Minty [phm pilled]

Every week I pull data on how many fics are in each fandom and compare to the previous week, then calculate the percentage increase to determine fastest growing fandoms.  Since this naturally skews towards smaller fandoms, I have included the same data filtered to Over 1k, 5k, & 10k fics.

Overall:

Over 1,000 Fics:

Over 5,000 Fics:

Over 10,000 Fics:

So, the idea was:

In circumstances that aren’t exactly clear, Bruce and Harvey end up deaged, together. But not to cute kids, instead to teenagers. Probably around 16 or so. I don’t actually know how teen Bruce was like from the comics, but i always imagine that at this age especially, he doesn’t care for his life. He has accepted that he will die before he’s 20. He drinks, he smokes, he does drugs he probably shouldn’t. He doesn’t care for himself. He’s been through so much so quickly. Alfred and Leslie weren’t great guardians, being subjected to galas alone added to his addictions, not to mention the time in Arkham.

Harvey can either be similar in that he’s just in it for the ride, or, in a sadder sense, Harvey could be legitimately thinking of his future. He doesn’t want to die like Bruce does. He wants to go to college, he wants to fight for the betterment of Gotham, still choosing to stick to Bruce’s side, knowing he can’t prevent his friend’s death, but wanting to try anyway. It’s worse if they’re together, dating, because how can you fully love someone who isn’t planning to stay? And if you do truly love them with all your heart, the stress of never knowing when they’ll leave you sours the enjoyment of loving them.

I’m not really sure whose reaction I was considering when this idea popped up. Maybe the batkids? Maybe the other rouges? Both are tragic in different aspects. The rouges have seen this before, they’ve lived this, and doing it again, older, knowing and having the experience they now have is hard, it’s painful in a new way.

Meanwhile with the kids it’s the lack of knowledge that makes it devastating, expecting their dad to be similar to how he was before, brooding and strict, but not this. Yes, Tim might have more experience having seen Bruce after Jason’s death, but even that wasn’t couldn’t prepare him for this experience. But also seeing Harvey before the acid, the hope he had to better Gotham, the dream that could have been him and Bruce in the future once Bruce had grown.

Another idea was oliver? Being violently reminded of how destructive Bruce was at that age, seeing it from the perspective of someone older, not a teenager in a similar situation.

Do with this idea what you want, anything you write is great! Hope you have a good day!

Bruce loves Harvey. He's just certain he isn't worth sticking around for, and that Harvey will leave eventually. He loves Harvey, but can't date him, because he knows he's a destructive force. Harvey is destined for great things, and Bruce doesn't want to ruin that, no matter how much he loves Harvey.

Fuck society, fuck all the hate, fuck the press, fuck every homophobe out there, that doesn't matter. But Harvey does. And Bruce won't put his dark stain on Gotham's white knight

Harvey can't fight Bruce's logic. He can never be DA if he's gay. He can't help Gotham if they hate his love.

So they stay friends.

For their family, all they ever knew them as was friends. But seeing them at this age, it's clear that's not all they were. It's clear they were so much more.

The way Bruce, high off his face, helps Harvey study, quizzing him and grading his answers. The way Harvey holds Bruce as he throws up, frowning, angry, but still helping him through bad reactions to the drugs.

The way Harvey holds Bruce through his nightmare, sprinting down the hall to his room at the first scream, letting Bruce cry into his chest. The way Bruce sobers up in an instant when Harvey switches, when his alter comes through and Bruce keeps everyone away, gives Harvey time to come to, and watches like a hawk to make sure he's safe.

The way Harvey decks a JL member for making a passing comment about Bruce using so many drugs, snarling that they have no idea what he's been through, and they start to clue in from overhears whispers that the murder wasn't the only thing Bruce went through when he was younger. The way Bruce manages to take down three of them in a matter of seconds for calling Harvey 'Two Face', thinking they're being abelist.

Oliver seems incredibly emotional watching them. Harvey hangs off his shoulders and climbs on his back, while Bruce lies strewn across his lap like all three of them are teenagers again.

"Do I make it?" Harvey asks, and Oliver swallows.

"You become the DA. You change Gotham every day."

Bruce doesn't ask about his own future much. The kids earn themselves a disbelieving look when they label themselves as his kids, and not much else, save for one question as he cuddles up to Oliver, blunt still dangling from his fingertips. "Are Harv and I still close?"

"You're the biggest funder for his campaign. You help him on cases alongside the Commissioner."

Harvey looks at the kids, who don't know what to say, and Dick steps forward. "You're my Uncle Harv. I hope you'll forgive me for growing out of saying it, though," he lies, but they agreed not to tell them the truth.

Harvey laughs, a glint of suspicion in his eyes, and nods. "We can't stay kids forever. But I'm sure I know you love me."

Dick smiles, and hides trembling hands. "I hope so."

Bruce and Harvey are spelled back to how they're meant to be, and it's quiet. A room full of people trying to reconcile these men are the same boys they just met, and two men viciously reminded of how much they've changed.

Oliver steps forward, jaw set. "Come on, Harvey."

He nods, moving to him, but Bruce catches his hand, and pulls him back. They slam together in a furious kiss, fueled by desperation and decades of unsaid feelings. "I'm sorry," Bruce gasps, cupping his cheeks and Harvey pants against him.

"Don't be, baby. You're living for the both of us. I couldn't ask for anything better."

Bruce steps back, and Oliver guides Harvey away. He stops moving in front of Dick, and they stare at each other.

"I don't forgive you," Dick says firmly. "For any of it."

Harvey nods. "I know." A small smile appears. "But I also know."

Dick trembles. "Good." He darts forward, slamming into a hug. Harvey clutches back just as hard, and Bruce walks over, putting a hand on Dick's shoulder. His other finds Harvey's, and they hold hands for a beat before letting go, and Dick steps back with Bruce. Harvey gives them one last look, then finally leaves the room.

Oliver motions to go after him, but Jason stops him. "We'll take him," he says quietly, and Cass and Tim follow him out.

Oliver wavers in place, then goes to Bruce, and is welcomed into a hug alongside Dick. "I didn't realise how much I missed him," he croaks, and Bruce leans into him.

maybe after he tries to make friends with clark and diana, he also tries and fails to connect with the others without realizing it. barry talks to hal about science stuff and he tries to jump in and they kinda go “…. okay” and keep talking about what they were talking about. he thinks talking to oliver will be better once its later on and he joins but they simply dont click like they used to (maybe even if this is a scenario with oliver and bruce childhood friends, when oliver came back he fell for the shallow “brucie” facade and felt extremely disappointed in bruce? causing tension?) idk … bruce just being unable to connect / being isolated from the rest of the league because there’s something “off” about him is just. very good food. make that man sadder and more insecure !!! yay!!!!

*cough* the "off" is just autism *cough*

It's fine! It's fine! He can have J'onn.

Au where J'onn joins later, after the JL has already formed. After he's already 'screwed up' making something more than just a working relationship out of his teammates. J'onn finds himself fascinated by how Bruce's brain darts from topic to topic at a moment's notice, how ideas spring to mind from the smallest prompt, his mind filled with such life, in a way most brains aren't.

Bruce is listening to Clark and Hal discuss the aerodynamics of his ability to fly, running a mantra in his mind that his input isn't welcome despite the contributions he knows would fit the conversation. He doesn't expect the subtle impression of words in his mind, a warm feeling down his spine that he thinks might be a smile. I'll listen, if you want. I wish to know.

He looks at J'onn on the other side of the room, who waa accepted so seamlessly, and can't help but smile, and pushes his thoughts on the topic towards him.

J'onn confesses what it was like on Mars, how he misses it, and Bruce just shrugs. "Use my brain." So they form a mental link, tossing half-formed thoughts and ideas towards each other from across the world, across galaxies, and play innocent when the other leaguers ask what the two of them are giggling at.

"I didn't get to see my daughter grow up," J'onn tells Bruce one day. "But I like to think she would have been like you."

He might have said the words aloud, but Bruce pokes around in what he's thinking, everything unspoken, and offers entry towards his own.

J'onn, an older figure, taking Bruce under his wing, the kind of guiding hand he had dozens of, the affectionate arm around his shoulders he never experienced past age eight. The kind of person he wished took custody of him after the murder, in the quiet of his mind, never to be said aloud.

He still doesn't. But J'onn hears it anyway, and envelopes Bruce in a hug.

Dick is the first, when one day, half-asleep, he bids his "Grandpa J'onn" goodnight. Bruce scuttles off with Dick, mortified as he tucks him in, until he feels their mental bond explode with joy, and realises J'onn doesn't mind. Quite the contrary, actually.

The JL don't know until Bruce is captured on a mission. They are working themselves to the bone to get him back, even not friends they are still teammates and there a loyalty there, but don't expect J'onn to crack.

"Don't pretend you care," he hisses. "Not when you have ostracised and cast him aside for years."

"We don't have to be buddy-buddy with the guy to give a shit about him, J'onn. Not being bezzies doesn't mean we want Batman to stay a prisoner of war, and I'm sure you don't want Batman to stay there either."

"I don't care about Batman."

"Then w—"

Yous are just tryna make me sad

Dick stares at Bruce's bedroom door, then turns around and walks away. Two minutes later, he drops into the room from the ceiling, and lies down on the floor. Bruce doesn't look at him, and no part of them touches until Dick tips his hand and links their pinkies together.

"I did it again," Bruce eventually whispers, and Dick wanta to fight someone at the broken tone. He's sick of Bruce always working to be palateable for the world, and the world spitting him back out and rejecting his efforts.

"Donna said Diana mentioned you stopped hanging around with her and Clark. Wanted to know what changed."

"Yeah, I'm sure she was toasting to it." Bruce's voice isn't bitter, just resigned, and Dick hates it. Hates it. Bruce does so much for the world, for everyone, and never gets anything back. 'I got you chum,' Bruce says when Dick voices that, and Dick doesn't understand how he is enough for Bruce to sound like he's all he needs for that.

He doesn't start that argument again, and lolls his head to the side, looking away from Bruce. It won't help if he does.

"Why? I won't tell Donna if you don't want me to."

"What it always is, Dickie. I overstepped, I overshared, and I didn't realise. I thought their kindness was friendship, but it was just civility."

"You don't know—"

"I do now. And maybe I did all along."

Stupid Superman. Stupid Wonder Woman.

"Then they're missing out."

"On what? A broken mind, a man that can't read social cues and has to study them just to make it through a three-hour gala unscathed? A man that either bottles everything up, or overshares everything, rarely with an in between? A man that has to rely on a thirteen year old for emotional support?"

He can hear Bruce shutting down, and panics. "Bruce—"

"I apologise, Dick, this was innappropriate of me, as always."

"No, it's not. I am your—" Son is on the tip of his tongue. "—ward, and—"

"Exactly, Dick. The onus is on me to raise you, not the other way around. So, ah." Bruce stands, and Dick sees him wipe at his cheeks before turning and offering Dick a hand up. "How about we go downstairs? I know I promised you we'd make cookie dough and hide it from Alfred after that bust last week. You still up for it?"

Dick stares at the hand extended to him, and sighs. "Sure, Bruce. But I get half of yours," he orders, taking the help up, and Bruce laughs, tugging him under his arm while they make for the door.

Don't get me wrong, that man is built. But he's also built like an upside down doritos chip, wide shoulders and broad chests that narrows down to a slim as fuck, practically nonexistent, cunt-serving waist. And the only people who knows this are his family, or people who know Brucie.

* New student, very small. Grace said it was pebble. Pebble is small Earth rock. Pebble likes name.

* He found out Eridians have no gender rules.

* Students brought him mineral sample. After he stopped crying he said he loves show-and-tell game. Human naming conventions oddly literal.

* I told him Earthsun grew bright.

* I took him up atop atmosphere bypass elevator to look at stars.

* He woke up from nap and found me still with him. I did not wait on his chest; he says I am heavy like “elephant” and he “couldn’t breathe.” I laid my arm over him instead, kept him close, feeling safe. He said “cuddle” was warm.

* Before class he heard younglings singing.

* He has plants in house from sprouts on ship. Plant grew “bud.”

* Engineers got seawater temperature right. He took off shoes and stood in water, sighing. He didn’t care about pants getting damp. Cried until shirt was also damp. Humans very endlessly wet.

* He missed “Doritos.”

* Adrian helped food scientists make taumoeba dried paste. Made it crunchy after heating. We fused it into triangle form. Told him it was Tauritos. That made him laugh-cry. Laugh-cry is rare and precious.

* He remembered Eridians have no gender rules.

* We made him celebration outfit. Used metals he calls pretty. He can see frequencies named “colorful” and “shiny.” These make humans happiest.

* I gave him hug when he wasn’t expecting it. Easier to hug close now with exosuit. Hug when Grace sitting down so he does not fall over.