade about their travels. Tim kept watching everyone else and started doing statistics in his head as to how the battle for his heat would go. Without knowing Renegade well enough he had to assume that he would be out earlier than one of the assassins, but he also didn’t want to discredit the unknown completely. Cass seemed to be watching him closely so he was someone to watch out for, according to her, but maybe that was just because he was also unknown to her? What if he’s gone up against the bats before though? Dick had been dealing with Slade for a long time, what if the mercenary wanted to test his protege against Nightwing? Fuck, has the alpha fought ‘wing before? What if Dick-

“You should eat something,” Renegade whispered to him, startling him out of his thoughts. 

Tim tilted his head to look at him more properly and then noticed that Renegade was holding a bite out for him. “I’m not-”

“You’re in preheat, you must be starving. The nerves of the fight are getting to us all, but you’ll need your strength when the victor carries you to bed.” Renegade reasoned with him and Tim nodded. Opening his mouth he allowed Renegade to hand feed him a piece of lettuce that he had piled with rice and a little fish and mango. 

“Thank you,” he responded after swallowing. 

Renegade gestured to Tim’s plate. “Eat, and don’t worry too much. The stone is rolling and only the most worthy will lay with you tonight.” 

Tim nodded and turned back to his plate and ate slowly enough that it didn’t look like he was following an order. He couldn’t show weakness to these alphas, he’d already accidentally shown favoritism to Renegade and that was sure to bite him in the ass later when the alpha lost. Tim could already feel Cass’ eyes on him after the exchange. 

Dinner finished and they were led out to the training yard. Ra’s had a chair there and Tim had his matching cushion next to it. He followed Ra’s and gracefully sank down to kneel. He watched Lady Shiva and Slade speak to their proteges and then move to the sides of the arena to watch. They both stood with precision and looked at Ra’s. All five of the remaining alphas lined up in the center of the arena and turned to look at the Demon’s Head. 

Ra’s stood up and the silence was palpable. “Thank you all for coming to witness the battle for Timothy’s heat and position as his mate. As league tradition, I have summoned champions that are worthy to be called consort to the heir. These five warriors shall battle according to Timothy’s rules, and after the last alpha is standing they will have the privilege of a chase to Timothy’s quarters. If they can catch our prince and bond with him, they will become his mate. As per tradition, Timothy has been allowed to determine the rules of the battle.” 

Ra’s stepped back and gestured to Tim who stood up. “You can all kill a man in many different ways, but that’s not what I want to see. I was originally trained to incapacitate a man but leave him alive, I want to see that. To win the privilege of my chase, you will need to incapacitate your opponents without killing them.” 

The three assassins shared a glance towards Ra’s but when he didn’t object or contradict Tim they bowed. Neither Renegade nor Cass seemed phased about Tim making this rule and Cass even spared a smile toward him. He stepped back and kneeled back down and the five alphas took their stances. Ra’s declared the start and the alphas started. Renegade looked at Cass and nodded and then the two of them turned toward the assassins. The three assassins were going after Cass as a team in an attempt to take down The One Who Knows All first. The apparent team-up of Renegade and Cass is lost on them at first before Renegade uses their distraction to nerve strike one of the assassins and take him down to the ground. When he falls like a sack of potatoes Tim is a little nervous, but then can see the man twitch his fingers in an attempt to move. The remaining assassins split up, each taking on one of the other alphas. Tim keeps a watch on Renegade’s fight, watching the man move fluidly in a way that reminds him of Babs when she was still Batgirl, or maybe Dick’s Robin days before he started streamlining in the Nightwing mantle. Cass must have taken out her opponent because she was approaching Renegade’s battle. He tilted his head at her and then did a flip over the assassin that looked so familiar. He turned in the air at the last minute to strike at the assassin and he went down. Renegade then turned his attention to Cass. The two of them bowed to one another and then started to circle. Tim glanced at Ra’s who smiled, he seemed happy with the outcome no matter what way it went. Slade hadn’t put his mask back on after dinner so Tim could see the smug satisfaction on his face that his protege had made it this far. Lady Shiva just looked bored, like she knew the outcome from the beginning. 

Then Cass spoke. “Sure?” 

Renegade nodded once and then she stood still. 

“Home?” She asked. 

Renegade shrugged and glanced in Tim’s direction then looked back at her. 

She took up a stance and walked forward to him. Then spoke looking straight at Tim. “I yield.” 

Tim gasped and Ra’s started clapping. “Congratulations, Renegade. Detective?” Ra’s turned his attention to him and smiled. “Run.” 

Tim scrambled to stand up as fast as he could and started the run to his nest. If he could make it there before Renegade caught him then he would get to fight in his own room without an audience, if he couldn’t then tradition dictated that Renegade mate him wherever he was caught and defeated, regardless of how out in the open it was. Tim had started really getting hot as the alphas clashed in the ring, but the chase and knowing that a worthy alpha was on his heels was starting to make his hindbrain scream to be dominated. Tim chanced a glance behind him and almost tripped over his own feet when he saw Renegade so close to him. He was playing with him, teasing him. Tim purrs and Renegade lets out a soft rumble in return. 

“You gonna lead me to your nest Sweetheart? Or do I need to take you here?” Renegade asked.

Tim was torn, he wanted to feel the powerful alpha now, but he also valued his privacy, but the league was his, or it would be, and he wanted… everything. Tim whined and then made a decision, darting to the left and in the direction of his nest. 

He heard Renegade still close and put an extra burst of speed in as he saw his open doors. Renegade must have seen them too because suddenly he was tackled to the ground. They rolled into Tim’s rooms and Tim heard his attendants closing the doors behind them. Renegade had him facedown in a pin and reached up to finally take off his mask. Tim could hear the thing fall to the ground and then felt lips at his ear. 

“Don’t freak out Babybird,” the alpha whispered to him and Tim was filled with urgency to see Renegade’s face. 

He struggled and bucked himself up, toppling the alpha to the ground. He turned around and pounced on him and then paused looking down at the face of Dick Grayson. “Dick?” 

“Hey, sweetheart.” Dick brushed his hand over Tim’s cheek and held his face in his hand. 

Tim felt the tears well up and whined in frustration. “No, you can’t-”

“Please don’t reject me.” Dick stopped him. “Timmy, I’ve wanted you for years, and you disappeared before I could explain, but please don’t reject me again.” 

Tim gasped and then lunged away. Dick grasped his ankle and pulled him back and rolled them so Dick was pressing him into the ground again. The alpha leaned in and inhaled his scent. “Your heat smells so sweet omega.” He rumbled into Tim’s ear. 

Tim let out his own purr and then pressed his lips to Dick’s hair. “If you want me, then take me,” he whispered and then started to struggle again. 

Tim felt his robes loosen from the rolling around and struggled to get out of Dick’s grasp. Dick, for his part, was holding Tim’s wrists in one hand and kissing his neck and scent glands again. Tim felt Dick’s other hand between them and assumed that the alpha was pulling out his cock, something that was confirmed when Tim felt the heavy weight against his thigh. 

“You’re going to look so pretty on my knot,” Dick whispered in his ear and that was all the warning that Tim got before Dick struck and bit his mating gland. 

Tim whined and felt himself start to finally drop. Dick held his teeth in and Tim could feel the feedback of arousal that Dick was experiencing combining with his own. He moaned lowly and released one of his hands so he could reach down and feel Dick’s cock. He received a low growl from him as he stroked him using the precum to make the glide smoother. 

Dick finally released his teeth and then was dragging Tim’s clothes off of him. Tim gasped when Dick slipped two fingers into his pussy and start to fuck him on them quickly. “Babybird, if you keep doing that I won’t last. Let me make you feel good so I can claim you properly.” 

Tim gasped and moaned as Dick played him as an instrument. “Please, don’t tease me. I’ve been so empty, I need it, please Dick, please alpha.” Tim begged. 

Dick took the hint and lined himself up and slowly filled Tim with his cock. Setting a pace that was brutal and harsh Tim could barely hang onto Dick’s biceps and cling to the alpha. He felt Dick’s knot start to grow and squeezed down on it to make sure that Dick tied them together. He didn’t need to worry though because then Dick was thrusting in as hard as he could and Tim felt his knot pop as he was filled with the alpha’s cum. 

Tim grasped Dick’s shoulders and pulled him against his neck again. “Please, mark me again, make me yours,” Tim begged him. 

Dick bit down on his gland and then as the bond started to flesh out he pulled back and led Tim’s face to his own neck so that the bond would be two-sided. Tim bit the alpha and felt the bond snap clearly into place over his other bonds. He felt everything else fade away and Dick’s mating bond was golden. 

“I love you,” Dick whispered into his hair. “I have for a long time.” 

Tim pulled back and let his head fall to the ground. “I love you too. So so much.” Tim looked to the side where his perfectly good nest was just waiting. “Think you can get me into the nest before the next round?” 

Dick chuckled. “Yeah, Sweetheart, I’ll carry you there in a moment.” 

---

Three days later Tim's fever broke. He sat up in his nest and felt the bond between him and Dick and smiled. This was a better outcome than he dared to imagine when he went to Ra’s about getting a mate. He brushed Dick’s hair out of his face and frowned at the new scar over his eyebrow. He hadn’t had that one before Tim left. 

“You’re thinking too hard,” Dick mumbled, reaching out to grasp Tim’s hand and pull it so he could place a kiss on his palm. “You don’t smell as strongly as caramel anymore.” 

Tim leaned down and kissed Dick’s lips softly. “My heat’s over.” 

“We need to figure out the future,” Dick whispered. 

“I made a decision Dick,” Tim warned him. 

“You saved Tam, now let me save you. Cass is expecting us home,” Dick countered. 

“Ra’s will never let me leave,” Tim whispered.

“He will if you let me take care of it.” Dick kissed Tim softly. “Please, let me?” 

Tim pulled Dick into another kiss and sent his love through the bond. “Okay,” he said, pulling away. “But if you get hurt I’ll kill you.” 

“We’ll be back in Gotham before the week ends.”

[iphoenixrising]

Dick and Tim and Jay in some combination:

DickTim

Angst: I've already forgiven you, but I won't make the same mistake twice | Effect | Fallen (‘What if Dick didn’t catch Tim when he fell through the window’)| Get wrecked Dick! (HC) | Tim moves on angst | Subdue | Last Line game | Cold Reception (HCs): Too old to cry, Get Wrecked

Misc Ficlets: The night the Flying Graysons Died | Tarantula (HC) | Birthday, Dick & Tim & their parents (HC) NSFW: The Suit (for 400 followers!) & Worth the Wait | Soul Mark

Sentinel/Guide WIP

The Body Swap epic The Swap & The Fallout & The Follow-Up (for 300 followers!)

Time Travel: Links & One & Two

Detective!Dick AU: Red Hood!Tim au (for my babe poison-basil) & art! | Civillian!Tim au

Dom!Dick/sub!Tim AU: One &|Sub!Tim SFW? &|Continuation?|Part II on Ao3|Part III|Sub!Tim Omake: Superbats | Ask | and another | Bruce initially struggling |Sub!Tim WIP challenge post | Mostly NSFW WIPs

DickTim Week 2021 On Ao3 | Day 1: Creature!Dick | Rambling about what happened after Creature!Dick | Day 2: Sad Time Loop, watch your feels | Day 3: AOB and BDSM with Alpha!Tim and Omega!Dick | Day 4: Dark!Dick and Vampire!Tim. Warnings for captivity, torture, blood-letting, and missing Bruce | Day 5: Winged Talon!Tim au. Warnings for violence, brainwashing, and injuries. | Day 6: Truth and Mutual Pining

DickTimJay

SFW: DickJay travel thru time for Tim | & creepy Ra's | DickJay came for Tim | Boneless | "Don't!" | Tim being Tim | Childhood (for 200 followers!) | Jason's Shirts (HC) | Boyfriends to the rescue! | memory loss ask |Missing memory, more ideas | Soul Mark AU: One & Two Soulmate au Epilogue for 800 Followers! (NSFW) & Art!!! | Strip Tease The First Ask And the continuation | Headcanons: Bond & Incomplete

NSFW: Whole Lotta Nice (HC) | Stuck in a Wall | Food kink | Birthday | Christening (for 600 Followers!) | Need: One & Two | Art & Art: AO3 | Counter: One & Two | Venom!Jay: HC & Ficlet

Mer!Dick, Mer!Jay: Logistics | One & Two (in which I like it better if they speak Mer language and they can’t understand each other; minor breeding kink) & Thirst & Future

Fic Rec: On the Clock by chibinightowl

JayTim

Misc: “For this,” he cracks his neck a little, “call me Robin instead.” | Tim waking up from a nightmare about Jay killing him| 700; JayTim vs NHFDB | Thinking | I Choose You | Knife kink | Pit Rage (HC)

Bottom Jason Todd Week: Cam Boy Jason, JayTim | Bottom Jason Todd Week: Willing impregnation | Jay's birthday NSFW

De-Aged Jay (based on fanart): Ficlet | HC

Night Call (Stripper!AU; NSFW): One & Two & Three

Praise Kink (NSFW): Ficlet | PodFic (& my take on a Gotham Accent) | Heart-to-Motherfucking fist

Robinpile Praise Kink idea | The initial ask | Chip’s art | A snippet of the idea

Bad Idea: (Space Salvagers AU): Ficlet & HC

Fic Recs: Are you Trying to Kill Me? by chibinightowl

DamiTimNight Sky: One & DickJayTim (HC) & "Gotham and Explosions" (for 100 followers!) & "Poke" & Two & Three & Finale

Tim-centric:

Tim (art rec)

Caroline: TimKon | DickTimJay & NSFW drab based of @curdleddoodle's amazing art

Misc Tim HCs: Ra'sTim: Bard | Marshall | Concussions & 90s | Brain | Plans | Fighting | Birthday | Family | Religion | Security & Steph | Steph or Tam | Why I Like Him Tim's hair: One & Two & Hair-pulling kink & His Weakness Tim's scars: One & Two & Three Supervillain Tim Drake:Supervillain Tim Drake | All the Titans as supervillains

[lostlimerence]

Swimming Lessons

Billy stands waist deep in the pool, gaze locked on his current problem. Flecks of cool water spatter his chest as most of his gang of giddy brats splash and float about happily in his periphery. He would like to start the lesson, but one of his kids just isn’t playing ball.

Timmy stands defiant. Arms crossed, feet firmly planted. “I’m not coming in,” he announces for the second time that morning, punctuating himself with a little stomp of his foot, his face determined, his mind made up.

Billy sucks a deep breath in through his teeth and lets it out real slow, Timmy is normally one of his more confident kids, he can’t think what has brought this on, he grits his teeth slightly if his dad would take two seconds to speak to me, then maybe I’d have a bloody clue Billy thinks as he starts to probe.

“How come kid? You’re normally one of the first in!” Billy raises a brow in question and gestures towards the others who are clearly loving their extra long play time. The girls Steph and Ash, who normally play with Timmy, seem to be trying their very best to knock Matty and Joey off their floats in some sort of shark vs pirates game.

“Don’t wanna,” a typical six year old response that leaves Billy none the wiser. He frowns a little, worry pressing at his throat, this really isn’t like the kid.

He tries a different tactic “look Steph and Ash need your help, you can be another shark to help get the pirates,” he gestures again this time slightly more animatedly and Ash, bless her, pipes up “TimTim we really need your help,” a plea that immediately looses credibility as Steph, Billy’s strongest swimmer, tips both boys into the water with a triumphant cheer. Billy smirks with a little pride as he turns back to his problem child.

“No.” Timmy looks away from the others and stares resolutely at his feet.

Billy feels his irritation stirring a little, makes sure he takes a second to keep a lid on it, before turning to bribery “look kiddo I’ve got some ice lollies for after, how about if you come in and join the lesson then you can choose which flavour you want first?” as soon as the words leave his mouth he realises his mistake, feels it in the sudden stillness of the water. Turns his head ever so slowly to his right and looks down.

Four pairs of big wide eyes stare up at him. He waits for the inevitable as the silence hangs.

Joey breaks it first “Boooo Billy, I wanna choose first! I wanna! Why does Timmy get to? I wanna!!” his words are punctuated by the others, Matty slaps the water as he says “Nuh uh I want to, I won the golden dolphin last week!!,” Ash pipes in with just “Me, me, me!” and Steph laughs clearly enjoying the cacophony of noise they’re creating as she adds her own layer of “my turn, my turn, my turn!”

Billy grimaces, looks at Timmy hoping this headache has at least been worth it, but the boy is just looking at him shaking his head “Nope.” Billy’s eyebrow twitches, ok, he turns to the rabble at his side, who have turned to argue with each other about who will pick first, “whoever can hold the longest starfish gets to choose, count for each other and tell me who wins, and what do we need to remember?” Billy makes sure he looks each of them in the eye.

Matty gives him a gappy grin and says with a slight lisp “be kind and tell the truth.”

“Exactly, right little brats, get to it,” Billy dismisses them and focuses back on Timmy.

He sighs “can you please tell me why kid?”

Another short sharp shake of the head “not saying.”

Billy needs to start this lesson, thinks maybe he should be a little bit firmer so he pushes a bit of annoyance and a bit more command into his voice when he says the kids name again with a stern look “Timmy.”

He regrets it immediately. Tears prick the little boys eyes and his lower lip sticks out with a wobble. Shit. Billy feels his stomach drop to the floor, he’s never had one of his kids cry because of him before and the sight of Timmy is stirring something painful in him.

He wades closer to the side, pats the tile in-front of him, a gesture for the boy to sit down, tears still rolling Timmy lowers himself to sit on the edge. Billy gives him space but makes sure he’s close enough for the kid to hear “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have raised my voice, but I’m just a little worried kiddo you’re one of my best swimmers, I just want to understand so I can help yeah?” something seems to click there because Timmy gives a little nod and takes a deep shaky breath.

“Daddy and Mommy took me to the ocean and I wanted to show them how good I am, like how you say I am, but, but I got too deep and I got really scared and I think I’m actually not very good and and you said, you said, I need to ask you before I go in the ocean and I didn’t” he says it in a sob filled rush and Billy’s anger spikes because he’d told all his kids parents that they should discuss this kind of thing with Billy beforehand, and of course Timmy’s parents didn’t bother.

He gives Timmy a gentle smile and holds out his hand, which Timmy takes still sniffling. “You are an amazing swimmer Timmy, you’ve just had a little scare ok?” Timmy nods, “the ocean can be a little scary sometimes, and that’s why we’ve got to practice real hard before we go in too far,” Timmy nods again a little more forcefully “now we are having your lesson in a pool and I’m right here, can you just get in for me today? You don’t need to do anything else you can hold my hand the whole lesson or you can sit on a float ok?” Timmy nods again, clenches a little fist to rub the tears from his eyes and slides into the pool still holding onto Billy.

They wade over to the others together, and they all rush to tell Billy who the winner of the starfish competition was, he tells them they’ll deal with the lollies later and begins the lesson properly.

A little later, when Timmy is still right by Billy’s side as the others do a few widths of the pool, he glances down at the kid and says “you know I’m really proud of you kiddo,” and Timmy beams up at him “you’re the best teacher ever Billy!” and Billy doesn’t quite know how to handle the feeling that hits him right in the heart, so he just smiles back and thinks maybe these kids can teach me something too.

Inspo @stranger-rants and @sonneillonv post re Billy teaching kids to swim.

[mooodyblue]

Okay, here's a request idea; naptime with little E, but for whatever reason (maybe he's scared of having a bad dream, maybe he wants to keep playing or whatever) he'll only nap if you nap with him, or at least stay beside him in bed and hold him?

this was so cute!! ty for the request <3

naptime | little!elvis x cg!reader

warnings: age regression, little space

wc: 389

masterlist | request | taglist

the house was a mess, you were a mess, elvis was a mess. it was getting closer to his naptime and truth be told-you needed to get this boy to sleep and fast. the sudden burst of energy that elvis had gotten after lunch was starting to become a problem.

elvis was now throwing a tea party, spilling sugar everywhere as he reached over to hand a stuffed bunny a teacup. you let out a frustrated sigh, "elvis, you need to be careful. don't make a mess, hon."

"can we watch a movie?" he asked, as if the tea party didn't just start five minutes ago.

you looked at him confused. "i thought you wanted to throw a tea party?"

"but now i want to watch a movie."

"well, maybe later. it's almost your nap-time."

elvis scrunched up his face at the mention of naptime, something he loved but hated at the same time. "but i don't wanna nap yet, 'm not tired."

you let out a quiet 'i can see that' and stood up, picking up a few dishes from the floor as elvis let out a whine. he looked up with you with his baby blue eyes staring you down like a lost puppy, almost making you cave in and skipping naptime.

"that's not gonna work on me today, go wash up and get ready for bed."

he stood up and let out a huff, stomping away to do as you said. after awhile once you cleaned up and tucked him in, he padded back down the stairs immediately after you sat down. "baby, i thought i said-"

elvis frowned at you, standing on the last step with a plushie wrapped around his arm. "i can't sleep. what if i have a nightmare?"

"oh, sweetheart." you stood up and walked over to him. "is that why you don't like naptime?"

he nodded in response, tears filling in his eyes. "i don't like when you're not there."

"do you want me to come nap with you?"

he held his hand out to you and your immediate instinct was to grab it. "alright, let's go take a nap then." you said softly, giving him a soft kissed and heading upstairs. he held onto you tightly during the whole nap, all worries going away with you by his side.

taglist: @aconflagrationofmyown @butlersluvbot @arianatheangel-girl @steph-speaks @vintagegirl50s60s70s80s @annoyinginternetgirl

[soleminisanction]

Just saw an impossibly bad take, so to balance that out: in the past you mentioned a story where Tim comes out as a trans woman, what would that look like for you? Do you have any thoughts on making that into a fic?

I've had a lot of scattered thoughts about it but never been able to pin down any scenes concrete enough to turn them into an actual fic. But I love trans!Tim stories whether he's trans fem or trans masc so I've tossed the idea around here and there. Gonna be a little fluid with the pronouns here as Tim's thought process evolves but the basic idea here was:

The seed of the idea would get planted in Tim's mind just before War Games, specifically the one and only time he sees a picture of Steph as Robin. Along with the hurt and anger he expected, there's emotions he doesn't understand, a feeling of longing, jealousy, and desire; not for Steph herself, but for the way she looks in her new costume. For months he's been asking himself, "What do I want, for me?" and now the answer is staring him in the face: This.

But he keeps pushing it aside because there's always something "more important" going on. Worse, as things start to fall apart around him and he loses first Steph, then his dad, and then Kon, the musings about his gender keep getting mixed up in his feelings for other people, especially Kon.

Basically, take all the angst and pain of that era and make it even worse with disphoria and Tim being deep in both denial and the closet and feeling completely unable to open up to anyone about it because of how much it scares him to want something, something she feels like she can't have. Things like him not knowing if he's attracted to Cassie or if he wants to be Cassie, wishes his body looked and moved like that while still having so much strength and power. Fantasizing about how things might've been different between him and Kon, or him and Dick, or him and Damian, if only he'd been born a girl. Falling asleep in the cloning lab and having a nightmare about miscarrying Kon's child, then waking up to find the most recent clone has failed.

Through all that, the only person who has even a hint of what's going on is Cass. She reads it in Tim's body language while they're in Bludhaven together, but understands his fears and lets him keep his confidence. Even after things go to shit for her, she keeps that secret; even brainwashing couldn't get it out of her.

Then Final Crisis happens. Bruce "dies," Dick becomes Batman, Damian becomes Robin. Tim finds himself adrift, with nothing but this crazy-sounding notion of Bruce's survival to his name, and runs away from the Manor...

And this is part of where I stumble because I don't know if it'd be better for Tim to run into Cass at this point or for her to leave him her Batgirl costume and a letter. One way or another, Cass leaves Tim Batgirl, and that's the push she finally needs to crack her egg and start pursing a transition, socially and medically.

She avoids Babs for a few weeks out of shyness and embarrassment until Oracle manages to track this mysterious new Batgirl down, but once confronted she comes clean and Babs is instantly onboard to support her and also keep Dick and Damian out of the loop.

Dick thinks his little brother skipped town and is both confused and a little hurt that Babs won't trust him with the new Batgirl's identity. Damian takes it as a personal insult and starts going out of his way to find and harass said new Batgirl but then she kicks his ass and it turns out Damian shares Bruce's taste in women so now whoops he's got a puppy crush, which everyone who knows the truth about Tim finds hilarious.

Cass one way or another winds up being the one who goes on Brucequest instead of Tim and follows similar beats as Red Robin, minus Tam Fox or losing her spleen. Speaking of Tam, she has a much easier time finding Tim because while her dad does call her home from Russia to help with the investigation at least she doesn't have to globe-trot or get kidnapped by ninjas, she just has to hunt him down in Gotham, possibly while accidentally allied with Vicki Vale.

Tim enrolls in college under Caroline Hill's name and mostly attends to practice passing in public and live out some normal girl fantasies. Kon, Cassie, and Bart all learn what's up even though she's still taking a break from the Titans and of course they're on board and supportive.

And... yeah, that's pretty much the extent of my ideas so far. Broad scope but not a lot concrete to latch onto, which makes it difficult to convert into a fic, but I do love the concept.

[just-an-enby-lemon]

Batfam age reverse AU:

- Damian Al Ghur Wayne is the adoptive son of Thomas and Martha Wayne, the biological lost son of Ra's and has the tittle of Batman.

- Duke Thomas is the first Robin [he got the tittle from his adoptive dad (though he does not know his dad isn't his biodad)], becoming Batman partner after impressing Damian by trying to defeat the Riddler by himself at age eleven and almost succeding. He is the first and only exception to the no metas rule (a rule that isn't Batman's in any media, but that it's Gothams in a sense, the city belives in no metas in the batfam and Gotham almost always gets it's way) and was adopted by Damian after his mom was infected by Joker toxin. After having a fight with Damian about his mom possible recuperation he becames his own hero, The Signal. Protecting Gotham at day.

- Cassandra Cain was Damian second kid. She was a child assassin who he rescued and took under his wing, partialy because he knew if not for his sister, Thalia, that would've been his life in the Order of Assassins. She mostly talks by sign language and non-verbal comunication even though she can speak. Her superhero debut was Orphan, but as she started to fell like part of the family it didn't fit her anymore, instead she went by Black Bat. After Steph was shot, Cass used the tittle of Batgirl for a while to honor her best friend (and future gf).

- Tim Drake is the second Robin. A smart little stalker that forced Damian's hand. The two of them didn't had the best relashionship at the start, but it improved a lot with time. He was adopted by Damian and they were very close until Tim was tricked by the Joker and murdered. He came back, but thanks to the Lazarus Pit he was never the same. Becaming the Red Hood, a cold logician who will do anything for what he considers the greater good. He started as a vilan, but since has rekindle his relashiomship with the family and turned into an anti-hero.

- Stephanie Brown was Tim's best friend and acted together with the Batfamily as Batgirl to try to alert Batman against her supervilan father. After Tim's death she temporarily taked the Robin mantle to honor him. While babysitting young Barbara Gordon she was attacked by the Joker and started to use an wellchair, starting Barbara into the path of Batgirl. After that she became the all-seeing Spoiler.

- Jason Tood was the official thrid Robin - though Steph contests the tittle. Damian found him stealing the tires of the Batmobile and couldn't stop being impressed. After a mental debate he decided to let the kid go as Batman and adopt him as Damian, as he wasn't ready for a new Robin after Tim (specially with the added bonus of Stephanie injury). It didn't work. Jason discovered the Batcave and somehow convinced Damian into becoming Robin. Nowdays he goes by Bluejay, choosing to pass the title to Dick and it's the atual leader of the Teen Titans (a tittle he inherited from Duke).

- Dick Grayson was the forth Robin and indiscutibly Damian's favorite. Being playfull, loyal and genuine and loving his family very much. Adopting another child was not what Damian intended when he took Jason and Barbara to a nice nigth in the circus but life had other plans and after the death of the Graysons there was NO WAY Damian was letting the kid with social workers. Besides the Robin mantle seemed to be made for him, the kid had a previous emotional conection to the name and fited the description "ligth to Batman's darknes" in a way only Duke had truly suceeded before. Jason says he gave Dick the name because he wanted to be something more than Batman's sidekick but Damin knows there is a story there. The truth is that Jason was the one that found Dick after he run away looking for the man who killed his parents and after seeing the kid almost get killed he decides that Dick needed Robin more than him.

- Barbara Gordon is the third Batgirl and the daugther of the aways helpfull Comissioner James Gordon. She was aways struck by Batman heroism and had a growing suspicion of his identity, but it was only after Stephanie Brown took a bullet to save her that she decided to confront Damian and promisses to honor Steph by one day becaming a hero. Stephanie gladly gave Barb the tittle of Batgirl.

- Bruce Wayne is the youngest batkid. A clone created by Lex Luthor using both Damian and Thomas Wayne DNA. Bruce is the closest Damian has to a biokid. He was found when the Justice League was investigating Cadmus, based on Superboy remembering a young child. He has problems adapting to normal life, is very shy and works better with Cass. He also acts as Superboy baby brother more than not. While Damian don't think he needs more kids in speedos, Bruce still became Batboy.

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

Scar, Saedii, and Auri going out for a girls night while the boys stay and look after the kids.

To talk about the girls or the boys? Both, both is good

~~

"To tequila!" Saedii exclaims and Auri grins.

"To tequila," she repeats with the same energy, clacking her shot glass with her sister-in-law and before throwing them back. Scarlett laughs as both gag at the absolutely, undoubtedly shitty tequila carried by the dive bar. She sips her cosmo and enjoys the sweetness as Auri and Saedii chase their shots.

"Okay so, as I was saying before Saedii's need to drink us under the table interrupted," Auri turns back to speak with Scar with a giggle, "Syldra's going great, it's been so long it started feeling like it was useless, but it feels like we're finally getting somewhere, y'know?" Scar nods, excited for Auri's success.

Saedii claps for Auri with just two fingers and Scarlett tries to hide her amusement. Saedii gets another couple of shots in her and their booth would become hug city.

"Saedii, how about you?" Saedii shrugs.

"Not much, still trying to collapse the Unbroken, but you know Warbreeds are stubborn fuckers," Scarlett snorts into her cocktail. Saedii is not wrong.

"Oh, isn't that the truth, you should try getting them to study," Scarlett says and Saedii lets out a sympathetic groan, before taking another shot.

"Oof, you have my respect, Jones," Scarlett flips her hair jokingly.

"Yes, I know, I'm fantastic," she says. The three pause, and then they're laughing, howling into their drinks.

~

"Daddy, they look so pretty!" Lae says, holding up Tyler's hands and showing the living room. Steph and Zila clap at the sparkly pink nail polish now on Tyler's nails. If his daughter and nieces weren't smiling so wide, Tyler would probably cringe. Sparkles are much more his sister's vibe, that's for sure.

"Oh very pretty, well done Lae, I love the sparkles," Tyler threw a dry look to a grinning Fin, who had Kal Jones in his arms, the toddler asleep drooling on Fin's shoulder. Tyler grins at that. But not as much as he grins at Kal.

Dariel was sitting in Kal's lap, enjoying his book, but Kal's hair was falling victim to Rory and Cat Jones-De Seel.

"... go over and then add a strand and go over and add a strand and go over and a strand ..." Cat continued to repeat, trying and failign to teach her twin how to braid. Cat's braid seems to be forming nicely but it is deeply offset by Rory doing hers way to loose, causing Kal's hair to flop everywhere, and then Rory pulling tight.

Tyler is wowed by Rory's strength solely by the fact that when she tries to tighten Kal's braid, he actually winces. Kal meets his eyes and looks down at his hands, which Steph was now putting plastic rings and bracelets on. Kal and him meet eyes and both just smile and shrug.

~

More "Fin being the best at getting children to sleep" energy

[slautertm]

it's all been a motherfucking blur--- shaking hands clutching tightly to a steering wheel, fingers playing with the rips of her jeans while trying to sleep because she sure as fuck was getting little in the inn's when they would stop, humming to shitty radio, missing spotify, missing well... anything she could do from stopping her mind from going on a rampage. she should be rejoycing, she had wanted to get out of hatchetfield for years and years. not like this of course, but she was out, far away and continuing to go farther. steph couldn't stop succumbing to the feeling of this being how so many people thought she would end up and she was only proving them right. stephanie lauter. problem. runaway. criminal. murderer. that's all either of the three of them would be from now on. cold blooded killers- not the mayor's rebellious child, or girl who spent hours protesting stupid shit all for the sake of her church, or the boy with the stupid fucking rumors about him but smartest boy in hatchetfield just... monsters...

none of those self deprecating shit was as bad as the fighting- well... if you could call it that. it was all so quiet and hush and, more often than not starts the minute they are alone over the stupidest bullshit over and over and over again.

at this point, steph is almost certain grace has been leaving them alone on purpose so they could sort their shit out but just like clockwork the minute grace stepped out to get food they were back to their senseless shitty bitching. steph can barely hear the words that are leaving peter spankoffski's mouth, nor is she watching her own as she lies in their bed. she doesn’t look at him. she’s tired, both in general and of this pattern. @dorkustm speaks though, and these words for a brief moment are enough to snap her out of her head for a moment.

“i need you. and i hate that i do.”

all of her thoughts, all of her heavy emotions slip away from her the moment that word leaves his mouth and for a moment she just lets the statement settle on her, bit at a time. he needs her... she doubts that he needs her and part of her wants to state that, not for the sake of dismissing him, but instead to state the obvious truth, but the 'i hate that i do' makes it heavier in a strange way and cause her every reaction to still as her mind debates whether to soften, to tease, or to pick up the argument all over again.

silence lingers far too long before steph sits up in the bed, exhausted eyes seeking his out and not hiding anything from him. she swallows before this sort of pathetic smile fills her lips. " i mean we kinda do need each other, don't we? " what if that wasn't he meant, though, should she try not to get her hopes up?

fingers tap the bed as she moves so she's on the side instead of in the dead center, head falling down on the pillows as she stares up at the ceiling instead. " ...i don't hate it. the fact that i need you. " the confession quieter, almost like a whisper, fingers toying with the tear in her jeans. her breathing is quiet too, trying her best to listen, partly for signs of grace coming back, a bit to the room, mostly to pete, trying to gauge his reaction without looking at him.

[hedgewitchgarden]

My Powerful Hair is a new picture book that turns a painful truth about racism into a celebration of Native culture.

With illustrations by Steph Littlebird, author Carole Lindstrom's new children's book celebrates the significance of hair for Native Americans. ~~~~

When Carole Lindstrom was a little girl growing up in Bellevue, Nebraska, she really wanted long hair. She would put the blanket she had as a baby on her head and, "pretend I had long hair, you know, swing it around," she laughs.

She couldn't understand why her mother wouldn't let her. "Every time it got a little bit long, she said, 'We have to cut it. It's too wild,'" Lindstrom remembers.

She says her mother didn't seem to have a good explanation. One clue was a black and white photograph that sat on top of the TV set — a picture of her grandmother and two great aunts. "They were wearing these white smocks and their hair was just really chopped short and they had bangs. They just didn't look right," says Lindstrom. "And I remember asking my mom about that picture...and my mom didn't really know much about it other than to say, 'Well, that was when grandma and your great aunts were sent to boarding school. Indian boarding school.'"

A brutal effort to erase Native culture

At Indian boarding schools, children were forbidden to speak their Native languages and forced to cut their hair, among other indignities.

As an adult, Lindstrom set out to find out more about her culture and learned the truth about hair. "The hair is such a big part of who we are and our identity," she says, "It's like a living scrapbook."

In My Powerful Hair, a little girl relates the events of her life with the length of her hair.

"When my baby brother was born, my hair touched my shoulders. The gift of welcoming him into the world is woven into my hair," Lindstrom writes.

Native American children were sent to boarding schools where they were forced to cut their hair. "The intention," says author Carole Lindstrom, was "to forget who you were and where you came from."

Ten year old Talon Jerome, who lives on the Turtle Mountain Reservation, identifies with her new book. "Our hair is the source of our strength and power and memories," he says.

Talon and his mother, Cherona Jerome, are members of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. Cherona teaches at Talon's school. She says books like My Powerful Hair are important for her students to read.

"It's a beautifully written story and very relatable to our own experiences," Jerome says. "My mother was a boarding school survivor and I do recall pictures of her also with very, very short hair. Her and some of my aunts who went to boarding school also."

[theluminoussunflower]

unfearing

nearly every student at welton fears being in cameron's office, but at this point in the semester, most of the new poets brave it like a dog fighting its shadow

stephanie was not used to being in mr cameron's office

like, she's seen it, but she was only there once or twice, and never with her parents

it's about a half-hour after pittsie stormed into her dorm that she's called to his office

she's vibrating when she opens the door and sees her parents sitting in there

"you wanted to see me, mr cameron?" she says in a little mousey voice

"have a seat, miss meeks," cameron tells her

she takes the seat next to her mom, who nervously tucked stephanie's hair behind her ears

"i'm sure you know why i've called you in here"

stephanie shakes her head, "not really, actually" she laughs nervously, glancing at her dad

"you haven't spoken to your friends recently?" cameron asks, "ears haven't been burning"

"no sir"

"i wanted to ask you, miss meeks, about a gift you gave to one of your teachers," he opens his drawer where he had the book, but momentarily forgot that todd took it from him, "do you know what i'm talking about?"

stephanie looks at her parents, "it was mr anderson's birthday a couple of weeks ago, so a few of my friends and i collected some of our favorite poetry, bound it, and gave it to him"

"some original poems as well?" cameron says

"yes"

"and what did you title this collection?"

"uh... the societal poetry collection, i believe? i don't remember who came up with it, but we all liked it, mr anderson thought it was clever"

cameron smirks, "i'm sure he would, sounds like a title from the dead poets society... do you know what that is?"

"the dead poets society???" mr meeks says, raising his voice and looking at his daughter

"i've never heard of it," stephanie lies with wide eyes, "i swear"

mr meeks stands out of his chair and breathlessly paces around mr cameron's office

"we just called it that because—"

cameron puts his hand up ✋🏻"yeah, i know the story now... are you sticking with that?"

stephanie narrows her eyes and shakes her head, man fuck this guy, "story? it's the truth, we called it that—"

"stephanie..." cameron leans forward and folds his hands together, "you're a bright girl—"

she scowls a bit, "mr cameron, let me explain"

mr meeks slams his hand on the back of stephanie's chair, making steph jump up and step away

mr cameron stands as well, frowning at the scene

"stephanie, go to your dorm and pack your things, you're coming home tonight," mr meeks says before heading toward the door

stephanie and her mom look at each other, worry plastered on their faces before slowly trailing after william

"stephanie," cameron calls out

she turns around

"are you all right?" he asks in a low voice

she stares at him for a moment, looking for genuine remorse in his face

she cannot find it, "you're not making it better," stephanie answers before shuffling out

william storms from mr cameron's office to mr anderson's classroom

he throws the door open

todd, who was quietly reading, nearly falls out of his chair

"do you think this is funny?" william asks low

"nice to see you too, mr meeks," todd says, standing and smoothing his suit out

"todd, i know you're behind all this and i'm at the end of my rope being polite to you about it"

"you'll have to be more specific, mr meeks," todd says smiling, "i'm behind many things" like your dad haha get it

"my daughter just had to deny being a part of your poetry cult to richard"

todd stops smiling the more william raises his voice, "why would i tell them about the club? seriously, what would i gain from that?"

william points at todd furiously, "do you have no concern for the well-being of your students?"

todd walks to the window, bracing himself against the window sill, "of course, i worry for your daughter, i worry when i hear how you speak to her, and i worry she writes 'however hard it tries / dying will always be unfearing / does he make you shiver? / does he?'"

"what the hell are you talking about?" william asks

todd pauses for a moment, still staring out the window, before speaking:

however hard it tries, dying will always be unfearing does he make you shiver? does he?

william sits at a student's desk i cannot help but stop and look above all others is the abrupt end down, down, down into the darkness, gently it goes—the sudden, the steep, the staccato i see the word of my generation destroyed, how i mourn the postmortem does dying make you shiver? does he?

todd turns around, "your daughter is... an incredible mind, and she deserves to explore what's up there, even if it's not what you like, because if she bottles that up, she'll burst, and we don't want that"

william stares daggers at todd, "don't tell me how to help my daughter," he says, seething, "i know what's best for her"

he spins around and leaves the classroom "pack," he spits at stephanie, "we're leaving"

shortly after william left, cameron slowly walks to todd's classroom, unnerved

charlie had told him that todd needed to speak with him, but wouldn't tell him why

but once he gets to the classroom, like enters through the doorway, it's very evident from the way todd sighs when he sees him that it would not be a pleasant conversation

"what do you want?" todd asks, still slightly red in the face from talking to william

"you wanted to talk to me," cameron says more like a question

todd shakes his head, "why would i want to—"

in that moment, charlie pops out of nowhere, shuts the door, and locks it, "none of us are leaving here until we resolve this situation between you two"

todd frantically pats his pockets, "how the fuck did you get my keys?!"

charlie throws the keys at todd's chest before taking a seat on top of a student's desk, "i don't care who started this, because i'm ending it"

"charlie, this really isn't—" cameron says

"shut up!" charlie interrupts, "you are not going first, todd is going first"

"i don't have anything to say," todd says, "and i don't have anything to retract"

charlie sighs, "okay, cameron, is there anything you would like to say?"

cameron takes a seat at a student's desk (not the one charlie is sitting on) and takes a deep breath, "i should have come to you first, and i'm sorry"

"sorry that you committed theft or sorry i found out about it?" todd asks

cameron glances at charlie

"i'm sorry i committed theft and talked to the students before talking to you," cameron says, "it's obviously caused a lot of stress to you and that's the last thing i want, i hope you can understand why i was concerned"

todd stares at cameron, blinking but otherwise motionless, "no," he says, "i don't understand why you were concerned"

"i'm concerned because... i don't want the same thing that happened to neil to happen to another student"

looking at the ground, todd sighs, "yeah, i don't want that either, to have a kid's father take full control of their lives to the point where the only choice they think they have is to die, and not because they're in a poetry club," todd snaps as though a light bulb goes off in his head, "oh wait, that's the lie that you, richard cameron, told mr nolan"

"i didn't tell them that," cameron says, finally raising his voice just a little bit, "that was the lie they gave me, and i agreed to it, because i thought i didn't have any choice"

"so why are you asking the kids about the dead poets society?" todd asks crossing his arms

"because," cameron says, "if there is one, if, then i have to make sure that their poetry teacher doesn't get fired for encouraging students to sneak out past curfew"

todd's rather flabbergasted with his laughter, "okay, even if i did tell them about it, which i didn't, you're my boss, you're the one that would fire me"

"the dead poets society is what got mr keating fired in the first place"

"you're the one that got mr keating fired!" todd shouts, "you! you're the reason!"

"you signed that paper too, todd"

"and i wouldn't have if you didn't back me into a corner, you hypocrite!"

and cameron goes quiet

todd had turned away at this point, hand over mouth, a cry stuck in his throat

charlie, despite both of his good friends being distressed, is thrilled that they've gotten to the bottom of this

"i regret it," cameron says, standing, "if that helps" he hangs his head a bit

todd shakes his head as he turns around, "it doesn't bring neil back, and i wish you regretted it when it happened so i didn't have to go the rest of my time at welton alone"

no one says anything for a moment, none of them looking at one another

charlie claps his hands together, "well, i think that was a very constructive conversation, and i'm glad we've figured this out :D"

"charlie," todd says, "shut up, for once in your life"

cameron and charlie leave very awkwardly after that

meanwhile, at the dorms, amelia dials mr keating's phone number at the payphone, knowing she only has ten minutes to explain that bullshittery that's going on

"hello?" mr keating's jolly old voices shines, forcing a smile onto amelia's face

"mr keating, it's amelia anderson"

"miss anderson, how are you?"

"i'm okay, and yourself?"

"oh well, retirement bores the hell outta me, but at least i'm happy"

a silence follows

"mr keating, i think i need your help again"

"oh? what's happened? are you okay?"

"yeah, for now, mr cameron's getting on me about the dead poets society"

"what about it?"

"it... possibly existing again"

"and does it?"

the moment of truth

"yes, it does"

it's less than thirty minutes after that phone call, that todd's phone in his apartment rings

he rushes from his bathroom, where he's drying off from a decompression shower, to the phone

"todd anderson"

"todd?"

he recognizes the voice instantly, a voice he hadn't heard in a rather long time, a voice of comfort and promise, of love

"um... mr keating?"

"last i checked"

todd has to sit down

"my captain..." he can't help but laugh, "i'm sorry it's been so long, i... what do i owe the pleasure?"

"well, i wish i could catch up with you, but that will have to wait, i'm afraid this is urgent"

the serious tone catches todd off guard a bit, thinking keating had just finally remembered his existence and decided to call

"i just spoke with your daughter, amelia"

todd freezes

"and i think you really need to speak to her, she's asked me to speak to mr cameron about the dead poets society"

"i... w-what... why... how?"

"i told her i wouldn't, that really i couldn't change his mind about how he feels about it... and i'm not telling you how to approach this, but i think you need to speak with her about it"

"i... uh... okay, yeah, i'll do that"

"good... well, i won't hold you any longer"

"no, captain," todd stands, catching his towel, "i'm sorry, i just... it's great to hear your voice"

todd goes to amelia's dorm after the phone call ends, crossing paths with stephanie who's all packed

he opens and shuts amelia's dorm door

"yeah, come in," amelia jokes, but frowns upon seeing her dad upset, "everything okay? did mr cameron talk to you?"

"many people have talked to me today, amelia," todd says, out of breath for some reason

"need a palette cleanser?" amelia also jokes

todd looks at her, leaning against stephanie's desk, "is there a dead poets society, amelia?"

she frowns and shakes her head

"amelia..." he sighs, "you're my kid, and i'll do anything to protect you, but you have got to be honest with me... i need to know"

"dad... there's no dead poets society"

~

tyler the creator voice: so that was a fucking lie

this took me like a week to write for some reason so please comment

taglist, my favs <3

@chloe-octavia

@aedan-mills

@regina-della-poesia

@justarandompjofan

@sapphicnoel

@iguanamuppet

@finding-an-angle

@srj901

@boy-wonder-oncologist-fan

@tuskofthyme

@nothing-gonna-wake-me-now

@fumbleface

@deadswiftiesociety

[sohotthateveryonedied]

Dad...I’m Bilingual

Read here on AO3!

Summary: 

Dick hums—a quiet, sleepy sound. He’s drifting, but only slightly. The painkillers are doing their job. “It’s dumb,” he says. “I can beat up bad guys an’ stop an apocalypse, but I can’t even tell my own dad I’m bilingual.”

Bruce just stares at him. Realization kicks in a moment later. “Do you mean bisexual?”

“Yeah, bionical.” He said that, didn’t he? Bruce must be getting slow in his old age.

When he wakes up, the first thing that Dick’s sluggish mind can latch onto is how tingly his tongue feels. His taste buds buzz like someone poured a can of Pepsi into his mouth while he was sleeping, bubbles tickling the path down. Or maybe pop rocks. Or tiny little bumblebees, their legs scritching and scratching the surface they tread. The tingling spreads outward, Dick notices as he careens toward the wakeful part of wakefulness. Mouth to neck to torso to fingers to the cement block that he is pretty sure used to be his right leg. Soda and pop rocks and bees, the whole way. A quiet, questioning groan slips through Dick’s heavy lips. He cracks his eyes open and squints, blinking against the unforgiving brightness of the room he’s in. “Mm. Bruce?” A nearby chair squeaks. “Dick? Are you awake?” Bruce’s voice is uncomfortably close, booming in the short space between them. Dick grimaces. “C’n you...back up? Your breath smells like meatloaf.” He opens his eyes fully and is greeted by Bruce’s lined face, bags sagging under his eyes. They’re in a hospital room, white walls and white sheets.

Bruce’s meatloaf breath huffs once in amusement, then retreats. “I’ll take that to mean you’re back up, then.” In his lap is a magazine laid open to a page that’s all squiggles and bumbled lines. It matches the rest of the room. Dick’s head swims.

The numbness has receded mostly now that Dick is back online, but his stubborn cement leg takes longer to reboot. “Feels like I died. Then came back to life. Then died again.” His mind churns slush and soup. “You did just get out of surgery,” Bruce tells him. “Leslie said you’ll be woozy for a few hours.” Dick frowns. “I can’t feel my leg.” He has to parse his words carefully, his mouth working slowly like his muscles have melted into molasses. “I should hope not. You just had your knee put back together.” That part sounds...somewhat familiar? Dick has mismatched memories of surfing a stop sign across Clayface’s back, then sirens so loud and so close they split his head in half. He remembers Leslie yelling into one ear while the other listened to Bruce and Steph arguing about a video she uploaded to the Batman Incorporated Twitter account. That was completely irresponsible, Bruce said, out of his Batman suit and in one of the backup outfits he has stored in Leslie’s office for nights like that one. You’re lucky he only broke his knee. That stunt earned the Bat brand fifty Twitter followers, Steph snarked back. I need a goddamn vacation, Leslie said. “Tim left to crash a jet ski in the harbor,” Bruce continues, though Dick doesn’t remember asking, “so your alibi is taken care of. Jason and Cass went to track down the pudding cart, and Alfred took Damian home to sleep.” The half-drawn curtains make it hard to decide if that’s a sunrise or a sunset he’s seeing. Either way, it speaks to long hours of sitting and waiting and hoping. “I think…” Dick licks his dry lips. “I think they cut my leg off?” It feels like it. Did Leslie take his leg away as punishment for being dumb? Is the hospital hiding it from him? Bruce snorts. “Then what is that?” He gestures to Dick’s leg, the entire thing encased in weighty layers of gauze and plaster. “An imposter,” Dick says. Duh. “They gave me fake metal parts like Vic.” Dick slumps against the pitifully flat pillow behind his head. “My brain feels fuzzy. Did they take stuff out of my head?” That would explain the foggy memories and the way all of his words swim away from him like he’s been plunged underwater. Underwater hospital. Now there’s an idea. “You’re on painkillers,” Bruce says plainly, licking his thumb and turning the page of his magazine. “Heavy ones, it looks like.” Dick can’t remember if painkillers are supposed to feel like bumblebees buzzing around inside his thoughts. Maybe they’re made of honey. “Y’know, last time I woke up all confused in a hospital room, a bullet stole secrets from my head.” Bruce looks pained. “I assure you that all of your secrets are intact this time around.” Dick hums. “You should...take the painkillers out.” “Why is that?” “‘Cause I don’t wanna spill stuff.” Bruce frowns. He doesn’t say anything for so long that Dick wonders if he spoke in Portuguese by mistake. Bruce places his magazine on the plastic chair beside him. “Well, I can’t take out the IV because you’ll be in pain, but I promise you that the room is safe. Tim checked for bugs.” Why a bug would be in the human hospital, Dick doesn’t know. He shakes his head. The front pieces of his hair fall into his eyes, but his arms are too tired to fix it. “That doesn’t work, ‘cause then...then you’ll know. And that’s bad.” “This isn’t about your secret identity, is it?” Another head shake. “I might acci-mentally tell you ‘bout how I spilled tapioca on the Batmobile’s seats.” Bruce’s eyes widen. “That was you?” “Yeah, but don’t tell Bruce, ‘kay? You gotta promise.” Bruce rubs his temples like he’s sleepy. “I spent ten minutes yelling at Jason for that. I made him clean the seats.” “Yeah, ‘cause you’re an asshole.” Dick huffs, blowing at his pesky bangs until Bruce rolls his eyes and pushes them back for him. “Thank you.” “I appreciate you telling me about the tapioca. We’ll talk more about that when you’re sober.” Dick makes a face. “The whole point’s that I can’t tell you about the tapioca. It’s a secret. I’ve got too many of those—a whole big fuckin’ army of secrets. And it’s too many. No fun when you can’t share ‘em.” “What about Nightwing?” Bruce asks. “‘S different. You already know that one. I can share it.” “But you can’t share the other ones,” Bruce finishes. Dick snaps his fingers. “Zactly.” Bruce studies Dick—his bundled-up leg and the clear bag hanging on the hook beside his bed, pumping drugs into his bloodstream. “I should let you rest.” He starts to get up, the action somehow guilty despite there being no inherent guilt in vacating a chair. Bruce can pour guilt into anything if he tries hard enough. “You wanna know the worst part?” Dick continues on like Bruce hadn’t spoken, words spilling freely over compromised lips. “I could tell you. I could. But I’m a scaredy cat, so I can’t.” Reluctantly, Bruce sits back down. “I don’t know about that. I think you’re very brave.” “I’m not. If I was, I’d be able to tell you, because I know you’ll still love me no matter what I am, and I’m still scared. And that’s what scaredy cats do. They run away.” When Bruce’s face wears that expression, that gentle turn of his mouth and that pang in his eyes, Dick is stricken by memories of being nine years old. He’d go out every night in the Robin suit, wearing it like a suit of armor and trusting that nothing could hurt him. Bruce would be there by his side, protecting his Robin from harm at all costs. His soul wrapped around Dick’s like a second layer of armor, and it was then that Dick started to wonder if it was possible to have two fathers. “There’s nothing wrong with being scared sometimes,” Bruce tells him now. “There is if you’re a superhero.” “Even then. Sharing a secret can be a scary thing, even when you know it’s safe. That’s why they stay secret for so long.” If Dick didn’t know any better, he’d think that Bruce already knew what Dick desperately wanted and didn’t want to say. But not even Batman can read minds. Dick hums—a quiet, sleepy sound. He’s drifting, but only slightly. The painkillers are doing their job. “It’s dumb,” he says. “I can beat up bad guys an’ stop an apocalypse, but I can’t even tell my own dad I’m bilingual.” Bruce just stares at him. Realization kicks in a moment later. “Do you mean bisexual?” “Yeah, bionical.” He said that, didn’t he? Bruce must be getting slow in his old age. Bruce leans back in his chair with an odd, bemused expression. It’s not an angry one—more like when he’s cracked a case and lets the truth soak in. What case he’s cracked, Dick doesn’t know. Puzzlement morphs into something soft. “Okay. You’re bisexual. That’s not so bad.” “Yeah. But it would change stuff if you knew.” “Not exactly,” Bruce says. “You’re still you, Dick. Nothing’s changed—not really.” “Mm.” Dick’s chest warms. That must be a delayed effect of the painkillers, surely. “Maybe I’ll tell you sometime, then. Later,” he amends. “When my head’s not full of mothballs.” “Sure, son.” Bruce reaches out to ruffle Dick’s hair. “Whenever you’re ready to tell me, I’ll listen.”