#its no wonder why he never wants to tell bruce wayne he exists because he *knows* how violating that feels and he's *afraid.*
Text
I'm having incoherent thoughts about clone danny again from the clone/clone^2 au (when am I not?) but more specifically I'm thinking about his reaction to finding out he's a clone. The standalone clone au digs into that a little more than clone^2, which is more focused on Danny and Damian's relationship. But neither (so far) really get into Danny's issues about finding out he's a clone after 15 years of thinking he wasn't.
Because he resents his parents for not telling him for so long. He resents the way he found out; through a trivial school project rather than a sit-down talk. He resents the fact that, apparently, they had meant to tell him sooner. But forgot. He resents the fact that they never told him because finding out feels like something was stolen from him when it had the chance to not be.
Danny Fenton, just fifteen, cloned not even half a year ago, knows what that personal violation of autonomy feels like. He knows what it's like to be cloned and while he loves Ellie, he does, she's his sister, and in this au his twin. But he is still left with that feeling of unsafety after realizing he'd been cloned. Being cloned is violating. The onset realization that it's so easy to get DNA without the other party noticing, and that what was stopping someone from trying to clone him again?
Followed only after with the rest of the inexplainable mix of feelings of being cloned, the rest of that inner conflict and panic that's an ugly mocktail of emotions that range from horror to fear. Trying to imagine what it's like to be cloned from the cloned party, and I imagine that it leaves you with the feeling of needing to crawl out of your own skin with discomfort.
And then he gets put on the other side of it. Danny Fenton, only fifteen, was cloned not even half a year ago, finding out he is a clone. And reactions, I imagine, can vary from person to person. But to him, it feels like something got stolen from him, like someone took a hole puncher and stuck it right into his chest and stole a chunk of himself from him.
It changes nothing about him and yet it changes everything. It's a betrayal on it's own to just find out he was a clone and they didn't tell him for fifteen years -- it shouldn't mean anything, because he's still Danny, and yet it means everything. It's him, it's him, it's about him. It's his personhood. It's about the fact that a load-bearing rock in his identity just crumbled beneath his feet and now there's a rockslide.
Because then he finds out that they used the wrong DNA. Its like pouring salt in an open wound. He's not even related to his parents or his sister, when for years he thought he was. It's the fact that pieces of his identity that he's been so secure in for so long just got ripped away from him in an instant. Then they tell him -- only through his own horrified prompting -- that the person whose DNA they used -- Bruce Wayne -- didn't even know he existed. That they accidentally used the wrong DNA, then didn't tell the person whose DNA they used.
The betrayal of being lied to for years turns really quickly into horror at his own existence. Something very similar to the horror he felt at being cloned and the skin-crawling discomfort that made him feel like his own skin wasn't really his. And then its not. It's actually not. Nothing but his own name feels like it belongs to him anymore -- not his hair, not his eyes, not his heart or his lungs, nothing feels like his anymore and he didn't know what that felt like until it was gone.
It's a question of Nature Vs. Nurture -- where does the line of "nature" begin and where does the line of "nurture" end? What of him is actually his? What of him is Bruce Wayne's? It's not logical, it's not supposed to be. It's a load-bearing wall on the house of his identity being destroyed and now everything else is caving down in on him. What belongs to Danny, what belongs to Bruce Wayne?
#dpxdc#dp x dc#danny fenton is not the ghost king#dp x dc crossover#dpxdc crossover#dpdc#clone^2#danny fenton is a clone#its a combination 'oh my god i've been cloned too i know how violating that feels holy fuck' empathy and also the horror of finding out tha#the things you knew about yourself that you thought were unchanging was all WRONG.#its the fact that tragedy is always one step away from comedy. they're twins for a reason. the humor of finding out you're a clone through#a silly school project and the *horror* of finding out you're a clone from a silly school project instead of a proper conversation#danny goes into his room after he's done talking to his parents and he vomits into the garbage can under his desk. utterly horrified#and he calls sam and tucker crying. it shouldn't change anything he knows this and yet it changes EVERYTHING. he doesn't feel like himself#he doesnt feel like himself any*more.* this might be cause for him to do a closet overhaul. something to make himself feel like he's#in control of himself again. piercings. temporary hair dye. *something* to feel like he's in control.#its no wonder why he never wants to tell bruce wayne he exists because he *knows* how violating that feels and he's *afraid.*#it makes him takinh in damian a little more remarkable bc it undoubtedly made#his identity issues worse. but thats a child and a child who needs help and danny is *kind*
326 notes
·
View notes
Video
youtube
New Batman Comic GOES WOKE, Embraces Antifa Riot Rhetoric, Explains Exactly Why You NEED Guns
comments on youtube
Batman is literally a multibillionaire. Him looking down on small businesses and saying they have insurance like it’s no big deal is absurd.
I mean, Antifa has always reminded me of the Joker’s henchmen so this doesn’t seem like too far of a stretch.
Tim-"The last thing we want to see are armed vigilantes going out and confronting violent rioters, the Police should be doing their job in shutting this stuff down." I agree with you there Tim but with the way the direction the US is going now, its going to come to that.
A gun is an equalizer. A woman getting assaulted by a man may not be able to physically overcome him, but a gun puts her on the same level.
In a civilized society... rioting is unacceptable. Period.
I’m pretty sure Batman, the real Batman would stop the riots and actually keep order in Gotham like what we saw in The Dark Knight Returns This ain’t Batman
Batman saying "Not my job" is peak lazy bullshit writing. Proof they've never read a Batman comic in their life, and why all the major comics are on life support. Vote with your wallets, and don't subsidize future projects just because they did something decent.
This is what Equity brings you you're going to work hard for something and then people who don't have that will justify taking it or destroying it to bring you down to their level this is why we need equality not equity
Being a billionaire business owner, you’d think that Bruce Wayne/Batman would actually know how insurance works and what it covers
These people are gunna write a one off where Batman goes back in time and protects Karl Marx from racists... and it will make zero sense
The price on insurance will sky rocket the more they destroy its pretty simple
Don't you love when politicians and celebrities with their gated communities and personal guards tell you no one needs defending themselves?
I had this discussion with a friend during the Michael Brown thing. Her: "I don't care what the scenario is. The cop had a gun, Michael Brown didn't." Me: "He was trying to take the gun from the cop." Her: "Gun, no gun." Me: "So if I was beating you up, you'd be in the wrong for shooting me?" Her:"Gun, no fun." Me: "I've got like 100lbs on you." Her: "Gun, no gun." And then I gave up. Because it was obvious that she is so brainwashed, she's going to use that retort for everything. They're so brainwashed that they can't even listen to their friends in good faith.Show less
There's nothing liberal about denying people the right to defend themselves and their property. Don't call them liberals.
"There are bigger fish out there in Gotham City" Only, Batman's original purpose was to clean up street crime like the stuff that made him an orphan. The delusions of grandeur of the new Woke writing staff is showing through. These aren't fans, these are parasites.
A gun is the best way to equalize size disparities, a large semi-fit man can easily over power most smaller people often even if they are more fit and sometimes even trained fighters. A gun negates the strength difference completely!
Officer Greg puts it best right in the title cards of every show: "Nobody is coming. It's up to you."
And actually, the Batman angle makes sense, if you think about it. Batman needs criminals around in order to justify his existence. By allowing small businesses to be destroyed, it leaves the owners with no choice but to turn to crime.
Joker points that out in DC's "White Knight" comic where he reverts back to Jack Napier and runs for political office.
... And succeeds.
Man, it was nice that for just a COUPLE of years that DC actually knew how to write comics people liked and were doing better than Marvel. Too bad they embraced the "woke mentality" like Marvel has and decided to destroy their industry. No wonder American comics (DC/Marvel) are losing out to Manga and are seeing a massive drop in movie-projects.
"Perhaps Batman comics don't matter that much" Not anymore, they don't. Time was, they resonated with the culture, taking our values and exploring them in a way that kids could understand and learn from. This has been a systematic takedown of all institutions of influence in our country. The most vulnerable, most influential ones first. You could see them coming for science fiction's Hugo Awards. Then they came for computer games. Then each of the major pop culture brands, from Star Wars to Dr. Who. It would be absolutely fascinating to run a Palantir-type analysis on the people involved each of these offensives, to track commonalities.Show less
That is not my Batman. The REAL Batman wouldn't hesitate to knock them senseless. If not him, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, or Jason Todd Especially would be all over their them. These people are evil.Show less
0 notes
Text
Welcome to My World
Genre: Soulmate AU
Pairing: Jason Todd x Gender Neutral!Reader
Requested: Yes (REQUESTS ARE CLOSED, this was for my 1.5K follower celebration)
Word Count: 1.6K
Warnings: Swearing, slight angst, fluff
Description: You wind up in your favorite comic book character’s world and find out that he’s your soulmate. Jason Todd wants to know how you know his secret identity since he was in his Red Hood gear when you met, but your answer is the last thing he expected to hear.
Hey, are you all right?
Those five words were tattooed on your inner arm, the first words your soulmate would ever speak to you. Every time someone asked you that question you would tense up and respond waiting for their initial reaction as they realized who you were to them. But the response never came. The “Oh my God you’re my soulmate” never happened. And year after year that passed you felt like maybe you would never meet them.
You found solace in comics, in the stories of heroes, and wondering what it would be like to be their soulmate. Your favorite hero, or anti-hero you guess, would be Red Hood AKA Jason Todd. The BatFam comics were amongst some of your favorites and you devoured fanfics written about Jason. Silently you wished that he was your soulmate, maybe because it was easier than feeling disappointed time after time when someone else wasn’t your soulmate.
Then the strangest event occurred. You were walking home one afternoon from your shift and there was a blinding flash of light. At first, you had thought that maybe there had been some kind of explosion, or maybe you had died somehow and there really was a white light at the end. Then everything was dark and when you slowly opened your eyes you realized that you weren’t home anymore.
City buildings you didn’t recognize rose around you a police car with the letter GCPD written on the side whizzed by. Your heart felt like it had lodged itself in your throat and for a moment you thought that you really had died and maybe this was what the afterlife was like. You took stock of everything around you looking for anything that might give you a clue as to where you were and in the distance, you noticed another tall building.
It was a stereotypical skyscraper but written on it was Wayne Enterprises. You blinked and let out a startled laugh, “No way. No, no, no this isn’t real. This can’t be real.” The possibilities that you were dreaming flitted through your mind and you scrubbed your hands over your face as if you were trying to wake yourself up.
There was no way you could be in Gotham City.
“Hey, are you all right?” Those words. Those damn words.
Turning your head you saw him standing there, the red mask obscuring his face, the bat emblem on his chest. “Cool Jason Todd cosplay,” you managed to get out before your head began to swim and you began collapsing, the man before you rushing to catch you before your head could connect to the pavement.
“Shit,” he hissed. Then he hit the button for his comms, “Alfred, I’m bringing someone to the cave… uh, well I’ll explain when I get there.”
“Understood,” came Alfred’s response.
How did you know his name, and why the hell had you thought he was cosplaying himself? He didn’t have time for that now, and he also resisted the urge to check his arm where those very words were etched into his skin. Whoever you were, you were his soulmate. There was no doubting that.
He managed to get you to the cave in one piece and Alfred quickly checked you over and gave the all-clear. “It was probably shock,” he told Jason. “You said that they seemed confused, correct?”
Jason had his arms crossed over his chest and nodded, “Yeah, it was strange. It was like they had no idea where they were and they thought I was cosplaying.” He unfurled his arms and rolled up his sleep, “Whoever they are, they’re my soulmate.”
Alfred patted Jason’s shoulder, “Let’s wait until they wake up, and then we’ll get answers.”
Bruce and Dick entered the cave and saw you lying on the medical table, Jason standing over you looking pensive. “Jason what is this?” Bruce asked as he stepped closer to him and the stranger.
“They’re my soulmate,” Jason said calmly, his eyes still locked onto you, his mind racing. “Found them looking lost and confused tonight, and right before they passed out they said the magic words.”
Bruce’s eyes shifted from Jason to you, “Are they all right now?”
“Alfred said that it was probably just shock,” Jason finally looked at his adoptive father. “They knew who I was. Or at least they thought I was cosplaying myself.”
There was a moment of silence, “I got a call from Barry, he said there was some type of disturbance. A doorway opened between our earth and another, maybe that’s where they’re from. Maybe there they know who you are.”
“Maybe,” Jason didn’t want to jump to conclusions. “Anyhow I’ll get the answers we need when they wake.”
Bruce and Dick left him alone after that and he pulled a chair over to wait until you woke.
It was several hours later and when you woke up you were still in an unfamiliar place. You would have thought that you would have woken in your bed, proving that it had all been a dream. But it seemed that your subconscious wasn’t done with you yet. This time when you opened your eyes you were in a cave and then everything came crashing back down around you.
You were in Gotham. You had seen Red Hood. That must mean you were in the--
“Batcave, you’re in the Batcave,” the voice from earlier said, this time it wasn’t obscured by his helmet. When you glanced to your right you saw him sitting there. Jason Todd in the flesh. “You and I need to have a little discussion. Soulmate to soulmate.”
You let out a ragged breath, “You’re my soulmate?”
He pulled up his sleeve to reveal the words you had spoken to him right before passing out. “How did you know who I was? You asked if I was cosplaying Jason Todd specifically, not Red Hood. How did you know?”
Of course, that would be one of his first questions. All vigilantes were super secretive with their identities, wanting to protect themselves. Bruce Wayne was one of the ones that was super protective of his. “You don’t exist,” you blurted out. “I don’t know how I got here, but where I’m from you’re a fictional character.”
Jason was quiet for a moment, “All right, let’s say I believe you on that and where you’re from I don’t exist as a living, breathing person. How did you get here?”
“There was a flash of light,” you explained, wanting desperately for him to trust you. “The next thing I know I’m standing on the street here in Gotham and you’re coming up to me asking me if I’m okay. I didn’t expect any of this. Do you know how I’m here?”
There was a moment of hesitation, “Barry Allen called, do you know who he is?” You nodded, Barry was the Flash of course you knew that. “He said there was an anomaly, a doorway from your earth opened and brought you here to mine.”
“So this isn’t some weird dream? I didn’t die or anything like that?”
He chuckled, “No, there’s a scientific explanation behind it.” He chewed on the inside of his cheek for a moment, “Do you want to go back to your earth?”
Did you?
I mean you had just found your freaking soulmate. The person you had been hoping to find since the words had appeared on your arm. Of course, there was a catch and he belonged to a whole other earth. And let’s not forget that he happened to be one of your favorite fictional characters of all time.
“Is it okay if I don’t know?” You asked cautiously.
He nodded, “Yeah, it’s all right. I know this is a lot to digest.”
You blew out a breath, “This is so not how I saw meeting my soulmate going.”
“It’s not how I saw mine going either,” he offered you a smile. Then stood and said, “Let me formally introduce myself, I’m Jason Peter Todd, your soulmate.”
“Y/N Y/L/N,” you told him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Y/N.” And you swore you could have melted at the tender way he said your name.
He took you to a room in the manor where you could sleep and Alfred offered to go out and get some clothes for you since you were left wearing what you had at work. You were grateful for them all and how friendly they were treating you despite the fact that you were a literal stranger. Jason stayed with you and asked you questions about your earth and what he was like in the comics that you had read about him.
You talked for hours until you fell asleep beside him, your head resting on his shoulder.
You spent weeks in Gotham with Jason, learning all there was to learn about the city and its inhabitants and about your soulmate. Jason was patient and understanding and never pressured you into telling him if you wanted to go home or not.
“Jay?” You said one evening as the two of you were lying in bed, he was reading a book and you were on his phone playing some games. He stopped reading and looked over at you to see what you wanted. “I want to stay here with you, I don’t want to go home.”
The smile that he gave you nearly made your heart stop, “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” you said quietly, smiling back at him. “I don’t think I could ever leave you, and it’s not because you’re my favorite character or even my soulmate. It’s just because I love spending time with you. I love your family and this city despite its flaws. And I just want to stay here forever.”
He placed a finger under your chin and tilted your head up slightly, “I would love nothing more than for you to stay with me.”
“Good,” you leaned forward and brushed your lips against his, feeling happiness blooming throughout you at the thought of spending the rest of your life here with Jason.
#Jason Todd x Reader#Jason Todd x Reader fluff#Jason Todd x Reader angst#Jason Todd#Jason Todd fanfic#Jason Todd fanfiction#Jason Todd fluff#Jason Todd angst#Requested
458 notes
·
View notes
Text
"you were missed, you know.” the voice is light, balancing on the edge of airy like a coin on its rim, in a way only careful practice yielded. so jason whirls around, faster than he normally would in a neatly-pressed suit and loose dress shoes.
there’s a woman, close cropped red hair swinging into her face and pulling at the corners of her mouth until her expression is as severe as her form. there’s a scar on her jaw and, oh, the memory tumbles into his head as if pushed. kate kane, proof that vigilantism is genetic, once tugged jason into into her side and pulled him away from a particularly leering investor at function. the bite of her nails on his skin was a thousand times sweeter than the man’s smile.
she smirks. “hi.”
“haven’t seen you in a while,” jason responds, attempting casual and instead tripping, falling into his crime lord persona, since he doesn’t know how else to interact with people when he’s jason peter todd-wayne.
“not since you died,” kate remarks and damn, right for the gullet. “you’ve grown up.”
jason shrugs, suddenly feeling thirteen years old again, suddenly feeling all of four feet, eight inches in the face of her candidness. “time’s funny like that.”
she eyes him carefully, trying to fish for the truth in what she believes is a lie wrapped in a careful quip. jason doesn’t blame her: he’s cultivated quite a reputation for himself. but he stripped the sarcasm from his words before he spoke them, and their rawness is shrouded in the bubbling champagne and crystal chandelier around them, but it’s no less present for anyone who knows how to peel the veil back.
“you were missed,” she repeats, satisfied with his answer. “not sure anyone’s told you that since you’ve come back. your family’s a stubborn bunch. i just wanted to make sure.”
“make sure i knew i was missed?” jason clarifies, feeling a little foolish, because dick wouldn’t beg to save his life but there were a few times that his words came close to pleas, and tim had made it clear how much he’d upheld the pedestal he’d put jason on, and alfred had actually told him that to his face.
but this was the first time he found himself truly believing those familiar words. he hadn’t known kate, not at all. and yet, she nodded, clapped him on the shoulder once, twice, then left, completely unaware of the pit of resentment she’d carved out of jason’s stomach and thrown on the ground until jason felt like he’d slip on it if he moved, if he breathed.
she didn’t look back, but jason’s eyes didn’t stop following her until she was out of sight.
*
"you were missed, you know.” jason doesn’t startle, his training is etched into every scar decorating his skin, and there are times that he grips and holds onto those scars like a lifeline. he’s far too practiced to flinch, but he’d be lying to himself if his heart didn’t skip a beat.
he forgave himself in the next second, though. cassandra cain could make men much more experienced than him recoil. she appeared soundlessly, and folded down beside him with a grace that jason hadn’t seen anywhere outside his family. the amount of space she left between them, the relaxed posture that left visible tension cording through her arms like pulling steel taffy, the tilt to her body that made jason automatically want to open his mouth and let his tumultuous thoughts come out as an oil spill: right now, cass had dick grayson’s brushtrokes all over her.
“dick put you up to this?”
cass shook her head, then bit her lip in a considering movement. jason wondered if he’d practiced, because bruce had long since broken that dangerous habit out of his children.
“i am still working on comfort. assurance,” she said, rifling through the words like flash cards, picking the most accurate ones. “i thought i’d practice.”
“oh? and why exactly do you think i need comfort.”
“i overheard your argument,” she admitted, “with bruce.”
“i didn’t think anyone was there.”
“i didn’t mean to,” she said. “sorry. but i heard what you said.”
jason scoffed. “prove me wrong. one step forward, two steps back with that dense motherfucker.”
“sign of protection,” cass said. “not distrust.”
out of everyone to say that to him, cass was probably the least likely. jason had thought she, of all people, would be on his side after he found the microchip in his helmet. she, of all people, would value independence after being owned for so long.
“by the time he found you, you were dead. and he missed you more than anything. he will never let that happen again.”
“oh yeah? privacy mean nothing to him? i know he’s crazy about this stuff but come on. there’s a limit.”
“you are not relying on him because of this.” cass stood up, stretching her back, though jason was sure she really didn’t have to. “he is relying on you. let him.”
*
“you were missed, you know.”
“what, speaking from personal experience? i ain’t you, west.” jason could feel the gentle thrum of electricity behind him, making his hair stand on edge. two steps backward, and he’d be pulled into that void, that black hole of energy, that swirling vortex of pure power condensed into something human-shaped.
except he wouldn’t. it was just wally. just dick’s best friend joining him outside on the balcony. jason didn’t know how dick and tim could stand to be around speedsters willingly, for fun.
“i mean, sort of,” wally shrugged. “but me and you had very different experiences.”
“yeah, west, i’m not sure who else has been stuck in the fucking speedforce.”
wally snorted, an if only you knew hidden in plain sight. jason decided he really didn’t want to know. “i mean there’s that,” the speedster concedes, “but also, everyone forgot i existed. that didn’t happen with you.”
“you sure about that?”
“hey,” wally eyed him, his eyes suddenly sharp. “don’t start that shit. i was erased from the memories of everyone i loved. you did nothing but stay in the memories of your family.”
“now i know we’re talking about two different things.”
“jason,” wally sighed, and the sheer exasperation pouring off him made jason want curl his fingers, bring them up for a swing, taste the bite of pain that would prick at his knuckles, nevermind the fact that wally would dodge anyway. “don’t do that.”
he turned to face the speedster, arms crossed deliberately over his chest. “where the hell do you get off acting like dick?”
“you’re more like dick than you realize,” wally said, “and i spent half my childhood dealing with his moods. actually, i still do.”
“do you have a point?” jason snapped, starting to get irritated. he wasn’t sure why. he’d spent his entire life one one end of a scale, dick grayson on the other. he’d always tipped his end down. this was the first time someone was telling him the scale was even.
“just because your family didn’t mourn the way you wanted them to,” wally said, “doesn’t mean they didn’t mourn you.”
“fuck you.”
“they loved you. and they missed you,” wally continues, steamrolling right over jason in a way most speedsters were prone to do. “there’s no minimum requirement for loss. no ‘if you didn’t do this, then you didn’t grieve me.’ that’s not even a situation, ever.”
“so that makes everything bruce did okay?” jason sputtered
“not at all. god knows i disagree with bruce on more things than i tolerate. but this is one thing you can’t fault him on.”
it wasn’t that easy, though. jason wanted to scream it at wally’s face, it wasn’t that easy. it wasn’t about whether bruce loved him enough,,,,except maybe it was. jason wanted bruce to have loved him enough to make a difference in gotham. jason wanted bruce to have missed him enough to change things, because change meant that bruce had been so hurt by his death that he refused to let it happen to anyone else again.
bruce had made a vow after his parents died. the fifteen year old inside jason was begging bruce why he hadn’t been afforded the same devotion. jason was his son.
“just something to think about,” wally said, then stepped backward, making to go inside where dick was calling him. “you were afforded the luxury of coming back with a place left empty in your family for you. you didn’t have to make it, like i did.”
“being dead, then coming back wrong isn’t a fucking luxury,” jason snarled.
with a shrug, wally turned, a little faster than the average human, lightning sparking at his heels as he left jason alone on the balcony. “depends on your definition of wrong.”
jason get therapy. please. also happy deathday
honestly i couldn’t decide whose side of the argument i was on, jason’s or wally’s.
tag list: @woahjaybird @birdy-bat-writes @anothertimdrakestan @screennamealreadyused @subtleappreciation @pricetagofficial @catxsnow @bikoncon @bonkybearjpeg @maplumebleue-blog-blog @sundownridge @thatsthewhump @xatanna-troy @red-hood-redemption
#scribbles from the swamp#jason todd#red hood#kate kane#batwoman#cassandra cain#black bat#batgirl#wally west#the flash#dc#jason todd headcanon#jason todd fic#red hood headcanon#red hood fic#kate kane headcanon#kate kane fic#batwoman headcanon#batwoman fic#cassandra cain headcanon#cassandra cain fic#black bat headcanon#batgirl headcanon#black bat fic#batgirl fic#wally west headcanon#wally west fic#the flash headcanon#the flash fic#dc headcanon
364 notes
·
View notes
Text
“My fake boyfriend is a billionaire ?!” - Bruce Wayne x Fem!Reader
Synopsis : After a few shitty weeks of everything going wrong, you somehow find yourself faking a relationship with the one and only Bruce Wayne.
That’s it. I did it. After 3 years posting stories on this platform, I finally succumb to one of the biggest fanfiction cliché of all time haha. The infamous fake boyfriend trope. And I really hope you will like it :
My masterlist : @ella-ravenwood-archives
__________________________________________________
The Gap Year of Disaster
Today, you were an utter mess, and you couldn’t care less.
You know, this kind of days where you wish you would just have stayed in bed ?
Where everything goes wrong and you just want to hide under your blanket and pretend you don't have any responsibilities ?
Well today…Today was most definitely this kind of day.
It was suppose to be your first day at an exciting new job and you were so psyched about it, that you hadn’t been able to sleep all night.
You finally fell into a deep slumber during the very early hours of the day, and…
Of course you woke up late ! You didn't have time to take a shower, or to do your make-up nicely or even to brush your hair. But worst of all you didn't have time to get coffee !
When you got out with your bike….it was pouring outside. Ah but of course, because when one thing goes wrong everything has to follow. Everything WILL go wrong. Murphy's law or some stupid things like that !
It's in those moments you wish you had a car ! Because when it rained in Gotham…It felt like Noah was ordered to built another ark !
So, sleep deprived, soaked, in a bad mood and looking like a mess, you managed, by some miracle, to arrive at your job on time.
Only to discover that this wasn’t at all what you were expecting. It was NOT what was promised to you, which was experience in an exciting workplace and a way to make the most of it.
Instead, it was a desk job where you ran errand for everyone. Amazing.
This was supposed to be your first try at “real life”, this was why you took that gap year from college.
“I want to find myself, find who I really am !” You told everyone around you, ignoring those who were negative and telling you you should finish your study first.
Now, as you were stuck in a tiny cubicle with an endless list of coffee orders you had to get for everyone else, you felt like maybe they were right, and that this wasn’t quite the way you were going to “find yourself”.
Then again, wasn’t it through hardship that this sort of things unlocked ? Wasn’t it with great determination and knowing how it was to struggle, that you were going to thrive ? That’s what they said in TED talks dedicated to “success”...
So far in your life, things had been rather normal. Not particularly easy, but not hard either. You grew up in a small town in New Jersey, no troubles on the horizon. You then moved to Gotham for college as you had a scholarship for Gotham’s University, and as you were about to start your third year you sort of questioned wether or not this was your path...
One of your favorite professor told you to maybe take a gap year. A few semesters off, to think things through. Taking advantage of it to do some soul searching and try to know what you really wanted and...It sounded wonderful !
That’s when you started to have job interviews in many different fields, and it took you three months to finally find something. Three very stressful months of wondering how long you could live off of your measly savings, and wether or not you’d have to move back in with your parents (anything but that !)...Not a very good start to that gap year for sure.
And when you landed what you thought was going to be a great job, things definitely were looking up ! Ah, but the fact that you were chosen while you had NO experience and such, should’ve been your first warning that this was too good to be true.
You were trying to stay positive though. Maybe it was only for the first day ? Maybe their coffee person was sick or something ? It’d get more interesting later ? Yes. Yes let’s keep a positive outlook on everything.
Except right now, as your entire morning was made of you walking up and down the building (the elevator was not working, but of course), to the coffee shop at the corner of the street, and bringing back orders for people, you didn’t feel in the mood to try and stay cheery.
And the worst in all that ? You didn't even get ONE cup for yourself…This “real life” thing was not starting very well.
And so here you were, during your lunch break, looking like a mess, bag under your eyes and still wet from the rain (your trips up and down the street for coffee runs not helping drying yourself off), your morale at its lowest..And…
"That'll be 3 dollars and 50 cents for the large latte with triple espresso shot, m'am."
Catastrophe.
Proof that things could ALWAYS get worst.
As you were looking through your bag, you couldn't find your wallet !
Did you leave it at home ?! Maybe.
People at your work gave you the money to buy them coffee (and not a single tips, bunch of cheapskates). And you didn’t notice you were missing that oh so essential part of your daily life...Your credit card. Or any type of money.
Damn it !
“Um, excuse me miss, that’s 3,50 please ?”
“Oh yes yes, um, you know what I just-”
“Here, miss, you dropped this.”
As you were about to explain that in fact, you didn’t need coffee (even if when you asked for it you might’ve mentioned it being a question of “life or death”), too embarrass to admit you didn’t have the money to buy it, a...very handsome man handed you a twenty dollars bill.
You were a hundred percent sure this wasn’t yours. You never carry lose cash like this. A quick look to his kind deep blue eyes, and soft smile, and you realize...
Oh. Great. A total (very handsome) stranger took pity of you.
You probably looked even worst than you felt. You were about to say this was a mistake, but before you could, he gave the bill to the barista, and left with a last smile to you, taking his own cup of coffee away with him.
Damn. You didn’t have time to say “thank you”. He vanished as fast as he appeared, disappearing in the crowd of the busy coffee shop.
“Here’s your change, m’am.”
“Ah you know what ? Keep it buddy. Thanks for the coffee.”
“Wow, thanks !”
You were pretty sure that barista never had such a big tip, and it oddly made you feel better, to make someone else’s day like that. Your grandma did always say that you found true joy from helping others...
Oh, yeah, ok, you just helped someone out, why was the universe so angry at you ?!
As you turned around and started to leave, almost at the exist of the shop, mood a little better after this nice encounter with a (again, handsome) stranger, and the barista, you see him.
Him. One of the reason you sort of decided to take a gap year.
Him.
Your ex-boyfriend, Eric, who cheated on you with your friend Monica. Needless to say, it wasn’t a good memory. And you hadn’t seen neither him nor her since you left college, especially not since you heard they actually got together.
Your FRIEND. With your BOYFRIEND. And it went on for a while, before you finally discovered it (that day was as shitty as today...).
Oh. And of course Eric wasn’t alone. She, was there too. The one you thought was your friend, and who stabbed you in the back like that. Both of them discarding you like a dirty old sock.
Great. Really. Awesome. This day was going from “bad” to “please kill me.”
“(Y/N) !”
He looks surprised to see you, although also a little pleased. And it makes you want to punch him in the face. You don’t care if it’s because he wished things ended another way, they both betrayed your truth and then never even tried to talk to you again afterward.
You’re not sure you would’ve forgave them, but at least, it would’ve shown they still cared about you in a way. Nobody chooses who they’re going to fall in love with (that, you’d soon discover for yourself). But she was your best friend. And he was with you for over a year.
She’s a little more awkward than him, and smiles, clearly embarrassed. You always knew she was a bit of a coward, if she wasn’t, she would’ve face you, right ?
And that’s when it happened. The decision that would forever change your life.
In this great moment filled with despair and awkwardness.
From the corner of your eyes, you saw that nice stranger who paid for your coffee. The handsome one. He didn’t leave the shop, but instead went to seat at a table that was a little further away than the rest of them.
His eyes were glued to his phone, and you thought : “Well, fuck it, all this can’t get any worst right ?”
You were sort of hoping that, since he had been nice with you once and offered you those twenty dollars without knowing you (although you were very aware it was probably just pity), maybe he could help again ?
Maybe it was the fatigue, the fact you were getting sadder and sadder, that you had a terrible day, and that you just saw two people you loved and who threw you away like you meant nothing (oh but not before being super fake to you, pretending they WEREN’T cheating behind your back)...maybe it was a combination of all of that, that made you act crazy.
But here you found yourself, sitting at that stranger’s table, and saying, as he looked up from his phone clearly surprised :
“How are you guys ? As you can see, I’m great.”
You don’t dare to look at the handsome stranger, and hope he’ll be too stunned to say anything, and you can make your ex-friend and ex-boyfriend feel embarrass enough they’ll leave quickly. But then Monica says something that makes your heart skip multiple beats :
“You...You know Bruce Wayne ?!”
You turn to the man who gracefully paid for your coffee, and your eyes go wide. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. How did you NOT recognize him ?! Of course. Chiseled face, beautiful blue eyes, a suit that was definitely worth your entire year’s salary, a very charming aura...
Your hazy mind full of “fuck this day” didn’t register that THE Bruce Wayne, was the one who helped you out. How did you miss that ? His face had been plastered everywhere in Gotham for the past year, since he came back to the city, in fact.
You hear yourself wish with all your might to be struck by lightning this instant, as the two assholes who hurt you so much are looking at you expectantly and are not about to live (of course, they just met celebrity BRUCE WAYNE !! Could someone be as unlucky as you were today ?!)
And that’s when you hear a chuckle, a beautiful deep chuckle, and finally turn to look at Bruce. He smiles at you, and takes your hand, saying :
“Honey, who are your friends ?”
Your brain go full “ERROR 404″, not quite able to grasp the fact that THE Bruce Wayne just ran with what you were trying to do. How ? How was this possible ? You initially went to sit with him in the hope that Eric and Monica would see you were totally ok and with a hot date, not quite sure still yet how you ever thought this was a good idea and...
It was turning out alright ?!
HOW ?!
“Oh um, I’m..Eric. And this is my gir...This is Monica.”
What a piece of shit. Not even brave enough to call her his “girlfriend” when he cheated on you with her for months and months. You glare at him, unable to stop this gut reaction.
And that’s something Bruce caught.
In fact, as soon as you sat down, avoiding looking at him and nervously looking at those two people, Bruce sort of knew you were in an uncomfortable situation. One that made you take an irrational decision.
And oh, he didn’t like the look Eric and Monica gave you. Like they felt superior as they caught you in a bad moment. Bruce hated, people who thought they were superior to others...
And you clearly seemed in distress and in need of help so...He ran with it.
Bruce had to pretend to be someone he wasn’t enough that it felt natural, to run along with what your hazy mind thought was a good idea.
“Nice to meet you, are you friends with-”
Damn it. He realized he didn’t know your name. Quick thinking saved him, and he managed to keep his tone even, as to hide his hesitation :
“My love ?”
His hand around yours felt warm and reassuring, and you still couldn’t believe that, not only a total stranger, but THE Bruce Wayne was helping you out like that. Especially after you had such a bad day.
Him calling you his “love” made your exes feel very awkward, and they shake their head “no”, suddenly pretending they’re very busy and have to meet up with someone. They leave the coffee shop, clearly stunned, whispering things to each others that you knew were probably : “how did she get a guy like him ?!”
You can’t help but glare at them some more...But then your hand feels cold again, and you realize Bruce let go off it. Well. Duh. Of course he would.
You turn to him, your feature softening, and say :
“Are you an angel ?”
Ah yes. Your defense mechanism. “Humor”.
He chuckles, and says :
“Well, I’m afraid not. My butler would think this is very funny. But thank you.”
Awkwardly, you rub your neck, your free hand nervously turning your cup of coffee clockwise in your palm. You don’t really know how to end this, what : “thanks for that” and leave ?
“Thanks for the coffee. And for um...Saving my ass, just there.”
He smiles, and wow hello white teeth and charming dimples ?!
“You’re very welcome. They looked like they were jerks.”
“Haha oh you have no idea.”
“Glad I could help.”
“Thanks again. Really. This means a lot, especially since we don’t know each others. Well, I know you. Everyone in Gotham does haha. And ok I’m going to leave now, my lunch break is almost over and I don’t want to make this even more awkward.”
You start to rise up, but he holds you back by catching your sleeve, and says :
“Actually miss…?”
“(Y/L/N). (Y/N) (Y/L/N).”
“Miss (Y/L/N), you are kind of saving my life right now.”
“…I am ?”
A flash blinds you. Not a lightning, a camera flash. You turn, just in time to see a guy hastily hiding a camera and running away.
“What the...”
“A paparazzi. Good timing, for once.”
“Huh ?”
You wish you had some witty come back, or would just know what to say. But you’re confused. And this has been a really weird day.
“I am sorry if this will seem forward, or like I helped you wanting something in exchange. But I promise I will make it worth your while if you just sit back down and listen to me for a few minutes.”
You sit back down. More because you’re unsure your leg can still support you in this moment, than because he asked you to. With a smile he continues :
“Thank you. So. Let me explain a little, and again, sorry if this is too forward. If you don’t want to help of course, I would understand. I’m about to ask you something rather odd, I guess. And I’ll clear things up with paparazzis. I also promise I did not help you with your “friends”-”
“They’re not my friends.”
“I figured that much. And I promise I didn’t help you with them and ran with whatever you were trying, just so I could ask you this.”
“Ask me what ?”
“Well, you see…it’s arranged marriage season.”
“What ?”
“Every year, every single rich family try to make me marry their single daughters. It’s a very tiring season, but I’ve never been able to avoid it…I thought about having a fake fiancee before but could never find the right person.”
What he says does not register with you. His clear proposal doesn’t hit your brain. And you just stare at him, waiting for him to keep going. But he doesn’t, and by the way he looks at you, you slowly starts to understand where he’s getting at.
You gasp, now pretty sure this is all a dream (or a nightmare) and say :
“And I’m the right person ?”
“Well, yes. You seem to be a...“normal” person.”
“…Thanks.”
“In that case it’s good. It’s very good. It means that if I’m dating you, a woman that has nothing to bring me, then it must be true love.”
“Wow, stop with the flatteries already mister Wayne, I can’t handle it…”
Ah, your slight wits are back. Good sign that you’re regaining your senses. Everything that happened in the last ten minutes still feel like a bad dream, but you’re back in reality now.
“No no no, I didn’t mean it in a demeaning way ! But it’s just, you’re not rich, and you’re not famous or have political ties. You’re just a regular person. So they won’t think I’m trying to trick them, even if I am, do you know what I mean ?”
“Gotcha. My broke ass person cannot bring you any value, so it must be love and not just an arranged thing they can break. Cool.”
There’s a slight silence. And you find it a little fun, to play a little bit with the famous Bruce Wayne. He seemed so confident and cocky on TV, you never thought you’d be able to make him look so guilty.
“I’m sorry if I offended you.”
He says, clearly meaning it. But you shake your head and smile at him (and oh why does he feel his heart tightening slightly at your smile ?), and reassure him instantly (you feel a little bad, actually, to mess with him while he did just really do a huge favor to you while he had no obligations to) :
“Haha, just messin’ around with ya Mster Wayne. I’m not bothered by it, it’s the truth. I’m really broke, and I don’t think you could find more “regular” than me right now. So, and because you really did save my ass from an extremely displeasing experience back there. And also because you allowed me to see those assholes’ face of surprise and “how did she manage that ?!”, tell me more about your plan, and let’s see if I can help you back.”
And so Bruce starts to explain to you how, every year, this beginning of Fall is the worst time ever, as it’s a moment where everyone seems to want to marry off their daughter. And of course, Bruce Wayne is a good “party”.
The plan was fairly simple. You’d fake a relationship with him, so he could avoid all of this, and in exchange...Well. You’d gain a lot in exchange.
This is how you started to really feel like you had fallen into a “romcom” by accident...You and Bruce, became an actual living trope.
************
“And then when the “marrying season” is done, you can break it off.”
“I ?”
“Well yes, I can assure you you’ll gain quite a rep if you break up with me haha.”
You raise an eyebrow, unsure you like that sort-of overly confident side of him. But you can see something behind his eyes, like a slight unsureness as he looks back at you, trying to see if you’ll agree or not.
“I don’t really need a “reputation”.”
Breaking up with THE Bruce Wayne himself. For sure people would talk about it a lot, and maybe it would help open some doors for you ? But you felt a little odd taking advantage of this like that.
Seeing that he hadn’t convinced you quite yet, he adds :
“Of course, I will pay you.”
What kind of Pretty Woman sort of nonsense was this ?! You were about to protest when he added, realizing how he sounded :
“I mean, you ARE doing me a great service. You ARE going to have to act, you know ? An...actual job ? And I will be honest with you, it won’t be easy, to find yourself in the public eye. I think it definitely justify a salary.”
Put that way, you had to admit that, well, yeah it sort of did. Especially since you knew how crazy tabloids were about Bruce Wayne. Becoming his “girlfriend” would definitely put you on the front lines.
“And it would truly help me tremendously.”
Your grandma always said it : “True joy comes out from helping others !” So. What if you benefit from it a little ? If it helps you financially, and you can get a little network out of it ? First rule of Alchemy (what a weeb) : “equivalent exchange” ! Plus, he did really help you with your coffee, but also with Eric and Monica so...
And hey, this gap year was meant to help you find what and who you wanted to be. Help you go through this little twenty-something crisis. And this ? Living a literal romantic comedy cliche by faking being someone’s girlfriend ? Well, it definitely felt like the kind of adventure that could help you figure things out.
With a smile, you finally nod and shake his hand, not knowing quite yet in which mess you actually put yourself into...
Briefing.
Like every “secret mission”, this one too needed a “briefing”.
A little meeting to put all the rules down, and the goals too.
And here you were, feeling very out of place in a huge conference room in the biggest and tallest building in Gotham : “Wayne Tower”.
The concierge stared at you for a very long time, when you said you were there to see Mister Wayne. No “nobody” like you ever called for his boss.
Suspicious, as it was his job, he called security on you...Until it was finally cleared up that you DID have a meeting with Bruce Wayne !
Both the concierge, and the security guys, stared at you as you left to take the elevators they indicated to you, wondering who the hell had the kind of credentials to go all the way up there to see their boss ?! They didn’t recognize you from anywhere, not a model, not a famous politician or CEO, just...A regular person ?
That was odd. And they noticed, it was odd. Which you assumed was what Bruce was aiming for, but it felt so awkward, to walk through this huge hall under their scrutiny.
You finally arrived on the right floor, and oh look, some more staring.
From his secretary, this time. She was used to see women coming to see her boss. But they’d usually wear Prada, and have plunging necklines full of pearls and fanciness. They weren’t...like you.
You felt like it was easy, to know that you were just a “normal” person. You were definitely not wearing any designer clothes, and you were pretty sure the way you carried yourself made you super obvious.
Hence all the staring. You could clearly see in her eyes, that she was wondering who the hell you were...
She had her answer when Bruce came out of his office, and made a gesture as if he was going to throw his arm around your waist, and kiss you (which made you downright panic). But then, he looked awkwardly at his secretary, and instead just shook your hand.
Something that DID NOT go unnoticed by his secretary.
You saw how her eyes widen, and how she clearly hitched to take her phone out and call everyone...and you realized Bruce did this awkward thing because he knew his secretary, and her tendency to be a little gossipy.
You’d discover later, in fact, that he hired her entirely because he knew if he said something, she would pick up on it and it would help him control rumors and such. Clever.
For the moment though, he took you to a large conference room with huge windows.
“I’m sorry for the weird “hello” back there, I wanted Shirley to think I was embarrassed to display affection to you in front of her. Usually, I do not mind at all. So doing it would make her think that-”
“I’m someone special to you.”
“Exactly !”
He smiles widely as you understood his plan (not sure how you felt about it, then again, that’s why you were here for, making sure you knew where both of you stood in all this), and then tells you he’ll be back in a few minutes.
You have time to feel anxious and stressed before he finally comes back.
“Sorry for the wait.”
“Oh no, I bet you’re a busy man.”
“Yes well. Anyway. Let’s get to it shall we ?”
“Yes.”
“Ok. So. I thought we’d settle sort of a little contract, so neither of us ever feel uncomfortable ?”
“Sounds good, mister Wayne.”
“Yes well first, please call me Bruce.”
“Only if you call me (Y/N).”
Oh and you two were still on the path of “romcom cliches”, with this conversation. He smiles, nods, and continues :
“Ok, then I thought we could-”
And so your fake relationship started, with some little ground rules. Like he could only kiss you after you gave him permission, if you ever felt overwhelmed everything would be called off, etc etc.
Most rules were in your favor, to be honest. And WOW the paycheck he was going to give you for this little farce...Hey, maybe this gap year was finally gonna get interesting ?
Meeting the Little Buddy.
It was sort of necessary. By then, Dick had been his son, officially, for a few months. He wasn’t calling him “dad” yet (and Bruce didn’t particularly want him to, at the time...ah but everything change one day, right ?), but they were already family.
And it was a needed step.
It wasn’t in the little “contract” you made, and honestly you could’ve refused to meet him but...Well, you liked kids. In another life, it felt like you could’ve been a teacher (A/N : AH, like in this story ;) : “Can you be my dad’s girlfriend, please ?” ).
And you’d feel awkward, to fake a relationship and not ever meet his boy.
The first time he saw you, it was at the Wayne Tower, and his eyes widened as he exclaimed :
“Wow you’re so pretty ! Are you Bruce’s girlfriend ? You’re too good for him, you know.”
You could feel your heart melt, how adorable this little guy was, right ? You chuckled, and almost full on laughed as you saw how vexed Bruce was by the comment.
Not that he thought he was too good for you, no, he was just a little unhappy his son was stealing the show, and thought he couldn’t land someone like you...Oh but that, you couldn’t guess at the time, of course.
“Nice to meet you, Dick. I’m (Y/N). And...I’m not really his girlfriend.”
“Can you be mine then ?”
You laugh again. You and Bruce had decided to tell him the truth, Bruce assuring you that kid was good at pretending too. You answer :
“No, I’m saving him from marriage proposal.”
“Oooooh !”
Good at pretending. Dick had no idea what you were on about, but he was very good at acting as if he knew.
It’s only way later, that he finally got it. By then, he already accepted you as : “his dad’s girlfriend”, and even knowing the truth, there was no way to change his mind. And to be honest, out of everyone, little Dick Grayson was probably the most aware of what the situation truly was.
He had a knack, to notice how people felt.
A “family” outing.
Two months in, and it was going GREAT. Faking a relationship was actually pretty easy. All you had to do was hanging out with him (and he was very nice to hang out with), and when a paparazzi was around, quickly kiss his cheek, or hold his hand, or let him put his hand in your hair...All those cute things new couples do.
Today was one such small date.
You could see Bruce was nervous, though.
After hanging around with him that many times, you started to know him a little better. Started to know he wasn’t really that persona he portrayed publicly.
He was actually quite a dork. What a pity, nobody else would ever know his real self...Yet, it made you happy you were one of the few in on the secret.
“Ok, out with it mister, what’s up ?”
He looks at you with such surprise in his eyes, as if it was the first time someone guessed what he was feeling...and, well, yes. It was. It was the first time someone who wasn’t Alfred got it. Someone realized something was on his mind. And asked him about it, didn't just ignore and move on. Actually cared to know.
“I-Um...”
“Well ? Come on, I think literally nothing can surprise me by now, given you know, I’m faking a relationship with a billionaire, and it’s like, my job now.”
He smiles, and he couldn't possibly know how soft his look was, as he gazed at you.
“I...well, people don’t quite believe in us because-”
“WHAT ?! With all the “dates” and kisses and lovey dovey shit we did ?!”
He chuckles at your reaction, loving how honest you always were, and adds :
“The problem apparently is that you weren’t seen with my son yet, so many don’t believe we’re serious.”
“Oh...”
You met Dick. Because it felt like a necessary step to yours and Bruce’s scheme. And you knew he knew this was all fake...But neither of you wanted to confuse the boy in any way so he was kept mostly out of the plan.
“I talked to him, and it’s actually really up to wether you’re comfortable with it or not. I know he wasn’t part of our contract, and I should’ve probably thought about it, I’m sorry. But um...If you’re ok with it, we could..Do things with him, too ?”
Bruce is really nervous; And you’re pretty sure no one but you (and maybe Alfred) ever saw him like that. It’s kind of...sweet. But you let the silence linger for too long and he hurries to say :
“You really don’t have to ! It’s ok if they don’t think we’re that serious and I get some proposals. I can manage ! You’re still a great help right now. It was just an idea. Dick is a very social kid, he would go along with anything and loves to do activities outside. He would be fine. But if you’re not then we can-”
“No. No no it’s...It’s ok Bruce. The few time I saw him, Dick did seem absolutely a peach to be around. And I always have fun with you, so sure, let’s organize a little something and show those bastards we’re totally real.”
You chuckle a little, your smile and carefree face making his heart skip a beat, for some reasons...Bruce also decided to ignore how happy it made him, to know you were always glad to be with him, and instead, he smiled and settled a date.
************
And here you were. In one of Gotham’s biggest park, opening a basket full of delicious sandwiches made by the one and only Alfred. Pretending to have a great family outing.
“Hey, hey look !”
Dick was absolutely amazing, at acting as if you were really a thing. As if you were really a “family”. Right now, he was doing flips and cartwheels, demanding your attention with avidity.
Bruce made sure to always hide his face from pictures (he was GREAT at noticing where paparazzis were hiding, a life of practice, you assumed), as he wanted to keep as much as he could his son’s privacy (especially after he made all the headlines when he lost his parents).
It was quite adorable. And...You were really having fun.
Dick was such a lively kid, and he was full of talents. The food was good, and it was so comfortable around Bruce. It felt so natural.
This wasn't all that bad. To fake being a family. A good use of your gap year, really.
You purposefully decided to ignore the glint in the boy’s eyes. The way you sort of suspected for him, this was getting real, and not only pretend.
You and Bruce purposefully ignored it, actually. And you both felt shitty for it. Because not only were you risking to break that little boy’s heart when it was all over but...It was too hard to accept that maybe, maybe he was right.
And that all of this ? Might’ve not been as fake as you’d love to repeat yourself.
First Official outing.
First gala. You were terrified. So far all you had to do was hang out with Bruce in the afternoon, there and there. It mainly consisted in him buying you coffee, and keeping the addiction to caffeine real, while talking about anything that would come to your mind. The conversations between you two was always fluid and pleasant.
Or you’d go out with him and Dick, to do some fun things like mini-golf or catching a movie. Nothing too big and scary. It was mainly just you guys, no one else.
It seemed like he knew where the paparazzis would be (most likely because he was “anonymously” tipping them off himself), and he’d take you on random short dates when he had time in between his work, slowly fueling the rumors Bruce was not a heart to steal anymore.
And that he was dating a “commoner” ! (He hated this name for you, while you really didn’t mind that much).
And this gala, was what made it completely official. Finally. It was your idea, to take things “slow”, and hang out with him and his son BEFORE hanging out in public areas like this.
It was clever, really. To make it seems like you were trying to “hide” your relationship by being low-key, to then finally announce everything in public like that, at such an event.
Bruce went to get a drink for the both of you, and you were looking around you, horrified at the mere idea that someone would come talk to you.
But for some reasons, nobody seemed to dare. Maybe Bruce made sure that people would leave you alone ? Even as if you were clearly the talk of the evening, all eyes on you, and not even trying to be subtle ?
You knew he did the same with little Dickie. That he made sure he was safe from the paparazzi and that no unsolicited journalist would come around him.
Thinking of it, where was the little one ? Usually, according to Bruce, whenever there was a gala he would spend his entire time near the food table, eating as much as he could, and he would come home feeling nauseous because of it...Haha sounded like Dick alright. That kid was so-
Oh oh.
Who was that sleazy looking gal talking to him ? He seemed so uncomfortable, yet too polite to brush her off...Oh no, she wasn’t one of them, was she ?
Without thinking twice about it, wether it was your place to do what you were about to do or not, you resolutely walked towards them.
“-Think it’s because he relates to you ? As both of you lost your parents in horrific situations, you know ?”
“I-I don’t know m’am.”
When you saw Dick’s distressed face, and his eyes slowly filling with tears, there was no doubt in your mind.
This woman was not supposed to be there, and was definitely not supposed to talk to that child...
This woman was a - shiver of disgust- tabloid journalist.
Your blood boiled as you saw her take a picture of the teary eyed Dickie, and you were standing protectively in front of him before you could even think about it. When you felt the boy clutch to your sleeve, hiding behind you and holding on for dear life, you knew you wouldn’t regret it.
“Can I ask you why you’re talking to that boy, please ?”
“What, it’s illegal to talk to fellow guests now ?”
“Lady, you’re well in your thirties. He’s eight. You have no right talking to him. Not only is it weird, but I know what you’re doing.”
“Oh, and pray tell, what am I doing, lovey ?”
“You’re trying to get a story out of him. And you should be ashamed of yourself. He’s eight ! And from what I heard, you were asking some very disgusting things back there !”
“I-”
“Shut up.”
Your words came out harsh and determined, and the woman was so shocked she stayed silent for a while. You crouch down to Dick’s level, and ask :
“Are you ok, my little buddy ?”
He nods weakly, and then burst into tears as he launches himself in your arms, clinging to you tightly. You turn your head towards the woman, glaring at her so fiercely she doesn’t dare to take a picture of the scene, even as she knows she could sell them for a golden price.
“You should be ashamed of yourself. He’s just a child !”
The woman was about to say something else, something you knew would fuel your anger further, when Bruce arrived, and it was clear from his face that he was not happy.
A quick look to you holding his crying son in your arms, and to the lady with the camera in her hands, and he understand what happened. With a cold voice you never heard him use before, he says :
“I suggest you leave the area now, before I force you to.”
There was something almost scary, in his demeanor. Almost like...No. Impossible. In any case, you didn’t worry about it much, drawing soothing circles with your hand on Dick’s back, trying to calm him.
People around quickly stopped staring as they met Bruce’s assassin glare. It was not secret, that he was very protective of his son. And of his new girlfriend, apparently.
You picked the little boy in your arms (Dick, at the time, was still so tiny), and Bruce comes closer, trying to soothe him too. And it really looked like all this was real...
Dick fell asleep in Bruce’s arms shortly after that, and was still there when it was time for the gala official pictures. Not wanting to wake him up, for once, Bruce allowed people to photograph the boy, as long as they did not frame his face.
He laid his free hand on the small of your back, and just like you got used to those past months, you pretend to be head over heels for him and have one of your own arm around his waist.
“Would you please allow me to kiss you on the cheek, for the cameras ?”
His question is so sweet, softly whispered in your ears. And you felt like a tease tonight, and maybe a little tipsy too. You tell him :
“On the cheek only ? Let’s give them a show no ? Let them forget about what happened with Dick.”
Of course, you’re only joking, but there’s a light in Bruce’s eyes you haven’t seen before and...It disappears quickly. He chuckles, of that low chuckles that would charm anyone in the world, and says :
“I don’t want to force you to do anything you wouldn’t want to. Actually kissing me, I realize, might be too much.”
You know he caught on your joke, but you can’t brush off that light in his eyes that ignited when you suggested to kiss him...You don’t know why, and it feels you’re not controlling your own words, as you hear yourself say :
“Oh because kissing you would be such a horrible thing wouldn’t it ? Oh my, you’re only one of the handsomest man in Gotham, a rather attractive fella, how could I handle kissing you ? So disgusting !”
Your tone is teasing, and a little bit challenging. He catches on that, too. He answers :
“But I am merely here to serve. I will do as you wish. You only have to say the words.”
His smile fills your vision. His face. And the way he softly holds your waist, even as his other arms is carrying his son (the man was BUILT). And you think...Well, fuck it ! It was time for the first (fake) kiss, right ?
Right here, in front of the cameras, where everyone was seeing you. Making it go full circle. Making it “official”.
“Kiss me then, if you dare.”
You simply say. Releasing a breath you were unaware you were keeping in. And he feels his heart squeeze, and as if he’s sweating a bit. When was the last time he was nervous about kissing a woman ?
He couldn’t remember.
And then he kisses you, the flashes of cameras slowly fading away as his lips melt onto yours.
Wow. What a perfect, and nice, first kiss.
As fake as it might be.
Your room.
Your room at Wayne Manor was bigger than your entire apartment.
You and Bruce decided that sometimes, so you wouldn’t raise any suspicion, you’d sleep at the Manor. Paparazzi were so on top of everything, it would seem weird if he was in a “committed relationship” and you never slept at his place.
So Alfred settled a room for you.
Oh. Alfred ! You met him not long ago, and he was the best !
It felt like he could magically guess what you wanted when you wanted it, and magically appeared with that warm cup of tea you craved, or that meal you’ve been thinking about all day.
But beyond that, he was genuinely nice and made sure to make you as comfortable as possible. He showed you around, and his conversation was so pleasant !
You could actually see a lot of Bruce in him. Or, rather, it was evident that Alfred had raised Bruce most of his life, because they had a lot of similar mannerism, and were both kind and caring (Ah, imagine if Superman knew what you thought of Bruce, how crazy it’d sound to him eh ? But of course, that you’d discover way WAY later).
You never went to explore much when it was time to go to bed, too afraid to get lost. This place was huge, and you never quite had a good sense of orientation.
One could only wonder, what would you have discovered if you ever dared to wake up during the night, and explore his home ?
Build a Bear.
Sometimes, Bruce really had to wrack his brain for original date ideas. Ever since he came back to Gotham, his dating days consist of pretending to sleep with every model in the World.
He’d take them to fashion shows, to galas, to charity events...All very public places, unsuitable for a “serious” relationship like he was hoping to make yours and his pass for.
Enter : Clever little Dickiebird, who always had an idea (and who might’ve been the best wingman someone like the Batman needed...that, of course, he’d discover it way, WAY later) :
“You can take her to a build a bear !”
“Build...a bear ?”
“Yeah, you know. You go and you make your own teddy bear !”
“I do know, I took you to get Chester - the name of Dick’s favorite plushie toy now, and maybe with which he slept-. But...For a date ?”
“What ? It’s cute and intimate !”
“Huh ?”
It has been a long time, since Alfred Pennyworth had to hold his laughter in that hard, and try to stay impeccably neutral. And there, faced with his master Bruce, who was known as the “ultimate womanizer”, the “perfect playboy”, and who was currently taking advice from his eight years old son...It was really hard to keep a straight face.
It was also incredibly adorable. Especially how Bruce seemed to genuinely listen to the little one, unaware that he seemed actually way too interested for things just to be for his “fake relationship” to be more convincing.
Not that Alfred was going to tell Bruce anything.
“Dick, you know (Y/N) isn’t really my girlfriend, right ?”
The way the boy talked about taking you to a date, felt to Bruce like he was forgetting this was all fake. And it was important to remind him.
But Dick had to invoke all the efforts in the world to not roll his eyes as to say : “sure she isn’t”, by now, it was oh so obvious to everyone but you and Bruce that there was a very real thing forming between you two.
Instead, he said :
“But you’re suppose to make the public really believe it right ? If you take her to build a bear, I can assure you they will think you guys are the real deal.”
Bruce pondered this for a little bit, and realized that his son was right. It did seem like a cute and intimate date to bring your girl to, even if she was your fake girl...
Ah. Bruce forgot his own words. “Dick is great at pretending.” He is. He really is. Just like right now, he was pretending his idea was completely innocent, while he knew it would bring you two ever so closer.
That whenever you’d see those bears you were going to build in your home, you’d think of one another. And remember fondly of the memory.
And oh. Oh that boy was right.
Your bear was sitting proudly on your couch, and every time you saw it, you remembered how clumsy Bruce had been, filling his own bear up. And how cute he was, carefully thinking of his options.
And every time Bruce saw his own bear, that Alfred, for some reason, settled in the Batcave on the “trophy shelves” (and for some reason Bruce didn’t take it off of it...), he couldn’t help but think how he had genuine fun that day.
Genuine fun, for the first time in what felt like ages. And how your smiling and giggling face didn’t seem to leave his mind, whenever he saw that bear...
Conniving traitors.
“We both agree, he’s in love with her right ? He’s just too dense to realize it.”
“Oh yes, young Master Richard, he definitely is. And he is dense, at times.”
“Should we do anything ?”
“No more than what you’re already doing.”
“Which is ?”
“Which is continuing to push them in the...Right direction.”
“Oh ! I get it ! I’ll keep going Al’!”
“And I’m sure you’ll make miracles, young master.”
Dick’s smile to the old butler was so pure and happy, that Alfred had a hard time keeping his composure once again.
And oh. Oh how he wish they were right, and that his Master Bruce would FINALLY allow himself to be happy...
Rumors and Truth
Bruce was just a tiny bit older than you. 24, according to his wikipedia page.
And you couldn't help but be a little jealous, as you were looking at the page to re-enroll yourself in Gotham’s university, knowing he was done with college.
Then again, he was obviously a genius and would’ve been done faster than you anyway, even if you were the same age, since he finished his PhD just the year before, while most people don't even START their doctorate until they're around 23/24.
Mmmm. Made you think. Was this just yet another rumors about the man ?
Maybe not, after all it was proven he started college at age 14, and in Ivy Leagues ones, all across the world.
From Cambridge, to Oxford, without forgetting La Sorbonne (A/N : by the way, this is canon haha, Bruce really did start college that early and went to many different places, and honestly, is anyone surprised ?).
This wasn't really something you absolutely couldn't believe, compared to other crazy rumors about him. And you knew he WAS smart.
By then, you couldn't count how many things were circulating about him, and how hard it was to know the truth from just plain old rumors.
He had over a thousand lovers, he had MORE than one PhD (impossible, right ?), he had died once but survived somehow, he was part of a cult, he often lost his status as a billionaire because he gave so much money to charities and such, but his companies meddled in so many areas that his bank account was always filled more and more…
Honestly that last part didn't really surprise you. You saw him gave his money away to things he cared about (like education and medical care) without a second thoughts, so the fact he constantly oscillated between "billionaire" and "multi-millionaire" didn't really surprise you, not when you knew him like you did now.
You totally trusted the rumors that said that by now, he gave away more than he currently owned. It sounded like him alright…But how to know the truth from the downright crazy ? Did he really have a PhD or was this just an addition to how special and different Bruce Wayne was in Gotham ? What kind of PhD did he have anyway ? 1000 lovers, really ?!
So many questions. And not a lot of answers. Even if you grew closer (as friends, of course), Bruce was still somewhat of a mystery to you.
He never really tried to dismiss rumors, even the bad ones (unless they touched his son). Which made you wonder if they were true or not. And you really, really, for some reasons, wanted to know more about him...
“Is something the matter ?”
He asks. Oh goddamn you, day dreaming on one of your regular “coffee date”.
You shake your head, sipping on your drink and say :
“Was just thinking about...Tabloids.”
“Ah.”
He frowns. For understandable reasons.
“I was just thinking about wether some rumors were true or not.”
“What do you think is not true ?”
“I don’t really know, and you never really say a rumor is false so it’s hard to know.”
“Do you want to know anything in particular ?”
Bruce knows it’s dangerous, to let you enter his private life like that. There’s a reason, after all, why he never dismisses any rumors.
It helped build his fake persona, and take away any suspicions that he might be the infamous Batman.
But he felt weak, around you. As if he just wanted to please you, no matter what. Sometimes, he felt dangerously close to just tell you : “ask me anything and I’ll tell you the truth”, even if it meant revealing his night activities...
Crazy, right ?
He knew it was. And that he shouldn’t let it happen. Yet here he was, asking if you wanted to know something. Craving your attention. It felt so unlike him. But...You seemed to unlock a certain part of him.
The one that didn’t die with his parents, and remained hidden. The one that was the old little Bruce, full of hope, honesty and happiness. Full of wish for the future...Even if he knew there was none.
“How was college, for you ?”
You hear yourself asking, really wondering if it was true he was 14 when he started, and if it was...How different you guys were, right ? You were 21 right now, and taking a gap year after two years of college...When he was your age, he had already finished a master (or even maybe two).
"My college years were actually pretty boring, and unlike some rumors say, weren't particularly wild. I was really young."
"Ah, I heard the rumors."
"Those are true, I'm afraid haha."
"Afraid ? You're a genius !"
Which is why you found, more and more, his "himbo" persona to be odd. WHat was Bruce Wayne trying to hide ? Mmm…
Bruce recognized that look in your eyes. The look of someone who was onto something, and it was too frightening to let it happen. So he said :
"Yes well, I feel I missed a lot, during those years. Which is why I make it up now hahaha !"
His boisterous laughter seemed genuine, and totally fooled you. You couldn't always be on top of everything eh ? And this, did answer your question about his himbo persona…Oh, Bruce was good.
And he knew it. He trained for years, to make sure nobody would ever even suspect him to be Batman.
But he had to be careful with you. He knew it. It was obvious. You weren't that easy to fool…
The Day Batman saved you.
The fact he had to be careful with you was confirmed not long after. When, as Batman, he came to your rescue.
He should’ve known, that even with a voice changer, and a mask covering most his face, plus a demeanor that was completely different from his usual one, you’d still get suspicious...He should’ve known because he, by then, knew you quite well.
But, what ? Was he suppose to just let you get mugged ?
He couldn’t.
Even if in the grand scheme of things, it would’ve been better, and he would definitely intervene if it got too rough...He couldn’t.
He couldn’t bear the thought of you getting hurt, or feeling distressed.
He knew this was stupid. That he shouldn’t get so attached. That muggings weren’t really his area of expertise, that to stop them, he had to hit the big bosses. He knew. Small thugs weren’t his target. He had a much bigger vision. And rationally, he should be somewhere else right now.
Yet he couldn’t resolve himself to. Because, and that was a dangerous thought and feeling, he was in l-
“Why are we spying on your girlfriend ?”
Dick’s voice takes him out of his reveries, good. It WAS getting dangerous. Still keeping you in his field of vision (you were slowly going back to your apartment, a few minutes still, and he could leave to do other things knowing you were safe and sound in your home), he answered :
“We’re not spying on her, we’re making sure she’s safe. And she’s not my girlfriend, you know that.”
“Oh yeah ? We’ve been following your “totally not girlfriend” since the night started, awfully looks to me like we’re um, you know, stalking her.”
“We’re not.”
“Suuuuuuuuuure.”
Bruce gives an annoyed look to his son, who had way too big a smug face right now, and says :
“The night is calm, if something comes up we’ll go. But right now, it’s alright. And it has been made official, that she and I are a couple.”
“Fake couple.”
“Fake one to us, not to the public eye.”
“Ooooooh !”
Connections were quickly made in the boy’s head, and he understood why they were following her. After all, this was Gotham. And if THE Bruce Wayne had ONE known lover...Well, it was easy to know it’d attract some nasty business.
Dick was about to make a smug remark of which he had a talent for, when it happened. He pointed at you, fear in his eyes, and Bruce focused your way again.
“Stay here.”
“What why ?! I wanna help her too !”
“Because she’s too smart not to put two and two if she sees you with me. She knows us in our day lives. She’ll recognize us for sure, if we’re together.”
“Oh...”
“Just stay still, ok ?”
“Ok.”
Without a second thought, Bruce jumped down in the street down below, under Dick’s worried eyes. If anything happened to you, he knew his dad would never be the same again.
And he knew he couldn’t bear to lose yet another person he cared about. Even loved. Yes. Yes Dick loved you, as if you really were part of his family...
The months of “faking” family outings made it so. Your worst fear happened. Dick was getting attached, hardcore. And he really hoped you and Bruce would figure out you were actually in love with each others before the end of your “contract”, and before his sometimes very dense dad would decide to let you go...
For now though, he was anxiously looking at Bruce making his way to you, after he spotted a suspicious group of men genuinely stalking you.
************
“Hey pretty girl, can we talk ?”
You stop in your track, turning around, cursing yourself for not having the instinct to just take off running. Oh. But you can see at least one of them has a gun. You can’t run faster than a bullet...
“Ah it is you, isn’t it ?”
You don’t answer, knowing what they mean. Bruce sort of warned you against this. But you didn't take his warnings seriously, and here you were, going home at night, something he definitely told you not to do.
You just couldn’t sleep that night, and needed a walk...And here you were.
“You’re gonna come nicely with us, right ?”
“I dont’ think so.”
Uh ? You’re pretty sure that weird robotic voice wasn’t yours. Even if that’s exactly what you wanted to say. And that’s...oh wow.
That’s when you see him. Batman.
Immediately, the atmosphere grow even tenser. And you can see the thugs who wanted to take you with them fearfully looking at him.
“This has nothing to do with you Batman, leave us alone, we didn’t do anything wrong !”
“It has everything to do with me. Leave.”
“We have to-You don’t understand. We have to take her to-”
“Nowhere. Leave.”
Even if he was protecting you, you had to admit that, that dude was frightening. He had his back to you, and even then, he looked so intimidating and tall and broad...
Bruce was tall and broad too. But he was soft and sweet, not scary at all.
“OH MY GOD LOOK OUT !!”
One of the thug had a gun pointed at Batman. Right at his head. He didn’t have the time to enforce his helmet yet, and if he shot around his mouth, he was done for...
A rock coming out of nowhere hit the thug right in the face.
Coming out of nowhere ? To you, maybe. But Bruce knew that this was little Dickie’s doing. “Robin always has Batman’s back”, he said often...
For the time being, the one taking his gun out being knocked out triggered a “fight or flight” reaction in the others, and as two took off running (and were mysteriously hit by rocks too, knocking them out), three decided to attack Batman.
Bad move.
Very bad move.
In a matter of second, it was over.
He turns to you, and it’s hard to discern any emotions with his lighted eyes and mask. He asks :
“Are you alright, (Y/N) ?”
“How-How do you know my name ?”
“Well, you’re Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend, right ?”
There was no hesitation in Bruce’s voice as, as soon as he pronounced your name, he knew he messed up...but he trained himself to think quickly. And this “fake” relationship was a perfect excuse, of course. Everyone in Gotham knew about you two, by now.
“Oh, right, ok.”
You seemed a bit disappointed, and Bruce couldn’t quite understand why...
It only hits him later, as he was going to bed, why you looked like that. And it made hi heart beat widely. Because he was pretty sure that it was because you sort of hoped Bruce talked to “Batman about you...Oh...Oh this was getting dangerous.
But of course, Bruce had a reputation to be the one funding Batman’s gadget (a really good cover for the fact he was actually Batman). So they’d know each others...
But right there and then, as he just saved you, you felt so stupid, hoping that Bruce would’ve talked to you to Batman. Why would he ? How the hell would your name even show up in a conversation between Bruce Wayne and Batman (but oh, if you knew you occupied his thoughts many times, and who he really was, maybe you’d feel less bad ? It was, in a way, Bruce talking about you to Batman, right ?).
You smiled weakly and shyly at this impressive being in front of you, and thanked him one more time. He nods, smiling too (oh ?), and bid you farewell.
Ah. But Bruce didn’t notice your eyes go wide, as he took off with his grappling hook, and you caught the side of his face in a certain light...
Fake ?
"You know, he smiles more when you’re around.”
Dick tells you once, you look at him curiously, as he continues :
“And before you say it’s “all pretend”, let me tell you there’s a difference between this smile and the fake one. Look, that’s how he pretend.”
On that note, he looked at you and smiled widely, exaggeratedly, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. And it was so like how Bruce portrayed himself in public, that it made you chuckle.
It also scared you a little.
Not because there was a possibility Bruce did smile more around you, but because as that little boy was being silly, and now imitating his adopted father further and oh so perfectly...You felt a surge of love for him.
And that wasn’t good.
Because the day, which was coming soon now, you’d have to “dump” Bruce Wayne, you wouldn’t be able to see that little one again...why would you ?
It’d be too weird, right ? Someone like you, once “broken up”, would have no reasons or ways to ever interact with billionaire Bruce Wayne or his son ever again.
That little boy was the sweetest child you ever met. He suffered a great loss so early in his life, and there he was, making you laugh and being nice by saying you made his dad genuinely smile.
It hurt, to know that one day, you wouldn’t see him again. That he’d grow up, and you wouldn’t know what he became.
You were sure he was destined to become a great man, and you wished you could see it...No. No this was bad. This was so bad.
“I mean it you know.”
His little voice brings your attention back to him.
“I think you make him happy. With you, it feels he can be himself. He laughs more, really laughs. And it’s often that he tells me “oh this makes me think of (Y/N)” and calls you. He doesn’t need to call you for the fake relationship thing, right ? Yet he does. That means something. I think he likes you.”
You shake your head, smiling at this little boy’s wild imagination. No way. No way was THE Bruce Wayne falling for you in any way. Were you guys becoming real friends ? Sure. But it definitely stopped there. Right ?
Oh but if only you knew Dick had a knack to see this kind of things, and to guess people’s real feelings. If only you knew, that yes, Bruce was starting to fall for you...It would make the next episode way less painful for you.
“Catch me dead before you catch me catching feelings” - You to yourself, a few days before starting a fake relationship with THE Bruce Wayne.
“Fuck you” - You to yourself, almost six months in faking a relationship with Bruce Wayne.
This was...bad.
Soon enough, you and Bruce will break this entire deal off, you will “dump” him, and you’d go on your separate ways. And...
This was bad.
Why ? WHY COULDN’T YOU JUST HANG OUT WITH THIS AMAZING CHARMING MAN AND THAT’S IT ? Why ? WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND CATCH....
Catch...
Catch those body shivering “feelings”.
Not just for Bruce though. But for the little buddy too.
You felt yourself fall for Bruce slowly, and as if it was completely out of your control. But you also felt like if Dick wasn't in your life anymore...You wouldn’t feel whole again. Like he was sort of your son, too, by then.
This was so bad. How did you get yourself in this mess ? What was that FIRST rule you gave yourself when all this started ?
Right, “Catch me dead before I catch feelings”. Damn it.
Thanks GOD the “marrying season” was finally coming to an end. Both you and Bruce settled you’d wait a few weeks after it to make your break-up official, so nobody would be tempted to cancel any wedding plans to try and force their daughter onto him.
And it couldn’t happen soon enough.
Being around him now, faking being in love, was torture to you.
Kissing him knowing he felt nothing. Holding his hand in public while you knew in your heart he was just putting a show still. And hanging out with him feeling that you had absolutely no chance of this ever evolving...
It hurt.
It hurt so bad.
And you were slowly hoping you never agreed to being his fake girlfriend. Being a living cliche, the money and the fame were REALLY not worth the heartache.
So not worth it...
The end...?
"Well mister Wayne, it has truly been a pleasure to be your "girlfriend" haha. Seriously, I had a lot of fun, and a little revenge on life. You know, I saw Eric and Monica not long ago. They tried to become my friends again, knowing I was with you. It was great, to ignore them like they ignored them. You’re right, they’re really not worth it. And honestly I still don’t think we’re even after they hurt me like they did but...In the end, they looked so outraged. Win-win, really. Thank you very much."
"Thank YOU, for playing along and doing more than you bargained for. You really saved me a lot of hassle and…I had fun, too."
Your taxi was pulling in front of the Manor, and honked as he parked. Clearly, not a very patient driver.
"Well, see you around, Bruce ! If you're not too busy, you know…I kinda consider you a friend by now ?"
"Me, too."
Bruce lied. A "friend" ? No, it couldn't cover and explain all his feelings for you. A "friend". How ridiculous.
As you walked away, giving him a last smile, Bruce felt a pang in his chest.
A painful and yet happy one. A longing one. One that told him that "friend" wasn't what he wanted to be…Not anymore…
But was there really a future for you and him ? Probably not. His nightly activities would get in the way. You deserve more than the life he could give you. Being his "fake" girlfriend, you only took part in his public matters. Part in a fake world full of nice things, that was far from his actual life.
"Friend", he wished he could be more to you than this.
But he knew.
He knew that for your own good, he had to stay away. And oh, oh how he wished he could be more than just your "friend" or "fake" boyfriend.
Yet he watched as you walked away. Without doing anything.
He watched you leave, and felt the hole in his heart expand a little more. But didn’t try to catch you, or stop you from leaving.
And your taxi was already far, now. On its way to Gotham.
"So you gonna run after her oooor…??"
Dick's little voice takes him out of his reveries.
“Mmm ?”
“(Y/N). Are you gonna run after her, or stand there looking like a sad puppy for the rest of your life ?”
“I do not look like a sad puppy.”
“Yes you do, and you know it. Come on dad, why are you doing this ?”
This was the first time Dick called him dad. Which didn’t go unnoticed to Bruce. It meant...It meant something was definitely happening. He felt it in his heart. Something that was dangerous. Oh so dangerous.
Hope. Like the “old Bruce” had. Hope. Full of it. Before his parents were murdered in front of him, for no reasons. Meaningless.
Hope.
To have a family again. Ah. But...Being with you was impossible. And Dick would be enough. He would. He was already enough...
“How long are ya gonna torture yourself exactly ?”
That boy was too smart for his own good. Bruce said :
“I’m not. I just...I can’t be with her.”
“I cAn’T bE wITh hEr !! ...Why ?!”
“You saw what happened, when it was made official we were together. She almost died.”
“And you saved her. Your point being ?”
“Dick...”
“Don’t -he takes a mock Bruce voice- “Dick” me mister ! You’re afraid to be happy, and I won’t have it. You gave me another chance to have a family. A dad. And I’m not about to let my dad punish himself for feeling good. You told me yourself my parents would like for me to be happy. Well yours would too, you big idiot ! So now, you listen to me.”
Dick, meaning business, jumps on the stairs’ bannister to sort of be on eye level with Bruce, and says, pointing his finger at him :
“You take one of those fancy useless sport car, and you run after her. Capish ?”
There’s a moment of silence. During which Bruce is unsure of what to do. And then...Then he smiles at his son.
His son.
“Capish”, he simply says, and he rushes towards the garage’s entrance, under Dick’s happy look.
Success.
Bruce’s car was leaving the estate, when Alfred joined Dick at the front door.
“You did it, Master Richard.”
“I hope I did !”
“Oh you did. You did. Thank you. Thank you for taking care of my son...”
Dick turned to Alfred, who couldn’t keep a straight face this time. Small tears gathered in the old man’s eyes, and sweet little Dick did not hesitate one second before jumping into his arms and giving him one of his famous “Grayson special” hug.
It’s real.
Back to square one.
You. A bad day. Looking like a mess (this time not because of the rain, but because you cried a lot). Your gap year almost over and still not knowing who you were. With no coffee, but at least, you had a tub of ice cream.
You already missed Bruce. And Dick. And Alfred.
You couldn’t believe those six months of “faking” would end up meaning so much to you, and feel so devastating as they ended.
You wish you had never met Bruce. And that you’d been ridiculed by Eric and Monica, that your life would still be pathetic...Pathetic maybe, but at least, your heart wasn’t completely shattered.
You don’t hear the hurried knocks on your door, at first. Entranced by your own sadness. It’s only when they become loud and insistant you react.
You really hope it’s not a journalist. They sort of tried to talk to you so many times, since you “dumped” Bruce...You knew he made sure that they’d stay away, but some were particularly persistent.
Including that awful woman from the charity, who was asking Dick those horrible questions. “Vicky Vale”, was her name, apparently. What a witch.
Clearly, the knocking wasn’t gonna go away, so you stood up, settled your tub of ice cream on your coffee table, and went to the door, ready to fight if need be.
But there was no need for fights.
At least, not in the literal sense of the term.
“Bruce ?”
He seems out of breath. Incredible, given how in shape he was. He doesn’t really leave you any time to say anything else, as he blurts out :
“I was wrong.”
He blurts out out of nowhere, and you’re even more confused. Before you could ask what was all this about, he adds :
“I was wrong. When I said you were the right person because you were “normal”. You’re everything, BUT “just a regular person”. You’re the most fantastic woman I’ve ever met. You decided to help a total stranger just because. I know I helped you before, but it doesn’t compare to what you did for me. Especially on a matter that seems so silly to me now. You put yourself in a very awkward position for someone you didn’t even know. In front of the public, for a guy like me. You knew I was a “playboy”, and that I could very well use you. Yet you still put up with it. You accepted my son, even as you didn’t have to. Even as, just like me, you are so young. You were nice to Dick, even if all you needed to do was pretend. You’re...You’re...You’re just something else entirely. It feels like you know me, the real me. Like you can read my very soul. Like you’re the only one for me. I’ve known for a long time. I ignored it because I was afraid of what that meant but...but a certain little one made me realize this was time. It’s time to move on. It’s time to allow myself to be happy. And so, here I am.”
Was this...it ? The point of your gap year ? To discover that finding yourself...Meant finding your soulmate ?
It sounded silly. While at the same time, not. Because you felt it. You felt it deep within you. From the moment Bruce handed you that twenty dollars bill, fate was in motion.
You meeting Eric and Monica wasn’t bad luck. It was the opposite. It was the Universe’s push towards your real Destiny.
Towards Bruce.
“You’re not saying anything. Is this bad ? Or does it mean I blew your mind away ? I’m clearly hoping for the latter...”
Over the months, you discovered how huge of a dork Bruce Wayne could be. Even as if there was often a darkness right behind his smiles. Deep within his eyes. You discovered he wasn’t always this cocky arrogant man he portrayed himself to be while in public. How he was actually pretty funny and oh so empathetic. How...How so many things, the list seemed endless in your mind.
And it only added to everything, that he looked so unsure. And so you smile. You just smile at him. And everything you feel is in that smile.
You don’t even realize you’re holding each others now, and that you’re kissing...
It’s not pretend this time.
A real first kiss.
Though maybe all your kisses until now weren’t as fake as you pretended them to be.
In any case, this, right now, is a real kiss alright.
A real one.
Full of all the pent up emotions. Free of all the fear and hurt you both felt as you realized you were in love with the other one, yet you thought things were all “fake”.
Because it wasn't fake. It wasn’t.
“I love you.”
You don’t know who said it first. You, or him. You felt so in sync, that it didn’t matter. What is sure, is that you both said it. Before you closed the door to your apartment, leading him in.
Before you spend the night in each other’s arms.
Bruce not even thinking about going out as Batman..
For the first time in years, he decided to fully embrace being happy.
“You always told me my parents would wish for me to be happy, well yours too !” Dick said. And oh, he was so right.
By the way, I’m Batman. Surprise.
“It’s not like I didn’t know, you know.”
“Huh ?”
Oh. Oh the delight to see that surprised expression on Bruce’s face. It was quite a rare one, really. And as he finally gathered the courage to tell you who he really was, risking losing you in the process but wanting to show you his full self...
It was particularly delightful.
“Busted you on that night you saved me. As if I wasn’t going to recognized that jawline.”
“Wait, really ? I really thought you bought my lies !”
“Well now, you know not to underestimate me.”
“I...Do.”
A natural smile reaches his face, and he approaches you, pulling you to him, and laying a soft kiss on your lips. Feeling fully accepted and loved, like never before. And he could see you-
“Oh NO EWWWWWW !!!”
You pull away from Bruce’s kiss (noticing his slow grumble, displeased to lose your warmth), and look at little Dickie (your son too, now !), staring at you two, looking disgusted.
“Get a ROOOOM !!”
This makes you laugh. A lot. And oh. Oh how would you ever guess, in that moment, that one day, this “get a room !!” said in such a disgusted tone would be the trademark of your children (SIX OF THEM) whenever they’d see you and Bruce display any sort of affection to one another ?
You couldn’t guess, of course. But even in that moment, as you softly laughed, in Bruce’s arms, while looking at your son now making exaggerated noises and acting silly, you knew this...
This was what you’ve been looking for during this gap year.
This was who you were.
Right there.
At the heart of a loving family, even if right now, it was just the three of you (four, let’s not forget Alfred !).
The end.
_________________________________________________
And here we are. I hope you liked it ? I feel particularly nervous about this one haha. Don’t hesitate to leave a little comment and reblog :), It’s always greatly appreciated, and encouraging :D. Thanks in advance, and see you soon with a new story !
#Bruce Wayne x reader#Batman x Reader#Batmom#Batfam x Reader#Batfam#Batfamily x Reader#Bruce Wayne imagine#Bruce Wayne#Batman#DC reader insert#Richard Grayson x Reader#Richard Grayson imagine#Batman imagine#Batman reader insert#Robin x reader#AU compare to main Batmom#Richard Grayson#fem!reader
1K notes
·
View notes
Text
PAIRING, BAGELS, REPEAT
— US AGAINST THE WORLD ; PART 4 / ?
( credits to @animusrox for this gif )
PAIRING: Bruce Wayne x reader
WORD COUNT: 2247 hot diggy dog
SUMMARY: You have a heart-to-heart conversation with one of your students before the play and you're hit with the realization that your love for Bruce may be more than meets the eye. hence, you’re starting to wonder if it was a mistake you can never fix.
A/N: This one’s long and kinda depressing. I’m in an angsty mood now whoops. Nevertheless, thank you for reading this series, the bagels will make its appearance and enjoy this one folks.
WARNINGS: Anxiety, depressing thoughts.
MASTERLIST ; MASTERPOST
The night of the show arrived quicker than you anticipated. The flurry of theatre kids rushing about backstage is quite the sight, feeling the incredible sense of pride of a mother for her children. Yet in prayer, you ask Mrs. Wilson for the gift of strength and ability to manage a bunch of highly-strung teenagers. It’s only Shakespeare after all but you knew that wasn’t the genuine nature behind their stage jitters. With all tickets sold out within a week, it has easily become the biggest event of the year aside from homecoming. It may be a little pretentious for a high school production of an over-performed Shakspeare play to emerge as the highlight of the year, but you know it will help with some of the students’ portfolios for acting school.
The clock ticks—thirty minutes before showtime and panic starts to creep.
Your fingertips dance along the selvage of the extensive drapery of the stage as lighting queues are being run through for the last time. The urge of curiosity lets you crack open the curtain as you peeked at the rest of the theatre. The bustling crowd made up of mostly teenagers with seats rapidly being filled, it’s certainly a sight for sore eyes. Amongst the settling audience, you spot Bruce, seated between Mr. Walken, the principal, and Mr. Huckleberry, the vice-principal, likely being shamelessly asked for donations. He looks engaged, but his posture and the gaze of his eyes tell a very different story—Bruce is barely listening to a word they’re saying.
He then turns in the direction of your hiding spot and despite the distance, he catches your eye, immediately recognizing it’s you spying from behind the curtains. You watch the curve of his lips turn up into more of a smirk, swiftly sending a wink your way. You instantly disappear behind the curtains, cheeks burning.
You sometimes find it hard to believe you’re sleeping with the man with no strings attached because you’re incredibly attracted to him.
Someday, you’ll burst out into an exaggerated love confession, and you know it’s going to be ugly. It’s a reality check and right now, it’s the last thing you want. Running away from your problems is more of a habit than a choice as you would rather live in the world your mind has created, where miracles are made and defects cease to exist. Anyone would trade the cruelties of reality for a perfect one yet getting too caught up in a daydream will eventually evolve into toxicity. Bruce orbits the very core of your problems and daydreams. You want to run away from him and allow yourself to be engulfed by his presence at the same time.
You just need...to breathe. Hence, the second dressing room has a weird stench to it. It’s a mess but it’s empty. Yet, it seems you aren’t the only one in need of space, away from everyone else. Shaniqua is seated at the far corner of the room on a crooked metal chair, dressed in a somewhat modernized version of an Elizabethan era dress. Very elaborate and theatrical. Despite her introverted character, she was constantly bright-eyed and keen during your classes. She had a drive like no other. Hell, she miraculously memorized all her lines in two days.
You’ve never seen a furrow of the girl’s brows, until now, and it worries you. Even her glitter-covered eyes could not conceal the dismay they portray with prominence. Gingerly, you made your way to her as she stared at her fidgeting hands. It was only when you settled on the opposite dusty old chair when she finally noticed your presence.
“Stage fright, huh?” you casually asked, resting your arm on the dressing table. She mirrors your posture, heaving a deep sigh, and shakes her head. “No, it’s just,” A pause, her gaze finds yours. You nod, flashing her a smile. It’s a simple gesture that you’re here to listen. “It’s about Oscar...” You catch a hint of a smile as she trailed off and in an instant, your brow raises with curiosity. Oh? Another beat of silence, her eyes dart around the room. You sit quietly with patience because you knew she had more to say.
“It’s just that doing this play has got me thinking a lot about my feelings. I mean, if Romeo and Juliet could be lovers, despite their feuding families, then it must be easy enough for me to admit that I like Oscar.”
“You have a point.” You chuckle, eyes crinkling with amusement. Sometimes she thinks too much for her own good. She reminds you of Bruce. Shaniqua flashes you a faint smile, lips pressed with doubt. “But why am I finding it so hard to just tell him that?”
You stayed silent for a moment or two, mind deep in thought. The chair creaks as you shift in your seat. “Well, could it be that you aren’t sure if he likes you back?”
A hum in response, shrugging coyly as she mumbled a ‘maybe’. Although it was clear as day to you that Oscar liked her back, you wondered if her doubts emerged due to their differences in character. The familiarity of the situation is beginning to feel a lot like deja vu.
“How do you know that someone is the one?” Her sudden question catches you off guard because, in all honesty, you aren’t confident if you knew the answer. A straightforward question, commonly seen in the pages of teenage magazines, written for innocent eyes. You knew its true nature and it terrifies you. The image of Bruce charges through your thoughts like rushing water, memories of times when the two of you were younger clouding your mind. You forcefully push back your university days, buried back deep into your conscience.
“I don’t exactly know the answer to that but in my opinion, it’s—it’s the feeling of completeness when you love them and know they love you. They may be different from you, but it doesn’t make you love them any less. There’s no conflict or strife; it’s just the two of you against the world.”
Those words were raw and genuine, carefully crafted directly from the heart. You weren’t surprised by your words because you’ve thought about it a lot, especially on nights you slept on Bruce’s bed. Maybe, you do love him, and that's a huge ass problem. It’s amazing how unexpected situations tend to encourage apprehension on large issues you never knew existed in the first place. Perhaps it was your astonishing lack of discernment when it came to matters that could potentially alter your life.
Tonight, a sixteen-year-old girl did just that.
Amid your growing anxiety, you manage to catch sight of the wall clock, hung on the other side of the room. It’s now eight minutes until showtime. Your eyes are now wide as you sprung up from your seat in the sudden realization that everyone should be at their respective positions two minutes ago. “Oh God, we’re running late. Shaniqua, word of advice—don’t end up regretting something you didn’t do,” You shoot her a pointed look, index finger stretching towards her. “Now, you really need to go, or we’ll have to delay and you know Mr. Walken hates waiting.”
-
It’s a quarter to nine, and the theatre is empty. Outside, the foyer and the hallways are buzzing with the remaining audience, lingering and sharing inane conversations as others wait for a car to take them home. You had only just finished rearranging the costumes in the wardrobe of the dressing room. You tried to sweep the scatter of glitter all over the floor but it deemed a task as impossible; you’ll deal with it next week.
You’re sitting in the seat at the front row, nearest to the aisle with a large box filled with props on your lap. Alone in transcendental silence, feeling as empty as the theatre itself. It was partly the conversation you had with Shaniqua that hit you with the reminder of all the mistakes you made that have led you to this unchanging world of a blur that takes the blame for the wretched feeling in your chest. Yet, as the show progressed, hearing the words of affection from two lovers had sent your mind reeling. You were desperate to head home, crawl into bed and potentially cry yourself to sleep but the growing anxiety forbids it, you don’t even think you could drive home.
So, you stillness of the theatre reminds you of Edward Hopper’s painting, Solitary Figure in a Theater. With eyes shut, you pretend you are the figure in the painting, sheathed in black, sitting alone in the cavernous dark.
You hear the door of the theatre squeak, swinging open followed by the shuffling of feet. You don’t look at first, too tired anyway. You’d assume someone had either forgotten something or it was the janitor that you’re sure is going to be upset over the glitter massacre in the dressing room. It looked like a crime scene, except it was the murder of a literal unicorn. You made a mental note to send an apology sandwich of some sorts next week.
It was the familiarity in the whiff of cologne that made you snap your eyes wide open, looking over your shoulder to meet with the sight of Bruce, ambling down the aisle towards you. He smiles, and you mirror him, shifting in your seat and nearly toppling the box to the ground. “What are you still doing here?” He smiles, and you mirror him, shifting in your seat and nearly toppling the box to the ground. “I could ask you the same question.” He settles in the seat next to you, elbow brushing against yours. Your head tilts, gesturing to the box. Bruce merely hums and nods thoughtfully.
“So, how was the play? Does it get a Wayne seal of approval?” There’s a hint of teasing in the curve of your lips as his eyes drift to the stage. “I liked it. The kids have talent.” Your eyes glint with amusement, your smile growing wider. “I never knew you were a fan of romance.” His laugh comes out more like a huff of air, crinkled eyes meeting yours, and nudges you lightly. “Well, now you know.”
He recognizes the way your smile doesn’t quite reach your eyes and the way you’re fussing with the edges of the box on your lap. Something is bothering you and he knows it. He nudges you once more. “Penny for your thoughts?”
You blink once. Then twice, face wincing instinctively. You keep forgetting how well Bruce can read people, especially you. You exhale slowly as he watches you struggle to pick the right words.
“It’s really nothing. It’s just-” you say after a long minute, cutting yourself short. Then, you turn to Bruce. “I’m growing older, and I’ve spent my entire life in a fog with so much fear for reality, I’m afraid it’s too late to fix all my mistakes and regrets.” Your voice dwindles with every word that escaped your lips. You were young, naïve with the notion that time was extensive to make decisions without thinking it through. To know that you could never take back the things you did. Saturn’s rising, it’s a wake-up call now that you’re older and the fear that you would never change creeps onto you with every passing birthday.
Bruce defines the epitome of the sinking feeling in your chest whenever you lay in bed at night and let your mind reel about your existence. Yet, it isn’t as simple as you want it to be. The boy you met at university has grown into a far more complex and entangled mess of the grief of his parents, the responsibility he held over this city and the drive to just...keep moving on. For the longest time, it was him against the world, and a part of you wants to believe that it doesn’t have to be that way. That maybe, you could be enough for him.
He glanced away from you, trying to hide the despondency in his eyes. He holds back a sigh as he speaks, “Do you regret us doing this?” As vague as his question is, you know what he exactly means. He remembers the time the two of you used to exchange senseless conversations and laughter so vividly that it scares him. Juvenile friends, lacking the knowledge to know what love really was. Hence, the agreement—it was just two friends, messing around. Nothing could go wrong. Now, the hole has been dug in too deep, with no way of getting out.
“I don’t,” you reply and with just two simple words, his chest feels like fire. It was the way you had said it, with so much confidence and assurance, despite the intricacy of this relationship. For the first time in a long time, you were extremely sure about an answer. You could never regret Bruce. Never.
It’s almost hesitant in the way his hand finds yours, but it represents his care for you, even if you may not know it. The warmth of his hand feels like fire. Hell, your chest feels like it’s on fire, heart burning for the man beside you. “I’ll drive you home,” he whispers with a squeeze of your hand. You flash him a grateful smile as the two of you drift into a comfortable silence. Silence so eloquent that you don’t feel so empty anymore. No longer a solitary figure trapped in a painting but now two, hand in hand, against the world.
TAGLIST
@raineeace
#bruce wayne x reader#bruce wayne#batman#batman x reader#justice league#batman imagine#bruce wayne imagine#pining bagels repeat
81 notes
·
View notes
Text
damirae week 2021
sunday, may 9th - soulmates & wedding/ honeymoon
title: you are my secret
summary: the universe wanted her to know his deepest secret, and even if it made things easier for her to find her soulmate, his secret came with heavier responsibilities than she could’ve expected. — Soulmates AU where they know each other’s secret.
Ao3
.
There are some secrets that do not permit themselves to be told.
— Edgar Allan Poe
His secret revealed itself to her like a wave that crashes against the shore— all at once, all too much.
It came in a dark nightmare, chasing her like a horrific, shadowy figure. She had tried to run, scream for help, even, but no sound came from her sore throat. There was no place where she could hide, no one who could save her, and eventually, she was captured in that thing’s tight grasp. Though she didn’t know what was happening, fighting it proved itself worthless, as her small body refused to move a muscle. An ominous force enveloped her surroundings, and she could no longer see or hear anything.
Something lurked in those shadows— something bizarre and surreal— and chills ran down her body as her small world suddenly grew silent. Might have been seconds or days, she didn’t know, but eventually, screams erupted in her ears. Her eyes widened, then, tears running down her face as a wave of emotions swept her off her feet. Raven was having an epiphany. An unannounced realization of the truth in its rawest form, and instantly, the world was not the same.
And it would never be again, no. Not anymore.
She woke up with her lungs begging the world for air, sweat soaking the covers and a heart ready to burst out of her chest. Her eyes were frantically scanning the room, her pupils still fighting to adjust to the dim light that came with the first rays of sun. Her body was shaking uncontrollably, and before she knew it, her eyes were brimming with burning tears that ran down her cold cheeks. It was the most tragic, yet bewildering moment of her young life, and though she could not deny the fear taking over her senses, her mind had never been that clear before. She had never been more alive.
So this is how it feels, she wondered. Her fingers ran through her messy, dark locks that were falling forward; and it was as if she could feel her brain pulsating under her touch. Adrenaline rushed through her veins and thousands of new thoughts were trying to find a place to settle inside her head.
Raven was confused, yes. Disoriented, even. However, at that moment— at that unique and special moment where a whole new world seemed to reveal itself to her— she was sure of one particular thing that would change everything.
She knew his secret. Finally, the cosmic forces that rule the universe have revealed his best-kept secret to a 16-year-old girl. She knew that Damian Wayne is the man behind the green mask and yellow cape.
He is Robin.
He is her soulmate.
Initially, the idea itself seemed to have been taken from one of her old fantasy books; where the world is dystopian and reality follows no rule whatsoever. She had to be dreaming. Hallucinating, even, but the information was solidified in her core as one of her most visceral memories. No matter how much she has tried to— and she really did try— not even her sharp mind could deny that new discovery. She tried not to freak out, but it was hard not to overthink when her entire lifestyle was about to be jeopardized because of that one secret that was revealed to her.
Raven was but a normal, high-school girl. She had plans to go to college after graduating, and she wished for nothing more than a tranquil life after that. Though she was already familiar with the universe’s rule regarding pairing people who are, supposedly, very compatible, having a soulmate or not has never really entered the equation of her future, especially since she was decided not to let her life be dictated by it. From the very beginning, she refused to believe fate could ever control her with trivial things such as love and understanding, and at some point in her life, the raven-haired girl was ready to do anything to prove her point.
She was ready to defy the forces responsible for selecting two random individuals to be each other’s soulmates.
She was ready to go as far as she had to, but eventually, once her teenage-ish years got behind her, and her insubordination gave place to more reasonable thoughts; Raven decided she could settle for a person who could make her smile every now and then. A person who could share with her a simple life, and eventually, a simple love.
And with or without Robin, Damian Wayne himself could never give her simple.
For as long as she can remember, he has been in the cover of the magazines with his father, Bruce Wayne. He’s the heir of one of the most successful companies in the world and the favorite target of many paparazzi because of his cold and reserved personality. His life has always been exposed to the world— or, apparently, just some of it— and she has always believed them to be complete opposites.
Their worlds were galaxies apart. He didn’t fit any of her expectations, and she was sure she didn’t fit his either. And even if sharing a secret was supposed to bring them closer, his secret identity has only served to distance them even further.
Could two people so different like them ever find common ground? She didn’t know, however; the deed was done. They were walking around, living their own lives while carrying each other’s secrets, and one day— if things worked out as they are supposed to— they were bound to meet and stay together for the rest of their lives.
They didn’t know how, where or when, but it was going to happen. The universe was going to make sure of it. Damian Wayne and Raven were bound to fall in love, just like that. And until their special day could come, she was decided to keep on living her life as she had originally planned to.
Oh, how foolish of her.
The longer it took for their paths to cross, the clearer it became for her that a secret such as Robin’s real identity came with certain responsibilities she had never really prepared for. Just by knowing it, Raven was already included in a very selected and powerful group of people, who had no idea about her mere existence, let alone her true intentions. If anyone did as much as suspect that she knew about his identity, chances were her head would be on the line and Batman would be the first to pay her a visit at night. She could get into trouble—real trouble— and even without wanting to, she would eventually end up dragging her loved ones with her.
Her family and friends didn’t deserve to suffer the consequences of her future love life. She didn’t, either, but that was never a matter up for discussion. Raven had to keep them safe at all costs, and that was why, once her high-school days were over, the girl didn’t think twice before leaving it all behind and moving to Gotham city on her own. It was a very hard decision, but it was the right one if she wanted to keep them safe. It had to be. Also, if she were to live in Gotham, she might get a chance to meet him and properly introduce herself as his soulmate.
Like that would be easy…
With her impeccable grades and remarkable school records, it was easy for her to get into Gotham College, where she began her English Major. It wasn’t her dream college— far from it— but it would have to do for the time being. She found herself an apartment, and for it was Gotham city, it was cheap enough for her to afford it on her own. It wasn’t located in a fine neighborhood or anywhere worthy of a Wayne, but according to the owner, no one had died in there, so perhaps, that was a win.
Once settled in, it didn’t take her long to get to know his city. Apart from its terrible fame, Raven eventually found some nice places spread around the city. There were good bakeries, small bookshops, and there was this one park that took her breath away. Whenever she had time, she would go there to think about life or just breathe a little.
Life in Gotham wasn’t as bad as she had originally expected it to be. After almost five years, her ears were almost used to the constant symphony of sirens, and not even the weirdos dressed as clowns robbing the bank at least once a month took her sleep away anymore. Her eyes shone a little brighter whenever she saw the dynamic duo on the cover of the newspapers, and she would be lying if she said that her heart didn’t grow worried whenever she saw a building on fire or something of the kind.
Perhaps that was their connection as soulmates making her think more about Damian. Or, perhaps, that was just a stupid reaction evoked by her own mind growing anxious. She couldn’t quite tell anymore.
After so many years without as much as an interaction, Raven was starting to grow weary. When she first thought about living in Gotham, she believed it would be just a matter of time until their paths crossed and she could tell him they were soulmates. She actually believed that meeting him would be easy, but eventually, the raven-haired girl realized that Damian Wayne was almost as unreachable as his father.
She has never seen him walking on the streets by himself. Whenever he’s out of his mansion, hordes of people surround him and setting an appointment at his father’s company is nearly impossible for a girl like her. According to his secretary, his agenda is already full until May 2034, and even then there will be no guarantee that Mr. Wayne will be able to meet her. He’s a very busy man, for sure.
Still, her name is on the list, just in case.
A defeated sigh escaped her lungs as she was making her way home from work one Friday night. It was winter, and Gotham is a particularly cold city. A black scarf was wrapped around her neck and her arms were hugging her body so she could get a little warmer. It had been one of those days, and she honestly just wanted to get home and drink a warm cup of tea.
Her heeled boots were clicking against the concrete sidewalk as she followed the masses of employees towards the subway station. All of those people, herself included, were on their way home after another long week of work, and as Gotham citizens, none of them wanted to take longer than necessary to reach their destination. Though not decreed by the mayor, the city was under constant curfew due to the elevated crime rates, and those who were smart enough didn’t dare put their luck to test.
The clock was about to strike 9:45pm and she was casually waiting for the train to arrive at the platform. Raven watched as at least 40 people surrounded her, most of them entertained by their cellphones, and she couldn’t help but close her amethyst eyes for a moment so she could take a deep breath. She was tired, cold, and her stomach was begging her to be fed. She really just wanted to get home and get this day over with.
Unfortunately, Two Face’s minions had other plans.
Once the train stopped and its automatic doors opened, at least 20 men, all armed, walked out, pointing their guns at everyone. People were startled, the tension in the atmosphere thick enough to be cut with a knife, and even if there was no hysteric reaction from anyone, it was as if she could hear the strangled screams wanting to call for help.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!” One of them started, showing off the gun in his hands. “I know you’re all dying to get home, but you’re not going anywhere until we’re finished with you.”
In all of those years she has been living in Gotham, that was the first time she was this close to real danger. Her eyes widened immediately, her heart skipping a beat as adrenaline started to kick in. There was a man at least 2 meters away from her, and if his finger did as much as slip, her brief life could come to an abrupt end. She was looking around the sea of people, and all Raven could see were hands being lifted in the air, but no one really trying to alert the authorities or call for help.
She swallowed dry, then, her mind focusing on the small girl all alone who was trembling in fear. Someone had to help them. Someone had to call the cops so they could take care of those bandits.
And apparently, that’s someone would be her.
Once she made up her mind, her icy fingers slowly reached for her coat’s right pocket and tried to get her cellphone without being noticed. Her heart was beating faster in fear of being discovered, but she didn’t stop. With her thumb, she pressed the main button, and even without seeing the device, she slid her finger to across the screen, hoping to have gained access so she could make an emergency call. She motioned her fingers to dial 911, and when she thought everything was going according to plan, one of the bandits looked at her, their eyes connecting, and she knew she had been caught.
“What do you have back there, doll?”
A smirk took over his smug face and her blood ran cold at the sight. Her lips trembled when he lifted his gun to point at her, and at that moment, she knew she was going to die. Her life was about to end and all because she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Great timing, Raven, she thought. Or, perhaps, it wasn’t really that bad.
When the man was about to pull the trigger, his gun was knocked over his hand by a flying projectile. He winced in pain, catching everyone by surprise, and before anyone could notice, more projectiles came flying towards the other men. Her eyes followed the sound of metal hitting the floor, and her heart skipped a beat when she recognized the batarangs lying motionless on the concrete. They were here, at last. Help had finally arrived.
Before a smoke screen suddenly exploded near them, Raven thought she had seen his pointy ears and dark cloak coming from the celling and punching the one who was probably the leader on the face. At that moment, the sea of people started to dissipate as they all ran for their lives, like a scared herd of buffalos. People bumped on her shoulders as they passed through her, yet, her feet still refused to move from the spot as her eyes captured a glimpse of his yellow cape jumping in front of her.
Damian, she thought, her heart skipping a beat.
Perhaps it was the thrill of finally seeing him so close, but she just couldn’t bring herself to find an escape route. Raven knew she should be running towards a safer place, but something inside her spoke louder than reason itself. She couldn’t convince her feet to move away no matter how much she tried to, and soon, she realized why. Coming from behind the train, a new bandit showed up, pulling a smaller gun from behind his back. He was quick to aim it at the Boy Wonder, but what followed made her feel as if the entire world was suddenly trapped in a slow-motion picture.
Her eyes saw the man aiming that gun towards him while he was still engaged in another fight. An unexplainable fear took over her senses, and before she could even think things through, her body was already moving on its on. The raven-haired girl was running towards his yellow figure as fast as she could, her arms extending as she got closer. A loud shot was heard by the time she shoved him away from the approaching bullet, and as her eyes closed in pure reflex, Raven felt an arm snake around her waist, right before her feet lost contact with the ground.
She was flying. Her eyes remained closed, but during that fraction of a second, she knew she was flying.
Did she take that shot?
Was she dead?
Who was going to feed her cat?
And what about Damian? Was he okay?
Raven didn’t know. Her head was filled with all of those unanswered questions by the time she had landed, but her eyes were still closed in pure fear. Her hands were covering her face, and she could feel tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
If she wasn’t dead yet, she was definitely going to pass out real soon. Her head was spinning, her knees were about to give in and she just couldn’t find anything around her to keep her consciousness from slipping away. She was about to collapse. She was going to—
“Hey, what the hell did you do that for? Are you insane?!”
A harsh voice invaded her ears, and suddenly, she felt two hands on her shoulders. Her eyes shot open in reflex, and much to her surprise, the first thing she saw was that green mask of his. Their faces were standing so close that she could see the expression lines deforming his tanned skin as he was probably glaring at her. A scowl decorated his thin lips, and only then she realized how tall he actually is as his body towered over hers.
It was him. It was Damian, right in front of her. At last, fate had brought them together, and apparently, he was mad at her.
“Why did you push me like that? You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” He continued, her lips parting in awe. “Are you even listening to me!?”
“I-I…” She mumbled, her head still mixing all the words. “You were going to get shot. I thought— “
“I saw that guy back there. I was not going to get shot.” He released her shoulders, and she felt sparks running down her skin at the lack of contact. “Seriously, civilians these days. They think they can be heroes.”
“Hey, I was trying to help, okay!?” She answered, growing slightly irritated at his arrogance.
“Help? How? By getting killed? Thanks, I don’t need your help.”
“God, you’re such a jerk! Next time I’ll let you take that stupid shot!”
“I was not going to get shot!” He pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. “TT, whatever. I need to go back and help Batman. Get out of here and try not to get into any more trouble by saving strangers, okay?”
“I— What—?”
Her lips stumbled upon the words as she watched him turn around so he could return to the battlefield. All the anger that was taking over her disappeared and was replaced by a longing feeling she had never felt before. The cape that adorned his back swung as he walked away, her emotions growing anxious at the scene.
He was leaving. Damian was going back to his impenetrable world, and he didn’t even know her name. After almost 5 years, that was their first interaction, and however troubled it had been, it was still the only thing they had. Raven couldn’t let that chance slip away from her fingers, no. Not after everything she went through to meet him.
She bit her lower lip, then, but eventually, her eyes were filled with a confidence she didn’t know she possessed. She filled her lungs with fresh air and took a step towards him. “Robin, stop! I need to tell you something.”
“Not gonna happen.” He stated, not bothering to turn to face her. “I have a job to do and—”
“Damian, wait!”
His name rolled out of her tongue and she watched as his shoulder tensed. The world around them went mute, her chest tightening in response. His feet came to a stop, and slowly, he turned to face her once more. Raven could feel his eyes glaring at her with enough intensity to tear a hole in her skull, but she was decided not to back off. “What did you just say?”
“I-I… I know who you are.”
“You’re delusional.” He said, trying to deny her words. “You must have mistaken me for—“
“Damian, I know it’s you.” She spoke, confidently. “I know your secret. I’ve known it for almost 5 years now.”
His hands turned into fists, and in a blink of an eye, he walked back towards her. A mix of anger and bewilderment exhaled from him, and she could hear his heavy breaths moving his chest. His hands were once more on her shoulders, his grip tighter than last time in order to prevent her from escaping. “Who are you? Who told you about my identity?”
“You can call me Raven…” She started, her amethyst eyes on him. Though she knew he could end her life if he wanted to, she was not afraid. No of him. “And over five years ago, I’ve received your secret in a dream. I believe you also know a secret of mine.”
His grip on her loosened a bit, as if he was taken aback by her words. If anything, Damian is a very intelligent man, and at that moment, he certainly knew the meaning behind her words. He knew she was his soulmate. However, she didn’t know what he would do about that.
“Shit.” He mumbled, quickly taking his hands off her. She saw his eyes squinting as he observed her, his hands turning back into fists. “This shouldn’t be happening right now.”
“I know. I didn’t mean to follow you here or anything, but—“
“You have to go, Raven.”
“What?”
“Get out of here. Now!” He commanded, his voice not leaving any space for discussion.
“But Damian, I—“
“Don’t call me that!” He scolded her. “Get out of here and go home. I need to get back there and help Batman.”
“And what about us!? I can’t leave and wait for another miracle to bring us together. I know you have things to do, but we need to do something about this! Don’t push me away!”
“I’m not pushing you away, Raven! I—“
“Yes, you are! I’m not going anywhere! Not until—“
���Will you just shut up?!” Suddenly, she felt his hands pulling her closer by her coat, and in a rough move, he sealed her cold lips with his warm ones. Her heart was racing inside her chest, her mind spiraling as she tried to understand what on earth was going on.
Damian was kissing her. That or he just wanted her to stop talking, really. Still, their lips were touching and as something inside her lit up, it was as if all of that anxiety gave in. Her breath was caught up in her throat, and all the words she had planned on using to prove her point were now completely forgotten.
“Can’t you see I’m trying to protect you?!” He pulled away, his hands still clutching her coat. His cheeks were tinged in a light shade of red, as he continued to scold her. She could feel his grip loosening, and slowly, he bit his lower lip. “Just find somewhere safe, Raven… I’ll find you again, I promise.”
His voice came out as a tender whisper, knocking down whatever was left of her previous bravery. Her entire body was growing warmer, now, and even if she had been afraid of letting him go, Raven knew she should follow his words and seek shelter somewhere. He was going to find her once everything was over, he told her, and oddly enough, she knew she could trust him.
A weak nod was all she could give him at that moment, but it proved itself enough for him. He nodded back, and after holding onto her stare for a second longer, Robin turned away and ran back to where the fight was happening. She watched him as he disappeared in the distance, and though she didn’t want to see him go, her warm heart didn’t break.
He was coming back for her; she knew it. He would find her again.
And until then, Raven was going to wait for him.
Once she recovered from all the things that had happened, the raven-haired girl looked away and started to run towards the exit of the subway station. She didn’t look back nor did she doubt his words, instead; she ran away, looking for a place to hide.
———————
Waiting for him, she discovered, was a lot easier now that they had something palpable connecting them. The days went by faster. Soon, winter melted into spring, and for the first time in her life, the flowers seemed more colorful than before. The weather was warm, birds were chirping, and Gotham city seemed to welcome the sun into its dark streets.
Her world had changed after that day. It was only natural, she knew, now that she had finally met the person she was destined to be with for the rest of her life. It was weird and unsettling, at first, but she came to terms with it after she had time to sleep on it and demystify a thing or two about finally meeting her soulmate.
The first and most important thing: she was not in love with him. At least, not yet. Meeting her soulmate for the first time didn’t make her fall in love with him at first sight like some people like to say. It didn’t change her life as much as she had expected it to, and if she were to be honest, Raven was quite happy about it.
She wanted to understand why they were so compatible before giving in to fate. She wanted to understand him without anything clouding her thoughts, and she wanted him to do the same about her.
Above all, Raven wanted them to have a choice. And if they ended up choosing each other, well, then they would think about what that meant later.
For now, as she rested her elbows against the metal rail that offered her a clean view of the lake, she was just focusing on enjoying her Sunday off. There was a book inside her bag, and she was decided to read a couple of chapters before heading home and getting ready for another week of work.
Just another ordinary day, or so she thought, until he arrived.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw as the young man walked towards her, his hands hidden inside the pockets of his hood. His hair was darker than hers, skin tanner and eyes colored in an emerald green. He stood still, some good 11 inches separating them, and though his face was hidden, she knew it was him.
At last, he had found her.
“You know, you’re not the easiest person to track, Roth.” He started, his voice calm as the wind brushed his cheeks. He was looking at the lake in front of them, and unlike last time, he seemed to be at peace. “Certainly took me longer than I expected.”
“Well, I guess that’s a good thing about being a nobody, right? There are a lot of people like me out there.”
“Maybe.” He sighed, his head now turning to face her as she did the same. “Still, I’m a pretty good detective.”
“With a very good self-esteem, too.” She offered him a small smile, to which he simple smirked.
A moment of silence took over them, as both of the young adults allowed that pure moment to sink in. There was no rush or anxiety lacing their feelings at that moment, much to their contentment, for they could absorb every minor detail of what would be the beginning of the rest of their lives.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone about my secret identity?” He asked, honestly, and her brows furrowed in awe.
In all of those years that she has held onto his secret, never once has Raven considered the idea of telling anyone about it. It was illogical. Irresponsible, even. Had she spoken to the world about who’s the man behind the green mask, his life would’ve been ruined in levels she could never imagine. It could get him killed. And if anything, she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
“It was never mine to tell. I could never reveal your secret, Damian.” She spoke, simply, and a smile threatened to tug at his lips.
“Fair enough.” He nodded, letting out a long sigh. “If it helps, I didn’t tell anyone about your secret, either. Though I doubt anyone would be interested to know there was a girl out there who’s afraid of popping balloons.”
A sincere chuckle escaped the depths of her core, and that alone brought a smile to his face. Of all the secrets she holds, that one childish thing was the one chosen to be revealed to him. The forces of the universe certainly weren’t kind to him, even if that was probably not a common fear out there. Still, there were definitely more people who were afraid of popping balloons than fighting crime as Batman’s iconic sidekick. His secret made him unique.
His secret has brought them together.
“I guess not even your detective skills could help you on that, right?”
“It would’ve taken me a lot of time if I were to use just that information, but I’m sure I would’ve found you.”
“Oh, and how can you be so sure?”
“I just know it. We were bound to meet, anyway, so there’s no point in debating how.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She agreed, not wanting to press on useless matters. They were together now, and that was all she cared about.
“Also, after that day, even in the middle of that crowd, I saw you first. I didn’t really understand why at first, but I guess it has something to do with this thing.”
“Probably. I know little myself, to be honest. Thought that when I found you, things would make a little more sense.”
“And how’s that going so far?”
“Honestly?” She asked, tilting her head to the right, her short hair brushing her cheeks. “I still have no freaking clue of what to do next.”
“That makes two of us, then.” He sighed, leaning forward and resting his arms over the metal rail. His hood was still covering his head, and even if she knew better, Damian looked like a normal guy at that moment. He didn’t look like the son of Bruce Wayne, let alone Batman’s partner.
At that moment, he was just a normal guy talking to a normal girl about normal things. And for a reason she couldn’t quite understand, that brought her peace. Perhaps they weren’t so different, after all.
Perhaps they could even make it work.
A tender smile took over her lips, and slowly, she took a step closer to him. Raven extended her hand towards him, and her eyes watched as he quirked an eyebrow in confusion. “Why don’t we start from the beginning, then? I know you’ve skipped a few steps when you kissed me the other night, but… Whatever. I’m Rachel, but you can call me Raven.”
His eyes watched her for a moment too long, and it was as if she could see the wheels turning inside his head. Eventually, though, a sly smile took over his lips, and he reached out for her hand. His hand was calloused, but his touch was warm; and together, they shook hands. “Damian. Nice to meet you, Raven.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Damian.”
There was really no telling what would happen, or even if anything would happen at all. Still, at that moment, both of them were ready to try it. They already knew each other’s secrets so, perhaps, they could try to learn another thing or two.
fin.
-----------
a/n: I had this idea while browsing Pinterest for some Soulmate AU ideas and I LOVED writing it! Honestly, this is my very first soulmate AU ever and I really enjoyed playing with this weird scenario. It’s by far the one theme I loved the most to write, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it! Please, tell me what you think!
88 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Lost Girl
Chapter 13
series Masterlist
Masterlist
sorry that is haven't updated in like a year....enjoy :)
"Did you get anything from him. Besides a cold shoulder." Tony asked squeezing his head into the crack of my door.
"Actually Tony He was pretty warm to me. He gave me what I asked for no hesitation even gave me stuff on my father." Tony looked shocked.
"Do you know who they are have you read what he gave you."
"No I haven't read them and I was about to before you came."
"Do you mind if I read them with you?"
"No thanks Tony, I kinda wanna find out about my parents in solitude if you don't mind. I appreciate it though."
"I understand Sky take all the time you need." walking over to the box sitting on the other side of my room.
What would happen if everything was different. If I hadn't found out about my powers. Maybe when I find out who my parents are everything might change, or get worse. No turning back now I guess.
I brought the box onto my bed. I don't know what to go through next. This letter with red print caught my eye. My hand ran over it. It seemed old but not so old that it would turn to dust in my hand. It had creases and folds like its been opened over a million times. Ive never been so nervous to open a letter. I couldn't do It not on my own.
"Peter." I called out, a couple seconds later there was a slight knock on my door before Peter came in.
"Sky are you okay."
"Yeah I just want you to read something for me please."
"Are you sure Skyler." I nodded. He sat at the edge go my bed as I laid back.
"Dear Bruce Wayne " Peter started reading .
" I'm sorry for dropping you this unexpected surprise this isn't your child no where related to you but Tony would not accept her not in the work we do. He doesn't even know she exists I've been hiding it from him. She's the result of a drunken one night stand, I can't take care of her and he can't know. So please take care of my little one. She doesn't have a name I think you would name her beautifully. I left her my necklace I hope you would allow her to keep it and grow up knowing that her mother loved her. Thanks for taking care of my Daughter'
Wanda"
"Tony..." I stood in shock.
"It can't be this Tony they were never specific. And that applies with Wanda." I tried to reason with myself.
"Well we can be certain." Peter pulled out a file that was under the letter that read Wanda and Tony. I took the the papers from his hands. The file wasn't super thick it seemed like it had like two papers in it. I opened it
Wanda Maximoff
status: Alive
brought Skyler to Wayne manor for a better life afraid her father Tony Stark would not accept her. After a one night stand she retreated back to her home country for nine months and gave birth in Gotham City. Occasionally sends letters to her daughter. Left her red pendent necklace for her daughter who hasn't taken it off since she arrived. hasn't seen her daughter since the memory wipe.
I stopped reading
"Wanda." I don't know wether to cry or yell.
"Im sorry Sky." Peters been reading the file on my father.He passed it to me along with a picture of Tony stark.
"Fuck." I buried my head in Peters shirt bawling my eyes out.
"I have to do something." I wiped my tear stained cheeks. I got up grabbing the files on the bed walking out of my room Peter yelling my name behind me.
"You knew, you let me sit here and wonder who my father was and, you knew."I slammed the files in front of Dr. Strange.
"You needed to find out for yourself Skyler. This was your journey."
"I don't care about my Journey my parent were right in front of me." I was on the verge of tears it was hard to contain in anyway. Tony walked into the room right on time.
"You found out who your parents were. Im so happy for you kid. Who are they." Tony came to give me a hug but I pushed him away from me.
"What's wrong kid." I handed him the folder on the table.
"You should talk to Wanda. Im going to talk to Bruce or something I just have to leave." He opened up the file to see the a picture of him and Wanda a night he remembers so well. It was one of the night he go so drunk and he was with Wanda and they went to a hotel and... the picture was of him and Wanda checking into the hotel with a hat and sun glasses on.
"Shit. Fuck." He looked over his shoulder to see if Skyler was still there. He has a kid. He went to Wandas room.
"Yeah Tony what do you want." she looked like she had just got out of bed.
"When were you going to tell me I had a kid. When were you going to tell me that she's been living with me for about a month now. Were you just not going to tell me." Wanda looked shocked. Tony pushed the documents into Wandas hands walking away to find Skyler.
Skylers pov
I got on the phone with dad. I need to go back home for a while.
"Dad can I come home. I can't stay here not anymore."
"Of course Skyler we've been missing you. Your always welcome here."
"Thanks dad, I appreciate it."
"Do you mind if I pick you up from there." I smiled
"I would love that so much dad."
"ill be there in 15."
I threw my clothes in my back pack. Hopefully when I go back things might be different. I need it to be I can't face Tony right now or anyone in the tower beside Peter maybe and I don't even think I can look him in the eyes.
"Sky why are you leaving Tony hasn't even said anything." Peter said standing by my doorway.
"Its not that he hasn't said anything, it's not even because of him. I just need to think, I can't be here right now."
"Then come home with me. Don't go home please." I shook my head no, I can't stay with him I can't put that burden on him.
"No I need to go back home just for a bit."
"What if you go back and things gets worse."
"Or what if things get better."
"Or it goes back to normal."
"Id rather everything go back to normal right now Peter!" I yelled, he got quiet. Right now my emotions are controlling me more than my own mind.
"After everything they did to you Skyler you want to go back."
"Their my family Peter. Their all I have. Their all I know. If It wasn't for these powers that mind you I never asked for we would be in my room or I might be shopping with Damian or Jason or any of my bothers. Now look where I am Peter. I have no one."
"You have me Skyler." I shook my head.
"Peter just trust me please. I have to do this for me." His head hung low he eventually gave in.
"I trust you Sky."
"Thank you." He wrapped his arms around me. He played with my hair till my phone started to buzz indicating I had a message.
"That's probably Dad. Can you walk me down please." It was he said my brothers were with him.
"Okay I'll get your backpack." We walked out to the living room where no body was surprisingly, I at least expected strange or Tony. I left Tony and Wanda a note telling them why I left and how I need to handle this by myself and obviously they need to sort out what they wanna do. That I'm not asking them to parent me or raise me that I've already been raised and don't need parents. I just want to know about my powers where I get certain traits from. And if I might be a danger.
When I walked out at of the tower I was greeted by a hug from all of my brothers even Dick who's black eye was now about a pinkish purple bruise.
"Skyler Im sorry I shouldn't have done what I did." I was taken aback.
"Its ok Dick I forgive you." A cough came from behind them. I pushed them aside to see Alfred and Dad standing by the car. I ran over over Alfred tackling him in a hug.
"Ive missed you to Miss Skyler." I let go of the man I looked up to as my grandfather. Looking over to Bruce, the man I grew up with as my father. I hugged him a little to roughly making him push into the car.
"I've missed you too Sky. Let's go home." Everyone got Into the car leaving a space in the middle for me.
"I'll be back guys." I walked over to Peter who look worried.
"Hey don't worry about me. Im going to be okay."
"I know. Im just worried about you."
"Hey you can always come to the house your always welcome there."
"Then you know Im always gonna be there when I can."
"I hope so." I gave him a quick peck on the lips. Then dived into the backseats of the car falling into all four of my brothers laps.
"Im just gonna sleep right here wake me up when were home." they all ironed complaining about me being fat jokingly.
I drifted off to sleep preparing myself to go back home. Hopefully back to my normal life as normal as it can get.
#jason peter todd#peter parker x reader#tom holland x reader#tom holland#peter parker#dc comics x reader#batboys x reader#batfam x batsis#batfam x reader
26 notes
·
View notes
Text
I don't want to linger any longer
DCU
Gen
Rating: G
Words: 7,523
AO3
In upstate New York there's a very lush, very expensive summer camp that caters to the children of the rich and famous. Bruce and Oliver happen to be those children. And they're less than thrilled to be at this camp.
Alfred was leery of the summer camp. Bruce went to public school partially because of Martha's pointed remarks regarding democracy and public education, partly because of her pointed remarks regarding Thomas's own time at boarding schools and prep schools surrounded by equally rich and entitled boys. Alfred never said anything at the time, it wasn't his place, and would never say anything now but, he whole heartedly believed both. Especially after his own childhood in private schools, even if the times and the British and American systems were very different. Regardless, Bruce was remaining in public school with all the trials it entailed. Including the socializing problem.
He'd always been a quiet, almost shy child but after Martha and Thomas died he retreated far beyond. Even friends from before like Miss Zatara took coaxing and occasionally trickery to get him to interact with. At thirteen and with the beginnings of acne and voice cracks the behavior was partially to be expected. The newfound interest in The Clash was too. Still, Alfred felt strongly that the boy should have the opportunity to at least try and make some friends. So when he overheard some of the women mentioning the summer camp during one of the Wayne Foundation luncheons Bruce insisted they attend "for appearances" (and Alfred was a little worried about the thought process behind that as well but well, one thing at a time) he had to break his normal rule and butt in.
"Pardon me, but what summer camp might this be?" He tried to be as nonobtrusive as possible, it still raised some eyebrows from the women with their pearls and perfect red lipsticks. Their clothes were so immaculate that while he knew they all had nannies, looking at them you never would've even known they had children. Alfred no longer owned a single shirt that wasn't stained somewhere by something, he just hid them well.
The blonde in the most putrid shade of chartreuse he's ever seen recovered first. "Oh! Camp Open Woods. It's in upper state New York, very exclusive but so worth it." Mimi flicked her wrist and half rolled her eyes as though to indicate sending the children she never saw there was the best parenting tip she'd ever taken. Mitzie shifted her hair before continuing, "They've got hiking and horses and like there's a lake." The other women all hum and coo their agreement at how pretty it is, Muffy silenced them with a brow, she was the one who started the story after all. "The kiddos just love it there. Go for a month a time. Would be there year round if they could!" They all nod enthusiastically in agreement.
"Sounds lovely." Which isn't strictly incorrect, but Alfred sincerely doubts these women would actually know whether their children enjoyed the camp or not. "I'll have to look into it, thank you," Alfred excuses himself. He will look into it.
The camp itself does seem the definition of picturesque, with acres of land and woods as well as the lake. The cabins looked to be clean and well maintained. The extensive list of activities alone made Alfred want to go. He reached out to the nannies he'd made friends with over the years, trying to gauge how any of the kids who attended regularly really felt. And the reviews were glowing.
Alfred made an executive decision, the fresh air would be good for Bruce, and called to secure a place for June. Just one month, to test it. Bruce might not be pleased at not having been consulted but Alfred was sure the end results would be well worth it. And if not, it's not like the boy could fire him in revenge. Legal guardianship made that rather tricky.
~
Oliver heard someone stop in the hall outside his room. From where he sat on the floor organizing the old jazz records his mother had given him he couldn't see who it was, the bed was in the way and he didn't really want to move everything just to get up. That seemed like a lot of work. Whoever it was could just come in. Or talk. Whatever. He wasn't moving.
"Are you in here, Oliver?" he finally heard his mother ask, apparently having grown impatient.
"Yes."
"I signed you up for camp. You leave for New York in the morning. It comes very highly recommended, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Chef is making your favorite chicken parmesan as a treat for dinner at six. I will see you then." The sound of her heels were nearly silent as she made her way back down the hall with its plush carpeting.
Taking a minute to process this, Oliver stared at the short shelves in front of him momentarily. Well there went his record organizing, now he was going to have to try and pack.
~
Bruce narrowed his eyes as Alfred slowed to turn the car onto a narrow lane that was barely a break in the trees. A large, wooden arch above it was carved to proclaim it as the entrance to "Camp Open Woods." Somehow, Bruce managed to narrow his eyes even more. Though he suspected it made him look like he was squinting. Especially by the way Alfred pressed his lips into a tight line, an obvious tell that he was trying not to smile.
The lane curved gently through the trees until they opened up to show a field, teenagers and college students in soft blue polo shirts and khaki shorts were scattered throughout it, directing cars in where to park and kids and parents in where to go next. A girl with brightly colored beads on the ends of her tight braids waved at Bruce through the window as they passed. Tentatively, he waved back at the counselor.
Once they were parked, the sleek black sedan settling a little into the grass as they both got out, Bruce immediately slung his backpack on and beat Alfred to the trunk to pull out his bulky footlocker. "Master Bruce," Alfred chided gently, reaching in to help lift the heavy thing, "I do wish you'd let me do that."
"It's fine, Alfred," Bruce protested. Even if the help was appreciated. "Isn't the whole point of this to teach me to be self-sufficient?" Bruce tried to level his steeliest gaze on the man. The unimpressed look he got in return told Bruce he might need to work on that.
Alfred sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in the process -- and really Bruce didn't think his actions warranted that level of dramatics -- before leveling a flat look at Bruce. "No, Master Bruce. The point of this endeavor is that you enjoy yourself with peers of your own age. Possibly make friends. Build lifelong bonds. Get a nasty sunburn on the first day and minor bear scare on the last."
Bruce frowned and lifted one end of the battered footlocker Alfred had dislodged from the attic the week before. Possibly, it had been Alfred's and come from some hidden corner of the man's room as Bruce had never seen it before even in all his exploring of the manor's nooks and crannies. "Exiting pursued by a bear is not a worthy goal, Alfred," he said dryly.
Lifting the other end of the footlocker the duo began to make their way towards the counselors with carts lined up at the front of the field. "Maybe not for yourself, but personally an exciting and Shakespearean end would be the greatest achievement of my mundane existence."
He snorted, and Alfred wondered where his own penchant for melodrama came from.
"Hiya folks!" The young man next to a cart already loaded with duffels and trunks waved brightly as they approached. "Welcome to camp! Where are you staying?"
Bruce glanced to Alfred and Alfred returned the look, both challenging the other to speak first. If Bruce admitted that he had read and memorized the pre-camp welcome packet then Alfred would see it as a win. If Alfred's patience crumbled before Bruce's then it would vastly undermine the veneer of authority Alfred had managed to paint over their strange relationship. The poor guy standing by the cart was starting to look uncomfortable.
Finally, Bruce broke. He was going to be here for a month, it's not like he'd have to see Alfred be smug during that time. "Pine Ridge," he said flatly.
The counselor visibly sagged in relief. "Ok, great! You're going to toss your gear on that cart up there where Gambit's standing then follow the road to the Health Center to turn in your paperwork and get your head and foot check."
Wrinkling his nose, Bruce nodded. He wasn't really a fan of being touched, even for medical examinations, and was a little glad he got a heads up. He'd briefly forgotten about the fact the packet had said there would be a lice and athlete's foot examination. Not that Bruce had either, which is probably why he'd let it slip his mind. They reached the next cart and a young woman with large sunglasses leant against it. Bruce squinted at the lanyard she had around her neck with an odd badge on the end as a nametag, all the counselors had variations of brightly colored and often glitter coated badges on lanyards. Each as unique as the names on them. Hers had popsicle sticks layered to make a large X and playing cards glued on top so that their back's made a place to write. "Gambit" had been scrawled in looping white paint. With red glitter. Bruce really hoped they weren't going to force him to make a glitter nametag.
"Are you living in Pine Ridge?" She asked, pushing off the cart to stand and raising her clipboard.
"Yes," Bruce said simply.
Gambit nodded. "You can toss your stuff on. What's your name?"
"Bruce. Bruce Wayne."
"Ok, double-o-seven," she smirked, checking off something on her clipboard. "I'm Gambit, head girls counselor for Pine Ridge. But just cause I'm not the one doing bed checks on you doesn't mean I'm not still in charge," she teased. Bruce was fairly certain he heard Alfred snicker. "Anyway, you'll be seeing a lot of me over the next month even though we don't share a latrine. You a first time camper?"
"Yes."
"Well then, welcome Bruce, Bruce Wayne!"
Alfred definitely snickered at that.
"Um, thanks."
She grinned and stuck her pen back behind her ear. "I'll watch your stuff until the grounds guys come and hook the cart up to the ATV to take it up to the cabins. Lucky us, we're on the hill. Nice site, one of my personal favorites actually, but you'll be getting your steps in while you're here. Whole summer or no?"
"Um, just the month." Bruce was starting to get a little overwhelmed in the face of her relentless positivity.
"Rad. Well, I hope you enjoy it! You're gonna want to follow the gravel road trail and head to the health center. I'll see you at dinner."
Bruce nodded and began to walk on, Alfred a step behind him. Once they were out of earshot, Bruce hung back slightly so that they walked next to each other and turned to Alfred. "Do you think everyone's going to be like that?"
"Well Master Bruce, I don't think that children's summer camp counselor is a position that attracts introverts," Alfred replied dryly.
Bruce glared.
"Which isn't to say, however, that every person here would be so enthusiastic."
"Hmm." Bruce didn't say anything else and they made their way to the two-story farmhouse that had a sign hanging from the porch proclaiming it the "Health Center" in silence.
A large group of people were spread out in the grass in front of the porch around a series of low, backless wooden benches. Bruce slowed as they approached, lingering on the gravel. Alfred gripped his shoulder once before gently pushing Bruce forward to step into the grass. Alfred was still a head taller than him, but Bruce was catching up and he couldn't wait for the day he could glare at the man without craning his neck. Alfred looked the picture of cool indifference and collected innocence.
"Excuse me," Alfred called, striding forward and fully expecting Bruce to follow. Which he did, but in silent protest. "Is there a queue?"
"Not really," the teenaged boy Alfred had asked shrugged. "Just give your paperwork to nurse Doc, then pick a spot on a bench and we play monkey."
"Monkey?" Bruce tried to raise an incredulous eyebrow. It was a work in progress.
The older boy's face split into a wide grin. "Yeah! You know," and here he began to howl and jump, scratching at his head in imitation of a monkey.
"Ohmystars, Apollo you're ridiculous!" Another teenager said, her silver painted crescent moon nametag read "Artemis" and the two did look like they could be siblings if not twins. "Theater kids." She rolled her eyes derisively.
Apollo stopped abruptly. "Arty, you're a theater kid."
"Tech kid. There's a difference," she snapped with practiced ease.
"She is correct," Alfred added sagely. Bruce's forehead met his palm as he hung his head.
"Thank you!" Artemis preened. "C'mon, I'll take ya in to Doc." She gestured at them to follow as she turned and headed onto the porch. Having no real other option, Bruce glanced at Alfred before following. Artemis had waited for them, holding open the screen door before shouldering open the second door and leading them into a large room with worn wooden floors and a table with a trio of adults sitting behind it. Some other children and parents stood in front of them and spoke with the adults at the table. Artemis winked and wiggled her fingers in a wave before turning to head back outside. But she stopped short and came to stand next to them again. "Actually, they don't need me out there right now and I'd much rather soak up the AC with you."
Bruce nodded. It was cold in here, especially compared to the muggy afternoon it was shaping up to be. And those polo shirts didn't exactly look comfortable. Neither did the crisp button up and khakis Alfred wore, but Bruce could count on one hands the number of times he'd seen Alfred in shorts or a t-shirt. The group in front of them shifted and Artemis lead them to the table. The burly woman on the end glanced up at them and smiled. Unlike the counselors, her nametag was a pin though she, and the other two adults at the table, still wore the light blue polo shirt. And her nametag also had sequins spelling out "Doc."
"Hey there, you have your paperwork?" she said by way of greeting.
Alfred produced a carefully paperclipped stack from somewhere. Bruce honestly had no clue where. Sometimes Alfred liked to do things like that just to puzzle him. Often times. Bruce was certain he did it routinely just for fun and Bruce's annoyance.
Doc took the stack and looked it over before leaning over to file it in a plastic tub and marking this off on a couple different clipboards. "Alright," she said finally, "you're officially checked in, Mr. Wayne. You still need to be checked over before we can let you run wild. But you're checked in. Welcome to Camp." She smiled broadly and held out a hand, Bruce shook it and managed a small smile in return.
Artemis led them back outside and instructed Bruce to sit, take off his shoes and socks, and wait for Apollo cause she didn't "do feet." Alfred chuckled as Bruce sat, his nose wrinkled, and Artemis took gloved hands and a comb through his hair. Apollo eventually reappeared as she declared him lice free and he poked at and spread Bruce's toes before proclaiming him "good to go!"
As Bruce pulled his socks and sneakers back on -- Alfred refused to buy him hiking boots because they wouldn't be broken in in time and apparently if Bruce was going to be miserable it was going to be his own conscious choice and not due to poor footwear decisions -- Alfred chatted with Apollo about a production of Midsummer that the counselor had done in fall. Finally, Bruce was standing up and slipping his backpack on again.
"Well, I'll let you say bye to your dad and then we'll go find your group," Apollo grinned.
"He's not-" Bruce started but the older boy had already walked away and started talking to one of the other counselors. "Hmph."
Alfred raised a single eyebrow -- Bruce wished he'd just teach him how to do that already -- and gave him a sly smile. "Well Master Bruce."
"Alfred."
They both stood there staring at each other. Finally, Bruce caved and stepped forward to wrap his arms around Alfred. "Bye Alfred," he muttered.
Returning the hug, Alfred replied. "I shall be back at the end of the month. I do sincerely hope that you enjoy yourself, Master Bruce. And I expect letters at least once a week. You should have more than enough stamps for that and if not you have credit at the camp store."
Bruce snorted at that before pulling away. "Thanks, Alfred."
Alfred smiled. "Of course, Master Bruce."
Apollo reappeared then and led Bruce to the edge of the trees and a path there. Bruce looked back once to see Alfred still standing by the benches, waving. Bruce waved back before turning to walk into the woods.
~
Oliver tapped his fingers restlessly on the formica topped table. The other kids all seemed to know each other and once the counselor escorting them to the dining hall left they immediately headed off to meet their friends. Not that he minded, Oliver was used to being alone and could function on his own just fine thanks. But all of these kids would be living with him for the next month at the least. They could at the very least come over and ask him who he was. But apparently, Pine Ridge was the largest unit at camp and so his age group was the biggest if they were staying there. And already there were at least twenty other kids who were all preoccupied and not noticing the blonde kid with a bad haircut.
Tugging at his recently shorn hair, Oliver frowned. He'd been trying to grow it out and it was almost to his shoulders when this morning his mother took him to the barber before putting him on the plane and shipping him off. Supposedly, she thought he'd be too hot with all that hair. Oliver just thought it was a convenient excuse. Oliver respected the trick even if he didn't like it. Especially because he didn't like the end result. His ears were still slightly too big and the cut just emphasized that. No girl would want to go out with a guy with satellite dishes attached to his head. Not that any girl seemed to even want to talk to him right now. Not that anyone at all wanted to talk to him. Maybe if he'd stop glaring at the table? But Oliver didn't really want to be here to begin with.
One of the dinning hall doors opened again and Oliver turned to look. The dorky guy who'd walked Oliver over, and only a dork would name themselves Apollo, and a new kid stood next to him. All dark hair and pale skin that Oliver bet was going to be looking like a lobster by the end of the week. He lingered in the doorway as Apollo said something and turned to leave, scanning the space in front of him. One of the other counselors walked over to meet him, he'd said his name was Sherlock and he was the head boys and Oliver secretly respected him for having the guts to name himself after the world's greatest detective. Sherlock was obviously introducing himself to the boy and Oliver was trying to figure out why the kid looked so dang familiar as his gaze landed on Oliver. And stuck.
That's when it hit him. That kid was Bruce Wayne. His parents talked about him all the time. Mostly, wondering what he would do with Wayne Enterprises once he turned eighteen and could take over and what that would mean for Queen Industries' contracts. Oliver had ever only met the kid once. Right after his parents had died and the whole Queen family had flown out to Gotham to "express their condolences" at the Wayne Foundation's Annual Holiday Party. It wasn't until a couple years later that Oliver realized how awkward the whole thing had been. But that was definitely the same kid, older now but his eyes no less haunted. Oliver blinked and turned away. Bruce Wayne was one kid he'd be happy to leave him alone.
Oliver never did have good luck.
"Oliver Queen?" The kid had come up behind him and without asking, walked around to sit on the bench across from him.
"Yeah?" Oliver winced as his voice cracked at the end. Stupid fraggin luck what the frickety heck stupid stupid puberty.
"I remember you." The kid still hadn't taken off his backpack. They were inside and it's not like someone was gonna steal it. Oliver's own sat on the bench next to him and he barely had anything in it anyway.
"Yeah?" This time his voice didn't crack. Small victory.
"I'm Bruce Wayne."
"Yeah."
The kid's brow crumbled in annoyance and he frowned. "Do you ever say anything else."
Oliver gave his cheekiest grin, oh this was too good. There had never been a more perfect set up. "No."
Impossibly, the kid's look got darker.
Oliver sat and smiled back. The seconds stretch out and Oliver just knew they were each waiting for the other to crack. Bruce continued to glare. Oliver continued to smile.
Finally, his cheeks started to hurt and Oliver took the loss. He was kinda starting to feel like an idiot anyway. "So, this your first summer?"
Bruce relaxed his glare but he still frowned. "I'm just here for a month."
"Didn't answer the question, Brucie."
The frown deepened. "Yes."
Oliver nodded. "Mine too," he admitted. Bruce finally seemed to relax.
"I'm... not sure what we're supposed to do," Bruce admitted, though it looked like struggled to.
Oliver let some of his bravado fall. "Yeah, neither do I. I think we're supposed to have fun, whatever that means."
Bruce's mouth twitched in the direction of a smirk. Oliver took it as a small victory.
"Hi!" A high voice warbled behind Oliver and he turned in surprise.
"Zee?" Bruce sounded just as shocked, though he apparently knew the girl that had just yelled in Oliver's ear. She settled heavily on the bench next to him and Oliver turned to look at her. Long black hair pulled up in a ponytail, bright pink shirt and darker pink shorts, light-up sneakers. She looked younger than him too. Which was confirmed when Bruce said "Aren't you too young to be in this unit?"
The girl rolled her eyes. "I turn eleven in July and I'm here for the summer so."
"That didn't answer the question," Bruce pointed out.
"And the unit is twelve to thirteen," Oliver added, finally recovering from his shock at her sudden appearance.
Pushing out her breath in annoyance, the girl flounced to her feet. "So, I may have heard that you were here and in the dinning hall and convinced my buddy to take a detour on the way to the latrine." She wiggled her arm in the direction of another girl shifting awkwardly by the side door. "We have to sit with our groups at dinner tonight but find me at breakfast tomorrow," she said it like an order and then ran off towards her friend and together they left.
"Alfred," Bruce muttered like a curse.
"Her name's Alfred?" Oliver felt like strange names were just a part of camp life but still.
"Her name's Zatanna." Oh, that was even weirder. "Alfred's my butler."
"Right," Oliver nodded like he understood. He absolutely did not. And Bruce did not seem like he would be explaining.
~
The counselors finally rounded them all up and made them stand in a wide circle, saying that they were going to count off and play get to know you games since one game of like forty people could be fun but maybe was a bit ambitious for first thing. Bruce told Oliver to stay where he stood before wiggling away further down the circle so that there was three people between them. Four groups of ten or so made logical sense and even if Bruce didn't know if he liked Oliver, he at least kind of knew Oliver and would prefer being in a group with at least one person he knew. So Oliver would have to be that person.
They both wound up being number three and Bruce leaned forward slightly to look at Oliver and smirk. The other boy just blinked back at him.
By the time dinner and the opening campfire rolled around, Bruce had come to the conclusion that Oliver wasn't his friend, but he was certainly one of the more tolerable of the other campers. As soon as he'd introduced himself as Bruce Wayne he'd been all anyone else could focus on. Even the kids not from Gotham looked at him with wide eyes. It made Bruce sympathize with the lions at the Gotham Zoo a whole lot more than usual. But Oliver acted like he didn't care. Oliver acted like he didn't care about anything. Just joking and smirking. He gained a gaggle of admirers over the course of the afternoon despite how downright obnoxious Bruce thought he was, but he still didn't seem to care that Bruce was Bruce and that's really all that mattered.
Besides, they apparently were in the same cabin. It just made sense that they hung out together. And if Oliver got sick of Bruce or Bruce got sick of Oliver well lots of kids wanted to ask Bruce all sorts of questions and everyone else seemed to love Oliver.
Even still, they sat next to each other at meals when Zatanna and an everchanging roster of her friends would flock to Bruce. Zee sitting herself down next to him and chattering on about what she'd done in the few hours they were apart. Oliver looked bewildered by the interaction every time. Bruce just nodded along at the appropriate points and asked questions as the fancy struck him. Sometimes he'd ask her stupid questions, like if she was sure the horse she rode that morning couldn't fly so that she would laugh and say she hasn't "learned levitation yet, you dingus!" Oliver's face when that would happen always made Bruce grin.
These meals were the bright spots in Bruce's day. He was... not having a good time. They'd had a swim test first thing Monday morning and Bruce had stupidly forgotten to put on sunscreen, so between swimming laps in the lake while the lifeguards made notes and sitting on the beach he'd very quickly burnt to a crisp. And would have to deal with that for the foreseeable future. Then on Thursday during their hike, Oliver had been behind him and tripped, stumbling into Bruce and pushing them both off the trail. Right into a patch of poison oak. So now Bruce had sunburn and poison oak. To say he was in constant pain was putting it mildly.
Bruce wasn't making friends. He wasn't enjoying the great outdoors. He was just slowly suffering in silence. Especially after Oliver left the screen door open one night and mosquitos had gotten in to use Bruce as their very own all you can eat buffet. So now Bruce was sunburnt, covered in mosquito bites, and still had poison oak.
Doc was really the only bright spot in this hellhole. Her air conditioned domain of the Health Center was quite and comforting. With individual exam rooms that meant Bruce could be completely alone for at least a little while. Which Bruce desperately needed. Being around people all the time was exhausting. And Doc herself had a wry, dry sense of humor that Bruce appreciated and a calm demeanor when Bruce sat and complained about the fact it was all Oliver's fault everything itched twice over. She would just snicker and have Bruce put some slightly odd smelling pink cream on his skin. Then she'd tell him that maybe he should write home about it. Bruce would frown and say "I will."
Alfred didn't seem to care though based on the letters back Bruce received. Or possibly the man was making fun of him. Most likely both. The end of the month really could not come soon enough.
~
Frankly, Oliver had no dang clue why Bruce flippin Wayne decided they were friends. Ok, "friends" was a stretch. But still, the kid spent more time with Oliver than anyone else at camp. Maybe he'd hang out with that Zee girl if she weren't in the younger group, and she did come have meals with them and wander over during all camps, but he didn't even really bother to even attempt to talk to anyone else. Oliver at least tried. If only because he was fairly certain he'd singlehandedly end the Wayne family line if he only talked to Bruce. Besides, the other boys in their cabin weren't terrible. Sure they were a little stuck up and that Brad guy had about the same amount of brain cells as Oliver's old hamster, but they weren't awful people. Which couldn't be said about all their fellow campers. Bruce had pushed one boy off the end of the dock the one morning after he said his third sexist remark in an hour. Oliver had gladly covered for him on that one. Another kid kept picking on two of the girls and Oliver might have possibly sort of filled his bag with rocks and as many spiders as he could find when he wasn't looking. He thinks Bruce saw him do it, but he never said anything once the kid got tired of carrying it and opened his backpack then immediately started screaming.
Neither incident had necessarily endeared Bruce to Oliver though. Especially since the kid had somehow managed to tip their canoe while they were in the middle of the lake. So they both floated there buoyed by their life vests spluttering water and trying to right the stupid canoe while screaming at each other and kicking madly. In the cold lake. They never did manage to flip the boat and the counselors had to come with the little motorboat to fish them out of the water. They were still glaring at each other after Sherlock had taken them to get showered and fresh clothes. He let Bruce mess around with his nametag as he ran their wet, smelly stuff into the Health Center and throw it in the washer that was supposedly there. Oliver was still pissed though so he ripped the plastic magnifying glass out of the other boy's hand. Sherlock's name was just a label stuck onto the handle so you could still use it. Which Oliver immediately did in an attempt to burn Bruce's shoelaces.
Which is about when Sherlock came back. "Hey! Oliver! Cut that out! Seriously dude, what're you doing? And Bruce, you were just gonna let him light your shoes on fire?"
Bruce shrugged. "I have other pairs. And I did dump him in the lake."
Oliver handed the nametag back and nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, he's the one who thought he saw a frog and tipped the thing."
"A fish, not a frog."
"Whatever."
"And you gave me poison oak."
Oliver frowned and scratched at some of his own poison oak. "That was not intentional and I have it too."
Sherlock looked between them. "Right. You two are supposed to see Doc soon anyway, wanna go in now?" They both nod and that was the end of that. For then at least. That night Oliver got up to go use the latrine and forgot to close the screen door again. All five boys in the cabin wound up eaten alive and never mind the fact Oliver was just as itchy, Bruce acted as though he'd planned it just to mess with him.
Still didn't excuse the fact that the jerk got them lost and banned from the stables on the following Monday. Oliver liked the stables. He thought the horses were cool and they seemed to like him. He'd tried to schedule as much riding time as they'd let him after the initial group session. Bruce just so happened to have scheduled some on Monday morning too it would seem. And they both were the same ability level. Great. But they were doing a trail ride, going single file through the woods at the edge of camp, didn't leave a whole lot of room for talking and Oliver was more than ok with that. He wound up behind Bruce at the very back of the group and took it at a leisurely pace which Pancake didn't seem to mind. So long as Oliver stayed behind Bruce he just zoned out. Taking in the forest with its sounds and smells, the warm horse that swayed gently as she walked making him sway too. Oliver should've been paying more attention. Because Bruce decided to take his horse on a bit of an adventure. The two were wandering through the woods for an hour before Oliver realized that Bruce had hijacked a horse and gotten them lost. Another two before anyone found them. They'd completely missed lunch. And they were banned from horseback riding.
Not that Bruce cared, he was only here another two weeks.
Oliver had two whole months.
It's not like his father recognized he ever existed half the time, but his mom sending him off to the other side of the country was a bit much. He'd thought they had an understanding. Apparently not. And now he wouldn't even get to ride the horses.
Which Oliver naturally thought was overkill for himself but it was totally punishment for Pancake too. They had bonded. Not that the riding staff seemed to care when he tried to plead his case. Knox looked a little sympathetic at least. And she called after him when he'd turned to walk back over to Brad and maybe go play volleyball or something. "Oliver!" Knox said again and he paused. "I'll talk to Bambi and see about a probationary period or something. Maybe clean some stables or just make it a two week ban since you're here all summer. Kay?"
Oliver grinned. "Thanks." She returned the smile before turning to go back to mucking stalls and cleaning the tack.
~
Archery, Bruce decided, was the worst. It slapped his reddened and itchy skin even with the arm guard on. The smaller bows they had were too easy for him to pull and sent the arrows almost skittering at the target when he released. The bigger ones and the compound bows were too heavy a draw though and Bruce's twiggy thirteen year old arms just didn't have the strength. Oliver didn't seem to like it either. He seemed like the type of guy who had everything handed to him and most of the sports came naturally to him. Archery didn't. It clearly frustrated him that while he managed to hit the target he couldn't hit the center. Or even the yellow rings just outside it. He managed to pepper the blue ones every time. He could at least use the larger recurve bows at least. Which Bruce wouldn't admit to but was supremely jealous of.
"You just gotta practice, you'll get there!" Legolas reassured him. Bruce and Oliver both raised skeptical brows at that. Legolas had gotten his name because he was a crack shot. Hitting the bullseye just about every time. His encouragement wasn't as meaningful as he meant it. Especially when there was a rumor going around that the other counselors had dared him to shoot an arrow off of someone's head while blindfolded. And that he had managed it. "Though not today," he laughed after checking his watch, "we need to clean up for lunch."
The boys and other campers all turned their bows in and Legolas set them in the shed before returning and sending them to collect their arrows. By the time they were all cleaned up a couple other counselors had wandered out of the woods where they must've gone for a hike on their breaks and decided to head with them to lunch. A week and a half of camp had all the kids falling into a buddy line without even being told and Oliver fell in next to Bruce out of habit. Beaker made them do a headcount, checking each camper off on her list, and let Legolas lead them off toward the dining hall. He also started to lead them in some insipid song about a worm getting stuck in a straw. Legolas would shout a line and around Bruce all the other kids would eagerly shout it back. Even Oliver. Bruce would rather actually swallow a worm.
Inside the dining hall was the usual premeal chaos as counselors took their assigned tables and yelled across the room to each other. Kids swarmed around trying to find seats next to friends or at tables with specific counselors. Bruce scanned the space when a small arm covered in bright string bracelets -- and there hadn't been that many at breakfast, Bruce was certain -- shot up and waved towards him enthusiastically. "BRUCE!" Zatanna bellowed. He was fairly certain she'd pushed her magic into it because he could clearly hear it over everything else. That, or Zatanna was just disturbingly loud.
Bruce began walking to the table she was at and the two seats she appeared to be guarding with her life. Oliver followed and Bruce couldn't explain why. Well at least not beyond the fact that it was just what they did anymore.
"Hey kid," Oliver said by way of greeting. Zatanna preened and smiled. She was a ten-year-old queen and this table was her court. Just no one beyond the three of them knew that just yet.
"Hi Ollie. Oh! I want you guys to meet Hartley! He lives in the cabin two over from mine. He really likes music," Zatanna told them breathlessly, pointing at the small redhead next to her. Bruce and Oliver both sat down across from the two as more kids took the spots further down the table. Oliver waved at the boy while Bruce just nodded. "That's Oliver and that's Bruce, he's my best friend," Zatanna told Hartley and pointed at the two older boys.
Bruce frowned at Zatanna and was glad to see the boy looked skeptical when he glanced between Bruce and Zee. "Isn't he a little old to be your best friend?" he asked a little too loudly.
"Yes." Bruce said. "And we're not best friends."
Zee pouted. "Well until Oliver I was your only friend."
"We're not friends," Bruce and Oliver corrected her at the same time.
"Sure," she said with an eyeroll.
The poor boy she'd dragged into this looked so confused. "So, how old are you?" he finally dredged up the courage to ask.
"Thirteen," Oliver sounded smug. Bruce just nodded.
"Oh." Hartley seemed to shrink in on himself.
"How old are you?" Zee asked, genuinely curious.
"Eight." He was still a little too loud when he spoke, even though he seemed like he was shy.
Bruce raised an eyebrow. He'd been practicing and he knew it wasn't as smooth as Alfred's but Oliver provided infinite possibilities to practice and it was still leaps and bounds better than a week ago. "Aren't you in the nine to eleven group?" he asked Zatanna.
"Yeah," she frowned. "Hartley, how'd you wind up in my group?"
He shrugged. "I skipped a grade and my mom kinda bullied them into putting me in by grade instead of age."
Oliver seemed to hum in understanding. Bruce just felt himself frown. Zatanna met his eye with a slight frown of her own. The moment passed though when one of the counselors started the quiet clap and everyone shut up and turned to pay attention.
~
Oliver was officially tired of camp by the last week of June. A racoon had gotten into their cabin the day before and went though literally all of their things. It didn't eat or destroy anything though, just wanted to make chaos by rubbing its tiny hands on everything apparently. Sherlock had to make another laundry run for them. Gambit had heard about it over the radio and claimed a golf cart just so she could come laugh at the mess before they managed to clean too much of it up, having been off on her break at the time. She left the cart for Sherlock before heading to her own cabin for the rest of her break, laughing the whole way. The other counselors in the unit made a fire for the boys while everyone else got ready for bed and they waited for their sheets and sleeping bags to be washed.
Unfortunately, Oliver had a whole two more months to go. He was officially less than pleased with his mother for this grand idea.
Luckily, Knox found him before the Final Campfire for those who were only there for the month. Taking long strides up the wide stone steps of the amphitheater to where he sat next to Bruce. Zatanna and her little friend Hartley on Bruce's other side. They all watched as the barn staffer made her way towards them, standing out in her jeans and tall muck boots while everyone else was wearing shorts. "Hey, Ollie!" she called as she approached, obviously not realizing that she already had everyone's full attention. "I just got back from the barn and I wanted to be the first to tell you that your ban has been lifted! You're allowed to come back starting Monday, since Bruce is leaving." Here she grimaced over at Bruce. "Sorry, but Bambi kind of decided you were the responsible party and Ollie just collateral damage. Very foolish collateral damage." She didn't bother to apologize for that one though as she turned to look back to him. "So Pancake will see you Monday? She's missed you."
Oliver nodded eagerly. "Yes. Absolutely. I'll talk to Sherlock about changing my schedule right after the campfire."
Knox nodded. "Sweet. Ok, I need to hit the showers. Bye all! I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow!"
They all said their goodbyes and Oliver couldn't stop smiling. Camp still sucked and the one person who made it interesting at least was leaving tomorrow, but at least Oliver's ban had been lifted. He could spend the rest of summer riding horses.
~
Bruce thought that he'd never been happier to see Alfred in his life. The man stood on the porch of the Health Center, talking with Doc when Artemis came to collect him from the dining hall where he'd been sitting on the steps, avoiding singing camp songs. The irony of Apollo taking him to the dining hall at the beginning of the month and Artemis leading him from it at the end was not lost on Bruce. Nor was it lost on Alfred by the sly grin he had when he saw who walked with Bruce. "Have a safe trip home!" Artemis said brightly before heading to Bugs, the camp director, and getting the name of the next camper she was to fetch.
"Well Bruce, I'm sorry that the circumstances weren't better but I'm glad I got to know you," she said and held out a hand that Bruce shook. "Maybe I'll see you next year? And if not, keep in touch. Mr. Pennyworth has my mailing address, maybe you can write me some of your famous letters."
Bruce smirked. "I will."
Doc laughed and the corners of Alfred's mouth twitched. "Shall we, Master Wayne?" he asked. "Your footlocker has already been loaded and you have officially been checked out."
Nodding, Bruce eagerly turned to go search the field for the car. He thought to look back once and wave to Doc, but then he was off and moving. He closed the door hard after he climbed in. Alfred started the car but didn't shift into gear. They just sat there in silence as the vents slowly began to push out cold air.
Finally, Alfred asked what he wanted to. "How was camp?"
"Never again, Alfred. Never. Again."
"That bad?"
"Didn't you get my letters?"
Alfred finally pulled out of the field and started down the long drive towards the road. "I did. I had just assumed that you were exaggerating as is your penchant."
Bruce glared at him. "You were talking to Doc."
"And I realized that you were not exaggerating."
"Never. Again."
"Yes, Master Bruce."
#dc comics#bruce wayne#oliver queen#alfred pennyworth#zatanna zatara#fanfiction#fanfic#my fic#own writing#writing#annataz#yes alfred
28 notes
·
View notes
Text
You can’t touch what’s mine, bitch
(Part two of He is mine, bitches)
Damian was very proud of himself. He got a very hot and sweet boyfriend 13 months ago, managed to keep that boyfriend more than happy, and had managed to hide the existence of marin from his family for 14 months.
He had no idea how an alleged family of detectives and vigilantes hadn't even noticed that their youngest member was in a relationship. And that he spent less and less time with them and more with Marin. He was severely disappointed in his family, although he never said it out loud, he thought they would make better opponents.
In Marin's apartment he even had his own closet where he had his clothes, the only reason Damian kept coming back to the Mansion was because of appearances and his precious pets.
But he knew he couldn't go on like this forever. he wanted to introduce his family to Marin, to see how damn perfect he was, his photographs around the world, his point of view so different from the others, the way he sang for Damian even when he was in another room… Well maybe if he kept to himself how weak he was for his boyfriend everything would be fine.
With a good contact on the dark web, he got a protector on his cell phone, and so there were more than two thousand photos with Marin. They on their first date, in the bathroom mirror, at gotham school, in the classrooms, in the cafes, in bed. Their chat seemed like they were talking for years, full of memes that Damian didn't understand at first, and memes with their own faces.
He take all possible measures, but never anticipated that Marin would get sick from some kind of virus, forcing him to stay in bed, well, Damian actually forced him after Marin almost fell down the stairs at school.
So when he informed his father that he would take a break from patrols until further notice, he turned on all the Wayne family alarms.
Little Demon Spawn wouldn't use patrols as an excuse to hit people? Would he pass up the opportunity to take his katana out of its case? Who had he killed? Oh my god, would he be doing drugs? Maybe that would explain the little bruises on his neck and wrist.
“Oh for all the bats, Bats, what are you going to do? your only son of blood became a drug addict!”Dick very concerned about his little brother's safety “Tim, hack his cell phone, look it up in the network of cameras in the city, we can't leave it like that!”
“Calm down, boy wonder. It is clear that he killed someone and he is not using drugs.”Jason tried to appease his brother in his mother hen way.
"Well, he's hiding something big, someone has been removing images from cameras for over six months, and Damian coincidentally never sees himself in them, not even at school.”Tim didn't want to alarm anyone, but the fact that he hadn't found evidence of his little brother in the last six months in the city was certainly a big concern.
Had he been going back to his habits from the prince of assassins?
Everyone looked at Bruce, waiting for his words. “We will follow him just to make sure he is safe, whatever his secret he will tell us sooner or later.”
(They didn't know it was more later than sooner)
Nightwing, Red hood, Red robin, and Batman followed the low trail Damian left when he left the mansion. Unaware of the luck they had, of Damian being in a discussion on the phone with Bourgeois, to distracted to know he was being followed.
They stopped on the roof opposite the minimarket that Damian entered. With tim setting up the microphone to understand what Damian was saying. Another red flag was that he could not hack his cell phone.
"There is no need for threats Bourgeois, I understand the delicacy of the situation, and I am fully prepared to waste a couple of days on the cause."
No one in the family harbored hope at this point.
After hearing Bourgeois rant about the importance of his best friend's health, Damian continued navigating the soda aisle, he would never understand why Marin insisted that Dr.Pepper was the best of drinks when Mountain-Dew was clearly superior.
"To prevent him from trying to escape I had to chain him to bed, his insistence on continuing with his final project is very irritating, I am grateful that he can hardly speak at this point, or else his voice would be ringing throughout the department."
The whole Bat family was shocked and disappointed, Damian was holding a hostage somewhere horrible, and he was working with someone else.
At leaving the store, the vigilantes dispersed, all decided to find Damian's hostage, then they could deal with Demon Spawn. They were a little scared of what Damian could have bought in a simple minimarket to use as torture.
From Damian's phone, Chloe gave up with her hateful act and said goodbye to her best friend's boyfriend. "Just make sure he recovers properly, it is very rare that he gets sick, no matter what country or climate Marin was in, he almost never contracted any disease."
"I am conscious chloe, we both know that if there is someone Marin surrenders for, it will be me. I will inform you of any change in his condition."
He hung up the call as he entered his apartment building. His call with chloe lasted his entire journey on the street, luckily he was about to spend all his time with his soft and muscular boyfriend.
Meanwhile, on the rooftops around, the watchers waited for a more appropriate place for torture, but with their beloved Demon Spawn they never knew. Tim pulled out the binoculars so he could see through the walls of the building, looking for the poor soul that Damian held captive.
What they did not expect was for Damian to reach the top floor of the building, taking off his coat and shoes as he entered. The apartment very well furnished and full of life, as if someone actually lived there.
Batman was about to fly straight to the biggest window in the apartment, when what Tim saw made him fall backwards. Bats snatched the binoculars away from him before anyone else could.
"Bats you really don't want to see what's going on there, you wish you could forget it!" All the boys went crazy trying to get Tim to tell them what he had seen.
Inside the apartment, Marin was chained from his right hand to the head of his bed, his mystical blue eyes reddened at the corners, his body rendered by the dark green sheets that Damian had insisted on buying or would not sleep in bed. Marin saw nothing wrong with the old bear sheets.
Instantly Marin felt better when her grumpy boyfriend came home. If he could have produced any vaguely human sounds, he would have rushed Damian into the room.
Before Damian could say anything to his very sick boyfriend, Marin pulled him down onto his chest. Damian was very frustrated that despite all his years of killer training, he always fell on his boyfriend's chest. It was very common to find himself more than six times with his face buried in his hard chest.
So as a very usual act, he made himself comfortable to lock Marin between his body and the bed, holding on tight as always.
They give each other a chaste kiss to avoid germs, but the habit is difficult to break even for a few days. Tim falls on his back at that moment.
“Why did you take so long? It is sooo boring here without your vocabulary of yesteryear and your beautiful frown.” Damn the expensive cologne that always clings to damian, making his neck and hair always so tempting. He curses his body that matches him, which is always ready to attack at any time, and curses his sharp jaw.
"Your very dear best friend distracted me all the way, pretending to be the enemy, as if she hadn't been happy for us when we got together"Damian rolls his eyes.
Marin apparently having said the last thing his throat could handle surrenders to his boyfriend's possessiveness, letting Damian give him little kisses all over her face, excluding his lips.
Across the street batman curses and turns around, contacting agent A. Tim comes out of his stupor and tells his brothers what he saw. They also desperately contact agent A, the only sane one in any situation.
Two days later Marin is fully recovered, shining like a malicious and amiable ray of sunshine.
After Marin confessed to Damian that he knew he was Robin by his butt, and consequently deduced who the other bats were, along with super boy and superman, the barriers of the alter egos had fallen, and in exchange Marian told him about what he found in the Amazon caves and about who his relatives were.
To say that Marin had been about to split the marble island of his kitchen in two because of nerves would not be a lie, but once again, Damian surprised him by saying that it was not very important in his relationship that he had villains as a family, reminding Marin that his mother and grandfather were assassins and that he was also assassin at some point.
So there were no unpleasant surprises in their relationship, but there were surprises for the rest of the world. Marin knew about the secret that Damian was hiding from his family, because he was the secret.
He didn't get it wrong, no, Marin knew that Damian was more than willing to tell the world who he was dating, if the first selfie he published was something to consider, or ... all the broken hands he left behind because he thought they were very comfortable with him.
Oh, he loved when damian got all possessive, like a bristling kitten, or rather a panther ready to attack.
Returning from his fantasies, Marin decided to tell Damian that his time was up. His aunt Ivy had mentioned that the cameras hidden among the succulents had caught the bats spying on them days ago. Harley and ivy investigated before informing him, wanting to make sure they weren't going to confront him.
He loved Ivy and Harley, but the fact that they had called his parents and his nonna had not made him very happy, now he would have to explain why he had not told them about his boyfriend.
Marin hoped that the feeling of imbalance that was beginning to form in his chest was only the work of the family drama that was coming and nothing else.
➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞
Damian was a bit more bitter than normal at school during the morning, he would admit that his call with Bourgeois distracted him from his surroundings, but it was about time that his family began to suspect.
Obviously he didn't take it out on his angel, he was what kept him going, so if Marin's fans came out with completely unnecessary bruises, neither Jon, Chloe, or Marin said anything.
And when Marin started kissing him more often to distract him nobody complained so much.
By the middle of the school day Damian had his hair messed up by Marin, Jon had chosen to warn Marin's outside friends about getting close, and Chloe was on her cell phone as usual. But a strange call to Marin sparked everyone's interest.
Marin reluctantly answered upon seeing the unknown number, but when no one spoke on the line, he knew it was a premonitory call.
The group partially aware of Marin's secrets nodded in acknowledgment, attentive to what was to come.
➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞
Tim was ready to die, Dick was almost there, and Jason was more than pleased to help his little brothers leave this plane of existence.
Bruce was regretting in the darkest corner of his cave, what had he done wrong for his son to hide his partner? The moments of fatherhood that he shared with his son came to his mind ... and he realized that in reality he had not done much fatherly, so it made sense.
“I can't find any mention of Marin Dupain-Cheng, Jon Kent, Chloe Bourgeois or Damian on the internet for the last year. Everything has disappeared since October 28 from last year.”Tim was going crazy, he couldn't possibly find nothing.
“Calm down replacement, you can not find anything because you are looking for them from our devices and accounts. Alfred lent me his cell phone, and when I look for the name of our mysterious boy many interesting things appear”
“What are you waiting for Jason? Show it on the screen, I'm worried about little D”Dick said.
Bruce just nodded to his son, he had to be a better father to Damian from now on.
Jon, Chloe, Damian and Marin instagram appeared on the main screen of the cave. All with ridiculous names, like hellaMari, NottrollJon, QueenChloOriginal, and TheDEmon66. With too many followers to be just teenage accounts.
The only recent one was that of damian, where his photos were of him distracted, the one with Marin or the animal welfare he helped and the one he founded.
I had comments like: I would like to be you, how lucky you are, how I chose you, omg give me your life, etc ... It was very disturbing for the bati family, especially because they did not know that it was THE Damian Wayne, nor did they have his real name, they called him demon.
The evidence was refuted a year ago, with a photo in the instagram of Marin, of Damian and him facing the sun. With Damian's hair styled in a modern way, and with Marin lying on him, winking. Damian didn't even look the same even though he wasn't smiling, how happy he looked without needing to smile amazement at his family.
Thereafter, Jon and chloe began uploading photos of the group. A video especially on the NottrollJon insta convinced them to stop snooping.
Now they just had to wait for Damian to come back.
➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞
"Since they overcame their own incompetence, I decided this would be the most effective, Marin, this is my family, my father Bruce, Grayson, Todd, and Drake. I think Alfred is in the kitchen but you already know him. Father and idiots, this is Marin my boyfriend for a year, congratulations for finding out.”
The bats definitely did not expect Damian to arrive with Marin after school, they had assumed they would have to hunt him all over the mansion. Even so, Bruce always prepared for everything with his mask, he shook Marin's hand, impressed by the height and strength of the boy.
"I'm glad you guys have finally discovered our secret" Marin smiled to the bats, making Damian grumpty.
“Wow, why are you like the sun if you date Demon Spawn?”
“Wait, did you know that he was hiding you from us?” Dick was surprised.
“Well ... I think we better start the story in the dining room, we don't want to make Alfred wait.” Damian was very pleased with his family's reactions and the fact that they were very surprised to approach Marin.
None in the family knew how to describe Marin yet. Physically, it was quite a surprise, with his big, slanted eyes, his symmetrical face, the fact that he was bigger than Jason in muscles and height, that his smile rivaled Grayson's, and that his dark blue hair was real.
But they knew very little about their attitude, tastes, or backstory. Tim's investigations had been very vague, only discovering that in reality there were not many papers about Marin because he had never been to school, or had lasted more than nine months in one place.
Then they followed the boys into the dining room, still amazed at Damian's attitude. Determined to inspect Damian's boyfriend thoroughly and decide for themselves how dangerous Marin Dupain-Cheng was. After all, if their beloved little brother liked it, it would have to have a dark side.
➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞
As night fell, the bats could tell that Marin Dupain-Cheng did not lie to them even once. With their detective senses on edge, everyone could agree that he didn't tell a lie even once.
Which leaves them with the incredible travel anecdotes that Marin had related to them to please Damian and distract him from the accusations of his family.
It was refreshing to say the least, Marin's point of view on heroic and villainous figures, the problems of the world, the little ones, the horrible situations of the poor, the wonders of traveling. It was a drastic change to what they were used to. A vision stained brown with red and black shades, the city, the complaints and the pressure on the vigilantes or the absolute disgust for the anti-heroes or rogues.
“So you were in the scarecrow attack at the museum a year ago, and you threw your motorcycle at the guys who were shooting at you?” It was obvious that Jason had reminded him of the incident long ago, but unaware that Marin already knew their identities because of her boyfriend's butt, Jason pretended he hadn't been there.
Tim, Dick and Bruce had also been there, but they didn't see the moment that happened, so their disbelief was not acted.
"Was it because of the toxin of fear, or before you could already launch motorcycles at your whim?"Bruce spoke, seriously, what the hell did he take in the morning to make his voice so deep and strong?
Marin told Damian that it was the magic of the dark knight, but Damian dismissed it saying that after pretending so much he had stayed like this.
“Oh no, it's actually partly because I do what I can to keep fit.“Marin and Damian knew what was coming
“And the other part? "Dick asked suspiciously.
“Well that's thanks to my curse” Marin shrugged. As Damian reached for his hand under the table and all the bats leaned in his direction synchronously.
“Damn, like magic and that?”
“Yeah, when I was five, my nonna took me to the Amazon, of course she hadn't originally thought about going to the jungle, but for some reason I escaped, and ended up being swept away by a current in the river. Miraculously, I came to some kind of cave next to the rapids, where I touched something I shouldn't have touched and then the plague's curse clung to me.” Marin didn't mention that the curse came with the slim silver ring that right now was being rubbed by his boyfriend.
“So you're saying, that you have super strength because you drank from the Amazon River?“ Tim hit Jason, wondering if that white streak actually meant the death of all his neurons.
"It is more complicated than that but yes, it is actually quite similar to what you say”
Damian looks at his father, he will never admit it, but he was worried that his father did not like Marin, either because of his magic, the fact that he discovered his secret identities ... Or that his family is made up of the rogues of Gotham and other non-heroic personalities.
“He also discovered our identities a month after we started dating "Damian let out.
This time no one moved, with poker faces and saved breaths. Tim was the boldest "How ... did that happen?"
“I know Damian's butt from near, and being Robin didn't hide his butt very well.” Marin knew exactly how to break the tension, even if it means embarrassing his boyfriend a bit.
Jason and Dick started laughing seconds later, Bruce massaged his forehead, with the slightest blush on his cheeks. Tim dropped his head to the table, regretting his question, Damian just covered his blush, without looking directly at his family.
“Tt, Marin, couldn't you just tell them something else?”
“Of course not mon amour, they would know if I had lied”
After that they moved into the living room, where the fireplace was conveniently already on. The talk was postponed until it was late at night, and Marin after so many jokes with Jason and Dick had forgotten to mention that his parents would be coming to Gotham soon to meet them all.
Oh well, interesting things were definitely to come.
➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞ ➞
Damian had a good night, maybe it had to do with the fact that he shared a bed with Marin, but they had done that before, or maybe it was the fact that this was the bed where he slept only before meeting Marin. Or was it because he had finally introduced his boyfriend to his family, and they all got along wonderfully.
Naturally someone had to ruin his good mood, and to his surprise, it wasn't his brothers this time, not even bruce had that nerve. It was that annoying weakling with casuela hair and orange spots on his face who dared to affirm that he had dated Matin and had currently come to town to repair his relationship.
The rest of the Gothnamites at school seemed unconvinced of their cheap babbling in bad English, but Damian didn't give a shit what his classmates thought. The important thing was that they had learned the lesson about Marin a long time ago, and it seemed like Damian would have to break some noses to make his point again.
"Oh yeah, my Mari and I were like this in the past." He showed his intertwined fingers. "But when he had to leave France because his aunt was trapped in the Himalayas it broke my heart, now that he's in town he has been insisting that we come back, isn't that so romantic that he dragged himself along for me?"
Lian was proud that all eyes in the hall were on him, who said that the Gothnamites were smarter was clearly an idiot.
Perhaps he did not realize that all eyes were of displeasure, weariness, and a few concerns. The skinny boy clearly didn't know what he was getting into.
Damian approached with irritation, after a quick check, decided he couldn't hit him ... as hard as he wanted. The chestnut build was too weak, and judging from the orange stains and chipped teeth, there was a more than 73 percent chance that a punch from him would send him to the hospital, and Marin had made him promise not to send more people to the hospital, to the hospital outside of school.
"Oh, so you and Marin are something?" Damian said to the chestnut, ignoring how people began to crowd with interest, while leaving space so that they did not cross with the cold words of Ice Prince, or his fists.
Lian, ignorant and malicious noticed the growing crowd, he had to do it right, or Adrianna would destroy him.
"Well… I don't really want to create any misunderstandings, especially with all the false publicity that he put on instagram, I mean, Marin didn't know a better way to get my attention, so he ended up hiring that model to fake a relationship for Internet." The crowd gasped, that boy would end up knocked out.
"Woah, everything that has come out of your mouth is nothing but shit, and I've only had the misfortune to meet you for a minute."Damian spoke. “So I will tell you something flimsy rat, Marin has never had something with you nor will he, he is a man of good taste, he has class and high standards that you will never can fill in your miserable excuse for life. So you better shut your mouth full of shit before I kick your ass and those horrible orange stains you have.”
The students smiled, that bastard would finally shut his mouth in the best way, oh, and sunshine prince did not look close, there was a great possibility of punches.
Lian did not know what was the best way to react, that guy was scary, damn, he was surely the thug, the safest thing was to play the scary victim, anyway he was too scared to act angry.
"Oh, maybe you are one of the people who is in love with Marin, I can't blame you, my boyfriend is charming that everywhere he go he get a ... admirers entourage, it is understandable that you are angry but there is no need to do great matter about it.”
Damian was about to reply with his usual cold and dark aura, when his boyfriend entered the crowd.
Lian, or actually Lila, cringed at the sudden appearance of Marin, she / he thought it would keep her record of being late to school and give her time to manipulate the sheep.
“Stop your pathetic act Rossi, the French in our old school may be a ball of idiots, but in Gotham things are very different.”
Ah, Marin. It could be called sunshine prince and boy did it fit him. You can be in his graces and be lucky to have a ray of sunshine to light up your days, or you could be an idiot without self-preservation and die from sunburn.
Lian tried to regain command, wild was going to kill her, she had not been in the city for five days and had already been discovered.
“Oh, Marin darling, you don't have to protect me from the media anymore, you can stop pretending.”
He tried to get closer, but damian slapped his hand against the lockers before he could touch him. Lian did not hesitate to exaggerate and throw himself against the lockers. "Agh, this brute just attacked me! Separate him from me!"
No one moved, sharing the feeling of shame that apparently the skinny did not have.
Marin decided to speak. "Let it be known, that I am not associated in any way with this cheap and lying bitch. Anything that comes out of her mouth is more false than the pyrite. I hope I don't see you again Rossi"
When Lian was about to throw herself at Marin's feet, Damian stopped him, putting his brand name shoe on her chest.
“Don't even try you bastard, he's my boyfriend. And you can't touch what's mine, bitch.”
When the order of the hierarchy was restored, with Damian and Marin walking hand in hand the students lost interest, and left quickly. Completely forgetting the sulfuric chestnut on the ground.
Lila Rossi was so fucked up, and the Agrestes still didn't know.
At a spa across town, Chloe had a feeling. And in a room a few doors from where Rossi Jon was, he also felt it.
#daminette#male marinette#maribat#damian x marinette#lila is fucking faking be a boy for attention i fucking hate her
373 notes
·
View notes
Text
IV: The Dinner
(Batgirl/Red Hood)
Brief note; per demand, this little trilogy will now be an ongoing series🥺thank u all for the support! i was not expecting it at all. ur comments make my day!! i hope u enjoy this chapter bearing in mind that i wasn’t intending on a full length fic, so i hope u can put up with any missteps in the plot or writing. i’m making it up as i go. kiss kiss
Description: Reader makes an ally, and attends a tense dinner. part one, two, and three.
A mild blue dawn was just beginning to flit through the blinds, and I sighed heavily, stretching a little, and running a hand across my face. My skin was cold to the touch. Rolling over stiffly, I glanced at the clock on my nightstand.
5:26a.m.
Nineteen minutes before my alarm. I was too cold to go back to sleep, I knew, as much as Alfred had requested I try and get more of it. Pulling myself up, the sheets slipped off my bare shoulders and folded onto themselves. Once in a blue moon, I would forego making it up again, usually accompanied by an excuse. Today, I didn’t have one. I put my feet on the floor, mind buzzing.
I was done tossing and turning, and decided to get up and shower. Afterward, I threw on my uniform, and got to work on my face. A little bronzy eyeshadow, some mascara and lip balm. I could’ve turned my face into a work of art, but I was tired from my sleepless night and doing much else seemed like a strain.
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in.” I was expecting Bruce or Alfred, but I caught Tim’s reflection in my vanity mirror.
“Hey.” He said.
“Good morning.” I replied tensely. He sat on my bed. Okay. Weird. Tim was a year younger than me- but always ordained himself something of an older brother. His brainpower made learned helplessness and easy state to slip into when he was around- always fixing my PS4, or recovering lost files from my laptop. When we first met, I used to use those things as a crutch to interact with him, as neither of us were particularly forthcoming. These days, we were as close as any pair of siblings.
“What’s up?” I asked, tucking away my mascara wand.
“Oh, I just thought I’d… check up on you. Before school started.”
I was the only one of the Waynes attending Gotham Academy at the moment. Damian was still at Gotham Prep, but by the time he would attend next year, I’d be graduated. I wondered if Tim ever missed it. He garnered his fair share of attention; mostly because of his attractive status and predisposition of agreeability. Before he dropped out, I used the be the subject of mediation for every eligible teenage girl that wanted to get to know my brother- no, the other one. With the soft hair. The chem tutor.
I laughed a little. “Do I seem like I need it?” Tim shrugged. I got up and plopped on the duvet beside him. My window was open a crack, filling the room with a chilly breeze and the scent of moisture and petrichor.
“Did Bruce make you get up for this?” I tried again, keeping my playful tone. He sighed and shook his head.
“Bruce isn’t the only one who’s noticed you lately.” He said, with contrasting seriousness that made my smile fall.
“What’s there to notice? Seriously.” I questioned.
He sighed again and twisted his lip. I knew what that meant. He was about to list everything different I’d been doing for the past three weeks, either alphabetically or by severity. “You look tired. You get home and go straight to your room. You keep fidgeting during briefings. You look distracted. You’re avoiding Damian- which, I get it- but like, more than usual. Dick said you haven’t texted him all week. You usually have something to say about your day at dinner, but-“
“Okay. I get it.”
A brief moment passed, where I watched him pull a looser string from the duvet.
“I know you went somewhere. On the 21st, when we were patrolling in Otisburg. You went somewhere for forty-two minutes.”
I blinked. “Oh.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything-“ He added quickly, looking at me. “Really, I have know idea why you left. I’m sure it was nothing, I just… you’ve been acting weird ever since. Where did you go?”
I swallowed, and my intestines felt like lead. Really, I was relieved. Here I was, in my room I’d decorated with Wayne money, with my brother who evidently cared enough about me to notice my typical word count at dinner, asking me what was wrong. And a lot was wrong.
So, I smoothed my plaid skirt and told him about the night of the 21st- and only that. From Red Hood, to Hoffman, to the warehouse. Every vivid detail I could remember. I decided to leave out my little truancy adventure, along with meeting him in the alley. Lifting up his mask. Having his exposed skin close enough to touch. His gunpowder smell. By the end, Tim was frowning. The following silence could’ve crushed a coke can.
“Shit.” He muttered.
“Yeah.” I echoed. “Shit.”
He didn’t asked why I didn’t tell Bruce. Or Anyone. He didn’t ask why it was so important to me to do this by myself. All he did was take in the information and start putting it together.
“Jesus- you could’ve died. But all that Hoffman stuff. Why you?”
“Exactly!” I breathed.
Another knock on the door, and Alfred’s voice carried through, telling me it was time to go. I got up. Tim nodded and followed suit, no doubt carrying my every last recounting in his piggy-bank memory.
“Please don’t tell Bruce.” I said, some amount of fear slipping into my voice. “I know it was a stupid thing to do and it was stupid not to tell anyone. But he’ll never trust me again.” Tim hesitated at the door.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
I climbed into the backseat of the car, and stared at the cityscape running past the windows. The anxiety had lifted. One of my growing number of secrets revealed. In its wake, the sudden absence left a sense of clarity. I remembered why I had kept it to begin with.
Dick was gifted. The first. The talented boy who could fly. Babs and Tim were brilliant; genius far beyond the confines of academia. Damian was skilled. Trained from birth, the blood son. It nestled here him neatly, right where he belonged. What was I? I wasn’t born with athletic ability beyond my years, or genius intellect. Without that information- without my secrets- I had nothing else to give.
*
Thursday night was dinner. The whole family. It was Bruce’s excuse to drag Dick out of his apartment in Blüdhaven, and for Alfred to exercise a new recipe, since everyone was on a strict lean-means and superfoods regimen every other waking day. Babs attended occasionally, when work didn’t keep her busy, and Tim was only allowed to pass if he promised to rest instead.
I met his eyes as everyone was rounded into the dining room by Alfred like a herd of sheep; he gave me some imperceptible knowing look that promised to keep my secret.
We sat down and sipped water from crystal glasses as the table was set with food, muttering amongst ourselves about our days. Dick was given a coffee with the wrong name (‘Nick’), Babs met up with her friend from high school (Olivia something or other), and Damian completed a group project with some incompetent classmates (they all were- even the professors). Vigilante talk wasn’t forbidden, but generally skirted around so as to offer a small reprieve of normalcy during the week.
There was an exception to this unspoken rule when there was a particularly exciting case on the table. Unfortunately for me and my anxiety, the case of the Red Hood was a very exciting one.
“Any new breaks with Red Hood?” Dick asked through miso soup. Bruce sighed.
“He made some movements in Robbinsville. Gone before we could get there. He’s got his men on a tight leash- we couldn’t get any of them to talk.”
“Course not. There’s rumors flying all over the department. One of the Ioveanu family branches payed out a huge security detail for their private mansion.”
“He hasn’t hunted anyone in their home, has he?” I asked. I pictured him standing in front of me- maskless, in my academy uniform.
“No, it’s not his MO.” Barbara answered.
“Not yet. It’s only been six months, and he’s progressing rapidly.” Bruce diagnosed grimly.
“Are you scared he’s gonna join us for dinner?” Dick joked, throwing a wink my way.
“Haha.” I muttered. Actually, I hadn’t slept because of the very idea.
“If you’re nervous, you could always stay home next patrol.” Damian suggested pointedly. To him, existing in the realm of crimefighting was a competition, and he was always looking for others to drop out of the race. I resisted the urge to fling a pea at him.
“I’m not nervous.” I said coolly.
“You’ve been practically trembling since we fought his pathetic lackeys.”
“Damian.” Bruce warned, from the head of the table. I flipped the smallest Wayne the middle finger. He resigned, but I swore I saw amusement on his lips.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Red Hood is very skilled and very prolific. It’s a daunting case.” Bruce continued.
“Thanks, but I’m okay. Really.” I said, trying not to sound annoyed, and feeling like a spotlight was over my head, operated by the ghost of Hoffman. I almost laughed as I pictured it.
“That’s good to hear. We’ve been concerned.” Alfred added.
“Wow. I’m the star of the show around here.” I remarked dryly.
“We can’t help it, Miss Independent.” Dick said teasingly. “You’re just a good mystery.”
“Reminds me of Talia.” Tim said casually. The silverware stopped clanging.
It was a shameless subject change. Damian’s mother was an inflammatory topic for all parties. Bruce’s moral contempt didn’t reach the likes of Talia Al Ghul and Selena Kyle, immoral though they were. Beauty makes anything charming- and when paired with an impeccable taste in dress, even murder and thievery can be minimized into something of a quirk. Bruce thought so, anyway.
As for Damian, he had grappled with his dismissal from Talia’s side for what was now a majority of his life, and still possessed this deep-rooted, inextinguishable attachment to his mother. It was the hollow soreness any young boy would have in his position. Tim called him mama’s boy until he finally displayed a frightening amount of disdain for the title and actually begged him to stop. Tim agreed to, and I agreed to pretend I never heard a thing.
Dick disagreed with both of those sentiments and viewed Talia as someone who wasn’t worth the trouble. His dismissal embarrassed Bruce and offended Damian, so I knew the dinner table had been sufficiently turned into a powder keg. Tim and I shared a look as I expressed silent gratefulness, and he resigned to inspecting a dumpling, while I picked around my haka noodles.
The rest of dinner was quiet. Somehow, somewhere in the silence all had been decidedly forgiven. First by Babs who asked me to pass the pepper. Then by Dick who said the vegetables were good. Thank you, Alfred. Damian still looked pissed, and Bruce kept stealing glances at the clock.
I texted Tim under the table.
Thanks for taking one for the team.
The reply: You owe me one. I think Damian’s gonna poison my food.
We both glanced at the youngest, who was darkly mesmerized by what appeared to be Tim’s soup bowl.
He quickly added, Wait, actually tho? And we both fought laughter like two kids in the back of the class. It felt good to have an ally. Even if he still didn’t know the whole truth.
#batfam#batman daughter#batsister#batsis#batsis x batfamily#batsis x bruce wayne#batgirl reader#batgirl#jason todd x reader#jason todd imagine#jason todd#jason todd x y/n#red hood x y/n#red hood x reader#red hood#batsis x dick grayson#dick grayson#tim drake#batsis x tim drake#red robin#damian al ghul#damian wayne#robin#bruce wayne#batfam imagine
141 notes
·
View notes
Note
Could you possibly do one where Mari/Mari and marine is/are the daughter/son of the joker?
I actually planned quite a lot for this after you asked but could never get my thoughts to make something comprehensive so I give up here's what I got!:
-Twins are Joker and Harleys kids born before the two split up(and so help me they will split up this story needs gay aunt Ivy)
-As you might know, these two clowns have another kid; Lucy. Harley left Lucy with her sister when she was born. In canon, she thinks Harley is her aunt but I would say in this fic she learned the truth when the twins were also dropped off.
-So the twins grew up in Gotham with their aunt and big sister knowing full well who their parents are; as such they make the responsible choice to suppress every part of themselves that resembles them and constantly dye their hair in an effort to avoid looking like them. You know healthy coping mechanisms. -
-Naturally, Marinette has brown hair with blue eyes and Marion blonde with brown eyes.
-Their personalities are a bit different from Mismatch.
-Marion is still a trickster and a trouble maker but this time around has Marinette fully involved and responsible for his shenanigans. He has a bit of a habit of talking to himself(or singing random phrases), sometimes in the third person; he hates when he does, so Marinette always tells him off. He’s always gets the impulse of dying his hair outlandish colors and will vehemently deny his favorite color is green.
- Marinette is crafty, both figuratively and literally. She’s smart, her mother is a doctor after all she can be manipulative to people that arent her(close) family to protect the ones she cares about. She has a deep-seated fear of becoming a trophy, an object to be put on display like her mother and so dresses the opposite and pushes away her love for fashion.
-They will always call each other Mari but if someone else tries they both answer its a nickname they strictly use for each other.
-In a world where Gotham exists it makes absolutely no sense that Gabriel wouldn't start his reign as Hawkmoth in Gotham(the place with the most negative emotions like geez) so that works out perfectly for the twins becoming heroes(Adrien can move to Gotham or be left in Paris to be kept safe your choice)
-Instead of the twins proving themselves by helping an old man up off the street they go a step further is beating up the thugs that try to rob him(all Fu’s set up of course). When they come home to find two mysterious boxes on their beds they make the only rational conclusion children of the joker would; it’s a bomb!
-Not wanting to get the police involved for obvious reasons they find the security footage(which gets the police involved in a different way) and start tracking down fu to see why he’s trying to kill him.
-And as you may recall at this point in canon Ladybug and Chat Noir are defeating an Akuma, well they're not here they’re off to beat up an old man so thats Batman’s job for the time being.
-The twins get caught up in the fight as civilians and are saved by Batman who immediately recognizes them(you don't think Batman has case files on all of Jokers hellspawn?) so that’s gonna be a problem later but never mind that for now~
-The twins track down Fu, who is wondering why they aren’t out fighting the Akuma. Long story short Fu comes back to the house with them and proves they aren't bombs giving them the miraculous.
-I’m a bit indecisive on the names. I thought Marinette would be Red Bug and Marion Black Cat(yes I know that names already taken I don’t care). But I thought Crimson Bug would work better because then their names would start with the same letters. Then I wanted alliteration like Black Bug and Crimson Cat but that obviously doesn't make any sense since Chats color is green not red-- then I realized it would be completely in character for them to call themselves that confusing everyone in the process so no one quite sure whos name is who(if you wanna write it go with whatever I just thought it could be funny)
-As for costumes Marinette's probably wouldn't be skin tight because deep down she really doesn't want to look like that but more practical armor or less form-fitting at least. Marion's hair turns green when he transforms something he freaks out about and Marinette's turns red(glowing or not either would look cool)
-So anyway they go off to defeat the akuma blah blah blah Batman seeing these two young untrained superheroes can only think of one thing: I have to adopt them. So that’s gonna be fun!
-Anyway they go back home trying to be sneaky and immediately get caught by Lucy: ”Don’t tell Aunty!”-- ”Oh I already know” (her names Delia by the way)
- So now the twins get a support system and a family that will look out for them unbelievable right? This support system immediately threatens Fu making sure he actually trains them and doesn't just set them loose on Gotham.
Anyway that's the end of my semi-cohesive plan and here's a vague outline for the fic:
1. Becoming ladybug and chat noir setting up adoption, and school(Bruce invites them to Gotham academy to keep an eye on the jokers children)
2. First day at school setting up Artemis(and by extension young justice), and own passions, Adrien is also at this school now so Marinette falls, Jason finds out falling in love with Marion
3. Becoming friends with Artemis, convinces them to give their passions a try, Marion runs from hood, some let me adopt you stuff also Jason's spite for Cat Noir
4. Skip a bit of time a few months or so, young justice need help Artemis suggest mari and mari, Marinette has a smackdown with batman about their heritage, at odds with young justice Artemis comes to their defense. Young Justice have an ‘oh’ realization on the job when Marion sings a lullaby to a scared child, now the young justice form the mari and mari protection squad
5. Doing ladybug and cat stuff batman approaches them again this time luring them into adoption with a partnership on finding hawkmoth, Red Hood and cat fight. Marion comes back all huffy and there's a scene with Lucy this time comforting them, Marion goes out to get air runs into hood marion bristles stirring Jason to meet him as a civilian, class come to visit, at odds with lila
6. Doing well at school even made a few friends when the Paris class come to visit completely under lila’s control, lila tries to slander the twins for not worshiping her only to out herself when she tells everyone they laughed at her(the twins never laugh), Jason also drops by further discrediting her, lila tries to throw their heritage in their face but they get support openly working with heroes as civilians, this little section ends quite happily with them being sort of accepted at school and batman tolerating their existence for not attacking the person who tried to make their life miserable
7. Time skip few years out of high school now, ladybug and cat are working well with gothams vigilantes widely considered part of the batfam even if no one knows each other's identities. As mari and mari they are doing good work mainly outside of gotham. Marinette is starting a fashion boutique with a little financial help from Wayne enterprises she also does costume design for heroes and villains, villains mainly because she can't stand their current outfits. Marion quite likes his music but isn't sure how he will feel in the public eye is great friends with Jason and the skip picks up with them officially starting to go out identities unknown. They are still hesitant about their identities in civilian life Marinette starting her business under a false name and Marion cant start his because of his heritage. Jason officially has to admit they are going out to the family is met with grilling by aunt and sister, joy by harley once she tries giving them sex advice they leave, his brothers tease and both are tense about Bruces reaction but he begrudgingly accepts. Are out as ladybug and Cat still snippy with hood but it’s not as bad they are closing in on hawkmoth. Go to hang out with young justice as well they aren't well-liked in Gotham but they’re fine with that(not really)
8. NOW things can go to shit joker finally has enough of them deciding to get a hold of them but I think it should be as ladybug and chat revealing their identities to the world. The twins are terrified rightfully so. Get saved now it’s weird between hood and marion, marion feeling betrayed Jason knew who he was and knew who his father was but still decided to date him and he just can't understand why. Adrien was so scared for Marinette and now they both have to work out why. Gotham is at odds the heroes they admire are born from a villain they fear. Bats are a bit weird feeling like they were tricked while also kind of acknowledging the twins are good people
9. Harassed in their everyday life now the twins go to young justice where they get met with awe for being established independent heros, bats there are acting weird but the twins say something to shift perspective leaving to let them mull on it. Jason tries to apologise saying he doesn't see Marion like that blah blah Marion has a breakdown asking how he can be anything but a villain. Marinette's having whiplash going from loved to hated and still dealing with the trauma of seeing her father. They snap. In public a big ol scene and they get akumatised everyone sees it, it’s on tv. Hawkmoth comes out to get their miraculous the batfam can’t beat him. He’s monolouging probing at their deepest fears when they snap back to reality realizing none of it’s true every part of them has worked to be good people and they are they don't hand over their miraculous beating the akumatizaton and beating hawkmoth while akumatised.
10. They are released from the hospital a few days later, getting hesitant recognition on the streets. It's not thunderous applause but it is something. Their family comes to pick them up, Adrien is crying to Marinette about not scaring him like that(her family took him in when Gabriel was revealed). Marion gets picked up by Jason they patch things over. They get accepted into the batfam and work as ladybug and cat for everything. Marion decides to start playing music and Marinette reveals her face to her fashion brand.
26 notes
·
View notes
Text
Shattered
Author: locke-writes
Title: Shattered
Prompt: Do you love me? I have to know. x Arthur Curry For: @moonlit-imagines writing challenge
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,966
Tag List: @lotsoffandomrecs / ask to be added
There was a rift between you and Arthur. There was no telling how long it had been there or when it started to grow but it was there and you refused to acknowledge it which hurt Arthur nearly as much as the idea that he was the cause of it did. He wondered if you refused to acknowledge the fact that the two of you were drifting apart because you didn't want to admit it or perhaps because you didn't see it. Although he wondered how you couldn't see it.
It was meant to be simple, all of it was meant to be simple. At the beginning it was just you and Arthur, no one else, nothing else. He knew that he was Atlantean and this was something he shared with you although he'd thought he'd never go there, never live to see the home that belonged to half of him. And then suddenly he was needed, suddenly he had to leave for a place he knew little of.
When he returned, he was king. Then it was no longer just you and Arthur, it became you, Arthur, and an entire kingdom that you may never get to see.
He worried that you'd leave after his coronation. He worried because he was unable to fathom any way that you could stay when there was knowledge that he'd be back and forth across land and sea. But you loved him. That's what you had told him, that you loved him and you would willingly lend him to the sea, to Atlantis, as long as you had a promise of his return.
The promise was easily given but not easily kept and Arthur supposed that this was the beginning of the drift. Or maybe was it the beginning of an end he couldn't see coming, he didn't know.
For a time it was you, Arthur, and Atlantis. And then Bruce Wayne arrived, and then he was called for another greater purpose.
You were his excuse to Bruce for not joining at first, you were the reason he wasn't going to join. Because he had to talk to you, because he didn't want to just leave you high and dry. Bruce claimed to understand then watched Arthur as he questioned you, revealed all that was occurring and what he was being asked to do. He played it up, he knew it was exaggerated but he wanted you to see what he was trying to convey.
Arthur wondered if you could see it in his eyes, see that he was pleading with you to ask him to stay, If you did see this, you chose to ignore it and instead urge him to join. The world needed him and you would not keep him from the world. Arthur wondered if he would be seen as a coward if he retreated to Atlantis instead of leaving with Bruce but he knew that if he was being asked to go then he must.
He would be split into pieces, he would leave just a part of himself with you. Some of his thoughts would be with you, some with Atlantis, some with the Justice League, and only a small bit would be for him and him alone. He hated it, he longed for the days that seemed decades ago when it was you and he against the world.
He didn't dare speak with his mother on the subject although he knew that she had gone through worse than he had. She had been reunited with his father but he didn't know how she hadn't lost hope in the years of separation.
He didn't dare speak with Diana on the subject although he knew that she had gone through something similar. She had Steve Trevor, lost him, and then regained him but he didn't know how she had dealt with those years of separation.
He didn't dare speak with you on the subject. He was strength, he was never weak, and what would you think if he shown some brokenness to you. What would you think if you chipped away the facade of Aquaman to show the vulnerable Arthur Curry underneath?
Perhaps this was the start of the rift.
Perhaps this was the start of what Arthur considered the end, whether you noticed it or not.
When he returned from the first Justice League mission he knew that you were relieved. You had been watching the news and engulfed him into a hug as soon as he stepped through the door. He returned it yet in the back of his mind he felt as though it was a caveat, a way of forgiveness for him leaving. It wasn't, he knew it was you being grateful for his being alive yet he still couldn't shake this lingering guilt.
He couldn't shake the fact that he felt that he had abandoned you.
He knew that you deserved better than him. You deserved someone that wasn't split into pieces and scattered any way the wind blew. He wanted to be whole for you, he wanted to be one person, he wanted to be human not Atlantean, he wanted to be Arthur Curry, not king of Atlantis, not Aquaman, he wanted just to be Arthur Curry.
He wanted to be with you, he wanted to not feel the pressures of everything weighing down upon him.
So yes, perhaps this was the start of the rift because this was when Arthur began to retreat away from you.
Slipping from bed before you awoke he retreated to Atlantis to bury himself in work returning long after you had gone to bed. Often he would come in to find food on the table for him and you on the couch asleep, both signs that you had been waiting for him. On these nights he pushed the guilt away from him. It sat in his stomach like a rock, filled with his refusal to see what he was doing to you. If he didn't see the pain in your eyes when you looked at him then that pain didn't exist.
But that pain did exist and it grew within you as it grew within Arthur.
A coward, that's what he was now, that's what he considered himself. Only a coward would keep this hidden in his own mind and body. Only a coward would allow his soul to be torn from his body as if it had never been there at all.
Only a coward would keep running.
But run and run and run he did.
Because running was easier, running was the way out.
Confrontation would lead to unhappiness and he couldn't bare to hear that he had made you unhappy.
Except he was sure that it wasn't the distance between you know that had made you unhappy, it was him. It had been and would always be him that caused you pain rather than comfort, sorrow rather than joy.
Everything he touched he was sure to destroy, so why did he think it would be any different with you?
Arthur wanted to speak to you, wanted to reach out, and yet stopped himself every time. It seemed impossible to repair what had been destroyed even if you never recognized its destruction. Even if you never placed any blame on him.
He deserved the blame.
He deserved the anger.
He deserved yelling, he deserved horror, he deserved terror and pain and sadness and destruction and he deserved all of it from you.
Because what he had and was still putting you through was unforgivable and yet it seemed as though he couldn't bring himself to stop.
He hated what he was doing to you. He hated it but trying to stop it came to no avail. It would continue as though someone else was inhabiting his body. His mind now was not his own, it belonged to the self hatred that festered within him, it belonged to the feeling of worthlessness that came upon him and lived forever within him. This was something he never was going to get rid of. He was sure of it.
And as he slipped in bed beside you all he planned to do was slip away again the next morning.
But you were there and you were not asleep and you had not acknowledged the rift but you had noticed it. You were never ignoring it, could never ignore it for the pain that built inside you was not anger, it was not due to Arthur tearing himself from your side as if you were one becoming two.
No, you had seen what was occurring and you were striving to fix it. You had hoped that maybe he would reach out to you, maybe one morning he would be there when you awoke instead of miles in the depth of the sea.
You could feel him drifting and you wanted to pull him back in. You had hoped he would return to you on his own accord, you had hoped that the spiral had an end and that he wasn't slipping further and further away. There was no predicting what went on in his mind there was only knowing that you had gone through it at one point on your own.
You had gone through it alone. You had been going through it alone.
It was a monster there in the back of your mind and Arthur was feeding the monster with every single act. He seemed to be getting devoured by the monster rather than pushing it back to the far recesses of his mind in defeat where it should always live.
Arthur lie awake staring at the ceiling and you had a thought in the back of your mind that refused to leave you. Whether the answer to the question would heal or harm you it didn't matter — you only wanted an answer.
Arthur felt you turn, he felt an arm come to rest itself across his waist, he felt you turn your head but he didn't dare face you.
"Do you love me? I have to know. Is there still one ounce of love for me in you?"
If his heart already hadn't been shattered, hearing your question would have shattered it to pieces.
If you were being honest you hadn't expected an answer and Arthur wasn't sure that he was even ready to give one but he was tired. Tired not just physically but emotionally, he didn't want to run anymore, he didn't want to be honest either. He wanted to hide.
Yet here you were asking and here he was speaking and he didn't know what would become of him if he kept everything from you any longer.
"I love you. I will love you for the rest of my days. I just don't love me and I don't think you deserve someone who doesn't love himself."
He didn't know what he was thinking when he spoke, when he admitted some of what had been going on in his head. He had not expected though, for you to take your hand in his.
And he did not expect for you to speak, thinking that the words would sit in silence.
"Then let me love you for the both of us. Let me love you enough for you until you can love yourself again because Arthur, you deserve love. I need you to tell me when something is wrong. I need you to trust me. And we don't have to start now, we don't have to start tonight but we will work to heal you Arthur. We will work on getting you to love yourself again but next time please, trust me enough to know that I won't run from you and that you don't need to run from me"
#locke writes#dceu#arthur curry#dceu fic#arthur curry fic#dceu fanfic#arthur curry fanfic#dceu imagine#arthur curry imagine#dceu oneshot#arthur curry oneshot
60 notes
·
View notes
Text
Headcanon- Being Tim and Conner’s Civilian Best Friend
Request: Could you do headcanons for what it would be like to be Tim or Conner's civilian best friend?
Yes, of course, lovely Anon! First of all, thanks for the really great request. Second, I have no self-control, and this was an amazing request that got the cogs turning so here I present you with both Tim and Conner plus a thing.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim
- You and Tim had been buds forever. You frequented the same coffee shops for years and knew of each other’s existence, but you never actually spoke until he was in your middle school class at Gotham Academy.
- He had a habit of speeding through last night’s homework every morning, ten minutes before class started. You always wondered what he had going on after school that took up so much time.
- The two of you got pretty close. You even went over and met his family one day. Dick loved you, Jason thought you were a robot, a scary child with a large dog watched you from afar- you were told his name was Damian, and Bruce Wayne gave you a firm handshake.
- After years of knowing and trusting one another, you learned that he was red robin. You didn’t freak out, you just kind of stood there staring at this panicked, coffee-fueled maniac, realizing how much sense it made.
- The dynamic stayed the same, but you became even more of a mom as you got closer.
- “Tim, only one espresso shot in your coffee.”
- “NO, you cannot sleep for 48 hours and stay awake for the next 72, you’ll end up in a comma!”
- “Tim, the human body needs actual food.”
- “I know bats are nocturnal but you’re not a bat! The sun is good for you!”
- You bring him breakfast because this genius only wakes up early enough to get dressed and pick up a travel mug of coffee. Anything from grapes to a sandwich. You can basically give him anything at 7:30 am and he’ll eat it without question.
- You once gave him toast with a paper on it and had to tell him to spit it out because he didn’t even notice.
- As a habit making a second copy of all your homework and notes because he will most likely forget and even though he’s smart enough to finish it super quickly, you don’t want the poor sap to have to rush through work 10 mins before class starts when he’s already sleep deprived.
- You go shopping with him for anniversary presents for Stephanie. Sooooo much teasing.
- Movie nights with him are the best. It’s rare but once every two weeks, you can drag him away from all cases and red robin work and just sit and watch a movie with him. It almost always results in him falling asleep before the end but you don’t mind.
- It always made you happy to see your best friend actually sleeping. It’s one of the few times you can him relax.
- Jason no longer thinks you’re a robot and Damian watches you from up close now. Dick says that means he likes you. You take pride in that.
- He also super protective of you. He’s very careful not to let a anything to do with red robin come back to you.
- When he’s worried about your safety, he calls Conner and that usually goes something like this:
- “Hey, Y/N! It’s nice to see you! How have you been?”
- “Conner, why are you acting weird? I saw you yesterday.” And then he’ll find some way to drag you off to Metropolis for a few hours. Sometimes he’ll convince you to let him fly you to Smallville and you always say yes because you love the Kents’ horse.
- Tim used to think you didn’t know that he called Conner, but you figured it out really quick. Now Conner just shows up and you pick up your purse and leave.
- “So, what is it this time?”
- “They think Poison Ivy is spraying some weird plant gas thing in your area.”
- “Oh. I’ll just text him. He had better be careful, we have a project due in a week.”
Conner:
- Tim’s other bestie became your bestie too.
- Tim introduced you to him before you found out he was red robin. When you found out that Conner was Superboy, you weren’t even surprised. It made sense.
- You got to see Titans Tower once. It was fun have your very own superhero escorts into the building.
- You don’t hesitate to mom him around too.
- “Kon, I know you’re invincible and stuff, but your human side needs a jacket. It’s below freezing outside.”
- The Kents love you and Jon is the most adorable child. They are invited to every family event you have and omg Lois makes the best pies.
- Piggyback rides in the sky.
- You’re his rock and he talked to you about all of his issues about family. He trusts you just as much as he trusts Tim at this point.
- He comes to you for relationship advice.
- Conner is definitely the cheekiest of all of your friends. He’ll play pranks on you with Jon and Tim for the fun of it, which usually results in him receiving uncoordinated randomized punches from you. Jon gets away with it because he’s a cutie-pie.
- You receive so much teasing from him over every crush you have, like, holy guacamole! You can’t even try to deny it because he can read minds for one. But then, he can hear your heart rate increase! Darn superpowers!
- Now, as a reflex before he can even say anything, you just go “Shut up.” But that doesn’t stop him. Why would it?
- This sweetheart will go everywhere with you when you need him and refuses to let you drive from Metropolis to Gotham at night.
- “I can fly back, Y/N. It’s not a problem for me. You on the other hand, live in Murdersville, USA. You’re not going alone; I don’t care if Batman is there. You know Tim would agree with me.”
- Helps you with shopping for birthday gifts.
- Big protective baby.
- He’ll join in on movie nights and actually stay awake. He usually carries Tim to his bedroom and tucks him in which elicits a few eyebrow dances from you. ;)
TimKon:
- Both of these guys will protect you with their lives because like they’re your best buds and while you’re not exactly a superpowered hero or a Bo staff-wielding, bat trained detective, you would do everything you could to protect these boys.
- �� You are somehow their baby and also their mom, perhaps because you force them to eat and sleep and limit Tim’s coffee intake and he actually listens to you.
- When they are together, they are such softies! Endless teasing about how they are like a married couple.
- “Well, Steph seems to have some competition.” *eyebrow wiggle* ;D
- It’s Besties Movie Night! You’re all chilling, the popcorn is ready and you’re ready to- *beep beep*
- And in the middle of the movie they have to go for a Titan thing. They look at you apologetically. You assure them that it’s alright, give them their hugs.
- You basically tell them go have fun, don’t die, come back safe and you’re finishing the movie without them. And they groan and go off on their mission.
- They come back around dinner time just to make up for the time they didn’t get to spend with you.
- They find you watching SpongeBob and eating Nutella from the jar. “Yay you’re back!”
- You flip back to the movie you didn’t have the heart to finish because it just wasn’t the same without Tim’s commentary about how its scientifically inaccurate and Conner’s constant nagging about how the flying looks so fake.
- “Aww thanks for waiting, N/N!”
- “You’re welcome.” You said.
- “You love us too much to finish it without us, don’t you?” you just grumbled. “Oh come on. Admit it, you love us.”
- “Not as much as you love each other.” You joked.
- But it was true. You love your boys.
#timkon#timkon x reader#platonic reader#request#tim x reader#Tim x platonic reader#conner kent#tim drake#fluff#movie night#Superboy#red robin#conner kent x reader#x platonic reader#gender netural reader#x gender neutral reader
146 notes
·
View notes
Text
Seeing Red Chapter 11
Title: Seeing Red
Master List
Pairing: Jason Todd x Stella Covington (OC)
Warnings: Cursing, major character death, a little bit angsty, fluff.
Summary: After months of suppressed feelings, some things come to light.
Chapter 11: Graduation
2 Years Later
The auditorium was filled with parents, students, and teachers. Commencement had just ended so the people inside the building were in a frenzy. Students were looking for their parents, parents were looking for their kids, and teachers were just trying to get out and go home.
Stella stood near the back doorway. She had her graduation hat tucked between her arm as she types away on her phone.
She sends a text to Jason; I’m in the back next to the door.
Right as she presses send, she feels a pair of arms snake around her waist. She turns around to see Jason, who was currently wearing a baseball cap and a large pair of sunglasses. This was Jason's way of "hiding his identity" because well he was technically still dead in the eyes of the public. Stella laughs at his outfit. She turns around in his arms and wraps her arms around him, pulling him in for a hug.
“Congrats doll.” He said pulling her tighter.
“You look ridiculous.”
Jason smirks at her. “You don’t like my look? I’m hurt.” He puts his hand on his heart, feigning pain.
Stella makes a face at him and he rolls his eyes. He takes off his hat and sunglasses and tucks them both inside his back pocket. “Is this better?”
“Better.” She says with a grin.
“Stella.” A deep voice says from behind her.
Stella turns around to face her dad. She smiles brightly and runs into his arms. Mr. Covington hugs his daughters tightly and whispers into her ear. “I’m so proud of you Stella. I just wish your mom was here to see you.”
Stella starts to tear up, but holds it in.
“Thanks dad. I thought you were busy today? I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow.” She says as they pull apart. She is grinning ear to ear. Her dad showing up was something she was not expecting. His schedule was packed, and Stella would never ask him to cancel anything for her. She couldn’t believe he actually showed up. Jason moves to stand next to her.
“Yes, but I had to clear my schedule for a few hours to see you graduate.” He said smiling down at her. “But I do have something in about 30 minutes so I can’t stay long.”
He looks up towards Jason and nods at him. Jason nods back with respect.
It was a little awkward telling Stella’s dad about Jason. But he bought the whole ‘Bruce had to fake his death for safety reasons’ thing. Powerful men like Bruce Wayne always had enemies. Faking his son’s death for protection wasn’t out of the ordinary for people like him. In the public eye, their relationship was a secret. The press still didn’t know about his “revival”.
“Congratulations Stella!” Came a loud booming voice. Stella felt her feet raise off the ground as Dick pulls her up into the air, squeezing his arms tight around her.
“Dick I-I can’t breath.” She said with a small laugh. He quickly put her down and hugs her once more.
“I’m so proud of you little bird.”
Stella smiles brightly at him. “Thanks Dickie.”
“Congratulations Stella.” Another voice said from behind Dick.
Stella looked up at the man and smiles lightly. “Thanks Bruce.” Bruce stretched out his hand, but Stella pushed it away and went in for a hug instead. He smiled softly down at her.
Things with between the Bat family and Jason had gotten better over the years. Jason still had not forgiven Bruce entirely, but they were no longer on killing terms. Every once in a while they would acknowledge each others existence.
Dick managed to wiggle his way back into their lives by being Dick. It became kind of hard to ignore him when he would show up in the middle of a date. Not to mention the flurry of texts and phone calls. Stella gave in eventually. Jason just sort of went along with it.
Things were still a little awkward between Tim and Jason. Jason had taken to calling Tim his "replacement". Stella still wasn’t sure if Jason actually knew his real name. But at least they got along.
Kind of.
Stella pulls away and Bruce steps towards Mr. Covington. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Stella watched as they exchange pleasantries for a few minutes. Mr Covington looks down at his watch, and excuses himself from Bruce. He gives Stella another hug, before waving goodbye and quickly making his way out the door.
Jason takes this opportunity to bend over slightly and whispers into her ear. “Can I talk to you? Alone?” Stella turns to him and nods. They quickly excuse themselves from the family and find a place that was slightly devoid of people.
Jason looked down at Stella nervously. Stella giggled at him. “What is it Jay?”
“I um… Was going to do this tonight. But the damn thing seems to be getting heavier and heavier in my pocket.”
Stella had no idea what he was talking about.
Jason reached his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small silver key. “Stella. Now that you’re done with school and stuff. Uh, Bruce gave me one of his safe houses and its actually pretty nice. I know your place is nice and stuff. But this place has heightened security. I would feel a lot better if you were there because of that. I mean not that your place isn't secure. This place is just designed like a fortress. It also has a place for me to enter underground when I get back from patrol. It's really close to your place too. A-and I was just wondering if you wanted to you know, move in with me?”
Stella paused trying to put together all of his words.
Jason panics and starts to ramble. “I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I just thought that it would be nice to have our own place. Where I don’t have to get frisked by security every time I walk through the door and…”
Stella placed her finger on his mouth to stop him from rambling any more.
“Yes. Yes I would love to move in with you.” Stella says happily. She throws her arms around Jason’s neck and presses a kiss to his lips. She lets out a yelp when he lifts her off her feet and tips her backward, his hands carefully holding her up. Stella melts into his arms.
*FLASH*
Jason shakes his head after regaining his sight. Stella rubs her eyes, trying to regain her senses. He helps Stella to her feet and they both turn to the source of the flash. Their eyes widen once they realize who it was.
Standing next to a young man with a large camera was none other than Vicki Vale. She had a large grin on her face, as if she had won the lottery or something. Stella had never seen the woman look so pleased with herself.
“I knew I recognized you! Rumor had it you were back, but no one has been able to prove it.” She squealed. She stepped towards the couple and pulled out a small notebook. “The infamous Jason Todd returns from the dead. Tell me why did Bruce Wayne decide to fake your death? Why have you returned from the grave? Oh is that Bruce himself. Hey Wayne!” She screamed, quickly running towards Bruce. The camera man takes off after her.
Stella and Jason look at each other, a bit shocked at what just happened. “Lets get out of here.” Stella whispers to Jason as she pulls him away from Vicki as she is distracted. They head out through the back and make their way towards Jason’s motorcycle. They quickly put on their helmets and ride off.
Once they knew they were far enough, they were in the mountains now, Jason stopped the bike and they got off. They took a seat on a large rock at the edge of the cliff. From here, they had an amazing view of Gotham city. The shoreline was visible from where they were and it looked like the sun was getting ready to set. Jason wrapped an arm around Stella and pressed a kiss into her head. She leans into his embrace.
“You know that story is going to be front page in every news outlet tomorrow right?”
Jason shrugs. “They were bound to find out eventually. It’s a wonder they took this long.” Jason looks down at her. Stella looks up to meet his gaze. “Things are going to be kind of crazy from now on doll. You are dating a dead man after all.”
Stella laughs and smiles up at him, pressing a soft kiss onto his lips. “I think we can handle it.”
#Red Hood#Jason Todd#Jason Todd x OC#jason todd/original female character#original character#Alternate Universe#Stella Convington#dcu#Under the Red Hood#iwritethings#fanfiction#seeing red#Bruce Wayne#Gotham#Vicki Vale
21 notes
·
View notes
Text
Thoughts and Opinions while watching Zach Snyder’s Justice League Part One (which is apparently four hours long) (Methinks someone was trying to put do Marvel for longest superhero movie):
Spoilers!!!!
Spoilers for Part One, Two, and Three of JL!!!
-Why does it look like a VHS movie that was never properly updated to DVD format???
-It a bit blurry in the first few seconds...
-Wait What???
-Why do the Stones have the Mother Box just sitting in their closet????
-Oh...hey I almost forgot about Luther existing in this universe...
- WOW Superman final scream sure can reach a ton of places before fading...even taking a quick dip under water while it’s at it...
-Does...Does our Amazon Queen have a ton of people on guard duty on the off chance it might go off??? Like I guess that’s good foresight on her part but man that’s a lot of people to stand in active guard moment for how ever long before they guards rotate..
- huh this town has a few Atlantean’s looking symbols in this version then the last...
-I feel like Bruce Wayne going around introducing him by his true name and going around recruiting super hero’s for his team might end up being a red flag that he might be more then just a benefactor if that’s his angle???
- Also I thought Bruce Wayne/Batman was slightly paranoid and tried his very best to keep his secret identity a secret from his teammates?? Here? It’s all “Hey I’m Bruce Wayne and I’m also Batman”
- Does Bruce Wayne’s company even wonder where he is at any more?? Or are they up to the point that they don’t care because obviously some one or another is running the company for him...
- umm does American Currency even work where ever that small fishing town is??? I’m guessing since they ask for American currency...
- Oook slightly creepy with that lady sniffing Arthur’s shirt (I think someone has a crush) and all but does anyone have the English translation for that song the fisher village was singing?
- I love Alfred - no matter what incarnation Alfred is boss
- Wait is that the English translation to that fisher village song?? If not there is a lot of singing in this version
- holy moly you can actually see blood pools and splatter...
- Well he’s definitely dead...and possibly some bystanders as well...
-The higher in the ranks you are the more armor your wear??? I’m just trying to figure out Thymiscraian armor logic..
-Just start firing your arrows for heck’s sake - don’t just stand there!!!
- Spiky armor is Spiky
- Its not like sealing the temple will do much good...there is a open skylight after all...
-of never mind...the whole temple went down...that’s new...and makes more sense then sealing a temple with a open sky light...
- “Got it! Go!” Like women what do you think your queen is doing?!?
- Was...was she crushed to death by the horse?? Blunt force trauma??
- that camera image does not look like actor Ezra Miller tbh
- If I was janitor dude I would have been high tailing myself out of there the moment I heard a crash
-ooh that was a pretty speech and ceremony before the whole lighting of the torch
- I feel that is a very unpractical dress to wear when restoring art/sculptures...
- Ooh new filler scene, I like this filler scene tbh...
- TBH that sketch looks like Batman if a kid drew it
- it’s a good thing those police uniforms are in English or else we would have never have known there were the police
- oh come on are you telling me that Diana just walks right into the temple grab the arrow (the same arrow no one else seemed to have bothered to grab to study and then enter the underground chamber??? Those police men deserve to be fired.
- I think that ship is a lost cause...
- Why does Arthur bother wearing shirts if he just immediately take them off??? Snyder’s may as well have kept Jason M. shirtless for all the times he stays shirtless
- I will admit some of these Filler Scenes I like they make the movie plot more interesting tbh
- Wait were Kryptonians natural enemy’s of Steppenwolf and Darksied??? Did they try to conquer Krypton only to be defeated even though they weren’t at their yellow sun best??? So many questions so little time
- I honestly can’t tell most of these Gods apart 😆 I can recognize Zeus and Artemis
- Wait? Only one Green Lantern? And he died pretty quickly..
- Wait where was Steppenwolf during this great battle???
- I love how how Atlantean’s and Amazon’s place their mother box in a guarded temple while the human king buried his 😂😂😂
- Yeah!!! More Barry!! He’s adorable! And a utter sweetheart
- Welp his secret is out!!! Also Nice Save Barry!! 😆
- Zack Snyder loves his blood splatters doesn’t he???
- I’m honestly surprise that didn’t kill him with how large that blood splatter on the rock was...
- ooh the Cyborg creation scene was pretty neat I’ll be honest
-Zack Snyder loves his slow mo doesn’t he
- Mama Dr. Stone 1, Gotham Academy 0
- The reason why Zack Snyder Justice League gave us a Cyborg origin story is because at this rate we might see a full length film in...20never?
- Ahh look at our little Cyborg playing/experimenting with his new found powers
- Sweet Moment- Hopefully that women won’t get in trouble later for the unexpected monetary gift
- Snarky Barry Allen is Snarky
- I’m 100% sure Barry Allen more or less stole everything that he has in his little warehouse fort place...
- Alfred hon I’m sure Diana knows how to make tea and I’m also sure she’s just humoring you at this point
- Don’t be jealous Diana - Bruce just wants to feel included 😆
- Oh Hey! A F Bomb!! First blood splatter and now swearing!
- Oh hey another grace yard scene!
- Oh thank god! For a moment I thought Victor was gonna go all Victor Frankenstein on us
- Gordon sounds tired which is honestly mood
- TBH papa Stone deserved to get kidnapped if he didn’t noticed the parademon that wasn’t exactly even bothering to hide in his open spaced living room
- Ok point for Mera for that move almost did some damage
- huh I think I just spotted the moment Mera fell in love with Arthur
- Wait Wait I thought Mera’s dad was alive??? So Who is that dude then in the Aquaman movie???
To Be Continued!
#zack snyder’s justice league#zack snyder#justice league#dc justice league#Batman#wonder woman#the flash#cyborg#aquaman#dc films#dc universe#dc comics#superman#warner brothers#hbo max#long post
14 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
xiaojunbaobei
Welcome!!
glimmersea
there is a light in every living thing
incorrect-kotor-quotes
Incorrect KotOR Quotes
mzfrilla
♊Mz🍑Frilla♊
nyownersrep73
New York Owners Representation