#flamebird au

[chess-blackmyre]

These were fun to make!

If you are curious and want to learn more, you can read Raise You (Like a Phoenix) on AO3

[bruce-waynes-parenting]

WIP Wednesday! Jason Todd Lives! AU

The In--Between. Part two of April 27th, 28th, and So On

Summary: While Jason is yet to wake in the hospital, Bruce asks Dick about The Joker.

It’s almost two weeks later when Bruce asks Dick the big question. 

They’re in the hospital, Jason small and fragile in the bed. It’s never quiet here, the whir and beeping of machines is nearly constant. He still hasn’t woken up. 

Dick’s been off bed rest for a few days now–enough time (well, at least enough time for him.) to move from relief and fear through worry and anger.

 Not enough time to get rid of them, Dick and Bruce know better than anyone that that kind of pain never leaves. But, at least to Bruce, the dust has settled. The new normal established. Dick and Bruce and Jason, Alfred when he can. They come through here like a revolving door; it's almost routine. Almost normalcy. 

So, after the “dust” has settled, here in the darkened hospital room, Bruce says: 

“The Joker is dead.” 

It’s not a question. Bruce never asks a question to start; he states the facts. He waits for Dick to bite. It’s an interrogation tactic. One Dick knows well. 

He nods, eyes still glued to the boy in the hospital bed. They’re almost certain Jason will be awake soon. They’ll know more after that about his overall condition. 

“I know.” 

They lapse back into silence. (Or what passes for silence in an ICU.) Dick reaches out, almost without thinking to cover Jason’s hand with his own, absentmindedly squeezing his fingers. 

“Dick.” 

His jaw tense, he refuses to look at Bruce. But still, when he blinks he sees the green and red and purple. Eyes wide, jaw slack, revealing those horrid yellow teeth. 

“Yes?” 

Bruce doesn’t continue. Bruce can’t make himself ask the damn question. Not that Dick can really blame him, when he’s almost playing dumb. 

“Dick.” 

When Dick meets Bruce’s eyes, he sees fear. Not many people can spot that in Bruce. Dick, not matter how estranged they are, no matter how many times Bruce fucks him over, is one of the only people who can. He almost hates it. Hates how they will always know everything and nothing about each other. 

Bruce asks the question with his eyes. Did you kill him?

 Dick wets his lips, swallows, looks back at Jason: so small, so broken,

“I don’t know.” 

Truthful. It is truthful. The Joker is dead. Either Dick killed him when he swung that crowbar, or he left him for dead. He thinks of Jason, sobbing and bloodied, and against so many odds, alive. Alive. Dick wraps his other hand around Jason’s. 

If it had to be someone, I’m glad it wasn’t you. 

For that—for this, he can live with the guilt. Bruce can live with it too, for all he cares. 

“I don’t know, Bruce.” he repeats. 

There’s a heavy hand on Dick’s shoulder, and then Bruce is gone. 

Gotham needs Batman, after all. Not more than Robin does, but Dick guesses he can suffice. It’s why—why he could never be Bruce. Why Nightwing will never be Batman. 

“I’m here, Robin.” he whispers, holding Jason’s hand close to his lips, “Always.” 

Jason will wake up soon. He has to. He’s going to. And Dick will be here. 

“I promise.” 

[ataraki-sketch]

Stephanie Brown but she gets to be Flamebird and Nightwing’ partner instead.

It’s pretty much that one scene of Anakin telling Ashoka “You’d never make it as Obi-Wan’s padawan, but you might just make it as mine.”

[chess-blackmyre]

People who’ve read my story Double Headed, what do you think would be the best explanation for how Duela traveled back in time?

It’s clearly the Flash’s fault

Nah, it’s Booster Gold’s whoopsie

John Constantine somehow fucked something up, I know it

Superboy Prime threw the remote at his TV really REALLY hard

In Bat-Mite’s defense, he thought it would be funny

Probably something to do with the Eldritch Abomination that lives beneath Gotham

Teenagers using the power of friendship to kill God

It’s no one’s fault Duela can just Do That nbd

What in Flashpoint are you talking about?/See results

Voting ended onAug 19, 2024

For those who want to know what I’m talking about, you can take a look at my story series here on ao3.

Also have a free picrew:

[chess-blackmyre]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

A shame without a sin

Chapter 1 Summary:

Harvey grips the edge of the sink, knuckles almost as white as the porcelain. Everything’s going to be fine. He tells himself. Why wouldn’t it? It’s just a stupid dream. He’s thirty-five years old, far past the age to let a bad dream upset him. His own subconscious throwing spaghetti and dead brothers at the wall to see what sticks. The real world with his real life is going so much better. (Or, Harvey Dent is 100% definitely fine totally. Definitely. Completely. He's doing just great.)

many thanks to @thoughtfulrxven for all of their help with this story!

[chess-blackmyre]

My Flamebird AU in a nutshell.

If curious you can read it on AO3.

[chess-blackmyre]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

a shame without a sin

Chapter Three Summary:

pardon /pär′dn/ transitive verb 1. To release (a person) from punishment or disfavor for wrongdoing or a fault: synonym: forgive. "a convicted criminal who was pardoned by the governor." 2. To allow (an offense or fault) to pass without punishment or disfavor.

[chess-blackmyre]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

A shame without a sin.

Chapter Two

Chapter Summary: In which, Harvey Dent is the confused dad in a Hot Topic.