#but yeah preying to the gods that jason will one day be free of the joker bullshit he has somehow found himself in

[oifaaa]

For the opinion rating: I'm sick of Jason Todd's character being so tied down to the joker, same with batgirl to a degree

strongly agree | agree | neutral | disagree | strongly disagree

I've said it before but I'll say it again if you think Joker as an individual person is important to Jason you misunderstood utrh Joker is important as far as he happened to be the person who killed Jason I do feel babs gets it slightly better just bc unlike Jason a huge chunk of her driving force hasn't been rerooted into revolving around the clown but that might also be bc of the weird cononicity of the killing joke

[chaosgremlinmunson]

Rocker Stevie

Might be part one.

Diane: So let's set the scene, it's 1988, you're newly 21. You are top of the charts bubblegum pop princess Stevie Hendrix. You're married to top selling actor Tommy Hagan known for his action films and beach body. You just won two Grammys that year, and then, what happened?

Stevie: So, like you said. I was newly 21, I married my highschool sweetheart who'd reached stardom right alongside me as an actor instead of in music, which, honestly Diane, thank God for that. The man has no idea how to hold a tune, he'd likely make a dying cat sound like a siren. Laugh No, really! It's that bad! Anyway, I was fresh off my latest tour for Rainbows and Leather and came home to see my darling husband. I was so excited I'd been missing him, you know. Well, I walked into the house and what did I find? My husband, in bed butt naked with my Best friend and his personal assistant at my behest, Carol Perkins. To tell you the fallout from that was anything less than apocalyptic would be selling it short.

Diane: So after the absolutely dramatic divorce, you decided to change genres? Why Rock?

Stevie: Rock spoke to my soul, I wrote ‘I wanna ghost myself’ one night drunk on apple spritzers with my sister Robin, and her best friend Eddie. They'd been in my corner from the start, but Eddie and I always nipped at each other about our music tastes, then that night he picked up his guitar and started playing and ‘I wanna ghost myself' just flowed out. I was laid out on the floor by the ending between lighter and tears, and just felt so free. So like myself. And that was it, Stevie hung up her rainbows and sunshine and embraced her chaos and revenge.

Diane: So where did the lyrics 'think I'll take my heart and throw it off a cliff, yeah I have a feeling that it won't be missed” come from?

Stevie: You have to understand, I was devastated by what Tommy did. I had only ever been with him to that point in my life, he'd made me believe he was the only one for me. That without him my life would feel meaningless because up to that point every moment together he showered me in affection and praise. He was the ideal husband on the surface, and then I found out he'd been having an affair with Carol for literal years. Everyone knew except for me, and I was crushed. ‘Think I'll take my heart and throw it off a cliff’ was me almost literally saying my heart is broken and I don't want to feel anymore. I became wild and lost myself to the music. Eddie wrapped me in leather and lace and asked me to be the front woman for his band. I was shocked, because honestly was I going to make it delving into a whole new genre? I'd already come to the end of my contract with Upside Down records, so I wasn't concerned about what my team thought. However, my fan base? Would they still love me the same, would I make it? I was scared, and then we had our first show. It was small, and it was a test for me to see if I could do this. The world caught fire for me that night, and I never looked back.

Diane: So let's fast forward, finally Devil's Prey became a household name, and Stevie Hendrix was a sensation. What happened the night of the music awards, in your own words.

Stevie: So, for years I'd gone by Stevie Hendrix so no one would know who I was. It was mid set for ‘Bulletproof’ and as I turned the lights cut out and a picture lit up the screen. It was a photo of me on my wedding day, my eyes crossed out and ‘Stefania Harrington the Whore’ written across my body as I stood between Tommy, his old friend Billy, and Jason Carver. I screamed, and looked back at the audience just as Eddie tackled me to the ground and a shot whipped past my head.

Diane: So Eddie Munson saved you that day?

Stevie: Yes, he did. He held me while I sobbed in the green room. I never knew someone could be so hateful just because my songs brought what they'd done to light, but there I was running for my life while the security detail searched for the gunman. Eddie was furious, he held onto me and told me we were going to my place with his security, to pack up my things and come to his. See, Eddie lived in a damn near impenetrable home, there was no way anyone could get to me there. Of course I wanted to fight him on it, but I'm just a girl at the end of the day, and Eddie Munson has an energy you just don't fight when it's directed at you.

Diane: So you moved in that night?

Stevie: Yes. Eddie was my shadow for days, I barely could use the restroom without him following me around. It was aggravating at times, but I saw how scared he was when he wasn't in the spot he could see me.

Diane: He was traumatized.

Stevie: He was traumatized and he was ready to follow me to hell if he needed just to make sure I was safe. I never knew what love was until I was met with the force of Eddie Munson’s protection. He woke my dead heart up again, and I was doomed from the start.

Diane: So eventually the agents you had investigating the shooting found out who shot that gun, and who hired him.

Stevie: I need a minute before we talk about this. Let me just grab a water and ask Eddie to come sit with me.

Diane: Take your time.

Stevie and Eddie walk back in, they're holding hands and Eddie is murmuring to Stevie who's looking like she may just pass out from nerves. She squeezes Eddie's hand and takes a seat, Eddie sits beside her his fingers laced with hers.

Stevie: Okay, I'm ready. Breathes in deeply So Jim Hopper was the head agent on the investigative team. He had become something like a father figure to Robin and I over the years after my parents’ accident. When Jim came into Eddie's house his face was drawn, and I knew then that the people who had attacked me knew me. He sat me down and told me as gently as possible that Tommy had asked Billy to do the job. He was furious at my songs, and apparently the fan base put two and two together and his career began to tank. People were boycotting his movies. I didn't know, I swear, I just wanted my freedom and an outlet for all my pain. I deserve to have that without someone threatening me, you know? Tommy had hired Jason who was in tech support to upload the photo in the middle of our set. It was this whole plot. Make me pay in the most public way possible.

Eddie: I wanted to rip them apart. Stevie was distraught, she is such a good person. And if I could take her pain away I would, happily.

Stevie: I know you would, but you going to prison wouldn't have helped me. I need you here Eddie.

Eddie: I'm not leaving, not ever.

Stevie: So the trial came and went. They'd found loads of evidence in Tommy's apartment, through the baking records, phone records. I mean they pretty much wrote out in neon lights that they planned to kill me. Laughs incredulously All because Tommy couldn't handle the consequences of being a shitty husband?

Eddie: He never deserved you, Stevie.

Stevie: blushes and ducks her head Oh hush you big sap.

Diane: So the bad guys are caught, you're safe now, what does the future hold for Stevie Hendrix?

Stevie: More Rock and Roll obviously, but therapy to deal with the trauma. Mandatory family nights. Just things to help me feel back to myself.

Eddie: Hopefully a wedding soon, too. That is if you say yes. Eddie Munson sank to one knee reaching into his pocket and pulling out a ring. Stevie stared at him, her eyes glassy before grabbing him by his curls and kissing him, she giggled a yes, and he slipped the ring on her finger. She said yes!

Stevie: I said yes. I love you Eddie Munson.

Diane: I'm so happy for you both!

Eddie: I love you Stevie Hendrix, I can't wait to be Mr. Hendrix!

Diane: Well, It was lovely sitting with you for this interview. Thank you for agreeing to be on my show, and I can't wait to see the wedding photos one day.

Stevie: See the photos? Diane, you're invited to the wedding!

Diane: Oh wow! I'd be honored.

Stevie and Eddie stood and walked off the stage where Robin stood, her face lit in a blinding grin, she embraced her sister letting out a laugh and they both turned to wave to Diane who smiled and waved back. The show was over, but Stevie’s life was only just beginning.

[laketaj24]

Marked II

Author’s Note: Hello, people! I hope all is well out there! Here is a second part of Marked! I hope that you enjoy it! Let me know what you think! My taglist, requests are open, but I’m slow with the writing here lately. I apologize!

Pairings: Alpha!Henry Cavill x Omega!Reader

Warnings: Dub!Con, Masturbation, Omegavers, Smut 

Henry Cavill M A S T E R L I S T

The room smelled of fresh pine, maple syrup, and eggs, a delightful thing to wake up to in your own house and not a stranger’s. You shift beneath the red covers, sitting up in the bed and staring at the plate in front of you. Henry had cooked; there was no walk of shame when breakfast was involved. “About time, you woke up.” The groveled voice of Henry sent sensations down your body, last night still lingered down your body. The kisses on your thighs, the bite mark on your chest. Everything raged for him.

“I didn’t mean to stay the night.” But you were not going to apologize, the sheets were soft, the food was hot, and so the hell was he. The plate called your name, and you answered, picking up the white plate with a blue rim and the fork.

“I don’t mind, I called into work, had some other things I wanted to do.” Henry cocked his thick brow and smiled. “You seemed to sleep pretty well.”

“Yeah.” You started with the bacon, savoring the sweet and salty flavor before clearing your throat. There was no doubt something in you had changed in one night. “So, where do we start?”

“I’m sorry?” He looked confused, but you were not convinced.

“You bit me…” The oversized shirt hung from your shoulder, already making it easy for you to show him the bit mark mid-chest. “Called me… omega,” You swallowed the remaining bits of your bacon.

“That’s what you are, omega.” Henry was a well-toned type of animal, his muscles flexed with each move he made, and he was bulk. And now, for some reason, the only thing you could think when he was near you was how his weight would feel on top of you.

“I don’t know what that is, and nor do I want to hear about it. I want a formal apology for you biting me, and I want you to put on a damn shirt.”

“Am I bothering you?”

“Yes.” You started on the eggs, closing your eyes as you savored the first bite swirling with butter and just the right amount of seasonings. “Thanks for breakfast.”

“You’re welcome.” He shook his head. “Get some clothes on, pet.”

“Pet?”

“Yep.” He turned from the room and headed down the hallway that seemed narrow in comparison to him. “You have a few minutes to get dressed, and we are leaving.”

“To go?”

“Hurry up,” Henry added.

 It was odd being across the street from your own home but dressing somewhere else. He had been nifty while you slept, using your keys to get clothes from you all the while hiding them from you so you could not go home. You hopped quickly in the shower, equipped with a glass door. It was evident that he was watching; you could not determine if you were pissed or happy to put on a show.  The soaps appeared to be all-natural, the smell of the oils hitting your nose, adding a sense of calm to everything, even though you were anything but calm.

Henry had chosen another dress; you pandered between it being easy to access or the sight of your legs, being the reason why he chose them. Either way, you put on the ivory dress garnished with pink and yellow flowers with a smile, this dress made you think of home. There was no hope to comb your hair; he wouldn’t have known the right supplies anyhow. He waited stoically on the bed as you dressed, admiring you as a wolf would his prey, eyes narrowed and tongue sliding across his lips.

“See something you like.”

He chuckled. “That cocky attitude has to disappear before we head to the Den.”

“The Den.”

“You’ll see.” He stood from the bed, revealing the simple outfit he’d chosen for himself. A white t-shirt the clenched onto those muscles like a glove and dark denim jeans that perfectly hugged his ass. Damn if you weren’t near salivating yourself. “Come on.”

 The Den, it was nowhere near the one-way street downtown, like everything else. It was ‘up the way,’ as he said three or four times when you asked Henry. He liked to sing, though every note was offkey; you wanted to watch him do it. He had not one care in the world other than you, and one day in or not, it was more than any of the other men you dated had to offer. The windows were down, and the woody smell only grew stronger the further you drove down the backroad.

“I shouldn’t trust you this much, you know?”

“And why not?” Henry glanced from the road to meet your eyes.

“You could be a killer.”

“I would have killed you already if I were a killer.”

“Some wolves like to play with their food.” You quipped.

“Touché.”

The Den appeared in your view; it was an ominous as you pictured. A cabin-like bar with people standing outside around fire pits. Country. You liked the aesthetic, wasn’t precisely sure if you wanted to be a part of it. He opened the door for you, taking your hand in his to help you step out of the truck.

“Henry.” The hulk of a man walked over to the two of you, burly and covered with hair.

“Jason.” He smiled.

“Omega.” He bit his lip, “She is nearly in heat.”

“I know,” Henry whispered as he walked towards the door, he left you standing alone while he started to converse with Jason.

Every free eye in the area was on you, and the whispers had started. “Scared?” The friendly voice startled you, but he was there to catch you, chocolate eyes met yours as soon as you found your balance.

“No, for what…” You shrugged. “I don’t know these people.”

“But they know you, omega.”

“Okay… what the fuck is an omega?”

“Well, you’ve been marked.” He pointed at the bite mark on your chest. “Your scenting too.”

“Get the fuck away from her.” Henry barked, and the guy scrambled away with his hands up. “Why didn’t you come with me?”

“You left me standing here!” You growled. “Thanks for that, by the way.”

They all looked as if you had broken the law, disgruntled and in awe, everyone but Henry. “You have a fucking cub’s mouth.”

“Cub? Look fucker and all of your equally fucked up friends…”

“She needs training.”

“Enough, Y/N.” Henry was in front of you in a few seconds, he pulled at your arm moving you up the steps and into The Den. And the inside appeared not to be what you thought, there wasn’t a dancefloor, a stage or even a full bar. There was a small bar, no dance floor, just a long hallway leading to a few different rooms.

“Henry.” You whispered.

“Shut up.” He answered once you were to the room. He pushed you inside, and there was nothing fancy about the place, just a bed.

“Why am I here?”

“Because,” he touched your neck. You’d started sweating. The drip was on his fingertips and took them in his mouth, closing his eyes and then growling. “You’re mine.”

“Bullshit excuse, and also no the fuck I’m not.”

“I marked you.” Henry touched your chest. “I made sure the entire pack knew to fuck off…”

“Pack? Omega.”

“Yeah, piece it together.” He moved towards you, shrouding you in his height, his presence in general. His eyes flickered amber, and those beautiful canines made their appearance.  Henry had made the thing known; he took what he wanted. He delved his fingers under the line of your panties and groaned. Why the fuck did you go weak when he was around you? They pulled the delicate fabric, and his teeth nipped at your neck. His tongue swiped the sweat, and you felt him hard behind you, instinctively you pushed your ass on him, and to your surprise, he stepped back.

“Since you have no fucking manners, I’ll make you wait.”

The sunset after a few hours, the golden hue of the room faded into the dark, and the only thing that could genuinely be heard was the rustle of the leaves outside the window door along with the occasional bustle of laughter from the men outside. It was no light, or at least you could not find one, you even clapped twice with hopes it would trigger the lights to come on, but there was nothing, just darkness. There was an innate part of you that wanted to try to break down the door and run, but from the looks of the guys in the house, they would not have allowed that to pass unnoticed.

There was no service in the god forbidden place, any call you’d tried would not even ring. You’d given up two hours ago, but your phone had not been rendered useless yet. Music was your only comfort in the place.

The smell of honeysuckles was prominent, a scent that you hadn’t smelled in years. The sweet floral scent was soothing; you stretched out on the bed, parting your legs.  Hunger. It had been a while since you truly valued yourself, took the time to give yourself pleasure. This was good as time as any. Your fingers start first exploring the smooth slope of your legs, the curves and dimples all accentuated by the slow pace you’d made for yourself. You’d enjoy yourself, even if he didn’t want to.

You were already wet, pushing your legs together for a moment, and you had drenched your panties and tossed them aside. Moments of last night flashed before your eyes, Henry had a way about him, that fucking muscled body over yours was the first. He had a way of commanding what he wanted, and he hadn’t said one fucking word. You traced over the sore areas of your thighs, the place he’d been anchored in for half the night, and then to your pussy. You were swollen at the thought, pulsing for him. You dipped your fingers into yourself, noticing how you dripped down the curve of your ass without even starting. Fuck.

The slim fingers plunged into you, and you moaned. Fuck, you should have been doing this from the start. The melodic sounds of the Summer Walker filled your ears; Girls Need Love fuck the words the song gave a feeling that was unmoved. Your nipples hardened against your bra, feeling fuller as you gripped them with your free hand and plunged back into your pussy with the other. Your walls were tighter, hungrier than you’d ever noticed. You slipped out, and you wasted no time pressing them upon your clit, rubbing in planned circles. If your clit was a safe, you knew the combination to get you where you needed to be.

Maybe you didn’t notice the door open because your eyes snapped shut, perhaps you didn’t give a fuck who saw you, but the bed dipped down as Henry sat at the edge of it. You couldn’t stop, him being around made it mandatory that you came. You rode your fingers, pushing them back into you, winding your waist before finding a rhythm that suited you.

You didn’t halt when you felt him in between your legs, the heat building as you worked harder, and then it boiled over when his long tongue met your clit. You came, the cum gushed out of you, and your head swirled. The bed was wet, but Henry didn’t seem to mind. He leaned closer, sucking at your clit and then lapping up the sweet slick that came from you. You knew now that the distinct earthy smell was him, as it intensified the closer he got.

His inhaled. “Making you mine was the easy part.” He said.

“You didn’t ask.” You said through labored breath before yelping again.

“An alpha doesn’t ask an omega. He claims her… is that not what you want?”

“I want to know more about you,” Your confession was drenched in lust, your fingers pulled at the curls in his head.

“You’re so sweet Y/N.” He sucked at your clit again, this time riling you to nearly cum again just from that, but he didn’t. You were wound tight, nerves tingled throughout your whole body, and all you wanted was to have him inside you again. Henry cupped your breasts, squeezing them to near pain and then releasing.

You sucked air through your teeth as he moved over the mark on your chest, and only moans can escape after. He tugged at your nipples, twisting, and edging the pain, then he would stop. Lap the juices from your pussy up again and laugh when you whimpered in defeat. He infuriated you.

“Don’t you want me to fuck you, Y/N.”

“Please.” Was it proper to beg, plead for this man to give you what you wanted? “Please, Henry. Fuck.”

In response, he hovers over you and plants a soft kiss to your lips. You could taste yourself; the sweetness resembles the same honeysuckles that had filled the air. What the fuck was going on? His mouth brushed down to your taut nipples, the beard tickling while he sucking at them for a moment, and then his teeth made an appearance biting until you squirmed away and then moving to the next. “I want to mark you again.” He whispered. “I want every fucking person in that room over there to know that this sweet pussy is mine.”

“Do it.” You moaned.

He grinned down at you; the sly smile was full of satisfaction and a carnal lust you’d never experienced. “I will, pet.” He pushed your legs further apart and found the spot that suits him well. He had on no pants, the heat of his heavy cock hung right on your thigh, there was no patience in you. You reached down, taking the weighted cock in your hand then lined him up to enter you, one hard stroke would be all it took to get there.

“Fuck me.” You begged. “Please.”

Henry obliged, thrusting into you so hard the headboard knocked back in response. The mewl that came from you only ignited him more. He slammed into you again and again. It was a moot point to beg for harder or faster because he knew when you wanted it. His pace was untamed, animalistic as he pinned your hands above your head and fucked you.

“Please, don’t stop.” You panted on the precipice of another orgasm. You’d lay beneath him all day and get fucked if it felt this exhilarating. “Please.”

Henry didn’t stop; he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to. Never had he been inside someone that fit him this perfectly. He wanted to mark you again, make you know he was serious when he said you were his. He flipped you on top of him, and he slipped out. You were so wet it was hard not to slip out. He didn’t mind. He liked it.

You didn’t pause the fucking, mounting him and placing your hands on his chest to anchor you. You bounced on him watching that perfect mouth form an O each time you sunk and took more of him than he thought you could make. He pushed the limits fucking you back, and all you could do was throw your head back and take it all.

His moans were louder now; he gripped your hips, guiding you over his cock, he wanted this to last longer, fuck you until you couldn’t stand was his goal since you could handle it. Your pussy clenched around him like a velvet glove, and a scream erupted from you. He was swelling; you loved it when he got bigger. You didn’t even think that it was fucking possible, and here he was fucking growing harder, longer, and bigger inside of you.

“You want this cum in you, pet?”

You shook your head vigorously riding the high of your climax, plus the way he felt inside of you when he came was unexplainable. “Please.”

Henry slammed up into you, knocking you forward so that you were on his chest. He loved to grip your ass to make you meet his strokes. He was fucking you faster, growling like the animal he had grown to be with you, and then it happened again. His cock swelled, he locked into you, and he came with a carnal noise that triggered you again. Fuck he was perfect if this was what it meant to be marked… then you wanted it every fucking day.

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[theodorecanaryhood]

You're stronger than you look ~ believe me

Jason Todd x female reader

Jason first saw when he was the Arkham Knight. Gotham City was on lockdown, those that were left were either scum criminals, cops, vigilante heroes or innocent bystanders fighting for survival.

You were a different genre, kind of a long story but stems from somewhere around that you took in about 5 kids off the streets after their parents straight up left Gotham without them, or their families died.

~That night, the night of terror and chaos~

You had taken in 4 boys aged 13, 11, 9 and 4 along with a little girl who was also aged 4. The older two boys and the girls parents left in the evacuation, not staying around for their children. Just taking off. The younger two boys' parents died in the outbreak. Gunned down, lifeless in an alley.

The children were in your house, hiding out as the chaos erupted. You didn't know any of the children, they didn't know you. But you weren't about to let some low life, fuck head criminals, who think they're real manly, prey on innocent children. You have limits.

Arkham knight had just blown his way to Ace Chemicals, threatened Batman and got shot at by the bat mobile. Now, after he grappled out of the place he booked it to the nearest building or shelter. Just so happened to be your house...in between Gotham central and the Narrows.

Obviously, Jason knew the Narrows well as he spent a lot of his childhood there. He didn't anticipate you.

He ran upto the back fence and struggled to catch his breath. He'd just seen Bruce up close for the first time in God knows how long. It kind of messed him up a little more, as he was so angry at him he didn't know what to do.

'Who the fuck are the you?' Jason heard a woman's voice call as he got lost in thought. Looking up he saw you, your h/c blowing gently in the breeze, e/c narrowing at him sharply like a dagger. Your denim jacket and black skinny jeans with boots. He was taken back a little from the sight of you, 'what are you doing out here?' You asked just as demanding.

'Take a wild guess. You have no idea' Arkham Knight replied in his robotic voice. You stared at him, revolver in hand pointing at him, ready to shoot the second he show signs of threat.

'Y/n' the eldest child shouted to you in fear at the presence in front of you, you turned your head to face him.

'Jonny, go inside now' you called back to him gently. The arkham knight grabbed the gun from your hand as you struggled to break free of his grip, you then decided to kick him in the gut to get him off. Which worked, however it knocked the gun to the side. You lunged towards the gun and slid across the ground as you raised it once more. The Arkham Knight raised his hands in the air to surrender.

'You don't need to shoot me. I don't hurt women or children' Arkham Knight revealed, 'I will leave'.

~After the chaos, Batman is 'dead' and Red Hood has been born~

After Red Hood had his showdown with Black Mask....you know the whole snapping a guys neck and saying that he'll 'feel that in the morning'. Not to mention the going '300 this is Sparta' on Roman Sionis aka Black Mask out a window with the quote 'say hi to Joker for me'.

Red Hood was walking down an alley feeling good about himself, that was when he saw you again. With the youngest boy, now 5 as it was his birthday. You were doing up his jacket and the little joyful boy was rambling on about his 'most ectacular' day with you.

'I'm glad you had a good day spud' you said smiling the brightest smile at the boy.

'Thank you' the little boy wrapped his arms around your and hugged you tight, 'thank you' he repeated quietly in your ear.

'You don't have to thank me spud, you deserve it' you replied.

Red Hood smiled under his mask, the sight of the both of you. Jason saw the look in your eyes and realised the reason why he was so intently staring at you. He was feeling a little smitten.

~2 weeks later~

Jason Todd, fucking Jason Todd was the one you had to bump into on a girls night out at a dive bar. Of course, he asked for your number...not mentioning the one time you already met and the second time he stared you down with the 5 year old boy. Who you revealed to be your adoptive son, Joseph...or as most call him Joey. Or you just call him spud.

You did your hair, makeup and put on the best outfit you owned. The dress that won you over in jury duty and got you out of two parking tickets.

Jason on the other hand....what a wreck. He had a full on panic attack as he realised you were actually going out with him...willingly. Now he couldn't breath!

After an hour, Jason pulled himself together and left, got on his motorbike and made his way to your place.

¤At your place¤

Jason knocked gently on the door, you opened it with a bright smile and greeted him.

'Hey'

'Hey beautiful' Jason replied with a spark in his eye and a warm kiss on your cheek. You blushed at the word 'beautiful' while opening the door wider for him to come inside.

'Joseph isn't asleep yet, but my friend Kenzie is upstairs with him while she gets him ready for bed. I'll say good night to him shortly, would you like a drink?' You rambled as Jason made his way into the kitchen after you.

'No problem. And yeah, I'll have whatever you're having' Jason replied. You poured two glasses of wine and headed to the balcony. Jason followed you.

'More private out here. So, me having a son doesn't bother you?' You asked Jason. Jason shook his head.

'Not at all. My dad...was, single Parent of four kids' (Damian exists, just not seen or mentioned in Arkhamverse, but damn it he exists!) Jason replies.

'Bruce Wayne? Batman' you replied, Jason nodded.

'That night with scarecrow and the Arkham Knight trying to take over. I met him. The Knight. He came here, left without even attempting to hurt me' you confessed with passion.

'Really?' Jason asked, leaning in. Intrigued.

'Uh huh. Just told me he doesn't hurt women or children. Then walked off' Jason played dumb, but he was flattered you spoke in a polite tone about his old alter ego.

'I wonder what Arkham Knight would say to me now' you joked.

Jason thought for a second, then began to speak. 'You're a powerful woman. He'd say you're a powerful woman, beautiful, funny. Drank me under the table that night in the bar. You took in kids that were in danger. Gave up everything, risked your life for them. Adopted Joey, who is an awesome kid. Never met him but hey, he sounds awesome. What can I say y/n? You're stronger than you look, believe me' Jason rolled out his speech, you listened with pleasure and smiled when he finished.

You put your glass down on the table next to you and turned to face Jason. You then kissed him lightly on the lips...that was it, he was in love.

'Thank you for that. Needed that'

'What you thanking me for? You deserve it' Jason repeated your earlier phrase to your son.

Jason wouldn't tell you yet that you two have already met...in time. For now, lets enjoy the ignorant bliss.

Let me know if you want a part 2!

Also if you reblog, please credit me

Credit to gif owner ^^^^ 😘😘

[stusbunker]

The Wife She Was Never Meant To Be

For Better or Worst: Chapter Eleven

Featuring: Sam x Emery Simmons-Winchester (OFC)

Other Characters: Mary Winchester, Jack Kline, Dumah, Bandit (OC), neighbors Jason, Trudy and Dylan (OCs)

Season 14 AU

Word Count: 2121

Summary: Jack is confronted about his extracurricular activities. A pointed flashback. Sam and Emery babysit.

Series Masterlist

^*^*^

              Dumah inhaled with sheer satisfaction, her vessel’s dark eyes alight with the task at hand. She approached the diner alone, pant suit pristine as she scanned the civilians in her way. With a short nod at the waitress at the counter, she took a sharp turn toward the back of the dining area, stopping at the last booth on the right.

              Mary stopped midsentence and turned to face her, hand sliding instinctively to the weapon at the small at of her back. “Can we help you?”

              Dumah shook her head. “Don’t need your help. But Jackie here, well, he’s needed on some official business.” Mary’s face fell as Dumah shined with her smugness.

              “Is it--- did something happen?” Jack crawled from his side of the booth, staring into the angel for some sense of honesty.

              “Jack, I don’t think—,” Mary tried to reason with him, seeing the urgency overtake his entire body.

              “I can’t say, but you need to come with me. Now, Jack,” Dumah finished sternly, seeing the warning in the older woman’s eyes before the Nephil squared his shoulders and walked out of the diner. Mary grabbed the angel’s arm as she turned to follow Jack outside.

              “Look, I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but I’m coming with. You’re not taking Jack too,” Mary warned under her breath.

              “He’s coming willingly. Maybe you should accept that you aren’t cut out to play grandma either,” Dumah said in true mean girl fashion, leaving Mary dumbstruck with a conniving smirk. Mary tossed some cash onto the table and ran to catch up with them outside, but it was too late, they were gone.

^*^*^

              The sound pierced through the cavernous walls like an alarm, a long unnatural wail, sadder and more primal than any pitch they had heard before on the protected airwaves. Naomi’s mind raced at what or who could be in such anguish. Anyone with access was accounted for, where was this misery coming from? As quickly as it started, it cut off, leaving the dwindling angels murmuring in speculation.

              A week later, Naomi knew she had the right flat, simply by the demons lining the perimeter of the block. Slowly, she made her way through Hell’s foot soldiers, without so much as a misplaced strand of hair. She approached the third floor with caution, uncertain why the demons hadn’t stormed in and taken her for themselves. She reached the door at the top of the stairs, no landing beyond the final step on which Naomi shuffled her feet over the threadbare carpeting.

              Before she could knock a weak voice called out, “if you’re going to kill me, you can do it from there.”

              Naomi surprised at the timidity of the creature that somehow subverted both Heaven and Hell’s lines of communication. Naomi leaned in until she could hear shuffling footsteps beyond the hollow plywood door. “I’ve come to help you, Emery. Can I come in?”

              With very little ceremony the door opened to reveal a grief-stricken mother in such a state that Naomi would have felt indecent entering her home, had she, herself, been human.

“How can you help me?” Emery demanded.

              Naomi, confused by the spikes of energy the woman emitted as they each tried to read each other, stepped inside the repurposed attic. A dog lingered beside her, protective yet silent.

“I understand that you have lost your son recently. Now, I may not be able to remedy that situation, but I may be able to ease your conscience and help you towards some absolution.”

              Emery stiffened at the dangling carrot. “Why help me? Why not smite me like you did all those demons who were too chicken shit to come up here? I’m no better than they are.”

              Naomi tilted her head to the side and sighed. “You truly believe that, don’t you? That you’re no better than those that prey upon the weak?”

              Emery shrugged, folding her arms over her stomach as she looked into the angel’s piercing blue eyes. “Sooner or later, I’ll become exactly what they were.”

              “Emery, you’re not damned. There is still time for you,” Naomi started to see the guilt and anguish that had been piled over her grief. This woman could barely stand with the weight of her emotional pain. Emery let out a single mirthless chuckle, head shaking as she glared through glistening eyes.

              “I don’t deserve time or forgiveness. I’ve done the unspeakable,” Emery whispered, closing her eyes against her confession.

              “And yet, somehow an angel has come to you offering you a path toward salvation,” Naomi replied, kinder than she expected to sound.

              “I don’t want salvation. Not for myself,” Emery spat, anger surfacing at the selfishness implied by such an offer. Naomi considered what she meant, seeing everything standing in their way and without missing a beat, sold with everything she had.

              “Let us help you free your son,” Naomi went big.

              “Why would you--?” Emery gaped.

              “There are things happening all over the world, yet I came here today. For you. The Bible is filled with people who, at their lowest, were set on the path to righteousness. You are no different, Emery.” Naomi saw the instant her hope ignited, the flames of regret and loss dimming in comparison. This woman held immense psychic power and though it had only extrapolated after her recent tragedy, Naomi couldn’t let her uncover her true potential. There was so much more at risk if she remained unchecked, than a single immortal soul.

              “If not for yourself, do it for him. Come with me, let us free you from your burdens while you help protect us Heaven and Earth,” Naomi brushed Emery’s bangs from her forehead, like an older sister soothing a lost sibling. Emery gave into the whirlwind, faith and loss, guilt and new possibilities overwhelming her tired mind and weakened body. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept. Yet, here stood the most ethereal being she had ever seen, offering her hope beyond dreams. This is what her pastor meant that they’d be surprised with who they saw in Heaven, when their time came. Salvation wasn’t just offered to the pious, it was granted to those who sought it; who worked for it.

              And even though everything told Emery she wasn’t worthy of such an opportunity, she clung to it, the first solid steppingstone on the cracking path she climbed.

              “What do you need me to do?” Emery whispered, eyes closed and heart open.

^*^*^

              Emery knew Sam was telling her the truth, obvious, provable things had happened which lined up too perfectly to be coincidence. But it was so all encompassing that she had taken days to process his history. Oddly, Sam seemed more relaxed the more she knew about him. Perhaps it was the relief of knowing what had been happening between them and putting an end to its influence. Maybe it was just easier than living a lie. Either way, she took the tiny victory, grateful for the trust he gave her by sharing his and his brother’s lifelong struggle against evil.

              Sam mentioned that there were books floating on the internet, a new gospel, penned by God himself. Though he wasn’t eager to share the gory details, he told her if she needed more in-depth answers, they were available. Like a true academic, she did her research. She checked dates and locations and even weather reports. It was all there, just below the surface of the major headlines, but sprinkled throughout the trashy newspapers that had become bad chain emails or misguided social media panics along the way. Monsters had always been real for Emery, but apocalyptic destinies were beyond the scope of her time as a sunroom psychic and single mother. His perseverance floored her.

              Sam came home Wednesday night to the shrill wail of a newborn and two extra barking voices. Jason and Trudy were hovering at the front door, dropping off the baby (and dogs) for their first night out since becoming parents. Emery rocked pudgy Dylan against her shoulder, hand lightly cupping his tiny head when Sam stole over the dogs’ attention as he came in the back. Suddenly three excited boys hurdled over each other across the hardwood floors.

              “Hey, guys!” Sam waved from beyond the wall of fur. Amusingly, Jason was the one who was insistent on the baby’s schedule, lingering over his son as Trudy stood on the wide front porch rolling her eyes. When their neighbors were finally on their way to a quick dinner downtown, Sam started reheating leftovers for Emery and himself to eat around keeping their wards content. Within an hour, the dogs had settled, and Dylan was back asleep after a quick change.

              “You’re really good at that,” Sam admired, watching Emery settle the infant back into his carrier.

              “This is an easy stage, feed, change, rock, repeat,” Emery shrugged off the compliment, giggling when she saw the express disbelief on Sam’s face. “It’s just a baby, Sam.”

              “I know, he’s probably the smallest one I’ve ever seen,” Sam shrugged.

              “He’s actually really big for a month, but unsurprising with his genetics,” Emery sighed, dropping onto the couch close, but not too close to Sam.

              “How tall were your parents?” Emery asked, getting comfortable asking Sam about himself more and more.

              Sam tilted his head back, “Uh, Dad was six-one, six-two--- somewhere in there. Mom’s tiny in comparison, but she’s doesn’t seem like it. Too tough, you know?”

              “I forget your mom’s alive,” Emery apologized.

              “Yeah,” Sam chuckled. “Still confuses the hell out of people.”

              The mood settled into a subdued quiet, reflective, but comfortable. Emery thought about how brave Sam was to stick beside her, to keep up his end of the deal. She knew he loved his brother more than anyone or anything, and though she benefitted from that loyalty in unspecified terms, it warmed her heart to know that kind of fraternity still existed in the world. A world filled with more monsters than the supernatural kinds, and somehow, she had been granted a man who worked to stay human against all odds.

              “Sam?” Emery turned to face him; knees pulled to her chest. “I want you to know that I have been honest with you. And I’ll keep being honest with you. I know this hasn’t been easy, especially given everything you have gone through. And I appreciate you explaining yourself to me.”

              Sam nodded, though a constricting sort of anticipation burned along his neck and he scratched the lower reaches of his beard to try and keep from flinching away from her.

              “Do you--- do you think you could trust me again?” Emery exhaled the plea, rushing the words out of her mouth towards Sam, giving him their weight to handle. Sam swallowed against the strain, her eyes adding the undercurrent of intimate trust to the bundle of her words.

              “Honestly? I don’t know,” Sam replied, brow wrinkled in levels of consideration. “But I’m still here and you’re still here, and damnit, I really hope that’s enough for this thing to end well.”

              “So—” Emery inched forward. “What does that mean, for us?”

              Sam exhaled, drawing it out as his hands fell to his thighs, sweaty and twitching. “I am comfortable being in this—partnership, with you Emery. But I don’t think I can go back to being your husband, in that way.”

              God, she was good at putting on a mask when she needed to. Sam saw it flicker in her eyes, the rise and deliberate hiding of her pain. His rejection stung them both, but he needed to be sure. She deserved that clarification, his truth. He wasn’t going to be the drunk asshole he once was, but he wasn’t going to be falling into bed with her that night either.

              “Okay,” Emery shrugged.

              “Okay?” Sam countered.

              “Yeah, Sam. If that’s what you need--- I’m not going to--- that’s not how I work. Like I said, if I had known you weren’t actually interested I—”

              Sam cut her off, “hey, it’s not that. Alright? This is my shit to process, please, understand that. I need to be sure here. I can be your friend, Emery. Hell, I want to be—I just. Can we just do that? First? Or finally? Or whatever?”

              Emery nodded, biting both her lips to keep from saying too much. Sam felt like she was shrinking away, the couch enveloping her, a shield against his words that carved into the tendrils of hope that had sprouted from her new understanding of him. Their relationship never made sense, in definition or routine. Why did this turn feel like such an impasse?

^*^*^

Read On Chapter Twelve: The Stuff of Souls

[urlbending]

Dear Yuletide Author 2019

Hi there, so glad we matched on one (or more?) of these great fandoms! I had such a fantastic first Yuletide last year, and I’ve been looking forward to this one since. I can’t wait to read whatever you write!

Before I go into my specific requested fandoms, here are some general likes and dislikes:

Likes: Tropes! Fandom specific and in general. I love AU, UA to see how any changes big or small effects these characters and the nature vs nurture of it all.  I love fluff and moments of casual intimacy, but I also really enjoy plot and world building (especially for my Cloak and Dagger prompt, more on that later)

DNW: Preferably not Christmas-focused and that the rating is a hard T at the max. Noncon/dubcon, first/second person POV, character bashing, die for our ship, A/B/O, Mpreg, songfic (though if you made a playlist while writing i would be delighted to listen to it!), needlessly grimdark (angst with a happy ending is fine!), torture.

Favorite tropes: Fake dating, pining, mUTUAL PINING!!!!!!,undercover, roadtrips, bed sharing, locked in a room, PLATONIC SHOWERING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (my term for two people with a bad case of UST being forced to shower together, usually in an emergency situation a la this chuck scene)

Requests for Birds of Prey(/Reply All maybe?), Cloak & Dagger, West Coast Avengers, and Teen Beach Movie, Cloak & Dagger, Sweet/Vicious under the cut. 

Birds of Prey

What I Like About The Characters: What an iconic relationship and team! I love Babs and Dinah’s banter and unwavering belief and trust in each other. They’re so competent and incredible at what they do, and everyone knows if, even if they don’t know who they are. I love that Dinah gets Babs to loosen up and have more fun (them hanging out together not on missions or even undercover is always great) but they can come to each other about anything. I also enjoy the other Birds (Zinda is so great!) and how changing the team dynamic challenged and deepened their relationship.

Gen Prompt:

In a similar vein to the Jason Todd/Buzzfeed Unsolved idea that was going around the fandom, I would love a fictional podcast episode/transcript about a deep dive True Internet Mystery related to the Birds.

Do they get close? How much do they get right? How much do they get wrong? What angle do they discover- Oracle, the hacker countless criminals and the US government is terrified of, or is there maybe a superhero 911 the Justice League isn’t telling us about?

The podcast I am thinking of specifically is Reply All. If you haven’t listened to it, I can’t recommend it enough! Great hosts with fantastic chemistry and edge-of-your-seat Internet mystery deep dives. They even did one about LiveJournal! That aside, using PJ and Alex would be super fun, but not necessary. Feel free to use your own characters!

DinahBabs Prompt:

I would love a fic of Dinah casually, boldly flirting with Oracle before they meet in person, and Babs shutting it down due to insecurities. Then, when they finally meet, Dinah goes Oh no she’s hot and falling in love as learns more about Barbara Gordon the person.

Cloak & Dagger

What I Like About The Characters:

What is not to love about these two? God, literal, actual slow-burn superhero soulmates! I love that they call each other out on their bullshit but are there for each other no matter what. They’ve done so much growing together. I love the smaller scale, real issues that not even superpowers can fix focus the show has.

Prompt:

After The Snap! Yeah let’s get some angst up in here. Do they both survive? What happens if one of them doesn’t? Do they say fuck that noise and go through dimensions/hell to find them? What happens to New Orleans/people on the ground after The Snap? How do they help, being called in to do some big leagues superheroing that they aren’t exactly ready for yet. Would love some world building here!

If the Snap is too heavy for you, then what about one of the alternate universes offered in Season 2? Would especially be interested in them getting together in the “Perfect Universe” (in their dream universe they’re best friends since childhood!!!!!! kill me!!!!!!)

West Coast Avengers

What I Like About The Characters:

What a fun book!!! I love the casual, laid-back, character-driven focus the series has, and the lineup is great. I am most familiar with the Hawkeyes and America, so I have slight favoritism there but I also love the Watts. I was not expecting to like Quentin and Gwen as much as I do, but they have a fun relationship! Jeff the Land Shark is my favorite though, no contest!!!!! What a good shark!!!!!

I enjoy watching Kate leading her first team while Clint roots her on, and the reality TV show aspect is fun.

I love the Watts and their sibling relationship! 

For ships, I like AmeriKate a lot but I’m also down for the current canon ships!! I like how Ramone can handle America’s bullshit and brings out her softer side.

Also, I am Californian, so any and all specific references/potshots at LA would definitely be welcome!

Prompt:

The team on their day off (while still being filmed, of course). How do they train?

More of the public reacting/interacting with the West Coast Avengers (Social media would definitely be fun here!)

A ridiculous plot! Maybe the bad guy of the issue is super far out (They’re attacking Van Nuys, Kate. Van Nuys! Can’t there be some sort of Valley Avengers?) or the team’s just being their usual disaster self. Open to it all!

Teen Beach Movie

What I Like About The Characters:

This is my second year requesting these characters, and for good reason! They’re delightful together, with great romantic chemistry and excellent opportunities for mutual pining. I like how they literally should not even exist in the same universe, but in doing so they learn from and help each other grow.

Prompt:

I think a tropey-AU would be really fun for these two. Maybe they’re rival spies! Or one’s a spy and the other’s a civilian that they meet by chance and should’ve never crossed paths with, but they somehow keep running into each other (coincidence, or by design?) and they fall in love.

It doesn’t need to be mentioned in the fic but I would prefer if they were both bi (no Tanner/Brady bashing, please!)

[dibs4ever]

Tim and Steph babysit DickBabs baby

Stephanie Brown knocked on the door to Tim’s apartment and waited only a second before the door opened

“Thank God your here” he sighed looking relieved upon seeing her

She smiled lightly and stepped inside “I got your message.....what’s the 911?” She glanced around. It was 2pm in the afternoon on a Saturday. She couldn’t imagine what was so urgent that he needed her here pronto

Tim silently pointed to the couch where a small little lump laid with a harvest yellow colored blanket

A smile brightened Stephanie’s face “Awe why’s Nathan here?”

Dick and Barbara’s sleeping 11-month-old baby slept peacefully sprawled out on the couch.

“Shh not so loud you’ll wake him” Tim waved for her to step into the kitchen so they could talk

Stephanie followed “Dick has police duty in Bludhaven and Barb had some sort of last minute thing with the Birds of Prey..”

Stephanie nodded “And everyone else?”

“ Busy, which is why Barb randomly dropped him off here 15 minutes ago. Luckily he’s been asleep the whole time” he peaked into the room at the still sleeping baby who was beginning to stir

Stephanie stepped back crossing her arms “So you automatically texted me to come help cause I’m a female “  she smirked

Tim gritted his teeth “No, well ugh I mean...well”

Stephanie laughed “Of course I’ll help you watched him! I haven’t gotten to babysit since before he started walking”

Tim nodded, they turned to head back into the living room only to see that the blanket was on the ground and the baby was nowhere to be seen

Quickly they rushed into the room, glancing around for him

“Where could he have gone?” Stephanie said frantically eyeing the room

Tim jumped without a word and lunged forward catching the baby just as he was falling from the entertainment center.

Tim held him close, but it was more for his own comfort because Nathan wasn’t crying he was laughing

“Was he on top of that!?” Stephanie stood beside him eyeing the 8-foot piece of furniture

Tim nodded

“How? “ she asked her eyes widening “He was only out of sight for 2 minutes”

Tim shrugged and set his squirming nephew down.

They watched as he toddled away happily walking toward the diaper bag his mother had packed pulling out a colorful Abacus.

“Nice toy, babies just love counting” Stephanie joked

Tim nodded “You know Barb, this kid is the mind that she’s molding to her perfection” he joked

Stephanie nodded “Yeah, we’ve only witnessed this since the day he was born” she stepped forward and picked him up

She hugged the baby tightly to her “How’s Aunt Stephs handsome boy today?” She smiled at him

As if he realized she was there for the first time a big grin grew on Nathan’s face and he snuggled into Stephanie’s chest cuddling her.

Tim laughed “My nephew is getting more action then I do” he teased

Nathan began squirming again pulling his head away from Stephanie’s chest “ilk!!” He said opening and closing his hand from a fist

“That's sign language for milk” Stephanie pointed

Tim nodded “Barbara brought some bottles, I’ll go get one for him, he returned a moment later from the kitchen with a bottle of milk

Stephanie laid Nathan on the ground setting a pillow behind his head for support and Tim handed him the bottle

They rose an eyebrow as they watched their nephew raise his legs up and put the bottle between his feet holding it there and freeing his hands

Tim smiled “I swear there is no doubt this is Dick’s child”

Stephanie smiled “Have you ever seen him when Barbara is feeding him?”

Tim shook his head “Out of respect I try to leave the room when she’s doing that”

Stephanie rolled her eyes *men* “Anyways, he does some crazy acrobatics then too. The other day I walked into the Batcave and she was sitting at the computer doing work while he was bent backward over her shoulder while still sucking on her breast”

“That sounds painful” Tim winced “He looks pretty mellow right now, come on I want to show you this new gadget I’m working on. I think it’ll really help everyone on the field” he motioned for Stephanie to follow him to his room.

Tim was explaining to her how the new microcamera he was devolving would fit on their masks, they were so small and discrete that the outside eye wouldn’t even know they were there. There was a loud crash that caused them both to jump them rush into the living room.

“Great he’s gone again” Tim groaned

Stephanie shook her head “The kid won’t even be one till next week, how far could he of gone?” Her eyes shifted to the balcony of his 3rd-floor apartment. “Oh my God Tim! You kept the door open.” 

Quickly they ran to the patio and looked over the railing not seeing anything “Oh my God Dick and Barbara are going to kill me-Commissioner Gordon and Bruce are going to kill me—Jason is going to kill me. The whole family is going to take turns killing me then throwing me into the Lazarus pit so that the next person in line can have their chance at killing me.” Tim rambled

“Shh” Stephanie held a hand up

They could here a light baby giggle but couldn’t distinguish where it was coming from

They glanced at each other “You don’t think? She eyed the air vent

Tim shook his head “He’s not even one how could he possibly get in the air vent, we were only gone like 5 minutes”

They went back into the apartment shutting the sliding glass door and locking it this time. The giggling continued as they made their way in

“Nay Nay” Stephanie spoke checking closets “Come see Aunt Stephy” she cooed hoping to draw out the baby

Tim decided to take the lower route and look under furniture “Nate, come on give Uncle Tim a break” he groaned

They heard a crash and both darted their heads toward each other “The kitchen” they both rushed into the kitchen getting there at the same time. They stopped in their tracks when they saw the baby hanging onto the top cabinets

“How did he even get up there!” Stephanie spoke

Tim shrugged ”He must’ve walked in here, climbed up on the stool, climbed onto the counter got onto the fridge and now he’s hanging onto the top cabinet” Tim observed but Stephanie wasn’t paying much attention. She was trying to calmly coax the infant down. Not wanting to upset him

“Nathan come on bud get down” she spoke as Tim stood at her side

Nathan just laughed, in a swift motion he swung his little body twisting his waist so his legs and feet landed on top of the cabinets then rolled his body so that he was completely on top  

“My brother's son is a freak of nature” Tim spoke in awe

Stephanie scrunched up her eyebrows before elbowing him “Don’t just stand there, help me get him down before he gets hurt” she moved forward

“Nathan come on baby,” Stephanie said as she began climbing onto the counter

But as she did so a grin grew on the baby’s face

He decided to lean forward and tumbled off the top of the cabinet

“TIM!” Stephanie shouted

Quickly he jumped forward catching the baby, the impact causing them both to fall back bumping into the wall.

“You guys okay?” She asked climbing down

Tim pushed himself up as Nathan began whimpering

“I think he bumped  his head,” she said taking the now crying baby from his arms

“Shh it’s okay” she soothed bouncing him lightly

It didn’t help, he began crying harder

“How do we comfort him?” Stephanie asked

Tim thought “The song” he snapped his fingers

“Song?” Stephanie spoke over the wailing baby she was still trying to comfort

Tim nodded “That Song Dick always sings to him Barb said it always calms him down “

Stephanie nodded shifted Nathan to her shoulder “Well take him and sing it” she said the baby was now squirming and crying even harder, obviously worked up

“I-I don’t know it, it’s some circus song about flying and stealing woman”

Stephanie rose an eyebrow “That doesn’t sound like a good song to sing to your baby” she passed Nathan off to Tim. “Let me try and find it” she slipped her phone out

“Okay, I think I found it”, and this one is pretty cool because it’s not a kiddie version it’s a cover by Bruce Springsteen,” Stephanie said

“Just press play” Tim grumbled struggling with the wailing infant

“Oh, he floats through the air with the greatest of ease,This daring young man on the flying trapeze;His actions are graceful, all girls he does please,My love he has purloined away.”

As the song continued with Bruce Springsteen’s rugged voice ringing through the phone speaker. Nathan’s cry’s turned into sniffles until all he was doing was holding Tim’s chest tightly. Stephanie took the opportunity to look him over

“Is he okay?” Tim asked

Stephanie nodded “Yeah he just will have a little bruise on his head that we’ll have to explain to Dick and Barbara but that’s it”

Tim threw his head back “Great, Jason and Roy are going to be pissed”

Stephanie rose an eyebrow “Why?”

Tim sucked in his bottom lip “Jason and Roy might have been secretly using Nathan as a baby model for the past couple months to make money---Dick and Barbara don’t know”

Stephanie chuckled “I mean it’s not wrong on their part, he is a gorgeous child”

There was a knock a the door “Oh thank god this babysitting job is over” he said passing Nathan to Stephanie and going to the door. A few minutes later Dick followed behind Tim into the kitchen dressed in his BCPD police uniform

“There’s my boy,” Dick said with a wide smile

Nathan smiled brightly “DADA!” He stretched his arms out

Dick took the baby from Stephanie and spun him around tossing him lightly into the air before catching him “Oh I missed you!” He kissed the baby’s cheek and hugged him tightly

“I just had a 48 hour shift at the department, before that Nightwing had an 8 hour patrol so I haven’t seen him in three days” Dick explained to Stephanie as he snuggled his sons cheek and kissed the baby again “Daddy loves you so much” Dick cooed then paused rubbing a thumb over the bruise on Nathan’s  forehead “What’s this?” He asked

Stephanie gritted her teeth “Well you see he kinda umm crawled on top of the counter somehow and-“

“Jumped?” Dick finished

Tim nodded “But I caught him, we just kinda bumped the wall” he tried to assure

Dick nodded “It’s okay, Babs and I have had to pad the whole house. He started climbing and trying to flip off everything” he smiled and rested his forehead against Nathan’s “Isn't that right my fiu?” Your daddy’s next flying Grayson huh”

Nathan giggled

“Welp thanks for watching him, it’s great that we can count on you guys” dick waved “See you at the weekly family dinner tonight” Dick waved before helping himself out the door

“I will never get over Dick using baby talk” she shook her head

“I’m not having a kid for a while” Tim commented

Stephanie shook her head “Me neither”

“Glad we agree” Tim smiled at her

[thelittleredheadedmusician]

The Worst of Days

So this is for the Batfam Content War. I wasn’t sure if it was an angst war too or not so have some mild angst thrown in at the end. Also available here on my ao3. Words: 2,785 Rated: PG (Canon Typical Violence & Mild Language) Gen

Steph was having a crappy day. No, the word crappy hardly even began to describe how truly awful her day was going. Which was really, really unfair because by the bat-clan’s standards the day was just beginning. And it sucked.

She’d spent most of the night before finishing a ten-page paper while Damian crashed on her couch and Cass watched truly terrible reality shows in her living room. Then she had to hand in the paper but naturally the train was delayed because it was Gotham and the freaking Condiment King decided to get his ass handed to him again. Thank god Cass and Damian had slept over and handled it or else she would be even later to her eight am.

From there she had to track down her advisor to sign a form okaying Steph’s thesis being sent to a conference. By the time she finally managed to corner the professor she had to run to lab, only to get kicked out because she’d stupidly worn sandals due to the earlier morning rush.

Thankfully Francisco was letting her copy his notes at lunch but that just meant she had to sit with Jordanna. Ugh. Steph swore that whatever supreme beings dictated her life just really had it out for her. After an hour enduring snide remarks and sneers Steph gathered her books and headed for the library, because being a college student and superhero left her bank account drained so she had to make money somehow.

Steph waved to her boss as she tossed her things into the cubby below the desk. Grabbing a cart that the last student worker had just loaded with books she made her way into the stacks. She made it all of five feet before groaning. The stinking freshman had given her the cart that always pulled to the left like some defunct grocery store buggy.

Jogging across campus to her last class of the day Steph felt her phone buzz. She fished it out of her coat pocket, furrowing her brow at the screen. “What,” she demanded in greeting.

“Um, hi Steph. Nice to hear from you too?” Tim said sarcastically from the other end of the line.

Steph paused, running a hand through her hair as she examined the science complex in front of her. “Sorry, it’s just not my day and I’m really not in the mood for whatever bull you might be calling about and I’ve got a class and…” Steph trailed off, tipping her head back and closing her eyes.

“I’m really sorry Steph and I didn’t mean to make it worse.” Steph could hear the wince in Tim’s voice, the reluctance to state what he was calling about.

“It’s whatever Timmers. So what’s up?” She hiked her backpack higher on her shoulder and made her way into the building. She was early for the lecture but really didn’t know how long it would take for her to get Tim to just spit whatever it was out. Her best bet was to sit in the hall so she could hang up and slip in when she saw the professor coming.

“Well Jason somehow got a cat,” Tim started but Steph interrupted with a strangled “what?!” before he could say anything else. “Yeah… I think it’s from Damian? Anyway, not the point, he asked Cass to watch it while he was on a mission but she left this morning with Dick for some acrobatic camp or something and asked me to just feed it but I can’t because I’m on my way to the Tower for a Titans mission. Can you just feed the darn thing tonight when you’re on patrol?”

Steph shook her head as she tried to wrap her mind around all that Tim was saying. “Ok. I didn’t actually follow all that but I’m pretty sure the point is I need to feed Jason’s cat tonight?”

“Um, yeah, pretty much,” Tim sounded sheepish and just a little guilty.

“Ok, sure. I’m partnered up with the Baby Bat near there anyway, I’ll just make him help,” she sighed, waving to a passing friend.

She heard Tim release a breath that she hadn’t realized he was holding. “Thanks Steph. I promise to make it up to you.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever,” Steph rolled her eyes at the boy on the phone. “Ok, I really have to go to class. Bye Tim.”

“Bye Steph! I owe you!”

She hung up and sighed, going to collapse into the crappy desk next to the girl she had taken bio with just as the professor walked in. Walked in and announced a pop quiz. Steph raised her eyes to the ceiling and prayed that the universe take pity on her by having Apokolips invade so she could leave. No such luck.

Steph had just made it to the train station when she felt her phone buzz again. This time it was a text from Bruce calling her to the Manor. She grumbled at the screen and shoved the phone back into her pocket. Turning to head back out of the station Steph went to hail a cab, Alfred would be more than willing to pay the fare out to Bristol for her.

She was indeed greeted by Alfred at the door who paid for her cab before ushering her inside. Just as she had gotten out of the taxi it had started to pour. Darn Gotham weather. The ten feet from the car to the Manor’s front door had Steph drenched. She stood dripping in the marble tile of the foyer while Alfred pulled fluffy emergency towels for them from the coat closet, likely intended for days like this.

Steph wrapped it around herself and began to wring out her blonde hair. It was at this point that Damian choose to stomp down the staircase. “You look like a drowned rat, Brown,” he sneered.

“And you look like an angry little kitten. ‘Specially with your hair sticking up like that. Take a cat nap?” Steph shot back with a grin. Giving Alfred the now damp towel she thanked him and headed toward the study, Damian trailing behind her. She spun the clock hands, causing the hidden door in the grandfather clock to swing open. Steph paused before descending into the cave. “Do you know what your dad wants?”

Damian looked back at her, his nose scrunching briefly before he gave a forcefully nonchalant shrug. “I do not know what Father would want with someone so incompetent as yourself,” he sniffed.

Steph just rolled her eyes. “Gee Dames, thanks,” she said and began the descent. Even now as Batgirl, someone not only accepted but welcomed here, she got a rush walking down the dark stairwell. Her heart pounded as she caught sight of the dinosaur and the giant penny, her eyes catching just for a second on the memorial cases before skipping immediately to the huge computer screen and the man who stood there.

“Stephanie,” Bruce called out, turning as she and Damian walked towards him. “I have already informed Oracle but I wished to speak with you in person. There is an emergency that requires Justice League attention and as such I will be leaving to attend to it momentarily. You and Damian shall be patrolling together tonight. Batwoman, Batwing, and some of the Birds of Prey will be patrolling as well. I have mapped out routes for you, Oracle is ultimately in charge although Damian you are to defer to Stephanie.”

With that Bruce turned on his heel and was teleported to the Watchtower. Damian turned to her with a glare, the effect was quite cute rather than menacing. “I will not be deferring to your judgment tonight nor any other, Fatgirl,” Damian spat at her. Like his father had just done he turned on his heel and marched deeper into the cave. Likely to cut the heads off practice dummies with his katanna.

Steph slouched and tilted her head up to the ceiling. She gave a strangled cry that culminated in a whiny “Why?!” The bats didn’t answer and merely fluttered away. She sighed and headed back towards the stairs, she’d much rather spend the hours before patrol studying and lounging around in the manor rather than dealing with the pissed off child assassin. He’d come around eventually.

Now though Steph was positive that her day was cursed. Wholly, truly, irreversibly cursed. And everything up until that point had simply been the opening act. She and Damian had gone on patrol, much to Damian’s continued displeasure. They had only been out about an hour when it happened.

“Batgirl, I need you and Robin to swing by the Narrows. I’ve got a report of an armed robbery in progress and you’re the closest.”

“You got it O!” Steph chirped back as she and Damian adjusted their course to the address that Oracle had uploaded to their masks displays. Perching on the roof of the apartment building across the street they could see into the small deli. Sure enough a guy in a ski mask was holding a pistol in the face of a very frightened clerk and waving a pillow case in his other hand.

“-tt- How cliché,” Damian mumbled.

“I know right?” Steph couldn’t keep the slight chuckle from her voice. “Ok, so here’s the plan-” Before she could say another word Damian was already gone from her side, swinging towards the store front and using the momentum to kick in the windows. Glass shattered and the gunman whirled. Steph heard two shots before she was moving. Line fired, hair and cape flying behind her as she practically free fell towards the street.

She swung in through the same window Damian had, glass crunching under her feet as she landed. Both the would-be robber and Damian were nowhere in sight though. Steph pulled some batarangs from her belt and inched forward. She peered behind the counter as she passed, the shaking clerk peering back. She lifted a finger to her lips and motioned that he stayed put before Steph turned her attention back to the threat at hand. From somewhere behind the rows of snacks she heard another gunshot ring out. And another. Then a thud.

Steph jumped onto the counter, turning to launch herself over the displays. She tackled the gunman from behind, knocking the weapon from his grip. She pulled his hands together behind his back and set off one of the goop-a-rangs in her hand, it was faster than grabbing her cuffs. Steph then turned her attention on the small red, green, yellow, and black figure that laid in front of the milk display. She could already see more red pooling beneath him and his green gloves were stained with it from where he pressed against his side.

“Robin!” Steph gasped and rushed to him. He grumbled a bit and some of her worry lessened but Steph still went about checking his pulse before radioing Oracle. “Robin was shot in the side. I- I don’t know how bad it is but there’s a lot of blood. He’s breathing and has been applying pressure so that’s a good sign…” Steph trialed off in her ramblings as she felt the panic in her rise.

“It’s going to be ok Batgirl. I’m sending Penny-One in the Batmobile to pick you up and escort you immediately to the clinic. In the meantime, I need to you to check the wound for the bullet, just like we’ve trained.”

Steph nodded and gulped, it didn’t matter if she gave Barbara a verbal reply or not, the older woman was more than likely already hacked into the security cameras. She’d done the same thing a thousand times it felt like, on herself and other members of the so-called family. But never Damian. Never Damian. He was so young and small and there was so much blood and he was always to strong and fierce and now he was biting his lip to keep from whimpering and Steph was worried.

She moved his hands from his side. “This might hurt,” she whispered, pulling the small flashlight from her belt. She clicked it on and used it to examine the wound as she gently felt for a bullet. Sure enough it was still there, not deep but it’d made a mess of the Robin suit and Damian. She relayed her findings to Oracle before applying pressure again.

Steph turned to glare at the robber who was still face down on the tile, his hands encased in her trademark goo. “I hope you’re happy. This is why crime doesn’t pay dipshit,” she snarled. He winced and Steph returned her attention to Damian. “It’s gonna be ok Robin. You’ll be fine,” she whispered.

Damian seemed to roll his eyes. “I know,” was all the retort he managed though and that concerned Steph even more than the bullet wound or the blood loss.

“Ride’s here,” Oracle told them.

Steph moved to scoop Damian up and carry him to the waiting Batmobile. “This might hurt,” she warned him before lifting him bridal style. Damian winced and Steph was surprised at how light the kiddo was. “And you,” she addressed the robber one last time. “Don’t move till the police come or I will personally come back to kick your ass.”

Steph took slight satisfaction in the way he winced before rushing from the deli. Damian was like her little brother, annoying but lovable. She couldn’t stand the fact that he had gotten so badly injured on her watch. The Batmobile was idling by the curb with its passenger door open. She slid Damian onto the back seat before settling herself in the front and closing the door. She positioned herself so she could keep pressure on the wound as Alfred took off.

They got to the clinic in no time, Leslie immediately taking Damian to remove the bullet and stitch him up. Maybe even give him some blood since Steph guessed that about half of his own was spread between the deli and the Batmobile’s backseat.

“Please do not beat yourself up over this, Miss Stephanie,” Alfred sat in the plastic chair next to hers.

She took the towel he offered and began wiping off her gloves. “But I was supposed to watch him and this happened. What am I going to say to Bruce? What’s Bruce going to say to me?”

“I’m sure Master Bruce will understand and, loathe as I am to say it, Master Damian has been in much worse shape before.”

Steph sighed, leaning her head against the wall. “Y’know what Alfred, today has been utter shit.”

The butler chuckled at that. “Well Miss Stephanie I feel confident in saying that it can only go upward from this point.”

She looked at him out of the corner of her and raised a brow. “Don’t jinx it Alf.”

The two sat like that in the clinic’s small waiting room for what felt like ages before Leslie finally came out. “He’s going to be ok, but no patrol for two weeks or he’ll pull his stiches.” Both nodded and Steph jumped to follow her back into the small room she reserved for vigilante visits. Damian was sitting on the table kicking his feet, a white bandage poking out of the hole in his now ruined Robin tunic.

He raised his head and met Steph’s eyes. “I apologize for my actions and any worry I may have put you through as a result of them. That was immature and impulsive. I will be sure to inform Father that my injury was entirely my own fault.” He ended with a stiff nod.

Steph gave the kid a soft smile. “That’s ok Dami, I just want you to be ok. Ok?” He nodded and Steph went to hug him before being stopped with a sharp glare from Dr. Thompkins. “So I’m apparently supposed to feed Jason’s cat? Wanna come with and then we can go back to the Manor and continue your Disney education?”

Damian considered this before giving her a small smile. “I think I would enjoy that very much, thank you.”

Steph grinned. “Hey Alfred, think we can borrow the Batmobile for a quick trip? We’ll pick you up on the way back to the cave.”

“As long as you drive Miss Brown, that shouldn’t be a problem. I doubt Master Jason’s cat requires my attention as well,” he said with a smile.

Damian slid to the ground and grumbled something about driving the Batmobile and Steph couldn’t resist the urge to ruffle his hair. He swatted half-heartedly at her hands. Steph just smiled, terrible days really did only ever last for so long.

[sebeth]

Babs-a-thon, Part 3

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

Batgirl Special (1988) by Barbara Randall and Barry Kitson.

Barbara Randall was the writer of Secret Origins #20.

We start with a Cormorant flashback: “Four years ago, Cormorant killed me.  I was so proud.  I thought I was cheating an assassin of his assignment.  But she wasn’t his target.  The bullets cut through my pride first.  In the pain, I completely forgot about his hostage. Luckily the girl ran away.  I saved myself.  He thought I was dead.  But he’d killed part of me, reduced my world to a haze of pain and self-protection.  I’d never been hurt before.  Not like that.  I’d been an innocent hero.  Cormorant changed that.’

I researched Cormorant and he debuted in Detective Comics #491 (1980) in the “Assassination of Batgirl” story.  I haven’t read the story and the images are a bit confusing.  We know from the Secret Origins flashback and from page 1 of the Batgirl special that Cormorant shot a dummy dressed like Batgirl and it fell from a building.  Bab’s narration implies that she herself was shot but the art doesn’t show any wounds. Has anyone read the original story – was Barbara actually shot?

I find it interesting that Barbara encountered many of the Gotham rogues and it’s a garden-variety assassin that deeply traumatized her.  I don’t doubt Barbara’s heroism but she did begin her Batgirl career with a “thrill of the adventure” motive.  Cormorant seemed to be her wake-up call that the vigilante lifestyle isn’t all fun and games.

We return to the present and Barbara has resumed her librarian career.  There is a dead man with a knife in his back laying in the aisle.

Bab’s immediately suspects Cormorant: “That was four years ago, but it never stops happening.  He’s been killing me in my dreams ever since. Every time I’m scared, I see him. Every time I dream of him, I wake up shaking.  And now this. A murder right under my nose, in my library.  Did he leave the hat to taunt me?  Does he know who I am?  Doesn’t matter.  This time I’ve got him cold.  Nice of him to leave his calling card.  Hope his head gets cold without it.”

There’s the Babs I know – she may be scared but she doesn’t back down from a challenge.

Barbara dispatches another librarian to call the police while she inspects the crime scene: “Cormorant’s behind this – I know it!  I should never have ignored him for so long.  How could I have been so stupid!  By not going after Cormorant after he tried to kill me, I’ve left him free to kill again!  He was my responsibility, and I’ve failed!  Well, now’s the time to fix things!”

The hat is a flimsy clue – Barbara’s trauma/fixation on Cormorant is causing her to exclude other suspects.

Babs removes a note from the dead body: “Sorry, guys.  But I know who the killer is and this may help me find him.”

Um, Barbara, you actually don’t know who the killer is.  Also, as the daughter of a police commissioner, you should know that removing possible evidence is a no-no.  It won’t to any good to catch Cormorant if you’ve removed evidence that could lead to his conviction.

The corpse is identified as David Scarrano.  Bab’s discovers he is the son Anthony Paul Scarrano a.k.a. General Scarr a.k.a. the man who hired Cormorant to assassinate Batgirl.

Babs researches David’s past: “He’s got a history of arrests without convictions – Scarr must be putting pressure on somebody big.  All his crimes are violent.  Cross-check shows all female victims.  His father must have decided he was becoming a liability and sent his top assassin after him.”

Barbara heads home and inspects her gear: “I have a particular routine I follow when I’m going to go out.  It’s a weapons check, but more.  My personality is also checked, reined in – I’m all business on a case.  After all, my life depends not only on careful preparation, but on my staying alert and aware…Everything checks out but me.  I’m so tired and scared I’ve got to sleep or I’ll tremble myself to death…Cormorant’s been quiet for years…Why’d he choose now to come back?  And what am I going to do when I see him?  What if he hurts me again?”

5:04 am: A body is dropped in front of the Gotham City Police 13th Precinct Station. The body has a note attached to it: “I don’t care for killing, but it must be done.  This man and others like him have committed foul crimes against woman and gone free.  If no one else will come forward to stop the abuse, the fear, them I must.  I am justice.  I am the hand that delivers womankind from fear with a single slash.”

Yeah, it’s safe to say Cormorant isn’t the killer.  Gotham media names the killer “Slash”.

9:05 am: Barbara is woken by the arrival of Marcy.  Marcy, Barbara’s childhood best friend, debuted in Secret Origins #20.

Babs is wearing a “U2” nightgown so Babs must be a fan of Bono and company.

Marcy has a few questions for Barbara: “What the hell do you think you’re doing?  Did you think I wouldn’t who ‘Batgirl’ was?  Do you think this is a game or something?  Did you ever stop to think about how worried I’d be when I found out you were out there risking your life just to get your jollies? Do you want to get yourself killed or something?”

Babs calms Marcy down and the girls spend the morning catching up.  Babs brings out a photo album that contains photos of Jason Bard.

Jason was the great romance of pre-Crisis Barbara.  Babs notes “Jason Bard.  I spent a lot of time with him.  We lost touch when I ran off to Congress.”

The above line indicates the Babs-Jason romance is over but early issues of Birds of Prey (written by Chuck Dixon) have the couple engaged.  Barbara reveals the engagement ended because Jason “couldn’t protect her” from the Joker.

I’m not sure how Jason would be able to protect Barbara as he wasn’t even in the building during the Killing Joke.  Let’s chalk it up to an out-of-character moment for Babs due to Chuck Dixon’s desire to kickstart the Babs-Dick romance.  Dixon needed to end Bab’s only major romance so he went with the easy option of “my man couldn’t protect me” route.  The engagement and subsequent break-up is completely unnecessary as the “Batgirl Special” states that the duo couldn’t make the long-distance relationship work.

Slash murders Mr. Iverson: “I have just killed you.  I have done this because of your crimes against women.  You will die here on the street, Mr. Iverson, and no one will help you. Just as no one could help them: Leticia Munoz, Crystal Kale, Kathryn Bautier.”

Slash is masked and sporting a trench coat and a Cormorant-style hat.  Slash later removes the coat revealing a Frances Kane-style costume with plenty of knives.  Slash is definitely female.

Barbara researches Cormorant’s current location – a home in Westchester County registered under the name of Edward Wells.  

Babs’ obsession with Cormorant continues.  The police and media have ascertained the killer is female but all Babs sees is Cormorant.

Babs heads to Westchester County to confront Cormorant: “If I don’t face up to him alone. I’ll never stop being afraid of him!  And I’ll never know if I could.”

Cormorant is watching tv as his bruised wife brings him dinner.  Cormorant receives a call – he has been hired to eliminate Slash.  The identity of the caller isn’t revealed but a safe bet would be General Scarr.

Cormorant’s excited to hunt Cormorant: “This Slash’s been pretty brave against unarmed men.  We’ll just have to see how she handles someone tougher…”

Batgirl cases the house from a nearby tree: “He’s cleaning weapons.  But I haven’t actually seen him commit any crimes.  Even if I know he’s guilty, I can’t attack him.  But he’ll try again, try to kill someone else. When he does, I’ll be ready for him. But not now.”

Marcy pulls up and orders Babs into the car.  Marcy wisely points out that Babs should call in Batman or the cops to assist her in the case.

The duo enter Gotham and Babs hears a scream.  Babs tracks the source of the scream only to discover Nightwing and Robin have beaten her to it.  Yay for Dick and Jason working together!

An anonymous woman hires Slash to kill Cormorant.  We can safely guess the identity of the woman.

Babs investigates the next likely murder victim – Anthony Caterino.

Marcy warns Babs: “You’ve got to watch it.  Being too obsessed can get in the way of your instincts.  Don’t blind yourself to the obvious.  You really need to ease off or you’ll crack!”

Marcy is full of great advice – it’s too bad we never see her again after this issue.  It’s established that Marcy has moved to Gotham but we never see her again.  Did Babs push Marcy away in the aftermath of the Killing Joke?

Batgirl interrupts Slash’s murder of Anthony Caterino.  Slash requests Batgirl to join her.  Babs informs Slash: “I catch them, not kill them.  I let the courts decide who’s guilty.

Slash gains the upper hand and murders Caterino.

Batgirl warns Slash: “Watch your back, woman.  I’m coming to get you.  I don’t buy your lies.  No killing is justified ever.”

“Once upon a time, Cormorant killed me.  I’ve been dying ever since.  But I’ve never let it stopped me.  Never. Until now.  Then the dream comes and he’s after me again, only now he’s got a partner.  They chase me and kill me, over and over and over again.  I’m too scared to stop them.  Why bother?  Just let them come and end the pain, end my…no.  I give up.  I’m tired of hurting.  God, I can’t feel my arm!  I can’t do this!  I give up. I quit.  Batgirl’s through.”

I love Bab’s characterization in the Crisis of Infinite Earths, Secret Origins, and the Batgirl Special.  Bab’s doubts and the struggles she endures ring true to me.  

Bab’s returns home and Marcy patches her up.  Marcy reminds Babs: “You’ve got your memory.  Your intelligence.  Use them.”

Despite the “I quit” moment from the night before Babs is back on the case: “I can’t stand the thought of leaving loose ends.”

Babs patrols from 1 am to 7am but doesn’t see any action as any potential encounter is resolved by another hero: “I’m just a minor force among heroes these days.  This city – this world – is well protected without my help.”

Barbara decides to leave the capture of Slash for the other heroes and focus on Cormorant: “When he’s caught, Batgirl can retire in peace!”

Batgirl confronts Cormorant at his house only to be interrupted by Slash.  A three-way brawl interrupts and Babs contemplates leaving: “I could just let them kill each other, then step in and sort out the pieces. No, that’s not what being a hero’s all about.”

Cormorant has Babs cornered and she throws a knife to save him from Slash: “Who do I save – him or myself? There’s no choice.  I can’t let anyone take a life I can save!”

Cormorant exclaims: “Hey! You knifed her!  You saved me! Just like all women, eh?  Pretend to hate men, then do anything to save us! Well, babe, I appreciate the save, but it doesn’t mean you’re off the hook!  I’m still gonna take you out…now, Batgirl, we’re gonna have some fun.”

Babs disgustedly states “No” and opens a can of whup-ass on Cormorant.

Cormorant’s wife hands Slash a gun while the duo fight.  Slash shoots Cormorant in the head.

Babs heads home and hands Marcy her Batgirl costume: “I just finished my last case.  Batgirl’s all finished.  There’re others out there now who can do this as well or better than me, with less pain.  I’ll help them, maybe without letting them know.  But I’m done going out there myself…It’s like starting a brand-new life, one where I don’t need this.”

Marcy wonders if “there’s another little Babs out there right now?”

Babs responds: “I hope not. But if there is, maybe I’ll talk her out of it.  Or give her the costume.”

DC had been attempting to retire Batgirl since the late 1970s.  The ‘Batgirl Special” nicely accomplishes it.  Babs has hung up the costume but can be brought back as Batgirl at any time.  We even have foreshadowing for an Oracle-type role or as a mentor to a new Batgirl.

The end of Barbara’s story, right?  Not exactly. Instead of leaving Barbara on a shelf where a future writer can remove for a story, she’s rudely stuffed into a fridge in “The Killing Joke”.

I’m not spending much time on the “Killing Joke”.  A subpar story with the only positive being Brian Bolland’s art.  The story is insulting to Babs – she’s off-handedly crippled by the Joker and the photos adds more salt to the wound.  Batman sharing a laugh with the Joker at the end? Completely infuriating!

Barbara receives a one-panel cameo in “A Death In The Family” when she attends Jason Todd’s funeral. Bet you’re not laughing now, Bruce!

Barbara was not close to the Wayne family at this point in the comics – she isn’t aware of Batman or either Robin’s secret identities so I assume she’s attending the funeral to support her father – a close friend of Bruce Wayne.  Babs is wheelchair-bound so “A Death In The Family” takes place soon after “The Killing Joke”.

Babs-a-thon part 4 will feature the early days of Oracle: Batman Chronicles, the Suicide Squad, and Showcase.