After many months, the zine is finally ready! Featuring 50+ pages of content, and a stunning cover done by @hains-mae, this âx readerâ zine explores what a summer with the bat boys would look like, and has:
- 7 unique art works from our very talented contributors (I mean just look at the sneak peek!) @dreamtatochz @napschnapps @calladraws101 @disgruntledwing @batboycentral and @a-sketchy-character
- 5 original fanfictions, featuring each bat boy individually (from @watchtower-feed and @superhero--imagines)
- 5 multi media pieces, and more!!
Buy the digital and physical version of the zine here! Pre orders will be open for the physical zine until September 12th.
Digital zines will be sent on September 12th, 2021, and the physical zine will be shipped sometime in September- October!
I wrote Jason and Duke's fics for the zine, as well as letters from Dick and Tim. Your support for the zine will go to every contributor and charities as well đ
So @watchtower-feed and I (@superhero--imagines ) have decided to spontaneously make a bat boys zine!!
Hopefully, this can be a seasonal thing that we produce, but for now, it will be Bi-Annual. This will a bat boy(s) x reader zine! (There wasnât one to contribute to so we made our own lol) this is a SFW, PG-13 rated zine. So no nsfw elements
We are looking for collaborators- the theme for this zine is âSummer Adventures with the Bat Boysâ. If youâre interested fill out the google forms below with the appropriate form of art. We are currently looking for artists and writers!
What weâre looking for:
Writers:
* Strong style, and entertaining and feel-good content.
* Follower count is not at all what weâre looking for, what weâre looking for are contributors who are passionate about this project and strong pieces that speak for themselves
* A link to your portfolio (This can be a Masterlist, on Tumblr, AO3, wherever your work is)
* A link to 3 pieces that youâve written (preferably with the bat boyâs)
* We have multiple spots open!
* Writer Form Here! - Closes May 15, 2021!
Artists:
* Something cool to look at dude, weâre open to whatever
* We have literally no idea what weâre doing, but we know good art when we see it
* EDIT: Just to clarify, we have no idea what an âx readerâ artwork would look like, for artists weâre just looking for good art that connects with the theme and moves us. If you have an âx readerâ idea we love that! But itâs not 100% required :)
* Weâre looking for artists to do the cover, a two-page center art piece, and several smaller art pieces throughout the zine (multiple spots open)
* Send us a link to your portfolio (Tumblr Deviantart, wherever)
* Send us two pieces from your portfolio (links)
*Artist Form Here! - Closes May 15, 2021!
Payment
Now the important part, ALL CONTRIBUTORS WILL BE PAID- payment will be a variable percentage of the final profit/net income.
Note:
30% of the profit will be donated (For now weâre thinking an even split between BLM and Duante Wright (for his GF and Baby)), This magazine was created with the intention of giving more women and POC a voice, so it only feels fair that we give something back to the community.
30% will be reinvested into the zine so we can keep producing these, and give more contributors an opportunity to promote/publish their work
After these, contributors will receive about 3% of profit In addition, all contributors will get:
-A Digital zine free of charge
- The opportunity to purchase a physical zine at cost (plus shipping)
- including any additional âmerchâ
tiers we choose to produce
- A Discount code for @superhero--imagines etsy store
- The ability to be a part of this awesome zine and help create a rad support group/community
Time Table
Apr 17 - May 15: sign-up
May 22: announce contributors
May 22 - June 19: first round of drafts due
June 22: give back drafts with revision requests
June 22 - July 11: Second round of drafts
July 11 - 18: final edits
July 31: The Zine is ready!!
Itâs is important that you can meet the dates above when submitting your contribution to the Zine.
Additional Info
Note, we DO NOT believe in âowning your workâ, upon acceptance we reserve the right to first publication of your work - after which (after in this circumstance being the purchase period plus one month) rights revert back to you and you are free to do whatever you wish with your work.
Also: Lexy and I have both experienced when an editor chooses to use a âradicalâ new style that completely changes the meaning of our work- we will not be doing that. We understand your work is important to you, and so we will treat it with the utmost respect possible. All edits for writing will only be made with your approval and knowledge.
For artists, we probably wonât edit your work outside of a few minor changes to the size or something. (We know nothing about art, we admit it, but weâre big fans and canât wait to see what you guys come up with!)
We hope to be able to review your submission and get back to you soon!
Reblogging again in case some of you missed this. If you love YN as much as me (and wish to be YN just as much haha half kidding) or just love writing about the batboys in general, try out as a contributor!
If you're a writer and looking for some feedback, tell me! I'll be more than happy to check your portfolio and send my comments and suggestions. I love writing but I also love helping other writers get their work out there in its best form possible!
  You're a new up-and-coming supervillain and you're looking for your first nemesis. You're thinking of starting small. Like that reporter from the Daily Planet that keeps messing up your villain name. What was his name? Yeah. Clark Kent.
  A rookie reporter who grew up in the middle of nowhere Kansas. There's no way he would see a direct attack coming. Even moreso an indirect one.
  You're hitting a small fry but that doesn't mean your methods are gonna be cute. You  decide to go with the classic kidnap-your-loved-ones strategy. That one never fails.
  You're standing in front of the sign that says Kent Farm and take out your phone to dial away. Of course, as a supervillain, getting such personal information on a lowly Daily Planet employee was nothing. The phone rings twice and a cheerful but polite voice greets you. It aggravates you even more.
  "I know what kind of person you really are, Kent. And you will rue the day you messed with me." You pause for a dramatic moment and then menacingly whisper, "But only after your parents do."
   You hang up. The hand gripping your phone shakes. You're grinning like an idiot because that was one of the best threats you've ever given. Much better than how you practiced it in front of your mirror.
  Brimming with adrenaline, you stride to the farmhouse and knock boldly. It's still early in the morning so you expect them to take a while to answer the door. But then it opens and an couple greets you. Already in their work clothes.
  "Can we help you?" asks the man you know as Jonathan Kent and his wife, Martha Kent, looks at you from just a step behind him.
  You suddenly revert to yourself. Your civilian self. "O-oh! Hello! Umm... Good morning. I hope I'm not disturbing you.."
   The old man chuckles a little but it's only half meant. "This is basically lunch time for folks like us." It's only 7:30am. You clearly remember calling at that time so Clark Kent wouldn't be able to punch in for work at exactly 8:00am like he always does.
  "Oh yes. Well, umm... I.. I know your son... He's a..." The couple visibly tenses as they wait for you to continue. You notice this and you wonder if this isn't the first time their son has messed with a supervillain and used them as leverage. "..reporter for Daily Planet."
  Confused looks. The couple looks to each other then at back you. Their brows are raised and it's more obvious now that they're questioning you. Deeply questiong the very existence of you at their doorstep.
  You suddenly snap. What are you doing? You have a plan! You're supposed to be a supervillain! You knit your brows together and stomp one foot in as you push the door the back. Jonathan takes a step back and Martha holds onto his shoulders. You shout at the top of your lungs, "Your son has been getting my name wrong in his articles at the Daily Planet and I demand justice!"
  Your pulse is beating profusely and your whole body is tense. You stare at the old couple but they're not cowering in fear like you expected them to be. Instead, Martha had her brows furrowed and her mouth was frowning. "Oh, dear," she says. She gently wraps her arm around yours, "I'll make us some coffee," and leads you to the kitchen.
  You find yourself going blank as you're seated in a quiant little kitchen with worn-out yellow walls and furniture bordered with pale teal. Martha goes to the counter and suddenly you all hear a loud booming sound that came from outside. It's enough to make you jump out of your seat, ready to run or fight, but the old couple just stares out the window and then collectively shakes their heads.
  "Can you please tell him we have a visitor? And that he should behave himself." Martha looks sternly at whoever it was outside while her husband had already left through the kitchen door.
  You can hear faint yelling from outside and try to listen in. "Oh don't worry about them dear. It's just my son--"
  "Your son?!" you jump out of your seat. "He's already here?"
  She looks at you for a second before she shakes her head. "You told him you were coming but he didn't even think to tell us. My goodness that boy.." Martha continues to mutter about her son while she walks back to the kitchen counter.
  The backdoor creaks open and in walks Jonathan with a huge disheveled man trailing after him. He's wearing a flannel shirt that's obviously two sizes too small for his torso and pants that don't even reach his ankles. His hair is a mess and he's struggling to put his glasses on upright. As soon as he walks in, he narrows his eyes at you, struggling to recognize where he's seen you before.
   Your offended meter has definitely reached its peak and is now erupting. You stomp your foot and point at him while you appeal to his mother. "Do you see the disrespect? He doesn't even remember who I am?!"
  Clark Kent's jaw drops as he looks to you then his mother, then back to you. "You told my ma?!"
   "Clark Joseph Kent!" Martha snaps and slaps his arm with a tea towel. "Who told you you could yell at guests in this house?" Clark is absolutely flabbergasted. He gets another whip with the tea towel. "And why have you been bullying this young lady in the newspaper? What has she ever done to you?"
   You suddenly think about it. You had your chin resting on your hand as you mull it over. "Actually, nothing. I haven't done anything to you," you say out loud.
  Clark huffs as he straightens himself, trying to take back some control in this situation. "I'm sorry about how rude I'm being-- or been but who are you?"
  All three pairs of eyes are on you now and you take your own pair of eyes and look at your hands all the way down to your feet. You're in your civilian clothing.
   "AHHHH!" you burst out without thinking. Hands gripping the sides of your head. After all that research. All that planning and scheming. All that waiting for your scheduled flight. You forgot to come here wearing your supervillain costume. You're a civillian. You're doomed.
  The Kent's worriedly look to each other as they watch your meltdown ensue. All too suddenly you start bowing, spitting out rushed apologies about a mistaken identiy, and taking slow but long strides toward the main door. But before you could make your escape, thick bulging biceps block your path and you look up to find a very pissed off Clark Kent. He's using his other hand to massage the bridge of his nose while his eyes are forcibly closed.
   "Just hold on a second here..." he grits through his teeth. "You can't just barge in here and think you can run away just like that."
   Another tea towel whip hits Clark's arm. "Would you stop tormenting the poor girl? Sometimes you forget you're bigger than a gorilla."
   Jonathan finally decides to step in. "Now, now. How about we sit down and clear this all up over some coffee?"
  "Umm," you finally pipe up. An escape has finally formed inside your head, "I forgot that I really should be going. I might not get a flight back to Metropolis today. So..." You bend your knees to try slip past Clark but he blocks you with his knee against the wall and his face is suddenly closer. You can now very clearly see the irritation etched on his face.
  "Nonsense," Jonathan answers. "My son can take you back." Both of you quickly swivel your heads to Jonathan with wides eyes. "What? You're going back to Metropolis, aren't you?"
  "Yeah, but I didn't exactly drive here..."
  "Pfft. What? You flew?"
  All eyes snap toward you and the longer they stare at you, the more you can feel your insides squirming. You force out a nervous laughter. "It's not like your son can fly, right?"
   Jonathan's booming laughter breaks the tension like hammering through glass. "He can't even fly a kite. I'd drop dead if I ever saw this boy of mine fly."
  Martha laughs along with him and you can see Clark doesn't like being the butt end of a joke. So you laugh too.
  In the end, you did end up having that cup of coffee with your nemesis Clark Kent no less, but only because you had to wait for Jonathan so he can drive you both to the train station. Turns out Clark didn't bring his passport.
   You've always liked the color blue. It's a calm and mesmerizing hue.Â
  But something about the color red keeps pushing you closer and closer to the edge.
  So you jump.
  The night air of Gotham is so thick with fog, you can feel its weight against your naked palms. It feels like a cushion that will catch your fall, as you keep descending down past lights that are on.Â
  Every window. Every curtain drawn. All eyes watch as your figure falls. They think they'll hear the bone-crunching sound. Guessing if it's your back or your skull that'll meet the ground first.
  You grin as you imagine it all because all they'll hear is the quick wisp of a sound slicing through the air as your wings spread out and gravity pushes you to soar.
  It's not a sight that's new or strange to Gotham. To them, you're just another bat in the sky, trying to make the night better for the little guys.Â
  But again they're wrong. You're no bat and you're not doing this for anyone but yourself. You just want to know what it's like to be human and fly.
  You just want to know why blue keeps soaring at night.
  As you feel the wind slap against your beaming face, a strong pair of arms wrap around your waist. You're too stunned to struggle as further and further down, Red drags you back to the ground.
  His steel-plated boots hit the pavement and he drops you on your ass. You have no choice but to glare up, exposing your face to him. You can feel his laser red eyes imprinting your features into his memory once again. You don't feel the need to hide it. It's not like you havenât done this before.
  "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
  His voice is mechanical, distorted. You find it easier to be mad at someone who doesn't sound human. Someone who looks like they're trying not to be human.
  Your eyes turn to the glaring red symbol on his chest. It's so bright but dirtied and your palms reach out to touch it.
  Red grabs your arm and hisses, "Don't."
  He pulls you forward, toward his chest, and then grabs hold of the cape clasped around your shoulders.
  "Hey--"
  He tears it off and holds you back from grabbing it back.
  "That's. Mine."
  Red narrows his eyes. "Is that what you want me to tell Nightwing?"
  Suddenly, all fight has left. Even the mention of his name feels like an ocean wave crashing down on you. And all that's left is the calmness of a low tide.
  Red knows this. He knows how much you look up to his older brother. How much Dick's opinions matter to you. What he doesn't understand is why you keep following him around instead of him.
  Jason rubs the back of his neck and he sighs.
  "You know--" He waits for you to look at him. "You don't need these. You don't need to be like him. Like us."
  You turn away then. You've heard this lecture so many times. You wonder if Jason ever gets sick of it because you never listen.
  Jason clicks his tongue.Â
  "How often does he go home?"
  You almost don't want to answer. In a small voice, you do. "Every other night."
  Jason wants to grit his teeth. That's more frequent than his brother's visits at the manor. More constant than his check-in at the cave.
  "Did he go home last night?"
  "... no."
  Jason keeps himself from sighing. "Alright. Then you better get home."
  Another protest rises up your throat but Jason interrupts you.Â
  "Go back to Bludhaven. I'll make sure he goes home early tonight."
  You mull over Jason's word for a second before checking the time on your wrist. It's just past midnight.
  "When are you going to tell him that you know?"
  Jason's question was sudden but it's a topic that's been weighing on you for weeks.
  "If he's still not telling me, he must have his reasons."
  "But you do know. And frankly, I'm getting sick of babysitting you while you audition for the stupid batfamily."
  You grin. All of red's intimidation has worn off. "You're part of that stupid family."
  He clicks his tongue again. "Stupid Nightwing."
  "Hey!" You punch Jason's shoulder and he lets you. He slackens his muscles so it won't hurt you. Much. "And I'm not trying to be a bat. I just want to know what it's like."
  "What's what like?"
  You mull the words before you say them. "What Nightwing feels when he soars like that."
  Jason watches you look up at the sky. He can almost see the pigment of a figure in your eyes as if you're really seeing Nightwing in the air.
  "Nightwing doesn't wear a cape."
  You immediately glare at Jason. You can feel his smirk emanating through his thick helmet. "Fine! Just take my cape!"
  "Was going to."
  "Ugh! You're so-- so!"
  "Infuriating?"
  "Unlike your brother." Jason suddenly straightens and you know you've hit a nerve. A weak spot you've been exploiting for weeks. "You're nothing like Nightwing."
  "Good." He throws the cape to the side, lumping it with the trash that's been taken out. "Now get your ass back to Bludhaven and. Don't. Come. Back."
  You fold your arms across your chest as you watch the Red Hood use his grappling gun to leave you alone in the alleyway.
He knows you'll be back and again heâll wonder why. Why your eyes gaze at the soaring blue sky while your feet follow the violent red trail of Gotham.
SSA Main ⧠Batman ⧠1 ⧠2 ⧠3 ⧠4 ⧠5 â§
  You turn to Bruce and heâs already glaring at you. Heâs already put two and two together and summed up the rest of your story.
  You gulp before telling him, âShe wants to help the Justice League stop Luthor but⊠in exchange for a big favor.â
     You slept early. Earlier than Bruce. You pace quickly in the black space as you wait for him to arrive, all the while grasping the replica of your phone. The screenâs brightness shines in the darkness like a floodlight.
     When Bruce finally arrives, his bat suit blends in with the empty dreamscape and you donât see him at first. But you hear his thoughts as he freely lets them loose, foregoing all trained inhibitions because heâs now with you. Then you find out that he already knows.
     Your head whips around harshly and youâre glaring at him. âYou read her message.âÂ
     Bruce stops mid step and stations himself on the spot. Heâs feeling the air with both your subconscious in it. You know this. You expected it. Without ever having to tell you, you know he keeps watch of you outside of this safe haven. His diligence tripled after Luthor and Craneâs stunt.
     Heâs too far away to personally keep you safe and keeping you close would only put a larger target on your back. He knows you understand why. But now heâs trying to figure out why youâre on edge.
     You shake your head. You can feel him filtering through your swimming thoughts.Â
     âDid you find her?â you ask.
     Ah. There it is. He realizes that this isnât about the two of you. This is about Luthor and his soulmate. This is about you worrying after she had sent you that message. Thanking you for helping her get in touch with the Justice League and apologizing for all the trouble sheâs caused. She also promised to keep Luthor in check as much as she could.
     âNo.â
     âYou have to find her, Bruce. What if sheâs in danger?â
     Bruce continues walking toward you. As he walks, the air shifts, and the space is slowly forming.
     âGreen Arrow saw her follow Luthor willingly,â he answers her.
     You almost couldnât believe it. When she asked them to take away Luthorâs memories of her, her resolve was unwavering. She was willing to give Luthor the life heâs always wanted even if it meant sheâll never be in it.Â
     Bruce is standing next to you now, while the two of you are on a farm, under a big tree, and looking out at a big pile of ashes on the ground. He takes off his cowl. âWe took care of Luthorâs labs and took all his research and artifacts connected to the soulmate links. Theyâre all in League custody. We also searched his past residences in case he kept something sentimental connected to her.â
     Thatâs when you hear it in the air, the unspoken information that youâre standing where Luthor had grown up and where they had met. Bruce fills your subconscious with short notes about the ashes that had once been Luthorâs house. He keeps them short and factual to avoid overloading your emotions.
     âAnd did he?â you ask.
     Bruce purses his lips and doesnât answer. He does it when he knows you wonât like hearing the answer. But you think he does it because he doesnât like it either. He changes the dreamscape back to darkness.Â
     âBut he has his memories back?â you ask even though you already know the answer. Itâs the only reason why she would follow him. That means Luthor has finally accepted her as his soulmate. But you need to hear it from Bruce to be sure, to be hopeful.
     âMiss Martian reported an anomaly in his memory bank. It was well organized and clearly labeledââ
     âA trap.â
     âA distraction.â You stare at Bruce with a puzzled look. âLuthorâs brain was overwhelming. Miss Martian would have found it too taxing to verify each and every memory and thought. She had to trust that everything was labeled accurately.â
     âAnd you let her,â you interrupt, âThat means you already knew that Luthor was aware of the plan. He had a failsafe.â
     Bruce hums to himself and you could feel his thoughts swimming around you before he speaks, âIt had to be a single memory. Short enough to hide from a telepath but strong enough to incite every other memory heâs ever had.â
     Bruce doesnât say anymore but you stop feeling his buzzing subconscious in the air, no longer analyzing relentlessly, as if heâs figured it out.
     âIt was a memory of her, wasnât it?â you blurt out. Bruce doesnât respond. Heâs not sure whether the answer will make you happy or not.Â
     Instead of answering, he shifts the space into the batcave and walks toward his computer. But he doesnât miss the twitch of your fingers and the way your knees lock in place once the space has fully formed.
     âMaybeâ,â you start to say but the screams, gunshot, and maniacal laughter in your head echo loudly. You want to be anywhere but here. You want to ask for a different space but thereâs no need to say anymore because Bruce quickly shifts the surrounding into the Watchtower.
     âIâm sorry,â he says as he walks back to you.
     Bruce may relive his nightmares every night but not enough time has passed for you to forget what it was like to feel like youâre dying. You think no time will ever be enough to forget the guilt and sorrow you felt when you were dying in front of Bruce. His hopelessness and desperation. They were heavy in the air and it suffocated you, pushing down on your chest. It felt like Bruceâs mind was willing you to death.
     Bruce holds your hand and squeezes it. You can feel his own dread weighing in the air. You donât want that. Thereâs more than enough of it in here and out there. You try to cheer up while looking around the Watchtower.    Â
     âSo all and all, everything turned out alright.â You sigh in relief, giving yourself time to dispel your own negative thoughts. When you turn to him, your smile is genuine, âIâm glad.â But he squeezes your hand again. âOh!â you exclaim, taking your hand away to bring it to your face. You want to change the subject. âThe Fate sister! Is sheâŠâ
     Bruce purses his lips and narrows his eyes. He studies you for only a second before he sighs. âWith her sisters,â he answers while he turns to the Watchtower screen. It turns on to show you a clip of the Fate sisters and their reunion. âThe League wanted to hold her for questioning. So we can be better prepared next time someone targets the links. But sheâs still a civilian so we let them go.â
     Youâre relieved to find him irritated. Itâs very subtle. Narrowed eyes with pupils slightly moving side to side as he prevents himself from rolling his eyes. No doubt a mannerism he had in his younger years and Alfred had conditioned it out of him.Â
     You snicker, âIâm sure her sisters were ecstatic. Cryptic but ecstatic.â
     âThey were⊠helpful.â Bruce takes a moment before he turns to you and plants a scene in the middle of the Watchtower lobby. âThey let us keep the cauldron and the scissors.â
     Bruce replays his memory of what happened at Luthorâs private lab where Luthor severed his link with his soulmate. You watch his soulmate beg for her memories and notice how she continued to caress him as they stole his. You hear and witness everything and your knees are suddenly weak but your soulmate holds you.
     Bruce speaks as the scene dissolves in front of you. âSome links automatically stop once the soulmateâs meet. But theyâre still tied to each other.â
     Then, you feel it. A question hangs in the air and itâs so heavy you feel your muscles straining to keep you standing. With wide eyes and quivering lips, you turn to your soulmate. Bruce asks you something heâs wanted to ask you for the longest time. Ever since the first night, you appeared in his nightmare.
     âWould you like to stop meeting here?â
     You knew it was coming but youâre still stunned. No thought fills the air. He watches you closely to figure out your answer before he hears it. But he doesnât. So he furrows his brows and his mouth curls down when he looks at the ground.
     You know itâs not because he doesnât want you. You know perfectly well why heâs asking if you want to sever your link. This is the dreamscape where your subconscious runs freely. There is no room for misunderstandings here.
     Bruceâs voice is lower when he speaks again. âWe have the means to cut our link and dream on our own again. No more nightmares, Y/N.â
     You frown. You frown so deeply and your eyes water as you watch the lines on his brows grow more prominent and the way his eyes twitch as he stares hard at the stark grey floor. You reach out to touch his cheeks and make him turn to you. Your lips quiver when you speak and you hold him in your hands to keep him right where he is.
     âThereâll always be nightmares, Bruce.â You lean forward until your forehead touches his and you close your eyes. âWhether itâs yours or mine, at least weâll go through it together.â
     Bruce opens his mouth to speak but his jaws are shaking and his teeth are clashing. Instead he kisses you on the forehead. His lips press firmly against your skin and too soon he pulls back.
     âYou shouldnât have to,â he whispers.
     You grit your own teeth and your tears are still falling. âNo one should.â
     You grip the hem of his cape and pull him close until heâs pressed against you. You clutch tightly, afraid heâll disappear from your dreams, afraid heâs not real. But he is. Heâs here and you feel it. You feel it when he wraps his arms around you and how his hands grip your shoulders. You feel it when he buries his face in your hair and lets out the shaky breath heâs been holding.
     You let yourselves stay in this peaceful moment, without words and without thoughts. Until itâs broken by a familiar song. You throw your head back with a laugh, tears still in your eyes when you finally speak, âRick Astley?!â And Bruce thinks he could never be more enamored by you than in this moment. âIs that your alarm?â you ask in disbelief.
     He shakes his head and surprisingly he gives you a small smile and turns away slightly. âItâs my communicator at the manor. Dick changed it.â
     You immediately stop laughing but you try to keep up a small smile as you disentangle yourselves. âSo the work continues,â you tease and Bruce replies with a small nod. You can tell heâs composing himself because once he wakes up, heâs no longer just your soulmate but the dark knight of Gotham City. âYou need a break.â
     Bruce turns to you and finds you smiling impishly. He returns it with a smirk of his own. âI do.â His attention turns to the large monitor displaying the Justice League insignia. âMost likely, the League will force me to file for one sometime soon.â
     You laugh and eye him curiously. âWhere are you gonna go?â
     Bruce looks at you, one eyebrow raised and thereâs a subtle glint in his eyes. âWould you like to see the Watchtower in person?â
     The fight had run long and everyone is exhausted. While Bruce is away on a top-secret intergalactic League mission, all of his wards decided to work as a team to take down Black Mask and his men. Only because itâs been a particularly unusual job, unusual even for Gotham. Black Mask had outsourced manpower from Bane himself to protect his precious cargo, a single chest the size of a serving platter. It was enough for all of them to be cautious and actually work together.
     The Red Hood is making sure every single hired muscle is tied up and unconscious. âDamn. Black Mask sure gave us a fight for this one.â He rubs his gloved hands together while he walks toward the chest. âMakes you wonder whatâs inside.â
     Nightwing, Robin, Red Robin, Spoiler, Orphan, and the Signal have been circling the cargo as well. Scanning it. Observing it. Itâs not made out of gold or silver, just a metal chest with a few dents on it from being roughly handled and eventually dropped during the fight.
     Finally, cautiously, Robin and Red Robin squat down beside it to examine the locks. Itâs nothing advanced. In fact, they were just multiple bulky old-fashioned locks. Quietly, the two of them worked together on opening it.
     The tension and anticipation are so thick in the air until Spoiler couldnât stand the silence any longer. âWhat is it?â She asked as soon as Robinâs gloved hands are holding the lid and lifting it slowly.
     Red Robin is the first to see a glinting sheen. âSome kind of precious stone?â he remarks. When Robin has the lid all the way down, all of them could see the thing thatâs inside. âNot a stone--â
     âAn egg,â Robin finishes.
     âOhmygod,â Nightwing interrupts, âAre we doing Eragon--â
     His mouth hangs open. All of their eyes are glued to the egg in front of them as it rocked in its place and then the sound of a tiny crack echoed inside the harbor warehouse and made their hearts stop. They watch the small intermittent ruptures extend until it finally formed a jagged piece. A piece thatâs pushed out by you.
     âIt hatched.â
     Your small black claws grip the edge of the egg as you slowly peak over the opening. There are seven gigantic figures crouching down and looking at you closely. They blink. So you blink.
⧠⧠â§
     âWho did she look at first?â Jasonâs chest rumbles when he speaks and you find the vibration soothing. âBecause sheâs definitely imprinting on me right now.â
     Tim rolls his eyes as Jason secures you more firmly in his arms and against his chest. You nuzzle the tip of your mouth against the soft thin fabric of his undershirt. âAfter hatching from the egg she needs to be incubated. It only makes sense that sheâd latch onto you âcause youâre the one with the strongest body heat here.â
     Your soft claws dig into Jasonâs bear arms after hearing Timâs voice, another soothing sensation to your newfound senses.
     Suddenly, a golden curtain sneaks up on your vision and youâre met with another one of your giants. âI have body heat, too,â she whines. Then, with a gentler voice she speaks to you, âHey, little you. Wanna come to mama? I bet Iâm a lot softer than this rugged old man.â
     Jason tries to tuck you away from her but youâre already crawling towards Steph. She snorts in victory as you settle on her chest. Her bare skin is a lot gentler on your soft scales.
     Two other heads lower down to look at you and you welcome them both by flicking out your tongue and touching the tips of their noses. Cass laughs at the wetness while Dick pouts.
     âHow come sheâs not acting like the dragon from the movie?â He reaches for your featherless wings, âShe hasnât even opened them once--â and tries to pull on them, causing you to hiss in fear.
     He quickly retracts his arm and spouts rushed apologies. From the few hours theyâve known you, they at least know that you do not like your limbs being pulled.
     Damian walks in with a scowl on his face while nursing his bandaged hand. âWhat did you do?â he accuses Dick right away.
     âHe tried to pull on her wings,â Duke spits out right away. Everyone shifts their glares at him because he still hasnât gotten rid of his instinct to tattle, a habit thatâs gravely unwelcome among Batmanâs wards.
     âTsk.â Damian walks up to Steph to examine you closely, making sure youâre unhurt. Heâs also close enough for you to lick his nose. Your smallest giant. The giant who helped you climb out of your egg and onto his harm.
     Damian was so curious at your mysterious physique that he couldnât help running his fingers along your trunk and then pulling on the spiked ball that was the tip of your tail. So you bit him.
   Everyone shouted and Duke swatted you away making you fall on the ground. Scared and helpless. But it was Damian who extended his other hand again and picked you up to take you home.
     Youâve been staring at him long enough that Steph gently hands you to him. Damian carries you with both of his hands. You may only be a little longer than his forearm, but you easily extend beyond his embrace.
     âIâm taking her with me to Nanda Parbat.â
     Angry gasps fill the room and you watch tensely as your bigger giants quickly surround him.Â
     âWhat?â
     âGive her back,â Stephâs the only one who stomps toward Damian.
     Damian doesnât step back. âThe manor is no place to raise a dragon.â
     âBut itâs enough for a demon,â Jason quips, âand weâve survived.â
     âThe League of Assassins is centuries old. My family is the greatest source we have to find out more about her species.â
     âGood lord.â
     Everyone turns and freezes the moment they see Alfred in his robe and nightdress. His hands are shaking while he ties his robe around his waist and stares wide-eyed at you. You blink at the new older giant whoâs standing underneath the doorway. He doesnât blink back.
     âAlfred, we can explain--â
     âYou brought home a baby dragonâŠâ
     Finally, once the absurdity of it all has been voiced out, Bruceâs wards can finally feel the gravity of this single night.
⧠⧠â§
     Batman is too far out in another galaxy to be reached and his wards didnât want the League to know about you. In their eyes, your giants are still children and they would take you away from them.
   Instead, another family member was called.
     When Raâs Al Ghul makes it to the manorâs front door alongside his daughter, he stops. They turn to each other and wonder if they should just break-in. But they didnât come here to intrude. Damian had invited them over and so they knock and wait.
     Thereâs nothing more surreal than the Al Ghulâs having tea with Alfred and Bruceâs wards, everyone out of their costumes and combat gear. Well almost everyone.
     âWhy arenât you guys in costume? Thatâs Raâs Al Ghul,â the Signal whispers behind his cup of tea.
     ââCause heâs Raâs Al Ghul,â Tim answers. âIf anyone knows who we are, he would.â
     Jason leans in and gives the Signal his own two-cents, âPlus, they came to the manor and not the cave. That shouldâve been your heads up.â
     Frustrated, he takes off his mask and sinks into his chair, letting the previous silence continue to grow in the Wayne sitting room.
     Then Dick breaks it, âSo Damian told you and you came here, huh?â
     Talia smiles while her father continues to drink his tea with his eyes shut. âWouldnât you?â she teases, âIâm sure even beloved himself would come down from his perch if you had told him thereâs a dragon in the manor.â Talia watches in amusement as Bruceâs wards swallow. She turns to Jason for confirmation. After having been raised by Talia after his resurrection, he knew he couldnât lie to her so he looks away. âSo you truly havenât told him.â
     Finally, Damian walks back into the room with Steph whoâs been holding you gently against her chest while you slept. When you pick up the new scents in the room, you immediately wake up and turn to them.
     To everyoneâs surprise, Raâs Al Ghul quickly stands. He stares at you. And very slowly he walks forward to meet you. He gazes down. Old ancient eyes study you deeply while you stare at him and blink.
     Of course, a living breathing dragon would be something the League is interested in-- something heâs interested in. After centuries on this Earth, he has never seen one and has at least once wondered if they truly exist. But today his grandson offers him that experience.
  The air moves and both Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian appear beside you.
  You watch Lexâs eyes widen and turn from one alien to another. Once theyâve entered his mind, his eyes start closing. You lean down and whisper, âA courtesy, my soulmate.â
     You stay close to Lex, laying his head on your lap while Miss Martian lies near you, her eyes glowing an effervescent light green and Martian Manhunter holds her hand. You panic when Lexâs brows crease and his eyelids flutter.
     âItâll be okay,â Martian Manhunaterâs deep voice echoes in the near-empty dome of the lab. Everyone had been cuffed and escorted out. Itâs just the four of you in the middle and Batman and Green Arrow on the side keeping watch.
     âMiss Martian is the best telepath I know. She wonât hurt him.â
     You purse your lips and your hand on Lexâs shoulder cups around his skin, pulling him a little closer. âHow do I know his memories of the links are the only thing youâll take?â
     Martian Manhunterâs face doesnât know how to show emotion. So he tips his head to the side. âYou came to us for help because you trust us.â
     âNo,â you answer in reflex and blush in shame. You turn away from him to look at Lex. You want to say that you asked for their help because theyâre the only ones that would help. You couldnât even count on the Fate sisters so who else was left but the enemies of your soulmate?
     When Miss Martian starts blinking and moving, Martian Manhunter gently helps her situp and the other heroes start walking toward the center. You check on Lex and find his features calm and his breathing even.
     âHeâll be⊠asleep for a whileâŠâ Miss Martianâs voice is ragged. She grunts and takes a long breath before she speaks again. âBatman--â heâs already handing her a piece of paper and pen. She slowly scribbles down a list. After sheâs done she hands it to you.
     âWe need to destroy all physical evidence that might trigger his memories. Can you please write down any locations that might not be there?â
     âWhat do you mean they might not be there?â Batman asks.
     Miss Martian frowns, âMy powers are strong but some human minds have their own kind of strength. Especially for someone like Luthor. It was like⊠a filing cabinet?â she turns to Martian Manhunter, unsure, before she looks back at Batman. âEverything was well-organized and easy to find, and all in one place.â
     Batman turns to you, âLike a trap.â
     You glare at him and cower a little closer over Lex.
     âIf it is, sheâs not involved,â Martian Manhunter interjects and then turns to you, âIâve read your mind. Batman asked me to.â
     Batman grunts, making Green Arrow smirk.
     âThis is Luthor weâre talking about, Batman. Heâs probably had this as a contingency plan years ago when my unc-- I mean Martian Manhunter joined the League.â
     Batman turns to you and you wait for another accusation. But he nods toward the list you forgot youâre holding. You look at it and carefully read each location. Safehouses. Lairs. Secret meeting spots. Deposit boxes. Storage containers. Youâve been to most of them but there are some missing. Locations only you would know. You write down the dorms and apartments Lex went to in college, his foster house in Metropolis, and just in case, you write down the location of the Luthor farmhouse.
     âTheyâre not secret locations but these would be the last places Lex would go to and his enemies would expect the same.â But Lex is smarter than his enemies, you wanted to add. But you still needed their help. You still needed them to make sure Lex forgets everything.
⧠⧠â§Â
     Youâre standing in front of the big tree on Luthorâs farm and holding the piece of paper with a list. Youâre scrunching the paper in your hand. Every location has been crossed off except this one.
     Except for the ones you listed down, every single location had endless records and evidence of Lexâs research on the links. As well as copies and backups of each one.
     But youâre disappointed because thereâs not a single written record about you. Not a single file that acknowledged your existence. Your name wasnât even written down on a loose piece of paper tucked haphazardly between pages or thrown in a trash bin or shredded.
     Lex had erased every single trace of your existence in his life. He had been prepared to lose you completely. No. Get rid of you.
     Flash taps you on the shoulder. âLooks like no oneâs been here since the fire took down the farmhouse. Where to next?â
     You keep your back to him but your voice breaks when you answer, âThis is the last one.â
     Flash quickly tenses and turns to Batman and Green Arrow for help. Itâs Miss Martian who approaches you. âY/N,â she holds your shoulders and tries to look you in the eye with a half-lidded gaze. âIf you want, I could also--â
     You quickly shake your head and bite your lips to keep the tears from falling.
     No. You want to remember. Despite everything-- Despite the man heâs become, you still want him in your memories.
⧠⧠â§
     You stayed in Gotham for a couple of weeks, against your will but you were ready to do anything to get Batman off your back. He wanted to keep an eye on you, to make sure this wasnât all part of an elaborate move against the League.
     While Superman continued to monitor Lex in Metropolis, you werenât allowed anywhere near the city nor Lex. But you had no desire to be.
     The Lex you saw on the news wasnât the one you know anymore. He wasnât the child you grew up with, the teenager you fell in love with, nor the man you devoted your life to. Because that is what you did. Your whole life has revolved around him and now heâs gone.
     Finally, itâs time to start your own life. After Gotham, you move back to Star City to be with your family and be reacquainted with the life you could have had. You suddenly donât need to keep running and hiding anymore.
   Not even Batman could keep an eye in Star City 24/7. But a month later, Green Arrow stops by your house to check on you. It is his city after all.
     âYou can tell Batman Iâm still being a good girl and to the League, thank you again for your help.â
     Green Arrow laughs. âIâm not here because Batman told me to.â
     You raise your eyebrow and try to suppress the smirk playing on your lips, âSo you heroes just do monthly checkups on every citizen youâve saved--â
     â--and worked with,â he finishes with a gleaming smile. While Batman had intimidation going for him, Green Arrow uses his charms to lower his enemyâs guard. Lex didnât particularly applaud the cunning in it. But he did make note of it.
     So you keep your mouth closed but give him a small smile. Both of you wait a while.
     When the silence suddenly gets too awkward, Green Arrow coughs, âWell I should get going then-- Oh!â he fishes out an envelope from inside his jacket and hands it to you.
     Itâs an invitation to Oliver Queenâs mayoral campaign tomorrow night at the Star City Plaza Hotel.
     âHeâs one of the good guys.â
     Youâre too baffled by the sudden situation that you keep staring at the invitation. âWell if he has the League backing him, he canât lose,â you say mindlessly.
     âActually,â Green Arrow chuckles. âItâs just me⊠on the down-low.â Of course. If vigilantes started publicly endorsing politicians, theyâd lose the people. You nod.
     It takes you the whole day to decide whether or not you should go. There are still so many things you had to do to get your new life started. But that also meant that you arenât particularly busy. Suddenly not having a lifeâs mission is enough to make you go to a mayoral campaign of all things.
     Itâs actually not so bad. Good guy or not, Oliver Queen knows how to throw parties for his people. His people being the upper class. You see a few big names show up, all smiling for the camera while they shake hands with the new potential mayor of Star City. All for show.
     You find yourself spending most of the night at a table near the stairs, deflecting conversations of who you are, and who they are. Is this the life Lex wanted? To be among these kinds of people?
     No, he wouldnât. He cares less for these social gatherings than politics itself. You snicker silently as you think about how Lex would show up only if he had to be on stage and then leave the rest of the night to his secretary.
     Youâre picturing this in your head that you almost donât get surprised to see him across the room shaking hands with a stiff Oliver Queen. But then you remember youâre no longer linked and heâs no longer your soulmate. So why is he suddenly here?
     He catches you staring at him. You watch him turn back to Oliver Queen and mindlessly excuses himself but the mayoral candidate holds Lexâs hand in his grip and seems unwilling to let his company go.
     You quickly take this opportunity to slip away and blend into a small crowd headed down the stairs toward the lobby. You wait until they reach the bottom steps before you break off toward a deserted hallway. You lean against the wall and try to catch your breath. If written words on a piece paper could potentially unravel everything Miss Martian erased, then you had to get out of here.
     âLeaving so soon?â
     Itâs as if destiny still has strings on you.
     You turn around. Slowly. You try to smile. You try to keep your feet planted on the floor and your hands behind you. âNot really my scene.âÂ
     Lex raises his eyebrow and places his hands in his pockets. âSo youâre here for work then. Star City Sentinel?â he asks, âor Gotham Gazette?â
     He thinks youâre a reporter but thatâs not right. Heâs not one to seek reporters. He runs away from them.Â
     âUhh, no,â you answer. âIâm-- filling in for a friend.â
     âA friend, huh?â He raises his eyebrows in amusement. âAnyone, I know?â
     You suddenly donât like this. You donât know what this Luthor is thinking. You narrow your eyes at him and push yourself off the wall, about to walk off. âProbably not. I donât even know who you are.â
     He laughs, âReally, Y/N?â It makes you stop. âWas that the best youâve got? Everyone on this planet with access to TV and the internet knows who I am. I thought you might have been able to play this little game a while longer.â
     You turn to him then, standing too close and within his reach. Your eyes are wide and he stares back at you with a calm exterior.
     "Did you really think it would be so easy?"
     You couldnât move. Your words come out like a whisper with only disbelief pushing them out. "H-how?"Â
     He hums. "You're not the only one who's employed a mindreader.â
     His hand reaches out to hold yours. He turns it around in his hold, seeing and feeling your skin touching his. Then he squeezes it. He points his head to the exit and you follow him while he brushes his thumb on the back of your hand. At this point, youâll follow him to the ends of the earth.
     You almost hear Oliver Queen yelling after you as you get in the passenger seat of the town car. Almost.
     Lex drives and thereâs only silence inside. Your hands are on your lap and theyâre shaking. Now that youâve had time to think, you donât know what to think. âLex,â you mutter, âPlease. Explain whatâs happening.â You slowly turn to him but he keeps his eyes on the road. âIf you remember, then why-- why arenât you angry?â
     Lex finally turns to you. He canât help the smirk that lifts the corners of his lips and the mischief curling his eyebrows down. âArenât I?â
     You donât reply to him. Your eyes hold his gaze until the playfulness finally disappears from his features. He briefly closes his eyes and sighs.
     âI knew our memories would be erased once we meet,â he starts and you hold your breath, âAnd when I succeed in taking control of the memory link, any lingering feelings would've been obliterated as well.â
     Your lips quiver as you listen and your words come out a whisper, âIsnât that what you wanted--â
     âBut I found,â he interrupts, âOver the years, I found that there was one memory I couldnât forget."
     Your eyes widen because it suddenly feels as if time had stopped.Â
     "Which... which one?"
     He suddenly smiles sheepishly and his voice goes lower, "The ceasefire."
     You remember it so clearly. The rarest of days when Lex suddenly appeared in front of you, distraught, angry, annoyed, and just as surprised to see you as he was to find himself under a big tree, on a hill, in an orchard in Florence.
     "Where am I?"
     At first, you pondered about ignoring him but then you realized that would make him harder to tolerate and you donât know how long heâs going to be staying.
     "Italy," you answered nonchalantly.
     He whipped his head around, as if not taking your word for it. Then he turned to you and raised one of his eyebrows, "What are you--"
     "I needed a break,â you interrupted. You stretched your arms and then sat down on the blanket you had just laid before Lex arrived. âI found out a while ago that immersing myself in a familiar environment keeps me from wandering into your memories."
     This happened during the third year of your decades-long game of cat and mouse. You were still testing out the possibilities and limitations of the links. But Lex, at the time, was still rejecting it completely.
     You watched him close his eyes and you can tell he was willing himself to disappear. But to no success. "Ugh!"
     You snickered. "You look like you could use a break, too. Tough day at the evil lair?" you teased but he doesnât turn to you. He rubbed his palms down his face in aggravation. You rolled your eyes at him, "Since you're stuck here, we might as well be civil."
     "You could walk away," he snapped at you with a fake smile.
     "No way! I was here first!â You sounded like a child and Lex almost laughed. Instead, he managed to contain it to a small smirk but it was enough to embarrass you. âWhatever,â you grumbled and leaned back with your arms supporting you. âI'm not leaving this spot."
     Lex scowled and rolled his eyes. He tried to look for the nearest town or guesthouse. But there were only acres of trees on the horizon. He grimaced because it reminded him of the farm. "What's so special about it?"
     You were surprised to hear his questions. Was he actually trying to be civil? You tried your best not to sneak a look at him and kept your gaze up.
     "It's nice to see the light trying to pass through the leaves. When the wind comes, the leaves and branches rustle so the specs of light look like they're dancing."
     Lex was looking at you while you talked and he saw them dance on the contours of your face, making you smile. Again, it reminded him of the farm.
     He finally sighed and unbuttoned his suit jacket. He draped it over your shoulders and then lied down on the blanket with his head resting on your lap. He felt you tense up.
     "I need a break,â he declared with his eyes closed.
     Slowly, your body relaxed and you sat up so your fingers could run through his hair.
     "Is this an intermission?" you tease softly.
     "Hmm,â he frowns. âCall it a ceasefire. Your vocabulary hasn't gotten any better. You must be wasting your time in college instead of studying."
     You glared at him. But then you saw the small smirk that played on his lips and it reminds you of his room in Metropolis.Â
     You leaned down to hover above his head. Your shadow forced him to open his eyes and look at you.
     "I miss you, Lex."
     A strong gust of wind swayed the leaves to reach for the sky, and the light was dancing wildly behind your head. Without thinking, Lex's hand reached up to pull you down for your lips to be reunited.
     The two of you have been quiet for a long time. Youâve been wringing your wrist with your fingers trying to figure what to say next. But Lex knows it has to be him that speaks first.
     âI believed destiny made a mistake linking you to me.â
     Itâs not what you expect and your heart hurts a little to hear it. But youâve always known that.
     âThen,â he pauses. His mouth closes and opens a few times before he could finally continue. âYou proved me wrong.â
     Your hands stop.
     âWhile I cowered away and tried to ignore our link--â
     You look at him to make sure heâs not lying to you.Â
     Lex is staring straight at the road but thereâs a hint of excitement in his eyes. âYou adapted!â he said proudly, almost breathless. âYou lived in my memories for days at a time and fit into the background as if you were actually there.â
     He turns to you suddenly, eyes wide and mouth grinning, âFor godâs sakes, Y/N, you found out Batmanâs link and planted the information in my head, making me believe I was the one who discovered it.â He scoffs, âAnd then had me ask Scarecrow create a fear toxin that only worked in his dreams. Tell me-- Why?â
     His excitement is contagious. You found yourself leaning a little closer and wanting to tell him everything. âI knew it would make his soulmate visit the black market for blockers. I needed her to get the Leagueâs help.â He laughs. âHow-- how did you know I planted the information?â
     âI found out when we finally met. When the link cleared my head of memories of you.â
     Your own excitement takes a sudden dip. What you did was wrong. You knew it was before you even started it. But Lex had been making more progress in his plans and you were still figuring out how to get the League to trust you.
     It was pure coincidence that you found Batmanâs link as if destiny has been pushing you down this road the whole time. It was your roommateâs sister. She visited and you overheard them talking about the links. She was talking about her neighbor in Central City who had the strangest sleeping schedule and often called out Bruce Wayneâs name in her sleep. âImagine having a subconscious link with Bruce Wayne? Iâd die every night catching him with a different supermodel in a wet dream.â
     You knew who Bruce Wayne was. Having existed in Lexâs memories, you knew the identity of every single hero and villain, even in other galaxies. Truly, something was helping you pave the path to your success.
     Lex reaches out to hold your hand, stealing you from your thoughts. His voice comes softer now but you could still hear the mirth in it, âYou uncovered my plans and used it against me. Erasing my memories and planting fake ones about a happy childhood where my parents lived until I finished college-- Only you would've come up with something twisted and wrapped it in a bow.â
     You suddenly have the urge to pull your hand back. Instead, you pinch him. He flinches but keeps smiling.
     "I was impressed. The things you could do. The lengths you went through--"
     "For you," you answer in a whisper. You squeeze his hand and you speak a little louder. "It was all for you."
     His smile softens and thereâs no longer excitement or mirth there. Just affection. "Yes. For me."
     He lifts your hand to his lips and kisses it. "Forgive me, Y/N. Perhaps destiny has truly blessed me."
Disclaimer:Â This fic was inspired by Chapter 35 of Tamen De Gushi by Tan Jiu and Tim Drakeâs vigilante life ruining his school life in Robin: Wanted. This was supposed to be last weekâs fic but itâs wordy...
Words: 2,587
     When Tim comes home from one of Wayne Industryâs covert labs, he finds his whole family in his room. They have rummaged through the suits in his closet which are now laid out for viewing on his king-sized mattress. Before he can ponder whether he should ask or just leave, Dick spots him.
     âTim!â Dick holds up two suits, âAll-black dinner suit or grey summer suit?â
     All eyes are on him now and Tim wonders if the familyâs invited to the Gazetteâs upcoming charity gala next month. But they never prepared for those things, asking for recommendations on suits or dressing each other. Unless itâs for a mission, they never prepare at all.
     âWouldnât a white-polo black jacket dinner suit be more appropriate for a gala?â Tim has moved toward his desk to empty the contents of his bag, while his family turned to each other with raised brows.
     Suddenly, Damian scoffs loudly and ceremoniously punches Jason in the arm.
     âOw!â
     âI told you Drake didnât know. Pay up.â
     âTim,â Bruce says softly, âarenât you going to your prom?â
     Timâs hand slips from the table. He stays stunned in midair as he repeats Bruceâs question in his head. His last prom is the day after tomorrow but heâs never gone to a single one. So why are they concerned about it now?
     Tim slowly turns around and is almost insulted by the pitying looks his family is giving him. Dick looks like heâs about to cry and Cass smiles at him with sad eyes. Alfred is pressing down the non-existent creases of his jacket. The ends of Jasonâs lips are pulled down. Damianâs smirking. And even though Bruce is trying to hold in his reaction, Tim can see the slightest furrow of his usually-apathetic brows. Theyâre staring at him like heâs dying but he doesnât know it yet.
     âWhy would you assume Iâm going?â he asks warily.
     His question only made his familyâs expressions graver. Finally, Bruce gives him the deepest sigh Tim has ever heard.
     âFather,â Damian steps forward with a grin on his face. âAllow me.â He takes out a small red automatic umbrella from behind him. âGrayson asked if he could borrow your umbrella this morning and you threw him this.â Damian tosses it to Tim.
     Tim holds it in his hands and vaguely remembers what happened before he left the manor this morning. Heâs seen the umbrella before but never used it. He sort of remembers it being a gift from a good friend last year, who also started ignoring him out of the blue.
     âOpen it.â
     Tim doesnât want to take orders from Damian but no one else in his family is speaking up and at this point, Alfred has sat down to brace himself while peering at Tim through folded hands.
     âNo. Open it as if itâs raining. At the ceiling. So we can see your reaction.â
     Damian is being especially specific and Jasonâs frown has slowly been replaced by an eager smirk. There seem to be some theatrics planned and Tim hasnât figured out where this is going so he decides to play along.
     He points the umbrella toward the ceiling and pushes the button. There, on the inside of the umbrella, written in black bold letters is the question: Will you go to prom with me?
     Timâs jaw drops. His wide eyes are punctuating each letter as he reads the message over and over again. No matter how many times he repeats it in his head itâs not changing.
     A flash hits Tim in the face and he glares at Jason whoâs laughing silently with his mouth open.
     âTodd, you were moving too much. I shouldâve taken it.â
     âNo, Dames-- haha-- I got it alright.â
     âSons. Please.â
     Bruceâs voice drops as he closes his eyes while massaging his temples, unsure which boy heâs most disappointed in at the moment. At this point, Dick has made his way to Tim and clutches his shoulders, fingers pressing desperately, âAt least say you remember who itâs from.â
⧠⧠â§Â
     Itâs the day before prom and just like last year, you donât have a date. Itâs no big deal, really. You had fun with your friends last time. But itâs just that, this time of the year is bringing back awful memories. Maybe you shouldnât go to school?
     You sigh. Thereâs still school the next day.
     You get up, get ready, and drag your feet all the way to the front of your school. Your friends greet you near the steps and suddenly thoughts of last year have been forgotten. Itâs not like you talk to him anymore. Youâve done a good job of avoiding him and he never made a move to apologize or patch things up with you so⊠really. Itâs no big deal.
     âIsnât that--â
     âTim Drake?â
     You didnât want to look. You werenât planning to. But you have been staring at him since you walked into the school because Timothy Drake is waiting by your locker. Holding the red umbrella.
     He sees you and itâs too late to turn back. Your friends all know about the failed umbrella and theyâre already marching up to him.
     âThe audacity.â
     âYouâve got some nerve, rich prick.â
     âWoah,â Tim quickly holds up his hands. Suddenly realizing heâs way over his head. He shouldâve accepted Dickâs advice when he offered it last night instead of slamming his door shut on his family. He was embarrassed. But now, he would take Jasonâs help with your friends, even if heâll just end up being a soundboard for their insults.
     âI can explain.â
     Your friends scoff as you slowly walk behind them where you can only see glimpses of Timâs face.
     âExplain then.â
     âIâŠâ Tim stutters. Then he bows his head slightly and his free hand travels to the back of his neck as he sucks in through his teeth. He sneaks you a crooked smile while his eyebrows try to meet at the center. âI only opened it yesterdayâŠâ
     Silence. Incredulous eyes and held breaths. Then a collective groan and one of your friends slaps their forehead.
     Tim nervously chuckles to try lessen the tension, âActually it was my brother--â
     âOkay. Stop right there,â Youâre blushing furiously and you are furious. You rush forward and cover Timâs mouth with both of your hands. âPlease stop.â
     Tim peeks at you and your cheeks heat up at the sudden proximity. You quickly pull back your hand and nudge your head toward the end of the hall. Tim follows you, still clutching the red umbrella in his hand.
     You stop and quickly snatch it from him. When you reach the corner, you wring the umbrella with your hands and refuse to look at him.
     On his part, he doesnât know what to say. He knows he should apologize but is that enough? Itâs been a year. Youâve been mad at him this whole time and he was too clueless to even know why.
     âClueless is an understatement,â you say.
     Tim gulps as he realizes heâs been speaking his mind. His tendency to mutter his thoughts has always been a nuisance to Jason and he always complains about it. But then again itâs Jason. He thought his brother was just making something up to annoy him about.
     âIs oblivious more accurate?â he teases.
     You turn to him then. Glaring.
     âNot the time. Sorry!â Yeah. Second greatest detective my ass! Tim swallows. Whereâs Steph when you need her?
     You sigh. It sounds a lot like Bruceâs from last night. âTim, we should get to class.â
     âOkay. Okay,â he says in a rush. âI really am sorry. I was an idiot-- am an idiot.â You tap your foot on the tiled floor, not really wanting an apology. All you wanted was his answer. A rejection wouldâve been better than this. âSo I was wondering if I can make it up to you by taking you to prom this year?â he asks sheepishly.
     The hair on the ends of your skin stand up. Itâs not goosebumps or nerves. Itâs pure rage. You stomp your foot at Tim, making him jump. âHow dare yo-- NO.â You quickly turn and start to walk away but Tim grabs your hand.
     âY/N, wait--â
     You snap at him, imitating his tone, â âMake it up to you by taking you to promâ God, Tim! I cannot believe you right now! You donât ask a girl to prom like itâs some sort of favor!â
     âHowâŠâ Tim hesitates, eyes narrows below furrowed brows, âHow do I ask a girl to prom?â
     You realize then that Tim isnât just oblivious. Heâs worse than a newborn calf. You slowly brush off his hand. The two of you stand awkwardly in the hallway.
     You sigh for a long time with your hands running down your patience. âLook, Tim,â you start, âIâm not mad.â You stop, puzzled that itâs not a lie. You sigh again, softer this time. âReally. Iâm actually a little relieved now that I finally know why you never answered me--â
     âI--â
     You hold up your hand, âSo many reasons I came up with on my own. All bad ones. And I was imagining how I would give you such a hard time when you finally apologize.â
     Tim tries to speak again but your gaze has softened and he suddenly doesnât feel the need to explain. You understand. Youâve always understood him better than anyone. But he hurt your feelings, despite not knowing, and you deserve to be mad at him.
     The bell rings and you wait until the halls have cleared before you continue, âBut you know, after a year of not talking, I realized something.â Tim gulps when you look him in the eye. A light blush coats your cheeks. âI miss my friend.â
     Tim stares at you before his lips slowly curl into a small smile.
     You chuckle away the sudden nerves, âI miss my dumb oblivious friend who doesnât know anything but academics and video games.â
     His voice comes out low and breathless, âYeah?â
     You finally return his smile. âYeah.â
⧠⧠â§Â
     Stephâs laughter booms loudly over the gunshots on the rooftop. Sheâs wheezing and Tim is glaring into the distance, but not missing a beat when he sidesteps a thug and slams the barrel of his rifle against his nose.
     âYouâre an idiot.â
     âThank you, Dames. I didnât just get that from Stephâs obnoxious snorting.â
     âSo thatâs a yes, right? Youâre going to prom?â Dick asks through the comms.
     âYeah, I guess so.â
     Steph stops abruptly. Cass looms on a gargoyle perched above Tim and Steph, checking for any more movement. When she finds that theyâve subdued every single one, she joins Steph in staring at Tim. Thereâs a sudden eerie silence throughout all comms, as if the boys have instinctively picked up on the tension. Itâs Babs who breaks it. âSteph, do the honor--â
     âHow in the holy hell do you figure she said yes to being your prom date? Come on, Timmy. Enlighten us. Please.â
     Tim gulps and suddenly he couldnât even hear his brothers breathing through the comms. His voice is low when he answers. âShe said she missed me--â
     âBecause you havenât hung out for a year!â Steph cuts him off then crosses her arms with a huff. She rapidly taps her feet, daring Tim to answer.
  â... She was avoiding me--â
     âBecause you didnât even have the decency to use the umbrella she gave you! Ugh--!â Steph throws her hands up and kicks the ground. âEveryday this past year, I canât believe my greatest promposal idea was soiled by your cluelessness.â
     Timâs eyes widens and he shouts indignantly at Steph, âIt was your idea? Then why didnât you just tell me!?â
     âWe had a bet going,â Babs interferes. âNightwing party of three on your left. Robin en route to assist from overhead.â
     âHeâs coming in from the ceiling?!â
     âWait,â Tim cuts in, âWho else knew?â Cass raises her hand when Tim turns to her.
     âMight I remind everyone,â Bruce cuts in through all comms, âthat we are on a high stakes mission tonight?â
     âYes. Best postpone this discussion until tomorrow. Can someone please find out where Red Hood has been taken to?â
     Cass immediately leaps off of her vantage point and leaves Tim and Steph on the rooftop.
     Tim sighs under his breath, â... but prom is tomorrow.â
     Steph comes up behind him and drapes her arm over his shoulders. âYouâre so lucky you have me.â
⧠⧠â§Â
     You make it through the school day just like any other. Itâs even better now that youâre friends with Tim again. You took your shot and you crashed and burned. But at least now you can salvage your friendship.
     Except that prom is tonight. Despite the awful memories, you still want your last prom to be unforgettable. More than half the school already ditched during lunch period. Now you only have a few hours left to get ready.
     âOkay,â Steph whispers into her comms and Cass nods from beside her. âSheâs leaving the classroom. Red, make it rain.â
     From the roof, Jason quickly releases the folded firehouse in his grasp and aims it at the sky. The water splits as it comes down and blankets the small entrance of the school with fake rain. Jason grins as he watches high school kids scramble about in search for quick cover.
     Youâre watching from the top of the steps, looking down at the people running from the sudden rain. Strange, you think. Itâs so bright out.
     âRed 1, did you take Y/Nâs umbrella?â
     âAffirmative.â
     Steph watches you rummage through your bag. âOkay. Red 1, go.â
     Dick comes up from behind you, wearing an oversized coat to disguise himself, and opens his red umbrella halfway down the steps. You were going to ask if you could walk with him to the bus stop but the writing on his umbrella suddenly caught your eye. It has your name on it.
     While you watch him walk away, Steph speaks into her comms again. âRed 2, go.â
     Damian clicks his tongue at his codename. He only agreed to assist in this scheme because Steph let him write the next line.
     A child too young to be in high school is also wearing an oversized coat and holding a red umbrella. He opens it at the foot of the steps and stays there. Waiting for you to read whatâs written in angry bold letters on his umbrella: Iâm sorry Iâm a clueless idiot.
     You blink at the words. Stunned. âWhatâs happeningâŠâ you mutter.
     Steph turns to Cass, âReady, Red 3.â Cass nods and the two of them come up from behind you. Cass opens her red umbrella first: Itâs our last prom but my first one...
     âSteph?â you call out.
     Steph gives you a wink before she opens her own red umbrella: ⊠and I want to spend it with you.
     Steph and Cass count to two before they start walking away into the cover of the fake rain over your school.
     Youâre about to run after them when Tim suddenly shows up next to you. Youâre staring at him with wide eyes that immediately turn to the red umbrella heâs holding in front of you. He unclasps it and opens it over your heads.
     You look up. Inside it says: If you want to.
     Tim takes in a breath before he speaks, âDo you want me?â His voice is low and shaky. âAs your date I mean.â
  âCanât believe Iâve been havinâ somebodyâs sloppy seconds this whole time!â your boyfriend yells out as you exit the club and enter the silent alley.
    âWow,â you answer indignantly. You poke him in the chest and glare at his upturned face. âI felt bad about cheating on you before, but now--â you throw your hands up and shout back, ânot anymore, Derek!â
    âGive me your wallets!â Both of you turn to the robber with a gun whose hands are shaking and his aim shifts between the two of you. âHands up and give me your fuckinâ wallets!â
    You run your hand down your face, âAre you kidding me?â
    âCanât a couple have a fight in peace in this fuckinâ city?â
    âA couple?â you snap, âOh no, buddy. Weâre over.â
    âWhat! Ya cheated on me and yer dumpinâ me?â
    âIâm glad I cheated on you and your sexist ass. If I had known you would react this way, I would have done it SOONER!â
    While you continue to fight with Derek, Nightwing slinks from the shadows and taps the robber from behind. He stares at Nightwing with wide eyes. When the hero nudges his head to the side, the robber makes a break for it. Before Nightwing could make his own exit, your now ex spots him.
    âOi! Nightwing! Got ânother one for ya here!â
    âYou fucking serious, Derek?â
    Nightwing takes a sharp intake of breath, making a low hissing sound, âNot really the kind of criminal activity I fight against.â
    âI cannot believe you right now--â
    âSo yer condoning cheating?â
    Oh. Big words. Nightwing tries to laugh it off and shrugs his shoulders, âI wouldnât join a parade for it--â
    âBut ya wonât stop it either?â
    âUn-fucking-believable--â you grab a bottle from the ground and hit Derek over the head with it. You were too fast and a little too far for Nightwing to stop you. The two of you watch Derek fall over and lie still on the alley ground. Youâre still holding the jagged bottleneck when you turn to Nightwing, âYou gonna arrest me for this?â
    Nightwing weighs his options. Itâs been a slow night but not so slow for him to want to deal with you. He also didnât want to hand you two over to the GCPD tonight. Heâs still on their shit list from last weekâs souvenir. âFor what?â he answers.
    You nod at him and throw the bottle away. Then you kneel down and start rummaging through Derekâs pockets. Nightwing watches curiously until you fish out a set of keys.
    âOh hey-- now youâre stealing.â
    âBorrowing. Iâm getting my stuff from his place. Forgot my spare key.â
    You quickly stand up and start walking. Nightwing doesnât have a lot of time to think. Ugh! âWait wait!â Nightwing picks up your ex, throwing him over his shoulder and strides up to you near the end of the alley. He motions for you to lead the way. You roll your eyes at him but continue walking.
    âEither youâre makinâ sure I ainât stealing or your heart of gold canât just leave that piece of shit where he belongs.â
    âSo I take it you two didnât date long?â
    You sigh. âFour years.â
    âWha- what?â he sputters with a laugh.
    âEver been in a relationship that long, Blue?â You sneak a look at him and he looks like he heard you but heâs keeping his mouth shut and his eyes straight ahead. âBooooo. Not like I can find out who you are just from you dating history-- Unless...â You stop with a hand on your hip and an accusing finger pointed at his chiseled chest, âYou one of my exes?â
    Nightwing shakes his head and laughs. You smile and shrug your shoulders and continue walking. You pass a whole block before Nightwing couldnât take the sudden silence anymore.
    âSo whyâd you cheat?â
    âDoes it matter? Itâs over. Good riddance to both of us.â
    Nightwing didnât expect you to answer on reflex. âJust thought you might want to clear your name.â
    You snort and whistle, âLook at you! Heart of gold indeed!â
    Nightwing quickly tenses. âJust trying to be nice.â
    âYou new here or something? Filling in for the real Blue? Cause no one in Gotham deserves being nice to. Maybe the kids. But not us.â
    âOuch. Makes me feel like Iâm doing all of this for nothing,â he chuckles lightly.
    âOh, we appreciate what you do for us, Blue. You and the Bat and the rest of you costumed vigilantes. Saving us from the rest of the crazies and terrorists. But justâŠâ your voice goes softer, âNot with this. Things we deal on our own. Have to.â
    Nightwing doesnât look at you and keeps the silence stretched. Itâs not the first time heâs heard something similar from a Gothamite. It humbles him. Reminds him that his job only does so much for the people.
    After another block, he speaks up, âIs his place nearby?â He shuffles Derekâs weight on his shoulder. âNot really the skinniest guy on the block.â
    You wait until you passed the last building and point into an alley, on the side of an apartment building. âJust up through that window. Doubt youâd want to--â You hear the grappling hook hit the fire escape and see Nightwing propel himself and Derek up to the window. â... use the front door,â you mumble.
    You shake your head and enter the building. When you make it to Derekâs apartment, Nightwing is already gone and Derek unceremoniously dropped on his couch. As far as these things go, this might be your easiest job yet.
    You look around the apartment from where youâre standing. You didnât actually cheat. Didnât really date that long. The only thing you own in this apartment was the bra you left last week. But tonight, youâre leaving a little richer and Derek-less.
  âI want you out of my head, Y/N.â He turns to you, âNow.â
  You scoff, âDo you think I love seeing you hurt people? We canât control it Lex. The links are a sealed deal.â
  He smiles, a knowing smirk, his tell when heâs got an idea playing through his head. âYou said you know of my plans.â
  You narrow your eyes, âEverything youâve done is only temporary. Iâm your last piece and Iâm going to make sure you never find me.â
  Lex shakes his head lightly. He walks up to you and you tense. He holds his hands up by his side for you to see. Then slowly he leans in and leaves a peck on your cheek. He moves his mouth close to your ears and whispers, âRemember, Y/N. I donât need powers to find you.â
     âI do not understand.â Dr. Fateâs eyes stare intently at the man youâve known your entire life.
     âWhatâs not to understand?â he mocks. âItâs simple. Really. Even old brains can comprehend it.â
     âI donât understand why Iâm here.â Dr. Fateâs tone is a lot more stern. His eyes are glaring from within his golden helmet. âThe Moirai are Greek. I am not.â
     âHmm.â Your soulmate pretends to mull this over in thought. âYes. But youâre both ancient divine beings, arenât you? From what Savage has told me--â he pauses to turn to the immortal hero in the room, expecting his icy glare to turn more hostile. âYouâre much older.â
     Dr. Fate presses his lips together.
     âListen, Nabu.â Lex stresses the name, Dr. Fateâs mortal name. âYou have a new body now-- an immortal body thanks to me. And we both know I donât do favors for free.
     âBut surely itâs fine if you donât want to repay me. Iâll just fail at my plans and turn myself in to the Justice League. Then Iâll tell them everything Iâve been up to. Including that body youâve been using.â
     Silence fills the room and your soulmateâs smirk irritates Dr. Fate to the point of victory. The Justice League member walks up to where the Fate sister is lying on the floor, unconscious. Next to her is a cauldron. The ancient artifact that once held every living beingâs past, present, and future.
     Dr. Fate reaches down to touch the Fate sisterâs forehead with his hand. Where their skin meets, a golden glow peeks from in between. It dimmed away when Dr. Fate stood up.
     âWell?â Lex asks without patience.
     âThe cauldron once held destinies before an Olympian god had spilled its content down to Earth. Zeus was alerted the moment it happened. There was enough time to prevent our destinies from falling into our own hands.â
     Luthor purses his lips, âAnd instead placed our destiny in the hands of other people.â
     âYour other half.â
     Luthor clenches his fist. Heâs thinking about his parents on the farm and the foster family that tried to take advantage of him. But Dr. Fate was right. There is also you.
     âDo I have enough energy from the âdestiniesâ Iâve collected?â
     âNo. To wield more power than the gods, you need every single link in existence.â
     Lex purses his lips, âI assume that includes the links of every single baby being born by the second.â
     Dr. Fate doesnât nod or shake his head. He stares at Luthor with the same standing position heâs assumed all this time. âFor what you desire, you only need one last link.â He strides forward until heâs looking down at Lex from inside his golden helmet. âI know what you truly want even when you havenât realized it yet. So be reminded.â He leans down to match Lexâs eye level. âGods are not to be threatened.â
     Your soulmateâs fingers twitch, making Dr. Fate look at them. Then he disappears, leaving Lex alone breathing out slowly until he can find his voice again, âAnd yet.â
     He turns to the cauldron and touches the rim. Despite being a man of science, he could feel the ethereal energy emanating from it. Itâs the same feeling when youâre around.
     âDid you enjoy the show, soulmate?â
     You step out from the shadows and approach the cauldron. There are no images of gods and mighty heroes embossed on it but only of a creature with four legs and four arms.
     âSee how close I am?â Your soulmateâs eyes are wide and filled with excitement. His hands almost clapping, forcing himself from committing a habit he used to do with you.
     He steps forward and holds your face in his hands. You suddenly feel weak. Like all you want to do is melt back into his touch. Go back to the past together and stay there.
     âAll I need is our link, Y/N.â
     Suddenly thereâs that prickling feeling in your chest. You grab his hands and squeeze them with your trembling fingers. You close your eyes and push back your tears with the anger boiling inside you. Then you finally look back with a steely gaze. âYouâll never get me, Lex. Youâre not the only one with friends.â
     You disappear while Lexâs hands remain in the air, still feeling the press of your fingertips, but holding nothing.
⧠⧠â§
     You finally make it to the rendezvous point in Gotham City. You reach an unusually quiet alley at the East End and Batman steps out of the shadows to greet you.    Â
     âWere you followed?â
     Itâs not like youâre here to exchange pleasantries but you had at least hoped to see his soulmate with him. âNo,â you answer.
     âDid you take the link blockers?â
     âYes. Two hours ago. I brought enough for the next 24 hours.â
     Batman nods. He has been suspicious of you since day one. Of course, he wouldnât allow his soulmate to be any more involved in this. Not when itâs your soulmate youâre plotting to take down.
     âFlash will take you to the safehouse. Another team will be staying with you while the Justice League raid the labs.â
     Youâre surprised. Even though this is your plan, youâre not allowed to know the specifics in case Luthor makes it in your memories. You did ask Batman to only tell you what you need to know.
     Batman is backing up against the wall. âStay close. Stay alert.â
     Suddenly, everything was a blur of red with small streaks of yellow. The only thing stable you can see is the jawline of the fastest man alive. Heâs carrying you in his arms and he steals a quick look at you. âAre you really Luthorâs soulmate?â
     âYes. Why would I lie?â
     âWhy would you admit youâre his soulmate?â he asks with a raised brow.
     Suddenly you feel no sympathy for the speedster. âI love him.â
     âOh,â he mutters, shoulders slacking but only for a moment. âSo why help us? He had my soulmate kidnapped but didnât take her link.â
     You stare at him and realize this is why heâs the one taking you to the safehouse. He volunteered.
     Since the Fate sisters refuse to see any hero or villain, meta or human, the Justice League knows very little about the links. And since you share a memory link with Luthor, youâre the closest expert theyâll ever have.
     âEver wondered why there are so many types of links?â you ask and Flash only replies by raising an eyebrow. âItâs all the same energy, divine energy from the Greek gods--âÂ
     âTheyâre real?â
     Itâs your turn to raise an eyebrow, âYou have an Amazonian on your team.â
     âRight,â he chuckles sheepishly, âSometimes I just forget-- Continue.â
     âWhen the energy turns itself into a link between soulmates, in order to completely seal their bond, it changes itself into one that will perfectly suit them.â
     Flash scoffs. âA tracker on a speedster. Thatâs not even clever.â
     âLex thought so, too. So he went to Eobard Thawne--â
     Flash skids to a stop. The inertia against his grasp might leave light bruises on your arms and legs. âThawne gave his soulmate link-- his tracker-- to Luthor? That means he really is after just one of each link.â Flash is staring down at the ground and you see his eyes widen before they turn to you. âThatâs why his real targets have been League members-- powerhouses.â
     You eye him curiously. You had told Batman and his soulmate all you know but it looks like he didnât share that with the Justice League. Or maybe the League isnât even in on this after all. Maybe no one else is in on this. Not Martian Manhunter nor Miss Martian.
     Your nerves have gotten hold of you and you didnât notice when youâd started running again. You want to ask the Flash, to make sure Batman trusts you enough to try your plan. But you stop.
     âSomethingâs wrong,â Flash says, tightening his grip on you as he looks around inside an empty warehouse near a loading dock. âSomeone from the team shouldâve been here by-- AAARGH!â
     A bright blue light hits Flashâs back and he throws you away before it reaches you, too. You watch him quickly turn to ice as you fall against the hard floor. You used your arms to brace your fall and protect your head, grazing them and the stinging feeling makes you weak.
     A pair of black shiny loafers settle in front of you. âI told you, Y/N.â Hearing his voice for the first time-- the first real time feels different, like listening to the lyrics without the instruments. As if itâs the only sound thatâs ever existed. He bends down. âI donât need powers to find you.â
     You look up and the moment your eyes meet with his, every single memory youâve shared flashes in your mind. An album of recollections. A film reel of everything youâve been through. Every single moment of being together but not.
     The moment itâs over, you close your eyes shut and massage them. Lex has been wiped from the memories youâve once shared but you still remember the feeling of him being there, as well as every single conversation youâve ever had. The good and the bad.Â
     When you open your eyes, Lex is still massaging the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed. You watch tears slip through his eyes and only then do you notice the warmth on your own cheeks.Â
     You reach out and wipe away your soulmateâs tears. At your touch, his eyes snap open and he stares at you. Itâs as if heâs truly seeing you for the first time. He touches your cheek and your skin is warm and soft. He can finally tell the difference, that every you in his memories had been a lie.
     You watch Lex narrow his eyes at you before he stabs your arm with a tranquilizer. It acts quickly and your whole body gives in. Your consciousness fades as Lex catches you and carries you in his arms.
⧠⧠â§
     You didnât know what to expect once you woke up but the sudden feeling of loneliness wasnât even a guess. You sit up from the armchair you find yourself lying in. It stands out from the bland interior of yet another Cadmus lab.
     There are scientists and guards littered about. Computers humming lightly in the background. In the middle of the room is the cauldron surrounded by a few scientists with tablets and Lex.
     Suddenly the loneliness fades. But you realize why. Lex had taken your link.
     You rise up and almost sprint. He turns around and you grab him by the collar and push him back against the cauldron. But your own strength is meager compared to your soulmateâs. Even that fact infuriates you.
     Tears are streaming down your face and youâre glaring at your soulmate. You scream at him, âYou took it away!â
     Lex is staring at you with a puzzled look before his eyes narrow and his expression becomes bored. âNot yet.â
     Your eyes widen and Lex sees himself completely reflected in them, looking back. He gently removes your hold on his collar and holds both of your hands in his. âMuch like the timer link, Y/N, our memory link disappears when we meet.â
     Your eyes narrow as if youâre in pain. Lexâs thumb brushes the skin on the back of your hands. âAnd just like with every other link--â
     âThe soulsâ links still exist,â you finish, suddenly remembering what you know. The fear of losing your link has made you lose focus and lose sight of the plan.
     âNow,â Lex lets go of your hands and turns to the cauldron. âI suppose this is the part where I tell you my plans.â
     You wrap your arms around you with the sensation of his touch still lingering. âI already know,â you whisper.
     âHumor me,â he answers. He turns to you with a familiar smirk he hasnât worn since he was a teenager. âOne last time.â
     Being so close to losing him forever and knowing that this will truly be the last time, you turn away and stare at the cauldron. Itâs no longer empty. Itâs filled with an ethereal hue of gold and silver lines stirring around inside. Touching it might feel like cold air or soft clouds.
     âGuesswork is never enough for you,â you start and Lex hums in agreement. âYou wanted proof that the soulsâ links still exist. And Dr. Fate was your first-ever customer.
     âYou found a couple with the immortality link. You took away their link using the Fate sistersâ scissors-- another experiment you needed proof of. Then you offered the woman to Dr. Fate as an immortal magical host.â
     You grip the ends of the cauldron, unfazed by the metalâs warmth.
     âI was there when he brought the woman back. She was older. Dr. Fate believed you did something wrong and you let him believe just that. But you knew--â your eyes narrow as you stare into the cauldron. Lex watches as the ethereal energyâs light dances across your features. âWith her soulmate dead, his soul lingered around her, causing her to age. Alone.â
     Lex sighs, âEven in death, destiny haunts us. How inconvenient.â
     Youâre so close to your boiling point. You turn to Lex and youâre shouting, âBut that wasnât enough for you! You found another couple and offered another sacrifice to Nabu while keeping their soulmate in eternal captivity!â
     Lex lazily waves a hand without looking at you. âYouâre getting off-topic, Y/N.â
     You clench your teeth and take a swing at your soulmate but itâs weak. Lex is able to block it and hold your wrist. âTell me. What am I planning?â
     You lean in and your voice is laced with spite, âYouâre after what youâve always wanted, Lex. Control.â
     Lex stares at you before he smiles and lets go of your hand. You take it back and this time thereâs no lingering touch. âYou want control over your own life and that means control over everything. Everyone. You want to use the divine energy from the links to fuel the Fate sistersâ cauldron and be in charge of the worldâs destiny.â
   You laugh but it sounds empty and forced, âBut like Dr. Fate said-- like Iâve been telling you, itâs not going to work.â
     Luthor raises an eyebrow at you but heâs smiling, âMy. What a spy youâve grown to be.â
     This irritates you more and you stomp forward, âYou canât change whatâs already been done, Lex! The past has passed, and the future isnât in your hands.â
     Lex rolls his eyes at you, âDonât try to be the smartest person in the room, Y/N. Itâs embarrassing.â He signals to one of the scientists before turning his attention back to the cauldron. âWith every single link in existence, I wouldâve become the god that decides everyoneâs destiny. And you know what, Y/N, I never wanted that.â
     The shock of what you heard made you take a step back.
     âBecoming a god wouldâve made me into the very thing I hate. Superman. Metahumans. Aliens. Extraordinary beings that hold our lifelines with the tips of their fingernails. I have no desire to be one of them.â
     The scientist walks up to Lex carrying a suitcase.
     âYouâre right, Y/N. The past has passed and we canât change it. Not completely. But what is within my control are peopleâs memories. The only proof that the past even existed.â
     Lex opens the suitcase and inside is a pair of old and damaged scissors, rusted and bent. He takes it out of the suitcase and holds it in one hand.
     âThe gods have controlled our lives using these links and I intend to do the same using ours. Iâve collected every single memory link in the world, Y/N. Being the rarest and limited, it wasnât all too hard. Especially with a god on your side.
     âThe only one missing is ours.â
     You suddenly press your arms against your chest but your soulmate doesnât advance toward you.
     âBy erasing my past and altering peopleâs memories, I can finally peacefully live in a world without soulmates and links. Iâll erase everything we know about them and chalk them up as anomalies with no sense nor purpose.
   âItâll be the perfect world. A world where Iâll be whatever I aspire to be. All without you burrowing into my brain like a parasite. Forcing my hand into killing my family and going on about an imaginary lover--â
     âLex, donât do this. Please. You canât--â
     âI can.â
     Youâre starting to take a step back and guards are approaching you. Lex waves them away and he holds out his hand to you. Heâs asking you.
     Your eyes narrow and you beg him not to do this.
     âPlease. I⊠I donât want to forget you. I donât want that! This link has brought you uncertainty and muddled memories but Lex, every moment we shared was real. I was with you in every single one. I felt your happiness and sadness. Iâve seen your anger. Just because we werenât there physically, doesnât mean they were imaginary.â
     Lex doesnât answer you. He takes a step forward and lightly touches your hand. The gentleness heâs suddenly showing keeps you from pulling away.
     âLex, please. The world be damned, let me keep my--â
   Donât worry, YN.
     âDonât worry, Y/N,â he holds your hand and his thumb brushes your skin.
   Thereâs no mistaking it. Lexâs words came with an echo that vibrated inside your mind. Theyâre here. Batman followed through.
   âIâll make sure both you and I will forget everything. You wonât have to get hurt anymore.â
   You force yourself to focus back on your soulmate. Thereâs no lie or sarcasm or pity in his voice. This is Lex offering you his sincerity for the last time, showing you that a part of him still cares and might love you.
     It almost makes you wish this didnât have to happen. That maybe youâd be satisfied with playing cat and mouse for the rest of your lives. But your soulmate isnât just destroying your link, heâs willing to take away everyone elseâs.
   And your memory link is gone. Losing your soulsâ link is a small sacrifice for the love of your life, to keep him from spiraling into darker places where he canât come back from.
     You raise your hand and offer it to him. He smiles at you but you refuse to look. He presses his palm up against yours and makes sure your pinkies are touching and aligned. Then he takes the scissors and snips at the invisible string tying you together.
     The moment it snaps, you see the golden thread burst from thin air. Lex holds it with the scissors and turns to the cauldron.
   But before he can drop it in, you rush forward until youâve tackled him to the ground. The scissors fly across the room and opens, and your link disappears in midair.
     âNo!â Lex turns to you and tries to push you off but stronger pairs of arms are also holding him down. âWhat--â
    The air moves and both Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian appear beside you.
    You watch Lexâs eyes widen and turn from one alien to another. Once theyâve entered his mind, his eyes start closing. You lean down and whisper, âA courtesy, my soulmate.â
SSA Main Story ⧠Batman ⧠1 ⧠2 ⧠3 ⧠4 ⧠5
  âMaster Bruce,â Alfred says gently, âIt appears to be an alteration of Scarecrowâs fear toxin.â
  Bruce groans as he drops down from the table, âWhat kind of alteration?â
  Alfred doesnât answer him right away. Instead, he stares at Bruce and from the way he looks, he might already know, âItâs a lot milder. Mild enough to not affect your consciousnessâŠâ he let his words hang as he watches the slow recognition dawn on Bruceâs face. âAnd only affect you while youâre unconscious.â
  Bruce clenches his fists and suddenly finds it hard to swallow.
  âThey know.â
     Bruce tried his best to avoid sleeping for the next two weeks until the fear toxin was completely out of his system. Even then, he doesnât see you in his dreams for almost a month. He doesnât think itâs because youâre not sleeping. His best guess is that you bought link blockers from the black market and took them.
     Incredibly irresponsible but a smart move. If you had been in the dreamscape with Bruceâs subconscious, you would have died a thousand different ways in the hands of a different villain every night. Just like he did.
     Bruce Wayne can handle his own death. Heâs prepared himself for it before he first took up the mantle. He visualizes it every night and he always dies alone.
     He doesnât want the people he cares about to get hurt. Not just physically. He doesnât want anyone to see him die and have to carry that image throughout their lives. He loves his parents but sometimes he wishes he would stop seeing their faces in the darkness. He wishes he didnât have to live through it over and over again, every single night.
     The alley light flickers over their dead bodies and Bruce looks up at the sight of a shadow walking into the light. He knows itâs not you. He knows the you in front of him was made by his own subconscious. A perversion.
     You kneel down, your bare knees crunching the gravel that pokes at your skin, but youâre smiling as if it doesnât hurt. As if his parents arenât dead behind you.
     You touch him, your palms pressing against his cheeks and lifting his face to look at you. To turn away from the bodies and only look into your eyes. Gentle and warm unlike the cold and stench of Crime Alley.
     Your thumb brushes his cheekbones and it makes him weak. Bruce wishes this made him sick to his stomach but he misses you so much he lets this poor copy of you pull him into an embrace.
     Its arms cling around his neck. It snuggles its nose just below his ear. One of its hands cup the back of his head and tangle its fingers in his hair. Mimicking everything you do, exactly as you do it when you embrace him. A perfect replica of everything Bruce remembers about your touch.
     Itâs only when Bruce wakes up that he feels the repulsion of what heâs done.
     One night, after a difficult mission with the League that brought them no closer to uncovering more of Luthorâs plans, Bruce enters the dreamscape and finds himself in the main hall of the Watchtower.
     He wonders if he accidentally went through the zeta tube instead of his bedroom door. But then he sees you staring out the window. He tries to make you go away and you feel the push of his subconscious.
     You turn around and stare at him. Bruce is startled, one foot raised in midstep like a burglar caught red-handed. You narrow your eyes at him.
     âYouâve been spending your nights with a fake me.â
     You didnât need to hear the answer because the guilt already made its way around the creases of Bruceâs face.Â
     âWe promised.â
     Bruce walks toward you slowly. He takes your hand in his and kisses the back of it. âForgive me.â
     You watch Bruce hide his face from you, bowing down before you. You gently retrieve your hand and hold his cheeks in your palms. As you lift his head, you look at him with your brows furrowed.
     âHave you been lonely?â you ask. Bruce closes his eyes and presses against your touch. You pull him closer until you can hide your face in his chest, hiding the creases of your own brows. âIâm sorry, too.â
     Your soulmate lifts your head from his chest and kisses you.
     You have always expected the things in the dreamscape to be surreal, after all, they only resemble what could be. But whenever you kiss, it feels so warm and all-consuming that you know in your heart this is what Bruceâs kiss tastes like in the waking world.
     He pulls away and gives himself just enough space to look at you. To memorize every contour, every bump, every sunken skin on your face. Bruce knows his subconscious could never replicate your perfection.
     You smile at Bruce and then suddenly grab hold of his cheeks too quickly, making a slapping sound in the dreamscape.Â
     âBruce! I have good news. Great news!â
     While Bruce mimics your wide eyes, yours from excitement, his from your pseudo-slap, you alter the Watchtower lobby into what looks like a cramped temple with small Greek columns.Â
     âYou went to the Fates,â Bruce assumes immediately. Heâs frowning.
     Despite his growing fondness for you and your link, Bruce detests the whole soulmate business and the Fate sisters. He believes anyone whoâs not willing to cooperate with the Justice League has something sinister to hide.
     âI didnât plan on going to them,â you turn to your soulmate with a sheepish look and playful smile, knowing what youâre about to say is much worse. âI was at the black market--â Bruce knows but just hearing your confession made him narrow his eyes. âBut you wouldnât believe who I met there--â
     An apparition of you enters the small temple, following another figure who places an offering at the atrium and calls out to the Fates.
     âThatâs Lex Luthorâs soulmate.â
     Bruce almost canât believe what youâre saying. He doesnât understand why youâre smiling. âY/N--â
     âItâs not what you think,â because you already know exactly what heâs suggesting. Being in each otherâs subconscious has made both of you more sensitive to each otherâs tells. âHis soulmate wants to helps us, Bruce.â
     âHow do you know sheâs Luthorâs soulmate.â
     âBecause she knows who I am,â Bruce narrows his eyes, trying to think deeply while listening to you. âThey have a memory link, one of the rarest. It plants the soulmate into someoneâs memories so it feels like theyâve been together their whole lives. One of the memories she was in was when Luthor found out about our link and hired Scarecrow to make your fear toxin.â
     Silence suddenly filled the dreamscape and all figures have stopped. Even you and Bruce. You havenât talked about your last night together. Everything that transpired. Haunting memories relived. You dying.
     Youâre startled by the hand that holds you. Bruce squeezes your hand until you look him in the eyes. His gaze is gentle. His eyes are almost glistening.
     âLuthor could have put her up to this,â he says softly.
     âHe didnât.â
     âWhat makes you so sure, Y/N?â
   Bruce only ever calls you by your first name when heâs being his most affectionate. When youâre hiding in your whispers, under the sheets, or crying to wakefulness. He says it now because Bruce Wayne is genuinely fearful of what might happen to you.
     âBecause I met her, Bruce.â Before he could say another word, you hold up your hand, a gentle tell to let you continue. âI could tell that she loves Luthor. Thatâs why she wants to help us stop him.â
     Bruce is shaking his head, âI donât understand, Y/N.â
     You smile at Bruce and turn back to the apparitions in the temple. Two more figures enter the room. Two old women in grey loose tunics that flowed down to the cobbled floor. Luthorâs soulmate bows down to pick up her offering and hands it to them.
     The scene continues silently and you lean in to whisper to Bruce, âSheâs asking for their forgiveness because Luthor kidnapped one of their sisters a few years ago.â
     Bruceâs brows furrow, connecting the dots in his head, realizing how Luthor has been able to do the unthinkable with the links. âHeâs been planning this for years?â
     âAccording to his soulmate, since he was 17. Ever since he found out about their link.â You suddenly had the urge to wrap your arms around Bruce as you continue to look into the temple.
     Bruce rubs the small of your back. âI take it that he wasnât very happy about the arrangement.â
     âEver the detective,â you tease but without heart.
     You watch the scene continue. Luthorâs soulmate straightens up and addresses each of the sisters.
     âI just want to know if Lexâs plan will work. If itâs possible that he can use the linksâ power to alter destiny itself.â
     Bruce grits his teeth. âSo thatâs his endgame.â
     The Fate sisters turn to each other. The tallest and wisest one answers her, âChild, there is no such thing as destiny. Not the one you think of. The only real destiny is death. Even for those who think themselves immortal.â
     You chuckle a little despite the atmosphere. Itâs one of the things Bruce has loved about you. âMakes you grateful you donât have to talk to them for League business.â
     Bruce smirks.
     âBut I need your help! We have to stop him or more people are going to lose their links and get hurt. Donât you want your sister back?â
     The smaller sister, the compassionate one, touches her arm, âOur sister will survive. Weâre not the ones to help you. You know this.â The sisters said their goodbyes and left the atrium. Luthorâs soulmate turns to you before the dream vanishes and returns you and Bruce to the Watchtower lobby.
     You turn to Bruce and heâs already glaring at you. Heâs already put two and two together and summed up the rest of your story.
     You gulp before telling him, âShe wants to help the Justice League stop Luthor but... in exchange for a big favor.â
SSA Main Story ⧠Batman ⧠1 ⧠2 ⧠3 ⧠4 ⧠5
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