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Plucking Loose Threads

Summary:

Compilation of my tumblr ficlets. May remain as one shots or be picked up for more >:3c

Tags will be added

Chapter 1: Sea Song Lullaby (Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye)

Summary:

Nightwing is captured by a fae. A simple slip leads him to forfeiting his humanity.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Nightwing is captured by some sea fae, could be a mermaid or a water nymph, and is held in place by their giant octopus hench creature. They are enamoured by his good looks and witty charm and they want him as theirs. It doesn't matter that Nightwing is so obviously human, they must simply have them.

They try brokering a fae deal, "I can make your wildest dreams come true", but the vigilante is adamantly refusing, "I'd rather not sleep with the fishes, thank you," he knows not to do such a thing. Constantine has drilled it into the JL's heads to never ever ever make deals with those from underhill.

It takes one slip, a spasm in his face when he hears Red Hood arguing and cussing out at Batman and that is all it takes for the sea fae to sense a weakness, an opening, a way in. A sly grin, a gentle clawed hand tilting Nightwing's face slightly, eyes sharp and glittering.

"Don't you want those two to get along?"

"Of course I do," Nightwing agrees without hesitation, without thought, and it was a mistake. It's too late to take those words back and he pales underneath his mask.

They respond with a large smile with too much sharp teeth, the hand on his chin tightening to a painful degree. "Your wish is my honour to grant, Nightwing."

And they kiss him, a surge of frigid ice rushes into him, coating his tongue and slipping down his throat, rushing into his lungs and pooling there, choking him, drowning him. It spreads further inwards, passing through his lungs and into his heart, filling every crevice and nook, settling heavily under his sternum and tingling down his spine and all the way to his fingertips.

"I will make it so, and in return, you will come to me, to be mine," they whispered, eyes bright like sparkling emeralds, their long serpent tail coiled tightly around him, cold fish scales scraping against his suit.

"I won't," Nightwing croaks, shaking his head.

"You will. The call of the deal will grow as time marches forward," they state, lips now brushing his ear, "I am patient. I am powerful. You will come to me."

Nightwing shivers in their grasp, the ice in his veins unpleasant. He feels his stomach drop. He can't, he can't, he can't.

He could hear them yelling at one another, attacking the other fishy hench creatures around. There was a loud explosion and several pops of a gun.

"We're having sushi tonight!"

"I prefer calamari, thank you."

"Shut up, RR!"

"My family-"

"Can do nothing to help you," they purred, nails digging in. "You may say your farewells, spend whatever time you can stand away from me with them. It will do nothing to stop the inevitable. You cannot escape."

He tries to argue again but the fae has had enough, their strong tail wrapped tightly around him, the tentacles of the giant octopus gone. All the cold, too cold, air escapes him, leaving him mute.

"I and the sea will call you and call you. You will answer us. Your body will change, slowly, I give you this," they rumble, voice unhurried and uncaring of the growing chaos around them. "You get to properly say goodbye to your family and then..."

They kiss his throat, his cheek and then his forehead, as if he were something precious, something to be treasured. It leaves his stomach roiling, his throat tight. It was a promise.

"Nightwing! Get your hands off him, vile fiend!"

Robin-!

The fae laughs, long tail uncoiling, claws dragging across his suit. They hold him high up and Nightwing could do nothing but shiver in their grasp.

"You may have him, little child. Me and mine will take our leave."

He is thrown to the side and within moments, the fae and their underwater creatures were gone.

"Nightwing, are you alright?"

He trembled. He was the farthest thing from alright.


He's fussed over by the whole Bat Clan, but other than a lower body temperature and the trembling, nothing stands out. They bundle him up and try to get answer out of him but every time he tried to tell them what happened, his tongue becomes lead and his throat tightens.

He physically can't tell them, even when they ask yes or no questions that get anywhere close to the truth. Bruce looked severe and turned away from the inquisition and Dick can only figure that he's gone to contact Justice League Dark because obviously something magic is afoot.

Dick just wants to disappear. Usually he'd welcome his family's attention and affections but his mind was still reeling from the horrible, terrible, no good knowledge that his time with them, as his true self, has a countdown. How long would he be able to stay with him? Would it be weeks? Months? Years? There would be no way it would be years. He will not be that lucky.

He throws on a grin, ruffling Tim's hair and wrapping Damian up in a hug, blanket and all. The yowling and struggle to escape made the fake grin blossom into a true smile, rubbing his chin against the soft hair, his cold body becoming lukewarm with the love in his heart.

Dick was hyper aware of his own body for the next few days, waiting and waiting for the start of the change. He's always cold now, the warmest he feels is barely lukewarm, so he's wrapped up in hoodies and sweaters. He does try his best to go about his day without thinking about the deal the wish the curse it but it was always in the forefront of his mind. Any time he caught himself staring at water - a bottle, the office water cooler, a fucking puddle - he would over correct and look away. It made his partner confused but again Dick couldn't explain himself.

It takes weeks and it starts subtly, his water intake increases, the thirst in his throat annoying but it was easy enough to ignore. His skin becomes more dry and it actually flakes in certain spots which he absolutely hates. He was complaining about it one night and Steph popped up with an amazing recommendation of a really good moisturiser which helped a whole lot.

One night, he notices that there are thin raised lines along his ribcage, nestled in-between the bones. The breath leaves his lungs as horror floods his chest. Fuck, fuck, fuck. It was happening, it felt more real. He strips and checks his whole body, the lines curve around his chest and back, the skin between his fingers and toes is thin and crawling down the digits, it was only a matter of time before it becomes even more noticable.

Anxiety and despair chokes him that night. He lets himself grieve, tears trailing down his cheeks and the salt on his lips twists something within him; a part of him welcomes the salty taste but another, smaller part is repulsed.

His time was running out.


In total, he lasts seven months and seven days.

By the end, he was so, so tired. The constant fight against the call of the fae, the ocean, was exhausting. And the changes to his body were at best uncomfortable and at worst painful. He dreads the day he gives in, but the thought of the fight being over, to just give in, continues to becoming more appealing as the days drag on.

Dick spends more time in Gotham, spending time with his many siblings, making memories and making sure that they all know he loves them so, so much. He can see that they were a bit freaked out at the extra attention but they accepted it pretty quickly at least.

He knows that Bruce knows something is going to happen, his gaze heavy and questioning but nothing gets said between them. Constantine had checked in and whatever he had discovered, only Batman and Dick truly knows.

Nightwing slowly disappears from the vigilante scene. His body always hurts, he's always cold and that leaves him clumsy and a liability. He does make the rounds, like a farewell lap, to the JL and to his teams and his vigilante friends. He does spend extra time with Donna, his Wonder Twin, and Wally, his best friend.

He spends more time in the shower, in the bath, in the pool. His itching and bruising skin is soothed, the cold ache in his body isn't painful, the siren song of the ocean and the fae finally quiets a little. But it's not enough, it is never enough.

Every night, he is greeted by water, floating on the surface or diving deep into its depths. The same fae is there to welcome him, wrapping around him in a lover's embrace, their webbed hands holding his face.

"Still I wait for you. I am most impressed," they murmured, bright green eyes flashing.

"If you come to me in seven days, I promise you, you can visit land every seven months. You can still see your family," they crooned, their voice echoing around them.

"Really?" Dick asked, bubbles escaping his throat. His lungs don't burn. He feels at home under the waves.

Their sharp gaze twinkled. "Of course, I live up to my promises. Isn't your family getting along more?"

Dick feels like crying, like dying, because yes, they were getting along better. Especially Jason and the rest of the Bat family members. It might have happened eventually, given time, given years, but it was happening now, and so much faster.

"They are, aren't they?" they relishes, petting his face.

"Come to me and I promise every seven months, you get seven days on land."

"Always? No take backs?"

A considering look, a press of sharp nail against his neck where newly raised lines had formed.

"If you are good and listen to me, yes."

Dick nods, okay. Okay. He gets a week to say goodbye.

The fae kisses him deeply, ice flowing into him and burning their promise into his bones. A promise. A deal. A wish. A curse.

Dick jolts up in his bed to salt on his lips and the ocean's lullaby singing in his ears.

Notes:

This was on tumblr for a little bit and I felt that maybe I should post it here too. I wonder if I should continue with this idea... hmmmm.

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!

Kudos, bookmarks, subs and reviews are always appreciated ♡

Chapter 2: Strawberry Bites

Summary:

The boys are in England, for a holiday (not a mission this time).

Notes:

A very different vibe from the previous chapter ( ͡º ꒳ ͡º)

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

Chapter Text

The boys had decided to go to England as a little retreat, away from all the superheroing and Gotham madness. It was also the first time that all four of them were going on a trip just for fun.

They visited a few cities London, Bath and Cardiff (it was Wales but eh, Tim and Jason wanted to go to the Doctor Who Experience (the nerds!). They all lost their hats and the map due to the strong winds that day).

But, there was one place that peaked Damian's interest and that was Stonehenge. They all got into a car, taking a moment to adjust to the 'wrong side' of the road before ending up 2 hours outside of London, in a quaint little place called Salisbury. They parked as close as they could before having to take the shuttle bus up to the Stonehenge.

Tim brought his camera and was clicking away while Dick was making friends with the other tourists and Jason was tagging along quietly with Damian, unbothered by everything. It was a little underwhelming to the boy, and they didn't spend too long there since they had also planned to shoot off to Bath right after.

They were waiting in the line for the shuttle bus back when Tim spots a man with a van selling fruits. He drags Jason with him and they both come back with two boxes of strawberries, they were all quite big, very red and looked sweet.

Damian didn't dislike fruits, but it did take some persuading from the other for him to even take one. It was unfortunate that the one he picked, despite its bright red colouring was tasteless. Maybe it was a fluke and he grabbed another, only for this one to be sour. He tried one more and it was back to being tasteless. He harrumphed and crossed his arms, much to the brief confusion of the others.

"I don't understand how you three find this," he points at the remaining strawberries with a harsh tilt of his chin, "delectable and sweet."

Tim grabs one and hands it off to Damian, "Try that one."

Damian, who knows not to even question Drake's innate ability to single out quality fruits, bites into the strawberry and it is juicy and sweet and, more importantly, satisfying.

Tim then hands more strawberries to Damian who goes from unhappy sourpuss to merrily munching on the strawberries as they wait. Because of all this, people from the line approach the fruit vendor and he sells out in quick time.

Notes:

You can chat with me about any of my fics on tumblr here: @jimjamjimothy

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!
Kudos, bookmarks, subs and reviews are always appreciated ♡

Chapter 3: Selkie Kisses

Summary:

Thomas Wayne is a selkie. Martha Kane hands him back his coat, and the poor selkie was smitten.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

before everything he is a recluse, hiding away in the Manor with his father Patrick, also a Selkie. He does spend a lot of time on shore, it takes years to become a doctor and he wanted to help people, whether they be human, meta or other lore folk.

Everywhere he goes, he has his selkie coat with him, it can take the form of a rich brown blazer or a heavy duty brown coat, no spots to speak of for he neither had them in his seal body nor a single mole upon his human form. Spotless as he, and an easy enough disguise for him.

So imagine this, he's at some gala his father is attending for Gotham, to brush shoulders and make new inroads with the rich folk of the city and he sets his coat, in the form of a sable trench coat this time, on the back of his chair.

Some young men he's had the pleasure of befriending come over and they're a rowdy bunch of sorts and it knocks his coat off the chair. Before Thomas can pick it up himself, a bright cheery voice calls out, "Oh dear heavens, your coat!" and a young woman with dark wavy hair steps forward and grabs it.

She drapes it back onto the back of his chair, giving him another bright smile before she is spirited away by one of the other ladies. Thomas is instantly smitten, because she had returned his coat back to him, and he must woo her.

The lads guffaw loudly, slapping his back and almost jeer at him. That's Martha Kane! She's way out of your league, Tom-tom! Of all the girls tonight, why would you want to pick party girl Martha Kane?

It didn't matter, not to Thomas, and he's a determined man-selkie-person. He will no doubt try his best to woo her in the ways of humans because she definitely does not know the significance such a kind action of returning his coat to him meant.

And woo her he does. It starts with him finding her later by the refreshments, eyes on the dance floor and this was the perfect opportunity. He asks for a dance and the chemistry was impossible to deny after that. Thomas was enamoured. He just had to convince Martha to give him the time of day.

Notes:

Well, well, well, never thought I'd write a Thomas Wayne fanfic but here we are. The little building block for a future fanfic idea.

Original Tags:
#and later on Thomas also falls kind of sorta in love with Alfred and it happens by accident
#usually it is Martha who takes his coat from him to place it in the entryway closet
#but one day without a thought Thomas allows Alfred to take it from him and then when he is heading out Alfred returns the coat to him
#this happens after Martha has married him of course
#and now Thomas has to talk to his wife about what just happened and it is to her absolute delight
#another thought is that the pearl necklace that Martha receives as an anniversary gift is made by Thomas
#He went to the ocean to hunt down the perfect pearls before hiring a jeweler to make her necklace
#and then in the future when Thomas and Martha are gone his brown coat is locked away and the secret of the Wayne Selkie line is lost
#for now
#maybe with the arrival of a selkie pup named Dick does the brown coat come out from its resting place
#oh no
#will this become a proper fic???

 

You can chat with me about any of my fics on tumblr here: @jimjamjimothy

Thank you for reading and have a nice day!
Kudos, bookmarks, subs and reviews are always appreciated ♡