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luci-in-trenchcoats · 1 year

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Small Town, Big Problem

Summary: On the way home from a solo hunt, the reader’s car breaks down outside of a small town. She has a bad feeling about the situation though and calls Dean to pick her up before something bad can happen...

Pairing: Dean x reader

Word Count: 2,000ish

Warnings: language, vague creepiness, drugging

A/N: Enjoy!

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“You’ve reached the handsome Winchester. Dean speaking, sweetheart,” said Dean as he answered his phone. You paused from where you were walking, glancing behind you, seeing nothing but the rainy road. “Y/N, you there?”

“My car broke down on the way home from my hunt,” you said. “Something feels off about this whole situation.”

“That your car broke down?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you said, pulling your hood down, even if it meant getting wet. You had better visibility that way. The road was empty aside from your car quite a ways back, some trees nestled on either side of the road. “Didn’t you work a hunt like that before? Car breakdown?”

“The scarecrow? Years ago,” he said. “Anyone service the car lately?”

“No,” you said. “I just have this really weird feeling is all.”

“Stay in the car,” he said.

“Why? There’s a small town a few miles up the road,” you said.

“Stay in the car. Odds are it’s safer, even if you are more of a sitting duck,” he said. “Where are you?”

“Uh, heading into Apple Crest. Population 352,” you said.

“You’re not in your car, are you.”

“Nope. I was waiting in it for awhile before I got uneasy. I wanted to be able to see more of my surroundings,” you said. He groaned and you turned around to look at the car. “I could go back.”

“If instinct says it’s not safe, trust it,” he said. “You should…”

He started to break up and you walked back a few steps.

“What’d you say?”

“I was saying you should probably get to town, stick in public and avoid eating or drinking anything,” he said. “Just in case. This place looks about six hours out. Can you hold on until I get there?”

“Of course. It’s probably after hunt jitters,” you said.

“Y/N.”

“I have my gun and my other gun and my knife and my other knife. I’ll be safe, Dean.”

“You better. Stay sharp. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said.

“Okay. I’m sure there’s some kind of diner or something on the main street. Meet me there when you get in?” you asked.

“Will do. I’ll see you soon sweetheart.”

“Are you sure you don’t want nothing to eat?” asked the waitress about two hours later. You shook your head and saw her leave, catching her speak to the manager. You sighed when he walked over and pouted.

“Miss, if you’re not going to order anything I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave. We don’t take to drifters in this town.”

“My car broke down outside of town. I’m simply waiting for it either to be fixed at the shop here in town or for my boyfriend to get me which will be in a few hours,” you said. “I’ll be out of your hair as soon as I can.”

“Well I’m going to have to insist you order something if you’re going to wait,” he said. You pulled out a fifty dollar bill and set it down, sliding it across the table.

“Give me a cup of black coffee and we’re good?” you asked.

“I could service more than fifty dollars at this table in that time.”

You took out another fifty and handed it over.

“Thank you very much,” he said before he walked away.

“Small town hospitality my ass,” you muttered to yourself. You checked the time, Dean about four hours out now. You knew the local garage was going to end up closing before he could get there though and sighed, hoping he made the drive quicker than that.

Four Hours Later

“Hey,” you heard, eyes flickering over to the door. You smiled and stood up, Dean giving you a hug. “Ready to go home?”

“My car’s stuck in the shop,” you said.

“Still?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” you asked as you walked outside with him.

“I hit construction and got detoured. I’d think after a whole day-”

“A whole day? Dean I’ve only been here six hours,” you said. He blinked slowly and looked around. “What?”

“I drove into town at noon. On Tuesday. Today is Tuesday.”

“No, it’s Monday night.”

“We need to get you out of here,” he said. “Let’s get your stuff out of your car and go.”

“You want to just leave my car?”

“Yes. We’ll get you a new one. Why aren’t you concerned about the fact that…” he said, looking back inside and at the water bottle on the table. “Did you drink something? I told you not-”

“I got thirsty,” you said. “Dean’s let’s wait for my car and then we can go home, okay?”

“Y/N, this is me on that scarecrow hunt years ago. This town is up to something. We gotta go,” said Dean. You scoffed and he pulled you over to Baby. “Alright. Alright. Let’s get a motel for the night and we’ll get your car in the morning, okay?”

“That sounds a lot more reasonable,” you said. You got in the passenger seat and he slid in behind the wheel.

“What’s that?” he asked. You looked out your window, suddenly in a headlock.

“Dean,” you grunted but it was no use.

“I’m sorry sweetheart but something’s wrong and I gotta get you out of here,” he said just as you felt yourself passing out.

You woke up groggy in the backseat, hands behind your back, frowning as you saw Dean with his laptop in the front seat. He glanced over the bench at you and gave you a smile.

“Sorry about that. You sort of freaked and tried attacking me.”

“I don’t remember that,” you said, tugging on your arms. You stared at him and then out the bright sunny windows. “It’s Tuesday?”

“Yeah. I grabbed your hunting gear. Car’s a lost cause. You seem to be doing better now that whatever you were given is getting out of your system,” he said.

“Untie me?” you asked. He shook his head and your blood boiled, shooting daggers at him. You shook your head and sat back, squeezing your eyes shut. “Don’t untie me yet. Shit. What’s wrong with me?”

“What I’m trying to figure out,” he said. “We’re about ten miles outside of that town. I think there’s some kind of three mile perimeter around the place, making shit crazy or something. Like with the time and cell reception?”

“Dean I don’t remember drinking water,” you said.

“You also didn’t notice that a whole night and morning passed. I think, based on the bruises I found on you, somebody drugged you long before I showed up. It kept you complacent I figure.”

“How do I know I’m not drugged up right now then, or that this is real?” you asked.

“Poughkepsie,” he said.

“Wouldn’t my drugged up brain know what that is though?” you asked.

“Yes but a fake me wouldn’t,” he said. You nodded, noticing that while your hands were restrained tightly behind you, someone had taken the care to do it in a way so as to not hurt your shoulders as much. “You okay?”

“You’re real,” you said.

“Yup,” he said, looking back at the computer. “We’ll figure out what’s going on soon, I promise.”

Six Hours Later

“Dean,” you said, resting your head on the backseat, staring out the window. “I think we have a problem.”

“What?” he asked, writing something down on a pad of paper.

“I need to pee,” you said.

“Do you still feel like you might try and kill me?” he asked.

“My head feels a lot clearer. I don’t want to risk it if we don’t have to though,” you said.

“I think it’s been long enough,” he said. “I’ll shoot you in the arm like when we first met if you try anything?”

“Always a romantic,” you said. You nodded and he helped you up and out of the car, walking the two of you over to the tree line. He cut through the ropes and stepped back quickly, waiting as you rubbed your wrists.

“How you doing?” he asked as you ducked around a tree. You shoved down your pants and finally relaxed.

“Much much better,” you said. You glanced down, your jaw dropping for a moment before your pants were back on and you moved out from the tree. “Dean? Um, this might be too much personal information but my pee is purple?”

“Purple?” he said. You nodded and walked back closer, giving yourself more than a few good feet from him. “That’s not normal.”

“Yeah. You haven’t seen anything to do with that in your research?”

“No but it gives us something to go off of,” he said. “Come on, it’s cold out and I could use another pair of hands to research.”

“Are you sure?��

“Well whatever the hell was in you I’m pretty sure it’s not anymore. Come on,” he said, holding out a hand. “I’ll knock you out again if you try something, okay?”

“Okay,” you said with a nod. “Let’s figure this one out.”

“How is that even possible?” you asked around midnight, eating another chicken nugget as Dean scratched his head in the front seat. “A curse on a whole town?”

“If Rowena says it’s a witch doing it, I’m gonna believe Ro,” he said. “It sounds like they want to just keep it like a small town, happy feel? Like no bad stuff, including outsiders?”

“I get that but still,” you said. “So all those people are stuck in a loop?”

“You thought maybe a few hours went by? I can see why. The car trick is probably how they get them in,” he said.

“Why didn’t Baby break down?” you asked.

“Probably didn’t want me. I’m not exactly the poster child for happiness,” he said.

“Well, I disagree with that,” you said. “If it’s a curse, it should be simple enough to correct once the witch is dead.”

“Which do you want? Witch or curse?” he asked.

“Witch. Not a big fan of people drugging me,” you said. Dean smiled and nodded.

“Alright. We’ll head back tonight and take care of it.”

“Not a half bad place,” said Dean the next day as you waited outside the garage for your car. “Once you get rid of the evil witch in it.”

“Still, I’d rather we get home as soon as possible,” you said. “Should just be a few minutes the guy said.”

“They charging you?”

“No on account of the whole saving everyone’s lives thing,” you said. “So. Go ahead and say it.”

“No more solo hunts? Why ever would I say that?” he teased.

“Technically, this wasn’t a solo hunt,” you said.

“Y/N. Please?” he asked. You nodded and he smiled, giving you a quick kiss as a guy came out. He handed you your keys and Dean broke off. “Race you home?”

“What are we racing for?” you asked.

“Winner gets to pick dinner?” he asked.

“Winner gets a massage?” you countered, Dean smiling.

“See ya at home, sweetheart,” he said.

“See you soon, Dean.”

_______

#spn #supernatural #dean x reader #dean winchester #dean winchester x reader #spn fanfiction #supernatural fanfiction #dean x #dean x you #dean one shot #dean winchester one shot #dean winchester fanfic

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autisticandroids · 1 year

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watched 1x14 nightmare today. so there's this moment in that ep that everybody talks about, at the end. this one:

SAM: Well I'll tell you one thing. We're lucky we had Dad. DEAN: (Looking astounded...and pleased) Well I never thought I'd hear you say that. SAM: Well, it coulda gone a whole other way after Mom. I little more tequila and a little less demon hunting and we woulda had Max's childhood. All things considered, we turned out ok. Thanks to him. DEAN: (Turning back to look at Max's house) All things considered.

it's a moment people pay a lot of attention to. because the thing is... dean's face falls, here. he's clearly put off by what sam's saying. he's bothered. and the common reading of that is that there was some degree of abuse more like max's that sam never saw. and that's like. that's DEFINITELY a legible reading of this episode.

however! i actually think this is a place where paying attention to authorial intent leads you interesting places.

so, first of all, what was the overall thesis of nightmare? i would argue that it's sam needs to stop being a pussy and whining about his childhood, some people have real problems. that's why the abuse max experiences is so cartoonishly bad, why the final conclusion is that max will always be miserable and is better off dead, why sam walks out of this experience more willing to empathize with john: the point of nightmare is that sam needs to learn that he could have had it way worse, that in fact growing up a hunter was the best option.

sam and max have a conversation in the middle of the episode that cements this point:

MAX: He blamed me for everything. For his job, for his life, for my Mom's death. SAM: Why would he blame you for your Mom's death? MAX: Because she died in my nursery, while I was asleep in my crib. As if that makes it my fault. SAM: (Looking shocked) She died in your nursery? MAX: There was a fire. And he'd get drunk and babble on like she died in some insane way. He said that she burned up. Pinned to the ceiling!

the point being made here is that sam is lucky. both mary and max's mother died in insane ways. john responded to this by accepting the insanity and getting obsessed with hunting demons. max's dad falls deeper into drink and blames max instead. this is the way to present the miserable demon hunting child soldier lifestyle as the better option.

(it's also useful to talk about how john was probably not intended to be perceived as an abusive father (though of course he obviously is, the writers just don't think anything that isn't what max went through counts as abuse); @restlesshush has a point she likes to make about how no one bothered to tell jdm that john's relationship with salmondean is fraught so he just doesn't play it that way.)

so now that we've established the overall point of nightmare, let's get back to the original point. now, i specifically want to talk about what i think the intent of the text is.

now, the basic formula of supernatural season one is that sam and dean get in an argument at the start of the episode, usually about their father, and it continues throughout. and when one of them fails to argue back, the other notices. look at this moment from 1x11 scarecrow:

DEAN: Sam. You were right. You gotta do your own thing. You gotta live your own life. SAM: Are you serious? DEAN: You’ve always known what you want. And you go after it. You stand up to Dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I—anyway….I admire that about you. I’m proud of you, Sammy. SAM: I don’t even know what to say.

dean fails to fulfill his narrative role, and sam notices. this is the same kind of things as when for example dean becomes more and more obsessed with clinging to sam because he has to in order to maintain the format of the show (i.e. two brothers). character flows from format, instead of the other way 'round.

and here, in nightmare, dean is unsettled by sam's change of heart, mostly because it breaks format, but also because, due to the format, sam (at least in dean's perception) has the character trait of "dad-critical" and it unnerves dean when this changes. that is i think as far as we can definitively say authorial intent goes. nightmare is a sam episode, so any deeper meaning is probably imo between jensen ackles and the fans.

but, if you'll permit me to go a little deeper than authorial intent while still using it as a baseline. here, in nightmare, the tendency to notice sam failing to fulfill his role becomes a lot more interesting. look at that scarecrow quote:

DEAN: You’ve always known what you want. And you go after it. You stand up to Dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I—anyway….I admire that about you. I’m proud of you, Sammy.

dean's disquiet when sam fails to fulfill his role as john-critic is both intriguing and unsettling. it's layered. dean isn't just reacting to sam not following the script. he needs someone to play the role of john critic in his life, because he can't do it. he is, consciously or unconsciously, relying on sam to do it for him. and that's why he makes that face outside the millers' house.

#spn #also the fact that nightmare and the benders are back to back proves that the writers weren't thinking too hard about child abuse

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madame-fear · 1 year

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yandere! dk! jonathan crane x fem!reader | general headcanons

request : can you do an imagine with yandery dk Jonathan Crane and a fem SO whos shockingly cool with it? “Oh you kidnapped me to keep me safe? Seem reasonable.” Kinda vibes. Absolutely love you!! (requested by: @kakepuff1234)

a/n : ahh thank you so so much dear, love you all too! 🥺💖 you have nooo idea how much i love the idea of yandere! nolanverse crane, so here it goes! 😌 if you'd like an imagine/one shot for this, feel free to tell me and i'll gladly do it <333

TW // Jonathan being a bit too obsessed with you, basically a yandere. Mentions of kidnapping and sickening obsession, but reader doesn't seem to mind.

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• The second Jonathan laid his eyes on you, he would've been hit with awe at such graceful sight; he had an almost immediate need of approaching you.

• You were his next door neighbour, and the two of you live on houses who are near Arkham Asylum. He accidentally bumped on you when none of you seemed to be looking at where you had going, and after meeting you, there was no going back.

• Interactions started slow between the two of you. ""Casually"" bumping into each other (say: at the grocery store near your home, walking pass through Arkham, or even, with the classic "do you have some sugar?" technique) was something often happening. You paid no mind to it whatsoever, and found him to be rather interesting.

• The burning, fervid obsession grew as days passed. Jonathan could barely handle the sight of you laughing, talking, or joking with another man who wasn't him. Can't you see, he's the one who so deserves, and is so in love with you?

• Then, as the obsession grew, Jonathan was truly avid to know every single detail about you, and make you his – so, the stalking as Scarecrow happened. Without you noticing, of course.

• Another thing happening with you two are small interactions, when, say, you bump into each other at the grocery store. "How have you been?" would usually be the keyphrase to start a conversation with you.

• After a short while, you got fully used to him. Often waving and smiling at him whenever you saw him somewhere; and that makes his lil growing yandere heart to go 🥰😍💖❤‼

• At this point, his excuse to meet him at his home would be to say that "you seem a lovely neighbour, and that he'd like to know you properly": and we all know that he just wants to keep you with him. Every day, all day long.

• Oh boy, you said yes to him. You're meeting at 9 at his home, unknowingly about to stay by his side for, probably, the rest of your life.

• Jonathan is truly charming with his looks and his captivating personality: it's almost as if he were hypnotising, in a way. He made dinner for you, like a true gentleman, and gave you the absolute princess treatment – only so you could be enchanted by him, just like he always hoped for.

• Didn't put anything into your food or beverage. Though, he had a fear toxin near him in case you tried anything funny when he forces you to stay with him – basically, kidnap you.

• Hours passed: you laughed, chatted, joked around, and even teased with each other. And of course, since everything has it's end, you eventually realised it was time to go back home.

“Would you look at the hour?” you said, abruptly changing the topic of the conversation as you slightly lifted your sleeve to take a look to the watch on your wrist. Jonathan's face fell. “I think, it's time for me to get going–” as you swinged your bag on your shoulder, you grabbed your car keys and made your way towards his front door; only to be stooped halfway by him, blocking the door.

“No, you shouldn't.” Your eyes lightly furrowed, looking at the nuance of his facial expressions. His usual icy blue eyes had oddly turned a darker shade. “It's dangerous out there. A lady like you shouldn't be out at such late hour, especially in a city like Gotham.” he continued, “You're staying here until I say so.” Jonathan slowly started walking towards you, as you instinctively made a few steps backwards. Your face suddenly softened, as you began sliding your bag down your arm, placing it on a nearby chair. “So... you're basically kinda kidnapping me, just so you can keep me safe? Seems reasonable enough, I'm staying.”

What? Now it was Jonathan's turn to furrow his eyebrows in a mild confusion. He expected you to make a fuss about it: screaming and crying for your life, begging for him to let go of you to the point where he'd have to, sadly, fear gas you to calm you down. But it turned out, to be a rather much more pleasant surprise, which made his lips turn into a tiny smile. “Anyways, you've got any clothing to spare? Sleeping with this on is going to be rather uncomfy.”

• Oh. Well. This was better than the scenario he had originally expected. Would be pretty bamboozled, though. You're okay with the fact that... he literally just admitted to you he was going to kidnap you????

• And quite honestly, he is taken aback by your "chill" answer... but I guess he doesn't mind???

• So you just make yourself at home. It kinda annoys you the fact that you can't go out without him following you everywhere, but it's alright, you don't mind.

• Also it's kinda like a silly kidnapping, at the edge of living with him, rather than being kidnapped. He literally helped you move your things to his home...

• Jonathan will also get much possesive with you, now that he's got you under his watch. Always monitoring who you talk to, what you do, where you go, not letting you leave the house by yourself, everything: just like the yandere man he is.

• BUT EVEN THAT !!! You either don't care about him being a possesive, soft yandere with you, or you're oblivious to it.

“Oh, so you want me to stop talking to him? THANK YOU, you have no idea how annoying he was. What should I tell him next time I bump into him?”

• Honestly he doesn't mind at all. He's quite satisfied how you don't care about it, and how you sweetly reciprocate the love and affection he shows and gives you.

• Eventually, he kinda felt as if you needed your own freedom; no matter how badly yandere he is. Of course, he's always going to keep an eye on you: but if you desire to go out by yourself without having him following you from behind, he'll gladly let you do so, and it shall be whatever God wants.

• Jonathan was terribly afraid that once you left his home by yourself, you'd never return. But oddly enough, you came back! You had gone out to buy some groceries for the two of you, and you had bought his favourite snacks.

“Love, I'm back! Apologies for how late I am, the queue was enormous. Anyways, I brought you your favourite snacks. Want some?”

• THE WAY HIS EYES INCREDIBLY LIT UP AT THE SIGHT OF YOU COMING BACK HOME TO HIM.

• Oh my. He's a fervid yandere who desires you to be with him 24/7 and admittedly confessed to you that he was going to kidnap you, and after a while he did so he let you out to go by yourself and you came back to him????

• Saying he's head over heels for you is truly an understimation. He will literally PRAISE you to no end, and will shower you with love and admiration, happy that you recriprocate his lil' obsessed feelings for you.

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♡ taglist : ♡

@wittywitchness @anemicroyalties @imagine--if @scarecrow-jon-babe

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nelkcats · 1 year

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Hood Assistant

Prompt Part 1 Part 4 Part 5 Ao3 Next

Part 6

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The wounded know better how to treat other wounded

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"You guys are really annoying" Crane complained from his Arkham cell, ever since the daybat left him there he had been put in solitary confinement for escaping.

Which he usually wouldn't mind, it was much better to be alone than to hear the Joker's laughs or Waylon's complaints, but the damn cell had a window.

And what was watching him from the window? crows, many of them, after his lamentable defeat he tried to ignore them upon their arrival but it wasn't working.

"Why are you here? Are you making fun of me?" Scarecrow complained with a frown, he really hated birds.

"Kar, Kar, Kar" one of the crows flapped its wings, though it looked a bit apologetic, if birds could show emotions.

"What? Are you trying to apologize or something?" Crane scoffed, not buying the act the crow was showing.

"Kar, Kar" the crow nodded, it almost seemed like they were really sorry for leaving him in such bad shape.

"As if I would believe you" Scarecrow snorted "if you really want to apologize get out of my sight"

Surprisingly that seemed to work because the crows began to disperse. Crane looked at the situation with curiosity, he had spent hours arguing with the creatures and asking them to leave, what was different this time?

And then he saw it, a cat had crashed through the bars of his cell window, it looked pretty small, probably a bit adventurous considering he had pounced on three adult crows at the same time.

"Oh" Scarecrow fixed his gaze on the little cat, he looked quite malnourished, and he was sure he had an infection or two, but technically he had driven the crows away right? He really couldn't be mad about it.

"You're a long way from home, aren't you buddy?" He questioned, the cat looked at him curiously, probably wondering if he should jump at him or not.

It was quite easy to determine the winning option because before he knew it the little kitten had jumped onto the mask on his head.

"What are you doing over there?" Asked the villain, more amused than angry, it was a little worrying that he couldn't feel the weight of the cat on his head.

"The guards are going to be mad if they find you here, you know?" Crane continued speaking, finally reaching the kitten and tucking it into his arms, "you must be an adventurer."

"Meow" the cat meowed, reaching into the seams of the mask and nibbling, it looked like he had found something to play with.

"You're also lonely aren't you?" Scarecrow said, you could hear some fondness in his tone; he glanced around his confinement cell but there didn't seem to be anyone near him, the guards wouldn't be passing by for hours either. In the end, he made up his mind to stroke the cat's fur.

"You need a bath, and probably a vet" he stated checking the little boy, he had a scar over his eye and was obviously neglected, it wasn't a surprise considering he lived in Gotham.

"Do you hate crows too?" He questioned curiously as he watched the cat wagging its tail as it stared out the window, he took the meow as confirmation.

"I guess we have some things in common" Scarecrow allowed himself a smile "I should help find you an owner, you're too young to be here alone."

The cat looked away from the window and fixed on him at the mention of a new caretaker, meowed with determination and placed one of his paws on Crane's mask.

"Me?" The confused villain questioned "I don't think that's a good idea, I work a lot with chemicals and I'm currently stuck here, surely we can find someone better qualified"

The cat didn't seem to like the answer because it meowed again and placed both paws on the man.

"Okay, okay, you're stubborn, if you want me to take care of you I guess we can work something out." Crane sighed, he didn't know if sneaking a kitten into his cell was a good idea, but it can't be helped "I guess strays stick together, don't we?"

Well, he supposed there was nothing he could do, he had acquired a cat.

"We're gonna be great friends, Cannon"

—--------

Amazingly Danny managed to make it through the whole night without waking up from a nightmare. That could have something to do with the warm weight around his waist, or with Nocturn, he wasn't quite sure which.

Though to be completely honest, he refused to thank the pesky dream ghost for anything, their differences might have been sorted out, more or less, but he had the right to continue pissed off for all damn eternity. Who decides that putting an entire city to sleep was a good bonding exercise to meet the new ghost? Literally no one!

"Five more minutes" the halfa muttered when he felt his pillow move. That was weird, Johnny must be bothering him again.

"Ugh, stop," he groaned, touching the bed aggressively in an attempt to stop the annoying ghost, but he frowned when he felt the surface.

"How strange, I don't remember buying such a square pillow, but it is quite comfortable" Danny yawned as he began to open his eyes a little.

"Did I just got demoted to a pillow?" Jason asked with amusement watching as the boy kept touching his chest, probably to settle him on the bed or something.

"Pillows don't usually complain that much" the halfa complained before opening his eyes fully and noticing the person next to him "WAIT, JAY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON MY PILLOW?"

"Take a closer look," Jason told him with a chuckle.

"What am I going to look-" the halfa stopped talking and blushed when he noticed how he was lying on the other's chest "Damn, you're comfortable"

"Is that all you're going to say?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I'm not the pillow-shaped one between the two of us," Danny smirked. Although he was having an internal panic; he decided that was going to be a problem for future Danny, one more awake than the current one.

Jason just shook his head feeling amused by the situation, that wasn't what he expected to hear when he woke up.

"So...have you considered working as a professional pillow?" Danny asked, leaning back into Jason's chest.

Honestly Jason was quite surprised by the nerve "I don't think that's a real job, Doll"

"I could make it real, you know." Danny wiggled his eyebrows suggestively with a smile, apparently being half asleep gave him courage to flirt.

"Danny, I'm the one who gives your paycheck" Jason couldn't help but laugh at the face the boy was making "just shut up and let me go, I need to make breakfast"

"But you're sooo soft and waaarm" the halfa complained sadly, actually he just didn't want to let him go, he was sure that the only reason he was calm at that moment was the other's presence.

"Doll, as much as I want to lay here all day you really need a good breakfast" Jason reminded him "don't think I forget about the comment you made to the kids, you're going to leave this house well fed"

“You really don't have to do that" the halfa muttered embarrassed, he really hoped the other would forget that comment quickly.

"No, I will, and since your roommate isn't here to reason with you I feel responsible for doing so," Jason stared at him, daring him to argue, "So you're going to sit here and have the best breakfast of your life, okay?"

"Okay" Danny agreed, he felt a chill down his spine but refused to participate in the strange power play, he could feel the intensity in the other gaze and taking into account his own experiences with Jazz he knew better than to argue with the person preparing his food. Besides, Jason reminded him too much of an Italian matriarch at the moment to argue.

"Still, I really don't feel good enough to let you go right now" the boy muttered worriedly.

"What do you mean by that? You look pretty good to me" He asked curiously, actually he looked too good to have recently come out of a fear gas attack, he was suspicious for a moment but no one could fake such an intense reaction like the day before.

"It's embarrassing" Danny muttered, fixing his gaze on the bedroom window, Gotham had a strangely picturesque architecture "you're going to laugh at me"

"I will laugh at you for many things, but your trauma is not one of them" Jason clarified seriously "you can trust me, Doll"

"Okay then" Danny sucked in as much air as he could and let it out all at once, it was a clear attempt to give himself courage "You are my anchor"

"Your anchor? I don't remember you having a boat," Jason teased as he tried to make sense of the sentence in his head, all he could think of were Percy Jackson lines. He shouldn't have let his brother convince him to read the whole saga, his expectations for romance were too high because of it.

The lines when Percy gets Achilles' curse were really romantic, weren't they? He is certainly not referring to that.

Though something inside him screamed that this was definitely a literature reference he should pay attention to, Jason doubted it, no one had ever said or referenced cute lines to him before and he doubted a pretty boy would start.

"Not that kind of anchor" the halfa turned to see him and smacked his arm annoyed "You are my anchor to reality, when you're around fear fades, like a lucky charm"

"A pillow, an anchor, and now an amulet, you assign me only good things, don't you?" The vigilante sneered, "So, the reason you're so well is…?"

"Yeah, it's because you're close" Danny decided to ignore Jason's comment about how he kept associating him with objects, it wasn't his fault it fit "The gas makes me see a lot of things but when I feel your heartbeat I just- I don't know "

"Relax?" Jason asked softening the expression on his face, he understood the need to want to know that the people you cared about were safe, it was a feeling he related to.

Like the need to know that his family was safe away from him, that the pits hadn't hurt them yet, and wouldn't.

"Quite a lot" Danny nodded "I think my heartbeat is imitating yours or something" he tried to joke.

"My heartbeat?" Jason asked curiously, that's when he noticed Danny's grip on his right arm, one of his fingers resting lightly on his carotid artery.

The place where doctors usually checked the pulse of their patients.

"How long have you been checking?" He asked again with his renewed curiosity, he found it interesting that he hadn't noticed the boy's hand obviously clinging to him when it was obvious that he had been like this for more than a while. Jason was supposed to have been trained by ninjas and Batman himself, how the hell did he miss that?

"Since I woke up, it probably started a bit after that" the halfa admitted sheepishly "I was checking your heartbeat when I lay on your chest, but after pulling away I really needed to be sure, I know it's a little weird, but I really don't want to go back to the world of fear Jay"

The world of fear was much worse than Frighty's dimension because it kept playing with his head, replaying and distorting his own memories until they were destroyed. The fact that Dan didn't appear even once during the flashbacks was worrying. It meant that the fear to his own city and the despair born of how much he had failed far outweighed the fear of himself.

Although he didn't want to cause Jason any unnecessary discomfort, his half-asleep state had taken over his morning actions, the ghost side of him became extremely possessive of the person who had "saved" him, and he needed to make sure that he was fine, alive, breathing.

"So, to clarify: the reason you're so calm right now is because of me? Somehow I make you feel better?" Jason would be lying if he said he wasn't moved by the thought.

"Or at least that's my theory" he said "My head was in a horrible place, I kept reminiscing and trying to suppress things I don't want to think about, until I found you, you became my light Jay"

"You make it sound like a romance novel," Jay tried to tease, he hoped Danny didn't notice his heartbeat rising at the words. It was strange that such a cheesy phrase was out of a book and coming out of the mouth of the cutest boy he had ever seen.

Focus Jason, you're not in a romance novel, this is real life.

Of course, Jason wouldn't deny how warm the thought felt, him, Jason Tood, being a knight in shining armor in a romance novel? It was a scenario he had thought of multiple times when he was a child.

"I would say it's a fantasy novel, although maybe it has multiple genres" the halfa smiled "it's the story of a knight who rescues a person in distress and becomes his safe place"

"I've never been anyone's safe place, I don't know if you're making a good decision with it" Jay said doubtfully.

But how are you supposed to react when the person who is slowly stealing your heart starts talking about you in such a dreamy way? When you can see the stars in his eyes and the blush on his cheeks? And you know that's not for anyone but you?

To a certain extent, it was too much; Red Hood was the protector of Crime Alley, Robin was the protector of Gotham, but Jason? Jason had never been anyone's protector, no one had seen him as if he hung the moon in the sky, no one had trusted him so sincerely.

No one had looked upon him with such affection since his mother's death, not even Bruce. Although, that could be due to how constipated his father was with emotions.

And this guy just decided to go for it? For no reason?

Could the trust be because he was Danny's only choice? A treacherous part of his head wondered. But Danny had trusted him before that, and the reaction looked real.

That worried him, how far was this pretty boy willing to go before he regretted it? What would happen when he realized that trusting Jason Todd wasn't worth it? After all he wasn't just Jason anymore, as much as he sometimes wished he was. Would he run? Will he fear him like everyone else in his life? Dreading the moment when he goes berserk and goes for blood? Or will he choose to stay against all odds?

And the worst part, will Jason be able to bear his decision?

For some reason, Jason hated to think about it. He didn't want to be the one to change the boy's perspective. He didn't want to be the one to turn out the stars in the sky. He didn't want to be the villain.

He was so tired of being cast as the bad guy, the person to blame, he was trying his best, dammit! Why couldn't anyone see it? Why when they saw Red Hood they didn't see little Robin who was his shadow?

"Jason, are you alright?" Danny asked with concern "I know it might be uncomfortable, I can try to fight the toxin on my own if you'd rather I stop touching you"

"No!" Jason's scream startled both of them, neither of them willing to admit how desperate it sounded to both of their ears. One because he did not want to bother and the other because he tried to ignore the event.

"No, it's not necessary" Jason cleared his throat, trying not to think about how bad it felt to tell the boy to go away "You don't make me feel uncomfortable, that's fine, and if it's helping I won't take that away from you."

"If you say so," Danny looked at him doubtfully, but if Jay wasn't willing to admit it then there was nothing he could do.

And that's when Jason realized how desperate he was for affection, how badly he needed someone just brushing his arm. It was surreal how soothing Danny's touch felt in his hand, like putting balm on an old scar.

As much as Dick had tried to fill that void of affection, Jason had sorely refused, the contact feeling strange, uncomfortable, yet welcome. And it wasn't his older brother's fault, the family situation was just awkward since he introduced himself as Red Hood, the pits didn't help either. Now that he technically had an excuse he couldn't bear not to take it and take advantage of the situation a bit.

I'm really touch starved, aren't I?

The vigilante questioned ironically, although without knowing it, Danny was thinking the same thing. Both of them had been deprived of such a basic right that the mere touch of another person felt like a roller coaster ride, better than the mystical "electrical connection" spoken of in romance books. Or the love at first sight that was mentioned in the songs.

Touching and hugging, along with the affection that comes from such actions were basic things that both had been deprived of for so long that their bodies actively sought them out, and now that they both had a valid excuse to initiate contact they had no plans to let go.

"Don't you feel uncomfortable?" Jason asked, in an attempt to return the favor "if you're just doing it to keep yourself away from the effects of the toxin that's fine."

"It's not that, it just feels right, you know?" Danny smiled.

For a few moments they were not Red Hood, nor Phantom, they were simply Jason and Danny, two normal people who sought affection from those around them like dehydrated people finding a spring in the middle of the desert.

"Yeah, I get it," he said, because he really did, though he didn't know if they were talking about the same thing.

"Love, love" sang the little bird in the window while he watched the scene, it seemed that he had liked the word so much that he just repeated it randomly.

"Well, I should go make breakfast for you, shouldn't I, little prince?" The vigilante quipped, if he was the knight then Danny would be the closest thing to a prince in a tower.

"Lead the way, my dear knight" Danny said happily, "we'll finally see your fabulous culinary skills in action."

"You've seen them before, with the soup," Jason scoffed.

"I thought that was more of a community job, but it's true that you were guiding the whole process," Danny hummed.

"Yeah, so ready to try a meal prepared entirely by me? There will be no slicing carrots this time," Jason assured him.

"Excuse me, my carrots had personality, okay?" Danny teased, remembering the moment he showed off his creation.

"I think you murdered their personality after cutting them, it looked like a massacre" the vigilante admitted.

"We can't all be Gordon Ramsay, and you said that they were fine!" The halfa protested offended.

"They were, for a newbie." Jason looked away, pretending he hadn't heard the offended gasp that came from the pretty boy.

"Oh, so this is how we're going to play? Okay, but I'm warning you that I'll check your chef's hat looking for a rat in it" Danny threatened him, if Jason had help ratatouille style he would know it.

"Are you accusing me of cheating? I don't need a chef's hat" Jason replied, a little offended.

"We'll get you one, every professional needs a chef's hat, and a 'kiss the chef' apron" Danny was quick to point out, those were basic elements for a kitchen.

"That's quite a strong statement you know?" Jason asked, amused.

"It's not that I want to kiss you!" the halfa quickly denied, ignoring the laughter of his boss.

"So I'm not kissable enough huh? too ugly for you?" Jason teased moving closer to him.

"¡No! I'm not saying that either, you're cute, comfortable, you have perfect abs, and I'm absolutely sure you're also an excellent kisser- hell, I wouldn't object to kiss you" the halfa stammered.

"I'm just kidding, Danny." Jason raised his eyebrows with a smirk on his face.

"I completely knew that," Danny tried to assure, sounding as uncertain as he felt.

—-----------

"That class almost killed me" Amorpho complained under his breath as he left advanced physics, he was really going to kill Johnny, he hadn't entered an educational center in years, not counting the time he impersonated Danny.

"I know man, all the theory is too much" one of his classmates commented as he left the room next to him "although I'm surprised you asked so many questions, you're usually more quiet"

"Ah, I needed some guidance this time" Amorpho looked away, it was obvious that Danny was much better than him in that class, considering who his parents were.

"It's ok, we all have bad days" the student shrugged "you can join our study group if you want"

"Really? That would be nice." Even though he wasn't planning on impersonating Danny for so long, he could at least not mess up his grades in the meantime. And well, learning a little more about what was happening right now sounded interesting, even if it was math.

"Sure, by the way, those contacts are totally cool" stated the guy next to him "Where did you buy them?"

"Uh, I ordered them from a place quite far away" Amorpho said uncertainly, he had forgotten that his red eyes didn't fit Danny, that most of his classmates would have taken them as contact lenses was a relief "I don't know if they're still for sale "

"Gezz, that's really bad" the boy sighed "well, our group meets in the evenings, don't get caught by a villain in the meantime! It would be nice to have more people joining"

"I'll be there" Amorpho stated with a smile, if he was going to play student he might make some semblance of friends in the process, or at least entertain himself.

"Speaking of which, do you know where the drama club meets?" The ghost asked curiously after passing by a poster with large colored letters and a 'we are waiting for you!' written in glitter

"Sure, a friend of mine is inside, and you're lucky, our meetings don't really clash with each other, would you like me to guide you?" The boy questioned.

"That would be lovely" the ghost stated, Johnny had technically said that he could do anything, joining two college clubs was on the list.

"Great, I really didn't see you as a theater kid you know?" The boy perked up, apparently interested in the conversation "you always looked a bit sad back there, I thought you didn't like to socialize and that kind of thing"

"Yeah, a few things happened" Amorpho decided to avoid the topic "but I feel better now and I'm ready for some drama"

"That's amazing, dude" the boy smiled offering his hand "I'm Michael by the way, is nice to finally meet you"

"Nice to meet you Michael" Amorpho shook the offered hand "my name is A-Danny"

"A-Danny?" Michael raised an eyebrow.

"I had a change recently" Amorpho shrugged “I'm still trying to get used to it”

"Oh, I understand mate" Michael nodded "that's great and completely understandable, some things need to be changed"

"Well said, I like to morph if it makes me feel better." Amorpho smiled, Michael seemed genuinely nice.

"I couldn't have put it better" Michael stated "now come on, I think drama club sign-ups start in a few minutes"

With that said, the boy and the ghost headed towards the club, one completely excited to finally do what he loved, and the other quite happy with what seemed to be a new friend.

And well, at the end of the day it looked like Danny had joined two new clubs and was fast becoming what seemed to be the best drama student the recruiters had ever found, on his way to being a protagonist; too bad the real Danny had no idea the attention his supposed counterpart was gaining.

—----------

Danny followed Jason into the kitchen, it's not like he could leave him alone while the effects of the gas were in his system anyway. Although he was worried that Jason would notice his fangs, hiding them quickly became uncomfortable and he felt the sudden urge to bite down on something.

"Danny, are you alright?" Jay asked a little worried when he saw the boy distracted again, he gently caressed the hand located on his wrist in an attempt to get the other's attention.

"Yeah, sorry" Danny decided he was going to let things happen naturally "weren't we about to rate your excellent five stars food?"

"I'm surprised you remember," Jason sneered, though he was distracted when he noticed Dog watching him from the living room "I didn't forget about you, girl."

Dog simply barked, debating whether to approach her owner and the stranger who currently seems to be holding his hand. He didn't feel aggressive towards her but something wasn't exactly right either.

"She's so cute" Danny smiled looking at the pitbull peeking out from the living room "Am I scaring her?"

"Something like that, it's a bit weird actually, but I'm not surprised she's hiding" Jason stated, Dog was rescued from a center that organized illegal fights so it wasn't surprising that she was suspicious of strangers, what was strange was that she approached more quickly than expected.

"Oh, maybe she sensed Cujo" the halfa commented nonchalantly.

"Cujo?" Jason raised an eyebrow at the boy.

"Yeah, he's my puppy," Danny smiled, happy to be able to talk about his puppy with someone else. Although calling Cujo a cub was still in doubt, considering that he could change the size of him to suit him.

So, technically Cujo wasn't a cub anymore, given his giant form which made him look much older, but at the time of death he was, and as far as Danny could assume he had never really given up his attitude as a cub.

Whatever the case, he would always be Danny's pup, and Danny was fine with that. The day Cujo randomly decided to adopt him was one of the best memories he had.

"Oh, I wouldn't have guessed," the vigilante hummed.

"Yeah, I don't usually talk about him much because it's a bit of a reverse adoption case, you know?" Danny smiled "I didn't adopt Cujo, he adopted me and then he wouldn't let me go, he was actually a bit of a stray, I'm not sure why he decided to stay with me"

"You're interesting enough," Jason said happily, he could see why Danny would attract a dog, considering the crow he'd seen last night.

"By the way, where's your crow?" Jason questioned as he went over to give Dog some food, she was wagging her tail excitedly, completely ignoring Danny who had stuck to him like a barnacle.

"Poe? He is not technically my crow" Danny sighed "My roommate found him yesterday and he just started following me."

"That's amazing, he seemed pretty attached to you." Jason raised an eyebrow doubtfully.

"But he is not mine, I'm sure he decided I'm not interesting enough anymore or something, you won't see him anytime soon" the halfa shrugged.

At that precise moment, a small crow flew into the room and happily landed on Danny's head, the halfa in question looked at him with a blank expression.

"You really love to contradict me" he affirmed seeing the small bird singing on his head.

"Oh look, looks like it wasn't such a long time after all" Jason snorted, Dog seemed to have decided to ignore the situation in question as she quickly ate what her handler had given her.

"Love! Love!" The crow affirmed moving his wings, he really loved the sound of the word.

"No, Poe, Danny, my name is Danny," the halfa tried to correct him, ignoring the stare Jason was giving him.

"Twinkcito!" Poe corrected his supposed mistake, although it was obvious that he was making fun of the boy, he was smart enough to understand the reactions that his words caused and repeat them based on it.

"I give up" Danny muttered in frustration.

"He's not wrong" Jason said considering, "you really do have the complexion for it"

"Please don't encourage him" Danny begged.

"I'm not encouraging him, I'm just saying that if we take into account your complexion and the definition of the word, it just fits." Jason shrugged.

"Just go make the food already" Danny gave up on trying to reason with him, it was better to remind him of what he was supposed to be doing to distract him from the subject.

"Fine, fine, but since my hands are still trapped you're going to have to be my helper," Jason stated, heading into the kitchen.

"I don't know if you remember correctly Jay, but I made a massacre with the potatoes and carrots last time" the halfa said, a bit embarrassed.

"Of course I remember" that had been one of the most adorable expressions he had ever seen "But at that moment I had to guide everyone, now all my attention is on you"

Danny was suddenly nervous about having Jason's attention on him, he'd been tremendously proud to pull off an edible meal last time but he was afraid he wouldn't be able to pull it off again.

"There's no need to be nervous, Doll" Jason assured him "I'll walk you through every step of the way, okay?"

"Okay, I can do it" Danny said out loud, in an attempt to give himself courage, it seemed that he really needed it that day.

"Kar, Kar!" Poe flapped his wings happily from his place on the boy's head.

"Thanks, Buddy." Danny smiled at the crow who had apparently decided to stick to him like a duckling.

"Well, I guess we also have to make sure your partner doesn't eat the ingredients" Jason muttered, looking at the crow.

Poe for his part yelled "Kar" at him, sounding completely offended, Jason simply conceded defeat, doubting they'd be able to get rid of him anytime soon.

"Well, are you ready to try the best meal of your life that definitely isn't made by a french rat?" Jason asked smiling.

"Yes, although I'm still doubting that you don't have one hidden in your hair, I think you have enough space" The halfa shrugged.

"Oh shut up and combine the ingredients I'm going to tell you, you're on duty to mix the batter and I'm going to make sure you taste some good pancakes today" Jason said.

"Mix? Aren't you going to use the batter on the box?" Danny asked curiously, the times Jazz had cooked for him she had used pre-made things, probably because it was easier.

"Of course not, you're going to have a real pancake experience, not whatever you've been eating up until now," Jason stated, although the boxed food tasted ok it was nowhere near the real thing made from scratch.

Jason didn't know it when he was a kid because Catherine didn't have the money for it, but most of his meals were simple, quick, or easy to prepare, he was mostly grateful to have something to eat if he was being honest.

But when Alfred patiently showed him how to cook, he began to enjoy it, to understand the difference between the two types of food and to enjoy the feeling of others tasting his creations, to the point that he ended up becoming an expert at it. He was tremendously proud to be one of the few who wasn't banned from the kitchen in the mansion.

He was glad to be the person to teach Danny that difference, when he saw the proud expression the boy was making for preparing something fairly edible he didn't think much of it at first sight, considering it mostly adorable.

But after thinking about it for a while he realized that maybe Danny just didn't know what it was like to cook your own food, that he'd had a time only eating fast or easy food, that no one had ever given him a full meal.

Jazz tried, but she didn't really know how to cook either, Maddie hadn't taught her. She tried with online tutorials but in the end she ended up mostly with fast or simple food for both of them.

Honestly, the conversation with the Alley Kids just confirmed his suspicions, usually people who eat well don't forget from one moment to another that they should eat, unless they're not really used to it.

So he was quite happy to say that Danny was a good helper in the kitchen, checking him every five minutes for a sign if he was doing it right or wrong, asking if he had any questions about anything in the process, and not afraid to ask for help.

"Jay, I don't know if I can do this" the boy in question complained looking at some strawberries that Jason had asked him to cut a few minutes ago.

"Do you want me to guide you on it?" Jason questioned happily, he always felt better while cooking.

"Can you do that? Wouldn't that be too much of a problem, all things considered?" Danny asked curiously, pointing to their hands that were still clasped.

"Not really" he said "but it can be a bit uncomfortable in this position"

Since Jason had managed to switch the "affected hand" from right to left when starting to cook (checking that Danny hadn't had any problems, of course) the process had been much easier.

Well, thankfully neither of them was doing badly working with their hands trapped, so he was easily able to point Danny to the correct method of cutting through the fruit without massacring it. Although the boy seemed very distracted during the process.

"The pancakes will be ready in a few minutes, I'd tell you to go sit in the dining room but, you know," Jason vaguely gestured at their connected hands.

"Don't worry, I don't mind waiting" the halfa told him nonchalantly, watching Jason cook was becoming one of his favorite activities after all. He gave off a completely different feeling than usual, he looked more relaxed and happy in general.

When they were finally able to move to the dining room table, each one of them had a plate of pancakes, Danny decorated them with strawberries and whipped cream while Jason settled with a simpler version of fruit and honey.

"Well? Are you going to try it?" Jason asked curiously and somewhat expectantly as he noticed Danny staring at his plate.

"It's just that they look so cute, I don't want to destroy them" Danny looked at Jason sadly, eating them felt like a crime.

"I'll make you others later" Jason shook his head in amusement "but you have to eat those first"

Eventually Danny worked up the courage to eat his pancakes. Jason freaked out the moment he saw his eyes watering.

"They're good" Danny made sure to affirm quickly wiping away the tears that were forming in his eyes after he saw how much he was worrying Jason, who seemed torn between paying attention and looking for ways to comfort him "very, very good"

It reminded him of the time Jazz made him his first meal, or when Lunch Lady scolded him and gave him a homemade sandwich, but somehow this felt better than both times.

How was it possible?

"It's okay, Danny," Jason gently stroked the hand that had returned to hold his arm as soon as they left the kitchen, "you're okay now."

Whether he was referring to the food or something completely different, no one could tell.

—------------

By the time they both finished their food, Danny was happily satisfied and strangely full. The moment he looked away from his plate he noticed something peculiar inside one of the rooms.

He approached the object curiously, practically dragging Jason with him into the room in question.

"Isn't that Red Hood's jacket?" Danny asked curiously looking at the clothes organized on the walls.

Jason cursed himself as he thought of something to say, maybe if he chose not to answer Danny would ignore it. He had been distracted by the matter of food and completely forgot that many of his things were in the house.

"And those are his combat boots" the halfa said excitedly, Danny perked up as he started pointing to different objects in the room. The weapons were obviously Hood's "There's only one explanation for this"

Jason tried to think of an excuse but he couldn't think of one, he assumed that was it, that was the end of his secret identity "Danny, the truth is that I am-"

"You live with Red Hood right?" Danny looked at him, trying to confirm his suspicions and the rumors of the Alley kids.

"-living with Hood, certainly," Jason agreed. Not knowing the trouble he was getting himself into with those four words.

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

Annd tag time, I'm not going to lie it feels pretty weird to have this chapter so early but the sprints are really magical. This chapter was going to be even longer but I preferred to shorten it and include the rest as ideas for the next one. I hope you liked it!

In this case I have to clarify that Danny never broke contact with Jason during the whole chapter, when he said that he was his anchor he was being both figurative and literal. In general, being able to feel his heartbeat was calming him down a lot.

And the reason why Jason's food felt different is because it was 100% human, what Lunch Lady gives is usually fine, but the ectoplasm adds something weird to it as an extra, so yes, Jason was technically the first to cook him food from scratch

Sorry if you saw the first one, I kinda uploaded by accident haha

@skulld3mort-1fan@sorryiwonnoob@idfk-man10@avelnfear@criticaloverthinker@confusedandghostly @lunadoll36 @spidey29phangirl @suppengott @yjfk@apointlessbox@mimilikey@thegatorsgoose@jaggedheart11@dyinggirldied@pyramaniac@akikkobara@thedragonqueen1998@lostlightandfoundcrazy@xye-chan@saltyladynightmare @ashleysmshly @thewondersoflebanon@illusionwolfwriter24r8@littlefeather345@asphyxia778@amercurio@leftmiraclechaos @dixiwoods @satoshy12@lyra689@meira-3919@quietlyscared@plotwholls @kyrianclawraith @blacksea21090@basilf1res @flowers-n-fauna @8-29pm@phantom-dc@luer-mirin@taniaundertaleau@cloriform@readerkayden@oddlydrawnpuppets@basementloser@little-green-asparagus@echoednonny@yummy-yummy-mmmbones@confusionchaos@ectoplasm024@autumnwulf@666deaddash999@redhoneysugarorange@blue-avis@sailor-goddess@satanicrutialspecialist

#danny phantom #dp x dc #danny fenton #dc x dp #jason todd #dead on main #red hood #jason todd x danny fenton #This is mostly a fluff chapter #Jason knows the feeling of a first proper meal #he is kinda proud of himself #Amorpho is making new friends #He transformed Danny in a theater kid #Danny was trying to go unnoticed at U #Rip that plan #He is more noticeable than ever #Or at least Amorpho is #Cannon the cat #just a skinny cat and his new owner #That apparently is in jail #The crows were trying to say sorry for the attack #Crane didn't believe in them #Jason and Danny are crushing hard #They act like a married couple but are in denial about their love in progress #One because his crush is dating his boss #And the other because there is no enough information about the pretty boy #The bats will visit them soon enough #Danny fangs wanted to bite something the whole chapter but the pancakes helped #deadonmain #Hood Assistant

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like-rain-or-confetti · 9 months

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How would the rouges (like BM, TF, Penguin, Scarecrow) feel about an S/O who loves plushies, and, owns a GIGANTIC plush of a mascot character they like (Sanrio) and sleeps with it in bed when the rouges are busy late night doing crime?

Bonus: If they had a plush made in their own image later on, like imagine a tiny Scarecrow or Black Mask plush 😭😭, and, sleeps with it in bed when they're out instead

Black Mask: if the gigantic plushie stayed out of his sight, he could live with it. What he couldn't deal with was the life size plushie of himself you were cuddling in bed with when he got home from the club. At first he freaked thinking it was another man in his bed until he turned on the light...and promptly wished he found another man in his bed when he realised what you were cuddling. "Darling I'm going to have to ask who made that for you so that I can kill them." You didn't give away anything and Roman was too tired for now and would drop it until the morning. "Well get it off the bed, I'm here now." Roman stripped and got into bed thinking you'd comply only to find you still cuddling the plushie of him. "Come on, you have the real thing!"

Scarecrow: Jonathan stared at the gigantic stuffed toy on the bed and said ine sentence. "And where are we going to sleep?" It's very difficult to surprise him, and seemingly, he wasn't phased by it. Although in the end didnt let you keep it saying it was completely ridiculous to keep thar in any home and made you get rid of it. However, when he came home to you hugging a plushie of himself- you seemed to actually catch him off guard. "What on earth? How did you even get that?" Jonathan was bewildered at how you were spooning the plushie of himself. It didn't help when you gave a vague answer of "I have my ways." Then you justified it because "He wasn't home much."

Penguin: He had came home late from the Iceberg Lounge when he found you curled up in bed with a tiny plushie version of him. "...I knew this day would come." Oswald sighed rather amused but at the same time a little disturbed. "Sweetheart, remember when i said having that gigantic chipmunk taking half of my bed was too much? This is worse. Don't get me wrong, your taste is excellent but this is too much."

Two-Face: Harvey practically forced his alter into silence so Harv' wouldn't lose his shit at the giant plushie but eventually Harv' won, insisting it wasnt staying which the two later regretted when they saw you now had a plushie of them. "You know I always asked myself when I'd draw the line but here it is. This is where I draw the line." Harvey nodded to himself. "What the hell?" After a moment Harv' spoke. "Good thing there are two of us...we're gonna need the advantage in numbers with this one."

#batman #request #batman villains #one shot #oneshot #black mask #roman sionis #harvey dent #two face #scarecrow #jonathan crane #penguin #oswald cobblepot

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trashyslashers · 1 year

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Please a Corey x peepaw x reader OMGGGGG 🥴

The Corey we have here is the Corey we see from middle to end of the film, so he's much more bold and outspoken than he is in the beginning of the film. I'm assuming that's what you had in mind, anon!

Thank you so much for the request! I may do a part 2 down the line as I feel like there's SO much more I could add to this.

Just a note that Corey and Michael are not written as romantically involved with each other in this - just you.

General Corey Cunningham x Reader x Michael Myers headcanons

Being the shared interest of these two is... interesting, to say the least. It doesn't matter if you're spending time with the both of them at once, or if you're alone with one of them - there's rarely a dull moment, though many times, not in the good way.

While Corey and Michael get along in some ways, they don't get along in every way, and when it comes to you it's a mixture of both. While they both want you and they both have you, this mutual, extreme obsession with you leads to occasional clashes as they both tend to feel that the other party's obsession with and feelings for you is getting in the way of their own. Que the (sometimes literal) tug of wars with you between the two of them. Though neither of them would ever hurt you, there are occasions where you're quite literally being pulled away from one of them and into the chest of the other because they refuse to share.

There are many, many moments where it seems like the relationship isn't going to work because of this, yet it always manages to come through in the end. Both men value their feelings for you and your contentedness over any issue they may have with each other.

Despite their frequent scuffles, it's safe to say you have near constant protection. While Corey doesn't have the practically undying, almost superhuman-like qualities that Michael does, he is damn protective, and he can actually be with you pretty much everywhere Michael cannot be. There have been times he's even informed Michael of some breach of your safety, and the two of them teamed up to take care of whatever the issue was.

Both are possessive and protective, but both in their own ways. Michael's approach is much more cold, much more calculating: if he sees someone mess with you, harass you, not take no for an answer, etc, he'll typically stalk that person for sometime before he moves in for the kill (and he is brutal about it. The killing itself is actually very rash and bloody, as opposed to his approach).

Corey, on the other hand, unless for some reason he can't or shouldn't, has no problem going right up to whoever it was at that moment and either verbally ripping them a new one - or getting physical about it. He's not afraid of doing either, even if he often gets his ass kicked with the latter, and if it's bad enough he will not hesitate to don his scarecrow mask and make sure they cannot bother you again.

You're pretty much nearly untouchable when you're with the both of them romantically. If somehow, someone manages to do something to you, it's an absolutely bloody mess how the two of them work together, much like how we saw in the movie. Hell, sometimes it's almost like a game they play: Corey manages to lure whoever it is into an alley, or below the bridge near the sewer, or somewhere secluded, straight to wherever Michael is, and the two of them quickly work together to subdue their prey. The body is pretty much unidentifiable by the time they're done.

On a fluffier note, if both men are agreeable with each other enough that you can have a calm, quiet, cuddle session with the both of them at the same time, it is insane how safe and warm you feel. Initially it was a bit awkward finding a position that worked, but the three of you eventually found one: laying down, with Michael (if he's in the mood for cuddling, that is) behind you as the big spoon, with you sandwiched in between him and Corey, with Corey's head resting on your chest, his arms tightly wrapped around your midsection. Corey will nuzzle and press kisses to your chest, shoulders, chin, while the steady rise and fall of Michael's chest relaxes you.

The three of you love to binge watch old-school horror and monster films together. If you're the type to get scared, fret not because you have two of the best guards you could ask for. Michael may not be as cuddly as many, but you know he'll never let anything touch you, meanwhile Corey has no problem pulling you close to him and holding you in his lap if you're feeling scared, or anxious. Corey tends to be the more physically affectionate out of the two of them, and on days where you see little to nothing of Michael, Corey's by your side pretty much all day to shower you in all the affection and love you want.

While it might not always pan out nicely or neatly, it's needless to say that both of these men are completely and utterly obsessed with you.

#request #anon #slasher headcanons #slashers headcanons #slasher imagines #slashers imagines #slasher scenarios #slashers scenarios #slasher x reader #slashers x reader #corey cunningham x reader #corey cunningham headcanons #michael myers x reader #michael myers headcanons #michael myers x reader x corey cunningham

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riddle-me-ri · 11 months

Note

Bestie CONGRATS ON 500 FOLLOWERS!!! You’re an amazing writer so I gotta ask: could we please have Arkham Knight scarecrow with First Date Night? Possibly both fluffy and nsfw?

A/N: Aww thank you so much! I really appreciate it, and I’m really still unsure about Arkham scarecrow, so I’m gonna do my best, nothing outrightly nsfw but definitely hints at it at the end for sure! I hope you guys enjoy it!

Word Count: 545

Arkham Knight Scarecrow - First Date Night

Jonathan Crane thought this was an absolute waste of time.

He understood your motives, he could appreciate your efforts. He just couldn’t help but find this “dinner date” unnecessary. He sat on the other side of the table with his arms crossed and almost slouching in his chair.

“The least you could do is eat.”

“This is a waste of time.”

You sighed exhausted. Jonathan hasn’t been the same since the Killer Croc incident. You held out hope that you could maybe bring him back around, but it’s proven to be very difficult.

You had hoped that the months of recovery would finally be rewarded. Alas, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

You knew he wasn’t going to be the same…how an anybody be after what he went through…

“I just…you gotta eat..and we haven’t had like…I dunno…a proper date in years.”

“Well, I haven’t been in a proper state have I?”

“Jonny-”

“Stop!”

There’s a pause. Silence hung in the room like a hunk of meat at the butcher’s. Thick, heavy, uncomfortable.

Until a slight growl could be heard. Then it happened again.

Finally you heard a disgruntled groan from the man in front of you.

“Jonathan…”

Jonathan groaned, the warm kitchen light highlighted his glazed eyes as he rolled them. You couldn’t help but smile as he reluctantly grabbed his fork and picked at the food.

At least he’s touching it, looking at it.

“You always did have a loud stomach…almost as obnoxious as you.” You quipped.

Jonathan looked up and glared at you, as if to scare you from any more smartass bantering. However, the thing he liked about you the most was also what frustrated him, you were pretty fearless.

You tried not to squeal with too much excitement as you found Jonathan slowly but surely eating the meal you cooked. You tried to occupy your excitement by eating the meal yourself.

Finally, some domesticity, even if it’s for just a little bit.

“Thank you…I apologize…”

You looked up, unsure of what to say. “I…it’s okay. I-I can’t imagine, but I know it has to be frustrating, just know that I want to help…to be here for you…even if you may not like it.” You chuckled breathlessly.

“I still can’t wrack my brain around why I was able to escape death…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say next.

You got up from your seat and walked over to him. You embraced him from behind, tucking your head into the crook of his neck and wrapping your arms around his chest. He lifted his hand and they covered over your hands that clasped together. He gave your hands a squeeze.

“Perhaps…I-I may know the reason now…”

Your arms tightened around him. You turned your head so that your lips met his skin as you began kissing his neck, jawline, and cheek.

Your body got exceptionally warm when you heard soft moans hum out of Jonathan. He turned his head to face yours. Without skipping a beat, you crashed your lips onto what remained of his.

When you slowly pulled away, you saw a tiny gleam of the old Jonny you adored in his eyes.

“Now, Dr. Crane…” You giggled. “Do you think you have enough room for dessert?”

#ri writes #ri 500 #arkhamverse scarecrow x reader #arkhamverse jonathan crane x reader #arkham knight scarecrow x reader #arkham knight jonathan crane x reader #vamp bunny 💅

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poppies-from-oz · 11 months

Text

The Road to Oz Interlude

I’m obsessed with this one image so I wrote a one shot to go with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn’t fair. It just wasn’t fair.

Laughter and chatter and general merry-making filled the dining hall of the emerald palace. Hundreds upon hundreds of guests had gathered here this evening to celebrate Princess Ozma’s thirteenth birthday! Nobility from across the many fairy countries of this land were in attendance, as were all of Ozma’s closest friends. It was quite a queer gathering, with pretty fairy queens sitting next to pumpkin-headed gentlemen and talking cookies, but a happy one nonetheless! Everyone in attendance was having fun…well, almost everyone. Though most of the attendees were conversing with each other, one of them was completely silent. And that was the Scarecrow of Oz.

The Scarecrow was widely regarded as the wisest man in all of Oz and was one of Ozma’s favorite companions. The stuffed man had been given a seat befitting his high status, just a few chairs down from where Princess Ozma sat at the head. Queen Zixi of Ixi was on his left, the Wizard of Oz was on his right, and the royals of Noland were right across from him. The Gillikin’s Sovereign sat next to the Wizard as well and Princess Dorothy sat beside Queen Zixi. The Scarecrow was surrounded on all sides by interesting and wondrous people but he hardly spoke a word to them. They tried to engage with him many times, with The Wizard occasionally elbowing the straw man in his side to get his attention. The Scarecrow would then sheepishly apologize and hastily throw some words into the conversation…but inevitably his attention would wander off once more.

Across from him, near the end of the table sat Niccolo Chopper. The Tin Woodman of Oz, Emperor of the Winkies, and the Scarecrow’s closest companion. Though “companion” is selling it a bit short, as the two were more like a married couple than anything else. They shared a love like no other and were rarely apart…most of the time, anyways. Tonight Nick sat quite a ways away from his beloved, sandwiched between the Shaggy Man of Oz and the rainbow fairy Polychrome. He was taking it in stride though, enjoying a lively conversation with his fellow guests. The Scarecrow was too far away to hear what they were talking about but he could tell by Nick’s smile that he was enjoying himself.

‘He always has the most beautiful smile.’ The Scarecrow thought to himself with a sigh.

“You and the Tin Woodman will only speak to each other and ignore the other guests if you’re too close together.” Ozma had said while they were planning the seating arrangements. “We have many important figures coming from across the land and they will want a chance to speak with you, the wisest man in Oz. We must make a good impression on them.”

She had been right, of course, the Scarecrow knew that. Though he didn’t like being away from Nick for too long, the Scarecrow agreed to the arrangement and promised to put his best foot forward at the banquet. He and Nick weren’t attached at the hip after all, they could be apart for a single dinner! But that was before he rode out to Munchkin Country to get restuffed, a journey that took many lonely days and nights without his dear Niccolo. And before he agreed to help Dorothy in greeting the party guests, which kept him from catching up with Nick. And before he saw how Nick had himself polished so brilliantly that the lights above gave his plating a distinct emerald tint.

‘He’s even wearing his crown.’ The Scarecrow thought. ‘He never wears his crown.’

The Tin Woodman practically sparkled in the brilliant lights of the Emerald Hall. Even Polychrome, with all her shimmering beauty, could not match the Tin Woodman’s radiance that evening! The Scarecrow simply couldn’t keep his eyes off him. Nick Chopper didn’t seem to notice this, however, as he was conversing with a nearby fairy prince. The prince, who had ebony dark curls and eyes that sparkled like sapphires, seemed to be telling Nick a story of some kind. He whispered something over to the Tin Woodman, who threw his head back and laughed gaily. A spike of jealousy twisted around inside of the Scarecrow.

‘What are they whispering about? Are they flirting? Nick is spoken for!’ The Scarecrow gripped at his sleeves as he mulled. ‘Who does that boy think he is, acting so coy? Does he think he’s something special just because he made Nick laugh? I make him laugh all the time! I should be the one next to him. I should be the one making him laugh. I should-’

A hand on his shoulder jolted the Scarecrow out of his thoughts. Everyone was standing now and toasting to Princess Ozma, who stood at the head of the table. The Scarecrow hastily rose to his feet and joined in the toast, raising his glass of lacasa above his head in Ozma’s honor. Santa Claus, the honored guest sitting at the far end of the table, launched into a speech congratulating the princess on turning a year older. As he spoke, the Scarecrow’s gaze once again wandered off to the Tin Woodman, only to find that Nick was looking at him too. If the Scarecrow had a heart it would’ve skipped a beat when their eyes met; he so loved Nick’s eyes. The Tin Woodman stifled a laugh, he couldn’t tell what the Scarecrow was thinking but he knew that lovestruck look on his face! Grinning deviously, he gave a sly wink to the Scarecrow, and that was about all the straw man could take. His knees went weak as did his elbows, and he ended up spilling his drink all over the Queen of Ixi! The dainty monarch gave a shriek as the cold liquid splashed all over her coiffed hair and trickled onto her nicest party dress. All eyes were on them now, the Scarecrow hastily apologizing while he and the Wizard grabbed some nearby napkins to try and wipe her down. The Tin Woodman stifled a laugh once more, not at Queen Zixi of course, at the Scarecrow. His sweetheart was just adorable! Thankfully the Queen was soon dried off and the toast to Ozma resumed once more. Santa Claus finished off his speech by requesting everyone to drink to the health of their beloved hostess, which they did readily!

The Scarecrow again looked over to the Tin Woodman, who had raised his glass to his lips but refrained from drinking, as he physically couldn’t. The Tin Woodman felt the Scarecrow’s gaze and looked over to see him wearing a rather grumpy expression. Rather than showing remorse, the Tin Woodman opted to blow a kiss, which once again disarmed the straw man. His frustrated glare melted into a twitterpated smile; he just couldn’t stay mad at Nick! The party guests retook their seats and conversation once again filled the great hall. The Scarecrow was far more talkative this time, as he was anxious to make up for his earlier blunder. Even so, the glimmering Tin Woodman would catch his eye several more times throughout the night, and would continue to do so until everyone had retreated to their rooms for the evening. The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman always had the same room in Ozma’s palace whenever they visited, one which they happily shared. Once the two of them had retired to their chambers, the Scarecrow had a chance to show his…appreciation of his beloved’s improved appearance.

But let’s give them a little privacy.

#the wizard of oz #the road to oz #the scarecrow #the tin man #tincrow #princess ozma #polychrome #dorothy gale #fanfiction #my writing

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mydarlingbat · 7 months

Text

I know in Batman Arkham Knight a lot of individuals perceives the Joker as making Batman weaker, and trying to destroy Batman. Me i saw it a whole different way. There's a lot of acts that can have you befuddled in the game. I've always viewed the Joker as someone actually trying to help Batman in this particular game. I don't see how any one could not actually see it. In the Batman Arkham Knight game. the Joker taunts Batman a whole lot throughout the game, and we know Bruce Wayne was having dreams about murdering his family, and it was just brutal. The gas scarecrow begun to use on the dark Knight bought the Joker back to life in Batman's head, and now Bruce Wayne is basically hallucinating, though let's bounce back to this subject. The Joker keeps Batman balance in theses games. He really does. I mean they're times Batman almost loses control, and he's there to provoke him, tell him to make the wrong decision, so he doesn't. In the comic the war of Jokes and riddles Batman easily is about to murdered riddler without a second thought. The Joker sticks his hand out and stops him from committing that act. the Batman confirms that the Joker is only reason he's the way he is, and why? Because the Joker makes Batman want to tussle though it harder, so he won't become like him. Batman fear is becoming like the Joker in a way that helps Batman not to kill. The Joker taunting Bruce, and telling him I'm going murder your family after I take over your body, and kill innocent civilians. That makes Batman push even harder to fight through this, because he doesn't want to become like the Joker, and The Joker vexing him, announcing all theses vile things he's going to do with his body. it causes Batman to fight and not stop. He's pushing Batman limits, and that's how's he makes Batman stronger in the game. Even if Bruce is not aware of it. In the Batman Arkham game Batman is ready to die at the beginning of the game, and who's pops up the Joker. Alfred continues to tell Batman "this is what scarecrow wants" but Batman still stays knowing he might die. Alfred says "you're out of time, " and Bruce says "goodbye Alfred." It's not like he really care about dying anymore. He's not fighting harder enough, but the Joker shows up and tells him "sure you reduced the blast, but we still gotta make it out of here practically. The Joker gave Batman the strength to do it, but this is not the only way the Joker helps, but we're just elaborating on this particular subject.

Also When Batman almost gives up when he thinks barbs has shot herself in the head. and Alfred tries to get him though it, and comfort him. It's not working. Also In the wiki we know Batman is thinking about giving up, but the Joker comes and taunts Batman. Telling him "let uncle j take over. no more pain. " The Joker continues to say things, and Batman gets an idea and realize he can't give up. The Joker being so evil reminds Bruce that he does not want to become like the Joker. The Joker is Batman fear, and that keeps him balance, knowing if he gives in, that the Joker might kill his whole family, even Gordon said without the Joker I don't know if Bruce is going to be alright, or he's going to go off his rails. When Batman thought he was punching Jason Todd even though he had no idea it was him. It was the Joker's face that causes Bruce to stop. The same thing happened in Batman Arkham City. Batman was punching and punching Mr freeze's face, but the only thing stops him is the Joker's face. Batman having that fear helps Bruce. The Joker even warns Batman throughout the game. He's actually trying to help him. He even say things that are actually nice to Bruce sometimes, but every time Bruce is getting weaker the Joker is there to taunt him a whole lot. To remind him of his failures. At the end of the Arkham Knight the JOKER gives Bruce a full picture of how the world would look if he took over, and Batman finally grasping the reality of things. He does comes through, and stops the Joker's once and for all, but mentally. When Batman finally let's go. You can see the sadness on his face, and then it goes back to an angry expression. which lets you know he was sad that he had to let that part of him go. He might not want to be like the Joker, but he still deeply cares about him. It's just a theory though. I'm not saying the Joker desire is to help Batman this way, but it does.

#batjokes #batman and joker #batman x joker #batman #comic books #dc comics #comics #batmm #the joker #dcedit #thr #theories #words

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written-in-flowers · 8 months

Text

Guardian Knight: Pt. 1

Pairing: Arkham!Jason x Wayne!OFC

Genre: Angst, fluff, smut/ lovers to enemies, enemies to lovers

Word Count: 7k

Rating: Explicit

Summary: Mia Wayne had been finally getting her life back together after Arkham City. But, when Scarecrow threatens to cover the city in Fear Toxin, it's thrown back into chaos with the appearance of a mysterious figure: The Arkham Knight.

Tags: enemies to lovers, lovers to enemies, kind of a slow burn(?) fem!OC, depictions of violence, kidnapping, mentions of torture, mention of previous kidnapping, PTSD symptoms, lost lovers, past trauma, blood and violence, hurt/comfort, fluff/smut/angst, lots of angst, canon-typical violence, self-reflection, vaginal sex, foreplay, nipple play, all the good sex stuff happens further down the road.

Part 2 >

~~~~~~

Playing a set at Time Bomb is a big deal to small time bands in Gotham City. Not only the most popular rock club in the city, many artists have been “discovered” there. So, Mia and her friends felt more than elated when their manager, Chloe, told them they’d gotten a time slot there. What sweetened it for her was the fact that the manager liked Galaxy’s sound; not because he knew Mia’s last name. Mia couldn’t stand it when club owners and promoters saw her full name and put her on their stage.

Because being a Wayne means something in Gotham, and she hated that.

“Dude, that was so awesome!” Renee beamed from inside the van, breathless and still high on adrenaline. Her drumsticks sticking out from her studded belt, the drummer took a seat in the back of the van on top of a case. “Did you feel the crowd’s energy? They loved us!”

“The manager might even have us this weekend,” said the short, skinny woman beside her. Alexa cut her auburn hair to her chin and highlighted it with neon green, which always stood out when she played her bass. “Imagine that,” she knocked at Mia’s shoulder from behind, “A weekend slot at Time Bomb.”

“They said that?” gasped Jude, the driver and guitarist. Her long braids interwoven with pink and blue contrasted with her ebony skin, and her silvery makeup brought out her brown eyes. She made a turn into the street and glanced into the rearview mirror.

“Chloe told me,” Alexa replied. “She said he really liked our sound, and would be interested in having us again. This could be it! This could be our big break, right?”

“Definitely,” said Renee. “I heard those Soundwave dudes played a few times and then they got signed.”

“Soundwave? Really?” Jude asked, disbelief in her voice. “Those guys suck though. Their lead singer is pitchy and they’re always out of tune.”

“Auto-tune goes a long way these days,” Mia smirked.

She thought back to the dimly lit club with its orange lights and tiny stage. There’d been no barrier between her and the chaotic energy that filled the room. As she strummed her power chords and sang into the microphone, she felt an instant connection. In the half hour they played, she became one with the audience. They’d come together for that time, to experience the same emotions, and become a single movement. She’d been anxious that people might not react like she hoped; she worried they wouldn’t like their band, Galaxy. But, when she played those first few seconds of their beginning song, the mood instantly picked up. The three years her band had been floating from club to club, putting out demo after demo, finally produced results. She’d always worried she might have to give it up and become a corporate slave like the people at Wayne Enterprises.

‘No, that’s way too boring for you,’ Bruce’s amused response to this worry came to mind.

The image of her older brother reminded her of something else. Pulling out her phone, she dialed Alfred’s number and waited for him to pick up.

“Evening, Amelia,” the posh English accent that brought on a hint of comfort came through the other end, “I’m assuming by the hour you just remembered to call me?”

“Not entirely true,” she responded. “We finished our show a little bit ago, and now we’re gonna go eat at the diner.” Despite being twenty-one and no longer living at home, Mia felt wrong not calling Alfred whenever she went out. Perhaps years under his and Bruce’s constant protection made it a force of habit. “Ah, I wish you’d been there, Alfred. It was amazing. The crowd loved us, and the club manager did too. Chloe said we might get a weekend spot there.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said. “You and the girls work tremendously hard. It makes me happy to see all those hours are finally paying off.”

“Is that Alfred?” asked Jude from beside her. When Mia nodded, she beamed, “Hey Alfred!”

“Alfred!”

“Hey Al!”

Alfred chuckled hearing them greet him. “The gang says ‘hi’,” Mia laughed.

“Give them my best and congratulations,” he replied. “I do hope you do not indulge too much tonight, Amelia. You have an appointment with Dr. Lewis tomorrow.”

“I know,” she said. “I have it on my calendar. Dr. Lewis at noon. I’ll be there. How’s Bruce?”

“Broody as ever.”

“Not what I meant,” she tried putting her true intention behind the phrase. “Just because I don’t live at home doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed when I see him. If anyone should be seeing Lewis, it should be him.”

“You know your brother, Amelia,” he replied. “He’s…He’s not the same. Ever since Arkham City…I think we should discuss this tomorrow at the children’s Halloween party. You shouldn’t ruin your special night with this.”

“Will he be there?” she asked. “I haven’t seen him in a while. The people at the orphanage would be really happy if he showed up.”

“I’ll get him to come,” he said. He then tsked, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to let you go, Amelia. Your brother is home.”

“Alright. Love you, Alfred.”

“And you, Amelia.”

She hung up, and then Jude spoke. “Still not talking to your brother?”

“More like he doesn’t talk to me.”

“Well,” Alexa said, “You guys went through something incredibly traumatic. I can’t imagine he really wants to talk to anyone right now. I wouldn’t either, if I were you guys.”

“But I’m his sister,” she reasoned. “I think if there’s anybody who will get what he’s going through, it’s gonna be me. He wasn’t the only one they threw into Arkham City. He wasn’t…”

He wasn’t the one The Joker kidnapped. Mia flexed her right hand absentmindedly, feeling the tingle of a phantom pain there still. The physical therapist told her she may have them from time to time, but that it is common with traumatic injuries.

A few weeks after the opening of Arkham City, she and Bruce spoke against the enormous super-prison built in the middle of Gotham. It was meant to keep all the criminals, super-criminals, and run of the mill thugs away from law abiding citizens. Some politicians backed the idea, since they believed it’d help lower crime in Gotham. Yet, her and her brother felt entirely different about it. It’d been one of the few times she’d used her last name to make any sort of change; reporters kept mentioning how “the elusive Amelia Wayne” would be speaking at the press conference. She advocated left and right against the prison, telling people how dangerous and morally wrong it was. Gang leaders and their armies sat in the middle of Gotham, like a pot waiting to boil over, and it put people in danger. This political campaign caused both she and Bruce to be arrested and taken to Arkham City.

Then all hell broke loose.

“There’s something he’s not telling me,” she continued. “I can tell.”

“What do you think it is?” asked Jude.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted, “But he hasn’t been the same since we came back. He’s withdrawn, distant and closed off from me. He’s always working and is rarely home, according to Alfred.”

“Again, traumatic event,” repeated Alexa. “It’s a side effect. My dad told me a lot of the political prisoners are in a similar way since coming out. He said that they’re suffering from PTSD. Maybe Bruce has that too, which I wouldn’t blame either of you if you did.”

“Maybe.”

Honestly, Mia could not put into detail what she really believed because nobody knew her brother’s secret identity. The Joker injected her brother with his Titan infected blood, which had nasty symptoms and nearly killed him. He told her he’d gotten the cure in time to save himself, but not the Joker. She recalled his pale face, bluish veins creeping from the sides underneath his cowl. He’d been weaker, she remembered. Yet, he’d still managed to save her despite how the infection crippled him. He tried convincing her that he’d been fully cured and no longer suffered symptoms. Yet, her instincts told her otherwise.

“How’s your hand?” Jude questioned her as the van continued driving through the busy streets. “It didn’t bother you during the show, right?”

“Nah, not really,” she replied. “It’s healed up pretty well.” She sighed, “Not being able to play was the worst part of the whole thing. I thought I’d lose my hand forever.”

“Well, they did break pretty much every bone in it.”

“At least one good thing came out of that shitshow,” Renee said. “That Joker dude is dead.”

“Yeah, there’s at least that.”

But, he’d almost survived. Mia couldn’t believe Bruce considered saving him once again. It became an old song-and-dance between them: Joker commits a crime, Batman puts him in jail, and he breaks out to do it all over again. She understood her brother’s moral code against murder; he wouldn’t be any better than the people he puts away, if he did kill. But, sometimes these criminals deserved it. They ruined so many innocent lives, and always managed to escape justice. True justice. Mia wondered if many murder scared him; meaning if he killed someone, he may never stop. She didn’t want Batman to kill wantonly or torture these criminals. But, is it real justice if they never stay in prison that long? Arkham City might’ve been a “super prison”, but it was a prison. Prison breaks are far too common in Gotham to let one be built in the heart of the city. If she and Bruce hadn’t campaigned against it, chaos would’ve flooded the streets.

“Let’s forget it,” she dismissed, “And get some food. I’m freaking starving.”

“Me too,” said Renee. “I could destroy a plate of pancakes right now.”

“Pancakes for dinner?” questioned Alexa.

“Haven’t you ever heard of ‘breakfast for dinner’?”

Mia let her friends debate about breakfast for dinner and watched the city rolling by her window. Gotham City was a city that never slept. It thrived and teemed with life, people always coming and going, businesses always open and the world constantly turning. She preferred the lively place over the quiet tomb of Wayne Manor outside the city limits. She'd wanted to protect Gotham when Arkham City first came about. It was her home, and considering the city's affliction of insane super-criminals walking about, a breakout would've been devastating. Bruce was lucky enough to have his Batman persona, but she had nothing. When she protected Gotham, she did it with her real face and name.

“...Yeah, but Renee, pancakes are a breakfast food…”

“Ah, that’s just the food industry telling us what to eat…”

While she may have not had the equipment or martial abilities of Batman, she did what she could. She’d helped many political prisoners find shelter in a makeshift shanty town, and managed to fight off thugs for food packages. Mia couldn’t stand by and let people go hungry like that, especially innocent people who happened to know too much. Unfortunately, these acts of kindness blew up in her face when she came across Joker’s thugs posing as political prisoners. She shivered, recalling how one grabbed her roughly by the hair, fingers grasping her black curls by the roots. He’d knocked her out with a single punch, leaving her vulnerable and exposed. When she came to, she was in the Sionis Steel Mill where The Joker stationed his headquarters.

“Yeah, because everything is a corporate conspiracy, right?” Jude chimed in, smiling at her. “Like when you said the government is flying secret aircrafts above us, sprinkling hallucinogens over the city.”

“They are!” Renee exclaimed.

They finally reached Miagani Island and her stomach rumbled. She forced herself to focus on dinner rather than what happened when she woke up in the smelting chamber of the steel mill. The painted faces of the Joker’s henchmen mocked her in her nightmares. Their laughter and glee only created dread for her, churning her stomach constantly. They’d originally kept her tied to a chair, where they slapped, punched, degraded and humiliated her. Knuckles broke through skin and crushed bone; cigarette butts tracked up her arms and parts of her chest, and the worst of the worst. One of them took a crowbar to her right hand, smashing it like a piece of glass until the bones splintered and split through skin. She’d never felt pain like it before. Simply moving her fingers pained her for weeks. When they hung her from the ceiling, they only used the left arm.

“...They were doing government experiments with patients in Arkham Asylum. You know, to use in chemical warfare…”

It nearly dislodged her arm from her shoulder. She tried keeping herself up to put weight elsewhere, but it only hurt more. They’d slammed their fists into her ribcage, and took pipes to her legs. Mia never once begged for her life. She did not let them see her watery eyes or the winces of pain. In fact, she often spat back insults at them. She knew showing weakness would only encourage them to keep going. Pain burned and throbbed in her entire body, and she wondered when Batman would show up. Arkham City was not very large; it stretched only a few blocks. He’d find her quickly enough, she’d believed. She knew she only needed to outlast her attackers. A cloud of blurry memories rolled over her once again, as it did whenever Arkham City entered her head. Visions of a dark figure appearing out of seemingly nowhere filled her waking moments. Having floated in and out of consciousness, and the dimness of the mill, she never saw their face.

“...Not gonna lie, I wouldn’t put it past them. Arkham was such a creepy place, and always dirty and gross…”

She tried remembering who exactly saved her that night. Bruce’s face came to mind whenever she recalled the looming figure who lifted her off the ground. It was the only logical explanation she conjured up. To consider the alternative was downright ridiculous and unfathomable to begin with. They’d been strong enough to carry her from the boiling hot smelting chamber to a crawl space between the chamber and another room. Only Bruce would’ve done that for her. When she’d questioned him about it, he told her he’d found her there after tracking her location. He thought she’d somehow managed to crawl there on her own, and hide until it was over. He acted strangely when she mentioned someone saving her; he told her she must’ve imagined it under duress.

Who were they?

Why did they save her?

Why keep their identity a secret?

She supposed she’ll never have an answer.

“...And have you ever looked at a dollar bill? There’s some spooky stuff going on on the dollar bill, man. The pyramid, the eye, the presidents they used,” Renee said, “The illuminati is real, my guy.”

“It is not.”

“It is!”

“Oh thank god, Pauli’s!” Jude interjected, driving onto the diner’s street. “I’m dying, dude.”

“Woah…What happened?”

Mia noticed it first. Several police cars, ambulances, and news cameras sat parked around the small corner diner. A shoot out or a robbery were her first thoughts until they parked in a space right across from the scene. Renee and Alexa squeezed themselves between Jude and Mia to see the bodies being carted out in gurneys. They clawed at anyone who came near them, snarling and snapping their teeth like rabid animals. Others trembled, convulsed, and screamed from their restraints. It frightened her.

“Gang fight?” Alexa guessed.

��Nah, they don’t bring out that many cops for a gang fight,” said Jude.

“Those people look tweaked out,” Renee noted as they watched one man claw at his skin before ambulance workers stopped him. “Maybe it was a bad batch of LSD that got spread around.”

“Or something way worse,” Mia said, dread starting to fill her insides.

“I’ve been trying to tell you guys,” Renee began, “Government chemicals. They’re slowly killing us-”

“-Not now, Renee,” Jude intervened.

Mia then noticed one woman stumbling away from the scene. She gasped at the woman’s bloodied clothes and crazed expression. Skinny legs staggered around on the damp pavement, walking right into the middle of ongoing traffic. So preoccupied with other victims, nobody noticed the woman batting at the air and scratching at her own body. Mia noticed how dangerously close cars came to hitting her right before one of them clipped her, causing her to fall to the ground. Instinct propelled Mia to open the door.

“Mia, where are you going?!”

She didn’t hear Jude as she dodged honking cars to reach the woman in the middle of the street. Mia gasped at the large wound on the side of her head, likely a result of her fall. Yet, the woman might have put her head on a pillow for all the notice she took. She continued trembling, unable to form a coherent sentence.

“It’s okay,” Mia told her, trying to steady her bruised and broken hands. Had she been in a fight? “It’s okay. You’re gonna be okay.”

“Ge-g-get-t-t th-the-em of-off me!” she cried, squirming and making her wound worse. “Get them off me! The-They burn, please! Get them off me!”

“Hey, can I get some help over here?!” Mia called people nearby, and saw paramedics pick up their equipment right away. “Don’t worry, you’re gonna be okay,” she reassured her, though the words went unheard.

Mia saw her skin, sickly pale and marked by scratches and more bruises, and her fear grew. Bloodshot eyes looked around frantically, and the victim screamed when paramedics surrounded her. This is Gotham, and there is only one person she can think of who’d do this. Her first instinct was to hold her breath.

“Dude, that is insane,” Jude came up beside her first, the both of them watching the medics taking the wounded woman away. “I’ve never seen drugs do that to someone before. Did you see her eyes? Scary stuff.”

“It wasn’t drugs,” Mia said, letting out the breath. “That isn’t anything normal.”

“Biochemical?” she guessed.

“Something like that,” she agreed. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Pizza?”

“Pizza.”

Mia couldn’t focus on anything else. At Lil’ Pies Pizzeria, she found it hard to enjoy the saucy, cheesy goodness that was a Lil’ Pie’s pizza. Visions of the injured woman flashed through her mind as she idly bit into her first slice. She’d never seen anything like it before. She’d seen people have a bad acid trip or take too much ecstasy, but nothing like what those people suffered. The intention behind this attack was malicious. It was downright evil and chaotic. Gotham has no shortage of super-criminals who came out of the woodwork when Batman first appeared. All dangerous, and each one more ridiculous than the last. The Joker died several months ago, so now a new villain must take his place. She guessed Scarecrow plans to be that new top dog. Bruce was no doubt already working on the case, since he always seems to know things before she does.

“The place looked torn apart,” Alexa said, washing down a breadstick with a soda. “Like a huge brawl happened in there.”

“Nah, that wasn’t a brawl,” Jude shook her head. “That was a damn slaughterhouse. That lady Mia helped had broken bones and blood all over her, but she didn’t look like she felt it. She was so messed up, it’s like the pain didn’t bother her.”

“Or the toxin seeped in through her skin and made her numb to anything else,” Mia heard herself say before eating more pizza.

“Toxin?”

“You guys aren’t stupid,” she said. “It was Scarecrow.”

“Which one is that again? I get those guys mixed up,” asked Renee, trying to catch a string of melted cheese in her mouth.

“He’s the one with a bag on his head,” answered Alexa. “My dad used to ‘treat’ him. He had this thing with, like, chemicals and stuff. He said he could make people do some crazy shit, so I’m not surprised.”

Mia’s phone buzzed in her pocket while the others continued discussing what they saw. She expected another check-in from Alfred, but was surprised to see Bruce’s name.

“Who is it?” Jude asked, noticing her pause.

“It’s my brother…” She answered the call. “Bruce?”

“Are you home?” her brother’s deep, firm voice said in her ear.

“No, I’m at Lil’ Pies,” she said, suspiciously. “What’s going on, Bruce?” She already knew the answer.

“Turn on the TV.”

She looked around for the small television in a corner, and went up to the bar. A breaking news story came up on the television right as the waitress turned up the volume.

“-Devastating news coming out of Miagani Island tonight. Patrons quietly enjoying their meals suddenly became involved in a nightmarish, bloody attack…”

Along with the report came security footage of inside Pauli’s diner. It was worse than she originally assumed. People tore each other apart like animals, jumping over tables and chairs and violently bashing one another. Mia spotted a glimpse of the woman from the street, who’d slammed a man’s head into a table multiple times before being tackled by someone else. She gasped when she saw gunfire. She’d been about to tell Bruce her suspicions when the broadcast was suddenly cut off. Against a backdrop of black, a man in a ragged hood covering him in shadow came on the screen. Her body froze in place, and she couldn’t look away from him. Scarecrow used to wear a rucksack over his head like a real scarecrow, but now, he didn’t wear one. He’d instead shaved and cut around his lower mouth, resembling cloth instead of skin. It disgusted and terrified her.

“This demonstration used just five ounces of my latest toxin,” he said, voice rough and scratchy. “Tomorrow, this will seem like child’s play. Gotham, this is your only warning…”

And then it cut off back to the news. Mia felt the instant panic set within the small pizzeria. It thickened the longer people murmured amongst themselves.

“Bruce,” she said, keeping the shakiness out of her voice, “What do we do?”

“I want you home,” he ordered. “You’re staying in the Batcave until we figure out what he’s up to.”

She shook her head. Her chest tightened at the thought of stepping back into Wayne Manor. She couldn’t go back there. She couldn’t walk through those halls or sit in the rooms without another terrible feeling. Her work with Dr. Lewis is going so well; she doesn’t want to ruin it now by opening old wounds.

“I can’t,” she said, shaking her head.

“You can and you will,” Bruce replied. “We don’t know the extent of this toxin or how bad it can be, but if we look at his track record, it’ll get bad. I’ll have Alfred come pick you up, and you’ll come home.”

“I don’t need to go there. I can go crash with Dick or somebody else in Bludhaven-”

“-That might not be enough,” he said. He paused for a moment, then he said, “Mia, I know why you don’t want to be here. I know it will not be easy for you; it wasn’t easy for me for a long time. But, I don’t want you anywhere else.”

“I can’t go there,” she said, shaking her head. The mere thought of walking back into the mansion made her palms sweat. “I can’t. He’s…He’s all over that place. Everything there reminds me of him. I can’t be there. It’s not good for me to be there.”

“Jason would want you to be safe.”

She swallowed back the lump in her throat. As if her recent traumas did not haunt her enough, now this turned its ugly head at her. She squeezed her eyes shut. She knew he was right, of course. The Batcave is the safest place in Gotham, and whatever toxin Scarecrow concocted won’t penetrate the far away, underground caves. But, the idea of walking into that house and recalling every memory she ever had of Jason Todd made her cry.

Because, how can you forget your truest love?

“Alfred will pick you up tomorrow night,” he instructed when she didn’t respond. “Start packing your stuff.”

Like hell, she would.

****

“Amelia, please, do not make this difficult. Your brother implores you to come home. You’ll be much safer there.”

As expected, Alfred appeared at her door the following night. She guessed he’d spent the day preparing the house for her arrival, and whatever prevention protocols Bruce put in place. He also mentioned the traffic out of the city being impossible to navigate. She stood in her small bedroom, putting changes of clothes into a black duffle bag to prepare for a long stay in Bludhaven. Jude told her a cousin of hers had rooms for them to stay in, so that is where she wanted to go.

“I don’t want to go there, Alfred,” she told him, doing her best not to meet his eyes. If she makes eye contact, her guilt will weaken her decision. “I can’t.”

Mia felt him watching her from the doorway, and it made her anxious. He didn’t understand. He most likely thinks she’s being ridiculous and overreacting. To him, Jason’s death happened so long ago. It is a wound that should have healed itself by now, and to behave so stubbornly about going home is childish. She wanted to tell him how every inch of that mansion reminds her of Jason. She wanted to say how she can’t walk past his bedroom door without a ball swelling in her throat. She couldn’t sit in any of the rooms. She couldn’t enjoy the garden or the motorcycles or the cars or anything else. Jason Todd seeped himself into the wood and stone of her family home. He became a ghost that continued to haunt her when she let him. Mia wouldn’t detail those dark nights, when she’d bought a bottle of liquor to drown out the demons screaming in her head. She started packing up her guitar, a fender model painted black and white, into its long case. Even the guitar reminded her of him.

“Amelia,” Alfred said gently, “I know how difficult Master Todd’s death was on you. He was your first real love. His passing-”

“-He didn’t ‘pass’, Alfred. He didn’t get sick and die. He didn’t get into an accident. He was murdered,” her voice cracked from the strain. “He was tortured and murdered by the Joker.”

He’d plagued her in the steel mill too. Whenever Joker’s thugs slammed a fist to her face or took a bat to her stomach, she wondered if Jason felt the same pain. Was it worse? Did he hurt as badly? It broke her apart to imagine him in her place, tied to a chair with barbed wire digging into her skin little by little. She flexed her left hand subconsciously, the memory of a crowbar breaking each bone sending shocks through it. She saw it more clearly in the bedroom lights, thin scars slashed around the knuckles and joints on her hand. She shuddered.

“And that was severely traumatic for you,” he said. “It is something you haven’t completely moved on from; neither has your brother. He feels equally guilty for what happened to Master Todd, and how we’d been too late to save him.”

“We didn’t try hard enough!”

“You know that is not true,” he replied sternly. “All of us exhausted our resources trying to search for him. If we’d caught even a whisper of Master Todd, we would have gone right to him. I know you would have gone running without a second thought. Don’t think I don’t know about you scheming your way onto Arkham Island that night The Joker escaped custody.”

A pang of guilt hit her chest. In an act of torment, Mia visited Arkham Asylum to search for clues. Her insides told her she’d find the answers she needed there. It’d been during the desperation days, when she couldn’t accept Jason’s death. She’d gone to the institution under the guise of interviewing Dr. Young for a college essay. It was partially true. She’d snuck away from the visitor’s building into the rest of the island disguised as a doctor. Mia recalled her nerves up to the ceiling the entire time she snuck around. Night shift at the island wasn’t as packed, so she moved around relatively easily. Her gut told her she’d find something. She’d find a crumb, a scrap, a little piece to prove her search is not in vain. Mia fooled herself into thinking she could feel Jason through the walls. Her soul could feel his throbbing somewhere beyond the concrete walls. She knew he was alive; she would’ve known if he’d died. Her brain tricked her into believing she’d come upon him in some hidden space, injured but alive. Even when she found nothing, she did not lose hope. Unfortunately for her, Bruce showed up with the Joker that night and dragged her to the dock to be taken home.

“You put yourself in immense danger to search for Jason,” he continued, his hands on her shoulders to turn her around. “You went to the absolute pits to learn what you could. You talked to the scum of this city, putting yourself at risk because of it. You looked for Jason much longer than any of us. I remember you planning trips to other cities when you thought he might’ve been smuggled out of the city.” He gave her a sad smile, “I know how deeply you loved him. His murder still weighs heavily on your heart, and I understand it is a pain that’ll never go away. But, you must find your way past it. You must find a way to heal and move on.”

“I did move on,” she said, not entirely convinced of herself. “He only crops up in my head sometimes.”

Like in Arkham City, when she imagined him swooping in to rescue her. When her mysterious savior came to her rescue at last, she’d thought it might be him coming back to her. But, that is ridiculous. Jason Todd was dead, and she learned to live with that. Putting her guitar to the side, the vision of a cowl in the shadows swam back into her mind. The gentle way they’d handled her reminded her briefly of Jason, who’d carried her home after she twisted her ankle in the garden. He’d stayed by her side the entire time, treating her like a sick patient instead of a simple sprain. She imagined her knight staying posted near her crawlspace like a sentinel, even if her brother claimed to find nobody else.

“Which is normal and understandable.” Alfred brought her into his arms, and she let herself be comforted by him. “Ah, you two…you’re more alike than you care to say out loud.”

“Are not,” she scoffed.

“Are too. I used to tell your mother you’ll both be two sides of the same coin,” he chuckled softly. “Bruce is always the calm and collected one and always has several plans in place for all scenarios. You’re-”

“-A charming rebel with stars in her eyes?” she suggested, doing her best to laugh.

“A free spirit,” he said. “You move with your instincts and emotions. You’re a compassionate, gentle soul who lives by her own rules.”

Hearing herself be described that way left a strange feeling inside. She gently moved out of Alfred’s embrace, and said, “Thanks, Alfred, but I know what you’re doing.”

“What could you possibly mean by that?” he asked innocently.

“I’m not going to the manor.”

He stared at her for a moment, then tsked, “Fine, if you insist, I can’t stop you. Let me take you to the evacuation site at least. I want to know you’re safe.”

She waived, knowing to resist is pointless. “Alright, but I’ll be watching you,” she squinted her eyes at him suspiciously, then giggled.

“As expected.”

He left her to finish packing, and she took a minute to stare around her apartment. Small, with mismatched furniture in warm tones, Mia liked her one bedroom place. It felt like it belonged to her whereas Wayne Manor belonged to her family. She knew people who’d love to have the last name ‘Wayne’, and have access to floods of wealth. Mia wanted to tell them it’s overrated. Mia didn’t flash her family’s money around like people she used to know. She makes her own money playing gigs and having shifts at the bar down the street. She didn’t want to depend on Bruce or their money. The only times she’d put her “Wayne bucks” to use was the charities she helped out. She gave to homeless shelters, non-profit organizations, hospitals, schools and orphanages. Unlike the elite of Gotham City, she didn’t need to hold press conferences to prove her charitable nature.

It’s what Jason liked about her.

Going back to packing, she wondered where her Arkham City Knight might be tonight. They seemed like the type to stick around after everyone evacuated. She couldn’t stop herself from picturing a hooded figure jumping from rooftop to rooftop or speeding down the streets like her brother does. They might be able to help him. Perhaps she may run into them, and she can ask them to aid Bruce. He will need all the help he can get, and her knight proved to be capable of handling tough situations.

She looked around for her MIDI controller, since she’d hoped to produce some new songs at Jude’s place. She thought it might’ve been on her desk near the computer, but she vaguely remembered moving it. Why did she move it again? Yes, because the band wanted to work in the empty warehouse last week. She’d brought it home, too tired to unpack anything. It must be in the closet. Mia went to her bedroom closet, this time putting her attention on the bottom shelves. Moving through old school books, notebooks, compositions and broken equipment, she couldn’t find any sign of the small box. She’d been about to give up until her fingers brushed something in the far back. Mia put her hand on the top, and pulled it out. Then she wished she hadn’t touched it at all. She had the urge to push the box back into the closet, shut the doors, and forget the entire thing. Mia felt stupid for forgetting about the memory box. She’d put it in the back for a reason: out of sight, out of mind.

But, she didn’t want to forget him.

Gingerly, she forced herself to open the plain cardboard box. Hands shaking, she took deep breaths as she looked inside. Photographs, newspaper clippings, and drawings sat on top of a red hoodie. Years of research remained discarded and forgotten in the depths of her closet. Once upon a time, those same papers were pinned to her wall, cluttered her desk and filled her every waking moment. She didn’t have the high technology of Batman or his sidekicks, but she was smart too. She’d spend her free hours putting clues together, seeing the connections and seeking out answers. Mia watched Jason’s death so much each frame became embedded in her brain. The Mia who filled this box had hope. Seeing all of it brought on a new feeling of helplessness. She picked up the first photo she saw.

She almost cried. Jason Todd, the young scrappy boy Bruce brought in from the street, smiled up at her. They sat on a bench at the Botanical Gardens, both laughing at a joke Jason told. Bruce had taken the picture. He’d insisted on chaperoning their first date and Mia couldn’t have hated him more. She argued that she and Jason were often alone, and nothing happened, but he refused to listen. Black hair swished over his brow, dark blue eyes glinted up at her even now. His laugh and smile became distant memories to her. She thought they'd fade with time, but they hadn't. They came as if she'd seen him moments ago.

“No…” she whispered, the bittersweet feeling watering her eyes, “No, I won’t.”

‘Let’s ditch him.’

‘Be serious. He’ll know we’re gone before we’ve gotten to the entrance.’

‘Who said anything about the entrance?’

They’d managed to escape her brother for at least fifteen minutes, and that was all Jason needed. He showed her the special spot where dozens of different types of orchids grew, the sunlight shone through the glass windows on the floral fountain in the center. The flirting instantly became shameless. She’d hoped he might kiss her, but then Bruce appeared and ruined it. Mia never felt anything like the happiness she felt with Jason. A hopeless romantic through and through, he’d blushed a deep red when she first held his hand. He wasn’t very good at poetry, but he’d written one or two just for her. Mia had never been a big book lover or an academic; she found school boring and in the way of her dreams. But, when she met Jason, who loved school and learning, she gave it a try because she wanted him to like her.

She’d never done anything to make a guy like her before, even if he did see right through her.

Mia brushed away the tears on her cheeks, tucked the photo back into the box and slid it into its hiding spot. The band would have to go without the digital equipment for now.

SMASH!

Her heart skipped a beat as her window shattered. The sound of heavy footsteps hitting the floor made her duck back into the closet, shutting the door. Through the closet shutters, she saw several men in red and black camouflage fill her living room. They held military-grade weapons, which looked intimidating. She had no idea who they were, but she had an idea of why they’d come. Fear stiffened her legs, keeping her in place as memories of her last kidnapping came back to her. It couldn’t be happening again. Her eyes stayed on the soldiers as they moved throughout her apartment, unsure of what to do. She tried thinking of how they could’ve gotten into her building without being seen. Then, there was Alfred. What if they’d killed him? He’d been outside waiting on her. Her jaw clenched tightly at the thought. She needed a plan. Any moment, one of them will open the closet door and find her standing there like a statue. Mia scanned her closet for something to use, and then she spotted it.

On a shelf between old books, a small bear trinket Bruce gave her smiled back at her. A birthday present, Bruce explained the cartoon bear was no ordinary knick knack. With a single smash, a bomb would ignite and cover the area in dense smoke. He said it was for emergencies only, and nothing else. When she throws it, she’s supposed to run out the window and signal him on her phone. Mia carefully moved to the bear, and grasped it in her hand. She still flinched when the closet door flung open, a soldier pointing his gun and flashlight at her. The few seconds he’d blinded her was enough to distract her, and let him take her.

“Target has been acquired, sir,” the soldier said, squeezing her arm. “Setting up the exit ramp now.”

As two other soldiers unfurled a slide out of her living room window, Mia took advantage of the distraction. In an instant, Mia threw down the porcelain bear, smashing it to pieces instantly. Thick smoke covered the area and she ducked when their guns went off. Immediately she ran towards the door, her nerves hitching into her throat, before she slammed into a wall. No, not a wall. A man. A tall, broad man in full body armor. His grip tight, he held her in place despite her struggle.

“Let me go!” she grunted, trying to pry his hand off her.

The smoke thinned and she saw her captor. Dressed in black plated armor, it reminded her of Batman’s suit except militaristic. His helmet resembled a cowl, though his face remained fully covered and eyes glowing blue behind a screen shield. He had a white diamond outline painted on his chest with a straight line through the middle. She'd never seen it before. She coughed breathing in the smoke and shielded her eyes from the wisps.

Her savior. Her eyes widened when she took in his pointy-eared helmet once more. It couldn’t be anyone else.

“You…” she breathed. “What are you doing here?”

"Taking you hostage, obviously,” his voice was modulated, disguising it from her.

Too stunned to retort, she let the stranger guide her towards the window. She didn’t understand. This could not be her Arkham City hero. They’d never kidnap her. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. He turned her around and pressed something into her back. No, this isn’t them. Nerves suddenly shot through her back from the cold steel on her skin; it woke up every sensation in her body. No. This couldn’t be happening again. “Walk,” he commanded, butting her with the barrel of his pistol, “Don’t make this harder on yourself.”

“Where are you taking me?” she asked him.

“You’ll see. Walk.”

“Where’s Alfred?” she asked, panicked. “What did you do to Alfred?”

“Don’t worry about your butler, Princess. He’s fine.”

She didn’t believe him. She knew fighting back was futile, but she did it anyway. Mia kicked and struggled against the stranger, regardless of his tight grip. She cursed herself as the stranger took her towards the window. Mia felt him zip her wrists together in front of her and stick them on a grappling hook. “I suggest you don’t wriggle,” he said, “If you fall wrong, you’ll break your neck.”

“Fuck you, creep!” She kicked his shin, though she doubted he felt it as he pushed her from the window. Her body swayed mid-air sliding down an inflated slide onto the ground. More soldiers waited below and picked her up.

“Alfred!" she screamed as they dragged her to a military truck. Her eyes scanned the street for the familiar Rolls Royce Alfred drove. She spotted it parked in front of her building, but saw no sign of Alfred. "Alfred!" She called to the car, “Alfred! Wake up! Alfred!”

"What did the Commander say?!” one of the soldiers asked her, throwing her into the backseat. “Shut your mouth before we shut it for you!”

“Kiss my ass, douchebag!” She kicked him hard in the stomach, watching him double over. Laying flat on her back, she wriggled towards the opposite car door. She can’t let them take her. She won’t. She needed to get to Alfred. But, the soldier climbed in to stop her.

“You bitch!” his fist slammed in her right cheek, pain immediately heating up her face. The inside of her mouth stung and she tasted blood. “Hit me again and I’ll knock your teeth out.”

“Fuck you!” she spat the blood at him, which earned her another hit.

“Little brat-”

He’d reached for her throat before she slashed her nails across his face. She bucked her hips underneath him, trying to get to the opposite door before the soldier stopped completely.

“Soldier!” she heard their commander call out, and the man scrambled out of the backseat. “What were my orders?”

“Sir, she resisted-”

“-What were my orders?”

“To leave the target unharmed.”

“And what were you doing just now?”

“I was only trying to subdue her, sir. She’s a fighter.”

“Huh, you have no idea. Ride in the secondary vehicle,” he ordered. He turned over to her, blue eyes glowing in the screen shield, “I don’t think she’ll cause me any trouble, will you, Ms. Wayne?”

She took a breath, gritting back the ache before saying, “I’m not making any promises.”

He gave an amused huff. He shoved her further into the car and sat beside her. She searched for Alfred’s car from the backseat, doing her best to see any sign of the old man. Once inside, the commander tenderly took hold of her chin to examine her pink cheek. It reminded her of her savior, but this wasn’t them. She must’ve been wrong. Perhaps Bruce did save her. Perhaps her painful haze deluded her senses, and made her see things that weren’t there. Dr. Lewis said it could be a possibility.

“Does it hurt?” his modulated voice broke her out of her head.

“Don’t touch me,” she yanked herself from his grasp, and glared at him. “What did you do to Alfred?” she asked him again, more firmly.

“Alfred is fine,” he told her. “He was not the intended target.”

“No, but he’d try to stop you,” she spat back. “What did you do to him?”

“We incapacitated him,” he answered, almost annoyed at her inquiry. “He’ll be fine. I can’t say the same for you, though.”

“I’m not scared of you,” she glared, doing her best to keep up her fearless front.

“Yeah, you are,” he chuckled. “You’re just good at hiding it.”

She hated knowing they were right.

~~~~~~

A/N: okay, so this is my first Batman fic ever so any feedback or comments would be appreciated, but even a simple reblog will be good too. Arkham Knight Jason just hits differently, you know? lmao I hope you guys enjoyed this, and keep up with what's next.

#batman #batman fanfiction #arkham knight #arkham knight series #jason todd #jason todd fanfiction #red hood #red hood fanfiction #jason todd angst #jason todd x oc

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