#can i have a jason who reminds me to eat cause this is what i do when i get stressed??

[gilverrwrites]

Random Jason Todd headcanons that I think about too much. Heavy on bookworm!Jason cause I love bookworm!Jason.

Calls you his backpack, when he gives you a ride on the back of his bike.

Lets you personalise his spare helmet, and does not care when his siblings/other passangers complain about having to wear whatever you've created with stickers and gemstones, or whatever you're into.

If there are two seats available, he’ll sit in one then put his feet up in the other, or otherwise occupy the second seat so you’re forced to sit in his lap. He doesn’t care how much you weigh; he just wants you as close as possible, wants to feel you against him, put his hands on you.

Even if they’re not his kind of book, he’ll still read and annotate your favourites.

He doesn’t really have guilty pleasures. He’ll happily binge watch 90s chick-flics, or barbie films without shame, if that’s what you’re into.

Buys you pill dispensers for your meds/vitamins/whatevers, and leaves you little reminders to take them along with other things like – ‘don’t forget to eat some protein today x’ or ‘if you’re gonna rot in front of the TV all day, OPEN A WINDOW ♡’

Will respond to your texts with the most out of pocket stuff that knocks you off your feet, some fun, some romantic, often book quotes.

23:58: Jay, when are you coming home. I miss kisses xx 00:04: Soon, you should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how. Xx

02:03: You should be asleep, but in case you’re not, sleep well babe x 06:15: Good morning my heart, my life, my one and only thought x

17:45: What do you want to eat tonight? Xx 17:58: You xx 18:00: You can’t eat me, I’m not a substantial meal! x 18:06: Don’t talk bad about yourself like that xx 18:06: I ate you last night, I would eat you every night if I could xx 18:09: Your choices are pasta or take out x 18:16: 😔 18:18: Fine, you can eat me, but you have to have real food first x 18:18: I’ll pick up thai food on the way xx

Buys you gas station flowers, or candies, or books by your favourite authors, whenever he sees them, wherever he is, just cause they make him think of you.

Likes it when you massage his muscles, when you gently ghost your fingertips over his scars.

Loves it when you run your fingers through his hair, scratching your nails against his scalp and behind his ears.

When you pull his hair, oh boy. Pull his hair.

You’re hot when you’re angry. Not that he would ever intentionally try to wind you up.

You’re hot when you’re bossy too.

Complains when you steal his t-shirts and hoodies, but if he sees you deciding between one of his jackets and one of your own, and you don’t pick his, he’ll get mad about it.

You're one of very few people he lets wear the brown jacket, because he couldn't say no to you if he tried.

[gay-dorito-dust]

hey hey, was wondering if you could do a headcannon for jason and dick when their s/o is sick cause im sick as hell rn and need some comfort <3

I hope you get better anon and I also hope that this gives you something to chuckle at in the meantime.

Jason:

He’s like a mother hen when your sick and it wouldn’t been funny…had you not been sick and forcibly bed bound by him.

‘Jason.’ You groaned. ‘I’m dying.’

Jason looks at you blankly. ‘Hi dying I’m Jason, now take your god damn medicine.’

He takes your recovery more seriously and makes sure that you take your medicine on time when they were needed. And if you were to make things difficult for yourself, he will straddle you if needs be just for you to take medicine that you were upset wasn’t grape flavoured…

Will tuck the blankets right under your chin if you’re feeling cold and if you were still feeling cold, he’ll offer you one of his warmer hoodies to wear in hopes that they’d stop.

He honestly can’t either you sometimes but has to remember that he loves you and that he’d stick by you no matter what, even if you do act like an outraged child when sick.

God sake do not ask him to get you ice cream when you’re sick, he will forbade you from eating that crap. You’re meant to be getting better, not worse.

He even makes you a nice warm soup amongst other foods to help you during your recovery process also.

Jason may seem strict in his methods in taking care of you but he means well and will apologise if he thinks he’s been a bit too much of a dick by sitting bedside and holding your hand, kissing it every so often.

‘I’m sorry if it seems like I’m being harsh chipmunk, I’m only trying to help.’ He’d say.

‘If you’re being sorry for being a dick, then it’s only fair that I say sorry for acting so childish when you’re only trying to help. And I really appreciate you for everything you’ve done for me.’ You’d reply as you both let out a chuckle before you allowed Jason to take care of you without any complaints to be made.

You get better by the end of the week and Jason spoils you by letting you have all the ice cream you could dream of, but please for his sake don’t eat it too fast and get brain freeze.

Dick:

Will let you eat ice cream because how can he say no to your sad, sick face.

Even when sick Dick spoils the hell out of you.

Does not make the situation any better in all honesty.

He’ll probably take more offence that you were sick than yourself as he takes your temperature and tutting.

‘38°?’ Dick says as he looks down at the thermometer and muttering under his breath, ‘Not good.’

You only look at him blankly before sniffling as you cling to your plush frog, unamused. ‘I hate you.’

He’d might even get Hayley to help ‘heal’ you by just letter her be her cutest self and not currently crushing your legs, seeing as how she’s not a little blue pup anymore. she’s yours and Dick’s baby however and you didn’t care because seeing her try to nurse you back to health with her licking never failed to put a smile on your face.

‘Thank you sweetheart Im beginning to feel much better.’ You say as Hayley continued aggressively licking your arms, hands and face.

If you were to tell dick you were cold/still cold, his immediate response was the cuddle you but when you stop him to remind him that your sick, he only shrugs and probably boasts that he’s got great immunity before cuddling you. (Lies utter lies)

Let’s be honest he probably ends up getting sick after you start to recover and demands for you to repay him for taking care of you.

dick is okay at making food but might mutter ‘this isn’t the way it looked when Alfred made it’ under his breath while making you some simple soup before consulting Hayley, who only whimpers and shies away from it.

‘Take out it is then.’ He’d say and tries to take credit for it once it comes, but you see through the bullshit but we’re too sick to say anything about it.

[minty364]

DPXDC Prompt #61 Part 5

There were two new arrivals to the dining room. Both with black hair but one of them had an odd white stripe, the stripe reminded him of his hair in ghost form. 

The one without the stripe sat next to Tim and the other one sat next to Danny. 

“You weren’t kidding when you said they looked identical,” the guy without the stripe said, “Names Richard Greyson, but you can call me Dick”

Dick had a bright smile on his face, it was clear he was a morning person. 

Damian made another ‘Tt’ noise at his introduction. 

The guy with the stripe in his hair grunted in agreement before holding out a coffee mug for Alfred, who was already standing next to him ready to pour. He took a swig before speaking, “Names Jason, you may look alike but seeing Damian eat meat, even from an alternate universe is weird.”

Danny took a bite of his bacon and swallowed like he was making a point before speaking, “I go by Danny, I faked my death years ago, as far as I’m concerned we were all strangers in my world.” He started, he took a moment to think about exactly how’d he explain everything. He knew it wasn’t exactly a pretty story but he also knew from the stories Talia told him when he was younger that Bruce was all about planning ahead, so keeping information from  him might not be the best way to go about all of this. 

He took another bite and swallowed before speaking again, “My foster family is fine though, I have a roof over my head and food. They spend most of their time in their lab working. They study Ectology, or the study of ghosts.” Jason raised an eyebrow at this but didn’t say anything. Danny continued, “They actually succeeded in building a portal to their realm, the realm of ghosts, or Infinite Realm as we call it.”

“We? You say that like you're one of the ghosts” Tim asked laughing a little bit.

He quickly got silent when Danny wasn’t laughing with him.

Damian made another ‘Tt’ noise before speaking, “Clearly this imposter has lost it, ghosts don’t exist and all of this nonsense is just that nonsense.” He glared at Danny.

Danny smiled at him and it caused Damian to falter a little before he glared at Danny again.

“Yes, Ghosts are real,” Danny sighed before continuing, “Trust me, it sounds crazy but I’ve seen some crazy things in my world. Although now I’m wondering if just showing you guys would be easier… Alright I’ll show you all but know that no one except my sister knows. Secret identity and all.”

“Wait,” Dick interrupted, “Does Robin not exist in your world?”

“Robin existed but there hasn’t been a Robin since Joker murdered the last one.” Danny answered. 

Everyone fell silent at that and the atmosphere got heavy. Everyone, especially Jason was giving each other knowing glances.

Danny cleared his throat before continuing, “Anyways, yes ghosts exist, unfortunately the portal in this world probably doesn’t work like my own world. It’s been about a year since I turned it on and since I was here in Gotham when they tried it in this world there’s no telling what they did after it didn’t work. Actually now that I think about it, I wonder if they exist here,” he thought about the GIW in his world and it occurred to him. If ghosts weren’t running rampant in Amity Park, they probably didn’t exist here.

He brought out his phone from his pocket and looked it up. His eyes lit up a bit at the information he found. Or more accurately the information he didn’t find. Searching GIW in this world brought zero results, so great he wouldn’t be hunted for existing here. 

He let out a sigh of relief at this. He turned to everyone and they were watching him closely. He gave them a small smile, “It’s been a while since I had a moment where I didn’t have to worry about being hunted for existing.” He explained. He figured he might as well get the conversation out of the way no matter how difficult it was. 

Everyone at the table was silent as they waited for him to continue. The tension was thick in the air however, you could tell that even though Danny had just arrived everyone was ready to jump to defend him, even if he wasn’t their Damian he was still part of the family even if he had just arrived into their lives. It cemented Danny’s determination to tell them the truth.

He took a deep breath and then spoke again, “The portal didn’t work at first when they tried it, I of course wanted to help so when they were away I went in to see if I could figure out the problem… Long story short, it helps to build the on switch on the outside of the portal. I’m not proud to admit that even with all of my training, there were just too many cords that even I tripped.” He didn’t have to say much else about that as their faces told him they understood what happened. He gave a dark chuckle and continued, “Yeah hurt like hell but I don’t have to worry about losing anything anymore.” He then took his phone and phased it into his chest.

The room went silent again for a moment, but it was broken by Jason who started cackling. 

He wheezed for a moment before he got out, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t ready for not Damian to make a fucking pun!”

Meanwhile everyone else was still too stunned to speak. Finally Damian surprisingly spoke, “What else can you do?”

Danny smiled, this was going to be fun.

Master Post:

Last:

[i-cant-sing]

Hmmm I could get tired over any fandom but.... batfam???? Yall would never see me tired of talking about them.

Like think just how absolutely batshit crazy they'd go if reader fractures her limb or something. Maybe reader like slips off the stairs or falls from a swing or something, and the batfam- they have to watch it all happen in slow motion, and nothing- there's absolutely nothing they can do to help you. It's scarring for Dick to watch the color drain from your face as you drip to the ground. It's scarring for Jason to hear the nasty crack as your bone bends in an ugly handle. It's scarring for Tim to hear you scream in pain. It's scarring for Damian to see the blood pour out of your body. And it's oh so heart wrenching for Bruce to hear you cry into his chest as he carries you to Alfred to get your cast done.... how hopeless he felt, unable to soothe your pain.

But things only seem to go even more downhill from there. As you recover, the family has silently decided to double down on their paranoia and be even more coddling and protective of you. You wanna walk down the stairs? Nope, here comes big bro Jason to hold your hand- or better yet, carry you around in his arms. Why risk you even tripping over air?

Wanna get something from the top shelf? Stand back, dont need the shelf or something heavy falling over your head and cracking your skull open. Let Dick pull the cookie jar down for you- but why are you even eating cookies this late???? You need to get some healthy nutrients in you, lest you should have weak frail bones. Heres your broccoli.

Wanna play video games or go on socials? Well, no more! Dont need you getting influenced by the violent storylines and bad news from around the world- Tim wouldnt your mental health to be affected. If you really want, you can use his laptop... under his supervision.

What the fuck do you think youre doing staying up past your bedtime? What do you mean youre too old to have a bedtime???? Get your ass back in bed before Damian drags you back like a gremlin and REMINDS you of the bedtime he has set for YOU, because he doesnt need you becoming an insomniac and turning insane. He will not be the one to bust you out of Arkham asylum (he absolutely would, but hed be complaining all the way) just because you decided you didnt need your 10 hours of sleep!

Wanna go to your therapist? Well, you cant cause he suddenly moved far away and every other therapist in gotham is a maniac in disguise. Bruce doesnt get why you cant just talk to him about your feelings??? Dont you trust him? Your dear father, the very man whod hold you in his arms and shield you from the scary lightening when you were young? The very man who you would ramble on to about everything and anything, including tattling on Damian locking you in his room and throwing a tantrum when Jason took you away when you were all kids? You can tell him anything sweetie, even if you wanna bitch about the batfam... it'll hurt a bit, but hed be okay (absolutely has big sad eyes when you tell him how everyones just too suffocating for you and you wanna leave them)

[prismuffin]

Idk why this is so funny to me, but how would the Batfam react to Tim Drake making a contract with a demon Male reader?

Like a part of the demon contract deals, is neither party demon nor the human can say what the contract is. So the batfam has no context what, so why is the demon there and follows around Tim.

Batman ofc dragged a favour out of Constantine, and John explains that many contracts have one rule that the contract can be told to others, of what it is. But he can give them info of the demon, which Male Reader is a demon that rules over psychology and secrets.

So when Tim is doing another "all-nighter" (it's going on 29 hours of being a wake), the batfam notices the demon getting agitated watching Tim and speaks 'Do you remember the rules of our contract?' , Tim sighing in stubbornness says 'Yes, but I'm almost done with this breakthrough'.

After one more hour, Demon Reader gets up and taps Tim's shoulder and possesses him. Immediately saving his work, and begins doing all of the self-care tasks Tim's been putting off. Like dumping out his coffee, and drinking water, taking a shower, eating a balanced meal and doing his laundry. While Tim's mind is asleep in his subconscious.

Ooooo I kinda like this idea ok soooo I think that-

At first glance everyone is definitely thrown off by your presence. Why in the world would Tim do something like this out of nowhere? Damian is just intrigued and curious, mostly asking you questions that you promptly ignore. Dick, and Jason are immediately concerned, throwing out question after question about why Tim would do this but he never tells them. So the first thing they do is run to Bruce who just goes to John to see if he has any information on the type of demon you are. John does his little investigation on you and immediately recognizes you as a type of psychological demon, so he tells them not to worry about it too much. That doesn't stop them from being warry about you as you follow Tim around. They'd try to make idle chatter here and there but you'd always respond quickly, being too focused on Tim to really care about anyone else. It made it hard to build trust with you so they were never 100% sure you wouldn't cause any harm to Tim. Until one day at least.

Of course there came a time where Tim refused to sleep as he worked on his latest breakthrough. The others had tried to get him to away from his lab and into a bed or at the very least the kitchen to eat a meal but it was no use, until you that is. Around the 29th hour of Tim's all-nighter the others had heard some commotion from his lab. Going to check it out they found you nagging him to take a break and rest while reminding him about the rules of your covert contract. When he'd ignored you one last time you took matters into your own hands, possessing Tim and forcing him to get up and take care of himself. The others were definitely freaked out until they noticed you simply cleaning up his desk before moving to the bathroom where you made sure his teeth were brushed and his face was washed. You'd made him take a shower, eat, hydrate, and all in all just did menial tasks for him, making sure he was taken care of. It boggled everyone's minds somewhat but it sort of confirmed Johns suspicions that you wouldn't be a threat to anyone, let alone Tim.

———

Directory

[ifyoucandaniel]

once again nobody asked, but here is a comprehensive list of my favorite shorter Batman fics. my other list was mostly fics 50k and up, so this will be under 50k and oneshots :) i feel like most people have probably read a majority of these but! i love them all so much so here they are

In Love With Justice and Battling in the Wings by Jedi_olympian, 9k, 10k, T. literally who would i be if i didn't include my day one, my bbg: the justice league recruits nightwing and meets the batfam <3

Two Against the World by carolinaa, 36k, T, completed. i reread this all the time :') this is a "tim joins the batfam a little differently" fic as well as a "tim gets an emotional support dog and dick grayson won't leave the lonely kid next door alone" fic <3

Museum Mishap by prettymisskitty, 38k, T, completed. I love smart little stalker tim joining the fam in fun ways! jason and tim get kidnapped after jason tries to figure out if this scrawny jumpy kid knows batman and robins secret identities. shenanigans ensue

Jason Todd's terrible, horrible, no-good very bad week by slenderboo, 18k, T, completed. this is another one im sure everyone has read but!! it's my bbg!! hurt jason with some big brother nightwing and concerned little brothers AND its a batfam meets the justice league fic? say less.

Say Uncle by megaerakles, 46k, T, complete. this is so fun and i actually laughed so hard at jason having legal custody of tim at 19 by accident. "teen dad(?)" this is basically tim's fake uncle AU but he hires jason to be his uncle until he can figure out how to get him to go home to the bats <3

Doc Harley by starknjarvis, 15k, G, completed. this!! i love harley being friends with the bats sooo much and her slowly therapy-ing them all is so very good and perfect. harley and dick deserve to be best friends

Dangerous and Noble Things by Destiny919, 45k, T, completed. this one reminds me of hand in unloveable hand by britishparty, and in this one tim is abducted by ra's and then years later the batfam finds out and they bring him home :) cass and tim are a package deal, do not separate!! so good and i love robin jason so very much

Savior(s) of the broken by epistemology, 13k, T. this is just some good ol' jason and dick becoming brothers again and jason slowly getting to know his siblings again <3 the end maybe made me cry just a little... right in the brother feels

Living Dead Boy by terranpheum, 22k, T, completed. im actually rereading this right now! this is where tim is there when jason digs his way out of his grave and takes him home to rehabilitate him by making him play scrabble and eat with him :) so cute and very good

Even if I'm Erased by Darkness, I Will Definitely Save You by Kirazalea, 7k, T. okay so i LOVE battison fics especially ones that include dick and this one is from selina's pov so this is my bread and butter. if anyone has more battison fics send them to me i feel like ive been through the whole tag.....

of crime lords and literature by adelfie, 23k, T, completed. everyone loves some jason begrudgingly becoming protective of tim and the two of them bonding over hamlet. whats not to like :p

Juneberries by michaberry, 68k, M, completed. tim gets kidnapped and psychologically tortured while damian wrestles with his own demons and tries to bring his brother home :’) tim and damian learning how to be brothers and realizing they would do anything for their family is just <33

Robin is Magic by flames_dance, 15k, T, completed. the way my heart actually dropped to my ass when jason found out who tim was, you had to be there... very good jason and tim bonding with a side of trauma from titans tower <3

Around Red Hood's Barn by Tori1116, 24k, T, completed. jayroy where roy doesn't realize his crush red hood and his hooligan neighbor jay are one and the same and keeps ranting to his buddy hood about how annoying his neighbor is. single dad roy x jason wanting his brothers to leave him alone and stop causing misunderstandings <3

the butlers neighbor by deargalileo, 16k, G, completed. okay i almost never see fics from alfreds pov and this is even better because its alfred adopting tim into the family while bruce and jason are just in the background accepting they have another kid. 10/10 very cute bonding between alfred and tim

lashed with riot-red and black by lux_et_astra, 16k, T. yet another tim and jason becoming brothers fic <3 they start writing notes through their windows and become friends :) i think i’ve read every fic under the tim drake joins the batfam early tag

Panic Room by envysparkler, 15k, T, completed. jason being locked in a room with his trigger while actively trying not to kill him and then getting locked in a room with TWO of his triggers is insane lmao. i love damian in this actually :’) that boy needs so much love

also i realized again that these are mostly tim & jason centric so i’m very sorry damian, dick, duke, cass, babs, and steph, i do have fics for them i promise i just have so many tim and jason ones…. pls send recs for other batfam member focused fics!! <3 i feel like that tiktok that’s like I GOT LOVE FOR YOU TOO KEVIN but for the entire batfam because i just have 900 jason and tim centric fics 😭

[munsonsprincess11111]

Our loves simple

Eddie munson x reader

Summary: Nancy and Jonathan are sat at the hellfire lunch table arguing. You and Eddie come walking over completely oblivious to what's going on. But that's when the gang work out after dating for as along as you 2 have they've never seen you fight.

"OH well you could pretend to care."

"I do care Jonathan god what is wrong eith you today."

The 2 fight like cat and dog hellfire watching the argument unfold. They then see you and Eddie come through the cafeteria doors. Your in Eddie's back laughing looking like your holding on for dear life as Eddie approaches the hellfire table.

"And we have arrived at your destination your highness." Eddie says letting you slip off his back. You were complaining about your shoes hurting your feet so Eddie told u to get in his back while in the halls. You kiss his cheek and sit next to him. When Eddie sits he pulls your chair next to him. Opening his lunch box snd putting his arm around your shoulder.

"What are they fighting about?" Eddie askes the table as he offers u a grape. Everyone shrugs not to sure themselves. Eddie nods putting his attention back on you.

"Eddie y/n when was the last time u had an argument?" Jonathan askes ignoring Nancy. She looks pissed.

"I dunno 3 months ago?" Eddie replies not sure himself. Jonathan looks at Nancy. The 2 had been fighting a lot recently. Only small things they'd make up in minutes but still a lot. "We've never seen Eddie and y/n fight." Gareth states from thr end of the table.

"That's cause our arguments are either screaming matches or one of us cry." Eddie says smirking.

"And we just don't fight. Last time we had an argument was because some guy tried to slop me his number. I rejected him but someone was still pissed." You finally speak up then eating one of Eddie's grapes.

"Now that was a screaming match. And you won." Eddie shrugs stating.

Everyone at the table looks at Jonathan and Nancy who are arguing over Jonathan's test score as he claimed Nancy didn't care. The pair looked at eachother and mumbled an apology.

"Wait a guy slipped you his number?" Gareth askes. You nod not wanting to talk about it. Remembering how pissed Eddie was. Eddie then sits back crossing his arms over his chest no linger having an arm around you.

"Look its no big deal it was ages ago I rejected him and were fine now OK?" You say with a huff.

"Right all of you fuckers stop it. We're not gonna fight. It was ages ago leave it or it'll be you lot ill be fighting with got it Mike." Eddie says leaning forward looking at Mike who try to continue bringing it up. He nods looking at his food.

Eddie slouches back then putting a hand on your shoulder and pulling you back in your chair so your next to him wrapping an arm around you reassuringly kissing your head. You melt into his touch knowing everything's fine. Your hands join and rest on Eddie's thigh.

"Remind me why we keep sitting with these prices instead of in the woods or my van." Eddie whispers to you kissing your head. You giggle and look at him. You look at him like he's the inly person in the world and he melts. He kisses your lips softly and smiles.

"Jonathan say sorry to Nancy properly for staring a petty argument." Eddie says looking back to your friends.

"M sorry Nancy for starting a petty argument. I love you n i won't do it again." Jonathan says looking at Nancy.

"Nance your turn" You say putting your head on Eddie's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Jonathan for not acting like I care I'm very proud of you you did awesome." She says smiling at him shyly.

Jonathan hugs Nancy and she hugs him back. "Cool right now can we have a normal fucking lunch with no arguments and no one getting in my relationship business?" Eddie askes looking at everyone at the table

Everyone agrees. Just as things settle Jason carver approaches with two of his minion friends. "Sup freaks." HE says smirking.

"Fuck sake one day. One day I will have a normal lunch. Hi Jason what will it be today? Cheap insults that I manage to make you shrivel up into a ball too? Or one of us throwing a fist which results in me running ad your minions chase me down?" Eddie says clearly pissed off

He keeps his arm over your shoulder letting go of your hand running it over his face. "You really like that y/n there are plenty of guys who like u in this school. Ditch the freak look at him." Jason says pointing at Eddie who's staring at him.

You turn your head and look at Eddie. "Your hot just saying." You say to eddie so Jason and his friends can hear. Eddie looks down at you smirking kissing your head. "Jason fuck off. No one here's interested in u or your small cock." You say sitting up straighter.

The boy looks stunned by your words. "Fucking freaks. All of ya." Jason mumbles. Before anyone knows it Eddie's up walking over to Jason. But he's running off with his friends before Eddie reaches him.

"Funny thought he wanted to have a chat." Eddie says stood where Jason once was. He looks over at you. "I fucking love you ya weirdo." HE says walking back around to you.

"I love you too ya freak." You say as he sits next to you. "Your words wound me sweet thing thought you loved me." HE says placing a hand over his heart.

"Fuckung he'll Eddie that nickname isn't sticking we've been over this." You smile saying while rolling your eyes.

"And like I said your sweet and my favourite thing. It's sticking" he mumbles eating another grape.

"NIT getting into this." You laugh and gwt up kissing Eddie's head walking off.

"Don't leave me with them. Babe please." HE calls behind u. Eddie then gets up grabbing his tin box running over to you. Wrapping his arms around your waist from behind and spinning. The table watch as you take Eddie's lunch box off him and he crouches for you to get on his back. Before he's walking goofing eith you in his back you laughing and screaming.

There's one word to describe how Eddie feels about you. Love. There's one word to describe how you feel about Eddie. Love. And it will be like that forever.

[clockwayswrites]

Flashfics 1 Masterpost!

Ship, Color, Plant

Original Post CLOSED

As you can see, I asked for:

-A Danny + DC ship (/ or &) which is self explanatory.

-A color from the rainbow (roygbiv). Before anyone picked I assigned a topic to each color based on something that color evoked for me! I'm not going to lie, I didn't think too hard on these lol.

Red- fighting

Orange - trick or treat

Yellow - food/meal

Green - eldritch

Blue - sleep(y)

Indigo - smooches/cuddles

Violet - angst (violent violet)

(For those curious: 1R, 3O, 1Y, 2G, 4B, 1I, 4V)

-A plant of some type. The plant is a little vague, but it was there to provide a hook of some sort- a mood or color palette or texture. Basically the plant is the vibe!

(If anyone else wants to use this idea process (or parts of it) to do prompts themselves, feel free!)

Goal was to stay short and quick with these! Here are all the links and a bit of my thought process under the cut! The reasoning is likely spoilery for the pieces, so you might want to read the ficlet first!

Danny/Jason, Indigo, False Indigo

Danny/Jason, Yellow, Dandelions

Smooch + False Indigo just had to be fake dating! It was a must. I admittedly have more thoughts on this one than a ficlet warrants...

Danny/Tim, Violet, Iris

Food/Meal. Dandelions are seen as just weeds in the US, but actually from their roots to leaves to flowers have a ton of uses! So I wanted there to be a restaurant that was dubious from the outside, but had amazing food.

Danny & Billy Batson, Orange, Prickly Pear

Angst. I love irises. The colors of traditional purple iris with that spot of yellow reminds me of dusk. Dusk feels like an ending so we went with a dramatic deadline!

Danny/Bruce, Blue, Blue Lily

Trick or Treat. Danny brings Billy food as they plot. For the plant a prickly pear is good eating, but... well, prickly, so I went with a clear friendship with some underlying contentiousness.

Danny & Steph Brown, Violet, Violets

Sleepy. A blue lily looks a little scattered, even frayed, but it still has a lovely soft color. It was perfect for a Bruce who's trying to hard and a soft moment. (Great fun to finally write this ship.)

Danny & Arthur Curry (Aquaman, Orin), Blue, Ruby Slipper Succulent

Angst. Purple bruises clustered together like violet flowers came to mind right away- especially for violent violets. Two spirited heroes in over their heads...

Danny/Jason, Orange, Apricot Tree

Sleepy- went with exhausted here. The succulents reminded me both of the crown of fire but also coral, so I really wanted to focus on Danny visiting Arthur/Orin. As both half human kings, I thought that it could be nice to set up a mentor idea.

Danny/Stephanie, Violet, Orchids

Trick or Treat. I struggled a bit at first but had the idea of Danny throwing apricots at Danny- using the plant literally for once! Luckily the ficlet found it's way. (Ty Moku for letting me bounce ideas off of you.)

Danny/Duke, Blue, Sage

Angst that I had to make different from the other angst with these two! I leaned into the other worldliness of orchids and their bright bold colors... and what that could mean as a ghost.

Danny/Zatanna, Orange, Amaryllis Belladonna

Sleep. Sage is nice and fuzzy so first take away was the texture, but it's also an herb and so we got to sick fic! Just a soft little moment for these two and a little gator.

Danny (Phantom) & Captain Marvel, Green, Wildflowers

Trick or treat. Well, I had to do a magic show with that topic. The flowers are very soft so wanted something sappy. But with the name belladonna, even if it's not those belladonnas, had to have tiny bit of a threat or mystery.

Danny/Jason, Red, Bonsai

Eldritch. Wildflowers made me think of an uncontrollable Phantom and what would cause that and, well, look I know this isn't the angst color but... combined with the prompter very specifically using Phantom and Capetian Marvel it seemed to fit.

Danny/Jason, Blue, Sunflowers

Fight! I was first thinking of a mistaken identity brawl, but that didn't fit bonsai at all. Then I thought it needed to be delicate, but if you've ever watched a master work with bonsai, they are anything but delicate. So then we got to this metaphor!

Danny/Bart, Green, Dahlia

Sleepy. Gonna be honest here, sunflowers = sun was where my brain went right away lol. I also wanted an overall happy and playful feel!

Eldritch. Dahlia are the orbs of flowers that are fractal so a biblically accurate Danny seemed like a place to go! I like to think thanks to time travel Bart and Danny had different first meetings with each other, and none of it in the current time.

Danny/Jason, Violet, Forget-me-not

Angst. How could I not do a death scene with for forget-me-nots? Moku and I had chatted more about the apricot one, and Danny visiting the grave, so I felt this had to tie into that! At least this way you all know it has a happy end?

[snakeredbirdbatkatana]

"Do you have a favorite, Jason?"

It's been over twenty four hours Red Hood has broken up an entire prostitution ring, and shot fourteen idiots who don't understand what the word no means.

Finally he got home got out of all his gear was about to eat his left over pasta before his idiotic older brother decided he needed to sit on his couch, and ask very stupid fucking questions at three in the god damn morning.

He would just shoot the stupid bird but he doesn't need big bad bat knocking on his door. Time to play whatever game is going on in his head.

"Big Bird get to the god damn point I'm fucking tired."

He looks straight at Dickhead he looks nervous yet, he's still which is never a good sign Nightwing is only a statue when something horrible happened. He runs quickly through the locations of all idiotic birds and as far as he knows they are all locked up in FortManor under Alfred's tender care.

"I asked if you had a favorite?"

-----

Dick isn't really functioning on all cylinders right now.

It was dangerous to come here not that Little Wing would hurt him, but he feels off like his entire soul is stripped bare for all to see.

He doesn't leave, he doesn't think he can.

-------

"Are you talking about the family big bird? You have got to give me something."

Jason's watching for a hint of where this is going if this is gonna be a sad big brother who needs a hug. Maybe he's gonna have to kill someone.

Or call Bruce.

He doesn't want to but there's something in the air like a bomb is going to explode. He can almost feel the seconds counting down.

"I have a favorite Jason don't you?"

"Maybe I do Dickie what's it to you?"

It can just be that right, big brother not living up the hype something deeper has to affoot he wouldn't show up just to be insecure.

He can practically hear Bruce's voice in his head look deeper.

Analyze.

Dickie worried about favorites it's not a secret that Jason isn't it.

That would be the baby birds Damian or Tim.

Tim is his little protege wearing his colors, stealing his guns. Which reminds him He has to get that back. It's no secret he has a favorite they call themselves team red.

He's not getting anything.

"Alright I bite Baby bird, which you knew?"

-------

He can't think before he can even control himself he has Jason pinned escrima cracking at his neck looking into his brothers eyes he doesn't seem surprised it's almost enough to let go. Yet little wing opens his mouth anyway.

"Let me guess feeling jealous dickie, not the perfect older brother? Alert the news golden boy ain't perfect"

He wants to wipe the smirk off his face he wants to break his teeth in feel his blood coat his fist.

----

Jason wants to be angry standing with a pissed off older brother on top of him yet even as he goaded something bugged him.

He missed something.

What happened tonight he's wracking his brain.

Where was Nightwing, patrolling with Red Robin.

Ok so how did we get from Point A to Point B.

Is it?

He forces his pulse to relax while he pokes the bear.

"It's not Damian is it Wing?"

Nightwing steps back releasing him he looks horrified Jason can't tell if it's from the murderous jealous rage or caring about Tim in his experience they go hand in hand.

"It's not Damian why isn't it Damian?"

Oh in a way he feels guilty but it's almost vindictive in nature.

Damian is a good kid he's the baby has a special spot but for Jason he's nothing not someone he wakes up everyday wanting to check on.

He can't trust the kid to watch his six he would take a bullet for him.

Yet he's not Tim not his Baby brother who had the sweetest tech badassness pouring out of him.

Why is it so surprising that Tim is the favorite.

As he thinks he feels himself getting angry why can't the kid who threw his entire life into it get a bit of fucking recognition. The boy who still looks at Dick like the sun shines out of his ass why can't he be the favorite.

Maybe it's cause he knows Tim loves him even but he wants Dick out of his fucking sight.

"Get out."

"Wait hold on" Dick trips as Jason pushes him out straight to the front door.

"I don't care get out that kid he worth it all and you might be a shitty older brother but I'm not go fuck your self."

As he goes to slam the door he looks the man that he would have died for killed for a man that he has always called his brother and he gets it.

For once he understands why Dickie always guarded the birds why he always looked two seconds away from loosing it.

"Don't bother ever coming back I only have one brother and it sure as shit ain't you and I will do you one. I won't tell any of them about this convo but let's make one thing clear."

Looking straight at Dick.

"Tim is a better man than you will ever be stick with the demon brat I got Red."

He slams the door sinking down to the floor he wants to sob.

Scream instead he goes to the manor tommorow pretends nothing ever happened.

But it's never the same cause he will always be Jason Todd.

Red Robin will always be his Robin.

But he will never be Tim Drake''s.

[littleredwing89]

PRINCE OF GOTHAM - PART 6

PRINCE OF GOTHAM - PART 6

CEO!Jason Todd x Reader

Warnings – Language. Fluff. Domestic fluff. Very, very minor Daddy kink.

A/N: Hope you all enjoy the next chapter! :) apologies for no tag list, still trying to get it working and get back into the swing of things xoxo

——

You pushed the trolley further down the refrigerated aisle, humming softly as you threw a selection of soft cheeses into it. Jason was close behind you, hand resting on your lower back. You bit back the smile at his semi protective manner as you strolled on.

You glanced at the vast array of butters frowning. Did there really have to be so much choice? Salted, non salted, low fat, garlic flavoured. You scoffed, “They must think I’m crazy, I’m not paying $10 for butter!”.

Jason’s brow creased slightly, “Do they not normally cost $50?”.

You almost choked at his ridiculous question before bursting into laughter, “Are you drunk?!”.

He grunted and threw in a butter of his own before returning close to your side. His hand rested in the same place as before sending a wave of warmth through you. You glanced at him sideways, appreciating his form. It was a change, a welcomed one mind you, to see him in black sweatpants and a simple charcoal T-shirt instead of the expensive Italian suits. His dark hair was messy, several white strands from his fringe flopping down into his blue eyes. He still looked just as handsome, maybe even more so in such a relaxed and casual setting.

Your thoughts splintered when you heard another item drop into the trolley. You rolled your eyes when you saw the whipped cream. Typical. Jason had a filthy smirk on his lips when you looked up at him, shrugging nonchalantly. 

“No”, you bent over into the trolley, grabbing it quickly, shoving it back into his hands.

“But-”.

You cut him off, “No”.

Gripping the can in his hands, Jason pouted before pressing his lips to your hair, “But I have an idea”.

You closed your eyes enjoying the feel of his lips brushing against the crown of your head before you whispered, “You’re not putting it on your cock”.

Jason grunted quietly, “Kill joy”, he shoved it back into the fridge before looking at you, eyes glittering darkly, “What about on your pussy?”.

An old lady passing you both gasped and scuttled by, muttering angrily to herself. She looked completely disgusted with both you and Jason.

You blushed before shaking your head, “Yeah…that sounds like a yeast infection, no thanks”.

He smirked and palmed your ass, tugging you closer to him. His chest pressed against you, “I’ll just have to find something else to eat off you”.

His husky voice sent shivers down your spine which you tried to pass off down to the cold atmosphere of the aisle.

“You’re a sex pest”.

Jason shrugged, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, “Oh, that reminds me I need more coffee”.

“What the-”, you shook your head in disbelief, “How did you leap to that?!”.

“Sex pests need their energy to harass beautiful women...like you”, his voice oozed with the charm he laid on in the office. The one you swore wouldn’t work on you but was suddenly making you flush pink.

You shoved your palm into his face but smiled fondly. He pretended to bite your fingers in a playful gesture causing you to giggle. You briefly wondered what you both looked like to the other customers. Some love sick couple, who couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Butterflies flooded your stomach at the thought of being mistaken for a real couple.

“You know, I don’t remember the last time I came here”, Jason spoke as you made your way further into the supermarket, throwing a bag of pasta into the trolley.

You tilted your head, “What do you mean?”.

Jason dropped in some of the more expensive pasta sauce before looking at you, “I don’t - well - I don’t usually do my own shopping”.

“And you call me princess!”, you smirked.

Jason pinched your ass, “You're Daddy's little princess…”.

He went to kiss you but the same old lady from before coughed loudly, clearly having heard your conversation. She hobbled forward with a glare, “Excuse me, you’re blocking the pasta I need”.

You stepped back, burying your face into your hair. You wanted to crawl under the nearest rock. What must she think of you both?

Jason gave her a dazzling smile, “Sorry sweetheart”.

There it was, that same slick charm only even thicker.

“Do you want me to help you with that?”.

His suaveness clearly didn’t work on her as she grunted, grabbing the sauce before waddling off down the next aisle, mumbling about the filthy next generation.

The pair of you shared a look before laughing. He grabbed your hand and tugged you gently, “Come on princess, I need a few more things before we can go”.

———

The whole scenario of you both in the supermarket had your mind hazy. Such a domestic task completed together. It made you feel warm inside. You knew this was new for Jason too, wondering momentarily if he’d ever shared this side of himself with anyone before. Maybe that’s why he was so closed, insisting this was nothing more than passion between the sheets.

He’d vanished for a moment to grab something from one of the other aisles, telling you to carry on. You skimmed your eyes over the freezers, spying the vegetables you wanted. You opened the freezer and grabbed the bag of frozen broccoli before closing the door behind you. You shrieked when you turned and saw Jason right behind you. 

Your grip on the frozen vegetables tightened as you looked up at him, “Jeez, are you trying to-”.

He cut you off by pressing his lips to yours, your back wedged against the ice cold door. You shuddered, gasping into his mouth at the duel of sensations. The bitter coolness biting into your back fighting against the heat of his mouth and kiss.

Without thinking, you dropped the broccoli and wrapped your arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. You felt him smirk and his tongue grazed against yours, hips digging into yours. You could feel the outline of him and the thoughts firing in your mind started to make your stomach twist.

Jason pulled back suddenly, your cheeks tinged pink. He grinned cheekily before bending down to pick up the rudely discarded broccoli.

“I think you dropped something princess”.

You gathered your thoughts and ripped the bag of frozen vegetables from his hands, “Let’s go pay for our shopping Casanova before you can’t control yourself”.

His deep laughter followed you down the rest of the aisle, his hand settling on your lower back again.

———

Jason pressed a button on his car keys and the boot opened slowly. You rolled your eyes and laughed, “Neat trick”.

He grinned, “It was an optional extra when I bought it”.

You ignored him and loaded the bags into the back of the car quickly. As soon as the trolley was empty, Jason wheeled it away back to the trolley station. You closed the boot with a thud and rested your ass on it gently, eyebrow raised.

“Well, I gotta say”, you gave him a coy smile, “This was an original date, I’ve never been taken to the supermarket before”, you spoke as though it was a hidden scandal. Jason Todd, shopping in Walmart.

“It isn't a date”, he grunted and stepped a little closer to you, eyes raking over your body. You’d purposely worn these yoga pants knowing how much he liked the way they clung to your curves. Curves he wanted to worship.

“What would you call it?”.

“Killing time”.

You didn’t take offence to his flippant attitude. You expected it. Despite what he was saying, his actions were doing the complete opposite. Telling you all you needed to know about the man in front of you.

“You”, you prodded his solid chest, “Are severely lacking brain cells”.

Jason huffed, “I needed to go and so did you, two birds one stone”.

He almost sounded convincing. Almost. But the way he was caging you against the boot of his car told you otherwise. He was stubborn. That you had to admit. He just needed a little coaxing. A little reassurance. And maybe some gentle teasing.

You nodded, “Mmhmm, sure…Mr. I don't do my own shopping”.

“It was convenient”.

“Jason”, you whispered softly, batting your eyelashes up at him, “You even kissed me next to the frozen broccoli…which was so steamy it almost melted my vegetables”.

Jason didn’t miss the light teasing in your voice and smirked, “My princess has kissable lips, no one can blame me for that”.

“My princess?”, you stroked your hand up his chest, the cotton soft under your fingertips, “How possessive…you almost sound like my boyfriend”.

He growled low and crashed his lips against yours. You purred softly as his 5 day old stubble tickled your skin, hands snaking around his neck to play with the hair at the back of his head. Jason pressed you further into the metal of his car, one hand gripping your hip, the other cupped around the back of your neck, holding you firmly in place. It might have sounded cliché, and something out of one of your grandmother's romance novels but Jason’s kisses completely took your breath away. 

You grinned into the kiss, pulling away slightly, your lips brushing over his as you spoke, “Your publicity team is gonna have an aneurysm if we get caught, what will the paparazzi say if they see their Prince of Gotham getting x-rated in public?”.

“I don’t care, they work for me”, he muttered, stealing another brief kiss from you, “They can work their magic and earn their salaries”.

Your lips kissed across his cheek, stopping at his earlobe, whispering, “I got the whipped cream…”.

Jason shivered and the hand on your hip flexed, “Oh did you?”, he smirked and pulled your core to press against his crotch, you felt his bulge twitch which was barely hidden by the fabric of his sweatpants, “I know what I'm having for dessert tonight”.

“I thought you wanted me out of your apartment tonight, something about a poker night with the boys?”, you pulled back quickly, your eyebrow quirked upwards.

Jason tugged you back to him, “You’ve got cuter reactions”. He nipped your bottom lip, enjoying the way your gasp stroked over his lips.

“So you’re cancelling on the boys for lil’ ole me?”, you nudged your nose against his before planting a delicate kiss to his lips, “They’re definitely going to think you have a girlfriend if you keep cancelling on them”.

“I'll still be enjoying myself”, he brushed it off completely and stood back slowly, his hand finding yours without question, “Let’s get back, there’s a bottle of whipped cream with your name on it”.

He walked you round to the passenger side of the door before opening it for you. You smiled at his behaviour and kissed his cheek before slipping into his Audi.

———

[proteovaldez]

Im gonna talk Jason, Reyna and Octavian. Reminder I haven’t read these books in like five or more years. Are these headcannons? Let’s call it that.

Wolf boy Jason should be talked about more. Also I like Octavian as a character cause he’s a little freak. And Reyna is my personal Ace/Aro representation. My sister and I have made little phrases to help others understand how we’ve characterized them. Octavian is “Dog eat Dog.” Reyna is “Dog and Dog.” Jason is “Doggie Dog.”

Now to explain how I think pre Hera/Juno Camp Jupiter was like. So in my mind time works differently at the wolf house. Reasoning, no way a two year old in just a year is Roman ready. So Jason spends a lot of time there. He’s a baby, so obviously he picks up on the wolf stuff and as a result he’s more animalistic. The only explanation why he was able to succeed at being a soldier at age three for fifteen years is because he is not the usual soldier. He’s a wolf first and a Roman soldier second. No matter how much training you have, it’s kind of hard to beat someone who is not afraid to bite and theoretically tear out your throat. I like to think he had longish hair. I mean I fully believe he refused shoes and his cohorts would brush his hair or give him head scratches. He has definitely bit an adult.

Now Reyna is just trying to do her job. I mean you’re telling me that Jason wouldn’t immediately investigate the new girl. He does and she’s cool. When did she get the metal dogs? Doesn’t matter she’s clearly good with dogs. Also both of them are great fighters and intelligent. I’m confident they bonded even before he became praetor. I fully believe they are in love. I mean like queer platonic love. Like the most they’ve done is holding pinkies when slightly stressed or doing each other’s hair. She cringes when he tried to hug her once. So when they both are praetors it’s her just silently begging for him to wear shoes at meetings.

Now Octavian, our favorite little freak of a teen. Octavian is a legacy, I’m assuming his parents live in New Rome. I like your think Jason went to a school and had classes with Octavian. Octavian has always been weird. Also he can read. I don’t remember if legacies are also dyslexic, but you’re telling me Octavian wouldn’t know how to read with no struggle. He would and he’d lord it over everyone. I just know he’s always been a little ambitious and power hungry. I mean what child with prophetic tendencies wouldn’t crave power? He definitely notices Jason is powerful and useful. He knows it’s better to be on the possible feral child’s side. Also he’s incredibly patriotic like most Roman’s are historically at least. He knows Jason is good for Rome and I bet he’s one of the many who thought Jason fumbled choosing the fifth cohort. Like he’s known of Jason forever and knows that Jason is all for the Roman cause he’s a child soldier. He can rely on Jason to be on the side of Rome. Now Reyna he definitely was wary until he actually met her. He’s a smart kid, so obviously he likes Reyna. He respects her greatly until she becomes Praetor. After that he has two separate Reyna’s in his mind. There’s smart, intelligent Reyna, and then there’s Praetor Reyna. The second one is an implied sneer. Cause I bet she’s had to alter her original ideas and plans to appeal to the council. Octavian has heard Reyna’s original plans and thinks they’re genius, but Praetor Reyna is a sellout.

The three of them are literally the most recognized campers at Camp Jupiter. It’s kind of hard to not at least respect your coworkers when they’re useful and technically are working towards the same goal. Like Reyna wasn’t there long so she probably was just pleased she had people to talk to. Maybe not friends exactly but acquaintances. And Jason likes people. Then Octavian likes useful people. Also they’re teenagers. I just know the three of them hung out and have stupid jokes, but only do so in private as they’re kind of serious people.

[hamartiannn]

Batfamily Headcanons - 1

-Bruce loves his kids. But, like really, his favorite time is always family dinners, patrols, or simply every second he spends time with all of his children.

-Yes, they sometimes get angry, and even they hurt each other, but no, no one can stay mad at one other forever. One hug, and it's all over.

-Sometimes, when everyone is around, they spend times WİTHOUT Bruce. They walk on the streets, eat ice cream, go to the shooting range, or walk by the ocean.

-But if they don't want to go outside, they are choosing a room and they spend their time in there mostly. Like they play board games, card games and more -and one day... one day, surely Jason will force them to start gambling/poker at home...-

-Damian and Jason are closer than everyone thinks. Damian had all his firsts with Jason. The first time he cried his eyes out, the first time shot a gun, the first time he slept/fell asleep next to someone, the first time he felt, undoubtedly, safe, and more, all were with him. And Jason was the same too; the first time he felt unjudged, the first time he felt like a big brother, the first time he felt at home, all were with Damian.

-Bruce, actually, can cook. This is not up for discussion... And yes, he learned that the hard way, but he eventually did, okay? Also, mostly, he learned it from Alfred, but as he likes to be "Creative" he creates his recipes, and somehow, every time, they turn out really good!!! And he likes to cook for his children. So family dinners are, always but like always, from Bruce "Cook" Wayne.

-Just like Bruce, Jason also likes to cook, and sometimes, if he has free time, dinners are from Jason "Cook" Todd.

-Okay, sorry, but they aren't scared of Alfred, like none of them, because they know he would never hurt them. But yes, they are afraid because no one knows his limits, even Bruce...

-Well... 2 words... Stoner Tim... That's the headcanon...

-And as Damian grew up with the smell of smoke because of Jason, he kinda likes it now. Yes, at first, he hated it, and he found smoking very stupid, but after Jason left him, he even missed that gross smell. So every time he smells cigarettes now, the old memories come back.

-Also, Bruce got some alcohol problems... He is an emotional drinker, so whenever he feels down, he ends up in the cellar. And no one knows about it. He got his own ways to keep it as a secret, even from Alfred.

-Dick and Roy started to smoke and drink together -for a while- after learning about Jason's death... Facts!!! -Also, Star had to have their backs, though, cause they were both really fucked up...-

-Okay, I don't care what anyone says... For me, they all love galas, balls, or such events. Because they feel "Normal"?? Yes, it's weird, I know but think about it. All of them are with Gotham's most-known people and families. Everyone is happy, laughing, and having some fun. Gotham's citizens are talking about that event, and also, they are having fun! I mean how many peaceful nights are out there in Gotham?? LET PEOPLE HAVE FUN WITH SUCH EVENTS!! ESPECİALLY WITH WAYNE GALAS!!! -But of course, they don't like to be dressed up. Like, who actually would??-

-So you know what? Three troublemakers of the family are the ones who graduate from a university except for Babs... (Barbara graduated from Gotham University School of Technology, Jason graduated from Gotham University School of Law, Stephanie graduated from Gotham University School of Design, and Damian graduated from Gotham University School of Science.)

-They all love all animals, soo much. But they got of course their superior animals:

Bruce: Bats (Do I have to explain??)

Selina: Cats (Well...)

Dick: Elephants (Zitka... Wait for a second pls, I'm crying...)

Barbara: Squirrels (I don't have any idea why but she reminds me of squirrels.)

Jason: Foxs (His surname means "Fox" as I know, and he is a redhead in some versions -just like foxs- and he is a redhead magnet, fair enough for me.)

Tim: Robins (This boy just has issues with Robin's, and being Robin. Like wth Tim???)

Stephanie: Canarys (Again I don't have any idea why but she is a canary.)

Cassandra: Spiders (She is silent, dangerous, and hella scary, just like a spider, perfect match!)

Damian: (Dude for him, it's better to be killed rather than make him choose an animal, like, are you kidding?)

Duke: Frogs (Don't know why, but just when I saw a yellow frog I was like "It's Duke..." They are soo cuteee!)

[ciel-em]

Reread the webtoon My In-laws Are Obsessed With Me and I only want to take the cursed blood and slam it on the batfamily. For all of it to make sense it would have to be a no capes au.

Thomas and Martha unknowingly unleash a curse upon Gotham that didn't begin until they died and paid with their blood. Their killer took a bit more time with Bruce and punched him across the jaw making blood spill from his lips. Bruce sees his hand reaching for him again and just lunges at it. Sinks his teeth thoroughly into his hand making the man scream and pulling him away to throw at the ground. The man pulls out his gun and aims only to drop it and Bruce watches as he claws at his chest and writhed while choking on his pain until he stills. And so Bruce is the first to gain the cursed blood.

Obviously they (Bruce and Alfred) don't know at first that Bruce's blood is toxic. They find out when Alfred forces Bruce to spend some time outside and a squirrel catches his attention. Against Alfred's wishes, and while he went inside for a moment, he holds out his hand with a nut that the squirrel quickly eats. It checks his hand for another and finding nothing it just bites him. He yelps as he pulls his hand away to look at, but movement catches his eye and he looks up to see the squirrel shaking on the ground and then stop. It reminds him of that night and he's crying when he turns around and there's Alfred who crouched down to hold him, but keeps a hand around his wrist to keep at a distance.

To make sure of what he saw Alfred catches various bugs and small animals to test with Bruce's blood. All died. He tells Bruce and from there they make sure to hide it from all. He teaches him how to defend himself, how to keep others at a distance, and dress in fully covering clothes and gloves. Years pass.

Alfred has gotten into the habit to keep an eye out for entertainment and such that can be partaken from afar to go with Bruce. The circus is in town and his boy has time for the last day of it.

After this my mind just bounces around with the fact that each of the batkids get cursed blood before they come to Bruce. Because after laying dormant for a while the curse comes out and affects one person in Gotham then the next. Just speeding up after Jason and then laying quiet for a long time until Terry and Matt.

I want them traumatized so maybe Dick, Jay, Tim, Steph and Duke are the cause of their parents death. Barbara being an outlier and getting cursed blood after getting paralyzed as an adult and kidnapped with a Wayne (Jay I'm looking at you). Cass being found after she's been using her blood as a tool to survive the streets and hates that she does. Damian joining the family and not having cursed blood at first. They find out when he had a small cut on the palm of his hand that Ace licked and he watches the dog die in front of him and his family.

For the sake of my heart this is an isolated batfam idea. Meaning the only ones not affected by cursed blood are others with it. They only have each other because they at least know they can't die because of them. And they don't suffer from their blood so no random seizures because their own blood hurts them too.

[crossdressingdeath]

Not to harp on about Rick's treatment of Percy's fatal flaw again, but I think the scene that annoys me the most in regards to this is actually the scene in MoA where he takes Annabeth on a date in Rome before she sets out on her quest.

...That might sound strange. Let me explain. The thing is, this is actually a really good example of his love for her being a flaw. Yes, yes, it's very sweet, Percabeth date, yay, but think about the circumstances. War is brewing between the camps and the Athena Parthenos is the only thing that can stop it, and even once Annabeth's freed it it's still in Rome, thousands of miles from camp, and they can't even fly it back aboard the Argo II because they need the ship to get to Greece, so they really need to get the actual getting of the statue done so they can figure out how to deal with it ASAP. More urgently, Nico only has until sundown before he dies, none of them know where in Rome he is, they have to get past the giants to free him, and Piper and Jason can't even start looking until Percy gets back to the ship. Starting to see the issue yet? Percy just walking Annabeth to the river was already selfish even if it was understandable. The two of them getting lunch and having their cute little date in Rome was wasting time that as far as they knew they did not have to waste. It's not quite sacrificing the world to save a friend, but it is Percy putting lives (although not his, which feels like a misstep here writing-wise if he's supposed to be so loyal) in danger because he can't bring himself to let Annabeth go do what she needs to. And that's good writing! It's his fatal flaw actually making an appearance! Percy's so loyal to Annabeth that he's putting Nico's life in danger just to put off saying goodbye to her, you can do something with that! It could've been really compelling!

And then Rick... doesn't do anything with that. It's treated as cute and sweet and correct. It's left at "Aw, look at the fan-favourite couple on a lunch date in Rome before they both go on dangerous quests"; the fact that while they're eating lunch and joking about Italian pizza Nico is suffocating to death and waiting helplessly for someone to rescue him is an afterthought at most. Certainly neither of them express any real guilt that they're leaving a friend who's consistently risked his neck for them to suffer so that they can get lunch. This could've come up later! Imagine Nico finding out that Percy risked finding him too late because he decided that getting lunch with his girlfriend was more important than Nico's life! Imagine Hazel, Frank and Leo finding out that while they were out risking their necks Percy was having a nice little date and holding up the search! Imagine Jason and Piper pacing the deck of the Argo II, wondering what's taking Percy so long when lives are on the line, maybe worrying that something's happened to slow him down! These characters could and should be furious about Percy making such a selfish choice in such a serious time crunch! But instead it's fine, apparently. They're all risking their necks with only hours left on the clock before Nico (reminder, Hazel's brother who she's already gotten angry at the Seven for even suggesting they not put their all into rescuing once) dies while Percy goes on a lunch date because he's decided he can't possibly say goodbye to his girlfriend yet and everyone thinks this is fine.

Which would've been enough of a problem if Percy's supposed fatal flaw of personal loyalty had been written into the story properly from the start, but... it's not. It just isn't, Percy doesn't struggle with sacrificing loved ones or letting them risk their lives any more than anyone else would. So we're left with the one instance where Percy's loyalty actively causes problems for the quest first not having any downsides for him personally and second being treated as Fine And Good Actually. I don't think I need to explain how badly this undermines personal loyalty supposedly being his fatal flaw!

[halothenthehorns]

How Do You Say Gods:

Chapter 23: THE PROPHECY COMES TRUE

"Didn't it already?" Alex asked, looking around to confirm she hadn't missed something as she read the new chapter title.

"Can you even go back to camp if it doesn't? Would that break some kind of contract?" Magnus chuckled.

"The major details came to pass, some take years to come to complete fruition," Will agreed while Thalia was frowning and wasn't looking at anyone. She should have known the book couldn't just end there on a happy note. It was selfish of her, but a part of her was hoping there would be no new chapter for Alex to flip to when she took the book from Magnus, that they could go back and Luke's betrayal would never need be remembered by Percy as they told him the rest of what happened without that particular detail.

She didn't know if Annabeth would have agreed to that or not though. She knew her sister honored Luke's memory more than Thalia could stomach. Percy's girlfriend felt like the better person to deliver this news, and the worst to put her through that again.

No, this was better, she wouldn't make Annabeth suffer this retelling.

We were the first heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, so of course everybody treated us as if we'd won some reality-TV contest.

"That sentence was depressing on nearly ever level," Alex informed him.

"We shall fix this by eradicating reality-TV," Percy nodded.

According to camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honor,

"Anyone else sort of miffed Zeus didn't do that, since it was about his item," Magnus reminded.

"As if we want his attention back on us," Will protested. "It stopped raining on the volleyball pit, let us enjoy or celebration."

  then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we got to burn the burial shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.

Annabeth's shroud was so beautiful-gray silk with embroidered owls-I told her it seemed a shame not to bury her in it. She punched me and told me to shut up.

"Ah the bonds of true love forming," Thalia chuckled. Percy looked more over the moon at her silly comment than if Artemis had thrown him herself.

Being the son of Poseidon, I didn't have any cabin mates, so the Ares cabin had volunteered to make my shroud.

"Is it going to come to life and strangle you?" Jason asked in concern.

"They're not that creative," Percy scoffed.

They'd taken an old bedsheet and painted smiley faces with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted really big in the middle.

"You were right," Alex said tragically. All art should be cherished, but some was made to burn. She knew she'd created several clay pots, spent painstaking hours painting them, only to throw it at a wall in vengeance and feel the satisfying crash of its impact, the shards littering the floor a nice visual to how she felt at the moment and know she could do it all again even better the next time.

It was fun to burn.

"A pyro in the making," Magnus said in mock terror.

"I wouldn't make a very good one," Percy smirked at the sudden mental image of telling his mom he would grow up to be a fireman and his mom laughing, now he got why.

As Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores, I was surrounded by my old Hermes cabinmates, Annabeth's friends from Athena, and Grover's satyr buddies, who were admiring the brand new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders.

"Wow, congrats," Jason's smile was so strained though it almost came across as demeaning. As much as he admired Grover, he almost didn't want him to go. This was the first fawn, err, satyr he'd ever thought twice about he was absolutely positive of, he didn't want to never hear of him again.

"I'd never seen him smile so much, he really deserved it," Percy said with full hearted confidence.

The council had called Grover's performance on the quest "Brave to the point of indigestion.

"Now that's what eating Taco Bell's like," Magnus chuckled, causing Alex to snort and give him an appreciative smile. He blushed furiously but finally managed a real smile back.

Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."

The only ones not in a party mood were Clarisse and her cabinmates, whose poisonous looks told me they'd never forgive me for disgracing their dad.

"Not a good enemy to have against you," Jason frowned.

"I'll live," Percy rolled his eyes.

Jason still wasn't so dismissive of offending a whole cabin, nor had he forgotten like Percy seemed to there was an enemy within. What was Luke up to during all this? Had they been wrong and Saturn had someone not even mentioned yet fixing to dupe them all? Was it Chiron?

That was okay with me.

Even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen my spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't get himself killed and now he'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday..."

I moved back into cabin three, but it didn't feel so lonely anymore. I had my friends to train with during the day. At night, I lay awake and listened to the sea, knowing my father was out there. Maybe he wasn't quite sure about me yet, maybe he hadn't even wanted me born, but he was watching. And so far, he was proud of what I'd done.

Hearth had no idea what that feeling was like, but there was something in the way Alex read that with a sneer in her lips making the unheard words drip with disdain that made the idea flicker to life in his mind he might not have to care.

Magnus was still looking at her doe-eyed, and he caught Percy giving her a tragic smile she probably missed as she didn't look up.

As for my mother, she had a chance at a new life. Her letter arrived a week after I got back to camp. She told me Gabe had left mysteriously-disappeared off the face of the planet, in fact.

"What a truly strange happenstance," Will said brightly, "I can't imagine the turmoil she's going through."

"His life insurance money will be of no comfort I'm sure," Nico softly agreed.

She'd reported him missing to the police, but she had a funny feeling they would never find him.

"Please have her take over for the Oracle," Jason snorted.

"Hard pass," but Percy laughed all the same too.

On a completely unrelated subject, she'd sold her first life-size concrete sculpture, entitled The Poker Player, to a collector, through an art gallery in Soho. She'd gotten so much money for it, she'd put a deposit down on a new apartment and made a payment on her first semester's tuition at NYU. The Soho gallery was clamoring for more of her work, which they called "a huge step forward in super-ugly neorealism."

Percy wished he could bottle the laughter around him and somehow have his dad spread it through out the world as he ate his words once more. Maybe the best people out there could find their own luck, his mom deserved every penny of that.

But don't worry, my mom wrote. I'm done with sculpture. I've disposed of that box of tools you left me.

Alex licked her lips with want and was clearly detailing out a map in her head where she could go hunt down that 'box of tools' for herself. She did prefer her handmade creations personally, but having an instant-life-sized model on hand couldn't hurt...

"Not gunna lie, I am vaguely terrified what she did do with a magical snake haired head," Magnus admitted. "Like if she just buried it in the park, it could still cause a lot of damage, and there's no volcanoes around to throw it into."

"My money, she threw it into the ocean," Percy shrugged, his dad would know what to do with it, and maybe in some twisted way he'd even honor the severed monstrous head of someone he'd once loved by putting it somewhere nice.

It's time for me to turn to writing.

At the bottom, she wrote a P.S.: Percy, I've found a good private school here in the city. I've put a deposit down to hold you a spot, in case you want to enroll for seventh grade. You could live at home. But if you want to go year-round at Half-Blood Hill, I'll understand.

I folded the note carefully and set it on my bedside table. Every night before I went to sleep, I read it again, and I tried to decide how to answer her.

This surprised them all, especially Will and Thalia as they'd thought they were done with those. Percy did live with his mom, what was the hesitation?

On the Fourth of July, the whole camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin nine. Being Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions. They'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. According to Annabeth, who'd seen the show before,

"You mean they do the same thing every year?" Alex looked mildly disappointed in this lack of creativity now, though she'd been excited moments ago to hear the display.

"The show itself is different every time, the finally is always the same so that newbies can see it at least once and year-rounders get a sense of, normalcy," the smile on Will's face was a little strained and sad as he wondered if Luke had watched them with any regret, if he'd cared that would be the last time he'd ever see such a thing. If he'd watched Annabeth from a distance and at all reconsidered what he was about to do.

the blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a battle, then explode into a million colors.

Nico had never seen such a thing, and a little bubble of regret blossomed in his chest at how forlorn Will still looked. The guy had been so weirdly nice to him, but he had nothing at all to say back now when he needed it. "I've never heard the Spartan story," Nico spontaneously said, "do they only do that in July?" It was the dead of December up top you idiot, he scolded himself, nobody would want to sit around in the cold to watch-

"They'll blow up anything whatever time of year is asked of them," Will perked up at once as he gave him the most inviting smile. "I'm sure they'd even love to do a new holiday theme plus that one."

Nico found himself smiling back at his enthusiasm, feeling oddly pleased with himself he'd done something right.

As Annabeth and I were spreading a picnic blanket, Grover showed up to tell us good-bye. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt and sneakers, but in the last few weeks he'd started to look older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker. He'd put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.

"I'm off," he said. "I just came to say ... well, you know."

I tried to feel happy for him. After all, it wasn't every day a satyr got permission to go look for the great god Pan. But it was hard saying good-bye. I'd only known Grover a year, yet he was my oldest friend.

Percy ran his fingers over his necklace again with a smile. He'd made other friends, that was obvious by Thalia, Will, and Nico alone, but it was nice to know this was still true and real. Grover was still out there somewhere, maybe still looking for Pan, but his first, oldest, and best friend was probably searching for him too.

Annabeth gave him a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on.

I asked him where he was going to search first.

"Kind of a secret," he said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan ..."

"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah."

"And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Jeez, Annabeth," he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat."

"The best friends are one part concern and one part sarcasm," Will agreed cheerfully.

"Or both at once if you do it right," Percy nodded.

But he didn't really sound annoyed.

He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker you might see on an American highway-nothing like the little runty boy I used to defend from bullies at Yancy Academy.

"I'm not saying we should test that theory with peanut-butter and ketchup sandwiches, but I am saying he should still avoid them," Alex splayed her hands in a, just saying, kind of way nobody was going to disagree with.

"Well," he said, "wish me luck."

He gave Annabeth another hug. He clapped me on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes.

Fireworks exploded to life overhead: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing the Delaware.

"You guys still somehow make me question everything, even reality," Magnus muttered again, but at least he'd stopped doing double takes at this kind of deceleration. Progress.

"Hey, Grover," I called.

He turned at the edge of the woods.

"Wherever you're going-I hope they make good enchiladas."

Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.

"We'll see him again," Annabeth said.

I tried to believe it. The fact that no searcher had ever come back in two thousand years ... well, I decided not to think about that. Grover would be the first. He had to be.

July passed.

Everybody was starting to shift with such restless unease, Percy fought off the urge to ask if there were underwater ants in their pants. For once he and Nico exchanged a mystified look of what could be coming, as nobody had ever warned him how exactly Luke had left camp when he'd been outed. Not that he'd ever stuck around long enough to ask too, he acknowledged to himself his own lapse for the first time as Will kept twitching, opening and closing his mouth with a truly uneasy expression. Will clearly wanted to warn Percy about something, and maybe if Nico hadn't been shutting him out so much lately Will would have shared with him already if he'd a mind to ask. It was to late to do so now.

I spent my days devising new strategies for capture-the-flag and making alliances with the other cabins to keep the banner out of Ares's hands. I got to the top of the climbing wall for the first time without getting scorched by lava.

From time to time, I'd walk past the Big House, glance up at the attic windows, and think about the Oracle. I tried to convince myself that its prophecy had come to completion.

You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.

Been there, done that, even though the traitor god had turned out to be Ares rather than Hades.

"Which I notice we never got to hear any retribution about," Alex huffed.

"Nothing could really be done about it except Zeus telling him not to do it again, considering," Thalia sighed it seemed a no win situation there, with him not acknowledging Kronos's influence and Ares just causing a little rebellion and then things settling back down like they probably did every decade or so for those Olympians.

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safe returned.

Check. One master bolt delivered. One helm of darkness back on Hades's oily head.

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

This line still bothered me. Ares had pretended to be my friend, then betrayed me. That must be what the Oracle meant...

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.

I had failed to save my mom, but only because I'd let her save herself, and I knew that was the right thing.

So why was I still uneasy?

Percy's mouth was starting to go dry, he was looking around at all of them and flexing his hand again with a huge sense that he was missing something.

Nobody else was verbalizing the obvious, what was Luke waiting on? If it even was him and some other double cross was coming, but those words rang true, not many people left had called Percy a friend to do this that had also been tied into that pit, almost literally...

The last night of the summer session came all too quickly.

The campers had one last meal together. We burned part of our dinner for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads.

I got my own leather necklace, and when I saw the bead for my first summer, I was glad the firelight covered my blushing. The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the center.

"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced.

Alex was skilled enough not to let any wavering of confidence show in her voice as Percy kept studying her, but nobody else could have managed it at that moment as they waited for the other shoe to drop. Was Luke going to stab him in front of a whole crowd?

"This bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!"

The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even Ares's cabin felt obliged to stand.

Percy raised a very disbelieving brow and laughed into the awkward silence. He hated awkward silence and was really starting to get frustrated with the way nobody would look at him, or each other.

Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause.

Percy began applauding too, mostly because she deserved it, but also just to see them roll their eyes at him again. When Alex still kept reading he was getting downright annoyed. He'd just spent a whole book being lied to, why was everyone suddenly in the know of what he wasn't?!

His temple throbbed an angry beat, one he hadn't had to feel in a few hours now as he hadn't strained to remember anything in the heat of all those battles. It was back full swing now as a spot in his back tingled.

I'm not sure I'd ever felt as happy or sad as I did at that moment. I'd finally found a family, people who cared about me and thought I'd done something right. And in the morning, most of them would be leaving for the year.

The next morning, I found a form letter on my bedside table.

I knew Dionysus must've filled it out, because he stubbornly insisted on getting my name wrong:

Dear_ Peter Johnson_ ,

If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or died a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers.

"You think him and Chiron have a running bet on how many children they eat?" Alex mock whispered.

"I'm not asking him," Magnus protested.

All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit.

Have a nice day!

Mr. D (Dionysus)

Camp Director, Olympian Council #12

That's another thing about ADHD. Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face.

Jason looked appalled at him, but then, he had no sense of the word home to relate to any of this really.

Summer was over, and I still hadn't answered my mother, or the camp, about whether I'd be staying.

Now I had only a few hours to decide.

"What's the choice exactly?" Thalia asked.

"My mom," Percy answered simply enough, but it was more complicated than he was explaining. He was happy enough to keep the majority to himself, if the book didn't.

The decision should have been easy. I mean, nine months of hero training or nine months of sitting in a classroom-duh.

"Classroom, du," Magnus said at the same time as Jason scoffed, "um, hero training."

The two side eyed each other while Alex hid her laugh behind the book.

But there was my mom to consider. For the first time, I had the chance to live with her for a whole year, without Gabe. I had a chance be at home and knock around the city in my free time. I remembered what Annabeth had said so long ago on our quest: The real world is where the monsters are. That's where you learn whether you're any good or not.

'He survived plenty before,' Hearth frowned.

'Didn't you guys say knowledge attracted them even more,' Magnus answered.

'Awe, you have been paying attention,' Hearth approved.

I thought about the fate of Thalia, daughter of Zeus. I wondered how many monsters would attack me if I left Half-Blood Hill. If I stayed in one place for a whole school year, without Chiron or my friends around to help me, would my mother and I even survive until the next summer? That was assuming the spelling tests and five-paragraph essays didn't kill me.

It was not a conundrum any of them had ever had to consider before, and the idea Percy could have both didn't seem any more real to him than dead lines.

I decided I'd go down to the arena and do some sword practice. Maybe that would clear my head.

"It did hyper focus your senses last time," Jason approved.

Will wondered how good of an omen it was he was the only one here who wasn't nodding along and instead thought Percy should have asked a friend for advice. Annabeth had started going home for that summer too after all, and might have been wanting someone to talk to about it, like the guy who put the idea in her head.

The campgrounds were mostly deserted, shimmering in the August heat. All the campers were in their cabins packing up, or running around with brooms and mops, getting ready for final inspection. Argus was helping some of the Aphrodite kids haul their Gucci suitcases and makeup kits over the hill, where the camp's shuttle bus would be waiting to take them to the airport.

Don't think about leaving yet, I told myself. Just train.

I got to the sword-fighters arena and found that Luke had had the same idea. His gym bag was plopped at the edge of the stage. He was working solo, whaling on battle dummies with a sword I'd never seen before. It must've been a regular steel blade,

This silly little comment was something that had never occurred to some of them before, that Percy's magical sword wouldn't affect normal things, or basically anything other than monsters. Yet he'd cut through the metal cages of those animals just fine with it, so the distinction this time was odd.

because he was slashing the dummies' heads right off, stabbing through their straw-stuffed guts. His orange counselor's shirt was dripping with sweat. His expression was so intense, his life might've really been in danger. 

Thalia was starting to represent a really concerning replica of that in here for some reason. She knew what was coming, wished she could shout it in his face, but all she could do was sit here and watch.

I watched, fascinated, as he disemboweled the whole row of dummies, hacking off limbs and basically reducing them to a pile of straw and armor.

They were only dummies, but I still couldn't help being awed by Luke's skill.

Will wondered if Hermes had ever said anything to him about that. He didn't know Luke very well, they'd known each other for years but never spent much quality time together, so he wasn't sure what his exact grievance with his dad was, but maybe it would have helped for Luke to here this from his father. The others would probably just laugh at him for still trying to think up solutions to this so long after the fact.

The guy was an incredible fighter. It made me wonder, again, how he possibly could've failed at his quest.

"Did he fail at it?" Jason asked in surprise. He, unlike Percy, easily recalled details without getting his head tormented, and he'd been going back over every detail Luke had given. "It was said he got that scar, and no more quests afterwards, but he didn't flat fail, did he?" Then again, details had never been given of it either. Just that things had gone sour and none after.

Nobody answered, and it wasn't just for Percy's sake this time. Will and many campers had wondered if Chiron had been pressured by the gods to limit quests as much as possible after the Great Prophecy. Not that campers had gone up to the Oracle for every little thing, but Luke had gotten an apple as requested and yet it seemed only life saving events were allowed out rather than a hero's chance to prove themselves on an excursion as Annabeth had so wanted.

Thalia was personally grateful for this, she disliked the idea of her little sister setting off on her own quest without her around, but she'd just heard the whole thing and knew Annabeth was fully capable of it, so she wasn't even sure she could blame it on Chiron being particularly protective of her over the other campers and deterring all of them.

Finally, he saw me, and stopped mid-swing. "Percy."

"Um, sorry," I said, embarrassed. "I just-"

"It's okay," he said, lowering his sword. "Just doing some last-minute practice."

"Those dummies won't be bothering anybody any-more."

"A major issue to be resolved," Jason uneasily agreed, but he didn't mean the dummies. The dwindling number of pages indicated they were about to get an answer, or just more questions.

Luke shrugged. "We build new ones every summer."

Now that his sword wasn't swirling around, I could see something odd about it. The blade was two different types of metal, one edge bronze, the other steel.

"Sounds unique," Alex admired the dual metals being twined together quite a bit.

Luke noticed me looking at it. "Oh, this? New toy. This is Backbiter."

"Backbiter?"

Luke turned the blade in the light so it glinted wickedly.

'Interesting choice of words,' Hearth frowned, considering their current suspicions of him. There was nothing inherently wrong with this conversation of course, especially considering the quest was a failure by Krono's standards, so perhaps they'd been wrong. Luke would hardly be rewarded with a new weapon by the thing in the pit.

"One side is celestial bronze. The other is tempered steel. Works on mortals and immortals both."

I thought about what Chiron had told me when I started my quest-that a hero should never harm mortals unless absolutely necessary.

"I didn't know they could make weapons like that."

"They probably can't," Luke agreed. "It's one of a kind."

Percy was starting to feel an unpleasant tingling tracing along his spine. He remembered Luke being distant since he'd gotten back from his quest, so it should have just been nice to have his first friend around that camp being so casual with him.

He gave me a tiny smile, then slid the sword into its scabbard. "Listen, I was going to come looking for you. What do you say we go down to the woods one last time, look for something to fight?"

I don't know why I hesitated. I should've felt relieved that Luke was being so friendly. Ever since I'd gotten back from the quest, he'd been acting a little distant. I was afraid he might resent me for all the attention I'd gotten.

"Luke never struck me as the kind to resent not to get attention," Jason murmured in surprise. "He seemed more chill, laid back." His mind was trying to flicker to someone else, he had a sense there was someone he should know who craved more power than he had and pretended otherwise, but the idea wouldn't solidify even as he watched Will give an uneasy laugh like he'd said something funny.

"You think it's a good idea?" I asked. "I mean-"

"Aw, come on." He rummaged in his gym bag and pulled out a six-pack of Cokes. "Drinks are on me."

I stared at the Cokes, wondering where the heck he'd gotten them. There were no regular mortal sodas at the camp store. No way to smuggle them in unless you talked to a satyr, maybe.

Of course, the magic dinner goblets would fill with anything you want, but it just didn't taste the same as a real Coke, straight out of the can.

"Thank you," Nico gave a very exaggerated wave to Percy. "I can't tell you how many people argue with me fountain sodas taste different than canned ones, and the ones from dinner are certainly from a fountain."

"Um, you're welcome," Percy grinned at possibly the most lighthearted comment he'd yet seen Nico make.

"Who do you have these arguments with?" Will asked in fascination.

"Castor and Pollux," he answered quietly, he'd gotten on with the twins alright, until Castor's passing, and then Pollux hadn't anything to do with him. Like many after the Battle of the Labyrinth, they seemed to associate him being around with their dead siblings. Things had gone slightly better in the wake of the Battle of Manhattan, but his heralding of reinforcements had just as quickly lost its redeemability soon after his cabin had finished construction.

Will still had a displeased look on his face, like he was trying to figure out if that was the last conversation he'd had with anybody at camp before being plopped in here, and rather than admit that was sort of true, Nico was already regretting letting his excitement get the better of him and waving Alex on.

Sugar and caffeine. My willpower crumbled.

"I can't imagine anyone's who wouldn't," Magnus grinned like a fiend, he'd been chugging them in here and was starting to feel a little wired. Maybe he'd regret splurging later when he was cut off from such delicacies again, but for now he would indulge!

"Sure," I decided. "Why not?"

'I have several reasons,' Thalia kept to herself, she was twitching so much in place Percy couldn't not notice considering she was usually very still and confident in the outcome of all this. If he was being paranoid, twice, than at least he wasn't the only one.

We walked down to the woods and kicked around for some kind of monster to fight, but it was too hot. All the monsters with any sense must've been taking siestas in their nice cool caves.

Convenient, the idea nagged in Will's mind. He didn't know how it was possible Luke would have managed this, but he knew what had transpired out there thanks to tree nymph gossip. He'd been mad at the time only Chiron had permitted himself to treat Percy's wound, now here he was feeling like a selfish brat as he sat on the other side and wanting more than anything to appear back in time and drag Percy away from this while giving Luke a good whack upside the head on his way out even knowing Percy would be fine.

We found a shady spot by the creek where I'd broken Clarisse's spear during my first capture the flag game. We sat on a big rock, drank our Cokes, and watched the sunlight in the woods.

After a while Luke said, "You miss being on a quest?"

"With monsters attacking me every three feet? Are you kidding?"

Luke raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I miss it," I admitted. "You?"

Percy wondered what it said about every one of them nobody protested or even questioned this. Not one of them were wired to just sit around doing nothing as this forced reading had set them upon, and interacting with each other was the only thing stopping them from going nuts.

A shadow passed over his face.

I was used to hearing from the girls how good-looking Luke was, but at the moment, he looked weary, and angry, and not at all handsome. His blond hair was gray in the sunlight. The scar on his face looked deeper than usual. I could imagine him as an old man.

Nico arched a brow for that lovely moment of foreshadowing, not Luke's kind passage of sleep in death, but what exactly would kill him was time itself. The three old ladies came back to mind, and he had a feeling their snippet of yarn had just echoed into this moment.

"I've lived at Half-Blood Hill year-round since I was fourteen," he told me. "Ever since Thalia ... well, you know. I trained, and trained, and trained. I never got to be a normal teenager, out there in the real world. Then they threw me one quest, and when I came back, it was like, 'Okay, ride's over. Have a nice life.'"

Percy wondered if he was supposed to laugh, that Luke wanted to sit around doing homework and dealing with crappy kids in fancy boarding schools, watch them mess around on their new phones and whine they didn't have the latest this and that to each other. He'd never felt accepted while being a normal teenager in the real world by anyone but Grover.

His quest hadn't made his life perfect by any means, he still wasn't sure how he felt about his father or visa versa, he still wasn't sure the Gods knew what they were doing or what was coming. He felt a little bad now he wasn't sure what Luke was wanting exactly, that Percy seemed to have gotten Luke hadn't.

He crumpled his Coke can and threw into the creek, which really shocked me. One of the first things you learn at Camp Half-Blood is: Don't litter. You'll hear from the nymphs and the naiads. They'll get even. You'll crawl into bed one night and find your sheets filled with centipedes and mud.

Thalia's eyes burned for a moment at the traitorous idea that first sprung to mind. That Luke had been ordered to do what was coming, that he was trying to get the nymphs attention and maybe, just maybe save Percy's life...but no. That was just an old weakness still lingering in her, Annabeth whispering maybe Luke could still be saved before she'd gone over that cliff and found everyone was dispensable in Luke's quest.

Alex snorted impressively for such a ballsy thing to do, then exchanged a look with Magnus just to confirm she wasn't nuts, that was a really odd thing to do for someone who'd been living at camp so long...almost as if he had no plans to stay.

He looked just as grim as she felt, and their suspicion was now all but confirmed.

"The heck with laurel wreaths," Luke said. "I'm not going to end up like those dusty trophies in the Big House attic."

"You make it sound like you're leaving."

Luke gave me a twisted smile. "Oh, I'm leaving, all right, Percy. I brought you down here to say goodbye."

He snapped his fingers. A small fire burned a hole in the ground at my feet. Out crawled something glistening black, about the size of my hand. A scorpion.

"Is that a common thing you guys can do!" Jason spluttered.

"Spontaneously turn evil? I like to think not," Will sighed while Percy had drawn his pen but remained frozen in place, eyes staring at nothing in here as he was forced to see the reality all of them had been surrounded with for far to long.

I started to go for my pen.

"I wouldn't," Luke cautioned. "Pit scorpions can jump up to fifteen feet. Its stinger can pierce right through your clothes. You'll be dead in sixty seconds."

"Luke, what-"

Then it hit me.

You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

Alex felt a pit in her stomach the same Percy must be feeling now as she understood completely. It wasn't retroactively coming true, it had been true all along, since the moment Luke had given Percy those flying shoes. Luke was no unwitting pawn, he was the other voice in that dream, he was the mastermind behind it all.

"You," I said.

He stood calmly and brushed off his jeans.

The scorpion paid him no attention. It kept its beady black eyes on me, clamping its pincers as it crawled onto my shoe.

"I saw a lot out there in the world, Percy," Luke said. "Didn't you feel it-the darkness gathering, the monsters growing stronger? Didn't you realize how useless it all is? All the heroics-being pawns of the gods. They should've been overthrown thousands of years ago, but they've hung on, thanks to us halfbloods."

Magnus couldn't even give this guy the benefit of the doubt anymore, who could be expected to over come a controlling voice a god hadn't? Yet here were his own words saying the thoughts had been in his mind since his own outing, he must have been the one to seek out Kronos himself for his own purposes.

I couldn't believe this was happening.

"Luke ... you're talking about our parents," I said.

He laughed. "That's supposed to make me love them? Their precious 'Western civilization is a disease, Percy. It's killing the world. The only way to stop it is to burn it to the ground, start over with something more honest."

In their darkest moments traveling the streets, Thalia had said something similar as she looked around at all of the mortals suffering, their powerful gods doing nothing to stop it in the corrupt system.

Yet Thalia had looked into the face of that future and turned away. She wished more than anything she could have been there for Luke to help him do the same before it was to late, it would be so easy to turn bitter and hate Zeus for trapping her in a tree rather than saving her.

This would be her outcome. She would not turn against Artemis or her friends.

"You're as crazy as Ares."

His eyes flared. "Ares is a fool. He never realized the true master he was serving. If I had time, Percy, I could explain. But I'm afraid you won't live that long."

'No plan they come up with goes off very well with this guy, huh?' Hearth noted.

The scorpion crawled onto my pants leg.

There had to be a way out of this. I needed time to think.

"Kronos," I said. "That's who you serve."

The air got colder.

"You should be careful with names," Luke warned.

"Nobody has yet followed that advice," Alex rolled her eyes.

"Kronos got you to steal the master bolt and the helm. He spoke to you in your dreams."

Luke's eye twitched. "He spoke to you, too, Percy. You should've listened."

"He's brainwashing you, Luke."

"You're wrong. He showed me that my talents are being wasted. You know what my quest was two years ago, Percy? My father, Hermes, wanted me to steal a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides and return it to Olympus. After all the training I'd done, that was the best he could think up."

"That's not an easy quest," I said. "Hercules did it."

"Exactly," Luke said. "Where's the glory in repeating what others have done? 

"Anything can be improved upon," Alex debated back. She would love to do something better than Hercules had, she'd already vowed in her life to be known as a child of Loki because she would be nothing like her mother.

All the gods know how to do is replay their past. My heart wasn't in it. The dragon in the garden gave me this"-he pointed angrily at his scar-"and when I came back, all I got was pity. I wanted to pull Olympus down stone by stone right then, but I bided my time. I began to dream of Kronos. He convinced me to steal something worthwhile, something no hero had ever had the courage to take.

Will was taking all of this in with quiet outrage at Kronos for exacerbating this, and himself. He'd still been wondering if he'd missed some clue, if there'd been some sign of change they should have seen coming. He, like everyone at camp, had looked up to Luke, one of his little sisters had cried herself to sleep that night when she found out why Luke left.

Hearing why he'd done it in his own words wasn't making this better, but at least he finally understood.

When we went on that winter-solstice field trip, while the other campers were asleep, I snuck into the throne room and took Zeus's master bolt right from his chair. Hades's helm of darkness, too. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. The Olympians are so arrogant; they never dreamed someone would dare steal from them. Their security is horrible. I was halfway across New Jersey before I heard the storms rumbling, and I knew they'd discovered my theft."

The scorpion was sitting on my knee now, staring at me with its glittering eyes. I tried to keep my voice level. "So why didn't you bring the items to Kronos?"

Luke's smile wavered. "I ... I got overconfident. Zeus sent out his sons and daughters to find the stolen bolt- Artemis, Apollo, my father, Hermes. But it was Ares who caught me. I could have beaten him, but I wasn't careful enough. He disarmed me, took the items of power, threatened to return them to Olympus and burn me alive. Then Kronos's voice came to me and told me what to say. I put the idea in Ares's head about a great war between the gods. I said all he had to do was hide the items away for a while and watch the others fight. Ares got a wicked gleam in his eyes. I knew he was hooked. He let me go, and I returned to Olympus before anyone noticed my absence." Luke drew his new sword. He ran his thumb down the flat of the blade, as if he were hypnotized by its beauty. "Afterward, the Lord of the Titans ... h-he punished me with nightmares. I swore not to fail again. Back at Camp Half-Blood, in my dreams, I was told that a second hero would arrive, one who could be tricked into taking the bolt and the helm the rest of the way-from Ares down to Tartarus."

"You summoned the hellhound, that night in the forest."

"We had to make Chiron think the camp wasn't safe for you, so he would start you on your quest. We had to confirm his fears that Hades was after you. And it worked."

"The flying shoes were cursed," I said. "They were supposed to drag me and the backpack into Tartarus."

"And they would have, if you'd been wearing them. But you gave them to the satyr, which wasn't part of the plan. Grover messes up everything he touches. He even confused the curse."

Percy longed to take that coke can and smack Luke in the head with it now. He wouldn't have come back from that quest without Grover, nobody disrespected his best friend like that!

"Who knew the gods petty fighting would ever save someone's life," Nico shrugged, that whole not going into domains thing had been foolish before, and yet Luke had apparently not thought about it at all.

"What did Grover even do to him to deserve that?" Will said hotly. "Does he just hate all satyr's now, or does he blame him for Thalia's death too?"

"He clearly only cares about himself," Thalia said bitterly, and he'd used her sacrifice to excuse it all.

Luke looked down at the scorpion, which was now sitting on my thigh. "You should have died in Tartarus, Percy. But don't worry, I'll leave you with my little friend to set things right."

"Thalia gave her life to save you," I said, gritting my teeth. "And this is how you repay her?"

Percy dragged his eyes away from the book now, realizing how much this betrayal must hurt her even more than him. She looked like she couldn't decide if she wanted to repay this back by throwing Luke into an electric fence or hugging him, the twisted look on her face made this go up to the highest treason in Percy's mind. He put his hand gently on her shoulder like she'd done for him countless times already and said, "I'm sorry."

Thalia took a deep breath and felt the weight drift off of her. "Thanks Percy. He made his choice, and I'm sorry I wasn't there for him, but who knows. Maybe it wouldn't have ever made a difference, I'd still do it all again and save his life. Maybe that makes this my fault, but, maybe it's just the fates will."

She didn't care who hated and judged her for that, she never could have survived so long on her own without him, they never would have gotten Annabeth to camp without each other.

"Don't speak of Thalia!" he shouted. "The gods let her die! That's one of the many things they will pay for."

Nico sighed, moments like that made him understand why people hated his father, and him. The gods could not save every child of theirs anymore than they could stop time itself moving, to interfere in every death would create chaos and was a force beyond even them. He didn't hate Hades for Bianca's death, he didn't hate anybody for it anymore, he just felt alone with it.

"You're being used, Luke. You and Ares both. Don't listen to Kronos."

"I've been used?" Luke's voice turned shrill. "Look at yourself. What has your dad ever done for you? Kronos will rise. You've only delayed his plans. He will cast the Olympians into Tartarus and drive humanity back to their caves. All except the strongest-the ones who serve him."

Alex would sooner give up her pottery for life than serve anyone, especially such an idiotic idea.

"Call off the bug," I said. "If you're so strong, fight me yourself."

Luke smiled. "Nice try, Percy. But I'm not Ares. You can't bait me. My lord is waiting, and he's got plenty of quests for me to undertake."

Jason still thought this guy sounded far to much like he had no idea what he was really getting into. Saturn was just telling Luke what he wanted to hear. Everybody wanted to be a great hero, but it didn't mean everyone was destined to be.

"Luke-"

"Good-bye, Percy. There is a new Golden Age coming. You won't be part of it."

He slashed his sword in an arc and disappeared in a ripple of darkness.

The scorpion lunged.

I swatted it away with my hand and uncapped my sword. The thing jumped at me and I cut it in half in midair.

Jason gave an impressive whistle for that skill while Alex began to smirk and almost considered congratulating him for the same before they saw Percy was still rubbing his thumb into his palm, Thalia and Will still looked very put out.

Percy had not made another casual stroll back into camp to announce the traitor.

I was about to congratulate myself until I looked down at my hand. My palm had a huge red welt, oozing and smoking with yellow guck. The thing had gotten me after all.

Nico was having trouble believing Alex wasn't just making that up. Percy had made a couple of minor mishaps along his quest, but he'd never let a monster get the better of him, he'd even made the right call knowing when to run from the chimera. Here it was though in absolute proof. Percy couldn't just do anything.

My ears pounded. My vision went foggy. The water, I thought. It healed me before.

I stumbled to the creek and submerged my hand, but nothing seemed to happen. The poison was too strong.

Will shivered at that. He knew Percy had healed from an explosion thanks to the ocean. He hoped whatever kind of scorpion had done this would stay in the pit with Kronos and never come back.

"This thing is worse than Chimera venom?" Magnus asked in a small voice. Percy obviously didn't die, but who knew he'd rather have that monstrosity around than a tiny little arachnid.

"It must be spreading to fast for even the river to heal him, the ocean maybe could have," Thalia explained slowly, but then stopped herself with a shiver as the possibility still hung.

My vision was getting dark. I could barely stand up.

Sixty seconds, Luke had told me.

Nico swallowed and shook the ugly red numbers ticking down out of his mind. Percy had survived just fine.

I had to get back to camp. If I collapsed out here, my body would be dinner for a monster. Nobody would ever know what had happened.

Thalia winced for that all to familiar worry she'd had for Percy before being dumped in here. How Luke could ever claim to still care about Annabeth after doing that to her she'd never understand.

My legs felt like lead. My forehead was burning. I stumbled toward the camp, and the nymphs stirred from their trees.

"Help," I croaked. "Please ..."

Two of them took my arms, pulling me along. I remember making it to the clearing, a counselor shouting for help, a centaur blowing a conch horn.

"That had to have taken longer than sixty seconds," Jason stated like he was still waiting for the trick.

"The nymphs carried him right through their tree, it's no normal distance for them the way we walk," Will told, resisting the urge to wave at Nico. Nobody had asked him what shadow traveling was, but it was similar to that.

Then everything went black.

"And then I woke up in the hospital with Smell Gabe yelling at nurses and my mom relieved to see me awake because it was all a dream," Alex claimed, looking up and doing a dramatic double take to see Percy in front of her.

"After all the weird dreams I had, I wouldn't even be surprised if someone tried to mess with me like that too," Percy managed a weak laugh while still rubbing his thumb into his palm.

I woke with a drinking straw in my mouth. I was sipping something that tasted like liquid chocolate-chip cookies. Nectar.

Alex still huffed Percy had now gotten to try that stuff twice, and Magnus was eyeing the floor with concern no scorpions were going to pop out of there as much as she was muttering about them.

I opened my eyes.

I was propped up in bed in the sickroom of the Big House, my right hand bandaged like a club. Argus stood guard in the corner. Annabeth sat next to me, holding my nectar glass and dabbing a washcloth on my forehead.

"Here we are again," I said.

"You do realize this now has to happen twice every time you come to camp, otherwise she'll lose interest," Magnus grinned.

"Up the stakes even, make it three times a summer, four times a year," Jason nodded.

"We might run out of nectar and ambrosia," Will played along, "maybe eventually we just keep a fish tank in cabin three and if he doesn't heal from that-"

"I take it back, I'm drowning you all now," Percy groaned, swirling his hands around like a magician.

Thalia smacked his hands away and told Alex to hurry up and finish since they were almost done while Nico smiled around at them all. He'd never spent so much time in the company of others and just enjoyed hearing the laughter around him without any expectations to join in.

"You idiot," Annabeth said, which is how I knew she was overjoyed to see me conscious.

"Actually she calls you an idiot in her sleep to," Thalia smirked.

"All the better, she's always thinking of me," Percy grinned.

"You were green and turning gray when we found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing ..."

"Now, now," Chiron's voice said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit."

He was sitting near the foot of my bed in human form, which was why I hadn't noticed him yet. His lower half was magically compacted into the wheelchair, his upper half dressed in a coat and tie. He smiled, but his face looked weary and pale, the way it did when he'd been up all night grading Latin papers.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved."

"And everybody knows microwaved food is never comparable to the real thing," Alex tragically agreed. "You might never be the same again."

"Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened."

Between sips of nectar, I told them the story.

"It's to bad Luke didn't try the same trick twice and slip back into camp," Alex spat with her own venom. "Would have been so much easier to catch him pretending be innocent again."

"Hopefully this at least puts a crimp in Kronos's plans, since Percy wasn't supposed to be alive to tell them this regardless of where he was," Magnus offered.

The room was quiet for a long time.

"I can't believe that Luke ..." Annabeth's voice faltered. Her expression turned angry and sad. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him... He was never the same after his quest."

Percy's once poisoned hand wasn't the reason it was still twitching. He wished he could hold her close now like he'd never have the notion to back then, but he had nothing he could say to her now. Quests seem to bring out the best in some, and the worst in others, and he'd never really known Luke as anything but a backstabber.

Thalia didn't have anything much kinder to say. She and Annabeth didn't talk about this as much as they should have. She knew Annabeth had always wished Luke would come back to the right side and snap out of it before it was to late, where as Thalia had never let herself hope for the same. Now that he was gone, they still couldn't even agree on what to call his fate, a hero's death, or just rewards.

"This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron murmured. "I will go at once."

"Luke is out there right now," I said. "I have to go after him."

Chiron shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods-"

"Won't even talk about Kronos," I snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"

"Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."

I didn't like it, but part of me suspected Chiron was right. One look at my hand, and I knew I wasn't going to be sword fighting any time soon.

"That's when long range weapons come in handy," Jason said with far to much confidence.

"Not everyone can throw around lightning bolts," Percy gestured to Thalia, "and I don't think chucking a tin can will work as well on him."

Magnus leaned close and whispered to Alex, "makes you wonder why these guys don't have guns around."

She snickered in agreement while Will said, "now I'm just imagining you throwing bubbles at him, thank you."

"You guys are hopeless," Percy sighed.

"Chiron ... your prophecy from the Oracle ... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Annabeth?"

Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Percy, it isn't my place-"

"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?"

His eyes were sympathetic, but sad. "You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you ..."

Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the windows.

"Well at least Chiron doesn't have to report anything, since Zeus is apparently still listening in," Nico was frowning up at the ceiling and beginning to wonder why they weren't all struck down already.

"That guy needs to pick a better reality TV show than us," Will agreed.

"All right!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!"

"Chiron officially has the worst boss ever, and that's really saying something when someone had Gabe as a manager," Percy scowled.

He sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing."

"We can't just sit back and do nothing," I said.

"We will not sit back," Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled.

"Kronos wants him dead," Jason corrected like anyone could have forgotten that in the page since his last attempt.

"My thoughts would be pretty unraveled if I was," he shrugged.

He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."

"Assuming I live that long."

Chiron put his hand on my ankle. "You'll have to trust me, Percy. You will live. But first you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice..." I got the feeling that he had a very definite opinion, and it was taking all his willpower not to advise me.

Thalia smiled for their favorite teacher, the one who always knew when to let them fall a few times and make their own choice. What Luke seemed to hate about his own father, Chiron was no more perfect. If he'd forced Percy to stay at camp, Percy might have hated him for it in the end. Might never have met Tyson, the whole outcome could have changed.

"But you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decision."

I wanted to protest. I wanted to ask him more questions. But his expression told me there could be no more discussion; he had said as much as he could.

"What's Zeus going to do, strike him down?" Alex challenged. "Bad enough the lord of the sky's buried his head in the sand, he can't stop other people from speaking their mind."

"I think he did it for his own reasons as well," Will kindly reminded, "prophecy's are no joke, and if he starts answering questions, Percy might start springing more on him he's not ready for."

She huffed and glared down at the satchel, and Percy suddenly had a really horrible idea of what all could be in there.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron promised. "Argus will watch over you."

He glanced at Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear ... whenever you're ready, they're here."

"Who's here?" I asked.

Nobody answered.

"I might not protest to much at that striking thing though," Percy huffed. He still couldn't ever be told a simple answer.

Chiron rolled himself out of the room. I heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time.

Annabeth studied the ice in my drink.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Nothing." She set the glass on the table. "I ... just took your advice about something.

"That sentence is what is wrong," Thalia smirked. "Annabeth's doomed, what did you get her into?"

"Something I'm sure I can get her out of?" He didn't sound that confident.

You ... um ... need anything?"

"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."

"Percy, that isn't a good idea."

I slid my legs out of bed. Annabeth caught me before I could crumple to the floor. A wave of nausea rolled over me.

Annabeth said, "I told you ..."

"I'm fine," I insisted. I didn't want to lie in bed like an invalid while Luke was out there planning to destroy the Western world.

'Oh, well as long as it's only one fourth of the world, I'm sure he can have a lie in,' Hearth frowned.

'I'm curious what the escalation is there? Half? Three-fourths?' Thalia asked.

'Total antihalation, then he needs to get off his butt,' Hearth rolled his eyes.

"Do I want to know what they said?" Percy was frowning at Thalia's hands in a whole new way as he realized she could now talk behind his back in two languages. Surely there couldn't be anything worse than Luke's betrayal on the horizon?

"Nah, Hearth's just saying he'd sleep through the end of the world," Magnus shrugged.

I managed a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on Annabeth. Argus followed us outside, but he kept his distance.

By the time we reached the porch, my face was beaded with sweat. My stomach had twisted into knots. But I had managed to make it all the way to the railing.

It was dusk. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake. Beyond the woods and the strawberry fields, the Long Island Sound glittered in the last light of the sun.

"What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked me.

"I don't know."

I told her I got the feeling Chiron wanted me to stay year-round, to put in more individual training time, but I wasn't sure that's what I wanted. I admitted I'd feel bad about leaving her alone, though, with only Clarisse for company...

"She's put up with it for years, I'm sure they have secret tea parties all the time," Alex didn't look anymore pleased at the idea though. Something about the Ares cabin would have to be done before she'd consider staying there for any length of time, she just wasn't sure what yet.

Annabeth pursed her lips, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, Percy."

Percy gave a tentative smile, he wanted to be excited and happy for her, but he still wasn't sure if she'd kept that ring for hope, or a reminder not to go back. It had still been on her necklace at the time, but she hadn't been fidgeting with it. She'd made up her mind, and all he could do was hope the best for her.

I stared at her. "You mean, to your dad's?"

She pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree, at the very edge of the camp's magical boundaries, a family stood silhouetted-two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair.

They'd come all the way out from their home to pick her up at Camp rather than waiting for her to come to them, the anticipation of not wanting to wait must be a good sign, they all hoped for her, especially Magnus. Even if he could never have any part of his family back, he still wished the best for his cousin.

They seemed to be waiting. The man was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver.

"I wrote him a letter when we got back," Annabeth said. "Just like you suggested. I told him ... I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided ... we'd give it another try."

"That took guts."

"A child of wisdom who also has that kind of nerve, she's a dangerous combination," Jason agreed. She was as strange to him as Grover if he thought about her to long, but in the best way, he was happy if whatever memories he should have about her were being proven wrong time and again.

She pursed her lips. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you?

"Define stupid?" Percy said innocently.

"Walking through a door with you," Thalia snorted.

At least ... not without sending me an Iris-message?"

I managed a smile. "I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to."

"That wasn't as comforting as you seemed to think it was," Will frowned at him, considering that trouble usually found its way to camp.

"When I get back next summer," she said, "we'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?"

"You two make the best team," Magnus approved.

"Thanks," Percy agreed.

"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena."

She held out her hand. I shook it.

"Take care, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth told me. "Keep your eyes open."

"You too, Wise Girl."

I watched her walk up the hill and join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be lead over the crest and into the mortal world.

For the first time at camp, I felt truly alone.

Nico twisted the ring upon his hand and found himself gazing at Percy. No shame, no longing, just taking in another moment where they'd been so similar, and yet so different. Percy was never really alone, where as if he'd gone mysteriously missing he doubted anyone would even notice.

I looked out at Long Island Sound and I remembered my father saying, The sea does not like to be restrained.

I made my decision.

I wondered, if Poseidon were watching, would he approve of my choice?

"Considering who I'm talking to, I can't imagine he'd disapprove of it," Will gave Percy a little wink. Poseidon could have cut himself off from the mortal world entirely to stop temptation of meeting anyone else and stopping the broken promise, but he'd still courted Sally. He couldn't imagine any of the gods begrudging their children something they so happily did again and again no matter the consequences.

"I'll be back next summer," I promised him. "I'll survive until then. After all, I am your son." I asked Argus to take me down to cabin three, so I could pack my bags for home.

Alex sighed as she closed the book and looked around.

The others were stretching and looking around, waiting for the Titan to appear and release them, or even to find themselves back in the mortal world above. Will was watching Nico again with that same stubborn frown on his lip he had since that Hotel had been mentioned and had even asked for a break before they got to the end.

She decided not to leave them in suspense this wasn't the end by a long shot for one very specific reason, if she would even be joining them tomorrow.

"You guys should know," she finally kicked the satchel and let the other books spill out in a rainbow of colors. The other thirteen flashing up at them like a kaleidoscope made their stomachs plummet deeper than the ocean could possibly ever go. That wasn't what she'd been about to inform them. "I'm genderfluid, and we're clearly not getting out of this mess any time soon, so if I wake up tomorrow and tell you to call me by my male pronouns, are we going to have a problem?"

She was confrontational like that, eyeing Thalia in particular as the other person who struck her for someone who would not lightly avoid the subject if she did. At least she'd perceived Percy as a friendly enough doofus; he'd just get it wrong by accident and she'd ignore him until he figured it out. None of the others had pegged her as someone she'd need to deal with.

Thalia smiled and didn't bat an eye. "Hey, I used to be stuck as a tree, who am I to judge if you don't want to be trapped."

Magnus looked like he'd swallowed a watermelon and raised his hand, opened his mouth, then closed and lowered them both with a very confused look all without ever removing his eyes from Alex.

"Does that mean, like- what does that mean?" Nico mercifully asked for him as he eyed her.

"Exactly what I said, it varies per person so I'm not answering for the whole community. All I'm asking for is the same respect I've been giving all of you while we're trapped down here, as nobody's asked me to call them by any other preferred persona." Alex crossed her arms and answered him casually, she had no problems explaining, but despite what she'd told herself, she knew boredom and curiosity would compel her to come back in here. The first person who disrespected her would find out if that godly food could regrow limbs as she created her own emergency.

"Okay," Nico drew the word out in confusion but decided against arguing the point that made zero sense. Things had changed a lot since the 1930's, he was still getting used to the idea it was acceptable to be in love with someone the same gender as you. His eyes flickered to Percy and back to the ground, he still felt like a freak of nature for it before he reminded himself it didn't matter and Percy would never give him the time of day. He sure wasn't going to make anyone else feel this miserable if all they were asking for was a sir or mam.

Percy was rubbing his eyes blearily like her bright outfit was finally getting to him as he rapidly tried to adjust to the odd request, but he'd beaten up his fair share of students who picked on a kid for any reason and certainly wasn't going to be one to start acting like a hypocrite now. "I'll call you whatever you like if I can have a nap first." He waved casually and went to bed.

Will was tugging on Nico's jacket and smiling around at everyone. "Who wants to come with me and see how many things we can ask the fridge for at once! Maybe it'll give us barbeque ice-cream!" He wondered vaguely if he should give Alex the 'gods fall in love with souls, not bodies,' speech Michael had once given him, but Thalia was giving her a loaded look and he knew how to take a hint.

Nico looked more than relieved to get away from this room and went out, he didn't even snatch his arm out from under Will but instead felt an odd cold spot when his hand naturally fell off as he began walking.

"Eww," Jason told him as he went out with them, but made sure Alex caught his smile as he left. He didn't remember any predisposition for whatever she was describing, but his first instinct was to make sure everyone felt comfortable. 'A good leader knows their troops better than themselves.' He frowned at the odd thought and hoped he wasn't starting to get an inflated ego.

Magnus finally dragged his eyes away and gave a silent question to Hearthstone, which he answered as they left too. 

Thalia gestured for her to sit back down and added, "wanted to talk to you about something."

Alex sat down on the ground and began stacking the books, leaving three out with a frown.

Thalia kept going as she hadn't been told to shut up. "So the Hunters of Artemis, well, we're a group of eternal maidens who travel together, but it is a no boy's club. I personally think you would make a great asset to our team, I'm sure our patron would be interested in part time membership for your case."

Alex was still watching where Magnus had left and was already shaking her head. "That's not the part I'd have issue with."

Then she showed her not really problem to Thalia, the pattern was easy enough to discern, she was just giving him some distance and scolding herself for letting Loki get in her head even down here. Those looks had meant nothing and she was over thinking it. "Those gods need an organizer, which are we supposed to read next?"

PJOPJOPJOPJO

One down, thirteen to go!

That sentence sounded a lot less daunting before I typed it!

I'm really glad you've all been enjoying so much, and I'm looking forward to the next book just as much! Look for its posting sometime in December!

Which one are you looking forward to most?

Like I said in the beginning, this book was my stumble-into fanfiction dot net so many years ago. Even before this series, I was inserting myself into the plot of my most beloved stories and altering the outcomes to happiness with my magical world solving talents like the prepubescent Mary Sue I thought I could be, I just never wrote it down before.

This series is no exception, but this book in particular didn't have much for me to mess with. The plot's no mystery like I grew up being more fond of and so it's not one I've gone back to re-read as many times as some books, but the humor is what keeps RR in my radar of new books to binge read. My thoughts on Lightning Thief have always just been fond nostalgia of popcorn reading in class and laughing with my friends how incredibly right and wrong we were about where the twists and turns would lead, and then my world exploded into something so much bigger when I found this world online. Thank you Percy Jackson, and thank you Rick Riordan.

[astralcat]

ok, imagine this gets announced:

a tamagotchi live-action/CGI hybrid movie.

if i were in charge, this is how it would go. these seven would be the main tamas:

cast: tom holland as mametchi, ben schwartz as ginjirotchi, ryan reynolds as pochitchi, and... i dunno. you can fill in the blanks for me.

as for what the tamas look like, they're more or less similar to their normal designs, but a touch more realistic. mametchi has short, fine fur, kuchipatchi has rubbery skin, etc. etc.,

the movie starts on the tamagotchi planet, where mametchi is planning an intergalactic road trip with his friends, taking an egg with them. we get a few cameos from other tamas such as maskutchi, pyonkotchi and tarakotchi before our heroes set off. just as they enter our solar system, their ufo runs out of fuel and crash-lands on earth, in san fransisco. mametchi and co. decide to explore, which obviously includes them visiting the golden gate bridge to remind the audience that they're in san fransisco. in one scene that takes place in a forest, kuchipatchi eats some berries that give him the runs, and after they leave, a human finds kuchipatchi's deposits and says, "I'VE FOUND STAR JELLY!"

a little while later, they meet a human, stan (jason marsden). at first they can't understand each other, but fear not: mametchi invented a universal translator device, and now they understand each other just fine. stan learns a little more about the tamagotchis, and takes them to his house to live. the tamagotchis meet stan's girlfriend mika (who is pretty similar to mikachu) and we get a few scenes here, like ginjirotchi listening to an elvis record (tamagotchi video adventures reference) and stan taking kuchipatchi to burger king, where kuchipatchi proceeds to order everything of the menu. maybe a few jokes about the tamas (mainly kuchipatchi) pooping and pochitchi drinking from the toilet and being incredibly ashamed about it. and maybe some ginjirotchi/pochitchi subtext?

but then the main plot gets kicked into motion when the tamas, mika and stan wake up to mametchi just flat-out missing. turns out the us government is so paranoid about alien invasions that they will lock up any alien on site in area 51 (which is basically a maximum-security prison for aliens, and the reason it's so top-secret is so nobody can help the aliens escape), and mametchi is locked up in area 51. so stan, mika, and the remaining tamagotchis hatch a plan to break into area 51 to rescue mametchi. we get a few scenes in las vegas with the tamas causing general chaos, before continuing on with the plot.

stan, mika and the tamagotchis finally arrive at area 51, and the tamas commence their plan to break in. pochitchi pretends to be an earth dog to distract the guards while mimitchi uses her gadgets to disable the locks on the gates. but they don't know which building mametchi is in, so tsuyopitchi comes up with the master plan to use the spy planes to ram into the roofs of all the buildings. soon enough, they get mametchi out, and a bumch of other imprisoned aliens, and we learn that the roswell incident was caused by a tamagotchi that also ran out of fuel and crashed on earth, and both the us government and the gotchi king have been denying that it ever happened. however, the military finds out what happened at area 51, and the tamagotchis, stan and mika escape area 51 in a climactic chase scene. pochitchi is driving a van he got from area 51, and just before they get going, pochitchi puts in a cd labeled "chase music" that has this song on it:

but after the tamagotchis, stan and mika escape, the government learns that most of the aliens locked up in area 51 had no intention of invqding earth and apologizes for their treatment of aliens. as a thank-you, mametchi gives stan the egg that was aboard their ship, and the egg hatches into babytchi. however, just as mametchi plans to leave, the other tamas convince him to let him and them stay with stan. movie's over, cut to credits, with an updated version of "what's a tamagotchi?" from tamagotchi video adventures.