#i like to think gotham sees the Waynes as cryptids

[batfr1es]

so like

y’all think that Gotham thinks the Wayne’s are cursed?

like we talk about Buzzfeed Unsolved doing an episode on Jason, but I think his story would just part of the whole Wayne saga.

like where are Bruce’s grandparents- why did Alfred have to take over? something must have happened for them to die before Martha and Thomas.

that means that two generations of Waynes died quite early, which is tragic.

But then Jason dies just a couple years after been adopted into the family and taking on the name??? you need three points to spot a pattern

“Wayne” must be a cursed name. maybe it’s cursed blood.

Now with Damian, Gotham is just holding its breath till the day they hear that another Wayne boy has been left fatherless much too early.

[watercloud7]

BATFAM PROMPT:

Feral Talon Dad Bruce Wayne AU

The bat kids are raised by a Cryptid zombie horror murder man who loves them very very much❤️

Bruce is sent to kill the Graysons by the court of Owls and kidnap their child to make him a Talon.

Dick witnesses the whole thing but because he’s so young in this AU like basically a toddler he’s terrified and when Bruce picks him up to take him back to the Owls Dick snuggles into him and sobs and screeches and he’s angry and confused and scared and tiny but This massive murder monster who killed his parents is the only comfort he has.

Dick is alone and he has no one. No one is coming to save him, no one is coming for him , his mama and daddy are gone and the only thing left is …. Whatever the hell this cryptid horror zombie is.

So Dick, takes his comfort where he can, which today comes in form of zombi does Bruce Wayne and that’s what it takes i guess.

Bruce breaks out of conditioning and vanishes into thin air with the kid. Only he doesn’t go back to the court.

Maybe this Bruce takes baby Grayson away and raises him as a feral murder baby.

They live secluded and away from anyone and anything. Maybe the mountains in Nanda parbat. They’re so discreet and good the league of assassins doesn’t even know their mountains are technically compromised.

Bruce raises Dick in complete secrecy. Literally like a wild child, Bruce occasionally travels to the town over to bring back toys and books and whatever he finds that he thinks would make Dick happy.

Dick sees and longs for peoples and connections and more. He loves Bruce but Bruce is basically like Ariel’s dad WORSE he’s basically mother gothel, he’s seen so many horrors and he’s so paranoid. He just wants his son to stay alive and away from any harm.

keeping Dixk locked away and safe from the Owls that mean him horrific torture and agony. Safe from the world, Safe with Daddy😭❤️.

SIGN LANGUAGE ENTHUSIAST BATFAM HEADCANON.

Bruce’s voice is … zombified and uncomfortable to use, so he teaches himself sign language and then teaches Dick. They invent their own dialect. Just for them😭

Dick gets big enough to want to see the world, to understand what happened, to find himself outside of his adopted eldritch Dad, and MAYBE! Make a damn friend like he’s been seeing in those picture books Bruce brings for him every week.

He “runs away” in a fit of teenage rebellion or whatever you wanna call it, after Dick gets caught sneaking into a village a couple kilometres from their Cosy little cave they like to call home.

Bruce is furious and terrified and he’s everything a scared father is after finding your kid missing from their room when they were supposed to be home hours ago.

Dick explodes in frustration and tears and off he goes.

He goes back to the beginning. To Gotham.

A half deadly Half sunshine all Feral Dick Grayson is roaming the world all alone when he stumbles across a considerably less feral

Less deadly Jason Todd.

Jay is an orphan and this weirdly affectionate clueless terror of a guy just imprinted on him

and won’t leave him alone.

I mean Scary bird boy is a stage 5 dumbass, zero bark, Zero bite 100% cuddles kinda guy.

(Seriously this dude has no concept of personal space and it’s bordering on infuriating) but Jason is like 99.9% sure he just saw him down crime alley snapping the resident rapists necks.

The men that call girls avoided and the police did isn’t care to arrest, so clearly bird boy is not a bad guy but he’s definitely not Harmless either.

Jason likes his style though.

Maybe the court of owls tries going after Jason or tries to kidnap Dick again.

Bruce finds them in the nick of time and slaughters every single one of the Owls once and for all.

Shenanigans ensue and they all bond.

Love love love. Bruce literally adopts him the minute he sees him.

Bruce and Dick teach Jay sign language.

Jason teaches Bruce and Dick how to read.

Jason loves his feral dad and brother.

MAYBE! Tim parents were Owls.

The rich wealthy elites of Gotham succumb to their nefarious ways in an ironic and cathartic end, survived by their heir Timothy Jackson Drake. Who up until now they had been grooming into becoming the next Owl man, he’s been trained to kill and torture and every other bad guy skills he needs to be their evil little successor.🫡

Bruce gets rid of them though.

WOMP WOMP.

Maybe after killing Timmy’s parents Bruce is just like…

Bruce: awwwwww this reminds me of how Dick’s surprise adoption went!

Tim:…. Bro you can’t just murder my parents and call this a surprise adoption.

Bruce: we can call this a kidnapping if you wanna keep it 💯 but either way you’re coming home with me

Tim: …. I ain’t even like em like that fr. Let me just pack a bag real quick.

The Drakes parenting was abhorrent so after Bruce kidnaps him ,Tim is viciously violent at first but after Bruce shows Tim patience and kindness.

Tim develops Stockholm syndrome like instantly and just latches onto Bruce like it’s the first instance of true love and care he’s ever felt.

Jason is actually the most normal and well

adjusted out of his Psychotic family. Ironically he’s the only one out of all of them that hasn’t killed someone lol.

Tim latches on violently to Dick & Jason, it’s adorable and scary and very creepy in a wholesome way. Tim absorbs any kind of attention like a sponge and has separation anxiety. He likes to watch them sleep and follow them every where they go like a puppy, only he does it in the shadows and takes candid pictures of them he collects religiously.

He’s a complete weirdo.

Dick finds him Absolutely delightful, he wants to gobble him all up and cuddle at every opportunity, he enables all Of his bad habits and Jason does his best to damage control and encourage Tim to dabble in more healthy hobbies and ways of showing affection but ultimately Dick Grayson remains undefeated as a bad influence.

Dick is a good big brother, so obviously he’s gotta participate in his baby brothers love language so Timmy can feel seen and appreciated.

So now Jason has TWO stalkers shadowing him everywhere he goes. 3 when Bruce is feeling sentimental.

Jason tolerates his families psychotic and feral behaviour because he loves them more then life itself and if anyone else said anything like that about them he’d snap their necks.

Jason shows his affection in normal ways like beating up peoples trying to start a fight with his brothers and cooking for them because they can’t cook to save their lives.

Sometimes Jason will wonder on how exactly Dixk survived all those years in that cave with an immortal Bruce who doesn’t need to eat.

(Bruce would catch wild animals and Dixk

Would eat the meat raw, sometimes he’d hold his blood soaked hand full of flesh out wanting to share with dad, but Bruce would just drag Dick closer to him and nudge him to keep eating his dinner)

Jason feels bad and bakes him sugary monstrosities included but not limited too:

Oreo chocolate chip maple soaked marshmallow pancakes.

Sour candy lucky charm jam filled donuts.

Triple Chocolate Nutella and peanut butter Reese cookies.

Jason is appropriately horrified at what he’s created every time.

But Dick tasted sugar for the first time and doesn’t know how to act.

The kids are living their best lives but Bruce Is SPIRALLING.

The more kids Bruce acquires the more stressed he gets.

There’s a really angsty scene where Bruce breaks down holding onto his kids and crying. He’s not a monster, he just wants these kids to be safe. He doesn’t wanna kill anymore, he doesn’t wanna hurt things anymore.

He wants to go home with his babies.

He wants to take all of them back to their busted creepy cave in nanda parbat.

But Dickie Isn’t a baby anymore, he wants his family close but he also wants MORE, he wants to be around people he wants to discover the world. Jason was born and raised in Gotham and Bruce can’t in good conscience rip his life apart like that.

And then there’s Timmy. Honestly the Tim is this AU is an unhinged obsessive gremlin, he just goes wherever his family wants to go, nothing else really matters to him but them.

And so Bruce decides to stay in Gotham and hides them all in an abandoned building. It’s kind of like a nest.

Bruce stashes his babies in a Makeshift safe house until he can figure out a way to make all this work.

Maybe Alfred finds their weird little makeshift Family when he stumbles into their safe house and manages not to get immediately killed.

Alfred is VERY worried about the state in which these kids are living.

He vows to lure them and their Dad to a safer better living arrangement.

Maybe Bruce gets severely hurt and the kids kidnap Alfred to patch Bruce up.

Alfred is appropriately horrified at the undead creature growling and hissing while he treats their mortally terminal wounds, but keeps as much composure as an ex-military general would about it.

Bruce like totally imprints on Alfred And like a cat, he drags each and every one of his kids into Alfred life for him to babysit and look after while Bruce goes out to do whatever zombie dads do.

Alfred has no choice in the matter and has effectively acquired spontaneous grandkids and a son.

Bruce: daddy?

Alfred: …. Boy do I look like-⁉️

They move in with Alfred basically over night.

Damian is either created Through the league of assassins who stole the courts strongest talon’s DNA (Bruce’s DNA) to recreate it. Or any other way I guess I donno? Maybe Talia and Bruce got jiggy with It at one point when they were in those mountains. PFFFF LOL GIVE ME IDEAS.

Gonna run with the first idea ?

Damian is created in a lab, Maybe the Drakes latest project was too recreate their greatest success which had been Talon!Bruce.

Tim revisits his parents lab randomly and discovers this. An abandoned lab and abandoned cryogenic chamber containing a baby.

Tim grabs the kids and runs back home.

Jason is exasperated and Alfred panics a bit cause…. Huh?!?!

Jason: Seriously guys? We can’t afford Another surprise adoption right now.

Alfred: do you mean a “kidnapping”

Jason: don’t be mean! It’s their love language 😡

Alfred: wonderful… is it safe to assume I’ll be raising yet another grandchild?

Jason: that’s the spirit, anyway we gotta find a much bigger apartment than this, it’s getting crowded.

Alfred: Ah, my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused by my oversight. It seems I should have anticipated my being abducted by a feral street urchin and his entourage of lethal pets. Quite the oversight on my part, I’ll begin apartment hunting right away sir.

Bruce, Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian: *living their best life while Alfred tries to wrangle them out of shenanigans*

Anyways They take Damian in and he’s just as feral and eldritch horror as his daddy. He’s got his big brother’s trademark behaviours too!

Tim’s severely anti social mess , Dick’s creepy uncanny valley nature and Jason’s love for baking!

It’s so sweet how much he takes after his sibling and Bruce couldn’t be more proud of his litter of horror.

Alfred is honestly such a trooper through all this, salute the GOAT.

I wrote this on a whim! If y’all wanna hear more about this AU, if you want it written, let me know!

[ijustthinkhesneat]

I feel compelled to expand upon the previous fae/folklore! Batboys headcanons:

-Bruce is just a straight up normal human. I think this provides a great opportunity for angst because unlike his immortal? children Bruce does age and it terrifies them. And Bruce is young he’s in his early 30s but like his knees will crack a little or his back is slightly stiff after a bad patrol and it just sends them into a spiral because they cannot fathom their dad not being around forever. I can definitely imagine them trying to strong arm Bruce into becoming some flavor of unaging. You could go super dark or just more generally emotional angst but damn the possibilities.

-Cass is giving me shadow person. Very cryptid of her. I’m not sure that I have a clear backstory for her worked out yet. Either magic gone wrong or she’s another flavor of undead like Jason and Tim. I like to imagine she just hovers over people at night to be creepy.

-Originally I wanted to say Duke was a Will-o-the-wisp. But I’m not really sure it fits, especially since he’s primarily active during the day. Then it hit me. Mothman. My lamplight boy is a moth creature. I like the idea of him hiding his little antenna under a beany and wearing sunglasses. The wings would be difficult. But my boy is creative.

- I think Steph and Barbara are also human like Bruce they just are extra bad ass.

-Coming back to life as a magical creature warps peoples memories and emotions from both the trauma and changing into something not human. Tim is significantly less effected than Jason, at least outwardly, because he was only a toddler when he died so he didn’t have many memories or experiences to draw from, but Jason was super volatile. His memories surrounding Willis became even more dark while his memories of his mother sort of glossed over her absentee parenting and drug use. Jason can’t help but struggle with associating the negative learned experience he had with his first paternal figure with Bruce. Jason ends up going to live with Talia for a while because he doesn’t want to feel that way about his dad anymore.

-Basically I think Jason, at least mentally, is the most human of Bruce’s kids besides Damian because he actually lived a life as a human, where as Tim changed so young that he doesn’t really know how to be anything but his extremely disturbing self.

-I think Gotham just has major ‘I do not see it’ energy. Like The Batfamily? Demons from hell. The Wayne’s? Hot neurodivergent people. Did you see Dick Grayson unhinge his jaw like a fucking snake at a gala? No you didn’t he just has a really big smile. Jason Todd??? Has scales??? Nope actually he just developed early onset Eczema and he’s really self conscious about it how dare you! Tim Drake sucking the blood of the himbo blonde boy? Everyone knows Tim and Bernard are total freaks. Cassandra Cain is your sleep paralysis demon? Honestly fair.

-It’s totally a coincidence that strange misfortune befalls anyone who threatens the Wayne’s!

-Clark is Bruce’s favorite man to sleep on so he gets a pass. I don’t know why but a midwestern spin on the story of princess kaguya lives in my head rent free. Like Martha Kent is just shucking corn and then boom baby in the corn. We call that children of the corn. I still love to imagine him being like so perfect that it’s high key alien, but his little sharp nails and fangies! Maybe even slightly pointy ears. And like Clark fully thinks he is human, like his parents don’t tell him humans can’t fly until he’s in kindergarten, and even then they just tell him he is special and learned super fast and shouldn’t embarrass the other kids and Clark is such a Good BoyTM that he just never uses his powers in public cause he doesn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable. Like bro doesn’t learn he is adopted until he is about to go to college, he is just straight up clueless.

-Clark learns Dick is a Fae creature when Batman brings Robin to the Watchtower cause he couldn’t get a baby sitter and Alfred doing some spooky shit like dusting the mausoleum. Like Batman just slinking around but there is this super colorful child with him. And then Dick turns and smiles and it’s just so wrong, like his mouth just stretching his face like some horror movie shit. Clark almost shots himself cause like what the fuck. Bruce told Dick to just ‘be himself’ so like he just thinks he’s being friendly. Despite being creepy as all hell Clark kinda thinks Dick is super adorable. Like was he spider crawling around the floor with all his limbs bent the wrong way while Bruce and Clark were talking? Yeah but then he just tugged on Bruce’s cape to ask for a juice box, like that’s a baby.

-Jason freaked him out in a different way. Since Jason is undead he doesn’t have a heartbeat and doesn’t need to breath so when he isn’t moving he makes literally zero noise. When he first met Clark he was just watching him from around corners and behind stair banisters and Clark was convinced he was losing his mind and hallucinating the kid from the Grudge. Then Bruce is just like “Oh you met Jason! He’s so sweet, just a little shy. He’s my second oldest! I think he likes you though.” And then a little grey blue slightly webbed hand just reaches around the corner to give a little wave and boom Clark would kill for him.

-Tim is similar in that Clark has trouble pinpointing his location because of a lack of normal bodily functions, but Tim has no idea what a boundary is. So like at first he’s a shy little toddler and then that night he’s crawling all over Clark and pranking him nonstop.

-Damian is a baby but like Clark looked in his eyes and just felt like this infant could see his past present and future and was judging him heavily. Clark was relieved cause at least he had a heartbeat.

-Cass lives to fuck with Clark. She’s Jason’s age but not only has no heartbeat and doesn’t breath, when she is in shadow form he can’t see her with X-ray vision. She can literally make herself undetectable to Superman. He learns this one night sleeping in a guest room at the manor. He gets the feeling he is being watched but can’t find anyone. Then right when he relaxes her arm shoots out from the darkness under his bed and grabs his leg. Clark screams so loud it cracks the window. And then just nearly silent muffled laughter as the arm retreats into the darkness. He X-Ray visions but nothing is there. He demands to stay in Bruce’s room after that. Bruce is just like “Oh that was just Cass. She likes playing practical jokes, she is my little princess!”

[phoenixkaptain]

I think Tim is the cryptid of the superhero community. Hear me out:

In Young Justice, it’s explicitly stated multiple times that Tim Drake’s Robin has never been caught on film. There are no pictures or videos. Even earlier on, in World’s Finest Three, Tim gets Superboy to take all of the credit for taking down Metallo and Poison Ivy (something even the reporters find hard to believe) because Tim can’t let anyone know it was Robin.

Furthermore in Young Justice, the ongoing conflict between Robin and his team is that they find it hard to trust him because he can’t reveal his identity to them. But more than that, he can’t reveal his identity to anyone, he isn’t supposed to let anyone know that Robin even exists. There are fake “files” on all of the characters and even the government doesn’t know who the f Robin is, and the file questions whether or not he actually exists.

Then, there’s the part of the comics where Tim is forced to give up Robin, and Steph replaces him for a bit, and literally nobody outside of Gotham knows. He didn’t tell his friends, Bruce didn’t tell anyone, nobody knows that Tim isn’t Robin anymore. And then, he comes back. Just as out of the blue.

In the Red Robin run, it’s canon that nobody knows where Tim is aside from Ra’s al Ghul (who stalked him from the start and so shouldn’t count). Oracle doesn’t know where he is, none of his friends know (two of them are “dead,” so it’d be hard for them to know), everyone who runs into him is like “??? who tf???” Even Dick only has a vague idea. The whole point of Tam’s side plot is that it is nigh impossible to find Tim unless he decides to collapse onto your hotel room’s bed while bleeding out next to an assassin. As one does.

What does this mean?

It means that some superheroes definitely don’t believe that Tim exists, probably the younger ones. Superman or someone is like “Man, I miss the Robin that didn’t threaten me with swords,” and they’re like “Dick?” “No.” “Jason?” “No.” “??? The girl one?” “No.”

Like, some people have definitely never seen/heard of this weird third Robin, and they definitely think it’s something the older heroes are making up to mess with them. On conspiracy boards in Gotham, some people tell tale of the third Robin, the one that came before the Stabby Robin, and other people are like “You’re making this up! This guy doesn’t exist!”

I bet Duke is occasionally like “Hey, I haven’t seen Tim in like three weeks, is he still alive?” And someone else (Dick or Bruce) is just like “What are you talking about? Tim’s been sitting over in that corner.” And Duke just sees Tim unmoving in a corner, and is like “…that doesn’t answer the question, is he still alive?”

Tim is canonically, in the comics, the best at remaining unseen. He’s a cryptid. Kon and Bart tell horror stories about him and have blurry photos (taken blurrily on purpose in the same vein as Big Foot) that they show younger heroes. Jason occasionally regales his goons with stories of a creepy stalker child who fights crime. Dick tells his coworkers about his brothers but they don’t believe Tim exists because everytime they ask for a photo of him, Dick just shrugs and says he’s a bit camera shy. Damian complains about his brothers and all of his classmates are kind of worried he made up Tim, because he’s never come (it’s funny to imagine Jason and Dick and Bruce all coming to pick up Damian from school. It’s funnier to imagine that even Cass has picked him up). Several workers at Wayne Enterprises think that “Tim Drake-Wayne” is just a made up entity to keep the company out of enemy hands.

Tim is a cryptid, thanks for coming to my TED Talk

[f4nd0m-fun]

I keep coming up with cryptid!Batfam ideas, and @hallowsden is a very helpful coconspirator.

This is the Hell-touched AU

Constantine paused as the figure coalesced into a human shape, though his magic sight was privy to the multitude of eyes and shadows that stretched as far as he could see. "Bloody hell," he muttered, pulling out a cigarette, only to pause as several eyes bore into him, shadows slinking over, refusing to let him light the smoke.

"Perhaps I should have brought the swear jar." While the voice seemed normal at its most audible point, there was echoes and screeches buried beneath the words.

Before John could finish processing the jar comment, Batman stepped fourth and spoke in some language not of earth.

Constantine may have been magically versed in many languages but even he could only catch a few words, one of which angled somewhere towards 'caregiver'.

"Bats?"

"Not now, Clark." Part of his words dipped into the incomprehensible tongue, almost an overlay before he cleared his throat. "An issue has come up in Gotham, I am needed."

Gotham... somewhere the hellblazer refused to step foot in, the land reeking of sulfur and rotting magic, the air stagnant with pain and hopelessness, a city chained by greed and insanity.

The monstrosity's form layered over itself and Batman, before the two were gone with hardly a sound, no hint but the lingering scent and magic showcasing that they had ever stood in the room.

John shuddered and finally lit his cigarette. "Bloody Gothamites, the whole lot is cursed."

In this AU, Gotham is a part of hell, whether it was originally so and rose to the mortal realm, or because of the demon chained to its land - Lady Gotham. Whatever the reason, curses run rampant, and Lady was already weakened by being forced into the mortal realm. Because of this, she cannot do much, but nearly everyone in Gotham is demon-touched in some manner, but some also have inklings of being angrl-touched, some more than others.

The Waynes and Kanes are among the most hell-touched due to their long lineage in Gotham, but there are those Gotham tries to welcome with open arms and, in doing so, warps them to be more demonic than they should be as a newcomer. This does not always turn out well, as the chains on her limit her control

Some who are hell-touched have demonic traits, usually very minor and easy enough to excuse as meta traits if anyone ever asks. Others have much stronger traits, and there's the lucky ones who can morph their form, though they will never fully lose the traits of their demon-blood.

----------

Alfred seems the epitome of a normal butler from the outside, until you realize how unflappable he was towards Gotham's chaos, or hear his tales of being a veteran in years long gone. Perhaps he's yet another demon, right? But no, not even that fits him. And perhaps you'll never be privy to the full truth, but the Waynes and Gotham herself know. Alfred is no mere demon, he is eldritch, from before the world was even a speck in the Creator's eye. And while the children are physically fighting for Gotham, he is there for them, but he is also there for Gotham, spiritually untangling what he can from her.

Bruce Wayne's appearance doesn't seem to relay his ancestry as much as one might think, but his fangs and claws are clear for any to see, as well a his piercing blue eyes, glowing life sulfur flames amidst a backdrop of black sclera. Batman, on the other hand, has stiffly curving horns arcing over his head, leathery bat wings and a sturdy tail, with digitigrade legs and talons, perfect for scaring enemies or for carrying what appears to be his young.

Dick Grayson was never truly one of Gotham's. She certainly granted him care and consideration and treated him as kindly as her curses would let her, but he was never able to accept more than the slightest blessings, if they could be considered as such. He never learned to fly like Batman did, but he became faster and stronger, his only visible demonic traits being nails and teeth slightly sharpened. Even so, he put forth as much effort as the rest of the colony, doing his utmost to help anyone he could.

Barbara may have lost her ability to walk, but that doesn't mean she's defenseless. She still has her claws and horns, and a unique affinity for technology that she's worked hard to hone after what happened to her.

Jason Todd had wings too small for much more than gliding, but his autumn rich curls hid the beginnings of majestic horns, his pale blue eyes shining with a hope few in Gotham could muster. But Robin had augments to his wings, enabling short flight to follow his mentor, at least until his grounding. Gotham could not let go of him for long, and dragged him back herself, but failed to do so completely, watching him be whisked away by Talia. Red Hood never regained his wings, not fully, more bone than flesh, what few feathers left struggling not to fall off. Pain arcs through his body from time to time, but he has a duty to Gotham and her people, one he would willingly choose any day. As for his pit rage, it is the equivalent of eating something you cannot process, as his system already had its fill of demonic energy from Gotham.

Tim Drake was born in Gotham, but his family's adventures dragged him throughout the world until the tender preteens. Before that only, he had been loosely tutored on the travels, but now his parents had deemed public school of importance, and also thought he could help organize their collections when he was not learning. One night, while cleaning up a gallery, he found an artifact he apparently had not put away yet, a statue that Catwoman would find quite fascinating. Upon interacting with it, pain ricocheted through him. When it finally stopped, his form had been twisted. For anyone else the statue would have merely given one the abilities of a cat, perhaps a curse to go with them, but his supernatural features were malleable enough for the power to take advantage of, turning him into a human feline. Eventually, he went to join Batman as Stray, knowing he needed a Robin but not wishing to take the name on himself. Many rogues seemed to think him a child of Batman and Catwoman, and they oft went uncorrected. He likes to perch on his family.

Cassandra is demon-touched primarily through the league and proximity to the pits, but nothing strong enough to truly take root until Gotham welcomed her to her new home. While her features are limited to black sclera and not much else, she is strongest in the ability department, able to literally move through shadows and hide in them at will, though she cannot speak while doing so and it can be hard watching for a shadow signing. Due to her past and being hell-touched, she is a bit stronger than Dick, though not as physically strong as those who grew up in Gotham.

Duke is more angel-touched than the others are, resulting in the enhanced strength of his light abilities and visions. That doesn't mean there isn't demon in him though, it just showcases itself more quietly.

Stephanie may very well have the sharpest claws and fangs of the family, but her razor wit is one of her best attacks depending on who you ask. Her and Cass sometimes seem joined at the hip, and, while their styles are somewhat opposite, they work quite well together.

Damien was created with the blood of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul, grown in a Lazarus Womb. He looks like a tiefling, with skin dark like Talia but tinted the slightest bit red like his father, burning green eyes like Talia but black sclera like Bruce, and the very same Wayne horns and talons that dominate the generations. He does not have wings and it seems unlikely he will ever have them, but that does not stop him in his tracks.

[sagaduwyrm]

I was looking at cryptid batfamily stuff, and I kind of created my own AU.

So the Justice League meets The Bat. Maybe they find him or maybe he just shows up, but either way there's a primordial mass of Shadow and Nightmare with glowing white eyes in front of them, and whatever it is clearly isn't impressed.

But then. It takes off it's mask. And it's strange, because it's not so much taking off a mask as slipping it's claws into the shadowed skin below it's face and pulling until the darkness slips away like rubber and it's. A human.

Green Arrow recognizes him. Chokes on his spit and whispers "Bruce?" with a face like everything he's ever known is a lie. And the man just looks at him, even less impressed than he was as a shadow monster and it's just.

The suit. It's not a suit but it has to be, it has to be because he's wearing it and yet it moves like skin and breathes like flesh and it's like a monster just opened it's mouth and a person climbed out except the person and the monster are one.

Basically, Batman is the monstrous incarnation of Gotham's Fear and Grief (think this) but Bruce Wayne is just a tired man, and yet they are the same. You look at Bruce from the corner of your eye and you see shadows and fangs. The Batman holds a child with the clawless hands of a kind father. When he is emotional in either form one can hear music: almost like funeral bells and almost like screaming and almost like the sound of a gun falling on the floor, torn from cruel hands before they can hurt.

The other Bats are other aspects of Gotham. Dick is Joy and Defiance, Jason is Sacrifice and Revenge, Cass is Empathy and Unknowableness, Tim is Wonder and Exhausted Determination, Steph is Hope and the Continued Fight, Kate (Batwoman) is Wrath and Mercy, Duke is the Sunrise at the End of the Long Night, Damian is those that are Bleeding but Still Giving.

The Justice League manages to get them all in a room once and it's a terrible, awful choir, Gotham's deepest soul sing-screaming in their ears.

[the-witchhunter]

DP x DC: Horror

I just want to take Danny, our funky little ghost boy, and I want to use him as a catalyst for horror. I want to turn up the weirdness, that cryptid energy, that eldritch spooky boy stuff, and I want to sic him on DC characters that aren’t exactly ready to handle that

I want to release a feral Phantom in Gotham, hungering, bestial, and on the prowl for those members of the Bats that smell deliciously of death. It’s hard to get a good look at it, the shadows seem to cling to the thing, but the Bats that encounter it remember it’s hungry snapping jaws and too many teeth

I want a building that thieves and gangsters avoid like the plague. It’s cursed they say, anyone who goes in never comes out the same. Whatever is in there, it’s never described the same way twice, the only thing consistent is its glowing green eyes

I want a Danny who knows too much, things he couldn’t possibly know. Tim wants to know HOW he knows. He says all he does is listen, he could show Tim if he really wanted to learn. It’s all fine until Tim starts hearing the whispers.

I want a grief stricken Bruce seeing a boy who looks way too much like Jason, only to lose sight of him moments later. Jason’s funeral was just a week before, Bruce knows his son is in the ground. He’s inclined to think it’s just a coincidence, but then he sees him again, and again. He never manages to catch up to him, and anytime he checks the cameras, there is no boy. Is he going mad?

There’s a boy in the walls of Wayne Manor, Damian is sure of it. He hasn’t seen him, but he’s heard him, crawling and scuttling about  between walls and through old passageways, some of which have been bricked off for years. His family wants to believe him, but no matter how many times they look, they never find anything. 

I want to use Danny as a method to scare and traumatize DC characters. Specifically Batman characters since that’s what I’m most familiar with. I just love making him a freaky dude and I want to write so many things just letting him be a freaky little dude

[avaritia-apotheosis]

@skulld3mort-1fan replied to your post “PERSONAL ASSISTANT DANNY AU!!! Amity Park has a...”:

Question is this before brice adopted dick or after ?? Is this when he has either jason or tim?? Cause this could be hilarious that they see Danny as Bruce keeper by how he manages to get him to his next schedule despite the amount of bullshit he's gone through and they all love the man cause he manages to be able to scold bruce as well as has Alfred's respect ( this can also slowly build to bruce x Danny thered very few of them and I really want to find some other )

​I think there's potential for the AU during any section of Bruce's life! It'd be funny to see 40-something year old Bruce with a massive gaggle of kids and is also secretly a hardened vigilante, city cryptid, and recognized founder of the Justice League to be manhandled by some 25-year-old recent graduate that looks like he weighs a hundred pounds soaking wet.

However, I think for this AU I'm leaning more towards Danny and Bruce being around the same age. (I've already discussed my thoughts on a possible romantic relationship for them here if you're interested)

So to set the scene:

Bruce is around 25/26 when he returns to Gotham and is intent to regain his position as CEO and majority shareholder of his parents' company while also setting himself up as The Batman. The former he accomplishes with all the pizzazz and efficiency of Elle Woods from Legally Blonde (because you can't convince me that a competent Brucie Wayne isn't just Elle Woods). But the board members still underestimate Bruce. They think he's too young, too inexperienced, and honestly? He's been gone from the face of the earth for years so they just have no idea how to deal with Bruce. And if there's one thing businessmen don't like (other than losing money), it's uncertainty.

They pressure Bruce into getting a PA because "Well, Mr. Wayne you've been gone from Gotham for so long, there's so much you need to catch up on. A PA would do wonders in keeping you organized!" It's honestly just a very thinly veiled excuse to get someone to spy on Bruce. Bruce can't figure out a way to get out of it, so he's forced to go along. He rejects ever applicant that came at the recommendation of most of his Board, and while it would be great to hire someone from Gotham, this is the era before Wayne Enterprises gained its shiny and clean personality, and there's no telling if any of these applicants have been bribed by one party or another.

Surprisingly, the answer to his problems came from a business meeting with Vlad Masters.

"If you're still looking, I'd like to recommend a candidate," Vlad said. "He's the son of some good friends of mine and had worked as my own PA for some time. He's quite good." Bruce nearly missed Vlad mutter 'almost too good' under his breath, but didn't remark on it.

"Oh? Why are you handing him to the competition then?"

"Ah, the two of us had some...differences. And the boy's at that age where he wants to see more of the world. So, why not Gotham? I'll send you his resume. Just think on it."

Despite Bruce's suspicions, there wasn't anything sketchy that he could dig up on Danny Fenton. Besides, Vlad Masters was notorious in guarding his privacy, and if he recommended Fenton, well, Bruce could at least count on him not getting bribed by anyone.

[goth-pod]

Goth-Pod Ep 5: Gotham Troubles

Welcome Back! Listening to you send ins, Juda Boone talks about things by Gothamites, for Gothamites!

[goth-pod is a fictional in-universe podcast based on the DC comics universe. Juda Boone is an original fictional character, not based on any real person or known comic book character.]

Transcript under the cut

Hello everyone and welcome to Goth-Pods special trials and troubles episode! I’m an indie theater’s take on the ghost of Christmas Present- and your host, Juda Boone. 

We're looking at your submitted trademark Gotham problems. So without my usual ramblings, lets get to business

—

For our first submission username Trekkle brought up a good debate: Subway vs Bus: The Subway is safer, since buses can get hit during rogue attacks, but if you're stuck underground there's a chance of a killer croc attack and also the birds ride the roof. 

Fantastic points, Trekkle! Thank you for writing in. I don't know exactly what you mean by the birds riding the roof, though. Do you mean Robin? Because I have been on the tram while a fight was happening between Robin and The Penguin on top. Of course, I missed most of it because I had my headphones in. Noise cancellation has its pros and cons in Gotham.  

There’s no set answer on this one, I don’t think. You kind of have to pay attention to what Rouges are active the way you pay attention to the weather. Cloudy with a 70% chance of a Riddler scheme? Maybe take the Buses, since they’re not connected to a maze-like system like  the subways are. But maybe it's sweater weather with a possible freeze-over because Victor Fries broke out two nights ago and is due for a showy return. Then an underground bunker with cushy seats doesn’t sound too bad.

—

From Clexx we have: I'm new to Gotham (full ride scholarship, thank you Mr. Wayne): Why does everyone hate Superman? I tried to get answers from a friend and they called Superman a Homewrecker. Is there an infidelity scandal around Superman I don’t know about??

Oh wow. First of all, congratulations on the scholarship! I'm assuming you're attending Gotham U? Just be sure you get a proper Rogue-proof gas mask. Yes there is a difference. It’ll probably be covered in your Orientation though, so onto the main question. 

To the Homewrecker comment.. oh I didn’t think it’d come to this. Okay, there's this thing in Gotham. Clexx, have you ever heard of Bruceman? Ask your friend about it, they’ll probably love to explain more. Basically it is a Real-Person based Ship on Gotham’s two protectors, Bruce Wayne and Batman. One watching over the day, the other the night. 

This is another Topic that might take all episodes to explain, so to keep it short: People see Superman and Batman’s relationship- professional, platonic, romantic, or however they define it- as a threat to Bruceman, the number one Gotham Ship. Godspeed if you get between our beloved prettyboy himbo and our odd night-stalking cryptid. 

—

From Allison: My cousin is visiting and I want to show them why I stay in Gotham. Where can we go for 1) a low level rogue attack (for Bat sighting), and 2) where can we go for a Wayne sighting. (They think Dick Grayson is hotter then Brucie [eye-rolling emoji])

For the first one, I think any part of our public transport system will do, as we discussed before. The tricky part is knowing when it’s going to be low-level or if your cousin will be joining you in a shelter-in-place lockdown.

For a Wayne sighting, unfortunately it’s harder to say these days. Bruce Wayne has made several statements on how he’s spending less time at the company in order to focus on bonding with his new son, Jason. I hate to disappoint, but right now might not be the time for celebrity sight-seeing. Maybe take a day trip to Bludhaven! Your cousin might enjoy the chance to convince you instead. 

Thank you all for writing in and for joining us on this special episode! If we didn’t get to your submission, head over to our socials to see if we replied there. I’m Juda, you’re listening to Goth-Pod

Until then, Newcomers, visiting cousins, locals on the bus, Stay safe, Gotham.

[zahri-melitor]

Look out, it's time for the Potted Fanon History of the one, the only...BRUCE WAYNE!

Bruce, 8: His parents were shot dead by [Someone/Joe Chill/the Mafia] outside the theatre in Park Row where they just saw Zorro. Kneeling in blood, pearls, etc etc.

Bruce, 8: Jim Gordon was the cop who responded to the scene and took care of Bruce.

Bruce, 8: Alfred takes custody of Bruce and they live in the Manor together.

Bruce, 12-16 (optional): Bruce attends school with people like Oliver Queen and Lex Luthor (at a boarding school), or Zatanna and Harvey Dent (at a regular Gotham school). Bruce is known as the cryptid who hides in the library reading forensic pathology textbooks in his free time.

Bruce, 16-18: Bruce finishes school and embarks on a Secret World Training Tour. Highlights of the Tour definitely involve the League of Assassins and probably several nameless monks. Bruce may have an intense homoerotic relationship with Minhkhoa Khan. The following individuals may be namechecked but are unlikely: [Shiva, David Cain, Henri Ducard, Richard Dragon]

Bruce, World Training Tour Edition: Bruce will first meet Talia at this time, and they may get married/conceive Damian. Do not look at the timeline too closely.

Bruce, early-mid 20s: returns to Gotham, is reminded that he is scared of bats. "Yes father, I will become...a Bat!"

Bruce, early-mid 20s: has encounter with An Individual (name varies, solidifying to 'Red Hood' these days as everyone's hung up on Jason) in the ACME Chemical company vats, the other person falls into the chemicals. The Joker is born hahahahahahahHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Bruce, mid 20s: meets Superman and Clark Kent, they simultaneously figure each other's identities out. Shortly after they form the Justice League with Wonder Woman.

Bruce, mid 20s: Bruce goes out for the night to see Haly's Circus when it visits town. Graysons fall, Bruce sees crying kneeling Dick Grayson and immediately imprints on him and takes him home.

Bruce, mid 20s: Dick Grayson becomes Bruce's Ward (TM). Dick also becomes Robin. They swear an Oath (TM) by candlelight to "fight together against crime and corruption and never to swerve from the path of righteousness!" (Actually I don't think the words of the oath are that well known but I couldn't help myself)

Bruce, mid 20s: has many undetailed adventures with Dick. I cannot reinforce how big a blank hole this period is.

Bruce, early 30s ish: Bruce runs into Talia and sleeps with her again (as written by people who CAN count to 10)

Bruce, 30s: Dick gets injured during a fight. Maybe with Joker, maybe with Two-Face, quite possibly with no details. Bruce tries to ground Dick for his own good. Bruce and Dick have a big fight over Dick being an adult now and you can’t tell me what to do. End result: Dick is no longer Robin and moves out (to Blüdhaven). Bruce immediately sulks.

Bruce, 30s: Batman parks his Batmobile in the middle of Crime Alley and comes back to find the tyres being jacked. The teenager attempting this then hits Batman with a tyre iron. Bruce, missing Dick yelling at him, is immediately charmed and takes Jason home and proceeds to instantly adopt him and make him Robin.

Bruce, 30s: Bruce learns about classism from Jason. Bruce Wayne, a man with the biggest charities running in Gotham, years of criminology experience and who travelled the poorest parts of the world in his quest for training, had never contemplated that poor people commit crime because they’re poor and the laws are against them. This rocks his world.

Bruce, 30s: Bruce fails to call Dick to tell him about his new adopted Jason!Robin. Dick comes over to have a screaming match with Bruce in the Manor/Cave about this. These will be a regular feature of Jason’s entire time as Robin.

Bruce, late 30s: Felipe Garzonas occurs. Bruce accuses Jason of killing Garzonas. Bruce will shortly feel intense guilt for this.

Bruce, late 30s: Jason runs away to Ethiopia and is blown by the Joker in a warehouse. Bruce arrives just out of time, to find Jason's body. He is devastated and blames both himself and Jason. He takes Jason's body back to Gotham where there is an autopsy. Joker just disappears with no trace.

Bruce, late 30s: gets more and more violent in his despair over Jason's death. Tim comes to him to explain why Batman is going off the rails and offers to be Robin.

Bruce, middle aged (don't look too closely): Bruce accepts Tim as his new Robin, however insists they are Just Coworkers. He may still be suicidal at times. He probably calls Tim 'Jason' by accident. He insists he never wants to be close to another child again.

Bruce, middle aged: Bruce comes face to face with Bane, who Breaks His Back (TM). Bruce then recovers. This is a very important moment, however any details of the recovery or who was Batman in the interim are unknown. Good job, Gotham healthcare services set up by Thomas Wayne!

Bruce, middle aged: Bruce becomes worried about Tim's parents (as he's reluctantly become attached to Tim). They are never around, which is how Tim manages to be Robin. They are definitely neglecting him. They might be abusing him! Bruce either fosters Tim because of his terrible neglectful parents OR Janet dies and Jack ends up in a coma and Bruce fosters Tim. Either way, Bruce becomes Tim's guardian.

Bruce, middle aged: there's a new crime lord in Gotham called the Red Hood. Batman must track him down. Bruce discovers that this is Jason. Jason begs for Bruce to kill the Joker to avenge his death and Bruce refuses because He Has A Code. Bruce throws a batarang at Jason's neck and slits his throat.

Bruce, JLA edition: at some point Bruce made some Protocols, or possibly some Killer Robots, just in case someone else on the Justice League goes evil. The rest of the Justice League find this out, due to this situation going wrong and the plans being activated by something. Everyone on the Justice League gets very upset with Bruce.

Bruce, middle aged: at some point Bruce adopts Dick and Tim and Cass. Details of when or where are scanty. They're his kids now. Everyone moves into the Manor (except Dick, who visits from Bludhaven every weekend to see his siblings).

Bruce, middle aged: Talia drops Damian off on the doorstep. Bruce now has a (biological) son! Unfortunately Ra's Al Ghul wants to steal his body. Damian must be protected.

Bruce, middle aged: dies. How does this happen? What are you, a cop? Fortunately Bruce being ultraprepared for anything including incipient death, he has left extensive notes about who deals with what when he's dead. Dick gets custody of Damian (but only Damian). Tim gets Wayne Enterprises.

Bruce, middle aged: returns from being lost in time (not dead). Thanks, Tim. No I will not return to being the main Batman in Gotham or take back Wayne Enterprises, it's time for me to travel the world and create Batman Incorporated in every nation on Earth!

Bruce, middle aged: eventually returns home and moves back into the Manor. Damian is now his Robin. Everyone else may still be living in the Manor, may have moved out because of Sad Conflict Drama because Tim feels like he's Just A Coworker or Cass is In Hong Kong. Dick may or may not return to Bludhaven now.

Bruce, middle aged: begins to reconcile with Jason, because he finds out about Jason's Pit Rage and trauma. Jason promises to use Rubber Bullets or to just shoot people in the knee, and says he will patrol Crime Alley because nobody else understands it and the people inside it like him. Bruce is just fine with this.

Bruce, middle aged (Damian edition): Damian dies. Bruce is extremely distraught about this due to his trauma over Jason and immediately works to hunt down a way to resurrect Damian.

Bruce, middle aged: meets Duke and seeing another teenager who is trying to fight crime, immediately brings him home to foster/adopt.

Bruce, Good Dad edition: at some point Bruce has Seen A Therapist and gotten Therapy. He is now completely au fait with the latest things you read online about complex PTSD and is sorry for the hurt he has ever caused any of his children. He goes around talking his children down from disassociation and panic attacks and nightmares. He wraps them up in weighted blankets and watches TV shows You Like with them. He has a new Ace, who is a Therapy Dog for Trauma. When someone has a bad night the entire family sleeps in his giant bed as a sleepover. He is completely focused on the mental health of his children.

Bruce, Bad Dad edition: Bruce has punched Dick/Jason/Tim/Damian (choose whichever set you want) in the face and accused them of not following orders. He has rages and demanding expectations on everyone. Multiple of his children can no longer put up with it any more. He does bad things to them and says it's for their own good.

Bruce, currently: Bruce is a Good Dad! Everyone is either living at the Manor or stays over after patrol regularly. They have regular movie nights. Bruce is actively running Wayne Enterprises. If he sees an unattached teenage vigilante anywhere he might adopt them and bring them home too! He looks after all the associated Gotham vigilantes and does not know what money is worth. This is hilarious as he tips 3000% or whatever on every purchase.

Bruce, currently (alternatively): Bruce is a Bad Dad! After failing his children nobody wants to be near him and he needs to apologise to all his children so they forgive him. Bruce has left Damian for Dick to raise all by himself (that's ok, Dick is really Damian's adoptive dad) and Tim to struggle with the pressure of being a high school dropout CEO of Wayne Enterprises. He is fighting with Jason over the One Killing Rule and won't compromise, even to kill the Joker, despite Jason desperately wanting that proof that Bruce loves him more than he loves the killing rule.

Bruce, currently: Bruce is dating one of Selina, Talia, Clark or Minhkhoa. Whichever on this list he is dating, he would never ever consider getting with Selina and/or Talia again (delete whoever necessary).

[puppetmaster13u]

Thinkin about the Meat Marionette Au, specifically the batclan having two bodies. And I apologize if this is rambling lol

I feel like they still train and work out most days (look Bruce has gotten used to picking up his kids, he's not going to stop even if he's in his human body). It's just probably not to the same extent as in canon of a daily thing without giving their bodies a break. That probably actually means their human bodies are healthier than in canon, seeing as one actually needs to let their muscles rest between exercising them. Not to mention they- or at least their bodies- are getting rest. Hell it's almost like their bodies are in comas for a few hours each night what with how low their brain activity would register as.

Now I'm thinking this probably influences how they act and appear towards the public. They shy away from most interviews (they're trying not to hiss or growl) and are mostly quiet whenever they speak in public, so it'd be easier for the tabloids to spin a story about a shy or demure family doing their best to help Gotham. Which is... the complete opposite of what they are, but no one needs to know that.

Others might even go the mysterious hermit route when trying to write a story about the Waynes, seeing as they're not spotted outside often (what with uses of disguises and such) save for the times the patriarch of the family has gone on another adoption spree. Honestly most of the stories about them are either having to do with Wayne industries, the very rare gala that everyone is wanting into, or the several adoptions that have been reported on several times.

Online is another story probably, and there's definitely several memes about each Wayne family member's posts. They're somehow Gotham's darlings despite being social recluses.

That being said, being connected to the Tunnels definitely has an effect on them even in their original human bodies. Not just mentally but physically as well. Like there is some definite off vibes the longer one is in their presence, their movements just a hint too graceful and something almost... predatory about it.

Also slightly random but I feel like Bruce would grow his hair out, like not even purposely at first. He just got caught up in cases and trying to figure out the meat-marionettes (thank you Dick for the name, but did you really have to call them that) that he forgot to get it cut several times. And by then it's just easier to put it in a ponytail than stay still for however long it'd take to get it cut and well, actually look good even if he himself doesn't care about it. Then he also gets kids who want to learn how to do things like braiding hair, which means he learns too and... yeah...

This au is a combo of my cryptid batfam and @phoenixcatch7's possessed doll au, which you need to check out because it's great. A really fun concept and influences a lot of this Au concept too. Also mutual of mine do you have any ideas for their civilian IDs

[demonbirds-au]

A Robin's Devotion

Cws: Unhealthy Relationships, Mind Manipulation, Implied/Referenced Mind Control, Partial Mind Control, Demon Deals, Obsessive Behavior, Possessive Behavior, Ambiguous Relationships, Morally Ambiguous Character, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

Dick Grayson was always the first.

The first Robin, the first son, the first to be by Batman's side, the first to light his way.

He loved Batman, as much as he did Brucie. But not as much as he loves Bruce Wayne.

The secret awkward smile meant more than the picture perfect one, because the former was his. It was a gesture for Dick's eyes alone—perhaps Alfred but that was a given.

And truly, what a gift it was to see; to see him, to know him, to love the real Bruce Wayne; imperfect and broken yet so strong and gorgeous.

One faithful day, the admiration would be tested.

When the Bat could merely lay in bed with a broken rib and bruised head, a frown on his lips because even in rest he could not find peace. So little Robin sneaked in, laying his head near the man, convincing himself that his love will not leave him like the two before.

That's when she appeared. Like a phantom, a spector, a cryptid. A blessing.

Adorned in shadows and mist, a figure with no face nor form. But with a single name.

"Who are you?" The Boy Wonder whispered, glancing at the being, standing by the windows. A sliver of moonlight passes through her as her blank eyes fall upon the injured man. Robin grips the sheets, eyes narrowing.

"Gotham," came the answer, equally soft. A secret, a fact, a truth.

"My knight, my love," she slinks forward, soundless. She soothes a tender hand on Bruce's wound, crooning as the man grunts. "My son."

A moment of tranquillity sets, as both child and deity merely watches their beloved. But their love is different yet the same; just as strange as it is natural.

"You will protect him."

"I will."

"You love, my child?"

"Always."

The woman nods. She offers her hand and without any hesitation Dick grabs it. Instantly, black sigils wrap around his hand, crawling up his arm. He doesn't scream, doesn't dare to wake the sleeping man up, so instead shuts his eyes.

After a moment, he tentatively opens them. Only to notice that the woman was gone. Robin catches a look at his reflection in the windows.

The same bright blue eyes but with black sclera and the once familiar smile now sharp. He runs a hand through the small bumps on his head. 'Horns…' the boy thinks, delirious.

A part of him—his humanity—in exchange for the power and strength to keep Gotham's Dark Knight safe. For a moment, doubts cloud his heart. Did he do the right thing? Could he keep his promise? Was it worth it?

A shift, and there's Bruce, cracking his eyes open. Bleary icebergs that the boy has always loved staring at meet his own. A feeble but no less earnest attempt at a smile. Perhaps he can't see the transformation—or maybe he can but doesn't care because it's Dick.

"Chum…?" the man murmurs, reaching for his light. And who was he to deny his beloved? The boy crawls onto the bed, burying his face into the older man's side, careful of his injuries.

The kid glances up and sees that wonderful, secret smile of his, as the man starts to gently stroke Dick's hair.

'I'll protect you for as long as I'll love you…' the boy traces a clawed hand on the man's arm, mumbling his vow aloud, "Always."

Afterall…

Dick Grayson treasures Bruce, more than he does anybody, even himself.

Jason Todd was the second.

Right after the original, the sequel no one expected. Yet arguably was loved the most—or perhaps it was because the Bat was still healing from losing his first.

The one who died and left, came back and fought, then embraced as a Bat once more.

He fought, bled and wept for the man, the one who saw something in him. Something amazing, something powerful; something akin to potential.

His devotion was eternal, not even death could squash it. For, even when his mind was a chaos of green and violence, it was his voice, his face that the child clung to. His idol, his love, his heart. Bruce Wayne, who he will and had killed for.

So when the woman appeared—on one of those days where he and the Bat fought to the point they said words they didn't mean, poisonous and piercing—he was startled sure, but he had little reservation at the deal she offered; His heart, forever bound to Bruce's.

No longer will he ache or bleed, for it will belong to the man forevermore. Just as the man was his—as much as he was another's.

Jason knew about Dick—saw his true form one quiet night when the former sidekick came to visit, a distant time ago. The older teen was with his mentor in the study, talking about nothing and everything. At one point, the younger male had draped himself across Bruce, yet the man seemed unbothered.

Jason could merely gape as he peeked from the door, confusion in his eyes. Even more so when Nightwing twists to stare back at him. Then for one precious second, he wasn't Dick; dangerous eyes and a sharp smile, claws subtly tracing his brand on Bruce's arm.

Then like a thunder strike, the image was gone.

Jason knew then, that the two were more than what others thought. Heck, maybe the Greatest Detective doesn't even realise he was marked, belonged to someone—something far beyond comprehension.

With that piece of knowledge, the teen glared down at the woman before him. Her appearance did not frighten him—he's seen far worse—but it did perturb him; who was she? Why was she here?

"Red Hood. Once, Jason Todd," the spector utters, her voice is both familiar and foreign. The way she spoke, as if they knew each other when the man is fairly certain they never met—he would've recalled a woman with fathomless eyes. She tilts her head, hair swirling in the air. "You're one of mine."

At the admission, a single word blared in the crime boss' head; 'Gotham.'

His hands itched for a weapon, still strung up from the previous argument. Still feeling that acid burning his skin, the green creeping into his vision. A revered gruff voice echoing in his mind, and that stupid warm smile.

"He can be your's, just as much as you are his."

"He won't just be mine."

"Perhaps. But you'll be one of the few who truly has him."

And what could the boy say to that? So, another deal was made. Another vow was promised, another worshipper born—another soul bonded.

The Red Hood howled as the markings seared him, crawling up his arms. He panted through it all, persevered the same way he had before—with a single name on his tongue, a chant and a prayer.

After, he would dash to the manor like a maniac, as if he was being chased. Not even bothering to look at himself. His heart glowing once he saw Bruce, despite it all. He'd run up to him and embrace him, confusing the older man.

"Jaylad…?"

He doesn't get any answer so Bruce just hugs him back, confused but happy for the affection. Doesn't question why his son's heartbeat was so dangerously soft, almost silent. Unaware, as the now green-eyed man traced a pattern on his back.

Jason looked up and he swore he saw Dick for a moment. Those tarnished blue eyes reflecting his own poisoned green ones, as that same smile from all those years ago appeared. The same deal was made, by another who once wore that forsaken mantle. Another offering given; a part of him—his heart—for his beloved's. A fair price though, if you asked him.

Afterall…

Jason Todd cherishes Bruce, more than anything else, even himself.

Tim Drake was the third.

Unlike those before him, he was not given the chance to be by the Bat's side—he took it. He would do anything to be with the man; be the light when the darkness became too much.

Ask any Gothamite, they would surely agree; of what a fine pair they made. So similar, so in tuned—they were like one soul in seperate forms.

A mind that worked in tandem, in perfect sync, in their own sweet melody. But the third Robin was not so deaf, as to the other two notes in the song—the distinctive notes that reminded him that the Bat was not his alone.

And he accepted that, knowing what he had signed up for; what he had pledged the moment he donned the iconic 'R' over his heart.

He was never fazed by how… clingy the former Robins were with the man, how they would hover so close by. He always caught sight of at least one of them, hidden in the shadows, silently watching. He didn't bring it up, didn't feel the need to. It was natural, to want to protect a loved one right?

But the lad, ever so cunning—more so than even his idol at times—saw the truth for what it was. How Dick's smile turns sharp when a suitor talks to Brucie, eyes a warning and a threat; how the Red Hood becomes more violent when another villain had injured Batman, snarling and growling; how the two, no matter what, would always return to—for Bruce.

The only confusion he had was the source of the utter and complete devotion. Tim doesn't much believe in magic, he trusted numbers and charts, unquestionable facts. He knew the Bat was not a living shadow, nor an instrument of destruction, nor a God of justice like the papers speculate—he was Bruce Wayne, the boy who loved and lost. Now, grown up to make sure he would be the last to ever experience such tragedy.

Not to say Tim was any less a worshipper.

Still, it nagged at him. Why did they love the older man so much? All three of them knew him well—who knew him most though, was an argument none had the energy to execute—and he was far from perfect. They've seen him at some of his lowest, at his worst—yet the former Robins would never fail to drop everything at once if Batman were to call.

His answer came one day and he had accepted it, which brings him to the current moment. Brucie was at work, charming and delighting his guests with an affection Tim knows he hardly feels. Because the real love only appears behind the glitz and glam; when the man looks at him, at Alfred, at Jason, at Dick—at those who actually matter.

"Careful, CEO of Wayne Enterprise—some might assume you're jealous."

The comment snapped the teen out of his daze, carefully placing his cracked champagne glass down. He looked forward, scanning around steadily.

"I'm not."

The woman, so out of place yet she blends in with the crowd so seamlessly, glides to his side. They don't look at each other; her gaze on the billionaire playboy while he glimpses two familiar silhouettes, lurking and watching.

"You are," she asserts, speaking it as the fact it is, "you are, because he is not yours."

"He's not theirs either," his voice feels deafening yet not one soul seems to notice the two, "Brucie belongs to everyone, the people; Batman belongs to this city, to Gotham."

"And Bruce Wayne?"

Tim finally turns to the eldritch being, blue eyes meet those inky black pools firmly. Once, he would have laughed if someone told him he'd be here; the new Robin, now CEO of WE, talking to the manifestation of the most forsaken, dangerous place on earth. All the more, that he would make a deal with said being, one to bind him and his beloved for as long as his infinite love—just as his predecessors had.

Still, here he was.

"To us, just as he always had," he nods, eyes finally flicking back to Bruce. He hears, practically feels the pleased rumble from the two older beings, wherever they are.

The woman departs, as unassuming as when she entered.

His focus pins on Bruce, his feet bringing him to the older man's side the moment one of the females starts getting too intimate. Once he stops in front of him, Tim says nothing, merely smiling thinly at everyone before giving his idol a more warm grin. He tilts his head, eyes glowing as he gently tugs him away. The older man doesn't resist, but does offer some quick apologies to the guests. The teen couldn't care less.

As soon as they reach a quiet alcove, Tim spins on his heel, a frown as he finally lets his emotions bled through. His new appearance doesn't frighten Bruce—just as he was never horrified by Dick's or Jason's. He didn't see them as monsters, demons, or any other silly notion. He loved them, and he knew they were his boys even if they were now tainted by the darkness. Because really, how could a man feel fear for something he regularly embraces?

Tim slinks forward and pulls the taller man down a little, his newfound strength something the smaller male is still astounded by. Darken eyes lock on those precious glassy blue.

"Timmy…?"

Tenderly, he nuzzles the man's cheek, hands holding his face in place. The man allows this and when the boy pulls back, he is satisfied to see his mark glowing, evidence of whom the older man belonged to. The teen steps back, griping Bruce's own hand in a vice.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about this all day," he tells his beloved, beaming as he gestures between them. Bruce tilts his head, blinking slowly. The boy couldn't help but to coo despite himself, before lightly dragging the man back into the main hall.

Let them have Brucie, the millionaire playboy, the sad orphan turned heartbreaker.

He's paid the price—his mind—to be with the man. He'll happily collect his prize, but he's also a very patient boy. He can wait as Brucie comes out; he can sheath his claws and hide his fangs when suitors start being a little too daring. He can think of a million and one ways to deal with them.

He had vowed to be Bruce's light, so what does it matter if he burns out?

Afterall…

Tim Drake adores him, more than anyone else ever could, only him.

[us-the-voices-and-more-voices-2]

my horrible horrible Batman/bruce Wayne headcannons

He’s half Sicilian and half Jewish. I will take this to my actual grave/srs

the real reason he can walk away and fight people with broken bones and while bleeding out is because he has an undiagnosed pain disorder. Like the one where you can’t feel pain at all. And has never realized it ever, and the batfam are completely oblivious too. Thomas Wayne (his dad) had it and never noticed either.

he sings songs to his kids, but really really bad covers. On purpose. He also has a secret YouTube music channel called “bats in the belfry” where he uploads his good guitar/vocal covers. He accidentally goes viral, and juggles a triple life as a semi-famous songwriter and singer. No one knows it’s him though, not even the league.

Thomas gave bruce all his old medical texts, and used to teach him first aid when he was little. little bruce loved it so much.

bruce actually has his doctorate in chemistry, engineering, medicine, biology, botany, and he took some random courses about the bats of Gotham and then studied veterinary medicine.

he proudly displays his many doctorates he earned in the same 3 years, in the library where no one see them.

his best friend forever is Harvey dent, even though Harvey and Harv are twoface. he does not care and randomly rocks up to his house with some good brandy, and invites them to his house always and forever.

bruce is actually a good dad, he's just also oblivious and accidentally hurts his kids feelings.

he actually hates being called bruce, and considers it his deadname. he actually one time when he was poisoned got out the name change forms filled them out with the name Bat Bruce Wayne and got his name changed and then he started feeling better after being poisoned he realised that he changed his legal name to Bat Wayne and he could not change it back. he tries to lie about it but he still has to sign forms with his legal name, no one has figured it out yet. everyone just assumes Bat Wayne is like his 9th kid or something.

bruce despite being rich as balls actually hates being rich with a passion, and literally throws his money at anything he can. when he was younger he tried desperately to get rid of all his money via charities, investing in local Gotham shops and chains, and literally paying for any health or medical care thing he could. sadly that only made the entire city of Gotham love him, and sadly he just got 30x the money he put in. and he still doesn't know how. it basically turned into a one upping where bruce tried everything he could to get rid of his money but all that happened was people started to love and adore Wayne tech and Wayne industries, and bruce Wayne's constant stream of donations to literally every single charity he could shove money in their hands. it backfired horribly and now he has a LEGION of international Bruce Wayne fans who literally give him money. he hates every single moment.

he has a weird thing going on with joker, they made out a couple times and they both refuse to ever bring it up. (bruce would have killed him if he didn't kinda have the hots for him and thought he couldn't be redeemed.)

he singlehandedly is keeping all of Gothams diverse bat species alive and well, he also has like 1,000s of pet bats in the batcave.

his favourite colour is actually yellow, but he just likes that black is stealthy.

he actually has tons and tons of scars, and no one really knows because bruce always wears fingerless gloves and long sleeves. they just think it's a fashion statement, bruce just likes covering up his scars.

he started a conspiracy that batman was actually not real and just a cryptid, he leans even more into it as Bruce Wayne.

he picks up all his kids and spins them around at random, because he loves keeping them on their feet.

he's low-key on and off dating both Catwoman and Harvey, while having work husband Clark Kent be his teammate.

the media completely forgets bruce literally has multiple doctorates some times. and when he publishes any work he does everyone is like "oh look it's Bruce Wayne, not THE Bruce Wayne of Wayne tech. science Bruce Wayne of the same name. because the playboy billionaire doesn't publish in scientific journals" and then one time he was invited to give a lecture on poison ivy's plants and the critically endangered Gotham wild rose of which there is only one left and of which he is currently keeping safe in his plant house. anyway everyone was fucking shocked and bruce put on his serious scholarly tone and started talking. while in a yellow Gotham U jumper with coffee stains on it while looking like he was in a car crashes aftermath only moments earlier. (he just forgot to set his bones again.)

bruce has autism and OCD. his special interest is gray ghost, and he fucking hates bright lights. (sun glasses indoors kinda guy)

bruce keeps like 50 photos of his kids in his wallet, 1: because it's funny 2: because he does not bring a phone with him anywhere.

and lastly, when he was doing his tour around the world to learn all types of fighting and escapism. he also learned he was horrible at cooking, just downright destructive.

[kazbatman]

ASSORTED BATMAN FACTS LIGHTNING ROUND

Okay so a lot of people want to know more about Batman/Bruce Wayne in this au, so here’s a bunch of random tidbits about him to satiate that need

Batman in this au isn’t so much of a superhero as he is Gotham’s own ‘resident cryptid’. He’s not even perceived as a superhero to the citizens, they moreso view him as this strange benevolent humanoid bat creature who for some reason protects them. and they love him for it, and he’s highly mythologized by the population and everyone loves to theorize about why this big bat is on their side

In FACT Bruce Wayne specifically tailored his Batman persona to fit the ‘beast of urban legend’ theme to a T. None of the bat suits he owns have ANY face openings so no one can catch on to the fact that he’s a guy in a suit, let alone that he’s human. He was inspired to create this persona in lieu of a regular superhero alter ego because to him, a creature of urban legend that’d been flipped on its head to inspire hope instead of fear as other cryptid narratives usually go is exactly what Gotham needed and what represented the city best as sort of a parallel to how Gotham itself is also shrouded in darkness and despite it the city continues to inspire hope in itself . or something

And even if people did know that Batman had a secret human identity, the reality is that none of them would immediately know it was Bruce Wayne because a lot of Gotham residents have downright forgotten that Bruce Wayne even exists. He had some brief time in the headlines when his parents died all those years back but relatively since then he’s lived in an incredibly private life, even into his adulthood. And this is entirely by choice, he just doesn’t like to go outside if it’s not for something important like charity work, but even then his time spent in the public eye is slim to nonexistent. So as a result not many people have insight on what he’s up to these days or even if he lives in Gotham anymore. He’s incredibly reclusive, most of the time when he’s in his house he’s just working on refining his Batman stuff or taking care of the kids

And speaking of Bruce Wayne and kids he’s SUPER good with them. Whenever he’s obligated to be in a social setting with any other type of person he typically struggles to maintain a sense of back and forth but with kids it just comes naturally to him. Being a survivor of intense childhood trauma himself, Bruce feels an inherent need to protect children at all costs and make sure their individual needs are met and so forth and he can’t bare to see a kid going through any kind of hurt, so as a result whenever he’s put in a caretaker position he’s like amazing at it. It’s very sweet <3

I’ve had a lot of people ask what Harvey and Bruce’s dynamic is here and in the current time the au takes place, they’re actually friends Sort of! When they were kids both of their families were extremely close so as a result so were Bruce and Harvey, they went to the same expensive private school and hung out every day - until Bruce’s parents were killed and he was transferred to homeschool by Alfred in order to prevent any further stress. From there their relationship sort of petered out but they still stayed in touch every now and then but only became friend friends again after The Incident happened to Harvey, and Bruce realized he really wanted to be there to help him after not really being his friend for all those years. So even though their friendship can be a bit rocky since Harvey technically still is a villain, most of the time they just hang out with each other. I think it’s fair to say Harvey is the villain that Bruce is the most personally closest to in this au if that means anything to you

[summerbummin]

Hey there ghosts it’s me, ya Robin

T+ | 85k+ | Ch 19/? | Tim Drake Sees Dead People, Ghost Jason Todd, Tim Drake Centric, Cryptid Tim Drake, Child Neglect, Bad Parents Jack and Janet Drake, Bruce Wayne is Bad at Feelings, Angst, Humor

Jason’s mind was reeling. “Someone can see us?”

He’d tried everything he could think of to get Bruce and Alfred’s attention since he became a ghost. But even physically floating through their bodies hadn’t elicited a response.

She laughed. “Crazy, ain’t it? I don’t know if he’s a meta or what, but all the ghosts are talking about him.”

If there was someone out there who could see ghosts… then maybe…

Jason had to find him. “Who is he?”

“He’s known by many names… Veil Walker… Reaper… Half-Pint.”

Jason sputtered. “Half-Pint??”

“That’s the wildest shit. It’s a kid. Like a middle schooler.” Delilah threw out one of her hands. “And he’s out here wandering Gotham every night and chatting up the dead.”

Jason could only stare at her. Processing. A kid who could see ghosts... What was this? The Sixth Sense: Gotham edition??

———

Jason was murdered by the Joker. Tim can see the dead. They find each other.

Tim Drake had always been different. He’d always been able to see things others couldn’t. When he was younger, it took him a while to realize that other people couldn’t see what he saw.

Luckily, he’d been young enough for it to be dismissed as imaginary friends. Teachers and babysitters told him he watched too much television. The other kids thought he was weird.

However, two people had known better. They knew what a freak he was. That’s why they’d left.

What parents would want to stick around when their son would knock on their door at night, crying about the scary people he saw? The man with the caved-in head. The woman with jagged bloody lines down her forearms. The child with blue lips and missing fingers and toes. And many more horrifying spectors.

But he’d adjusted. He knew not to talk to ghosts when other people were around. He didn’t bug anyone about his nightmares. He no longer flinched at blood and gore.

Tim was an actor and his role was being a normal kid. If only he could convince his parents like he’d convinced everyone else. Then maybe they’d come home.

{Continue reading on Ao3}

[flyingbird27]

Batman Freaky Femme Fatales - A Thought

(I made a post about this on my side tumblr and then deleted it without properly copying it so I could post it here.)

But one thing I will probably never see but really like is if there was a Batman movie where the Femme Fatales are sexy but also really FREAKY.

And by FREAKY I mean the freaky awesomeness of Danny De Vito's grotesque yet memorable version of the Penguin. The makeup, the sewers, the actual penguins, the live fish, the Biting of Noses!!

Don't get me wrong, the 80s/90s Batman movies had their faults. But I will never forget Michelle Pfeiffer's Selena Kyle lying dead and twitching as cats lick and bite on her bloody, lifeless fingers.

Let's take this freaky energy and go even FARTHER.

What if Selena Kyle was always the Weird Cat Lady of the apartment complex (they think it's strange for a lady her age but at least the rats are finally gone). What if her fellow tenants don't bat an eye at 50 cats visiting her apartment window the night of her transformation? But what they don't see is Selena in an eye-less trance shoveling raw fish into her mouth a la Tom Hardy in Venom.

What if Catwoman looks like a slinky Leather Dominatrix from afar, or even up close. But her victims don't just get whiplashes and scratches, they also have jugular bites from canine teeth that would put Dracula to shame?

Imagine Batman has his first fight with her and discovers that her teeth are sharp as razors, and they glisten when she grins in the moonlight. He watches her claws grow and retract because, surprise, they are her actual Fingernails!

What if Bruce Wayne struggles to kiss his girlfriend Selena because he secretly witnessed Catwoman catch a live rat with that same mouth? What if Selena secretly hopes that Bruce Wayne sleeps upside-down and eats moths for an evening snack?

What if Poison Ivy was Literally a Cryptid? What if she is the patron saint of Gotham City's most Rejected Creatures. Rats, pigeons, ravens, flies, and cockroaches visit her in swarms when they discover this new source of sustenance. They are starving, she feeds them, she eats them.

What if she is a Venus-human-trap? She looks like a forest nymph, she lures you into a false sense of security. Then the instant you are no longer useful or friendly to her, she becomes something Different. She becomes something Else. You are shrieking and crying and begging for mercy as she feeds your flesh to her Unfathomable Self.

What if Batman and Alfred, when discussing strategies to take on Poison Ivy, have to recall their understanding of Lovecraftian themes? What if Batman has the same kind of harrowing battle as a protagonist in a Junji Ito story? What if Batman has to stop Poison Ivy not only to save Gotham but also because he knows every time she allows her Ego to die it lasts a little longer than before?

Long story short, I really would love someone to make a version of Batman femme Fatales to be just a little more off, maybe just a little more strange than they usually are.

Because I promise, they will still be quite sexy, at least to me.

(Post Script: In this scenario, Batman is NOT a creature. I think it's funny if he is just a Human-Man with Human-Man training and this surprises EVERYONE he fights.)