#and then a week later he shows up at the bat cave sobbing about a possible future timeline where he turned evil and destroyed the world

[tales-of-the-ghost-zone]

The anti ecto laws go into effect just before S2E2 “Doctors Disorders”. So when Danny’s entire class, including Sam and Tucker, becomes sick with ghost flu and start exhibiting ghost powers, the GIW swoop in and cart all the sick kids off to a GIW facility. They claim the kids are all ecto contaminated and therefore fall under the anti ecto laws! And the GIW aren’t concerned with trying to help the kids get better. Instead they’re experimenting on them. Danny knows he can’t get into the GIW facility to rescue them on his own without getting captured. So he does the only thing he can do, he goes to the Justice League for help.

The Justice League, and the Justice Dark are all together in the watchtower for a meeting when Danny shows up. He’s an absolute mess because his friends and classmates have all been taken by the GIW. And he latches onto the first person in the room that he sees. Which just so happens to be Batman. Now Batman has a sobbing hysterical ghost child clinging to him! Everyone is super confused. It takes them half an hour to calm Danny down enough that he can explain what the problem is.

When they find out about the anti ecto laws and what the GIW have done they are all horrified and pissed!! They immediately set out to rescue Danny’s classmates. And if they just so happen to accidentally destroy the GIW facility along the way well none of them are to broken up about it. After the kids are all rescued, cured from the ghost flu, and returned to their parents, the Justice League sets out to get the anti ecto laws repealed. They reveal to the whole world just what the GIW did to a whole class of innocent human children while using the anti ecto laws as cover to do it! The whole world is outraged! It only takes two days for the laws to be repealed, and for the GIW to be permanently disbanded.

A few days later Danny Phantom does a live tv interview where he answers questions about ghosts and the ghost zone. He hopes that this will help people better understand ghosts and their true nature.

[squishneedsahero]

The Comfort of A Mother

Awesomest of Them All 2.0

Part 11 of 13

Word Count: 1558

Batman x Batmom!Reader

You know what the bat family needs? Someone to pull them together and give them all the love they deserve. Who better to do that than you? An author rising to stardom in Gotham who catches the eye of a billionaire with your standoffish attitude at a huge social gathering. You are yourself and never pretend to be more or less than that. Plus you're the most stubborn person in the world, refusing to let good things go without reason.

This is a rewrite of my story Awesomest of Them All, I wanted to see how much I've improved over 3 years.

As soon as you and your family arrived back home Bruce dove head first into this case, sometimes going for a few days without talking to you more than once or twice. This was usually how things went when there was something big going on, and normally you'd make him pay attention to you at least one every few days. But this case felt different, you felt like he needed this time to work on this one. On top of that you were in the middle of editing another book you'd written so you were able to do something to keep yourself from feeling completely ignored.

It was for weeks on end that life went on like this, and you let it go on for a while, until you had almost finished with editing and noticed that it had been more than a few nights in a row that you had fallen asleep and woken up in bed alone. So tonight after three nights of sleeping alone, it reaches midnight and you make your way down to the cave, knowing your husband had been coming back for Damian to be able to get a reasonable amount of sleep because he had school on the morning, and you wait for him. When they finally arrive back home you're waiting for them, in your pajamas, leaning against the desk of the computer. You had already sent Tim up to bed and volunteered to take over while he got some sleep.

When they get home you give Damian a soft smile as you say, "Sleep well."

He nods in reply and makes his way to change before heading upstairs.

After he's gone you turn to face Bruce, "So, are you going to come to bed dressed like that, or would you like to change?" You cross your arms and give him a look to let him know you're serious about this. "Because as your wife I demand at least 16 hours of your full undivided attention, because it's been weeks."

"Alright, dear," with that he scoops you up in his arms and carries you to your bedroom, still fully dressed as Batman. Once you both make it upstairs he goes and changes into sweatpants and no shirt before coming and lying next to you where he sat you on the bed.

You can tell that he's tired since after he lies down he pulls you against his chest, wrapping his arms and legs around you protectively and doesn't even say anything to you. "I love you," you state and give him a kiss before snuggling fully into him.

--^--^--

You wake up to Bruce running his hand through your hair, and you open your eyes to see his face in front of yours. "Hi, handsome," you say tiredly.

He smiles softly and gives you a kiss, "good morning beautiful."

You smile and roll over so you're lying on top of him, and glance at the clock. "Well, it looks like I still get another four hours of your attention." With that you look back at him and kiss him deeply, and her slides his hands up your shirt against your back, holding you as close as possible, just wanting to feel your body.

--^--^--

A few hours later as you're lying against his side and tracing your fingers on his chest, he says, "Honey, there's something I need to tell you."

You tilt your head just enough to look at his face, "yeah?"

"The first night I didn't come to bed. It was because we were finally able to track down the Redhood. And, well, I'm not sure how to say this any better, The Redhood is Jason. Jason is alive."

You can hardly believe what it is he's telling you, you're just frozen there staring at him until finally you get yourself to ask, "Are you sure?"

"Yes, thats why I've waited this long to tell you. I needed to be sure for you."

Tears form in your eyes, as you look at your husband. He was serious very often but you had rarely ever seen him this serious, the last time you'd seen this look on his face was as he said 'I do'. He kisses you gently, and you can hardly believe it, your baby who you thought you had lost for these few long years was alive. "Why, do I feel like there is something to this you haven't told me? There has to be a reason he hasn't come here."

"There is... I don't know yet how he came back but he did. He's still recovering his memory. And, he's not the same as he was when we lost him, he's killing people... and I confronted him about it," he looks almost ashamed as he says the last part.

"So, now he's mad at you?" you guess, and his slight nod is enough of an answer for you. "Thats alright, we just need patience. You saw what it took for Damian to even come this far, for Dick to finally come back to us. We'll figure it out, him being alive just means we have that chance again," with that you kiss him to let him know you're serious.

--^--^--

You and Bruce had been invited to the policeman's ball for the GCPD and Bruce wasn't able to come so you had gone for the both of you, ugh. The ball was over so you were heading out to your car that was in the parking garage. As you're walking you keep thinking you hear another set of footsteps. They're subtle and anyone who wasn't married to the most paranoid man in the world wouldn't think it was anything, but you did. You kept walking confidently, trying to figure out where it was they were coming from, since there was no one else out here right now since you were leaving early.

As you get to your car the lights in that part of the garage go out. You freeze not moving to unlock your car, just waiting for whoever it was that had been following you to make the first move. You might be wearing a fancy dress and be in heels but that doesn't mean you can't kick ass if you need too. The first move you make is pulling your heels off, giving yourself a weapon, and making it easier in case you needed to run.

Theres a shuffle behind you and you spin around, only to be facing who you could only assume was Redhood, judging by his choice of headgear. You stay still, waiting for him to make the first move, praying that if it really was Jason he'd say something. Slowly he raises his hands, showing they're empty, and removes his helmet, and a mask from under that. Your breath hitches when you see him, he was older, he looked tired, but there was no mistaking him, "Jason," it comes out barely audible.

"Hi, Mama," thats it. That's all he says.

You pause for a split second before dropping your shoes, and taking a step towards him, holding your arms open, asking if it's alright for you to hug him. He closes the rest of the gap as soon as he sees that. And as soon as he's in your arms thats when you break, thats when you start to sob. You both stand there hugging each other tightly, and as you do you can feel him shaking slightly, but you don't say anything, knowing he just needs to let it out.

Eventually both of you pull away slightly, and you look up at him, he'd gotten so tall, but that doesn't stop you from giving him a motherly kiss on the forehead and holding his cheeks so you can look in his eyes. "Can I ask what happened, or not right now?" You ask this quietly as you look at his eyes, they aren't blue anymore they're an eerie shade of green, and they look hurt, he has this deep pain behind them that isn't just going to go away over night.

"Not right now, please, I just wanted to see you."

"Thats alright, my Jay-bear."

He seems a little startled by the nickname, it had been years since you'd called him that, since anyone had.

"What?" You say raising an eyebrow, "you know you'll always be my little Jay-bear even if you are taller than me now. Is it alright if I tell Bruce I saw you, or would you rather I didn't?" You ask this without explaining why you'd even wonder this.

A small smile comes to his face and he hugs you tightly once again. "You can, it'll be better than him figuring it out himself," a pause before letting go, "I should probably get going... I'll see you around though right ma?"

"Of course you will, my phone number hasn't changed it you need anything. And I can keep a secret at least for a while, so don't go sending me your address, but if you tell me when and where we can meet up." With that you hug him one last time and watch as he puts his mask and helmet back on and he makes sure you get into your car safely and as you head home he heads off into the night.

[wtfevenismypage]

Observer, Not Profiler PT4

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!reader

Summary: You’re similar to a profiler, but you can tell almost anything about a person just from a single glance. What they had for dinner, if they took a bath or shower, their name, favorite color, if they lie, even if they’re good in bed. You’ve been running from the government ever since you got caught hacking into their systems and since then you have been diagnosed with Extreme anxiety, anxious tics, and paranoia. But now the BAU need you’re help in Identifying killers.

Warnings: maybe a curse word or two, mentions of death, anxious/nervous ticking, tic attacks, mentions of rape, mentions of child rape, sassy Garcia

A/N: this is kinda just a filler chapter, the next one will be better!

Drums pound in your ears as you step into Hotch’s office. He used his serious voice to get you in there, which gave you unwanted anxiety. 

Thump thump. Your wrists bruise together as you step into Hotch’s office. His eyes dart up to yours, motioning for you to sit, which you do, sighing as your left palms claps against the arm of the chair.

“Yes sir?”

“You are going to be staying here with Garcia during our next case.”

Confusion poked your ribs, that wasn’t bad at all? Why was he so upset? It didn’t make any sense.

“Alright, is that all? You look upset...”

“An agent from the CIA is coming to observe your performance for this case only. Higher ups are still concerned that you will use the equipment here to get into the government, so they sent an agent to keep you supervised. He’ll try and give you a hard time so that you end up lashing out, but just keep your head down.”

Your eyebrows furrow. A CIA agent? They were sending an agent to keep you in check? You were shocked that they even cared at this point, that was a long time ago, and now you were just an anxiety riddled girl trying to start a new life.

“Oh... Um, I don’t know what to say... Why... They’re sending... Ugh...”

You groan as your neck twitches to the side aggressively. You could already tell that your tics were going to be a bitch until the case was done. 

“This isn’t ideal for any of us, I tried to convince them that this wasn’t necessary, but they refused to listen. I understand that this is going to add immense pressure to both you and Garcia, but I ask that you try your hardest to ignore him and his petty comments that he’ll most likely make.”

“Yes sir...”

He sighs, standing up and patting your shoulder.

“Let’s get to the round table.”

Less than two hours later, your sat next to Garcia in the bat cave, a tall and intimidating CIA agent standing at the doorway to watch your every move. It was distracting ad terrifying to say the least. 

He was originally standing directly behind you, but Garcia saw how purely uncomfortable you were and yelled at him to move back. She really was a savior.

“Alright my dearies, Mr. Paul Ways was married four times, has seven children that were taken from his custody, and has gone through ten dogs that all died within a year of being owned by him.”

Garcia spoke on the video-chat, everyone else on a jet. 

“His laptop is disgusting by the way, purely covered in filmed rape tapes being sold on the black market. Some of it is of children by the way, and the others are of girls that were barely over 18.”

The agent spoke up.

“Is that not illegal what you’re doing? Hacking into his laptop without his consent?”

You grimace, struggling to keep yourself from ticking. Garcia speaks up.

“The laptop actually wasn’t owned by him, it was owned by his husband who gladly gave us consent when he heard that we were trying to catch his husbands killer. Now please stop speaking, it’s taking away time that we don’t have.”

You smile at Garcia, who simply pats your shoulder once and turns back to her computer.

“What about the second victim?”

“That would be a resident arsonist Mr. Rickardson. He set four massive fires to buildings and got the security footage to watch it back. Ten people have died in total because of his fires. The footage of each person’s death was labeled and saved to his computer.”

“I hate to have to ask this, but watch the videos, all of them. Mark anything you can find.”

You groan as they hang up, clicking on the first video of the fire and watching every angle, trying not to turn your head in disgust as the screams of a burning woman fill your ears.

“Oh god... This is horrible...”

You say as you take in the victims information.

“She’s eighteen. Lisa. I can’t... She was... Oh god I’m gonna have a tic attack...”

You stand up and run out of the room immediately, ignoring Garcia’s concerned yells as you plop down on the floor, letting your tics take over. Your wrist slam against each other, your palms smack any wall they can find, and your head just keeps jerking to the side.

The door opens next to you, the condescending agent walking out.

“What are you doing?”

You whimper, knowing this is going to dampen your chances of staying with the team.

“I-I’m having a tic-tic attack... Just... Just le-leave me alone. Ple-please.”

He doesn’t budge, rather than shoo him off though, you opt for the smarter option, letting him witness your break down. And as soon as it’s over, you stands up, looking him in the eye with a furious glare.

“I hope that was as fun for you as it was for me.”

You whisper out before marching back into the computer filled room and plopping back down next to Garcia.

“I’m alright.”

You said it more to yourself than to Garcia, but you clicked on the video again, whimpering, but taking in everything you can.

This week is going to suck.

-

-

-

-

-

You click away at the keyboard of your computer, searching for a Mr. Paul Nees and any information you can find on him. 

“C’mon my sweet computer you, don’t start slowing down on me now.”

The CIA agent is still stalking over you, making sure you don’t ‘hack into the government’ A.K.A jabbing insults into your brain any chance he gets.

“I mean, a little girl like you? You won’t make it.”

You sigh out at his comments continue.

“Why are you so concerned with it? I mean it isn’t your life so, you shouldn’t be so concerned. I’ll survive.”

“You really think you’re gonna be able to survive with those freaky tics of yours?”

You try to make it seem like his words don’t affect you, but they hurt so bad, they seeped into your brain and stuck with you, making you groan as they swim in your mind.

-

-

-

-

-

You were right, it only got worse as the Agent’s constant condescending comments kept sneaking their way into your brain.

“A little girl like you? You won’t make it.” “You really think you’re gonna be able to survive with those freaky tics of yours?”

You had broken down into sobs many times over the week, desperate to avoid the man, but he was everywhere that you went. It was one of the worst two weeks of your life. 

“Just give me a few minutes to myself! Just a few minutes!”

You shout at the smirking agent, tears trailing down your face.

“Why would you need time alone? To hack into the government?”

That really set you off. You didn’t understand how someone so dumb was a CIA agent. It made no sense to you. 

“Are you fucking joking? I spend six years running and you think I’m just gonna up and do it again!? I’m human! I just want to spend a bit of time alone! How is this an issue!?”

“Because you hacked into the government. Of course we need eyes on you. I don’t understand it however. You seem harmless.”

That’s it. You finally crack.

“Oh I’ll fucking show you harmless.”

You lunge at him, trying to tackle him to the floor, but a body slamming into you stops you. You writhe on the floor under the heavy body, trying to get away.

“Y/N. Calm yourself down. Take a breath Y/N!”

It was Spencer, hearing his voice ring out in your ears made you less squirmy, but you were still breathing pure adrenaline. 

“He- I just! He kept!”

You could barely form coherent sentences as the smug smirk of the evil agent poisoned your brain.

“I know Y/N, I know, but you have to calm yourself down okay? I know it’s been rough with him all this time, but just calm down alright?”

You couldn’t stop the onslaught of tears and broken sobs that erupted, but goddammit you were going to try. You struggled to keep yourself from screaming out right then and there, but your brain gave you a second option.

Knock the fuck out dude.

So you did. You passed out right then and there, like no ones business.

-

-

-

-

-

You woke up with a panicky start. Not quite sure where you are at first, but as you look around you realize it’s an empty office. You’re laid out on a couch, a small blanket thrown on top of you.

“Hey, good morning.”

You look up at the voice, seeing Derek, Emily, and Spencer sitting on the table. Concerned expressions on their faces.

“What happened? Is that evil agent still here?”

Derek chuckles, but shakes his head.

“Nah, he’s gone. You managed to get off with a warning by the way. You can’t just attack agents like that Y/L/N.” 

You hang your head low, guilt climbing up your throat, or acid reflux actually. 

“I’m sorry. I was just... Just tired of his constant teasing and all of the comments he made... I know it was wrong, but I just couldn’t handle it anymore...”

There was a small silence, but it ended quickly when a second body sat next to you on the couch. It was Spencer. Spencer who, no matter what managed to stay calm around you and calm you down, Spencer who never raised his voice around you, Spencer who was always so patient with you, Spencer who was currently hugging you.

You tensed up when his arms wrapped around you initially, which made Spencer panic and almost pulls away, but when you sink into his warm chest, he relaxes, letting you cry into the crook of his neck. 

He knew this week was difficult for you, Garcia kept them all updated on how horrible it was, providing camera footage of the agent taunting you, and Spencer hated seeing you so distraught. 

Truth be told, when he saw you again in the interrogation room, his heart stopped at the sight of you. Yes, you looked like you hadn’t slept in years, and yes, you looked absolutely terrified to be there, but he was so entranced by your skill of knowing a person just by looking, he couldn’t notice how much of a mess you looked like.

You were beautiful in his eyes and that was that.

“It’s alright Y/N. You’re alright.”

And for the first time in six years, you believe it.

A/N: I realize that ending makes it seem like the actual end, but oh baby we’ve just begun!

Taglist:

@imsuperawkward @ithinkilovetruecrimetoomuch​ @l0ve-0f-my-life​ @hopebaker​ @thatsonezesty13​ @nightlygiggless​ @aberrant-annie​ @holybatflapexpert​ @spencerreidisbootiful​ @april-14-blog​ @jackryan-plz @kalebtheo​ @ajwantsapancake @lightswriting @emilouu @yourmisosoup @lizziebritish @101donuts @rainsong01 @pretty-boy-genius @squirrellover1967 @gublerstyles @delievia @boxofsparklingmuses @annestine @baby-i-am-fireproof @allthedumbassfandoms @irjuejjsaa @zhangyixingxing1 @madcrazy50 @maryhuffxoxo @unnuevosoltransformalarealidad @officialbogbody @m3lly-x @dark-night-sky-99 @eu-solidao @thupidalethea @bad-idea-personified @random-thoughts-003 @dr-reid-ismyspiritanimal

[lchufflepuffcorn]

Being the batmom

Author’s note: Okay so, Batmom here. I want to say that it was posted two days before on my patreon (you can check it out here). I’M also present on ko-fi if you prefer. You can also catch my masterlist here if you want to read more of my things. Please feel free to request or ask any question you’d like. 

Words: 2404

Warning: Fluff, a little of angst (it’s the batman fandom we’re talking about). English is not my first language. 

Dick is eight and orphaned when he's taken in by Bruce Wayne, millionaire and philanthrope of Gotham City. This, by the way, is very different from the circus the poor boy was taken from after his parent's death. Dick is not feeling good about being taken in by that cold and distant man, and even less with the wife he has and is giving him so many warm smiles. That woman is not on Dick's right side, it feels like she wants to take his mother's place, and his mother's corpse isn't even cold yet. He doesn't like that at all. 

When Dick tries to ask why Bruce as taken him in, the man either ignores him or tells him they'll talk about that at another time. And that Wayne's wife is still smiling warmly like his mother used to. He doesn't like it. 

But as weeks go by and months follows, Dick starts seeing the looks (Y/N) is giving her husband when he ignores her. Dick doesn't respond when she speaks to him if he ignores her, then she can't take his mother's place, can she? He can sometimes catch low voices talking about him when he walks in the manor's cold corridors. He'll never admit it, but he still gets lots most of the time. 

''He doesn't like me.'' Your voice says, and behind the nearly closed door, Dick stops walking to listen. 

''He just lost his mother, give him some time, darling.'' Respond Bruce, and Dick can see him rub your back tenderly. He never saw that type of affection between the two of you before.  

''But I've tried everything; he doesn't respond to me, even less look at me anymore. I don't know what else I can do.'' The sob in your voice makes Dick feel guilty, even more so because he knows that he's not supposed to hear this conversation. So he walks away without making sound and tries his best to go back to his room. 

It does take him some more months before he can talk to you without seeing his mother's face instead of yours, but at least he's not ignoring you anymore. That's around that time that he becomes Robin. 

And now he can see you fret. You're nervous when they leave, and you're ecstatic when they come back, he can catch you mutter angrily under your breath at Bruce when they come back with scratches and whatnots. For the first time in months, he feels warm. After it, he feels terrible for thinking of you as a good mother, because he feels like it's insulting his. 

Dick is fifteen when he first gets too close to experiencing death. ANd it's you again that makes him realize that. 

''Get him killed, why don't you!'' You growl in a whisper while bandaging Bruce in your room. ''We just got a kid, don't lose him just yet! I swear your worst than a child yourself.'' 

Dick sit's outside of your room to listen to you. Tonight's mission was particularly hard, and Bruce took a knife in the leg, pushing him out of the fight. So he wanted to thank him properly, and excuse himself. But your voice stopped the teenager from entering. 

''I won't let him get killed, (Y/N)...'' tries to say the man, but you cut him before he finishes his sentence. 

''You shouldn't have let him become your sidekick. It's too dangerous.''

''I had everything under control...'' tries Bruce again. 

''You had nothing -nothing- under your control, Bruce. Richard could have died.'' 

''Dick is a bright kid...''

''Exactly, he's a kid!'' 

Your voice is not a whisper anymore. You're screaming, and Dick feels the same drops in his stomach than when his birth parents were fighting while he was supposed to be sleeping. 

Dick is seventeen when his heart gets broken for the first time. And it's because of Bruce nonetheless. He feels betrayed and angry, and all he can think of is to leave the manor. He can't understand why Bruce would hide such a thing from him, his parent's killer. There's a part of him that wants to find a reasonable way to see that matter, but all the rest just want to punch the millionaire. That's when you come into the portrait. 

Dick comes into your room one night when Bruce is still working. It's been weeks since they both talked last. The boy feels like a child all over again when you just open your arms at him. 

''I'm sorry, Mom.'' It's the first time he calls you that. Your heart races for a little while at the word. But you don't ask questions even if you see his school bag balanced on his shoulder and the suitcase near your door. 

''It's okay, you have some friends with you? Do you need money?'' Is all you ask. You can't really expect him to stay. You can understand the feeling of being betrayed. You've already talked to Bruce about it, but you'll have to do it again, that man is stubborn. 

''Yeah, I just need some time.'' 

''It's okay.'' Dick wiggles out of your embrace, but before he can leave the bedroom, you call for him again. ''If you need anything, call me at any time, okay?''

Your boy just smiles and nods before exiting. 

It's one or two years later that Bruce comes home with, let's say, a surprise. You were consulted before Dick entered the family, but now, apparently, it's just a way to numb Bruce's pain from missing your son. Dick still calls you, and you go around for breakfast most of the time, but Bruce and Dick are not on talking terms just yet. 

The teenager Bruce brings back during the night is the same. He told you tried to steal the Batmobile tyres the week before. Are you feeling safe, not really, but Bruce seems to think he can help the boy, so you figure 'why not.' You're thirty-six now, and the boy doesn't look much older than Dick was when he was adopted. 

As it's what the boy names himself, Jason is broody and, as a harsh, looks in his eyes, but your smile doesn't falter. 

He gets comfortable around you. Comfortable enough to let you play with his hair when he has nightmares, let you hug him before he leaves for school, or for a mission and comfortable enough to sleep with his head on your shoulder while Bruces drives you from a party that the Wayne Enterprise held. Jason his a mama boy, and it shows, but he doesn't take well that you try to give him rules to follow. 

It's Bruce who has more difficulties with that. 

You try to talk to both of them, but each time, it's about the same answers. 

''But, mom, I don't understand why we just arrest hi. He gets out every time! And he ends up hurting more people than the last time.'' 

''Jason, I can understand why you're frustrated about that. But life doesn't work that way. Murder is murder, even if the Joker is a bad person.'' 

Usually, that's enough for Jason to huff and leave the room until dinner. 

When you try talking to Bruce about it, that's when it gets tricky. 

''Maybe you could talk to him about it? He's still a kid after all...'' 

Bruce only shrugged. 

''You think I don't try? He's not mature enough to understand. Dick understood...''

''Dick saw his parents get killed, but he too was angry when you lied about Zucco.'' You're angry now. It's always like this when Bruce talks about Jason, he's not as good as Dick, Dick was better, Dick was this, Dick was that. ''Jason is not Dick, Bruce, they're different.'' You leave your husband to the darkness of the bat-cave, so he can reflect on your words, once again. Sometimes, it's just better that way. 

Contrarily to Richard, Jason is not one to take pictures with you, but you have some that were not made by journalists. They rest with Dick's photos on the principal living room's chimney, where you're always found reading or watching TV or painting and drawing. The one that has big windows and a magnificent view of the garden. 

 That's typically where Jason would find himself after a hard night of vigilanting with Bruce. He's tired, the mission that the Young Justice League just achieved had been both emotionally and physically tiring, and all your boy wants is a hug. That's how Bruce finds both of you in the living room, you, currently watching a TV show and Jason, head buried in your shoulder, practically sitting on your laps while your fingers were playing with a string of his hair. 

Bruce called you on his way back from Ethiopia. And you cried a lot that night and the whole week after too. You can't bring yourself to look at the coffin, he's so small. 

You can't talk to Bruce for a while, the mear thought of being in the same piece as he makes you want to cry. It's not Bruce's fault that Jason died, but he could have prevented it, and as a mother, you need to deal with your child's death alone. 

Bruce's too changes after Jason's death, for example, his nightly missions are becoming even more bloody. That's when Dick calls you. 

''Mom, I really think Bruce needs therapy.'' 

''You and I both, baby bird.'' 

You talk for sometimes before a voice cuts into your conversation. 

''Who's that, Richard?'' 

''That, Mother, would be the next Robin.'' Your heart sinks toward your heels as you rise from your seat. 

''Bruce doesn't want another. I don't want another... accident myself.'' 

There's a moment of silence on the line before Dick sighs. 

''Just give Tim a chance, okay.'' You mumble under your breath, agreeing. 

Tim is different from the others. For one, he has living parents. But that doesn't stop him from calling you his mama. When you ask, he answers that he calls his mother, mom, but you're his mama, because you chose him. He takes Jason's place in the Young Justice League, just like Jasons did with Dick. 

That's until his mother dies and his father falls into a coma. Then Tim comes live with you for some time. Dick comes and goes at the same time, he starts talking to Bruce once more again. They're not as friendly as they once were, but Dick's smile brings back Tim's, so Bruce is happy about it too. Tim is the antidepressant that Bruce needed. Your husband did not see a therapist like you asked, but Black Canary tells you that he is way better than he once was. 

Tim's father comes back from his coma, and he leaves your house to go back with him. Once again, your life becomes grey. Still, Dick and Barbara come once in a while to talk with you, and Alfred is actually very good at playing chess. Then, Tim's father dies too, and he comes back to the manor. You're thirty-seven now. 

''Do you think we'll have children who are not traumatized by death and want to become like you?'' You ask one night as Bruce is getting ready to join you in bed. Even in the bathroom's dim light, you can see the bruises that he seems to collects on his back and arms and legs. Also, his chest seems covered in blue discolorations. 

What you're not aware of are Tim's microchips as installed all around the house and that he's listening. 

''Why, you don't like the lifestyle?'' Question's Bruce back, a smirk on his lips. 

Tim focuses on the sound coming from your bedroom, he's suddenly curious. From the news and the way Dick talks about you, you're a really nice woman, and Tim's experience with you proves it, but he wants to know more about what you think of this lifestyle like Bruce said. 

''You know what I mean...'' you start again, but Tim can hear the smile in your voice. ''I just think that they shouldn't be heroes. They're children... it's a dangerous lifestyle.'' 

Bruce sighs and comes to join you on the bed, but just like you are under the covers, he's on top of them. He kisses your nose gently before rolling to his place next to you. 

''I never forced any of them, you know.'' 

''I know.'' Your hand brushes again, his chest tenderly. '' It's just that I never thought having children would be this dangerous. I just want a normal family...'' 

At that, Bruce only answers by bringing your hand to his mouth and kiss it. 

That night is when Red Hood appeared. 

It was all crazy time between Red Hood and apparently Jason was back, and Tim was angry at Bruce, and now Bruce had a blood-related child of his own? Now that you didn't take it very well. And Bruce couldn't really explain either. But the kid seems to find you interesting. 

First of all, Grayson talk only kindly about you, so of course he's curious, not that he gives much concern about what Dick thinks. Though he's not home often, Jason is always lovely with you, weakness, but at the same time, you do have a gorgeous smile that makes the child want your hugs too. Tim -now, Tim is not Damian's favourite, but he does have some interest. And Tim is head-over-heels about you. 

Most of all, the three boys call you a variant of 'mother,' Barbara is always smiling when she comes home, and you're there, which is not the case when it's only his father, and Alfred had nothing but good things to say about you when he asked. 

Damian's pretty sure that you're the one who made his father agree about the cow he's keeping. But there are still no shreds of evidence of this certitude yet. 

Damian's still trying to see up to where he can push things with you. As of yesterday, when he called you 'Umi' and you didn't react except for answering, ''Yes?'' he still doesn't know if it's because you were the only one in the room so you answered or if it's because you know what that word means. So he'll have to experiment again. 

In short, being the Batmom is being a nervous wreck who likes hugs and is full of patience for both your husband and children. 

[flying-nightwing]

Sing Me to Sleep

Haha I’m legit crying good luck with this one if you cry easily like me. So basically this is me evacuating stress by writing a god damn tragedy once again. Don’t worry tho I gave you a little break at the end so you don’t think I’m cruel. Anyway Siri play Quit Playing Games with my Heart by the Backstreet Boys.

Masterlist in bio // pinned post

Pairing: siblings Jason x reader

Word count: 2547

Warnings: dealing with death/grief, language

Summary: You’ve taken so much with you // but left the worst with me (insp.)

You knew something was wrong when Bruce came back from patrol without Jason. His head was low, and he refused to meet your eyes. In fact, he had avoided you altogether. You were kindly but firmly escorted out of the cave by Alfred as the Bat came back, and that confirmed that the night had definitely gone awry. You waited, waited and waited, biting your nails, pulling your hair, until the sun came up and took its place well up in the sky. You were tired and sleepless, but you couldn’t close your eyes. You were nervous, not knowing what was going on. A thousand scenarios ran into your mind, yet none of them prepared you for the solemn expression that was painted over Bruce’s face when he finally came up the batcave later in the morning. He had dark circles under his eyes, contrasting over the red around his iris. You stopped breathing. 

Bruce wasn’t the one to express emotion, so it was bad. Even without words, especially without words, it told you everything you needed to know. He placed a hand on your shoulder, squeezing lightly, and your heart sank.

“No” You muttered, trying to catch his glance. He wouldn’t let you in. “That’s impossible”

“I’m sorry kid” His voice cracked, but was quickly covered with a clearing of his throat. 

“That can’t be…”

He walked away. Your legs shaked, and you had to hold on the wall not to fall. You couldn’t let yourself believe anything bad happened to Jason. He was your big brother, the one person you looked up the most to. Your vision blurred with tears. He couldn’t be gone, no, he always came through. He was strong and resilient, and you still believed it was just a terrible, terrible nightmare. But unfortunately, you were still aware and no amount of pinching your skin and biting your cheek to draw blood could change that. 

You let yourself fall on the ground, right beside the piano. Your chest heaved, the tightness restricting your lungs from expanding enough to give you air. You recognized the symptoms of a panic attack, but you couldn’t stop it. Usually, Jason would be there to help you calm down. He would always be there to do breathing exercises with you, or distract you from your spiralling down. He was good at that, he understood you better than anyone here in the manor. 

You had a similar story, so there was no surprise at all you bonded so quickly. Dick was almost jealous of the relationship you had with Jason. Bruce adopted you after your trip to juvie for shoplifting instant noodles and gatorade for the third time. You were only fourteen back then, and Bruce bailing you out saved your life. There were a lot of things you didn’t expect from this life, but what you truly didn’t see coming was to have someone who related to you in this new life. From day one, you got along with Jason. You were angsty and brooding and confrontational, and instead of frowning at you, he gave you tips on how to make it all even more effective. In a matter of weeks, he became your best friend. He taught you everything he knew about the Manor, about how to navigate the life of a Wayne. You used to sneak outside during galas and functions to smoke cigarettes he never told you where he got, bitching on the guests and on how ridiculous it all was. You would be miserable together at some points, but it was better than being miserable alone. 

At least he understood. 

You thought about the last words you exchanged before he went on patrol last night. Could you even remember what you said? It was something banal, you knew it. Probably a dumb joke, or words that didn’t matter at all. What if it was the last thing you said to him? Ever? It couldn’t be it. 

“Miss (Y/N)?” 

You looked up to Alfred, who was standing in front of you with a concerned frown. His eyes held an infinite amount of sadness, but he was doing his best to stay strong. 

“He’ll come back, won’t he?” You asked, still hopeful. You had to be.

“Master Todd--” For a second there he threatened to come undone, but he composed himself, for your sake probably. “The Joker was involved. He… There was an explosion”

You felt a hot tear roll down your cheek. Alfred looked away.

“There was nothing Master Wayne could do” He shook his head, his voice slightly higher than usual. “I am so sorry, Miss (Y/N)”

You tried, god knows you tried to stay strong. That’s what he would have told you, to hold your head up and battle through it all. But you weren’t him and now he was gone for real. The dam made of denial you had put up to hold the emotions at bay broke in a thousand pieces, suddenly flooding you with the sharpest pain you ever felt. 

Bruce would never tell you, but the cry of agony you let out at that moment made his own tears fall off in cascades again.

---

The funeral had been kept small and away from prying eyes. 

The last thing Bruce wanted was for the paparazzi to show up and turn it into a tabloid. He had been very pragmatic in the last days, almost like nothing had happened. But you knew. He was just better at hiding his grief. You hadn’t talked to anybody ever since that night, not even Alfred despite knowing he didn’t deserve your silence. He was hurting too, but your pain was crippling. The only reason you even got out of bed and showered was to pay your last respects to Jason. Not even to him, to a closed casket and a headstone. Was there even enough left of him to bury a body? You had no idea. Bruce didn’t speak about it. You didn’t want to know either. 

The sky had opened minutes after the burial ceremony. You stood at the back of the small crowd composed of Bruce, Alfred and Dick, far enough so they couldn’t be tempted to look at you with pity, or worse, ask you to say some words. The black headstone in the manor’s backyard was taunting you, reminding you you were once again all alone. 

Here rests Jason Todd

Loving son and brother

It wasn’t fair. You wanted to scream and the sky, so loud you would make the thunder seem like a whisper. It wasn’t fair. You had never felt such pain before, not when your mother bailed, not when you learned your father was found dead in his car. Your adopted brother was the closest family you had, you loved him so much and now he was gone, just like that.

You tore your eyes from the gravestone when you heard your name being spoken close to you. You hadn’t even noticed Dick approaching, let alone him stopping that close you, his black umbrella overlapping yours. His eyes were red and puffy, and he didn’t even try to hide it. You had forgotten Jason was his brother too. 

“You should come back inside” His voice was wavering, hiccuping here and there. Only then you noticed everybody else was gone. “You’ll catch a cold”

You shook your head. 

“I need time alone with…” You couldn’t finish your sentence. But he understood. He simply walked away, leaving you under the rain to give one last formal goodbye. 

You walked to the foot of the still open hole in the ground, staring at the dark wooden coffin laying at the bottom that remained undisturbed by the cold of the morning. For a while you didn’t talk, because you didn’t want to but also because you couldn’t. There was this lump in your throat that stole from you your restrain on your emotion. You couldn’t even start to describe what you were feeling, as everything was spinning so fast in your head. You were dizzy and wanted off, but unfortunately, you had no control on anything. You had little else choice than to be a victim of your own inability to process the death of a loved one. So when you could finally speak, you were surprised, but not really, that what came out was anger.

“Fuck you Jason” It came off weaker out loud than how you felt it inside, like a tidal wave crashing on a rock before it could reach the shore. “Why did you leave me alone?”

Your tears joined the pouring rain in their symphony. 

“You knew how much you meant to me, you knew!” You flexed your frozen fingers on the handle of the umbrella. “And you still left me. I hate you!”

Your words fueled your sobbing. Your hand flew to your mouth, regretting instantly what you said. Jason didn’t deserve those harsh words you didn’t mean, but your chest was heavy and it was the only thing that would come out. You felt restricted even in the large field, like you were in the coffin instead of him. Maybe you should have been. Maybe if you had accepted Bruce’s offer to join the vigilante life, maybe you would have been with him, maybe you could have even saved him. He didn’t leave you, you left him. It was your fault, not his. Why did you say you hated him? Now you hated yourself.

“I’m so sorry Jason” You couldn’t even hear the words you were saying, but you felt the urge to speak them anyway. “I’m so sorry. I don’t, I don’t hate you. I just miss you so fucking much. I don’t know what I’ll do without you around. You’ve taken everything good in this world with you, and left the worst out here with me. You’re gone, and I’m still here. You always told me to be strong, but I can’t, not without you. I’m not sure I can do this, Jason. I could have learned so much more from you, but what’s left now? I just wished I could talk to you one more time, tell you how much you changed my life for the better. Just give you one more hug, even though you pretended you hated it because that's how a brother acts. Learn one more dumb self defense move. Steal your snacks one more time, so you can be mad at me but still make sure you buy extra for me. You thought I didn’t know you were never really mad. How can I steal your snacks now, if you’re not there to catch me in the act?”

You paused to breathe, the action now a little easier. Your tears had stopped and so did the rain, leaving a thick, cold mist hanging above the dewy grass. His absence was a permanent ache on your side, his soul felt so far away even though his body was right in front of you. The lid of the coffin acted as the veil in between the living and the dead, a veil you couldn’t see through. You wondered if he was on the other side, and if he was, whether or not he was as lost and scared as you, searching for a familiar face in all this fog. The best you could hope now was for him to be at peace. 

“I know you had a hard time believing anybody could love you” You sighed, calmer now. “But I did. I’ve looked up to you from the moment I met you. You were my hero. I guess… I guess I just wanted you to know that. I’m sorry I never told you out loud, I should have but now it’s too late. I just hope you knew that you were the most important person to me, and that I will miss you every remaining day of my life. Thank you Jason, for everything you gave me. I wish I had the time to repay the favour while I still had the time. I’m so sorry”

You stayed there until sundown.

---

Every morning for five years you visited Jason’s grave, every morning but this one. You woke up late for a final, barely having the time to dress up and steal a bagel from the kitchen. You told yourself you would visit it tonight, that it was no big deal. Dick barely went anymore, and Bruce liked to ignore it was even there. Still, you knew he thought about it from time to time, by how he looked through the windows on rainy days. But still, it felt wrong not to go talk to him even just a little bit. I stayed at the back of your mind for the entire duration of the final. 

The smog provided a thick blanket over gotham, but the sun, ever so resilient, managed to peek through the yellow-ish cover to warm the concrete jungle that was Gotham. Your exam was your only appointment of the day, so you allowed yourself to read a book in the metro that brought you back to the outskirts of the city. Coincidently, it was one of Jason’s favourites. You had already gotten through his entire collection, but this was the one that stuck out the most to you. The wagon was only half full, so you sat next to the window to take advantage of the rare golden light that seemed to only increase the farther you got from the inner city.

Without tearing your eyes from the words in front of you, you got off at the last stop and jogged down the platform’s stairs until you reached your car. Only then you put the book aside and drove back the short way to the manor. You picked the book again when you got off, slowly walking around the house, drinking the words like water in the desert. Your feet walked on their own the way to the small Wayne graveyard, a way they already knew without needing your guidance. However, they stopped when you noticed a tall figure standing exactly where you usually would. Your eyes left the page, squinting at the stranger. It wasn’t Bruce, and it wasn’t Dick, despite the similar black hair. He had heard you coming, you recognized the subtle shift in the posture you observed your vigilante family do countless times. 

“Hello?” You decided to call. “Can I help you?”

He froze. You didn’t understand why, until he turned his shoulder and stared at you with wide, hopeful eyes. You held your breath as you searched his familiar features. It wasn’t the face you remembered, and his eyes didn’t hold the same wonder they did before, but you could still recognize the character in them anytime. At first you didn’t believe it, you pinched yourself a hundred times over in a minute, bit the inside of your cheek until it bled, but he was still standing there, baffled as you were, searching your face for familiarity just as you did him. 

“Jason?”

He gave you a half smile, but it was all you needed. Your eyes teared up as you chuckled in disbelief, pushing aside the questions you had for him and running into his arms.

[goldandbluesmiles]

Joker’s Killer

Chapter 1: What do we do now?

Summary: In the end, it’s not Batman that kills the Joker. It’s Bruce Wayne.

May 29, 1:19: Bruce Wayne walked into Arkham undetected by any security cameras or guards

May 29, 1:25: Bruce Wayne entered Joker's cell.

May 29, 1:35: A guard realized that the hysterical laughter and gurgling from the clown's cell weren't just for show.

May 29, 1:37: Bruce Wayne was found standing over Joker's body with a steel bar in his hand, Joker's head bashed in.

XXX

Note: This is an A/B/O fic though the only tropes that are focused on are the protective omega parent and bonding.

TW: Non-consensual bonding (It’s an a/b/o fic)

Ao3

Chapter 2

xxx

No No No

Please Don't

"Little Birdie. You won't get away this time,"

Pain. Blood. Laughter. Hysterical cackling.

"Come on! Come on Little Birdie. Your turn. Take a bite!"

No NO NO NONONONO

Pain. So much pain. Painpainpainpain.

Jason tumbled home, assaulted by his memories and barely keeping himself upright. How he got from the cafe to his safehouse without someone stopping him was a mystery but one that he was grateful for.

Once he got inside, Roy was there, helping him up and calming him down.

"Jesus Jay! What the fuck happened?"

And really, Jason couldn't blame for the shock in his tone. He had gone out to have a late lunch with Bruce and while they still had their disagreements, the two omegas rarely had any problems outside of their vigilante personas. And even those were small, resolved within an hour.

Jason should not be coming back from lunch this out of it, barely reeling in his scent of distress.

"Jason! Come on talk to me! Don't make me call the Bat,"

Jason took a shuddering breath at that and tried to talk, tried to get something around the clog out of his throat.

"He asked- the bite-he-he"

"And you told him about the bite?" murmured Roy, gently leading him to the couch

Jason nodded.

"Jason," said the alpha, voice low and soothing, "What did Bruce do?"

Jason tried to answer but dissolved into sobs just thinking of the blank look the older omega had gotten.

"He left, Roy! He just left," whimpered Jason, "I told him what that thing did to me and he just got up and left. Didn't even say anything! Why would he do that, Roy? How could he just leave?!"

Roy's arms tightened around him.

"He said, he promised- He's my dad, he's supposed to-supposed to- take care of me! He just left me there, Roy!"

Jason could smell he anger starting to come off of the alpha. Anyone else, Jason would be getting ready for a fight but this was different. Roy was the one alpha who's scent didn't make him run. Even Dick had to reign himself in around Jason, but not Roy. Roy was the one alpha Jason knew would never hurt him, knew his anger was for him and not at him.

"We're going to fix this. Remember the plan. Next time he comes out we'll kill him and you'll be free," said Roy and Jason sunk low into the promise, let the words wash over him and calm him down. They had a plan, they would fix this.

"And screw the Bat," added Roy

Yeah, screw the Bat.

xxx

Bruce didn't come back for dinner. Alfred was not particularly worried.

The only time the man felt compelled to come home was when Damian was there and the young boy was spending the weekend with his eldest brother. Timothy was also with his friends. With the house empty of any children and Bruce having been banned from the cave by Alred for a forced 'vacation of vigilantism' it wasn't a surprise that the Master had opted to stay out a little longer, maybe gallivanting around the city with Selina Kyle.

Good for them. They needed some time together. She was a good influenced on him.

He got the call at 6:38 PM.

"Hi, Alfred. It's Jim. I'm so sorry about this. If I had been told right away I would have called much earlier-"

"Commissioner, if you could please get to the point," said Alfred, dread rising in him

The man on the other end of the line took a deep breath.

"Bruce Wayne had been arrested for the murder of Jack Napier, otherwise known as Joker,"

xxx

Dick and Damian were the last to arrive at the manor.

"He really did it?" Dick asked Alfred as Cass whisked their little brother away

"So it would seem," said Alfred

"This has to be a mistake!" Damian yelled from the other room, "Father wouldn't do that! Batman doesn't kill!"

"Except it wasn't Batman that did it," said Stephanie, sounding almost regretful.

Dick decided to intervene before the whole thing blew up in everybody's faces.

"Look, guys," he said stepping into the room, "As far as Jim's told us and Barabra has confirmed, Bruce was found standing over Joker's body and there was no one else there,"

"So he really did it?" murmured Tim from where he was curled up with Cass.

"Where's Todd?" said Damian, swiftly directing his anger and confusion elsewhere, "I thought he would be here singing and dancing out of happiness,"

Dick looked over to Alfred who just shrugged.

"Master Bruce was supposed to meet Master Jason for lunch. I held off from informing him. I thought it might be a good idea to figure this out first,"

"Father was meeting him for lunch," said Damian, "Well obviously something happened!"

Dick sighed, "Damian-"

"Uh guys," said Stephanie, "Leslie says to turn on the TV,"

The TV in the room was turned on and the first thing that popped up was-

Billionaire Murders Joker in cold Blood

Click

"Bruce Wayne-"

Click

"The Joker had been-"

Click

"Arkham inmate-"

Click

"Shit," muttered Damian. No one scolded him about his language.

"What do we do?" murmured Tim

Dick took a deep breath. It was time to take charge. He could freak out later.

"Everyone chooses someone to call fro the league before we blow up with calls, then Alfred and I will talk to Jim. I'm gonna ask Barbara to go meet Bruce and I'm going to talk to Jason myself. He was the last one of us that talked to Bruce and considering everything, there is no way that's just a coincidence,"

As everyone started to disperse, Dick held Damian back.

"What?" said Damian

"I know this is scary and confusing-"

"Master Jason!"

Dick stopped and looked up to see Jason standing in the doorway. The first thing that registered was the smell. He reeked of an Omega in distress. The second thing Dick noticed was how dishevelled he looked. Hair sticking up, red nose, puffy unfocused eyes.

"Jason wait up!" someone called from behind Jason and Dick straightened as Roy came into view.

"I tried to get him to call first," said Roy, "But he got really worked up and Dick-"

"It's my fault," said Jason

"What?"

"Jay we talked about this-"

"No!" said Jason, starting to tremble in Roy's arms, "It's all my fault, my fault, all my fault, my fault, my fault, my fault,"

Dick quickly moved toward his younger brother as Roy and Jason slid to the ground.

"Jay I'm gonna touch you," said Dick and when Jason nodded Dick carefully curled into the side Roy wasn't on.

"What do you mean it's all your fault?" asked Dick

"I told him," said Jason, "I told him about the bite. Joker's bite,"

Dick froze. He heard a soft gasp from where the rest of his siblings had also gathered back in the room.

"Jason," whispered Dick, devastation colouring his voice, "Jason, are you saying..."

Jason whimpered and tucked his head against Roy's chest.

"Jason," and that was Damian coming closer to them, "Jason can I sit with you?"

Damian kept his voice soft and low, almost childlike compared to his usual gruff and formal way of talking. When Jason sought out the voice, Dick realized what his little brother was doing. While the teenage omega wasn't a pup anymore he was still young enough to elicit a reaction from his oldest omega brother.

"Dami?" said Jason, eyes coming into focus for the first as he looked at his little brother

"I want to sit with you but the floor isn't very comfortable," said Damian, "Maybe we could move to the couch and maybe get some blankets to get warm?"

Jason blinked a few times and then nodded, making a small motion with his hands. Damian nodded and carefully tucked himself against Jason's front. As soon as Jason calmed down, the rest of the family leaped into action. This part they were all very good at. In less than five minutes the carpeted floor had been turned into a small nest with Jason in the middle and everybody else cuddling around him.

"Tell them," murmured Roy once everyone had settled down

Slowly, ever so slowly, Jason started telling the story of what had happened last time Joker had been apprehended. How Joker had taken him alone, and how the alpha had bitten him and then forced him to bite back.

"It was awful," muttered Jason, "He kept hitting me and hitting me and I didn't want to but there were other people in the room and I just-"

He choked off with a sob and Damian gently nuzzled his cheek.

"He made me bite him and bond. He made me-"

Jason stopped, crying too hard to continue.

"It's okay," said Tim, "It's okay,"

Jason just cried harder.

Dick knew the story from there. Bruce and he had dropped off Joker at Arkham. They had tried to get Jason back at the cave but Artemis and Roy had already been there and while none of the bats particularly liked their explosive way of doing things, they had to admit the Outlaws had Jason's back.

So they had let him go and then Jason had called them, saying he was fine but needed some time. That was three weeks ago and while they had stayed in communication via text, none of them had seen him.

Until Bruce today.

"I wasn't gonna tell Bruce," said Jason, once his sobs quieted down, "I wasn't gonna tell him but he saw the mark and he started teasing me about it and I just...snapped, telling him about the Joker-I still can't believe no one heard us and he got this weird look and then he just walked away and I was mad and hurt and dizzy and I-I should've-should've gon' af'er him. I should-"

Jason dissolves into sobs again and Dick could only rub his arm.

What else is he supposed to do?

xxx

It's late when he finally called Barbara.

"I don't know how to say it so I'm just gonna come out with it," said Barbara, "He did it, Dick. There's no other way around it. He used his training to get around the security system and he seems pretty out of it like he's on autopilot. Almost catatonic but he most definitely did it,"

Dick sighed, "Thanks Barbara,"

"Dick," she said quietly, "Do you need me to come over?"

Dick shook his head, looking to where Roy and Kori were sitting together at the other end of the cave, having left Jason to the rest of the family.

"No, I'm good," said Dick, "Your dad's gonna need you. We also need someone to deal with Wayne Enterprises and the Press and it's not gonna be us with the mental space everyone is in now. Coordinate with Lucius?"

"Yeah," said Barbara, "I'll get on it. Take care of yourself, Dick,"

"You too," said Dick and then hung up after a quick goodbye.

"So?" asked Roy as he went to sit near them

"He did it," murmured Dick, "He did it. God!"

It was only when Kori put her arms around him that he realized how badly he was shaking.

"Hush, Dick," said Kori as she pulled him close. Roy moved to his other side and gently started rubbing his back.

"We were going to kill him," Roy said after a while, "Me and Artemis. We had a plan. Next time Joker broke out, we would make sure he died, severe the bond. Artemis wanted to break into Arkham to do it but we decided it would be too much exposure,"

"But then Jason went to meet Bruce and..."

"He probably thought it was a sex mark," said Dick

Dick remembered when he had first started having sex. He had come down many times with a 'temporary' bite mark and Bruce had teased him every time he had seen it. Still did it sometimes.

"That makes sense," said Roy, "And then Jason told him the truth and he snapped,"

"Maybe he went into that state you speak of," said Kori, "When an Omega is protecting their pup,"

"Maybe," said Dick, too tired to even think of the logistics. Thank God for Alfred otherwise, he would still be up there comforting his siblings. It'll probably be his job to do it in the days, weeks, maybe even months to come but for now, he just need a minute, a little time to breathe, he needed-

He needed Bruce. Bruce would know what to do.

Except Bruce wasn't there.

"What are you going to do?" Roy asked in a soft voice

He didn't know. He had no idea what he was going to do.

And then finally, Dick let himself cry as Roy and Kori pulled him close.

[stealthy-like-a-ninja]

A Silent Vow

Where Steve reflects on what has happened and what’s to come.

Pairing: Steve Harrington x Henderson!reader

Steve laid back down beside you and let out a sigh. Although he was ridiculously tired, he just couldn’t fall asleep.

The lamp on your bedside table flickered a few times beside him, indicating its need for a new light bulb sooner rather than later, while Sting’s soothing voice played quietly from the record player that sat on top of your dresser. He lost count of how many times he’d gotten up to restart your vinyl copy of Synchronicity by that point but didn’t really care as he mindlessly tapped along to the rhythm and stared at the ceiling.

He was pretty sure that he was the only one awake in the house, seeing how late it was. Ms. Henderson had gone to bed fairly early that night while you and he were cuddled up on the couch watching Grease with Dustin. It was your turn to pick the movie so neither he or Dustin really had a choice in the matter, but your little brother still made sure to express his annoyance in not being able to watch A New Hope again as he flopped into the lazy-boy recliner and grumpily stuffed his mouth full of popcorn.

Once the movie concluded, Steve was reluctant about not waking you from the peaceful slumber you had dozed off into so that the two of you could go up to bed. Dustin, on the other hand, was less considerate and wasted no time in throwing a pillow at your head so that you’d get up.

“We’re helping the Byers’ and El move tomorrow, and I don’t want to listen to you complain about how sore you are because you slept on the couch all night,” your little brother grumbled as he climbed out of the chair. Steve was about to scold him for being a dickhead, but didn’t get the chance to before Dustin muttered a quick goodnight to the two of you and made his way upstairs to his bedroom because she was tired; even though you all knew he was really just calling his girlfriend, Suzie.

You and Steve, however, followed suit and made the trek up to your bedroom as well, deciding to call it a night with just how exhausted the two of you were.

It didn’t take long for you to fall asleep with how drainingly busy you had been. It was your last year at Hawkins High School along with Nancy, and you had been up to your ears in homework and extracurriculars. However, even with all the time you spent studying and doing other things, you never let Steve or any of your friends fall under the radar. You helped him create a new resume that he was to use to apply to jobs with Robin the following day, drove Dustin and the rest of the party to and from school almost every day, and insisted that you’d help with whatever the Byers’ would need as they prepped for their departure from Hawkins in the upcoming weeks.

Although you tried to hide it, Steve (and everyone else) was able to see right through your facade of not being too upset over the Byers’ and Eleven moving away. Jonathan was one of your oldest friends, Will and Eleven were two more little siblings you never had; as were the rest of the party, and Joyce was very much a motherly figure to you and always had been. It was only natural that you’d see them off despite how tired and worn out you truly were.

As the next song started playing from the record player, you unconsciously snuggled closer to your boyfriend, and he couldn’t help but grin warmly. You looked so peaceful. However, Steve couldn’t help but think about how that was a completely different story leading up to the events that occurred three months earlier. Soon leading him to let his thoughts begin swarming.

To say that you and Steve had been through a lot would be an understatement. In fact, the two of you had basically been dragged through hell and back, but still managed to function as if nothing had happened. Well, almost. A lot occurred since the two of you started dating around Christmastime the year prior, not to mention everything that happened before that too.

Soon enough, Steve was overcome with the fresh memories of his entire relationship with you.

The two of you always knew each other, Hawkins was incredibly small after all, but you were never really close. However, that all changed in the fall of 1983 when Will and your friend Barb were sucked into the Upside Down, and the first Demogorgon wreaked havoc on your beloved town... The stupid thing almost got you too, but Steve came out of nowhere with that nail-filled bat of his during that fight.

After that, things were quiet, and life resumed as regularly as it possibly could. Steve started seeing you a lot more, thanks to the budding friendship you formed with Nancy after losing Barb, Dustin’s friendship with her younger brother Mike and fighting the monster from the Upside Down together. You, her, and Jonathan grew insanely close after everything, which naturally led to Steve being around much more often as well since he and Nancy were still dating.

After what Nancy said to Steve at the party, he was crushed, but you were there. You went out of your way to try to cheer him up because you refused to pick sides when it came to him and Nancy. He appreciated it more than he could explain, and couldn’t help but notice a warm fuzzy feeling that formed whenever he was around you after that.

He never acted on those feelings, though. Instead, he tried to bury them deep down in hopes they would never surface; but, things changed once Dustin unknowingly brought home a cat-eating, future Demogorgon called Dart.

Steve soon got a firsthand look at just how badass you were when the two of you fought off the demodogs in the old junkyard after you demanded that the Dustin stayed on the bus with Max and Lucas. You naturally had each other’s backs during the whole thing and him fighting with his bat, and you with your trusty crowbar sure put a dent in those bastards from the Upside Down.

Billy showing up at the Wheeler’s house after the junkyard was probably one of Steve’s least favourite memories that you were involved in. It wasn’t because of how he got royally beat up, even though that sucked, but because of how helpless he knew, he made you feel. The sounds of you sobbing and screaming at Billy to stop as Dustin, Mike, and Lucas held you back was on a sickening loop in his mind for days after that, but he really couldn’t think about it at the time seeing he was only barely conscious.

The rest of that night happened in a blur. Steve woke up in the back of Billy’s car while Max was driving, and you nowhere to be found. He soon figured out that Dustin and Mike somehow locked you in the trunk because they knew you’d try to put a stop to their plan, and although they could all hear you yelling and thrashing in the back, none of the kids answered when Steve asked where you were.

“She’s fine, we’re almost there anyway,” Dustin assured while Steve just shook his head, that was until it dawned on him that Max was driving the car and he started freaking out.

He remembered how livid you were as soon as the car came to a stop, and kids opened the trunk again. But, even that anger was short-lived when you looked over to see him awake and basically falling out of the car. You were by his side in an instant, helping him stay upright, and joining him in telling the kids that they were not going down into those tunnels. Brave of both of you to assume any of them would actually listen.

Down in the tunnels, Steve led the group, and you went to follow at the end of it. However, Dustin said he’d go last; and despite your protesting, your baby brother was firm and did not take no for an answer.

“As the man of the family, it’s up to me to make sure you’re safe,” he argued.

“But Dusty-.”

“No buts, Y/N. Follow along.”

Steve watched as you smiled before reaching over to take of Dustin’s hat so you could ruffle his curls, even though you knew he hated when you did that.

“My hero.”

“Whatever,” he grumbled as he snatched his hat back before following behind you and Max.

Once the group was further into the caves and the six of you were a bit more spaced out from one another, Steve was still able to notice your distressed reaction to Dustin yelling from somewhere further behind. The commotion instantly caught his attention, and when he quickly whipped back around, he was able to see, from was what was visible, of your face go pale before you took off in the direction of your brother while he and the rest of the kids followed. When you all reached Dustin, and he started coughing and claiming he was ok, you immediately thumped him in the head and gave him shit for scaring you like that, something Steve couldn’t help but smile at before continuing on again.

As soon as the hub was on fire and everyone was running back to the entrance, you were so focused on getting the kids out first and making sure that they were ok. When a tentacle type thing wrapped itself around Mike’s ankle, you ripped Steve’s bat from his hands and used it to free the youngest Wheeler, and almost started swinging again at Dart once it showed up; but Steve held you back as Dustin took control of the situation. You instinctively gripped onto his hand as you watched your brother interact with the demodog out of fear, which Steve would tease you about after the fact, although the gesture secretly made him a little flustered.

Your little group passed Dart and started bolting back towards where you entered the tunnels originally, you were all aware of how fast you’d have to move based off the screeching of more demodogs approaching. Once everyone reached the rope used to get down there, you helped Max, Lucas, and Mike get out as soon as you could. Just as you were about to help Dustin up, Steve’s arms wrapped around you and started lifting you up so you could climb out.

“You’re next,” he muttered as a surprised yelp left your mouth, but you were quick in recovering as you grabbed ahold of the rope and climbed the rest of the way.

As soon as you were above ground again, you immediately went back to the hole and looked down to help the other two, but much to your dismay, they were frozen as a massive pack of demodogs came rushing at them.

“No!” You yelled as the other kids called for Dustin to come on before watching in horror as Steve stepped in front of your brother to keep him protected from the oncoming heard, but then, the demodogs started running past them without attacking. Steve pulled Dustin close just in case one did attack, but you all knew they wouldn’t because they were too focused on something else. Eleven was closing the gate.

Steve and Dustin were quick in getting out of the tunnels after that, and you wasted no time in pulling Dustin into a bone-crushing hug and repeating the same thing over and over again.

“Thank god you’re ok.”

As soon as Dustin assured that he was indeed ok, you let him go and stepped back so his friends could take over.

Steve lingered nearby, watching the exchange happen between you and Dustin with a small smile as he patiently waited for the next step. But before he knew it, a pair of arms wrapped around his middle, and he was met by you crashing into his chest in a tight embrace.

“I’m so glad you’re ok too,” you stated, shaking your head as Steve instinctively put his arms around your waist, pulling you closer. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if something happened.”

“Hey, it’s alright,” he soothed as he started rubbing small circles on your back, his heart clenching when a choked sob left your mouth. “You’re ok, no one got hurt. We’re safe.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” you replied as you started pulling away. Steve could tell you were embarrassed about breaking down like that as you reached away to wipe away the tears spilling from your eyes, and that made him feel even worse. “God, I’m such a mess.”

“No, you aren’t, Y/N. You are one hell of a badass, though.”

A small gasp left your mouth as Steve gently placed his hand under your chin so that you’d be facing him. He didn’t say anything else as he used his thumb to wipe away a few of your stray tears before eventually meeting your gaze, and feeling himself soften. An unfamiliar feeling started swarming in his stomach as you two stood there, staring at each other. Although he had yet to admit it, you caused him to feel massive amounts of butterflies whenever you were around, and that little predicament was no exception.

Slowly, his gaze moved to your lips before fluttering back to lock eye contact with you and letting out a sigh.

“I might regret this,” he started. “But fuck it.”

His grip on your waist tightened as he started leaning down towards you, and you gulped. There was no denying that you had feelings for Steve by that point, but was he really about to kiss you? Your brain screamed at you to move away. He was your brother's best friend and mentor, not to mention one of your best friends exes, but still, as you watched his eyes flutter shut again while he moved to brush his lips against yours slightly, there was no way you were going to stop him.

However, something else did.

The headlights from the car parked only a few feet away grew extremely bright, causing you and Steve to move away from one another just so you could shield your eyes from the beam. You both stepped closer to the kids, confused as to what was going on as the brightness increased, but then it all clicked once the headlights shut off on their own. Eleven closed the gate.

After that, life went on to somewhat resume normally, well, as normally as it could in Hawkins.

Will ended up being ok for the time being after El took care of the Mind Flayer, and before anyone knew it, a month had passed.

During that month, Barb’s funeral happened, which was tough, but you all powered through it. Eleven officially became Jane ‘El’ Hopper, and you continued life as a high school junior. Fall soon turned into winter, and although it was hard to just forget about everything that happened, everyone tried their best to do just that. And to top it all off, you and Steve had barely spoken.

It was awkward as hell. You’d see each other in the hallways at school, and just avoid each other. Neither of you was sure how to even initiate a conversation after the almost kiss you shared, and it was obviously eating away at the both of you.

Jonathan, Nancy, and Dustin were the ones to pick up on how weird you and Steve had gotten to be around each other, not that it was tough for them to tell either. Dustin approached Steve about it (even though he wasn’t too keen on the fact that the girl his friend was fawning over was his sister at first) and told him to man the hell up (even though he didn’t), while subtly trying to get you to hang out with them; to which you consistently declined. You felt really bad about it all and continued avoiding Steve until Jonathan and Nancy called you out on it.

The first thing you did was apologize to Nancy for being a shitty friend, but much to your surprise, she just chuckled. She explained that it was ok if you liked Steve, but what wasn’t ok was how mopy you were because you hadn’t talked to him. Jonathan backed up her on her statements and explained how they were pretty sure Steve felt the same way, but still, neither of you spoke to the other.

When it came time for the snowball, Steve dropped Dustin off at Hawkins Middle School and was completely not expecting to see you all dressed up and helping out Nancy at the punch bowl. Sure he knew you were going to be there. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been needed to drive Dustin, but still, just the sight of you allowed the familiar feeling of a weight being placed on his chest form, and he just simply could not look away. As he watched you, he couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips as you smiled at whoever came up to get some punch, or how you stuck your tongue out at Dustin once he entered the gym. He became entranced. So focused on you, that he actually jumped when you moved your head to the side and ended up locking eye contact with him through the window.

He froze instantly, as did you, but once Nancy noticed what you were gawking at, she smiled a little and nudged you to snap you back to reality. Steve watched as Nancy said something to you before you nodded in response and started walking towards him, almost as if you were on a mission. He remained parked in his spot as you pushed through doors and right up to his car.

“Uh, hi.” Was all he was able to blurt out as he got a better view of how good you looked in your dress.  

“Hey,” you replied back and crouched down so you could be eye to eye with him. “We need to talk.”

Slowly, he nodded, not having it in him to avoid the situation any longer. “Yeah, hop in.”

You did as he said and climbed into the passenger seat, not saying anything else as he pulled away from the door and into a parking space on the other side of the building.

Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time started blaring from the gym as you and Steve got out of his car and moved to sit on the hood. Neither of you spoke up, but the silence was deafening, and you knew you’d lose your mind if you didn’t speak up sooner or later.

“So…”

“We almost kissed,” Steve finished, and glanced over at you. Your cheeks instantly flushed red, and you were extremely thankful it was a bit chilly out because it helped mask your blush a bit better.

“We did,” you replied, unsure of what to say next.

“I’m not sorry about it,” he blurted out and caused your gaze to snap to him.

“What?”

“I said, I’m not sorry about it,” he repeated, as you shook your head.

“Steve-.”

“I like you, Henderson. A lot. I’m not going to apologize for wanting to kiss you, regardless of how shitty that makes me seem for doing such a thing to Nancy…”

He trailed off on the last part of his sentence and slowly dropped his gaze to the ground. You blinked twice, wanting to make sure you processed the fact that he actually said those things before speaking up again.

“Is that why you were avoiding me?”

“Yeah,” he answered with a nod. “And I wasn’t too sure how Dustin would feel about the whole thing at first.”

“What do you mean, at first?” You questioned while furrowing your eyebrows.

“Pretty sure he’s been spending the last couple of weeks trying to set us up,” Steve laughed and looked back to you. “But I was still too nervous to actually talk to you.”

“Well, you had no need to be.”

“What?”

“Cause I feel the same, Harrington,” you explained and could’ve sworn you saw his eyes light up. “I was chicken too. I didn’t want to hurt Dusty or Nancy, but in actuality, they were the ones pushing me to not be such a coward and just speak to you.”

“Oh, wow,” he replied with wide eyes and let out a breath. “So, what now?”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind if you actually kissed me this time.”

He smiled at that before facing you again and shaking his head. “Don’t need to tell me twice.”

You didn’t have time to react before Steve was leaning in and crashing his lips against yours. Although you always expected to like the feeling of kissing him, you didn’t think you’d miss the sensation so quickly when he moved away. The two of you stared at one another before immediately reaching out and pulling the other closer than you already were. His arms wrapped around your waist, and your hands tangled into his hair as your mouths collided once again.

The two of you made out for a minute or so before the song in the gym changed and was replaced with the familiar riff of Every Breath You Take, causing you to moan slightly before slightly breaking away from the kiss.

“I love this song,” you mumbled against his lips with a smirk.

He let out a laugh before kissing you again and slowly leaning you back onto the hood of his car. “Sure sets the mood, alright.”

Before things could get any steamier, a deep voice called out and caused the two of you to instantly move away from one another.

“Is that you over there, Harrington?”

Of all people that could have noticed the two of you, it just had to be Hopper. Turned out, he was only a few feet away talking to Joyce, who was giggling as she realized what had just happened. “Oh, leave them, be, would you?”

Hop just shook once he saw you slowly stood up beside Steve and tried not to laugh. Steve could tell the sheriff wanted to say something but didn’t as he looked to Joyce and started walking in the other direction.

“Just stay out of trouble, you two.”

“And have a good night!” Joyce chimed in before following after Hopper.

Once they were out of sight, you and Steve glanced at each other and burst out laughing. After a few minutes of trying to catch your breath from laughing so hard, the two of you agreed to go get some food at the diner before having to come back and pick Dustin up.

And that was how it all began. As Steve looked down at your still sleeping figure, he smiled as he thought about just how hard and how fast he fell for you. It’d been a year since then, and he didn’t even have words to describe how happy he was just with you, even on top of what happened during the summer months.

It was supposed to be an uneventful summer. Steve started working at Scoops Ahoy, and you were working at a clothing shop on the upper level of Starcourt. Seeing as there wasn’t anything ever really going on in Hawkins anymore, and Dustin was away at camp, you and Steve tried to make the most of it, and spent what free time the two had together; even planning to save up and take a little weekend trip together before you started school again up to Chicago or Detroit, you guys hadn’t decided yet. However, that never happened.

Instead, your summer was filled with Russians, the return of the Mind Flayer, lots of death, and just overall a ton of traumatic experiences. You were kidnapped, and had to witness Steve get beat up, again; although he did win one fight, which you did give him credit for. The two of you, along with Robin, were injected with a truth serum that just created a mess of things when your boyfriend told your captors your brother's full name and resulted in you almost taking matters into your own hands by murdering him yourself.

Along with all that, many people you knew actually did die. Whether it had been because of the Mind Flayer and his army made up of people you knew (like Billy and Heather), the fall of Starcourt itself, having to fight off the Mind Flayer and face the possibility of losing any of the people you cared for most, or how everyone had to accept the loss of Hopper after he closed the gate to the Upside Down once again to prevent anything like that to happen again. It was sure one bitch of a summer, but still, somehow, you and Steve managed to survive.

It truly amazed Steve what the two of you had been through together when he thought about it. It’s been a shit show of a ride, but the two of you, Nancy, Jonathan, Robin, Erica, and the party, all ended up being ok, which is all either of you could have really asked for.

The sound of the record coming to an end once again brought Steve back to reality from his thoughts, and he let out a sigh. He glanced over at the alarm clock to see that it was almost three in the morning and let out a groan. With a roll of his eyes at himself for staying up so late, he sat up so he could reach over to turn off the lamp and call it a night, but froze when you started whimpering and moving around beside him.

You were having a nightmare. Steve had them too. He knew first hand how terrifying they were, filled with images and memories of all the things he’s had to face, and he absolutely hated the thought of you going through that.  

Your whimpers turned into pleas. You were begging for your boyfriend, Dustin, and the others to be left alone so that they could be safe, but with the way, your movements got more aggressive, and your breathing came more sporadic; Steve knew he couldn’t let you suffer through that.

“Y/N,” he whispered and started shaking your shoulders gently, not wanting to scare you even more. You began thrashing by that point, and his heart broke. “Y/N, I need you to wake up. Please babe, just open your eyes for me.”

After a brief moment, you gasped loudly and finally woke from your dream. Steve watched as you took a few deep breaths to calm yourself and blinked as your eyes adjusted to the light-filled room. Once your heart rate steadied, you finally looked to him and sent him a small smile.

“Hey,” he said softly and reached out to hold onto your hand.

“Hey,” you replied with one more deep breath and squeezed his hand. “Did I wake you up?”

“No, I couldn’t sleep as it was,” he explained before moving to brush some hair away from your face. “Nightmare?”

You nodded tiredly, tears welling up in your eyes. “The Mind Flayer almost got you in that one.”

“Hey, it’s alright,” Steve soothed as he shifted his position so that he could lay back down beside you and pull you into his chest. “I’m right here. Not going anywhere, ok?”

You nodded again.

“But what if something happens again, Steve? What if it’s worse next time?”

Your voice was barely a whisper as it was drowned out by a few sobs, killing him just a little bit more inside as he thought about what you said.

“You can’t think like that,” he told you firmly before placing a kiss to the top of your head. “We’re going to be just fine with whatever life throws at us. You know this.”

“I do,” you replied softly. “As long as we’re together.”

“Exactly. Now try to go back to sleep, you need rest.”

“Aye aye captain,” you chuckled before cuddling up even closer to him. He just smiled in response and reached over to turn the lamp off. Once he was done, he returned to his spot next to you and wrapped his arms protectively around your waist again.

It didn’t take long for you to fall asleep again, Steve even stayed up a little while longer just to make sure you didn’t have another nightmare. As soon as he was sure you were resting peacefully, he let himself drift off into sleep, but not without mumbling a quick ‘I love you’ while making a silent promise to himself to keep you safe from what life could possibly throw next at the two of you. 

[nancywrote]

do you believe in ghosts?

Steve’s a bit paranoid at times for no reason at all, it leads him to pulling all-nighters pretty often. Billy, on the other hand, stays up in fear of something completely different. They meet in the middle.

(4k words, originally posted on AO3 but I moved it here! hope you enjoy!)

Let’s be clear.

Steve doesn’t believe in ghosts.

Or aliens.

He’s very much a stick-to-the-science type of guy, especially with Dustin’s insistence on facts and just generally he’s been left alone for long enough in his life to know his house isn’t haunted, and there’s not really any factual evidence that ghosts or aliens exist.

But his parents leave him alone a lot, and his house is big and dark and Steve’s never gotten any sort of comfort or reassurance growing up for the dark corners or the rooms he’s never allowed in.

He’s been scared, because he’s been alone.

That’s all.

The dark shadows cave in on him when he’s asleep, they creep into his room from the halls and his window scares him because yeah, ghosts don’t come from windows but aliens do and intruders as well.

But, again, he doesn’t believe in aliens.

Intruders are very likely, that’s all.

Somehow, that thought still scares him. He’s defenseless, he’s weak, he’s young.

And nobody would be there to hear him or find him.

But every night, the shadows come in and Steve refuses to use his nightlight or turn the hall lights on because that’s childish and he’s not a child. The nightlight’s not even supposed to be there, his mom took it away when he was eight because she deemed him ‘brave enough’ when he managed to start pretending he was fine and no longer paranoid after their longest trip yet.

He just didn’t want to disappoint her, he didn’t want to embarrass her and he wanted to grow up and get over it.

But the house is just so big, and dark, and empty.

And Steve’s always alone.

The only people that know of his paranoia are Dustin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Billy.

Dustin found out purely by coincidence, stumbled in at night to creep up on Steve to plan a surprise party for El. Steve was aware he’d come, but he forgot in his tired haze that he gave him spare keys and then Dustin walked in on him curled up on the couch with the TV blasting and blankets surrounding him.

He was fully decked out, bat nearby as well as his phone and laptop right by his head, and an array of water bottles on the table as well as a good selection of snacks to keep him company.

Nancy, when she and him made up, found him crying in his closet because he felt anxiety creep up his spine when he thought he heard a whisper and his window was a little bit open and he was too afraid to make noise so he jumped in his closet and hid in the clothes and squeezed his eyes and sobbed silently trying to calm his nerves.

He didn’t want to admit how scared he was, he tried to pretend he was just remembering bad things or he fell into the closet, but Nancy saw through it. She was so patient and accepting, she was so caring and even offered to stay some nights.

Some nights, when it gets bad, she does.

Jonathan found out through Nancy, but Steve trusts him now. Jonathan sometimes joins and they’d have nice little sleepovers where they challenge themselves to cook or do arts and crafts or follow DIY tutorials on youtube or something. It’s always fun.

Billy…

That was a hard one.

Steve’s not quite sure how or when it started.

They were enemies at first, anytime they were in a room together it was almost impossible for either of the two to emerge from it unscathed or calm. Billy picks, Steve ignores, Billy pushes, Steve gets angry. Fight ensues.

But that’s not what they really came to be, because now Billy’s the one he goes to a lot more than Nancy on the days he knows the nights are gonna be particularly rough.

Because Billy’s always up at night, always ready for a text or a call and always listening or talking when necessary, never hurting. And they don’t fight, they compromise.

They hated each other, then Steve snapped and ripped Billy apart with words and then Billy didn’t show up for a week and everyone spread rumors that he’d moved back to Cali or that he was too much of a pussy, but Max knew better and by the second half of the next week, Billy was back and biting his tongue whenever Steve was around and even offering him his notes in English.

And then they saw each other at the arcade and Billy gave him a small smile at Max’s side, and Steve went wild with how genuine it was.

It was a slow and subtle development, but Billy got better and Steve kept pushing all the while trying to be as patient as possible. It’s worth it, because now they talk a lot and Billy listens a lot and…

Steve’s feeling scared tonight.

He left a window open and unlocked again earlier, and like an idiot, he left his door unlocked when he left for school and when he came back he damn near had a heart attack.

He searched the whole house (save for the rooms he wasn’t allowed in, they were locked), and spent hours looking through cabinets and drawers and then Nancy texted him and came over to help make sure it was okay. He felt bad, but he was relieved and she had been wanting to come over anyways, it had been awhile.

She made him feel better with jokes and little distractions of hey, what’s this? followed by weird stuff he made as a child that she found littered around in drawers. For the most part, they were alien-related, sporty, or renditions of his parents.

They were very dorky.

And also, he didn’t believe in aliens by the way.

He doesn’t believe in aliens. Obviously.

But tonight he’s alone again, because Nancy had to leave early, and when Steve found that one window unlocked later on all the blood rushed to his head and he nearly passed out because he couldn’t remember if he opened it or not.

He closed it, and it was loud.

So he’s hiding, bedroom door locked, bottom of his bed stuffed with spare pillows and boxes covered with blankets, and snacks and three water bottles by his side. He’s considering buying a mini fridge to keep in every room he uses as his hiding spot.

But his laptop’s there, but it’s charging across the room and even though his closet’s slits have been duct taped and the window’s right next to his laptop shining a sweet moonlight onto it, it’s raining and he’s terrified.

Because he’s also heard of the Boogeyman.

But he doesn’t believe in it, because that’s stupid.

He’s not a child.

And, he doesn’t misbehave. The Boogeyman would never target him.

But, he cussed out some guy in gym yesterday, and maybe karma’s harsher than it is. Maybe he was lucky all the nights before, and he’s just signed his contract now.

But that’s stupid, because he doesn’t believe in the Boogeyman.

But what if the guy sneaks into the house, steals his stuff, and decides he wants more?

But that’s also stupid, because Steve knows that the man’s a sweetheart and probably didn’t even hear his stupid stress-fueled insult.

But also, anybody can come in.

The house is big, it has many windows and doors and…

A shiver runs down Steve’s spine, and he quickly grabs his phone, checking for any texts.

When it lights up all he can see is his background, a picture of him and Robin hogging her neighbor’s cat. No messages.

So he quickly tries to tap on Youtube, but his hands are too sweaty and shaky and they open up his contacts instead.

And Billy’s right there.

And Billy’s always up.

Steve gulps, takes a quick glance around his well-lit room, shudders when he looks at the window and quickly clicks on Billy’s contact.

His fingers work quicker than his brain.

Hey hargrove

It’s simple, it’s quick, he’s taken away all the extra sentences leading into rambles about if he’s sinned recently or not because that’s unnecessary and Steve doesn’t want to drive Billy away.

A few seconds pass of just rain and no response, Steve thinks maybe the other is asleep now. He’s both happy and sad, because he’s happy Billy’s getting the sleep he needs but sad because he really needs Billy and he’s feeling lonely now.

He’s still scared, but he gets pretty lonely and downtrodden when Billy’s not there.

Within, like, total reason.

Because, he’s just good friends with him now, he’d like to think.

Billy comes online, and Steve’s heart stops. He sees the three dots and with every second, he’s taking constant scans of his room trying to make sure nothing’s changed and no shadows are coming.

He wants to block his closet, the duct tape sticks out too much and makes his legs bounce with fear and uncertainty.

tonight must be my lucky night

hey princess

Steve’s heart momentarily picks up, but he ignores it. He’s too scared, and the rain’s getting louder and his windows feel so vulnerable and he feels so naked even though he’s fully dressed and maybe he’s wearing pajamas but he’s grown, he’s fine, just because his parents weren’t there doesn’t mean he didn’t learn to grow independently, he’s okay.

He wipes his palms on the blankets, takes a swig out of his water bottle to soothe his dry mouth and quickly gets to responding because he’s scared that if he doesn’t respond quick enough Billy will leave and he doesn’t want that.

Wyd?? :)

It’s a stupid, half-assed response. He knows Billy knows what’s going on, because there’s never a night when he’s not about to break down crying.

Usually though, he goes to Nancy or Jonathan or Dustin. Billy’s only every other week.

Billy’s still online. He draws his knees to his chest and practically claws at his bedside table through the snacks to get his earphones. Just to muffle the rain.

doin my hair, bored

He smiles imagining Billy curling those locks around his fingers, remembers how he winked at Steve during practice when Steve caught him ruffling his own hair and messing it up.

Can you call??

Billy’s offline for a moment, and Steve nearly breaks down sobbing thinking that that was it, he was done for and all alone and he’s stupid for even trying but then when he places his phone on his lap, it vibrates and lights up with a picture of Billy kissing a dog, smiling at someone behind the camera.

Steve’s heart warms, he himself lights up with this simple picture already and swipes to accept.

“Billy,” Steve whispers, too afraid to speak in the dark of night.

Even though his room is lit up, he knows the rest of the house isn’t. He briefly considers turning the lights off, because what if it stands out? What if they see the lights?

He’s scared of what he means by they.

He feels his shirt sticking to his skin, the dark pattern of gaming controllers don’t make him look any better.

Billy’s voice comes up after a few seconds of shuffling, which Steve can only assume is him reaching for something on his vanity. “Sorry, I’m here now.”

Those words meant a lot. His heart shook with every syllable.

“What’s up?” Billy asks. So, he didn’t really know.

That’s fine, because Steve knows he shouldn’t expect him to, because they don’t talk all the time, only usually with school.

In fact, they’re only school friends, that’s it. This is stupid, and it’s a stupid idea and the rain hits some part of the window particularly hard and Steve jumps and gasps in his bed.

“Woah there. You good, King Steve?” Billy’s voice is in his ears, drowns out the noises, keeps him comfort. Company.

“Yeah-- fuck, I’m sorry. Window was left open today, door was unlocked, scared myself,” he breathes.

He wonders if maybe he should hang up, the silence makes him feel like he interrupted something but he trusts Billy and he’s on the verge of tears.

“I-- I’m really, like--” he can’t quite breathe anymore, he keeps his phone in his lap and his chin on his knees. His thoughts are broken, and he almost feels sad.

He remembers when his mom would hold him, and sing him a lullaby.

But then he grew, and then he became nothing more than a memory to her. And then he was left to fend for himself, hum the words to a lullaby he couldn’t remember at this point and hope she’ll come back one day to stay a few nights and maybe tell him he’s okay again.

Maybe just let him know they’re not real, aliens, ghosts, the Boogeyman.

“Steve.”

Billy’s voice is sharp, cuts through his thoughts and sends him in a mild panic. Billy was speaking, Steve wasn’t registering.

“Wanna see a picture of Max? Susan sent it to me the other day,” Billy asks to change the topic.

It makes Steve’s shoulders relax, not just Billy’s voice but the ability to immerse himself in something that isn’t his room or house or window.

“Sure, show me,” he answers, grabs a chocolate bar quickly and unwraps it. Takes a small bite, even though it’s getting a little soft from how long it’s been there.

His phone dings in his lap and he picks it up, holds it in front of his face and taps out of the call screen.

It’s just a simple photo of Max at her first cat cafe, drinking tea with a cat wearing her sunglasses near her. Trying to look posh.

“That’s adorable,” he mutters, a smile tugging at his lips. The chocolate’s melting already, so he hurriedly pushes it into his mouth and tries to finish it.

“If you think that’s adorable, you should try lookin’ in the mirror, Harrington,” Billy smoothly says.

It’s so casual, so simple and clearly just something Billy just says sometimes. To anyone. He’s probably really used to slipping in lines like that.

But it still makes Steve laugh all the same, and it still warms his cheeks all the same and cools his body all the while. He swallows, tosses the wrapper into the small bin by his side. “You’re looking in one right now, aren’t you?”

The image of Billy just fiddling with his curls at his vanity, talking to Steve so sweetly while still maintaining some focus on his hair just makes the world around Steve calm a little.

But he still feels so alone, so isolated and still a little paranoid.

Because the duct tape is still on his closet, and it stands out against the brown. And the rain is still pattering his window, and even though it’s softer now it’s still showing the far too dark sky and conveniently there tree. He’s effectively locked himself in his room, and his bat is leaning on the bedside table but completely accessible to the bottom of his bed.

But he’s filled the bottom of the bed. It still scares him.

“Yeah, don’t see you though,” Billy remarks, and Steve can hear him hit his knuckle on something (presumably the edge of a table) and the faint noise of pain in the background. He giggles gently, doesn’t dare to close his eyes though.

“Ow, don’t laugh. There was a stupid fuckin’... thing in the way,” Billy says.

“Thing?” The smile shines through Steve’s voice.

“‘s just nailpolish…” he hears Billy grumble, and finds himself giggling again.

There’s the faint noise of crickets, it sends a chill down Steve’s spine. The rain’s stopped by now, just droplets running down his window and it should be reassuring but the silence makes him fear being heard in his own house.

A house is a person’s most vulnerable and personal point.

The best place to attack.

“Well,” Billy starts, and Steve hears him get into bed and possibly kick himself under the sheets, “going anywhere tomorrow?”

It’s the weekends, and Steve usually hangs out with the kids or Nancy and Jonathan.

But no, he has no plans because they’re all occupied with homework, studying, or dating.

“Nope, ditched in the name of love,” he says simply, lies back against his pillow and feels so relaxed. Probably should have done that earlier.

But like, he was just… he wasn’t scared or anything, he just didn’t feel like it.

Obviously.

Billy laughs softly, and Steve knows it’s restrained because it’s late at night and his walls aren’t the thickest, but the laugh is precious to Steve’s ears and he’s suddenly so glad he has earphones in.

“Want me to come over?”

Steve smiles wider, rolls his eyes. “Tomorrow? Yeah, sure, long as you don’t wreck the place.”

He doesn’t really care either way, because if Billy threw something, Steve would throw something too. If he chose suddenly to completely vandalize Steve’s room, Steve would join in without a wasting a second.

He just follows, because he has fun, and he’s very much blind and stupid when it comes to Billy.

Which, he’s fine with.

And it’s just because they’re good friends.

That hung out on Valentine’s Day watching a movie and ditching their plans with whoever their dates were supposed to be that week.

Because, like, those girls were just creepy. And Steve wasn’t about that, nor was Billy.

But then Billy chuckles so richly, and Steve’s fidgeting with the hem of his shirt all giddy and letting himself close his eyes. He still feels tense, rigid in his bed but considerably safer with Billy right there.

“I don’t mean tomorrow, smartass, I’ll be there regardless. I mean tonight,” Billy says.

Oh.

He breathes through his nose, opens his eyes reluctantly and looks around his room. “You can do that?”

Billy’s done it before, he’s not always able to and sometimes Steve prefers he doesn’t just so he can sleep earlier, but any time he does he’s always there exactly when he says he’ll be and he’s always so good at opening Steve up and picking him apart in the nicest and loveliest ways possible.

It’s never really contact, it’s just talking and stupid things like old movies or studying but Steve finds he doesn’t really care if it’s Billy.

And he’ll take what he can get, obviously.

It’s not just Billy. Obviously.

He’s just scared.

But he swears, it’s not of aliens or ghosts or the Boogeyman.

Just intruders.

Only intruders.

“Yeah,” and Steve can hear Billy take a sip of something, could be water, alcohol, anything when it’s Billy but he knows the likely answer is apple juice.

Because Billy thinks he’s badass, but when he’s with Steve all he drinks is apple juice.

“Okay,” Steve says.

That’s all Billy needed apparently, because in the span of a minute he’s already hearing the sound of a car starting up from the other end.

He realizes Billy was probably being quieter than usual because he wasn’t in his room. He was probably in the living room, someplace close to the front door.

He was anticipating going somewhere.

Possibly to Steve’s.

But, that doesn’t matter. Probably.

Steve just keeps the smile on his face, keeps his legs crossed under the blankets now and makes sure his earphones are pushed in. Anything to distract him from his room.

The call’s still going as he hears Billy pull out the driveway, he can tell he’s on speaker now because when he coughs to block a sudden sob of fear, he hears the echo. “You good, Stevie?”

The nickname makes him feel warmer, keeps him safe. The call’s probably still going on because it’s distracting Steve and Billy knows it. It’s only a matter of time before it has to end, though.

“Yeah,” he assures, stretches and yawns.

Freezes when he hears his bed creak a little beneath him.

His body is feeling stiffer by the second.

A few minutes of silence follow. All of it makes Steve think that maybe Billy’s not there anymore, maybe Billy’s not coming, and…

And then the call ends and his throat suddenly closes up at being left alone again and he breaks into a sob.

The earphones make him all too aware of things, and he plucks them out and shoves his phone in the bundle of snacks. Doesn’t bother, he shakes with every second and his sobs are muffled by his hand in fear of being seen or heard. He keeps his eyes trained on both the window, the closet, and his bed. The idea that everything that should hold safety are things that could hold the most danger to him made him quiver.

Billy abandoned him, and he’s so sad and heartbroken by that but he’s even more frightened by the sounds of wind brushing his window and the tree right there and he wonders which version of the Boogeyman would come for him.

His blood runs cold at the sound of a doorbell, echoing through his house.

His skin is pale, eyes fixated ahead distantly until it sounds again and he jumps.

Immediately, Steve rolls off the bed and unlocks his door. He doesn’t know what’s gonna happen, it feels like it’s a long way to the front door, but he walks anyways.

Quick, long and silent steps. Careful to avoid the parts of the floor he knows will make too much sound. He’s timed how fast it would take for him to get from his door to the front door or any other exit, he’s carefully made out each step in the ground that could lead his fears to him, he’s mapped out safe spots that are really just empty or random enough rooms for whatever to not look in first.

But that doesn’t matter, because his front door’s right there and he’s hoping it’s Nancy, Jonathan, or fuck, even his parents.

And he opens it, crying, and it’s Billy.

Billy’s dressed in his usual cool kid get up, but the moment his eyes land on Steve’s face, he shrugs his jacket off and wraps it around Steve’s shaking body, runs in and closes the door behind him. “Hey, hey, baby,” he coos.

Steve practically locks his arms around Billy, starts full on sobbing with relief and his heart just kicks in in the right way again. “Billy,” he hiccups, muffled in the shirt of the dirty blonde’s.

The other wraps his arms around him, squeezes him reassuringly then starts leading them to the living room.

It’s gentle, the way he drags them both down to the couch and turns the TV on. It’s caring, the way he rubs his thumb on Steve’s temple while he fiddles with the remote. It’s real, it’s raw, and it’s nothing supernatural or scary or mean.

Billy was never really any of that, and Steve understands.

But right now, as he crumbles in Billy’s arms, he doesn’t want to understand anything, because he just wants to be safe and okay and now that Billy’s here his house has never felt safer.

It’s like once Billy stepped in, his house exploded with color and meaning and safety.

He can’t deny that.

Billy pulls Steve up so that he’s effectively trapped against Billy’s chest, wrapped in the safety of his arms and jacket acting as a blanket against the cold living room. Billy smells like roses, it brings Steve some feeling of okayness.

He just sobs, head buried in the crook of Billy’s neck while Billy tenderly rubs his temple and back. The TV is quiet, but it’s there. He can hear the opening to Spongebob. It’s stupid, but it keeps Steve awake.

“It’s okay, I’m right here, princess,” Billy whispers, tangles his fingers in Steve’s hair and rubs at his scalp so reassuringly. He believes him. He trusts him.

“I thought you were-- I thought--” Steve practically wheezes, nuzzling Billy’s collarbone with his chin trying to regulate his breathing, “I thought you left--” his voice trails off into an almost-whine, drags out in the worst and most broken way possible and he feels weak and vulnerable and childish.

And Billy,

Billy nods, tries his best to keep them both on the couch and then hums, and fucking…

Kisses Steve’s temple.

His breath catches in his throat, his heart thrums in a different kind of way now and he grips Billy’s shirt tighter. His sobbing is effectively slowed, silenced, interrupted.

“I know. I’m sorry, Steve. I won’t leave you ever. Promise,” Billy says, keeps his cool despite his action and rubs circles into Steve’s back with one finger so caringly.

Steve closes his eyes, fully lets himself get encased by Billy’s arms and nods. He feels a little childish, until Billy tenderly pushes him back a little and he lets out a confused noise.

His face is red, lips plumped and cheeks wet. Billy wouldn’t like to see that.

But Billy smiles at him, and Steve sees his eyes are glassy, and he wants to kiss his eyes or him and then Billy holds out one hand.

One pinky.

“Pinky promise.”

Steve’s mouth drops a little, surprise and warmth filling him. Happiness.

He raises his pinky and entwines it with Billy’s. Lets it sit for a bit then just envelops Billy in an immediate pounce of a hug.

Billy gasps a happy ‘oh’ at that and hugs back, smiles against Steve’s shoulder.

They’re not childish.

They’re not kids.

They’re them, so fuck whoever thinks that pinky promises are lame. It’s their pinky promise.

The hug definitely drags out, it’s definitely not a hug by the time Steve’s dozing off in Billy’s neck and it’s definitely not a hug anymore when their legs are intertwined and Billy’s arm is right beneath Steve’s head, providing a much better pillow than the armrests of the couch.

And Billy hums, and Steve damn near starts sobbing again. Almost.

The tune of a lullaby.

“Sleep pretty darling, do not cry…”

His voice is shaky, unused, but it’s beautiful and it hits the notes just the way Steve’s mother used to but so much more genuine and loving.

“... and I will sing a lullaby…”

Billy’s voice isn’t the most gorgeous singing voice, but it’s raw and it reminds Steve of playing in bands as a child and rocking the guitar. It’s not tea-flavored, but it’s rose-colored.

“Golden slumbers fill your eyes…”

The lyrics, spot on and everything Steve never remembered. But he doubts he’ll forget ever again, because Billy’s never sung before and maybe he’s singing it right now because…

Because Steve would hum it in practice, because Steve would talk about his mom singing him songs whenever it came to poetry in class, because Steve loved to listen to songs with a similar enough tune in a desperate search for it and Steve would mutter the words incoherently trying to remember it.

Because Billy knows Steve, and they’re good friends.

Because Billy notices these things about him.

And he cares about him.

“Smiles await you when you rise…”

Steve raises his head, finds Billy with his eyes closed drifting off as well, but can feel his thumb still rubbing circles in his back.

“Sleep pretty darling, do not cry… and I will sing a lullaby.”

And when Billy’s fully off into dreamland, Steve places a long, tender peck on the ridge of his jaw.

Because he cares too.

[fraudulentzodiacs]

if you ever wanna be in love (i’ll come around)

So, it’s @partsofthesamecosmicbeing‘s birthday today!!!! Ly, meeting you and becoming your friend has been one of the best things that’s happened to me this year and one of the greatest gifts the RNM fandom has given me. You are unbelievably talented, but also a wonderful friend who has always been there for me. I hope you have the BEST day because you deserve it more than anyone I know! 

This kind of spiraled out of control (ask Amanda, this was supposed to be short and sweet lmao). But here’s my gift to you, 6k words of Alex and Michael being dramatic af. 

Alex waits at the Airstream for three hours before he gives up. They hadn’t set a time, but Alex had expected Michael to return to his home by the morning. It was now close to midday, and the sun was high in the sky as Alex drove away. Whatever had kept him away had kept him from answering his phone too, and he was starting to get worried. 

He drove straight to the Pony, the parking lot empty except for Maria’s truck. Things had been awkward between them since Michael and Maria’s romp in the desert, but Alex had been going to Maria with his problems for so long, he sought her out on instinct. Maria was behind the bar when he entered, stacking glasses as she prepared for the post-workday rush. She looked up as the door closed behind him, her eyes growing wide as she took him in. 

“Alex…” She greeted, and Alex didn’t miss the nervousness in her eyes as she busied herself with the glasses once again. “What are you doing here?”

“Have you seen Guerin?”

“Why?”

“We were supposed to meet. I...I don’t know, I thought we were finally on the same page. He told me last night to come to his trailer today but he never showed up and now he’s not answering his phone.”

Maria froze, staring at him, and Alex knew that she knew something she didn’t want to tell him. Alex felt his stomach clench as Maria leaned against the bar, taking a deep breath before she returned her gaze to him. 

“You saw Guerin last night?”

“You saw him today?” Alex ventures, Maria’s guilty gaze confirming his suspicions. “Is he okay?”

“He was...manic, almost. Something happened, I don’t know what. But his hand is healed, Alex. How does that just happen?”

“His hand is…”

“Yes, it’s like nothing ever happened to it.” Maria confirmed, shaking her head. “He stayed and played the guitar for a while, and then he ran out of here like a bat out of hell.”

“You haven’t heard from him since?”

“No. Alex, we need to talk.”

“If it’s about you and Guerin, we have nothing to talk about.” Alex snapped. “I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

“I’m sorry, Alex. I know you have feelings for him, but-”

“I love him.” Alex interrupted, fighting the urge to kick a nearby chair in anger. “I love him, I have since I was seventeen. And he loves me too. He chose you because he thinks it’ll be easier, and maybe it will be. Maybe he needs that right now. But I love him too much to walk away again, so don’t expect me to back down without a fight.”

“Alex…”

“I’m not leaving him behind again. Ever.” Alex replied, his voice firm. He turned back toward the door, his mind already working to think up where else he could be. “Let me know if you hear from him.”

Alex finds him, two hours later, at what used to be Foster’s Ranch. The Air Force hasn’t started building whatever kind of facility they’re planning on yet, so it’s still a whole bunch of nothing as far as the eye can see. Michael’s truck is a tiny, faded green dot until Alex nears it, something loosening in his chest when he spots Michael sitting on the tailgate. He doesn’t react to Alex driving up, or when Alex steps out, or when Alex gently pulls the empty bottle of acetone from Michael’s fingers. He just stares out at the horizon, his eyes blank but rimmed red. 

“What happened?” Alex finally asks, stepping into Michael’s line of sight. “Guerin, talk to me.”

“Rosa is alive.” Michael replies, and it’s the last thing that Alex expects to hear. His breath leaves him in one go, but the elation that starts to bubble out of him disappears as fresh tears fill Michael’s eyes. 

“What happened?”

“We found her in this cave - Noah’s cave, I guess. He was the fourth alien, by the way.” The lack of emotion in Michael’s voice as he describes how they had captured Noah, interrogated him, then killed him scares Alex to no small degree, but he forces himself to not say anything until Michael is done, not even when Michael tells him that he went to Maria.

“All of a sudden I felt this pain, like...like a part of me was being ripped apart. I thought I was having a heart attack, but then it was just gone. And I could feel it, this empty space in my head where Max used to be.”

“Used to be?” Alex’s voice is a whisper, and this time he lets himself reach for Michael, cradling the other man’s face with his hands as Michael shudders beneath his touch. 

“He’s dead. He died bringing Rosa back.”

“Oh, my god.” Alex’s thoughts briefly travel to Isobel, to Liz, but then he focuses on Michael, and he can feel the pain coming off of him in waves.

“Michael, I’m so sorry.” Alex lets his thumb trace Michael’s jaw, watching helplessly as Michael hyperventilates, his body racked with sobs until Alex steps between Michael’s legs, wrapping his arms around him. Michael clings to him, his arms snaking around Alex’s waist as he pulls him closer. He lets Michael cry against him, running his fingers through his curls before resting his cheek on the top of his head. He’s not sure how long he stands there, letting the man he loves fall apart against him, but the sun is lowering in the sky by the time Michael finally pulls away. 

“I’m sorry.” Michael mutters, but Alex tightens his hold on Michael before he can slip away. 

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re allowed to grieve your brother.”

“But I told you about Maria…” Michael begins, but Alex shakes his head. 

“And it hurts to know that you’re choosing her.” Alex feels his own heart break at his words, but he forces out a sharp breath before guiding Michael’s gaze back to him with his hands. “But I meant what I said. You’re my family, and I’ll always be here to put you back together if you need to fall apart.”

“Can we...stay out here? Just for a little while?”

“Of course.” Alex steps over to his SUV, pulling out the blankets he kept stored in the back while Michael spreads his own across the bed of the truck. It’s more difficult to climb into the back with his prosthetic than when he was a teen, but they manage until they’re both propped against the cab, and Alex can feel the warmth that Michael radiates across his thigh and leg where they’re touching. Alex watches the horizon until the sun disappears completely, wrapping the blanket tighter around his shoulders as the stars appear. 

“Do you remember when we used to come out here?” Michael asks, and Alex smiles and nods. 

“I remember. I was so sure that I was reading the signs wrong, that you invited me out here because I was nice to you and let you stay in the toolshed.”

“I asked you out here because I wanted to kiss you, but I was too afraid to admit it.”

“Do you think things could have been different? If we hadn’t...been so afraid?”

“Maybe.” Michael admits, shrugging. “Guess we’ll never know.”

“If you do this, if you choose Maria…”

“Alex-”

“No, let me finish, please.” Alex looks to the stars, and waits until Michael finally whispers an “okay.”

“If you choose Maria, I’ll understand. But, I want you to know, I also meant what I said when I told you that I was tired of walking away. I’ve done it so many times it’s become my nature. Being with Maria is easier, and maybe you want easy now but I don’t. I want you, and I’m gonna be here when you discover that easy isn’t what you really want. You’re it for me, Guerin.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say so many words at once.” Michael quips, and Alex shoves him with a wet laugh.

“You know that I love you.” Michael admits, refusing to meet Alex’s gaze. “I always wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to you. But, with your dad, and my mom, and now Max…” Michael pauses, takes a shuddering breath. “I can’t take the risk of us finally giving it a shot and then you leave again. This time, I don’t think I’d survive it. And Maria, she’s...well, she’s something new, something that’s not tainted by all the bullshit that’s infected our lives. I think I owe it to myself to try.”

“I get it.” Alex reaches for Michael’s healed hand, running his fingers over the smooth skin. “I don’t like it, but I get it. I can’t blame you. But I’m not walking away, I just want you to know that. Whether we’re together or not, you’re never going to be alone again. I promise.”

----

When Alex sees Michael with Maria the first time, his heart breaks in a way he’s not quite expecting. There’s an ache, a longing when he sees Michael’s hand on the small of her back. He leans down to talk in her ear over the noise of the crowd, and Alex feels like the breath is knocked out of him when she smiles and pushes him away with a flirty laugh. There’s happiness shining in Michael’s eyes when he looks at her, and suddenly Alex can’t remember if Michael ever looked at him like that - like he was the bright spot in Michael’s day. It hurts, but he had made a promise to Michael, and he intended to keep it.

“Hey.” he greeted, sliding into a stool near the edge of the bar where Michael was standing. 

“Alex.” Maria replied, her eyes wide with shock. “It’s good to see you. Beer?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Private.” Michael slides into the seat next to Alex, grabbing the whiskey that Maria sets in front of him when she hands Alex his beer. 

“Cowboy.” Alex replies, a small smile on his face. The beer is cold and soothing, and something loosens in Alex’s chest as they fall into a comfortable silence, broken only when Liz and Isobel enter the bar. The two women have, much to Alex’s surprise, grown close in the weeks since Max’s death. He thinks it’s more out of necessity than anything else - both are convinced that Max can be resurrected in a way similar to how he brought back Rosa, and Alex knows that when Liz isn’t at work she’s in the lab underneath Michael’s Airstream, working on a solution to beat death. 

If anyone can do it, Alex muses, it’s Liz Ortecho and Isobel Evans. 

They wander to a large booth when Rosa arrives, still getting curious stares from the bar’s patrons despite the fact that the world now knows her as Elena Ortecho, Liz’s cousin from Santa Fe who looks remarkably like Liz’s dead sister and isn’t that a coincidence? Alex finds himself pressed in between Liz and Rosa, who talk over him animatedly about the wonder that Rosa has discovered that is Netflix. It’s crowded and loud and uncomfortable but for the first time in what seems like forever Alex doesn’t feel lonely. When he looks across the table at Michael, their eyes lock and Alex knows that Michael feels the same. 

---

Alex is there when Isobel brings Max back, Kyle and Jenna by his side as she and Michael will their powers to heal Max until he’s gasping for breath, his eyes popping open and Liz rushing to him, a sob escaping her. Kyle claps a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and Alex returns the friendly gesture with a smile. They watch as Isobel and Liz cling to Max, who still looks confused and lost but he’s alive when he had been dead, so Alex counts it as a win. Michael stands up, shaky but he looks as if a weight has been lifted off of his shoulders as he stumbles to Alex, throwing himself into his arms. Alex responds instinctively, gathering Michael in his arms. 

“He’s back.” Michael whispers into Alex’s shoulder, and Alex nods. 

“Yeah, he is.”

“Max, what’s wrong?” Liz’s concerned voice carries through the cave, and Michael pulls away to stare at where Max has moved away from Liz and Isobel, pressing himself against the cave wall with a panicked look in his eyes. 

“Who’s Max?”

Two hours later, Isobel and Liz have convinced Max to come with them to his house, hoping that the familiar surroundings will spark his memories. Kyle and Jenna leave with them, heading to the bunker to see if there’s anything in Project Shepherd’s files about the pods causing amnesia. Alex stays behind with Michael, who hadn’t stopped studying the pods since Max had looked at him and not known his own brother. 

“Guerin…” Alex tries, standing behind Michael as he crouched in front of the pods. “How can I help?”

“It should have worked.” Michael mutters.

“It did work. Max is alive.”

“Yeah, but he’s not Max.”

“He is. This could just be temporary, we don’t know.”

“When we came out of the pods, we didn’t remember anything about our old lives. But Rosa remembered, so why doesn’t Max?”

“Maybe it’s because Rosa was human? Or the fact that she was in Noah’s broken pod? Noah knew who he was, after all.”

“I was just so sure…”

“Hey.” Alex stuck his hand under Michael’s arm, hauling him up until they were standing face to face. “You brought Max back from the dead, Michael. That’s not nothing. You didn’t fail him, you saved him. And we’ll figure this out together. We’ll get his memories back.”

“Yeah.” Michael replied after a long moment, staring at Alex as if he holds all the answers to the universe. Alex fights the urge to reach out and touch him, to hug him like he had just hours earlier, when Michael had seemed so happy that he was going to burst. Alex would do anything to keep Michael that happy forever. 

The silence of the cave is broken by Michael’s cell phone, and Alex doesn’t miss Maria’s face on the display.

“I better take this.” He mumbles, and Alex nods as Michael steps toward the cave entrance. 

“Hey babe.” He greets, and Alex turns to face the pods on the chance that Michael will turn around and see the tears in his eyes. 

---

It’s been three weeks and Max still doesn’t have his memories back. Alex has poured through every file Project Shepherd has, but since none of the aliens they captured had been in pods, there was little to no research on them or how they worked. Max himself seemed to be adjusting to his circumstances, but Michael was spiraling again and Alex didn’t know what to do about it. 

“You need to rest.” Jenna interrupted his thoughts, leaning against the desk as Alex leaned back, rubbing his hands on his face. 

“There’s gotta be something in here that can help Max.”

“You need to accept that there might not be a way to fix this, Alex. The amnesia was permanent the first time they came out of the pods, it’s probably permanent this time. Max will adjust, Liz will adjust.”

“And Michael?”

“Honestly? That shouldn’t be your problem.” Jenna shrugged. “I know you two have a past, but he’s with DeLuca now. I get that you’re trying to be his friend or whatever, but you have to think about yourself too.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with your feelings for another alien would it?” Alex asks, and Jenna scoffs as she rolls her eyes.

“I don’t know how I convinced myself for more than five minutes that what I was feeling was romantic. Max was...easy, for a long time. But who wants easy forever?” Jenna pushed off of the desk, tugging Alex’s jacket until he stood up and followed her to the door. “Easy for one night, however, might do us both some good. You’re buying me a drink, Airman, and then we’re getting laid.”

“You do know that I’m gay, right?” 

“I didn’t say we would be getting laid together, did I?”

Alex lets Jenna drag him to the Pony, claiming a pool table while she goes to grab the first round. He spots the guy at the nearby table staring at him almost immediately, but chooses to ignore it in favor of wiping the floor with Jenna in the first two rounds. When Kyle shows up, Alex lets him take over, sipping his beer as he watches them flirt via pool. 

“Either you’re really good or she’s really bad.” A voice calls, and Alex looks up to find the man from earlier walking closer. 

“Oh, she’s good.” Alex replies, holding the beer bottle close to his lips. “I’m just better.”

“I’m Jacob.” The man offers his hand, and Alex takes it, both of them perhaps lingering a bit too long. 

“Alex.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Alex.”

They make their way to Jacob’s apartment, fumbling and awkward, but Jacob doesn’t flinch when he sees Alex’s prosthetic, simply waits quietly next to Alex on the bed to see if he’ll explain. 

“I lost it in Iraq, a few years ago.”

“You’re a vet?” Jacob asks, and Alex nods. 

“Air Force.”

“Marines.” Jacob supplies. “Two tours.”

“I’ll understand if you change your mind.” Alex offers, but Jacob only smiles and snakes his hand into Alex’s hair. 

“I’ve seen you at the Pony before, you know. Took me three times to get up the courage to talk to you. Why would I walk away now?”

Alex leans in to kiss Jacob. It’s nothing like kissing Michael, but it’s nice and Jacob’s nice and he can hear Jenna’s voice telling him You deserve to be happy too and he leans into the kiss. 

When Alex left that night with Jacob, he assumed it would be a one night stand. So, when Jacob texted him the next afternoon asking to see him again, Alex wasn’t sure what to feel. He was still in love with Michael, but Michael was with Maria. He liked Jacob, but wasn’t sure if it was fair to pursue something with him knowing that he still had feelings for Michael. 

“You’ll probably always have feelings for Michael.” Isobel told him over lunch the next day, stealing a fry off of his plate and dipping it in her milkshake. “Just like he has feelings for you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find happiness somewhere else. You’re capable of having feelings for more than one person at a time.”

And so, before Alex can fully comprehend what’s happening, he has a boyfriend who’s not Michael Guerin. 

---

The first time Alex brings Jacob around everyone else, he’s not quite sure what to expect. They’re all gathered at Isobel’s house for game night, and Alex probably should have thought it through more because, by the time they get to Uno, Isobel and Michael are so competitive that Liz has to kick Isobel under the table when it becomes clear that she’s two seconds away from mindwarping her brother so she can win. 

“Your friends are a little...intense.” Jacob points out while they were out on Isobel’s patio, taking a break while Liz and Maria set up Twister. 

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

“No, don’t be. I like them. Not sure they like me, though.”

“They’re just not used to new people. You have to understand, literally everyone in that room went to high school together. We’ve known each other practically our whole lives.”

“Well, I’m glad that I know you now.” Jacob pulled on Alex’s belt loop until he was closer, a flirty grin on his face before he leaned in to kiss him softly, chaste until Alex wound his arm around Jacob’s waist, changing the angle and deepening the kiss. They jump apart when the sound of glass shattering fills the air, turning to find Isobel staring at Michael, broken glasses between them where he had been helping his sister pour margaritas. 

“God Michael, you’re such a klutz.” Isobel covered, glancing quickly at Alex before shuffling Michael inside. 

“Yeah, sorry.” Michael muttered, pain in his eyes that Alex couldn’t miss that felt like a punch to the gut. 

“How long did you and Michael date?” Jacob asks later, once they’re settling into bed at Jacob’s apartment. 

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s pretty clear you guys used to have a thing. I was just curious.”

“We didn’t...I guess, technically, we never dated. It’s complicated.” Alex turns onto his side and stares at Jacob, who turns his head to look back at him. “You don’t need to be worried.”

“I’m not.” Jacob confirms. “I like you Alex, a lot.”

“I like you too.” Alex scooted closer, pressing himself against Jacob’s side. “A lot.”

“Good.”

---

Alex knew it was a mistake to allow Flint and Hunter to see their dad, but he’d been in the coma for over six months and a world without Jesse Manes was becoming more and more comfortable. So, he chaperones them as they visit their comatose father, the great Jesse Manes reduced to a sad man in a hospital bed with a machine breathing for him. 

Three days after the visit, Jesse disappears. 

Alex is livid, and frantic, and he can’t explain his behavior to Jacob, just like he can’t explain where he goes to work every day, and why Max is an amnesiac, or why it’s such a Big Deal that his brothers have seemingly walked off with his insane, violent, monster of a father. Not without cluing him into everything alien, and that’s not his secret to tell. 

His friends gather at the bunker, talking over one another as they discuss every way that Jesse Manes could destroy them, and Alex just sits the argument gets more and more heated until Michael’s voice booms over the crowd. 

“Hey!” He yells, and everyone jumps but looks to him. “Alex, is there any way for you to track your brothers?”

“Maybe, but they’ll know how to stay under the radar. And if they’ve woken my father up…”

“We have to assume they have.” Kyle agrees. “Why else would they take him?”

“How long would it take for Jesse to recover?” Maria asks, finally in the know about the Big Alien Secret. 

“He was in a coma for six months. A few weeks, at least, with all the muscle loss.”

“Okay, so, they had to take him to a place where he could heal.” Liz replies, and Alex shakes his head. 

“That could be anywhere, honestly. We’ve been researching for months and we’ve only scratched the surface of how deep Project Shepherd goes.” Alex can hear the frustration in his voice, and pushes away from the group to pace in front of the computers. He can feel Michael join him almost immediately, and a hand on his elbow stops his pacing. 

“We’re gonna figure this out.” Michael assures him. “We’ll do it together, like always.”

“Yeah.” Alex says, sighing and leaning into Michael’s space. 

He sees Maria over Michael’s shoulder, thinks of Jacob, and pulls away. 

There’s nothing for several weeks. No warnings, no demands, and no sign of the Manes men. Alex doesn’t relax, exactly, but being on constant alert is exhausting and he can only go for so long before he collapses in a heap on his bed. Jacob wakes him up a few hours later, a rough shake on his shoulder that has him sitting up immediately. 

“Alex, you need to see this.” Jacob shoves Alex’s phone into his hands, where there’s a text message from an unknown number. “I know you’ve been worried about something, and I know you can’t tell me what, but I thought I should wake you when I heard your phone go off.”

Alex unlocks the phone, opens the text message, and nearly drops it at the picture attached. It’s Michael, tied to a chair, bruised and bloody and unconscious. 

Come alone. The text reads. Short, to the point, and Alex knows that it’s his father. 

“It’s Michael, isn’t it?”

“I have to go.” Alex launches himself from the bed, forgetting momentarily that he took his prosthetic off before falling asleep. Jacob is there to catch him, easing him back down onto the bed. 

“Let me help you.” Jacob offers, reaching for the prosthetic and attaching it with practiced ease. Alex doesn’t have the capacity to recognize the intimacy of Jacob’s movements. The only other person who had ever helped him with his prosthetic had been Michael, and now he’s….

“Thank you.” Alex mumbles, taking Jacob’s hand as he stands up. “I’m sorry I can’t explain, but I have to go. Michael’s in trouble.”

“I know.” Jacob replies. 

“I’ll be back.” Alex assures him, and Jacob shakes his head. 

“I won’t be here.”

“What?”

“Michael is your person, Alex.” Jacob replies. “I know you’re not in a place to act on it, but it’s clear as day. I thought maybe you’d move on - move on with me. But you’re never going to, are you?”

“He’s my friend and he’s in trouble.” Alex points out.

“I know, but he’s also the love of your life.”

“I can’t...I can’t have this conversation right now.”

“There’s never going to be a good time to end this.” Jacob replies. “But I’m here for you, as a friend. Let me help you both.”

“Jacob, I’m sorry.” Alex sighs, squeezing the hand he’s still holding in his own. “I really am.”

“I know.” Jacob smiles, despite the sadness in his eyes, but then Alex watches as a steeliness takes over his face. A determination that gives Alex a glimpse of Jacob’s military past. “Now, how can I help?”

---

Despite Jesse’s warning to come alone, Alex isn’t stupid so the first thing he does is call Isobel and Liz, who bring everyone to Alex’s cabin. Everyone is frantic, and Alex realizes that Michael is the glue that holds them all together. He’s what makes them a family, and in that moment he knows he’ll do whatever it takes to get him back. He’s never doubted his love for Michael, not really, but he knows in this moment that Michael is a part of him, a piece of his soul that he could never get rid of. He loves him, will love him until the day he dies, and he’s going to save him from Jesse Manes now in a way that he couldn’t when he was seventeen. 

They make a plan, and it all hinges on Alex’s ability to distract his father long enough for Maria, Max, Jacob, and Kyle to subdue Flint and Hunter, then get Isobel close enough to turn Jesse’s brain into mush. Liz and Rosa grumble about being the lookouts, but the arguments are short as everyone focuses on getting Michael back. It doesn’t take long for Alex to track the burner phone - something his father counted on, no doubt. They’re an hour or so outside of Roswell, in a warehouse that’s owned by a shell company that Alex is sure belongs to his father. Alex drives alone in his SUV, everyone else in separate vehicles and on different routes. Alex squeezes the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turn white, his mind racing through the number of possibilities and outcomes and the best way to get everyone out of this alive. Outwitting his father, staying two steps ahead of him, has always been difficult or impossible, but this is Michael, and Alex refuses to allow his father to harm him ever again. He’s going to kill him for this, if given the opportunity. 

He’s going to make sure that Jesse Manes never harms Alex’s family ever again. 

When he arrives, Flint is waiting at the entrance. 

“You’re alone?”

“Yeah, Flint, I’m alone. Where is Michael?”

“Inside.”

“Is he okay?”

“It’s alive.” Flint replies, and Alex fought the urge to punch his brother. 

“Michael’s not an it, he’s a person. A good person.”

“They’re all monsters Alex. How can you defend them?”

“You don’t know anything about them!”

“Oh, and you do?”

“Yes, I do actually.” Alex snaps. 

“Oh that’s right.” Flint replies with a smirk. “Dad said you’d fallen in love with this one.”

“I know emotions are a foreign concept to you.”

“Feelings make you weak, make you vulnerable. That’s why you’re here now to beg for the life of some thing that has tricked you into caring about it.”

“Just take me to him, Flint.”

Flint pats him down for weapons, and then guides him into the warehouse where they’ve set up a makeshift base, now that Alex and his friends have co-opted the bunker. Michael is sitting in the middle of the room, chained to the same chair from the picture, but now Michael can see the yellow powder surrounding him in a circle, and he knows that their plan to have Isobel mindwarp his father won’t work. If they’ve got a circle around Michael, it’s a good bet that the pollen is surrounding the building. His father is never one to take chances. 

“Michael…” Alex starts toward the other man, but Flint’s hand on his chest stops him. 

“Welcome son.” Alex turns to see Jesse walking toward him, leaning heavily on a cane but decidedly more alive than he had been the last time Alex had seen him. 

“I’m not your son.” Alex snaps, and his ire rises even more when Jesse chuckles. Alex’s voice, however, seems to rouse Michael, who looks up groggily, confusion evident as he looks to Alex. 

“‘Lex?” He asks, and Alex nods. 

“Yeah, I’m here.” Alex assures him, and Michael shakes his head. 

“Shouldn’t have come.”

“I’ll always come for you.” Alex promises, tears burning in his eyes. 

“Aw, how sweet.” Flint remarks, and Alex shoves him out of his space. 

“What do you want?” Alex asks Jesse, who shrugs. 

“I want what I’ve always wanted. To rid the planet of the alien menace threatening its very existence.”

“Michael and his family aren’t a menace.” Alex snarls. “You are!”

“He’s twisted your mind, don’t you see? Turned you against your own family.”

“He is my family, more than any of you have ever been.”

“No, you’re my son, and it’s time you take your rightful place in our family.”

“You never wanted me near any of this until I took Project Shepherd away from you!” Alex counters. “You didn’t even suspect Michael until you found us together!”

“Three amnesiac kids wandering the desert near the crash site? Of course I suspected them son. I’ve watched them for twenty years. They’re murderers, they killed Rosa Ortecho.”

“Noah Bracken killed Rosa Ortecho! You want your murderous fourth alien? There he is.”

“Bracken’s been missing for months. Where is he?”

“You figure it out.” Alex snaps, and Jesse chuckles. 

“So who killed him? Guerin?”

“Does it matter? Seems like someone did you a favor.”

“It just proves that they’re all murderers.” Flint points out. 

“They did it to protect this planet, their home.”

“This will never be their home.” Jesse replies, and Alex prays that he doesn’t notice him slowly moving toward Michael, trying to get between him and Jesse. 

“It’s the only home they’ve ever known. All they want is to live in peace, and you want to imprison or kill all of them. I’m not going to let that happen.”

“What, exactly, do you think you’re going to do here, son?”

“What I should’ve done ten years ago. I’m going to protect the people I love from your hate.”

In that moment, the back entrance bursts open, Hunter in front with his hands in the air. Jacob is immediately behind him, gun pointed at Hunter’s head as Max and Kyle follow behind them. 

“Let me guess, the gang’s all here?” Jesse muses. “You never did take orders well.”

“I take orders.” Alex replies. “Just not from you. Ever again.”

“Alex, the pollen…” Kyle points out, and Alex nods as Maria and Isobel come through the front door. 

“If you were planning on having that thing warp my mind, you’re out of luck.”

“I could just shoot you.” Kyle replies. “You shot me, after all.”

“Should’ve gone for the head.” Jesse snaps. It’s minute, but Alex sees his father gesture to Flint, and Jacob must see it too because he drops his gun, pointing it at Flint as he slips another weapon to Hunter, who points the gun directly at Jesse. 

“Hunter…?” Alex starts, and Hunter shoots him a small smile. 

“This has gone too far, Alex.” Hunter replies. “I’m through killing for him.”

“You were always weak too.” Jesse snarls. 

“Seems to me that you’re the only weak one here.” Isobel replies. “Hiding behind your sons, expecting them to do your dirty work. Killing innocent people because they’re different than you, maiming a boy because he dared to love your son. You’re pathetic, and I don’t need to turn your brain to soup for us to bring you down.”

“It’s over.” Alex tells him, and Jesse shakes his head. 

“No, it’s over when every last one of them is dead. Starting with him.”

Alex watches as Jesse pulls the gun from Flint’s holster, pointing it directly at Michael. Alex doesn’t think, just acts as he puts himself in the line of fire between his father and Michael. Gets between them like he wished he had all those years ago, take the pain for Michael because he’s suffered enough. 

If he has to die so Michael can live, he’s okay with that. 

He’s been shot before, but this feels different. This one hits him square in the chest, and pain blossoms to every inch of his body. He doesn’t collapse, not immediately, so he’s upright and conscious enough to watch as Max and Hunter tackle Jesse to the ground. He sees Maria hit Flint on the back of the head with the baseball bat she keeps stashed under the bar at the Pony. He hears the sound of metal against metal and turns to see Jacob shooting the chains holding Michael until he comes free. Michael lunges for Alex, and it’s only then that he finally collapses into Michael, letting him guide him to the ground. 

“Alex, come on, you’re okay.” Michael assures him, pressing his hand against the wound in his chest. “Stay with me, you’re gonna be okay.”

“Miserable liar.” Alex wheezes as his breathing gets more erratic.

“Max, you have to heal him!”

“I can’t, especially with the pollen!” Max argues, and Alex remembers that Max hasn’t been able to heal much more than a paper cut since he came out of the pod. 

“It’s okay.” Alex assures him, because it is. They’re all safe, Michael’s safe, and that’s all that matters to Alex. 

“No, it’s not!” Michael snaps, tears rolling down his cheeks. “Why did you do that, Alex? Why?”

“I don’t look away. I love you.”

“Don’t! Don’t tell me goodbye again, damn it.” Michael presses his forehead against Alex’s. “You promised you wouldn’t leave me alone.”

“We have to get him out of here.” Kyle argues, and Alex is just barely hanging onto consciousness as Michael fights to keep him in his arms. “Guerin, I might be able to help him if we can get out of here.”

“Okay, okay…” Michael mutters, and that’s when it all goes dark. 

---

Alex wakes slowly, first for brief moments and then for longer stretches. Each time, however, Alex recognizes Michael’s presence. He’s holding his hand, or reading to him, or just talking as if Alex could respond. It’s familiar and comforting, and Alex rests better knowing that Michael is fine. 

He’s slow to heal, but Michael is there every step of the way, along with the rest of their makeshift family. Isobel hovers, but makes sure that nobody asks too many questions about how, exactly, Alex got shot. Max and Jacob act like self-appointed bodyguards. Kyle runs every test known to man in an attempt to make sure Alex suffers zero complications (and Alex doesn’t miss the looks that pass between Jacob and Kyle when they think no one’s looking). Rosa and Liz make sure that everyone eats. And Maria...well, Maria is Alex’s best friend once again. She’s comforting when he needs it, and pushes him when necessary. After Michael, she’s around the most, but it’s only when they’re alone a few days after he’s finally allowed to go home that they really talk. 

“You know Michael and I broke up, right?” Maria asks as she props some pillows behind him on the couch. “I wasn’t sure if anyone told you with everything going on.”

Alex shakes his head, and Maria groans. 

“Stupid, self-sacrificing cowboy.” Maria mutters, shoving the pillow a little harder than necessary.

“Please don’t tell me you broke up because I…”

“We broke up because he doesn’t love me.” Maria tells him, sighing and sitting on the couch, dropping his legs across her lap. “I mean, he does. But he loves me because what we have is easy. And he loves you so much he’d burn the world down to keep you safe. And it’s the same for you. Hell, you took a literal bullet for him. And I want that kind of love, I deserve it, and I’ll never get that from easy.”

That night, Michael shows up with dinner like he does every night. They’ve settled into a routine since he’s come home, one of their family comes by during the day while Michael is at work, but Alex always ends the day with Michael. They eat dinner, watch a movie, and then Alex goes to bed while Michael sleeps on the couch. 

Alex is determined that tonight’s going to go differently. 

When Michael walks through the door, Alex is waiting in the nicest shirt and jeans that he has, his hair artfully tousled and the beard he had been growing is finally groomed. Michael stops and takes him in, a fond smile on his face that Alex isn’t sure how he missed. 

“You look nice.” Michael greets, and Alex uses his crutch help himself off of the couch. 

Michael rushes to set the groceries down to help him, his hand grasping Alex’s elbow as he moves closer. Alex uses the opportunity to reach up and cup Michael’s face with his free hand, pushing into his space and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Michael freezes and Alex pulls away, afraid that Maria was wrong and he’s misread the entire situation. That Michael truly is just trying to be a friend. But, he’s determined to be brave, so he doesn’t remove his hand from Michael’s face after he pulls away. 

“I love you.” He tells him, refusing to look away from Michael. “I’m in love with you. I don’t know how to be anyone else but the man who loves you more than anything. I know we have all of the bullshit in our past, but I’m tired of letting my past dictate my future. I want to be with you, and I need you to know that, even if you don’t want me.”

“Alex.” Michael sighs, closing his eyes, and Alex feels his heart break at the fear that Michael is going to reject him. “I’ve wanted you for so long that I don’t know what it’s like to not want you. That’s never been the problem, I’ll always want you. But you walked away so many times, I tried to build a wall around my heart to keep you out. I tried to fall in love with someone else, and I did, I really did. But the problem is, you can’t build a wall to keep out something that’s already inside, you know?” Alex gasps when he feels Michael’s hands rest on his neck, squeezing gently. 

“I was always afraid that something was going to happen, that you were going to walk away again, but you’re not, are you?” Alex shakes his head, and he reaches up to wipe away the stray tear that falls down Michael’s cheek with his thumb. “You stayed, and you’ve been here, and I never would have made it through the last six months without you. You almost died for me, Alex. You took a bullet for me, when a few months ago I didn’t think that there was anyone on this planet who gave a shit about me. And I don’t want easy anymore. I want something real, and you mean everything to me. I love you. I only want to be with you.”

A wet laugh escapes Alex as he clings tighter to Michael, resting his forehead against the other man’s. He breathes him in, feeling like the last piece of his soul is finally set into place. 

Pieces want to be together. 

He remembers Michael telling him that in the bunker, and he smiles as he moves to kiss Michael again, simply because he can. 

[iamknicole]

Heartbreak Hotel Pt. 2

Bloodline Family Series

Koda needed to go home. He couldn't be in Miami right now. No matter how juvenile it sounded he wanted his parents, he wanted them to tell him it would be okay and how he could fix it so it wouldn't hurt anymore. When he got in the house Roman was running around with Messiah and Micah, laughing and smiling. Seeing it brought a small smile to his face. His little brothers noticed him and ran straight for him, attacking his legs. Koda picked them both up kissing their cheeks.

"Brody, you home!" Micah squealed happily.

"We fight?" Messiah asked.

Roman approached his boys, pulling the three year olds from Koda's arms putting them on the floor. He ignored their pouting and squatted to their level.

"It's naptime. You guys go on upstairs, get your sister and get in me and Mommy's bed. Good deal?" He asked.

"Him stay?" Messiah asked looking at Koda, who nodded.

"I'm not leavin. I'll be here a few days, SiSi." (like sigh)

Koda followed Roman to his man cave after the boys had gone upstairs. Both men sat on the large sofa.

"What's botherin you, Ko?"

Koda shook his head then rubbed at his eyes. "Nothin, I'm good."

"Come on now, son." Roman said squeezing his shoulder. "I know you better than that. Your eyes are red and misty, your face is red and your hair isn't done. So I'll ask again, what's botherin you?"

Koda opened his mouth but nothing came out. He couldn't bring himself to say it. Instead he cried, he cried like he had done the past two days whenever he was alone. He felt this pain was unbearable. Roman watched his oldest for a second, it had been a while since he'd seen him cry like this.

"What's goin on, son? What happened?" Roman asked.

"It's Parker, Pop," he explained through his sobbing.

Roman started to worry, he thought the worst.

"What about her? Is she pregnant? Did something happen to her, Ko?"He nodded, holding his head down. "What are you nodding to?"

Koda looked up at his dad trying to hold back the rest of his tears. When he opened his mouth this time, Kandice walked in. She saw him crying and rushed to sit beside him, pulling his head to her chest.

"What's wrong with my baby, Roman? What did you do?"

Laughing a little, Roman shook his head at his wife. Whenever any of their kids were crying she asked that question. It didn't matter if they both entered together she still asked. "I didn't do anything to your baby, Kandi. He was gonna tell me but he started crying."

Koda sat up, out of her hold, trying to slow down the tears. His head was starting to hurt and he didn't want to deal with that. "Friday after my game she wanted me to go to this party with her," he started slowly. "We won and I usually go to whatever after party but I played all four quarters, I was tired. But she went."

Kandice sucked her teeth at him. "Boy, you better not be crying cause she went to a party without you."

Roman glared at his wife, "Hush, Kandi. Let him finish."

"Fine, fine," she said putting her hands up. "Go head, Ko."

Koda scratched his growing beard. "She came over Sunday and I guess that's when Eli and Lo found out and showed it to me."

"Showed you what," Roman asked.Koda couldn't look at either of his parents.

"She was mad at me for not goin with her so she," he paused feeling his anger and more tears starting to rise. Kandice rubbed his back and Roman told him to go on.

"She fu- had sex with these dudes that play for Auburn on Instagram live."

"She what?" Kandice yelled making Koda jump.

"I asked her and she just kept saying she was sorry, over and over. But that don't fix this shit," he cried putting his head down.

Roman nodded his head at Kandice for her to leave them. She didn't want to go but she knew it would be better for Koda if she did. Once she was out of the room and in the kitchen, she called Apryl and Trinity to vent while Koda continued to vent to Roman.

"I treated her exactly how you taught me, Pop. I did what I was supposed to do and she did that."

"You did what you were supposed to do, Koda. You can't control what someone else does."

"I love her, she said she loved me too. I don't go to one party and that's what she does," he yelled out of frustration. "Then she came straight to the apartment after the party and kissed me in my mouth."

Roman didn't want to ask but he knew he needed to.

"Did yall have sex that night?" Koda nodded making him sigh. "You used a hat?"

"Yeah. She told me not to, we almost didn't cause she got mad about me wearing one. Now I know why." He said bitterly.

That made Roman happy. His son had listened to something.

"What about oral?"

"She did. I didn't," Koda shrugged sitting back, "It was late. I ain't want her to wake E and Lo up."

While Roman continued to calm Koda down, Kandice was trying to calm her nerves on the phone. Apryl was playing devil's advocate and Trinity was the peace maker.

"I say you grab your bat, Kandi. I'll bring my knife and Trin will bring her taser. It'll be a nice lil trip to Miami."

"No," Trinity chastised, "We're not jumping that lil girl. That's not gonna make him feel any better."

"Hell, it'll make us feel a whole lot better."

"No, Apryl."

Kandice laughed. "Where was this energy when that girl broke Eli's heart? We had to barricade you in the house tp keep you from jumping on that girl."

"I don't recall," Trinity laughed.

Roman had pretty much calmed his son down and gotten him to sit back down. He'd thrown his arm around Koda squeezing his shoulder lovingly.

"Look, I'm not gonna tell you that this hurt is gonna go away cause its not. One day it just won't hurt as bad. And I won't tell you that you'll forget about it cause you won't. But I will say," Roman spoke softly, "One day you'll think about this and be thankful. You'll realize there was a reason for this."

Koda nodded listening to his dad.

"But dont let this pain just continue to hurt you. You gotta learn from it."

"Learn what?" Koda asked looking up.

"Later on when you're thinking about this you'll remember things that happened that didn't add up, that there were red flags for you and you'll learn not to ignore those things. You'll realize what you do6nt like in a partner and what you do. Understand?"

"Yes, sir. Thanks, Pops. I love you"

Koda loved the bond he had with his dad. There was nothing else in his life like it. Eli and Milo are his best friends but his dad was his first best friend.

Roman pulled his son into a hug, squeezing him tight. He kissed his head before letting go. "I love you too, Ko. Go share some of that love with ya mama before she gets jealous."

Laughing, Koda got up to go to the kitchen. When he got to the kitchen Kandice hurried off the phone and engulfed him in a big hug when he was close enough. Even though he's a foot and some inches taller than her, she still cradled him like she did when he was a baby. She hugged him tight, holding back tears, until he pulled away.

"Aight, ma. I gotta stop or Ima cry again."

Kandice laughed a little, happy to see him in better spirits.

"I'm sorry. Yall know I don't play about my babies so I had to love on you."

"I know, Ma. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Koda?"

"Yes ma'am," he answered softly. He leaned against the island with his hands pushed into the pockets of his sweat pants.

"Don't let one person ruin your mood. You hold your head up like the man that you are. This hurts now but you'll be given something much better."

Koda nodded listening to his mama talk.

"When you get back to that campus, I want you to hold your head up, put you some clothes on and do your hair. You be the man me and your Daddy raised you to be. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am. Thank y'all. I had to come home, I couldn't stay there like this."

Kandice nodded, she understood.

"Did Milo and Eli help?"

"Yeah, they tried but this wasn't something they could really help with. I needed you and Pops."

Kandice went to Koda putting her hands on his face. Leaning up on her toes and pulling his head down she kissed his forehead and whispered a prayer over him.

"I love you, Mama." He admitted softly.

"I love you too, baby boy. Always and forever."

A few days later, Koda was back on campus. He needed the break away from everything, it did him good. By the time he got back, everyone had found out what Parker did to Koda. They were hard on her. Everyone knew how well he treated her and took care of her so they thought it was stupid of her to cheat on Koda the way she did. Girls were constantly trying to steal Koda from Parker only to find out how faithful and committed to Parker he was.

Eli and Milo had finally gotten him to come to a house party with them. He did what his mama told him to do. He got dressed, did his hair and got himself together.

As the cousins walked into the house party, a girl bumped into Koda. He caught her around her waist before she could fall to the floor. When he opened his mouth to apologize, she stopped him.

"Don't," she smiled, "It was my fault. I'm clumsy."

"But still," Koda said still holding onto her, "You aight?"

"Yeah, I'm good. I promise."

"Aight then, sweetheart. You be careful." He nodded letting her go

"I'll try."

She laughed as she walked off. Koda watched her until Eli smacked his arm playfully.

"My boy is back!"

The laughing cousins moved quickly through the party to the kitchen. Milo grabbed them each a beer and passed them to his cousins.

"Here, here," Milo laughed raising his beer, "To our cousin. Haven't been single but a week and half and already got girls tripping over him!"

[controloffandoms]

Broken Faith Pt 6 (D.G)

Prompt: I can’t get this fic out of my head until it’s resolved….

Pairing: Dick Grayson x reader

Words: 3163

Warnings: Past torture, depression, Past major character death, past violence

Notes: I’m thinking this is the last installment of the Broken Faith series.

Part 1      Part 2      Part 3     Part 4      Part 5

2 Weeks Later

You liked being at the Allen’s house. You helped Iris with chores around the house, goofed around with Bart, talked about everything with Wally. You’d missed Wally. You thought he’d been dead. Turns out that he ran so fast, the speed force sucked him in and he’d spent almost 6 years learning about the speed force. He even ran faster than before because of his time there. He liked to talk about it, and you liked to hear about it...the fact that the speed force was an actual entity was astonishing.

In return for learning about the speed force, you told him everything about what transpired after he left. You told him what Dick did in his time. You told him about joining the League but not feeling wanted there. You told him of the fallout with Bruce. You told him about Alvarez, the mission that you didn’t fully come back from, about Jason returning, about your fears, about killing Alvarez. You told him everything. Most of the talks consisted of you crying and Wally not far behind you.

When it came to talks like that, Barry and Iris took Bart out and left you both to talk. Barry knew mostly everything that had transpired since Wally had been in the speed force and had told Iris what happened. They knew that you needed Wally and that you didn’t want anyone else listening in. After all, Dick and Wally were your best friends when the whole Young Justice thing started. “There’s been one thing that you’ve avoided talking about, (Y/N/N).”

Wally’s hand continued to play with your hair as you leaned more into his side. You closed your eyes and sighed. “What happened two weeks ago,” you whispered. Wally stayed silent as did you. You picked at the fabric of his jeans before sitting up and turning to face Wally. You looked at him as he did you before you looked away. “About six weeks ago, Dick showed up, like I told you, in Smallville. He kept me from killing myself. He took me to the mansion after that, and we spent the next two weeks together. He wouldn’t let me out of his sight. I mean...I understand. If I had just caught him trying to kill himself, I would have never let him out of my sight. But it was getting on my nerves, not to mention that I couldn’t sleep. I’d get a couple of hours here and there, but I could never just sleep normally. So, I began to get up in the middle of the night and go to the kitchen and fix myself some tea and get a snack.

“About a week after being back at the mansion and getting into the nightly routine of waiting for Dick to go to sleep, fix tea and snacks, take coffee to Tim and get him to sleep, Alfred started to join me when I left the bedroom. He would talk to me and wouldn’t push me to talk about the obvious pain that I was going through. It would be about stupid things like how many new suits would we need to make in the next week because of the reckless bat family.” You gave a small chuckle at that. Your eyes were stinging as you thought of Alfred. You’d let him down.

“Well, two weeks ago, I went through the same routine. I’d gotten Tim to go get some sleep and I got a transmission from Bart about the prison breaks. I’d alerted all the teams and was gathering information with Alfred to send to the teams. (V/N) was one of the prisoners that was escaping. He’s the only villain to know where the Bat Cave was...the only villain to know my identity. Anyway, I started lockdown procedures. If I had noticed sooner that he was one of the escapees, I could have started the procedure sooner and maybe it wouldn’t have played out like it did.” You ran a hand over your face, wiping away the tears as you did.

“Alfred pointed out that (V/N) was already in the cave. I told the bats to help Jason and then come back and help me. I had Alfred hide and I strapped up with weapons and utility belts. I got to a higher vantage point and waited for him. I was shaking. I was scared. I was afraid that I’d kill again, and I wouldn’t forgive myself for that. I was afraid because I was out of the loop vigilante wise. I hesitated, then attacked. Once the smoke cleared, I started to get thrown around. I don’t know how long we fought before he threw me into the panels where we kept the suits, but when I got up, he had Alfred.” You didn’t bother to wipe the tears, knowing they wouldn’t stop any time soon.

You took a shaky breath as Wally grabbed your hands in his. His calming touch helped you to continue. “He kept talking about wanting to break me and that if he had to die for me to fully break, he was ready for it. He thought I needed another push.” You trailed off, lost in the memory playing through your head.

You picked yourself up out of the broken glass and paused as you saw him with Alfred poised in front of him. “You’re mentally unstable. All I’ve ever wanted after you first busted me was to break you. If killing me would be the final crack in your armor to break you...well, that’s a fair trade.”

“I’m already broken, asshole. Let him go.”

(V/N) laughed. “If you were truly broken, you wouldn’t be here fighting me. I think you need a little incentive.” You ran forward, unable to make it to them in time. You dropped down next to Alfred, ripping a piece of your shirt off and holding it onto the gaping hole in the man’s chest.

“Come on, stay with me Al.” Tears mixed with the blood and grime on your face.

Alfred reached up with a weak hand, placing it on your cheek. “It’s okay. Don’t let this break you. You’re stronger.”

Your scream filled the cave as Alfred stopped breathing. “No no no no,” you mumbled, starting chest compressions. “No, come back,” you cried.

“Hey, (Y/N). You’re not there anymore. There’s nothing you can do,” Wally’s hand was on your cheeks, making you look at him as he wiped your tears away. “Come on, you’ve got to talk about it, all the way through...then you can start to heal. Breathe with me and let it all come out.”

You took some calming breaths and nodded to yourself. “(V/N) had Alfred in front of him. I hesitated...I didn’t want to charge and him hurt Alfred...looking back on it, I should have just attacked. I hesitated and couldn’t get to him before he-before he took the eskrima and pushed it through Al’s chest. I tried to stop the blood. I tried-I tried to keep him ali-alive,” your body shook with sobs as Wally brought you into his arms. Your face was buried in his shirt.

“He died and that asshole wanted me to fight him. I don’t know what happened after he pulled me off Alfred. The next thing I do remember is holding onto Alfred when Bruce and the others entered the cave. Clark, Diana, Bart, and Conner showed up and no one was listening to me. I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t watch another person die again, Wals. When I thought you had died, I was devastated. Then Jason died. Then some new members of the Young Justice team. Some of the League. I couldn’t stay and watch someone else I cared about die.”

You raised your head to look at Wally. “It’s like I’m cursed Wals. I had Zatanna check and I’m not, but that’s what it feels like. I didn’t kill (V/N), but I wanted to and that scared me. I wanted to take time to get myself together but Dick didn’t want to let me out of his sight because he’s afraid I’ll go and kill myself. I mean, I gave him ample reason to come to that conclusion, but I think that after knowing him for most of my life, that I deserve a little trust. They argued over me like I wasn’t even there.”

You sighed and wiped your eyes. “I don’t even know what I stand for anymore. After Alvarez, I became crueler...crueler than Batman. I bonded with Jason because he understood the new me. He understood me in ways that Dick didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the acrobat, but he just couldn’t understand me after they rescued me from Alvarez. Then I go and kill Alvarez and realize that I liked it. I liked the feeling of ending him...and I got that same feeling that night (V/N) attacked. It scared me. I scare myself Wally. How can I continue to fight the baddies of the world when there’s the possibility that I’d get the urge to kill them and be done with it?”

Wally stayed quiet for a little while before he responded. “When Captain Boomerang and Captain Cold teamed up and severely injured Uncle Barry, I lost it. I beat Cold within inches of death. I would have done the same to Boomerang had Diana not shown up. When someone hurts you or hurts those that you care about, your emotions go out of whack. You do things you normally wouldn’t do. You want to stop the threat before they hurt someone else you care about. When we have way too much baggage on our shoulders, we can’t stop ourselves. You’ve had way too much put on your shoulders to be able to stop and think about the consequences before acting. Especially when you’re blindsided. Had I been in your shoes, I would have killed Alvarez. Not because I wanted to, but because I couldn’t control it. You couldn’t either.”

“It goes against everything I use to stand for,” you sighed

“So change your standards. Redefine you. You’re obviously hurting over the fact that you’ve taken a life. I’d be worried if you weren’t.”

“What if I can’t do it anymore?”

“Then I support you either way.”

_______________________

8 Weeks Later

You looked up as your hair went flying everywhere. “Thanks for the warning, Wals.”

“I need your help.” Wally grabbed you and quickly pulled you downstairs. Your eyes widened as they landed on Bart and Barry who were out cold, cuts and burns covering their bodies.

“What happened,” you asked as Wally pulled out a case.

“Cold, Heatwave, and Trickster with upgraded weapons. They’re still running amuck and I can’t take the all by myself. No one is responding to my need of assistance. I know you’re still processing, but I have no one else, (Y/N/N).” He handed you the case and you opened it to see a new and improved suit with a new mask. Your hand paused over the uniform and your body tensed. “(Y/N/N), please.”

You looked at Wally and nodded, backing into the other room to change. Iris tossed you something as you exited the room. You caught it and smiled slightly. It was your old (weapon), new and improved. You glanced to Wally and stuck a hand out to him, “lead the way Flash Boy.”

Wally laughed slightly and picked you up bridal side before running off with you.

Upon arriving at the scene, you both quickly had to roll out of the way of Trickster’s latest trap. “Oh, your brought another friend Flashy...what does this one do?”

“I’ve got this one, you think you can get Cold and Heatwave?”

“Thought you’d never ask,” Wally stated before racing off.

Your moment’s distraction allowed Trickster to approach you. “Have a present,” he laughed as he tossed the teddy bear to you. You moved out of the way. The second it hit the ground, your eyes widened as it exploded.

“That’s just wrong,” you stated. “You have a couple of screws loose, don’t you?

“That’s what my therapist says,” he laughs as he pulls out a toy gun.

“Let me guess, everything that looks like it wouldn’t hurt-like children’s toys-actually pack a punch?”

He just laughed and pressed the trigger. You were quite shocked that an actual boxing glove clocked you. “Quite literally,” he responded.

You thought that after the fight you would take the boxing glove gun for your own….it was too cool to give up. The more you fought the man, the more you started to enjoy it, your fears dissipating. After landing a punch that sent the Trickster flying into a wall, you made sure to zip tie him and go in search of Wally.

As you rounded the corner, you saw at least fifteen police cars outside the bank. You shrugged your shoulders, it made sense. You walked over to the barricade, easily getting through without too much trouble. Before you could enter the bank, Heatwave was thrown out. Guns raised and you were in the firing range.

“Put your weapons down, I’ve got him,” you shouted and struck at Heatwave as he got up. He growled and slammed you into the ground. He turned his flame gun on the barricade making the first responders and news crews back up.

While he was distracted, you grabbed the (weapon) and attacked, taking him down quickly. He fired the gun at you, hitting the top of your left arm as you moved. You hissed at the pain, but put it in the back of your mind. You knocked the gun out of his hand and continued your attack. You both traded punches and kicks, both knocked each other back. One hard kick to your chest had you flying into the barricade next to the news crews.

A groan left your mouth as you sat up, seeing Heatwave going for his gun. “Not today, asshole,” you mumbled as you got up, grabbing the gun you’d confiscated from the Trickster. You closed the distance fast and just as he went to grab for the heat gun, you pulled the trigger on the toy gun you had. You almost laughed at the look on one of the cop’s faces as the glove knocked the muscled criminal off his feet, a few feet away from his heat gun.

You tucked his gun into your utility belt and attacked the man while he was down, effectively knocking him out. You zip tied him and led him over to the barricade before entering the bank.

You had to duck as a stray blast of the cold gun came right at you. You saw Wally slowly getting up as he vibrated the ice off of him. You took cover behind one of the desks as Cold fired again. Wally was soon next to you. “Trickster and Heatwave are down.”

“I can’t get close to Cold. He had Trickster set up traps all around the bank that only he knows about. I just got out of the latest trap,” Wally huffed.

“Heat and cold cancel each other out. Why don’t I just use Heatwave’s gun against Cold?”

“Uncle Barry once had them do that...it overloaded both their guns. It could work. But how are you going to get close enough for it to work?”

“That’s where you come in KF. I need you to find a spot that isn’t booby trapped.” Wally sighed but nodded. You took out a couple of batarangs and threw them one by one at Captain Cold to keep him occupied while Wally looked for a space for you to stand. Once he found one, he raced back to you and placed you on the spot.

You trained the heat gun on Cold as he did the same to you. “This wasn’t expected,” he stated.

“Place your cold gun down and surrender willingly and we’ll call it a day,” you responded.

“What’s in it for me?”

“Not getting your ass handed to you by a non metahuman,” Wally called.

“I think not,” he pulled the trigger as you did. It was hard to explain exactly what happened next. As you expected, the two guns canceled each other, but you didn’t expect to be thrown backwards and onto another trap.

Wally knocked out Captain Cold, taking his gun and zip tying him before coming over to you. “This is gross,” you complained as you wiped slime from your face. Wally helped you up as he laughed then grabbed Cold and exited the building with you. Wally led Cold over to the authorities while you waited a good six feet from him.

You wiped more slime from your suit and face while Wally walked back to you. “I’m definitely glad that I didn’t step into that trap.” You glared at him and pulled out the toy gun, shooting it at his stomach. “That was uncalled for,” he gasped.

“Sorry, my finger slipped,” you smirked. You both started to laugh as Wally picked you up and ran you both back to the house.

___________________

7 Months Later

The zeta tube announced your arrival to the mountain. You gave a hug to Damien as he approached you. “So is this what you’ve been doing since I left? Sitting on your asses? No wonder the League put me in charge of your training.”

“I’ll have you know that we’ve been very productive,” Dick stated as he brought you into a hug.

“Right,” you responded as you flipped Dick, pinning him.

“I wasn’t prepared for that.”

Jason laughed, “finally, someone that can take Blue Bird down.”

“I’ve taken him down, Todd,” Damien responded.

“Okay,” you called before Damien and Jason could get into it. “We start training tomorrow. I was thinking tonight we could do a movie and game night?”

“I’ve got the food,” Bart and Wally call as they race off.

You shook your head as the others brought out the games and selection of movies. You had come back into the vigilante life slowly. After helping Wally with Trickster, Captain Cold, and Heatwave, you couldn’t exactly stop. A month after that, you were back in (Y/C) taking down the villains you’d allowed to run amuck after what had happened to you. It felt good to be taking back the city. Soon after that, you’d team up with the bats and work on cases together. You’d done the occasional work with the League or Young Justice. After months of getting yourself back together, you were ready to be a full part of a team again.

As you sat on the couch while the team bickered over what to do first, Dick sat next to you. He pulled you into a gentle kiss. “I’m glad you’re back,” he whispered.

“Me too.”

Dickie Birds

@jadedhillon @actiongirl2005

DC Loves

@jadedhillon @marvelite1998

Young Justicers

@lettucewayne

[shauds-archived]

Hi, I absolutely love your writing! Your fics on AO3 are amazing, Simplicity is one of my all time favorites. For the request prompts, would you do JaySteph+ tactile? Thank you so much ❤️ have a great day!

Thank you so much! I tried to write you something in the Simplicity verse, but it wasn’t working, so I just tried to match the tone instead.

Stephanie’s a pretty tactile person, and she’s decided that a certain ex-Robin could use some tactileness in his life. Which works out great, because she could use a certain ex-Robin in hers.

They’ve met before, of course, but that was always just fun comm chatter. The first time Jason meets her in person is that week Riddler decided to do a throwback to being an actual threat and set up a dozen or so deathtraps around the city. He’d agreed to give them a hand because deathtraps trumps pissing contest with Bruce, and it was nice for once to be handed intell instead of either beating it out of thugs or stealing it.

It’s not that she appears out of nowhere or anything, he sees her coming, it’s just that she doesn’t look either pissed or any more nervous than he’s used to having people around him. He just assumes she’s going to keep going to meet with one of the Bats huddled together on the far side of the cave and ignores her. Which is… well he thinks is a mistake when her arms wrap around his torso and he jumps like a cat facing off against a very large dog and drops the helmet he had tucked under his arm. A dog that’s warm and smells like vanilla and is squeezing him arm enough to feel through his body armor.

”You’re Jason huh?” She pulls back with a grin on her face before he can react further, squints up at him for a couple moments, studying him with her hands clasped in front of her, not reaching for any weapons. It takes her little over a second for her shoulders to hitch it a shrug he cant’s quite decipher, then hold out a hand. “I’m Steph.”

”Uh.” Jason blinks at the hand hovering between them, then turns to where the Bats are watching the exchange, and then back to her almost hopeful expression. She smiles at him and Jason works against the sudden heaviness in his arm to clap her hand in his own and give it one firm shake.

The smile morphs to a full on grin then and Jason almost wants to close his eyes for how bright it is. “Nice to meet ya.” He gently punches his shoulder when she walks by him and vanishes in the direction of the showers.

”Did she just hug me?” He asks no one in particular and indeterminable amount of time later. A couple of them erupt into chuckles, Jason’s still too dazed to figure out which and beat them down for it.

***

The next time it happens, Jason’s staking out a meet between the two little upstart gangs who’ve figured his old territory in Crime Alley is up for the taking. Killing them’s not the plan, but it won’t hurt to remind them what a good shot he is, then bankrupt them, make a real good example. He’s just waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger on this brand new, never before used, high-accuracy LA115A3 he found in his safe-house a couple days ago.

Talks are heating up, plenty of shouting, and he’s starting to worry he won’t have to do anything to break apart their little alliance when there’s the twang of a line pulling taut and he catches sight of an inky black cape dropping down behind him.

”Not gonna kill em.” He rolls his eyes, expecting Bruce. Instead, he only just manages to flick the safety on before he’s, knocked aside by the sheer unexpectedness more than the force off the half-assed tackle from behind. The tackle hug. He freezes up. So, not Bruce then.

”Hi Hood.” She tightens the hug minutely and presses her cheek against his helmet, then pulls back to squat down beside him. “So what’s the situation here?” She pulls out some binoculars.

”What are you doing?” The phantom feeling of her weight pressed against him strains his voice, but the modulator evens it out for him, and thank god for that. Makes it easier to not have to deal with it.

”Backup.” Her tongue pokes out from behind her glossy lips as she adjusts the zoom on her binoculars, then settles in to watch. “Perks of the whole teamwork thing.” She turns to offer him a grin. “Pretty great huh?”

Jason turns quickly back to his scope so he doesn’t have to look at her anymore. “Don’t need back up.” The shouting has died down and they wannabe crimelords are talking like human beings again, almost look like they’re going to come to some kind of an agreement, almost time for Jason to mess that up.

”Yeah you and every other Batboy.” She scoffs and scooches a little closer to him, close enough that, even though it’s probably all in his head, he can feel the warmth radiating off her.

He does his best to ignore the heat he feels creeping up his neck in response and tries to focus on his job.

***

It happens again, and again. Every time they cross paths, even if only for a few moments even if it’s in the middle of a smack down with a jumble of thugs, she will, without fail hug, or attempt to hug him. Jason checks his pockets, but never finds that they’ve been picked, he never finds that any trackers have been slipped onto any part of his body. She’s never taken advantage of his shock, either before or after to attack him. There is no logical or illogical reasoning he can find behind why she keeps doing this to him.

When he brings it up to Dick one time when they’re stuck in a small lifeboat together, escaping the a yacht that’s just gone up in smoke, and flames, all he gets is laughed at, and Dick gets thrown over the edge of the boat to swim himself to safety. Asshole.

The most confusing part of the whole thing is that, once he’s crossed off any potentially malicious intent, Jason finds he doesn’t mind. He comes to expect when his eyes catch sight of her, and he doesn’t look for paths of avoiding the contact.

“Hey there Jay.” She greets one night while Jason’s making use of the Batcomputer for some chemical analyses he doesn’t have the patience to do in his own right now. Her arms slink around his shoulders and stay there, as she rests her head on top of his. No one calls him Jay anymore and Jason feels warmth building in his chest that has only a little to do with her body heat. “You working on new drugs to build your empire on?”

Jason snorts and, without thinking about what he’s doing, he leans his head back to press against her collarbone. He should be offended, shouldn’t he? He’d be offended if any of the others made a joke like that. At least, he thinks he would. He doesn’t know right now. “Shh”, he presses a finger against her lips, “don’t tell the others.”

She laughs at him and drops her head to his shoulder, she’s resting it on her arms, but he can still feel the warmth, the cool puffs of her breaths against his neck. She smells more of vanilla tonight than usual, or maybe it’s just that she’s so close, and she’s not moving away this time. He spends more time in front of the computer that night that he’s planned on, but somehow, as long as she’s there, he keeps coming up with just one more thing he needs to use it for.

Even when that one more thing is this kitten video he absolutely has to watch, she insists, her lips very, very close to his. He could just… He shakes the thought off before it’s had a chance to fully form and quickly moves on to the next video.

”Hey,” she flicks his ear after a while and Jason turns to her, tries to make it look begrudging. “Everyone’s asleep, you wanna raid the kitchen?”

He glances at the computer and the muppets music video still playing on the screen, then lets his eyes linger on her. “Eh, what the hell.” He shrugs and only flinches a little when her arm links with his as though he needs to be lead upstairs.

***

The first time he actually returns her hug is another time he’s not really thinking, or maybe he’s thinking too hard. He’s sitting on the edge of the highest point of Wayne Tower, watching steam rise up off the styrofoam cup of soup he picked up off a street vendor as it twists it the wind, then dissipates into nothingness against the overcast skies, gone forever. It looks like it should be warm, but he barely feels it, not even when he can bring himself to sip on the salty liquid.

It’s not a day he wants to spend around them. When she shows up, this time without a word of greeting, just to sit down next to him and squeeze her way under his arms to tuck herself against his side, a huge part of him wants to push her away. To let out the all the anger and frustration and bucket loads of emotion he’s gotten so good at hiding behind sarcasm in the name of peace. The bigger part of him though, the part that’s exhausted by a night of phantom pains and laughter in his head; it’s like a black hole that sucks up the rest of everything else and leaves him too cold for the soup to work against.

That’s the part that drops the cup and turns to fold him over her, wrap his arms around her and press her head into the crook of his shoulder and just hold her, just absorb what little he can of the suns worth of warmth she has to offer.

”Why do you keep doing…?” His voice hitches and he stifles it by burying his face in her hair.

”You have a chronic hug deficiency, I like hugs.” Her voice is soft, but steady as her fingers brush against the pulse at his neck, then grip his jacket. “’Nd I like you. Works out.”

Jason tries to laugh, the only response he can think of, but it turns into a sob, and he’s hard pressed to make any other kind of sound for a while.

When he sees her again a week later, neither of them bring it up, but she does give a short, soft, happy squeal when he hugs her back.

***

”Jason.” Bruce says, he’d been about to pull his cowl over his head, but he pauses when Jason doesn’t immediately run off to get started on the job he said he’s help them with – installing some surveillance equipment in some dumbass’s crappy apartment.

”Relax, I got all night.” Jason’s resting against the computer console, slapping Bruce’s big chair in lazy circles while he watches the driveway, listening for the near silent engine of Batgirl’s bike.

”And you’d rather spend that night playing with the furniture than on a patrol.” Bruce still hasn’t put his cowl back on, is still watching Jason, his expression as close to confusion as Jason’s seen since he got back.

”Ya don’t want me here, all ya gotta do is…” he start’s kicking off from the console to approach Bruce.

”He’s waiting for his huuug.” Dick half sings, from where he’s busy restocking his dumb utility bracelets.

”Your what?” Bruce blinks, and now he really does look confused, his eyes darting uncertainly between Jason and Dick.”

”Shut up Dick.” Jason glares warningly when he sees the grinning idiot opening his idiot mouth to speak. Dick, the bastard just grins wider and Jason can already tell he’s going to have to physically stop him.

”Do you want…” Bruce drops the cowl to hang around his neck and awkwardly spreads his arms, “me to give you a…”

”NO!” Jason yells, backing away from the man so fast he almost trips and Dick almost doubles over in laughter. Now Jason knows the owner of at least one of the voices that had chuckled at him that first time, and as soon as he gets his head straight he’s going to…

”Aw, you waited for me.” Stephanie doesn’t appear from the driveway, but from the stairs that lead up to the manor. Jason’s arms close around her, and he doesn’t care so much about Dick’s laughter, doesn’t notice that it cuts off almost as soon as Jason pulls Stephanie close and she burrows into his jacket.

***

”So, I’ve been thinking.” Stephanie shows up at his current safehouse. He doesn’t know how she found it, but he’s stopped trying so hard to hide them, so he doesn’t wonder too hard, especially not when her hands link up behind his neck and she stands on the tips of her toes to get her eyes as level with his as she can.

”Sure ya should be doing that there Blondie?” Jason croaks out as soon as he can find his breath. She’s not in the batgirl suit, or in post-patrol/workout sweats. What she is wearing isn’t particularly fancy, just jeans and a very fluffy looking orange sweater, but it’s… nice. He doesn’t know if he should tell her that.

”You remember how I said you don’t get enough hugs?” She squints at him and tugs his head down just a little more. Jason shrugs in reply and finally let’s go of his doorframe. She cocks her head to the side. “And I also kinda said I liked you, and you didn’t really say anything back?”

”Yeah, you and like five people on this Earth.” He has to think a little to remember that particular conversation. “I’m not sure what…” wait. Jason frowns down at her, but the look she directs at him, eyes narrowed and her brows raised, her lips drawn into a straight line.

”Guess I shouldna used playground terminology on someone as dense as you, huh?” The expression melts away and he has barely a couple seconds to see the red flush across her cheeks before she ducks her head and hides it from sight.

Wait. “There’s no way you meant…” Her head snaps up and it’s Jason’s turn to duck his from her view. There’s really just no way, but he can still feel her watching him, and then her hand gently closes around his jaw and turns his eyes to meet hers.

Her expression is still incredibly serious when she says. “I’ve decided you don’t get enough kisses either, but I can’t exactly tell if you’re up for kisses.”She bites down on her lips and releases the hold her hand has on his neck, the warmth there almost immediately being replaced with an unpleasant chill. “Totally okay of you’re not though, you can still…

Before the traitorous parts of his brain make him reconsider, Jason holds her chin much the same way as she did his, he leans in to meet her lips with his. She lets out a surprised squeak, and Jason almost pulls back, but then her hands are linked up behind his head again and she’s pulling him even closer, and, well the traitorous parts of his brain kind of need oxygen to function well enough to betray him. Jason’s more that up for kisses.

***

Stephanie’s a very tactile person. It probably comes from growing up with a mom who was never quite able to give her much attention, and a father who’s attention Steph didn’t usually want, even if he were willing to give it out. Things are better now, sure, with Dad gone and Mom trying to catch up on the whole bonding thing. It’s great, but it’s a little late for it to impact Steph’s personality much right now. To reiterate, the many hugs and head pats and forehead kisses from Mom are great, Steph has no desire whatsoever to lessen their frequency. In fact, she’s determined to dole out as many hugs and head pats and forehead kisses of her own as humanely possible.

Which works out great, depending on whose side you’re looking at it from, because it’s her unprofessional, but still incredibly expert opinion that Jason hasn’t gotten enough hugs, and she’s in the perfect position to deliver them, along with all the head pats and forehead kisses and… various other forms of kisses he also doesn’t get enough of. And Jason, after a brief adjustment period, is more than happy to soak up all the attention like a touch-starved sponge and respond in kind.

See, it works out great… for Jason and Stephanie that is, for the Bats that have to deal with it just about every second the two of them are together? Not so much.

[executive-geneticist]

♂ ♀

Drabble Prompts

♂ - … My muse’s father

-There are few things that can compare to finding out that you are to have a son. For Erik Apollo, there was no greater news for an expectant father to hear. In the weeks between that 20-week ultrasound and delivery date, he found himself imagining all the things fathers-of-sons imagine. Playing catch in the yard, teaching his son to drive and change the oil, going to ball games on the weekend. The nursery he and his wife lovingly decorated together had all the hallmarks of a stereotypical boy child; baseball bats on the wall, a blanket with endearing terms like “slugger,” “champ,” and “sport” covering the front and back, trucks and dinosaurs filling a toy box in the corner. It was everything Erik and Katarina wanted for their son.

-So when Archer came along and the years came and went that he would be old enough to enjoy such things, it was a little disheartening when he showed little to no interest. Instead of the joy of watching their son carting around his football-player teddy bear or sleeping with it as a companion against the childhood fear of being alone in the dark, his parents found a trail of stuffing and plastic pellets that ended in a mess of torn fabric and fluff. Instead of collections of cars and tools and soldiers, he had shattered piles of plastic and metal, forgotten as soon as they were no longer entertaining.

-For Erik, it took years longer than it did Katarina to realize there might be something different about their offspring. Despite the signs that Archer’s interests were not only unconventional but downright wrong, he wanted with his whole heart to believe that his son was just a late bloomer. “Boys will be boys,” he said. He was a little destructive, certainly, and perhaps a little more violent with his friends than most kids, but that didn’t mean anything bad. After all, Archer was his son, his little boy. How could he produce something wrong when there’d never been anything in his own history to hint at what might be wrong?

-It was Katarina who first suggested they get him tested, when Archer was around nine years old, and Erik had protested angrily. He simply couldn’t believe his son had anything to do with the disappearance of a neighbor’s cat or his classmate’s dog. Archer was a good kid, if a little quieter and harder to connect with, and there was no way he would ever do something untoward like that. If no one else was going to defend his son, then he would take that role with pride.

-When the cat’s body was found in the backyard and Archer had merely lifted his shoulders dismissively, Erik finally relented.-

♀ - … My muse’s mother

-A mother’s love is unending. It is intuitive and soft, sensitive and all-knowing. Katarina Apollo knew almost right away that there was something off about her son. He was a good baby, rarely cried, never colicky or spoiled. So she’d considered herself blessed when she slept through the night less than three months after he’d been born and only had to feed him just before bed and right away in the morning. He was never clingy, never inconsolable when she strapped him in the car seat or put him down for a nap. He transitioned from bassinet to crib, bottles to sippy cups, diapers to underwear with an ease that made her mom friends ridiculously jealous.

-But once the bouncing baby boy had learned to walk and, by extension, to walk away, she started to notice concerning things. Clapping and kisses and the need for parental safety are things all children develop naturally. They are an expression of joy, of love, of fear. When Archer didn’t start clapping at the right age (or until he was old enough to imitate others), it hadn’t seemed like much. Children develop at different speeds, the pediatrician had told her, and she shouldn’t be concerned. When his tolerance of her maternal affection went from begrudging acceptance to outright tantrums, the possibility he was autistic was first brought up, but quickly ruled out with preliminary tests. When most children would be crying for their mothers or clinging to what’s known, what’s comfortable, what’s beloved, he merely shrugged his shoulders disinterestedly and moved on.

-Katarina was at a loss. Friends, doctors, neighbors, even her husband all smoothed over her concerns with a dismissive wave and promised he would develop into a more normal, stable person as he grew and learned how to appropriately express himself. They said she was cruel for insinuating something was inherently wrong with her son. She and Erik fought. But there was something about Archer that she knew wasn’t right. A mother’s intuition knows, even while her love never stops.

-The day finally came, as she knew it would, that things would escalate to the point no one could further deny what she’d said all along. Animal remains were found in the backyard, decayed and dissected and hardly recognizable as anything once living but for the blood and fur, and Archer, Katarina’s primary suspect when the neighbor’s cat went missing in the first place, simply shrugged indifferent shoulders and said something that sounded bored and more bothered by the interruption than the accusation itself.

-Even Erik had finally come to see the light and agreed to have his son tested. They didn’t know what exactly to test for– or knew and didn’t want to use the words and damn themselves– but it started with a visit to a psychiatrist. Katarina and Erik Apollo sat outside the doctor’s office, hands clasped together, the picture perfect image of concerned parents, as their son sat in the room and talked with a complete stranger. An hour passed, slow as molasses in winter, and Katarina was certain that at the end of that hour, a man in white would come and collect her son to keep him away from civil society forever. She’d never felt more relieved in all her life.

-Except that when the door opened again, the psychiatrist was ushering a grief-stricken Archer from his office, an arm draped across his shoulders sympathetically. Katarina was stunned. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d seen her son cry, but the way he sniffled and hiccuped in the doctor’s embrace pulled at her motherly heart. She watched fat tears roll down the distraught boy’s face as he apologized, over and over, said he’d never meant to hurt anything or lie about it. See, he’d only tried to feed the poor cat but something must have been wrong with the food because it got sick and died soon after. He’d tried to cover it up, terrified that he’d get in trouble or worse, and when it was discovered, he thought lying about it or feigning ignorance was the answer. He’d been detached and withdrawn because the guilt was eating him up and when he was brought in to see the psychiatrist, promised he wouldn’t be in trouble if he were completely honest, he’d broken down in tears.

-Katarina wanted to deny it, to argue that this was all a ploy and that he was really and truly a monster in the making, but then Archer had wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her stomach. He trembled with the force of his sobs and he kept apologizing, telling her he loved her, that he was just afraid of disappointing her, making promises to never scare her like that again. She wanted to push him away, wanted to call him a liar, but her heart simply couldn’t let go of him and warred with her logical mind. The doctor said there was no reason to take things any further, made Archer promise to tell the truth from then on and let himself be open with his parents. Erik was overjoyed, a smug smile on his face whenever Katarina met his eye, and though there remained a part of her that wanted to smack him every time she saw it, she was too busy consoling the boy in her arms.

-They got home that night and ate dinner like every normal family does. Katarina couldn’t keep her eyes off him the whole time as he ate, waiting for the moment the other shoe would drop. He cleared his plate, washed the dishes, and in a voice still heavy with emotion, asked to sit and watch a game with his father. There was nothing that could bring Erik back down to reality. And Katarina watched, as she often did, alone with the mounting fear that she was the only one who knew what her son really was.

-For weeks it carried on like this; Archer finally acting like the boy they’d always prayed for, Erik over the moon, Katarina quietly watchful. It was difficult for her to be completely at ease with her growing son who, for all anyone could tell, had simply bloomed much later than expected. He was kind, he was sweet, he was respectful. One night, when Katarina and Erik returned home late from an evening out together, they were startled to find Archer had been crying. He tried to hide it, to deny the blotchy state of his eyes, the sniffles, the way he fought to stop more tears from coming. When they finally managed to pry the truth out, he said he was simply overcome with guilt and remorse for all the trouble he’d put them through and didn’t want to trouble them any further.

-Katarina caved. She took his heartfelt confessions, unprompted emotion as a sign that he really meant everything he said. Crying out of sight, without an audience, couldn’t possibly have any ulterior benefit for him, and it broke her heart that she’d held such awful thoughts against him for so long. With tears in her own eyes, she wrapped her son– her precious child, her darling boy– in her arms and promised that he could never hurt them, that he would always be loved. He let himself be cradled, hugged his mother tight, and promised to always do his best to make her proud. She kissed his forehead, swore she knew all along that he was a good boy, and sent him off to brush his teeth for bed. She thought the smile on his face was more beautiful than anything she’d ever seen.

-If perhaps a little too wide.-

[queenbvadva]

K2 Week Day 5: Danger

      (TRIGGER WARNING: this story includes death, blood and suicide)

    South Park was unusually warm for April, Kenny Mccormick was staring out the window ignoring his high school class once more. This time he had something more important to think about, he managed to get the hottest kid in South Park to go to the prom. Let’s just say he flaunted it to everyone, that he, the poorest kid in South Park managed to get a hot date to the prom. Kenny began to wonder what his date would wear. A tux that fitted him perfectly? Maybe a fancy blazer, Hell he’d be happy if he’d show up in a t-shirt. Kenny got up from his seat early making the teacher raise a brow.

    “Mccormick, class isn’t over yet.” Kenny just waves the teacher off not caring. He had to get to his house to get ready after all. He couldn’t afford to die tonight. Kenny left the classroom keeping an eye out for any loose wires or lights. If god did exist then today would be the day that he got to live. It took Kenny a full hour to get to his house insuring he took the safest path with the least likely chance to die. He sighs in relief as he goes to his room pulling a tux from his closet. Luckily Stan was kind enough to lend one to him, he’d have to find some way to pay him back later.

    “Kenny!” Kenny was snapped from thoughts at his little sisters call. He turns seeing a beautiful Purple Hyacinth boutonniere. He let out a soft laugh taking the pin from his sister pinning it through the lapel of his suit.

    “So Kyle decided that purple was going to be our color hm?” Sure Kenny was curious as to the reasoning behind the color but he’d ask later. Karen hums happily pulling his suit down smiling proudly giving a thumbs up and a toothy grin. Kenny laughs softly and gently ruffled her hair ruining it.

    “Well I have to head out… Have fun at your sleepover.” Kenny says taking a breath of courage before he headed out. He didn’t live to far from Kyle’s house and everything seemed to be going alright. Though he did feel like he was about to have a heart attack over how nervous he was. As he approaches the door he takes a breath to try and calm his beating heart. With determination flowing through him he gently knocks on the door. He could hear running and the door swings open to reveal Kyle Broflovski in a handsome white suit, his hair out for the world to see . Damn did he look good. Kenny was so flustered he could only choke out a few words.

    “You… You look good!” Kyle smiles sweetly at him making Kenny’s heart flutter. He was so nervous and blown away at how Kyle looked he didn’t even notice that Kyle was holding his boutonniere his thumb bleeding slightly.

    “Having a bit of trouble?” Kenny gently takes the pin from Kyle’s hand threading it through his lapel insuring it was secure smiling proudly. That there stood their symbol that they were together.

    “Thanks, I kept stabbing myself with it by accident.” Kyle says truthfully laughing softly and rubbing the back of his neck. Kenny laughs softly shrugging as well.

    “I don’t mind, I’m not too shabby at sewing anyway.” Kyle shrugs as well a soft playful smirk on his lips.

    “I’m not to bad at sewing either, it’s the not stabbing myself with a needle part I have trouble with.” Kenny laughs at this and bows dramatically offering his hand to Kyle.

    “May I have the honor of taking you to prom Kyle Broflovski?” Kenny asks looking up at him with a grin. Kyle returned the grin bowing himself offering his hand to Kenny.

    “That’s my line Princess Kenny~” Kyle says singsongy. Oh so that’s how Kyle wanted to play? Kenny let out a soft giggle batting his eyelashes flirtatiously.

    “Oh but King Kyle it could never work! You’re an elf and… I’m a half orc half elf!” Kenny turns dramatically hugging himself as he swoons slightly. Kyle came up behind him wrapping him in a secure hug.

    “But princess this is love! You know it in your heart!” Kenny couldn’t help the blush that crossed his face when Kyle held him. Normally Kenny was the pervy one but when Kyle held him he couldn’t help but get embarrassed. They both break out in laughter at their cheesy improv Kyle releasing Kenny from the hug. As they calm down from their laughing fit Kenny offers Kyle his arm. Kyle gladly takes it and the two walk to prom together. Sure they were a bit late but they didn’t care. Craig and Tweek held the attention of all the girls as they slow danced, Stan was talking with Wendy at a table and Cartman was busy eating all the food. Kenny hums softly as a few of the students began to whisper at the two’s arrival. This was going to be their first time showing their classmates they were together. He felt Kyle tighten his grip on his arm, Kenny places a reassuring hand on Kyle’s with a kind smile.

    “It’ll be ok… Just relax.” He whispers to Kyle, though he wouldn’t be surprised if Kyle didn’t hear over the music and chatter. Kenny hums softly entranced in Kyle’s beauty. There was something amazing about Kyle that separated him from all the rest, and he got the honor of calling Kyle his. He pulls Kyle to the dance floor as the slow dancing starts gently holding Kyle’s waist. Kyle gladly took the lead and the two ballroom danced to the music. Now he was definitely glad that he got all those tips from Stan. Just as he was starting to feel safe a crackling above him sounded making him sigh softly and look at the ground. What was it now? Loose ceiling plate? Lighting maybe? Whatever it was it seemed being crushed was his death today. He looks at Kyle one last time, Kyle wouldn’t remember this night at all. The crackling got louder and he heard a scream to his side. To his surprise he was shoved and hard making him lose his footing and fall back on his ass. He stares helplessly as a whole lighting system came caving down on top of Kyle. Students began to circle in shock and worry but Kenny just stared there in shock.

    “K-Kyle…?” He managed to choke out. Why did he do that?! Kenny could have died there and come back the very next day and Kyle wouldn’t remember a thing. Kyle didn’t have that! Panic began to flood him at the sight of blood starting to stain Kyle’s white tux.

    “O-Oh god Kyle…” Kenny chokes out crawling desperately to Kyle side shoving the lighting system off, Kyle’s boutonniere being torn off in the process. The lighting system had broken and impaled Kyle in his stomach. Kenny was shaking badly tears threatening to pool over his eyes. This isn’t what he wanted, he didn’t want to die but he didn’t want Kyle to… He carefully lays Kyle in his lap shaking badly glaring at the students who gawked at Kyle’s body like some animal in a zoo.

    “Get away from him you bastards! Call 911! Do something!” Kenny screams at the top of his lungs. Tears were streaming down his face as he began to sob. He couldn’t tell if it was in frustration or sorrow.

    “Hang in there Kyle… Hang in there.” He whispers gently laying his forehead against Kyle. The look of pain on Kyle’s face giving Kenny a bit of hope, he wasn’t dead yet… He held onto Kyle as the sirens blare in the distance. It didn’t take long for paramedics to take Kyle from Kenny’s lap and into the safety of the ambulance. Kenny was left on the floor with nothing but a pool of Kyle’s blood and Kyle’s now bloody boutonniere. He carefully picks the boutonniere up choking back a sob. Kyle would want this back, he needed to get it back to Kyle. With that Kenny got up on shaky legs and walked out, no one daring to stop him. Kenny waited for what felt like hours in the waiting room, rolling Kyle’s boutonniere between his fingers. His curiosity overwhelmed him and he pulled out his phone to find out what the flower meant.

    ‘Purple Hyacinth meaning: Sorrow, I am sorry.’ how horribly fitting. If Kenny had just looked closer, he’ll if he even moved then Kyle would be safe. If he only looked harder for signs of danger… But because of his own oblivion Kyle paid the price he was supposed to take. He fought back the tears that were threatening his eyes once again. He hears the door open in front of him.

    “Kenny Mccormick…?” A doctor calls. Kenny stood quickly a rush of fear hitting him as he saw the doctor look at him sadly.

    “Kyle called for you before he… Passed away. He said he was sorry.” The doctor says sadly. Kenny’s heart shatters as he stood there not being able to move a muscle.

    “I-I have to see him!” Kenny yells trying to shove by the doctor but the doctor stops him quickly.

    “Only the family can see him!” Kenny struggles against the doctor as some people and doctors began to drag him back. Kenny fought with every inch of his being to get to the doors that held Kyle.

    “Kyle! KYLE!” He screams struggling as hard as he could. It took three adults to pull Kenny out of the hospital leaving him to wallow in the cold air. Kenny was shaking badly, there had to be hope… He looks to the busy street taking a shaky breath. That’s right, he’d just die and go see Kyle himself! He looks at Kyle’s boutonniere holding onto it for courage. He walks to the street as a semi slams into him full speed. He gasps and looks around the familiar landscape of hell.

    “Kyle?!” He shouts standing up quickly and turning in a full circle looking for Kyle. There was no sign of him, there was no sign of anyone. Kenny was alone. Kenny let out a desperate sob as he fell to his knees tears flush his face letting out a scream of utter agony and despair. Kenny for the first time in his life finally understood what the cries of the damned really meant.

[elementalwriter67]

Blind to the World of Color Part Two

Pairings: Jason Todd x Reader

Word Count: 4773

A/N: welcome to part two of Blind to the World of Color, and yes there will be a third part that will probably come out next week, but I would just like to thank my friend @clea-nightingale who helped me in writing this part and convinced me to make it three parts.

Summary: It’s been years since Jason’s death and it’s safe to say that (Y/N) has changed and not in a good way. She’s turned her back on being a hero and even being an antihero and she’s become a full-blown villain going by the name Queen of Gotham.   

Selena paced the floor of the Batcave her hands shaking and a fire in her eyes as she waited for Bruce. She was going to tear him the biggest of new ones. She hadn’t had any problems with (Y/N) leaving her to work with Bruce, she understood the need to be with your soulmate and besides she liked Jason but now she was regretting allowing (Y/N) come here. An hour earlier (Y/N) had shown up at her apartment crying, sobbing, and barely standing and babbling in between hiccups. It had taken her half an hour to calm her down enough for her to tell her why she was crying and the news had both hurt her and pissed her off. So she’d stayed with (Y/N) until the poor girl had finally cried herself into a fitful sleep and once she was sure that (Y/N) wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon she hurried over here to tear Bruce a new one. 

“Selina? What are you doing here?” Bruce asked as he came down the stairs that hung above the computer.

“How dare you!? Do you have any idea what you’ve gone?!” Selina shouted at him and Bruce cringed as he came to stand at a safe distance away from her.

“She told you?” He asked and Selina scuffed.

“Of course she told me! Why wouldn’t she tell me?! You were supposed to protect them, Bruce! You promised her that you would bring him back alive! Do you have any idea what breaking that promise did to her?!” Selina shouted and he glared at her.

“How do you think I feel Selina?! I wasn’t fast enough to save Jason! I lost him too! She’s not the only one that lost him!” Bruce shouted back and Selina stalked up to him and got right in his face.

“Yeah, but you didn’t lose your soulmate today did you?” She asked her voice a scary sort of calm as she glared up at him and he didn’t say anything at first. “Did you?!” Selina screamed when he didn’t respond and Bruce looked down at his feet in shame.

“No, I didn’t.” He responded.

“Exactly you didn’t. She’s broken, Bruce. More broken than I’ve ever seen anyone in my entire life. It took me half an hour to calm her down just enough to hear what she was trying to say! She’s broken and hurt and I don’t know if she’ll come out of this whole Bruce. Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Any?” She pressed and Bruce looked back up at her and there was sorrow and hurt in his eyes, and for a brief minute, Selina felt bad for yelling at him because after all, he’d lost a son today. But then she remembered the broken girl who was currently curled up on her back in her apartment and what little remorse she had vanished.

“Where is she, Selina? Please, I need to talk to her.” He pleaded and Selina shook her head as she stepped back away from him a stern glare in her eyes.

“No. No! I’m not going to tell you where she is Bruce! You stay away from her! If I see you near her or if you try to get near her I can not promise that I won’t try to kill you. She doesn’t need or want to see you right now or ever again probably. She’s broken Bruce, and I honestly don’t know if she’ll make it out of this whole but I know for a fact that you showing up will not help so you stay away from her. And while you’re at it stay away from me because I got through this without slapping you next time I will.” Selina stated as she turned away from him and stalked towards her bike and then speeding away from the cave and back to her apartment. Bruche was tempted to follow after her, try and convince her to let him see (Y/N) or at the very least find out where (Y/N) was but he knew Selina and he knew that if he tried to follow her she’d know and miss lead him.

Sighing he walked over to the chair in front of the computer and sat down in the chair rubbing his forehead. He looked up after several minutes to see Alfred standing on the stairs holding a tray of tea and looking at him.

“Do not worry Master Bruce everything will be alright in the end,” Alfred said as he walked forward and set the tray down on the little table beside the computer and Bruce sighed softly, he could see the sadness in Alfred’s eyes though he hid it on his features well.

“I hope so Alfred,” Bruce muttered as he took the teacup that Alfred offered him.

~Years Later~

“(Y/N) are you almost ready in there?” Selina called through the bathroom door and (Y/N) sighed in a half-tired/ half annoyed way as she put the finishing touches on her makeup and checked to make sure that her wig was covering all of her (h/c) hair.

“Yes, Selina I’m done.” (Y/N) called back as she turned around to face Selina when she opened the bathroom door and a large smile spread across Selina’s face as she stepped into the bathroom and grabbed (Y/N)’s hands.

“You look amazing (Y/N), like the true Queen of Gotham,” Selina stated looking over and (Y/N) squeezed Selina’s hands as a small smile spread across her face before she pulled her hands out of Selina’s.

“Thank you Selina, and thank you again for letting me use your bathroom to get ready my place is…..inadequate when it comes to bathroom amenities.” (Y/N) stated smoothing her hands down her black dress with a slit in the skirt that showed off her left leg up to just above the halfway point of her thigh. Selina chuckled at her softly as she walked out of the bathroom to lean against the back of her couch and (Y/N) followed her out of the bathroom.

“That’s the price of being a villain sweetheart, bad hideouts,” Selina said and (Y/N) rolled her eyes. All throughout her life after Jason died not once had Selina outright argued with her about the path that she had chosen and stayed with her helping her out every now and again whenever (Y/N) found herself needing it. But Selina hadn’t been exactly subtle with the little digs she made about (Y/N) being a villain now but (Y/N) let them all slide because she owed a lot to Selina and she liked her. Besides she knew that Selina was just worried about her and the little jabs that she made about her living situations and how being a villain wasn’t all that it was cut out to be was just her way of showing that she was worried.

“Whatever you say, Selina, anyways I really have to go I don’t want to be late for the annual Gotham Charity ball.” (Y/N) said as she grabbed her little clutch purse off the stand near the bathroom, opening it she double checked that she had everything she would need for this evening before looking back up at Selina a confident smile on her face.

“And what exactly will you be doing at this Charity event?” Selina asked as she followed her to the door and (Y/N) giggled, turning back to her with an evil smile on her face.

“Now, Selina dear, here would the fun be if I told you what I was going to do?” (Y/N) countered as she walked out of Selina’s apartment before she could say anything about what she planned on doing.

~At the charity ball~

(Y/N) forced a polite smile on to her face as she made her way into the large crowd searching the sea of people for the person she was here to threaten. Her smile grew into a satisfied one when she finally spotted him and she made her way through the crowd and up to him.

“Mr. Smith correct?” She asked when she came to stand in front of him and he looked at her in mild surprise.

“Yes, I’m sorry do I know you?” He asked and (Y/N) smiled her eyes traveling up and down his body taking note of the tailored suit he was wearing. ‘Cleans up nice for a Black Mask thug.’ (Y/N) thought to herself.

“Oh no, I’m new to Gotham but I’ve already heard a lot about you and I was simply wondering if you’d like to dance?” She asked in a flirtatious tone trying to make it seem like she was enjoying being here and talking to him. She hid a disgusted shiver that ran down her spine when he looked her overtaking in her exposed left leg and the plunging sweetheart neckline of her dress, and she was extremely glad that before she came over here she’d slipped her hidden knife up the sleeve of her arm. He tried anything she fully planned on slicing his throat.

“Who wouldn’t want to dance with a lovely lady like yourself?” He asked in what she assumed was his best attempt at a flirtatious tone and she giggled in response as she ducked her head making it seem like she was flattered and only slightly embarrassed at the compliment when in reality she was rolling her eyes.

“You’re quite the handsome man yourself.” (Y/N) flirted back as she took the hand and followed him out onto the dance floor. (Y/N) rested her hand on his shoulder as he took her hand and placed his other one a little too low on her hip and she took a deep breath through her nose before releasing it slowly and smiling at him as they began to dance. As stealthily as possible she slid her knife into her hand, making sure that it was still hidden from any of the other partygoers, she moved her hand closer to his neck.

“I don’t believe I ever got your name miss.” Mr. Smith continued to flirt and (Y/N) smiled at him as she batted her eyelashes.

“Oh my name’s not important, what is important though is” -(Y/N) leaned forward so that she could whisper in his ear, her voice losing that fruity tone from before- “how much you value your life, Mr. Smith.” She whispered as she pressed the tip of her knife against his throat and his body stiffened but (Y/N) kept them dancing.

“What’s the meaning of this? Who are you?” He hissed and (Y/N) giggled making it seem like he had just told her something funny in case anyone was looking at her.

“Take a guess, Mr. Smith, now we have a bit of business to discuss.” She stated her smile never leaving her face as she looked at him and he gulped. He went to pull away but (Y/N) pressed the knife harder against his throat and tightened her hold on his other hand.

“Oh, I wouldn’t do that Mr. Smith, try and make a scene and you won’t be the only one dying tonight.” She threatened and he gulped again glancing around the room. (Y/N) raised an eyebrow at him waiting to see if he was going to do anything.

“Fine. What do you want?” He growled and her smile grew as she lessened the pressure on his neck just a little.

“Smart man. What I want is for you to come with me and we’re going to have a little talk and if you agree to what I have to say then you live and so does the little treat I have. You say no you and the treat die.” She stated in a matter of fact tone and his brow furrowed in confusion.

“What treat?” He asked and she winked at him as she slid her knife back up her sleeve.

“Oh, you’ll see. Now come on.” She said as she began walking towards the exit that leads out to the rest of the Mayor's manor. (Y/N) didn’t look back to see if Mr. Smith had followed her, already knowing that simple curiosity would get him to follow her as she walked into one of the vacant rooms that her men had cleared. She nodded to her men who stood by the door to the bathroom with AK-47s in their hands and they nodded back in respect and she smiled as she turned to face Mr. Smith as he walked into the room nervously.

“Close the door.” She waved her hand and one of her men moved and closed the door, before standing in front of it blocking the way.

“They’re so well behaved, aren’t they? Fear and respect the perfect combination of controlling people.” She said as she looked at the man standing in front of the door who kept silent and an emotionless face. She looked towards Mr. Smith to see him glancing nervously at her guards.

“Who the hell are you lady?” He asked and she giggled again as she reached up and took off her wig.

“My apologies, I’m afraid I had to hide my real identity or else they wouldn’t have let me into the ball in order to see you.” (Y/N) said as she held the wig in one hand and the man gasped in shock as he jumped back.

“The Queen of Gotham.” Mr. Smith’s voice trembled when he spoke and she smiled evilly at him as she put her wig back on and glanced at the man who stood in the door who nodded answering her silent question.

“Surprise. Now Mr. Smith why don’t you have a seat and we’ll get started.” She waited patiently for Mr. Smith to sit which he did hesitantly and stiffly as he constantly glanced around the room now terrified that he would certainly die.

“What do you want with me? I swear I don’t know nothin!” He shouted and (Y/N) rolled her eyes.

“That much is clear, but I’m not here to learn what you know, no I’m here for something completely different. Do you know what I’ve learned since I’ve become a villain Mr. Smith?” (Y/N) paused as she began pacing slowly and methodically in front of Mr. Smith and he shook his head, afraid to speak and she smiled. “I’ve learned that everyone has a pressure point, a point that if you squeeze hard enough will get them to do whatever you want. Everyone’s pressure point is different but everyone does have one including you Mr. Smith.” She stated and his brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at her.

“What are you talking about?” He asked and (Y/N) snapped her fingers smiling at him. The guy by the bathroom disappeared inside before he forced a tied up and gagged woman and little girl out of the bathroom.

“For instance, your pressure point is your precious little sister and your niece.” She said and Mr. Smith’s eyes widened as he looked from (Y/N) to his sister and niece.

“Let them go! How did you find out about them?!” He shouted and (Y/N) smiled.

“I know everything about everyone in Gotham city, I’m not the Queen of this city for nothing. And I’ll let them go after you do what I tell you to do.” She said and he stared at his sister and his niece for he looked at (Y/N) again.

“What do you want me to do?” He asked and (Y/N) smiled.

“Now, that’s what I wanted to hear. I want you to go to your boss Black Mask and deliver a message for me, say no and I kill your sister and mentally scar your niece. Failure to deliver the message or try to get out of our deal in any way and I kill your sister and your niece disappears, do we have a deal?” (Y/N) asked and he hesitated before answering which caused her to raise an eyebrow at him.

“Fine, you monster, what’s the message.” He growled and she smiled walking up to him and leaning down and getting in his face.

“I want you to tell your boss that he’s been betraying our deal and I’ve let a few things go for now but if he keeps this up and doesn’t stop immediately I will destroy him physically, mentally, and his criminal empire. I have been kind to him so far but not any more so tell him he better remember our deal or he dies.” (Y/N) threatened her voice dead serious and Mr. Smith gulped before nodding his head.

“A-Alright and then you’ll let my sister and niece go?” He asked and she nodded as she stood up and spread her arms.

“I’ll let them go, completely unharmed provided you don’t fail me.” She said and he nodded.

“Alright, I’ll do it.” He said.

“Fantastic, now get going Mr. Smith you don’t want to keep them waiting.” (Y/N) motioned for the guard to move away from the door which he did quickly, opening the door for him. Mr. Smith quickly stood up and scurried out of the room and (Y/N) waited until she couldn’t see him before she said anything.

“Tell Zazz to follow him and make sure he does what he’s told, you  take the woman and the girl and leave the same way you came I don’t want anyone knowing what when on in here, understand?” She asked looking at the guards who nodded their heads.

“Yes, ma’am.” They said and she nodded once before she walked out of the room putting her mask of enjoyment and peasantry once again. (Y/N) didn’t return to the ball though instead she made her way to the exit only to be stopped by the one and only Bruce Wayne and she had to mentally and physically restrain herself from hitting him or attempting to kill him.

“Mr. Wayne hello.” (Y/N) greeted pleasantly as she forced a smile and Bruce’s eyes widened slightly as he looked at her and she knew that he was trying to figure out why she looked so familiar and she prayed like hell that he wouldn’t.

“Do I know you?”  He asked and she shook her head.

“No I’m afraid I’m new to Gotham, my family just moved here and I was simply making the rounds and making my parents happy by coming to the ball I was just leaving actually.” She said and Bruce nodded.

“Ah well, it was nice to meet you Ms….” “Peabody.” “Ms. Peabody.” Bruce finished and (Y/N) forced herself to keep smiling as she nodded once at him.

“You two Mr. Wayne.” She said as she walked around him keeping her steps even and calm as she walked away from him and down the steps to her limo that was waiting for her.

“Where to miss?” Gerald, her driver, asked when she slid into the back and she sighed falling back into the seat.

“Home Gerald, as quick as possible.” (Y/N) stated and Gerald nodded before he started the car and drove off. With a tired sigh (Y/N) took off her wig and tossed it onto the seat beside her.

“And we’ll be ditching the limo to Gerald.” She said.

“Of course miss.” He responded.

~Early evening the next day~

(Y/N) smiled as she laid her head on Jason’s chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist as he gently swayed them in their living room. Jason’s chin was resting on top of her head and she couldn’t remember a time in her life when she was more relaxed than in this moment and she never wanted this to end. Lifting her head off of Jason’s chest she looked up at him a soft happy smile on her face as she looked up at him her world brilliantly lit in color.

“I love you, Jason.” She whispered her voice full of joy and Jason smiled as he moved one of his hands from her lower back to cup her cheek and she leaned into his touch as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.

“I love you too (Y/N) but it’s time for me to go,” Jason said softly and (Y/N) stiffened as she shook her head her arms tightening around him.

“No. No! Don’t say that! Don’t say that, please! I don’t want this dream to end!” (Y/N) cried burying her face into his chest and Jason chuckled sadly as he placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away from her a sad smile on his face. (Y/N) could feel tears welling in her eyes as she looked at him, she hated this part.

“I’m sorry (Y/N). I’m so, so, sorry but I have to go times up you know that.” Behind Jason (Y/N) watched as the scene faded from a loving and warm apartment to a warehouse with a wall of crates behind him. The soft music that had been playing in the background changed to an annoying ticking sound of a bomb counting down. Fear filled her eyes as she looked at him and shook her head hurriedly reaching up and grabbing Jason’s face as cuts and wounds appeared on his face and he was now wearing his Robin uniform. Tears started falling from her eyes as she tried desperately to make her dream change back to what it had been as she stared at the bruised and bloodied face, his domino mask was ripped and there was a large gash on his forehead. Blood oozed out of the gash on his forehead and when he gave her a small sad smile, revealing his blood covered teeth and she squeezed her eyes closed still trying to desperately turn her dream back into something pleasant and not this nightmare. When she opened her eyes again she was still looking at the beaten face of her soulmate.

“No, no. Jason please no. Don’t leave me, please don’t leave me not again.” She pleaded with him and he reached up grabbing her hands with his before gently removing them from his face and holding them so they hung in between them.

“I’m so, so, sorry I didn’t say goodbye to you before I left (Y/N) but I have to go we can’t stay here forever.” He said and she shook her head squeezing his hands.

“But I want to stay here! I don’t want to leave! I don’t want you to leave! I don’t want to lose you again Jason! I can’t lose you again! I want to stay here! With you! Happy and in color! Please, Jason, don’t leave me! Please!” (Y/N) pleaded her voice cracking and tears falling in earnest. Jason let go of one of her hands and lifted his up and cupped her cheek as he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. (Y/N) could taste the metallic tang of blood on her tongue when he pulled away and she whimpered as he let go of her other hand and stepped away from her.

“It’s time to wake up (Y/N),” Jason said and (Y/N) sobbed.

“No! No! Please, Jason no!” She shouted before the ticking stopped and everything exploded.

(Y/N) jumped awake her heart hammering in her chest and her body was covered in a cold sweat and her hands were fisting the thin sheet that covered her legs. Her breathing was ragged and she closed her eyes forcing herself to breathe normally and calm down, slowly she let go of the sheet before opening her eyes again. She stared at the wall of the little room she’d made for herself in the compound she had secured as her base of operations. She sighed tiredly before swinging her legs off her cot and then standing up, she walked over to her chest and opened it revealing her folded up costume which was a modified and more adult version of the costume she’d worn back when she was with Selina. Minus the things that had identified her as Catwoman’s sidekick, and now it wasn’t all leather too. She had made her costume more combat ready with a sleeker form of body armor like what her Batgirl costume had been made out of, and while it wasn’t all leather it still had the form-fitting sexiness that Selina’s has. Grabbing her costume she got ready for her night of causing mayhem.

Minutes later she was walking out of her small room, double checking that everything was secure and where she wanted it. Her whip, which was tied loosely around her waist over her actual belt. Attached to her actual belt were two holsters each one containing a special folding hand fan that she’d modified, and then around her thighs were two more holsters each containing a high caliber and high powered handgun that she had forced Nygma to make for her.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!!” One of her goons shouted and she sighed rolling her eyes underneath her face mask.

“What is it?” She asked annoyed and frustrated as she stopped walking as she ran up to her and (Y/N) was immensely glad that she didn’t drop to her knee in front of her. Sometimes people took her name as Queen of Gotham a little too seriously for her liking.

“The families under the Black Masks control, all of their generals have just been killed.” She informed (Y/N) slightly out of breath and (Y/N)’s eyes widened underneath her mask.

“WHAT?!” (Y/N)’s voice was full of rage and the goon quickly backed away from her, not that it would do much good though.

“Th-their g-generals w-were killed, a-all of-of them.” She said as she stumbled over her words and (Y/N) growled stalking towards the goon and grabbing her by the neck.

“By who?” (Y/N) growled squeezing the goons neck and watching fear and panic filled the goons eyes as she reached up and grabbed at (Y/N)’s wrist.

“B-By s-some g-guy c-calling h-himself the-the R-Red H-Hood.” She stuttered out and (Y/N) growled again as she threw the goon down to the ground and straightened herself out again calming down slightly.

“Red Hood huh? Well, send someone to Black Mask tell him it wasn’t me who had his men killed because he’s certainly stupid enough to think that it. Do we know why he killed their generals?” (Y/N) asked and the goon nodded.

“We-We do. He did it to get the families on his side, they’re kicking up money to him now.” The goon answered and (Y/N) nodded slowly humming softly to herself.

“Are they now? Send someone to one of those families have them tell that family that the Queen wants to speak to this Red Hood.” (Y/N) said and the goon nodded her head rapidly.

“Yes, your highness.” She rushed to confirm before she ran off to go do what she was told and (Y/N) smiled underneath her mask as she watched her goon run away.

“Fantastic, maybe we can use what this Red Hood guy is planning to our advantage.” (Y/N) mused to herself as she walked towards the exit.

(Y/N) stood on the rooftop just casually fanning herself as she waited impatiently for Red Hood to show up if he was even going to show up. She closed her eyes as she breathed in deeply through her nose and out again. Her eyes snapped open when she heard someone land behind her and she spun around hitting a button on her fan as she did that caused blades to extend from them and as she extended her arm out on the turn the blades shot out of the fan and at her possible assailant in a wide arch.

“Woah!” The person shouted as they jumped out of the way and (Y/N) smiled under the mask, standing up a little straighter and closing her fan and then sliding it into its holster. There was a long moment of silence as the Red Hood climbed back onto his feet and cleared his throat looking at her.

“So Queen of Gotham, huh?” Red Hood asked crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned against the entrance to the roof.

[italicwatches]

I Couldn’t Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job - Episode 12

Time to see how this ends and how many weird loose threads they leave because it’s a light novel adaptation. It’s I Couldn’t Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job, episode 12! Here we GO!

-Cold open, title splash, as they reach the mountain…And there’s Fino!

-Episode 12: I Couldn’t Become a Hero, so I Decided to get a Job.

-She’s already looking very different, wrapped in black bone with skin of grey, as the will of the Demon Lord is trying to overtake her…And with a wave of her hand, she sends ferocious magma stones at them from the erupting volcano that is the path to the Demon World! The geezer’s hotrod dragon kicks up a wind shield, but it’s not going to hold… They need to get out of the line of fire, and NOW!

-Also Raul gets marshmallow…purgatory, from Airi.

-And they end up with a glancing strike on the car that sends them down into the dirt, as the massive eruption starts spewing rocks all over the city…Nova and Viser are back at the shop, trying to decide how to handle things…When a customer comes in, desperate for disaster supplies. The very same nerd guy who bought out their tapes a few weeks back…And he’s brought his friends, too.

-Back with Raul’s team, Lore’s trying to get this hot rod moving…When native monsters start spilling out of the cave! So Lam-chan digs out her family sword, preparing to fi—

-Airi promptly steals the sword because a good magic sword is a good magic sword. Vampire bats come at them as an army, and Airi quickly slashes a few right in half…Ooh, this is a good sword.

-While Raid continues to try and get past Seara, and she promptly pours boiling water on him. She and Elza are just punking him at this point.

-Back to Raul. They’ve got the ride moving! Lore had to jury-rig it and skip past a lot of safeties, though…They’re not going to handle the next attack as well as they handled this one. And there’s an entire bridge of harpies coming for them…BLOW THEM OUT OF THE SKY! The geezer’s dragon gives a vicious howl that kicks ice into dozens of them, and Airi and Raul swing their weapons, but it’s just not enough, there’s too many…

-And they crash into the base of the mountain, while Fino is up at the top. They’re gonna have to cut straight through the crater…And Lore injured her leg in the crash. …Leave her. Take this sword. Seara said it was her brother’s old weapon. Use it, and cut a path…

-The geezer volunteers to keep Lore safe, starting to haul her out of there…Which leaves Raul and Airi to cut a path forward! With the live news watching, they cut and carve through the harpies, while Lam-chan kicks out raw magic blasts like a damn machine gun…Until they hit the gates. And an entire skeletal squad awaits them.

-It’s the final exam all over again. But not like before. Where once they were running through a mock battle to prepare to slay a demon, now it’s the real deal, and their aim is nothing less than saving an innocent girl from her past…Back to back and side by side, the former heroes go in against the massive beast that leads these skeletons, with Airi driving her blade right into its eye, and Raul kicking off his RAUL SLASH right through its chest! It falls, and Lam-chan races in to get to the gate and force it open…To pour enough demonic magic in to crack the lock…

-Raul, NOW! THEY’RE GONNA HOLD THE LINE! And Lam seals the door behind him before he can protest…Of course, protest he does.

-But dammit, Raul, it’s time to be a hero. Not a Hero, not some pompous certified prolonger of the status quo…But a hero. The kind of man you thought you wanted to be. The sort of man who saves the girl. Get in there and get Fino out, and then they escape together! That’s how this ends! That’s the only way it CAN end, Raul Chaser! FINISH IT!

-And so he’s gone, leaving Airi and Lam to face a wall of archers…While Raul cuts his way through every monster between him and Fino, until he reaches the final gate to the castle…And there she is. Looking more demonic than ever…

-And when she sees that blade, something of the Demon Lord’s will demands she strike! She draws her father’s sword out of the ether, every slash kicking out waves of hellish energy, as Raul tries to figure out how to get through to her…How to get her to see that this path isn’t better for anyone…

-This isn’t you. This WON’T be you! He charges in with everything he has, cutting through her every strike, and tries to remind her of who she is…Who she became under the care of the shop! Remember the script, remember how they’re supposed to be for the people who need their help! They’re not warriors or devils, they’re shopkeepers!

-Steel strikes against steel…Remember what you learned, dammit! Bit by bit, it starts to reach Fino, starts to slow her swings, until with one strike he forces the sword out of her hands, and shatters it! And she sees, really sees Raul in front of her…What, what happened…Why is she…

-They talk later. Right now, they’ve got to get out of here. …But that’s when the Bloodstone reacts to the final gate, and the lock starts to open…The castle starts to awaken, and tries to take her…! The Demon Lord’s will tries to usurp her…And all Raul can do is throw himself in front of the doors, even as they scald his flesh, even as the power starts to move Fino like a puppet, and tries to strangle him…Tries to take the last obstacle stopping its awakening…

-She sobs, tears pouring from her eyes, but she can’t stop it…As Raul tries to get room to breathe, and tries to tell her how impressive she is…And finally, he pulls out that order pad! You took that special order! You went above and beyond…And you’ve got a customer waiting for you. You’ve got coworkers waiting for you. Friends who need you there! HIM! He needs you there!

-And that, that’s what does it. The sheer force of his will, and hers, is enough to overcome the Demon Lord’s. The Bloodstone shatters, taking the excess demonic force with it, and Fino is back where she belongs…

-The monster armies fall all around Airi and Lam-chan, as they can finally breathe…The geezer and Lore get out safely…The shop is entirely sold out of everything even vaguely helpful for a disaster…And Seara gets to rub it into Raid’s face that he failed. And she’s not letting him walk away, either. You’re paying for every tool and appliance she burned out holding you back, mister!

-When everything settles, well into the night, the state of emergency finally lifts. With no confirmed casualties, everyone’s able to breathe, and celebrate it all working out. Of course, they all think they had the hardest challenge of all, but what matters is each and every one of them made it through. And Fino tries to feed Raul…A bite that’s still burning hot.

-Airi’s there too, and what happened to her old classmates…? For now, they’re in a hospital bed, recovering and reflecting on their actions. After that…Well, that’s still to come. But now what are you going to do, after all of this…?

-To a shining new day, as Raul goes into the shop…To find Fino delivering the specially ordered bright red fridge to the customer, and he’s more than happy with it. Lore’s off to get it installed, and Raul’s pretty damn proud of Fino’s hard work. Even if it’s a bit silly that it took an order form to pull you back from the brink, rookie.

-And for now, everything starts calming down…There’s still a lot of excitement, but for now life can go back to something approaching normal. Which is when Seara and Viser have an announcement…Namely, that she went and hired Airi out from Amada’s nose, because like hell she’s letting a good kid like that get fucked by capitalism. Even if she insists she still wants to find a job where she can really do good for people, something worthy of the title of hero. …You’ll find it, lass. As for Raul…Well, he’s apparently got an assistant manager position to be looking forward to.

-Credits! With the end taking the title and chopping off the Reluctantly piece by piece.

And that’s a wrap! That was a pretty fun ending, overall, to a pretty fun show. And it actually managed to wrap things up really well for an LN adaptation, I’m used to just a bunch of random bullshit plot points I’ll never see followed up on getting dropped.

Of course, there is the somewhat odd and fussy dilemma of how it’s written versus how it’s animated…For a show that does so much interesting world building and has a lot of fun characters, it’s pretty damn frustrating how often we had to just cut to jiggling tits to keep attention going. Makes it a lot harder to recommend what’s overall a really cool show.

We could talk deeply about the way it portrays capitalism as a destructive and corruptive force…But, I mean, yeah, it’s exactly that. Capitalism makes devils of us all. There is a bit of a weird duality in how it contrasts modern capitalism with the old Hero system, but I can’t exactly expect a 2013 Japanese cartoon to really properly gel with my 2018 American fury tooooo well.

Anyways, with this show done, where are we looking next? Oh, I’ve got something big. Something I’ve been putting off for far too long. Just, you, wait for it!