So many works are like "this magical world is ONLY FOR CHILDREN, if you grow up, you lose your sense of whimsy and wonder BY NECESSITY and are FOREVER BARRED THIS WORLD OF WONDER. If you missed your chance as a child, TOUGH LUCK. A bitterly hopeless and dark view of adulthood."
Pokemon is like, you didn't get your chance to go on a Pokemon journey because you were raising your siblings for five years because both of your parents were deadbeats? One finally saw the error of his ways and came back! You can start now!
You're an old man who never went on a journey? You can start now!! Go out there with your flower-loving, skipping Treecko. You and your kid can both start your journeys with your little Starter Pokemon together, sure, why not?
You DID enjoy Pokemon as a child and have now grown-up, still loving them? You're a Gym Leader, or Elite, or even the Champion!
“Oh, little one, why are you crying? I know, I know…. So many bad things happened to you and it still affects you. But I’ve got you. Why don’t we try a craft to make you feel better? Get some paper or something to type on, my love. Let’s take that memory that won’t leave you alone and write to the poor person who’s facing it!
“Remind your past self that you will get out of it and that you’re there for them, as am I. I know a lot of awful things happened, but you are so strong and deserve happiness in your child self and adult.
summary. Y/n goes through an anguishing breakup right before a gala aka Bruce is done with any and everything that involves his children
warning(s). He/Him pronouns, breakups, inspired by “Barbie’s Torture” scene from Toy Story!
a/n. I know the Batfamily isn’t as fluffy as I make them out to be, but I need something sweet to settle my mind 🤷🏽
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... 1, 2, 3, 4..."
Bruce furrowed his eyebrows. It was necessary to do a headcount before and after a gala, but he seemed to be missing one of the kids. "Dick, Jason, Tim, Stephanie, Cass, Duke, and Damian... Barbras at the office finishing up a case, so..." Bruce muttered, “I believe we’re missing Master Y/n.” Alfred inquired. Realization dawning upon him that Y/n was nowhere to be found. His eyebrows furrowed even deeper. "I thought I told you all to be down here at 8:32..." Bruce grumbled to himself as he ascended the stairs, his pace quickening when he heard screams and cries emanating from a room.
The door swung open, revealing Y/n amidst a collection of clothes hanging from a rack, surrounded by some of the torn garments. He held a purple shimmery vest in his hands. "Y/n, baby, please! Not the vintage purple vest. I said I was sorry!" pleaded Y/n's ex-boyfriend, Ken.
"Sorry, Kenny boy, but apologies won't cut it!" Y/n snapped, tearing the jacket in two, a pained smile stretching across his face. Tear stains marred his cheeks. "You should've thought about your tacky outfits before you cheated on me and messed with my friend!" Y/n flung the torn clothing at Ken, who was tied to what appeared to be a medieval stretcher, clad only in heart-patterned boxers. Bruce stood at the doorway, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Y/n..." he uttered. Y/n swiftly turned his gaze towards the door, his tense smile morphing into a pout, tears welling up in his eyes. "Dadddddddd!" Y/n cried, rushing into his father's embrace. "Y/n... what is going on?" Bruce returned the embrace, cautiously surveying the room for any more surprises. "Ken cheated on me, a-and he called Karen a bitch! I'm Gotham's Barbie, n-no one disrespects me or my friends!" Y/n's pout vanished, replaced by anger and distress in his eyes. Bruce glanced at Y/n's outfit—a white suit with pink accents, and pearl earrings. "Umm..." Bruce blinked repeatedly, trying to recall why he had come upstairs. "The gala, we have to go. W-we can sort this out later." Bruce gently guided Y/n out of the room, stealing a glance back at the bound Ken before closing the door.
The siblings lounged on the couch, waiting for Bruce to come downstairs with their brother. It had already been 20 minutes since Bruce left. "Do we even have to go to the stupid gala? I mean, we're probably hella late..." Jason chimed in, playing with Dick's kendama. "Honestly, I don't even know. I'd be fine staying here and binging one of Y/n's movies," Dick commented, looking at his brother. "I'd never be bored enough to watch all of Y/n's movies," Tim added.
"What? Why not! Y/n's movies are amazing, especially the one where he's in the apocalypse!" Stephanie exclaimed, leaping from her spot on the floor. Damian hummed in agreement, "I like those, but his aquatic ones are even better. Besides, it's about something he truly enjoys..." Titus barked in apparent agreement. "Woah, woah, woah. His high school drama movies are a hundred times better than all of those combined!" Jason interjected, discarding the kendama as his interest waned. "Jason!" Dick shouted, diving to catch the toy he had been eagerly waiting for (another story for another time). And everyone protested, disagreeing with Jason's opinion. Their debate was abruptly interrupted by a boisterous voice exclaiming, "We're back!" Y/n excitedly raised their hands in the air, sprinting down the stairs and heading straight for the door. "I call shotgun, come on Alfred!" Y/n surprised the butler, dragging him towards the waiting limousine outside.
"What? That's not fair!" Duke leaped over the couch, desperately trying to secure the next best seat. This triggered a chain reaction, causing the entire group to scramble towards the door. Bruce could only watch in despair, attempting to ignore the shouts and cries coming from Y/n’s “victim”.
"Fine... let's get this show on the road..." Bruce mumbled wearily, resigned to their chaotic adventure.
Liam has been up since 4 am, writing poetry. His muse, as always, is Saffron.
You destroy my sleep
And dance across my dreams
My heart melts with love
Before waking up
Alone
His mind has never been so focused, so clear. He writes three more poems before he shuts his laptop down at 5.30 am. Then he has a shower and gets dressed and goes downstairs to prepare breakfast. Stephanie demands that a hot breakfast be waiting for her when she comes down at 6.30. This morning he prepares pancakes, her favourite. She doesn't speak to him when sits down at the table, just gives her plate with its aromatic pile of pancakes a desultory sniff and starts eating.
"How are your pancakes?" says Liam, placing her coffee down next to her.
"You put too much butter on them," she says sourly.
"I'm sorry," he says, sitting down. He starts to eat his own plate of pancakes. They are perfect, the texture light and fluffy, butter seeping into their crisp, golden brown exterior. Stephanie throws her fork down and gives a loud cry of disgust.
"For heaven's sake, you sound like a pig at a trough!" she says. "Can’t you close your mouth when you eat?"
"I'm sorry," Liam says. She glowers at him.
"Take my plate away," she says. "You've made me completely lose my appetite."
"But there's so much left over-"
"I don't know why you made so many. I didn't ask you to."
Liam gets up and clears away both their plates. Stephanie sits sipping her coffee, her mouth downturned. He took perverse and extra care preparing her coffee this morning, just as he did the pancakes. He has also taken extra care with his appearance. He knows the way he looks right now will be forever seared in her memory, and he wanted to give her the best face possible; freshly shaven, his hair neatly combed, nostrils trimmed of errant hairs. He sits back down at the table and smiles at her. She ignores him, continuing to sip her coffee. Never mind. She won't be ignoring him for very much longer.
"Stephanie," he says. "Our marriage is over. I don't love you any more."
Stephanie: *Sharpens knife* We've got ways of making people talk.
Cassandra: *Cuts piece of cake*
Jason: ...Can I have some?
Stephanie: Cake is for talkers.
I love the idea of Stephanie having a crush on Eddie but not doing anything about it because she knows he's queer but then later on Eddie says, "I AM queer but I like girls too" and Stephanie's like "what????" And later that day she goes to Robin and says, "oh my god, did you know there's this thing where you can like boys AND girls????" And Robin's like "yes dingus it's called bisexuality."