Follow Your Passion: A Seamless Tumblr Journey
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
How would some of my favourite characters be if their S/O loves Halloween?
Media Included : Mortal Kombat 11, Insomniacs Spider-Man, Young Justice.
Characters Included : Mileena, Kitana, Peter Parker, Miles Morales, Artemis, Superboy.
Note (s) : I originally had a poll and all of MK11 won but honestly I would've gotten no enjoyment out of writing it, so, have this instead.
Be warned I haven't watched young justice in like a year.
Mileena
Mileena doesn't know what Halloween is, there isn't much of an equivalent in Outworld that would make sense for her to participate in, however, she's definitely interested after learning about it from you. Especially after seeing how excited you are.
After realising she can carve whatever she wants in the pumpkin, she gets very excited. Mileena would most likely carve a 'scary' face, similar to a Tarkatans with the large teeth, but, she isn't the most skilled artist... It ends up looking a bit wonky and more funny than scary.
If she's in a bad mood, she'd probably try to carve Kitana dying, and it would end up more like a blob than anything coherent.
She likes the decorations, and might help put a few up, but prefers them not to be in her way, she will absolutely destroy any fake cobwebs or skeletons in her path.
If you want to stay at home and put on the likes of 'Hocus Pocus' 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' or even horror movies like 'Halloween', she's interested in them all. She especially finds the portrayals of sorcerers to be hilarious and wants to show Shang Tsung how incompetent humans think they are.
Mileena finds horror movies fascinating but sometimes she's very critical of the gore and how unrealistic it is, one time she stormed out of the house because of how horrible a CGI blood splatter was.
She probably won't bother matching costumes or even going in a costume herself, she's just not interested enough for whatever cheap gimmicks Earthrealm's cooked up.
I actually think she'd just go in her regular clothes but without a mask, it's uncomfortable to be seen as scary, but, she doesn't want to wear a ridiculous costume or spend hours walking around in a mask.
Mileena is most excited for the trick or treating itself, the fact you can just go up to people's houses and ask for sweets and people will just give it?? She's so shocked, nothing like that would ever happen in Outworld.
She won't be too smiley until she gets home though, whenever the door opens she's sweating nervously, Mileena almost wishes she brought her mask to hide her face.
She always manages to stay up until everybody else goes home or falls asleep, and carries, she insists you're not walking even if you're not tired at all, you back home, where she finds the pumpkins destroyed and your house covered in toilet paper.
She vows to kill the person who ruined your pumpkins, and probably ends up springing a Halloween massacre for your area.
Kitana
She's definitely heard of Halloween from Johnny or Sonya, but she's never really been able to dress up or be too involved. Kitana has responsibilities in Outworld, and she can't risk them for a holiday, regardless of her desire to participate.
Once she sees how excited you are, however, she decides to make up an excuse to go to Earthrealm, it's only for a few hours, and she's a bit antsy over the decision, but she's doing it for you nonetheless.
Kitana helps you put up the decorations, laughing at how silly some of them look, and she takes great joy in spending some time with you that she usually can't.
Her pumpkin carving skills aren't too bad, she's not some master artist with them, but she can make a mean scary face.
I don't think she'd want to dress up, but she's definitely alright if you want to, she'll share her opinion on your costume and maybe suggest a different one if she thinks it'd fit you better.
She really enjoys things like The Nightmare Before Christmas, wholesome yet with a bit of scary elements thrown in. She especially likes Hocus Pocus when it comes to the family part of it, it's no secret how messed up hers is.
Kitana's amused at how magic is portrayed in both Halloween movies and by certain costumes, she nearly loses it after seeing an old man mask under the 'wizard' title.
Kitana personally doesn't enjoy the gore heavy and over the top violence of horror movies, although, she will admit she enjoys the fight choreography of some of them. She prefers psychological horrors.
Kitana is rather nervous about trick or treating, she loves the idea of the fun and sweet part, but the idea that the stranger could've poisoned the sweets makes her nervous, even if you assure her that the signs are obvious and if there are none it should be safe to consume.
She inspects the sweets around five times before even considering you take a bite.
She looks like some type of bodyguard, following behind you with swift and graceful steps, she lets herself have fun of course, but her guard is always up.
When you both get home, she's very happy to rest with you and sleep, but if duty calls she might have to cut the night short and return to Outworld.
Peter Parker
Peter skips out on a holiday or two sometimes, his identity as Spider-Man is far too important, and Halloween is the one that usually gets skipped. Aunt May never really celebrated it, she usually just left out a bowl of sweets. MJ isn't an avid Halloween person, neither is Harry after he grew up. So, it was a huge surprise at how invested in Halloween you are.
Peter isn't that good of a pumpkin carver, so he typically does the regular 'spooky face' with wobbly lines, it's his favourite and was his go to ever since he was a kid.
He finds matching costumes cute and especially loves dressing up in his old Spider-Man costume and making one especially for you, of course, neither of you include the web shooters and he makes sure to use an old enough suit where there's no tech in it.
Peter's great at hanging up decorations, he has specialised web fluid that can last for a few days or even a week, so, he uses that to his advantage and usually does that along with crawling on the ceiling.
He loved trick or treating as a kid, it was the one time of the year he could dress up and not be a nerd, he and Harry had so much fun together. It's really nostalgic, and sometimes people will point out your costumes, finding it funny that grown adults are going as the city's hero.
He adores trick or treating, it makes him feel like a kid again. Although, unfortunately a lot of crime tends to happen on Halloween, so, sometimes he does have to slip away quickly to punch a few bad guys.
He might check once or twice to see if there's anything wrong with the candy, but besides that he sometimes forgets how deadly some of them can be. He does feel his heart race a bit when you take a bite, only to reveal nothing is wrong, he lets out a huge sigh of relief.
Peter's nervous watching psychological thrillers and ones that use the whole 'creepy kid aesthetic' to its full potential. He's fine with gorey slasher flicks, and even enjoys some of them for the horrible acting and bad effects.
He prefers more kid friendly stuff, like The Nightmare Before Christmas, but he nearly cried watching Coraline for the first time.
Miles Morales
Miles has been a huge Halloween enjoyer since he was a kid, he used to spend hours trying to handmake a costume with his parents help, he misses those days. He's never missed Halloween, or any holiday, but miles has been close a few times.
After he started dating you he realised just how much fun it can be and that he shouldn't sacrifice time with his loved ones, especially not on a day you both love.
Miles, while not exactly having an over abundance of money to do so, will a hundred percent try to hand make costumes for the both of you, with your help of course. Maybe it's something small like Morticia Addams and Gomez Addams, or maybe it's a huge mecha costume, whichever it is, he has fun making and designing the costumes.
He's a master pumpkin carver, give him any image and he can accurately create it in pumpkin form, regardless of whether you're also like that or have trash pumpkin carving skills, he's putting yours together proudly and pointing it out to anybody who sees them.
Miles loves trick or treating, you and him walk around New York apartments for hours and hours getting all of the sweets you can, he even web swings sometimes to try and get as much as possible before Halloween ends.
I don't think he'd think to look for any poison or razor blades in the sweets you two are given, he's heard some stories for sure, but it's never happened anywhere close to him, so he assumes you're both safe.
Like Peter, he can help put up decorations by climbing on walls and ceilings, plus his webs, and so he's a huge help, although he's personally not a fan of any snake based decorations. They creep him out.
While he can handle more scary horror movies, he still reaches for and squeezes your hand whenever a kill scene happens, although, for older ones or newer ones that are bad looking, he prefers to analyse the artistic side of things. Special effects and practical effects are so interesting to him. Not only that, he could spend hours talking about the music and themes of each character or event.
He loves any stop motion, Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline, and Corpse Bride to name a few. Not only are they just beautiful, but any bad storylines or things that haven't aged well don't really matter when he's staring at something so pretty.
Artemis
Artemis never had the chance to celebrate Halloween as a kid, she wishes she did because it always sounded so fun, the most she managed to get was her mother putting out sweets for kids in costumes to nab. Some part of her wishes that she was one of them at some point.
When she begins dating you, your interest in Halloween is one she can greatly relate to, perhaps for different reasons, but, it's something shared nonetheless.
Artemis likes the idea of dressing in costumes, it's a quarter of her job so she's used to it by now, but she can admit she feels too childish when she wears a vampire or any other Halloween-esque costume. She thinks you look cute in them, though.
She's used to helping her mother around the house, so when you ask for help putting up decorations she's alright with that, whether or not you can't reach because you're short, you can't do it all on your own, or if you just want to get it done quicker, she'll help you.
Artemis is a decent pumpkin carver, she can make a few impressive faces, but unless she spends hours and hours, she can't do a full body or anything other than a spooky face without it being a little wonky.
She genuinely does enjoy going trick or treating, she can come across a little blank and emotionless when walking around, but she really does feel happy and safe with you. Even if you two are walking alone at night knocking on strangers doors for candy.
She definitely checks every piece for any poison or razor blades, she's not taking any chances with you.
Artemis loves more childish movies, don't tell anybody in the tower though! She especially loves ones like Coraline, she feels really seen and can even relate to her a tiny bit.
She's not a big horror fan, especially not ones that try to make the unsympathetic sympathetic, it's just boring watches to her usually. Gore ones are easier to get through, it's just mindless slashing and bad acting, sometimes they're so bad that it becomes funny though, she enjoys those ones. Artemis isn't the biggest fan of psychological thrillers either, not because they're more scary to her, they're just more uncomfortable.
Superboy
Superboy has most likely heard of Halloween, but never had the chance to participate because... Well, you know. He isn't very interested in it, the costume part, the sweets part, it's not exactly his thing, regardless of if he's tried it before or not.
He's surprised at just how excited you are about Halloween, it's not like he despises the holiday, it just feels so alien to him. Despite that, Conner will help put up decorations in hard to reach places, or if something is heavy, he might grumble about it, but he truthfully doesn't mind.
Well, as said before, he isn't too interested in the costumes. A lot of them are just too silly for him, but maybe with some convincing he could do a matching couples one. He likes when you dress up, though, he thinks you look cute and even funny in some of them.
Conner isn't great at pumpkin carving, he gets frustrated easily and might smash the poor thing, despite that, he may either act like it was on purpose or just hide it from you.
He doesn't enjoy trick or treating, because of his unwillingness to dress up, he's either a guy in a superman shirt who looks like he's about to commit a felony, or a huge, quiet guy in a goofy costume whose fist is always angrily clenched.
He can tell if any sweets are bad, his vision makes it easy, and he will absolutely smack the sweet out of that person's hand and begin yelling at them.
Conner is alright with horror movies, he's not scared by them because he knows they're not real. But, that doesn't mean he likes what he's watching. Most of them are boring or just plain stupid to him. He thinks more kid friendly ones are to his style, they're not overly edgy, funny coming from him, while also not being boring because most kid media is designed to keep a kids attention.
Are you taking request for young justice still?
if you are could I request the OG young justice team, if not all then just, Kaldur'ahm with a (gn) Ninja Reader. They grew up in the Ninja clan and are highly skilled. Because the Ninja clan their from specializes in stealth attacks, reader usually doesn't realize people have no idea when they enter a room because they're natural sneaky and quite.
Characters included: Kaldur'ahm / Aqualad , M'Gann M'Orzz / Miss Martian , Conner Kent / Superboy
Pronouns used: None
Relationship: Platonic or romantic, up to you to decide
Note(s) : Yes of course, I wasn't able to do all because I haven't watched it in a while, so have Kaldur, Conner and M'Gann. Sorry it took so long đ I procrastinate a lot
Kaldur'ahm / Aqualad
He's so tired man
Bro was trying to chill when you fucking appeared out of nowhere and made him regret being on land
You probably couldn't even tell cause his just eyes widened for a moment before sighing
He doesn't mind too much as long as you try to make him aware
But honestly it's kinda funny so you'll probably continue being sneaky on purpose this time
Kaldur loves your skills as a ninja and appreciates your stealth in missions, but God if he didn't feel his entire body shudder with complete and utter shock
It's rare you're paired with him because stealth tends to be better alone or only talking through coms
M'Gann M'Orzz / Miss Martian
The first time you appeared behind her she screamed and then walked away in complete embarrassment
Now she always has her mind link on with you
But even then, its not enough
Literally cried once after a horror movie marathon, nobody talks about it
You and her go on stealth missions a lot due to her being able to sneak around invisible and you basically being stealthy enough to be considered invisible
Sometimes when you two are feeling funny you'll spook people on your missions before moving away, you get scolded afterwards but it's worth it
Honestly she doesn't mind too much, I think she'd get use to it after a while.
M'Gann will sometimes try pranking you back, so far it's only worked if you're tired.
Conner Kent / Superboy
Straight up punted the fuck out of you the first time while audibly yelling
Conner probably stomped off before coming back and apologising
Probably cried in his room feeling bad tbh
Now whenever you do it he jumps 5 feet in the air like a cat before angrily walking off
Sometimes he does this with enemies, he gets so awkward after it that he just beats them up. They end up worse than if batman found them
Conner tells you half seriously that he doesn't want you to do it publicly, both out of embarrassment and fear he could hurt you on instinct.
You probably try being less quiet like coughing when you enter a room, but it happens occasionally and he might start an argument over it ngl
With how he was in s1, I imagine it'd be like reasoning with a brick wall
Bro is the opposite of stealth in s1 you'd never be paired with this guy
Kon-el | Connor Kent X readerbatsis!
uhhh self indulgent bat family stuff
masterlist
This is mostly Batfamily X Batsis. Though I think I had enough Conner Kent X Reader to classify this as a thing.
GUYS I WROTE DAMIENS NAME WRONG THROUGHOUT THIS WAIT
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° ⊠The first thing you learn about your parents is that they are fundamentally incompatible. The second thing you learn is that they will never stop trying anyway.
You donât remember a time when Bruce and Selina were ever something as simple as together. They exist in contradictions she flirts, he broods; she steals, he stops her; she leaves, he waits. You used to think they would eventually find a middle ground, but youâve long since given up on that idea.
Bruce and Selina have always been on and off, a constant push and pull. He loves her, but he canât accept her choices. She loves him, but she refuses to change for him. You grew up watching them dance around their feelings. One moment, sheâs draped over his desk in the Batcave, teasing him, and the next, sheâs gone without a trace, leaving only a cryptic note behind.
Still, they make sense, in a way that defies logic. And despite all their back and forth, they both love you just in completely different ways. The truth is, Bruce and Selina will never be able to give you the same kind of love.
⸝
âAgain.â
You grit your teeth, clenching your fists as Bruce circles you in the Batcaveâs training area. Youâve already gone through this drill a dozen times. Your muscles ache, your ribs are sore from earlier blows, but heâs relentless.
You feint left, then pivot sharply, throwing a kick at his side. He blocks it easily. Too easily. His expression remains unreadable, but you can feel his disapproval.
âSloppy,â he says, stepping back. âYouâre letting yourself get tired.â
âThatâs because I am tired,â you snap. âWeâve been doing this for over an hour.â
He crosses his arms. âOn the field, you donât get to decide when youâre done.â
You roll your eyes. âOh, but Tim does? Jason does? Even Damian doesnât get this much micromanaging.â
Bruceâs jaw tightens. âThis isnât about them. Itâs about you.â
âNo, itâs about me being your daughter.â
His silence confirms it.
You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. âYou trained all of them, let them fight their own battles. You trusted them to figure it out. But me? Youâre scared to let me.â
Bruceâs expression darkens. âIâm not scared.â
âThen what is it?â you challenge, stepping closer. âYou push me harder than you ever pushed them, but you still wonât let me prove myself. Whatâs the point of all this if youâre just going to hold me back?â
His voice is quiet when he finally answers. âBecause I canât lose you.â
The weight of those words presses against your chest. You want to be angry, to keep fighting him on this, but the raw emotion in his voice makes it impossible.
You donât know what to say, so you settle for the only truth you have.
âYou wonât,â you murmur. âBut you have to let me go.â
Bruce doesnât answer. He just exhales slowly, tension still radiating from his stance. You donât expect him to change overnight, but at the very least, he doesnât call for another round. Thatâs something.
⸝
Selina finds you hours later, sprawled out on the balcony of her penthouse. You werenât planning on coming here tonight, but after your fight with Bruce, you needed air. And if thereâs one thing Selina understands, itâs the need to escape.
She slides the glass door open, stepping onto the rooftop with effortless grace. âI thought Iâd find you here.â
You donât turn to face her. âBruce is being impossible.â
She chuckles, settling beside you. âHeâs still your dad donât call him bruce, though when isnât he?â
You sigh, tilting your head back against the cool metal railing. âI just⌠I donât know how to make him see me as more than just his kid. He acts like Iâll break if I take one wrong step.â
Selina hums thoughtfully. âThatâs what he does. He builds walls around the things he loves, convinces himself itâs the only way to keep them safe.â
You glance at her. âAnd you?â
She smirks. âOh, Iâd never keep a bird in a cage. Iâd teach her to fly.â
Thereâs something appealing about that. With Selina, there are no rules, no suffocating restrictions. Just a quiet, unwavering confidence in your abilities. Even if you donât approve of the way she lives, you canât deny that she makes you feel free.
She pulls a small velvet pouch from her pocket and tosses it into your lap.
You raise a brow. âDo I want to know?â
She grins. âJust a little something I picked up.â
You groan, shoving it back at her. âI told you to stop giving me stolen jewelry.â
Selina only laughs. âItâs not stolen technically. I swapped it for something better.â
âThatâs still stealing.â
âDetails, darling.â
You canât help but laugh. She winks, ruffling your hair before standing. âCome on. Letâs get something to eat before you let your fatherâs brooding ruin your whole night.â
You shake your head but follow her anyway.
For all their differences, Bruce and Selina have one thing in common: they both love you, fiercely.
Your dad will always try to protect you from the world. Your mom will always remind you that itâs yours to take. You exist in the space between them.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
Patrol had been standard until it wasnât. You and Tim had been watching an arms deal go down from the rooftops of Gothamâs East End. The intel from Oracle suggested this was a simple exchange one that didnât require much interference. The plan was to observe, gather intel, and report back if things escalated. But you werenât convinced.
Something felt off. You crouched beside Tim, scanning the warehouse below. The deal was happening inside, but your eyes were locked on a figure slipping through a side entrance, unnoticed by the others.
âTim, weâve got movement,â you whispered.
He barely glanced at the figure before shaking his head. âNot our priority. We wait andâ
âIâm going after them,â you interrupted, already moving.
Tim grabbed your arm. âThatâs not the plan.â
âI have a bad feeling about this,â you insisted, shaking him off. âCover me.â
And before he could protest, you were already gone.
-ËËâââââ
The side entrance led you through a narrow corridor, crates stacked high along the walls. You moved quietly, using the shadows to your advantage.
The man you were following a mercenary by the look of his armor spoke softly into an earpiece. You couldnât hear what he was saying, but the urgency in his tone sent a chill down your spine.
You pressed closer, peering around a crate. Then you saw it.
This wasnât just an arms deal. There were bombs. Crates of them. Military grade explosives, lined up and ready to be moved.
Your stomach dropped.
âOracle,â you whispered, touching your comm. âWe have a problem.â
âI see it,â her voice came through your earpiece. âIâm running facial recognition on the men inside. This isnât just some street gang these guys are mercenaries.â
âFigures.â
Timâs voice suddenly crackled through. âYou were supposed to wait.â
âIâd say âI told you so,â but Iâm a little busy.â
A movement caught your eye. The mercenary was reaching for a detonator.
Shit.
You sprang from cover, knocking him back with a swift kick to the ribs. The detonator clattered across the floor.
âGot company,â you muttered.
âOn my way,â Tim responded.
But it was already too late.
The other mercenaries had heard the commotion, and within seconds, you were surrounded.
⸝
Fighting in the Fire
You moved on instinct, blocking the first blow aimed at your head and countering with a knee to the gut. The second merc swung at you with a baton, but you ducked, sweeping his legs out from under him.
The fight was brutal there were too many of them, and you were alone.
A blade sliced across your side, and you hissed, twisting to avoid a deeper wound. Blood soaked into your suit, but you ignored it, focusing on staying alive.
Then the explosion hit.
A grenade thrown from somewhere behind you detonated against one of the stacked crates. The force sent you flying, crashing through a pile of debris. Your ears rang, and your vision blurred.
Somewhere in the distance, you heard Timâs voice in your earpiece. âHold on Iâm almost there!â
Gritting your teeth, you forced yourself to move.
You werenât dying here.
When the dust settled, the mercenaries were either unconscious or retreating. The explosives were still intact, and Tim arrived just in time to secure them.
But you were wrecked.
He looked at you, taking in the blood seeping from your side. âYouâre an idiot.â
You gave a weak smirk. âYeah. But at least I was right.â
Tim muttered something under his breath before helping you out of the warehouse.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
The moment you step off the platform, you feel him before you see him.
Bruce is waiting. Arms crossed. Silent.
Heâs still in the Batsuit, the cowl pulled back, his expression unreadable but you know better. Youâve seen that look before.
Tim doesnât say a word. He just gives you one final glance and walks off, leaving you alone with the inevitable.
You brace yourself, but Bruce doesnât raise his voice. He doesnât have to. His disappointment is a physical weight in the air.
âYou abandoned your partner,â he says, voice like stone.
âI chased a lead.â
âYou disobeyed orders.â
You grit your teeth. âIt was the right call.â
He steps forward, and suddenly, you feel small. Not because youâre afraid Bruce would never hurt you but because his presence alone is suffocating.
âThe right call?â His tone sharpens. âYou were injured. You could have been killed.â
âBut I wasnât,â you argue, though the sting in your side says otherwise.
Bruce exhales slowly, his jaw tightening. âYouâre reckless.â
âYou donât say that when literally anyone else is on a mission,â you snap.
He doesnât answer immediately, and that silence stings. Because you already know the truth. Youâre different. Youâre his daughter. And that changes everything. but it doesnât Damien is younger than you. You donât get it.
âYouâre dismissed,â he finally says, voice cold.
You hesitate, fists clenched, but thereâs no point in arguing. Not when his mind is already made up.
You turn and head toward the med bay, fuming the entire way.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
Youâre half out of your suit, sitting on the medical table while Alfred patches up your side, when Jason storms into the Batcave like a force of nature.
âThe hell happened tonight?â
You groan. Of course he found out.
Bruce, still near the Batcomputer, barely glances up. âJasonâ
Jason ignores him, turning straight to you. His eyes flick to the bloodstained bandages, and his expression darkens. âWho did this?â
âRelax,â you sigh. âItâs just a scratch.â
Jason scoffs. âA scratch?â He turns to Bruce, eyes blazing. âWhat the hell was she doing in a situation where she could end up like this?â
âI made the call,â you interject. âIt was my decision.â
Jason looks at you like youâve lost your mind. âThatâs not a good thing, dumbass.â
You scowl. âItâs part of the job.â
Jason shakes his head, pacing. âNah. No. You shouldnât be out there like this. He shouldnât be letting youâ
âI let her do nothing,â Bruce interrupts, his voice a low warning.
Jason laughs humorless, sharp. âOh, really? Because it looks to me like youâre putting her through the same damn cycle we all went through. How long before she ends up dead in an alley too?â
âJasonâ
âNo, screw that,â Jason snaps. âYouâre just letting her walk into this life like itâs fine. Like itâs not gonna chew her up and spit her out like the rest of us.â
You push yourself up from the table, ignoring the sharp sting in your side. âI chose this, Jason. No one forced me.â
Jason turns his glare on you. âYou donât get it, do you? You think this is just about being a hero, about doing good?â He scoffs. âItâs a death sentence.â
You clench your jaw. âSo what, you expect me to just sit at home and do nothing?â
âI expect you to be smarter than this,â he snaps.
Before you can fire back, his eyes narrow, and suddenly, the conversation takes a sharp turn.
âSpeaking of dumb decisions,â Jason mutters, crossing his arms. âYouâre still with Superboy, right?â
Your frustration spikes. âOh my godseriously?â
Jason gives you a deadpan look. âknock off superman? Really? You could do better.â
You throw your hands up. âWhy does everyone have a problem with me dating Conner?â
Jason rolls his eyes. âBecause heâs a walking red flag wrapped in blue spandex.â
You glare. âThatâs rich coming from you.â
Jason scowls. âI donât trust him.â
âYou donât trust anyone.â
He doesnât deny it.
You exhale sharply, rubbing your temples. âLook, Iâm tired, Iâm injured, and I donât have the energy for this right now.â
Jason studies you for a moment, then sighs, running a hand through his hair. His anger hasnât faded completely, but the sharp edge of it has dulled.
âFine,â he mutters. âBut if he ever screws up, I will break his face.â
You roll your eyes, but thereâs a flicker of something warmer underneath the annoyance. Jason will never say it outright, but you know what this is.
Itâs not just anger. Itâs fear.
Bruce was right about one thing losing people leaves scars. And Jason? He has more than most. He wonât stop you from fighting your battles. But heâll sure as hell be there when you fall.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
Dating in the Batfamily was a challenge. Dating Conner Kent? That was practically a declaration of war.
You werenât an idiot you knew what your family thought of him. Bruce didnât trust him. Supermanâs clone, an unpredictable force of power, a boy with too much strength and too little control. Thatâs how your father saw him, at least. Jason didnât respect him. âA knock off in a leather jacket? Come on, you can do so much better.â
Tim was wary. Conner was his best friend, but even he had his doubts when it came to you.
And your mother? Selina raised a delicate brow when she first caught wind of your relationship, a teasing smirk playing at her lips. âOh, darling,â she had purred. âYou know how your fatherâs going to react, right?â
You had sighed, rubbing your temples. âYes, Mother, I know.â
She had hummed in amusement. âWell, Im starting to think iâm a bad influence, at least try not to be like me and your dad.â
âMom.â
She had only laughed.
At first, it was easier to keep it hidden. You and Conner met in the shadows, in places no one else would look.
Abandoned rooftops, dimly lit diners on the outskirts of the city, quiet parks in the dead of night where he could float just above the ground, keeping you wrapped in the warmth of his presence.
He wasnât like Superman and you werenât just Batmanâs daughter.
Thatâs what you loved about being with him. When he looked at you, he didnât see the vigilante, the heir to Gothamâs dark legacy. He didnât see someone who had to be perfect. He saw you. Your flaws, your fears, your messy, complicated emotions. And he never tried to change them.
âI donât care about what your dad thinks,â he had told you once, leaning back against the fire escape outside your window. âOr your brothers. Or your mom, even.â
You raised a brow. âNot even a little?â
He grinned. âOkay, maybe a little. But it doesnât change anything.â
You had smirked. âYou are stubborn.â
âSays the girl who wonât admit she likes me.â
You scoffed, but he had been right. Liking him had been the easy part. Accepting that he was yours? That had been harder.
Gotham was a city of ghosts.
Your life had been built on shadows, on silent movements, on always thinking five steps ahead. Mistakes had consequences, emotions were weaknesses, and attachments?
They got you killed.
But Conner⌠Conner made you feel like you were alive.
He never cared about the weight of your family name. He never expected you to be perfect. He let you be wrong, and he still stood by you.
One night, after a brutal mission, you had been exhausted, bruised, and pissed at your father for another round of overprotection.
Conner had found you on the rooftop of your shared apartment, sitting at the edge, staring out at the skyline.
He had landed softly beside you, his presence warm against the cold night.
âYou okay?â
You hadnât answered right away.
Then, quietly, you had admitted, âSometimes I think its much more worth it to leave this placeâ
Conner had been silent for a moment before he shifted closer. âYeah. I get that.â
And you knew he did. Superman saw him as something broken. A project. An accident to be controlled. Bruce saw you as something fragile. Something not ready.
You had glanced at Conner then, at the way he looked at you not as something to fix, but as someone whole. You had leaned into him, and he had let you.
That was the thing about Conner.
He didnât just love you. He trusted you to be exactly who you were.
-ËËâââââ
Your father was the last to acknowledge it.
Bruce had spent months pretending you werenât sneaking out to see Conner, pretending he didnât know why your patrol routes started conveniently lining up with the edge of the city.
But Bruce noticed everything. eventually, he noticed him. It started with the little things.
Conner was always near you in battle, always the first to shield you from an explosion, always ready to catch you if you fell.
Bruce watched the way Conner would take the hit for you not because he thought you couldnât handle it, but because he could. Conner was powerful, but he never used that strength to control you. He never underestimated you.
One night, after a particularly nasty fight against a group of assassins, you had ended up battered and bloody, a knife wound deep in your side.
Conner had carried you back to the Cave.
Bruce had been waiting.
The air had been tense as Conner laid you gently on the med bay table, his jaw tight, eyes burning with barely contained fury.
âShe shouldnât have been alone,â Conner had said, voice sharp.
Bruce had met his glare, unreadable. âYeah she shouldnât have.â
âThen act right on this and she wouldnât have been alone,â Conner snapped. âshes strong but I donât care like assholes like you neither does she.â
Silence.
Then Bruce had simply turned and walked away. It wasnât approval. But it wasnât rejection, either. You supposed, in his way, Bruce was starting to understand.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
Looking back now, lying in the med bay once again, you let out a slow breath.
The room was empty.
The cave was silent.
Your body ached, your side still throbbing from the mission gone wrong. You stared at the ceiling, letting exhaustion creep in.
Jasonâs words still echoed in your head.
âTights and a cape? Really?â
You sighed.
Theyâd never understand.
when Conner held you, when he saw you, when he treated you like something more than just Batmanâs daughter⌠It didnât matter what anyone else thought.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
Gotham was different when Dick was in town. Maybe it was the way he carried himself loose, easy, like the city didnât weigh on his shoulders the way it did on everyone elseâs. Maybe it was because he didnât live here anymore, so Gothamâs shadows didnât cling to him the way they clung to you, to Jason, to Bruce.
Either way, his presence always changed the air. Right now, though? It just made the tension in the Batcave feel even heavier.
Dick had barely been back for a full twenty four hours before he noticed. The way Bruceâs jaw was tighter than usual, how Jason was avoiding both of you, how Tim kept smirking behind his coffee cup like he was enjoying the chaos. And you?
You were just done.
He didnât say anything at first. Just watched.
Watched as Bruce checked your gear three times before your patrol. Watched as Jason kept throwing pointed glances your way, muttering curses under his breath like you were the idiot. Watched as Tim leaned back against the Batcomputer with the most entertained expression, like this was his own personal sitcom.
Eventually, Dick just sighed.
âAlright, kid,â he said, slinging an arm around your shoulders. âBurgers. Letâs go.â
Bruce barely looked up. âShe has patrol.â
Dick raised a brow. âNo, she has burgers with her favorite brother.â
Jason scoffed from across the room. âFavorite? Yeah, okay, Nightwing.â
Tim sipped his coffee. âI donât know, Jay. He is also my favourite.â
You didnât argue. You just grabbed your jacket and followed Dick out before Bruce could protest.
-ËËâââââ
The diner was a little hole in the wall place, tucked between two crumbling buildings. Greasy food, crappy lighting, the kind of place that felt like Gotham to its core. You slumped into the booth, arms crossed as Dick slid in across from you.
He didnât push. Didnât prod. Just casually unwrapped his burger and took a bite, waiting. It didnât take long for you to break.
âHe treats me like a soldier,â you said suddenly, frustration bubbling to the surface. âNot even a good one. Just one he doesnât trust to make their own decisions.â
Dick chewed, nodding. âBruce?â
You rolled your eyes. âObviously Bruce.â
You picked at your fries. âheâs such an ass, i know heâs had this tough love thing since Jason but god why cant he let me be? Every move I make, he second guesses. Every mission, he reroutes my patrol to keep me âsafer.â He acts like Iâm some reckless idiot whoâs one bad decision away from getting killed.â
Dick hummed. âJason probably isnât helping.â
You huffed. âOh, heâs worse. At least Bruce lets me fight Jason acts like Iâm made of glass. Like I need protecting, like I canât handle myself.â
Dick smirked. âWell, you did almost get blown up yesterday.â
You scowled. âThatâs not the point.â
âMmhmm.â
You ignored him and kept going.
âAnd then thereâs Tim. Who just smirks. Like he enjoys watching me get lectured by dad and chewed out by Jason. Like this is all some kind of entertainment to him.â
Dick laughed. âIt is entertaining.â
You threw a fry at him. He caught it without looking.
âItâs justâ You exhaled sharply. âBruce doesnât trust me, Jason coddles me, and Tim thinks itâs all a joke. And yet Damian gets to do whatever the hell he wants.â
Dick raised a brow. âAh. So this is about Damian.â
You stabbed your fork into your fries. âItâs not. Itâs about all of it. But also? Yeah. Itâs about Damian.â
Dick took another bite of his burger, chewing thoughtfully. âBruce would let him get away with murder?â
âLiterally,â you muttered. âMeanwhile, I take one risk one calculated risk and suddenly Iâm ânot ready.ââ
Dick sighed, setting his burger down. âOkay. So, whatâs the actual problem?â
You frowned. âI just told youâ
âNo, I mean the real problem. You donât actually care that Bruce is strict. You expect that. You donât even care that Jasonâs overprotective he does that to everyone he loves.â
You looked away. ââŚSo?â
âSo,â he said, smirking, âwhat you actually hate is that they donât see you as an equal.â
You frowned.
Dick leaned back, crossing his arms. âThey see you as their little sister. Their daughter. They see someone they have to protect, not someone they can trust.â
Your grip on your fork tightened. âAnd thatâs not fair.â
âNo,â he agreed easily. âItâs not.â
Silence stretched between you.
Then, casually, Dick added, âBut hey, at least Conner treats you like an equal.â
You froze mid bite.
Slowly, you looked up at him.
He grinned.
You narrowed your eyes. âDonât.â
He tilted his head. âWhat?â
âDonât start.â
âIâm just saying,â he teased. âYou couldâve gone for someone normal, but nooo. You had to pick another dark, broody, overpowered meatheadâ
âDick, I swearâ
âYou surround yourself with annoying guysâ
You groaned, dragging a hand down your face. âNever speak again.â
âOh, absolutely not.â He leaned forward, eyes glinting mischievously. âIn fact, I think I should speak more. Maybe bring this up at family dinner. Hey, Bruce, did you know your daughter has a thing for emotionally constipated guys in leather?â
You threw another fry at him.
He dodged it effortlessly, laughing.
âDick. I will kill you.â
âI kinda want to meet this guy.â
You glared.
He just smiled. But despite your annoyance, despite everything Bruceâs overprotection, Jasonâs coddling, Timâs smirking something about the conversation helped. Because at least one of your brothers saw you.
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
You regretted ever telling your family now. Dick knowing about Conner means youâve been introduced to hell.
oh satan over there? yeah heâs on the body of your bug brother.
Not because he was mad not even because he was disapproving but because he was Dick.
Which meant relentless teasing.
Which meant grinning at you like he had the worldâs juiciest blackmail material. Which meant the exact sentence that had been haunting you ever since your burger night.
âI want to meet my younger sisterâs hero.â
It had been two days. Two. And he would not let it go.
You tried to avoid it. Tried to make excuses. But Dick was persistent.
So now here you were on a Gotham rooftop, arms crossed, glaring at him as he sat on the ledge like he didnât have a care in the world.
âYouâre ridiculous.â
âIâm interested,â he corrected. âI mean, câmon. Iâve only ever heard about this guy from our brothers, and none of them have anything nice to say.â He smirked. âFigured I should form my own opinion.â
You groaned. âCan you not?â
âOh, I definitely can,â he said. âI just wonât.â
Before you could argue further, a gust of wind swept through the air, and There he was.
Conner landed a few feet away, hands in his jacket pockets, red cape billowing slightly behind him. His gaze flickered between you and Dick, brows furrowed in mild suspicion.
âYou okay?â he asked you first, like he always did.
You exhaled. âYeah. I just â You shot Dick a look. âHad a situation to handle.â
Conner raised an eyebrow.
Dick, meanwhile, was grinning.
âWell, well, well,â he said, standing up and brushing off his suit. âThe infamous Superboy.â
Connerâs eyes narrowed slightly. âAnd youâreâŚ?â
Dicks mouth dropped glancing to you âOh, wow. That actually hurt.â Then he extended a hand. âDick Grayson. Also known as Nightwing. Also known as best older brother. Nice to finally meet you.â
Conner eyed him for a second before shaking his hand. ââŚRight.â
Dickâs smirk widened. âSo. Youâre the little guy my little sisterâs been sneaking around with, huh?â
You instantly regretted your entire life.
Connerâs gaze flickered to you before he answered, clearly unsure how to respond. âGuess soâŚ?â
âOh, I like him already,â Dick laughed. âGot that classic âbrooding heroâ energy. I see the appeal.â
You glared. âDickâ
âI mean, you do have a type,â he continued, grinning at you. âThe whole âdark, broody, overpoweredâ thing? Classic. keep the family values. I respect it.â
Conner glanced at you, fidgeting slightly as if trying to hold back a laugh. âits not a wrong point.â
You smacked his arm. âNot you too.â
Dick just laughed. âSo. Howâs the Super life treating you?â
Conner shrugged awkwardly, clearly not sure how to navigate the conversation. âCould be worse.â
âDealing with my family yet?â
âAll the time.â
Dick nodded sagely. âYeah, thatâs rough, buddy.â
Conner gave a quiet, awkward chuckle. âItâs not that bad.â His gaze softened slightly when he looked at you. âShe makes it easier.â
Dick raised an eyebrow. Then slowly he grinned.
âOh, man,â he said, shaking his head. âYouâre down bad.â
You groaned. âDick. itâs gross when you say that. Shut up.â
âI love this,â he continued, delighted. âThis is so much better than I imagined.â
Conner crossed his arms and tried to lean against the ledge nonchalantly, but there was a slight stiff tension in his posture. âI wont stop her if she starts fightingâ
Dick gasped, hand over his heart. âYouâd turn her against me?â
âmmmmm iâm in a Y/n wrongs and right are rights morality,â Conner pointed out with a soft, awkward chuckle.
Dick sighed. âew you sound like me with women.â
You rolled your eyes. âOkay. Weâre done here.â
But before you could drag Conner away, Dick clapped a hand on his shoulder.
âLook, all jokes aside,â he said, suddenly more serious, âI get why Bruce and Jason are⌠difficult about this. Youâre powerful. Youâre dangerous. Youâre not one of us.â
Conner tensed slightly, glancing over at you like he didnât know how to respond.
Dick met his gaze. âBut I see how you look at her. And I see how she looks at you.â His expression softened. âSo, for what itâs worth? Youâve got my approval.â
Conner blinked, clearly caught off guard. He cleared his throat, trying to hide the flush creeping up his neck. âWasnât asking.â
Dick grinned. âOh, I really like you.â
You groaned. âI hate both of you.â
Conner just took your hand, squeezing lightly, trying to brush off the awkwardness that had started to settle in. âYou love me.â he whispered
You muttered something under your breath. Dick slung an arm around your shoulders, still grinning.
âAlright, Superboy. Donât break her heart. Or I will break you.â
Conner didnât flinch. âYou could try.â
âOhhh, I really really like him.â
⎠â Ë。𦹠â・ ° âŠ
The gala was everything you dreaded about Gothamâs elite. The high end designers. The glittering chandeliers. The fake smiles and empty conversations about stock markets and charities you knew were just tax write offs. You were dreading it. But you had no choice. Your dad had insisted.
âYouâre going with me,â Bruce had said, his tone one you couldnât argue with. âDamienâs going too.â
Damien.
You rolled your eyes. If there was one silver lining, it was that Damien would make the night more bearable. Sure, he was insufferable, but deep down, he was your favorite⌠well one of them.
You didnât know when it started, but you couldnât deny it. Every time someone made a comment about you, something snide about being Bruce Wayneâs daughter or how youâd grown up in a world of privilege, Damien was right there. He might have been a bratty little boy, but he had a surprisingly soft spot for you.
Heâd bark back at anyone who dared talk down to you. And that always made you smile.
Still, you hated the galas. The whole act of pretending to be someone you werenât, of feigning interest in the people who rubbed elbows with the most corrupt figures in Gotham. It made you feel like you were just another part of Bruce Wayneâs PR machine, just another Wayne for the rich to admire, the perfect daughter.
You werenât. At least not in the way they thought you were.
⸝
You stood in front of the mirror in your dress, adjusting the neckline slightly. It wasnât too flashy. Not as tight or revealing as some of the other dresses youâd seen at these events. It wasnât your style to try and look like you were above everyone else. There was an elegance to it, sure, but it wasnât over the top.
You sighed, glancing at the clock. You were almost late. You had not been in the mood to get dressed up and pretend you werenât itching to leave this stupid party as soon as you walked in.
The door to your room creaked open just a bit, and you turned to see Damien standing in the doorway, his usual scowl plastered on his face.
âAre you done yet?â he demanded, crossing his arms.
You blinked at him. âAre you done yet? You look like a little mini Bruce.â
He shot you a glare. âIâll have you know, Iâm a Wayne too, and Iâm far superior to Father in many ways.â
You raised an eyebrow. âMm. Sure, Damien. If thatâs what helps you sleep at night.â
Damienâs eyes narrowed in the way they always did when he was being stubborn. âIâm just here to make sure you donât embarrass the family again.â
âAgain?â
âYou know exactly what I mean.â
You chuckled. âWhatever, Damien. Just donât get in my way.â
He huffed, but his expression softened for a second. âYou know, you donât have to act like you donât belong there. Itâs your place.â
The rare kindness from Damien caught you off guard. You almost wanted to tease him about it, but something in the way he said it made you pause.
Before you could respond, Bruceâs voice echoed from downstairs. âDamien, [Y/N], letâs go.â
You rolled your eyes. No escape.
⸝
The gala was in full swing when you arrived, the grand ballroom filled with well dressed Gothamâs elite, all laughing, talking, and pretending to be better than they really were. As you walked in behind Bruce and Damien, you couldnât help but feel like a fish out of water.
Damien, ever the mini Bruce, stepped confidently beside you, his posture straight, eyes sharp. He barely even looked at anyone around him, already ready to shoot down any attempts at conversation. You, on the other hand, put on your best poker face, walking with your head high, but your mind already halfway to escaping.
Bruce was already surrounded by some of the usual suspects, but it didnât take long for the first person to notice you.
âYou know,â a woman with a glass of champagne in hand said, smiling in that way people did when they thought they were better than you. âItâs nice to see the Wayne family so well represented. A fine, upstanding family, despite⌠well, you knowâŚâ
The pause was intentional, like she wanted to see if youâd react to the snide remark. It was a comment about your familyâs history, a little jab that no one dared speak out loud but always found a way to slip into their conversations. Isnt being a woman supposed to be about supporting other women? Damien arguably had the same history as you.
You opened your mouth to say something, but Damien beat you to it.
âThatâs quite enough.â He said it flatly, stepping forward with a warning glare. âIâm sure if you donât have anything productive to say, youâd be better off leaving.â
The woman blinked, surprised by the bluntness, but Damien was already walking away, his weird little aura behind him like he was some miniature Dark Knight.
You couldnât help but smile at him. You were right. He was your favorite.
Bruce glanced at you both, an eyebrow arched. He had seen the whole exchange. You could practically feel him holding back a smirk.
âDamien,â Bruce said, his voice a little too controlled. âYou donât have to go picking fights.â
Damien didnât back down. âIâm simply defending Y/n. Some of these people need to remember their place.â
Bruce didnât say anything, but the faintest glimmer of approval passed through his gaze, and it was enough.
⸝
The night dragged on, but you found yourself less uncomfortable with Damien by your side. His quiet protectiveness, the way he always seemed to catch the smallest slight before you did, made it easier to navigate the pretentious conversations. Every time someone made a comment about your family, you could feel Damienâs posture tense and his eyes narrow. And each time, he defended you.
Despite everything, despite how much you complained about his bratty tendencies, Damien was your brat. the weight of the night began to settle. The glittering lights of the gala still flickered in your mind, but the presence of your father and Damien beside you made the ride back almost bearable. Damien, as usual, sat stiffly, his posture perfect even in the backseat of the car, while Bruce remained uncharacteristically quiet, his gaze focused out the window.
You couldnât help but glance over at Damien, who was looking out his own window, seemingly lost in thought. There had been a moment earlier when Bruce had shared a look with him, something small but meaningful a look you couldnât quite place. But it was enough to make you feel something unspoken between the two of them. It wasnât often you saw your father show a soft spot for anyone, let alone his own kids.
The car pulled up to the Manor, and as it came to a stop, you turned to Damien, the words already spilling out before you could stop them.
âYou know, youâre not as bad as you pretend to be,â you said, voice teasing but soft. âI might just like you after all.â
Damien scoffed. âYou shouldnât like me. Iâm better than you, after all.â
âPfft, whatever,â you grinned, ignoring his words. The sudden burst of affection you felt in that moment made you throw all your self control out the window. Without thinking, you lunged at him, wrapping your arms around him in a tight hug.
Damien let out an exaggerated, dramatic gasp, his body going stiff in shock. âUnhand me, woman,â he hissed, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden outburst of affection.
You ignored his protests, squeezing him tighter. âNope! Not until you admit that you love me.â
Damien scowled, his face flushing just slightly. âI do not love you, you foolish girl.â But there was no hiding the faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as he tried unsuccessfully to push you away.
Bruce, who had been watching the exchange with mild amusement, cleared his throat from the front seat, as though reminding you both that you werenât exactly alone. But it was too late to stop now.
You pulled back just enough to look Damien in the eye, still grinning like a cat. âCome on, admit it. I know you love me.â
Damien tried to glare at you, but there was no hiding the slight curve of his lips. âI tolerate you,â he said begrudgingly.
You held him tighter. âClose enough!â
He growled, finally breaking free from your grip. âThis is not over,â he muttered under his breath, adjusting his suit with a dramatic flair.
You leaned back, still grinning like an idiot. âSure, sure, Damien. You can pretend all you want.â
Bruce finally spoke up, his tone surprisingly light. âAlright, break it up, you two. Weâve still got a whole night to get through.â
Damien shot a glare at Bruce. âIâm not the one causing disruptions here.â
You and Bruce shared a look, and for just a brief second, you saw it, something rare and almost tender between the two of them. Damien wasnât as bad as youâd thought. he had his own way of showing care.
Damien, still grumbling, marched ahead toward the front door, muttering something about how he was going to âtrainâ and âget away from these ridiculous people.â But you knew better. Underneath the bravado, Damien was just like everyone else in this family he cared.
As you stepped out of the car and onto the front porch of Wayne Manor, the cool night air hit your face, carrying the faint scent of rain. You were exhausted, mentally drained from the fake smiles and shallow conversations of the gala, and the weight of the night hung heavy on your shoulders. You couldnât wait to retreat to your room, get out of this damn dress, and let your thoughts settle.
But as you walked toward the front door, something or rather someone caught your eye. Standing by the door, just under the archway of the Manor, was a familiar silhouette. The figure straightened when he saw you approach, a soft smile appearing on his face.
Conner.
Your heart skipped a beat. You hadnât expected him to be here, but there he was, waiting for you, like he always did.
âHey,â you said softly, as you run over to him. your exhaustion suddenly lifting at the sight of him.
He tilted his head, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. âYou look⌠very beautiful tonight.â
You let out a small, tired chuckle. âBeautiful? someone is learning how to express his emotionsâ
Connerâs brow furrowed, his eyes scanning you like he could see the exhaustion beneath your calm exterior. He stepped forward, his large frame nearly blocking the door. âYou okay?â
You nodded, but only half heartedly. âYeah, just⌠tired of it all. Tired of pretending.â
Conner didnât say anything at first, but his gaze softened. His next words were simple, but they always meant more than you expected. âyouâre done now, donât have to think about it now.â
You stepped closer to him, letting the tension in your body melt just a little. âThanks, Conner. It means a lot. I donât think I could stand much more of these stupid galas if I didnât know youâd be waiting for me.â
He smiled at that, the kind of smile that made your heart flutter in your chest, as he stepped aside to let you in. âAlways. You know Iâve got your back.â
You couldnât help but grin. âYouâre the best.â
Conner chuckled, stepping back as you passed him. âIâm just doing my job, keeping you out of trouble.â
You shot him a playful look over your shoulder. âReally? Keeping me out of trouble?â
He raised an eyebrow. âWell, you seem to find it even when Iâm not around.â
You couldnât help but laugh, but the moment you passed him, you felt his hand gently grasp your arm, a soft but firm hold that pulled you back toward him.
âWhat?â you asked, confused.
Conner was staring at you, his blue eyes intense but gentle. âYou looked like you needed someone tonight. If you want to talk about it, Iâm here.â
You stared at him for a moment, letting his words settle. But instead of saying anything, you simply let out a long sigh and let your shoulders relax. You didnât need to talk about it now. Not when Conner was here, offering comfort without the need for words.
Instead, you smiled softly, stepping into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against yours. âI think⌠I think I just need this right now.â
Conner wrapped his arms around you, pulling you close as if to shield you from everything outside this moment. âIâve got you.â
You closed your eyes, letting the familiar warmth of his embrace wrap around you.
The moment of quiet was shattered by the unmistakable sound of someone clearing their throat.
You tensed slightly, already knowing exactly who it was before you even turned your head.
Bruce stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, expression unreadable but his presence alone was enough to make the warmth in your chest falter just a bit.
âItâs late,â he said, voice even, but carrying that weight of authority only he could manage. âYou should be inside now.â
You sighed, pulling back slightly from Conner but keeping your hand locked around his wrist. Of course, Bruce had impeccable timing.
âYeah, yeah, Iâm going,â you muttered, turning toward the door but you didnât let go of Conner. Instead, you tugged him along with you, acting like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Bruceâs eyes flicked down to your hand still gripping Connerâs, his expression barely changing, but you knew he noticed.
Conner hesitated for half a second, casting a glance between you and your father, as if gauging whether it was a terrible idea to follow you inside. But you werenât giving him a choice.
Bruce let out the tiniest sigh, stepping aside to let you both in, but not without a warning glance at Conner.
âDonât make me regret this,â Bruce said evenly.
Conner just glared at him, tight lipped smile. âWouldnât dream of it, sir.â
You definitely caught the way Bruceâs brow twitched ever so slightly at the sir, but you didnât dwell on it. You just smirked to yourself and pulled Conner further into the Manor, past your father, past all the unspoken tension, and straight toward the one place you could finally relax.
Conner leaned in as you walked, voice low and teasing. âYou dragged me in here.â
You grinned up at him. âWhat, scared of my dad?â
Conner huffed. âNo. But I am scared of what your brothers are gonna say when they see me here.â
You just laughed. âOh, you should be.â
As you pulled Conner deeper into the Manor, you moved quickly, knowing full well that the longer you lingered, the higher the chance of getting ambushed by one of your loving brothers.
You practically speed walked through the grand hall, past the dimly lit corridors.
âAh, welcome home, Miss.â
You skidded to a stop as Alfred appeared seemingly out of nowhere, standing near the bottom of the staircase with his usual composed demeanor.
Conner tensed beside you, standing up straighter like he was about to get scolded. Clearly, even he wasnât immune to Alfredâs presence.
You shot the butler a quick smile, still keeping a tight grip on Connerâs wrist. âHey, Alfred. Gala was awful, as expected. Goodnight!â
And before he could reply, you dragged Conner up the stairs.
âGoodnight, Miss. Goodnight, Mister Conner,â Alfred called after you, voice laced with mild amusement.
Conner barely managed to glance over his shoulder to offer a polite, âUh goodnight, sir,â before he was pulled around the corner and out of sight.
When you finally made it to your room, you threw the door open and all but shoved Conner inside before shutting it behind you with a sigh of relief.
âOkay, safe,â you muttered, leaning against the door.
Conner raised a brow. âYou act like we just broke into the White House.â
You pointed a finger at him. âThis house probably has better security than the white house.â
Conner snorted, shaking his head as he glanced around your room. Heâd been here before, but it was still surreal for him standing in Wayne Manor.
You walked over to your bed, flopping onto it dramatically. âI swear, I love Alfred, but he always pops up at the worst moments. Itâs like a sixth sense.â
Conner smirked, stepping closer. âMaybe he was just making sure I wasnât sneaking in to corrupt his favorite Wayne.â
You peeked up at him through your arms. âBold of you to assume Iâm his favorite.â
He sat down beside you, resting his elbows on his knees. âYou definitely are.â
You grinned, nudging him lightly with your foot. âFlatter me more, Superboy.â
Conner just chuckled, shaking his head. âYou donât need flattery. You already know how great you are.â
You huffed, rolling onto your side. âTell that to my dad.â
Conner didnât say anything right away, just let his hand rest on yours, grounding you. You let out a slow breath, the exhaustion of the day finally settling in.
âGet some sleep,â Conner murmured. âIâll stay as long as you want.â
You didnât even think about it before squeezing his hand. âStay.â
And he did.
Conner sat beside you on the bed, his fingers tracing absentminded circles against your wrist. The room was dimly lit, casting shadows across his face, making his blue eyes stand out even more than usual. He was warm, solid, grounding in a way you desperately needed after the night youâd had.
You shifted closer, tilting your head up toward him. He caught the movement instantly, his gaze flicking down to your lips before he leaned in, closing the space between you.
The kiss was gentle at first, unhurried. His lips pressed against yours in a way that made your chest tighten not with nerves, but with something softer, something steady. His hand slid up, fingertips brushing your jaw before cradling your face, pulling you just a little closer.
You sighed against him, your hands resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath your palms. He kissed you again, deeper this time, as if memorizing the shape of your lips, as if reminding himself that you were here, that you were his.
A loud noise from the window, followed by the distinct sound of fabric rustling, and then.
THUD.
Conner barely had time to pull back before a voice cut through the moment.
âOh, come on I just ate.â
You both snapped your heads toward the window, where Tim stood, looking absolutely horrified, like heâd just walked in on the worst crime imaginable.
You groaned, flopping back onto the bed. âJesus Christ, Timâ
Tim pinched the bridge of his nose like he was experiencing actual pain. âYou know I tolerate this relationship for your sake, right? Doesnât mean I need to see it.â
âTheres a reason weâre in my room with the door closed. what did you even want anywaysâ
âOk miss shitbag, I was gonna see if you brought any food from the galaâ
Conner, looking far too smug for someone just caught making out, leaned back on his hands. âYou couldâve knocked.â
Tim made a disgusted face. âKnocked? On her window? I didnât think I needed a warning before coming in.â He gestured wildly between the two of you. âI thought I was safe! But no, I have to live with the trauma of seeing my best friend all over my sister.â
You threw a pillow at him. âWe werenât even doing anything!â
Tim caught it with one hand, unimpressed. âThere was face touching. Thatâs enough.â
Conner just shrugged. âIf it makes you feel better, I think sheâs a better kisser than you.â
Tim immediately gagged, doubling over like heâd been physically attacked. âWHY WOULD THAT MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?!â
You burst out laughing, while Conner grinned like heâd won something.
Tim groaned dramatically, shaking his head as he turned toward the window. âI hate this. I hate both of you. Iâm leaving.â
âGoodnight, Tim,â you called sweetly.
âI hope you both stub your toes,â he shot back before disappearing out the window.
As soon as he was gone, you turned to Conner, still grinning. âYou did that on purpose.â
Conner smirked. âMaybe.â
You rolled your eyes before pulling him back down into another kiss because if Tim was gonna be dramatic about it, you might as well make it worth it.