ao3: metroidspeedrun

27; AuDHD; Just trying to keep up with my fics. Shoot me an ask if you want. I take requests!

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Fic Masterpost

My ao3 is metroidspeedrun

UPDATED: 13 July 2026 12:13 p.m.

(Organized by: Title, Chapters Posted, Chapters Written, And Progress/Completion)

11.3k km (8 chapters posted; 8 written; In progress) batfam

32 Flavors (0 chapters posted; 1 written; In progress) batfam

Almost There (6 chapters posted; 6 written; In progress) flashfam

Ango (Dwelling in Peace) (5 chapters posted; 6 written; In progress) arrowfam

An Oyster's Pearl (16 chapters posted; 16 written; In progress)

A Stone's Throw (12 chapters posted; 13 written; In progress) batfam

Anterograde (0 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) batfam

A Yellow Ribbon (12 chapters posted; 13 written; In progress) flashfam/superfam/yj98

Bare Your Teeth (1 chapter posted; 1 written; In progress) flashfam

blood on your altar (5 chapters posted; 5 written; In progress) arrowfam/titans/aquafam

Bloody Valentines (11 chapters posted; 11 written; In progress) batfam/titans/titans west/gl corps/flashfam/losh/new gods/shadowpact/superfam

Blue Ribbon Birdie (Oneshot; Completed) batfam

Blush of Robins (3 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) batfam

Bruised Figure (6 chapters posted; 6 written; In progress) batfam

Catch and Release (19 chapters posted; 19 written; In progress) batfam

Central City Lemonade Stand (3 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) flashfam

Cherries (4 chapters posted; 14 written; In progress) batfam

Daily Planet Classifieds (14 chapters posted; 14 written; In progress) superfam/yj 98/titans

Daylight Savings (0 chapters posted; 1 written; In progress) flashfam/yj98/titans

Eyes and Ears (45 chapters posted; 45 written; In progress) batfam

Father of Mine (0 chapters posted; 1 written; In progress)

Five Little Ducks (13 chapters posted; 13 written; Complete) batfam

Five Stages of Mamma Mia (20 chapters posted; 20 written; In progress) batfam

From the Rafters (0 chapters posted; 1 written; In progress) batfam

Frozen in Time (2 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) jli/gl corps

Hair Trigger (25 chapters posted; 25 written; In progress) batfam

Harvest Moon (3 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) flashfam

Haywood Logs (4 chapter posted; 4 written; In progress) batfam

Heels Over Head (2 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) flashfam

Honor in Crisis (9 chapters posted; 9 written; In progress) batfam/titans/ntt/jli/gl corps/arrowfam

Human Cannery Co. (2 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) yj98/superfam/flashfam

If There's Nothing Missing In My Life... (16 chapters posted; 16 written; In progress) superfam

In The Soup (15 chapters posted; 15 written; In progress) batfam/superfam

into the silent land (15 chapters posted; 15 written; In progress) batfam

It Takes A Village (19 chapters posted; 20 written; In progress) yj98/flashfam

In This Together (0 chapters posted; 3 chapters written; In progress) batfam

Keepsafes (97 chapters posted; 100 written; In progress) batfam

Kitten Heel (8 chapters posted; 8 written; In progress) arrowfam/titans

Library of Ashes (8 chapters posted; 8 written; In progress) batfam

Lily of the Valley (36 chapters posted; 36 written; In progress) batfam

Lost Boys (16 chapters posted; 16 written; In progress) batfam/superfam/titans

Lullaby (1 chapters posted; 1 written; In progress) batfam

Midnight Swan (5 chapters posted; 5 written; In progress) batfam

Moon Rocks (10 chapters posted; 10 written; In progress) batfam

my heart walks around (5 chapters posted; 9 written; In progress) arrowfam

Ocean View (10 chapters posted; 12 written; In progress) superfam/batfam

One in the Chamber (10 chapters posted; 10 written; In progress) batfam

Oracle of Jersey (2 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) bop/batfam

Phantom Grin (20 chapters posted; 20 written; In progress) batfam

Pidge (4 chapters posted; 21 written; In progress) batfam

pup (0 chapters posted; 1 written; In progress) batfam

robin's egg blue (6 chapters posted; 6 written; In progress) batfam

Sea Glass (10 chapters posted; 11 written; In progress) batfam

silence of your song (2 chapters posted; 6 written; In progress) flashfam

Space Oddity (9 chapters posted; 9 written; In progress) titans (fab five)/aquafam

Sweet Honey Bee (4 chapters posted; 4 written; In progress) flashfam

Tangerines (1 chapter posted; 1 written; In progress) batfam/yj98

The Brother Trap (16 chapters posted; 16 written; In progress) flashfam

The Flames That Burn The Brightest (3 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) titans/arrowfam

The Juice Box Jubilee (3 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) batfam/yj98/titans

The Kinker's Stowaway (2 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) batfam

the mother i know (3 chapters posted; 5 written; In progress)

The Spin Out (15 chapters posted; 18 written; In progress) batfam

The Stowaway (1 chapter posted; 1 written; In progress) flashfam

The Way Back Home (0 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) arrowfam

Titans Academy (9 chapters posted; 9 written; In progress) titans/arrowfam

to the moon and back (1 chapter posted; 1 written; In progress) gl corps/jli

To Touch Fate (28 chapters posted; 28 written; In progress) batfam/batman beyond

Traveler's Guide to Yesterday (1 chapter posted; 1 written; In progress) flashfam (rogue's gallery)

Two-Way Mirror (6 chapters posted; 6 written; In progress) batfam

under an indigo sky (4 chapters posted; 32 written; In progress) batfam

Wild Eyes (3 chapters posted; 3 written; In progress) batfam/batfam (rogue's gallery)

Won't You Be My Neighbor (10 chapters posted; 31 written; In progress) superfam

Views From the Mountain (2 chapters posted; 2 written; In progress) flashfam/titans (fab five)

You're Just Like Quicksand (19 chapters posted; 26 written; In progress) batfam/batman beyond

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Cherries

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: Jason Todd’s search for his birth mother is interrupted when he wakes up in a hotel room covered in blood. Can he outrun Bruce and the police in his journey to clear his name?

Chapters: 7/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Ted Grant, Dick Grayson

Additional Tags: Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Canon Divergent AU, Jason Todd has Trust Issues, Jason Todd has Dyed Hair, POV Jason Todd, Case Fic

Chapter Seven: Alabaster

Suspects three and four required a trip to Gotham and a lot of mental preparation. Connie didn’t know me, so it was easier to approach her. Jerrica was well-acquainted with Bruce, so I had to expect she’d know me. Julia would’ve recognized me even changed like this. If I were going to navigate the streets of Gotham, I’d have to don a mask. I wasn’t Robin anymore, and I could barely be Jason, but it felt different putting on a new mask. It was like the last thing that made me feel like myself was gone. I tweaked a lot of my older gadgets from my time as Robin, spraypainting them to make them unrecognizable to Bruce. Then, I put together a costume that resembled a hockey uniform. I wanted a little bit of padding just in case they still had the knife handy. It’d be the only thing between my vitals and their blades. Instead of a mask, I cut out holes in a bandana. 

I was already on my way out as Robin before I left, but this felt final. I didn’t want to see myself anymore. Looking in the mirror at the bleached blond hair and the hazel eyes under the bandana made me feel queasy. I was operating as a rogue agent, and it wouldn’t be up to Bruce or anyone tied to him to dig me out of a hole if I found myself in one. I needed to hurry and get in and out of Gotham if these suspects didn’t pan out. 

Ted let me stay at his place in Gotham, but I couldn’t sleep. I kept feeling like Bruce would find me. It felt like he’d be able to sense me in the city. I knew I didn’t want to face him ever again. 

I followed Jerrica first. She went to a lot of parties, so it was easy for me to go places out of costume. She was a heavy drinker. Connie drank, but she didn’t get drunk when I was with her. Jerrica drank like she had no limits. And I actually had to intervene at a certain point to keep her from getting taken advantage of. I got her to a more open space where people could see her, and she threw up in a trash can. Then, she started talking. “It’s all a prison,” Jerrica slurred. 

“What is?” I asked. 

“This!” Jerrica exclaimed as she waved her hand around. “All of it. It’s all a prison. I thought I escaped it all, but it’s just a different kind of prison. I have money, but that’s nothing. It’s not what I wanted. I just wanted my daughter.” 

“Your—”

“And that Philadelphia thing… It’s ruining my chances of finding my kid. I’d been talking to Mr. Montgomery about what he heard on those tapes when he bugged Wayne Enterprises. I—” She started crying. “I was so close. I know I was.” 

“He was helping you?” I asked. 

“Yeah. I was paying him a whole lot of money for those tapes. Now I’ll never find out who adopted my daughter,” Jerrica replied. I called her a car with her phone, and I left her with the concierge. 

I went straight to Ted’s and looked at her bank records. She wasn’t lying. She’d given him two large sums of money to get that information, and the final sum of money went through the day of the murder. She’d have to be an idiot to kill him on the same day she sent him twenty thousand, and I don’t think she’d be that stupid. 

Then, I dug into the school attendance records from my high school. Julia was out sick the Monday after the murders. I didn’t want to admit it was her, but I decided to do something that’d let me know for sure. Something dangerous. 

I didn’t tell Ted what I was doing because he would’ve said it was a dumb move. Maybe it was. I thought about that the whole time I was studying her family’s security system. I spent almost four days without sleep just watching the house. The first day, her mother left first; she was extremely pregnant. I remembered Julia saying something about it being her mom’s first pregnancy. She didn’t want to take time off work while she was climbing the corporate ladder, so she adopted Julia and her brothers so she wouldn’t end up childless by the time she worked her way to the top. 

Then, her father piled Julia’s siblings, John, June, and Jasmine, into the van. Julia didn’t come out, but I watched her brother put in the code. 4-4-6-9-8. It was Julia’s birthday and the number of kids they had. I watched the house all day. Mr. Duàn returned forty-eight minutes later, stayed for an hour, and left in his suit. Twenty minutes after that, Julia stepped out into the backyard and paced for a while. Then, a boy hopped the fence, and she tensed up as he approached. He held her by the shoulders, and they touched foreheads. He said something to her, but his back was turned, so I couldn’t read his lips. She was in a full-blown panic, but he was doing his best to act as her anchor. She started pounding his chest with her little fists, and he grabbed her wrists. She pressed her face into his chest and sobbed. He held her for a little while, but I couldn’t really see who he was, so I was a little confused. Julia didn’t have a boyfriend. She was far too quiet. The boy kissed the top of her head, and she calmed down and curled up in a lawn chair. 

He took off his jeans and hoodie and jumped in her pool. When he came up for air, I caught a glimpse of his face. I recognized him a little bit, but he didn’t go to our school… I knew him from Ma Gunn’s group home. Nicholas Wright. Nicky. He was the kind of kid who never said much, but he was fair and kind. He was almost two years older, and he was a lot smarter than most kids there. Ma Gunn needed him for a lot of the jobs she sent the boys on. He knew security systems like the back of his hand, and he could estimate how long it’d take the cops to get to any given place. He wasn’t a criminal, though. Not in the sense of wanting to do crime. He was born into it. His dad was a drug dealer, and his mom lost her mind after something bad happened in their apartment. After his dad died during a police raid when he was nine, he ended up in a few not-so-great foster homes, and eventually got stuck in Ma Gunn’s group home. 

When I first got there, I got really sick, and Nicky was the only person who’d stay behind to take care of me. I didn’t want to think he’d have anything to do with this, but it was starting to look bad. I was running low on suspects, and it seemed like it’d have to be a two-person job killing those people the way they did. Nicky got out of the pool after a few laps, and he dried off, sat on Julia’s lawn chair, and pulled her into his lap. It didn’t feel right to watch, but I had to know if she was the one who framed me. I thought we were friends. 

They didn’t do anything too crazy. They just sat on the lawn chair in silence for a while, and Nicky looked down at her and smiled. Julia fell asleep under his arm for almost an hour. He slept for a few minutes, but he nudged her awake with his nose the second he woke up. They kissed, and Julia turned her head toward the pool. 

Then, he said, “What do you have to feel guilty about? You didn’t kill anybody.” She flinched away from his kiss immediately after he said it, and he knit his brows together. “Right, Julia? You didn’t kill anybody. Right?” 

Julia got up, and Nicky followed her. He grabbed her arm, but not in a way that made me think he’d hit her. I could still see his face, but I couldn’t see hers. “Julia, Jason’s getting the blame for this. If he didn’t do it, he shouldn’t have to take the blame. I love you, but I need you to tell me right now that you didn’t kill anybody,” Nicky pleaded. Julia touched his face, and he shook her off. “What do you mean, you can’t tell me that? Julia, Jason could spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn’t do. I didn’t teach you how to override security systems to kill people. I taught you this, so we could be together. I’m not gonna tell, but you’ve got to figure out how to get Jason off the hook. I like Jason, and I—” 

Julia held a finger to his lips to keep him quiet, and I immediately felt sick to my stomach. I went back to Ted’s, and I broke down as soon as I got in the door. Ted looked up from the paper. “Hey… What’s the matter?” Ted asked. He set his newspaper aside and came to the door to check on me. 

“I’m tired,” I replied as I desperately fought to stop crying. I didn’t want to tell him it was her because I didn’t want to explain what I was going to do next. I didn’t want to do it, but I had to. I knew Nicky wouldn’t be much help. He was in love with her. It was hard enough for me to think that she’d hit me, let alone frame me for a triple homicide. And how? 

Ted made me go to sleep, and despite all the stress I stored in my body, I passed out as soon as I hit the bed. If only I knew how bad I was going to need my strength for what was to come.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

the mother i know

Fandom: DC Comics, Arrowfam

Summary: Roy leaves Lian with Jade for a few weeks while he follows up on a lead for the perfect Mother's Day gift for Jade. What starts as a quest for confirmation, becomes a complicated family situation, and a worrisome reunion.

Jade spends quality time with Lian, but she fears that Roy's hiding something.

Chapters: 4/?

Characters: Roy Harper, Jade Nguyen, Lian Harper, Tommy Blake Jr.

Relationships: CheshRoy

Additional Tags: Complicated Relationships, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Mother-Daughter Relationship, Accidental Bonding, Multiple POV, Reunion

Chapter Four: Mommy and Daddy (Roy's POV)

“What are you gonna do?” Tommy asked once he felt up to talking again. I set him down and held his hand as we walked to my car. 

“I’m not so sure yet, Tommy. You see, your parents might be good people and all, but your adoption wasn’t legal. The people who took you from your mommy, Jade… well, they took you without any reason to,” I explained. Tommy stopped swinging his feet in the backseat. “I think I might have to reason with them for a while. I don’t know. It might be wrong to expect this to be easy. They might be upset with me… But the truth is the truth, Tommy… And the truth is, you and your mom deserve the chance to meet and talk.”

Tommy stopped in his tracks. “I’m scared, Mister,” Tommy whimpered, “They’re going to be mad. I’m gonna get in trouble.” I parked across the street, and I took off my seatbelt to look him in the eyes. 

“I’m gonna protect you… Okay? And my name is Roy Harper. You can call me Roy. I’m not gonna let anybody scare you. If you get scared, you just hold on tight to me. I’m pretty strong, so I won’t be afraid if they yell at me,” I reassured him. “I won’t even get hurt if you punch me. Wanna try?” Tommy giggled and shook his head. 

“I don’t wanna hit you… I want you to be my friend. Can we be friends?” Tommy asked. 

“How about this? I’ll be your safe grown-up for right now,” I whispered. Tommy unbuckled himself from the car seat. 

“Grownups and kids can’t be friends… Can they?” Tommy asked. 

“Doesn’t mean that you can’t have a few safe grown-ups that you trust. A good grown-up won’t lie to you or make you keep secrets… That’s why I’m gonna talk to your family today and get this over with,” I explained. “Does that make sense?”

“Uh-huh, but I’m still not sure about telling my mommy and daddy,” Tommy replied as I let him out of the car. 

He hid behind me as I rang the doorbell. I reached behind myself, extending a hand for Tommy to hold. He held my thumb and pinkie in his hands. A woman answered the door with her phone in one hand and her apron in the other. “I think we should talk about your son,” I replied. 

“Oakley! Come inside,” she admonished him. She wasn’t angry. She was more afraid than anything. “Yes, you should come in, too. It seems like he’s taken a liking to you. I’m so sorry for all the trouble.” Tommy didn’t want to go in. He shook his head. 

“You gotta go in, buddy. We talked about this,” I whispered. 

Tommy pouted and let go of my hand. “Only if you carry me,” Tommy replied. I nodded and picked him up. He hid his face in my sweater. 

“Oakley, honey—” Tommy wouldn’t look at her. I stepped inside, and his father reached out to take Tommy, but Tommy shook his head. 

“Oakley… I’m sorry, sir. Oakley’s had some behavioral problems lately. We’re looking to get him some—”

“I had a little talk with him, and he’s convinced you’re lying to him. He says his name isn’t Oakley. It’s Tommy. And he said you didn’t want him anymore,” I interrupted. “And I’m not here to start trouble or judge you both, but he’s been very convincing.” 

They exchanged glances, and the man sighed. “Have you come to take him back?” he whispered. “Can you?”

“Well… I—. Are you giving him up? I don’t—. I don’t understand,” I stammered. I tried to make sense of the man’s urgency to let go of Tommy.

Tommy lifted his head and whispered, “I told you they didn’t want me anymore.” 

“We’re not equipped to deal with all these new emotional problems. The bedwetting, the pictures, and he’s running away almost every other day now,” the woman explained. 

“We made a mistake,” the man added, “And after talking with a friend, they said it may get even worse with time.”

“You can have all his things. We’ll move and start over… Whatever you want us to—”

“I just want to bring him back to his mother. She didn’t know he was alive. I don’t want to punish or threaten either of you… I just want to reunite a birth mother with her son,” I reassured them. Tommy trembled in my arms. His father got up to get his things. I set Tommy down because I wasn’t sure if I was going to get physical with the man. 

“I—. Oakley—. Tommy is gifted. Don’t get us wrong. He has some truly beautiful qualities. He’s an excellent listener, very clean, and he’s very quiet and independent. And he’s gifted. He’s in a special program at his school… Did he—? Did he eat?” the woman asked. 

“Tommy, do you think you’d like to meet your birth mommy?” I asked, ignoring her. 

“They’re not lying to you,” Tommy mumbled. His head was low, but I lifted his chin. 

“That doesn’t matter. Did I get upset when you showed me that picture?” I questioned. Tommy shook his head. “Exactly… Because I understand. I know a lot of kids like you… You’re just scared. I know meeting your mommy might not fix things right away, but I think she’ll understand more than anyone else what you’re going through.” 

“What if she doesn’t like me?” Tommy asked. “Is she gonna give me away?”

“No. Never. One thing I know about her is that she loves her kids no matter what. Your birth mommy has the biggest heart in the world, and she never stopped loving you… She never stopped missing you. Her heart broke for a long time when they took you, and I know what that feels like because someone took my daughter away once. A broken heart’s a pretty serious condition, you know,” I gently replied. 

Tommy had tears in his eyes. “She doesn’t know I’m alive… Does she?” Tommy questioned. I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to lie. 

The woman fidgeted with her hands, practically wringing them, before she offered me a cup of coffee. I shook my head, and Tommy pulled me down to his level. “Can we go to my room? I want to show you something,” Tommy whispered. 

I looked at the woman, and she nodded. “Okay, let’s go look,” I whispered. 

Tommy took me upstairs and down the hall to his bedroom, and the man was already inside, neatly folding Tommy’s clothes on his bed. “Okay… Stop. I’ve got it from here,” I whispered. I just wanted him gone, so that he couldn’t hurt Tommy’s feelings anymore. 

He had stars all over his walls, and some of them were string lights hanging from his ceiling. He pulled me over to a collage of pictures that he drew and printed of space. “This is the Vega system. It’s my favorite. There are twenty-two confirmed planets in that solar system. One of the Titans is from there,” Tommy smiled. 

“Yeah. You like space. Don’t you?” I questioned. 

Tommy nodded. “We’ve got to pack my stuff. Huh?” Tommy frowned. 

“Yeah… We’ll pack what we can, and I—. We’ll get you some new stuff to replace the things we can’t,” I replied. “Show me what you want to take with you.” Heartbreaking. I know what it felt like to leave everything I knew to live with someone I didn’t know. They raised this kid for five years, and they let go of him like he didn’t mean anything.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

32 Flavors

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: Bruce wakes up with no memory of his time as Batman. While he struggles to fill the holes in his memory, the rest of his family are at odds about whether or not they want him to remember.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Duke Thomas, Cassandra Cain, Damian Wayne

Additional Tags: Amnesiac Bruce Wayne, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Protective Jason Todd, Protective Damian Wayne, Touch-Starved Bruce Wayne, Bruce Wayne Tries to Be a Good Parent, Jason Todd is Bad at Feelings, Dick Grayson is Not Okay, Cassandra Cain is Bad at Feelings, Good Sibling Duke Thomas, Damian Wayne is Bad at Communicating, Tim Drake Has Abandonment Issues

Chapter One: Incomplete

The truck seemed to come out of nowhere. That’s how Bruce remembered it. The tires screeched, glass shattered, and horns honked from what felt like every direction. Headlights blinded him, and the car whipped around and flipped over, knocking the wind out of him. Bruce’s heart stopped. Then, for a short while, there was nothing. When he woke up, his body ached and his head throbbed. A group of blurred faces surrounded him. Some of the eyes were encircled in darkness and some were puffy and swollen, but grief discolored each of their faces. Especially the little one. 

Bruce’s eyes were slow to open and stubbornly heavy as if sleep threatened to take him by force at any moment. He wanted to speak, but his mouth was dry, and his face felt weighed back to his pillow. A low groan escaped as he fought to communicate that he was experiencing some mild form of consciousness. “Bruce,” a low-pitched plaintive voice called. Jason. Bruce remembered Jason. “Bruce, can you hear me?” 

Bruce forced another groan out, and Jason sounded like he started to breathe for the first time in a while. If Bruce could just speak, he would’ve said something. A hand curled around his. Damian. He could tell by the almost silky texture of his little hand and the way the fingers curved around his palm. The softness came from working with oil pastels. He’d started to take to it quite well if Bruce remembered correctly. But the delicate nature of the touch was natural. There was something about Damian's tenderrness that shocked him despite remembering Damian solely for it. For all his son's bravado, he was gentle by nature. That's how he remembered Damian. Shockingly gentle, surprisingly tenderhearted, and compassionate to a fault. But it was his hands that made Bruce emotional. They weren’t quite big enough to overtake his entire hand yet, but they weren’t as small as he remembered either. Bruce twitched his fist closed around the fingers.

It all felt like so much work, and he finally gave in and fell asleep. Sleep took him for what felt like a few hours, but he’d been in and out of consciousness for days. When he finally had the strength to speak, he locked his eyes on Damian, unaware that he hadn’t left the hospital since he’d arrived. “Damian?” Bruce whispered. They were the only ones in the room, and Bruce felt an intense longing for a hug or a held hand. He felt a bone-deep loneliness shake his system as if he couldn’t get close enough to his children. It was as if a pane of glass separated the two of them. “You’re here.” 

“Father, I’ve been here… I haven’t left you. I couldn’t,” Damian whispered as if a volume higher than that would reduce him to tears. Bruce could remember Damian, but he could only piece together small portions of their time together. He knew Damian’s hands and his name. He even knew Damian’s voice and qualities, but none of it felt complete. Every memory he could think to pull reference from was damaged like a photo album that’d been through a flood. It was all muddled. “What’s wrong?” 

Bruce took a long time to gather his strength before he spoke. “I… met you a few years ago for the first time. I know how long it's been, but I don’t remember how we met or what your mother said to me back then. I can’t remember most of you. I just know your name, and I know that I love you more than I can bear to contemplate. I haven’t expressed that much, have I?” Bruce asked. Damian shook his head. “I wish you would hug me… I get the feeling we haven’t hugged in a long time.” Damian embraced him, and despite the pain that Bruce felt all over, he sighed with relief at the feeling of his child in his arms. It was a bear-hug that both of them desperately needed. Damian, who had grown up so much from the little boy he remembered, still felt so small in Bruce's embrace. Only a child. Bruce got the feeling that he should've held him more. He couldn't remember holding him like that, not even when he'd hugged him in the past.

“You seem different… Do you feel different? Usually you’d like to get back in the field by now,” Damian whispered. 

“The field? Like football? Do I play football now?” Bruce questioned. Damian pulled away and looked at Bruce before leaving the hospital room. Bruce blinked hard, wondering what he must’ve done wrong. 

Then, Dick came in with Tim. “Bruce, hey… Damian said you were a little confused. Are you taking a little break from being out there after the car accident? Maybe you might wanna do some work on the computer until you feel better?” Dick suggested. 

“Is there a meeting at Wayne Enterprises?” Bruce asked. “Tim, maybe you could take that over for a little bit. You’re so good with computers.” 

“Okay… But um… The other stuff. The nighttime stuff. What do you want us to do?” Tim questioned. 

“I had a date? Well, surely she’d understand I’m gonna be out of commission for a while. Who’s in charge of talking to the press?” Bruce asked. Dick and Tim exchanged glances, and they went out into the hall. “Okay… This is just weird.” 

Jason came in alone. “Bruce, how are you?” Jason questioned. 

“There must be something really wrong with me. Everyone’s asking questions and leaving the room…” Bruce stared at Jason, studying his posture. Jason stood by the door with his arms crossed, and he shrunk in on himself unintentionally. But his eyes were telling a different story. His eyes were the only ones Bruce had seen that were still red and swollen. “Jason? Do you want to come sit with me for a while?”

“You want me to sit with you?” Jason questioned. Bruce nodded and Jason pulled up a chair beside him. “Are you okay?” 

“I’m a little hazy, but I think that’s whatever they gave me for the pain… How are you?” Bruce asked in reply. 

Jason took a moment to think about it. “I feel a lot of things. I’m worried about you, but I don’t know why I’m here. I keep trying to leave, but I can’t. I keep coming back,” Jason explained. 

Bruce nodded. “I’ve hurt you… Why can’t I remember what I did to make you this way? It wasn’t always like this… Things were different. We were different. I feel like I’ve lost you before. What happened?” Bruce questioned. Jason softened and grabbed Bruce’s hand. Jason’s hand that once fit inside Bruce’s entire fist was now much bigger than his father’s. 

“You really can’t remember… What do you remember?” Jason asked. 

“I remember all of you kids. I remember my parents… I um—” Bruce cleared his throat, and Jason offered him a sip of water. He took a few sips of water before fixing his eyes on Jason once again. “Thank you. I remember a lot of some of you and less of the rest. It's like my life starts to disappear the closer I get to the recent parts. I remember you and Dick very well, but I have a lot of blank spots. I know I love each of you. I don’t think I ever say it,” Bruce replied. 

Jason chewed his lip and turned his head away. “I love you too,” Jason whispered. “I haven’t said that in a long time.” 

“I want you to stay a while. Please,” Bruce requested. Jason squeezed Bruce’s hand and nodded. Then, he gave Bruce another sip of water. They remained silent for a long while, and Jason watched the machines and Bruce closely. 

“Where did everyone go?” Bruce questioned. 

“Huh? Oh, they had to handle the press and the Wayne Enterprises stuff. Bruce, do you want to eat? I can get the nurses to bring you something,” Jason offered. Bruce shook his head. “I hate to say it, but this is kind of nice. I haven’t spent time with you like this in a long time. It feels like we've got a fresh start.” 

“Maybe we can spend a lot more time together,” Bruce smiled.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Anterograde

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: Shortly after Jason Todd arrives at boarding school, his roommate disappears, leaving behind a diary in the vent. Jason uses this information to realize the school is not quite what it seems, so he begins to keep a diary of his own.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Bruce Wayne, Original Character(s)

Additional Tags: Angst, Teen Jason Todd, Boarding School AU, Whump, Descent Into Madness, POV Jason Todd, Jason Todd Mentally Spirals, Jason Todd Has Nightmares

Chapter One: Welcoming Committee

I looked out the window at the moss-covered castle they called a boarding school. Bruce and I had our issues, but I never in a million years thought that he’d actually send me to a boarding school. Herbal smoke and rain-soaked tar scented the air. I hesitated as Bruce led me down the stone-paved pathway. The bluish-grey stones were glossy with rainwater and worn down from foot traffic. I stopped, turning to Bruce with fear in my eyes and an abysmal pit in my stomach. “Jason, let’s go. I told you I was serious,” Bruce stated. He was angry. I knew it was too late to fix things, but I wish I had tried harder to. Maybe if I spoke up and explained myself better. Maybe I could’ve faced the problem head-on. The time for fixing things was over. We entered through the heavy steel double doors and their high window panels. The smell of eucalyptus and lemongrass hit me as soon as the doors opened. It flooded out powerfully, attacking all my senses. The halls were dim and much too clean to be a school for troubled kids. The polished wenge wood floors and pristine floral moulding of the baseboards gave me an eerie feeling that something wasn’t right there. It was too clean. Too quiet. 

Bruce led me to the front office, and I looked at the candle sconces at the entrance. I took a deep breath as I followed him in, and the man at the front desk spoke to him. My ears were ringing from the anxiety of being left behind in such a strange place, and I plopped down on a bench in the corner of the room as I slowly began to accept the hopelessness of my situation. 

Bruce tried to speak to me before he left, but I was in such a state of shock that I couldn’t do anything. I shut down completely. So, he returned with my suitcase, setting it by my feet, and he touched my face. That was his goodbye to me. As soon as Bruce left the building, security took my bag and dragged me to a second room where they made me fill out a questionnaire about my clothing sizes. The room was cold and impersonal, windowless, and dreary with its slate-colored walls. 

I gave one of the security guards the questionnaire, and they took it and left me locked in that room for almost an hour before they returned with a new suitcase with the school’s logo on it and a thick garment bag. They took me out of the office and down the narrow hallway, turned left, and led me out into the now-dark pathway to a building that was nearly half a mile from the office. Then, the man and woman took me on the oldest elevator I’d ever seen in my entire life. I watched the woman use the crank on the elevator, and I turned my attention to the numbers as they changed. We stopped at the fourth floor, and the man led me further into the dark cavernous hallways of the school. Even these were too clean. I watched the hallway thin out around me until all that was left were doors and a large stained glass window that was just color blocks of blue, purple, and green. 

The man knocked on the door labeled four ‘A’ seven. The door opened immediately, and a boy with a black suit and a black and grey striped tie on. He had hazel eyes and two different-sized pupils, chestnut brown hair that was perfectly coiffed in a nineteen-thirties side-parted style, and he was pale. Almost too pale to be a brunet. He wasn’t quick to speak. He just opened the door and moved aside. “Jason Peter Todd. Stephen Scott Bailey. Stephen, the headmaster expects you to get Jason acquainted with the rules before classes resume on Monday. Lights out at midnight tonight,” the man stated before leaving us alone. 

Stephen nodded. “Well, for starters, even on off days, they’re going to want to see you in uniform. There are penalties for every infraction. The bathroom is one door down. Pajamas must always be worn to regulation. We are not permitted to sleep in any form of undress, and any form of indecency will result in severe punishment—” 

“What are the punishments?” I asked. 

“Huh?” Stephen asked as he blinked hard. It was like I threw his mind completely off track. His face got a little color to it. “What’s today?” 

“Friday… The fourth,” I answered. 

He made a little noise of disbelief. “It hasn’t been long. Okay,” Stephen whispered. “What was your name again?” 

“Jason,” I replied. He wriggled under his bed and wrote something down in a diary before coming back out. “Everything okay?” 

“Yeah. I think so… Listen, you’re only gonna remember this first day with me. Write everything down. Everything you do. Everything you eat. Write down the date,” Stephen explained. 

“Is that part of the rules?” I asked. 

He knit his brows together and walked toward the dresser. “This is where you’ll put your pajamas and underclothes. Your uniforms will go in the closet. The P.E. uniforms will be in your locker by Monday morning, so there’s no excuse not to participate. Lights out is at midnight on weekends, and on school nights, it’s ten-thirty. We wake up at six-thirty on school days, and before noon on weekends. Phone calls are a privilege, not a right,” Stephen recited. He spouted off the rules for another half hour before telling me I had to change my clothes, so I unzipped the garment bag and changed into my uniform. 

I tied the tie almost robotically. I’d done it a million times over for Bruce’s galas and press releases. It was kind of weird how, up until recently, I’d never seen being his son as a job. But it was. Certain obligations came with being a Wayne that I never really had a moment to question once I was one. Once I was dressed, Stephen led me to the cafeteria. I could genuinely say that I’ve eaten anywhere and everywhere. From places that should’ve been condemned to places that only Bruce’s crowd could enter, and I had to say that the cafeteria qualified as the latter. 

Save for the plastic silverware, the setup was lavish. There were so many foods to choose from. I don’t think I got this much leeway back at home. I didn’t expect Stephen to sit with me, but he filled his tray and plopped down right beside me. I think it was the first time I saw him loosen up. He took his first bite and came to life. He didn’t say much, but he scarfed down his fill of food. 

As weird as the school made me feel when I got there, I was finally starting to feel okay. All I had to do was make it there until June. I only needed to stay on the straight and narrow for a month and a half to prove I was reformed enough to come home. Then, I’d have a chance to explain everything to Bruce for real this time.

[beadigitaldiary]

i look forward to a nap each n evry day! ^w^ ~.✦ ݁˖<3

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Lullaby

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: Since Thomas and Martha were never shot in the alley, they adopt Bane after Thomas takes a trip to Santa Prisca. A seemingly directionless Bruce Wayne and determined Bane (new name TBA) grow up as brothers.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Martha Wayne, Bruce Wayne, Bane, Thomas Wayne, Harvey Dent, Gilda Gold, Alfred Pennyworth, Julie Madison

Relationships: Martha Wayne/Thomas Wayne, Bruce Wayne/Julie Madison, Gilda Gold/Harvey Dent

Additional Tags: Tags May Change, Angst and Fluff, Bruce Wayne is Not Batman, Martha Wayne and Thomas Wayne Live, Siblings!AU, Bane Gets a Name, Bane is Adopted by Martha and Thomas Wayne

Chapter One: Thesis

Martha rushed in circles around the kitchen with flour on her overalls and in her hair. Despite the dewy forehead and wide-eyed look of distress written all over her face, the kitchen was cleaner than when Alfred cooked in it. Bruce grabbed an apron off a wall hook and tied it around his waist. “What do you need?” Bruce asked. Martha wiped her forehead with her wrist and took a deep breath before dipping a spatula into the mixer and tasting baby blue frosting. 

“Can you check on the stew while I put the finishing touches on the cake?” Martha asked. Bruce walked over to the stovetop and lifted the top off of the pot. “How many bags of chocolate bears do you think this’ll need?” Martha asked. 

“Two and a half,” Bruce answered without looking back. “Mom, what do you think he’s like? I mean, he was born in a prison.” 

Martha opened three small bags of cookies and dumped them into a bowl. She hadn’t entirely heard what he said, but she tried to imagine the new addition to their family hundreds of times since Thomas wrote about him. “A child born into a lifelong prison sentence,” Martha thought. “How awful.” She frosted the cake, quietly contemplating what their new life would be like once her new son arrived. 

“Mom?” Bruce questioned to get her attention. “Are you alright?” 

Martha turned toward him and took a deep breath. “I’m sure this will all be frightening to him. He’s never been outside the prison. The world is such a big place. He’s never even been to school. All I know about him is that the inmates said he collected books. He’s been reading there,” Martha explained. “So, to answer your question, I think he’s going to be very curious about the world we live in…” She chewed her top lip, and Bruce nudged her. 

She took a breath and looked around the kitchen before hearing a timer ding. “That’s the bread. Bruce, can you get—”

“Mom, are you gonna read my thesis?” Bruce questioned. 

“I will get to it, Bruce… At some point,” Martha answered with an alarming amount of hesitation. 

Bruce sighed. “Why don’t you want me to talk about my sabbatical?” Bruce questioned. 

“Because I heard your father read two and a half letters about your travels, and it made my stomach turn flips. I don’t like the idea of you running around other countries getting beaten up by strangers,” Martha replied. “And pictures of your injuries, Bruce? Really? That was too much. How can you expect me to be comfortable with that?” 

“I can take care of myself. I’m twenty-five. I’m not a little boy anymore,” Bruce reasoned. 

The kitchen went silent, and Martha took an angled spatula to smooth out the edges. Then, the phone rang in the kitchen, and Bruce answered. “Hello? Hi, Harv, old sport,” Bruce chuckled. Martha widened her eyes and furrowed her brow as she tapped her wrist. “I’ve got to keep it short with you… I guess I’ll have to ask Mom. Tonight’s a little different. I’m sure you’ve heard why…” 

Bruce turned to Martha and covered the receiver with his palm. “Can Harvey stay for dinner tonight?” Bruce whispered. Martha sighed and nodded. 

“Sure. Tell Harvey that dinner is at seven tonight because of our special circumstances and to bring ice cream. I’m making a marble cake,” Martha instructed. 

Bruce twirled the phone cord while he faced his mother. “I’m helping out in the kitchen… Mom said you could come. You just have to bring ice cream for her marble cake… Yes, it’s frosted. See you at seven. Okay. Yeah… Okay, bye,” Bruce stated before hanging up. 

Martha took tweezers and stuck bears onto the cake. “I should be happy that your father won’t be here just yet, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I missed him. I like it when we’re all at home,” Martha confessed. “And I’ll try to read some of your thesis tonight if I can stomach it… Why would you want to do that, anyway?” 

“I wanted to study things you can’t learn on a college campus. I wanted to live and learn with people for a year. I even kept my promise of finishing school, Mom. I’ll attend all the galas, I’ll do the country club thing, and I’ll even get a normal job. Mom, I just needed to live. I needed to know what it’s like to be around all kinds of people. You’ve seen the world with Dad. It’s not that different,” Bruce reasoned. 

“I just worry because you have the tendency to get yourself into trouble. And now, because you’re an adult, it terrifies me that you still don’t see how dangerous all of this was. At least when you were a child, you were apprehensive about dangerous things. It just seems like you’re doing all this for the adrenaline,” Martha sighed. 

Bruce turned the fire off and kissed Martha’s cheek. “I blame Dad for my adventurous streak,” Bruce half-joked. 

“I know. Remind me to give him an earful about it when I’m reading your thesis tonight,” Martha replied. 

“Don’t be too hard on him. I had to put my adventuring skills to good use. Just like I told you before, I’m going to be so productive. I pinky promised you, Mom. And I feel more productive,” Bruce replied. 

“Such a charmer, this one,” Martha teased. “You’re so much like your father. Oh, the trouble you two boys can get into sometimes… It astounds me.” 

“But you love us,” Bruce reminded her. 

“We all go a little mad sometimes, sweetheart,” Martha joked. 

He took some tweezers of his own and started working with Martha on putting the bears on the cake. “It’s nice to see you baking again,” Bruce stated. 

“Come home more often,” Martha replied. 

Bruce chuckled. “I appreciate your subtlety, Mom. That was well done,” Bruce joked. “I’m staying the night. Aren’t I?” 

“Yes, but that’s one night unless you change your inevitable weekend plans,” Martha stated. “Or, you can tell us about this mystery girl…” 

“There is no mystery girl,” Bruce replied. 

“Not that serious?” Martha questioned. 

“Mom. What about you? What have you been up to? Any luncheons or debutante balls?” Bruce asked. 

“No. I’ll have you know that I went to the Gators game with a very interesting young woman I met at the gym,” Martha smiled. 

“Really?” Bruce asked. “I didn’t see that game. Who were you with?” 

“Julie Madison,” Martha replied. 

“Mom—”

“Very cute girl. She seemed to know a lot about you and your general lack of direction,” Martha interrupted. 

“There is a girl. She’s just not a mystery. You’ve met her,” Bruce replied as he avoided eye contact. “You know, Dad doesn’t pry like this when I’m with him.”

“I’m not prying. I’m just curious. It’s a healthy curiosity about my son’s social life before our family dynamics change drastically. I don’t want you to be upset if you start wanting to talk about these things while I’m getting your brother acclimated to life here at the manor,” Martha explained. 

“Okay. Abridged version of my current social life: Julie wants me to be more serious and ambitious. I really like her. Harvey and I have been hanging out every weekend, double dating with his girlfriend, and it's extremely serious. I actually do have weekend plans with Harvey to go shopping for a locket,” Bruce confessed. 

“What?” Martha asked. 

“Yeah, I think he’s really serious about her. I’ve never seen him get this mushy about any other girl,” Bruce replied as he peeked at Martha’s half of the cake. “Think Alfred’s gonna be late getting Dad home?” 

“It will most certainly be your father’s doing if he is,” Martha answered.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Non-Batfam Fic Ideas

Pick One Pretty Please

Father of Mine

If You're Watching This...

Three-Letter Word

Mountain by the Sea

Results

Voting ended onJul 8

Father of Mine: Grant Wilson comes home to his apartment late one night to find that someone's left a baby on his doorstep with a vague note.

If You're Watching This...: After Bart is forced to attend his grandfather's boarding school, he starts to unravel slowly, and he starts keeping a video diary to document his unraveling sense of reality.

Three-Letter Word: AU where Roy adopted Grant Emerson and Bart Allen. Established family AU.

Mountain by the Sea: AU where Garth thinks he's the last merboy, and Arthur discovers him while pretending to be shipwrecked (his crewmates don't know he's a merman).

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Not Just Oneshots

Choose a fic

Anterograde

Feeling is Mutual

Lullaby

Echo

Results

Voting ended onJul 8

Anterograde: Shortly after Jason Todd arrives at boarding school, his roommate disappears, leaving behind a diary in the vent. Jason uses this information to realize that the school is brainwashing and erasing the memories of the students, so he begins to keep a diary of his own.

Feeling is Mutual: Dick Grayson and Jade Nguyen are forced to go undercover together to look for Roy after he disappears on a mission.

Lullaby: In this AU, Thomas and Martha were never shot in the alley, and they adopt Bane after Thomas takes a trip to Santa Prisca. Bruce and Bane grow up as brothers.

Echo: While back in Gotham, Bane crosses paths with a hero named Abuse. Upon realizing that Abuse is a child named Colin Wilkes, he decides to take him in as his own.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Pick a non-batfam oneshot

Nothing to Fear

Fish Out of Water

Ladies' Night

On the Horizon

Guessing Game

Results

Voting ended onJul 8

Nothing to Fear: The power goes out at the Titans Tower while Roy is watching the kids.

Fish Out of Water: Teenagers Roy and Garth go to Garth's first party.

Ladies' Night: Linda starts a semi-private group for moms of young heroes, and chaos ensues when a few less-than-heroic moms show up.

On the Horizon: Garth visits a child in the hospital.

Guessing Game: Connor Hawke helps a little girl find her parents while they're visiting in the city. The only problem is she can't answer most of his questions.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Let's Shake Things Up Because I Have Writer's Block and Haven't Done a Oneshot in Forever

Pick a batfam-related oneshot

Stay

Countdown

Dear Red

The Apple

Results

Voting ended onJul 8

Stay: A dog won't stop following Jason on patrol after he feeds her, resulting in a wild night.

Countdown: Despite having a perfectly calm and peaceful night in Blüdhaven, Dick has insomnia. Unfortunately for him, things are quiet for his friends and family, too.

Dear Red: A reporter gifts Red Hood his fanmail that gets sent into the station, and he's surprised at the number of children who look up to him.

The Apple: Booster Gold lets it slip that he's distantly related to a batfam member, and an argument ensues about who it could possibly be.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

We're Mildly Back... Maybe...

Pick a De-Aging or Amnesia Batfam Fic

From the Rafters

32 Flavors

pup

Results

Voting ended onJun 29

From the Rafters: Jason receives a random distress call from Dick while he's in Blüdhaven on a separate mission. When he arrives on scene, there's a body, two guns, a strange machine, and an eight-year-old boy in a circus acrobat's costume.

32 Flavors: Bruce wakes up with no memory of his time as Batman. He struggles to fill the holes in his memory while the rest of the batfamily are at odds as to whether or not they want him to remember.

pup: When Bruce is aged down to his early teens, Cassandra takes it upon herself to protect him from himself while the other family members race to find a way to change him back.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

I wrote a little bit for each one if anyone would like to see snippets before they choose

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Okay Last One!

Pick a fic!

Stagelights

The Way Back Home

Daylight Savings

Results

Voting ended onJun 29

Stagelights: Overnight star, Jade Nguyen struggles to maintain a sense of anonymity after she is unexpectedly thrust into the public eye.

The Way Back Home: Roy loses his memory just before he planned to leave Jade, so he stays behind to relearn the woman he can't remember.

Daylight Savings: A scientist accidentally reverses Bart back to his chronological age. Linda tasks herself with taking care of him until they can reverse the effects.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

We're Mildly Back... Maybe...

Pick a De-Aging or Amnesia Batfam Fic

From the Rafters

32 Flavors

pup

Results

Voting ended onJun 29

From the Rafters: Jason receives a random distress call from Dick while he's in Blüdhaven on a separate mission. When he arrives on scene, there's a body, two guns, a strange machine, and an eight-year-old boy in a circus acrobat's costume.

32 Flavors: Bruce wakes up with no memory of his time as Batman. He struggles to fill the holes in his memory while the rest of the batfamily are at odds as to whether or not they want him to remember.

pup: When Bruce is aged down to his early teens, Cassandra takes it upon herself to protect him from himself while the other family members race to find a way to change him back.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Hi Metroid(may I call you that?) I was just wondering when keepsafes would get an update? No pressure or anything of course I just really love reading it and my mind has been spiraling after that last cliffhanger with Gilda.

Howdy omg I'm glad you asked. I have the next chapter half-written, but I just need to finish it up lol. Also, thank you for reading ☺️

[bluejaysandblackbats]

under an indigo sky

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam

Summary: When Jason Todd lands a role in an upcoming movie with starlet Natalia Knight, she expresses that she wants to adopt him.

Chapters: 7/?

Characters: Jason Todd, Natalia Knight, Original Character(s)

Additional Tags: Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Foster Family AU, Actors AU, Third Person POV, Bruce Wayne Does Not Adopt Jason Todd, Rags to Riches, Coworkers to Family

Chapter Seven: backstory

A short young woman, who looked like a college student, came to visit the morning that Andrew was supposed to come home, and it made Jason anxious in a way he couldn’t explain. Natalia sat beside Jason, reading the new script and highlighting the major changes. Jason bounced his leg, while he wrung his hands. Elliott sat at the table, talking to the woman. “Andrew said the nurse, when he was little, used to bring him crayons, so he could draw pictures. Is that you?” Elliott asked. 

“It is me. I didn’t know it’d take five months to get approved to be a foster parent. I wanted to keep him then,” she answered. “It took me this long to find him again, and I really don’t want to lose him.” 

“What’s your name?” Elliott replied. 

“Misty,” she answered. 

Jason frowned and held his breath, and Natalia reached over without looking and rubbed a circle into his wrist with her thumb. Jason took a breath, and he looked at her. “Do you want to learn an acting exercise?” Natalia asked gently. Jason started to shake his head before taking a breath. “Do you know why you’re upset?” 

Jason shook his head before choking back tears. Natalia noticed immediately, and she took Jason’s arm and led him outside. Once they were out of earshot, Jason started to cry. “She can’t just come and take him! If he never got sick, she wouldn’t have even—”

“Jason,” Natalia whispered as she got down to his level. 

“It isn’t fair. I read to him, I make him dinner, and he—” Jason had almost forgotten to breathe. He was so angry he’d lost his senses. “He’s mine.” 

Natalia’s eyes widened, and she wiped his face with her sleeves. “Jason,” Natalia whispered as gently as she could. “You’re just a little boy. I know you love Andrew, but he needs an adult. It doesn’t mean you’re losing him. I’m sure he’ll want to visit sometimes. I know you want him to be happy and well taken care of. Don’t you?” 

Jason nodded through his coughing sobs. Natalia held Jason’s hand, surprising herself with how small his hand looked in hers. “Everybody’s leaving. I’m not gonna have anybody left to take care of,” Jason cried. 

Natalia was so overcome by his emotions that she sat on the ground and pulled him into her lap. “Jason, it’s okay. You shouldn’t have to take care of anyone right now. You’re twelve years old. I think you’re so used to helping that you don’t know what to do when you can’t. You’re a sweetheart, but you’re still a little boy. You shouldn’t be running a house,” Natalia explained. “I’m gonna give you a few minutes to think, and we’re gonna go back inside, so you can ask Misty if you can visit Andrew sometime. I know you love Andrew, but this is going to be good for him. I know you know that, it’s just hard right now.” 

Jason nodded, and he let her hold him. Once he felt calm enough, they went back inside, and Jason asked Misty if he could visit Andrew at her house after he moved in. 

“Andrew talked about you a lot. I wouldn’t think of keeping you from seeing him. I know you love him very much,” Misty replied. Jason swallowed hard and nodded. “And your mom looks just like that movie star lady.” 

“Oh, she’s—”

“Thank you,” Natalia replied. 

**

Andrew came in with Daniel around an hour later, and Jason hugged him as tightly as he could. “Did they find out what happened to you?” Jason asked. 

“When I got in that fight, I hit my head really hard, but I was so scared that I forgot to tell you… They said it was a late seizure,” Andrew replied. 

Jason pulled away and looked at Andrew. “What’s a late seizure?” Jason asked. 

“It’s when you have a seizure over seven days after a head injury. That implies structural damage to the brain and a larger chance for reoccurrence of a seizure,” Misty explained before realizing he was a child. “That means—”

“He probably has epilepsy now,” Jason interrupted. 

“Well, most likely yes. But we’ll only know that if he has another seizure,” Misty replied. Andrew ran toward her, and she smoothed his hair down. “Hi, Andrew. I wanted to explain something to you, so you don’t think that I’ve forgotten you.” 

Daniel messed up Jason’s hair. “How are you holding up, Jason?” Daniel asked as he let Misty take Andrew to the couch. 

“I guess I was just upset because I’m gonna miss taking care of Andrew when he leaves today,” Jason sighed. 

“He’s not leaving today. I just wanted Misty to start visiting him over here. If I keep him for three more months, I’ll get to give my input in a hearing… Then, she’ll get to keep him for sure. We both want to make sure that there’s no chance of her getting denied custody. Besides, she works nights, so he might come here a few times a week to sleep over,” Daniel explained. Jason smiled and hugged Daniel. “Andrew wouldn’t want to lose you either. We talked about all of that yesterday.” 

“You’re the best, Daniel,” Jason mumbled. 

** 

Natalia sat with Andrew and Jason on the floor putting together a puzzle after dinner, while Elliott flipped through the channels on TV. Daniel was asleep on the couch with Michael in the bassinet by his head. Andrew snapped his head up toward the TV, and Jason looked up at a true crime TV episode about a cult that was shut down two years ago. “Turn it off, Elliott,” Jason commanded. 

“Wait,” Andrew peeped. “That’s my mom and dad.” He pointed to the screen. Natalia looked at Jason and then at Andrew. Elliott pressed record and paused the TV. Andrew stood up and pointed to a woman with long brown hair, and she had a tunic and patchy hand-dyed linen pants on. “Can we watch it?” 

Jason tensed up, but it wasn’t like Andrew got to keep pictures of his parents. He nodded. “Only a little bit,” Jason replied. 

Natalia sat up a little straighter while Elliott pressed play. “Is that where you come from?” Natalia asked. 

“Yeah, that’s Mama. Her name was Julia, and that’s my dad in the big robe. He’s Everything,” Andrew replied. 

“Everything was his name,” Jason explained. Natalia looked at Jason, watching as he stared at the screen with concern. 

“Andrew wasn’t born in Gotham. He was born in Vermont,” Elliott replied. 

“How do you know that?” Andrew smiled. The smile itself came as a shock to both Jason and Natalia, who remained silent. 

Elliott smiled back. “My mom read about where you grew up a whole lot when it was on the news,” Elliott replied. Jason got up and muted the TV while they were talking. 

“That’s my big sister, Angela,” Andrew whispered. “She’s in the palace now.” 

“The palace?” Natalia asked. 

Jason pulled her sleeve and whispered, “Dead. Only eight or nine people lived. Andrew and his dad included. We don’t say ‘dead’ around Andrew. They’re at the palace or gone.” 

“How many brothers and sisters did you have?” Natalia asked. 

“A lot. There was Angela and Albert and Kristi and Isaac and Lily and Ruthie and Arthur and Lucille and Petunia and James and Cody and Levi… But the police said Kristi, Petunia, and Cody weren’t related to mom or dad. Ruthie, James, and Levi are Mama’s,” Andrew smiled. “And—” Andrew stopped speaking, and he put his hand on the TV. 

“What?” Jason questioned. 

“Levi,” Andrew whispered. “Only Levi, Ruthie, and Lily are still here. We didn’t go with everybody else. I was supposed to go to the palace, too, but they missed. I saw Lily in the hospital once, but I haven’t seen Levi since the day everyone went to the palace. He was with me. Then, the police showed up. I don’t remember anymore… I just remember Ruthie screaming when the police took us outside.” 

“How do you know who it is? They didn’t show his face,” Natalia stated. 

“He was my best friend,” Andrew answered. 

Jason swallowed hard. “Do you miss them?” Elliott asked. “It must be weird seeing them on the TV.” 

“I really miss Levi. He was twelve when it happened. Now, he’s fourteen. I wonder if he got adopted,” Andrew replied. 

“I thought siblings have the right to visit each other?” Jason asked. 

“There was a doctor who worked with the police, and she talked to all of us… She explained it, but I didn’t really understand her,” Andrew replied. 

Daniel inhaled sharply and looked at the TV. “What are you kids doing?” Daniel asked. “It’s getting late. Time for the littles to turn in.” 

“Daniel, can we have five more minutes?” Andrew asked. 

“Nah, I think it’s time to go to bed. Okay?” Daniel replied. “Did you brush your teeth and take a shower?” Andrew nodded before blowing in Daniel’s face. “Good job. You want a hug?” 

Andrew nodded and patiently waited for Daniel to sit up before hugging him. “I love you, Daniel,” Andrew whispered. 

“Love you too, Andrew,” Daniel replied. 

Andrew gave Elliott a high five, and he stopped in front of Natalia. “Is it okay if I hug you?” Andrew asked. Natalia opened her arms and embraced him. “Thanks for taking good care of Jason and Elliott.” 

“Anytime, sweetheart,” Natalia smiled. “Goodnight. I hope to see you again soon.” 

“Night-night,” Andrew whispered. Jason waved at Natalia and said goodnight to everyone before following Andrew to their room. 

Andrew stood by Jason’s bed. “Go ahead and climb in. You don’t have to ask,” Jason replied. “You really miss Levi, huh?” 

“Yeah, but you remind me of him a whole lot,” Andrew replied. “Even if I do get adopted, I want you to still be my big brother. I told Misty that.” 

“I know. She told me so. You know something, Andrew, I was really scared when I found out somebody wanted to adopt you… But I’m happy that it’s somebody like her. No matter where we go, I’m always gonna be here for you. So, if you ever need me, I’ll be there. Before you leave, I’m gonna get us some cellphones, so you can call me whenever you want. Okay?” Jason promised. 

“Okay… I didn’t think you’d miss me. I thought I was—” Andrew scratched his head. “What’s the word for a problem?” 

“You’re not a burden, Andrew. I’m glad we’re foster brothers,” Jason whispered. Andrew smiled at him. 

“Me too,” Andrew replied before closing his eyes. “Night-night, Jason.” 

“Night, Andrew,” Jason whispered in reply. 

“I love you a whole lot,” Andrew mumbled as he started to drift off.

“I love you just as much,” Jason replied. If it were anyone else, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to say it.

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Keepsafes

Fandom: Batman, DC Comics

Summary: AU where Martha and Thomas survive, and they adopt the batkids.

Chapters: 99/?

Characters: Bruce Wayne, Thomas Wayne, Martha Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, Harvey Dent, Dick Grayson, Cassandra Cain, David Cain, Talia al Ghul, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd, Tim Drake

Relationships: Thomas Wayne/Martha Wayne/Alfred Pennyworth, BruHarvey, BruTalia

Additional Tags: Canon Divergent AU, Hurt/Comfort, Bruce Wayne is Not Batman, Angst, Alfred Pennyworth Knows All, Bruce Wayne Only Has One Child, Bruce Wayne is Not An Only Child, Bi Bruce Wayne

Chapter Ninety-Nine: Rehearsal Dinner

Talia picked Gilda up from the airport a week before the wedding, and they booked a hotel in Metropolis to prepare. “Thank you for being my maid of honor,” Gilda whispered as the masseuse worked on her lower back.  

“It’s my pleasure,” Talia replied.  

“I really feel so close to you, and I’m—. Wait. Do you think you’ll ever marry Bruce?” Gilda questioned.  

“Hm…  I don’t know,” Talia answered.  

“Oh, come on. You two are so lovey dovey. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about a wedding. He knows your father. You know his parents. Everyone loves you,” Gilda smiled.  

“I don’t know. Would Bruce even be interested in the idea of marriage?” Talia questioned in reply. 

** 

Bruce and Harvey sat in the sauna together, while Bruce desperately tried to calm Harvey down. “I love you, but I need you to relax. We’re having a nice little spa day before you get married, and you’re pitching a fit about something that’s not even happening until after your honeymoon—”  

“L.A. is far,” Harvey replied. “And she’s pregnant.”  

“I know… But I think Gilda’s smarter than you’re giving her credit for. Wait and see what her game plan is,” Bruce explained. Harvey sighed and tossed his head back. “Are you ready for the hammam after lunch?”  

“Yeah. I’m still game… Um, what about you and Talia? Are you guys ever planning on tying the knot?” Harvey questioned.  

Bruce chuckled. “Asshole,” Bruce smiled. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do. All I know is that everything’s depending on how things go with her father in a few months… And chances are, she’s going to ask me to sit this one out.”  

“Because of Gilda and me?” Harvey questioned.  

“Yeah… I’m not gonna argue with her because I wanna be here with you when you have your kids, and I—. And that way, we don’t have to travel with the baby,” Bruce explained.  

“But you wanna marry Talia?” Harvey smiled.  

“Yeah. I do… But her father’s input means everything to her, so I’m at the mercy of his opinion,” Bruce clarified.  

** 

Dylan and Martha sat next to each other on the beach, tanning while Cassie and Bette built sandcastles. “Are you okay?” Martha asked as she twitched her nose to readjust her sunglasses.  

“I’m a lot better, Mattie,” Dylan replied. “After the wedding, I’m taking Bette to California for a little while. Don’t worry. I’ll be back before Talia pops, and the houses are on schedule.”  

“Thank you, Dylan, but I’m just—. You’re okay. I’m glad that you’re better. I know having her grandparents around was a lot,” Martha whispered. She reached over and held his hand. “Maël coming with you to California?”  

“He suggested we go to California. I promised him I’d think about it, but the truth is, I’d love to go with him,” Dylan smiled.  

“So, you and Maël are good? And Bette?” Martha asked.  

“She’s a different story. Bette hasn’t been sleeping. She’s been in our bed, and I—. She asked me if it was her fault that Aïda passed away,” Dylan whispered.  

“You told her no, right?” Martha asked.  

“Of course… I had to explain what happened to her, and I—. I think she feels like I’m going to die young for some reason. Maybe I explained it the wrong way,” Dylan replied.  

** 

There was a knock on Thomas’ hotel door, and they snickered when they heard Alfred curse in the background. “Can Joey and I get room service?” Dick asked.  

“Yes! Absolutely!” Thomas shouted.  

“Thanks, Dad!” Dick replied as he went back to the hotel room.  

Thomas started buttoning his shirt. “You don’t think—”  

“His timing was quite awful,” Alfred complained as he put his robe on.  

“If he were any earlier, we would have unfinished business,” Thomas chuckled. Alfred helped Thomas to his feet. Thomas staggered forward into Alfred’s arms. “Sorry, I’m just a bit dizzy.”  

“Do you feel ill?” Alfred questioned.  

“No. The opposite… Perhaps, we should vacation more often. I think everyone needed this little break,” Thomas smiled.  

Someone knocked. “Dick! I promise you that it’s okay to order room service!” Thomas replied as he opened his door.  

“Thomas, I wanted to know if you can tell the girls—” Harvey froze. “Wait, where are Dick and Joey?”  

“In their room,” Thomas answered.  

Harvey looked at Thomas and waved at Alfred before turning to leave. He went straight to Dick’s room and knocked. Dick answered the door, holding a plate. “Hey, Harvey. French fry?” Dick asked.  

“No, thanks… Can we talk for a second?” Harvey asked. Dick nodded and stepped outside.  

“What’s going on?” Dick questioned.  

“Be careful,” Harvey warned him. Dick ate a few more fries.  

“I ordered food service first because I knew Dad would say yes anyway,” Dick answered.  

Harvey sighed and looked at his feet. “No, I mean having your own hotel room is a big deal at your age… I just want you to be responsible and not do anything you might regret later when you’re older,” Harvey explained.  

“Huh?” Dick asked. “We’re not drinking. If I get in trouble for anything, I can’t compete—” 

“I—” Harvey sighed. “Don’t feel pressured to do something just because everyone else might be. Lots of kids lie about—” 

“I don’t do drugs,” Dick replied.  

“No… I mean—”  

“I know what you mean. You’re a little bit late for giving me the talk by the way,” Dick laughed.  

“When?” Harvey asked.  

“Never you mind. Just know it happened recently, and I don’t regret it at all,” Dick replied, “and if you tell anyone what I just told you, I will vehemently deny everything.”  

“Trust me, this conversation never happened. The idea of this conversation makes me nauseous… I can’t believe I’m gonna have to have that conversation with my own kids someday,” Harvey replied.  

“Approximately twelve to sixteen years from now,” Dick replied. Harvey groaned. “Where are you going?”  

“Hammam with Bruce,” Harvey answered. “Save some room for dinner.” 

“Okay,” Dick replied. “And Harvey? Good talk, buddy.”  

“Don’t mention it,” Harvey replied as he rushed down the hall.  

** 

Harvey sat next to Gilda at dinner and kissed her hand and palm. Gilda ran the back of her hand down his cheek. “Missed you so much,” Harvey whispered.  

“I missed you, too, and your skin is so soft. Wow,” Gilda smiled.  

“Harvey! Gilda!” Cassandra exclaimed. Gilda giggled as she hugged Cassandra. “I found these for you at the beach," she reached into her pockets and gave Gilda a swirled cone-shaped shell and a pear-shaped shell. She turned to Harvey and gave him a brown and grey-ish blue shell and an orange shell.  

“Uncle Dylan is really good at finding seashells, and he knows the names of all of them. I gave you the prettiest ones because you’re getting married,” Cassandra smiled. Harvey choked back tears as he pulled Cassandra into a hug. “I’m glad you like them.”  

“I love them, Cassie. Thank you so much. This is the best gift ever,” Harvey whispered. “I’m so glad you’re a flower girl.”  

“I’m so happy to be a flower girl, Harvey. Thank you for letting me be one with Bette,” Cassandra smiled. Bruce kissed Cassandra’s cheek. “When are you getting married, Bruce?”  

Bruce leaned over Cassandra’s head and groaned. “Not yet, let’s get through Harvey and Gilda’s wedding first, Cassie,” Bruce chuckled.