synopsis: you discover that damian wayne's dorm room guards a secret far more surprising than you'd thought.
author's note: when i discovered damian canonically reads romance manga, i had to write this piece. i also realized i misspelt synopsis. oopsies. hope you enjoy :D
the fluorescent lights of the dormitory hallway hummed a low, irritating buzz, accompanied by the faint odor of musk and stale beer. you stood before the heavy oak door, which featured a picture of snoopy above the name 'damian' written in big, bold letters. a chuckle escaped your throat, grinning at the thought of damian residing on the cutest themed floor. you shifted your weight from one foot to the other while balancing the stack of notes and mustering the courage to knock.
you really didn't want to disturb him-- damian wayne valued his privacy the way a dragon valued gold, and the boy guarded his dorm with similar ferocity. but he missed the morning lecture, and being the good friend you were, you couldn't let him fail.
you raised your curled fist and took a deep breath before knocking so quietly that one could easily miss the sound. but not him. for a long moment, there was silence. you were about to knock again when you heard the sound of shuffling, a heavy sigh, and the lock clicking. the door cracked open a mere two inches. one green eye glared out at you from the shadows, narrowed in suspicion and annoyance.
"what?"
"notes. the professor said the midterm is going to be brutal. and since you missed the review sessionâŠ" you held up the papers. "i thought you might want these."
damian grunted, the tension in his shoulders dropping ever-so-slightly. he opened the door just wide enough to reach his hand out, keeping his body positioned to block any view of the interior. "thank you. you may leave--"
as the door swung slightly wider to accommodate his reach, the angle of the opening shifted. you couldn't help it, really. it was almost instinctual, the way your eyes drifted toward the opening, just to glance at the layout of his enigmatic room. the damian wayne's room. in your peripheral vision, a shelf in the far corner was slightly ajar. and inside was a splash of unapologetic, undeniable yellow.
"no wayâŠ" your jaw dropped in shock. "you have the limited edition all might figure?"
damian froze. his hand, halfway to the notes, retracted instantly. "your eyes must be deceiving you."
"no, definitely not. no other character has hair like that. and there's only a handful of those figures in the world. how did you even get your hands on it?" you couldn't stop the words flowing out of your mouth.
for a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze. damian stiffened, his posture snapping with an uncanny precision. then, he moved with the speed of a non-human, stepping sideways to block your line of sight. unfortunately for him, the image was burned into your memory. the stark, mundane gray of his dorm room was completely disrupted by that shelf, which quite frankly stood out like a sore thumb. accompanied by the hero (you blinked your eyes to make sure they weren't deceiving you) was a tiny, orange-haired figure holding a volleyball.
"you did not see that," damian's voice dropped an octave low. "give me the notes and leave."
his words went in one ear and out the other. drawn like a magnet, you gracefully maneuvered around him. he made a grab for your arm, but you ducked under his reach, driven by pure fan-fueled adrenaline. you quickly plopped the pile of notes on his desk before moving toward the shelf.
"damian! i didn't know you were a collector!" you skidded to a halt in front of the shelf, eyes wide and smiling from ear to ear. "oh my gosh. is that the entire demon slayer box set?"
damian slammed the door shut behind you, leaning his back against it as if to prevent an escape--or perhaps to prevent any witnesses from entering. he pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling a breath of defeat. "it is for⊠cultural appreciation of japanese art forms."
"it's incredible," you marveled. your eyes scanned the lower shelf, bypassing the heavy, leather-bound classics and treatises on topics ranging from european literature to human anatomy that you expected to find. a flash of undeniable pastel pink caught your eye. it was jammed between a copy of the art of war and a biology textbook, looking comically out of place. you pulled it out before he could process the intrusion. the glossy cover felt cool in your hands, the illustration of the characters smiling back at you.
"no freaking way," you breathed, a laugh bubbling up in your chest. you looked from the sugary sweet cover to the boy who looked like he could kill a man with his will alone. "fruits basket? damian⊠are you reading shojo?" you let the final word linger in the air, heavy with teasing playfulness.
the reaction was instantaneous. a flush crept up damian's neck, turning the tips of his ears a violent shade of scarlet. he looked as if he wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole. he scanned the room for the window, planning an escape from this horrifically embarrassing situation.
"it's for narrative analysis!" he lunged, his hand snapping out to snatch the book from yours.
but you were ready. you pivoted on your heel, holding the volume high above your head, stepping back toward his desk.
"give me that!"
you beamed at him, secretly relishing his crumbling composure. "i'm not judging! i love the series. i just never thought you--"
"theâŠ" he faltered, his jaw clenching as he visibly struggled to regain his dignity. he smoothed down the front of his shirt, clearing his throat. "the emotional pacing and storytelling are commendable. give me that now." you swore his voice cracked on the final syllable. he grabbed your shoulders, trying to steer you toward the door, but you dug your heels in. you spun around, looking directly into his very flustered face as he refused to make eye contact with you.
"damian, relax! i love the series," you said, holding your hands up in surrender, though you still clutched the manga. "seriously. the second volume made me cry for hours. i just⊠i never pinned you as a shojo guy, y'know?"
he paused, his hands still on your shoulders. the heat in the room seemed to dissipate slightly. damian searched your face, looking for any signs of deception or mockery. instead, to his surprise, he was met with a genuine smile. one that depicted unadulterated, unfiltered excitement. he looked at your eyes, sparking with interest (or perhaps it was the lighting, he told himself), and his heart gave a traitorous flutter.
slowly, he released you. he stepped back and crossed his arms, looking away at the drywall as if it were the most interesting thing in the room. "it is⊠written well," he scoffed lightly. "the protagonist's determination is admirable, despite her clumsiness."
"right!" you flipped the manga's pages carefully, inhaling the crisp, sharp scent of fresh ink. "and the way she chooses to be kind despite all that's happened to her. it's so inspiring."
damian cleared his throat, looking at the ceiling. "i suppose. although her stubborn kindness does her more harm than good."
"maybe," you shrugged. "by no means is she perfect. she stumbles and falls but keeps getting up anyway." you glance at him, catching the way his jaw unclenches slightly. "and it changes people. i think that's the point."
a silence settled over the room, save for the low hum of the ventilation. damian opened his mouth as if to retort, then closed it, struggling to find an argument to your point. you glanced at the book in your hands. it was the latest volume-- one you hadn't actually been able to afford to pick up yet. reluctantly, you closed it.
"well," you placed the book gently back into the gap on the shelf, adjusting the leaned-over tzu. "i should let you get back to work. that reminds me, i have to pick up this new volume. thanks for letting me see the collection, damian. it's honestly amazing."
"it was against my will," he scoffed, though his tone hovered dangerously close to amusement.
you turned and began to walk toward the door, taking one more look at his sanctuary. you bit back the urge to ask about the katana on display, or the rows of batman and robin action figures, or how his closet was a very monotonous black. everyone had their own interests. you had your hand on the cool metal of the knob when his voice stopped you.
"wait." you turned to see damian standing by the shelf. he had pulled the book back out and was holding the manga out to you, refusing to make eye contact. "you said you had not read the latest volume," he muttered. "if i see any crease on the spine, a dog-ear, or much less than a single smudge, you will regret it."
you took the book gently, smiling softly. "i promise. i'll treat it like it's the most sacred thing on earth."
"see that you do."
"thanks, damian. seriously. i hope i didn't take too much of your time."
"likewise."
you slipped out into the hallway, closing the door behind you, clutching the book to your chest with a giddy feeling bubbling in your stomach.
inside the room, damian stood in silence. the air felt strangely empty now, the residual energy of your presence clung to the hollow, spectral, disquieting stillness. he glanced at the gap on the shelf, a ghost of the book he had let you borrow, then at the notes you'd left on his desk. you were an intrusion, yet he couldn't say for certain that it was unwelcomed. he felt a peculiar, foreign warmth spreading through his chest, unfurling within him fervently and quietly like the first flicker of a flame.
damian replayed the interaction in his mind-- the way your eyes lit up at the sight of all might, the genuine reverence with which you held the book, and the insightful analysis to which he had no rebuttal. he had not anticipated the perplexed, disarming satisfaction of being understood. it was the kind of feeling that, once experienced, became impossible to ignore.
he walked over to the shelf, reaching out to straighten the all might figure, which you had slightly bumped during your initial excitement. although damian would never admit it, one would say his lips curled to form a small, undeniable smile.
but of course, he would rather chop off a limb than admit that to anyone.
synopsis: you didn't know what to give Jason for Christmas. what you didn't expect was for the present to find itself.
warning: none
you started thinking about what to give jason for christmas way too early.
since the very beginning of november, actually, because it was such a difficult task. jason wasnât the type of person to write a wishlist or talk about what he wanted or felt like he was missing. he accepted presents awkwardly, with a quiet 'thanks,' and often asked people not to give him anything at all.
but how is that even possible? itâs a holiday, after all. and you wanted to make him happy, because you wanted him to have pleasant memories of this day and of you.
so, you started listening to every little thing: "i need to buy new gloves...", "damn, i need to change the mirror on the bike," and things like that. you listened to everything and made mental notes in your head.
then you realized that these presents... weren't really presents. sure, they were useful, but they were practical things he could easily go and buy himself if he wanted to. you needed something that came from the heart, something heâd actually be happy to receive.
one day, out of pure desperation, you asked him directly. it was already december 14th on the calendar.
"what do i want?" he repeated the question you had just asked.
for a second, he actually looked thoughtful and let out a long "hmmm," making you think he might actually give you a real answer...
"well, nothing," jason shrugged, and your confidence deflated like a popped balloon.
"what, like, absolutely nothing?" you muttered, raising an eyebrow.
"yeah. i don't need anything," he repeated, then smirked and tilted his head slightly to the side. "you could give me a pair of torn underwear for all i care. i'd take 'em."
you rolled your eyes and put your head in your hands, resting your elbows on the table. what were you supposed to do with him?
â
the present was found unexpectedly. and definitely not at the moment you thought it would be found.
it happened while you were having sex.
it was already the 23rd. still no present. still zero ideas.
you were lying under him, a bit out of breath, cheeks flushed, legs trembling on either side of jason, who was focused on trying to find the lube in the nightstandâit had conveniently rolled all the way to the back.
staring at the ceiling, you suddenly asked:
"jay, what do you really want for christmas?"
the question hung in the air. jasonâs hand, which had been moving irritably inside the drawer, froze. slowly, he shifted his gaze from the nightstand to you.
"are you serious?"
"yeah," you nodded, a silly smile spreading across your face as you realized this definitely wasn't the right question for the current situation.
"christmas is coming, and i still don't know what present to get you."
jason looked at you for a few seconds, then smirked. a spark flickered in his eyes. a mischievous one.
"hold on," his hand reached back into that same nightstand, but this time he found what he was looking for right away.
you blinked in surprise, watching his hands pull out a red ribbon. you had kept these ribbons after wrapping presents for friends together. at first, you planned to throw them away, but then you thought they might come in handy if you finally figured out a present for jason.
but why did he need it now?
"jay..." you didn't get to finish.
because he was already looping it under your chin and then tying a knot on top of your head with smooth, unhurried movements, which soon turned into a small bow sitting perfectly on your head.
as if you were...
"there," he pulled back just enough to admire his work.
"thereâs my present."
you stared at him, stunned, blinking like a deer in headlights. was it really that simple?
"youâre kidding me?"
"not at all," jason leaned forward, resting his forehead against yours. his hands slid under you, tracing your bare back. "i already got my present. a long time ago."
a blush crept over your cheeks, and this time it wasn't from the physical intimacy. you tried to find the words to say, but instead, you reached up and flicked his nose, laughing softly.
"thatâs not fair," you said smiling, watching him crinkle his nose slightly.
"itâs perfectly fair. itâs exactly the present i wanted," he murmured and kissed your forehead.
â
sometimes presents aren't material things we can buy off a shelf. the price doesn't matterâwhether it's cheap or expensive.
the most precious things are received through your partner's kisses, their hands, their words, and their actions.
and yes, even though you were jason's 'present,' that didn't change the fact that you still gave him something. matching pendantsâbasic, sure, but thoughtful and custom-made. that was just one part of the present you prepared, but jason had already received the most important part.
âč batfam & robin!reader who just appears outta nowhere at the most random times âŠ
a/n : if you know supernatural, you can totally compare it to whatever cas does â it works the same way lol
the batfam already had gotham on their backs and a whole collection of psychological trauma that liked to pop up during ptsd episodes. now, theyâve got you â one more headache to deal with.
bruce, honestly, knew from the very start that you wouldnât be any easier than any of the other robins. he was ready for anything the future could throw at him.
what he wasnât ready for was realizing that every time heâs âaloneâ in the batcave â he actually isnât.
âwhat are you doing?â
âholy shââ
he literally clutches his chest and spins around in his chair, eyes wide.
âwhat⊠what are you doing here?â
âi asked first.â
he drags a hand down his face and through his hair, letting out something between a sigh of relief and pure exhaustion.
âdonât do that again. please.â
but youâll still do it. even if not on purpose. probably.
dick doesnât get away unscathed either. of course not â oldest sibling curse.
every time you appear, he screams like a startled cheerleader and jumps back a few feet. you could do it five times a day â reactionâs still the same every single time.
one night, heâs sitting on a rooftop after patrol, trying to catch his breath after a group of thugs almost sent him to the afterlife.
a bird flies past, blocking his view for a secondâ
âWHAT THEâoh. itâs youâŠâ
comes from the other end of the roof, where youâre suddenly sitting right beside him.
âthought you twisted your ankle. guess not, huh?â
âyeah, i thought so too. until now.â
heâs trying to get used to it â you showing up in the living room out of nowhere, crawling out of the vents⊠yeah, no, heâs not used to it at all.
jason swears youâre gonna make him die again.
your surprise appearances make his soul leave his body for a solid second every time.
like bruce, he clutches his heart so it doesnât jump out of his chest.
âyou wanna go to batburger?â
ânah, iâm going to get checked for arrhythmiaâŠâ
seriously, stop scaring the poor guy. he already has white streaks â keep it up and heâll go full white by next week.
tim? once, your little jump scare actually cured his hiccups.
only problem: it gave him a panic attack instead.
but heâs kind of used to it now.
âtheyâre behind me, arenât they?â
âyep.â
heâs tried using the cameras to spot you a bunch of times.
did it work? nope.
well, just once â but even then, you still managed to scare him half to death.
and damian?
well, you donât joke with him the same way.
the kid gets startled too, sure â but one time, when you tried to sneak up on him, he almost threw a katana straight at your head.
so heâs, uh, slightly more at peace than the others.
âi can make it so no one sees you at all. like a ghost. want me to?â
ââŠno thanks, damiâŠâ
so yeah. on the bright side, though â with your disappearing act, you can totally prove santaâs real.
plot! : one chilly autumn morning, haley was hungry.
tags: gn!reader, use pronouns they/them, english isnt my first language
the sun had barely risen, that crisp morning air filling his lungs â fresh, cool, and kinda giving false hope that maybe today would be a good day.
unfortunately, that hope didnât reach dick.
especially not when he only got into bed three hours ago after patrol, thigh still sore from a nasty cut. and of course, the second he started drifting off, haley began barking â loud and determined, demanding her morning walk.
dick tried to ignore it. he really did. but the second that furry traitor started nudging at his injured leg with her cold nose, he groaned and gave up.
so here he is now â walking half-asleep, leash loosely hanging in his hand. every step feels like a struggle, and honestly? watching the dogâs every move isnât on his energy list right now.
âhaley, noâ donât eat that!â he mumbled, pulling her away from whatever disgusting ânature leftoversâ other dogs had left behind.
his eyes were basically closing on their own. he rubbed his face with one hand, forcing himself not to crash right there on the sidewalk. just a few more minutes â haley does her business, sniffs a few more gross things, and then they can go home. bed. peace.
âŠright?
wrong.
it took him one second too long to notice how light the leash suddenly felt â and another second too long to hear the sound of someone hitting the ground.
when he looked up, his eyes went wide â haley had literally tackled some poor stranger, who was now wrestling to get free and avoid becoming breakfast.
âHALEY!â oh, come onââ
that woke him up real quick. dick ran faster than he had all morning, grabbing haley and yanking her back from the poor human who was now covered in dirt, paw prints, and dog slobber.
âoh my godâshitâ iâm so sorryââ he blurted, immediately trying to brush off some of the dirt from their shirt. didnât help much. actually, probably made it worse.
and then, weirdly enoughâ the smell of freshly baked pastries hit his nose. warm. sweet. right out of the oven.
âgreat⊠theyâre gonna kill me for ruining the uniform,â came a slightly raspy voice, full of tired disappointment.
ah. right. dickâs dog just assaulted a poor stranger.
âohâ sorry again. iâll pay to get it cleaned,â dick said, finally looking up at the stranger sitting on the ground, staring sadly at their white polo.
ânah, itâs fine. couldâve been worse. i really thought your dog was about to eat me though,â they laughed, scratching the back of their neck.
dick was only half-listening now. that smell againâ warm, buttery, heavenlyâ when was the last time he ate? his stomach decided to answer for him, growling loud enough for both of them to hear.
silence. even haleyâs tail stopped wagging. dickâs face went bright red.
ââŠwhoops,â was all he managed to say, feeling somehow even more embarrassed than before.
the stranger just laughed again, brushing themselves off as they stood.
âguess your dogâs not the only one whoâs hungry.â
dick let out a small, awkward laugh, relieved the vibe wasnât as tense as he thought.
âsheâs uhâ sorry. and, yâknow, me too,â he said, nodding at haley, who was once again secretly trying to sniff the stranger. dick gave the leash a sharp tug in warning.
they didnât seem to mind thoughâ instead, they reached down and gave haley a few pets, the dog happily booping their palm with her wet nose.
âitâs okay,â they said with a soft grin, then paused. âactually⊠wanna grab a bite? before you two attack anyone else?â
thatâs when dick finally noticed the logo on their shirt â a bakery emblem. and when he turned his head, there it was â the bakery itself, right behind them.
oh.
oh.
so thatâs why haley ran here. and why she went straight for this person.
putting the pieces together, dick let out a quiet âahhh,â then nodded way too eagerly.
âyeah! i meanâ uh. yeah, if you donât mind,â he said quickly, mentally facepalming himself. grayson, you seriously need food and sleep.
âž»
he ended up getting fed the best pastries heâd had in months â warm buns, stuffed with potatoes, cherries, even little sausage rolls.
turned out the place mixed in some slavic recipes too.
he tried basically everything. and somehow, you still gave him a discount he definitely didnât deserve, considering your once-white uniform was still smudged from haleyâs paws.
haley, of course, got her share too â a few small bites she happily devoured before jumping on you again, while dick tried to pull her back.
yeah. that definitely wasnât gonna be his last visit here.
plot: damian confesses his love to you. but, uh⊠seems like youâre kinda deaf.
ââŠi love you.â
âhuh?â
the wind clearly had a personal vendetta tonight. damian was walking along the pier, trying to act like he totally had his life together, even though his heart was pounding so hard it couldâve jumped out and gone for a swim. the sunset was all golden and romantic â perfect, really.
keyword: was.
damian blinks.
four months. four long, painful, emotionally constipated months â and he finally manages to confess.
and this is what he gets?
âi saidââ
âi canât hear you, man! the windâs eating your words or something! whatâd you say?â
damianâs ears go red. his pride deflates faster than a balloon at a toddlerâs birthday party.
âi saidâ!â
âdonât yell, i can hear you! well, kindaââ
âi said i love you!â
another gust of wind slams into the both of you, like the universe decided it was time to bully a wayne. you blink, lean in a little, squinting.
ââŠwhat?â
for a brief moment, damian seriously considers buying a one-way ticket to anywhere else.
this is hell. actual, certified hell.
âare youâare you messing with me?â
âwhat? no! i swear! i just canât hear you! the windâs insane!â
he closes his eyes, clenches his fists, mutters something that sounds a lot like ancient curses directed at the sunset, the pier, the entire ecosystemâprobably you tooâand then suddenly grabs your face with both hands.
âcan you hear me now?â
and kisses you.
quick. awkward. barely a touch of lips â but packed with all the words he couldnât seem to say right.
you pull back, blinking like a deer in headlights.
âuh⊠that wasâŠâ
âa confession,â he cuts in. ânow did you hear me?â
a second passes, and it finally clicks. so hard the wind itself seems to chill out for a moment.
âohhh. i thought you were telling me to piss off,â you say casually â and when damianâs eye twitches, you start laughing.
âkidding, kidding! chill.â
damian raises a brow, slightly suspicious. ââŠso?â
you step closer, trying your best to look all innocent and dumb.
âcan you say it again? but, like, quieter this time. donât wanna scare all the pigeons.â
he sighs â the kind of sigh that carries the weight of ten generations of waynes â but finally gives in.
âi love you.â
âah, there it is,â you grin, and before he can react, you kiss him back â quick, soft, and smiling against his lips while the wind gently tugs at your hair.
plot: before damian met you, he thought he was the worst when it came to all that sappy, emotional crap. turns out, you proved him wrong.
damian wayne was emotionally constipated since birth.
not exactly his fault â he grew up in an environment where âfeelingsâ were basically code for âweaknessâ and âcryingâ got you death-glaring from assassins. so yeah, being the son of bruce wayne and talia al ghul really does things to a guy.
so one day, damian does the unthinkable â he straight-up confesses.
no âmaybe,â no âi think,â just pure, unfiltered, bold damian wayne confidence:
âi like you.â
and what do you do?
you laugh. you laugh, scratch your head like a golden retriever and go:
âi like you too! youâre an awesome friend, dami!â
friend.
bro got hit with emotional damage so bad he needed a respawn point.
he just stared at you, blinked a few times, turned around, muttered something like âi have things to do,â and left before he drop-kicked a wall.
âž»
and thus began operation: make the stupid get it.
if words donât work â actions will.
so now heâs carrying your backpack (which, btw, you said wasnât heavy), buying you overpriced stuff (âyou really didnât have to,â âi know.â), leaving snacks and little notes like some emotionally repressed secret admirer.
and yet you? still clueless.
unbelievable.
stupid.
âž»
one night, after training, you two crash on the gym floor â you all sweaty and half-dead, damian pretending not to stare. he hands you a water bottle like heâs your personal butler. you take it like itâs holy water.
but instead of drinking, you squint at him.
âyou know, dami, you act kinda weird sometimes.â
he side-eyes you. âdefine âweird.ââ
âlike, one moment youâre ignoring me, next youâre acting all rude, and then suddenly youâre⊠nice?â
damian just stares for a sec, then smirks a little.
âkindness is a weakness.â
âthen why are you weak for me, huh?â
he decided right then that you were actually beyond saving.
âž»
later, heâs walking you home â again â while youâre talking non-stop about how you didnât understand the new physics topic. meanwhile, he wasnât listening at all, stuck in his head. then suddenly, he stopped walking.
âyou really donât get it, do you?â he says, voice a little shaky.
you blink. âget what? physics? noââ
he groans, rolls his eyes so hard he almost time-travels.
âyou. i like you.â
âyeah, i know. you told me.â
ânot like that,â he snaps, stepping closer, dead-serious. ânot as a friend.â
pause.
you just⊠stare at him. gears turning very slowly.
âoh,â you finally breathe out. âohhhh. now i get it.â
damian sighs â partly in relief, partly in disbelief that youâre this dense.
âstupid,â he mutters, and before you can say anything, he leans in, gives you the worldâs fastest, most awkward kiss â like, blink and youâll miss it â then pulls away like nothing happened.
âcome on, itâs late.â
and you? still buffering.
until you finally yell, âHEY!â and sprint after him â clearly aiming for round two.
HEYY i donât know how i decided to post this i just felt like it and thought maybe someone would like it đđđ sorry in advance for any mistakes â english isnât my first language
jason todd x spiderman!reader
headcanons
- âi can change him,â ahhh moment
- you stick him to the wall instead of criminals (lol same difference)
- you kiss through the masks because by the time he takes off his helmet, you wonât wanna kiss him anymore
- because of his massive build (dudeâs 6â0 and weighs 225 lbs, be seriousâŠ), not everyone can lift him. but for you â the guy who can stop a falling car â he feels like a feather. so yeah, you often just scoop him up and the two of you leap across rooftops like that, even though he complains every time
- you keep saying youâll make him pregnant because your DNA is different⊠and, well, youâre not exactly wrong
- he REALLY likes how flexible you are. sometimes it even freaks him out a little, considering you can twist your body in ways that no one should be able to
- rooftop dates with tacos and burgers (((
- you patch each other up after missions
- your spider-sense doesnât work on him
- when you argue, you just randomly web his mouth shut đđ
areudirty
titsay
prguitarman
