#Tommy had always been compassionate but he was also forced to fight villains

[sing-me-under]

I think the thing that bothers me most about how criticism perceives the fandom is that a lot of them treat c!Tommy as like a y/n of an abuse victim rather than his own character. Like, yes it’s valid that you are upset by his decision and that you would rather he have done something else but like… that’s not what what c!Tommy was. c!Tommy’s choice was his closure as best suited to him because trauma isn’t universal and people aren’t a monolith.

This is a mild follow-up to a post I made earlier about c!Tommy’s story being a coming of age and overcoming a child’s black and white world view. It’s buried in the many many other posts I’ve made, but the key point I’m elaborating on here is that c!Tommy’s entire character arc was completed when he chose to understand Dream as a person.

Tommy has always been extremely self-aware, defending himself rather than accepting pain. Tommy was aware he didn’t deserve the blame placed upon him, and he was aware that he didn’t deserve to be hurt. He knew that the justification others claimed was flimsy at best, especially when he was treated worse for things others did too. He was fully aware of this and fought back.

However, just because he knew he didn’t deserve it didn’t mean he understood it. If the things he did “deserved” to “punish” him worse than others, then surely there was a reason for why it had to be him. Without any other possible explanations, Tommy determined that the reason behind his suffering was because Dream was obsessed with his very existence. It wasn’t his fault. It was because Dream was evil.

To c!Tommy, c!Dream had always been a force of absolute evil, an inescapable monster who hurt needlessly. To anyone, being hurt for things beyond your understanding is inevitably scary. The belief that no matter what he did, Dream would hurt Tommy because it was Tommy, nothing more, nothing less. Tommy only ever wanted to feel safe and happy, and he would do fucking anything to escape the inevitable pain. The prison wasn’t the safety barrier he could rely on anymore, and death especially wasn’t an option for escape as long as Dream (and Punz) still had the knowledge of the revive book. The fear that at any moment for any reason, The Unfathomable Evil would hurt him only worsened Tommy’s mental state and paranoia until he was barely husk of a person.

The abstract is scary. c!Dream perfectly embodies the existential fear of the unknown. This was how everyone perceived Dream, not just Tommy.

Tommy, endlessly afraid but so compassionate and kind, chose to free the server of the Pure Evil at the cost of himself. Even though he knew he didn’t deserve it, he still believed his very existence was the crime itself.

When Tommy chose to understand Dream at the very end, it wasn’t understanding out of the sake of compassion. It was his compassion that allowed him to understand for the sake of his freedom. He finally understood why Dream had chosen him to hurt, to abuse, to torture. c!Dream is a terrible person, but he was a terrible person with the very human understanding for why he chose Tommy. Tommy was just the wrong person at the wrong time.

In my previous posts, I emphasize that Sapnap was the one to aid Tommy in killing Dream that very first time all those years ago. No one was happy under Dream’s iron grip, but it just so happened that Tommy was the first one to win against Dream. It didn’t have to be Tommy. It could have been anyone else, but it just happened to be Tommy who received Dream’s ire first.

And that was freeing. It was clarity, a weight lifted off of Tommy’s shoulders. He knew he didn’t deserve it, but now he understood that he wasn’t being hurt simply because he existed. This was no longer some abstract unknown that would hurt him just for the sake of his very existence. It was a real, tangible reason with a real human motive. It was a problem Tommy finally had control over had he just understood sooner.

That’s not to say Dream wouldn’t have still been an manipulative piece of shit, but at the very least Tommy wouldn’t be paranoid and confused and scared out of his mind, obsessed that Dream was obsessed with him. But they could have come to an understanding sooner, before Dream truly became the Evil Villaiin everyone made him out to be, before everyone turned against him, before there was no turning back.

[wazafam]

Power Rangers fans know that the GOAT when it comes to the franchise is Tommy Oliver played by Jason David Frank since Mighty Morphin in 1993. The character had a unique origin story as he started as a villain turned hero. Above all, Tommy Oliver was the definition of  "once a Ranger, always a Ranger."

RELATED: Power Rangers: 10 Most Underrated Team Members

Throughout the franchise, the character has made numerous returns and taken part in different teams. Despite all this, fans can't help but be aware that there were some Rangers who came in a close second to the best of the best. Whether it's for leadership skills, good looks, or martial arts skills, some Rangers almost gave Tommy a run for his money.

10 Tommy: His Redemption Story

Don't be fooled; over the years, there have been many spectacular redemption stories to marvel at. For example, Magna Defender sought revenge for his son's death and even went against the Rangers to only become their ally. None surpass Tommy Oliver's.

He made his debut early on in Mighty Morphin's first season as the cute new guy with martial arts skills. His skills led Rita Repulsa to kidnap him and brainwash him to become the Green Ranger. With even stronger powers than the Rangers, Tommy became an undefeatable enemy. After the Rangers and Tommy break Rita's spell, Zordon and Alpha transform him into the White Ranger, starting his story as a hero.

9 Merrick (Wild Force)

Merrick was the sixth Ragner in Wild Force who harnessed the powers of the wolf mask. Taking a look at Merrick's history, he can easily be pitted against Tommy. Three thousand years before Wild Force, unable to defeat Master Org, Merrick ventures to find the wolf mask said to hold immense power.

After defeating Master Org, Merrick is cursed to wear the mask forever and falls under its evil spell. He becomes the evil Zen-Aku and is imprisoned by the other warriors. In the present time, Master Org frees Zen-Aku and uses him against the Rangers. Much like Tommy's story, Merrick has to fight his evil and becomes an ally to the Rangers.

8 Tommy: Longest Reigning Ranger

It goes without saying that the main reason why Tommy is the best of all time is because of how long he's appeared in the franchise. After Mighty Morphin, Tommy transitioned into becoming the Red Zeo Ranger and the Turbo Ranger for a brief time. At the beginning of the franchise, reusing characters in new installments were normal.

Tommy Oliver took a short hiatus before returning as the Black Dino Ranger and appearing in the epic crossover event Forever Red. Tommy's history as a Ranger is often referred to in different series, and he continued to appear in multi-Ranger crossovers.

7 Wesley (Time Force)

Wesley was much more than the handsome Red Ranger in Time Force. The reason he gets a spot on the list is because of his immense character evolution throughout the show. Wesley was born into wealth and privilege and forced to follow the life his father wanted. Deep down, Wesley knew it wasn't meant for him.

RELATED: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The 10 Rangers, Ranked From Worst To Best

At first, Wesley came off a bit cocky and sure of himself when meeting the Time Force Rangers. Over time, Wesley grew into his role as a leader and as a hero. Wesley had no issue giving up his pristine life to be with the Rangers. When his father finds out he's a Time Force Ranger, Wesley makes it clear that he finally found what he was meant for and was willing to make sacrifices for it.

6 Tommy: Natural Born Leader

There have been many Rangers who have proven their worth as leaders, but Tommy stands above everyone else. Since becoming the White Ranger, the team naturally followed his lead on many occasions. Tommy often showcased compassion and understanding when the team was down on their luck.

To top it off, Tommy also knew how to help execute a plan and have his teammates' confidence. It was natural to see Tommy transition from the White Ranger to the Red Ranger in Zeo and Turbo. Even when Rocky became the Red Ranger, Tommy was still dominant, but within reason. In all of his appearances and crossovers, Tommy is always the natural leader.

5 Andros (In Space)

Andros gets some serious props as a Red Ranger in In Space that could rival Tommy. Andros made it his mission to uncover information about the universe's evil villains on his own. He was a lone wolf, but he openly accepted the Turbo Rangers in their fight to rescue Zordon and stop Astronima.

Besides Andros's skills as a leader, fans applauded his storyline with his sister. After uncovering that Astronima was actually his long-lost sister, he does everything possible to save her. He even refuses to fight her in the last major battle. Andros's big moment of heroism is when he musters the courage to destroy Zordon's energy tank to wipe the world of evil.

4 Tommy: He's Loyal No Matter What & Helpful

A characteristic of Tommy Oliver that's always appreciated in the franchise is his loyalty to the cause. Tommy isn't one to shy away from a fight against evil, and he's more than willing to become an ally with the Rangers to defeat Rita and continue on his journey as a Ranger for the next installments.

In Forever Red, Tommy is the one who bands together all the other known Red Rangers, even Jason, to fight the machine empire from regaining power. In Dino Thunder, Tommy disappears to only come back with the black Dino Crystal just in time to save the others. He was also willing to sacrifice himself in his fight with Goldar.

3 T.J. (Turbo & In Space)

T.J. gets a considerably high ranking due to his involvement in the franchise and his transition to In Space. T.J. was first introduced in Turbo after freeing Tommy from prison while fighting Divatox. From the start, T.J. had an inherent desire to help in the face of danger.

RELATED: Power Rangers: 10 Most Powerful Monsters From The Mighty Morphin Series, Ranked

That's not all; it was revealed that T.J. dreamed of becoming a Ranger ever since he was younger. Many can say it was fate as Tommy hand-picked T.J. to become his successor. After the Command Center is destroyed and Divatox manages to defeat the Rangers, T.J. bands together the Rangers to make the venture to space to go after her and try to free Zordon. T.J. realized his duty as Ranger when meeting Andros and joined forces to become the Blue Ranger.

2 Tommy: His Impressive Martial Arts Skills

All Rangers need good martial arts skills to make it in the franchise—that's rule number one of Power Rangers. When it comes to memorable fighters, fans often recall Tommy. He had impressive moves and combat skills that only got better and better with every appearance.

Between high kicks, punches, and acrobats, Tommy wasn't one to mess with. It's one of the reasons why Tommy is the best of the best, no matter what series he's in. Fans can vividly recall Tommy "Hiya!" whenever he fought.

1 Jason (Mighty Morphin)

Jason and Tommy were head-to-head in Mighty Morphin when it came to the show's top guy. Besides Tommy Oliver, Jason was the second most remembered Ranger in the franchise. This is because he was the first-ever Red Ranger in the American adaptations. Jason had big shoes to fill, and he didn't disappoint.

He was built, skilled in fighting, and compassionate. He had the makings of a great leader and did well until Tommy took over the mantle. Much like Tommy, Jason gave his comrades words of wisdom when needed and even gave them the push to use their Morphers for the first time.

NEXT: 10 Classic Tokusatsu TV Shows Streaming Right Now

Power Rangers: 5 Ways Tommy Was The Greatest Ranger Of All Time (& 5 Closest Contenders) from https://ift.tt/3bjtRPh

[ellana-ravenwood]

“...Where is our child ?” - Wonder Woman x fem!Reader

Hey, so because I often receive messages about you guys wanting “more Wondermom” (yes, “Wondermom” became a thing) well...I’m writing this story. This is basically a part 2 of : “take care of my babies or you’ll die”, so if you didn’t read that you can if you want, so this story will make more sense and...Boom, part 2, hope you’ll like it : 

PART 1

You can find my masterlist here : @ella-ravenwood-archives

__________________________________________________

The present :

You and Diana were sitting side by side on an upside down car, looking at the destruction the latest “League fight to save the World” created. 

Fortunately, everything happened after the small town where things went down was evacuated (thanks god your brother, Bruce, was always planning things so carefully and almost always managed to bring the villains where he wanted them to be, in inhabited places). But oh the destruction was still there. 

The small coffee shop that was absolutely the cutest and that made you want to sit in and drink a warm cup of brew was no more. 

The school, a school that eerily resembled the one your son used to go to, was no more.

People’s houses were gone. They all lost everything (though probably, “Wayne Enterprise” would get a new charity and give money and men to rebuild the place). All their possessions  were no more. Pictures of their families, the same kind that hung in your house, souvenirs and all...no more. 

Worst, the library and book shop right next door were no more...You sighed as you see a few pages of destroyed books fly in the wind. 

Your Diana’s arm is around your shoulder, and you cuddle closer to her as you witness the destruction you and your friends were responsible for...But hey, you saved the World again. Small sacrifices were always needed you know ? 

Still, her presence reassures you, makes you feel better. It always have. Having her beside you always made you stronger. 

Your wife’s voice startles you, as you weren’t expecting her to speak right now, in that short moment of peace after the storm :

-Remember when I said that I did NOT want our child to ever fight ? 

You smile weakly and straighten up a bit, turning your head to look at her. She smiles back at you, and you take a wild strand of her hair to put it behind her ear lovingly, brushing your fingers along her cheek, before saying : 

-Yes I do. The good old days. 

-When he wasn’t born yet and we could still hope. 

-Really, what did we expect ? He’s ours, of course he would have to fight one day...

-I just wished there was another way. That he could have had a normal life.

A loud sigh behind you makes you jump a bit and you both turn around...to be faced with your brother and his sons. 

The sigh was from the youngest, Damian and...oh God you couldn’t believe that brat was already an adult. You wished you could turn back time, to moments where he was not that giant man, but a tiny insecure boy who often came to his aunt for advices and hugs (yes, hugs. It was a secret between you and him). 

You don’t even have time to say anything as Damian begins : 

-You know, Thomas isn’t a baby anymore. He’s perfectly capable to handle himself on a battlefield. After all he’s from my...our family, there wasn’t any other way, and such an extraordinary being couldn’t have just a “normal life”. He’s important. Hell, he even saved Superman’s life today. He’s vital part of the league. And...

You roll your eyes and cut him off : 

-Yes yes I know Dami’, you told us a hundred time. 

-And yet you still baby him. You know, he just turned twenty and...

-LALALALALLALA I CAN’T HEAR YOU MY TOMMY IS STILL MY TINY SON LALALALALLALAAAAAA !! 

Diana chuckles lowly, your nephews (but Damian) full on laugh at the face their little brother is making (seriously, it could be the illustration for the word “annoyed” in the dictionary), and even your brother utter a small smile. 

Of course you know your boy isn’t a small child anymore but...you can’t help it. You can’t help but being a little bit sad and angry at yourself for ever letting him become a superhero too. You can’t help but feeling guilty about the life he’s doomed to lead. You can’t help but worry about him constantly. 

Sure, he’s twenty now but...Some things never change. 

Speaking about things that never change : 

-Wait...Where is he ? 

Bruce looks away and his sons do too, but you catch Tim’s look before he can and it’s impossible to avoid your gaze once it’s locked on something and...With a dangerous voice, you ask : 

-Spit it up Tim, my boy...Where’s our child ? 

************

The Past :

“Where is our child ?” was a sentence that was heard way too many times in the Prince-Wayne household. 

It started about a year after Thomas was born. 

The only somewhat peaceful year you had (”somewhat” because of course, you were always worried about him, and Diana had the incredibly strong fear that he would die in his sleep and oh...the entire first year, she would wake you up almost every hour of the night, by getting up from the bed to go check on him, and then coming back and pulling you into her arms...Oh and let’s not talk about the time you had to find a baby-sitter because you were both busy !). 

Yup. Things were still pretty normal for the first year. Just very worried first time parents things really. 

Besides, Bruce was a huge help, and the boys too, always around to help and support you (no one could change a diaper like Bruce, and it impressed you a lot to see that he was that skilled at it, given the fact he never had a kid that young...). He even made the effort to leave Gotham more than once just to take care of his nephew and...really, this made your heart flutter, to think that you were so important to him that he would stop watching over his (and yours) beloved city just to come and look after his baby nephew. To think that for you, and only you, he would “break” his (damn stupid) promise he made to your parents all those years ago...

Yes. Bruce helped tremendously through this first year. And everything was rather fine. 

But one morning, everything changed. 

You woke up to Diana’s screams of panic, and, half-asleep, you don’t quite remember how you managed to rush that fast from your bedroom toward your son’s ! 

But here you were, with your wife, staring at the empty bed you put your baby in the night before...

It took you only half a second to register what happened, and to enter the “detective mode” your brother taught you. 

And as Diana was completely panicking and yelling “WHERE IS OUR CHILD ?!”, you detached yourself from the situation and...observed.

It was important. To not let your feelings overwhelm you. The life of your son was on the line. 

First thing you noticed was that the blanket was gone too and that...A giggle. 

A giggle stopped you dead in your track. Followed by a “mama !” and you raise your head and...Oh boy. 

Crisis avoided. 

Your son hadn’t been abducted or anything. Nope. 

Your son was a meta-human. 

Damn. 

Here he was, his blanket still around him, flying above you and your dear wife. Giggling loudly, clapping his hand and doing flips in the air, cheerfully saying “mama” as he pointed at you and Diana. 

You can almost hear Diana’s heart calm down as she quickly flies to the ceiling and grabs your son. She holds him tight against her heart as she goes down and..is it a disappointed sigh he lets out ? Yes, it’s definitely a disappointed sigh ! He wanted to fly more ! 

He’s pouting now, pointing at the ceiling and saying “up up”. But your wife’s look stops him. Calms him.

It is full of worries. Full of uncertainty. And even a one year old boy understands that something is “up” indeed. He stops and looks curiously at his distressed mother, grabbing her cheek and rubbing it tenderly in the hope to see her smile and...it works. It always works. 

Diana turns to you with tears in her eyes and...You understand. 

Why ? What happened ? He didn’t even have one drop of blood from Diana. He was from an unknown sperm donor and you. He shouldn’t be a meta-human...And yet. Yet here he was, a one year old boy flying. 

You never knew why. Bruce made thousands of tests on him but...he never really found a reason. Maybe it was the time he resurrected you, long ago, with a Lazarus pit ? Maybe it left something in you ? You’d never have an answer. 

All you knew was that your baby was a meta-human, and that would make it even more difficult to keep him away from “the fight”. 

************

From that point, everything kinda went downhill. 

You and Diana tried. Really REALLY tried. 

You and Diana tried to keep him away from any danger for a long time. Early on, Thomas understood that he was different, and that his powers (a super force and flying...just like his mom really, which was strange) had to stay a secret. 

Diana helped him control it and...he was good at it. Hell, great. And oh so smart (that he took after you, according to your wife). 

He was the perfect mix between a Wayne and a Prince. Intelligent and strong. Observant and caring. Passionate and compassionate. Every good things about both your family ? He had. 

Unfortunately, it also meant that he was twice as stubborn than any of you and...Well, imagine someone more stubborn than Bruce, you, Diana, or even Jason or Damian ? He was the stubbornest person ever. 

To her great displeasure, Thomas actually resembled a lot Diana in his personality. He had that way about him, that need to...Do things he thought were right. Which meant that in many situations, you and your wife were like “Thomas no”, and he would be like : “Thomas yes”. 

He had that bad habit of doing things he wanted to do. It’s not that he didn’t listen to you, oh no, on the contrary, he was terrified of you and the way you’d scold him with such a calm voice. He was very respectful and polite too and wouldn’t do something that was bratty or anything but...He was also a free spirit. 

One that couldn’t stay away from helping people. 

You realized that very early on. 

************

Thomas was five when he discovered that his beloved uncle and cousins were the famed night vigilante of Gotham. 

He found out by wandering around Wayne Manor one day, a day you all had a family lunch. It’s Diana who noticed his absence first. 

-(Y/N), where is our child ? 

A search party was immediately put on. All of you knew Thomas had an unhealthy amount of curiosity that already got him in trouble a few times.  

It’s only when alarms started to ring in your brother’s pocket that you finally found him...Somehow, he had found the secret passage behind the grandmother clock in the hallway, and infiltrated the Batcave. 

-WOOOOOW ! YOU’RE THE BATMAN !! 

Is what he yelled as he ran toward his uncle. Automatically, Bruce caught him in his arms and looked at you...and oh you weren’t happy. 

Of course, it wasn’t your brother’s fault but...those days of you wishing your son would never have the kind of life you, your brother, your nephews and wife had were now annihilated. 

Now that Thomas knew the uncle he already admired so much was the Batman, and that his cousins were Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin and Robin ? He was doomed to become one of them. 

Why was he doomed ? Because even though he was just five years old, Thomas already thought that his “abilities” should be useful, and not always hidden. Even though he was just a five year old, he already had this gut feeling that there was something bigger out there ! 

Quickly, connections were made in his mind and he understood as well that his mothers were some of his actual heroes too ! Wonder Woman and (your Superhero name) ! THE GREATEST EVER ! 

You damned the day that someone gave your son such a big intelligence. The day someone decided that he’d be a genius, just like his mom and uncle...

************

The “peace” was longer than you’d thought though. 

Diana was still teaching Thomas how to use his powers, you were teaching him the things your brother taught you so many years ago (how to fight, how to observe, how to fight while observing and vice versa !). He often met with his cousins and uncle and, strangely, didn’t argue too much when they told him to stay behind, to go to bed, when they’d go and save Gotham. 

But you knew better. The only reason why your son didn’t argue is because he knew he wasn’t ready. That boy was too smart for his own good, and if he thought he could genuinely help and not be a burden, he would have been in Gotham City’s street long ago (or in Washington DC, which is where you and Diana settled in). 

But much like you and Bruce, he always planned things carefully, and he knew that now was not his time yet...

His tenth birthday arrived and the most he did was fighting against his cousins “for real”. His tenth birthday arrived and, fortunately, he wasn’t a “superhero” yet. But you could see one day he would be. 

You could see it in his eyes. The way he studied every move from you, Diana, Bruce, Tim, Jason, Dick, Damian...The way he visibly “stored” everything in his mind and all. He would be, but not now. Now wasn’t his time yet. 

***********

“His time” came when he was twelve and a half. 

It was just a regular day in Gotham really. You, Bruce and Thomas were walking down a calm street, on your way to meet with the rest of your family (your nephews were all grown up now, and gathering them all together was always quite difficult...and your wife only arrived in Gotham a few minutes ago. You were in vacation at your brother’s, while she still had to work at the museum in DC). 

Yes. It was just a regular day in Gotham. 

It’s like trouble followed you really. Screams. That’s what caught your attention. 

It was near your lunch date and when you arrived on the spot (already in costume of course), you weren’t surprised at all to find your nephews and wife already fighting. You tell Thomas to “stay put” as you and Bruce jump in the fight. 

Just some regular thugs attacking someone. 

You guys, having fun punching low life criminals, taking this lightly (after all, you were some of the most powerful and mightiest superheroes on the planet, what could some thugs could really do to you ?), almost laughing in their face but...There was one you didn’t notice. 

It wasn’t your fault you didn’t though. You got distracted. By both the fun you were having and Diana’s question. 

“Where is your child ?” she asked, and when you looked where you told Thomas to stay put to find the place empty, your heart drop. 

And so you didn’t notice one of the thugs. 

One lurking in the shadow. 

One with a gun. 

None of you have time to react when the shot is fired. Directly aimed at you. 

Bruce’s scream is desperate. Diana’s is even worst. And you close your eyes, ready for your fate. You know you don’t have time to get out of the trajectory. Besides, ever since your parents’ death...gun shots always have this freezing effect on you, reminding you too much of that dreadful night, even though you remember very little of it and...

It takes too long. Why aren’t you dead yet ? Or maybe you are and you don’t feel it ? You open one eye. Then the other and...Thomas.

Your son. 

He’s in front of you and...something falls from his hand. 

The bullet ? Your baby boy can stop bullets with his bare hand ? 

In the matter of seconds the remaining thugs are taken down by your son, who jumps from man to man expertly, getting rid of them without actually really hurting them. 

Finally, he turns to you and takes off the hood of his jacket (smart boy thought about hiding his identity...probably, even those thugs heard about the famous “Thomas Prince-Wayne”, one of the heir of the Wayne fortune). 

He stands in front of all of you, your stunned ass just staring. 

Until a surge of anger rises inside you. The worries you had a few minutes ago turn into anger and you approach your son, grabbing his shoulders and, with your harshest and yet calmest voice (the one that always gets to him and made him brush his teeth vigorously as a kid, when he didn’t want you and you “convinced him to), you say : 

-Thomas Steven Prince-Wayne ! What didn’t you understand in the words “stay put” ?

He looks at you smugly (and you can almost see a younger version of your brother...the Wayne genes were strong, after all, you looked a lot like Bruce and your son was half-Wayne and..oh he definitely took almost everything from your parts of your family, and nothing from that unknown sperm donor. Good. But still, his smug face right now was exactly the one you hated, that your brother made when he won at something when you two were younger). He says : 

-Oh I understood everything mom, it’s just...I didn’t wanna stay put. Or rather, I couldn't. That guy was going to hurt you ! 

-This is not a reason to put your life in danger and...

-This is the best reason to put my life in danger ! I saved you mom ! And I would do it again if I had to ! Sure I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stop the bullet but...I’ve been practicing secretly with Damian and...oh don’t look at me like that my cousin, they would have found out one day or another, and if i’m going to be in trouble, then so will you !...Anyway I was saying, I just had to try ! I couldn’t watch you die mom ! I need you ok ? And...I’m ready. I’m ready mom. I am. I want to be like you guys. I want to help. I have to help. Please, let me help. Let me save people’s mother. Please. Just, let me. Uncle Bru...uh, I mean, Batman, tell her please ! Convince her, I know you agree with me ! 

You know how he’s feeling, and you know that if, years ago, you would have had the ability to stop bullets, you would have gladly jumped in front of your parents and...you can’t really resist can you ?

His pleading look goes between you and Diana and...You  know that’s it. You know you can’t convince him otherwise. Forbid him to go out, and he’ll sneak out without your permission. 

The best thing to do really, is to tell him : “yes”. To let him help. Because like that, you’ll always have an eye on him. At all time. Or...So you thought. 

************

So you thought, because “where is our child ?” was one of the sentence you pronounced the most. 

“Where is our child ?” He’s fighting the biggest and baddest villain on his own, because he’s too reckless, just like his moms. 

“Where is our child ?” He’s at his uncle’s house, training with his cousins. He left a note...

“Where is our child ?” At a charity gala, gaining intels on a suspicious person, he stole one of Dick’s suit. 

“Where is our child ?” hiding behind the sofa, because he doesn’t wanna do the dishes. 

“Where is our child ?” at the League’s watchtower, being formerly introduced by Damian...Oh shit, you were going to be late ! 

“Where is our child ?” flying to the stratosphere and back, just for fun, and to blow off some steam. 

“Where is our child ?” he’s making out with his date, right on the front porch. And it’s past his curfew. 

“Where is our child ?” in the middle of the battlefield, putting his life in danger to save others. 

“Where is our child ?” right there, between you and Diana, in your bed...he was afraid of the thunderstorm. 

“Where is our child ?” Thomas is in the hospital, fighting against death, after he got badly injured while doing superhero stuffs...

“Where is our child ?” he just escaped his bedroom, where you and Diana were forcing him to stay until he recovered from his injuries...Damian helped him, picked him up in the batjet, and now, they’re “purifying” Gotham’s street. 

“Where is our child ?” Grounded. In his room. Pouting. 

“Where is our child ?” ...He’s everywhere, he’s nowhere, all the time. Thomas Steven Prince-Wayne cannot stay still. He cannot ignore a cry for help. He cannot...He cannot not be like you and Diana. 

A hero. 

Someone people admired, someone people needed. 

But there were times, oh there were times where he was just your boy. Cuddling up with you on the couch, watching silly movies. Or bonding with his uncle and cousins. Enjoying his family. 

There were times where he remembered what you told him years ago : to live his life. 

************

The present : 

“Where is our child ?” was a sentence that occurred way to many time in the Prince-Wayne household. 

Like now. As the League just saved the world once again. 

You thought Thomas was with your brother, but here Bruce was, with all his sons, standing in front of you, and trying to avoid your gaze. You had just asked Tim, one of your nephew, where was your boy (that wasn’t a boy anymore) and you knew he was about to crack under your intense look when...

-Relax, I’m here mom. 

Hearing his voice instantly relaxes you and you turn around to look at your baby bo...No. He’s not a baby anymore. 

And right here, right now, faced with him, in his costume, all grown up...You know he’ll never be your baby again. 

His chiseled face is dirty from the fight, and he has a nasty cut on his shoulder...but it doesn’t seem to bother him as he walks toward you in all his glory, wearing his newly made superhero suit (he kept the family colors...red and black). And you can’t help but see the Wayne in him. Tall. Broad. Muscular. Proud. Caring. But also the Prince. Royal. Elegant. Impressive. A warrior. The best of his time. 

And he’s not your baby anymore. 

-I told them to come and find you to tell you not to worry. But I can see by your face Damian is the one who talked first...

Damian makes a very cute pouty face (that is quite hilarious to see...it’s just like the face he used to make when he was just a ten year old kid...except that now, he’s almost thirty). 

Thomas doesn’t let you or Diana answer as he says : 

-I was just checking around to make sure all threats were gone. Uncle Bruce said it was fine but..Well, I’d rather be 100% sure. No offense Uncle Bruce. 

-None taken my boy. Better be safe than sorry. 

-Exactly. That’s what you taught me. 

The fond smile your brother gives your son melts your heart but...You put your “mother cowl” back on and turns to your son, frowning. But Diana beats you to it : 

-Thomas Steven Prince-Wayne. 

It became a habit of your and of your wife, to call him by his full name before scolding or lecturing him. And you can see his eye rolling as if on their own accord, your son too used to it to resist. Your wife continues : 

-I thought that we agreed, all those years ago, that if the fight seemed desperate, you’d fly the other way. 

-I don’t remember ever agreeing to that...I remember you guys forcing me to...

-You signed the contract Tom. 

-Not willingly.

-You still signed it. If your uncle taught you anything about business, it’s the unbreakable sacred thing that a contract is ! 

Thomas rolls his eyes again, and shifts on his feet, ready to just listen to his mom’s lecture without intervening again. He turns his attention to her and cross his arm, just like you do when you’re focused on something. Diana keeps going :

-Thomas. You need to be careful. I can’t loose you. We can’t loose you.I know you’re not a child anymore, but your our child. We’ll never stop worrying and...just be more careful. Stop throwing yourself in the path of danger. 

Your son seems surprised...it’s true that, usually, his mom’s lectures are way longer. But now..it looks like she’s already done ? Is it his turn to say something ? Should he defends himself, even though he noticed the crack in his mom’s voice that he so rarely heard ? That sign that this all situation hit her more than anything ? No, he has to explain to her why he did it : 

-I had to save Superman. He’s too important and...

You have to intervene : 

-YOU’RE TOO IMPORTANT FOR GOD’S SAKE ! 

Thomas is shocked. As are the rest of your family. It’s the first time they hear you raise your voice...Usually, when you’re angry, you have that very calm toned that is terrifying and..They’re just not used to you yelling. And you add : 

-Your mother is right Thomas, we can’t loose you ok ?! I already lost so much in my life, I couldn’t handle your loss and...Listen. I’m so proud of you for what you became, I know you’re not my baby anymore but...stop...stop throwing yourself right in the mouth of the lion...stop thinking you owe anything to the World because you’re a meta-human, stop...Just...stop please...

Your son isn’t sure how to react. Lectures and scolding ? He can definitely deal with it but...his mother breaking down ? His mother that he thought invincible on the verge of crying ? Holding tightly onto his other mom’s arms as if she needs her to stay on her feet ? That, he never encountered...And so he approaches her slowly, his cape flowing in the air making him look majestic. 

He doesn’t expect you to fall into his arms, nor does he expect Diana to do the same and..When his eyes crosses his uncle, he suddenly understands. 

Yes. Yes it had been close. Very close. He almost died. Without a goodbye. He almost...disappeared forever, and he wouldn’t even had had the time to see his moms again. 

He remembers how the World turned into a mess of dust and blood, how everything surrounding his mothers were just orange fumes from the fight, from making the earth move so much. He remembers Diana running towards him desperately, and the look on her face, so scared for him...He remembers you from afar, running too, and he was glad he couldn’t see your facial expression. He remembers his uncle Bruce almost dying because he was distracted by Thomas being in grave anger. He remembers Damian jumping above the fight to come and join him, though he knew he’d be too late. He remembers Dick yelling something to the Flash, and only now understood that he was yelling at him to go save his baby cousin. He remembers Jason aiming to shoot at the one who was threatening Superman and his life, but knowing he would be too late too, not fast enough. He remembers Tim freezing, an expression of horror on his face... 

The reality of what almost happened downs on him like a tornado. So far, he was in the eye of it, calm, not realizing that he almost got annihilated. So far, all he thought about was how he saved the great Superman from an imminent death threat. He didn’t think of the consequences...but now ? He was swept away by the power of the tornado, swirled violently around by it, and understanding that he almost broke the heart of the people that counted the most for him. 

His moms. 

His uncle. 

His cousins. Hell, even Damian looks quite shaken. 

So this is why they didn’t want to come with him to “check” if there were any remnant of threat (they weren’t for sure, he just wanted to double check because that’s what Bruce taught him). He found it a bit odd at first but...they just needed time alone to process everything. They needed to calm down. 

Thomas almost died, and his death would have shattered the entire family...This is why he found his moms cuddling so close. They just needed each others comfort. Their son was still alive, somewhere with his uncle and cousins (and with whom would they trust him more to hang out with ? You knew that with Bruce, Thomas would always be safe). They needed to come down from their feelings. To process things. 

They almost lost their son. For real this time. He did put himself in danger before, but it was always by a long shot. While there ? He almost died. 

And Thomas cursed himself for understanding all that only now, as his moms were clutching at him. Thomas cursed himself for his stubborness and insensitivity. Cursed himself for only thinking about him and what he wanted...

He hugged them back. And made a himself a promise. 

He wasn’t a child anymore.

It was time to stop acting like one. 

It was time to be responsible, and to truly think more. Just like his mom and uncle Bruce taught him. 

It was time to stop with the poor impulse control. 

He wasn’t a child anymore. He had to grow up, and to stop acting so fast. He couldn’t always help it, after all, he was a lot like his mom, Diana. But it was time...Time to grow up. To truly grow up. 

************

Laying in bed besides her, your legs tangled with hers, her hands in your hair, yours around her waist, her face nuzzled in your beautiful locks...You take a deep breath. And you can feel her smile. 

It’s early. Oh so early. But you both have to get up, lots of things to do. 

But neither of you want to. 

Diana kisses the crown of your head lovingly and your arms tighten around her. None of you want to stand up. To face reality. 

It’s not your jobs, or obligations or such that make you not wanna stand up. But the fact that...Your boy is gone. 

Well, that’s ominous sounding. Your boy moved out would be better. 

Yesterday. He moved out to his own apartment. In Gotham at that. It wasn’t that far but...still. 

But you have to get up. And, lazily, you do. You both sit on your side of the bed, one hand still in each others, fingers locked. But you have to let go as you two stand up. Only for a moment though, as Diana is back at your side in no time, her arms around your shoulders, yours around her waist, as you walk toward the kitchen. 

Thomas always thought it was cute and funny, how you wouldn’t let go of each other until you both got your first cup of coffee...The thought of your son makes your heart tighten. 

It’s the end of an era. Your boy is all grown up. 

“Where is our child ?” was going to slowly disappear (which wasn’t that bad really), as he was on living his own life and...Here. 

Your child was here. Flying behind the kitchen window. In his superhero costume. Holding a bag. 

You open the window and he comes in, explaining that he was just dropping bad and that he brought coffee and donuts and...You smile. 

But of course. 

It’s not because he wasn’t a child anymore, that he would stop being your child.

He would always come back to you, and you and Diana would always worry about him. From day one you worried. Hell, Diana even worried before he was born (oh remembering your doctors appointment was something...it was funny now, but at the moment, you would have killed her). 

He wasn’t a child anymore, but he was your child, forever. 

_______________________

This is a complete mess. It doesn’t make sense, it’s too fast and too slow at the same time. Sorry I made you wait so long for such a shitty story yo...I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately, I have such difficulties to write decent stories and uh. Just sorry. I tried...Might delete (for real this time) because this is a huge fail.