#Damian Wayne thinks he is the best at solving issues quickly | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ellana-ravenwood · 4 years

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“I wish I knew how to help you” - Batsis x Batfamily

Synopsis : Everyone has tough times at some point in their lives. Bruce Wayne most definitely knows that. But when his own daughter is going through a really rough patch, he finds himself not really knowing how to fix things...

This particular subject has been requested so many times (the earliest request dating from August 2018....mmmm..), so watch me butcher it with bad writing. I thought, given how I feel lately, it was the perfect time to finally write it. I hope you will like it (runs away to hide) :

TW : Anxiety, depression, mention of suicide.

My Masterlist : @ella-ravenwood-archives.

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There hasn’t been a lot of time in his life where Bruce Wayne felt so completely lost. Of course, he would be lying if he was saying he never got confused, or if sometimes, he wasn’t quite sure what to do, what to say...

But if there was one thing he was great at, it was problem solving.

Even in desperate situations, he could always trust his analytical and collected mind to help him out.

In fact, Bruce Wayne could count on the fingers of one hand the amount of times he felt utterly lost, defenseless, and couldn't figure out a solution to his troubles. Not even a questionable one, like bottling up all of his feelings and pretending he doesn’t care while he’s screaming and dying inside.

He recollected exactly five times of such an event occurring in his life :

The day his parents died.

The day he realized he couldn’t save everyone.

The day Dick came to live at the Manor, and Bruce realized he had no idea how to raise a child.

The day Jason died.

The day he saw Damian kill.

And now, spilling onto another hand :

...The day he realized he had no idea how to help his daughter, you, with her mental health struggles.

Each time he had been completely lost, there was someone to help him.

For his parents’ death, it was Alfred.

For the day he realized even as Batman he would never be able to save everyone ? It was Commissioner Gordon, and his years of being a cop in a city like Gotham.

Dick himself, and Alfred of course, quickly helped Bruce to understand what it meant to be a father.

Tim’s arrival helped him grieve Jason.

And all his children, from Dick to Cass, and the experience he acquired trying to raise them helped him manage Damian’s problems. It was a plus for sure, that the boy wanted to be helped.

But with you...Any attempt of his trying to breach the subject would result in you brushing his concerns off, getting frustrated, or sighing “I’m fine” and leaving to isolate yourself in your room.

Sometimes, it felt like you really wanted to talk to him. Like you wanted to vent, and tell him what was wrong. But you always seemed to decide against it, maybe in fear of bothering him ?

Most of the time, it felt like you were living with your anxiety in peace. Like you greeted it like a good friend. Bruce had always known you were a rather stressed individual, but you always held yourself up so well ?

Most of the time, it felt like you were perfectly fine. How could he have known ? How could he have known you weren’t ? Ah...but maybe the signs were all there all along...

And Bruce just didn’t know how to help, when even you, didn’t seem to want the help...But maybe that was the trick ? To keep trying no matter what ?

At first, it didn’t seem to him like this would be an issue that could render him absolutely lost like this. And he hated the fact that he thought that.

Because it stemmed from one pervasive thought that made him despise himself : “Her fight with her own mind aren’t as bad as Damian’s, Cass’s, or Jason’s trauma. Aren’t like what Dick went through. It will be easier to fix.” And maybe you felt that, maybe that’s why you wouldn’t let him help ?

Why would it be easier anyway ?

Because you had a calmer childhood. Of course, being Batman’s daughter meant you definitely went through things most children will never experience. But compared to your siblings, you had a somewhat normal childhood.

The biggest trauma of it being the fact your mother, Selina Kyle (author’s note : I’m not particularly talking biological child here by the way, just to make sure y’all can all identify to this. Thought I’d mention it), decided to leave you in your dad’s care and had a very little part in your upbringing up until you turned 12 or so, which is the time she came back. You never seemed to even be mad about this. It always felt like you knew your mom had her own battles to win, that she wasn’t quite ready to have a child, and you forgave her as soon as she came back into your life.

But maybe that was the problem ? The fact Bruce always thought you were strong enough to handle things ? You always seemed to hold your own. You’d always been fiercely independent. Like you never needed help.

When Dick had fits of anger, you’d just stay quiet and withhold it.

When Jason was sometimes overzealous, you’d just stay calm and collected.

When Tim had massive freak outs at times because he felt he wasn’t enough, you’d just reassure him and stay grounded.

When Cass would have nightmare at night and be so scared she couldn’t find her voice again, you’d stay up with her and make sure to soothe her back to sleep, even if it meant not sleeping yourself.

When Damian would realize how much he missed out in life, in his childhood, and how little he knew about the real world...You’d be there, holding his hand while explaining in details why he felt the way he felt.

Even Duke, who arguably was the “sanest” of them all, had times where things were too much for him, and you’d magically appear by his side to help him through it.

You always seemed to be the one everyone relied on.

The one that has it all figured out, that has it together. The one most like Bruce, able to control her emotions. But the one even better than him, because you could also help others understand how they felt.

And that was why Bruce never really noticed your every day struggles.

Come to think of it, the fact you were always so on point and great in your explanations as to why someone felt the way they did, probably meant you felt like them before...

Oh god. God, Bruce hated this. Hated himself, even.

Hated the fact that he thought your fights with your own mind weren’t as bad as what Damian or Dick went through, as bad as Cass or Jason’s traumas. As bad as Duke witnessing what happened to his parents, because you...Well you still had both of them. And they were on good terms, now.

He hated the fact that it took you almost dying for him to realize you had a real problem too. For him to realize your apparent “I can handle my own” attitude was all a fragile facade that could break any time.

He hated the fact that he had to witness you almost letting yourself die, to realize this...The scene kept replaying in his mind.

A night out as vigilantes. Part of a building collapsing. You pushing a woman out of its way, but then just staring up at the crumbling wall that would crush you, not moving. And the state of daze you were in, when you found yourself in your father’s arms as he saved you in extremis from a certain death that you were clearly letting happen.

You later said it was a mistake. It was a simple mistake.

But Bruce, from that point and on, knew better. There had been a time, not long after his parents’ death, where he wondered what even was the point in living anymore. Where he found himself in a similar situation too, where he could save himself and yet stayed in front of the death threat. Alfred saved him at the time, gave him a good scolding which Bruce didn’t even register.

He recognize that look in your eyes.

Because he had the same one, many years ago, before he had a chance at having a family again. Before you, Dick, Jason, Cass, Tim, Damian...It was a look that meant : “What if I just let it happen, what if I end the pain by ending it all ?”.

And Bruce hated the fact that it took him witnessing this look in your eyes for him to finally realize you needed help. It tore his heart apart.

He hated the fact it took him so long to finally act upon it, to finally do something for you. No matter how lost he was as to where to even begin.

And so here he was, on a calm night in Gotham, sitting on a roof and researching on the internet what can be done to help people riddled with anxiety and such. He knew you enough to know you’d never accept to go see a therapist. But maybe...maybe he could help just as good ?

He knew how he got rid of his own anxiety.

The same way he got rid of many other things...He submitted himself to a strict training allowing him to control all of his emotions, shutting some away when needed.

But he couldn’t even imagine making you go through the things he made himself do. Not his daughter. Not any of his children.

There was a reason, the training he gave all of you wasn’t even 10% of what he used to do. Because he had nothing to live for except becoming strong enough to bring back justice to Gotham. Because he had nothing to look forward to except the fact that he was going to make sure no kid in that god forsaken city would go through what he went through ever again...

He gave himself the ability to turn into a machine. To shun all feelings away. Because he had a mission.

He would never, ever want any of his children to feel like this. Even if he managed to, in appearance, make himself feel nothing...It would always cause him tremendous pain. He knew how this felt, to force yourself to control everything.

No. His method was most definitely not fit for his daughter. He did not want her to become like him. And so, scrolling through forums, websites and blogs, he tried to find the best way he could to help his kiddo. It seems like there was almost like a “list” of things every person suffering from anxiety went through every day...

Wondering if your loved ones are upset with you.

“Are you mad at me ?”

Is the text you send to your oldest brother, Dick, immediately regretting it.

Because now, you were sure he’d find you annoying, pushy or anything of the like. Of course, Dick would never. But your mind was telling you he would.

He hadn’t responded to your text in a day, while he would usually be very reactive, and you didn’t need more to think he hated you, now.

Knowing there is no reason for you to feel that way.

Knowing for Dick to be “mad” at his little siblings, it would take a lot (you weren’t even sure you’ve ever seem him mad at any of you, except maybe the times you put yourselves in danger while he’s your team leader, but then it’s more a problem of being mad at himself than really at you.

Yet you cannot control it. You cannot. You are sure now, that he hates you.

Your father doesn’t understand why you’re so morose that day, and why you snap at everyone. He doesn’t understand, and you don’t tell him. And Bruce just ends up thinking you’re in a bad mood and leave you alone, while you desperately want to talk.

You want to tell him that you think Dick hates you. You want to hear him reassure you, even if technically, there is no need for reassurance. Of course your brother doesn’t hate you, he’s probably just busy, he just started his new job in Bludhaven, and moved in a new apartment and...Yes.

Rationally, of course you knew your brother, who has always been there and never shied away from saying he cared about you and love you, doesn’t hate you.

Yet you cannot help but think you did something wrong. You cannot help but think maybe he does. And you want to tell your dad, and have him reassure you, even if you don’t need to.

But instead, you snap at him. Instead, you push him away. Because you couldn’t handle your dad too thinking your annoying. Of course, he would think you’re annoying, a nuisance, if you told him you think Dick hates you...because obviously he doesn’t.

It was a vicious circle. So instead of possibly-but-probably-not-but-still-maybe be hurt, you pushed the one person you wanted close away, snapping at him and isolating yourself in your room.

TING ! Your phone, it’s ringing ! Oh please god, please be Dick !

It is your brother. He answered !

“Of course not ! Why would you think that ?”

You analyze every single word, and how he didn’t use an emoji, while he always does ! And the way he said “why would you think that ?”...he’s for sure mad at you now, and he thinks you’re the most obnoxious little sister that ever walked this Earth.

But you answer :

“Oh no reason lol. Hey wanna binge watch Gilmore Girls with me this week end ? Only you understand how a true masterpiece this show is.”

He doesn’t reply that day, and you think about it the entire night. He doesn’t come at the patrol of course, as again, he just settled in Bludhaven. And it starts. The spiraling of overwhelming feelings, the impossibility to let go of something.

You cannot think of anything else but sending another text to ask if he’s really not mad at you. You decide against it, because you don’t want him to think you’re annoying. Because you understand he has his own life now. Now that he moved from the Manor.

You understand he must be busy. That he has to settle in. That he doesn’t have to be available whenever you want, and that the fact he had always been up until now proved he was the best big brother anyone could ask for.

But you can’t help it. You think it must be you. That he’s not answering because it’s you.

And all of a sudden, you question every relationship you have. What if none of your siblings love you, and are just polite ? What if they’re lying because you’re really the only sibling out of all of you they don’t like and they’re just too nice to...Oh god. Your dad must hate you too.

Because you keep needing him to reassure you about stuffs. Ah yes, today you shunned him away, but sometimes, you guilt trip him so he says he cares about you. Or so he tells you nice things.

And suddenly, one of your biggest fear, the one where you ask for too much out of the people you love is back. And you cry. You cry all night. Because you have too many mood swings. You isolate yourself too much. But you don’t know, you don’t know how to make them see your fear of not being cared for...

And so you cry. Wondering over and over again “why am I like this ????” as you think all of your loved one are upset with you, and will never want to talk to you again.

Later in the day, Dick answers that he would love to watch GG with you, and there’s an emoji this time. Ah. So maybe he doesn’t hate you...

So many people wouldn’t even think this was a big deal, but for you...for you, it was...

Every small decision feels like it has life or death consequences.

You want to tell them. You want to tell them that’s why you couldn't choose what you wanted at the drive through fast enough. Why you stumbled on your words, and ended up blurting out : “Whatever Jason took !” because your taste in food was the closest to his.

You want to tell them, that even such a small issue, in your head, took a huge place. That you rehearsed what you were going to say when it would be your turn to speak to the waiter. That you got all tangled up, and didn’t ask what you actually wanted.

You want to tell them that sometimes, even the smallest “yes or no” question haunts you for days. That “what ifs” won’t let you alone.

You want to tell them, but instead you take the meal you didn’t really want, and eat it in silence, listening to everyone talking and enjoying this family moment. You stay quiet, your mind focus on how clumsy, dumb and useless you are.

Just because you couldn’t order something at the drive through.

You stay quiet, but your mind is racing about how much you suck. How you should get out of everyone’s way. Because you can’t even order food properly.

You feel guilty, because this is one rare family moment when you’re all together, and your siblings all have fun teasing each others, laughing and talking, while you just nod sometimes, smile, and die inside.

Just because you couldn’t order something at the drive through.

You think you’re absolutely insane. That you should be checked in in Arkham. You-

Bruce notices you’re quieter than usual. He notices you didn’t take your favorite burger. He wonders why, because he knows you really REALLY like that burger. Sometimes, he goes out of his way to go get you guys’ favorite food, and he knows that this burger is one of yours...

But he doesn’t dwell on it. Maybe you just wanted to change for once (which wasn’t much like you but oh well). And the fact you’re quiet ? Maybe you’re just lost in your own thoughts and day dreaming. After all, you do like to have some quiet and alone time, and this family dinner is happening on this time.

So Bruce doesn’t say anything, even if his guts tell him something is wrong.

Overthinking. Fearing something could go wrong.

You are in constant fear of what's going to happen if and when something happens to your dad ! Or your siblings ! What if you become homeless for some reasons ? What if you have no friends or family to return to ? What if what if what if what if what if what if what if what if what if what if what if...

Intrusive thoughts, they call them. And they don’t want to leave for sure. They’re persistant. They stay up until you overthink them to the point nothing makes sense anymore. To the dissociation.

And it makes your every day life a living nightmare.

Bruce, as he reads this part of an article on the internet, about how people suffering from anxiety are in a constant state of worry, feels his heart tighten at the mere idea you are going through this.

He knows you are. And he hates the fact it took him so long to realize because...

Not being able to control what's happening now or in the future.

Bruce could recollect so many times where, even as a child, you’d ask him questions like : “What happens after you die ?”, “What will happen to me when I get old ?” etc etc.

At the time, of course, he dismissed it as questions every kid asks. Wondering about the world around them. He never saw how much those questions would haunt you, how much sometimes, you couldn’t let go of things you perfectly knew you had no control over...

The signs were all there though.

You weren’t lost in day dreams, you were lost in nightmarish scenarios about what could possibly happen in the near future.

You were, every minute of every day, worrying about something that was currently happening, something that happened recently, or something that might happen in the next few moment, later the same day or in the future.

It was something you had to live with, and it never been just a child curiosity. As you grow up you stopped asking those questions out loud, didn’t mean they weren’t haunting you...

Making a mistake that will result in someone judging you.

You always had to be irreproachable.

You were a perfectionist.

A lot of time, people passed it as : “like father, like daughter.”

And Bruce should’ve known better...Why was he like this ? This part of him certainly didn’t stem from anything good. Yet he ignored the fact you acted exactly like him. The fact you were turning into him, on that front...

My brain is a TV and someone else has the remote.

... ... ... ...

************

Bruce had enough. He knew. He knew how you felt, and why you acted the way you did sometimes. And it was time. It was time to finally take action.

But he couldn’t do it alone. And he wouldn’t. In fact, they’d all be so mad, if he executed this plan on his own...

Because you. You were their precious sister.

They loved you, so much. And it would kill them, if they knew you really meant it, when you asked if they were mad at you. If they hated you. If they...

They always think you’re joking, or that you’re tired or something. That you have “mood swings”.

You don’t.

For you, all those issues are very real. But they don’t understand, because you’re always there to catch them, and they never expected you needed to be caught.

So when their father expose to them what he thinks is going on with them, and when they realize he’s right...

They feel crushed.

How ? How could they not notice their beloved sister was suffering so much ?

And so that day, they all swear that they are going to do everything in their power to help you. No matter what.

They will never give up on you.

No matter what..

************

“Why am I like this ? Why am I like this ? Why am I like this ?” You repeat to yourself, over and over again, as you feel your heart beat like crazy while it has no reason to.

While your chest hurt, and you feel the weight of anxiety on your shoulder, without even knowing why.

You keep telling yourself you suck, you keep being too harsh on yourself, and oh, oh if you only knew that your entire family right now, was plotting to help you feel better.

Unfortunately...

************

Dick’s antics soothe you for a bit, but as soon as he’s gone your heart goes wild again, refusing to stop, and your mind repeats bad thoughts to you.

The next day, Dick planned the PERFECT sister/brother day. Planning things to spend time with you, just like when you were little and it was just you and him.

It’s a perfect day indeed. Everything makes you forget your anxiety. You smile, for the first time in months since this weird extreme anxious state started.

Dick always knew how to make you laugh, and how to tease you just enough so that you wanted to show him what you were made of !

But once you’re home...

And Dick can try, try and try again, but no matter his effort, he can only relieve your pain when he’s around, and unfortunately, he isn’t always around.

************

Jason is patient, with you.

He listens, he empathizes and does not patronizes.

He’s there when you need him. He celebrates every small victory from you (like finally being able to order the burger you want). He encourages you, gives you all the hope he can. And it means a lot, coming from him.

Because Jason suffered a lot. He went through a lot. His death, and his traumatic return...

He tries to keep you hopeful. He is patient. Available. But he does things too well. You’re afraid he spends too much time with you, and forgets his own mental health. You know he loves to meditate, but haven’t seen him do it in ages.

Because he’s also keeping an eye on you. Your father probably told him the crumbling building debacle...And now he makes sure you’re ok.

But to the detriment of his own mental well being ?

You feel like you’re weighting him down. And slowly, he notices you’re avoiding him. And he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t want to push you, or force you to do anything...

************

It has always been easy, to talk to Tim.

Your brother is the only one in the family that did not become a Robin for personal reasons. Sure, he was struck with tragedy later in life (or he would never be your brother now...), but at the core of it...He was just a kid who wanted to help.

He was a fan of Batman, who really REALLY wanted to make himself useful. He became Robin, not because of any personal motivation but because he was just that selfless.

And so, it has always been easy to talk to Tim.

Which is why he’s surprised, when he realizes you’ve never told him about your anxiety. About your depressed thoughts. You vent a lot to him, but about small things. About things you can both laugh about.

It has always been easy to talk to Tim, and the fact you cannot address your anxiety problems tells him all the extent of it.

Tells him you’re truly suffering, and that he needs to get better.

To become an even better listener, for you. And as you witness him, just like Jason, sort of forgetting about his own well being, you cannot help but feel even worst...

They mean well. They mean so well. But you cannot stand them putting their own health on the line just for you. After all, you’re just a loser who doesn’t deserve any of those wonderful brothers and sister...

************

Duke tries to help you “temper your thoughts”.

His mom used to do that to him, as a child. He was always rather active, suffering from ADHD and such. In a lot of ways, his trouble resembled the ones you had with anxiety.

And he thought that maybe, helping you tempering your thoughts would be the best.

What does that even mean ? Well. Whenever he felt like you were anxious about something, scared or stressed, he would ask you if you were alright up until you’d finally tell him what was making you anxious.

And then he’d ask you the series of question his mom asked : “What’s the worst that can happen ? What’s the best that can happen ? What’s most realistic, or likely ?”...At first you didn’t really understand the point.

But soon enough, you got it. This was helping you turning your intrusive thoughts against themselves. Helping you see the good sides of things.

Unfortunately, just like with Dick’s technique of making you laugh and such, when Duke wasn’t around to remind you to consider the best, worst and most likely option...you forgot that trick.

************

"Let’s go to a quieter place, or go for a walk.”

Cassandra tells you, whenever she sees you get overwhelmed by something. And it works. It does.

You two just walk in silence, hand in hand.

Your sister’s presence reassuring, and warm. Her care for you sipping out of her very being, from her hand to yours.

“Let’s go to a quieter place, or for a walk.”

You go outside, and you don’t speak. She’s just here for you.

But she can’t always be around, can she ? She can’t always just magically appear next to you in moments of need, and say :

“Let’s go to a quieter place, or for a walk.”

But when she can. She does.

She knows when you get overwhelmed by sounds, by smells, by anything. And she brings you to places that makes you feel at peace.

Cassandra was never one to speak a lot, but she always understood.

************

Damian can’t help but feel sad that he, and the rest of the family, aren’t enough for you to feel better. That they can’t win against your depression and anxiety, no matter how hard they try.

And Damian. Oh Damian tries.

He makes sure you have everything you need. He makes sure to be there when it feels like you’re not feeling well, he follows you like a shadow and...

You both get more and more frustrated.

Damian puts a lot of effort into making you feel better, and you keep snapping at him, or pushing him away.

It’s because YOU’RE the big sister. YOU’RE the one who’s supposed to take care of him. But it seems like lately, Damian is obsessed with your well being, and he doesn’t even let you tuck him in anymore...He’s the one that comes tuck you in.

And deep down, you feel like it’s exactly what you need. You want to let your baby brother take care of you. And his worries are so sweet, and makes you feel all warm inside by how adorable this kid can be. How far he came back from.

Deep down.

But you’re not ready to admit you need help. Especially not from your 11 years old brother. No. He’s the one that needs the cuddles and the reassuring words. He’s the one that had it way tougher than you. And him taking care of you, although it feels nice, doesn’t feel right.

And it hurts, to see your little brother get sad because he can’t help you like he wants to. Because he thinks he’s not enough for you, and that’s why you’re feeling the way you are...

************

Nothing goes how they think it was going to go.

You do not get better right away. It doesn’t even feel like you’re getting better at all. On the contrary.

It feels like you push them away even more, that you become even more irritable, that...that...that you go further and further away from them.

And they don’t understand.

Even you, don’t understand.

Why do you feel so bad ? So Sad ? So anxious all the time ?

You don’t know. You don’t know. You don’t know.

“Why am I like this ? Why am I like this ? Why am I like this ?!”

You repeat this to yourself every day, without being able to find an answer.

And Bruce...Oh, your father came to the conclusion that the last and only option is that you need to go to therapy, you need professional help.

************

“What ? Why ? I’m fine dad !”

You say, anger pointing in your voice, as he tells you that.

“No you’re not, (Y/N). We can all see it. And there’s so much we can do we...I...”

There’s a silence. A heavy one. And it breaks Bruce’s heart, to see tears welling up at the corner of your eyes :

“It’s fine. I get it. I’m too much, aren’t I ? That’s why right ? I ruin you guys’ life ? You know, I noticed a shift not long ago. I know you’re trying to make me feel better, and I know you all get frustrated because you can’t. I swear I try dad. I swear I try to not get those bad thoughts. To not think you don’t love me, for whatever reason. To not think like I’m a burden. I swear I try to not be anxious. I try to not worry, about every little thing. I try so hard ok ?! But it doesn’t work ! And I know it’s wearing all of you down. I know it. But...I’m...It’ll be fine ! IT’LL BE FINE !!”

You scream those last few words, and a silence installs itself between you and your father.

Bruce just looks at you, and you cannot stand the pained look in his eyes. You never wanted your burden to transfer on your family like that...why ? Why did you get worst and made them notice you weren’t ok ? Why ?

Maybe it would’ve been better, if your dad didn’t see you about to get crush by this building, and hadn’t saved you. They’d have a-

“I won’t stop trying.”

Your father’s voice cuts your terrible thought, and you look up at him. He walked slowly to you, carefully, as if afraid to scare you. As if afraid you’re gonna “tt” him, and run to lock yourself in your room.

But for some reason, you don’t move. And you let him come close.

He brushes a few fingers on your cheek, as he used to when you were a child and unable to sleep. Him softly humming to you and brushing your cheeks slowly always made you fall right asleep...

“Until you feel better. And I will tell you over and over again that I love you and that I am here for you, if it’s what you need. I am your dad. I am here for you.”

And he understands your pain oh too well. It’s not because he managed to be able to shut his own mental health problems out, that he never feels them.

You are your father’s daughter. Unfortunately in that case.

Oh. Oh he wishes he could take on your pain. He could take on his shoulders your entire burden. He wishes it was only him, that felt that way. That you would never, ever feel anxiety, or depression again.

He knows it is not that easy. He understands.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Something breaks inside you. Something that was on the verge of shattering for years, but snapped only now.

“I just...I just wish I could help you. I just wish I knew how. I am trying too, (Y/N). And I won’t give up on you. No matter what you think. I will never give up on you.”

Those words. Those were so simple. Yet what you needed to hear for so long.

Because no matter your siblings’ effort, or Alfred’s, or your dad’s. Your friends at the Young Justice. Anyone you ever cared for...You always were afraid that one day, you’d be too much for them.

That one day, all your mood swings, pushing them away, venting and complaining often...would be too much. And that they’d leave you.

Alone forever.

“I’m not giving up on you.”

Coming from your dad. You knew he said the truth. You knew.

There’s a short silence. You look at your father, and even Queen Anxiety couldn’t make you think he wasn’t being genuine.

“You...That’s...I...”

Getting chocked up, you weren’t able to say anything, but he understood.

And he was there to catch you. You went right into his arms, and he held you tight, trying to convey to you all the unconditional love he has and will always have for you, no matter what.

No matter how much you push him away, how broken you get, how much you hate yourself and think you don’t deserve any kind of love...he’d always, ALWAYS love you. And would never give up.

“I’m here. I’m here. I will always be here.”

His voice was soothing. It has always been soothing. And he was there.

He was there.

“Thank you...”

You manage to whimper out, as he holds you against his heart.

And, finding it hard to reign his own emotions in (his children have always been the only ones who could cross all his walls and find the vulnerable Bruce who feels everything), Bruce repeated as much as you needed to hear that he was here.

He would always be here for you.

Always..

And the path to your recovery was now open.

__________________________________________________

Here we are. I am sorry if this is sort of...bluargh. Or not what you wanted. But I do hope you liked it. Haha I feel like this story is so ridiculous...I guess this feeling is in the theme eh..........Maybe it’s also because as usual, I wrote very late into the night, and sleep deprivation always make me feel like I do stupid things. Write terrible stuffs.

Reblogs and feedbacks are always welcomed ?

Haha. Convincing.

See you soon with another story, much lighter than this one for sure haha...

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olivia-anderson-fanfic · 3 years

Text

Satisfied, Part 49

First

~~~

Marinette chewed on the inside of her cheek anxiously as her watch beeped to indicate that the Gala was starting. She gave Chloe about thirty minutes to enjoy herself and then sent the text behind her back. It didn’t matter if anything she said was legible, Chloe would understand.

The alleyway was completely silent as she waited for the familiar sound of a text tone. She looked up at the sky. The stars overhead twinkled. It was a perfect, cloudless Christmas night... and she was going to be spending it in an alley, then in a warehouse, then attempting to prevent a massacre. How fun. She should be enjoying her time with her boyfriend, dancing at a Gala, but apparently it wasn’t meant to be.

She drummed her fingers across the brick behind her, her irritation spiking. All that work on an outfit for herself and Chloe only for them to get about thirty minutes of use total. Man, if only she could have gotten the bunny miraculous from future Alix. That would have been a good thing to know ahead of time.

Ding!

She was pulled from her stupor and sighed, mouthing the words. Kaalki sprang to her glasses and she felt the familiar rush of energy as she transformed.

And, with that, she was off into the night. Her hand dipped down into her pocket to brush the miraculi she’d brought along. She had a plan, she reminded herself, it just all needed to work out. All she needed was a bit of luck --.

Ah. She was screwed.

Her boots clicked on the rooftops as she made her way through town.

The receiver in her ear beeped and she touched her hand to it.

“Ready, Mari?” Said Jason.

“Not really.” A grin broke across her face despite the circumstances. “If we’re all dying tonight I’m gonna be honest.”

“Don’t say that! You need to be more optimistic!” Said Dick.

She snickered. “Mmmm, fine. Either way, I’ve kinda known you guys’ identities for a while. You Waynes really aren’t as slick as you think you are.”

She used the stunned silence as a chance to turn down the volume on her comm. She’d need it.

There was a chorus of people yelling some form of ‘wait what?!’ and ‘how?!’ and, even with her volume on the lowest setting, she still winced and brought a hand up to her ear.

“I’ll explain later.”

If she could.

But, hey, Dick said to be more optimistic and she could at least keep morale up by pretending like she thought everything would work out.

She hummed lightly as the henchmen came into view. She leaned over the side of the rooftop, watching them wander around aimlessly in search of her. She pressed a hand to her comm. “Right, I’m gonna deafen.”

Everyone mumbled their ‘goodbye’s and ‘good luck’s. She smiled and changed her setting.

Her feet hit the ground and waved to the henchmen. “Right, right, I’m here.”

She doubted they would tranquilize her this time, considering they’d want her in her best shape to keep her portals. So, she beamed as they walked towards her.

She let them force the bag over her head and raised her eyebrow as they led her through the streets on foot. Maybe they were just tired, but that didn’t mean that the tiny difference in routine didn’t give her an extra little dose of anxiety about the whole situation.

But then they pulled the bag off her head and she was in a warehouse. And Harley tackled her in a hug as usual. Everything was fine. She barely even wheezed when she hit the floor, used to this by now. She grinned and hugged back.

“So, is there anything we need to do before we head out?” She asked, resting her head back against the cold stone. Harley had moved off of her by that point but, hey, she was tired and she didn’t want to get up.

“Nothing in particular,” said Riddler, scrolling through his phone idly like always.

She smiled at him. “Cool, I got you something.”

He raised his eyebrows. “What?”

“Guess.”

He broke into a grin and turned around in his chair to face her. “Do I get any hints?”

“Only that you wouldn’t need any to solve this kind of puzzle.”

He seemed to think for a while, then rested his head on the top of his chair. “It has to fit in your pockets even with your hands in there, so… a rubix cube?”

She tossed him a Megaminx magic cube. “Close enough.”

He caught it and started fidgeting with it, a smile on his face.

Harley pouted. “I can’t believe he got a gift. I’m your favorite!”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “Well, he always looks bored. If you were bored all the time I’d give you something, too.”

“Ha! You didn’t say I wasn’t your favorite!” Said Harley, grinning as she pumped her fist in the air.

She rolled her eyes and rested her head on an arm. Her eyes flickered around calmly and she came to realize that everyone was still in the middle of the room. “Where’s Joker?”

“He’ll be here soon,” said Penguin, a hint of distaste in his tone. “He’s busy with his hair.”

Her shoulders relaxed and she allowed herself to close her eyes. “I’ve always wondered if he just woke up like that or not. Y’know, with the chemicals and all.”

She felt someone come over and lay their head on her stomach and she peeked an eye open to see who it was and then closed her eyes again. Catwoman. Cool.

She rested an arm over her lazily. “You really are like a cat, huh?” She teased.

“Hey, sweetheart, promise me something?” She heard the woman mumble.

“Sure,” she said, sobering a little at the serious tone.

“We all agreed that, if things don’t go well, you aren’t allowed to come save us.”

She frowned. “Um… what?”

“You’re a kid. You need to promise that, if we start getting captured, you have to run. Or portal, whatever. Don’t try and save us. Get out. Okay?”

Tears threatened to come to Marinette’s eyes. Man, couldn’t they all just be terrible people to their cores? She wanted to just put them in jail like she did any other random criminal she stumbled across with Damian, but they just had to be nice to her.

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice tight. “I promise.”

She felt her nod. Or, maybe, she was just burying her face further in her stomach. Either way, Catwoman must have heard because she didn’t press the issue further.

She didn’t even realize she had fallen asleep until she was nudged awake. And by ‘nudged awake’ I mean she was kicked in the shoulder so hard it probably would have broken if she wasn’t in costume. Nonetheless, she still cursed and brought a hand over to cradle it. “Ow? What the hell was...?”

She opened her eyes to see Joker standing over her and her voice faltered. She fought the urge to scramble away in fear, her eyes flickering over his mask. “Uh… Joker, sir, your… face is upside down…”

“It’ll be a great punchline, trust me.”

She nodded slowly and pushed herself up. “Portal time, I’m guessing?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” said Penguin.

Everyone lined up so she wouldn’t have to make a super wide portal so early on. She was second to last, between Harley and Joker, and she could feel him staring at the back of her head. Her skin crawled.

She took a deep breath. Right. This was going to work out. She just had to… be optimistic.

Damn. If only it was as easy as Dick made it seem. She steeled her nerves.

“Right, good luck, everyone!” She chirped.

She opened a portal at the front and everyone filed through.

She closed the portal behind herself and they made their way through the house. The heels of their shoes clicked against the stone floors as they slipped through the halls. But this was quickly drowned out by the sound of people chattering.

She chewed on the inside of her cheek anxiously as they stepped out into the courtyard. It was always weird when a silence came over a room, because it was never all at once. Silence rippled through the courtyard until the only sound she could hear was her own heartbeat.

And then the screaming started.

Marinette closed her eyes and opened the portals on either side of the manor, blocking the gates. People stopped running to watch the blue portals stretch over the wrought iron. A few brave souls tested the portals to see what would happen and then came back out the other side.

The Rogues went to work, darting through the crowd in search of children. She saw Catwoman climb up a wall with inhuman speed and begin to use a lasso to pull kids out of danger.

Hey! Wait a minute! Marinette’s hands found their way to her waist and she cursed. Fine. She didn’t need a weapon, not as NightMare.

Unable to do much else, she settled for running around and grabbing kids like everyone else. She would grab as many as she could carry, vault over the wall, set them down and apologize profusely, then jump back over for more. She didn’t want to go quickly, she needed the bats to have a bit of time to give plausible deniability, but she was kinda on a time crunch...

Her eyes wandered over people, searching wildly for a familiar red suit. Honestly, why were there so many people in bright red? It’s really not a flattering color and -- there!

She found Chloe hiding out in a corner, probably waiting for the bats, and rushed over. Her gaze flicked over her hairline. She’d smashed her bug. Good.

Marinette grinned and dug into her pockets and held up the bee miraculous. “Tradesies?”

Chloe’s eyes widened and Marinette fastened the pin to the girl’s hair, then pulled the earrings off of her.

“This matches your outfit way better, anyways,” she chirped, giving a tiny wink before putting on her earrings. It felt great to have them again. She grinned. “Tikki, Kaalki, unify!”

“Good luck, right?”

She grinned. “Of course, Queenie.”

They pressed a kiss to each other’s cheeks and darted off in different directions.

Marinette couldn’t show up as a mix of Ladybug and NightMare, and she needed to keep the portals up, but that didn’t mean that she could just sit around doing nothing at all. She settled for jumping onto the roof and yoyo-ing a few people to safety when no one was paying attention.

She felt someone behind her and whipped around, her hand coming up to punch them, only for them to dodge.

She relaxed when she saw it was only Tim. “Sorry.”

“No, no, it’s my fault for just standing there! That was creepy.”

She giggled. “It’s fine, sweetie.”

She felt his fingers interlock with hers and a tiny smile made its way across her face, only to fall as they looked out over the sea of people.

The Rogues were nearly out of kids to take to safety, it seemed. Chloe was on the outer edges, shuffling along and attempting to get as many people out as possible without being spotted.

Their grips tightened on each other’s hands. It was starting to hurt but neither of them were eager to let go just yet.

She swallowed thickly. “How much longer?”

“We’re waiting until they get the kids out, since they’re already doing it for us.”

She nodded slightly.

And then they heard gunfire. Their eyes flicked back down to see Penguin shooting people with an umbrella. It might have been a comical sight if he wasn’t mowing down people at an alarming rate.

She felt Tim’s grip slacken on her hand and held tighter. He paused and she reached out, taking his face in her hands and pressing a short kiss to his lips.

“Good luck,” she murmured.

“One of us has to have it,” he whispered jokingly.

She gave a quiet laugh and let go. He gave her a tiny wink before hopping down.

She surveyed the battlefield, trying to ignore the pools of red and concentrate solely on the vigilantes and Rogues. It was about one-on-one, but the bats did slightly outnumber the Rogues.

Didn’t mean much when they were refusing to kill anyone, though.

She bit down on the inside of her cheek.

Just a few more minutes, she only had to wait a few more minutes…

~~~

Me: oh the Gala stuff will probably be like 3-4k words max so i’ll just have it all in one chapter

Also me: takes 2k words to get through the first part alone

Taglist

@comet-kun @thatonecroc @trippingovermyfeet @swiftie-miraculer13 @nickristus-dreamer @moongoddesskiana @i-am-ironic @indecisive-mess-named-me @thebooki3h @insane-fangirl-of-everything @deepestobservationwombat @theymakeupfairies @fatimaabbasrizvi @clumsy-owl-4178 @fanofalittletoomuch @iamablinkmarvelarmy @nathleigh @lilkymilky @silvergold-swirl @dino-lovingreen-angel @thestressmademedoit @kissa-chan @ladybug-182 @alysrose-starchild @t1dwarrior-of-earth @spyofthenightcourt @rowanrouge @nik-nak-3 @momothefemur @aestheticnpoetic @labschaos @our-preciousss @mochinek0 @eliza-bich @mythogaychic @severelyenchantedwonderland @sashakoi @smolplantmum @bluesimani @tropestropestropes @kitsunebell @keepingupwiththemalfoys @sassakitty @2confused-2doanything @too0bsessedformyowngood @all-mights-asscheeks @demonicbusiness @meg-an-ace @fantasiame @qualitypeacepainter @multplelifes @kokotaru @spicybelladonna @ultimatetornshipper

#timinette #timari #marinette dupain cheng #ladybug #red robin #tim drake #maribat #satisfied

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preciousthingsareprecious · 3 years

Text

Finding Us Chapter 20

Insert Mushu’s I liiiiive gif here because Finding Us is back! My goal for this year is to get this fic finished, because as surprising as it may seem I don’t think there are that many chapters left waiting to be written.

I hope you guys enjoy it, and I am so sorry for the just wildly long delay between chapters.

AO3 Link

Titus moved at a faster pace than Damian was willing to run. He watched as his dog scampered ahead on the sidewalk, pausing here and there to sniff at trees or examine bushes and flowers, but always darting forward to something new and interesting. Still, he stayed within Damian’s line of sight, and even paused to look back at him every so often with an inquisitive tilt of his head.

Damian had allowed the dog off his leash after Titus’s excitement had almost pulled him off his feet. It had been a few days since he’d been able to take him out for a proper walk, and the dog was eager to stretch his legs and explore. Damian wasn’t worried about Titus getting into trouble, he was well trained and the chance of meeting someone else was slim, especially since they were walking the path between home and Drake Manor. It was private property, and far enough from most civilization that few bothered to wander out here for fun.

He was happy to follow the animal at a slower pace. He refused to admit that Pennyworth’s reminder that he was not fully recovered yet had been accurate. His inability to balance properly earlier, had nothing to do with his head. Neither did his lethargy. He was simply tired from the stress of having to worry about Drake.

Everything was Drake’s fault, even Damian’s escape outside. Damian had needed to get away from the tense atmosphere filling the house, and the tension there. So he’d claimed Titus needed a walk, promised to return soon, and scurried away from Father and Grayson’s grumpy voices, irritated with their lack of progress. Damian was frustrated himself, having worked from the early morning and past lunch alongside everyone.

Damian bit his lip before huffing, Drake was an imbecile.

Honestly, did he not realize this was an issue he should have spoken of before now? It was as if he thought he could ignore weirder than normal stalking and it would simply go away.

He kicked at a pebble, sending it arcing through the air to thump against a tree trunk. Drake had not learned anything apparently. It was one thing to hide it from Damian, he could understand that. They still did not have the best relationship (little relationship at all if Drake could have his way and Damian did not want that), but he would have expected his brother to have spoken to Grayson or Father at the very least. But no, Timothy had not even considered how his family would see the situation, had not thought of what allowing that psychopath to get close to him would do to any of them.

“The fool.” Damian mumbled.

At his voice, Titus stopped his examination of a stump and ran back to him to butt his leg for a moment. When Damian did little more than give him a quick pat to the head, Titus ran forward again.

Damian wished he were still home, digging through information. Part of the reason he’d taken his walk was because he’d been banned from doing just that. He had been outvoted. Father, Grayson, and even Todd had insisted it was time for Damian to take a break and see to his growing headache. As if any of them were resting. It was too much fuss over injuries that were paltry. He might not be as irritated if Grayson had been forced to rest as well.

The man was as stubborn as Father. While he had been partnered with Grayson, Damian had been told of his brother’s famous hard head, but he had not truly realized it until he began to work with the man. He wondered how the two ever worked together when disagreeing, their attitudes were so similar. When they got it in their heads to do something, they were almost unmovable. Like Titus when he refused to give Damian his favorite stuffed toy.

Damian could be that stubborn. He had many times, but when faced with not one but two people wielding such power, well he’d much rather find an alternate means of helping. He did make a mental note to sway Father to his side in forcing Grayson to rest later. He would not be the only one bullied into a break.

Drake Manor came into sight as Damian and Titus moved out of a tree line. The building was not as stately as Wayne Manor, but it was kept up well, even with Drake spending hardly any time there anymore. Damian liked to think that if he had a whole mansion to himself he’d use it more than Drake did. Though that might get lonely. Perhaps he would use it the same way his brother did: as more of an escape than anything.

Now that he was here, Damian’s reasons for coming felt shaky at best. He had been so sure of himself when he’d snatched the keys to the estate from Drake’s room and decided to secretly investigate. He’d hoped that-- well Damian wasn’t sure what he’d hoped. To find the stalker here? Camped out at Drake’s childhood home sifting through his mail or something? It felt silly. Like he was grasping at straws.

It would be even sillier to turn on his heel and leave, so Damian stomped ahead. He turned the gate key in his hands, Drake had probably already been out here, searching the grounds for any signs of his stalker. Father too would have come to look. And Todd and Cain and Grayson and the whole lot of his family. Damian was simply last to come up with the idea.

“Tt,” he said, and put the key into the lock, turning it until he heard a click.

The gate swung inwards, giving Damian access to a spot he was sure would lead to nothing. But he would not give up. Grayson used to-- and sometimes still did -- give him cases to read over that he thought he’d solved but wanted ‘fresh eyes on’. When Damian had asked why, when they were already solved, Grayson had said that everyone saw things differently, and a new perspective could reveal things everyone else missed.

Damian was going to be the new perspective.

He decided to check the inside first, and circle around the grounds after. That way if he took too long and someone came looking for him Damian would have managed to explore most of the spot he was most curious about.

Titus darted through the open gate off to explore the new area. Damian let him frolic for the time it took him to approach the house then called the dog over to him. He’d rather have his friend close by through the exploration.

Only his whistle didn’t catch Titus’s attention, and when Damian didn’t see the dog coming close, he looked up to search for him, the keys dangling in his fingers.

Titus stood close to the front gate to the driveway, growling, with his ears pulled back, at a man. The man stood very still, even separated by wrought iron.

Damian hurried over to stand near Titus, “Hey boy, it’s okay.” he said, resting a hand on the dog’s head and frowning at the person Titus had decided was no good.

The man looked to be in his late forties, with dark hair speckled with some grey, and deep lines on his face. He was dressed plainly, and in a coat and gloves that were appropriate for the weather only if he’d planned to stay out late. Everything was done in dark tones, with nothing that really stood out. What was most interesting was the fact that a small envelope was held tightly to his side in one of his hands.

Damian did not glare at the man since he did not wish to make him bolt, but every fiber of his being said there was something very wrong about this guy.

“Can I help you?” Damian asked, raising himself up and filling his tone with as much authority as he might have in addressing one of Grandfather’s men who’d stepped out of line.

“Hi, you wouldn’t happen to be Tim Drake would you?”

Damian’s heart sped up, and he squeezed his hand around Titus’s collar, “I do not think I should tell you. I don’t know you, and so far you have not introduced yourself.”

“Oh, sorry, I’m Joe, I’m an old acquaintance of your dad’s.” The man gave Damian a smile that felt a little too bright, “Listen, I’ve been out of town for a couple years, and well I came by to give my condolences and just say hi. We used to be pretty close back in the day.”

He thought Damian was Timothy. Well then he couldn’t have been that close a friend. Damian shared a hair color with his brother, that was it. It should be obvious he was not the son of a supposed ‘old friend’.

“Timothy is my brother, and he would not appreciate you snooping around. Now I would kindly ask you to leave.”

Titus’ growl turned into a bark, and he tried to pull away from Damian to lurch at the man. Damian held firm, but did not hush his loyal friend.

The man glanced down at Titus and back up at Damian, “Alright, okay, I’ll try calling ahead next time. Have a nice day.”

“Wait--” Damian called, as the man turned, “Did you not have a letter you wished delivered?” he pointed to the envelope clasped close to the man’s side.

“Oh! Yeah.” The man smiled, “Will you give this to your brother? I wasn’t sure if I’d catch him or not, so I thought I’d say hi with it.”

Damian stepped a little closer to the gate and took the offered letter. It did not seem to weigh much, and might have been what the man said. He gave him a sharp nod of dismissal.

Once the man was gone, Damian turned and hurried back to the manor at an almost sprint. He would have run, but moving quickly was making his headache return and he was not certain the man he’d just run into was Drake’s stalker or not. It could be a false alarm.

When he returned home he came in the back he quickly examined Titus’ paws for mud or any pebbles he might have picked up on the walk then let him run into the house. He paused in the kitchen where Pennyworth was enjoying a cup of tea.

“Back so soon?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I have brought news.” Damian told him, “Where are Father and Timothy?”

“Downstairs with the others. Might I ask what this news is?”

“I ran into a strange man on my walk. He was attempting to enter Drake Manor.”

Pennyworth straightened at this, and looked Damian over. “That is news.”

Something told Damian that the butler was not just reacting to the man, but Damian’s involvement. He seemed concerned, but in that way that said he was trying to hide it.

“I was perfectly safe.” Damian said, “Titus was there and the gate was between us. I had planned to examine the house for clues to help the search.”

Now Pennyworth’s lips turned up in a smile, “I see. Well then, head downstairs. I’m sure the others will be interested to hear of your news. And I expect you back up here in a reasonable amount of time. Breakthrough or not, you are still recovering, and I could use a hand with dinner.”

Damian nodded, “Of course.”

He made his way out of the kitchen and down to the cave at a more sedate pace, knowing Pennyworth’s eyes and ears were on him, alert for any sounds of Damian “exerting” himself. Thankfully it was not long before he was exiting the elevator and moving into the cave proper.

There, he found Father at the computer, with Richard leaning over his shoulder as they both read something. Todd and Drake were sparring on the mats while Cain watched, and Brown did handstands. Damian stopped just between the practice mats and computer to watch them all.

Upon seeing him, Brown dropped from her handstand to wave, “Back from your walk?”

Richard turned to frown at Damian, but before he could send him back upstairs Todd spoke up, ducking under Drake’s fist.

“Nope, you are not supposed to be down here, Squirt. Upstairs before Alfred figures out you’ve snuck down.”

Damian huffed, “I did not sneak anywhere, Pennyworth is aware of my location. While you all have been dallying I have made a breakthrough in Drake’s case.”

Todd froze, and took a kick directly to his stomach for it. He oofed and doubled over while Drake scrambled to make sure he was fine. Father and Richard both turned fully in Damian’s direction.

“What do you mean, Dames?” Richard asked.

“You weren’t supposed to be doing case work upstairs either.” Father reprimanded.

“I was taking Titus on a walk.” Damian defended.

Yes he had been planning on sneaking case work into the walk, but it really hadn’t come up, so technically he was still telling the truth. He had only really managed the walk before he’d run into “Joe”. It was pure luck he’d come across the man at that time. If he had been any slower or faster he might have missed him altogether. Or perhaps even been mistaken for Timothy inside the house. That might not have gone over nearly as well as the meeting at the gate had.

“Well what did you find?” Drake asked.

He and Todd had straightened and were moving closer. Cain and Brown kept back, they were interested, but leaving things up to those who’d been closest to the investigation so far.

Damian held up the letter, “A man gave this to me outside Drake Manor. He initially mistook me for Drake despite claiming to be an old family friend. From his manner and way of speaking I suspect he is either Drake’s stalker, or someone hired by them to drop off the latest threat. In either case he was a terrible actor.”

Drake snatched the envelope from Damian’s hands and tore it open before anyone could stop him. He removed a single sheet from within, stared at it for a moment, then silently handed it over to Father.

Father read it, his face darkening with every line he scanned. Damian resisted the urge to stand up on his tiptoes to peer over the sheet and read what was on it. Whatever it contained, he was certain it was more of the same creepy and unsettling information Drake had been receiving for a while now.

Part of him thought he should have opened the letter himself before presenting it to the family. It had been an oversight to just hold it out as he had done. What if there had been something dangerous inside? And to have put more threats upon Drake like this, after they were trying to stop everything--it was embarrassing. He should have checked.

But then again, Drake would have insisted on reading it. Everyone would probably insist. Still, it wasn’t the letter that was important. It was the person who had delivered it.

“Damian, you said you saw the person who delivered this?” Richard asked, looking up, concern on his face.

He nodded, “Yes, I can sketch him, and we should be able to use it to identify him.”

Todd moved over beside Damian, and ruffled his hair, “That’s great! Even if he’s not the guy, he’s connected with him, this is a good lead.”

Damian scowled, and ducked away from him, “It was simply luck. I was in the right place at the right time. If not, we would only have another creepy letter.”

“And boy is it creepy.” Todd said, yanking the letter away with a whistle, “He said he likes the smell of your shampoo on your pillow? Ew, and also totally false unless he somehow got in here.” Todd looked up with a frown, “He couldn’t have gotten in here right?”

“It is most likely a lie intended to be built upon a truth. Either he believed Timothy was still staying at Drake Manor or it was supposed to come here and the hired hand chose the wrong home.” Damian said.

Both Richard and Drake’s attention shot up to look at Damian. He frowned at them confused for a moment, then realized his mistake. He turned the frown into a glare.

“Pennyworth asked me not to be too long. I will return upstairs to aid him then draw the picture of your stalker.”

With that he turned on his heel and left them to glean whatever they could from the letter

#Damian Wayne #Tim Drake #finding us #fanfiction #batfam #the others are here #but this is Damian's chapter #so it feels weird to tag them all #surprise surprise the one that got me out of my stuck spot was a damian chapter #triggers #include #stalking #stalker #creepy letter #stalker letter #it's not a creepy chapter #but just in case #precious posts #chapter 20

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youngdreamer3214 · 4 years

Text

Parting Words

Disclaimer- I don't own the Teen titans or anything related.

Jason Todd is Red X.

The titans are in their mid- twenties. Raven and Jason are living together in Gotham after the titans were taken over by younger heroes; but they still go on missions assigned to them by the league.

Strong winds blew as dark clouds adorned the sky. Thunder raked through the skies and the clouds were desperate to shed the water they had been holding. A storm was brewing.

But it was nothing compared the storm of emotions which trapped Raven and Jason which was ready to swallow them whole.

"How can you not tell me Jason?" Raven said in anger, a few objects rattled in dark magic. Jason sighed in frustration "It wasn't important."

Raven sharply turned to face her boyfriend and hissed "How can you think it wasn't important? You took three bullets Jason near your heart...three bullets! You almost died."

"I'm not dead, so how is it any important now?" he said, anger and frustration creeping in his voice.

"You are my boyfriend Jason, it is important to me." She yelled, a few more objects rattling now. They had been fighting for about an hour now and they both were incredibly thin on their patience.

"I am fine now, so why are you making it a bigger deal than it is." He yelled back.

She took a step towards him and exclaimed "It is a big deal because you are important to me. Don't you get that?"

He also took a step towards her and yelled "No, what I don't understand why are you so mad?"

"I am mad at you because I love you." She spat turning away from him in frustration.

Raven and Jason had been dating for two years now and were living together. Jason had just returned from a long mission and Raven got to know that he didn't tell her that he nearly died had Batman not intervened. Which was also why Jason didn't want to talk about it, he was pissed off because Batman saved him; needless to say he still had some issues with his adoptive father.

After Batman found out that he was the anti- hero, Red-X; he tried to get Jason to join the family again, Jason was a little reluctant about that but he became a hero again.

Jason growled and grabbed her arm to make her look at him, his eyes were pulsing green from the pit as he snapped "Maybe that's the problem" Raven gasped and looked at him with shock and hurt.

"...I can take care of myself, I don't need anyone and even if I did I am sure as hell that I don't need a pathetic demon like you." He added after a couple of moments of shocked silence, his eyes still pulsing green.

They were silent for a couple of moments as his words hung between them like poisonous daggers. Raven looked at him with tears welling up in her eyes, his eyes lost the green tint as the realization of his words dawned upon him. He took a step towards his girlfriend who was on the verge of crying and reached out to touch her and protect her against his harsh words but she stepped back and chanted her mantra to teleport away from him.

He was reaching forward to grab her before she teleported away but he was too late, he looked at the spot which was previously occupied by his beloved girlfriend and he sunk his face in his hands and pulled his hair a little roughly.

This wasn't how today was supposed to go; he wanted to spend time with his beloved girlfriend after being away for so long. He had missed her so much.

He honestly wasn't thinking when he spoke, he just saw red at that moment and he didn't mean anything he said. He loved her, more than anything in his life and her love was one thing he treasured more than anything and that would never ever be a problem; and he couldn't live without her.

He knew that his words hurt her, despite her emotionless appearance Raven felt everything very deeply and she had told him that she never felt like anyone needed her or wanted her and hearing those words from him would have really broken her heart.

He grabbed his phone and his gear and rushed out of their apartment to find his girlfriend while he dialled her number and tried to track her phone.

Meanwhile Raven teleported herself away from their apartment, she wiped her tears but they continued to fall, she slowly walked to the nearest bar and sat ordering a drink for herself. His words had cut deep and had hurt her a lot more than she could fathom and the only thing she wanted to do now was drink.

Yeah, many of her boyfriend's habits had rubbed onto her.

She sighed and placed her head in her hands, silently crying while his words repeated themselves in her mind. She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard her phone ring.

She pulled it out of her pocket and saw the picture of her boyfriend and his name flash on the screen. She cut the call and switched off her phone so that he couldn't track her and shoved it back in her pocket.

As she drank she thought about her options, she could go to her big brother but he was off on some mission with Kori. So the alien was also out, maybe she could speak to Richard, no she stopped that train of thought.

After her last encounter with Damian and now with Jason, she couldn't speak to him. She couldn't deal with bats anymore. 'Maybe what they said was true, why will they need me?' she thought sadly and ordered another drink.

Damian Wayne, the blood son of Bruce Wayne was her close friend but even he tended to say things without thinking. And what he said last time to her had felt like he had stabbed her.

Yeah, she wasn't having good days.

After a few hours, she sat in the bar almost drunk when she felt a familiar presence approach her but she didn't bother to look. Nope, she didn't care who it was or what they wanted, they could all go to hell.

"Finally Raven, Jason is going crazy looking for you." Came the familiar voice of her good friend, Richard as he sat beside her on a bar stool.

Richard was actually worried because if Jason had called him for help finding Raven then they must have had a bad fight. Jason usually stayed distant and didn't call for help unless he was really desperate. And now his worries increased as he saw Raven drinking, many glasses surrounded her and she was holding one also. Raven was usually level headed and logical; and if she was drinking heavily then she must be really upset.

"Don't care...leave me alone." She slurred and continued drinking from the glass in her hand. He sighed and turned to look at her, her shoulders were slumped in defeat and she was holding onto the glass as if her life was depending on it. He couldn't see her face as it was shadowed by her now long wavy hair.

He was about to say something when he saw a few tears drop on the bar as she finished her drink. She placed her glass on the table and extended her card towards the bartender to pay for her drinks. "What happened Rae? Tell me" he said calmly but also firmly as he placed his hand on her shoulder in a friendly way.

"Nothing...just leave me be." Came her low reply. Raven internally snarled at her demon anatomy, she couldn't even get drunk fully; she was just tipsy right now. She got up, shaking off his hand and turned to leave the bar when he grabbed her hand to stop her from leaving. She just jerked her hand back.

"You are one of my best friends, please tell me." He pleaded again. She wrapped her hands around herself and mumbled "Damian and Jason are right."

And she walked out of the bar leaving a confused Richard behind, what were his brothers right about. He ran to catch up with Raven who was walking slowly; he jogged beside her and asked "Where are you going?"

The streets seemed a little empty for it deep in the night and a storm had just passed, leaving puddles of water in its wake.

She didn't have a destination in mind, she was just walking. "Jason doesn't need me." She mumbled again, her eyes droopy and her legs shaky. Richard turned towards her as he walked, not seeing where they walked.

Richard had directed all his attention towards the young woman in front of him who was a very strong demon, who was the queen of hell and could destroy the world on a whim but right now she was vulnerable and sad. He was trying to understand and maybe then solve what was troubling her but he couldn't understand anything from her cryptic answers.

Before he could say anything, a light flashed behind him, Raven turned and pushed him away. He was caught off guard by this and he fell and as he fell he heard a crashing sound and a sound of a vehicle stopping forcefully. His heart skipped a beat as he realized what happened.

He got up quickly and ran towards the truck; he hadn't realized that they were walking on the road. When he reached he saw the bleeding body of Raven near an electric pole with sparks falling from the pole because of the collision and a few wires laying near her, and a man panicking as he dialled a number. Richard ran towards his friend and saw her clothes seeping blood, she was bloodied and bruised with a deep gash on her forehead.

He drew her to his lap and said frantically "Raven...look at me." Her eyes were half hooded, there were silence as he quickly scooped her up and made his way over to the cave as that was the place nearest to them and one of the very few places equipped to help her. His heart was jumping loudly, his friend saved him but maybe at her cost. "Jason." She mumbled and passed out; her body limp in his arms as he rushed.

'Oh God, Jason! How would he handle this?' Richard knew that he had to call Jason but right now his priority was making sure that his friend would survive.

He jumped quickly but carefully and ran as to not hurt the empath, he didn't care if his clothes were bloodied, and he just had to make sure she was all right.

Richard didn't want to think about the worst, he pinged the emergency button which he always had on his belt to alert the cave. He was panting for air by the time he reached but he quickly entered the pass code and saw his mentor, his father standing there with his younger brother, Tim.

"What happened Richard?" Batman asked as he took the young woman from Richard's arms and rushed her to the medical wing. "Accident...she saved me." He said in between long intakes of air.

Batman carefully but swiftly took the young woman to the medical wing, blood was seeping from her wounds and her bruises were turning blue-black for some reason.

Batman was quite fond of the young empath, at the beginning he did not approve his second son dating an inter- dimensional demon's daughter but she had slowly won him over. He saw that she made Jason happy and made him feel loved and honestly he didn't want anything more than that. After everything Jason had been through he deserved happiness.

With extreme caution he did a scan of her and started her treatment.

Richard sighed and saw his hands and clothes which were covered in the dark beauty's blood. He sat with Tim; they didn't say anything for they were sad and worried for their friend. Richard rubbed his eyes and took out his phone and dialled his younger brothers' phone.

After a couple of rings Jason picked up his phone.

"Did you find her?" Came his desperate question. "Jason...something has happened."

Jason reached the cave and yelled "Where the hell is she?!" his heart was thumping so fast and loudly that he could hear it over the lightning raking the city outside the shelter of the cave as he approached Richard and Tim.

When he saw his older brother, time stopped for him and his heart started beating faster if possible, adrenaline pumped through his veins. Richard's clothes were stained in dark blood along with his hands; Jason tried to steady himself when he saw that Richard didn't look at him.

He growled and asked again in a dangerously low voice "Where is my girlfriend?" Richard looked at him with concern and guilt lacing his expression and sighed sadly "In the medical wing..." Jason pulled Richard's collar so that they were eye to eye as he roared "What the damn hell happened?"

Richard freed himself from his brother's grasp with a deep breath and told him everything. Him finding her in a bar, she almost drunk and unwilling to speak to him, and her saving him from being hit by a truck but getting hurt instead.

Richard turned and saw fury and concern on his younger brother's face, before Jason could say anything Batman walked towards them. Jason ran towards their mentor and asked frantically "How is she? Is she okay?"

Batman sighed and looked at his son who was fidgeting in his worry and was two seconds away from running towards his girlfriend. "Jason, she hasn't woken up yet and is very weak. We won't know fully about her condition until she has woken up."

"What happened to her?" He demanded. Batman sighed and said reluctantly "She has lost a lot of blood and has four broken bones and one fractured rib."

"But she can heal herself." Jason stated in anger. Batman took off his cowl and said "Her powers are exhausted after protecting her heart from the current."

Wordlessly Jason ran towards the medical wing and towards his weak girlfriend. He opened the glass door with a shaky breath and saw his strong and beautiful girlfriend now looking pale and fragile. Her head was bandaged as were some parts of her hands and she was hooked onto several machines, he slowly walked towards her and saw her midriff also bandaged.

He carefully held her hand, cautious enough to not cause her more pain than she already is in. He kneeled beside her on the floor and kissed her hand "Wake up, love...if only to be angry at me; but please wake up...I need you." His heart beat was mirroring the thunder that was echoing in the city.

He said the last part shakily and rested his head beside her, trying to blink away the tears forming in his eyes.

Bruce, Richard and Tim saw the scene before them and were astonished seeing Jason like this, so broken over someone. They all hoped that Raven would wake up soon, for she was the only one who could heal Jason also.

Jason woke up to a hand on his shoulder, shaking him slightly. He lifted his head hoping it was all a bad dream but when he met with the bandaged body of his girlfriend his face fell. He looked over his shoulder and saw his father standing with a concerned expression.

"She'll be okay Jason; she loves you too much to leave you." Bruce comforted his son. Jason sighed sadly and rubbed his eyes saying "I screwed up Bruce...I said some things I didn't mean, I hurt her...I am the reason she is like this. If I hadn't said all that then she wouldn't have left...and then she wouldn't have been in this condition."

"Thinking like this won't do you any good Jason, all you can do right now is learn from your mistakes. And I am sure that she will be okay, she's very strong." Bruce said wisely.

"You haven't slept in two nights, go on. I'll sit with her." Bruce added. "I can't leave her." Jason said stubbornly.

Bruce sighed and said "At least go shower and eat something...until then I'll sit here."

Jason thought over his mentor's words and then reluctantly nodded and kissed his girlfriend's hand which he had been holding and got up "I'll be back soon, love."

Bruce watched his son walk out and then turned his attention towards the young empath in front of him and said softly to her "Jason needs you, he's happy with you and I haven't seen him this happy since a long time."

After a couple of minutes the dark knight saw a twitch of black magic on the empath's fingertips; he sighed a bit in relief knowing that she was in there somewhere.

After an hour, the glass doors swished open and Bruce met with the face of his eldest son, "Where's Jason?" the older hero asked.

"He passed out on his bed." Richard said with a slight chuckle and the dark knight just smiled a little and then turned his attention back to the dark beauty.

0O0

"Where's Raven?" Jason roared as he saw the empty bed in the bat cave, his fury was surfacing as Tim approached him and said softly "Bruce and Dick shifted her to the Manor while you were sleeping...they are with her at the moment."

"Thanks replacement." He nodded at his younger brother and approached his old home through one of the many secret entrances to his old home. He approached the medical room, situated in the depths of the manor and saw Raven still unconscious and Richard sitting on a chair beside her and reading some novel to her sleeping form.

Jason walked inside and grabbed a chair, and pulled it so that he could sit with by his girlfriend. Richard paused from his reading and said with a tiny smile "Bruce said that her wounds are healing rather quickly."

"Then why isn't she waking up?" Jason said with desperation and worry lacing his voice. Richard placed a hand on his brother's shoulder "She'll wake up, Jaybird...she is too stubborn. It will just take some time."

Jason didn't reply instead he just looked at his girlfriend.

After a couple of long, slow moments "I'm sorry...if only I had paid more attention to where I was walking then she wouldn't have to save me."

Jason turned and looked at the guilty expression of his elder brother, he couldn't pretend that he wasn't angry at him for not protecting Raven but then he remembered that his girlfriend was Raven, and if the choice came to save herself or others then she would chose others in a heartbeat.

Her selflessness was something he both admired and hated at the same time.

"Don't apologize Dick, I asked you to help me find her...in a way it's my fault." Jason muttered. Richard placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and picked up the book again and began reading from where he had left off.

Jason didn't say anything instead he lightly kissed her hand before holding it tightly between his. He also noticed the light flame of magic on her fingertips and smiled in relief internally, knowing that her magic was slowly coming back, which would help her heal.

A week went by; Raven was still unconscious; she had begun to show signs of rapid healing when one day her heart beats started to slow down. The whole bat family started panicking but Bruce had restarted her heart via electric shocks. Jason was two seconds away from losing control but when he heard the rhythmic beating of her heart, he calmed down.

And since that day he refused to leave her side but after his brothers, Alfred's and Bruce's constant coaxing he was made to eat, shower and sleep. And he was not to be given entry unless he did all that, Jason grumbled as he left his girlfriend's side after kissing her jewel lightly and muttering an 'I'll be back.'

Today Damian was watching Raven; he hadn't come to see her ever since he found out that she was in the medical wing. He couldn't face her as he remembered his last words to her. His heart was filled with guilt when he remembered how hurt she looked.

"I didn't mean anything I said." Damian muttered softly.

"What did you say exactly?" Richard asked from the door. Damian whipped his head towards the source of the voice and sighed knowing that he cannot lie to his elder brother.

"I said something I didn't mean...I said that she was a mistake and when Todd realizes that fact he will also leave her."

There was a moment's silence, Damian looked at the carpet in shame; unable to meet his brother's disapproving stare.

"You said WHAT to my girlfriend." Jason yelled from the entrance of the room, which had Richard and Damian's gaze snapping over to him. And he looked furious with his eyes pulsing green. Jason stalked towards the ex- assassin but before he could say anything Richard came in between them and placed a hand on Jason's chest, holding him back so that he wouldn't bruise the youngest Wayne.

"He didn't think before he spoke, Jaybird and he regrets it." Richard said.

"And that makes it forgivable!" yelled Jason. "No, it doesn't. Let me speak to him while you sit with Raven." Richard said calmly.

Jason glared and growled as he sat on the chair near his girlfriend as Richard pulled Damian out of the room.

They stood outside in silence; Richard's glare was piercing into Damian. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize to me...you need to apologize to Raven when she wakes up...and next time think before you speak, your words did hurt her a lot and made her think that what you said was right." Richard said and walked off.

Damian walked in the room when Jason had left for a minute or so; he walked over to the unconscious form of his best friend and said "I apologize for my cruel words Raven, I didn't mean any part of it...we are lucky to have you in our lives and I hope that you wake up soon." He saw her fingers twitch and her magic seep through her fingers.

That evening, Bruce was watching Raven and Jason, as he had slept with his resting beside her on the bed and his hands holding hers in a gentle but firm grasp. Bruce silently did a scan of her and saw that all her wounds were healing quickly.

Suddenly the young girl gasped lightly and blearily opened her eyes, she felt a heavy weight on her hand and when she turned she saw her boyfriend sleeping with his head near her and her hand in between his. He stirred a bit but didn't wake up.

"Finally you're awake." Bruce said with a soft smile towards the girl he was coming to think of as a daughter. "H-how?"

"Dick brought you here." He replied softly. When he saw that Raven was about to say something he added "Sleep, we can talk after you have fully rested."

Raven wanted to protest but her eyes were droopy from the medication, she slowly gave in and slept. The dark knight looked at the now sleeping young woman and smiled in relief, she was awake and all right. He then turned to his son and lightly shook him awake to give him the news.

Raven slowly opened her eyes and was met with the beautiful aquamarine eyes of her boyfriend and his smiling face. "There she is, sunshine." He said softly.

"You gave us quite a scare Rae." Richard said; Raven turned towards the source of the voice and saw the Tim, Richard, Damian standing near the opposite wall with Bruce standing on her right side with relief shining in his eyes and Alfred standing at the entrance with a small smile. Jason helped Raven sit up as he placed pillows behind her to support her.

Bruce saw the confusion on her face and said "Let's give them some privacy; we can speak to Raven later." They all nodded and shuffled out of the room, as the door closed behind them, Raven found herself crushed to Jason's chest.

"I'm sorry Rae...I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking, I didn't mean it, I didn't mean any of it." He said frantically. Raven could feel his tremble as he pulled her tighter against him and kissed her hairline.

She slowly pulled away and saw the worry written on his face "Don't let me go again." She placed her hand on the right side of his face and he leaned into it "Never little bird, never again." He kissed the inside of her palm and pulled her closer so that he rested his forehead against hers. "I was so scared little bird...so scared."

She looked up at him with the dark, enchanting eyes of hers and said softly with a smile "I know...I could hear everything." He then leaned forward and kissed her passionately, pouring all his love and worry in that kiss. She responded with equal passion and wrapped her arms around his neck.

They parted and Jason kissed her nose saying "I love you...I love you so much." Then he saw the smile that made his heart beat a little faster and she replied kissing him lightly "I love you too."

Jason smiled at her words and then saw the tiredness in her eyes, he grinned and said "Come on, rest for a bit...your body hasn't fully healed." She smiled and laid back on the pillows, Jason was about to get up when she caught his hand and muttered "Stay..."

Jason kissed her hand and saw her making space for him on the bed; he smiled and got on beside her. He curled around her and placed his hand around her waist, carefully enough to not hurt her injuries. She placed her head on shoulder and her hands on his.

He kissed her temple and pulled her tighter against him and muttered "You're my little bird and I am never letting go ever again." And he could feel her smile against his skin before she slept and after a few moments of watching her sleep he also gave in.

And that's how the bat family found them later, Jason curled around Raven with her head on his shoulder; both having happy and peaceful expressions. They didn't have the heart to wake the couple up so they left silently, letting the couple find comfort and love in each other.

#raven #redrae #jayrae #teen titans #redx #jason todd

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kelelamentia · 5 years

Text

A Puzzling Situation

My take on @ozmav Puzzler ficlette

On a roof top in Gotham:

A little known fact in the villain community was that the Riddler had a son. A son who was around the same age as the current Robin; he went by the Puzzler. The Puzzler wore a green hoodie, black skinny jeans, purple running shoes with hints of green and a purple mask. He also had red hair styled into a faux-hawk and special customized phone for all his traps and plans.

The Puzzler was lounging around trying to pick a new plan to cause chaos to the Bat-brats; when he saw her. The Puzzler had to do a double take to be sure what he seeing was real; a lovely vision in pinks grays and blues. She had blue hair pulled into twin tails; he couldn’t see her eyes from where he was.

“Helloooooooooo Cutie-pie!”

He swung down to the street below, landing in front of her; making her jump. Her startled face was adorable and she had the most amazing blue bell eyes.

“Hello Cutie-pie, you must be new to Gotham; allow me to introduce myself, I am The Puzzler and you are?”

“M-My is Marinette.” She stuttered.

The Puzzler spread his arms out wide and announced.

“Well Mari-Cutie, welcome to Gotham; let me be the first Rogue you encounter. I’ll give you 3 riddles, if you get them all correct; you’re free to go, if not…well, we’ll find out won’t we.”

“Try me.” She made herself stand up straighter to face him, sort of; she was so small in comparison to him.

“Okay first up; You measure my life in hours and I serve you by expiring. I’m quick when I’m thin and slow when I’m fat. The wind is my enemy.”

“A candle” She answered.

“Correct! A wonderful start Mari-Cutie, now; I have cities, but no houses. I have mountains, but no trees. I have water, but no fish. What am I?”

She though a little harder on this one.

“A Map.”

“Ding Ding Ding! 2 out of 3 Mari-Cutie can you keep it up? What word in the English language does the following: the first two letters signify a male, the first three letters signify a female, the first four letters signify a great, while the entire world signifies a great woman. What is the word?”

This riddle caused her to pause, but she did have an answer.

“Heroine”

The Puzzler jumped and yelled.

“Congratulations! You have solved all 3 riddles! Something no one outside the Bat and his irritating brats has ever done before! What a clever girl you are Mari-Cutie, we should spend more time together; I’m sure we would fit together like 2 pieces of a puzzle.”

Marinette shuffled a bit in nervousness.

“You promised to let me go if I answered all your riddles correctly.”

Puzzler gave a deep dramatic sigh.

“True and I like to think I’m a man of my word, but before you go…”

Puzzler whipped out his phone, tugged Marinette close to him and took a selfie with her. The picture ended up being a confused and dazed Marinette being held by a grinning Puzzler. Once done he let her go; spinning her a bit to disorient her further.

“Bye Mari-Cutie, I’ll see you soon!”

The Puzzler ran off into the shadows of an alley way, leaving a very puzzled Marinette.

“What just happened?”

At Marinette’s hotel:

Marinette was breathless; having run all the way to the hotel.

“Tikki, what just happened!?”

Tikki flew out of her chosen’s purse.

“I don’t really know Marinette, but he really seemed to like you and that can’t be good!” Tikki was very concerned the boys attraction to Marinette.

“Yeah, you’re right; it can’t be good. I should call Damian to let him know what happened.”

“Good idea Marinette.” Tikki agreed.

Marinette dialed Damian’s number; he picked up on the second ring.

“Hello Angel, did you make it back to your hotel alright?”

“Hi Damian, I’m fine, but something happened on the way back that disturbed me.”

“Oh? What happened Beloved?” Damian’s voice sounded tense.

“Some guy calling himself the Puzzler stopped me and made me answer his riddles.”

“WHAT! Are you alright!”

“I told you I’m fine Damian, I answered all his riddles correctly and he let me go without issue…mostly.”

“Mostly?!”

“Grabbed me and took a selfie with me, he also wouldn’t stop calling me ‘Mari-Cutie’.”

There was a sound of glass breaking and distant yelling on Damian’s end of the phone.

“Damian what was that?! Are you hurt?!”

“I’m fine Angel, someone just dropped a glass; no need for concern. Did he do anything else?”

“He said he would ‘see me soon’ I’m a little worried about that.”

Marinette could here Damian taking some deep breaths; she was grateful Hawkmoth couldn’t get anyone in Gotham, and other voices asking Damian what was wrong.

“Damian?”

“I’m sorry about that Angel, but I needed to calm down so I wouldn’t say anything rude in front of you.”

“Its fine Damian, you don’t need to censor yourself like that.”

“You may not think so, but I feel it’s for the best right now. As for him coming to ‘see you soon’ you best stay inside, you don’t want to attract his attention any more than you already have. ”

“No problem, I was planning to stay inside to work on a project anyway.”

“Good, stay safe Angel.”

“You too Damian.”

The phone ended and Marinette turned to Tikki.

“That went better than expected.”

At Wayne Manor:

Damian’s family watch as he hung up the phone, the remanence of a glass in his other hand; having shattered when gripped it too hard, when he hear what the Puzzler kept calling his Angel.

“Damian?” Bruce broached with cation.

“I’m fine Father, but I do believe I need to remove the Riddler’s off-spring from existence.” Damian’s voice was strained and cold.

“Why don’t you tell what happened first?” Bruce tried to persuade.

Damian told his family what Marinette had said to him.

“Welp, Gotham’s about to be short 1 green and purple moron, let me get my guns.” Jason said clapping his hands together.

“Not if I get to him first Todd.” Damian snarled at his brother.

“There will be no killing.” Bruce stated firmly. “But, if Robin were to check on civilian to double check somethings that they heard, that would be fine.”

Damian nodded his head and went to change.

“Can I go after the brat?”

“No Jason.”

At Marinette’s Hotel:

Marinette’s current project she was working on was sweaters for her boyfriend and his family; using the best wool she could find, no way she was going to let them get sick because some fake ‘high quality’ designer sweater failed to do what it was meant to do. She had just finished Alfred’s sweater when she decided to take a break.

“Tikki, I’m going to step out on to the balcony for some air.”

“Okay Marinette.”

Marinette set down her needles and walked onto the balcony; it was dusk, so it wasn’t too dark yet and she had a good view of the sunset from her hotel. She placed her arms across the railing and sighed.

“Now what’s got you down Mari-Cutie?” A voice from behind said.

Marinette jumped turned.

“Puzzler!”

He had a toothy grin on his face as he ran his hand though his hair.

“You remember me! I told you I would see you soon.” He said as walked closer, making Marinette grab onto the railing behind her.

“You did, yes I remember, but I didn’t think you meant the same day!” Marinette rushed out.

“Well I was going to wait Mari-Cutie, but how can I not visit you when I know where you are?”

Puzzler reached out to touch Marinette’s face when something flew between them; closer to the Puzzler than Marinette.

“Don’t you know to keep your hands to yourself Puzzler.”

It was Robin; holding another birderang at the ready, perch on the rail.

“And don’t you know it’s impolite to interrupt other people’s conversations you dumb bird?” Puzzler snipped back.

“Leave Puzzler you are not wanted here.” Robin growled.

“Fine.” Puzzler huffed “But, I’m not leaving with giving and taking a gift.”

Puzzler snagged Marinette’s arm and pulled her close; placing a kiss on her cheek and taking a ribbon from her hair.

“HEY!”

Marinette was not happy with the kiss and tried to punch him, but a small space to work on and being thrown off balance by the Puzzlers pulling, it was easy for him to dodge and grab her fist. With his hand around her wrist, Puzzler brought Marinette closer; almost kissing her lips, when she was pulled away.

“I told you not to touch her!” Robin snarled, having placed Marinette safely behind him.

“You clearly know nothing about romance Bird Brain; it’s only proper that man kisses his lady goodbye. I’m sorry Mari-Cutie, but looks like we’ll have to cut our meeting short, I’ll be in touch! ”

Puzzler vaulted over the railing; giving a 2 finger sault, leaving a raging Robin and a miffed Marinette.

“Can’t believe he kissed me like THAT! Almost on the lips once too! The nerve of him, he’s lucky I was off balance and he caught my fist or I would have knocked him out! And he stole 1 of my hair ribbons!” Marinette ranted.

Robin was taking some deep breathes as Marinette continued.

“He better not try that again! Or else my punch will land!”

Robin managed to get a hold of himself.

“Miss that was a very close call, I’m going to ask you to stay inside until the Puzzler is caught.”

“That was my plan Robin, but I didn’t think my balcony count as going outside. How did you even know to check on me?” Marinette asked.

“We got a tip from an anonymous source about a Puzzler siting and Batman asked me to verify; it seems to be worse than we thought.” Robin explained quickly, herding her back inside. “Now lock the door and close the blinds; it may not be much, but it should hopefully dissuade him.”

“I will, thank you Robin, good night.”

“Good night Ma-Miss.” With that Robin swung off.

Marinette flopped on to her bed; after following Robin’s advice, and groaned.

“Tikki, how did it come to this?”

Tikki flew over to her Ladybug and said.

“I don’t know, but the good news is that Robin and his family are already on it.”

On a roof top elsewhere:

“Father the situation as evolved shall we say.” Robin’s voice was as cold as ice and just as deadly.

The next day:

Marinette was folding up the finished sweaters and was about to go make cookies; when her phone rang. Normally she would check to see who was calling her, but she was in Gotham; only a small group of people would call now.

“Hello?”

“Hi Mari-Cutie, did you rest well?”

“Puzzler? Y-You’re calling me?!”

“Of course my Cutie-pie, I need to know that the Bat-Brat didn’t hurt you.”

Marinette knew better than to try and anger him.

“Robin didn’t hurt me Puzzler.”

“He seemed far too invested in your safety; he must be attracted to you Mari-Cutie to get that mad.”

“This is the only the second time I’ve meet Robin; Puzzler.”

Marinette winced; knowing right away she shouldn’t have said that.

“WHAT! This is the second time you’ve met! That is not acceptable! I want you to stay away from him.”

“I didn’t really get a choice either time Puzzler…”

“I suppose not, but still do NOT going looking them Mari-Cutie or else bad thing could happen to people.”

“Is there any other reason you call, other to check on me?”

“There sure is Mari-Cutie; I’m going to send you on a treasure hunt!”

Marinette blinked at her phone.

“Really?”

“Yup! At the end there’s a prize for you.”

“What if I don’t want to play Puzzler, I might have other things to do?”

“That’s fine Mari-Cutie; the children’s hospital does need that wing anyway.”

Marinette felt her heart stop.

“What…”

“That right Mari-Cutie, you don’t play; people go boom!”

“Alright I’ll play, how do we start?”

“What a sweet girl my Mari-Cutie is; we’ll start easy, what building has the most stories? Oh and let’s keep this between us shall we?”

The line went dead; Marinette and Tikki looked at eachother.

“This isn’t good Tikki.”

“No it isn’t.”

“But I can’t let him blow up a building! I don’t know if I can do this!”

Tikki grabbed hold of Marinette’s nose, making her pay attention.

“Marinette you are Ladybug, with or without the mask; now don’t let him win!”

“Right! And the answer is a Library”

And Marinette ran out the door; knowing she would be busy all day. She wanted to text Damian, but knew he would freak out.

Outside the Library:

Marinette was out of breath when she reached there when she felt her phone ding with a text.

*Hi Mari-Cutie, you did it! I knew you would, I’m so happy! Now here’s the next riddle; what starts with a ‘P’, ends with an ‘E’ and has thousands of letters?”

“When I find this guy, he’s getting punched.” Marinette grumbled under her breath. “So my next stop is the post office.”

Marinette started to run again only to bump into someone.

“I’m so sorry; I’m in a rush and…” Marinette started.

“Angel-fluff?”

“Jason?” Marinette startled.

“What’s got you in a rush?” Jason was worried, because he knew Marinette should be staying inside.

“I’m currently on a treasure hunt with a dead line.” Marinette said, telling truth but leaving the more dangerous details.

“Really now? Would you like some help?” Jason asked, hoping he could keep her safe.

“No! You can’t help, I was told that would be cheating and that would be bad. I’m sorry Jason, but I have to go, I’m on a time line remember?!” Marinette was and out of site before Jason could say anything else.

Jason frowned and pulled out his phone.

“Hey Demon Spawn? It got worse.”

Outside the post office:

Marinette skid to a stop in front of the building; looking around, when her phone went off with another text.

*Mari-Cutie you’re doing so well! But I don’t like the guy that tried to talk to you, good job on getting away so fast J <3 Now for your next riddle; A sign for this special building, might only show its first letter, it is where you will get taken, when injured so you get better.*

“Did he have to make it rhyme? But the only place it could be is a Hospital!”

“You can do it Marinette!” Tikki whispered from her place in Marinette’s purse.

“Right! Off we go again!”

Again Marinette took off running.

In front of the Hospital:

“This getting real draining, I hope he get me to where he wants me to be soon.”

Her phone went off; for she hoped was the last time.

*Oh my sweet Mari-Cutie, you never fail to astound me, this last riddle will bring you to your prize. I have something different to show every week, but I'm still the same place; what am I?*

“How vague…But maybe a theatre? Yes a theatre!”

Marinette started towards the old theatre.

“He better be there or I’m going to be so mad.”

At the Batcave:

After Jason’s call everyone; minus Alfred and Babs who were on the bat-computer, had to sit on Damian to keep him from going on a murder spree.

“GET OFF ME! MY BELOVED NEEDS ME! THAT WASTE OF SPACE KEEPS FLIRTING WITH HER! IT WAS BAD ENOUGH WAS THAT STUPID CAT BUT HIM?! NO! NOW GET OFF!!!!” Damian yelled, thrashing under the weight of Dick, Bruce and Tim.

“No Damian, you can’t go and kill the Puzzler.” Bruce stated, pressing down on Damian’s shoulders.

“YES I CAN! YOU JUST HAVE TO GET OFF ME!”

“He means killing is bad and you know it little D.” Dick reminded, sitting on Damian’s legs.

“YOU CANNOT DISTRACT ME FROM MY MISSION! NOW LET GO!”

“Do you even know where she is Demon Spawn? How do you plan to help her if you can’t find her?” Tim asked sitting Damian’s lower back and holding his arms.

There’s more snarling and raging from Damian as a response to Tim’s question.

“If Master Damian would calm down he would know that Ms. Barbara as located Ms. Marinette at the old play house.”

“Yeah, you moron’s get it together.” Babs teased.

Jason came down the stairs and Damian saw him snarled.

“WHY ARE YOU NOT FOLLOWING HER!”

“Chill brat, the Puzzler probably has her being watched; if he saw me a second time we don’t know what would happen. Beside Alfred and Babs just where she is; and he is most likely, so all we have to do is go get them.”

“You’re being rather calm Jason; you’re not going to kill him?” Dick asked, a little suspicious.

Jason walked over to his weapon cabinet and pulled out his favourite gun.

“H*ll yeah I am, but I’m not going let Cake-pop see. That would traumatize her and we don’t want to do that now do we Demon Spawn?”

“That is a very valid point Todd and I’ve also realized if I went near my Beloved as Robin again; it would further make him angry and I don’t want that near my Angel. Now may I please be let up?”

Damian was slowly released, but Bruce kept a firm hand of his shoulder.

“Okay, Myself, Dick, Tim and Jason will go; Jason no killing, Damian STAY PUT!” Bruce ordered.

Bruce, Dick, Tim and Jason went to get ready; leaving Alfred, Babs and Damian together. Seeing them out of sight Damian made his way up stairs.

“Master Damian, where are you going?” Alfred asked.

“I may not be able to rescue my Angel as Robin, but I can comfort her as Damian; I’ll be waiting for your signal.” With that Damian was gone.

“There no way to stop him is there Alfred.”

“If anything Ms. Barbara, we should be happy he took this route.”

At the play house theatre:

“Finally, this has been a lot of running in one day.” Marinette sighed, walking to the entrance.

Upon entry Marinette saw in center stage; lit up by a spot light, was a table for 2. The table was draped with a white table cloth and it had single rose in a glass vase in the center. She approached the table and called out.

“Puzzler?”

“Mari-Cutie,” Puzzler came out of the shadows. “Please sit, as your host and date I have already prepared everything.”

“You had me running around Gotham for a date?”

“I wanted to set mood Mari-Cutie, it also gave me some time to set this up and get you a gift, now sit.”

Marinette sat down; Puzzler pulled out the chair for her.

“Puzzler, I don’t think this is a good idea; I’m likely to be a good match for you and I already have a boyfriend.” Marinette tried one last time to reason with him.

Puzzler ran his finger down Marinette’s jaw, before sitting down on the other side.

“Nonsense my Mari-Cutie; you’ve proven to be smarter than any of the Bat-brats by answering all of my puzzles on the first try with no hesitation. You did draw attention to yourself as well; except for that hulking brute, but made sure to discourage him right away, how can you not be my perfect match? My perfect puzzle piece? As for your boyfriend, he is of little issue and easily disposed of.”

Marinette knew there would be no more trying reason with him, he threating children and her Damian; he’s going down. Marinette started small.

“How did you track me? Was it through my phone, because that would be the only piece of tech I have on me.”

“That’s right! Most people just forget that phones can be tracked.” Puzzler cheered.

“Is that how you do most of your work, with your phone? I saw it briefly when you took that picture.”

Puzzler gave a love struck sigh.

“Oh my Mari-Cutie, you’ve only known me a day and yet you know me. My phone is my life, it’s specialized you see and I can get you one too so we can talk all the time.”

Ok he was like Lady WIFI, easy enough to deal with; just get the phone and he’s done.

“Puzzler, I live in Paris; I’m just visiting Gotham.” Normally a bad idea to tell the bad guy where you lived, but the Puzzler probably looked up her address with phone number already.

“I know,” Puzzler confirmed pulling out his phone “On our next date I’ll highjack the Eiffel tower and we can picnic at the top. The perfect place in the city of lights and love.”

Marinette hid a grimace; this like the worse of Chat and Evillustrator combined, she needed to get that phone. “You know the selfie you took of us? I never got a copy and we should take another of our date together.” It hurt Marinette to say the word date when it didn’t mean Damian. “You’re right Mari-Cutie! Just let me get a little closer.” The Puzzler got up and walked around the table, he stood behind Marinette’ chair and leaned over with arm stretched out; phone in hand. “Smile Mari-Cutie!”

Marinette smiled and then elbowed him in the throat, causing him to drop his phone and stagger away, she then turn and punched him the face; rendering him unconscious. Marinette kicked the phone further away from them and proceeded to tie up Puzzler with the table cloth. Just as she was finishing up the last knot, the heroes of Gotham came raining down from the ceiling.

“Puzzler let the girl…go?” Nightwing started, but trailed off seeing that Marinette had already handled it.

“I’m sorry, I know I should have waited for one of you to arrive, but he was getting far too creepy.” Marinette apologized.

“What happened?” Batman asked.

Marinette then explained very that happened, the police showing up to take the tied up Puzzler away and send more to the children’s hospital.

“And that’s what happened.” Marinette finished.

“You are one h*ll of a tough cookie kid, smart too if you did everything that fast.” Red Hood commented.

“It wasn’t that great…” Marinette tried, only to be interrupted.

“Angel!”

“Damian!” Marinette ran over to her boyfriend and hugged him.

“Angel I’m happy to see that you are unhurt, but why didn’t you stay inside?!”

“I couldn’t Dami; he was going to blow up the children’s hospital if I didn’t.”

“I understand my Beloved.”

Batman then sent the 2 on their way, the police escorting them back to Marinette’s hotel; so she could grab her things and take them to Wayne manor, where she would be safer in Damian’s opinion.

Sometime later in a prison cell:

A figure laid on his bed; holding a ribbon in his hand.

“Until we meet again my Mari-Cutie.”

End.

And that was A Puzzling Situation.

Also

Extra:

Mari – I just realized I never got my hair ribbon back.

Dami – One moment Beloved.

Leaves and comes back with a massive box.

Dami – For you my Angel.

Mari – Oh Dami…

Mari opens the box to reveal hundreds of hair ribbon of different sizes and colours.

Mari – I only needed one Dami…

Dami – But you deserve more Angel

Mari - *sigh*

Extra 2:

Mari – How did the Bat-Fam even know to look for me in the first place?

Everyone freezes.

Mari – I was alone on the street when I first met him and I only told Damian about what happened and Jason was the only one who knew I was out that day because I ran into him.

Mari looks over at the very stiff Wayne family and squints her eyes for a moment and blinks

Mari – *face in her hands* Really?

Jason – Surprise?

#maribat #maridami #marinette x damien #marinette dupain cheng #marinette x damian #damian wayne #bruce wayne #dick grayson #jason todd #tim drake #babs bunny #barbara gordon #batman #red hood #nightwing #mlb #puzzler #the riddler has a son #mari is sick of forced dates

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deadrobinthoughts · 5 years

Text

⤙ jealous | tim drake

↴ Tim hasn’t been paying attention to you, so you seek the help of his family. warning(s): — beta’d: Nope, so very no - there’s probably so many mistakes in this. request: Yes; Anon. a/n: female reader oriented; here’s the dress if you want some type of imagery ( click ), if not, use your imagination.

'So.. what are my options again?' You questioned as you stepped into the dress shop, automatically a little overwhelmed at what surrounded you. Just a simple glance around was all it took for you to sink beside Dick, who answered your inquiry;

'Blue, red, green, and purple.'

'Eggplant,' Stephanie corrected, walking passed you both to begin seeking out dresses that would match her own color.

You nodded slowly, looking between the four as they dispersed to help you find something for the gathering that would take place in the evening. It would be a lie to say you didn't feel a tad guilty for conspiring with Tim's 'family' to get a reaction from him, but your curiosity over said reaction reigned dominate.

It didn't take long before you were trying on dresses. Dick had gone a bit overboard with his taste, commenting that he wanted to make sure you felt as beautiful as you were. Jason's options were surprising as they were rather classy dresses, something you'd see among Hollywood starlets. You found yourself liking Stephanie's the most, adoring how the dress hung on your body- it made you feel like you were glowing.

However, you turned from the mirror to look at the three. 'Where did Damian go?'

They all finally seemed to recall the youngest coming with them and began to panic though only for a split second. He emerged from the back with a dress across his arm, looking more or less unamused with the goings on. 'Here,' being his own words as he held out the material.

Everyone was silent, watching the exchange and how you wordlessly disappeared to the back to switch dresses ( with Stephanie's help because screw dress zippers. ).

It was by far your favorite one and became the one you chose for the evening. Damian had reservations about attending the event with you, mainly because he didn't wish to attend at all, but he made the exception.

‘I hope you realize that this is going to do more than make him jealous. See, with me it would have been okay,’ Dick had lent down to whisper in your ear before you entered the room, ‘He would have been pissed with Jason but got over it, he wouldn’t have minded with Stephanie.. but, Damian? You know he’s going to bust something, right?’

He wasn’t wrong. It was no secret that the two didn’t get along, but it seemed Tim had a reputation of not getting along with people. You waved a hand and showed a small smile, ‘I’m sure I can handle whatever happens.’

The oldest offered a sympathetic look, knowing that you’d rather solve the issue without going to such measures, but let you handle it as you would. Of course, he’d be in the wing if anyone needed him.

‘Stop pestering her, Grayson,’ Damian spoke up as he arrived, fixing the emerald green tie around his neck. The raven wrinkled his nose but stepped away, entering the ballroom before you both.

You lowered your head and took a small breath, only to see the latter’s arm come into view. ‘Shall we? It’ll be best to get this over with quickly.’

It was petty, you both knew it. You wanted to see your boyfriend crawling back to you and he just wanted to anger him; neither of you spoke up about it.

Accepting his arm, you followed at his side. You held a certain air of pride as you walked, not only because you had always arrived on the arm of a Wayne, but because you were quite content with your appearance.

Greeting a few familiar faces as you roamed, you mostly stayed by the younger’s side, joining in the rare conversations he initiated. To your surprise, Damian seemed to be enjoying himself and basking in your company- you weren’t complaining.

‘Y/n?’

As your name reached your ears, you turned around, coming face to face with Tim, who looked rather confused. His eyes drifted to the male you were connected to, then back to you with a raised eyebrow. It was a silent question, one you could read clear as day in his eyes; ‘what the fuck are you doing here with him?’

‘Hey, babe,’ you cooed up to him innocently, earning the attention of your ‘date’.

‘Drake.’ The greeting went ignored as Tim’s eyebrow twitched in the slightest, stepping aside and gesturing at you.

‘Can we talk real quick?’

Glancing at a scowling Damian, he seemed reluctant to release your arm but did so and you followed your raven haired lover. He’d weaved through the crowd and you found yourself in the manor’s library.

‘Did I do something wrong?’ He questioned, pushing his lengthy hair back with a frown. You could see he was raking his brain to figure out what he’d done. Before you could speak, you could see realization wash over his face. ‘Shit.’

Your eyebrow raised as he continued. ‘Our anniversary was two days ago and I was so busy.. I didn’t even realize.’

He pursed his lips and took a step to you, taking your hands in his own. ‘It was?’ you mumbled out loud, not having remembered it yourself.

Tim stopped and blinked at you. ‘Wait, you forgot, too?’

Grinning sheepishly, you lowered your head, giving a small nod. ‘I may have, but it’s still because you’ve been too busy.’

Standing in silence for a few seconds, you both ended up releasing a chuckle, easily slotting into each others arms. ‘I’m sorry for not paying attention to you, but Damian? That’s your answer?’

‘He picked out the dress.. well, everyone picked a few, I just preferred his. Besides, if you’re so sorry, you could make it up to me,’ you began, pulling away from him to lock the large wooden doors. Maneuvering your hand back, with a little bit of difficulty, you managed to take hold of the zipper to pull it down, turning to face him. ‘I don’t think anyone is going to be snooping around for books this evening.’

‘Y/n..? Timmy?’

Dick called, searching throughout the manor with the help of an annoyed Jason and an unwilling Damian.

‘Oh, fuck.’ Jason’s voice sounded after Alfred unlocked the library door. Everyone gathered to see what had happened, only to be met with Tim and you on the rug, naked bodies barely covered by the throw from the couch. Alfred was the first to usher everyone away, closing the doors once more.

‘I guess the plan worked,’ the tallest grinned brightly, earning a punch a punch in the arm from Dick.

#koda's queue #2:43 am writings #dc comics #dc #dc scenarios #tim drake x reader #tim drake #red robin #red robin x reader #batfam #batfam x reader #batboys #batboys x reader

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soriseerakyra · 7 years

Text

Be Kind To Your Daughters

AN: A request from an Anon who wanted a Bruce xDaughter!Reader who was estranged from the batman side of his life. Hope you enjoy!

You hated the dining room. In your opinion, it was one of the worst features of Wayne Manor. It served no purpose. No one ever sat and ate here, except you and Alfred. To you it would have been better if the two of you could eat in the living room in front of the T.V., at least that way you wouldn’t have to scream across the table at him whenever you wanted to have a conversation.

“Hurry now, Mistress Wayne, I know you enjoy your waffles, but there is traffic today and it will be horrible getting to school,” Alfred says he walks into the dining room and clearly away the dishes that you’d already finished with.

What was worse about the dining room was when Alfred was too busy to eat with you. You hated being alone in this house. Despite the years, you’d been with your father you’d never gotten over the coziness of the small two-bedroom apartment that you and your mother shared. Though, you may have started to feel more comfortable if you thought of your father as a parent rather than a sperm donor, and even sometimes that description didn’t fit.

“What about Damian?” you question, “Isn’t he coming with us?”

“I’m afraid not miss, your father had to pull him out of school today.”

“I see,” you say pushing away from the table. “I’ll wait by the door.”

“Of course, just give me a moment.”

Walking through the halls was something else you hated about the manor. Instead of having pictures and paintings of animals or flowers the way normal people had, most of the artwork that decorated the halls of Wayne Manor was of members of the Wayne family. Every time you walk past them, you’re constantly reminded that you look nothing like the man called your father. Not your hair color, eye color, or facial structure. You were, in essence, a carbon copy of your mother. In fact, if it had not been for the DNA test, you probably wouldn’t have been dropped off to live here with him.

Alfred finds you leaning against the couch in the entrance hall waiting for him with your school bag in hand. “Ready for the first day of your last year, Mistress Wayne?”

“As I’ll ever be,” you say with boredom filling your tone and walking toward the door. Before the turn the knob you through a quickly glance over your shoulder. You wouldn’t admit it if anyone asked what you were looking for, but you had hoped that he would at least come down to send you on your way off for the first day. You were disappointed but not surprised when you didn’t see him, it’s not like you were important to him.

*** “Fifty Million Dollars?” Damian questions watching the screen.

“Syphoned out of the bank using a virus. It’s untraceable and the perfect crime,” Dick adds.

Bruce doesn’t respond, but they know he feels frustrated. This was the second time the Bank of Gotham had been hit in two months, and it was for the same amount of cash as well. He hadn’t been able to solve the case then, and he didn’t know if he would be able to do it now.

“Master Bruce, I’ve just finished dropping of the young miss at school,” Alfred’s voice sounds over the intercom.

“Thank you, Alfred.”

“She was looking for you, sir.”

Bruce pauses, “Did she need something?”

“I think she was hoping her father would see her off on her first day back to school, sir.”

“I don’t have time, I’ll make it up to her, Alfred.”

“Very well, sir.”

Its silent in the room, save for the slight tapping of Dick’s shoe.

“You have something to say?” Bruce asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Just that, you could have eaten breakfast with her, or something,” Dick says with a shrug.

“If she’s so immature that she’s upset that she had to eat alone, who would want to deal with her?” Damian says with a shrug.

“Don’t be a jerk,” Dick says with a sigh. “What I mean is, she doesn’t know about any of this stuff. When it was me and I had to be alone at least I knew why. If I was her I’d think my father hated me.”

Bruce felt the guilt pool in his belly, had he given you than impression? Maybe he should have interacted more. In all honesty, he wasn’t sure how to talk to you. You were like the others, all hurt in some way, but something about you had been different. Nothing that he did when you first came to stay with him after your mother died had been able to console you, and as a result he winded up letting you work out your issues yourself. Perhaps that was the wrong tactic, especially considering in the five years you’ve been with him, he can’t remember a time when you the both of you had willingly spent more than ten minutes in the room together.

“Alfred,” he calls as he presses a button on the intercom. “I’ll pick her up from school.”

*** “Will Damian be in school tomorrow?” The older woman asks.

“I believe he will, he just had a fever this morning,” you say with a pleasant smile. You hoped she couldn’t tell how much your cheeks were twitching in pain from the small smile. It was a foreign expression. One that you reserved for strangers and your father’s acquaintances you were introduced to at his benefits. At those parties, it was easier to keep one on because no one noticed the small amount of alcohol you would put in your sodas.

You took Damian’s Syllabi from the teacher and stuffed them into your schoolbag and began to make your way to the gate of the school.

Surprisingly, the black town car that Alfred usually picked you up was not there. Instead there waited your father, leaning against one of his many sports cars, waiting for you.

You pause, taking in the sight. Why is he here? Did something happen?

Your thoughts are redirected when you see him toss a hand up calling attention to himself as if you couldn’t see him. As if there weren’t parents and students oohing and awing at his presence already.

“Father?” You question, eyes narrowing in confusion as you walk up to him.

“I thought it would be nice to drive you home on your first day as a senior,” he says with a smile awkwardly rubbing the back of his head.

“I see,” you say stepping in to the car as he opens the door for you.

As you wait for him to enter the vehicle on his side, you notice some of the parents excitedly snapping pictures. Was he so important to them?

The car smoothly peels away from the curb, engine quiet as the both of you begin the drive home.

“How was the first day back?” He questions.

“Uneventful.”

“Make any new friends?”

“No.”

“Did you try?”

“Does it matter?” You question cutting your eyes at him. “In a year I’ll be gone, there’s no point in making hollow friendships. I’d rather not over exert myself.”

“You’re planning on leaving?” He asks slightly surprised.

“I was planning on going to college and there aren’t many quality higher education opportunities in Gotham. Or are the boys the only ones allowed to leave home?”

He doesn’t know what the right thing to say is, especially because he is thrown off by your hostile tone. “Where ever you want to go, I’ll support you.”

“I’m sure you will.”

A stiff silence falls over the car, and it’s one the two of you are both grateful for. You both know nothing about the other, and it seemed a little bit late to get to know one another, at least from your perspective. He hadn’t tried in the last five years why should he start now, in nine months you wouldn’t have anything to do with him anyways.

You closed your eyes as the buildings of the city passed. Both in attempt to make sure that he didn’t start another conversation and to get in at least a couple minutes of sleep. You had a late night last night, the second of many that were sure to come.

*** It’s October, and the second full month of school is almost over. Halloween, luckily landed on a weekend and it was more than excuse enough to get out of the house. Yet somehow you find yourself locked in your room, a chair pressed under your doorknob so that you wouldn’t be able to wiggle the door knob off.

“Let me out, Dick!” You scream as you pound on the door. If he could see into your bedroom, he’d see how serious you were. The anger you felt was causing the furniture to levitate. Something that happened often when you were unable to control your emotions, but something that you also hid from your family.

“I can’t it’s not safe to leave. You know this is one of the most dangerous nights in Gotham,” He reasons, almost pleading for you to drop it and find a way to entertain yourself.

“Why is it okay for Damian to sneak out at night, but not me?” You question arms crossed in anger.

“What?” He asks in surprise.

“Oh, don’t play dumb, Dick. All of you do it. You, Jason, Tim. You think just because I’m locked away at night that I never noticed that most nights I’m here by myself? Or the vehicles speeding away from the house in the middle of the night.”

“You don’t understand, we had part-time jobs.” He tries pathetically.

“What can a ten-year-old do at one in the morning?”

“Please just drop it, sis.”

It’s the endearment that gets you. A warmth that spreads over your body and flush that bites at your cheeks. It wasn’t often that it was acknowledge that, blood or not, you were their sibling. Dick tried his best, but he was older when you arrived, and he wasn’t there to treat you the way that a big brother would a little sister.

It’s also the endearment that causes the furniture to drop gently back to the ground and your fists to unclench.

“All right, Dick.”

“Tomorrow why don’t we got to the fair or something maybe we could hang out?”

There is a warmth in his tone that you aren’t used to and it makes you feel slightly guilty as your reach for your cell phone and scroll through the list of names.

“I’d like that.”

“Cool. I’ll come check on you later.”

Just as his footsteps are gone from your hall you press talk on your phone.

“Jason, do you think you can do me a favor?”

*** You liked Jason. You got Jason, and for the most part he understood you. You didn’t know why he resented Bruce as much as he did, but you were happy that you had at least one person you could talk to that wouldn’t report everything you said to Bruce the way that Alfred did.

“Is here fine, kid?” He asks as he stops his motorcycle.

You look up at the large city library in front of you and nodded your head as you slipped your leg over the side of his bike.

“Thank you, Jason,” you say with a pleasant smile as you pass him the extra helmet that he’d given you.

“I’ve never seen someone want to sneak out of the house just to go to the library. You know there is one in the manor?”

“I just wanted to get out of the house for a while. I’m never quite comfortable there, it’s almost like I’m not supposed to be there. Like everyone is in on some big secret and they are all avoiding talking about it when I’m there. It feels that way with you sometimes too.”

Jason looks at you solemnly, letting your words wash over him. He swallows thickly when he meets your eyes that are pleading with him, longing for him to tell you the truth.

“We all feel a little out of place sometimes, kid,” he says smoothing some of your hair down that had been trapped in the helmet. The warm gesture caused a smile to run over your face. “But we all find a place where we belong.”

You nod, “Thanks, Jason.”

“What time, do you want me to pick you up?”

“The library closes at, one I think.”

“Geez, people are actually here that late?” He questions turning his engine on.

“It’s a community college library, students have to study.”

“I guess. Catch ya’ later, kid.”

You watch with a smile as he speeds off. When his form disappears, your eyes find their way to your watch.

‘Five hours’ you think to yourself. ‘Five hours to hit five banks, shouldn’t be too hard, especially since my power is growing.’

*** “It’s Sixteen Banks in November alone, and there seems to be nothing we can do,” Dick says as he leans against the desk. “Do you know how rich whoever this person is now?”

“You almost sound as if you admire them, Grayson.” Damian adds.

“You have to give credit where credit is due,” Dick says with a shrug.

“I’m not going to give credit to someone robbing the people of the world,” Bruce rumbles, causing his eldest son to roll his eyes.

“At least we know they’re here in Gotham. And besides, its better than all the other assholes who go and hold the banks hostage.” Jason says pouring himself a cup of coffee. They’d all been analyzing the data for hours, with no luck, and he was beginning to get tired.

“Just because no one’s getting hurt doesn’t mean that its okay to commit the crime,” Tim says with narrowed eyes.

“Never said it was, loser. I’m just saying that it’s not a 911.”

Tim glared at his older brother but didn’t say anything else.

“Sir, I have something to show you.”

Alfred’s interruption snaps not only Bruce but the rest of the boy’s attention.

Tim notices the sad look on Alfred’s face first, “What’s wrong, Alfred.”

“I’m afraid that young Mistress Wayne has been keeping a secret from all of us.”

Alfred walks forward toward the group pulling a stack of documents from his breast pocket and hands them to Bruce.

Bruce feels his throat tighten in guilt as he looks through them, “These are acceptance letters.”

“Yes, to various Ivy League Institutes, sir.”

“She didn’t even tell me she applied,” Bruce mumbles to himself. “Why would she throw these away?”

Jason pulls the limp letters from his father’s hand, “Harvard, huh, I guess those late-night trips to the library paid off.”

Dick’s eyebrows furrowed, “You’re the one who’s been sneaking her out at night?”

“Yeah, so? It’s not like she has anything to do here. Do any of you actually talk to her? And I mean make more than small talk.”

He doesn’t get a response.

“From what I hear, she wakes up alone, eats alone, goes to school alone, comes home alone, eats alone again and then when she’s out like a light there is no one here with her. I mean I don’t live here so that’s my excuse, but what is yours?” He spits accusingly.

Dick folds his arms across his chest but he diverts his gaze knowing he can’t say anything. As much time that he spends at the manor, its usually to babysit Damian and make sure that he doesn’t mess up then it is to spend time with his sister.

Tim doesn’t say anything either, he recognized that due to her intelligence the two of them would probably get along well. However, he’d never seen the need to interact with her. She wasn’t one of them, and since she was in school most of the day he barely saw her anyway.

Damian didn’t know how he felt. He knew that when he first came to live with his father he was slightly disappointed to find out that he was not the only biological heir that Bruce had. Yet his training and experience had pulled himself and Bruce close together very quickly, a bond that he noticed very early on that his sister did not have. Anytime he interacted with her, he realized that he lorded the relationship with his father over her, but he couldn’t help himself. A part of him felt satisfied when he tormented her. However, he also realized that he didn’t know much about his sister other than her first name. If she hadn’t told him, would he have ever made the effort to actually find out?

Bruce regarded Jason with guilt in his eyes and he almost instantly understood why Jason was so close to her. He had felt abandoned the same way she had.

“It’s not something that happened on purpose, Jason,” Bruce starts. “I’m not ignoring her because I don’t care about her. She knows that she could have told me about this.”

“But she’s just a kid living in a house full of strangers that is supposed to be her family. If I was her I wouldn’t say shit about me getting accepted into these fancy schools either. Why would I think that any of you cared?”

*** December came and it was the time you were happiest. The snow in Gotham made the city nearly bearable and the end of the semester brought you an almost unbridled joy. For one thing, the holidays were your mothers favorite time of year and you were quite looking forward to the winter ball at your school. You weren’t particularly interested in the outdated courtship ritual, but there was a grand prize for whoever became snow queen. Your competitive nature made you want to win. Of course, you hacked the system to tally the votes in your favor, so the only thing left to do was to show up and claim your prize.

“You look beautiful, Miss.”

You whipped around and saw the faithful butler standing there waiting for you. You find yourself blushing slightly at the compliment, swaying back and forth causing the large white ballroom skirt to sway with you.

“You don’t think it’s too much, do you Alfred?” You question fingering the diamond necklace nestled in the dip of the sweetheart neckline.

“It is very extravagant, miss, but imagine it is in the Wayne DNA not to do anything particularly subtly.”

You fight the smile that it brings your lips and move to grab the shawl that’s lying on your bed.

“Shall we be on our way, Alfred. I’d like to be home before it’s too late.”

*** Bruce is stunned when he sees is daughter come down the stairs to the foyer. Having just walked into the manor himself, he’s surprised to find her leaving.

“What’s the occasion?” He asks and the words feel strange coming out his mouth. Shouldn’t a father know where his daughter is going? Especially when she’s dressed like this.

“I have a trophy to pick up,” she says with a smirk on her lips, but it’s not meant for him. In fact, her gaze is looking past him, as if she’s thinking about something that brings her great satisfaction. “Damian didn’t tell you what tonight was?”

“No,” he says solemnly.

“I’m surprised,” she says with a raised eyebrow. “I thought the two of you were close. But I suppose Winter Ball isn’t something that would appeal to someone that young, it’s not like he could attend anyway.”

She walks past him, Alfred following closely behind her. He notes how ornate her gown is. A white princess type dress, with a pale gold trim. He’d even caught a glimpse of large diamond that was gleaming on her chest.

‘Where did she get that from?’

*** Perhaps winter break wasn’t as relaxing as you thought it would be. Given the fact that your brother is currently pointing a pistol at your head, you’re inclined to believe that things were going to get bad real fast. You aren’t sure how it turned out this way, one minute you’re alone in your bunker and the next he’s crashing through the door, waving his guns at you. It most likely that he followed you into the library this time, instead of driving away.

“What have you done, kid?” His voice is slight distorted through the red mask that sits on his face, but you know its Jason.

“Don’t sound so disappointed,” you say with a smirk as you cross your legs. Your hands grip on the edge of the desk that your sitting on in slight agitation at his presence. “It’s not like I kill people, I’m not you.”

It seems to irk the older man as he lets out a bit of a growl.

“How are you doing all of this?” He questions, using his other hand to motion to the facility around him. The sound of typing computers had been ringing in his ears since he found your workshop, underneath the library. The rows and rows of computers that line the rather large room seem to be generating the buzz. Half, simultaneously hacking in to banks across the world, the others masking your location as you complete the necessary transfers. However, you both are the only ones in the room, making him think that you are the one controlling the computers, the one that they have all been searching for months. However, since he’s been observing you, you haven’t physically touched any of the machines once.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” you say with a cock of your head.

Suddenly, Jason’s arm feels weak, like it’s fallen asleep after having been immobile for too long of a time. He watches as his hands drop his guns and his gaze catches yours as a smile crosses your face.

“You know, you’re the first person that I’ve actually tried this on,” you remark casually. “Usually it’s inanimate objects, big or small, it doesn’t matter, but I never thought I’d be able to control a person.”

Quickly, before you take total control of his body, Jason presses a button the side of his helmet that sends his visual recordings to the bat cave. The moment his fingers leave the button, his wrist snaps backward as you begin to break it with your mind.

“You shouldn’t have done that, Jason,” you say with a frown. “I’ll have to hurt them all now, you know that, right?”

There is a sigh of disinterest that leaves your chest as he feels a pressure on his neck begin to tighten and his vision begins to fade.

“Just be glad you are my favorite,” he hears your voice murmur as he falls to the ground passing out. “I’m not going to hurt you too badly.”

*** To say Bruce was stunned was a bit of an understatement. The feed from Jason’s camera hadn’t cut out and instead focused on the ceiling. Bruce can hear his daughter’s small footsteps as she walks over to Jason’s unconscious body.

Her face comes into the screen and she still has the small smile on her face as she removes the helmet and lifts it to her face.

“I know you’re watching this, Father or will be watching this, whenever you figure out that Jason and I aren’t home. Don’t worry he’s not dead, just sleeping. You might want to come get him soon though, I’ve already rigged this place to blow three hours after I leave. So hopefully you see this in time.”

She begins to walk around the room and one by one the computers around her begin to explode. “I told you I’d be leaving soon, didn’t I? To be honest, this is a little ahead of schedule, but it doesn’t matter I already have everything I need.”

The camera pans to show her placing a small laptop in a briefcase and what looks to be a horde of fake passports and I.D.’s

“Don’t look for me, father, you won’t find me,” she croons through the speaker. “Jason only found me because he followed me. Know that I won’t let that happen again.”

The case closes and her footsteps begin again and as she walks out, the lights behind her begin to turn off.

“You should know I don’t hate you father, I don’t know you well enough to hate you. However, you shouldn’t be happy about that, because I’m rather indifferent toward you. Know that if any of you live or die it doesn’t matter to me. So, if you do choose to come after me, I won’t hesitate to end you, to end all of you.”

She drops the helmet, and all he can see is an image of her walking away, down a corridor.

“Goodbye, Father.” She calls over her shoulder and the screen goes black.

“You’ve watched that tape many times now, Master Bruce, have you found anything useful?” Alfred question as he prepares to serve the man some tea.

“No,” the older man says solemnly. It’d been almost a month since she disappeared and while there was indeed no trace of her, the robberies hadn’t stopped even though she had amassed a fortune that rivaled his own. “Only a glimpse of a few aliases, however none of them have been used. I think she showed me them on purpose.”

“Master Jason stopped by to search through her room again, he found nothing.”

“How did he look?”

“Like he has not slept since that day, sir. I know this must be hard for him, to lose her like this.”

“He blames himself, even though this is my fault. She’s doing this to spite me, I know it.”

“Oh?”

“I never paid attention to her, so I never noticed what she was doing. Never noticed that the enemy that I’d been giving all of my attention to was the one person I didn’t have time for. Now, wherever she is I won’t be able to reach her, no matter how much I try.”

“She was always fond of poetry, sir.”

Bruce pauses, “I didn’t know that either.”

Taglist (this is a thing now let me know if you want to be on it for everything or a specific story) @captain-amelia-bradley

#batman x reader #batman #batfamily #batman imagine #bruce wayne #bruce x reader #bruce imagine #bruce wayne imagine #bruce wayne x reader #jason todd x reader #jason todd #dick grayson x reader #bruce x daughter

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totesmccoats · 6 years

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Batman and the Signal #1

After years of teasing and buildup, Duke Thomas finally has a suit and a codename. As the Signal, he protects Gotham during the day, when the Bats are all sleeping. Besides being the only non-nocturnal member of the Bat-family, he’s also the first with powers, albeit, powers he doesn’t quite understand. He can “read” light, and is able to reconstruct images of where it’s been and where it’s going. Essentially, he has the ability to rewind and fast-forward his perception.

His first assignment, given to him by Batman, is to investigate the recent spree of metahuman teenagers – like Duke – popping up in Gotham. But even with his training under Batman, there’s no guarantee he’ll even survive his first day.

Duke Thomas has always been a breath of fresh air to the recent Batman mythos. For one, he’s not a dark haired white guy. (I know Todd was blond at one point; and also wish that Damian was more often depicted as half-Asian, but he’s not.) He’s also been a bit of a perpetual outsider; someone a distance removed from the Bats and Robins. So it makes sense to give him an entire 12 hours to himself, to become his own type of hero. He’s also got his own crew, the former members of We Are Robin, whom he’s let into his superhero life. In one issue, he’s already showing how he’s doing things his own way.

On the art side of things, Hammer and Martin are showing us a side of Gotham we don’t often see; what it looks like during the day. But also, Duke takes them into the streets more than the rooftops. Being a daytime hero means more groundwork, and also running into more people as they go through their daily routines. Despite what we usually see of the city, during the day, Gotham can be surprisingly bright and spacious. And the modern style of the new Wayne-funded developments even give the city a few shades of Metropolis. The brightness continues through Duke’s costume, which takes the yellow highlights found in Batman and the Robin’s costumes, and makes it the primary color. Eventually, even his black chestpiece is replaced with a more reflective material, bouncing the light back rather than absorbing it.

Between the half dozen Batman books DC has running at any given time, it’s easy to feel overexposed by Gotham city. Turns out all you need to make it feel new again is let the sunshine in.

Batman: White Knight #4

Jack continues with his plan to take over Gotham – nicely – announcing his run for city councilman; and turning his campaign launch into a PR stunt when he gets Batman and Gordon to interrupt and arrest him for no reason. Blackport is already overwhelmingly in favor of Jack, and the rest of Gotham is slowly turning. Even Gordon is convinced by Jack’s plan to use the Batman fund to instead fund a new team of super-cops; and Jack hopes that Gordon can convince Batgirl and Nightwing to turn as well.

Meanwhile, Neo-Joker leads the mind-controlled villains on a raid of Gotham PD headquarters to steal files and find a way for her to reawaken Joker. She also tells Mad Hatter how she came to meet, and fall for, the supervillain.

But, for my money, the most interesting development is that Harley senses that somewhere along the line, Jack legitimately turned his plan to get revenge on Batman and the GCPD into a way to save and improve Gotham. And if anyone would know, it would be her, the person who knows him best, and a professional psychologist. Maybe the Joker really is dead.

And, of course, Batman keeps playing right into Jack’s hands – almost causing a riot at his campaign launch, and pushing Gordon away by refusing to listen to a plan that could help them both. If Bruce still has a chance at saving his own hind, he’s letting it slip past him awfully quickly.

SGM is really out-doing himself with the art in this series too, and can switch things from the sweetness of Jack and Harley spending a night out together, to the brutality of this Batman’s ways of taking out criminals, and the pathos of Neo-Joker’s backstory. Plus, there’s a garage full of the GCPD’s idea of what their Batmobiles should be like, and if there’s one thing he goes all out on – it’s cars.

Batman #38

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, although, I can assure you you haven’t. One rich kid, two murdered parents, a butler, a desire for vengeance. But this isn’t Bruce Wayne. It’s Matthew, the son of a couple who worked on Wayne’s board. As Bruce, he assures Matthew that the person behind the murders will be caught, and that he’ll be taken care of. As Batman, he investigates. The first suspect is Zsasz. Shortly after this discovery, Zsasz’s parents are found dead in their home. But Zsasz didn’t do it. Then, another couple is killed.

Coming off the perfectly delightful Superfriends two-parter, King reminds us he can also write twisted noir Batman with this one-shot story that’s a twist, not just of the Batman origin story, but of all the twists on the Batman origin to come before it. It also plays into King’s larger arc of Bruce Wayne trying to heal past the trauma that’s defined him. Just because Matthew is very much like Bruce Wayne, and looks up to Bruce Wayne, does not make him Bruce Wayne, nor any of the Robins or other heroes with similar backstories. Sometimes, tragedy doesn’t result in heroes.

And, despite the darkness of this issue in particular, King still finds places to inject humor. The clues Batman ends up following to solve the mystery, down to his final deduction, could’ve come straight from the Adam West show – just add blood.

Justice League #36

Following the opening of a congressional investigation into the Justice League, the chairwoman leading the investigation is assassinated by a Batman doppelganger. The next day, the public pressure from the investigation and assassination, as well as personal agendas not lining up with the team’s charter, further increases fissures in team cohesion as they try to prevent another international incident involving a nuclear sub in Chinese waters.

I can’t remember the last comic book to make me so stressed. If Priest succeeds in one thing this issue, it’s selling how stressed everyone in the League is at the moment. Aquaman’s balancing being part of the League with being the King of his people; Wonder Woman is starting to think that Batman’s rules are interfering with her mission of peace; Superman’s being called to testify at congressional hearings; Simon feels that the League’s charter is preventing him from saving lives; and Batman’s gotta somehow heard all these cats while also dealing with a doppleganger using his example to kill people. It’s a lot to deal with, and adding to all of it, the public ain’t the biggest fan of vigilantism right now.

I’m also really enjoying Wood’s art on this series. It’s bold and colorful, unabashedly heroic, almost to prove by aesthetics alone how necessary the League is in spite of the public’s doubts. On the other hand, he perfectly captures the stress in every heroes face as they deal with each-other and other mounting stressors. They’re larger than life, but also relatably human – a very fine line that he nonetheless walks.

Green Arrow #38

Another Ferreyra illustrated issue, hell yeah! I don’t think I get this excited over any other artist. He kills it every issue he’s on. This one included. From Dinah kneeing Ollie in the balls, to a sunset on the beach, to an underground fight; he does it all with style and personality.

After Dinah and Henry rescue Ollie from the trench in the Pacific ocean Moira abandoned him in, Ollie has to make things up to Dinah for almost getting himself killed in the pursuit of money. Meanwhile, Moira resurfaces and reconnects with Malcolm Merlyn, and together, hope to pay back her debt to the Ninth Circle. Unfortunately for them, they’ve decided they’re already settled.

How else could this issue end but a three way fight between team Arrow, Moira and Malcolm, and the assassin the Ninth Circle sent to collect their debt? Well, many ways; but none as satisfying.

Black Bolt #9

Black Bolt and Blinky visit Titania to tell her that her husband is dead. And then the three of them hold a funeral for Crusher Creel. It starts with a toast at his local watering hole, and ends with a visit from Captain America and Odinson, who come to pay their respects to a worthy adversary who died a hero’s death.

This issue got to me. I’m no bastion of emotional fortitude or nothing, but, because of everything leading up to this, this death meant something, and Crusher’s funeral means something too. Within the pages of this story, Crusher found love and redemption. That his funeral drew heroes and villains alike says that his life mattered because in the end, he chose to give his own for someone else’s. It’s a simple story, but a powerful one. We’re all loved. We all matter. No matter where we come from, we can all choose to be heroic. And that will matter too.

Hawkeye #14

Kate remains captured by Eden, who gives her a moment with her mother to convince her to turn her back on Clint.

Meanwhile, Clint and Kate’s friends make a plan to find where Eden took Kate, and save her. The plan Clint comes up with after finding out where Eden and Kate are? Kidnap Madame Masque, who’s still in a Kate clone body, and pull the ol’ switcharoo on Eden. Like most of Clint’s plans, he hasn’t thought this one entirely through.

This is mainly a Clint issue, and it’s great how Thompson continues the tradition of writing Clint as an almost utter fuckup, but importantly, a likable fuckup who always tries his best.

Rise of the Black Panther #1

This series, which serves as a retelling of T’Challa’s origins and early years as Black Panther, has two Black Panther’s in it, neither of whom are T’Challa. The book begins with his grandfather Azzuri meeting Captain America and the two working together to defend Wakanda from Hydra; then follows the reign of T’Chaka, as told by his first wife, and T’Challa’s mother, N’Yami. Together, the story tells of two kings who broke tradition for the betterment of Wakanda. Azzuri gave vibranium to an outsider so that he could use it to save the world; and T’Chaka made a common woman his Queen, and gave her the resources she needed to study vibranium and develop new technologies from it. But, it is also a story of Wakanda being pulled onto the world stage as it is attacked by outsiders for the first time. Wakanda is able to repel them, but always at a cost.

This first issue does a great job at establishing the legacy that T’Challa inherits from his forefathers; a legacy of a recently unified country just beginning to expand past its history of secrecy. It presents T’Challa inheriting a country at the height of its power, but also, at its most vulnerable. It also establishes that whatever T’Challa does, he’s following in the footsteps of imperfect men. This issue ends with the stakes being that T’Challa has to be a Black Panther unlike any Wakanda has ever known. The next ones will have to tell us how he begins to become that.

Paper Girls #19

The Girls, and Chris, decide to find old!Tiff before she gets smushed by the giant robots, and when we meet old!Tiff, she has a run in of her own with some future-folk. And through the whole issue, including the Girls and Chris finding old!Tiff and going to a church for safety, Mac doth protest KJ’s lesbianism way too much, to the point where her edginess begins irking the other characters.

Like pretty much every issue this arc, this one moves quickly, ending almost before you know it. And, a lot of this issue is characters playing catch-up with one another as they go over that Tiff is married to Chris, Tiff can see the fighting robots, and time-war. Like, it makes sense in-universe that the characters have to re-explain everything to the people who weren’t there for the initial exposition, but being that we the audience presumably know most of this, it stalls the issue and the overall story a bit too much.

Crosswind #6

Cason and Juniper finally meet in Seattle and prepare to defend themselves and each-other’s friends and families from the gang coming to kill them all.

Like all great finales, this is an issue full of self-actualization and beautiful bloody coups de grace, mostly from June, who finally stands up to her whimpering douchebag husband. Cason also actualizes, deciding what he wants to do with the rest of his life, being that he can’t go back after today. By the end of the issue, Simone manages to bring all of her characters to satisfying places, while still giving them some room for inferred growth.

Staggs, meanwhile, gets to finally deliver on the action and blood front, and even draws a poignant send off for her recently departed dog.

The final panel of this issue promises more Crosswind, but with such a satisfying ending, I have to hope the series continues as an anthology, showing us another incredibly freaky-friday.

Comic Reviews 1/3/18 Batman and the Signal #1 After years of teasing and buildup, Duke Thomas finally has a suit and a codename.

#batman #black bolt #black panther #crosswind #dc comics #green arrow #hawkeye #joker #justice league #marvel #paper girls #signal #white knight

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ellana-ravenwood · 6 years

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How to tame a Wayne - Batmom x Batfam

Just a fluffy little fic written quickly. You know what that means guy, two fluffy stories in a row ? I wrote extremely angsty shit to come so, yup. In any case, I hope you’ll like this little thing, and as usual, feedbacks = life :

You can find my masterlist here : @ella-ravenwood-archives

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To say the truth, and despite appearances...You were, and always had been, an extremely anxious, insecure and worried person.

You had the bad habit to often compare yourself to “more successful” people that had a style of living, a work etc etc that weren’t even related one bit to yours. Apple and oranges.

You always overthought everything, and to this day was still feeling bad for being rude to that guy that one time ten years ago.

Your brain kept you awake late at night, wether it was thinking of a comeback you could/should have said when that girl was a bitch to you out of utter jealousy (being Bruce Wayne’s wife brings a lot of those) or about something more important like : “will your sons ever be truly happy ?” and such.

You were always afraid you weren’t enough, that Bruce was wasting his time with you, that you weren’t a good mother to your kids, that you didn’t have talent enough and blah blah blah.

You hid it well though, so well in fact that even your own husband and sons didn’t know how you always questioned yourself.

You didn’t want them to worry about you...another thing that came with your insecurities, you were always afraid to bother people around you, even if clearly, that wasn’t the case.

Bruce knew when you started dating that you were quite insecure about... everything really. That your past, your childhood made you that way, as you unfortunately encountered a lot of verbally abusive assholes.

But he thought things were better now, that you didn’t have any of those worries anymore...It even made him feel good, to know he was one of the reasons why you felt like this now (the other five reasons being called Alfred, Dick, Jay, Tim and Damian)..

He worked so much on showing you how amazing you are, on showering you every day with sweet words and care, on making sure that you knew that for him...You were perfect.

And for his sake, as he already had enough on his plate and genuinely thought he helped you get rid of all your insecurities and such, you kept everything secret.

Besides, you weren’t CONSTANTLY on the verge of an anxiety attack. Sometimes only....Hum hum.

Alfred was the only one to know the extend of all that. To know the truth. And for some reason, to him ? You were never scared to tell him how you truly felt.

When things were overwhelming, when you wanted to just cry and roll in a ball, when nothing felt alright...You always told him everything.

And he was always there, with a cup of warm tea and your favorite food, listening and making sure to help.

Sometimes, it was telling your sons to leave you alone. Sometimes, it was scolding his master to take some time off. Sometimes, it was scolding you for being too harsh on yourself.

But always, it actually made you feel better. And worthier.

You felt guilty sometimes, to still feel like you weren’t good enough for your family when they constantly told you you were the best.

You felt like you kinda dismissed their cute compliments and love, when you just thought you were worthless but...you couldn’t help it.

Sometimes, you just felt too anxious and such, and it was a daily work to try to overcome this problem. You were actually pretty good at putting on a face for a few hours at a gala, trying to ignore your social anxiety.

And after years of practice...There was a reason your sons and husband thought you were completely fine and all (and to be honest, it was better that way, because if they ever heard that you weren’t feeling confident...They’d make you cringe too much with their constant compliments and such).

Yes. You were a woman full of insecurities, worries and anxiety...But you weren’t always like that. Oh no.

Sometimes...Sometimes you knew you were good. You knew what you were doing, only you could do.

There was actually one thing, one talent that you just knew nobody else had.

And it was your ability to “tame” a Wayne. To make any of them go from a “I’m very angry and wanna bash someone’s face in” mood to a “I need cuddles, please hold me and do not let go” mood.

It was a different technique with all of them, but oh you had said techniques down to a millimeter. It was extremely effective, and every time, made you feel good about yourself, that you could make them feel better instantly like so...

************

Bruce was the easiest to sooth.

Because he was the one you knew best too. And because he trusted you fully.

Everyone has their little quirks, preferences and outlooks that they hide from someone until it’s safe to reveal them. Safe to the point where they won’t start walking backwards with an apologetic look and a stumbling excuse whenever they realized they said too much...

You reached that point with Bruce long ago.

And so you discovered the secret to disarm his anger almost instantly.

With him, when he was genuinely angry to the point of being restless and wanting to hit everything in the vicinity...There was only one sure technique to work.

First, you had to reach him, which could be difficult when he’d pace back and forth in his cave, fuming.

You’d approach him carefully (a punch was easy to accidentally go your way in those times...), and he would turn to face you aggressively...But when he’d realize it was you, who was coming closer, he’d hold himself still a bit. And in a fraction of second, worries would replace the anger...What if he had hit you ?

But then, he’d get furious again. But would let you come closer, knowing what you were about to do.

Every time...Every time he promised himself it wouldn’t work. That he was too angry for it to work. That he needed this anger to fuel his motivation. That the reason why he was angry could never be tamed by...

But he was wrong each time.

Because it always worked.

No matter how many time he’d tell you to leave him alone, to go away, to not get in his way, that it was none of your business. No matter how harsh and cold he’d get towards you...You’d still come to him.

And here, faced with all his height and darkness. Here, in front of him, to his most intimidating...You wouldn’t back down.

Because he needed this. He needed you.

Still angry as ever, Bruce would avoid your eyes as you’d direct your hands towards his temples and...Would rub them in circle tenderly.

It was as easy as that.

Sometimes, it could take a little while, with him just staring at you angrily, not faltering. His eyebrows creased and a dangerous frown upon his face.

It wasn’t very encouraging but...you’d keep massaging his temples, determined to wash it all away.

And eventually...he’d visibly relax under your soothing touch. Collapse under it.

There was some kind of magic about you really.

You just needed to be there, touch him, not say a word and...anger just left him.

And he couldn’t do anything about it. He couldn’t stay mad, even if it was an important issue. And in the end oh...oh was he grateful for you.

Because when he was angry, he could never think straight.

Before he met you, he took so many bad decisions while angry. Said and did all the wrong things. So your touch...your touch was salvation.

He didn’t have to be incredibly angry for you to do it.

You could, for example, just be at a gala and he would be so tired of being fake and having to smile and talk to people he despised...and in a calm moment, you’d rub his temple lovingly, he’d close his eyes and let escape a small sigh of relief, and suddenly, all energy would go back to him.

You’d also use it when he was tired, but refused to sleep. You’d rub his temples, until he closed his eyes and realized he was too exhausted to do anything...

Usually, this would end up with him sleeping on top of you, while you caressed soft fingers through his hair and across his back.

You discovered that magical temple touch after almost two with him. At first, whenever he was angry, you’d try to reach to him but it would always fail, and you’d end up both hurting each others...

Of course, you’d make up very quickly, and never shy away from apologizing.

But being angry at each other was never your style, and you both suffered from your fights.

Fortunately it was a time where you didn’t live with him yet, so you still had both a way of isolating yourselves and dealing with things on your own but...It wouldn’t do for long.

And then one day, after he made love to you and told you he needed to leave soon for his night patrol...he fell asleep on you as you were rubbing his temples, hair and back. And he never went to said patrol (for the first time in years he unintentionally skipped it, as he was asleep).

That day, something was born in your mind. An idea. You knew he stayed because he felt utterly comfortable but maybe there was a specific reason ?

You tried to remember everything you did that night, blushing a little bit in the process and...Could it be that simple to just be this gentle rub ? Him wanting to get off of you but you insisting it felt safe and warm when he stayed on ? And your fingers going through his hair, across his back, rubbing at his temples ?

The next time he got angry, you tried your theory, ignoring his harsh and cold words toward you, and just went to him and...reach to his temples.

And here it was. One single simple trick. To solve everything. With your sons, you had different ways of soothing him, but him...Just this touch, and he felt calm and relaxed, more than he ever felt before.

With him, it was the only thing needed. As long as you could reach him, as long as you were there...He could calm down. He could think straight, his head clear.

And it always made him crave for you to be near him. Alfred loved that talent of yours, because one of his main goal was for the man he raised to be happy, and it seemed like when he went from anger to wanting to snuggle with you...He was somehow the happiest.

It impressed everyone around you really.

There was that one time especially, where Bruce was incredibly angry at Superman for something he did at the League, going off on his own and risking his life and everyone else’s (including those of his sons and wife)...

It seemed like no one could stop him as he argued with Clark, and things were escalating quickly when you called for him...He turned around saying “What ?!” a bit aggressively, and as you rubbed his temples, turned into a love sick puppy who almost forgot he was in public and just wanted to cuddle with you.

Leaving the entire League gaping at you two, shocked. They never saw the Batman go from 100 to 0. They saw the opposite happen often but...Wow.

To this day, so many of them are sure you’re a metahuman that can affect people’s feelings somehow !

Superman was still quite angry but one glare (the famous Batmom Glare) from you and he calm down instantly too (he would never admit it, but you scared him sometimes...).

Yes. You could always calm Bruce by your mere presence and touch.

You were magic.

You were his magic. His relief. His everything.

And just with one brush of your fingers on his temples, could tame the wild beast he could sometimes be. It was the only thing working.

...Oh, actually, there was another way you could relieve him of some frustration. But that wasn’t quite anger, only the temples rubbing worked on that, and that was R-Rated and most of the times happening in your bedroom (most of the time).

************

Contrary to popular belief, you son Dick would get angry often, and he had a very agressive way of doing things. He also held the grudge too much.

People viewed him as that guy who always smiled and see things in a positive light. Who would literally laugh in the face of danger and after some acrobatics, would drop a witty punchline and get his way out of any problems.

But the truth was...Well, the truth was that your son, your little Dickie Grayson, was extremely short tempered.

There was even a moment, in his teens years, where he would be almost constantly angry. At his dad, at you, at Alfred, at everything in the World.

And during that time ? The only way to calm him down, was to get mad in return. To get irrationally mad, in fact...There was another thing you had a talent for, even if you never realized it.

You were a good actress. And acting as if you were super mad was easy.

Of course, you wouldn’t get mad at him, nope, that would be counter productive, and just be a lot more yelling. No. He’d get angry and you’d suddenly follow him.

He’d get angry at Bruce for not doing enough, or doing too much, of not being compassionate enough or anything really, just to have a reason to yell at him.

And you’d come barging in, and start getting angry over the slightest thing too, over such ridiculous things that Dick’s anger would vanish and he’d just watch you, bewildered.

Then you’d stop, turn to him and be like : “Being angry and yelling doesn’t resolve anything my boy. Stop. Take a moment. Chill. Think. Tell your father what you want calmly, your point will come across better. Yelling and being unreasonably angry just confuses and anger your interlocutor more, therefor, everything can end up in a messy fight...and you and your dad ? You don’t listen when someone else is yelling at you, you just get angrier and angrier so...Relax”.

And the way you would get angry over everything when he got like that made him realize that...yes. Getting angry wouldn’t lead him anywhere.

Besides, he couldn’t help but almost laugh when you’d yell things like : “I’ve had enough of everything, why is this floor on the floor ?! Why is this wall so straight, but the roof ain’t ?! Why is salt so salty ?! And chili so spicy ?!”, because it was really ridiculous, and though his reasons to be angry were real, even if sometimes he lost his cool way too fast over not so important things...You’d make him realize that making a fuss about it wouldn’t make him win the argument.

Wouldn’t make the one he was angry at understand. Or the things he was angry about disappear. Bitching about mosquitoes wouldn’t solve his problems about the fact there was mosquitoes.

But still, even if he wouldn’t get angry-yelly, he would still get utterly mad sometimes, without being able to control himself, no matter how hard he tried !

In those instances, you’d flick him on the nose, or spray him with water like you’d do to an unruly cat, and it would get him by surprise and he would listen to you.

You discovered that he often got angry over injustice (he resembled Bruce a lot, to be honest), things that were quite out of his control. But he would also get angry when his pride was hit (like his early relationship with Batgirl, when they were kids, wasn’t the smoothest because of how much she teased him..).

In a word, he was short-tempered. And that’s just the way he was. When you were around, you always tried to calm him down by having fake tantrums, and such.

But when he was really really angry over something real, not just because indeed he was short tempered...you’d be there in another way.

You’d let him lash out at you. Yell. Scream. Throw and break things. And then when it felt like the right time, you’d go to him and just hold him against your heart, and he would instantly go from “I want to burn the World” to “I want my mommy to hold me forever”.

You’d hold him for hours on end, just so he could calm down. Hell, you held him, when he was a kid and tried to get away from your grasp to throw more things, resisting and taking his kicks...until he’d calm down and return your hug.

As a grown man, he wouldn't kick so much anymore, even at his angriest, he could never hurt you...But he still had the bad tendency to run his mouth, to say things he didn’t mean...It was alright.

You were there anyway. Ready to take in his change of heart, his change of mood, his silent apologies and just...hold him.

You were the one advising him to write a journal, to write his frustration. It always worked with you, and damn it worked with him (mentioned in this story : And when I’m gone… )

It was quite funny really, how sometimes you could see him scribble angrily in his notebook, breaking a few pens on the pages.

Of course, as he grew older, you and him made up strategies to get rid of his anger. One of the most efficient one ? You elaborated it when he left for Bludhaven, and you wouldn’t be there to help sooth him, to take the heat of his anger and then handle his cuddly regretful self.

First, he had to continue writing in his journal. Things he was thankful for, and things that frustrated him. Then, whenever he felt a surge of anger, whenever he thought he’d loose his tempter...He should go in a room on his own. Plug in some earphones. Put the volume of the music to the max, grab something to act as a mic and...Give the performance of his life.

It’s strange, and it took away all his anger, when he danced and lip sync as if he had lost his mind.

To be honest, the reason it soothed him that much, is because it reminded him of nights spend just you and him, when Alfred was in the cave monitoring the BatComputer, and Bruce was out fighting crimes, and you were going crazy. Eating to much ice cream. Putting the music too loud. And dancing and singing horribly, forgetting about all your troubles.

When you weren’t there, it was extremely effective, this technique you made just for him, because it felt as if you were actually there...but of course, it was easier when YOU were truly around.

************

There was an angry Jason pre and post his death.

Before he died, he was just a kid, and the way he got angry reflected that.

He would get angry at rich people he encountered during galas and such he had to attend, because of how clueless and sheltered they were, or how they thought they were better than those who had no money...And you’d calm him down by teaming up with him to mock them.

To give them a sarcasm and wit fest.

You came from the same background than Jason, and you understood his frustration in those instances so would always find a fun way to take his mind off of it, even if it meant laughing at someone’s expense (usually, said someone would be an asshole anyway so...all fair and game).

He would get angry because teachers in school would treat him unfairly just because he was the great Bruce Wayne’s adopted son.

And knowing his background they’d always try to provoke him into doing something bad, even if that kid had the best grades in the entire class ! Some teachers in those fancy schools were utter rats.

Instead of going to the teachers and making things worst, you’d just tell your son, when he was angry because of this, to be the better man and just accept their provocation, to ignore them...It was a sure way to infuriate them without incriminating him.

And you were right. And oh the satisfaction to not fall in their trap and make them angry in return, was enough to calm Jason down.

He’d get angry at silly things.

Like not being able to open that cookie box and stuffs like that...Pre-death Jason was a sweet boy, and would only get angry over things that didn’t matter that much, making it very easy to sooth him with some jokes and ruffling of his hair. He would realize fast that getting angry because Dick ate his Chinese left over was a bit ridiculous in the end, dad and mom would just get more Chinese ! And Dick would have to watch without eating !! (Or not...).

Making him laugh was easy, and he craved love so much that he’d just calm down and cuddle you.

Post-death Jason though...When he came back...

When he came back he simply wasn’t the same anymore.

The pain of feeling like his father had let him down, like his father didn’t care enough to rid the world of that psychopathic clown...

The pain of feeling like you had let him down too...And Dick...and Alfred...

The pain of feeling like he just had lost another family.

He was constantly angry.

And there was nothing you could do about it. Nothing.

Jokes and smiles didn’t work anymore.

It took you a long time before you realized that the only way for him to stop being so angry all the time was to...let him.

Let him be angry. Let him use up all his anger resources, until it all dried up and he was ready to come back. To feel something else.

It hurt. Damn it hurt so bad to see him in such pain, and to see your Bruce too, suffering to no end because of this. It hurt that you couldn’t do much. That he didn’t want you to do anything.

It hurt.

Until one day, it almost didn’t.

Until one day, he snuck into the Manor to stole some of Alfred’s cookies (Alfred knew about this and always left some ont he kitchen counter because of this). And you were there.

And not at your best.

You were tired and sad, because both Dick and Bruce got hurt, and Tim was taking all the work without you being able to convince him to slow down.

You were over everything, thinking too much and more anxious than ever, so done with life...One of those burrito blanket moment you know ? And there came in Jason, and you were tired to argue.

You didn’t want to argue anymore. Didn’t want to feel only his anger. But there, as he saw your state, he...couldn’t help it.

He wanted to still be angry, but he wanted to make you feel better more.

And so he sat next to you. Ate cookies in silence. And somehow, things ended up with both of you crying in each others’ arms.

And this is how you found your new technique to counter post-death Jason’s anger.

You weren’t particularly proud of it, but if it could help him...Well you’d do it.

Each time your son was angry (often at his father), you’d take an exaggerated sad look, and he just couldn’t resist you. He knew what you were doing, but...he couldn’t get angry when you were sad.

He wanted you to be happy. Just like you made him so happy when he was younger...Just like you still made him happy as you proved him you still loved him, no matter what. Proved him you’d always be there.

And so his anger would disappear instantly, and he’d just sigh and goes to take you in his arms. Worked every time.

And it was very sweet to see, according to Bruce, who was ever so impressed by your talents to soothe any of them from “I. AM. GOING. TO. DESTROY. EVERYTHIIINNNNG !!!!” to “I’m a hurt puppy, please take care of me”.

************

With Tim, it depended on the level of anger.

You actually made a scale for him, as he was the most complex one when he was highly irritated.

The thing is, most of the time when he was angry, he didn’t really show it.

He would isolate himself, and sulk. Overwork to the point of exhaustion. Pass out on his computer with a cup of coffee in between his fingers.

And he would just stay in a constant state of annoyance, until he forgot because he was too tired to think straight...And you hated that.

Because it wasn’t healthy, and the kid was already stressed enough as it was. No need to add some unresolved anger on that.

On your scale from 1 to 72 (it was precise, but it was mostly another way to sooth your son, to amuse him with your antics...You’d tell him : “you’re between 4 and 9.8 right now, I suggest ice cream as a cure !”, and he couldn’t help but smile at the weirdly precise and yet broad way you’d calculate his “anger”), 1 to 15 was this type of anger. The one where he would just leave.

And when he was between 1 and 15, it meant you had to go annoy him a bit more, and force him to do something with you, so he could come back down.

It would usually mean drinking a lot of coffee and playing video games until your eyes hurt. And as soon as the controller would be in his hands, he would instantly stop brooding and transfer all his pent up emotions towards the screen.

When he was between 1 and 15, you’d just usually do something with him, eat and drink junk food, and it was enough to get him back to normal and want to be near you.

When he was between 16 and 38.3, he would voice the fact he was unpleased (he genuinely actually said “You displeased me” more than once to Damian).

“Funny” enough, this numbers on the scale would almost only happen while he would fight with one of his brother. Or his girlfriend, Stephanie.

He would crease his eyebrows in a cute way, straighten up, kinda mimicking his father’s demeanor, and would tell them off harshly.

He’d never yell, he would always stay calm, and it was almost scarier.

In those instances, you’d let him and whoever he fought with, wether one of his brothers or Steph’, figure things out for themselves.

Because sometimes, he needed to handle stuffs himself, and given the fact he rarely got angry, when he did, it was for a good reasons (at least angry at them).

You’d only intervene if it was getting too petty and out of hands (so...actually pretty often), and would calm ALL of them by promising some cookies and a good movie (yes, it was that easy when they were all starting to yell at each others). Your aura calming them instantly, for reasons even them weren’t sure to understand.

It was like you saying : “enough” took all their anger away, and made them realize they were fighting over something utterly stupid. And so when Tim was between 16 and 38.3, he either figured things himself and calmed down like this, or you’d intervene nicely but firmly and it was the end of it (and since he was often right in getting angry, he was the one allowed to come and demand cuddles from you).

When he was between 38.4 and 50, that was anger towards his dad, mostly. He would shout at him and telling him what he feels.

It wouldn’t be pretty. Sometimes Bruce would deserve it, in that case you would just go to your boy and calm him down with a hug.

Sometimes, Bruce wouldn't deserve in, and in that case, you’d go to your boy and calm him down by scolding him harshly and making him understand that lashing out on his father wasn’t the solution to get rid of his anger. And then...Then you’d give him a hug.

And finally, when he was between 51 and 72...It was a state he rarely was in. Absolutely furious. Out of his mind with anger. And it would often sprout in him in dire times...Like the day Bruce was thought to have died. Or Damian’s death. The day his parents were murdered in front of him. Or when he thought Steph’ was gone...

It was anger at himself, to the point he could hurt himself by punching object and such. To the point he wanted to hurt himself.

It was anger at the World for being such an asshole.

It was...Anger in its purest form.

And in those moments ? In those moments he needed you more than ever. Needed you to approach him slowly, while humming a song you used to sing to him as a child.

Needed you to reach to him, still humming, and turn his face to yours. Not say a thing. Just sing. And slowly wipe his tears away.

Needed you to cradle his head in your arms and hug him tight. And to only let go once he would stop shaking...

He just needed his mom, in those moments.

************

Damian needed air when he was getting angry.

He needed to not be in a closed space. To move. You discover that the first time you saw him actually angry. Not just annoyed. Angry.

He was angry at his father for not letting him go on an important mission, but letting Tim go. Refusing to understand their age difference and such.

He was throwing a proper tantrum and you got enough...You took hold of his arm, and ignored all his “UNHAND ME WOMAN !!”. Your relationship at the time was still fresh, but damn you weren’t about to let a kid rule things.

He was trained to be a killer, but he was still a ten year old kid, and Bruce had trained you too, and dragging him to the forrest behind Wayne’s Manor, though it wasn’t easy, was manageable.

You got him out in the forrest, ignoring his yells and such, and stopped there. Released him. He was pulling on your hand so much that he fell flat on his butt.

At first a bit confused, he was about to resume his bitching when...

-Scream.

You told him. He looked at you, puzzled, and you could tell it was an expression rarely seen on his face. He asked :

-What ?

-Go ahead. Let it go. Scream your lungs out.

There was a small silence, before he continued :

-I don’t understand. What’s the point of this ?

He didn’t even notice that his anger was already starting to subside.

You said, with a wide smile that made his heart flutter without understanding why (it was because he loved to see you happy, and your smile was soothing, even at that moment already, before he called you “mom”) :

-Oh ? The point ? Well...it’s very freeing. Here. Look.

You took a deep breath and, the loudest you could, screamed :

-FUCK EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING !!

You yelled, and the look of shock on your son’s face was enough to know you were on the right road to sooth him, to calm him. It was also hilarious.

First, he couldn’t believe you swore in front of him (Alfred hated when you did that), but second and most importantly...He couldn’t believe you were encouraging him to do it too !

You looked at him intently, and stopped him from leaving.

It was obvious you weren’t going to let him go until he screamed...And so, reluctantly and angrier than before, he started yelling.

To his surprise, it was...indeed really freeing.

He yelled and screamed, kicked trees and tore away grass, he..kinda turned into the cutest little human-tiger ever (it’s what came to your mind as you saw him lash out...it was adorable).

When he calmed down and collapsed on the floor, exhausted, you thought it would be good to remind him that he’s not the supreme controller, master and proprietor of anything and everything around him.

That everything can’t always go his way, and that in life, a lot of times, people will tell him “no” (well, that wasn’t really true, he was a Wayne after all...but for the sake of stopping his little fits, you had to make your point !).

You tried to show him that he couldn’t do just as he wanted, and get mad when it didn’t work out, or when someone told him he couldn’t do it.

You made sure that he’d know to always stand up for himself and not accept authority blindly, oh no, you could tell people to “fuck off” sometimes (Alfred’s ears were tingling). But you couldn’t just be mad for not having things your way.

This was the first time you saw him angry, and the first technique you found to calm him down. The most efficient one.

A few times, you saw him fight with one of his brother, or friends (Jon mainly), and he would go out in the forest to yell and kick trees (he hurt his ankle once, and called you...you gave him a piggyback ride back and he fell asleep on your shoulder, too damn cute).

But this was for mild anger. For when things just weren’t going his way and he felt frustrated. You never told him to stop having those fits, just to not take his anger on everyone and just go and scream his frustration.

It would usually end up in him coming back and clinging to you because he felt ashamed to have lost his temper so quickly and wanted reassurance. You’d happily obliged. Hell, sometimes, he’d even give you that “look”, that meant : “I’m about to loose it”, and you would go with him out, to scream with him.

But again, this were just childish tantrums, mild anger and general frustration.

He had another level of anger. The one that turned him into a fury. The one that made him lost all constructed thought and that made him want to turn to violence to chill.

The one that would make him bash criminals’ heads in, getting reprimanded by his dad to not be so rough with low-lives and getting even angrier !

To counter this kind of anger ? It took you longer to find than to counter his tantrums. Actually, you were desperate to find a way to calm him down in those moments when one day, after a particularly rough day he had....

He lost it.

Damian got extremely mad and no one could calm him down. He was destroying half the cave, out of control, ignoring his father’s stern voice, his brothers trying to calm him down and Alfred trying to too...When, out of frustration, you yelled at him :

-What do you want from us ?!

He stopped breaking things to turn to you, tears in his eyes, and he choked up on his words, not able to say it.

But you understood.

Bruce told you he got mad because they saw Talia and R’as, and the latter told Damian he only let him live to serve his purpose.

He got angry because the people who were suppose to love him used him, and though maybe his biological mother loved him in her own twisted way...it was just too much, for a ten year old boy.

And so he lost it.

And there, as you lost your temper to and asked him what he wanted...He turned to you, eyes filled with tears and unable to speak.

And you understood.

Love. Care. To not be used. To be his own person, and not “something” created to “rule the world”. To not let his past define him. To make his dad proud. To make his brothers proud. To make Alfred proud. To make you, whom he just started to call mother (which is why seeing Talia fucked him up even more), proud. But most of all...

To be loved. For what he is. For who he is. To feel loved.

And as he was about to resume his fury, you went to him and held him tight against yourself, running your fingers through his hair quite like you did to his father and...It worked.

Instantly.

He collapsed in your arms. Wrapped himself around you, wouldn’t let it go.

And from that day on, whenever his anger was too much for his little body to hold, he would skip destroying everything and would just come clinging to you, not letting go, not caring if people called him a “mama’s boy” because you soothed him beyond all measure. Because he needed you more than anything. Because he needed you to let go of his pent up anger, of all the bad things from his past...

Besides, being a mama’s boy ? It was hardly something he was embarrassed about. Cause like, hello ? He had the best mom ever.

************

Yes. You were their stress relief.

The only one who could understand them, and act accordingly.

The only one who knew how to actually “tame” a Wayne.

And even if you had no other talents (which wasn’t true), you’d be fine with just that. With just being able to get your boys, husband included, from “extreme anger” to “putty”.

FIN.

__________________________________________________

I wrote that in half an hour while I initially planned to spend a few days on it so it could actually be good, but I never had time, got mad/frustrated (fits with the theme) and just...Wrote it fast. I won’t bother you with my problems so I’ll just say : hope you enjoyed it even if...Yeah. Not even have the energy to be harsh on my own work. So. Thanks for reading, and if you wanna leave some feedback it’d be very appreciated.

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