#kid!thomas

[the-sympathetic-villain]

The Stowaway’s Heart - Chapter 14

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Description: Virgil is rescued by selkies after being abandoned at sea and brought back to their pod to recover. Virgil’s poor, gay heart may just explode from how attractive they all are.

Word Count: 5090

Chapter Warnings: Flirting, Romantic Contact, Food, Mentions of Past Abuse/Non-Consensual Events, Mentions of Past Depression, (Let me know if I missed anything!)

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    A dull ache throbbed between Virgil’s temples as he buried his face deeper into his soft pillow. The haze of sleep had started to life as the scent of sweet spices filled the air, threatening to draw him from his slumber as he ignored the grumbling in his stomach. He clung to the heaviness of sleep in his body, even as the boys started to stir next to him.

    “Vee, wake up.”

    “Five more minutes, Em.” Virgil slurred his words as he clenched his eyes shut.  “Go back to sleep.”

    “But—”

    Virgil’s fingers curled into the soft fabric of his pillow as he shushed the kid. “Thomas needs to rest.”

    He settled back down as the quiet whispering lulled him deeper into darkness. He could feel Emile move, his voice intermingling with who he assumed to be Thomas. Any other day, he may have worried. He hated leaving the boys tend to themselves, and he was used to life demanding more than he was able to sustain, forcing him to borrow energy from tomorrow to survive the long days.

    Not today.

    This morning, he had taken a step back from the razor's edge, allowing him to sink into the soft bed with a level of contentedness he hadn’t felt in years. He felt safe. Somehow, he knew the boys were safe, and he could afford to take a few extra minutes to sleep in this morning. With this thought, his consciousness, he started to fade back into the darkness.

    Virgil’s jaw unclenched as the minutes passed by in blissful peace. His aching muscles sank into the mattress with a heaviness that made the rest of the world seem to disappear around him.  Hours could have passed, or perhaps it was just a few short minutes, when a warm body slipped into the bed beside him. He felt the familiar tingling of Logan’s touch as his partner wrapped an arm around his waist, spooning him from behind as Virgil’s eyes started to flutter open.

    “I wish I did not have to disturb your peace, but your breakfast is going to grow cold if I allow you to rest for much longer.”

    Virgil felt his thoughts start to churn in his head as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. His muscles automatically tensed as he started to sort through his recent memories and images of Remy and the twins flashed through his mind.

    “Before you let your mind run loose on you, know that your two boys are in the other room.” Logan’s voice was calm as he absently ran his thumb across Virgil’s stomach. “They are safe and enjoying a warm meal and they assured me they would call for us if the need arises.”

    “Logan.”

    “Be gentle with yourself, dear.” Logan’s hand rested on Virgil’s hip as he pressed a gentle kiss on Virgil’s shoulder. “There is no need to panic. Your family is safe, and you can take whatever time you need to rise.”

    His confusion turned to guilt as he opened his eyes and turned over his shoulder toward his soulmate. It wasn’t until he stared into the soft look in Logan’s eyes that he noticed the sound of Thomas and Emile’s voices carry down the hall and all the memories of the previous night came rushing back. His shoulders tensed as he leaned back into Logan, his voice small as the icy feeling of shock settled across his chest. “I can't believe they’re here.”

    “My shock may rival your own.” Logan’s hand squeezed gently around Virgil’s waist as his soulmate pulled him closer. His skin tingled as their connection blurred between them as Virgil leaned his back into Logan’s chest, staring at the flickering light as guilt twisted in his stomach. “You never said anything about a family.”

    “I know, Lo.” Virgil bit down on his lip to stop his voice from trembling. “I'm so sorry. I would’ve told you eventually, but—”

    “Save your breath, love.” Logan’s eyes were a soft, silvery grey as he slid back a few inches, gently easing Virgil’s shoulder back until Virgil rolled over to face him. The patient expression on Logan’s face never faltered as he rested his head on the pillow, his usually pristine sandy-brown hair mussed the most beautiful show of imperfection. “There is no reason for you to apologize.”

    Virgil closed his eyes as Logan took his hand. His soulmate placed tender kisses on Virgil’s knuckles in a warm display of reassurance as Virgil stumbled through his words. “I swear I wanted to tell you and Remus.”

    “What information you choose to share with Remus and myself is entirely up to you, Virgil. Being our soulmate does not entitle us to any part of your life that you are not enthusiastically willingly to share.” Logan whispered as he squeezed Virgil’s hand. They shared a moment of silence as Virgil nodded stiffly, still weary from sleep. “Though I admit, I am grateful that you no longer have to bear this burden on your own.”

    Virgil let his shoulders drop as Logan’s feather-light touches moved across his body as the selkie traced invisible patterns on his arms and chest. The hypnotic movements drew Virgil into a trance-like state of relaxation as Logan realigned the energy in his body. He felt centered and present, almost willing to let his anxiety drop away until the sound of a small cough drew his attention toward the hallway.

    The sleep weighing down on his body vanished as he started to rise from the bed. He felt guilty as he turned away from Logan, curling up off the bed to cross the room. His mind raced as he dashed into the other room, hissing as the bright light burned his eyes. He adjusted quickly to the light as Emile’s eyes flashed in his direction, full of worry as he hovered protectively over Thomas.

    “Vee—”

    “Lean back, Em. We don’t want to crowd him.” Virgil crossed the room in two strides, raising a hand to Thomas’ back as he knelt next to him. “Thomas, kiddo. Are you okay?”

    “M’hmm.” Thomas face was red with strain as the kid sucked in a breath, a few weak coughs sputtering out as he caught his breath. “M’fine.”

    Virgil blinked. “Did you choke?”

    Thomas managed a stiff nod as he crossed his arms over his chest. Exhaustion clouded his eyes, but Virgil was able to let out a breath of relief as the kid settled back. He was tired and his breathing was still shallow, but Virgil had been around them for long enough to know the kid would be fine.

    “You scared me, kid. How many times have I told you to chew your food?”

    “I was, but Emile made me laugh!”

    “Did not!”

    “Did too!” Thomas' voice was gravelly as he squirmed up onto his knees to point at his brother. “He made a face—”

    “Thomas, don’t—”

    Virgil lifted his hand to stop Thomas as he started to lean across the table. He could barely suppress a smirk as the kid planted his hand flat on his plate with a squish. The kid’s face was priceless as he lifted his hand out of the unrecognizable mash of orange vegetables. His shock mixed with an expression of the purest disgust a seven-year old could possibly muster.

    “Ew.”

    “This is why you always have sticky fingers.” Virgil shook his head as he reached for a piece of cloth to help clean Thomas' hand. “Here, let me help.”

    “Nuh-uh,” Thomas stared at his hand, his mouth contorting with disgust as Virgil cleaned between his fingers.  “You always said Remy had sticky fingers, not me.”

    “Remy has a different kind of sticky fingers, Thomas.” Virgil muttered, half under his breath as he released the kid’s hand. “The kind that inevitably mean I need to bail him out of trouble.”

    “What does that mean?”

    Virgil tipped his head up to see both boys staring at him. A burning curiosity shined bright in their eyes as they eagerly waited for him to explain. The exhaustion of trying to answer all the twin’s questions weighed heavy on his shoulders as he slumped back in his chair, looking up over his shoulder as a familiar shadow approached.

    “Yes, dear.” Logan crossed his arms over his chest as he dropped into the chair next to Virgil. The soft look in his soulmate’s eyes carried a certain knowledge that made Virgil’s stomach turn. “Tell us what that means.”

    Virgil’s face flushed as Logan’s silver eyes focused on him. “Remy tends to make a mess of things sometimes.”

     Logan raised a curious eyebrow at him. “And he does this by acquiring certain items in a less than savory manner?”

    “It’s not what you think, Lo.” Virgil’s eyes dropped to the spotted pelt tucked tightly around Logan’s shoulders. “Even on his worst days, he wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

    “Remus and I trust you, Virgil.” Logan’s deep voice kept its usual patient tone as his hand came to rest on Virgil’s knee. “We will continue to err on the side of caution, but there in no ulterior motive behind my questions. Any questions I ask are solely for the purpose of getting to know our guests.”

    “I don’t get it, Vee. Why is Remy sticky?”

    Virgil turned to Emile as the kid prodded at his elbow. The kid had stopped picking at his food to stare up at him, his unblinking gaze enraptured by the small bits of information Virgil was managing to mumble before yawning again. “You’ve met your brother, Em. Everything about him is sticky.”

    “But what—”

    “Just eat your food, kid.” Virgil felt a pang of guilt as he pressed a finger to his temple. He could see disappointment fill Emile’s eyes as the dull ache in his skull started to throb. “Hold your questions until later.”

    “Okay."

    The disappointment was palpable in Emile’s voice as he slipped back in his chair and resumed dejectedly poking at the bits of food on his plate. The sight was enough to make Virgil’s stomach sink. The kid had gotten too used to adults dismissing his needs and spending their energy taking care of Thomas.

    It wasn’t fair.

    “Later, I promise. Once I wake up a little, I've got all kinds of new things to show you.” Virgil leaned forward to rest his elbows on the edge of the table and look into Emile’s eyes. “Hey, do you remember the jeweler down the street from your brother’s house?”

    Emile’s eyes filled with a cautious amount of curiosity as he lifted his head and nodded.

    “They've got gems here as big as your hand.” Virgil felt a wave of warmth as Emile leaned forward in his chair. “And they right out of the ground!”

    “Really?”

    “Yeah,” Virgil smirked as Emile’s hesitation melted into curiosity. “The biggest and shiniest collections of gems you ever did see.”

    “Can we go see them after breakfast?”

    Virgil’s certainty faltered as Logan moved in his periphery. He turned his head to watch the selkie shift his weight in his seat, staring thoughtfully at the kid for a moment before he noticed Virgil watching him. Logan’s eyes softened as he settled in place, reassuring Virgil with a cautious smile as he slowly turned back to Emile.

    “It’ll have to wait, kiddo. I have to talk with Logan before I know if that’ll be okay.”

    Emile blinked slowly. His eyes drifted from Virgil to the selkie next to him. “Are you Logan?”

    “That is correct, young one.”

    Logan's lip curled into a smile he rested his elbows on the table next to Virgil. He waited patiently, a quiet amusement growing in his eyes as he watched the gears begin to turn in the kid’s head. Emile’s eyes flitted to Virgil and back to Logan before dropping his gaze to the pile of vegetables and eggs on his plate.

    “Okay.”

    The kid sank abruptly back into his chair and picked up his fork, metal clinking against metal as he began to shove food his mouth, clearing even the mushy, orange root vegetables Logan hadn’t expected the children to touch. At this point, he added them to Patton’s plate merely as a symbolic attempt to diversify the child’s palette. Seeing Emile clear his plate without a single word was so unexpected, Logan couldn’t help but stare in disbelief.

    “Love, what is happening?”

    “He thinks you'll say yes if he eats it all.”

    Logan blinked as Thomas’ mumbling drew his attention from Emile. He watched the kid shrug as he used his own fork to quarantine his vegetables to the corner of his plate.

    “No, I don’t!”

    “Do too!”

    Virgil sighed as he gestured for Emile to ease back in his seat and stop bickering with his brother. “It doesn’t matter what Logan decides, because Thomas still has to eat his carrots too.”

    Thomas groaned as he crossed his arms across his chest, staring down at the orange mash with disdain. “Just because they're orange doesn’t make them carrots.”

    “I see.” Logan whispered as watched Emile settled back into his chair. He seemed to be considering his words carefully as he leaned closer to speak to the boy. “Emile, may I ask you something?”

    Emile stopped fidgeting with the spoon in his hand before nodding at Logan.

    “What is that you would like to see the most?”

    “The crystal gems.”

    Logan pursed his lips. He had to stifle a chuckle as he addressed the child with a seriousness in his tone. “Come again?”

    “The crystal gems! Like in the pearl store!”

    Blinking slowly, Logan leaned closer his soulmate. “Virgil, explain please.”

    “Pearls of Wisdom was the crystal shop in the lower town, near where they lived.”  Virgil whispered absently as he watched the intense look of focus in Logan’s eyes. He was fascinated by the attention he was giving Emile, speaking with the seriousness of an adult and giving the kid his full attention. “They sold uncut stones and jewelry to the town’s citizens, mostly to working class people but even the nobility had an obsession with their collection.”

    Logan furrowed his brow as he tipped his eyes to Virgil. “Were pearls one of their primary wares?”

    “No. They never had a single pearl in that shop as far as I can tell.”

    “Then, why was their name—”

    “Logan, focus."

    “Right. Thank you, dear.” Logan held up a finger. He still visibly preoccupied with the paradox Virgil had presented to him, but he seemed to force himself to focus. Clearing his throat to hide his smile, Logan’s disarming charisma melted away Emile’s shyness, capturing his attention as he intertwined his fingers in a show of deliberation. “So, Emile. I've considered your request to see the ‘crystal gems’, and given my experience with one particularly willful child, I can recognize you have offered considerable sacrifice in finishing your vegetables."

    Virgil couldn’t help but smirk as Emile waited Logan with bated breath. He was total enraptured with the selkie’s words. Even Thomas had raised his eyes from his plate, watching Logan with a cautious curiosity.

    “I have decided that this is an offering worthy of the reward of being allowed to see the gems.”

    “Yes!”

    “What?!” Thomas’ mouth dropped open. “No way!”

    “Relax, Tommy boy.” Virgil teased at the look of disbelief in Thomas' eyes. “I'm sure you can go too if you finish your food.”

    Thomas' expression fell slightly as he eyed the pile of orange mash in the corner of his plate. “But—”

    “If the texture bothers you, I’ll let it slide.” Virgil offered, feeling a pang of guilt at the sudden wave of relief that washed over the kid’s expression. “but you have to double up on something else. Okay?”

    “Okay!”

    “That’s not fair!” Emile grumbled as Thomas happily served himself another egg and a bit of another dish Virgil didn’t recognize. “I had to finish mine.”

    “You did good, but you know certain textures don’t sit well with Thomas.” Virgil’s tough expression softened as the kid clamped his mouth shut, clearly upset. “But tell you what, Em. Next time you don’t want to eat something, I’ll give you the same deal. Okay?”

    Virgil paused as he extended his hand over to Emile, pinkie extended as he offered the promise. The kid still looked a bit put out as he stared at Virgil’s hand, but his eyes lingered, entirely lured by the thrill of a pinkie promise.

    “Okay.” Emile's reluctance waned quickly as he made his decision. He smiled as he leaned forward to hook his tiny pinkie finger around Virgil and his voice grew bubbly again as he smiled up at Virgil. “Can we go now?”

    “Patience, kiddo.” Virgil smirked at the kid as he spared a glance back at Logan. His soulmate’s eyes had filled with warmth as he watched Virgil’s interaction with Emile. “At least give Thomas a chance to finish his food without choking.”

    “In all fairness, love. We may need to wait a little longer.” Logan's reassuring smile widened as Emile’s face scrunched into a pout. He leaned forward, gently resting a hand on Virgil’s leg as he whispered in his ear. “I do believe your friend will probably require your attention before we bring the boys anywhere.”

    “Remy?”

    Virgil’s heart skipped a beat. His skin tingled as Logan’s thumb stroked his knee in an attempt to soothe his sudden growing anxiety.

    “He's okay, Virgil.”

    A familiar chill crept across Virgil’s hands as he stared at the ground. “Where is he?”

    “Remus is watching over him in the next room.”

    “He’s alone with Remus?”

    “Take a breath, dear.” Logan's eye flitted to the anxiety in Virgil’s eyes. “In our interactions with your friend last night, his instinct was to get defensive with my attempts to reason with him so we decided Remus would be more equipped to handle him should he wake before you.”

    “Logan, he can’t wake up with a stranger.” Virgil tensed to rise out of his seat. “If the boys are gone, he’s going to panic.”

    “I’m sorry, love. I did not intend to give you reason to worry.” Logan’s hand reached to the back of his neck, but Virgil’s eyes were out of focus. His mind raced as he eyed the doorway, but Logan’s voice guided his attention back. “Boys, do you mind if we take a moment in the hall?”

    Virgil was vaguely aware of Thomas and Emile’s nodding in his periphery as Logan’s hand closed around his wrist and his soulmate eased him up out of his seat. “I can’t just leave them.”

    “We are only going into the hallway, dear.” Logan hand curled around Virgil’s waist as he looked back at the twins. “Thomas and Emile will call for us if they need anything. Right?”

    “Yeah.”

    The twins mumbled their affirmations as Virgil looked up at them. He couldn’t deny that they looked like they felt safe, aside from the worried looks they were shooting his way. Not to mention, he doubted Thomas would shy away from asking him to stay if he was truly uncomfortable. Virgil smirked. At some point, maybe Logan’s easy attempts to make people feel at ease would stop surprising him.

    “They are safe.”

    “Fine, I’m coming.” Virgil smirked as he mussed Thomas’ hair. “Seriously though, I’m not going far so yell if you need anything.”

    “We will, Vee.”

    “Thanks, Em.”

    Virgil felt the panic in the chest lull to a distant roar as Logan’s fingers curled around his own and his soulmate pulled him toward the hall. His body felt heavy as they slipped into the tunnel, out of sight of the boys. Everything had happened last night had happened so fast. He’d hardly had a moment to process any of it.

    In the last few weeks, the fog of guilt in his mind had started to lift but finding Remy and the boys on the beach had brought on a whole new wave of conflicting feelings to brew in his mind like a storm. Even the family of selkie’s hadn’t been spared from his rotten luck. They were being forced to be cautious in their own home because of him

    “Whatever self-destructive thoughts your mind is conjuring at the present do not represent the truth of the situation.”

    “How do you know?”

    “You will never be a burden to us, Virgil. Your family is safe with us here and we are happy to make the space to accommodate them.”

    Virgil let out a sigh as they rounded the corner, and they stepped out of sight of the twins. The crushing weight of guilt suddenly felt heavier as he let his façade of strength drop. “How can you be so sure of that?”

    “Forgive me, love. But first, I would like to make an adjustment to the physical positioning of our conversation.”

    “Wha—Hey!”

    A hand gently muffled his surprised yelp as Virgil was lifted off the ground and suddenly found himself perched on Logan’s hips. His legs wrapped automatically around Logan’s thighs as he caught his balance. Heat rushed to his cheeks as Logan turned his body, so Virgil’s back pressed into the wall, supported by his soulmate’s strength as the familiar tingling spread across his body. He had to stop himself from letting out an undignified sound as Logan moved his hands from his lips.

    “Logan, what—”

    “I have noted several details about your mannerisms that have proved useful.” Logan raised a hand to Virgil’s jaw with a gentle smirk. “The first of which is that flustering you is often the quickest way for me to disrupt your mental spiral.”

    “That’s a dirty trick.”

    “In more ways than one.” Logan’s voice chuckled softly as he leaned closer to Virgil’s face. “Focus on my touch and I will lighten the burden of shame you carry, love.”

    “I abandoned them.”

    “You were forced to flee a dangerous situation to survive.” Logan reached a hand to wipe the tears falling from Virgil’s cheek. “You snuck aboard that boat because your employer was ready to sacrifice your life for their illicit businesses. If you had remained where you were, you would have been imprisoned or worse.”

    “Yeah, well. I didn’t try to go back for them either.”

    “You needed time to heal, Virgil. You could not reasonably expect to help them until you had recovered from your injuries.” Logan’s eyes glistened with sympathy as he tucked a loose lock of hair over Virgil’s ear. “And I am not referring solely to your physical ailments. Your mental and emotional well-being needed time to recover as well.”

    “That ship they were on was moving humans, Lo.” Virgil whispered breathlessly as Logan’s forehead rested on his own. “They’re kids, but they would have been separated and sold like animals.”

    “What is important is that they are here now. You can’t worry about what might have happened.”

    “They deserved to be protected.”

    “They will be.”

    Virgil’s hands felt clammy as he lifted his head to look into Logan’s eyes. “But what it they hadn’t landed here? What if—"

    “We can only make the best of what knowledge we have in the moment.” Logan reassured him. “The future is not knowable to us in any certainty.”

    “You don’t understand.”

    “On the contrary, I understand all too well.”

    Virgil lifted his head as he felt a shift in Logan’s voice. His hands fell to Logan’s waist as he tightened the grip of his legs around Logan’s hips. A silence fell over them, but Virgil held his tongue and waited for Logan to explain.

    “I have never said any of this out loud.” Logan’s voice dropped. “So, forgive me if I take my time bring my thoughts together.”

    “Of course, Lo.”

    “You know already that I made the choice to help the woman who stole my pelt. Entirely by chance, we met on the beach during one of the few times of the celestial calendar that selkies are allowed to walk on land inhabited by humans.” Logan took a deep breath as he curled a hand under Virgil’s tailbone and held him close. “She was injured and seemed to need assistance, but my negligence of the rules ultimately changed not only my life but the lives of my family as well.”

    “That’s not your fault, Logan.”

    “I know that now, love.” Logan smiled sadly as he raised a hand to Virgil’s cheek. Their bodies remained deeply intertwined as the line separating their emotions began to blur. “Rest assured, even then, my guilt did not come from that one moment of misjudgment.”

    “Then why—"

    “Ultimately, my guilt was born in the knowledge that I was not the only one who had to live with the consequences of my decision.” Logan swallowed as his thumb absently massaged circles on Virgil’s thigh. “I returned to my pod with a tiny, crying Patton in my arms and neither the energy nor the willpower to care for him properly. Remus and Roman gave up the only home they’d ever known to come and care for us when our pod refused to accept me back.”

    Virgil blinked as he watched the storm of emotions brewing in Logan’s eyes. He couldn’t bring himself to interrupt, but slowly, he raised his hands to wrap around Logan’s neck. His thumb brushed across his partner’s cheek in a gentle show of support as Logan’s tension melted into an appreciative smile.  

    “For our kind, raising a child is a community effort but Roman and Janus took on far more of a role in Patton’s life than I ever would have asked of them.” Logan leaned his face into Virgil’s hand as he took a breath. “The years of abuse I suffered at the hands of that woman may have been a blur in my mind, but my body remembered. For too long, all of my willpower would often be consumed by the effort it took to simply get out of bed, so Janus and Roman raised Patton when I could barely bring myself to look at him.”

    “I’m so sorry, Lo.”

    “I know my reaction sounds awful and unkind, but I was not in a position where I could simply change my thoughts.” Logan whispered with a timid smile, his voice wavering as Virgil stared at him. “Thankfully, through my family’s unconditional love and support, I was never in a position where I would have taken my feelings out on a child. Patton had all the support he could have asked for, and I had a chance to heal and interact with him in small, positive ways until I was feeling more like myself again.”

    Virgil pursed his lips as he glanced back at the door, listening to Thomas and Emile’s voices as they chatted in the other room.

    “I understand the guilt you feel in seeing those two sweet boys.” Logan whispered as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss on Virgil’s forehead. His body lingered close to the warm heat of Virgil’s chest as his smile curled in a look of absolute adoration for his human soulmate. “You overextended yourself and endured mistreatment at the hands of your master to give them a life free from insecurity, but that drive has come at the cost of sacrificing your own needs and desires.”

    “And here I was thinking Janus was supposed to be the mind-reader in your family.”

    An amused chuckle escaped Logan’s throat as he leaned closer to press a sweet, deep kiss to Virgil’s lips. The gentle touch sent pleasant chills down Virgil’s body as his tension melted away. His thighs squeezed around Logan’s hips as Logan leaned into him, pressing him against the wall in a moment of tenderness. The pleasurable sensations tingled across Virgil’s body were dizzying, washing away his anxiety and leaving behind only the warm feeling of their love for each other radiating across their mental connection.

    “You deserve to have the time and space you need to heal, Virgil.” Logan’s breath lingered on Virgil’s lips as he held him tightly. “I understand that you have some matters to resolve with your friend but know that Remus and I want to support you in a way that allows you to have a relationship with them without disregarding yourself in the process.”

    “Thank you, Lo.”

    “Of course, dear.” Logan smiled as he lowered Virgil’s legs to the ground. He took Virgil’s hand from his neck with a soft smile, placing a soft kiss on his forehead before nodding toward the end of the hall. “Your friend in the room at the end of the hall. If you want to go see him, he should be waking up soon.”

    “You’ll keep an eye on them?”

    “Of course. They’re good boys.” Logan whispered with a soft smile. “I can watch them for as long as you need, and Remus will be there to assist with your friend if the need arises.”

    “That sounds good.” Virgil chewed on his lip. “I’m glad one of you will be around anyway.”

    “Virgil, wait.” Logan reached out to catch his arm as he started to turn away. He hesitated a moment as he looked at the tired look in Virgil’s eyes. “You are not afraid this man will hurt you. Are you?”

    “No. Remy’s a hothead, but he’s not the kind of guy to get violent.” Virgil waved away Logan’s concern with a tired smirk. “Even it wasn’t my fault, I left him with two kids and no help, so I’m sure I’m going to get an earful about bailing on him.”

    Logan’s expression softened. “Our hospitality extends to him as well, Virgil. Hopefully with that knowledge, your friend will be able to leave his hurt in the past.”

    “I appreciate it, Lo. More than I can say.”

    Virgil’s face flushed as he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned down the hall. Thomas and Emile’s laughter echoed on the stonewalls as Logan’s footsteps disappeared into the room to settle them. It was strange now. He’d spent so hours worrying about them since landing on this island that knowing they were safe and happy still felt foreign, especially since he still had concerns about the ship they’d been on.

    Remy would know.

    The torchlight flickered as the corridor opened in front of him, and he stopped in front of the next door. A sigh dropped from his lips as he continued into the room. He’d have to ask if Remy, if he would even let him get a word in edgewise.

---

General Taglist:

@justanotherhumanstuff @im-an-anxious-wreck

The Stowaway’s Heart Taglist:

@alias290 @kieraelieson @evoodo123 @dndnerd1609 @lovesupernova25 @minninugget @the-spiral-sun @rachetssearch @twilight-trix @evelyn-nova @sluggerbot-2-5 @arsenicdragon @inferiorfilth @bluerosesbleedred @maybedefinitely404 @itawalrus @judyismydog @im-actually-ok @monkeythefander @hope340 @thathopper @demon9980 @simplestoryteller @moondustfroggo @lonelyanxiousmess

#sanders sides #ts #tss #ts sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides fic #sanders sides fanfic #ts virgil #virgil sanders #ts logan #logan sanders #c!thomas #kid!thomas #Emile Picani #ts emile #kid!emile #analogical #intrulogical #dukexiety #anaintrulogical #The Stowaway's Heart #villain writes

[who-always-pays-their-taxes]

“Bruce Wayne is actually a really good father and all his children are just like that” is actually my favorite flavor of batfam

#dcu #batfam #batfamily #bat kids #okay all (kinda) their names #ready set go #dick grayson #cassandra cain #cassandra wayne #jason todd #tim drake #duke thomas #damian wayne #damian al ghul #goood enough #batman #bruce wayne #gotham

[redsray]

I love the idea of the Wayne kids dropping extremely vague and disturbing comments during galas. Especially when in uncomfortable situations or if they're just bored. They pull out things from their nightlife too. Other times they just make shit up.

Socialite: Oh, dear, your cheeks look so sullen! Who sucked the life out of you?

Tim, dead serious: An old man with a goatee.

Socialite: Uh... what?

Dick: Once I broke my knee so badly that I swear I could see part of the bone sticking out.

Socialite: Good lord. How on earth did that happen?

Dick: Just clumsy gymnast things ^^

Socialite: The white streak is certainly a bold fashion choice.

Jason: I saw someone get decapitated once, so I could be doing worse in terms of what's on my head, yknow? At least I have one.

Socialite: What's your favourite colour, sweetie?

Damian: Red.

Socialite: Oh that's lovely!

Damian: Like the blood of my enemies.

Socialite: Oh.

Socialite: You must be new to these kind of events.

Duke: Uh, yeah, they're kind of scary. But I've had worse.

Socialite: Worse.

Duke: Well I've been left on top of a skyscraper before with no way down just to 'get over my fear of heights' so, yes.

Socialite: You don't talk very loud, do you? I can barely hear you.

Cass, with a straight face: If I spoke any louder every glass in the room would shatter.

Tim, behind her: I can vouch.

#batfam #batman #cassandra cain #damian wayne #dc comics #dick grayson #duke thomas #jason todd #tim drake #they make bets on who can freak out the most stuck up socialites #its a very fun game for them #bruce just lets it happen #he secretly finds it funny #sometimes even plays along #socialite: so how did you end up with so many kids? #bruce: they were brought to me by an alien

[pinkiemachine]

Everyone say: FAMILY VACATION!!!

#fan art #art #dc #funny #dc comics #batman #bat family #fan comic #bat brothers #bat sisters #bat siblings #bat kids #Bruce wayne #dick grayson #Nightwing #Jason todd #red hood #tim drake #red robin #Damian wayne #robin #duke thomas #the signal #Cassandra cain #batgirl #Barbara gordon #oracle #Stephane brown #spoiler #alfred Pennyworth

[thedevilundercover]

I was thinking (shocking, I know) and I think the bat kids should have a little auction/market amongst themselves but for like stolen clothing

Like every three months they congregate in a fucking walmart parking lot (bc there’s way too much of them) at 3 am and they trade favours and stolen clothing for funsies.

There are some rules though like; It’s a strictly bat kid thing, no one else is allowed and the clothes must be of family members and family adjacents

Jason and Bruce’s clothes are always in demand bc theyre so fucking big.

*ehem* now here is my rendition of what would happen in one of these auction.

Tim: I’ll take the B/P route for a week if you give me your purple sweatshirt

Steph: Nuh uh 2 weeks or nothing

Dick: ✨guess what I got✨

every Bat kid looking at him, knowing what he was going to take out

Batkids, in synch: show us

Dick, pulling out one of Bruce’s oversized sweaters:

The whole group excluding Dick: Ỉ̸̝̱̪̞̃̅̔̂͜͝ ̸̞͑̊w̸̡̱̙̫̱̯̲̅̈́ȃ̴͖͎̠͔͇͊̂̚n̶̡̧̜͉͙̝̜͑̍t̵̺̭͍̪͛̐̈́ͅ ̸̹͓̳̂̓̇i̵̢̪̰̻̤̎̈̓ͅt̵̜̳̝͘

#The glitchy text says “I want it” #tim drake #jason todd #bruce wayne #dick grayson #damian wayne #stephanie brown #cassandra cain #dc robin #batfam #batman #dcu #duke thomas #bat kids

[februarys-wednesday]

i like the idea that bruce just shows up to league meetings with his birds with absolutely no explanation offered

i mean this man frequently stalks his coworkers and knows everything that's happening in their personal lives and i think he'd forget that HE is the weird one for doing it and not everybody automatically knows when he's acquired a new child

so he just shows up at the watchtower with a new bird and literally says nothing about it . just sits at his chair with the latest robin standing next to him and literally doesn't acknowledge that anything is different and it gets even more confusing when they change their costumes and names 😭

like

20-something bruce: and containing this may be a matter of-flash did you have a question

barry: uh. yeah. sorry, what is that?

20-something bruce: (glancing at 9 yr old dick who has been next to him for 45 minutes) that's robin. obviously. as i was saying,

-

early 30s bruce, who hasn't shown up with a robin for a few years, entering with a nightwing and a jason todd robin:

barry:

diana:

hal:

j'onn:

bruce: what.

hal:

hal: do you like clone them or

-

mid 30s bruce, quietly talking with a clearly-not-sixteen-years-old robin in the corner after being without one for two years:

hal:

diana:

barry:

j'onn:

clark:

bruce:

tim:

bruce: this one followed me

-

late 30s bruce zeta-beaming in with a nightwing, a slightly older robin, and an absolutely BUILT man in a red hood:

barry: did you hire a bodyguard

bruce: no.

barry: whos mr red over there

bruce: you don't remember my second one???

barry:

hal:

diana:

j'onn:

clark:

barry: did. did that one not die

jason: got better

-

later 30s bruce, quietly showing around a blonde robin:

hal:

bruce: don't ask.

hal: i didn't say anything

-

40 yr old bruce, making intense, unbroken eye contact with a black shadow:

clark, leaning over to talk to tim: what are they doing

tim, not looking up from his fancy ipad: do i look like i know that

-

red robin popping in unnanounced in the middle of a league meeting: batman is alive.

barry: who the FUCK are you???

-

batman, some minutes later, trailed by what is CLEARLY a new robin: did red robin happen to pass through here????

barry: i have several questions

-

no-longer-lost-in-the-time-stream bruce, talking to batgirl, black bat, and the signal:

hal: did you get three more.

bruce: no. just one.

hal: i shouldn't have asked, my bad

-

mid 40s bruce wayne, stepping out of the zeta tube: sorry i'm late

diana: not to worry. let's get start-

bruce: i have a few more coming behind me

zeta tube: 🌀🌀🌀

jason: hi

cass: 👋

diana:

diana: ok should we st-

zeta tube: 🌀🌀🌀

dick, holding damian like a scowling, sopping wet cat: bruce he's not feeling polite today

damian: HISSS

bruce: okay does he need to go back?

dick: he said he's fine but hes just not feeling polite

diana:

diana: is that the las-

zeta tube: 🌀🌀🌀

steph: b i need a hair tie

diana:

diana: so can-

zeta tube: 🌀🌀🌀

duke: b did i miss rolecall

diana: no, signal, you did not. let's-

zeta tube: 🌀🌀🌀

tim: b alf is mad at you

bruce: why

hal: it's like a fucking clown car

steph: you didn't eat breakfast

tim: you didn't eat breakfast either

steph: shut.

damian: HISSSS

jason: wing. if you do not keep that brat quiet-

dick: hes a BABY!!!!!

duke: you didn't eat breakfast either, timothy

jason: hes a BITCH!!!!!

tim: who the fuck told you????

cass: :)

hal: (storming off, in tears), YOU HAVE TOO MANY CHILDREN.

#got carried away with this but the idea that the jl cannot keep track of all the fucking kids bruce has is so funny to me #dc #batman #batfamily #bruce wayne #batfam #nightwing #robin #dick grayson #red robin #red hood #tim drake #cass cain #jason todd #stephanie brown #damian wayne #duke thomas #spoiler #batgirl #the spoiler #justice league #batkids #elle's original content

[thief-of-eggs]

Cass doesn’t look, she glares

Tim doesn’t smile, he grimaces.

Damian doesn’t speak, he growls.

Jason doesn’t raise his voice, he screams.

Duke doesn’t watch, he scrutinizes.

Dick doesn’t smooth talk, he manipulates.

Steph doesn’t laugh, she cackles. Manically.

Bruce’s children are a little damaged, a little odd. If not in big ways, then in the smallest of ways that so clearly sets them apart from everyone else. Their line of work demands it, their breeding encourages it.

It’s just how they were made. Once they’ve been touched by the shadows of Gotham, it never leaves their veins.

It’s in their blood now. It’s seen in their eyes, their smiles. The twitch of their face, the narrowing of their gaze.

Gotham’s embrace never lets you go.

#sorry but i love when the kids are not alright #batman #batfam #batfamily #dick grayson #duke thomas #jason todd #damian wayne #cassandra cain #tim drake #batfam hcs #the batfamily #stephanie brown #dc

[scarletlunarosa]

Batman and his gremlin children

Batman: It's a child safety tether.

#bfkcarts #chibi #batman #bruce wayne #Nightwing #dick grayson #jason todd #red hood #red robin #tim drake #robin #damian wayne #orphan #cassandra cain #spoiler #stephanie brown #signal #duke thomas #dc comics #bat kids

[mikeluciraphgabe]

Superman: That is a child *pointing to feral and angry Robin!Dick with wide eyes*

Bruce, tired: ya, and?

Superman: Y-you can let a child fight crime Batman. Come on now.

Bruce, shot gunning a Red Bull: if you think you can talk him out of it, go right ahead

#listen y’all #Bruce doesn’t want his kids fighting crime #in fact #if ANY of them went ‘I’m becoming a civilian’ that would be his new fav #he’d be on the table throwing it back in joy #Batman #Bruce Wayne #Clark kent #Superman #dick Grayson #Robin #batman and robin #Jason Todd #Damian Wayne #Duke Thomas #Tim Drake #cassandra cain

[iguessthisisanewobsession]

A Catfish??

All of the bat children are horrified when they found out the boy Damian has been talking online, someone they were expecting to be a 5’3 twig. Someone who Damian has been crushing on for years turned out to be a 6’3 muscle-bound fucker that makes Jason look small.

They are even more horrified when they realized they never gave Damian the internet talk and for some reason Bruce is not reacting like this is something of concern and what the fuck-?!

The reason Bruce is not freaking out like the rest of his kids is quite simple.

He can see the last of the baby fat clinging to Danny’s face, he notices how even though Danny is a walking tank of a being, he still glances at the doorways like they could not be trusted.

Like he wasn’t used to his height.

No Bruce is not concerned, because all signs and research just points to one fact.

Danny Fenton has came into a Fenton-sized growth spurt.

#now Bruce could clear up the confusion #but the kids did take the Batmobile out on a joyride a week ago #so this can just be a test on their reasoning under familial circumstances #like Bruce did not go out of his way to vet his youngest son’s first crush #dp x dc #writing prompt #danny fenton #danny phantom #dc x dp #jason todd #batman #shipping #dick grayson #tim drake #duke thomas #Cass knows of course #she’s not going to tell #same with babs #Danny a couple months before his visit: Doors suddenly hate me Dami :n; #Damian short king Wayne who likes to be picked up even if he never admits to it #damian: tragic. #the kids saw one photo of Dan and Danny and connected some dots that were never there #dead serious #writting prompt

[weewoow-20706030]

I think it's funny to think that Damian is one of the last guesses when people get asked which is Bruce's bio kids.

Like- only gothamites know which is the bio kid. Think about it, a gothamite asks someone from metropolis who is the bio son of this tall white man with straight black hair and blue eyes, very muscular figure. It's either:

Slightly tan guy with blue eyes and black hair with a slight wave. Who is tall and lean.

White man with black hair and green eyes, built like a tank and towering over most.

White man with straight black hair and blue eyes, and short.

A black kid.

A Chinese girl.

A boy with brown skin, black hair and green eyes.

#I hc that Tim and Bruce look very much aloke #and I think thats really funny #but bruce has a type when it comes to robins #Damian is- like- second to last #just before Duke #or cass depending on the person #but I think its funny to think about #three of his kids look more like Bruce than his bio kid #anywayssss #batfam #dc #batfamily #batfamily shenanigans #bruce wayne #damian wayne #tim drake #jason todd #dick grayson #duke thomas #cassandra cain

[flamingpudding]

Message to the past

Was one nice family dinner in the Wayne Family really possible? Jason was starting to think it wasn't. The evening started out so well, for once he did not have any sort of beef with Bruce for the moment. He got to spend time with Alfred preparing the dinner. Neither Demon Brat nor Pretender were at each other's throats because of a case yet and there was no argument about to happen with Dickie either and he didn't feel like avoiding Bruce. Did he mention he didn't feel like leaving the Manor at the first sight of his old man?

Everything felt like it was gearing up to be a nice and well deserved family dinner with all his siblings being in one space for once.

That was until a Lazarus Green portal opened and a fucking silver green tin can smack dab hit him square in the face. Causing him to fall backwards in his chair and hitting his head painfully on the floor. Why didn't they have carpet in the dinner room again? Oh right, someone -one of his siblings- got mud all over it after patrol and Alfred decided the dinner room didn't need it anymore.

Once the first shock of what had just happened passed. They got to inspect the tin can and found a letter inside it.

Dear future Dad,

Gramps Clockwork spoilered that there is a mess up in the timeline because of the speedsters and I can fix it like this, which is why I am writing this. Please pick me up in the attached location marked on the map. My current self is in need of saving and I honestly would like to spare myself at least a little of the trauma that's about to happen.

Also please bring some explosives. You always regretted not blowing up a corupted govermental facility, so here is your chance of doing so! Be proud, though. I blew up a bunch of them in the future, with supervision, of course, from my uncles and aunts, so great grandpa wouldn't worry.

Please pick me up? Thanks if you do!

Your future adopted son.

PS: please ignore any complains my current self might have. I was in server need of a real parental figure and as you like to say as stubborn as grandpa.

PSS: also please stop antagonizing grandpa about my adoption. It's bad enough that you had to fight him over it in the first place.

PSSS: please bring great grandpa's cookies, I beg you please! I swear I will do all my schoolwork and be a straight A student if you do!

The girls of the family started to pout while the boys exchanged glances. Jason narrowed his eyes at his brothers. There was a silent argument happening and Bruce was watching them all also.

But if there was one thing Jason was sure about. It was that the tin can smacked him in the face. Which meant the letter was his and the time shenanigans arson kid with sass was going to be his kid. His brothers AND Bruce can fight him over that.

Like the kid has said in his letter.

#dp x dc #danny fenton #jason todd #bruce wayne #dick grayson #damian wayne #duke thomas #cassandra cain #tim drake #danny phantom #dpxdc #crossover #dcxdp #fanfic #danny wrote a letter to the past #asking his future dad to come save him #jason is set on getting the arson kid #he will fight bruce over it #a kid thats willing enough to mess with time and blows up corrupt goverment buildings? #that just screams red hood junior #tho some of his brothers might fight him over it #maybe cass will too anyway #just because the letter was adressed to a dad didnt mean she couldn't fight for the kid too #let the adoption battle begin #clockwork got the popcorn ready to watch the chaos unfold #can be kind of crackish i think...

[redsray]

I love the hc that Tim never really stopped taking pictures of heroes and vigilantes even after he became Robin. Not even out of hero worship or anything-- he just found it fun. In fact, being Robin just made this hobby easier to do. He has them separated in folders and definitely has blackmail photos included.

The first time Tim met the Justice League one of his first reactions was to sneakily take at least one picture of each of them. Clark vaguely heard a camera shutter but he could never find any cameras or camera owners.

Sometimes Bruce comes to him and asks for specific pictures of members of the JL doing things they shouldn't be doing i.e Barry ditching a meeting cause he was eating Chipotle in the Watchtower kitchen. No one knows how Bruce gets the pictures except for the other Batfam members.

Tim is the god of blackmail right behind Babs. You need older blackmail or videos? Go to Babs. But Good quality blackmail photos? Tim is your guy.

He has at least 4 folders full of pictures of Dick specifically. One for his time as Robin, one for Nightwing, one for Discowing and one for just Dick.

He also manages to have pictures he definitely should not have because how did you get into the cave before you were Robin, Tim, but he refuses to elaborate on those. i.e Robin Jason out of costume, cozily reading at the batcomputer ("seriously, Tim, that's creepy"), Dick when he first adopted Haley ("were you there when I rescued her?!"), Damian training with the League of Assassins ("how the hell did you get that"), Duke back during the We Are Robin movement ("I do not remember you pulling out any cameras what the hell")

#tim drake #batfam #batman #red robin #hes a little stalker #let him be one #creepy kid #i love him #jason todd #dick grayson #duke thomas #if you hear a camera shutter in the corner of your room ignore it its just tim #-bruce #jl: what is that in the corner #bruce: red robin just ignore him he likes his pictures

[sepia-stained-sunset]

Bruce, in denial: I'm so proud of you, my three most well behaved children

Dick, Duke and Tim, busy tying an anchor to Joker to dump him into Gotham Bay: Mmhmm

#Jason Damian and Steph are more dramatically chaotic #tim drake #duke thomas #dick grayson #bruce wayne #incorrect bruce wayne quotes #his kids are feral #batkids #batfam shenanigans

[thedevilundercover]

Tim Drake de-aging fic but everyone is just kind blown how that little monster is the Timothy Jackson Drake that they know.

He’s not even a gremlin, he’s just mean and knows a little too much about stuff than the usual rich brat.

Damian: tsk, you’re such a disgrace the Wayne name.

Tiny!Tim: yeah? And your mother should have swallowed, but we’re both here aren’t we?

or

Jason, thinking he could bully smol Timmy: you stopped so low that you replaced a dead boy! *emo edge lord noises*

Baby!Tim, having learned new slang words via duke and Steph who think this whole thing is hilarious: have you ever thought about just getting better?

Jason: ex-fucking-cuse me?

Tim, shrugging: dying really is just a skill issue ngl

it would be even more funny if he was like this only to Damian and Jason so everyone thinks Tim is such a smart, adorable little boy but the two of them are screaming at Dick and Bruce to get that fucking demonic child exorcised

#tim drake #He deserves to be a little asshole #De-aged Tim drake #kid tim drake #unhinged tim drake #Damian Wayne #jason todd #bruce wayne #dick grayson #red robin #batfam #tim drake is a menace #tim drake headcanon #incorrect dc quotes #stephanie brown #duke thomas

[manufactured-pleasantry]

Duke: Bruce hasn't slept for three days now and Alfred is about to whip out his special tea Dick: Wait. Let me try something first. Guys? Plan zeta omega dash grass is about to commence Jason: No, not Plan zeta omega dash grass! Duke: What's Plan zeta omega dash grass?! Dick, whispers in Duke's ear: Watch and follow Tim: Dad Cass: Dad Bruce, flinching: ? Jason: Dad Damian: Dad Dick: Dad Duke: D-dad Bruce, flinching intensifies: ?! Batkids in unison: We love you, Dad Bruce, brain short circuiting: !!!??!?!?!?!?!!? Dick, to Duke: Whenever one of us calls Bruce 'dad' his brain stutters for a moment so I figured all of us doing it would short circuit it. Evidently, it worked too well. He hasn't even realised that he's been tucked into bed.

#bruce wayne #batfam #batdad #dick grayson #jason todd #tim drake #cassandra wayne #damian wayne #duke thomas #bruce's brain simply cannot process affection 😔 #calling bruce dad is something to be weaponized and the kids do and will use it against him #incorrect batfamily quotes