#good mom barbara gordon

[vodrae]

Vicki Vale: Tell us more about your family !

Bruce: I dress as a bat to punch people.

Dick: I am the slaught in manslaught.

Barbara: I have 2 children in this room.

Jason: On my 2nd trial of life.

Tim: I'm bi.

Steph: I put my dad in jail.

Cass: 🤙🤙🤙

Duke: I have superpowers.

Damian: Mom told me it's okay to run with swords

Vicki Vale: Okay.

Alfred: I'm British

Vicki Vale: IS NOBODY FUCKING NORMAL AROUND HERE ?!

[morgansunflower]

Stay With Me

Older! Damian Wayne X Grayson! Adopted! Reader

Dick Grayson X Barbara Gordon

Bruce Wayne X Talia al Ghul

Warnings:suggestive content, explicit language, blood injuries, and gunshot wounds.

Words:1318

Damian is thrust with a overwhelming amount of fear as he finds his lover has been shot and is intensive care.

Arthur's notes! Third P. O. V

Requested taglist @too-strong-to-lose

No. No. Dammit. No. His mind cried. Damian drops the phone to the ground, his sisters voice instantly became like a distant echo mixed with his mother's voice pleading for answers. He stands or at least he thinks he does. His heart heavies deeper and deeper with each breath. His breathing becomes shallow from the shock that thrusts into him. He had to be alone. He stepped to the doorframe to the exit of the family room

"Damian? My son answer me, what is wrong?"

"I-I-I need a moment, excuse me"

He quickly departed to his room shutting his door to block anyone from seeing his emotions swell up to his blue eyes that reflect his father. His legs become like jelly as he falls onto his bed. He feels hot tears fall down his skin. He broke sobbing into his hands. His heart was breaking. Damian tried to regain his control before someone heard him. When he was at the hospital everything seemed dark and cold. She was in intensive care and they had heard nothing as of yet. He breaths heavily in and then out. The doctors say she'll never walk again.. She is paralyzed from the waist down. Barbara sobbed holding onto Grayson while tears falling down his face. He pinched the bridge of his nose taking a deep breath, he began to stutter. They loved her so much. She was there child like Grayson was Bruce's child. They were having dinner when the doorbell rang. Y/N answered but was met by Joker. Damian felt deeply responsible for her, because he loved her. He wanted to protect her. This was his fault. That early morning Damian sitting on his bed alone. He'd been cold and distant to everyone around him. They have been in a secret relationship for almost 2 years. No one knows. During her dinner with her parents, she was going to tell them the night she was shot about their relationship. Though she never got the chance to. As the door had opened and the gun was fired, both Grayson and Barbara knocked Joker and his men unconscious. Barbara had to keep Grayson from strangling the monster. Grayson lifted his daughter from the broken shards of glass from the now broken coffee table. He lifts her up to his chest while on the ground on his knees. He begged her to open her eyes while he applied pressure to her wound to keep her alive. When the medics arrived his arms shaked as they took her away. Grayson quickly ran out the door to run after them. Barbara had grabbed his Batgirl themed t-shirt, because his own was now stained with blood. She ran after her husband as they both went into the ambulance. Damian hears his door knocking.

"go away" he coldy said to whomever was disturbing him.

"Damian.. It's Steph.. I just wanted to check on you" she opens the door

"I said go away Brown!!!" he yelled at her.

He could see she had been crying for a while. She sits beside him. He sighed deeply wishing she would go away. He can't break in front of her. He can't let her see he's deeply in love with Y/N.

She softly laughed "I look like a mess and you haven't insulted me.. yet..." her face fell "I've been so worried about her to. I know she's your best friend. I just wanted you to know you're not the only one.. afraid"

That's when he broke. She is. She is so much more to him. He covers his face with his hands trying so desperately to fight his pain. He loves her. She saw goodness in him. When her heart touches his own it's when he feels human. That he can feel things and not be weak because of it. Stephanie hugs him. He held onto his sister needing to feel a since of comfort.

"how long?" she asked "I'm definitely hurt you didn't tell me, but I'm so happy you found someone who can tolerate you"

".. 2 years" he confessed, two beautiful years it was their anniversary yesterday and he couldn't be with her.

"and this whole time I was wondering what, changed you"

Y/N's adopted parents brought her home as she began recovering emotionally and physically. She knew she needed them, even to that it would help them sleep through the night knowing that she was safe. Y/N could barely sleep from the nightmares and heart was broken. Damian had been completely avoiding her. He wasn't strong enough, he knew the second he saw he would fall apart. Months passed by it was Wally and Artemis's wedding anniversary. Grayson didn't want to miss his best friends anniversary party but he really didn't want to leave his daughter alone. Plus Barbara and Dick, wanted to have a romantic weekend after having been under much heartbreak from what their daughter was going through. Though.. What if she needed help? What if she went through her terrible muscle spasms again? Their marriage was on the rocks from the both being on edge. Y/N begged them to go. She knew they needed time to do what made Y/N's mind eternally throw up. So they took her to Wayne Manor.. unknown to the fact that Damian would more than likely be taking better care of her more than anyone else. Y/N sat in her wheelchair in the guest room watching the sun going down. Her heartbroken tears falling down her face. Damian's gut turned into knots. He wanted to wipe her tears away and prove his love to her. She sees his reflection. She stuttered under her breath as her heartbreak brewed into anger.

"where the hell have you been? Are you disgu--" he was quick to cut her off

"no!! That is far from the truth.. Dammit beloved.. Of course not, I love you. I knew the moment I saw you that I'd.." his throat shakes "I'd break, I could not let them see me break"

"I need you Damian.. I don't want to be alone" she cried looking into his eyes

"you won't ever be my love" he promised.

She, moved her hands to roll her wheelchair to get closer to him. He quickly walked to her. He leaned down to his knees, taking her hands into his own tenderly. He wraps his strong arms around her legs tightly. She could have died. He rest his head on her thighs. She wraps her arms around him laying her head on his back. She began to cry grateful she didn't lose him.. He felt the same feelings as his heart was heavy... That night Damian laid beside her holding her. With her heart close to his beating heart. She gave him peace, gave him joy. As she laid sound asleep he reached in his pocket taking out a ring. It was his grandmother's. He wanted Y/N to be his wife. For them to grow old together. As she began to stir in her sleep he smoothly placed the ring in his pocket. He kisses her neck she let out a relaxing humming sound. His heart was beating rapidly as his guilt ate at him. He lays his forehead on her own.

"I should have been there" Damian cried in a apology heavily letting his emotions be heard out to only her ears.

"Dami, no" she kisses him she wraps her arms around him, her throat shakes from the terrifying nightmare. That her love truly felt responsible "please.. I am begging you, don't blame yourself"

He only wanted to hold her, to love her with all his heart and never let her go. She was so beautiful to him, like treasure. He kisses her knuckles lovingly and then the palm of her hand. He moves to lay his head in her neck holding her in his arms.

[fic-ive-read]

Link To The Fic

[awholelotofladybug]

I know this would probably be the hundredth AU I made where Emilie is alive, but the idea hit me: Emilie Agreste marries Bruce Wayne and they become a literal Bat Family?

[val-el]

yk. my mum was in a wheelchair for a long time, and was able to get a surgery that helps her walk. but she can onyl walk so long a day before the pain gets unbarable and only so long she can walk, period, before she'll have to either go back to the chair or get another surgery. and i think if dc went that route with babs instead of whatever tf their doing right now, it'd be kinda nice to see

like. babs getting the surgery to help her walk for a certain reason but knowing it was temporary. us as viewers knowing it's temporary. could be a cool story element, and it reflects a real for scenario for some disabled folks. but at the same time, being disabled and a wheelchair user is such a big part of bab's character at this point, i feel? i'm just having Thoughts about how they could've done this whole thing better, is all

[artemismoorea03]

Jim Gordon had seen a lot of things in all his years as both an officer and Commissioner but for the most part things stayed at an arms length or he was able to easily separate himself from situations. Of course, there were incidents that were a bit harder to seperate from like Barbara becoming paralyzed due to Joker, all the times he or Barabara nearly died, kidnappings, and watching friends and loved ones either die or go down a dark path, but for the most part his life wasn't too crazy.

At least that was until one summer that all changed rather dramatically. In the form of a redhaired teenager showing up at his police station. She was around 17 and was wearing teal pants, a black shirt and a teal headband. But no matter her age or what she was wearing it didn't change the fact that she looked like Barabra had when she was younger.

That mixed with the fact that she specifically asked to see 'Jim Gordon' was something that made all of the Gotham PD point her in his direction. Once they were face to face the girl let out a shaky breath.

"My name is Jasmine Fenton, I'm your second cousin and I need your help protecting my brother from my parents and Batman."

Jim was shocked, blinking confusion away as he held up his hand. "Wait wait. You're my-"

"Second cousin. My mother is Madeline Walker."

Maddie. He knew Maddie though he had only met her a couple of times. Her mom and his dad were siblings. That explained why Jasmine looked so much like Barbara at least.

"Maddie... right, I remember Maddie. Okay, so why does your brother need protection? Specifically from your parents and Batman?"

Jasmine played with her hands. "My... my brother is different, Commissioner Gordon and my parents found out. They hurt him... badly. So we came here because you're the only one who might be able to help us but if Batman finds out we're here then Danny could get hurt again. B-but my parents and the government are wrong out him! H-he's not evil, he's a hero. H-he's a hero but because of what he is... he's labled as evil..."

Jim frowned, "Okay... is your brother a meta?"

Jasmine shook her head. "No."

Damn. Meta protection act wouldnt help here.

"Alright... is your brother with you?"

Jasmine sniffled then nodded. "He's in the car sleeping."

Jim stood up, grabbing his jacket off of the coat hanger. "Take me to him, please."

"You won't hurt him?"

"You have my word."

Jasmine looked at him, her teal eyes filled with more exhaustion and anxiety than any childs should be. Then, she let out a shaky breath and lead him out of the room.

They walked through the police station before Jasmine lead him out to the parking lot to the furthest corner of it where a beat up red station wagon was parked alone. Jasmine then gestured to the back window as Jim looked in.

The seats had been laid down and blankets laid out in a makeshift bed where a teenager around 14 or 15 laid sleeping on it. The teenager had healing bruises on his face and arms as well as a multitude of bandages that Jim could see peeking over the blanket, specifically on his chest. What had Jim the most concerened though was how pale the boy was and how weak his breathing seemed.

Any doubts Jim might have had immediately flew out the window. It no longer mattered who these two kids were they were kids in trouble.

"Why didn't you take him to the hosptial?" Jim asked, looking at Jasmine who looked ready to cry.

"Because if the Government finds out where he is they'll take him away and kill him. What he is isnt supposed to exist and is listed as 'dangerous'." She sniffled.

Jim frowned. The goverment couldn't know yet they took the risk to come to him? They must have been desperate.

"Okay, let me see your keys. I'll take you kids to my place to hide then call my daughter."

"Y-your daughter?" Jasmine asked, handing the keys over regardless.

"Yeah. She's good with these kinds of things and if she can't help I might know somebody else who can." Jim explained, climbing into the drivers seat as Jasmine ran to the other side.

"T-they won't turn us in, right?"

"No, they wont. My daughter is a librarian and my friend is a butler, they know how to keep secrets." He promised, pulling away from the police station in the direction of his house.

He could only hope that he would be able to help these two kids, and that whatever fear they had of the Batman wouldn't end up being justified fears.

[celaenaeiln]

lol hi its me 12 am anon so uh tldr is that i hung out with my friend and we got drunk and we made out or smth but more importantly they made w fuckin list of dick grayson things i started talking abt while drunk

- “bad idea right?” but its dick grayson and his exes

- bruce technically gave dick a family but dick’s the one who like truly made it feel like a family when it comes down to it he’ll fuck up bruce for his siblings

- that one “5 man band” trope and how he can fit as the leader and the heart

- into a specific (blank) to lovers? dick grayson’s got you covered

- the “barney from how i met your mother basketball hoop scene” and “eleanor from the good place mom she never had” but make it dick and bruce (teenage or adult idc i’d love both)

- nightwing could 100% be the figurehead of the dceu (like im talking spiderman level) if dc would do something [this was timed . i talked abt this for like 30 minutes all on its own]

i am . so embarrassed. also i dont know if we made out before or after the rant and i dont know which is more embarrassing .

what. what. "more importan-" NO! NO ARE YOU KIDDING ME THAT IS NOT MORE IMPORTANTLY OH MY GOD!!!

MY MIND IS LITERALLY BREAKING RIGHT NOW!

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT? Do you like her? Did she say anything?! I-

WAIT DOES THAT MEAN DICK GRAYSON LITERALLY GOT YOU TWO TOGETHER?!

NO WAIT!! SHE KISSED BACK. SHE KISSED BACK!

oh my god i'm reeling.

Have you guys talked about it yet?

I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS

I LITERALLY CAN'T THINK OF DICK GRAYSON RIGHT NOW AFTER THAT BOMB YOU DROPPED ON ME BUT FINE

"Bad idea right" was literally written for Dick Grayson!

Nightwing (1996) Issue #133

"Bad idea right?"

Actually every single Olivia Rodrigo's songs feels like Dick wrote it.

Like the sour album? Every time I listen to it I imagine that Dick just wrote the album because he was so mad at bruce after being fired from Robin lol.

"bruce technically gave dick a family but dick’s the one who like truly made it feel like a family when it comes down to it he’ll fuck up bruce for his siblings"

That's true too!

Batman (2011) Issue #11

"The truth is, I didn't save you from some dark fate, those years ago. You saved me from one."

Batman (2011) Issue #11

"And you still are saving me, every day."

Bruce gave Dick security but Dick gave Bruce a life. He gave Bruce the ability to become human, to be happy.

Take Gotham War for example,

Batman (2016) Issue #138

Bruce tells Jason he's saving Jason from himself and Jason in turn asks Bruce who's going to save Bruce from himself.

Cut immediately to -

Batman (2016) Issue #138

Dick.

Dick has always been there to pull Bruce out of his darkest days when he tries or is willing but Bruce giving up on Dick's ability to do so is symbolic of him giving up on himself. It's the height of Bruce's irredeemability.

Even after Jason died, Bruce indirectly called Dick to come join him but at this point his back up personality is too far gone for him to recover.

Batman: The Return

Dick literally is the reason Bruce stays connects to the batfamily. In a good way.

He has no reservations about keeping Bruce in check.

"that one “5 man band” trope and how he can fit as the leader and the heart"

5 man band trope: one leads, one contrasts, one thinks, one fights, and one keeps all of the above from killing one another

DAMN RIGHT

He's the leader.

Batman: Gotham Nights (2020) Issue #12

And the one that keeps them all together

Batman: Gotham Nights (2020) Issue #12

Dick is the defacto leader when Bruce is gone or lost it.

Batman (2016) Issue #137

Batman (2016) Issue #704

Batman (2016) Issue #704

"Selina doesn't run Gotham. You do. While I'm away."

And the family's protector.

Batman (2016) Issue #137

"into a specific (blank) to lovers? dick grayson’s got you covered"

Yup!

Canonical:

Childhood partner to lovers - Raya Vestri

Friends to lovers - Barbara Gordon

Enemies to lovers - Shawn Tsang

Psuedo-family to lovers - Helena Wayne (they actually married in Earth 2)

Crime fighting partner to lovers - Helena Bertenelli

Kiss at first sight to lovers - Koriand'r

Pseudo-therapist to lover - Bea Bennet

Landlord to lovers - Bridget Clancy

Teammates to lovers - Zatanna

X to lovers - literally him and everyone

He's just so shippable that way. Not gonna lie, literally all of his relationships Dick and his lover have been great together.

the “barney from how i met your mother basketball hoop scene” and “eleanor from the good place mom she never had” but make it dick and bruce (teenage or adult idc i’d love both)

The New Teen Titans Issue #50

Man this hits hard. I've never seen how I met your mother but the parallels in the basketball hoop scene and Dick's talk with Bruce are uncanny.

The thing I think is weird about Dick and Bruce's relationship is that it's steeped in insecurities for each other. Dick feels hurt and betrayed and lost as to why Bruce would take in a new robin so suddenly and Bruce's tenure as Dick's robin is riddled with insecurities about him not being a good enough partner.

Batman and Robin Eternal Issue #6

However it's because of these insecurities that I believe they are close.

The difference between Barney and his dad, from what I gather from the clip, is that his dad never acted like one to Barney.

But with Dick and Bruce? Bruce was a good dad to Dick. But he was a terrible partner. Bruce treated Dick like an equal while still fielding reservations about his age and dealing with his own insecurities. Bruce knows that what he's doing is not right but at the same time Dick is far too competent. His intelligence, his athletic skills, his compassion, and his fearlessness were light years beyond anyone Bruce had ever met and Bruce acklnowledges this.

Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder Issue #2

"The GAS was supposed to knock his OUT. His brain out to be sailing past the MOON, right now. What's this brat MADE out of?"

Batman: The Widening Gyre Issue #1

Bruce's biggest problem with Dick is literally that he talks to much.

Dick is equal in every way to Batman and even exceeds him in some ways when he was Robin itself. So Bruce pushes the responsibilities of Batman's partner on to Dick while treating his as his son, mother, therapist, and partner. And Dick steps up to that. Soon they fall into a rhythm where Dick is Bruce's one for all human interaction. So imagine when you have a constant thing with someone that you're comfortable with and they suddenly start holding back from you. They begin talking about how you're too young to handle adult responsibilities. How you shouldn't be facing that burden. Now you're confused. Those responsibilities they are criticizing you for are the very ones that depended on you for. So now you start doubting yourself and trying harder and harder to make them see that you can handle the job. While you're struggling with confusion, they're struggling with guilt.

That is Bruce and Dick's relationship. Bruce grew a conscious after 10 years and Dick can't understand it. So there comes the self-blame and strife.

What Dick doesn't understand his Bruce feels guilty of his over reliance on Dick. Dick's self-blame has come to such a point that now even when Bruce in full honesty rants about how proud he is of Dick, Dick holds reservations because if Bruce was really proud then he would dump all the responsibilities on him right?

It's really messed up.

"nightwing could 100% be the figurehead of the dceu (like im talking spiderman level) if dc would do something [this was timed . i talked abt this for like 30 minutes all on its own]"

LOL

I think the Dawn of DC does have Dick be the figurehead or at least he will be in the future. We're just getting the beginning now.

Nightwing (2016) Issue #100

Nightwing (2016) Issue #100

Nightwing (2016) Issue #100

Nightwing (2016) Issue #100

"We want you to lead."

Justice League (2011) Issue #51

It comes full circle.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Eyes and Ears

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: An AU where Barbara finds Jason instead of Bruce.

Chapters: 4/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Barbara Gordon, Jim Gordon, Dick Grayson, Bruce Wayne, Sheila Haywood, Original Character(s)

Relationship(s): Jason Todd/Original Character(s), Past Barbara Gordon/Dick Grayson

Additional Tags: Canon Divergent AU, Older SIbling Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd-centric, Barbara Gordon is Oracle, Jason Todd is NOT Robin, Jason Todd Has Issues, Jason Todd Has a Crush, Adopted Siblings

Chapter Four: Push and Pull

As the next few days passed, Jason tried to keep his distance, which only worried Jim. Barbara was in the midst of a case and trying to get Jason caught up with the things he missed in school, so she didn't notice that there was something wrong. Jason left one night, making sure Jim was asleep. After a week of sleeping in different abandoned places, he went back to his home. He looked around the abandoned apartment, and he lay down on his mattress. Jason shut his eyes and started to drift off to sleep. Jason didn't know why he ran away, but he knew it was easier to sleep, knowing that he didn't have to wonder when things would go sour.

When he woke up, Barbara sat in the corner of the room, eliciting a high-pitched shriek from Jason as soon as he noticed her. "You followed me?" Jason half-exclaimed.

"Why did you leave? My dad's been worried sick about you!" Barbara exclaimed. "And do you know how I felt waking up and you weren't—."

"I don't know why you're yelling at me! You aren't my family!" Jason yelled. Barbara froze up, and Jason took a deep breath. "My dad is dead! My mom is dead! And no one sticks around for kids like me!" Jason swallowed hard as Barbara scowled at him, and he tensed as she stood up and walked towards him.

"You know what, Jason?" Barbara raised her voice as she stuck her finger in his face, and he shut his eyes, waiting for her to hit him only to be surprised by a hug. "We want you to come home, Jason."

Jason couldn't move. All he could manage was a broken, "Why?" He couldn't help but cry because he knew they were good people, Jason knew he liked them, and Jason knew that Barbara wasn't going to let him go anytime soon. But he couldn't help but worry that there would come a time where neither Barbara nor Jim would want him anymore.

Barbara held onto him, and she whispered, "Why not?" Barbara took a sharp inhale of breath.

"Are you crying?" Jason asked.

"Shut up," Barbara sobbed, "We thought something happened to you. Dad's waiting outside."

"You brought him here?" Jason asked. Barbara nodded. Jason jumped at the sound of a knock at the door.

"I think you should talk to him. He's a wreck." Barbara finally let go, and Jason nodded.

She got up and answered the door, and Jim rushed over and swept Jason up and embraced him. "Are you alright? Are you hungry?" Jim asked. When he saw the look of shock on Jason's face, he put him down. "I'm sorry if I—."

Jason threw his arms around Jim and embraced him as soon as he realized Jim was crying. "I just thought you'd change your mind if you decided you didn't like me—."

"If I didn't like you? Jason, I've known you for a week and a half, and I haven't been able to think straight since you left because I thought you were hurt," Jim interrupted. His embrace was much tighter than Barbara's was. Jason didn't mind, though.

He was surprised that Jim came for him. Jason figured Barbara would eventually come around looking for him, but Jason never imagined Jim would be worried about him. "You were really worried about me," Jason murmured. Jim nodded, and he sighed before letting go of Jason.

At that moment, Jason seemed much younger than his thirteen years, and Jim couldn't help but smile at him. He held the back of Jason's head and took a deep breath. "And I'm going to keep worrying about you. I don't think I'll be able to stop worrying," Jim whispered, "Please say you're hungry. I'll get you anything you want to eat."

Jason chuckled and nodded. "I gotta brush my teeth first," Jason replied. Jim nodded, and he looked over at Barbara, who had her arms crossed. She nodded, and a smile spread across her face.

Jason went to the bathroom to brush his teeth, and while he was in the other room, Jim wiped his tears away. "I don't know what it is, but I see it, Babs. Every time I look at him, I see it. I can't put it into words, but he should be with us," Jim confessed, "I just know I said something wrong the other day."

Once Jason finished cleaning up, he put his shoes on and followed Jim and Barbara to the car. Jason climbed in the backseat and watched as a man threw a glass bottle against the window, shattering it. He turned his head, and his mind quickly drifted off, and he anticipated some sort of repercussions. Jason dug his nails into the knees of his pants and tried not to cry. Jason knew the feeling would pass like it always did, but he couldn't help but feel like someone was going to hurt him. "Jason?" Jim touched Jason's hand and shocked him back to reality. Jason took a few deep, shaky breaths, and he looked at Jim. "You alright?"

"Uh-huh," Jason answered. Jim turned back to the steering wheel and started to drive. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay... We understand. Jason, you're not in trouble," Jim reassured him, "A penny for your thoughts?"

Jason kicked off his shoes and pulled his knees to his chest. He didn't answer, and Jim didn't ask a second time. The rest of the ride home was silent, and the second they got home, Jason went back to his room to read. He continued reading until Jim came to the door to call him for breakfast. Jim and Barbara wanted to give him time to feel better, but breakfast was uncomfortably silent for both of them.

"What've you been reading?" Jim asked. Jason looked up from his breakfast.

"Barbara's helping me get caught up on the stuff I missed in school," Jason mumbled as he ate his eggs.

"How many days of school have you missed?" Jim asked. Jason tensed up.

"I haven't been back since early March... I didn't want anyone to try to send me someplace I didn't want to go," Jason answered in a low tone, "I would've finished the year if I could've." Jim nodded.

"I'm sure you would've. Jason," Jim tapped the table lightly, and Jason looked up.

"Hm?" Jason asked.

"You want some more eggs?" Jim asked. Jason shook his head.

Jason finished his breakfast and shook his head. "Can I go back to my room?" Jason asked. Jim nodded and looked at Barbara as Jason went back to his room. He spent most of the day in his room, and Barbara worried that he planned to run away again.

She knocked on his door. "Hey, Jason. Do you wanna take a break? You've been in your room all day," Barbara softly smiled. Jason shook his head.

"I'm okay," Jason mumbled, and Barbara stepped into the doorway.

"It's okay if you're not okay... Jason, I just-. Can I come in?" she asked. Jason set his book aside and nodded. Barbara came in and sat on his bed across from him. "I just want to talk to you. I know we talk, and we joke around, but I don't really know anything about you."

Jason shrugged and mumbled, "What do you wanna know?" Barbara smiled and shrugged in reply.

"I dunno, what do you wanna tell me about yourself?" she responded. Jason chewed his lip. He wanted to tell her everything. She'd already told him so much about herself, and that should've made it easy, but it didn't. He was so afraid that letting Barbara and Jim in would change the way they looked at him. "What do you wanna be when you grow up?"

Jason chuckled at the question. "Um... I don't know. I never really thought about it," Jason replied. Barbara added to her question to get an answer out of him. "I dunno. I think I'd want to be a therapist or something like that."

Barbara lit up, and she half-exclaimed, "That's entirely possible. And see? That's a good start, Jason. That's something." Jason grinned bashfully. "Can I ask why?"

"I guess I wanna help people... Barbara, you wanna ask something else, huh?" Jason asked. Both of their smiles faded, and Barbara fidgeted with the pages of one of Jason's books.

"Who hurt you?" Barbara asked. Jason stared at her as if he didn't hear the answer, and she leaned forward to make eye contact, only for Jason to look away. "Jason—."

"Doesn't matter," Jason trailed off. Barbara reached out to him, and he pulled away. "Nobody's hurting me anymore. Nobody. Get that," Jason hissed. Barbara didn't say anything else. She left him to his reading.

[drpoisonoaky]

A good psychologist is hard to find especially when you’re a bat-something. So go to Ivy’s house and pay a visit to the best therapist in Gotham: Harley Quinn {Part 1} --------[Barbara Gordon] Harley: What I’m saying Red it’s if you want a super extra mega candy you- Ivy: Shh, someone is here. Harley: So I guess you don’t want one… Babs: Hey Ivy it would be really great if I don’t die right now eaten alive by these two plants. Ivy: Oh it’s you. How's  life? Babs: Awful. Harley: Hiya Bratgirl. What’cha want? Babs: Therapy please. Harley: Ives, can you bring me my fake glasses and a pillow? Ivy: Which one? Babs: I really don’t know why I always have to be the one that has to act like a mother. I get it with Cass and Steph, they are my batgirls, but the rest of the world c’mon- Harley: The big one she needs it. Babs: and if i’m not the mom they look at me with pity.  Look at her shot and paralyzed by the Joker, as I’m not anything more. Harley: PAMMY! Bring all the pillows.

--------[Dick Grayson] Ivy: What I’m saying peanut it’s that you can’t put your dirty bats in the living room cau- Dick: Hi! I’m here to check my brain. Harley: Hey Blue bird how’s life? Dick: I feel like shit, everything is awful and sometimes I think I’m the only one who’s trying to be positive in that fuck up family Ivy: And that’s my cue, good luck. Dick: And what's my problem with redheads? Why are they all so hot? Harley: RED CANCEL THE REST OF MY APPOINTMENTS AND DON’T COME CLOSE TO NIGHTWING

[i-smoke-chapstick]

'DON'T BLAME ME, [PART FOUR]

-GOTHAM!JERVIS TETCH X READER-

⋆ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒 ; You're in oddly high spirits tonight.

⋆ tags/warnings. GOTHAM!jervis x female reader. SLOW BURN!!! Not sure how many chapters this will be yet! LOTS OF PLOT SET-UP!! AGE GAP ROMANCE! (reader is Jim and Barbara's daughter) The slow burn is slow burning, no really, it's on fire. She fell first, he fell harder. Readers more like Alice than Alice is, tbh. Writing this kind of artistically and as character studies for everyone. Reader and Butch have a shared trauma bond from Barbara and Tabs. Jervis being an obsessive freak, per usual. Jim Gordon is still...Jim Gordoning. I'm taking canon out back and beating it with a stick until it stops twitching.

⋆ tag list (tell me if you want to be removed!) @adalwolfgang @jervis-tetch-my-beloved @honestmrdual @moonlightnyx @all-things-fandomstuck @killingboredom

⋆ 'PART ONE, - 'PART TWO, - 'PART THREE, - 'PART FOUR, - ‘PART FIVE, - ‘PART SIX, - 'PART SEVEN, - 'PART EIGHT, - 'PART NINE, -'PART TEN, - 'PART ELEVEN, - 'PART TWELVE, - 'PART THIRTEEN,

♫ “Don't blame me, love made me crazy, if it doesn't, you ain't doin' it right.” Don't Blame Me by Taylor Swift

Time slows sometimes in Gotham. Todays one of those days. You frequently think it's always one of those days. You wish you could up and leave the city. You made that promise to yourself- a long time ago, when your mom and dad got turned all upside down. You wouldn't let this city kill you.

Obviously, though, you often wonder if they'd ever even let you leave. Dad- maybe. You like to think he'd understand. But you think he might kill himself without you, too.

It's your mom that's the issue, you find. She intends to cling onto you for the rest of your lives. You remember a conversation you had with Selina not too long ago.

"When Bab's buries her claws in something, she never lets go. How do you think she got the club from Penguin?" You often wonder if she has her claws buried in you. You often wonder how deep they really go.

You can hear the faint clapping in the back of the crowd. You stare at the stage, intently, seeing Jervis and your mom parade around. They look like they are having the time of their lives, Jervis hypnotizing her to dance with him. You watch Tabitha look on, in an odd mix of disdain and fascination.

Letting them finish their act, you walk along the bar floor. You pretend to ignore the gaze held on you, both by Mr. Tetch and your mom.

You find Butch, sitting alone, nursing one-too-many shot glasses.

"Hey kid." He says, huffing a sigh, when he notices you sit down next to him. You both share an exasperated look, looking between Barbara and Jervis and Tabitha.

"What's up with you?" You ask, and he grumbles.

"Headache."

"And you think drinking more is gonna help?"

He rolls his eyes, effectively fed up. You lightly pat his shoulder in sympathy.

You didn't mind Butch. The first time you'd met him was when he tried to kill you, and hold you and your mom captive for Falcone. Oh, how the times have changed.

"You and Tabitha doing okay?" You ask. You know he's dying to shout about it to someone, if not on the surface, then deep down. But his resolve is as strong as ever. He shakes his head, and swallows air.

"We're fine." You know it's a lie. You know he thinks your mom is a bitch. It used to bother you, but now it just makes you shrug. "You...uh...wanna put in a good word for me? With Tabs?" He asks, hopeful.

You look at him, eyes softening. "Yeah. I can." You nod, and he nods back. Ah, mutual discontentment. You remember why you like him.

The sound of clapping grows louder, and takes the two of you out of your somewhat comfortable silence. Butch raises a glass to you, abet sarcastically, and downs it.

You watch as Jervis and Barbara flood down the stage, bowing. Your mother looks absolutely enamored with the praise. Jervis does as well. They murmur thank you's as they push past the crowd. You offer Butch a parting glance, before moving toward the pair.

"Not half bad." Tabitha remarks, coming up from behind you. It almost startles you, and you catch the way Jervis's eyes glimmer at your jump.

"Please. That was the best dancing you've ever seen in your life." Your mother rolls her eyes. The comment surprisingly brings a smile to your face. It's something the old her would've said too.

"Thank you for the dance, Ms. Kean." Jervis offers a gentlemanly grin, and Barbara nods. You watch her and Tabitha fall into a conversation, talking and laughing through playful insults. When the band starts, Tabitha brings Barbara to the floor to dance with her instead. It's...surprisingly sweet.

Jervis must take note of your longing gaze. He speaks, gently.

"Why don't you dance with them?" He urges- and he reminds you of a teacher, trying to get you to play with the other kids. It almost makes you giggle.

"I'm not a good dancer." You click your tongue. He makes a noise of understanding.

"How unfortunate," He remarks. "You must allow me a dance, one day. I would be delighted to teach you."

Between your mother being a bit like her old self, and your conversation with Butch, you somehow feel elated at his words.

"I'd like that." You whisper, and out of the corner of your eye, you watch his smile falter, as if he wasn't expecting your immediate agreeance. The thought strangely makes you even happier. You're in high spirits tonight.

Said spirits seem to fall quite quickly though, when you notice your father marching into the club. The smile on your face, as well as Jervis's, seem to slowly evaporate at the sight. Jervis hurries towards him, and you weave your way behind, following him like a child.

"Did you find her?" Jervis asks, excitable. But you know the look on your fathers face. Somethings wrong.

"I found her. Lost her. She shot a man and set fire to his body. Said she had an infection," Jim growls out. You attempt to digest the information, whilst Jervis looks far less bothered than he should look. "Also, said she doesn't want anything to do with you."

Oh, I look at Jervis. He looks bothered at that.

"You want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Your dad looks pissed. You want to bang your head against a wall. Nothing in Gotham is ever easy, is it?

"It's complicated-" Jervis begins, before your dad steps in to grab him by his suit jacket. Your eyes widen at the move. When he goes to make a threat, you push him off. Both Jervis and your dad look at you bewildered.

"Hands off, dad. This is mom's club. Don't make a scene. Not with him." You nod to Jervis, and you find his mouth is slightly agape, eyes focused solely on you.

Your dad backs away a bit, looking at the ground, and clenching his jaw.

"Let's talk somewhere private, shall we? Allow me to explain the situation?" Jervis manages to speak with civility. They stare at each other for a moment, tense, before heading out without a word. Before your dad follows him out, he shoots you a look of chagrin.

You stand alone in the club, unaware where your mother and Tabitha have disappeared off too. You look back to find Butch missing from his seat at the bar.

Time slows sometimes in Gotham. Todays one of those days.

[vodrae]

Steph : *Car's going 125. Blue and red lights behind.* Why do they want to stop me ?? It's a 130 lane !

Barbara: Dude, they use metric here !

Steph : ....Ohhhh! Siri, play Freebird.

Cass: ^^ !

Harper: Gotta show men we can die young too !

Barbara : Don't encourage her !

[astorianyxkings]

You guys ever think about how Bruce feels when one of the batlings call him Dad? Or refer to him as their dad? Or how he feels when he steps into a fatherly role for a bat?

I mean yeah its mostly done in public, Dick has always called Bruce Dad or refer to him as his father since he was old enough to go to galas. And yeah at first the word felt like nails scraping down a chalk board because Bruce isn't worth being a dad, not in his head at least. He was still in his twenties, and Dick already had a dad. One who loved him. But he tolerates the word anyway, because its just to keep up appearing right?

Nowadays, having repaired their severed relationship, Bruce wants to hear the word. He misses it but he doesn't dare ask. But when he reveals that he officially adopted Dick and he hugs him and says "I love you Dad." Bruce can't help but cry, sob quietly as he clutches his son in his arms. "I don't want to replace your father." He says, begging his voice to not waver, it doesn't listen. "You're not," Dick responds, "You're just standing on the same level as him. My dads and my mom. My parents."

When Barbara becomes Batgirl Bruce is terrified. He knows the kind of sick freaks out there, who ogle her in her Batgirl suit. It makes his blood boil the way any father's would. Except he isn't her father. She has Jim for that. And even if she's dating Dick, Bruce can't seem to figure out why he's treating her like this, why he's keeping her patrol limited, why he's texting Commissioner Gordon in panic whenever she's late. Jim laughs and says its like they're co parents and something in Bruce's heart jabs.

When she's paralyzed by the Joker Bruce isn't sure what to do. He pays her medical bills and has a back and forth with Jim, "Its my fault he found out she was Batgirl!", "He didn't, he did it because she's a Gordon! It's my fault!". Bruce crues over her in the comatose state, apologizing over and over, its his fault, his minds been made up. When she becomes Oracle there's nothing he wouldn't do to accommodate her. Barbara may not legally be his daughter, but she kind of it his first daughter.

When Jason comes around and starts calling Bruce dad at galas, he's more comfortable around the word. He can be a dad to Jason, Jason didn't get to have a good dad but Bruce bought a parenting book (What to Expect when Moving from Raising One Kid to Two) and he's handling it. But then he dies and Bruce is met with the guilt of knowing that he failed his son. Because even though Dick was his ward and first born, Jason was the first one he was okay with referring to as a son.

And then he came back and Bruce is no longer dad. He's B or Old Man. Its better than "the asshole who let me die" so he'll take what he can get. Except once at a gala Jason has a bit of a Freudian slip and refers to Bruce as his dad and he leaves the room to burst into tears. Jason doesn't hate him and while he's grateful part of his mind knows he should. He deserves to be hated, Jason is just too much of a good person to do it. But it doesn't matter, Jason's still his son and his heart still stutters whenever he's reminded of that. Jason is his son, his boy.

When he meets Tim, Bruce is scared all over again. He doesn't want to be Tim's dad. Tim already has a dad—and in Bruce's self loathing mind, a neglectful father is still better than whatever impersonation of a dad he could be. But Tim is stubborn, he latches on and somewhere along the lines after his emancipation, Bruce realizes that he's Tim's dad. And he wants to be Tim's dad. And he won't fail Tim the way he did Dick or Jason, he made too many mistakes with them.

Tim sometimes feels out of place. Bruce doesn't know why, he belongs into their family (cult as Jason says affectionately) and Bruce will always remind him of that. Tim is his son and Bruce will never get over that, he gets to see this boy grow up to be great. And maybe when Tim's sleep deprived he calls Bruce dad, but thats between him, Tim and the tear stained pillow on Bruce's bed.

And then there's Steph. Stephanie Brown forced her way into the Batfamily by dating Tim and even after they broke up, she's not leaving. And Bruce doesn't want her to. She's made it clear she doesn't want to be a Wayne officially, she's fine just being Steph. Except, Bruce kind of thinks Steph is like his daughter too. She's not just some random girl he finds overly bubbly, her bubbliness reminds him if Dick, her street smarts remind him of Jason. But despite that Steph is so unique. And even if she has a dad, Bruce can't help it. He personally decorated a room at the manor for her, had it painted purple and everything. Steph might not be a Wayne by name, but she is in everything else. And Bruce is kind of okay with that.

And then there's the two kids who refer to him as their dad all the time.

Cassandra Cain becomes Cassandra Wayne and she never looks back. She rarely speaks, she's content with sign language and you best believe the rest of the family learns it to communicate with her comfortably. But something in Bruce's heart flutters when she refers to him as Dad. When she signs about one of her dance recitals, Don't forget dad! Or when she's bragging and boasting at a gala about him, My dad's not like that! He's really nice!

And then there's Damian. He couldn't run away from being his father if he wanted to. Which he doesn't. Damian called him Father, rather stiffly for the first two years together. But then one day he's talking to Jon and Bruce isn't trying to eavesdrop but he's not perfect do he does and he hears Damian refer to him as Baba and he almost trips over his own feet. Damian, ever the observer, notices him immediately and then he's suddenly calling him Baba more often, Baba I'm going to walk Titus or Baba, Grayson is trying to hug me again. Doesn't matter the context, hearing Damian utter the endearment makes his heart melt every damn time.

But when Duke rolls around, heartbroken and unfairly orphaned, Bruce is terrified all over again. He's not ready to force Duke into accepting him as a father, Duke has a dad. Bruce doesn't want to replace him. But Duke, much like Tim, latches on. He needs a father. He needs one to guide him, to help him forge his own path. And Bruce can't help himself. He's a father. He's Dukes father.

Bruce being a dad but hating himself for it while loving his kids but hating that he's forced to be their dad because the world was cruel to them.

[graysoncritic]

A (Negative) Review of Tom Taylor's Nightwing Run - What Went Wrong? Melinda Lin Grayson

Introduction Who is Dick Grayson? What Went Wrong? Dick's Characterization What Went Wrong? Barbara Gordon What Went Wrong? Bludhaven (Part 1, Part 2) What Went Wrong? Melinda Lin Grayson What Went Wrong? Bea Bennett What Went Wrong? Villains Conclusion Bibliography

Things do not get any better when it comes to Dick’s relationship to Melinda.

As I believe it is important to own up to one’s biases, I’ll begin by admitting that I dislike secret-sibling tropes. However, the problem present in Melinda’s character does not revolve around the concept of her existence, but rather in the fact that her status as Dick’s sister adds nothing to the story. Taylor does not take advantage of her existence to add to Dick’s backstory, complicate his views of his parents, to add conflict to the plot, or to offer on-screen character and relationship development. In failing to have his original character live up to her full potential, Taylor reduces her to a deus-ex-machina who only appears to either save Dick at the right time, or to put him in danger at the right moment.

That is why in execution, Melinda’s existence is irrelevant. While I would never want John Grayson to be cheater and I do not want John and Mary's marriage to be tarnished, that route would have offered conflict, for it forces Dick to grapple with the reality that parents were not the infallible individuals he remembers.

Instead, Melinda is very conveniently conceived during the span of time between John and Mary becoming an acrobatic duo and them getting together. They were already in love, so Dick does not have to worry about Melinda's mom being John's long lost lover and Mary having been a rebound. Yet, because John and Mary were not yet together, John remains a good person as he was not unfaithful. Melinda's mom doesn't resent Mary for ending up with John while she was stuck in an abusive relationship. Melinda doesn’t resent Dick for having known their father while she lived with Zucco. Neither does she feel any love towards Zucco or seeks his approval — which would have been another interesting and understandable source of conflict. After all, though he was an awful man, husband, and father, for a good part of Melinda’s life, he was the only father figure she had, and it is very common for children who were raised by an abusive guardian to still desire their affection.

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. Leaping into the Light Part Five. Nightwing: Rebirth. 82, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2021. pp 14)

The way in which Taylor quickly and neatly wraps up this story does little to add to either Melinda or Dick’s character. Furthermore, Dick readily believes Melinda and Meilin when he is told their story. He does not know them, yet he simply accepts their words without requiring any evidence, without asking many questions, and without following it up with an investigation. 

Neither do we see him experience denial or any other form of human emotions to such a monumental discovery. In #83, when Dick returns to his apartment, he tells Babs “You heard? I have a sister. And even better… There’s a chance she’s not evil,” to which she replies  “I hear. You need to talk about it?” Rather than replying, or, indeed, talking about how he feels about this revelation, Dick instead passes out. As readers we never get to see if said conversation happened (which would also develop Dick and Babs’ relations), and so we never get to see Dick grapple with this life changing revelation..

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. Leaping into the Light Part Six. Nightwing: Rebirth. 83, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2021. pp 12)

Conveniently, Melinda’s morals and her approaches to solution also perfectly align with Dick’s own. Not only is she not the bad guy Dick originally thought she was, but she is actively working against those Dick wishes to stop. And, again, Dick takes her word for it without a second thought. Dick appears skeptical for a mere second before Melinda gives him an out by asking if he has “difficulty believing someone could have a double life.” 

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. Leaping into the Light Part Six. Nightwing: Rebirth. 83, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2021. pp 04)

This question misses the point of what should be Dick’s understandable suspicion. Just because Dick can believe someone can live a double life, it does not mean he should immediately accept the words of a woman he has never met before without any evidence. Neither should he just take her word for it when she says that she “brought down two crime bosses from within” and that she wishes “to do the same for Bludhaven.”

Just as baffling as the fact that Dick immediately believes is the fact that he is ready to include her in all of his plans to take down Blockbuster without even investigating whether she might have ulterior motives.

And this goes both ways. When Melinda claims to have the same goals as Dick, she does not question Dick’s motivations. Neither does she question the legality of having a vigilante in the city, working outside of the system. 

The problem is not just that they have the same objective — take down Blockbuster — but that their approach to said objective is the exact same, that their beliefs in what would be best for Bludhaven perfectly align, and so they trust each other with critical information almost instantaneously, denying the reader the opportunity to read them about them earning each other’s trust by trying to persuade the to their side.

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. Leaping into the Light Part Six. Nightwing: Rebirth. 83, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2021. pp 05)

fter meeting one another, Dick and Melinda work closely together, and soon they start to think of themselves as siblings. This, however, happens off-screen. Melinda and Dick hardly ever appear together on the page, and Dick only thinks of her when it is convenient to the plot.  

As such, we are left with a significant change to a character’s backstory without having any conflict or significance created by this new addition. Melinda is not evil, so there's no conflict to be added. Melinda and Dick's morals not only perfectly align, but their methodology does as well. Dick is also not suspicious of Melinda, and Melinda views vigilantism and Nightwing’s presence in Bludhaven as a positive. There are no secret identity issues where Melinda doesn't know Dick and Nightwing are the same person and has contradicting feelings for each persona. Since Dick immediately takes her word when she claims to be his sister and when she claims to “not be evil,”  there is no need for her to win him over. There is no need for Dick to get Melinda to trust him. In other words, there is no room for this relationship to develop in front of the readers’ eyes so that we can grow to care for their bond and become invested in their dynamic. Every potential conflict or development is resolved and achieved as soon as the idea of Dick having a secret sister is introduced to the reader, making so that the storyline goes from its beginning to its endpoint in just two issues. 

This further destroys Dick’s characterization. Rather than trusting, Dick comes across as gullible, as he will blindly take the words of others when they tell him they are not evil. Dick comes off as incompetent, as he was unmasked so quickly and so easily when trying to investigate Melinda. And Melinda becomes a plot device, not a character. She is a deus-ex-machina who is there to call Dick when Blockbuster is going to try to kill him so Dick can escape at last second

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. Get Grayson Act Three. Nightwing: Rebirth. 90, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2022. pp 04)

Or to bring Dick to danger when the plot needs Dick to be in danger.

(Taylor, Tom, writer. Redondo, Bruno, illustrator. The Battle for Bludhaven’s Heart Part Three. Nightwing: Rebirth. 94, e-book ed. DC Comics, 2022. pp 22)

A lot of this could have been avoided if Melinda just wasn't Dick's sister, and instead they were made into reluctant allies. There would be no reason for her and Dick to spend time together outside of Nightwing-business or develop a sibling-bond, and without the Grayson connection, there would be the tension of Dick not knowing whether she is a threat. Losing the Grayson connection would also allow Melinda to become her own person, with her own history and interiority outside of Dick, John Grayson, and Zucco. She, too, could have become a face of Bludhaven so that her relevance to the plot would be through the city rather than Dick’s past. 

But that would require Dick to have meaningful interactions with a woman who is not related to him and who is not Barbara Gordon, and there would have been the threat of any tension between Dick and Melinda to be seen as romantic or sexual. It would have also required Taylor to put in the work to make an otherwise everyday human into someone who can excel in her work despite her ordinariness. 

Instead of letting the audience witness Dick and Melinda grow closer to one another, their bond as allies, friends, and siblings is developed off-screen. Taylor opts to skip over the interesting and messy steps that it takes to create such a relationship by instead having them immediately like and trust one another. 

As I said in the beginning of this section, I was never personally going to like "Dick's secret sibling" concept, but I could have still liked Melinda for her own character. Or I could have fallen in love with the sibling relationship she would build with Dick, had I been allowed the chance to witness it grow for myself. But Taylor makes no effort to endear his readers to Melinda as a character or to her relationship with Dick. Instead, she becomes the perfect example of so many of Taylor’s weaknesses as a writer — his distaste for conflict;  his tendency to show and not tell; his wanting to create plot twists that look shocking in a social media post while having no desire to follow through the consequences of said plot point; his wanting to create emotional pay-offs without putting in the work beforehand; his complete lack of understanding or care for Dick's character. Melinda embodies all of these problems.

[ao3feed-brucewayne]

Blind Faith

by Omega_Rora In an alternate to my final chapter of my last work, Poison Ivy does a lot more damage then just whammying Damian and Dick. Poor Jason is just trying to relax and be with his family. Instead of just Dick and Damian getting hit by the white slime, they all got hit and Ivy managed to drag them all away to her hideout, but because Damian is smarter than the rest of his family, he noticed that while he couldn’t hear human voices, he could hear artificial sounds and other human noises. And he’s a trained assassin. He can fight without his eyes. He managed to get away from Poison Ivy while Batgirl, Nightwing and Batman were taken. Words: 4504, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Series: Part 1 of Batfamily Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: Other Characters: Batman, Alfred Pennyworth, Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, Commission Gordon, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Tim Drake (mentioned), Poison Ivy Additional Tags: Non-Consensual Drug Use, bind, blind, Jason is a beast, Lazarus Pit Side Effects (DCU), Secret language, Trillic, Language of the Birds, Alfred Pennyworth is a good grandfather, Talia is a bad mom, Bruce Wayne is a Good Parent, More tags might be added later - Freeform, Batfamily, Cryptid Batfamily (DCU) via https://ift.tt/cYSetVu

[roseworth]

do you think jason was fridged? i see a lot of people talk about it and i wanna know what you think

the boring answer is no, he was not fridged because the term was created in reference to female characters and jason isnt a female character

but that answer sucks. so lets look more into it!!! (trigger warning for screenshots of alex dewitt & barbara gordon's respective fridgings under the cut, also screenshots from death in the family but none of the graphic ones)

i make jokes about jason getting fridged all the time bc there is definitely an argument for it but i think my answer is. no but with feeling

i can definitely see where people who think he was fridged are coming from. jasons death was entirely used to further bruce's grief and joker killed robin just to get back at batman, not to mention starlin was writing jason out of character so he could have an excuse to kill him. then ofc after jasons death there was the glass case & the fact that he was only brought up with things like "jason died because he didnt take it seriously" or whatever so the case for fridging is there

but the reason i dont consider it fridging is that he had a good amount of agency in death in the family. the story was ABOUT him, and he made choices in the story that led to his death in the way that other fridged characters didnt

ofc we have to look to Miss Refrigerator herself alex dewitt <3

alex was attacked because of kyle, she didnt do anything to cause major force to attack her, she was a character that was killed just so kyle could be upset about it. she had no agency in the story, and he killed her so hard they had to make a new word for it

then ofc there was the same thing with barbara

the only agency she had in this moment was that she chose to answer the door and. thats it. she wasnt even shot for being batgirl, she was shot because she was jim's daughter and it was entirely intended as a way for joker to use her injury to hurt jim

jason on the other hand! the story was about him (as much as it could be for a side character) and before i get into this i want to clarify that i am NOT saying that he deserved it because of his choices. that is not at all true. all im saying is that he had agency in the story and it was about him in a way that it wasnt about alex or babs

in death in the family, jason had plenty of agency. his death was about finding his mom and saving her. he died after he chose to protect her instead of listening to bruce

also?? bruce isnt mentioned once in the scene where joker beats jason until its already done and joker doesnt want batman to find out

so overall its not really a fridging!! he has a lot to do and a lot of focus within the story, and he was killed during his effort to save someone :( once again thats not to say his death was his fault, but he had a lot to do in the context of his death that it was still about him up until he died

his death was because of bruce because joker wouldnt have gone after him if it werent to get back at batman, but jason still had a lot to do in the story and it kinda goes against the whole point of the fridging trope. fridging isnt "side characters getting killed is bad" its "established characters getting no agency in their own death is bad (especially when said characters are women or minorities)"

[t4tails]

okay see people say commissioner gordon and talia count as members because theyre related to barbara and damian. but like, does that mean if we're including talia bc shes damians mom, do we include ra's because he's talias dad? or no because hes not morally good enough? or because talia isnt like, a core priority member, so her direct relations wouldnt matter? where is the line i have a magnifying glass out and am looking for the consistent memberships requirements