I think I’ve seen something like this be done for basically all the batfam, except Bruce. So I’m thinking:
What if Bruce died somewhere early in his life? Before meeting any of his kids. Maybe during his training to become Batman. But instead of passing on completely, he remained on this side of the veil for one reason or another.
Maybe he was partially revived by whatever surrounded him at the moment of his death, revived enough, but still dead enough to be considered a denizen. (I prefer if he isn’t a Halfa, but it could work too).
So, Bruce acts and interacts with the world around him as a denizen. The grunts, ominous staring, the patented bat glare, the way he manages his civilian identity, the way it seems he can’t communicate clearly with anyone, how easily he obsesses over things. It’s all pretty strange for the living independent of species.
But then Phantom comes along, either adult Phantom joining the JL, or teen Phantom getting involved with JL/Batfam, and he just understands him perfectly.
To Danny, this is normal conversation. Meanwhile everyone else is confused out of their minds. It’s even funnier because Bruce and Phantom act nothing alike, Phantom is chatty and cheerful and nothing like Batman, yet they click instantly. The Infinite Realms host all kinds of beings with wildly different communication patterns, and denizens just get each other. Doesn’t mean all denizens get along, but, Phantom and Batman are pretty much on the same wavelength of thinking.
I think it could also lead to some interesting angst. Especially with the batkids. Because. What do you mean it’s basically a miracle they ever got to meet him? What do you mean the most likely outcome was that Bruce never made it back, never became Batman, and never became their dad/father figure/trusted adult?
i know i'm not the first to think about the z-team at some SDN and/or hero-focused gala or some kinda holiday party. i'm leaning towards like fundraising gala? think the met gala but for SDN/herowork fundraisers. it's a first for all of the phoenix program, save for robert.
i think he did them a lot in his earliest days of being mecha man? mainly because everyone was still reeling from the death of his father so he felt like he had to. like maybe even had a sorta mini-costume he could wear as a kid that affiliated him with his father but kept his identity a secret otherwise. he's not a huge fan of them, mainly because most of his experience is people being like weird or overly sympathetic. a lot of trying to recruit him to a team or corporate gig.
but two thoughts i really had about this, one soft n sweet and the other just robert being an absolute menace:
the soft n sweet thoughts. blonde blazer has been doing a lot of these, she's a pro at them. but she doesn't really realize just how terrifying an event this would be for a buncha new heroes but also a buncha new heroes who are also, explicitly and publicly, former villains. which isn't good when a big part of this gala is celebrating SDN's success with the phoenix program, and is hoping to get more funding for it after proving how effective it can be.
but robert and chase do, and thats whats important. chase isn't even part of the z-team or phoenix program officially, but hell they've kinda grown on him. even if its hard to tell thru the swear-filled pep talks. but robert is a little more gentle, he helps reassure everyone. like yeah robert gives his own swear filled pep talk here and there but mostly it's checking in with each of them. like some that come to mind for me are:
sonar is probably the most calm, he probably used to weasel his way into these sorta functions constantly to hunt for marks. but it's different now. robert helps him fix his tie and congratulates him on his most recent milestone in NA.
mal is hesitant, there are plenty of non-human heroes, but being a half-demon kinda makes even the most well-intentioned people wary. or weird and horny in creepy ways. robert helps her pick between two necklaces (and reminds her he doesn't need powers to break someone's jaw if they won't leave her alone).
you'd think visi was trying to set a record speed run for going thru a single inhaler. robert gets her to do some square breathing and tells her if she ever gets overwhelmed she is allowed to step to the side and go invisible for a moment.
prism is at least confident she can talk her way out of anything, and robert just subtly enough for plausable deniability sake, lets her know he's cool if the band is too boring and she wants to 'help them out'.
flambae is doing a decent job of hiding his anxieties. robert holds out his hair tie for him as he does his ponytail, reassures him that yes bitch omfg your hair looks perfect sheesh (no don't you dare re-do it for a 15th time (hashtag relatable)) and when he almost forgets his sun glasses, robert grabs them for him.
when in doubt, they can stick to robert or come find him. he's sure everything will be fine, even if its weird and different. they'll be fine, and they belong there. they're all heroes.
oh also robert brings beef because that's his and the z-team's emotional support pupper. he does not clear this with BB first and she just sighs and says okay, and if anyone complains, redirect them to her.
and now for my crack-treated-seriously, robert being a menace thoughts. there is one hero that's just. a real dick. harmless, but a dick. doesn't like robert, but does know mecha man would be good for his team. tries to recruit robert. and the z-team who are mostly staying at least within ear and/or eye-shot of robert can tell he's annoyed and start inching closer. robert politely declines the offer, like he does all of them that night. the guy makes a harmless, but rude comment and walks off. it's not even about him so much as it is about the z-team and implications that he could do better (as if that is even possible).
so robert turns to find everyone there and very quickly cut off any talk about dragging the guy out back and flying his body into international waters. they grumble, and less agree not to and more agree to make it a backup plan. instead:
robert: now i'm very proud of you all for behaving, not committing any crimes because you're heroes now... however, i am allowing for one (1) singular thing to be done. but i get to choose what happens. understood?
z-team: *eagerly agreeing*
robert: *plants his hands on sonar's shoulders* sonar, as a present for doing so well this week and with NA recently: i happen to know that hero decently well, and even his real identity. which, i'm not going to tell you [collective disappointment from everyone]. but i am going to tell you three very important things about that man.
sonar: *perking up excitedly* omg yeah okay go hit me
robert: 1. that man is a spherical idiot, 2. he-
visi: [interrupting] whats a spherical idiot?
robert: it's like a spherical bastard; which is someone who is a bastard from all possible angles. but in this case, an idiot.
sonar: *looks like he is about to start vibrating out of his skin*
robert:: anyways, 2. he's a trust fund kid. and, this last piece is the most important thing, sonar--
sonar: [just making excited bat noises]
robert: and 3... he went to yale. and he flunked out.
sonar: *literally shaking* can i-
robert: yes, but him and only him. and only shit you can complete tonight, so it's gotta be a nice, tight bottle-con, understood?
sonar: *nearly in tears* understood!
robert: go get em, buddy
i just think sonar should be allowed to con one (1) harmless but jerk of a hero
au where immortal!leon finds arthur first when he comes back, and arthur has already been out of the lake for maybe fifteen to twenty minutes and he goes "leon thank god these people just passed me and theyre speaking in a language i dont understand and wearing funny clothing and this place is the same but it feels sort of wrong" and leon has a split second to unbury the knowledge of how to speak english from 1500 years ago and then decide how to prevent his king from having a breakdown and damn he does not get paid enough (aka, at all) for this and where's merlin when he needs him?
so he makes the (admittedly odd) decision to pretend that he, too, had recently come back to life and is also confused, so he says "arthur, my lord, thank GODS i've found you, i didnt think anyone else had come back, ive been back for a few days and its been so frightening all alone"
and of course, this immediately this puts arthur in Leading His People mode which he is good at! so he falls into a comfortable role and leon is like "phew crisis averted, the king isnt going to break down yet" but now he realises he must venture into the real world and pretend he knows little-to-nothing about it and that he speaks no modern english and he's got arthur, who's still in his honest-to-god chainmail with a sword strapped on him, and where's merlin when he needs him?!
so he suggests to arthur that they try to find merlin because leon thinks he saw him in passing the first day he was back (a lie) and maybe he'll know more, so leon slowly leads them to where he knows merlin is living, all the while experiencing the most secondhand embarrassment he has ever experienced because arthur is trying to speak to people in a language that hasnt existed for over a millennia and is still wearing his damned armor and he STILL has to come up with a way to explain all of this to merlin
so after three days of traveling on foot, because he cant reveal that he has any knowledge of public transportation and arthur is weary of the big metal beats that contain multitudes of people, they turn up on merlin's doorstep, arthur still in his armor and chainmail, leon looking tired and long-suffering per usual
and merlin is like ?!??! because he wasnt not mentally prepared to see arthur, so all he says is "leon, i wan't expecting you until wednesday for movie night?" and promptly passes out
We talk a lot about Grace being touch starved which is GREAT, but think about my pal Rocky!!
It seems to me like Eridians are probably very physically affectionate creatures the way humans are. Maybe even more so considering what Rocky said about how they watch each other sleep. I don’t remember if he says this in the book, but at least in the movie he says that normally he would be on Grace’s chest to watch him.
Eridians are used to having physical contact while sleeping. And not just with close friends or family. They are right on top of each other when they sleep!! It’s a social norm, a survival tactic, and a vital part of their lives. It’s a way of knowing they’re safe. And maybe it’s only in that context but that level of comfort with touch makes me think maybe Eridians are very touchy in general!
And Rocky has been alone with nobody to watch him sleep for so long.
And even after meeting Grace, even after he has someone to watch him sleep, he still can’t have that touch. He’s still isolated. It’s been 46 years and FINALLY he has someone with him, but they still can’t touch.
Rocky is making that xenonite suit for himself as much as for Grace. He desperately wants to be able to be on Grace’s chest (at least lay a claw over him, be closer to his heartbeat. He’s heavy by human standards so he doesn’t want to crush him, but still!!). And he wants, just for once after 46 years, to have someone over him, guarding and holding him when he sleeps. He feels so so vulnerable and exposed without someone holding him.
And maybe Eridians don’t hug exactly, maybe their forms of physical affection are a little different, but god, he’d love to give Grace a proper hug.
