→ not canon-compliant ⋆ reader is nonchalant about a lot ⋆ gender-neutral ⋆ reader is around 17 years old ⋆ reader is not a hero ⋆ interlude chapter ⋆ not proofread ⋆ very short chapter
♫ currently playing: why didn’t you stop me? - Mitski
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D I R E C T O R Y
chapter 12 <- you are here -> chapter 13
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Thirty minutes, that's how long you waited in your room, trying not to fall asleep with your blanket curled around you, loose fists around the edge, just to make sure you didn't run into Duke.
During that time, you took in every single one of your injuries as they brushed against the layers of your bedding.
The amounts of bandages on your legs was painful to feel, the yellow-ish white wrapped around your legs, from your thighs down to your shins.
You lifted up your shirt a little, glancing underneath your shirt, bruises scattered across your torso from when Damian pinned you down presumably. The side of your face was shiny from some ointment, bruises painted your skin as the purple and yellow mixed at the edges.
Once long enough had passed though, you finally dragged yourself out of bed, legs weaker than you'd thought they'd be as you stumbled slightly, falling halfway onto your bed before trying again.
Teeth biting at your lip to keep any kind of distressing sound from coming out, your feet crossed over each other a couple times as you gained your footing, if you could then your arms would be stretched out like you were on a tightrope.
Grabbing at the door, you pushed it open, still wobbling as you wandered down the halls. The clock on the walls you passed reading sometime between eight and nine, a lot of them seemingly inconsistent and out of sync.
Dazed from the ache on the soles of your feet, you drifted around the house, painkillers most definitely wearing off while you felt like a car with a broken steering wheel, just trying not to slam into one of the walls.
The pain grew with each step forcing you into one of the sitting rooms, practically collapsing onto the couch as your vision blurred. Your body sank into the plush couch, head resting on the arm rest to look at the ceiling, not even noticing the other person in the room.
─── ´ˎ˗
You were kind of a mystery to Stephanie, sort've mean, quiet— except for that night when you screamed at them, never did your voice ever sound so loud.
She didn't have a favorable nor unfavorable opinion of you, now she did.
Steph thought you were petty, and that you didn't understand a single thing about her, or anyone for that matter.
Never had you understood what it was like to get up and fight for other people, then have to live an entirely separate life acting like there wasn't anything wrong with you.
But for the first time, she saw you, actually saw you, as she never had before.
Body slouched against the sofa, sinking into it as your head slid down the side of the armrest. You were bruised and bandaged with your arm in a sling and she couldn't help her curiosity, what happened?
Stirring in your sleep, you accidentally shifted onto your arm with the sling, not feeling the pain unconscious, quickly moving you back onto your back, but with her touch came a sudden jolt as you sat up, breathing heavily as you looked around.
"..Where am I?" You asked, voice cracked from your dry throat, eyes now stuck on her as you waited for an answer.
"Just some random room in the manor- what happened to you??" She asked watching you struggle to get off the sofa, she offered an arm as you used it to help you up.
Your head shook, a sigh of annoyance exhaled, "Just Damian.."
Stephanie winced, letting you remove yourself from her arm, "Damian huh? Been there.."
"Who hasn't with the little monster.. anyways do you know where he is?" You asked, rubbing gently at your eyes, fingers swiping at the dryness in the corner of your eyes.
She paused for a moment, waiting thinking before shaking her own head, "No sorry, I think he's out with Dick right now?"
"Course.. well, thanks anyways." You replied, before waddling away on your bandaged legs, Stephanie watching you leave as she stood there, hand in her pocket, the other holding her phone.
─── ´ˎ˗
Ignoring your interaction with Stephanie, you wandered back down the halls, back to your room. Collapsing on your bed as you reached for your mini fridge nearby, taking out a bottle of water that was probably two weeks old but it didn't matter.
You twisted open the cap with your teeth, sinking your canines into the soft plastic before picking it off and spitting it away onto your blanket, chugging down at least half before pushing it away onto your side table.
Automatically, your hand moved to grab your phone, only to remember you didn't have it.
Uncertainty strained your chest, desperate to see your friends as blurred shots of the pictured in your head from the day before, glimpses of them trying to pull you away from Damian, only to push at them and rush back into the fight.
".. Stupid" you said to yourself, laying back in bed as your body ached, head swimming as spots covered your vision, it forced you down head pressing into the pillow, your eyelids blinked rapidly, a sharp ringing entered your ears.
And then, you blacked out, but as you did you were met with something.
Clarity.
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shortest chapter, but this is now where the ending splits, I will be writing the unforgiveness ending first. And then I’ll be writing the forgiveness ending afterwards.
If I were to write two different endings for my series 'not unwanted, just unneeded', which one would people want first? Forgivness, or no forgiveness?
-> meta!reader who’s Damian’s half sibling, same mother, made in a lab except with different father’s DNA.
Readers dad being a meta without Talia having realised because of how it was hidden, he used to be an assassin before quitting to take care of you while Talia let you go because she didn’t think you were good enough.
This was a few years before Damian came to be making reader older than him. But after living with his dad, he came to find out he had a sibling, after you explained what happened with you to him, he decided to secretly keep communicating with you.
When you finally choose to visit Gotham, to spend time with him as your brother, circumstances happen, leading you to have to save him after a close call Jason like situation.
During which you end of dying, but before you died, you begged him to not bury you, to keep you in a room and act like you’re just in a coma, forcing him to promise before your heart stopped beating.
Everyone else tried to convince him to have a burial for you, but he denied, trying to keep his promise and anyone who attempted to bury you was close to death themselves.
Just when Damian was losing hope after a few weeks, you woke up, grasping at your clothes and the bed you were on before sobbing. He asked why, didn’t he do right?
You said yes, because it turns out you were semi-immortal and had been buried in the ground before because no one believed you didn’t die.
The fact he believed you? That he didn’t force you to crawl out of the ground again despite that being the first time you both met?
Meant so much more than he knew.
♫ MORE DETAIL ON READER’S POWER:
＊ Can heal and revert injuries, life threatening ones even if someone’s limbs are gone, or their head is open, reader can reverse it.
But it requires energy, life force, once drained, reader can essentially die, but becomes stuck in limbo, a sort’ve line between life and death.
As long as you’re in limbo, your body doesn’t rot— a perk of the power— but it means you need to travel back physically to the land of the living which takes a while as it’s quite literally an oblivion.
Reader has ptsd from being buried somewhat alive and needing to crawl out of the dirt, as well as needing to heal so many injuries that affected them mentally.
Just an idea I felt like sharing only drafted and unpolished, might write if anyone’s interested. 🩶
→ not canon-compliant ⋆ reader is nonchalant about a lot ⋆ gender-neutral ⋆ reader is around 17 years old ⋆ reader is not a hero ⋆ filler chapter between the last one and the next ⋆ not proofread
♫ currently playing: gotta be a reason - Alec Benjamin
- this chapter contains a scene at the start between two characters fighting, skip it if you aren’t comfortable with violence.
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D I R E C T O R Y
chapter 11 <- you are here -> chapter 12.5
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Your back hit the ground as you kicked your legs up, shouting all around you as Damian held you down, straddling your torso as his already bruising fists hit you again. Your vision blurred as you grabbed one of his wrist and pushing it aside as you socked him in the face with your free hand.
He took it, only to push himself up, leaning on one side as his other knee came to press down hard in the middle of your chest. It knocked the air out of you as he kept it pinned, sliding down to bruise your ribs as he broke his wrist free away from your hold and hit you again.
It hurt so much that it ached to even move as you forcefully rolled over to shake him off, he landed hard on his elbow, gritting his teeth as you hurried to your knees and winded up your own fist before delivering a blow to his nose.
The bridge of it hard against your fingers, throbbing at your fist as the shouting continued but it was just noise.
Every time someone tried to pull either of you away, you'd both shove them off and keep swinging. Duke should've been able to, but he couldn't use his abilities in front of Isla and Oliver, Damian managed to fight him off with raw strength.
Blood stained your uniform as it smeared across your faces, vision blurred in and out, your fist hurt so much that if you unfurled them for a second it'd ache so horribly that the only thing you could do is keep it shut tightly to hit again.
Damian didn't let up, so neither did you.
Eyes not looking away from each other, mud, grass and blood stained your uniforms.
Even when Tim managed to grab at one of you, somehow both of you would manage to slip out of his hold. If you were common criminals then he would've used some form of martial arts to detain on of you, but you were a civilian, and Damian was his brother.
With how violent both of you were, any attempt at apprehension of one of you, wouldn't be enough to stop the other from getting one last good strike in there.
Just then, Damian pinned you down again, unable to control his strength through his rage, from such a close range, the jab of muay thai he delivered to your skull rattled it.
Your vision blurred as the pain disappeared before everything went black.
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Damian froze, watching as your expression changed from fury to being dazed, the minute his hit landed your eyes became unfocused, muscles flinched inward from pain before you knocked out.
It happened in seconds, but he'd remember that moment for hours.
Your body went limp, he was forced away by Tim, grabbing his body and throwing him off to the side while your friends rushed around your body. The boy was tearful while the girl tried to pick up your body, looking at him while shouting, eyes infuriated, but brows transposed as they held her sorrow and worry.
Duke wasted no time leading them away from your body, Tim over looking anywhere on your body that might've been dangerous to move.
Tim gently pressed over your skin, looking for any serious injuries before turning to Isla, "Someone named Alfred is parked outside the front of the school, please go tell him what happened- Damian, go with them."
"But-"
"Damian."
His fist clenched but he couldn't argue, Oliver and Isla already on their way out, Isla grabbing his wrist and forcing him to go with them.
Head turning back to look at you, now being carefully carried into Duke's arms, unable to turn away, even as he was dragged down the hallway, they entered the building, b-lining for a different hall that he knew led to the nurses office.
The only thing that made him realize that he was outside was the cold air, followed by the distant sound of a car door opening. Alfred ran up, tense expression as he saw Damian, but when he tried to ask what happened, Oliver interrupted, explaining as best he could wiping wiping away his own tears.
After stuttering out his last words, Alfred nodded, stopping the boy from hyperventilating as he gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Please breathe" he said, Damian noted through the haze that Alfred seemed to be somewhat familiar with the two as Isla spoke to him, a little less coherent than the boy but still trying her best.
There was a sudden hand on his shoulder, letting his body be moved to face Alfred as the older man looked over him.
".. Anything broken, Master Damian." He asked carefully, voice composed and steady.
Damian avoided his eye, looking down at the ground, shrugging his shoulders, ".. I'm fine Pennyworth."
He nodded, "Understood Master Damian, please wait in the car."
"But-" he tried to refute, but it was hard to deny the man, being met with a stern look without room for argument. He conceded, walking away to the car, opening the door only to look back and see Alfred being led inside by your two friends.
Instead of getting in, he shut the door, choosing to instead sit on the curb, hugging his knees.
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The nurse had already left for the day as Duke placed you onto the bed, Tim beside him started to rummage around through the drawers and cabinets. Part of him hoped you didn't wake up yet as painkillers and medication were locked behind one of the glass cupboards.
Only having access to bandages, gauze, iodine, tweezers, and some headache medicine that wasn't all that affective at getting rid of serious pain.
"What's wrong with them?" Duke asked, helping him rummage through drawers.
Tim sighed, shaking his head as he took out things from the drawers and placed them on the side table, "At least a couple of sprains, I don't think anything's broken- maybe a hairline fracture in the wrist? I don't want to move them incase it's worse, take this." He said, handing a handful of items over to Duke who put them with the rest of what was on the side table.
Coming to your bed side, he ran fingers lightly over your bruises, eyeing the now ruined and dirtied bandages on your legs that you got apparently that day.
They bled through, definitely having gotten worse after your scuffle.
With his past experience, he managed to get a few of your surface injuries cleared before Alfred came in with your two friends. He instructed them to stay back by the doorway as he approached your bedside, "Breaks?"
"I think a hairline fracture in the wrist? Not sure if there's anything else." Tim replied, from the corner of his eye he saw Duke walk over to your two friends, trying to soothe their worries.
His hands were lowered to gently, seemingly in an attempt to calm your friends and their worries.
"Master Tim." Alfred called, handing over the keys to the car, "Please take yourselves home, I will call Master Bruce for another vehicle."
Tim nodded, letting him drop the keys into his hand, "Okay Alfred" he said, hesitantly walking away as he approached the three by the door.
Duke noticed him approach, turning slightly before letting him speak.
"Alfred's gonna call someone else to take them home so, I can drive us back instead- you two as well if you'd like." He said, looking at Isla and Oliver— the former who looked annoyed by the offer.
"What? No- you can go but I'm waiting here!" She said, Oliver beside her staying quiet but definitely sharing her sentiment.
Tim looked at Duke, clearly wanting him to step in, but what he didn't know was that he definitely wasn't their favorite guy around for miles.
"Even if we have to go-" Oliver spoke up, "I think we'd rather take the bus."
"But the next bus won't be for an hour at least." Duke said, knowing the bus routes and schedule by heart.
The pair hesitated, Oliver was considering it more carefully than Isla, though she really seemed reluctant to agree.
It was weird seeing how much these strangers seemed to care about you, because he really knew nothing about you. Whatever files he had were mostly medical, and only because Bruce was required to have copies of as your legal guardian.
The concern reminded him of the friends he got over the years, made him wonder how long you three had been friends in the first place. He stepped closer, just a little bit so that he could soften his voice while still being heard.
".. I know you're worried, but it's better to leave now and wait at home, you know Gotham, it'll get late at some point." He said attentively, gauging their reactions, "I'm sure they wouldn't want you in danger, give me your number and I'll tell you how they are."
Isla was still skeptical, but Oliver chose to trust him, bringing out his phone to exchange contact info. Tim took out his own device, swapping numbers before leading them outside where Damian was waiting on the path.
Hugging his knees, he looked over the mound of them as he saw the group approach.
He stood, acting like he wasn't looking so vulnerable as Tim walked around to the drivers side, "Alfred's gonna call for another lift, I'm taking you guys home."
Damian didn't ask for any more information like he usually would.
In fact he looked somewhat destitute.
Though he did claim the front seat immediately, still proving that he is Damian no matter the mood.
Isla and Oliver took the backseat, Isla sitting in the middle with her phone in hand, bag between her legs, Oli's held on his lap as he hugged it, and Duke swung his into the trunk.
Tim started the car after everyone buckled in, using his rearview mirror to make sure everyone was settled before setting off.
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Alfred finished patching you up, noting down all of your injuries.
Bruises all over, scrapes, a hairline fracture in your wrist as well as in your shoulder meaning you'd be stuck with a sling for two weeks minimum, and more that he wouldn't be able to properly check and take care of without the things he'd usually have access to.
Another worry was that you hadn't yet woken up, possibly a sign of a something more serious.
Reaching for his cellular device, he dialed Bruce's number, awaiting for the man to pick up.
".. Alfred? What's happened? I'm still at the manor."
"Master Bruce, I've sent the children back with Master Tim."
"Did something happen that?"
Alfred sighed, taking a moment to recap what he'd been told by your friends as well as the injuries you'd gotten, remembering to ask for the man to come.
"And I fear we may need to call Dr.Leslie Thompkins, I'm waiting off on a proper examination until I can present an x-ray, it'd be best."
"Is the batcave and your knowledge not enough?" Bruce asked, the sound of his footsteps on the pavement in the background.
"It is, but the young master may have retained cranial damage, it is best to get a second opinion." Alfred replied.
Bruce slammed the door to his car, turning on the engine as he used the other hand to buckle his seatbelt, "I will call Dr.Leslie, I'll be there soon."
"Very much appreciated." Alfred said before hanging up.
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The first thing you processed upon waking was some kind of figure beside you, blurred as they merged with the bright lights of wherever you were before smudging and disappearing from view.
The second thing was the firm, uncomfortable mattress under your back, paired with rumpled sheets that ribbon and layered underneath your back.
The third and final thing was when all your senses suddenly came back to you, and your eyes final adjusted to the room, it smelled sterile, the kind of smell that tingled in your nose like a sharpie.
You tried to sit up, craning your arm back to use your elbow as a lever to lift your body up but instead you were met with a sharp pain that shot through your tendons.
"Agh..!?" You screech at the bullet of pain, someone entered the room, their steps were quick but un rushed as they sped walked to your side, their voice was controlled as they pushed you back down, adjusting your arm so that it wasn't stuck underneath you.
"Don't get up, I'll help you in a second." They said, pushing you down gently by your shoulders, it was a woman, she seemed older, stern but not cruel as she turned to the door, "You, stay right there."
"Who are you talking to..?" You asked, still groggy from your sleep as your head lulled around, trying to observe the room.
"Your brother, you bats are really birds of a feather.." She replied, you lifted your head up to try and see who it was, your chin touched your collarbone as your neck hid away, it was awkward but you managed to see that it was Duke, standing by the room.
".. Duke?" You said, voice raspy forcing you to feel just how dry your throat was.
He looked at the woman beside you, her head nodded once as he took a step inside before reaching your bedside, "Hey.. remember what happened?" He asked.
"Mm.." you hummed quietly before letting your head fall back, ".. I think I got into a fight with Damian and got my ass beat?"
Duke chuckled under his breath, "Yeah, pretty much- this is Leslie Thompkins by the way, kind of the family doctor."
"So.. she knows about.?"
"The bats, yeah, she's cool." He said in all sincerity, glancing at her before looking back down at you.
It was annoying to literally be looked down on, as you turned your head to the woman beside you.
"Can I sit up yet?" You asked, she looked at you, over your body before back up and nodded.
"Sure, but we need to adjust your bed, Duke? Hold them up please." She said as she bent towards the side of your bed while Duke put one arm behind your back, the other on your stomach to help push you up and keep you there until Leslie adjusted your bed.
Slowly he let you back down, the back of the bed adjusted so you were now sitting up with your entire body relaxed.
".. Where the hell are we by the way?" You said, now eye-level to the rest of the room.
"Batcave's med bay, got everything you could need, minus a qualified doctor- Alfred is great but he can only do so much, that's why Dr.Leslie Thompkins is here." Duke answered, pulling over a seat from the corner of the room to sit beside your bed.
"Correct, but I think Alfred could've handled this himself just need a second opinion, look here please." She said, turning your head to face her as she held up a penlight, the end illuminated in white as she shined it into your eyes, watching to see how your pupils reacted.
You did your best not to blink, finally letting the moisture back into your eyes when she clicked it off and tucked it away, then you watched her grab a clipboard, running her pen over it.
".. From your test and examination, we noted that you have a hairline fracture in your wrist, you have a small fracture in your shoulder— ergo the sling, as well as bruised muscle tissue all over your back, not to mention your bruises and scrapes.." She said.
Finally, you looked down, your dominant hand had it's wrist trapped in a brace with metal plates on the side to keep it in a certain position. Arm was bent in a sling, the straps around your shoulder, though you noted that despite your apparent bruised muscles, it didn't feel too bad.
You looked at her, she seemed to realize what you were thinking, tapping at the board with her pen, "We gave you painkillers so you wouldn't be in pain once you woke up, we were scared you had a concussion but thankfully you don't, just minor bruising on the back of your head from when you hit the ground."
"Damn.." You said under your breath, Damian really did a number on you and at some point, once the painkillers would wear off, you'd feel it all at once.
"You were also asleep for eighteen hours straight" Duke added.
"What?"
Leslie spoke up, "It's why we were worried you may have had a concussion, but you thankfully don't. As long as you wear that sling for three to six weeks and the brace for just as long, if you don't overwork yourself then it should be maximum at that rather than taking longer. So don't be stupid like your father."
"No problem, I do my best to not be anything like him." You replied, making Duke snicker through his nose, but you suddenly remembered something, your fight, with Damian.
Duke noticed how you dragged off your sentence, lost in thought he nudged your hand, you looked at him, "What?"
"You're thinking, look a lot like Tim when he's doing the same, like you zone out- what's up"
"…" you hesitated, fingers fidgeted with the sheets, ".. Is uh.. Is Damian okay?"
Leslie left the room with her board, excusing herself as Duke raised his brows in surprise at your question, before letting a smile crack in his lips.
"You worried about him?"
"What? No, it's just cause I beat his ass almost as much as he did mine.." that part stuck with you, "But also y'know, I'm seventeen and he's like.. What? Twelve, thirteen?"
"You don't know how old Damian is?!" He huffed out before bellowing with laughter, swinging his head back as his arms clutched his stomach.
You really wished you weren't injured so you could smack him over the head for laughing, but you really felt bad. Not because of the fight, the little shit had it coming in your opinion, but it was something else you realized.
"Man whatever.." you muttered, glancing playfully at him.
Both of you talked for a while, laughing and joking around while Duke told you what happened in the past eighteen hours. Your friends came up a bit and you noted that you should text them, before then realizing that your phone was broken the day before thanks to that stranger.
"Fuck.." You said, Duke paused his retelling, "uh.. do you mind going to the store for me?"
"Yeah, for sure, need something?"
"A new phone- mine, yesterday it got run over since I dropped it onto the road.." you answered, cringing at the memory.
Duke remembered how yesterday you didn't answer Isla and Oliver's messages, now putting the entire story together, he took out his phone, you following all his movements as he texted someone.
"Hm?" He looked up at your little sound, smiling awkwardly.
"Your friends- they gave their number to Tim and I got theirs from him, they were worried."
Your mouth fell open, now remembering the entire event, who was involved, and why you threw that punch in the first place— for your friends who Damian disrespected.
When you wanted to ask if you could call them, let them know you're okay, Bruce entered the room. Sleeves rolled up with a few strands of his hair askew in front of his face, upon seeing you awake; he let out a sigh of relief.
"You're fine.. Leslie informed me of your injuries, I think it's best if we move you downstairs so—"
"I already live downstairs." You said.
"You do?"
You turned to look at Duke, and then Bruce. Both of which waited for an answer.
"Uh, yeah, I moved down last year, didn't wanna bother anyone and vice versa." Leaving out the part where it was easier to sneak your friends in right under the noses of a bunch of detectives.
They shared a look which you would've called out had it not been for your oncoming headache as Duke stood up, "I'll help you then, just tell me where to go."
"Okay, sure." You said, immediately trying to scoots off the bed but Duke and Bruce raised their voices, instructing you to lay back down, leading you to look at them annoyed, "Uh, chill, how else am I supposed to get out of here?”
"With uh.. a wheelchair?" Duke said, pointing to a transit chair in the corner.
You deadpanned, "..No, I don't need a wheelchair, I can walk?"
"Barely" Bruce interrupted, "Leslie said that once the painkillers wear off, you'll experience light headed ness from the pain, if you're walking you may fall and hit your head."
"Only an if.." You mumbled, insisting that you didn't need any kind of assistance but they didn't let up.
In the end you conceded, Bruce was called away while Duke helped you into the chair, it was a little too small for you because it was only made to get someone from one place to another.
And being wheeled out of the med bay only had you meet with a chill, the dark, lead walls of the cave that shadowed over you.
"I rarely come down here if ever, but is it always so cold.." You said, trying to awkwardly hug yourself for warmth.
Duke chuckled, "Yeah, but you get used to it."
You didn't reply, simply shaking your head at the idea of ever getting used to a place so cold and dark.
Even after emerging through the clock and out as you gave Duke the directions to your room, the shiver that shocked you down there didn't dissipate at all.
"And then where..?" He asked, approaching one of the lone halls that fell farther from the rest.
"Just straight down" You replied, leaning back slightly in the chair as you felt the metal bars of it stick against you skin.
He pushed you carefully, not pressing the handles forward too much as you moved further through the hall, your feet rested on the little pedals.
Coming closer to your room, you used your head to direct him to the door, "Right there."
Looking at where you nodded, he pushed your wheelchair over, reaching over to grab the handle and turn it as the door creaked open. He let go of the doorknob, letting you push the door open with your hand, not noticing how you winced from stretching it in the brace.
Your wheelchair bumped over the threshold, the door opened full, showing your untouched room. "Okay, I'm fine, just take me to my bed so I can rest.." you said, he didn't argue, pushing your chair over to your bed as you maneuvered your way under your blanket.
While you did that, Duke looked around your room. The way your curtains were slightly parted, letting in a streak of light onto the floor, the polaroid photos of you and your friends all over the room, and the desk with a spiny chair that was cluttered with papers.
It was comfy, lived in, your little TV in the corner with cushions on the ground— the kind you'd sit on when you were a kid for story time, he could just imagine the late night movies you'd have with your friends.
All in one of the most dingiest corners of the manor.
"Hey Duke?" You called out.
His head turned, tilting as an indicator for you continue.
".. Don't forget to buy me a phone! Like, now, I mean it."
"Pfft..! Yeah, yeah I'm going! Make sure to rest!" He said, already on his way out, waving at you with a smile before disappearing into the halls with your door closed behind him.
You laid back in bed, careful of your wrist and shoulder, thinking about what he said.
Right, rest, that's what he said.
Sure.
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Hi, this is out sooner than I thought it’d be, next chapter includes a lot more of the batfamily now that we’re back in the manor so look out for that. 🩶
Very out of character, apologies. Also I’m aware people really wanted reader to rock Damian, but the kid is a train assassin in peak human condition. We did our best though.
“INTERMISSION.. plans for after this series is done.”
♫ PROCESSING:
-> Use this as my notice for what to expect after my neglected!reader series is over, since I won’t be jumping into another series head on yet.
I have explained all of this in pieces and different posts, but this is so it’s all in one place and easily able to come back to.
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＊ [character] x reader will definitely be a priority, the characters I’m mainly thinking are Duke, Jason and Cass.
It’s around this time I don’t mind taking request for characters, especially for characters outside of the bat family.
Speaking of the batfamily, I want to write fluff / comfort works with them, I love writing neglected!reader but I also enjoy fluff and I want to be able to give other people some sense of comfort.
If there’s any kind of comfort fic that anyone would like with the batfamily, please send it in an ask, romantic requests are of course okay as well.
I will also be writing one-shots of my meta!reader and neglected!reader ideas, just to get a feel of how to write them if and when I do eventually make a new series.
This is entirely just a notice and this is what will be happening after the series is done, there is no plans for any new work while this series is ongoing. I don’t think it’ll be wrapped up too soon, but I don’t want it to in progress forever.
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With that said, I appreciate you reading, any questions or anything is okay, if not then I hope you have a wonderful day.
(Also yes, the current chapter is being written. 🩶)
→ not canon-compliant ⋆ no current romantic love-interest ⋆ reader is nonchalant about a lot ⋆ gender-neutral ⋆ reader is around 17 years old ⋆ reader is not a hero ⋆ just a lot of expedition ⋆ not proofread
♫ currently playing: rules - Mitski
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D I R E C T O R Y
chapter 10 <- you are here -> chapter 12
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Bruce sat beside you in the car as it rode across the gravel lined with white, you sat with your phone clutched in your hand. Head turned to the window like it was a captivating piece of art; anything to avoid mister billionaire extraordinaire.
Unbeknownst to you, thanks to your avoidance. You hadn't seen the way Bruce continuously glanced at you, eyes flickering over whatever body language you unwillingly communicated.
He noted the grip on your phone with your hands resting on your lap, dominant hand being the one to hold your device while the other laid on top of it.
The way your foot bounced, even if you tried to hide it with your bag. How you'd turn your head slightly in his direction but stopped the minute you could see him in your peripheral vision, and your uniform which was tattered a little, most definitely aged a few years.
Bruce thought he bought everyone new uniforms after every growth spurt but yours had olden seams with loose threads and stains that had faded for the most part— unnoticeable unless you were trying to see something like he was.
Why didn't you spend his money on a new one? He overlooked his expenses weekly due to the amount of people under the accounts, and you had spent money here and there, on takeout, taxis, sometimes new clothes— but apparently not a new uniform.
Your thumb stroked the back of your phone, side to side as your reflection meshed with the outside view of the city streets.
It was clear you were anxious, like you wanted to be anywhere but here.
He was so distracted with observing you that he didn't realize they'd pulled up to the manor until the car stopped moving entirely.
His head finally turned away towards the front seat as Alfred turned off the ignition, without shifting his own head, he looked back with his eyes, visible in the rear view mirror and simply said, "we have arrived Master Bruce."
You extended your middle and ring finger to pull the handle of the door with the others keeping your phone secure in your hand. Tugging it released the lock , feeling the surface, underneath it there as the tiniest thud, curling your fingers back around your phone, you pressed your knuckles into the board above the handle, the door opening as you did so.
Bruce watched you step out, only turning back to loop your arm through one of your bag straps and slide it over your shoulder before pushing the door shut and walking inside the manor.
He moved on auto pilot to follow after you, keeping his ever so cold composure while Alfred followed behind the two of you.
Upon entering the manor, he quickly departed into the kitchen without a word. Only a stern glance at Bruce that conveyed the message: 'Execute with care.'
Swallowing down a gulp of air and saliva, Bruce cleared his throat.
─── ´ˎ˗
"Master Tim, how was your day?" Alfred asked as Tim walked up to the car straight from the entrance of the school, ignoring how harshly the door was tugged open as it's springs recoiled, he slid into the front seat, shoving his bag off his bag and into his lap.
"It was fine Alfred.. Where's Duke and Damian?" He asked, glancing into the empty backseat where at least Damian would usually be.
Alfred merely sighed in that soft, olden voice with his hands still planted on the bottom of the wheel, "Apologies Master Tim, but I have not a clue where Master Damian and Master Duke are."
"Seriously..?" Tim lamented vocally before opening his door, "I'll go find them."
The butler watched as Tim stepped out of the vehicle, leaving his bag behind in his seat as the boy ran back inside the school of Gotham Academy, walking past the leaving students.
Tim grabbed his phone, immediately attempting to call Duke who had a better track record of answering than Damian.
It rung once, twice— and it kept ringing with no answer.
Annoyed by the disappearance of the two, Tim immediately began to try and track their locations, he usually didn't need to but with certain people always being away without notice, there had to be some fail-safes.
Opening the program on his device, it buzzed a few times as it loaded, their locations slowly appearing on the digital map of Gotham.
".. the hell? Still in the same building and he couldn't even answer!" He said to himself as his screen shared their whereabouts, Duke and Damian, out by the courtyard.
It was weird for Damian to be there since younger students didn't really hang around areas considered 'senior grounds' but it wasn't against the rules, just a bit odd for him.
He turned on his heel, speed walking down the halls, passing the classroom that sat quiet, either occupied by only a teacher or entirely empty.
His reflection passed through all glass windows of the doors, his uniform jacket left behind him in his stride as the ends of it flared against the air.
The open doors to the courtyard came into his eyes, being the first thing he saw as he rounded the corner. Green grass and concrete steps through the doorway that led down.
Tim walked out, the wind further pushing at the loose fabric of his uniform, immediately he saw his two brothers— right next to.. who are those people?
─── ´ˎ˗
Duke watched from where he stood, blocked by the teacher as you ran away from him with your two friends running after you, Isla sending him a glaring look before turning her attention back to you.
How could he be so stupid, to forget about something that excluded you so casually.
The look on your face, you didn't scream at him like he deserved. You should've, he wished you would've, because instead— you've gone back to treating him like a stranger, like you were just acquaintances.
He wanted to be your brother, family meant too much to him, you were a part of the family he was building, but he didn't know how to make it up.
For the rest of the day, Duke went through his classes, in between them he'd try to text you, but all it said was that your notifications were silenced.
Before he had realized, it was the end of the school day.
His gaze lingered dejectedly on the phone in his hand, no reply, and he likely wasn't getting one any time soon.
There was a cruel twitch in all of his movement when his phone buzzed. Reminding him that even if he tried to block out the mess he had accidentally incurred in his head, the physicality of it would stay.
Feeling the texture of his pencil case in his hand as he put it away into his bag, the rattle of supplies inside as he castes one last glance to his screen.
No reply.
To be expected.
An unspoken silence washed over him as he stepped out of his class, bag slung over one shoulder as he politely broke his wordless-ness say goodbye to his classmates and teacher.
Down the tiled and smooth halls, the sounds of lockers banging shut and chatter morphed into different voices as his steps grew, not inherently paying attention to anything but still attempting to stay alert.
That was when the open double doors of the courtyard caught entered his view, and through it— Isla and Oliver, standing with their phones, huddled closely together speaking in soft voices.
Isla's face, destitute with frustration in her scrunched up nose and furrowed brows, Oliver's face was the picture of apprehension, widened eyes, bottom lip trapped between his teeth.
He stepped up, walking out of the building to them as he approached with baited breath, sucked between his own teeth.
"Hey, everything alright?" He asked, watching the two in front of him turn their eyes away from the screens of their devices, Isla's grip tightened on her phone, skin with pressure turning white.
"Don't you dare ask that-" Isla began, only to be stopped by Oliver, he grabbed at her shoulder from behind and jerked his head side to side.
"Isla, don't." He interrupted, trying to push away her rising fist.
Duke didn't step back, he wasn't scared.
He was worried.
The distress they had for you, it wasn't the kind of thing he'd leave alone, not as a hero, nor as the kind of person his parents raised him to be.
Oliver wasn't hesitant to speak up as he approached him, placing Isla strategically behind his body, "We can't reach them, it's been two hours since they last replied, did they- I don't know, maybe reach out?"
"What? No, they haven't, I tried but if anything I'm the last person they'd text." Duke replied, a sense of urgency rising in his chest, but just before he could ask anything else, there was a sharp inhalation behind him.
He turned instantly, wind blew in his ears and hit his shut eyelids from the movement before opening.
"Thomas, you continue this traitorous behavior?"
Damian, always stubborn and blinded he was.
Duke un-tensed, standing up straight as his muscles unclenched, "Damian, stop with that already."
"It's true, you spend time with this-" The way he looked at Isla, the displeasure, the absolute dismissal like she didn't mean the world to you. His sibling, who he also dismissed until deemed a problem.
The one who he didn't even like, Isla saw it, she felt one interaction of feeling small. And it made her rush through the memories of every day you came to school a little more depressed, less enthused, quieter.
Days— months, all combined.
It burned inside her.
"Don't even start with that!" Isla crowed, voice rising as she tried to run at him, but her body ran into Duke's as he held her from running at Damian, limbs flailing as she tried to push beyond his trap.
The youngest looked unimpressed, even having the audacity to scoff at her.
He saw the shift, the rage ignited behind her eyes as she thrashed in an attempt to break free. Oliver ran to Duke's side, talking to her, trying to calm her down while Duke continued to hold her back from running at Damian.
"What're you guys doing?!" Someone yelled, it was distracting enough to where Duke and Oliver were distracted for just a second long enough for Isla to slide between them, phone dropped onto the grass as she seized Damian by his collar.
She was about to raise him up— at the same moment Damian raised his hand, ready to take her down. It was too chaotic, the two hadn't realized the approach of a new person running up behind them.
Before both of them could act, Tim ran up beside them, using one hand to grab Damian's hand, twisting it behind his back while using his dominant hand to push away Isla.
Their bodies separated, distance grew as she stumbled back from the force, landing into Oliver's arms as he struggled to keep both her and himself from falling over.
Duke had to rush beside them, pushing both up before Tim spoke up.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" He screamed, the vocals grazing at his throat, he let go of Damian's twisted arm only to grab both from the boys shoulders, turning his body to face him, "Starting fights again?!"
Damian snarled at the situation, looking at Isla with disdain, ignoring how Tim tried to meet his eyes, "I didn't started anything, it was Thomas and his insipid-"
"Say something like that again, I swear to-"
"See? Short tempered peon!" He said as Isla was getting wound up again, about to lunge when someone ran past her, a hand grabbed at her uniform sleeve, turning her harshly to them.
She was prepared to scream, but she couldn't.
Because it was you.
─── ´ˎ˗
You sat cross legged across from Bruce in your room, the one he knows of in the family wing— not the safe haven on the first story for you and your friends.
It was cold, unused and obviously voice of lived in, he noticed, you saw it in the way his gaze lingered on the freshly made, unslept in bed and open, empty closet, but he didn't say anything.
He was in your old desk chair, a simple accent chair in a bland color that you left behind for an ergonomic one in your new room. You were on the bed, the blanket tucked so tightly like the kind in hotels that it made this room feel even more distant.
"How has school been? Are you still spending time with your friends?" He asked.
".. No, I haven't seen my friends in weeks and I've been sleeping on the streets Gotham style- obviously I've seen them."
He stifled a chuckle in his throat, sweeping back the loose strands of his hair to slick back, "Alright I got it.. do you know when you will come back home?"
"Home?"
He looked at you incredulously, mouth agape before shutting as he quickly put together what you meant, ".. When will you return to the manor?"
"Not anytime soon."
You were sure, the tightly tucked blanket began to pry loose as your hand wrapped a handful of it, fingertips scraping against the silk layer of the sheets.
The skin of Bruce's upper lip pulled up into a scowl, eyes narrowing in a sort've wince as he sighed deeply, "What can I do to get you to come back to the manor?"
"Do you really think that you can ask me that? Figure it out genius, you're batman- actually nevermind, that's the problem in the first place.." your sentence decreased in volume as you muttered the end of it.
But he heard, of course, and he decided he just couldn’t play dumb for once.
"Pardon? If you have something to say then say it but don't mutter something about me in my presence if you won't repeat it."
He expected you to snap back like you did that night, trying to use whatever limited knowledge of you he had to predict the next part of this conversation.
Yet you curled away instead, pulling your hand away from the duvet like it burned you, moving away into the corner of your bed. Back pushing up the pillow behind you as it landed flat against the wall.
Arms coming up to hide your face in your uniform sleeve, "If I tell you then you'll get mad at me.. I don't wanna be yelled at, least of all by you because honestly? Sometimes you're kind of scary."
".. Is that why you won't come back to the manor? Because you're scared of me?" His voice was stable but the way he said the words made it seem like they had an invisible tremor to them.
"What? No- seriously, this is why I hate talking to people like this.."
"Like what?" Bruce's voice became desperate in the way he urged you for an answer.
The reason why you hated it.
"Because people like you always do that! You want answer, you always need answers!? I shouldn't have to spoonfeed you into making you feel like a better person..! You wanna be my dad so bad then use the years of being a detective! Use the skills you got from being that instead of my dad!" You screamed as your voice became raspy upon the sentences that clawed out of your throat.
Bruce watched you unravel as he quickly stood, chair collapsing behind him as he stepped one foot forward but you shrieked for him to step away.
It sounded like a child's squall as you began to sob, "GET AWAY..! This is why I hate you so much! I'm invisible until I'm a fucking problem! Just further reiterates what I already thought.!"
Your hands grabbed at the hems of your uniform, loose strands getting trapped in the prison between your fingers.
He had to calm you down, he needed to before you might hurt yourself.
But he didn't know how.
Dick he could calm down, he knew how losing your parents unjustifiably to the hands of someone else felt.
He grieved Jason, he shared his anger and frustration upon return from the grave.
Cassandra, Stephanie, Damian, Tim, Duke, all of his kids— he knew what happened to them, he could relate to their losses and struggles but he couldn't with you.
There wasn't enough data about in the vortex of his mind, swirling but he only recalled the most basic of things.
Your mother died of stress, you were quiet with few friends..
What else was there? Why didn't he know more?
His fingers extended through the tense strain through his palms. Arms frozen stoned to his side as you began to scream incoherent noises as him, clearly meaning to share some message but he was unable to decipher it.
Almost in a desperate attempt for you to stop crying, he hesitantly opened his arms, leaning on knee onto your bed while using one hand to keep himself steady.
"It's.." his resolve faltered as you kept crying, back against the wall, ".. It's okay, I'm sorry.."
You sniffled as your arms wrapped around yourself tightly, ".. Sorry for what..?"
Hand shaking, he moved a little closer before wrapping his arm around you, bringing you close to his chest as the tears on your cheeks smeared against the fabric of his work button up.
".. I'm sorry for not being your father, I'm sorry that I failed to connect with you. It's my fault, I.." a harsh breath exhaled as he tried to put the words together.
Wiping the tears from your cheeks with a shaky hand, you looked up to see his pained expression.
Your throat cleared, he looked down at you, eyes focusing on the watery, red rimmed outside of your eyes before his ears picked up your voice.
".. You don't know how to connect with someone who isn't also a vigilante because many of the prominent points in your adulthood have been in moments as batman as opposed to being Bruce Wayne..?"
He reeled back an inch, you watched him blink down at you, trying to process what you said as his head tilted in confusion, ".. Yes, that's exactly it."
The soft smile that lifted you lips, followed by the tearful chuckle made him subdue before a smile of his own bloomed.
"Have you thought about that before?" He asked in genuine curiosity, letting you pull away from him as your sleeves became stained while you wiped away the rest of the moisture caught on your skin.
Your head nodded softly, hands still brushing past your eyelids to pick and stray tears, "Mhm.. I think all the time alone helped me to think a lot."
"I wish you never needed all that time alone in the first place." So assured he sounded as he gently wiped off the final teardrop on the tip of your chin.
Waving him away you sat up, stretching your back as you waited for the moment to pass before speaking up.
".. Just so we're clear, you know this doesn't make you my dad right?" The small 'mhm' of amusement that followed afterward made him see it was lighthearted.
"I'm aware."
"Okay.. good- sorry I've cried so much in the past week it's insane." You said as the realization hit you.
Bruce paused, "It was because of us?"
"Not just you, I have a life outside of all this- oh, by the way I'm going back to Metropolis for school on Wednesday, so I'm just telling you now before I get in trouble again."
"Noted." He said with a definitive nod of his head.
"Pfft.. you're so serious, but being honest, if I come back will it be the same as before?"
He shook his head, "No, it won't."
"Wrong!" You said, pointing a finger at his face, almost touching the tip of his nose with your fingers as his brow raised, "Maybe you'll be different, but you can't make promises for the others! Remember that for next time."
His lips twitched into a grin, "Understood, I.." he considered his words carefully, "I will ensure that I treat you better than before..?"
You clapped, it made him feel like a child in some sense, "Correct! We make promises we know we will follow up on."
"Is this to be a routinely occurrence?" He asked, picking up the chair that fell back earlier and pushing it into the space underneath your desk as the back of it his the wooden edge.
"Maybe? I dunno, but would it help if I said I'd come back say.. Thursday?"
"Is there a reason for Thursday specifically?"
You shrugged, "Trip to Metropolis, remember? I'd rather keep staying Isla till then, but I can ride back with Alfred- actually no."
The instantaneous switch of your words frazzled him, "no?"
"Damian is actually going to kill me, Duke said he's still mad and if I'm safer with Isla then I'm gonna stay with Isla."
"Isla? Is that your friend?" He asked, watching you smile as your head shook back and forth.
"Mhm, Isla and Oliver, they're my friends, they let me stay with them more often than not, though Isla did punch Dick..." You replied, adding the last bit on as a after thought.
He shuddered in shock for a second before smiling, amused.
"I had thought Dick got that bruise on patrol.."
"Nope! Isla hit him yesterday, but it's okay, we sorted it out."
Bruce recalled his eldest sons absence from the dinner table, things now filling in the blanks. "But yeah," you disturbed his train of thought, "anyways that's why I don't wanna come back."
Bruce nodded in understanding, stifling his mirth to focus, "I see, I will make sure Damian doesn't trouble you, so please feel free to come back whenever you feel like it."
"I'll keep it in mind then.." You said before standing up, sliding your body off the bed as the blanket dragged down, "I'm gonna go now, but uh, stay well Mr.Wayne?"
".. Of course, stay safe." He said, smiling politely as you grabbed your bag and left the room.
He stood with one arm back to hold himself up against the corner of your desk, "Mr.Wayne.. I think that's a start."
─── ´ˎ˗
You walked out of the manor gates feeling freer than you had since the incident the week prior.
"Hm.." you took your phone out as a slue of messages from your friends popped up, "Ah shit.."
Quickly, you unlocked your phone, ready to reply to the worried words of your favorite duo when suddenly there was a harsh push against your back, throwing you forward onto your knees— the skins scraping against the concrete.
"Ow!?" You screamed, phone flying out of your grasp and onto the road, looking up from the feeling of your phone flying away from the grasp of your hand, you watched as a car came at that exact moment.
Running it over, the sound of the screen crunching under the tired ruminated in your eardrums as you groaned, exasperated by the situation.
"Are you okay?!" A voice called out behind you, footsteps approached quickly, pattering against the sidewalk.
"Yeah no thanks to you..! The fuck are you made of?!" You shouted back as you tried to get to your feet, wobbling your soles, "Hit me like a car why don't you.."
Your arm reached out, trying to find something that'd help you find your footing.
"Bart! I'm sorry about him" someone said, you said person come closer as the gently grabbed your arm, helping you stabilize, stumbling a step you winced as your skin stretched from standing, stinging at your fresh scrapes.
"Ouch.." you hissed under breath, you watched someone come into view— more specifically their shoes, red sneakers with the flash's classic lightning symbol on the side.
The pair of the person helping you were black leather combat boots, the hems of the pants being denim jeans. Looking up you saw two people, a girl with blonde hair, a black headband holding back any strands from blocking her view, and a boy with warm, red tinted brown hair.
"Bart, I told you to stop in case you hurt someone.." she sighed, watching you stumble back, your pain expression pinched with every wrinkle as you went down again.
Slowly, with your hands hitting the groaned to gently place yourself down.
"I'm not dealing with this today.." You said, breathing in and out to try and calm yourself down.
From in front of you, there was a 'thwack' sound, "I told you!" the girl said, you looked up to see her hand raised as the boy— whom she called Bart earlier— had his head down, it was obvious what happened as she smacked the back of his scalp once again for good measure.
His back bent further as he yelped, hand raced to rub and sooth the back of it.
Just then her attention turned to you, brows inverting with worry.
"I'm so sorry about him, he always gets distracted and doesn't think to look around."
"It's fine.. sorry I was rude but it's already been a shit day." You said as you adjusted yourself on the pathway, gently straightening out your legs to better inspect the red that seeped out from the marred skin.
She crouched down to your height, balancing on her left knee and the tip of her right shoe. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
Your head shook as you maneuvered your body to bring your bag off your back and to your side, unzipping it and rummaging through it's contents. She watched you, still on a bended knee as your arms retracted from the bag holding two things.
A bottle of water, and one of those small, travel sized med-kits that usually just collected dust unless you were a parent or accident prone.
"Hold this for me please?" You said, holding out the med-kit to her.
The girl grabbed the small, rectangular box as you unscrewed the bottle cap and carefully poured the liquid onto your injuries. Recoiling back at the contact as it reignited the instant sting of your newly acquired wounds.
"Hold on- let me help!" The boy shouted, joining the blonde haired girl at her side on both knees, holding his body up on the back of his sneakers.
You hesitated but decided to hand up the bottle once you were done. Choosing to use the clean side of your sleeve to dab at the scrapes, cleaning them gently and trying to hold back the hisses of pain that stuck behind your jaw.
Watching you pull your arm away, the girl clicked open the kit and took out a small roll of plaster bandage. Unfurling it and putting a hand to the back of your knee, she turned her eyes to you, head nodding once towards your injuries.
".. Yeah, go for it" you said, adjusting your leg to where she gently led it.
Pulling out inches of the bandage, she wrapped it around the raw skin, pressing a little harder with the material to stop any loose blood from seeping out. Your eyes closed tightly, wrinkling the eyelids of yours while waiting for it to be over.
After ripping it and wrapping it over the hurt parts of your legs, she finally teared off the finally piece and backed away, leaving you to open your eyes to see her putting away your med-kit in your bad, closing it up and dropping into the void it came out of.
It was pretty well done, making you think she might've had first aid lessons while the boy seemed to vibrate, his expression palpable as he met your gaze with guilt.
You wanted to say something to him, but the girl spoke first.
"Here, let me help you up." She said, you raised your arm as she lifted you with ease, faint muscle appearing from the sleeveless t-shirt she wore.
It hurt to straighten your legs fully, but it wasn't anything too bad besides some light stinging.
"Thanks, you take first aid lessons?" You asked casually.
She smiled, nodding her head, "Yup, my job- it sort've requires it."
"Ah, right, forgot some jobs require that." You introduced yourself right after that, just your first name before asking for hers.
"I'm Cassie, that guilty guy over on the ground still is Bart." She replied, using her thumb to indicate at the boy who chose to stand but after you both, off to the side as he still held your bottle of water with the cap screwed shut.
He held it out to you, watching your hands as you took it with an easy grin.
"Thanks," you said, dropping the bottle of water into the depths of your bag, "You're Bart?"
"Yeah.. sorry again..!" He said, a restless smile on his face, "Really, I should've been more careful."
You agreed, pointing a finger at him, jostling it in consensus, "Probably, but at least it was me and not some psycho right? I mean it is Gotham, ought to be more cautious."
The girl— Cassie— smiled, "Yeah, we actually came from different cities, but our friend lives here, it's just a day visit."
"Really? Wait, are you guys from different cities too?"
Bart answered for her, "Yup! Central city" he said, pointing at himself before redirecting his finger to her, "she's from Gateway!"
"That's pretty far, isn’t it? And you came here just to see a friend?" You said, a bit stunned that two people your age would travel so far just to see someone for a day, someone at school nonetheless meaning they spent part of the day seeming idle.
Cassie waved her hand, "It's really not that bad, and we don't get to hangout a lot so it's worth it!"
"Ah, well makes sense, I'd go that and farther for my friends too." You really would, Isla and Oli could live across the world and you'd still try to visit them every month at least.
You talked a little before suddenly snapping your neck the road, your lazed expression twisting in frustration as you remembered how your phone fell into the road and subsequently met it's doom.
They followed your view, Bart cringing at the sight of your phone, cracked screen and bent in on itself.
"Fuck.." you whispered under your breath.
"Did you need to get somewhere with it?" Cassie asked, bringing your attention back to her and Bart.
You slapped the back of your dominant hand to the palm of the opposite a few times, "I mean not really..? I just haven't texted my friends in a while, and last they saw me I was uh.. pretty upset?"
"I mean, if you need to get somewhere then we don't mind helping?" Bart said, clearly trying to atone for his mistake.
"Genuinely, if this wasn't Gotham I would take your help, but it is so I won't." Your voice was clear, it was just being carefully like you always should be in this city.
Cassie interjected, "If you're just going to the school then let us help you to the bus stop!"
Bart agreed fervently, "Yeah! Just to make double sure you don't fall over!"
"Or get knocked over.." Cassie joked, elbowing him in the side as he jumped away, "Rude, it was an accident..!"
"I mean, to the bus stop is okay?" You said, leaning down to grab your bag but it was swept away from your reach, you looked up and saw Cassie swinging it over one shoulder.
"I got it, Bart, try not to know them over again!" She joked, zipping up the bag before she began to stride way.
He groaned and went on about how he was sorry, joining your side at the same time, one arm extended to catch you at any moment.
They were kind of familiar to you, but there was no chance you'd ever met them, they were way too nice and weirdly good for their existence to slip your mind.
Even upon arriving at the bus stop, they waited with you, talking about random everyday things until the bus pulled up. Bart helped you up since it still hurt to bend your knees and both of them waved to you while the bus began to roll away on it's wheels.
It was the little chuckle that left your lips when they ran after the edge of the bus, Bart needing to be pulled back by Cassie as he sped up like he was actually trying to race the hunk of metal that really cemented the memory of today in your head.
You waved at them before slumping back into your chair with a mellow grin on your face as the bus strolled through the city. Hugging your bag with one arm as it sat in the free spot of the seat beside you.
Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad even if it was pretty bad for a few hours.
The bus squeaked with age as it halted, the doors opened with a swish and gush of air.
Upon standing you stumble a little but caught yourself on the nearby handrail, you raised your hand halfway to wave bye to the driver before stepping off, bag laying on your back as you walked up the path to the side entrance of the school.
Entering it, you automatically reached for your phone.
Only to then recall that thanks to the earlier incident that it was official in it's grave.
You groaned again, choosing to instead wander around in hopes they hadn't left yet since school ended only twenty minutes ago, according to the clock on the wall— though sometimes they ran slow and needed constant fixes.
Sauntering around didn't get you very far, not until the courtyard came into view.
First you saw Tim and Damian, closest to the entrance, your body began to turn away but stopped as your eyes spotted a face between the two farther down.
Isla.
And she looked pissed.
Mad Isla.. Damian.. It took seconds for you to piece what happened before you saw her lunge.
The loose straps of your bag made it too easy for your arms to slip through, the weight gone as you ran as fast as you could, teeth gritted through the seething burn of the skin beneath the bandages.
You reached her side as quick as you could before reaching and grabbing at her sleeve, harshly pulling her body to your direction, screaming.
"ISLA! What're you doing..?!" She turned to you, Duke and Oliver doing the same except soon after the latter ran to you, immediately clocking the bandages on your knees.
"Where have you been?! Why're you hurt?!" He shouted in a panic as Isla followed the path his eyes drew, she immediately calmed down, rage switching to worry instantly.
"You're hurt..?!" She said, hands hovering over the bandages as blood began to seep through the layers, "W.. why, what happened?!"
But you only waved both of them off, "Not about me! See? Bandaged, all handled- why were you just about to deck Damian?!"
"That weakling couldn't take me down with a weapon, let alone her bare hands." He snarked, ripping himself away from Tim, brushing his uniform to be smooth after being wrinkled.
"Oh, so that's why." You said, no longer requiring an answer.
Instead, you began to walk up to him, fist tightening by your sides though they were hidden in your pockets.
"Damian, why're you messing with my friends?" You asked, growing more annoyed with him by the second.
He rolled his eyes, looking off to the side like the dirt was worth gazing at than you, "Your friends are just as much of a mess as you are. Clearly you're keeping company of the same level as your own, mediocre—"
THWACK
Damian stumbled to the side, falling into Tim as the older caught him, his hand darted to the side of his cheek where your fist had landed.
Everyone went still, attention on you as you stood with your fist raised before it returned to your side, shaking off the pressure of it, a faint ache in your wrist, still reeling from feeling of your knuckles cracking on impact.
The quiet didn't last a second, and before you could recover, Damian bolted to you.
His own fist raised.
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finally a new chapter is out, this took much longer than my others because I kept having so many issues intervening with my progress.
Not to mention the writers block as I kept deleting and re-writing.
I’m just sorry this took so long and that it’s very OOC, I had a different idea for how this chapter should’ve ended but I rushed it to get this out sooner so it’s shorter.
-> delay on the newest chapter, I erased over four thousand words due to the fact I hated both how it was written and how the story was going.
It’s also been very cold where I am, to the point that my fingertips become so cold it’s hard to type, I apologise.
I share a new idea below that I have as an apology, if anyone is interested in it being written then please let me know.
＊reader who is a magic user, not an innate person born with magic, but a music prodigy!reader who has personally crafted instruments with sigils and signs carved into the faint wood graves of them.
once again, could be an neglected reader, could also not be.
And to reiterate, I’m so sorry for the delays, I meant for this to be out much sooner but I keep coming into interruptions.
I really hope to have it out soon but I can’t promise that, hopefully everyone else is doing well, and that’s all, wanted to make a quick notice so that people aren’t wondering why the chapter is taking so long.
Thank you and again, I’m sorry, I appreciate all the understanding and support I’ve had thus far. 🩶
-> Based on the currently results of the poll I put out, I’ve decided to share my idea while taking a small break from writing.
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It’s simple, but I watched the anime Moriarty The Patriot last year and enjoyed it heavily.
＊ I was thinking of an Irene Adler/James Bond inspired reader x neglectful!batfam, if they ever came to the realisation they didn’t know who they thought they did, they’d definitely be proven right after the fact.
Keeping reader gender-neutral though as I so often do, I’d rather take the concept of James, a person who lived multiple lives all in one week for one goal of self propellent, but still keeping reader as a good person like James is as well.
He’s arguably in my top three favourite mtp characters, and while I haven’t thought of a story yet, I recently decided to delve back into the fandom a little which is what spurred this idea.
Like all the other ideas I have, until my current series is finished I even entertain the idea of writing it yet, as I don’t want to slow the releases of chapter like I have been due to circumstances.
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＊I’d also like to further expand on my meta!reader idea from this post, about reader who can control a monster. The uncanny kind like I described in the post, a simplistic yet unsettling one.
The idea of summoning a monster with blood came from singh, a character in the series arcane who could summon a creature by carving a symbol into his hand, that’s what started it at least.
There was the thought of making the monster being a somewhat sentient being who was kind of a part of reader, made from their blood and because of that, being able to communicate with them telepathically.
Reader can make the monster bigger, though that results in more blood loss which is dangerous. Work arounds are maybe reader their gets blood drawn every so often as a back up to use, rather than needing to take it directly from the source every time.
I’m curious for if I should make this reader neglected or not, any thoughts and opinions?
neglected reader?
Yes
No
Voting ended onAug 7
-> Apologies for how long this next chapter is taking, I’m trying my best to write but I haven’t been feeling great as of late 🩶
-> When I think of new story ideas, should I share them right away or save them for milestone posts ? I keep getting new ideas but I’m not sure when the right time to share them is.
-> Thank you all for the support I’ve been getting, the main thing is I’m glad that everyone is enjoying the series so far.
In other news, I have more ideas that I’d like to share, just small ones but still, likely won’t be written for a while but it’s good to keep things written down.
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＊neglected!reader x wind breaker : where in neglected reader runs off to Makochi and befriends the people there, mainly stems from my love for the anime/manga since it is one of my favourites.
＊meta!reader who can control a monster, the uncanny kind with long limbs, a stretched neck, wide eyes and a crooked grin, I have an idea for how it works, it’s just a little bit confusing to explain.
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-> Once again, thank you all for reading, and I hope if anyone ever has any thoughts or ideas then please do share them 🩶
-> people have been asking to be added to the taglist, and I feel bad having to say I can’t because the taglist is full due to tumblr’s tag limit on posts, but if I could, would anyone mind being tagged in a comment instead like a second taglist ? 🌪️
update: second taglist is being made, here is how to be added.
But i'm sorry Bruce is getting the "Mr. Wayne" not "dad"
He doesn't deserve it and i'm still really angry at him
-> physically hurt to write that honestly, it was only a moment of trying to soften Bruce so he’d be more susceptible to listening without interrupting since the family has done enough of that lately
— small spoiler: he gets the ‘Mr Wayne’ treatment next chapter. 🩶
Loved chapter nine, still, fuck all the boys (except my dear Duke, that's my brother fr fr)
And i'm sorry but at this point I would just leave to national city and try to get Lena Luthor to adopt me so I can help my friends and be more rich (also because c'mone, two mom's is awesome) (yes, i'm talking about supercop)
But also, hope you're doing better
-> thank you, me, personally, I would have ran away with Bruce’s money and only come back to see Isla and Oli, very real. 🩶
And I am doing better, still a bit stressed and my writing may be slowed because my dog chewed through my charger, I can still write though not as quickly as usual. But depending on when I get a new one, I’m sure I’ll be back to writing in no time.
→ not canon-compliant ⋆ no current romantic love-interest ⋆ reader is nonchalant about a lot ⋆ gender-neutral ⋆ reader is around 17 years old ⋆ reader is not a hero ⋆ just a lot of expedition ⋆ not proofread
♫ currently playing: star spangled - Amélie Farren
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D I R E C T O R Y
chapter 9 <- you are here -> chapter 11
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The bus reeked of Gothamites as it tumbled with it's wheels over the constantly winding roads, you sat squashed between Oliver and Isla their arm pressing through your uniform sleeves, chatting with them without processing anything— one, you were just too tired, and second, they started talking about your brothers.
Or, rather their vigilante personas. Isla fan-girl-ing over Red Hood and Oliver with Nightwing.
It was hard to escape the vigilantes with how prominent they were in Gotham, fans around every corner. And hiding from them at home wasn't a choice.
"Hey! Red Hood is so much better than Nightwing! Don't get me started Oli!" The other students joined in, it was a normal occurrence now how many times they argued in the morning bus rides. You were pretty sure they were well-known for starting little spats now.
You winced at the sight of Gotham academy coming into view, praying to make it through the day having been able to avoid any interaction with Tim. Duke on the other hand was fine, Damian is the problem— good thing you're in different year groups otherwise you would've had to share classes with him.
Scurrying off the crowded bus, you checked your timetable on your phone before comparing it with Isla and Oliver's.
And of course, you're all alone for the first two periods.
"Sorry.." Oli said as he lowered his phone to slide it back into his coat pocket.
"Literally not your fault, you don't make the schedule." You said before putting away your own device as the three of you walked into school, trying to avoid getting shouldered by the crowds.
Surprisingly though, you spotted someone leaning against one of the inside walls— it was Duke, idly looking around the wandering students with one of his legs bent to raise the bottom half of it, pressing his foot to the wall. Bored looking almost.
"Duke?" you said, walking up to him, Isla followed you quickly while Oli waved and shouted goodbye as his class was across the school and he hated being late.
Hearing you speak, he looked in your direction and smiled, "Oh hey, just waiting for the bell to ring, what's up?"
"Nothing." You shrugged.
His eyes narrowed, crinkling on the sides as he smiled, "Nothing doesn't make Damian murderous on a Sunday."
You deadpanned, "He's always murderous."
"More murderous than usual which you know is worse." He replied while Isla began to look increasingly more nervous with the information.
"Should I be worried for you—?" She said, poking into the conversation.
You shook your head and put on a reassuring expression, "Everything's fine Isla, swear, we should be getting to class anyways. What class do you have Duke?"
"Science, you?"
"Same— oh finally, at least I won't be alone." Isla patted your shoulder sympathetically at your relief, then letting her hand slide away.
Duke smiled at you, "Awesome, should we go?"
You nodded, bidding Isla a goodbye and before going your separate ways.
Both you didn't talk much besides basic pleasantries but there was something about Duke that made him easier to talk to.
In class he sat next to you, letting you borrow a sharpener when your pencil lead snapped, he laughed about you not having a sharpener of your own— you insisted you did, but that was a lie as you rummaged through your bag for the apparent invisible pencil sharpener.
At lunch he, for the first time, joined you and your friends out by the courtyard. Courtesy of Oliver who saw him with you and offered him a seat at the table.
─── ´ˎ˗
"Wait so you guys always eat out here?"
Oliver nodded, opening his small bag of chips, "Yeah, only when it's warm though, if it's cold we sit in a classroom."
"I thought the classrooms were closed during breaks so the teachers can prep?" Duke questioned, before taking a bite of his lunch.
You swallowed your reheated masala dosa— it lacked the crisp from last night but it still tasted good— "ahem, yeah, we're pretty good students and the teachers like us so—"
"—special privileges!" Isla cut in, pushing herself against you before leaning back away and eating her own leftovers.
Duke pressed his mouth together and tensed the corners of his upper lip, straightening his mouth into a line but it tipped downward a little, looking like an upside down smile.
"Oh, Duke—" you said, taking another bite and swallowing it before speaking, "—We're going back to metropolis on Wednesday, every Wednesday for this week and the two after, just saying so I don't get in trouble."
"Again." Isla said with her deadest voice, eyes semi-glaring at him but it was lighthearted.
He gulped down air and forced his smile up, "Right, I'll tell the group chat—"
The masala dosa that raised to your mouth paused, you let your arms drop with the food still in hand. Slowly looking up at him as the sun disappeared behind the moving clouds, Oliver froze and Isla's gaze frosted into something colder. Her mocking glare becoming realer by the second.
".. There's a group chat?" Your voice wavered slightly, eyes scrunching into slits as you looked at him.
The loud courtyard shrank to the existence of you, Isla, Oliver and Duke.
A slight constriction in his pupils told you everything, you put down your masala dosa onto your lap. Free hands now tapping against the ground as you sucked at your teeth and smiled, "It's a family group chat, isn't it?"
Duke bit the inside of his lip before nodding, wiping his hands on his uniform, "shit.. I'm so sorry, it just flew over my head—it wasn't intentional"
"Y'know everyone is real sorry lately but they seem to keep fucking it up." You grabbed your stuff harshly, and shoved it into your bag, trying your best not to squeeze anything too tightly as you pushed yourself up off the ground and walked off as Isla and Oliver followed right after you.
Duke tried to follow but he was intercepted by a random teacher who needed to talk to him. Isla looked back, disdain clear on the wrinkles of her features as she ran back after you, leaving Duke to try and look around the teacher blocking him, "Okay, for the record— I really hate your family again."
"Same page.." Oli said in agreement with Isla as he kept taking glances at your face, gauging how you were feeling. The only readable part of your face was your eyes, they seemed to shake unsteadily, further accentuated with the changing light above.
Inside your head there was a little bit of sadness, but you were used to that. By this point you were just fucking mad.
How was everyone in your family so stupid? Tripping over their own feet to make it up to you while simultaneously forgetting to tie their laces, messing everything up.
Your fist clenched around the strap of your bag, walking hastily through the halls and trying your best to weave through the crowds.
Somewhere in the midst of everyone, you lost Isla and Oliver but you were distracted by the entrance doors upon approaching it you shoved open the doors and stumbled outside.
You took in a breath of air and forced it back out as you ran to the bus stop, hiding in the corner to avoid the schools security, though even if they caught you, who cares?
The bus took only a few minutes to arrive in which you paid the driver ten dollars and they didn't ask any questions.
Walking past a few of the people, you took your place at the back of the bus, looking out the window before realizing your phone was buzzing. Taking it out of your pocket, there was a flurry of worried texts from your friends.
ISLA: where are u??
OLIVER: did you leave?
ISLA: I would've ditched with you
OLIVER: Same
ISLA: Just tell us where you are pls
[ME]: I'm fine, stay at school, need time away
ISLA: yeah that was rlly weird, we hung out and he never told u abt that gc?
OLIVER: we can get the next bus, just tell us where you're going
[ME]: don't, I don't want you guys to get missed attendance, just go to class
You watched their replies come in, but just kept repeating that they needed to learn something before putting your phone away. Gotham's landscape flew across your sight as the bus moved.
And inside you stirred the annoyance and hurt that you'd been cultivating for years.
─── ´ˎ˗
Bruce sat in a boardroom meeting with an expression of un-interest, not his usual one, but his Brucie Wayne one. Where he was bored because business was boring for someone who usually spent his time as a playboy—this time around though, everyone around him happened to be rather annoying as well.
His mind was occupied with the conversation he had with Damian, he knew the boy wouldn't drop it, but he didn't know how to fix it, and the yammering of stocks and deals didn't help when he already knew what path he chose. But listened for the sake of brevity.
Suddenly his phone buzzed, he lazily took it out, tapping the side of his phone with his pointer finger and letting his eyes glaze over the room before looking at the screen. His brows raised at the called ID, it was Gotham academy, instantly he thought about Damian.
He put on a smile and looked at the rest of the table, "Sorry, gotta take this!"
Quickly stepping out of the room and into the hallway, he pressed accept with his thumb, "Hello, this is Bruce Wayne."
"Hi mister Wayne! We were just calling to discuss one of your children and their absence."
He sighed, before stopping himself, "Absence?" he said, a fight or missed assignment was what he expected, but none of his kids skipped school often if at all, even if they were reticent to going, "Who—?"
The voice on the other end of the line said your name, startled for a moment he composed himself briskly.
"They're absent? Why wasn't I notified earlier?"
"I apologize mister Wayne, but they did attend the morning classes. It seems they left the premises without notifying anyone."
His hand rubbed at his face with his left hand before nodding to the screen and the empty space around him, "I understand, thank you for telling me."
"Of course Mister Wayne." The person said, he hung up right after that, not caring even if there was another word to be said. Striding back into the room, taking his coat as it swung on the bag of his chair, and draping it over one shoulder.
He grinned brightly, a touch ditzy in the way it lifted on one side like a tilted scale, "I have to go, one of my kids, my associates have this handled!"
Someone tried to speak up but he ignored them and left, the door clicked behind him, almost drowned out by the sounds of his steps. Cumbersome and heavy.
No time wasted, he lifted his phone back up with his right hand and dialed Alfred's familiar number as it tolled three times until he picked up, "Master Bruce?"
"Alfred, I need a lift."
"Understood."
The call ended in seconds, the 'rate your call' screen showing the duration of only seven seconds. To anyone else it seems abrupt, to them, it was efficiency.
─── ´ˎ˗
"Here you go kid, skipping school?"
"Mind your own business ice cream man, just make the ice cream man." You said playfully to the man with the silly hat that said 'scoop troop,' a silly, ridiculous name for an ice cream place but it didn't matter.
You took the ice cream over to a nearby bench, taking a seat to overlook one of the Gotham piers with the polluted water.
Was it safe for you to be here? Likely not, and the ice cream man might potentially an undercover gangster. But the ice cream was pretty good, Isla and Oliver let up a little while ago, but even in class they sent a couple of texts to make sure you were okay.
It was better that way, you were mad at your family, and since the whole thing with Isla and Dick the day before, you weren't gunning to include them in anymore family drama.
The coldness of the ice cream tingled at the nerves of your mouth, anxiety pooled in your stomach. After this you weren't sure what to do.
Going to Isla's house was out of the question, her mom was home. And the manor was out for obvious reasons.
Seemed like your only refuge was the city of Gotham itself which is hardly a place for such a thing in the first place.
You'd been a Gothamite, born and raised before your mom passed. No villain attack, just an unchecked illness and fatigue of being a single mother, she passed as unnoticeable as the day she was born.
A civilian, just like you.
Bruce was an accidental one night stand, she didn't tell you anything about him and you didn't ask. No clue for why she didn't but it wasn't important to you, afterall, you had her until you didn't.
And then you had him, when you first met him, you just figured she didn't talk about him because he was mean, and cold.
You later realized it was just because she didn't know anything about him.
No one did.
He was Batman first, Bruce Wayne second, and your father last. To the others like Dick and Cassandra, Bruce Wayne and Batman were their mentor— a dad to them even, they got that part of him, you didn't have the same parent they did.
Lost in your thoughts, the ice cream became bland, the flavor faded until the treat wasn't anything more than just cold that you ingested to cool down that feeling in your organs that throbbed with uncertainty.
Standing up, you tossed it into the nearest bin. The splat of the it hitting the rest of it's fellow trash contrasted to the sounds of the pier, empty for the most part besides the few workers and rippling water being disturbed by the breeze.
You walked away from the pier to the bus stop, taking your phone out in hopes to use it as a way to pass the time and distract yourself. And distracted you were, feeling the ice cream rise up with bile as your screen showed one new message.
BRUCE: You left school, we need to talk, make the trip home.
Loudly— you groaned and hit your head on the street signs pole catching the attention of a couple walking by who quickened their pace at your action.
'Great now strangers think I'm crazy..' you thought, blinking and rolling your eyes a couple of times.
If this wasn't clear, your family was really annoying.
─── ´ˎ˗
Bruce watched as the small 'read' appeared below his texts. There wasn't any other messages in the chat, this was the first time it was ever used which was telling.
The bubbles appeared on your half of the screen, floating one by one before falling down and fading into gray like a cycle, soon they disappeared and didn't reappear.
Pushing back the gray strands in his hair, Bruce sighed, looking the passenger window in a weak attempt to ignore Alfred's disappointed gaze in the rearview mirror.
"Alfred, don't look at me like that." He said with a rumble.
"Master Bruce.." Alfred began, "I've raised you, and I admit that I have flaws. But I'd expect the Dark Knight of Gotham, to understand his child."
"No need for the lecture Alfred, I know how wrong I am." Bruce replied, putting his upper body weight onto his elbow, hand semi-closed into a fist as it held up his head.
"Master Bruce, you cannot brush off every concern I have as an lecture."
"Don't treat me like a child—"
"If you'd stop behaving like one-" Alfred started but didn't get to finish as they were both caught off guard by the sound of Bruce's phone ringing.
Upon the first round of rings, he just assumed it was his colleagues from the meeting and answered without a look at the screen, "Hello?"
"Hey" he sat up, jolting forward and placing the hand that originally propped him up on the back of the front seat to ground himself, it was you.
".. Apologies, I didn't realize—"
"Pick me up, I talk, you listen." The called ended, and only seconds after that you sent your location.
By the pier, one of the shadier sides of Gotham.
"Master Bruce?"
"The pier." The car shifted as Alfred changed gears.
"Understood Master Bruce."
─── ´ˎ˗
You sat on the curb side, hugging your bag to your side as you waited for the car to appear.
Already regretting the choice you made to call him.
The reason behind it was confusing, it was irritation, anger, annoyance, and maybe there was a small part that wanted to see if such a smart man would stay ignorant.
Duke had since texted you a handful of times.
DUKE: It never occurred to be you weren't even a part of the gc, I'm so sorry
DUKE: Your friends are worried, they came up and yelled at me
DUKE: or Isla did, Oliver just looked worried
DUKE: just let me know you're okay.
You pondered over the idea of texting him back, a little sad that you missed seeing Isla go off on him but you moved on, deciding to reply just so there wasn't any unnecessary trouble later.
[ME]: I'm fine, just skipping, dont reply
Rolling your eyes, you let your body lose a bit of it's tension. Still waiting idly for a car— way too fancy for this side of Gotham— to round the corner.
You didn't know where they were or how long he'd be, minutes passed by slower as you waited.
There was a sudden blur— the color blue in the corner of your eye, your head snapped in the direction it disappeared, an alley maybe fifty feet away from where you sat. But before you could investigate, or do the smart thing and ignore it, a car came around the corner and slowed as it came into park right beside you.
As your attention was drawn away, the quiet rumble of the car faded and the door opened.
Looking up, the shadow of Bruce Wayne cast down on you.
".. Hey dad."
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Another chapter finished, I have ideas for the next one, so expect it maybe within a week or so.
People have been so kind, I appreciate everyone so much 🩶
haiiii! I love your fics! I hope you get the best amount of rest and less stress! I hope you're doing okay : D
(I'm boutta throw hands at Damien.)
-> you’re so sweet, thank you anon 🩶
And I have to say, watching everyone fight with Damian in the comments and asks is so funny to me. I didn’t mean for him to become so disliked in the series but it happened, hopefully after his development he’s more liked among the readers.
