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chronicbatfictioner · 3 years

Text

Exchanges and Compromises - Chapter 17

Jason was having the time of his life.

Dick was sure of it. He might grump and sulk a lot more than before, but Dick was sure that he was having fun. Sure, guarding Damian might be a little more than tasking, after a while - especially since Damian was so certain that he could face Bane alone if it comes down to it, conveniently ignoring the fact that: a. he's ten and practically one-tenth of Bane's size; b. the Waynes most likely would detest having to clear intestines off the marble floor if Damian were to be let near a katana and/or Bane, and c. Alfred definitely would detest cleaning intestines or parts of Damian off the floor or walls.

And d. Bruce Wayne seemed to actually enjoy having Damian around and has no qualm in talking to Damian as if he was twice his age. Bruce's age, that is. Not Damian's. Dick suspected that Bruce has spent a lot of time talking to 60-year-olds.

But there were numerous forms of excitement that were offered by the Wayne Manor. First and foremost were the cars. Dick has never learned to drive - being a Talon kind of impeded the learning process of 'common human things'. Jason, however, was an excellent driver. He had mentioned something about being a getaway driver in warzones, and Dick couldn't be sure if he was telling the truth or joking. Either way, he rather enjoyed it whenever he and Jason had to take Damian somewhere in town.

Except for today, as somebody seemed to have tampered with the car.

It wouldn't brake, and they were cruising really, really fast.

Hence Dick's belief that Jason was having fun. He did not look perturbed at the slightest as he controlled the car, swerving crazily over the backroads, making sharp u-turns instead of going into the city roads and went back where they came from. Within a mile from the Drake House's gate, Jason finally managed to cut down the speed to the point where the car's engines died and it rolled to a stop. On the Drake House's gate.

"Seriously, people," Tim remarked dryly as they walked in - leaving the car at the gate and settling their respective adrenaline back down. "I've heard of visiting the neighbors, but must you be like, dying and/or damaging people's property before you come here to say hi?"

"The car was tampered with," Damian reported. "Must be the brute. And I shall replace your gate, Drake."

"I think I'm down to like, eight lives. No-- seven." Dick admitted, "my heart's still beating a hundred miles per minute. Good thing, though, at least that way I know I'm quite alive."

"Dick, you're a bird. Not a cat." Tim deadpanned. His eyes never leaving Jason, who had lit up a cigarette as he walked through the house. "Since when do you smoke?"

"Since I was eleven," Jason replied. "And since I walked into a house that has laser triggers that were set up by a lunatic. Smoke worked to reveal them all."

"I'm... partially scowling because smoking kills. But I suppose laser triggers would kill faster..." Tim replied.

"The lasers are used to trigger booby traps just about Damian's height. If he were to be a common kid and run around the house, he'd be decapitated within the first few days." Jason continued bitterly. "What the fuck is wrong with that giant lump of steroids, anyway? He was ready to kill a child!"

"The nutshell version is that the child would prevent his usurping the Waynes' wealth." Tim pointed out. "The long version is that I don't think he's really the child of Dr Wayne, the Waynes know of it, and they're literally being held hostage in their own home. Also, you people are being watched, too, by drones. I've asked Harper to kill those drones for entering my property."

Tim then explained Bruce's visit and the USB. "Oracle has contacted him and told him we... the Birds, that is - are investigating the evidence."

"How long until we can punch the asshole out of the house for good?" Jason demanded, accepting a bottle of water Tim handed him. Slowly and gently. Making sure his fingers brushed Tim's. And Dick had to swallow a grin.

"That, unfortunately, would be up to the GCPD. Did you guys saw the news? Vicky Vale's article on Damian?" Tim... preened a little, waving his hair as he walked away from Jason. Dick's lips itched, he wondered if Barbara or the other girls -- if Selina or Dinah have noticed this. The two were definitely flirting.

"I have seen it. It had good pictures of my mother and grandfather, and quite... adequate descriptions of both of them." Damian replied. "Evidently father has made a comment to the writer about me looking like him when he was my age."

"Well, you kind of do look like him, except for the green eyes." Dick pointed out. Bruce's eyes were blue - like both his parents. But from the photos of little Brucie around the house, Dick could see a little of Martha Wayne in Damian's still-round face. "When did Bruce make the comment?"

"Oh, Vale called him." Tim snickered. "She still has his personal number, and she commented something about hearing a - quote: 'constipated buffalo sounds in the background' - unquote. She was also wondering if Bruce was in a bullfighting ring somewhere."

"Seriously?" Dick laughed.

"Seriously. Even Barbara couldn't stop laughing hearing that." Tim assured him. Jason rolled his eyes but looking amused, anyway.

"Sooo... a possible off-road accident for the apparent heir is in the books?" Jason suggested.

"I won't put it past Bane. Damian...?" Tim started. But Damian already nodded in acknowledgment.

"I shan't eat anything that is not presented by Todd or Grayson, nor will I frolic the manor on my own. This shall be more to bear witness to your insinuation of my 'child-like' behavior than to take care of me, Drake, as I am quite capable of sustaining my own life." Damian scoffed.

Tim paused visibly for a good two seconds, before nodding, "of course. Furthermore, I can assure you that Alfred is safe, mainly because as a butler, his focal interest would be the actual Waynes. That's in his training - unless an offspring is publicly announced, they are not to be cared for by the Butler. In Wayne Manor, the proverbial child would solely be Bruce - for obvious reasons, and Damian, whom Bruce has publicly acknowledged." Tim explained.

"He was in MI6," Jason remarked. "Alfred, that is. Not Bane. It would be safe to say he's loyal. He told me of the booby traps and that Bane has a daily dose of injection of the steroid-like substance. But I-- we shall prepare you emergency rations - just in case, anyway."

"You guys can always drop by here. And don't think that Damian would be Bane's only target." Tim reminded. "If I was him, I'd take out the big guns - that is you two - first; and then Bruce, because he'll want to be protective of his son; and then Dr and Mrs Wayne last."

"Then I'm afraid you are forgetting one of the members of the household that is most dangerous, Master Tim," a voice spoke; Jason pulled out his gun, Damian automatically hid behind him while pulling out a small dagger.

Dick wanted to lunge right toward the source of the voice until he realized that it was Alfred Pennyworth, both hands raised up to show that he was unarmed.

"How...?" Jason growled, "I didn't hear the front door open."

"Apologies, gentlemen. I should have informed you that there is an underground passageway between the two houses that were once used frequently, but now has all been forgotten." Alfred explained. "You were right that I was in MI6, Jason; as you were right that my focus will and forever shall remain the true Wayne blood, Master Tim. Not ones who claimed as such and refused to provide irrefutable evidence."

"Does Bane know of this passageway?" Tim asked.

"It is located in the staff's wing, and as he is not permitted to be there, I sincerely doubt it," Alfred replied. "I have my own... booby traps and surveillance that should tell me if anyone has been there." he smiled. "I am aware that both of you have prowled the entire house at one point or the other in the past few weeks." he nodded toward Jason and Dick. "You were stealthy, indeed."

"But not stealthy enough?" Dick quipped. "I gotta go back to training... Anyway, why are you here?"

"I saw your vehicle's mishap and its stop here. If anything, Bane is not... stealthy enough." Alfred pulled out a small memory card. "To get to the garage, one must pass the servants' hall. And the garage is my province."

Tim accepted the memory card, plugged it into his cellphone; and then projected its content to a wall. "Huh... this should be enough evidence of tampering..." Tim commented. The memory card showed a clear date stamp - that morning, a few hours before Bane and the Waynes left the house. It also showed Bane himself, jacking the car that was now resting with a dented bumper at Tim's gate, while holding a plier.

"Anyone watching our car now?" Dick commented. "Won't be cool to have it suddenly fixed, will it?"

"Harper should be. Plus, y'all are on my property. If he trespasses, I'll have his ass arrested." Tim huffed. "So... if anyone has ideas--" Jason and Damian's eyes lit up; Tim glared at them and continued "--that do not include sharp and/or exploding objects of how to remove Bane from the Manor..."

"I'm fresh out," Jason replied mournfully. "No sharp objects, no exploding objects... what do you expect me to do? Poison him?"

"But Todd, did my mother not teach you the arts of food as medicine?" Damian piped up.

The sudden silence as all eyes landed on Alfred was quite ominous.

"I will not conduct a crime, young masters," Alfred remarked dryly.

"Oh nooo... not a crime," Jason grinned mischievously. "It's just... you know that Damian was born in the Middle East, yeah?"

"I may have quite a culinary skill, but I fear that my Middle Eastern cuisine knowledge is rather limited," Alfred said demurely.

"Well, mine isn't." Jason grinned. "Besides, what else should one do to celebrate one's entrance into such a distinguished family; but hold a family dinner?"

"You're going to poison him." Dick groaned.

"Not to death!" Jason protested. Dick gave him an unimpressed glare. "Just... to the point where he would realize that he and I have opposing objectives."

"Do let me know of the ingredients you require, Jason." Alfred intoned. "Or perhaps you prefer to shop on your own? I shall fetch a new, un-tampered-with vehicle."

"Oh, please do, Alfred. I doubt we can make a single trip. But they will be fun." Jason replied, grinning.

Dick knew that the sense of foreboding was not in him only. Tim looked like he was contemplating moving away to Alaska.

"For the records, I don't know anything about cooking," Dick said defensively.

"I'm... truly and fully reconsidering my life choices," Tim admitted.

"Oh, don't worry, Drake. Todd was trained by the best," Damian grinned mischievously. "I pity the fools who think him as a brute. I pity the brute who think that small equals weak."

#Batless!AU #JayTim #Dick Grayson #Tim Drake #Jason Todd #Damian Wayne #Alfred Pennyworth #stray!tim #RedGhost!Jason #Talon!Dick

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eleanore-delphinium · 4 years

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The Demon’s Head

Damian Al Ghul for a moment was a hero. And in that time that he was a hero, naturally he would meet other heroes.

That was how he met her.

His Raven.

He would describe her as a very graceful woman. She was quiet, kind, generous and lovely. Despite her name sounding as if it should belong to a lonely person or an unkind being, she was none of these. But her name did befit her origins. In the sense that she is the daughter of a being synonymous to satan; and of intergalactic alien origin, the conqueror of worlds. Therefore, the name Raven as ominous as it was, befit her well, and yet also-- not so well.

But that was the thing, he was only a hero for only a moment. That moment was all that mattered, since—after all, that was how he met her. As she continued on her heroic path, he returned to what he knew to be right as a child, the path of darkness.

He took upon himself, the name Al Ghul, a name synonymous to a demon, and he used it well. And thus, Damian Al Ghul was reborn anew, he became the Demon’s Head. The name became associated to a cruel, cruel man. But he changed the ways of his organization, and tread very, very strictly on a grey line. And in doing so, he keeps his Raven. And remember it well and do not forget, he only stays on that grey line to keep her by his side.

And if anything were to happen to his beloved Raven, he will cross to the darkness before one could even blink his own eyes, and will burn everything and anything in his path with his bare hands.

So, make no mistake by taking his Raven away or you will live a life even more painful than death. For Damian Al Ghul has a league of assassin as his army, who are extremely loyal to him. And him alone.

Killing for him was as easy as dropping a needle on a hay stack.

Damian Al Ghul, the leader of the league of assassins, stood inside his throne room made of beautiful marble in ivory and gold. The sun high up in the sky, its light entering the space so blindingly. The sunlight weaves through the pillars and mashrabiya* leaving beautiful intricate patterns on the marble floors. The sunlight helped give an illusion of brightness and happiness and warmth to the chamber.

Damian was facing his throne, his back against the door as he read the papers he was holding with his right hand. His left hand resting against his back, atop his green cape. He was wearing his black with gold uniform and armor with a green cape in contrast to the almost white room. And with his cold facial expression one would be reminded, that all the sunlight was giving after all, was just an illusion of warmth.

Damian Al Ghul was not kind at all. But of course, there is an exception to the rule.

The door suddenly opened with a burst and a loud bang, and Damian’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance. He had strictly told them that he shouldn’t be disturbed unless necessary. He coaxed himself thinking that it had to be an emergency. With narrowed eyes he tilts his head a bit to the left to acknowledge the presence of the intruder.

“My Lord!” A man in an all-black suit says hurriedly as he kneels on the floor with a thud. His left leg against the floor while the other propped up to let his right arm rest on top. His head bent toward the floor.

“What is it that you have to report?” His enunciation of every word unhurried and heavy. Damian could hear the gulp from his poor frightened little underling. Even if said underling was twenty meters away.

“It’s—it’s the Lady.” The poor man could barely say. And even though the sun was high up in the sky, and that it’s light shone brightly in the room, making the chamber look as if it was glittering, it became cold. So cold, that both people seemed frozen in place, but the poor underling was the one fighting his shivers.

“What about the Lady?” Damian asked a little too clearly, that the poor subordinate could only kneel on both knees, bend his body and rested his forehead against his hands that was now on the floor. At this point, Damian turned slowly, as his green eyes landed on the man in black.

“What about the Lady?” He repeated even more slowly than the last. And Damian saw his assassin shiver in fear.

“She-she has been missing for a few days, and we searched for her—but—but—she is nowhere to be found.” He reported as calmly as he could. The subordinate thought the room couldn’t possibly get any colder than it already was, but he was wrong. The moment he finished his report, he was kneeling there in pure horror, he was sure he will die today.

“It seems that my league of assassin who are supposed to be like a shadow, cannot protect their lady in the shadow.” It was spoken slowly that it was certain: that this was the calm before the storm. “It seems that my league of assassins lack training.” He concluded.

“You cannot even track down your lost lady, why do I even keep any of you!” Damian’s voice echoed through the chambers; his fury clear. And yet, anyone who knew their lord, would know that was not the full extent of his anger.

No, it really wasn’t.

“Lady Shiva!” He summoned and instantly a woman with black hair up to her neck in red appeared beside the kneeling assassin.

“It seems that you have been lax in training the league.” He tells her and as she bends her torso to bow. Before she could start with her apologies, he continued on. “Prepare the top ten men in the league, and have them follow me. We will look for the lady.” He started walking down his throne.

“No, in fact, I will be looking for her. And if you so choose to have people follow me then so be it.” He said when his eyes landed on Lady Shiva as he approached them, the assassin up on his feet, his head bent low as to be respectful to their Lord.

“When I find Raven, I hope my league’s errors would be corrected. But that would be wishful thinking, won’t it, Lady Shiva? I will personally see to their training when I return.” Lady Shiva and the assassin gave way to their Lord.

“Of course, my Lord.” She mutters as he completely disappears.

~.~.~.~.~

Damian held a woman in blood stained and dirt-filled white robes on his arms. Her face had cuts and bruises and she looked so weak and small against his shoulder. When he looks down at her injured face, there was a softness in his glance. A gentleness unbefitting of the Demon’s Head.

But as gentle as he was as he held her, the scene behind him was not. Orange flames flickered as he walks out from the heat and the building calmly.

“I want anyone who is even remotely related to this tracked down, and I want them tortured.” He said so calmly as he held the woman he loves in his arms. His gentle glance has become cold as he looks at his subordinates in front of him. The crunch of green grass under his feet as he continued on into the night that was illuminated by the orange flames behind him.

“If done well enough, then maybe I won’t be so strict when I train you all. Prove that you all aren’t so useless after all.” His tone stone cold.

The gentleness from before must have been an illusion. Because this was the Damian Al Ghul, they all love, respected and oh-so-feared.

“Of course, my Lord.” One replied with a bow.

“No.” They pause as they wait for Damian’s final instructions. “Keep the master mind alone, I would love to capture and torture them myself.” And the shadows that was surrounding him disappeared. Raven stirred in his arms, against his chest.

“Damian?” She called out weakly. And he stood frozen as he took a peek eagerly at the woman in his arms. “They didn’t know.” She mumbles and he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes on her. She means that it wasn’t the Justice League’s fault.

“They didn’t know it was going to be a trap.” She tried to keep her head a float.

“And look at the price you had to pay.” He said bitterly as he sneered a little and continued walking to the jet.

“I—” She couldn’t even say anything to defend the Justice League, because she felt the turmoil in Damian. How could she defend the Justice League knowing what he was feeling?

“I didn’t mind that you wanted to continue being a hero. I would not take that from you.” He sets her down inside the jet. “And I know that you know this to be true, I only stay in between good and bad for you. If you are taken out of the equation, I have no qualms in being the Demon’s Head, in its truest sense. But you choose to love me, despite of who I am. And I will not have any one harm you. Less others think that the Demon’s head is weak.”

“You are not a bad person, my love.” She replied, as she cups his cheek. He closes his eye and places a hand over hers. He opens his eyes and meets her violets irises.

“But I can be, if I am without you.” He whispered so gently as his forehead laid against hers. The words completely true. They stay like that for a minute in silence, and he pulls away.

“You shall stay in Nanda Parbat as you recuperate. I will inform the Justice League.” He stares at her sternly but she does not refuse him and he turns away from her.

The Justice League has been quite cautious about Raven. They knew of her relationship with the leader of the League of Assassins. And what the risk of putting her in imminent danger would mean considering Damian’s nature. Therefore, Raven was treated as if she was glass and yet, also fire.

“I begged them to give me the mission.” She said softly, she took note of Damian’s body twitching but she had to continue on. “After you left, and made a name for yourself as the new Demon’s Head, they were uncertain of where my loyalties lie.” She found it difficult to talk due to her injuries, but she had enough strength to heal herself a bit, to keep herself conscious and stop internal bleeding. And so Raven did, as she continued on.

“And then you made a point to show that you were not like your predecessor. And yet, you also made it clear you could be far worst. And I, your beloved, was someone who they could not risk in the forefront anymore.” She moved in her seat, as she felt her insides return back to how it should be. “I just wanted to do one more mission, where I wasn’t treated like a bomb, and after that, I will be done.”

He turned to look at her with a shocked expression. Her voice was calm as her face was gentle. Despite her battered appearance, she looked like a saint to him. The words he couldn’t seem to say aloud, she felt, and she responded as she closed her eyes.

“Yes, I was going to leave the Titans, and be with you. Commit fully to you.” Her voice was soft but his thoughts were a mess. And it was clear to Raven, all of his thoughts, as if they were all written on the air for her to read.

“The Justice League thought it was a harmless mission; therefore, they could let me go. It was supposed to be a reconnaissance mission, nothing more. But we were ambushed, and I was captured.” She sighs and opens her eyes to look up at Damian. The water in his eyes finally gave way as he blinked when their met, and she inhaled a breath.

“You could have died.” He said it lightly, that Raven’s heart started beating fast in her ears. His cold eyes that had never been directed at her, has finally landed on her. “You could have died, if I was just a minute too late.” And like his eyes that could no longer contain his tears. Raven could not ignore his emotions. And she broke into a sob, as she covered her lips with her fingers. He knelt beside her, as he put a hand on her cheek.

And his face was not cold nor was it warm. The eyes she had seen him use with his fellow assassins had disappeared. She didn’t expect that the day he would look at her, the way he did his subordinates, would happen.

“Are you crying for me?” He whispered and she sniffed as she looks at him. But still, even if his cold stare was frightening. She could never be afraid of Damian Al Ghul, even if he was an Al Ghul, and the current Demon’s Head.

“I’m sorry.” She tried to contain the emotions. And she could feel the apology he was about to say. And before he could, she leans her forehead against his. Places her right thumb over his lips as her palm rested on his jaw. “But I swear to you, I am done with being a hero. I want to walk that grey line with you.”

And his lips turned up into a smile. A smile that was only ever directed at her. His gentleness and kindness only exclusive to her. His warmth only reserved for her. And she could feel it all in her chest, and in her very bones.

The love he has for his beloved Raven.

And the danger, if he loses his bird.

(FIN)

Notes:

*Mashrabiya = those wooden windows with intricate design; (wiki says: is an architectural element which is characteristic of traditional architecture in the Islamic world and is a type of projecting oriel window enclosed with carved wood latticework).

#damirae #Damian Wayne #raven #Damian al Ghul #damian x raven #damian al ghul as the anti hero demon head of the league of assassins #Robin x Raven #raven as the love of his life even if she is a hero #drabble #romance love #alternate universe #alternate reality story #alternate timeline #evil damian #teen titans justice league leaving the team kidnapped captured male lead to the rescue

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jinxedpanda4life · 3 years

Text

Yours Entirely

Part one She was named after a bird

How could I have missed this. Something so glaringly obvious, something so vital. Ibis has always been like you why would now be any different. She has had your gifts for years. YEARS! I have only just found out, beloved. All because one of Richard’s children wished to create tension. I can understand why our youngest cannot stand that girl. Yet I cannot understand how or why she kept this from me.

Ibis said it was so I would not grieve you more, said that a look of sorrow has glazed my face more and more these past few years. That I know is true, but I still wish she would have told me. She is all the best parts of you. She has your eyes, your personality, everything. I know she is so much more than just you but whenever I look at her I see you.

Todd keeps telling me that I need to introduce myself to her as her and not as our child, your child. That is and will not be easy to do, but I know it is what you would want. So I shall try.

I will love you forever. Until we meet again, beloved.

Yours entirely,

Damian

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It seems that getting to know our youngest as herself will not be as hard as I first believed. I do not know whether I should feel relieved or if I should crumble as I feel at this moment. I had not really seen our dear Ibis for a couple of days. Thanks to the job and my job. Today we got the chance to eat breakfast together before she went off to school. I cannot begin to describe the shock, bewilderment, and possible horror I felt when I first laid sight on our child.

Half of her hair was gone! Leaving only stubble behind in its wake! The other half was partially dyed a blood red! I never would have suspected this from her. It does seem very her though, and I cannot say that I love her any less because that would be a lie. If this is how she believes she can differentiate herself then I have no qualms with it. I just hope that if she marks her skin permanently that she may give me a heads up. I do hope I am better at parenting than father was. I even complimented her look, as I said it suits her. She may have been surprised but like you she has trained to not show it at all.

Many of the heroes from the league have been asking about Ibis. They now know what was long questioned and I fear for her. I do not wish for Ibie to join our line of work. I know she has voiced that she would hate being part of such things. I guess to everyone having such power and not using it for good or even bad may be a waste. I do not see it that way. I know you have told me many times of life on Azarath, a majority of not all the citizens possessed powers like you and Ibie. Not all of them used their powers for good or evil, they had them and lived everyday lives. I truly wish that for Ibis.

I know I have told you before that Grayson wishes to train her. I cannot understand why. This family has enough heroes as it is. All his children, all of Drake’s kin and even two thirds of our family; all heroes. Why can’t he just let Ibis be free? You felt free by being a hero, but Ibis would be caged. A caged bird does not sing.

Moving on from such petulant topics, Ibis is starting her last year of high school soon. Time really flies. She wishes to go into the arts, and I fully support her in that. I know it's shocking, especially since I decided that pursuing art would hinder my future. Beloved she is talented. More talented than I ever could dream of being. Not just with paint and graphite, she can write stories like I have never imagined, she can play numerous instruments just at the sight of them.

We have narrowed down the list of schools considerably, none of them close to Gotham. Close is relative truly. The top school on her list is in Providence, RI so that is not a terrible trip. The others are much farther. There are schools in Chicago, California, London, New York (though she would rather not go there), Berlin, Finland, Glasgow, even Beijing.

I will miss her truly, but she needs to find her own place on this vast planet. I cannot push her, I will not. That does not bring happiness and that is all I want for our Ibie. Happiness.

God I miss you. You would know exactly what Ibis needs, what I need. You could’ve helped Ibis so much. All I can do is try.

I love you as always and forever. Until we meet again my beloved.

Yours entirely,

Damian

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Our son is trying to kill me. No I am not being dramatic, love. Gideon asked me today for your ring. It is not that I do not like the person he wishes to spend the rest of his life with, I do indeed find them pleasant. It's just that I haven’t thought about the ring in years. I told him that he should get his beloved their own ring. That kept him at bay, he did not question me further. Do you still have the ring? I know that is a silly question to ask, but I still wonder if you wear it.

Adira has yet to bring home anyone of any interest to any of us. I believe Ibis said that ‘Dira may never settle down. Which in my opinion is much easier than meeting any potential spouses. For the longest time though she was harboring feelings for one of Logan’s children, that went nowhere. At least Logan will never be related to us, I have to see him enough as it is.

Ibis is probably the most like us when it comes to romance and dating. She is seventeen and has never had a boyfriend or girlfriend, not even secretly. I know that eventually she may find someone, but I would like to dream a little longer. Though I do worry about her. She is definitely the most like us. She is usually in her room, or the library and she doesn’t seem to have many friends. That isn’t a bad thing, as we both know, but even we spread our wings a bit more at her age. At seventeen Adira was sneaking out to go to parties, if she wasn’t on patrol or with the Titans of course. If I was not there when Gideon was born I would say he was from Grayson’s side of the family. Do you remember all the friends he had that came to the manor when he was small? Believe or not he kept all of them and gained more. He is quite gregarious. Should I worry about Ibis?

Grayson has recruited the Kents in their attempts to recruit Ibis. I still do not understand their motives behind such a crusade. Maybe this is an attempt at bringing you back? That would prove idiotic as you said yourself you cannot come back. I am not saying that I do not want you back by my side, beloved. I do, so very much, but if it means sacrificing our child? I would not wish for that. I would much rather find a solution so both of you could be here. Not to mention Ibis is still a child (she may not see it, and Grayson may not see it, but she is). She is not even in college, she has barely seen the world. You and I both have had more experiences in our teen years than I believe Ibis will ever have, and I am content with that.

Luckily we do have Todd on our side. Who has been spoiling Ibis for as long as I can recall. Though I must say he has been quite helpful in advising and educating our daughter. Do you know how many languages Todd has in his arsenal? I ask because I believe he has equipped our daughter with every single one. She is the only one of our children that speaks Arabic fluently. Sometimes when it is just the two of us we will just speak Arabic. Gideon tried learning in college but I believe he grew frustrated with it. Adira says that if she has her portable translator why would she ever need to be fluent in a language. Where did I go wrong? At least one of our children could go out in the world properly.

I miss you. I cannot place into words how much, but I hope you can understand. I know if you could, you would be here, by my side, by our children’s side. That does not aid the ache inside of my heart, beloved. If anything it cracks it wide open.

I wish I had more time to write this to you today. Truly my dearest I do. Sadly, Grayson and Drake have arrived in hopes of kidnapping Ibis, as an attempt to persuade her. I have to call Todd. I hope you can understand. I love you.

I will love you forever and always. Until we meet again, beloved.

Yours entirely,

Damian

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Hi! Sorry this took awhile things have been happening with me and I had no idea how to finish this until now! I know some wanted a Damian POV, or something of the sort? I was already going to write this anyway, but the support is greatly appreciated! I do not know if I will continue this further, but if inspiration strikes and my will is agreeable, it may happen. If anything is out of place or otherwise just let me know!

Be safe! Take care! Until we meet again!

#damirae #Damian Wayne #Ibis #raven #BatFam #Rachel Roth #writing #How do tags work #demonbirds

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multiverseforger · 3 years

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In his original appearance, Jason was scripted as a mentally disabled young boy.[91] Since Friday the 13th, Jason Voorhees has been depicted as a non-verbal, indestructible, machete-wielding mass murderer.[92][93] Jason is primarily portrayed as being completely silent throughout the film series. Exceptions to this include in part 3 when he grunts in pain several times when final girl Chris manages to stab him (once in the hand and once just above his knee), flashbacks of Jason as a child, a brief scene in Jason Takes Manhattan where the character cries out "Mommy, please don't let me drown!" in a child's voice before being submerged in toxic waste, and in Jason Goes To Hell where his spirit possesses other individuals.[55] Online magazine Salon's Andrew O'Hehir describes Jason as a "silent, expressionless...blank slate."[94] When discussing Jason psychologically, Sean S. Cunningham said, "...he doesn't have any personality. He's like a great white shark. You can't really defeat him. All you can hope for is to survive."[95] Since Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, Jason has been a "virtually indestructible" being. Tom McLoughlin, the film's director, felt it was silly that Jason had previously been just another guy in a mask, who would kill people left and right, but get "beaten up and knocked down by the heroine at the end". McLoughlin wanted Jason to be more of a "formidable, unstoppable monster".[23] In resurrecting Jason from the dead, McLoughlin also gave him the weakness of being rendered helpless if trapped beneath the waters of Crystal Lake; inspired by vampire lore, McLoughlin decided that Jason had in fact drowned as a child, and that returning him to his original resting place would immobilize him.[96] This weakness would be presented again in The New Blood, and the idea that Jason had drowned as a child was taken up by director Rob Hedden as a plot element in Jason Takes Manhattan.[55]

Many have given suggestions as Jason's motivation for killing. Ken Kirzinger refers to Jason as a "psychotic mama's boy gone horribly awry...very resilient. You can't kill him, but he feels pain, just not like everyone else."[97] Kirzinger goes on to say that Jason is a "psycho-savant", and believes his actions are based on pleasing his mother, and not anything personal.[79] Andrew O'Hehir has stated, "Coursing hormones act, of course, as smelling salts to prudish Jason, that ever-vigilant enforcer of William Bennett-style values."[94] Todd Farmer, writer for Jason X, wrote the scene where Jason wakes from cryonic hibernation just as two of the teenagers are having sex. Farmer liked the idea that sex acts triggered Jason back to life.[78] Whatever his motivations, Kane Hodder believes there is a limit to what he will do. According to Hodder, Jason might violently murder any person he comes across, but when Jason Takes Manhattan called for Hodder to kick the lead character's dog, Hodder refused, stating that, while Jason has no qualms against killing humans, he is not bad enough to hurt animals.[98] Another example from Jason Takes Manhattan, involves Jason being confronted by a street gang of young teenage boys one of whom threatens him with a knife, however Jason chooses not to kill them and instead scares them off by lifting up his mask and showing them his face. Likewise, director Tom McLoughlin chose not to have Jason harm any of the children he encounters in Jason Lives, stating that Jason would not kill a child, out of a sympathy for the plight of children generated by his own death as a child.[96]

In Jason Goes to Hell, director Adam Marcus decided to include a copy of the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, from the Evil Dead franchise, in the Voorhees home as a way to insinuate that Jason was actually a "Deadite", a type of demonic being from that series. Marcus stated the book's placement was intended to imply that Pamela Voorhees had used it to resurrect Jason after his childhood drowning, resulting in his supernatural abilities: "This is why Jason isn't Jason. He's Jason plus The Evil Dead... That, to me, is way more interesting as a mashup, and [Sam] Raimi loved it! It's not like I could tell New Line my plan to include The Evil Dead, because they don't own The Evil Dead. So it had to be an Easter egg, and I did focus on it. It absolutely is canon."[99] In an early draft of Freddy vs. Jason, it was decided that one of the villains needed a redeemable factor. Ronald D. Moore, co-writer of the first draft, explained that Jason was the easiest to make redeemable, because no one had previously ventured into the psychology surrounding the character. Moore saw the character as a "blank slate", and felt he was a character the audience could really root for.[100] Another draft, penned by Mark Protosevich, followed Moore's idea of Jason having a redeemable quality. In the draft, Jason protects a pregnant teenager named Rachel Daniels. Protosevich explained, "It gets into this whole idea of there being two kinds of monsters. Freddy is a figure of actual pure evil and Jason is more like a figure of vengeance who punishes people he feels do not deserve to live. Ultimately, the two of them clash and Jason becomes an honorable monster."[100] Writers Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who wrote the final draft of the film, disagreed about making Jason a hero, although they drew comparisons between the fact that Freddy was a victimizer and Jason was a victim. They stated, "We did not want to make Jason any less scary. He's still a brutal killer ... We never wanted to put them in a situation where Jason is a hero ... They're both villains to be equally feared."[100] Brenna O'Brien, co-founder of Fridaythe13thfilms.com, saw the character as having sympathetic qualities. She stated, "[Jason] was a deformed child who almost drowned and then spent the rest of his childhood growing up alone in the woods. He saw his mother get murdered by a camp counselor in the first Friday the 13th, and so now he exacts his revenge on anyone who returns to Camp Crystal Lake. Teenage fans can identify with that sense of rejection and isolation, which you can't really get from other killers like Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers."[86]

As Jason went through some characterization changes in the 2009 film, Derek Mears likens him more to a combination of John Rambo, Tarzan, and the Abominable Snowman from Looney Tunes. To him, this Jason is similar to Rambo because he sets up the other characters to fall into his traps. Like Rambo, he is more calculated because he feels that he has been wronged and he is fighting back; he is meant to be more sympathetic in this film.[101] Fuller and Form contend that they did not want to make Jason too sympathetic to the audience. As Brad Fuller explains, "We do not want him to be sympathetic. Jason is not a comedic character, he is not sympathetic. He's a killing machine. Plain and simple."[102]

In 2005, California State University's Media Psychology Lab surveyed 1,166 people Americans aged from 16 to 91 on the psychological appeal of movie monsters. Many of the characteristics associated with Jason Voorhees were appealing to the participants. In the survey, Jason was considered to be an "unstoppable killing machine." Participants were impressed by the "cornucopic feats of slicing and dicing a seemingly endless number of adolescents and the occasional adult." Out of the ten monsters used in the survey—which included vampires, Freddy Krueger, Frankenstein's monster, Michael Myers, Godzilla, Chucky, Hannibal Lecter, King Kong and the Alien—Jason scored the highest in all the categories involving killing variables. Further characteristics that appealed to the participants included Jason's "immortality, his apparent enjoyment of killing [and] his superhuman strength."[103]

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rayewriting · 5 years

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I Remember You (I Never Forgot You)

Fandom: Batman

Day 7- Reunion/Separation So, I probably could have posted this on time, but after church I had told people on tumblr they had till 3 to get votes on whether they wanted a Reunion or Separation fic, lunch, then the late nights caught up to me and I took a three-hour nap. This is also an unintentional third part to Being Enough and You Deserve More (More Than I Have). I'll put them all in series later So, here we are. I am sorry I am late for the last day. But I have been reading other people’s entries to Dick and Damian week and just 😍😍. I’ll have go back and bookmark some of my favorite ones!

Damian was at a restaurant, a five-star, high end, black tie only, type restaurant. When he received a letter- with a distantly familiar perfume that his heart aching, his mother’s preferred scent- with a time and location, he knew that this was not a request, but a warning. Of what he did not know, but it was serious enough that she left with traceable evidence. Evidence he had in his pocket right now. But he wasn’t focused on the letter, but the person in front of him. Talia.

Dear Richard,

“You have to return and be my Alexander, the ruler I have always wanted you to be,” Talia begins, reaching out her hands and placing them on the table, palm up, “In fact, Alexander was twenty when he became king of Macedon, as well.”

Damian makes a face at her hands and pointedly crosses his arms, hands tucking into the bends of his arms, then he speaks, “I do not have to do anything, Talia. The last time you forced my hand, I ended up with a sword in my chest, and I do not want to have a repeat performance.”

You should not search for me.

The frown on the older woman’s features did not make her unattractive, but her lips go from the frown to a small grin as she continues speaking, “I was not in a good place at the time, my son, for that I do regret. However, I do believe I have… motivation for you to come back under your grandfather,” Damian did not show outwardly but his heart was pounding at her words, “A certain circus boy and two aliens ring a bell? And you are searching for a recent nanotechnology theft, correct?” Talia watches as her words sink into Damian’s head, then reaching his heart, “Perhaps I know where the stolen technology went.”

Damian’s face is still impassive, but his fury was raging- demanding that Damian take his hidden dagger and stab the woman in front of him. This woman was not the woman who gave him life, she had died long ago, perhaps before he even left the League all those years ago. But Damian did recognize the person in front of him, this was the person who had no qualms in taking lives, did not care that she was going to kill her own child for revenge- that she was going to kill her son’s family if he did not follow her. “How do I know that you are not bluffing?” Damian asks.

“Are you going to risk them by calling a bluff?” Talia asks smugly. She pulls out a small remote with a few buttons and Damian feels his blood pressure rise, “Think about it, Damian.”

Then she stands, and begins to leave the restaurant, but when she reaches the door Damian pulls himself out of his chair, grabs her arm and pulls her out of the establishment and into the snowfall, “Fine. I will go with you.”

Talia smiles, “Very well, Damian. We will head to the airport.”

I am sorry, missing Mar’i’s birthday was not ever my intention. You should tell Kor’i and Mar’i my apologies.

Dick answers the apartment door with a smile on his face, but it quickly drops into a confused frown, “Umm, do I know you, ma’am?”

The person in question is a pale-skin blonde woman in her early twenties, wearing a wine and golden tank top, denim shorts, white slip-on shoes, and wearing a cross-body purse, “No.”

Dick’s eyes harden as he asks, “Then can I ask why you are at my door then?”

The woman takes a deep breath and blurts out, “I had a customer and he left this note at the restaurant with a huge tip and instructions to come to this apartment today and give it to a “Dick Grayson” while wearing red and gold.” She continues- after pointing at her shirt- with, “I don’t know why he gave it to me or what it says but he gave me enough money to finish paying for my college degree and I couldn’t not do what he asked.” Then she dug into her purse and pulls out the envelope and hands it to Dick.

Dick was taking in all the information quickly, takes the letter, and opens the door, “Come in.”

The woman eyes widen as she steps through the door with, “Uh-okay?” then stops as she spots all the decorations. The balloons and streamers are purple, the table has green cups, plates and utensils, and a colorful banner was hanging in the doorway reading “Happy 2nd Birthday!”

“Dick, who is at the door? Tim said that they won’t—” a tall female with tan skin, wild hair, wearing a purple shirt and blue athletic shorts, steps out of a room, but stops seeing the younger woman, “Hello, I don’t think we have met before, I am Kor’i.”

As Kor’i sticks her hand out, the blonde squeaks out, “Blyss,” and shakes Kor’i’s hand.

“Please take a seat,” Dick says entering the living room, guiding Blyss to the couch and giving the letter to Kor’i, “I’m sorry for acting weird, but do you remember anything from that night?”

Blyss, sensing the serious turn of events, sits on the couch, begins to think for a minute, lips pulling into a slight pout, “He was with another person. She was older than him. They both seemed tense, but it wasn’t a business meeting, it was personal.”

Dick looks at her questioningly and sits on the other side of the couch, “How do you figure that?”

“I’ve worked there for a few years now; I have served food during business meetings- tense meeting- but the air was charged with different type of energy. Plus, not many businesses have dinners that late, usually those times are reserved for dates, engagements, or- a couple of times- divorce meetings. Things like that.”

“Do you remember overhearing anything?” Kor’i asks, finished reading the letter.

Blyss shook her head, “Everytime I walked over they would stop talking, like they did not want anyone listening.”

Dick and Kor’i look at each other, then a loud knock on the door resounds through the apartment, startling the three adults. Blyss and Dick stand up and Dick offers her a smile, “Thank you for the information,” he says as the adults begin to walk back to the door.

Following Kor’i, Blyss smiles, “I hope you find your son. He really saved me with the money.”

Dick flounders for a second then finally gets out, “He-he isn’t my son, he is my brother.”

Blyss stops for a minute then turns to him, “Sorry, it just- when you got that letter- you looked like I did when Nightwing and Flamebird saved my son from the guy who— who kidnapped him.”

Dick though back to the last couple of kidnapping cases and then it hits him. Blyss Hayes, victim of Jaxon Zhao- resulting in the birth of Xavier Hayes. After being released for good behavior, Jaxon kidnapped the one-year old from the park and held the infant hostage till he got a plane to Colombia. Of course, Nightwing and Flamebird snuck into the building, Nightwing taking down Jaxon as Flamebird took Xavier to the ambulances. Then he just nods his head at the young mother, opening the door, “That’s alright.”

Blyss smiles at Dick and Kor’i then says, “Come to the restaurant when you find him, I’ll treat everyone to a free meal.” Afterwards, she ducks around Tim and Mar’i with a small, “Happy birthday!” and runs down the hallway.

Tim, looking where the blonde left and asks, “Who was that?”

It’s been made clear Todd’s infectious old behavior of disappearing has spread to even me.

“Yeah, no shi—” Jason says, reading Damian’s letter, before Dick and Kor’i throw a dark look at him, in response he grins sheepishly, “Sorry.”

Everyone was gathered in Gotham, Bruce, Cass, Barbara, Steph, Tim, Jason, Kor’i, and Dick in the Batcave and Alfred and Mar’i were in the Manor. Bruce and Tim running scans over the paper, ink, and handwriting- Cass, Steph, and Barbara watching security footage from the restaurant leading to the airport- Jason, Kor’i, and Dick were reading the note again.

“The problem is that it doesn’t sound like how normally writes!” Dick shouts at no one particular, running his hands through his hair for what seems like the hundredth time, “But it is his handwriting! And one sentence doesn’t make any sense!”

With your life getting so hectic, I took over the nanotechnology theft case. It has taken me overseas, perhaps an island off a coast.

Damian grits his teeth at the pain on his back, “Five for every year he has been away from us,” came from his Grandfather’s throne. Fifty strikes from a whip, fifty miles to run, fifty new cuts, fifty new burns, fifty miles to swim. Damian never thought having a favorite number was logical, but he hated the number fifty now. No matter how illogical it was, he hated it.

But he had to- to save his family. To save Richard, Kor’iander, and his Qalbi.

So, he grits through strikes, runs the miles, accepts the cuts, grows numb to the burns, and swims the miles. He perseveres through the pain, with the thought of his family on his mind and in his heart.

He has done it for six months, what’s another day?

But he refuses to kill, when they bring him an assassin, he knocks them out, drops his weapon and sits down. His Grandfather then decides that electrocution should be added for his response. When they bring him his meals, he does not eat the meat. He doesn’t eat for two days when that’s all they give him.

He dies once, his heart just giving out from exhaustion. Grandfather throws him the Lazarus Pit.

Damian can hear the waters whispers when he is pulled out. Telling him to crush the larynx of the person in front of him. He sees the green and remembers the color green. Green eyes, surrounded by black lashes, chubby cheeks, and a button nose.

His Qalbi.

He cannot forget about his Qalbi.

That night he takes comfort in the darkness, the black surrounding him reminds him of his Qalbi’s hair, she has her father’s hair. His Qalbi reminds him of his baba. Of Richard. Richard, the person that always comes for Damian- no matter what.

Soon he remembers everyone else. The wild roses of the courtyard remind him of Kor’iander’s bright hair when she walks into the kitchen for the breakfast Damian cooked holding his Qalbi on her hip, the graceful swans swimming in the pond remind him of Cassandra dancing in the ballroom, the sun of Stephanie’s smile when she looks at Timothy, the library of Jason’s voice when the older man read to his Qalbi before Damian put her down for a nap, the smell of chocolate coming from the kitchens of Alfred’s cookies after a hard night of patrol, the sound of a keyboard clacking down a hall of Barbara’s superior computer skills, the pearl necklace resting on a jewelry stand reminds him of Father’s face when he gave Father one after searching for days.

When he remembers everyone, he can- Colin, Jon, Maya- he begins to draw them in the sand of his cell. A few people a day, whoever he misses the most that day.

Most of the time, it is his baba, Kor’iander, and his Qalbi.

The placement reminds me of the infinity charm you bought me when I was, perhaps, a ten-year-old boy.

“I never bought him a damn charm!” Dick screeches, punching the console of the computer. Kor’i puts a hand on his arm, trying to calm him down- she knows words won’t help- and Dick whips around to her face, “Kor’i, its been six months since he has left! I've been going crazy since he never showed up for patrol, I have looked everywhere I could think of. And he is writing about charms?”

Kor’i wraps her arms around his shoulders and pulls him into a hug, “I don’t know, Richard. Perhaps Damian meant something else?”

Dick’s, Tim’s, and Bruce’s shot up at Kor’i’s words, then towards the note.

“He gave us a number, ten, so maybe every ten letters spell something out?” Tim asks, “No, unless the first word is ‘Ddn’ or something bizarre. Every ten words maybe…? ‘Dear sorry tell clear’. No! For f—”

Dick steps grabs the note and reads out loud, “You, Mar’i’s, Kor’i, infectious, with, nanotechnology, island, infinity, ten.”

“How did you know?” Bruce asks.

“Damian finds the address and salutations unnecessary. So, I took that out,” Dick explains without looking at Bruce. “So those are our words.”

Everyone took a minute, to collect their thoughts, before Bruce speaking, “Assuming ‘You’ meaning is Dick, it seems that Damian wrote a warning that you, Kor’i, and Mar’i have been infected with nanotech. And then Damian gave us a location of Infinity Island and ten would be the number we used to get the message.”

Kor’i and Dick froze at Bruce’s words, then Dick was running up the stairs and Kor’i was flying alongside him, “Mar’i!”

Bruce turns to Barbara, “Get in contact to Captain Atom and Cyborg, I want them here ten minutes ago,” then to Tim, “When I bring them back here, I’m going to get blood samples of all three of them, as soon as it’s drawn, I want you running scans on them.”

Then Bruce was following Dick and Kor’i up the stairs to the living room, where Mar’i was playing with some blocks. He watches with Alfred, Kor’i and Dick holding their daughter tightly between them, deciding to wait a minute before interrupting them, then “We need blood samples; so, we can neutralize the tech.”

Dick glances up at Bruce with tears in his eyes, “O-Okay. Let’s go, my girls.” Dick stands up and Kor’i picks up Mar’i to bring to the Cave.

As he passes Bruce, Bruce places a hand on his shoulder and says, “We are going to fix this, Dick, I promise.”

“I know, Bruce. I know.”

Love,

Damian Grayson-Wayne

“Baba!”

Yo, @doc-scrawls and @nxxttime sad/angst enough?

#DickandDamiweek2019 #Dick Grayson #Damian Wayne #Dick is Damian's dad #its 3am

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wedigbats · 5 years

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The Snails revolution - Chapter 3 Jason Todd / Reader

Hello :) I am back with a new chapter also available on AO3 :

http://tinyurl.com/y57d247r

When Lian woke up, it was still early. She hadn't slept much, annoyed by a feeling that didn't want to leave her alone. She liked Dick, he was her uncle Jay's older brother, and even though they didn't always get along, she knew that Jason didn't hate him as much as he wanted to suggest.

She pulled herself out of the sheets and went to look for something in her suitcase. She grabbed a small notebook and a pen in her kit, then went back under the covers. Damian had told her several times that you have to write things down when you want to get an overview. When you let the information turn and turn, too long in your head you would end up being confused and you could no longer properly analyze the elements you had.

She opened her notebook, and drew a line vertically in the middle of a blank page. At the top of the right column she wrote her uncle's first name, and at the top of the left column, the first name Dick. In each column she listed the behaviour that the person concerned had had with (Y/N). Dick had been charming, cheerful and seemed interested in everything (Y/N) and Lily had to say. He had been more considerate with (Y/N) than he had been with Lily but Lian thought it was mainly because (Y/N) had asked Dick about his brother. She had told her uncle's brother about their previous three encounters and had been surprised by Jason's hostility towards her when she had done nothing to attract anyone's wrath.

Dick had explained to him that Jason was not easy to approach, that he was rather homey and liked his solitude. Lian didn't like that remark but didn't say anything. She reserved to herself the right to go to the young woman to deny the bad things that might have been said about her favorite uncle. In the column concerning Jason, the evidence gathered was not very encouraging. He had been cold, sulky, he ignored (Y/N) and replied only if he really had to. The only exception was during the meal, where despite the frontal attack launched by (Y/N) he remained calm. Lian was sure he wouldn't have been so diplomatic with one of his brothers or even Bruce. She had seen him with his brothers and he had no patience with them.

She was sure of it, though. She had seen him glance at (Y/N) she would bet her life on it. And their neighbour seemed intrigued. Maybe not interested, Lian hadn't dared to ask the main interested party that very specific question, but at least she hadn't closed herself off. And last night she smiled at her uncle. That meant something, didn't it? And then, as Stephanie said, when a boy loves a girl, he doesn't really know how to say it, and he pulls her hair to get her attention. For all she knows, Uncle Jay's hostility might be his way of pulling girls' hair.

Lian pouted. She wasn't quite convinced. Why did adults have to be so complicated? She wanted to call Damian to explain her idea, but she needed a phone, and the only phone here that had Damian's number was Jason's. In other words, she had little chances of getting her hands on it, and even less chance of calling Damian and explaining what she wanted before her uncle caught her and took back his property.

She rolled her eyes, exasperated. She was about to close her notebook when she heard noise in the kitchen. Her father and Jason were up and talking while making their own breakfast.

She quietly got up and stuck her ear to the bedroom door to listen to what they were saying.

- Still pissed off at your brother?

- Roy don’t start.

- I was just wondering if you were mad at your brother because he's your brother and you always find a good excuse to argue, or because he seems to get along well with the neighbours. Face it Jay, he's good with people, and I saw the look on your face when he took (Y/N) in his arms last night.

- Dick hugs everyone. He can't survive two hours without hugging anyone. We were all, molested by Dick the octopus, at least once.

Lian heard her father giggling, and had to hold back a laugh herself. It's true that Dick was a particularly tactile person. No one escaped it, not even Alfred or Damian.

- You know, there's no shame in being attracted to someone. We all are at some point.

- I'm not attracted to (Y/N). I'm no longer a child, if I like someone I don't beat around the bush.

- But of course...... Jay... maybe you should think about it five minutes and think about how you felt when you saw your brother hugging (Y/N). I hadn't seen you react the way you've been reacting around that girl for a very long time.

Jason did not answer his friend and changed the subject, preferring to talk about his evening patrol rather than dwell on his alleged feelings.

Lian was not satisfied. She walked away from the door and went back to bed with her notebook. The adults were complicated, certainly it was not new for her, but still. Her father was happy at the time. She had seen him when they were in the park and restaurant, and all the time she was with him. And she knew that even when she wasn't there, he wasn't sad, and that he was happy to live with his best friend. Lian was relieved, she knew that he had not always been happy and that a few years before, he had been sick. Uncle Jay had done all he could to make everything seem normal to her so she would not be able to realize that her father was in a bad situation. She loved him very much for that, but she was worried that Jason would only smile for her, or Roy. She had never seen him with a girl or a boy like she had seen Dick, or Tim. She wanted him to be happy and not just by kicking the butts of bad guys who wanted to hurt him. Maybe she should talk to her father about it. Damian was too far away and she was no longer so sure that he would be able to help her. Or she could address adult girls, like Barbara or Stephanie.

She sighed , worried, and got up. She could always see what options she had after eating her breakfast. And if Uncle Jay was in a good mood, maybe she could try to convince him to go see his family. Despite the fact that he would not be of any tangible help to her, she was missing Damian and his bad temper. That's how it is with friends, you tend to love them so much, you can forgive them for most of their flaws.

When she entered the kitchen, Roy's face lit up. His daughter walked towards him and hugged him at the waist as she used to do, then turned to Jason to do the same. She sat down at the kitchen bar and waited quietly for her breakfast to be served.

- Well rested, princess?

Lian nodded with a smile.

- Yes. I had a great time last night. Even if it would have been even better if you had been there.

Roy let a laugh escape and passed his hand over his daughter's head, ruining her hair in the process.

- You know we were supposed to go out last night, that's our job.

- I know. I know. But I don't really like it. I like spending time with you. And last night Uncle Jay was wounded.

She pointed to her uncle's forearm as he was preparing her toast.

- Your father and I are used to it, and it's just scratches, nothing serious.

She welcomed with pleasure her plate and her glass of orange juice.

- Do you have to go out again tonight?

- Jason has to go see someone, but I can stay. We've arranged for me to spend as much time with you as I can while you're here.

- All right. But can we still spend time with you, Uncle Jay?

- Of course, princess. I won't be long and I will be back home before you know it.

Lian smiled brightly and focused on her breakfast. The two adults had tea and coffee, and while the little girl at, they discussed Jason's evening appointment. Roy didn't like Lian to be present when they discussed their work, but since it was only a reconnaissance mission, and nothing violent was mentioned, he didn't mind. He loved having his daughter close to him despite the potential danger in his lifestyle. She was his lifeline, and he knew her by heart. He knew something was bothering her, and he could see the cogs in her head getting active. He suspected it had something to do with Jason but didn't say anything. Lian knew that if she wanted to talk, she could turn to her father, he would never stop her from speaking with an open heart, nor would he judge her on her questions. Maybe this time he should take the first step. After all, Jason was his best friend and Lian's unofficial uncle, she would certainly have more qualms about talking to her father if it was about her uncle.

When the little girl had finished her plate, Jason took care of cleaning and tidying everything up. She went back to the room she was staying in and grabbed her notebook and pen, then went to sit on the couch while her father and Jason went about their business.

She opened a new blank page, sucked the tip of her pen, then, taking a breath, began to write.

"Dear Diary,..."

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Jason was finishing getting ready in his room when Lian came to see him. She slipped into his room and sat silently on the edge of his bed.

- Is there a problem, princess?

The little girl played for a moment with the plaid on the edge of the bed, before looking up at her uncle.

- I wanted to ask you a question, but I don't know if you're going to want to answer. And I don't want you to be angry.

She looked sad and looked down as soon as she answered Jason's question. He finished putting on his holster and came to sit next to his niece, and took her in his arms.

- Lian, I'm not the best person to talk open-heartedly, I know that. However, there is no question, and I repeat, no question, that you could ask me that would make me angry. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to answer you, but I'll never get angry with you.

His uncle's affirmation seemed to reassure Lian, and after taking a deep breath, she started speaking.

- I'm wondering, and Dad doesn't seem to see the same things as me, so I wanted to know..... I wanted to know why you were so cold and mean to the neighbours. I know you don't get along with your brothers, Barbara explained it to me. But (Y/N) and lily they're not part of your family.

Jason swore silently, and promised himself to say two words to Barbara when he had five minutes.

- Lian....

He squeezed her a little tighter against him and put his chin on the top of the little girl's head.

- Your father, you and Kory are the people I'm closest to. A few years ago, I loved Bruce, and Dick was my hero and role model...

- Oh, really?

- Yes, really. Then I had problems. Big problems that led me to realize that the admiration I had for Bruce and Dick was one-sided and that they had no problems replacing me in their lives.

- With Tim and Damian, right?

- That's it. Because of that, I have trouble trusting people. And even more so people I don't know. We don't know how people will react. And with my job it's complicated to get closer to people. There's a 50% chance they'll be malicious, or they'll try to hurt us. Finding really disinterested people in Gotham is difficult.

- What does disinterested mean?

Jason let out a little laugh.

- Disinterested means they're not looking for something from you. To take advantage of you.

- And you think the neighbours aren't selfless, do you?

- I don't know, princess. I just know that we should have stopped to asking them to keep it down.

-You didn't seem happy last night. When we were talking about Dick.

- Dick is my problem. He always had a knack for making me feel unwanted and stealing my spotlight. He's good at it.

- And you're afraid he'll steal your spotlight with (Y/N)?

Jason frowned but did not answer. He thought back to the night before, and could not put his finger on what he had made him so angry that he wanted to beat his brother up.

- Dad told me that when you have a funny feeling in your stomach or in your heart but you're not sick, it means you like someone. Do you have this?

- I don't think so, no. You really want me to get along well with the neighbours, don't you?

Lian tried to hide her smile by hiding her face against Jason's arm.

- Yes. I like (Y/N). Lily's nice too, but it's not the same. She's a little weird. She smiles a lot but her eyes remain a little cold.

Jason thought back to the discussion he had heard in the hallway a few days earlier.

- Maybe she was hurt and she doesn't want to look sad in front of people. Not everyone talks about what scares them or keeps them awake at night.

- Like you and Dad?

- Like your father and I do, yes.

Lian was not completely satisfied with the answers provided by her uncle, but it was already a start. She hugged him one last time and then cleared out to let him finish getting ready. When he was ready, she took his hand and both returned to the main room. Roy was lying on the couch and watching TV. He greeted his daughter with a smile and looked at his best friend.

- Ready to go, Jaybird?

- Yep. Keep your fingers crossed so I don't fall on my family and pray that Gordon doesn't back off of the deal.

Roy raised his arm and crossed his fingers as Jason passed through the apartment window.

For a moment Lian and Roy were content to watch television together in silence. Then Lian began to wiggle until he could no longer hold her in place.

- What's the matter, princess? You're very agitated tonight.....

- I'd like to go see Damian. Please, please, please, please, please!!!!

- Lian... I don't know if I can take you to see Damian. You know Uncle Jason....

- I know that. But he doesn't have to come with us. And Damian is my friend. Please, please, please, please, please!!!!

Roy sighed. He weighed the pros and cons and in the end, could not fight against his daughter's pleading gaze.

He grabbed his phone with a sigh and searched Dick's phone number in his phone book before making the call. He was going to regret doing that, but it's not like he's putting her in danger. And if Jason had any objections, Roy would handle it.

When Dick picked up, Roy explained the situation to him. Fortunately for Lian, Damian was not out that night and those who were on patrol would not be late, Bruce had asked everyone to be at the mansion early.

After a few minutes of discussion, Dick confirmed to Roy that Lian was welcome to the mansion, and that the others would welcome him as well for the time of his visit.

When the good news came, the little girl jumped up and ran into her room to get her coat. She put on her shoes and urged her father to hurry.

They went down into the underground garage and settled into Roy's truck before taking the road and after about thirty minutes by car, they were in front of the entrance to Wayne's manor.

Lian stepped out of the vehicle like a rocket, and climbed the steps that led to the entrance door four by four. She ranged, and Alfred came to open the door just as Roy was joining his daughter at the top of the stairs.

- Good evening, Miss Harper. Mr. Harper.

- Good evening, Alfred! Is Damian there?

The little girl seemed overexcited at the thought of seeing her friend, and proceeded to conjure one of the butler's rare smiles. Alfred, got out of the entrance and offered to let them in, then led them to the living room where Dick, Damian and Stephanie were already sitting. Tim and Barbara were not present, and Bruce was not visible in the room.

Lian rushed to Damian who didn't have time to avoid the cannonball that was the little girl and found himself against his will trapped in a hug. He grumbled a few words about the lack of control and impropriety of such a display of affection in public before the girl released him. She turned to the others, said a general hello, then took Damian by the hand before dragging him to one of the side rooms, telling him that she wanted to talk to him about something top secret.

Roy with a sigh approached Dick and Stephanie and greeted them. He sat in an armchair next to them and apologized for the inconvenience.

- Don't worry about it, Roy. From what you told me, she wouldn't have been quiet until she saw Dami, right?

Roy nodded.

- Yeah. She has an idea in mind and I have a feeling it's about your brother.

Dick was intrigued, and Stephanie got a little closer to the two young men.

- Jason's out tonight, and when he was getting ready, I saw Lian go see him. I know her, and she knows that when we get ready, she's not supposed to be in the room. I don't want her to get used to seeing us armed. So I wanted to go get her, but she was talking to Jay.

- And what were they discussing?

Roy hesitated for a moment.

- They were discussing last night and Jason's reaction. I feel like Lian thinks Jay has feelings for the neighbour and he doesn't want to say it.

Dick started laughing, looking like he didn't believe it for a second, while Stephanie frowned and pushed the oldest Wayne to the side.

- And she's right?

- Honestly, Steph, I have no idea. I know he promised her to make an effort with the neighbours since she likes them but frankly..... He is strange at the moment, but to deduce that he has feelings for a girl he met just a few days ago....

- It's possible, isn't it? Look at stupid, laughing there. He has one crush a week. And Jason, despite everything he wants to say, he remains human. Human with feelings. And if he can feel anger, he may as well fell attraction and maybe even love.

Dick stopped laughing for a moment and took time to catch his breath.

- Steph' we're talking about Jason, he has as many love inclinations as Dami.

- You'd be surprised, Dick. Our little Damian may be a demon but he is not indifferent to a certain person in our entourage.

Dick looked at the stunned blonde.

- No.........

Roy let out a sigh.

- Lian is convinced that she is right, and I think she will try to use her position with Jason to prove it. I just don't want her to alienate Jay, or be disappointed if she finds out she's wrong.

A silence set for a moment. Dick always seemed shocked by Stephanie's insinuations, and Stephanie, her, seemed to be thinking.

- You know Roy, there may be a solution to this problem.

The redhead looked up at Stephanie, hoping with all his heart that it wasn't yet one of her delusional ideas that would end badly.

- Go ahead and explain. At this point.....

The young woman leaned over to her two accomplices to explain her plan.

Meanwhile Lian had had time to explain to Damian what she suspected and couldn't get him to believe that she could be right. She showed him her notebook and explained to him what had happened, the reactions her uncle had had and the discussion that had taken place in Jason's room before he left that very evening. Damian was not convinced and he contradicted every one of Lian's arguments, and finally finished his argument by explaining that Todd was impossible to love, and that he had proved it many times in recent years. He was a difficult person that even Father could not contain.

The little girl closed her notebook with a sad look on her face and jumped when her father shouted her first name to call her.

- LIAN!!! UNCLE JAY IS HERE. WE'RE GOING HOME!!!

When they arrived at the mansion, Roy had sent a text message to Jason to let him know they were leaving. He told him where they were and assured Jason that he didn't have to join them if he don’t wanted to. Apparently he had decided otherwise. He had greeted Alfred as usual. He may not have liked coming at the mansion, but he still loved Alfred, and no one would make him disrespect the butler who had always treated him with love. He passed through the living room where his friend Stephanie and Dick were, greeted the young woman and took care to ignore his brother who had approached him, then went in search of his niece to be able to leave the house as quickly as possible.

When he arrived in one of the secondary living rooms, he found Damian sitting in an armchair reading a magazine.

- Where's Lian, demon brat?

- She's hiding behind the sofa.

- Hey!

Jason did find the little girl hiding behind the couch, who gave Damian a black look as soon as she came out of her hiding place. She then looked at her uncle, and smiled innocently.

- Hey, Uncle Jay. Are you all right?

Jason sighed and rolled his eyes.

- It's time to go home Lian, your father and I need to talk and it would be better if we were at the apartment for that.

The little girl looked down and pouted.

- All right.

She turned to Damian and said goodbye, getting no answer from the boy. Then she took her uncle by the hand and both went to join Roy who was waiting for them at the front door with Dick and Stephanie.

They exchanged a good evening, and Jason turned one last time to say good night to Alfred but stopped in full sentence when he saw Bruce at the back of the hall. He left the house and got on his motorcycle, waiting for the other two to get back into the truck. They all left, under the gaze of the blonde and the eldest of the Wayne's.

- Your plan will get us into trouble, Steph.

- No, It will not! And what are the risks? To see that Jason has risen from the dead with a heart of stone or, on the contrary, that he has human feelings and a crush? I see nothing but positive outcomes in this.

- I can see that somehow it's going to end badly for us.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Once everyone had returned to the apartment, things did not go as Roy had imagined. He thought Jason would wait until Lian went to wash up to start blaming him for bringing his niece to the mansion. He expected anger, disapproval, blame and criticism to be unending, not to mention the inevitable monologue about the constant faults of his family and more specifically Bruce and Dick, but none of this happened.

If Roy was really honest, he knew he had escaped the storm Jason, only thanks to the phone call he received when they returned. He had seen his friends touch the side of his helmet as if to answer a call, as he was opening the way back to the apartment.

Red Hood gave his friend an annoyed look but made no comments. Roy would do anything to make Lian happy, and he had trouble accepting that the girl or even her best friend could have a more or less normal relationships with his family. He readjusted his helmet, and headed for the window.

- I have to go out again. I'll be back in a couple of hours.

- Okay.

Roy watched his friend come out and sighed. He felt that he had not heard the end of it. He went to his room and put Lian to bed. Once the little girl was settled in and ready to fall asleep, he kissed her on the forehead and returned to the living room closing the bedroom door behind him. He went to sit on the couch as usual since his daughter arrived, and pulled the blanket. He reached out to grab the remote control, and turned on the television. He skipped channels for a few minutes and then settled for a random show.

He watched the program for a moment and then fell asleep, with the television still on.

Roy was woken up several hours later by a loud fall sound in the living room. He woke up with a start and grabbed the knife that Jason always left under the couch seat. He jumped over the back of the sofa and found himself facing the intruder who was spread out on the floor of the main room.

- Hey Roy...

The redhead dropped his weapon and rushed to his friend who looked rather ill. The lower right part of his helmet was missing, and he was covered in blood. He helped Jason to get up and saw that his friend was keeping his left arm pressed against his stomach. He laid him down on the couch and removed what was left of the helmet before moving his arm to see the damage.

Roy frowned when he noticed that the young man had received numerous blade cuts to his abdomen. Nothing deep, but enough to cause a big loss of blood, and an inability to use his lower limbs properly.

- How did you manage to get back in this state?

Jason didn't answer, he was in shock. Roy swore and noticed that his friend was having trouble breathing. He seized his phone and called Alfred immediately. The butler was taking note of what Roy was telling him and immediately sent Dick to the apartment to help his brother. He heard the bedroom door open and sent Lian back to bed before she could even see her uncle in such a bad state. The little girl immediately closed the door, but stayed behind to listen to what was happening.

Roy put Alfred on speaker so that he could be guided by the butler until Dick arrived. Meanwhile Jason had passed out.

- Okay, uh... he has several stab wounds to the abdomen, nothing perforating but deep enough to cause muscle damage. He has trouble breathing and given the amount of blood on his clothes, I would say he has lost quite a lot, as far as I can see, and if it is his own blood, I would say he lost about 25%. His pulse is slightly slowed and his extremities are pale.

Roy rushed to the kitchen to grab some clean cloths and applied them to the wounds.

- It is possible that he may be suffering from a concussion. A part of his helmet is missing but he does not have any trace of a blow or shock of any kind.

Roy didn't know what to say anymore, and despite the cold sweat running down his back, his voice was stable. Alfred, on the phone, gave him instructions to help stabilize Jason until his brother was there with the necessary equipment. After long minutes of waiting, Dick arrived and Roy opened the door for him. He didn't have his usual smile on his face, but was obviously in Nightwing mode, and took over to help Jason. Roy warned Alfred that Dick had arrived, and the butler hung up after announcing to the young man that he would inform the other family members of the situation.

Dick cleaned, sutured and bandaged his brother's wounds, checked his blood pressure, as well as his blood oxygenation level before checking the reaction of his pupils with a small flashlight, then when he was finally satisfied, he asked Roy for help to take Jason to his room.

They put him to bed and let him rest, leaving the bedroom door open to hear if his patient woke up. Once they returned to the main room, they took action to erase all traces of what had just happened. The blanket used by Roy and the cushion covers were stained with blood, so they ended up in a garbage bag ready to be destroyed, along with the rest of the strips of gauze and single-use medical instruments that Dick had used to sew his brother up. They moped and rearranged what was wrong when Jason came back in a hurry. Once everything was back to normal, Dick went into the kitchen and made two coffees. Roy took the opportunity to check on Lian. The little girl had fallen asleep by the door. Her face twisted in an expression shared between sadness and pain. He was trying so hard to protect her from what could happen at work. Obviously, he was failing.

He put her back in the bed and tucked her in, kissing her again on the forehead before exiting the room.

He joined Dick and welcomed the cup of fresh coffee that the young man handed him.

- Is Lian asleep?

- She tried to get out of the room when I was on the phone with Alfred. I sent her back to bed but she stayed by the door, I found her asleep against the wall.

Dick sighed and looked down at his cup.

- Lian is smart. She knows what happened tonight. But she remains a child, she wants to participate, and is naturally curious about what is happening, especially when you don't want her to be interested.

- I know. I'm just afraid that she'll get hurt one day because I wouldn't have been careful enough, or worse that she'd decide to go down the same path as us. She already admires Damian as Robin. I don't want her to end the way we almost ended more than once.

The eldest of the Wayne's nodded to mark his acknowledgement, and took a sip of coffee again as he looked towards the open door that led to his little brother's room.

- Where was he tonight to end up like this?

- I have no idea. He received a phone call when we were on our way back home. He left shortly after we got back. He didn't say where he was going, he just told me that he was going to be back two hours later. Nothing more than that.

Dick growled.

- He sometimes gets on my nerves making secrets out of everything. After all these years I thought he would finally….

He did not finish his sentence, his throat tied. Roy put his hand on Dick's shoulder and squeezed for a moment, to give him his support.

- Jason... Jason is complicated. Even for me and we're not related. He's not a bad person, we both know that, but he's very angry with Bruce, which is nothing new.

- That... I think they're stuck in a vicious circle. They do everything to make the other person angry and wonder why nothing gets better.

- Maybe we should lock them in a bunker and throw away the keys until they finally yell at each other for what they have to say.

Dick let out a sad laugh.

- I'm not sure it'll work. It would be more like a pugilate than a rational explanation if you ask me.

The two men stayed together talking until late at night, then Dick decided it was time for him to go back home. He said goodbye Roy and asked him to keep him informed of his brother's condition before leaving. The redhead, after Dick left, looked at the couch and thought he didn't really want to sleep there tonight. He took one of the chairs from the dining table and dragged it into Jason's room. He sat down and after checking that his friend was still breathing, fell asleep in the same chair.

When Jason emerged the next morning, he was surprised to find his niece glued against him in bed. Once the surprise was over, he looked around and realized that he was in his room. He didn't remember coming back to the apartment last night. He tried to move but a wave of pain irradiating from his middle prevented him from doing so. He then turned his head to find his best friend asleep in a chair next to his bed. Clenching his teeth to contain the pain, he moved his arm to shake Roy's knee and wake him up. The latter jumped and smiled timidly as he saw his wounded friend awake. He frowned as he saw a tuft of brown hair next to Jason. He rolled his eyes but said nothing. There was no point now in complaining. He brought the chair closer to the bed.

- How are you feeling, Jaybird?

- Not so good. How did I get here?

- You crashed in the living room, and you passed out. I had to call for help to stitch you up and bring you here.

Jason nodded, suspecting that Roy had had to call his family for it. He lifted the blanket to try to see the extent of the damage. He shivered and suddenly turned to Roy with a very serious look.

- Roy...... I'm sorry to tell you this now, but..... Considering my wounds....I lost our baby.

Roy punched his friend in the shoulder, who was holding back from laughing because of the pain.

- You're a jerk.

—————————————————————��————————————————————————

Jason was closely watched all morning, and when he thought his friend had relaxed his vigilance, he was reprimanded by Lian as he tried to get out of bed. He found himself forced to lie down for most of the day, and was not allowed to use his phone. Lian, on the other hand, kept him company.

Roy had texted Dick to warn him that Jason was awake and that he looked about fine, despite natural fatigue after significant blood loss and injuries such as those he had suffered.

By early afternoon he had received a call from Stephanie, reminding him of her plan from the previous evening, and letting him know on several occasions that the current situation was very suitable for the execution of the plan in question. The already tired redhead didn't want to think about the blonde's crazy plan but she seemed very enthusiastic about confirming her suspicions and didn't let go of Roy until he promised at least to try.

Roy took care of his bedridden friend and daughter until the evening. He received another phone call and came out of the room to answer. When he came back, he looked bored.

Jason looked up from the comic book he was reading with Lian and stared at his roommate.

- Something wrong, Roy?

- Yeah. I have to get out. It wasn't planned and I can't leave you two alone. And neither Dick nor Stephanie are available immediately.

- And? I can keep Lian. Anyway, I can't move much right now.

Roy raised an eyebrow.

- Precisely. You think you can take care of Lian alone tonight? You can't even move from one room to another by yourself.

- And what do you recommend then?

The little girl's father played with his cell phone for a moment, and grinned.

- I don't want any protest, I don't have a choice under the circumstances so...

- I swear to you, if you call Bruce...

- I'm not going to call Bruce, but I'm going to go next door for help.

- What do you mean by next door?

Suddenly, the meaning of what Roy had just said struck Jason. He became paler than he already was and shook his head.

- No. No.

- Yes. And you'll be kind and a patient... patient, I suppose.

- Roy...

- No protest, I have no choice, and I'm not giving you a choice either. Now get ready, I'll help you go to the main room, we'll put you on the couch.

Despite the injured man's protests and threats, Roy helped his friend get out of bed and into the next room. He sat him down on the couch and brought him a blanket and a t-shirt, Dick having only put on him a jog the night before. Lian had not understood at first sight why her uncle was so reluctant, but once he had started threatening her father, she had figured out where they were going with. From that moment on, she became a real energy ball again and ran around to make sure everything was perfect in the apartment.

Roy left Jason and his daughter for a moment to ring the bell at the neighbours' house. It was Lily who opened the door for him, she was putting on her coat when Roy rang the bell, and she apologized for greeting him like that. When Roy explained the situation to her, avoiding to mention that Jason was injured because of his Red hood activity but arguing that he had had a bad fall and needed to be watched, the young woman looked sorry. She told him that she was about to leave for several days to visit her family, and that it was better for him to contact (Y/N). She let him into their house, closed the door, and then went to get her friend, who was in the bathroom.

(Y/N) smiled when she saw Roy, she asked him for a little more details about what was going on, Lily having vaguely explained the situation to her when she had come to fetch her.

Roy told his story again and finally asked her if she would take care of her friend for the evening, and at the same time watch his daughter. He had no choice, and had to go to a last-minute appointment and did not want to leave his injured friend alone. His daughter did not have the physical strength to help him if he fell and he did not want to leave her alone. (Y/N) agreed and assured him that she would not mind after Roy asked her to forgive him for making such a request.

The redhead came home a few minutes later and told Jason and Lian that their neighbour would be here within the hour, and that he would leave after she arrived. He then went to get ready, tonight he wouldn't be Arsenal, but he would still take some precautions. He put on civilian clothes, and took his eternal cap with him. When the hour was almost up, he came out of his room and returned to the living room.

- I hope you'll behave yourself tonight.

- Harper, if I could get off this couch without fear of my organs falling to the ground, I'd kick your ass.

- Jason, language, we have sensitive ears in the room.

Lian manifested herself by going to see her father, hugging him by the waist and sticking out his tongue at her uncle.

- Yes, Uncle Jason, think about me, you must be a good example.

- Just wait, you little ...

The little girl laughed and joined her uncle on the couch. The doorbell of the apartment rang at that moment and Roy went to open to (Y/N) who was then invited to come in.

- Thank you again for agreeing to help me. I don't know how I would have done it if you hadn't agreed to that. Things haven't gone the way I expected tonight.

- No problem really, I don’t mind at all. Lily went to see her family, I find myself alone, so spending the evening with Lian and the homestuck patient doesn't bother me, quite the contrary.

She smiled joyfully at him, and waved back at Lian, who was still on the couch by her uncle. Roy and (Y/N) exchanged a few more words before he left, leaving the young woman alone with her daughter and friend.

The redhead went down the stairs four by four and answered his phone that started ringing as we entered the lobby. He had not yet left the building, but the people he was supposed to meet were already getting impatient. He told his interlocutor that he would be there in a few minutes and hung up. He found himself in the street, and turned right to go to a dinner a few blocks away. He entered the restaurant and walked towards the back, spotting from afar the silhouettes of his friends waiting for him.

- So?

- So honestly, to start with, I'll get something to eat, I'm hungry.

At the apartment, things had started badly, Jason closing up like an oyster until he needed help to get to the bathroom. This was without counting on, the optimistic and selfless nature of (Y/N) which helped him to move without him feeling uncomfortable or diminished. She even waited for him outside the bathroom door so he wouldn't have to call her again to get back to the couch.

As Lian was too young to cook alone, (Y/N) suggested that they cook together under Jason's direction who could more or less supervise what they were doing from the couch. His view was partially impaired because of the bar that separated the kitchen from the rest of the room, but it was enough for him to follow the progress of things. That's how they ended up all on the couch, Jason stuck between Lian and (Y/N) enjoying chicken with butternut. Lian was enjoying herself, and the injured man had to admit that the young woman was a good cook, and he finally decided to enjoy the evening.

When Roy returned several hours later, the night was already well advanced. For his part, the evening had been rather pleasant and he did not regret going out in the end. He turned the key in the front door and was surprised to hear only the sounds from the television.

He put his keys on the kitchen bar and grabbed his phone.

Lian rolled in a ball against her uncle, Jason slumped against (Y/N) whose head rested on the injured man's shoulder, all sleeping soundly, it was well worth a picture.

He rolled his eyes with a smile and sent the picture by text message. He put his phone in his back jeans pocket and started to wake everyone up.

Dick and Stephanie had stayed at the dinner table where they spent their evening with Roy. They were in the middle of a discussion when Stephanie received a text message from the redhead. She shouted with joy and shoved her phone at Dick, her arm outstretched.

- Look! Look!!!!! They're so cute when they're asleep.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

When Jason woke up the next morning he decided to stay in bed for a while. He thought about the evening before, which looked more and more like an ambush orchestrated by Roy, the more he thought about it.

He wanted to confront his friend about it but he didn't want to relive the mini-horror he had experienced when Roy came home. Yes, they had all fallen asleep on the couch, yes he had slightly slipped against (Y/N) in his sleep, yes the young woman had fallen asleep against him, so what? It wasn't worth the mocking looks Roy gave him last night when he helped him get back to his room after their neighbour left.

He grunted and tried to get up, clenching his teeth under the wave of the pain. Roy had warned him that Dick would come in the morning to take a look at his injuries and change his bandages. He wasn't particularly happy with the idea, but he didn't have much choice.

As it was impossible for him to move properly for a few more days, he was trapped inside. So Roy would wait until Dick got here to go out with his daughter. Lian and her father needed to spend time together and Jason couldn't stop them from enjoying the little time they had together because he had been reckless and became incapacitated.

He could hear them in the main room having breakfast. He was mixed between the desire to join them, even if it meant suffering in the process, and staying in his bed. After a moment of reflection, he decided to join them.

Roy and Lian were sitting at the dining table when Jason appeared in the frame of the door leading to his room. Roy got up and went to help his friend join them. He prepared a tea cup for him, put it in front of him and then went back to his chair.

- Slept well, Jay?

- Hm....

Jason didn't answer and looked down at his cup of tea. He was playing last night over and over again in his head and had trouble keeping a smile off his face. Lian had been particularly happy last night. The little girl was naturally cheerful, but yesterday, she seemed to have reached a peak of happiness. And he had to admit that despite all his prejudices, (Y/N) was pretty good company.

He was drawn from his thoughts by Roy and his daughter's conversation. They were discussing their program for the day. Jason envied them a little. He was certainly not ready to have children, but he had to admit that he missed the afternoons spent with his family from time to time.

After breakfast, Roy helped Jason get on the couch and he and his daughter prepared to leave. Lian was finishing putting on her dress when the apartment bell rang.

She rushed to the door and opened it to Dick who had a big smile on his face.

- Hello Dick!!!

- Hi Lian! How are you doing? I'm here to watch your uncle.

Jason groaned from the couch and rolled his eyes. The little girl let the eldest of the Wayne family into the apartment and went to fetch her father. Dick approached the couch and put down the sports bag containing everything he needed to take care of his brother.

- Hey Jaybird. How are you feeling?

- Dick.

Jason did not answer his brother's question, and Dick chose not to be bothered. He sat down next to his little brother and pinched his lips.

- Just for the record... Alfred warned everyone that you were hurt. And so... I have to report to them on your condition. Bruce...

- Dick, I know you're here because Roy called you and I don't have a choice in the matter. Don't try to play on feelings, especially not using Bruce you know how it's going to end.

The two young men remained silent until Roy and Lian came out of the room and left. Once they were completely alone, Dick checked his brother's injuries and replaced the bandages.

- Your wounds are clean, no sign of infection. Are you tired right now?

- A little.

- It's the loss of blood. You're going to need to rest a while longer before you can resume your activities. That's wiser.

Jason was going to open his mouth to protest, but his brother stopped him.

- No. No buts. You have lost a lot of blood, I have seen you lying on this couch, bathing in your blood, you need to rest until you can be fully recovered. If you ever faint during a mission you may not come home at all... And I'm not sure I can handle a second funeral for Jason Todd.

Jason's elusive look gave Dick the assurance that his brother would not protest any more today about his injuries. Dick took his place on the couch next to his brother.

- Roy told me you played nanny last night?

- Yeah, he had something to do and left me with Lian to watch.

- I'm surprised he left you alone with his daughter when you're not really in a position to move alone right now.

- I had my own babysitter since none of you were available. Apparently I'm not supposed to be left unsupervised.

Jason's statement made Dick laugh.

- Yes, sorry about that. I was on patrol last night and the girls had their own plans. I figured you might not want to have Tim or Damian in your path, so... But who was the babysitter?

- (Y/N), the neighbour.

- Ooooh yes. She's nice, and pretty, I like her.

- Thank you for not seducing my neighbour. I see you enough as it is. You don't have to become a frequent visitor to this building to that.

To Jason's surprise, his brother's visit was not completely unpleasant. Apparently today was the day of surprises. After realizing that (Y/N) was not bad company, that he might miss his family despite the efforts he was making to hate them and the fact that for the moment he had not yet wanted to strangle his brother, he surprised himself by hoping that it was the neighbour who had just rang the doorbell.

Dick got up and went to open up, and Jason's heart started beating a little faster when (Y/N) appeared. She came in with a plate of cookies in her hand and a blossoming smile on her lips.

- Hi, I understand Jason was alone today and since he's sick I thought I could keep him company. I mean, if my presence doesn't bother you.

Dick let her in and noticed that Jason, although keeping a neutral look, looked a little more relaxed when he saw the neighbour. She went to greet the wounded man and sat next to him, handing him the plate of cookies for him to take one. Jason took one with a little reluctance for form, then she stretched her arm, the one holding the plate, towards Dick who joined them on the couch.

They talked for a while about everything and nothing, until Dick suddenly decided he had to leave. He said goodbye to (Y/N) and his brother and left them alone. As soon as he got out, he grabbed his phone and texted Stephanie. He would have love to be able to be in two places at the same time in order to see the reaction of the blonde.

After Dick left, Jason had only one strange fear: that (Y/N) would decide to go home. Fortunately for him, his neighbour didn't seem to want to leave. She sat next to him, with a cookie in her hand, talking.

- And so as Lily left for her family, I thought I would trump my solitude by keeping you company. That's a little selfish, sorry.

- No. It's nice of you to come and keep me company. Most people I know wouldn't have lifted a finger to even check up on me. You come with cookies. That's fine with me.

(Y/N) smiled gently, and cleared her throat.

- Your brother seemed happy to keep you company, though.

- It's... complicated. My family is complicated. We don't get along very well.

The young woman put her hand on Jason's forearm to give him her support.

- Family relationships are not necessarily easy. But as they say, you don't choose your family but you can always choose your friends. And if you need company in the coming days, until you get back on your feet, I'm here. And even after that.

(Y/N) smiled at him, gently squeezed the hand she had put on Jason's arm. He could not help but feel a heat ball forming in his chest and had to control himself for a moment not to take (Y/N)'s hand.

- Thank you. I wouldn't want to interfere with your job search either... since last night you told me that since you moved to Gotham...

- Um... it's okay, don't worry. My options are limited here anyway. I had started my job search before coming here but I didn't get any answers. I'm considering taking a job as a waitress nearby. I saw that The Question Mark was recruiting. Maybe I'll apply.

- But why exactly did you come to Gotham to settle down?

- I followed Lily. She had a very bad experience a few months ago and she had to change her life completely. Alone, she wouldn't have been able to leave, so I left with her.

The young woman sighed and looked sad for a fraction of a second. The emotion did not escape Jason who this time did not fight against his reflex and grabbed (Y/N)'s hand.

- It's not going as you planned, is it?

- No. No, it's not going as planned. Lily left yesterday to visit her family and I think she's going to stay there.

They did not have time to dwell on the subject since Roy and his daughter returned from their day out. The little girl was holding the promotional bag that one of the Gotham museums was offering to its visitors and shouted with joy when she saw the cookies placed on the sofa next to her uncle. (Y/N) laughed and turned to the little girl, receiving a hug between two cookies. Jason looked at Roy who seemed to be at the end of his life.

- I'd kill for a coffee... literally.

(Y/N) got up from the couch followed by Jason's eyes and headed for the kitchen.

- You know what? I'll tell you what. I'll take care of it. Coffee for Roy, tea for Jason, and for Lian I'd say... orange juice.

Lian gave her a radiant smile, while Roy thanked (Y/N) for the help. He slumped down next to his friend while the young woman was busy in the kitchen.

- I see Dick left earlier than expected.

- Shut up, Roy.

#Jason Todd #jason todd fanfiction #jason todd / reader #red hood #red hood / reader #dc #dc comics #dc fanfic

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