#keloid

After the whole joker junior thing Tim has the smile scars on his face but they’re keloid scars so they’re puffy and red and so so fucking noticeable. They’re the first thing anyone notices about him and it hurts and itches and some nights he just sits there frantically clawing at them to get them off nails catching on the raised tissue until he’s sedated.

When Jason comes back he finds him in titan’s tower but the sight of the red scars through as him into a flash back and all of the sudden he’s back in that warehouse with the joker and he’s fighting for his life except this time he’s winning and he’s finally gonna kill that son of a bitch until he’s not. Until he’s standing over the broken body of a boy. Until he looks at the blood coating his hands and he’s hyperventilating and he can’t see Tim’s chest rise and fall panic clouding his gaze because oh god he just put another bird in the ground. The red hood just killed another robin.

When Damian first sees him he is terrified. The scars meant he fought a brutal battle. The scars meant he faced enemies with no mercy. The scars meant he lived to tell the tale. And he was meant to kill him? To take his place? To be better? Better than the boy who bested his father’s worst enemy, who killed Jason. He had to aim to kill. He had to outsmart him undermine him before he became nothing but another battle scar that littered his skin, raised and ugly.

Bruce can’t look at the scars, can’t look him in the eye. Too overwhelmed by guilt and only able to the monster that carved them into his face and not the boy underneath.

As requested by @i-am-a-radioactive-paperclip :)

Previously in this series: Leshwi/Kaladin, Kaladin/Lezian, Shallan/Vin, Kaladin/Kelsier, Renarin/Rlain, Shakadolin, Shallan/Kaladin, Kaladin/Adolin, Jasnah/Shallan, and Raboniel/Navani.

Note: this post does not contain any WAT spoilers or Era 2 spoilers (to the best of my ability) per requester's request. I'm assuming Secret History spoilers are a go!

1. Vin

Vin: Kelsier is dating...that one beggar who gave him information sometimes...? Vin: ... Vin: But why

2. Shallan

Shallan: [solemnly hands Hoid a plaque] Shallan: I thought talking about poop on a first date was bad. Shallan: But corpse-surfing into a room and then beating a guy up? Now that's bad. Hoid: [reading the plaque] "Worst...first...impression...award"? Shallan: You've earned it, champ.

3. Tress

Tress: Didn't Hoid call this guy his "old nemesis"? Tress: Why would they date if they're enemies? Salay: [putting a gentle hand on Tress's shoulder] Are you in good place to learn information that might hurt you? Tress: ...Yes? Salay: Sometimes, when people hate each other in the right way...

4. Marsh

Marsh: After Mare, I didn't really believe that my brother would ever date again. Marsh: But I didn't consider the possibility that he might date someone who is functionally immortal. Marsh: ... Marsh: I guess he really doesn't want to go through that loss again.

5. Frost

Frost: Hoid, who can do no violence (and yet insists on getting overly involved anyway) is now dating a man who kills as easily as he once breathed. Frost: Hoid has an attack dog. Frost: ... Frost: I do not like where this is going.

6. Jasnah

Hoid: Fired from being the Queen's Wit?! But why? Jasnah: You are dating the head of the organization that orchestrated my assassination. Hoid: ... Hoid: ... Hoid: Oh. Right.

7. Leras

Leras: Kelsier, listen, I get it. Leras: Dating the dangerous bad boy is thrilling. Leras: But then, before you know it, you're trapped on a planet together in a choking, toxic relationship! Kelsier: [glaring] Leras: I-I'm telling you this as a friend! Kelsier: Are you implying that I'm NOT the dangerous bad boy in this relationship?! Leras: ... Leras: It may be too late for me to help you.

8. Ati

Ati: Kelsier, listen, I get it. Ati: As a certified god-puncher, you wanna date the guy who killed the god. Kelsier: ....and? Ati: Hmm? No, that's it. Ati: I'm saying I get it. This relationship makes total sense to me. Kelsier: ... Kelsier: That's the opposite of comforting...

9. Design

Design: Hoid, are you erotically inclined toward men you can beat up? Design: Does that make you a "dom"? Design: If so, isn't pretty sad that your soulweb literally prevents you from doing violence? Design: Will the sex therefore be somewhat hollow and unsatisfying for you? Forever? Design: Is that why you look so grumpy right now? Design: Hey how come you're ignoring me?

10. Sazed