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Princess of Gotham

Chapter 19: Coffee with friends

Three alarms went off at 7 o'clock. And five minutes later Jason began to wake up his "beloved" children, who had only slept for three hours. The morning was a little sunnier than usual, although the temperatures were starting to drop. Coffee was the first thing that was ready, neither my brother nor I had our uniforms on properly. Those mornings after patrol were the heaviest, and they were heavier when the nightmares came knocking.

"One of you two should give Tim his thermos, he lent it to me last night and I didn't give it back to him," Jason told us, as he filled the darned thermos with coffee.

"It was either that, or you were planning to steal it from him," I said, looking for a clean spoon in the drawer.

"I won't," James shouted, slamming the refrigerator door and getting an accusatory look from the adult.

"I'll do it, but I can't promise the coffee will make it all the way to the owner," I said, then grabbed a loaf of bread from the bread on the dining room table.

"That's the attitude," Jason said with a huge smile on his face, "Now eat.

Minutes later we were walking towards Gotham Academy. Even though my brother and I already knew the way, Jason insisted on walking with us because he said he had other things to do on the way.

As we reached the school gates, I could see my cousin in the distance, talking to another boy who for some reason looked familiar.

"I want you to go straight to the house when you leave this prison. Keep an eye out, the Joker's helpers are still on the loose and Harley is probably helping him too," Jason whispered. My brother and I entered the luxurious facilities of the school. My brother went straight to his friends while I approached my cousin.

"Jane, you made it. I honestly thought you'd be absent, again," Olive said to me, then gave me one of her warm hugs, "Oh, how rude. Jane, this is Arthur," she introduced, pointing to the boy she was talking to moments before, "He's going to be our new partner. Isn't that exciting?

Arthur. I know an Arthur. But even though some of their physical features were very similar, it was impossible for them to be the same person, and at the same time not so much, there was a reason for shape-shifters and glamour magic. But life had taken care of separating us, leaving more than one person in a deep sadness because of his departure. And me wishing we could meet again to cut his head off.

"A pleasure to meet you, Jane. I hope we can get along well," Arthur greeted. Holding out his hand for me to take. His wrist was surrounded by a bunch of braided threads and pebbles of different shades of green.

"The pleasure is mine." I tried to smile at him, but all I could manage was a weird grimace. I took her hand to give it a light squeeze.

"We should go in soon. Let's take a place near us for Arthur," said an excited Olive, taking us both by the arm and starting to walk.

The three of us entered the school and tried to show Arthur more or less the ways of the school, showing him the shortcuts to more secluded classrooms, until we reached the Math classroom. What a great way to start the week.

I spent the next two hours telling the teacher that what I had in my thermos was water and not coffee. Oh yeah, I was also trying to explain to her why the result was 5 and not -7.89, as she said.

By the time recess came, I had had enough of school and was begging to go home. The thermos was almost empty and at any moment I could run into the owner of the cup.

"Let me understand, you are the granddaughters of the richest man in Gotham," Arthur asked for the fifth time, and in those five times, the answer was the same.

"Not by blood, his adopted children adopted us," Olive answered with a smile, happy to explain the complicated and mysterious family tree of the Wayne family.

When we arrived at the cafeteria the first to approach us was my brother.

"Who is he?" he asked after greeting us, pointing to the new boy. He examined him from head to toe, and I knew from the look on his face that he was thinking the same thing I was thinking when I first saw him: he was a familiar face.

"Arthur. I just arrived today and I'm in the same class as these lovely girls," he replied, extending his left hand, just as he had done to me.

"Nice to meet you." The look on my brother's face was something even Bruce dreaded, for you didn't know for sure if he didn't trust you or was planning how to kill you in three steps.

James didn't take his hand but kept staring at the woven bracelets on his wrist.

The next to join us was Mike Vos, followed by Jared, who simply threw a hello to all of us, no formalities with the new guy.

We sat down together to eat the simple cafeteria food, without making as much fuss as the rest of the rich kids. A few minutes later, Tim came up to us, trying to get away from his overly envious classmates, who mostly had it in for him because he was smart and rich.

"Jane, didn't my brother give you my thermos?" he asked when he was a few steps away from us.

"That's the first time I've heard you tell him, brother," James said before I tossed him the empty glass.

"There's your stupid little cup," I said curtly, hoping he would leave as soon as possible, I still didn't want to talk to him.

"Can we talk?" The question that could break my little peace of mind.

"No." I quickly got up from my place without saying goodbye to anyone, to leave my tray of food in its place and leave the cafeteria. Tim was following me, almost on my heels.

"Please Jane," he kept saying. It got to the point where I got sick of having him behind me and went into the girls' restrooms.

I stayed until almost five minutes after the bell rang to go in. I knew he couldn't risk coming in late, especially if the next class for his group was chemistry.

Today would be a heavy day, and I think I knew why. I was hoping patrol would be a little more, light.

This is the Dumbledore we should've had and we missed:

A Dumbledore that should've been an example and a father figure for the students.

A Dumbledore that fights for the injustice of the Wizarding World. The discrimination against muggleborns. Someone who never lets kids fight a war that isn't up to them. But lets them fight for their rights and their opinions.

Someone that understands kids and teens and their needs according to their age. Someone that has fun when he needs to have fun. And also someone who is an authority and scolds when he needs to scold.

Imagine a Dumbledore that is friends with James Potter and encourages him to change and grow up from his immature self. To realize what it is important in life. To try to gain Lily's love by showing her his true self. Not by showing up.

Imagine Dumbledore being a parent figure for Sirius. Letting him know there is nothing wrong with him if he is different from his family. Being a gay guru for him and helping him realize his feelings for Remus. But making sure he doesn't lose himself for love just like he did for Grindelwald.

And imagine him helping queer youth, because he is queer himself.

Imagine a Dumbledore giving Remus confidence. Letting him know that he is not a monster and he deserves happiness and love. Asking him how he is every month. Inviting him for tea and distracting him around the full moon. And with his power, helping him destroy the prejudices people have of werewolves and doing the impossible to change the law against them.

Imagine a Dumbledore making Peter be more sure of himself. Encouraging him to study, letting him know that he is not stupid, that he just needs a bit more effort to learn. Making sure he is not sad about feeling alone or being scared about the war. Because he is the most vulnerable of the Marauders. Making sure Peter knows his friends love him no matter what.

Imagine a Dumbledore that helps kids that are lost, or are forced to take the wrong side. Not by punishing them but by helping them realize their beliefs are wrong or they are more than their pureblood families. Like Regulus, or Barty.

Imagine a Dumbledore that doesn't discriminates muggleborns. In fact, he gives them more importance and love, to demonstrate that they deserve attention as well. And a Dumbledore that gets angry and wild when an injustice occurs.

Imagine a Dumbledore that is Minnie's best friend. Someone that not only cares for her and the rest of the teachers as staff. But as human beings. Someone that understands their personal problems. Imagine Dumbledore helping Minnie realize she deserves a happy ending as well, no matter how much she had suffered. And how much she had lost. Perhaps helping her encounter her past loves again.

Just imagine Dumbledore going against the Magic Government and annoying parents who want to keep the school a conservative elite pureblood place. But tries to transform it into a respectful school for anyone no matter their blood status or skin color or religion or sexual orientation.

Dumbledore should've been a Godfather that is always for students, teachers and staff no matter what. That helps when he is needed. Someone in who people should trust. Students should've loved him as a father. And Dumbledore should've loved the students as his own kids.

Dumbledore shouldn't have been someone that manipulates people. Not someone that gives a false image of himself. Not a selfish asshole that only thought about winning a war. Not someone that used everyone as a pawn in a larger game.

I think Dumbledore had the potential to be a king, a saviour, a role model, a real hero. But he wasn't. He just tricked everyone but he was a coward.

Princess of Gotham

Chapter 12: Sunday & Moral Codes

I woke up at 11 a.m., completely forgetting Bruce's orders about getting up early. Jason was still beside me, his hand in my hair and snoring. When there was a knock on my door, I couldn't help but startle.

"Jane, is Jason with you?" I heard Dick ask as he knocked on the door.

I got up, uncovering my father to see if he would wake up. I opened the door, still without putting on my glasses, to find a cheerful, yet blurry Richard, holding a small stuffed elephant. Next to him was Titus, with what appeared to be a piece of underwear on his muzzle.

"He's sleeping, do you need anything?" I asked as I rubbed my eye in an attempt to wake me up.

"Yes, I needed my shirt back. And Alfred says to go downstairs for breakfast. Oh and I think Bruce wants to talk to him," he said quickly as he squashed the small stuffed animal against it.

"What's up with your little elephant?" I asked, giggling. I had never seen such an adorable and childish side of Dick before. And I could tell the stuffed animal was old, as it had patches and stitches all over it.

"I've had it since I was a kid, its name is Zitka." He told me, just before Timonthy appeared in the room hallway, "He has your underwear." He said, pointing at Titus.

"Damn dog, give me back my things," Tim shouted, lunging at the dog, who was already starting to run towards the stairs.

The door to my room opened, letting out a sleepless Jason.

"Dick, what happened?" He asked, peacefully to his brother, as he squeezed my shoulders and in the background, I could hear Tim yelling at Titus to give him back his clothes.

"My shirt." Said Richard simply, extending his hand towards us.

"I'll give it to you now," he replied, closing the door to my room and moving into his own, "Darling, go get some breakfast and get your things ready. We leave in the afternoon for our apartment," he said when he reached the beginning of the stairs.

"But I have things to... Forget it." There was no point in replying anymore since he had already disappeared from my sight.

I went down to the dining room to have breakfast, finding Damian, Rai, and Olive, sitting at the huge table.

"What about Assana?" I asked, sitting down in my seat.

"Miss Jernigan left early. She said she had some unfinished business," Alfred reported, handing me an empty cup and saucer to serve my meal.

"The Scarecrow, the Joker, and Slade Wilson. Do you want to give us your opinion about them?" Damian asked after a few minutes of silence, pointing a spoon at me as if it was a microphone, "I mean, it's been a long time since their escapes coincided."

"I think the three of them are idiots," I said, pouring some coffee in my cup, "They deserve to die, but honestly I don't feel like breaking the moral code on which the whole family is based," I began to eat, to see if they would stop bothering me.

Since before I joined the Wayne family and Batman's team, I was already clear about one thing: there would be no more deaths caused by me.

My life was tragic enough without staining my hands with more blood. Bruce already knew that, he was helping me not to cross that line again.

According to him, I was too young to understand what was going on around me. And as much as I hated those three, I had to control myself.

"We're supposed to go with the team at 4: 00pm. And I think Mike and Malowe want us to go on patrol with them," Olive said as she passed me the cajeta. "It's going to be a long day."

Usually, Sundays were the days where you stayed home and enjoyed a healthy family get-together. In this house it was the opposite, those who had apartments in other cities would leave. Bruce would lock himself in his office and work there all day.

"I'll put it in my schedule, thank you very much," I told my cousin, trying to annoy her. "Jason wants us to go to our apartment, but I think in the end he will go with the Outlaws. I don't know, you know how he is with plans.

"Richard is going out with Barbara Gordon," said Olive, totally happy with the news, "Maybe now he will ask her to marry him." She whispered, before putting her glass of juice in her mouth.

"Honestly, I thought Grayson would end up with Starfire," said Timonthy, entering the dining room. Apparently, he was finally able to get his underwear.

"Grayson has had over 10 girlfriends and not one of them has formalized his relationship," Damian said. Also bothering Olive.

"37, I counted them myself. When you want, I'll pass you the list," completed Rai.

"Let me dream in peace," Olive said, annoyed, as she got up from her seat and left the dining room.

"I wonder if everyone in this family is destined to be single," I muttered to myself.

Princess of Gotham

Chapter 21: A Dark Soul

Patrolling that night was heavier than other days. Muggers, vandals, thieves, more of the Joker's helpers, people who for some reason want to look like major league villains.

"I'm surprised the Joker hasn't made an appearance," said Scorpion, who was out patrolling with us that night when we were having refreshments in an alley.

"I'm not surprised, he already knows that Batman is not in charge of us, and at any moment we could attack him together," said Callan, petting her wolf and playing with him.

"Many of his plans take time, remember that time he kidnapped the whole Bat-family and almost killed us?" asked Olive, practicing her javelin throw.

"Traumatic experiences. He left my father in a coma, at least it helped him improve his relationship with Batman. After that, we all thought the Joker was dead and look." I said while fixing my suit with the shadow.

Suddenly a burst of sinister laughter was heard at the bottom of that alley, because of the lack of light no one could distinguish who it was. Those who were seated stood up, immediately becoming alert.

"Come out into the light if you don't want to get hurt," said Scorpion with his bow ready. Callan's wolf began to growl, baring its teeth. Pandora moved into a defensive stance and I took the shadow and began to drag it along the ground.

The laughter grew louder as it got closer to the reflection of the moonlight. For a few moments, I caught a glimpse of a black hand rising right in front of the beam of light. I tried to focus the viewfinder to see if it was holding something in its hand or if it was emanating energy to activate some power.

A shiny object dazzled me for a moment, then I could see the dagger and fury running through my veins.

"It can't be!" I shouted and then ran away while I grabbed the shadow with my hand. That specter ran as soon as the light hit my face. With the shadow, I began to climb up the wall of the building, trying to reach that person.

"Eclipse!" I heard screaming behind me, but I couldn't stop, I had to get that dagger, I couldn't let just anyone get their hands on it.

For some reason, the rest of the streets were empty, which made it easier for me to follow them. I didn't even mind the screams of my companions. At one point they were trying to contact me through the intercom, so bad was my desperation that the only thing I could think of was to throw the device to the ground.

I got to an old abandoned warehouse and entered, the lights were off and nothing could be heard. Fear was starting to take over my system, I could no longer think straight, I was starting to get dizzy. I felt so bad that I didn't notice when my visor started to fail.

The same laughter was heard again, but this time much eerier because of the echoing sound of the place. I slowly pulled out my gun and took the safety off, ready to shoot at any moment.

"You've become very paranoid for a while now," I heard a male voice say, quite familiar to me. But other than that, nothing could be heard.

"No, I just know your tricks," I said, starting to walk deeper into the facility.

"Admit you missed me," he said, after which there was a thump, like when something falls on their bare feet. I shot towards the ceiling, trying to look a little more intimidating.

"Every day I wait for the hour when your end comes...and all of your kind's," I told him, pointing this time towards the place where I felt the voice was coming from.

"I've noticed. You've been trying to make your companions trust you enough, and then you've been dragging them into a war that doesn't belong to them," a small laugh was heard as soon as he finished speaking.

"This war is not your war either, but look at us," I commented. The moonlight was coming through one of the windows, making me see the face of one of my worst enemies for the first time in years. The face of one of many traitors.

"Touché.

"Have you been following me?" I asked. I was about to shoot when I remembered something, it was going to be almost impossible for any of my bullets to hurt him.

"Maybe." The boy was a little taller than me, he wore a long black cloak and his hair waved in a wind that did not exist in that place, his face was covered with a mask and a red aura.

"Where are the others? - I asked him, if his companions were around, I wouldn't stand a chance against them, I thought this would be a reunion of ex-colleagues.

"Today it's just you and me," he said, and with each word, he took a step closer to me.

"Give me the dagger and I won't hurt you," I extended the hand that wasn't holding the gun towards him.

"What if I don't want to?" he asked, pulling the dagger out from under his cloak.

"I will take it by force." My trench coat blended into my shadow as soon as I put the gun away and the gloves began to stretch. I couldn't let them have that kind of weapon in their possession.

"You? Alone? Please, you never take anything by force" I already knew that all he wanted to do was to enrage me, to make me attack him blindly so that he would get the upper hand. I wouldn't let him do it.

I wouldn't let some random being control me. Because that's what they were. Beings of pure darkness, envy, and pride. Empowered by the idea that meta-humans were the superior race.

Who I had in front of me at first glance might seem like a sweet, kind, and even attractive boy. If it weren't for the black eyes. Inside, he was the most rotten soul I knew.

The attempted human in front of me was playing with the edge of the dagger.

"Give it to me now," I ordered, taking a few steps forward, making the sound of the heel of my boots echo within those four walls and trying to look intimidating.

"Why would I give it to you? The last time we met you told me that you were no longer my leader, I don't have to follow your orders anymore," his stupid smile was not erased from his face.

At that moment I noticed that a strange purple fire began to spread from the bottom of the cellar. I put the shadow away and took a few steps back. The boy in front of me looked back.

"What the hell are you doing?" he shouted, turning to look at me. That couldn't be me, I have never done something like that alone, I could only do it with the help of Hakan, Pandora, or Shade and we only did it in extreme situations. Besides, my shadow was still with me.

The boy looked at me angrily, throwing the dagger to the ground, then vanished and left.

The fire did not stop and had already blocked the only door in that place. With the help of the shadow, I made a mask to prevent the smoke from entering my system, but it was too late, I began to feel my body heavy and I could no longer stand up for long.

In a moment, the window broke, letting in a lot of black smoke. When it reached my side it dissipated, revealing my brother, signaling to me that everything was going to be okay. He helped me to my feet and transported us to safety, away from the purple fire and the shadows.

Previous chapter

Princess of Gotham

Summary

Extra1: The First Night

Chapter 1: Eclipse

Chapter 2: Wayne Manor

Chapter 3: Family

Chapter 4: Batcave

Chapter 5: Blackbird

Chapter 6: Shadows

Chapter 7: Scorpion and Poison

Chapter 8: Warriors Society

Chapter 9: Plan

Chapter 10: Red Robin

Chapter 11: Father & Daughter

Chapter 12: Sunday & Moral Codes

Chapter 13: Photographs & Warnings

Chapter 14: Meetings & Snakes

Chapter 15: Fear & Secrets

Chapter 16: Heroes or Vigilantes

Chapter 17: Clown Without Jokes

Chapter 18: News in the Woods

Chapter 19: Coffee with Friends

Chapter 20: Bad Days & More Plans

Chapter 21: A Dark Soul

Chapter 22: The First Encounter

Chapter 23: Confidence Movements

Chapter 24: Troubled Family

Chapter 25: Truths & Problems

Chapter 26: What A Bullet Destroys

Reminder that as part of the fandom you are free to think whatever you want about a character.

Headcanons are a thing but we also need to remember which things belong to Canon and which to fanon.

Comic writers frequently mess up with things and the fact that between the fandom we can put a little more diversity is enjoyable.

Headcanons are a thing, and we are free to think whatever we wanna think (except if it harms someone)

Tim and Jason stans excusing Jason's canonical brutal violence against Tim as "pitmadness" (this is NOT a thing in canon, guys) and forgetting Jason nearly killed 10 year old Damian too or often celebrating that reminds me Dick and Damian are also canonically PoC and whatever fanon may "colour code" them, Tim and Jason are very much White dudes.

I mean, there are a lot of people saying they want to help (including me). We can totally start it with a little organization

I'm just saying

there should be an AmRev webtoon

-_-

Assana/Shade: can you recommend to me any books that made you cry?

James/Blackbird: general mathematics 6th edition

Princess of Gotham

Chapter 17: Clowns Without Jokes

My life was never pink. It was closer to black than pink. But deep down I always knew that there were people who suffered even more than I did, so I shouldn't feel so bad. Everyone told me that. I learned to act, hiding my fears and sadness under a mask and playing a perfect-looking character.

And I knew I wasn't the only one suffering, my own family had demons they refused to accept. I knew that there were people my age suffering worse wars against enemies so atrocious that just describing them made your body tremble. And I thought about it every day of my life.

My mother was killed in front of my eyes, her last words directed at me. My father left me in front of an orphanage after that, saying he would come back for me, and he did come back, years later and only to tell me it was his worst mistake. I found out that my father was equal to or worse than the Joker himself.

But at the same time, I feel it's nothing with all that my cousin suffered. Losing an arm, eye, lung, and ear in the explosion that gave him his powers, being sold to Lex Luthor as an object of experimentation.

My reasons for killing Slade Wilson were very personal. To end a war that had been forming in my head for years. And that those two scumbags were free complicated my plans and the overprotection of my adoptive family tied my hands behind my back.

"We are on the street parallel to yours, to the north, there is an avenue, try not to let them get there," I heard Sound-Road say over the intercom. We had reached that street a few seconds ago and it wasn't long before the rest of the support would arrive.

"Eclipse, I would really appreciate your help right now," said Callan, who was standing next to Sam, sounding quite tired. I didn't think too much about it and took my shadow to get to the other street.

"Shooters, get into position, that includes you Arrow," I said, shortening the path down one of the alleys.

Callan having a beast on her side made her often uncontrollable. But no worse than many of us. Her anger made her very powerful, even defeating me at my best moments.

"Hakan, head towards the exit to the main avenue with Sound-Road. Try not to let anyone enter or leave this area," I informed him over the intercom while hitting one of the drugged clowns with my shadow.

I received no response, which made me think he had received my order. Pandora joined me seconds later, her spear skills easily comparable to the most capable warrior Shade had ever trained.

I received no response, which made me think he had received my order. Pandora joined me seconds later, her spear skills easily comparable to the most capable warrior Shade had ever trained.

"I never leave home without it," I said, holding my shadow in my left hand. It was enough to keep them away, but we would need more than that, and by orders of Batman and my own father I was forbidden to shoot at any civilians, but technically they were not civilians, or at least they were no longer civilians.

The sound of an explosion was signal enough for me to draw my gun and load it, signaling Callan to back me up.

The wolf attacked one of them as dinner, while three bullets ripped through the body of another one of them. We were so focused on them that we didn't realize there were more than seven of them, the other four were running away to the place we had already speculated they would. Olive speared the last of the ones surrounding us. Well, this was getting out of hand. But nothing Pandora's healing skills couldn't fix.

Another bomb, this time closer to us, but it didn't worry us. The shadow reached around two clowns who were trying to escape. Olive placed her hand on the shadow, and when it disappeared, the two men were writhing on the ground.

As a green gas began to become visible, I motioned for Pandora and Callan to put on their gas masks. Cheis and Sam were watching me from the rooftop of one of the buildings waiting for my orders, I simply signaled them to shoot the guy who had pulled out the gas bomb. Shade and Sound-Road arrived in time to dissipate the gas and get us breathing easy.

"We'll need more than gas masks if we're going to be facing those clowns," Sound-Road suggested as the police began to arrive, "Even if the Bat-family forbids us to go near the Joker, we can't let his helpers attack.

"Mike is right. While Batman takes care of the clown, we should have a team to track the helpers while the rest of us go after Slade," Scorpion said, standing next to me.

"We could create our own weapon against them. A gas that by itself is just as powerful as laughing gas or Scarecrow's gas, but in combination with one of these, it would act as a neutralizer," Shade said when we were all resting in an alley near the Wayne building.

"I'll tell Jim to schedule a meeting for tomorrow afternoon after school," I said, pulling my phone out of one of my belt pockets.

"Which you will attend," Olive told me.

"Right," I replied as if I didn't want to.

It was very often that when I stayed with my father I did not attend classes, not because he did not force me, but because he was almost not there and preferred that we spend time together, and when I stayed with Bruce he forced me to go with my cousin to the academy. I turned to see my cousin and signaled that we would talk later.

I called it a night on patrol and sent word to everyone else. I didn't want to go home at that hour, and Dad would probably be out patrolling or drinking at a bar somewhere too. I looked for a good place to sit for a while and think.

When I finally found it, I took off my visor and pulled a tracking device from my belt. I turned it on and waited for my target to arrive.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" asked a voice from behind me.

"I just wanted to ask how you were doing, you weren't answering me and I was starting to get worried," I said, lowering my voice so no one could hear us.

"I'm the one who should be worried, you've been acting really weird lately," she replied, stretching out her hand towards my face.

"I know, it's just... Everything is coming together and my mind is totally scrambled. And that bitch is in town. I don't know what to do anymore," I sobbed, dropping to my knees, taking my face in my hands.

"It's all right, everything will be all right. No one can hurt you as long as I'm alive," he said, sitting down next to me, wrapping me in an embrace.

"Thank you Asset," I said after a while.

^.^

Rai/Hakan: would you slap Jim Bullock for a million dollars

James/Blackbird: i'd roundhouse kick Jim in the face for free