#they keep on trying to make it so nightwing is impulsive and goes with the flow??

[thatgraysoncharm]

Me, vibing because I headcanon Dick Grayson as getting a Maths/Physics degree because. He is an acrobat, an extremely rigorous and NOT IMPROVISED job that requires an extreme amount of planning and understanding, especially to do the kind of high level gymnastics he does on a regular basis, which would involve an impressive understanding physics and maths:

Tom Taylor: 

[novaviis]

sick!dick au. Bruce's POV. read in order here.

For most everyone else, it starts at the Gala.

For Bruce, it starts in a grey little office, with a stack of papers and a glitter pen.

Dick will confess after the fact to the fainting spell in the apartment he shares with Wally, and the months of progressively worse migraines, including an incident on patrol with Jason – and Bruce is none-too-pleased with that information being kept silent, but he picks his battles and this isn’t one of them. Still, looking back nearly everyone will unanimously agree that the night it really “began” was the Gala.

For Bruce, it begins when the social worker hands him a creased manila envelope. Inside is a birth certificate, a social security number, and an immunization record. Bruce looks through the contents of the envelope. Is this really it? Yes, he’s never exactly done this before, but he feels like there should be more. Guardianship of a child shouldn’t be reduced to three pieces of flimsy paper in an envelope. There’s a coffee stain on the corner. The social worker doesn’t really know what to say to that; this is just the way it is. She slides the rest of the paperwork across the table. Everything’s already been looked over by his lawyers, all he needs to do is sign. She pats her pockets, muttering to herself before bringing out a red glitter pen and sheepishly offering it to him.

Bruce is in his twenties. He’s impulsive with his compassion and he just witnessed another little boy watching his parents die. He knows he can give this boy what he needs. Or he’s going to try. But between the drive to bring this boy’s family justice and the need to heal a part of himself in the process, he’s somehow skipped over just how huge this is. He’s thought about it, of course, but always with the under current of doing whatever it takes to make it work. He was going to give the boy a home, give him the closure that Bruce never got, and maybe he’d save him from turning out like… well, like Bruce. Only now he’s staring down at Guardianship written in big block letters across the top of the stack, and it’s sinking in now that he’s not just taking the boy in. He’s going to be his family. And it doesn’t change a thing, his resolve doesn’t waver, because he knows he can give him a good life, but it’s that one word. Family. His family is starting out with a coffee stain, a stack of papers, and a glitter pen.

He signs the papers. Dick is already waiting outside with Alfred, who’s taken him to the small cafeteria down the hall. The boy hasn’t spoken much, in the days Bruce has taken to get to know him. Bruce had asked Alfred if he was like that – after. And Alfred had looked at him sympathetically, answered carefully. Yes, he was, in a sense. Bruce had been quiet. Shellshocked. Traumatized. But Bruce needs to remember that he had him, at least one steady presence in his life. Dick has no one. It’s going to take time.

It shouldn’t be so easy, Bruce find himself thinking over and over as they finish up. He tucks everything away into his briefcase, bears with the social worker smiling and shaking his hand and thanking him for doing such a good deed as if this is a charity stunt for publicity and she doesn’t seem to care either way. He asks again, just before he closes his briefcase, if she’s sure that there’s nothing else he needs. Report cards, keepsakes, family medical history, he doesn’t know. She shakes her head, all pleasant smiles. No, that’s all he came with – as if he’s a shelter dog. Bruce latches his suitcase shut.

Back then, it was just a passing thought. He doesn’t spare it another over the years, because he doesn’t need to. Time went on, Dick becomes an inseparable part of his life. Bruce will always silently maintain that Dick was the one to save him in the end. He’s not a perfect guardian, not a perfect father, and he makes more mistakes than he can count. They argue, they have fallings out, and still they always work through it – because they’re family.

And the issue of the family medical history does not resurface until that champagne gold night. Until he catches Selena watching him from across the ballroom, smiling behind the rim of her wine glass and cocking her head to tease him. Until, he’s distracted between secretively searching the crowds for her and forcing himself to smile and laugh with Gotham’s elite, so he doesn’t notice the commotion rising up on the other side of the room. Until his youngest son comes racing toward him through the crowd looking more scared and shaken than Bruce has ever seen him. Until he breaks through the ring of bystanders and sees Dick passed out on the floor, Wally kneeling over him beside himself with panic. Until the ambulance and the fury of the waiting room (making a mental not to raise absolute hell with the Hospital’s board of directors) and the doctor pulling him to a side room, a little grey office, to ask the dreaded question. All at once, it comes back to that moment, and Bruce sighs, scrubs his palm over his tired eyes. No, he doesn’t have Dick’s family medical history. It doesn’t exist. Realistically, it isn’t Bruce’s fault, but that has never stopped him from shouldering blame.

Selena reaches out in the following days it ask in on how Dick’s doing. Bruce is cordial, tells her that her concern is appreciated but Dick seems to be doing fine. And on the other side of the phone, he can hear her moving around her penthouse, maybe standing at the window – she’s glad to hear it. Let her know if he needs anything, if she can do anything to help. It’s early days then, and none of them know just how bad it’s going to get.

It’s a slow progression at first, and then it’s not. It’s months between seizures, a steady increase in migraines – but life goes on. It’s not as if Bruce is hovering every Dick at every second. He’s a grown man now, with a career and a home and a partner. Bruce supports him in any way he can, until it gets to the point that he has to make the hard call. The argument he has with Dick that night, in the study of Wayne Manor, is something he’ll never wash from his memory. He’s used to making the tough decisions. He’ll be the asshole if he has to, he can handle Dick’s anger, but he’s not going to allow him to take this much risk into the field. Benching Nightwing until they have a handle on this is a necessary call, but Dick is stubborn (who on earth did he learn that from), and unwilling to step down so easily. And as the argument reaches its fever pitch, Bruce pacing and ranting, listing off his rational, he hears Dick call his name in a wavering voice and it cuts through the background noise. Dick, the colour drained from his face, eyes unfocused, conceding that he’s about to lose this argument, will haunt him in the same way as the worst things he’s seen in the life he’s chosen. That’s the moment he knows that this isn’t just going to pass, the moment he bolts to catch Dick before he can topple forward and hit his head. This isn’t something they can wait out. He’ll never regret making the call, but he will always regret the way he put the pressure on Dick, as if he’d just made things worse.

The thing is, this lasts years. It becomes a part of all their lives – because it’s Dick. It isn’t all consuming, it doesn’t eat away at their thoughts every minute of the day, but it’s a resurfacing concern that’s rarely spoken about aloud. And Bruce sees how this changes his family. No one can say that the Wayne clan is the most well adjusted and healthy family, but Bruce does his best. He realises and appreciates now more than ever just how much work Dick put into keeping them all functioning. Keeping them together. He never thought he’d taken it for granted until then. It shouldn’t have taken this to bring the family closer together, but it does, and as much as Bruce hates that, he’s not going to fight it.

Time goes on. Still. It’s a slow progression at first, and then it’s not. Bruce is in a meeting with his chief executive officers when his secretary buzzes in over the speaker saying there’s a call for him on the line. He thanks her for letting him know and tells her to take a message. She says the young man is telling her it’s an emergency. One of the CEOs is about to launch into a presentation and Bruce doesn’t spare him a second thought. Picks up the phone, pushes away from the board table, and paces to the window. Wally’s voice comes through saying his name, shaken and urgent, rambling out sentences too fast for Bruce to hear.

Wally. Slow down. What happened?

He stopped breathing. Fuck, Bruce, he called me at work – sounded like a seizure so I ran home, but he – it didn’t stop, he wasn’t breathing.

That first night, after Bruce has sent his reluctant children home with Alfred, it’s just him and Wally left with Dick. The end of visiting hours is fast approaching. Bruce steps out to let Wally have his time with Dick, allows him some privacy. He eventually makes his way up to the terrace balcony on the upper floors, a green space with massive glass walls and an open ceiling. Fresh air for the first time in hours does wonders.

Selena is there. She approaches him from the other side of a low hedge, bundled up in a cashmere sweater and scarf – ones he bought her ages ago. When he asks how she knew, she smiles. She has her ways. Tim called her, didn’t he. Yeah, he did. They stand in silence for a while, staring out at the mosaic of lights against the persistent dark of Gotham, before she puts a hand on his arm. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, Bruce, she says, and the coy smile fades into sincerity. Come to me when you need to.

Three days after Dick is admitted to the ICU, Bruce calls Damian into the study. It’s late, they just got home from visiting an hour ago. They’ve been arguing a lot lately, before Dick went downhill. Mostly regular thirteen-year-old boy versus father arguing, but a few too many frustrated shouting matches in the Cave. Bruce can’t help but wonder if it’s in part because Dick hasn’t been there to act as a mediator. Still, the past few days have been quiet, if not tense. Damian complies when Bruce calls him down. He’s wearing a sweater he stole from Dick months ago, the bulk of it swallowing his smaller frame like a blanket. He has the sleeves rolled up, his hands in the front pocket, when he pauses in the doorway. Bruce gestures for him to sit across from him at the desk. He can see the way Damian is bracing himself for a lecture, wondering whatever it is he did wrong this time, as he takes his seat. Bruce, in his chair on the other side, watches him for a moment before deciding this won’t do. He stands, and pulls his chair next to Damian’s and pulls a file over from the other side of the desk.

Wayne Men are at a higher risk of Prostate Cancer as they get older. I get tested every few years. He tells him. My Mother’s side of the family, the Kanes, have a history of Crohn’s Disease. It’s prevalent in people of Ashkenazi Jewish decent. I’ve never had it, or had symptoms, so it’s unlikely that I passed it on to you, but not impossible. And when Damian stares back at him, he leans forward, presses his hand to his son’s shoulder. I want you to know these things, Damian. It’s important that you know your history.

And with any other child, it may have not been a good idea to have this conversation right then. Any other child may have been scared. But this is his son, and Damian is as frank and pragmatic about these things as he is, and Bruce knows that he will appreciate the honesty, knows that those questions have likely been rattling around in Damian’s head for a while now. They spend another hour that night talking about their family, beyond just medical history, and Bruce answers any questions Damian has.

Dick gets worse. Wally leaves to find answers. Bruce is doing everything he can; medical bills are nothing to him, he checks in on his children, calls in favours from the league to keep watch of Gotham when he’s needed at the hospital. It’s the most he’s ever relied on others in his entire life.

It’s just him in Dick’s room one night. He’s at the window when he hears Dick rasping his name. It’s been rare lately that he’s been coherent enough to really speak without being prompted, so he has Bruce’s full attention immediately. He crosses over to the bed, braces a hand over Dick’s. And Dick doesn’t say anything for a long while. His eyes are half closed. Bruce is close to assuming he’s fallen asleep, when Dick’s unsteady hand slides out from under his, and rests on top with a barely there squeeze. Dick is staring up at him. His voice his so quiet it’s almost drowned out by the monitors, but Bruce hears it.

Take care of Wally.

Bruce doesn’t waste time on don’t talk like that sentiments. He doesn’t tell Dick that he won’t need to, that he’ll be fine, because Bruce does not make promises he knows he cannot keep. He nods. He will. Dick doesn’t need to ask him to take care of the family, that much is an unspoken understanding, but if this is a piece of mind he can give Dick, it’s without hesitation.

He ends up at Selena’s door after visiting hours. She buzzes him in, and when she opens the penthouse door neither of them say a word. She guides him over to the couch, pours two glasses of good wine, and when she returns, he’s already got his face in his hand – not sobbing, not breaking down, just… exhausted. She isn’t sure Bruce knows how to break down anymore. In the end, she just sits with him. Rubs his back, tentatively at first, not sure if he’ll let her. Bruce not only does, but he shudders under her hand, allows himself to breathe with her, and it’s enough to let the pressure ease and the ache to come in. He allows himself feel to it.

Because that’s his son. That’s his first son. And he’s failed him.

Years from then, when this is all in the past, he’ll let it slip. It’s over a late night coffee with Dick in the Cave as they wrap up a case, near to the anniversary of the Dick’s surgery. Maybe it’s the string of late nights and no sleep wrecking his inhibition, maybe it’s something he needs to get off his chest. But Dick stares at him, goes quiet, sets down his coffee mug.

You did everything for me, Bruce. He says. You never failed me.

And, someday, Bruce will believe it.

[squishneedsahero]

Getting The Family Together

Awesomest of Them All 2.0

Part 12 of 13

Word Count: 1550

Batman x Batmom!Reader

You know what the bat family needs? Someone to pull them together and give them all the love they deserve. Who better to do that than you? An author rising to stardom in Gotham who catches the eye of a billionaire with your standoffish attitude at a huge social gathering. You are yourself and never pretend to be more or less than that. Plus you're the most stubborn person in the world, refusing to let good things go without reason.

This is a rewrite of my story Awesomest of Them All, I wanted to see how much I've improved over 3 years.

You're in an amazingly good mood when you arrive home that evening after seeing Jason. Your other children, official and unofficial, notice along with your husband but none of them ask, assuming that the GCPD charity ball had just gone better than expected. It isn't until a few days after you had seen Jason that Bruce brings up your persistent good mood. You had successfully pulled him away from all of his work, yet again, just to cuddle him on the couch. You were in your usual spot on his lap with your fingers playing with the hair on the back of his head when he brings it up, "what has you in such a good mood? I know you well enough that it wasn't the GCPD charity ball."

You lean your head back against his shoulder so you can look up at him, "well, I sure hope you would know that, Love. But whats different about my mood?" Your question is genuine in the moment, but the second after you ask it you realize of course you wouldn't be able to hide the fact that you were happy about seeing and holding your Jaybear in your arms once again.

"Well, since you left that evening you've been in a-" he pauses, wanting to choose the correct words since he knows if he were to say 'better mood' you would relentlessly bug him about it for the next week or so, "you've been in a good mood far too long for it to have just been due to you being tipsy from the party."

You laugh gently, "good catch," you say in reference to his pause, "you know me so well." You take a pause of your own, absentmindedly tilting your head to press a kiss to his jaw. "I saw Jason," you eventually answer and open your mouth to continue but get interrupted.

"I know, I won't ask you where he is," Bruce says as the both of you know he had been trying to track Jason down for months at this point. At first it had been to stop him but as soon as he learned it was Jason his motivation had changed to helping Jason get off the seemingly destructive path he was currently on. His arms tighten around you, "I'm glad you got to see him." His hand brushes your hair out of your face, "I know that you missed him."

You smile at the man holding you, grateful yet again for the many arguments you had gone through with him, convincing him that you weren't scared of the potential dangers. "I know you did too, eventually he'll be ready to come home again and we can have our family together once more."

You can do nothing but glare at the man standing in your face. He was ugly, before you had broken his nose with your fist and without the black eye that was quickly forming. In all honesty you were surprised that it had taken this long for you to get kidnapped for the second time in your life, the first time since officially meeting Bruce. "Now, you're going to behave yourself while we call your husband and get him to send us the ransom money if he wants to see you alive again."

"Okay," you respond as it takes everything in you to not just sit there and taunt the man. They had you duck-taped to a chair, preventing you from causing further damage to their faces. And sure maybe you should be acting scared but still your reaction to danger is to laugh in it's face, even if you know that as soon as that phone call was made you would be out of this place in the hour.

The brutish looking man growls in frustration and slaps you across the face before yelling at his friends to keep an eye on you while he makes a phone call.

Tears sting your eyes at the slap on the face but you bite your tongue and look at the other two men who were now standing in front of you. There were maybe 20 others scattered through the building, they had clearly thought all of this through, but were a little underprepared for the fact that every single hero or vigilante in the city would take your kidnapping personally.

The man who had slapped you comes back, bragging about how scared Bruce had sounded on the phone and how willingly he was ready to hand over the money he had demanded. He barely makes it back into the room, when there is a moment of static over their walkie-talkies and then as scream and some loud banging off in the distance.

"Ooh, that doesn't sound very good," you say, clenching your teeth in false sympathy for them. "You guys might want to get that checked out." You can see that the man wants to slap you again for your big mouth but there is another shout and he begins directing the men to group together to try and protect the merchandise.

Eventually, you notice him first, Jason sneaks into the room in his Redhood gear. You were a little surprised to see him out of everyone since there had not been a single gunshot fired and that was kind of his thing. It didn't take the men around you long to notice Jason, since he was moving through the open now.

As they approach Jason, after realizing he isn't shooting everyone on sight, the men's confidence gets shattered as an actual child jumps from the rafters and knocks 3 of them down in one go. They begin firing their guns, shooting at anything that moves. You see their recklessness and know you should get out of there since as soon as they realize they're outmatched they're going to threaten you in the hopes of gaining an advantage.

You unsteadily stand, still duck-taped to the chair, and begin to waddle towards the nearest doorway. You get interrupted by your oldest son catching you, "hey, need some help?" Dick asks, clearly teasing you for this predicament you had gotten into.

"No thanks, Nightwing, I've heard that it improves your running speed if you're tied to a chair."

You see the flash of a smile cross his face as he just cuts the tape and helps you out of it. He then goes to help you out of the room but you stop him and say, "I can manage, you help your brothers."

You can see him hesitate for a moment before going with it, you then take off towards the door, only to be interrupted once again, but this time by the man who had slapped you, pointing his gun in your face. Your three sons who had come to your rescue, clearly trying to keep some sort of secret identities by the fact that everyone wasn't here, are all busy in the moment. You stop short at the sight of the gun, but once again you're impulsive, kicking the man square in the balls before bolting to the door.

You make it to the door and pull it open, stepping through it just for a shooting pain to go through your thigh. It's as you fall to the ground that you hear the gunshot and realize that the bastard had shot you. You do what you can to close the door behind you, just in time since another bullet hits the door. You then scoot across the grimy floor, to a spot where you can hide since you won't be moving far, and look at the blood trail you had left. You take a breath and collect your thoughts, remembering the sports bra you had worn and ripping your shirt off for a makeshift bandage/tourniquet for your leg.

You get it wrapped well enough to stop some of the bleeding and begin putting pressure on the wound, despite the fact that doing so nearly caused you to black out. Not long after that the fighting in the other room stops and Jason is the first one through the closed door.

"Mama?" He takes the hood off as he lands on his knees beside you.

"I'm fine," you say, motherly instinct taking over and you wanting to protect him despite the fact that he had just taken out at least 7 guys on his own moments before.

"Bull," he says and moves your hands so that he can evaluate things, not that he didn't trust you knew what you were doing but knowing that your mind was probably a bit all over the place.

"I'm fine, enough, Jaybear," you say and lean your head against the wall behind you.

Hours later you're relaxing on the couch with Bruce and three of your boys, holding them all as well as you can with a leg cast. The bullet had fractured your femur so it made everything a bit more complicated but at least now you knew how it felt to be shot so you could write better descriptions in your books.

But it's as you're sitting there with Bruce, Dick, Tim and Damian that the doorbell rings and a few minutes later Alfred enters the room. You look up to see Jason standing beside him, "Hey."

[leapingintodisaster]

Leap’s Guide to the Bats

Dick Grayson - flippy boi - circus child - his parents fell from the trapeze it was very sad - first Robin, chose bright colors and no pants - known for his attrocious puns - grew up to become Nightwing, went through several Bad Fashion Choices^TM - tired, just trying to keep the family together and help people - angrier than people give him credit for - 10/10 best big brother I love him so much

Barbara Gordon - the first official batgirl rn (I think) - commissioner's daughter we love her anyways - badass who dated Dick for a while and was generally just amazing - got shot in the spine by the Joker and paralyzed - became Oracle the best hacker on the planet - hacks all the stuff, is in everyone's ear all the time - is still a total badass and will kick your ass to metropolis if you cross her - and then play innocent and blame it on Batman - I love her so much

Jason Todd - tried to steal Bruce's tires, Bruce pulled an uno reverse and stole him - angery boy but also very soft - died =( - and then he came back to life - either because Superboy Prime punched the universe (don't ask) or because Ra's felt bad - was Lazarus Pitted back to life, zombie bat with white streak now - (except DC won't give him the streak 'cause they're rude) - started calling himself Red Hood - spent some time as angsty murder boi trying to fight Bruce - angry that the Joker's still alive - still an angsty murder boi but he's in the family again and sometimes has friends! but dc also likes taking them away - DC is very rude

Tim Drake - stalker extraordinaire/j - figured out Batman's identity when he was 10 - followed Batman and Robin around for years taking pictures - after Jason died Bruce got hella self-destructive so Tim stepped in and was like "I am going to become Robin because you need to stop" - we stan - hacker child. also has zero self-preservation - became Red Robin when Damian became Robin - if you listen to fanon, sleep deprived coffee boi - is honestly downright freaking terrifying when crossed don't do that - seriously this kid frightens me he's a genius who does shit like figure out who Batman is, follow him for years without detection, beats all the criminal masterminds, at one point he managed to create an entire fake uncle to lie to bruce?? long story. - basically he's terrifying and also he needs hugs I love him

Stephanie Brown - became a superhero out of spite - her dad's a villain so she dresses up as Spoiler to Spoil his plans - ends up joining the bats - becomes Robin at one point when Tim temporarily quits - then she dies. except she doesn't. yes I'm confused too - returns (leslie thompkins??) and goes back to Spoiler for a bit - Babs makes her Batgirl - waffle queen. an icon. I love Steph so damn much - she's just so good okay - she is a ball of sass and poor impulse control - but also really smart and amazing

Cassandra Cain - assassin child I love her - easily one of the most terrifying bats - really, really good at reading body language she knows what you're about to do before you do and will stop you - was raised to read body language instead of speak basically it's complicated - killed a man as a child under orders from her father, didn't realize what would happen and panicked and ran away after she did it - Bruce and Babs both kinda adopted her and mentored her and made her Batgirl - she became Black Bat and Orphan at some point but idk what's up with that love her though - has trouble with words - loves to dance - I would die for Cass Cain I adore her

Damian Wayne - another assassin child - this one's Bruce and Talia's bio kid - raised in the league of assassins until Talia brought him to Bruce - had to learn not to kill people and that killing is not how we rise in the ranks here - no you can't stab Tim and become Robin that's not how this works - bit of a brat at first, grows so much as a character - animal lover - Bruce dies and Dick becomes Batman for a while. he makes Damian his Robin - he also loves art and video games and he learns how to be a kid again - when the writers aren't COWARDS - I love Damian so much he needs so much love - grumpy exterior, cares very much but will stab you if you suggest it

Duke Thomas - glowy boi - tried to beat the Riddler and save the city at nine. I love - his parents were Jokerized when he was a teen and he ended up in the foster care system for a while - joined a group of kids called We are Robin and was amazing - I love We are Robin so much it's so good Duke is incredible - look at him go he's leading a group of vigilante kids it's excellent - becomes Bruce's foster son at some point - becomes a vigilante named Signal. only one of the bats with common sense he has a helmet - he can also turn invisible - Duke is the only meta he can see... see light in the past? he can see light patterns a few minutes into the past and into the future - so he can see what you did a few minutes ago and what you're going to do a few minutes from now - also he has x-ray vision - and shadow powers?? now??? - calls his ability to see light stuff ghost vision - I love - honestly best bat he's so good - gets fanonized as the "sane" one. he is not. - once jumped out of a moving police car and off a bridge - Duke is by no means the sane one he's just as chaotic as the others - what a dumbass. it's great - represents light and hope and truth and I just have so many emotions about Duke Thomas

[sinqueen69]

I posted 1,437 times in 2021

732 posts created (51%)

705 posts reblogged (49%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 1.0 posts.

I added 1,029 tags in 2021

#sinqueen69 answers - 620 posts

#the queen's queue - 95 posts

#teen wolf - 57 posts

#ask meme - 46 posts

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#supernatural - 28 posts

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Longest Tag: 85 characters

#i managed to avoid the fandom drama but damn this show went down hill for me after s2

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

I've never heard about those fanfic tropes, can i bother you with some recs? (If it's not too much to ask and if you have them)

No worries! I got you! I even added a few other fic's that are my fave's for this fandom!

These are all surprisingly safe for work, mostly fluff but these are my go to's lol

5 Times People Realize That YJ is Batman's Team

It is common knowledge that Batman bends the rules of being a superhero by some of the stuff he does. Especially when he is interrogating someone for information. Even the Justice League are somewhat disturbed by his "methods" on occasion. So seeing as he probably helps train YJ along with Black Canary...

5 times it shows that Batman is the team's mentor and 1 time the mentors try and do something about it.

uaigneach - Ao3

Outsiders Looking In

The team is so used to communicating telepathically that they could practically do it in their sleep; drabbles from the perspective of the Leaguers as they notice the silence that is Young Justice.

justafandomfollower - Ao3

One of the SixTeens

The mentors have to face a horrible, horrible realization: even though their former-sidekicks are still nominally their partners, the members of Young Justice are all pretty much Batman's.

midnightluck - Fanfiction.net

Just Like Bad Wallpaper

Somehow, it seems that every time he turns his back, another teen moves into his Manor. Basically, five times Bruce adopted a superkid without his knowledge, and that one time he did it on purpose.

midnightluck - Fanfiction.net

Impromptu Sleepovers

Set in the five year time lapse. All cannon pairings from then. Summary: When the team just can't go on, they figure out who's house is nearest and go there to sleep, debriefing can wait. And Robin's not the only troll in the Superhero family. Could also be: Five times the team slept over at a random place, and one where the League does.

Mezzosopranogirl - Fanfiction.net

Kids

Take away ten years from teenagers with masks, put their mentors in the same room as them, and watch as the world goes crazy. Only Superman is equipped enough to handle the Superboy now, and Robin won't let go of his favourite security blanket

Glimare - Fanfiction.net

Kids 2-0

The team comes back to the mountain to a group of five year olds. Unfortunately they're all Leaguers. It's funnier for some than others. And those who are usually scary, are somehow overly cute. Pre-misplaced.

Glimare - Fanfiction.net

Kids 3-0

Gamma squad didn't come back when they were supposed to. They didn't answer their hails either. But that's alright! Because Nightwing and his friends found out why. All four members of that squad were toddlers. Beastboy won't hold still, Impulse wants his grandparents, Wonder Girl's being shy, and 'Wobin' is just trying to communicate.

Glimare - Fanfiction.net

Kids These Days

Several members of the Justice League are deaged. The team are given babysitting duties while the rest of the League looks for a cure. It would be easier if they hadn't kept their powers.

See the full post

15 notes • Posted 2021-05-08 17:48:37 GMT

#4

https://twitter.com/txjtitties/status/1456752301931053060?t=2eY3bNveznptqCMyVdw-Iw&s=19

Which pairings would fit here? 👀

"bottoms who come extremely easily x tops who can go all night and will make them keep up with them"

The ones that instantly come to mind are: Stiles/Derek [Teen Wolf], Wei Ying/Lan Zhan [MDZS], Jaskier/Geralt[The Witcher]

17 notes • Posted 2021-11-06 19:57:52 GMT

#3

About the chemistry in arrowverse, i was just telling my friend that olivarry has the "occasional friends with benefits" vibe meanwhile coldflash has the "Enemies to allies to fuck buddies" vibe

You're right and you should say it.

17 notes • Posted 2021-06-03 18:02:45 GMT

#2

Peter hale/stiles stilinski

6, 19, 5, 10, 23

6. Who would they ask if they ever had a threesome?

Chris Argent. Stiles would be sandwiched between two silver foxes and be quite pleased about it. The two men would sass and try to outdo each other in taking Stiles apart.

5. Who says ‘I love you’ first?

Peter actually. He would be a little shit about it, but he would mean it and Stiles would be bright red and grinning like an idiot by the end of his sassy but honest speech because Peter would have a speech and have a big reveal. He's a dramatic ass hoe after all.

19. Where do they go on their first date?

A high-class restaurant out of town where Peter knows the owner because of course does. Stiles is impressed with all of it and realizes that while he's more or less being treated like a sugar baby, he's totally fine with that and rolls with it.

10. What two songs, two books and two luxury items do they take to a desert island?

....I literally have nothing for this, sorry guys.

23. Where is their favourite place to be together?

Peter's loft, it's a fancy and luxurious place and it's super private so the two can have all the loud, kinky sex they want with no one to judge.

19 notes • Posted 2021-06-24 20:02:40 GMT

#1

dick/bruce

1, 6, 23, 15, 19, 7, 10, 26

1. Who makes the first move and how?

Dick did and has to work hard to make sure Bruce sees him as an adult and not the boy with who he was partnered with. It takes some time and lots of flirting and getting caught on purpose with men for Bruce to finally snap and take Dick up on his offer.

6. Who would they ask if they ever had a threesome?

Clark. Bruce wouldn't trust anyone else with Dick and himself but Clark and he does want to see Dick spread out and fucked stupid on Clark's big cock. It's a nice image he wants to come true.

23. Where is their favourite place to be together?

On the rooftops, flying across Gotham together, with no crime, just the two of them.

15. When they watch a film what do they choose and why? Who gets the final vote?

Dick always gets first and final vote, it's always him who suggests the movie night and Bruce is fine with whatever because it means that He gets to hold Dick close and hope that the movie night turns into a make-out session.

19. Where do they go on their first date?

Sitting on the top of Wayne Tower, feet dangling and watch the sun set/rise.

7. What do they get up to on a night out?

They try to go out to do something normal, but it ends with them in uniform fighting crime and then a quickie in an alleyway before heading home.

26. Why do they need to have a serious chat?

Usually, before a mission that there is chance, it could go wrong, undercover or off world.

27 notes • Posted 2021-06-24 21:06:34 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[fearfulkittenwrites]

Safe - “Don’t. Don’t ask.”

Summary:  Jason is great at getting into awful situations. He's really bad at getting out of them. Dick is a little tired of his impulsive little brother, but comes to the rescue all the same.

Word count: 2613

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26435032

Notes: Hello! Thank you for clicking this, I hope you enjoy this work! This has been beta'd by @3ambird​, they are an amazing person and I don't know what would be of me without them making my works this much better with their sharp eyes. Thank you so much!

Also, I’d like to say that I may be a little absent because my classes are going to start up again this monday, but I’ll try my best to post at least every ten-twelve days. Don’t let that stop you from requesting stuff though! I love them, because they give me a clear direction and keep my mind from wandering away into places I don’t want to go to, ahahhaha

TW: Blood, Killing, Deaths.

Dick’s cell rang in the middle of patrol. Jason was calling. He frowns at the phone, but picks up anyway.

“Hey.” He says, sitting down on a rooftop, looking up at the stars “What’s up?”

“Hey.” Jason answers, and Dick can tell he’s struggling to breathe, as if he had run a marathon. He immediately straightens up, more alert “Are you... Can you get to my place?”

“Yes.” Dick stands up, already planning the best route to his brother’s apartment “What happened? Why didn’t you use the usual way?”

“I... I don’t want him to know.” Jason admits “It’s bad Dick. Really bad. I just need... A little help. Please.”

Dick sighs, and turns off his comm.

“I’m on my way.” He hangs up, shoving the phone back into its designated pocket.

Dick sees this kind of situation way too often with Jason. His impulsive brother would launch himself into situations he couldn’t always handle alone. Dick tried to remember that it was not his place to judge; he was just as impulsive as his little brother, but a part of him would always get irrationally mad over his actions. A small part of him, a part that he carefully buried deep inside his chest before he’d talk to his brother wanted to yell, tell him to stop behaving like a selfish child.

Swallowing these thoughts, Nightwing tapped on his brother’s window before opening it.

“Jason?” He called as he stepped into the dark apartment.

“I’m here.” Jason answered, sitting in the corner of the living room.

“I’m gonna turn on the lights, okay? I can’t see anything in here.” Dick warned as he placed a hand on the lightswitch.

“No, wait!” Jason tried to stop him, but it was just too late. Once the living room was illuminated, Dick gasped at the scene ahead of him, feeling sick.

Two corpses were laying on the ground, each in one end of the room, and Jason crouched against the wall, covered in blood. There were puddles of it under both of the bodies, and there were splashes on the walls and couch, indicating that the murders had happened inside. The stains were still a deep red. The stench of it burned into Dick’s nostrils, making him gag on the metallic smell.

“Jason, what did you do?” Dick asks as he shoves his hands inside his hair, pulling a little at the sides.

“Don’t.” Jason starts “Don’t ask.”

“Fuck man, why would you do this?” Dick kneels next to one of the bodies; a bullet wound in the middle of his forehead indicated the cause of death “Jason, what the fuck?”

“Dick, please.” Jason gets up, holding his brother’s hands with his bloodied, trembling ones “Please, man. You have to believe me. I didn’t mean to do this. I just... Shit, man. I need help.”

Their eyes met, and Dick’s anger and resentment dissipated for a second, noticing how deeply desperate his little brother was. How lost his little wing felt, covered in the blood of two strangers, face riddled with bruises and eyes so, so scared.

Slowly, he nodded at the younger man, finally understanding what this was about.

Because it wasn’t about the killings. Jason was far too used to it by now.

It was about the place. It was about it being here, where he should feel safe. And now, he didn’t feel safe anymore.

“Alright. I’ll help. But we’ll need to talk about this eventually.” Jason opened his mouth to protest, but Dick interrupted him “I don’t need it to happen tonight. I just need it to happen, and it’s going to happen, Jason.” His brother swallowed and nodded, backing off and looking at the ground “Okay. Now pull yourself back together, because we’ll need to get rid of these bodies quickly. Do you know who they were?”

“I don’t know their names... I just know that they were Roman’s hitmen.” Jason rubbed his face in distress, smearing blood all over it “Fuck, Dick, what am I gonna do now?”

“Breathe.” Dick said “Breathe, and get control over this. You can freak out once we’re done.But right  now, I really need you to cooperate with me.”

“Okay.” Jason nodded “Okay. What do you need me to do?”

“Get me trash bags and rope. We’ll tie these bodies together.”

Jason goes into his kitchen and Dick crouches down to roll up his brother’s carpet and drag the two corpses closer. Once his brother comes back, both of them cover the bodies with black trash bags and tie them up with the rope, in a nauseating dead man burrito.

“Listen, Jason, I’m gonna need to call someone else.” Jason’s eyes widen “We need to get these bodies out of here so we can dispose of them, but I’m on foot. It’s either Tim or Babs.”

“I...” He takes a deep breath “Call Tim.”

“Alright.” Dick says “Start getting cleaning supplies. And some strong ass scissors or whatever, so we can cut up and burn this carpet.”

“What? Why?”

“It’s drenched in blood and I don’t feel like spending hours cleaning it. Do you?”

“Yeah, okay, we’ll… we’ll burn it.”

Jason leaves the room again and Dick calls Tim.

“Hey. It’s me.” Jason can overhear the conversation, even if he doesn’t want to “Listen, I need help. I’m at Jason’s. Two bodies that need to be gone. Can you handle it? Thank you, Tim.” Dick turns to Jason, who had just walked back into the room “He’ll be here in ten. Let’s get started on the cleaning.”

Dick removed the stains from the couch quickly before cleaning the walls as Jason moped the floor to the best of his skills. When Tim arrived on the Batplane, Dick went to the roof to greet him, bringing the two bodies.

“Fuck, man.” Tim says “What did he do this time?”

“He doesn’t wanna talk about it.” Dick shoves the bodies in the small plane, grunting from the effort “Can you find out who they were and maybe make them disappear?”

“Pfft. Of course I can.” Tim answers “This is all kinda dark, but it’s not like I’m not me.”

“Yeah, right.” Dick smirks “Thank you Red Robin. Really. And, oh, maybe don’t mention this to Batman?”

“Nightwing, do you have me confused with Robin? Because I do have brains.”

Dick snorts. If anyone would be able to make him laugh in a situation like this, that would have to be Tim.

“Whatever. Thank you for the help. I’m gonna go back to cleaning.”

“Go on. Good luck.” Tim gets on the plane and flies away.

Dick quickly hops back into the apartment, and Jason had already started cutting the carpet into strips. He shoved the pieces his brother had cut inside another trash bag.

“We’ll burn those in a proper place.” Dick explains.

Once they are done with the living room, Dick directs his brother to the bathroom.

“Okay. We’re done now Jay. If you need to let it out, to... break down, go ahead, it’s okay. I’m here.”

Jason shoved his hands in his hair, overwhelmed, and he leaned on Dick and cried on his shoulder until his body went limp.

“What the fuck is wrong with me, man?” Jason cries, face buried on Dick’s neck and shoulder “Why do I... Why can’t I just be like you? Why does this keep happening?”

“Shh...” Dick ran a hand through his brother’s hair “It’ll be alright Jay. We’ll handle this.”

“How?” He steps back, searching his brother’s eyes, but Dick still has his mask on “How can we handle this? I... ‘s my apartment, Dick! They figured out where I live! I’m a failure, and a danger! To others and myself.” Jason’s eyes fall, fixated on a crack in his bathroom’s tiles “Y’know,” He starts again, whispering “When a dog kills someone... they put it down.”

“Hey, look at me.” Dick says, grabbing Jason’s shoulder “You’re not a dog, Jason. And we’re not putting you down. We’re family, okay? Not by blood, but by something stronger: choice. And I’m not giving up on you.” He squeezes his brother’s shoulder a little “So don’t you dare give up now, do you hear me?”

Jason nods, trying to regain some of his confidence.

“I just...” He sighs, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand “I don’t even know where to start.”

Dick’s expression softened, and so did his grasp on Jason’s shoulder.

“Let’s start with a shower, yeah?” He suggests.

“Yeah. That- that’s a good idea.” Jason answers, pulling off his jacket and staring at a blood stain on it “What... What about my clothes?”

“Let me worry about them.” Dick takes the jacket from his brother, waiting for the next items patiently, back turned to his brother.

Dick left with the clothes, going for Jason’s small laundry. He ran some cold water through the fabrics, getting rid of most of the stains, and used some hydrogen peroxide on the most stubborn, already dried ones. He hung the clothes up so they wouldn’t stench up the whole area, hoping that Jason wouldn’t take them as clean clothes. After that, Dick opens his communicator’s channel again, clicking on it to call for Batman.

“Batman,” He starts “I’m off for the night.”

“Nightwing, you’re not done with your patrol time yet.” Batman replies.

“I know.” Dick sighs and presses the middle of his forehead with his middle finger, stressed “Something came up.”

“What came up?”

“What usually does.”

“And what would that be?” the Bat growls.

“What do you think?” Dick rolls his eyes, trying his hardest not to say I’m stuck playing dad again because you’re too busy punching criminals in a bat suit.

The line goes silent for a while.

“Is he... Okay?” Bruce asks. And this is definitely Bruce’s voice, not Batman’s growl.

“Physically? Yeah, just a couple of bruises. Mentally? Getting there. Or at least trying to.”

Dick hears the man breathing on the other end of the line.

“And I don’t suppose you’re telling me what happened?”

“You know I won’t.” Dick answers “It’s none of your business. He’s a grown man, he’ll share it if he feels like it. Don’t go demanding answers he isn’t ready to give.”

“Nightwing...” Batman’s voice sounds almost sad through the device “If you can... Bring him home. Please.”

“I will. If he wants to.” Dick takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, tired. “I’m signing out for the night. Be safe.”

As he pulls the device from his ears, Dick wants to throw it against the wall, step on it when it falls, take one of Jason’s pistols and shoot it three times in a row. Instead, he places it on top of the washing machine, bringing his right hand to the back of his head to take a fistfull of his own hair, the strands closest to his neck, and tugging at it. Barbara’s words came to mind. “You have to stop doing that,” She had said to him once “You might just end up going prematurely bald”.

Dick had argued that that is not how balding works, plus, his biological father kept his hair for as long as he lived, so he most likely was all good on that one. He hoped.

Walking to Jason’s closet, Dick opened the last drawer on the left corner, picking up the sweatpants and t-shirt his little brother kept for him, if he ever needed to change from his Nightwing outfit to regular clothes. As he stripped, he noticed a sharp pain on the right side of his torso. There was a big, dark bruise covering that side of his ribcage. Rolling his eyes, he pulled on the comfortable clothes, annoyed at the pain as he rubbed the area harshly, not sure if that made it better or worse.

In the living room, Dick shot the kitchen door a look, trying to decide on whether or not he should try to make Jason a warm meal. He wanted to, but his tiredness and sore muscles got the best of him, deciding to settle on the couch to wait for Jason, hoping that the man wouldn’t be hungry.

It doesn’t take long for Jason to come out of the shower, hair dripping wet.

“Hey.” Dick turns his head to look at him “Do you need some ice for those bruises?”

“No.” Jason replies, groaning as he sits down next to Dick “Are you... Can you stay? Just for tonight?”

“Of course I can.” Dick answers, offering a weak smile to his brother “But... Maybe this isn’t the best idea.”

“What? Why not?”

“I don’t think that you’ll be able to sleep here, Jay.” Dick says, leaning forward a little.

“Are you... Trying to drag me back to the manor?” Jason squints as he speaks.

“No.” Dick sighs “I just... I had to offer. But it’s your choice.”

Jason stops for a moment.

“I... I would. But... I don’t think that... Bruce really wants me there.” He rubs at his eyes for a moment.

“Hey, c’mon, that’s not true at all.” Dick hugs him, resting his chin on Jason’s shoulder “Bruce wants you there. He’d be thrilled with having you back, Jay. You’re his little boy, no matter how much you grow.”

“Are you sure?” Jason whispers.

“Yes.”

“What if he... what if he finds out about... This?” He gestures towards the room “He’ll throw me out... for good.”

“He won’t.” Dick answers softly, the vibrations his voice sent through his chest helping calm Jason down as he spoke “He loves you too much.”

Jason cried again, sobbing violently until he was out of breath, gasping for air between tears. Dick hummed softly, the tune of an old lullaby he knew calmed his brother down, a hand brushing through Jason’s hair.

“C’mon, Little Wing,” Dick whispered “Let me take you home, hm? You’ll sleep better there.”

“Okay.” Jason whispered back “But... we don’t have to tell Bruce why, do we?”

“Of course we don’t Jay.” Dick rubbed his arm.

Jason sniffled, and they sat quietly for a while before the younger man got up. Dick helped him pack some clothes and other personal items, enough for a week. If Jason decided he’d stay any longer, they could always drive back to get more things. When they reached the manor, both of them went straight to Jason’s room, and Dick sat on the ground, by Jason’s side, humming lullabies he had learned from his father, mother, Alfred, Bruce, and even Jason until his brother fell asleep.

Dick went down to the cave, wanting to work more. He wouldn’t be able to go back to the streets now, as much as he wanted to. Everyone would scold him for leaving Jason alone, and he didn’t really have the heart to do so anyway, but he also knows he won’t be able to sleep yet. However, in the cave he is still useless. If they needed information or help of any sort, they’d all contact Oracle, not Nightwing.

So he settled for practicing, using the bars on the cave to let off some steam, performing difficult and elaborate flips, practicing different grips, using his core muscles as much as he could, strengthening them. He wanted to be sore when he went to bed, and he was. The extra exercise helped him fall asleep faster, and the next morning, when he felt his entire body ache, he might’ve regretted his decision, but Jason was at the breakfast table, sliding him a cream for bruises and winking at him, so he didn’t, because at the very least his little brother was safe at home.

[currentfandomkick]

Miraculous Team and Batboys-Akuma Attack

okay, giving the update spamming a break.

--

Marinette flew through the city, sensing where the corrupted butterfly’s power landed. She swung into a home with a broken window—likely where the akuma fled.

She froze when she saw scraps of bread, cheese, snacks and other food items scattered in the area. It didn’t make any sense—where was the akuma?

Queen Bee made it next, landing beside her. “What do you think happened?”

Marinette frowned, looking around. This was ground zero, someone’s house, and no one was left…

“I’m not sure…” Marinette opened her yo-yo’s comm while Queen Bee left to check the area. “Chat, are you there?”

“Of course m’lady. Any akuma sightings on your end?”

“No, and no one to ask what happened… do you think this is another Collector or Pixelator?”

“Maybe? Any clues?”

“Just a lot of scraps and a broken window.”

“Ladybug! We have a witness!” Queen Bee yelled as she landed. “They said some kid was turning people into food with some wand.”

Marinette froze as she processed that. It wasn’t the first time hunger transformed an akuma—they had one that ate everything in sight called Kirby before. He was… an interesting akuma, and wasn’t in a good place. He was in a better home now, and they needed the Bee and Horse to finish him. Queen Bee and Pegasus was needed big time then, and she was glad they had one permanently now but…

“Hold on,” Marinette turned back to Chat on her yo-yo. “Chat? Call the Guardian, we’ll need Monkey, Fox and Pegasus for this one—Tiger on standby.”

“You got it m’lady, Chat out!”

With the call ended, Marinette put together what happened to the victims and swore.

“Queenie, patrol now, stick to the rooftops and don’t draw attention. Contact me and Chat when you find them, and do not engage. I need you to not get hit for this plan to work.”

Queen Bee nodded, quick to leave.

Marinette took to the rooftop as she waited for either Queen Bee or Chat to contact her. She wasn’t expecting Wonder Woman and Batman’s sons to make contact first.

“What the hell is going on!” Red Robin sounded… panicked?

“Ladybug, are you certain you are not in need of further assistance?” Wonder Woman asked, eyes moving about nervously.

“Let me guess, someone got hit by the beam and ended up food?”

“I know I say I’m a snack, but I don’t want to literally be a snack,” Nightwing panicked while looking behind him. “Red Hood got hit before I could stop him.”

Was it bad she wanted it to be Robin that got hit? “I’ll fix it with the Cure after my team handles this. I’m waiting for the three I sent for to get back to me, and Bee to give me their current location—unless the akuma is still there?”

“Long gone,” Red Robin confirmed. “It was headed toward one of the restaurants by the Paris Grande Hotel that helps.”

“Of course—I swear Hawkmoth just picks landmarks and tourist locations for fun at this point. He’s clearly never lived here otherwise.”

“What!”

“Nothing, my team has it under control. Keep your team out of our battles—we have magic protections, you don’t.”

“But!”

“I apologize Ladybug, I did not think—”

Marinette pinched her brow as another call came in.

“Wonder Woman, while the thought is appreciated, I have to go now.”

She ended the call, to see Queen Bee’s icon. “They’re by the Tower”

“Of course. Forward to Chat, I’m on my way. We’ll be having some old friends join.”

“Our friends or the batbrats.”

“Our friends.”

Queen Bee hummed as she cut out, probably to catch Chat and the others up.

Marinette made it there without being seen. It felt wrong but there have been worse battles before. She landed by Queen Bee with ease, and waited for Pegasus to bring the group over.

The akuma was a small child from what she could see, and held tight to… that wasn’t a wand. That was a switch. She felt a bit sick at what it meant, and suddenly felt less horrified for the first victims.

“As requested,” Chat gestured to the portal. “One Renard Rogue.”

Nathaniel stepped out, a bit twitchy but otherwise ready. She was glad she picked him for this—he proved with Evillustrator he could work well with magic.  As a civilian he is the right type of creative to keep someone distracted with a story or something flashy. (Alya was more...hands on, Nathaniel kept his distance, which... is better for a fox).Just what they’d need for the akuma.

“One Monkey.”

Kim came out with a nervous grin—they both knew he was good but that he needed to really have good aim for when his weapon hit.

“Our Pegasus will be joining us shortly, as he and the Guardian are talking Tigresse from bolting here and running in head first… again.”

Marinette wished Alya would stop that, on some level. On the other, its why she and Roaar get along so well. Bravery goes hand-in-hand with impulsivity.

“Okay, now if I’m right about this, the akuma should be hard to get unless we follow the plan.” She waited for everyone’s attention.

“I want Renard to distract first and foremost with Chat protecting him. Monkey, when I give the signal, hit them with Uproar. While they’re distracted I need Queen Bee to hit them with Venom, if it’s a tricky shot we need Pegaus to get her close. If that fails, Tigress is released onto the scene and we all know that should throw the kid and Hawkmoth off their game. Chat and I will use our powers if all else fails but…”

Marinette glanced over at the child.

“I’d rather be able to find out what happened and help them with the police and CPS after this.”

The group nodded while Nathaniel began to play.

Pegasus raised an eyebrow when he made it. “What’d I miss?”

“You’re on standby on location. If things get hairy, either drop Queen Bee off next to the akuma, or get Tigresse here.”

Pegasus nodded, making sure to have a clear vantage point.

Marinette didn’t check what the mirage was, only waiting for the child to go to the location Renard crafted.

Once the child was no longer throwing our beams, Kim used Uproar. A simple ball this time—to both his and Marinette’s relief. Kim pitched it quick as the Illusion disintegrated.

“No fair!” The child screamed when their powers were shooting off at random. Things weren’t turning as they should, left in some strange in between state.

Marinette nodded at Queen Bee and Pegasus.

“Voyage.”

Queen Bee murmured “Venom,” Before running into the portal. She hit the kid quick.

Marinette and Chat came down then, looking over the frozen child.

“Its okay,” Marinette soothed as she looked them over. They were scared and Hawkmoth was--god she hates that man. He’s hurting them.

“Here M’lady,” Chat handed her the switch with a leery eye.

Marinette snapped the switch and the corrupted butterfly escaped. “No more evildoing for you little akuma!” she snapped it up in her yo-yo before releasing a white butterfly. “Bye-bye little butterfly.”

Marinette gestured for Chat to keep the kid busy while she summoned her Lucky Charm and used the Cure. She made sure to catch the reverse ladybugs and catch them in her yo-yo. No need to let people remember their traumatic death.

“Chaton, I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Understood M’lady, I’ll keep our little buddy company.”

Marinette nodded, quick to grab the miraculous boxes guarded by Queen Bee, ever faithful to Ladybug and the rules for remaining a permanent holder—no looking into the temporary holders, but collect the miraculous for her and Chat when they couldn’t.

“Roaar should still be the Guardian. You can meet him when he says you’re ready, until then, I’ll take these guys home. Thank you for watching them.”

“Hmpf, as if I’d ever betray your trust.” Queen Bee softened then. “Thank you again for giving me another chance.”

Marinette eased up. “You earned your second chance as a civilian with what you’ve done for your classmates, like protecting a certain model from a liar. That was enough for me with the fact that you’ve always been a good hero in the mask. I’m glad you’ve grown outside of it, just don’t backslide.”

Queen Bee nodded while her miraculous beeped. “Gotta go, Can you cover patrol for me and Chat tonight?”

“I—Yes! You can count on me!”

Marinette smiled at that. “Great, bug out!”

Marinette swung to a safe place to de-transform and put the miraculous boxes in her backpack. While Tikki ate, Marinette made her way to Fu’s.

“Do you think those boys will calm down now?”

“Mmh, they should. If not…”

Marinette knew that meant the kwami would take matters into their own hands. And she didn’t like the idea of the Justice League attacking in retaliation.

Once the miraculous were back with Fu, Marinette transformed to deal with whatever nonsense the Justice League had in store for her.

“…he’s not a hot dog anymore.” Nightwing said

“Yep.” Marinette did her best not to look too insulted.

“Ladybug, if I may—“

“I am not answering questions when I have a victim to look after. The child was likely being starved and beaten for god knows what, and I need to ensure their permanent removal from their current household and placement into a safe location. Battles are off limits for non-magic users here—every meta and professional fighter in the city knows this. I see you didn’t check the basic legal work with civilian aides here.”

That seemed to get Nightwing to sit up a bit straighter. “We’re heroes too.”

Wonder Woman interrupted for her. “This is Order business, all non-members are civilians in your teachings, yes?”

Marinette glared as she nodded. “Unless you’re powered by a tiny god, stay out of the battles. We have enough people getting akumatized in their sleep from nightmares, I’d rather not add any Leaguers—as I said many times before you were sent.”

That caused Nightwing to wince. “We were not informed of any of this. My apologies—I’ll inform my brothers and try to keep them out of your hair.”

“See that you do,” Wayzz added over her shoulder. “I am not above letting my siblings wreck havoc to make a point.”

“Wayzz,” Marinette warned. “I can handle this, please keep Roaar from breaking out again and giving people the idea that they should join future battles. Again.”

Wayzz flew off.

Marinette rubbed her forehead. “I need to go. I have police to handle, a child to remove from monsters, and I can’t do my homework or essays or any of my other civilian life things until all that is handled.”

Nightwing signed off. Wonder Woman was concerned, Marinette could feel it.

“Yes Wonder Woman?”

“I did not mean to add to your stress.”

“I know.” It didn’t mean she didn’t.

“Perhaps I could have one of the bats help with tending to victims for you, to give you some more free time to tend to your civilian side.” That would be nice but…

“Unless they’re familiar with healthy coping mechanisms for traumatized children, I’m going to have to turn you down.”

“Are we counting vigilantism as a healthy coping mechanism?”

Marinette raised an eyebrow. That was too much to unpack at the moment.

“I will send Nightwing to help speak with the child—he is good with children, and has been in such situations himself.”

Marinette took a deep breath. “He can cover the 11 to 6 watch, by then the kid should have a place to stay.”

Wonder Woman smiled at her.

Marinette relayed the message to Chat before speaking to the police and explaining what she saw. Marinette and Chat kept the child far away from the others in the house, and far from hearing whatever ‘justifications’ they had.

The pair didn’t think about leaving until the child was fast asleep, sure to wake up again later. They knew another city’s hero would be there then to help them out.

Nightwing approached them slowly.

“If you even think about—“

“I won’t.”

Marinette eyed the hero.

“I promise, just, how are they holding up?”

“They go by Syd. Somehow they got it in their head that making mistakes means no meals. Pretty sure dyslexic and they’ve been failing spelling tests.”

Nightwing winced. “Any allergies or…”

Chat raised an eyebrow. “None.”

“Good. I’ll be back.”

Chat petted the kid’s hair while leaning against Marinette. “M’lady?”

“Yes Chaton?” Marinette waited for him to continue.

“I… is…”

She waited for him to find his words.

“Is it okay for Father to…”

“To…”

“…restrict access to food at home.”

Marinette stilled a bit. She knew it wasn’t good with Gabriel but…

“May I ask how?”

“No more than 900 calories a day.”

“Chaton.”

Chat winced, waiting for something. “I am going to kick your father’s ass.”

Nightwing paused at the door, not that Marinette knew he was there.

“No one, and I mean no one, should have that---that’s abuse chaton, especially if what you said about not being allowed to see anyone outside of a list your father approved of, or that you have to make appointments to talk to him weeks in advance. I just… That man is toast.”

“I, it’s not that bad m’lady…”

“Chat, I am getting you out of there, okay? I know who your civilian side is. I just need a plan.”

Nightwing knocked before entering.

“Here, I figured light veggie pizza, fries and a hot chocolate should help. I know they need to take it slow, but this should work for small bit for the night. You two get some rest, okay?”

Nightwing sent a text to the others: Chat in bad home. Bug is working on something—might get magic siblings if B finds out and Wonder Woman doesn’t beat him to punch.

--

That’s all i got for this installment. 

Next Time: I’m thinking about (for damian’s POV) having Damian be watching Marinette do her routine, and freezing when he hears her ‘blackmail’ someone over the phone as “He’s not staying there if i have anything to say, and if it makes you feel better, you’re stealing the face of his brand, you know, if basic decency isn’t enough” (to felix, probably) and decides Marinette is a dangerous person to watch out for, and better to keep an eye on as she’s probably doing something wreckless.

followed by Batboys having a meeting about their role after Damian gets back, with Nightwing updating them on the fact that the kids didn’t even want them there in the first place, and it sounds like the JL is twisting their arm on this more than they thought, the combat ban, and you know, the fact that one of the heroes is in an abusive situation, so. They need a Plot to keep the kid holding destruction somewhere safe without letting out their identities, and giving the miraculous team breathing room.

And quick poll: Nightwing meets Marinette when she’s almost mugged on a delivery before Dick meets her,OR  Dick meets her at a gymnastics place where she’s helping a ten year old Manon with stretches before going off to practice a routine on bars with an instructor that knews the Flying Graysons and invited Dick over to show him the place, OR Dick meets Marinette while getting Tim’s order and almost dies when he finds out Marinette calls him ‘zombie’ before sending Damian a message that his classmate is his new favorite person, and may be his sister soon if Dick and Tim have anything to say about it.

Jason meets her a little later as Gina (his favorite traveling biker granny who adopted him) needs to Appear first, and i like her crashing in at random, berating Jason for taking forever to call her back and then demanding he meet his brother/uncle and his family Right Now Or So Help Her and him being too scared to argue.

Sound Good? 

@worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @littleredrobinhoodlum @northernbluetongue @kceedraws @pirats-pizzacanninibles @theatreandcomicfreak @daminett4life @catthhay @weird-pale-blonde-person @amayakans @chocolatecatstheron @tired-butterfly @multplelifes @yin-390 @area51qt

[kneesheee]

a surprising adoption

             DAY THREE: OMEGAVERSE | [ACCIDENTAL BABY ACQUISTION]

It all started with Hermes.

Of course, it did.

He was the god of thievery.

He was also considered the god of speed.

When his nephew, Kyle, started hanging around those mortal speedsters. He was intrigued. Diana, Donna, and Cassie tended to keep him away from their mortal friends.

He never met anyone that was as fast as he was. Even Apollo didn’t count since he tended to beat his friend on occasions.

Hermes was only the god of speed. These speedsters embodied speed. With a mischievous smile on his face, Hermes set off to pull of his greatest heist yet.

The person up next was Apollo and Hephaestus. They each took one looked at the redheaded archer that Jason was friends with, and both went: “Adoption time.”

It was awkward for both when they appeared outside of Roy’s workshop. They stared blankly at each other before both dived for the door. The two wrestled with Apollo coming out of top when Roy half asleep and more than a little paranoid had one of his exploding arrows pointed at their faces.

The stance. The detailing of the weaponry. The fierce look in his eyes. The half brothers shared a glance before nodding their heads.

With a slow smirk dancing on their faces, they reached for the mortal and disappeared from the earthly plane.

The next person to go was the man of willpower himself.

Ares had taken one look at Hal and just knew.

He kneeled with broken fists and knees. A part still untamed. He denied his truth self because he couldn’t stand to cause his friends pain. Ares decided to help him. This little mortal. This little child.

He understood where he was coming. Being the personification of war itself. He knew how hard it was to push down the urges. Maybe that’s why he always admired the little solider. From the second he saw him next Kyle.

It wasn’t his so-called willpower to overcome fear. It was his willpower to be better. He could see it in his eyes the need to cause destruction… the need to let all his grief and anger out being held back by a stubborn mindset and a sense of duty.

Ares knew rage. And he knew how deadly it could be when not properly managed. It had taken Kyle a while to learn how to use a weapon filled with an emotion he rarely gets to see.

The man of willpower was staring into nothing when Ares came for him. He could feel how the man reacted. The need to fight was strong.

He turned towards the god slowly with his ring beginning to glow. Ares smiled at him with all teeth before reaching out and taking him away.

After all, Ares wondered the same thing every day.

When will my war be done?

Kyle had just made it back to Earth when the Justice League called for a meeting. He was surprised to see Jason there. He knew that Jason was still considered public enemy number one. Yet, the other demigod had a blanket wrapped around him as Diana and Donna comforted him. Green Arrow was sitting beside them with his head in his hands and Dinah rubbing circles into his back.

He wasn’t the only one looking miserable or worried. Jay Garrick, Max Mercury, and Iris West-Allen were all sitting together. The woman was still crying. Not too far away from them Nightwing was sitting stock stilled. The emotions that Kyle was getting from him were filled with worry and confusion and pain. Wonder Girl and Superboy were huddled together around Red Robin as they all looked blankly around the room.

When he and the others stepped into the room, all eyes fluttered towards them. Dread filled Kyle when Diana and Donna’s face pinched. No. The last time the two of them looked so broken and closed to crying was when Jason died. Kyle couldn’t lose anyone else.

Donna walked towards him slowly wrapping him into her arms, “Oh Kyle.” He was already shaking his head. No. “Kyle, Hal’s missing.”

Hal? Hal who was basically his mortal dad. Hal who listened to him bitch and complain about his Olympian family and teased him relentlessly about the crush he had on Jason. Hal who was the reason that he was introduced to this group of highly weird people that he loved all the same. Hal who trained with him on using the rings and laughed when he used it the way his family taught him. Hal who told him that no matter what… never suppress his emotions. They are what make him.

Hal?

He could feel John and Guy right behind him. He could sense Jessica and Simon moving closer to their group. “No. No. No,”

Superman stood up from his chair, “And he’s not the only one. Flash, Kid Flash, and Impulse were taken earlier today around 2 o’clock. Witnesses claim that it was streak of silver greenish light that snatched them away. And thanks to the Red Hood and Starfire, we’ve learned that Arsenal has also turned up missing. Taken directly from his workshop. Whoever taken him was good enough to not set off any alarms, but still decided that force entry was the key. We’ve only just realized that Hal was missing due to trying to reach him when witnesses also state that a bright blood red light taken him.”

Kyle could almost throw up. Two of his friends and Hal?

“Does anyone have any leads,” stated Batman as he gazed around the room. Kyle could sense the worry the man held for his children’s emotional state, but he did his best to shove them away. Donna led Kyle over towards Diana and Jason. Cassie huddled closer towards her effectively moving Superboy and Red Robin closer to their pile also.

[Neither Jason nor Kyle would admit how could it always felt to be around other godlings. Especially during times like this.]

The meeting dragged on and on. Jason had long ago zoned out. He was vibrating with worry about Roy. It was enough that only Kori could hold on to him now for comfort. The power of the sun and light burning in his blood making his unnaturally cold skin give almost third-degree burns.

He zoned back in when Donna’s face appeared in his line of sight, “Come back to us, little sun. Diana suggested asking the gods for help. Roy and Hal are close to you and Kyle. Wally and Bart are Cassie and I’s best friends. Maybe they have seen something if not, we could always ask Apollyon what he knows of their future.”

Jason nodded his head slowly. If anything, he was perfectly fine with this plan. His best friend was missing. What he needed right now was a hug from his dad and maybe some of Aunt Demeter’s hot chocolate. Anything to distract him from whatever torture Roy could be going through right now. He chanced a glance at Kyle who was turning a little pale.

Ah, Jason forgot that being the wielder of a literal mood ring and the son of love was bad for Kyle when he was in an unfiltered setting. There were too many emotions for the other demigod right now.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Jason, Donna, and Kyle all stared blankly at the sight of five grown men dressed in onesies. Adult size onesies with typical baby slogans that you’d find in the toddler section of Walmart.

“Dad,” Jason stated. “What’s going on?”

The four gods looked up from arguing over a feeding schedule to stare at them. Hermes was the one to break out into a smile first flying over to the speedsters’ sides. “Look, you guys, it’s a speedy baby! 3 of them!”

The three of them could only stare. The three mortal speedsters looked simultaneously happy and miserable. [Though it leaned more towards happy since Uncle Hermes provided them with an all you can eat buffet.] Roy was bent over Hephaestus’ favorite workbench messing around with Apollo’s third favorite bow. [Only Jason could touch the second, and only Artemis could touch the first.] While the Speedsters may have looked slightly sad, Roy was downright ecstatic.

Hal was the only one to seem at true peace. Him and Ares were doing one of the war god’s meditation techniques. Kyle was sure that Hal’s ring was flickering white.

Hephaestus smiled slightly from where he was holding onto his anvil while Roy rattled on about the quality of Apollo’s bows. Apollo turned to look at the others, “We all had the same idea. A little surprise adoption goes a long way. Meet your cousins and half-brother.”

“Kidnapping,” Donna deadpanned. “You kidnapped them.”

Apollo rose a brow, “By human laws, they are much too old to be kids.”

“But you’re not human,” Kyle questioned. The god of plague turned his gaze onto the White Lantern and Kyle decided to be quiet. This was the same god who threatened to rip his urethra tube out with only a toothpick for not so accidently drawing Jason in nothing but a chlamys.

Donna nodded her head at Kyle’s words, “He’s right. You’re not humans. You’re gods. Deities who have lived for more than millennia. They are so young compared to you all that you really can’t even call them children.”

Hermes clapped his hands excitedly, “Exactly. Besides, your little mortal friends weren’t treating them with the respect they all deserve. So… we’re keeping them. Okay bye.”

The herald of the gods quickly flies away cackling. Jason took one glance at the floor surrounding the kidnapped mortals. There was no one Hermes was going to just let someone steal from him. He was the god of thieves. He did the stealing.

It wasn’t on the floor, but on their clothes instead. A rune that didn’t release any of them unless the god that took them allowed it.

Apollo smiled a little mockingly, “We have a council meeting to get to about the Amazons. Jason? Kyle? We leave them in your care.”

Donna choked on her laughter as she turned to Kyle and Jason, “Congratulations, it’s a boy.”

[badacts]

crack in the ceiling/where the light bleeds in

Jason has a problem. Tim solves it because that’s his job in this family. Also on ao3.

The effects of the Lazarus Pit don’t last forever. Just ask Ra’s.

The thing is, Jason thought that might be a problem he’d have to deal with later. Like, ‘towards the end of a natural human lifespan’ later, in the event that he reached old age in his round two at all. Instead, he’s twenty-four, and he’s pretty sure he’s dying.

Or worse, not dying. It wasn’t, after all, the Lazarus Pit that brought him back to life. It just restored the function of his brain and everything that makes him himself along with it. Which he now seems to be losing.

So far, the extent of his problem-solving has been some quiet questions about the Lazarus Pits that still exist and also determinedly not saying anything to any of the bats. Of course, keeping it on the down-low from them precludes acting crazy in front of them.

Which is why, when the becoming-familiar need to puke comes over him while he’s working a case with Nightwing, he bolts.

“The hell?” he hears from behind him. “Red Hood!”

Jason ignores him, rapidly regressing from ‘feared vigilante’ to ‘scared animal’. By now, he knows the drill: first, the faint roll of nausea, followed by confusion, and then the visual hallucinations. Sometimes he hears shit, too. Then it’s followed last of all by the pain of his brain trying determinedly to break itself apart.

Pain is just electrical impulses. A reaction of the body - just the workings of fancy machinery, or maybe fancy meat. It’s the other stuff that scares the shit out of him. Particularly the shivering loss of control.

He can’t afford it. He can’t ever, ever afford to lose control.

He goes to one of his quieter places, with the entrance through a slanted skylight on the roof. His hands feel a thousand miles from his head as he fumbles through setting the security system. His vision is sparking, bubbles of light bursting and then dimming again too slowly.

The sliver of rational thought left to him wonders if this time will be the one he can’t come back from, but the rest of him is consumed by the need to get somewhere dark and quiet and just wait. He takes off his boots and the too-heavy outer layers that are chafing at his skin and setting his nerves on fire. Once he’s mostly stripped down, he lowers himself cautiously onto the mattress in his windowless bedroom.

In the dark, with his eyes closed, it’s almost like having a stomach bug, if he discounts the sense of impending doom. He breathes, and breathes, and determinedly doesn’t lose it.

*

He wakes with a start when the lights come on overhead. He makes the mistake of opening his eyes, and the resultant bolt of pain drags a sound disturbingly close to a whine from between his teeth.

“Fuck,” someone says, too loud. “Jason?”

Jason doesn’t reply, forcing an arm up to cover his eyes. The return of the darkness helps, but it also makes him aware that he’s breathing too fast. He wishes he could stop: it hurts.

“Photosensitivity,” Tim says more quietly, either narrating the work his big brain is doing, or, in a more likely scenario, telling the others exactly what’s wrong with Jason. “Rapid respiration. Nausea, if I had to guess.”

Fingers ghost over his brow, and then prod less gently at his chest and abdomen. He flinches away from the touch to his belly. “ Don’t .”

“Diffuse abdo pain,” Tim says. “Don’t touch? Sorry. I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

He sounds awfully relaxed, for someone who’s in danger. Jason remembers vividly before - Tim underneath him, breathing blood, and the sick and overwhelming sense of victory that he had won out over his replacement. Not caring that the kid under him might die. Hoping for it.

He can’t blame the Pit for his thoughts, not really, but it can take some of the responsibility for his lack of inhibitions, control and morality. These days, he’s pretty happy that Tim Drake is alive and kicking. He really, really doesn’t want to be one to put him in a grave.

“Go away,” Jason grits out. Each muscle in his jaw feels like high-tensile wire.

“One moment,” Tim says, followed by the distinctive click of an earpiece being muted. “I’m not going anywhere, Jay.”

The desperation sweeps over him like a tide. Thirty seconds ago, he couldn’t have imagined moving. Now, he forces through that and lunges at Tim.

Then he’s face down on the floor and retching, not quite sure how he got there. His head -

“Easy,” Tim is crooning, like he might have been going for a while. It has to be a tone he learned direct from Dick. “Yes, thank you, B. That’s very helpful.” And that tone is the result of years of dealing with Batman. “ Yes, B.”

There are fingers at Jason’s sleeve then, pushing it up, and then a pinprick in Jason’s arm. Tim says, “Ondansetron administered. Give it a minute.”

Jason lies there, trying not to inhale his own sour breath, feeling the right side of his head throb in time with his heart, until his stomach actually starts to settle. It feels like fifty years - with his metabolism, it’s probably more like ten minutes. He empties a sigh into his floorboards.

“There you go,” Tim says. He sounds like he’s talking to the victim of a violent crime, not Jason. “I’m going to help you back onto the bed, okay?”

His hands wrap around Jason’s forearms, and he starts to pull Jason up. But wiry muscle aside, one hundred and fifty-some pounds of Tim doesn’t have a hope of moving Jason if he doesn’t want to be moved. And he doesn’t.

“...or not,” Tim says, and capitulates by settling a blanket over Jason - being careful to avoid trapping his arms - and then raising his head to settle a pillow underneath it. It’s not much movement, but it still makes stars go off behind Jason’s closed eyelids. He bites back another groan.

“Your head hurts, huh?” Tim asks, because he’s some kind of detective or something. Jason would roll his eyes if he could. “Have you been knocked out recently?”

“No,” Jason says, and then a fragment of his familiar refrain: “Helmet.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Tim’s definitely rolling his eyes. “What does it feel like? The pain?”

Jason presses his fingers into his right eye socket. Then he flicks them out to mime an explosion. “Throbs.”

He doesn’t need to see Tim to hear his metaphorical ears prick up. “Oh, shit. Did you see things, before it started to hurt?”

“Lights,” Jason admits. It’s less creepy than admitting that he also hears bubbling like boiling water, on and off, just quiet enough he can almost ignore it right before the pain kicks in. “They’re green.”

“Good,” Tim says, which absolutely wasn’t the response Jason expected. There’s more rustling, and then Tim says, “Little prick.”

“Fuck you,” Jason replies, letting Tim stick him with another needle, and then, when Tim snorts, “D’you have to do the clinic run too?” That was something he did once or twice when Bruce felt he needed the education - assisting Leslie at the clinic. Nothing makes you as appreciative of working on other bats as helping treat civilians. Normal people.

“Only when I really pissed him off,” Tim replies. “I’m going to roll you over now. Try not to puke on me.”

“Not gonna puke,” Jason replies, more out of stubborn will than any actual faith in himself. However, his stomach stays settled, though he keeps his eyes firmly closed.

“You’re lucky I brought my kit with me,” Tim mutters, more to himself than to Jason as he resettles the blanket. “What were you going to do next time you get a serious wound? Put a bandaid on it?”

Jason’s first aid kit is perfectly adequate, though maybe a little sparsely stocked right now. Normal people just don’t carry prescription anti-nausea medication on their person. Jason can’t think of a way to communicate that without moving his jaw, so he just gives an unamused huff.

There’s a ruffle of sound, and then the distinctive soft shick of someone pulling off their domino. “It’s just a matter of waiting it out now.”

“What?” Jason mumbles. He’s assuming Tim isn’t waiting for him to die - not even he would sound so cool about that - but he’s not entirely clear on what it is they’re waiting for, or doing, or what Tim just injected him with. It’s just that now the creeping anxious nausea has faded, it’s hard to worry about anything beyond the pain and the way his whole body feels like rocks shoved in a sack.

It’s the light - even through his eyelids, it’s uncomfortable. He’s just about to demand Tim turn off the overheads when a hand drops over his eyes, leaving him in blissful darkness.

“Sorry,” Tim says. “I need the light in case you actually are having an aneurysm. Do you get headaches like this a lot?”

Jason’s slightly offended by Tim calling it a headache. His brain is breaking. “Sometimes.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re having a migraine,” Tim says. “Have you been to a doctor?”

That question is frankly fucking laughable, and both of them know it. Jason mumbles, “I’m dead.”

“And as you like to tell us, you wear a helmet because you already died of head trauma once,” Tim says. “People with past TBIs are more likely to have migraines.”

“How’d I know that?” Jason’s slur doesn’t sound pissed off enough. Skipping the consonants hurts less though. “Didn’ finish high school.”

“Neither did I,” Tim points out.

“Nerd.”

“Loser.”

“Probably.” At least they’re in the same boat. “Migraine, huh?”

“Pretty sure,” Tim confirms. “If you were having a brain bleed, I reckon you’d be dead by now. Again.”

“Lazarus Pit. Thought m’head was broken,” Jason mutters faintly. He doesn’t mean to say it, would never admit it to Tim Drake in a million years. It’s just a moment of weakness.

“It is,” Tim replies, on the shadow of a laugh. “Not like that, though.”

*

The after phase is a real trip.

“Euphoria,” Tim observes. “Decrease in pain, plus all the dopamine your body has been pumping out - instant high. Same thing happens to new moms once they’ve pushed their babies out.”

“Thanks for that,” Jason rasps. He’s in bed now, though he’s working on blocking out how he got here. He’s already going to owe Tim for tonight, but he draws the line...right there. “Seriously, you can leave now.”

“No can do,” Tim replies. He’s still in his uniform, though he’s ditched the cape and the armed over-vest for just the pants and a slick-fabric undershirt. It makes Jason’s gear look clunky and old-fashioned by comparison. “I’m on baby-sitting duty.”

Not even the slow haze of hormones can dull the bite of irritation at that. “Fuck you.”

“To be clear, I don’t think you’re going anywhere right now,” Tim clarifies. “I’m just here for everyone else's’ peace of mind.”

“Anxious freaks,” Jason mumbles, though not unkindly.

“You can hardly blame them. It’s never a good sign when the Red Hood disappears without a word,” Tim says cheerfully.

Despite himself, Jason prickles. “They that worried for the safety of Gotham’s criminal element?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Tim snorts. “They’re worried you’re going to get yourself killed. Again.”

Jason doesn’t have a reply to that. Sensing that, Tim continues, “I actually think you might be right about the Lazarus Pit. You thought it was wearing off, right?”

“Right,” Jason confirms after a moment, though grudgingly. Stupid detective brother.

“It might be,” Tim says. “Just enough for your brain to remember that it got seriously injured back then. Or you might have a different trigger. There’s something here about diarying your episodes and trying to figure out the causes from that.”

Jason doesn’t have to look to know Tim is scrolling through his phone where he’s sitting cross-legged on the mattress next to Jason. He said something brisk about being close enough to ‘monitor’ when Jason tried to shove him off, and he’d given up. His head doesn’t hurt anymore, not precisely, but he still feels wobbly-necked and fragile.

“Triggers?”

“Storms, specific kinds of food, stress,” Tim lists.

Jason opens his eyes specifically to give Tim a dubious look. “Stress?”

Tim looks back at him just as dubiously. “How many hours sleep do you get a night?”

“Fuck off,” Jason replies, and firmly closes his eyes again. Stress. Jesus Christ.

“I’ll get you a headache journal for Christmas,” Tim says lightly, and then, “So, why’d you try to beat me up?”

“I always beat you up.”

“Not tonight you didn’t. We don’t reward points for effort in Gotham.”

Oh. That attempt at beating him up. Jason mumbles, “Don’t know.”

“Whatever.” Tim can fit a lot of scorn in that tiny body of his.

“Maybe I just don’t want you around,” Jason snaps, sharp as he can make it right now.

Tim, predictably, rears back to give Jason one of his lizard-glares. It doesn’t last long though, fading into something a bit more evaluatory. He says, “You can’t make me leave.”

Jason sputters, caught between the desire to laugh derisively and the desire to get up and shove Tim out the window he came in through. Before he can pick, Tim lays down on top of the bedcovers on the empty side of the mattress.

“Hey, this bed is really comfy,” he says, as though he isn’t constantly being found asleep on hard non-bed surfaces across Gotham. Jason once found him napping on a rooftop.

“I’ll give you the website of the place I got it off if you go away,” Jason attempts.

“Like I couldn’t find it myself,” Tim scoffs, scrunching himself down into Jason’s pillows. “Hey, pass me that blanket?”

“No,” Jason replies, pulling the blanket in question tighter about himself. It’s his favourite, warm and soft, and the weight of it on top of him is already making him sleepy despite Tim’s rudeness.

“It’s okay, I don’t need one anyway,” Tim says.

“Seriously, go away.” What is the world coming to? The only brother Jason should have this much trouble getting rid of is Dick.

“Babysitting, remember? And when baby sleeps, so does sitter.” Tim pats kindly at Jason’s blanket-covered elbow. Jason kindly doesn’t strangle him for it.

Yet. He doesn’t do it yet. Because there’s a tickle of nervousness in the pit of his belly about having someone else sleep so close to him, and not out of fear for his safety, either. That on top of his incomplete acceptance of Tim’s migraine theory has him lying stiff in his blankets when Tim finally reaches over and flicks the lights off.

“Big spoon or little?” Tim asks, which surprises Jason so much that he actually laughs. “Go to sleep. You’ll feel better afterwards.”

“Did WebMD tell you that?”

“Nah. Everything is just always better with more sleep,” Tim replies, and then yawns. “Shh.”

Jason manages about five minutes of his commitment to stay awake while Tim’s breathing slows and evens out next to him. He’s warm and comfortable and his head doesn’t hurt anymore, and he might not be dying or going crazy after all. The closer he gets to sleep, the easier it is to believe.

He’s nearly asleep himself when Tim, sounding far more awake than Jason would have expected, says, “I’m not scared of you.”

He probably should be. That said, they’re Robins - not scared of much. Jason mumbles, “Go to sleep,” and promptly follows his own command.

[secondgenerationnerd]

The Day It Happened

I regret nothing! Enjoy!

It’s early afternoon when they get the call. Irey knows from the way Damian tenses that it’s time for Impulse and Robin. A studio apartment required a bit of special maneuvering when it came to hiding their uniforms, but they’re nothing if not resourceful. Her uniform’s familiar feel makes suiting up easier, even if the middle is a bit tighter than normal. She can’t help but steal a look at her boyfriend as he pulls on his tunic. The scars crisscrossing along his spine always send a painful ache into her heart. But now’s not the time for that.

         She ties one of her boots, going to that special part of her brain before a mission. They’ve done this hundreds of times before. But Damian’s never knelt in front of her, tying her other boot for her. His incredible memory allows him to tie her laces the exact way she does. She frowns at the tight lines around his mouth. He’s too young to have such deep lines.

         Her ungloved hands are so, so soft as she cups his cheeks, making him look at her. His stubble scratches her, which makes her smile a bit. “You need to shave after the fight.”

         “You didn’t complain about it last night.” Damian’s tease eases her worry a bit.

         “Well, Mr. Wayne, I was preoccupied with more important things.” She presses a loving kiss to his mouth. The familiar taste of tea and honey calms her more than anything else ever could. Damian pulls away from her first.

         “I love you, nuri.”

         “I love you too, Dames.”

         “If we make it through this—”

         “When.” She corrects.

         “When we make it through this, I want to talk to about our future. About moving forward…together.”

         Irey won’t deny the flutter of hope that her heart gives. She kisses him again, “I’d like that. Now, let’s go save the world.”

--

         Once the battle’s in full swing, there’s no way to tell who’s winning. Nightstar and Green Lantern fly through the air, providing support to their friends on the ground. Nightstar’s bright purple starbolts vaporize the monsters easily. Green Lantern uses her ring to keep them in a contained area. Little Red Hood’s perched on a building, firing arrow after trick arrow into the insanity, letting her team know where the worse parts are. Superboy slams his fist into a monster’s leathery chest while a mutated Abuse chucks another through a wall. Velocity’s a blur, running through the crowd and disabling them however he can. Impulse and Robin have separated from the group, trying to find Heretic. Robin pulls her back as a monster crashes into the wall beside them. He takes it out with one swift strike of his katana.

         “Fifty meters forward then hang a left.” Robin tells her. She nods, already moving forward. He catches her arm and pulls her to his chest. Impulse’s quick to return his burning kiss. Call it adrenaline or fear, but she just knows something’s going wrong.  Her boyfriend pulls back, eyes hidden behind that domino mask, “I love you, Irey.”

         “I love you, too, Damian.” She kisses him again before they move forward. Impulse goes ahead of him to scout. He’s just entering the room as she hits the wall across the room.  She crumples to the ground.

         “IMPULSE!” He checks her. She’s breathing and her pulse strong.

“Thought she could stop me. Tell me, brother, what do you see in the little whore?” Robin grits his teeth at the clone’s insult. After making sure she’s ok, he straightens up.

“It’s more of what she brings out in me.” He charges Heretic. They exchange quick blows. The Teen Wonder matches the speed of the strikes, but barely the fercocity of them.

“Tell me. What does it feel like to lose so much potential for such a pathetic reason?”

“Fuck you!” Robin snarls. Something goes wrong. As he brings his katana down, Heretic’s sword drives through his chest. Breath catches in his throat as he blinks. Shit. Shit. Shit.

         “Pathetic.” The clone tosses Robin to the side. Doesn’t even bother to see where he lands, Heretic presses a button on his uniform. “Fall back. Our work here is done.”

         The heroes outside have no idea why the creatures pull back. Only that they do. They regroup on the ground, covered in blood, guts, sweat, and grime.

         “Everyone ok?” Little Red Hood asks, holding her wrist.

         “As good as we can be.” Nightstar grunts, holding her bloody side. Nasty throw into a wall, but it shouldn’t scare. “Where’s Impulse and Robin?”

         “I saw them go in there early.” Abuse points to the building. “I think Rob said something about Heretic?”

         Velcoty presses on his earpiece, “Impulse? This is Velocity and the team. What’s your 20?”

         Silence.

         “Impulse? Do you copy?” Still no response from his sister. “Impulse? Sissy?”

         “Something’s wrong.” Milagro’s words send fresh fear into their hearts.

         The team gets to the top of the building as soon as they can. Maybe their leaders will be fine. Heretic got scared and ran off. That has to be what happened, right?

         Right?

         “IREY!” Jai runs to his sister’s unconscious form. Long red hair falls from her ponytail, painful bruises forming along her jaw. Mar’i kneels down and fells for Irey’s pulse. “Mar’i, tell me—”

         “She’s alive. Strong pulse and her breathing seems ok. Where’s Damian?”

         Jai stays with his sister as the group moves a bit farther into the building. They barely go fifty feet when Mar’i screams. Damian’s body stares at them. Jade green eyes glossed over, tanned skin unnaturally pale. They don’t bother to check for a pulse. The gaping hole in his chest answers that question for them. Jon’s barely able to catch Mar’i as she collapses, still screaming, barely able to see through his blurry eyes. Colin falls to his knees, staring at his friend with tears streaming down his face. Milagro doubles over, vomiting.

         “Omega?” Oracle’s voice in their ear coms doesn’t soothe them like they normally do. “Omega, do you copy?”

         “Little Red Hood here, Oracle.” Lian answers.

         “Is everyone ok? Some of your trackers are off-line.”

         Lian looks at the body before her. Her voice cracks, “No. No we’re not. We need a medic for Impulse…and a body bag.”

         “Little Red, Who’s down?” The 19-year-old struggles to find her voice. “Lian?”

         “Robin. We need the bag for Robin.”

--

         None of the young heroes can find it in themselves to leave. The League’s there in less than 20 minutes. It’s a painful sight. Nightstar cries into Nightwing’s chest as Robin’s carried away. Abuse and Superboy watch their best friend leave, silent tears cutting paths through the dirt on their faces. Green Lantern and Little Red Hood barely keep themselves together as they fill in their superiors. Velocity and Flash go with Impulse to the hospital.

         Linda Park-West meets her son and husband at the hospital. The doctors, having worked with the hero community before, get Irey to a private room before removing her uniform. The bruises from earlier are already fading from her body as they work.

         “When do you think she’ll wake up?” Linda asks her husband, holding her daughter’s hand,

         “I’m not sure, babe. I’m not sure.” Wally looks at his son, who’s refused to leave Irey’s side. “Buddy. You need to go get checked out.”

         “I’m fine, Dad.” Jai’s body is tight as he stares at his sister.

         “Jai—”

         “Mom, please.” Jai’s voice breaks. Wally puts a hand on his son’s shoulder but doesn’t say anything. Linda reaches over, caressing Jai’s cheek. They know him well enough to leave it alone.

         “Love you, sweet boy.”

         “Love you too, Mom.” The family doesn’t talk for a while, letting the steady beeping of Irey’s heart monitor fill the room. Irey’s breathing doesn’t change. Jai and Wally wonder how she’s going to feel when she wakes up.

         “Dr. and Mrs. West?” A young woman comes into the room. “I’m Dr. Sarah White. I’ll be your daughter’s physician.”

         “Nice to meet you. This our son, Jai.” His parents shake hands with the doctor. Jai nods at the doctors, still not moving his body. “Is Irey ok?”

         “So far, all the tests are showing that she’s ok. We’re going to monitor her over night to make sure she and the baby—”

         “The what?” Linda interrupts.

         “The baby. Didn’t you know she’s pregnant?”          “No. She didn’t mention it to us.” Wally looks at Jai.

         “Dad, do you think Irey would have gone into the field if she knew?” Jai looks down. Irey had been eating a bit more, but that didn’t mean anything. They’ve always eaten what they want, when they want, and as much as they want. Overactive metabolism for the win. There weren’t any other signs. This can’t be happening.

         “Is there anyway to tell how far along she is? I mean. She’s a speedster, is there a chance—”

         “We can do a full work up on her. Nothing invasive or unnecessary.” 

After discussing all possible options, his parents make him go back to the tower after Dr. White’s visit. He doesn’t want to leave his sister, but it’s not up for discussion based on his mother’s tone.

         The tower’s silent when he gets back. Not surprising. Mar’i’s probably with her family at the Manor. Jon’s open door shows empty drawers and an unmade bed. Angry music blasts from Colin’s room. He finds a note with Milagro’s neat handwriting on it, telling them she’s going to Oa for a few days. He locks the doors before heading to Star City. Lian’s at home, thankfully, sitting on their bed, face buried in her hands.

         “Hey, baby.” Jai sits next to her and stares at the wall in front of him. Lian lifts her head, staring at the wall with him. They don’t talk for a few minutes, neither really sure what to say.

         “The whole team’s out of the field until further notice.” Lian says dryly.

         “Sounds about right. I’m guessing we all have to meet with Dinah before we’re cleared?” He asks.

         “Yep. How’s Irey?”

         “Still unconscious…She’s pregnant.”

         “W-What?” Lian looks at him. He nods, tears finally filling his eyes.

         “Yeah. She’s pregnant. And Damian’s dead.” That breaks them. They hold each other as they cry. Even though the tears will do nothing to stop the pain.

[witnessprotectionau]

By M’gann

Welcome one, welcome all! M’gann here today, since I’m the only one in the superhero community with experience running a blog. It’s a pleasure to meet you all, even if it isn’t under the most ideal of circumstances...

This is the Justice League’s official tumblr blog! Since our identities were outed, we don’t have to worry about accidently leaking personal information anymore, and we decided to create various social media accounts so our actions are more public and available to everyone, and totally not because if we didn’t, our actions would have to be monitered by the government and none of us want people following us around at all times, or Secretary Ross anywhere close enough to have his eyes on us!! :)

(Scarlet Witch/Wanda just burst out laughing, and she doesn’t have her phone on her, so I think she’s reading my mind, now I know how it feels, but at the same time, I’m glad I made at least one person laugh with that)

If we just post what we’re up to, then we can just refuse to post about when we go to the bathroom unless it’s important, which was a big concern for us all when people following us was first brought up. But that’s besides the point!

This blog will contain all the stuff we’re posting on other social media, so you can just follow us here to get all the tea!

... My uncle just came in to inform me that those of older generations might not know what that means, and that I have to try to not leave anyone out.

‘Tea’ means gossip.

Okay, so starting off this blog with a bang, the entire superhero community (which also includes vigilantes, anti-heroes, and villains, not just superheroes, it’s just quicker to say!) decided to all create twitter accounts to post their name, if their identity was revealed and their civillian name. Now, I don’t know EVERYBODY in the community, so I put in everyone who commented superhero-like stuff on the post. I’m pretty sure that they aren’t real heroes, but it’s better safe than to be rude and exclude people! Besides, I didn’t know about the Defenders half an hour ago until I heard someone in the house exclaim that someone named Daredevil was finally getting media coverage because of this. Apparently a few people in the house were fans of him. __________

Okay, so... You guys weren’t there, but I stopped writing for a few hours to attend a justice league meeting with the avengers and quite a few other people, and here’s what was ultimately decided:

Because we have so many enemies, it isn’t safe for any of us to live alone anymore, so we’ve basically all moved in together? Well, not all of us. Those who had their identities revealed, and those who lived with them, or could have their identities revealed based on everyone else.

For example, Batman had his identity revealed, which, by the way, what???

Bruce WAYNE??

But yeah, Batman had his identity revealed, but Robin didn’t. The new Robin. Not the first one. Nightwing is his eldest son, Dick Grayson. But people can figure it out based on his height. Which, by the way... Bruce has his reasons for letting him into the community, give him some slack. He’s been getting a lot of hate from it. And speaking of Bruce Wayne, it is his manor that we’ve all moved into, since it’s large and has excellent security. I haven’t met his other kids yet, so I don’t know if they already knew their dad was Batman, and their siblings were Nightwing and Robin. I’ll ask them when they show up. __________

Okay, so I left to get food for five minutes, and when I came back, the og JL members were staring at my screen and laughing their heads off while Bruce sat by the side and scowled. So... I’m concerned. If this post never goes up, assume I’m dead.

BUT ANYWAY!!!!!!

I made everyone in the house promise not to read the comments on the original twitter post, and only read them here, as some of us wanted our accounts not to be spammed by their friends. Like, Garfield uses his account to advocate for animal rights, he doesn’t want to constantly respond to other supers’ messages. He’s too busy for that!

The mess on Twitter, as follows: __________

Youonyourphone,situpstraight! @ #1FBIAGENT Plastic Man, aka Patric O’Brian. I was outed, which makes my job VERY interesting now... (read: awkward)

Winged Warrior @ Hawkwoman ✔️ Shayera Hol. I have wings. If  you couldn’t figure out my “civillian identity” by me walking down the street, earth is too dumb to save anymore

r3d @ 70rn4d0 The children chose this name for me. Red Tornado, AKA John Smith.

Green Arrow @ notrobinhood ✔️ Oliver Queen, revealed too... Let’s hope this doesn’t affect STAR labs... Sorry PR department. :/

Adam @ DrStrangeJunior League doctor, last name strange. The avengers already have a doctor strange, and I’m younger than him, hence DrStrangJunior. I never really had a hero identity in the first place, but everyone insists that I’m a part of the group, so... yeah

Big Boy Blue @ TheREalSuperman ✔️ Clark Kent, Kal-el, Superman. Speaking of, why was @ Superman already taken?

Aquaman @ KingOfAtlantis ✔️ Even though I don’t REALLY have a secret identity, I have to do this anyway for some reason? Arthur Curry.

rocket @ PCHOOOOO raquel ervin. rocket. the only reason icon is around so bow down to me. Tim chose my name.

therapist @ capitalsareimportant Black Canary. Dinah Lance-Queen. Betcha Imma bout to lose my job.

take the shot @ harperoy Red Arrow, Will harper, Previously Speedy. I had this @ before... everything

Fastest Man Online @ 2fast2type ✔️ flash, barry allen, dying inside BECAUSEI’MLIVINGINABILLIONAIRE’SHOUSENOWANDTHEREISSOMUCHFOOD

zatanna @ annataz Only one name, Zatanna. That’s both my civillian name and my superhero name, but my stage name SOMEHOW is still a secret??? smh everyone’s blind...

cptnmarvel @ SHAZAM! Captain Marvel. The male one, since apparently I have to say that now?? My identity is still a secret tho!

Themiscyra❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤 @ Wonderous ✔️ Wonder Woman. Princess Diana. However, my Civillian name is Diana Prince __________

Now, The Green Lanterns... Kilowog got an account first, and it didn’t end well... __________

Kilowog @ GreenLanternOFFICIAL ✔️ As one of the Green Lanterns assigned to this sector, I decided to join in on this internet stuff, since it seems so important to everyone on this planet. Kilowog here! Green Lantern.

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ SOMEONE stole @ GreenLanternOFFICIAL  🙄

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ @ GreenLantern1 ???!?!? ONE!?!?! I WAS THE FIRST HUMAN GREEN LANTERN THANK YOU VERY MUCH JOHN!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ It was the first thing I thought of aside from GreenLantenOFFICIAL, don’t yell at me!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ why didn’t you just do GreenLanternJohn instead of stealing what was rightfully mine?

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ Hey, you aren’t the boss of @’s!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ who says I’m not?

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ You’re obviously not!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ but who says?

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ Me!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ but you’re not the boss of me!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ Since when?

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ since i’m your senior!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ I’m older than you!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ i’ve been a green lantern longer!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ That doesn’t matter!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ then if it doesn’t matter, change your name!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ To WHAT?!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ GreenLantern16 or something, i don’t know!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ There aren’t even that many Green Lanterns!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ there are hundreds of us!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ I meant HUMAN Green Lanterns!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ then fucking specify next time? is that so hard?!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ Fuck off, asshole!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ you first!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ That’s not even an insult!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ and yours was?!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ Shut up!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ just change your name and i will!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ You can’t change your @’s, just your user!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ then get a new account!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ That’s a pain though!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ suck it up!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ You’re the one who started all this!

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ you started the argument with Kilowog’s account when he’s not even on the planet anymore!

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ It was a joke! You’re the one who took it seriously!

hey Guys @ GreenLantern ✔️ hey Guys...??

I CAME FIRST! @ OriginalGreenLantern ✔️ ...

John Stewart @ GreenLantern1 ✔️ ... __________

hey Guys @ GreenLantern ✔️ ok so kilowogs off planet, and the others are refusing to use their accounts after the incident where i murdered them both, so im doing their introductions for them

hey Guys @ GreenLantern ✔️ @ GreenLantern1 is john stewart, obviously. @ OriginalGreenLantern is hal jordan, and yeah, he was the first human lantern. and me? the only Guy who had the bright idea of actually checking to see if @ GreenLantern was available like a normal person?

hey Guys @ GreenLantern ✔️ i was off-world when everyone’s identities were revealed, and thus have my secrets!

hey Guys @ GreenLanten ✔️ well, i mean... i didn’t exactly hide it before, so some people might know, but im loving the fact that i kept my identity secret when batman didnt, so i decided to keep it to flaunt that fact to the others. peace out __________

Ro(g)y @ arsenal The OG Roy Harper here. Arsenal. Previously speedy.

Kaldur’ahm @ Aqualad ✔️ My user and @ says it all. I was revealed. Uselessly, but still revealed.

Mygreatestachievementwillbebeingborn @ Impulsive Bart Allen, AKA Impulse. My identity WAS revealed, but good luck finding out who I am. ;-)

Apollo’s Crockpot Sister @ Artemis ✔️ Artemis, AKA Artemis Crock. Now y’all can finally stop asking me about my name.

From Fanboy To @ LagoonBoy L’gann here. Lagoon Boy. I’m green, you should be able to know what my civillian self looks like. It’s not like I can hide.

buzz off @ bumblebee I wasn’t revealed, but... being a superhero would be a suitable excuse for being late to classes... Karen Beecher-Duncan, Bumblebee! (Don’t worry, I discussed revealing myself with the entire league, and they said it was cool)

World’s best dodger and bullshitter @ Guardian Bumbles’ loving husband, Mal Duncan.

hello megan! @ hellom’gann ✔️ M’gann M’orzz AKA Megan Morse AKA Miss Martian. Superboy doesn’t have an account, but also didn’t get his identity leaked (somehow) anyway!!

Wall-Man @ It’sKIDFLASH ✔️ Wally West, Kid Flash. Nice to meet Y’all

Apollo’s Crockpot Sister @ Artemis ✔️ Y’all

Wall-Man @ It’sKIDFLASH ✔️ Okay, you used it just two seconds ago so don’t @ me

Jaime @ ScarabHost ✔️ Jaime Reyes here. Now, the previous blue beetle is in a coma, and has been for years, I’m the new one. I just never had a public enough persona to tell everyone that I’m not just him with a new suit before...

Cassie @ WONDERgirl ✔️ Come to my room @ ScarabHost, I have marshmellos to cheer you up! Yes, you can come too, @ Impulsive  😋

Mygreatestachievementwillbebeingborn @ Impulsive Like you could keep me from food.  😜

Dr. Tony Stark @ youknowwhoiam ✔️ I Am Iron Man

Hawk-ayeeee @ hawkeyeshadow Clint Barton

Brunhilde @ TheLastValkyrie All in the name.

Platypus @ TiredOfTony Col. James Rhodes, AKA War Machine, previously Iron Patriot (Thank goodness)

The Black Panther @ Kingofwakanda ✔️ T’Challa of Wakanda.

godofhammers @ kingofasgard ✔️ I am Thor, son of Frigga

Captain American’t deal @ Steven19 ✔️ Steve Rogers, Captain America.

My Name’s Not Scarlett @ It’s Wanda ✔️ Scarlet Witch

On your above @ FalconPINCH ✔️ Sam Wilson

🅱️lums @ WhiteWolf James “Bucky” Barnes here. Previously Winter Soldier... Sorry.

Toaster @ Eyesight ✔️ Vision Stark.

Dr. Tony Stark @ youknowwhoiam ✔️ I’m crying.

Master Of The Mystic Arts @ DrStephenStrangeMD ✔️ I didn’t change my @ when I got into this world

Fury @ DirectorOfSHIELD ✔️ My name is already there.

Not That Maria @ AssistantDirectorOfSHIELD ✔️ Maria Hill, Assistant Director Of SHIELD

I am Groot @ Multilinguism I am Groot.

PETER NO @ GamoradaughterofABITCH Gamora.

PETER YES @ STARLORDOFFICIAL Peter Quill, Starlord!

Chocolate Works @ WeAreVenom Identity kept, bitches!

Shield Maiden @ LadySif I am Sif.

T’Challa’s babysitter @ GeneralOfWakanda ✔️ I am Okoye.

Logan @ Wolverine ✔️ I would reveal my identity, but I don’t know what it is myself.

Laura @ Wolverine2 ✔️ OMG DAD! You got your memories back, stop making amnesia jokes, they’re lame!

Logan @ Wolverine ✔️ This isn’t Private Messages sweetie

Laura @ Wolverine ✔️ FUCK

DannyRand @ AngstPuppy Iron Fist here!

notthedevil @ kurtthenightcrawler I’m blue, it’s not like I can hide?

Godda go feast @ Quicksilver Pietro Maximoff, Wanda’s twin brother.

Freshuricado @ WakandaHeadOfScience ✔️ Princess Shuri. I don’t have a hero name, but I sometimes fight with gauntlets, so...?

Best Grandma @ Gi-Ant-Man Scott Lang here, also known as Ant-Man!

The Wasp @ HopeVanDyne ✔️ Scott’s better half.

Quill chose my name @ trashpanda Rocket Raccoon. That’s my name, nothing else.

Iron Daughter @ Blueberry My name is Nebula Stark, Gamora’s sister.

Dr. Tony Stark @ youknowwhoiam ✔️ 😭😭😭🥰

bobby @ Iceman So... My identity wasn’t revealed, but... most mutants at the school don’t really hide their identities, so everyone knows who I am here? But I didn’t wanna get left out of the train, so I’m Bobby Drake. AKA Iceman

Unbreakable @ LukeCage I don’t have an alternate name?? Yet my identity was still secret somehow?? (Well, not anymore) I hate everyone’s blindness. No offence to someone though, you know who you are.

Drax @ Drax I am Drax!

Jessica Nones @ AliasInvestigations ✔️ I never hid, but I guess I’m finally advertising.

💚🔪💚@ Iammantis! Hello everyone! I am Mantis!

DIDN’T CHOOSE MY OWN NAME @ ItIsBEN The Thing. Ben Grimm.

NAME WAS GIVEN BY DUMBASS BROTHER @ butiapprove The Invisible Woman. Sue Storm.

CHOSE MY OWN NAME @ FLAMEON The Human Torch. Johnny Storm

My name wasn’t chosen by me @ butitboostsmyego Mr. Fantastic. Reed Richards.

CHOSE MY OWN NAME @ FLAMEON YOU MESSED UP THE CAPITALS ORDER!!!

My name wasn’t chosen by me @ butitboostsmyego SIGH

__________

So, quick note, the next people... Well, I haven’t got any confirmation that they’re ACTUALLY heroes. But I don’t wanna exclude anyone, and they might just be obscure vigilantes that I don’t know about, but they commented on the thread that only heroes were meant to, and it’s not like believing them to be heroes will get me hurt like it would on a mission if they were villains in disguise, so... I’m just going to trust them this time! __________

Anathema @ Device I’m Anathema Device, and I’ll be doing the technology side for Crowley, Aziraphale, and Newton Pulsifer.

Adam @ DEATHJR Kids of the Armageddon’t, unite! (Except Warlock, cuz he didn’t actually save anything) Adam Young here.

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR Brian here! (My mum says I can’t give out my last name until I hit 18, sorry for the lack of syncronity...)

Adam @ DEATHJR (It’s all cool Brian, not your fault!)

Cuz common sense is the rarest resource @ FAMINEJR Well, most of us can unite, anyway... I miss Pep, even if she had a weird name that I’m pretty sure was fake, looking back on our childhood.

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR You wanna go, Wensly?

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR YOU’RE ALIVE?!!

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR Yeah, I’ll DM you three my number so we can catch up.

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR Is it really her though?

Adam @ DEATHJR Well, you DID forget to put your name down Wensly. Nice to see you again Pep!

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR But they could have just hacked your computer?

Adam @ DEATHJR If she did that, she would have called him Wenslydale, not just Wensly. She knew better.

Cuz common sense is the rarest resource @ FAMINEJR One way to find out. @ WARJR, say you’re name to us all within the next five minutes!

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR Pippin Galadriel Moonchild, Pleb. Bow down to your missing member.

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR OMG, I’m legit crying you guys...

Cuz common sense is the rarest resource @ FAMINEJR IT REALLY IS YOU!

Adam @ DEATHJR Glad to know you’re safe and sound, Pep. 🖤

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR Puh-lease. You really think *I* could keep out of trouble?

Adam @ DEATHJR Glad to know you’re sound, Pep. 🖤

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR Glad to be sound, Antichrist! 🖤 Still haven’t learnt what safety is tho... :P

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR Pepper? Living a calm enough life to be SAFE? Wouldn’t dream of it. 🖤

Cuz common sense is the rarest resource @ FAMINEJR Send me your number so I can cry while hearing your voice 🖤

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR Sure, it’s in your DMs now, and Wensleydale? You were right. “Pippin Galadriel Moonchild” isn’t my real name.

Cuz common sense is the rarest resource @ FAMINEJR FUCKEN CALLED IT!

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR WAIT WHAT?!

Adam @ DEATHJR THEN WHY DID THE TEACHERS CALL YOU PEPPER TOO??!?

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR Think that’s bad? Remember how all that Stuff™ went down when we all were 11? Lies, I was 9.

Cuz common sense is the rarest resource @ FAMINEJR BUT YOU WERE IN OUR CLASS

Adam @ DEATHJR WHAT THE HOME PEP?!

Pestilance? @ POLLUTIONJR HOW DID THE TEACHERS LET YOU TWO GRADES ABOVE WERE YOU REALLY THAT SMART??

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR OF COURSE I WAS YOU ASS! But nah... I ran away from home, hitchhiked, skipped the county, forged my ma’s signature to put me up for adoption, stole some adoption papers, and placed them on the mayor’s desk filled in, and as far as anyone was aware, I was now the daughter of the local hippie

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR I picked “Pippin Galadriel Moonchild” as my name because I was a massive nerd.

Adam @ DEATHJR THERE IS SO MUCH TO UNPACK IN THAT I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN, WHAT THE FUCK PEP?!?!?

MY NAME IS AWESOME, FIGHT ME @ WARJR I’m an agent of Chaos.

Two Seconds Away From Giving Up @ JERomY Kid... __________

This thread wasn’t important, but... I just found it heartwarming that they found eachother after assuming Pepper was dead, and I found it funny. __________

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL Okay, I have convinced all of the team to say their name and position. I even managed to get everyone to get matching Team Names, and put their superpower as their user! Only those with identities revealed will have to say their name, however.-OGLB

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL This account is run by two different ladybugs. If you don’t see a signature at the end of a post, it’s Bugette, the current Ladybug. If you do, it’s me, the last Ladybug. -OGLB

Cataclysm @ ChatNoirOFFICIAL My identity is still secret, suckers!

Like I’d tell you @ RenaRougeOFFICIAL Rude. Alya cesaire. I’m a retired hero, but doing my best every day to be once again worthy to wield a miraculous. I doubt it would be the same, however, as @ NeurofoxinOFFICIAL is a much better fox than I am it seems.

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL DM me -OGLB

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL Alya! You were meant to put your special power in the user! :(

Like I’d tell you @ RenaRougeOFFICIAL I was going to, but then Viperion pointed out to me that our powers were too obvious by our special power name, and that the two of us in particular needed others to not be aware of what we can do to make us all safer.

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL That is a very sound judgement! I’m glad you thought ahead and made the wise deciscion!

Your new goth gf @ NeurofoxinOFFICIAL Rena, you’re a better fox than me, it just seems like that due to self-doubt. You are more suited to the fox than I am, it’s just that the fox is needed that I am even a holder at all. WHEN you get back on the team, I’ll either be retired or given another miraculous instead. I just have the better name.

SHELLter @ CarapaceOFFICIAL Not gonna say my name, but it’s pretty obvious if you pay attention, so just like... watch if you wanna know?

Chloé Bourgeois @ QueenBeeOFFICIAL ✔️ I used to be the best holder of the Bee Miraculous, but I gave it up to @ HoneyBeeOFFICIAL, and they are acceptable.

Wenom, uwu @ HoneyBeeOFFICIAL Thank you Chloé! I couldn’t ask for a better predecessor!

Chloé Bourgeois @ QueenBeeOFFICIAL ✔️ You are most welcome, HoneyBee!

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL Uhmm... Chloé? You were meant to put your power in the user, not your name. And everyone knows what you can do, so there’s no point hiding it from everyone. -OGLB

Chloé Bourgeois @ QueenBeeOFFICIAL ✔️ You misunderstand, Ladybug. As Chloé Bourgeois, I am well known for being rich and famous.

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL And? -OGLB

Chloé Bourgeois @ QueenBeeOFFICIAL ✔️ Being rich IS my superpower.

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL SMH -OGLB

BRB, Got sword homework @ RyukoOFFICIAL @ QueenBeeOFFICIAL @ HoneyBeeOFFICIAL I am Ryuko. While the previous Hawkmoth knew my identity, the new one does not. So I will remain in the shadows, as it is now safe for me to do so and wield once more.

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL I thought we all agreed to put our powers in our users!!

BRB, Got sword homework @ RyukoOFFICIAL My skill with a blade is much more beneficial than my power over storms, I thought it more prudent to use the talent that I actually worked for. Besides, @ ChatNoirOFFICIAL sent me a meme, and it was enough to make me laugh in front of my mother, so I decided to use it.

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL DM me about how she reacted...

Miraculous @ LadybugOFFICIAL ^Same, and Chat, stop spamming our inboxes with memes! -OGLB

Pls don’t need me so I have to use it... @ ViperionOFFICIAL I am the Aforementioned Viperion. And yes, my weapon IS what you think it is. No-one knows who I am as of right now.

Your new goth gf @ NeurofoxinOFFICIAL My identity is a secret but my name is Neurofoxin.

Creation @ Ladybug Tikki here! The current active kwamis are going to sound off. Our usernames will be what we are the kwami of, and our @ s will be what animal we represent!

The ORIGINAL @ Catwoman Plagg here.

Creation @ Ladybug PLAGG!

The ORIGINAL (Destruction, THERE, HAPPY TIKKI!?!?) @ Catwoman UGH!

Avatar @ Fire Nation Dragon Well, since Plagg already broke the rules... Longg here. And I am technically not exactly breaking the rules..

Creation @ Ladybug See what you’ve caused?!

Emotional @ Peacock Duusu here!! :D

Intuition @ sassysnake Sass here.

Timey-Wimey @ BunnyIsLate Goodbye and Hello! I am Fluff, and I won’t be active on twitter often unless I will.

Trixx @ FoxyLad Technically, I’m also following the rules. 😎

;) @ Multiplication I know I just put my special ability down, but if I put my animal representative down (rat) I’ll ruin the joke... Mullo here.

Subjection @ Busylittleworkerbee I feel like I’m one of the few that still actually listens to Tikki... Pollen, at your service!

Y’all better be rich if you talk to me @ TransportationTeleportationHorse Just providing a friendly warning... Kaalki here, and I only interact with the best.

Protection @ Turtle Wayzz here, feeling like a fool since I decided following Tikki’s rule was a good idea. __________

These two groups seem like they work together? Or they’re both coincidently animal-themed, and I’m making connections when there are none. The next few are seemingly one-off people! __________

Caroline @ GLaDOS While I never saved the world myself, I saved the life of someone who did, and that should count for something.

Refined Pig @ Waddles ✔️ ((I know this is an account for my pet pig, but the creator of this account, me, has saved the world, and Waddles was there, along with my brother, @ ConspiracyTheorist))

The government isn’t the only one hiding the truth @ ConspiracyTheorist ✔️ You make me sound like a sidekick like I didn’t save your behind multiple times.

Danny Phantom’s cousin @ CALLHIMINVISOBILL Dani Phantom here! I save Amity Park, plus the world, and I’m cute to boot!

Red @ Huntress @ CALLHIMINVISOBILL is my sidekick, ignore her.

Danny Phantom’s cousin @ CALLHIMINVISOBILL Rude!

Danny PHANTOM @ GhostKingOFFICIAL ✔️ DON’T CALL ME INVISO-BILL

Danny Phantom’s cousin (Ghost Princess?) @ CALLHIMINVISOBILL You love me! 💙💚

Danny PHANTOM @ GhostKingOFFICIAL ✔️ I know you are using those for the color aesthetic, but I hope you know the blue heart represents loyalty, because you have absolutely none of that for me.

Danny Phantom’s cousin (Ghost Princess?) @ CALLHIMINVISOBILL True... How’d you even find this account anyway?

Danny PHANTOM @ GhostKingOFFICIAL ✔️ I know better than to not keep an eye on you. I’ve known for months. __________

And that’s all for now! I know we’re missing some, like Batman and my uncle, but they should be on by tomorrow. An update will be posted then!

[kid-crashed]

Do you think the heroes would go to prides? Maybe to make sure no one gets hurt?

WOULD THEY GO TO PRIDE YOU ASK

Each city has their own respective Pride festivities, mostly in the form of large scale parades. Of course, each city with it’s own beloved hero invites said hero to their Pride Parades.

Metropolis:This is the equivalent of NYC Pride, and Superman goes every single year. The first years he went, he just flew over to make sure everyone stayed safe, but the next year he was specifically invited to have his own float. He stands on top and waves to the crowd, sometimes flying off the greet people watching. This year he took Jon with him, which was all kinds of fun. One of the people on their float gave him a rainbow bracelet, and he refuses to take it off.

Kon has always loved Pride, it comes with being an out and proud member of the LGBT+ community. He prefers walking (flying) rather than being on a float though. He hangs blue, red, and gold mardi gras beeds on every limb he has and tosses them into the crowd. He takes selfies with as many people as he can. You can follow him throughout the entire event on Twitter and Instagram under #superpride.

Central City: There’s nothing Central City loves more than a good parade, and there’s absolutely no way in hell the Speedsters miss it. Barry, Wally, and Bart each have “capes” attached to their uniforms so that when they run together the colors blur to make a rainbow flag. They don’t exactly run with the parade, so much as run around it. They split off from one another and interact with the crowd as much as possible. They hand out thousands of bracelets that say “Speedsters Love Me”. 

They constant;y invite heroes from around the US to come join the Central City parade too. It’s more fun that way. Blue Beetle usually shows up and spends most of his time hanging around Impulse. This past year, the scarab was decorated to looks like the bi flag. Wonder Woman came last year and walked along side a group of Trans Women, proudly carrying a banner that said “We’re All Sisters”. Kon, Tim, and Cassie went in their civilian clothes and hung out with Bart and Jaime once the parade was over.

If protesters show up to the parade, they will suddenly find themselves whisked away by a speedster and dropped off at the complete opposite side of the city.

Gotham:Batman never makes an appearance at Pride, and a lot of people think it’s because of the whole “I am the night” vibe he’s got going on. In reality, it’s because Wayne Enterprises is the main sponsor every year, and Bruce Wayne always makes an appearance. In the past few years he’s worn a shirt that says “Proud Dad of Queer Kids”. Cassandra will sometimes sit next to him, but if she’s not there, then she just didn’t go.

The parade starts every year with a motorcade led by Red Hood and the Outlaws. Why is Red Hood, a known antihero leading a parade celebrating life? Well it’s definitely a way to start the show. A large rainbow flag always hangs off the back of his bike, while Red Arrow sits on the back, firing off rainbow colored smoke arrows into the sky. Once they’ve finished their run, the Outlaws can be found standing around any protesters to keep any fights from breaking out. 

Batwoman walks alongside the GCPD every year with the largest lesbian pride flag you have ever seen. 

The other members of the Batfam can be seen all over the parade. Nightwing usually does cartwheels and back flips for the whole parade with a bi flag tied around him like a cape. He has the biggest smile on his face and doesn’t stop telling everyone he sees that he’s proud of them. Sometime’s Red Robin makes an appearance. When he does he’s either a) running along the rooftops to keep and eye on everything, b) walking alongside everyone, decked out in pan flag colors, or c) a part of the motorcade with Red Hood. If Red Robin isn’t there, Tim Drake-Wayne is on the Wayne Enterprise float with a pan flag crop top and a massive smile on his face.

Signal and Spoiler always hang out at the top of a float, throwing beads into the crowd. If they have their choice, they try and get the float for the local pop radio station because it has the best music. 

In the past, the current Robin had just made an appearance for the sake of security. But this year he actually took part in the parade for the first time. He walked hand in hand with Superboy. They walked alongside Nightwing. Robin wasn’t exactly smiling, but Superboy was visibly excited to be there.

One very unique part of Gotham Pride is the Rogues Float. Every year, without fail, some rogues not in Arkham take part in the parade under an oath to not commit any crimes in the process. This past year, Poison Ivy made a massive float covered in flowers. She and Harley Quinn became a set of queer icons in Gotham after very openly kissing. Cat Woman and Two Face were also on the float this year. Harvey Dent swapped the white and black tux for blue and pink. Batgirl takes it upon herself to guard the Rogue’s float every year just to make sure none of them try anything. Nothing bad has ever happened though, so she tends to just end up sitting on the float and talking with Catwoman.

Other LeaguersHeroes who’s cities either don’t have massive Pride Celebrations or don’t have a specific city tend to act as extra security at Pride events. Any Green Lanterns who are on Earth will show up and make their presence known. Booster Gold sometimes pokes his head in. In the past he would show up with the older Blue Beetle. Shazam usually shows up in Faucet City, but he’ll also make appearances in Metropolis. Wonder Woman and Superman always go to DC Pride.

[lysical]

A few thoughts on how framing a story influences how it comes across to the reader and why a lot of comics fans will talk about writer agendas and ‘bad writing’ and things like that, and actively attempt to take away that influence and framing to understand the context of a character’s actions without all that influence pushing us in a certain direction. 

Here’s Jim Starlin’s opening panel of a flashback story to when Jason was a new Robin (active about six months). First thing: the monologue is Bruce, not Jason, which automatically distances us away from Jason and closes off his POV, which automatically makes us less sympathetic because we have no clue what he’s actually thinking. 

Bruce’s thoughts also directly contradict things he says and thinks later in this own issue, and in other issues of Jason’s Post-Crisis run. Taken all together, it’s pretty clear that Jim Starlin is doing this for a reason. 

There’s a pretty clear impression of a hotheaded, untrained and impulsive kid who is getting in too deep despite Bruce trying to rein him in, which just...isn’t true. We know he spent at least six months in training before ever hitting the streets (it was like...less than 10 issues ago). We know that Bruce thinks Jason is talented, because he keeps saying it and showing it. And the ‘going off alone thing’, along with contradicting other sources (potentially a retcon), is also not just making Jason look bad, but it also reflects badly on Bruce. We’re in Bruce’s POV so we’re less likely to immediately notice that, but he’s literally saying he can’t keep track of a thirteen year old boy who is new to being Robin? Yeah, right. 

Along with Jim Starlin wanting to kill off Robin, the context of this story is Nightwing coming back to confront Bruce. That adds another layer to this kind of framing. Starlin wants Jason to look new and in over his head so Nightwing can come sweeping in and save him, and culminate in the cute ending scene where Nightwing and Robin join forces and Nightwing, idk, teaches him enough in the span of that one fight because Bruce is like ‘thanks Dick’. Other than the immediate beginning of this comic and then later when Bruce is blatantly lying to Dick’s face (and exploiting Jason’s background to do it, Starlin is really bad), Jason is characterized perfectly fine. The ‘recklessness’ shown in this is to establish the framing for the story Starlin wants to tell, and to make the ending work more. 

It’s a lot of work to unpack this kind of thing, which is why most readers will passively accept that the initial framing is correct and think little of Jason or his skills. 

Contrast this over with Tim’s Robin book, where in the early run he’s just as inexperienced and occasionally hot-headed, but we’re in his POV and thus both automatically sympathetic and get his inner thoughts so there’s no judgement from another character that’s perceived to be ‘objective’ and, obviously, no agenda to hate Tim. His writers want us to know he’s still learning but to find it endearing. 

The context for this is that Tim thinks Bruce is in the museum already, having not brought Robin along (it’s after the Jean Paul Valley thing, Bruce is maybe doubting he needs a partner). Tim suits up and goes to the museum. He’s not able to contact Batman so he’s soloing it atm and Batman doesn’t know he’s there. Pretty similar to what Jason was doing, despite the framing of Jason being reckless and disobeying to go off and fight alone. 

Tim’s obviously still got a lot to learn, and takes out a statue. It’s framed in a very endearing way, without the monologue from Batman going ‘sloppy’ and making him out to be incompetent like Starlin does for Jason. 

Tim hides in the rafters and even falls asleep mid mission. Again, we’re with Tim. He’s been having trouble finding time to sleep all issue, and because we’re with him and his POV, we know this so his behavior is sympathetic and doesn’t make us go ‘what a bad, incompetent Robin’. We know he’s a 14/15 year old kid who is struggling to balance his life at the moment. 

Once you start noticing all the ways the writer is influencing you, you can start unpacking the why and the how and whether you’re going to accept that framing or examine the events that transpire without that and come up with your own conclusion. 

[horizonreviews]

Top ten best “Batman the Animated Series” episodes

While Batman has undergone numerous reiterations on its legendary 78-year run, few installations are as memorable or encapsulating as Batman the Animated Series. This episodic collection drew inspiration from previous stories, as well as reinvent several concepts for the lore. While many in production were hesitant to keep this series running, it proved to be one of the most iconic and valued additions to the Batman world. Out of all 85 episodes, there are a handful of gems that deserve high recognition for their ingenuity, originality, or ability to make Batman their own. Before we continue, I want to stress that these are heavily analytical reviews of each episode, and so we will be approaching spoilers. So SPOILER ALERT. Without further ado, let’s dive right in and see (in my personal opinion) the top ten best installments of Batman the Animated Series.

10) Over the Edge

“Over the Edge” proved to be an exemplary use of cliché. While many episodes of this series failed to get off the ground because they were clinging to recycled plots and chose safe plot points, this episode took the cliché of “it was all a dream” to the edge. After that, it jumped off of the edge without hesitation.

The episode opens with the unthinkable, the death of Batgirl. After defeating Scarecrow, the dastardly figure manages to escape, and Batgirl follows him to the roof. A struggle ensues, and she falls into an oncoming car…Commissioner Gordon’s car. Gordon rushes to help the fallen heroine, and discovers that it was his daughter all along. This makes Batman a public enemy and he is soon hunted by the same law enforcement officials he’s worked with for years.

Under normal circumstances, a premise like this would be answered with the phrase “this can’t be real.” Whether it’s a said in a state of unimpressed disbelief or profound shock, it holds true. But the ensuing events only make the payoff more effective, and it stands to reason why.

Jim Gordon hunts batman relentlessly, Nightwing is arrested, and Robin is told to turn himself in. These events stack right on top of one another, and leave no room for the audience to catch their breath. Yet for all the speed these events rush at the viewer, the plot never feels overstuffed. If anything, it acknowledges the fact that Batman lives a life that is being held together by a thin strand of self-righteousness and self-deception.

Since Jason Todd was never used in this series (given how horrific his death scene was), this was perhaps a necessary substitute. Batman’s adventures seem fun and exciting, but it’s important to realize that a mistake in the field could cost you your life, or the life of your friend. With Barbara dying, all barriers are broken and a lien of dominoes begins to fall. Yet as more continue to collapse, and more lives are ruined, it brings the truth of Batman’s world front and center. He may be a hero, but if the truth ever got out, his life would not be the only one that was demolished.

Barbara wakes up when the plot lines run their course, but the payoff of this cliché is substantial. We look at the collateral of Batman’s world, how thin the line is for disaster, and we also have a touching reminder of how integral Barbara is both to the Bat Family and the Gordon Family.

9) Baby Doll

In one of the more peculiar episodes, we see a young actress attempt to kidnap her old cast mates and have them reenact their glory days. While this seems to be the groundwork for a very forgettable episode, it is in fact one of the most memorable installments in the series.

Mary Dahl is an actress that has been off the radar for a long time. Yet with the only connection to the abductees being that they were actors on the same show, there is little need for Batman to investigate. He does however; remember her from a medical journal. It read that she was born with a condition called “systemic hyperplasia,” a condition that preventers her from growing older. This character seems to be ripped from a Silver Age comic book, given its murky science, and almost comedic nature. But instead of falling down the rabbit hole of cheap writing clichés, it capitalizes on this idea by showing the issue on all sides.

Meanwhile, the cast awakens to find that Baby Doll ahs recreated the set, and demands that each cast member play their roles from the old days. This seems like a desperate attempt to make the audience either laughs or cringes at how corny the situation is. But Baby Doll threatens to shoot them if they try to leave, the make-believe scenario become life threatening. This effect is intensified when Baby Doll recounts her profoundly lonely life after leaving the show. Since everyone else aged naturally, the had their whole lives ahead of them. Yet she was trapped in a life and a career where she was constantly defined by who she was, not who she could be.

This proves to be a brilliant utilization of both comedic and serious elements of the show. Most episodes of BTAS confine themselves to one of three types, each reminiscent with Batman’s many shifts in tone throughout the three ages of comic books. Golden Age short stories, which are quick, deliver on building a myth, and introduce new characters from time to time. Secondly, Silver age amusements with murky science and humorous and imaginative storytelling, and finally, Bronze Age self-analysis. Stories that look very closely at existing characters and ask the question of what made them the way they are. This episode manages to balance all three in tandem, with a massive payoff. The story is perfectly paced, is prone to laughing at itself, but can also make you feel sympathy for the one-shot villain.

Toward the end, Batman predictably defeats Baby Doll, and then chases her into a hall of mirrors. In one, Baby sees the grown-up version of herself, but is brought to tears at how she will never have this. After losing herself in a rage, she is in tears. Batman places a hand on her head, and the episode ends with Baby Doll crying.

For this character being a first-time appearance, it didn’t need all the intrigue of myth support that other villains did in order to succeed. So what makes this one succeed when most others who follow this path fail? As previously, mentioned, Baby Doll’s story is one that balances the three ages of Batman’s comic book history. It’s also humorous and serious, and few episodes can balance their aspects so well. It also comes closer than most episodes in solidifying what makes this series so special. It’s not meant to be campy Batman or brooding Batman, this is Batman. By understating the situation but keeping us grounded in the action, this episode excels with an original creation and makes for some of the most memorable moments in the series.

8) Harley’s Holiday

One of the series’ greatest achievements was creating Harley Quinn. At first riding on the coat tails of the infamous Joker, Harley Quinn soon took the series by storm, becoming a powerful presence in her own right. By virtue of her design, performance, and writing, she was a powerhouse in the series like no one else. Yet for all her successes, she was commonly overshadowed by her Mr. J whenever she cam eon the screen. Every episode Harley is involved in immediately rises in quality, but the influence of the Joker is always felt. Save for one episode where the Joker is never even mentioned and Harley is the focus, “Harley’s Holiday.”

After being released form Arkham on good behavior, Harley is determined to start fresh. Yet for all her efforts, her mannerisms and misconceptions of situations land her in constant trouble. Many of these moments are winning one-liners and are enough to make anyone laugh at the results. However, throughout the entire episode, Harley is constantly painted as a victim of circumstances, and rightfully so.

Harley isn’t trying to please the Joker, commit a crime, or even pester Batman. She’s attempt to live a normal life. This makes her shortcomings relatable, and even garners sympathy. Granted, she goes back to her criminal impulses later on, but she is frustrated that she doesn’t seem to be afforded a chance to be normal.

By the time that the episode concludes, we see her being carted back to Arkham, but not before Batman offers her the dress that she tried to pay for in the beginning. It serves as a touching moment between Batman and Harley, and reminds viewers just how amazing the world of Batman can be. An orphaned boy can become a hero, a troubled girl can start new, and enemies can put down their arms for one day and become friends.

7) Robin’s Reckoning

In this Emmy-winning two-part episode we see Robin as the focus as he tries to get revenge on the man who killed hi parents, Tony Zucco. It serves as an excellent insight into why Robin is so integral to Batman’s world. This episode serves to put their relationship in context, with fantastic results.

The episode opens on Batman and Robin preparing to catch a gang of criminals. A fight ensues on a scaffolding and they emerge victorious. However, most of the criminals get away, save one. At first, he refuses to talk as he’s about to fall to his death. Batman threatens to leave him, but at the last moment, he calls out that he works for a man named “Billy Marin.” After this, Batman says Robin is off the case. At first, it doesn’t make sense. But after some digging, Billy Marin is revealed to be an alias of Tony Zucco, the man who killed Robin’s parents. The sends Robin into overdrive, and his story is soon explored via flashback. The references to Batman’s involvement in Robin’s life have been limited to casually dropped details, and haven’t been explored in depth until now. A man was making Robin’s circus pay protection money, and when the ringmaster refused to pay in full, the man stormed off. Dick soon found that the same man was tampering with the trapeze equipment, and he quickly sneaked off. Despite his protestations, Dick’s parents continued and they died as a result of the sabotaged equipment. Robin was devastated and left without any blood relatives to turn to. Bruce takes him in, and the brief guardianship fills Dick with many questions. Who does Bruce go to see very night? Where does he go? And does he really have to go every night?

The mystery continues to build, and Dick soon overhears Bruce speaking with Commissioner Gordon. Apparently, Zucco is trying to skip town before Batman or the police get a hold of him. The last reported siting was in a shady section of Gotham. Resolved to get Zucco first, Robin takes the bus to this location. Dick does his own detective work and fights Zucco when he is spotted. Just when the fight seems to be lost, Dick is saved by Batman. In the end, a choice must be made of whether Batman will save Dick or apprehend Zucco. He chooses the former.

Dick is soon brought to the Batcave and Dick asks who Batman is. Everything becomes clear when Bruce unveils himself to his ward. This cements the history of the duo in stellar fashion, and also makes it clear that the stakes have never been higher. In teaching Robin how to fight, the Dark Knight may have put him in the same peril Batman has always feared. If Robin exacts revenge on Zucco, he may never be able to return to Batman or himself again.

As the episode enters its second half, and we see that Batman is hunting Zucco, the criminal underworld rejects him everywhere he goes. He has no options other than to try and leave town, or take down Batman himself. Zucco chooses the latter, and he is in on the brink of being captured by Batman or Robin. He is also becoming extremely anxious, and is making mistakes that leave a trail of breadcrumbs.

The race to catch Zucco is desperate, and shows how capable Robin is without his mentor. In addition, the flashback sequences that show Bruce and Dick interacting after the great reveal show how much they complement each other. This is especially touching when audiences reflect on how similar these two men are. The emotional roots of the episode take center stage, and show that more is at stake than losing a partner in crime fighting, this could end with a family being broken.

Soon, Batman confronts Zucco at the docks and suffers a side wound. And just when its almost too late, Robin saves Batman and has his hated enemy at his mercy. But Batman makes one final plea, asking for Robin to turn this man in to the police. Robin cries out that Batman can’t know the depth of his loss, and swiftly apologizes. With Zucco captured, justice is served and the duo returns home.

While this may strike some as a cop out, the episodes holds up. Largely because there was a strong middle section and a subdued ending. By acknowledging the importance of the conflict, the influence of the past, and the sense of family with the dynamic duo, the series gains an emotional tipping point it reaches only on rare occasions. At the end of the day, Batman developed the Bat Family to take in those who needed him, or suffered tragedies similar to his own. It exemplifies how human the Dark Knight can be, and how the life of Bruce Wayne is still important to the narrative.

Most works of Batman’s mythology focus on the Batman himself, as his life is filled with more exciting stories. But in this instance, it made Bruce Wayne not only interesting, but more engaging than Batman. We see that we’ve been missing half of the equation of the story for some time. Just as we see the story of Batman and Bruce Wayne, we’re here to learn the story of Robin and Dick Grayson. And in so doing, we learn that the masks makes them legends, but its what’s inside that makes them heroes.

6) Heart of Ice

In this acclaimed episode, we see the character of Mr. freeze become vastly more dynamic. Prior to this episode airing, Mr. Freeze was a typical villain with formulaic plots and was essentially a freeze gun-totting C-lister. But by the end of this episode, the concept of Mr. Freeze evolved from a throwaway villain to one of Batman’s most enduring and sympathetic characters.

Most renditions prior to this episode focused on Mr. Freeze’s theme rather than his personal history. The same could be said for many villains, such as the Joker or the Penguin. But now that the BTAS writers were reevaluating him, and character history was being given a massive amount of gravity (such examples include “Robin’s Reckoning” or “Mad Love”), he was given a story that elicited both heartwarming sympathy and brutal chills.

It’s revealed that Mr. Freeze is a man hell-bent on revenger after CEO Ferris Boyle tried to shut down the cryogenic preservation project that was keeping Nora Fries alive.  Victor Fries did all he could to save his wife, but he ended up exposing himself to the chemicals, becoming immortal.

This changes the concept radically, but makes him vastly more human and multi-dimensional. Anyone else in this position would do anything to save his or her loved ones. In doing so, Batman elects to stop Mr. Freeze before he kills Boyle.

Batman confronts Freeze, and meets with some new challenges. But in the end, comes up with new tactics. He confronts Freeze just as he’s about to exact revenge on Boyle. The battle is intense, but Batman manages to win by pouring hot soup onto Mr. Freeze, and subduing him so the authorities can take him into Arkham. While this method of winning seems more humorous than effective, it’s the reevaluation of existing material that makes this episode one of the best.

In addition to changing the nature of a prominent villain, this episode changed the standard by which the series was seen. It skyrocketed the series into fame, and won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program.  

Having endured for decades and producing some of the most popular comic book characters of all time, Batman has had an immense legacy. But with this brilliant TV rendition, we see a character commonly neglected become one of the most prominent and perhaps the most human of Batman’s adversaries. It’s a story that has since been engrained in the lore, and left its mark on all mediums, a truly marvelous work.

5) Beware the Gray Ghost

While BTAS has proven to be an impressive addition to the existing franchise, few were episodes have been able to garner this level of acclaim. The story was engaging, the mystery is carefully crafted, but the casting is what really made this episode stand out. Batman enlists the help of a TV actor from his childhood in capturing a criminal before he commits more bombings on Gotham; Adam West, TV’s original Batman, plays this character.

If having the original Batman come to the set of the animated isn’t enough to strengthen your episode, then nothing will. But the episode itself is quite fascinating on its own. Batman is built on the foundation of loss and brooding. Therefore, it’s difficult to find moments of happiness, be it in his current life or in his childhood. All of it seems to be eclipsed by that terrible night he lost his parents. The animates series makes multiple mentions and even displays of that tragic evening, but this episode alone shows Bruce’s childhood as happy and inspiring.

Bruce has long been a fan of “The Gray Ghost,” a crime fighter on TV who bears a striking similarity to Batman. And the recent bombings on Gotham are exactly like an old episode of the series. However, young Bruce fell asleep the night this episode aired, and he cannot recall the ending.

Bruce tries to find a copy of the episode, but it turns out that there was a fire that destroyed the old copies. Pressed for options, Batman must find the actor who portrayed his childhood idol, a man by the name of Simon Trent.

Upon finding him, Batman learns that the aged Simon Trent is desperate for money and can’t find work due to his strong connection to the Gray Ghost. He even sold most of his remaining collection of Gray Ghost memorabilia just to pay rent.

Batman realizes that Simon won’t be easy to convince, and so he asks for a copy of the episode in question. Simon gives him the copy, and is left in a state of contemplation. Bruce watches the episode, and it’s revealed that a toy car was used to set off the bombs.

Batman soon encounters Simon again, only this time, he has resolved to be the hero he portrayed years ago, and he dons the mask and cape of the acclaimed hero one last time. Batman and the Ghost go to the Batcave, and he takes the time to show Simon a small shrine dedicated to the man who inspired him to be a crime fighter. It is an inspiration for Trent, and the two share a moment before continuing their investigation. It turns out that eh toy collector Simon sold his items to, a boy named Dymer, is responsible.

The two confront Dymer, and he reveals that he’s been bombing the buildings so he can sell the Gray Ghost materials at top dollar. They apprehend him, and the remaining bombs destroy Dymer’s store. Shortly after, the incident is reported and Simon becomes a hero. His Gray Ghost character experiences a resurgence in popularity, and Bruce visits him while he’s signing autographs. He says, “the Gray Ghost was my hero.”

This episode serves as one of the most engaging, by virtue of its casting, delving into Bruce’s history, and the overall solidarity of the episode’s significance in a larger body of work. While the villain of Dymer is rather weak on his own, the underplaying of his involvement in the plot made him a genuine surprise later. It’s also important to note that a look into Bruce’s past had never been done before, as it wasn’t needed. But with new information, Batman becomes extremely relatable. Just as Batman was a fan of the Gray Ghost, the audience adores him. It’s a brilliant work of mirroring to fans that has not been achieved with Batman, before or since.

4) Two Face

Toward the beginning of the animated series, there was a strong emphasis on building the formula for each episode and showing numerous villain origins. The creative license proved to be a double edged sword in that many possibilities were available, but the foundation of the show needed to be perfectly established. There were many episodes that were easily forgotten, while others made a shocking impact. Few episodes were as effective as Two Face.

Harvey Dent was a character that had already been present in previous episodes. He was a friend of Bruce Wayne’s, an upstanding District Attorney, and a man of the people. By all accounts, he was one of the few morally white characters among the cast.

Yet it all came to a boiling point when Rupert Thorne, a known crime figure had his men caught in a police raid. The arrest went smoothly with Batman and Gordon involved, and Harvey said he would not rest until justice was served. A disgruntled thug then splashes him, and Harvey goes wild. Everyone is shocked, and Harvey is extremely embarrassed. This marks the first time he’s made a public outburst, and the first time the audience has seen him act this way. Even if viewers were familiar with Two Face in the comics, the sheer intensity and laser focus of the scene is enough to make your skin crawl.

The situation intensifies when Harvey hears of Thorne’s men getting acquitted and he admits he’s not sure he can do this alone. Therefore, his fiancé tells Bruce in confidence that Harvey’s been seeing a psychiatrist. Bruce says he’s proud of him, and that he’ll keep his secret.

Soon, we see that Harvey is committed to getting to the bottom of this, and that Thorne is looking for any amount of dirt to blacken Harvey’s good name. Harvey makes some progress, and we learn that he’s struggled with his anger for some time. But in suppressing it for the greater good, he’s created a volatile personality, one that is coming to the surface even now.

But just when Harvey thinks he’s got it under control, Thorne tries blackmailing him when he learns about his “Big Bad Harv” personality. Harvey meets with Thorne in person, and when Thorne demands him to look the other way, this puts Harvey over the edge. He attacks Thorne and his men, and they intend to do him in. Batman saves Harvey, but not before he is exposed to a massive explosion. The result is horrific facial scarring and a rage that refuses to subside.

This marks the ending of the first half, and we see a great deal of turmoil coming form all sides. As Harvey’s world falls apart, we can’t help but sympathize, and it feels rushed in the course of one episode, and it’s precisely the speed at which its delivered that makes it so powerful.

Harvey was seen as early as the pilot, flipping a coin and conversing with law enforcement. Therefore, the reference is made the instant he appears, and is by no means milked over time. In fact, any reference to Harvey in the show is understated right up to this point. You can identify him by name or his coin from the comics. But his cool nature in all other occurrences make the shift as surprising to the viewers as it does to the characters on screen. By the end, he seems lost, and we can’t help but wonder how he got there.

As the second half begins, Harvey has embraced his fallen reputation and new resources. He uses all of his efforts to defeat Thorne, and relies entirely on his coin to make decisions. It’s no longer a prop or a gimmick; it’s the cornerstone of his world. Harvey managed to best Thorne and become the new kingpin in town. Batman tries to stop him in the name of his friendship as Bruce, and his partnership with him as Batman when he was District Attorney. But in the end, Harvey’s scarring, both physical and emotional, is too much to recover from. Batman manages to defeat Two Face by throwing mess of coins into the air, throwing Two Face’s world on its head. There should be a sense of victory, but the episode is concluded by a profound sense of defeat, the kind where a man loses a friend and gains an enemy.

This is a truly incredible episode because it utilizes the understating of several previous episodes, not just the action of this one. Even if you’re viewing this episode alone, the performance is enough to set it all in context, and to put you in Bruce’s position. An upstanding man is met with horribly unjust circumstances and must suffer as s result of trying to do well by him and others. And it reminds viewers that Batman’s struggle for justice is not just to avenge his parents, it’s to put right the wrongs of the present day. But even Batman is helpless to stop some tragedies. The episode is essential to the series because it captures the tormented nature of a secondary character and makes his struggle viewers can feel in excruciating detail. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Bat or a casual viewer, you still feel the pain of a man who tried to do right, but lost his way.

3) Mad Love

When Harley Quinn first appeared in “Joker’s Favor,” she was immediately acclaimed by fans and reused by writers. No one was expecting her to become so popular, and this made it all the more challenging ot develop an impressive backstory for her. After all, there were several facets that needed to be addressed. Who was she really? How did she get involved with the Joker? And who does she keep coming back to him? The series had already amassed a great collection of backstory arcs. But with so much on the line, and with few episodes left in the series, a great impact had to be made. And it blew everyone away when the truth was finally revealed.

After a botched attempt at dispatching Gordon, Joker and Harley retreat to their lair. Harley is rebuffed by her Mr. J, and she reflects on how her life got to this point.

She was a psychiatrist at Arkham that tried to learn the Joker’s secrets. But her sessions grew more personal, and even romantic. She would have done anything for him, and one night after Batman had returned Joker to Arkham, she was resolved to help him escape for good.

It’s a story that answers all of the audience’s questions, and puts the entire relationship in context. More impressive still is that the Joker’s mind warping capabilities surpass those of even his doctor. This makes the relationship a twisted one built on Harley’s good intentions, and shows just how skewed the foundation of it all is. However, Harley is never depicted as foolish. She’s shown to be intelligent, capable, and caring. It’s the Joker’s manipulation of Harley’s affections that make her so dedicated to him, and how he has such a hold on her despite all he puts her through.

As the episode continues, Harley believes that Batman is the key to her misery. With Batman gone, she’ll be free to settle down with her Mr. J. She therefore sets out a carefully laid out plan, and pleads through videotape that Batman protect her in exchange for turning state’s evidence. She manages to meet Batman on the docks, and tricks him into being sedated. When he wakes up, he’s suspended upside down above a piranha tank.

Harley tells Batman her motive, and the thought of Harley and thinking the Joker could love her makes him laugh. Batman reveals that the Joker has been manipulating him like this for his whole life, and that she’s just hired help to him. She refuses to accept this, and nearly lets Batman die. But he convinces her that Joker must witness the death to believe it occurred.

Harley calls the Joker, and he rushes to the scene. But on arriving, he’s not pleased, he’s furious. He claims that this can only end with Joker killing Batman. Harley insists that it’s still the Joker’s plan, and she explains why it works. But this angers the Sadistic Jester further. He exclaims that by explaining how this joke works, she’s ruined it. He follows up by pushing Harley out of a nearby window.

Batman and the Joker have a final battle atop a train and it ends with Joker falling to his supposed death.

Harley is soon returned to Arkham as a patient, where she resolves to never get involved with the Joker again. But before she can finalize her personal oath, she looks inside her cell and sees a small flower, and she knows two things for certain. Joker is still alive and that she loves him still.

This proves to be one of the saddest and most effective episodes of BTAS. With Harley appealing to so many viewers, she needed concrete backstory. This was worth the wait. The view of the Joker’s relationship with Harley is a take on abusive relationships in general, and makes us sympathize with her immensely. The episode does raise several questions as to what kind of message is being exposed to child viewers, but instead of acting as an informative PSA, it is a brutally honest take on a character who is imperfect and likeable. In the end, we can’t help but wonder why Harley is still hooked on Mr. J.

2) Trial

In one of the more self-analyzing episodes of BTAS, we see that Batman’s villains remain in Arkham and are on the brink of hatching a dastardly plot. But as to what that is, we are uncertain.

Janet Van Dorn, Gotham’s newest District Attorney has been taking the city by storm, and her take on crime and punishment differs greatly from the Dark Knight. She believes that Batman has no regard for the legal system and is not only deserving of jail time, but is single handedly responsible for creating these super criminals that plague Gotham’s streets.

This is a highly engaging episode, as it focuses on answering a long-held fan question: are Batman’s actions causing more crime than he is solving? This question has been probed several times over the course of the series, and is usually self-fulfilling. In “The Man Who Killed Batman” for example, Joker refuses to follow through on a jewelry heist because Batman doesn’t appear. This among other examples has drawn the motives of several villains into question, and viewers finally get to see their theories tested.

Batman is apprehended by thugs and taken to trial, and an intriguing challenge is posed. Joker is to be judge, Two Face the prosecution, and Batman is to be defended by the District Attorney that opposes his ideals. If he wins, then they’ll be let go. If not, Batman will be dealt with as the jury sees fit.

This launches a small series of cross-examinations of villains. Most of Batman’s rivals and enemies are present in the room, and this leads to a wide variety of examples you an choose from. The Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn are among those chosen. When questioned, Mad Hatter claims that Batman took Alice away from him, and that he had no choice but to take criminal action. This proves to be a weak excuse, as he claims that instead of respecting Alice’s wishes “I would have killed her first.” With this shocking revelation, Janet Van Dorn begins to see a correlation.

She continues her interrogations, and this time questions Poison Ivy. The botanical beauty claims that Batman is a threat to her plants, and she makes him out to be single-handedly responsible for her actions. But instead, Janet begins plucking the petals from a flower in front of the witness. Poison Ivy demands she stop, but when Janet continues, a fight ensues. The more the criminal testimonies line up, the more Janet is convinced Batman is not the cause of their actions. So far, a madman refused to take the responsible course of action, and vile villainess cares more for plants than people.

And finally, there’s Harley Quinn. After an extended series of jokes and affections between her and Judge Joker, Janet insists that the Joker twisted Harley Quinn’s mind. Harley insists that Janet is jealous, but Janet reveals that the Joker ratted Harley out to get time off of his sentence. Harley inquires, and when the Joker doesn’t deny it, she goes wild.

The last testimony proves to be more humorous than relevant, but it shows that out of three statements, none of them can tie Batman directly to their actions. Instead, it seems that these super criminals project their shortcomings and motives onto Batman as an excuse. Therefore, Van Dorn comes to the conclusion that instead of Batman creating these criminals, these criminals have created Batman. This proves a shocking twist, and one that deserves special attention. There are other cases to consider, as there is only so much room for testimonies when the episode must run under thirty minutes, but it provides a unique insight into a complex issue.

By the end, the criminals declare that Batman is not guilty, but they proceed with their judgment on him. Just as they’re about to unmask the Caped Crusader, Van Dorn throws a stray batarang at the light fixture, and this gives Batman the chance he needs to escape. The fight ends, and Janet makes her peace with Batman just before dawn. They both hope that some day, despite their differences, they’ll achieve a world where Batman is no longer needed.

As this episode comes to a close, it offers a fascinating insight to an issue many fans have speculated over Batman’s extensive history. By reacting to criminal activity, it provides a motive on its own for Gotham’s Rogue’s Gallery. While some comic book writers have attempted to delve into the psychology of their villains (especially in the Bronze Age), Batman sets itself apart by making the psychology of each villain the dominating factor and drive that keeps readers coming back. However, with psychology acting as the primary focus, it’s easy to make judgments about psychology pertaining to the hero as well. Batman feels the need to fight crime because he failed to keep his family out of harm’s way that one night. It’s a simple solution, and one prone to over-simplicity.

By the same token, many of the villains have suffered numerous tragedies. The Riddler was swindled out of his earnings for a game franchise, the Penguin was treated like a monster, so he became one. And Clayface was morphed into a monstrosity, and Scarecrow’s obsession with fear morphed him into becoming a criminal. Yet for all these complex and varied backstories, one must wonder if criminals would bother taking to the streets if there was no challenge. Would Gotham be safer without Batman? Many are inclined to say yes.

However, Batman was born as a result of someone else’s criminal activity. Joe Chill (in the original and dominating storyline) killed Bruce’s parents and disappeared into the night. This left Batman in a state of psychological trauma that drives him even to this day. So perhaps it’s right to say that one man’s criminal activity caused Batman to be born, but can this be generalized to the entire Rogue’s Gallery?

Each criminal has a reason for starting out that is completely divorced from Batman. By not being able to cope with their grief, resentment, or trauma, they became an identity on their own. With such narcissistic and obsessive figures, it’s no surprise that they’re looking for someone to blame for their misfortunes. When Batman impedes their criminal progress, they immediately latch onto him, claiming that if it wasn’t for him, the game wouldn’t have the same appeal to them. But in the end, the roots of their damage go well before Batman. He just happens to be their current struggle. So therefore, it makes sense to say that they created Batman. In the same way that many of the Rogues became a monster they thought they were, Batman became the hero that he thought people needed. Any lingering resentments are built on soft foundations, and need to be redirected elsewhere. Thankfully, these villains focus on crime and give readers and viewers riveting stories that will last a lifetime.

If there’s anything to be learned from this episode it’s that snap judgments or projection of guilt never leads to a successful conclusion. Blaming others only renders someone unable to move on. Therefore, that pain should be used as a catalyst for the greater good, just like we see Batman do every night.

It appears that there are two kinds of people in Gotham, those who let their trauma define their lives, and those who let trauma drive their ambitions. So which will we be?

1) Almost Got’im

While there have been many stories that have captivated audiences throughout the course of this series, few are as recognizable and worth watching repeatedly as “Almost Got’im.” This serves as a laid-back, well written, and captivating story that balances five villains at once. Each tells the story of how they almost defeated Batman, and all of this is done amid the atmosphere of a poker game.

The episode begins with the villains gathering in underground club, each of them trying to hide from the Caped Crusader. The roster includes the Joker, Two Face, Penguin, Killer Croc, and Poison Ivy. The poker game begins, and the question is raised as to who has come the closest. In an attempt to answer this lingering question, each tells their story.

Poison Ivy recounts how she nearly defeated Batman with exploding pumpkins the previous Halloween. Two Face tells the story of how he apprehended Batman and how he flipped him on a gigantic coin. Penguin recalls his “Aviary of Doom” heist, and Croc recounts how he once threw a rock at Batman. Each story is confined to a short runtime, and is reacted to by the other villains in a casual, yet humorous fashion. Joker claims that he has the best story of all, and claims it was attempted just the previous evening.

Joker tried to electrocute Batman during a televised event called “Late Night Gotham Live.” He tied the Dark Knight to an electric chair activated by laughter. He then filled the studio audience with laughing gas, and he was nearly bested. But Catwoman saved Batman, and the Joker’s plan was foiled. The story seems to have ended, but Joker claims that the story isn’t over. As he tried to escape, Catwoman caught up to him, and Harley knocked Catwoman unconscious when she was distracted. Croc asks if that was the end of it, but Joker says the punch line is yet to come. He has Catwoman in a pet food factory. Harley is going to push the infatuated feline into the meat grinder, and will send a case of cat food to Batman.

Croc stands up, and says, “I don’t think so.” It’s revealed that Batman was really disguised as Croc all along. The Rogues presiding over the poker table say Batman is outgunned, but its revealed that all other patrons of the underground club are in fact police. Batman hurries to the factory, and stops Harley from disposing of Catwoman.

That night was a great victory, but Catwoman says that perhaps there’s a chance for her and Batman in the future where they won’t need masks. Batman smiles at the possibility, and Catwoman attempts to kiss him. She is distracted for a moment, and Batman flies off into the night. To which she responds “almost got’im.”

This episode is structurally and artistically sublime. While most episodes focus on one villain at a time, this venture had multiple villains all in one room. Yet the plot ever feels overstuffed or convoluted, because there are several short stories that are given enough time to react to. The insistence that everyone’s story be heard to judge its brilliance also keeps the plot (or multiple plots) moving. The episode is effortless in its pacing, and the chemistry between villains is not only rare, but supremely enjoyable. The ability for Joker to poke fun at Penguin, or Ivy to reference having dated Two Face makes for a laughable and enjoyable dynamic.

By the end of the episode, it turns out that all of these efforts to prove who was the best was leading to a satisfying conclusion. The addition of another twist isn’t convoluted or forced, but rather speaks to a profound sense of self-awareness. As great as it is to hear the villains shoot the breeze, each episode should be able to tell a comprehensive story with a rewarding takeaway. By having Batman present the entire time, a whole new plot develops in the course of a single line, and makes for an excellent payoff.

This episode is a joy to watch from start to finish. Plus the ability to use a plot twist and casual conversation to their fullest extent make for an incredible level of writing. This is BTAS at the peak of its powers, and this is the surest of itself that the series has ever been. With so many facets of the story working seamlessly, it makes us feel like we’re sitting at the table without favorite baddies. And what’s more is that we’re not afraid of them for an instant. They’re not demonized, overlooked, or undervalued, they’re not even acting like villains. They’re surprisingly human. Half of the power of Batman comes from him, and the other comes from whoever he happens to be facing in any given panel, episode, or film. With so many of these iconic villains gathered in one place, and with all of them at their most human, it’s one of the most cherished occurrences among fans to this day.  

[redjayson]

What's your new idea?

season 2 young justice au!!

there’s not a clear timeline on when jason became robin and died in canon, so i can just handwave it and say jason’s alive and doing his lost days thing by the time s2 has rolled around

that’s where things get interesting. the reach are looking for people with metahuman genes, and the lazarus pit isn’t exactly metahuman genes, but it’s something different. it’s not atlantean and not natural and it clings like a residue to jason. 

(the reach might not even recognize it as the same thing that clings to ra’s al ghul because have they ever actually met him in person or did they always just talk with the light over their oversized television screens? probably the latter.)

the reach like to kidnap kids with metahuman genes, but above all they like to kidnap kids that no one will miss. jason is wandering through europe all by himself, training; he checks in with talia every week or so, but she mostly leaves him to do his own thing. 

he’s an easy target.

talia doesn’t even worry for over a week after the fact. it’s not like they keep in contact that closely. and by the time she realizes something’s wrong – 

she doesn’t really have any idea where to start.

when the young justice team finally infiltrate the reach’s base, jason’s been there for weeks. 

impulse speeds around looking for blue beetle, but he takes the time to jab at control panels as he breezes past, setting everyone the reach has captured free. jason stumbles out of his prison, dizzy and shaking, before starting to gather the other prisoners in the room into some semblance of order. he hasn’t been robin for a while, but there’s a tone of command and authority that you gain from being a superhero that you can never really let go of.

jason pulls the hood of his jacket over his head and they all start making their way through the reach ship. shaky as he is, jason still manages to down a reach guard he gets the drop on, and he manages to steal a gun. a weird alien gun, but any gun is basically a gun.

after that they hook up with the rest of the superheroes that have infiltrated the reach ship and freed the prisoners. jason keeps his head turned to the side, allowing the faint shadows of the hood to hide his face as soon as he noticess nightwing and batgirl and any of the other superheroes who might recognize him.

(he doesn’t have any other option for escaping the reach ship other than boarding miss martian’s bio ship. he’ll have to hope he can hide among the others and slip away after they land.)

of course, jason’s luck is absolute shit. he’s almost resigned to it at this point.

jason’s helping the other superheroes herd the prisoners on board m’gann’s ship, sniping from a corner at anyone trying to stop them, when black beetle interferes. they all make it out, though not without being tossed around a good bit, and jason somehow ends up being one of the few that have remained conscious, so it’s his role to start dragging unconscious superheroes onto the ship.

once blue beetle shows up, that gets a lot easier, but jason’s pretty banged up in the whole process, reaction time slower against a reach beetle and after being held for weeks (being tortured and experimented on for weeks).

jason slumps against one of the walls of the ship once they’re finally all inside. he doesn’t care how damp it is from the rush of seawater that m’gann has since cleared out. he’s tired.

“hey,” says a blonde, a year or two younger than him, sitting down next to him. jason vaguely recognizes her as one of his fellow prisoners. he practically threw her onto the ship trying to shove her out of the way of one of black beetle’s attacks. “you probably saved my life. thanks.”

jason laughs. “no problem,” he says. and, slightly grudgingly, “it wasn’t all me.” the team is due its thanks as well. none of them would be getting out of this if it weren’t for them.

(jason wouldn’t be getting out if it weren’t for them. he’d be trapped here until he died, just the same way he was with the joker.)

the girl starts. “you sound like home,” she says. 

jason considers her. she sounds like gotham. more than that, she sounds like him.

“crime alley kids gotta stick together,” he says.

the girl laughs. “steph,” she says, holding out her hand.

“…jason,” jason says, and he takes it. 

fast as m’gann’s ship is, it still takes time to get places, even if it’s probably faster than any commercial airplane. when you’ve apparently been held out in the middle of the ocean somewhere, it takes hours to get back to land and wherever you’ve been kidnapped from. jason was in europe, and these kids were taken from all over the world, but the justice league – and the team – are located in the united states. that’s where they’re heading.

the flight takes long enough that the team members are trying to talk to everyone who was taken, getting names and places they can go, reassuring them that everything is going to be all right. 

jason tucks himself even more firmly into his corner, trying to hide in the shadows, but he knows there’s nothing he can do. everything he had planned and talked to talia about and started training for – it ended the moment he was taken by the reach.

he’d thought he was going to die there, held by the reach. the team rescued them all instead, but everything was still ruined. he could still bounce back, somehow, he could still kill the joker, but it would be so much harder.

well, so far jason hadn’t let even death stop him. he’s at least going to try.

it’s nightwing who comes to talk to jason and steph, two crime alley kids sitting in their corner away from the others. of course it’s nightwing. 

jason has his hood pulled low over his head, his hands clenched in his sleeves so they won’t betray him through shaking, his head ducked just enough to allow him to peer through his bangs at nightwing’s approach. the first robin crouches in front of them.

“hey,” nightwing says, in his ‘frightened civilians’ voice. it’s gentle and calm and jason hates it, hates the way he remembers working alongside nightwing and practicing his own voice for when he had to talk to victims. 

“you’re nightwing,” steph says, her voice faintly awed. 

“yep,” nightwing says cheerily, and no one who didn’t know him would be able to pick out how strained his voice is under that faked emotion. sounds like the golden boy had been having a rough time of it recently. “and you are?”

“stephanie,” steph says. “brown. i’m from gotham.”

“awesome,” nightwing says, and a little real warmth seeps into his voice. for all jason’s heard that nightwing has been operating more in blüdhaven now than in gotham (when he isn’t working with the team), gotham is still where all the robins got their start. “and your friend?”

“i don’t know,” jason says, dagger-sharp. he looks up and meets nightwing’s eyes behind the domino mask. “why don’t you tell me, nightwing?”

nightwing goes a very gratifying shade of white.

“jason,” he says. he reaches out, like he wants to touch jason–

jason slaps his hand away, up and on his feet before he’s even thinking about it, taking a few swift steps back but keeping his back to the bio ship’s walls. nightwing stands slowly, hands held at his shoulders. it’s not reassuring; jason knows how fast nightwing can slip from one stance to another, knows the kind of insane tricks no one but an acrobat could manage to slip into their fighting skills. 

all the civilians and superheroes alike in the main hold of the bio ship have turned to watch them, some more stealthily than others. jason can see the two other bats – babs and jason’s replacement – focus intently nightwing and the situation he’s in.

jason’s skin crawls. 

“jason,” nightwing says again. he doesn’t take his eyes off jason’s face. his voice is probably supposed to be soothing, but all it does is make jason start to shake.

“piss off,” jason says. his voice breaks halfway through.

he thought he could do this, but he can’t. he thought he could pretend for long enough to get to land and slip away from them all, but he can’t. they’re in the air, in this tiny ship, and there’s no escape. he can’t get away.

nightwing edges one careful step forward, and jason breaks. he lashes out at nightwing, and then the speedster – not west, it’s not kid flash, it’s someone else – is slamming him against the ship wall and jason thinks he might be screaming and then there’s a quick pain in his arm and everything fades away.

(an interlude:

“what did you do?” nightwing yells at impulse. blood is trailing down from his broken nose, but he still staggers forward to catch the slumped form of his brother. 

“i helped,” bart says.

“did you,” nightwing says viciously, cradling jason’s head in his lap. 

bart thinks about jason’s regrets, the old stories he’d told in the dead of night, the memories of what his family had been and how long it had taken them to reconcile in the aftermath of how hard and dangerous jason had made himself in order to fight against them. he had told bart the kinds of things he had done. 

you’re going to save us all, jason said, shortly before bart left. he smiled a little. unless you screw it up. try not to. and– jason hesitated. try to stay away from me, kid. i won’t know you. i might hurt you. there was a time i didn’t care who i hurt, as long as i got what i wanted.

did you ever? bart asked.

no.

 bart doesn’t know what ripples he spread that made jason end up in the hands of the reach, and he really doesn’t like that it happened and what other unforeseen things might have been set into motion that he had never considered having to deal with, but a little part of him is glad this happened. he has to be more concerned with stopping the reach apocalypse than anything else, but for the man who had been a presence in his life and told him all sorts of things he might need to know about the superheroes as they had been –

yeah. he’s glad it turned out this way. even if this jason hates him for it.

“yes,” bart says. he swallows any doubt. “it’s a sedative. he should wake up fine in a few hours.”

after they’ve landed.

jason told him about his slightly higher resistance to drugs after his resurrection, in case impulse ever ended up against red hood despite jason’s warnings to stay away from his past self. bart just prays he calculated it accurately.

nightwing gathers jason into his arms and stalks past bart, into the front with m’gann. bart retreats to his position by jaime and tries not to think about the future.)

jason wakes up in a white room, one hand cuffed to the bed he’s laying in. 

he’s…kind of offended. 

it’s a matter of moments to slip the cuff, but the door is locked from the outside. jason sweeps the room, then sits back down on the bed, staring disdainfully at the camera perched in a corner of the ceiling. he doesn’t touch the water or the covered tray sitting on the table next to the bed. 

he isn’t sure how long it’s been before he hears a knock on the door. black canary steps in, closing the door behind her.

“dick couldn’t be bothered to come himself?” jason spits. or bruce, he thinks, and shoves away the hurt.

black canary sits in the only chair in the room, pulling it towards the bed. not enough to crowd jason, just enough to mimic the therapy sessions they’ve all ended up having with her at one time or another. 

jason really isn’t looking forward to this.

“i thought i might be the better person for you to talk to,” black canary says neutrally. “given your reaction to nightwing earlier.”

jason scowls.

“jason…” black canary says. “i hope you understand this is a delicate situation. if this is anything like red arrow and arsenal–”

jason laughs. he doesn’t know who arsenal is, but he has to hazard a guess that it’s the real roy harper. looks like they managed to find him after all.  

“can you tell us what happened?” black canary asks. “how did you end up in the reach’s hands?”

when we all thought you were dead, remains unspoken, but it hangs heavy in the air. 

jason thinks about the whole mess of it, the bomb and waking up in his grave and drowning in the endless green of the lazarus pit. he thinks about the weeks he’s been out of contact with talia, wonders if she even bothered to search for him. he thinks about the replacement, standing next to batgirl like it was his right. 

“figure it out yourselves,” jason says. 

everything’s there, if they bothered to look. talia found him in gotham, and jason knows she wasn’t lying to him. he isn’t a clone, because there was simply no time for them to have taken him, no reason to implant memories of his death and the grave in his mind, no need for talia to push a clone into the lazarus pit when she could simply have grown one that wasn’t hurt like he was. 

jason lays down with his back to black canary and waits until she leaves before he buries his head under the pillow to hide any tears that might seep out.

i’m going to end this here because it turned into a fic more than an outline, oops, but:

batman is off In Space per canon and has no idea that jason is alive and that they’ve found him. between the team pretending the justice league is still on planet and jason’s kidnapping, jason doesn’t realize this

he definitely thinks bruce abandoned him. ouch.

remember how i mentioned jason was grabbed by the reach because of the lazarus pit? remember how he was one of the very few left conscious by black beetle tossing superheroes around like ragdolls? yeah there’s a reason for that

what does the lazarus pit do?

it heals people

even without a metahuman gene of his own, the reach still messed around with him enough that the little amount of lazarus in his system sparked and gave him some healing abilities

not what future!jason told bart about, because that jason hadn’t ever been kidnapped by the reach

i’m undecided whether it’s pretty minor healing or wolverine-style or even full on captain jack harkness, where jason keeps waking up after every time he dies (wouldn’t that suck?)

with jason in the mix, the runaways probably manage to escape earlier. assuming that they keep jason with them, because jason is a) a bat, someone who has a vigilante family who desperately wants him back and would fight to take him, b) has a healing ability, and it seems like that would be a very iffy thing to test ethically, and c) a bat – it’d be hell trying to contain him (a facility that’s good enough for the runaways, and barely at that, would in no way be sufficient to hold a bat that didn’t want to be there), and also probably d) under suspicion for Everything

jason has really bad claustrophobia now. between the grave and weeks spent being tortured in something the same size as his coffin – 

yeah.

season 2 au~

[itsdragonfire13]

Dreams

Dick dreams of a boy no one knows, but he loves him anyways.

Pairing: Dick Grayson/Wally West

EDIT: Also on AO3

Notes: @acegraysons I’m finally getting around to posting thoughs Birdflash 1-shots that have been collecting dust in my google docs. This is kind of inspired by the DC rebirth where Wally came back from so many months ago...

Dick dreams of a boy with hair like fire, eyes as green as emeralds, that glint with life, love, and happiness always pointed towards him. He dreams of a smile that makes people stop and stare, a laugh that is contagious and could have a whole city laughing and smiling right besides him. He dreams of a boy whose hands are gentle with their touch and a hug that could crush bones, but makes him feel special.

Dick dreams of a boy that isn’t real, but makes his heart ache and cry every morning when he wakes up alone.

“I’m fine Bruce.” Dick groans as he drops into the bar stool besides the counter in his apartment. A box of cereal besides him, “I just haven’t been sleeping well alright? A new case is taking up my time.” He lies easily, he can’t sleep because his bed feels too large(one night stands don’t help, if anything they make it worse). “Look I’ll take the weekend off and just sleep, no superheroing what’s so ever okay?” Dick asks, forcing his voice to stay neutral and not come out as pleading, he just wants Bruce to drop it. His fine. 

“...If you need any help.”

“I’ll call you or Tim okay? Shouldn’t you be getting some sleep anyways, I mean I watched the news last night and I’m guessing you haven’t slept for a few days-.” Dick pauses as he hears the click and knows Bruce hung up. “Always gets him.” Dick hums before staring at the cereal in slowly disgust. “If only I had someone to cook for me…. Someone that I didn’t have to go all the way to Gotham to get to.” Dick hums ignoring the ache of pain in him that keeps appearing whenever he thinks of something small like this.

“....Maybe I have waffles or something.” Dick opens the fridge and freezer before deciding to order out. His sick of cereal and feels an old ache of pain in his hand when he thought about cooking himself, like someone use to slap his hand whenever he did.

Dick dreams of a boy who loves the colors red and yellow, who makes horrible science puns that Dick finds hilarious. He dreams of a boy who always answers when he calls, or sends a text if he can’t answer a call. Dick dreams of a boy who loves to run, and will carry him anywhere he wants to go. He dreams of lightning bolts, and whispered secrets with the words “Best friends forever bro.” before the boy is gone, running like the Flash.

And then he wakes up, confused, chest aching for someone who’s not real, and a tingle on his lips from a kiss. 

“Hey, Tim.” Dick asks one day when the third bird wonder is half dead to the world. He gets a noise which Dick takes that Tim is awake enough for the question but will most likely not remember. “Does Bart have any relatives besides Barry and Iris?”

Tim makes a sound that Dick knows is a ‘no’, before Tim blacks out on his keyboard and Dick carries him to bed. Dick uses the computer not even ten minutes later and finding out everything he can on Barry Allen, known relatives, history, everything. There’s no mention of a redheaded speedster, with emerald eyes, and a smile that lights up Dick’s world.

Dick dreams of a boy who gives him special smiles that he knows are only for him. Gives him looks that promise something more than words could give. A boy who says “If you’re going, I’m going.” but means so much more. He dreams of a boy who knows his past, knows everything about him. He dreams of a boy who makes him smiles even on the anniversary of his family’s death. And then he wakes up, tears in his eyes, an ache in his chest, and the feeling that he's lost his whole world. Dick wakes with a name on his lips, that he knows by heart, but yet doesn’t know.

Dick stops trying to date, he stops even thinking about any other, he ignores the looks others give him, when he looks towards his right expecting to see someone who’s not there. He takes more hits on patrol as his body is expecting someone else to be there watching his back. He works himself to exhaustion trying be Nightwing, officer Grayson, work on cases, and hide the secret case that he only realizes he's working on when he has a detailed notebook filled with everything about the boy that his remembering.

He watches Bart in his red and white costume, watches as Bart laughs, smiles, moves and finds everything about it wrong. He watches how Impulse and Robin move, how they talk, and finds it so, so wrong. He leaves the Team again, not remembering why he did the first time, but knowing that something is slowly driving him crazy and knows that it has to do with the boy in his dreams.

Dick knows he needs to stop, he needs to tell someone about these dreams, but he can’t they’re too personal, like it’s only for him to see and know. Dick never says a word no matter how much his heart pulls him to Keystone, and a house that’s been abandoned for years, he doesn’t understand why he feels at home in a small room with an old Flash poster ripped in half, just like the manor feels like home. A lightning bolt is carved into the wall, but other then that there is nothing, not even under a board that looked to have been hiding things for years.

Dick dreams of a boy who holds him tightly like if he lets go, he’ll disappear. He dreams of a boy who runs at him with superspeed and lifts him up into a hug and won’t let him go for hours if they don’t see each other for a few days. He dreams of a boy who knows how he fights like the back of his hand, he dreams of boy who promises to stand besides him forever and always. A boy that whispers “I love you” against his lips, and whispers comfort when Jason dies, a boy who says “Remember me birdie, that’s all you have to do.”

Dick wakes up hating himself, because he can’t remember, no matter how much he wants to.

Dick flinches at strong winds, he loves the smell of cookies though, and doesn’t wrinkle his nose at burned rubber, like his use to it. He always glances to the Flashes expecting to see a third speedster laughing with them while giving a look that promised so much.

Dick tries and tries to remember, but nothing comes. He quits being Nightwing and forces himself to ignore the looks and questions everyone gives him. He can’t be a hero anymore not until he solves this and he remembers. It’s a stupid joke that a random person on the street says to their friend as he walks passed that causes him to pause.

He can’t and doesn’t bother to remember the joke as he brings out his phone, fingers hovering over a name that isn’t their while huffing “Wally’s going to think that one is hilarious.” and feels like the breaths been knocked out of him. Dick doesn’t know how, but he manages to get back to his apartment and plows through his notes, adding names and dates of things, all while whispering the name “Wally.” Over and over, like a chant, a part of him hopes that if he says it enough ‘Wally’ will come back. 

Dick dreams of a boy named Wally, who stares at him like he's expecting something, Dick gives him what he can. “Wally, your name's Wally.” Dick tells him and watches as his given that smile like Dick’s hit the jackpot. “And-” Wally tilts his head at the and “you’re real, you’re not just a weird dream I can’t let go of. You’re real and we know each other, no. We love each other.”

“Yep.” Wally says popping the ‘p’. “I’m coming home soon, I expect a feast.”

Dick couldn’t help but snort “I can’t cook to save my life, I’ve been living on cereal, ramen, and take out.”

Wally laughed before leaning his forehead against Dick’s and saying “Then I’ll just have to cook a feast for you.”

Dick jerked awake, eyes wide and looked around his room, disappointment in him as he finds himself alone and wonders when Wally’s coming.

“You sure took your time.” Dick hums as he holds Wally as tight as he can against his chest. The speedster in question just hums, his limbs almost jelly like as he goes boneless against Dick. “Hmm.” Wally hums and tries to press closer while Dick wonders if he has enough to feed a hungry speedster who’s been running for almost a year. He can probably order enough take out. “Don’t ever do that again.” Dick whispered into the red hair, feeling the soft vibrations Wally was letting off and knowing he should call someone, the League, the Team, Bruce, or at the very least Barry and Bart.

But he doesn’t as he smiles and feels that ache in his chest leave as he says with as much love as he can “Love you.”

“...Love you to Dick.” Is Wally’s soft reply before Dick knows the speedster’s dead to the world.