Latest Posts by lionwitch - Page 2

Reblogging because I really, really need to pass a class that chances of passing are not in my favor

Edit: teacher said she'd accept my work handed in late. I might just pass

Update: I didn't :c

Hear me out.

Dick gets a lot of fanmail, some creepy, some ok. So getting letters sent to the manor addressed to him isn't unusual. He doesn't throw them away just like that, not until he has time to sort through them.

One night, he's at the manor, and just to procrastinate something else, he decides to sort through old letters he never opened.

He finds some from one of his exgirlfriends, his first one in fact!

He figures it can't hurt, no matter what sort of insults those include, he's too over her to find them anything but amusing.

But when he opens them, it's not "How dare you leave me, Dick Grayson!" like he was expecting. It's more along the lines of "Hey, I'm pregnant and it's yours"

Ultrasound included.

And see, the problem is, this isn't his most recent ex, this isn't a recent letter. This letter is six years old. And so is his daughter, apparently.

Dick handles it as well as he can. But the return address on the letters is outdated and he has no way of contacting them, and he already missed six years of her life, and he doesn't even know her name, only her initial, C. He's lost and scared.

And then he sees her.

A shadow, sitting on his bed, darker than the human mind can comprehend, darker than anything he's ever seen, and he's been to space. It's unnatural. But it's her. He knows it. Except she disappears when he addresses her. And that same night, he dreams of her. No, not dreams. It's not his subconscious. She's real, and she's there, and she tells him pretty much that she's lost hope on him.

"Sweet dreams, Deadbeat." 

And that's it. He wakes up with a start, rushes over to the rooftop in blüdhaven where the dream vision took place, hoping to see her. He doesn't.

Now, here's the facts:

He has a daughter

She's six years old

She's angry with him

She's a meta

Whatever powers she has, they're scary enough that if the government knows...

Her name starts with C.

Her last name may or may not be Jones, depending on whether she took her mother's last name or she has some stepdad to give her a different last name.

That's all he knows. He doesn't have much to work with. Ah, and by the way, he's 23, her mother is 27, they dated 7 years ago— you do the math.

A few days later, he sees a kid on patrol, and he knows it's her. Except he's not Dick Grayson right now, he's Nightwing, and Nightwing isn't her father, Dick Grayson is. But hey, maybe he can find out her name or her address.

He doesn't. She's not willing to give him a name. Stranger Danger, she calls. And apparently she doesn't go by her given name, and whatever name she now goes by doesn't even start with a C. And apparently they go by any pronouns and some gender-neutral name that they won't tell him, so for now he has to conform with calling them Nugget.

And that night, talking with Jason, he realizes there are some red flags that he's not willing to ignore

So now the facts are these:

He has a daughter kid

She's they're six years old

She's They're angry with him

She's They're a meta

Whatever powers she has they have, they're scary enough that if the government knows...

Her name starts with C. They have some gender-neutral name they go by that started as a nickname

Her Their last name may or may not be Jones, depending on whether she took her mother's last name or she has some stepdad to give her a different last name.

They don't give a shit about gender or pronouns

There's a big chance that they're being abused in some way, shape or form.

They feel safer in the rooftops past midnight than tucked into their warm bed and that certainly says something

He needs to get them away from their mother, because that woman is not a good person, regardless of whether or not she abuses their kid (he was 14 when they met and she started getting ideas of dating her into his head, she was 18. No good person does that)

The fic exists btw, and that is just the beginning. Features the next:

Best friends Dick and Jason

Good Batfam all around

Emotionally mature Batfam (they went to therapy)

Damian emotional growth

Tim and Damian friendship

Damian and Nugget's friendship/sibling-hood

Good dad Dick Grayson

Agender kid

Meta kid

Hurt/comfort

Chronic pain Dick and kid

Mobility aid user kid and possibly Dick and their journey embracing it

Grandpa Bruce

Damian learning to be a kid (with emotions!)

A Trans character. (Nugget said Dysphoria? Double it and give it to the next person. The next person may or may not be Damian, undecided)

WARNINGS:

Excessive Drinking

Implied/referenced child abuse

Discussion of Gro0ming

Implied/referenced Self-harm/su1cide (one singular scene, as an assumption, not anything happening)

Implied/referenced terminal illness (Please do not read if this is triggering, I beg. NOTHING ends up happening, but it'll be discussed. THERE IS NO ILLNESS, but there is something similar)

Temporal main character death (maybe, probably, at least referenced)

Minor violence

HAPPY ENDING!!! I am unable to write a sad ending so rest assured, this is a COMFORT story, not angst.

Name: Shadows of New Beginnings By yours truly: WhiteRider on Ao3 Link

Here's the summary:

Inside the envelope is indeed an ultrasound photo. The date matches, it seems legit and the timeline matches, the development is right for a four month fetus too. His hands shake as he stares at it. No... ——— He checks the dates written in the back of the pictures. April 3rd. His beautiful daughter was born on April third. She's six years old. ——— "I'll find you, my beautiful daughter. I'll be the father you deserve, I promise." He whispers, tears soaking his pillow. "I promise." ——— "Sweet dreams, Deadbeat." ——— "I love you!" he screams, as loud as he can, praying she'll hear, she'll know. Then his breath feels like it's choking him, and all he can do is whisper "Please... come back."

—————

When Dick decides to sort through old mail, he finds unopened letters from an ex. From these letters, he finds out that he has a six year old daughter. Now he has to find her, make up for the years he missed, and make sure she's safe and home. Easier said than done, when his little girl is as fierce as him, and furious about his absence.

thank you, please comment, love y'all

Adding to this, Oliver taught Tim to use a bow when he was tiny, think Merida of Brave? Kinda like that. Little baby was small and Ollie got him a tiny bow and taught him, so that was actually his first weapon. So, despite leaving the bow skills mainly in Star City and using more bo staff as Robin or Red Robin, his best weapon is in fact the bow, because he's got more experience with it (Bruce refused to teach him or acknowledge their vigilante personas until he was confronted directly) and is actually as or more skilled than Roy, seeing as he's had his whole life of experience, but he only uses the bow as a hobby, he enjoys it, but doesn't use it as primary weapon. That said, his upper body strength is insane, he does have an archer build.

Now, if he did stalk the bats, I don't think he'd do it without something to defend himself with, so he took a bow and some arrows. This happens only during the few nights he was left with a nanny he could fool, because Janet did not leave him alone and her friends weren't always available. It's mainly school nights, where he couldn't get to and from another city so easily and Bruce wasn't able to take him in (bc of patrol mainly). This is before either he found out their identities, or he got the guts to confront B.

So this kid ran around with a bow and a quiver, and when he ran into trouble and the bats couldn't help without him compromising his position (especially after he figures it out, he's not willing to be seen because he WILL be recognized), he shoots the threat. Now, this boy spends a LOT of time with Lex, and while Lex refrains from sharing his most evil plans with the kid (or Janet will stop trusting him with the kid, he doesn't want that, he loves his nephew), he does challenge morality. As a result, Tim has no qualms about killing.

So before Tim joined the Batfam, the Bats occasionally found arrows on corpses. Batman interrogates Green Arrow, because an arrow or two are very evidently his or at least his style (Tim did not mean to shoot those, he uses more generic arrows, but sometimes he's in a rush and they mix), and Ollie absolutely knows the moment he sees the arrows that it's Tim. He's no snitch, though, and Tim is not associated with Green Arrow, so "No, Batman, what would I be doing all the way over there? I have my own city". This starts before Roy joins him. Tim is far too young, and Oliver will have a talk with him, but hey, at least he's safe. He'll also train the kid harder, just in case.

Tim does try to aim for injuring and not killing upon Oliver's request, "try" being the key word. He still does kill, but not as much. He only really kills if he finds it necessary (if he's heavily outnumbered, for example)

Tim Drake is not a vigilante before Robin. He's a kid that defends himself with arrows. That's it. It's not his job (yet) to interfere with crimes, he only does it when it's too bad to stand by and watch. Only to keep his uncle Ollie happy, he whistles a warning before shooting, a chance for the criminals to stop and walk away. If they take it and stop, he doesn't shoot. If they keep going, he shoots. Again, he tries not to kill, only because Ollie will know and be disappointed. So word spreads quickly, that if you hear a particular tune whistled, you better stop and run.

Instances of him shooting are rare and far between, and those of him killing with the arrows even more so. Batman kinda stops looking for the shooter, because 1 he has no lead, and 2 he has much more pressing matters and worse criminals.

There's a window of time before Jason passes down Robin but after Tim confronts them about their identities, where they train him but naively believe he's going back to bed like a normal kid.

During this period, this is a kid with a bow and arrows, and training to be sneaky and stay in the shadows. He follows the Bats, like he's always done, with a black hoodie, cargo pants and combat boots. Occasionally, he still shoots, and hides in the shadows immediately after and changes position.

The Sparrow Ghost (named by those who heard the eerie whistle, a play on the bird vigilante theme and the arrows) becomes a myth amongst criminals. Some believe it, some do not. You cannot see the archer (hence, Ghost)

Once, Batman, Nightwing and Robin were outnumbered. A trap. Smart, well-executed, and coincidentally well-timed. Robin is injured, Nightwing has a bad case of the flu, Batman is a concerned parent. None is at 100%. But they did not take into consideration the kid watching from the rooftops.

A whistle echoes. Some goons drop their weapons. Some do not.

Thwump

An arrow flies, piercing the shoulder of the guy holding Robin.

Thwump

Another pierces the hand of the goon pointing a gun to Nightwing.

Now without his boys in immediate danger, Batman can act. The Sparrow Ghost turned the tides, the bats did the rest easily. Tim remains hidden, just in case they need him again. They don't.

After being offered Robin, Tim doesn't really stick to his bow and arrows. It's not the Bat way. Sparrow Ghost disappears— Mostly. Occasionally, when he shouldn't be patrolling (school nights, for example) but he's restless, he still takes his bow and quiver, puts on his hoodie, a mask now that he has one, and goes out.

Ok, hear me out. An AU where Janet Drake is best friends with Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen.

They met in school, and she's a high society girl, not expected or allowed to be much more than a pretty face, but there's this trio of smart idiots (they did all sorts of stupid stuff at school, but they are overall very, very smart), and they're in all sorts of cool classes and extracurriculars, and she wants to learn

So, she snakes her way into the group with well-timed looks and blushes. They eventually include her in all their activities, and so she learns all sort of stuff that she usually wouldn't be allowed to learn, because they help her keep it in the down low. No, she's not taking classes with them, she's being a proper lady and cheering her smart friends on through the oh-so-hard classes.

At some point or another, they all develop a crush on her, fleeting as it may be (they're hormonal teens and they're required to flirt, it was bound to happen)

They flirt publicly, as it keeps the media from pressuring them into relationships— or so they thought. It backfires when they're adults, the media is demanding Janet settle down and stops leading all three of them on. But there would be a scandal if she picked any of them, so she picks Jack, someone who doesn't love her or she loves, but someone desperate enough to climb the social ladder to care if he loves his wife.

When he's not allowed to flirt anymore, that's where Bruce realizes that he actually liked her.

When Tim comes along, and Janet has to go on trips, she leaves him with her trusted friends. So, Tim learns a lot from his Uncle Lex, learns to shoot a bow from his Uncle Ollie, and loves staying with his Uncle Bruce and his children. He figures him out far too easily and does become Robin when Jason figures he's ready to pass on the mantle to his little brother (because they're brothers. Tim spends a lot of time in their house)

Bruce adores Tim, he really does. It just kinda hurts, that he's Janet's kid, but not his.

Eventually, Janet divorces Jack, and she gets to spend a lot more time in Gotham. But by now Tim is as much Bruce's as he is Janet's, so they co-parent the gremlin that is her son, which leads to a lot of time with Bruce.

Bruce treats her better than Jack ever did, and she trusts him far more. They have the memories of years together. Eventually, Bruce tells her the truth— that he never truly moved on from his best friend.

When they marry, sure it's a media circus, but also not a surprise.

She's also a good mom, to Tim as much as to Dick or Jason.

When Jason finds out Catherine is not his mom, sure he gets curious, but he has a mom already, he's happy. He does want to meet his bio mom, but he agrees to do so safely, not go alone. Fine, B, you can come with.

Joker never happens. Jason is disappointed when he finds his mom is not at all what he expected, and he has a much better one at home.

Eventually, when Damian comes into the picture, he's snappy with Janet. "you will never be my mother, you harlot!" but Janet simply puts a hand on his shoulder and speaks calmly, yet sharp as the blade he threatens her with

"You will not speak to me like that, boy. No, I am not your mother. But I am married to your father, and I hold the authority as such, so you will go up to your room, you will cool down, and you will never threaten or insult me again, or you will be grounded."

"You can't do that!"

"She can. She has my full permission to discipline my kids, Damian. In this house, she holds as much authority as I do." Bruce interjects

Damian, begrudgingly, learns to respect Janet, and eventually he does see her as a second mom

The amount of times Oliver or Lex visit the Wayne-Drake household is absurd, but sue them, they like their friends. This leads to a lot of chaos, because every time Oliver visits so does Roy, and Roy hangs out with Dick and Jason, while Damian sticks to glaring at everyone.

Meanwhile, they dote on Tim, because they sure as hell have a favourite nephew, and it's the one they watched grow inside the belly of one of their best friends, the one they all changed the diapers of, the one they've taught a lot of skills to, the one they helped raise in a way they never helped raise any of the other Wayne boys. They don't even try to hide their preference. Now, of course they like all their nephews, but it's always hilarious because when Tim is around his uncle Lex, he's ten times the evil mastermind he generally is, and Oliver encourages it, simply for the chaos, and so does Janet, while Bruce is downright terrified of the idea of Tim as a villain (everyone is)

Ok, hear me out. An AU where Janet Drake is best friends with Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen.

They met in school, and she's a high society girl, not expected or allowed to be much more than a pretty face, but there's this trio of smart idiots (they did all sorts of stupid stuff at school, but they are overall very, very smart), and they're in all sorts of cool classes and extracurriculars, and she wants to learn

So, she snakes her way into the group with well-timed looks and blushes. They eventually include her in all their activities, and so she learns all sort of stuff that she usually wouldn't be allowed to learn, because they help her keep it in the down low. No, she's not taking classes with them, she's being a proper lady and cheering her smart friends on through the oh-so-hard classes.

At some point or another, they all develop a crush on her, fleeting as it may be (they're hormonal teens and they're required to flirt, it was bound to happen)

They flirt publicly, as it keeps the media from pressuring them into relationships— or so they thought. It backfires when they're adults, the media is demanding Janet settle down and stops leading all three of them on. But there would be a scandal if she picked any of them, so she picks Jack, someone who doesn't love her or she loves, but someone desperate enough to climb the social ladder to care if he loves his wife.

When he's not allowed to flirt anymore, that's where Bruce realizes that he actually liked her.

When Tim comes along, and Janet has to go on trips, she leaves him with her trusted friends. So, Tim learns a lot from his Uncle Lex, learns to shoot a bow from his Uncle Ollie, and loves staying with his Uncle Bruce and his children. He figures him out far too easily and does become Robin when Jason figures he's ready to pass on the mantle to his little brother (because they're brothers. Tim spends a lot of time in their house)

Bruce adores Tim, he really does. It just kinda hurts, that he's Janet's kid, but not his.

Eventually, Janet divorces Jack, and she gets to spend a lot more time in Gotham. But by now Tim is as much Bruce's as he is Janet's, so they co-parent the gremlin that is her son, which leads to a lot of time with Bruce.

Bruce treats her better than Jack ever did, and she trusts him far more. They have the memories of years together. Eventually, Bruce tells her the truth— that he never truly moved on from his best friend.

When they marry, sure it's a media circus, but also not a surprise.

She's also a good mom, to Tim as much as to Dick or Jason.

When Jason finds out Catherine is not his mom, sure he gets curious, but he has a mom already, he's happy. He does want to meet his bio mom, but he agrees to do so safely, not go alone. Fine, B, you can come with.

Joker never happens. Jason is disappointed when he finds his mom is not at all what he expected, and he has a much better one at home.

Eventually, when Damian comes into the picture, he's snappy with Janet. "you will never be my mother, you harlot!" but Janet simply puts a hand on his shoulder and speaks calmly, yet sharp as the blade he threatens her with

"You will not speak to me like that, boy. No, I am not your mother. But I am married to your father, and I hold the authority as such, so you will go up to your room, you will cool down, and you will never threaten or insult me again, or you will be grounded."

"You can't do that!"

"She can. She has my full permission to discipline my kids, Damian. In this house, she holds as much authority as I do." Bruce interjects

Damian, begrudgingly, learns to respect Janet, and eventually he does see her as a second mom

The amount of times Oliver or Lex visit the Wayne-Drake household is absurd, but sue them, they like their friends. This leads to a lot of chaos, because every time Oliver visits so does Roy, and Roy hangs out with Dick and Jason, while Damian sticks to glaring at everyone.

Meanwhile, they dote on Tim, because they sure as hell have a favourite nephew, and it's the one they watched grow inside the belly of one of their best friends, the one they all changed the diapers of, the one they've taught a lot of skills to, the one they helped raise in a way they never helped raise any of the other Wayne boys. They don't even try to hide their preference. Now, of course they like all their nephews, but it's always hilarious because when Tim is around his uncle Lex, he's ten times the evil mastermind he generally is, and Oliver encourages it, simply for the chaos, and so does Janet, while Bruce is downright terrified of the idea of Tim as a villain (everyone is)