Rewind (here we go again) Prologue
Rating : T
Summary: When Ivy Wayne wakes up in her past, she is given the chance to change things for the better. She takes it because she wants to do better this time.
Warnings: Time travel, multiple timelines, cursing,
Other: Ivy Wayne is an oc, Danny Fenton is Damian's twin
Series masterpost
When given another chance, Ivy Wayne takes it with both hands and runs. She's not unhappy with her life, but she could do better if given a re-do, as most people could. Unlike most people, she seems to get a re-do.
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Ivy knew this morning she was going to have a weird day. She woke up with one of those premonition headaches that mean trouble.
Then she went and got into a fight all alone, got gassed, and watched the world turn black.
She wakes up at fourteen in her room, both of her baby brothers in her bed. She's smaller than she remembers, less pain than there should be.
Odd.
Danyl is in the middle, Damian on his right. The twins are asleep in her bed, clinging to eachother and her.
They are safe.
And also apparently four.
This is weird. But she can adjust.
She needs a plan. If she can get a message to her family she can get the all out. Maybe she can speak to mother.
At this point, she can't say. But she knows her mother loves them as much as she can.
She knows that the night she faked her brother's death- her mom asked very few questions.
She needs to send them to their own rooms soon. She supposedly "babies" them far more than she's supposed to. But really, children need affection and love.
She takes another minute or so though. She basks in having both of them here again. She enjoys how warm and real they are.
She misses them at this age- after she faked Danyal's death they never saw him again. She's not even sure he got away. But he escaped their grandfather.
She looks to Damian, who has his little fist bunched up in his twins shirt. He has Bruce's nose- from before the many breaks of their father's nose.
Danyal clings to her, his long lashes rest against his cheek. He has freckles that are faint, but they are there all the same. He has a sharper nose than his twin.
She rouses them gently, whispering words of love before she sends them off. She kisses their heads and smiles softly as they sneak out.
Her boys.
Her baby brothers.
She takes a slow breath as she tries to remember what lead up to this.
There had been the morning headache she's learned is really premonition...
And then...
Ivy had been fighting a new villain before she passed out from a new gas, and then she woke up here. She'd watched the world go black- had someone yelled?
She had been alone though.
Things aren't connecting right- but she's unable to deny the warmth and swell in her heart when she sees her baby brothers so young.
She stands, stretching her arms above her head. She's sore- and her back pulls against long, thick scabs.
She wouldn't say she missed this. The whip always leaves such ugly scars.
So far, her working theory is time travel of some sort or perhaps dimension hopping. But so far it looks like she is familiar enough to not be terrifying for her.
She dresses, strapping weapons to herself as easily as she always has. Growing up with the Bat as her father and the being in the leauge has left her fond of many weapons at all times.
She has siblings to protect.
There is a knock at her door, "Ivy?"
Ivy opens the door, finding her mom. She just tilts her head, "Mother."
"Your training has been pushed forward today, join me in the training room in ten minutes."
"Yes, mother."
Talia dosen’t smile, she doesn't frown either. She just turns on her heel, satisfied with the conversation.
Ivy grabs her own katana, and sweeps down the hallway.
She goes to the kitchens to grab a small hunk of cheese and bread, eating quickly. She's always hated fighting hungry.
She makes it to the training room in time, a whole minute to spare even.
It's laughable, how easy she falls into old habits. She's careful to control her movements, maintaining the hesitancy she remembers from before. She had always been so scared to truly hurt those she loves.
She loses, of course she does, but she dosen’t fail. She lasts a goof twenty minutes before she's beaten. And she could probably win with her honest skill but she's not supposed to have that yet.
"You did better than last time." Talia says as she stares down at her daughter, a bright air around her.
"I have been training."
"It shows." Talia almost smiles, lips twitching as she removes her foot from her daughter's chest, sword falling to the side.
Ivy stands, brushing herself off easily. "I am glad it's noticeable."
Talia just stares at her. Something unreadable passes her face, a funny pinch in her elegant brows.
"You improved so much the span of three days, you doubled your standard time."
Ivy tries her best to stifle the urge to preen at that. She instead tries to figure out a better response than 'whoops'.
She stares at her mother, searching the calm face for help. She takes a slow breath, "I have been training hard?"
It was supposed to be a statement, unfortunately it comes out as a question.
"Try again. The truth this time."
Ivy sighs slowly. The truth? She couldn't say for sure what that is, but her best guess is timetravel. Though how she explains that she doesn't know.
Talia just waits.
"I don't know what caused it... but I would bet money I was sent back into time."
"That makes very little sense."
"I don't know what happened, but yesterday I was twenty and in Gotham. Today I'm fourteen and here."
Talia stares at her, looking as though she wonders if her daughter is loosing her mind. Which would be a fair sentiment.
"You're serious."
"Let's go again, I won't hold back."
"You held back?" Talia snorts.
Ivy just raises a brow. She was holding back, even if she's a little weaker now than she remembers she has far better training and instincts drilled into her mind.
Talia lunges and Ivy dodges. This time, it's quicker paced, each moving with grace and speed deadly to others.
Ivy, ducks, weaves, hits, and uses her powers. She sends bolts of her sheild energy with precision. She beats her mother, seven minutes in.
Foot on her mother's chest, sword to the woman's throat, Ivy smiles. "Do you believe me now, mother?
Talia blinks up at her, looking literally and figuratively floored. "That- is new."
Ivy backs up.
"You said you were in Gotham, was the leauge-"
"I left the leauge when you had to stop grandfather."
"Oh?"
"We need to talk later. I need your help, and our intrests align nicely." Ivy says simply, putting her katana away and folding her arms.
"They do?"
"It protects the boys."
"I see." Talia brushes her self off.
Ivy just watches. She has half of several plans. With a little more time, she'll have solid plans. With a little more time, she'll get them all out.
"Perhaps in a few days we can have tea to discuss." Talia offers.
"If you have time, I would love that."
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A week passes before Ivy and Talia are able to truly get away far enough to talk. Really talk.
They settle in a secluded part of Talia's wing, tea steaming on the table.
"You're from the future. "
"A version of it. I need your help to straighten things out."
"How?"
"Grandfather will go too far, he gets to the point he wants Danyal dead and you too. He wants to take all weakness from Damian."
"Oh. Is that so?"
"You lost Danyal in my time. I think you know where I'm going with this."
"Would it work?"
"Of course it would. Dad is protective- and I think we both know I will stop at nothing to protect my brothers."
"I'm not sure-"
"You are no coward, mother. You are not weak or stupid. If you do as I suggest you can avoid the danger to your son's, and gain power."
"Are you so sure you would risk staging a coup? You are far improved, but you are still young."
"I will help plan, but any mutiny is your prerogative. But your children will be safer with you in power and them in Gotham."
"I don’t like that idea of you three so far."
"I don't like the idea of being backed into attending Danyal's funeral. Again."
"Azizi." Talia says, "Tell me, does Bruce raise my boys well?"
"Bruce loves his sons. They're better off living with dad full time, but if you take power and initiative he will be happy to co parent."
"And are you okay to go back?"
"Mother, Gotham is my home."
Talia sighs slowly, "Let me think."
"I will."
"You're very brave, my little moon."
Ivy smiles softly, unrestrained as she does. Her voice is soft, "Thank you, mother."
"You know I could inform father about this, your goading and your knowledge. You should know that conspiracy has a heavy price."
"I do."
"And you took the risk."
"It's for my family, I'll take any risk."
"I'll do it. But it will take time."
"Thank you." Ivy says.
She means it too. She'd expected a harder sell.
Talia just watches her, the woman's green eyes, much too like Damian's. She seems to be searching for something- but Ivy dosen’t know what.
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Bruce is surprised to get another letter so soon, usually he only gets letters from his daughter every four months. He just got one last week, so the letter is strange.
Dear dad,
I have a lot to explain, first of all you have two sons mother has kept hidden. They are twins, Danyal and Damian.
Second, mother is working on taking control of the leauge. Which is long over due if I do say so myself, and I do.
Thirdly, my brothers and I will be coming home at a date mother provides later. She needs to focus on the takeover and we will be safer at the manor.
Lastly, I miss you and please tell the others I love and miss them. It has been hard to he far away from you. I have had to make changes to survive in the leauge, and sometimes wonder if you could still accept me.
Anyway, I don’t know when I'll be home but I will be. Mom will tell you more. I'm sorry to dump this all on you, but I wanted to prepare you.
The twins are five, and highly trained for their age. They have been trained by the leaige to be heirs for the last three years and are used to a high station.
I have been their gaurd since I got here, and I think you'll love them. They aren't super well socializedbut they are kind.
Damian has green eyes and loves animals. He's a literal genius who picks things very quickly and is very protective of those he loves. He dosen’t trust easily, and he seems to enjoy art when he can do it.
His favorite colors are green and black, he loves swords, and he would love to have a diagram of any animals. If you're setting up his room, he wants his bed to allow him to see all entrances.
Danyal loves the stars, so much that I've taken time to teach him constellations and their stories. He's a little more trusting and a little softer. He has asked to learn more about space, but I think the books at home will help.
His favorite colors are blue and grey, he loves mythology, and would love to have glow in the dark stars. If you're setting up his room, he likes to have a nest of sorts in the closet to feel safe.
They have been raised only in violence, and taught that killing is not only okay but expected. They have killed, but they don't know better. I have done my best but you know as well as I do that nothing I do will stop what they've been taught. So I've taught them not to be cruel with it. Which is not necessarily enough but better than nothing.
I know this is a lot of information and I'm sorry, I also wish I had more. I'll see you as soon as I can, I love you.
Lots of love,
Ivy
Bruce just stares for a moment or two. The words swim in his mind, knowledge almost choking him with the weight of it.
His baby girl is coming home.
He has twin boys he's never heard of, raised in the leauge. The young children have killed.
His daughter has been in the leauge for two years now, and has possibly killed. She's a gaudd to the heir(s?) Of Ra's.
He can't feel disappointment in the children, circumstances allowed little choice and she has taught them not to be cruel. Which is better than anyone else has done.
He can teach the boys, and he can let his daughter relearn kindness.
He can't believe Talia, hiding all of this. Raising children to kill. Likely forcing his sweet girl to kill, so she survives.
He will not begrudge his daughter, he knows how ruthless the leauge is. It's what she chooses when she's home that will determine things.
"Master Bruce?" Alfred asks.
"I have twin boys. And their coming home with Ivy eventually." Bruce turns with wide eyes.
"Oh, dear. I suppose I have rooms to prepare."
"Ivy left information for that." Bruce says, holding out the letter with trembling hands.
"Very good, thank you." Alfred says as he takes it gently in his gloved fiingers.
Bruce let's go with a frown. "Alfred... she's coming home."
"I know."
"Talia hid children from me."
"She did." Alfred says softly. "But you're going to meet them."
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