The Kid Of Candles

The Kid of Candles

Jason Todd has been living on the streets for a while now. Ever since his mom overdosed, he's been struggling to find shelter. He was doing better in the summer and fall, but now bitter winter had come to Gotham, and it was taking everything he had not to freeze to death.

There were a lot of kids like him and even more that went to sleep but never woke up after a snowstorm. Jason is still tiny, and very new, and that means he's an easier target. He has met kids who pretend to be kind in order to steal from him but he's also met some who were willing to share what little they had.

He wouldn't call them friends. Just other survivors. He is currently in a camp created by these survivors. Street kids have carved their own place on the streets simply by staying alive the longest, and casually they allow the smaller ones in for the bad weather with the understanding that the younger ones were to leave as soon as the sun was up.

He is trying to warm up next to the lit fire by one of the older street kids when a teenager stands on a little crate. The teenager starts tapping a piece of wood against a small amount of metal like they are trying to make a toast.

He's unsure about their gender; they always tell people they are not a girl or a boy, but they are the leader of the little pack of street urchins and the only ones willing to share the small blankets.

They go by Rowan, and Rowan adores campfire stories as if they were just some rich kids paying to go out into the woods and sleep in tents instead of shivering unwanted brats sleeping on rolled-up newspapers. Some street kids groan and roll their eyes, but not Jason.

Rowan's stories are the closest he can get now to books. Before, he would read and escape to the magical world found among letters away from his mother's addiction and the worsening living conditions. Books were his comfort and one of the things he missed the most from his home.

"Gather around, gather around children, and listen to the tale of the Kid of Candles!" Rowan starts, cracking their voice into a gleeful cackle. The older ones scoff, but the younger kids all turn their attention to the ringleader.

Jason moves away from the fire to sit right in front of the crate, pulling his knees to his chest as he settles. Someone takes his spot by the fire, and he hopes the story is worth the loss. "Long ago, when Gotham was first founded by Captain Jon Logerquist, he claimed to follow a bright white light that led him right to Gotham River after suffering the loss of his entire crew to a sea storm. He would have died had he not lit the last candle on the ship- a black candle. The candle attracted the attention of a unique child, who appeared on his deck among the bright light. A boy with snow white hair, glowing green eyes, and sharp teeth pulled into a kind smile."

The children gasped as even Jason leaned closer, captivated by Rowan's smooth voice. "Captain Jon Logerquist was able to rebuild his ship and return home to report the ideal location for a new city. The founding families, the Waynes, the Kanes, the Elliots, and the Cobblepots, all agreed to take the Logerquist's request and loaded their four family ships with volunteers to start Gotham. Still, they soon became lost when Captain Logerquist tragically passed along the trip. As he was the only person who knew the way, the new crew and civilians quickly panicked, getting further and further away from the location that would later be Gotham. They attempted to turn around, hoping to return home, but navigation tactics were not working. It was almost as if the waters and stars moved, wanting to claim as many victims as possible. This would later be known as Gotham's Orginal Curse."

Rowan paused to wiggle their fingers at the crowd of ten children and a few teenagers- the ones from Rowan's original gang- all made the appropriate ooooohhhhh sounds. Jason shivers as a storage sense of pressure settles around his shoulders. It felt like the city itself was listening to the tale. He wonders if anyone else felt it.

"They quickly ran out of food, and the passengers even began speaking of eating each other to survive. A young Wayne boy, one of the few who could read, found Logerquist's journal in his cabin and decided to try lighting a black candle while the adults argued." Rowan continues mimicking, opening a book, and lighting a candle. That's another thing Jason liked about Rowman's stories. They tended to act out some scenes, and it was highly entertaining.

"Just like before, a bright white light appeared before the lite black candle, and a boy with snow white hair, glowing green eyes, and a kind, sharp smile told the Waynes to follow him, which they agreed to. The three other family ships reluctantly followed when the Waynes broke away from the formation and arrived at Gotham. There, they found all the resources they needed to survive and riches beyond their wildest dreams. Since then, the Kid of Candles has appeared throughout Gotham's history, leading those who are lost to their homes whenever a black candle is lit. It is said to this day if you are genuinely lost and light a black candle, the Kid of Candles will appear but be warned, his assistance always comes with a price,"

Jason gasped as the pressure increased around him. Seriously how had no one else felt it yet? "What is the price?"

Rowan snaps their fingers at him with a sinister smile. "Death. When you ask the dead for help, they will ensure you join them as a repayment. Maybe not the same day, maybe not for years, but he will claim you eventually."

A few kids whimpered.

"Oh, knock it off, Rowan," A teenage girl snaps. "You're scaring the little ones with your stupid urban myths."

"Gotham myths are not stupid!" Rowan's gasps hurt. "They are the closest accurate account of Gotham's real history!"

"Sure, just like the Court of Owls and their Talons." the girl rolls her eyes.

"Those are real. The Court's Talons should not be taken lightly. They are far worse than the Kid of Candle. At least he is benevolent enough to help you home!"

Jason retreats to his corner of the abandoned warehouse factory, ignoring the bickering of the teenage gang. He sits with his back to the wall, his feet tucked close to his chest, and all his things squished between his body and a second wall on his right. It's uncomfortable but ideal for keeping what little he has safe and making it easier to get up and run should the need arise.

He found that the need came a lot more often than he liked. He nods off after trying to squeeze his body closely together to hopefully gather warmth.

The following day, a teenager kicks him in the side, sneering that the free space-time is over and Rowan wants him out in ten minutes. Jason doesn't have to be told twice, gathering his things and scurrying to the exit. As he passed Rowan, he offered the elder a nod of thanks, and the storyteller gave him a wink and grin.

They also press a black candle into Jason's palm. "Hey he brought me to my gang, so why can't he lead you?"

Jason smiles, no commenting, and pockets the candle without hesitation. He may need to sleep here again and doesn't think calling bullshit will be a smart move.

It's best not to offend the crazy leader. A day goes by where he panhandles out of the cop's sight, wandering around the city looking for some food, and even gets a rich guy to give him fifty bucks after asking politely, but he runs when he asks if he has somewhere safe to sleep.

All in all, not the worst day. That night, he returns to Rowan's place but is told they already have too many. Disheartened, Jason wanders to sleep under a bridge by Gotham River. As he shivers near the frozen water, he thinks of the black candle.

He has a few matches on him, and maybe the small candle can help him start a bigger fire to keep warm. Jason strikes his match The pressure from before returns making him waver for only a moment before he dares set the wake aflame.

A few seconds go by with nothing happening, and he's just about getting embarrassed for believing in a stupid urban legend when he's blinded by the brightest light he's ever seen. A floating boy with white hair, green glowing eyes, and a broad smile appears before Jason.

He screams, stumbling back to fall on his butt as the boy floats to touch the ground before him.

The boy smile widens. "Hello Jason, it's time to go home."

Jason runs, but it gives chase, throwing out directions. He attempts to do whatever it is- by going the opposite direction, but it's to no avail. Jason knows Gotham like the back of his hand and swears the streets are moving. Roads that are blocks away from each other are right around the corners he takes.

Soon, an unnatural light blue fog surrounds him, blocking his view of anything more than two feet before him. He glances over his shoulder, confirming the mist is coming from the glowing figure that flies behind him at an easy, steady pace.

He picks up his speed.

Jason doesn't understand what's happening, but he remembers Rowan's voice as he pumps his legs to go as fast as they can to the point they burn. This would later be known as Gotham's Orginal Curse."

Oh god, he's been cursed by the Kid of Candles!

"We're here. I hope you have a lovely life with your new family." The being suddenly says hand on Jason's elbow, causing the boy to trip over and hit against a large metal gate. The fog disperses like a blown-away candle, and the Kid of Candles vanishes in its smoke as the gates of Intercon turn on.

"Wayne Manor. Who might you-" a voice with a British accent speaks over the speakers, but Jason cuts them off with a frightful yelp.

"Help! Help! Please, he's going to kill me!" He shouts, eyes swinging around the new place he is. He thinks he doesn't recognize this place at all, which means he's somewhere out of the city- the outskirts. Where the wealthy live.

It would take a good two hours by car to get here, and The Kid of Candles got him here in ten by bending reality or something. And now Jason owed it something.

He owed it his death.

He crumbles into sobs, so terrified his heart feels like it will escape from his chest. "Please. I don't want to die. I don't want to die."

There is a long pause, where all Jason can hear is his own uneven breathing and the beating of his chest, before the gates swing open, and a slightly older teenager- probably around Rowan's age- is offering him a hand.

"Hi, I'm Dick. I think I can help you if you come inside."

Jason stares at the hand for a few seconds, but from the corner of his eye, he swears he sees a boy watching them and quickly takes the hand.

His right elbow has a new tattoo he never paid for. It's a burning black candle, right where the Kid had touched him. It's also the same tattoo on Rowan's right hand. Jason cries for hours when he finds it.

Years later, Jason will admit that the Kid of Candles truly did help him find a home. He would come to love Bruce like father, as the man took him in, mistaking Jason as an escapee of human trafficking, and was there to buffer the misunderstanding between him and Dick.

He would point out that Dick called him dad outside the house, and Bruce would sit his eldest down to ask if he was okay with an adoption. Dick would settle with the knowledge that Bruce didn't keep him around to fight crime, and he would open his heart to Jason as a brother.

He would grow to follow in his brother's footsteps and become Robin- after making sure Dick was okay with it- and would help his new father fight crime. When Jason is fourteen, he finds out his mother is not his biological, and he learns his real mom is still alive.

He asks Dick and Bruce for help to find her, so the three load the plane as the Waynes instead of the Bats, and thus they help put her away together when the met-up goes south.

She tries to sell them to the Joker, but Bruce overhears her and gets authorities to him in mere minutes, long before the Joker can meet up with her.

She is in cuffs and being led away from the warehouse where the Joker was going to wait for her.

In the chaos, Jason notices the glowing white-haired boy smiling at the warehouse entrance, but Jason doesn't go near it. Not even after it explodes, killing the Joker who was inside. Not even when Bruce holds them close, horrified that they could have been so close to the explosion- they were in civilian identities and needed to put up a show- but he does notice that the Candle on his elbow is shorter.

That night Jason traces the shorter melted candle and he knows he escaped death once more. He doesn't know how he knows but something deep within him knows the Kid of Candles hand something to do with it.

He would swing by Rowan's place as Robin and Jason Wayne to help them and their gang get off the streets.

Rowan would one day open a bookstore, where they would hold weekly storytelling, naming the store the Black Candle in thanks to the spirit that led them to his lifelong friends.

Jason will, however, never get over his fear of ghosts, not even when the same green fog would one night lead the neighbor's boy right to their yard. His little brother, Tim, thought The Kid of Candles was kind, handsome, and awesome (might be a crush in all honestly) but Jason will always know it was much more dangerous than meets the eye.

All things in Gotham are deadly beautiful like that.

The Waynes still have a drawer full of black candles they take out in the field, just in case.

(Danny Phantom watches Jason sleep, his protection core warming as the boy cuddles with Tim after his little brother admitted to a nightmare. He's glad they found somewhere that could offer everything they needed in a home.

A house and a home are two very different things, after all.

It reminds him of when he was alive.

A candle is flickered on somewhere in the city, and he blinks out of existence, ready to help- Steph- get away from her father. Hmmm, well, Bruce does have the space for more kids)

Royal Bats

DP x DC Prompt

Danny and Jazz always were together in life, and they would remain together as siblings whenever Jazz would reincarnate as a mortal again.

Jazz reincarnated a lot, wanting to experience the different things in those dimensions she chose with a fresh start and no memories. She had many adventures in her new lives, with Danny beside her as her 'Imaginary Friend' whenever she was a kid and her 'Guardian Angel' during the rest of her lives.

This new life she has reincarnated in has her living as a rich woman with a loving husband and a kid. The first time he's seen her have one in her many lives. He couldn't save Jazz or her husband's lives because of Clockwork, who had sent him on a small mission related to time.

When he returned to the dimension with Jazz's new life, he arrived at the funeral for Thomas and Martha Wayne, with their Ghosts behind Bruce. Martha, or Jazz again, had embraced Danny in a hug and told Thomas the basics of who Danny was to her, but before they left, Jazz left some parting words to Danny.

"Look after my son, little brother. Protect him like you how you protect me."

So Danny does. He follows Bruce around while he's training to become Batman. And when Bruce returns to Gotham to be Batman, he helps him with Lady Gotham. With each kid Bruce brings into his family, Danny duplicates himself to help each of them.

Danny had killed the Joker after his resurrection by Bruce when the Clown was alone. He couldn't do it while the Joker was living, as he needed to follow the rules, or else he would have had more paperwork to sort through.

Danny had been telling Jazz and Thomas about their son and what he's been doing about his feats, his children, and his friends. They did support Danny's decisions on killing the Joker. He felt a tug on his core, the tug that happens when he is being summoned, so he quickly said his goodbyes to Jazz and Thomas and accepts the summoning.

What shocks him is seeing that he's in the Watchtower, with the Justice League there, including Bruce and his children. All of his seriousness is drained out of him, and he smiles at Bruce and his family.

"My nephew, it is good to finally speak to you"

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chikifumoto

2 months ago

DcxDp idea prompt #3

Amity Park is a Cult

Start this story out with the Batfam learning that Bruce has another kid. (Idk maybe the fentons reaching out to see if Bruce has seen him) All they have is a picture of his Face from CCTV footage.

Oracle then gets a match for his face on a lesser used streaming and video platform (prolly called something dumb like Spookytube) Danny and Team Phantom look like kids posting their own music and little skits of them playing around and being kids. It’s when she gets into the account that things take a turn.

Unlisted and privated videos show the trio going about their days, testing new inventions, showing the weirdness of Amity park like it’s nothing special and complaining about parents. (Danny could already be Phantom at this point)

There’s a few videos where things really start changing. The group video themselves coming across a gather in the woods outside of Amity late one night. It’s revealed that the older generations of the town are the leaders of a cult and plan to use the next generation in some form of ritual.

The next videos are of the team and others of their generation and younger figuring out an escape plan and executing it. Using the channel and its privated videos to communicate as each of the team members separates with a group of kids to escape. The videos are check ins, information and worst of all showing that they didn’t get out of Amity unscathed.

Lots of liminal kids have now scattered into large moving groups that are being pursued by the Cult of Amity. All being led and coordinated by the (possible) long lost son of Bruce Wayne. And the kids friends and elder sister.

I feel like at some point Danny would be alive streaming to the channel just chatting with his friends and stuff when he is found and attacked by the Amity Cult. Of course the BatFam were watching and trying to track his location cause the kids like 14 and on the road taking care of like a group of 10 kids his age and younger.

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chikifumoto

5 years ago

I love this

Soft Jock AU - First Time of Consideration

A one-shot for the Soft Jock AU that I’m taking part in with @novantinuum, @ftecho4, @saiscribbles, @ashidaii, @universallywriting, @fermented-writers-block, and a few others.

—–

An expresso.

Five creams. One sugar.

Enough to bring enthusiasm into a person’s day, even if it meant that day was toiling with academics and personal grievance, which Connie Maheswaran definitely didn’t have. Not in the slightest. If she was, she would be more than welcome to groan and toil about than just complain about it.

Right. Maybe. She didn’t know if her mind was working with the caffeine, but at least she had an ounce of consciousness.

The cup of coffee sullen her mood, clasped in her hands as the piano music of the café reassured her mind that something will come out of this. A lone plate, crumbs strewn, with a rumple of ripped tissue were what remained of her sandwich. She just had to work on the pages in front of her—mathematics scattered like ants—and then she could have some peace. Maybe a muffin too if her mind wasn’t peckish.

“Connie?” The girl blinked, languid-eyed, as a new face sat down opposite from her. This was a café, of course, someone would take the seat opposite her, but why would they was the question here. When the sleep wore off, and she saw who was actually in front of her, she got her answer: bushy-crowned, smile the icon of a million rays, Steven Quartz Universe (gem piercing and everything) was sitting in front of her. “You okay?”

The athlete spotting her at the local joint shouldn’t be a surprise. But it was. Enough to have her stare at him with unashamed stiffness, like she was viewing an anomaly alike to the Loch Ness monster. “What are you doing here?”

“I usually go here?” He responded, countenance morphing with his confusion. His hand placed down a sweet-smelling bag, wafting of sugar and chocolate. “The group loves to grab doughnuts before we hit the town, but when I saw you here, I thought it would be great to meet up.”

That’s a classic Steven Universe move. Out of everyone she has met in Ocean Town Academy, she never expected people to broaden their horizons over friendships other than their typical clique. It’s hard to talk to people so the fact that people such as Steven Universe exist in her university makes it harder to describe. Was it a coincidence that this charismatic boy has the biggest set of connections because of his preppy sports team? One could coin a conspiracy, but she’d like to think something was going on with his family, preferably lots of money or lessons in etiquette.

But, to be fair, she never really talked to him until both of them planned his astrophysics tutoring, being a soft-spoken young adult that didn’t look the type to be part of the rumors that tailed him. There were rumors of him, of things he’s done, or the plots his friends got involved in, mostly in road trips and orientation-exploring escapades with boys; not at all secure, yet intriguing to think about from an outsider perspective—it seemed like he attracted a lot of attention that she, herself, never had the gall to attain.

What was his secret? Was it just as simple as charisma and extroverted intent? Or was it all a mask like those 80s and 90s high school movies she kept jotting through when her parents weren’t home?

“Uhm, Connie?” She snapped out of it. Steven had his eyebrows skewed, looking at her like she just resurrected in front of him in an instant he pulled her back to Earth—which must’ve been the case, considering how confused he looked.

“Erm, uh, yes?” Great going, now he thinks you’re inattentive. Connie took a sip from her coffee, wincing at the slight burn on her tongue. “What did you say?”

“I asked if you wanted to go hang out with me and the girls.” His smile beamed like always, but the question shook her to her core; leaving her wide-eyed and placid. “I want to get to know you better, and what’s better than a trip to a laser light show?”

“Right now?”

“Yep!”

He had to be joking. But can this boy joke with such tooth-rotting sincerity? It had to kill someone, eventually. “I don’t know. Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to disturb you.”

“It’s no biggie.” He said, Connie looking down to realize that he wasn’t in the cheering attire she’d seen him tow around. Instead, he was wearing a blue-yellow letterman jacket, cartoon t-shirt hanging between the folds like a snapshot. “We have a lot of room in Natalie’s van. I can help introduce you to everyone!”

What part of this world allowed this guy to stride on over to her and ask her to get into an anonymous van? She wasn’t that gullible. “I don’t think I’m comfortable being in a van with a huge group of people.”

“Oh, you don’t like getting squished?” He asked. And it was seeping of genuine intent, the innocence shielding him from the awkward contexts that hung over her words. “I mean, you can go into shotgun if you’d like?”

“I don’t think I’d like that either.”

“So, it’s a no then?” There was still some hope in his voice. Sweet and gentle.

She grimaced even more. “It’s a no.”

“Oh. Well, that’s okay.” Even with her reluctance and weariness, there was a part of her that winced over his voice. It revealed too much disappointment, like the intent wasn’t of malice but of something pure and simple—Connie wondering if her brain was on haywire or if the lights were too bright or if her tension got to him. She had no clue what made her feel so guilty at this moment. “I still would like to befriend you more, so I hope to see you at the library on Wednesday.”

Wednesday. The day when the first tutoring session shall begin. Pressing up her glasses, Connie affirmed to it, her tongue cotton. “I’ll have my schedule cleared up just for you.”

“Thanks, Connie, you’re the best!” He placed a solitary coco-glazed doughnut onto her plate, and then, giving her a quick and chipper wave, walked out with the rest of his pastries.

Eyeing through the café windows, she spotted the van in the vast parking lot—a cheerleader leaping onto him in a bear hug before the two of them disappeared into the vehicle. And with that, it buckled out of the parking space and drove out of her sight.

She huffed, continuing to eye the coffee lulling in her container. She wondered what would have happened if she accepted his offer. Would it have made a difference?

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chikifumoto

1 month ago

There's something falling from the sky, and Clark, Kon, and Kara are all off planet. Martha prepares as best as she can.

Because it looks like it's making a beeline for her fields.

She has no idea what makes her fields such a magnet for this, but she's certain it's not an asteroid. She couldn't say how she knows, just that she does.

It looks like a ship of some sort, with blinking lights and reflective surfaces.

She's debating on whether or not to sound the alarm and call one of Clark's friends, since she doesn't know if this alien will be friendly or not, when she notices something.

That ship isn't coming in smooth.

It is, in fact, tearing itself apart the lower it gets.

Then, with a final, ear piercing boom, it completely shatters.

Martha's eye is drawn to a rather round piece that broke off and shot towards the very edge of her property.

She doesn't call one of Clark's friends.

She gets the first aid kit and gets in the truck.

~~~~~~

Dan is flying the Specter Speeder through the Infinite Realms, an unconscious Danny on the floor of it behind him.

The twerp's injured.

He can't treat him.

He has to outrun the GIW and their own Speeders.

In desperation, he does a hard turn right into a temporary portal. The kind that blinks out of existence almost as soon as they get made.

He appears in the exosphere of another Earth.

No GIW Speeder follows him, but he's got a new problem; this thing isn't meant for the force re-entering Earth's atmosphere will put on it.

He puts it on autopilot, ordering it to find an empty area with good Ley Lines, and turns to start arranging both himself and Danny into the escape pod.

He can't activate it, or it'll also be subjected to the forces currently tearing the Speeder apart.

He'll have to stay in the pod, shielding his clone/twin as best as he can, while they hurtle towards Earth.

The last thing he remembers is the pod breaking away from the Speeder and hitting the ground.

The next thing he knows, he's waking up on the floor of a farmhouse, covered in bandages.

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chikifumoto

4 years ago

Blue Connie AU Ep3 Part 4

Previous Next

Reblogs are extremely appreciated!

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chikifumoto

4 months ago

Surprise! Your brother is alive!

While Tim was working with the Ra's and the League of Assassins he learned that Damian had a twin that went missing a few years before Damian came to Gotham. This is information he took a mental note of for later as he was more concerned with find Bruce at the time.

It's something he honestly forgets about though, and it isn't until months had passed after the time stream incident that he even recounted it. When he does Tim decides that maybe finding out what happened to Damian's twin would help mend their own relationship.

Thinking that maybe the reason Damian is so angry is because he never got to properly bury his, at the time, assumed dead brother. Only Tim doesn't find something that needs to be buried; he finds Danny Fenton.

Now Tim knows that he should probably go and inform Damian and Bruce that their brother and son respectively is alive. But that would ruin the surprise reveal he was already planning out in his head so he doesn't do that. Instead, Tim travels to Amity Park with one goal in mind: Convince Danny to come back to Gotham with him.

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chikifumoto

5 years ago