#Talia: Of course not brother but by chance would you convince Father to let the child stay | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

phis-corner · 4 years

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demon’s daughter

I decided to re-open the taglist for this fic because I am sometimes a pushover, so now you can either ask or comment to be on the fic’s taglist or the permanent taglist!

Additionally, I have no consistent update schedule. My first draft is written by hand- I always like to stay two chapters ahead, so I posted this chapter when I finished copying chapter 5 into a Google Doc and proofreading.

Also, fun fact: I hate chocolate. My senses just do not like it at all. I also have a very sensitive tongue and can taste the barest hint of spiciness in foods, which also means I have zero spice tolerance whatsoever. As a Chinese-American with family in Sichuan, this means I get force-fed a lot of extremely spicy foods anyway.

Masterlist Chapter 1 Chapter 2 [Chapter 3] Chapter 4

“Why are you letting them stay? He tried to kill Dick!” Timothy points at Damian, who glowers at him from across the cave as Alfred stitches Richard’s cuts.

Marinette sighs. “Akhi was not trying to murder Richard. If you paid more attention, you would notice that all of Richard’s wounds are carefully placed in non-lethal areas meant to slow him down instead of severely injuring him.”

Batman does not say a word. He hasn’t spoken since Richard called him to verify their claims.

“They were raised as assassins, Timmy. It’s normal that they’d feel threatened a lot, and act accordingly. They’re family now. Give them a chance.” Richard replies, and Marinette blinks. She did not expect to have Richard defend them so easily.

“Pardon me,” She pipes up. “But ‘they’ are currently present.”

“Right. Sorry.” Richard has the sense to look guilty. Timothy just glares.

Damian squeezes her hand three times, their signal for I would like to leave. Marinette sighs as she exits the Batcave. Being accepted into the family is… a work in progress.

.o0o.

Slade is put into Blackgate not long after with the information Ubu gave after being interrogated by the Bats. Damian and Marinette were not allowed to go.

Too young, Richard had said. They had interpreted that as You cannot be trusted to keep him alive. He did make the right call though. Damian would have tried extremely hard had he gotten the chance.

Of course, the League did dispose of him not long after anyway, but it was the thought that counted.

Damian and Marinette spent their days in the Manor sparring, reading, or practicing their instruments. Richard, who seemed determined to bond with them, bought them both new sketchbooks, for Damian’s drawings and Marinette’s designs. She had discovered an affinity for clothing design while undercover on a mission, and had been designing ever since.

Cass (she insisted that they call her that instead of Cassandra,) was always happy to spar when asked, and although nobody ever defeated her, it was a welcomed challenge to fight someone who knew your every move, sometimes even before you did. Damian grudgingly admits she is a worthy sister, which makes Marinette smile and Cass beam.

Jason had his own home and only visited every once in a while, and Timothy was rarely seen. It didn’t help that Damian continued to make snarky comments whenever they did see him, but if Timothy was scarce, Father was practically nonexistent.

Since they came to the Manor, their father has said a total of two words to the both of them, and that was just their names when he exited his study as they passed by.

Marinette is determined to make her new family work, and so when she finds Timothy completely by accident, typing away on a laptop in one of the less-used rooms in the Manor, she takes a chance.

“You do know we are not trying to replace you, right?” She asks softly, sitting down in an armchair and deliberately not making eye contact with him.

Timothy snorts. “But is that not what you’re doing? Bruce chose to take in everyone else. I had to blackmail him into letting me be Robin. And then the biological kids show up, born and raised like fucking royalty, so who would care about Tim Drake? The little kid whose parents didn’t even want him and his neighbor only adopted him because he knew his most well-kept secret.”

“We have more in common than you think.” Marinette says quietly.

“Yeah, right.” Timothy laughs bitterly. “The Princess of the League-”

“I wasn’t.” Marinette interrupts.

“Huh? But-”

“I wasn’t the Princess.” Marinette keeps her voice calm with considerable effort. “As soon as I was born, Ra’s gave me over to Lady Shiva. He declared me unworthy because I was a girl, and I was raised as the lowest-ranked assassin. I may have been Shiva’s protege, but that just meant she went even harder on me. I did not know even my last name until after my first death when I was five. I did not properly meet my brother until last year. Ra’s decided that I could be acknowledged, but maintained his stance on feminine inferiority.”

She chuckles hollowly. “You fear being replaced by your father figure’s biological children, Timothy. But your fear is unwarranted. Bruce Wayne chose to adopt you, because he is a good man with copious amounts of generosity. However, it evidently does not extend to his biological children. Talia dumped us at Batman’s feet and left without another word, without looking back. And Father? We may have been a complete surprise, but he has said two words in total to us since that first night- our names. You need not worry, Timothy. You shall not be replaced.”

Marinette stands, her message conveyed, and pauses in the doorway of the room.

“Have a good afternoon, Timothy.”

The next day, Marinette and Damian watch on live television as their father is killed by Darkseid.

.o0o.

The funeral for Batman is somber. Everyone cries except for Marinette and Damian.

She thinks they should be crying, but Marinette simply didn’t know her father well enough to really mourn him. Damian squeezes her hand, and she squeezes back. The twins stand, faces carefully blank, shoulders straight and unmoving, like rocks in an ocean of tears.

Crime in Gotham runs rampant when they think Batman is gone, and so Richard becomes Batman out of necessity- and chooses her twin brother as his Robin.

Nobody else sees how it crushes Timothy, because Cass has left for Hong Kong, abandoning Batgirl and making her own identity as Black Bat. Jason is holed up in a safehouse somewhere, Richard and Damian are in their own little world as they prepare for their first patrol together, and Alfred needs time to mourn too.

So she finds herself knocking on the door to Timothy’s room, one hand holding a plate of sandwiches and a freshly brewed coffee because he hasn’t left his room since the funeral. Marinette quietly enters upon his muffled “Come in” and sets the plate down next to Timothy, whose eyes are red-rimmed and have even larger bags than normal, and yet he continues to work.

“I… noticed you have not come out to eat, so I brought some food and fresh coffee. Black.” She adds, after a moment of hesitation.

“Thanks.” Timothy mumbles, immediately going for the coffee. “Why are you doing this?”

Marinette shrugs. “Everyone else was caught up in their own situation and had issues to work through too. I am relatively unaffected by the circumstances and therefore my observation skills have not declined.” She says simply. “You should also eat. I will not stop you from drinking the coffee, but you cannot work on an empty stomach, either.”

He begrudgingly eats a sandwich, still typing away at his laptop all the while. Marinette notes the tension in his frame.

“Would you like to talk about it? I have read that venting is significantly better for one’s mental health than keeping it bottled up.” She offers.

Timothy suddenly slams the laptop shut, hard, but Marinette doesn’t flinch. The reaction was trained out of her a long time ago.

“It’s not- it’s- my entire life, I’ve been trying to prove myself. Robin was- Robin was special. I wasn’t the first Robin, but it was a reminder that I was worth something to someone, that I could do good and be useful. And then Bruce dies, Dick becomes Batman, and he just names Damian as his Robin like my opinion on the matter meant nothing, booting me out of the position, without any semblance of an explanation and-” He breaks off into sobs.

The sight of somebody crying makes Marinette more than a little awkward, because what is she doing? She doesn’t know how to comfort a crying person, but she does know that Timothy was touch-starved as a child. However, she isn’t the most touchy-feely person on the planet either, so she just settles for rubbing his back as he lets it all out.

Once he’s run out of tears, she silently hands him the tissue box she plucked from his desk.

“Timothy Jackson Drake-Wayne, you are not worthless.” Marinette says sternly. “Nobody is worthless, and you are far from being anywhere near so. You are the cleverest and most intelligent of us all, a capable, quick-thinking strategist, and you have detective skills that rivaled Father’s. I believe Richard chose Damian as Robin because Robin is always supposed to be Batman’s sidekick. He is always taken under Batman’s wing because there are things he hasn’t learned, that Batman can teach him. Richard sees you as an equal, and therefore cannot keep you as his Robin because you have graduated the mantle. It is time you created a new identity and moved on. Do you have anything in mind?”

Timothy sniffs once. “Thank you. I really needed that. And as for the ideas,” He reaches over and pulls out a sketchbook, a smile spreading across his face. “I’ve got a few.”

.o0o.

They brainstorm ideas for almost three hours before Timothy falls asleep. Marinette easily carries his light frame to his bed and drapes a blanket over his shoulders before quietly exiting his room.

Thankfully, she managed to convince Timothy that the cowl was a terrible idea. Marinette returns to her own room for her sketchbook. Batman and Robin will have each other’s backs. But Red Hood works alone, leaving Red Robin with nobody to watch his back.

Timothy is Marinette’s brother too, and everyone else is headed into the field anyway. She, like Damian, also had the phrase ‘justice, not vengeance’ drilled into her head, and Richard had made sure to remind them daily to aim for non-lethal spots. Not that she planned on taking a life ever again anyway.

Marinette flips open her sketchbook to a bookmarked page and smiles. It seems that Starling would be making an appearance very soon.

.o0o.

It is almost time for Richard and Damian’s first patrol as Batman and Robin. Marinette heads downstairs to wish them well, but freezes at the sight of her twin in Timothy’s old suit.

“This is unacceptable!” She screeches, hurrying forward and looking pleadingly at Richard. “You cannot let akhi out into Gotham looking like a traffic light!”

Richard frowns, as does Damian. “But you never had a problem with Tim wearing it.”

“Tt. Timothy had little to no prior experience in combat before being trained as Robin. Damian has been trained to utilize the shadows in combat since birth. Wearing those bright colors will make him stand out and put him at a disadvantage.” Marinette tuts, already scribbling out a new design in her sketchbook.

“Then what do you suggest, ukhti?” Damian asks.

“I have a design in mind. The colors will stay, but the yellow and green will have to be significantly darker, and the red should be dulled as well. Sadly, you will have to wear that monstrosity tonight, but I can have the suit finished in time for patrol tomorrow, as will mine and Timothy’s new suits.” She replies, not glancing up from her book.

“What do you mean, Marinette?” Richard questions, and Marinette feels a tiny twinge of annoyance at how he handled telling Timothy about Robin.

“I mean that Timothy and I have crafted new identities as well. You did not expect him to just stop fighting crime, or for me to just sit at home while everyone else carried out Father’s mission, did you?”

Damian nods, a small smile pulling at his lips. “It will be nice to see you in the field too, ukhti.”

“What will your names be?” Richard prods curiously.

“I will not tell you just yet.” Marinette smirks. She shows her twin the finished design. “Does this look alright, akhi?”

“It looks wonderful, ukhti.” Damian replies. “Thank you.”

She sniffs. “Well, somebody had to fix the lack of fashion sense in this household eventually.”

.o0o.

Everyone else in the family may use capes, but Marinette decided that Richard’s Nightwing suit was by far the best because of its lack of one. Capes were long, heavy, a waste of fabric, and overall useless.

The Starling suit was primarily black, with a dark emerald mask covering the lower half of her face (because why carry a gas mask and rebreather when it can be built in?) with gloves and boots in the same color. A single silver star with curved sides was splayed on her chest, and a dark green utility belt rested on her waist. Her steel war fans had holsters strapped to her thighs.

All in all, the suit was built for the shadows. Marinette had learned to master slipping through the dark, unseen, and Gotham was the perfect place to utilize that. Starling would be nothing more than a ghost, a legend, if she had her way. After all, the less citizens knew, the less likely the information would hit the underworld, and that way, the vigilantes wouldn’t have all their cards out in the open.

Damian looks much better in his new suit as well, and Timothy is also grinning when he steps out of the male’s changing room. (A/N: the new 52 suit. I’m not letting him out of the Cave with that ugly cowl, or the traffic light costume with an extra R. Don’t even get me started on the Drake one.)

Richard, cowl still down, smiles as bright as the sun itself. “Good to see you, Robin. Tim, Marinette, can I ask your names?”

Timothy fastens his domino. “Red Robin.”

Marinette pulls her face mask up and curtsies with perfect posture. “Starling. I wish to work in the shadows, if that is alright.”

Richard puts on the cowl and becomes Batman. “You guys all look amazing.” He grins, and it is unsettling to see Batman smile. Oracle logs into the comms from the Clocktower.

“You all ready?”

They split the city in half. Red Robin and Starling take the North while Batman & Robin will cover the South.

Starling trails Red Robin from afar, leaping from building to building and only using her grappling hook when the distance is too great to close by foot. They stop four muggings and two attempted assaults, all without Starling being spotted. The criminals think they hit their head on the alley walls or each other instead of her fist from behind.

It’s almost three in the morning when Batman calls it quits and they return to the Cave, changing out of their suits and showering. They are somehow all unharmed, so Alfred sends them up to bed.

Damian and Marinette brush their teeth before climbing into bed and flipping off the lights.

“Tonight was actually quite enjoyable.” Marinette remarks. “It is a nice feeling, to know that you are helping people.”

Damian hums sleepily. “It is good to know that we are continuing Father’s legacy.”

Marinette smiles. “Yes, I suppose so.” She burrows deeper into her blankets. “Sleep well, akhi.”

“The same goes for you, ukhti.”

For once, Marinette doesn’t have a nightmare.

Previous ◈ Next

Taglist (re-opened and will stay open): @moonlightstar64 @dast218 @our-preciousss @novicevoice @pawsitivelymiraculous @trippingovermyfeet @miyla-lokidottir @consumeconstantly @mochegato @i-wanna-be-a-ninja @azuremayscarlet @iloveitwhen @bran-thecreeper-stark @no-username2544 @susiej1118 @kking13

Permanent taglist (always open): @wannajointhecrabcult @marinettepotterandplagg

Unspecified (you asked to be tagged and did not specify which one): @momothefemur @indecisive-mess-named-me

Note: some of them didn’t work. I am terrible with technology and have no clue how to fix this.

#maribat #mlb x dc #demon's daughter au #my writing

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crystalangelluna · 3 years

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Wish It Didn't End Like This.

(Part 1/2)

Daminette angst story. I did not proof read and edit deeply so there might be mistakes. My first shot at an angst story. Comments are highly appreciated. Hope you enjoy (///=time skip)

(Mari's POV)

Damian Wayne...

It has so many definitions...

Stubborn…

Talented…

Smart…

A hero…

Brave…

A brat at first…

But underneath all the barriers he has an amazing heart, that very few get to see…

And I mean VERY few.

Only the super closest people to him had the luxury to see.

I am very glad to have met this amazing person.

If only we had spent more time together…

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

The first time I had ever met him, it was as if I was some kind of supervillain. He had this glare that seemed to scare everyone else.

But I wasn’t like everybody else.

(HA try fighting a supervillain since you were 13 and finally beating him at 17, and finding out why the person you trusted the most in your life betrayed you.)

So of course the glare was a simple child’s play.

We didn’t have a simple conversation till a few weeks later.

I went to the park near my apartment and sat at a bench where I sketched design ideas based on the scenery. I brought plagg with me, but he wasn’t a kwami, he was a real black cat. Kwamies could transform into the animal they represent. As I designed, Plagg was curled up near me softly purring.

As I was about to finish the last sketch, Plagg woke up and left. I didn’t mind it, since Plagg tended to do that. But then a dog’s bark followed by a frantic call were heard across the park.

”TITUS!!”

I looked up to see plagg being chased by a Great Dane, followed by Damian.

I ended up leaving everything besides my purse(it has Tikki inside duh) on the bench and joined in the chase.

Once we finally caught them, I picked Plagg off the ground and hugged him, he started purring and acted as if nothing happened.

Sneaky little chaotic cat

I quickly apologized profoundly for the accident, I could tell I was blushing madly

I didn’t like him (Yet), I was just embarrassed …

He did something that surprised me, something that didn’t seem like his persona.

He chuckled, sure it wasn’t like he smiled or anything like that…

But, it made me feel warm inside.

Realizing his mistake he quickly covered it up with,

”Tt, next time be careful, imbecile!”

If I hadn’t been the Famous Superhero, Ladybug/Guardian of the Miraculous, I would have been rather insulted and hurt.

But over the years I have learned to judge people by their eyes.

You see, the eyes aren’t just a useful body part to see,

They are the door to the soul, sure words might be harsh and hurtful, but they might say what they don’t mean.

And clearly, he didn’t mean to call me an imbecile, he hid it so well that I probably couldn’t have noticed it, but of course, I did.

(Damian Wayne, I will break those barriers and I will see who you truly are, and not pretend to be.)

This mission was similar to another one I had, but it was harder.

I loved a good challenge.

Wherever Marinette goes, Ladybug follows.

The bats were relatively surprised that I appeared in their territory, after some explaining and convincing I was finally allowed to work with them.

Before I left, Robin was scowling at me before leaving with the rest, which somehow was familiar…

Wait, Familiar…

Suddenly a flash appeared in my mind of a black-haired boy, with dark emerald eyes, glaring at me the same way.

How did I manage to get this Lucky, oh yeah…

I mentally face palmed this wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

Conjuring up a portal to my apartment, and de-transformed I just sighed…

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A couple of months later, we grew a little closer, a little.

But hey, at least it is progress am I right.

I didn’t get him to chuckle or anything but I could see a small smile on his face when he thought no one was looking. He was wrong, very wrong.

Knowing he was Robin didn’t make it any easier, especially when he treats both Marinette and Ladybug in different ways. He still doesn’t agree with Ladybug, but he was still wary of me.

I mean who wouldn’t be wary of someone when you are rich, famous, and vigilant. Anyone could use you because of your status.

Bye, now Damian must know that I don’t care about his last name, nor status.

He is just Damian to me, not a Wayne, nor Robin, and not “the Ice prince”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////Ever since I met him he made my life better, sure it took a year for him to warm up to me.

And eventually, I became his best friend besides Jon. When no one was around he let his guard down, every barrier ever built crashed when he was alone with me.

I was so proud of myself, I had won the bet that I made with myself a year ago.

I guess the only reason why Damian is the way he is with others, and the same when I had met him was because he was neglected of the love he needed...

And Damian told me one time when we were alone that ever since he came to live with his father and even now that his father showed his other sons more love than he showed him. It broke my heart even more, but then I developed another mission.

It was to show that I care very much for my best friend and show him that is very much loved.

Everyone in school believed we were dating because of our interactions, of course, we were only best friends. But I had hopes that we would be more than best friends.

I never really planned on telling him how I feel, because I felt that it was more important to just be there for him as his best friend instead of getting a 50% chance rejected and destroying a perfectly good friendship and a 50% chance of getting accepted.

I didn’t want to risk it at all, so I never told him.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Just like how Damian opened up to me about his life (besides his vigilant life and assassin life), I did the same( besides the part about being Ladybug and Guardian) I told him about my life in Paris, the betrayals, the losses, how my life changed when a certain sausage haired liar came to school with her “shiny” life.

Being the best friend he was, he threatened to kill them. I had to chase Damian across my apartment to take the kitchen knife from his hand.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

1 month later…

He tried to keep me hidden from his family, no surprise there. No matter how much he wanted to keep me hidden it would still have happened.

When someone from Gotham Academy took a picture of me and Damian ya know doing secret best friend stuff when we thought no one was looking and posted it on Instagram, word spread out.

Later that day, not having any clue, I was “kidnapped” by 3 strangers. I was just having a simple conversation when someone tossed me over their shoulder and ran away.

I quickly kicked him in the ribs and flipped him.

I looked up to see Damian glaring, and yelling profanities at them. I turned around and saw 3 older men. I recognized who it was immediately, these were the people that complained about.

His brothers, Richard Grayson, Jason Todd, and Timothy Drake.

And I had flipped the oldest. Serves him right for trying to kidnap me.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Everything was great…

Until it wasn’t…

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I invited Damian over to hang out. We were in my room, I was sketching something while he was reading a book.

He suddenly placed his book on the table and left the room to get some food for us. He came back, only without food.

“Why do you have this!!!”

I stopped sketching and looked at what he was talking about. That was when I saw the file that contained the contact information to the leader of the league of assassins, on a paper that is written in Arabic. And information on Damian.

I froze, he wasn’t supposed to see that.

“Marinette answer me, WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS!?!?!?!”

“Damian it isn’t what it lo-” he cut me off before I could finish.

“You work for my mother, don’t you?!?! He looked at me, his eyes were tearing up. I tried to explain the misunderstanding but couldn’t. He beat me to it.

“So everything that happened between us isn’t real, they were all lies.?!?!

“Your one of mother’s spies aren’t you, she ordered you to get close to me to kill me?!?!?!

“Damian I-”

“JUST SHUT UP, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT. I- I HATE YOU!!!” He ran away, ran away from my life. Leaving me in tears.

Alone.

Just like many of the other times in my life. Only this was the worst experience out of all of them.

I tried, I tried to live my life. Away from Paris, Away from my duties as Supreme Guardian in the Tibetan temple. Guess the universe doesn’t want that for me. I looked through the contacts on my phone. And called the person would’ve called sooner or later.

“تاليا الغول ، أقبل اقتراحك. سأقابلك غدا في قاعدة الدوري.” (Talia Al Ghul, I accept your proposal. I'll meet you tomorrow at the league base.)

I packed my bookbag with clothes, shoes, food, and the miracle box. I grabbed the photo that was on the shelf. It was one photo of me and Damian when we were hanging out at the fair. Tears were filling my eyes and I looked up to see Tikki and Plagg looking at me sadly.

I put the picture back where it was and walked to the door. I had so many memories here and I had to ruin it again.

As of tonight, Marinette is no more. I told myself

For in her place the titles, Ladybug and Guardian stick with her permanently.

No one would miss Marinette anyways.

I put the hood over my head, and left Gotham…

Forever.

Taglist:

@galla02006 @toodaloo-kangaroo

#damian x marinette #maribat #maridami #mlb x dc #ml x dc #marinette x damian #angst

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n-ctarinenga · 4 years

Text

Flower Boy [ boxer!calum ]

flower boy series | pt.1 | word count: 5,659 | masterlist

"Thank you so much! I'll have these to you as soon as possible. Goodbye!"

Talia grins, as she farewells the family whos portraits she had just finished shooting.

As much as she loves photography, there were only so many matching outfits and unhappy children a person could handle in a day, and with the family that had just left her studio, Talia had reached her limit.

Draining days were something she had gotten used to, business booming lately thanks to the kind words of a handful of past clients. With doors only opening just under a year ago, Valentine Studios didn't exactly have the longest history in town, but Talia liked to believe her dedication and skill made up for lack of experience.

Her mother hadn't really approved of the move, her ideals for her daughter being stuck a few decades in the past.

With the thought of her mother flashing through her mind, Talia couldn't help but sigh as she moved to pack up her camera for the night.

After the great disbandment of the Alisley family, it was nearly impossible for either of the Alisley children to communicate with their mother, but that didn't stop Yvonne from making her annual call to her kids, mostly about the percentage paid out to them every couple weeks from their father's estate royalties, which in Talia's case, was this morning.

From that point onward, it felt like the universe had decided to torment Talia today.

Starting off with the phone call, and most recently manifesting as a set of twins who refused to do any form of posing with their parents, Talia couldn't wait to go home and sleep so she could start the next day fresh and away from the negative vibes of the current day.

Once her backdrops had been rolled up, and her camera was safely stored in its bag, Talia finally had time to let down her dark brown hair, the two bright streaks of red framing her face. She took great pleasure in turning all the lights off, and locking the door of the studio behind her.

Taking a second to relax in her car, Talia looks at her phone, scrolling through til she reaches the contact of her brother, Brandon.

The Alisley family were estranged from each other these days, but that didn't mean that Talia and Brandon had stopped being lifelong best friends.

The two had always been close, only a couple years between the siblings. Growing up in a world surrounded by adults until they themselves were well into their teens, they were practically a package deal until they had both moved into their own apartments a few years ago.

As of late, while Talia was diving head first into Valentine, Brandon was knee deep in The Vault, the gym he had started not long before Talia opened her own business.

Sitting in her car, Talia contemplated calling him for a moment, her finger hovering over the call button as she thought.

With both of them being so busy, they had barely had time to catch up over the last couple months, and after the day she had had today, Talia needed a bit of chill time with the only other person in the world who could understand her situation.

Their father always joked they could communicate telepathically, and after not seeing him for so long, Talia missed speaking her native tongue.

Deciding to make her way over to the gym, Brandon always telling her he was there any Friday night she would try to make plans with him lately, Talia constructed a plan for what she would do once she finally had convinced her brother to stop throwing himself into his work every Friday night.

With The Vault situated downtown, it was a bit of a drive in Los Angeles traffic, but with the thought of the Thai food just up the street from the gym in her mind, Talia couldn't find it in herself to care about the lengthy journey.

The radio softly played one of the many playlists made on Talia's phone as she drove along, windows down and the breeze lightly whipping her hair around as she did her best to relax while she had the chance.

While most people were finishing their work week, Talia, being the head photographer at Valentine, was still one day away from her own weekend, working every Saturday since the studio opened. This made it easier for families to get together for their shoots, not having to worry about getting back to work and getting the kids back to school, and Talia could tell her clients appreciated it, which made the extra day of work worth it to her.

Propping her head up, with her left elbow resting on the top of the door, Talia can't help the frown that flashes onto her face as she approaches the gym.

Expecting to see only Brandon's car and maybe another employee's, the full parking lot beside the building confuses her. How many people would be at a gym after hours?

The confused frown on Talia's face lingers as she parks her car next one she definitely recognised as Brandon's, climbing out and locking it before pocketing her keys and approaching a man who looked slightly familiar, noticing he was one of Brandon's employees as she got closer.

"Johnny," Talia smiles politely, the man turning to her with wide eyes as he recognizes her, "what's happening here?" She asks.

Johnny stutters for a moment, looking around like he rather be anywhere else in the world at this exact moment.

"Oh, here? Just some regulars here for a get together. Your brother left a few hours back though." He says quickly, tripping over his words slightly, almost like he was making a story up as he went along.

Suspicion courses through Talia at the deflective words of the man much taller than she is, and if she didn't already know him, she probably would have been intimidated by his size alone.

"I just parked next to his car though, and it's kinda odd for Brandon to leave the gym open." Talia laughs awkwardly, not trusting of the excuse she was being given when she knew her brother better than to leave not only his business open, but also his car unlocked outside it.

"I think I'll just check things out for myself thanks Johnny." Talia states, before taking a step forward towards the entrance.

Sensing her disbelief, and his face turning to one of panic, Johnny takes a step sideways, blocking the door from Talia's path.

"Brandon said that you were banned from Friday nights. I'm sorry Talia." He finally says, and Talia can't help the look of surprise that covers her face.

"Me? Banned from the Vault? I hardly think so mate." She laughs, taking advantage of the height difference between them to duck under Johnny's arm, easily pushing the door open into the gym.

Immediately, Talia is met with a wall of noise.

A crowd, some seated, some not, surround the central boxing ring at the center of the building. The usual smell of cleaning supplies and sweat is amplified by the stench of beer radiating through the whole building, but even then, the thing that grabs Talia's attention isn't the crowd or their behavior, but instead, what they're watching.

In the center of the ring, two large, well built men circle each other. Talia watches on in horror for only a moment before one man launches his fist forward towards the others stomach, and it's in this moment she realizes that the men aren't wearing gloves, but thin bloodied wraps.

The crowd roar with a wave of life as the punch connects, the second man doubling over and leaving himself exposed to an onslaught the first delivers without hesitation.

Even with the presence of Johnny behind her, the only thing Talia can see is the pure violence playing out in front of her, realization growing by the second as her eyes finally break away from the ring to where her brother stands at the back of the crowd.

She can't help but think her father might have been right about the telepathy, because almost as if he could sense her eyes on him, Brandon's own find her.

All of the colour drains from Brandon's face as he excuses himself from the black haired man he's talking to, running around the outside of the crowd to reach his sister, who stands frozen in place.

He says nothing as he grabs Talia's hand, pulling her sideways into the office room to the right of the building, easily tugging her past the back of the crowd that still stare focused into the ring.

The clinical white lights above them come to life as Brandon flicks the switch beside the door, shutting it behind him quickly before he turns back to Talia.

"What are you doing here?" He asks quickly, inspecting her as if she was a wounded animal ready to pounce.

Fighting her disbelief at the situation and his question, Talia's eyes go wide as a wave of anger washes over her at his question.

"What am I doing here? What the fuck is that shit, Brandon?!" She throws back at him, her voice louder and stronger than she expected it to come out of her.

Waving his hands panicked, trying to get her to lower her voice, Brandon tries to shush her, which only makes her more ticked off.

"Look you weren't supposed to see that-"

"Answer my fucking question or I'll start screamin' it." She threatens, cutting him off mid sentence.

An angry and frustrated expression settles on his face as Brandon let's out a huff, not knowing how to word his explanation and remaining silent while he tries to find the right words.

"Is this why you've been blowing me off for months? You got some fucking fight club bullshit going on here instead?" She questions further, her voice breaking slightly with stress.

"I can't tell you all the fucking details in one breath, Talia. I wasn't exactly expecting you to find out like this."

Brandon argues, throwing his hand up in annoyance, which only confuses her more.

"What makes you think you have the right to be angry at me when you're the one that has the explaining to do?"

"Fuck! Alright! I get it!" He whisper yells harshly, face twisting in anger and making the siblings look even more alike than usual, Talia taking a step back at his sudden outburst, "look, the money is gonna get cut off one day, I'm thinking about my future, OUR futures here. That's what this shit is about."

"And what exactly is this shit, Brandon?" Talia asks, aggressively pointing towards the door that barely separated them from the crowd.

"It's boxing. Same shit you see on TV, just, not as commercial."

"This isn't the same shit as on TV! Those guys aren't even wearing gloves!" She argues, smacking the back of her hand as she speaks.

"Bare knuckle and wraps get better bets, the guys make their own decisions on if they do it or not." Brandon defends as he crosses his arms.

Talia shakes her head in annoyance, her face twisting. Everything was happening so quickly, meaning she barely had enough time to process all the information being thrown at her.

"You're scared of mommy cutting off the royalties so this is what you do instead?" She asks.

"The money is gonna get cut off and it's gonna be sooner rather than later. Do you expect me to suck up forever? To hide Sam til she dies too? Mom hates both of us now and you know it just as well as I do."

Talia feels her throat tighten at his words. Her stomach felt like it was close to emptying its content as the gut punch of his words hit her at a hundred miles per hour.

"Shut the fuck up. You know I love Sam and you know I don't want to do it just as much as you don't want to. But you're right, it will be sooner if she finds out about this." She spits back.

Taking a step towards him, arms crossed, Talia holds steady eye contact as she looks up to her brother.

"You're not the only one she can fuck over. When she finds out and cuts me off too, what the fuck are we gonna do, huh?" She whispers harshly as the crowd outside the room bursts into life again, the next round starting.

Brandon breaks the eye contact between them as he stares at the ground, fists clenched at his sides as the obvious stress of the situation flashes across his face.

"She won't, not yet."

Talia rolls her eyes as her arms uncross, leaning back against his desk.

"Mom always finds out."

"She won't this ti-"

Brandon is interrupted by the office door swinging open, a tall man with blonde hair and a panicked look on his face ignoring Talia to address Brandon the second his eyes land on him.

"Hood's broken Knight's nose." He says in a rush, causing Brandon to groan, following the man out the door before turning back to Talia.

"Don't leave this office, I'll be back soon."

Talia throws her brother a sarcastic thumbs up before he rushes off, the door clicking shut behind him.

Talia felt like her mind was in the worst spin she'd ever experienced. Finally the late nights, the astronomical bills being excused as gym costs, the secrets, they all made sense.

As angry as she was with her brother, she was more worried about him than anything.

Seeing the crowd, the action in the ring, it was more than just the sparring she would see from time to time as she made the rounds to check in on things. These people were out for blood, and would throw as much money as they needed at it to make it happen. This wasn't the kind of thing she ever expected Brandon to be involved in, and it shocked her that he's involved in that world obviously as more than just a spectator.

Sitting down in the office chair, Talia rests her elbows on the desk in front of her, covering her face with her hands as she tries to take a deep breath to calm her nerves, but jumping as the crowd outside roars again.

This wasn't something she was familiar with, and the uncharted territory this laid out in front of her felt like a minefield. Both her brother's lies, and the violence they were hiding.

With her anxiety peaking as she sits deep in her thoughts, she nearly yelps as the office door flies open, a tall man coming in and looking around for someone, before their eyes finally land on Talia.

If the sharp jawline, dark eyes and deadly look on his face didn't take her breath away, the ripped and bruised skin under his eye sure did.

A seemingly permanent scowl was set on the man's face, and his height and all black outfit just added to the intimidating stance he has as he lets the door swing shut behind him.

Talia couldn't help but notice that the man is attractive, even with blood dripping down his face, noticing his hair closely cropped to his head, apart from the wild bleached curls that fell onto his forehead.

For a brief moment, the angry look on the man's face softens upon seeing the smaller woman sitting behind his boss's desk, but it's instantly replaced by a look of confusion.

"Who the fuck are you?" He asks, his voice deeper than she expected with an unfamiliar accent laced into his words.

Slightly taken back, Talia frowns, withdrawing from the desk and standing up behind it, her defensive nature quickly taking over.

"I'm Talia Alisley, who the fuck are you?"

This time it's the man that's taken back, his eyebrows shooting up as he scoffs, arrogance in spades and tension building by the second as Talia crosses her arms in front of herself.

"I'm Calum Hood," He says, and Talia freezes.

Hood. Was he the Hood that the blonde man was talking about? The one who apparently had broken the nose of the guy Brandon was checking on?

"and I'm guessing you're the precious little sister." He comments, and this time it's Talia that raises her eyebrow. Did Brandon mention her to these guys?

"Too right I am, so don't fuck with me and we should be fine. Brandon said he'd be back soon." She replies, sitting back down with her arms still crossed and the scowl on her face settling in while in his presence.

Deep down, Talia knew it was probably a bad idea to piss off the guy who was not only bleeding, but the cause of a broke nose two rooms over, but her pride and defensive nature was far more powerful than the anxiety swirling in her stomach.

"No need to worry about that, princess." Calum rolls his eyes in annoyance. If Brandon was gonna send him to his office, he could at least show up instead of wasting his time, and give him a warning.

Talia was thankful in that moment for the low light of the room on account of the desk lamp being off, hiding the blush that made her ears burn. Yeah, he might be a dickhead, but he was still an attractive dickhead.

Slumping down into the chair opposite Talia with a huff, Calum shakes his head, while Talia stays stone faced across from him.

"You alright?" She asks after a moment, referring to where blood still sits on his cheekbone.

Calum frowns at her attitude change, not aware of the injury that he sustained from Knight's ringed hand landing a right hook before Calum landed his own.

In his defense, Knight should have known better than to touch his gear.

With the confused look flashing across his face for a longer period this time, Talia can't help but roll her eyes.

"You're bleeding under your eye, bro." She points out.

As Calum reaches up to touch his cheek, the door opens, the blonde man from before walking in with Brandon in toe as Talia thanks her lucky stars.

"Not gonna lie I thought you would have left by now." Brandon says, looking at Talia first while her eyes stay on the actions of the blonde man opening a medical kit on the desk.

"Oh don't worry, I want to." She comments.

"So do I, can I go now?" Calum directs towards Brandon as the blonde man touches an alcohol wipe to his cheek, making his aggressive expression falter slightly.

"Once Luke says you're okay and once I've dealt with you, yes." He sighs, rubbing a hand over his face.

"Look," Talia says, standing up and holding her hands up in surrender, "obviously you've got a lot of shit going on here right now so we'll deal with this tomorrow." She gestures between them, walking around the desk and past the three men.

Letting out a sigh, Brandon sends her a look of appreciation.

"Thanks T, text me when you get home." He replies, to which she sends him a short nod.

"Luke, can you walk her out?" He asks, turning to the man getting up from kneeling in front of Calum.

"Yeah, no worries." He smiles, taking his gloves off and throwing them in the bin.

Walking out the door with Luke, Talia winces at the loudness of the crowd, thankful for the taller, now calm, man standing between them and herself.

"I'm Luke, by the way." He smiles kindly, holding his hand out for Talia to shake as they make it to the door.

"Talia. Gotta be honest, I wish this was under better circumstances." She smiles tightly back at him, shaking his hand.

"Yeah," he laughs, "me too."

As they make it outside, Talia leads Luke around the building to where her car sits, right next to Brandon's.

"Well, this is me." She says, signalling to her car with the keys in her hand. "Thanks for walking me past all of that."

"No problem. Drive safe." Luke says with a small wave to her, and she gives him an appreciative smile.

"You too. See you 'round, Luke."

Climbing into her car, Talia sighs, relaxing only slightly in the familiar surroundings.

As she pulls away from the curb, Luke sends her a final wave before walking back into the gym.

Driving away, the adrenaline of the situation starts to wear off, and the reality of the situation starts to sink in.

"God, I'm gonna fucking kill him." Talia mutters to herself, turning the radio up and going over the night's events in her head as she drives back to her apartment.

The next morning, Talia awakes with a rock of dread weighing down her stomach.

Her mind immediately flashes back to the events of the night before, and as she showers, gets dressed and locks her apartment door, it almost felt like she wore the dread of the impending conversation she needed to have with her brother as a scarf tied too tightly around her neck.

Instead of heading straight to the studio and editing the photos of the last few days as usual, Talia instead took a deep breath as she started heading back towards Vault, having a couple hours to hopefully get answers before her first clients for the day were set to arrive at eleven.

The parking lot beside Vault sat a lot emptier today. Only a handful of cars sprinkled around, and just like last night, Talia pulls into the space beside Brandon's car.

Taking a moment before walking in, Talia leans back in her seat, closing her eyes.

She was scared. Of Brandon's explanation, of possibly having to accept whatever the fuck she had witnessed last night, of walking out more confused than she was about to walk in.

Her and Brandon had grown up play fighting, and catching an odd round or two when their dad decided to watch Friday Fight Night, but violence had never really been part of their lives in a physical form. Apart from a questionable wrestling phase when she was 14, Talia couldn't even remember the last time she saw two people in a ring together that wasn't casual sparring when she would frequent the gym in its early days.

None of it compared to what she saw last night.

With what happened still fresh in her mind, Talia climbs out of her car, pushing the door shut behind her.

Johnny doesn't stand by the entrance this morning, meaning Talia easily walks into the gym, the door squeaking slightly in protest as she pushes it open.

It's almost like nothing had even happened. All the equipment that was pushed against a wall last night now sits in its normal place, the shelves of alcohol behind the check in desk now stocked with protein powders like less than twelve hours ago the counter wasn't a very convincing bar.

Hearing her come in the door, a couple people look up from what they're doing, sending Talia a polite smile before returning to their work.

Calum Hood is not one of these people.

Almost like the universe had put a glowing neon sign over his head, Talia's eyes instantly wander towards where Calum stands next to the black haired man she recognized as the same person Brandon was talking to last night when she arrived.

Noticing her too, Calum’s encouragement of his best friend is interrupted by his eyes catching a flash of blue hair in his peripheral vision.

While he knew any animosity towards the woman who could probably have him fired with a few fake tears was a bad idea to hold onto, he couldn't help but feel annoyed upon seeing her in what he thought of as his domain.

Face settling into a frown as she looks across the room to the man who easily got on her nerves last night, Talia almost doesn't notice Brandon coming up behind her.

"Hey." He greets quietly, holding a takeaway cup of coffee out to his sister. "Time for that talk, huh?"

"Yeah. Think so." She takes the coffee with a nod of thanks, and hesitantly follows him to his office.

Talia couldn't tell if Brandon was trying to suck up to her with free coffee, but after sitting down at the chair in front of his desk and taking a sip, tasting vanilla latte, she knows he is.

"So, where should we start?" He asks, settling into his seat with a heavy sigh.

Talia scoffs lightly, raising her eyebrow.

"The beginning would be good."

Brandon nods, looking down at his desk to avoid meeting her eyes.

"The fights started around one, maybe two months after we opened, so we've been hosting them for about fourteen months now."

Talia's eyes go wide, disbelief covering her face as she places her cup on his desk forcefully.

"You're telling me you've been hiding this shit for over a year?" She asks, anger already starting to build.

"Yeah, and if you haven't fucking noticed, it's not been the easiest thing to do." He snaps, before holding his hands up, taking a deep breath and rolling his seat back slightly to calm himself, too much tension already in the air.

Talia bites her tongue, looking down at her hands before she signals to him to continue.

"A friend of mine, Ashton, he was part of an illegal boxing league running out of a rundown place up in Hollywood. I saw him fight there a couple times, saw the conditions myself. The guy running the show was a complete asshole to his guys, but they all needed the money, so they stuck around." He explains, voice quieter than before.

"One night we got to talking. I asked Ash if he thought we might be able to make our own ring, give people a safer place to earn their money. Then we figured out how much we could earn from it, and with shit going so wrong with mom, I figured that if she pulled the rug out from under me, I could use the league as a safety net."

Piecing together the timeline in her head, and doing the best to absorb the information given to her, Talia remains silent and slowly nods along when needed.

"Him and I have built this thing from the ground up, and it's working for us. I manage the books, he manages the guys, and we take care of the admin together. With my connections to the rich assholes who have more money than they know what to do with, and with Ashton's connection to the guys who need that money and want to do it, we're doing really, really well, Talia."

This time it's Talia who avoids eye contact, looking down to her shoes as she curses the logical side of her brain for seeing sense in his story.

"How many people do you have fighting for you?" She asks.

Brandon let's out a heavy breath, waving his hand slightly.

"Around twenty, twenty five. We keep the doors open for the more occasional guy who needs the cash that week."

"And how often are the nights like last night happening?"

"Weekly. Every Friday, normally."

Seeing the hesitation on her face, bottom lip pulled between her teeth, Brandon sits forward to bring her attention to him, her eyes flicking up to meet his.

"I know this is a lot, and I don't expect you to be okay with it, but I do want you to know I'm being smart about this."

Talia sighs, taking a sip of her drink before speaking.

"I know you, so I don't doubt it. It's just so dangerous, Brandon. You can't expect me not to be worried about you."

Brandon laughs lightly, trying to lift the mood slightly.

"I would never expect you not to worry. It's not in your nature."

A small smile tugs at the corners of Talia's lips, and it's enough to ease his mind.

"Anything you want to know about the ring, the business, any of it, I'll answer as best as I can. I trust you more than anyone and I want to do everything I can to make you feel okay with this, and make up for holding it from you."

Talia hazards a look to her brother, seeing on his face that he's been open and honest with her.

"You know I always ask too many questions." She smiles, joking lightly as she referenced something she would hear almost daily from her mother growing up.

Brandon shakes his head as he laughs, taking a sip of his own drink.

"If you get too much for me, I'll just pass you on to Ashton. It's what normally happens around here." He shrugs slightly, before tilting his head.

"Actually, do you want to meet him? He should be around out there." He asks, and Talia mulls the idea over for a moment before agreeing. After all, it would probably be best to know who she would castrate if something happened to Brandon.

"Sure, might as well." She agrees, downing the last of her drink and tossing her cup into the small recycling bin under his desk.

Standing up and following Brandon out of his office, Talia can feel her nerves already starting to act up, and does her best to shove them down as she follows him towards the bench press where the black haired man who she now assumed was Ashton, and Calum stood.

"Hey, guys. I got someone for you to meet." Brandon says, catching their attention as they approach.

Ashton sends her a warm smile as she steps out from behind Brandon, which is a nice contrast from the cold glare Calum sends her way, which she ignores to return the smile instead.

"Ashton, Calum, this is my sister, Talia. Talia, this is the demon on my shoulder Ash, and my blue rock em sock em man Calum."

"We've met." Calum says bluntly, while Ashton raises his eyebrow.

"And we haven't. Nice to meet you, I assure you Brandon's told us nothing but good things." Ashton grins, holding his hand out for her to shake.

Talia takes his hand and can't help but notice how strong his grip is without what looks like any effort, and laughs lightly.

"I'd hope so, but I can't promise my staff have heard the same about him. It's nice to meet you too." She returns, letting her hand drop to her side before she acknowledges the man beside him.

"And yeah, charmed." Talia prods lightly, seeing Calum trying to hide the roll of his eyes from Brandon.

"Talia is gonna be spending more time around, getting to know the workings when she can. I said if she annoys me too much I'm gonna pass her on to you, so fair warning." Brandon informs them, tapping Ashton's arm as he directs his sentence to him.

"Fantastic." Talia hears Calum mutter, not loud enough for the other two to hear it, but just enough that she does.

This time, it's Talia that rolls her eyes at Calum.

As conversation is made, Calum can't help but feel hyper aware of Talia, and the sun shining in from the high windows casting sunbeams through the few red hairs that fell out of her bun and framed her face delicately. He would admit that Talia was pretty, beautiful even, but not audibly, especially not in front of the girl who felt no hesitation in sending him a death glare every few minutes.

The small group spend ten or so minutes talking with each other before Talia's phone rings, letting her know she should start making her way to the studio.

"Looks like I should be getting to work." Talia says, slipping her phone back into her pocket.

"What do you do, if you don't mind me asking?" Ashton inquiries, genuine interest in his tone, making her see why Brandon was such a fan of him.

Talia believed she could read people well, and from her first impression of Ashton, she got nothing but good vibes.

"I'm a photographer, I own my own studio called Valentine." She smiles proudly, and Ashton nods his head in approval.

"My girlfriend works just down the road from you I think! It's not far from Dominion Books, right?"

Pleasant surprise spreads across Talia's face as she nods, happy to have found a common link.

"Yeah! I think I might have seen you there in passing now I think about it." She smiles.

Brandon watches on with joy as he sees both Talia and Ashton getting along, so happy about it in fact that he didn't even notice Calum looking like he would rather be anywhere else in the world.

Talia says her goodbyes to the men before turning to leave, her attention being called back before she makes it too far.

"If you ever need a fill in hunk for a photo shoot, you know who to call." Ashton jokes, sending a wink in her direction.

"Yeah, you can get your brother to pass you my number any time." Calum says sarcastically, surprising her but also making her scoff as she takes a few steps backwards before turning around.

"In your dreams, darlin'." She calls over her shoulder.

As the door swings shut behind her, Calum feels like his feet are glued to the floor, the eyes of his best friend burning into him as Brandon excuses himself to mock throw up against the wall.

"What's that all about between you two?" Ashton asks Calum quietly, picking up his water bottle as Calum picks up his own, holding it up and speaking casually before taking a sip.

"No idea what you're talking about mate."

TAGLIST | @spicycal @calmlftv @irwinkitten @mrandleer @candidcal @lukeskisses @wallflowercal @brooklynsninenine @whereveryouares @everyscarisahealingplace

#calum hood #calum hood fanfic #calum hood imagine #5 seconds of summer #5 seconds of summer fanfic #5 seconds of summer imagine #5 seconds of summer blurb #5sos #5sos fanfic

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fishfingersandjellybabies · 5 years

Text

Pretend That We’re Okay - fic

Characters: Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne, Barbara Gordon, Wally West Summary: This was what was best for Damian. His own emotions had no place here. A/N: Based on ‘Happier’ by Bastille/Marshmallow. This hits me as a very Dick and Damian song, from both perspectives. 4k words of just emotional vomit, have fun kids. Just another instance of real poor communication and basically everyone around Dick saying/thinking ‘I told you so.’ 3/5s of this fic happen in front of a computer, sorry I’m really unoriginal haha.

This was necessary, he told himself. This was the natural progression. This is what was best. This was how it should be.

…This was so fucking hard.

But he forced his own emotions down. Forced a smile to his face as he watched Damian suit up, become Robin for another night of saving the world.

Watched as Bruce suited up to be his partner. Watched the one true Batman return to his former glory. The protector of Gotham, with his bird right at his side.

For the first time.

He shushed the voice in his head. That greedy, selfish voice that said Damian was his partner, not Bruce’s. That he shouldn’t have to share, because Batman never shared his Robin, even to another Batman. That he should fuck his head injury, he doesn’t care he got shot. He can still suit up, still go with Damian himself.

He silenced that anxious voice too, that was churning his gut, telling him this wasn’t going to go well. Damian was too nervous, Bruce was too harsh. That they would clash and yell and scream at each other. That Damian was still too unstable about his place in the family, and might take that as a sign that he should leave. Be so convinced he should disappear that not even Dick would be able to reach him.

But this was for the best. This was what Damian wanted. This would make him happy. And Dick hated how much he would do for any of his brothers’ happiness.

“…You’re gonna do great.” Dick whispered, when he caught Damian’s nervous body language, his thousand-yard stare. “Bruce is way better than me. If Gotham’s criminals were scared of me and you, they won’t know what hit ‘em with you and Bruce.”

Damian didn’t respond, just continued putting on his uniform.

“Call me if you need help, okay?” Dick continued. Rambling, to fill the silence. He saw Damian glance at him in the mirror with a raised brow. “I’ll come if you need me. I promise.”

“…Richard, you’re still recovering.” Damian hummed. “You were shot in the head just a few weeks ago, in case you forgot.”

Dick chuckled, shook his head. There was a dull ache with each turn. “No, kiddo, I didn’t forget.”

“Loathe as I am to admit it, at this point, I’d rather call Drake first than you.” Damian said almost sheepishly. “You need your rest.”

“Yeah, well. I need you safe.” Dick grumbled grumpily. “And we still don’t know where Hurt went. What if he showed up tonight, distracted Bruce and left you all alone? He could try to manipulate you again. I don’t want that to happen.”

“Grayson, the chances of that happening are incredibly slim.” Damian offered, clicking the cape around his throat. “Besides. I can handle him.”

“…Yeah, of course you can.” Dick sighed. Damian stared at himself in the mirror for a moment more before turning away. Dick gave him an even brighter smile as Damian stepped towards him. “You ready?”

Damian stared at him, then smirked with a scoff. “I was born ready.”

Dick laughed, genuinely, as he ruffled Damian’s hair. Damian laughed too, such a far cry from the first time Dick did that and he tried to break his fingers, and pushed his hand away gently.

Silently, they walked side by side through the cave. Damian, his shoulders straight and head held high. Dick, feeling like he was walking in a funeral procession. Dick veered off as they passed the computers, coming to a stop next to Barbara, and watching as Damian continued towards the cars without him, to where Bruce was waiting.

He could feel Barbara glancing up at him between keystrokes on the computer, could feel her judgment and, worse, her pity.

“You don’t have to do this, you know.” She murmured, leaning her shoulder against his hip. “You don’t have to give him up.”

“Yes I do.” Dick returned just as quietly. “He…He deserves this.”

“Sure he does.” Barbara shrugged. “…But maybe Bruce doesn’t.”

Dick didn’t answer.

“You did all the work, Dick. You trained him, you broke through his walls. You saved him from Talia and her god awful indoctrination.” They watched as Damian slowly made his way down the stairs. Stopped on the last one, watched Bruce make his final checks on the car. “Why does he get to swoop in and reap all the rewards of that?”

“Because he’s Batman.” Dick sighed. “And Batman needs his Robin.”

“Yeah.” She dug her elbow into his thigh. “He does.”

“Babs, come on. This isn’t about Bruce. This is about Damian. He’s always wanted to work with his Bruce. This is his reward, not anyone else’s.” Dick snapped. “It’s what he’s always wanted. I’d be a real prick to get in the way of that.” A hesitation. “Besides, I’m benched.”

“That’s never stopped you before.” Barbara reminded. “Besides, maybe this isn’t about what he wants. Maybe this should really be about what Damian needs.”

“Damian needs his dad.”

“Damian needs someone who loves him.” Barbara shot back.

“Are you saying Bruce doesn’t love his own son, Barbara?” Dick hissed, staring furiously down at her. She didn’t flinch from his stare.

“He needs someone who knows him.” She edited. “And that’s you.”

“That’s you too. And Stephanie. Are you saying he should go on patrol with Batgirl instead of Batman, then?” Dick drawled.

“No, I’m saying he should patrol with Batman. His Batman.” Barbara sighed. “…You know, I’m not saying any of this for Damian’s benefit.”

“But you just said-”

“You don’t want to let him go. I can see that.” Barbara tried, her voice gentle. “And I’m just trying to say: you don’t have to.”

Dick glanced back down at her, before watching Damian walk nervously towards the Batmobile.

“He deserves this, Babs. I have to let him do it.” Dick whispered sadly. “Is it…is it really that obvious?”

“What, that you love that kid an extraordinary amount? Honey, I don’t have to be Oracle to see that.” Barbara laughed.

If she or Dick were going to say anything else, they didn’t get the chance as they watched Damian walk up behind his father. The final checks were done. Damian looked over the car himself, before saying something with a tiny smirk on his face. A joke, no doubt, something he’d finally allow himself to do sometimes. Something he learned to do from Dick.

But if he was expecting a laugh, or even a smile, all he got in return was a short rebuke, sharp enough to wipe the smile off his face, and make him step back. He blinked once in surprise, then silently bowed his head in subordination as Bruce pointed to the other side of the car.

Dick’s temper flared, and he stepped forward, ready to scold Bruce himself. No one talks to Damian like that. No one talks to his partner like that-

But he stopped himself, even before Barbara grabbed hold of his wrist to hold him back.

…Because this was for the best. This was how it should be. This is what Damian wanted. This…this is what Damian needed.

“…You’re breaking your own heart, Dick.” Barbara whispered sadly as soon as the engine started. “And you don’t have to.”

“…He’ll be happier this way. And that’s all I want for him.” Dick said with an air of finality. He tugged his arm away from Barbara’s fingers, and turned towards the manor. Bruce had a liquor cabinet somewhere in that big spooky house – tonight seemed as good a night as any to go find it. “You’ll see.”

Barbara didn’t say anything else as he walked away from her. And he didn’t say anything either until he hit the stairs, and wiped the moisture from his eyes.

“…You’ll see.”

He sat at the computer, knees curled up onto the chair, chin hooked over them, arms wrapped loosely around his shins. Words and numbers were sprawled across the screen, but he wasn’t reading them. Had stopped trying about thirty minutes ago.

He heard the voices in the other room. Titans, Teen Titans, Justice Leaguers, Outsiders, Lanterns. Tried to ignore them with a sigh.

Without warning, there was a harsh burst of wind, then a presence to his right.

“Stop pouting.”

Dick pursed his lips, kept his gaze on the monitor. “I’m not pouting.”

“You very clearly are.” Wally shot back, amusement clear in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You fightin’ with Bats?”

Dick sighed again, sat back in the chair. “No, I’m not fighting with Batman.”

“Tim, then?”

“No.” Dick rubbed at his eyes. “I’m not fighting with anyone, Wally.”

“Then what’s you’re problem?”

“I don’t have…” And another sigh. He just sighs so much these days. “…I don’t know, man. I really don’t. I’m just…tired, I guess.”

Wally hummed, and Dick knew he looked away when there was a loud laugh from the other room of the Watchtower.

“…When was the last time you saw your kid?”

Dick hesitated, then snorted, glancing up at the speedster. “Wally, you know I don’t have any kids.”

Wally looked back down, raising his eyebrow just slightly. “You don’t want to admit it? Fine, then. I won’t call him your kid. I’ll let you stay in denial today. The kid.”

“The…?”

“Robin.”

Dick’s face dropped a little. There was another bout of laughter outside the room, and Dick turned the chair this time. It was Clark and Kory. Judging by Bruce’s annoyed look, Clark had teased him somehow, and Kory found it funny.

And between the two aliens stood Damian, an amused-but-trying-to-hide-it smirk playing on his face.

“When was the last time you saw him?” Wally repeated, but gentler this time. “Hung out with him?”

“I dunno.” Dick mumbled, watched as Damian said something to Superman, and the older laughed. Even Bruce cracked a smile, though hid it immediately, wouldn’t even let his son see it. “Few weeks?”

“Few weeks overdue, then.” Wally decided. “…Anyone tell you that you haven’t been the same since then?”

Dick kept staring out the door. Distractedly mumbled: “Since when?”

“Since you gave him up.” Wally said flatly. That, finally, made Dick turn and look back up at him in surprise. “Oh, quit with the face, Dick. I know the truth and so do you.”

“Since wha…”

“Since you broke up your partnership with him. Stopping being Batman.” Wally waved his hands in bored circles. “In some misguided idea that that was what was best for everyone.”

Dick blinked, and then frowned. “It was best for everyone.”

“Bullshit.” Wally returned plainly. “You’ve been miserable on your own since. Grumpy. Lonely.”

“But Damian is great.” Dick countered softly, so his voice wouldn’t accidentally carry out of the room. “He’s thriving. Learning. He’s with his dad, where he should be.”

“He’s with his father.” Wally pushed. “Not his dad.” A pause, to watch as Damian glanced into the room at them, tilted his head in curiosity, before Clark retook his attention. “It’s exactly how I was with Barry back in the day, remember?”

“Wally, don’t.” Dick warned. “None of that…metaphorical or figurative or whatever bullshit, okay? Yes, he’s my brother, yes I raised him for a little while, and yes I love him to the ends of the Earth. But I’m not what Barry was to you, okay? I’m not his dad. Bruce is, and that’s who he needs. Okay?”

“Fine. Say I – or anyone who knows you – believe that.” Wally drawled. “What about you?”

Dick opened his mouth, but no answer came out. He floundered for a moment, then found his head turning on its own, looking back out that door. Back at his partner. His former partner. His brother.

Wally whispered: “What do you need, Dick?”

Damian laughed, and turned as Diana walked up to their group. Stared politely up at her as he excitedly began to tell her something. Leaned into the comfortable and safe shadow that was Bruce. Spoke freely, openly, passionately without worry or care. Was safe and…happy.

Damian was happy.

“Dick?” Wally asked again, a hand on his shoulder.

Dick turned his chair back around, pushing Wally’s fingers away.

“I need to finish this report.” He mumbled quietly, ignoring the lump in his throat. “That’s what I need.”

He wanted to die. He wanted to scream.

He couldn’t stop crying.

Damian was gone. Damian was dead.

It was all Talia’s fault. No, it was all Bruce’s, he put him in this situation.

No. No.

It was his own fault.

Because he let him go. He gave Damian away. He gave him back to Bruce, practically threw him back into the war between his parents.

And what if he hadn’t? What if Barbara and Wally were right? What if he’d kept Damian? Stayed his guardian? Fought for their partnership? Put Bruce in his place when he saw him ignoring his son, or treating him poorly? Made it his personal mission to keep Talia away from him at all times?

What if he was around more often? Answered when the kid called? Hung out with him?

What if he told him he loved him more? Showed it?

He slid to the floor of Damian’s room, tears leaking through the fingers he hid his face behind. The hindsight hurt, the what-ifs were ripping his heart out, but nothing hurt as much as reality.

The reality that Damian was dead. That he’d never see his little brother again, or hold him, or hear him laugh, or watch him grow.

Damian. Was. Dead.

And even beyond the actual fight. Beyond the fact that Damian died protecting him.

Dick left him behind. Dick left him with people he knew would hurt him, purposely or not.

It was all. His. Fault.

He stood on the porch, clutching the bottle of beer Lois had handed him. Bruce, Clark and Diana were standing over by the barn, probably talking business. Tim and Conner were sitting on the tractor, complaining about school – or rather, Conner nodding politely as Tim complained about Wayne Enterprises.

Damian was off near the fields with his dog. With Titus and Clark’s dog Krypto and…

…and his friends.

Jon Kent. Maya Ducard. Kathy Branden.

They were laughing, Damian included. Running around as the dogs chased them, as Kathy and Jon rose and fell above them with their flying powers. As Maya stuck close to Damian, teasing and ruffling his hair. As Damian accepted it, accepted her affections and presence.

His heart hurt a little, thinking about how Damian used to let him do that.

And it’s not like Damian stopped allowing that – but Dick never saw him. Dick was never home. Apparently neither was Damian. Apparently something happened between him and Bruce – again – and Damian made it clear that the only person he’d come home for was Alfred.

Dick didn’t know that. Dick didn’t know what happened between Bruce and Damian this time, because Damian stopped calling him. Damian stopped telling him. Damian stopped asking him for advice, or help, or comfort.

Just like Dick didn’t know Damian had friends his age for the same reason.

And since when did Damian get taller? When did Damian lose that baby fat in his face? When did he get so mellow?

When did he grow up?

(And why did Dick miss all of it?)

And it wasn’t jealousy pinging in his soul when he watched Damian lean into Maya’s side as he teased her. Wasn’t bitterness when he watched Jon swoop Damian up into the sky, and instead of being angry, Damian laughed harder than Dick had ever seen.

It was sadness, because he missed it. Because these were all things Damian used to do with him – only him – but no longer. Regret, because he still wondered if it was the right thing to do, all these years later, distancing himself from his little brother. Leaving him to live with and be loved by Bruce. Because he couldn’t help but wonder how this all translated in Damian’s poor, traumatized, little head. Did he feel abandoned? Unloved? Alone, again? Or was he jumping for joy? Thrilled to be living the life he always imagined as a child?

And resignation, because he was right, despite what Barbara and Wally and everyone else said. Because he wanted Damian to be happier, and get everything he dreamed of. And he did. He worked with his father, he gained friends and allies. He was loved, and listened to and protected.

Dick’s own feelings were never part of the equation. Were never supposed to be.

Damian grew up. Damian was happy. It was all Dick wanted.

It didn’t matter that Dick never had another partner after that. Didn’t matter that he’d more or less been alone himself since they parted ways. Didn’t matter that Dick missed him like crazy, worried about him every second of every day. Didn’t matter that Dick was miserable more often than not these days, these years, without that shadow, that little tie to reality when everything was a mess and he felt like he was drowning.

Damian hugged Maya. Allowed Kathy to hug him.

Dick took a drink out of his bottle.

It didn’t matter.

It didn’t.

It’d been years. Ten, maybe eleven, or twelve. Could have even been twenty. Dick didn’t know, wasn’t thinking about it as he stumbled into the bunker, pulling his mask away from his eyes and rubbing tiredly at his eyes. Wasn’t thinking about it when he glanced up and saw Batman at the computer.

The new Batman. Or newer.

(Not that Bruce had given up the cowl. He never would, they all knew that. Knew he’d die for real in it, even if he was 105 years old.

But two Batmans in one cave was too much, especially when there was a nice unused bunker in the tower downtown.)

There was no cowl on. Just a cat curling into the obnoxiously large collar of the trench coat, rubbing at his owner’s hair until Dick was close enough. Then peeked over that collar and greeted him with a pleasant chirp.

“Hey Damian.” He called boredly. Damian perked and glanced over his shoulder.

“Grayson.”

“Just leaving or just getting in?”

“Getting in.” Damian mumbled, turning back to the screen. “Just…ah…working on a case.”

Dick leaned against the desk, looking at the monitor. “Really?” He asked, taking in the images and article clippings. They were old. A few Batmans and Robins old. “Because last I checked, Pyg was in Arkham, and Simon Hurt hasn’t been seen in a good decade or so.”

Damian didn’t respond.

“Unless I missed something?” Dick poked. Looked back to the screen and found himself smiling at one of the photos up. He and Damian as Batman and Robin, leading Pyg out of the fairgrounds they’d fought him in. Their first case.

Damian hesitated, seemed to be purposely avoiding Dick’s gaze. Then he huffed, and began shutting the files, one by one.

“No, it was…” Damian cleared his throat as Alfred the cat hopped down to his lap. “Sorry, I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole in our files…”

“No, no. It’s okay.” Dick reached out, touched the hand that was frantically closing all the windows. “It’s cool to reminisce sometimes.”

Damian hummed, but gently pulled his hands away from the computer, and out of Dick’s grasp, instead opting to pet gently at Alfred’s back.

And it was a comfortable enough quiet, but despite the years, Dick prided himself in being one of the few who could ever read Damian. A skill he refused to let go of, no matter what.

“…Something on your mind?” Dick murmured, crossing his ankles. Damian shrugged silently, and Dick couldn’t help but chuckle lightly. Even as a twenty-something, he could still be so childish sometimes. “Come on, Damian. You know you can tell me.”

“…Back then. When we were partners. When I was Robin.” Damian whispered, after another moment of silence. He glanced up, but still couldn’t hold Dick’s stare. “Was I…not good enough?”

Dick’s easy smile dropped instantly. “What?”

“Was I a burden?” Damian asked. “Is that why…you left?”

“Left, I…” Dick was floored. “What…what brought this on all of the sudden?”

“Not sudden.” Damian shook his head, leaned his head back against his chair like he was exhausted. “I’ve always wondered.”

Dick could only stare.

“And then you stopped coming back to Gotham, stopped really working with anyone in the family, kept moving from city to city…” Damian listed. “And you leaving or being gone while I stayed always seemed to correlate with Father’s mood being particularly sour so I just…figured out one day that it was something I’d done. Or somehow I’d been the cause.”

“No. God, no, Damian, you didn’t do anything, I just…” Dick ran his hands through his hair, then dragged them back down his face. “Jesus, why didn’t you ever talk to me about this?!”

“I tried. Subtly.” Damian admitted. Shrugged nervously again. “I guess too subtly.” He looked back up at the screen, at one of the photos of the old days. The good old days. “I eventually stopped trying, assuming I was bothering you. So I…I tried to move on instead. Tried creating teams and partnering up with other heroes…”

“Jon. The Titans.” Dick remembered out loud, behind the hand he kept clasped over his mouth.

Damian nodded. “And while Jon did become someone I grew…very close with, it still didn’t – doesn’t – compare to what you and I had.”

Dick could only close his eyes. “God, Damian…”

“And I missed you.” Damian admitted finally. “I missed you terribly, but…but you seemed happier so I knew I had to let you live your own life, whether I was part of that or not.”

“No, I wasn’t!” Dick suddenly burst, pushing off the desk and practically stomping his foot. “God, fuck, Damian, I was miserable! I’ve been miserable!”

Damian seemed surprised to hear that.

“I missed you like crazy! I hated leaving you with Bruce! I didn’t even fucking want to!” Dick ranted, beginning to pace in the small space. Damian just silently turned his chair to watch him.

Alfred just meowed judgmentally. Knowingly.

“I hated not working with you anymore! I hated missing you grow up!” He let out a growl. “I’ve hated everything since working with you!”

Silence, to let that echo.

“…Then why did you?” Damian whispered.

Dick huffed, turning to him. “What?”

“Why did you leave me with Father then, if you didn’t want to?”

“Because.” Dick practically whined. “It’s what you wanted. You’d always wanted to work with Bruce and be with your dad and I…I just.” He stared at Damian. At the man he became. “I just wanted you to be happy. I just wanted you to be the happiest you could be, and I knew that wasn’t with me.”

Damian stared at him. Blinked a few times. Then looked down at his cat.

“…Oh.”

“Oh.” Dick mocked with a bitter laugh, turning away to hide the tears building in his eyes. “Yeah. Oh.”

“And I…I hate to kick you while you are down, but you were wrong.” Damian mumbled. “I know I was just a…a snobby child, but I wish you would have talked to me about this before you’d made your decision.”

Dick sniffed. Crossed his arms. “Why.”

“Because I was happiest when I was with you. Working with you, being raised by you. Your friendship.” Damian admitted softly. “And even all these years later, that sentiment has not changed.”

Dick looked at him, and he watched Damian’s face morph as the tears spilled over from his eyes. “Really?”

“Really.” Damian gently shooed Alfred from his lap and stood. “Oh, Grayson. Please don’t cry.”

Dick crossed the space before the words were even out of his mouth and wrapped him in his arms. He didn��t care that Damian was Bruce’s height now, that he was forcibly pulling Damian down and probably hurting his shoulders.

“I’m sorry.” He sobbed, lifting one hand to hold the back of Damian’s head. “I am so sorry, kiddo. God, I’m an idiot.”

“Well, I won’t argue that.” Damian laughed, carefully patting Dick’s back.

But Dick immediately leaned back, taking Damian’s face in his hands. “You were perfect, okay? You never did anything wrong. I didn’t leave because you were a burden or annoyance or anything like that, okay?” He squeezed Damian’s cheeks slightly. “Okay?”

“Okay.” Damian laughed, trying to pull away, but Dick was having none of it. Just tugged Damian back in, holding him like he was still that ten year old he left behind.

And Damian would never admit it, but deep down, somewhere, he probably was.

Dick held him for a few more minutes, until he could control his tears just a little better. He glanced over to the computer, stared at a blurry image of he and Damian flying over the city, as the bat and the bird.

“Hey.” He sniffed again, wiped the remaining moisture from his eyes. “How about a patrol. Just you and me, like old times?”

“We’ve both already patrolled tonight.” Damian offered, backing away. “Besides, Grayson, you’re tired and emotionally compromised.” He blushed a little in embarrassment. “My apologies.” But then continued. “Not to mention…you’re old. Do you think your body can handle another?”

“Not that old.” Dick scolded, tapping Damian’s nose. “And another patrol with you? Not only can I handle it, I can still beat you across the rooftops in a race, just like I used to.”

Damian scoffed. “Oh, you can not.”

“Prove it.” Dick smirked, backing to the table where he’d dropped his mask, right next to Damian’s cowl. He picked up the cowl too, tossing it to Damian. “Let’s go, Robin.”

Damian let out a laugh, a happy, joyous, excited one, as he tugged his cowl back on and quickly followed Dick to their bikes.

“Right behind you, Batman.”

#dick grayson #Damian Wayne

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g-on-ef · 6 years

Note

damijon first date pls

“The Red Grove?”

“Damian it’s our first-whoa-date, do you really want it to be that fancy?”

Jon dodged the robot’s arm before he threw his own punched; knocking off the head.

“Fine what do you suggest?” Damian asked as he threw his batarang to the other robot, the robot stared at the device before it exploded in it’s face causing it to fall backwards.

“Hmm,” Jon leap and shot laser beams at another robot before he landed next to Damian.

“What about a picnic and then a walk to the park?”

Damian scoffed as he dodged an attack before he landed behind the robot and landed on top of it, he then punched it and pulled out some wires and jumped in time as it exploded.

Jon flew towards him and watched as his boyfriend of one month picked up the remote that controlled the robots and pressed a few buttons before the rest of the robots flew down.

“No, we are not doing some movie cliche date that will probably end with us getting mugged,”

“We won’t get mugged at Metropolise, compare to Gotham its a peaceful place,”

Damian turned and glared at the half kryptonian before he gave him a cute smile that was anything but the innocent look that Jon was trying to pull off.

“No,”

“Okay so no to the park and a no to a fancy restaurant what about a movie and then dancing?”

“I’ve seen Carrie, I know how a dance ends,”

“Dami, that was a movie that would never happen in real life,”

“And yet aliens somehow manage to live in our world,”

Jon rolled his eyes before he and Damian decided to walk back to the batcave.

Damian and Jon have been boyfriends for a month but they never got a chance to actually go on a real date. Whenever they had a chance there was always something that ruined it.

Whether it was annoying big brothers, overprotective fathers, overbearing mothers, or robin and superboy activities they never had a chance to go on a date.

Talia finally had enough of her babies not being able to be teenagers and go out so with the help of Lois the two ‘convince’ (more like threaten) Clark and Bruce to let the boys have the weekend off so that they can have a proper date.

Now all that was left to do is plan it.

“Oh I got it!”

Damian looked at Jon who’s eyes were sparkling with enthusiasm.

“Why don’t we go to the Zoo? We can see the animals, feed the giraffes, play with the lion cubs and all of that good stuff,”

Damian thought about it, the zoo was actually…not a bad idea, they would get to see animals, pet them, and not to mention that the Gotham Zoo had a new exhibit where you could swim with dolphins.

“That’s…not a bad idea beloved, and I actually think it would be nice. We don’t have to be to dressed up for it and we can pet the dolphins and see the cute little goats that have recently gave birth,”

“Not to mention they have a butterfly exhibit that I’ve been dying to see,”

Damian couldn’t help but smile as he saw Jon’s excited face, he felt his heart skipping a beat or two as his beloved gushed about the butterflies and the baby goats that he is going to make sure he takes dozens of pictures.

The two continue to make a plan and decided to head out on Saturday since their fathers gave them the weekend off.

{They owe their mothers big time for talking to their fathers}

When they reached the batcave Jon smiled at Damian before he bowed dramatically.

“Operation make sure Damian arrives home is now complete,”

Damian couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

“You’re such a dork,”

He then grabbed Jon by the shirt before he pulled him down to his level and kissed him on the lips. Jon was shock for a second before he relaxed into the kiss and kissed him back.

They slowly pulled back before smiling at one another.

“But your my dork,”

“See ya Saturday?”

“It’s a date,”

Jon smiled before kissing Damian on the forehead and flew off, Damian was about to head inside when he heard a loud ‘whoho,’ he turned and saw his boyfriend flying around and cheering loudly.

Damian couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head with a fond smile on his face he headed inside he could not wait for Saturday.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Worst. Date. Ever!

Okay maybe Damian was over exaggerating since the date hasn’t started but still, why the ever lasting fuck did their brothers had to come?

When they caught Damian getting ready Dick asked him where he was going Damian then told him to not worry about it but his father decided to tell them that he and Jon were going to the Zoo for their first date and that Damian had the whole zoo shut down for his date with Jon.

His brothers of course wanted to go with Damian on his first ever date but Damian said that they were not coming but of course his father said it was a perfect idea for them to go, of course Clark heard them from the city and decided to ask Connor if he wanted to go.

Connor of course did not because Tim was going-okay maybe it was because of Tim-but he also wanted to go to make sure Damian kept his hands to himself and didn’t touch Jon’s ass.

He’s seen the youngest Wayne stare at it and he was going to make sure Damian was on his best behavior.

Of course when Jon arrived Connor was with him and Jon told him that his dad heard Bruce and his older brothers and thought it would be a good idea to invite Connor.

Which resulted in Jason and Dick to bring their boyfriends along and now instead of date with Jon and only Jon he was now with his brothers, Jon’s brother, and Harper and West on a date.

He was going to kill someone.

“Oh come on little bat cheer up, you’re finally on a date with your boyfriend,” Jason said as he swung his arms around his little brother and Jon.

“My date with Jon was supposed to be just me and Jon not me, Jon, and the rest of you idiots,”

“Hey,” everyone-minus Jon-shouted.

“Come on Damian, your still on your date with Jon, only this time you have us,”

“Uh-hu and did all of you interuppted each other’s date?”

His brothers looked at each other before smiling at Damian and walking off.

Jon walked up to Damian and bumped his shoulder.

“Hey relax, it could be worse right?”

“I guess,”

Jon just smiled as he and Damian headed towards the zoo with their brothers Jon knew it couldn’t get worst after all he knew his brother was going to be on his best behavior.

Jon. Was. Pissed.

Their brothers were ruining their date! Every time Jon tried to hold Damian’s hand Dick was there to grab Damian and pull him somewhere so that Jon wouldn’t get the chance to hold it.

Whenever Damian was about to say something sweet to Jon Connor was there to grab Jon by the collar to show him something.

Basically whenever they tried to be romantic their brothers would ruin it.

They were currently sitting at a picnic table as their brothers where getting food.

“If I had known that our brothers would be a pain in the butt, I would have suggested to burn them,”

“It could get worse, well guess what Kent, it did in fact get worse,”

Jon looked towards where the older boys were seeing that they were distracting Jon lean forward and kissed his cheek before he sat back down hoping Dick did not see that.

“Sorry, hopefully our second date could…be…”

The sound of a chopper could be heard over them, they all looked up and saw Talia and Lois staring down at them, the Chopper then landed as the two women stepped out of it and glared at the older boys.

Connor, Tim, and Jason immediately looked away, their mothers could be down right scary.

Said mothers then looked to their boys.

“Get in the chopper boys, Talia and I are taking you far away from here so you can enjoy your date properly with no interuptions,”

“But mom, dad said-”

A glare from Lois made Connor shut up.

Jon and Damian looked at one another before smiling at each other and jumped into the chopper.

“Oh and Jason?”

“Yes Talia?”

“Tell Bruce that he is going to be hearing it from me later on,”

“OKay,”

“Same goes for Clark,”

“Yes ma’am,”

“Good, the boys will be back tomorrow night so have a good day,”

Damian and Jon waved good by to their brothers before Damian took Jon’s hand and kissed his hand Jon smiled at Damian before he lean forward and kissed his forehead.

Both mothers cooed at their little boys, both happy that they had someone who would treasure them for eternity.

“So where to?” Jon asked.

Damian looked towards his mother who knew exactly where he wanted to go, she then gave direction to their private beach.

Damian looked to Jon and said,

“We are going somewhere special where you and I are going to enjoy ourselves,”

“Where ever you are I know I’ll be happy,”

Damian just smiled as they headed off towards the beach, he was going to make sure that Jon enjoyed himself.

The beach was beautiful, Jon has never seen such a beautiful ocean and white sandy beach, it was a sight for sore eyes.

“Are you ready to have beloved?”

Jon looked to Damian and graced him with a dazzling smile.

“I’ve never been more ready,”

The two spend their day building sand castles, swimming with sea creatures, collecting sea shells and roasting marshmellow, they decided to lay down on a blanket and stare at the stars.

“Draco,”

“Virgo,”

“Perseus,”

“Peguses,”

“That is not peguses,” Damian said looking closely at the constellation.

“Yes it is, look it has the head and the wings,”

Damian rolled his eyes before pointing to another constellation.

“That’s peuguses,”

Jon looked closely before blushing a little.

“Okay, you were right that is Peguses,”

“Told you,”

Jon rolled his eyes before he turned around and cuddled close to Damian.

“I love you,” he whispered softly.

Damian smiled, it may be soon but he knew both he and Jon knew that they were each others beginning middle and end and knew they were never going to let anything or anyone come between them.

“I adore you as well beloved,”

The two couldn’t help but think that this was the best date and can’t wait to have more.

I need a distraction so if y'all have any tododeku Bakumomo bakudeku todobaku TimKon damijon or dickwally prompts please send them my way I will also take shigadabi and dabihawks

#damijon #jondami #damian wayne #jonathan kent #jon kent #first date #prompts #writing prompt #super sons #anonymous

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leagueofbane · 6 years

Text

“I’m going to be trained by the League.”

Here is the final installment of my Bane fic THE DEMON’S LEGACY. This story is available at Ao3 and FanFiction.net.

Twenty

Nyssa walked in a daze back to her room with her armed escort. She could not believe what had just happened. Bane, Gotham’s Reckoning, and her long-lost half-sister were going to allow her a chance to fulfill her destiny, the one her father had tried to keep from her. She trembled with excitement and concern, knowing she could trust neither of these murderers. They could be setting her up, allowing her to think she was accepted and thus lowering her guard. But if they truly didn’t want to give her this opportunity, why didn’t they simply kill her? Or was this all show for the other members of the council, to allow the illusion of following the League’s dictates? Whatever the truth was, she was in the soup now, and unfortunately so was her mother.

Her worried parent waited just inside the door to their room, wringing her hands, close to tears. Nyssa could tell she had been pacing. Her mother threw her arms around her the moment she entered.

“You’re safe!”

“Of course, Maji. I told you not to worry.”

“What happened? What did they say?”

“Here, let’s sit down. You look frazzled, and you’re not completely well yet, remember.”

She guided her distracted mother to the couch, holding her hand.

“Are they going to let us go, Nyssa?”

Nyssa steeled herself for her mother’s unhappiness. “I’m sorry, Maji; no. But Bane has given me his word that you won’t be harmed.”

“Me? What about you?”

“I’m going to be trained by the League. I have to leave tonight to start.”

“Leave? Where are you going?”

“To their training facility, but I don’t know where that is, of course. You’ll be staying here, in the palace.”

Indignation darkened her mother’s face. “I most certainly will not. I’m going back to my home. Either that or I’m going with you.”

Nyssa took her parent’s hands, pinned a sympathetic but firm look on her. “I’m sorry I got you caught up in this. But what’s happened has happened; we can’t go back. I’ll keep in contact while I’m training.”

“How long will that be?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe a year.”

“A year? Nyssa, no. This is nonsense. You must tell that muscle-bound murderer that you’ve changed your mind.”

Nyssa almost laughed. “I can’t change my mind, Maji, even if I wanted to. And I certainly wouldn’t be able to change Bane’s mind. The council has voted on this. I’m going to be trained and initiated, then I’ll take my rightful place as the Demon’s Head.”

“They are lying to you. It’s a trick, betee.”

“No. If it was a trick, they’d just kill me now.”

“Well, if you insist on going through with this fantasy, then take me back to our home. Right now. I won’t be a part of this.”

“I’m sorry, Maji. They won’t let you leave here.”

“What? So, I am a prisoner?”

“Don’t call it that. You’ll be detained so you can’t tell anyone about them.”

“One and the same—I am a prisoner. At least tell me I will see you regularly.”

“I don’t think they’ll let me see anyone while I’m training. I’ll keep asking, though. Perhaps I can at least write to you or call. But you’ll be safe here.”

“As safe as any caged bird,” her mother grumbled, pulling her hands into her lap and fidgeting. “And what am I supposed to do while my daughter is joining the ranks of the damned? Sit inside these walls and play cards with Maysam?”

“Actually,” Nyssa struggled to look at her, “you’ll be employed by Maysam.”

Her mother reared back. “Employed? I don’t need employment. I do just fine making and selling my scarves and—”

“It’s not a choice—it’s a condition. I’m sorry, but the alternative is much worse, as you can imagine.”

“So now I am to lose my daughter and be a slave.”

“Maji, please, it won’t be like that. You’ll be a servant to Maysam, just while I’m away.”

“I will not!” Her mother stalked to the window that looked out over the village, her sari whipping in her wake. She crossed her arms and kept her back to Nyssa. “This is a nightmare, betee. I need to talk to that hulking beast. I will convince him that I won’t say—”

“Don’t even think about talking to Bane about anything. You have to be compliant. I don’t want anything to happen to you. It would be my fault. I need to concentrate on my training, so we can both have a better life.”

“Being a captive is not a better life, Nyssa.”

Nyssa approached her and put an arm around her sloped shoulders, tears on her mother’s cheeks. Her heart broke.

“I can only say I’m sorry so many times, Maji. But you have to trust me; you have to believe me when I say our lives will be better.”

Her mother frowned, the anger drifting away, her arms uncrossing. “What if I never see you again?”

“You will. I promise.”

Her mother sighed and turned from Nyssa to stare back out the window, shaking her head. “Your father…I should have never looked at that man.”

When the council was dismissed, Bane and Talia went to Maysam’s suite to give her the news. They found her in the living room with Henri, both sitting on the floor at a low table, with coloring books spread before them. Bane smiled at the sight of his child instructing his great-grandmother that she must color inside the lines. Abrams was coming out of the kitchen with a drink for Henri.

“Mama,” Henri called. “Come see my turtle!”

Talia sat next to him, putting an arm around him. “That’s a wonderful turtle, baby. The colors are perfect. And Jiddah’s is nice, too.” She winked at her grandmother.

“The council has reached its decision?” Maysam asked, her carefree expression of a moment ago flying away.

Abrams set Henri’s sippy cup on the table. “I’ll give you some privacy,” he said to Bane.

“No, Aaron,” Maysam said. “Please, stay. You need to hear this, too.”

Abrams offered his hand to help her up. Bane sensed something pass between the two when their hands met, followed by a private look that made Abrams blush and clear his throat. After Maysam settled in her accustomed recliner where she often rocked Henri to sleep, Abrams sat on a loveseat across from her. Bane and Talia settled on a sofa next to Maysam. Henri’s focus remained on his coloring.

“What was decided, hafida?” Maysam asked, doing her best to appear calm.

“Nyssa will be allowed the chance to be trained and prove herself.”

Maysam stared and started to speak, but Talia continued.

“She will leave with our brothers tonight and be taken to ’Eth Alth’eban. She will remain there until her training is complete. That is, if she can master the necessary skills.”

“And if she can’t?” Maysam asked with a glance at Abrams’s scowling face.

“Then,” Talia continued, “the council will decide her fate.”

Maysam frowned. “I must admit I’m a little shocked. Is this what you want, Talia?”

“It was my vote that decided it, Jiddah. I can’t say it’s really what I want, but I felt bound by the League’s practices. And, for better or worse, she is my sister. A part of me feels some sort of pull because of that blood tie. I don’t know why Papa rejected her, but he once rejected Bane, too, and that was a mistake. Maybe it was a mistake for him to reject her, too.”

“Time will tell,” Bane said, putting his hand over Talia’s on her thigh. “Your granddaughter did the right thing, Maysam.”

“What about Nyssa’s mother?” Abrams asked.

“She will serve Maysam in Sanjana’s stead,” Bane said.

“A servant?” Maysam said. “Certainly she will resent that.”

“Her feelings on the matter are immaterial,” Bane rumbled. “I assured her daughter that she would be treated fairly in her interim role. She must be detained until we know if her daughter will become one of us, so she might as well be useful in the interim.”

“I doubt Diya has any experience.”

“Neither did Sanjana,” Talia reminded her. “If you are uncomfortable with this, Jiddah, Diya may attend to me, and I will relinquish Hisham.”

Bane again noted something private in the glance Maysam exchanged with Abrams. Abrams seemed determined not to look at him. Ah, yes, Bane decided, something has happened between those two. He smiled inwardly. Abrams was a fool to think he could hide this.

“Well,” Maysam said, “let me try it. It might be even more difficult on Diya to serve her step-daughter than to serve me. She was always a good woman when I dealt with her in the bazaar—and she’s always been sweet to Henri—so I do wish to lessen the difficulty this transition will be to her.”

Hearing his name, Henri paused in his coloring. “Who that, Jiddah?”

“Ms. Panjabi from the bazaar, sweetheart,” Maysam said. “The lady who makes the dolls. She’s going to live here with us for a while.”

Henri grinned, his blue eyes crinkling. “She make me more dolls!”

“Only if you are a good boy,” Bane warned.

“I be good.” He tossed a grin over his shoulder at his father, reminiscent of his mother’s flashes of mischievousness, then resumed coloring.

“And you will not tear the dolls apart in front of her,” Talia said. “She will show you how to make them instead.”

“Oh, Mama,” Henri whined, sitting back on his haunches to look at her.

“You heard your mother,” Bane said. “I don’t want to hear another word about it from you, young man.”

Chagrin, Henri said, “But Papa Baba…” and buried his face against Bane’s round belly. When Bane sat him on his lap, the child leaned into the crook of his arm and let out a small huff. Bane raised an eyebrow at him, and Henri put his hands over his eyes and gave a small giggle.

“There is something else, Jiddah,” Talia said. “I’m afraid you won’t like this bit of news either, but I’m asking that you keep an open mind.”

“What is it, hafida? Just tell me.”

Talia hesitated. “When Bane spoke with Nashir after Nyssa was apprehended, Nashir told him that if Nyssa was allowed to live, we could no longer stay here.”

Maysam’s back straightened. “He should never have said such a thing! I’ve spoken with him before about this. As long I live, you will always be welcome here. You are his blood, hafida. And Haris is my son.”

Whenever Maysam made such a declaration about him, Bane’s heart swelled with pride and love. She always said it with passion and genuineness, as if he were a small boy who needed his mother to protect him; such an image amused him greatly, especially the older Maysam got.

He held up his hand to calm her. “Do not be angry with Nashir; he is within his rights.”

“No, he is not, Haris. I have rights here in this palace, my husband’s home. Nashir cannot chase away my family just because he is a coward—”

She started to stand, but Talia reached for her arm to keep her in the chair.

“Jiddah, please. Listen to me first. Then, if you still feel the need to talk to Nashir, do so. But don’t go to him angry like this. You know it will only insult him and make him more determined.”

“Nashir hasn’t seen determined,” Maysam insisted, her teeth showing. “I can’t believe he would even bring this up again to you, Haris. How dare he? I forbade it.”

“Jiddah, please,” Talia soothed. “Nashir has been very gracious letting us stay here this long. And he did it only for you, so it wouldn’t be right for you to attack him, especially since Bane agreed that we would leave if Nyssa was allowed to live. You can understand Nashir’s concerns. He has to think of his family.”

“You are his family, Talia. Obviously, I need to remind him of that.”

“Maysam,” Abrams’s gravelly voice surprised them all as did his oddly soft expression. He looked at Maysam as if they were alone. “Why don’t you let Talia say what she has to say? Charging downstairs to confront Nashir before you even know what Talia has on her mind doesn’t make any sense.”

Henri piped up, “Don’t be mad, Jiddah.”

Maysam sputtered a moment in broken protest, fingers playing with the silken fabric of her dress. “Well…I suppose Aaron is right,” she said at last. “I am sorry, hafida. But you just can’t go.”

“We need to honor Nashir’s request,” Talia continued. “We’ve already stayed here too long. No place is a sanctuary forever. Leaving may be the safest thing for Henri and us. You need to look at it that way.”

“Where we goin’, Mama? See elephants again?”

“No, darling, not to Jaipur. We haven’t decided where yet, Jiddah, but wherever we go, we want you to come with us. Bane will continue on in his current role so I can focus on Henri; Nyssa will just have to remain ignorant of that arrangement and think I’m the Demon’s Head for now.”

“Come with you?” Maysam echoed. Again, she looked to Abrams, whose confused frown made his underbite more pronounced.

“Abrams could come too, of course,” Talia said. “You will have our men protecting you, but we would be honored if he continued to serve you.”

Some of the dark concern on Abrams’s face dissipated. “Of course, I would, as long as Maysam wants me.”

“That goes without saying, Aaron,” Maysam said, calm again, an appreciative smile in her eyes. “But…I just don’t know, Talia. I’ve lived here since I was a young bride.”

“You do not have to decide right now,” Bane said gently. “Think about it, even overnight if necessary, but we cannot delay longer than that. I will be discussing various options with my brothers today. I will have a location decided upon before they leave tonight. There are many things to consider when it comes to safety for our new location.”

“One of the places we’re considering,” Talia said, “is Chateau Blanc. You said before you would love to see it. It’s beautiful and peaceful and green, Jiddah. You would come to love it there, I’m sure.”

“But France?” Abrams said. “Wouldn’t it be safer someplace more remote?”

“France is but one consideration,” Bane said. “Talia favors it.”

“What about John?” Maysam asked with worry in her tone. “He will be coming with us, won’t he? Or will Sanjana insist on remaining in her homeland? Her family is here, of course.”

“Yes,” Bane said. “He and his family will join with us. Exactly when is contingent upon James’s health. The doctor will insist that he not be moved until he is stronger.”

Talia reached for her grandmother’s hand. “Will you promise to consider it, Jiddah? I will understand if you decide to stay here, though.”

“I don’t see how I can, not now, not after more than two years of having my great-grandson with me every day. And Sanjana will need help with her child, as well, especially when John is away.” But her furrowed brow showed fear and uncertainty.

“There are many factors,” Bane said. “Consider your decision carefully.” He smiled down at his oddly patient son. “Now, I must excuse myself. There is someone to whom I promised a morning trip to the swimming pool.”

After the council had been dismissed, Barsad knew he should immediately go to Sanjana to let her know the verdict, but he did not want her to see him this angry, nor did he want that negative energy to be felt by his son. So, instead, he headed outside to the gardens to walk until the strengthening sun could sweat the poison from his pores, which happened quickly this time of year, even in the morning.

When he finally went to the infirmary, he found Sanjana with James in her arms, sitting beside the incubator, Dr. Haqqani just leaving.

“How’s he looking to you, Doc?” he asked.

“So far so good. We need to be vigilant in these next few days for jaundice, but there are no signs of it yet.”

“Good, good. Thanks, Doc.”

“I will be back after lunch to check on them.”

Barsad shook his hand and held the door for him.

“Has the council been meeting all this time?” Sanjana asked as he came to her. “I thought I heard the others in the hallway a while ago.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t come right away, darlin’, but I was a bit pissed off. I needed to cool down.”

“So, they’ve vote for Nyssa’s inclusion, then?”

“Yeah. I did everything I could to sway the others, but it came down to Talia’s vote.”

Frowning with worry, Sanjana held James a bit closer, kissed his forehead. “I’m surprised she’s letting Nyssa stay, aren’t you?”

“Because of Henri, yeah, I’m surprised. I don’t know if it was simply because of the League that she voted the way she did or if she feels some pull with that damn woman because of their father. Even from the grave, he seems to have an influence on her still.”

Sanjana murmured, “I’m scared, John.”

“Oh, honey,” Barsad kissed her head then sat beside her on the edge of the bed, “I don’t want you worrying. You know I won’t let anything happen to you and our boy.”

“How can Bane and Talia trust Nyssa?”

“They don’t. She’ll be watched closely. She’s leaving tonight for ’Eth Alth’eban. She’ll stay there until her training is over. The isolation alone might might break her.”

“Will they kill her if she fails?”

“That’s to be determined when and if it happens. You know which way I’ll vote again.” He stroked Sanjana’s ebony mane and basked in the sight of his tiny son, who slept contentedly. “But don’t worry, sweetheart. Even if Nyssa could tell anyone where we are, it won’t matter because we won’t be here much longer.”

“What do you mean?”

“Bane said Nashir told him we’d have to scram if Nyssa was allowed to live. Like you and me, Nashir doesn’t believe Nyssa won’t betray us, and he doesn’t want to be implicated, of course, in what the League does.”

“But…where will we go? And when? James can’t be moved—”

“We’re not going anywhere until the doc says James is out of the woods. Well, the others might leave soon, but I’m not going anywhere without you and our boy. Bane said he would talk to Nashir about it. And if Bane can’t convince him, then I’ll find a way to do it.”

“But what about Maysam? Henri will be devastated to be without her.”

“Bane and Talia are planning to convince her to come with us. I can’t see Maysam staying behind, especially because of Henri. We’ll see how things play out.”

“Where will we go?”

“There are a couple of options. Chateau Blanc is one of them, but I have a feeling Bane will want something more remote. We’re going to hammer it all out today.”

Sanjana stared toward the door. “My family… My mother…”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. But you’ll be able to say good-bye; I’ll make sure of it.”

She looked sadly at James. “I want my mother to meet her grandson, even if we aren’t married. My father wouldn’t have to know about it. Could we arrange something if we do have to leave?”

“Anything you want, darlin’. I’m sorry the timing is so bad for this.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“I should just kill Nyssa and be done with it. Then you wouldn’t have to move.”

“You wouldn’t dare defy Bane, would you?”

“I’d be doing him a favor if, instead, we’re killing her anyway when she can’t cut it.”

“What would they do to you if you killed her, do you think?”

“Hard to say. Maybe excommunication.”

“Oh, John. Do you really think he would do that? He loves you like a brother.”

“He does, yeah, but he is my commander, and it would be gross insubordination on my part, so he’d be obligated to censure me. And then there’s Talia’s wrath as well. She doesn’t look kindly on insubordination either.”

“Then don’t do it, John.” She touched his knee. “I wouldn’t want anything to come between you and Bane. I would feel it my fault. You would never kill Nyssa if it were not for me and James.”

“I’d do it not just for you and James, but for Talia and Bane, too. Then things could remain status quo. Everything’s been pretty smooth these past couple of years.”

“But it would not be status quo if killing Nyssa led to your excommunication or worse. You know I care about Bane and Talia, too, and little Henri; I would miss them terribly, and so would you. No. As much as I’d feel safer with Nyssa dead, I have decided I don’t want you to jeopardize your position with the League or your relationship with Bane and Talia.”

Barsad grinned. “Just the other day you were demanding her head.”

“I know, but I was pregnant and not thinking it through then. I was being selfish.” She smiled up at him. “I know you will keep us safe.”

He kissed her. “Always, darlin’.”

In the evening, after darkness had fallen, Bane and Talia said farewell to the men of the council. Finn Donnell was the last to leave. They accompanied him to the front door, Hisham in tow with Finn’s duffel bag.

“It was wonderful to see you,” Talia said, taking the Irishman’s hands momentarily as they stood in the foyer. “Thank you again for getting here on such short notice.”

Hisham breezed past to take the bag to the waiting SUV.

“Anything for you.” Finn kissed her hand, then gave Bane a devilish grin.

“Best be on your way, brother,” Bane grumbled with a slight, indulgent smile.

Finn chuckled. “Aye, I should.”

Talia briefly embraced him, then he nodded to Bane and headed outside into the sultry night.

“Sometimes,” Bane teased her, “I think you do such things on purpose, my dear.”

“What?”

“You know.”

She gave him an impish smile then threaded her hand through the crook of his arm and urged him back to the stairs, the house quiet around them. “I have to admit, I do sometimes find it amusing.”

“You are cruel, little mouse.”

Talia chuckled. “It’s just a part of being a woman who has a very desirable man. I like seeing that you still want to possess me.”

“Still? Always. And when we get to our room, I will prove it.”

They climbed the stairs and headed for the elevator, the inuendo drifting away.

“I’m glad you’ve agreed to Chateau Blanc,” Talia said as the doors closed after them, starting their brief ascent.

“You know I have my concerns, but since Maysam has agreed to join us, I felt it was the most appropriate setting for her. The locale will give her the opportunity to explore a whole new world. Perhaps she then will not have time to be homesick.”

“I think Abrams particularly likes the location. He knows Jiddah will be farther out of reach of her in-laws’s enemies in France. Here he’s always expecting someone to storm the gates.” She softly laughed as she stepped out of the elevator.

“I think Abrams’s reasons for approving the location has more to do with something else.”

“What?”

“Oh, habibati, you disappoint me.”

“What?”

“Are you trying to tell me you did not pick up on the signals this morning when we spoke with your grandmother?”

“Signals?”

“Maybe you were distracted by thoughts of Finn Donnell,” he said with a sidelong glance as they reached the door of their suite.

“So jealous,” she taunted.

He returned her grin and opened the door, following her inside, his eyes on her shapely bottom. “I am referring to the tacit signals between your grandmother and Abrams.” He had lowered his voice once inside, for he did not want to disturb Henri asleep in his room down the hallway.

“They have been making eyes at one another since they returned from Jaipur,” she said, moving to the bed to remove her white, Romanesque sandals.

“This was different. They have most assuredly slept together.”

Talia’s head snapped up. “You think so?”

“No, my dear,” he kissed her forehead, “I know so.” He sat beside her and removed his own loafers. “Abrams was as sheepish as a schoolboy with his first sweetheart. They think they are keeping a secret from us.”

“Why would they do that? We’ve all been encouraging them.”

“It is surely Abrams, rather than Maysam. He will be worried about Nashir and his family’s judgment. Going to France will help erase that concern, and he knows it. Perhaps then they will reveal their little secret to us.”

“I’m going to ask Jiddah. She will tell me.”

“You will do no such thing, my love. Respect her silence. Give her the pleasure of revealing it to you in her own good time.”

Talia put on a false pout. “I suppose I can wait. But, if it’s true, I’m so excited for them. They both need this, especially Abrams. I have always felt so sorry for him. He’s come so far since living here, and I think Jiddah will be able to pull him completely from his shell once they embrace their relationship. Don’t you?”

“Yes.” He had started to unbutton her blouse while she spoke. “Now, let us speak no more of other couples.”

She lay a hand against his warm cheek. “If you insist.”

“Let us speak of something I have been thinking about since the birth of Barsad’s baby.” His lips drifted to kiss her neck.

In delight, she shrugged her shoulder against his cheek, squirmed beneath his ministrations. “What?”

“A baby of our own, a little girl, just as lovely as her mother.”

“Bane—”

“She could be birthed in France and grow up to run the vineyard.”

“Not the League?”

“Jin will do that.” His fingers had untucked her blouse from her skirt and worked their way up her back to unhook her bra.

“What if he doesn’t want to? Would we insist?”

“He will want to.”

“Always so certain, my love.”

“Yes,” he crooned. “And I am certain that I must have you this very minute, to plant my seed and watch you blossom as my daughter grows within you.”

“Do I get a choice in this matter?”

“Of course. But even if you resist, you know I will wear you down in time, especially because I think you want a sibling for Henri. I saw how you looked at little James and Sanjana. I saw envy, little mouse. Don’t deny it.”

“Well,” she sighed under the brazen wandering of his hands, “maybe I felt a little envious.”

“And,” he nibbled at her flesh, “since I will remain as the League’s commander for at least another year, you will be free to remain a mother only.” With her shirt and bra removed, his mouth lowered to her breasts, kissing, and one hand kneading gently.

“You see me as only a mother?”

“I meant your primary role, habibati. Of course, you will always be a part of the League, no matter what. But in the eyes of your lover, one duty is now more important than the other. It is a role I love to see you embrace. And I promise I will find ways to spend more time with the children. And if Nyssa succeeds in her quest, I will no longer have to devote my life to the Demon’s Head.”

Her fingers trailed lightly across his head, along his cheek to his ear. “You have done wonders with Henri in just this short time, habibi. I’m grateful, and I hope I can live up to your example as a parent.”

“You have already succeeded me in those talents, my dear. Never doubt that.” He kissed her lips, lingering close as he continued, “It was only your doubt that caused our boy to become rebellious. There is no reason for such doubt. You are a wonderful mother.” Bane kissed her again, longer, deeper, melting her down against the mattress.

Parted, she grinned at him. “I am not a wonderful mother, but you have given me hope that I can be.” Talia shrugged one shoulder playfully. “Maybe I could handle two. And a girl would be a joy, especially for Jiddah and you. Henri, however, might not be so enthusiastic.”

Bane chuckled. “He will have James to roughhouse with. And he will protect his sister, just as I once protected you, my dove. I can already see that quality in him.” He grinned and straddled her as he unzipped his pants. “Now, let us waste no more time. I am impatient to meet my daughter.”

END

#Bane #Talia al Ghul #Barsad #Nyssa al Ghul #Baniac #fanfic #The Demon's Legacy

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batfam-imagines · 7 years

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Age Reversal AU

Prompt: For the age reversal one can you just do headcannnons for what it's like around the manor and on patrol?

Prompt: Can you write how everything would have turned out in an Age reversal AU?

I love these Age Reversal AU’s!!! They are awesome! I NEED some more people to request these!!

You and Damian arrive at the Manor when you’re 10 years old. Both of you are League of Assassin trained and fully expect your father to make you fight to the death to decide who will be his successor. Instead Bruce teaches the two of you that killing is wrong and offers you and your brother a chance to help him in his crusade.

You decide on the name Sparrow, and Damian chooses Robin. So, two birds and bat set out to protect Gotham. It’s good for a while.

Timothy Drake is an anomaly, not someone you ever expected to find out your secret identity. But one day when you’re sitting and drinking tea in a local coffee shop, a scrawny kid climbs into the seat opposite of you and starts showing you pictures. You decide right then and there that you will be keeping this child, so you bring him back to the Manor. Timothy tells you that his parents are gone most of the time and that he is usually left by himself. If Bruce doesn’t take him in, you’ll make him your own partner. No way in hell will you let this delicate baby bird fly alone anymore.

Damian is not happy when you bring the kid home. In fact, your brother refuses to speak to you for a week, and Bruce refuses to take part in his training. You see how much Batman’s rejection hurts your baby bird, so you take him under your wing. You help him design his own costume, and when Damian refuses to give up Robin, you decide that Tim’s name will be Red Robin. Eventually Bruce decides to take Timothy out on Patrol, mainly because the kid threatened to sneak out on his own if Bruce didn’t take Tim with him. Timothy even manages to wedge his way into Damian’s heart. So when his parents are killed while they are traveling, it’s only natural to adopt Tim officially. Unfortunately, your baby bird’s flight is cut short by a madman with a crowbar. When you try and go after the Joker both Damian and Bruce lock you in a cell in the Batcave and refuse to let you out until you’ve calmed down. You go and visit Timothy’s grave every day.

Jason is the complete opposite of Timothy. Jason is a little ball of rage, and he immediately takes to Damian. You fight against your father and brother when they want to bring Jason into the mission. You don’t want another one of your brothers to die for this. Unfortunately, you don’t really get a say in the matter when Jason steals the Red Robin suit in order to rescue you, Batman, and Robin. Jason doesn’t want to be Red Robin, though. He doesn’t want to parade around in a dead boys costume, and decides to make up his own persona. He becomes the Red Hood, and even though Bruce hates guns you manage to convince your father to let Jason use rubber bullets. Marksmanship had been Jason’s strong point, and you refused to lose another family member just because they aren’t using their strongest skillset.

Despite your best efforts Jason is almost killed. The Joker escapes Arkham again, but this time you and Damian are more wary. You two keep a closer eye on your youngest family member. Damian manages to save Jason, and you finally put an end to the Joker. Your father is angry at you, he strips you of your title as a vigilante, and bans you from the Justice League. So, you return home, to the League of Assassins, where you find your mother tending to a boy that looks much too familiar.

Timothy is alive, was brought back by the Lazarus Pit. No one knows how Talia found him, or how managed to come back from the dead after being buried for six months. But the only thing that matters is that he’s alive. He’s more volatile, angrier, he’s also grown, but he’s still your little brother, your baby bird. You travel around the world with him, going to the various Masters, helping Tim learn every skill they offer and improving your own along the way. Once you’ve learned all you can, you and Tim decide to go back to Gotham. Tim doesn’t blame Bruce for what happened, he understands why Bruce couldn’t kill the Joker, but that doesn’t make him any less angry at Bruce for bringing another kid in to join his crusade.

Tim moves back into the Manor, mainly to keep an eye on Jason and make sure that nothing happens to the kid. You also manage to help your little brother mend his relationship with Damian, help them finally accept each other as brothers. Tim starts calling Jason Little Wing, and the nickname sticks. Eventually Bruce lets you patrol as Sparrow again.

To celebrate yours and Tim’s return, Bruce decides to take everyone to the circus. Everything is going perfectly, you even meet the acrobats that will be performing later. You’re actually quite enjoying yourself, that is until Mary and John Grayson fall to their death, leaving their eight-year-old son standing over their crumbled and bloody bodies. It’s second nature to push your way through the crowd and scoop up the child. Richard Grayson clings to you, sobbing heavily into your collar. Of course, the police take the child at first, but it isn’t even a full day before you go with your father to bring him back to Wayne Manor.

Dick is a surprisingly smart kid. Tim offers to help Dick learn English, and help him get caught up with his education. Dick takes to learning quickly, he’s always eager for his lessons. Unfortunately, the kid’s a little too smart, he finds his way to the Batcave within the first week that he’s lived in the Manor. And of course, it’s Damian who gives up the secret. Somehow the broken little boy had managed to wriggle his way into your twin’s heart, and so Damian gives him whatever he wants.

When Damian takes over as Batman when Bruce goes missing, he makes Dick his Robin. The two work surprisingly well together, Robins new bright demeaner helping to curb the new Batman’s temper. Even when Bruce comes back Dick remains Robin and Damian becomes Nightwing.

Being the only girl in a Manor with your father, four brothers, and Alfred, is interesting. Your brothers all come to you to bitch about each other. And somehow, at least three times a week, all of your brothers end up climbing into your bed at night for a big cuddle-fest. They claim that it is easier to sleep in your large nest-like bed when they have other people around. You just shake your head and start leaving your door unlocked.

Patrol also changes with all of the new vigilantes. It starts to become a rare occurrence to patrol alone, at least one of your brothers will join you about halfway through the night. Jason is usually the one who finds you, or sometimes Damian if he’s feeling lonely. Tim typically patrols with Kon when he’s in Gotham, or with the Titans when he’s in San Francisco. Robin usually stays with Batman, or sometimes Nightwing when he and Batman get into an argument.

All in all, you love all of your brothers. You’d do anything for any one of your brothers, had killed for them before and would gladly do it again. No matter how stoic Damian was, how sarcastic Tim was, how angry Jason could be, or how grating Dicks optimism could be, you would always be there for them. You’d always be the glue that held this crazy ass family together.

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blackandbluegrayson · 6 years

Note

Number 41 for Dick and Damian please? ^-^

We need to talk.

(That one has taken me forever. Too many ideas I try to cramin one, I hope that make sense.)

“I already told Alfred earlier, I didn’t see or hear fromhim.” Dick says holding his cellphone between his ear and shoulder to unlockhis apartment door. Not easy taste with his duffle bag on the other shoulder “Ijust arrived home. I will check here and then head for Gotham.”

He listens a moment as he pushes open his door and put hissports bag on the ground. “Of course B, I will call if I find him.” He rollshis eyes so hard that he pretty sure Bruce hears it over the phone. He frownswhen he realizes that his security system is already turned off. “Look I gottago. Talk to you later.” He says quickly and hangs up.

He’s pretty sure who is already there but he didn’t take anychance. He closes the door slowly without a noise and reaches in his bag to getone of his escrima sticks. Quietly, he makes his way in the main room on hisguard. He frowns when he sees the living room empty and in the same state he hasleft it before going on the mission with the Titans.

“Your security is really lacking.” The familiarity of the young voice is theonly thing that stops him from lashing out.

Dick turns his head toward the source of the sound. Damian issitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea in front of him. He lets out asigh and throws his escrima stick on the couch. “Damian. What are you doinghere.” “Your kitchen is least like a war zone than the living room.” He answers as hetakes a sip of his tea. Dick rubs his face. “Not what I mean. Look I’m always happy with you droppingby but normally you let me know beforehand.” He didn’t mention that theirfather is looking for him all over Gotham, he feels that talk about that wouldonly make Damian run again.

“We need to talk.” The teen says seriously.

Instinctively Dick flinches at those words. Damian issounding so much like Bruce for a second he feels like he is ten years oldagain. It’s not his fault when his brother manages to make any conversationsound like an urgent board meeting. He resizes himself and walks into thekitchen, takes his coat off and sits at the table with his little brother. “I’mlistening.”

The boy straight up in his chair and look at him in the eyes.“I want to discuss the feasibility of restarting our partnership.”

“You know we can worktogether anytime kiddo. You always welcome in Blüdhaven.” Dick says with agentle smile.“You don’t understand Grayson. I mean as a more permanent arrangement.” He repliesand lowers his eyes on the cup in his hand. “You are doing a more thansufficient work here in Blüdhaven but with some of Gotham criminal trying tohide here, you have a handful. Not mentioning you have to balance yourresponsibility between this town, Gotham and the Titans.”

The oldest watches him for a moment. It is clear that thereis more to this but he can’t be too blunt as his ask or Damian would closehimself off. “People might wonder why Robin is moving to Blüdhaven.”

“TT, events with their limited brainpower, I think that most criminals have realized we are members of what the mediacall the bat clan or Bat family.” He says with disdain on hisface before looking away again. “Anyway, I think it’s time for me to retire ofbeing Robin.” Damian’s voice lowers.To say that confession is throwing Dick out the loop is an understatement.“What?”

“Youshould not be surprised Grayson. All of you have outgrown that role at somepoint.” The boy says.Dick shakes his head. “Damian, you realize that none of us really retire frombeing Robin. Bruce fired me, Jason died and I took it away from Tim to make youmy Robin.”

“Eitherway, you have all found your own identity after that.” Damian finally looks backat his brother. “I would only befit for me to find mine. I can’t be Robinforever.”At this point beating around the bushes won’t give him an answer so the oldervigilant decide to be more direct. “Tell me, Damian, what truly brought thisup?”

Dickknows right away it wasn’t the thing to say when Damian’s face scrunches with anger.“You can simply tell me if you aren’t interested. I begin to recognize when Iam unwanted.” He rises from his chair ready to fleet, but the acrobat is fastenough to grab his wrist.

“Damianthis is not what I said. Don’t twist my word.” He says firmly.

Theyounger man glares at the hand on his arms and Dick knows that anyone else wouldhave been threatening to lose that hand. “Grayson.” He growls in a warning tone,but he could fool his brother. Dick could see the hurt and vulnerability in theyounger vigilant face.

Thatis the missing piece he needs to complete the complex puzzle that is DamianWayne’s emotions.Dick squeezes his wrist a little so the boy would look at him. Only when thosegreen eyes meet his that he continues. “Is this about Bruce and Selinaexpecting a child?” he asks softly.

Thatwas the new has fallen yesterday and that what has brought his younger brotherhere in the first place.

Thelook on Damian’s face is answers enough. Even if the younger man has seemed to accept Bruce and Selina’s wedding, Dickknows it has hurt him. No matter how old Damian would get, deep down he is stilla ten-year-old boy that want his parents to be together. He might have keptmost of his complain for himself for his father’s happiness’ sake, but the newsof a new sibling seems to have been too much.

Dicksighs and pulls his brother closer to him so he could wrap his arms him for ahug. The lack of fighting or complain and the fact that the younger boy lean inhis embrace worry him. This is affecting way more than he wants to admit. “Talkto me, little D.,” he mutters in a soft and patient tone.

Damianpresses his face more in his brother’s shoulder. “Father is getting the heir healways wanted… My chance of becoming Batman is becoming thinner.” He saysweakly. “. I was trained for this all my life and now my destiny is slippingthrough my finger. I….I don’t know what else I can be.”

The older vigilantes rub his back softly trying to reassure him. “Damian, youare a bright young man with all his life in front of him, you can be anythingyou want.”“Except Batman apparently.” The teen move back as much as he can with hisDick’s arms still around him. “Save me you’re pre-construct reassurance, Richard.I thought you have a higher opinion of me and my capacity to not treat me likea simple child.”

Dicksays. “It’s true … you don’t have to be what people want you to be, but becomewhat you want.”

“Iam supposed to be my father’s legacy … that what I wanted.” He lowers his eyesunable to face his brother. At this point it’s hard to know if Damian is tryingto prove a point or trying to convince himself.

Dickwatches him. He remembers how lost Damian has been when he have thought Dickand Shawn were having a baby, how he feels like he was being replaced. He canimagine this is so much worst for Damian at the moment. “You still are Bruce’slegacy. That new baby is not here to take your place.”Damian frowns a bit. “You don’t know that Grayson.”

Hesmiles softly. “I know so. You know why? Because I was here first. I have beenhere to witness every new kid been added to our family. Sure we have one of themost messes up families I know but we are always there for each other. Bruce isterrible at showing his emotions but he won’t stop loving you because of thatbaby.” He runs his finger in his brother’s hair. “You are his son and nothingwould ever change that.”

“But I am supposed to be his heir…” Damian begins clearly missing the point. Itnot the first time that Dick feel like going to Talia and Ra’s and give them apiece of his mind about how they have mess up a wonderful boy self-worth, andsadly he knows it not the last time he would feel like this.

Dick let out a sigh. “Maybe one day you would be Batman, maybe not. No one knowswhat the future is holding.” He reaches to cup his cheek so they would lockeyes. “But you already carry the torch of one legacy: mine.”

“Idon’t think I follow you.” Damian mutters weakly.

“Asmuch as never plan for this, Robin is my legacy.” He says and smiles sadly.“And I give it to you. I won’t force this on you if you really don’t want to beRobin anymore, but I can’t think of anyone better than you to watching Batman’sback.”The younger man blushes and lowers his head. “What if I really want to find myown hero persona?”

Dicksmile at him. “Telling B to suck it up and become your own man; that is part ofmy legacy too.” He laughs weakly and slowly letting go when he is sure he won’trun away. “You can’t escape it kiddo.”

Damianrolls his eyes and sits back down in the chair he was occupying earlier. “Youseem so eager for me to follow your legacy; maybe I should begin to look to bethe next Nightwing.” It was a weak attempt teasing but Dick would take this as asmall victory.“Sorry Damian but I’m not planning on retiring anytime soon.” Dick laughssoftly. “But you know Nightwing can always use a Flamebird at his side.”

Theteen raise an eyebrow. “Flamebird?”

“Wait,wait, wait. You are trying to tell me you are the one that have regular sleepover at the Kent and Clark never told you the legend about Nightwing andFlamebird?” Dick can’t hide his disbelieved.

“Thosearen’t sleeping over, they are tactical relocation.” Damian blushes and looksaway. “Not my fault that Kent refusing to understand I don’t need adultsupervision at all times.”

“Thatdoesn’t excuse that anyone have told you that story. It’s changed my life” Dickgets up. “Let me tell you about it during Dinner.” He grabs a bunch of pamphletsfrom the top of the fridge and drops it on the table. “I would even be a greatbrother and let you choose what we eat.” Damian looks at the paper and smiles weakly. “If I have to endure your storyyou have to let me patrol with you.” He says. Dick nods at him, “That for sure. Take time to choose I have a call to make.”

Damiangrabs one of the take-out pamphlets and opens it. “Richard, tell father Iapologize and … offer my congratulations to him and Kyle.” He says quietly. The older man smiles weakly, he knows he could not fool him. “Sure.” He ruffleshis hair softly before he moves into the living room. He wonders if other familieshave that kind of drama on daily basic as he watches his brother in the kitchenher realize he didn’t care. As much as he wants to keep Damian here with him he knows he needs to go backto Bruce and make peace with him. He knows Damian have all the qualities to becomea fierce Big Brother for the little bat that is coming in there life. Untilthen, he just glad Damian still found solace with him after all those years. “Weare truly the greatest.” He mutters as he calls Bruce.

#dick grayson #Damian Wayne #my writing #mention of Batcat #nigthwing #robin

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ellana-ravenwood · 7 years

Text

“My mom is better than yours” - Batmom x Damian Wayne

Summary : The Kent family have invited your family over for dinner, and of course, as usual, Damian and Jon don’t quite...behave.

I just wanted to write a short little cute fic with Damian and his mama because I just love the idea of Damian being super proud of his Batmom and blahblahblah maybe it’s a bit too long sorry. I hope you will like it :

You can find my masterlist here : @ella-ravenwood-archives

_________________________________________________

Bruce thought it was extremely cute, how Damian’s eyes always seem to shine when looking at you. How his face brightens. Even how ashamed he is when you scold him when he’s too cocky, or simply being a plain brat.

The kid thought you were just the best damn thing on this planet.

He admired everything you did...

The Batman had to admit it, sometimes, he was a bit jealous.

But mostly, he just thought it was really cute, to see his boy completely accepting you as his mother. Hell, he was even calling you “Mama” (damn period dramas) now !

You were the one he considered his mom (Talia actually tried to kill you a few times because of that, jealous beyond everything of you and the love “her” son seemed to have for you...She tried harder when Damian told her that she was “never his mom”, that you showed him what a real mother was, and also, when she realized how in love Bruce was with you, while she had to drug him to get him to sleep with her...Yeah, pretty jealous. You always pulled through though, mostly thanks to your boys, husband and superfriends).

Well, to be honest, he never doubted the fact that you’d get along with him. You had a special effect on people. If you really put your mind to it, you can convince anyone to do what you want, you can win anyone’s heart in a little flutter of your damn beautiful eyelashes...

When Damian first met you, he was most disagreeable, and you...grounded him. “Young man, in your room, no dessert for you tonight”, and he was so stunned that he did it, though he didn’t even listen to his father at the time, and thought he knew everything better than everyone ! He knew you only for a few minutes, and he already had more respect for you than for anyone else.

Sometimes, Bruce suspected that you might be a meta-human, because the power you could have over people with your magnificent aura was...something. But he tested you in every way possible, and he had to admit that, you were just like him. A simple human. A simple human with incredible abilities.

Yes. Bruce always thought it was extremely cute the way his son, your son to the both of you, almost worshipped you.

Well, your older kids did too. Again, there was just a way about you...

You started dating Bruce when he first took young Richard Grayson in, about twelve years ago (right after Talia drugged him actually), when he was barely 8 years old and heartbroken because of his parents’ death...And though you were merely twenty, quite younger than Bruce really, you took your job as a surrogate mother for Dick very seriously. Quickly, the boy asked you if he could call you mom, if his own mother would be mad and...well, the hug you gave him was answer enough. Though he was twenty and had his own flat in Bludhaven now, Dick was still quite the momma’s boy.

It was pretty much the same with Jason. You winked at him and told him it was pretty cool and brave to try and steal the batmobile’s wheels, and boom, you had him wrapped around your little fingers. He lived for your bedtime stories and cuddle when he had trouble sleeping.

Tim was even easier to treat you like his mom. After only a few months he was already introducing you as his mother, and that was that. Just natural. Unlike Jason and Dick, his birth mother wasn’t exactly...the best, and you gave him a chance to have a real mom. One that would die for her son, do anything for him, even if it meant staying up all night to sing him soothing songs while he had the flu, putting ridiculous costumes to go trick or treating with him, or, more recently, since he was now 15 (already ?!), gaming with him until you’d both pass out out of exhaustion.

Quite like Tim, Damian never had the love of a “real” mother. How it should be. The mom taking care of her son, no matter what. Not letting him do whatever he wants, but making sure he’s happy...and so, just like his older brothers before him, he came to simply adore you.

Once, Bruce took him up to the League’s watchtower to see you because it was your turn to watch over the World (and though he would never admit it that it was the actual reason, because he was missing you), and everyone present were shocked to see how much of a different boy he was with you.

When with you, he was nice, unsure sometimes, but you always got words to calm his insecurities and self-doubts. When with you, he was the sweetest little twelve year old boy ever. When with you, he wasn’t bratty at all, and didn’t look down on anyone. He was himself, the boy he should have been if the League of Assassin didn’t steal his childhood. It was obvious he would protect you at all cost, and the love you had for him knew no bound.

Yes, the relationship between you and your son was a tight one. And though it made Bruce jealous on occasions, as he had more difficulties bonding with Damian, he was sure glad that you had each others, and his heart always beat fast when he sees you two laugh together because one or the other made a stupid joke.

Of course, most of the times, you’d include him in too. Damian was glad that his father would join (though he’d never admit it) and you...Well, Bruce was the love of your life, you always enjoyed spending time with him. And you tried everything you could for him to get along with Damian, succeeding often but...sometimes Bruce just felt like he had to leave the two of you together.

But sometimes, he hated it too. When the both of you would create an alliance against him...and tickle him until he begged for you to stop for example (he would throw you off of him, but he was to afraid to hurt you for that). Or when you voted against him on a movie choice...Well to be honest, chances are, if you really want to watch a movie, you’ll convince everyone to watch it, even him. But yeah, it could be very frustrating how close you and Damian were, partner in crime till the end and all.

Like today. Though it wasn’t so much frustrating as it was annoying. But he kinda expected it...As soon as you and him accepted the invite to dinner over the Kents, he knew that things wouldn’t go all smooth.

************

You’re the one that convinced Bruce to say “yes” to Clark when he asked you guys if you wanted to come over for dinner next Friday. Because you thought it was important for your boys to get out of Gotham sometimes. You convinced Bruce to go over Metropolis, and let Batgirl and Batwoman take care of Gotham. To enjoy some family times. And hey, he could never resist you.

Turned out though, that Dick was busy that night, he didn’t exactly told you what he was busy with, but it involved one of his friend’s twenty first birthday.

Jason too, wasn’t available, as he promised Starfire and Arsenal to keep his free night of the week for them (you made a deal a long time ago, with all the members of your family, that at least one night a week, they’d rest).

Tim had an important project to finish for school, and was freaking out enough for you not to force him to come.

So much for a nice family outing...Still, you knew you were gonna enjoy that dinner in Metropolis, with your youngest and your beloved husband.

Maybe you thought too fast...

************

Your helicopter ride from Gotham to Metropolis was fast and pleasant, as you looked down at the landscape going through, while the sun was settling down.

You expected a car to wait for you to bring you to the Kent’s house but...Well, Kent was there himself.

-Hey (Y/N), nice to see you ! Bruce, Damian !

Clark calls, with a bright smile. He kisses you on the cheek (you two feign to ignore Bruce stiffening slightly) and shakes your husband and son’s hand.

-Hey Clark, it’s nice to see you too. Hi Jon.

You plant a kiss on Superman’s boy, and he blushes a bit. Damian glares at him...How dare he ? Yeah ok you’re the one that gave him a kiss, but...well, only him and his brothers had the right to be kissed on the cheek by you like that !

You looked at your son, and gave him “that look” that meant : “behave, or else...”, of course, he didn’t know what the “or else” was, but he would never risk it. You could be scary when angry (he still remembers you kicking his highly trained biological mother’s ass after he came back to life and she came back to try to take him away with her...it was frightening, the way you fought and was furious).

You give the same look to Bruce, as you can see him already frowning, and he straighten and forces a smile for Clark.

Superman cannot stop himself from chuckling. Oh you were one of his best friend, and he just loved the way you put the bat back in his place. Though, his smug expression annoyed you and...you gave him the look too, making his smirk fall from his face.

The only one you didn’t glare at was Jon, who just seemed genuinely happy to be here, and was smiling widely at you. You smiled back, making Damian glare some more (while you weren’t looking at him).

************

-Oh gosh Lois, you surpassed yourself this time !

You smile brightly at your host, and she smiles back, but before she can respond to your praise, you hear your boy’s voice say :

-Tt. I think you’re a better cook mother.

You don’t even have time to give the famous “batmom glare at your son” that Jon jumps in, standing up, pointing his fork at his “friend” :

-Hey ! That’s enough ! You’ve been saying your mom is better than mine all night. You think you’re sly and discreet about it but I can hear you with my super hearing and there’s only so much I can take ! You shut up now !

It’s funny, how neither you nor Lois, or your respective husband, are able to utter even a word, or to say anything, because those two boys just ignore you all and oh god now they’re standing in front of each other in a fighting stance.

-It isn’t my fault if my mom is better than yours !

-No she isn’t ! No one’s better than my mum ! And she’s the best cook !

-Oh really ? Remember when you came home last week and said it was the best meal you ever ate ? SHE cooked it because Alfred wasn’t feeling well !

-It was only a figure of speech ! To be nice !

-Right sure, doesn’t even matter, you still said it was the best, hence, my mom is the best cook !

Jon’s fist tighten, and Bruce and Clark are ready to intervene any minute...just if necessary though,because they’re more and more curious about how this little debate is going to end. Will their mother stop them ? Or will they let them go to see who had more arguments about which one was the best mom ?

According to your amused smile, and Lois’ curious look, they guessed it was gonna be the latter option. Good.

-Ok, maybe, but my mom’s smarter ! She won a pulitzer price !

-She only won one because she wrote something about your father ! It’s easy to write about something you know so well and love ! Besides, she had him there for any questions she wanted to ask !

Clark exchange a loving look with Lois at the fond memories of her story on him. Yes, he was definitely always there when she had a question...

-But she still won a pulitzer price ! Did you mom won a pulitzer price ?

-No, but her books sold millions more than your mom’s ! And intelligence isn’t measured by the ability to write !

-Yeah well then why d’you say she sold more books if it doesn’t matter ?

-Because it proves she’s the best !

-It only proves people buy her stuffs because her name is “Wayne” !

At those words, you stiffen a bit, and now, Bruce and Clark are ready to stop you should you jump on Jon for his words...You hated when people attributed your success as a writer to you being married to the famous Mr. Wayne, because you were selling millions of books before you even met him ! Fortunately, your son is there to defend you :

-Don’t talk about what you don’t know ! She was selling millions even before she even started dating my dad ! And I’m pointing it out really because she’s way more successful in the writing area than your mom, so she’s the best !

-She didn’t win a pulitzer price !

-Only because they said they wouldn’t give it to her because everyone would think it was because she was a Wayne !

-I thought she was selling millions before being a Wayne !

-Yeah, when she was not even twenty, they thought her writing was still too immature to earn a pulitzer, and then she got with my dad and now she can’t win one without people saying she cheated so...And besides your mom didn’t even had her own regular articles in the Daily Planet before she reached 34 !

It was Lois’ turn to stiffen. She gave you a glance, meaning something like : “Hey, your kid’s going too far there, it’s not easy to be journalist in a place like Metropolis !”, but before you can scold your son, Jon continues :

-It’s not because she became famous later that she’s not more worthy and a better writer than your mom ! And even if Mrs Wayne is better at that, well she’s still less smart !

-My mom has four PHD, and she got them before she was twenty one ! She’s a genius !

-...Oh yeah ? Well my mom can dance like no one !

-I bet she’s not as good as my mom.

Your boys whip around to face the two of you and...Are they waiting for you guys to dance ? Oh no way Jose you’re not going to dance to settle a stupid fight.

************

You ended up dancing. And playing chess. And attempting backflips. Oh, not forgetting the famous “best scolding mom contest”...And of course, the famous “most creative punishment you can come up with on the spot if your kid misbehave”...Your sons showered the two of you under waterfalls of compliments, and though Lois gave a good fight, you won all of the “contest” Damian and Jon created, in front of slightly lost husbands. How did that happen again ? How did they arrive here, right there right now, answering questions their sons asked like “Who would you say is the best kisser ? Hey mom, kiss Superman so he can now, and Mrs. Kent, kiss my dad, so it’s settled”...They were wondering how it happened when it seemed like it was finally the end of the “best mom war” between Damian and Jon.

And there was a winner.

You.

Though you clearly didn’t care, and neither did Lois really. She already knew you were better than her at most things, but you were cheating. You were indeed a genius, who got trained by the goddamn Batman ever since she was twenty ! Of course you’d be better than her...No hard feeling though, because you had no idea you were better. Hell, you were so full of insecurities that you most often didn’t know you were better than most people you met. On the contrary, you always thought people were superior to you, no matter what your sons and husband would say.

Lois thought it was cute, how oblivious you were. Even then, in front of your son and his friend fighting and proving you were better, you still didn’t believe it, not reacting at all.

-HAHA ! SO IT’S DONE ! My mother is the best.

Damian says triumphantly. Jon grumbles a weak answer, cross his arms and turn away, and even your son gotta admit that his pout is very cute and he feels just a bit guilty. Really just a bit, cause he just proved his mother was the best, as he always knew. He turns to you, smiling and...Oh, you don’t look happy.

Why don’t you look happy ? He said so many nice things about you...In front of his unsure face, you cannot help but smile, but you don't come to him. No, you go to Jon, and turn his face to you.

-Hey Jonny boy.

The boy doesn’t answer, looking worriedly at his own mother. He wasn’t able to defend her against a verbal attack, what would he do if he had to defend her against actual enemies ? Actual bad guys, and not just his best friend being annoying ? You continue :

-You know, it doesn’t matter what Damian says. Of course for him I’m going to be the best, I’m his mom. And of course Lois is the best in your eyes, she’s yours. It doesn’t matter those little games you settled. The only thing that matters, is what you feel in your heart.

With a sigh of defeat, Jon says :

-But you won everything. You’re the best !

You shake your head and gives him a gentle smile, ignoring your son’s scoff (you’ll deal with him later). You add :

-Again, it doesn’t matter. Only your heart Jon, only your heart. What do you feel in your heart ?

Shyly, Jon turns to you and say :

-That my mom is the best.

-Then your mom is the best.

-...really ?

-Yes.

-As simple as that ?

-Yes. Everything don’t have to be a fair competition with rules and such. Some things cannot be explained. Like the love from a son to a mother...

You turn to your own kid, and grab him by the arm, squeezing him in your arms. Damian’s eyes widen in surprise, and he’s too stunned to react.

-...Or the love from a mother to a son.

Jon now smiles widely, showing all of his teeth, and goes to hug his own mom. Of course, Lois wraps him up in a loving embrace (you can almost hear your two idiots of husbands sighing because of the cuteness of the scene, their wives holding their kids like that).

-I love you my boy, so so so so so so much.

You whisper in Damian’s ear. He cannot help but smile, and hugs you back, ignoring his surrounding. It’s just you and him. In each others arms. You’ll never let him go, he knows.

-I love you too mom. More than so so so so so so much. You’re the best. Truly.

You chuckle lowly, and finally pull away from his embrace. You turn to Jon who let go of his mom too. Yyou can feel Damian stiffens as the other boy grins at him provocatively, like “see, my mom too is the best, your mom said it herself”.

You know you have to diffuse the bomb before it starts all over again, and you say :

-Jon, didn’t you speak about a new fighting video games you got for your birthday, and how great you are at it ?

Jon’s face lightens :

-I’m the best at it !

Damian scoffs and says :

-Oh yeah ? I’d like to see that !

-Well, you two can go play AFTER dessert !

Lois tells them. And they’re totally fine with this, yes, after dessert. That’s great. Just like said dessert, so good.

**********

You sip on your coffee cup as you look tenderly at your boy and Jon playing video games in the living room. Lois is next to you and sighs :

-Oh they’re so cute.

-Yes Lois, yes they are...But my son’s cuter.

She snaps her gaze on you, but cannot help but laugh at your mischievous smile and wink. Oh you. She was glad you were amongst her friends.

Unknowing to the both of you, your husband were staring at you, love and awe in their eyes, a stupid smile on their faces. They finally snapped out of their confused haze as to what was happening (took them long enough, so long in fact, that you didn’t even hear their voice of the entire evening), and were looking over their son with pride that they defended their mother so fiercely...Clark, with a content sigh, says :

-Damn I love her. She’s just so awesome.

-Yes,Lois is great but...(Y/N)’s so much better. And you know it. Everyone does. Even your kid. And I love her more than you love Lois. No questions about that.

FIN.

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1989dreamer · 7 years

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veritatem sol et luna

~ * ~

“And what happens then?” Derek asks Uncle Peter, wide-eyed and hanging off his sister’s arm.

Peter pretends to look down his nose at the eight-year-old. Derek’s always been more curious than is strictly necessary, but Peter loves him for it, even if he hides it behind disdainful sniffs and cocked eyebrows.

“Then the hunters get you,” Laura says, shaking Derek off. His mouth sets in a hard line, and he trembles minutely, frightened but bravely trying to hide it.

For a long moment, it looks as if Laura will apologize, but then she flounces off in search of Peter’s sister. Sixteen and already more her mother’s second than their father.

Peter does not envy her the position. He’d rather be the researcher, which is what he will train Derek to be once the boy is a little older.

Right now, he thinks he should undo the damage Laura caused.

“Here,” Peter offers, leading Derek to the settee. “Now, what Laura meant is that some hunters have an antiquated notion that werewolves are more vicious during a total solar eclipse as the moon passes between the Earth and the sun.”

Derek frowns. “Isn’t it the same distance it always is?” he asks. “Is it because it’s a new moon? But wouldn’t that mean that every new moon we should be vicious?”

Peter nods. “Most hunters are stupid.”

“Hunters are mean,” Derek corrects. And Peter had forgotten. How could he? The boy was friends with a hunter’s youngling years ago.

Derek had a sleepover with the boy and had ended up trapped in the basement, accidentally or otherwise, when the door was shut, completing a mountain ash barrier.

His little howls, ones Peter taught him to do if ever in trouble, were the only reason he was still here as they had been able to convince the sheriff that Derek had been abducted and the man had broken the barrier for them.

The hunter boy and his family had been run out of town, but Peter was waiting for the next watchers to arrive, the ones who would keep the Hales in line. As if any of them needed it.

“Yes, all hunters are mean,” Peter agrees. “Now, just because you are different from them and they don’t like it, it doesn’t mean that they are always going to attack you. Many hunters follows codes.”

“Like Mom’s code?”

Talia has a simple code, one Peter accepts willingly if a bit forced. Just because we are predators, it doesn’t mean we have to be killers.

Peter likes his code better. If you attack, we will defend. Less chance of a hunter claiming their code was broken when the wolves respond to an attack.

“You won’t have to worry about the total solar eclipse though,” Peter says. “The next one isn’t until 2017.”

“Will the hunters be gone then?” Derek studies Peter like he’s trying to decipher if Peter will lie to him. No such luck, kid.

“As long as we exist, there will always be someone hunting us.”

“Do we hide during the eclipse?”

“Most will. Your mother would probably advise that. Less chance of a hunter actively seeking you out. If you do anything that the hunters take as overly aggressive behavior, then they will try to kill you.”

“Even children?”

Peter nods. He knows Derek is thinking of his little sister. Cora is almost two years old now. In 2017, she will be 22. Derek will be 29. Any children they might have would be single digits. And the hunters don’t care. If they see a werewolf child having a tantrum, regardless of how violent it may become, they attack with prejudice.

From birth, younglings are taught control—whether they master it or not, they are still taught it—and limited in how much their packs take them out among the humans.

And still, Peter has heard stories of families murdered when a hunter realized that the little girl crying over a denied treat had too-sharp teeth and glowing eyes.

“What do I do if the hunters find me during an eclipse?”

“During a solar eclipse? Fight. If the hunters come for you, make sure they don’t get out alive. Make sure you do.”

“Derek!” Talia says, and Derek looks to his mother. “Is Uncle Peter telling you bedtime stories again?”

Derek shakes his head, scurrying away. He pauses on the stairs and stares at Peter with his luminous eyes, a hint of beta yellow in their depths, before he continues.

“I was discussing the upcoming lunar eclipse with Laura and she wanted to know about solar eclipses,” Peter explains before Talia can ask. It’s always better to reveal one’s intentions when speaking with an alpha. They can smell the deception, no matter how small. “We did not realize that Derek was eavesdropping until he started asking questions.”

“Relax, brother, I’m not mad at you.” Talia takes Derek’s place on the settee and grips the back of Peter’s neck, claws scraping against his skin. “Derek is such an inquisitive child. He’s bound to listen when he shouldn’t and it is better to prepare him for the upcoming trials.”

She pulls away, human again. “Did you use many words he will ask about?”

Peter laughs. “Perhaps a few. I forget myself sometimes with him. He really is a brilliant child, Talia. I would hope that you would approve of and let me start his training early.”

His sister shakes her head. “No, not yet, Peter. He is still a child. Some of the things he would need to learn, I have no desire for him to know. Give him a few more years. We are at peace. We have no need of a strategist.”

“You have no need of me?” Peter jokes, but her words cut deep and he knows she can sense the hurt.

She wraps an arm around his shoulder and squeezes. “I will always need you, my brother. You are a wealth of information and a joy to behold. You will find your place soon enough, and you will help Derek find his. Do not step into shoes too large for you to fill.”

“I’m not. I won’t.”

“Good boy.”

Peter tolerates the pat to his brow, and then rises, bowing stiffly. “Good night, sister. See you on the morrow.”

“Of course, dear brother. Sleep well.”

Peter ascends the staircase slowly. He can hear Cora babbling to Laura as she reads a storybook, and quieter, Derek’s heartbeat in Peter’s room.

He finds the boy under his bed, curled around a ratty stuffed animal that may have been a wolf at one point before it was cobbled back together in a Frankenstein’s monster amalgamation.

“Derek,” Peter says reproachfully.

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to ask one more question, but Mom would have made me go to sleep before you came up.”

Peter makes a show of sitting on his bed and patting the space next to him. “Come, ask your question.”

Derek scrambles out from under the bed and onto it. Then, he spends a few minutes playing with his toy.

“Will you and Mom and Laura be around for the solar eclipse?” he finally asks.

“Now, why would you ask that?”

Derek spreads his hands, smacking the toy against Peter’s leg. “You’re so much older than me and Cora. What if the hunters get you? What if we don’t all fit in the same hiding place?” Quieter, he asks, “What if it ends up like Mikey’s basement?”

And that’s what Derek’s scared of really. A trap.

“I promise that it won’t be like that at all,” Peter says. “And your mother and Laura and I will all be there.”

Derek eyes him, sniffing pointedly, but even if he can’t lie to his alpha, Peter certainly can lie well enough to fool a child.

Satisfied, Derek hugs him and then heads off to his own bed.

Peter lies awake for long after the rest of the house is asleep, wondering if he truly is lying about who will be there in 2017, and more importantly, if the place they choose to hide in will end up being a trap.

~ * ~

A/N: Sorry for bad title--didn’t have one and don’t like leaving my stuff untitled. Also, if I need more tags, let me know. I’m still fairly new to Tumblr.

AO3 link

Second Part is here

Thanks to @sterekwritingroom for the prompt.

Thanks to everyone reading, liking, and reblogging.

And thanks to my writing group for the awesome, amazing comments and feedback.

#Teen Wolf #Teen Wolf Fanfiction #sterekwritingroom #Peter Hale #Derek Hale

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unavenged-robin · 7 years

Note

Can I get JonDami wedding fluff with Dick crying in the background because HIS LITTLE BOY IS GETTING MARRIED Bonus: Bruce is also crying and Clark and Alfred tease him about it.

There you go :D It turned out more batfamily centric rather than damijon centric, but the fluff and the tears all are there!

Read on AO3

The door opens with a violent swing, and Alfred looks up only to blink at the tall man all dressed in white who strides towards him immediately afterwards.

“Master Damian?”, he calls out, surprise in his voice. “Not that I don’t appreciate your company, but should you not be somewhere else right now? On an altar, maybe?”

“I should, yes”, Damian admits with a frown, then he sighs and promptly plops down on the floor next to his grandfather’s wheelchair. The old butler smiles.

“Ah, is this a case of what they call cold feet then?”, he teases.

Damian only acknowledges the sarcasm with a huff and leans down to rests his head on Alfred’s leg.

“My feet are adequately warm, Alfred”, he retorts. “And no, I’m not having second thoughts on my marriage, only on the guests list.”

“Is your mother here?”, Alfred asks after a moment of consideration, running his fingers through the kid’s hair - because despite how old and tall he got, that’s how Alfred will always consider him, how he will always consider all of them, for that matter.

“Yes”, Damian sighs. “But Jason’s dealing with her - whatever his idea of dealing with her means, I really don’t want to know - so she’s not the problem right now.”

“Who is it, then?”

“Grayson, of course!”, Damian cries out, throwing his hands in the air. “I knew it was a bad idea to invite him. He was born only to embarrass me.”

“Or you were born only to be embarrassed by him”, Alfred offers with a smile. “Nevertheless, getting married without your best man would be a tricky affair, so I don’t see how you could not invite him.”

“In retrospect, I should have really planned it better”, Damian sighs, rubbing his forehead against Alfred’s knee. “And it’s all your fault anyway, for convincing me to do this thing here at the manor. I wanted to elope, as you may remember.”

Alfred graciously accepts the accusations and pats the kid’s head one more time, while looking up again at the new silhouette standing in the doorframe.

Tim smiles at him before clearing his throat and addressing Damian with a mocking stern tone.

“C’mon, Mr. Kent, time to face the embarrassing shower of family feelings like a man.”

Damian groans at him without even raising his head.

“I’m not going to take Jon’s name, you know that.”

“Yes”, Tim answers, walking towards them. “But it’s still funny.”

Damian scoffs.

“Not as funny as when I proposed for Jon to take the Al Ghul name at the rehearsal dinner.”

Tim laughs, Alfred gives his nephew a reprimand look.

“You didn’t.”

Damian glances up at him and downright pouts.

“I don’t see why I have to be the only one who has to suffer through this misery.”

“I’m so going to tell Jon that you called your wedding a misery”, Tim taunts him, then lightly taps him on his shoulder. “Now let’s go rip the band-aid off, Mr. Kent.”

Damian sighs dramatically and stands up.

“Did Dick stop crying at least?”

“Not a chance”, Tim grins devilishly at him. “Actually, I’m pretty sure Bruce’s started tearing up too.”

Damian straight out refuses to believe him.

Bruce is not crying. Technically.

He stands as fiercely and imposing as ever while he rests his hands on his son’s shoulders, but he’s fooling no one, especially not Damian, who looks up at him (he doesn’t have to raise his head by much, since he’s almost his father’s height, but it’s still annoying) and narrows his eyes.

“Don’t you dare, dad”, he warns him.

He can feel the grins on his siblings’ faces, and he’s aware of the dozens of photos being taken with the sole purpose of being used as taunting material for the years to come, so he’s trying his best to limit the damage. At least for Bruce. He has no pity for Dick.

Bruce smiles as his hands move to straighten Damian’s tie.

“Sorry”, he says. “It’s just. I’m so proud of you.”

Damian frowns.

“I fail to see the reason”, he answers. “Jon and I have been together for years, the purpose of this ceremony is only to put it in legally binding writing so that we can share the social and economical benefits granted by the institution of marriage itself.”

“Marriage is also an oath”, Bruce replies with an indulgent smile, and Damian clicks his tongue at him. He hates when someone in his family seems to see directly through him, especially on things like this one. It’s an oath is exactly what he said to Jon when they started discussing this thing, it’s the only way he could try to explain why it was important to him. Not the ceremony itself, but the action. The promise. The trust behind it.

“Not my first one”, he reminds now to Bruce.

“No, not you first one”, his father softly agrees.

“So you are proud of me for not having commitment issues as the rest of this family does, then?”

“You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”, Bruce laughs, and it’s a good laugh to Damian’s to hear. “Then let me rephrase it: I’m proud of the kid you were and of the man you’ve become. I’m proud of being here today with you, and your siblings, and Jon, and his family. And I’m proud of being your father.”

And yeah, there’s no denying the tears in Bruce’s eyes now. The fool.

Damian blinks and discretely swallows the lump in his throat.

“Thank you”, he answers with a wavering voice. “I hope you’re aware that Clark’s heard all of that and he’s going to repeat it word by word in front of everyone.”

Bruce laughs again and leans down and kisses him on the forehead.

“He can’t embarrass me if I beat him to it. Now go on, Jon’s waiting.”

Damian sighs and shakes his head.

“You are really getting old, Father.”

It’s not over yet, he knows.

He steps on the extemporary altar and faces the wall of his siblings with equal parts of courage and resignation.

His sisters are wearing long, green silk dresses - the only color they came to agree upon, ironically enough - and his brothers black tuxedos with inserts of the same green. Damian was the only one to consider it tacky, even Jon - the traitor - had called it cute.

“Please, just make it quick and painless.”

They take pity on him and do as he asks. Damian sighs but doesn’t protest the hugs and the kisses and the light teasing and the sexual innuendos, nor the emotions behind all of it. And when Dick hugs him, he actually buries his face in his oldest brother’s shoulder.

“I’m proud of you, kiddo”, Dick only says, voice still wet.

And Damian thinks about Talia standing somewhere in the back of the hall, looking but not speaking, a whole other life staring at him from not so far away, and he nods, eyes close for the briefest moment.

“I know.”

Then he collects himself and turns around only to see Jon enveloped in his parents’ arms, blushing to his ears just like Damian is, and he supposes that’s a good start on this sharing everything till death us do part thing.

#im-not-a-crack-pot #damian wayne #jon kent #damijon #supersons #bruce wayne #richard grayson #tim drake #alfred pennyworth #batfamily #FLUFF FLUFF FLUFF #my fic #shari writes

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followmetoyourdoom · 7 years

Text

Helpless // Chpt 4: Union Plans

Moving past the devastating events of the coming of age ceremony, how will the Ephedians solve the interkingdom disputes? Perhaps the Queen of Runic can be of help.

Chapter 5 is actually already written too, I got bored during a baseball game my brother took me to. I guess this is what having no internet does, it makes you productive??? weird. ANyway. That chapter I’ll post later on in the week.

Read it on ao3 or below:

The Crown Princess did not return to the ballroom before the festivities ended. Royals and nobles flooded out of the Ephedian castle in groups, most of the adults giggling stupidly and stumbling about. The Borealians and Voltans had carriages waiting for them; the Calixian royals called for their mounts; and the Runics teleported away, the twins mournfully looking back at the castle before they did.

Izira was to return to Xeris on her own - her Kingdom needed her to step up as Queen until her mother's blood transfusion was complete. Talia would stay with Laina to ensure no more harm came to her.

A group of Xerin guards stood ready and waiting at the castle gates, ready to escort Izira home to Xeris. Several of them stayed behind to provide support for Talia and Laina.

The Xerins were not taking any chances.

Only Talia was allowed in and out of her mother's sick room. Izira had already donated some of her own blood and now Talia had stepped up, transferring as much blood as was needed in steady amounts. In case Laina's body rejected the blood, Izira had taught Talia some more advanced healing spells in the hope of finding a solution there. But that was a last resort; regardless the younger princess had thrown herself into her studies.

Talia had been a happy go-lucky child. Never many worries on her plate, and the few she had, banished by a simple song.

But as she got older she realised why her mother was always tense when her friend Iris was visiting or vica versa, why she'd restricted the amount of time they could see each other after the Ephedian Princess passed her Shanila. Why her father always stayed behind to protect the kingdom if Liana needed to attend business in the capital.

Iris had told her it was because her father, Jericho, used to be Laina's best general, her proudest warrior. Until he fell in love with the Ephedian Queen - at the time still the princess - on a recon mission.

More than half of the Xerin army followed him to Ephedia, leaving Xeris unprotected and Laina paranoid.

The kingdoms had a treaty of course, but this did little to reassure Laina, having only recently taken the throne after the abrupt death of her mother. Even as her husband trained even more soldiers, just in case, Laina was busy crafting a powerful weapon using an old family heirloom - a medallion - that she would soon pass down to her eldest daughter.

It would be a weapon with enough force to level mountains, strong enough to part seas, powerful enough to cause armageddon should it fall into the wrong person's hands.

It would be the greatest Xerin creation since the Ancient Ephedian Spell Book.

That had been a few years ago. Now, their army was back up to full capacity and Izira had mastered the use of the medallion.

Yet the tension that had sprouted from one marriage still continued and wrapped itself between the two kingdoms, the most recent incident opening a great chasm through the entire interkingdom relationship. It seemed ironic to try to fix it with yet another marriage or two - but that was exactly what the Queen of Runic was intending to do, while doing what was best for herself and her own kingdom of course.

Peace was beneficial to all kingdoms after all, so why shouldn't Acherontia try to resolve the lurking conflict before it even reared its ugly head?

And so while Talia nursed her mother back to full health, while Mephisto wrote his very first letter to Iris; Acherontia wrote one to the Queen of Ephedia, outlining (most of) her plan and including a short reminder to look out for the lonsdaleite around her kingdom as she hadn't been able to find it before she had left the party.

Both letters were sent off at the same time, and soon enough...

"Your Majesty, a letter for yourself… and another for Princess Iris."

The announcement came at breakfast. Iris' face lit up only for her to look back to her meal as her mother took both letters off the royal page, setting them down next to her plate.

Tapping her plate nervously, Iris pipped up, "Mother can I-"

"Not until I have read it," Xiphi said curtly. It wasn't that she was going to deny her daughter her correspondence, she just needed to check beforehand that the letter wasn't going to upset her, especially with recent events. Iris had told her many times that she was old enough to determine this herself, but Xiphi wouldn't hear of it.

For the rest of the morning, Iris wiggled her feet anxiously, occasionally stealing glances at her mother's face once the Queen finished her meal and began to read the one addressed to Iris.

Within seconds she scoffed, "Another love letter. Here, Dear, amuse yourself." She tossed it across the table to her daughter and turned to the second letter.

"Pah, 'marital unions', as if I don't have more pressing matters to deal wi…" Xiphi trailed off.

Jericho looked up from his third helping of breakfast and leaned over his wife's shoulder to sneak a look at the contents of the letter. Xiphi was reading through it as quickly as she could, her hopes for lasting peace growing more and more with each and every word.

If this worked…

"Iris, I need that letter back." Without pausing, Xiphi snatched it from her daughter.

"HEY! MOTHER!!" Iris' face flushed red. "I was- that's private now! Y-you can't-"

She waved her hand dismissively, "Oh I already read the embarrassing parts, Sweetie, don't worry. That's why I handed it over to you, I know you like that sort of sappy stuff."

"If I remember rightly, you did too once upon a time," Jericho put in with a grin.

"Shush you," Xiphi joked, jumping to the end of the letter. "As I thought. Iris, reply to this boy, make him fall in love with you."

Jericho snorted as he read the small poem Mephisto had written for Iris. "By the sounds of this he already has. Goodness, this is more flowery than anything I ever wrote for your mother. Your eyes put the sky to shame // the iris flowers feel blessed to -"

"JERICHO!"

"DAD!"

Xiphi rolled the letter up and bapped her husband on the head with it before finally handing it back to Iris.

"Mother… Don't I get a choice in this? I like Mephisto, I really do, but…"

"Then what's the issue hmm?"

Iris sighed heavily, "Why him. Of all the people that have sent me love letters, or even marriage proposals - why the Runic Prince?"

"He's powerful. He'll be able to protect the kingdom well. Plus," she admitted, "his mother gives a very convincing argument."

"He got his mother to help him?" Iris asked incredulously.

Xiphi shook her head. "She acted independently I believe. She sees the potential in this union as I now do. Not to mention this is only the first step to peace. Acherontia is a very smart woman," she tapped the Runic Queen's letter, "She has a plan to solve our little issues with Xeris."

Cryptic though that was, Iris chose to ignore it and moved back to the topic at hand. "Okay but," she fiddled with the letter, "I...I need more time to get to know Mephisto."

Xiphi sighed. "I wish time is something we had, Sweetheart, but we only have until the Xerins leave. I doubt Laina would be willing to let her daughter return anytime soon so we have to sort this out while she's still here."

"Is this about Talia?" Xiphi nodded. "Mother! I- I almost… you know what I almost did." She bowed her head in shame and twisted the letter in her hands. "Talia's been through enough."

"Which is exactly why she needs a distraction! You mentioned before she had a… what do you kids call it these days? A crush? On the Runic Princess. So you get the Prince to fall in love with you, the family visits us, the Princess meets Talia, and falls in love with her. We get a union between the three most powerful kingdoms on the planet, ours truly included of course. Problems solved."

Iris shook her head. "Mother, just because Dad fell in love with you at first sight, doesn't mean it'll be that way for everyone. These things take-"

"Time yes I know. We don't have any. What do you think, Jericho?"

The King swiftly hid a grimace and smiled at his wife. "Wonderful idea, my love. Though perhaps we could give Iris a little more time, after all she does need to work on controlling her magic better. A union is all very well and good, but we need to ensure we don't have another… accident."

That was a very good point. "Very well." Xiphi turned to her daughter. "Two weeks."

Iris nodded. It wasn't a lot of time, but it was as much as she was going to get when war was just around the corner.

"If you have finished your meal, you can leave now, Iris." Xiphi said pointedly.

Knowing that look well, Iris rolled her eyes once her back was to her mother and left the dining hall, taking Mephisto's letter with her.

"MAKE SURE YOU REPLY TO MY FUTURE SON-IN-LAW."

"Will do, Mother!" Iris called back.

"ASK YOUR FATHER IF YOU NEED HELP WITH ANY POETRY."

"I'm good!"

"JUST IN CASE!"

Iris was well down the hall by now, "I SAID I'M GOOD!"

As the doorman finally shut the door, Xiphi glanced back at Acherontia's letter. "Jericho, can you tell your guards to look out for a box of lonsdaleite. Apparently Ati misplaced it the other night. Well, she says it was stolen so that's a possibility too I suppose."

The King nodded then raised an eyebrow at his wife. "Ati?"

"What? She's going to become family. Besides," she picked up her letter and pointed out the p.p.s at the end. "See, she even suggested I refer to her as Ati."

Holding his hands up defensively, Jericho replied, "I'm just saying. Maybe don't get too chummy with her yet. It sounds like she's getting herself a pretty sweet deal: her son the future king of Ephedia, and one of the world's most powerful magic users the future queen consort of her own kingdom. Something doesn't seem right to me."

Xiphi shrugged. "Runics are power hungry, always have been. So long as this plan works, they can be in whatever position they want. Besides, we always have plan B."

Jericho looked around nervously, making sure no one was listening in. "I just hope you know what you're doing. He's our last resort and you know it. Who knows what would happen to our kingdom - to our planet - if we placed all our hopes in him . It would radically change everythi-"

"Don't you think I know that!" Xiphi snapped. "But if this fails… we might not have a choice. Either way, we keep Iris away from him at all costs."

#lolirock #iristo #praxalia #aaaah yet more foreshadowing #this entire fic is court intrigue and foreshadowing istfg #my writing

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