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ramblingoak · 5 months

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Building A Family

Another peek into the steampunk Copia fic I'm working on because I can't help myself. Check out the previous story here: Clockwork Friends.

A young Copia (probably about 5 or 6 years old) trying to settle in at his new home.

Warnings: angst, sfw, 1k words (thank you to @gothdaddyissues for the dividers!)

Copia’s oldest clockwork rat is Aldo and he made him when he was just a young boy, barely able to read and write.

After being dropped off to live with his apparent father Nihil, Copia was mostly left to his own devices. His brothers were busy with their own lives and didn’t want to deal with the burden of another Emeritus heir. The sprawling estate they lived on was closed off from the rest of the city by high walls that were patrolled by mechanical golems. Not to mention the reputation of the Emeritus family itself. Most of the city was convinced they were more machine than human these days.

On a particularly lonely day Copia found himself near tears as he wandered the halls. He spent the beginning of his life in an orphanage surrounded by other children. An endless amount of people to play with and talk to. Here it was just him. It was bad enough his own family didn’t seem to want anything to do with him but even the ghouls avoided him.

Copia finally stopped when he walked by a strangely silent grandfather clock. It loomed over him much like Nihil had done the day he was picked up from the orphanage. The hands of the clock were still and Copia’s fingers started twitching, the urge to fix it growing stronger by the second. It wasn’t until he had dragged a nearby chair over and started taking the clock face apart that he had an idea for another purpose for it.

“Can you hear me?”

It was hours later, the grandfather clock now just a corpse of its former self. Copia had brought all the parts he needed into his room and spread them out on the floor. A ghoul had come by when it had gotten dark, dropping off a plate of food and getting a fire going. He had lingered for some time after, seemingly content to silently watch Copia work. They had only left when Copia found himself getting frustrated when the tiny creature in front of him remained silent.

Tears began to prick at his eyes again and he struggled to keep them from falling down his cheeks. He was just so lonely, all he wanted was something to keep him company. It didn’t matter to him whether it was a machine or not. Right now he had no one. No friends…no family…just an empty house full of memories he wasn’t a part of. With a whimper he dropped his head into his hands, his small shoulders starting to shake as the tears started to come in earnest.

“Try this.” Copia’s head shot up, his eyes meeting that of the ghoul that had managed to sneak back in. The firelight danced across his silver mask and Copia shivered when it made it seem like his eyes were on fire as well. He finally looked down to see a small metal object in its hand, the gold contrasting with the black metal of his fingers. “This will bring it to life.”

After a few more trips to the destroyed grandfather clock Copia had re-worked his little creation to utilize what the ghoul had brought him. Copia’s hand shook as he inserted the gold key into its back. He could hear the gears turn as he twisted it, over and over again until he felt confident it was enough. As delicately as possible he lowered it back to the ground, afraid to let go in case it didn’t work.

In case his new friend remained silent.

“It’s ok.”

Copia looked up at the ghoul, forgetting he had stuck around to watch. It was impossible to know what the ghoul was thinking but Copia saw something in his eyes that he had only seen a few other times in his young life. Kindness and understanding shone there, emotions so strong that Copia had to look away quickly lest he got upset again. He took a deep breath and slowly pulled his hands away, trembling as he waited for something to happen.

It was slow at first, timid as it began to move around the rug Copia was sitting on. After a few unsure first steps it gained confidence and crept closer to him on shaky legs. Copia was afraid to touch it, afraid he’d break the spell the small thing might be under. When a tiny metal paw touched his leg Copia finally smiled and reached down to scoop it up in his hands.

“Hello.” The small metal rat twitched its nose, as if it could smell whether Copia was a friend or not. “H-how do you feel?”

The door to his room opening and closing made him look up briefly but Copia didn’t give the ghoul leaving another thought. He was too enamored by what he had created. The clockwork rat was busy looking around the room, his limbs still shaky against Copia’s hands. He was already thinking of ways to improve the design, of how he could make his new friend stronger.

After a few moments its small body started to stop, the key moving slower and slower on its back. Copia set it back down on the rug and ran a finger up and down its head. It was a comforting gesture for both of them and neither one looked away from each other until the key had completely stopped.

Copia sat back on his heels, his eyes quickly looking around the room as he thought of what he would need. He had a responsibility now to his new friend. He needed to take care of it, to make it healthy and happy. Copia was prepared to do whatever he could to make sure that happened. With a grunt he stretched out on his stomach in front of the rat, reaching out and winding the key up again. When it came to life once more it immediately walked forward and bumped noses with him.

“I’m going to name you Aldo, ok?” The rat's nose moved across his face, the small whiskers he had given him tickling his cheek. “Welcome home.”

Some more baby steampunk Copia here 💙

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luxaofhesperides · 7 months

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You know how Spiderman has 'canon events'? And how Gwen would always die? How about in every universe Duke exists in, there would always be Danny. And every time they fall in love! But whenever Duke tells/hints at him being The Signal, Danny suffers an accident or dies.

Like let's say in the DC vs Vampires universe, Duke tells Danny he's Signal and then a few days later he gets turned into a vampire and Duke has no choice but to kill him.

Or something like that yknow?

Earth 26.

The undercity is full of life. People from above refuse to understand it, staunch in their beliefs that the undercity is full of crime and sickness, drugs and filth. But the people down there are more human than any of the ones Duke has met up top.

Though Bruce Wayne can try to bring Duke in all he likes, there’s no denying that Duke doesn’t belong. His heart will always be in the undercity, where he was born and grew up and lived and lost so much.

The undercity is where Danny is.

Away from the blue skies filled with blimps, tucked beneath the towering buildings and clocktowers and elevated rails for trains leaving trails of smoke through the city, there in the cramped spaces and dark alleys, is Danny.

He ducks through familiar alleys, cutting across perilously stacked homes and hopping over railings to get to the Fenton Lab faster.

He’s been excited all day, heart thrumming with anticipation, as he returns to his roots and seeks out Danny. Today is the day he’s going to come clean, tell Danny everything: his feelings, his powers, his identity as The Signal, fighting crime in all parts of the city to keep Gotham safe. He’s sure Danny suspects something is going on with him, likely has already guessed at everything he wants to talk about, but Danny deserves the truth.

It is his inventions that help Duke save people, after all.

Finding the front door of the Fenton lab is always a challenge. Metal scraps and materials stripped from vehicles litter the front of the building from people leaving all their unwanted things with the Fentons. Miscellaneous inventions and tools are left scattered around as well, creating a labyrinth that Duke has to traverse every time he wants to see Danny while he’s working with his parents.

It takes a few minutes, but Duke manages it, pushing open the door after a quick knock.

“Danny? Are you there?”

He can hear something from the lower floor, a strange, high pitched whirring noise. His powers kick in and suddenly he can see people rushing around the room, shouting in voices that he won’t be able to hear until the time comes. He can see himself, crying.

Duke’s heart drops.

“Danny? Danny!”

He runs down the stairs, suddenly terrified that he’s too late. Something is going to happen to Danny. It has to be Danny, because no one else is home with him; that’s why Duke asked to meet in the Lab, to have some privacy while the other Fentons were out.

The noise is louder, too loud to hear over, and Duke rushes into the Lab just in time to see some strange circle of metal spark with electricity. Danny stands right before, staring up at it.

“Danny!” Duke shouts as loud as he can, and Danny startles, then turns around.

Their eyes meet just as the machine finishes turning on, the metal circle ripping open with a thunderous noise, and Duke can do nothing but watch as it sends electricity and some other energy racing through Danny’s body.

It lasts just a brief moment, and then Danny is crumpling to the ground, eyes closed as the machine settles. The swirling pit of white and green stares out at him and Duke knows without a doubt that Danny is dead. . . .

Earth 41.

Duke’s been acting strange. Well, stranger than usual.

Danny’s not one to go around poking at people’s secrets, especially not his boyfriend’s, but he knows something big is going on. He’s not worried that Duke is cheating on him, but he can see the injuries he comes back with some days, citing all the unrest and the resurgence in crimes following Batman’s death.

He wonders if Duke is going out each night for street fighting, forcing all his emotions into his fists until they’re beaten bloody. Batman’s death hit him hard, and Danny has no idea what to do to help him.

They’re both stressed, on edge and scared, but they don’t fight as much as he expected. Admittedly, it’s hard to fight where they’re always spending time apart.

No longer. Tonight, Danny is determined to get to the bottom of things so he can help Duke with whatever he’s going through. He even texted Jazz to get some tips about communication and helping someone through grief. He’s as ready as he’ll ever be.

Right at 3AM, the window slides open.

“Welcome back, Duke,” Danny says, watching as Duke flinches, then sighs as he closes the window.

“What are you doing here, Danny?”

“Well, it’s been so long since we’ve seen each other, I decided to hang out here and wait for you. But you’ve been gone for a long time.”

“Sorry, Danny, but I’m really tired. Can this wait?”

Anger bubbles in his gut and Danny takes a deep breath to force it down. “I’ve been waiting. If you keep pushing this conversation off, we’re never going to get anywhere.”

Duke slumps against the window, rubbing a hand against his face, looking exhausted. “Look, Danny, things have been getting real bad, and I don’t want you to get hurt because of it.”

“What’s going on, Duke? What are you so worried about?”

“It’s… The guy who killed Batman. His name is Karma, and I’ve been going after him.”

“You’ve been what?!” Danny shouts, shooting to his feet. “Duke, are you insane? Anyone who can kill Batman is bad news, there’s no way anyone short of like, Superman, can stop him! You’re going to get yourself killed!”

“Someone has to stop him! And I can do something to help, okay? I’ve been helping the other bats fight him. I can do this.”

Danny clenches his fists, feeling frost crack against his skin. “You could have told me,” he says. “You know I can help, too. You’re not the only one with powers.”

“I can’t endanger you like that, Danny.”

“So you leave me in the dark instead? You would have rather I wait for you forever while you never come back because you got yourself killed running into a situation you can’t get out of? You think I would have been any safer not knowing? Then clearly you haven’t been paying attention!” He’s shouting by the end of it, shaking with fear and rage and so many things it all becomes a tangled mess in his head.

“I really think we should have this conversation in the morning,” Duke says, eyeing Danny warily. It’s probably just because he’s been out all night hunting Karma, so used to being attacked while he goes out to try to save a city that even Batman couldn’t lift from the darkness, but that doesn’t stop the stab of hurt from going through his heart. Danny has done his best to be safe for Duke, to be human and comforting and strong enough to protect him.

And Duke is looking at him like he could be at threat.

“Whatever,” Danny mutters, shaking his head. “You’ll talk to me in the morning by saying nothing but how you need to do whatever this is and then you’ll leave and we’ll both be unhappy. Great. Can’t wait.”

“Danny—”

“Bye, Duke.”

Danny’s up and out of the apartment before Duke can take more than a few steps towards him. He zips up his jacket and pulls the hood over his head, taking the steps two at a time to get to street level. It’s dark and quiet outside, save for the distant police sirens, and Danny barely spares a glance around him before he’s making his own way home, sure that no one would still be out at that time.

He should have been more careful. More vigilant. Not so lost in his hurt feelings.

But there’s no time for that when he’s pulled into an alleyway, knife at his throat.

A man in a black helmet, face fully covered, stares down at him. “Well, well, well,” he purrs, digging the knife in a little deeper, “What’s the Signal’s little lover doing out so late at night?”

Signal?

…Duke. His boyfriend who always disappears in late hours, blows off dates when something big is going down in Gotham, who is trying to pick up the pieces following Batman’s death.

And here is Karma, the very man Duke is searching for, pulling Danny away into the dark.

He only has a brief moment to regret storming off, for not being more patient with Duke, for not paying attention and avoiding Karma, before the knife is pulled away, tossed into the air, and the hilt comes down hard on his temple, and it is a long, long time before he is seen again.

The Signal does not find him alive. . . .

Earth 53.

The apocalypse isn’t kind even on the best of days. But today it might be coming close to something resembling kindness as Duke approaches the skeletal remains of Gotham. It’s been years since he’s been back here, moving with the Robins across the United States just trying to survive. They’d constantly been moving, searching for other survivors and food and shelter and any sign of hope they could get.

There hadn’t been much anywhere, too much devastation across the country for anyone to even think of rebuilding. Even now, nature is just starting to recover, little green shoots pushing up through concrete rubble.

This world isn’t one for superheroes anymore. Supervillains aren’t around either. Everyone is either dead or barely getting themselves through each day; but humanity is still around and wildlife is beginning to recover.

Duke doesn’t know who’s left in Gotham these days. He suspects Oracle is still there, somewhere, helping reconnect telephone wires and setting up internet and electricity. Lights have been flickering on steadily as the Robins made their way into New Jersey and the sight lifted their spirits so much they decided to keep traveling through the night.

No one in his group has a working phone any more, but the possibility of getting that piece of the old world back excites them all.

By the time they reach the outskirts of the ruined city, the entire group is nearly buzzing with energy, speaking in hushes whispers that do nothing to hide the elation in their voices. Gotham was everyone’s home, once. They’re all happy to be back, regardless of what they’re walking into.

Duke volunteers to go scouting with a few others to find a good place to settle in for a bit as they reacquaint themselves with the city. Even before the end of the world, it was never a good idea to go blind into Gotham.

Much of the city is still abandoned, and concrete rubble carry faded graffiti that show the remains of a gang long gone. The few people he see in the distance are quick to hide and disappear and Duke himself is too wary to approach them. But as he gets closer to the heart of Gotham, picking his way through destroyed streets, he sees more and more signs of life, people who don’t hide, weak lights in hastily constructed shelters.

No one attacks him as he wanders closer. In fact, a few exchange nervous glances then approach him, quietly asking if he’s coming from outside Gotham and what news he brings of the outside world.

Duke tells them about how Chicago is gone completely, unable to be saved at all, but there are settlements all along the shores of the Great Lakes. He tells them of the traveling groups he’s met who rotate through a few chosen states and are willing to take in new members. He tells them of someone who has an entire farm up and running again, full of chickens and cows and sheep and goat and horses, on top of all the crop they can grow. The location of the farm is kept secret and carefully protected, but they give away seeds and young animals for anyone wanting to raise their own.

The news gathers more and more people around Duke, eager to listen, and they’re more than happy to update Duke on what’s happened in Gotham.

The Bats aren’t around as much anymore, but at least two of them are still in Gotham, helping people from the shadows. They’re fixing everything up as best they can, and most people live in or around Robinson Park where Ivy, who survived, grows food and shelter for everyone in exchange for protection and companionship. The Riddler turned from making death traps and taking hostages to creating new technology and inventions to make life a little easier, taking in a crew of assistants to learn from him.

That is to say nothing of the ghosts.

Gotham is full of them now, walking among the living as if they never died. They help people and stick with loved ones who lost them and fly through the air to deliver things with ease. It’s nothing that Duke has ever seen before, and he wonders how many people who died in the apocalypse chose to stay in such a ruined world.

He begins to head back to the Robins, mind racing with everything he’s learned, when he sees Danny.

Danny, his friend once, who he loved dearly and didn’t quite realize it was deeper than friendship until after the world ended. Danny, who was always sleepy and soft and smiling, cracking bad jokes and lifting Duke’s spirits whenever he felt down. Danny, who was lively and dreamed of going to space to sit among the stars.

Danny, who is dead.

He never got the chance to tell Danny he was the Signal, but he thinks Danny knew anyways. He could ask now, put that lingering thought to rest, but it was one of the few things left unsaid between them, the only thing he had of Danny for all these years, and he doesn’t want to let go of it yet.

Danny hasn’t seen him yet. Duke could go to him, speak to his ghost, have some part of him back in his life.

But it wouldn’t be the same. It certainly wouldn’t be fair to tie Danny, who is free from the pain and misery of the living, to Duke, who is never going to stay in Gotham permanently.

He misses Danny so much he feels hollowed out and empty, but he knows this is for the best.

Duke turns, pretending not to see him, and walks away. . . .

Earth 78.

Duke was…

Duke was important to him, Danny thinks. He can’t remember much, not after everything (electricity, screaming, pain pain pain, heavy darkness, a spark, hist chest cut open, where is ___? Why won’t he save—) but without any memory of what his life was like back then, his feelings are without context and easily ignored.

Wraith follows Shrike from a distance, watching as he drops into an alley to kill a rapist. Wraith feels nothing about this, for caring is not in his duties. He is instructed to simply keep Shrike alive and assist in his plans, whatever they may be. Wraith does not care about killing.

Danny, tucked away deep inside the mask, shivers and cries, wishing to hide away and say enough, please, that’s enough, just stop please stop stop stop stop—

Batman crosses the rooftops, a figure of darkness across the city’s skies. The Signal, his second oldest companion, travels through the shadows by his side until they land on the building Wraith stands on.

The yellow of Signal’s armor is familiar and it feels safe but Wraith knows better. Talia and Ra’s have taught him to see past his emotions, to force away any sentiment and grapple with the cold hard truth. This is the truth: they are here to hurt him and Shrike, because they are dangerous killers and dangerous killers are dealt with swiftly and painfully in Gotham.

They can do as they please to him. They will not take Shrike.

He engages Batman in battle first, easily slipping past his defense by going intangible, freezing his boots to the ground and icing his fists together. The Signal slips away at first, leaving Batman behind to try to get around Wraith, sending shadows towards Shrike who leaps away deftly, dodging them with ease as he leaves the beheaded body behind.

Wraith grabs Signal before he can fully sink into a shadow and tosses him back, then flies to Shrike, picking him up and getting them away as quickly as possible.

“They found us faster than I thought,” Shrike says. His voice carries something in it that Wraith doesn’t recognize, but it makes his heart feel heavy.

“We’re done for the night,” Wraith returns, voice low and hoarse. He died screaming and even the Lazarus Pits weren’t able to fix the damage done to his vocal chords.

He lets his invisibility wash over them both, and they disappear into the night. The safehouse they set up, far away from the one Talia prepared for them, is small but comfortable. It’s secure, everything created and coded by Tim, which means Danny can relax inside the walls of the small apartment.

Shrike helps him shed his gear, putting it away carefully. Wraith becomes Danny and he watches as Shrike becomes Tim.

Gone is the ruthless efficiency, the quickness to cut down the scum of Gotham without remorse. Instead, he’s pale and tired, eyes still a faint green from the linger remains of the Lazarus Pit that brought him back from the dead, but there is no madness in him. Only a coldness that came long before his death, unwanted by Damian, the first of Batman’s vigilante partners, who refused to see him as part of the family or even as a hero at all. Duke had already gone to work with other teams since then and never met Tim properly for more than a few minutes.

But he knew Danny. They must have been close. If seeing The Signal sends such a sharp stab of pain in his heart, it must be for a reason. But the memories are long gone, and with them, any desire to be close to him again.

They never do well after a run in with the Bats. Though they have won every fight they’ve had, Tim often retreats to bed in order to hide his tears and Danny is left alone, lost, and wishing he had stayed dead.

Tonight is no different. Tim is making a difference as Shrike, striking fear in the hearts of Gotham’s criminals. Crime has gone down in Crime Alley, his chosen territory of the city, killing as many people as needed before they finally get the message to be better people. Tim is also still only eighteen and had spent three years with the League of Assassins before returning to Gotham and seeing that his place in the Bats is erased and forgotten and replaced by the well-loved Jason.

He only stays in Gotham to kill the people who sold him off to the Joker and laughed as he died slowly and painfully. Once the Joker is dead, he’ll leave Gotham and disappear for good.

Danny will follow him. He has no life now and no other direction. And with Tim hiding under the covers, Danny can do nothing but feel his own skin crawl at the need to get away from everything that connects him to his life Before.

It’s a terrible idea, but he goes out again, heading into Otisberg, where he once lived. Only a raised hood conceals his face; the expressionless mask he usually wears is gone, and Wraith feels far away from him.

He hears the Signal land behind him some time later. It could be minutes or hours; time slips by Danny easily these days no matter how hard he tries to hold onto the minutes passing by.

“Wraith,” Signal says, and his voice is hard. “Where’s Shrike? Out terrorizing the rest of Gotham?”

Danny doesn’t reply. He stares out into the city lights, a cold emptiness growing inside his chest.

“Well, if you’re going to just sit there, then I suppose you don’t mind if I take you in to let Batman interrogate you. You’ve been causing a lot of trouble around here, and we don’t take kindly to murderous masks in Gotham.”

He doesn't resist as Signal grabs his wrists, hauling him up from where he was sitting on the ledge. Danny allows Signal to turn him around, shadows binding his wrists together and pulling down his hood.

The Signal sucks in a sharp breath, hands falling limp to his side. “Danny?”

Danny doesn’t respond.

“This better not be a joke, I swear to God. If you’re just wearing his face to fuck with me, I’m going to kill you, Batman’s rules be damned. Say something already!”

Danny looks up into the visor of Signal’s helmet. He opens his mouth and a hoarse whine slips out. “I knew you,” he manages to whispers. “I knew you. And then I died.”

The Signal flinches, then reaches up and pulls his helmet off. “Tell me something only we would know. Anything.”

“I don’t… remember. I wanted you to save me. I don’t think you did.”

“If this isn’t really you, Danny,” Duke says, voice thick with tears, “Then it’s a really fucked up joke.”

Danny looks at Duke, helpless. He doesn’t know what to do. What to say. Wraith only knows how to follow and protect and take orders. Danny doesn’t know how to live anymore. There is nothing he can do.

And then, as he stares as Duke, a memory slides into place, fuzzy but there.

“Arcade on eighth street,” he whispers, and Duke’s eyes go wide. “That was going to be our first date.”

“It was,” Duke says. There’s a light in his eyes now, something that looks like hope and the sight of it makes Danny sick to his stomach.

“I’m dead, Duke. Danny is dead. There is only Wraith now. Let the dead go, and stay away so we don’t have to kill you. I… want you to live.”

The shadows have loosened, still wrapped around his wrists but as a caress instead of a restraint. It doesn’t take any strength to pull out of them and drop off the roof, falling towards the ground. Danny lets gravity take hold of him for a few moments, then goes invisible and flies away just as Duke grapples down and searches for him desperately.

He can hear Duke calling his name, then calling in Batman and Nightwing, but his voice fades away before Danny can make out what they’re saying.

Not that it matters. Whether tomorrow or further down the line, he and Tim will leave Gotham and disappear for good.

The dead cannot stay with the living, and so they will go.

There’s nothing left for them here, anyways. . . .

Earth 0.

Duke has had his fair share of strange dreams. It comes with the trauma and the powers, a terrible mix that leave him shaken and rattled when he wakes up, gasping for breath.

But instead of fear, his latest series of dreams leave him with a deep-seated feeling of grief. The details fade away quickly once he’s awake, but he can remember bits and pieces of worlds that looks so different from the one he lives in, and all of them have a single constant: Danny.

Danny, whose face he never remembers when he wakes. Danny, whose name is permanently etched into his mind. Danny, who he loves and loses every single night.

Danny, someone he’s never met.

Dick asks him if he’s alright the next time he’s in Gotham, eating breakfast in the manor with him and Tim. He considers lying, then tells him about the dreams and how frequent they are, snapshots of other lives where there is someone important to him that he can never save. Tim, who he thought was sleeping with his eyes half open, looks up and mumbles that it might be another universe.

After a few cups of coffee, Tim is awake enough to ramble on about the multiverse, pulling up reports from the Batcomputer on his phone to show Duke how many of them have had run ins with alternate universes.

“So you’re saying that Danny might be here? In this world?”

Tim shrugs. “Well, maybe. If he’s the only constant, then I wouldn’t be surprised. If you’re here, so is he.”

“But he always dies!”

“Don’t worry, Duke,” Dick says, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder, “If you do find him, then you’ve got all of his to help keep him safe.”

“Do you want me to find him? If you give me a description, I can probably narrow it down to a few people in the United States. One of them might be him.”

Duke considers it for a moment, then shakes his head. “Nah, thanks though. If we’re supposed to meet, then we will. No point in rushing it.”

“Alright. Let me know if you change your mind.”

And that had been that. Nothing to really worry about, but the dreams continue and Duke keeps waking up grieving and so love with Danny, carrying the feelings of his alternates over to his own reality. At some point, he wishes that he and Danny would never cross paths in this world, if only so he doesn’t have to lose him.

But he wants to meet him. The universe says Danny is important to him; why else would he be part of his life in every world?

The thought never leaves him. It’s always in the back of his mind as he goes about his life, going to school and fighting crime. He finds himself lingering in the streets, trying to see everyone’s faces, listening for that familiar voice.

It takes over a year before he hears someone say, “Danny!” as he’s patrolling as Signal.

He bends the light around him, going invisible, and searches for the people shouting the name of the person he hadn’t been able to get out of his mind. It takes some time, but his eyes land on a tall, red haired woman fussing over a boy with black hair and blue eyes, leaning down some so she could reach his face.

He can’t hear what they say with the distance between them, but he knows with absolute clarity that he’s looking at Danny.

His Danny.

Duke takes a step forward, ready to drop his invisibility, letting the light escape his grasp, the pauses when he sees the bright smile on his face.

This Danny is safe. He is alive and laughing and is with someone he cares about.

This Danny has a life and a future and as much as Duke wants to know why his alternate selves love Danny so much, it isn’t worth Danny’s life.

Heart breaking, Duke steps back and watches as they walk away, disappearing into the crowded streets.

He stares after them long after they’ve disappeared from sight, then grapples to a rooftop and releases his hold on the light. He sinks to his knees, trying to breathe through the grief that runs through him, and taps a pattern into his comms to signal that he’s ending his patrol early.

It’s fine, he tells himself. This is for the best. This will keep Danny alive.

Danny always dies because of Duke. Someway, somehow, whenever they meet, the bell tolls and Danny’s death quickly approaches. It happens in every world, in the many, many dreams he’s had looking into a moment of their lives.

But not this one.

In this one, Duke will save Danny by doing the only thing he can: making sure they never meet.

It’s for the best. It has to be. . . .

[send me ghostlights prompts!]

#ghostlights #dc x dp #dp x dc #dcxdp #dpxdc #dp x dc fanfic #dc x dp fic #prompt fill #my writing #this was sooo fun to write i love multiverses and reincarnation and things like that #dont know much abt dc multiverses so i looked them up and did numbers that werent listed in the wiki #in order its:#steampunk. karma kills batman au. post apoc. reverse robins. and then canon #hope you enjoy!! i really enjoyed writing this and the reverse robins one has my mind spinning with ideas #thank you for the prompt!!

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agrusberry · 10 months

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Gojo commission for Smail's steampunk au you can read here ✨🩵☁️

#jjk fanart #jjk #украрт #jujutsu kaisen #agrusart #illustration #satoru gojo #gojo satoru #jjk gojo #commission #reposting because i noticed an error that would actually haunt me forever if i didn't go fix it #literally no one would notice but am i not allowed to strive for perfection #especially if it's for smail #fic illustration #steampunk

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cwazytvthings · 1 year

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Currently writing this scene for my prequel fic and I got the urge to draw it 🫣 I love these two star-crossed haters sm

(I completely rewrote the first chapter and now I'm currently working on the second. Can't believe I've written so much TvT)

#zelgan #ganondorf #princess zelda #loz au #legend of zelda au #loz #I keep changing my design for them but i think they're good now LMFAO #the prequel fic takes place in a steampunk-esque era but with more victorian themes and less tech #if that makes sense 💀#anyways enjoy #the Zelgan brainrot is going strong

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flowercrowngods · 8 months

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shattered on the cliff’s edge, trapped by the tides

Summary: Steve Harrington, disgraced and disowned by his father for moral insanity, has been haunted by eerie dreams of a mysterious lighthouse ever since he was a little boy. His lighthouse quickly turns from recurring night terror to gruesome reality when his superior delegates him to fix the broken light and be the new keeper.

With only his clothes and a pocket watch that only ever shows the correct time twice a day, Steve makes his way up north. Robin, his wife for appearance’s sake, said to meet him there. But Robin never makes it, and Steve soon finds himself trapped in cold, whispering loneliness.

The locals claim that the lighthouse is haunted, cursed, and Steve — followed and plagued by terrible murmurs urging him to leave while he can, and faced with what can only be the ghost of a former keeper — is inclined to agree.

part 1 | part 2

or: read on ao3

#steddie #steddie fic #stranger things fanfic #steve harrington #eddie munson #spooky lighthouse au #part 1 is coming soon and also i’m hoping to post a part a day even tho i barely have time hdhdhd #my first attempt at writing a ghost story oop—#it’s supposed to be a mix of gothic horror and the classic ghost story with steampunk elements. so let’s see was wird

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harocat · 10 months

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Obsessed with this alternate version of LBFAD that apparently existed very early in the process of making the show.

#love between fairy and devil #cang lan jue #I’d love to see art and fic of it 😍#steampunk moon tribe???#I want to perceive this

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red-goat · 2 years

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✨Doodle dumpster time✨

Edit to add: I've been officially unshadowbanned pls go follow me over @kabra-malvada if you only follow me here cuz this is just my side blog :D

First we got @opudontdonut 's Nightmare Au Sun and Moon with some Y/N doodles, had a lot of fun trying out shading with the watercolor brush :D

Some doodles of @castercassette 's cowboy Au (Brain rot ain't going anywhere, instead it has settled in and continues to grow), @sycopomp and @madame-mongoose 's Ooie Y/N (Only one chapter in and I already want to hug them and tell them everything's gonna be ok ;;) Aaaand @maudiemoods 's Alien AU Eclipse (He's a deranged cannibal and I love him).

Then we have a new AU of mine, where the reader is an undercover cop who got their mech prosthetic arm busted and needs to seek the help of some automaton toy makers. The designs are inspired by these previous drawings of mine.

(Prosthetic would work like the Automail in full metal alchemist)

Then we got my very own Mer Sun/Moon but they're koi fish, details of how the story would go and full colored design here.

And to round up here we got some relevant designs for the next chapter of my possesed reader fic + possed reader doodles :D

Man this took a while to finish (it didn't help I was kind of rushed cuz of school, just so last minute I didn't go :P) Hope you all like it tho (the steampunk ones are dedicated to my good pal @bittysteam cuz I know how much they like them 💛)

I'm going to the store and then to pass out on my couch, anybody wants anything?

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crxssjae · 7 months

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WRESTLING MASTERLIST

╰☆☆💐= Fluff 🌶️= Smut, 18+ 💧= Angst ☄️= Series 📕= Collection☆☆╮

『One-Shot(s)』

Wrestling Family (📕): (AO3)

『SamiJey/JeySami』

Green Tea & Honey (💐📕): (AO3) (Wattpad)

All Night (🌶️📕, 18+ only): (AO3)

Multi-Chapter Fics (☄️)

『Centon』

Drop Dead Truth (🌶️ 💧18+ only) coming soon...

『Stories』

coming soon...

『Headcanons』

Cody Rhodes: Bi!Cody Rhodes

Sami Zayn: Bi!Sami Zayn | Vampire AU (Samijey)

#wwe fanfiction #wwe one shot #wwe smut #steampunk au #sami zayn #jey uso #samijey #jeysami #sami zayn fanfiction #jey uso fanfiction #samijey fic #samijey smut #samijey fluff #wwe fluff #crxssjae writes

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mblue-art · 2 years

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ty for the kofi, @mspandorasart ! 🤍

support me on ko-fi ☕ comm info 💙 twitter

#although very belated- he still remembered to bring u a gift :''')#utmv #ink!sans #mblue art #kofi art #(oh!! btw if any of u like steampunk theme; utmv; and/or sans ships- she has a long ongoing fic titled 'ÆTHERVERSE' ! pls check it out <3)

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losergender · 5 months

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Ranpoe Steampunk AU — "and the heart is hard to translate"

🖇 https://archiveofourown.org/works/52492792

⌛ 5k words ; one-shot

⚙ Ranpoe & minor Bramcraft

⌛ Love confessions

⚙ Time & Dimension Travel . . . STEAMPUNK !!

⌛ Autistic Ranpo !

#bsd #bungo stray dogs #bsd fanfic #bungou stray dogs #fanfic #my fics #ranpo bsd #bsd ranpo #ranpoe fanfic #ranpo x poe #edogawa ranpo #ranpo #ranpoe #ranpoe fic #bsd poe #poe bsd #bsd edgar allan poe #steampunk #autistic ranpo

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ifindus · 11 months

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det at the nordics kledde seg ut som spøkelsespirater i stede for kapteinsabeltann og hans crew i halloween episoden er urealistisk...smh🙄

Såå bortkasta! 😫 Kaptein Sabeltann my beloved 🥰

Kaptain Sabeltann (Captain Sabertooth) is my childhood okay. There is so much - it was everywhere!! There are books, audio-books with songs, a tv-series, a movie, musicals, a theme park!! and an ice cream!! I fucking loved Kaptain Sabeltann, I would dress up as him all the time when I was younger. He is a vibe - the best anti-hero. My friends and I also still play the music at parties 🙈 Here is a taste of Kaptein Sabeltann for people interested.

But yes, missed opportunity with the Halloween episode. We could have had this instead!!

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ramblingoak · 5 months

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Clockwork Friends

Just a little sneak peek into my steampunk Copia fic! Still working on the overall story but this little moment came to me and thought I’d share 💙

Copia x Reader

Check out my initial post about it for more info!

Warnings: mentions of reader being kidnapped, sfw, thank you to @gothdaddyissues for the dividers!

After Captain Copia finally explained why they kidnapped you he had gotten one of his ghouls to drag you to his quarters.

“Was wondering if he’d ever shut up.” He had a firm grip on your arm as he pulled you down a corridor. You could feel the cold bite of his metal hand even through your clothes. When you tripped the fingers momentarily tightened and you hissed. “Ah, sorry.”

The ghoul, Phantom according to the Captain, let go briefly and flexed his hand.

“No, it’s fine. I’m ok.” Through the eye holes of his mask you could see him raise an eyebrow and you couldn’t help but let out a humorless laugh. “I mean, I’m not ok. You kidnapped me a—“

“It’s still new. The hand.” He held it up, wiggling the fingers for a moment before taking your arm again. “Takes a bit to get used to.”

“It didn’t hurt, just startled me.”

“Well…good?” Phantom gave your arm a tug so you huffed and started following him again. “And technically that was Swiss and Sunshine that kidnapped you.”

“Remind me to talk to them about that later.”

The ghoul snorted, staying quiet until he stopped before a large ornate door. He let go of you again, seemingly unconcerned as to what you might do. There certainly weren’t many options for you considering you had no idea where you were flying to.

“Alright so, just hang out in here. Don’t touch anything.” Phantom gave you a little shove into the room. You would’ve glared at him and complained but your eyes were immediately drawn to the numerous machines scattered around. The closest one had a pressure gauge on the front but soon as you reached out to touch it Phantom spoke again. “Hey! What did I just say?”

“Sorry.” You clasped your hands together, the metal of your cuffs clinking. “I’ll be good.”

“At least wait a few hours before you build a bomb or something. Mountain will be on duty then.”

Before you could ask who Mountain was Phantom abruptly turned and walked out of the room. The clicks of the locks on the door were loud and your shoulders sagged in defeat. There was no getting off The Impera. At least not without a parachute or a set of wings. Actually…

You spun around and quickly scanned over the machines taking up a majority of the space. Even the bed in the corner had what looked to be the remains of a grandfather clock on it. There had to be something here you could use, something that you could make in a short time frame. A way for you to escape and get back home.

A clicking sound at your feet got your attention and looking down your eyes immediately met those of something watching you.

“Oh. Hello.”

You dropped to your knees, leaning down to get eye level with the tiny creature. It stood up on its hind legs, the thin gold whiskers on its nose practically spinning around as it watched you. It crept a little closer, the gears at its sides moving smoothly together. There were small stones where its eyes should be, one bright green and one a milky white. It reminded you immediately of the Captain and you let out a small laugh.

“Did Copia make you?” The creature cocked its head, the action so lifelike it had you grinning. Like it recognized the name of its maker. “What are you supposed to be? A rat?”

The creature squeaked and the gears along its body began to work faster as it moved closer. The little mechanical fingers on its front paws were amazing, so lifelike and real. You had never seen anything like it before. For a moment you were frozen, imaging the dreaded Capitano Copia in his quarters gently building this tiny clockwork rat. It crept even closer while you were lost in thought, one of its paws reaching out towards you.

“Do you have a name?”

You weren’t really expecting it to talk but it wouldn’t have surprised you. The Emeritus family were extremely gifted when it came to working with and manipulating machines. It was too bad they used those abilities to wreak havoc rather than help society. With a sigh you scooted back on the floor until you were settled against Copia’s bed, smiling tiredly when the rat climbed up onto your knee. Its ears twitched as you watched each other and you couldn’t help but run a finger over the smooth metal of one.

The sound of more squeaking got your attention and two more small figures appeared from behind a pile of parts. For a moment they regarded you much like their friend did but it wasn’t long before they were quickly coming your way. Well, at least you’d made a few friends on this damned airship.

You had a feeling you’d need them.

Read a little follow up Building A Family for a peek into how a young Copia created his clockwork rats.

If you'd like to be added/removed from the tag list (or if I accidentally left your name off) of this fic or any of my others please leave a comment or send me a dm! Thank you 💙

My Masterlist ~ My Archive of our Own ~ My Ko-Fi Tip Jar

#my fics #my writing #steampunk copia #copia x reader #cardinal copia x reader #the band ghost fanfiction #copia fanfiction #ghost band fanfic #copia fanfic

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polizwrites · 2 months

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An Attractive Concept

This is a fill for today’s @flashfictionfridayofficial [#FFF250 Rushing Train] as well as my @steverogersbingo E3- Steampunk square.

Fandom: MCU/Marvel Pairing: Steve Rogers & Tony Stark (Stony if you squint) Rating: General Tags: No Powers AU, Steampunk AU, Trains, tech nerdery Summary: Steven listens to his partner explain his latest idea to improve the world. Word Count: 380

“What do you mean you’ve found another way to power a locomotive?” While he was quite fond of his handsome, clever companion, Steven couldn’t disguise his skepticism regarding Anthony’s latest claim.

“Don’t sound so dubious, my dear Captain,” Anthony grinned, his whiskey brown eyes dancing. “After all, I am a certified genius.”

This was true; one of the many things Steven admired about his dear friend was his vast, free-ranging intellect. But sometimes Anthony’s flights of fancy roamed too far. “Steam engines are a tried and true technology,” he protested. “Making them faster or more efficient would surely be a better use of your time and energy.”

“You sound like my father,” Anthony scoffed. “As for ‘faster and more efficient’ - this technology is both, by a goodly margin. For example, instead of having to transport its own fuel, my design will be powered by the rails it runs upon. You are familiar with the concept of magnetic attraction and repulsion, are you not?”

“Yes, somewhat.” Science and engineering weren’t Steven’s strong points; his training was in military tactics and strategy. It was part of what made the two of them such a good team: Anthony’s ideas supported by Steven’s military connections.

“Then consider this,” Anthony posited, ”if one were to place a strong enough magnet under a train car and an equally strong magnet of reverse polarity between the rails, the train car would, for lack of a better word, levitate due to the power of magnetic repulsion.”

“In theory, I suppose,” Steven replied, trying to envision the scenario. “But then how would the train car move?”

Anthony’s eyes lit up. “Electro-magnets! When one wraps wire around a core of iron and supplies it with electricity - it becomes a magnet. If we lay down a series of electromagnets, alternating their polarity, and turning them on and off in sequence - it would in essence pull - or push, depending on your point of view - the car down the tracks. The rails would only be needed to keep the car in position. Without friction - we could move freight at speeds nearing fifty, perhaps sixty miles an hour!”

“And you know how to create magnets strong enough to make an entire train car levitate?”

“That, my friend,” Anthony sighed, suddenly deflated, “is the trick.”

#writing stuff #fanficlet #flash fic friday #stony #steampunk AU #steve x tony #tony x steve #shameless self promo

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dwarrowdams · 5 months

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7 Snippets, 7 Mutuals

Thanks to @otemporanerys for the tag!

I'm tagging @angry-jager, @sinelaborenihilsr2, @serendipitys-teapot, @kalliesa, @dispatchwithlove, @diaphanouso, and @westernlarch

1. Measurements - romantic walk in the Presidium

This was their last night together, and she wanted to drink in as much of him as she possibly could. She was staring, but she was leaving tomorrow, and it wasn’t worth bothering to hide it. Besides, Garrus Vakarian deserved to be admired, especially in his current attire.

He caught her gaze, his mandibles flaring in a smile. “See something you like?”

“A lot,” Liv said, hoping he didn’t notice the quaver of emotion in her voice. “I wasn’t kidding when I told you you’ve got great proportions. I’m just lucky I got to design for you.”

Garrus chuckled. “Thought I was in for a miserable time when I got chosen for one of the gala outfits, but these have been some of the best months of my life.”

“Mine too,” Liv said, surprised by the veracity of the words. “Not just because of the career opportunity, but because I got to know you and spend time with you.”

2. Measurements - closed-off sitting room tryst

She undid the first couple buttons of his shirt, sliding her hands beneath to feel the vibration of his subvocals. "You feel so good," she said. "It's almost a shame you can't undress all the way."

Garrus made an amused sound. "For someone who worked so hard to design this, you're awfully eager to get me out of it."

"I'm not vain enough to think my designs are the only things worth admiring," she said as she ran a hand over his keel. "Your body deserves attention all by itself."

3. Alterations (sequel to Measurements) - my beloved fertility cycles headcanon

“You know about turian fertility cycles?” he asked.

Liv nodded. She’d done her research, which Garrus had supplemented in some of their previous conversations. “Is there something else I should know about them?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Sort of. There’s usually one time of year where things are…more intense. There’s not as much daylight on Palaven, so it’s safer to, ah, procreate, so everything’s escalated. Sensitivity, stamina, attraction…”

He paused, shaking his head. “Spirits, I know how ridiculous this must sound, Shepard,” he said.

“Not at all,” she replied. “Lots of humans go through the same thing, or at least something like it. It’s not a coincidence that I’m most easily aroused when it’s theoretically most likely I’ll get pregnant: it’s evolutionary. Sounds like something similar happens with turians.”

4. Fealty (squire!Garrus fic) - squire oath

“Do you, Garrus Vakarian of Palaven, pledge yourself to serve as a squire of Fenghuang, undergoing the training and duties required to serve and protect the royal family to the best of your ability?”

“I do.”

The queen nodded to the princess, who stepped towards Garrus and pressed her mouth briefly to each of his mandibles. Her lips had barely brushed him, but they felt impossibly soft, and he yearned to feel them again, only if for a moment. He took half a step towards her, ducking slightly as he pressed his mouth to each side of her face, fluttering his mandibles gently against her skin. He could’ve lingered there for hours, his mouth pressed to her skin, her body less than a hand’s breadth away from his, but he stepped back, facing the queen again.

She nodded in acknowledgment. “The oath is sealed with the royal ambassador as witness. By the power vested in me as the sole ruler of Fenghuang, I am pleased to be the first to address you as Squire Garrus Vakarian.”

5. Fealty - sparring that totally doesn't awaken anything in Garrus

She pushed him against the wall, her body pressing into his to pin him into place. He hesitated for a moment, struck by the way she was holding him down, the way her body felt against his, before gripping her wrists and flipping their positions. She tried to duck out, but he stopped her, planting his knees on either side of her hips. He counted—one, two—but she struggled free, crouching beside him. He bent towards her, ready to tackle her to the ground, but before he could move, she swept her leg out, knocking his feet out from beneath him, and he fell to the ground. He tried to sit up, but she was already on top of him: her shin holding down his thighs, her torso pressed flush against him. Even if he had a chance of moving, he didn’t want to, not now that he felt both the power and the softness of her body, pressed against him with only a few layers of fabric between them.

The tap of her hand on the mat pulled him from his thoughts: one, two, three.

She’d beaten him, and had done so admirably.

6. Fealty - Princess Liv gets emotionally vulnerable

“I wanted to talk about last night,” she said, taking a deep breath. “I wish it had gone differently, but it meant so much that you were there for me when I was upset. I’m not great at trusting people, but after last night, I feel like I can trust you.”

He reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You can, Princess,” he said. “With anything.”

“Thank you,” she said. “For showing me that it’s safe to let other people know how I feel.”

“Princess,” he began, but he didn’t have an end to the sentence. What could he possibly say to this incredible, vibrant human who cared so deeply about others but didn’t feel safe when expressing her own feelings?

7. steampunk AU - Garrus catches a thief, but oh no she's hot

“You don’t need to bother with that [sign language],” she said, turning so that he could see the metal device curling around her ear. “Don’t think I could keep up for very long anyways, not with these [candlesticks] in my hand.”

Her voice was sharper than that of the human nobles he’d spoken to, but somehow, it suited her.

“What are you doing with those?” he asked.

She chuckled, her mouth curving into a grin. “It’s the middle of the night and I’ve just climbed in through your window,” she said. “D’you think I’m here to polish the silver?”

Garrus’s eyes lingered on her mouth, pink and full and practically begging for attention. If he took half a step closer, he could touch them, run his finger over the seam and—

No, he couldn’t, not when she was in the process of stealing from him.

#hush Bree #measurements fic #fealty fic #fun fact: i based the squire oath on my court reporter oath #also I don't have a proper title for the steampunk AU bc it'll be a good while before that sees the light of day #I do love the breaking and entering as a meet-disaster (opposite of a meet-cute) though

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