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Language:
English
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Published:
2020-08-22
Updated:
2020-09-23
Words:
1,000
Chapters:
10/?
Comments:
14
Kudos:
14
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4
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267

Radiants of Gotham

Summary:

The bonds were a blessing and a curse. They were a sign of the end of the world. They gave them the power to fight it.

A non-linear story told in 100-word drabbles | 1 minute recordings.

Notes:

These are interconnected 100 word drabbles made this way by design because working out everything this fusion would need would take me about a much as a Stormlight book takes to write.
There's no set timeline, just seeing where this takes us. More information on the orders of people on the end notes, as well as the podfic cover.

Podfic version available, full playlist can be found here and individual files are embedded at the top of each chapter.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: Falling: Dick

Chapter Text

“There’s low visibility tonight,” Bruce said. “Good time to practice.”

Dick breathed in a tiny bit of Stormlight from the sphere inside his pocket, not enough to glow, and with little else than a thought lashed himself towards the sky.

The effect was instantaneous, the earth stopped pulling him towards itself and he found himself plummeting in the wrong direction.

Dick closed his eyes, enjoying the rush of wind against his face, he would have to stop soon, being too high for long lead to notice, but for now it was dark and he could let go.

He fell up.

Chapter 2: Scribes: Bruce

Chapter Text

When asked about why he had no personal scribe, Bruce would pull out his phone and open the app made to write as he spoke. It wasn’t perfect, but it served as an impressive gimmick.

The application served him better as a disuader of questions than a scribe, but no one needed to know the truth.

Bruce enjoyed reading himself, had turned to the habit long before becoming Batman.

While no longer stigmatized to the point it wasn’t done, it was still frowned upon for Alethi men to read. He decided, therefore, to keep it as his tiny, little secret.

Chapter 3: The Thrill: Jason

Chapter Text

Jason couldn’t remember the first time it felt it, but he knew it wasn’t like this before.

He was angry, fueled by his life on the streets and fighting for his life with a passion. The thrill helped him beat opponents twice his size and he thanked it for that.

Ever since he came back the thrill never left.

It was a constant thrum underneath his life.

A companion urging him to kill Batman, promising him that he could do it. Should do it.

After everything he had gone through, after dying, he had been replaced.

Batman had to die.

Chapter 4: First Lies: Tim

Chapter Text

Tim’s parents loved him.

Sure, they spent more time searching through the ancient ruins of far away cities than they ever did with him, but Tim knew that they loved him.

They gave him food.

On his night trips to the lower parts of Gotham to see the Bat, he had seen other kids who never even got that.

Tim had a home.

A future.

He was a lighteyes of a high rank and one day he would have a House to run.

He was thankful.

But sometimes he wished he could see them more.

Instead of seeing the shadows.

Chapter 5: ten forty seven : bruce

Notes:

It takes 10 heartbeats to summon a normal Shardblade.

Chapter Text

It was ten forty seven.

The Wayne family had Shardblades.

One heartbeat.

Thomas had bonded the gemstone when he was young.

Two heartbeats.

He had not summoned it in years.

Three heartbeats.

The man in the alley had a gun.

Four heartbeats.

Thomas hated the blade.

Five heartbeats.

A shard couldn’t stop a bullet.

Six heartbeats.

Martha took off her pearls.

Seven heartbeats.

The man wanted more.

Eight heartbeats.

He had to try.

Nine heartbeats.

Thomas could already hear the screams.

--- ----------

A shot. Another.

It was ten forty eight.

There was a Shardblade on the ground.

Pearls were scattered around.

Chapter 6: Honorblades: Damian

Chapter Text

His mother congratulated him on learning the ways of the sword at the same time she handed him a death sentence. Honorblades were powerful weapons that granted Surgebinging unlike regular Shardblades. It was within the rights of members of the League to kill the bearers and claim them.

Later, his mother abandoned him with his father. She took his Honorblade as she left.

Damian felt like he might as well be facing his father unarmed, for all the good that the pale imitation of a sword in his hand would do him in a fight.

He was powerless and alone.

Chapter 7: Idea(l) : Cass

Chapter Text

Cass' first ideal hadn't been like everyone else's. She had no instinctual realization of what it was or a time where the words felt right. Her first ideal was a choice. Her first real choice in her life.

The only one she could make after watching the man whose throat she slit die. She’d made him suffer.

Cass ran from Cain to put life first, to use her strength to protect. To live a life that was not his, wherever it took her.

She did not have words then, much less the words, but somehow, her spren had heard her.

Chapter 8: The End Of A Decade : Bruce & Dick

Chapter Text

It had been a decade since Bruce said the words.

A decade of hoping he was an outlier.

That the Radiants weren't coming back.

That the desolation wasn't coming.

A decade of knowing he was alone in his crusade to make Gotham better.

Bruce watched an eight year old recite the words barely above a whisper.

Throat sore from screaming and crying his heart out, but their meaning was clear.

Dick Grayson had seemed ready to kill when he arrived, but walked away a Radiant.

His heart swelled with pride for Dick's choice, even as it sunk at the implications.

Chapter 9: First Words: Damian

Chapter Text

Damian muttered the words underneath his breath anytime he could.

Dick thought that his determination to become a Radiant was adorable.

They were never without spheres, but Dami always kept one in sight.

It happened, finally, on an ordinary night. Not the quiet that felt ominous, but just enough to relax. The oaths didn’t fit the situation, not as far as Dick could tell, but while Damian’s anger was explosive, his kindness was soft.

Robin helped a cat off a tree, and recited them while petting its head.

When he sucked in an experimental breath, his sphere lost its light.

Chapter 10: Wit

Notes:

I guess Wit migrated over lol
He just had to come? Hope my 2 subscribers enjoy, didn't expect anyone to subscribe, so you make me very happy!

As a sidenote: the order of the podfic playlist got messed up because I was dumb, but I'll fix it, promise

Chapter Text

“Who are you?”

“I am the night,” he forced a grumbling tone.

Batman glared at the man, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was only tied up because he wanted to be.

“... But you can name me your Wit, since Dick is already taken,” his posture loosened, he grinned.

Batman breathed. In. Out. Calm. “A Joker knock-off?”

Wit scoffed. “I’ve existed longer.”

Noted. Move on. “How did you get into the Batcave?”

“Just followed the bats.” He pointed at them, then looked at his hands in surprise. “Well now, that wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Bruce had a long night ahead.

Notes:


I tried to put them all in different orders, but I've only got Dustbringers and Bondsmiths left and I don't think either fits Duke? But if anyone has ideas lmk. I'm willing to move everyone but Dick.

Identities and Orders:
Bruce (Batman) Elsecaller
Dick (Nightwing) Windrunner
Jason (Red Hood) Willshaper
Tim (Red Robin) Lightweaver
Damian (Robin) Skybreaker
Barbs (Oracle) Truthwatcher
Steph (Batgirl) Edgedancer
Cass (Black Bat) Stoneward
Duke (Signal) ????

 

Talk to me about this AU on tumblr.