thewitchblue

[thewitchblue]

"This is my girlfriend."

Cass said causally during a family meeting. She kissed your cheek and smiled the warm smile you were so familiar with, which you returned with a lovesick smile of your own. You loved Cass more than anything. She was so brave and loved with her entire being.

Cass felt like she had no need to worry. Tim came out already. She knows for a fact that Damian is experimenting by the way he talks and his subtle change in demeanour. Something is up with him. She suspects he'll come out if her coming out goes well.

Bruce smiled softly at his daughter. A part of him had always known that she was a lesbian by her semi-homosexual friendship with Stephanie, but he let her come to him. He was happy that she found love in someone the family can love immediately.

Tim bumped her shoulder with a smile on his face. He was proud that she could find the confidence to not only come out but also bring home a girlfriend the same day. It took him forever to even consider bringing Bernard to the manor. He loved him, but Tim was anxious when introducing him.

He noticed the way you gently squeezed her hand to guide her out of her thoughts, and the clear adoration in your gaze solidified your place in the family, in Tim's mind. Yes, it's fast. Does he care? Not particularly. He trusts her judgement when it comes to your character and your genuine love for her shines in every action between you both.

Jason didn't care. At all. Why should he? You care about Cass, and it's not his life being altered. It probably isn't even altering Cass' life in any way, either. She likes girls, so what? He doesn't even live at the manor, so he won't be around enough to see the lovely couple.

Dick was about to pull you into a hug to welcome you into the bird nest, but Cass stepped in front of you protectively, so he let it go. He still grinned when you kissed her cheek gratefully. Everybody is finding their own love, and he was filled with so much joy about it. He greeted you with open arms and an excited grin. His baby sister found happiness among the chaos of their lives, and he was beyond joyful about it.

Damian shrugged it off. Congratulations? He was only annoyed at the timing. Jon was coming over after the meeting, and now he has to tell Jon to avoid asking too many questions. The Super Sons need time to figure everything out between them. Damian needs to exhaust all his tests before making a decision even if Jon is certain.

Why did Cass give Damian's scowling face a knowing look? What does she know? He glared at her when she whispered something softly to you. You both chuckled. Cass kissed you as he stormed out of the cave. He will not be dealing with this today. Meeting over.

Bruce watched his son storm away carefully. He knew something was brewing under the surface, but he wanted to celebrate Cass at the same time. His son needed time to cool off before Bruce could talk to him in the first place. Maybe Jon will help calm him down when he comes to the manor.

Bruce gave Cass a hug that told her everything. She was loved, accepted, and he welcomed you into the family for however long you stayed together. She didn't need to know anything further from him, and he didn't feel the need to voice anything that was just shared personally between the two. Cass felt all the words Bruce had choked in his throat, and he felt all the words she wanted to say to him as well.

Dick managed to sneak a hug when Cass wasn't looking and whispered in your ear,

"Welcome to the family. Don't hurt her, or we will find you and ruin your life."

You believed him, but you don't plan to let her go, so you brush off the threat. You simply moved back to her side and slid your hand into hers. Your love isn't fragile. It won't shatter with threats from family members.

You expected more resistance, if anything. You assumed you would have to fight for Cass. She had laughed when she watched you jokingly pretend to box Bruce, but you were honestly expecting so much worse.

The family's reaction was the tamest you've ever been introduced as a lesbian couple. They just... accepted you. You didn't have to fight. You didn't have to play nice. You didn't have to pretend. It was just honest acceptance and totally unexpected.

You knew Cass had a bisexual brother, but you didn't know how his coming out went except what the public was told happened, which you expected to be twisted into a likeable and polished story rather than the actual events that occurred, yet you were wrong. The family didn't care that you were a lesbian couple. They cared about Cass' well-being above all else. You kept waiting for a negative response, but none came. They treated you like you were a human, and you couldn't be more relieved.

You smiled warmly at Cass and lightly squeezed her hand. You will be following this love story with her, hand-in-hand and ready to take on the world.

[thewitchblue]

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Tim asked, hurt. His own twin was hiding a secret lair. How did you even build this thing with nobody noticing? He felt betrayed. You mumbled while searching for a way to get the entire family out of your lair,

"It was the only thing I can call my own without needing to sibling tax half of it."

That hurt Tim even more because it's true. Everything you two have and everything you both do is together or split between you two. That's not always a bad thing, but it's nice to have something not tied to Tim for once in your life. You both work together better than anybody else and even suffer when apart in a lot of aspects, but you desperately need some autonomy, and so does Tim.

"We could have done so much illegal stuff in here, idiot."

Tim said, and just like that, the tension between you two broke. You ran towards him as he opened his arms to hug you.

"That's your fault that you brought them with you, stupid."

Your muffle voice said, officially smothering yourself into Tim's chest. Tim scoffed as he pulled you into a tighter embrace. How was he supposed to know this totally evil looking tower would be yours? You disabled all of your trackers and even cut out the one Tim thought he was subtle in injecting. He's certain you injected one into him, so he figured fair is fair.

"How did you even find the tracker I put in you? I placed it right next to your femoral artery. You could have died."

You smirked. The tracker wasn't small enough. He was an idiot not to put it into the artery itself like you did. There would be no way to cut it out because it was constantly moving inside his body. You said happily,

"I didn't, though!"

Tim rolled his eyes. Fine. You always were mechanically gifted. All of their newer tech was made by you and your brilliant brain. Who even thinks about half of the gear they have on them? You came up with nanotechnology specifically to track Tim. Who else would go that far just for Tim? It's saved him from many villains, but it's borderline insane and completely uncalled for. The worst part is that he hasn't found the device that displayed his specific tracking information. If he could, he would just take whatever device with him.

The device is actually inside your middle finger because it is hilarious to you. Screw Tim and his sneakiness. You're joining him or tracking his every movement when you do find out about him sneaking off.

Nobody should have given the twins access to unlimited resources. They just find ways to make the other's life slightly better or worse. It's straight up warfare, and it's a game the family can only watch helplessly and sigh. Why is Tim making shape-shifting tech? Because he wants to see what embarrassing things you tell your best friend to blackmail you with, of course! Why are you implementing malware in Tim's grapple gun? Because it's hilarious to see Tim flail mid-air, and you found the perfect spot on his patrol route to trigger the malfunction. You caught him, of course, but you made sure to call him a moron before fixing it as if it wasn't entirely your fault for fabricating the situation.

It's comical, yet also horrifying. You team up when someone gets in your way or, worse, hurt one of the two.

Jason learned that the hard way when he woke up in a warehouse chained to Joker with a shock collar around his neck to prevent him from either of them from leaving the warehouse. One of them was going to die (again), and you simply watched in the corner. The only words you said were,

"For Titan's Tower."

He already felt bad about it before the Joker chaining, but he learned a valuable lesson that day. Don't touch Tim, or he'll regret it.

Dick learned by listening in when Tim started reminiscing about the time you planted a homemade pipe bomb and called the bomb squad on the person. You recalled fondly as Dick looked at both of you with horror,

"He's still in prison on federal charges."

Tim laughed. Laughed. Dick was terrified for not only his life, but what if his cop buddies found out? His twin siblings could go to federal prison! On multiple charges! He had to walk away when you started talking about the time Tim put a secret switch in someone's backpack that blew up their entire house.

"The best part was that I managed to place her fingerprints on the switch!"

May the villains rest in peace if they kidnap one of the twins and not the other. Tim is not above committing war crimes, and neither are you. Who is the public really going to believe? The hero Red Robin amputated Poison Ivy's leg for daring to put mysterious powder on you or that some farmer mistook her leg for a weed and cut it off accidentally?

Only the villains will ever know. They are terrified of the twins and especially terrified of how aggressive Red Robin becomes when the Wayne brat gets kidnapped. You once got sold to someone in Metropolis, and Red Robin still showed up, furious and ready for war. Villains gossip and think you are dating him, which is venomous denied. You have ruined multiple lives when Jason cackled about seeing people shipping you with Red Robin.

"Send me the fanfic."

You demanded in a threatening tone. Not even Tim could qualm your rage. You found the writer and the owner of the website it was written on. You found everything about them and systematically destroyed their lives to the point the website owner sold it, but you kept going until someone finally deleted the website entirely.

"Nobody touches my brother."

You said in an interview when you were officially adopted. You made it sound playful until the interviewer asked,

"Aw, you mean your new brothers?"

You side-eyed Tim, but you bit your tongue when he subtly shook his head. Don't fight the interviewer so soon. Back them into a corner first. So you waited like a bear trap. For just the right time to snap their legs. The trap never did end up happening, however, as there was no more disrespect towards Tim and your relationship as siblings.

"Tim is my best friend and the best part of my life, but I'll give my new brothers a shot at becoming any better."

The interviewer made sure to take lots of photos of you both hanging off one another with matching grins that immortalised your love for each other. Nobody will dare get in the way of the siblings. You both are ready for war at any point of time with scary creativity and now unlimited resources. May the gods have mercy on their souls. The Batfamily was not ready for the devasting duo.

[thewitchblue]

Damian was staring. He knew he was. He couldn't stop it even if he tried. You were perfect. He loves your warm eyes that seem to light up with love when you look at the animals you are working with. He adores the way you laugh at the black bear you work with when it rolls onto its stomach for belly scratches because it knows you give the best ones. He falls in love every time you give in and pet the insistent wolves that were headbutting your hands and asking for it. It was all too perfect. You are everything he wants in a partner. He had to meet you.

"Quit being a creep."

Jason whispered to him. It was his turn to get dragged to the animal sanctuary, and he was sick of all this ridiculousness. He will drag Damian kicking and screaming if he doesn't start talking to you. He's not fifteen anymore. He's a grown adult with no confidence when it comes to relationships.

Damian tried again to look away, but your eyes turned to meet his gaze, and he froze in place. He couldn't move. You were crouched down and playing with the happily growling wolves when you sent him a wink and a smile that seemed to know exactly what Damian was thinking. You had noticed him. He knew your schedule and followed you to every animal exhibit. It was so obvious your coworkers started betting when he would finally ask you on a date.

Jason rolled his eyes and shoved Damian towards you. He was done with this constant rotating shift. He's seen these animals for what feels like hundreds of times. He's exhausted all the questions he was forced to ask just for Damian to talk to you. He said, clearly very annoyed,

"Just talk! You're worse than loverboy Dick with a crush."

Damian grumbled but obeyed and walked up to you through the other side of the glass. Damian took a deep breath before lightly knocking on the glass to gain your attention. You smiled fondly at your wolves before standing up and walking to the glass, then walking around the back to talk to him properly when he gestured he wanted to talk to you without needing to shout through several layers of protective glass.

"Do you have questions about the wolves?"

You asked him firstly. It seemed like a default question that you were forced to ask everyone who wanted to talk to the zookeepers, but you both knew exactly what he wanted to talk about.

"No. I wanted to..."

He lost the words. He was lost in you. You smirked at him like you knew exactly what he wanted to say to you. You were close enough that he could smell the hand sanitiser you use after working with an animal. You had wolf fur on your uniform and ruffled hair that vaguely matched their own wildness.

"The answer is yes, cutie. I'll meet you at the cafe downtown around six."

Damian felt lovesick with your gentle smile and kind eyes directed at him. Jason looked and felt like he would rather be anywhere else. He loved Damian, but he's sometimes ridiculous. All of his confidence drained when a pretty enough person crossed his path.

Damian showed up far too early, but he was anxious. You didn't seem to mind, strolling in with your uniform still on and an air of confidence that Damian could feel in your steps. To be fair, anybody with the ability to pet bears without consequences would make them confident and fearless.

You did manage to get the fur off your uniform somehow, so the cafe remained as clean as it was before you got there. You looked at Damian for a moment before saying with amusement,

"Do you have any questions about the wolves?"

Damian laughed. It was the perfect icebreaker. It put him immediately at ease as he shook his head. He said,

"Not this time, wolf-master."

You grinned like a wolf, and he could see his life with you instantly. It was only for a moment, but it felt like time froze. He could see a little life together. He can picture what his future with you could be.

Maybe you'd even live on a ranch together with horses, cows, chickens, roosters, maybe even several livestock dogs, or maybe a guardian dog or three. He'd work in the hospital and really find fulfilment. He'd finally be complete. He made it his mission to become a doctor like his grandfather Thomas Wayne and survive the brutal hours residency has thrown at him. He can make room for your budding love together. If being a hero contradicts his goals, he'll give it up freely.

"What's on your mind, beautiful?"

You asked him with a curious look on your face. You could easily picture a life with him. Somewhere away from the rat-hole that is Gotham City, preferably. You'd love every second of a domestic life with the man who can hardly speak around you.

His thoughts were all jumbled and confusing to even him. He was on a loop, yet you seemed to patiently wait for him to think straight once again.

He wanted the normal life with you that he's imagining. He wanted the boring, domestic mornings as you feed the animals you both raised as he puts on his scrubs for his residency. His heart was set on forming a normal family with a normal life now that his thoughts can't stray away from it. He doesn't want to be a hero anymore, yet he feels torn between his responsibility to Gotham and his fantasy life with you. He wants the fantasy he can't escape from anymore. He needs that normalcy in his unusual life. He was willing to give up his suit for you.

He took your hand gently in his and smiled softly at you. Yes. He wants you. He wants a basic life despite both of his parents' expectations. He doesn't want the Batman cowl. He wants more than the seemingly unfulfilled life Bruce lives. His hands were made for healing. He wanted to save lives and atone for all the pain and death he's caused in the past.

He will let the responsibility of becoming Batman to his siblings. He will follow this budding love with you regardless of how the family feels. He will not take the cowl. He is already busy enough with his residency at the hospital. He can give up the vigilante life for someone he can already see a future with.

He wants to cuddle with you in the morning and kiss you in the garden he has plans to plant and maintain. He doesn't care if he even stays in Gotham. He wants to spend his happily after ever with you now, and he will.

His happily ever after was eventually spent on a quiet ranch with you cuddled in his arms and three dogs surrounding you both with a cat on the windowsill that was licking his paws peacefully.

[thewitchblue]

"It's jam day! Get out of my kitchen."

You announced, surrounded by various fruits and berries, which Damian expertly began to cut the berries and separated them accordingly. He was one of the two who were allowed to help you by cutting everything. Everybody filtered out disgruntled, but they all knew better than to fight you on it from past experiences.

The Flash family lost their knife privileges in your kitchen after Wally almost cut off his fingertip due to him using his superspeed to chop rhubarb and getting distracted. You drove him to the ER but said his knife privileges were revoked indefinitely. Never again will he be allowed near a knife in your home.

The Amazonians and their sidekicks weren't allowed to touch any blade at all in your home, let alone cut something. Their skill with blades are impressive, but you don't want to risk them getting into a fight with the Bats. You could already imagine Cassie stabbing Jason or Damian simply for hurting Tim in the past. They will gain their knives when they learn to tune out the boys or have the patience for the tediousness.

The Martians were allowed knives until Meg'nn accidentally threw one telepathically and almost took out Jason's eye. She apologised, but you prioritised Jason's eye at the time. He didn't seem particularly phased about almost losing an eye, but what else do you expect from him when he has literally died?

The Arrows were only there to mess with the Bats, and have been banned from the kitchen permanently after Tim threatened to cut out Artemis' tongue and attempted to stab Roy in the throat for one too many gay jokes. Jason was laughing so hard he accidentally stabbed Dick in the back. He mixed up what hand had the knife before hitting Dick between his shoulder blades.

The Lanterns were also just trying to ruin the Batfamily's day, making constructs to interrupt their smooth cutting and generally being annoying. It got to the point that Bruce looked the other way when Dick threw a knife into Hal's chest with as much rage and adrenaline as a provoked gorilla. He learned a thing or two in the circus. Knife throwing was the coolest thing ever to his eight year old self, so he practised with the other acts. Bruce simply refined his skills.

Nobody knew what to do when the knife punctured Hal's lung, having slid between two ribs with deadly accuracy. It was a reminder to everyone not to anger Dick. He still holds a darkness lurking under him with the skills to do something about it.

Dick was mortified about slipping back into his circus tricks, Damian was praising him while examining the wound, Tim put down his knife to get medical supplies, and Jason sighed as if he was remembering the first time Dick threw a knife at him fondly. Alfred suggested he do the cutting from now on, but you told him it was your idea and you would live with the consequences.

This was a lesson that needed to be taught, apparently, as you had to drive Hal to the ER when you ran out of medical supplies while Hal hissed in pain.

The Supers were scarily good with knives and have the patience of gods. It was the Bats who turned on them. Connor was flirting with Tim the entire time, and it got on Damian's nerves. Damian vowed to steal Jason's kryptonite knife and slit Connor's throat until Jon freaked and Damian had to comfort him. He begrudgingly promised to not slit Connor's throat if Jon could make "the discount Tinkerbell" behave. That's his brother, dude, back off!

Jon managed to calm him down easily enough and even managed to give him a hug in front of everybody. Bruce gave Damian an amused smile that made him angry again. Connor had laughed it off at the time, but Tim threatened to dump Damian in a vat of acid "Joker-style" if he dared. Jason had to keep his knife on him for a month before Damian calmed down enough to let it go. Dick actually ended up having to get in between the two before they actually could go through with their threats.

Tim still bought the vat of acid "as a promise." What was alarming to the family the most was that Tim added to the acid occasionally. As if acid wasn't enough, he had to add to it? What is Tim adding? Is he making it more corrosive? Is he making it into the same acid that spit out Joker as promised?

It was all very concerning. Tim can be evil when he's petty. They can't even begin to imagine what he'd do if Damian actually did it. Damian was quite scared if he was honest. Nobody should mess with Tim.

Then, the Bats started fighting among themselves. Jason threw sugar into Dick's eyes (allegedly accidentally), and that delved into a full war between the two that only Alfred and you could sigh about. You grumbled as you watched the bag of sugar get thrown full force at Dick,

"I'm going to have to buy more sugar, Alfred."

Alfred frowned and handed you the credit card Bruce gave him for when he gets groceries and other necessities. He said,

"Let us buy it for you. It was our family's fault."

You tried to reject the card, but Alfred insisted, and you caved into Alfred. Fine. Everything in Gotham is cheap anyway, which is the enticement for everybody to stay in the rat-hole city.

Dick had to get his eyes flushed, and Jason had to sweep up the mess he caused. Alfred guided Dick to your eyewash area (every vigilante and friend needs one.) Dick cracked two ribs and nearly lost both of his eyes. Tim broke his hip when he slipped on the sugar with Damian eventually breaking his leg when he tripped over Tim's body while ducking down to avoid the projectile sugar bag.

The only two people who were allowed to keep their knives were Damian and Tim despite their initial issues and threats with the Arrows and the Supers. They bring chaos, but at least they didn't bring anybody to the ER despite their capability to do so.

The duo worked beautifully together while you worked on making the jams with their carefully cut fruits and berries. Jason loves your blueberry jam with his entire soul. You put a slight lemon flavouring in the mixture because you know he's going to steal it from your fridge once it's completed, and he's been making blueberry lemonade daily recently.

You made Damian a mixed berry jam. He set aside the berries he wanted you to use for him. Blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry this time. You smiled warmly as you grabbed the bowls, and he moved to help Tim cut up the rest of the fruit as well as cut certain pieces smaller for him.

Tim's is oddly specific when he wants a type of jam, and he's always unique every season. He wanted cherry vanilla this time, which you were happy to obliged. That's less to cut!

Dick was... weird. He complained for weeks that he wanted your huckleberry peach jam, claiming,

"SPECIFICALLY Smallville peaches and huckleberries."

You managed to find two farms that allowed you to pick their crops in exchange for their peaches and huckleberries. Easy enough, right? Wrong. It took you four days to harvest the farms, but it was worth it. Dick kept trying to eat all the huckleberries before you could use them. You had to slap away his hand several times and even moved them away from his position. He moved with them, unfortunately, so you said sternly,

"I'm not picking any more berries for this jam, honey bunny. If you want huckleberry jam, leave the huckleberries alone."

He was caught purple-handed. Damian clicked his tongue before saying,

"And I'm not cutting any more of them either."

He begrudgingly stopped and accepted his promise of delicious jam. He missed his travelling circus days and picking huckleberries in his spare time whenever he saw them. It was his favourite berry, and he craved it constantly. It may be a bit bitter, but that's what the peach is supposed to get rid of. You thanked Damian and Tim for their help while whacking away Dick's sneaky hand that was currently reaching for the peaches this time.

"I'll call when I finish making your jam."

It seemed like you dismissed them all, but every hero stayed to hang out in the living room.

Damian and Tim tried to scrub off the purple on their hands from all the berries while you worked on your beautiful jam peacefully. Everybody knows to avoid you when you are in the kitchen after the time Artemis startled you and almost lost a toe when you dropped your knife. Jason laughed as he said,

"Don't interrupt jam time."

[thewitchblue]

You kidnapped the nine year old Tim Drake, yet the Drake parents won't even answer the phone to get him back or even acknowledge he was missing to begin with. Where are they? What could possibly be more important than their own child? If you had a kid, you'd do anything for them. You'd love them so much it would ruin you. Where could they possibly be?

You eyed Tim carefully. He looked and felt completely unphased, maybe even a bit happy because his day wasn't filled with dreaded boredom that weighed heavy on most of his days. He wanted to study you, but he had too many questions to voice just one, so he stayed silent. Watching. Observing. He found you fascinating.

"Where the hell are your parents, kid?"

You asked Tim with clear irritation. It had been hours with no police call nor answer to the ransom note you left on Tim's bed as you carried an unconscious Tim to this ratty warehouse. Tim shrugged. He didn't know. He was taking notes on Bruce Wayne for his Batman theory at the time, and they never told him when they left or when they would come home.

"I don't know. They might not even be in the country. I vaguely remember them talking about a month long trip to Peru."

You raised your eyebrows. An entire month? Do you want to keep this kid an entire month for some not-so-quick cash? This is such terrible luck. Of course, you kidnapped the kid with parents who are on vacation. What rubbish luck.

"And they just... left you behind?"

Tim nodded as if that was normal. He wasn't even trying to escape. He figured you would have killed him by now if you were going to kill him, and you haven't been roughing him up, so this was just like talking to a friend but with bondage.

You sighed and shook your head, muttering about terrible parents. You can't keep him tied up for an entire month, however, so either you have to let him go and kidnap someone else or keep him in hopes his parents do eventually show up and pay close enough attention to figure out he's missing.

It was then that you made a decision. A decision you weren't sure you'd regret or not. A lifestyle changing decision.

"Hey, kid. Let's play a game."

Tim's face lit up. He nodded enthusiastically, shifting in the chair he's tied to. You explained,

"We are going to pretend I'm your mom until they figure out you are missing. I'll return you when they notice you are missing."

Tim looked at you with far too intelligent eyes and said with a soft tone,

"They won't be looking."

You frowned. Surely, they would notice eventually. The Drake family was the best family to target because their son is said to be loved dearly. The parents were rich enough to pay good money for Tim. But, if they are gone... maybe you could pretend to be a nanny for the money. Tim isn't a bad kid to keep an eye on. You pursed your lips in thought before picking up the knife you brought. Tim flinched as you approached, but you reassured him,

"I'm just cutting the ropes."

Tim nodded and tried to remain calm when you got close enough for him to feel the blade sawing through the ropes. He thought you were about to kill him for wasting your time, but you genuinely were just cutting the ropes. You were going to let him free. Just like that.

But Tim stayed. You gave him the option to run, yet he didn't. He stood up from the chair and looked at you seriously. He murmured timidly,

"Can you be my mom permanently instead?"

You blinked down at the kid, now approaching you for a hug. You awkwardly hugged Tim and mumbled,

"Munchkin, I'm not a good mother figure."

Tim buried his face in your chest. He didn't want to let you go. From his observations, you seem like you'd be the perfect mother for him. Intelligent, kind, with a big heart that seemed like it would accept everyone. His analytical mind is almost never wrong. His muffled voice said,

"You'd be better than my current mom."

You frowned, but even you can agree something has to change in the poor kid's life. He can't be caged and paraded around like a prop. He is a real person with real emotions. You can't subject him to a life of crime, however, so you'd have to turn your life around for him. Not to even mention the challenges that come with motherhood and the fact you will struggle immensely to become something more than just another kidnapping thug.

You might be able to take advantage of Wayne Enterprise and use the tuition packages promised to all employees to go to university. You'd get a job and a better home. You could build a life for yourself and Tim. The plan was already forming in your head. You really shouldn't be considering this insane idea. You never expected to have a child, let alone adopt one that you kidnapped.

Yet... his beautiful blue eyes looked at you like you would be the best mother in the world. You shook your head to shake away the thought. You can't be seriously considering this, right? You wouldn't have the money to keep him if you went to university and turned your life around the correct way. You should wait until you are stable before accepting him as your own. You wouldn't even have much time to play with him like a normal child would require at his age.

"I don't need much."

He seemed to be ready to beg. He was tired of being a toy. He was tired of being invisible unless the cameras were on. He just wanted to be loved and adored, and he is certain you would love him the way he deserves to be loved. He deserves to be cherished. You closed your eyes. This is a monumental decision, but you said before Tim could start pleading,

"I would need legal documentation of the adoption."

You don't need the Bat to come after your new child when the Drakes start asking questions. Tim grinned and hugged you tighter. You looked down at him and said, completely bewildered,

"Your life is downgrading. Why are you so happy?"

Tim's reply broke your heart,

"I'm not downgrading if I'm loved."

You almost started crying. This poor nine year old wanted love so badly he was willing to let his kidnapper become his mother. You ruffled his hair affectionately. This may be the worst decision of your life or the best. He said almost excitedly,

"I can forge my dad's signature and look up adoption paperwork to file!"

That's illegal, but he seemed determined now that he felt free. You shook your head but smiled at the irony. Who are you to care about the law after kidnapping a kid for ransom anyway?

"Let's get your things, kiddo. We have a lot of illegal paperwork to do."

The Bat did come knocking on your doorstep exactly one month later, but you said you adopted him just before the Drake's left for vacation, so they must have simply forgotten. Tim, now using the power of love and childhood guts, said,

"Bruce Wayne, leave my mom alone!"

Batman looked startled, but you kissed Tim's forehead and told him gently that it was time for bed. Tim pouted. He had all the proof!

"I believe you, baby, but there are some things that are supposed to remain private. Batman doesn't owe you his secrets."

Bruce may have fallen in love with you on the spot. You take good care of Tim. He's clean, healthy, and obviously happy with you if he's willing to stand up against Batman to keep you in his life. It's the happiest he's ever seen Tim Drake, come to think of it. Bruce half-heartedly continued to ask his questions,

"How did you adopt him?"

Illegally, allegedly. You looked at Tim with a warm smile as he responded proudly,

"I found her all. by. my. self!"

Batman smiled fondly. Tim acted as if he was the one who chose to adopt him. How did you get the Drake family to approve an adoption? They probably didn't. If he was thorough, he has no doubt he would find an error of some kind that would bust the adoption story and turn it into a kidnapping. He knows they would never sign him over when he is the reason they stay in the spotlight.

Bruce eyed your worn-out state. You were new to children, evidently, and he was impressed how well you were doing with him. Bruce had the same exhaustion when he first adopted Dick, but what really sold it was the soft way you looked at Tim.

Tim is your world like Dick and Jason are his world. How could he rip the loving family apart? He can't. The warmth of your love practically smothers Tim, and it shows in the way he clings to your waist. He seemed like he was ready to fight for you and the fierce love he's cherished for the month that he's been with you.

Bruce could fall in love with you so easily and so quickly. The way you love Tim was the way he loves his boys. He needs someone like you, who would accept his boys and love them the same way you seem to love and adore Tim. You cherished every moment and celebrated the activities he's found interest in. Bruce decided he could look the other way this one time. He needed to focus on his own children anyway.

He noticed Robin cartwheeling his way back to Bruce's side and smiled fondly. Dick recently taught him basic gymnastics tricks, and he's been in love with every one of them since. Bruce said in a stern tone,

"Don't let this happen again."

You physically relaxed and gave him a grateful smile. Because you knew that he knew there was more to the story, but he didn't pry, and you didn't let Tim say Batman's secret outside your house.

Bruce Wayne did inevitably come back to you and eventually made his own offer: Do you want to gain more kids and date the wealthiest man in Gotham? He wants his kids to experience the fierce love you give Tim, and Jason is a saint as a child. You might even mend the bridge between him and Dick. So, do you accept? Will you be the mother to his children?

[thewitchblue]

do u have a masterlist? just asking since I find part 2s of your works sometimes but I’m too lazy to scroll to find the first part 😭

Not yet, but I will get to it! I try to make part twos read like they could be stand-alones because I know it's chaotic here currently.

[thewitchblue]

"You have to stop DOING this."

Tim whined, rubbing the side of his head as an indecipherable wall of thought slammed into his brain. You entered his mind accidentally, and now you can't get out. It was incredibly distracting to both of you.

All his thoughts are mixed with yours as you struggle to gatekeep your thoughts from his own in your panicked state. It's giving him a migraine. You sighed, trying to separate your minds into two once more. It is beneficial during patrol, but it's not beneficial when you may be stuck with him forever.

"It's SO not my fault. You were the one who thought it was a good idea to scare me. You had a knife to my throat! It was self-preservation to slam into your mind and hijack it."

Tim groaned as you slammed another wall of thought at him out of spite. He found your powers insanely cool, yet indescribably terrifying. He didn't want the psychological warfare turned on him!

Crime has been down since word of you moving to the city had spread. Criminals are terrified to commit crimes because of the chance that you might hijack their minds instead of just beat them up. Their memories aren't safe, and it makes information gathering significantly easier for everybody that is on your side. It was terrifying to everybody involved, actually, but you were very, very efficient in your job as a vigilante.

Tim winced. The veil between his thoughts and yours was uncomfortably thin and basically see-through. What if he thought about something too hard? His brain is constantly thinking about new things and analysing everything.

You groaned quietly. It was so annoying to use your powers outside of vigilante work. A small part of you was happy to see him suffer for scaring you, but the majority of you was busy guarding your mind against his own. He can't know what you think about him, and you refuse to see what he thinks of you.

"Stop thinking so hard."

You grumbled when his racing thoughts slammed into your mind. He's making it impossible to focus on separating him from you. He tried to keep his mind blank, but you made it impossible. His mind was so fuzzy with you so close to him, and he can't tell if it's the magic or just his general feelings for you.

You stilled and looked at him with a stunned expression. Did he think about it too hard? He was about to apologise until you trickled in your own feelings for him. He tensed and stared at you, equally surprised and downright baffled about how both of you missed it. It was obvious now that he was looking back on all of his previous interactions with you, but he was too wrapped up in other thoughts to consider how closely you watched him or how obvious you were being. Did you start believing he was ignoring the signs, or were you equally oblivious? You seemed to have been monitoring him closely for a very long time.

Slowly and tentatively, you merged your mind fully with his own, giving him plenty of time to say no to the merging. You had never been this vulnerable before, but you felt it was necessary to get on the same page. His memories blended into yours until it was all one.

The others watched in confusion as several conversations seemed to be taking place between you both. You had approached Tim like he's a wild animal and rested your forehead against his own. Both of you had your eyes closed, seeming to simply be connecting.

"What do you think kid genius is thinking about?"

Jason asked. He was intrigued but tried to appear like he didn't care as much as he did. If he was going to lose his brother, at least say something! Stop with this creepy behaviour!

"They are trying to become two again, Jay. Don't forget that this is your fault."

Dick said with clear amusement. He's used to his younger brother's false indifference. He wanted to know what was racing between you two equally as badly, and Dick was going to have a long and thorough conversation with you both when you finally separate.

"It is not. Einstein over there didn't have to accept the dare."

Jason tried to defend himself. You gave Jason a baleful glare that left him grumbling. That was his cue to shut up for you to concentrate. Dick gave him an amused smile that made Jason want to hit him. He shot a lethal glare but remained silent. He doesn't need to join the mix of minds.

Dick was monitoring you closely. It was worrisome to see you disconnect from someone so slowly, and there was something terrifying about being unable to see it physically happening. What did you see in there that you needed to talk about privately? He felt clueless, and it made him anxious.

He should be used to this. He sees it every night. He knows you are phenomenal at keeping everybody's thoughts private while allowing them to speak freely between their minds. You were almost flawless in keeping everybody held together, yet keep their autonomy from each other.

Every embarrassing moment, every secret, every fear, it was all protected by one filter. You. It was horrifying, but it felt safe because you were reliable, and you had complete control over your powers. This is the first time you have ever lost control while around them.

Yours and Tim's eyes opened at the same time. Both of you slid your hands together in unison. Upon seeing the confused look the others gave you both, you explained softly,

"Tim wanted to keep our minds joined."

Tim nodded to confirm his decision. Nobody knew what to say as a loud silence echoed through the BatCave. The couple had decided together that they are better merged, and this way, nobody is going to get in the way of your relationship. Bruce spoke first. He stared Tim down and asked firmly,

"Are you certain, Tim?"

Tim lightly squeezed your hand and nodded. He wanted this, and nothing would change his mind. Bruce knew as much, so he nodded his approval and let it be. Tim had likely thought about every possible negative consequence already and talked about it with you. The pros seemed to outweigh the cons he had come up, so Bruce approved. Bruce found peace in knowing that you would separate from his mind whenever he wanted.

You lightly kissed Tim's hand before dropping it in favour of wrapping an arm around him. He was content in your arms, and that was enough for you. He would let you know otherwise. His thoughts were loud, but you both were already getting used to the noise. His thoughts freely floated through your head like a singing harmony.

You didn't even have to voice what you want from him anymore. You gave him a teasing smile while thinking towards him,

"We could kiss and give them a heart attack."

Tim shook his head with a smile. Oh, so it's going to be like that then. Tim can be evil, too. You gave him a confused look until Tim dragged you into a kiss that was monumental throughout everybody's lives.

You have Tim in every way now, and he seemed perfectly content with it. The brothers all turned their eyes to Bruce for any guidance on how to handle this new information, but Bruce was smiling with a clear adoration on his face. His beautiful children are finding their love. Tim was closer than married now, and Bruce was a softie for them all. Alfred spoke first, formally and warmly,

"Welcome to the family, my dear."

You turned your gaze to the quiet butler and smiled softly. He was smiling, as warm and welcoming as the day you first showed up in their lives.

Well, this was a lovely afternoon. You may not be married, but you didn't have to be. No other couple will ever achieve this level of intimacy. You found your home within the walls of Wayne manor.

[thewitchblue]

"So, you're an alien from another semi-aquatic planet, and now you are here because you accidentally sneaked onto a rocket ship that hit Earth before it could bring you home?"

You nodded to confirm Dick's reaffirming question. Yet, that is exactly what happened. Yes, you are aware that it was a risk to sneak onto the ship, but you were curious! You've never seen such a machine! How were you supposed to know it would take you off the planet? You were along for the ride and played hide and seek the whole ride to earth.

This is another headache case for the Bat family to figure out now. They found you before any of them could question the person who crash landed on the planet, unfortunately.

They feared it was an alien invasion originally, but it was just you relaxing on the burning rubble, unsure what else to really do. You claimed it was a human on the planet, but they are still searching. You awkwardly asked,

"Is it possible I work with him?"

You made a gesture to Tim before whispering,

"Everybody else here makes me nervous."

Tim was the only one who seemed unbothered. Whether he simply didn't notice you or he was completely calm about the situation was yet to be determined.

Dick blinked in surprise, but he hesitantly took you over to Tim, who was just relaxing on a nearby chair with his focus zoned in on his laptop. He probably wouldn't mind, right? Tim finds aliens fascinating. He never shut up when he met Korri, and he asked Clark millions of questions when they first met. Surely you wouldn't be any different. Dick snaps a specific code to get Tim's attention and waited to find out.

Tim reluctantly turned his eyes to you after finishing typing something and nearly gasped when he saw you. Your eyes were a glowing orange colour, and your skin had a thick layer of dark green scales, which seemed to blend in with the BatCave walls. You had a set of horns like an elk and flippers like an orca whale with a long and graceful tail.

He was fascinated and completely fixated on you now. This is going to be the first true alien he's seen that he found an immediate attraction towards. He set aside his laptop and walked over to you. He was in awe.

"You're gorgeous."

He couldn't stop himself from saying in wonder, lightly running a hand along the rough scales that felt like plated armour. You blushed green and touched his soft fleshy body lightly, being equally mindful of your rough scales that could tear his skin to shreds. You tilted your head with an equally curious gaze. You recognise his species now.

"I've met one of you before. You're so much cuter than he was."

You were equally awed. Tim was beautiful. His eyes shined the beautiful blue you were so used to on your water planet, and his black hair looked like the floating kelp on your planet. His mind is where he really shined. You could tell immediately when your brain briefly brushed against his own.

"I need your help, śẅēæï."

Tim stared at your beautiful face without really acknowledging what you were saying, nor did he even hear what the problem was to begin with. His brain was stuck on the alien nickname you gave him. He wonders what it means on your planet.

He was so distracted by how attractive you are that he couldn't focus on anything you were saying. He just nodded along as if he was paying close attention, but you seemed to notice as you paused speaking mid-sentence. You grabbed his chin and tilted it so he could face you before continuing to speak.

His eyes widened as he looked at you. You were within kissing distance now. When did you get so close to him? His eyes wandered to your lips. You stopped speaking when you noticed his intense gaze. How odd. Do you kiss each other on this planet to get the other to focus again? It was worth a try. You were close enough to do so.

You pulled Tim's body into your arms, and you kissed him lazily. It felt like you were taking your time to get him to focus solely on you. It worked. His entire focus was now on your glimmering arms that were holding him in place and your sea salt lips on his own.

He surrendered all thoughts and melted into the kiss almost immediately. He didn't even care that your rough scales were hurting him. All that mattered was you in that very moment.

You felt as if you just unlocked a part of yourself that you had no idea existed. Granted, you are the only humanoid being on your home planet since the last extinction event, so of course you don't have much interaction or even much time to experiment with the human who did land on your planet.

Dick tried to pretend he wasn't watching Tim kiss this alien fish person, but he can't help it. Is this how the others felt when he kissed Korri? Surely not. Korri is more human looking than this alien. Jason hit the back of his head while rolling his eyes. Let the idiot do whatever he wants. Who are they to really judge? If he gets an alien disease, so be it.

Bruce walked in and frowned. First off, who is this fish hybrid? Second off, why is Tim kissing you so passionately? What did Dick drag into the cave? Do you even know each other? Did Tim hide you from them? Bruce doesn't know if he even wants the answers to his questions.

Damian followed Bruce and regretted that decision immediately. His question was too important to leave Bruce's side, however, so he stayed. He stared at the scene, then at Bruce, then back at the kissing duo.

Damian shook his head like the scene would disappear from his head if he did so. It did not. He'll be scarred forever seeing Tim willingly kiss a fish hybrid. Does he have to worry about Goliath now? Are you intelligent enough to understand what kissing means on earth?

If you were a mermaid, it would be different, but you didn't look human enough in everybody else's opinion, and Damian was questioning everything. Damian was horrified. He entirely forgot what he wanted to ask Bruce.

You pulled away from the kiss first and quickly retracted your fish qualities to appear more human now that you were gaining a crowd.

Your flippers turned into human hands, your powerful tail split into legs, and your scales turned into normal skin. Why didn't you do that before you kissed Tim? Tim looked at his bleeding hands from when he grabbed your hips, then his torn up clothes and smiled. Worth it. He's dealt with far worse injuries.

Tim mumbled something to you, which made you chirp happily. Everybody assumed that was your laugh, and nobody knew how to feel about it except Tim. He looked like he was in love with you. It didn't matter to him that you sounded like a dolphin when you laughed or that your scales shredded his palms and torn his clothes.

"We really need to make a rule of no kissing in the cave."

Jason said gruffly. He tried to ignore the duo, he really did, but he couldn't stop side-eyeing the kissing duo while he busied himself with fixing the damage Damian caused to the Batmobile while they were on patrol. Jason knows about the monster community, but he never anticipated Tim to be into it. Then again, why would he be? Tim has been on every corner of the internet.

Maybe it was because Tim grew up with the Twilight craze and he dug too deep in the rabbit hole to get out or maybe he played too many video games and found an attractive fish character that he decided to look at too closely. Whatever the case, he thought it was odd. You didn't look very human except for shape and behaviour. At least your face is normal enough. He would struggle to stop judging if you looked like your monstrous father.

Tim decided to ignore the agreed rule and kiss you again anyway. Jason immediately reinforced the rule and pulled him away from you. He's had enough. He will drag Tim kicking and screaming to Texas if he has to, but he will not see Tim make out with you again.

Jason noticed Tim's torn hands, and he was floored that he wanted a repeat. Seriously? Then again, you did get rid of the scales. He wouldn't get hurt any further. Jason said,

"Kiss in your room like a normal person, idiot."

Tim sighed like a cartoon character fallen in love, which made Jason drop him like Tim burned him and storm out of the cave. Tim didn't hear a word that he said, and he wasn't about to stick around for Tim's second alien kiss.

Never again. He won't be returning to the cave until you are either gone or Tim has the guts to date you. Tim finally found the right person for him, and that's fine. Jason just wished he wasn't around to find out.

[thewitchblue]

AHHHHH I LOVE NOVE please write more about her like maybe she is coming with Jason to the manor and meeting Alfred the cat and having fun in the pool and the big yard 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Sorry if you don’t take requests anyway I really like your writing

You didn't know what to think when Jason's giant service dog bent down to Damian's cat, who then promptly began leading Nova towards the pool near the garden. Alfred the cat is as intelligent as the rest of the family, as she leads Nova directly into the water and sits on a nearby chair to watch what happens.

Nova learned that she loved the pool, jumping around the shallows and paddling in the deep end. It felt for once that she wasn't so giant. The pool was larger than she's ever seen! She was practically dancing in the water.

Alfred looked smug as he watched his friend. He knew Nova would love the pool with a big enough push. He curled up peacefully in a dry, sunny spot and watched like he's guarding his new best friend. The humans seemed to recover from the shock quickly.

Jason and you ran to join Nova while laughing. Jason seemed more carefree than the family had ever seen him as he got into a splashing war with you. Nova joined your side and barrelled to Jason. She tackled him and seemed proud of it when Jason managed to recover.

"Oh, so it's going to be like that?"

Jason asked before tackling you. Nova launched onto his back when you recovered from Jason's "attack." You laughed as they went under. You said when they came back over the water,

"This means war!"

Nova understood and quickly joined in the war. It was unclear whose side she was on, however. Maybe she was on the side of the animals as all of them were outside playing in the yard, some even managing to sneak into the garden while others distracted the humans.

"Truce! Truce!"

Jason called when Nova started charging at him like a bull. She was a worthy opponent indeed. Maybe she was too well trained to fight off.

She was having the best time of her life. She left your little duo to play with Goliath while you both watched. Finally, something who can take her rough housing and not get injured! She was taking full advantage of it.

You both panted side-by-side as you watched Nova fully pin Goliath to the ground, only to be flipped. Goliath roared in faux pain when Nova bit his shoulder. The dragon hybrid wasn't hurt in the slightest, and all the animals knew it. Damian looked worried until Goliath took Nova into the air with his arms just fine.

"Watch your dog for five seconds, Todd!"

Jason was slightly startled. Can't he kiss you in peace? He gave Damian the middle finger but did watch his beautiful dog, ignoring the glare Bruce gave him. Dick managed to drag you away in the span of two seconds. How did he drag you away so quickly? He pretended that he had found something really cool and promised that he had to show you. He really just wanted to talk to you without your guard dog boyfriend and literal guard dog hovering over you like agents of death.

"I'm going to kill him someday."

Jason mumbled under his breath when he noticed that you were being led into the garden while chatting with Dick. Whether by accident or with intent.

Now alone, he decided to watch Nova play. Goliath truly was a worthy opponent for her. The duo looked like they were having the time of their lives, both now finally happy to play fight. They don't have to be gentle with each other.

Nova was so sweet with all of yours and his family and friends that Jason and you forgot that she could be a fearsome animal. The others will never forget the ruthlessness for strangers lurking below the kindness, however. The well-trained dog has fangs regardless of how sweet-tempered she acts.

A/N: I love requests! Never shy away from requesting something!

[thewitchblue]

"You're my Juliet."

Jason said. He was rereading Romeo and Juliet, relaxing on a couch in your room in the peaceful silence. You smirked while shaking your head. You were Lex Luthor's daughter, a perfect clone of Wonder Woman with no real desire to be a hero nor a villain, which Lux was surprisingly okay with it. He mumbled about you being a "watered down demigod anyway." It was funny how easy Lux was to fool when you downplay your abilities.

You really were forbidden lovers. Bruce would never approve of you, but Jason was relentless in pursuing a relationship with you, and you relented after a drunken kiss at a gala that nearly blew up both of your lives.

"You're an idiot for coming here with Lex literally next door, Romeo."

Jason gasped dramatically and placed a hand over his heart. He said in faux indignation,

"Oh, how you wound me, Juliet! Poison my chalice, for I cannot live without your love for another evening!"

You rolled your eyes but smiled regardless. You really shouldn't be here, but you can't really go outside on a date without the public or Clark finding out.

"Calm down, drama queen. It's only been two days. Besides, we're going to the Caribbean in a week. You'll have my undivided attention."

He set aside his play and walked over to you. Jason climbed onto your bed just to kiss your hand. Now you were just amused. What is going on in his literature nerd head?

"My, how scandalous. My heart bleeds for you, beautiful, but I cannot accept your kiss of peace without being bathed in the light of day."

He said, continuing his internal play like he was rewriting Shakespeare. You replied dryly while Jason trails kisses up your arm and eventually onto your shoulder,

"How chivalrous."

He is shockingly romantic when he puts the energy into it. His grand romantic gestures have gotten ridiculous despite the secrecy needed. The clashing billionaires wouldn't allow the relationship to continue, and you can't lose Jason under any circumstances. You'll destroy the world for him and demolish anybody who dares to get in your way to him.

"Romeo, you need to get to patrol before your father finds out."

Jason looked out the window and noticed how dark it was already. He sighed but stood. You stopped him at the windowsill.

"Would you rather fall 15 stories, or would you rather use the secret passages?"

Jason seemed to have realised he doesn't have the same equipment that he does in Gotham. He doesn't have his grappling gun to catch him when he falls. He gestures for you to lead the way, and you do after grabbing your secret disguise. It helps with avoiding publicity in social situations.

"I'm coming with you tonight."

You whispered as you walked down the staircase. Jason looked at you in disbelief. There is no way he can allow this, right? Sure, you are Amazonian with Diana's demigod abilities, but you don't know the fighting techniques. Then again, maybe it's imprinted in your body. Lex did make alterations when he experimented with DNA. Jason said after a pause of silence,

"No. You'll alert Bruce to us. I'll call you, but you will not be going out there."

You sighed. Maybe everything will be fine, but you have a feeling he's going to get into trouble that Bruce won't be able to help get him out of.

You were proven right as you got a call later that night, and you were furious by the end of it.

"I'm going to kill him and everybody who gets in my way."

You snarled as you put on the suit you were supposed to wear when you were revealed. A black leather bodysuit with a green cape made of lead-lined kryptonite and a corset made out of a gold metal that was flexible enough to take on and off quickly while also being extremely protective.

You remember faintly that Lex made new metal that counter any force trauma while staying strong enough to block everything thrown at it specifically for you. Fireproof, repells bullets, unpiercable, nothing could damage the corset that now protected your entire abdomen and up to your chest cavity.

You ran as fast as Hermes to the jet area. You didn't even hesitate to grab a pilot and drag them to the plane. You forced the pilot into the cockpit and said,

"Fly to Gotham as fast as possible. I don't care how low you have to fly."

The pilot flew as quickly as he could, but he hadn't expected you to grab a parachute and jump out of the plane the second you found Jason's location. What does the pilot do now? Find the nearest airport and wait? Alert the police?

You didn't care what the pilot did. As soon as you landed, you were back on your feet and running through the streets of Gotham while discarding the parachute and eventually charging into the warehouse Jason provided with fury burning through your limbs and a calculated brain.

You fought like a hurricane with the devastation of one and the swiftness of tornadoes. Goons were dead before they could even fight you. Anybody who was stupid enough to cross your path was dead, and the smart ones fled as fast as humanly possible.

You didn't care that you cut Joker in half or heard the screams of panic as you demolish everybody in your path. Nothing mattered except Jason. You didn't care if you were a villain in their eyes. You cut through every villain who tried to fight you with such lethality that even Jason had to wince. It was not a great first impression to his family.

"Girlfriend, huh?"

Tim muttered to Jason, who promptly headbutt him. If Bruce wasn't out of commission, they wouldn't have met you to begin with, let alone under these conditions.

Every villain who tried to step in or fight you was killed swiftly and brutally. You snarled like a cornered beast,

"Release them or die like a fool."

Clayface released them quickly and then ran away before you could do anything about it. You sighed and relaxed as you cut all of the restraints. This wasn't fun. You hadn't realised that Lex scaled your powers to be on par with Wonder Woman, maybe even better, and it showed in the way you fought. Your genuis intelligence paired with the battle instincts of Wonder Woman made you a devastating opponent to face.

"Sorry, about all... that. It's my first rescue mission."

You mumbled loud enough for all of the heroes to hear. Bruce seemed to accept it the easiest. It's a lot of power to handle, and you didn't know how to restrict yourself. He can understand why that would be so difficult.

You sheathed your sword and pulled Jason immediately into your arms. You kissed him in front of everybody while holding his cheek shakily. He's your everything, and you didn't care who knew about it in that moment. Jason had no idea where his helmet was, but the sedatives were still working through his system. He'll find it later. All that matters now is holding you so you don't fall apart.

"You are so lucky my dad is oblivious, idiot."

You mumbled, officially smothered by Jason's body. You were serious. He could have been severely injured or worse. He grumbled back,

"He's hardly a father if he doesn't know what's going on."

You sighed. You really didn't want to get into it. He doesn't want Lex to know either, so why bother going down that rabbit hole?

"Care to introduce us?"

Bruce said with a questioning look. Jason turned to face them. They were all curious now. Jason knows he'll regret telling them, but they will find out anyway now that you are a couple. He grimaced until you kissed his forehead and gave him a reassuring smile. You would be fine with either outcome. Yes or no, it's his decision.

"This is Luthor's daughter."

He said with grit teeth. He hated the immediate disdain spread through the vigilante family. Jason quickly defended you,

"She isn't like him!"

Bruce understood. He knows children of unfortunate circumstances aren't to blame for their parents' actions. He'll need to make sure you remain on the side of good nonetheless.

Jason held you securely in his arms, almost possessive. Bruce knew in that moment that Jason's never letting you go regardless of what they say or do. You are his, and he will take every consequence that comes with dating a Luthor. He'll handle every awkward interaction with the Super family and Wonder Woman's growing family. He'll handle the stuffy galas that will eventually be thrown for both of you. He will bear Lex's hugs and pretend to not know the cunning evil thoughts lurking in his mind. He will deal with anything. He is there until his Juliet decides otherwise.

You still refuse to be involved in the vigilante world you were created for, but the panic buttons the Bats have all acquired is reassurance enough for them all to know you side with the heroes when called upon.

The public will have a field day when the news is out about the new Wayne/Luthor couple. So what if you are a Luthor? Bruce has already come up with so many plans to navigate the inevitable publicity and gossip boards.

[thewitchblue]

Jason whistled to his service dog as he relaxed on the couch, calling her over to him. Nova, his dog, came into his life almost as suddenly as you did. You knocked on the door of the apartment with a puppy one day and basically told him the dog's name before coming in and showing the newest family member around the home. When he asked why you gave him a dog, you said you couldn't bear to think about his PTSD taking over while you're away any longer.

His PTSD was overwhelming, so you got him a personally trained service dog to help bring him back down from his panic attacks when you can't be there. It was thoughtful and carefully planned out.

He has no idea how you got the dog in the first place, but he knows the dog has grounded him many times, and he's grateful every time he comes back from the flashbacks.

You came in equally randomly. He was at his usual cafe in Crime Alley one night, and you had slid into the booth without even acknowledging him. You had merely picked up the menu and read the contents as if you didn't know the menu front to back. It was your usual booth, and you weren't about to give it up to some stranger.

He didn't say anything at the time either, simply raising his eyebrows in an inquisitive way.

You didn't explain why you picked to sit with him in a mostly empty cafe at four in the morning like he wanted you to, however. In fact, you didn't say anything besides your order to the waitress. You seemed to know he loved his silence. He needed time away from the rat-hole that is Gotham City, and you seemed to be in the same situation as him.

You ate your pancakes in peace, and he nursed his desperately needed coffee, his sharp eyes watching you closely. You ignored him completely, distracting yourself by looking out of the window at the slowly fading nighttime sky instead. What are you doing here? Besides eating pancakes, you seemed to have no ploy or any malicious intent. You weren't one of his rats, nor do you seem to be a goon for his competition. What are you doing here?

You didn't seem to particularly care that it was four in the morning or that the sun hadn't even risen, and he was fascinated by you. It was like you knew to leave him to his thoughts, or maybe you felt the same. He didn't know, but he was enthralled by you. You are by far the most interesting person he's met all night and likely all day.

You didn't even tell him your name. You simply wrote your number on a napkin before he could ask and left as the sun raised and the birds started chirping. All he could do was watch you walk away while the waitress took away the dirty dishes with a knowing smile that seemed to tell him to take the chance. You had paid for him without a second glance. What an odd stranger.

He was too curious not to text the number. He didn't know what to expect. A part of him expected it to be a rejection textline, but you responded, and you became close quickly. You turned into his safety net and became his favourite person.

Nova came over to him with a wagging tail and a smile, like usual. Jason just wanted to pet her, but she decided that she's a lapdog and climbed right onto his lap.

Nova is hardly a lapdog, despite her thinking as much. She's a Cane Corso mix, but he was huge himself, so she fit, if only barely. It seems to give her joy to cuddle and make herself comfortable on him like he's a bed.

Jason sighed dramatically while petting her as you walked through the door of your shared apartment. You paused and took in the scene in front of you. You shouldn't be surprised seeing his giant dog on your giant boyfriend, it happens all the time, but there was something about seeing it that you always have to pause to admire. It's always so domestic that it fills you with warmth and love. The bond between the two is truly unwavering, and it shines so brightly that you can't fight the smile from spreading across your face.

Nova doesn't leave her comfortable position on your boyfriend's lap, so you came to them after carefully setting down the food you stopped to grab on your way home from work. You bumped his shoulder with yours and said with a smile,

"I got us food, drama queen."

Jason frowned but shooed off the dog to go eat. He already fed her before you walked in, but she always acted starved, so he wasn't surprised when she followed him to the kitchen. He made his way to the food slowly. It's a wonder how you carried all the food you got. He eats a lot, so you had two bags fill with to-go boxes of food. He loves leftovers anyway, so he wasn't going to complain in the slightest.

You both normally rotate who cooks for meals. You always cover dinner. He always covers breakfast, and you both cover lunch separately. You go to work with your lunch box that you packed the previous night, and he cooks for himself with a little bit leftover to make your cooking a little easier.

He always leaves little love notes he somehow manages to sneak in your lunch box, which you kept all in a small box to reread on your anniversaries despite Jason begging you to just toss them for fear his family is going to find them. He would be mocked for the rest of time if they saw his love notes towards you. You, however, adore them too much to simply throw them away, and you tell him it's part of your history, but you promised to lock them all away and hide the box. If they didn't know to look for it, they would never find it.

They have come close to finding the box several times, and it makes him anxious every time they start looking for something in the apartment. Nova stays glued to his side when his family comes over as a result.

You smiled fondly at the beautiful dog. She was so smart and brave. It was a disaster when the family first came to visit, however. It was terrifying to them at the time, but it's hilarious now.

Damian was in his Robin suit, masked and as silent as he could be, but he wasn't silent enough for Nova. He was nearly mauled by the dog that looked like a small bear in the shadows of the room as Jason groggily woke up. He forgot he was supposed to be on patrol, and Damian, while trying to calm down the dog, ended up with two broken wrists (because of course, he tried twice) after Luna bit him. He normally can calm animals, so why would this dog be any different? Damian lied to the family and said he broke his wrists in combat, and Jason didn't correct his lie. A dog bite is just embarrassing to him as an animal lover.

Dick had realised too late that he probably shouldn't break in at night anymore, as he made a similar mistake as Damian, but he ended up with broken shoulders instead of broken wrists when Nova pinned him to the ground to bite his neck. He was lucky you woke up to call her off, or he would have died. He drove home that night and told the others he's sick to prevent them from worrying.

Tim was smart. When he entered the apartment and saw the giant dog growling at him, he simply left. He decided maybe he didn't need the answer to his question after all. He spent the rest of the night calming his racing heart and trying to google the questions Jason would be able to answer in two seconds. Some things just aren't worth it.

Cass was special. She actually managed to sneak in and wake up Jason successfully. Unfortunately, when Jason woke up, so did Nova. Nova snarled and nipped at her, but Cass was agile enough to get in and get out with as little contact and as little interactions as possible.

Bruce was actually able to dodge the dog's lunge and hold her back long enough for Jason to come home from patrol. Jason had forgotten his crowbar and had to pick it up before patrol could actually begin. Jason shook his head in disbelief when he took in the scene. Did the word not get out that he has a dog now? You were asleep still, somehow, and Bruce was too proud to call out for your help from you, so he simply held the dog actively trying to kill him.

Bruce's eyes narrowed at Jason. He seemed to be silently asking him when he got a dog and why she's trying to kill him. Jason immediately ratted you out. Bruce couldn't be mad at you, and he made it up to you when you woke up. He'll make a huge apology breakfast and take you on the most romantic date he could come up with. Nova calmed down once she saw Jason, so he started to take her on patrol when he knew he's going somewhere dangerous.

You didn't really care about him telling Bruce about the dog and how Jason got her because it's still HIS dog technically, so you felt like it wasn't ratting you out. You gifted it to him, not the other way around. It's not your fault Nova is protective of your little family.

There are no hard feelings now, but she is still uninterested in becoming friends with any of them. She'll accept being near them, but she stays with Jason the entire time they are around. You warned them that petting a service dog distracts the dog, and Jason really needs Nova's focus.

Nova huffed when you spoke as if to say, "Try me," and you laughed. Okay. Maybe Nova can stand up for herself. They knew better than to try her.

You threw away the empty containers and put the leftovers away, then dramatically laid on Jason's lap before Nova could.

"I'm not giving up my spot for the dog."

You said with a small laugh when he looked at you quizzically. Nova whined as if to voice the injustice, which made Jason smirk down at you and shake his head.

"Jealous of a dog? My, how low you think of me."

You laughed and kissed his wrist closest to you. You managed to say just before Nova sat on your lap and laid down along the length of your body,

"The dog can't have your lap all the time. It was mine first."

Nova looked at you like she understood completely what you said while Jason snorted an amused laugh.

"Whatever you say, munchkin."

You poked his stomach as if to gloat like you won something. He poked you back, and that started a small poking war. You kissed every place you poked with a fond smile, and he did the same. Nova even joined in by licking Jason, to your delight, and Jason's disgust.

You won that war and managed to steal a victory kiss before he could start complaining about you ganging up on him. The kiss softened the blow of being "attacked" by his most trusted partners, but he complained nonetheless.

He accepted the kissing storm you gave him after his persistent complaints. It was a pretty sweet apology.

[thewitchblue]

"You're so pretty."

Jason slurred. He just got back from patrol with multiple injuries, and you were patching him up. You were surprised he showed up to the Batcave at all, really. He was always the type who wanted to "tough it out." You hid a smile while saying,

"You have a concussion."

Jason winced when you ran your fingers through his hair. You frowned when you got his blood on your hands. You had thought you managed to get the blood mostly cleaned up, and his helmet was spotless. You called out,

"Alfre—mmh!"

Jason shut you up with a kiss. It wasn't thought out in the slightest, and he knows he'll regret it when his concussion goes away, but thinking hurts with the painkillers barely helping, and he wants to kiss you before potentially dying again.

Jason took your hand in his and slurred,

"Will you go on a date with me, pipsqueak?"

You blinked at the bleeding man. What do you even say to that? You were stunned. You watched Jason carefully. He looked serious, but can he really be serious when he has head trauma? Is it the blood loss talking? You gave him a half smile and said,

"When you're healed, Romeo."

Maybe he'll remember this. Maybe he won't. Either way, you agreed and you stand by your decision. He gave you a half-grin, his eyes clouded by pain and heavy.

He toyed with your hand like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. He played with your fingers and examined them like they were precious jewellery, comparing them to his own scarred and rough hands.

You really were pretty in his eyes. Gorgeous, even. He loved your eyerolls and sarcastic smiles. He loved that you smirk when you think of something particularly clever to respond back to his sass. He loved the way you laughed at his witty comebacks and how you snicker at his dramatic sentences. He appreciated the way you hold him when he feels like he's falling apart. You were a beautiful person in his eyes.

Call him corny, but he wants to wake up next to you. He wants to hear your sleepy groans when your alarm goes off in the morning. He wants to be the one to replace your cuddle pillow. Yes, you do have a cuddle pillow. Yes, it's a specific pillow in every house you crash at and most rooms you enter. No, you aren't aware of your cuddle pillows. He's likely the only one who has ever noticed that you cuddle a very specific pillow every time you are distracted and near one.

He stared at you as you packed a bullet wound in his thigh. Your quiet concentration gave him time to admire you. You were snarky with him at times, but you always came back to him to apologise, and he'd always laugh and rub the top of your head with his knuckles like you were a little kid.

He grabbed your hand and slurred,

"I love you."

He proceeded to promptly pass out while you stewed in silence. Maybe it was the painkillers barrelling through him, or maybe it was something more, but you'll only find out when he wakes up.

You had finished patching him up, but you wanted to sit with him longer. You looked him over with a smile and lovingly ran one of your hands along his bullet free arm before claiming his hand in yours and giving it a slight squeeze.

He was beautiful, too, in your opinion. You love him, scars and all. You loved how unapologetically himself that he can be.

He happily swings an arm around your shoulders and pulls you into his side when he has come up with a terrible idea and wants you to join for when things inevitably go wrong. You always call him an idiot, but join him regardless because someone has to save him from himself.

You adore that he loves to complain about his day because you feel a part of his heart. He doesn't complain to just anyone. He doesn't like to share his problems because he feels he can shoulder them himself when it's obvious he can't. You became his go-to person for his issues, and you are incredibly grateful he lets you in so easily.

You cherished the little moments when Jason allows you to trace his scars and murmur that he's a constellation and just as beautiful as one. He jokingly asked if he can be Orion's Belt because he doesn't know what to say to something so heart-warming, and you laughed because you knew if you didn't, he would have fallen apart and you wanted to make sure he stays held together.

Jason stirred awake when he felt the painkillers wear off, but you managed to coax him back to sleep. He murmured,

"I love you."

He was asleep before you could respond, and you were thankful for that because you had no idea how to respond. You don't think he'll remember any of this when he wakes up, but you certainly will. His eyes were so sincere before they closed. He's serious. You're sure of it. Jason doesn't joke about relationship related topics. The person becomes his everything when he dates them, and he makes sure everybody knows as much.

Alfred had walked in to witness the scene unfold and purposefully waited for Jason to pass out before revealing himself, holding medical supplies to restock the medical kit you used on him. How smooth, Jason. After months of contemplating and struggling to figure out the best way to ask you out, all the plans went out the window due to a little concussion and a lot of bullet wounds.

[thewitchblue]

Both of you came to the same conclusion at the same time: neither of you can defeat the other in neither combant nor intelligence. You both have to accept defeat and form some type of truce before either of you accidentally kill the other.

You both paused in sync, you looking at Batman and Batman looking back, both frowning at the other. What do you do? You trained under the same people with the same stubborn, never-yielding personality.

You sighed first and hopped onto a low-hanging rooftop to be at his height. He decided to join you on the roof, sat beside you. Neither of you spoke for a long moment, just silently accepting the mutual defeat.

Batman broke the silence first. He said hesitantly but confidently,

"You'd be a better ally than an enemy."

You turned your head to look at him again. He looked so inviting and earnest. It seemed like he was trying to understand the reason you turned to crime in the first place. You eyed him carefully. What made him so good in the rat-hole that is Gotham City? He seemed to have grown up in Gotham, judging by his accent, so what made him turn out so pure? Even the rich kids of Gotham are often shady. There is only one family large enough, rich enough, and smart enough to be the Bat heroes.

"I have a kid to look after, Bruce. I can't afford to be a hero."

You whispered his name, but he heard you clearly. You watched him physically tense, so, to soothe him, you rubbed his back with one hand. You found that his back is also bulletproof, so you stopped after the initial touch.

"Would you join me if I paid you?"

You narrowed your eyes at him in thought. He was serious. He would actually pay you to be a hero instead of risking your livelihood to remain a villain. Your little girl would be happy to meet the Bats as well.

You were silent for so long, Bruce almost stood up to leave, but he heard you say quietly,

"Okay. We'll meet every night at the entrance of Crime Alley until we can trust each other enough to go to each other's home."

Bruce stood up in sync with you. You heard presumably Tim Drake starting to hum a Spice Girls song after Jason Todd fired guns in the same tempo. You laughed as Bruce sighed.

"You are so lucky I'm not there to strangle you!"

Jason hissed as another goon fizzled due to his crowbar. Tim started singing the lyrics in spite of him, also preoccupied by a fight. They seemed to have split from each other to stop different crimes.

"Focus both of you. We need to be on higher alert with Robin out of commission."

Bruce said, Batman tone immediately back on. He was far from amused by the situation. Tim replied, rather cheerfully,

"I sing to concentrate, Batman!"

Jason gruffly said,

"You only sing when you want to annoy people."

Two female voices joined in on singing. They all switched to Britney Spears songs at the same time. They seemed to have met up, then. Bruce frowned while you smirked. Yeah, you are joining that chaotic mess.

"B, leave the girlfriend, I need back up!"

You raised your eyebrows at Bruce, who seemed unsurprised. Every girl that enters his life becomes a "girlfriend." Truthfully, he was beginning to wonder if the kids just want a mother to look towards.

Bruce gave you one final look, and you immediately knew that he wanted you to join him as backup. You sighed but nodded and gestured for him to lead the way.

"Where are you, Red Hood?"

Bruce asked, full Batman voice and commanding. You watched him carefully. He could still turn on you, but you needed to be readying for another fight. Jason said,

"You know where I am, Batbitch. Just hurry!"

More gunfire is heard through the earpiece as Bruce pulled up the tracker information. He didn't think Jason had found out about the trackers he sewed into his suit because it wasn't cut out or crushed immediately. You looked at the information as you both drove to the correct location.

"He's getting pushed away from the docks. Maybe we should take the main streets instead of the alleys."

Bruce nodded as if he was thinking the same thing. He seemed more focused on getting to his kid than thinking, understandably, so you took over the thinking.

"You go to Jason, I'll focus on figuring out what is happening at the docks. He needs his dad more than he needs a stranger."

Bruce nodded, seeming to relax slightly. He won't have to be in two places at once now that he has you to do half the job. He knows he can rely on his kids, but they are across the city and equally busy.

You both scatter the second the car is parked. Jason was pinned to a back alley, and you were after whatever appeared to be at the dock.

You found out very quickly what was going on, and it enraged you. It was a child trafficking deal for the Court of Owls. It seemed like someone was looking to make some quick cash, and the Owls were hungry for more Talons.

You needed to be smart, however, so you started by releasing the kids while the adults were busy discussing transportation methods and payment. You whispered,

"Go, go, go!"

The kids listened as you slowly sneaked them out. You knew the streets like the back of your hand, so the kids would be able to find their way home from the centre of the city.

All of the kids were gone before the kidnapper was able to reveal their bounty to the Owl as Batman and Red Hood come in. Their only warning being machine gun fire before chaos erupted.

You smiled. You didn't need to join the fight to finish the job, so you left once all the children left, and you felt the situation was taken care of. Bruce will find you. You're certain of that.

[thewitchblue]

For months now, the kids of Crime Alley have been significantly happier. At first, nobody understood why except the kids. Until the night that Red Hood caught a thought-to-be thief smuggling all of them home crafted plushies.

Red Hood stood and stared. The kids were hiding a crafty Santa behind his back. Axolotls, dinosaurs, dragons, elephants, you had a plushie for every single one of them. You knew everyone's preferences, and you knew which houses to hit first. You had a concerning amount of skill, judging by Jason's quick assessment.

You stared back at him, holding a tiny fairy with a magic wand and a fire-breathing dragon outside the doorstep of his favourite children. You seemed frozen in place. Mid-knock. Really, what did you expect? Nothing happens in Crime Alley without Red Hood knowing about it. You should be surprised it took him a couple of months to discover you.

Before either of you could do anything about this unfortunate meeting, a little boy peeked his head outside the door and squeaked enthuastically. He motioned quickly for his little sister to come to the door, whispering rapidly in their mother tongue and gesturing wildly. They heard little, running footsteps, and the little girl emerged. She snatched the dragon immediately while the boy gently took the fairy. He stared at it in wonder. The glittering yarn sparkled in the moonlight. Their parents are sexist and misogynistic, so this was the only time they could play with their real toys.

The boy latched onto your leg in a rushed thanks before going after his sister to play together. You smiled fondly at the retreating duo and slowly shut the door, silent enough to prevent their parents from waking up and their aunt who was sleeping on the couch from even stirring.

Before Jason could even begin to gather his thoughts coherently, you bolted with plushies strapped onto you like they are grenades. You had so many plushies that it was almost comically to see you try to escape. Jason had you pinned to the nearby wall before you could get far.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

He hissed quietly. This is ridiculous. He was called to this address as a potential robber? Tim needs better intel if he thinks you were a robber. Who would steal plushies? Then again, who hands out free plushies in Gotham without it being laced with something? You hissed back,

"Mind the stegosaurus! Terry's had a hard week!"

Jason couldn't help but laugh in sheer disbelief. Why is he here when he could hear gunshots in the distance? Why does he have you pinned like you are a criminal? He sighed and slowly released you from his grasp. He took a deep breath as he stepped away from you. Okay. Calm down. You aren't a threat. Everything is just fine. He asked after a moment of uncertainty,

"Can I help you?"

You blinked. He watched as you carefully fixed your plushies. He seemed shy but confident. Your shock faded into confusion into a warm fondness. Well, you could use some help with the street kids. They are so spread out that it can be an all-night adventure.

Jason almost took it back until you slowly began unstrapping various plushies and replacing them with different ones before handing the bag to Jason.

"You go north, and I'll go south. The street kids scatter to not make themselves targets, but they still group up in different sectors. Take my list and make sure to check it twice. Let the kids know it was me. I WILL find out if you mess this up."

He would have laughed at the almost threatening tone you took, but he knew the street kids, and they absolutely would let you know if they didn't get their plushie. Little Jorge would fight him for his Batman plushie or die trying to get ahold of it, and Jason can respect that level of dedication.

"Noted."

Jason said dryly, shifting through the plushies and looking at the list of names you generously gave him. You were incredibly organised, he can give you that much. He did feel a little bit like this moment is a bad Christmas romcom, but how can he say no when he has an adorable blushing dolphin in his hands and a child's happiness on the line?

You disappeared into the night like you didn't just give Red Hood, THE Red Hood, a bag of plushies to distribute to children like he's some type of Santa Claus with guns.

He'll find you again. He may even allow Bruce to give him money just to fund your creations. If growing up on the streets taught him anything, it's that love and security means everything.

"Who's that?"

He heard an all-too-curious Red Robin ask from the windowsill. Jason flinched at the sudden appearance. When did he get here? Was he there the whole time? Was this interaction all planned out so perfectly that Jason never for a second considered the set-up? The robbery was a hoax crafted so beautifully that Jason was beginning to believe it's the truth. Jason grumbled,

"I'm going to kill you one of these days."

He pushed past Tim, armed to the teeth with fluff and fur with a simmering anger brewing in his eyes. Of course Tim set this all up. Why wouldn't he? Bruce had been badgering him about finding love, and Jason finding his own lover would distract Bruce long enough for Tim to figure out a plan to cover up whatever he was hiding. The rat is hiding something big if he was willing to toss Jason to the wolves. Jason is sure of that much now.

Tim snickered behind Jason, who was already down the street on a hunt for the children on your list. He knew Jason would love you. He found the situation hilarious regardless. It worked out even better than he had hoped it would. Jason will thank him later in the relationship for all of this plotting. He found the best match in the city for Jason, after all.

Without a word, Red Robin disappeared into the night. He will come home to a lecture about not plotting against his siblings, but why shouldn't he when they make it so easy?

They really should all know better than to believe he would ever give them bad information. Jason was just sentimental enough for all of this to have worked out as gloriously as it did. Perhaps you'll find humour down the line when he gifts you the photo of your first ever interaction. Who should he target next?

[thewitchblue]

"I'm going to be your stepmom, Damian."

You told him in a teasing tone. The entire cave fell silent. How? And why? Damian immediately crossed his arms and replied coldly,

"You can't marry father. He's engaged."

You snorted an amused laugh,

"Who said anything about Bruce? I'm engaged to Talia."

Damian's brain began short-circuiting. You showed off your engagement rings as proof, and Damian felt the world slow down. He recognised the rings and knew it was real. The ring was a League of Assassin staple, and the second one on your other hand was from her personal collection. He knew Talia's mind was made up about marrying you with the rings. She claimed you permanently.

"... I'm not calling you mom."

You expected Damian to be outraged, but he calmly accepted you marrying his mom. You raised your eyebrows in surprise. He wasn't fine, but he had no choice. His mother's decisions are final, and her will is absolute. She will not give you up no matter what they do or say.

Jason crossed his arms while leaning against his motorcycle. This is ridiculous. You are insane to allow this to happen. Did you even allow this to happen? Are you under duress?Gruffly, Jason asked,

"Does that mean when you told me not to not 'put my dick in crazy' was because you are territorial?"

You straightened as if Jason offended you. The audacity of Jason to remind you of your past words. He's right, of course, but thoughts change given enough time. You shrugged and told him,

"It was helpful advice. My queen is fiercely loyal. You would be in the same situation as Bruce, and I don't need any more stepchildren."

That led to more questions than answers. Nobody knew what to say or how to process that information. Dick recovered first and asked,

"How did you get together?"

You sighed wistfully. You don't know quite how to feel, but you know you want to continue this engagement. You had grown fond of your future wife. You explained,

"She sat next to me after patrol a couple of nights ago, and we talked. She told me she had been watching me all of my patrol, and she wanted me to fight her father. I shrugged and agreed to fight him. I had assumed she was helping me stop an evil plot or wanted to test my skill, so I followed her. Everybody neglected to tell me that I was fighting for her hand in marriage."

Oh, Talia and her foxy ways. She's always up to something. She knew you were one of the best combatants within the Bat team. You have gone blow-for-blow with Lady Shiva and won a few times. You then trained under her while Bruce was gone for two years on a mission. You honed your skills like a blade and wielded them with precision. You continued,

"I won the fight, but he kept asking for rematches using different forms of combat. I thought it was to protect his ego and pride, but I was wrong. Ra smirked the more times I won until we ran out of tests, but I didn't understand why."

You gave them a tired smile. It sucks to call Ra your father-in-law, but you'll adapt. The others were speechless. You explained further,

"We had a talk. Ra smiled and told me he puts his full trust in me. He said that I had earned Talia. He gave me the League of Assassins engagement ring, and Talia gave me her own version of an engagement ring. So, I have wedding rings for both hands."

You looked at your hands. The engagement rings were truly beautiful, but you'd expect nothing less from the Al Ghul family. Talia seemed to have done her research on you because the ring she gave you was the exact stone and style you would have wanted in a ring. You said before the others could speak,

"I'm giving Talia and Ra full control over the wedding planning. My only demand was for you all to be invited."

Nobody had a clue about how to handle this news. The family favourite was about to get married to one of their villains. Could they allow you to be wed into a villainous family? Could they stop you? Why would you accept in the first place?

"You unintentionally fought for an engagement you didn't ask for? Why did you say yes?"

Tim was flabbergasted and a little stressed about the situation. Why is the only question he could think of. Explain to him why this is a good idea. Explain to him why you did anything you did. He was concerned. You asked with raised eyebrows,

"Would you turn down Talia Al Ghul?"

You both were surprised that night. Talia was shocked you actually won every trial sent for you, but her pleased grin and smooth words made you hesitantly agree to be married to her. The mischief in her eyes that told a story you could clearly make out was a path you wanted to explore, and the kiss she gave you almost knocked you off your feet. She was so... happy, it seemed, maybe even victorious. It was as if she knew you'd win and was silently bragging to her father that you'd win with confidence. You couldn't say no. You could fight her, sure, but you were exhausted from Ra's challenges, and why fight a potentially budding love you won? It's like a fairytale. The knight fought the evil lich and won the princess's heart.

"I agreed because I grew fond of her. She was always in my corner when I fought Ra. She was the one to give me water in between fights and gave me a good pep talk. She knew her father was an honed weapon, but she believed in me."

Dick ran a stressed hand through his hair. Nothing could have prepared him for his sisterly figure to become Damian's stepmother. He has nothing in his big brother book for something like this to happen. He was indescribably distraught and infuriated.

"I... I don't know what to say. Congratulations? Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

You frowned at his weary expression. What is so hard about accepting future love? Technically, Talia wouldn't be their problem, and Ra's would stop his assault on Batman, given how connected Damian and you are to them. You confirmed,

"I'm sure. She's a better woman when she isn't under Ra's thumb. She'll be a part of my family, not his, and she can comfortably give up the assasssin lifestyle instead of being torn between the Bats and the League of Assassins. She'll be on our side."

Tim was still trying to come to terms with everything. That is wishful thinking at best. You might even be taken away from them before she ever joins their side. He felt like his brain was in slow motion. You were basically his sister, but he can't do anything about it.

"When did all this happen?"

You shrugged. You never did care about dates. Calendar Man hates you and often avoids you in favour of the other Bats. You asked,

"Do you remember the night you guys went crazy with worry and tore Gotham apart to find me? Whatever that day was."

They all remember that day very clearly. Talia shot all of the cameras in Gotham before approaching you. They worried you'd got into a fight with her, and she disposed of your body somewhere or carted you off to any of the supervillains to be used as blackmail to lure the Batfamily out of the cave.

They were beating up every goon to find out information, but nobody knew anything. The panic they all felt hit them pretty heavily. There was nothing. Not even Damian could find a trace when asked.

Dick was especially worried. He became paranoid you were in the Court of Owls nest. Losing you would have devastated him. His brotherly pride and joy rode on you and your safety. He kept you nestled under his wing firmly, like an overprotective mother hen.

Jason had gone straight to Joker like hell was chasing him. He hated every second that passed. He could hear the timer that was ticking like the bomb that killed him. This panic had him indescribably angry. Where were you?

Tim was a wreck. His anxiety sky-rocketed the longer you were gone. He was counting the hours you were missing, much like Jason. The first 24 hours are crucial in missing persons cases, he knows this, and it worried him immensely. Without any evidence to go off of and none of his precious cameras to find you, he was stressed. You vanished into thin air, and not even his energy drink could calm his nerves. He was a mess and threw himself into collecting any possible evidence. Someone shut off even his personal cameras (he hid his own cameras around the city for the angles the security camera don't reach) and whoever they were turned off your trackers, even cutting out the one placed under your skin and crushing it under your heavy boot heel.

Bruce was the worst when it came to your disappearance. He went insane. If something is skilled enough to take you as if you vanished, what can he do? What was he going to do when he found out who took you from him? He was cold, bitter, and angry. He can't live without you, and he refuses to do so. None of the family could handle a life without you now that you've invaded their team and their hearts.

Damian didn't care nearly as much. Sure, he loved you, but he trusted your combat skills more than he trusted his own, and that says a lot about your skills. He trusted you more than he trusted Jon, both in a fight and in general. You would not fall unless you wanted to, and he was proven right when you returned. You had sword gashes and bruises, but you survived whatever you were put through. You didn't answer any of their burning questions. Simply shook your head with an adrenaline filled smile.

They all attempted to hunt you down to the best of their abilities, yet you just... reappeared. You gave them all a grin like you did when you were a child, so joyous and full of love, and Bruce knew you were okay. His baby was safe. You were back in his nest. The tension melted off of him when he pulled you into a hug.

Nobody left you alone for longer than the time it took to stop a robbery for months, and all the cameras were replaced the next night. You were annoyed, but Talia would find a way to get you out of the suffocating walls of the manor. If anybody can sneak you in and out, it will be her and Ra, who has grown to already love you and continued to grow protective of you. You belong with the League of Assassins, not with the Bats! How dare they hold Talia's future wife captive!

Was your future wife insane and obsessed? Yes. Did you care? Not particularly. The birds need to leave the nest eventually.

You weren't in the Batfamily despite your closeness. You simply accepted their love and flew just close enough to be considered family, but not legally tied to them. It sometimes seemed like Bruce was even waiting for you to be orphaned so he could adopt you into the family. His fantasy has been ruined by Talia's ridiculous tournament.

You smiled thinking about your queen. Yes, you will be going into another obsessive family, but what else is new for you? Your current sort-of-family is equally obsessive, and your actual family was obsessed with her already.

[thewitchblue]

"Go, go, go."

Duke whispered while manipulating the light to create a shadow right next to you. You can teleport through shadows and let yourself get swallowed entirely by the provided shadows to make you impossible to detect.

You muttered curses under your breath, but did as you were told just in time for a young man to burst into the room. You hugged yourself as the frigid temperature of the shadows sink in slowly. It's like winter in the shadows.

"Who were you talking to?"

Dick asked with a suspicious look. Duke tried not to look in your direction. You could have already left the manor, but he still didn't want to reveal you and expose your abilities.

"Nobody."

Duke tried to lie in a convincing tone. Dick didn't believe Duke in the slightest and started to look around the room regardless. He heard two voices coming from Duke's room as he was passing by.

Dick couldn't find anyone after searching every corner. He almost ran into you several times, however, and nearly made you jump out of his way.

Maybe Duke was on a video call with someone. He was tempted to check Duke's phone, and he plans to tap the phone to receive all the texts and record all calls, but he can let Duke assume he let this go from the moment. He needs to know now that his curiosity is piqued. Fortunately, Duke is the only one with a normal sleep schedule, so that will be relatively easy to do.

Dick left without more fuss, but you only stepped away from your shadows when Duke's door was shut and locked. He doesn't want his family to know about you yet, but he knows for a fact now that they will tap his phone. Tim might even be brought into this and find you easily.

You hid a small laugh as Duke flopped onto his bed with a groan. He was so annoyed. Can't he cuddle his beautiful partner in peace? Maybe he should bring you to his secret condo just to have you to himself. After he checks for secret cameras, of course. You smiled warmly at him and asked softly,

"Do you want to go to my place? My parents are out on business trips, so they won't bother us."

Duke took your hands and kissed both of them. He spoke as he massaged your hands in his own,

"That would be for the best. I can show you my secret place."

You didn't live in Gotham or Bludhaven, so you would be 100% Bat free. You were content in Keystone City, having shadow travelled your whole way to Gotham to be with him. Speedsters only care about fighting each other instead of going after civilians for the most part, and the criminals only care about escaping Flash with whatever they tried to get away with.

You took his hand and teleported you both to your bedroom. You want to cuddle your boyfriend in peace. Duke took a moment to look around the room before you pulled him to your bed to cuddle. He will have to check for cameras next time. They know nothing right now, so there should be no cameras, right? He'll delete all your texts and leave every group chat when he gets home, but he can worry about that later.

He smiled warmly at you and kissed your forehead. He was, admittedly, surprised how long he has managed to keep you hidden from the family. It's been nearly one year, yet you have remained out of the family's close eye.

"I'm going to have to get a new phone."

Duke mumbled, resting his head on top of your shoulder while wrapping his arms around you. He's got bolder with you, but he's still nervous to introduce you to the family, and you were equally nervous. Who wouldn't be? You would be meeting the most influential and powerful family in Gotham history.

He was worried about what the others would do when they met you. The family is very intense, and he doesn't trust any of them to handle you properly. You weren't a hero. You had no fighting skills. Your sense of self-preservation is questionable, and your survival skills aren't the best. He was worried not always because of how dissimilar you are to the family, but also because of how scary the family can be to others. The matching scowls on Damian's and Jason's faces would be intimidating. You'd see straight through Brucie and Cass' and Tim's intelligent eyes would never stop analysing you. You'd feel self-conscious with every movement.

You lightly knocked on his forehead with a worried expression to bring him back to existence again,

"Stop overthinking, lightsaber."

He really hated that nickname, but you found it hilarious and adorable, so he let's you continue. He didn't appreciate having to learn every Star Wars fact to cover your lie about meeting at a Star Wars movie, but it turned into a date night to binge the movies after the first time you called him lightsaber, and the lie has held for so long that it stopped becoming an issue. Your friends and family believe you, and the Waynes may even believe it once you start rambling.

You kissed his forehead as an apology for knocking on it, and suddenly, he was back in the present once more. He noticed he was in your arms. You seemed to have migrated him to the bed and pulled him into your arms to cuddle.

He gave you a grateful smile and kissed your cheek. Cuddling sounds nice to him, and he has all night before his family will come home.

[thewitchblue]

"My vigilante days are over!"

Dick pouted to you dramatically. You shook your head and smiled at his melodramatic exclamation while helping him through the window, but quickly, you began to worry about him. What does he mean? Is he quitting being Nightwing? You asked worriedly,

"Honey bunny, what happened?"

Dick hissed in pain as he went to sit on your shared bed. He didn't even get hurt on patrol. It's just his age catching up to him. His back ached, and his joints creaked like a broken door hinge. He dreads becoming Bruce's age.

"I'm old, honey bunches. My knees cracked when I stood up, and I fell off a rooftop in pain."

He continued to pout. You snickered softly as you gently laid him down to check him for actual injuries. Dick gave you a look of betrayal, so you kissed his forehead as an apology for laughing at him. You told him gently,

"Honey bunny, you aren't old."

You said, amused by the notion. Dick is only in his 20s. Where is this coming from? Dick whispered as existential dread began to worm its way into his mind,

"What am I going to do when I'm Bruce's age? Or when I have to take the cowl?"

You gently ran your fingers through his hair in a soothing motion as your eyes continued to scan him for injuries. There really were no outward injuries that you could locate.

Bludhaven was very quiet tonight, so you weren't surprised. You haven't even heard a gunshot with your superhearing tonight.

Dick is going to spiral if you don't guide him out of his own head, however, so you geared your focus on him. You peppered his face with kisses as you spoke,

"You. Will. Be. Fine. I'll be the one pushing your wheelchair, hun bun."

He pouted, so you gave him a sweet kiss. You loved him dearly, and he knows that, but all he's thinking about is his alarming age and how quickly he's going to deteriorate if he keeps this up. How does Bruce manage his aging pains? Is this why he has a heater in his suit? For his muscle aches?

"How does he do it? Keep going like this? My body can't keep up like it used to."

He asked as if you had the knowledge to help him through this problem. You frowned in thought before saying calmly,

"I'll buy some Deep Heat in the morning, and we can see if that helps with your muscle stiffness and aches. For now, I'll get the hot water bottle, and we can cuddle."

Dick smiled softly and made grabby hands as if to ask you to cuddle now. Screw the hot water bottle. Your warmth should be enough to soothe both his anxiety and his muscles.

You caved into Dick's pleading eyes and grabby hands. You climbed into bed with him and kissed his cheek. Dick immediately pulled you to him but groaned as his shoulder felt a throbbing ache.

"This is why Jason cracks his knuckles, isn't it?"

You laughed and shifted to face him. He looked like he made a revelation he hadn't considered. You shrugged and said while taking his free hand in yours,

"Probably. It seems to be a nervous tic for him with the bonus of joint relief."

Dick seemed to look into the distance as he whispered to himself,

"He's so smart..."

You kissed his forehead with a smile. His eyes turned to you as if you had all the answers in the world. He took your conjoined hands and kissed yours. You said warmly,

"You are smart, too, hun bun. We can ask Alfred tomorrow if he has any tips to help minimise the pains."

Right, Alfred would know. Alfred was the one who patched Bruce up every night. Alfred had to know some tips or tricks. You smiled as you finally made it through to him.

"I'll search for ways to help with muscle and joint pain, and I'm sure we can get you a multivitamin to help with muscle and joint support."

He gave you a relieved kiss. Dick is back as he wraps you in his loving embrace. You made yourself comfortable cuddled into Dick's side, content to be surrounded by him. Dick kissed the top of your head and gave you his usual bright smile.

"I love you, my bumblebee."

You smiled back at him and rubbed your noses together. He's adorable with a small pout still present on his face and blue eyes that has seen far too much. You softly said,

"I love you too, honey bunny."

You love everything about him. You love his small head tilts when he grins at something silly you do. You love the way he melts into your touch instantly. You love the lazy kisses after patrol and the morning cuddling when he doesn't want you to leave for work. He is your other half.

He adores when you slide your hand into his own and swing them together. He loves the way you drag him into your arms instead of asking to be held with a grin. He always smiles when you rub your nose against his while cuddling as if to silently tell him you love him and to reinforce the bond you both share. He loves how you comfort him when he has a breakdown and how you always know exactly what to do when he needs you. It's as if you two are in perfect sync, and you can read each other's minds.

He was, quite literally, glued to your side whenever he can be, and the same can be said for you. You move as one unit, and it shows. Where one goes, the other isn't too far behind or hasn't even left the other's side sometimes.

Everybody found out about the relationship when Dick dragged you into the cave as "emotional support" while they were studying a gruesome case. None of the family was ready to meet you and some of them were even in the middle of changing to their suits, but Dick wanted to be by your side and he was stubborn enough to convince you with his begging eyes and eventually victorious grin.

His beautiful blue eyes looked at you, and he knew he needed you in his life, and you need him. You're his, and he's yours, so he'll keep enjoying your loving support for however long you stay by his side.