conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 82 (masterpost here)
Jason: i'm just gonna say it; making a map of all food trucks that own liquor licenses in Gotham was the best thing we've done this year. i cannot believe that the best chocolate martini i've ever had was served to me in a paper bag from a van.
Dick: gotta love Gotham. like, Bludhaven is my home and all, but there's no beating the creativity and entrepreneurship consistently spat out by money-hungry Gothamites on random week nights.
Jason: *bag crinkling* *satisfied grunt*
Dick: *hum* ok, i have another one.
Jason: shoot.
Dick: if you hadn't been taken in by B, what kind of person do you think you'd be today? like, do you think you'd be more likely to end up a good member of society or do you think you would have gone criminal?
Jason: ooh, ok, that's a good one. i- *considering hum* ...i dunno. on one hand, i like to think i was quite well behaved before i died, so i think if i hadn't been taken in by B then i wouldn't have ended up being resurrected and becoming... this. i probably would have been more traditionally 'good'.
Dick: fair.
Jason: -on the other hand, i met B because i was jacking cars and nicking tires at ten years old. so it's not like i was a fuckin' angel.
Dick: it's interesting you said you wouldn't have been resurrected, not wouldn't have died. do you think the Joker would have still gotten you even if you weren't Robin?
Jason: oh, no, i don't- i don't think the Joker would have killed me, but- but Dick? hey, Dick? *snort* i was never living past sixteen on the streets,
Dick: *wheezes* you don't think you would have made it??
Jason, drawing out: nyooooo,
Dick: *laughing*
Jason: like i said, i was fuckin- i was ten years old, thinkin' i could take on Batman. i had nobody in my corner during that period of time. i firmly believe that if i hadn't been swept up by Bruce then i would have ended up accidentally challenging Two-Face to a fist fight and dying within a year. that's my prediction.
Dick: so you think being Robin saved you?
*pause*
Dick: *cackle*
Jason: lets not- *wheeze* lets not go that far,
Dick: -shut up! *amused* come on, you know what i mean. you think without Robin you wouldn't have reached twenty?
Jason: yeah, that's probably more accurate. what about you? if you hadn't become the first boy wonder, where do you think you would have ended up?
*bag crinkling*
Dick, grave: jail.
Jason: *abrupt choke* *coughing, laughing* w-hat?
Dick, casually: -for either assaulting a police officer, verbal abuse, or second degree murder. attempted or successful, i dunno.
Jason, still struggling to clear his airways: *through laughter* what the fuck?
Dick: *amused* look man, i was an angry kid. you forget i was the fucker that made B think there was a good reason to let children go around beating up criminals; i was bad enough that he figured this was the best option.
Jason: ok- ok fair enough, no, yeah, you were definitely a piece of work when i met you, that's for sure.
Dick: yeah- and that was after the ten or so years of B's version of physical therapy. people always think i was so bubbly and happy when i was Robin, but i think it was actually the adrenaline of fighting people all night--basically got me high.
Jason: oh ok, so you weren't happy, you were just a sociopath in his dream environment?
Dick: no no, B had me tested. just a lot of anger issues and probable unmedicated OCD or ADHD.
Jason, crowing in glee: he had you tested-!
Dick, also laughing: shut up! honestly, that's probably why i didn't like you so much at first, y'know?
Jason: what, because you wanted to kill me?
Dick: no- *bursts out laughing*
Jason: *snickering*
Dick: no- because i thought you were gonna be just like me. B told me he brought in some kid off the streets and i was like, 'fuck great, now there's gonna be another violent little shit in the house'.
Jason: boy did i break the mold,
Dick: yeah turns out you were the complete fucking opposite to me, at first.
Jason: 'at first' *laughing* 'cause i mutated into the violence eventually.
Dick: well yeah, i was right eventually.
Jason: but if you didn't like the idea of me being problematic as a kid, how come you still hated me even when i was so well behaved and quiet?
Dick: *snort* well see- see that was the other issue, in that you being a good kid--which you did to piss me off-
Jason, conceding: -which i did to piss you off,
Dick: -right, but you being a good kid then brought up a different issue for me, because that meant you were blowing up my fucking spot.
Jason, amused: i was what?
Dick: well listen- B had no experience with kids before me, and he sure as hell didn't know what parenting was supposed to be like. i was able to set the fucking curve and tell him that i was normal. you fucking- coming in with all your homework and thank yous and eternal gratitude and fucking Cindy-Lou who personality bullshit,
Jason: *cackling loudly* CINDY-LOU WHO,
Dick: you blew up my spot! you let B know i was part of the fucking problem! you snitched on me for being a problem-child!
Jason, still laughing: *wheeze* oh god, i'm so sorry, i had no idea!
Dick, indignant: YEAH.
Jason: *wheezes again* i get it, fuck i get that. that's what i was like with Tim at first.
Dick: you- right!?! so you know what i mean!
Jason: fuck, yeah man. Bruce's whole thing with me was that i was the Robin that didn't fucking listen to him; i kept ignoring orders and doing my own thing and it got me benched. then i die, come back, and we have the fucking- the military disciplined soldier that Timothy Jackson Drake provided, we have him in my uniform, and i'm watching him through my binoculars like... fuck.
Dick: EXAC- god, he was so good at listening to orders back in the day. it was almost robotic, used to piss me off.
Jason: i was like, 'fuck he's better than me'.
Dick: *wheeze*
Jason, starting to laugh: luckily- luckily it turns out- *slight snort* turns out he sucks too,
Dick: *wheezes even harder*
Jason: dude, when he- when Tim started acting out as Robin, i felt the biggest burst of euphoria known to man.
Dick: *still wheezing*
Jason: like-, i never had to worry about Damian, you know? i raised that kid. i've seen the shit he does. i've watched him try to lie to my face about whether or not he stole and used my katana while holding his bleeding arm. i always had faith that Damian was going to be a little bitch. but Tim?! i turned up to him being like that and i was like... fuck. he's gonna make us all look shit, isn't he?
Dick: i know, it really- it was a good day for the Wayne children when we realised Tim was just as much a dickhead as we all are. a true miracle.
Jason: *humming casually* and then he tried to commit genocide in the league of assassins and we were like shit fuck no wait too much not like that-
Dick: *wheezes*
*distant burglar alarm*
Jason and Dick: *instant groans*
Dick: god-DAMMIT, can't they see we're on BREAK?
Jason: *limbs clicking* *tired grunt* alright, alright, let's get this over with. you good to- can you walk? you had more van-cocktails than me.
Dick: *also grunting* what am i, a pussy? oh- woah-
Jason: woah- hold on, let me- hold my arm. *snickering* god this fight is gonna be so funny.
conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 81 (masterpost here)
*connecting ping*
Jason: i spy, with my little eye, a little Robin that is slacking off,
Tim: the fuck...?
Damian: wait what- where are you?
Jason: ten o'clock, two buildings over.
Damian: *a slight pause* oh you stalker, what are you doing out of the alley?
Jason: catching you lacking, apparently.
Tim: the hell is going on over there?
Jason, amused: kid's hidin' behind an AC unit so he can ditch patrol and go on his phone.
Damian, pointedly: that's not what i'm doing, actually, so you can mind your own business,
Tim: you're not even supposed to have your civilian phone on you during patrol, it's a security risk. and where the fuck did B go?
Jason: oh he's in this call, he's just got us on mute.
Damian: he was questioning a couple gang members so i left. he'll notice soon, i'm sure, just like he'll soon notice his phone is missing.
Tim: his phone?
Jason: oh my god you stole Batman's phone- hold on, i'm coming over there, hold on.
Damian: well he didn't listen to his own rules regarding the subject, so i figured he deserved to suffer at least a little bit.
*wind whooshing* *boots against concrete*
Jason: *laughs* holy shit you have his actual phone-!
Tim, admiring: how did you get it unlocked?
Damian: i have a note in my own phone with all of your passwords written down from when i look over your shoulders and memorise them.
Tim: what-
Jason, amused: what are you doing with it?
Damian: well i was just going to hide it and make him experience supreme anxiety by thinking his personal possession is lost somewhere in the streets of Gotham, but he's been annoying me lately so i've kind of been doing... this.
*a beat*
Jason: *wheeze* NO WAY,
Tim: wait what- what's he done?!
Damian: i've been doing this for a while, actually. i just delete the evidence afterwards so he can't find out.
Jason: *weeping* you- you've done this before...?
Tim: WHAT'S HE DONE?
Jason, struggling to keep composure: he's- he's texting people as Bruce--he's text Clark,
Tim: what?! what's he said?
Jason: he- *wheeze*
Damian, slightly amused: do you want me to read it out?
Jason, weakly: please,
Damian: i, uh- *amused throat clear* i found a photo on the internet of a close-up on some man's inner thigh, showing a mole. it's not indecent in any way, it's just... slightly too intimate.
Jason: *wheezes again*
Damian, over him: -but it matches Father's body type, so i sent it to Superman. and then i said 'do you think i should get this checked or just see what happens? it's new, which i know might be concerning, but Batman's survived way worse than a mole, right?'
Jason, high-pitched, crying: -so weird,
Tim, incredulous: ...WHY????
Damian: i told you; because he can be annoying.
Jason: *still laughing*
Tim: yes but why THAT specifically?!
Damian: well that's the game, isn't it? it has to be odd, but not such a red flag that Kent instantly thinks Father's phone has been hacked. weird, but in an abstract way. it also needs to be enough of a none-issue that i can delete the interaction off this phone before i slip it back into Father's pocket and Kent won't think it's alarming enough to bring up again.
*brief pause*
Tim, in disbelief: dude, why have- why have you thought this out so much- how many times have you done this?!
Damian, sighing in consideration: well, when i first came to Gotham i had a few anger issues, i guess--inherited from biological donor number three, i'm sure,
Jason: -i resent that-
Damian: -and this was a good way to let off some steam without being grounded for attempting to kill anybody. when i first started i had to be careful, because Kent had a very specific view of Father. but over time i believe i've desensitised him somewhat.
Jason: do you just text Uncle Clark every time?!
Damian: no, i don't always attempt to embarrass Father. sometime i just use him as a medium to make other people suffer.
Tim, horrified: please tell me you've never texted me as Bruce.
Damian: no, i've never needed to, we have the fight pact. when you piss me off i just fight you.
Jason: healthy.
Damian: i got Dick pretty bad, though.
*connecting ping*
Dick: B, i need you.
Jason: speak of the devil.
Tim: oh he's been muted for the past like, twenty minutes. you need back up?
Dick: oh, no, i just needed to remember the name of one of my old middle school teachers and thought he'd know because it's really pissing me off that i can't remember it.
Jason: the fuck do you need to know that for?
Dick: brain-worm. anyway, what are we on over here?
*silence*
Damian: nothing important.
Tim: no fuck off- Damian's stolen Bruce's phone and he's texting people pretending to be him 'to make people suffer'.
Damian: Timothy i will fucking fight you.
Dick: -YOU HAVE HIS PHONE?! that's fucking hysterical, who's the target?
Jason: *pointed* currently, Uncle Clark. but he's not the only- hooly shit Clark's typing. he's typing- he's fucking typing.
Tim: oh my god,
*silence*
Jason: *abrupt cackling* NO FUCKING- *wheeze* NO WAY-,
Damian: oh my god- oh my god wait,
Tim: what the fuck did he say?!
Jason: *still cackling*
Dick: YOU CAN'T LEAVE US LIKE THIS!
Jason, struggling to breathe: GOD- Uncle Clark is the best on earth,
Tim: THE FUCK DID HE SAY?!
Jason: he- *wheeze* he's said- *cough* 'it doesn't seem abnormal, however if you'd feel more comfortable with a friend rather than a doctor then i could always x-ray the spot next time i see you to check for any growths underneath the skin.'
Tim: GOD, HE'S SO NICE?
Jason: *cackles*
Dick: what the fuck did you tell him!?!
Damian: all i did was send a photo of Father's new thigh mole.
Jason, crying: oh god- i love him,
Damian: sh, sh, i'm trying to concentrate,
Jason: what are you- WHAT ARE YOU RESPONDING? HE'S RESPONDING AGAIN.
Tim: Dami- *wheeze* Damian,
Damian: *snickering* ok how about that?
Dick: read it out read it out read it out.
Jason: uh- 'i think that would be helpful for the next JL meeting, but if you could-' *long, painful wheeze*
Tim: WHAT?
Jason: *not breathing*
Damian, calmly: 'but if you could do it discreetly, without me having to be pulled aside; i'd rather not cause speculations about why we would need to meet privately. you can just do it during the meeting.'
Jason: *whimpering*
Dick: oh, my, fuck.
Tim, struggling to keep his voice level: w-wait, so he's- so at the next Justice League meeting Clark is just gonna be there subtly trying to- *wheeze* trying to stare at Batman's inner thighs,
Jason, through choked weeps: -just on his own special little mission,
Tim: his own- *collapses into laughter*
Dick: Damian that's- that's fucking diabolical.
Tim: dude what does Bruce even do to you to deserve this stuff?!
Damian: yeah i should- i should probably clarify that i do love my father,
Dick: *instant cackle*
Damian: like i- *slight wheeze* i do- it might not seem like i like him,
Jason, crying: i can't- oh my god my side hurts,
Damian: i do love him, i just- sometimes he's a hypocrite, and he needs this.
Tim, matter-of-factly: God sent you to test this man, he knew- God knew that somebody needed to check Batman before he rose to complete power, so he cobbled together all of our essences and poured it into a new vessel to keep him firmly grounded on earth, and that vessel is you,
Jason, still laughing: that's true- when i was up there i had a private conference with the guy just like 'you know he's starting to get out of control, right? i was doing my best but the Joker got me, so what's the plan?' and God was like 'don't worry, Jason. i have plans. you have been chosen to bring my prophecy to fruition. like Mary with Jesus, you will bring fourth a solution.' and the solution was this.
Tim: *cackle*
Damian: not even close to the worst thing i've done to anybody with this phone, by the way. what i did to Dick was objectively way worse.
Dick, laughter stopping abruptly: -wait what?
Jason: yeah what did you do to Dick?
Dick: YOU'VE DONE THIS TO ME?!
Damian: ...you're joining from Bludhaven, right?
Dick: w-?!?! YEAH? WHY?
Damian: ok then that's far enough away for me to tell you.
Tim, amused: holy shit what'd you do?
Damian: he annoyed me. he promised to take me to the museum, and then he cancelled so he could go on a date.
Dick: you- YOU SAID YOU WERE FINE WITH THAT.
Damian: i lied. so i text you from Father's phone and told you that for the medical files in the Batcave it was imperative that you provide a recent and up-to-date record of your sexual history and amount of partners you've had overall. we argued about it for a while, but eventually i wore you down and you agreed to put one together.
Dick: WHAT.
Jason: *loud cackles, increasing in pitch*
Tim, in awe: holy fuck.
Dick, genuinely distressed: DAMIAN- I GAVE THAT RECORD TO HIM IN PERSON,
Jason: *abruptly deflates* Y-HES, OH MY GOD YES CHILD,
Dick: WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK- THAT WASN'T HIM?!! OH MY GOD HE WAS SO CONFUSED WHEN I HANDED HIM IT--HE LOOKED AT ME SO WEIRDLY,
Jason: *losing his complete shit*
Dick: DAMIAN!
Damian, unapologetic: next time remember bros before hoes, what can i say.
Dick: THAT'S NOT AN EQUAL REACTION. WHAT THE FUCK.
Bruce: interrogation complete; Robin where have you disappeared off to?
Dick: I'M GOING TO END YOU DAMAIN-
Tim: *wheezes* you might have- you might have missed a few things, B.
Bruce: i wasn't even muted for that long- what's going on here?
Dick: I'M KILLING YOUR ONLY BIOLOGICAL SPAWN, THAT'S WHAT.
Tim, morbidly curious: i've actually never seen Dick this mad at Damian before, this is kinda impressive.
Jason: *struggling to breathe* no- no kid come here- *wheeze* i'm gonna- i'm gonna- come here, let daddy protect you, i'm so proud of you kiddo,
Damian: yeah i'm sticking with you for the next few days. keep Grayson away from me.
Jason: i love you more than anything, habibi, i got your back,
Bruce: what on earth-
Dick: FUCKING- JASON? HE NEEDS TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
Jason: not for this, this is amazing. i'm taking him, we're out. sucks to be you, Goldie.
*2 disconnecting pings*
Dick: *scream of frustration*
*disconnecting ping*
*silence*
Bruce: ...what did Robin do?
Tim: i am... not answering that.
*three seconds of silence*
Bruce: did Hood actually just refer to himself as Robin's 'daddy'?
*a beat*
Tim: um. yeah that's- that's new slang. it's from the- it's a league of assassins youth thing. don't question it.
au where Jason is the one to deliver Damian to Bruce but he and Damian get into an argument on the drive over about how good at stealth missions Damian is and it ends in Jason double-dog daring him to skip the whole 'introduction' aspect of going to live with Bruce and instead to just sneak into the manor and see how long he can go unnoticed for.
Damian's claim is that the manor is so big and Damian's so good at remaining hidden that he could live in the manor without anybody else there clocking him easy. Jason just wants to see how long he can actually go because in his mind the longer Bruce goes without realising he has Damian in the house, the funnier the reveal will be. he's actually kinda rooting for Damian purely because it's funnier if he pulls it off for a really long time first. then Jason can snitch on him and the fall-out will be glorious.
he lasts about four months.
two weeks in and Alfred becomes suspicious, but chooses to believe that it's raccoons or pigeons in the attic because then he doesn't have to get involved. and he really doesn't want to get involved.
a month in and Damian almost gets caught by Tim while trying to steal some food in the middle of the night and getting cornered in the kitchen, but Tim hadn't slept in three days and was high on cold medicine at the time so he assumed that Damian was actually a hallucination of Bruce as a child, and all he did was stare Damian directly in the eye and solemnly tell him 'never ask your parents to go see a movie with you.' before going to pass out in the study.
two months in and Damian has gotten into a rhythm with it. feeling unchallenged, he starts waiting for Bruce to fall asleep in front of the batcomputer during hard cases so he can sneak out from the walls and fix whatever Bruce is getting wrong and solving the case before he wakes up.
three months in and Dick runs into him while sneaking in through a side door so he can grab some stuff from his bedroom without having to talk to Bruce, but Damian bullshits that he's one of Tim's school friends visiting to complete a school project, and Dick gives him twenty dollars to promise that he won't tell anybody Dick is in the building.
four months in and he gets cocky; starts ordering packages to the manor addressed to himself. Alfred asks Bruce at the dinner table why they've received an amazon package for 'Damian Wayne' and nobody knows what the fuck he's talking about. the next night the Red Hood snitches and asks how 'Damian's doing' and Bruce becomes convinced that Hood has the manor bugged. demands a full sweep of the building. Tim comes across Damian napping in a hammock in the attic wearing Tim's presumed-lost clothes next to a pile of supremely confidential files stolen from the batcave.
Damian wakes up and promptly tells them all that they aren't allowed to be mad because the statute of limitations for breaking and entering has passed already. Jason laughs so hard he cries.
Summary: A "double-dose of forbidden." That is what Sebastian Sallow stumbles into -- quite literally -- after one step too far into the Restricted Section.
A secret passage, a hidden library, and within it, an artifact he'll worship once he comes to understand it.
Word Count: ~2,800
Warnings: aged-up characters, language, sexual allusions
“Who’s down here!?”
With a criminally loud thunk, Sebastian hit the back of his head against the bookshelf he was digging through.
Shit. Madam Scribner. Did the damn woman ever sleep?
“Mr. Sallow, if that’s you…”
He needn’t hear the rest because it was him, and if her incoming threat was to come to fruition, he wouldn’t have a way out of it this time. He was the furthest into the Restricted Section he’d ever been, and given Scribner’s footsteps echoed from the direction his only exit lay in, he’d have to push deeper, hide inside a sarcophagus or something.
Sebastian scrambled down the ladder he’d topped, landing on his feet with the practiced grace of stray cat. He darted left and down the stairs, the same stairs that had a nasty habit of resurrecting the evening Peeves had ripped from him— the evening he’d planned to kiss you.
Now, was he sure he hadn’t been rushing into things? No, not entirely, but part of him then — and all of him now — knew you were someone he wanted to keep around.
He couldn’t explain it in detail because he didn’t understand it ‘in detail.’ It was just a feeling. A feeling that made him feel ten times lighter when you were by his side, and a feeling that had him diving deeper into the Restricted Section night after night in search of anything that might give him an excuse to talk to you.
If Sebastian hadn’t been currently running for his right to graduate, he would’ve kicked himself for the elementary stratagem, but seeing as Scribner had knocked her knickers into full pursuit, the Slytherin figured he should hide before he ran out of runway.
He paused and darted his eyes about his surroundings, but aside from a troll statue, it seemed his best option was still forward and down the last flight of stairs. With a ceding frown, he fled into the cold corridor.
Tears from the Black Lake spilled down its walls, clueing Sebastian in on just how far down he’d found himself, but the damning realization was quickly forgotten with a gust of wind.
Sebastian paused at the foot of the stairs. Wind? How? This section of the castle was underwater. He shook his head. Why was he questioning his a way out of what might damn well near be a guaranteed expulsion?
He extended his hand and caught the icy current. Left. Two bookshelves. That had to be it. He traced his fingers gently over the sliver of space between them. His assumption had been correct, but how to open it? He pulled at a statue on one of the shelves. Nothing. Then a large, ornate book. Nothing. He pushed another book in that stuck out a smidge too far. Nothing.
Damn it! That's always how it worked in the novels.
He whirled around. His mind raced back to the sarcophagus option, but there were none in sight.
He backed against the bookshelves like a cornered animal. Scribner would cross that threshold any second, and thus would be the four-month, premature end to his Hogwarts career. With an exasperated sigh, he readied himself to face the woman's wrath, but then his heel landed against a different section of the stone floor beneath him, and he was falling backwards.
The passageway had opened, revealing a slope one could definitely walkdown if they’d been expecting it. Instead, the boy practically somersaulted his way through it. He bumped his head there, knocked an elbow here, and by the time he’d recovered, he didn’t need the light from the closing bookshelves to know he was covered in cobwebs.
Spiders. Sebastian ripped his wand from his side and cast the ‘save-all’ incendio. Flames swept in every direction, curling up and around him, but the orange glow soon revealed the only threat lay upstairs. The sliver of pale light was growing brighter and the wind that wrapped his robe around his legs threatened to clue the librarian in on the passage's exisistence too.
He flicked his wand toward the narrow hall, “Ventum obice.”
The words weaved themselves into the breeze, reversing its path so it now blew his curls out of his face, and with a subsequent colloportus, the stone he’d unknowingly triggered locked into place. He held his breath, gaze pinned to his saving gateway until Scribner muttered something about being ‘too old for this’ as her footsteps retreated back up the stairs.
Sebastian’s shoulders fell in time to the relief from his lips.
Thanks dark, secret, ominous passageway.
He smiled, finally dusting the cobwebs from his frame. You’d liked that one, and speaking of you, there had to be something — aside from the passage itself — he could tell you about in here.
"Lumos."
White light settled atop his wand, illuminating all he would ‘tell you about.’
Sebastian had found himself in the secret room of all secret rooms. Along either side of him, shelves upon shelves of books rooted themselves to the floorboards before they branched out overhead like trees. Tomes and objects held inside defied gravity, their spines and twisting shapes looking down on him like curious demiguise. The room was massive, so much so the upper section of the library was concealed in an enchanted night sky, and yet, despite the grandeur, what entranced him more than all of that was an object in the center of the cavernous room.
Reflecting in the boy’s dark brown irises was an eight-point star, awakened by the light it now drank from his wand. He padded towards it, and as he did so, it brightened, but not in the way he’d expected. It didn’t light the room, nor did he need to shield his eyes. No, its light deepened. It grew a fantastical blue, one that pulled him closer like a cold room and warm covers did after one too many hours spent awake.
Sebastian tilted his head, coming to a stop at the foot of the pedestal it sat upon.
“What are you?” He whispered.
He reached for the star and placed a cautious finger atop it. Almost expectantly, it was cool to the touch, soothing, and quickly convinced him he should take it into his hand.
With eyes fixed to it, Sebastian gently tossed the light on his wand toward the ceiling where it settled, and slumped into an arm chair nearby.
Citing the pedestal in the center of the room, it was clear the space had been made for the artifact; what wasn’t clear, however, was what it was, and why it needed to be hidden in the Restricted Section— a double-dose of forbidden.
Almost reluctantly, he looked away from it and placed the star in his pocket. If there were answers anywhere, they had to be in here.
For the next few hours, Sebastian scoured the shelves, skimming through and peering into books that piqued his interests — which was just about all of them — and the whole time he couldn’t help but wonder if he was dreaming. He was swimming through information, drowning in random facts, and his quest to discover the purpose of the star was long forgotten. He was a kid in the candy capital, and once he’d run his ‘sugar high,’ he crashed appropriately.
Against his will, the words on the pages began to blur. He fought it, even pulled the lumos from the center of the room to light the parchment, but eventually, inevitably, he lost the battle. His lashes fluttered shut, mind giving in to the lazy current that wound toward the isle of sleep, and along the way, he couldn’t help but think of you.
* * *
“Sebastian, come help me with this, would you?”
Sebastian frowned. Where— What—?
“Sebastian? Hello?” You called, waving your hand in front of his face, “Anyone home?”
He looked down at his feet. He was standing. Then up at you, over your shoulder. The Undercroft.
“S-sorry,” he answered, tightening his slack jaw as he shuffled over to help you, apparently, move a couch.
What was going on? He’d just been— had it been— no, he’d fallen asleep there. No one wakes up standing. He looked at you to ask you what was going on, but considering he’d rather you fancy him than think him mad, he opted to figure it out on his own.
With a huff you set down your end of the couch and he followed suit.
“That should be enough space, yeah?” You asked, knuckles planted against your hips.
He nodded fruitlessly, watching you make your way to the center of the Undercroft. Maybe you were practicing spells, or maybe wielding that Ancient Magic of yours he could never take his eyes off of, but judging by the way you cocked a brow at him, neither seemed to be correct.
“Sebastian? You ok?” A hand was back on your hip.
Ok? Not exactly. He had no idea what you were talking about or how he’d gotten here.
He shot you an embarrassed smile, “Nothing, just… thinking.”
You smiled back at him and his heart fluttered.
“You already do enough of that. Now get over here! You promised!”
Another embarrassed smile with a dash of fear. What had he promised that had you looking at him like that? Like you might kiss him, or pants him, or both? He shook the question off. Did it really matter? Who was he to deny you anything?
He headed towards you, a cautious weight lugging around his ankles, but once he’d neared you enough, you grabbed him by the cuff of his robe and guided him behind you… centimeters behind you.
Sebastian swallowed as the cold heat of proximity prickled at his skin. What in Merlin’s name did you do, Sebastian?
You continued, moving his fingers so they wrapped around your wrist, then went to place his other hand on your thigh. Absolutely not. Sebastian tried to pull back, but you turned further into him and pouted.
“Seb, you said you’d help me.”
His wide gaze betrayed his inner turmoil, flattening your expression.
“Did you seriously forget?”
He wanted to answer, he did, but with your frame brushing against his inner thigh, it was a hopeless cause.
“Merlin, you did forget!” You shook your head, blurring the blush that crept along your soft features, “You said you’d help me nail the spell.”
He stared blankely. You huffed, then leaned further into him.
“Sectumsempra.” you whispered.
Sebastian looked down at you and practically melted. You were so close, and through dark lashes, you wore a shade of mischief that struck his composure harder than physical touch ever could.
What was going on? Just yesterday he’d worked up every nerve in his body to sit next to you at lunch, just for you to scoot an inch away from him once he’d done so— and he couldn’t remember the last time the two of you had been alone in the Undercroft. Trust Merlin, he’d tried, but you always had an excuse, a fact that had him wondering if perhaps this was the dream.
That’s when he saw it. Between his and your robes, a rich, blue light poured from his pocket. The star.
The hand still innocent of resting on your thigh dove into his robe and pulled it out, it cooling his touch as his features were bathed in blue.
He looked back to you.
“Alright Sebastian,” you declared, taking a step back, “What’s the matter with you.”
He scrunched his brow and parted his lips, ready to wave the gleaming artifact in front of you like a lollipop, but that’s when he noticed your complexion was immune to its glow. Your skin was still lit by the candelabras overhead and your gaze only reflected his empty hand.
You couldn’t see it.
He shoved it back in his pocket, the image of him presenting 'sod all' to a very confused you was enough to fuel his nightmares for a week straight.
“Nothing!” he exclaimed, “Nothing’s the matter! Just uh, thought I— never mind.”
You were suspicious, gaze narrowed, head turned, but still you settled back against him. This time, he placed his hand on your thigh and positioned your stance, pulled you close, and tightened his grip on your wrist.
“Sectumsempra, right?”
You nodded slowly and pulled your attention off of him and onto your wand.
Sebastian guided you through the invisible symbol over and over, and you eventually eased back into him. On any other day, under any other circumstances, he’d have leaned into you, mind racing through the thousands of ways he could take things one step further… but tonight… today? Gods, he didn’t know. Whatever it was, he needed to figure out just what it was he’d stuffed in his pocket.
* * *
Sebastian had a habit of staying up late, glued to books he soon fell asleep with, so when his enchanted pocket watch began ringing like an alarm, he wasn’t surprised— but what did surprise him was where he woke up.
He sat up, craning a sore shoulder to reach for the rattling timekeeper. He clicked it off and blinked the sleep from his eyes. He was surrounded by piles of books, and beyond them, an underground library with stars still settled overhead like the one in his pocket.
His fingers brushed over its sharp edges.
It had been a dream?
If it had been, it had been the realest dream he’d ever had. He wasn’t proud to admit it, but Sebastian had had plenty of dreams that had followed the plot of him being close to you— and often more… Be that as it may, none of them had ever felt so real.
Sebastian dug the heels of his hands into his eyes with a sigh. The stale air of the Undercroft, the heat of your frame against his, the swell of your thigh— all of it as real as the thin carpet he sat on now and the chill that crept beneath his robe.
He dropped his hands and peered at the star in his pocket.
"You’re guilty," he mumbled.
He couldn’t explain it. He just knew, and was absolutely going to find out why.
* * *
On his trek back to his room, Sebastian discovered something worth knowing. Madam Scribner was no where to be found, and that fact had the Slytherin rearranging his sleep schedule to fit such a timeline on his way to the dungeon restrooms.
He didn’t have time to change. Besides, a wrinkly robe was more common than an ironed one these days, so a washed face and wet fingers through his hair would more than suffice.
If Scribner is asleep now, she probably went to bed just after I discovered the room. So, if I sleep from ten to two, I can probably bring y/n down there about three and we can be out by five…
“Anne, I’m telling you, it was the craziest thing.”
You stepped from the girl's restroom, head turned toward who he naturally assumed was his twin, and Sebastian about tumbled over himself coming to a stop. He spun backward, punching the air out of his lungs when he slammed against the stone wall.
“Your dream?” Anne asked, her classic skepticism clear and present.
“Yes, my dream.” You replied.
A pause.
“You sure it wasn’t just a lucid one? Drink too much apple juice or something last night?”
“No, I didn’t. Not a lick of it. And I don’t think apple juice makes you feel dreams.”
“Oh, yuck!” Anne exclaimed, “Don't you dare tell me! I don’t want to know!”
You laughed, and though the sound of it always made him smile, the prospect of what Anne’s ‘yuck’ entailed kept him stone-still.
“Stop it! Not like that! You really think I’d tell you about this if that’s what it involved?”
“I’d hope not…” Anne chuckled.
“Look,” you started, “all we were doing was practicing a spell in the Undercroft, I swear— and I’m only sharing it with you because it was crazy real.”
A pause. Practicing a spell? The Undercroft? Sebastian's breath caught in his throat and he pulled the star out of his pocket to stare at it.
“Crazy real because what?" Anne snickered, "You felt my brother?”
“Oh never mind!” You exclaimed, “You're impossible!”
His twin laughed now, "Hey! You could always ask Professor Onai about it in Div!”
You didn't reply, only your footsteps could be heard echoing on the stone beneath you as you fled, forcing Sebastian to scramble around a corner and out of sight.
His chest heaved, swallowing gallons of dank dungeon air in an attempt to let reality sink in. What in Salazar’s snively snake?
He’d been in your dream, but more than that, he’d been in your dream— and the star he held in his hand was to blame, no, to thank. He looked to it again, and suddenly its deep glow held an immeasurable sense of value as he turned it over in his hands.
It was a Dreamvisitor.
- - -
A.N. I can confirm this is the one and same Dreamvisitor from the Wings of Fire series.
conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 76 (masterpost here)
Bruce: Robin, stop stalling, we need to get back in the air.
Damian: can we not stay down here for a few more minutes? one of the workers of the food truck just told me they'd give me a free hot chocolate.
Dick, dryly: well thank heavens they won't charge you, because you know we're running low on cash.
Jason: *snicker*
Bruce: shut up, both of you. and Robin, you know you aren't supposed to take food or drink from civilians on patrol. who knows who those people might be working for? they could drug anything they give you.
Damian: *thoughtful hum* ...i accept those terms.
*a beat*
Bruce, baffled: what terms?
Damian, innocently: the terms that in exchange for a free hot chocolate i must roll the dice on being drugged. i view this as a fair exchange.
Jason: *laughing again*
Bruce: Robin- *abruptly cutting himself off* Red Hood, knock it off or i'll have you moved from this line. Robin, you cannot act as if being drugged isn't a big deal, it isn't funny.
Damian: but it isn't a big deal. do you know how many times i've been drugged, Father? by allies, enemies, friends, foes; it's not rare in the life i lead.
Bruce: *concerned* what.
Dick, curious: Robin, you're fourteen. what 'friends' do you have that are drugging you?
Damian: well off the top of my head; Hood once gave me weed.
Bruce, voice dropping three octaves: excuse me?
Jason: ay aY AY AY- UNDER THE TERMS THAT YOU DON'T FUCKING SNITCH ON ME?!?!?!?! ROBIN?!?!
*a beat*
Dick: well, there goes your pass at deniability.
Damian: ...ah, right. apologies, Father. i was mistaken. i have never been drugged by a friend. a brother, on the other hand,
Jason: WHAT DID I DO TO YOU.
Damian, instantly: -broke my phone charger trying to strangle Red Robin.
Jason: ... *resigned* ...ok yeah.
Bruce, through gritted teeth: Red Hood. meet me back at the cave. now.
Jason: oh shut up- i own the iceberg lounge, you twat. i've seen you snort coke off a Pitbull impersonator's bald cap.
i want this dynamic of dick with jason and literally every other batsibling.
like, as a treat, could we have an au where jason gets adopted but has a very antagonistic relationship with dick, to the point where dick outright yells at jason that he hates him and hates having brothers, and so out of spite and wanting to piss dick off jason just keeps. bringing back more brothers to get on dick's nerves.
they get into a screaming match about how much dick never wanted a younger sibling and the next day jason runs to the nearest house and convinces the first kid he finds there to join the family specifically so tim can sit across from dick at the dinner table that night and jason can give him the most spiteful/falsely innocent smile possible when bruce announces that as tim's parents are out of gotham for the rest of the year he'll be the kid's acting guardian, and dick just has to watch him and bite his tongue.
talia literally never planned for damian to be sent to live with his father so early in life, it's just that jason walked out the compound on his way back home, remembered the tradition, did a 180, and then grabbed damian so that he could force dick to deal with yet another younger brother. dick is literally so stressed out.
listen. dick was pissed when tim showed up, but by the time jason comes back with damian it's less anger and more just genuine stress. like. he knows bruce's capabilities. he knows that younger ones tend to look up to nightwing more than anyone else in the community. he knows that any child that 'bruce' takes in is just going to be another kid for him to worry about and care too much for and look out for, not even because bruce isn't doing moderately well as a parent but just because there's something about older brother figures that seem more approachable than an adoptive father.
and jason fucking knows it.
they're in an eternal battle of jason encouraging bruce's adoption addiction and dick desperately trying to stop jason from bringing any more children anywhere near the manor for his own mental healths sake.
it gets to the point where dick will call jason a fatass over the phone while jason's walking down the street, and jason will instantly hang up the phone, turn on his heel towards the nearest school, and just start yelling over the fence 'ANY OF YOU GUYS NOT GOT PARENTS?'
duke was just trying to eat lunch but this random man started calling over and when duke put his hand up the man asked if he wanted a new family with a free inheritance included, and like, normally duke wouldn't touch that kind of weird shit with a ten foot pole, but he did recently figure out he has a bunch of insanely cool meta-human abilities so really what were the chances this guy could actually hurt him? 2% chance it actually works out, 98% chance he gets a cool story; no downsides. he's in.
steph got adopted literally because while tim and jason were hanging out in jason's room, dick went in to ask a question and didn't shut jason's door on the way out. the second he left jason turned to him and demanded 'don't you have a friend whose dad is a rogue? get that woman over here right now.'
i think maybe cass just showed up in jason's apartment one day, because she remembered him from when jason worked with david cain a few times in the league of assassins and when she ran away from him she decided jason was the most trustworthy person to go to for refuge, and i think jason probably had to bite his cheek awkwardly at her just like 'ok listen i'm gonna help you and usually i would take you right over to batman to sort all of this out, but i kinda have a system i need to uphold here, so you might have to hide out in here until my older brother pisses me off, if you're alright with that. we have a game night tomorrow planned and we're gonna play monopoly so like, i guarantee you won't have to wait very long'.
dick genuinely starts tweaking over the possibility of jason having children in reserve for when he steps over the line after they end up having the game night at jason's apartment and two hours in dick buys the last green property that jason had been gunning after for forty five minutes and refuses to sell to him and jason glares at him for fifteen seconds before just straight face hollering 'OK YOU'RE UP, GET IN HERE' and another fucking child just melts out from the shadows of the hall to ask how to play.
scenarios Alfred Pennyworth has to be a witness to as a resident of Wayne Manor that the batkids have absolutely no shame in front of whatsoever part 17 (masterpost here)
*Alfred walking into the dining room to see Jason hunched over a laptop with Dick and Tim crowded around his shoulders*
Dick, pointing at the screen: ok, ok- that one's mine, follow that one. and then Tim; you need to follow everybody but Bruce.
Tim: *tapping at his phone*
Jason: Tim, what's your handle?
Tim: *still tapping* hm? oh- just 'real tim drake' with capitalisation on all the words.
Dick: what are you doing?
Tim: i have access to the WE twitter account, so i'm gonna follow Jason from it to see if i can fast-track his checkmark.
Alfred, narrowing his eyes at them: what are you three doing?
Jason, grinning brightly at him: oh, hey Alfie! we're just setting up my social media, that's all.
Alfred:
Alfred: didn't your father specifically warn you not to attempt to put Master Jason on public social media so soon after his reintroduction to the public?
Dick, without blinking: yup.
Tim: we're gonna have Jason start a public war with B through the WE account.
Dick, looking back at the laptop: are you tweeting already?
Jason: yeah. 'they tried to silence me for speaking the truth when i was a child, and i made it back just fine. i'm not gonna give up on spreading awareness now; you all deserve to know the truth.' just to get everybody interested.
Tim: what are you even gonna say? i'll re-tweet it from my account and the WE one.
Jason: i dunno, the whole point is just to spread chaos and make B look bad, right?
Dick: maybe just something weird to start off with; get everybody's attention.
Jason, lighting up: ohmygod i have it-!
*keyboard tapping*
Tim, reading out from the screen: 'Bruce had to send me out the country to silence me because when i was fourteen i walked in on him and Lex Luthor naked while Bruce licked the top of Lexes bald head'.
Dick: JASO- *falls to the floor, wheezing*
Tim, desperately trying to hold back laughter: oh my god,
Alfred: *starting to get concerned*
Jason: this way i can piss off Bruce and get Lex Luthor involved. genius, right?
Dick: *crying*
Tim: WAIT OH MY GOD--i have to respond from the WE account pretending to be Bruce.
Jason, clapping: YES,
Tim: i'm gonna say something like 'i just let you back into the country, why are you doing this to me?'
Jason, cackling: YES. man, i love being alive again,
Alfred, flatly: boys, i don't think this is a very good- *resigned* oh who am i kidding, you aren't my legal responsibility,
Alfred: tea, anybody?
Dick, from the floor: i'm gonna tweet that i'm so proud of my little brother for outliving his NDA requirements and then @ you.
conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 73 (masterpost here)
Damian: was he not- i mean i know he wasn't fatherly, but was he not strict when you two were younger?
Dick: *loud laughing* oh, man, not even close-!
Jason: yeah, he really wasn't- i mean, he tried to be on occasion i guess; but it wasn't really parental strictness more than it was just being harsh and bitter.
Tim: so B really didn't try at all at first, huh?
Jason: he didn't- ok, honestly? my personal theory is that he didn't know he had kids until after i died.
Dick: *laughter turns to wheezes* wHAT?
Jason: no- *wheeze* shut up, hear me out, *cackles*
Tim, audibly amused: what the fuck does that even mean--like you think he forgot he adopted you both?
Jason: no, no- i just think he didn't understand the correlation between adoption and actually being in charge.
Damian: you think that in his mind it was a one time thing? like 'oh, adopting kids? yeah i did that in the past, fun night'.
Tim: *wheeze*
Jason: y-*snort*-yeah, you get it.
Dick: SO WAIT- *deep breath* so you- so you think that for Bruce it was like he had no idea until after you died, at which point he was panicking looking around like 'FUCK A CHILD IS DEAD, SOMEBODY CALL HIS PARENT- ooooh, i get it now,'
Tim: *loud uncontrollable cackling*
Jason, also fighting through wheezes: no i- *choke* no, i mean like- i think he didn't really understand that he was supposed to be a parent in all the senses rather than just the legal. i think you were too happy with every non-parent-like decision he made, and i was too independent, so he thought we were all just chill living in each other's spaces.
Dick: *wheeze* he thought- he thought that Dad was just a title, like Mr or Mrs,
Damian: -like when you buy a two foot square of land online so you can legally be called a lord.
Dick: *cackling* tHAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS-
Jason: yeah, yeah- and then i died and Tim fuckin' showed up, and i have to imagine he was just white-knuckling it in the Batcave looking at him like 'god, i really need to lock the fuck in with this guy',
Tim and Dick: *start crying*
Damian: you think- *snort* so finding Drake was Father internally sighing and going 'ok, time to grind i guess'?
Jason: exac- *wheeze*
*connecting ping*
Bruce: boys, it's-
*a pause* *breathless laughter*
Bruce: i don't even want to know what's so funny this time. i'm just here to call Robin home; it's almost three, i want you to come back to the cave with me so you can get some sleep before your exam at school tomorrow.
Damian, disgruntled: *sigh* yeah yeah, on my way.
Dick, weeping, tone high-pitched: he's locking in-
four dollars or a date - dustin henderson x f!buckley reader
masterlist, navigation, request rules
requested: Dustin Henderson x Buckley reader where they meet at Scoops Ahoy and she works at the (Barnes and nobles type) book store a couple stores down and Dustin goes almost every day after he visits Steve to go see her and look at comics and board games, eventually she gets fed up and tells him “either buy something or ask me on a date”
warnings: didn't proof read, steve and robin are still arguing and dislike each other in this, can't think of anything else?
word count: 2.1k
The Star Court Mall gave you many things: a job and free ice cream from your sister's job, but you weren't expecting a crush on Dustin Henderson to be one of those things.
Dustin was always too cool for you. He had his friends, his hobbies, and his studies, and you had your comic books, your own friends, and a collection of board games to study after school before the weekend came to sell them to customers.
"The sooner you can drive, I swear to god-" you huffed, getting off the bus.
Robin hurried behind you, her work uniform still a little creased "I'm sorry, alright! You know how hard it is for me to focus at the moment, if I were driving, one minute I'd be turning onto the next street, and then the next I'll be crashing into a tree or halfway across a different state. For now, this will have to do."
You knew your sister couldn't help it, but she got away with being late to work; you didn't.
"Well, until then, can you at least leave just a little earlier? I don't have someone like Steve to watch my back when I'm not starting my shift on time," you stormed off, already dreading what your manager would say.
"I'm sorry!" Robin raised her voice from behind you.
Luckily, you were able to make some big sales on new book and board game releases for your boss to let you off, as long as it didn't happen again, and as much as you loved your sister, you knew that it meant you'd have to commute to and from work on the bus alone.
"You did great today," your boss reminded you, handing you your payslip, "I'll see you on Tuesday, don't be late."
Tucking the payslip into your pocket, you waved goodbye and left the empty store, the last remaining customers slowly walking out with their new books. Turning left, you approached Scoops Ahoy, stopping dead in your tracks as Steve mopped the floor.
Dustin was sitting in one of the booths, talking about something Latin or Russian, you didn't listen too carefully out of guilt for ditching Robin on your commutes. He jumped when he realised you were standing next to him, causing Steve to drop the mop against the floor, the wooden handle slamming down loudly.
"Ah!" Steve jumped.
"Where's Rob?" you sighed.
Dustin continued to stare at you, unable to take his eyes off you as he swallowed up the details of your face, work lanyard and uniform, before glossing over your name badge. You shared the occasional class, but you never had a conversation, only simple nods of acknowledgement.
"She's in there," he pointed to the door behind the counter, "Hey! Watch where you walk, I'm mopping!"
You ignored Steve, purposely walking only on the wet parts of the floor, hoping he'd have to go over it. Robin would complain about him so much that it often felt like you were the one working with him.
"Whose that?" Dustin spoke up, a little too quickly.
"Buckley's sister," he picked up the mop, "wait, you guys are in the same class, don't you know her?"
"I know of her, if I'm being precise, we've never actually spoken, but I didn't know she's Robin's sister!"
"Don't get your hopes up, Henderson." Steve pointed at Dustin, his eyebrows raised, "She's a weirdo and just as annoying as her sister."
Robin was halfway through cashing up when you slumped down in the chair, slinging your bag on the table. You watched as Robin recounted the cash in the palm of her hand, muttering to herself and counting it again, unsure if she had done it right.
"I'll be done in a minute, Steve-" she quickly glanced over her shoulder before dropping the loose change on the floor.
"What are you doing here!" She freaked, quickly leaning over in her chair, frantically picking the change up, "Steve will complain to the manager-"
When you and Robin were on closes you either waited for each other outside the entrance of the mall or by Steve's car, but as the end of Summer got closer and the air became cooler, you started showing up at Scoops, even if it pissed off Steve.
"Steve's mopping up still," you cut her off, "Rob, I love you but we can't commute together anymore. My boss said the next time I'm late, I'm out the door."
Robin frowned, "I'm so sorry, you know how I struggle with time management," she couldn't stop her fingernails from nervously picking at her skin.
"And you know how much I need to save up, I can't risk losing this job, you know how mom and dad will react."
Robin finished cashing up and dragged her feet over to you. You stood up and wrapped your arms around her as she rested her chin on the top of your head.
Robin was different, she always had been, and whilst others saw it as a weakness or at their advantage to mock her, you saw it as one of her qualities that made her the sister you loved and cared for. Although you were younger, you felt protective of her and wanted her to never feel like she was the odd one out, but rather the sparkle in a dull room.
"I don't know why I struggle with it so much. I don't mean to be late; it just happens."
"I'm done mopping, a little later thanks to junior." Steve grumbled, tossing his cap across the room, "Are we good to go?"
You pulled away from your sister's hug, squinting at Steve, "Where's your little pal?"
Steve occasionally dropped you and Robin off at home, the two of them argued in the front whilst you sat in the back, ridiculing Steve or ignoring them both, staring out of the window.
"I'm not giving that shithead a ride, he's got a bike."
"Charming," you muttered, "real nice way to talk about your only friend, Steve."
Steve shoved you and pushed in front of Robin towards the exit of Scoops, your sister followed behind, kicking Steve in the ass, the argument already starting before the three of you got into his car.
Dustin spent the whole ride home thinking about you, replaying the sound of your voice saying "Where's Rob?" over and over again, his feet pedalling in sync with his memory of his brief encounter with you.
How have I not spoken to her before? Why haven't we sat next to one another or worked on a project together? She's been there this whole time, and I've been stupid enough to never truly notice her, and all of her enchanting details.
Dustin went back to thinking about the shape of your eyes and how they sparkled in the harsh lighting of the ice cream parlour, he remembered the length of your nose and lips which made his cheeks burn and flush in the rays of the setting sun, and last of all, he picked apart your work lanyard, scattered in collectable pins and badges.
MADE IN 1971 caught his attention first, then Madonna's face, but amongst them all, his favourite was the pink COMFORMITY is a SCAM badge. If all he could do was base your interests and opinions on the accessories pinned to your lanyard, he knew he had caught lightning in a bottle. Trouble was, he didn't have the first clue what to do with it.
On Tuesday, you turned a new leaf and delighted your boss when you arrived early. Although she didn't get her hopes up, you continued to impress her with your newly established work ethic and desire to take on new responsibilities while on shift. Tuesday was also a new start for Dustin too, rather than going home after visiting Steve at Scoops, doing his homework, he came into your work every day without fail.
Dustin always started off browsing in the new releases at the front of the store, he then briefly flicked through the Horror section before getting sucked into the Comic books and board games towards the back of the store, where you spent most of your shift re-stocking and re-organising when you weren't serving customers.
You noticed Dustin, you always did, and you had mastered the timing of his entire routine better than anything else in your life. Dustin showed up at the same time, never spending a minute longer before moving closer to you. You couldn't help but feel flattered and at times your cheeks flushed when you noticed him staring at you through the corner of your eye, pretending to be busy reading the new customer refund and exchange policies alongside the cash handling manual.
You were hoping (and expecting) Dustin to come over and say something, anything to you, but he didn't, and after a week and a half of him just monitoring you in complete silence, you had become terribly impatient.
"He just stares at me through the pages of the Fantastic 4 comic!" You whined at your sister who was on her break, she handed you her house keys over the counter.
"He's a nice kid!" Robin defended him, "Maybe you make him, I don't know, a little shy? He probably doesn't know how to talk to a girl outside of quoting something out of fantasy lore."
"Shy?" you scoffed, "Why would I make him shy?"
Robin winced and held your hands over the counter, squeezing them, "Please don't hate me, my sweet and dear baby sister, but you have major resting bitch face. Just like I can't help my poor time management, you can't help that look on your face."
You caught yourself scowling and rolled your eyes, "Fine! Okay, so it's the look on my face. What exactly can I do?"
Robin let go of your hands and shrugged, "I don't know, maybe flash him a smile when you notice an interesting board game he picks up. Use your knowledge of these games and comics to your advantage, treat him like a customer until he makes a move."
Your eyes widened, "Makes a move? Robin! What are you talking about?"
Robin had already walked away from the counter, hurrying towards the exit of the store, "Sorry, sis! Can't talk, gotta run!"
Taking Robin's advice, you decided to run over to the comic section, moving the X-Men release from its right spot to the shelf above.
That'll do it. He'll be forced to ask where it is if he doesn't spot it first.
Glancing at your watch, you knew Dustin would be walking towards your store. You straightened the badges on your lanyard and quickly ran back to the counter, casually flicking through a damaged magazine a customer returned in exchange for a polka-dot print journal.
Like clockwork, Dustin showed up. New releases first, then Horror, before finally exploring the comics and board games. He stared at the shelf with a puzzled look, muttering to himself.
"They don't have it?"
"It's on the top shelf," you sighed, leaning your chin on your hand, not looking up.
"Thanks." He replied, now focusing on the comic book, pulling one off the shelf.
For the next hour, he flicked through them all, comic after comic, without a single word slipping from his lips.
Are you kidding me?
You stared at him, fully understanding what Robin meant with the bitch face comment. Your eyes burned into the back of Dustin's cap as you cleared your throat, "Henderson, can you do me a favour?"
He quickly turned around, closing the comic, "Sure, what is it-"
"You're in here all the time, constantly browsing in between peeking at me through the pages in those comics. Either buy something, or ask me on a date, because you're destroying our customer conversion targets by leaving empty-handed."
"I, wait, what?" he stammered, his eyes widening and cheeks burning.
"You heard me," you raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly "either buy that four-dollar comic, or ask me out."
Whilst you were proud of yourself for technically making the first move, you knew you would never be able to get over the embarrassment of Dustin picking a comic book over you.
Dustin swallowed hard and adjusted his backpack straps with trembling hands before he reached into his pocket, retrieving the money he needed for the comic.
Your heart pained at his silent choice, and you threw the towel in, your eyes going back to the magazine.
Dustin took a deep breath and walked over towards you at the counter, puffing out his chest and lifting up his chin.
"Friday," he spoke up, handing you the comic book to scan, "that's your next night off, we can go out then."
Of course he knew, and of course he went for both options, not just one.
You looked up at Dustin and smiled, the flush of your cheeks mirroring his.
"It's a date," you smiled, handing him his comic, "That'll be four dollars, Henderson."
"Oh, right!" He blinked, handing you the money, a proud smile spreading across his face, "Y-you know what, keep the change!" he beamed, running out of the store and towards Scoops.
You shook your head and laughed, knowing that Steve and Robin would have lots to talk about on their commute home.
conversations overheard through the batkid com lines pt 65 (masterpost here)
*silence*
Jason: *absently* to be fair, i- we never claimed to be good people,
Tim, calmly: no,
Jason: like- we don't call ourselves heroes. we call ourselves vigilantes. vigilantes aren't always good, we never claimed we were ethically good,
Tim: no,
Jason: -i mean i'm a literal crime lord. i deal drugs, i carry a gun; i've never presented myself as a good person, so if people expect that from me then that's on them,
Tim: yeah,
Jason: you might be false advertising,
Tim: mm- well-,
Jason: -but then that's still an assumption. you never said that Red Robin was gonna be a good person, they just decided to look at you that way,
Tim, blandly: yeah.
Jason: -and anyway, none of us have the responsibility of living up to people's ethical expectations of us. we could be bad people, it's not like we signed a contract saying we'd be nice to people.
Tim: ...yeah.
Jason: any disappointment civilians go through about us and our actions is... it's on them, really.
*six seconds of silence*
*connecting ping*
Dick, chipper: yoooo~ saw you two were online. how's it goin' tonight?
*a beat*
*another beat*
*shuffling of fabric, scraping of gravel, light wrestling noises*
*a beat*
Jason, airily: hey Dick.
Dick: uh- ....hi? are you ok? are you two together?
Jason: uh. yup.
Dick: ...ok. where?
Jason: just- one of the warehouses along the waterfront in Crime Alley.
Dick: ok... well i joined because i was swinging through the alley and wanted to see if you guys were hungry, so i'm close by, i'll track you.
Jason: ...ok.
Dick, suspicious: the fuck're you acting so weird for? what'd you do?
*a beat*
Tim: it's not like we ever said we were good people, right, Dick?
Dick: ...what? hold on, i'm literally only a few streets over, gimmie a sec.
Tim, voice empty: nobody can be disappointed in us. we never set expectations of morality.
Dick: Jason the fuck is he on about?
Jason, equally empty: i literally deal drugs.
Dick: *noise of intense confusion*
Dick: oh i see you guys- holy fuck.
*a beat*
Dick: ...that guy isn't alive, is he?
Tim: well he can't be alive, he has no limbs. it's just a torso.
Jason: no i've seen people on tiktok that live just as torsos, it can happen.
Tim: yeah but not like this-
Dick: *aghast* there's so much blood- Tim you're fucking covered. who did this?!?!
*a beat*
Tim: it was Jason.
Jason, instant: no it was not.
Tim, matter of fact: you have to take responsibility for the fact that you a hundred percent had the time to slow down the truck before you drove it into him.
Jason: -and i will do so, as soon as you accept that you were stood right next to him and saw him in the path of the truck and fully had the opportunity and skills to remove him from the area before the truck pushed him into the machine. only you didn't, because you wanted to see what would happen.
*a beat*
Tim: you sped up that truck after you knocked the driver unconcious.
Jason: you said it looked 'cool, like a wet firework'.
Dick: what the hell is wrong with you both.
Jason: we never signed a contract to be morally acceptable.
Tim: -but if it makes you feel better the guy did come here so he could try and sell his disabled son to a gang.
Jason: that too.
Dick: you're both so lucky Batman's off-world tonight, i swear to god.
Damian: Out of respect for the Robin name, I have been researching the person who originated it: Mary Grayson (nee Lloyd).
Bruce: Oh, find anything good?
Damian: Were you aware she had a criminal record?
Bruce: Yes.
Tim: Of course. I have a copy of it at home.
Jason: I mean I didn't. But I'm not surprised.
Damian: Why not?
Jason: Because I've met her son. I imagine Mary Grayson was involved in every anti-authoritarian protest she came across on her travels. What I would be more interested in is learning exactly what Janet Drake was up to to create Master Stalker over there.
synopsis: is it possible that the entire time you've been dating theo, you've somehow not noticed that he's only this sweet with you?
wc - 3.1k | NOT EDITED
more soft theo with his hufflepuff girlfriend. i like to think of this not as a sequel to the previous soft theo and happy huffle (prev work. "and now im covered in you") but moreso as like adjacent.
slytherin boys masterlist my bookcase
"ciao amorina," the deep tone of theodore nott rumbles through your body as he presses his chest to your back in a drowsy hug.
you can feel the slow but steady rise and fall of his chest. his breath tickles your neck as he snuggles his face into your shoulder with a tired hum.
drowsy theo was perhaps your favorite version of your sweet boyfriend.
in truth, theo had always been doting.
fixing your scarf to guard your face against the nippy wind in hogsmeade.
speaking soft sweet nothings in italian when carrying you to bed after a particularly rowdy party in the common room.
even giving you bites of the tiramisu that his nonna sends him from rome even though it's quite well known among hogwarts that theodore nott does not share his food with anyone.
it's a tidbit about theo that everyone knows. enzo has a scar to prove it from where he got a fork stabbed into the back of his hand after reaching for a bite of theo's treasured care package.
theo's contrasting softness with you has been noted on some level by everyone at hogwarts. even the professors.
everyone but you, that is.
you had a habit of seeing the best in the people you loved. which is part of why it was no surprise to theo that you believed him to be this soft with everybody. and honestly, if it meant that he got to see that smile on your face every day, he would gladly let his reputation take a few hits.
"ahhh good morning, aurelius. nice of you to join the land of the living so we can finally go to breakfast."
draco whines from his spot leaned up against one of the columns outside the slytherin common room door.
enzo, who all but tumbled out of the common room right after theo, smiles cheekily as he watches the boy immediately cozy up to you.
"alright there, theodore? you look a little extra content this morning."
the teasing lilt to his voice slides past you, all too focused on pansy's newest exploit with the ravenclaw she's been seeing. still, you feel the quick movement of theo's chest as he huffs in annoyance.
"vaffanculo." his tone is grumbly and his voice slightly muffled as he refused to move from his current task of apparently trying to climb into your skin.
enzo pulls back with a look of faux offense, a glint of mirth in his eyes that seems to shine brighter the more he pokes the bear.
"aw, that's no way to talk to your best friend. if only our sweet hufflepuff knew what you just--"
"huh?" you perk up at the sound of your name, right as blaise shoves enzo down the corridor and gives you a polite smile.
"you know none of us can stop him once he gets going, why do you..."
their voices trail off the further they get from you.
you turn to theo distractedly, eyes lingering on the retracting slytherins until finally, they snap to his. the moment your stares meet, you're instantly reminded of just how devastatingly handsome your boyfriend is.
your tongue feels thick and dry in your mouth. the intensity in his stare has something akin to delight crawling up your spine and making your hands tingle as they rise to gently fluff theo's dark curls into place.
the olive-drab color of his eyes has always been captivating to you. but more than that, tit's he way that theo looks at you with that hunger in his eyes. like he would just as easily kiss you senseless as he would swallow you whole. like he can't get enough of you.
his arms tighten around your waist.
"andiamo," he murmurs into your shoulder, though he makes no moves to actually let you go.
"you're the one holding me hostage," you teasingly mumble in response. your body leans back into his anyway. like there isn't a cell in your being that wants to leave the warmth of his embrace.
"theo, we're gonna be late."
"we won't," he says easily, pressing his face further into your neck. the others have left now too, although pansy gave you a parting wink on her way out. "they'll wait."
you turn your head, brows pulling together. "who?"
he lifts his head just enough to look at you, his expression flat.
"everyone."
his tone has a level of finality to it. the kind that comes from genuinely not giving a damn if he had to spend the rest of the term in detention so long as he got to hold you for five more minutes.
you blink up at him, waiting for his face to split into that smile that you adore so much.
only, theo doesn't look like he's joking. and he doesn't even try to look apologetic in any capacity.
"you're ridiculous," you say with a soft huffing laugh.
before you can say anything else, draco's voice cuts back in from down the corridor.
"if the two of you are quite done, some of us would like to eat before we die."
theo exhales sharply through his nose, irritated at yet another interruption in his alone time with you.
"vai via." he mutters it under his breath, but you catch it nonetheless.
you nudge him with your elbow. "be nice."
the look on his face is indignant as he shrugs nonchalantly. "i am being nice. i didn't even curse at him." he replies, although the look on his face says otherwise.
his hands finally loosen, but instead of stepping away, he shifts so he's standing beside you, one arm still draped over your shoulders as you make your way towards the others at the end of the hall. enzo, who was apparently waiting for this exact opportunity, grinds the second you join the group.
“there he is,” he says, falling into step beside you. “i was beginning to think you’d merged into one person.”
you laugh softly, shaking your head. “you’re so dramatic.”
“i’m observant,” he corrects, glancing pointedly at theo’s arm around you.
theo doesn’t even look at him. his grip tightens slightly instead.
enzo notices. of course he does.
“you know,” he continues, tone turning thoughtful in a way that immediately puts theo on edge, “it’s funny.”
“nothing you say is funny,” theo cuts in flatly.
"theo!" you admonish him, lightly slapping the back of your hand against his chest as he grumbles.
“no, really,” enzo insists, ignoring him completely. “i’ve known you for years, nott.”
“unfortunate.” theo states without even sparing a glance at enzo.
despite the bored inflection in his tone, you knew that enzo was one of theo's absolute best friends. they'd spent summer vacations together in sicily, they'd shared a dorm their entire time at hogwarts. hell, they'd grown up down the street from each other, both of their fathers prominent death eaters.
“tragic, honestly,” enzo agrees. “and yet i’ve never seen you share food, let alone—”
“enzo,” blaise cuts in, voice a warning and paired with a cautious look that you didn't often see on blaise. normally he was right there beside the boy, stirring up trouble amongst the student body.
“—cling to someone like a lost child,” enzo finishes anyway, smiling teasingly at theo.
you snort at that, glancing up at theo to find him glaring at enzo with a look that could literally put someone in the ground.
“he doesn’t cling.” you chime in, patting theo's arm soothingly.
theo’s jaw tightens, and then releases. this doesn't go unnoticed by enzo, who's smile widens cockily.
“no?” he says lightly. “must be seeing things, then.”
you shrug, unconcerned. “he’s just like this.”
there’s a beat of silence. then draco lets out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. mattheo actually stops walking, causing a half-asleep astoria to slam into her boyfriend's back with a sharp cry.
“just like this,” draco repeats, astounded.
you nod with a hum, already half distracted again by a loose thread that you're carefully pinching off theo's jumper.
“yeah. he’s always like this. he's sweet.”
"sweet like cinnamon, maybe." draco shoots back.
the look that passes between the slytherins is immediate, though you don't catch it. you don't even look up from your boyfriends shoulder until you've completed your task. then, you turn, smiling the same bright smile as always. theo’s arm tightens around you again, pulling you a fraction closer to his side.
“drop it,” he says quietly to his friends.
enzo raises his hands in mock surrender, though the amusement doesn’t leave his face.
“wouldn’t dream of it.”
but he does go quiet. in fact, everyone does. for a few minutes, at least. you don’t notice the way they keep glancing at theo. you don’t notice the way he doesn’t take his eyes off you, or the way his thumb traces slow, absent patterns against your shoulder.
like the same boy who hates to even be looked at, needs to be touching you in some way or he might just die.
it isn’t until you reach the great hall that pansy links her arm through yours, pulling you slightly away.
“come sit with me,” she says, already steering you toward the table.
theo’s arm slips from your shoulders as you go, but not without a brief pause, like he’s considering pulling you back. he doesn’t and you don’t think anything of that either. you settle into your seat beside pansy, immediately getting pulled back into whatever story she was telling earlier.
across the table, theo watches you. he watches you with the same quiet gaze as usual. like he's trying to absorb every teeny little detail about you, gaze flicking hurriedly over your face.
enzo leans over, following his line of sight before letting out a low whistle.
“you’re not even subtle about it.”
theo doesn’t look at him. enzo thinks fleetingly that people could start combusting around them into bloody little bits and theo's stare would still be fixed on you.
“don’t need to be.”
enzo huffs out a laugh. “she really has no idea, does she?”
that gets his attention. his gaze flicks over, sharp for a second before settling back on you. you’re smiling at something pansy said, completely unaware. the sound causes something in his chest to shift. something that he didn't even know could shift until he met you.
theo doesn't reply to enzo, choosing instead to go back to his bacon and, of course, his view.
pansy pauses mid-sentence.
"what?" you ask, glancing at her.
her eyes flick past you for half a second, toward theo, then back again. there's something unreadable in her expression before she quickly smooths it over.
“nothing,” she says easily. “just thinking.”
you narrow your eyes slightly. “you’re a terrible liar.”
“am not.”
“are too.”
she huffs, waving you off. “just eat.”
you shrug it off, as you often do when it comes to pansy. still, with that and enzo's snide comment earlier, something has been nagging at you all morning.
something about the way everyone went quiet earlier. the looks you didn’t quite catch. the way draco had laughed like you’d said something absurd.
your gaze drifts across the table without really meaning to, and expectedly, theo is already looking at you. he doesn’t look away when you catch him. in fact, he never does. there’s something steady in his expression, focused in a way that feels heavier now that you’re actually paying attention to it.
your stomach flips.
“why are you staring at him like that?” pansy mutters under her breath.
you blink, tearing your eyes away. “like what?”
“like you’re confused.”
“i’m not confused.”
she gives you a look.
you sigh, dropping your fork. “okay, maybe a little.”
pansy leans back in her seat, studying you for a moment. her sigh is heavy before she leans close to you, voice lowering like she's about to tell you a secret.
“you really don’t see it,” she says.
it’s not a secret. it's not even a question.
your brows knit together. “see what?”
she hesitates and that alone is enough to make your chest twist. pansy doesn’t hesitate. she's always been the chainsaw friend in the group.
“how he is with you,” she says finally.
you frown. “what about it?”
she lets out a short breath, glancing briefly toward the boys again.
“merlin, you’re dense.”
“pansy.”
“i’m serious,” she insists, leaning forward slightly. “you think theodore nott acts like that with everyone?”
you pause. a moment ago, the answer would've been an unequivocal, resounding yes. but with the way that this morning had been so far, and with the doubtful look on pansy's face, you weren't so sure anymore.
“i mean, sure he doesn't kiss everyone else, but he's nice,” you say, slower this time. “he’s just… like that.”
pansy actually laughs. not loudly, but enough to make heat creep up neck.
“no, he isn’t.”
you shake your head. “you’re exaggerating.”
“am i?”
she tilts her head, eyes sharp now. her eyes flash pointedly towards theo.
you look over at your boyfriend, who has taken a break from admiring you and is scanning the sports section of the daily prophet.
“have you ever seen him let anyone else touch him how you do?”
you open your mouth to respond. it slams shut as you watch mattheo lean over theo's shoulder to read the column, only for the latter to damn near shove him off the bench the second their shoulders brush.
pansy doesn’t wait for an answer, point proven.
“have you ever seen him sit that close to anyone else? follow them around? look at them like that?”
your chest tightens.
“he doesn’t even let people borrow his notes,” she adds flatly. “enzo still complains about failing potions last year.”
your mind flashes back to this morning. the way enzo had been grinning. the way draco had repeated your words like they'd made just about as much sense as professor trelwaney in divinations.
“that’s not…” you start, but the words don’t come out right.
pansy softens, just slightly.
“he’s not like that with anyone,” she says, quieter now. “just you.”
your gaze drifts back across the table before you can stop it. theo is back to watching you. if you think about it, he’s always watching you.
but now, it feels different.
intentional.
his thumb taps once against the table, like he’s waiting. like he’s tracking the exact moment your attention lands back on him. when it does, something in his expression shifts.
your breath catches, heart beating way too fast for comfort.
“you’re overthinking it,” you murmur, more to yourself than to pansy.
she doesn’t respond right away.
then, lightly, “am i?”
you don’t answer. instead, you stand abruptly, grabbing your bag without really thinking.
“i’ll be right back,” you say, though you don’t specify where you’re going.
pansy watches you go, something knowing in her expression.
you don’t make it far.
“amorina.”
your steps falter. of course he followed you.
you turn, finding theo a few paces behind you, hands tucked into his pockets, gaze fixed entirely on you.
“where are you going?” he asks.
“nowhere,” you say quickly.
his brows pull together slightly. “you don’t look like nowhere. che succede?”
you huff out a small breath, shaking your head.
“do you act like this with everyone?”
the question slips out before you can stop it and theo's body goes rigid.
“like what?” he asks slowly.
you gesture vaguely, already feeling a little stupid. he didn't owe you an explanation. theo was well within his rights to act however he pleased.
“just… this. all of it.”
his eyes narrow just slightly, like he’s trying to understand how you got there.
“who said something to you?”
“no one,” you say, too fast.
his gaze sharpens, and his head tilts as he slowly cages you against the corridor wall, arms planted on either side. when he speaks again, his voice is low and gentle in a way that you've become accustomed to hearing from him.
“who?”
“it doesn’t matter,” you insist. “just answer me.”
there’s a brief pause.
then, quieter, “do you think i do?”
you hesitate.
and that’s answer enough. something in his expression shifts.
“have you ever seen me act like this with anyone else?” he asks.
his tone isn't short or impatient. he doesn't look or sound upset. in fact, he's looking at you the same way one would coax a scared puppy from the forest.
you don’t answer.
because now that you’re thinking about it, really thinking about it, no. you've never seen theo act like this with anyone.
ever.
he lets out a quiet breath, shaking his head slightly.
“i don’t like people touching me,” he says. “i don’t like being around people more than i have to. i don’t like sharing.”
his eyes lock onto yours.
“that includes my time. my space. my food. you.”
your chest tightens as he licks his lips slowly. his head falls back for a brief second and you watch his adam's apple bob as he swallows.
“so no,” he says, eyes once again on yours and his voice lower now. “i don’t act like this with everyone.”
another step closer.
“i act like this with you only.”
it lands harder this time because now you know he means it. really means it in a way that's almost hard for you to confront. your fingers tighten around the strap of your bag, your thoughts scrambling to catch up.
“oh.”
it’s a quiet, barely there reply, but he hears it and his expression softens just slightly, something fond slipping through.
“yeah,” he murmurs.
you look at him differently now. like you’re seeing something you should have noticed a long time ago. and maybe that’s what makes your chest feel so full all of a sudden.
“you’re… not subtle about it,” you admit.
his mouth twitches as he fails to keep the smirk off his face.
“never said i was.”
you let out a small breath, shaking your head, still in disbelief that you could've missed something so massive about your boyfriend.
“i really thought—”
“i know,” he cuts in.
amusement colors his tone as he stares down at you in pure adoration.
“you think i’m nice to everyone.”
you wince slightly at the joke in his tone. it's clear that he finds the thought more humorous than anything. “i didn’t say that.”
“you didn’t have to.”
you glance down, then back up at him.
“why didn’t you tell me?”
he shrugs, like it’s nothing, smile widening as he deftly runs his hands over your hips. his fingers spread as he strengthens his grip, pulling you into his chest and planting a kiss on your temple.
“you never asked.”
that makes you huff out a quiet laugh despite yourself.
“does it bother you?” he asks.
you look at him, really look at him. then shake your head.
“no.”
a small pause. if you were being completely honest, it was a little endearing. knowing that no one else in the world had the same kind of access to theo as you do.
“i think i like it.”
your tone is shy, but theo's gaze sharpens as he bites his bottom lip, staring at you with a look that's both surprised and intrigued.
his grip tightens just slightly.
“oh yeah?” he says.
and this time, when he looks at you, you finally understand what everyone else has been seeing the whole time.
