#especially with Trauma. the mess is gonna come before the pretty little bow does

[shorthaltsjester]

sometimes people will say “going dark” and then what they’re actually talking about is just people no longer presenting a carefully constructed version of their emotions and experiences.

like. emotional turmoil is not the same as darkness. laudna in this Fictional Universe that has tangibly different stakes wrt to death and killing than our own, is at best like . morally neutral for what she just did like. man has been secretly trying to kill you, and then just tried to do so again, killing him back is a fair choice. and even if i was someone who is excited by delilah’s inability to escape from the narrative, this shit isn’t about delilah. laudna made a choice. if delilah is back or whatever it’s a choice that laudna made because something in that grants her more control than her existing conditions did. this isn’t some Delilah Takes Over, it’s Laudna Expressly Makes The Choice To Call Forth Something within Herself to remedy the lack of control that’s been thrust upon her. if y’all want to Continue to limit Laudna’s agency (as the cr fandom is so, so want to do when a female character makes a choice that isn’t Good according to some weird system of virtue ethics) go ahead.

likewise with orym. little guy is not “going dark” because he has finally made direct action about his emotional turmoil in dealing with a situation which has similarly left him without control and has also placed him in a position where his stalwart conviction towards protecting and honouring those he loves and has lost alike is constantly met with other people he cares for going well.. what if they had a point/we are killing other peoples loved ones/etc. which like . yeah that might be frustrating and in fact might lead him to go, actually, i can’t afford to try and maintain some abject morality where I carry a locket that will literally only provide guilt. orym is completely committed to his beliefs, the locket and what it represents has never been a limit to what he will do, only a reminder of the consequences of what he might cause in those actions. but they Are at war and orym has a billion things on his plate. he can put down the locket. especially when bor’dor is the explicit manifestation of that locket’s symbolism. the subtext rapidly became the text and orym doesn’t need a reminder. it’s there in the fact that team issylra is walking away with two friends, not three.

these are character who have at every turn denied their own emotions in various forms while still being acutely aware of what they deny, whether that awareness was/is fully realized or not. many of laudna’s early convos with ashton show us that there is some awareness to the lighthearted spooky goth girl and how that persona fades when she thinks too much about what has led her and maintained that reality. likewise the entirety of orym’s story thus far is defined by his grief in a very literal sense, it Has extended from that grief to also the commitment he had to the purpose of figuring out the assassination attempt on keyleth but as we have seen, that purpose has fallen apart. paired with the quasi-reopening of his grief that was getting to see will again only to have to turn away, i don’t think there’s a lack of awareness in orym of how much he hurts. but between his actions and 4SD, that hurt tends to get buried under guilt or Responsibility.

and now, finally, both of them have admitted to that Not in the safety of small introspection or one-on-one conversations but with actions that they cannot shy away from or deny. laudna killed bor’dor and orym encouraged her to. and it Is a complex situation but truly I don’t really think it’s a “going dark” one. because they’re not giving into some overhanging Darkness of Morality™, they’re admitting that they are hurt and have long been hurting.

or, y’know, tldr for those who continue to deny laudna and orym agency or fully villainise them for whatever weird reasons . you could listen to laudna and ashton’s conversation that pretty much lays it out explicitly. laudna claims she’s weak for having chosen to kill bor’dor. ashton denies that and affirms instead that, no, she’s hurt.

[batarella]

3 birds 1 stone - chapter 11

‘Dick, Jason, and Tim. Supposed brothers 'till the end, until all three fall in love with you. Who wins your heart?

The man who earned it, the man who stole it, or the man who always had it?’

A/N: I’M SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG BUT THIS WAS A CHAPTER I’VE BEEN SO EXCITED FOR SINCE THE BEGINNING. FEATURING THE ALTERNATING PERSPECTIVES OF THE THREE ASSHOLES WE LOVE.

WORDS: 12,399  WARNINGS: mentions of trauma and fire, recovery from 3rd degree burns, hospitalized children in the pediatric burn unit. but this chapter is generally fluff

MASTERLIST | 3 BIRDS 1 STONE MASTERLIST

-----

Tim:

“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

A murderous glower, teeth gritted and mouth dry, asking that wasn’t the best idea for anyone at all who’d sense she wasn’t in the best mood. First, because her nerves were killing her. And second, the poor thing’s back must have been aching. She’d been crouched over for hours and here he was asking the worst questions at five in the morning, which further proved that case that he shouldn’t be so teasing with her cranky attitude that usually shows up when she’d stayed up all night. And she did. For all good reason.

“You’re telling me this now?” she asked him.

“I don’t mean this,” Tim held out his hands out around the room. “I mean this guy.” A stuffed clown. With a red nose, diamond shapes painted over its eyes, and a curly red wig. “You think clowns are a good way to cheer kids up?”

“Come on, Tim. Just because that stigma is around doesn’t mean clowns are always a bad idea.”

“That stigma related paperwhite skin like this to mass murder.”

“And thousands of clowns each day lose their jobs because of that. Clowns are fun. And great. Maybe this could help take kids’ minds away from that kind of thought so they won't have to be so scared at a birthday party.”

“You’re thinking way into the long term.” Tim placed the toy into the box and closed it up, taking a roll of packaging tape from his side.

“If that were the case, the same would go for this little guy here.” Y/N held up the penguin.

“Cobblepot doesn’t look like an actual penguin.”

“His name is Penguin and yes, he does.”

“He doesn’t give me the chills, not like a red nose does.”

The snort that came out of her nose was too laughable not to ignore, and he couldn’t. “Fine, asshole, you can take the clown out.”

His tired hands dropped onto the box he’d just finished taping up, and now he had the murderous look that she apparently found too funny.

“You couldn’t have said that before I taped the box?”

“Then just leave it there!”

“Make up your mind-“

“Just take it out when we get to the hospital.”

“Fine.” The frown so quickly turned to a curious grin he’d held back when she’d already moved to the next box and pulled out a teddy bear with brown curls and a red bow on his neck, and Y/N took a while just silently smiling at it, the kind of smile that always made him want to ask when he knew she was thinking of something he didn’t know.

“What?”

She slightly jumped when she’d heard him speak. “Nothing. I had the same bear as a little girl.”

“You did?”

She nodded. “Don’t you remember?”

“Oh yeah.” He took the bear from her hands. “I remember. You named that little bastard after me.”

“I didn’t have a name for him for like, ten years after I had him, and you come along and shame me for it.”

“You should always name your stuffed animals.”

“Yes. And Little Tim was perfect.”

It was. And he remembered being that awkward teenaged kid visiting her house for the first time, to find himself in her room where a bear was sitting on her bed even with her in seventh grade, how she named it after him when he brought it up, and how long he’d stared at the walls of his empty room at the thought of it.

It went on until she’d stuffed it along with the other toys into a cardboard box, sealed it up with the number ‘5’ written on top, and packed it with the other boxes stashed to the side.

It had to take Dick to come in to snap him out of that apparent trance, especially when he did that with his feet making unnecessarily audible noise when he went in from the foyer.

.

Dick:

Too close. Yet again. Standing close enough for his arm to touch her shoulder. But what was he going to do? Come up to them and shove Tim to the side? Make space for Jesus? Not like they were together. He could do that. And no one will bat an eye.

But he didn’t. As he always had, Dick just went up to the boxes Y/N had packed. “This the last one?”

“That one should be.” She pointed at one of the empty boxes lying on the floor. “You think it’s too much?”

“I don’t think there’s any universe kids would think a lot of toys would be too much.”

She stepped away from Tim, and just like a kid who’d gotten his knee scraped and had to get treatment from the pretty nurse at school, he wanted to jump when Y/N stood closer to him. Okay. Not to him. But the box was closer to where he was standing and she had to reach over to get it. Dick held it out the table and took out one of the toys in the bag.

“A clown?”

“Jesus, what is wrong with you two?”

“I told you it wasn’t a good idea,” Tim said.

“Clowns are adorable when they’re not murderous.”

“Uh, no. They definitely are not. Have you lived in Gotham? No one works as a clown anymore.”

“Exactly why I want to change that. Poor guys have it as a profession you know. They go to training and everything and only to have it stripped away.”

There were bags under her eyes, and her movements were slow. Didn’t sleep again last night, it seems. Or maybe even the nights before that.

“You should rest up before we leave,” Dick said. Her hair fell to her cheek and she didn’t even notice.

“Too late for that. I’ll be alright.”

And as if it didn’t strain her arms the more she had them raised, she forced the plushies down into the last box. Dick reached out, shut the lid off for her as she frantically taped it close before it would have exploded.

“Imagine this biting us in the ass when we open it up later.”

“It’ll be fine,” she sighed. Looks like she doesn’t even care enough to have much more thought. “It has to be.”

“You’re not nervous, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you're talking about.”

For a moment he caught Tim’s eyes, watching them closely and listening to every word they said. Dick just ignored that.

“There’s nothing to be nervous about.”

“That makes things better.”

“You’re hostile today.”

“Sorry,” she longingly sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe I am. I don’t even know why.”

“Kids love you. The hospital loves you.”

“I think I’m missing something.”

Her hands draped over the carton and her fingers stuck to the surface. She couldn’t look away from that emptiness, at the number she’d written on top as if it were any interesting.

“You’re doing what no one else has in so long. You couldn’t disappoint even Elliot Memorial with the number of bandages you got.”

He caught the side of her mouth so slightly turning up to her cheek.

“Now enough with that crank. You sound like Eustice Bagge.

“Fuck you, asshole.”

She was laughing now, at a joke that wasn’t even that funny, but with the way she gleamed despite her skin facing away from the sun, her cheeks ample and round, flushed over her lips stretched out in the brightest little grin, and her eyes, squinted almost to a close, it didn’t even hurt when she’d nudged his shoulder at his remark.

The reward was the same, despite him probably being able to do better. And maybe he should have. But he was getting there. Slowly. It took months, but he was trying for that same comfort, to making her laugh so hard the silent walls would forever remember her echoes.

And after he did hear that laugh, that day already seemed so fulfilled.

They grabbed one box each and headed out the foyer, at the last truck waiting for them just outside of the door. Alfred was there, spectating the whole thing.

And, as an internal groan he hadn’t noticed had escaped his lips, silent enough not to draw her attention, his brotherly pain in the ass had his motorcycle draw out this god-awful noise, what no one could only hope to ignore. Jason pulled up to the front door, took out his helmet, and eyed the whole scene around him with that cocky brow raise that made Dick want to punch out of his face.

.

Jason:

Oh yeah. It was today. Totally forgot about it.

Five am, supposedly a time for him to be at the gym. An hour ago, in fact, but here he was, at the front door ignoring the fact that Dick looked like he wanted to strangle the life out of him from his neck. Maybe he shouldn’t have come, not with them crowding about, not when he wanted nothing to do with any of them. But of course, he forgot.

Whatever. Ignoring them shouldn’t have to be so hard.

Y/N looked exhausted. Her eyes were dark, her hair a mess tied to a ponytail behind her back. And from the looks of it, she was telling Dick off for handling the box too tight. Crabby. Wouldn’t want to get on her nerves when she hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep.

Jason swung his leg off his bike, walked over to his brothers, and took the box off of Y/N’s hands, which was the right decision considering she immediately took to stretching out her back when it was off her hands.

“Thanks.”

“You’re late,” he heard Dick growl. He didn’t even turn to him.

“So I see. You’re leaving right now?”

“It’s a three-hour drive.”

“I knew that.” He didn’t.

“You forgot, didn’t you?”

Tim was eyeing him no differently. He snorted. Tim, he could look at in the eye. Dick, not so much, not when the last time they talked, it was at Y/N’s front door and they were just minutes away from landing a fist down each other’s uvulas. “No…” he scoffed.

“You did.” Dick walked right up to his face, and even then, Jason just shrugged and looked away. It wouldn’t help his case. In fact, it made him look even more guilty than he’d like to admit, but he was close to just kicking his brother at the shins when Dick put his box on top of the one he was already carrying. “Make up for it.”

“I never said I was gonna go with you.”

Dick rolled his eyes. He went over to the truck, placed the boxes inside, and backed away when the driver pulled it close. It was packed full. And there were five other trucks lined up in front of it.

“You’re not going?”

Her voice didn’t sound so rough, as it often did when she had newly awakened. And with a smile he couldn’t help, he walked over to her and leaned into her ear. “Hey, pretty bird.”

Oh, he could just see the hairs at the back of her neck rise when his hot breath fanned over her skin. But it didn’t last so long when he went straight for the door, heading inside the manor.

“Jason-“

“Hmm?”

When he turned, she still looked so exhausted. Her eyes were wide, voice soft just as it usually was when she was confused, and her hair looked pretty facing away from the sun.

“No.”

“Jason.”

“I’m going to the gym.” Just as he should be, if he wanted things to get any better with Bruce, have this illusion that he was somehow still part of this crazy family. He had to show up, or at least start to.

“It’s just for today. Please.”

His cheek was between his teeth and he was chewing on it rather profusely. He wanted to look behind her, at the trucks all packed up and ready to go just to give himself some sort of idea at the lengths she’d taken just to get where she was, but his brothers were out there, and frankly, the looks they were giving them now were counter-productive.

“Y/N, it’s a three-hour drive.”

“We’ll sleep in the car.”

He sighed, eyes over at the ceiling. Her voice had gotten even softer, and he wanted himself beat up for even acknowledging that.

And when he’d seen the look on her face, it was over.

He dropped his gym bag on the floor. “Fine.”

She jumped a little and took his arm on the way down the steps.

“Shotgun.”

“No, I called it first.”

“I wasn’t here.”

“Then you should’ve come earlier,” Dick said. “And I’m driving.”

The mutters out his lips weren’t for anyone’s ears. Dick’s car was all the way over to the back of the trucks, which had started up and were already on their way. She took the front seat.

“Ah, fuck, you don’t expect me to spend three hours cramped up here with Tim.”

“Hey. You’re the big one here,” Tim snorted. “It’s not fun for me either.”

In a car full of morons for the next three hours. Just when the fuck did he start bending to her every whim?

.

Tim:

Cramped up was something. But being forced to the back seat of a car that should not have had back seats at all, they might as well have slept in a sardine can. By the time he got the door to shut close, his mouth was up to Jason’s shoulder.

“Get off me!”

“I can't fucking-“

“Just move to the side!”

“There isn’t a side to move to!”

Tim forced his ass out almost to the edge of the seat just to make room.

“I should be sitting there, jackass. Y/N doesn’t need much legroom.”

“No, you’re not. I’m sitting here.”

Y/N looked over to the back, smiling at Tim. And at that, he heard Jason snort and finally shut his mouth, one he wanted to shove his fist into. When Jason had settled in and looked out the window, Dick started up the car. “You wusses better be quiet for the next three hours.”

“Oh, shut up. Why don’t you let me drive and see how that’s like, asshole?”

“I’m driving. This is my car.”

“Babs’ SUV would have been a lot better choice.”

“Just shut up,” Tim said, and when he nudged Jason’s shoulder he was bitten back with a slap on his arm.

“Seriously, you guys.”

And everyone piped down the moment it was Y/N who told them to. When they were out on the highway, when they’d gotten out of the city, the outskirts they didn’t so often see, Tim leaned over to the side, at Y/N’s ear just through the space between the car door and her seat.

“Why’d you have to bring them?”

“Hmm?”

“This would have been a lot more fun with just me and you in the car.”

“Oh, come on, it’s not that bad.”

“My ass is killing me. Jason’s taking up all the space.”

“You’ll be fine. Seriously. But if it’s so bad, we can switch.”

And have her sit next to Jason instead? For the whole of three hours, cramped up so they’d be forced to get all cozy? Nada.

“You know what, I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?”

She turned her head over, and her nose accidentally pressed up against her seatbelt. She snorted, backed away with her face all mushed up and sneezed.

He wanted badly to laugh, but he found himself in this ridiculously painful grin when he couldn’t tear himself away from that adorable sight.

Then it all stopped when the car suddenly halted and he was thrown completely off his seat, smashing his face up against the back. That, and with Jason’s laughter so audibly horrific, he tirelessly pulled himself up. “Dick!”

“Sorry!”

He looked up at his brother. He did not look sorry at all. He just smirked, then looked back out at the windshield.

.

Dick:

It was evil. But that should be the last of it. Not that there was a first. But he heard what Tim said. He deserved it. Not in his life was he going to miss any of this. When Tim had settled back, and Jason finally shut his mouth, an hour into the ride and still Y/N couldn’t pry her eyes away from the window, and it probably wasn’t to look at her reflection, no. She was looking at the grassy fields, at the mountains that peaked in the lightest grey over at the horizon.

“You can sleep, you know,” he said, and he pretended he was watching the road when he’d probably spent the last five minutes endangering the lives of everyone in his car. But they were alive.

“I want to,” she yawned. “But it’s not every day I get to see a view like this.”

Really. She doesn’t. The last time was most probably that day, when he took her out to the country for a ride up a hill so she could paint, where they kissed despite the force of the winds, the cold, and the darkness, the noise he couldn’t hear, and that beautiful view that became no more than just noise when he had her in his arms, even for just that minute.

And, just like that last time, he went on to steal a couple of glances, the most he could without having to look away from the road for too long. Because right then, with her skin still so soft despite the dry air and the breeze, she laid her head up against the car window. He caught her smiling when she saw a few cows wagging their tails in circles.

Dick lowered the car window, just enough for her to put her head out, and the joyous grin on her face and the silent laughter that came with her back suddenly shooting up, hair tie blown out by the wind. Right then, he wished he let Jason drive, so he could spend so many of his minutes just staring at this view.

.

Jason:

An hour in, and she’d fallen asleep. That was a lot longer than Jason would have thought, with how exhausted she looked he thought she’d pass out the moment her head hit the back of the chair. But it took an hour of looking out into the country before she eventually gave in and gave herself that much-needed rest.

She was sleeping, and Jason wasn’t, even when she told him to. Because for perhaps even the next hour, he had his head up against the glass, and his eyes were on her, watching her face, watching how peaceful she looked, at her chest that rose and fell and her nose that flared up every so often when she was too deep into her sleep.

“Jason, could you at least move your fuck-“

Immediately, he placed his finger to his lips, then he pointed at Y/N. Tim kept his mouth shut. Thank fuck.

“She’s been up all night planning everything,” Dick whispered. “Don’t wake her up.”

“I wasn’t trying to.”

“Just be quiet,” Jason said.

For two hours, they were silent. Not a bicker. Not a snort.

He angled his head just enough to watch her, see that softness on her cheeks, the ones he found himself spending hours upon hours every night that beautiful month they spent together, one that wasn’t supposed to mean much more than a fling but sorted into so many nights when he’d just stay in bed, keep himself up, and only would he realize what exactly he was doing when he’d unconsciously brush a strand of her hair behind her back, let his fingers linger onto the skin of her shoulder.

And when he had realized what he’d done, he’d turn over to the other side of the bed, force his eyes shut and pretend that didn’t just happen.

And he did the same thing right then. Look away. As much as it pained him. He turned over to the window and watched the fucking cows moo, when his brothers could so easily catch him in this sorry act. For two hours, he held back, all the way until they reached the hospital.

 .

Tim:

He wanted to take a picture when he stepped out of the car, went over to her side, and knocked on the glass where her face was pressed up against. She blinked a few times, looked around. Tim waved at her and she sneered playfully when she stretched out her arms and stepped out of the car.

“Y/N. Not that you look horrible, but you should fix your hair.”

“Shut up.”

“I have coffee with me-“

The glare she gave him sent him trembling down his damn ankles. Tim gulped.

“I mean. They should have coffee here. In the waiting room.”

“How many cups?”

“Y/N.”

“Answer the question, Tim.”

The trucks started arriving. They’d gotten here first. Five of them lined up in the parking lot, and the moment they did, nurses started walking out the front door. It was smaller than he thought, the hospital. And he knew exactly what to expect. One from a small town that didn’t get much funding or equipment to even use. It was saddening.

“Just one, I swear.”

“You swear?”

“I swear.”

Tim pinched her cheek and she slapped his wrist. “You better.”

“I promise.”

They stuffed their hands into their pockets. Already, it was a chilly October. But that shouldn’t have been reason enough to have both Dick and Jason walk up to her side and stand next to them, watching the guys unload the trucks.

But he didn’t give so much care to that, not when he looked over to her side and could just feel her nerves buzzing, having to hold back either a smile or a terrified scream. She’d been waiting for this for too long, and the nights they spent planning, crossing out checklists and figuring out what to get, it had finally come to this day. This was her doing. All of it. And she should be proud.

He couldn’t help it. It wasn’t supposed to be about him. This day wasn’t supposed to be about any of them. So he could hold off the bickering, the sneering at either of his brothers, just for today. For her. It’s what she’d want.

And he couldn’t help it. He just had to.

He reached over to the pocket Y/N had her hand stuffed into and held it from inside. He didn’t take it out. It was big enough for both their hands and all the more was it warm, cozy, homely, when he started brushing his thumb against the back of it, the way he knew would calm her down at the worst times, no matter what it was they were up against.

When she’d turned to him, he thought she wanted to pull away, but the relief he got when she didn’t was more reward than any life he’d saved. Exaggerating as it could be.

. 

Dick:

They held hands the whole time they strut up the hospital’s steps, as if it were that cold, as if it were at all necessary. Dick wanted to just step on the damned brake and tear their hands away, but they weren’t at the car anymore. They were standing, right in front of his fucking face, walking into the hospital doors hand in hand and not at all were they in a hurry. As if they had all the time to be lounging around. As if they were still together when they clearly weren’t. And there was nothing he could do about it.

But Dick couldn’t, didn’t, do so much as remark. And it shouldn’t have to bother him, not when it wasn’t anything he had to go through before. Seeing them hold hands. Hell, he’s seen them kiss even in times when they shouldn’t. He was used to this kind of torture. Years of it makes your skin all thick.

But what kind of demon did Tim have to sell his soul to, to be this close as friends, whatever the hell “just friends” meant to either of them, to be holding her hand and kissing her cheek and fucking sleeping next to her in bed as if they weren’t at all lovers for two years of their lives.

He shouldn’t be thinking about any of this at all when they were clearly in the middle of a charity operation.

But what kind of goat did Tim have to sacrifice to be in such good terms with her, to not have all have to be strained by the worst, thinning tension that hadn’t gone away since that day at the hillside, and have it all so soon after they broke up? When he had to spend so many months just to get where they were today, repairing what he’d so regrettably broken, and still not have the kind of closeness he could only hope to have with her?

Why couldn’t he be Tim?

 .

Jason:

Snorting was one thing. But at that point, he just wanted to laugh his hair out. The fucking look on Grayson’s face. Priceless. Jason could have sworn his jaw would have popped right out of his head with the way he was gritting his teeth, watching Tim and Y/N hold hands up to the reception. And even then, he wouldn’t let go, not when Y/N had things to do.

He wanted so badly to pull out his phone and capture this beautiful moment. Not of Y/N having her hair fixed and smiling at the nurses. At fucking Dick Grayson mulling over Tim holding the hand of the girl he so desperately couldn’t have.

Of Tim keeping his hands on her despite it being a little over ten minutes since they’ve stepped into the building.

Of Tim whispering into her ear and the smile that followed right after.

Of Tim still rubbing the back of her palms as if it were even that cold.

Of Tim letting go of her hand, only to put his entire arm right around her fucking shou-

If a patient was walking around, and he hoped there was, he’d grab their fucking IV line and choke himself with it. His teeth were gritting. His fucking teeth were close to shattering.

Dick caught his eye with his eyebrow raised. Twenty seconds ago, Jason would have laughed at his face. Now, he was as silent as he was.

A line of doctors and nurses, all coming together at the reception and every one of them wanted to shake her hand. Not a camera in sight, not a single paparazzi to have to deal with. It was just them, the health workers, and the guys Y/N hired to unload the trucks. Not a lot of nurses though, with the mounds of supplies they had to bring to them and the patients he thought they’d be given to. And as exhausted as they looked, the sight of Y/N was like the first sighting of the sun after a yearlong solar eclipse.

 .

Tim:

“Everything they need for hydrotherapy. Bandages. Tubs. Gloves. Everything on the list you sent us. It’s all there. I even got sanitizers,” Y/N said, and she handed over a checklist to the doctor. “Here’s the inventory for everything. But if you need anything more, we still have a few thousand for an allowance.”

Medical equipment. That was only half of the things she’d gotten the whole hospital. He couldn’t even keep his arm around her so tight when a nurse had come to steal her away, crying into her shoulder. She was an older woman, probably the head nurse, and she looked just as tired as the rest of them. And the way Y/N held her back, not letting the moment seep out her tears and instead let her smile brighten up the room just as it would to any room. Tim watched her. He watched her hug all the nurses so emotionally they couldn’t help but pull her in. At the doctors that were supposedly so tough, yet not tough enough to stop themselves from shaking her hand for the third time since they arrived. Not a single cent was to be paid, by either the patient or the hospital, for all the equipment she’d gotten them.

“The children wouldn’t be able to thank you enough.”

“Oh, they won't thank me for buying them syringes, trust me,” she laughed.

“They will. Oh, an angel you are.”

“Miss Y/N,” the doctor called to her. “The nursery will be ready for your first visit.”

“I can't wait.”

The look on her face was enough to humble the proudest achievers. And when she’d freed herself from other people’s arms, he held her hand again.

 .

Dick:

This was her moment. Not his. Not fucking Tim or Jason’s. This was hers, the children’s, the hospital. It wasn’t the time for theatrics.

A few nights ago, she’d told him one of the reasons why she picked this hospital, and it wasn’t just because of the kids and the fire that happened in one of the schools not far from here. One of those times when he just really wanted to talk, to have those times back, and she ended up opening up to him, crying at that.

He remembered every word she said and remembered just how much more this day meant to her more than anything anyone else would have thought.

Dick saw one of the boxes arrive at the reception, the ones with the toys in them. And with Y/N busy talking, he went over to the box, pulled out his key, and tore out the tape. A pink unicorn was right at the top. Perfect.

“Y/N.”

The doctors had left, and they were meant to just wait around at the waiting room for the next hour until the nursery finishes up. “Yeah?”

Dick held up the unicorn up to his face, smiling, watching her smile back.

“You wanna go visit Sophie?”

The way she just lit up, at the same time crouch down with the nerves surging up her spine. Y/N took the unicorn from his hands.

“Should we?”

“I know you want to. And I think you should. She’d be delighted to see you again.”

Her fingers were busy with the unicorn’s ears, and the way she longingly stared at the pink fur, letting it touch the tips of her fingertips, the moment he saw her nod, he went straight to the reception to ask for Sophie’s room number.

Just a floor up.

Just the two of them, they went down the frightening white walls, past the rooms that wouldn’t let the beeping noises be so confined behind their shut doors and even more nurses frantically walking about. Up the steps, down to the left, to the hall with the big sign plastered onto the archway.

Pediatric Burn Unit.

Sophie Palvin’s name was written on the paper stuck to the plaque near one of the doors. It was unlocked, and when they stepped inside, it was just her adoptive grandfather there, sleeping on the couch.

He saw Y/N hold the unicorn even tighter beneath her fingers, and with a hand on her back, Dick led her to the bed’s side, to the empty chair beside it, but she didn’t sit. She just stood at the foot of the bed, holding onto her shirt just over her chest.

“Hey,” Dick said. “It’s okay.”

“God, she’s…” she caught her breath. “She doesn’t even look any better.”

It wasn’t something they can ignore, not when it was all over the poor girl’s face. Two years, it had been. And the complications just seemed to get even worse. Eight years old, and already she couldn’t have much of a life she should have had.

Dick reached over, held her hand. He wasn’t Tim. But she needed it. It wasn’t about Tim. It was her. And when she held it back without even thought, the first time in so many months, he didn’t even let it get to him. She needed it. Badly.

“She’s still asleep,” she breathed. “Can I go get some water?”

“I’ll get it for you.”

“No, Dick. I’ll get it.”

She needed to get it, to step away from this horribly depressing room and pull herself together before she wakes up. He got all that just from seeing the look on her face and how much he wanted to pull it against his chest.

“Okay.”

“You stay right here.”

She handed him the unicorn and went out of the room.

 .

Jason:

“Jason?”

At the call of his name, the first thing his eyes darted off to was the clock up on the wall. Jason had been standing with his arm over the waiting room’s water cooler for five minutes now. He hadn’t moved or even realized that any of his brothers weren’t anywhere around him. And it took even longer to turn around, see that Y/N was right behind him, her face widened and startled at his reaction before he finally snapped back into place.

“S-sorry,” he coughed. “Where is everybody?”

“We just, uhm,” her thumb pointed behind her. “We went to visit someone.”

“Sophie?”

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“I knew where she got adopted. I just figured.”

“Ah,” she held her own hands and kept her attention to her fingers. “Could you, uh, scooch over?”

He still hadn’t moved away from the cooler.

“Sorry. You need water?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll get it for you.”

She thanked him, and when he handed her the plastic cup, she could feel her hands shaking. He thought not to bring it up, not when his own hands were shaking as well.

“You alright?” she asked.

“Yeah. You?”

“I guess.” She brought the cup up to her lips.

“Hospitals don’t do well for me.” His lips were stuttering and he didn’t even notice how he was blabbering at that point. “I haven’t exactly been to a birth or anything so when I come here it’s mostly bad news.”

“Oh,” she licked her lips. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” They sat on one of the benches and she went on with her cup as if it wasn’t already empty.

“It’s okay to be nervous.”

Her eyes were on the cup’s brim. “I know. I shouldn’t be. I just hope this is all enough.”

“It’s more than enough.”

So close. Jason was so close to just suddenly reaching for her hand. Thankfully, he didn’t.

“I know what it’s like to wake up in a place like this. And suddenly your life isn’t your life anymore,” she said. “It sticks to you, doesn’t it?”

Of course, it does. When he woke up in a hospital bed, what used to be rotting flesh suddenly flushed hot red, blood boiling like he was stored in a pot, and his eyes painfully pried open from being closed for so long. Three months treating the broken bones and wounds, and the doctors never believed how he could have possibly lived through any of that. He didn’t.

“Yeah.”

“We’d know.” She chortled. “That’s why I want this all to be enough. Kids shouldn’t have to go through that kind of trauma. And when they have to, at least it’ll be a bit better.”

Saying something wouldn’t be ideal. Anything at all. He should be none but ashamed.

And how ashamed he should be, to not do what she was doing, to think that what he did to deal with the thoughts was to… do what he does. It was his way to help. Or what he thought would help.

For not using his trauma to help the way she used hers. The most admiring way one could. It wasn’t his way, one that no one should look up to. Her way was something to make her the kind of woman any kid would look up to and someday hope to be.

“I’ll stay here,” Jason said. “I’ll call you when the nursery’s ready.”

 .

Tim:

To not just suddenly run and pull her to his chest was something far too difficult to do, with every bit of the winds and breezes rushing about in the air around him so greatly pushed him the moment he saw her slowly making her way down the hall. She only got out to get water, it seems, but her lips were pale, hair still a mess, and her neck popping with veins with the way she was gritting her teeth. As she looked up, caught Tim’s eyes, everything around in the hospital seemed colder.

She reached the door. “Hey.”

“She’s awake.”

He could see her limbs stiffen, her lips hidden beneath the safety of her teeth, and when she let her eyes rest on the blankness of the doorknob.

She wouldn’t be able to turn that knob on her own, but she’ll have to. If it were him, Y/N will have to go in unprepared.

“Come.”

It surprised him, however, when she grabbed him by the wrist. He stopped any sort of resistance there was, even the rubber on his soles when he let himself be dragged over to the corner away from prying eyes. Y/N wasn’t crying, no. But she was scared.

Tim took to holding her shoulders, just to give her that little bit of warmth.

“I told myself I can take this,” she said. “I didn’t even know I’d be nervous.”

“And it’s okay that you feel that way…”

“I know it is.”

Her hands were stuck to her sides. She didn’t want to hold him. She wanted to be held.

“Sophie loves you.”

“I haven’t seen her in a year. I should have visited more often.”

“You wouldn’t have known she’d be back here.”

“I should have. Things were never any good for her. It’s a miracle she’s alive at all.”

His glance fell on a passing nurse, who looked at her, then at Tim, before she turned back to her clipboard and stepped into one of the rooms. The ambiance wasn’t of any help. The white. The chill. That horrible smell that just wouldn’t go away.

His hands fell from her shoulder to her hands, held them so tight he could feel her fingers grow numb.

“If her brother were alive, she’d be a lot better.”

“Y/N, just look at what you lost trying to save that boy.”

She didn’t want to look. And he probably shouldn’t have said that. But what was he going to let her do? Lose herself to that innate instinct of hers to save as much of the innocent, the children, to the point where she had to lose her damned leg?

Her eyes were no longer on him. Instead, they were on the blank floor, and the jealousy that stemmed from that urged him to grab her cheek and turn her to him.

“I just think it’s unfair… that I’m okay and she’s not.”

“She’ll be okay. She’s always been strong. Stronger than any of us.”

“She has…”

Sophie’s door opened. Dick peered out, saw them, then nodded for them to come in. The girl was looking for them. For her.

 .

Dick:

The child’s eyes lit up, just how anyone’s eyes would, when she stepped into the now brightly lit room.

And anyone sane enough to have any sense at all would falter and tear up at the sight of her smile, the way she looked so dearly at the child, Sophie, who never would be able to look into the mirror, look past the scars and the burn marks and think of herself as a beautiful girl, even when she was, in fact, the most beautiful sight there was.

Sophie didn’t seem to know she was sick at all. She shot up from her bed, hands up and raised and Y/N wasted no time to have the girl snug in her arms, carrying her so close and having her face buried into Sophie’s hair.

Everything about it was so warm, so homely, something Dick would have thought had come out of the sights of heaven, or even the charity commercials to make you tear up. Nothing had ever been so enthralling than the sound of the little girl’s laughter and Y/N’s awful jokes that at that time sounded like the funniest shit he’s ever heard. She didn’t put the girl down, not once she was in her arms.

Much like the bright sun untainted by the mess of clouds, of the sky grim and dark or rainfall that had grown jealous of its reign. She was the sun. Not a sight could possibly be warmer, softer, and he wondered what changed in this world to look to others when this was the only thing they’d ever have to turn to and have that bit of hope everyone needed.

Jason came in. It was ready. Sophie couldn’t leave Y/N’s arms when they made their way out of the burn unit to the section right beside it. The one so newly built, and the star for today’s charities. Y/N’s greatest work, far more admirable than any painting, as unbelievable as it may seem.

The nursery was not opulent, overly impressive, or over the top in any way at all. In fact, it was small. But it was just the right size. And it wasn’t just for toddlers, but for any child even at Sophie’s age to enjoy, to give them that one glimpse of color in the otherwise chilling white of the hospital they’d never be able to escape to. Now, this was their escape. The money she raised from the auction had been traded in for toys, tables, chairs, puzzle mats, tablets, a castle fort, even more toys, and a large TV right at the center.  

Thomas Palvin Memorial Nursery, it read on the plaque outside the door.

The boy she couldn’t save that dreadful day, the same day everything about her changed. Sophie’s brother.

Sophie whispered something into Y/N’s ear, and her eyes were on Dick. He looked at the child, then at Y/N.

She walked over to him with the child in her arms.

“Looks like someone has a crush on you.”

The best instance of flattery there could be. Dick smiled and he instinctively turned to the ground, but the handsome man already reached out for the girl and took her in his own arms.

And the way Y/N watched him, so lovingly and serene, he wished she never had to look away.

 .

Jason:

Was this what the Grinch felt like, when his heart grew three sizes that day?

It was annoyingly heartwarming, the scene that took anyone’s breaths when they stepped into this little cocoon of fun and laughter and color to distract them from whenever the world couldn’t afford to hand out niceties, even for the children. So they wouldn’t have to be so haunted with the pain like she was, like Jason was.

She never was the best fighter. Never the best gymnast. Never the best at being Falcon and often had to function at Tim’s side just to have her own little contribution to the team.

But she did want to help, save lives, make the dreadful world a bit more of a bearable place. Y/N didn’t want to understand that this wasn’t the only way to help, at least at first. And it had to cost her a limb.

Now, she did understand that.

And she’s helped so much more, for the people who deserved help the most, than they ever could.

The kids were calm at first, but not even the nurse could stop them from running to whatever toy they could grab onto when they ran into the room. Screams of laughter, from children who haven’t laughed in so long, everything was just too beautiful to witness. And Jason never did look to things and immediately see the beauty that was always there.

And boy, did he know that fact, when his attention left the mounds of children that almost toppled him off his feet, and locked onto the smiling girl giving each of them a hug.

And he hadn’t looked away. If it were anything like in the car, he’d have watched her for another two hours.

Y/N took one of the chairs for the kids so she was standing at their level. The seat right beside her was empty. And it won't be if he doesn’t hurry.

Chest warm from something within him that wouldn’t stop beating around, Jason wanted so much to just walk right to that chair, sit next to her, be close enough to see that smile shine brighter and her hair’s scent that always threw him off the rails, but he couldn’t. Three children had already beat him to it, and right at that moment he stopped and remembered he was insane to have thought of it at all. They weren’t close. Not for the last several years. Not even now. Not like she was with Tim or even Dick. Just suddenly taking the seat next to her was far too out of the loop, especially for him.

But he can watch. So what if he gets caught?

 .

Tim:

Dick was all the way over to the other table, teaching Sophie how to finger paint. Sophie, who had Y/N as her only companion recovering in the burn unit back in Gotham. Y/N, who sought at nothing to find that old man sitting fresh from his nap beside her hospital bed just to get her adopted, after the orphanage had burned down and her brother, her only family, gone beyond the then six-year-old’s understanding.

She never truly got over Sophie, even after two years. Now, it won't just be her. Every child flocked around her right then will remember Y/N.

Watching her from a distance, even when he was so used to watching her so closely, there was definitely something so magical seeing her from the eyes of others, when she stood far enough to see just how tiny that glint in her eyes could be yet still be seen despite it being so dark, how her smile changed the whole of her face from something admirable to one so breathtaking. No wonder his brothers who’d only had to see her from so far couldn’t help but get lost in the labyrinth that was her.

And he was, without a doubt, the luckiest to have been the one to see her up close so often, even after such history. He was the one who got to stay close and never be whisked away no matter how much had changed. Nothing could change when it came to her.

He can never take that for granted. Not anymore. Not like he did.

 .

Dick:

The kids all turned to one of the walls, one that had been filled to the corners with paint, paint that could have only come from the hands of Y/N. Dick knew her technique well enough to recognize it amongst hundreds of other artists.

It was a scene of a beautiful lake, one that was far away from the confines of the hospital, and a small boy leaning over to fish from the water. To let them know that there is, in fact, a world out there and that being in the hospital doesn’t mean they’ll have to miss out on any of it.

Y/N never had to be a vigilante to help. That wasn’t meant to be who she was.

It was her paintings, her story, her heart.

It was all she ever had to do, and what difference had she made already, at such a young age.

“Your brother looks beautiful up in that wall, don’t you think?” Dick leaned over to Sophie beside him, whose missing teeth was the most heartfelt smile he’s ever seen.

“He does.”

He pretended to be so focused on what Sophie had to paint, but really, all anyone could ever look at was Y/N, who was now standing in the middle of the room playing some parlor game with the children who couldn’t get enough of her, and Dick couldn’t blame them.

 .

Jason:

Of course, out of all the kids swarming around the room without much care at all of the fact that they were sickly or weak, it was that one child at the far corner that caught his attention. One with a dark hoodie over his head and a face no one could quite see.

Jason was standing right next to the table, arms guarding his chest, and he took that as a distraction just to steer his attention away from Y/N and the kids.

The boy looked up at him as well, then down, probably intimidated at his large size. Jason wasn’t exactly one so easily approached, so he took the chair right beside him and looked over at the book he had his face buried into.

Half his face, now he could see, was burned off. It covered the whole of his left eye, and it seemed his hoodie covered the part of his head that had burnt off as well. The kid couldn’t have been any older than nine. He wasn’t thin. In fact, he was quite chubby. And the look he had on his face, with a permanent frown that just wouldn’t go away, Jason wanted to snicker at how this must have been what he looked like at that age. Angry and cynical.

“What are you reading?”

He was shy, and all he gave Jason was a shrug of his shoulder. Probably thought it was a stupid question, since Jason could very clearly see what he was reading. Some science book, it seems. If it were a classic, they’d actually have something to talk about.

But Jason just thought to stay there, be with the kid that so obviously didn’t want to be with anybody else. He didn’t send him away, nor did he show any discomforting signs that would have otherwise driven him away, so just sat there.

Y/N was singing with the kids now. Her voice was horrible. She couldn’t carry a tune to save her loved ones. It made him laugh.

“I’m too old to be in here.”

Jason snorted. Maybe the kid was ten.

“You’re going to love this place, I promise you. Y/N over there made sure of it.”

The boy looked up from his book then joined Jason in watching you.

“She your girlfriend?”

Was this kid eleven?

“She… She’s not… I mean she was… kinda… Not…” he scoffed. “It’s complicated, kid.”

“Is it?”

Yeah. This kid was twelve years old. That, or he was just as good at paying attention to detail as Jason was. Impressive.

His girlfriend. Could he imagine? Never has he called anyone that, or even settled on whatever label there was with anyone he’d had some sort of engagement with. That was all it ever had been. Engagements. Flings. Happenings.

Girlfriend.

Calling someone that would be something.

Something great, now that he thought of it.

Inevitably, without even his notice, he had his eyes on her cheekbones that looked like it hurt from how much she smiled, and when Y/N picked up the smallest child in the pack, he knew it was done for.

It was all over.

He had fallen in.

“Is she your girlfriend or what?”

It was just a kid of twelve, and Jason might never see him again anyway.

He’ll enjoy himself with this, have this kind of happiness he never even sought out until now. Even if it weren’t true, he wanted it to be.

Jason smiled.

“Yeah…”

 .

Tim:

The smallest child, a young boy who looked at her with so much wonder and hope. It had only been an hour since the room opened, and already the once drowned spirits had been so heavily lifted, only by the strength of one woman. She always did love children, always took the chance to save every one she came across and even with themselves so young, when they were children as well, she said to have loved them so much she was determined to have a dozen.

He opposed, of course. Tim would have a couple tops. A couple wasn’t enough for her, apparently, and it became one of the most stupid arguments they had that he often liked to look back to when he needed those pleasant memories to stay afoot. She wouldn’t want a dozen anymore, of course.

But if she wished that now, to him, he’d say yes.

If this was what it meant, if this was the beautiful sight he’d wake up to everyday and see, Y/N carrying a beautiful child and a smile nothing else would have ever emulated, a dozen children it is. She’s never looked so happy in so long, not after years of what she had to go through.

A life with her, with this kind of happiness, and a family to look forward to.

And it’ll have to be nothing more than a dream. Not after what he’d done. Not after forgetting just how much of a treasure he once had that he so easily let go of.

It had haunted him for years, and it will haunt him forever, that he ever left her so hurting when he could have stayed, and he could have given her the family she always wanted. Maybe even by now.

 .

Dick:

It was stupid of him to have ever thought of being with another, to have ever thought that the kind of contentment and warmth Y/N could give him could ever be present in another’s arms. He never, ever, should have thought that it would have been okay if it didn’t go the way he always dreamed of. That all this, this sight before him, one he promises to never forget, could ever happen again in the room where Y/N wasn’t around at all. Because it was impossible. This could never happen if it weren’t Y/N. It wasn’t because of the sun so kind of the air so cool. It was her and her smile, her laughter, her horrible singing and her awful jokes. The kids and their screams, their arms up and about, asking to be carried by her and only her.

This wasn’t something he could ever just forget. This was sight no camera could remember.

But he didn’t even trust his mind enough to know that. It was good to have a backup, something to look back to outside of what stuck to his head.

Dick pulled out his phone and snapped one, two, ten pictures of her. In every single one of them, she looked beautiful.

 .

Jason:

He shouldn’t at all be staring this much. It wasn’t healthy. It was stupid. It was delusional. It was the amount of staring the kind of morons his brothers would do that he so often laughed at. But whatever the hell was that kind of force that he just couldn’t fight against, it was a lot stronger than him, than he ever could be. No brute force or taunt could go up against Y/N.

And already, that lie that Y/N was ever even his, even at just one point of his life, blatantly admitting to her being his girlfriend even if it were a mile away from being true, it got to him like a fucking reptile’s hold in the edge of a swamp. He was shaking. Was he shaking? He didn’t even know anymore. He just wanted this to be over with.

No, he didn’t want this to be over with.

How often does he even get to see her this pretty? Was she always this pretty?

Today. Just for today.

He’ll let himself take his look. Just for today.

 .

Tim:

It was funny at this point, at the realization that one wouldn’t notice her at the first look.

Y/N had to be his best friend for years and it took him far too long to fall in, to realize her beauty.

She wasn’t the sort that would turn the heads of so many around her, one that would reel in a modelling deal just from a stroll down the street or even a face in a pile of hundreds that you’d so easily pick out. She wasn’t one to stun or amaze or leave you frozen in awe at first glance.

She was the kind of girl Tim would see at a coffee shop, reading a book as she settles herself in next to the glass of the window, of either rain or snowfall cooling her skin, a girl that he’d glance at once and think nothing of, only to take the second look when she leaves. And he’d see her everyday for so long as he visited that same coffee shop, and by the end of those days, without so much as a word out of her, he’d think, shit, he’s in love.

 .

Dick:

She was miles away from the likes of who he used to date. And, ironically, she was the only one he actually stuck to and never forgot. One he’d thought of endlessly when not at all was he exaggeratingly thrown off his feet or got his breath stolen or even hit in the head with a metaphorical bat. At least, not at first. Not until you’ve been staring at her for so long.

She wasn’t the girl he’d meet in any case out of the ordinary.

She was the girl he would’ve been lifelong friends with since the day they were born, one he’d be so grossed out and disgusted with at the thought of her as pretty or anything more than a friend, the kind he once used to run away from because of cooties and suddenly, they decide to go to prom together and he sees her descend from the up the stairs of her childhood home he’s also grown up in, and only then, as he looks at her for the first time, he’d realize she was the most beautiful girl he’s ever laid eyes on.

Even if Dick wasn’t that lifelong friend, even if he wasn’t her best friend, he just knew that was what it felt like.

 .

Jason:

He didn’t even of her that way, even after she broke up with Tim. Not once. Not for a long time.

But that might be what it tends to be, with the girl she is and how anyone could think when they meet her.

He might think of her as someone he’d see reaching for a book in the section of the library he frequents, a girl he’s never seen before. And he’d ignore her for a while until she’d be the one to converse about the book he’d picked out, and they’d talk about it for a few minutes, him wanting to get out of it as soon as he started talking. And he’d be relieved to be out of that forced socialization until she inevitably leaves the building, with him on his seat until the library closes and she never comes back.

And even then, when he comes home alone in the apartment, would he think nothing much about it but never forget to recall that one time a girl talked to him in the library, as uninteresting as it may be.

Then, a week, two weeks later, he still hasn’t forgotten about it.

A month into that, and he comes back to the library subconsciously trying to look for her, only to fail at her absence. Only then would he wish he’d have asked for her number when he had the chance.

 .

Tim:

Her smile was too bright, and her hair was falling to her face and it had to take one of the kids to reach up and brush it away from her cheek. He wanted to do that himself.

 .

Dick:

Her arms must have been hurting by now, with the kids fighting over who gets to be carried around. It wasn’t so obvious, however, with the sun so perfectly hitting her face and her hair and everything about her.

 .

Jason:

She looked so perfect. So happy. So genuine. Everything about her was real. That had always been her appeal. She was real. She was here. And she was beautiful.

 .

Tim:

Her voice never sounded so sweet.

 .

Dick:

Her hair was in this perfect mess no one would otherwise fix.

 .

Jason:

Her eyes could only ever see the light, even after seeing so much darkness.

 .

Tim:

The kids started painting her face. She just let them. Her smile wasn’t something anyone could easily forget.

 .

Dick:

The colors on her cheeks, as silly as they looked, could make even the cynical, diabolical villain turn just an inch closer to the light.

 .

Jason:

He choked when Y/N turned over at him and smiled.

He loved her.

Of course, he loved her.

 .

Tim:

He never did stop loving her. Not after they broke up. Not for a second. Not even when he thought he did.

 .

Dick:

He couldn’t stop loving her if he tried. And he tried. Really hard. He didn’t want to fall in love but here he was. In love.

 .

Jason:

Eventually, the hours passed, as they inevitably do. And the sighs and cries of the children in a swarm were no different from his, who never would have thought he wanted more out of this day than he even thought.

 .

Tim:

Y/N never missed even one kid in the room, giving all of them a hug and some a kiss. These kids who haven’t laughed so much in so long, all couldn’t leave without the widest grins on their beautiful faces.

 .

Dick:

When she said goodbye, and the sun settled below the ground, even the nurses wanted to weep. Hell, he wanted to weep. It was a wonderful day. And every step she graced, no one will be able to forget.

.

.

.

Jason:

It was a painstakingly delightful day, one he thought he’d dread, and ended up not dreading at all. Not even when he thought he’d so badly want to go home; he didn’t even think about the late hours and how they’ll have to leave before the sun sets if they wanted a safer drive. That didn’t do so much as cross his mind, and to that, he needed a smoke.

The day was over. And his promises he’ll have to comply. All the happiness and singing and the staring will have to stop, even that confession to himself won't be something he hoped would last.

But promises prove to be empty when the moment he’d settled on staying strong, immediately he gave in when from the corner outside the hospital building, just a few feet away from the entrance where he opted to stand alone, Y/N came along and peaked over with her arms pressed up against her body to shield herself from the chill.

It wasn’t that cold. He was fine. Whatever fine was, when he immediately took to throwing the cigarette butt onto the ground and stepping on it with his heel.

“It’s fine-“

“Too late,” he coughed. “You tired?”

“Very.”

She had her face washed out with whatever soap they had in their bathrooms, scrubbed off to rid itself from the paint she let the children splatter all over her hair. A bit of green was still stuck to her roots. It took so much of his urges to stop himself from picking it off.

It was dark, silent, and so peaceful.

And maybe she saw that same kind of peace in him that he saw in her, when he laid back against the cement fence he was standing against, not close enough to touch his clothes but enough for him to bask into her heat.

It would be wrong not to be so hopeful. She did want to choose him, at one point, and he was stupid enough to turn her down.

But Jason knew he didn’t have her heart to its fullness the way she had his.

And, to be honest to himself and everyone who spectates, he was far too late into this little fiasco of theirs, when already she had Dick and Tim long before he even came into the picture. If he were to insert himself into this narrative, it was far, far too late.

He loved her too late.

Perhaps, there could be a chance he wasn’t.

And maybe it wasn’t his choice to make.

It was always hers.

“Thank you for coming along,” she said, and the winds blew a bit of her hair and he could feel it tickle his shoulder, even with his clothes on. “I’m glad I convinced you.”

Jason was wrong.

This was the moment of today he didn’t want to forget.

Just her. Alone with him. Under the calming night sky where the stars littered about where it wouldn’t reach the city. It wasn’t so often he got to have that.

“I am, too.”

It lasted a lot longer than he thought, and a lot sooner than he’d hoped. He only had so much time with her.

But it was all the more fulfilling, even when it was far from enough.

 .

Dick:

His brothers were asleep over at the back. Everyone was exhausted.

Her especially.

But that didn’t stop her from never missing a second of watching the views of the countryside, this time at night, flashing about like fast moving pictures before her behind the glass. She was tired, he could see, but she wouldn’t let herself fall asleep.

He’ll take her out again. Soon enough.

It wasn’t so easy to mend their relationship after the damage he’d done, not like Tim, but it was even more rewarding each time he made her laugh, or even just witness that glint in her eye when she sees the stars or the mountains or the wonders of the world she doesn’t so often see.

“Hey,” he coughed. “Talk to me. I’m close to passing out here.”

“Don’t you dare.”

She stopped looking out the window and looked to the windshield onwards. He had so much to say, so much to pour out. There might never be anything at all to explain what he wanted to tell her, thank her, first of all, for how well things have been going.

Thank her, most of all, for being the most wonderful human being she was.

“You really are amazing,” he started. It was a first. “What you're doing… I don’t think even Bruce has done anything like it.”

He heard her snort. “Bruce has donated millions to-“

“He doesn’t actually visit the sites, or visit the children, or the victims, or even talk to these people. He just hands them a check. You. You’re something else. You show up and actually become the beacon of hope for these kids. It’s what they really need.”

All it made her do was laugh. “I’m not that-“

“I haven’t seen anything like that since Diana.”

“Are you actually comparing me to fucking Wonder Woman?”

Her disbelief, it wasn’t at all from humility. Because she was right. She wasn’t Wonder Woman.

“No,” Dick said. “Diana Spencer.”

Princess of Wales. The People’s Princess.

The woman who wouldn’t let a child go on without having them in her arms, especially when she knew they needed it.

Y/N didn’t want to get into that, but if she’d asked him, he would have told her why he thought that way.

Y/N was too real. Someone you’d look at and actually believe was in front of you, someone so believable yet still so beautiful.  

“Thank you.”

It was dangerous to look away from the road, but he couldn’t help it. Dick glanced over at her just to catch the way she was smiling at her right then.

“Dick…” she sighed.

“Hmm?”

“My leg’s pretty tired now…”

Oh. Of course. She’d been walking all day. She’s not supposed to be up all day.

“Do you mind if I-“

“Please. Not at all.”

“Thanks.”

It wasn’t at all weird, even with it being a first for him.

But had he really succeeded then? To fix what he’d so horribly broken? Did the strain come to relax? And had all else been forgiven?

Y/N took off her prosthetic and sighed, let her back rest onto the seat and she closed her eyes.

Then, as if the words hadn’t already choked him into silence, she reached over and held his hand.

Dick held it tight, even with her asleep, and never for a second did he let it go.

 .

Tim:

He’d been awake for a while, but it was only until they reached her apartment when she sat up from lying on her seat, which she hadn’t even reclined, otherwise he would have choked to death with the limiting space he already had.

Which pushed him further to insist he go walk her to her door. It wasn’t too far off, but they had to cross the street. Tim and Y/N stepped out the door and she waved goodbye to his two brothers from outside the window.

Today wasn’t one he’d ever forget, not even if he’d try. To remember her face, the children, the cries of laughter at each time she spoke, he should have taken more pictures. What he had, or rather, what he saw Dick had taken that he’d ask for when they go home, surely wouldn’t be enough. It was well into the night, late and a bit chilly in the midst of October. Y/N looked tired, though there was that smidge of contentment that glowed at each pull of a smile, especially when they stood under the lamppost just outside her apartment door.

“Thank you so much, Tim,” she went on. “You deserve so much more credit.”

“No. I don’t. This was all your doing.”

And nothing she says can change that.

“Yeah, but you dealt with the paperwork and the checks and everything-“

“All the money was yours. I never had to pull out a cent.”

“Still,” she shrugged. “I wouldn’t have done any of this without you.”

Her face.

Loving her will always be the best decision anyone could ever make, if it was at all a decision in the first place. It surely wasn’t a choice of his. It wasn’t something so sudden at all. It was from years and months of gradual development that made it so hard to climb out of. His best friend. One he fell so hard for and thought would have never felt the same.

But should he tell her the truth now? That he’d always loved her and never stopped? Even when he told her, and himself, that he did? Would it to be right to make yet another confession and possibly break what they had now? For good?

No risk could match her worth. His own happiness wouldn’t match her worth.

He was lucky, then, that she made him happy anyway.

“I stole this.”

A teddy bear with a red bow. He pulled it out from his hoodie. “I hope the kids won't mind.”

And that was the last of her smile that he’d see for that day, and he let himself believe it was the brightest, most beautiful one just yet. She took the toy, lovingly stared at it while her finger brushed over the bow.

Then she hugged him so tightly around his neck. He couldn’t bear not to hug her back for even a second too late.

“I love you, Tim.”

Eyes shut, and the tug at his heart that will forever haunt him of his mistakes.

It hurt, more than anything, that he was sure she said it much too lightly for it to mean the way he wanted her to mean it.

Best friend. That was who he was.

He shouldn’t think so much of it. He can’t cause himself any more lingering thoughts.

He was her best friend.

That, he will always be. No matter the cost.

“I love you, too.”

When she disappeared into the door, it took him a while before that hurt morphed into a smile, and the happenings of today turn into nothing more than sheer memories.

.

.

.

.

.

Click.

Shift.

Thud.

Like the parade had settled and in came the storm.

It was just laughable at that point, how differently the air shifted the moment he walked back into that car and not a word was spoken. Not by any of them.

Dick.

Jason.

And Tim.

Dick had his eyes on the windshield. Jason out the window, hand over his lips.

Tim settled on the passenger seat next to Dick, and even he knew not to turn and look at any of them in the eye.

None of them had to.

It was so silent, it was haunting. They should be terrified of each other, knowing what they were all capable of. But all it was, was laughable.

It was laughable, how three brothers who knew each other well enough, too well, far too well, to possibly ignore what just happened over the course of just one day.

Not a smile, a word, a remark, or even a nod.

For a moment, Dick twitched his jaw. It must have hurt from all that gritting.

And Jason. For fuck’s sake. His hand should have been a goner by now with how much he clenched his fists.

They all wanted to speak up.

But oh, they didn’t have to at all. They didn’t even have to look at each other.

Not when they had been since dawn that day. Watched each other, knew exactly what the other thought.

Tim was first to turn to Dick.

Dick’s face was blank, and he eyed Tim like he was just so uninteresting.

Then they both turned back at Jason, who’d already had his brows raised at them both.

Jason shook his head and looked back out the glass. It was starting to rain.

It didn’t take long for Dick to start up the car and drive away.

He knew, they all knew, that all this will have to be settled. This strain. This obvious. The elephant they had long ignored and never confronted.

It was too hard to ignore now.

And when they don’t, it won't be pretty.

-----

MASTERLIST | 3 BIRDS 1 STONE MASTERLIST

-----

A/N: I’LL TAKE THIS AS A CHANCE TO DISCLOSE THE FUTURE FOR THE SERIES. 3 BIRDS 1 STONE WILL END AFTER 15 CHAPTERS, WITH THE LAST TWO BEING THE PRE-FINALE AND THE FINALE TO BE POSTED 24 HOURS APART. I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED IT SO FAR. HERE’S TO FINISHING THIS THING.

-----

MAIN TAGLIST:

@everyartistwas-firstanamateur​, @sarcasmismyfirstlove​, @damned-queen-of-gotham​, @idkmanicantenglish​, @wunderstell​, @birdy-bat-writes​, @get-loki​, @everyday-imfangirling​, @comic-nerd-dc​, @multifandomgirl-us​, @icequeen208​, @offendedfishnoises​, @egdolan​, @xemiefx​, @arkhamtoddler​, @elsenthal​, @mythicbitchx, @lucy-roo​, @roseangel013bf​, @loxbbg​, @reclusive-chicken-nugget​, @l-inkage​, @http-cherries​, @river9noble​, @zphilophobiaz​, @annoylinglyaries​, @knightfall05x​, @hyp-oh-critical​, @satan-s-ass​, @1-800-starmora​, @flowersgirl02, @nahcho​, @thatonecroc​, @trixie-bb​, @daddyissuesmademe​, jasonsbitch, @shadowsndaisies​ @jaybirdbooty​​ @writing2sirvive​​

SERIES TAGLIST:

@spaceservicestation​, @thedeadlythoughts​​, @vanessafabricius​, @pinkforest05​

[ddarker-dreams]

How do all the other stands feel ab sr? I’m sure they all somewhat get along, right?

i’ve been wanting to give a longer, traditional hc style post about this!! since you’ve asked it’s the perfect opportunity to express my thoughts on it. it’s more of a combination of SR with the user and their stand, i hope that’s okay hjrktme

Bruno Bucciarati;

Sticky Fingers is the first Stand from Bucciarati’s group that you got to see! So there’s a special place in your heart for it. By extension, Bruno was the first person to see Scarlet Ribbons. SR was very inquisitive during their initial meeting, since it’s the first time she ever saw a Stand other than herself. She was looking around a lot, and lowkey wondering where are this things bows at?? 

Though Stand powers wildly vary from one another, Bruno was able to give you a general explanation of what to expect from SR. He didn’t want to go too overboard with advice because he feels a natural fighting style stemming from your own abilities/instinct is best, especially since your Stand is created from your soul. He basically just told you to go with your gut, which at the time felt a bit frustrating... it turned out to be good advice though! 

Sticky Fingers and SR have almost opposite abilities in a way? SR can close up gaps whereas Sticky Fingers opens them up. It’s not uncommon that when you and Bruno are chatting, that your respective Stands are just kinda messing around in the distance. Sticky Fingers likes making zippers in walls, and SR tries to see if she can close them with ribbons... it doesn’t work like that, but it’s kinda endearing to see them interact with one another lmao.

Giorno Giovanna;

It’s gonna be super cute okay. Giorno in general might give the impression of knowing what he’s doing when it comes to romance, but he really is just winging it and kinda going ??? the entire time. Meanwhile, Gold Experience is going ham with SR, pulling all the stops to impress her (and you, by extension). His Stand makes flowers of a striking red color, trying to match the shade of SR’s ribbons!! Mostly poppies, tulips, and occasionally roses. 

Giorno is kinda curious how SR seems to be out a lot of the time, he’s thinking should I do the same thing with GE...? You’ll be doing exercises, and SR is there bringing a water bottle over to you. Or when you’re cooking, SR is hovering over your shoulder wanting to help out as well. She’s just almost always around, even if only in the background to explore her surroundings. It makes Giorno let GE out more often, subconsciously. 

He does ask you about it once, and you just kinda shrug and say SR likes the freedom to do as she pleases. Since she isn’t rambunctious like Pistols, you don’t see the harm in letting her roam around.  

Gold Experience wants to try making ribbons, but the best it can do is creating ribbon eels. It’s not quite the same, but it’s a solid effort. Giorno just has to stop GE from putting the ribbon eel on his head in the same way SR has a ribbon on hers. Mista was around to witness this historical event, and no, he does not intend on letting Giorno live it down. Giorno’s grateful he stopped it from actually happening though. 

Guido Mista;

Let’s just say your Stands together can be pretty chaotic. The first time you met Mista, and he realized you were a Stand user like himself, he had a very pressing question. When you showed him SR, he looked at it for a moment, as if in deep thought. 

“D-does... yours talk too?” 

Mista passed Polpo’s test only to be gifted talented, albeit troublesome little gremlins. Before he realized giving Pistols food is a reliable method of calming them down, it was a war zone. One of the mornings where the two of you had to do some standard protection fee collection, he looked like a borderline zombie. Lamenting that the Pistols refused to let him sleep, and asked if you’d please use SR to cover their mouths lmao. They were protesting the entire time, trying to convince you not to do it.

When Number Five starts crying, SR makes a little ribbon to put on his head!! It’s super cute and Mista’s heart is just leaping in his chest. Then, of course, all the other Pistols want one bc equal attention!! When the two of you aren’t paying solid attention to your Stands, you’ll sometimes spot SR testing how many accessories she can fit on the tiny Pistols. It isn’t a lot but they’re insistent on trying. 

Pistols are always trying to get SR to do crazy stunts for their entertainment. Eventually, you had to lock your refrigerator with her ribbons to prevent the Pistols from stealing your food. But when you’re busy, the Pistols keep trying to convince SR to undo them so they can snack. She actually felt bad for them once, released the restriction, and the Pistols went to town on your leftovers. : (

Mista felt pity for you though and offered to take you out to get more food!! So it all worked out for his benefit in the end. The Pistols do not take issue in reminding him of this as well, saying that they’re the reason he got to go on a date with you. :’ )

Pannacotta Fugo;

He remained fiercely adamant on keeping Purple Haze from you for the longest time. Fugo hates how his Stand practically comes out of its own autonomy whenever you’re in the vicinity, wanting to get a closer look at you. There have been a lot of close calls when you first got to know when another, leading to Fugo abruptly leaving in conversations. 

Your Stands get along well once Fugo feels comfortable enough to let Purple Haze out around you. Since SR is a long ranged Stand, she can do her cute ribbon tricks from a distance outside of the virus’ range!! Though she has a habit of trying to get closer, just out of curiosity. Fugo gets freaked out when this happens though, so she waits until he’s distracted with talking to you (a little genius)! 

Purple Haze makes the biggest puppy dog eyes at SR, which humiliates Fugo to no end. He gives his Stand intense talks when you’re not around, telling him to keep it cool, he doesn’t want you thinking he’s an idiot. But as soon as he even mentions SR, Purple Haze gets all thrilled and is like !!! So it’s ultimately counterproductive. Fugo just hopes you don’t put two and two together, over why his soul likes yours so much. It’s his daily prayer...

Fugo has an embarrassing habit of doodling ribbons on stuff he’s working on, when he starts zoning out. When he realizes what it is he’s doing he gets flustered about it, cursing underneath his breath and hoping that you don’t happen to come by and notice. Unfortunately for him, as SR likes to see what everyone is up to, she came over and saw what he was doing. After putting two and two together, she gave him a nod and a thumbs up on his doodles. Didn’t snitch to you though, so the two of them have a mutual understanding. :’)

Narancia Ghirga;

He wants so badly to impress you with Aerosmith. Narancia will whip his Stand out in your presence at any given opportunity, having it do a few flips and tricks more than necessary. Then he stares over to see what you and SR think about it... she once clapped in Aerosmith’s honor. It was all Narancia could think about for the rest of the day. 

The two Stands typically just play around with one another. Aerosmith likes to make little ribbon shaped clouds, and SR attempts making a plane shape out of her ribbons. It’s not quite the same, but she’s trying!! Narancia finds it adorable, and tries to make requests of shapes and stuff for her to make. SR does her best to fulfill the requests, concentrating hard on the task!!

Since SR enjoys making hair accessories, she’s tried to make a bandanna similar to Narancia’s for you. Though she ultimately scrapped the idea, giving you a disapproving look and fastening it back into the normal bow it normally is lmao. When you mentioned this behavior to Narancia he was like wait, what?? Lemme see! But if SR doesn’t find something fashionable, she doesn’t have any intention on doing it again. So he’s outta luck...

It doesn’t stop him from asking about it. He just can’t believe that your Stand thought about him when he wasn’t around!! It touched him in a way he never knew possible. It’s also a bit of a relief since you’re often the subject of his thoughts. 

Leone Abbacchio;

Similar in a sense to Fugo, where he didn’t want Moody Blues around you that much at first. He takes a much more serious approach to his Stand than others, since it’s deeply rooted in his past trauma. It’d actually be one of the few moments he might snap at you, should you ask to see his Stand one too many times. Not out of malicious intent, he’s just... very disillusioned with Moody Blues at first.

You two had a job which required some investigative work, the client having seemingly disappeared with some goods that belonged to Passione. Figuring out what happened with the merchandise was essentially child’s play for Moody Blues, a replay showing the full extent of the events. Abbacchio wasn’t keen on showing you his Stand, but it couldn’t be helped any longer.

Unlike the others who tended to pester him on the extent of Moody Blues’ abilities, you just complimented him. Saying that it’s similar in utility to your Stand. You willingly comparing yourself to him, and in a positive light nonetheless, kinda had him at a loss for words. 

He didn’t really offer a strong rebuttal like he normally would, so you assumed he didn’t think much of your comment. Which, of course, couldn’t be further from the truth. If you could see good in him of all people, then well... there was a lot for him to think about that night.

After this incident, he’s noticeably just a tad kinder to you in general. What you said meant a lot to him. Obviously not enough to make all his self deprecation go away overnight, but it just gave a small glimmer of hope. That maybe he can someday be better.

Trish Una;

Another person that I picture SR being especially adorable with!! After the events of Bruno betraying the boss, you and SR would be feeling hurt on Trish’s behalf. You instantly draw the parallels of living a carefree life, only for Passione/gangsters to come in and essentially ruin everything.

While dealing with the pain of rejection from her father figure, Trish also wonders if you consider her less important. Since your original job was to protect her, due to being the boss’ daughter, wouldn’t it make sense you don’t care about her now that it’s no longer your job to?

SR covers the spot where her hand was severed with a bow, even after Giorno properly heals it. Trish just looks at you confused, and you explain it’s your Stand’s way of wanting to help her feel better. That where her father had inflicted pain, Trish has the support and strength from you and herself to overcome it. 

Needless to say, Trish thinks highly over you, the feeling extending over to Spice Girl. During your meetups after everything is over, Spice Girl and Scarlet Ribbons come out and embrace one another!! Well, it’s more like SR goes for the hug, and Spice Girl is just :’) woah affection. Trish finds it a little embarrassing at first, but secretly loves and it and looks forward to it. Though she does wish Spice Girl was a tad more discreet. 

During Trish’s travels for her singing career, if there’s anything that even vaguely reminds her/Spice Girl of you, she snaps a photo to text to you. It’s mostly red hair accessories and clothing, which she of course purchases. Spice Girl misses SR a lot, so expect to receive a lot of texts asking how you and your Stand are doing. 

When Scarlet Ribbon spots Trish’s name popping up on your phone, she immediately brings it over. The Stand impatiently shoves your phone in your face, as if to say respond now!! It’s Trish, it’s important!! Scarlet Ribbons loves her a lot 🥺 especially since Trish sends her accessories...

[thestarwrites]

All Right, All Might: Ch. 9

Word Count: 3,030

Rating: PG-13 (Mentions of a sexual nature)

Painting: Toshinori Yagi X FemOC

The UA Guidance Counselor, a quirk user with Pathokenesis, is shocked to find out her personal hero All Might is coming to be a teacher. The road they walk as a parallel starts to merge and there’s no telling what could happen. The attack on the USJ has sparked a lot of things from happening – including a new level of relationship for Toshinori and Keri. And now with the sports festival in two weeks, she starts counseling the 1-A students, and she gets to know class 1-A better than before.

---

CHAPTER NINE: TRYING OUR BEST

“Miss Chairo- you wanted to see me?” The calm and clear voice of Tenya Ida came though the doorway with a soft hesitation.

“Yes- come in Tenya, make yourself at home,” the guidance counselor smiled and took a deep breath, “I’m sure you of all people understand why you’re here today.”

He gave a nod, sitting on the sofa, “Yes miss. About yesterday.”

Keri smiled, “I just want to check in on you... see how you’re doing after everything, you were a real hero yesterday and I know that kind of fear that comes with not knowing what to do but having to act anyway.” She set a cup of tea in front of the boy on the coffee table, “You have that ability to act with purpose, I saw it also the other morning when you stopped everyone from stampeding out of the cafeteria.”

Ida blushed and he smiled shyly, “Thank you miss Chairo...”

“I just tell it like it is, Tenya,” she smiled, “Let’s talk about it, let’s try to unpack it from yesterday- you were a mess when I saw you. How did you feel?”

Taking a deep breath he looked down at his fists on his knees, “I... all I could think in my head was that I was abandoning them. That I was leaving them one man down while I ran. I thought, what if I’m not fast enough, what if there are villains waiting to ambush someone running for help?”

She nodded and listened to him, her forehead began to glow as she wordlessly reassured the boy, “Those are all very valid concerns, I haven’t been doing support hero work long, but I have known a lot of heroes - do you know the BMI Hero Fatgum?”

“Yeah! I’ve heard of him…”

“He always was afraid of hurting people or not being fast enough to save people - heroes are always afraid. But its the ability to dig deep and push forward that really makes a good hero. And you really do deserve your place here at UA. All of the members of your class do, you all have proved how tenacious you all are.”

Tenya took a deep breath and nodded, “I guess all heroes are afraid - do you get afraid Miss Chairo?”

“Of course I do. I was afraid yesterday when I found you running up to the school. But we had to act, hm?” He nodded and took a deep breath, “But it is completely necessary to decompress and talk about incidents after they happen. It’s important to talk about how we feel. Because if you bottle things up, or try to take things into your own hands… well, things don’t turn out well most of the time.”

He nodded and took a deep breath, “Talk about how I feel.” He nodded again, “Maybe as class rep I can help the other students keep being reminded of this valuable lesson!”

She chuckled and sighed, “Tenya I think that’s a wonderful sentiment, that’s why I wanted to become a hero therapist. Because I think it’s very important. So if you ever feel anything start to pile up on you, or you feel out of control, or afraid - you come and talk to me. And if not me, any of your classmates. Don’t forget now, okay?”

“I wont! I promise!” He grinned, “It does make me feel better knowing you were scared yesterday too…”

Keri smiled, “I’m glad, I always want you to remember, heroes are just people. You and your classmates got a very real taste of something very scary. You’re all handling it very well. I’m so proud.”

Tenya grinned wider, “Well I will do my best to never let you down, Miss Chairo!”

She chuckled, “Okay Tenya, just try your best… go on back to class now, hm?”

He nodded and bowed, always so formal, “Have a good rest of your day Miss Chairo!” He waved as he left, taking his backpack with him.

After Ida, she had some shorter visits with children who were more or less fine; Mineta, Sato, Shouji, Kaminari, Tokoyami, Hagakure, and Sero. They were very brief, mostly just a yes miss I’m fine, and back to class. She didn’t sense any trauma there.

The only one who came in who needed a little more counseling was the boy Aoyama - he was hiding the entire battle. He felt regret and fear about it. She thought back to what she said to Eijiro - some heroes don’t know how they fit. She’d have to think on how to help this blonde boy.

——

The final face before her lunchtime meeting with Izuku and Toshinori that she saw was the sweet round face of Ochako Uraraka. Keri smiled and took a deep breath, “Good morning Ochako, please come on in!”

The girl grinned, “How are you this morning miss Keri?”

“I’m doing just fine, especially since all of you kids are alright now,” She smiled, “And that Aizawa is even his normal miserable self.”

Ochaco giggled as she sat down on the couch, “I’m glad everyone is okay too… I was really worried about the teachers, but Aizawa, Thirteen and All Might all seem to be okay.”

“Yeah, you all are so resilient, how are you doing?”

“I mean, I’m a little scared but… you know, the teachers and the police are gonna protect us! That’s what they do.” She said hopefully.

Keri smiled, “Yes, they certainly will do their best - but don’t forget Ochaco, you also have to continue to work on getting stronger and having a strategy for when things don’t pan out as you hope.”

She nodded, “Of course Miss Keri,” she hummed, “Uhm - can I ask you a personal question?”

Blinking the woman smiled, “Sure, why not?”

“Mina said she saw you running through the hall and crying yesterday… are, are you okay?”

Keri blushed a little and smiled bashfully, “I was just worried is all, it was a long day, and I had to maintain normalcy for everyone, it just gets to you sometimes.”

“Is it…. Cause of All Might? Cause he was hurt?” Ochaco blushed.

She smiled a little, “Yeah… I was really worried about him. He pushes himself really hard you know? And so does Midoriya.” Her cheeks lit red at the mention of the boy, and Keri smiled, “I’m sure you were worried about Izuku as well?”

“W-well yeah… I mean… he’s my… friend, right? Of course I was…”

“Girl to girl - I think we both had the same worry.” Keri smiled warmly.

Ochaco bit her lip, “I- I mean— I just wanted him to be okay! I mean — you and All Might - well that’s different! I saw you guys in the hall this morning holding hands— Not like, not like I want to hold hands with Deku!”

“Breathe, Ochaco,” Keri smiled, sending soothing energy over her, “You are in a safe place and I do not discuss sessions. Izuku is a handsome young man, and he’s strong and courageous. A lot of the boys in your class are pretty remarkable. There’s nothing to be ashamed of thinking good things about someone you admire… and you’re right, All Might and I were holding hands, we’re just… trying it out, you know?”

“I thought you guys were already dating when I met you.” She blinked.

Keri laughed, “No… no I only met him some months before you all did, I was working here my first year last year, and at the end of the semester, All Might came into my office thinking it was where Principal Nezu was located, and he scared the hell out of me, I’ll tell you.”

Ochaco laughed a bit at that, the heat being taken off of her developing feelings, “How did you get so close?”

She smiled fondly, “Well, he is the Symbol of Peace, right? He’s supposed to be unbreakable, infallible, strong and sturdy and happy — All Might is still a man, like anyone else. He gets scared, and hurt, and upset too. I just offered him someone to talk to.”

“So you’re like, his therapist?”

“More like a friend, he listens to me too,” She smiled, “We just kind of… hit it off I guess. We became really close friends - then we got into a fight before school started. And since we made up, we’ve decided to see if we could be more than friends I guess.” She blushed.

The teen smiled, “Well I hope you guys stay more than friends.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well,” she started, “All Might deserves to have someone he can share his time with - the tabloids have never shown him with anyone. It’s kind of sad if he has to save the world, and he has no one to hold him when he’s sad. Everyone needs someone to hold them up.” Keri smiled fondly at the girl, she was certainly as sweet as Izuku was, “And you’re so nice, Miss Keri - and you always check on us - I mean, you checked on me the day of the entrance exam… you made sure I wasn’t in shock and helped me get to the bathroom when I was queasy. You’re both just… cute together I think.”

Keri smiled, “Well, thank you Ochaco… that’s very nice of you to say. And you’re right, everyone needs someone to hold them up. So don’t be afraid of holding others up if you feel you want to, okay? Let your gut tell you what to do.”

She nodded and smiled, the bell for lunch rang, “Oh! I’m so hungry - I’m going to go meet up with my friends, but thank you for taking care of us, miss Keri.”

Smiling she nodded, “Don’t stop believing in the good things in the world, Ochaco.” Waving as the girl left she sighed and pulled the privacy curtain down, sitting on the sofa with a tired sigh. This was more than she was used to, she was a little tapped out from using her quirk for so long but she could bear up alright with some tea and food.

--

She jumped when the door suddenly flung open, “Hey!” The tall muscular blonde who opened the door cheered, “I am here! With young Midoriya!”

Keri just sighed and nodded, “Hello boys, come on in,” it was unintentionally punctuated with a yawn.

Deki frowned, “Are you alright Miss Chairo?”

Smiling at the green haired boy she nodded, quickly also seeing concern on her boyfriend’s face as he deflated, locking the office door, “Yes yes, just tired. I’ve been using my quirk for hours.”

Toshinori came over to her on the sofa, and he patted his lap, “You’re not overdoing it right? Do you feel nauseous at all? Here - why don’t you lie down here while I speak with young Midoriya? I’m sure a small nap would do you good.”

She blushed, “N- no I’m fine, promise.” If Izuku wasn’t here, she would curl into Toshinori like a tired kitten, but, this was school. No matter how close Toshinori and Izuku were, they are his teachers, “You don’t have to worry so much, I’m fine, honestly. You and Izuku just, talk okay?”

He nodded, “Well- I have a free period after lunch so… offer stands, okay?”

She nodded and went about making tea for her hero and her student, “Let me get some tea going…”

Toshinori looked to Midoriya and he gave a small sigh, “Fifty minutes.”

Keri winced gently at the frankness of her boyfriend’s voice, seemingly unbothered. The two of them had already had this talk, but he had some things to bring to the attention of his protégée.

“H-huh?” Izuku looked shocked, “fifty minutes?!”

Toshinori nodded, “That’s about how long I can use my power now… I overdid it too many times.”

“I’ll say,” Patho chimed in causing a look from both men.

“That Nomu was a real tough customer…” the blonde continued, “it took a lot out of me. At this point I can barely even look like All Might for an hour and a half.”

Izuku looked down at his knees and he grunted softly, “I’m so sorry, I should have just —!”

Toshinori burst into laughter, blood erupting from his mouth as he did so, “You don’t need to apologize for anything!”

“Toshi! Cover your mouth you’re getting blood all over my office!” Keri scolded.

He cleared his throat, using the old stained ladies handkerchief Keri had lended him to hold against his lips, “MAN, we are alike, you and me, kid.”

Keri sighed and came over, setting the tea tray on the little coffee table, “Have some tea, Izuku.”

“Thanks…” he said with a little shock in his voice.

After a pause in the room, she sighed, “I will take a walk, I’ve been cooped up in this room all day, I’d like some air.” She leaned in and kissed Toshinori’s head.

He reached for her hand and kissed it, “Knock the way we talked about when you get back.”

“Yes, Mister number one,” she smirked and waved, “Don’t be too hard on young Izuku now, you already are scaring him spewing blood like a sprinkler.”

“B-bye Miss Chairo.” He stuttered and looked back to All Might.

All Might watched her fondly before turning back to Izuku, “I brought you here to talk about the sports festival…”

--

Keri stepped out of her office and stretched, heading down the hall to the balcony near her and Recovery Girl’s office. She was worried about Toshinori - though when wasn’t she?

“Hello my dear…” the smoky and familiar voice of Midnight cooed from behind her as a hand dragged onto her back, “Going for a walk?”

She jumped slightly, “Ah- Nemuri- Yes… I needed some fresh air, Ive been using my quirk all morning - how did the meeting go?”

“Oh you haven’t been filled in by your man?” She smirked.

Patho blushed, “He is busy speaking with a student right now, I haven’t gotten the chance to ask him yet.”

“Well, All Might went on a big monologue about how this Shigaraki fellow is a spoiled brat - honestly that man is smart. But we don’t know much. Honestly we’re all just worried this is turning the small-time thugs and villains into a team to try and overthrow society.”

Nodding the younger woman took a deep breath, “That’s what I was afraid of too.”

“How are the children, though?”

Looking up she nodded, “They’re doing okay. Some of them are a little shaken up, especially Tenya Ida, but most of them just kind of put their trust in us and the school to continue to protect them, bu they know they have to work hard to be stronger. Best case scenario, really.”

Nemuri took a deep breath, “And how is All Might?”

“Well… you know him, he blames himself for not being there from the start. We were talking last night I had to kind of make him snap out of it, that self-deprecating hole he gets himself into.” She sighed.

“Last night?” She smirked.

“Oh- uh,” Keri blushed, “Toshinori stayed at my place last night, to get some actual rest.”

A grin spread over Midnight’s face, “So, there’s something I’ve been DYING to know…” Looking at her with skeptical eyes, Keri waited for her two continue, “Is All Might’s manhood bigger when he’s All Might?”

Keri sputtered, inhaling a breath and coughing wildly as she held to her chest, “NEMURI!”

“What! Inquiring minds want to know, Patho.” She purred.

Wiping her lips she shook her head, face furiously red, forehead glowing, “W-we haven’t— we’ve only kind of made out! We’re taking things slow! Oh my god why are you even thinking about his — his —“

“His cock?”

Keri started glowing, visibly shaken by this line of questioning, “MIDNIGHT PLEASE.” She groaned, “Why do you do this to me!”

“Because honey, you’re just so innocent about it all,” She gasped, “WAIT - are you a a virgin….”

Patho was still glowing as waves of embarrassment flooded the hallways, “What! N- no! No I’m not okay! I’ve been with someone!”

Putting her hands on her hips, midnight huffed, “I don’t believe you. I want a name.”

“Oh my god you don’t have to believe me!” She sighed and ran a hand over her face, trying to calm down, “Taishiro Toyomitsu.”

Midnight blinked for a few moments and then she held up her arms, “Am I supposed to know who that is?”

She groaned, “The hero Fatgum?? His name is Taishiro.”

“FATGUM? Are you serious? When? How long?”

“We met when I was in college okay! We dated for three years. It just didn’t work out, we were too different and he was just really committed to being a hero, and I was too committed to being a therapist.” She sighed, “Happy now?”

“Does All Might know?”

Blushing Patho shook her head, “No, and I don’t want to talk about past stuff with him yet. He’s really self conscious and he’s too sweet to admit it but he gets jealous I think. I don’t know, I just want him to be assured in how I feel before we go into our pasts.”

The older woman’s face softened, “You really do love him, don’t you.”

“I… I mean,” She took a deep breath, “Yes, I love him - I’m crazy about him. He’s the most wonderful man in the world and I just want to take care of him.”

She smiled, “I’m glad. I used to see girls he’d have flings with… most of them were fame whores or gold diggers, you know. And Toshinori is just too nice to understand sometimes.”

“I know he is. He thinks the world is a great place full of good people. He gets taken advantage of, but he never complains.”

Midnight hugged the girls shoulders, “He deserves someone like you, Keri, truly, someone who really does care.”

“Thanks Nemuri, you’re a great friend when you’re not being a pervert.” She laughed.

Midnight smirked, “Well listen honey, when you find out the answer to my question, I want to know,” She smirked, “Gotta run! Time to teach, kisses!”

Keri slapped her forehead and groaned, “I need to go lay down.”

[metazensae]

Dating my OCs

Ever wanted to know how a kiss would go down with one of my FoB OCs? Ever wanted to know what their dating life would be???

Probably not, but *I* have!

Everything is under the cut bc I’m pretty sure y’all are sick of my bullshit lol

Zeke

Gaining affection from Zeke is kinda like hitting the lottery. Rare, valuable, and difficult to obtain, but not necessarily love of the highest quality. I mean, it’s not all bad - he would smother you in kisses every chance he got and by that alone, it could be worth it. However, his love comes with multiple caveats. 1) You’re never going to feel secure that you actually have his love. It won’t be clear if he sees you as a friend or something more - even if he’s vocalized his agreement to being in a relationship. However confusingly enough, the mood and atmosphere of your special moments together are way too intimate for you to accept that his feelings are only platonic. 

2) Similar to above, he’s going to seem like he’s hot and cold with a few of his other close friends too. You will either deal with eternal jealousy or learn to ignore his weird might-be-friends-might-be-in-love behavior.

3) He somewhat dissociates during physical intimacy, which can leave you feeling frustrated and unfulfilled. It’s not you. It’s him, but it will be something you will have to accept or work through.

Kissing/dating him can be emotional (and sometimes physical) torture. Would not suggest.

Emile

Passionate and sensual, Emile makes you feel like all your dreams are coming true. His kisses feel like you could just die now having experienced true euphoria (and you just might if he’s feeling it too...). Just know that the moment you part ways, he won’t be able to recall your name or the LIFE CHANGING NIGHT the two of you shared, so don’t bother speaking to him if you see him by chance in public later on.

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) He likes sex. A LOT. You might not be able to keep up with him.

2) He is emotionally distant. He’s not going to talk about anything but the here and now. Don’t plan your future together. He knows you won’t be in it.

3) He doesn’t like drama, despite being the generator of a lot of it.

4) He is not afraid to ghost the fuck out of you. In fact, he’s somewhat of a master at that.

5) He’s hopelessly in love with Zeke. He will drop you in a heartbeat if Zeke so much as looks at him.

Glass

Glass is full of tricks and never boring. She is a guaranteed fun time, and your level of experience does not have any bearing on this moment with her. But she probably won’t tell you her name or drop any hints on where or how to find her again, and you will be very upset about that fact.

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) She’s straight.

2) You won’t.

Nami

Nami has THE SOFTEST LIPS OF ALL and she will plant them all over your face. She is shy, but gosh darn, her kisses are the sweetest and most intimate.

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) Don’t break her heart, damn you!!!!!

2) Take it slow. She’s still recovering from past trauma.

Jess

Kissing Jess is a little spicier than you’d expect. She’s the lip-biting, make you beg kind of girl, but that certainly doesn’t come across from her unapproachable don’t-even-look-at-me sort of attitude she takes in public spaces.

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) What happens in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom.

Mick

Mick is a GOOD, SHY BOI. His kisses are way too slow and conservative, so if you’re the more fast-moving type, you’re likely to lose patience with him. Just give him time to learn the ropes (or teach him yourself), and you’re in for a treat.

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) He’s a country boy.

2)  He will guaranteed love you forever, so if you’re not into clingy guys, do not approach, Jess...

Erasiste

Era’s got this toxic sort of kiss. In the moment, you feel like you can’t breathe, you seem to see your life flashing before your eyes, and every bad decision you’ve ever made resurfaces, but that look in her eyes makes you feel like you don’t have anything to worry about. She will make it all better, you see? You aren’t really sure if you enjoyed it at the time, but you definitely can’t stop thinking about her and will likely call her back. 

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) She’s probably the best thing that will ever happen to you. Seriously. She’s one good girlfriend. She will take care of everything, especially you.

2) She’s got a career too. Boss ass bitch.

3) Actually, I just have to restate that she’s the best girlfriend you could ever imagine, so go ahead. Date her.

Consort

There is no such thing as kissing Consort. You feel like a filthy sinner for even thinking it. But if you’re quiet, patient, and lucky enough, she may sneak a peck on your cheek or some other exposed skin... Don’t get your hopes up.

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) You won’t.

Fiadhr

Fiadhr is forceful and terrifying. You don’t know if he will kill you tonight or not, and for some that can be a turn on, but for most, it’s triggering at best. You try your best to please him, but his general lack of expression renders those efforts futile. You know he will return, but it will not be on your terms. It never is.

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) Fiadhr is your lord and you are his slave. This is not roleplay. It’s reality. You are a trophy of war.

2) Do everything he says, or he will devour your soul.

Galandhr

Galandhr is a very sweet lover. He’s gonna kiss you the way you wanna be kissed. He’s very breathy, so his kisses will be heavy and humid. Highly suggested. 10/10.

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) Don’t hurt him. I will come after you myself.

2) Fiadhr is his dad and could easily repossess you if he so pleased. Galandhr would fight, but he wouldn’t win. You’d have to watch you boyfriend bleed out in a pool of his own blood.

Strappes

NO. STOP RIGHT THERE. DO NOT KISS THIS MONSTER. She will straight bite off your tongue. Unless you want to bleed out and die, this is NOT recommended.

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) She’s a lesbian. Only girls need apply. 

2) DO. NOT. WHY ARE YOU EVEN CONSIDERING IT!!!!

Cixiem

The moment you see Cici, you knew you’d be kissing her. There’s just something so sensual about the bow of her lips and that inviting smirk she seems to always wear. But when you kiss, you’re fate is sealed. You’re a slave now, and you find that you can’t really remember what it was you wanted before meeting her. Cici is a particularly good choice for people who lack direction, but awful for those who would have wills of their own. 

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) She controls everything.

Brygis

Brygis is hot, but his kisses are totally focused on his own pleasure. He’s a sort of windmill-in-your-mouth, sloppy sort of deal that ... I mean, does that please anyone? He’s going to leave the moment totally satisfied and throw finger guns in your direction, but you will be writing off the experience as one of the worst decisions in your life.

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) He’s a centaur.

2) Horse dick.

Raedleas

RAEDLEAS HAS THE BEST LIPS! BEST LIPS! BEST LIPS! BEST LIPS! You should be kissing 100000/10. He will love you long time and you will totally feel it. Kissing him is immensely satisfying and euphoric, and you will literally be in heaven... until you cross him or intentionally destroy his things... and then he will turn into the paragon of spite. His spite kisses are just as good tho, so I mean, win-win? Honestly, kiss the boy. You need it. He needs it. I need it.

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) Ya boi is more beautiful than you. You know it. He's ok with it. Deal.

2) He’s actually really soft under all that flare and fanfare. IF YOU HURT HIM, I WILL PERSONALLY DESTROY YOU. AND THEN SO WILL HE.

Niedhaus

(Sorry that I do not have a better picture of him)

Extremely chaste and boring. Kissing Niedhaus is like kissing a statue. A glowy statue? But a statue none-the-less. If you’re lucky tho, there’s a chance his kiss/support will fill you with determination and will enough to blast your enemies, so there’s that...

If you date him, here are you caveats:

1) why?

2) no seriously, why would you date him?

3) He has a thing for Raedleas so just... don’t? Like... don’t? Bc you can’t compare to that iridescent rainbow of a god?

Scieppan

Scieppan is a pretty good kisser, but it’s not necessarily a good time. You have the feeling that she’s weighing your abilities and comparing you to much much better lovers like Raedleas. Still, her abilities are just good enough to make it that you don’t particularly care? If she’s choosing to kiss you now, that’s good enough, right?

If you date her, here are your caveats:

1) Just agree with everything she says and does. You will have a much better time.

2) She’s very powerful, so if you ever need something, just ask and she’ll get/make it for you.

Raeran

Raeran’s kisses are a bit too pointed; they know the right places to kiss and execute makeout sessions with accuracy, but there’s something lacking in emotional depth. Still, Raeran is focused on pleasing you, so they aren’t a bad lover... just kinda an open-mouthed mess that makes you wonder why they bother kissing you at all.

If you date them, here are your caveats:

1) Under that cutie face, Raeran is sketchy af. You’ve been warned.

2) Their job requires a lot of travel, so maybe you won’t see them much.

Gedryght

An ok but really inconsistent kisser. Sometimes the kisses are REALLY GOOD, but most of the time, you’re not sure if he’s drunk or stoned, but he can’t seem to get himself together enough to plant a good one on you. Quite honestly, it’s always like this with him, and even though you’ve tried talking to him about sobering up, he always goes off on some nonsense about fate and the stars and that being how things are. He is a mess, but don’t entertain the idea of fixing him. 

If you date him, here are your caveats:

1) He just doesn’t care about anything... because he cares about EVERYTHING.

2) Actually, he is so anxious that making decisions is super paralyzing to him. That’s why he’s always mentally checked out and/or gambling.

3) His character design is going to change, so don’t get used to that hot face.

Bregu / Bo

The All God’s kisses are guaranteed to make you feel powerful and good. Looking into their eyes is like seeing all of the galaxies above. You feel complete and final. They will caress your soul as you kiss and reassure you that you are the best idea they have ever conceived. You love the way they make you feel, like you are immortal, like you can do anything with them, but you are terrified that all of this is just an illusion that will vanish in a passing breeze. One day, your God might move onto someone new, and the thought of it makes you completely sick with jealousy, but ... in reality, there is nothing you can do to prevent that from happening. I’m sorry.

If you date them, here are your caveats:

1) Bregu is the creator of the universe. They will ghost you, but not because they don’t love you with all of their being.

2) Bregu is love incarnate, so there is a lot to go around. Just FYI tho, Bregu plays favorites and it is a problem.

3) Bo is a physical avatar, but they aren’t always in a physical state and not always in a “living body” so to speak.

4) You will suffer physical effects of being in the presence of the All God or their avatar. It’s not always pretty.