#kori i understand your thought process

[the-physicality]

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[fancyfade]

Your post talking about all of Kory’s sides also reminded me of the poem that I once sent RoobyLavender titled Immigrant Wife. Kory’s emotions and her feelings for her friends and the love she has is always so interesting and yet she still reads to me as like this wandering star. Roobylavender has talked about Kory and Talia meeting before and I feel like there would be such a kinship there. Their relationship with their father and they both are pretty lonely. I wish I could find that poem again!

I feel like Kory and Talia have pretty different relationships with their fathers. The dynamic could be kind of inverted not gonna lie, which could create interesting contrasts.

Ra's generally alienates Talia by asking her to choose between her own moral code and the man she loves and him. But we also see he prioritizes her safety, even over his own goals. When one of his guys shoots Talia nearly fatally, who is in the process of betraying Ra's, Ra's kills that dude and uses the Lazarus Pit to heal Talia. When another one shoots her non-fatally, again while she is betraying Ra's, Ra's has the dude fed to an endangered cat.

This isn't saying he's winning father of the year awards, just that we can see him concerned about Talia's safety, even when they're on opposite sides.

Compare that to Myand'r, Kory's dad. They don't verbally disagree a lot, but he prioritizes what his goals are (safety for Tamaran) over Kory's physical safety. He allows her to be traded into slavery. And I think it's interesting that Ra's' goals are generally a lot less sympathetic than Myand'r's (Myand'r wants Tamaran not to be taken over by a hostile empire, Ra's' goals are inconsistent but generally involve fixing the world via controlling it/killing large portions of people). But Ra's probably has the audience's sympathy more in his personal familial relationships*

Of course due to the fact that Ra's is a Batman villain and has been written so much, there are also versions of Ra's that do not prioritize Talia's safety at all, like Dixon's Ra's. But NGL Dixon wrote a very weak Ra's and Talia.

I think we also do see Kory making a lot more friends than Talia, because the narrative affords her more chances too. Kory has a strong friendship with Donna, we also see her befriending Raven and other Titans. I think she is less lonely than Talia because of this. However she also does not have many people who truly understand her, she expresses feeling like the others view her as naive about Earth stuff, and she sometimes feels the others view her emotions as inappropriate. But what's important about the 80s Teen Titans is that they can misunderstand each other and mess up but we still see how much they care about each other and are friends -- it's a very realistic friend group dynamic IMO.

This isn't saying they can't interact, I just think that the aspects in which they diverge are just as interesting as the aspects in which they are similar. The things they have in common many other characters also have in common, so I'd say analyzing the potential contrasts for them, and the parts where they are similar yet still different (like bad relationships with fathers being different in the details) works. NGL That's also what I thought could be interesting about Babs and Kory dynamics :P where we analyze some surface level similarities and focus on the differences in those, or analyze the general differences they have.

*in the 70s/80s comics.

[undertheknightwing]

hi!! first of all i love your fics, you write Gar so well! Second, i'd love to hear about Jon with the titans, such an interesting take, i don't watch superman and lois but that boy deserves something better., but if you prefer keeping those for yourself now, what about Gar and the Kents? i love that one!

take care!

Sorry about the wait!!

I wrote some of my ideas for the Solarshot au here which explains why Jon ran away from Smallville and how he met the Titans. You gave give that a read if you want ❤

Here's some of my thoughts of how I think Jon's relationships with the core four are!

Dick > Their relationship was very much mentor and apprentice since Jon needed a lot of training. They would spend hours in the training room practicing combat until Dick would have to cut it short because Jon was exhausted yet insisted he was okay to keep going, and Dick would have to remind him that pushing yourself till you collapse isn't healthy and taking breaks are necessary, not a weakness. Some day during their training Dick realizes Jon isn't great with bo-staffs and more Batman-like weapons, so he gives Jon some test lazer guns to try and it instantly clicked for Jon since he's used the d.o.d's guns in the past.

Even after Jonathan graduates superhero training and becomes Solarshot, he'll always see Dick as his mentor and remember how he was the one to always remind him that you don't need powers to be a superhero.

Kory > Unlike Dick, who's more focused on training and weapons, Kory helps Jon process and understand his emotions, how he feels about his family and being a kryptonian without anything kryptonian about him. Eventually Jon tells Kory he decided he wants nothing to do with Krypton since it's nothing but a source of unhappiness for him, he just wants to be Jon and she assures him that distancing himself from something that makes him upset even if it's his heritage is okay. His happiness is more important than learning about a destroyed planet. She also made sure Jonathan knew that they asked him to join the Titans because they liked his heart and saw his potential as a hero, not because he's kryptonian. That means nothing to them.

Besides helping Jon with his emotions, he and Kory also bonded over having the same sense of humor and being the only two Titans who put some effort into their appearances while their boyfriends wear the same three shirts on rotate for a week. Whenever Kory goes shopping or just needs to get out of the tower, Jon (and Gar) comes along.

Rachel > While not the closest members since they don't have much in common, they don't have an issue getting along, though Rachel sometimes likes to tease that Jon took her place as Dick's favorite student. Jon sees Rachel a lot like Jordan, the all black wardrobe and interests like art and collecting books, even their attitudes are similar, so he tries his best to not accidentally treat her like Jordan since he's so used to being around his brother. It gets a lot easier after a few months, but he always feels a pang of sadness each time she reminds him of Jordan, making him wonder how his brother and family are doing without him but can never build enough courage to get in contact with them, mainly fearing they'll be upset that he ran away and try to drag him back to Smallville or worse, learn that they're happier now that he's out of their lives.

In the future, Rachel takes her role as aunt Raven very seriously and adores her nephew and nieces. She never has kids of her own because having them just isn't for her but she's more than happy to babysit and spoil the hell out of her brother's kids. She even teaches one of nieces some magic because she's interested in it despite having powers of her own.

Gar > Finally, the Titan member we've all been waiting for, right? Now I could write an 500 page essay about Jon and Gar's relationship so I'm gonna make this as quick and short as possible lol

Out of all the Titans, it's Gar that Jon became close with first. Gar blamed himself for Jon ending up in the tower's infirmary and promised to stick by his side until he recovered. So, everyday Gar would pop into the infirmary to give Jon company, sometimes bringing a boardgame with him because there's only so much to talk about. During their talks however is how they find out how similar they are and can't deny there was definitely a certain spark felt between them when they realized: "you're like me."

When Jon was healed enough to leave Titans Tower and was asked by the leaders if they wanted to join them, the main reason for his agreement was that he actually wanted to be apart of their team but there was also a part that wanted to stick around because he very much likes Gar and wants to stay friends with him.

And that's what happens the moment he accepts Dick and Kory's offer, Gar zooms over to him and excitedly starts telling Jon about all the fun stuff they can do, like stay up late watching movies or playing video games. Gar even helps Jon set up and decorate his new room. And the rest of the Titans realize quite quickly that Jon and Gar are attached at the hip, wherever one goes the other follows.

Kory knows exactly where this friendship is going and so does Dick, but he's isn't super thrilled about it lol

Thank you for the ask!! 💚💚💚

[chequestage95]

Get This Report about Disqualifications for Donating Eggs

Can easily I Contribute My Eggs If…? If you're really feeling like you should contribute, you may by either donating straight to the Donations committee (incl. straight to a charitable organization) or straight to your local Animal Life Center (incl. directly to a local vet). Or you can be even more generous by producing a donation to one of our other plans or neighborhood medical centers. We consistently cherish your support and we understand you're interested and fascinated in helping. Requirements Responsible for Egg Donation The reasons responsible for egg gift are as private as the contributors themselves. Here are some instances: It goes without mentioning that all donations take a particular quantity of opportunity to process, that these things are frequently taken by volunteers, and that gifts are not easily confirmed. Check it Out may take a lot longer but sometimes they could possess even more than one recipient. It isn't simply gifts of $10 that are taken into consideration non-existent, the bulk of donations will be an very early beginning or 2nd opportunity investment. Each female or married couple who decides to go after this path, having said that, possess a similar target in thoughts. What's significant here is that women are prepared to give up their desire of possessing youngsters and move on, not understanding that they're opting for to observe their dreams. They're still going to take the road the men desire them to. The only means women will certainly carry on to think that that course will ever be done is if they're eager to let go of their goals for their gals.

To either expand their household or help make an additional’s desire of a household come correct. My child, Kori Okuma has been along with our loved ones for over 9 years and have always had a tough interest in her household, despite her absence of parentship. He would receive upset concerning this therefore I decided to take the effort to provide him that kind of encounter he loves now, even if he has had a hard time. Egg contribution is especially practical for a pair who are not capable to conceive on their own, due to infertility or one more clinical condition. The only means to stay clear of the monetary trouble of possessing a little one with your semen donation is by taking the opportunity to adhere to regular ovulation patterns. This isn't typically essential for both males and women, as productivity is identified through a lot of parts of the body system consisting of the ovaries and womb. At Virginia Frank, when a pair has decided to generate a household by means of gestational surrogacy, egg donation is an vital measure in the process. When she was 12, Frank's daddy, a previous legislation staff, started making use of surrogacy on a great deal of babies he presumed would be incredibly challenging for him, but she was adamant in order to make sure they got married safely and perfectly. "I'm not performing anything to injure anybody," she stated. However, there are actually several criteria that should be complied with before this is able to take spot. The authorities ought to center on supporting the efforts of non-governmental companies, to boost the high quality of the education and learning of pupils and to make certain that academic chances and end results are delivered. The government need to take steps to resolve their referrals, and to make certain that these initiatives are teamed up through the main federal government with necessary engagement from non-governmental institutions. To discover even more, went through on to view if you’d be capable to contribute your eggs under the following problems. 1.–If you want to give away your eggs from our collection (or if you possess no business in the United States of America), adhere to the observing hyperlinks to give away your eggs: 2.–We inquire that your gifts be forwarded to: The Office for Budget Responsibility Office of Sustainable Development Underpinnings. The lawful restriction to egg donation is 21 years of age. When would a person think of contributing an egg to a child? In 2014, two moms and dads were asked for along with kid endangerment after they took a infant to term. But it wasn't up until 2014 that the court discovered that the two parents were simply founded guilty. It isn't simply families of much older little ones that are in hazard, the parents demanded mention. This criteria is to a lot better ensure the premium of the eggs themselves. Eggs that are not readily accessible provide a higher obstacle of microorganisms in their atmosphere. Bacteria The eggs are not microorganisms but may use a tiny perk. Some eggs have some bacteria which in turn may give a preventive barrier that can protect the health of your body from disease. The micro-organisms in the eggs will definitely very most probably aid maintain your wellness at a high degree. Various other bacteria might contribute to its buildup.

[crypt1dcorv1dae]

Hello! I thought I'd stop by and let you know about a weirdly vivid dream I had a while ago that seems related to the post about bbrae being monstrous but in love, but basically it was a kind of origin story where the TTA cast lived in a small town and Gar's powers were manifesting for the first time, but it all played like Gar was in a demonic possession horror movie (I think the premise was that the Red was making themselves known as a part of him that had always been there). I had a really haunting sequence in that dream where Gar was half passed out on a riverside and a bunch of dead and living animals just surround him looking down at him as the Red tries to talk to him in whispers(very Animal Man's series). The team shenanigans where attempts to de-possessionify Gar and Raven keeps trying to help him emotionally process what's happening with him because Raven's powers already manifested (she was doing a whole I understand what you're going through thing). But also I didn't see how it ended, but I thought this could be cool to share, hope this wall of text isn't too much. Have a lovely rest of your day:) (the dream elements were that Victor was constantly wearing hats, just very bright hats, in every appearance, Richard was prone to just parkouring for no reason and was wearing a really garish color combo letterman jacket and Kori would juggle bottles and offer them to people because she wanted them to stay hydrated... I have... no idea wth my brain was doing lmao)

OH THIS IS SO COOL OMG I LOVE IT.... the stuff w the red ooooooooo good shit delicious wonderful 👌👌👌 fantastic

also the dream elements are so funny holy shit... just. random fucking hats. amazing. thank you

[words-turn-to-pages]

Revealing Thoughts

The girl felt like she was flying, feeling the air whip through her hair and across her face. She closed her eyes and relished in the feeling for just a moment, before preparing herself for the landing. As she finally made it to the edge of the rooftop she dropped into a roll, letting her body absorb the impact equally. Her agile nature allowed her to pop back up into a sprint preparing herself for the same routine again. Kori leaped over rooftops, following right behind the billowing cape that could only belong to her mentor.

“You’ve got quite a bit of pep in your step for an old man, huh Falcon,” She questioned him with a mischievous grin. She knew exactly what buttons to press to get her mentor to falter, and it proved true as he stumbled over a step, turning to look back at her.

“Ok kid, that’s some big talk for someone who hasn’t even graduated highschool yet. What’s taking so long,” The man questioned his protege jokingly.

She laughed at him, giving a response through her slightly breathless voice, “Sadly the school refuses to let a fifteen year old graduate. Some stupid policy they said.” Kori ran and leapt to keep up with the man who literally flew over the rooftops. He gets to fly, and I get stuck having to hear everyones stupid thoughts, She thought to herself.

Kori was pulled out of her thoughts as they descended upon the crime scene. The duo could immediately see their nemesis, Ego, standing in the street.

—--

There, in the eye of officers, civilians, and even news cameras, Ego’s mask was knocked from its place on his face. It seemed as if time stopped for a moment, each person taking their own time to process, and when it hit Kori exactly who she was looking at, she wanted to throw up.

Kori was looking at her best friend Oliver. The same boy who sat next to her in math, and ate pizza at her house when she was sad. He was the supervillain Ego? The same one that had hurt people and tried to destroy the city. The girl was given no more time as one thought floated through, louder than her own were.

They’ve all seen it, I can’t go home now. Mom wouldn’t even want to see me if I did. Might as well let them win one last time, I’m sure I could push him to end it for me.

Wait what? Kori recognized the voice in her head, it was definitely Oliver, who had apparently given up. As soon as it processed a cry tore from her throat.

“He’s going to get himself killed, that’s his plan. Someone has to stop him,” Kori yelled out through the sounds of the fight in front of her.

“Mind meld, are you sure you were reading his mind,” The closest police officer questioned her?

“Yes, it was ego. His plan is to let Falcon end him,” Kori could hear the hysterical twinge to her voice but who could blame her.

She found out her best friend was a supervillain, how hadn’t she noticed that? Had he known she was Falcons sidekick? Was there something she could’ve done to save him earlier? Kori felt her thoughts swirl dangerously close to a full on spiral.

“I’m not saying I don't believe you but ego probably knew you were reading his mind and wanted to give you doubts,” He responded again, and it was a logical argument.

Many other criminals and even officers had tried to mask their thoughts around her. They would all purposefully think of something completely different to keep their privacy around her. No one at the precinct had completely trusted the girl, even though Falcon had vouched for her many times.

“No, he was being genuine, please. I don’t know how to explain it but I could feel it. He's so tired,” She couldn’t describe it any better but she also couldn’t just ignore that empty feeling she had felt in his thoughts. It was as if the boy in front of her truly was just a shell of the boy she had grown up with.

“Listen kid, I understand you just want to help. You’ve been working hard all week, it’s understandable that you’re feeling tired. It’d be easy to misread something you are feeling or hearing. We can help the falcon from here, you can head home and rest if you need to,” That self assured tone the officer spoke with made Kori want to rip her hair out. Why did they refuse to believe her?

“You’re not listening to me, please. We have to figure out some other way to capture him,” Was all she could say.

“Kid, go home, go hang out with friends. Do something a normal teenager would do. The adults can handle this one,” He sounded annoyed at this point and Kori wanted to smack some sense into him. Instead she just turned to where her mentor and best friend, nemesis? Arch enemy? Villain, were currently fighting.

She could see Falcon swooping down with punches or kicks ready, but everytime he got close Eg- Oliver would block them with his forcefields. The tone of the fight seemed to change when her mentor, obviously frustrated with the boy in front of him, changed tactics. Falcon began throwing stray pieces of debris from all sides, distracting Ego and forcing him to block each one.

Kori left no more room for hesitation, instead running towards her mentor. She hoped he would listen more than the officers around her had. Each step she took hit the hard pavement and bounced through her entire body, but she pushed herself harder. Suddenly, she was knocked back to the pavement right before she could reach the pair currently battling. Kori was only a mere five feet away from Oliver but she couldn’t take another step forward.

She felt the forcefield carve through the air around her, closing her in. She could see the difference in the air before her face, it was as if someone had placed rippling glass in front of her. She could see Ego, laughing as if he was the one in control. Kori was trapped, and couldn’t provide any help to Falcon or Ego. She looked up and saw stray pieces of debris hit her own forcefield, bouncing off the prison her best friend, would it be rude to say ex-best friend at this point, had put her in.

Before the hero sidekick could even attempt to scream for her mentor to rethink his plans, she saw it. Kori was looking at E- Oliver the exact moment it happened. Falcon had thrown a piece of rebar from the torn up street, and it had effortlessly carved its way through the unaltered air. Why Oliver hadn’t put up a forcefield at that moment, Kori didn’t want to think about. Whether it was intentional or whether he had truly been too distracted to protect himself even though he had shielded her from any stray rocks and metal.

The air wasn’t the only thing the rebar had effortlessly carved through, as Oliver now stood in shock and wobbled on his feet. One shaky hand reached down to feel the metal protruding from his stomach, as if the boy didn’t quite believe what he was seeing. Everything inside Kori’s own bubble felt too quiet, as if the entire world had all inhaled at once, too afraid to let their breath out. Sadly, Oliver wasn’t afforded that luxury as his legs gave out beneath him, sending him sprawling to the ground. The movement only proved to push the rebar further through him and Kori didn’t know when the screaming had started. She quickly realized it was her own, and it was cut off by the bile that refused to stay in her own stomach. Once the contents were completely emptied the girl opened her eyes again, to see that Oliver had fallen next to her force field. He hadn’t let it go yet, even as he bled out.

Kori’s brain felt like it was ringing, but finally a voice started to sound above it, echoed dissonantly in real life too.

I’m sorry, I never wanted any of this mom,

“Everything has gone exactly how I had planned it Falcon,” The words were spit with disgust, and a bit of blood, flecking from Olivers mouth to the pool below it.

It hurts so much more than i expected

“I may die here but the things I’ve started will outlive even you”

I don't want to die like this

“I’m willing to give my life for my cause”

I never wanted a part of this

“I was given the power to make change”

This stupid power ruined my life, it made me your target

“I’m not scared of you”

I’m so scared, what’s going to happen to me now.

“You finished your job, you got me, shouldn’t you all be on your way now”

Please don’t leave, I don't want to die alone.

It hurts so bad please someone make it stop already.

“Your society made this possible”

You told me you’d help me

“You made me”

You made me

Nobody focused on the hero hopeful's screams as she pleaded with every god she could think of. She screamed and begged for the boy next to her not to go, and she tore her knuckles open punching his force field. When it finally faded she knew it was through no power of her own, instead the lack of power in the boy below her. She hesitantly took a step, before collapsing to her knees beside him. Kori ignored the blood that soaked into her dark purple suit, instead reaching out to press on his wound, trying so hard to staunch the blood flow.

She felt two familiar hands grab her shoulders. Her mentor pulled her away from the body and held her tight to his body as she thrashed and fought like a wild animal.

“Let me go, please. Please,” Kori begged the man who had become a father figure.

“Please you have to let me help him,” She sobbed out the words.

“Why is no one helping him,” She screamed and thrashed harder.

“Let me go, Get your hands off me, Let me go,” She repeated like a mantra, trying to free herself again.

She fought against her mentor's hold, pushing and kicking at him, and crying the whole time.

No one had the heart to tell her it was too late for the kid who laid on the pavement. Falcon himself could barely process what had happened, that the boy had actually ended it finally, and by a hero's hand. He felt annoyed at that thought, where was he supposed to find another kid with powers that he could fight? Without a supervillain, there was no need for a superhero

[stxleslyds]

Red Hood and the lost art of telling Joker to shup up.  

Okay, I know that I talked about Jason and Joker in a recent post but this is something different, I promise.

I really want to talk about how different Jason has been written since UtRH when it comes to him confronting Joker. Jason hasn’t been put in that position a lot but the times that he has, he lets Joker talk for far too long and actually pays attention to whatever he has to say.

The Jason vs Joker thing is basic in on itself and letting Joker talk isn’t exactly the problem here, the real problem is Jason letting Joker’s thoughts shape his future thoughts and decisions, I do understand that that’s exactly what writers want though, they want to build the problematic of: “Jason is just like Joker and the fact that he uses the name Red Hood only proves that Joker made who Jason is now”.

But the thing is that THAT problem is overdone at this point and the only time it worked was the first time it was brought up and it worked because Jason shut the Joker down.

Let’s see all the times (that I remember) the Joker and Jason have had a little chat and/or the times Joker’s words actually influence Jason’s thinking and decision making.

 Under the Red Hood – Batman (1940) #649

This is the first real confrontation we get to see between Jason and Joker after Jason’s death and it is beautiful. It's absolutely amazingly written, Joker goes on and on forever about how he killed Jason about how Jason is just as bad as him but that he is also just like Batman because he hasn’t killed him yet.

“You let me live after everything I did, you couldn’t pop my balloon. You just couldn’t. The apple doesn’t tumble too far from the paterfamilias. You are just like daddy-kins”

Jason lets him talk, yes. But he absolutely destroys Joker with what he tells him next.

“You couldn’t be more wrong about me. If right were a country on earth you’d be circling on the edge of the milky way. Yeah, I let you live but like always, every damned minute of your addled, posturing, psychopathic life, you think this is about you. You’re a worm. I’ve pitched you on a hook and dropped you into the brine. And I will beat the hell out of you Pagliacci because it was too much fun not to.”

“Listen to me Joker, I’m not you. I´m nothing like you. I know what I do and I know why I do it. You, you are, clinically speaking, a whack-job. But I know a secret, a good one.”

“You are not nearly as crazy as you would like us all to believe or even as crazy as you would like to believe. It just makes it easier to justify every sick monstrous thing you’ve ever done when you play the part of the mad clown. You are crazy, bubba, but you ain’t that crazy. Look at that. I wiped a smile off of Joker’s face. I have been waiting a long time for that.”

Everything about this is perfect, Jason gives Joker no room to mess with him. Whatever the Joker had planned on saying he had to eat because Jason wasn’t playing games and he was ready for any kind of lie the Joker had ready to tell. This is Jason Todd. He won’t let the Joker get under his skin because he knows the Joker and he, also, knows better. 

Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #15

Here Jason comes across Joker during the “Death of the Family” event. In this issue the Joker has information about all of the members of the “Batfamily” and he uses that to mess around with each one of them, in Jason’s case he insinuates that he was present in very specific moments of his life when Jason’s father got shot, when his mother overdosed and when he was on his own before joining Batman.

Jason doesn’t quite believe that Joker was there but as the reader, we can see this sort of sense of doubt in Jason. He hesitates a few times before resolving that the Joker is playing with him.

But as far as this issue goes let’s just say that what the Joker says doesn’t get to Jason, this changes though in the issue that follows up this story.

Teen Titans (2011) #16

This is where that story continues and where Jason starts to buy the story that Joker is selling.

Joker convinces Jason that he has his father and Tim’s father and that the only way for Jason (or Tim) to save their dads is by killing the other (Jason or Tim). Tim doesn’t believe it but Jason is ready to shoot Tim almost immediately.

However, Jason changes his mind about killing Tim just as Tim comes up with a plan for them to not actually have to kill each other. Here is where Lobdell’s writing shows all of its flaws, Lobdell is so desperate to show that Jason and Tim are besties that he forgets that Jason had no reason to stop trying to kill Tim to save his shit father because it is later revealed that Jason truly believed that Joker had found his father and had him captive. It wasn’t until Tim explained his thought process as to why those men weren’t their dads that Jason just goes “you realize, of course, the only reason I didn’t kill you right off is that I knew your big brain will figure out some way out of this” HA, nice save Lobdell but I see right through your bullshit.

Jason bought what the Joker was selling and that is the beginning of Jason’s downgrade when it comes to not playing Joker’s games.

Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #17

Well, in this issue Lobdell goes back to Jason kinda not believing what Joker told him, and Jason asks Bruce of all people if he thinks the Joker truly “made him or not”. Bruce says that he doesn’t believe that and that he didn’t have anything to do with the man that Jason has become either. For some reason, Jason is actually happy with what Bruce said and for a couple of moments, Jason goes back to being sure that the Joker knows nothing and that he is his own man.

It doesn’t last long though. At the very end of the issue, the trap that Joker had set up in Jason’s helmet triggers and Jason gets his face fucked up with acid or something.

But that’s not all because a hologram of Joker has something to say: “you were supposed to be my masterpiece from start to finish. But you were too stubborn to stay dead. So here is what we are going to do… You’re so determined to be your own man? Fine, let’s start with a clean slate”.

Basically, the Joker insinuates once more that he had something to do with who Jason was supposed to become and that Jason isn’t truly “his own man”, This is all a setup for a very dense storyline that will be continued in this run later.

Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #18

In this issue, Jason is in a coma after he is dosed with that gas in the previous issue. The Joker isn’t really present in this issue but he does make an appearance as part of Jason’s “nightmare” while he is unconscious.

That’s not all though, Jason has an illusion of Ducra (someone that he appreciates a lot), telling him that “after you left the All-Castle after you went back to the world you continued to let your life be defined by the actions of that man. You became a killer, lashing out at people who may or may not have deserved it. Eventually, you will hurt all those you have cared for. In that way, how are you any different from the Joker?”.

In this statement, there is a lot of wrongs that can come from two places, either bad writing on Lobdell’s part or just Ducra telling lies as a plot point.

“Let your life be defined by the actions of that man” is a sentence that horribly simplifies Jason’s thinking during the events of UtRH, because while he did resent the Joker, his real problem was with Bruce who had not avenged his death by killing the Joker himself. Also, Jason was doing other things back then, like being a pain in the ass for Black Mask and disrupting the drug trade in Gotham as well as trying to control the drug dealing to children. So that little sentence is just a gross misinterpretation of the true events which means that Ducra was wrong, and “she” continues to be wrong when she says that there might be no difference between Jason and Joker.

Luckily Jason thinks the same because he tells “Ducra”: “…don’t you dare compare me to that monster Ducra. I am nothing like the Joker! Nothing!”

Once again please don’t be fooled by Jason’s thinking because in the next issue it turns around really fast and really bad.

Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #19

Just a heads up this issue has a change of writer, Lobdell isn’t writing this arc, the writer that gives us this hellish story arc is James Tynion IV.

All that talk about Jason not being affected or not believing what the Joker told him is yeeted out of the window and it’s not a fun ride.

In this issue, Roy and Kory find a Jason that doesn’t know who they are or who he, himself, is. This is because S’aru that little floaty little shit took his memories away after Jason asked him to do so, well Jason asked S’aru to erase every memory that darkness has touched (Joker) and he does that. But him doing that is apparently erasing everything which, holy shit, how messed up is that?

But let’s take a look at what Jason says before he gets his memories taken away: “Not only did the Joker almost take my face, but he tells me he might have manipulated my entire life from the beginning! Even the good is tainted by him now. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t have that kind of doubt. If you take it away, I can go on living. I can keep fighting”. So, yeah that was a pretty emo speech. But the thing here is that if Jason is asking this dude to erase every memory that has been tainted by the Joker and he erases all of them then we might be facing one of two situations, either Joker has been messing up with Jason’s life from the beginning or S’aru is just a little bitch.

We will later find out in #20 that S’aru and Ducra planned the whole thing, meaning that they took all of his memories for ulterior motives not because the Joker had actually tainted all of them.

For many issues Jason has no memories and now that I am revisiting these issues, I now remember the twisted and completely insane plot they came up with for the “League of Assassins” and Jason being the “Chosen One”, everything was happening in this run, my god, it's like they wanted Jason to be the center of every single trope in writing history.

It’s in issue #26 that Jason asks for his memories back but the Joker having tainted his memories or not isn’t important anymore to anyone, including the writer (because he is too focused on telling this messy story), Jason (because he has enough problems at the moment) and the reader (because this book makes zero sense and it changes the story and motivations every single issue).

But there is another truth to be revealed in the next issue.

Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #27

Jason has planned along Ducra and S’aru to give up all of his memories to be cleansed so he could defeat Ra’s Al Ghul. But (there is always a but) Ducra says this: “Your greatest enemy returned and nearly took your face away from you. And in the process, shook your sense of identity to the core” “The final battle here will take place in the Well of Sins, and with all the doubt and fear clouding your mind, it would eat you whole”.

So yeah, now we have confirmation from Ducra that Jason had indeed let what the Joker told him cloud his sense of self and made him doubt who he was and if he really was in control.

All that back and forth for these many issues just to say, yes, Jason let Joker’s words affect him.

So here it is, let Joker get in Jason’s head to build the plot of a story, fantastic, the story was a mess because it had so much information, the mischaracterizations of Roy and Kory were at their maximum potential, and in this particular story arc not only are the events of Red Hood: The Lost Days officially erased from Jason’s canon but something quite out there is added to Jason’s canon from before he was even Robin (that’s a whole different story that I won’t be talking about here).

What an insane ride this arc was. Definitely not the kind of story I enjoy in a Red Hood book but that’s just my preference.

*This whole arc was written by James Tynion IV.

Red Hood/Arsenal #11

Joker is dead during the events of this run but the person who has something to say to Jason about how the Joker made the person that he is now is Duela Dent (“Joker’s daughter”, she isn’t his daughter she just found Joker’s face somewhere and she puts it on and “becomes” crazy, she is an incredibly weird character).

She says this, “You’re a lot like dad in that way” to which Jason says “He is not my father. He’s not even your father” but Duela continues by saying. “You’re kidding yourself if you genuinely believe that. Yeah, he took your life but look what you got in its place, you ingrate. You got your freedom. You were reborn.” 

Jason doesn’t fall for it or anything of the sort but once again writers are bringing up the Joker as the maker of the Red Hood and “suggesting” that what Jason has been doing and who he has become is all thanks to Joker. The idea of Jason having no free will is still present in this narrative, even when Jason doesn’t believe it.

Red Hood/Arsenal #12

I talked too soon because in this issue Jason is having some weird thoughts.

“Funny, isn’t it, so easy to call Duela “crazy” because she wears a dead man’s face. Because isn’t that what I’m doing? Before he was the Joker, he was the Red Hood. So maybe the line between men and the Joker’s daughter is a lot thinner than I’d like to admit.”

Here he is comparing himself to Duela and to the Joker to an extent, writers often bring up the fact that Jason uses the code name that his killer once had and they have people or Jason himself questioning why he uses that name.

Personally, I don’t think there is much to build from it (at least not from the perspective of Lost Days and UtRH), it was just a joke, a morbid one if you will. He wears the mantle of the person that destroys Gotham and fills its people with fear while he is trying to control the city’s drug trade and trying to keep the people safe in his own way. And the way he wanted to do it is almost the complete opposite of the way that Batman does things.

I just think that he is being ironic and acidic about the whole thing. He has obviously moved on from the fact that Joker killed him but he has issues with the fact that Batman has yet another child working with him while the Joker is still alive. And Jason really wanted to make Bruce suffer, so him taking the name and a similar appearance to how the joker used to look is also done to get a reaction from Bruce.

I really don’t think there is any sort of connection to make between Jason and Joker beyond that, much like there is no connection between the name Nightwing and the Court of Owls. Even though Lincoln March tried to convince Dick Grayson that he chose the name Nightwing because Owls fly at night and that meant that he was supposed to become a Talon and all that Dick still didn’t believe it because he knew why he chose that name and no one can twist his reason.

Red Hood and the Outlaws (2016) #10

Finally, I can stop re-reading New 52 books, I don’t enjoy it but I have to do it if I want to talk/complain about stuff.

This one is a little different because while Jason does talk with the Joker, the Joker isn’t really there he is just part of Jason’s imagination just like the Robin Jason that he is also seeing.

In this story, Jason is helping Artemis discover who she is but he gets captured in Qurac, yup that place, and worst of all from where he is being held, he can see the place where he died. All of that is helping Jason have some very vivid memories/illusions. He does actively hold a conversation with the imaginary Joker and Robin Jason though, and he is also having a lot of thoughts that let us know how the Joker affects Jason.

“This is why it was stupid of me to come back to Qurac. Even to help Artemis, even if I thought I could handle it. Physically, I am alone, but in my head? I’m drowning in memories of the worst day of what was my very short life. The day I was murdered.”

That’s what Jason is thinking but what I write next is what Jason’s saying as he talks to the imaginary Joker.

“Not interested in replaying this over again, like I have every night of my life since it happened Joker”

So, we are told that Jason thinks about that day very often, the Joker might not be involved much in Jason’s books but he definitely has a bigger role inside of Jason’s head. They chat for a bit up until Jason decides to “kill” the Joker, he knows, of course, that it is not real but it does give him satisfaction. (If only they would have let Jason actually kill the clown for real, or at the very least chase him just to show the reader that Jason does actually want to finish the job since the Bat won’t do it himself).

Having said all that, Joker’s imaginary death doesn’t last long because Jason is trapped in his mind and the Joker is basically functioning on a loop inside of it.

That is where the problem lies in this issue because Jason is letting us know that he is still heavily influenced by what happened that day and that he hasn’t been able to walk away from it. But once more that’s not the worst thing, because all of these thoughts have led Jason to think that he (in the present and as a fifteen-year-old) is the one to blame for having ended up dead. Yeah, it is messed up.

This is what Jason says to imaginary Robin Jason, “He is never going to die, Jason. Not here. Not in my mind, not if at some point I don’t stand up and walk away from my memories. From you.”

This is a major downgrade, from the Jason that we had in UtRH because that Jason had moved on from the fact that he had been killed what he was looking for was for Batman to avenge his death. He had other things in mind as well, like I said before in this post Jason had a lot of things going on, killing Joker wasn’t his only plan.

And this situation (written by Lobdell) is also very different from what was going on in New 52 where Jason being influenced by the Joker was used to build a plot. This is just a writer letting us know that this “new version” of Jason hasn’t worked out his problems when it comes to his death and his killer. That means that we are going backward.

After he realizes that he was unconscious all that time and that he was being tortured he does get his shit together in order to get out of captivity and go help Artemis.

The Joker and that whole thing that happened in his mind aren’t mentioned again, it was just for the reader to know that Rebirth Jason has unsolved issues with his death.

Batman: Three Jokers #1

Oh yes, here we are, we have arrived to that dreaded book, awful writing gorgeous art. In this book, the “Joker made Jason as he is now” trope is at its full potential; Johns drives this hellish truck of a book at full speed into our homes and then ends it by giving us one of the worst takes on Jason Todd’s characterization ever.

But first, let’s talk about the Joker and Jason interaction in the first issue. As Jason and Barbara are left alone with the Joker that they came across moments ago the Joker begins talking because that’s what he does.

He says this, “I’m the loop-de-loop, the hamster-wheel-of-doom. The cycle of pain each one of you is trapped in. Take “Red Hood” here, for example. Have you ever wondered why he uses my former moniker? Who in their right mind would take on the identity of their killer? Am I right?”

He is obviously being a little shit on purpose and is waiting to see if somebody will take the bait. Jason is the first to talk and he says this: “I took it because I’m owning what you did to me. You made me into this. I will be your destruction”.

Congratulations Jason, you took the bait, and now Barbara will fight with you over it.

Jason raises his gun to “break the cycle” and Barbara is like “please don’t do it” and boy is Joker having the time of his life! Both of these idiots are playing his game, Johns really did both Jason and Barbara dirty with this.

Here is where THE problem with letting the Joker talk is. This Joker got under Jason’s skin in seconds and Barbara did nothing while it happened.

This is what the Joker had to say. “Let’s look at the facts here bat-people. I bashed this boy’s skull in. I killed this Robin” to which Jason says “You didn’t kill me, you only made me stronger” which is weird because the Joker did kill him so I don’t know what kinda comeback that was supposed to be but Joker wasn’t done because he continues by saying “Yes, you crawled from the shallow grave I left you in. You lived on to fight another day. Hurrah! You survived because of your tenacity! Or maybe… maybe I beat you to a bloody mess… I took you right to the edge… because I wanted to leave you alive.”

Great that’s where the clown is going, just fantastic, more of the “I made you” but that’s not all because the Joker tells Jason that him having hurt Jason wasn’t because he didn’t like Jason, it was all about Batman, Jason doesn’t matter.

But that’s not the worse thing that was written in this awful book, Geoff Johns seems to have felt that the trauma that Jason went through in the original “Death in the Family” story wasn’t enough because he decided to add something new.

That’s why the Joker says this next, “Do you recall what you said to me while I was breaking your head in with that crowbar? As your blood streamed into your eyes and your skull cracked? Because I cherish those words. I’ll always cherish them. ‘Please stop! Please! If you let me live, I’ll do anything you say. I’ll be your Robin’” “And look at you now my little “Red Hood” shooting up people and making Batman’s life miserable! You are my Robin!”

What a nightmare Johns decided to put Jason and Jason Nation through huh? I hate this, this is the worst thing that has ever been written in a Jason Todd story (although I can say that about many things that were written in this three-issue book).

Jason kills the Joker after he says all that, Barbara does (for some reason) try to stop him from doing it but luckily, she can’t stop Jason.

But here is the thing, Jason killing the Joker doesn’t make me feel as satisfied as I would have liked, and it doesn’t feel that way because Jason let Joker talk for far too long and what Joker said ended up getting in Jason’s head and messing with him.

Batman: Three Jokers #2

Yeah, there is no rest for us, Jason Nation, in this issue Jason goes looking for another Joker to kill and he finds one but he gets captured. Johns really had to get Jason naked for Joker to torture him mentally and physically? Johns is, himself, a major red flag but that’s not what I am here to talk about.

In this issue the Joker that captures Jason has the same things to say as the other one, DC writers really have no imagination when it comes to building conflict between Joker and Jason, huh?

Anyway, Joker says this, “tell me something. Why would you put on that helmet and call yourself Red Hood after what we did?” Jason of course replies “Come on, is every one of you copycats gonna ask me the same thing? It’s a joke” the answer isn’t enough for Joker (the two of them that are here with Jason) so he continues talking. “A joke? We left you with brain damage and permanent nerve pain. Physical and emotional trauma so severe that the only relief you ever find is when you inflict pain on others. You and me, boy, we’re more alike than you’d care to admit. But you know that already. You nearly died and you blame the Batman. You hate him for it. Me too. You hate him most of all don’t you?”

Now, here is the thing, that whole thing is bullshit, none of it makes sense. From Jason having permanent nerve pain to Jason hating Batman the most, everything is a lie. And my confusion here is that I don’t know if I have to feel like Joker is doing it on purpose to be a little bitch or if Geoff Johns was on crack when he wrote this and he had actually never heard of Jason Todd in his life before.

The whole thing is a mess, it feels like he is writing Jason from an origin and story that we never read. I don’t know how to explain it, but the whole thing feels cheap, it’s a cheap trope and it’s a cheap take on who Jason Todd is, was, and will be.

The nightmare doesn’t end Jason Nation because these two Jokers have something else in mind, you see, if they said that they made the Red Hood when they killed Jason the first time, maybe if they kill him this time then he could possibly come back as the Joker. Yeah, this book did nothing for Jason.

Let’s make something clear, Jason does NOT hate Batman/Bruce for not being able to save him, he hates the fact that Batman/Bruce didn’t kill the Joker to avenge him. That simple thing doesn’t exist in Three Jokers and that’s why things like the ones that happen next are allowed to happen in this story.

Bruce and Barbara find Jason and when Bruce asks if he is okay Jason just goes berserk, he says: “Am I all right? What do you think Bruce?! You did this to me. You put me on this path. And I do hate you for it. For leaving me in the dirt. Replacing me one Robin after another without a thought.”

This, everybody is what you get when you mix bad writing with Jason being mentally manipulated by the Joker.

It's a shame that Jason is being treated this way at this point in time, in a book that came out in 2020 when Jason was able to shut the clown up with a knife and a couple of words back in 2005. What a downgrade.

At the end of this issue, Jason is safe and recovering but he still is in the same mindset, he says, “What the Joker said about how I’ve been on the path to being like them for years… they are not wrong. I don’t want to be like them though. I really don’t.”

It’s like a never-ending wheel of pain with this book. Jason is talking to Barbara when he says that and he is trying to look for comfort in her. And here is where the Jason/Barbara subplot begins and I only bring this up because something that happens in the next issue is based on the kiss that Barbara gave Jason but then was like “that doesn’t mean anything, I was just trying to comfort you”. Johns shouldn’t be allowed to write Barbara and Jason ever again.

Batman: Three Jokers #3

It’s in this issue that we find out the big subplot that Johns has prepared for Jason, are you ready for it? Yup, Jason should stop being the Red Hood because if he keeps it up, he will eventually become the Joker.

I know, I know! Jason would never stop being Red Hood, he is not on a path to become the Joker, that’s crazy! Jason’s Red Hood is a character on its own and he is amazing and just because he has different morals from Batman doesn’t mean that he is a bad guy! Right?...

“I’ll give up being Red Hood for us. I can be something else. Or I can be just Jason.”

To this day I cannot believe that those words supposedly were written by Jason Todd to Barbara Gordon after Barbara rejected him three times. The level of “what the fuck is this” is incredibly high with this one…

This whole book was a mess and I am so glad that it didn’t last longer.

Anyway, that’s it. In conclusion, Jason didn’t let the Joker get under his skin the first time they interacted after he came back from the dead but later when DC decided that UtRH was just too good of a book they came up with stories where Joker does get under Jason’s skin and Jason becomes convinced that he has no free will (or at the very least he doubts his free will) when it comes to him becoming his own man.

As I have said before, that for Jason Todd is a major downgrade. And it's one of the many things that hurts Jason’s characterization in current comics.

[pink-bird-30]

Missing Moment

Okay, I've been sorta fed up with Titans not giving us these in between scenes where Kori and Dick interact and they find out things about each other.  So I decided to write a missing moment that would have happened in 3x06.

(I don't think this story has spoilers, but I guess read at your own risk if you haven't seen 3x06)

You can find the full story here at my FF.Net

As always, happy reading!

---------------

It’d been a rough couple of days. Between Hank blowing up and Dawn leaving for Paris….things were not the same. Kori often finds herself in the kitchen cleaning whatever nonexistent dishes were in the sink, taking the time to focus on something she can control.

Kom was here, that was a new development. And Dick was not happy about that.

Kori scoffs as she tosses the soaked sponge back into the sink and grabs the blue dish rag on the counter, drying her hands. Deep in her thoughts, she missed the lithe steps coming from down the hall.

“Hey.” She jumps slightly, caught off guard at Dick’s sudden presence. She looks up at the black clock on the wall.

1AM.

She tosses the rag on the counter and brushes past him to the living area, not wanting to hear what he had to say to her about Kom. She has to deal with her shit and he has his to deal with, and by the looks of the time, she figures he may have “figured out” his issues with Barbara given the late hour, but she won’t let her mind drift there.

He sighs, “Kori-“

She turns, giving him a sharp look. Her green eyes slightly flash bright, “What? More judgements, Grayson?”

His thick brows furrow in confusion before relaxing in understanding, “Look, I was being-“

“A dick.” She cuts him off, a smile gracing her lips.

Dick rolls his eyes at the comment, nearly hearing it more than he’d care to admit. But he couldn’t help the laugh that leaves his chest.

How does she do that?

“Sure, whatever. I was rude and didn’t respect you when you told me something was going on and I’m sorry.”

Kori’s eye widen, “Wow, Dick Grayson is apologizing.”

He bashfully grins. “It’s known to happen on occasion.”

Kori arches her brow at him and shakes her head, causing her curls to flutter at her shoulders. She doesn’t miss how Dick looks at her, but she pushes that light feeling down.

Not yet.

He walks over to the fridge and pulls out two beers, “Here.” He slides one across the counter, she catches it gracefully and pops the cap with her thumb as she watches Dick reach for the bottle opener on the fridge.

They take their drinks to the living area and settle on the sofa. They didn’t speak for a few moments, just savoring the few silent beats near the raging fire. Kori noticed Gotham was a very cold place. Hardly any sun during the day and the night a deep shadow of darkness. No wonder no one goes out at night.

“When I first came to Wayne Manor, I tried every way I could to leave.” Dick started. His beer rolling between his hands, peeling at the red label. Kori noticed this as a nervous tick of Dick’s, always fiddling with his batons or scratching the back of his neck. Whatever he was going to say, it was in confidence to her.

“Being back her has been…” he takes a swing of his drink. “It’s been tough. I feel myself reverting back to who I was before I left. Back to the guy who goes off on his own and acts like-like”

“Like Batman.”

He looks over at her and nods, “Yeah.”

“You know you’re not him, right?”

“Hm.” He doesn’t seem to believe her.

Kori leans forward, her thigh brushing against his lightly, “Listen to me. You are not him. Okay? You’re Dick Grayson, leader of the Titans. Sure, you have your flaws-”

“Hey!” his face brightens up at the jab.

“But you’re you. No one can take that.” She sips at her beer and settles back against the couch. “Besides, I think you’d look ridiculous in the Bat-suit.”

Dick lets out a hearty laugh making Kori smile.

He should laugh more.

He stares at her for a moment, his dark eyes gazing at her. She knows that look, it takes her back to the last time they were alone like this.

But now isn’t the time.

She clears her throat, breaking his gaze to stare into the fire lighting the room.

“I’m sorry about your parents, Kor.” She wasn’t expecting him to bring it up, hell she hoped she could chug the rest of her beer before having to continue this conversation.

She shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t really know how I feel about it right now.” It was her turn to distract herself from the inevitable. She lets her long fingers tangle in her curls, wrapping and unwrapping them from her fingers. She hadn’t seen her parents for a few years now. And even if she had, she doesn’t remember. Her memories have come back randomly, but not completely. If anything, it makes her feel even worse. Not remembering the last time she saw them.

She first feels the couch dip next to her and then Dick’s warm, callous hand wrap around hers, pulling it free from her hair. He rests their clasped hands on his leg, his thumb running slowing over her knuckles.

“Hey,” he tilts his head slightly, giving her that typical soft Dick Grayson look. The same look he gave her when they decided to figure themselves out first before seeing what this could be. It breaks a small part of her, not meaning to, but a small tear falls down her cheek. Dick, being who he is, wipes it away without thought.

Kori takes a deep breath and close her eyes, letting herself feel comforted. Usually she’d just suck it up and be a tough bitch. But after a while…it builds up.

She lets her head rest on his shoulder, taking whatever comfort he’s offering.

“Dick?”

“Yeah?”

“Who were you before this, before Wayne Manor?” she feels his hand tighten in hers. She can feel him contemplating what to say. She didn’t expect him to tell her everything, but she would like to know him better.

“It’s-it’s complicated.” He sighs, the rush of air moving through him.

“Then uncomplicate it.”

He shakes his head grinning slightly, “You’re a pushy person, you know that?”

“Stop stalling, Grayson.” She looks up at him seeing his eyes brighten looking down at her and then looks towards the fire place. But then his eyes became clouded, like he was preparing for something horrible to happen.

“When I was a kid, my parents and I were part of the circus. Hayley’s Circus. We’d travel from city to city preforming all over…” his eyes glazed slightly, watching the fire intently. Kori lets her free hand settle on his heart, letting him know she’s there.

It was enough to help him keep going, “We were called ‘The Flying Graysons’. Our act was the main attraction because we wouldn’t use a safety net…” Dick takes another sip of his nearly empty beer and sets it on the side table.

“Our first night here, in Gotham, a mob boss named Tony Zucco threated Mr. Haly to hire protection while the circus was in town, but refused. Later on during our act…” Dick stops, needing a moment before continuing. “Zucco hired someone to tamper with the trapeze ropes, so when it came to my parents swinging towards me, they fell.”

“Oh, Dick…” Kori’s heart never felt so broken. She could feel Dick tighten his hand around hers, holding on to whatever life line he had here in the present, while working through his troubled past. She could feel his heartbeat fast under her hand. His face was impassive, solely focused on the light of the fire, but his body was reacting for him.

He seemed to come back to himself after a moment, closing his eyes and opening them again to peer down at her. “I was angry for a while after, but then Bruce showed me how to transform that anger into something else. But it took me a few years to realize he turned me into a weapon.”

Kori nods in understanding, not trusting her voice to say much.

“But after I left Gotham, went to Detroit to start over. I hadn’t changed much. I was still doing the same shit just in a different city. But when Rachel came along things changed. I felt myself change. I think I actually had hope things might get better again.

“And they were. Well, besides all the Trigon bullshit and Slade. I think things have been good.”

“Until you came back to Gotham.” Kori added. Dick nods in agreement.

“Yeah, before I came back here and fell back into old habits.”

“You mean going off on your own, finding old friends to fight with and getting shot at? Yeah, sounds about right.” She grins at him, lightening the mood.

“Yeah, that’s me.” His face changed again. Kori is surprised that someone that is well trained to be impassive, he shows all his emotions through his eyes.

“And you?” he asks. Kori looks at him questioningly. “What’s going on with you and Kom?”

Kori scoffs, “Trust me you do not want to know that mess.”

“Try me.”

She contemplates it for a moment, trying to figure out where to start.

“Well…um…” she huffs in frustration. “Listen, the relationship between me and Kom has always been strained. She always had issues following the rules and listening to our parents. It often led her to getting in trouble all the time. She’s my older sister and she always had to rebel.

“As for me, I followed the rules. I did what was expected of me and since I’m-“ Kori stops, realizing she was about to tell Dick she’s a princess, technically a “queen” of Tamaran. But she keeps it to herself.

“I’m just not sure her true intentions here, but I also couldn’t leave her down there with the scientists for the rest of her life. It wasn’t right.”

Dick nods in understanding, “What do you think she’s up to?”

“I have no idea, but I hope she’s changed.” Kori knew it was foolish to believe that, but part of her wants her sister to be better, to do better.

“For the team’s sake, I hope so too. We can’t have a possible threat living with us.” Kori rolls her eyes and untangles herself from Dick’s side, letting go of his hand in the process. She can already feel the cold feeling of loneliness creeping in already, but she shakes it off.

“I should head to bed.”

Dick runs his hand through his hair and stands up, “Shit—Kori, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-“

“Yes, you did. And you’re right. We have to be careful.”

She turns to leave the room, but not before glancing back one last time. “Thank you for telling me about your past.”

Dick grins in return, watching as Kori ascends up the stairs to her room.

Part of him wants to follow her, missing the warmth he knows she can provide. A warmth the deepest parts of himself remembers all too well. But he shakes himself from the thought and tips back his beer for one last sip before heading to bed.

[shblackeagle]

BBRAE Week 2021

Day one: Unconventional Kiss

Garfield Logan was known to have the silliest jokes and pranks at the most stupid and unpredictable times. He was practically famous for it.

Raven knew that, actually everyone did. That's why she often didn't care if he pulled up a prank or cracked a childish joke when everyone least expected. None of those silly jokes got the team into trouble, at least most of the times, so she basically never invested so much into them. He'd always been like this ever since she knew him. It didn't even change when he became an adult. Gar's silly jokes never changed.

But his feelings somehow did.

As an empath Raven could easily feel the slightest changes in everyone. She always knew if something had changed in someone before anyone, even before the person themselves.  Such power was really helpful to the team in many ways. She could feel if someone was being dishonest or too afraid for a mission, maybe even expose a villain's lies. She basically knew things about Titans other titans didn't even have a clue. 

She knew about Dick's inner fears, Kory's homesickness no matter how much she tried to hide it, Victor's sadness about his humanity, Donna's insecurities and many more that they didn't dare to share. Despite that, she never pried more than she was allowed to. But being a very powerful empath she was, she often found herself knowing some private secrets she was not supposed to know. It was hard at first but then she learnt to keep this power more under control, not to expose what she knew and maybe even forget them.

But Gar's sudden change of feelings was not something she could easily overlook.

She knew it wasn't as sudden as she wanted to think. She had been feeling it for months now and at first thought it would disappear like many changes of feelings others went through. But not only didn't it stop but it grew stronger each time she felt it.

She knew exactly when it happened. It was long ago in the medical room. She could picture it in her head easily.

She felt his first slight change of feelings when he was badly injured in a mission and she had to spend a long time healing him. It was an ugly fight and if she wasn't quick enough, he might have died. It was a very painful process for her. Absorbing such pain wasn't as easy as she talked about it. The pain would stay with her forever, but it was worth it. Gar was worthy of it. She would always do she could to save him. Whether he knew it or not, he was important to her; more important than she wanted to admit.

When she was done, he opened his eyes and met hers, he smiled at her.

Appreciation 

Hurt

Confused 

Proud

"None of Vic's medical treatments will ever be as good as your healing touch. Thanks" He said weakly. Raven just nodded at him despite the pain she was feeling at that moment. She didn't want him to feel guilty. 

He got up from the bed and sighed.

"But as much as I appreciate it Rae, do me a favor next time will you?" He said pulling away the cover.

"What is it?"

He hesitated for a moment, "Don't heal me next time." She looked at him confused.

Hurt

Scared

Ashamed…?

"Why?"

That was the first time she felt it. A sudden strong feeling coming suddenly and almost overwhelmed her but before she could totally embrace it, it stopped. It only lasted for a very short moment and she wondered if it was from him in the first place. She had just absorbed his pain so she was probably messing up her head due to the pain?

"I can heal myself quickly and Vic's treatments also come in handy. You should use your healing powers for something more important than me."

It wasn't the first time they had this conversation. Gar always asked Raven to never use her healing powers on him and whenever she asked why he always said the same answer.  

Something more important? What could possibly be more important than his life?

But before she could ask, the door opened with a bang as Kory came to the room.

"Garfield!" The Princess flew towards the weak man and lifted him up from the ground, hugging him tightly. "I was worried!"

Gar laughed, "No need to be Kory. I'm fine." He looked down at Raven, "All thanks to Raven."

***

Raven tried to forget that strange feeling from that day and she would have been successful if it didn't come to her out of nowhere consistently when she wasn't ready. 

Next time she felt it, even stronger than before, was when the Titans decided to have a movie night. They were superheros but even superheros needed some time to be themselves, even if it was just for one night.

It was not unusual for Gar to arrange the whole thing, definitely with Victor's help but mostly himself. He even forced everyone to be in their rooms when he was preparing the movie night in the main room. Dick found it a little extra but who could stop the Changeling? He was always unstoppable when it came to their short gatherings. 

Raven was sitting on her bed that night while reading her new book when she heard someone knocking on her door. She knew it was Gar of course. She easily felt him coming to her door excited a minute ago.

Without even looking away from her book, she called. "Yes?"

"Rae it's Gar!" He was definitely too excited for it. It wasn't like they've never done this before but something obviously never changes. 

"I'm done preparing the main room for movie night. Everyone is now in the main room. Please join us! The movie I picked is amazing!"

She'd rather not think about the last time he picked a movie to watch. She was so scared that she had to meditate for hours to keep her emotions under control the next day. It was even harder when she could feel others were also scared.

"What genre?" She asked. There was no way she was going to watch another scary movie and absorb others' fear of it for a week.

"Comedy! I promise you'll laugh."

She shook her head. Was he really still into that? She was really impressed by his commitment to take any chance of making her laugh. She appreciated it of course, but found it unnecessary. 

She opened her door and found Gar in his pajamas with a grape soda in one hand, offering it to her. She took it, thanking him by a nod.

Happy

Excited 

Impatient 

He was just so easy to read. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, letting her feel anything he was feeling and since he was usually in a good happy mood, Raven always welcomed his presence.

Not that she would ever tell him that!

"Let's hope this one won't come out as silly as the last time you showed us a comedy movie. It was basically a kid show." 

Gar gasped, "How dare Rae! No one is too old for cartoons!"

Raven grinned, "So you agree it was a kid show." 

Gar opened his mouth to retort but nothing came. Raven just shrugged and started walking toward the main room with a  grin on her face. Gar quickly caught up with her from behind.

"It still made you laugh! I remember that."

"It didn't. It was just a silly cartoon."

"Do you want me to go and get the security cameras to prove my point?" He winked at her as she tried to hide her smile and the door opened to the main room.

That was the moment she felt it again. That powerful strange feeling. It hit her in every way possible as she tried to find the source. She looked at Gar but his face remained straight.

"Hey Rae! Join us. The movie is about to start." Cyborg said with bags of chips in his hands.

"Where's Wally? He said he would come." Donna asked looking around.

Suddenly Wally appeared on the couch with many bags of snacks and drinks in his arms.

"What are you talking about? I've been here for the last three seconds!" He obviously bought them from the supermarket downtown. It didn't take long for him to come and go.

"Okay then. Now that we're all here. Let's watch it." Dick said.

But Raven couldn't understand what they were saying because that was the moment the feeling faded away as quickly as it came. Was it from Gar? Roy? Donna? She wasn't sure. Gar was always so easy to read. She doubted he could feel something so strong and hide so quickly...but could he? If the feeling didn't belong to him then who was it? Who was the one that possessed this powerful confusing feeling?

She immediately looked down at Kory who was cuddling with Dick on the ground. Kory was indeed capable of that. She was also there when the first time it happened. But what was it? Kory's emotions were always loud to read for her and she usually never hid them. Raven knew it. 

Raven sat on her favorite part of the couch which was now filled with pillows and blankets and some of her favorite snacks. Thanks to a certain shapeshifter who outdid it. Despite her curiosity, when the movie started, she tried to forget about that powerful feeling. She only felt it twice and it was probably no big deal. For now maybe she would just enjoy being with her friends rather than investing in something she probably had no role in.

Raven was sitting at the end of the couch with Gar beside her. Vic and Wally were also sitting on the couch while Dick and Kory were on the ground, sharing the same blanket. Donna and Roy were on the ground as well but not as touchy as them. All the Titans knew they were a thing but apparently, they were the only ones who weren't convinced.

This time the movie was actually very funny and she found herself chuckling at some of the parts. The main room was filled with Titans laughter as they enjoyed themselves after a long busy week. 

That was all she needed. The whole room was filled with happiness. Everyone had forgotten about missions, stress and plans even if it was for just two hours. Even Boy Wonder wasn't feeling uneasy as he was laughing loudly with Kory by his side whose laughter was so beautiful to hear. 

Raven closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting in all the happy emotions around her,. Even two days of meditation would not give her such peace as this did.

Azar! How much she missed it! 

She didn't even care if she missed some parts of the movie as the Titans kept laughing. Them being happy made her happy. She was so deep in herself and in her own world as she didn't even notice she wasn't even watching the movie. 

That was the moment that once again, that feeling came to her.

She opened her eyes quickly, looking at all Titans faces to find a clue yet she found nothing strange. Everyone was busy laughing, eating and drinking exactly like how they were before she closed her eyes. 

"You okay Rae?" Gar asked as noticed her curious face, "You seem worried."

Raven looked at him, "I thought I felt something."

"Felt something?" 

"Yeah." She said looking at everyone again but she didn't spot anything unusual or something she would worry about.

"Anything dangerous?" Gar asked as he stretched his hand to get another soda from behind.

"I don't think so…" She pressed her back to the couch again, trying to let it go. She didn't want to worry Gar for nothing. "It was probably nothing."

"Well I trust your emotions detector more than anything. It saved us more than we can count." He offered her the grape soda he grabbed, "but for now, let's just not overthink things and enjoy the movie. I'm sure if it was anything alarming, you'd know it by now."

Raven took the soda from his hand, "Yeah...Yeah you're probably right." 

Gar grinned, "when wasn't I?"

"Do you want a list?"

He laughed. "Maybe I'll ask you to show me later."

Raven smiled at him as he turned his head to the TV and continued watching. He had a point. If it was anything dangerous, she'd have felt it, but it was so powerful to let it go. During the rest of the movie, she felt it come and go very quickly many times, especially the times she was laughing or chuckling. It was weird how the person could switch it on and off whenever they wanted it. Was it a sort of a red alarm? Was it really dangerous? She doubted it because whoever possessed it was in the room and there were only Titans. 

But one thing was certain, as much as the feeling didn't feel harmful, it was very powerful that she could detect it among all those happy emotions surrounding her. What could it possibly be? How could such emotion be that strong? It even beat Kory's loud emotions.

But she'd lie to herself if she said it didn't feel so good. Everytime she felt it, she was overwhelmed by it in a very good way. Whatever that was, it put her in peace and gave her warmth. She would be a big liar if she said she wouldn't welcome it the next time she felt it.

***

Even if Raven wanted to let go of that feeling, that feeling didn't seem to let her go. 

It came to her in the most unexpected places, rushing through her whole body and leaving before she knew it. She noticed that each time it came, it lasted longer than before but it was still all over the place and Raven couldn't exactly point her finger to anyone; especially because it came to her randomly.

During battles, her daily training routines, her meditations, sometimes even when she was eating lunch or just walking, even when she was reading her book on the couch and minding her own business! Each time it came, there were many of her friends around and it was hard to figure out who it was.

Mostly because a big part of her didn't want to know who it was either.

It was the truth. Raven never went deep in her investigation to realize it. Probably, if she really wanted to she would have realized it long ago, but she feared that if she knew, she wouldn't feel it again. That powerful feeling, whatever it was, put her in peace and gave her strength. She was fed from emotions and one of her friends was giving her something she didn't know how desperately she desired. 

A feeling of home, comfort and warmth. She didn't want to lose that! Raven figured if it was from one of her friends, she didn't need to worry about it. It wasn't like she suspected anything bad about it.

Azar! How selfish of her! 

She closed her book and sighed, lying on her back on her bed. She was being selfish. What if one of her friends was in trouble and it was their way of giving her a heads-up, or asking for her help? But such an act required a serious knowledge of how her powers worked and she knew none of them had something like that.

Dick and Victor were the only ones who knew how her empathic powers worked better than others but giving her a strange yet amazing feeling to ask for her help didn't match any of them. Dick would have directly said it and Vic was more into technical ways. 

She shook her head and tried to let it go. She shouldn't be using her strength over something ridiculous. No one asks for help by filling her soul with a particular strong feeling. No one even knew she was capable of feeling their deepest emotions as much as she let it show and they most of the time forgot it as well. 

She heard a gentle knock on her door when she was struggling with herself. It was Gar. She never mistake his aura.

"Hey Rae...are you there?"

It was a stupid question. Everyone knew that Beast Boy could easily pick up anyone's scent even from far away or hear their heart beats if he wanted to. His heightened powers gave him advantages that most of the time they forgot he had even; just like her.

Pulling her hood down, she walked to the door and it opened as she stood in the doorway. 

"Yes?" 

Gar was in his casual clothes. A dark jacket with a T-shirt underneath, his dark jeans and a cap. She would never tell him, but he looked very handsome in them. She quickly put that weird thought away before it got somewhere she didn't want it to get.

He was standing with one hand behind his back and his usual smile on his face.

Joyful 

Delighted

Self-conscious?

Nervous?

Shy?

"Great!" He looked around making sure no one was near. Yeah he was definitely nervous but why?

"Is everything okay?"

"Oh everything is great! I was just…" He scratched the back of his head with his other hand nervously.

"Well…?"

He sighed, "Well I was in the city to get some fresh air and I passed by your favorite bookstore...thought of something you might like to read but then I saw this." He took out a book from his back with his hand and Raven's eyes widened in surprise. "I know you've been reading the first novel of this series...I thought you want the second novel soon." He stretched his hand and gave it to her. Raven was flattered if she was honest. Gar knew what book series she was reading and bought her the second part of it! She never even thought someone like Gar, who couldn't really focus on reading books, actually cared about her hobbies so much that he knew what she wanted; even before she told him anything.

He suddenly looked scared, "Please tell me you haven't bought it already!"

Raven shook his head. "No, I haven't." 

Gar sighed in relief a bit dramatically, "Thank God that would have been awkward." 

Pressing the book on her chest, Raven said, "Thanks Gar."

He smiled, "No problem Rae."

That was the moment it hit her again; that familiar feeling. Raven looked around. No one was there except them. There was her chance. This time she had to put her selfishness aside and for once make everything clear. 

She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. With just Gar around her, she was now able to figure out who it was.

"You okay Rae? You seem...paler than usual." Gar asked worriedly.

All of the sudden, Raven opened her eyes.

"Where are the others?" She knew the answer but had to make sure.

"Oh? Well Dick and Kory are out, thinking it's a great time to have some alone time. Vic is in his room, coming up with a new technology which I still didn't understand. Don't tell him that though. Donna is on her secret date but let's be honest we all know it's Roy." He laughed and continued, "Wally is off to meet his family and said he would be back…" He took a glance at his watch, "in 45 seconds top."

Raven looked uneasy and pulled the cloak tighter around herself, looking down.

"So...it's just you and me here?"

Gar shrugged casually, "Yeah pretty much but don't worry. If anything happens, we can handle it. It's not the first time we might face a threat alone." He gave her a reassuring smile, "and others are probably heading back as well. So yeah no need to worry."

She wanted to tell him she was not worried at all. She was shocked! But she couldn't bring herself to tell him that right now because she wasn't sure about it.

"Well I'm headed to the kitchen. Do you want me to make something for you? You haven't gotten out of your room since morning. You must be hungry."

Raven tried not to look suspicious so she looked at him with a forced smile, "No thanks."

"You sure? I wouldn't make it too vegetarian for you."

"No no thanks…"

Gar simply shrugged, "Okay." 

He turned around and started walking away. Raven looked down at the book then at him for a second and before she knew it she was speaking.

"Thanks again Gar...I appreciate what you did for me."

He turned his head back to her with a smile, "Anytime Rae. If you ever feel hungry, you know where I am."

The door opened and closed and he disappeared from her sight as he went to the kitchen.

Raven stood there for a couple of moments, not believing what she just found out. It was him! That strange feeling came from Gar himself. She just couldn't believe how easy it was to figure it out. It was so obvious. He was there anytime she felt it. It made sense it was coming from him.

But it wasn't Gar who surprised her, what he was feeling shocked her more than anything. 

She suspected that she had felt that feeling before and it turned out she was right. She felt it from all titans before; especially from Kory on great levels. 

It was love. 

Of course it was love! Only love was so powerful that could give her such warm feelings from inside and put her in such a peace no meditation could ever do. Love was a powerful emotion, she knew it better than anyone. 

She held the book harder as she looked down. The realisation hit her harder than she expected. She didn't know why she regretted knowing the truth or why she wasn't happy about it. 

Gar was in love...it was a truth she wished she never knew.

***

"Have you noticed Garfield has been acting...weird recently?"

Raven asked Victor days later at the gym as he was lifting up weights and she was done meditating. After knowing the secret behind the strange feeling, Raven started to avoid Gar in a subtle way. She was ashamed of prying too much into his emotions when it was obvious he was trying to hide it; so the farther she was from him, the better.

That didn't stop her curiosity though.

"No, why?" Vic asked casually, "Did that green ass do something stupid again?"

"No…" she lowered her voice.

It was hard talking about it. She already knew something she believed she shouldn't have and now she was trying to know more. It was wrong, yet she really wanted to know.

"Then what is it?" Vic's question brought her back to the gym, "You seem worried."

"No, not worried. It's just...he seems different. He...feels different." She said the last part in more of a whisper but Victor heard her.

Shocked

Uneasy

Surprised

Scared?

Yet his face didn't show anything. He just gave her a blank look. Victor was good at not showing his emotions but not as good at not feeling them.

"What I mean is…" she felt stupid in asking, "Is he seeing someone?" Her question tasted bitter on her tongue and she felt she didn't want to know the answer.

This time Victor stopped his exercise and turned his head to her, giving her a questioning look. Raven kept her face straight, not letting him see more than she allowed it but she knew her question wasn't something to just ignore. Victor was curious to know why she would ask such things, especially about the Changling of all people.

After some intense moments, Victor turned back on exercising. "No."

His answer was way firmer than she expected. Raven was taken back on how he seemed upset about her question. 

"No, he's not seeing anyone. At least not someone I know." His words sounded angry and Raven wasn't sure why.

"Why are you angry Victor? I just asked a question." He scoffed.

"It's not you Rae…" he lowered his voice, "Stupid green bean!"

"What?"

He looked at her with an angry face. "You're the empath here. You should know it by now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Before she could get any answer from him, the gym's door opened with a bang.

"The Animal Man is here!" Gar shouted excitedly, "Please cheer for the new gym captain!"

He was in his sports clothes with his towel on his shoulder and a big speaker in his hand. He almost seemed to be at a party rather than at the gym.

"There's no such thing, Animal Man." Dick said following Gar from behind. 

Gar put the speaker on a table and turned to the Boy Wonder with a grin, "well I guess I just invented it." His eyes landed on Raven and Victor. "Oh hi Cy! Rae!" 

Victor stood up suddenly and walked towards his best friend. Raven could feel how his anger leaving his body the moment he saw Gar. His sudden change of mood surprised her, especially because it was Victor.

"Looks like someone is here to get his ass kicked." He patted Gar's shoulder. 

"Oh you wish! I beat Richard, you're easy."

"Only once." Dick said in defense, "and only because you were lucky."

"Two out of three isn't once and it sure as hell wasn't luck."

"Well I guess there's one way to find out." Victor said. 

Raven felt her presence was not welcomed anymore. She wanted to leave the gym as soon as she could. Seeing Gar was hard especially when she knew his little secret when she was not allowed. However, the moment he stepped in the gym, his love poured over her like a waterfall. It was hard to stay and harder to leave. 

If only she didn't dig in too much! She regretted it more than anything. If she let it be the way it was, maybe she wouldn't feel uncomfortable around him anymore. So what if Gar was in love with someone? It wasn't her business. She shouldn't care! He could be in love with anyone he wanted. It wasn't like it mattered to her. It didn't matter!

She wished she could sound more convincing in her head.

"What do you say Rae?" Gar's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"I asked if you wanna judge the game, to see who's better?" 

He was close, too close and he was letting her feel everything! She wasn't sure if it was his doing or was it because she already knew his deepest emotion; as in she couldn't turn back. 

Up close, Gar looked way better than from far. When did he start to look so attractive to her? Did she always find him attractive? She knew he was good looking but now it felt different from the last times. It had changed! Something had changed about him, or maybe about her?

She should leave. She should leave as soon as she can. 

"Sorry I can't." She said quickly flying over him to the exit door.

"W-what? Raven you okay?" 

She didn't even look back, "I'm fine." And left the room with no other words, leaving the boys there confused.

Except that she wasn't. She wasn't fine at all. Something was happening with her and she knew it was all because of her nosiness from that day. Love was a powerful emotion. Something she shouldn't just mess with especially when Gar initially had kept it hidden within himself. There must have been a reason why he didn't let her feel it in the first place.

But it didn't matter how many times she told herself otherwise, she couldn't help but wonder about Gar's secret lover. 

Was she a superhero too? Was she blonde? Azar was it Cassie? No! Gar would never go after girls way younger than him. Then who? A normal citizen no Titan knew of? Someone he met online? He could do that. He just needed to take a picture of himself in those sports clothes and everyone would be all over him.

"Raven? What's with the rush?" She heard Donna's voice as she and Kory were headed to the gym as well. They were both in their sports outfits as well.

She stopped flying and landed on the ground before them. Kory got a worried face as soon as she looked up.

"Raven, are you okay?"

"Yeah...just finished meditating at the gym." She tries to sound normal, "the guys are already there." 

"Yeah we know." Donna said, "but are you okay?"

Raven raised an eyebrow, "I am. Why do you both keep asking?"

Donna and Kory exchanged some confused looks and Raven just wished she knew what it was about. She didn't want to get into another intense conversation or an awkward one like the ones she had back at the gym with them. She needed to be alone right now more than anything.

Kory stepped closer to her, "Raven... you're blushing!"

***

Life always put people in the most unexpected situations, kind of like Gar's jokes; you basically couldn't predict them.

But Raven was used to find herself in situations she didn't expect, being Trigon's child gave her that. She was herself unexpected.

It wasn't that Raven was unfamiliar with love. Maybe the time she just left Azarath she could say she was, but it was years ago. She gained more control over her powers and emotions ever since. If she could recall correctly, she always felt love from others, especially when they were younger with more unbalanced emotions.

She felt Kory and Dick's love throughout the years and the alien princess could overwhelm anyone with her emotions, let alone a powerful empath like Raven herself. She felt Donna and Roy's thing with each other, Victor and Sarah's and Gar's. 

Azar! Even her own!

So why did it feel so different this time? Why was it so powerful? Raven knew Gar's love before. She'd witnessed many of his crushes before her own eyes. But this time? This love? It was so different on considerable levels.

"Raven! Cover Flash!" Kory shouted as she tried to block the attacks from this demonic creature who seemed to just get out of hell. A gift from her father? Raven decided not think about it.

As Wally was running fast towards the creature, Raven used her soul-self to block the fires. The monster was indeed strong and possessed dark magic as she felt it. 

A green flying eagle flew above her fast and went straight to the monster. Raven saw how Gar shifted into a gorilla and attacked it with his power hands. A smile appeared on her face. His presence alone always made her smile.

She still didn't get the time she wanted to talk with him. After her awkward conversation with him at the gym, Raven couldn't get the courage to ask about his feelings; mostly because she was afraid if he was actually in love with someone.

She didn't know how to approach the subject either. For all that matter, Raven wasn't the titan with the best social skills. How was she supposed to start the conversation even? And tell him she basically invaded his mind and his privacy by accident? When she knew it wasn't an accident at all? That she knew he was in love? That she was jealous? To the point she couldn't stop thinking about him?

As if she would ever do that.

So Raven waited for the right moment. A moment she was brave enough to talk about it. It was frustrating how this right moment she was waiting for didn't come for weeks. The universe hated her. She had to endure months to finally find out about the truth and now weeks to talk about it? She knew what he felt, she knew what she felt and that was the biggest problem.

A familiar yell caught her attention as she saw Gar being thrown in the air.

"Beast Boy!"

He tried shifting to something to reduce the pain of landing hard but he was too weak for that. Gar crashed on the ground hard with a hand on his side, trying to stop the cut from bleeding.

Letting go of what she was asked to do, Raven quickly teleported herself on the ground where Gar was lying on the ground groaning in pain. 

"Oh Azar…" she whispered as she kneeled down above his head. There was a big cut on his side which he was covering. Raven put her hand on his and tried to remove it so she would heal her but Gar didn't stopped her. 

He groaned. "Don't Rae… it's not that important." His voice was weak, "Go help the others. I'm fine."

Raven frowned. "You're bleeding. If it doesn't stop soon it will get dangerous. You might even die."

And it scared her. She couldn't just leave him because of his stubbornness. She had to heal him before it caused him his death. Raven made a move with her hand and made a magical force bubble around them to prevent any attacks or interruptions.

Gar opened his eyes slightly.

"I heal quickly...you know that." He hissed for a second and continued, "Don't waste your power on me...Go!"

It all started with a similar moment didn't it? Him asking her not to heal him. It was months ago by now and Raven remembered all of his words. It all started that day, maybe she would finish it today.

She put his head on her thighs and looked at him upsidedown. Putting her hands on his cheeks, she started to caress them gently. 

Stubborn or not, Raven couldn't leave him.

Gar smiled through his pain. Weakly he put his free hand on her and leaned to her touch.

"Raven…" he whispered.

And then it hit her. Raven's heart froze as she realized how stupid she was the whole time. Gar was in love with her!

It all made sense now. How could she be so blind over something so obvious? Anyone even without her powers would have figured it out already. It was right before her eyes. There was a reason Gar's feeling was more powerful than others, that she felt it stronger than others, why he tried to hide it from her, why such a powerful feeling never left her head...and her heart.

She just looked down at him. He was so lost into his world that he didn't feel she had already started the healing process; she knew it because he would have stopped her. It was painful and she tried hard not to make any sound so he wouldn't notice what she was doing. 

"God It feels...it feels like heaven…" his words got her attention from his wound to his face. Even wounded, Gar was smiling and making her smile as well. It was what he excelled. He always managed to make her happy even though she didn't admit it. 

She was done heading him yet she didn't let go and he didn't seem to be willing to leave the situation either. He looked so in peace and it was heartwarming.

She looked down at his lips. They were slightly apart and hot breath was coming out of his mouth. Raven bent down a bit, still staring at his lips. His smile never left them and Raven realized she couldn't stop herself either.

Still caressing his cheeks, Raven closed her eyes and kissed his lips upsidedown. 

Azar she was kissing him! And how much it felt amazing! His lips were soft on hers and she felt him kissing her back shortly after. A smile appeared on her lips as she kept kissing him gently. That's what she wanted. Him with her. How much of a fool she was not to realize it sooner. It felt as if her lips were meant to be on his at that particular moment; and she figured she didn't mind if these moments become more often.

"Guys! Really?!" It was Roy, "in the middle of a battle?

Neither of them cared as they kept kissing. A battle, a mission or even an apocalypse, none of them could take away this moment from her. She had waited long for this to finally happen.

They broke the kiss slowly. She didn't open her eyes and knew Gar didn't either. She could feel his breaths on her face and his hand on hers. He was rubbing his tomb on her hand. She heard him chuckle.

"You knew it all the time, didn't you?"

Love...

For that moment, that was all he was feeling. She smiled.

"Well, you're always easy to read Gar."

@bbraeweek21

[why-this-kolaveri-machi]

it wasn’t power i coveted; it was acceptance.

Titans 3.06

y’know, i was just thinking the other day that 1.06/1.07 and 2.06/2.07 were the best episodes of their respective seasons, so i have great hopes going in to this one. fingers crossed!

as always, typing this up as i see the episode.

SPOILERS AHEAD

1. oh! um... that was a Cold Open, all right. *nudges* get it? cold? because it’s snowing? and two people got murdered in cold blood? eh?

... oh, i’ve just started.

1.5. i wonder if “i want to be sipping pina coladas on a beach with you” is the new “i’m just one day away from retiring.” i was so on edge after that--i kept expecting that car to explode. even so, the way they died wasn’t an anticlimax: brutal, and quick. 

1.75. so i’m assuming that’s the titular lady vic! this show better bring up why this doll was important or why these two cops needed to be killed, and not leave it to the ether like jericho’s little mindscape jaunt in 2.08 (i’m still dying to know what that was about???)

2.

i love how deliberately unappealing wayne manor is. 

(sorry for the pic quality. i don’t have hbo max! ssshhh.)

2.3. i love the many references to “home” and “our house” when they’ve been here for less than a week and saw one of their friends get blown into pieces. i mean, i unironically love it: home is where family is, after all!

2.5. i’d like to say that kom is playing some sort of long game here, especially given the build-up we had last season and some of the more niggling details this season: why did kom choose now to use her bond to lure kory when she’s been on earth for months? why did justin call kory now, just around the time that she started getting kom’s visions? and what about kom’s ability to exactly imitate other people? hmmm.

2.75. the reason i wrote i’d like to say is that i’ve made the mistake of assuming plot complexity where there is none; i was so invested in the jason todd orchestrated his own death theory for instance, when it turns out that oops! ra’s al ghul just happened to leave a little lazarus puddle in gotham, and oh yeah! scarecrow just happens to have a network of henchmen working for him on the outside and a fully functional laboratory and a weapons cache fit for a new supervillain in the basement of the high security psychiatric unit/prison that he’s in! 

(no i’m not bitter, why do you ask)

2.8. iiiii don’t know what to say about the implications of sex slavery being a thing on tamaran, so i’m not going to say anything at all. for now.

3. gotham, six years ago... wasn’t it five years before s2 that jericho died and the titans disbanded? and when was the flashback from 1.06 where dick let zucco die? i think it was after the events of 2.08: jericho? i can’t seem to find any transcripts or reliable information online, so i’m going to have to rewatch 1.06 at some point. 

(i love the old-fashioned batman music in this heist scene)

3.5. “security is a joke... it’s my way of keeping my dad on his toes”. what you’re an ethical thief now, like an ethical hacker? i don’t think that excuse is going to sell, barbara, on the day you do encounter a decent security system and your father is forced to arrest you.

(then again, gotham’s security is piss-poor. did you know that you could just walk into arkham asylum without any official clearance, ply one of its most dangerous inhabitants with contraband, and said inmate could get away with having an entire laboratory and weapons cache--NO I’M NOT GOING TO LET THIS GO)

3.8 so that flashback between dick and barbara was really cute! and also illuminating:

a) dick sounds so light, so... um. look. i have some apologies to tender to mr thwaites, because while i’ve always thought he does a fine job as dick grayson, i’ve never been terribly fond of his cadence as he delivers dialogue. it’s often monotonous, i thought, but then again, he’s usually delivering exposition or dealing with one soul-crushing crisis or the other. so i was pleasantly surprised to hear dick sound so carefree and alive in his conversation with barbara, laughing frequently, his emotions so bare and bubbling to the surface. it’s really a fantastic contrast to the traumatised and world-weary dick grayson that we see now, even more so than the costume department just bunging a backwards-baseball cap on mr thwaites’ head and hoping that will convince us of his relative youth. 

b) and god, when he wakes up from that memory, all alone in his bed, bleeding from bullet holes in his shoulder (bullet holes that are--in a somewhat convoluted way--barbara’s fault)? yikes. it’s great. you have my apologies, mr thwaites!

c) can you imagine dick just... crawling back to wayne manor, trying not to be seen by anybody, shedding his suit and just... collapsing onto his bed without even tending to his wound? the sheer emotional and physical exhaustion of it? 

d) it’s so interesting to see how barbara and dick approach the idea of legacy--a big theme on the show!--in this flashback. barbara is the one bucking the idea that she should follow in her father’s footsteps, while dick seems pretty content with the batman-and-robin setup, and even tries to get barbara to join their team (robin-girl. pfffft). obviously after this several traumatic things happen wherein dick ends up questioning and then resenting his role as robin, his relationship with batman or even returning as a vigilante at all. and barbara... ends up replacing her father as commissioner. it’s tragic, really. 

e) the dynamic between dick and barbara in the flashback reminds me of how it was between dick and donna in 1.08 and even between kory and dick in early s1. it’s like having an older, strong-willed woman by his side means he gives over the steering wheel for a while and lets himself... unspool, a little bit. it’s kinda endearing.

also:

*pinches his cheeks*

3. you know, we talk about dick and Eldest Daughter Syndrome, and that’s definitely valid, but here gar seems to me the embodiment of it, with all the emotional gardening and firefighting that he’s expected to do. he’s kind of the guy expected to keep his shit together and take care of everyone else while they are falling completely to pieces, unable to carve out time to process his own trauma. he’s also picked up dick’s and kory’s tendencies to bottle up their struggles and shun appearing vulnerable, and he’s struggling in the shadow of both dick and kory undergoing acute crises, his best friend (and frequent confidante) on the other side of the world, and seeing hank die, utterly helpless to stop it. 

i’m glad that he got a chance to tell dick even a smidgeon of what he really feels, and i hope this is at least a semblance of a wake up call for dick to actually sit down and work with the people he repeatedly calls family.

3.5. it’s heartening to see that dick immediately makes it his priority to go talk to gar. but don’t blow off kory in the process, man!

4. i’m really loving this dynamic between kom and conner--i get the idea that both of them consider each other as Unknowns, alien two times over. but conner’s only ever known the titans, who embrace being different, and kom’s only ever known... well. 

anyway, kory is Really Stressed, and honestly? #relatable. 

when you’re forced to bring an estranged family member to hang out with your friends...

4.5. i love that the titans are spending so much time in the kitchen. a real family!

5. jonathan crane is a creep and i absolutely cannot stand him.

5.25. how did he get a whole lab setup (in the basement of a hospital...?) with a bunch of whitecoats to work for him? how did he just waltz into the viewing room of an operation theatre when he’s one of the most wanted men in gotham right now? why is jason wandering around maskless when--presumably--as the adopted son of the most famous person in gotham he’d be a tad more recognisable than your average joe?

why do i expect this show to answer anything anymore?

5.5. that’s not necessarily a criticism, mind; i’ve said since season 1 that titans is very comics-like in this aspect, all about the Aesthetic and the splash-page splendour rather than the niggling unimportant details of how or when the characters got to said location. like. the camera gliding over the operation being set-up, lady vic bursting in and doing her murder dance (imagine the luck of the poor intern who chose this day and this surgery to assist) and jason, shocked and slack-jawed, framed by blood.

5.75. it’s a sobering reminder for jason that, though he chose this path in order to gain control over a world that seemed like it was rapidly spinning out of his grip, he’s only succeeded in handing over even more control to a man with an agenda that is very clearly not aligned with his own. he’s in too far to stop now, though.

5.9. i have a lot more thoughts about jason! saving it up for the end of this recap, though.

6. more kitchen time! i better see dick do some cooking soon...

(”our kitchen”! it still delights me! kitchens are So Important)

6.25. so much of dick’s issues have revolved around his relationship with bruce, so it’s completely understandable that in the wake of a huge crisis where bruce literally asks dick to replace him and be a “better” him, dick would default to all the worst things he learned from the man. and i’m glad kory’s having none of it, but come on, guys. the woman’s literally fetched her fratricidal sister out of a hole in the ground with no idea what said sister is going to do next and experiencing a burgeoning sense of guilt far, far beyond her history with the titans, and dick’s too far into his autocolonoscopy that he can’t see that she needs help.

6.5. “he services your urges”--well, as far as we know, kory is the last person he had sex with...

7. “i hope [gar] isn’t angry with me...” SIR! i thought you’d already spoken to him! smh, as the kids say. kory wouldn’t be needing to reassure you if you just took the effort to build two way emotional relationships with the rest of the team. @superohclair​ was taking about dick’s relatively low emotional intelligence? i agree.

7.5. “i got my own problems [...] you and barbara? fix it.” YOU TELL HIM, KORY

8. man i really like this weird, sad tension between dick and barbara--this sense that both of them are approaching the other based on how they remember them and are ultimately disappointed by the truth. barbara thought she could trust dick to... well, be a better batman, but dick has not only failed at that in her eyes, but repeatedly undermined her while exploiting the authority that she gave him. in dick’s eyes, this is nothing like the barbara that he knew, rebellious and ready to do whatever it takes to find something. 

like. this show sometimes really hits me in the chest about the ways it shows kids grow into adults and into caretakers, and the way it’s stop-start, the ways nothing can happen at all for a long time and then it’s Crisis Central all at once and there’s no space to breathe. the weird sort of sadness that comes with nostalgia. 

8.5. oracle name drop! i agree with barbara, any system that can just randomly tap into gotham phonelines is a monster.

8.7. (i don’t know if it’s my imagination, but is dick holding himself... differently in this episode? like that wound is definitely bothering him, and he’s running on fumes)

9. man, that was a really sweet scene between kom and conner. “feeling alien in your own world”... “not quite here nor there”

honestly this team runs on conner and gar’s faith in their value as a family, and it’s a sign of conner’s generous heart that he extends that opportunity to blackfire. this arc of maturation for him, where he’s now able to consciously choose which parts of himself he can use to do the thing he wants to so--save people--has been so fulfilling to recognise. this baby’s grown with the titans! and what he’s learnt is that people can get fucked up, but the titans is a place where they can be fucked up, and grow.

MY MAN CONNER

10. oh man i’m drinking in the gar-dick interaction in this episode like i’m three days into the desert and it’s the only source of water for miles around!

a) gar is absolutely not dealing with dick’s bullshit this episode and I LOVE IT. it’s such a far cry from the man who was idolising dick/robin back in s1 and expecting him to solve all their problems. dick is fallible, dick is fucked up, but he Tries His Best and that’s ok.

b) dick, huffing and puffing through that vent, unable to put any pressure on his left shoulder, trying to have a heart to heart with gar... fuck i love this asshole. 

c) bruce took in a kid who was suffering... “and made him into a weapon”. well. i absolutely agree with dick that it was bruce who put these kids into these horrible situations with him and they came away with a bucketload of trauma to add to the one that they already had. but we know that bruce was really trying with jason, and at the end of s2, dick was coming to acknowledge that bruce had offered him something that wasn’t just darkness. jason’s death and bruce’s reaction to that shattered that fragile progress.

d) “gotham got to me too.” i feel more sympathetic towards dick running off on his own than most, and it’s not just because i’m an unapologetic stan.  we’ve seen before that dick... devolves when overwhelmed, and he lashes out and makes ill thought out decisions and just Does Not Deal. it happened after hearing the news that deathstroke had returned in s2, and it didn’t help that everyone around him was reeling at the news, either. this time, however, he has his salvation in his family, and despite some stupid decisions like running off and kidnapping supervillains without telling his team, he’s been really on the ball this season. thinking clearly and logically, holding it together and working on a plan, thinking two steps ahead of the villains... yes.

e) gar needing to believe that jason isn’t beyond redemption... there’s a lot of blood on his hands, too, from when he was manipulated by cadmus last season. it makes sense why he’d relate to jason’s predicament, and i hope dick picked up on that.

f) my head just added a plaintive ow after dick jumped feet first into the storage room

i need, crave gifs of this scene!

11. *sits on hands* i’m going to talk more about red hood, i promise!

12. more gar and dick! is it my birthday??!!

(actually, according to the tamil calendar, it is my birthday! my “star” birthday)

12.5. excellent. dick using some implausible training that bruce taught him to solve a mystery? passing some of that knowledge onto gar? that proud smile when he sees gar perfectly execute moves that he taught him? MY HEART IS EXPLODING

13. aw, i love flashback!dick and barbara, they’re so cute <3

13.25. why does it not surprise me that the way he proposes a relationship to barbara is by saying “we make sense”? this guy can deduce exactly who was present where and what weapon they were holding from a garbled audio recording but other times he’s utterly clueless, and that’s a consistent character beat right from s1

13.5. so.... that’s why lady vic has it out for... barbara....? i don’t get it. it’s flimsy. but hey! the fun thing about titans is that i don’t have to get it. the payoff has nothing to do with the plot.

14. i can’t believe that barbara fell for that, but at least that wheelchair fight looked awesome, so.

15. oh yeah, i forgot that red hood bullied the mob into helping him and scarecrow... at least that explains the whitecoats and the elaborate set-up.

15.5. honestly i love how this dynamic between kory and kom is developing, though i wish more of the team would pay attention to it. time to call justin, i think!

16. i wonder what happened after that second flashback where barbara got hurt during that heist. did she give up on doing any more (maybe jim caught her)? was it because dick was called away by bruce and then the titans and got caught up in his own issues? maybe barbara froze him out because she wasn’t looking for the relationship that he was looking for? maybe the idea of doing that with someone turning into batman-lite was just... unappealing? scary?

whatever it is, it doesn’t look like dick ever processed the end of that relationship. it’s very intriguing to see where their dynamic goes next.

17. so.... what, did vic deliver some fear toxin to barbara? i... what?

17.5. and i TOLD YOU that they would never explain that doll or why vic attacked those two cops at the beginning! oh, titans. never change. 

18. did jason just randomly have tim’s restaurant burgled? god, i’m feeling a bit nauseous... are they going to kill tim’s father?

18.25. i feel like the rest of the season is going to wrestle with jason’s culpability in the horrible stuff he’s doing and i’m already seeing that prospect divide fans. on one hand, his story is taking a lot of oxygen away from other equally interesting story arcs, and he’s done some truly awful things, like indiscriminate murder, threatening to kill children, blowing up hank, and potentially killing tim’s parents. 

there’s something to be said for the kind of hold that crane has over him, and the so-called ‘anti-fear’ drug that he keeps plying jason with--he’s alone, drugged almost constantly (to the level of dependence), fresh from the trauma of being bludgeoned to death. he hasn’t conquered fear; he’s ruled by it. on the other hand, given that he’s the one character on the show given an obvious and identifiable ‘mental illness’ arc (maaaaybe dick too), one can argue that it’s irresponsible to show this progress into such violence: jason was vulnerable because he was struggling, and that left him vulnerable, but it took only a push before he became a fucking serial killer.

but that could mean we underestimate the degree of that vulnerability, and the mechanics of this universe where he fell into the clutches of the one supervillain perfectly designed to exploit that vulnerability. that helpless spiral into further and further self-destruction is all too real. it’s valuable to know that someone who has sunk that low can still seek help--actual help--and get it. 

18.5. i don’t know. it’s not a question i’m going to resolve at the end of an overlong recap at 1 in the morning. i don’t believe it’s even a question that titans can resolve. but i am interested in where they’re going next with jason.

19. this episode was genuinely great! i’m pumped for the rest of the season!

[light-miracles]

As much as I love Jason and Artemis being parents especially in your fic "Finding Jason" and as much as I liked reading about Carrie I was wondering what if Artemis would have decided to have an abortion. How would Jason react. What would be Artemis thinking process? How would this impact their relationship? 🤔

Trigger warning: abortion

Oh, interesting.

That'd be actually the most logical thing to do or at least *think* about. I actually think that if Artemis were from any other place in the world but Bana-Mighdall she would have seriously considered the possibility. In the og Bana-Mighdall created in post crisis, Banas weren't only different from Themyscirians because they were mortals. They were also mothers. Maternity was a sacred thing in their culture. They couldn't live forever but they could make families instead. Not in the 'every child is a blessing' Christian way exactly, but Banas genuinely thought that being pregnant something good. It was part of their culture until the status quo changed and Bana-Mighdall was destroyed.

Now, let's assume Modern Bana-Mighdall is a little different. Let's say that the Maternity thing was erased from continuity (like other things). Let's say Artie gets pregnant by accident because the Lazarus Pit made Jason's sperm magical or some comic book logic. Her first instinct is, naturally, freaking the fuck out in her Artemis-y composed way. I think that the first thing she'd do is talking about it with Jason. She wouldn't want a secret like this between them so she makes an effort and opens up. I don't think they'd take the decision right away, rather they'd think carefully about it. Maybe Artie would also try to talk to someone else. Like Diana. And if after all that they just realize that they can't nor are ready for a responsibility like that, they'd choose to end it. For the greater good. It's not an easy choice but in this case they'd feel it's for the best.

I see Jason feeling awkward and guilty over it, blaming himself for not being more careful for a while. Probably he would also try to talk to someone about it. As weirdly as it sounds, I think Starfire would be his confident in this case. Kori would understand and support him.

They eventually move on, supporting each other, putting each other's first. As always.

[draco-kasai]

Hero Collaboration Program

Summery: High School Hero Collaboration Program! Helping Sophomore hero students connect with others around the world! Come join us for a two-week-long trip to one of our schools for an amazing once in a lifetime experience with students of Yuuei! Only a lucky 40 students will be selected for this program. They will be split into two groups of 20 and sent to different schools to have completely unique experiences! 

 A/N: AKA, A very ambitious fanfic I started because even though I have another fanfic in progress my brain decided to give me an idea and I just had to do it. These are all characters I adore and I even did lots of reasurch on them to hopefuly get them down right. I also too many backstories and threw them into a meat grinder to remold them in a way that would make them fit into this universe.

 I love Class 1-A, but like they need to be taken down a peg or two, and I want to see them get their asses handed to them.  

Ch. 1 part 1 of 3 Program sign-ups.  -->

Chapter 1 Part 2 

High School Hero Collaboration Program

Helping first year hero students connect with others around the world!

What is the HSHC Program?

Our program has had a partnership with Yuuei High School for 15 long years! Their first-year students would come to our schools to interact, learn and study with other sophomore students for two weeks! - For those who don’t know, first year high school students in Japan would be considered sophomores here in the states! - A select few students nationwide as well as worldwide are selected to participate. All services and activities are offered and provided at no cost to participants or their families. This program is geared to help young heroes become (1) more informed of the educational, social, and cultural aspects available, (2) learn how to work with others they are unfamiliar with, (3) gain a better understanding of hero agencies and laws around the world, (4) assist students in successfully gaining connections with other aspiring heroes around the world their own age.

 Student Participants

A total of 40 lucky students are hand selected to take part in this 16 day long program. 28 slots are open for Nationwide applications. The remaining 12 slots are open for applicants across the world! Students are to go through a long application process and in person interview. Once admitted, students will be staying within the dorms that are provided. All plane tickets will be paid for by our program. This program will take place in two schools; Marina High School located in California and Chandler High School located in Arizona.

All partners who wish to apply together must submit a joint application and answer an extra essay question. Only accepting duo teams. Bigger teams are asked to either pair off and sign up as duos, or sign up individually. The whole purpose of this program is for young aspiring heroes to meet others and form connections.

 Application

All applicants are required to turn in two essays (unless a team). There is no page or word limit, 12 size text, font New Times Roman, single space. Along with your essays, please send in two teacher recommendation letters. A checklist will be provided at the end of this packet. Make sure to use it to assist you in keeping organized. Everything can be either faxed to (951-262-3062), given to school office faculty to hand to us or through mailed to 1640 Riverside Drive, Hill Valley, California.

Applicants that make it past the first stage of the application process will be scheduled for an in-person interview. A letter will be sent out within two weeks after the interview confirming whether or not you have been accepted.

 Essay 1.

When you become a hero, what do you hope to accomplish?

 Essay 2.

What major event in your life has led you to where you are now and your decision to become a hero?

Essay question for hero teams.

How did you meet, and when did you decide to work together as a team?

Emerald eyes narrowed as they skimmed over the packet that had been handed to them. With one last look over, they turned to face the person who had given them the packet. Bright blue eyes stared back with a large smile plastered on their lips. “What is this, Grayson?”

“It’s the Hero Collaboration Program!” Richard Grayson – Part-time Gotham Police officer and Underground Hero: Nightwing - responded enthusiastically.

Green eyes rolled skyward at the older boy’s words, “I can see that. All my teachers at school had even taken the liberty to constantly remind us about it. What I mean is, why did you give this to me?”

“Awe common, Kiddo, I thought you were smart.” Jason Todd – Vigilante: Red Hood – joked as he ruffled the younger boy’s black hair. With an annoyed grunt, his hand was swatted away, “We want you to apply for the program.”

With a huff, the youngest fixed his hair, “And why would I do such a thing?” 

The oldest boy grinned wider, “It’ll be fun!”

“No.” The youngest replied with a deadpan expression as he tossed the thin packet on the coffee table in front of him.

With a click of his tongue, Jason crossed his arms over his chest. Leaning back on the loveseat, he responded, “Just apply you brat, it’s not even that bad.”

“What’s ‘not that bad’?” Another voice asked as they walked into the living room, laptop in one hand, a cup of coffee in another.

“The Hero Collaboration Program.” Jason responded as he glanced over at the sleep-deprived man as he flopped down next to him.

“Oh! They started accepting applicants already?!” Timothy Drake – CEO of Wayne Enterprises and Underground Hero: Red Robin - sat up enthusiastically.  

“Yeah, but Damian doesn’t want to apply!” Dick pouts

“I’m not going to apply to a program that does not benefit me in any way shape or form.” Damian rolled his eyes.

“Wha- but it teaches you so much! Your teachers must have told you about the benefits!” Tim frowned, taking a sip of his coffee.

“They did, but I don’t have any need for socializing.”

“Are you kidding me? You’ve been six years and your only friends are Jon and Maya, and honestly, I don’t think it counts. Maya is in her last year of high school and Jon is a year below you. You need friends your own age.” Jason responded, then waved his hand about, “Even if they're scattered across the continent.”

“I thought he made friends when he was sent to that boarding school in San Francisco for two years when he was eleven?” Dick raises an eyebrow.

"Oh, Titan middle school, right?" Tim hums, "I mean, they helped him become better, I guess?"

"Honestly, I feel like that was the work of the school itself, not them. Besides, Damian doesn't even text or call them like he does Maya and Jon." Jason huffs

“You've been snooping through my phone.” Damian glares as he pulls a knife from nowhere like magic.

"In that case, how will this help him if he isn't even close to people he went to school with for two years?" Tim thought out loud. 

"Well, back then it was regular school and classes. Schools don't offer more hero electives till sophomore year in high school. The program does lots of team building and training. What better way to make friends than when your life's in their hands?"

"That's a good point," Tim nods in agreement. 

“Didn’t you, like, date Raven while you were over there?” Dick teased, elbowing his brother

“No. I did NOT date Raven.”

“Wha- really? You seemed so close.” Dick blinks in surprise.

"Dude, she's dating Garfield."

"What?! Really?"

"How the hell do you know that?"

"Kori." 

"Oh… right, I forgot she mentioned that."

"Dude, she's your wife. If she knows you block out her rants, she's going to kill you."

"... I don't…  block out her rants."

“We’re straying off-topic.” Tim hums, hiding his smirk with his drink as Damian, who proceeded to slowly stand, shoots him a glare before a hand grabs the back of his color and pulled him back down. 

“Oh! Right, the Hero Collaboration Program!” Dick grins

“I think Damian taking part in the program is a good idea.” Everyone's eyes flickered over to the entrance where Bruce Wayne – Owner of Wayne Enterprises and Underground Hero: Batman – stood with Alfred Pennyworth, besides him. “This program will benefit you and help you make friends with people your own age, maybe even teach you something new.”

“Your brothers all attended the program, master Damian.” Alfred gave the boy an encouraging smile as he handed out drinks for everyone in the room, “In a way you could consider it a tradition at this point.” The younger boy took his drink silently as he pondered the words the older man had given him.

“Oh yeah, I guess it kind of is tradition at this point, huh…” Tim hummed, finishing his coffee and graciously handing the empty cup to Alfred, who shoved a cup of water in his hands.

“I joined during… what? During their third year of existence?” Dick wondered out loud as he leaned back on the couch.

“That’s correct, master Dick.”

“Haa~ I was Bruce’s test dummy to make sure the program was actually useful.” Dick chuckled softly.

“Pft seriously? Thanks for your sacrifice.” Jason smirked, making Tim let out a soft laugh.

“I suppose.” Everyone fell silent to look at the youngest Wayne, “If it’s a tradition at this point, I suppose I have no other choice but to partake in it as well.”

“That’s the spirit, Lil D!” Jason grinned.

“You’ll have fun. You’ll learn a lot, too.” Tim smiled, taking the smallest of sip of his water. With a glare from Alfred, he took a bigger gulp.

“Yes! Oh, man! I can’t wait for you to tell us about it when you get back! Maybe we should tell him stories of our experience!?” Dick energetically exclaimed as he practically bounced in his seat.

Bruce gave the boys a soft appeasing smile as they all cheered, making Damian scrunch up his face at the loud sound. With a soft sigh, he walked across the room to his office. Along the way, he gave his youngest a soft hair ruffle, making him groan.

Damian Wayne. Age 16. Seat 11. Student Rank 1. Hero Name: Red Bird. Quirk: Quirkless

Martial arts, hand-to-hand, sword, expert detective, hacker, stealth.

___

“Alright, class, make sure to think about signing up for that program! It’s a very good opportunity! You’re dismissed for lunch!” Mr. Barkin, a big man with an obvious werewolf mutation, dismissed his class.

A slim girl with long bright brown hair walked next to a beautiful dark-skinned girl with wavy black locks. The ginger hummed as she stared down at the packet that had been handed to them near the end of class, “I don’t know, what do you think Monique?”

 “I think it sounds like a lot of fun! Kim, girl, this is an O.I.A.L.T. E; Once In A Life Time Experience!” Monique paused and frowned.

“That was a long one.” Kim smirks at her friend.

“Ugh, I know. Never gonna use that one again.” The girl waved her hand in the air. Both girls stopped in front of a locker, “But It still stands! You should totally do it!”

“But what about you? And – and Ron?” Kim leans against the lockers, watching as her friend opens hers to put away her books.

“Psssh~ Pu-lease, I’ll be fine! I’ve got work at Club Banana and a bunch of homework to keep me company!” The brown eyed girl closed her locker, and they began their trip to Kim’s locker, “As for Ron, well-“

“K.P!!” Both girls turn to see a blond rushing over, “Did you hear about the exchange program!? Are you signing up? Please tell me you’re not leaving me! We’re supposed to be a team!!” He cried out as he hugged his friend.

The redhead huffed softly before prying her friend off her, “Ron, so not cool.”

“Yeah I – sorry K.P I just – I heard about the program and assumed you’d sign up and leave without me.” Ron sniffled dramatically. From his pocket, a small pink rodent climbed up to his shoulder and nodded in agreement, making small squeaking noises. “See! Rufus and I would miss you…” 

Monique rolled her eyes with a smirked as she gently pushed the two forward to keep walking, “You know, the program is accepting team sign ups~”

“Wait really!?” Ron gasped as he brought the packet back up to read. “Oh my god, they are!”

Kim frowns, “I don’t know, then you’d really be alone, Monique.” They stop at her locker.

“Oh common Kim. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity! You have to S. I; seize it! You’re not going to be a sophomore forever, girl.” Monique leaned on the lockers with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Yeah! It’s a good opportunity to learn about other school systems! Did you see who they're partnered with K. P? It’s Yuuei High school! Yuuei! They're, like, the best in Japan! At least that's what the rest of this thing says and what Yori told me when I did that whole” Ron waves his hand in a circle as he shrugs, “seven day long Japan exchange thing during First Semester.”  

“You still have yet to tell us much about that.” Kim smirks as she opens her locker, “Japan is one of those places that have schools that specialize in training hero’s, right?”

“That’s right!” Everyone looked up to the projection of a boy their age sitting at a desk, “Hey girls! Hi Ron, Rufus, Whatcha guys talkin’ bout?”

“Hey Wade. We’re just talking about Some program that’s partnered with Yuuei.” Kim smiled at the screen as she put her things in the locker.

“Oh! The Hero Collaboration Program?” Wade’s smile widens.

Kim rolls her eyes half-heartedly at her friends' excitement. “Of course you’ve heard of it.”

“Yeah! Tell Kim that She’s GOT to GO!” Monique gave her friend a glare.

“Wade! Tell us about Yuuei High School!” Ron practically begged, shoving past Kim before standing behind her again. His best friend shot him an annoyed glare.

With a sigh, Kim finally nods, “Tell us about the school.”

Wade grins and begins quickly typing away on his laptop. A few images began appearing next to him, “As you know, Yuuei High School is known as a hero school. They’re known for ranking number 1 in hero schools across Japan. Their competitor, coming in second by just a bit, is Shiketsu High School. If you ask me though, Shiketsu is obviously better, I mean, look at those uniforms! So wicked! Look at those hats and blazers!”

“Right, about Yuuei.” Kim gently reprimands when she notices her friend is straying off-topic.

“Oh, right! So, from what I’m seeing so far, I think Yuuei has an unfair entrance exam.”

“They have Entrance Exams?” Monique asked with a raised brow.  

Wade nods, “Yeah. In Japan, to get into high schools, students are required to take an entrance exam.” 

“Right, so, why do you think it’s unfair?” Kim raised a brow

“Well, looking at their sports festival, Just about everyone in the hero program has a “flashy” quirk. When you compare it to other hero school’s and their graduating classes, their quirks are more balanced. Um, one sec” Wade’s eyes narrowed, his pointer finger stretches out like a wire, and he connects to his computer. A moment later, his eyes turn blue and data begins to quickly rush through.

“Is it just me or is he… taking longer than usual?” Ron raises an eyebrow after four minutes pass. 

“Mm, another reason to be glad our school has an hour-long lunch…” Monique hums as she leans on a leg, a hand on her hip. They watched in silence as Wade frowned and bit his lower lip. After three more minutes, the boy smirks, disconnecting himself, making his eyes turn back to normal. “Got it.” he grins as he leans back in his seat.

“Uuuuh, got what?” Ron tilts his head in confusion.

“I hacked into their system. It was pretty tricky considering it was made by the smartest being in the world, but nothing compared to me and my quirk. They had a bunch of firewalls and backups too, I think it was a lot of fun to get through.” Wade smirks as he shows them different class schedules for different courses, “I redacted all the important information, but it seems like this school also separates all of their courses. Hero course students, General Education, business, and support. They all learn different things, never interacting unless necessary.”

“That’s… different.” Kim raises an eyebrow. “Um, should you really be hacking into the system of the ‘world's smartest being’ Wade?” 

“Ah, don’t worry about it, Kim. Hack helps make sure I’m untraceable and if Nedzu did get an alert, which I worked my way around, and somehow traces a location it’ll just lead him to random computers in a random location of Japan.”

“Wow, The support course students don’t have any combat classes.” Ron frowned, obviously preferring to look at the schedules to listening to the conversation. 

“Hold up - Why does General Education have a Quirk Positivity class? This is high school? Shouldn't they have that class in elementary school?” Monique crossed her arms over her chest. Face filled with confusion.

“Right? Not just that, but the school conducts a sports festival, that they compare to the Olympics every year, that puts all the courses against one another.” Wade closes and erases the schedules, replacing them with a video reel of fights and highlights. 

“Wha - why even call it a sports festival!? All they're doing is fighting?” Ron frowns before grinning as he watches one of the students punch another, “Booya! Look at that right hook!”

“Oh snap! He flipped him like a pancake!” Monique grinned as they watched the highlight reels. 

“Why would they do that? Isn’t that practically advertising your quirk to all the villains in the area?” Kim rose an eyebrow

“It says that it’s done to ‘promote their students to other heroes for field studies.’ The kids receive internship requests by heroes that want to take them on. It’s dumb though because, according to this, only fifteen students from both hero classes combined got internship requests! And one of them got 4,123 requests!” 

“They're promoting their students like they're the newest fashion trend.” Monique frowns, looking away from the video. 

“That’s… only fifteen kids? Seriously? What about the others? Do they just… not do anything? Why can’t they all just apply like we do? I - My brain can’t process...” Rufus squeaks in sympathy as he pats Ron’s cheek with his paw. 

Monique frowns in thought,  “Hey, wait a minute… you said that the sports festival includes all the students, right?”

“Yeah, Three day’s worth of sports festival, one for each grade.” 

The girl scoffed, “They're using the other courses to make the hero course look better, aren’t they?” 

“What do you mean, Monique?” Kim frowns

“Think about it, girl, you saw the schedules. The hero course is the only course with combat training.” Kim’s eyes widened in realization. 

“Duuuude, not cool! If they all had at least the same level of experience, it would be a lot better.” Ron frowns as he crosses his arms. 

“Exactly! Personally, I prefer the way our school system is set up. Anyone who wants to take hero classes can take them, and if you don’t finish the credits, you’re in the academy longer. Not to mention, anyone who wants field experience could just apply and do the internships.” Wade crossed his hands over his chest.

“Wade, you're taking support course electives.” Kim smiled softly, “but you have a point.”

“Of course I do! I’m doing field study with the space center! You and Ron go every other weekend to work with the hero agency, and when vacation comes along you’ll be allowed to do more than just patrol. I just… this is just... “Wade signs, “At least I know how to fight and defend myself if anything were to occur.”

“A little worked up there huh, Wade...” Ron gave him a sympathetic smile

“Sorry.” He smiles sheepishly, “Anyway, will you and Kim be applying guys? They accept duo teams.” Kim thinks about it for a moment before letting out a soft sigh and smile.

“You know what? What the heck, let’s do it, Ron.” Kim smiles, “I think it’ll be really cool to get in and talk to other people not from around here. Make some new friends, and possible future partners.”

“Boo-ya! We’re so getting in!” Ron held up a finger for Rufus to high five.

Kim and Monique smile at one another, thanking Wade, the redhead closes her locker, “We can celebrate with Bueno Nacho AFTER we get accepted. For now, let's go get lunch before the break ends.”

“You think they’d let Rufus in?”

“Ron, I don’t know if they’d let your pet in the program.” Monique smiled

“Gasp! Pet? Rufus is NOT a pet! He is our partner!” the little rodent nods in agreement as he squeaks in response. 

“Maybe we could ask when we get past the interview process. We’ll have to see, don’t get your hopes up, though, Ron.” Kim smiles softly, patting the boy's shoulder.

Kim Possible. Age 16. Seat 2. Student Rank 2. Hero Name: Possible. Quirk: Quirkless.

Kung fu, acrobatics and gymnastics, cheerleading skills, martial arts, hand to hand

Ron Stoppable. Age 16. Seat 9. Student Rank 11. Hero Name: Koi. Quirk: Karmic Luck.

His good luck fixes his bad luck. His natural bad luck places him in bad situations, however thanks to his quirk they always turn in his favor. For example, He once tripped over a rock, which caused him to dodge bird poop coming at him. 

Basic Hand to hand, Ninjutsu

____

A young teen with black hair sat in a chair in their room, the red sleeves of his sweater pulled up to his elbows as he tinkered with a few things. The door to the room slowly opened to show a scrawny man with his blond hair in a beanie. Seeing his younger friend working, he walked in and waved the others in. Walking in, everyone made themselves comfortable in the room. A buff, burly man, walked closer to the teen. With a good slap on the back, making the boy shout in surprise, he greeted him.

“Hey there, little man!” He grinned widely, crossing his arms over his chest. Brown eyes blinked in surprise as he spun around on his chair to face the four adults. 

“Oh! Hey guys! What brings you four here?” The younger boy asked with a smile as he adjusts himself in his seat. The adults all glanced at each other for a moment. A girl with purple streaks in her hair held out a packet to him, a small smile on her lips.

“We wanted you to apply for the Hero Collaboration Program.” Honey Lemon began as the boy began to read it.

“You’re a really smart kid, Hiro. Graduated from high school early, taking hero and support classes at the same time at the institute.” Gogo smiles.

“You’ve made awesome support weapons and during battle training you’re, like, wicked smart.” Fred praises. 

“Buuuut you’re also a kid. A kid that’s friends with a bunch of adults, we want you to make some friends your own age.” Wasabi grinned sheepishly, everyone nodded in agreement.

“Do… you guys not like being my friends?” Hiro frowns, looking back up at them, dejection clear on his face. 

“No!” They all shouted at once.

“It’s not like that!” 

“We love being your friend, little dude!” 

“You’re an awesome dude!”

“We don’t hate you!”

“We’re not trying to make you feel like we hate you!” Wasabi sighed as he ran a hand down his face, “We just want you to make friends your own age.”

“Yeah, you graduated from high school pretty early on general studies, and are now taking both hero and support classes at the institute, but you never really got a chance to make friends your age.” Honey Lemon explained.

“We already called to ask if you’d be able to apply.” Gogo smiled.

“Yeah! They said that they understand the circumstances considering your quirk and will make an exception! Of course, they said that just because they’re letting you apply doesn’t mean you will be accepted! That’s all on you, my dude!” Fred grinned as he shot the young teen finger guns.

Hiro stared down at the packet in his hands for a moment. They're not wrong. Because of his quirk, he had practically breezed through school and graduated at 11. He’s never been interested in heroics or any of that stuff, but even if he wanted to, no hero school would have accepted him because of his young age. Finding boredom in just staying home, he began to tinker with things and began to build small robots for fun - and maybe to con a few people out of their money - but he’s never pursued anything specific. 

He hadn’t even thought about going into support until his older brother had brought it up when he was thirteen. After lots of hard work, he had gotten into the biggest hero school in the Tokyo prefecture, Institute for Heroics and Technology. He thought about applying to UA in shizuoka but he decided that the school was too over rated and stayed in Tokyo. He had stuck to the technical side of things, at least till his brother was killed in an explosion. It had taken a lot of convincing, but he was able to get his friends to help him take down the villain that caused it. He and his friends had become vigilantes and once they had captured the culprit he was reluctant to stop. It wasn’t long till he found himself in the heroics courses as well. 

Now that he’s reflecting on it, they're right. He doesn’t have any friends his own age. Taking a deep breath, he nods, “Alright, sure. I’ll apply.”

“Really!?” Honey Lemon practically squeals in excitement.

“Yeah, besides, it says that the kids at Yuuei are participating. They’ve been through a bunch of villain attacks already, It’ll be interesting to see how they compare to other heroes in training.” Hiro leaned back in his seat, a leg crossing to rest on the other. 

“Oh… Oh, no, that’s his ‘I have plans’ smirk, guys.” Fred stage whispered to the others.

“Should I be feeling bad for the Yuuei kids or the exchange kids he’ll be with if he’s accepted?” Wasabi asked, making Hiro burst into a fit of laughter.

“... Both.” Honey Lemon squeaked.

“He’s going to have fun.” Gogo smirked.

Hiro Hamada. Age: 15. Seat 13. Student rank 3. Hero Name: Zero. Quirk: Prodigy 

His brain functions at a faster rate than possible, making it easy for him to process and retain information, giving him genius level intelligence. 

Hand to hand, Martial Arts, builds his own support items.

_____

“No way man.” A dark skinned boy groaned as he tossed his backpack on the ground and sat himself on his desk chair, the wheels sending him back a bit. 

“What? Miles, dude common. This event is for sophomores ONLY. You’re never getting this opportunity, ever again!” Another male walked into the shared room and closed the door behind him. 

“Ganke I just got the hang of swinging around, the school year is going to end in a few months meaning finals are coming up, I don’t need to stress myself out more with this program.” Miles huffed in response, riffling through his backpack he pulled out his textbooks. 

Sitting himself at his own desk, the boy responded as he grabbed his own things, “That was three months ago dude. The school year doesn’t even end until June, we’re barely getting into November, and this program is supposed to be fun. Did you even read that packet? You’ve been stressing yourself too much by adding so much training on top of your school work.” 

“...... I can’t rest Ganke, you know that. I have to hurry up and graduate, so I can take over what Peter had left for me.” Miles let out a tired sigh as he slumped back on his chair and stared at the ceiling. “I know what happened to him wasn’t my fault, I get that, but… I just… I could have done more, you know? Like, I know he took me in for field studies because we have similar quirks, but I’ve looked up to him for so long and to be acknowledged only for it to be torn away all of a sudden… We became so close… He wanted me to take over the mantle of Spider-man and I just… I can’t let him down…”

Ganke sat in silence for a moment, trying to gather his thoughts before speaking, “I get that you want to take over the mantle of your mentor, but common man. Take a breather. We’re teenagers and you're burning yourself out. Peter wouldn’t want you to burn yourself out like this. You need this break.” 

Silence fell in the dorm room once again as both boys started their homework. It wasn’t long for Miles to find himself tapping his pencil against his desk. Ganke’s words floating about in his mind. With a weary sigh, Miles re-read the packet that he pulled out from where he had stuffed it in a text book. “Your right… I do need a break.” 

Ganke grinned widely and kicked off to roll over to his friend, “That a boy!” he cheered, slapping his friend’s shoulder, “Now then, let's talk support items! I've had this idea on making little nubs for your gloves that can discharge electricity for like a week now! I bet you’d like it! The trip is supposed to be in Late February, right? We have so much time! We can test them after school! You can even put them to use on the field when you do actual combat during Christmas break’s field studies!” Miles snorted at his friend's enthusiasm. 

Miles Morales. Age 15. Seat 9. Student Rank 4. Hero Name: Spider-man. Quirk: Dolophanes Conifera.

Has characteristics of a wrap around spider. He can camouflage with his surroundings and shoot spiderwebs from a small hole from his wrists. He can effortlessly cling and climb walls thanks to the settles on his hands and feet. Is most active during the night. If he bites anyone, a venom is injected to temporarily stun his victim.

Hand to hand, fast reflexes, flexible

____

A raven haired boy with bright blue eyes groaned in frustration as he slammed his face on the kitchen table. His older sister with red hair frowned with worry, “What’s wrong, Danny?”

“Mr. Lancer handed out some packet for heroes and, like it sounds like fun, but it doesn’t allow trio teams.” Danny responded as he rested his chin on the table.

“Hero? I thought Tucker is in for support, while Sam handles the business aspect when you guys started your own agency?” The older sibling frowned in confusion.

Danny sticks his lower lip out in a pout, “Well, yeah but…” He sits up right, “Sam and Tucker are encouraging me to sign up, and It’s cool and all, but… I just…” The boy paused, turning over the words in his head in an attempt to organize them. His sister waited patiently for him to speak again, “I’ve never felt so… lonely I guess. Like… Tucker and, surprisingly enough, Kyle are going to be handling the Support items and any other tech-savvy stuff. Sam has Wes for business stuff, even if they do argue a lot, but I… have nobody.” The boy buries his face in his hands, “It’s stupid, I know…”

“W - what about Valery? She wants to be a hero too, right? You two were pretty close…?” His sister tries to reassure.

“Yeah, but she hates my guts now, Jazz. Remember the whole incident I told you about with quirk training?”

His older sister frowns at this. Her blue eyes looked over to the packet her brother had set aside. Taking it, she read it over silently before smiling softly, “Well, I definitely agree with Sam and Tucker that you should apply.” 

Danny looks up with a frown, “But I’d be all alone…” 

“Danny, the whole point of the program is to meet young aspiring heroes your own age. I'm sure you’ll make a friend or two while you’re out there.” Handing her brother the packet, she watched as his eyes roamed over the words again. 

“I… I guess you’re right.”

Jazz smiles reassuringly at her brother, “Of course I’m right. Now then, let me help you fill that thing out.” 

Daniel James Fenton. Age 16. Seat 8. Student Rank 5. Hero Name: Phantom, Quirk: - REDACTED - Ghost.

After turning four, his quirk, cryokinesis, had manifested. When he was 11 he was involved in a lab accident that -REDACTED- mutated his quirk. He can now turn invisible at will, walk through solid objects, fly, minor telekinesis, ghost wail, cryokinesis. He has no need to breathe, can last a week without food. 

Hand to hand, night vision, stealth, enhanced hearing. 

Chapter 1 Part 2

[aricazorel]

Day 21 "Struggle"

Kaidan Alenko, Kori Reese, [Mike Westmore—OC]

pre-ME2

“He’s gone?” Kaidan Alenko asked hesitantly as they sat at the conference table in Admiral Anderson’s office on the Citadel.

The L2 had just returned from shore leave and they both were waiting for the official briefing about their next mission. One which had them working together again. It had been a while…

Kora Reese nodded as she fumbled with the hem of her uniform. “Yes.”

“Do you—Did he tell you where?”

“No. He said it was better for me to not know,” the L3 biotic replied still not meeting his gaze. “But he knew I’d figure it out.”

“Kori, I don’t…I’m not sure what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Mike made the choice, and he chose to do this,” she replied waving vaguely out towards space.

“But he left you…did he at least give you a reason why?” Alenko said, obviously trying to keep his cool.

“In a general way,” she said finally looking up. “He said he hadn’t joined the original Normandy team when offered and that had been a mistake. He said he had an opportunity to make up for that and to do something when the Alliance wasn’t. He wanted to do his part and apparently this opportunity is just that.”

“But he left you behind—”

Reese glared at him. “Don’t you think I know that! He put a mission before me…but he explained his reasons and he said he knew I couldn’t follow because of my past. So yeah, I get that he left me.”

She resumed staring at the conference table as Kaidan said gently, “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.”

She nodded. “You know he said he’d come back if he could, but it might be a one way trip…After that he said he at least knew I’d be in good hands if the worst happened.”

“Good hands?”

“Yeah. Yours,” she said looking up again to meet his confused gaze, “Apparently he still thinks highly of you.”

Alenko blinked in surprise as he processed what she had just revealed. Sure. He and Mike were on good terms, and they had come to an understanding concerning Kori, but he didn’t know what Westmore meant. Kaidan had known her longer than the other man and was her best friend. Of course, he’d look after her no matter what. It wouldn’t be because of a personal favor to her boyfriend though…

But Mike wasn’t stupid. Maybe he had been counting on that if the worst happened.

Alenko stretched out his hands towards her on the conference table. Without a word the tech took his hand and squeezed. “I’m here, Kori. I promise. Whatever you need.”

“What if I don’t know what I need?” she asked in a small voice.

“Then we’ll figure it out together,” he replied with a small grin, hoping to assure her she wasn’t alone.

“How do you keep doing that?” she asked in annoyance.

“Do what?” he asked, completely caught off guard by the change in her tone.

“That! Be positive even when I know you are madder than hell at him,” she clarified as she turned towards him, almost pulling her hand from his in the process.

Keeping a firm grip on her hand, he shook his head. “I can’t let myself be angry. Not like that.”

“But you are angry.”

“I feel angry, but I can’t act on it,” he said. “When I do, bad things happen.”

“Yelling at people isn’t that bad.”

Alenko narrowed his eyes. “That’s not—It’s different. When I get angry because someone I care about gets hurt…I can’t…People get hurt. I can’t let that happen again.”

“You’re talking about Jump Zero.”

He nodded as he cast his gaze down at the floor, afraid of what her expression might be. Of what she would think of him.

“You—You care about me that much?”

Kaidan’s head quickly rose to meet her curious gaze. “Of course, I do. I—I thought you knew that.”

Reese bit her lip. “I—I…”

They stared at each other in silence for a long moment until she admitted softly, “I do…I just…don’t want you to…have to go through something like Jump Zero because of me.”

“Like Jump Zero?” he echoed uncertainty as she nodded silently.

He frowned and then the memory of Rahna flashed before his eyes. The moment he realized she was afraid of him on Jump Zero and the moment that he realized even years later she was still afraid of biotics. But Reese wasn’t Rahna…

“Kori, I’m not that 17-year-old kid anymore. I did a lot of growing up after BAaT. Just ask my parents. Mike would have told you too…” he began slowly, rolling his chair closer to hers. “After going through something like that, you either break or you come out stronger. I’d like to think I came out stronger. And yeah, I still struggle with being a biotic and being an L2 but people like you make it easier.”

“People like me?”

Kaidan nodded as he reached for her other hand. “Yeah. You gave me a chance, even though you hated your biotics when we first met…and you let me teach you how to control them. I—You don’t know what it meant to me to have someone trust me that much…We both struggle with our biotics and issues surrounding them, but we have each other to help make it easier.”

Reese tried shying away from him. “Kaidan—”

“And just like with biotics, we can help each other through anything,” he said ignoring her protest. “You are my best friend, and I have no intention of leaving you alone while you are struggling with something like this. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” she murmured as he gave her a crooked grin.

“Good,” he replied as he squeezed both her hands again. “Because I’m going to remind you every time you need it.”

“Kaidan…”

“Just listen…My dad used to say that the struggle you’re facing today is helping you develop the strength you’re gonna need for tomorrow,” Alenko continued as he held her gaze, willing her to believe his words. “You’re gonna get through this, and you’re gonna be stronger for it. Does it suck? Yes. Will you live through it? Yes. But you aren’t alone.”

Grey eyes held his gaze as a faint smile tugged at her lips. “You always know what to say.”

He shrugged. “It’s a gift.”

“Maybe,” Reese said as she squeezed his hands. “Or maybe you are.”

Kaidan’s eyes went wide as he felt his cheeks flush. The L3 turned back to study awards plastered one the Admiral’s office walls leaving him stunned into silence. Occasionally she would say things like that but would never elaborate. Either way, he would take it for what it was. A sincere sentiment by someone who meant the world to him. And that was enough to get through any struggle.

[sparkleofpizza]

The archer - Tim Drake x reader 4/?

Requested: no

Warnings: swearing, death, gore, fluff 

Taglist: @isthataladybag @the-fandom-ness @takoyakkun @caswinchester2000 

Summary: Y/n Queen will be living in the Wayne Manor for a while, and Dick Grayson decided to be the Cupid between her and his little brother Tim Drake.

Word count: 2.807

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7

Arrow after arrow was shot to the target glued to the wall. You kept going, practicing was a good thing to keep your mind off things and also clear your head. Sometimes it was good to just let your pent up feelings go with every arrow that left your quiver.

You haven’t been out on patrol since you moved to Gotham two months ago, all you did was sometimes spare with Jason - that was a rare occurrence now, he had one of his many fights with Bruce and has been avoiding the manor lately. That left you to practice archery on your own, not that you minded, it was good being alone for a while.

You could feel Damian’s eyes on you. You knew he had been keeping a close eye on you ever since they found out about the whole League of Assassins stuff. Even if you hadn’t heard what they were talking at the kitchen, you would’ve still found out he was suspicious of you, he didn’t know how to keep a low profile when giving you murderous glares or muttering under his breath - maybe he wasn’t trying to be subtle, maybe he wanted you to know he was keeping tabs on you. 

You didn’t mind him watching you, you just kept doing your thing at the batcave. You didn’t want to pick a fight with a twelve year old. 

“Hi.” Tim said, a smile on his face as he came to a stop beside you “I didn’t see you at breakfast today.”

“Good morning.” You nodded your head, not daring to look at him “I didn’t have breakfast today.”

He frowned “Why not?”

“So I could practice.”

He nodded his head, watching you do your thing. You looked beautiful, deadly and beautiful. He couldn’t help but admire you, you didn’t even seem to notice - at least he hoped you didn’t, he didn’t want to seem creep.

“Do you want to have breakfast with me?” He asked before he could think about it 

“I thought you already had breakfast.” You put your bow down to look at him 

He smiled sheepishly “I could never pass up the opportunity to drink more coffee and spend some time basking at your company.”

You felt heat spread through your cheeks. That was very smooth of him.

You nodded your head, agreeing to his idea of breakfast. You didn’t trust your voice to not betray you with your feelings for him if you spoke your agreement out loud.

You put your bow and arrows away, taking that time to gain control back of your emotions. This is Tim, the guy who doesn’t trust you enough to ask you questions about you himself - you had to remind yourself that. 

“I was thinking we could have breakfast at a cafe downtown.” He said, walking out of the cave with you “It is one of my favorite places, they have really good coffee.”

“Sure.” You smiled at him “I just need to get changed.”

Tim nodded, taking notice of your sports bra and leggings. He let his gaze linger on your body as you disappeared from his sight to go to your room to get dressed. 

After taking a quick shower and throwing on some clothes, and sunscreen on your face. You went down to meet Tim waiting for you.

You honestly had no idea what to expect from this breakfast with him. You were still weary of him after the conversation you overheard. You are still waiting for him to tell you, but apparently he wasn’t going to do so, and you are honestly disappointed.

Dating had always been a hard thing for you, considering your life and everything. You tried dating people you met at high school, but you couldn’t exactly say ‘hi, I can’t go on a date with you tonight because I am helping the Green Arrow fight a big threat to the city.’ Then again, most people were only interested in dating a Queen and not to exactly date you. And you also did try to date Connor, but it just didn’t work, you see each other too much as a family to have romantic feelings involved. 

And then you met Tim, and he was cute and sweet and pretty and soooo incredible. You really did think that maybe things would go right this time, but just like everyone else in your love life, he let you down. 

As you sat at the coffee shop, stirring your drink with a straw, you watched as Tim seemed way too nervous. He kept pushing his hair back and gripping on his cup.

“Are you ok?” You questioned, eyeing him suspiciously 

“Y-yeah. No.” He shook his head making you frown “There’s something you should know.” 

You nodded, motioning for him to keep talking. Whatever he was going to tell you, didn’t seem like it was a good thing. 

“I did something bad, something I really shouldn’t have done. And guilty has been eating me alive because I just can’t believe it I did it instead of taking to you.”

Oh. Oh. Oh. 

Is he going to tell you what you think he is going to tell you? 

"What did you do?" you asked quietly after a moment of silence 

Tim took a deep breath before looking into your eyes. It was now or never.

"After you told us about the League of Assassins thing, I realized I didn't know much about you, so instead of asking you what I wanted to know I looked you up and found out a lot of things about you. I am really sorry I treated you as some sort of criminal, it was not my intention and I realized that I shouldn't have done that the minute I finished doing it."

You kept quiet, processing his words. Although you already knew the truth, you are still trying to find out if he really means what he said. He didn't seem to be lying, and he does seemed very nervous to tell you that. 

"I already knew."

He blinked a few times, not fully comprehending what you had just said.

"I'm sorry, what?"

You smiled a little "I said I already knew what you did, Tim." you chuckled "I overheard you and your brothers talking in the kitchen."

"And you're not mad?" His eyes were wide, making him look adorable 

"Oh, I am more upset and disappointed than mad. I didn't say anything because I wanted to know if you were going to tell me, and I am glad you did."

He nodded his head, feeling a bit of relief, but also sad you are upset and disappointed with him. These are not good feelings. 

"I spent the last two week trying to find ways to tell you, none of them seemed good enough because what I did was really a shit action." He hesitantly grabbed your hand that was lying on top of the table, his cold fingers caressing your palm, making shivers go down your spine "I'm really sorry about what I did, y/n. And I totally understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore. I just need you to know that I am truly deeply sorry."

You smiled at him, squeezing his hand. Could this boy be more perfect? 

"It's ok, Timmy, I understand why you did what you did. In this line of work, you can't make mistakes, even if it means doubting people you shouldn't be doubting." You leaned over the table, pecking his cheek "I forgive you."

Tim seemed to be in a daze for a few seconds, processing your words and the kiss you just gave him. 

"Thank you. I don't know what I would do if you didn't want to talk to me anymore, I really like you."

His cheeks were tinted a dust pink and so were yours.

"I really like you, too."

To say you and Tim were living daydreaming after having admitted you two liked each other was an understatement. You were so happy that he liked you two that it didn't even occur to you that you said you liked each other and then did nothing about it. But Dick Grayson was having none of it.

"So you're telling me you told y/n that you like her and she said she likes you back, but you didn't kiss her or even asked her out on a proper date?" he had to refrain himself from yelling out in frustration 

He and Tim were standing together at a rooftop of an apartment building while on patrol. He asked his little brother how the two of you were doing, and although he was delighted to hear you both declared liking each other, he was very disappointed that was it. Nothing more happened.

"I was too busy making sure she didn't hate me after what I did." Tim shook his head, not believing his older brother was disappointed in him "I didn't know if I'd be rushing into things by kissing her after what I told her."

Dick nodded his head, heaving a sight "I know, I know. It is just that... Oh, there is so much sexual tension when you two are together, I just want you to kiss and be a happy sweet little couple together! Is that too much to ask?!"

The younger boy felt his cheeks heat up with what the other had said. There wasn't that obvious sexual tension between you two. Was there? Oh God, he hopes not, that would awkward for other people. Tim still remembers how he felt weird when Dick was pinning over Kori, the tension between them, the endless flirting and longing looks, it used to kill him to be in their presence with the Titans. He didn't want anyone to go trought what he did, and to know he was doing the same. The worst, or best, part was that he didn't even realize it because he was so enchanted by you that he didn't notice he was pinning over you that hard.

"I'll ask her to have dinner with me tomorrow." Tim settled with that, if you are still awake when he returns home from patrol then he will ask you out on a proper date, that's it 

"Good, and then I will help you prepare it!" the older boy grinned at his little brother

Before Tim could reply, telling him there was no need to do so, Jason cut their conversation short.

"Although, I love to hear about replacement's love life, there is still a job to be done." he said trough the coms "So if you could meet me that would be great. There is some fucked up shit here."

You didn't want to seem desperate, but you also couldn't help but stay awake waiting for Tim to return home after patrol. You had already talked for almost two hours on the phone with Connor, telling him everything that happened. Then you FaceTimed Oliver to see how his mission was doing, and proceeded to get very annoyed with the fact that he still refused to tell what the mission was, saying he would tell you everything once he gets back next week. 

You also tried sleeping, but you kept thinking about your brother's safety and then your thoughts would drift back to Tim and how you wished when you kissed his cheek, earlier today, that you had kissing him on the mouth instead. 

That left you wandering around the cave, telling Alfred you were just waiting for them to come back in case any of them were hurt and needed medical assistance. The butler knew you were just waiting for Tim to arrive, but didn't say anything, only gave you a knowing smile.

So when they all finally arrived home, you expected tired faces and sore muscles, not faces like they've seen ghosts. You frowned upon watching their expressions, did something happen? 

Bruce had a deep frown on his face and quickly dismissed Alfred when he asked him something. Damian went straight to the showers, Dick and Jason had lost looks on their faces, and Tim seemed deep in thought, almost missing the chair as he sat down to use the batcomputer, typing furiously in it. 

You bit your lower lip, it seemed like it had been a rough night. Thankfully none of them were hurt. 

"Hey." you said in a low tone, not really wanting to disturb Tim, but also wanting to give him some comfort "Everything alright?"

He turned to look at you, in his hurry to use the computer he didn't even took his mask off. You raised your hands, brushing some hair from his forehead, and then pulling the mask away from his face, reveling his blue eyes and deep bags. 

"Hi." he whispered, basking in your tender touch, you rubber his temple, trying to ease some tension "Just something that doesn't make sense."

You hummed, letting your hand go to his hair as you massaged his scalp with your fingernails. Tim closed his eyes, enjoining the sensation you were proportioning to him. He placed his arms around your waist, pulling you closer to him as he smushed his face against your chest, listening to your heartbeat. After what he saw tonight, feeling your warmth and sweet touch were everything his needed. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" you questioned him, not wanting him to you trough this alone 

"It is not something nice, I'm not sure if..." you placed a kiss on top of his head and he almost melted against you "It is a really horrible thing to say, are you sure you want to know it?"

"Yes." you tilted his back so he could look you in the eyes "Tell me, you don't have to suffer alone." you kissed both of his cheeks 

Tim felt his insides burning, he wasn't used to so much affection. Of course, his brother Dick was a man of hugs, he loves to hug his brothers, but other than that, Tim is a pretty touch starved boy. He was almost sighing in contentment with your touch and kisses, he wanted nothing more than to just stay like this forever. 

"Ok." he pulled back from you, still keeping his arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you down so you could sit on his thighs, he wanted to be able to look you in the eyes 

You smiled at him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders.

So Tim proceeded to tell you what him and his family had seen tonight. The trail of bodies at the casino Jason asked them to meet him. All the blood and every single one of the people in there dead. How they all looked horribly, so many wounds, so many knives, arrows, bullets. It was honestly one of the worst things he had ever seen in his life - he was Red Robin and before that Robin, born and raised in Gotham, he had seen a lot of horrible things in his life, but what he saw tonight? It was absurd. 

All the time he was telling you the events, you kept a comforting hand on him, wether caressing his hair, or trailing patters on his arms. He was glad you were there, making him calm and come down from the high emotions he was feeling. 

"This sounds like something the League could do." you muttered

He shook his head "There was something off about that, it didn't look like the League of Assassins pattern."

"Maybe the League of Shadows?"

He shook his head again, staring at the computer screen across from you.

"Can you show me?" you asked, he frowned at you 

"I don't think you should see it, pretty bird. It really is horrible."

"Maybe I can help. Please."

He hesitantly pulled the pictures he took with his phone, showing the casino littered with bodies. Your small hands zoomed into the picture, watching it with close eye and disgust, it really was horrible. You were sure this would cloud your nightmares tonight. 

"I know this arrows." you said "Malcom Merlyn uses them."

"So you think this was a mercenary work?" he questioned, it did make a bit of sense, but it was so brutal the way they were killed

You shook your head. Still staring at the picture in front of you, a thousand of thoughts running trough your mind. Possibilites, theories, everything. You couldn't even bring yourself to conclude one thought before another came crashing down. 

Tim gripped at your hands before closing the picture. Staring at it would do you no good. He also didn't want to look at it anymore for now. 

You turned around to look at him, a frown adorning your face making him worry.

"Timmy, have you ever heard of the Ninth Circle?"

[softstarfire]

S E C R E T  A P P R E N T I C E (Chapter 2)

Chapter 1:  Haunted 

After Slade puts Robin in danger, Starfire is set on destroying the mask that poisoned her best friend’s mind. Sadly, she ends up bringing back Slade and now he’s after her. He shared the news that Tamaran and Earth are in danger, but she has to be the one to save both planets. Convinced that she has to work with Slade to trick Blackfire into leaving their two homes alone, Starfire starts keeping secrets from her best friends. Will she be able to save the world or will she be seen as a traitor?

Slade had just poisoned Robin’s mind and tricked him into a fight that only he could win or lose. He was so deep into the search for the masked villain that he even yelled at Starfire. She got so scared. She was scared of losing him, of losing what they had because of how much Slade was affecting Robin's mind. She felt useless, her alien powers didn’t make any difference. When Raven got into Robin’s mind she felt even worse. She couldn’t do anything. The desperation gave her a rush of adrenaline that got her to rip the floor open with her bare hands to get to the basement and save her friend. She didn’t have a plan, she was just flying to him. Lucky for her, the Boy Wonder had just figured how to defeat this ghostly version of Slade on his own. So when Kory came into the basement he was safe but very hurt. He fell into her arms as she flew to his rescue. She could feel his heart beat slowly getting to a regular pace. She took him to the nursing room and her team mate, Cyborg, got the gas that made all this happen out of Robin’s system. Her masked friend turned the lights off to see if it would happen again but it didn’t. The look of relief in his face lifted a weight off her shoulders. Robin went to bed after that. The other four Teen Titans stayed put. Beast Boy was sick so he asked if they could take care of him now as he shape shifted between different animals each time he sneezed. Raven and Starfire laughed out loud. He was so much more funny when he didn’t mean to, she thought. Or maybe she just didn’t understand his earthly jokes. Either way, she was glad that this was all over and she could just laugh with her friends now. Cyborg interrupted them to tell the girls that the gas didn’t release itself, that it was triggered from outside. Slade was alive. Even after what happened with Terra. And he was after Robin again. They all promised to be ready when their enemy came back. She truly meant it, she wouldn’t let that man take her best friend away from her again. Beast Boy asked for their help once more. Raven got closer to him and used her powers to alleviate some of his symptoms. Cyborg asked if he felt better and the answer was a yes. Beast Boy cracked a joke about Raven’s healing ability and the half demon left to her room mumbling about how next time she would just leave him in pain. The shape shifter chased after her turning into a bat to get to her faster.

Starfire stayed in the room, looking at the screen where Cyborg had just showed them that Slade was alive. Her half robot friend put a hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Star, get some sleep. He’s fine”. Her emerald eyes were filled with tears, but she looked away so Cy couldn’t see it. “I know”, she mumbled, swallowing her feelings in the process. “I must clean up here, you can rest. We will need this space tomorrow to check on his scars and we do not want it to look this mess full”. She turned around to look at him with a big smile on her face. Cyborg nodded and left her alone.

She turned back around and stared at the screen. She turned the device off a couple of minutes after. Her eyes lit up. She stepped back and out of the room. Then she flew down to the basement. When she got there, she held her hand up to lit up the room as she looked for something. There it was, Slades’s mask. She stood there looking at it. She took it out from the box and put it close to her face. Starfire looked right into it. She could almost make up a face. Was he old? He wasn’t, he was too fit to be old. Was he young like her? Not that much. Who was the man behind the mask? Why was he so obsessed with Robin? Did he know him from before? Suddenly, her hands started shaking. The mask was trembling and she couldn’t hold it still. She pushed it away but it still got to let out a small amount of gas into her face. She used both her hands to cover her mouth trying to stay as silent as she could. “Hello, Starfire”, she turned back and there he was: Slade. “Looking for me?” The alien girl stepped back, she saw him. Starfire ran to the light switch but he got to her first. He extended his arm, holding his fist close to her face, but he didn’t hurt her. He turned his fist upside down and opened it revealing a picture of her sister with the Tamaranean crown and royal gown. “No!” Starfire almost yelled out loud, scared, shaking. “She is in jail, you are not saying the truth and I will not let you lie to me”, the princess responded. Her eyes were glowing again and Slade was gone because of the light, but something unespected happened. The photo fell to the ground. Starfire let herself fall too, she took the picture and stared at it for a couple of seconds. She closed her eyes, tears pouring down her cheeks as she imagined what her sister could do to her beloved home. “Fear not, child, I am here to help you”. Slade’s voice echoed inside her head. She ran the back of her hand through her eyes to push her tears aside. Then she stood up and there he was again. “As you see, this is the reality that your people are dealing with. I happened to keep an eye on your beloved sister because I thought her powers could be useful to me someday. I know what she is planning, just in case you want to know”. Starfire shook her head. “No, I will not let you fool me”, Slade walked around her in circles as the Tamaranean princess tried her best to keep herself together. “You see, it is in our best interests to stop her, for Tamaran and for my planet too”. Starfire stepped back trying to get away from him but he put his hand on one of her shoulders. “I do not need your help, I have my friends”, she said. “Oh but you do. You see, child, your human friends can’t help you in this one. You know if you want to get your planet back and protect this one from your sister, you have to challenge her on your own”. Starfire pushed his hand off of her shoulder. “But they are going to be there for me”. She responded tearing up again. He shook his head slowly. “You know that as soon as you tell them what’s happening they will interfere. And even if they only pushed her once your planet would be doomed”. The villain was right, those were the rules. “Then I’ll do this on my own”, she started climbing the stairs but he kept following her. She kept the photo trapped inside her right fist. “Your sister has got the most dangerous weapon she could ever get her hands on. I am convinced you know about this red diamond that has a whole planet of powerful aliens captive inside of it”. The girl turned back to face him. “That’s an old tale, nobody knows if it’s real”. Slade held her right fist and lifted it up. She opened it and saw the picture again. “I know, please, leave me alone”. He pointed to Blackfire’s chest. “Look closer”, he said firmly. She gasped. Her sister had the diamond on a necklace. Her eyes started glowing again. She couldn’t believe it. Was Blackfire so power hungry?

She flew back up to her room. The door closed after her when she entered it. Her feet touched the ground again and she stood there, in front of her door. She put her forehead against the door, as she held the photo tight in her fist. She started crying silently, gasping for air once in a while. “Come on, child, you don’t have to put yourself through this alone. I can help you”. The alien girl shook her head, covering her eyes with her right hand. “You cannot. Don’t you understand? In my planet we have rules that we cannot break. I must fight her on my own and put my people out of danger”. He held his hands together on his back. He walked almost silently and stopped right in front of the big window in the alien’s room. There he could see almost every corner of Jump City. “Foolish child. My people are in danger too. I need this city, I need this planet. It’s my home. You are not listening to me”. She flew next to him and stopped herself right by his side. “Earth is not in danger”. She said swallowing another sob. “Yes it is. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Blackfire is jealous of you. She wants what you have. She sees how much people adore you here on Earth. She wants to take this planet too because of you”. Starfire sighed. “Why does she hate me so much?”. Slade turned himself to face the teenager. “She doesn’t hate you. She envies you, she wants to be you but in her own way. You know, some of us were not born to be the hero”. Starfire avoided Slade’s comment. “What’s your plan?”, she asked facing him too. “How can I trust you with my plan after how you’ve treated me tonight”. She showed him the photo. “I trust you. But-“ Slade extended his right arm to give her a communicator with an S carved on top. “You will hear from me once I am sure my plan can be successful. Now that I’ve got you in on it I can start the preparations”. Starfire looked at her door and back at him. “How can I know you are not up to something? You hurt Robin tonight”. He let out a small laugh. “That was merely a way for me to get your attention. You wouldn’t have come near that mask if it wasn’t for Robin. Besides…” He opened the device to show her a name glowing on the screen: Deathstroke. “You wanted to know more about me. Here’s your ticket inside my mind, Koriand’r”. She looked at the screen. “Who are you?”, the princess asked. “If you keep this between us until I am sure of some things, I will answer every question you have while we prepare to take your sister down”. The sun was starting to raise and the light came through the window. “Rest, child, I’ll need you in your full capacity. Train yourself to be the best for when the time comes to get your planet back”. As the light filled up the room, Slade disappeared. Starfire hid the communicator and the photo inside the puff seat she had beside her bed. She looked through the window. The city came to life once again with the sun. Cars passed by, people were walking through the streets, stores opened their doors and many more things got back to business. She went to bed. She turned her back to the window. Even thought it was 6 in the morning, there was no way she could sleep, not even for a couple of hours. But there was one place were she could clear her mind.

She flew to the roof. She sat on the edge that didn’t face the city, it faced some mountains and woods. She sat there and remembered that time she learned to meditate, so she tried it. She levitated, legs crossed, as she repeated Raven’s phrase “Azarat metrion zinthos”. Her eyes couldn’t stay closed. There were too many thoughts and emotions in her mind. She sat back on the edge and held her face on her hands, hiding it in them, wanting to disappear. But that didn’t happen, something worse did.

As Starfire’s hands started to shake from the frustration mixed with the fear a familiar voice called her name. “Starfire?”. Robin’s voice shot through her mind. Now there was a new thought leading that war inside her mind. I cannot tell him about Slade. The Boy Wonder sat beside her. “Hey, I thought you liked to look at the city. Are you okay?”, he asked looking worried. “I am, Robin. I-I wanted to do the checking of the mountains”, the alien’s voice got softer at the end of the sentence. There was no way Robin would buy that. “Star, what is it? I know you too well. At this point there is nothing you can hide from me”. Starfire looked down to the water that surrounded the tower, she wished to jump right then and there. Robin extended his hand to her. She held it. “You are shaking, Star. Please let me know what’s going through your mind. I don’t want you to be in pain. Just let me in”. Her emerald eyes were filled with tears at this point. She looked at him, turned her body to face him more comfortably and held his face in her hands. “Can you let me in?”, she asked. He sighed. He knew this day would come. The look in her eyes didn’t give him another choice. Besides, he knew that he was safe with her. He stood up. As she looked up at him, the sun covered his face a little bit. He slowly put her hands on his face and took his mask off. Starfire stood up too. She looked at his eyes, they were so blue just like the sky. She felt like she could see his soul. She took a step closer to him. “Your eyes are so beautiful, Robin”. He chuckled at her words. How could she be so brave to just say what was in her mind?, he thought. “Do you remember that day when I ate the not cotton candy for the first time?”, Starfire asked, feeling as she was about to explode since the memory was so close to her sister’s first time on Earth. “I do, Starfire”, he replied. Suddenly her superhero name sounded funny to her. “I told you that Earth was full of amazing things. You were so excited about the colorful explosions that I do not think you remember but I was thinking about-“. “You”, her friend stopped her. “I remember, I was so scared to let you see that when you said that all I could think was that you were the most amazing thing on Earth”. Her heart was about to jump out of her chest. She normally felt so special when she was around him. Her heart always reacted to his presence, to his touch, to his words. But this time it felt like she could die in that moment and for the first time she could not find the right words to answer to that. This feeling mixed with the fear were not a good combo. She needed to take a step back. “Koriand’r”, she held her hand out. “But most of my beloved family used to called me Kory”. He smiled at this information, he already knew but it was refreshing to hear her say it. He shook her hand. “Richard but most of my ex family called me Dick”. She shook his hand back and then let it go. Her smile faded as her thoughts went back to the secret she was keeping from him. Now she knew more about Robin but she also knew more about Slade. “Hey, Star, what is it? You can tell me anything”. The alien girl let her head down and he quickly held her face in his right hand, caressing her check slowly. “It’s okay, Star, it’s all gonna be okay. I will always be here for you”. She looked up at him. “Will you?” He nodded. “Robin I am most scared of loosing you. Yesterday I was so afraid. I couldn’t help you. I disappointed you”. He put his other hand on her face. “That’s not true. I saw in the cameras how you ripped the floor open with your bare hands. I know that you are capable of so much more, that’s why I feel safe when I am with you”. She shook her head. “But you were not safe when I couldn’t see Slade. I could not protect you. And the thought of losing you scares me the most”. Her teary eyes looked like green jewels. A part of her wanted to cry because she truly didn’t see a future without him, without her team. At the same time, she knew that lying was not the best way to keep him close. But she had to do what’s best for her planet and for his too. “I want to get better, I want to practice more and I want to be ready to fight any danger that comes for you and for my friends. I cannot lose you”. “If that makes you feel better I will help you train, I will push you to be better. But, Starfire, there is no way you will lose me”. She inhaled and looked like she was about to burst into tears but didn’t want to let it happen. She sighed. “You promise?”. Richard gave her a kiss on her forehead. She closed her eyes as his lips touched her skin. She had never felt this way. If only she didn’t have to keep that secret from him.

- end of chapter 1.

A/N: Hello! I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. I’ve posted 5 episodes of this story on AO3 if you wanna read more now. I will be uploading all the episodes here, on fan fiction.net and on wattpad so you can choose were to read it. 

I love Haunted from the Teen Titans 2003 series, it’s one of my favorite episodes. Specially the scene were Star rips the floor with her own hands. I love it when she show how powerful she is! This is a RobStar fanfic, yes. But you will get some bonus BBRae and to spice it up some StarX. And mainly, you will get some fun Starfire being a badass, a softie and a lot of inside on her mind (at least of my version of it). I’ve been writing this as I re watch the series for the third time so I can get the characters right. I love them in the series and I hope I did them justice. 

That’s all. Hope you like it! Let me know what you think pleeeease! Bye <3

[greycappedjester]

Hi I'm so sorry I'm just too shy to ask this on ao3 but I was wondering: how is Slade's relationship with Dick? I don't mind them as a ship in general but in the story sometimes I feel like Slade gets too close to Dick and I thought if there was something platonic on his side? I'm sure you wouldn't do that in the story that's why I'm asking if it's only on Slade's side. Sorry if this is a stupid question lol. Maybe it's just because I've read sl/adedick fics before. ^^D

Nah, I’ve actually been waiting for someone to ask about that. So....it’s complicated and will take awhile to explain so I’m putting it under a Read More before I get too long winded with my character headcanons:

This is going to get soooooo long, lol, so feel free to skim. Warning for Gotham in general and Gotham being naturally a bad place for kid vigilantes to grow up in. Also because this explanation gets somewhat dark in character interpretation....

Bonus short story at the end after a really long post.

-------

Alright, so first, I feel like I should mention again that I never watched the Teen Titans animated show past maybe the first two episodes and the movie my friends wanted me to watch that I don’t really remember. (I meant to watch that show, just never got around to it). I say this because I heard that the Teen Titans TV show portrayed the Dick and Deathstroke relationship much differently in a way that’s cool and fine but not something I can see myself really wanting to write about. I know their relationship more from comics where Dick was already an adult (albeit a young adult) when he first met Slade. 

So. Back to my After the Fall of Olympus universe and yeah, I’m slowly getting to my answer. The thing is....the story is entirely in Dick’s POV right now.

And Dick’s absolutely terrible at reading and picking up any form of affection others have for him. He understands it abstractly (he knows people care) but when assessing, he critically underestimates it if he remembers to account for it at all. This goes even worse with people he’s closer to--which is why it took him forever to realize why Jason actually did want to stay with him at the manor and why he still has no idea Barbara is in love with him. Even Kory who was really, really direct about liking him, it took him years to fully emotionally process and respond to that. He’s getting better...but remembering his own value (in others eyes) isn’t something he’s overwhelming good at doing.

My headcanon, he is abnormally good at reading people and picking up basic sexual attraction. He’s good at telling when he’s being flirted with or when people are attracted to him and, honestly, Dick’s charismatic and instinctively a flirt, too.With that, partly from growing up in Gotham with its weird and supremely dark villains, I think Dick very much divorces the two concepts of romantic attraction and sexual flirting in his mind--he’s aware they can go together, obviously with Kory--but he doesn’t naturally pair them as other people probably would. It’s also part of why he just doesn’t get the level of concern Tim has about Catalina.

Okay, back to my point.

The way I write Slade and Dick’s relationship is actually mostly done off screen. But, I think Slade started with approval of Dick’s skills and potential in a clinical/objective view, growing respect and interest (personal but not at all romantic) in him as a person, and much more recently in the story (as in that last conversation he had in Ch. 18), I think Slade realized he has some legitimate attraction and cares a lot about Dick in a way that’s probably romantic.

Slade also is very, very aware immediately that he’s not going to do anything with that and, in a way, doesn’t want to because Dick ever responding to that would be jeopardizing his relationship with his family, his team, his view of his morals (which are so integral to Dick) in a way that would be exceptionally out of character and concerning coming from Dick. In other words, something happening would be a lot more terrifying than nothing happening and Slade cares.

For Dick, it’s a lot more simple. He does not have any romantic feelings there. He does in a somewhat analytical, unconscious way recognize that Slade’s probably attracted to him (probably before Slade noticed honestly) but he’s....well, kind of used to that at some level. More so, Dick doesn’t connect it to emotional care and--like with everyone else--vastly underestimates that Slade does care about him in a way that’s actually pretty selfless for a mercenary. For a romance, your guess is absolutely right, it’s not going to go anywhere in this series but I wanted the undertones and implications to be there in the final third of the story

....But, that’s also more of a later/recent development in that relationship. For most of the story that’s posted so far, Slade sees his relationship with Dick as a lot of respect and even care but not as romantic in any way. I can promise no romantic undertones at all until Dick was already in his 20s because I really, really am not interested in writing underage. (for those curious about Slade’s age in the story, I think of him as mid-20s in his introduction in Year 3 and pretty early 30s here to Dick’s early 20s)

Above everything, they respect each other and would be almost friends if that were possible.

The team and his family doesn’t know any of this.

Anyway, that was long, so here’s a bonus short story from Slade’s view. I write a lot of After the Fall of Olympus short stories in other charcter’s views that I’m not planning on posting until After the Fall of Olympus.

This one’s between Year 5 and 6 and is titled “October 7th”:

-------

It’s October 7th, almost two in the morning, and Slade’s camped out in a somehow still standing bombed out apartment in a no-name village in the middle of a war-torn country.

He’s not exactly expecting visitors.

There’s a knock on the apartment door.

Slade cocks his gun and puts two rounds in the door before, for good measure, adding matching ones on either side of the frame.

He has two seconds to let himself pretend that’s the end of it before the door knob turns to the unmistakable sound of a skilled lock pick. 

Fuck, he’s too tired for this shit today. 

“Geeze, Slade, what if I’d been an innocent civilian?”

Slade’s hand stills on the gun in surprise then consideration before slowly slipping it back into the holster. 

“Kid,” he greets. “There’s no innocent civilians left around here. ‘Specially ones that can make it to my door without me hearing any footsteps.”

“I’ve been working on that.” Dick says, walking into the apartment. He isn’t even wearing his uniform, just plain black military style clothes with the lower half of his face covered by a piece of cloth. He pushes it down and smiles as he presses the door shut behind him. “You did tell me to get better, after all.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have,” he mutters without much heat. “You getting better almost left me out of a job.”

Dick rolls his eyes. “Please, as if both of us don’t know Luthor could’ve gotten out of those charges in months. If the Light didn’t erase them for him, anyway.”

Slade shrugs. Maybe another time, he’d find the energy to banter back. But not today. Never today.

“Why are you here, Dick? How’d you find me?”

The smile slides off of Dick’s face, leaving behind those far too heavy eyes to belong to an eighteen year old.

“You know I have your file, Slade.” Dick clears his throat. “I know what day it is.”

….Fuck.

It’s not like he expected anything else. Not since the moment he saw the kid. But, still...he doesn’t want to deal with this. Doesn’t want to deal with anything. Today, he just wants to crawl back into the worst, most deserted corner of the world he can find until the hours creep passed and he can find the energy to move.

Instead, he glares. “Good for you. Now get the fuck out, kid.”

Dick grimaces but shakes his head. “Not until you answer a question for me.”

Slade groans and, for a handful of seconds, honestly contemplates just killing him, considers it in a way that he hasn’t since before he even met the kid, back when he was first handed a file by a practically no name organization called H.I.V.E.

He’d regret it later. Sure. He has too much he wants to see out of the kid to kill him in a shitty, dusty apartment. But, that regret would come later. Later, once this day had finally passed.

That alone is almost enough to have him reaching for his gun. Almost

“Grayson,” he finally grounds out, “if you know what day it is, you know I’m not exactly inclined to play our game of hero and villain right now. You want information, find someone else.”

“Good, I’m not here to play either. Only problem is I can’t ask anyone else, you're the only one who knows the answer.” Dick lowers himself to sit on the floor across from him, like a particularly stupid mouse in front of a viper.

And then, he looks up and his eyes are too steady to belong to prey.

“Here’s the question: Do you really want to be alone today, Slade?”

The breath catches in Slade’s`lungs, harsher than if the kid had just punched him.

He pushes the reaction down, already knowing it’s too late, and says in the steadiest voice he can manage, “Yes.”

Dick stares at him, unmoving. “I don’t believe you.”

The air around them is too tight, too burning, and Slade’s being pushed down under it to suffocate. 

He can’t fight it, so he takes it and pushes it back into anger. “The fuck, kid! What do you know?  You said you have my file, yeah? How long have you had it? Because I’m betting you’ve had it since we first met!” He lunges forward. “So, why are you here now, Dick? What makes this year so special? What’s made you decide to pretend to care now? Because whatever it is, kid, I can promise you, I’m not worth it. So, leave!”

By the end, he’s gripping Dick’s shirt, pulling it tighter until the collar has to be digging painfully into his neck. 

Dick doesn’t look away. “No.”

Slade doesn’t look away either. “You know I really think I might kill you right now.”

“You won’t.”

 One of Slade’s hands moves until it’s pressing into the kid’s neck. A single sharp twist and he could snap it. “So sure?”

Dick nods.

“And why’s that?”

“Because I brought your favorite whiskey.”

A brown bag is pressed into Slade’s ribs and the man feels something rising in his chest that could possibly be laughter if it was some other time.

He drops the kid.

He takes the bag.

“Pretty sure heroes aren’t supposed to be contributing to alcoholism, kid.” He gestures to a half empty bottle of much cheaper stuff beside him.

Dick coughs, rubbing at his throat. “Please. With your metahuman metabolism, I bet you can barely feel it for an hour.”

“Depends how much I drink,” Slade counters, eyeing the bottle. “How’d you know my favorite?”

Dick shrugs. “Gotta keep some secrets to myself.”

He fishes out a spare shot glass from somewhere in the black folds of his outfit and pours a small glass for himself. 

Slade raises an eyebrow. “Last time I checked, you’re still 18, kid.”

Dick gives him an incredulous look in return. “Last time I checked, this place doesn’t have a drinking age...or a government, actually.”

Slade hums, amused, using a larger glass for himself. “True, but thought you’d be following the laws of your own birth city a little closer, hero. Gotham’s still at 21...on the record at least.”

“Technically, Gotham’s not my birth city.” Dick snorts and takes the shot. 

Slade tilts his head. “Where were you born?”

Dick pauses, thinking, before offering a sheepish smile. “You know….I actually have no idea. Somewhere in Europe, probably? I came early, the circus was still on tour. One of the lion tamers helped deliver me, used to be a doctor.”

“Always a surprise, kid,” Slade shakes his head, draining his glass. Tasting it in his mouth and pretending it’s enough to wash away the ash.

The next words come before he can stop them.  “...Adeline always wanted two kids.”

Dick goes quiet.

“Of course,” Slade says to his glass and fuck it, just fuck it,  “turns out we didn’t even get the one. Turns out I didn’t get either my wife or my son.”

Fuck, he hates October 7th.

He reaches for the whiskey, ignoring how his hand shakes. “Addy was a soldier, you know? A good one. Of all the stupid fucking ways she could go, I never thought it’d be childbirth. Maybe I should have. Always knew I’d kill her somehow.”

“You didn’t kill her, Slade,” Dick says softly.

“Sure. Whatever,” he agrees, too tired to argue. It’s not as if he hasn’t heard every variation sometime or another. It’s just right now, he can’t quite bring himself to debate about the cause when the end of it’s always going to be the same.

Dick drops the subject and the relief that Slade feels  is immense enough that it’s close to gratitude.

“What was your son’s name?”

“Grant. We were going to name him Grant.” He takes another sip. “If we had another one, we were going to name him Joseph. Or Rose for a girl.”

“Those are good names.”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does.”

Slade doesn’t answer, looking up to eye the kid over his drink. Dick sees it, holding up his own glass in acknowledgement before knocking it back.

“Why are you here, kid,” Slade asks again. “We’re not friends, pretty far fucking from it last time I checked.”

“I’ve got my reasons,” he answers calmly.

“If you’re here to make your usual sales pitch about the virtues of heroism, I really will kill you. Whiskey or not.”

Dick shakes his head. “....is it so hard to believe I just didn’t think you should be alone?”

Slade thinks his skepticism is loud enough without him needing the words.

The look Dick gives him is steady in return. “Think what you want to, Slade, I know what grief feels like. It’s a poison. It’ll kill you unless you find a way to drain it.” 

Dick looks down at his own glass and Slade gets the feeling the kid’s no longer talking about just Slade. It’s still a tossup whether he means himself or the Bat.

Either way, Slade makes sure his next smirk is particularly pointed. “And, look at you. Tracking me all the way down here to try and save my tortured soul. Such a hero.”

“Oh, shut up,” Dick says with an eye roll, pouring himself another drink

Slade cocks his head. “Speaking of, don’t all the good little heroes have school right about now.”

Dick looks up, almost sheepish. “I’m ditching my classes. Don’t tell my brothers, I’m still trying to be a good influence.”

Slade snorts and takes a particularly long swig.

A good influence. As if a single one of his stupid, fucking team doesn’t think the fricking sun shines out of the kid’s ass.

Fuck. What is Slade even doing? Sitting in a run down apartment in the middle of a warzone drinking whiskey with a too trusting kid a decade younger and that he probably should have killed years ago.

But, then, it’s always been exceedingly difficult for him to do what he should---what’s the sane and logical thing--when it comes to Dick Grayson. And, one day--when he doesn’t have the burn of booze sitting in his gut and his chest doesn’t ache like he’s been shot--Slade’s going to take a hard look at why that is.

For now, he’ll just leave it like he usually does. The kid’s too interesting to die yet. 

Dick eyes his shot glass, contemplatively. “This whiskey’s way too overpriced, Slade. It’s practically aged vodka.”

Slade finishes his off steadily. “Shows you have little taste, Grayson.”

Dick laughs and slides the bottle over. “I brought another one anyway.”

....Far, far too interesting.