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Today's Document
Discoholic 🪩
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@blue-jay-redhood
About Me
I'm Jay or Red Hood. Gotham born and raised. Kinda Jesus I guess? In the whole dying and rising way. 25 kinda. Latino and bilingual. Bi if that matters.
I used to think being Robin made me magic. But I think maybe I was the magic?
Complex feelings toward my family. But I guess I love them?
I have a really cute black kitten named Hamza ♡ he's an angel.
Anyway, this is me. I hope that's enough
Face Claim:
Lunay
Voice Claim:
Oscar Isaac
Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Zeke loved making Jason blush, his darling was so cute. He didn't get to admire the way his sweetheart turned pink for long, because he was drawn into a slow, indulgent kiss that had his eyes fluttering closed with a muffled groan. His arms slid from around his beloved's neck, slipping down to wrap around that absolutely sinful waist as Jason climbed into his lap.
Were his clothes now damp?
Yes.
Did he care?
Hell no.
There were far higher priorities currently, like focusing on why his lover was crying, the sob made his heart squeeze painfully. Zeke wanted to soothe every hurt, every ache, both physical and emotional. It was impossible to deny the kisses that followed, face flushing as their make-out grew louder. They were still in Jason's family home. Sure, the others had stepped away to 'give them a moment' but how much longer until someone barged in on them?
Damnit.
Was he into that?
He hadn't thought he was into that?
Fuck.
He might be into that.
"Baby…" His voice was a gentle murmur as his darling finally ended his assault of kisses by burying his face against his neck. Zeke's hands had started rubbing gentle circles against Jason's lower back, beneath those glorious wings that blanketed them in semi-privacy. He felt the way his lover shook beneath his hands and he wished so badly that there were a different reason for the shaking. Soft kisses were pressed into his beloved's dark hair. He didn't rush Jason to speak further, simply held him until he was ready.
When Jason leaned back, Zeke searched his face in the brief moments before he was graced with that smile, and he knew that he would kill or die for that smile. He kept one arm around his darling's waist while raising the other until he was tenderly cradling his mate's jaw, thumb tracing so very gently beneath one teary eye.
Zeke couldn't stop the way his eyes dilated at the assertion that Jason would let him do anything he wanted to him. Should he be ashamed of all the things he wanted to do to this man? He forced himself to focus only on his darling and his words, not the myriad of thoughts swirling in the back of his mind.
Something in his chest cracked open a little at how much trust Jason had in him. He was not a good person. Fools trusted him. Zeke had manipulated, tortured, murdered - no one should trust him. Yes, he wanted to earn the trust of Jason's family, because it would mean something to his mate and because he had been so achingly lonely for a long time and wanted a family. His motivations were selfish.
"You are my greatest consideration - I would never hurt you on purpose." Zeke was taking Jason into every consideration he was making regarding his future. That was the only option, he felt that to the depths of his soul.
He made an almost wounded sound at what his beloved said next, or more how he said it. Zeke pulled Jason closer, readjusting himself slightly as he felt the way their bodies pressed together, his arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect his soulmate from his own words even as they made his own chest constrict painfully. Earlier he had been absolutely petrified that he would lose Jason, his beloved's screams had been agony. He understood exactly what he meant. The idea of never waking up in his mate's arms again would have broken him if Jason were not alive and sobbing in his arms.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Zeke exhaled shakily.
"You won't die, not without me. I won't allow it. I would fight Death itself if I had to." And he meant it.
Cool hands reached up to sweetly cup Jason's face as he sniffled and once again looked up to him, speaking in ways that had him near insane, heart skipping and thundering. His darling would be the death of him. Especially when he turned that voice so sickly sweet.
Irresistible.
Not that he wanted to resist.
"Oh mi alma, you have no idea how badly I want to take you." Zeke leaned in to press a deceptively sweet kiss against Jason's mouth before sucking and nipping at his bottom lip. His eyes were hooded and he gave a gentle buck of his hips, sure that his beloved could feel how wanted he was.
In every way.
"My sanctum will forever and always be open to you, mi tesoro, but you are my home. So let's get you dressed for this comfort meal, hmm?" The shadows gathered and swirled around them both, when they dispersed again Zeke's clothing was dry, as was Jason. A pair of black leather pants hugged Jason's thighs, hips, and ass in just the right way. A silky sleeveless top of deep crimson hugged his muscled torso, although calling it a top might be generous. Golden rings sat at the shoulders holding the front to a back that dipped almost to Jason's ass together, golden chains above and below the wing joints keeping it from sliding off, while giving his wings free movement, likewise the sides were kept together with more golden chains.
The black leather boots were sleek and slightly heeled, designed for both comfort and elegance. Golden bracelets were stacked at Jason's wrists and more golden chains hung down his chest. He wanted his beloved to look stunning and feel as gorgeous as he was with those enchanting wings on full display.
Zeke would have started drooling if he weren't careful, he had to swallow thickly, staring down at his beloved in his lap. A flush crept down his neck and up to the tips of his ears, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.
"Do you like it? I can change anything that isn't to your liking." He gently encouraged Jason to go see himself in one of the mirrors.
Jason couldn't help but press his face into Zeke's hands as his cheeks were cradled and wiped free of tears, a gasp rushing out of him as Zeke bucked up into him, letting him feel how much he wanted Jason, the simmer of pure want thrumming through the bond so much that Jason could taste it.
Zeke's reassurance came easily as it always did. He was so good with words. And Jason lived for it. For the way his sentences always felt woven with intention.
You are my home.
Jason's blush would be permanent if Zeke kept it up.
His eyes softened with pure adoration, head tilting- showing off his feline ears and shoulders relaxing visibly, wings dropping from their protective cacoon stance and into something more akin to a cape, the tips of his feathers brushing the ground.
And then Zeke was dressing him with magic.
Like a fucking fairy godmother.
Jason really was a princess now.
Zeke definitely had different taste than Jason did- but that wasn't a bad thing. The clothing was actually comfortable, for one. And when Zeke lead him to the mirror he gasped at his own reflection.
"Woah," he breathed.
He did look hot.
Was this how Zeke pictured him? Had Zeke always know Jason could look like this?
He swallowed, nodding silently and meeting Zeke's shy lilac gaze through the mirror.
"I like it… I like it a lot, actually. I hope it's what you imagined in your head when you chose it for me," he admitted softly, eyes flitting between himself and Zeke- a bit shy himself. "I… I've never been ugly- I mean I've always known I have… an appeal to people. But… I have always wished I could be… pretty." He met Zeke's eyes again, but turned to take his hands. "I do now. With you. Because of you," he whispered, leaning into to kiss him chastly, pulling away just as his stomach growled.
He smirked, "Guess I'm hungrier than I thought."
He tugged Zeke's hand and lead him out of the bathroom and up the stairs to the main house, opening the Grandfather clock in Bruce's study and leading him down the winding halls of his… other home.
There were recent family portraits updated to have all current members and some that were just of Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Cass. Dick and Damian had also insisted on each having their own photos with Jason after Tim had stated wanting a photo or two of just him and Bruce. They hadn't known it was an option. Jason had retaliated by demanding photos of himself with Stephanie and Duke who had their own photos with Cass and Tim. Alfred had been bullied into his own photos with them all as well. Barbara had also called dibs on Jason and Cass for her own photos. There were more along the way with more people- friends and chosen family alike. Dick and Kori's wedding photos that Bruce made professional copies of. The Justice League in civvies at the Christmas party the year before... But…
Bruce in his recent years had slowly let himself have things of joy. And once Jason had come back- not just to life, but to the family- he had been less inclined to take any of it for granted.
He hoped one day that Zeke would be in a portrait with him. The thought was brief but now that he had plans to purchase his own home he let the seed of it take root and fill his heart with longing for a future with the man whose hand fit so perfectly in his own.
Jason lead them down a grand staircase and through to the dining room, where the rest of the family was just settling in.
Jason pulled a seat out for Zeke, pushing his chair in silently before sitting down next to Bruce and across from Dick.
"Alfred made spaghetti and meatballs," Tim said from Dick's other side, grabbing a breadstick for his own plate.
Alfred had also made a salad and a vegetarian sauce for Damian's pasta.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the hall and Duke trudged in. "I smelled food."
There had been a plate set for him already and he dropped into his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Did I miss anything?"
Then he blinked. "Um… Jason has wings. And cat boy ears. Are we just gonna-"
Steph answered him nonchalantly from where she sat next to Zeke, piling food onto her plate and passing Cass an extra breadstick. "He almost died and then turned into a kitty boy angel. His boyfriend also turned into a super hot demon-"
"So cute!" Cass said.
Duke looked around the table and then shrugged. "Glad you're not dead. Barbara left?"
"She did. She's reviewing footage of the incident still. She asked to be sent a plate," Bruce said, trying and failing not to stare at Jason's wings. Something about the sight of them made his own back ache in ways he couldn't explain.
"A Tupperware has already been set aside, Master Bruce,"Alfred said, pouring water into his cup.
"Hn. Thank you, Alfred."
Damian nodded toward Jason. "How are you feeling?"
Jason smiled, filling Zeke's plate and then his own.
"Better than ever," he said.
It was true.
Now that the initial pain had passed there was a rightness settling in his spirit. And he had his family and he had Zeke. And his life was his and it was good.
He stabbed his fork into a meatball and brought it to his mouth, humming happily at the taste. He loved good food.
"We wont be staying long, though. I've kidnapped Zeke long enough and I'm taking him home after this."
Bruce frowned a little but nodded. "Fine. But if you need anything-"
Jason waved him off. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. If something is wrong you'll be the first to know. Promise." He turned his head toward Zeke, eyes softening. "I'm in good hands anyway."
Dick made a gagging sound. "I'm trying to eat, Little Wing."
Jason was the perfect picture of innocence. "What ever do you mean, brother dear? I'm a literal angel."
Bruce's shoulders shook with laughter. "I agree. And so was the Devil."
Jason gasped, holding a hand to his chest, scandalized. "Hey!"
Laughter filled the room and it seemed that everything would be alright.
Jason scooter closer to Zeke, pressing their thighs together, just to have some contact as he continued to eat.
"So good," he murmured.
Standing to the side, watching his beloved take in the new outfit, Zeke felt a deep sense of satisfaction at the positive response. He knew that this wasn't any style that he'd seen on Jason thus far, but his experience with his darling's fashion sense was woefully small. This had been a simple testing of the waters, in something he thought would make his lover feel as stunning as he looked. His nerves melted away as Jason turned to take his hands and explain how he had always wanted to feel pretty.
"I've thought you were pretty since the moment I laid eyes on you, baby." Zeke squeezed his darling's hands reassuringly as a chaste kiss was placed on his lips. A part of him selfishly wished that he could keep his beloved all to himself for a bit longer, but the sooner they joined the rest of the family for a comfort meal, the sooner they could excuse themselves to the privacy of the sanctum.
Zeke consoled himself with that as he was pulled from the sanctuary of the spa, hand holding firmly to his lover's as he was lead out of the cave and through the grandiose Wayne Manor. As much as he enjoyed the way Jason's silky top and delicate gold chains moved against that lovely skin - now healed from all the marks that he'd previously left - Zeke's instinct made him inspect his surroundings, taking note of the volume of photos and their contents.
It was a plethora of family portraits.
That was a complicated tangle of emotions. Of course he was glad that his soulmate had a clearly tight-knit family. Of course he was. It just made him wonder if his portrait still hung from the wall next to his demons. They must have taken thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of photos with and of him during his time in Hell - Asmo especially was fond of snapping dozens at every opportunity. Did they keep any of them? Were any still displayed? Had they been shoved in a box in the attic to be forgotten? His chest tightened painfully at the uncertainty.
How terrible was the thought of the only family he had known to choose to forget him?
Dwelling on it would only bring down the mood, and Zeke refused to allow that. He could not know for certain, so speculation was pointless. Jason's hand was warm and comforting in his own and he turned focus onto that as they made their way down a grand staircase. Against all odds, he was alive and had found his soul entwined with someone lovelier than his wildest imaginings. There was nothing he could do about the families he had lost, except to seize this opportunity to build a new one.
When they entered the lively dining room, he allowed himself to feel the gentle warmth that rose to his cheeks as Jason pulled a chair out for him. The sweet, gentlemanly little things that his mate did seemingly without a second thought never failed to fluster him.
Zeke had thought he would hate someone being able to fluster and affect him so easily. Especially since he had never been easy to fluster before Jason. Instead of annoyance he felt warmth and happiness.
It made him feel taken care of - a feeling he hadn't truly felt in a long time.
Shortly after getting seated, Duke appeared looking very much as if he had only just woken up. Which he likely had. Zeke barely suppressed a snort at the question. Had he missed anything? It was humorous, how well Duke rolled with the fact that Jason was suddenly sporting wings and feline ears. Stephanie gave a very succinct recap.
Although he could have done without her commentary on his appearance as a demon, the tips of his ears turning pink as Cass chimed in with her own opinion on his demon form. All that aside, he braced himself for his beloved's denial of his title as boyfriend, but this time it never came.
Instead the conversation simply moved on seamlessly. Zeke felt himself shrink slightly in his chair at the mention of reviewing video of the incident. Regardless of what the girls said of his appearance, all he could feel was embarrassment and shame over it. He had lost control. The demon coming out in that warehouse was not a good thing. At the time Zeke couldn't bother to think that they would all likely see what the darkness in him wouldn't hesitate to do when provoked, but now he wished he could hide that part of himself from them.
Thankfully Damian brought the focus back to Jason, and Zeke sat up straighter to pay attention to how his darling was feeling. His heart did that traitorous little flutter again as his mate filled his plate for him.
"Thank you, baby." He murmured shyly as he picked up his fork, twirling the pasta around until he could take a clean bite, refusing to slurp messily. Zeke had barely chewed and swallowed his first bite before his beloved mentioned they wouldn't be staying long. "Kidnapped is a strong word," he muttered as he used a fork to cut a meatball into quarters for easily managed bites.
Zeke paused, glancing to his mate with a blush when he said he'd be in good hands. It made him happy that Jason thought so. Taking care of him, protecting him - and getting the same in return - was his deepest desire.
The tenderness of the moment was broken by Dick's dramatic gagging and Zeke found himself nearly snorting around a mouthful of spaghetti at the banter that ensued.
I missed this.
For a few moments his mind was in a different time and place, universes apart. Flickering memories of his seven demons around the dining table in the House of Lamentation, bickering and teasing each other, laughter and indignation in equal measure - even the occasional chase or food fight breaking out. Lucifer scolding them all if they got too rowdy.
It was the warmth of Jason's thigh pressing against his own that brought Zeke's mind back to the present, and he blinked his eyes rapidly as he settled back into the moment. The memories were a bittersweet ache in his chest, but it wasn't a crippling wave of homesickness as it once was in years past.
This day and night had to count as emotional whiplash. There had been so many emotions in such a huge range. As much as he was pleased he got to meet Jason's family he couldn't wait until they could retreat to the sanctum. He wanted to drown in good feelings and physical comfort with his soulmate. It was realistically such a short time that they had met and spent together, but at the same time it felt like he'd been waiting forever to claim and be claimed.
Speaking of claiming…
Back at the sanctum shadows crept from their dark corners and set to work. Zeke wanted everything to be ready for their arrival once they finished their meal and said their goodbyes. To that end he made sure to eat both as politely and as quickly as possible. The spaghetti was quite good, and he needed to replenish the energy he had expended during their hunt - he was planning to need it.
Dinner proceeded pleasantly and Jay basked in the presence of his family and Zeke sharing space around him. It kept a hopeful smile on his face for the next hour until he saw fit to excuse them from the table.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, rubbing his belly, eyes shaped like crescents from the pleased grin on his face.
Duke snorted fondly. "Big back."
Jason shrugged. "Guilty. Besides it was really good."
"I'm pleased to hear that as always, Master Jason," Alfred said as he cleared the plates of those who had finished their meals. "Remain seated so that I may bring a Tupperware with dessert to go."
Dick frowned. "Why can't they just eat it here- ow!"
Tim had flicked him on the head, jerking his head toward Zeke and Dick's eyes widened in horror when he realized. He was just about to open his mouth again to protest his little brother being defiled (though he was far from a virgin) when Bruce cleared his throat in warning.
"B-But- B! He- they- " he sputtered helplessly.
"Are adults," Bruce finished for him, shooting them a 1000 megawatt smile. "Please, as soon as Alfred comes back- leave. I would rather you not fornicate in my house. Thanks."
Bruce had not missed the way Jason was dressed and he knew his son didn't tend to wear such things. Which could only mean it was Zeke's doing. And that was … fine. Except that it was a lot of emotions still running high, which meant hormones for two mostly healthy adult men would be at an all time high after the adrenaline rush from the days events.
Hell, he and Hal were middle aged and even their relationship- new territory for them as it was at this point- was incredibly active in that department.
He was happy for them. Really. But they needed to get that out of their system … just not at his house.
Jason grinned, wide and sharp and full of teeth.
"Why does everyone act like I'm up to no good?" He crooned, tilting his head innocently.
Bruce stared at him blankly just as Alfred swept into the room and handed Jason Tupperware full of goodies.
Jason took it wordlessly, still staring his father down.
"I love you," Bruce said plainly, "Now get out."
Jason stood, saluting everyone. The girls and Tim waved, Duke grunting a goodbye as he continue to slowly eat his spaghetti.
Damian straightened, telling him, "If you feel unwell at all please call me and I'll come to your place at once."
Jason smiled fondly, mostly because he also still spoke in a similar way to Zeke. Perhaps they'd get along indefinitely. The thought made his chest warm.
He offered Zeke his hand to help him stand, ignoring Dick glaring daggers at them.
"Zeke, dont defile my baby!" He shouted after them, groaning in misery as they disappeared into the hall. Bruce patted his back in sympathy and he was quickly assuaged by Alfred placing a slice of pie in front of him.
Jason was cackling as they made their way back to the cave. Jason found Hamza sleeping on the console of the Bat Computer and scooped him into his arms after handing Zeke the containers of sweet treats.
"Hi, baby. Did you miss papa? I'm sorry I worried you."
He healed us, Jasper chimed in his mind.
Jason blinked, scratching behind his ears and earning a pleased little purr.
"Aw is that right. Did you help out? What a good kitty."
He looked at Zeke, eyes bright with fondness.
"Take me home, handsome?"
NSFW
It was a relief how peaceful the meal proved to be. Aside from the scare they had all had over Jason's unexpected transformation and injury, it had been a remarkably smooth introduction and collaboration between himself and this highly cohesive group of vigilantes. Zeke had expected far more suspicion and pushback, especially after revealing his demonic ties. Instead he felt like they had already begun to fold him into the family as if his presence was a matter of course. As if it was natural to let him belong at Jason's side among them.
Zeke focused on eating, just letting himself sit as part of their inner circle without interjecting himself into their family dynamic. Well, not entirely focused on the spaghetti, it was certainly very well made, but his eyes kept darting to his side, soaking in the sight of how content and pleased his beloved was here surrounded by his family and enjoying a tasty meal.
There was also the matter of the immensely flattering outfit that he had provided his darling. No one had commented on it, much to his relief. Zeke hadn't taken the family's reaction into account when dressing his treasure up.
Instead his main consideration had been comfort and appeal because it was certainly distracting. Maybe he should have taken that into account so he wouldn't be eye-fucking his lover while sharing a meal with his hopefully future in-laws. They were all detective vigilantes, so at least some of them had to have noticed. Nobody had called him on it, which he was eternally grateful for even if he couldn't completely suppress a faint blush for the better part of the hour spent on food.
When his beloved finally sat back looking very satisfied, Zeke almost thought he'd gotten away without being embarrassed. Until Alfred made a point that he would bring them dessert to go. He froze as he felt his soul just about leave his body at the exchange between Dick and Tim.
Oh no.
Zeke couldn't stop the slight flinch as Bruce cleared his throat in warning, unable to so much as glance in Batman's direction. He wanted to sink into the floor and be swallowed by the earth in that moment. The faint blush erupted into a much deeper shade of red as he sank down in his chair a bit. At least Bruce didn't seem upset exactly. Although he almost wanted to snicker as they were basically being kicked out and he did make a strangled sort of groan at the word fornicate was used. He covered his face, not that it could hide how bright red his ears had become.
Can this get more embarrassing?
Apparently it could, because Jason just had to act innocent about the whole thing. Zeke did snort that time, peeking out at his darling with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
It is going to be so, so good.
Honestly this was the moment he'd been waiting for all through dinner. The time he could finally steal his lover away to his sanctum and hog all of his attention. It was going to be absolute bliss, and not just because he planned to fuck his darling dumb. What he wanted most was the intimacy, the closeness, and to be the center of Jason's focus.
Alfred handed off the container of treats, and Zeke eagerly grabbed Jason's hand, shooting out of his chair in a rush. He was still blushing furiously, still a bit embarrassed, but he was more focused on getting Jason alone.
"Thank you for the food, it was nice meeting you." He got out in a rush with a wave of his free hand as his beloved started leading him back the way they came. Zeke gave another groan of mortification at what Dick shouted at them as they left. His voice was a bit of a mutter, probably not even audible over the cackles of his mate. "I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."
Although defile didn't seem the right word to him. That made it sound profane. He wanted to lovingly fuck nasty. Of course he also wanted to make love to Jason. Zeke wanted anything and everything his soulmate was willing to give and wanted to give all of himself in return.
He squeezed Jason's hand and took the container of sweets so his darling could dote on Hamza, watching fondly. His mate was going to be a good parent someday.
"Gladly, beautiful." Zeke stepped into Jason's space, letting one warm hand settle at his lover's waist before sliding it around his side and resting it at his beloved's lower back, keeping him pressed close as the shadows swirled around them, pulling the three of them through the void and depositing them gently inside a grand bedroom.
The lighting was all from the soft, warm glow of candles and moonlight filtering in through the sheer curtains. An entire wall was floor to ceiling mirrors. Everything was in black, and silver, and white - all tasteful and elegant with a very clear gothic influence.
Deep red rose petals were scattered around the room.
Zeke had whisked the container away to the kitchen to be enjoyed later. They were likely to work up an appetite after all.
"Grim." A black cat with faintly glowing eyes melted out of the shadows, looking up at them as it awaited instructions. "This is Jason and Hamza, be a good kitty and look after Hamza for us? Show him where he can find food, litter, and toys."
The familiar didn't respond, merely blinked slowly before slinking towards the bedroom door that opened just wide enough to accommodate the felines. It paused at the door and waited for Hamza.
"He'll be in good hands, mi tesoro." As tempting as it had been to immediately throw his lover onto the bed so he could begin replacing the claiming marks that had been healed, Zeke wanted to make sure that the magical cat was taken care of so that his beloved could relax and enjoy their time together without worrying about his baby.
His fingers played with the chains at Jason's back, waiting patiently - or maybe impatiently - for the cats to be allowed to leave. The door shut behind them and Zeke was on Jason immediately, grabbing those chains and pulling him until their bodies were pressed against each other. Zeke dragged his mate into a heated, desperate kiss with a low groan. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of the crimson shirt to feel his way up those toned abs until he could give a gentle pinch to a nipple.
"Fuck, baby you have no idea how hard it was sitting next to you looking like this and unable to touch you. I thought I would lose my mind - trying to restrain myself while your family was right there." The words were a husky growl against Jason's lips, spoken only when he had to break the kiss for air. Instead of immediately going back in for another kiss, Zeke dropped his head down so that he could bite and suck at his beloved's neck. He couldn't stand not having any of his marks pressed possessively into Jason's skin a moment longer. Between bruising kisses along his lover's throat. "Need to mark you all up again."
Zeke forced himself to let go and take a step back.
Shadows immediately came out, winding tendrils that gently wrapped around Jason before lifting him and tossing him onto the bed. Zeke stalked towards the bed while pulling his sweater over his head.
"You have no idea how fucking bad I wanted to be inside you earlier, baby. It felt so good feeling you come on my fingers, just made me think of how much better it'd feel when you came on my cock." He crawled onto the bed, ran a hand over the front of Jason's bulge, eyes glowing faintly pink as he gazed up at his lover with a smouldering look. "You want that too, baby? Want me to fuck you good and fill you up?"
Honestly Zeke didn't wait for an answer before he was pushing the silky shirt up so that his mouth could latch onto the exposed skin, just above the waistline of the leather pants he'd chosen for his darling and began sucking and biting his way up. Annoyed by the clothes in his way, the shadows swirled and both their clothing disappeared into mist, giving him free reign to taste his beloved's skin even as one hand wrapped around Jason's cock to slowly stroke him.
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A low, throaty groan echoed in his throat as his lover's fingers threaded into his hair. It wasn't even a sexual touch, but it was enough to make his body tingle and burn all over. Any attention from this adonis of a man, any touch, any word and he was ready to fall apart and be put back together again.
Mine.
Jason made the prettiest sounds, and the way he practically begged to be fucked had Zeke already painfully hard barely even being touched yet. He bet he could get off on just his beloved's cute noises if he tried. Maybe another time, he was far, far too impatient for that kind of experimentation at the moment. He needed to be inside his darling right now. The build up to this moment had been monumental.
His mouth found it's way to his mate's chest, sucking more bruising kisses across the expanse even as he positioned himself between those enticingly - and oh so inviting - spread thighs. With great reluctance he let go of Jason's cock, reaching down instead to circle his rim with his middle finger, concentrating even as his mouth found and latched onto a nipple. Warm lubricant began spreading from his fingers - thank you Asmo for teaching him this little trick! - and he didn't tease, just getting his fingers and Jason's entrance nice and slick before sliding his middle finger inside to the knuckle.
Groaning at the feeling he released the nipple in his mouth with a gentle nip before sitting up between his beloved's thighs so he could look down at him - and what a sight. Jason was so pretty, flushed skin, heaving chest, water gathering at those lashes.
"You're so pretty, Jason." His voice was a reverent rasp as he worked a second finger inside his lover and began stretching him as quickly as he could without hurting him. "Fuck. So, so pretty - and all mine."
Zeke was absolutely going to take his time with Jason, make gentle love to him with all the tenderness that he possessed - just not now. The lust between them was too high, too frantic, too desperate. He needed to feel his soulmate and his mate had openly said he wanted to feel him too. More than that, he could feel that need churning in his gut right next to his own.
"M'gonna make you feel so good, baby." He pulled his fingers out, wrapped his fingers around his own cock to give a couple strokes to make sure he was nice and slick, then lined himself up without anymore hesitation or doubt. When the head breached that tight ring of muscle he let out a guttural groan deep from his chest but did not stop, didn't pause to check on Jason - his lover knew he could say a single word at any time to stop everything and he trusted that his beloved would if necessary.
He didn't slam his hips forward, it was a steady glide, but he didn't stop until he was as deep as he could be, until he could feel every inch being squeezed in the heat that was Jason. Zeke's chest was heaving as he made a strangled sound somewhere between a whimper and a moan as he took a moment to savor the feeling, he hadn't looked away from his mate's face once, taking in every twitch in his lover's expression.
"Fuuuuuck. You feel so damn good, baby. So fucking good." Leaning back down he drew Jason into another heated kiss as he pulled his hips back slow until only the head was left in, this time he did slam his hips forward, moaning into the kiss as he began thrusting with a fast, hard pace.
Jason had told him not to hold back - so he didn't.
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It was hard to think.
Zeke wasn't a virgin by any means, but this felt like nothing he'd ever felt before, it was even better than he'd imagined - by magnitudes. His wildest dreams couldn't even compare. Sex had been almost clinical, controlled for him in his previous relationship. This wasn't control, this was frenzy, fervor, surrender. He didn't analyze, didn't restrain himself.
For the first time he just let himself feel.
Feel the way sweat started to bead at his skin, the way Jason's hands dug into the skin of his back, the impact of his thighs against his lover's ass as those legs hooked around his waist urged him to go harder, deeper. The slick sounds of each frenzied thrust as he chased pleasure and to give pleasure - and by the sounds coming from his darling's throat he was definitely succeeding. Zeke barely recognized the throaty growls and groans rumbling in his chest.
When Jason pulled away from the kiss with a hoarse cry he dropped his head down to suck and bite at his pretty throat. The way his mate screamed his name had him twitching and shivering, hips jerking as he adjusted his rhythm as his treasure babbled and begged for harder.
"Fuck. Takin' me so well, baby. So fucking good." Words moaned against sweat-slicked skin, the heat dizzying. It wasn't a few moments later that he felt nails sharpen and rake down his back enough to make blood bead to the surface, the pleasure-pain caused stars to explode in his vision as he cried out sharply. "Jason! Fuck! Yesyesyesyes."
The heat and friction were almost suffocating, and the pleasure had him near delirious. He could feel his orgasm building rapidly and part of him wanted to slow down, to drag it out for longer - hell he never wanted to fucking stop.
Breed me.
Zeke felt the words hit him like lightning. Before he was even fully processing his mate's ramblings his hands were moving. One had shot up to grab Jason around the throat, not hard enough to choke, but definitely hard enough to feel the possessiveness of it, the other had grabbed Jason's hip hard enough to bruise. His pupils had narrowed into slits of neon pink and he used the leverage of his grip to absolutely pound into his lover, dragging his .
"You want daddy to breed you full? Be a good boy and come for me, Jason. Milk my cock and I promise you'll be dripping with my come for days." It was hard not to come on the spot, but he wanted his beloved to climax too - more than anything.
As soon as he felt Jason tipping over the edge, as soon as he felt him clamp down on him, his hips jerked to bury himself deep as his balls tightened and cock throbbed spilling thick and hot with a deep moan, hips still grinding deep to fuck his come even deeper. Fuck, he really would breed the absolute shit out of Jason. If he could he would have gotten him pregnant right now in a heartbeat and with zero regrets. "Thaaaaaaaat's it, baby. Take it all like my good boy."
Once he was sure they were both spent - for the moment - his grinding slowed to a stop, still buried deep inside the man he loved. The hand at Jason's throat shifted gently caressing his cheek and jaw before sliding behind his head to tangle in his hair, the other hand eased its grip, thumb rubbing soothing circles into his darling's hip. Zeke nuzzled his face into a warm shoulder, panting and trying to catch his breath. He found one of those ears he had forced himself to resist earlier and began rubbing it gently
His body was trembling, from the intensity of the pleasure, but even more from the enormity of his emotions. Sex had felt good before now - it had - but this was the first time it had felt completely right and his breath stuttered as his throat tightened.
"I love you." A hoarse, timid whisper, like a secret breathed against warm skin.
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Was it too soon?
That was the fear that had held Zeke back from letting the words leave his thoughts, to be spoken aloud, before this moment. It was that fear that had him holding his breath as he waited for Jason's reaction. He didn't feel regret at being unable to keep them choked down and locked safely in his chest. Loving this sweet, gentle man could never be something he regretted.
A gasp escaped when he found himself suddenly rolled, looking up at his breath-taking angel, his hands instinctively moving to Jason's hips. His eyes were a soft lavender, no glow, just wide with an expression of open awe and love and yearning.
Empathy could be both a blessing and a curse, but in that moment he could feel the love thrumming through his body down to his soul - both his and Jason's emotions mingling in a way that was a little overwhelming but also he wanted more. Zeke wanted it all. He was selfish like that. His darling didn't have to say it back, but oh how he desperately wanted to hear it.
His lips parted slightly as his beloved ran a thumb over the soft skin.
"I do." It was the truth, written into his soul already and Zeke fully embraced it with an aching tenderness, because a soulmate may not have been what he expected to ever have, but now that he'd gotten the taste he couldn't get enough. His mate was his most precious treasure now and he would do anything if it meant he could keep him, he'd dedicate his life to making Jason happy.
The sight of his tears made something ache in him and his hands ran down from his beloved's hips to his thighs and back up in gentle, soothing motions. He knew they weren't bad tears, and that soft smile made his heart dance a wild staccato.
Some thread of tension in his chest loosened at the sound of Jason's giggles. A soft sound of surprise caught in his throat as his face was suddenly attacked with kisses, but it quickly morphed into breathless giggles as a bubbling feeling of giddiness rose in his chest.
He loves me.
Of course he had already felt that, but to hear it was euphoric. Especially as his lover seemed eager to affirm the feeling repeatedly with accompanied kisses. His giggles were cut off as Jason finally captured his lips in a kiss, the sound turning into a moan as his tongue tangled with his mate's in a playful dance that had him breathing heavily by the time his beloved broke the kiss and sat up.
The way he gazed up at Jason was downright lovestruck.
His eyes widened with a gasp as he realized the same thing his darling did, although he noticed because Jason decided to grind himself on him. Zeke's hands went back to his beloved's hips in a firm grip as he moaned lowly. His cock twitched in enthusiastic interest.
"Fuck, baby. I love you so much, mi alma." A thousand times? Nobody could accuse his mate of lacking ambition, and damn, but he would certainly try if that was what Jason wanted.
Zeke was still gazing up at Jason with half-hooded eyes when his darling finished sorting through his thoughts and emotions, when his hand trailed down to rest over Zeke's heart as he asked what seemed like such a simple question. It was so much deeper than the words alone, he could sense that it was more important than it appeared at first glance.
It was still an easy question for him.
"I didn't even know it was possible to be this happy, Jason. You're everything I never thought I could hope or wish or dream to want. You make me feel so happy and so safe just by being present. I feel so lucky and blessed to have you be my soulmate. I just hope I can make you as happy as you make me, baby." His hands had subconsciously begun that slow, gentle path from hips to thighs, pausing to give a light squeeze here or there.
Fuck.
He'd blush if all the blood wasn't rushing somewhere else.
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Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Zeke loved making Jason blush, his darling was so cute. He didn't get to admire the way his sweetheart turned pink for long, because he was drawn into a slow, indulgent kiss that had his eyes fluttering closed with a muffled groan. His arms slid from around his beloved's neck, slipping down to wrap around that absolutely sinful waist as Jason climbed into his lap.
Were his clothes now damp?
Yes.
Did he care?
Hell no.
There were far higher priorities currently, like focusing on why his lover was crying, the sob made his heart squeeze painfully. Zeke wanted to soothe every hurt, every ache, both physical and emotional. It was impossible to deny the kisses that followed, face flushing as their make-out grew louder. They were still in Jason's family home. Sure, the others had stepped away to 'give them a moment' but how much longer until someone barged in on them?
Damnit.
Was he into that?
He hadn't thought he was into that?
Fuck.
He might be into that.
"Baby…" His voice was a gentle murmur as his darling finally ended his assault of kisses by burying his face against his neck. Zeke's hands had started rubbing gentle circles against Jason's lower back, beneath those glorious wings that blanketed them in semi-privacy. He felt the way his lover shook beneath his hands and he wished so badly that there were a different reason for the shaking. Soft kisses were pressed into his beloved's dark hair. He didn't rush Jason to speak further, simply held him until he was ready.
When Jason leaned back, Zeke searched his face in the brief moments before he was graced with that smile, and he knew that he would kill or die for that smile. He kept one arm around his darling's waist while raising the other until he was tenderly cradling his mate's jaw, thumb tracing so very gently beneath one teary eye.
Zeke couldn't stop the way his eyes dilated at the assertion that Jason would let him do anything he wanted to him. Should he be ashamed of all the things he wanted to do to this man? He forced himself to focus only on his darling and his words, not the myriad of thoughts swirling in the back of his mind.
Something in his chest cracked open a little at how much trust Jason had in him. He was not a good person. Fools trusted him. Zeke had manipulated, tortured, murdered - no one should trust him. Yes, he wanted to earn the trust of Jason's family, because it would mean something to his mate and because he had been so achingly lonely for a long time and wanted a family. His motivations were selfish.
"You are my greatest consideration - I would never hurt you on purpose." Zeke was taking Jason into every consideration he was making regarding his future. That was the only option, he felt that to the depths of his soul.
He made an almost wounded sound at what his beloved said next, or more how he said it. Zeke pulled Jason closer, readjusting himself slightly as he felt the way their bodies pressed together, his arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect his soulmate from his own words even as they made his own chest constrict painfully. Earlier he had been absolutely petrified that he would lose Jason, his beloved's screams had been agony. He understood exactly what he meant. The idea of never waking up in his mate's arms again would have broken him if Jason were not alive and sobbing in his arms.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Zeke exhaled shakily.
"You won't die, not without me. I won't allow it. I would fight Death itself if I had to." And he meant it.
Cool hands reached up to sweetly cup Jason's face as he sniffled and once again looked up to him, speaking in ways that had him near insane, heart skipping and thundering. His darling would be the death of him. Especially when he turned that voice so sickly sweet.
Irresistible.
Not that he wanted to resist.
"Oh mi alma, you have no idea how badly I want to take you." Zeke leaned in to press a deceptively sweet kiss against Jason's mouth before sucking and nipping at his bottom lip. His eyes were hooded and he gave a gentle buck of his hips, sure that his beloved could feel how wanted he was.
In every way.
"My sanctum will forever and always be open to you, mi tesoro, but you are my home. So let's get you dressed for this comfort meal, hmm?" The shadows gathered and swirled around them both, when they dispersed again Zeke's clothing was dry, as was Jason. A pair of black leather pants hugged Jason's thighs, hips, and ass in just the right way. A silky sleeveless top of deep crimson hugged his muscled torso, although calling it a top might be generous. Golden rings sat at the shoulders holding the front to a back that dipped almost to Jason's ass together, golden chains above and below the wing joints keeping it from sliding off, while giving his wings free movement, likewise the sides were kept together with more golden chains.
The black leather boots were sleek and slightly heeled, designed for both comfort and elegance. Golden bracelets were stacked at Jason's wrists and more golden chains hung down his chest. He wanted his beloved to look stunning and feel as gorgeous as he was with those enchanting wings on full display.
Zeke would have started drooling if he weren't careful, he had to swallow thickly, staring down at his beloved in his lap. A flush crept down his neck and up to the tips of his ears, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.
"Do you like it? I can change anything that isn't to your liking." He gently encouraged Jason to go see himself in one of the mirrors.
Jason couldn't help but press his face into Zeke's hands as his cheeks were cradled and wiped free of tears, a gasp rushing out of him as Zeke bucked up into him, letting him feel how much he wanted Jason, the simmer of pure want thrumming through the bond so much that Jason could taste it.
Zeke's reassurance came easily as it always did. He was so good with words. And Jason lived for it. For the way his sentences always felt woven with intention.
You are my home.
Jason's blush would be permanent if Zeke kept it up.
His eyes softened with pure adoration, head tilting- showing off his feline ears and shoulders relaxing visibly, wings dropping from their protective cacoon stance and into something more akin to a cape, the tips of his feathers brushing the ground.
And then Zeke was dressing him with magic.
Like a fucking fairy godmother.
Jason really was a princess now.
Zeke definitely had different taste than Jason did- but that wasn't a bad thing. The clothing was actually comfortable, for one. And when Zeke lead him to the mirror he gasped at his own reflection.
"Woah," he breathed.
He did look hot.
Was this how Zeke pictured him? Had Zeke always know Jason could look like this?
He swallowed, nodding silently and meeting Zeke's shy lilac gaze through the mirror.
"I like it… I like it a lot, actually. I hope it's what you imagined in your head when you chose it for me," he admitted softly, eyes flitting between himself and Zeke- a bit shy himself. "I… I've never been ugly- I mean I've always known I have… an appeal to people. But… I have always wished I could be… pretty." He met Zeke's eyes again, but turned to take his hands. "I do now. With you. Because of you," he whispered, leaning into to kiss him chastly, pulling away just as his stomach growled.
He smirked, "Guess I'm hungrier than I thought."
He tugged Zeke's hand and lead him out of the bathroom and up the stairs to the main house, opening the Grandfather clock in Bruce's study and leading him down the winding halls of his… other home.
There were recent family portraits updated to have all current members and some that were just of Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Cass. Dick and Damian had also insisted on each having their own photos with Jason after Tim had stated wanting a photo or two of just him and Bruce. They hadn't known it was an option. Jason had retaliated by demanding photos of himself with Stephanie and Duke who had their own photos with Cass and Tim. Alfred had been bullied into his own photos with them all as well. Barbara had also called dibs on Jason and Cass for her own photos. There were more along the way with more people- friends and chosen family alike. Dick and Kori's wedding photos that Bruce made professional copies of. The Justice League in civvies at the Christmas party the year before... But…
Bruce in his recent years had slowly let himself have things of joy. And once Jason had come back- not just to life, but to the family- he had been less inclined to take any of it for granted.
He hoped one day that Zeke would be in a portrait with him. The thought was brief but now that he had plans to purchase his own home he let the seed of it take root and fill his heart with longing for a future with the man whose hand fit so perfectly in his own.
Jason lead them down a grand staircase and through to the dining room, where the rest of the family was just settling in.
Jason pulled a seat out for Zeke, pushing his chair in silently before sitting down next to Bruce and across from Dick.
"Alfred made spaghetti and meatballs," Tim said from Dick's other side, grabbing a breadstick for his own plate.
Alfred had also made a salad and a vegetarian sauce for Damian's pasta.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the hall and Duke trudged in. "I smelled food."
There had been a plate set for him already and he dropped into his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Did I miss anything?"
Then he blinked. "Um… Jason has wings. And cat boy ears. Are we just gonna-"
Steph answered him nonchalantly from where she sat next to Zeke, piling food onto her plate and passing Cass an extra breadstick. "He almost died and then turned into a kitty boy angel. His boyfriend also turned into a super hot demon-"
"So cute!" Cass said.
Duke looked around the table and then shrugged. "Glad you're not dead. Barbara left?"
"She did. She's reviewing footage of the incident still. She asked to be sent a plate," Bruce said, trying and failing not to stare at Jason's wings. Something about the sight of them made his own back ache in ways he couldn't explain.
"A Tupperware has already been set aside, Master Bruce,"Alfred said, pouring water into his cup.
"Hn. Thank you, Alfred."
Damian nodded toward Jason. "How are you feeling?"
Jason smiled, filling Zeke's plate and then his own.
"Better than ever," he said.
It was true.
Now that the initial pain had passed there was a rightness settling in his spirit. And he had his family and he had Zeke. And his life was his and it was good.
He stabbed his fork into a meatball and brought it to his mouth, humming happily at the taste. He loved good food.
"We wont be staying long, though. I've kidnapped Zeke long enough and I'm taking him home after this."
Bruce frowned a little but nodded. "Fine. But if you need anything-"
Jason waved him off. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. If something is wrong you'll be the first to know. Promise." He turned his head toward Zeke, eyes softening. "I'm in good hands anyway."
Dick made a gagging sound. "I'm trying to eat, Little Wing."
Jason was the perfect picture of innocence. "What ever do you mean, brother dear? I'm a literal angel."
Bruce's shoulders shook with laughter. "I agree. And so was the Devil."
Jason gasped, holding a hand to his chest, scandalized. "Hey!"
Laughter filled the room and it seemed that everything would be alright.
Jason scooter closer to Zeke, pressing their thighs together, just to have some contact as he continued to eat.
"So good," he murmured.
Standing to the side, watching his beloved take in the new outfit, Zeke felt a deep sense of satisfaction at the positive response. He knew that this wasn't any style that he'd seen on Jason thus far, but his experience with his darling's fashion sense was woefully small. This had been a simple testing of the waters, in something he thought would make his lover feel as stunning as he looked. His nerves melted away as Jason turned to take his hands and explain how he had always wanted to feel pretty.
"I've thought you were pretty since the moment I laid eyes on you, baby." Zeke squeezed his darling's hands reassuringly as a chaste kiss was placed on his lips. A part of him selfishly wished that he could keep his beloved all to himself for a bit longer, but the sooner they joined the rest of the family for a comfort meal, the sooner they could excuse themselves to the privacy of the sanctum.
Zeke consoled himself with that as he was pulled from the sanctuary of the spa, hand holding firmly to his lover's as he was lead out of the cave and through the grandiose Wayne Manor. As much as he enjoyed the way Jason's silky top and delicate gold chains moved against that lovely skin - now healed from all the marks that he'd previously left - Zeke's instinct made him inspect his surroundings, taking note of the volume of photos and their contents.
It was a plethora of family portraits.
That was a complicated tangle of emotions. Of course he was glad that his soulmate had a clearly tight-knit family. Of course he was. It just made him wonder if his portrait still hung from the wall next to his demons. They must have taken thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of photos with and of him during his time in Hell - Asmo especially was fond of snapping dozens at every opportunity. Did they keep any of them? Were any still displayed? Had they been shoved in a box in the attic to be forgotten? His chest tightened painfully at the uncertainty.
How terrible was the thought of the only family he had known to choose to forget him?
Dwelling on it would only bring down the mood, and Zeke refused to allow that. He could not know for certain, so speculation was pointless. Jason's hand was warm and comforting in his own and he turned focus onto that as they made their way down a grand staircase. Against all odds, he was alive and had found his soul entwined with someone lovelier than his wildest imaginings. There was nothing he could do about the families he had lost, except to seize this opportunity to build a new one.
When they entered the lively dining room, he allowed himself to feel the gentle warmth that rose to his cheeks as Jason pulled a chair out for him. The sweet, gentlemanly little things that his mate did seemingly without a second thought never failed to fluster him.
Zeke had thought he would hate someone being able to fluster and affect him so easily. Especially since he had never been easy to fluster before Jason. Instead of annoyance he felt warmth and happiness.
It made him feel taken care of - a feeling he hadn't truly felt in a long time.
Shortly after getting seated, Duke appeared looking very much as if he had only just woken up. Which he likely had. Zeke barely suppressed a snort at the question. Had he missed anything? It was humorous, how well Duke rolled with the fact that Jason was suddenly sporting wings and feline ears. Stephanie gave a very succinct recap.
Although he could have done without her commentary on his appearance as a demon, the tips of his ears turning pink as Cass chimed in with her own opinion on his demon form. All that aside, he braced himself for his beloved's denial of his title as boyfriend, but this time it never came.
Instead the conversation simply moved on seamlessly. Zeke felt himself shrink slightly in his chair at the mention of reviewing video of the incident. Regardless of what the girls said of his appearance, all he could feel was embarrassment and shame over it. He had lost control. The demon coming out in that warehouse was not a good thing. At the time Zeke couldn't bother to think that they would all likely see what the darkness in him wouldn't hesitate to do when provoked, but now he wished he could hide that part of himself from them.
Thankfully Damian brought the focus back to Jason, and Zeke sat up straighter to pay attention to how his darling was feeling. His heart did that traitorous little flutter again as his mate filled his plate for him.
"Thank you, baby." He murmured shyly as he picked up his fork, twirling the pasta around until he could take a clean bite, refusing to slurp messily. Zeke had barely chewed and swallowed his first bite before his beloved mentioned they wouldn't be staying long. "Kidnapped is a strong word," he muttered as he used a fork to cut a meatball into quarters for easily managed bites.
Zeke paused, glancing to his mate with a blush when he said he'd be in good hands. It made him happy that Jason thought so. Taking care of him, protecting him - and getting the same in return - was his deepest desire.
The tenderness of the moment was broken by Dick's dramatic gagging and Zeke found himself nearly snorting around a mouthful of spaghetti at the banter that ensued.
I missed this.
For a few moments his mind was in a different time and place, universes apart. Flickering memories of his seven demons around the dining table in the House of Lamentation, bickering and teasing each other, laughter and indignation in equal measure - even the occasional chase or food fight breaking out. Lucifer scolding them all if they got too rowdy.
It was the warmth of Jason's thigh pressing against his own that brought Zeke's mind back to the present, and he blinked his eyes rapidly as he settled back into the moment. The memories were a bittersweet ache in his chest, but it wasn't a crippling wave of homesickness as it once was in years past.
This day and night had to count as emotional whiplash. There had been so many emotions in such a huge range. As much as he was pleased he got to meet Jason's family he couldn't wait until they could retreat to the sanctum. He wanted to drown in good feelings and physical comfort with his soulmate. It was realistically such a short time that they had met and spent together, but at the same time it felt like he'd been waiting forever to claim and be claimed.
Speaking of claiming…
Back at the sanctum shadows crept from their dark corners and set to work. Zeke wanted everything to be ready for their arrival once they finished their meal and said their goodbyes. To that end he made sure to eat both as politely and as quickly as possible. The spaghetti was quite good, and he needed to replenish the energy he had expended during their hunt - he was planning to need it.
Dinner proceeded pleasantly and Jay basked in the presence of his family and Zeke sharing space around him. It kept a hopeful smile on his face for the next hour until he saw fit to excuse them from the table.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, rubbing his belly, eyes shaped like crescents from the pleased grin on his face.
Duke snorted fondly. "Big back."
Jason shrugged. "Guilty. Besides it was really good."
"I'm pleased to hear that as always, Master Jason," Alfred said as he cleared the plates of those who had finished their meals. "Remain seated so that I may bring a Tupperware with dessert to go."
Dick frowned. "Why can't they just eat it here- ow!"
Tim had flicked him on the head, jerking his head toward Zeke and Dick's eyes widened in horror when he realized. He was just about to open his mouth again to protest his little brother being defiled (though he was far from a virgin) when Bruce cleared his throat in warning.
"B-But- B! He- they- " he sputtered helplessly.
"Are adults," Bruce finished for him, shooting them a 1000 megawatt smile. "Please, as soon as Alfred comes back- leave. I would rather you not fornicate in my house. Thanks."
Bruce had not missed the way Jason was dressed and he knew his son didn't tend to wear such things. Which could only mean it was Zeke's doing. And that was … fine. Except that it was a lot of emotions still running high, which meant hormones for two mostly healthy adult men would be at an all time high after the adrenaline rush from the days events.
Hell, he and Hal were middle aged and even their relationship- new territory for them as it was at this point- was incredibly active in that department.
He was happy for them. Really. But they needed to get that out of their system … just not at his house.
Jason grinned, wide and sharp and full of teeth.
"Why does everyone act like I'm up to no good?" He crooned, tilting his head innocently.
Bruce stared at him blankly just as Alfred swept into the room and handed Jason Tupperware full of goodies.
Jason took it wordlessly, still staring his father down.
"I love you," Bruce said plainly, "Now get out."
Jason stood, saluting everyone. The girls and Tim waved, Duke grunting a goodbye as he continue to slowly eat his spaghetti.
Damian straightened, telling him, "If you feel unwell at all please call me and I'll come to your place at once."
Jason smiled fondly, mostly because he also still spoke in a similar way to Zeke. Perhaps they'd get along indefinitely. The thought made his chest warm.
He offered Zeke his hand to help him stand, ignoring Dick glaring daggers at them.
"Zeke, dont defile my baby!" He shouted after them, groaning in misery as they disappeared into the hall. Bruce patted his back in sympathy and he was quickly assuaged by Alfred placing a slice of pie in front of him.
Jason was cackling as they made their way back to the cave. Jason found Hamza sleeping on the console of the Bat Computer and scooped him into his arms after handing Zeke the containers of sweet treats.
"Hi, baby. Did you miss papa? I'm sorry I worried you."
He healed us, Jasper chimed in his mind.
Jason blinked, scratching behind his ears and earning a pleased little purr.
"Aw is that right. Did you help out? What a good kitty."
He looked at Zeke, eyes bright with fondness.
"Take me home, handsome?"
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It was a relief how peaceful the meal proved to be. Aside from the scare they had all had over Jason's unexpected transformation and injury, it had been a remarkably smooth introduction and collaboration between himself and this highly cohesive group of vigilantes. Zeke had expected far more suspicion and pushback, especially after revealing his demonic ties. Instead he felt like they had already begun to fold him into the family as if his presence was a matter of course. As if it was natural to let him belong at Jason's side among them.
Zeke focused on eating, just letting himself sit as part of their inner circle without interjecting himself into their family dynamic. Well, not entirely focused on the spaghetti, it was certainly very well made, but his eyes kept darting to his side, soaking in the sight of how content and pleased his beloved was here surrounded by his family and enjoying a tasty meal.
There was also the matter of the immensely flattering outfit that he had provided his darling. No one had commented on it, much to his relief. Zeke hadn't taken the family's reaction into account when dressing his treasure up.
Instead his main consideration had been comfort and appeal because it was certainly distracting. Maybe he should have taken that into account so he wouldn't be eye-fucking his lover while sharing a meal with his hopefully future in-laws. They were all detective vigilantes, so at least some of them had to have noticed. Nobody had called him on it, which he was eternally grateful for even if he couldn't completely suppress a faint blush for the better part of the hour spent on food.
When his beloved finally sat back looking very satisfied, Zeke almost thought he'd gotten away without being embarrassed. Until Alfred made a point that he would bring them dessert to go. He froze as he felt his soul just about leave his body at the exchange between Dick and Tim.
Oh no.
Zeke couldn't stop the slight flinch as Bruce cleared his throat in warning, unable to so much as glance in Batman's direction. He wanted to sink into the floor and be swallowed by the earth in that moment. The faint blush erupted into a much deeper shade of red as he sank down in his chair a bit. At least Bruce didn't seem upset exactly. Although he almost wanted to snicker as they were basically being kicked out and he did make a strangled sort of groan at the word fornicate was used. He covered his face, not that it could hide how bright red his ears had become.
Can this get more embarrassing?
Apparently it could, because Jason just had to act innocent about the whole thing. Zeke did snort that time, peeking out at his darling with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
It is going to be so, so good.
Honestly this was the moment he'd been waiting for all through dinner. The time he could finally steal his lover away to his sanctum and hog all of his attention. It was going to be absolute bliss, and not just because he planned to fuck his darling dumb. What he wanted most was the intimacy, the closeness, and to be the center of Jason's focus.
Alfred handed off the container of treats, and Zeke eagerly grabbed Jason's hand, shooting out of his chair in a rush. He was still blushing furiously, still a bit embarrassed, but he was more focused on getting Jason alone.
"Thank you for the food, it was nice meeting you." He got out in a rush with a wave of his free hand as his beloved started leading him back the way they came. Zeke gave another groan of mortification at what Dick shouted at them as they left. His voice was a bit of a mutter, probably not even audible over the cackles of his mate. "I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."
Although defile didn't seem the right word to him. That made it sound profane. He wanted to lovingly fuck nasty. Of course he also wanted to make love to Jason. Zeke wanted anything and everything his soulmate was willing to give and wanted to give all of himself in return.
He squeezed Jason's hand and took the container of sweets so his darling could dote on Hamza, watching fondly. His mate was going to be a good parent someday.
"Gladly, beautiful." Zeke stepped into Jason's space, letting one warm hand settle at his lover's waist before sliding it around his side and resting it at his beloved's lower back, keeping him pressed close as the shadows swirled around them, pulling the three of them through the void and depositing them gently inside a grand bedroom.
The lighting was all from the soft, warm glow of candles and moonlight filtering in through the sheer curtains. An entire wall was floor to ceiling mirrors. Everything was in black, and silver, and white - all tasteful and elegant with a very clear gothic influence.
Deep red rose petals were scattered around the room.
Zeke had whisked the container away to the kitchen to be enjoyed later. They were likely to work up an appetite after all.
"Grim." A black cat with faintly glowing eyes melted out of the shadows, looking up at them as it awaited instructions. "This is Jason and Hamza, be a good kitty and look after Hamza for us? Show him where he can find food, litter, and toys."
The familiar didn't respond, merely blinked slowly before slinking towards the bedroom door that opened just wide enough to accommodate the felines. It paused at the door and waited for Hamza.
"He'll be in good hands, mi tesoro." As tempting as it had been to immediately throw his lover onto the bed so he could begin replacing the claiming marks that had been healed, Zeke wanted to make sure that the magical cat was taken care of so that his beloved could relax and enjoy their time together without worrying about his baby.
His fingers played with the chains at Jason's back, waiting patiently - or maybe impatiently - for the cats to be allowed to leave. The door shut behind them and Zeke was on Jason immediately, grabbing those chains and pulling him until their bodies were pressed against each other. Zeke dragged his mate into a heated, desperate kiss with a low groan. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of the crimson shirt to feel his way up those toned abs until he could give a gentle pinch to a nipple.
"Fuck, baby you have no idea how hard it was sitting next to you looking like this and unable to touch you. I thought I would lose my mind - trying to restrain myself while your family was right there." The words were a husky growl against Jason's lips, spoken only when he had to break the kiss for air. Instead of immediately going back in for another kiss, Zeke dropped his head down so that he could bite and suck at his beloved's neck. He couldn't stand not having any of his marks pressed possessively into Jason's skin a moment longer. Between bruising kisses along his lover's throat. "Need to mark you all up again."
Zeke forced himself to let go and take a step back.
Shadows immediately came out, winding tendrils that gently wrapped around Jason before lifting him and tossing him onto the bed. Zeke stalked towards the bed while pulling his sweater over his head.
"You have no idea how fucking bad I wanted to be inside you earlier, baby. It felt so good feeling you come on my fingers, just made me think of how much better it'd feel when you came on my cock." He crawled onto the bed, ran a hand over the front of Jason's bulge, eyes glowing faintly pink as he gazed up at his lover with a smouldering look. "You want that too, baby? Want me to fuck you good and fill you up?"
Honestly Zeke didn't wait for an answer before he was pushing the silky shirt up so that his mouth could latch onto the exposed skin, just above the waistline of the leather pants he'd chosen for his darling and began sucking and biting his way up. Annoyed by the clothes in his way, the shadows swirled and both their clothing disappeared into mist, giving him free reign to taste his beloved's skin even as one hand wrapped around Jason's cock to slowly stroke him.
NSFW
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A low, throaty groan echoed in his throat as his lover's fingers threaded into his hair. It wasn't even a sexual touch, but it was enough to make his body tingle and burn all over. Any attention from this adonis of a man, any touch, any word and he was ready to fall apart and be put back together again.
Mine.
Jason made the prettiest sounds, and the way he practically begged to be fucked had Zeke already painfully hard barely even being touched yet. He bet he could get off on just his beloved's cute noises if he tried. Maybe another time, he was far, far too impatient for that kind of experimentation at the moment. He needed to be inside his darling right now. The build up to this moment had been monumental.
His mouth found it's way to his mate's chest, sucking more bruising kisses across the expanse even as he positioned himself between those enticingly - and oh so inviting - spread thighs. With great reluctance he let go of Jason's cock, reaching down instead to circle his rim with his middle finger, concentrating even as his mouth found and latched onto a nipple. Warm lubricant began spreading from his fingers - thank you Asmo for teaching him this little trick! - and he didn't tease, just getting his fingers and Jason's entrance nice and slick before sliding his middle finger inside to the knuckle.
Groaning at the feeling he released the nipple in his mouth with a gentle nip before sitting up between his beloved's thighs so he could look down at him - and what a sight. Jason was so pretty, flushed skin, heaving chest, water gathering at those lashes.
"You're so pretty, Jason." His voice was a reverent rasp as he worked a second finger inside his lover and began stretching him as quickly as he could without hurting him. "Fuck. So, so pretty - and all mine."
Zeke was absolutely going to take his time with Jason, make gentle love to him with all the tenderness that he possessed - just not now. The lust between them was too high, too frantic, too desperate. He needed to feel his soulmate and his mate had openly said he wanted to feel him too. More than that, he could feel that need churning in his gut right next to his own.
"M'gonna make you feel so good, baby." He pulled his fingers out, wrapped his fingers around his own cock to give a couple strokes to make sure he was nice and slick, then lined himself up without anymore hesitation or doubt. When the head breached that tight ring of muscle he let out a guttural groan deep from his chest but did not stop, didn't pause to check on Jason - his lover knew he could say a single word at any time to stop everything and he trusted that his beloved would if necessary.
He didn't slam his hips forward, it was a steady glide, but he didn't stop until he was as deep as he could be, until he could feel every inch being squeezed in the heat that was Jason. Zeke's chest was heaving as he made a strangled sound somewhere between a whimper and a moan as he took a moment to savor the feeling, he hadn't looked away from his mate's face once, taking in every twitch in his lover's expression.
"Fuuuuuck. You feel so damn good, baby. So fucking good." Leaning back down he drew Jason into another heated kiss as he pulled his hips back slow until only the head was left in, this time he did slam his hips forward, moaning into the kiss as he began thrusting with a fast, hard pace.
Jason had told him not to hold back - so he didn't.
NSFW
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It was hard to think.
Zeke wasn't a virgin by any means, but this felt like nothing he'd ever felt before, it was even better than he'd imagined - by magnitudes. His wildest dreams couldn't even compare. Sex had been almost clinical, controlled for him in his previous relationship. This wasn't control, this was frenzy, fervor, surrender. He didn't analyze, didn't restrain himself.
For the first time he just let himself feel.
Feel the way sweat started to bead at his skin, the way Jason's hands dug into the skin of his back, the impact of his thighs against his lover's ass as those legs hooked around his waist urged him to go harder, deeper. The slick sounds of each frenzied thrust as he chased pleasure and to give pleasure - and by the sounds coming from his darling's throat he was definitely succeeding. Zeke barely recognized the throaty growls and groans rumbling in his chest.
When Jason pulled away from the kiss with a hoarse cry he dropped his head down to suck and bite at his pretty throat. The way his mate screamed his name had him twitching and shivering, hips jerking as he adjusted his rhythm as his treasure babbled and begged for harder.
"Fuck. Takin' me so well, baby. So fucking good." Words moaned against sweat-slicked skin, the heat dizzying. It wasn't a few moments later that he felt nails sharpen and rake down his back enough to make blood bead to the surface, the pleasure-pain caused stars to explode in his vision as he cried out sharply. "Jason! Fuck! Yesyesyesyes."
The heat and friction were almost suffocating, and the pleasure had him near delirious. He could feel his orgasm building rapidly and part of him wanted to slow down, to drag it out for longer - hell he never wanted to fucking stop.
Breed me.
Zeke felt the words hit him like lightning. Before he was even fully processing his mate's ramblings his hands were moving. One had shot up to grab Jason around the throat, not hard enough to choke, but definitely hard enough to feel the possessiveness of it, the other had grabbed Jason's hip hard enough to bruise. His pupils had narrowed into slits of neon pink and he used the leverage of his grip to absolutely pound into his lover, dragging his .
"You want daddy to breed you full? Be a good boy and come for me, Jason. Milk my cock and I promise you'll be dripping with my come for days." It was hard not to come on the spot, but he wanted his beloved to climax too - more than anything.
As soon as he felt Jason tipping over the edge, as soon as he felt him clamp down on him, his hips jerked to bury himself deep as his balls tightened and cock throbbed spilling thick and hot with a deep moan, hips still grinding deep to fuck his come even deeper. Fuck, he really would breed the absolute shit out of Jason. If he could he would have gotten him pregnant right now in a heartbeat and with zero regrets. "Thaaaaaaaat's it, baby. Take it all like my good boy."
Once he was sure they were both spent - for the moment - his grinding slowed to a stop, still buried deep inside the man he loved. The hand at Jason's throat shifted gently caressing his cheek and jaw before sliding behind his head to tangle in his hair, the other hand eased its grip, thumb rubbing soothing circles into his darling's hip. Zeke nuzzled his face into a warm shoulder, panting and trying to catch his breath. He found one of those ears he had forced himself to resist earlier and began rubbing it gently
His body was trembling, from the intensity of the pleasure, but even more from the enormity of his emotions. Sex had felt good before now - it had - but this was the first time it had felt completely right and his breath stuttered as his throat tightened.
"I love you." A hoarse, timid whisper, like a secret breathed against warm skin.
NSFW
Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Zeke loved making Jason blush, his darling was so cute. He didn't get to admire the way his sweetheart turned pink for long, because he was drawn into a slow, indulgent kiss that had his eyes fluttering closed with a muffled groan. His arms slid from around his beloved's neck, slipping down to wrap around that absolutely sinful waist as Jason climbed into his lap.
Were his clothes now damp?
Yes.
Did he care?
Hell no.
There were far higher priorities currently, like focusing on why his lover was crying, the sob made his heart squeeze painfully. Zeke wanted to soothe every hurt, every ache, both physical and emotional. It was impossible to deny the kisses that followed, face flushing as their make-out grew louder. They were still in Jason's family home. Sure, the others had stepped away to 'give them a moment' but how much longer until someone barged in on them?
Damnit.
Was he into that?
He hadn't thought he was into that?
Fuck.
He might be into that.
"Baby…" His voice was a gentle murmur as his darling finally ended his assault of kisses by burying his face against his neck. Zeke's hands had started rubbing gentle circles against Jason's lower back, beneath those glorious wings that blanketed them in semi-privacy. He felt the way his lover shook beneath his hands and he wished so badly that there were a different reason for the shaking. Soft kisses were pressed into his beloved's dark hair. He didn't rush Jason to speak further, simply held him until he was ready.
When Jason leaned back, Zeke searched his face in the brief moments before he was graced with that smile, and he knew that he would kill or die for that smile. He kept one arm around his darling's waist while raising the other until he was tenderly cradling his mate's jaw, thumb tracing so very gently beneath one teary eye.
Zeke couldn't stop the way his eyes dilated at the assertion that Jason would let him do anything he wanted to him. Should he be ashamed of all the things he wanted to do to this man? He forced himself to focus only on his darling and his words, not the myriad of thoughts swirling in the back of his mind.
Something in his chest cracked open a little at how much trust Jason had in him. He was not a good person. Fools trusted him. Zeke had manipulated, tortured, murdered - no one should trust him. Yes, he wanted to earn the trust of Jason's family, because it would mean something to his mate and because he had been so achingly lonely for a long time and wanted a family. His motivations were selfish.
"You are my greatest consideration - I would never hurt you on purpose." Zeke was taking Jason into every consideration he was making regarding his future. That was the only option, he felt that to the depths of his soul.
He made an almost wounded sound at what his beloved said next, or more how he said it. Zeke pulled Jason closer, readjusting himself slightly as he felt the way their bodies pressed together, his arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect his soulmate from his own words even as they made his own chest constrict painfully. Earlier he had been absolutely petrified that he would lose Jason, his beloved's screams had been agony. He understood exactly what he meant. The idea of never waking up in his mate's arms again would have broken him if Jason were not alive and sobbing in his arms.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Zeke exhaled shakily.
"You won't die, not without me. I won't allow it. I would fight Death itself if I had to." And he meant it.
Cool hands reached up to sweetly cup Jason's face as he sniffled and once again looked up to him, speaking in ways that had him near insane, heart skipping and thundering. His darling would be the death of him. Especially when he turned that voice so sickly sweet.
Irresistible.
Not that he wanted to resist.
"Oh mi alma, you have no idea how badly I want to take you." Zeke leaned in to press a deceptively sweet kiss against Jason's mouth before sucking and nipping at his bottom lip. His eyes were hooded and he gave a gentle buck of his hips, sure that his beloved could feel how wanted he was.
In every way.
"My sanctum will forever and always be open to you, mi tesoro, but you are my home. So let's get you dressed for this comfort meal, hmm?" The shadows gathered and swirled around them both, when they dispersed again Zeke's clothing was dry, as was Jason. A pair of black leather pants hugged Jason's thighs, hips, and ass in just the right way. A silky sleeveless top of deep crimson hugged his muscled torso, although calling it a top might be generous. Golden rings sat at the shoulders holding the front to a back that dipped almost to Jason's ass together, golden chains above and below the wing joints keeping it from sliding off, while giving his wings free movement, likewise the sides were kept together with more golden chains.
The black leather boots were sleek and slightly heeled, designed for both comfort and elegance. Golden bracelets were stacked at Jason's wrists and more golden chains hung down his chest. He wanted his beloved to look stunning and feel as gorgeous as he was with those enchanting wings on full display.
Zeke would have started drooling if he weren't careful, he had to swallow thickly, staring down at his beloved in his lap. A flush crept down his neck and up to the tips of his ears, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.
"Do you like it? I can change anything that isn't to your liking." He gently encouraged Jason to go see himself in one of the mirrors.
Jason couldn't help but press his face into Zeke's hands as his cheeks were cradled and wiped free of tears, a gasp rushing out of him as Zeke bucked up into him, letting him feel how much he wanted Jason, the simmer of pure want thrumming through the bond so much that Jason could taste it.
Zeke's reassurance came easily as it always did. He was so good with words. And Jason lived for it. For the way his sentences always felt woven with intention.
You are my home.
Jason's blush would be permanent if Zeke kept it up.
His eyes softened with pure adoration, head tilting- showing off his feline ears and shoulders relaxing visibly, wings dropping from their protective cacoon stance and into something more akin to a cape, the tips of his feathers brushing the ground.
And then Zeke was dressing him with magic.
Like a fucking fairy godmother.
Jason really was a princess now.
Zeke definitely had different taste than Jason did- but that wasn't a bad thing. The clothing was actually comfortable, for one. And when Zeke lead him to the mirror he gasped at his own reflection.
"Woah," he breathed.
He did look hot.
Was this how Zeke pictured him? Had Zeke always know Jason could look like this?
He swallowed, nodding silently and meeting Zeke's shy lilac gaze through the mirror.
"I like it… I like it a lot, actually. I hope it's what you imagined in your head when you chose it for me," he admitted softly, eyes flitting between himself and Zeke- a bit shy himself. "I… I've never been ugly- I mean I've always known I have… an appeal to people. But… I have always wished I could be… pretty." He met Zeke's eyes again, but turned to take his hands. "I do now. With you. Because of you," he whispered, leaning into to kiss him chastly, pulling away just as his stomach growled.
He smirked, "Guess I'm hungrier than I thought."
He tugged Zeke's hand and lead him out of the bathroom and up the stairs to the main house, opening the Grandfather clock in Bruce's study and leading him down the winding halls of his… other home.
There were recent family portraits updated to have all current members and some that were just of Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Cass. Dick and Damian had also insisted on each having their own photos with Jason after Tim had stated wanting a photo or two of just him and Bruce. They hadn't known it was an option. Jason had retaliated by demanding photos of himself with Stephanie and Duke who had their own photos with Cass and Tim. Alfred had been bullied into his own photos with them all as well. Barbara had also called dibs on Jason and Cass for her own photos. There were more along the way with more people- friends and chosen family alike. Dick and Kori's wedding photos that Bruce made professional copies of. The Justice League in civvies at the Christmas party the year before... But…
Bruce in his recent years had slowly let himself have things of joy. And once Jason had come back- not just to life, but to the family- he had been less inclined to take any of it for granted.
He hoped one day that Zeke would be in a portrait with him. The thought was brief but now that he had plans to purchase his own home he let the seed of it take root and fill his heart with longing for a future with the man whose hand fit so perfectly in his own.
Jason lead them down a grand staircase and through to the dining room, where the rest of the family was just settling in.
Jason pulled a seat out for Zeke, pushing his chair in silently before sitting down next to Bruce and across from Dick.
"Alfred made spaghetti and meatballs," Tim said from Dick's other side, grabbing a breadstick for his own plate.
Alfred had also made a salad and a vegetarian sauce for Damian's pasta.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the hall and Duke trudged in. "I smelled food."
There had been a plate set for him already and he dropped into his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Did I miss anything?"
Then he blinked. "Um… Jason has wings. And cat boy ears. Are we just gonna-"
Steph answered him nonchalantly from where she sat next to Zeke, piling food onto her plate and passing Cass an extra breadstick. "He almost died and then turned into a kitty boy angel. His boyfriend also turned into a super hot demon-"
"So cute!" Cass said.
Duke looked around the table and then shrugged. "Glad you're not dead. Barbara left?"
"She did. She's reviewing footage of the incident still. She asked to be sent a plate," Bruce said, trying and failing not to stare at Jason's wings. Something about the sight of them made his own back ache in ways he couldn't explain.
"A Tupperware has already been set aside, Master Bruce,"Alfred said, pouring water into his cup.
"Hn. Thank you, Alfred."
Damian nodded toward Jason. "How are you feeling?"
Jason smiled, filling Zeke's plate and then his own.
"Better than ever," he said.
It was true.
Now that the initial pain had passed there was a rightness settling in his spirit. And he had his family and he had Zeke. And his life was his and it was good.
He stabbed his fork into a meatball and brought it to his mouth, humming happily at the taste. He loved good food.
"We wont be staying long, though. I've kidnapped Zeke long enough and I'm taking him home after this."
Bruce frowned a little but nodded. "Fine. But if you need anything-"
Jason waved him off. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. If something is wrong you'll be the first to know. Promise." He turned his head toward Zeke, eyes softening. "I'm in good hands anyway."
Dick made a gagging sound. "I'm trying to eat, Little Wing."
Jason was the perfect picture of innocence. "What ever do you mean, brother dear? I'm a literal angel."
Bruce's shoulders shook with laughter. "I agree. And so was the Devil."
Jason gasped, holding a hand to his chest, scandalized. "Hey!"
Laughter filled the room and it seemed that everything would be alright.
Jason scooter closer to Zeke, pressing their thighs together, just to have some contact as he continued to eat.
"So good," he murmured.
Standing to the side, watching his beloved take in the new outfit, Zeke felt a deep sense of satisfaction at the positive response. He knew that this wasn't any style that he'd seen on Jason thus far, but his experience with his darling's fashion sense was woefully small. This had been a simple testing of the waters, in something he thought would make his lover feel as stunning as he looked. His nerves melted away as Jason turned to take his hands and explain how he had always wanted to feel pretty.
"I've thought you were pretty since the moment I laid eyes on you, baby." Zeke squeezed his darling's hands reassuringly as a chaste kiss was placed on his lips. A part of him selfishly wished that he could keep his beloved all to himself for a bit longer, but the sooner they joined the rest of the family for a comfort meal, the sooner they could excuse themselves to the privacy of the sanctum.
Zeke consoled himself with that as he was pulled from the sanctuary of the spa, hand holding firmly to his lover's as he was lead out of the cave and through the grandiose Wayne Manor. As much as he enjoyed the way Jason's silky top and delicate gold chains moved against that lovely skin - now healed from all the marks that he'd previously left - Zeke's instinct made him inspect his surroundings, taking note of the volume of photos and their contents.
It was a plethora of family portraits.
That was a complicated tangle of emotions. Of course he was glad that his soulmate had a clearly tight-knit family. Of course he was. It just made him wonder if his portrait still hung from the wall next to his demons. They must have taken thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of photos with and of him during his time in Hell - Asmo especially was fond of snapping dozens at every opportunity. Did they keep any of them? Were any still displayed? Had they been shoved in a box in the attic to be forgotten? His chest tightened painfully at the uncertainty.
How terrible was the thought of the only family he had known to choose to forget him?
Dwelling on it would only bring down the mood, and Zeke refused to allow that. He could not know for certain, so speculation was pointless. Jason's hand was warm and comforting in his own and he turned focus onto that as they made their way down a grand staircase. Against all odds, he was alive and had found his soul entwined with someone lovelier than his wildest imaginings. There was nothing he could do about the families he had lost, except to seize this opportunity to build a new one.
When they entered the lively dining room, he allowed himself to feel the gentle warmth that rose to his cheeks as Jason pulled a chair out for him. The sweet, gentlemanly little things that his mate did seemingly without a second thought never failed to fluster him.
Zeke had thought he would hate someone being able to fluster and affect him so easily. Especially since he had never been easy to fluster before Jason. Instead of annoyance he felt warmth and happiness.
It made him feel taken care of - a feeling he hadn't truly felt in a long time.
Shortly after getting seated, Duke appeared looking very much as if he had only just woken up. Which he likely had. Zeke barely suppressed a snort at the question. Had he missed anything? It was humorous, how well Duke rolled with the fact that Jason was suddenly sporting wings and feline ears. Stephanie gave a very succinct recap.
Although he could have done without her commentary on his appearance as a demon, the tips of his ears turning pink as Cass chimed in with her own opinion on his demon form. All that aside, he braced himself for his beloved's denial of his title as boyfriend, but this time it never came.
Instead the conversation simply moved on seamlessly. Zeke felt himself shrink slightly in his chair at the mention of reviewing video of the incident. Regardless of what the girls said of his appearance, all he could feel was embarrassment and shame over it. He had lost control. The demon coming out in that warehouse was not a good thing. At the time Zeke couldn't bother to think that they would all likely see what the darkness in him wouldn't hesitate to do when provoked, but now he wished he could hide that part of himself from them.
Thankfully Damian brought the focus back to Jason, and Zeke sat up straighter to pay attention to how his darling was feeling. His heart did that traitorous little flutter again as his mate filled his plate for him.
"Thank you, baby." He murmured shyly as he picked up his fork, twirling the pasta around until he could take a clean bite, refusing to slurp messily. Zeke had barely chewed and swallowed his first bite before his beloved mentioned they wouldn't be staying long. "Kidnapped is a strong word," he muttered as he used a fork to cut a meatball into quarters for easily managed bites.
Zeke paused, glancing to his mate with a blush when he said he'd be in good hands. It made him happy that Jason thought so. Taking care of him, protecting him - and getting the same in return - was his deepest desire.
The tenderness of the moment was broken by Dick's dramatic gagging and Zeke found himself nearly snorting around a mouthful of spaghetti at the banter that ensued.
I missed this.
For a few moments his mind was in a different time and place, universes apart. Flickering memories of his seven demons around the dining table in the House of Lamentation, bickering and teasing each other, laughter and indignation in equal measure - even the occasional chase or food fight breaking out. Lucifer scolding them all if they got too rowdy.
It was the warmth of Jason's thigh pressing against his own that brought Zeke's mind back to the present, and he blinked his eyes rapidly as he settled back into the moment. The memories were a bittersweet ache in his chest, but it wasn't a crippling wave of homesickness as it once was in years past.
This day and night had to count as emotional whiplash. There had been so many emotions in such a huge range. As much as he was pleased he got to meet Jason's family he couldn't wait until they could retreat to the sanctum. He wanted to drown in good feelings and physical comfort with his soulmate. It was realistically such a short time that they had met and spent together, but at the same time it felt like he'd been waiting forever to claim and be claimed.
Speaking of claiming…
Back at the sanctum shadows crept from their dark corners and set to work. Zeke wanted everything to be ready for their arrival once they finished their meal and said their goodbyes. To that end he made sure to eat both as politely and as quickly as possible. The spaghetti was quite good, and he needed to replenish the energy he had expended during their hunt - he was planning to need it.
Dinner proceeded pleasantly and Jay basked in the presence of his family and Zeke sharing space around him. It kept a hopeful smile on his face for the next hour until he saw fit to excuse them from the table.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, rubbing his belly, eyes shaped like crescents from the pleased grin on his face.
Duke snorted fondly. "Big back."
Jason shrugged. "Guilty. Besides it was really good."
"I'm pleased to hear that as always, Master Jason," Alfred said as he cleared the plates of those who had finished their meals. "Remain seated so that I may bring a Tupperware with dessert to go."
Dick frowned. "Why can't they just eat it here- ow!"
Tim had flicked him on the head, jerking his head toward Zeke and Dick's eyes widened in horror when he realized. He was just about to open his mouth again to protest his little brother being defiled (though he was far from a virgin) when Bruce cleared his throat in warning.
"B-But- B! He- they- " he sputtered helplessly.
"Are adults," Bruce finished for him, shooting them a 1000 megawatt smile. "Please, as soon as Alfred comes back- leave. I would rather you not fornicate in my house. Thanks."
Bruce had not missed the way Jason was dressed and he knew his son didn't tend to wear such things. Which could only mean it was Zeke's doing. And that was … fine. Except that it was a lot of emotions still running high, which meant hormones for two mostly healthy adult men would be at an all time high after the adrenaline rush from the days events.
Hell, he and Hal were middle aged and even their relationship- new territory for them as it was at this point- was incredibly active in that department.
He was happy for them. Really. But they needed to get that out of their system … just not at his house.
Jason grinned, wide and sharp and full of teeth.
"Why does everyone act like I'm up to no good?" He crooned, tilting his head innocently.
Bruce stared at him blankly just as Alfred swept into the room and handed Jason Tupperware full of goodies.
Jason took it wordlessly, still staring his father down.
"I love you," Bruce said plainly, "Now get out."
Jason stood, saluting everyone. The girls and Tim waved, Duke grunting a goodbye as he continue to slowly eat his spaghetti.
Damian straightened, telling him, "If you feel unwell at all please call me and I'll come to your place at once."
Jason smiled fondly, mostly because he also still spoke in a similar way to Zeke. Perhaps they'd get along indefinitely. The thought made his chest warm.
He offered Zeke his hand to help him stand, ignoring Dick glaring daggers at them.
"Zeke, dont defile my baby!" He shouted after them, groaning in misery as they disappeared into the hall. Bruce patted his back in sympathy and he was quickly assuaged by Alfred placing a slice of pie in front of him.
Jason was cackling as they made their way back to the cave. Jason found Hamza sleeping on the console of the Bat Computer and scooped him into his arms after handing Zeke the containers of sweet treats.
"Hi, baby. Did you miss papa? I'm sorry I worried you."
He healed us, Jasper chimed in his mind.
Jason blinked, scratching behind his ears and earning a pleased little purr.
"Aw is that right. Did you help out? What a good kitty."
He looked at Zeke, eyes bright with fondness.
"Take me home, handsome?"
NSFW
It was a relief how peaceful the meal proved to be. Aside from the scare they had all had over Jason's unexpected transformation and injury, it had been a remarkably smooth introduction and collaboration between himself and this highly cohesive group of vigilantes. Zeke had expected far more suspicion and pushback, especially after revealing his demonic ties. Instead he felt like they had already begun to fold him into the family as if his presence was a matter of course. As if it was natural to let him belong at Jason's side among them.
Zeke focused on eating, just letting himself sit as part of their inner circle without interjecting himself into their family dynamic. Well, not entirely focused on the spaghetti, it was certainly very well made, but his eyes kept darting to his side, soaking in the sight of how content and pleased his beloved was here surrounded by his family and enjoying a tasty meal.
There was also the matter of the immensely flattering outfit that he had provided his darling. No one had commented on it, much to his relief. Zeke hadn't taken the family's reaction into account when dressing his treasure up.
Instead his main consideration had been comfort and appeal because it was certainly distracting. Maybe he should have taken that into account so he wouldn't be eye-fucking his lover while sharing a meal with his hopefully future in-laws. They were all detective vigilantes, so at least some of them had to have noticed. Nobody had called him on it, which he was eternally grateful for even if he couldn't completely suppress a faint blush for the better part of the hour spent on food.
When his beloved finally sat back looking very satisfied, Zeke almost thought he'd gotten away without being embarrassed. Until Alfred made a point that he would bring them dessert to go. He froze as he felt his soul just about leave his body at the exchange between Dick and Tim.
Oh no.
Zeke couldn't stop the slight flinch as Bruce cleared his throat in warning, unable to so much as glance in Batman's direction. He wanted to sink into the floor and be swallowed by the earth in that moment. The faint blush erupted into a much deeper shade of red as he sank down in his chair a bit. At least Bruce didn't seem upset exactly. Although he almost wanted to snicker as they were basically being kicked out and he did make a strangled sort of groan at the word fornicate was used. He covered his face, not that it could hide how bright red his ears had become.
Can this get more embarrassing?
Apparently it could, because Jason just had to act innocent about the whole thing. Zeke did snort that time, peeking out at his darling with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
It is going to be so, so good.
Honestly this was the moment he'd been waiting for all through dinner. The time he could finally steal his lover away to his sanctum and hog all of his attention. It was going to be absolute bliss, and not just because he planned to fuck his darling dumb. What he wanted most was the intimacy, the closeness, and to be the center of Jason's focus.
Alfred handed off the container of treats, and Zeke eagerly grabbed Jason's hand, shooting out of his chair in a rush. He was still blushing furiously, still a bit embarrassed, but he was more focused on getting Jason alone.
"Thank you for the food, it was nice meeting you." He got out in a rush with a wave of his free hand as his beloved started leading him back the way they came. Zeke gave another groan of mortification at what Dick shouted at them as they left. His voice was a bit of a mutter, probably not even audible over the cackles of his mate. "I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."
Although defile didn't seem the right word to him. That made it sound profane. He wanted to lovingly fuck nasty. Of course he also wanted to make love to Jason. Zeke wanted anything and everything his soulmate was willing to give and wanted to give all of himself in return.
He squeezed Jason's hand and took the container of sweets so his darling could dote on Hamza, watching fondly. His mate was going to be a good parent someday.
"Gladly, beautiful." Zeke stepped into Jason's space, letting one warm hand settle at his lover's waist before sliding it around his side and resting it at his beloved's lower back, keeping him pressed close as the shadows swirled around them, pulling the three of them through the void and depositing them gently inside a grand bedroom.
The lighting was all from the soft, warm glow of candles and moonlight filtering in through the sheer curtains. An entire wall was floor to ceiling mirrors. Everything was in black, and silver, and white - all tasteful and elegant with a very clear gothic influence.
Deep red rose petals were scattered around the room.
Zeke had whisked the container away to the kitchen to be enjoyed later. They were likely to work up an appetite after all.
"Grim." A black cat with faintly glowing eyes melted out of the shadows, looking up at them as it awaited instructions. "This is Jason and Hamza, be a good kitty and look after Hamza for us? Show him where he can find food, litter, and toys."
The familiar didn't respond, merely blinked slowly before slinking towards the bedroom door that opened just wide enough to accommodate the felines. It paused at the door and waited for Hamza.
"He'll be in good hands, mi tesoro." As tempting as it had been to immediately throw his lover onto the bed so he could begin replacing the claiming marks that had been healed, Zeke wanted to make sure that the magical cat was taken care of so that his beloved could relax and enjoy their time together without worrying about his baby.
His fingers played with the chains at Jason's back, waiting patiently - or maybe impatiently - for the cats to be allowed to leave. The door shut behind them and Zeke was on Jason immediately, grabbing those chains and pulling him until their bodies were pressed against each other. Zeke dragged his mate into a heated, desperate kiss with a low groan. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of the crimson shirt to feel his way up those toned abs until he could give a gentle pinch to a nipple.
"Fuck, baby you have no idea how hard it was sitting next to you looking like this and unable to touch you. I thought I would lose my mind - trying to restrain myself while your family was right there." The words were a husky growl against Jason's lips, spoken only when he had to break the kiss for air. Instead of immediately going back in for another kiss, Zeke dropped his head down so that he could bite and suck at his beloved's neck. He couldn't stand not having any of his marks pressed possessively into Jason's skin a moment longer. Between bruising kisses along his lover's throat. "Need to mark you all up again."
Zeke forced himself to let go and take a step back.
Shadows immediately came out, winding tendrils that gently wrapped around Jason before lifting him and tossing him onto the bed. Zeke stalked towards the bed while pulling his sweater over his head.
"You have no idea how fucking bad I wanted to be inside you earlier, baby. It felt so good feeling you come on my fingers, just made me think of how much better it'd feel when you came on my cock." He crawled onto the bed, ran a hand over the front of Jason's bulge, eyes glowing faintly pink as he gazed up at his lover with a smouldering look. "You want that too, baby? Want me to fuck you good and fill you up?"
Honestly Zeke didn't wait for an answer before he was pushing the silky shirt up so that his mouth could latch onto the exposed skin, just above the waistline of the leather pants he'd chosen for his darling and began sucking and biting his way up. Annoyed by the clothes in his way, the shadows swirled and both their clothing disappeared into mist, giving him free reign to taste his beloved's skin even as one hand wrapped around Jason's cock to slowly stroke him.
NSFW
NSFW
A low, throaty groan echoed in his throat as his lover's fingers threaded into his hair. It wasn't even a sexual touch, but it was enough to make his body tingle and burn all over. Any attention from this adonis of a man, any touch, any word and he was ready to fall apart and be put back together again.
Mine.
Jason made the prettiest sounds, and the way he practically begged to be fucked had Zeke already painfully hard barely even being touched yet. He bet he could get off on just his beloved's cute noises if he tried. Maybe another time, he was far, far too impatient for that kind of experimentation at the moment. He needed to be inside his darling right now. The build up to this moment had been monumental.
His mouth found it's way to his mate's chest, sucking more bruising kisses across the expanse even as he positioned himself between those enticingly - and oh so inviting - spread thighs. With great reluctance he let go of Jason's cock, reaching down instead to circle his rim with his middle finger, concentrating even as his mouth found and latched onto a nipple. Warm lubricant began spreading from his fingers - thank you Asmo for teaching him this little trick! - and he didn't tease, just getting his fingers and Jason's entrance nice and slick before sliding his middle finger inside to the knuckle.
Groaning at the feeling he released the nipple in his mouth with a gentle nip before sitting up between his beloved's thighs so he could look down at him - and what a sight. Jason was so pretty, flushed skin, heaving chest, water gathering at those lashes.
"You're so pretty, Jason." His voice was a reverent rasp as he worked a second finger inside his lover and began stretching him as quickly as he could without hurting him. "Fuck. So, so pretty - and all mine."
Zeke was absolutely going to take his time with Jason, make gentle love to him with all the tenderness that he possessed - just not now. The lust between them was too high, too frantic, too desperate. He needed to feel his soulmate and his mate had openly said he wanted to feel him too. More than that, he could feel that need churning in his gut right next to his own.
"M'gonna make you feel so good, baby." He pulled his fingers out, wrapped his fingers around his own cock to give a couple strokes to make sure he was nice and slick, then lined himself up without anymore hesitation or doubt. When the head breached that tight ring of muscle he let out a guttural groan deep from his chest but did not stop, didn't pause to check on Jason - his lover knew he could say a single word at any time to stop everything and he trusted that his beloved would if necessary.
He didn't slam his hips forward, it was a steady glide, but he didn't stop until he was as deep as he could be, until he could feel every inch being squeezed in the heat that was Jason. Zeke's chest was heaving as he made a strangled sound somewhere between a whimper and a moan as he took a moment to savor the feeling, he hadn't looked away from his mate's face once, taking in every twitch in his lover's expression.
"Fuuuuuck. You feel so damn good, baby. So fucking good." Leaning back down he drew Jason into another heated kiss as he pulled his hips back slow until only the head was left in, this time he did slam his hips forward, moaning into the kiss as he began thrusting with a fast, hard pace.
Jason had told him not to hold back - so he didn't.
NSFW
Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Zeke loved making Jason blush, his darling was so cute. He didn't get to admire the way his sweetheart turned pink for long, because he was drawn into a slow, indulgent kiss that had his eyes fluttering closed with a muffled groan. His arms slid from around his beloved's neck, slipping down to wrap around that absolutely sinful waist as Jason climbed into his lap.
Were his clothes now damp?
Yes.
Did he care?
Hell no.
There were far higher priorities currently, like focusing on why his lover was crying, the sob made his heart squeeze painfully. Zeke wanted to soothe every hurt, every ache, both physical and emotional. It was impossible to deny the kisses that followed, face flushing as their make-out grew louder. They were still in Jason's family home. Sure, the others had stepped away to 'give them a moment' but how much longer until someone barged in on them?
Damnit.
Was he into that?
He hadn't thought he was into that?
Fuck.
He might be into that.
"Baby…" His voice was a gentle murmur as his darling finally ended his assault of kisses by burying his face against his neck. Zeke's hands had started rubbing gentle circles against Jason's lower back, beneath those glorious wings that blanketed them in semi-privacy. He felt the way his lover shook beneath his hands and he wished so badly that there were a different reason for the shaking. Soft kisses were pressed into his beloved's dark hair. He didn't rush Jason to speak further, simply held him until he was ready.
When Jason leaned back, Zeke searched his face in the brief moments before he was graced with that smile, and he knew that he would kill or die for that smile. He kept one arm around his darling's waist while raising the other until he was tenderly cradling his mate's jaw, thumb tracing so very gently beneath one teary eye.
Zeke couldn't stop the way his eyes dilated at the assertion that Jason would let him do anything he wanted to him. Should he be ashamed of all the things he wanted to do to this man? He forced himself to focus only on his darling and his words, not the myriad of thoughts swirling in the back of his mind.
Something in his chest cracked open a little at how much trust Jason had in him. He was not a good person. Fools trusted him. Zeke had manipulated, tortured, murdered - no one should trust him. Yes, he wanted to earn the trust of Jason's family, because it would mean something to his mate and because he had been so achingly lonely for a long time and wanted a family. His motivations were selfish.
"You are my greatest consideration - I would never hurt you on purpose." Zeke was taking Jason into every consideration he was making regarding his future. That was the only option, he felt that to the depths of his soul.
He made an almost wounded sound at what his beloved said next, or more how he said it. Zeke pulled Jason closer, readjusting himself slightly as he felt the way their bodies pressed together, his arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect his soulmate from his own words even as they made his own chest constrict painfully. Earlier he had been absolutely petrified that he would lose Jason, his beloved's screams had been agony. He understood exactly what he meant. The idea of never waking up in his mate's arms again would have broken him if Jason were not alive and sobbing in his arms.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Zeke exhaled shakily.
"You won't die, not without me. I won't allow it. I would fight Death itself if I had to." And he meant it.
Cool hands reached up to sweetly cup Jason's face as he sniffled and once again looked up to him, speaking in ways that had him near insane, heart skipping and thundering. His darling would be the death of him. Especially when he turned that voice so sickly sweet.
Irresistible.
Not that he wanted to resist.
"Oh mi alma, you have no idea how badly I want to take you." Zeke leaned in to press a deceptively sweet kiss against Jason's mouth before sucking and nipping at his bottom lip. His eyes were hooded and he gave a gentle buck of his hips, sure that his beloved could feel how wanted he was.
In every way.
"My sanctum will forever and always be open to you, mi tesoro, but you are my home. So let's get you dressed for this comfort meal, hmm?" The shadows gathered and swirled around them both, when they dispersed again Zeke's clothing was dry, as was Jason. A pair of black leather pants hugged Jason's thighs, hips, and ass in just the right way. A silky sleeveless top of deep crimson hugged his muscled torso, although calling it a top might be generous. Golden rings sat at the shoulders holding the front to a back that dipped almost to Jason's ass together, golden chains above and below the wing joints keeping it from sliding off, while giving his wings free movement, likewise the sides were kept together with more golden chains.
The black leather boots were sleek and slightly heeled, designed for both comfort and elegance. Golden bracelets were stacked at Jason's wrists and more golden chains hung down his chest. He wanted his beloved to look stunning and feel as gorgeous as he was with those enchanting wings on full display.
Zeke would have started drooling if he weren't careful, he had to swallow thickly, staring down at his beloved in his lap. A flush crept down his neck and up to the tips of his ears, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.
"Do you like it? I can change anything that isn't to your liking." He gently encouraged Jason to go see himself in one of the mirrors.
Jason couldn't help but press his face into Zeke's hands as his cheeks were cradled and wiped free of tears, a gasp rushing out of him as Zeke bucked up into him, letting him feel how much he wanted Jason, the simmer of pure want thrumming through the bond so much that Jason could taste it.
Zeke's reassurance came easily as it always did. He was so good with words. And Jason lived for it. For the way his sentences always felt woven with intention.
You are my home.
Jason's blush would be permanent if Zeke kept it up.
His eyes softened with pure adoration, head tilting- showing off his feline ears and shoulders relaxing visibly, wings dropping from their protective cacoon stance and into something more akin to a cape, the tips of his feathers brushing the ground.
And then Zeke was dressing him with magic.
Like a fucking fairy godmother.
Jason really was a princess now.
Zeke definitely had different taste than Jason did- but that wasn't a bad thing. The clothing was actually comfortable, for one. And when Zeke lead him to the mirror he gasped at his own reflection.
"Woah," he breathed.
He did look hot.
Was this how Zeke pictured him? Had Zeke always know Jason could look like this?
He swallowed, nodding silently and meeting Zeke's shy lilac gaze through the mirror.
"I like it… I like it a lot, actually. I hope it's what you imagined in your head when you chose it for me," he admitted softly, eyes flitting between himself and Zeke- a bit shy himself. "I… I've never been ugly- I mean I've always known I have… an appeal to people. But… I have always wished I could be… pretty." He met Zeke's eyes again, but turned to take his hands. "I do now. With you. Because of you," he whispered, leaning into to kiss him chastly, pulling away just as his stomach growled.
He smirked, "Guess I'm hungrier than I thought."
He tugged Zeke's hand and lead him out of the bathroom and up the stairs to the main house, opening the Grandfather clock in Bruce's study and leading him down the winding halls of his… other home.
There were recent family portraits updated to have all current members and some that were just of Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Cass. Dick and Damian had also insisted on each having their own photos with Jason after Tim had stated wanting a photo or two of just him and Bruce. They hadn't known it was an option. Jason had retaliated by demanding photos of himself with Stephanie and Duke who had their own photos with Cass and Tim. Alfred had been bullied into his own photos with them all as well. Barbara had also called dibs on Jason and Cass for her own photos. There were more along the way with more people- friends and chosen family alike. Dick and Kori's wedding photos that Bruce made professional copies of. The Justice League in civvies at the Christmas party the year before... But…
Bruce in his recent years had slowly let himself have things of joy. And once Jason had come back- not just to life, but to the family- he had been less inclined to take any of it for granted.
He hoped one day that Zeke would be in a portrait with him. The thought was brief but now that he had plans to purchase his own home he let the seed of it take root and fill his heart with longing for a future with the man whose hand fit so perfectly in his own.
Jason lead them down a grand staircase and through to the dining room, where the rest of the family was just settling in.
Jason pulled a seat out for Zeke, pushing his chair in silently before sitting down next to Bruce and across from Dick.
"Alfred made spaghetti and meatballs," Tim said from Dick's other side, grabbing a breadstick for his own plate.
Alfred had also made a salad and a vegetarian sauce for Damian's pasta.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the hall and Duke trudged in. "I smelled food."
There had been a plate set for him already and he dropped into his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Did I miss anything?"
Then he blinked. "Um… Jason has wings. And cat boy ears. Are we just gonna-"
Steph answered him nonchalantly from where she sat next to Zeke, piling food onto her plate and passing Cass an extra breadstick. "He almost died and then turned into a kitty boy angel. His boyfriend also turned into a super hot demon-"
"So cute!" Cass said.
Duke looked around the table and then shrugged. "Glad you're not dead. Barbara left?"
"She did. She's reviewing footage of the incident still. She asked to be sent a plate," Bruce said, trying and failing not to stare at Jason's wings. Something about the sight of them made his own back ache in ways he couldn't explain.
"A Tupperware has already been set aside, Master Bruce,"Alfred said, pouring water into his cup.
"Hn. Thank you, Alfred."
Damian nodded toward Jason. "How are you feeling?"
Jason smiled, filling Zeke's plate and then his own.
"Better than ever," he said.
It was true.
Now that the initial pain had passed there was a rightness settling in his spirit. And he had his family and he had Zeke. And his life was his and it was good.
He stabbed his fork into a meatball and brought it to his mouth, humming happily at the taste. He loved good food.
"We wont be staying long, though. I've kidnapped Zeke long enough and I'm taking him home after this."
Bruce frowned a little but nodded. "Fine. But if you need anything-"
Jason waved him off. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. If something is wrong you'll be the first to know. Promise." He turned his head toward Zeke, eyes softening. "I'm in good hands anyway."
Dick made a gagging sound. "I'm trying to eat, Little Wing."
Jason was the perfect picture of innocence. "What ever do you mean, brother dear? I'm a literal angel."
Bruce's shoulders shook with laughter. "I agree. And so was the Devil."
Jason gasped, holding a hand to his chest, scandalized. "Hey!"
Laughter filled the room and it seemed that everything would be alright.
Jason scooter closer to Zeke, pressing their thighs together, just to have some contact as he continued to eat.
"So good," he murmured.
Standing to the side, watching his beloved take in the new outfit, Zeke felt a deep sense of satisfaction at the positive response. He knew that this wasn't any style that he'd seen on Jason thus far, but his experience with his darling's fashion sense was woefully small. This had been a simple testing of the waters, in something he thought would make his lover feel as stunning as he looked. His nerves melted away as Jason turned to take his hands and explain how he had always wanted to feel pretty.
"I've thought you were pretty since the moment I laid eyes on you, baby." Zeke squeezed his darling's hands reassuringly as a chaste kiss was placed on his lips. A part of him selfishly wished that he could keep his beloved all to himself for a bit longer, but the sooner they joined the rest of the family for a comfort meal, the sooner they could excuse themselves to the privacy of the sanctum.
Zeke consoled himself with that as he was pulled from the sanctuary of the spa, hand holding firmly to his lover's as he was lead out of the cave and through the grandiose Wayne Manor. As much as he enjoyed the way Jason's silky top and delicate gold chains moved against that lovely skin - now healed from all the marks that he'd previously left - Zeke's instinct made him inspect his surroundings, taking note of the volume of photos and their contents.
It was a plethora of family portraits.
That was a complicated tangle of emotions. Of course he was glad that his soulmate had a clearly tight-knit family. Of course he was. It just made him wonder if his portrait still hung from the wall next to his demons. They must have taken thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of photos with and of him during his time in Hell - Asmo especially was fond of snapping dozens at every opportunity. Did they keep any of them? Were any still displayed? Had they been shoved in a box in the attic to be forgotten? His chest tightened painfully at the uncertainty.
How terrible was the thought of the only family he had known to choose to forget him?
Dwelling on it would only bring down the mood, and Zeke refused to allow that. He could not know for certain, so speculation was pointless. Jason's hand was warm and comforting in his own and he turned focus onto that as they made their way down a grand staircase. Against all odds, he was alive and had found his soul entwined with someone lovelier than his wildest imaginings. There was nothing he could do about the families he had lost, except to seize this opportunity to build a new one.
When they entered the lively dining room, he allowed himself to feel the gentle warmth that rose to his cheeks as Jason pulled a chair out for him. The sweet, gentlemanly little things that his mate did seemingly without a second thought never failed to fluster him.
Zeke had thought he would hate someone being able to fluster and affect him so easily. Especially since he had never been easy to fluster before Jason. Instead of annoyance he felt warmth and happiness.
It made him feel taken care of - a feeling he hadn't truly felt in a long time.
Shortly after getting seated, Duke appeared looking very much as if he had only just woken up. Which he likely had. Zeke barely suppressed a snort at the question. Had he missed anything? It was humorous, how well Duke rolled with the fact that Jason was suddenly sporting wings and feline ears. Stephanie gave a very succinct recap.
Although he could have done without her commentary on his appearance as a demon, the tips of his ears turning pink as Cass chimed in with her own opinion on his demon form. All that aside, he braced himself for his beloved's denial of his title as boyfriend, but this time it never came.
Instead the conversation simply moved on seamlessly. Zeke felt himself shrink slightly in his chair at the mention of reviewing video of the incident. Regardless of what the girls said of his appearance, all he could feel was embarrassment and shame over it. He had lost control. The demon coming out in that warehouse was not a good thing. At the time Zeke couldn't bother to think that they would all likely see what the darkness in him wouldn't hesitate to do when provoked, but now he wished he could hide that part of himself from them.
Thankfully Damian brought the focus back to Jason, and Zeke sat up straighter to pay attention to how his darling was feeling. His heart did that traitorous little flutter again as his mate filled his plate for him.
"Thank you, baby." He murmured shyly as he picked up his fork, twirling the pasta around until he could take a clean bite, refusing to slurp messily. Zeke had barely chewed and swallowed his first bite before his beloved mentioned they wouldn't be staying long. "Kidnapped is a strong word," he muttered as he used a fork to cut a meatball into quarters for easily managed bites.
Zeke paused, glancing to his mate with a blush when he said he'd be in good hands. It made him happy that Jason thought so. Taking care of him, protecting him - and getting the same in return - was his deepest desire.
The tenderness of the moment was broken by Dick's dramatic gagging and Zeke found himself nearly snorting around a mouthful of spaghetti at the banter that ensued.
I missed this.
For a few moments his mind was in a different time and place, universes apart. Flickering memories of his seven demons around the dining table in the House of Lamentation, bickering and teasing each other, laughter and indignation in equal measure - even the occasional chase or food fight breaking out. Lucifer scolding them all if they got too rowdy.
It was the warmth of Jason's thigh pressing against his own that brought Zeke's mind back to the present, and he blinked his eyes rapidly as he settled back into the moment. The memories were a bittersweet ache in his chest, but it wasn't a crippling wave of homesickness as it once was in years past.
This day and night had to count as emotional whiplash. There had been so many emotions in such a huge range. As much as he was pleased he got to meet Jason's family he couldn't wait until they could retreat to the sanctum. He wanted to drown in good feelings and physical comfort with his soulmate. It was realistically such a short time that they had met and spent together, but at the same time it felt like he'd been waiting forever to claim and be claimed.
Speaking of claiming…
Back at the sanctum shadows crept from their dark corners and set to work. Zeke wanted everything to be ready for their arrival once they finished their meal and said their goodbyes. To that end he made sure to eat both as politely and as quickly as possible. The spaghetti was quite good, and he needed to replenish the energy he had expended during their hunt - he was planning to need it.
Dinner proceeded pleasantly and Jay basked in the presence of his family and Zeke sharing space around him. It kept a hopeful smile on his face for the next hour until he saw fit to excuse them from the table.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, rubbing his belly, eyes shaped like crescents from the pleased grin on his face.
Duke snorted fondly. "Big back."
Jason shrugged. "Guilty. Besides it was really good."
"I'm pleased to hear that as always, Master Jason," Alfred said as he cleared the plates of those who had finished their meals. "Remain seated so that I may bring a Tupperware with dessert to go."
Dick frowned. "Why can't they just eat it here- ow!"
Tim had flicked him on the head, jerking his head toward Zeke and Dick's eyes widened in horror when he realized. He was just about to open his mouth again to protest his little brother being defiled (though he was far from a virgin) when Bruce cleared his throat in warning.
"B-But- B! He- they- " he sputtered helplessly.
"Are adults," Bruce finished for him, shooting them a 1000 megawatt smile. "Please, as soon as Alfred comes back- leave. I would rather you not fornicate in my house. Thanks."
Bruce had not missed the way Jason was dressed and he knew his son didn't tend to wear such things. Which could only mean it was Zeke's doing. And that was … fine. Except that it was a lot of emotions still running high, which meant hormones for two mostly healthy adult men would be at an all time high after the adrenaline rush from the days events.
Hell, he and Hal were middle aged and even their relationship- new territory for them as it was at this point- was incredibly active in that department.
He was happy for them. Really. But they needed to get that out of their system … just not at his house.
Jason grinned, wide and sharp and full of teeth.
"Why does everyone act like I'm up to no good?" He crooned, tilting his head innocently.
Bruce stared at him blankly just as Alfred swept into the room and handed Jason Tupperware full of goodies.
Jason took it wordlessly, still staring his father down.
"I love you," Bruce said plainly, "Now get out."
Jason stood, saluting everyone. The girls and Tim waved, Duke grunting a goodbye as he continue to slowly eat his spaghetti.
Damian straightened, telling him, "If you feel unwell at all please call me and I'll come to your place at once."
Jason smiled fondly, mostly because he also still spoke in a similar way to Zeke. Perhaps they'd get along indefinitely. The thought made his chest warm.
He offered Zeke his hand to help him stand, ignoring Dick glaring daggers at them.
"Zeke, dont defile my baby!" He shouted after them, groaning in misery as they disappeared into the hall. Bruce patted his back in sympathy and he was quickly assuaged by Alfred placing a slice of pie in front of him.
Jason was cackling as they made their way back to the cave. Jason found Hamza sleeping on the console of the Bat Computer and scooped him into his arms after handing Zeke the containers of sweet treats.
"Hi, baby. Did you miss papa? I'm sorry I worried you."
He healed us, Jasper chimed in his mind.
Jason blinked, scratching behind his ears and earning a pleased little purr.
"Aw is that right. Did you help out? What a good kitty."
He looked at Zeke, eyes bright with fondness.
"Take me home, handsome?"
NSFW
It was a relief how peaceful the meal proved to be. Aside from the scare they had all had over Jason's unexpected transformation and injury, it had been a remarkably smooth introduction and collaboration between himself and this highly cohesive group of vigilantes. Zeke had expected far more suspicion and pushback, especially after revealing his demonic ties. Instead he felt like they had already begun to fold him into the family as if his presence was a matter of course. As if it was natural to let him belong at Jason's side among them.
Zeke focused on eating, just letting himself sit as part of their inner circle without interjecting himself into their family dynamic. Well, not entirely focused on the spaghetti, it was certainly very well made, but his eyes kept darting to his side, soaking in the sight of how content and pleased his beloved was here surrounded by his family and enjoying a tasty meal.
There was also the matter of the immensely flattering outfit that he had provided his darling. No one had commented on it, much to his relief. Zeke hadn't taken the family's reaction into account when dressing his treasure up.
Instead his main consideration had been comfort and appeal because it was certainly distracting. Maybe he should have taken that into account so he wouldn't be eye-fucking his lover while sharing a meal with his hopefully future in-laws. They were all detective vigilantes, so at least some of them had to have noticed. Nobody had called him on it, which he was eternally grateful for even if he couldn't completely suppress a faint blush for the better part of the hour spent on food.
When his beloved finally sat back looking very satisfied, Zeke almost thought he'd gotten away without being embarrassed. Until Alfred made a point that he would bring them dessert to go. He froze as he felt his soul just about leave his body at the exchange between Dick and Tim.
Oh no.
Zeke couldn't stop the slight flinch as Bruce cleared his throat in warning, unable to so much as glance in Batman's direction. He wanted to sink into the floor and be swallowed by the earth in that moment. The faint blush erupted into a much deeper shade of red as he sank down in his chair a bit. At least Bruce didn't seem upset exactly. Although he almost wanted to snicker as they were basically being kicked out and he did make a strangled sort of groan at the word fornicate was used. He covered his face, not that it could hide how bright red his ears had become.
Can this get more embarrassing?
Apparently it could, because Jason just had to act innocent about the whole thing. Zeke did snort that time, peeking out at his darling with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
It is going to be so, so good.
Honestly this was the moment he'd been waiting for all through dinner. The time he could finally steal his lover away to his sanctum and hog all of his attention. It was going to be absolute bliss, and not just because he planned to fuck his darling dumb. What he wanted most was the intimacy, the closeness, and to be the center of Jason's focus.
Alfred handed off the container of treats, and Zeke eagerly grabbed Jason's hand, shooting out of his chair in a rush. He was still blushing furiously, still a bit embarrassed, but he was more focused on getting Jason alone.
"Thank you for the food, it was nice meeting you." He got out in a rush with a wave of his free hand as his beloved started leading him back the way they came. Zeke gave another groan of mortification at what Dick shouted at them as they left. His voice was a bit of a mutter, probably not even audible over the cackles of his mate. "I don't make promises I don't intend to keep."
Although defile didn't seem the right word to him. That made it sound profane. He wanted to lovingly fuck nasty. Of course he also wanted to make love to Jason. Zeke wanted anything and everything his soulmate was willing to give and wanted to give all of himself in return.
He squeezed Jason's hand and took the container of sweets so his darling could dote on Hamza, watching fondly. His mate was going to be a good parent someday.
"Gladly, beautiful." Zeke stepped into Jason's space, letting one warm hand settle at his lover's waist before sliding it around his side and resting it at his beloved's lower back, keeping him pressed close as the shadows swirled around them, pulling the three of them through the void and depositing them gently inside a grand bedroom.
The lighting was all from the soft, warm glow of candles and moonlight filtering in through the sheer curtains. An entire wall was floor to ceiling mirrors. Everything was in black, and silver, and white - all tasteful and elegant with a very clear gothic influence.
Deep red rose petals were scattered around the room.
Zeke had whisked the container away to the kitchen to be enjoyed later. They were likely to work up an appetite after all.
"Grim." A black cat with faintly glowing eyes melted out of the shadows, looking up at them as it awaited instructions. "This is Jason and Hamza, be a good kitty and look after Hamza for us? Show him where he can find food, litter, and toys."
The familiar didn't respond, merely blinked slowly before slinking towards the bedroom door that opened just wide enough to accommodate the felines. It paused at the door and waited for Hamza.
"He'll be in good hands, mi tesoro." As tempting as it had been to immediately throw his lover onto the bed so he could begin replacing the claiming marks that had been healed, Zeke wanted to make sure that the magical cat was taken care of so that his beloved could relax and enjoy their time together without worrying about his baby.
His fingers played with the chains at Jason's back, waiting patiently - or maybe impatiently - for the cats to be allowed to leave. The door shut behind them and Zeke was on Jason immediately, grabbing those chains and pulling him until their bodies were pressed against each other. Zeke dragged his mate into a heated, desperate kiss with a low groan. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of the crimson shirt to feel his way up those toned abs until he could give a gentle pinch to a nipple.
"Fuck, baby you have no idea how hard it was sitting next to you looking like this and unable to touch you. I thought I would lose my mind - trying to restrain myself while your family was right there." The words were a husky growl against Jason's lips, spoken only when he had to break the kiss for air. Instead of immediately going back in for another kiss, Zeke dropped his head down so that he could bite and suck at his beloved's neck. He couldn't stand not having any of his marks pressed possessively into Jason's skin a moment longer. Between bruising kisses along his lover's throat. "Need to mark you all up again."
Zeke forced himself to let go and take a step back.
Shadows immediately came out, winding tendrils that gently wrapped around Jason before lifting him and tossing him onto the bed. Zeke stalked towards the bed while pulling his sweater over his head.
"You have no idea how fucking bad I wanted to be inside you earlier, baby. It felt so good feeling you come on my fingers, just made me think of how much better it'd feel when you came on my cock." He crawled onto the bed, ran a hand over the front of Jason's bulge, eyes glowing faintly pink as he gazed up at his lover with a smouldering look. "You want that too, baby? Want me to fuck you good and fill you up?"
Honestly Zeke didn't wait for an answer before he was pushing the silky shirt up so that his mouth could latch onto the exposed skin, just above the waistline of the leather pants he'd chosen for his darling and began sucking and biting his way up. Annoyed by the clothes in his way, the shadows swirled and both their clothing disappeared into mist, giving him free reign to taste his beloved's skin even as one hand wrapped around Jason's cock to slowly stroke him.
NSFW
Racism in fandom spaces is actually insanely bad and if you ever try to downplay or avoid conversations about it because "fandom is supposed to be fun" then I'm not sorry to say this: You're adding on to the problem.
Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Zeke loved making Jason blush, his darling was so cute. He didn't get to admire the way his sweetheart turned pink for long, because he was drawn into a slow, indulgent kiss that had his eyes fluttering closed with a muffled groan. His arms slid from around his beloved's neck, slipping down to wrap around that absolutely sinful waist as Jason climbed into his lap.
Were his clothes now damp?
Yes.
Did he care?
Hell no.
There were far higher priorities currently, like focusing on why his lover was crying, the sob made his heart squeeze painfully. Zeke wanted to soothe every hurt, every ache, both physical and emotional. It was impossible to deny the kisses that followed, face flushing as their make-out grew louder. They were still in Jason's family home. Sure, the others had stepped away to 'give them a moment' but how much longer until someone barged in on them?
Damnit.
Was he into that?
He hadn't thought he was into that?
Fuck.
He might be into that.
"Baby…" His voice was a gentle murmur as his darling finally ended his assault of kisses by burying his face against his neck. Zeke's hands had started rubbing gentle circles against Jason's lower back, beneath those glorious wings that blanketed them in semi-privacy. He felt the way his lover shook beneath his hands and he wished so badly that there were a different reason for the shaking. Soft kisses were pressed into his beloved's dark hair. He didn't rush Jason to speak further, simply held him until he was ready.
When Jason leaned back, Zeke searched his face in the brief moments before he was graced with that smile, and he knew that he would kill or die for that smile. He kept one arm around his darling's waist while raising the other until he was tenderly cradling his mate's jaw, thumb tracing so very gently beneath one teary eye.
Zeke couldn't stop the way his eyes dilated at the assertion that Jason would let him do anything he wanted to him. Should he be ashamed of all the things he wanted to do to this man? He forced himself to focus only on his darling and his words, not the myriad of thoughts swirling in the back of his mind.
Something in his chest cracked open a little at how much trust Jason had in him. He was not a good person. Fools trusted him. Zeke had manipulated, tortured, murdered - no one should trust him. Yes, he wanted to earn the trust of Jason's family, because it would mean something to his mate and because he had been so achingly lonely for a long time and wanted a family. His motivations were selfish.
"You are my greatest consideration - I would never hurt you on purpose." Zeke was taking Jason into every consideration he was making regarding his future. That was the only option, he felt that to the depths of his soul.
He made an almost wounded sound at what his beloved said next, or more how he said it. Zeke pulled Jason closer, readjusting himself slightly as he felt the way their bodies pressed together, his arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect his soulmate from his own words even as they made his own chest constrict painfully. Earlier he had been absolutely petrified that he would lose Jason, his beloved's screams had been agony. He understood exactly what he meant. The idea of never waking up in his mate's arms again would have broken him if Jason were not alive and sobbing in his arms.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Zeke exhaled shakily.
"You won't die, not without me. I won't allow it. I would fight Death itself if I had to." And he meant it.
Cool hands reached up to sweetly cup Jason's face as he sniffled and once again looked up to him, speaking in ways that had him near insane, heart skipping and thundering. His darling would be the death of him. Especially when he turned that voice so sickly sweet.
Irresistible.
Not that he wanted to resist.
"Oh mi alma, you have no idea how badly I want to take you." Zeke leaned in to press a deceptively sweet kiss against Jason's mouth before sucking and nipping at his bottom lip. His eyes were hooded and he gave a gentle buck of his hips, sure that his beloved could feel how wanted he was.
In every way.
"My sanctum will forever and always be open to you, mi tesoro, but you are my home. So let's get you dressed for this comfort meal, hmm?" The shadows gathered and swirled around them both, when they dispersed again Zeke's clothing was dry, as was Jason. A pair of black leather pants hugged Jason's thighs, hips, and ass in just the right way. A silky sleeveless top of deep crimson hugged his muscled torso, although calling it a top might be generous. Golden rings sat at the shoulders holding the front to a back that dipped almost to Jason's ass together, golden chains above and below the wing joints keeping it from sliding off, while giving his wings free movement, likewise the sides were kept together with more golden chains.
The black leather boots were sleek and slightly heeled, designed for both comfort and elegance. Golden bracelets were stacked at Jason's wrists and more golden chains hung down his chest. He wanted his beloved to look stunning and feel as gorgeous as he was with those enchanting wings on full display.
Zeke would have started drooling if he weren't careful, he had to swallow thickly, staring down at his beloved in his lap. A flush crept down his neck and up to the tips of his ears, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.
"Do you like it? I can change anything that isn't to your liking." He gently encouraged Jason to go see himself in one of the mirrors.
Jason couldn't help but press his face into Zeke's hands as his cheeks were cradled and wiped free of tears, a gasp rushing out of him as Zeke bucked up into him, letting him feel how much he wanted Jason, the simmer of pure want thrumming through the bond so much that Jason could taste it.
Zeke's reassurance came easily as it always did. He was so good with words. And Jason lived for it. For the way his sentences always felt woven with intention.
You are my home.
Jason's blush would be permanent if Zeke kept it up.
His eyes softened with pure adoration, head tilting- showing off his feline ears and shoulders relaxing visibly, wings dropping from their protective cacoon stance and into something more akin to a cape, the tips of his feathers brushing the ground.
And then Zeke was dressing him with magic.
Like a fucking fairy godmother.
Jason really was a princess now.
Zeke definitely had different taste than Jason did- but that wasn't a bad thing. The clothing was actually comfortable, for one. And when Zeke lead him to the mirror he gasped at his own reflection.
"Woah," he breathed.
He did look hot.
Was this how Zeke pictured him? Had Zeke always know Jason could look like this?
He swallowed, nodding silently and meeting Zeke's shy lilac gaze through the mirror.
"I like it… I like it a lot, actually. I hope it's what you imagined in your head when you chose it for me," he admitted softly, eyes flitting between himself and Zeke- a bit shy himself. "I… I've never been ugly- I mean I've always known I have… an appeal to people. But… I have always wished I could be… pretty." He met Zeke's eyes again, but turned to take his hands. "I do now. With you. Because of you," he whispered, leaning into to kiss him chastly, pulling away just as his stomach growled.
He smirked, "Guess I'm hungrier than I thought."
He tugged Zeke's hand and lead him out of the bathroom and up the stairs to the main house, opening the Grandfather clock in Bruce's study and leading him down the winding halls of his… other home.
There were recent family portraits updated to have all current members and some that were just of Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Cass. Dick and Damian had also insisted on each having their own photos with Jason after Tim had stated wanting a photo or two of just him and Bruce. They hadn't known it was an option. Jason had retaliated by demanding photos of himself with Stephanie and Duke who had their own photos with Cass and Tim. Alfred had been bullied into his own photos with them all as well. Barbara had also called dibs on Jason and Cass for her own photos. There were more along the way with more people- friends and chosen family alike. Dick and Kori's wedding photos that Bruce made professional copies of. The Justice League in civvies at the Christmas party the year before... But…
Bruce in his recent years had slowly let himself have things of joy. And once Jason had come back- not just to life, but to the family- he had been less inclined to take any of it for granted.
He hoped one day that Zeke would be in a portrait with him. The thought was brief but now that he had plans to purchase his own home he let the seed of it take root and fill his heart with longing for a future with the man whose hand fit so perfectly in his own.
Jason lead them down a grand staircase and through to the dining room, where the rest of the family was just settling in.
Jason pulled a seat out for Zeke, pushing his chair in silently before sitting down next to Bruce and across from Dick.
"Alfred made spaghetti and meatballs," Tim said from Dick's other side, grabbing a breadstick for his own plate.
Alfred had also made a salad and a vegetarian sauce for Damian's pasta.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the hall and Duke trudged in. "I smelled food."
There had been a plate set for him already and he dropped into his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Did I miss anything?"
Then he blinked. "Um… Jason has wings. And cat boy ears. Are we just gonna-"
Steph answered him nonchalantly from where she sat next to Zeke, piling food onto her plate and passing Cass an extra breadstick. "He almost died and then turned into a kitty boy angel. His boyfriend also turned into a super hot demon-"
"So cute!" Cass said.
Duke looked around the table and then shrugged. "Glad you're not dead. Barbara left?"
"She did. She's reviewing footage of the incident still. She asked to be sent a plate," Bruce said, trying and failing not to stare at Jason's wings. Something about the sight of them made his own back ache in ways he couldn't explain.
"A Tupperware has already been set aside, Master Bruce,"Alfred said, pouring water into his cup.
"Hn. Thank you, Alfred."
Damian nodded toward Jason. "How are you feeling?"
Jason smiled, filling Zeke's plate and then his own.
"Better than ever," he said.
It was true.
Now that the initial pain had passed there was a rightness settling in his spirit. And he had his family and he had Zeke. And his life was his and it was good.
He stabbed his fork into a meatball and brought it to his mouth, humming happily at the taste. He loved good food.
"We wont be staying long, though. I've kidnapped Zeke long enough and I'm taking him home after this."
Bruce frowned a little but nodded. "Fine. But if you need anything-"
Jason waved him off. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. If something is wrong you'll be the first to know. Promise." He turned his head toward Zeke, eyes softening. "I'm in good hands anyway."
Dick made a gagging sound. "I'm trying to eat, Little Wing."
Jason was the perfect picture of innocence. "What ever do you mean, brother dear? I'm a literal angel."
Bruce's shoulders shook with laughter. "I agree. And so was the Devil."
Jason gasped, holding a hand to his chest, scandalized. "Hey!"
Laughter filled the room and it seemed that everything would be alright.
Jason scooter closer to Zeke, pressing their thighs together, just to have some contact as he continued to eat.
"So good," he murmured.
Standing to the side, watching his beloved take in the new outfit, Zeke felt a deep sense of satisfaction at the positive response. He knew that this wasn't any style that he'd seen on Jason thus far, but his experience with his darling's fashion sense was woefully small. This had been a simple testing of the waters, in something he thought would make his lover feel as stunning as he looked. His nerves melted away as Jason turned to take his hands and explain how he had always wanted to feel pretty.
"I've thought you were pretty since the moment I laid eyes on you, baby." Zeke squeezed his darling's hands reassuringly as a chaste kiss was placed on his lips. A part of him selfishly wished that he could keep his beloved all to himself for a bit longer, but the sooner they joined the rest of the family for a comfort meal, the sooner they could excuse themselves to the privacy of the sanctum.
Zeke consoled himself with that as he was pulled from the sanctuary of the spa, hand holding firmly to his lover's as he was lead out of the cave and through the grandiose Wayne Manor. As much as he enjoyed the way Jason's silky top and delicate gold chains moved against that lovely skin - now healed from all the marks that he'd previously left - Zeke's instinct made him inspect his surroundings, taking note of the volume of photos and their contents.
It was a plethora of family portraits.
That was a complicated tangle of emotions. Of course he was glad that his soulmate had a clearly tight-knit family. Of course he was. It just made him wonder if his portrait still hung from the wall next to his demons. They must have taken thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of photos with and of him during his time in Hell - Asmo especially was fond of snapping dozens at every opportunity. Did they keep any of them? Were any still displayed? Had they been shoved in a box in the attic to be forgotten? His chest tightened painfully at the uncertainty.
How terrible was the thought of the only family he had known to choose to forget him?
Dwelling on it would only bring down the mood, and Zeke refused to allow that. He could not know for certain, so speculation was pointless. Jason's hand was warm and comforting in his own and he turned focus onto that as they made their way down a grand staircase. Against all odds, he was alive and had found his soul entwined with someone lovelier than his wildest imaginings. There was nothing he could do about the families he had lost, except to seize this opportunity to build a new one.
When they entered the lively dining room, he allowed himself to feel the gentle warmth that rose to his cheeks as Jason pulled a chair out for him. The sweet, gentlemanly little things that his mate did seemingly without a second thought never failed to fluster him.
Zeke had thought he would hate someone being able to fluster and affect him so easily. Especially since he had never been easy to fluster before Jason. Instead of annoyance he felt warmth and happiness.
It made him feel taken care of - a feeling he hadn't truly felt in a long time.
Shortly after getting seated, Duke appeared looking very much as if he had only just woken up. Which he likely had. Zeke barely suppressed a snort at the question. Had he missed anything? It was humorous, how well Duke rolled with the fact that Jason was suddenly sporting wings and feline ears. Stephanie gave a very succinct recap.
Although he could have done without her commentary on his appearance as a demon, the tips of his ears turning pink as Cass chimed in with her own opinion on his demon form. All that aside, he braced himself for his beloved's denial of his title as boyfriend, but this time it never came.
Instead the conversation simply moved on seamlessly. Zeke felt himself shrink slightly in his chair at the mention of reviewing video of the incident. Regardless of what the girls said of his appearance, all he could feel was embarrassment and shame over it. He had lost control. The demon coming out in that warehouse was not a good thing. At the time Zeke couldn't bother to think that they would all likely see what the darkness in him wouldn't hesitate to do when provoked, but now he wished he could hide that part of himself from them.
Thankfully Damian brought the focus back to Jason, and Zeke sat up straighter to pay attention to how his darling was feeling. His heart did that traitorous little flutter again as his mate filled his plate for him.
"Thank you, baby." He murmured shyly as he picked up his fork, twirling the pasta around until he could take a clean bite, refusing to slurp messily. Zeke had barely chewed and swallowed his first bite before his beloved mentioned they wouldn't be staying long. "Kidnapped is a strong word," he muttered as he used a fork to cut a meatball into quarters for easily managed bites.
Zeke paused, glancing to his mate with a blush when he said he'd be in good hands. It made him happy that Jason thought so. Taking care of him, protecting him - and getting the same in return - was his deepest desire.
The tenderness of the moment was broken by Dick's dramatic gagging and Zeke found himself nearly snorting around a mouthful of spaghetti at the banter that ensued.
I missed this.
For a few moments his mind was in a different time and place, universes apart. Flickering memories of his seven demons around the dining table in the House of Lamentation, bickering and teasing each other, laughter and indignation in equal measure - even the occasional chase or food fight breaking out. Lucifer scolding them all if they got too rowdy.
It was the warmth of Jason's thigh pressing against his own that brought Zeke's mind back to the present, and he blinked his eyes rapidly as he settled back into the moment. The memories were a bittersweet ache in his chest, but it wasn't a crippling wave of homesickness as it once was in years past.
This day and night had to count as emotional whiplash. There had been so many emotions in such a huge range. As much as he was pleased he got to meet Jason's family he couldn't wait until they could retreat to the sanctum. He wanted to drown in good feelings and physical comfort with his soulmate. It was realistically such a short time that they had met and spent together, but at the same time it felt like he'd been waiting forever to claim and be claimed.
Speaking of claiming…
Back at the sanctum shadows crept from their dark corners and set to work. Zeke wanted everything to be ready for their arrival once they finished their meal and said their goodbyes. To that end he made sure to eat both as politely and as quickly as possible. The spaghetti was quite good, and he needed to replenish the energy he had expended during their hunt - he was planning to need it.
Dinner proceeded pleasantly and Jay basked in the presence of his family and Zeke sharing space around him. It kept a hopeful smile on his face for the next hour until he saw fit to excuse them from the table.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, rubbing his belly, eyes shaped like crescents from the pleased grin on his face.
Duke snorted fondly. "Big back."
Jason shrugged. "Guilty. Besides it was really good."
"I'm pleased to hear that as always, Master Jason," Alfred said as he cleared the plates of those who had finished their meals. "Remain seated so that I may bring a Tupperware with dessert to go."
Dick frowned. "Why can't they just eat it here- ow!"
Tim had flicked him on the head, jerking his head toward Zeke and Dick's eyes widened in horror when he realized. He was just about to open his mouth again to protest his little brother being defiled (though he was far from a virgin) when Bruce cleared his throat in warning.
"B-But- B! He- they- " he sputtered helplessly.
"Are adults," Bruce finished for him, shooting them a 1000 megawatt smile. "Please, as soon as Alfred comes back- leave. I would rather you not fornicate in my house. Thanks."
Bruce had not missed the way Jason was dressed and he knew his son didn't tend to wear such things. Which could only mean it was Zeke's doing. And that was … fine. Except that it was a lot of emotions still running high, which meant hormones for two mostly healthy adult men would be at an all time high after the adrenaline rush from the days events.
Hell, he and Hal were middle aged and even their relationship- new territory for them as it was at this point- was incredibly active in that department.
He was happy for them. Really. But they needed to get that out of their system … just not at his house.
Jason grinned, wide and sharp and full of teeth.
"Why does everyone act like I'm up to no good?" He crooned, tilting his head innocently.
Bruce stared at him blankly just as Alfred swept into the room and handed Jason Tupperware full of goodies.
Jason took it wordlessly, still staring his father down.
"I love you," Bruce said plainly, "Now get out."
Jason stood, saluting everyone. The girls and Tim waved, Duke grunting a goodbye as he continue to slowly eat his spaghetti.
Damian straightened, telling him, "If you feel unwell at all please call me and I'll come to your place at once."
Jason smiled fondly, mostly because he also still spoke in a similar way to Zeke. Perhaps they'd get along indefinitely. The thought made his chest warm.
He offered Zeke his hand to help him stand, ignoring Dick glaring daggers at them.
"Zeke, dont defile my baby!" He shouted after them, groaning in misery as they disappeared into the hall. Bruce patted his back in sympathy and he was quickly assuaged by Alfred placing a slice of pie in front of him.
Jason was cackling as they made their way back to the cave. Jason found Hamza sleeping on the console of the Bat Computer and scooped him into his arms after handing Zeke the containers of sweet treats.
"Hi, baby. Did you miss papa? I'm sorry I worried you."
He healed us, Jasper chimed in his mind.
Jason blinked, scratching behind his ears and earning a pleased little purr.
"Aw is that right. Did you help out? What a good kitty."
He looked at Zeke, eyes bright with fondness.
"Take me home, handsome?"
Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Zeke loved making Jason blush, his darling was so cute. He didn't get to admire the way his sweetheart turned pink for long, because he was drawn into a slow, indulgent kiss that had his eyes fluttering closed with a muffled groan. His arms slid from around his beloved's neck, slipping down to wrap around that absolutely sinful waist as Jason climbed into his lap.
Were his clothes now damp?
Yes.
Did he care?
Hell no.
There were far higher priorities currently, like focusing on why his lover was crying, the sob made his heart squeeze painfully. Zeke wanted to soothe every hurt, every ache, both physical and emotional. It was impossible to deny the kisses that followed, face flushing as their make-out grew louder. They were still in Jason's family home. Sure, the others had stepped away to 'give them a moment' but how much longer until someone barged in on them?
Damnit.
Was he into that?
He hadn't thought he was into that?
Fuck.
He might be into that.
"Baby…" His voice was a gentle murmur as his darling finally ended his assault of kisses by burying his face against his neck. Zeke's hands had started rubbing gentle circles against Jason's lower back, beneath those glorious wings that blanketed them in semi-privacy. He felt the way his lover shook beneath his hands and he wished so badly that there were a different reason for the shaking. Soft kisses were pressed into his beloved's dark hair. He didn't rush Jason to speak further, simply held him until he was ready.
When Jason leaned back, Zeke searched his face in the brief moments before he was graced with that smile, and he knew that he would kill or die for that smile. He kept one arm around his darling's waist while raising the other until he was tenderly cradling his mate's jaw, thumb tracing so very gently beneath one teary eye.
Zeke couldn't stop the way his eyes dilated at the assertion that Jason would let him do anything he wanted to him. Should he be ashamed of all the things he wanted to do to this man? He forced himself to focus only on his darling and his words, not the myriad of thoughts swirling in the back of his mind.
Something in his chest cracked open a little at how much trust Jason had in him. He was not a good person. Fools trusted him. Zeke had manipulated, tortured, murdered - no one should trust him. Yes, he wanted to earn the trust of Jason's family, because it would mean something to his mate and because he had been so achingly lonely for a long time and wanted a family. His motivations were selfish.
"You are my greatest consideration - I would never hurt you on purpose." Zeke was taking Jason into every consideration he was making regarding his future. That was the only option, he felt that to the depths of his soul.
He made an almost wounded sound at what his beloved said next, or more how he said it. Zeke pulled Jason closer, readjusting himself slightly as he felt the way their bodies pressed together, his arms squeezed tighter as if he could protect his soulmate from his own words even as they made his own chest constrict painfully. Earlier he had been absolutely petrified that he would lose Jason, his beloved's screams had been agony. He understood exactly what he meant. The idea of never waking up in his mate's arms again would have broken him if Jason were not alive and sobbing in his arms.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Jason is alive.
Zeke exhaled shakily.
"You won't die, not without me. I won't allow it. I would fight Death itself if I had to." And he meant it.
Cool hands reached up to sweetly cup Jason's face as he sniffled and once again looked up to him, speaking in ways that had him near insane, heart skipping and thundering. His darling would be the death of him. Especially when he turned that voice so sickly sweet.
Irresistible.
Not that he wanted to resist.
"Oh mi alma, you have no idea how badly I want to take you." Zeke leaned in to press a deceptively sweet kiss against Jason's mouth before sucking and nipping at his bottom lip. His eyes were hooded and he gave a gentle buck of his hips, sure that his beloved could feel how wanted he was.
In every way.
"My sanctum will forever and always be open to you, mi tesoro, but you are my home. So let's get you dressed for this comfort meal, hmm?" The shadows gathered and swirled around them both, when they dispersed again Zeke's clothing was dry, as was Jason. A pair of black leather pants hugged Jason's thighs, hips, and ass in just the right way. A silky sleeveless top of deep crimson hugged his muscled torso, although calling it a top might be generous. Golden rings sat at the shoulders holding the front to a back that dipped almost to Jason's ass together, golden chains above and below the wing joints keeping it from sliding off, while giving his wings free movement, likewise the sides were kept together with more golden chains.
The black leather boots were sleek and slightly heeled, designed for both comfort and elegance. Golden bracelets were stacked at Jason's wrists and more golden chains hung down his chest. He wanted his beloved to look stunning and feel as gorgeous as he was with those enchanting wings on full display.
Zeke would have started drooling if he weren't careful, he had to swallow thickly, staring down at his beloved in his lap. A flush crept down his neck and up to the tips of his ears, suddenly feeling shy and nervous.
"Do you like it? I can change anything that isn't to your liking." He gently encouraged Jason to go see himself in one of the mirrors.
Jason couldn't help but press his face into Zeke's hands as his cheeks were cradled and wiped free of tears, a gasp rushing out of him as Zeke bucked up into him, letting him feel how much he wanted Jason, the simmer of pure want thrumming through the bond so much that Jason could taste it.
Zeke's reassurance came easily as it always did. He was so good with words. And Jason lived for it. For the way his sentences always felt woven with intention.
You are my home.
Jason's blush would be permanent if Zeke kept it up.
His eyes softened with pure adoration, head tilting- showing off his feline ears and shoulders relaxing visibly, wings dropping from their protective cacoon stance and into something more akin to a cape, the tips of his feathers brushing the ground.
And then Zeke was dressing him with magic.
Like a fucking fairy godmother.
Jason really was a princess now.
Zeke definitely had different taste than Jason did- but that wasn't a bad thing. The clothing was actually comfortable, for one. And when Zeke lead him to the mirror he gasped at his own reflection.
"Woah," he breathed.
He did look hot.
Was this how Zeke pictured him? Had Zeke always know Jason could look like this?
He swallowed, nodding silently and meeting Zeke's shy lilac gaze through the mirror.
"I like it… I like it a lot, actually. I hope it's what you imagined in your head when you chose it for me," he admitted softly, eyes flitting between himself and Zeke- a bit shy himself. "I… I've never been ugly- I mean I've always known I have… an appeal to people. But… I have always wished I could be… pretty." He met Zeke's eyes again, but turned to take his hands. "I do now. With you. Because of you," he whispered, leaning into to kiss him chastly, pulling away just as his stomach growled.
He smirked, "Guess I'm hungrier than I thought."
He tugged Zeke's hand and lead him out of the bathroom and up the stairs to the main house, opening the Grandfather clock in Bruce's study and leading him down the winding halls of his… other home.
There were recent family portraits updated to have all current members and some that were just of Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian and Cass. Dick and Damian had also insisted on each having their own photos with Jason after Tim had stated wanting a photo or two of just him and Bruce. They hadn't known it was an option. Jason had retaliated by demanding photos of himself with Stephanie and Duke who had their own photos with Cass and Tim. Alfred had been bullied into his own photos with them all as well. Barbara had also called dibs on Jason and Cass for her own photos. There were more along the way with more people- friends and chosen family alike. Dick and Kori's wedding photos that Bruce made professional copies of. The Justice League in civvies at the Christmas party the year before... But…
Bruce in his recent years had slowly let himself have things of joy. And once Jason had come back- not just to life, but to the family- he had been less inclined to take any of it for granted.
He hoped one day that Zeke would be in a portrait with him. The thought was brief but now that he had plans to purchase his own home he let the seed of it take root and fill his heart with longing for a future with the man whose hand fit so perfectly in his own.
Jason lead them down a grand staircase and through to the dining room, where the rest of the family was just settling in.
Jason pulled a seat out for Zeke, pushing his chair in silently before sitting down next to Bruce and across from Dick.
"Alfred made spaghetti and meatballs," Tim said from Dick's other side, grabbing a breadstick for his own plate.
Alfred had also made a salad and a vegetarian sauce for Damian's pasta.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the hall and Duke trudged in. "I smelled food."
There had been a plate set for him already and he dropped into his chair, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Did I miss anything?"
Then he blinked. "Um… Jason has wings. And cat boy ears. Are we just gonna-"
Steph answered him nonchalantly from where she sat next to Zeke, piling food onto her plate and passing Cass an extra breadstick. "He almost died and then turned into a kitty boy angel. His boyfriend also turned into a super hot demon-"
"So cute!" Cass said.
Duke looked around the table and then shrugged. "Glad you're not dead. Barbara left?"
"She did. She's reviewing footage of the incident still. She asked to be sent a plate," Bruce said, trying and failing not to stare at Jason's wings. Something about the sight of them made his own back ache in ways he couldn't explain.
"A Tupperware has already been set aside, Master Bruce,"Alfred said, pouring water into his cup.
"Hn. Thank you, Alfred."
Damian nodded toward Jason. "How are you feeling?"
Jason smiled, filling Zeke's plate and then his own.
"Better than ever," he said.
It was true.
Now that the initial pain had passed there was a rightness settling in his spirit. And he had his family and he had Zeke. And his life was his and it was good.
He stabbed his fork into a meatball and brought it to his mouth, humming happily at the taste. He loved good food.
"We wont be staying long, though. I've kidnapped Zeke long enough and I'm taking him home after this."
Bruce frowned a little but nodded. "Fine. But if you need anything-"
Jason waved him off. "Dad, I'm okay. Really. If something is wrong you'll be the first to know. Promise." He turned his head toward Zeke, eyes softening. "I'm in good hands anyway."
Dick made a gagging sound. "I'm trying to eat, Little Wing."
Jason was the perfect picture of innocence. "What ever do you mean, brother dear? I'm a literal angel."
Bruce's shoulders shook with laughter. "I agree. And so was the Devil."
Jason gasped, holding a hand to his chest, scandalized. "Hey!"
Laughter filled the room and it seemed that everything would be alright.
Jason scooter closer to Zeke, pressing their thighs together, just to have some contact as he continued to eat.
"So good," he murmured.
Baby, I'm Yours
Continuing from here
Jason couldn't help it.
Zeke's vulnerability. His willingness. His beauty. His… everything.
And the way he spoke… honestly, sometimes Zeke sounded like a character from a fairy tale. It was so obvious and out of place in Gotham.
But the thing was … Jason, despite all he'd been through…
He still believed in fairy tales.
And now, because of Zeke, he felt like he was living one. Jason always knew he was magic. With Zeke… Jason felt like…
A princess.
The thought made him blush as he dove in for another kiss, this one slower- deeper. He didn't realize he was crawling out of the tub until his thick, wet thighs were already spread across Zeke's lap, wings spreading with a loud flutter before they curved and cacooned them as they had before. His arms snaked around Zeke's neck, eyes sliding shut as he savored the taste of him.
"Mm…"
What Zeke said… he might as well have told Jason that he lov-
Tears streamed down his face and he gasped, fighting and failing to hold back a sob.
He wanted to tell Zeke.
Instead he kissed him again. Once, twice, three times- keening little moans drowned out by the nearly comical sound of their lips smacking. Jason proceeded to kiss Zeke's face all over, his forehead, each of his cheeks, his nose, his eyelids- every inch that Jason could reach was not left untouched- or unloved. Until finally, Jason's nose made the journey from the crown of Zeke's head, nuzzling through silky strands of hair on the way down to Zeke's neck, where Jason buried his face and inhaled deeply.
He shook in Zeke's lap, feeling the ghost of lingering desire burning through the bond that made his cock, still heavy and flacid, twitch in interest.
Oh…
But Zeke hadn't done anything to take it further. He hadn't acted on his urges. He had simply taken care of Jason.
Sure, he could tease Jason all day. And he didn't fail to make him feel so very wanted.
But he didn't just take. And he didn't seem to want to without giving in return. Not in a transactional way. Jason had seen enough transaction in his life to know the difference between that and Zeke's sincere reciprocation. But the man was just so goddamn careful.
It was maddening. It made Jason feel more than loved.
He felt respected.
He wasn't used to that.
Jason could even admit that, in certain instances, it frustrated him if only for how unfamiliar that feeling was. But the more Zeke persisted and remained steadfast in his consideration for Jason…
The sexier he became.
It shouldn't have been possible. He was already the object of Jason's every desire personified. He already had his little demon claws in Jason's heart. Jason's soul already sang for him. There should have been a limit, some boundary where Zeke's appeal had to plateau enough to give Jason time to breathe but…
No.
There simply wasn't.
Every time Jason felt like he had reached the height of his attraction to this insanely devastating man, Zeke went and did or said something that took Jason to some other dimension where unconditional love was real and not just a thing people talked about in church but never put into praxis.
Zeke let Jason take the lead… he trusted Jason. Another thing he just was not used to.
Jason didn't want Zeke's trust to be misplaced. He didn't want his love to be misplaced.
He slowly leaned back, eyes shy under damp lashes and cheeks flushed and warm. He smiled with such adoration he almost forgot he was naked in Zeke's lap. He was normally so aware of his body that he never got to just be.
"Did you know… that you could do whatever you want with me and I would let you?" He breathed, bleeding tenderness, and pausing for a beat before going on to say, "And do you know I trust you not to hurt me? Not because of whether you'd ever want to- but because I know you think about all the ways you possibly could and try to avoid them? That you consider me. That even if you did hurt me, even by accident, you'd not only feel remorse but actively try to make it right. Because you consider me. You consider me," he repeated, "And that means more than you know. It's worth more than gold."
He shifted, pressing closer- not for friction, but for comfort, chest to chest with Zeke, belly fluttering between them as their intimacies pressed into each other through Zeke's clothes.
"I thought I was going to die," Jason admitted, voice tinged with shame- of all things.
"I remember trying to tell you I was sorry before I lost consciousness. And I was- So sorry," came his harsh whisper, hands tangling into Zeke's hair again. "Sorry that I'd never hold you or kiss you again. For all the things I'd never get to say to you. That this morning would've been the first and last we ever woke up together- Zeke, I-" he inhaled sharply, mouth opening and closing as he tried to form words only to sag against Zeke, chest caving with a sob, and then another, voice broken and cracking with his next words-
"I don't want to leave you- I want to live. I want to be by your side. We didn't even get to be proper boyfriends," he lamented, somewhat childishly, "I don't wanna die in a 'What are we?' stage, Zeke!"
It seemed so small to the average person. But for Jason, who had been robbed of so many life experiences most people had in their teens- it was everything. But Jason had been DEAD and then undead and then too angry to LIVE or LOVE or any of that crap normal people had. He wasn't normal still. But he wanted- he wanted to have and to be had and not have people show up at his funeral and for Zeke to be introduced as an almost anything because he deserved better than that. Because Jason also deserved better than to die as someone's sorta kinda almost something.
What he said next was not an ultimatum, but a question filled with longing.
He sniffled, voice raw and eyes red-rimmed as he looked at Zeke again, his inner drama solidifying into determination.
"After Alfred's comfort food, I want you to take me to your place and make me yours. If you want me for keeps, you don't need to hold back or beat around the bush. I can't take it anymore… I just want you to be mine and to be yours. I don't want to question anything. I just want to see how you live. And then I want to experience more of how you love. And I want to do that eternally. Is that okay with you, mi rey?"
He waited, lashes fluttering as he swallowed and stroked Zeke's cheek with his thumb.
"Do you wanna take me home?" He asked more sweetly.
No one ever had. Not like that- not forever. But maybe…
Zeke might.
@zeke-in-gotham
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Jason was floating.
He was back in that starry ocean from earlier, only this time he could see himself- or rather his reflection on the waters…
How were there waters?
His wings…
He gasped, eyes wide and flaring in a glowing kaleidoscope.
He had… wings…
He studied himself, eyes tracing every detail.
The wings were like a sunset made up of feathers. Spanning from yellow, to orange amd red, then blue and purple with pink iridescent hues gleaming where the light hit them. He also… wasn't a he anymore?
The reflection changed in real time, rippling until it settled again.
She was still tall, but more slender. Still muscled, but softened with curves and robust in places that made her blush the more she studied herself and the gold armor that seemed painted on in some places. Her hair had grown into longer waves, the shock of white hair more luminescent now in contrast to the inky black strands that seemed to move like they had their own will.
The reflection smirked.
"About time," she said to him and Jason could see her looking at him, too. At his own build that still didn't take up as much space as she did.
Another figure soon joined them, a giant Jaguar with glowing red eyes and inverted spots, most of its coat black.
"Jazmin, you owe us both an apology," he growled.
The Angel winced, looking regretfully at Jason. "In my defense- I really didn't mean for it to hurt. I didn't know. But I am sorry. And I'm very sorry for putting our loved ones through such an ordeal."
Jason swallowed, nodding but not knowing exactly what to say.
The Beast regarded him with a heavy stare, calmer than usual.
Then, the waters swirled around him, a more humanoid being in his place. Only he had the claws and fangs, a long tail, too. He was even larger than Jason, his features vaguely more catlike. And despite how fearsome the rest of him was, he had the most adorable feline ears on his head. Jason's immediate thought was whether Zeke would pet them in that state.
"So you're The Beast," Jason muttered, no malice in his voice- only acknowledgement.
"Pffft," Jazmín couldn't help but laugh. "The Beast? This guy?" She smirked, pointing her thumb at the feline man, "He's a total kitty cat. Isn't that right, Jasper?"
"Your name is Jasper?" Jason deadpanned, arching an unimpressed brow. "You were more intimidating as The Beast."
Jasper rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "I wasn't trying to be intimidating, Jacinto," he said, dragging Jason's birth name out sarcastically.
"Shaddup," Jason grumbled, looking away from both of them. "I don't care about the pain anymore as long as we aren't dead. We aren't right? I can go back to my family- to my dad? And …"
He swallowed, eyes red-rimmed and glistening, "I can go back to Zeke?" His voice shook, bleeding vulnerability and longing. He wanted to go back go his family. To his love.
Distantly, he felt waves of gentle coolness in phantom touches- nothing untoward. But the part of him that could still feel his physical body relaxed into it. It reminded him of the last time he had sucked it up after an injury and allowed Dick to give him a sponge bath. His brother had been so careful with him Jason wanted to throw up and cry like a baby at the time.
Now, though?
Well.
He felt safe and cared for, even if he couldn't see beyond himself right then. His head felt like it was being held by a cloud, that floaty feeling he felt when Bruce played with his hair achingly familiar.
"We're being called back," Jasper muttered, eyes softening.
Then Jason felt an ache in his chest and Jazmin's face fell. Jason almost felt bad for her, seeing an angel so sad. Except…
Grief-stricken eyes met his, her melodic voice broken.
"This is all my fault."
He didn't know what to say at first.
He swallowed, slowly finding his words, eyeing her carefully.
"I mean. You're me, arent you? And I'm you? So it's our fault?"
Jasper rolled his eyes, grabbing Jazmin's hand and pulling her toward Jason. She allowed it but hung her head, avoiding Jason's piercing green-eyed stare.
"It's not that simple," Jasper explained, "we are One but we each represent different dimensions of our consciousness and therefore a variation in access to our power. You have your own magic very different to mine or Jazmin's. Too much access at once is painful for the body currently- obviously," he said, pointedly side-eyeing the angel.
"It's common for many hybrids, but especially our lineage," Jazmín said at last, finally meeting his eyes. "In our case its particularly intense because of our human blood. So our consciousness tries to keep us seperate until the body evolves enough to be able to handle us in our integrated state. And we can't predict how long that will take. But rest assured, we can and will learn control- we will become a master of ourself," she stated firmly, her resolve solidified by the unintentional harm done to the body as well as the distress to their loved ones. "I swear it."
Jason nodded slowly, reaching both hands out- one toward Jazmin and the other toward Jasper, his Angel and Beast.
"I don't know why we're like this. And I'm sure we're close to the answer. Right now though, we are needed. We have to wake up," Jason said.
A voice, faint but familiar echoed in their soul space.
"…baby… I'm here… so sorry…"
They all looked in the same direction, voices harmonized on a single focus.
"Zeke…"
Jason woke with that name on his lips even as he pushed his head further into Bruce’s hand, opening his eyes and meeting his ice blue stare
"Dad?"
Bruce nodded, Steph untangling herself from his side to give them a moment. His hands cupped Jason's cheeks, thumbs wiping his tears.
"Dad-" Jason repeated, voice cracking, unable to control how his lip wobbled until a sob forced its way out of his throat.
His hand was still held in Zeke's and Jason's own fingers squeezed his, soaking in the warmth between their palms.
But Bruce held Jason, letting him sob into his chest, his other free arm clinging to the back of Bruce’s shirt.
He'd been so afraid. And in so much pain. Then he had to keep making sense of whatever the fuck was happening to him- negotiating with himself or versions of him he still didn't understand- and now…
Bruce shushed him gently, rocking them. "It's okay. You're safe. You're home. We're here." Bruce grunted briefly as Dick wiggled between them.
"Little Wing," he sniffled, kissing his forehead before Tim pulled him back, the older man whining until the girls wrapped him in a hug of their own.
"Glad to see you awake," Damian told Jason who was still hiccuping, still clutching Zeke's hand.
"Yeah, you scared the shit out of everyone," Tim said.
Steph said nothing, only eyeing Jason with tearful gratitude.
"Zeke turned into a cute demon. He was growling. So cute," Cass told him.
At the mention of Zeke, Jason pulled his hand, the other man falling into the bed with him. Jason had no words at the moment. Only that his vibrant, sunset colored wings seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around Zeke like a cacoon as he was crushed to Jason's chest. Jason was still crying, but he had quieted, instead releasing Zeke's hand to wrap his arms around him, one around his waist and the other up his back, nuzzling Zeke's face with his nose.
Bruce looked toward the others. "Let's give them space. They need it."
"Agreed, Sir," Alfred said. "I'll prepare a meal shortly. I have heard comfort food is good for the soul."
Damian picked up Hamza, giving the pair one last look before following the rest
They slowly filed out, leaving Zeke and Jason alone.
Jason kept rubbing his body with Zeke's like a cat, eyes flashing between green and red and rainbow as Jasper and Jazmin each settled with each turn.
"Zeke…"
Zeke sucked in a sharp breath, heart stuttering in his chest, as Jason stirred awake with his name on his lips. He had been prepared to stand by his beloved's beside for however long it took for him to wake up, he'd have waited forever if that's what it took. Instead he'd barely returned to his lover's side and already he was waking, as if his presence and voice had brought him back. That or he had barely returned in time to be there when Jason awoke.
Relief had washed over him, but his chest still tightened painfully at the sound of that first sob. The urge to gather his darling up in his arms and soothe him was overwhelming, but he managed to settle for squeezing his hand gently in response to Jason's squeeze, allowing Bruce to cradle and comfort his son first, along with his partner's siblings. They were his family, and they had lost him once before already.
He could wait his turn.
When Cass spoke he blinked wide-eyed and slack-jawed at her.
Cute demon?
Much to his dismay he felt the tell-tale flush creep across his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Thankfully he didn't have to endure the embarrassment long, because when Jason tugged at his hand he gratefully fell to the bed, carefully shuffling into a position that he hoped would be comfortable for Jason as those beautiful wings cocooned him against his darling's chest. It felt like he could finally take a full breath as he was squished chest to chest with his soulmate.
Zeke barely noticed the others quietly leave, some far corner of his mind processing it but otherwise unconcerned as he buried his face against the crook of Jason's neck, breathing in the comforting scent of his mate. Whatever remnants of the darkness remained settled contently.
For a few long moments he could do nothing but cling to his beloved, arms wrapping around him and squeezing gently, unable to feel close enough.
"Don't do that again." His voice was muffled against Jason's skin, a little wobbly as he sniffled and clung harder. "I was so scared I was going to lose you. I thought that I wouldn't reach you in time I -"
Throat squeezing, choking up a little nuzzled against the pulse he felt, proof that his beloved was still with him. He swallowed hard and regained his voice.
"Don't be reckless when I'm not there to watch your back. If you left me I wouldn't want to survive it. Don't go where I can't follow…" This time he couldn't hold back tears, hot with anger and terror and relief all a jumbled mess as he shook faintly.
Jason sniffled, burying his nose in Zeke's hair, humming out a little moan at the smell of fresh shampoo. He'd clearly just showered. Honestly, Jason wanted a proper bath himself. He felt lingering dampness on his skin that let him know he'd gotten a sponge bath. It was fine, but he still felt…
Gross.
He whined in distress when he heard Zeke's voice waver.
Leaning back to lock eyes with him, his own eyes a shimmering spectrum of colors, his lip trembled. His voice was lighter, smoother and harmonic as Jazmin's voice layered over Jason's baritone.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean for it to be so bad. I'm sorry I scared you. I scared myself, too."
Immediately, those same eyes gradually faded to red, fangs poking out of Jason's mouth when he spoke again, Jasper's familiar gravelly undertone bleeding through.
"Oh, Little Mate, please don't cry. Not for us."
They leaned in, licking Zeke's tears away before nuzzling his cheeks with their nose.
"Your pain is our pain. No part of us wants to leave you, sweet shadow."
Jason's lashes fluttered rapidly, consciousness expanding and contracting to switch and accommodate them all in quick succession. It was making him tired all over again, vision hazy.
He whimpered, clutching Zeke tighter, dropping his head into his shoulder and curling into himself, tucking Zeke into him. His wings trembled under the strain and the pink iridescent sheen shifted into jaguar spots, his head sprouting feline ears and eyes shifting with the new change. He minded his claws, not wanting to pierce Zeke's skin.
Great.
How was he supposed to wash his ass without cutting himself with those?
He grumbled, huffing to himself.
"Want a real bath. Need help,"he muttered, shifting so that he was sitting up with Zeke maneuvered into his lap. He let his arms slide loosely around his lover's hips, hands settling onto his lower back. He was pouting slightly, brows furrowed from how suddenly grumpy he felt.
It had been a long day.
He said nothing else before he was shimmying off the bed with Zeke, holding him tighter and lifting him so the other man could wrap his legs around him once his feet touched the ground. He walked them toward the bathroom. There was a tucked away oversized tub behind another door toward the very back. It was rarely used but Jason wanted it. It had a detachable showerhead close to the edge.
Jason set Zeke down reluctantly, starting to run the bath, mindful not to hit him with his wings. He was still getting used to them.
Once the water was to his liking temperature wise, he pointed to a seat next to the tub. "For you,' he said, adding his favorite oils.
He growled when he realized he was still wearing clothes, tearing them off himself in frustration. How he would get dressed later, he wasn't sure and he didn't care.
Once he was bare, he slowly stepped into the bath, pausing with a shiver as a memory hit him.
It didn't always happen.
But sometimes… well…
Get over it, he told himself, sinking himself into the water and leaning back with a sigh, letting his eyes drift shut.
"I'm sorry," he said again, letting the words linger between them. "All I ever wanted was someone like you. And I can't even-" the words died on his tongue, turning to ash. "I'm just sorry, Zeke."
He opened his eyes again, and when he looked at Zeke they were back to their brilliant green hue.
"I want to be what you deserve. I've never met anyone like you. And you make me want things I didn't know I could have. But I want them with you- I… only… with you…"
His cheeks darkened, but he didn't look away. He just watched. And waited.
Zeke had started melting against Jason, the tension finally easing now that his beloved was both awake and no longer sobbing. The idea of melding together with his beloved and simply basking in the comfort of his arms was so very tempting, and when his darling shifted his head back Zeke found himself making the softest of noise of discontent. He wanted to stay with his face pressed against warm skin, the scent of his mate absolutely swimming through his brain.
When their eyes met he found himself starting into a kaleidoscope of shifting colors, it was stunning enough to make his breath catch in his throat. It wasn't the first time Zeke had heard Jason speak in multiple harmonized voices at once, but this one was new.
Watching his lover's eyes change in real time was truly mesmerizing. Those red eyes, and the accompanying grit to Jason's voice, told him he was looking at The Beast now. His dark lashed fluttered closed as his beloved licked the tears from his cheeks, causing Zeke to scrunch his nose slightly even as he felt himself relaxing even more.
"Especially over you. I couldn't hold it back." Zeke used to be good at controlling his emotions, but it was like meeting Jason had completely disarmed him. He'd felt more this past week or so than he'd felt in years and years. It was like finally being alive again, like all this time he'd only been alive in the most basic of senses, and only now had he actually fully rejoined the living. If that meant enduring the negative emotions as well as the good ones, he considered it a small price to pay.
"Hmph. Your pain is my pain too. When you screamed…" Zeke shuddered as he remembered the feeling in his chest at that moment, and how his whole body was exhausted and achy now. When his darling whimpered one of his hands immediately moved so that he could run his fingers through Jason's hair as he held him carefully, pressing a soft kiss to his temple and nuzzling at his ear.
Zeke watched as the feathers shimmered on those beautiful wings, eyes widening as he watched leopard spots appear even as they trembled with strain. They must have felt so heavy.
He knew it took him a while to adjust to his own.
Spots on the wings weren't the only changes, his eyes were drawn to the fuzzy feline ears now on his lover's head and he thought they were the cutest fucking things he'd ever seen. If his beloved hadn't grumbled all huffy and sat up he'd have probably reached to experimentally pet and rub them.
For science.
It would have to wait, and despite everything the heat that radiated through him to have Jason's hands at his hips, to feel them pressed against his lower back made his face flush again and he tucked his head back into the crook of his darling's neck as he shimmied off the bed. He wanted to protest about his mate getting up already, and definitely that his love shouldn't be carrying him, but found the words dying in his throat.
"Stephanie made me take a shower," was what he managed to grumble instead as he wrapped his legs around Jason's waist. There was a petulant, pouty quality to his voice. "I didn't want to leave your side, but she did not frame it as a suggestion."
Had he needed a shower? Yeah, probably. Would he have rather waited for his darling to wake up so they could bathe together? Absolutely.
Still, he pushed the selfish thought away. It was probably better this way. His feet touched the bathroom floor as he was set down and he tried to stay out of Jason's way as his beloved started adjusting the water temperature. There would be more opportunities in future for him to soak in an oversized bath with his soulmate he consoled himself as he waited, settling into the pointed out chair.
Watching Jason rip his clothes off was definitely unexpected, and his lips parted as his eyes dilated and his face turned slightly red. Why was that so hot?
It was a short-lived moment, because he noticed the way his beloved hesitated, the way he shivered, and became alert once more, watching carefully as Jason lowered into the water and leaned back. His first concern was perhaps his darling was still in pain, but that didn't seem quite right.
Zeke studied that gorgeous face that he admired so much as he listened carefully to what Jason had to say, because he knew it was important - everything that had to do with Jason was important to him.
The idea that his soulmate had to try to be deserving of him was laughable at best in his mind.
"Oh mi alma…" They were too far apart, too much distance between them, so Zeke moved until he was leaning over the side of the tub, hands gently cupping Jason's face as he stared into the beautiful green emeralds he loved more with each passing moment he gazed into them. "What can't you do? You don't have to do or be anything more than you, mi tesoro. That's all I want. Just you."
He leaned up enough to place a tender kiss on Jason's forehead, then one on each cheek, and finally a sweet, soft kiss on his lips. "You are my soulmate, mi vida. I don't have the words in the languages of Demons, or Angels, or humans to express how happy that makes me."
Jason's eyes followed Zeke, heart swooping with each endearment. leaning up toward him like a tree branch reaching for sunlight.
How ironic.
His lashes fluttered with each kiss pressed into his skin, breathy voice sighing his name.
"Zeke…"
He wanted to chase his lips, gasping when Zeke broke away to keep saying more sweet things.
The thing was, they could have just been sweet words and nothing more.
Except Zeke meant them. And Jason knew he meant them, not by the tether in his soul to Zeke's own alone, but because the way Zeke treated him, the way he opened up for Jason like a blossom, was too sincere to be faked.
He swallowed the knot welling in his throat, eyes full of raw ache.
"Nobody's ever wanted just me before. Not like this- not like you," he whispered, voice cracking as he'd confessed something shameful, looking up at Zeke from under damp lashes. If he were honest, he felt a bit ridiculous. He was easily and quite obviously larger than Zeke.
But something about Zeke made him feel small- not in a bad way, no- in a way that made him feel safe enough to be vulnerable.
Weak.
He suddenly wished he were physically smaller, that he could be delicate.
His emotions, big as they were- as everyone always felt the need to point out despite their obvious and in-your-face nature- weren't new to him.
Fragility was.
Foreign and uncomfortable despite how he craved to be taken apart and put back together by the man in front of him, looking at him like Zeke was Jason's entire universe- reverent enough to feel a little religious about it.
I love him.
I want him to love me.
God, please let him love me, he prayed silently.
"I really do need help," he mumbled, averting his eyes, cheeks burning red.
He reached for a cloth, picking his favorite body wash - one that smelled of jasmine, cedarwood and bergamot- and started to wash his chest and arms. He paused and silently reached for another, handing it to Zeke, biting his lip shyly.
"Can you- Can you get my wings? Please…"
Zeke's expression softened into something so achingly tender as he looked down at his beloved, drinking in the sight of him so emotional, so vulnerable. He knew how hard it was to be vulnerable for someone. It had been a matter of survival to never allow himself to be vulnerable for a very long time. Jason made him want to be vulnerable, and seeing it reciprocated filled him with so much love he felt like he could burst.
"Well I do, and their loss is my gain, because you are everything." Even if deep down he didn't think he deserved Jason, well at the end of the day he truly was a greedy, selfish demon. Beside, he had told his beloved before, once he considered something his he wasn't apt to let it go.
Mine.
Even as that dark, possessive thing curled in his chest rose up Zeke felt an overwhelming outpouring of love from his beloved that it stole his breath. It filled him with warmth and joy and adoration, making the darkness he kept bottled up settle with contentment. The love was underscored by a thread of desperate longing and that made his heart both flutter and squeeze.
I love him so much.
He wanted to say it out loud. Hell, he'd shout it from the fucking rooftops. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down as Jason shyly muttered about needing help. His darling was so precious and cute when he blushed like that. Yes, he wanted to express his love to this sweet man with words, and to hell with the idea that it was too soon - if he knew, then he knew - but for the moment, the physical, non-sexual intimacy of this moment was perfect to show his love and care.
Actions speak louder than words.
The words would come soon enough. Jason had wanted them to do this relationship in their own time, and wanted it to be special when they became an official couple. Zeke decided that the words should be special too.
"Of course, baby." He smiled adoringly as he took the wash cloth. Experience from caring for his own wings, and for helping Lucifer countless times with his, Zeke began to clean the gorgeous wings with painstaking care and gentleness. "I'll teach you all the tricks I know to make your feathers really shine and how to take care of them when they molt. If they molt? We'll figure it out. I'll always be willing to help you with them. With anything."
With loving devotion he cleaned those sunset ombre wings until there was no more dust or grime from the filthy warehouse floor, taking special care around the base of the wings - as he knew that could be an especially sensitive area. Zeke transitioned smoothly into lathering body wash from Jason's shoulders down the length of his back, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his beloved's shoulder.
"You are so beautiful, mi alma." The words a hushed, revenant whisper.
Jason had to try very hard to concentrate as Zeke's hands gently worked through his feathers. He closed his eyes, forcing his hand to continue to clean the rest of his body- moving to his privates and legs, taking special care of his feet as well.
"So good," he whispered, back arching as skilled fingers cleaned the base of his wings and back.
Oh.
That felt good.
Too good.
"God," he hissed, brows furrowing as his mouth fell open, dropping his head bed, the kiss to his shoulder burning where Zeke's lips touched his damp skin.
Slowly, his eyes blinked open.
"I was trying to behave for once," he pouted, throwing a weak glare over hisn shoulder. "You can't make me horny at my dad's house, Zeke, that not faiiiir," he whined, pulling away to grab shampoo, conditioner and a bowl. "Just for that, you can wash my hair."
He knew Zeke wouldn't deny him.
Mr. Let Me Pamper You.
Hmph!
"You're so pretty to me," he asnwered back after a moment. "Not just- like yes you are, geniunely- but it's… the way you are- how you move, how you look at me, the little expressions you make when you concentrate, when you eat my food, how you sleep- You're just the prettiest person in the entire world."
He was done with himself and just let Zeke take over, enjoying his hands in his hair, massaging his scalp.
"Maybe you had the right idea all along… I should let you wash my hair from now on," he sighed happily, melting in his hands. "You're so good to me."
"I hope I'm this good to you always," he said, voice timid and achingly tender.
Lips twitched with a barely suppressed smirk. Oh that little glare was adorable. Zeke couldn't help it, seeing Jason be a little bratty was just too cute. It hadn't even been his intent to rile his beloved up, although he could definitely find satisfaction in knowing that no one else had ever touched his lover in this manner, and no one else ever would. The pleasure of having the base of one's wings massaged belonged to him alone when it came to his soulmate.
"Sorry, baby. I wasn't trying to misbehave. I just wanted to be sweet like you asked for earlier." Zeke pressed another soft kiss to Jason's skin, this time at his temple.
Jason was absolutely right. Zeke would never deny him.
Although he wasn't sure if washing his darling's hair was meant to be a punishment or reward, but he considered it a privilege regardless.
With great care and helpless devotion, Zeke poured water over Jason's hair, one hand situated to act as a shield to keep the water from spilling down his beloved's face or into his eyes. The way his fingers began methodically massaging the shampoo through his darling's dark hair and white fringe was almost ritualistic, expression one of gentle concentration.
Loving hands didn't pause massaging shampoo into his treasure's scalp when Jason spoke, although he did hum softly in acknowledgment of the compliment. Pink still dusted his cheeks as his lover talked about all the ways and times he was pretty. People had called him pretty before, but it always hit different when Jason did. Zeke didn't really care about being pretty or cute or handsome to other people - their opinions didn't matter - but when it was his mate? It made him so happy and flustered to know that the one person that mattered most thought he was pretty.
Prettiest in the world?
Zeke couldn't quite agree - to him Jason was clearly prettier, but it made him happy regardless.
"I want to be so good to you, baby. I can be so good just for you." Never in his life had Zeke ever considered himself much of a good person, but for Jason he absolutely wanted to be.
Finished with the shampoo he used one hand to again shield Jason's eyes as he carefully rinsed his hair, reaching for the conditioner he paused for just a moment at his beloved's timid tone. Recovering quickly he began working the conditioner into his lover's hair.
"You've been so good to me, baby. So, so good. My good, sweet boy. I appreciated the way you washed me in the shower this morning, I adored the food you cooked for me, I deeply cherish all the ways you've been taking care of and looking out for me since we meet, and I love the way you take my breath away so easily. You are everything. I don't, can't, believe that I deserve you, and yet I'm so greedy for you it is almost maddening." The words were delivered with such a quiet certainty.
Here's the thing...
Zeke was so fucking careful with Jason.
He didn't have to be.
No one in all his life had ever been this careful- not "cover his eyes so the stupid shampoo wouldn't get in them" careful. No one.
But he was.
He was careful with his words. He was careful with his touch. He was careful with Jason's heart.
And that- made Jason reckless in a way that made him want to see Zeke let loose a little- without that undercurrent of self- criticism Jason felt through the bond every time he paid the other man a compliment- and well deserved compliments at that. Sure, maybe he was a pot calling a kettle black, and he did pick up on Zeke being pleased as well. But, even so…
Zeke shouldn't doubt himself.
It made Jason's ass itch if he were quite honest. Except the flicker of irritation didn't last long as Zeke started showering him with compliments that left him blushing and made his heart pound in his chest.
And you know what?
When Zeke put it that way…
Jason was his good, sweet boy. He did do good at taking care of his not-yet-boyfriend, he inwardly preened, feathers fluffing in response outwardly and his feline ears perking up, begging to be petted for being sooo good.
However…
His eyes narrowed just as Zeke finished with his hair and he spun around, grabbing Zeke's wrists.
"You do deserve me. If I could point you to someone better for me than you, I would- but I can't. I never will because its impossible- they don't exist. You and I...We just… fit," Jason stated, searching Zeke's face intensely. "Like I've been a square trying to fit in a triangle for all my life and you just locked into place with me like it was that easy all along."
His hands slid Zeke's into his own, holding them gently, enjoying the weight and feel of them, a physical representation of his exact point. He leaned forward to kiss Zeke, lips slotting together like they had been kissing each other for lifetimes.
When they pulled apart, Jason's gaze was hooded and simmering with heat and yearning and devotion, thumbs rubbing circles over the tops of Zeke's hands. His tongue darted out to chase the taste of Zeke in his lips.
"I decide what I deserve," he told Zeke breathlessly, voice building certainty, "and I deserve you. I deserve to be treated the way you treat me. You will not deny yourself the same, do you understand me? I won't stand for it. You are priceless and breathtaking and you had my heart the moment I laid eyes on you. I knew you before we spoke a single word to each other. You are mine. You can hold onto me and not let go. But it shouldn't always be a fight against the universe," he said gently, letting go of his hands to cradle his face.
"What I want is for you to relax and just let yourself have me," he whispered, swooping in for another desperate kiss, hands tangling in Zeke's hair. He whined into his mouth, part of him wishing his own breath could be enough to sustain them both. One of his hands cupped the back of Zeke's neck, anchoring them together.
If this was the last thing they ever got to do, Jason would gladly spend every second breathing love into Zeke. He kissed him until they were both out of breath, Jason panting against his lips, foreheads pressed together as green eyes bore into his.
"You deserve me. Say it."
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Jason was floating.
He was back in that starry ocean from earlier, only this time he could see himself- or rather his reflection on the waters…
How were there waters?
His wings…
He gasped, eyes wide and flaring in a glowing kaleidoscope.
He had… wings…
He studied himself, eyes tracing every detail.
The wings were like a sunset made up of feathers. Spanning from yellow, to orange amd red, then blue and purple with pink iridescent hues gleaming where the light hit them. He also… wasn't a he anymore?
The reflection changed in real time, rippling until it settled again.
She was still tall, but more slender. Still muscled, but softened with curves and robust in places that made her blush the more she studied herself and the gold armor that seemed painted on in some places. Her hair had grown into longer waves, the shock of white hair more luminescent now in contrast to the inky black strands that seemed to move like they had their own will.
The reflection smirked.
"About time," she said to him and Jason could see her looking at him, too. At his own build that still didn't take up as much space as she did.
Another figure soon joined them, a giant Jaguar with glowing red eyes and inverted spots, most of its coat black.
"Jazmin, you owe us both an apology," he growled.
The Angel winced, looking regretfully at Jason. "In my defense- I really didn't mean for it to hurt. I didn't know. But I am sorry. And I'm very sorry for putting our loved ones through such an ordeal."
Jason swallowed, nodding but not knowing exactly what to say.
The Beast regarded him with a heavy stare, calmer than usual.
Then, the waters swirled around him, a more humanoid being in his place. Only he had the claws and fangs, a long tail, too. He was even larger than Jason, his features vaguely more catlike. And despite how fearsome the rest of him was, he had the most adorable feline ears on his head. Jason's immediate thought was whether Zeke would pet them in that state.
"So you're The Beast," Jason muttered, no malice in his voice- only acknowledgement.
"Pffft," Jazmín couldn't help but laugh. "The Beast? This guy?" She smirked, pointing her thumb at the feline man, "He's a total kitty cat. Isn't that right, Jasper?"
"Your name is Jasper?" Jason deadpanned, arching an unimpressed brow. "You were more intimidating as The Beast."
Jasper rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "I wasn't trying to be intimidating, Jacinto," he said, dragging Jason's birth name out sarcastically.
"Shaddup," Jason grumbled, looking away from both of them. "I don't care about the pain anymore as long as we aren't dead. We aren't right? I can go back to my family- to my dad? And …"
He swallowed, eyes red-rimmed and glistening, "I can go back to Zeke?" His voice shook, bleeding vulnerability and longing. He wanted to go back go his family. To his love.
Distantly, he felt waves of gentle coolness in phantom touches- nothing untoward. But the part of him that could still feel his physical body relaxed into it. It reminded him of the last time he had sucked it up after an injury and allowed Dick to give him a sponge bath. His brother had been so careful with him Jason wanted to throw up and cry like a baby at the time.
Now, though?
Well.
He felt safe and cared for, even if he couldn't see beyond himself right then. His head felt like it was being held by a cloud, that floaty feeling he felt when Bruce played with his hair achingly familiar.
"We're being called back," Jasper muttered, eyes softening.
Then Jason felt an ache in his chest and Jazmin's face fell. Jason almost felt bad for her, seeing an angel so sad. Except…
Grief-stricken eyes met his, her melodic voice broken.
"This is all my fault."
He didn't know what to say at first.
He swallowed, slowly finding his words, eyeing her carefully.
"I mean. You're me, arent you? And I'm you? So it's our fault?"
Jasper rolled his eyes, grabbing Jazmin's hand and pulling her toward Jason. She allowed it but hung her head, avoiding Jason's piercing green-eyed stare.
"It's not that simple," Jasper explained, "we are One but we each represent different dimensions of our consciousness and therefore a variation in access to our power. You have your own magic very different to mine or Jazmin's. Too much access at once is painful for the body currently- obviously," he said, pointedly side-eyeing the angel.
"It's common for many hybrids, but especially our lineage," Jazmín said at last, finally meeting his eyes. "In our case its particularly intense because of our human blood. So our consciousness tries to keep us seperate until the body evolves enough to be able to handle us in our integrated state. And we can't predict how long that will take. But rest assured, we can and will learn control- we will become a master of ourself," she stated firmly, her resolve solidified by the unintentional harm done to the body as well as the distress to their loved ones. "I swear it."
Jason nodded slowly, reaching both hands out- one toward Jazmin and the other toward Jasper, his Angel and Beast.
"I don't know why we're like this. And I'm sure we're close to the answer. Right now though, we are needed. We have to wake up," Jason said.
A voice, faint but familiar echoed in their soul space.
"…baby… I'm here… so sorry…"
They all looked in the same direction, voices harmonized on a single focus.
"Zeke…"
Jason woke with that name on his lips even as he pushed his head further into Bruce’s hand, opening his eyes and meeting his ice blue stare
"Dad?"
Bruce nodded, Steph untangling herself from his side to give them a moment. His hands cupped Jason's cheeks, thumbs wiping his tears.
"Dad-" Jason repeated, voice cracking, unable to control how his lip wobbled until a sob forced its way out of his throat.
His hand was still held in Zeke's and Jason's own fingers squeezed his, soaking in the warmth between their palms.
But Bruce held Jason, letting him sob into his chest, his other free arm clinging to the back of Bruce’s shirt.
He'd been so afraid. And in so much pain. Then he had to keep making sense of whatever the fuck was happening to him- negotiating with himself or versions of him he still didn't understand- and now…
Bruce shushed him gently, rocking them. "It's okay. You're safe. You're home. We're here." Bruce grunted briefly as Dick wiggled between them.
"Little Wing," he sniffled, kissing his forehead before Tim pulled him back, the older man whining until the girls wrapped him in a hug of their own.
"Glad to see you awake," Damian told Jason who was still hiccuping, still clutching Zeke's hand.
"Yeah, you scared the shit out of everyone," Tim said.
Steph said nothing, only eyeing Jason with tearful gratitude.
"Zeke turned into a cute demon. He was growling. So cute," Cass told him.
At the mention of Zeke, Jason pulled his hand, the other man falling into the bed with him. Jason had no words at the moment. Only that his vibrant, sunset colored wings seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around Zeke like a cacoon as he was crushed to Jason's chest. Jason was still crying, but he had quieted, instead releasing Zeke's hand to wrap his arms around him, one around his waist and the other up his back, nuzzling Zeke's face with his nose.
Bruce looked toward the others. "Let's give them space. They need it."
"Agreed, Sir," Alfred said. "I'll prepare a meal shortly. I have heard comfort food is good for the soul."
Damian picked up Hamza, giving the pair one last look before following the rest
They slowly filed out, leaving Zeke and Jason alone.
Jason kept rubbing his body with Zeke's like a cat, eyes flashing between green and red and rainbow as Jasper and Jazmin each settled with each turn.
"Zeke…"
Zeke sucked in a sharp breath, heart stuttering in his chest, as Jason stirred awake with his name on his lips. He had been prepared to stand by his beloved's beside for however long it took for him to wake up, he'd have waited forever if that's what it took. Instead he'd barely returned to his lover's side and already he was waking, as if his presence and voice had brought him back. That or he had barely returned in time to be there when Jason awoke.
Relief had washed over him, but his chest still tightened painfully at the sound of that first sob. The urge to gather his darling up in his arms and soothe him was overwhelming, but he managed to settle for squeezing his hand gently in response to Jason's squeeze, allowing Bruce to cradle and comfort his son first, along with his partner's siblings. They were his family, and they had lost him once before already.
He could wait his turn.
When Cass spoke he blinked wide-eyed and slack-jawed at her.
Cute demon?
Much to his dismay he felt the tell-tale flush creep across his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Thankfully he didn't have to endure the embarrassment long, because when Jason tugged at his hand he gratefully fell to the bed, carefully shuffling into a position that he hoped would be comfortable for Jason as those beautiful wings cocooned him against his darling's chest. It felt like he could finally take a full breath as he was squished chest to chest with his soulmate.
Zeke barely noticed the others quietly leave, some far corner of his mind processing it but otherwise unconcerned as he buried his face against the crook of Jason's neck, breathing in the comforting scent of his mate. Whatever remnants of the darkness remained settled contently.
For a few long moments he could do nothing but cling to his beloved, arms wrapping around him and squeezing gently, unable to feel close enough.
"Don't do that again." His voice was muffled against Jason's skin, a little wobbly as he sniffled and clung harder. "I was so scared I was going to lose you. I thought that I wouldn't reach you in time I -"
Throat squeezing, choking up a little nuzzled against the pulse he felt, proof that his beloved was still with him. He swallowed hard and regained his voice.
"Don't be reckless when I'm not there to watch your back. If you left me I wouldn't want to survive it. Don't go where I can't follow…" This time he couldn't hold back tears, hot with anger and terror and relief all a jumbled mess as he shook faintly.
Jason sniffled, burying his nose in Zeke's hair, humming out a little moan at the smell of fresh shampoo. He'd clearly just showered. Honestly, Jason wanted a proper bath himself. He felt lingering dampness on his skin that let him know he'd gotten a sponge bath. It was fine, but he still felt…
Gross.
He whined in distress when he heard Zeke's voice waver.
Leaning back to lock eyes with him, his own eyes a shimmering spectrum of colors, his lip trembled. His voice was lighter, smoother and harmonic as Jazmin's voice layered over Jason's baritone.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean for it to be so bad. I'm sorry I scared you. I scared myself, too."
Immediately, those same eyes gradually faded to red, fangs poking out of Jason's mouth when he spoke again, Jasper's familiar gravelly undertone bleeding through.
"Oh, Little Mate, please don't cry. Not for us."
They leaned in, licking Zeke's tears away before nuzzling his cheeks with their nose.
"Your pain is our pain. No part of us wants to leave you, sweet shadow."
Jason's lashes fluttered rapidly, consciousness expanding and contracting to switch and accommodate them all in quick succession. It was making him tired all over again, vision hazy.
He whimpered, clutching Zeke tighter, dropping his head into his shoulder and curling into himself, tucking Zeke into him. His wings trembled under the strain and the pink iridescent sheen shifted into jaguar spots, his head sprouting feline ears and eyes shifting with the new change. He minded his claws, not wanting to pierce Zeke's skin.
Great.
How was he supposed to wash his ass without cutting himself with those?
He grumbled, huffing to himself.
"Want a real bath. Need help,"he muttered, shifting so that he was sitting up with Zeke maneuvered into his lap. He let his arms slide loosely around his lover's hips, hands settling onto his lower back. He was pouting slightly, brows furrowed from how suddenly grumpy he felt.
It had been a long day.
He said nothing else before he was shimmying off the bed with Zeke, holding him tighter and lifting him so the other man could wrap his legs around him once his feet touched the ground. He walked them toward the bathroom. There was a tucked away oversized tub behind another door toward the very back. It was rarely used but Jason wanted it. It had a detachable showerhead close to the edge.
Jason set Zeke down reluctantly, starting to run the bath, mindful not to hit him with his wings. He was still getting used to them.
Once the water was to his liking temperature wise, he pointed to a seat next to the tub. "For you,' he said, adding his favorite oils.
He growled when he realized he was still wearing clothes, tearing them off himself in frustration. How he would get dressed later, he wasn't sure and he didn't care.
Once he was bare, he slowly stepped into the bath, pausing with a shiver as a memory hit him.
It didn't always happen.
But sometimes… well…
Get over it, he told himself, sinking himself into the water and leaning back with a sigh, letting his eyes drift shut.
"I'm sorry," he said again, letting the words linger between them. "All I ever wanted was someone like you. And I can't even-" the words died on his tongue, turning to ash. "I'm just sorry, Zeke."
He opened his eyes again, and when he looked at Zeke they were back to their brilliant green hue.
"I want to be what you deserve. I've never met anyone like you. And you make me want things I didn't know I could have. But I want them with you- I… only… with you…"
His cheeks darkened, but he didn't look away. He just watched. And waited.
Zeke had started melting against Jason, the tension finally easing now that his beloved was both awake and no longer sobbing. The idea of melding together with his beloved and simply basking in the comfort of his arms was so very tempting, and when his darling shifted his head back Zeke found himself making the softest of noise of discontent. He wanted to stay with his face pressed against warm skin, the scent of his mate absolutely swimming through his brain.
When their eyes met he found himself starting into a kaleidoscope of shifting colors, it was stunning enough to make his breath catch in his throat. It wasn't the first time Zeke had heard Jason speak in multiple harmonized voices at once, but this one was new.
Watching his lover's eyes change in real time was truly mesmerizing. Those red eyes, and the accompanying grit to Jason's voice, told him he was looking at The Beast now. His dark lashed fluttered closed as his beloved licked the tears from his cheeks, causing Zeke to scrunch his nose slightly even as he felt himself relaxing even more.
"Especially over you. I couldn't hold it back." Zeke used to be good at controlling his emotions, but it was like meeting Jason had completely disarmed him. He'd felt more this past week or so than he'd felt in years and years. It was like finally being alive again, like all this time he'd only been alive in the most basic of senses, and only now had he actually fully rejoined the living. If that meant enduring the negative emotions as well as the good ones, he considered it a small price to pay.
"Hmph. Your pain is my pain too. When you screamed…" Zeke shuddered as he remembered the feeling in his chest at that moment, and how his whole body was exhausted and achy now. When his darling whimpered one of his hands immediately moved so that he could run his fingers through Jason's hair as he held him carefully, pressing a soft kiss to his temple and nuzzling at his ear.
Zeke watched as the feathers shimmered on those beautiful wings, eyes widening as he watched leopard spots appear even as they trembled with strain. They must have felt so heavy.
He knew it took him a while to adjust to his own.
Spots on the wings weren't the only changes, his eyes were drawn to the fuzzy feline ears now on his lover's head and he thought they were the cutest fucking things he'd ever seen. If his beloved hadn't grumbled all huffy and sat up he'd have probably reached to experimentally pet and rub them.
For science.
It would have to wait, and despite everything the heat that radiated through him to have Jason's hands at his hips, to feel them pressed against his lower back made his face flush again and he tucked his head back into the crook of his darling's neck as he shimmied off the bed. He wanted to protest about his mate getting up already, and definitely that his love shouldn't be carrying him, but found the words dying in his throat.
"Stephanie made me take a shower," was what he managed to grumble instead as he wrapped his legs around Jason's waist. There was a petulant, pouty quality to his voice. "I didn't want to leave your side, but she did not frame it as a suggestion."
Had he needed a shower? Yeah, probably. Would he have rather waited for his darling to wake up so they could bathe together? Absolutely.
Still, he pushed the selfish thought away. It was probably better this way. His feet touched the bathroom floor as he was set down and he tried to stay out of Jason's way as his beloved started adjusting the water temperature. There would be more opportunities in future for him to soak in an oversized bath with his soulmate he consoled himself as he waited, settling into the pointed out chair.
Watching Jason rip his clothes off was definitely unexpected, and his lips parted as his eyes dilated and his face turned slightly red. Why was that so hot?
It was a short-lived moment, because he noticed the way his beloved hesitated, the way he shivered, and became alert once more, watching carefully as Jason lowered into the water and leaned back. His first concern was perhaps his darling was still in pain, but that didn't seem quite right.
Zeke studied that gorgeous face that he admired so much as he listened carefully to what Jason had to say, because he knew it was important - everything that had to do with Jason was important to him.
The idea that his soulmate had to try to be deserving of him was laughable at best in his mind.
"Oh mi alma…" They were too far apart, too much distance between them, so Zeke moved until he was leaning over the side of the tub, hands gently cupping Jason's face as he stared into the beautiful green emeralds he loved more with each passing moment he gazed into them. "What can't you do? You don't have to do or be anything more than you, mi tesoro. That's all I want. Just you."
He leaned up enough to place a tender kiss on Jason's forehead, then one on each cheek, and finally a sweet, soft kiss on his lips. "You are my soulmate, mi vida. I don't have the words in the languages of Demons, or Angels, or humans to express how happy that makes me."
Jason's eyes followed Zeke, heart swooping with each endearment. leaning up toward him like a tree branch reaching for sunlight.
How ironic.
His lashes fluttered with each kiss pressed into his skin, breathy voice sighing his name.
"Zeke…"
He wanted to chase his lips, gasping when Zeke broke away to keep saying more sweet things.
The thing was, they could have just been sweet words and nothing more.
Except Zeke meant them. And Jason knew he meant them, not by the tether in his soul to Zeke's own alone, but because the way Zeke treated him, the way he opened up for Jason like a blossom, was too sincere to be faked.
He swallowed the knot welling in his throat, eyes full of raw ache.
"Nobody's ever wanted just me before. Not like this- not like you," he whispered, voice cracking as he'd confessed something shameful, looking up at Zeke from under damp lashes. If he were honest, he felt a bit ridiculous. He was easily and quite obviously larger than Zeke.
But something about Zeke made him feel small- not in a bad way, no- in a way that made him feel safe enough to be vulnerable.
Weak.
He suddenly wished he were physically smaller, that he could be delicate.
His emotions, big as they were- as everyone always felt the need to point out despite their obvious and in-your-face nature- weren't new to him.
Fragility was.
Foreign and uncomfortable despite how he craved to be taken apart and put back together by the man in front of him, looking at him like Zeke was Jason's entire universe- reverent enough to feel a little religious about it.
I love him.
I want him to love me.
God, please let him love me, he prayed silently.
"I really do need help," he mumbled, averting his eyes, cheeks burning red.
He reached for a cloth, picking his favorite body wash - one that smelled of jasmine, cedarwood and bergamot- and started to wash his chest and arms. He paused and silently reached for another, handing it to Zeke, biting his lip shyly.
"Can you- Can you get my wings? Please…"
Zeke's expression softened into something so achingly tender as he looked down at his beloved, drinking in the sight of him so emotional, so vulnerable. He knew how hard it was to be vulnerable for someone. It had been a matter of survival to never allow himself to be vulnerable for a very long time. Jason made him want to be vulnerable, and seeing it reciprocated filled him with so much love he felt like he could burst.
"Well I do, and their loss is my gain, because you are everything." Even if deep down he didn't think he deserved Jason, well at the end of the day he truly was a greedy, selfish demon. Beside, he had told his beloved before, once he considered something his he wasn't apt to let it go.
Mine.
Even as that dark, possessive thing curled in his chest rose up Zeke felt an overwhelming outpouring of love from his beloved that it stole his breath. It filled him with warmth and joy and adoration, making the darkness he kept bottled up settle with contentment. The love was underscored by a thread of desperate longing and that made his heart both flutter and squeeze.
I love him so much.
He wanted to say it out loud. Hell, he'd shout it from the fucking rooftops. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back down as Jason shyly muttered about needing help. His darling was so precious and cute when he blushed like that. Yes, he wanted to express his love to this sweet man with words, and to hell with the idea that it was too soon - if he knew, then he knew - but for the moment, the physical, non-sexual intimacy of this moment was perfect to show his love and care.
Actions speak louder than words.
The words would come soon enough. Jason had wanted them to do this relationship in their own time, and wanted it to be special when they became an official couple. Zeke decided that the words should be special too.
"Of course, baby." He smiled adoringly as he took the wash cloth. Experience from caring for his own wings, and for helping Lucifer countless times with his, Zeke began to clean the gorgeous wings with painstaking care and gentleness. "I'll teach you all the tricks I know to make your feathers really shine and how to take care of them when they molt. If they molt? We'll figure it out. I'll always be willing to help you with them. With anything."
With loving devotion he cleaned those sunset ombre wings until there was no more dust or grime from the filthy warehouse floor, taking special care around the base of the wings - as he knew that could be an especially sensitive area. Zeke transitioned smoothly into lathering body wash from Jason's shoulders down the length of his back, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his beloved's shoulder.
"You are so beautiful, mi alma." The words a hushed, revenant whisper.
Jason had to try very hard to concentrate as Zeke's hands gently worked through his feathers. He closed his eyes, forcing his hand to continue to clean the rest of his body- moving to his privates and legs, taking special care of his feet as well.
"So good," he whispered, back arching as skilled fingers cleaned the base of his wings and back.
Oh.
That felt good.
Too good.
"God," he hissed, brows furrowing as his mouth fell open, dropping his head bed, the kiss to his shoulder burning where Zeke's lips touched his damp skin.
Slowly, his eyes blinked open.
"I was trying to behave for once," he pouted, throwing a weak glare over hisn shoulder. "You can't make me horny at my dad's house, Zeke, that not faiiiir," he whined, pulling away to grab shampoo, conditioner and a bowl. "Just for that, you can wash my hair."
He knew Zeke wouldn't deny him.
Mr. Let Me Pamper You.
Hmph!
"You're so pretty to me," he asnwered back after a moment. "Not just- like yes you are, geniunely- but it's… the way you are- how you move, how you look at me, the little expressions you make when you concentrate, when you eat my food, how you sleep- You're just the prettiest person in the entire world."
He was done with himself and just let Zeke take over, enjoying his hands in his hair, massaging his scalp.
"Maybe you had the right idea all along… I should let you wash my hair from now on," he sighed happily, melting in his hands. "You're so good to me."
"I hope I'm this good to you always," he said, voice timid and achingly tender.
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Jason was floating.
He was back in that starry ocean from earlier, only this time he could see himself- or rather his reflection on the waters…
How were there waters?
His wings…
He gasped, eyes wide and flaring in a glowing kaleidoscope.
He had… wings…
He studied himself, eyes tracing every detail.
The wings were like a sunset made up of feathers. Spanning from yellow, to orange amd red, then blue and purple with pink iridescent hues gleaming where the light hit them. He also… wasn't a he anymore?
The reflection changed in real time, rippling until it settled again.
She was still tall, but more slender. Still muscled, but softened with curves and robust in places that made her blush the more she studied herself and the gold armor that seemed painted on in some places. Her hair had grown into longer waves, the shock of white hair more luminescent now in contrast to the inky black strands that seemed to move like they had their own will.
The reflection smirked.
"About time," she said to him and Jason could see her looking at him, too. At his own build that still didn't take up as much space as she did.
Another figure soon joined them, a giant Jaguar with glowing red eyes and inverted spots, most of its coat black.
"Jazmin, you owe us both an apology," he growled.
The Angel winced, looking regretfully at Jason. "In my defense- I really didn't mean for it to hurt. I didn't know. But I am sorry. And I'm very sorry for putting our loved ones through such an ordeal."
Jason swallowed, nodding but not knowing exactly what to say.
The Beast regarded him with a heavy stare, calmer than usual.
Then, the waters swirled around him, a more humanoid being in his place. Only he had the claws and fangs, a long tail, too. He was even larger than Jason, his features vaguely more catlike. And despite how fearsome the rest of him was, he had the most adorable feline ears on his head. Jason's immediate thought was whether Zeke would pet them in that state.
"So you're The Beast," Jason muttered, no malice in his voice- only acknowledgement.
"Pffft," Jazmín couldn't help but laugh. "The Beast? This guy?" She smirked, pointing her thumb at the feline man, "He's a total kitty cat. Isn't that right, Jasper?"
"Your name is Jasper?" Jason deadpanned, arching an unimpressed brow. "You were more intimidating as The Beast."
Jasper rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "I wasn't trying to be intimidating, Jacinto," he said, dragging Jason's birth name out sarcastically.
"Shaddup," Jason grumbled, looking away from both of them. "I don't care about the pain anymore as long as we aren't dead. We aren't right? I can go back to my family- to my dad? And …"
He swallowed, eyes red-rimmed and glistening, "I can go back to Zeke?" His voice shook, bleeding vulnerability and longing. He wanted to go back go his family. To his love.
Distantly, he felt waves of gentle coolness in phantom touches- nothing untoward. But the part of him that could still feel his physical body relaxed into it. It reminded him of the last time he had sucked it up after an injury and allowed Dick to give him a sponge bath. His brother had been so careful with him Jason wanted to throw up and cry like a baby at the time.
Now, though?
Well.
He felt safe and cared for, even if he couldn't see beyond himself right then. His head felt like it was being held by a cloud, that floaty feeling he felt when Bruce played with his hair achingly familiar.
"We're being called back," Jasper muttered, eyes softening.
Then Jason felt an ache in his chest and Jazmin's face fell. Jason almost felt bad for her, seeing an angel so sad. Except…
Grief-stricken eyes met his, her melodic voice broken.
"This is all my fault."
He didn't know what to say at first.
He swallowed, slowly finding his words, eyeing her carefully.
"I mean. You're me, arent you? And I'm you? So it's our fault?"
Jasper rolled his eyes, grabbing Jazmin's hand and pulling her toward Jason. She allowed it but hung her head, avoiding Jason's piercing green-eyed stare.
"It's not that simple," Jasper explained, "we are One but we each represent different dimensions of our consciousness and therefore a variation in access to our power. You have your own magic very different to mine or Jazmin's. Too much access at once is painful for the body currently- obviously," he said, pointedly side-eyeing the angel.
"It's common for many hybrids, but especially our lineage," Jazmín said at last, finally meeting his eyes. "In our case its particularly intense because of our human blood. So our consciousness tries to keep us seperate until the body evolves enough to be able to handle us in our integrated state. And we can't predict how long that will take. But rest assured, we can and will learn control- we will become a master of ourself," she stated firmly, her resolve solidified by the unintentional harm done to the body as well as the distress to their loved ones. "I swear it."
Jason nodded slowly, reaching both hands out- one toward Jazmin and the other toward Jasper, his Angel and Beast.
"I don't know why we're like this. And I'm sure we're close to the answer. Right now though, we are needed. We have to wake up," Jason said.
A voice, faint but familiar echoed in their soul space.
"…baby… I'm here… so sorry…"
They all looked in the same direction, voices harmonized on a single focus.
"Zeke…"
Jason woke with that name on his lips even as he pushed his head further into Bruce’s hand, opening his eyes and meeting his ice blue stare
"Dad?"
Bruce nodded, Steph untangling herself from his side to give them a moment. His hands cupped Jason's cheeks, thumbs wiping his tears.
"Dad-" Jason repeated, voice cracking, unable to control how his lip wobbled until a sob forced its way out of his throat.
His hand was still held in Zeke's and Jason's own fingers squeezed his, soaking in the warmth between their palms.
But Bruce held Jason, letting him sob into his chest, his other free arm clinging to the back of Bruce’s shirt.
He'd been so afraid. And in so much pain. Then he had to keep making sense of whatever the fuck was happening to him- negotiating with himself or versions of him he still didn't understand- and now…
Bruce shushed him gently, rocking them. "It's okay. You're safe. You're home. We're here." Bruce grunted briefly as Dick wiggled between them.
"Little Wing," he sniffled, kissing his forehead before Tim pulled him back, the older man whining until the girls wrapped him in a hug of their own.
"Glad to see you awake," Damian told Jason who was still hiccuping, still clutching Zeke's hand.
"Yeah, you scared the shit out of everyone," Tim said.
Steph said nothing, only eyeing Jason with tearful gratitude.
"Zeke turned into a cute demon. He was growling. So cute," Cass told him.
At the mention of Zeke, Jason pulled his hand, the other man falling into the bed with him. Jason had no words at the moment. Only that his vibrant, sunset colored wings seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around Zeke like a cacoon as he was crushed to Jason's chest. Jason was still crying, but he had quieted, instead releasing Zeke's hand to wrap his arms around him, one around his waist and the other up his back, nuzzling Zeke's face with his nose.
Bruce looked toward the others. "Let's give them space. They need it."
"Agreed, Sir," Alfred said. "I'll prepare a meal shortly. I have heard comfort food is good for the soul."
Damian picked up Hamza, giving the pair one last look before following the rest
They slowly filed out, leaving Zeke and Jason alone.
Jason kept rubbing his body with Zeke's like a cat, eyes flashing between green and red and rainbow as Jasper and Jazmin each settled with each turn.
"Zeke…"
Zeke sucked in a sharp breath, heart stuttering in his chest, as Jason stirred awake with his name on his lips. He had been prepared to stand by his beloved's beside for however long it took for him to wake up, he'd have waited forever if that's what it took. Instead he'd barely returned to his lover's side and already he was waking, as if his presence and voice had brought him back. That or he had barely returned in time to be there when Jason awoke.
Relief had washed over him, but his chest still tightened painfully at the sound of that first sob. The urge to gather his darling up in his arms and soothe him was overwhelming, but he managed to settle for squeezing his hand gently in response to Jason's squeeze, allowing Bruce to cradle and comfort his son first, along with his partner's siblings. They were his family, and they had lost him once before already.
He could wait his turn.
When Cass spoke he blinked wide-eyed and slack-jawed at her.
Cute demon?
Much to his dismay he felt the tell-tale flush creep across his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Thankfully he didn't have to endure the embarrassment long, because when Jason tugged at his hand he gratefully fell to the bed, carefully shuffling into a position that he hoped would be comfortable for Jason as those beautiful wings cocooned him against his darling's chest. It felt like he could finally take a full breath as he was squished chest to chest with his soulmate.
Zeke barely noticed the others quietly leave, some far corner of his mind processing it but otherwise unconcerned as he buried his face against the crook of Jason's neck, breathing in the comforting scent of his mate. Whatever remnants of the darkness remained settled contently.
For a few long moments he could do nothing but cling to his beloved, arms wrapping around him and squeezing gently, unable to feel close enough.
"Don't do that again." His voice was muffled against Jason's skin, a little wobbly as he sniffled and clung harder. "I was so scared I was going to lose you. I thought that I wouldn't reach you in time I -"
Throat squeezing, choking up a little nuzzled against the pulse he felt, proof that his beloved was still with him. He swallowed hard and regained his voice.
"Don't be reckless when I'm not there to watch your back. If you left me I wouldn't want to survive it. Don't go where I can't follow…" This time he couldn't hold back tears, hot with anger and terror and relief all a jumbled mess as he shook faintly.
Jason sniffled, burying his nose in Zeke's hair, humming out a little moan at the smell of fresh shampoo. He'd clearly just showered. Honestly, Jason wanted a proper bath himself. He felt lingering dampness on his skin that let him know he'd gotten a sponge bath. It was fine, but he still felt…
Gross.
He whined in distress when he heard Zeke's voice waver.
Leaning back to lock eyes with him, his own eyes a shimmering spectrum of colors, his lip trembled. His voice was lighter, smoother and harmonic as Jazmin's voice layered over Jason's baritone.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean for it to be so bad. I'm sorry I scared you. I scared myself, too."
Immediately, those same eyes gradually faded to red, fangs poking out of Jason's mouth when he spoke again, Jasper's familiar gravelly undertone bleeding through.
"Oh, Little Mate, please don't cry. Not for us."
They leaned in, licking Zeke's tears away before nuzzling his cheeks with their nose.
"Your pain is our pain. No part of us wants to leave you, sweet shadow."
Jason's lashes fluttered rapidly, consciousness expanding and contracting to switch and accommodate them all in quick succession. It was making him tired all over again, vision hazy.
He whimpered, clutching Zeke tighter, dropping his head into his shoulder and curling into himself, tucking Zeke into him. His wings trembled under the strain and the pink iridescent sheen shifted into jaguar spots, his head sprouting feline ears and eyes shifting with the new change. He minded his claws, not wanting to pierce Zeke's skin.
Great.
How was he supposed to wash his ass without cutting himself with those?
He grumbled, huffing to himself.
"Want a real bath. Need help,"he muttered, shifting so that he was sitting up with Zeke maneuvered into his lap. He let his arms slide loosely around his lover's hips, hands settling onto his lower back. He was pouting slightly, brows furrowed from how suddenly grumpy he felt.
It had been a long day.
He said nothing else before he was shimmying off the bed with Zeke, holding him tighter and lifting him so the other man could wrap his legs around him once his feet touched the ground. He walked them toward the bathroom. There was a tucked away oversized tub behind another door toward the very back. It was rarely used but Jason wanted it. It had a detachable showerhead close to the edge.
Jason set Zeke down reluctantly, starting to run the bath, mindful not to hit him with his wings. He was still getting used to them.
Once the water was to his liking temperature wise, he pointed to a seat next to the tub. "For you,' he said, adding his favorite oils.
He growled when he realized he was still wearing clothes, tearing them off himself in frustration. How he would get dressed later, he wasn't sure and he didn't care.
Once he was bare, he slowly stepped into the bath, pausing with a shiver as a memory hit him.
It didn't always happen.
But sometimes… well…
Get over it, he told himself, sinking himself into the water and leaning back with a sigh, letting his eyes drift shut.
"I'm sorry," he said again, letting the words linger between them. "All I ever wanted was someone like you. And I can't even-" the words died on his tongue, turning to ash. "I'm just sorry, Zeke."
He opened his eyes again, and when he looked at Zeke they were back to their brilliant green hue.
"I want to be what you deserve. I've never met anyone like you. And you make me want things I didn't know I could have. But I want them with you- I… only… with you…"
His cheeks darkened, but he didn't look away. He just watched. And waited.
Zeke had started melting against Jason, the tension finally easing now that his beloved was both awake and no longer sobbing. The idea of melding together with his beloved and simply basking in the comfort of his arms was so very tempting, and when his darling shifted his head back Zeke found himself making the softest of noise of discontent. He wanted to stay with his face pressed against warm skin, the scent of his mate absolutely swimming through his brain.
When their eyes met he found himself starting into a kaleidoscope of shifting colors, it was stunning enough to make his breath catch in his throat. It wasn't the first time Zeke had heard Jason speak in multiple harmonized voices at once, but this one was new.
Watching his lover's eyes change in real time was truly mesmerizing. Those red eyes, and the accompanying grit to Jason's voice, told him he was looking at The Beast now. His dark lashed fluttered closed as his beloved licked the tears from his cheeks, causing Zeke to scrunch his nose slightly even as he felt himself relaxing even more.
"Especially over you. I couldn't hold it back." Zeke used to be good at controlling his emotions, but it was like meeting Jason had completely disarmed him. He'd felt more this past week or so than he'd felt in years and years. It was like finally being alive again, like all this time he'd only been alive in the most basic of senses, and only now had he actually fully rejoined the living. If that meant enduring the negative emotions as well as the good ones, he considered it a small price to pay.
"Hmph. Your pain is my pain too. When you screamed…" Zeke shuddered as he remembered the feeling in his chest at that moment, and how his whole body was exhausted and achy now. When his darling whimpered one of his hands immediately moved so that he could run his fingers through Jason's hair as he held him carefully, pressing a soft kiss to his temple and nuzzling at his ear.
Zeke watched as the feathers shimmered on those beautiful wings, eyes widening as he watched leopard spots appear even as they trembled with strain. They must have felt so heavy.
He knew it took him a while to adjust to his own.
Spots on the wings weren't the only changes, his eyes were drawn to the fuzzy feline ears now on his lover's head and he thought they were the cutest fucking things he'd ever seen. If his beloved hadn't grumbled all huffy and sat up he'd have probably reached to experimentally pet and rub them.
For science.
It would have to wait, and despite everything the heat that radiated through him to have Jason's hands at his hips, to feel them pressed against his lower back made his face flush again and he tucked his head back into the crook of his darling's neck as he shimmied off the bed. He wanted to protest about his mate getting up already, and definitely that his love shouldn't be carrying him, but found the words dying in his throat.
"Stephanie made me take a shower," was what he managed to grumble instead as he wrapped his legs around Jason's waist. There was a petulant, pouty quality to his voice. "I didn't want to leave your side, but she did not frame it as a suggestion."
Had he needed a shower? Yeah, probably. Would he have rather waited for his darling to wake up so they could bathe together? Absolutely.
Still, he pushed the selfish thought away. It was probably better this way. His feet touched the bathroom floor as he was set down and he tried to stay out of Jason's way as his beloved started adjusting the water temperature. There would be more opportunities in future for him to soak in an oversized bath with his soulmate he consoled himself as he waited, settling into the pointed out chair.
Watching Jason rip his clothes off was definitely unexpected, and his lips parted as his eyes dilated and his face turned slightly red. Why was that so hot?
It was a short-lived moment, because he noticed the way his beloved hesitated, the way he shivered, and became alert once more, watching carefully as Jason lowered into the water and leaned back. His first concern was perhaps his darling was still in pain, but that didn't seem quite right.
Zeke studied that gorgeous face that he admired so much as he listened carefully to what Jason had to say, because he knew it was important - everything that had to do with Jason was important to him.
The idea that his soulmate had to try to be deserving of him was laughable at best in his mind.
"Oh mi alma…" They were too far apart, too much distance between them, so Zeke moved until he was leaning over the side of the tub, hands gently cupping Jason's face as he stared into the beautiful green emeralds he loved more with each passing moment he gazed into them. "What can't you do? You don't have to do or be anything more than you, mi tesoro. That's all I want. Just you."
He leaned up enough to place a tender kiss on Jason's forehead, then one on each cheek, and finally a sweet, soft kiss on his lips. "You are my soulmate, mi vida. I don't have the words in the languages of Demons, or Angels, or humans to express how happy that makes me."
Jason's eyes followed Zeke, heart swooping with each endearment. leaning up toward him like a tree branch reaching for sunlight.
How ironic.
His lashes fluttered with each kiss pressed into his skin, breathy voice sighing his name.
"Zeke…"
He wanted to chase his lips, gasping when Zeke broke away to keep saying more sweet things.
The thing was, they could have just been sweet words and nothing more.
Except Zeke meant them. And Jason knew he meant them, not by the tether in his soul to Zeke's own alone, but because the way Zeke treated him, the way he opened up for Jason like a blossom, was too sincere to be faked.
He swallowed the knot welling in his throat, eyes full of raw ache.
"Nobody's ever wanted just me before. Not like this- not like you," he whispered, voice cracking as he'd confessed something shameful, looking up at Zeke from under damp lashes. If he were honest, he felt a bit ridiculous. He was easily and quite obviously larger than Zeke.
But something about Zeke made him feel small- not in a bad way, no- in a way that made him feel safe enough to be vulnerable.
Weak.
He suddenly wished he were physically smaller, that he could be delicate.
His emotions, big as they were- as everyone always felt the need to point out despite their obvious and in-your-face nature- weren't new to him.
Fragility was.
Foreign and uncomfortable despite how he craved to be taken apart and put back together by the man in front of him, looking at him like Zeke was Jason's entire universe- reverent enough to feel a little religious about it.
I love him.
I want him to love me.
God, please let him love me, he prayed silently.
"I really do need help," he mumbled, averting his eyes, cheeks burning red.
He reached for a cloth, picking his favorite body wash - one that smelled of jasmine, cedarwood and bergamot- and started to wash his chest and arms. He paused and silently reached for another, handing it to Zeke, biting his lip shyly.
"Can you- Can you get my wings? Please…"
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Jason was floating.
He was back in that starry ocean from earlier, only this time he could see himself- or rather his reflection on the waters…
How were there waters?
His wings…
He gasped, eyes wide and flaring in a glowing kaleidoscope.
He had… wings…
He studied himself, eyes tracing every detail.
The wings were like a sunset made up of feathers. Spanning from yellow, to orange amd red, then blue and purple with pink iridescent hues gleaming where the light hit them. He also… wasn't a he anymore?
The reflection changed in real time, rippling until it settled again.
She was still tall, but more slender. Still muscled, but softened with curves and robust in places that made her blush the more she studied herself and the gold armor that seemed painted on in some places. Her hair had grown into longer waves, the shock of white hair more luminescent now in contrast to the inky black strands that seemed to move like they had their own will.
The reflection smirked.
"About time," she said to him and Jason could see her looking at him, too. At his own build that still didn't take up as much space as she did.
Another figure soon joined them, a giant Jaguar with glowing red eyes and inverted spots, most of its coat black.
"Jazmin, you owe us both an apology," he growled.
The Angel winced, looking regretfully at Jason. "In my defense- I really didn't mean for it to hurt. I didn't know. But I am sorry. And I'm very sorry for putting our loved ones through such an ordeal."
Jason swallowed, nodding but not knowing exactly what to say.
The Beast regarded him with a heavy stare, calmer than usual.
Then, the waters swirled around him, a more humanoid being in his place. Only he had the claws and fangs, a long tail, too. He was even larger than Jason, his features vaguely more catlike. And despite how fearsome the rest of him was, he had the most adorable feline ears on his head. Jason's immediate thought was whether Zeke would pet them in that state.
"So you're The Beast," Jason muttered, no malice in his voice- only acknowledgement.
"Pffft," Jazmín couldn't help but laugh. "The Beast? This guy?" She smirked, pointing her thumb at the feline man, "He's a total kitty cat. Isn't that right, Jasper?"
"Your name is Jasper?" Jason deadpanned, arching an unimpressed brow. "You were more intimidating as The Beast."
Jasper rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "I wasn't trying to be intimidating, Jacinto," he said, dragging Jason's birth name out sarcastically.
"Shaddup," Jason grumbled, looking away from both of them. "I don't care about the pain anymore as long as we aren't dead. We aren't right? I can go back to my family- to my dad? And …"
He swallowed, eyes red-rimmed and glistening, "I can go back to Zeke?" His voice shook, bleeding vulnerability and longing. He wanted to go back go his family. To his love.
Distantly, he felt waves of gentle coolness in phantom touches- nothing untoward. But the part of him that could still feel his physical body relaxed into it. It reminded him of the last time he had sucked it up after an injury and allowed Dick to give him a sponge bath. His brother had been so careful with him Jason wanted to throw up and cry like a baby at the time.
Now, though?
Well.
He felt safe and cared for, even if he couldn't see beyond himself right then. His head felt like it was being held by a cloud, that floaty feeling he felt when Bruce played with his hair achingly familiar.
"We're being called back," Jasper muttered, eyes softening.
Then Jason felt an ache in his chest and Jazmin's face fell. Jason almost felt bad for her, seeing an angel so sad. Except…
Grief-stricken eyes met his, her melodic voice broken.
"This is all my fault."
He didn't know what to say at first.
He swallowed, slowly finding his words, eyeing her carefully.
"I mean. You're me, arent you? And I'm you? So it's our fault?"
Jasper rolled his eyes, grabbing Jazmin's hand and pulling her toward Jason. She allowed it but hung her head, avoiding Jason's piercing green-eyed stare.
"It's not that simple," Jasper explained, "we are One but we each represent different dimensions of our consciousness and therefore a variation in access to our power. You have your own magic very different to mine or Jazmin's. Too much access at once is painful for the body currently- obviously," he said, pointedly side-eyeing the angel.
"It's common for many hybrids, but especially our lineage," Jazmín said at last, finally meeting his eyes. "In our case its particularly intense because of our human blood. So our consciousness tries to keep us seperate until the body evolves enough to be able to handle us in our integrated state. And we can't predict how long that will take. But rest assured, we can and will learn control- we will become a master of ourself," she stated firmly, her resolve solidified by the unintentional harm done to the body as well as the distress to their loved ones. "I swear it."
Jason nodded slowly, reaching both hands out- one toward Jazmin and the other toward Jasper, his Angel and Beast.
"I don't know why we're like this. And I'm sure we're close to the answer. Right now though, we are needed. We have to wake up," Jason said.
A voice, faint but familiar echoed in their soul space.
"…baby… I'm here… so sorry…"
They all looked in the same direction, voices harmonized on a single focus.
"Zeke…"
Jason woke with that name on his lips even as he pushed his head further into Bruce’s hand, opening his eyes and meeting his ice blue stare
"Dad?"
Bruce nodded, Steph untangling herself from his side to give them a moment. His hands cupped Jason's cheeks, thumbs wiping his tears.
"Dad-" Jason repeated, voice cracking, unable to control how his lip wobbled until a sob forced its way out of his throat.
His hand was still held in Zeke's and Jason's own fingers squeezed his, soaking in the warmth between their palms.
But Bruce held Jason, letting him sob into his chest, his other free arm clinging to the back of Bruce’s shirt.
He'd been so afraid. And in so much pain. Then he had to keep making sense of whatever the fuck was happening to him- negotiating with himself or versions of him he still didn't understand- and now…
Bruce shushed him gently, rocking them. "It's okay. You're safe. You're home. We're here." Bruce grunted briefly as Dick wiggled between them.
"Little Wing," he sniffled, kissing his forehead before Tim pulled him back, the older man whining until the girls wrapped him in a hug of their own.
"Glad to see you awake," Damian told Jason who was still hiccuping, still clutching Zeke's hand.
"Yeah, you scared the shit out of everyone," Tim said.
Steph said nothing, only eyeing Jason with tearful gratitude.
"Zeke turned into a cute demon. He was growling. So cute," Cass told him.
At the mention of Zeke, Jason pulled his hand, the other man falling into the bed with him. Jason had no words at the moment. Only that his vibrant, sunset colored wings seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around Zeke like a cacoon as he was crushed to Jason's chest. Jason was still crying, but he had quieted, instead releasing Zeke's hand to wrap his arms around him, one around his waist and the other up his back, nuzzling Zeke's face with his nose.
Bruce looked toward the others. "Let's give them space. They need it."
"Agreed, Sir," Alfred said. "I'll prepare a meal shortly. I have heard comfort food is good for the soul."
Damian picked up Hamza, giving the pair one last look before following the rest
They slowly filed out, leaving Zeke and Jason alone.
Jason kept rubbing his body with Zeke's like a cat, eyes flashing between green and red and rainbow as Jasper and Jazmin each settled with each turn.
"Zeke…"
Zeke sucked in a sharp breath, heart stuttering in his chest, as Jason stirred awake with his name on his lips. He had been prepared to stand by his beloved's beside for however long it took for him to wake up, he'd have waited forever if that's what it took. Instead he'd barely returned to his lover's side and already he was waking, as if his presence and voice had brought him back. That or he had barely returned in time to be there when Jason awoke.
Relief had washed over him, but his chest still tightened painfully at the sound of that first sob. The urge to gather his darling up in his arms and soothe him was overwhelming, but he managed to settle for squeezing his hand gently in response to Jason's squeeze, allowing Bruce to cradle and comfort his son first, along with his partner's siblings. They were his family, and they had lost him once before already.
He could wait his turn.
When Cass spoke he blinked wide-eyed and slack-jawed at her.
Cute demon?
Much to his dismay he felt the tell-tale flush creep across his cheeks and the tips of his ears. Thankfully he didn't have to endure the embarrassment long, because when Jason tugged at his hand he gratefully fell to the bed, carefully shuffling into a position that he hoped would be comfortable for Jason as those beautiful wings cocooned him against his darling's chest. It felt like he could finally take a full breath as he was squished chest to chest with his soulmate.
Zeke barely noticed the others quietly leave, some far corner of his mind processing it but otherwise unconcerned as he buried his face against the crook of Jason's neck, breathing in the comforting scent of his mate. Whatever remnants of the darkness remained settled contently.
For a few long moments he could do nothing but cling to his beloved, arms wrapping around him and squeezing gently, unable to feel close enough.
"Don't do that again." His voice was muffled against Jason's skin, a little wobbly as he sniffled and clung harder. "I was so scared I was going to lose you. I thought that I wouldn't reach you in time I -"
Throat squeezing, choking up a little nuzzled against the pulse he felt, proof that his beloved was still with him. He swallowed hard and regained his voice.
"Don't be reckless when I'm not there to watch your back. If you left me I wouldn't want to survive it. Don't go where I can't follow…" This time he couldn't hold back tears, hot with anger and terror and relief all a jumbled mess as he shook faintly.
Jason sniffled, burying his nose in Zeke's hair, humming out a little moan at the smell of fresh shampoo. He'd clearly just showered. Honestly, Jason wanted a proper bath himself. He felt lingering dampness on his skin that let him know he'd gotten a sponge bath. It was fine, but he still felt…
Gross.
He whined in distress when he heard Zeke's voice waver.
Leaning back to lock eyes with him, his own eyes a shimmering spectrum of colors, his lip trembled. His voice was lighter, smoother and harmonic as Jazmin's voice layered over Jason's baritone.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean for it to be so bad. I'm sorry I scared you. I scared myself, too."
Immediately, those same eyes gradually faded to red, fangs poking out of Jason's mouth when he spoke again, Jasper's familiar gravelly undertone bleeding through.
"Oh, Little Mate, please don't cry. Not for us."
They leaned in, licking Zeke's tears away before nuzzling his cheeks with their nose.
"Your pain is our pain. No part of us wants to leave you, sweet shadow."
Jason's lashes fluttered rapidly, consciousness expanding and contracting to switch and accommodate them all in quick succession. It was making him tired all over again, vision hazy.
He whimpered, clutching Zeke tighter, dropping his head into his shoulder and curling into himself, tucking Zeke into him. His wings trembled under the strain and the pink iridescent sheen shifted into jaguar spots, his head sprouting feline ears and eyes shifting with the new change. He minded his claws, not wanting to pierce Zeke's skin.
Great.
How was he supposed to wash his ass without cutting himself with those?
He grumbled, huffing to himself.
"Want a real bath. Need help,"he muttered, shifting so that he was sitting up with Zeke maneuvered into his lap. He let his arms slide loosely around his lover's hips, hands settling onto his lower back. He was pouting slightly, brows furrowed from how suddenly grumpy he felt.
It had been a long day.
He said nothing else before he was shimmying off the bed with Zeke, holding him tighter and lifting him so the other man could wrap his legs around him once his feet touched the ground. He walked them toward the bathroom. There was a tucked away oversized tub behind another door toward the very back. It was rarely used but Jason wanted it. It had a detachable showerhead close to the edge.
Jason set Zeke down reluctantly, starting to run the bath, mindful not to hit him with his wings. He was still getting used to them.
Once the water was to his liking temperature wise, he pointed to a seat next to the tub. "For you,' he said, adding his favorite oils.
He growled when he realized he was still wearing clothes, tearing them off himself in frustration. How he would get dressed later, he wasn't sure and he didn't care.
Once he was bare, he slowly stepped into the bath, pausing with a shiver as a memory hit him.
It didn't always happen.
But sometimes… well…
Get over it, he told himself, sinking himself into the water and leaning back with a sigh, letting his eyes drift shut.
"I'm sorry," he said again, letting the words linger between them. "All I ever wanted was someone like you. And I can't even-" the words died on his tongue, turning to ash. "I'm just sorry, Zeke."
He opened his eyes again, and when he looked at Zeke they were back to their brilliant green hue.
"I want to be what you deserve. I've never met anyone like you. And you make me want things I didn't know I could have. But I want them with you- I… only… with you…"
His cheeks darkened, but he didn't look away. He just watched. And waited.
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Jason was floating.
He was back in that starry ocean from earlier, only this time he could see himself- or rather his reflection on the waters…
How were there waters?
His wings…
He gasped, eyes wide and flaring in a glowing kaleidoscope.
He had… wings…
He studied himself, eyes tracing every detail.
The wings were like a sunset made up of feathers. Spanning from yellow, to orange amd red, then blue and purple with pink iridescent hues gleaming where the light hit them. He also… wasn't a he anymore?
The reflection changed in real time, rippling until it settled again.
She was still tall, but more slender. Still muscled, but softened with curves and robust in places that made her blush the more she studied herself and the gold armor that seemed painted on in some places. Her hair had grown into longer waves, the shock of white hair more luminescent now in contrast to the inky black strands that seemed to move like they had their own will.
The reflection smirked.
"About time," she said to him and Jason could see her looking at him, too. At his own build that still didn't take up as much space as she did.
Another figure soon joined them, a giant Jaguar with glowing red eyes and inverted spots, most of its coat black.
"Jazmin, you owe us both an apology," he growled.
The Angel winced, looking regretfully at Jason. "In my defense- I really didn't mean for it to hurt. I didn't know. But I am sorry. And I'm very sorry for putting our loved ones through such an ordeal."
Jason swallowed, nodding but not knowing exactly what to say.
The Beast regarded him with a heavy stare, calmer than usual.
Then, the waters swirled around him, a more humanoid being in his place. Only he had the claws and fangs, a long tail, too. He was even larger than Jason, his features vaguely more catlike. And despite how fearsome the rest of him was, he had the most adorable feline ears on his head. Jason's immediate thought was whether Zeke would pet them in that state.
"So you're The Beast," Jason muttered, no malice in his voice- only acknowledgement.
"Pffft," Jazmín couldn't help but laugh. "The Beast? This guy?" She smirked, pointing her thumb at the feline man, "He's a total kitty cat. Isn't that right, Jasper?"
"Your name is Jasper?" Jason deadpanned, arching an unimpressed brow. "You were more intimidating as The Beast."
Jasper rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "I wasn't trying to be intimidating, Jacinto," he said, dragging Jason's birth name out sarcastically.
"Shaddup," Jason grumbled, looking away from both of them. "I don't care about the pain anymore as long as we aren't dead. We aren't right? I can go back to my family- to my dad? And …"
He swallowed, eyes red-rimmed and glistening, "I can go back to Zeke?" His voice shook, bleeding vulnerability and longing. He wanted to go back go his family. To his love.
Distantly, he felt waves of gentle coolness in phantom touches- nothing untoward. But the part of him that could still feel his physical body relaxed into it. It reminded him of the last time he had sucked it up after an injury and allowed Dick to give him a sponge bath. His brother had been so careful with him Jason wanted to throw up and cry like a baby at the time.
Now, though?
Well.
He felt safe and cared for, even if he couldn't see beyond himself right then. His head felt like it was being held by a cloud, that floaty feeling he felt when Bruce played with his hair achingly familiar.
"We're being called back," Jasper muttered, eyes softening.
Then Jason felt an ache in his chest and Jazmin's face fell. Jason almost felt bad for her, seeing an angel so sad. Except…
Grief-stricken eyes met his, her melodic voice broken.
"This is all my fault."
He didn't know what to say at first.
He swallowed, slowly finding his words, eyeing her carefully.
"I mean. You're me, arent you? And I'm you? So it's our fault?"
Jasper rolled his eyes, grabbing Jazmin's hand and pulling her toward Jason. She allowed it but hung her head, avoiding Jason's piercing green-eyed stare.
"It's not that simple," Jasper explained, "we are One but we each represent different dimensions of our consciousness and therefore a variation in access to our power. You have your own magic very different to mine or Jazmin's. Too much access at once is painful for the body currently- obviously," he said, pointedly side-eyeing the angel.
"It's common for many hybrids, but especially our lineage," Jazmín said at last, finally meeting his eyes. "In our case its particularly intense because of our human blood. So our consciousness tries to keep us seperate until the body evolves enough to be able to handle us in our integrated state. And we can't predict how long that will take. But rest assured, we can and will learn control- we will become a master of ourself," she stated firmly, her resolve solidified by the unintentional harm done to the body as well as the distress to their loved ones. "I swear it."
Jason nodded slowly, reaching both hands out- one toward Jazmin and the other toward Jasper, his Angel and Beast.
"I don't know why we're like this. And I'm sure we're close to the answer. Right now though, we are needed. We have to wake up," Jason said.
A voice, faint but familiar echoed in their soul space.
"…baby… I'm here… so sorry…"
They all looked in the same direction, voices harmonized on a single focus.
"Zeke…"
Jason woke with that name on his lips even as he pushed his head further into Bruce’s hand, opening his eyes and meeting his ice blue stare
"Dad?"
Bruce nodded, Steph untangling herself from his side to give them a moment. His hands cupped Jason's cheeks, thumbs wiping his tears.
"Dad-" Jason repeated, voice cracking, unable to control how his lip wobbled until a sob forced its way out of his throat.
His hand was still held in Zeke's and Jason's own fingers squeezed his, soaking in the warmth between their palms.
But Bruce held Jason, letting him sob into his chest, his other free arm clinging to the back of Bruce’s shirt.
He'd been so afraid. And in so much pain. Then he had to keep making sense of whatever the fuck was happening to him- negotiating with himself or versions of him he still didn't understand- and now…
Bruce shushed him gently, rocking them. "It's okay. You're safe. You're home. We're here." Bruce grunted briefly as Dick wiggled between them.
"Little Wing," he sniffled, kissing his forehead before Tim pulled him back, the older man whining until the girls wrapped him in a hug of their own.
"Glad to see you awake," Damian told Jason who was still hiccuping, still clutching Zeke's hand.
"Yeah, you scared the shit out of everyone," Tim said.
Steph said nothing, only eyeing Jason with tearful gratitude.
"Zeke turned into a cute demon. He was growling. So cute," Cass told him.
At the mention of Zeke, Jason pulled his hand, the other man falling into the bed with him. Jason had no words at the moment. Only that his vibrant, sunset colored wings seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around Zeke like a cacoon as he was crushed to Jason's chest. Jason was still crying, but he had quieted, instead releasing Zeke's hand to wrap his arms around him, one around his waist and the other up his back, nuzzling Zeke's face with his nose.
Bruce looked toward the others. "Let's give them space. They need it."
"Agreed, Sir," Alfred said. "I'll prepare a meal shortly. I have heard comfort food is good for the soul."
Damian picked up Hamza, giving the pair one last look before following the rest
They slowly filed out, leaving Zeke and Jason alone.
Jason kept rubbing his body with Zeke's like a cat, eyes flashing between green and red and rainbow as Jasper and Jazmin each settled with each turn.
"Zeke…"
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Dottie's apartment wasn't far, and Red Hood silently slid her window open, booted feet landing softly on a plush faux fur carpet. He made sure to offer Zeke a hand as he climbed in after him, whether he needed it or not.
The apartment was like a princess studio in the seventh circle of hell, pink and white with glitter accents. Very… Dottie.
"Dot?" Jason hissed.
In the center of a round bed, a bombshell blonde lay half awake in a satin pink robe.
She blinked, lifting her head at the familiar voice, green eyes red-rimmed and sad. She sniffled, whining when it made her nose hurt. Thankfully it wasn't broken. But she had a nasty bruise on her cheek and more finger-shaped ones on her neck.
"Hoodie?" She croaked pitifully.
Jason's chest felt tight, jaw clenching at the sight of her. Dottie was the softest girl in the brothel.
He rushed to her bedside, sitting on the edge of the bed like it was habit.
It was habit.
Jason spent free time (that he wasnt vigilanting) fixing things for people, running his club, cooking which- meant eating, and spending time with the girls. Mainly because it was also all the time he got to spend with Gloria.
He had sat there through many late night gossip sessions with her and Gloria and the others. He'd sat through her trying and failing to dye his white lock a variety of colors. He'd had his nails painted more times than he could count on that very bed. And now he was looking at her sad face, bruised up by some brute- the worst kind of scum, too.
He cupped her cheek, exhaling harshly when his thumb traced the bruise.
"Oh, Dot…"
"I-Im okay," she said, offering a wobbly smile, not protesting when he scooped her up gently, holding her to his chest. Her hands fisted into his jacket, the barrier of the sheer size of him providing shelter.
Her mask cracked and slowly, her shoulders shook, and soft heartbreaking sobs were smothered against Jason's large frame. He pet her hair, shushing her gently. "I'm gonna make them pay, Dot. I promise. They won't hurt you again."
She shook her head. "It- I can usually handle myself but- he was so- he wouldn't- s-stooop," she whimpered, eyes haunted as she recounted what happened. "I told him no to ch-choking me and he started hitting me and throwing me around and then did it anyway. He knew I didn't do choking when he picked me. I told him to wait for Stacy to be available if he wanted to be rough but he said I would do," she croaked, her voice still sweet despite her sour tone. "I had to scream for help and use my safe word and that's when Johnny and Jaime kicked in the door and got him off me. It was a whole thing."
Jason nodded. "What he look like, Polka Dot?"
She wiped her eyes, thinking for a moment.
"Light brown hair, blue eyes, early 30s at the oldest, shorter than you- kinda stocky. Umm…" she squeezed her eyes shut. "Think, Dorothea, think! Oh-" her eyes flew open as she gasped. "He had a tattoo on the side of his neck. Some kind of snake but it was cut in half. Weird right?"
"Weird, but specific. We'll find him."
He kissed her forehead and slowly detangled himself from her, but she grabbed his wrist as he stood.
"Wait-"
"Hmm?"
She finally noticed Zeke, but she didn't know him enough to trust. Jasom caught her expression.
"He's… He's my…"
She blinked. "Oh."
Slowly, her lips bloomed into a pleased grin. "It's about time, Hoodie."
Then she sobered, shaking her head comically. Everything about Dottie was always so dramatic.
"Did Gloria tell you about Sta-"
"Yes we have the address."
She sighed in relief, falling back into her bed.
"Good. Please go get her crazy ass before she gets herself killed."
Jason frowned, sharing a look with Zeke before turning back to Dottie. "Stacy said no."
Dottie rolled her eyes. "Duh. Stacy doesn't have the balls to take that risk, thats why Gloria went instead and- oh."
What followed was a pin-drop silence.
"Dottie," Jason said slowly, "are you saying my fucking cousin went undercover and neglected to tell me?"
She swallowed. "Well, you have the address-"
"Because she knew I would come," he finished for her, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Now he understood why he and his siblings were driving Bruce to an early grave.
He sighed again.
"I'll be back to check on you again soon. First I have to go save my stupid cousin before these assholes figure her out."
He turned to Zeke, expression grave.
"Well, Shadow Dancer, looks like we're up."
Even if Zeke didn't need help, he still took Jason's hand as he practically flowed into the room with a practiced grace, feet landing silently. Far from the first time he had entered a location through a window. Honestly he didn't even need to use the window, but he didn't want to scare the occupant. That was also why he remained standing by the window, splitting his attention between his beloved, the room, the girl, and everything outside the window.
The room looked like a Barbie fever dream to him, but he couldn't judge. Asmodeus had a far more obnoxious room and he'd spent plenty of time in there.
Hoodie?
Adorable.
Zeke suppressed a smirk at the somewhat cutesy nickname. He made note of how comfortably, familiarly, that Jason sat on the woman's bed. It was apparent how close his darling was to these working girls as he watched from his peripheral vision the way Jason so delicately caressed her check before scooping her up to hold her while she sobbed against his beloved's chest.
He kept his focus out the window, lips pressed in a thin line. Listening to someone innocent cry was never easy, and watching was even worse.
More than that, Zeke had to wrestle with that jealous, possessive pit in his stomach as it rose irrationally at someone being in his spot. He should be curled up against his lover's chest. His jaw ticked as he clenched his teeth and forced it down. She was someone Jason cared about, she was hurt and upset and deserved to be comforted.
Taking the frustration and redirecting it towards the vermin that had caused this was far more productive. They would be an acceptable outlet for his negative feelings.
Polka Dot?
Another cutesy nickname.
Zeke absorbed the description of the man even as his shadows whispered in his ears, still creeping towards the address Gloria had given him. His fingers flexed when Jason gave the woman a kiss on the forehead. Now was not the time to get childish about how he wanted a forehead kiss. Or any kiss.
Later.
Focus.
For the first time he turned his head fully towards the bed as Dottie finally noticed him, although his body was still angled towards the window, ready to slide back into the night at any moment. His smile wasn't forced as he watched his beloved try and fail to name what he was, although the woman seemed to understand anyway.
Good.
All the other thoughts were swept away when Dottie mentioned that Gloria had decided to go undercover and had failed to mention that when they'd so very recently spoken to her. That had him immediately tense. His darling's cousin was in danger? If anything happened to her Jason would be very upset, and that was unacceptable.
Zeke's gaze was hard, eyes shimmering with specks of blue like ice chips when his beloved finally turned back to him.
"So it would seem." He turned to Dottie and gave her a polite nod, "It was nice to meet you, though I wish it were under better circumstances."
Since he was still beside the window he vanished back out it in a swirl of shadow and did not hesitate as he sped towards the location they had been given. His ability to jump from shadow to shadow allowed him to cover ground quickly as he shifted from rooftop to rooftop. Red Hood might fall behind even with the help of his grapple. Zeke didn't like that idea, and doubted that Jason would like him running ahead, but with the added factor of Gloria being involved he decided that his beloved might forgive him.
"I will send shadows ahead to get eyes on Gloria, by the time we reach the warehouse I should have a rough layout and placement for guards and victims." It was strange to announce his plans into a comm device, so used to simply thinking and acting without sparing a thought to someone else.
"Once I finish reconnaissance we can make a plan. I won't act without you unless there is imminent danger to civilians." Even as he spoke that, his shadows had reached the perimeter of the location and began rapidly infiltrating, not moving when they could be seen, infecting the natural shadows to watch as many corners as he could find.
When he physically caught up he slowed and approached stealthily, low to the rooftop and hidden in shadow as he filtered through all the visual feeds being fed to him by his shadows.
"I'm on the rooftop across from the warehouse now. There's an old sign that provides clear cover with a good line of sight on the building. The level of security is either good or bad depending on how you want to look at it - bad because it's definitely much heavier than at the previous warehouse and good because this level of security indicates a key location, possibly even the heart of the entire operation." Something in the back of his mind curled and twisted with a desire to rip the figurative heart out of this insect - maybe the literal one too.
"Still looking for Gloria."
Jason frowned as soon as Zeke disappeared. He immediately felt his absence bone-deep.
Dottie caught it, patting his shoulder with a smile sweeter than molasses.
"Go, Hoodie."
He nodded, giving her one last hug.
"I gotchu, Dot."
She snuggle back into bed with a sigh. "I know."
He was crawling back out of her window and onto the fire escape when he heard a low growl in the back of his mind- just as Zeke's voice vibrated in his ear.
"Got it," he ground out, trying to stamp down his - was it anger?
He disappeared on us! He just left-
The mission! he reminded The Beast.
Hmph. Now you sound like Bruce.
How would you know? You just got here.
Lies. I have always been here. You just weren't listening.
Well, tough. There are lives on the line.
Yes. Like our mate's.
He can handle himself-
Besides the point. But we need to get to him now.
I'm trying.
… Do you trust me?…
Do I have a choice?
Right then, he could almost feel The Beast smile before his bones started to break, shifting with something not quite like pain but too intense to be compared to anything else.
"Argh!"
His body moved on it's own, perhaps because The Beast now had full command. A dark jaguar zipped through the Gotham streets, hot on Zeke's scent- which Jason now knew was laced with magic. He wanted to take them straight to him.
The feline finally slowed it's steps, glowing crimson eyes gleaming in the dark when it spotted Zeke, letting out a low growl.
Mate.
They crawled on all fours, slowly shifting back until Zeke's back was pressed against their chest, claws still extended and teeth elongated, rounded jaguar markings seemingly painted along his cheekbones. One hand reached around to wrap around Zeke's throat, tipping his head back to whisper in his ear.
"Regardless of your good intentions, do not intend to make a habit of disappearing on us, little mate. The consequences will be pleasurable, but not kind."
They licked the shell of his ear before playfully nipping Zeke's neck.
"Now, we will draw their fire and make quick work of them."
He spun Zeke around, pressing him up against the wall, tenderly hooking a clawed finger under Zeke's chin, lips so close only a slip of paper could fit between them, red eyes boring into Zeke's.
"Now, I expect that our beautiful, competent mate can infiltrate the warehouse and extract the hostages, yes?" was whispered into the night air- before their hands vanished.
Along with the rest of them.
Before long, the sounds of shouting and bulletfire sounded from afar.
Jason moved like a predator playing with it's food- and somehow he still didn't take it easy on the small army of scum.
Claws ripped throats out and tore through guts before bullets could be fired.
When they did fire he vanished in time to let the goon infront of him take the bulk of the bullets.
Many times, The Beast swept someone's feet from under them or threw one body into another before Jason ever had the chance to draw his gun.
This went on until Jason's eyes caught a head of light brown hair walking into his sight.
"Hood!"
Jason's eyes traced the split snake tattoo on the side of his neck.
Jason straightened, head tilting curiously.
"What's your name?"
The other man raised his gun, as if that would do him any good, responding quite arrogantly - chest all puffed out- for someone who was sure to die.
"Lewis."
Bang!
Jason disappeared and reappeared, Lewis' wrist caught in his grip as he got in the man's face, his hold tightening until the other man howled to the sickening sound of his wrist snapping.
"Well, Lewis… I'm a friend of Dottie's."
Lewis scowled, "That whor-"
He choked on his words as a clawed hand abruptly plunged through his chest and tore out his heart, blood splattering and painting the ground with the rest of his broken and bloody associates.
Jason released him, letting his body hit the ground, crushing the heart in his fist, flames dancing on his skin to burn the blood away.
He sniffed the air, following Zeke's scent into the warehouse.
He heard a woman's voice cry out in distress, heart jumping in his chest and blood turning to ice in his veins.
Gloria!
Even focused on the hunt as he was, Zeke couldn't possibly miss the approach of his beloved, the shadows both whispering in his ear and filtering flashes of images of the huge feline stalking closer.
That's new.
His shadows kept him from jumping at the warmth of Jason's chest suddenly being pressed against his back, although he did resist the urge to lean back into his beloved. This was hardly the time to be allowing himself to be distracted from the task at hand. Of course that was near impossible when he felt a clawed hand wrap around his throat and tip his head back so he could see the way those red eyes gleamed in the dark.
Fuck.
It was terribly unfair just how sexy his darling could be, the way his voice curled around his brain - low and threatening - was stupidly hot in a way that sent a shiver down his spine. Zeke had to bite his lip to resist pointing out that Jason was just threatening him with a good time.
His breath hitched involuntarily as he felt those teeth nip at his neck. It reminded him of the way those teeth had dug into his skin earlier and he felt himself shudder slightly. Zeke couldn't even wrap his head around the fact that he should be very annoyed at being told what to do - as if this Beast could tell him how and when he could come and go. All he wanted to do was melt and have his beloved's hands all over him.
It was bad enough he almost missed what The Beast had actually said, he blinked as he was suddenly spun and crowded against the wall, his lover practically caging him in - damnit that was hot too. Zeke swallowed thickly as his chin was tilted up tenderly, despite the claws still adorning his darling's hands. A flush crept over his cheeks and down his neck. Zeke loved when Jason complimented the way he looked, but being called competent hit different, made him want to swoon even harder than ever. That wasn't even taking into account how the most minuscule movement would have brought their lips together…
Then The Beast vanished and Zeke was left leaning against the wall feeling absurd and horny and annoyed. They were supposed to be hunting. He would have to get the beast back later for riling him up and leaving him without even a proper kiss.
Focus.
"Fucking hell," he huffed, recomposing himself and jerking his focus back to the task at hand.
An eerie sense of deja vu hit him. Wasn't this so very like another recent hunt? Even the energy felt vaguely familiar. No time to ponder it, he heard the first screams and gunfire as Jason began drawing attention.
Zeke dashed from behind cover and didn't hesitate to leap from the edge, a pair of shadows forming into giant wings, feathers pitch black with an almost iridescent sheen. Two beats was enough to send him rocketing across the distance between the roof he'd just been on and a second story window. The wings stretched forward and folded to form a shield as he burst through the glass and rolled into the room, dark daggers already in his hands as he launched back to his feet and straight into a guard before the man had time to process what had happened or raise his gun. Blood splattered across the floor as a dagger arched upwards, piercing under the chin and straight through the roof of the guard's mouth to dig deep into the soft gray brain matter.
Dead before his body even hit the floor.
The second guard opened fire, bullets connecting with the shadow wings and being swallow in the shifting dark feathers until the gun clicked empty, a simple flick of Zeke's wings sent the bullets spraying back towards the guard as he frantically reached for a spare magazine. As the second body fell, the wings folded back and dissolved. He could still hear the muffled carnage taking place outside, but he also heard footsteps thundering in his direction - the guards that hadn't gone to confront Red Hood.
Could he have come in more stealthily? Most certainly, and had he been alone he certainly would have, but he had absolute faith that the majority of any opposition would be drawn to his beloved's deadly rampage, and he could more than handle what remained. Although he still kept a close eye on his darling through the shadows.
His shadows had located the captives, even as the door burst open with more guards, Zeke vanished in a swirl of shadows and reappeared in a locked room. There had to be more than a dozen people - mostly women and children - huddled in the darkness, clinging to one another in terror as the sounds of gunfire and screams reached even here. Several of them cried out when he materialized from the shadows, and he was quick to put up empty hands.
"Shh. It's alright, I'm Shadow Dancer and I'm here to get you out. Red Hood is drawing attention." Zeke knew it was the right thing to say, because while some of them still seemed wary of an unknown meta more of them seemed relieved at the mention of one of the vigilantes they were familiar with.
"Everyone gather around, hold on to each other. This might be a little strange, and it will be very dark, but you're safe. I promise." Zeke could hear shouting and rapid footsteps approaching. He'd drawn the guards away from this room when he entered, but they were coming back now that they knew they'd been tricked.
The shadows swallowed them all.
Zeke stepped through the darkness, holding to each of the hostages, and brought them safely to the grounds of the nearest hospital. They would be safe and could get medical attention. It seemed the most logical place for them to be for now. Police would be called, they could all be assisted to getting home through the proper legal channels.
"Everyone go inside, get help and wait for the police." He didn't give them time to argue or question him, immediately jumping back through the shadows. Jason was certainly capable, but he did not want to leave him there alone. The room that they'd kept the hostages in was now open, with several cursing guards trying to figure out how their captives had managed to escape from a locked room while more had begun searching the warehouse on a warpath.
Without even leaving the shadows he coalesced the shadows in the room, making them writhe along the floor, the ceiling, the walls. They danced in macabre shapes, causing the men to shout in terror - Zeke could feel it swallowing them. When the guards tried to make for the door to flee, a thin shadow line formed at neck height before sweeping through the room, slicing clean through muscle and sinew and bone, a razor wire, the shadow dissolved as heads rolled to the floor with wet thuds as blood gushed from stumps - it took a few seconds for the rest of the bodies to realize they were dead and fall.
It was a shadow, writhing and wispy that stepped through the doorway into the hall, indistinguishable save for a pair of glowing acid green eyes. The echo of his boots against the metal grating of the suspended walkways were a steady death knell, unhurried and inevitable. Shadows broke off and splashed along the walls, spreading like spilled ink ahead of this cryptic monstrosity.
No one was brave enough to stand against him. Guards screamed, some ran immediately, some tried to empty their guns first only to find their bullets swallowed by the darkness. Shadows shot upwards from the floor or outward from the walls like spikes, impaling those that did not move fast enough, while those that ran would find themselves ensnared by tendrils that dragged them screaming into the darkness, the wails of terror abruptly cut off as they were devoured.
The warehouse was steadily growing quieter.
One scream stood out, a woman's, and the living shadow halted its advance, the eyes narrowed as Zeke was reminded suddenly that he hadn't found Gloria yet. The rage and bloodlust cooled and the living shadows dispersed as he stepped through darkness again, reappearing as close to the sound of the scream as he could estimate.
If anything happened to her…
A black gloved hand held Gloria by the hair, the offenders other hand smacking her across the face so hard it drew blood before she was thrown onto the floor.
"You lying whore. You lead them straight to us didn't you?" A male voice snarled accusingly.
She let out a breathless laugh, pushing herself up shakily with hands braced against the floor. Her dress was partially torn on the side. Brown eyes glared up at him from behind disheveled strands of hair, lipstick smeared from where his partner had forced a kiss on her before she had kneed him in the groin.
"Go fuck yourself," she hissed, knowing she wasn't doing herself any favors. But if Roman was too busy with her, then it gave Jacinto and his boyfriend time to get to everyone else.
She was no vigilante.
But she wasn't a coward who would stand by and let them get away with poisoning the community. Still, she hoped her cousin would forgive her.
And besides…
Men really were just too easy.
She cried out as she was kicked in the stomach.
That's what Jason ran into when he saw fucking Black Mask standing over his cousin.
He didn't think.
He shot at him, knowing the bastard would just dodge. But it at least got him away from Gloria.
His head snapped toward Jason.
"Red Hood," he said slowly. "You always did have a bleeding heart didn't you? No matter how many heads you made roll you could never resist a damsel in distress."
Gloria growled under her breath. One would have thought it was she housing the spirit of a beast and not Jason.
"I ain't a fucking damsel but you're about to be in distress," she retorted.
Before he could pull a gun on her and shoot, Jason was between them with his gun aimed and ready. Thankfully, it was then that he felt Zeke's presence.
He didn't take his eyes off of Black Mask, but addressed Zeke just as another figure entered the room. From his peripheral he briefly recognized Penguin.
Great.
"Shadow Dancer, get her out."
These two cockroaches wouldn't be stupid enough to take them on alone, he realized- the exact moment more gunmen rushed in.
"Who's your girlfriend, Hood? Or is it a boyfriend?" Oswald taunted him.
"Of course you two low lifes are working together," Jason grunted, over it already.
He loved his city- but sometimes… he hated it there.
He launched himself at Black Mask first, blocking the responding blow and uppercutting him. The other man flew in the air and hit the ground, rolling to a stop with a grunt.
Then all hell broke loose.
He shot Oswald in the leg just as he tried to make one of his funny little exits, barely able to enjoy the shriek of pain before he was thrown into a shoot out.
He had just literally dodged a bullet and shot three more goons when Roman's fist rammed into his side, knocking the wind out of him.
He snarled, using the momentum to flip the other man and throw him down on the ground, shooting him in the shoulder just as a leg kicked out and tripped him.
It wasn't him and the Beast right now, just Jason and a history that was all too personal.
Beyond the general fuck shit the motherfucker pulled in Gotham on the regular and the enimity between them was one late night Steph spent at his house after one bad day, recounting how Black Mask had tortured her. Leslie's additional fuckery aside, he had been a thorn Jason really wanted out of his family's side for ages.
"I'm gonna fucking kill you," he spat at him, shooting another goon without looking. He just had to hold on until Zeke got back to handle the rest.
Cobblepot was still trying to crawl away, leaving a long red streak of blood across the floor. Irritating as keeping him alive was, this was Zeke's bust too. He should leave one for him at least.
But Roman- he was too personal. This was Jason's kill.
Roman had the audacity to laugh.
"Please. You try and fail so often I almost think you want me around."
Jason fired another three shots, bodies falling around them.
Were the bullets they were firing at him... bending around his body?
Huh... talk about plot armor.
You're welcome, a bright voice chimed.
The Beast growled, clearly irritated.
Enough talk. Kill him. We shall address her later.
So it was a woman...
Oookay.
Roman kept blabbing, "In fact- If you had such a crush on me I would've gladly let you suck my-"
Bang!
He blinked, stunned eyes glazing over from the bullet Jason had put in his head.
But Jason's rage was deeper than than that.
I can fry his soul!
Seriously who are you?
No one important-
Rude.
Jason felt himself lose control of his body yet again, only this time- this time there was pain, searing and unbearable, coming from his back.
He whimpered, falling to his knees as bright wings ripped out of his shoulder blades, eyes glowing in a kaleidoscope of color .
He couldn't help it.
He screamed in agony.
If anyone were to see it, they would have seen someone who looked like an avenging angel consumed by his own flames, the inferno burning many of those around him and reducing them to ash, just like before. The fire receded, Black Mask well and truly gone, not only in body but in soul.
Jason lay in the middle of the warehouse with only an injured Penguin who had been far enough away to escape with his life, staring stunned at him.
"What are you?"
His question went unanswered.
Jason was shivering in the fetal position, soft sobs wracking his body. His- god his wings? They were so heavy. and his back still ached with excruciating pain.
"H-Hurts-"
He tried to move, and it was then that Penguin managed to use the last of his strength in his only remaining arm to whip out a gun and shoot at him, hitting his shoulder, Jason's own blood joining the rest.
"Ah!"
He collapsed, tears falling onto the bloodsoaked floor.
Was he dying again? He wanted-
"Dad- help-" he whispered, too in pain to feel pathetic for how needy it sounded.
Bruce's voice in his ear was immediate and panicked.
"Red Hood! Come in- Hood! Jaylad- son, please-"
He faintly heard his siblings voices but he couldn't make any of it out.
"...M'sorry, Ze-"
His vision swam, blurring until everything went black.
Nothing Stays the Same Part II
Link to Part 1 (note: part 1 got too long so a lot of the replies are in the notes.
Zatanna knew an empath when she saw one- it took one to know one. They had already known about Ezekiel's magical ability. But being a sorcerer was not synonymous with being a psychic. And, like herself, Zeke was both.
He held his own under both the barrage of probing questions and the onslaught of emotions from possibly the most chaotic and repressed family Zatanna knew. She was impressed with him to say the least. Though his politeness was practiced, it wasn't fake. And he was just as observant of them as they were of him. But more than that, the most important fact of all...
Was that thread between him and Jason, bright with pure love and raw magic. Perhaps others might consider it too soon to name. But it was there and it was true.
A soulmate bond. But not a typical one... if Zeke truly was from another universe... then it transcended time, space and perhaps reality itself. And that... gave her pause. Not just about this new arrival into their Nexus-verse but Jason himself.
And by extension, she looked to the man beside her...
Bruce.
It was always Bruce...
She wished more than anything for the guidance of Angelos. She would know what to do about something like this.
"We'll get to the demon subject in a moment. First let's talk about how you even got here," she told Zeke. "You said you 'awoke'. That isn't how most people come to this universe. This is a Nexus of universes. We even have cousin Multiverses, like Marvel, that intersect with our DC verses. Portals open up like doors and never leave. People tend to just come and go. What you're talking about almost sounds like Quantum Immortality except that doesn't make sense either."
Barbara straightened in her chair, "Quantum Immortality takes the consciousness of the person who dies to their next living counterpart."
The comment made Cass pause. She didn't prefer to speak as much but she had to admit she was invested. She actually missed Duke now and wished he wasnt sleeping. He would've loved this. "But he said Gotham doesn't exist in his world. Which means we don't exist. And if we don't exist there then he doesn't exist here. So the consciousness wouldn't have a counterpart to go to."
Steph elbowed her. "Look at you, Smarty Pants. And if there's no counterpart then that means that it's like Zeke is respawning but in other universes instead of his home verse- which is where you would normally expect a respawn to happen."
Bruce and Tim locked eyes as the conversation continued, Jason tightening his arm around Zeke protectively and sending a wary look their way.
Dick caught it, trying to smile reassuringly at Jason.
It was Damian who lost his patience.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"The Omniverse," they answered in unison.
Barbara sucked in a breath. "Oh," she breathed. It was theory... mostly. It was a big enough deal that a Nexus was an intersection of universes- from their multiverse and others like it. But this? And it was sitting right in front of them- with Jason wrapped around his finger.
Dick shook his head. "We can't know for sure."
"Can't we?" Tim countered. "He's like no one we have met, he has no version of us to compare anything to. How many? How many versions of ourselves have we met?"
Dick sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair. "Too many," he conceded.
Jason felt the unease in his chest spread through his veins, a knot in his throat building until he felt like he wanted to puke.
Zeke had already told him how he jumped verses, the memory of Zeke's tears making his heart ache.
He died.
His fear from before hadn't been unwarranted. If Zeke died here... it would be worse than death. Because he'd just come back to life somewhere Jason would never see him again, lost forever.
The Beast growled in his psyche.
Unacceptable.
He involuntarily pulled on their thread, anchoring his spirit deeper. If he could, he would merge souls with Zeke and follow him so he'd never wake up alone again.
Bruce noted the way Jason bodily curled himself around Zeke, like a protective shield.
Zatanna’s hands clenched the instant Jason's aura fanned out. The other's couldn't percieve it as well but the air shifted like static until...
Bruce's ice blue eyes seemed to glaze over with white film as he felt a voice stir awake in the back of his mind- one he had not heard in years- only stirred to life last after Jason- No.
Mine.
No. He is Jason's.
Yes. And Jason is ours. Like all the other children. Ours.
Bruce's hands clenched over his knees, causing Damian to make a soft noise of alarm.
"Baba, are you-"
Surely his father wasn't having another-
"Fine- I'm- I'm fine-"
It was the only time that voice acted up so violently... when it sensed loneliness, when grief created kinship.
He knew without needing to be told.
Zeke was like him- an orphan- one who didn't tend to like himself very much.
He could see them again now, the web of threads that tied each member of the family to him, one stretching toward the kitchen to where Alfred had gone to prepare more tea. Another toward the upstairs hall into Duke's room, where he slept soundly.
And a new one, slowly pulsed from his chest, reaching toward Zeke.
He hated these moments the most, because they caught him entirely by surprise and were beyond his control.
Desolation and Love always seemed to haunt him in equal measure. But he didn't know if Zeke wanted it. And currently, Bruce's heart was still liable to shatter, unable to handle a rejection.
The words should've come from Zatanna, not him. But they came of their own will, in multitudes- much like Jason had already demonstrated to Zeke.
"You have suffered. Death surrounds you, yet you escape it's permanence again and again."
"Dad..." Dick started, a nervous edge to his voice.
Everyone else immediately came to attention.
Jason started breathing heavily. What was happening? His eyes watered, visions blinking in and out. A low whine came from his throat.
"Jason, breathe," Zatanna told him, reaching for Bruce.
"I- can't," Jason whimpered, arms slowly releasing their hold on Zeke, eyelids fluttering.
"Woah," Tim gasped. "Jay, your eyes-"
They looked like a night full of stars, primordial.
Jay's breath came out as a sigh, song-like and aching, a faint melody echoing throughout the Cave as his body was peeled away from Zeke and began to float, levitating in the center of all of them. His brows were scrunched in distress even as brilliant light filled his chest, an invisible breeze flowing through his hair until it, too, brightened with a spectrum of light.
Everything was too much. His dad was hiding something from him- from everyone. Zatanna knew more than she was saying. Everyone was scrutinizing his apparent soulmate- who it turns out he might one day lose forever. And he doubted Zeke even knew why.
He couldn't handle it. He couldn't allow it.
His vision shifted again until the Cave faded away. All he saw were endless stars, planets and a dark vastness so wide it threatened to swallow him whole.
Visions flashed in his mind like a film montage, many figures, ancient ones- a sense that someone important was searching for him- had been searching for him for a long time. His life, his death, his resurrection. And one figure, a woman with rainbow wings that resembled stained glass- she saw him, standing immediately.
"You," she whispered gently.
Jason recoiled. He wasn't ready for that- whatever that was. But he couldn't look away.
"Don't-"
Don't what? Take him away? Tell him the truth?
"I'll come to you soon. All will be well. Be not afraid."
The Catholic in him settled.
Oh...
She was an Angel.
He cried.
His soft sobs filled the cosmos around him, tears crystallizing into precious stones the moment they fell into the vacuum of space.
Outside of his vision, the others called his name frantically which ultimately snapped Bruce out of the trance he'd been in.
All he saw was Jason.
Jason who had ink black tears running down his cheeks.
"Jaylad-"
Zatanna gasped beside him, having felt the familiar pulse of power for a brief moment. Looked like her job here wouldn't be so hard after all. And her suspicions were starting to seem less far-fetched.
Bruce stood abruptly, rushing across the room to grab Zeke's hands. "Help me help him. Please-"
Jason was floating in the stars.
He heard a voice calling him, many. But one stood out at first. "Jaylad? Sweetheart- it's me."
He blinked slowly, suddenly tired and sluggish.
"Dad?"
He saw Bruce's face, but it was different. Ancient but youthful simultaneously- like the Angel Lady. He had wings here, too. Did Jason have wings here? He was too tired to check. Bruce's were Black and Pink- how pretty. And they were still bat-shaped, because of course they were. And he wore black and silver robes. Was that ... was that normal to hallucinate? Was anything real? It was easier to focus on Angel Bruce than his own thoughts. He didn't wanna think anymore.
"Yes! It's me. I need you to come back. Zeke is waiting for you."
"Zeke?"
Oh god...
Zeke!
He tried to sit up or stand but he ended up flailing in space. He wasn't used to it at all.
"Zeke-"
"Zeke is fine. We're all worried for you," Bruce said, voice soft as he reached over and cradled Jason to his chest.
Jason instantly felt safe and at home. He wanted to go. He wanted to go back to Zeke. He felt a tug on his thread, his soul aching to return to the person on the other end. He almost thought he heard Zeke's voice. He missed Zeke's voice.
Zeke had been so polite and careful and had only barely gotten the chance to even speak and now Jason was the one ruining-
Stop your self pitying nonsense now, The Beast snapped. Our mate needs us! Return to him at once.
Jason internally flinched, already too sensitive to fight.
Don't yell at me...
He felt another tug- gentle and safe, the light in his chest flickering as he buried his face against Bruce, seeking his father's shelter.
"I wanna go home. I want Zeke, Dad- please. Take me home."
Take me home.
What he wished he could've said before...
Before he died the first time.
Except Jason was lucky. He'd gotten himself home somehow, stubborn soul that he was. And he had his family back.
But Zeke...
Zeke, I'm coming.
He blinked his eyes open, Bruce's strong arms still wrapped warmly around him. His face was wet and when he wiped his eyes his hands were stained black.
His voice rasped as he lifted his head, eyes searching and a shaky hand seeking- not needing to go far. He caught a slender arm in his grasp.
"Zeke?"
Zatanna watched the scene unfold, her own heart pounding in her chest. This was her extended family, and she would do anything for them. But Jason's power...
For one, it was fueled by all of his very big emotions- and Jason had so many interweaving layers of those. But there was something else. Zeke had made a distinction earlier about having demon pacts versus demon blood. And Jason's blood... it sang. In a way no one fully human's did. He wasn't homo-magi. He felt familiar in the way Bruce did. And she'd had many suspicions over the years about Bruce's sealed power. He had been so afraid of it. She didnt want that for Jason. But seeing Jason like this... she understood now why Bruce had freaked out so badly when they were teens and things just started... happening.
And Bruce... he hadn't been as lucky as Jason to have a soulmate to balance him. He had Hal now, but... that had been built brick by brick over many years. Not... this...
She watched Bruce slowly lift Jason who immediately crawled into Zeke's lap, wrapping around him and hiding his face in his neck, seeming to breathe him in, as if he needed Zeke like air. It was the exact way Death treated Angelos after a long time apart except these two were glued at the hip and in the same room and yet...
"Hmmm."
She decided to walk over to Bruce, who had Damian and Dick kneeling on either side of him to help him up.
Tim already had a data pad and scanner, testing the Cave for residual magic. Cass and Steph looked over his shoulder at the readings, the three muttering to each other.
Barbara was simply staring, taking everything in. Her mind was far away but active, absorbing every bit of information to review later. The sound of footsteps caught her attention and she turned to find a freshly awake Duke rubbing his eyes. He took a few moments to look around, and Barbara realized he was using his powers.
"Seems like I missed a lot," Duke said. "And it's a good thing I wasn't here or Jason might've blasted off into Space. I see most of what happened but maybe you can fill me in on some of the blanks I'm missing?"
She sighed. "Have a seat. It's a lot. And we haven't even gotten through everything. Also you took the shortest nap... ever?"
He arched a brow. "We're Bats. And I felt a disturbance in the Force. Now spill."
Sh sighed. "Alright so-"
Zatanna helped the others settle back into some sense of normal. Or normal for them at least.
Bruce was sitting with Dick and Damian on either side of him. Tim, Steph and Cass were on the floor together with Tim between the girls who were whispering commentary on his readings. He nodded along to what they said as it helped him think about things differently. Barbara was still sitting with Duke who had pulled up a chair and wrapped up her rundown of what happened. Jason was still on the floor with Zeke and Zatanna slowly walked over to them.
This had to be a lot for them. For Jason it was so new and Zeke had only just got here. And the family was used to a lot, but not this. This sort of thing was more her normal. Magic was one thing... cosmic forces were another. And for those who embodied both... she felt a great deal of sympathy.
"Why don't you two go sit on that sofa over there? It's much more comfortable. And no one here wants to separate you, just so you know, Zeke. Your presence is helping things, I promise. In ways you may not even realize. I know this has been a lot so quickly. And I'm sure you want to get a lot of it over with. I can see clear as day, as can everyone else, that you'd rather tear your own skin off than hurt Jason. It's going to be okay."
Jason didn't seem to want to move or change positions. He wanted to stay in Zeke's lap like when they were in the kitchen at his apartment. He wanted Zeke to keep touching him and holding him and saying sweet things to him. He didn't want to be some cosmic interdimensional whatever the fuck right now. He was just... he lifted his head slowly, glassy red-rimmed eyes- green once more- finding Zeke's, his hands felt every inch of Zeke's arms and chest until they cupped his cheeks, cradling his face.
"If you die and don't come back to me, I will not survive. That is a threat, Ezekiel."
Zatanna let out a little laugh, caught off guard.
"Yeah please don't go dying any time soon. But given the drastic turn of events just now, it actually might be a good time for Zeke to explain the nature of his demonic power. It seems more relevant now than when we started."
She gave Zeke a pointed look. "You can move or be moved."
"I'm not moving," Jason said defiantly. "So someone's gonna have to move me. I am quite comfortable, thank you very much."
She arched a brow. "Fine. Taolf"
"Pord."
Jason yelped as they were both levitated and plopped onto the couch. It only made him cling to Zeke even more.
There was a collective sigh and even a teasing whistle that made Jason blush furiously. "I'm so sorry," he whispered to Zeke, dropping his forehead to his shoulder.
Normally, everything about this position and their proximity would've made Jason so horny he couldn't think straight but right now, with everyone watching them, it was just comforting- and safe. Zeke had said he wanted to be able to touch him and Jay definitely wanted Zeke to touch him. It grounded him and he didn't much care what anyone thought of it.
"Awwww," Steph cooed, "they're so adorable."
"Yes," Tim agreed. "It's sickening. Ow!"
He glared at Cass, who had pinched him and smiled unapologetically about it.
Bruce cleared his throat wrapping his arms around Dick and Damian, who appeared to be the most concerned about everything but for very different reasons.
"Zatanna’s right," he said, ,"we should get everything over with."
"I'm just happy not to miss out again," Duke shrugged.
Barbara elbowed him.
"What? I'm nosy, too. At least I admit it."
Dick side-eyed Bruce, and Bruce made sure not to wince at the look on his eldest's face.
"You aren't getting out of explaining yourself either, B"
Damian frowned. "Fafher is not the one who needed to prove anything today and he's still under my care so mind your words, Richard."
Dick tensed. "I didn't mean-"
Damian shook his head, holding a hand up to silence him. "I know what you meant. Father hides things about himself. What else is new under the sun? Nothing. I'm as concerned about it as anyone else. But he's our father and he tries. So let's prioritize the discussion at hand. You all wanted to know about Zeke, not question the man you already know."
Dick sighed, leaning his head back on Bruce's shoulder in silent apology. "Fine." Bruce gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"I'll tell you, Chum. I promise. Just... not right this second."
"M'kay."
Alfred stood toward the back, looking rather unimpressed about everything.
It was always something.
Zatanna clapped her hands. "Okay! Let's begin. Zeke, you have the floor. Everyone else," she gritted glaring around the room, "Interrupt him and I will spell your mouths shut."
They knew she meant it, too.
They all sat up a little straighter after that, giving Zeke their undivided attention.
@zeke-in-gotham
Dottie's apartment wasn't far, and Red Hood silently slid her window open, booted feet landing softly on a plush faux fur carpet. He made sure to offer Zeke a hand as he climbed in after him, whether he needed it or not.
The apartment was like a princess studio in the seventh circle of hell, pink and white with glitter accents. Very… Dottie.
"Dot?" Jason hissed.
In the center of a round bed, a bombshell blonde lay half awake in a satin pink robe.
She blinked, lifting her head at the familiar voice, green eyes red-rimmed and sad. She sniffled, whining when it made her nose hurt. Thankfully it wasn't broken. But she had a nasty bruise on her cheek and more finger-shaped ones on her neck.
"Hoodie?" She croaked pitifully.
Jason's chest felt tight, jaw clenching at the sight of her. Dottie was the softest girl in the brothel.
He rushed to her bedside, sitting on the edge of the bed like it was habit.
It was habit.
Jason spent free time (that he wasnt vigilanting) fixing things for people, running his club, cooking which- meant eating, and spending time with the girls. Mainly because it was also all the time he got to spend with Gloria.
He had sat there through many late night gossip sessions with her and Gloria and the others. He'd sat through her trying and failing to dye his white lock a variety of colors. He'd had his nails painted more times than he could count on that very bed. And now he was looking at her sad face, bruised up by some brute- the worst kind of scum, too.
He cupped her cheek, exhaling harshly when his thumb traced the bruise.
"Oh, Dot…"
"I-Im okay," she said, offering a wobbly smile, not protesting when he scooped her up gently, holding her to his chest. Her hands fisted into his jacket, the barrier of the sheer size of him providing shelter.
Her mask cracked and slowly, her shoulders shook, and soft heartbreaking sobs were smothered against Jason's large frame. He pet her hair, shushing her gently. "I'm gonna make them pay, Dot. I promise. They won't hurt you again."
She shook her head. "It- I can usually handle myself but- he was so- he wouldn't- s-stooop," she whimpered, eyes haunted as she recounted what happened. "I told him no to ch-choking me and he started hitting me and throwing me around and then did it anyway. He knew I didn't do choking when he picked me. I told him to wait for Stacy to be available if he wanted to be rough but he said I would do," she croaked, her voice still sweet despite her sour tone. "I had to scream for help and use my safe word and that's when Johnny and Jaime kicked in the door and got him off me. It was a whole thing."
Jason nodded. "What he look like, Polka Dot?"
She wiped her eyes, thinking for a moment.
"Light brown hair, blue eyes, early 30s at the oldest, shorter than you- kinda stocky. Umm…" she squeezed her eyes shut. "Think, Dorothea, think! Oh-" her eyes flew open as she gasped. "He had a tattoo on the side of his neck. Some kind of snake but it was cut in half. Weird right?"
"Weird, but specific. We'll find him."
He kissed her forehead and slowly detangled himself from her, but she grabbed his wrist as he stood.
"Wait-"
"Hmm?"
She finally noticed Zeke, but she didn't know him enough to trust. Jasom caught her expression.
"He's… He's my…"
She blinked. "Oh."
Slowly, her lips bloomed into a pleased grin. "It's about time, Hoodie."
Then she sobered, shaking her head comically. Everything about Dottie was always so dramatic.
"Did Gloria tell you about Sta-"
"Yes we have the address."
She sighed in relief, falling back into her bed.
"Good. Please go get her crazy ass before she gets herself killed."
Jason frowned, sharing a look with Zeke before turning back to Dottie. "Stacy said no."
Dottie rolled her eyes. "Duh. Stacy doesn't have the balls to take that risk, thats why Gloria went instead and- oh."
What followed was a pin-drop silence.
"Dottie," Jason said slowly, "are you saying my fucking cousin went undercover and neglected to tell me?"
She swallowed. "Well, you have the address-"
"Because she knew I would come," he finished for her, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Now he understood why he and his siblings were driving Bruce to an early grave.
He sighed again.
"I'll be back to check on you again soon. First I have to go save my stupid cousin before these assholes figure her out."
He turned to Zeke, expression grave.
"Well, Shadow Dancer, looks like we're up."
Even if Zeke didn't need help, he still took Jason's hand as he practically flowed into the room with a practiced grace, feet landing silently. Far from the first time he had entered a location through a window. Honestly he didn't even need to use the window, but he didn't want to scare the occupant. That was also why he remained standing by the window, splitting his attention between his beloved, the room, the girl, and everything outside the window.
The room looked like a Barbie fever dream to him, but he couldn't judge. Asmodeus had a far more obnoxious room and he'd spent plenty of time in there.
Hoodie?
Adorable.
Zeke suppressed a smirk at the somewhat cutesy nickname. He made note of how comfortably, familiarly, that Jason sat on the woman's bed. It was apparent how close his darling was to these working girls as he watched from his peripheral vision the way Jason so delicately caressed her check before scooping her up to hold her while she sobbed against his beloved's chest.
He kept his focus out the window, lips pressed in a thin line. Listening to someone innocent cry was never easy, and watching was even worse.
More than that, Zeke had to wrestle with that jealous, possessive pit in his stomach as it rose irrationally at someone being in his spot. He should be curled up against his lover's chest. His jaw ticked as he clenched his teeth and forced it down. She was someone Jason cared about, she was hurt and upset and deserved to be comforted.
Taking the frustration and redirecting it towards the vermin that had caused this was far more productive. They would be an acceptable outlet for his negative feelings.
Polka Dot?
Another cutesy nickname.
Zeke absorbed the description of the man even as his shadows whispered in his ears, still creeping towards the address Gloria had given him. His fingers flexed when Jason gave the woman a kiss on the forehead. Now was not the time to get childish about how he wanted a forehead kiss. Or any kiss.
Later.
Focus.
For the first time he turned his head fully towards the bed as Dottie finally noticed him, although his body was still angled towards the window, ready to slide back into the night at any moment. His smile wasn't forced as he watched his beloved try and fail to name what he was, although the woman seemed to understand anyway.
Good.
All the other thoughts were swept away when Dottie mentioned that Gloria had decided to go undercover and had failed to mention that when they'd so very recently spoken to her. That had him immediately tense. His darling's cousin was in danger? If anything happened to her Jason would be very upset, and that was unacceptable.
Zeke's gaze was hard, eyes shimmering with specks of blue like ice chips when his beloved finally turned back to him.
"So it would seem." He turned to Dottie and gave her a polite nod, "It was nice to meet you, though I wish it were under better circumstances."
Since he was still beside the window he vanished back out it in a swirl of shadow and did not hesitate as he sped towards the location they had been given. His ability to jump from shadow to shadow allowed him to cover ground quickly as he shifted from rooftop to rooftop. Red Hood might fall behind even with the help of his grapple. Zeke didn't like that idea, and doubted that Jason would like him running ahead, but with the added factor of Gloria being involved he decided that his beloved might forgive him.
"I will send shadows ahead to get eyes on Gloria, by the time we reach the warehouse I should have a rough layout and placement for guards and victims." It was strange to announce his plans into a comm device, so used to simply thinking and acting without sparing a thought to someone else.
"Once I finish reconnaissance we can make a plan. I won't act without you unless there is imminent danger to civilians." Even as he spoke that, his shadows had reached the perimeter of the location and began rapidly infiltrating, not moving when they could be seen, infecting the natural shadows to watch as many corners as he could find.
When he physically caught up he slowed and approached stealthily, low to the rooftop and hidden in shadow as he filtered through all the visual feeds being fed to him by his shadows.
"I'm on the rooftop across from the warehouse now. There's an old sign that provides clear cover with a good line of sight on the building. The level of security is either good or bad depending on how you want to look at it - bad because it's definitely much heavier than at the previous warehouse and good because this level of security indicates a key location, possibly even the heart of the entire operation." Something in the back of his mind curled and twisted with a desire to rip the figurative heart out of this insect - maybe the literal one too.
"Still looking for Gloria."
Jason frowned as soon as Zeke disappeared. He immediately felt his absence bone-deep.
Dottie caught it, patting his shoulder with a smile sweeter than molasses.
"Go, Hoodie."
He nodded, giving her one last hug.
"I gotchu, Dot."
She snuggle back into bed with a sigh. "I know."
He was crawling back out of her window and onto the fire escape when he heard a low growl in the back of his mind- just as Zeke's voice vibrated in his ear.
"Got it," he ground out, trying to stamp down his - was it anger?
He disappeared on us! He just left-
The mission! he reminded The Beast.
Hmph. Now you sound like Bruce.
How would you know? You just got here.
Lies. I have always been here. You just weren't listening.
Well, tough. There are lives on the line.
Yes. Like our mate's.
He can handle himself-
Besides the point. But we need to get to him now.
I'm trying.
… Do you trust me?…
Do I have a choice?
Right then, he could almost feel The Beast smile before his bones started to break, shifting with something not quite like pain but too intense to be compared to anything else.
"Argh!"
His body moved on it's own, perhaps because The Beast now had full command. A dark jaguar zipped through the Gotham streets, hot on Zeke's scent- which Jason now knew was laced with magic. He wanted to take them straight to him.
The feline finally slowed it's steps, glowing crimson eyes gleaming in the dark when it spotted Zeke, letting out a low growl.
Mate.
They crawled on all fours, slowly shifting back until Zeke's back was pressed against their chest, claws still extended and teeth elongated, rounded jaguar markings seemingly painted along his cheekbones. One hand reached around to wrap around Zeke's throat, tipping his head back to whisper in his ear.
"Regardless of your good intentions, do not intend to make a habit of disappearing on us, little mate. The consequences will be pleasurable, but not kind."
They licked the shell of his ear before playfully nipping Zeke's neck.
"Now, we will draw their fire and make quick work of them."
He spun Zeke around, pressing him up against the wall, tenderly hooking a clawed finger under Zeke's chin, lips so close only a slip of paper could fit between them, red eyes boring into Zeke's.
"Now, I expect that our beautiful, competent mate can infiltrate the warehouse and extract the hostages, yes?" was whispered into the night air- before their hands vanished.
Along with the rest of them.
Before long, the sounds of shouting and bulletfire sounded from afar.
Jason moved like a predator playing with it's food- and somehow he still didn't take it easy on the small army of scum.
Claws ripped throats out and tore through guts before bullets could be fired.
When they did fire he vanished in time to let the goon infront of him take the bulk of the bullets.
Many times, The Beast swept someone's feet from under them or threw one body into another before Jason ever had the chance to draw his gun.
This went on until Jason's eyes caught a head of light brown hair walking into his sight.
"Hood!"
Jason's eyes traced the split snake tattoo on the side of his neck.
Jason straightened, head tilting curiously.
"What's your name?"
The other man raised his gun, as if that would do him any good, responding quite arrogantly - chest all puffed out- for someone who was sure to die.
"Lewis."
Bang!
Jason disappeared and reappeared, Lewis' wrist caught in his grip as he got in the man's face, his hold tightening until the other man howled to the sickening sound of his wrist snapping.
"Well, Lewis… I'm a friend of Dottie's."
Lewis scowled, "That whor-"
He choked on his words as a clawed hand abruptly plunged through his chest and tore out his heart, blood splattering and painting the ground with the rest of his broken and bloody associates.
Jason released him, letting his body hit the ground, crushing the heart in his fist, flames dancing on his skin to burn the blood away.
He sniffed the air, following Zeke's scent into the warehouse.
He heard a woman's voice cry out in distress, heart jumping in his chest and blood turning to ice in his veins.
Gloria!
