#WHERE HE'S CRADLING JASONS CORPSE AND REMEMBERING HOW HAPPY HE WAS TO GET THE COSTUME

[martyrbat]

Bodies in Motion and at Rest – Thomas Lynch

[TEXT ID: It hurts so bad to think I cannot save him, protect him, keep him out of harm's way, shield him from pain. What good are fathers if not for these things? Why can't he be a boy again, safe from these perils and disasters? Lately I'm always on the brink of breaking.]

[the-quiet-carrotcake]

Evil Author Day! 2020

I decided to contribute some wips to this beautiful day! 

Reminder that they may never be finished :)

Here are my humble offerings:

Batman fandom

Warnings for dark themes, swearing, creepiness, inapropriate humor, sarcasm

1.Au "With This Ring"

Nightwing is closest when Babs issues the notice. 20 minutes after they lost contact with Red Robin, he arrives at the scene. Dresses thrown around like confetti, suspicious tears and stains on them. He carefully makes his way inside, noting the signs of forced entry. Inside the shop, a chaos of mannequins parts and broken furnitures greet Nightwing but what makes his heart drop is a single mannequin on the pedestal in front of the mirrors, Red Robin's cape messily draped over it. It is visibly damaged and worst, dripping in fresh paint of familiar garish colors with a piece of paper pinned with a knife through the neck. N doesn't register himself moving until he has the paper in his hands. A message written in a too familiar and hated script. Joker. Joker has his baby brother and he is going… He's gonna…

"-twing! Respond! Nightwing answer me!"

Footsteps coming from the back.

"Oracle, I'm at the location. Whoever was here, they escaped through the sewers. There's footprints leading to the basement. Found one of Red's gloves. Access the plans and possible- I have visual on Nightwing."

2. Animal transformation au

A not so abandoned part of a factory on the edge of an old industrial zone. Creepy, a health and safety hazard, there's even a couple of traps! How lovely! Reminds me of my childhood home… oopsy there Ader! Shoulda watch where you walk! Hehe… Oh, somebody shut him up! We're on a schedule here! If the Doc's here, he knows we coming now. Bah! One surprise ruined, lots more to come! 

"You! Take a camera and film around the place! Such opportunities!! The angles. Don't forget the angles! Dolly Sisters, go with him. And be discreet. We don't want bats in our belfry too soon, do we? Hehehe"

"The brat's still out? Good. Okie doo. Let's meet the maker!"

"Good evening Doc! We rang."

"I heard. Interesting doorbell… Like a dying man..."

"Why! Thank you! Now. We don't have an appointment, tight schedule and all. But I'm sure you can squeeze us in."

The doc look at the group, spotting what appears to be the Robin bound and unconscious in one of the thugs arms.

"You brought your own subject for my studies?"

"Of course we came with presents! What kind of maniac do you take me for?"

Going to a file cabinet, taking out a binder with the list of choices available and putting it on a rickety table with a flickering old lamp, the man motion them to come take a look.

"Hmm. Do you have a preference?"

Joker make a show of looking at the pages, fussing here, cooing there, until, grin widening, he puts his finger on a line.

"You know what Doc? The brat's a bore, worse than his babysitter! Never heard him laugh! It's heartbreaking."

"Oh yes yes. I have something you might like. Please, follow me this way."

They follow the doc into another crumbly room, repurposed into a makeshift lab with a refrigerated cabinet full of vials, a sturdy table with straps and a reinforced large animal carrier in close to it. Further, through door shaped hole in the far wall, glimpses of cages shining dully in the dim light. It looks like veterinarian kennels, mostly large ones, some were even on wheels.  They could see fingers and what looks like claws peeking through the wiring.

"Got lots of guinea pigs there Doc?"

"The change cause less stress and has more survival chances if the subject is young. Of course it depends of the size and animal wanted." Eyeing one of the bulkier thugs. "I haven't try the… bigger ones yet. Cow, rhino...maybe walrus."

3. Semi immortal Jason au "The Lives Of Jay"

Hood walk back to his safe house, because his motorbike ain't where he stashed it, after a rough night in the Narrows. No hood or mask on his face, but with the amount of ashes he's covered in, there's almost no risk of exposures. Clothes singed, burn to a crisp in certain places, he mourns the lost of his weapons, his boots and his favorite jacket. Finally arrived at his safe house, making a beeline for the bathroom. Shower time! Sweet hot water washing away the grime. 

It's after his shower, with a towel around his waist, that Jason realize the state of the safe house, there's dust on certain places and a couple dirty take outs boxes on the kitchen counter, with the coffee machine almost shining out of the mess.

Fuck, did it happened again? How long has it been? Maybe he can play it off, say he had an urgence with the Outlaws?

A beep/alarm from his laptop on the coffee table (that he did not left there) caught his attention.

"Hood?" Even with the electronic filter, Jason could pick up that Babs was shaken and hesitant? Shit. He must have triggered a sensor they put there. Okay, play it cool.

"O. What's up?" Now that sounds just like an idiot.

"Heard rumors there was a big building fire in your neck of the woods. With you in it."

Shit

"Just some trigger happy idiots in a room with explosives. Big company with no scrupules likely. Families were in the building. Hey, I must have been knocked out by a beam or something, are the families ok?"

"Yeah, Hood, the Wayne foundations took care of them, they're ok." 

There's at least that. 

"Jason?"

That's not good.

"Spill, what's going on?"

"The fire had been really bad. We looked for you. All B found was blood, lots of blood and  your helmet, melted. And before you lie to me, your friends haven't seen you in months. Care to explain what happened?" 

Oh shit-fuck. Oh this was bad. He had to get out of Gotham, right now.

Quick before- How long has he been talking to Babs? Crap. He doesn't want to, but Jason will run with just the damn towel on him if he has to.

"Jay?" Oh not Babybird, but better than the Bat, or Grayson.

Turning to the window with the fire escape outside, he sees Red Robin climbing in.

"Uhm. Hey Red."

The glare he received gives him an idea of how much shit he's in.

"First off, go put some clothes on. And please don't try to run away. The others have been notified, I was closest."

"Ok ok, while I change, can you explain to me why my place looks like a dumpster?"

"Yeah, I'm working a case, or half a dozen, trying to cover your territory. It's been a rough couple of months, you know?"

That has Jason freeze. "Months? Really?"

"Yeah man. So, as much as you don't want to, we are going to the Manor."

"Whoa wait a min-"

"No, Jason. We're going. And if you try to run, remember, we all have supers and speedsters on call. Come on man, there's something going on with you and we need to know what."

"Dude I just got home after climbing out of burned ruins and walking in disintegrated boots. I'm tired, hungry and not in the mood to see B or Dick right now."

"That's good then, because Bruce is out with the JL and Dick's in 'haven, Damian with him, O made sure the alarm didn't reach them."

"You're welcome" The computer chirps. 

"Come on Jay. Alfred needs to see you."

Cheater, taking him by the sentiment.

"Low blow. But alright. How we go?"

"My bike's not far, yours at the Cave."

"What?!"

"Bruce has trouble letting go, you know?"

"I'd prefer it if had been stolen instead."

4."The Distraction"

Assassins surrounding Tim, being less and less subtle, encircling their prey as the bird is making his way through less populated areas.

"The Master is demanding your presence."

"How can he be so interested in an american?" 

"One as bothersome as him?"

"Hey! I'm not happy by the situation either, ok?"

"You know better than question the will of The Demon."

"Didn't I kicked your asses before?"

"The Cradle."

"So mixing business and pleasure then."

The Master orders are to bring you to him. He did not specified the condition he wants you in. 

"Wow. This is getting a bit serious. And my communications are blocked, of course." 

Of course. You understand how we operate. Now, will you accompany us without resistance or will you have us dragging your broken corpse to the Master?

5. "Magic gives Batman a headache"

"B. We have a situation"

"What happened?"

"Well, Im hoping for an hallucination but I got evidences of it actually happening."

"Nightwing"

"Okay, here goes: Hood and Red have been kidnapped by a magic user in a Disney princess costume."

"..."

"B"

"Red Hood and Red Robin have been kidnapped? By a magic user?... Dressed in a princess costume?"

"Yup. Come to think of it, I think the guy was dress as Snow White."

"A man in a Snow White costume has kidnapped your brothers?"

"Yup. I got video footage"

"Come back to the Cave, I'll contact Zatanna. Alfred? I'm gonna need something stronger than coffee"

[farbsturz]

My little hero

Capeless AU: No superheroes, no villains. Damian goes to school and his class organized a stage play. Dick is an amazing big brother and leaves work to see Damian acting. 

Word count: 1158

AO3

Damian Wayne & Dick Grayson

summary: “Excuse me.” Dick said with a charming smile as he made his way through the row to get to his assigned seat. It had surprised him that when he had mentioned his last name, he had been informed that Damian had actually reserved a single seat for a member of the Wayne family. At that time Dick had masked his pain fairly well but it had hurt him to think about his brother secretly hoping that against all odds Bruce would appear to his play. No matter how tough Damian usually acted, in the end he was still a child looking for approval.

He hadn’t planned to take a day off and judging by his co-worker’s voice, she hadn’t been that happy about it either. But Dick couldn’t have gone to work as if he hadn’t known anything. No, he couldn’t even care less about work when it was an important day.

Two days ago Dick had accidentally listened in on a short conversation between Alfred and Damian. It hadn’t been like he had wanted to do it, it just so happened to align. The man had leaned against the wall as the two had talked.

“I apologize, Master Damian, but Master Bruce won’t make it. His business trip is going to take longer than expected.”

A click of a tongue. “I see, Pennyworth. It does not matter anyway. I would not have expected for Father to appear to such a boring performance. It is but a simple play performed by my incompetent class. Nothing special.”

“Excuse me.” Dick said with a charming smile as he made his way through the row to get to his assigned seat. It had surprised him that when he had mentioned his last name, he had been informed that Damian had actually reserved a single seat for a member of the Wayne family. At that time Dick had masked his pain fairly well but it had hurt him to think about his brother secretly hoping that against all odds Bruce would appear to his play. No matter how tough Damian usually acted, in the end he was still a child looking for approval.

The police officer made himself comfortable in the reserved seat and watched as the hall was slowly filled with parents, siblings, and friends, all who had come to watch their loved ones performing. Dick had no idea what the play was about or whether Damian was even playing a big role but as long as it mattered to his little brother, the man would make sure to be there for him.

Half an hour had passed until the lights were finally dimmed and a narrator began to talk about an imaginary world full of superheroes and villains. The curtain was pulled up and revealed several children in costumes, fighting with wooden swords and other items. The voice continued to explain the story, talked about a single human who had managed to make their way into the highest ranks of the heroes without any superpowers. A living legend whose mission it was to save the earth once again from the forces of evil. And as the spotlight fell onto a child climbing onto a ladder disguised as mountain, Dick’s breath hitched.

Damian was standing above everyone else, hands proudly placed on his hips as a yellow cape lightly moved in the breeze of the ‘fights’ below. Green paint had been used to create a mask and his outfit was a mix of red and green. The confidence his brother radiated was felt by the whole hall and Dick immediately knew that Damian was living up to the role of the protagonist and hero.

His hand automatically moved to his chest and the man felt a wave of pride and affection threatening to burst as he watched his little bat performing. Damian’s voice was as strong as his appearance, only strengthened by his body language and every side character got lost in his shadow as he outplayed each and every one. Dick was mesmerized by his brother’s acting skills and couldn’t help but lean over towards the woman sitting next to him.

“That boy there? The protagonist? That’s my brother.”

His smile only grew with each second and Dick pulled his phone out to record the play as best as he could. Jason and Tim would be forced to watch it later on, whether they wanted to or not. Damian had been meant for that role and it was an honor to watch him acting.

Roughly at the middle of the play, the stage had turned dark as a single spotlight lingered on Damian and the ‘corpse’ of his comrade cradled in his arms. The way the boy’s voice wavered, so full with emotions and sorrow - it almost felt real. And as green eyes were finally lifted to look directly into the audience, there was a moment where their gazes met. The widening didn’t go unnoticed and Dick smiled reassuringly as Damian quickly shook it off to continue his performance.

As the play came to an end, the actors grouped up to welcome the cheers and applause of the audience. It was Dick who jumped up from his seat first to whistle loudly, a huge grin on his face as his eyes met Damian’s once again. Other parents stood up as well and the man watched as the children bowed down a few times. Minutes passed and the hall was slowly emptied, family members rushing outside to greet their children and compliment them on their work.

Dick took his time and sauntered around in the hall, didn’t want to compete with others to be the first one outside. Instead he simply leaned against the stage and smiled to himself as he went through the photos he had taken.

He was torn out of his thoughts as a way too close voice clicked its tongue and looking to his side, Dick saw his little brother standing in his normal clothes next to him. Damian seemed to try his best to look indifferent but he couldn’t fool the older Wayne. Dick had seen the small hint of a smile.

“Richard, I must say I am quite surprised to see you here. I cannot remember informing you abo-”

The man was already on his knees and pulled Damian into a tight hug, efficiently stopping him from continuing his sentence. Arms were gently wrapped around his brother’s neck and Dick pulled him close, a hand running through short black hair.

“You were incredible up there, Dami. I didn’t know you were this great in acting… I’m proud, Damian. So so proud.”

He heard his brother’s breath hitching before short arms hesitantly returned the embrace. It only caused Dick to pull him even closer, refusing to let him go. His chest was filled with pride and the older one would make sure to shower Damian in his affection.

“Come on, Damian. How about we make a stop at the arcade before going home?”

The boy nodded slightly and with a smile Dick leaned back far enough to look at his little brother. There was still some paint on the other’s face and he carefully wiped it away before standing up.

“Let’s go. Just know I won’t go easy on you this time. I’m the true cheese viking.”

It only earned him an amused click of a tongue.

“You wish, Richard.”

And as they made their way through the school building towards the parking lot, Dick couldn’t help but glance down at his little brother in pride.

My little hero.