There are times when intimacy between you and Damian does not mean sex. It's just pure love and need-need in a way that you want the other to be as full as you.

Kissing? It doesn't have to be hasty. When he kisses you, he kisses you expensively, generously-kissing you where you like it. Light, ghost kisses from your shoulders to your neck, jawline, cheeks, and finally, your sweet lips.

The lips where he gently asks for entrance. Lips where he coaxes his own to intertwine his tongue with yours. No hurry, of course-lapping up every sound that comes out of your mouth. He doesn't care if it's messy. All he cares about is that it's passionate-kissing you like he'll die the second he pulls away. Hands playing with your hair like how he plays with you with his mouth, matching you in pace, volume, and intensity.

Tongue gliding with yours like a dance. Oh, how he loves it. How he loves you.

which honestly, I'm sorry, that's total bullshit. If we made a list of every single comic book character with racist origins/tropes baked into their beings -- we'd come up with more than half (at least) of all comic book characters. That's not even just DC and Marvel, if we include early comic strips and marketing campaigns/brands -- it'd be way more. Not to to mention the sheer number of white comic characters who get involved in racist stories and whose existence's have been used to essentially justify the creation of such racist side characters/villains/plots. Everyone blames Damian's character for ruining modern Talia, but no one blames Bruce as the entire reason she's written that way in current publications.

Fraction's run is emblematic of this -- like, looking past any of his prejudices -- and just at the double-spread pages/panels:

Why is Talia being portrayed like this? Because Bruce (Fraction) needs to justify why Damian is Robin to Annika (the readers). Talia is being dragged down because Bruce needs a convoluted excuse for why his son is the sidekick to Batman, but that he isn't Batman, either. (Side note: Bruce's speech in the textboxes reads like a racist man belittling his ethnic ex-wife and justifying why he isn't raising/connecting with his mixed son....to his new girlfriend...) Fraction has done this because he apparently couldn't come up with anything else.

All this to say, I don't like the moral hand-wringing some people have about characters like Talia and Damian. Even if you are acknowledging and criticizing the racist writing/tropes there, if you're not also advocating for better -- and instead just going "oh well....its not like we can change anything...why don't we just leave those characters alone?" -- you are spineless to me. You are essentially claiming that racism is inevitable and unchangeable, and that we can't expect any better from a comic book company much less anyone else. Instead, we must reward mediocrity and accept bad products and bad art.

Also, it's not like change has never happened. When writers actually care, characters like Shang Chi or lore like Iron Fist's can be made better. Yes, their racist origins will never be erased from history -- but writers can absolutely do more to not repeat that past. To that point, Damian is in a slightly more unique position in that he has more than one "proto"/alternate versions of him -- some of which prove that Damian's backstory could be altered to still include Bruce and Talia as his parents without bringing either down (Tallant Wayne.) I also don't think it'd be impossible to alter his characteristics to lessen the blow on Talia or Ras, while keeping the key points of his personality and lore.

maybe they've had negative experiences in past relationships and have kind of given up on it altogether. so when the boys try to flirt or indicate they're interested they don't take it seriously, or think the boys are messing with them.

also, how would the boys try to earn the readers trust? what would their reaction be to the reader not taking their advances seriously?

“No other heart will do.”

3 posts in one day? Look at me go!

Batboys x Reader :Cynical!Reader

Bruce Wayne

•Bruce realizes fairly quickly that you don’t reject romance because you dislike it,you reject it because you don’t believe it lasts.

•Every compliment he gives you is met with, “You’re just being polite,” or, “You’ll change your mind eventually.”

•The first time he asks you to dinner, you genuinely assume it’s a business meeting.

“…Bruce, you know you don’t have to pity-date me.”

•He blinks. “I wasn’t aware I was.”

•Bruce doesn’t try to argue you into believing him. He knows trust isn’t built through speeches.

•Instead, he’s relentlessly consistent. He calls when he says he will, remembers the little things you mention, shows up when he promises, and never pressures you to define the relationship before you’re ready.

•What surprises you most is that he never seems offended when you doubt him. There’s a flicker of sadness sometimes, but never anger.

•Eventually he tells you quietly, “You don’t have to believe in love today. Just believe that I’ll be here tomorrow.” Then he proves it.

⸻

Dick Grayson

•Dick flirts so naturally that you assume he flirts with everyone exactly the same way.

“You’re beautiful.”

“You probably say that to all your friends.”

“…I absolutely do not.”

•The first few times, he thinks you’re joking.

•Then he realizes you genuinely don’t believe he’s serious.

• That realization breaks his heart a little.

•Instead of turning the flirting up, he changes tactics.

•He starts showing you affection through actions rather than words,bringing you coffee before you ask, saving you the last slice of pizza because he knows it’s your favorite, walking you home even if it means going out of his way.

•If you thank him and say, “You don’t have to do all this,” he just smiles.

“I know.”

•Dick wants you to feel loved before you ever feel obligated to say it back.

•He never rushes you, even when he desperately wants to.

⸻

Jason Todd

•Jason catches on almost immediately because he recognizes the habit of expecting disappointment.

•Every time he says something genuine, you brush it off.

“You’re incredible.”

“You’re laying it on a bit thick.”

“…No. I’m really not.”

•At first he gets frustrated,not with you, but with whoever made you think sincerity always comes with an ulterior motive.

•He stops trying to impress you and starts focusing on making you feel safe.

•Giving you a spare key without expecting one back.

•Showing up when you need help without making you feel like you owe him.

•Never disappearing after difficult conversations.

•One night you quietly ask, “Why are you still here?”

•Jason looks genuinely confused.

“Because I said I would be.”

⸻

Tim Drake

•Tim initially assumes you’ve simply missed his hints.

•Then you respond to him asking, “Can I take you to dinner?” with,

“Sure, as friends.”

•He pauses.

“…That wasn’t what I meant.”

• You laugh awkwardly because you think he’s teasing.

•Tim quickly realizes your instinct is to reinterpret anything romantic into something safer.

•Instead of making bigger gestures, he becomes incredibly clear.

“I’m flirting with you.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“…Why?”

•That question catches him off guard.

•He spends a long moment looking at you before answering honestly.

“Because I like who you are when nobody’s watching.”

•Tim earns your trust through transparency. No mixed signals, no games, no making you guess what he’s thinking.

•He knows uncertainty only feeds your doubts, so he chooses clarity every time.

⸻

Damian Wayne

•Damian is baffled the first time you dismiss his interest.

“I enjoy your company.”

“You’re being nice.”

“…No. I am expressing interest.”

•You assume he’s joking.

•He does not joke.

•Once he understands your reluctance comes from past hurt rather than lack of interest, his approach becomes surprisingly patient.

• He never mocks your cynicism or tells you to “just trust him.”

•Instead, he quietly becomes one of the most reliable people in your life.

•If you need him, he’s there.

• If he makes a promise, he keeps it.

•If he says he’ll protect your heart, his actions begin reflecting that long before you believe the words.

• The day you finally admit, “I keep waiting for you to get tired of me,” Damian’s expression softens.

•He takes your hand and replies simply,

Batman #11