LIKE FATHER LIKE SON
James Potter x Reader
WARNINGS: just fluff, FEM!R + use of Y/n, nonVoldemort!au, dilf!James + mamasboy!Harry being protective of their wife/mom and Y/n being done with them lol, Lucius and Draco Malfoy being Lucius and Draco Malfoy.
English is not my first language so feel free to correct me.
"James Fleamont Potter, what is this?"
James looked up from his coffee cup and raised his head to look at you, seeing you waving a paper envelope in front of his eyes.
"A letter?" he asked ironically.
You nodded, placing it in front of his eyes on the table and crossing your arms.
"Uh-uh. And can you tell me who it was sent by?"
James focused his gaze on the elegant writing and logo printed on the envelope.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizard-
When he realized where it was coming from, James had to double check, not having realized the first time and almost spit the coffee on you.
"From Howgwarts?!" he exclaimed, turning sharply towards you.
You nodded.
"It's strange that they called us, they only do it when it's something serious" you murmured worriedly. "What if something happened to Harry?"
James raised his arm to untie your crossed arms and grab your hand.
"Why don't we read what it's about first, mh? Maybe we're just worrying about nothing" he asked, giving you an encouraging smile.
You slowly nodded and James opened the envelope, taking out the letter and reading it on his own first. When you noticed his expression drop, you realized that maybe it really was something serious.
"Oh crap..." he muttered.
"What? What does it say?"
You came up behind him to read the contents of the letter and felt a pang in your heart when you saw what it was about.
"Oh… Oh crap indeed"
When you and James arrived at Hogwarts, some students stared at you strangely but you ignored them and walked to the main door. As soon as you opened it, you were met by Professor McGonagall, who had an expression of concern on her face equal to yours.
"Oh, i'm glad you're here my dears" she said, advancing towards you.
"Minnie, what happened with Harry?" James asked.
"Is he okay?" you continued.
The woman alternated her gaze from you to him in silence for a couple of seconds and then let out a sigh.
"Follow me" she only said, then she turned and walked down the corridor. And the more you and James walked, the more you realized that the road you were on wasn't the one to Dumbledore's office, but the one that led to the hospital wing. You and James exchanged a worried look, but you didn't say anything.
After a few minutes you arrived at the door of the infirmary and before you could enter, Minerva turned to look at you.
"We don't usually call parents, but your presence has been explicitly requested... By Lucius Malfoy himself"
At hearing that name, James didn't help himself from making a groan and rolling his eyes, while you let out a breath through your nose. This was not good.
"Great" James said annoyed.
You placed a hand on his arm and then looked back at her.
"Professor can you tell us what happened, please?"
Minerva gave you a heartened smile. Unlike your husband who always called her by that nickname, you were always more formal towards her and she always appreciated that.
"I was told that Harry and Draco have been involved in an argument a bit… Rough" the woman said cautiously. "Well, they fought after the Quidditch match"
"What?!" you exclaimed.
"Who won?!" James said with hopeful eyes.
You and Minerva turned to look at him unimpressed. James chuckled sheepishly.
"Sorry, wrong question. Harry won, didn't he?"
Minerva ignored him, looking back at you and you rolled your eyes.
"Why is Lucius here?" you asked, crossing your arms.
The teacher let out a small sigh.
"It's nothing new that your sons don't get along, but this time Mr. Malfoy insisted on discussing this situation with the parents of the person who continues to mistreat their child"
"It's not Harry who mistreats him!" James said immediately, already feeling his soul heating up with anger. "It's that brat with gelled hair that keeps provoking him, but unlike Harry, he isn't capable of defending himself!"
"James" you called, trying to calm him down.
Minerva looked at you both with a sympathetic look. It was obvious that she also supported what James said, but as a teacher she had to try to be as neutral as possible and make both students understand that they were wrong. And then, it was better not to go against the Malfoys too much.
"If you want to go, they are waiting for you" the woman only said, indicating the door with a wave of her hand.
You glanced at James and without waiting for his permission, you threw open the door, rushing into the infirmary.
"Harry James Potter!"
Harry jumped from under the covers when he heard your voice echo throughout the hospital wing.
"Damn..." he cursed under his breath.
Hermione, who was sitting in a chair next to his bed, looked at him worriedly. Standing behind her, Ron looked between him and you, terrified.
"Uh-oh. I think your mother is angry, Harry" he muttered and Harry tried to slide under the sheets, as if to hide.
The three Gryffindors saw you advance towards them, followed by James. When you were close to the bed, Hermione stood up instinctively and both she and Ron stepped back, leaving Harry alone in your jaws.
You looked him up and down, crossing your arms and tapping your foot on the floor. Harry and James exchanged a look and as Harry tried to ask him for help with his eyes, not wanting to face your fury, James looked at him with a smirk that seemed to say "You're a goner, kid".
"Mom" he murmured. "I can explain"
"Oh, but i don't need explanations my dear, because i've already been told everything" you replied.
Harry looked down, staying silent and waiting for your next move. Until... With a sigh you leaned towards him and hugged him tightly, stroking his hair with one hand.
"I'm glad you're okay, darling" you murmured.
Harry felt taken aback, but when he looked at James and saw him smile tenderly, he realized there was nothing to worry about and returned the hug. You gave him a couple of kisses on the cheek and then you pulled away and sat next to him on the mattress, leaving the chair to Hermione.
Flick!
"Ah!"
Harry narrowed his eyes when you gave him a little flick on his forehead with your finger and James chuckled.
"That's because you got into a fight" you said in a fake stern tone, but still serious.
Harry nodded solemnly, while Ron and Hermione looked at him in relief. The worst was over.
"Harry" James then said, walking up behind you and placing a hand on your shoulder. "What happened with Malfoy?"
"Darling, we were worried when we got the letter" you continued, covering James' hand with yours. "We thought something serious had happened"
"It's all Malfoy's fault!" Ron exclaimed.
You and James turned to look at him.
"Yes, he was angry because the Slytherins lost the Quidditch match and he taunted Harry as usual" Hermione continued.
You let out a small sigh.
"That little boy will never learn, will he?" you murmured. "He's only good with words. Just like his father"
James looked back at Harry, who hadn't answered his question and had remained silent, his eyes focused on the bedsheets. He was being too silent.
"There's more, isn't there?" your husband asked, getting all of you's attention.
Harry looked at him almost shyly and made a fist with his hand. Yes, there was more, but he didn't have the courage to say it.
"Harry" you called softly and he looked at you. "You can tell us everything. You know that, right?"
Harry exchanged glances with Ron and Hermione, who knew exactly what Harry wasn't going to say. She gave him a small smile of encouragement and he mouthed "Tell them" with his lips. Your son hesitated, but after a few seconds he took a breath and told the truth.
"Malfoy insulted you, mom"
You immediately felt James' hand tighten on your shoulder.
"Oh Harry-" you tried to say, but he continued.
"He called you a mudblood and he said you didn't deserve to be in the world and other stupid things"
You fell silent, but James had the opposite reaction as you.
"He said what?!"
You continued to look at your son, who huffed.
"I know you always tell me that Malfoy's words aren't worth listening to and you're right. But this time i couldn't resist, i'm sorry. I couldn't let him say those things about you"
You let out another small sigh, but then smiled slightly. You leaned towards him and caressed his cheek with one hand, gently running your thumb over the patch on the bridge of his nose.
"Harry, sweetheart. I appreciate you standing up for me, i really do. But i've learned not to care about what the Malfoys and those who think the same say about me, by now. And even if there's always you and dad, i can handle myself when i want too, anyway" you said, making him smile. "But i don't want you to get in trouble for my name again, okay? You need to prove that you're better than that"
When he nodded slowly, you raised the pinky of your free hand.
"Promise me" you ordered softly.
Harry intertwined his pinky with yours, murmuring a "I promise" and you gave him a small kiss on the forehead, while Hermione watched the scene tenderly.
"Well well well, here's the whole family reunited"
You all turned towards the new voice and both Harry and James clenched their fists when they saw Malfoy and Malfoy Jr behind him. James didn't say it out loud, but he was proud on the inside to see that Draco looked worse than Harry. He deserved it.
"Potter" Lucius said looking at James, raising his cane. "I hope you are willing to apologize to me for your son's unruly behavior"
James crossed his arms.
"None of us will apologize, because YOUR son only got what he deserved"
"And yet he only told the truth" Lucius continued, shifting his gaze to you and you glared at him. "And i'm not surprised that your son is raised this way, when his mother is nothing more than a filthy, unworthy mudblood. Pathetic"
James gritted his teeth and took a step towards him.
"Say that again, i dare you"
Behind them, Harry and Draco were also exchanging challenging glances.
"James" you called out to him, but he ignored you.
Lucius smirked and pointed the tip of his cane at you.
"That woman is scum. People like her should just die-"
SBAM!
Lucius was forced to stop when James punched him squarely in the nose, knocking him backwards.
"Father!" Draco exclaimed, frightened.
"James!" you yelled, standing up and running to him. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at the scene with wide eyes, but also with satisfied smiles on their lips.
"Were all the beatings i gave you at school not enough for you!? Haven't you learned your lesson yet, after all these years?!" James exclaimed angrily. "You're just as vapid as your son, you're only good at giving air to your stupid mouth!"
He took a step towards Lucius, but you grabbed onto his arm, trying to pull him back.
"James no-"
"I don't give a damn if i'll go to Azkaban for what i'm about to say, Malfoy. I solemnly swear, that if i hear you or your son insult my wife one more time, you'll be the one who's going to die. I swear it"
Lucius from the floor looked at your husband with a look of disgust, wiping the blood from his nose with his thumb and James looked back with a murderous one, breathing heavily. The tension between the two men was suddenly broken by the voice of Madame Pomfrey, who was approaching the scene.
"Does this seem to be the time and place to fight you two?!" the woman snapped with anger. "This is an infirmary and you're not students anymore! Stop acting like children and leave right now!"
James and Lucius glared at each other for the last time, until the latter hastily got up and walked briskly out of the hospital wing, followed by Draco. Some students lying on the beds who had witnessed the scene, including your son and his friends, clapped and whistled in support for James. You ran a hand over your face, embarrassed at all that attention, but they were immediately shushed by Madame Pomfrey.
"You too Potter! Visiting hours are over!" she exclaimed again, waving a hand, annoyed.
When you were sure that James had calmed down, you let go of him to move closer to Harry again.
"Sorry honey, but we have to go now. We'll see you for the holidays, okay? I love you" you said quickly, kissing his head and cheek.
"Me too, mom"
You took James' hand and dragged him towards the exit, turning to look at your son one last time.
"And remember our promise!"
Those were your last words before you closed the door behind you, entering the silence of the hallway. Then you turned to your husband and gave him a small slap on the back of the head.
"Ow!" he exclaimed, immediately covering the affected spot with his hand and turning to look at you. "What was that for?"
You crossed your arms over your chest.
"You idiot! Didn't you hear anything about the speech i gave to our son??"
A few weeks later, one evening during the Christmas holidays, the Potter family and friends were all gathered in the living room of the Potter's household.
"I can't believe it AHAHAHAH!" Sirius's thunderous laughter echoed throughout the house. "Oh, how i wish i was there to see it! Y/n, you should have owled me!"
You glared at him.
"Sure, so instead of trying to convince these two-” you said, placing your hands on the heads of your husband and son. "-that arguing with the Malfoys is a waste of time, you would've only encouraged them to continue"
"And from what i understood Harry did a great job!" Sirius continued, looking at Harry, who smiled sheepishly. "Well done son, i'm proud of you"
You sat on the couch between James and Harry and the former wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you towards him.
"I think the only one here with any sense that understands my point of view by now is Rem"
The aforementioned gave you a small, uncertain smile.
"Well... If James, Sirius and Harry weren't there, nothing would stop me from punching Malfoy in the face. Be it the old or the young one"
You widened your eyes, feeling betrayed, while everyone else burst out laughing.
"Remus!"
Remus chuckled with red cheeks.
"Dollface, those fuckers deserved it" Sirius continued, taking a sip from his goblet. "And we are your best friends, so if anyone dares to mess with you we will not hesitate to defend you. Just accept it and it'll be easier for you"
You sighed in resignation, while James smiled, tilting his face to leave a couple of kisses on your head.
"That scene was amazing though! Iconic!" Ron exclaimed with a toothy grin. "I don't think i'll ever forget the face Lucius and Draco made"
"Dad was so cool" Harry said.
James looked at the two boys, puffing out his chest proudly.
"Well, i had to defend my woman" he said and you giggled, resting your head against his body.
"James, can i ask you a question?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Ask away, darling"
"What did you mean by what you said to Lucius? When you asked him if all the beatings you gave him at school weren't enough. Had this already happened when you were our age?"
"Oh several times, unfortunately" Sirius replied before James could and then he continued drinking his wine.
"Y/n and Lily were often picked on by Slytherin pureblood students" Remus continued.
Harry turned to look at you with sad eyes, not knowing about the torment you had endured during your years at Hogwarts. You noticed this and gave him a thoughtful smile, reaching out to his hand and squeezing it, as if to say, "Don't worry about me, it's over now".
"But we were always there to protect them, right?" James then asked, lowering his head to look at you and when he saw your look he quickly added. "Even though they didn't need it and could handle themselves~"
"You must know, my dear kids" Sirius interjected again, referring to the three teenagers present "That the brave knight James here, was always ready to save his beloved princess Y/n. He didn't care what the consequences were"
Both you and James blushed, exchanging a loving look, while Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at you tenderly.
"And it's good to know that Harry would do the same for his mother" Remus said then. "Like father like son"
"Aah i love this family so much, i swear!" Sirius sighed, opening his arms wide and almost spilling the wine on the floor.
And everyone laughed.
Dick Grayson | Nightwing X Reader
I feel hes a munch. I feel hes a woman lover. He loves women. Him when women. Also did i think about Garcia and Morgan when writing this? yeah…. and what about it?
masterlist
You’re the newest addition to the Batsquad. Cant help if you’re basically forced to talk to eye candy all night. Though what if the eye candy wants you back.
ᨒ ོ ☼ The hum of servers filled the air like a lullaby, soft and steady behind the clack of your manicured fingers dancing across the keyboard. Multiple monitors cast a warm glow against your skin as codes flickered by, surveillance cams blinked into motion, and the Gotham skyline lit up under your careful watch. You chewed on a pink pen cap thoughtfully, then leaned into the mic on your headset.
“Alright, Bat Team, eyes up. Cameras just caught movement on the east perimeter. Looks like our guy’s not late to his own robbery party.” Static.
“Copy that,” came a deep voice laced with just enough sarcasm to make your lips twitch. “And here I was hoping for a quiet night.”
The soft glow of neon lights from Gotham’s skyline bled into the Watchtower’s tech room, giving everything a purple blue hue. The glow reflected off your screens, lighting up your face as your fingers flew across the keyboard. Surveillance cams, thermal feeds, encrypted audio all of it filtered through your custom built comms system. You leaned back in your chair, twirling said pink pen through your fingers. Your voice came through sweet as sugar, laced with a barely hidden smirk.
“Watch yourself Nightwing, I hope you’re wearing something cute under all that kevlar. You’re live on all my cams tonight.”
A low chuckle filtered through your headset, rough around the edges in the way that always made your stomach flip.
“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite guardian angel,” Nightwing drawled, voice dipped in charm he wore like a second skin. “What would I do without your voice whispering sweet nothings into my ear?”
“You’d probably walk into a wall,” you said sweetly. “Or into that very large man standing behind the dumpster on 5th and Main.”
There was a beat of silence, then a soft thwack through the mic.
“You mean that wasn’t a trash can?” he teased, slightly breathless. “How dare you underestimate my night vision, sugar.”
You grinned, propping your cheek in your palm as you tracked his movement across the rooftops. “Sugar now, huh? Is that your new nickname for me?”
“Unless you prefer ‘Sweetheart.’ Or ‘Hot Stuff.’ I’m flexible.”
You let out a melodic laugh, not even trying to hide it. “Wow, your flirting game is tragic tonight. You okay out there, Nightwing? Hit your head on a chimney?”
“I’m just warming up,” he said, voice low and smooth. “Wait ‘til I meet you in person. Then I’m turning the charm up to eleven.”
You opened your mouth to volley back but Barbara’s voice cut in like a whip.
“Alright, you two cut it.”
You both froze.
“Lock in,” Barbara said, her voice firm and dry as dust. “This isn’t a late night radio show. We’ve got multiple armed targets on the ground and a hostage situation developing five blocks south. Thermal (your hero name), patch the thermal overlay to Nightwing’s HUD.”
You straightened in your chair, fingers flying. “Yes, ma’am. Thermal incoming.”
“Nightwing,” Barbara added with the tone of a fed up older sister, “try keeping your tongue in your mouth for five minutes. You’re on mission, not a date.”
“Harsh, Babs,” he muttered.
“I’m just saying,” she continued, “if I had a dollar for every time I had to listen to the two of you flirt in the middle of a crisis, I could afford a better coffee maker.”
You bit your lip to hold back a laugh, then cleared your throat. “Aww, c’mon, Babs. Can’t a girl multitask? I can route power to Nightwings grappling line and boost morale at the same time.”
“I don’t need morale,” Nightwing interjected. “I need a distraction. Preferably wearing those glasses you mentioned last week.”
“You remember that?” you teased.
“I remember everything you say, Sweetheart.”
Barbara groaned audibly. “I’m leaving this room before I’m forced to bleach my ears.”
“I mean,” you added sweetly, “he’s just mad he can’t picture me behind this desk, legs crossed, looking very professional while saving his butt.”
Nightwing whistled. “If I didn’t have to stop a robbery, I’d be scaling that tower right now.”
Barbara’s voice snapped back over the channel like a rubber band. “Focus, both of you.”
“Copy that,” you said, suddenly all business again as you leaned forward and zoomed in on the warehouse entrance. “Three guards posted up. One pacing, one smoking, one with a submachine gun. Interior layout uploaded to your HUD. Entry through the southeast vent is clear. You’re greenlit, Nightwing.”
“See? She flirts, but she gets it done,” he muttered fondly.
You grinned. “I always stand on business, baby.”
“Then I better bring my A game. Wouldn’t want to disappoint my favorite tech goddess.”
You laughed quietly, adjusting your headset as you pulled up the emergency response grid. “Just don’t get shot, Nightwing.”
Barbara let out one final sigh before muttering, “I swear, I should’ve let Batman take this shift.”
But despite her grumbling, you swore you saw a smile tug at the corners of her lips as she turned away.
He grunted, and you could tell it was the kind of laugh he didn’t want you to hear.
“Let’s make a deal,” he said suddenly. “You keep me alive tonight, and I’ll finally let you buy me a coffee.”
You blinked. That was new. “You mean you buy me a coffee? Bold of you to assume you’re that charming.”
“You do call me every night.”
“Because it’s my job, Nightwing.”
Your own heart beat just a little faster as Nightwing’s icon approached the rendezvous point. It was almost always like this. Take the next day where you were thrown completely out of your own loop You were sprawled comfortably in the comms chair, pink converse kicked up on the desk, a bag of sour candy at your side, and at least three drinks within reach because hydration and caffeination were essential for optimal management.
Tonight’s mission? Barely a blip on the Bat Radar. A stakeout near the docks. Zero hostiles so far. Minimal risk. Maximal boredom.
“Nightwing,” you poured into your mic, stretching dramatically, “how’s the air up there on your boring little rooftop? You see anything exciting? UFOs? Pirates? A raccoon that looks like Bruce?”
“Negative on the Bruce raccoon,” Nightwing said through the comms, voice thick with amusement. “But thanks for the nightmare fuel, Sweetheart.”
“I try,” you chirped, popping another piece of candy into your mouth. “Gotta keep you on your toes.”
“You keep me somewhere, alright,” he murmured, just low enough to think you wouldn’t catch it.
You did. You always did. Before you could respond with another flirty jab, a new voice crackled in gruffer, sharper. Dry as sandpaper and twice as moody.
“Are you always like this?” Jason Todd’s voice cut in like a knife through silk. “I’ve been listening for ten minutes and I already want to uninstall my ears.”
You beamed, leaning closer to the mic like he could see your grin. “Red Hood! My favorite grump. Took you long enough to say hi.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he deadpanned.
“Oh, please. You love it,” you teased, swiveling in your chair like it helped transmit your energy. “I’m your emotional support chatterbox. You’d cry without me.”
“Unlikely.”
“Then why are you still listening?” you asked sweetly, tapping into his drone cam and watching as he crouched in the shadows near an old shipping container. “I see you didn’t even mute me. That’s gotta mean something.”
Jason sighed. The tiniest sigh. A truce in breath form.
“…You’re ridiculous.”
“And adorable, don’t forget that part.”
“Why does she talk to you like that?” Nightwing asked suddenly, cutting in with playful suspicion. “She doesn’t call me ‘adorable.’”
“I like to flirt with people who pretend to hate it,” you replied easily. “Keeps ‘em humble.”
Jason made a quiet scoffing noise. “You think I’m humble?”
“No,” you said, smirking. “But I do think you blush when I call you sweetheart.”
There was a long pause.
“…I’m turning off my comm.”
“You won’t,” you sang.
Before Jason could craft a dry comeback or fake a signal cut out, Nightwing returned this time with a tone that could only be described as smug older brother meets possessive flirt.
“Alright, alright,” Dick said, and you could hear his smirk. “Let’s not get carried away, Sweetheart. You do have a date coming up. With me, remember?”
You blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Oh yeah,” he continued smoothly, “you promised me coffee after our last op. Pretty sure that counts.”
“That was a tactical bribe to keep you alive,” you said quickly, cheeks burning despite your best effort. “Totally not binding.”
Jason actually chuckled at that chuckled. A small miracle.
“Well,” Dick said, clearly enjoying himself, “binding or not, I’ll be at that new café on 7th tomorrow at ten. You’re welcome to back out, but I do know where your candy stash is hidden in the Watchtower fridge.”
Your jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t.”
“I would.”
“You absolute menace.”
“See you then, Sweetheart.”
Jason exhaled like he was regretting all of his life choices.
“God, you’re both exhausting.”
You smiled, sweet and unbothered. “Don’t be jealous, Jay. I can pencil you in for brunch on Sunday.”
He groaned but didn’t mute you. Which, in your book, meant you weren’t the loser here .
𖤓˖⁺‧₊☽𓅨☾₊‧⁺˖𖤓
The room was quiet now.
The static from the comms had faded, the mics had all gone cold, and the buzz of conversation that had filled the Watchtower’s tech room just minutes ago had slipped into silence. You were alone, save for the hum of machines and the low, rhythmic click of a monitor blinking back to standby.
You leaned back in your chair slowly, arms folding over your chest as you stared blankly at the screens. Your bubbly persona so easy to slip into when surrounded by voices, teasing banter, and fast flying intel started to crack beneath the weight of the quiet.
It always did, when the room emptied.
He wanted coffee. Dick Grayson wanted to meet you. A date.
The thought hit you again, more real now than when he first said it in that casual, cocky tone of his. You’d brushed it off, played along, tossed flirtation back like you always did but now? Sitting alone, no distraction, no one listening?
You felt it. That creeping, slow turning anxiety curling in your stomach.
It wasn’t like you hadn’t thought about what he looked like before. Sure, you’d heard his voice, shared late night chatter across missions, and even made him laugh more than once. But imagining him? That was easy. Everyone in the Bat Family was objectively hot. Like, annoyingly so.
And you? You swallowed hard, curling your knees up into your chair and hugging them gently.
You weren’t anything like them. Not tall or sleek or scarred from combat. Not graceful in a catsuit or strong enough to throw a punch through a wall. You weren’t stick thin, but you weren’t curvy in a dramatic way either. You existed somewhere in the middle comfortable in hoodies, always in glasses, a bit awkward when the spotlight came too close. Your brain was your strongest muscle, and it sometimes felt like that was all you had.
Would he be disappointed?
You let out a slow breath, eyes flicking to your reflection in the dark screen across from you. No makeup, hair pulled back, sweater two sizes too big. You looked like someone who blended into a crowd. Like someone no one would stop for a second glance. What if you showed up and he just… didn’t see you the way he did over comms? What if the mystery was the only thing that made you interesting?
Your hand reached out instinctively, pressing your fingers to the edge of the console like you were grounding yourself.
You wanted to meet him. Of course you did. He was charming, and kind beneath all the jokes, and smart in the ways only someone who’d been through hell could be. But a date? That felt like something other people did. People who didn’t feel the need to hide behind tech and sarcasm to feel confident.
You sat there in silence, chewing your lip, wondering if he even knew what he was asking when he said, “see you then.”
Maybe it wasn’t a real date. Maybe he didn’t think of it like that.
But deep down, you knew you wanted it to be. You wanted to be seen. And you were scared of what would happen if you really were.
𖤓˖⁺‧₊☽𓅨☾₊‧⁺˖𖤓
Dick Grayson stood in front of the mirror of his Blüdhaven apartment, tugging at the hem of his sweatshirt like it was a tux. Casual. Chill. Low key. That was the goal.
So why the hell did he feel like he was prepping for a mission?
He ran a hand through his hair, tousling it for the third no, fourth time. Dark jeans, clean white sneakers, a navy hoodie that fit just right not too fitted, not too loose. He changed shirts three times before this one finally felt like the right one. He hadn’t been this particular about his outfit since prom.
“It’s not a date,” he told his reflection. “It’s just coffee.”
A pause.
“…With the girl who knows all your safe houses, your secret patrol routes, and who once talked you through stitching your own shoulder at 3 a.m. without flinching.”
Okay. Maybe a little more than just coffee.
He reached for his phone on the counter. One unread text waited at the top of the screen.
Comms girl <3: You sure about this?
Comms girl <3:You don’t have to meet me.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he typed back quickly.
bluebird: I’m very sure. You owe me that coffee, remember? I risked my life for that latte.
Your reply came within seconds.
Comms girl <3: You were five feet from the guy. I stalled him with a fake 911 ping. YOU’RE WELCOME.
He chuckled, thumbs flying across the screen.
blurbird : Still counts. Heroics were involved. You agreed to a reward. No backing out now.
Comms girl <3: Still time to change your mind. Could just keep this mystery thing going. It’s fun. Less risky.
He stared at that message a moment longer than he wanted to admit. There was a strange comfort in the way things were. The comms. The banter. The way your voice softened when his breathing grew strained after a tough fight. How you’d scold him for reckless moves and then follow up with, “But also… that flip you did? Sick as hell.”
You were part of the job no, more than that. You were part of him. But only in fragments.
He’d seen the pieces you gave: your voice, your wit, your ridiculous caffeine addiction, the hum of music sometimes playing faintly in the background when you were on shift. But he’d never seen you.
Meanwhile, you’d seen everything.
bluebird: You’ve seen my file, haven’t you?
he typed.
bluebird: I know what color your eyes are. I haven’t even seen yours.
Comms girl <3: Don’t worry. They’re not laser eyes or anything.
Comms girl <3: Still time to run. I won’t be mad.
Dick stared at the screen, thumb resting over the keyboard again. A few moments passed. Then he typed back:
bluebird: I don’t want to run. I want to meet you. For real.
Read. But no reply. He locked his phone, shoved it into the pocket of his hoodie, and grabbed his keys and helmet. Outside, the early evening had begun to spill across the Blüdhaven skyline. Fading light. Long shadows.
For once, he wasn’t slipping into the shadows himself. He was stepping into the sun.
𖤓˖⁺‧₊☽𓅨☾₊‧⁺˖𖤓
The café on 7th was a small, tucked away place with mismatched chairs and the smell of cinnamon and roasted espresso clinging to every wooden beam. A warm corner of the city where life slowed down just a little. He arrived ten minutes early. Too early.
The bell above the door jingled, and instinct kicked in. He scanned. Two older women by the window, a guy with earbuds tapping at a laptop, a bored barista pulling espresso shots with dead eyes. No sign of you.
He ordered her drink extra sweet, extra foamy, “liquid sunshine,” you once called it and a black coffee for himself. Settled into a table by the window. Full view of the door. He texted you again.
bluebird: I’m here. No pressure. But I brought your order. It’s waiting patiently.
Nothing.
He flicked the lid of the cup. Checked the time. Tapped his knee beneath the table. Every chime of the bell had him sitting up straighter, breath held in quiet anticipation.
Not her.Not yet.
And that was the thing he didn’t even know what she looked like. No name. No face. Just a voice in his ear, a rhythm in his nights, a lifeline during the chaos. But even without a face, even without a name, he knew you.
He leaned back and watched the doorway like it held all the answers. Maybe it did.
His phone buzzed again.
Comms girl <3: I’m close. Just… taking a second.
He stared at that message. His heart did a quiet, hopeful jump.
bluebird: You nervous?l
Comms Girl: Maybe. You?
He smiled.
bluebird: I’ve fought Killer Croc, Deathstroke, and Jason with a crowbar. This is worse.
You didn’t text back right away. He waited. Sipped his coffee. Looked at your untouched drink and wondered if you’d ever actually take a sip from it. Maybe you’d just show up, apologize, and walk away. Maybe you’d turn around before even walking through the door.
You were already on the sidewalk. One breath away from stepping inside. He turned his eyes to the window, scanning every person who passed. Wondering if one of them might look in, catch his eye, smile.
Waiting. he hoped that mask off, no gadgets, no grappling hooks, no safety net that was enough. So he waited. For you.
𖤓˖⁺‧₊☽𓅨☾₊‧⁺˖𖤓
The drink was starting to sweat on the table.
Dick’s thumb spun slow, lazy circles around the lid of the cup you still hadn’t claimed. The café wasn’t busy only a few people trickled in here and there. His eyes lifted every time the door jingled, hopeful… and then dropped just as quickly.
He wasn’t used to feeling this unsteady. With the mask on, he could take a punch. Leap off a roof. Throw himself into chaos without blinking. But right now, sitting at a table with a slowly cooling cup of coffee for someone he’d never even seen before?
He was sweating more than the damn drink. The bell above the door jingled again.
And he looked.
She stepped in like she was trying not to be noticed shoulders drawn slightly inward, a quick glance around the room before her eyes dropped to the floor. She didn’t look out of place, not really. She looked… normal.
Pink Converse. Faded denim jorts hugging her hips. A plain black tank top tucked in just right to show her figure, casual and effortless. Hair pulled back loosely like she’d tried to fix it three times before giving up.
Dick’s eyes lingered…. respectfully. He wasn’t a jerk. But he was a man. And the way she looked, with nervous energy practically rolling off her in waves, had his chest tightening just a little.
Cute. Definitely cute. Attractive, sure. She was cute. Soft around the edges. Eyes wide like she wasn’t used to being looked at too long.
Dick’s gaze flicked down, then back up not lingering too long. A polite once over. Curious. Gentle. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth before he looked away.
He didn’t know what to expect. For all the times he’d imagined this moment, all the late night banter and daydreams of what she might look like, he’d never settled on a face.
Still watching her from the corner of his eye, Dick slowly reached for his phone and typed out a message.
bluebird: “I’m by the window. Got your sugar bomb of a drink already. You close?”
The girl the maybe you girl jumped slightly when her phone buzzed. Fumbled it out of her pocket. She smiled. Just a little.
Her hand went to her phone. Dick’s screen lit up.
Comms girl <3: Already here. Just… not sure where to go.
His heart stopped. Slowly, his gaze lifted again this time with full awareness. He watched as she read his message, fingers still hovering near the screen.
Like she was laughing at herself and suddenly, everything clicked.
Dick’s breath caught for a beat. His lips tugged upward in a crooked smile as he texted again. Dick forgot how to breathe.
bluebird: Black tank. Pink shoes. You really do own those Converse.
You didn’t even look up from your phone. You were already typing.
Comms girl <3: Ok stalker, stop checking me out
He huffed a quiet laugh.
bluebird: Respectfully. Thoroughly. Definitely.
You lifted your head then, eyes meeting his across the room. Nervous. Hopeful. Your lips curved into something soft and self deprecating.
He stood before he could overthink it, heart thudding as he crossed the short space between your hesitant stillness and his table.
“You’re late,” he said, voice light, teasing.
“Fashionably,” you replied, walking with him as he guided you toward the window seat. “Also, very nearly didn’t come in. I walked past the window twice. You didn’t notice.”
“I noticed,” he said, pulling your chair out like the gentleman he rarely remembered to be. “I just didn’t know it was you. But then you looked at your phone like it offended you.”
You sat, cheeks flushed with something caught between embarrassment and amusement. “That was me realizing I sent three different versions of ‘I’m almost there’ and still sat in my car for ten minutes.”
Dick slid your coffee toward you. “Well i guess in a way you were.”
You took the cup, curling your fingers around it like it might steady you. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I still might run.”
“Do I need to stop you? I’ve got grappling hooks.”
That made you laugh. Really laugh. He liked that sound more than he expected. It wasn’t tinny over the comm. It was full, alive, right in front of him.
“God,” you groaned, lowering your head for a second. “This is so weird.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “But good weird.”
You peeked up at him. “You’re not what I expected.”
“Better or worse?”
You grinned, shy but cheeky. “You’re taller than I thought. That’s not fair. I have no defense against tall and charming.”
“Charming, huh?” He took a sip of his coffee, raising a brow over the lid. “You haven’t even heard my best lines yet.”
You rolled your eyes, the way you always did when he flirted too hard through the mic. But now it was real. Now, he could see the way you bit back a smile, the flush that crept to your ears.
“I’m not used to being looked at,” you admitted after a quiet beat. “I’m used to watching. Behind the screens. Behind the noise. I’ve seen your face a hundred times. This is… lopsided.”
He leaned forward, elbows on the table, gaze steady and warm.
“Then let’s even it out.”
You blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Let me learn you,” he said, voice low, honest. “No comms. No mission. No static. Just… you.”
You looked away, biting your lip, your fingers tracing the lid of your cup now like he had earlier. “You’re a lot more intense in person.”
“I’m a lot of things in person,” he said, smiling. “Most of them good. Some of them bad. All of them me.”
A silence passed. Not awkward contemplative. Like both of you were quietly adjusting to the weight of seeing each other. Really seeing each other.
“I always see you in your outfit, this feels a little weird” you murmured eventually.
He grinned. “You’ll be happy to know I left the spandex at home.”
“Tragic.”
Another moment of quiet, then
“I’m glad you showed up,” he said.
You smiled down into your drink. “Yeah. Me too.”
Outside, the city moved in its usual rhythm cars, footsteps, noise. But here, at this little table by the window, something new was starting. Not a mission. Not an assignment. Just Dick and you.
𖤓˖⁺‧₊☽𓅨☾₊‧⁺˖𖤓
The coffee was long gone, but neither of them had made a move to go their separate ways.
Instead, they strolled the streets of Blüdhaven, their pace slow, like time had bent around them just for a little while. The sun had started to dip behind the buildings, casting soft golden light on the sidewalks, and the breeze stirred the trees enough to make the leaves flutter like lazy applause.
You walked beside him with your now empty cup in hand, straw still between your lips despite it having been dry for the last ten minutes. Nerves still clung to your skin, thin but persistent. You had no idea where to put your hands or how to keep your voice steady. You weren’t usually like this. Over comms, you were bold, loud, sarcastic, and playful.
But out here, in the open, without a headset and with Nightwing walking beside you in casual clothes that hugged him way too well for your nerves to take? It was different. He was real. And you were suddenly aware of every flaw you’d been trying not to think about since this morning.
“You know,” you said with a light chuckle, trying to keep your voice in that easy, familiar tone, “I honestly expected you to cancel last minute. Or like, show up but wear the mask the whole time and pretend to be mysterious.”
Dick looked over at you, one brow raised, and a smile playing at his lips. “You really thought I’d ghost you after all our late night flirting?”
You shrugged, trying to play it off, but your eyes darted away. “I mean… I dunno. Maybe.”
“You ruined that for you because i would never,” he said dramatically, then bumped his shoulder gently against yours. “I told you I was coming. I meant it.”
His voice was warm, not teasing this time. Just honest. He watched you as you gave a small smile, eyes still scanning the sidewalk like you were searching for something to say. He saw the way you carried yourself. Not shy, exactly just… cautious. Though he saw you and wanted too. All of you.
Not just the confident voice in his ear or the tech genius who could break into encrypted systems like they were open windows. He saw the little things: the nervous hand fidgeting with your cup sleeve, the way you pulled at the hem of your shorts when you thought he wasn’t looking, the practiced jokes you used to deflect any compliments.
So he gave you more of them.
“I like your shoes,” he said casually, glancing down at the worn pink Converse. “its a very you thing, reflective of your personality”
You laughed an actual laugh, not a polite one. “I don’t know if footwear can tell you my life story?”
“Oh, absolutely,” he said, nodding with mock seriousness. “Pink shoes? Total power move. I love when women.”
You shook your head, trying to hide your grin. “you love when women?”
“And the shorts?” he added. “Perfect length. Shows off those legs that have been sitting behind a computer for, what? Ninety percent of your adult life?”
“Oh my God,” you groaned, covering your face with your free hand. “You’re a menace.”
“I’ve been told worse,” he said with a wink.
You both fell into a comfortable rhythm after that. Step for step, laugh for laugh. The tension slowly ebbed away the longer he stayed near you like he was peeling back the nervous layers without ever drawing attention to them.
After a few quiet moments, you nudged him lightly with your elbow. “Okay, so serious question.”
“Hit me.”
“How the hell does this team work? I started hacking stuff and suddenly im here? ”
He laughed, raising both brows. “You tell me. You’ve got this adorable, good vibe going for you, but I’ve read some of those logs. You were wrecking firewalls like they owed you money.”
“I wasn’t that bad,” you defended with a smirk. “Okay, maybe the satellite thing was a little over the line.”
He turned to face you mid step. “Wait. What satellite thing?”
You winced, cheeks flushing. “I… might’ve accidentally hacked into a WayneTech orbital system when I thought it was an old NASA server.”
He stared at you, stunned. “You hacked WayneTech?”
“Allegedly,” you said, grinning now. “And two days later, Babs showed up in my basement. No warning, no badge, just… bam, red hair and righteous fury.”
“She must’ve been so mad.”
“She told me I was wasting potential and recruited me on the spot.”
Dick laughed again, and this time, it was full bodied, the kind that lit up his whole face. “Classic Babs.”
“Honestly? She’s the first person who ever looked at me and didn’t just see a mouthy hacker. She actually saw… me.”
His smile softened. “She does that. Did the same for me once.”
You glanced at him curiously. “Oh yeah?”
He nodded, hands tucked into his hoodie pocket. “Back when I was still figuring things out after leaving Bruce. I needed distance from the Bat stuff needed to figure out who I was when I wasn’t under the cape. Babs helped me get there. Helped me want to be more than just Robin.”
“I think you’re doing alright,” you said, bumping his shoulder this time.
“I’m trying,” he said with a shrug. “Still check in on the family though. Bruce, my brothers, Grandpa.”
You blinked. “Grandpa?”
“Alfred,” he clarified with a mischievous grin. “I started calling him that just to piss him off, but I know he secretly loves it.”
You laughed again, shaking your head. “That’s so weirdly wholesome. ‘Nightwing has emotional depth and a soft spot for butlers,’ coming to theaters this fall.”
“Hey, he’s not just a butler. He’s the butler.”
“I stand corrected.”
The sky was blushing now, soft shades of purple and orange painting the horizon. The city buzzed around you, but for once, it didn’t feel overwhelming. It felt like a quiet pocket of something special.
Dick glanced sideways at you, the wind tugging gently at your hair, and felt that same flicker in his chest again. The one that started when your voice used to crackle in his earpiece during midnight stakeouts. The one that grew stronger every time you made him laugh, or saved his ass from another security lockdown, or stayed on the line with him just so he wouldn’t be alone.
“I’m really glad we did this,” he said softly.
You looked at him, caught a sincerity in his eyes that left no room for doubt.
“Yeah,” you said, voice just as soft. “Me too.”
The air had taken on that evening crispness the kind that whispered promises of something new. The two of you were still walking, slowly now, like neither wanted to reach wherever the sidewalk might end.
Dick glanced at you again, longer this time. Not just quick, playful side glances, but a longing look. One that lingered as the fading sun touched your skin. He could see the way your lashes caught the light, the slight smile tugging at your lips as you sipped from your empty straw out of habit. The way your eyes moved when you were thinking.
You caught him staring.
“What?” you asked, arching a brow.
He shrugged with an easy, boyish grin. “Nothing. Just… you’ve got a good laugh.”
You blinked. “What, like a ‘haha’ laugh or a ‘joker is getting off’ laugh?”
He chuckled. “The kind that’s been in my ear for months, but somehow sounds better in person.”
Your stomach fluttered. You covered it with a sarcastic smile. “Are you flirting with me again, Grayson?”
“Only mildly,” he teased, then glanced ahead. “I mean, I’ve gotta pace myself. You’re kind of… addictive.”
You didn’t answer for a moment. You didn’t know how. And honestly, you were worried your voice would betray how warm your chest suddenly felt.
He didn’t press it. Just kept walking with you in step. But then he said, a little more softly:
“I never really thought about it before… how different things feel when you’re not just a voice in my ear.”
You looked over at him, curious. “Better or worse?”
He gave you a look, deadpan. “What kind of question is that?”
You tried to laugh, to brush it off, but he turned toward you fully now, walking backward a few steps so he could face you as you moved.
“You have this… energy. When we’re on comms, it’s like… controlled chaos in the best way. Keeps me grounded, keeps me alert. But now? Seeing you like, actually seeing you your expressions, your body language, your weird obsession with pink…”
“I do not!”
He smirked. “You do. It’s very cute.”
You shoved his arm lightly, heat rushing to your face. But the smile was genuine now. You were relaxing, piece by piece.
“I guess I just didn’t realize how much I’d been missing until now,” he added, turning back around to walk forward again. “Hearing you’s great. But… seeing you talk? Watching your eyes move when you go on your little tech rants or when you start teasing me? It hits different.”
Your heart thudded hard.
He wasn’t saying “I want to see your face more.” But he was.
You swallowed around the growing smile and said, “Well… good thing I’m not going anywhere.”
He shot you a glance then, something soft and full of unspoken words.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “That is a good thing.”
────୨ৎ────
Geto Suguru x Reader
Gojo Satoru x Reader
────୨ৎ────
⋆˚✿˖° 2. I’ve Played these Games Before
Headcannon, the men are stupid
if you missed the last chapter and want more-> masterlist
₍^. .^₎⟆ Geto sighed, stretching his arms as he strolled toward his dorm. The study session had been useless (as expected), but at least it had been entertaining. Though, if he was being honest, the best part of the evening had been watching Gojo flail around in real-time romantic panic.
He smirked to himself. That was going to be fun to watch unfold.
Not that he cared much about the bet itself. That was just a way to mess with Gojo, to see him squirm. Nothing more.
His plan was simple he’d treat you exactly the same as always. Calm, confident, teasing. Unlike Gojo, he didn’t need to rely on some ridiculous strategy. He wasn’t about to start googling psychological tricks like a lovesick idiot.
No, he’d just make a few subtle changes. More intentional eye contact. More casual touches. More moments of quiet attention, the kind that made people feel like they were the only one in the room.
At least, that’s what he thought, until lunchtime the next day, when Gojo started getting on his nerves.
Because, of course, Gojo wasn’t capable of subtlety.
“Wow,” Gojo whistled, sliding into the seat across from you. “Look at you, already eating without me? I thought we had something special.”
You looked up mid bite, a spoonful of rice halfway to your mouth. “Gojo, you were literally behind me in line.”
“Details,” he waved off, dramatically propping his chin in his hand. “But you know, I was thinking of eating alone today… until I saw you, and my heart just knew I couldn’t let that happen.”
You snorted. “Sounds rough, buddy.”
His sunglasses slid down his nose just enough for you to see his eyes sparkling with mischief. “You have no idea.”
You rolled your eyes but smiled, taking another bite of your food. Gojo watched you closely, subtly shifting in his seat. Step one—mirroring movements. You lifted your spoon, and he lazily picked up his chopsticks. You leaned forward slightly, and he mirrored the action. He was subtle about it, of course. Natural. Completely normal. Definitely not weird.
Except you paused, squinting at him.
“…Are you copying me?”
Gojo choked on air. “Wh—what? No! Pfft. I’m just sitting.”
Your grin widened. “Satoru, are you copying me?”
He waved his chopsticks. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
You squinted a second longer, then shrugged, going back to your food. “Mhm. Sure.”
Gojo let out a silent breath. Okay. Maybe less obvious on that one.
Right. Step two—eye contact.
He leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm as he gazed at you, letting his signature smirk tug at his lips. A confident, roguish expression that, historically, had driven people wild.
You, however, just blinked at him. “Are you- why are you staring at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re waiting for me to read your mind or something.”
Gojo sighed dramatically. “I was just admiring the way the cafeteria lights shine in your eyes. Very mesmerizing. Stunning, even.”
You blinked again. “Satoru, the cafeteria lights are fluorescent.”
“Exactly,” he grinned. “Yet, somehow, you make them work.”
You just groaned, shaking your head. “You are so weird.”
He ignored the minor setback and moved to Step three—casual physical touch. Casual. Natural. Smooth. So he reached across the table and lightly flicked your forehead.
You recoiled, dramatically grabbing your head. “Ow?!”
“Oops.” He grinned. “Slipped.”
“You slipped into flicking me?”
“Crazy, right?”
You narrowed your eyes before retaliating, smacking his arm with the back of your spoon. “Oops,” you mimicked, grinning. “I slipped.”
Gojo laughed, holding up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, truce.” You huffed, still smiling, before turning your attention back to your food.
Step four—make them laugh.
He was already a pro at that. Easy. No problem. You weren’t in a bad mood or anything, just a little spaced out, quietly picking at your food while Geto and Shoko talked beside you. Normally, you’d be more engaged, but today, your mind just wasn’t all there.
Gojo, of course, noticed. And he could not let that slide.
“Alright, I’m making an official declaration,” he announced, leaning forward with a grin. “I’m getting her—” he pointed dramatically at you “—to laugh before lunch is over.”
Shoko didn’t even look up from her juice box. “Shouldn’t take long. Five minutes.”
“Two,” Geto said, smirking. “He’s predictable.”
You blinked at them. “Wait—what? I do laugh.”
“Not enough,” Gojo countered, watching you with exaggerated scrutiny. “Not the real, ugly, snorting kind. That’s the goal.”
“You don’t need that,” you said flatly.
“Oh, but I do.”
He leaned forward, hands clasped like he was about to deliver something profound. “Okay. Picture this. I’m fighting this cursed spirit the other day—big, ugly thing, smelled like a sewer. And it looks at me and goes, ‘Hey, aren’t you that discount Kakashi?’”
Silence.
Geto exhaled through his nose, mildly amused. Shoko just sighed. You gave Gojo a slow blink.
Gojo placed a hand on his chest, scandalized. “Nothing? That was comedy gold.”
“That was sad,” Geto corrected.
“Okay, fine, I can do better,” Gojo said, shaking it off before dramatically throwing himself against Geto’s side. “Bro, I can’t believe this. My own best friend, laughing before she does. This is a betrayal. How do I go on?”
“Quieter,” Geto muttered, shoving him off.
Gojo ignored him. “Alright, last attempt.” He turned to you, suddenly serious. “If you don’t laugh in the next ten seconds, I’m taking your dessert.”
Your head snapped up. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
And then, as if to prove he meant business, he grabbed two onigiri from Geto’s tray, wiggled them like little sock puppets, and in the most high pitched, overly dramatic voice you’d ever heard, went:
“Oh no, Gojo-sama, please spare us! We are but humble rice balls!”
He made one onigiri turn to the other. “Brother, I don’t think he’s going to show us mercy…”
The second onigiri shook dramatically. “No, we still have so much to live for! My wife, my children, who will tell them what happened to me?”
“I will, dear brother,” the first one promised solemnly. “I will tell them of your bravery!”
“No!” The second onigiri screamed (or rather, Gojo screamed for it). “You must live on! Let me be the one to—AHHH!”
And with that, Gojo chucked the onigiri into his mouth and took an exaggerated, victorious bite.
You burst out laughing. The kind of laugh you couldn’t hold in if you tried, the kind that made you lean forward onto the table, shoulders shaking as you gasped for air.
Gojo pointed at you with a mouthful of rice. “Boom. Victory.”
Shoko sighed, sipping her juice. “Took longer than I thought.”
Geto shook his head. “I’m never letting you near my food again.”
But Gojo wasn’t listening. He was too busy basking in his success, leaning toward you with a cocky grin. “Told you you couldn’t resist my charm.”
“You’re an idiot,” you wheezed, still catching your breath.
“And yet,” Gojo said, stealing your dessert anyway, “an idiot with perfect comedic timing.” You groaned I’m reply.
He grinned, triumphant.
Then, Step five, say their name more. “Hey, (Y/N),” he drawled, propping his chin on his hand.
You raised an eyebrow. “Yes, Satoru?”
He blinked. “Uh.”
Damn it. He didn’t actually have anything to say. He’d just read in some stupid article that saying your name was supposed to make you subconsciously more interested in him.
“…Nothing,” he said smoothly, smiling. “Just wanted to remind you how nice your name sounds.”
You gave him a look. “Right.”
A beat of silence. Then
“Satoru,” you said, voice suspiciously sweet.
Gojo grinned. “Yeah?”
“You are being weird.”
“Me?” He placed a hand over his chest, mock-offended. “Weird? Perish the thought.”
You just laughed, shaking your head as you finished the last of your food. “Anyway, as fun as this has been, Im a little thirsty.”
Gojo gasped. “What, you’re leaving me?”
“You’ll survive.” You smirked, standing up. “Probably.”
He clutched his chest dramatically. “(Y/N), your cruelty knows no bounds.”
You just rolled your eyes but smiled. “I’ll be back I want to get a other juice Gojo”
And then you were gone, disappearing into the cafeteria crowd.Gojo sighed, dropping his head onto the table.Well. That could’ve gone better. He pulled out his phone, opening his notes app.
The Gojo Satoru Foolproof Love Plan™ (That Hopefully Works and Doesn’t End in Humiliation)
1. Mirroring movements (FAILED. TOO OBVIOUS.)
2. Eye contact (??? Unclear. Need feedback.)
3. Casual touches (Flicking? Bad idea. Find alternative.)
4. Make them laugh (SUCCESS. OBVIOUSLY.)
5. Say their name more (Awkward. Do not force it.)
6. Grand romantic gesture??? (Not yet. Too soon.)
7. Don’t mess this up. (Currently… TBD.)
Gojo sighed, locking his phone.
—
Geto watched from across the lunch table, fingers idly tapping against his drink, as Gojo leaned way too far into your space. He dropped your name into the conversation at least three times in the last minute, nudged your arm, and let out an exaggerated laugh at something you’d said, something that wasn’t that funny. Then when you got up he looked straight at gojo.
“Alright,” Geto drawled, resting his chin in his palm. “Are you trying to scare them away?”
Gojo shot him a look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Geto just raised an eyebrow. Gojo’s eye twitched slightly. Shoko, who had been watching this unfold with the air of someone witnessing a tragic yet hilarious accident, snorted. “You’re overdoing it,” she told Gojo.
“No, I’m not” Gojo started, then cut himself off, visibly forcing himself to look less desperate. He leaned back, feigning ease. “I mean, pfft. No way. This is all natural.”
Geto exhaled slowly, leveling Gojo with a knowing look.
Because here was the thing, Gojo wasn’t bad at this. He was naturally charismatic. He could be smooth. But when he actually cared about something? When it actually mattered?
He became a disaster, it was obvious that this mattered. Which meant Geto had the upper hand for now. He allowed himself a small smirk before turning back to you as you came back. Unlike Gojo, he wouldn’t trip over himself. He wouldn’t force it. He’d just let things fall into place.
This was going to be easy.
Except.
As lunch went on, Geto noticed something.
At first, Gojo’s fumbling had been amusing. Watching the ever-confident Satoru practically trip over his own feet was undeniably entertaining. But the longer Geto watched, the more he started to realize why Gojo was messing up so badly. Because Gojo flirted all the time. He teased, he charmed half the jujitsu world was wrapped around his finger without him even trying.
Gojo actually liked you.
The thought settled like a weight in Geto’s chest. His fingers tapped idly against the table.
He glanced at you. You were laughing, completely oblivious to the quiet crisis happening across the table. And something about that sent an uncomfortable twist through his stomach.
He wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like this was serious. He was just messing with Gojo. That’s what he’d told himself. That’s all this was.
…Right?
Then why did his gaze linger a little too long when you smiled? Why did it bother him when Gojo made you laugh first? Why did it feel like he was always second to Gojo?
Because that was how it always went, wasn’t it?
Gojo was loud, blinding, impossible to ignore. The center of attention in every room. And Geto?
He was there. A presence. A shadow. Not invisible, not overlooked but never first. watching Gojo fight for your attention, watching you react to him, laugh at him. The weight in Geto’s chest grew heavier. His grip on his drink tightened.
No.
This wasn’t about Gojo. It wasn’t about the bet. It wasn’t about proving a point. This was about you. Because he didn’t just want to win. He wanted you and for you to know he wont always come second
He exhaled slowly, leaning back in his seat, watching as Gojo tried (and failed) to act casual.
—
“You know, (Y/n),” Gojo drawled, slinging an arm over the back of your chair like he owned the place. His fingers drummed lazily against the wood, his usual cocky smirk in place. “I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s a first,” you quipped without missing a beat, eyes still focused on your food as you casually poked at your meal.
Across the table, Geto exhaled a quiet chuckle, shaking his head in amusement. Shoko, perched beside him with her cigarette balanced between two fingers, barely hid her smirk as she took a slow drag.
Gojo clicked his tongue, feigning offense. “Rude. I was about to say something really profound, actually.
Finally, you glanced up at him, eyes sparkling with playful curiosity. “Oh? Enlighten me, oh wise and powerful one.”
Gojo grinned wider, but Geto, who knew him better than anyone, noticed the way his fingers tapped just a little too quickly against the table. A nervous tic, barely noticeable. Interesting.
“Well, now I don’t want to with that attitude” Gojo continued, voice dripping with forced nonchalance. “I was just thinking, don’t you think we make a great pair?”
You blinked at him, head tilting slightly with a smirk. “A pair of what, exactly?”
For the first time since opening his mouth, Gojo hesitated. It was only for a fraction of a second, but in that brief pause, Geto could see the exact moment doubt crept into his friend’s mind.
“A pair of… cool people?” Gojo finally offered, flashing a sheepish smile, one hand adjusting his sunglasses even though they hadn’t moved.
There was a beat of silence. Shoko exhaled smoke through her nose, unimpressed. Geto took a slow sip of his drink, watching the interaction unfold with the air of a man witnessing a slow motion car crash painful, but fascinating.
Meanwhile, you squinted at Gojo, head tilting slightly, as if trying to decipher some kind of hidden meaning. “Did you just try to flirt with me by suggesting we… form a club?”
“No” Gojo started, but before he could finish, Geto decided to cut in. Because, really, this was just too good to pass up.
“Oh, I dunno,” he interjected smoothly, tilting his head slightly in your direction. His voice carried the perfect balance of amusement and intrigue, just enough to make Gojo twitch. “I think he’s onto something. You are pretty cool, after all.”
That got your attention. Your lips curled into a delighted grin as you turned to Geto. “Someone recognizes my greatness!” You placed a dramatic hand over your chest. “It’s about time.” You stick out your tongue to gojo
“Get I’m your knees and say I’m cool and you’re not ” You pointed your chopsticks at gojo,
Geto hummed, pleased with himself as he set his drink down. “I only speak the truth.”
Gojo’s eye twitched. Oh, come on.
Shoko exhaled another puff of smoke, watching the scene unfold like it was the best entertainment she’d had in weeks. This is a mess, she thought. A hilarious, glorious mess.
Gojo, meanwhile, looked like he was seconds away from combusting. He narrowed his eyes at Geto, who looked far too pleased with himself, before quickly shaking it off.
“Anyway,” Gojo cut back in, clearly trying to regain control of the conversation. He turned to you again, tapping your shoulder lightly as his grin returned. “What I meant was, you and me? We work well together, y’know? Great chemistry and all that.”
You smirk at him. “Like lab partners?”
There was a moment of silence and then Shoko choked on her drink. Geto coughed lightly, raising a fist to his mouth to cover his smirk. But internally? He was dying.
Gojo froze. His jaw clenched for just a fraction of a second before he forced a grin, his usual confidence cracking under the weight of sheer secondhand embarrassment. “Exactly like lab partners,” he said, voice painfully flat.
“Cool!” You beamed, completely oblivious to Gojo’s growing inner turmoil. “Let me know when we’re dissecting frogs, I guess.” Then you for up and ran to utahime for a moment when you see her aggressively waving you over.
Gojo groaned, flopping back in his seat like a man defeated.
Shoko wiped a tear from her eye, shaking her head. “This is actually painful to watch.”
“Not for me,” Geto mused, barely containing his smirk as he leaned back.
Gojo turned his head just enough to glare at him. “You suck.”
“Aw, Satoru,” Geto drawled, resting his chin in his palm. “Don’t be such a sore loser.”
“Losing implies I’ve lost,” Gojo shot back, sitting up with renewed determination. “And I never lose.”
Geto merely raised an eyebrow. “Sure,” he said smoothly, sipping his drink again. But inside, he was still thinking about the way you had laughed at his words. The way you had turned to him so easily, bright eyed and happy.
And just like that, what was supposed to be a harmless bet felt like something else entirely. Something he wasn’t willing to lose.
—
After lunch wrapped up, Gojo had been dragged away by some underclassmen pestering him for help though, judging by his exaggerated groan of suffering, you’d think they were sentencing him to life in prison. Shoko had peeled off shortly after, muttering something about a nap and waving lazily over her shoulder.
That left you and Geto.
The two of you walked side by side through the courtyard, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. It was warm but not unpleasant, with a soft breeze rustling through the trees. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance.
“So,” Geto said, hands slipping casually into his pockets. “Lab partners, huh?”
You grinned, glancing up at him. “What? You don’t think me and Gojo have great chemistry?”
Geto hummed, pretending to consider it. “More like chaotic combustion.”
You laughed, nudging his arm playfully. “Okay, thats just basic math when you out us I’m a room together”
The sound of your laughter settled into Geto’s chest, warm and lingering. He’d always liked that about you how easy it was for you to find amusement in things, how naturally lighthearted you could be. It was one of the reasons he enjoyed your company so much.
He wasn’t even sure when it had started this noticing of yours. The way you smiled when you were really, genuinely happy. The way your hands moved when you talked excitedly. The way your eyes lit up when you were being playful, like they had during lunch when you had turned to him.
Yeah. He was noticing a lot more than he used to.
“You were really enjoying yourself back there,” you mused, shooting him a knowing look.
Geto smirked. “Can you blame me? Watching Gojo crash and burn is one of life’s simplest pleasures.”
You laughed again, and he found himself watching you a little too closely.
It had started as a joke. Just a bet. A way to mess with Gojo and watch him struggle for once.
But somewhere along the way, something shifted.
Maybe it was because you always seemed to get along with him so easily, without all the dramatics and fanfare that followed Gojo everywhere. Maybe it was because teasing you came as naturally as breathing, and you always played along. Maybe it was because, when you looked at him, it never felt like he was standing in Gojo’s shadow.
Because Geto had spent years watching people flock to Gojo first. It wasn’t something he resented, not really it was just the way things were. Gojo was loud, larger than life, the sun in the center of everyone’s orbit.
But now, as you walked beside him, smiling and laughing and completely unaware of the thoughts creeping into his head he wondered what it would be like if, just this once, he wasn’t second.
If you chose him.
“Alright, then,” you said suddenly, shaking him from his thoughts. “If Gojo and I are chaotic combustion, what kind of chemistry do we have?”
You grinned up at him, eyes bright with curiosity. Playful. Innocent. But for the first time all afternoon, Geto felt just the slightest bit off balance. But for the first time all afternoon, Geto felt just the slightest bit off balance. Because for all his usual confidence, for all his careful, patient planning, he hadn’t been expecting that.
His smirk lingered, but this time, it took a fraction of a second longer to form.
“Hmm,” he mused, tilting his head in thought. “I’d say… slow burn.”
You blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, is that a real chemistry thing or—”
“Who knows?” Geto said smoothly, flashing you a teasing smile before stepping ahead. “Guess you’ll have to figure it out.”
You gaped at him. “Oh, now you’re being mysterious?”
He only laughed, glancing back over his shoulder. “What can I say? Gotta keep things interesting.”
You rolled your eyes but grinned as you jogged to catch up with him and Geto, for all his patience, was beginning to wonder if maybe, just maybe, he wanted to win this more than he thought.
The neon lights of Tokyo buzzed overhead as the four of you wandered the crowded streets, blending into the after-school . It was that perfect in between time too early for the late-night crowd, but just late enough that everything felt a little more exciting.
And, as usual, Gojo was causing problems.
“You dragged us out here,” you sighed, watching Gojo pat down his pockets like he’d just realized he forgot something important. “How do you not know where we’re going?”
“I do know!” Gojo huffed, placing a hand over his heart like you’d mortally wounded him. “I’m just giving the night a sense of mystery.”
“You lost the directions, didn’t you?” Shoko deadpanned.
“Have some faith in me,” Gojo scoffed.
“I did,” Geto mused. “Then I watched you confidently lead us to a random 7-Eleven last time because you thought there was a ‘secret food market’ underground.”
Gojo groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Are none of you gonna let that go?”
“No,” you, Geto, and Shoko said in unison.
Gojo grumbled under his breath, but before he could keep digging his own grave, you gestured toward a bright, bustling arcade across the street.
“Let’s just go in there,” you suggested. Pointing towards the arcade near by “Since our fearless leader clearly has no actual plan.”
Gojo perked up. “Hey! I did have a plan—”
“Oh my god, shut up and walk,” Shoko sighed, already making her way inside.
—
The place was packed, rows of flashing game screens, the constant clinking of tokens, and the occasional victorious yell from someone landing a big win. It was the kind of that was just fun enough to be energizing rather than overwhelming.
Immediately, Gojo beelined for a claw machine. “I’m winning something for you,” he declared, pointing at you.
You raised an eyebrow. “Bold of you to assume you’ll win.”
Gojo grinned, cracking his knuckles. “Bold of you to underestimate me.”
“Gojo, I watched you spend 3,000 yen last time trying to win a keychain,” Geto reminded him, his voice thoroughly unimpressed.
“Okay, but this time is different,” Gojo insisted. “This time, I have motivation.”
You snorted. “Sure you do.”
Shoko rolled her eyes and wandered off to find a rhythm game, and Geto turned to you, smirking. “Wanna bet on how many tries it takes before he gives up?”
You grinned. “Oh, absolutely.”
Thirty Minutes Later…
Gojo was slumped against the claw machine, forehead pressed against the glass, as the plush he had almost grabbed slipped back into the pile for what had to be the twentieth time.
“…This thing is rigged,” he muttered.
Geto, sipping his drink, hummed. “Mmm. Sure.”
You held out a hand toward him. “Pay up.”
Geto sighed but placed a few coins into your palm. “I should’ve known better.”
Shoko strolled back over, glancing at Gojo’s miserable form. “Wow. Are we gonna have to carry you out of here?”
Gojo groaned dramatically. “Leave me. I belong to the void now.”
You rolled your eyes before stepping up to the machine, slipping in a coin. “Here,” you said, gripping the controls. “Let me show you how it’s done.”
Gojo peeled himself off the glass just enough to watch, skeptical. “If you win this on your first try, I’m actually gonna lose my mind.”
You maneuvered the claw, timed the drop perfectly, and…….Bam!
“Your mind better be severally lost when I turn around” you smirk while holding it out to the three of them. Then talking a look at the white haired guy.
“Here, since you worked so hard for it”
Gojo blinked. Then he stared at you. “…You’re giving it to me?”
You shrugged. “Yeah. You worked hard for it.”
Gojo expected you to rub it in, to make some smug comment about how much better you were, but you didn’t. You just… gave it to him. No teasing, no conditions. Just an easy, casual, Here, this is yours.
Something in his chest actually ached.
He took the plush from your hands, staring down at it like it was something important.
“…Wow,” he muttered, voice a little quieter than usual. “So this is what kindness feels like.”
You rolled your eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic.”
“No, no, this is a life changing moment,” Gojo insisted, holding the plush to his chest. “I feel so appreciated right now.”
Geto smirked. “You’re gonna sleep with that thing, aren’t you?”
Gojo scoffed. “Of course not.” He absolutely was.
Shoko yawned. “Can we go now, or do you need a moment to emotionally bond with the plush?”
Gojo pouted. “Let me have this.”
You chuckled, shaking your head. “C’mon, Gojo.”
As the four of you made your way back outside, Gojo fell into step beside you, still clutching the plush. He glanced at you, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Maybe he had completely embarrassed himself tonight, but… This was definitely the best prize he’d ever won.
—
The four of you ended up at a cozy little ramen shop tucked into a side street, the kind of place with handwritten menus, warm lighting, and the rich smell of broth and grilled meats filling the air. It was nothing fancy, but it was good, one of Geto’s usual spots, which meant it was guaranteed to be great.
The ramen shop was cozy, the kind of place that felt like a well kept secret. The handwritten menus, the warm yellow glow from the hanging lanterns, the smell of rich broth and grilled skewers, it all made for a welcoming atmosphere. A place you could linger, talk, enjoy good food without pretense.
Gojo was still holding the small, plush keychain you’d won for him at the arcade earlier, absentmindedly squeezing it between his fingers as you all slid into a booth. He had insisted he didn’t need it, but you had seen the way his face lit up when you handed it to him, how he twirled it in his hands the entire walk over. He hadn’t let go of it since.
Shoko and Gojo immediately launched into a heated debate over toppings, something about whether bamboo shoots were a necessary addition or a waste of space.
You and Geto exchanged a glance. Unspoken solidarity.
“You wanna share something?” Geto’s voice was casual, smooth, as he leaned an elbow against the table, turning his full attention to you.
You blinked. “Uh"…
Gojo, mid argument with Shoko, snapped his head around so fast you thought he might get whiplash.
“What?”
Geto hummed, reaching for the menu, eyes glinting with amusement. “I was just saying we could split something.” His gaze flicked back to you, warm and steady. “Figured you’d get tired of Gojo stealing food off your plate.”
You scoffed, tilting your head in mock consideration. “That’s… actually a really good point.”
Gojo gasped, pointing an accusatory chopstick at Geto. “I do not steal—”
Shoko snorted. “You ate half my gyoza last week.”
Gojo immediately turned to her, defensive. “You weren’t gonna finish them!”
“You didn’t ask.”
Geto chuckled, nudging the menu toward you. “So? What looks good?”
You skimmed the options, feeling the weight of Geto’s gaze. He wasn’t rushing you, wasn’t pushing, just waiting, watching, letting you make the decision. It was subtle, but it felt different from his usual teasing. More intentional.
Meanwhile, across the table, Gojo had gone suspiciously quiet.
He kept fidgeting with the plush you won him, his fingers idly squeezing its soft fabric. He tried to tell himself it wasn’t a big deal, so what if Geto was pulling out his smooth operator act? That’s just how he was. And it wasn’t like Gojo cared. Except… he kind of did.When the food finally arrived, the table filled with steaming bowls of ramen, plates of dumplings, and skewers of grilled meat. Gojo had ordered the biggest portion possible…partly out of habit, partly as some unspoken form of protest.
Geto slid the bowl of spicy miso ramen between the two of you. “You want the first bite?”
You shrugged. “I don’t mind—”
Before you could finish, Geto picked up a spoon, scooped up a bit of broth, and lifted it toward you
.
“Here. Try it.”
You blinked. Gojo blinked. Shoko, sipping her drink, raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“…Are you feeding me?” you asked, both amused and caught off guard.
Geto smirked. “Only if you want me to.”
Gojo’s chopsticks snapped in half.
You chuckled, shaking your head before taking the spoon from Geto yourself. “I can handle it, thanks.”
Geto leaned back, looking very pleased with himself. “Fair enough.”
Gojo, meanwhile, was gripping what was left of his broken chopsticks, staring down at his ramen like he was contemplating the meaning of life.
Shoko nudged him with her elbow. “You good?”
Gojo didn’t look up. “I’m fine.”
Shoko smirked. “Uh-huh.”
Gojo kept stirring his ramen. He wasn’t going to say anything because what was there to say? Geto wasn’t doing anything technically wrong. It was just his usual, effortless charm. The same charm that made people naturally gravitate toward him. But tonight, for some reason, it was getting under Gojo’s skin. He knew Geto knew how he played things, knew how easy it was for him to slip into that role. And Gojo had always been fine with that. They were best friends, partners in crime. But now? Now, watching Geto lean just a little closer, watching you smile and laugh without hesitation Gojo felt something simmering in his chest. A feeling he didn’t quite want to name.
Shoko nudged him again. “You sure? Because you’re either planning murder or having an existential crisis over there.”
Gojo exhaled, flopping dramatically against the booth. “I’m just thinking.”
Shoko’s smirk widened. “Thinking about what, exactly?”
Gojo scowled. “Nothing.”
She didn’t press, but she didn’t have to. They both knew exactly what he was thinking.
Across the table, you and Geto were still chatting, sharing your ramen without a second thought.
Gojo finally dropped his chopsticks with a dramatic sigh, flopping back against the booth. “Okay, enough about feeding each other. We get it. You guys have basic teamwork skills.”
Geto, completely unfazed, turned to him with a lazy grin. “You jealous, Satoru?”
Shoko bit back a laugh.
Gojo rolled his eyes. “Me? Jealous? Of you?” He let out a loud, exaggerated laugh before immediately turning to you. “Hey. You wanna try my ramen?”
You gave him a flat look. “Gojo, you got the most boring option on the menu.”
Gojo gasped. “Excuse me? Classic shoyu ramen is a timeless masterpiece.”
Geto chuckled, watching the exchange with amusement. “Yeah, nothing says excitement like a safe choice.”
Gojo pointed a dramatic finger at him. “I don’t need your judgment, Suguru.”
“Not jealous,” he muttered. “Just… not that hungry anymore.”
Shoko raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.
You, however, nudged his arm lightly. “Gojo, you literally ordered the biggest bowl on the menu.”
He glanced at you, blue eyes flickering with something unreadable for a second before he shrugged. “Guess my appetite’s smaller than I thought.”
Lies.
Gojo always ate like he had a bottomless pit for a stomach. But tonight, the food tasted a little bland.
Geto leaned back in his seat, watching him carefully. He didn’t say anything, but the way his fingers tapped lightly against the table made it clear he noticed the shift.
For the rest of the meal, Gojo stayed a little quieter than usual, only half-listening as you and Geto talked. He didn’t make a fuss. Didn’t push the usual playful banter. But every now and then, his gaze would flicker toward Geto, then back to you. And for the first time in a long time, he wondered if maybe, just maybe, He was already too late.
Geto just smiled, relaxed and confident as ever. He didn’t need to gloat, Gojo was already riled up enough for the both of them.
Across the table, Shoko stretched her arms over her head, looking just about done with the two of them. “Alright, children. Eat your food before the shop kicks us out.”
Gojo grumbled under his breath before finally taking an actual bite of his ramen. But as he chewed, he glanced at Geto, then at you, and then back at Geto. He didn’t say anything. But in the back of his mind, he was already planning his next move.
——
The streets were quieter now, the distant hum of the city fading as the four of you made your way back to Jujutsu High. The crisp night air nipped at your skin, but the warmth of the ramen shop still clung to you, the scent of broth and grilled meat lingering in your clothes.
It should have been a perfect night. A rare one, even. Just the four of you, no missions, no training, no looming sense of responsibility. But despite the easy conversation and the comfortable rhythm of your walk, something felt… off. Or maybe different was the better word.
You weren’t sure when you started noticing it. Maybe it was back at the ramen shop, or maybe even earlier at the arcade, but the feeling had been creeping up on you all night, just subtle enough to ignore, until now.
Geto had always been smooth. Confident in a way that never felt overdone, just natural. He had a way of making things seem effortless, like he wasn’t even trying. But tonight, there was something pointed about it. The way he leaned in just a little closer, the way he found reasons to keep the conversation between just the two of you, the way his gaze lingered a second too long.
And then there was Gojo. Normally, he’d be the loudest one here, cracking jokes, making everything a competition, dragging all the attention toward himself like it was second nature. But tonight?
Tonight, he’d been different too.
Quieter. A little distant. He still teased, still complained, but there was something off about it. Like his heart wasn’t really in it.
You stole a glance back at him. He was trailing just a step behind, hands buried deep in his pockets, his usual long strides feeling slower, heavier. His shoulders were set, his jaw tight—like he was thinking too hard about something he didn’t want to say. It made something in your chest twist.
“Cold?”
You blinked, snapping out of your thoughts. Geto’s voice was low, even, pulling you back to the present.
“Huh?”
“It’s chilly,” he said, already shrugging off his jacket. “Here.”
“Oh, I’m fine—”
“Just take it.” His tone left little room for argument as he draped the jacket over your shoulders before you could protest, his fingers grazing lightly against your collarbone. Your breath hitched. Geto was always like this, thoughtful in a way that felt effortless, like he didn’t even have to think about it you try to rationalize to yourself.
“…Thanks,” you murmured, fingers instinctively curling around the fabric.
He smiled, shoving his hands into his pockets as he kept walking beside you. His pace was steady, close but not too close, just enough that your arms brushed every now and then—not quite accidental, but not completely intentional either.
It was the kind of thing you probably wouldn’t have thought twice about—if it weren’t for the way Gojo had gone completely silent behind you.
You glanced back again.
Gojo’s expression was unreadable, his lips pressed into a thin line. He was still fidgeting with the plush keychain you’d won for him earlier, rolling it between his fingers, his grip just a little too tight. Something about the sight made your stomach sink.
“Shortcut?”
Shoko’s voice broke the tension, casual and lazy as she stretched her arms over her head.
Gojo barely hesitated. “Yeah, same.” His voice was flat.
You blinked. “Shortcut?”
Shoko gestured to a narrow side path. “Cuts the walk down. Bit of an uphill climb, but faster.”
“But it sucks,” Geto pointed out, unimpressed. “Too steep.”
She shrugged. “Worth it.” Then she turned to you and Geto, smirking. “Guess you two are taking the scenic route, huh?”
Your face immediately went warm. “That’s not—”
“Later,” she cut you off with a lazy wave, already tugging Gojo along.
You barely caught a glimpse of his face before he turned away. But for a second. Just a second. his eyes flickered toward you, something unreadable behind them. Like he wanted to say something. But he didn’t.
Instead, he let himself be pulled along, following Shoko without another word. Just the Two of You. The silence left in their absence felt heavier than it should have.
“Guess it’s just us,” Geto said lightly, casting a glance at you.
You huffed, still flustered. “Shoko says stuff just to mess with people, you know.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah. But… she’s usually not wrong.”
Your stomach did a weird little flip.
“What?” you blurted out, a little too quick.
Geto didn’t answer right away. He just smiled to himself, looking ahead like he knew something you didn’t. Your thoughts tangled together, a mess of contradictions. Gojo had been off tonight. And Geto was acting just different enough that you couldn’t ignore it.
It made something in your chest tighten. They were your friends. You weren’t supposed to overthink things like this. But something was changing. And you didn’t know how to feel about it.
The rhythmic sound of your footsteps filled the silence between you. The campus was still a ways off, the path stretching ahead of you under the glow of streetlights. “…Did you have fun tonight?” Geto’s voice was softer now, lacking his usual teasing edge.
You hesitated. “…Yeah. Did you?”
He nodded, his gaze lingering on you. “More than I expected to.”
There was something about the way he said it that made your pulse jump.
You looked away, focusing on the ground ahead of you. “…You want this back?” you asked, shifting under the weight of his jacket.
He shook his head easily. “Nah. Looks better on you.”
Your face felt warm despite the cool air.
“So,” Geto broke the quiet, hands still stuffed in his pockets. “You really gonna make me carry this whole conversation by myself?”
You shot him a look. “You’re the one who insists on talking all the time.”
He grinned. “Well, yeah. Someone’s gotta keep things interesting.”
You scoffed. “Oh, right. Because I’m just so boring.”
“Didn’t say that.” His tone was teasing, but his gaze flickered over to you with something unreadable. “Just quiet.”
You huffed. “I can be fun.”
“Oh?” He raised a brow, intrigued. “Prove it.”
You squinted at him. “What, you want me to juggle or something?”
“That’d be a start.”
You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t stop the smile tugging at your lips. “Fine. Uh… okay, did I ever tell you about the time I completely humiliated myself in front of Mei Mei?”
His eyes lit up. “No, but I already know this is gonna be good.”
You groaned, shaking your head. “It was awful. I was helping her carry some stuff, right? Trying to be useful. But I tripped on absolutely nothing, flailed like a total idiot, and somehow managed to launch her entire stack of training manuals across the courtyard.”
Geto let out a loud laugh. “No way.”
“Oh, it gets worse. Instead of, I don’t know, getting up with some dignity, I just laid there for a second. Mei Mei didn’t even say anything, she just stared at me like she was trying to figure out if I was a lost cause.”
“That sounds like her.”
“I still don’t know if she was more disappointed or just impressed by how thoroughly I managed to embarrass myself.”
Geto was still grinning. “That’s beautiful. I wish I’d been there.”
“See? I am fun,” you said triumphantly.
He hummed, tilting his head in consideration. “I don’t know. That sounds less like ‘fun’ and more like ‘chronic bad luck.’”
You smacked his arm. “Oh, shut up.”
He just laughed, rubbing the spot like you’d actually hurt him. “Okay, okay. You win. You’re fun.”
“Damn right I am.”
You were both smiling now, the warmth of the moment making the chilly night air feel insignificant.
“…You should laugh more,” he said after a beat, his voice quieter.
You blinked at him. “Huh?”
He shrugged, looking ahead. “Just saying. It suits you.”
Your stomach flipped again, but this time, you didn’t push the feeling away.
Instead, you just shook your head with a soft chuckle. “You really don’t know when to stop, do you?”
“Not a chance.” He flashed you a grin, his steps falling just a little closer to yours.
The rest of the walk was quiet, but not uncomfortable. Just charged in a way you weren’t used to.
By the time you reached the school gates, your thoughts were a mess.
The weight of Geto’s jacket still lingered on your shoulders.
somewhere in the back of your mind, Gojo’s silence stuck with you in a way you didn’t quite understand.Something was changing and you had no idea what to do about it.
The school grounds were quiet at this hour, the faint hum of the cicadas in the trees the only sound filling the night air. Most of the students had long since gone to sleep, the dorms dark and still, but you and Geto lingered by the entrance, neither of you quite ready to part ways just yet.
You shifted the jacket draped over your shoulders, acutely aware of its warmth, of the faint scent of Geto’s cologne still clinging to the fabric.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Geto’s voice broke the silence, amused.
You blinked, glancing at him. “Huh?”
He smirked. “You get this little crease in your brow when you’re overthinking something.”
You scoffed, crossing your arms. “I do not.”
“You do,” he insisted, tapping a finger to your forehead in demonstration. “Right here. Deep in thought. Probably overanalyzing everything that happened tonight.”
Your stomach flipped.
You were overthinking it. Overthinking him. Overthinking Gojo, and the weird tension that had lingered between the three of you all night. Geto must have noticed the way your expression shifted, because his smirk softened.
“…You good?” he asked, quieter now.
You hesitated.
You could play it off, pretend everything was fine. But part of you, maybe the part still rattled by the way tonight felt different, didn’t want to.
“…Do you think Gojo’s mad at me?” The words slipped out before you could second guess
them. Geto’s expression didn’t change, but you noticed the way his fingers twitched at his sides.
“No,” he said simply.
You frowned. “Then why was he acting so weird?”
Geto exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “You’ll have to ask him that yourself.”
You huffed. “That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one I can give you,” Geto said, looking at you now, gaze steady. “Whatever’s going on with Gojo, it’s not my place to say.”
That definitely meant something.
You stared at him, searching for some kind of hint, but Geto just smiled, unreadable as ever.
Before you could press further, a voice cut through the quiet.
“You guys are still out here?”
You turned, and there he was Gojo, standing a few feet away, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his uniform. He must have circled back at some point, because Shoko was nowhere to be seen.
For a split second, his gaze flickered to the jacket on your shoulders. His fingers tightened around the plush keychain in his hand.
“…You took a while ?” he asked, voice light, but there was something off about it.
You swallowed. “Uh. No. We just walked and talked.”
Gojo nodded, like that answer was expected, but the sharp edge in his expression didn’t ease.
“You didn’t have to wait up for me,” you said, attempting to ignore the strange tension between the three of you.
Gojo just shrugged, rocking back on his heels. “Yeah, well. I was gonna be real mad if you got kidnapped before I had the chance to make fun of you tomorrow.”
You rolled your eyes. “Touching.”
But there was something about the way he said it that made your chest feel tight.
The three of you stood there for a moment, the silence thick between you and then Geto, ever the smooth one, clapped his hands together. “Well. It’s late,” he said easily. “We should probably get inside before Yaga yells at us.”
You nodded, suddenly feeling exhausted.
Gojo said nothing. Geto turned toward the dorms, his stride unhurried. But just before he walked past Gojo, he slowed just enough to murmur something under his breath.
You didn’t catch it. But whatever it was made Gojo’s jaw tighten. You hesitated, glancing between the two of them. You could feel whatever was happening here, unspoken and heavy, and it made something in you twist.
“…Night,” you said finally, the weight of the day settling over you.
Geto smiled, easy and warm. “Night.”
Gojo just nodded, but his usual smirk was nowhere to be found. You weren’t sure what to make of that. As you finally turned to head inside, the weight of Geto’s jacket still on your shoulders, you had the distinct feeling that tonight had changed something.
.
.
Geto: I like your laugh😽
You: Chat is this rizz !?!
Geto: you just ruined it
Geto: we were having a moment
You: Chat am I cooked?
Geto: WHO ARE YOU TALKING TOO RIGHT NOW
You: chat clip that
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🫧𓇼𓏲*ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐
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Gojo: can i try rizzing you up
You: sure
Gojo : PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
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Taglist: @inthedarkshadows000
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Batfamily X Batmom! Reader
I feel like Tim has very little love. So how does he feel in a family thats so weird?
masterlist
Timmy timothy tim likes to journal his problems
ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ Journal entry- Shes always there. Written from the point of view of Tim Drake. In Tim Drakes Journal. Which Is my journal… Tim Drake… because it’s my journal?
When people think of Bruce Wayne, they think of Gotham’s crowned prince brooding, rich, charming in a suit. Maybe they even think of Batman if you’re one of the few people that actually know him, the knight in Kevlar, Gotham’s relentless protector. They forget, more often than not, that behind the cowl is just a guy made of jagged edges. The kind that can cut even the people he cares about most.
But her?
She was warmth. A reporter with fire in her blood and sharp questions at her lips. That’s how Bruce met her chasing down a story she didn’t know he was part of yet. She wasn’t intimidated by his name or the shadows that followed him. And when she found out he was Batman, she didn’t run. She pivoted. She didn’t want to be used by the Gotham Gazette to milk a headline about their relationship. So she left. Started something new. Told the stories of villains not to glorify them, but to show their truth. The people they used to be. The cracks that made them break. That was her power.
I didn’t meet her until later, of course. But I always knew of her. I still stayed with my parents at the time and since she stayed at the mansion i never really saw her. she was the one everyone talked about. Not just in passing, but with reverence. Even Bruce, in his own quiet way, would drop her name like it meant safety. And to Dick and Jason? She wasn’t just a stepmom, or “Bruce’s wife.” She was Mom.
Dick talks about her like she’s the sun. When he visits he always visits, at least once a week no matter where he is you can see it. How his whole face lights up just stepping into the manor and hearing her voice from the kitchen. You’d think he was back in the circus and just found his net again.
“She used to stay up for me, no matter what time patrol ended,” he told me once. “I’d come in through the balcony, boots muddy, bruised up, sometimes bleeding and she’d be in the kitchen heating soup. Always that look on her face like I’d just come back from war. Never lectured me like Bruce. Never told me to be more careful. Just… held me. Like that fixed everything.”
Dick never stopped calling her “Mom.” Not even during the rough years when Bruce pushed him too hard. Not when he moved out. Not when the Batcave felt colder than the Gotham River in winter. If anything, she was the reason he kept coming back.
When she got that small publishing deal to write about Harvey Dent’s past, Dick flew back from Blüdhaven just to take her out to dinner. No press, no big celebration. Just a booth by the window at her favorite Thai place and a bouquet that barely fit through the door. He said he owed her everything. “I don’t care if I’m not hers by blood,” he told me once. “That woman taught me how to hold on to who I am, even when everything else was falling apart.”
Then theres my other older brother. Jason’s love is different. It’s quieter.
Harder to see unless you’re looking close. He’s not good at the soft stuff. Not anymore. But with her, he tries. He never says “I love you.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard the words leave his mouth. But he’s always fixing stuff around her house. Not the manor her place, the little brownstone Bruce bought her because she hated the echo of the mansion. The place with the bookshelf she filled herself, the mismatched mugs, the heavy desk where she does her interviews. Jason comes by when she’s out running errands. Patches the leaky sink. Replaces the light in the hallway. Leaves a bag of her favorite tea on the counter. No note. No credit. But she always knows it’s him.
“She used to sit on the fire escape with me,” he told me once, when we were staking out some arms deal in the Narrows. “I’d be pissed off at Bruce, just raging. And she’d just sit there. Didn’t ask questions. Didn’t talk me out of it. Just sat and sometimes smoked a cigarette. One time I cried. Don’t remember why. But she didn’t flinch. Just put her hand on my back. Stayed until I fell asleep.”
He’d die before saying it out loud, but I think in a way… he’s more hers than he ever was Bruce’s. And when he came back when he was the Red Hood and he was full of grief and rage and bullets she was the only one who hugged him. Everyone else flinched. Even Bruce. But she opened the door, saw what he’d become, and said, “You look like hell, baby. Come inside.” And he did.
I remember the first time I met her. Bruce had just taken me in. I was still flinching every time he walked into the room, still unsure if I belonged in this broken, stitched up family. And then she walked in breezy and fierce, like she’d just come off a battlefield with coffee in one hand and her phone in the other. “You must be Tim,” she said, giving me a once over like she could see right through to my spine. “You eat?”
I hadn’t. She fixed a plate, sat with me, asked me about everything except my parents. I had just lost them at the time and that’s when I got it. Why Dick lights up around her. Why Jason will move heaven and earth to fix her sink. She’s home. Not the kind with walls and Wi-Fi. The kind with presence. With knowing how to say just the right thing without ever saying too much. With safety, and warmth, and late night soup and hair ruffles and sitting on fire escapes even when the kid next to you’s got blood on his boots. I think that’s why even Bruce… softens around her. She’s the one person who makes him feel safe.
When she got her first daughter, you can tell something changed in her. Cass didn’t talk much. Not in the early days. She was quiet in the way shadows were quiet always there, always watching, always slipping through cracks without a sound. Most people assumed she just didn’t want to talk. Or couldn’t. But I saw it different.
Cass spoke just not with her mouth. She spoke with her hands, her eyes, the way she’d tense or soften when you entered a room. But with her? With Mom?
Cass bloomed.
She’d lean on her shoulder when they sat on the couch. She’d grab her hand subtle, small, but full of meaning and lead her to the garden out back just to sit in the sun. I watched Cass laugh once, like actually laugh, cheeks lifted and eyes crinkled. I didn’t even know she could laugh like that. But it was because Mom had made some dumb joke about a rogue penguin at the zoo stealing someone’s purse. Cas used to flinch at affection. Now, she hugged her. Without hesitation. Leaned into her side. Signed things with soft smiles and the rare, quiet “Love you,” if no one else was around. She didn’t even say that to Bruce. Not really. But Mom? Mom got everything.
She knew how to talk to her. Never pressed. Never coddled. Just existed beside her with a kind of understanding that didn’t require words. I think Cass clung to that someone who didn’t need her to be anything but herself. Someone who didn’t treat her like a porcelain weapon. I’d never seen Cass so… safe. So full.
Then there was Damian. God. When Bruce brought him to the manor, I thought maybe we’d finally seen the worst of it. Turns out a ten year old assassin with an ego the size of Arkham was the cherry on top.
From the minute Damian showed up, he was a walking migraine. Arrogant. Condescending. Entitled in the way only someone born and bred to believe they were superior could be. But the worst part? He was cruel to her.
Not in the loud, tantrum way kids can be cruel. No. Damian was sharp. Precise. Calculated. His insults were surgical targeted and clean like a blade to the gut. “I don’t see the point in you,” he said once, arms crossed in the foyer, looking her dead in the eye. “You’re not my mother. You’ll never be her. Father had real women in his life before you.”
It wasn’t the first time he said it. Wouldn’t be the last. she….God, she just took it. Not because she agreed. Not because she was weak. But because that’s who she is. She let him be angry. Let him lash out. Let him burn himself on her because she knew what was underneath it all. But I saw it. I saw the way her shoulders slumped when she turned away. The way she stirred her tea a little too long in the kitchen. The way she lingered in front of Bruce’s old pictures of Talia that he put up for Damien. didn’t touch them, didn’t say anything, but looked like someone standing in a war zone, wondering if the ruins were prettier than she’d ever be. She never said it aloud. Never asked if she measured up. But we all knew the weight she carried. Bruce’s past wasn’t just shadows it was legacies. Legacies she was never meant to compete with. And Damian made sure she felt that.
I don’t know when that started to change. Maybe when she helped patch him up after his first solo patrol and didn’t say a word about the busted ribs. Maybe when she sat in the library and helped him with his handwriting because even deadly assassins have messy cursive. Or maybe it was when she found his sketchbook. hid it from everyone else, never mentioned it, just left him new pencils on his desk with a quiet, “You’re very talented.”
He stopped being so sharp after that. Still rude. Still Damian. But less… venomous. Like the poison had burned itself out and he was left kind of confused by the fact that she was still there. Because she always was. For all of us.
And then there’s me. The extra. The late one. I was never brought in because Bruce wanted to be a father. I was brought in because I figured out his secrets and then wormed my way into the cave, into the suit, into the family. I don’t know if I was ever really meant to be here. Not the way the others were. Me? I had parents. Not great ones. But they were there… until they weren’t. I didn’t grow up in an alley, or a pit, or the League. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why I feel so… replaceable. But she never made me feel that way. She saw me. She knew I overworked myself. Knew I never slept. Knew I spiraled when I wasn’t useful. And instead of pushing me to be better or telling me to slow down, she just… met me where I was. Once, I found a note in my backpack. Folded between mission plans.
“Youre the most amazing boy that i know, You my boy are going to do amazing things. I love you so much!!”
I never told her I found it. But I kept it. Still have it, tucked into my journal like armor.
I don’t know if any of us would’ve survived this family without her. Bruce taught us how to fight. How to fall and get back up. But she taught us how to rest. How to breathe. How to love without blood and history binding us. She fixed all of us. Bit by bit. Even when we didn’t know we were breaking. I don’t feel broken enough to deserve that kind of care. But she gave it anyway. Because that’s who she is. Because she was always there.
I heard her once, talking on the phone to someone. Maybe a friend. Maybe a source. “They’re not mine by blood,” she said. “But God help the world if they ever needed me. I’d burn down Gotham to protect any one of them.” That’s when I knew she meant me, too. if I had to tell this story about the Batfamily, about the ones who wear masks and hide pain and throw themselves into the fire night after night I’d start with her. Because Batman might have saved Gotham but she saved us.
ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ
Tim closes the journal with a soft thump, fingers lingering on the worn leather cover. His hand hovers just a second longer before pulling away. The room feels too quiet now like his thoughts are echoing louder without the scratch of his pen to distract him.
He pushes the chair back, the legs creaking on the old hardwood floors, and stands. His back cracks. How long had he been writing? Hours maybe. It’s dark out, the kind of heavy Gotham dark that presses against the windows like it wants in. The manor groans quietly in the silence, pipes murmuring and the wind brushing tree branches against the windows like fingers tapping to be let inside.
He walks out of his room, bare feet soft on the carpet as he pads through the hallway. The air feels heavier at night in the manor. Like all the ghosts that live in the walls are finally breathing.
I turned the corner after walking mindlessly and stared. There you were.
Back facing towards me, wearing one of those oversized, faded shirts Bruce always swore he didn’t miss. Standing in front of the stove, hair pulled up, humming something under your breath as you stirred with a wooden spoon like you were crafting alchemy and not just soup. And beside you, leaning against the counter, arms folded but eyes softer than I’d seen in weeks. Jason. He wasn’t wearing his jacket. Which was rare. His boots were off. Rarer. And he was smiling. Not the cocky half grin he used when he was about to pick a fight, but something quieter. Warmer. Something like a son sitting in the only place in the world where he felt safe.
You said something to him I couldn’t hear what but you reached up on your toes and smoothed his hair out of his eyes like he was five. He rolled his eyes, said something sarcastic, but didn’t pull away. If anything, he leaned into it. that was when Alfred walked by, hands behind his back, chin tilted slightly in amusement as he passed me. “You know the rule, Master Timothy,” he said, low enough not to disturb the moment in the kitchen. “She is the only one allowed in there. The rest of you have forfeited that right after the last… incident.”
I groaned.
“That was Damian’s fault,” I hissed back.
He raised a brow. “Was it Damian’s idea to flambé a Pop Tart?”
“Okay. Fine. That part might’ve been me.”
It was one of our dumbest ideas maybe not the dumbest, but it’s a crowded race. It started with a challenge. Damian, fresh off a smug streak and newly obsessed with culinary documentaries, claimed that my “American palate” had “eroded my taste and motor skills.” I told him I could cook circles around him. Neither of us could cook.
It escalated quickly. An Iron Chef style duel. Secret ingredient: eggs. Only, I dropped mine. Three times. Damian misread the baking powder as flour. Then I panicked and tried to “smoke” the scrambled eggs for flavor using a packet of incense from the guest room and a lighter.
Within ten minutes, the fire alarm was going off, Alfred had activated the emergency sprinklers, and the kitchen looked like something between a crime scene and a culinary apocalypse. Mom was the one to find us.
Standing soaked, flour covered, blinking through smoke. Damian holding a spatula like a sword. Me covered in what I hoped was yolk. You didn’t yell. That’s the worst part. You just… looked at us. Long and hard. Then let out a breath, pinched the bridge of your nose, and said, “Alfred, I assume this is why you told me to ban them from the kitchen.”
“Indeed, madam,” he replied grimly.
And that was that. Kitchen rights revoked. Except for you. Always you.
Now I stood there in the hallway, watching you and Jason from the doorway, unseen. He was telling you about something he saw on patrol a gang trying to smuggle rare books, of all things. You were laughing, that full body laugh that makes your shoulders shake and your eyes close, like the world could still be beautiful if you just tried hard enough. And Jason?
He was drinking it in. Like he’d been starved of this kind of love for years. Ever since he came back, you were different around him. Not overly careful like Bruce. Not tense like some of us had been. You just loved him. Loudly. Freely. kisses to the temple, touching his shoulders like you had to convince yourself he was still solid. Like you had to remind him that he was still wanted. Jason never said it but he melted under it. His edges dulled. His anger slipped. When you held him, when you gave him that smile that said “you’re home,” he softened. He belonged.
I swallowed hard. Stepped back, just a bit. Let the shadows take me. Because I’d never had that. Not in the same way. You loved me I knew that. But it wasn’t the same kind of fierce, smothering love. And maybe that was fair. I wasn’t broken in the way Jason was. Not born in blood like Damian. Not carved out of grief like Dick. Not silenced like Cass.
I was just… me. Smart. Quiet. Stable, mostly. I’d always felt like a thread sewn into someone else’s tapestry. Useful. Strong, even. But not the reason anyone stayed warm. in moments like this seeing Jason melt under your hands, seeing you pour every ounce of your soul into making him feel alive I couldn’t help but wonder if I was ever going to fit here. So I stepped away from the kitchen door.
ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ
The house was quiet again. The kind of quiet that only happens after everyone’s gone to bed or pretended to. I was curled up in the corner of the library, one leg slung over the arm of the chair, a thick old book cracked open across my lap. It wasn’t for patrol or mission planning. Just something to read. Something to fill the quiet so I didn’t have to think too much.
It was peaceful, until muffled voices filled the room. I blinked, tilting my head just enough to catch the low murmur threading in from the hallway. At first, I thought maybe Bruce had wandered into the Batcave again, but then I heard my moms voice. Whispering like someone trying not to wake a sleeping baby. Bruce responded, and you both laughed, low and secretive. I rolled my eyes and went back to my page.
I stopped caring about that kind of thing a long time ago. You and Bruce were always, in a word, gross about each other. Not the clingy, PDA gross… well yes the clingy PDA way but the kind where he’d brush your cheek mid conversation like it was instinct. Or the way you’d make him coffee without asking, and he’d pass you reports to look at because he trusted your opinion more than the board’s. It was… sincere. Intimate. Kind of annoying, honestly, when you were trying to eat cereal and Bruce kissed your temple like it was some kind of reflex.
But it was comforting too. Something solid. I was just starting to lose myself in the book again when
“Boo.”
“GAH!”
I launched the book about a foot into the air and nearly twisted my entire spine trying to figure out what demon had possessed the room. My heart rocketed into my throat as I whipped around, hand halfway to a batarang that wasn’t even on me. You stood there, grinning ear to ear.
“Tim,” you cooed, covering your mouth to stifle a laugh, “you should’ve seen your face oh my god, I think you levitated.”
“I almost hit you with Tolstoy!” I hissed, breath still catching up to my body. “Don’t sneak up on a guy in this house! I was ready to throw hands with a ghost.”
“Well,” you teased, “if it was a ghost, you’d be the only one I’d trust to outsmart it.”
I gave you a flat look, still massaging my neck. You sobered a little, stepping forward and tapping the top of my head gently. “Come on, kiddo. There’s something we want to show you. In the dining room.”
I blinked. “We?”
“I’m here too,” came Bruce’s voice from the hallway, in that terrible deep gravel whisper he clearly thought was somehow sneaky. You and I both turned to look at him as he peeked around the corner, trying very hard and failing to look inconspicuous.
I squinted at him. “What are you doing?”
“Nothing,” he said too quickly.
You sighed and gently smacked his chest. “Why are you like this?”
“I’m building intrigue,” Bruce said with what I assumed was supposed to be a straight face. “It’s part of the plan”
“You’re ruining the surprise,” you whispered, dragging a hand down your face.
“There’s a surprise?” I asked slowly, eyes darting between the two of you.
Bruce’s expression didn’t change, but I could see the micro tension in his brow. He was lying. For the world’s greatest detective, the man couldn’t lie to his children to save his life. Every time he tried, he got this weird stiffness, like someone who’d never used human emotions before. You groaned again and took my wrist gently. “Come on. Just come to the dining room. Please?”
I stood up slowly, abandoning my book on the chair. “What’s going on?” I asked again, warier now. “Is this, like… an intervention? Did Damian break into the Tower again?”
“Nope.”
“Did Jason get arrested for vigilante loitering?”
“Not this week.”
“Are you going to make me touch grass?”
You snorted. “God, no.”
I sighed. “Alright. But if this is a trap, I want it on record that i died saying my parents were weird.”
Bruce just grunted. So I followed them. These two weird, overly affectionate, semi cryptic parents of mine one with crows’ feet from smiling too much and the other still pretending he didn’t smile at all. Down the hallway. Toward the dining room. Still completely, utterly confused.
The hallway to the dining room wasn’t long. It just felt long. Partially because Bruce was still trying to act like this wasn’t suspicious at all, and you kept elbowing him in the ribs every few steps. Partially because my nerves were starting to twitch under my skin. mostly because I could hear whisper yelling coming from the dining room.
“I said put the banner up, not strangle the chandelier with it!”
“That wasn’t me! It was Damian! He climbed up there!”
“I was fixing your poor attempt at symmetry, Grayson!”
“Why is the pie we made lopsided Jason what did you do to the pie?”
“It’s good. Shut up.”
“You burned it.”
“I call it caramelized flavor.”
“…It smells like regret.”
“Can someone…. Cass, what are you doing with the glitter glue?!”
“Decoration.”
I paused just outside the door and looked up at Bruce and you with raised eyebrows. You just smiled softly and gave a little shrug, while Bruce tried to maintain whatever shred of dignity he had left. It wasn’t working.
You both looked so stupidly in love standing like that his arm around your waist, yours looped casually around his. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like this was normal. Like this whatever chaos was waiting behind the doors was ours.
Bruce leaned in toward the doorframe like he was assessing a mission room, and I swear I saw his eye twitch.
“I gave them very simple instructions,” he muttered.
You patted his chest. “Your children are as smart and emotionally constipated as their dad”
The door swung open before anyone could knock. Dick stood there with his usual too big grin and remnants of glitter on his cheek like war paint. “Timmy! You’re late to your own surprise party!”
“It’s not my birthday?”
“Not that kind of surprise party!” he said, reaching out to drag me in with too much enthusiasm. “It’s Appreciation Day!”
“That’s… not a real holiday.”
“Sure it is,” said Jason, appearing from behind a mess of mismatched plates and aluminum foil wrapped disasters. “We just made it real. Sit down, Nerd Boy.”
Cass waved from the head of the table with a little toothy smile. Damian was on a chair next to her, arms crossed, already pouting like he hadn’t been helping just ten minutes ago.
The table was atrocious like someone had thrown a home economics final exam and a kindergarten arts and crafts project into a blender. The centerpiece was a crooked sign that said “WE APPRECIATE YOU” in bold, messy handwriting (clearly Dick’s). There was glitter on everything. The cups didn’t match. The pie looked like it’d been in a fight. it was perfect. All of it.
Dishes were stacked, uneven and mismatched. Cookies were slightly burnt on one side. Jason’s so called “caramelized” pie was visibly cracked. Cass had made what looked like finger sandwiches shaped into little bats. Even Damian had contributed begrudgingly with a plate of sliced fruit that had been carved into vaguely threatening shapes.
And in the middle of it all was a small card in your handwriting.
Tim,
We know things have been hard.
We know it sometimes feels like you’re overlooked.
But you’re not. Not here.
You’re brilliant. You’re loved. You’re ours.
Love,
Your Family (a bunch of idiots, but yours)
I couldn’t speak. Not really. Because what was there to say? This… this wasn’t some big show. It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t perfect. But it was real. it was for me. I glanced down the table.
Dick was beaming and already scooting over to make room for me. Jason was pretending not to look at me too hard, but his expression was softer than usual. Cass gave me a small nod, the kind that said more than words. Damian looked away when our eyes met but I could see the tiniest hint of awkward approval in the way he pushed a napkin toward the empty seat beside him. I took it. Quietly. Still blinking a little too fast. I didn’t cry. I didn’t. But I felt it thick in my chest. That weight. That feeling. Because my biological parents had never done anything like this. They didn’t see me, not really. I was a project. A prodigy. An obligation. But you and Bruce, in his awkward gruff way you saw me. You made this happen. I looked up once more and saw you and Bruce still standing near the door. Arms still around each other. Watching. Bruce’s eyes met mine. He gave the smallest nod. You just smiled. I mattered here. not always loudly. not in the same way the others did. But I mattered. And this this was home.
Hizashi Yamada X Reader Drabble/Crack
masterlist
a student calls you mom
·+̊🖇️✩ +̊🎧⊹♡ Setting up for Hizashi’s English class was something you did often as his TA, but today, you felt particularly playful. The classroom was empty, the morning sunlight casting golden rays through the windows as you arranged papers on his desk. Hizashi stood near the whiteboard, adjusting the projector settings, his glasses slipping slightly down his nose.
“You know, Y/N,” Hizashi mused, tapping at the keyboard, “I think these kids would riot if they knew how excited I was for today’s lesson.”
You chuckled, glancing over the syllabus. “They always riot when it comes to English.”
You smirked, stepping closer until you were right behind him. Your fingers ghosted over the fabric of his vest as you leaned in, breath warm against his ear.
“Oh, they always riot when it comes to english,” you murmured, voice dripping with mischief. “But lucky for you, I’m here. and the faster this lesson goes means we can finally have some… fun.”
Hizashi stiffened for half a second before he turned to you, eyes slightly wide behind his glasses. His ears, hidden beneath his wild blond hair, were definitely burning red. “Oh? Is that so?” His voice cracked just a little, and you bit your lip to hold back a laugh.
Before he could recover, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. The door swung open as students began filtering in, chatting amongst themselves. You took a casual step back, arms crossed, watching as Hizashi cleared his throat, adjusting his collar as if it would help hide his flustered expression.
“ALRIGHT, CLASS! LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!” he boomed, though you could hear the slight edge in his voice.
A collective groan cut him off.
“Not English…” one student muttered, resting their forehead against the desk.
Another let out a dramatic sigh. “Why do we even need to learn this? Can’t we just use our quirks in other countries and let a translator handle it?”
You smirked, stepping forward. “Actually, no. A lot of hero agencies overseas require their heroes to have at least basic conversational skills in English. And trust me, you don’t want to be that one hero who has no idea what’s going on in a mission briefing.”
A few students exchanged glances, though the enthusiasm was still lacking.
Hizashi nodded. “Yeah! Plus, how are you gonna do interviews with foreign news outlets if ya don’t know what they’re askin’?”
“That’s what subtitles are for,” a student shot back, earning a few chuckles.
You sighed, shaking your head. “Look, I get it. English can be frustrating. But it’s not impossible. And since I actually spent time in America, I know the best ways to help you guys get comfortable with it.”
One student perked up. “You were in America?”
You nodded. “Yeah. A few months, actually. Lived there, worked there, and had to use English every single day. Trust me, I made all the mistakes you could possibly make, so I know exactly what you’re struggling with.”
“Wait… So you were, like, an American hero?”
“Not exactly,” you admitted. “More like I was there for a temporary collaboration. But I did patrols, worked with some American heroes, and had to communicate with civilians. So if you want to hear some embarrassing stories about me messing up English in public, now’s your chance.”
That seemed to spark some interest.
“Did you ever say something really bad by accident?”
“Oh, definitely.” You smirked, crossing your arms. “I once tried to compliment someone’s shirt and accidentally told them they looked like a banana.”
A few students laughed. Even Hizashi chuckled beside you.
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” he said, gesturing dramatically. “Language isn’t just about books and testsit’s about communication! And sometimes, communication is messy, but that’s how ya learn!”
The class groaned again, but at least this time, it was with less resistance.
You smirked. “Alright, let’s start simple. Let’s go around and have everyone introduce themselves in English. Just a basic ‘Hi, my name is ____, and my quirk is ____.’”
The students groaned again, but one by one, they hesitantly began their introductions, stumbling over words and laughing at their own mistakes. You and Hizashi guided them through the pronunciations, offering encouragement where needed.
Midway through the lesson, as you walked between desks helping students with their pronunciation, a sleepy voice mumbled, “Mom, how do you say ‘speed boost’ in English?”
Silence.
You blinked, turning slowly toward the student who had spoken. The entire class went dead quiet as the realization hit them. The student, wide eyed with horror, turned an impossible shade of red.
“I I mean uh” They clamped their hands over their mouth, mortified.
The room erupted into laughter. Even Hizashi doubled over, his laughter echoing through the classroom. You couldn’t help but smirk, arms crossed as you arched an eyebrow.
“Well,” you said, grinning, “at least you said it in English.”
·+̊🖇️✩ +̊🎧⊹♡
The final bell rang, signaling the end of class. Students packed up their things, still chuckling over the earlier slip up. The poor student who had accidentally called you “mom” had bolted out of the room the second they could, face burning red. You were still amused by it, though.
“Alright, see ya next class!” Hizashi called after the last few students, waving as they shuffled out the door.
Once the room was empty, you sighed, stretching your arms over your head. “Whew. That went better than expected.”
“Oh yeah?” Hizashi drawled, turning toward you with a mischievous glint in his eye. “You sure about that, Mommy?”
You froze. Then you turned to him slowly, narrowing your eyes. “…What did you just say?”
He grinned, far too pleased with himself. “What? I’m just embracing my student’s interpretation of our dynamic! I mean, you are helpin’ me teach, you keep ‘em in check feels pretty parental to me!” He stroked his chin dramatically. “Maybe I should start callin’ ya that more often”
You smacked his arm firm, but playful.
“OW!” He laughed, rubbing the spot where you hit him. “What?! It’s a term of endearment!”
You shook your head, grinning. “Oh, you think you’re funny, huh?”
“I know I’m funny.”
You crossed your arms, smirking. “Well… I could be a mommy.”
Silence.
Hizashi just stood there.
His expression froze completely like his brain had just cut out. He wasn’t even blinking, just staring at you with his mouth slightly open.
You bit back a laugh at the way his mind was clearly racing at a million miles per hour.
And then, just to mess with him even more, you leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips before pulling away and sauntering toward the door. “See you later, Daddy.”
You barely made it out of the room before he exploded.
“WH WAIT! HEY! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”
You laughed as he stumbled after you, his voice rising in sheer panic and excitement.
“Babe, hold on WAIT A MINUTE” He caught up, following you into the hallway. “Are you just messin’ with me, or ? ‘Cause, like, if you’re serious”
You threw him a teasing look over your shoulder. “What? You want to make me a mom right now?”
His face went completely red, but his determination didn’t waver. “I MEAN IF YOU’RE DOWN I’M JUST SAYIN’”
You only laughed harder, enjoying how flustered he was. you had no doubt this is going to be a topic of discussion when you get home today.
i genuinely think one of the things that contributed to the rise of anti-intellectualism is when leftists started conflating characters in a book being sexist, racist etc. with the book itself, or the author, being sexist or racist or possessing any other type of prejudice that they wrote into the book. and then one step further, accusing anyone who reads such a book of having those opinions as well lol. toddler-level media criticism
my best friends reaction to finally listening to joost for the first time PLS
Yuta Okkotsu X Reader [mild crack edition]
Hey guys do you want to see a silly thought that came to mind when I myself am dramatically in love with this character.
Synopsis: Oh my god, Geto just beat you to a pulp! Will you focus on not dying like a normal person, or will you be lame and pathetic and stare at Yuta like he’s the love of your life? (Spoiler: It’s the second one.)
⸜(。˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ The battlefield is in ruins. smoke and dust filling the air, debris scattered across the temple grounds. The echoes of battle still ring in your ears, but your body is too weak to move. You, Maki, Panda, and Inumaki are barely conscious, slumped against the shattered ground, too injured to do anything but watch as Yuta stands alone against Geto.
Your vision blurs from exhaustion, but you can see him, Yuta, battered and bloodied, standing firm with his sword drawn, Rika’s monstrous form looming behind him. He looks nothing like the nervous, flustered boy you once teased during training.
This Yuta is strong. Determined.
“I didn’t realize you were such a womanizer.”
Geto’s mocking tone cuts through the chaos like a blade. Even in your dazed state, you pick up on it.
You blink slowly, trying to focus. What…?
Yuta doesn’t hesitate.
“Don’t be rude,” he says firmly, his voice steady. “This is pure love.”
Your heart stops.
Then it shatters into a million pieces.
Your lip wobbles. Your breath hitches. Tears well up in your eyes faster than you can control.
“Oh my god,” you whisper, voice trembling. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.”
Maki, who is barely holding onto consciousness, cracks open an eye to stare at you. “Are… are you crying right now?”
You are. Fat tears stream down your battered face as you clutch your chest, completely overwhelmed.
“H-He loves her so much,” you hiccup, your body too weak to do anything but sob in place. “I c-can’t— It’s so romantic!”
Panda, equally injured, groans. “Oh no. They’re simping while dying.”
Inumaki, barely breathing, wheezes, “Salmon…”
You ignore them, still crying. “Do you hear the way he said it?! The passion! The devotion! The way he’s fighting for the one he loves!” You sniffle loudly. “I-I think I’m gonna pass out from how beautiful this is.”
Maki lets out a ragged sigh. “You’re already half-dead. Focus.”
But you can’t focus. Not when Yuta is standing there, declaring his love in the middle of battle like the protagonist of the most heart wrenching romance novel you’ve ever read.
You clutch Maki’s sleeve weakly. “I-I know I should be focusing on not dying, but—” Another dramatic sniff. “He’s just so perfect.”
Maki shoves your hand off. “I swear, if you use the last of your energy to think about—”
“It’s too late,” Panda mutters. “They’re already gone.”
You nod, eyes still sparkling with tears. “G-Gone for Yuta Okkotsu.”
Meanwhile, Yuta and Geto are still fighting for their lives. Yuta has no idea you’re in the background, weakly crying over how much you love his love.
Gojo, who has just arrived and is surveying the battlefield, pauses when he hears your quiet sobbing. He turns, looking down at you with mild amusement. “Ah,” he hums, crouching beside your beaten form. “So you’re the dramatic one as always.”
You sniffle again. “Gojo-sensei,” you whisper hoarsely, grabbing onto his sleeve like you’ve just seen heaven. “Have you ever seen love so pure?”
Gojo glances at Yuta, then back at you. His lips curl an amused smirk.
“…Yeah,” he says quietly, his voice softer than usual. “I think I have.”
alternate ending
Gojo glances at geto, then thinks to himself. His lips curl an amused smirk.
“…Yeah,” he says quietly, his voice softer than usual. “I think I have.”
Masterlist~~
𓇢𓆸☾☼ Keigo Takami was dangerously close to losing control. He sat on the edge of the rooftop, wings sprawled lazily behind him, golden eyes scanning the city below without truly seeing it. Patrol had ended an hour ago, but he hadn’t moved, hadn’t taken off into the sky. Instead, he let the silence swallow him whole while the weight in his chest pulsed with every beat of his heart.
He was thinking about you again. Not just thinking. Obsessing. Wanting. Craving.
It wasn’t new not really. You had been his best friend for years now. The only person who truly saw him for who he was beneath the feathers, beneath the smiles and playful banter. You weren’t fooled by his smirks or his cocky remarks.
And he wanted you in every way a man could want someone.
He pressed his fingers to his lips, as if he could trap the thoughts there, keep them from spilling out. But they always found their way back in. Memories of your laugh, your hand brushing his, the way you leaned into him when you were tired. The way you looked at him like you didn’t expect anything more than what he was already giving.
But God, he wanted to give you more.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, wings twitching behind him. “You have no idea,” he muttered to himself.
No idea how he thought about you when he showered, when he lay awake in bed, when he flew above the city. How the ache wasn’t just in his chest but deep, carnal, physical. You’d never touched him like that not even close but his body remembered every innocent brush, every accidental graze of your fingers, every look that lingered a second too long.
He remembered the last time you hugged him. Fully wrapped your arms around him without hesitation.
You were warm. So warm, it branded him. And he wanted to be selfish. Just once.
He wanted to kiss you. Hold you. Lay you down and worship you with every part of himself. He wanted to hear you moan his name like a plea, like he was the only thing in your world that mattered.
His fists clenched.
But he couldn’t. Because he was your best friend. And you trusted him. He’d never risk that. But lately… it was getting harder to pretend. Harder to act like his thoughts didn’t spiral when you smiled at him, when you laughed and leaned your head back like the world couldn’t touch you. Like he was safe in your orbit.
“Fuck,” he whispered to the empty air.
His wings flared slightly behind him, agitated. He was needy pathetically so and it rattled him. You. His best friend and the woman he couldn’t stop imagining underneath him, moaning his name like a prayer.
He exhaled a shaky breath, one hand dragging down his face. His fingers curled tightly in his hair, jaw clenched. It had started innocently enough thinking about your laugh, the way you teased him, the way your eyes sparkled when you talked about something you loved. But lately, that innocent warmth had twisted, melted into something far darker.
Now all he could think about was how soft your lips would feel against his. How your body would arch into his if he finally let himself touch you the way he needed to. Keigo, who wanted to touch the curve of your waist, bury his face in your neck, trace his fingers down your thighs and hear you gasp for him. Keigo, who thought about your lips parting for him, your nails digging into his back, your breath hot against his ear.
He could already feel your thighs wrapped around him in his imagination, could already hear the sounds you’d make soft, desperate, so unlike the friend you were. And he wanted it more than he wanted anything else.
His cock was already hard, straining against the tightness of his pants, and he fucking hated how easy it was to get this way just thinking about you. It didn’t take much just the memory of your legs crossed during a casual conversation, the way your shirt would ride up when you stretched, revealing the tempting curve of your waist.
He leaned back against the cool concrete of the rooftop wall, letting his head fall back with a low groan. “Goddamn it…”
He’d been so careful. So respectful. Always the charming best friend who gave you space, never said too much, never let his touches linger for too long. But he was starving now.
Keigo wanted to taste every inch of you.
He imagined it pulling you onto his lap, letting his hands explore everything he wasn’t allowed to touch. Your thighs spread for him, your breathy moans in his ear as he whispered filthy things you never thought he’d say.
“You don’t know what you do to me… how long I’ve wanted this.”
He’d take his time with you slow, worshipful, but dripping in hunger. He’d kiss down your neck, between your breasts, over your stomach, and lower, until your thighs trembled around his head. He wanted to ruin you with his mouth, over and over, until your voice was hoarse from crying out for him.
His hips shifted as he ground into his palm, teeth gritted. This wasn’t just some passing fantasy. This was a need buried in the deepest parts of him hot, relentless, consuming.
the worst part… You had no idea. You still called him your best friend. Still crashed at his place when you were too tired to go home. Still walked around in those shorts, those oversized shirts with no bra underneath, curling up beside him on the couch like it was nothing.
It wasn’t nothing to him.
Every brush of your fingers set his nerves on fire. Every laugh you shared made his heart ache and his cock twitch.
He wanted to fuck you so deep you’d forget your own name. Wanted to hear you beg wanted to make you feel good, worshiped, ruined. he’d hold back until the day that he dies. Because you trusted him. And he’d never take advantage of that. Never touch you unless you asked him to.
But he was slipping. More and more, his fantasies blurred with reality. He caught himself staring at your lips, imagining how they’d feel wrapped around his cock. He thought about bending you over his kitchen counter when you came over to cook dinner. About tasting you after a long day your sweat, your moans, your pleasure burning into his mouth like a reward.
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath, palming himself through his pants now, just to ease the ache.
His wings twitched behind him as he imagined your voice in his ear.
“Keigo… please…”
Would you say his name like that? Would you beg for him to go deeper? Harder? Would you cry out for him, nails clawing at his back, thighs trembling as he pushed you over the edge again and again?
Would you finally look at him not just as your best friend, but as the man who’s been dying to be inside you? The man who loved you with everything he had?The thought was enough to tip him over, and he hissed your name into the night air, guilt and desire tangled up in his veins like poison.
He stayed there for a while, chest heaving, sweat beading on his brow as the tension drained from him but the ache remained. Because no matter how many times he relieved the pressure, no matter how many times he imagined your hands on him, your mouth, your body it wasn’t enough.
It would never be enough. Because he didn’t want your body for just a night. He wanted to have you consume his entire day, everyday. He wanted you. All of you.
ANIME
JUJUTSU KAISEN
Yuta Okkotsu
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ Pure Love
Jjk Various
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ It Feels Crowded
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ Matching Pyjamas
ONE PIECE
Sanji
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ Oh Bet
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ All too well
Shanks
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ Red Tides and Restless Hearts