Since I'm doing so much recognition AU right now, how about a Wincest recognition AU.
For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, there’s this comic series called elfquest about a tribe of elves and their adventures. The special part about this series is the concept of recognition and sending. Each elve has a soulname that another elve can recognize, making them mates. They are also able to speak to each other telepathically, which they call sending.
Recognition can also be platonic, as proven by Cutter and Skywise. Two male elves who are platonic soulmates. You can also force recognition when you just tell your partner your soulname, like Nightfall and Redlance did.
I imagine during DSotM, when it would be revealed that Sam and Dean share a heaven cause soulmates, that this wouldn't come as a surprise to them at all.
Dean going, „Makes sense. After all I've known your soulname ever since you were like... three?“
For Sam the noise of Dean's soulname echoing in his mind is the very first memory he has.
Hold up a second, sending. Sam during his Stanford time shut down the sending connection to Dean completely. Which would be one of the reasons Dean had to show up and get him in person.
Sam's soulname would be 'Tri' and Dean's soulname would be 'Sri'.
Which, at least the way I write recognition AU, would mean that they are extra special soulmates because their soulnames are so similiar.
And it would be even okay in a wincest vs canon kinda way. As I said, recognition and soulbonds can be platonic and don't have to be romantic in nature.
It would even make sense for Sam and his powers, as there are characters in elfquest with special powers too; like redlance, and leetah and rayek.
Characters: Tim Drake, Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne, Jason Todd
Summary: It all happened so fast. It was an enemy, a family member, and a chance. It was the collapse of his whole world.
A/N: The end! Like three years after the last update I finally finish this crazy thing. I knew how it was going to end after probably the third part, but just couldn’t figure out how to bridge it, so sorry if this seems a little ‘quick’ so to speak. Damian just never got over his older brother, even through the turmoil. I still don’t say if Bruce is dead or not, oops my b. Funny - the first part of this series is only 500 words. This is nearing 3k. Talk about growth haha. (and shameless self plug. Recently started a Ko-Fi - so if you like this or anything I’ve ever created, please consider it! :)
Other Recognition AU stories
~~
It all happened so fast.
Well, relatively, anyway.
In reality, it was months. Months of Dick dragging them from abandoned building to abandoned building. Hiding in the shadows, from Owls and Bats alike. Keeping Damian under vague threat of harm to have Tim under his command, too.
Dick showed no one mercy, and a trail of bodies were left in their wake. The media eventually picked up on it, but never got further than a few clever nicknames. That seemed to amuse Dick to no end.
And Tim hated him. Tim…wanted to hate him. He was killing. He was hurting innocent people. He was doing everything they were against, everything they fought when they were heroes.
But.
A few times he used the violence to protect them. Like when a drunk man tried to grab Damian in a convenience store one afternoon. Dick had yanked his hand off of Damian’s person, cut off his thumb, then stabbed him in the jugular.
Or when a prostitute appeared out of an alleyway and shoved a gun into Tim’s ribs and demanded all of his valuables. As gracefully as only Dick Grayson could, he pulled Tim to safety and took his place, swiftly slicing his knife across the femoral artery in her thigh and kicking her back into the alley she’d appeared from. Then he’d cheerfully taken Damian and Tim’s hands, and they continued their journey across the street.
And it was just enough. Just protective and caring and in-character enough that it made Tim hope. Made him believe that maybe their Dick Grayson was still in there, somewhere, and they could find him.
But time and again, the hope would be shattered, when Dick would nonchalantly wrap his fingers around Damian’s neck. When he’d grin at Tim after those kills, with a gleam in his eye.
It was exhausting, this rollercoaster of hope and despair. Of worrying about himself, and Damian. Surviving, and trying not to love his oldest brother as much as he always has.
And it was months of this. Almost a year. Being trained by the Talon when possible, and shacking up in any structure with four walls when Dick allowed them to stop. Ignoring the murders and the smell of death outside the windows of their temporary shelters.
They’d catch glimpses of the Court of Owls, chasing after them themselves. Some of Dick’s kills were his fellow Talons, and Tim couldn’t quite say he was sorry for their loss.
“We’ll take them all down.” Dick kept saying, every so often. “Dwindle their numbers here on the streets, then go back and take down the ones that remain.”
They’d see the members of the Bats, too, every so often. And Dick always had a knife at the ready when they appeared. Ready to kill or be killed. Or rather – kill, or ready to throw Damian or Tim into the line of fire.
But then Tim and Damian would beg. Leave them alone. If they don’t see us, there’s no reason to engage. Like the rest of their misery, Dick seemed to find enjoyment in their pleads. Would drop the subject after whatever Bat they’d seen disappeared back into the city.
But suddenly, after months, after almost a goddamn year, it wasn’t a flyby. They didn’t just see their family from far away.
Suddenly, by the harbor, they were standing face to face with the Red Hood.
It was Damian who had noticed first. They’d been walking along the boardwalk, just meandering to kill time, maybe looking for somewhere to eat. Damian, walking between them, had turned to watch a bird fly overhead, then suddenly gasped.
The sound alerted Tim and Dick, and they both looked at him and followed his gaze. Tim’s heart dropped at the sight of Jason walking quickly behind them, having clearly recognized them first.
“No…” Damian whispered as Jason stopped a few feet away, leaving space. Dick shoved him into Tim’s arms, pulling a knife out in the same movement.
“Dick? Is that you, man?” Jason asked slowly, holding his hands up in front of him in peace. He wasn’t wearing a mask, or his helmet, but the rest of his uniform screamed his moniker. “I can’t believe I finally…”
“The Red Hood, yes?” Dick asked slowly. “Ally to the Batman.”
“Sure, if that’s what you want to call it.” Jason murmured, eyes darting over the younger two. Tim could see the fury building behind his eyes at how thin they both were, and the bruises clearly visible. “You two okay?”
“We’re alive.” Tim countered. “So if you count that as okay, then yeah.”
Jason nodded slowly, eyes going back to Dick. “…Give me the kids.”
“No.”
“Dick, please. I know you don’t want to do this to them.” Jason tried. Tim almost laughed at the idea. Appealing to Dick’s emotions – as if he really had any left. “Just…let me take them home. Then I’ll come back to you and we can talk, okay?”
“No.” Dick repeated. “They aren’t yours anymore.”
Jason huffed, and took a step forward. Dick shifted only to grab another knife out of his stash, and hold the blade to Damian’s throat.
“Take another step and I’ll end him.” Dick warned. Jason froze like a deer in headlights, eyes going wide. His gaze darted to Tim, who nodded.
“He’s serious.” Tim returned. “Why do you think we haven’t tried to get away before?”
Damian said nothing. Just scowled, and balled his hands into fists.
“What the fuck.” Jason breathed, reaching for the gun at his side. “What the actual fu-”
Without warning, a spattering of knives fell in a straight line between them. Tim and Damian jumped, and Jason pulled the gun from its holster and pointed up. Dick merely sighed.
“About time you found us, William.” He sneered.
“You’re better at hiding than we thought.” William hummed. “And still with your little pets, I see.”
“They’re none of your concern.” Dick spat.
“No, that’s why I wish to kill them and get it over with.” William sighed. “So they’re finally out of the way, and we can move on to more important things.”
“If anyone is killing them, it will be my decision and by my hand.” Dick reminded harshly. And Tim didn’t know if it was an involuntary movement or not, but the blade still held to Damian’s throat cut into his skin, just slightly, and blood blossomed underneath it.
“Hey, how about,” Jason shouted, drawing the attention back to him. “No one’s killing anyone? Least of all two fucking kids?”
“Would you like to take their place?” William called as he jumped down onto the boardwalk. Tim involuntarily pulled Damian back and for once, Dick allowed it without thought.
“How about you, instead?” Jason asked, shooting immediately. William dodged to the side, and Dick ducked. Damian spun and shoved Tim to the ground, and Tim rolled to practically laid on top of the younger.
“Jason!” Tim shouted over the noise. “Stop!”
But as he glanced back, he instantly saw Jason’s tactic. He wasn’t shooting to kill, he was shooting as a distraction. After every bullet, he took a step forward, forcing both Dick and William to either hide or back up themselves.
Getting them away from Tim and Damian.
“Just stay down!” Jason called back, switching out magazines as the gun emptied. Tim nodded, ducking his head back down onto Damian’s.
“…We’re getting out, kid.” He whispered. “This is our opening. We’re going home.”
In retrospect, the fact that Damian didn’t say anything should have been concerning. Tim should have noted it, should have at least looked at the kid in his silence. But he didn’t, and just took it as Damian not bothering to try under the sound of gunfire.
Because if he looked, he would have seen Damian watching Dick in his retreat.
Jason’s second magazine ran out just as he came up next to them. But this time, there was no surprise in the attack, and in the seconds-long pause, Dick took his chance, rushing forward, knives at the ready.
He threw a few, but missed. So when he was close enough, he began throwing punches instead. Some Jason was able to counter, some not. Their battle moved away from Tim and Damian once more, and when Tim was able to look, he saw Jason on his back, Dick standing over him with knives in each hand.
There was that rollercoaster of hope again.
“No, no, no…” Tim scrambled, trying to get to his feet. But by the time he got on foot settled on the ground, William Cobb was appearing from his hiding spot, and already looming over the Talon and Red Hood.
“Jason!” Tim screamed, already seeing the scenario play out. Dick would stab him first. Then William. Then, if he was still alive after that, they’d just keep stabbing him, until nothing was left. Then they’d slash his throat, just because.
But…no.
Because when William reached out, it was Dick he stabbed, right in where his throat and collarbone met.
Dick shrieked when he did, the sound echoing as William pulled the blade along his shoulder.
“No one betrays the Court.” William hissed, yanking the blade out. Dick looked practically feral as he faced him. “Not even you, Grandson. Your game was fun while it lasted, but now it’s time to end it.”
“No one betrays the Court?” Dick repeated, turning to face the other Talon. Jason silently tried to shimmy away, but Dick only spared him a glance, before swinging a blade into lower thigh, lodging it there. “The Court does not own me.”
“A fact they have become aware of.” William said. “Therefore, Richard Grayson, the Court of Owls has sentenced you to die. And it fills me with glee to be the one to take the contract.”
“Go ahead and try.” Dick hissed, taking one of his own knives and stabbing it into William’s neck. William jerked away before Dick could remove it, but he couldn’t dodge the punch that came after, nor the swift kick.
But he did catch the lunge that Dick tried next, and had his dagger in Dick’s side before anyone could blink.
Tim wasn’t focusing on their fight, though. He was focusing on their chance to get out. On their only chance, the only one they’ve had this whole fucking time.
On their brother who, honestly, he’s missed.
So as soon as Dick and William were a few feet away from Jason, he stood and ran over to him.
“Can you stand?” Tim breathed. Jason shrugged. “Okay, I’ll…I’ll help you.”
He glanced over to the fight between Talons. Both were bleeding now, but neither were giving up. Ripping blades out of themselves to attack the other with, keeping their punches and kicks, no matter how much their injuries may have been affecting them.
“…Should I help him?” Jason asked. “Is he…him?”
“No, to the second question.” Tim murmured. “And…I…I don’t know to the first.”
“…How many times has he threatened Damian?” Jason asked. “Or you?”
“You don’t want to know.” Tim shook his head. “But…he did protect us a few times, too.”
“Good enough for now, I guess.” Jason grunted, shifting to his side, pulling out his second gun. He held up it up, aimed for a moment, then shot, hitting William directly in the center of his throat.
It didn’t kill him, but it made him stagger, and drop his knife. Gave Dick the opening he needed.
He dug his blade into the hole Jason’s bullet created and sliced in a circle.
Sawed and sawed until William’s head detached from his body, and he’d successfully beheaded his grandfather.
“Fuck.” Jason breathed, as Dick turned, staring down at the head in his hands. But when Dick looked up, he wasn’t looking at any of them, but out into the harbor.
And without a word, he threw it into the waters.
But from the short, yet intense, battle, he was exhausted, and injured. And the effort of throwing William Cobb’s head seemed too much, as he collapsed to his knees, falling onto his hands.
This was it.
“Let’s go.” Tim whispered. “Jay…this is our chance.”
“Don’t want to…I don’t know, bring him along? Arrest him or…” Jason offered. And Tim knew Jason still didn’t grasp the severity of this. The severity of how not Dick this Dick Grayson was. How Tim had already realized they’d never have their Dick back, ever again.
“Leave him. We can…worry about him some other day.” Tim pushed. “Now come on, I’ll help you up.”
Jason nodded, and gasped in pain as Tim helped him to his feet, got him staggering the way he’d came. As he began to move a little better, Tim turned.
“Damian, let’s go.”
But Damian, who was still lying on the boardwalk where Tim had left him, didn’t move.
“Damian!” Tim hissed. He moved towards him, just a few steps. “It’s now or never, kid. We gotta move.”
Damian still didn’t move, and wouldn’t look at Tim. Still just staring at Dick.
“Damian. Come on.”
Now, the boy looked over, and to Tim’s surprise, there were tears pouring down his face.
“I can’t.” Damian choked. “I can’t leave him.”
“W-what?”
Damian looked back to Dick. To the Talon. To what Tim was finally accepting as their former brother.
“I can’t leave Grayson.”
“He’s…Damian, he’s…” Tim’s heart was shattering. “He’s not Dick anymore.”
“He…I can…Maybe…” Damian shifted to his knees. Looked back at Tim. “You go. Get Todd home. Rest. You deserve it.”
“I’m not leaving you here, are you crazy?!” Tim asked. He took another step forward, but this time, Dick looked up at him. His strength was already returning, and they were running out of time. “No. No way. Damian, let’s go. Now.”
But Damian was shaking his head as he stood. “I’m sorry.” He wailed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Damian, no!” Tim screamed, lunging for the boy. But Damian was faster, and ducked his hand, running to Dick’s side.
Dick didn’t emote as Damian kneeled next to him, putting a hand over a bleeding wound on his side. Didn’t even smile as Damian wrapped Dick’s arm around his neck, and hoisted him up.
He gave Tim one last look. His eyes were dark, and hollow. “I hope we see each other again one day.” He whispered. “Forgive me.”
Dick’s strength wasn’t back yet. So even as he leaned towards Tim to grab him, Damian steered him away, dragging him back into the shadows.
“Damian, wait!” But as Tim moved after them himself, he felt a hand grab his elbow.
“We won’t give up on him.” Jason promised. “But there’s nothing we can do right now. He gave us a chance, before Dick’s back in his right mind and comes after you. We need to take it.”
Crying, sobbing really, Tim nodded, turned and slowly helped Jason limp to safety.
…It all just happened so fast.
~~
Tim didn’t leave the manor much these days. Too busy drowning in a mixture of depression and PTSD, and spending days at a time in front of computers, looking for any sign of Dick and Damian.
The murders continued, and reports changed to include the murderer’s new tiny shadow. The Bird Boys, some channels called them. Or the Talon Twins. Some wondered if it was the return of the Red Hood and Scarlett from years gone by, or the Anti-Batman, with his Anti-Robin.
Some conspiracy website called them Ghosts, and Tim felt that was most fitting.
The mysterious Talon and his mysterious child never bothered the Bats, though. Never attacked, or colluded to with others. Tim even noticed in his constant research that the murders were now aimed towards the worst criminals of the worst. He was proud of Damian for that. A hero even now, when he really didn’t have to be.
But despite Damian’s final words to him, Tim never saw them either. Only followed their lives in barely-accurate news stories and alerts. But for Damian’s sake, he tried. Rented shady motel rooms and left notes in alleyways about them. Bought bags of groceries and left them in the abandoned buildings they frequented.
One time, he found a note in one, most definitely in Dick’s handwriting, that merely said Thanks. Another time, he found blood in the rented motel room. Later tests said it was Damian’s.
For not the first time in his life, he hated how close Dick and Damian were. Because maybe if they weren’t, maybe if Dick didn’t once love Damian like a son, maybe if Damian didn’t love Dick more than the sun – Damian would be here. Damian would be safe.
(More than once, though, when he found blood where he believed his brothers to be, it was confirmed to be Dick’s. Tim couldn’t help but smile then – Damian was holding his own.)
Regardless, he never saw them again, and he never got over it, what happened. Never returned to Red Robin. Never really returned to Tim Drake.
Maybe he died that day, when Damian stayed with the one who was hurting them so. Or maybe he died day one of this whole ordeal, when Bruce told him to run. Told him to protect Damian and get away.
He had failed so horribly at both of those things.
So maybe, he never really left Dick either, not mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually.
Maybe he was just another ghost too.
Maybe Jason was too. And Cass. And Steph. And Barbara. And Alfred. They all grieved alongside him. Every second of every day.
And maybe, in the end the Court of Owls got exactly what they wanted.
Characters: Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne
Summary: They were free from the Court, but not from Dick. So...now what?
A/N: This is just an angsty chat. But don’t worry - things frankly are just going to get worse from here. :3
Other Recognition AU stories
~~
To put it nicely – the building was a shithole.
Rundown and old. Abandoned and condemned to be demolished, whenever Gotham had the money to do so, or remembered.
The bodies of the homeless Dick had slayed to take over this spot were piled in the alleyway outside. Behind the dumpster.
But it wasn’t with the Court. It wasn’t a jail cell, and they were both alive, despite the duress they had, and continued, to endure.
So.
That was something.
“…So.” Tim whispered hoarsely, looking away from the broken window further down the wall – where the bodies were already beginning to smell – to stare back at Dick and Damian. Damian, who was leaned back against Dick’s chest, trapped between his knees, blinked stoically. His face was blank, as he clung to the clawed arms draped across his chest, and Tim knew he was trying to ignore the danger he was in, the person who was causing him so much fear and turmoil. The place he’d otherwise want to be, but right now couldn’t be far enough away if he tried. “Explain it to me again.”
“The Court never liked that I kept you alive.” Dick hummed boredly. “And they didn’t like how long it was taking to train you. I didn’t like it either, of course, but. You were always my experiment, not theirs. They have no say when you’re terminated. Only me.”
“…And you didn’t like that they ambushed us. Or tried to take your control away.” Tim surmised quietly, eyes glued on the youngest. “So now…?”
“Now we repay them in kind. They wanted to take us out for rebellion? Then we take them out.” Dick decided. “Only, unlike them, we succeed.”
“…Right.” Tim gulped. “And then?”
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“…Okay.” Tim whispered. “And…you never letting Damian out of your sight is part of this plan because…?”
Dick smiled, and Tim found himself starting to hate it. Hate everything about this man he once called his brother. “Because if I have him, I have you.”
“Blackmail.”
“A harsh term, but sure.” Dick squeezed Damian almost in a familiar hug, but Damian flinched under the attention. “I know you won’t ever leave him behind, even if it means walking into your own doom. It seems a better option than stabbing you in the leg.”
“Hm.” Tim frowned, and found himself unable to keep his barb back. “At least you’re smarter than you look.”
Dick dropped his grin, and he twisted his arm to wrap one of those clawed gloves around Damian’s arm. Not dangerous, not yet. A warning, for now.
“Careful.” Dick purred. “Any punishment you earn goes to him.”
“As if you could hurt me.” Damian whispered. It was an attempt at bravery, they all knew. Just as they all knew it didn’t work.
Dick’s grin returned as he curled tighter around Damian, and pressed their cheeks together. Almost like he used to, back when he was their brother, the one Tim and Damian loved more than anyone else. Back when he was a hero, the greatest human being to ever exist. Back before…before he was this.
“I believe,” He hummed in amusement. “I already have, little one.”
“Don’t.” Tim lashed out without thinking. Dick looked up at him and frowned. Damian’s eyes just widened. “God, just…use him against me, punch him in the face, whatever. He can take it, just…just not that. Don’t do the emotional shit.”
“…No?” Dick asked, almost innocently.
“No.” Tim growled. “Because you don’t even know what you’re mocking him with, so it’ll backfire on you anyway. And then you’ll just look stupid.”
Dick pursed his lips, stared for a moment, before glancing down at Damian.
“I think your brother is even stupider than I am.” He decided. Damian, keeping his eyes on Tim, nodded in faint agreement.
Tim only smiled.
“There you go.” Dick cooed pleasantly. “I knew you had a mean streak in you as well.”
“Well if that’s what you wanted all this time, all you had to do was ask.” Tim drawled, with a roll of his eyes. “So, what now? You said we take the Court out. How do we do that?”
“Lie low, for now.” Dick explained, glancing out the boarded window behind him. There was a small space between the wood, and light from the lowering sun cut across his face like a mask. “They’ll be angry and hunting now. We let them cool down a little bit first. Strike them when they least expect it.”
“That’s a…” Tim hesitated, debating. Pushed through anyway. “That’s a very Batman way of planning.” Dick looked back at him, but he didn’t look annoyed like Tim thought he might. Damian looked alarmed, though. “…So maybe Bruce Wayne’s house might be a better place to hide than here.”
“Is that so?” Dick asked, almost thoughtfully. Like he was considering it.
“You return us safely, and let us explain to him and our family that you actually saved us, they might even forgive you.” Tim tried. “But even if they didn’t, if you told them you were going after the Court, they’d be happy to join forces with you. And the more there are, the stronger we’d be, right?”
“In theory.” Dick agreed. He stopped, looking down at Damian. Damian carefully glanced up at him. Dick smiled, and god, Tim hated how dangerous that was now. “But no. We won’t be doing that.”
“…Oh.” Tim sighed. “Are you…sure?”
“Yes.” Dick looked back up, that smile still bright and deadly as he balanced his chin on Damian’s head. “Because I know for a fact that you don’t even know if Bruce Wayne is dead or not, and who am I to ruin the surprise?”
Tim couldn’t argue that.
“If you told us.” Damian whispered, closing his eyes. “We’d have less reason to run away from you. Part of the reason we want to leave you is to check on Father. So, if you just told us…”
“Oh, little one.” Dick squeezed Damian again, and Damian bit his lip. “You say that as if you could run away from me.” He leaned down to whisper in Damian’s ear, but loud enough for Tim to hear too. “I’d catch you and stab you in the spine before you got to the front door of this building.”
Tim silently grit his teeth.
“But that is neither here nor there.” Dick sighed, leaning back against the wall. “It is getting late, and you two need to sleep. You’re even more useless to me when you’re tired.”
“Are you going to sleep?” Tim drawled.
“Of course.” Dick nodded. “Though, unfortunately for you, I’m a light sleeper. So, try to escape, or take your brother from my arms, and I will slit his throat.”
And he said it in such a nonchalant way – Tim knew he would.
“So goodnight, little ones.” Dick hummed, closing his eyes. “Sleep well.”
Tim and Damian sat in silence until they sensed Dick’s breaths were even. Damian was exhausted, Tim could see it. Hell, he was exhausted himself. But he knew Damian wouldn’t dare let himself sleep until he felt safe. Until he felt at least some sense of security.
So carefully, slowly so as not to alarm Dick, he scooted closer to the pair. Twisted so he was sitting next to Dick, and carefully reached out for Damian’s hand.
Damian took it instantly.
“Get some sleep.” Tim whispered. Damian twisted his head to glare at him. “I will too, I promise.”
But before Damian could no doubt retort, there was a sound outside, like someone landing on a roof. Damian instantly squeezed Tim’s fingers, but Tim paid it no mind. Continued holding his little brother’s hand as he turned to glance out the boarded up window.
And he could barely hold in his gasp.
Because it wasn’t the Court. It wasn’t anyone looking for them, not really. Not technically.
It was Jason.
It was the Red Hood.
And he could tell by body language, Jason was just on patrol, not on their trail.
Cassandra landed behind him, then Steph. They talked for a moment. Cass pointed at something in the opposite direction of them. Jason went that way. Stephanie waited another moment before going a different way.
Tim lifted his free hand to the slit between the boards. Was going to slip his fingers between them. Wave, hit the board, do something to get her attention.
“Cass…” He whispered.
“Don’t.” Damian breathed, squeezing Tim’s hand impossibly tight. Pulled him subtly back. “Drake, please don’t.”
Tim looked at him. “She’s right there. If I can get her to look this way…”
Damian shook his head, and suddenly there were tears in his eyes. “He’ll kill her.”
“But-”
“He’ll kill her, Drake.” Damian gulped. “He’ll kill her, I know he will.”
Tim paused, but slowly took his hand away from the window.
“Please, don’t make him kill her.” Damian cried, a lone tear crawling down his face. “Don’t make him kill our sister.” A pause, then quieter. “…Please don’t make her kill him either.”
“…Okay.” Tim promised. He glanced back out the crack. Cass was gone now. He sighed, and turned back, placing his other hand over Damian’s, rubbing calming circles along the back of his palm. “Don’t worry, Damian. Just get some sleep. Everything’s okay.”
And he didn’t want to, but it was the only pillow he had. So, reluctantly, he leaned his head on Dick’s arm, and curled into his side – to be closer to Damian, if for nothing else.
“…Just get some sleep.”
Tim closed his eyes, and Damian did so too only seconds later.
In the Recognition au, will Dick ever remember his previous life? Or possess feelings other than ownership for Tim and Damian? It seems like his body sort of remembers how he used to interact with them. Is he also trying to manipulate them into staying with him voluntarily? (His smug grin after they refused to alert anyone.)
Honestly, I plan for this to be one of my few AU’s where there is not a happy ending. I don’t plan on having Dick remember a single second.
He doesn’t really remember how to interact with them. He only sort of recognizes/believes that he once was a big part of their lives, and uses that to his advantage, however malicious. I wouldn’t use manipulate as the word, but he knows he has a profound affect on Damian at least - and where Damian goes, Tim goes - and is using it to tear him down. He smirks at the end because he knows his idea is working.
Nigelio Recognition AU. They're not on the same team anymore, and Nelson's getting increasingly pissed at Nigel CONSTANTLY spacing out on him. But Nigel can't help it 'cause Elio is in his brain, non stop rant sending at him about Senna this and Senna that🤬🤬
Characters: Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, William Cobb, Damian Wayne
Summary: Tim could be honest, for once in his life - he had no idea what was going on. And it may just get him and Damian both killed.
A/N: Augh, this AU is so hard sometimes because y’all hype it SO MUCH and I can’t live up to the standard. Obviously wasn’t in other stories, but Damian and Tim have ‘trained’ with Dick and Cobb multiple times. As Tim says, this is less than a week after the last story, which means the Court lied to Dick in Posessions. Tim and Damian don’t know that Dick and the Court are fighting. Dick’s only rescuing them because, as implied, he believes they belong to them, and he still wants to/will indoctrinate them into Court/Talon ways. He still doesn’t care for them or remember them. Hopefully the next story will be better haha ^^;
Other Recognition AU stories
~~
It was less than a week later, Tim knew, when he awoke to the creak of the cell door being opened. He blinked slowly, looking lazily over his shoulder, keeping Damian secure in his arms.
Dick was standing there, face blank but expectant. It wasn’t the first time Dick appeared, wanting something, but this time…this time seemed different.
He and Tim just stared at each other for a moment, the only sound Damian’s breathing in Tim’s ear, before Dick said:
“Come with me.”
It also wasn’t the first time that demand had been made, but normally, Dick would just drag him from the cell. Physically harm him or Damian to make them do what he wanted. This time, he remained in the cell doorway.
“For what?” Tim asked quietly. Dick didn’t answer. Tim sighed, in no mood to play any of the mind games Dick seemed to enjoy, and shifted back to shake Damian awake. “…Fine.”
But just as he put his hand on Damian’s shoulder, Dick seemed to step forward. “No.” He ordered. “Just. Just you. Leave him here.”
Tim didn’t like the sound of that.
“What’s happening?” He asked instead, slowly unwinding from Damian anyway. Damian only moved once, but otherwise remained asleep, too weak to do anything but remain unconscious.
“Nothing.” Dick replied.
“Then why are you separating us?” Tim snapped. “I’m sure it’d be obvious, even to you, how much I’d rather we weren’t.”
“He’s not needed.” Dick returned coolly, almost sneering. “Unless you want me to work him into the training routine.”
“No.” Tim shot back. “No, you won’t lay a fucking hand on him again, you piece of-”
“Then let’s go.” Dick cut off sharply, turning away. He stepped out into the hallway and looked back at Tim, holding the edge of the door patiently. Tim hesitated, glancing back down at Damian one more time. “…He’ll be fine. We’ll most likely be finished before anyone would come down to check on the two of you, anyway.”
Tim waited, just a few more seconds, before inhaling and stepping out into the corridor. Dick made a pleased hum, gently swinging the door closed, and pulling at it again to make sure it was latched. When he was satisfied, he spun away, with a gesture for Tim to follow.
Tim did.
They left the dungeon, Dick closing and locking all the doors and barriers between Damian and the main hallway for the Court. Tim’s suspicions rose, but he didn’t say anything. Just watched and took note of his surroundings.
They ended up back in the old courtroom, the one Dick always took them to for his so-called training sessions. Where Tim and Damian were always inevitably overcome by their emotions, their love for the brother they lost, despite him standing right there, and faltered in their spars. Where Dick would take no mercy, and injure them with no thought.
Tim stopped a few feet from the doorway. Dick hadn’t closed the thick door this time, just slowly moving towards his spot across the floor.
“…What is this?” Tim asked hesitantly. “What are we doing?”
“You’ve been holding back. You and the child both.” Dick explained, pulling his arm across his body in a stretch. “I want to see what you’re really made of.”
“And what, you thought I wouldn’t do it in front of Damian?” Tim huffed. “You of all people should know, Dick. Don’t show all your cards.”
“Damian has nothing to do with this.” Dick returned icily, though Tim didn’t miss the way he glanced at the open door. “And I’m not talking strategy. Keep as much as that to yourself as you want, I do not care. I’m talking about strength. Sheer power.” He dropped into a fighting stance. “Show me what you’ve got.”
Tim watched him. “…And if I don’t?”
“Then I fear you and your brother may be in a lot more trouble than you believe yourself to be in.” Dick returned with a smirk. “I know you will not believe me, but I am trying to help you, here.”
“Help?” Tim snorted. “Help me with what?”
“Staying alive.” And without warning, Dick was running at him, knives at the ready. He was aiming for his jugular, for vulnerable parts of his body. Ready to kill him, even in this practice.
Tim blocked immediately, crossing his arms and ducking, taking Dick’s weight just enough to flip the older man over his head. Dick landed with all the grace of an acrobat, twisting back towards Tim, already at the ready for another attack. He launched, this time with just the claws of his deadly armour. Tim merely dodged the hit, backing up a step. Dick must have seen it coming, as he suddenly twisted, grabbing Tim and pulling him close. He lifted his free hand – the clawed glove – bringing it downwards dangerously fast.
Tim grabbed his wrist, holding it there with a grunt.
“Don’t defend.” Dick hissed, pushing with all of his strength. “Attack.”
“…Why?!” Tim gasped out, eyeing the glove fearfully.
“Because you and that boy are dead if you don’t.” Dick snapped, throwing Tim back, and backing up himself. Tim stared at him, hunched over and breathing heavy, as Dick tilted his head in curiosity. There was the echo of squeaky hinges, the swoosh of a door being carefully opened.
“I already.” Tim huffed. “I already told you. We’re not becoming Talons. You can’t make us. We’d rather die.”
“That’s a challenge for another day, and not the point of this exercise.” Dick shrugged, straightening his neck. “And dying is exactly what you will be doing, if you do not learn to hit back.”
Dick was lunging again, and this time Tim let him make contact. Tackle him to the ground and hold him there. He struggled, but halfheartedly. He was tired. So, so tired.
Not to mention confused.
Tim pushed at Dick’s chest, but Dick easily pinned his wrists to the ground. Tim struggled, but still didn’t hit him, and it seemed to be frustrating the Talon on top of him.
“They won’t kill you first, you know.” Dick exhaled. “They’ll go after your brother. Torture him while you watch. Make you beg.”
“What are you talking about?!” Tim shouted.
“I’ve given you so many openings.” Dick snapped, squeezing at Tim’s wrists. “A simple move, and you could be out of this hold. I’m giving you an out and you won’t even take it.”
“What. Are you. Talking. About?!” Tim growled. “If this isn’t some sort of…conditioning for Talon-hood, then what…”
“Maybe the Court was right.” Dick hummed. “Maybe you are a lost cause. Maybe I should just do away with you and find someone el-”
The scream was far away, but drowned out Dick’s voice completely. Echoed in the chambers, through the air, into Tim’s bones.
“Get away from me!”
Dick’s head jerked around towards the door, and after a moment he huffed a laugh.
“Knew it.”
Tim didn’t hear him, though. Didn’t register he’d even moved. All he could focus on was the sound of that voice, the adrenaline immediately bursting into his veins.
That was Damian.
“Don’t…” Damian yelled, followed by a loud crash. “Don’t!”
Tim was shoving Dick off of him before he knew it, though he felt as if Dick let him. He stumbled to his feet, racing towards the door without a care of who could be watching, or who might try to stop him.
Because they wouldn’t, no matter what.
The door to the cells, which Dick had so carefully closed and locked, was mangled, the keyholes destroyed. Even down the row of dungeons, he could see their cell door open, a group of three armoured and masked people huddled in its open doorway.
He jumped down the three stairs into the cells, but stopped immediately, taking in the scene. Two of the three Talons were large, monstrous things, while the third was smaller. Lithe, like Dick. He was standing back, while the two larger ones were in the cell, one in the entryway, while the other stood next to their bed.
Damian himself was standing on the bed, backed into the corner, but his fists at the ready. It wouldn’t do him any good, though. Tim could already see it. He was too weak. Too malnourished. Still recovering from those lingering injuries that Dick and the Court wouldn’t let go away, and the emotional trauma he was being forced to endure every day.
He was a dead man standing, and the Court members standing there could see it.
Tim moved to step forward, when suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder, not so gently pulling him back, and moving forward in his place.
“Stay here.” Dick ordered as he passed him. “And do exactly as I say.”
Tim didn’t have much of a choice, as there wasn’t a moment to argue. One second Dick was jerking him backwards, and the next, there was a knife in his hand, and he was plunging it into the throat of the Talon standing in the doorway. The Talon howled, but Dick gave it no mind, dragging the blade through skin and protective leather alike.
The body dropped, but Dick was moving before it did, grabbing the chin and temple of the Talon closest to Damian, twisting his head so quickly, with so much force, that it was almost ripped from his shoulders. Damian made a noise of surprise, a motion to try to stop Dick, as that body collapsed too, but froze when Dick turned towards the third Talon. The smaller one, still standing in the hall.
“You were with them the whole time, weren’t you?” Dick asked slowly.
“Richard, I was never on anyone’s side.” The other Talon –William Cobb, probably – said, gleefully. “Just a mere spectator.”
“Spectator.” Dick scoffed. “Would I be wrong to assume you’re the one who whispered in the Court’s ear to move early and kill my captives?”
“I would never do anything of the sort.” William sounded defensive. “They merely asked me to oversee the child’s execution, and I was bored so I figured – why not.”
Even from down the hall, Tim could see Dick was furious – and maybe a little conflicted.
“They’ll know the execution failed. They’ll know you’re the one that stopped it. That you killed your own. That automatically makes you an enemy, Grandson, you know that.” William hummed, as Dick jerked around to look up at Damian, still in his own defensive position on the bed. “…I’ll give you a head start, if you like.”
“I don’t want anything from you.” Dick snapped, suddenly reaching out and grabbing Damian’s wrist. Damian only resisted once, but came almost willingly as Dick dragged him from the bed and out of the cell. They splashed through the growing puddle of blood like it was water, and it instantly stained Damian’s bare feet. “Let’s go.”
“No one’s ever tried to leave the Court and survived, Richard.” William called lazily. Dick only tightened his grip on Damian’s arm. “What makes you think you’re so special?”
“Move.” Dick ordered to Tim as they got close enough.
“They’ll come after you.” William called lazily. “And kill you on the spot. Your pets, too. This game of yours is as fun to watch as I’m sure it is to play, but. Honestly, Richard. You don’t actually believe you’ll win, do you?”
Tim remained frozen to his spot, just staring down at Damian. Halfheartedly reaching for him as he and Dick neared.
“I said, move.” Dick reiterated, harsher than before, gesturing first at Tim, then at the door.
Tim still didn’t, confusion and adrenaline and concern destroying his functionality, and William laughed.
Dick practically growled, one foot already on the stairs out of the dungeon, and yanked Damian forward. Without warning, he wrapped an arm around Damian’s waist, and lifted him, through him harshly over his shoulder.
“Move, Timothy, or you’ll never see him-” He jerked his head towards Damian, who was scrambling to grab something for stability on Dick’s uniform. “-again.”
Tim swallowed the lump in his throat, and when Dick hopped up the stairs, he followed quickly after.
“What…what’s happening?” Tim breathed, as Dick practically ran through the hallways. “Did you…did you know this was going to happen?”
“I had a hunch.” Dick returned monotonously. “I assumed they’d strike when they believed me distracted, or the two of you somehow separated.”
“You knew they were going to try to kill him?!” Tim shouted. “What would have happened if their plan worked? If we didn’t hear them, or…or didn’t get there in time?! What if they’d killed him before we got there?!”
“It’d have been unfortunate, I guess.” Dick sighed, pausing at an intersection and looking around. “For you, anyway.”
Damian only glanced up at Tim from his awkward position, and his eyes looked anguished. Tim tilted his head in sympathy, and smiled sadly when Damian reached out for him. Instantly, gladly, he intertwined their fingers, and held on even as Dick moved forward again.
“I’ll…I can carry Damian.” Tim practically whispered.
“You won’t.” Dick returned boredly. “He’s needed now. Or is there another way to make sure you stick close by?”
Tim bit his lip, and squeezed Damian’s fingers.
“…Why is the Court trying to kill us?” Tim asked shortly. “Was it something we did? Something you did?”
“They were never happy that I didn’t kill you along with your father.” Dick hummed. “And they didn’t like the progress I was making, so decided to eradicate the project.”
“And…” Tim started, hating himself for feeling the hope well up in his chest. “…you didn’t want them to?”
“Of course not.” Dick glanced back at Tim with a vicious smirk. “I’m not done with the two of you, yet.”
Tim grit his teeth, and held firm to Damian as the younger brought his other hand up to cling to Tim too.
“…Where are we going?” Tim asked quietly, as they turned another corner.
Dick looked around, and then perked when he spotted a door along the wall, moving even faster towards it.
listen…your recognition au series is so good!! altho im worried damian and/or tim will crack and give in to become a talon:((( your characterization of talon!dick is rly good!! and the fact that dick would destroy the court just to protect what he considers 'his' is rly creepy but is soooo interesting plot-wise. i can't wait for the next part!! (you're still writing for series right??)
I am still writing it! Or plan to. I have the whole rest of the plot planned out, and like I’ve been saying this whole time (to warn y’all) the ending won’t be happy. As for what Tim and Damian, and even Dick, will or won’t do, well...
hahaha...hahah....haha...ha.
(I have the whole rest of the plot screenshot, as I sent it to someone else who asked. I can give it to y’all/give you the basic gist of the ending if you really want to know~)
