yastaghr

Danny has been reincarnated.

Which was an odd thing to realize, it wasn't even a slow one he just... snapped into it one day. One moment he was staring at a wall out of boredom the next, well, he was staring for an entirely different reason.

It was a task for his now young -he thinks around three years old?- mind to work its way through the memories, but it wasn't like he had much else to do honestly. So, what does he know?

His name is Danny, like, his actual name and not just a moniker. He was once a halfa and he already knows he's going to be missing invisibility and intangibility. He, well, died. For like, a second time which actually makes sense because reincarnation-

Anyways.

He was a clone of two people from this thing called the Justice League which, weird name but probably some government or activist group. Wonder Woman and Superman. Which were pretty weird names to name your kids but eh.

He doesn't really remember much besides that from this life, or the one from before but he's an adult! He'll figure things out once he gets out of this containment tube thing.

Did he mention he was in a test tube? He's a tube baby now. He thinks? Or maybe it's more like he's being contained.

Whatever.

So he breaks out. Thank you apparent superstrength that he has no idea why he has but he's not going to complain! He then wandered around all of the other test tubes, able to remember just enough of English to see that yea, they're dead.

He probably was too, before he had memories zapped into him. Or a vegetable.

He then finds this really big container, checks it out, then opens it because the clone inside isn't dead!

'Project Match' it said. He'll just call him Match.

Was he thanked for helping him? Nope. You would think that he would be thanked or at least somewhat respected for saving this guy but nope!

He was, quite literally, held up by his leg and dangled in the air. Who dangles a three-year-old?! Well, he was technically and adult but still! The next few things were a blur but after pulling off the old Fenton charm he found him and Match outside as he tried to stop him from attacking random people.

Luckily the charms and privilege of the youngest (he's assuming he's the youngest, because he's physically three) was more than enough to get through to him. Sure, the guy couldn't form words, really aggressive for literally no reason, really weird but also absolutely cool looking eyes. But he worked around the first issue by developing their own personal language from like grunts and stuff, the second he once again used his youngest privilege to boss him around and the third a pair of sunglasses easily fixed.

He just had to steer Match clear of those random S crest mark thingies. Which was a weird thing to hate but hey, he's not there to judge.

rosinkattery

I need for the two of them to have their own adventures before being discovered. Like I need them to become Metropolis' own cryptids for a little bit, like a few weeks at least.

Maybe they break into a library at nightime? Or, Danny gets Match sunglasses and a hat. Shows him how to slouch like a teen. And casually Saunters in. Look, they need information. Libraries have books! Books he can read to get information! They also have magazines and newspapers. Danny needs!! And, he can play baby. Big bro is moody! So he doesn't talk. He's just here so I can read books while Mom and Dad are at work. Honest! And well, grouchy meta teens aren't unknown. Sure the older one should probably be in school. But, it is a library. So clearly he has a chance to learn. They don't know the kids circumstances. Sure hon. There's the kids section. Oh, your big bro wants the news too? Ok honey.

joyisntdeadyet

Oh my gosh I forgot about libraries, how could I have forgotten about those (it's the sleep deprivation lol)

I bet they do both. Metropolis? Probably has more than one library, and I bet the first few times they end up kind of breaking in, but they're also trying to not bring attention to themselves, so once they have those supplies like actual clothes? Oh yeah. And Oh my god Match with the sunglasses and leather jacket of the comic superboy is such a fun idea-

Is what I'm about to add about to move the plot forward? Maybe, may not but I wanna add these thoughts anyway.

Moving right back around to my comment about Match holding Danny upside down by his leg, I like to think that him doing that is either a normal or semi-normal thing. Like, he just does it for literally no reason most of the time and Danny? He's annoyed by it because, yea, he dangling and he's pretty sure Match is laughing (in his own way) at it too.

When he's actually annoyed with Danny (rare thing) he holds him up by the back of his shirt like an unruly kitten and Danny just, dangles there but in a different sort of way because the other grab was moreso kind of playful? This one is sort of 'Okay you've done something stupid' kind of hold and he knows that Match wouldn't hurt him but the silent disappoint works wonders.

Also that perching on the shoulder bit, Danny has gotten very good at climbing up Match to either stand or sit on his shoulder. And I'm also imagining that Match kinda picks him and places him up there too for one reason or another. Danny can stand or crouch on side of Match's shoulders while he's walking without effort.

Which is very off putting to see for anyone who manages to catch sight them from within the dark.

I see you calling them slightly feral, and I raise you this. Match is the more feral of the duo, Danny isn't as much because he has another life to draw from but Match? Match totally looks at a hissing cat and hisses back because he doesn't like the vibe he's being given and then scares said cat away because what comes out sounds goddamn unholy.

Another point for the cryptid vibe they could have going on.

Cause like, are you going to go check out the random, unholy demonic screeching coming from the darkness of an alley? Even Gothamites know not to do something like that!....They hope..

Also the thing you said about Danny and in the tags about Match being constantly alert for danger and I raise you this.

You're walking through Metropolis at night, phone in hand, flashlight in the other with your camera app primed and ready. You aren't looking to cause crime, but you're careful, nonetheless. You could always call Superman to get you out of danger, anyway.

Tonight, you're cryptid hunting.

Just for proof, you think. Walking through the dark alleys of Metropolis that you, previously, barely paid much attention to, the reason for this is because you overheard your friends talking about them, and even making jokes about Metropolis now having their own shadowy entities just like Gotham.

You weren't dared to do this, nor were you told to.

You were just curious.

Unfortunately, no matter how much you looked, you couldn't find them. Beginning to grow tired of searching, you look at the time on your phone to see it's currently past midnight at 2:59 AM.

You weren't paying much attention to what was in front of you and, as a single digit went up, you heard it. A slight huff, followed by clicks and small chirps.

It was 3:00, on the dot.

The witching hour.

It could be a coincidence, you think to yourself, but nonetheless you stride forwards. You try to walk quietly, keeping the light to just in front of you so you could work your way through your surroundings.

A sharp, short click rang out in the alleyway.

You raise your flashlight and the sight staring back at you nearly made you drop it.

There stood, more like slouched actually, a tall man? No, a boy, that just struck you the wrong way. Like there was something other about him and you would ping it as the boy's eyes looking inhuman, pure black sclera with light blue eyes that stared at you with all the focus of the goddamn sun. Yet it wasn't that, you couldn't place your finger on it exactly, but you could feel by the way your hairs raised that he wasn't human.

You stared at him, he stared at you. Time seemed to stand still until you blinked, eyes dry from being open for so long and then you realized.

He wasn't blinking.

You look down to avoid his gaze as a shiver ran down your spine, about to take a step back until you paused. There was... a child? Standing there, looking at your curiously from where he was stationed behind the bigger one. He looked and felt more human than the other one but as you looked closer you started to notice some things.

His skin looked smooth and not in the way a usual child's would be. More like how a statue or pottery looked smooth, sculpted with calm and perfect hands. His eyes were bright, so much so that you thought they were glowing for a moment, but that might just be the light from the flashlight.

The thought suddenly hit you like a brick to a window. Even though they were right in front of you, your flashlight pointed directly at them and shining in their faces.

They were not squinting or shying away from it.

You were staring for too long. You thought later, thinking back on the moment that low, terrible hiss stated up. It still sent a shiver down your spine thinking about it.

At first, it sounded vaguely like a cat, but as it went on and got louder it started to sound like what you could only describe as if you walked on shattered glass mixed with a deep rumble and something else you couldn't quite place. Whatever it was, it didn't sound human, and you scrambled to just, get away from it and, before you could even begin to think that you were safe.

Footsteps.

It was chasing you.

Now, look, you were a grown adult. You had a job, pay taxes, all of the shit that came with regular adulthood. But faced with what you think was a demon from literal hell chasing you, you may have panicked a bit and blindly threw the nearest thing you could and sped up.

It was when you were a good few blocks away from that alleyway, trying to catch your breathing that you realized. Oh shit, you threw your flashlight.

You only had one of those.

And then, another moment later as you mourned its passing, you looked down at your phone and see that the main thing you came here for. A video.

You didn't press record.

Fuck.

Danny was a bit annoyed by the dangling, at first, but he honestly finds it funny now. He gets to wave his arms around and swing around and honestly, it's fun to do that now when they aren't worrying about not being seen or constantly moving.

He also takes to fidgeting with his newly gotten flashlight, not turning it on to save battery but he does pass it between his hands turns it up and down and throws it up into the air and back down into his hand.

Danny has been worrying about a lot of things, mostly about where they would get food, a place to sleep and hide away without being seen by other people. They get energy from the sun, yes, but Danny gets less from it than Match does, and they rarely get to sunbath properly anyways. Match was obviously worried about him and when he dropped Danny into the back of his hood when he refused to sleep, well.

It worked like an unexpected charm.

Danny was miffed about it the first few times, but he got used to it. Even demanding when he got tired of walking and Match, of course, indulged him. He has lists written about with things they need, which place they could feasibly target without being too suspicious and all the libraries in Metropolis he's aware of.

He was so lucky that it came with a pen.

Things were good, not great but also not bad. Even if the encounter where he got his flashlight scared them a bit about people looking for them, they managed to avoid anything else!

He could even say that things were looking up for them!

Which was when the universe decided to screw with him, apparently.

Because there was a dude, a guy, a rando, laid under a crumbled wall after having been punched by his big-little brother straight through the abandoned building they decided they were going to hold up in. Normally, they would have ran, and they are! Really!

But the guy had one of those S marks on his shirt. Which he recognized was commonly worn around by Superman from a few old newspapers he's found, and Match gave out the most animalistic, demonic growl he's ever heard.

With a strength and speed Danny didn't even know he possessed, Match sprang forward and just, punched the guy through the wall, scooped Danny up and ran.

Holy shit. They might have just killed a man.

That could have been a fan of Superman and a completely normal guy. Holy shit they might have just become murderers and more people would be looking for them and they might get thrown in jail or even worse back down there-

Safe to say, it took a lot of worried coos, hugs and purrs to get Danny to not spiral any further.

---

Superboy was just punched through the wall. It didn't even hurt.

The punch did.

Which was surprising as it was confusing. He was Superman's clone! Invulnerability was his thing! How did a simple punch hurt?

He was just curious of these cryptids that people were talking about, and then he found a three-year-old that he was really sure shouldn't have been there and was going to get him to a safer place. Then he heard one of the weirdest sounds he's ever heard before he was swung off his feet and blow into the nearest wall.

He's actually kinda glad he let go of the kid before that, otherwise he might have been a pancake.

After shrugging off the rubble he felt a bruise, a bruise, forming on his cheek.

That was weird.

Match Grab-the-Baby-and-Run El everyone. Lol.

So! A great source of food for homeless people who can get to it? Is Shop bins. Lots of places throw out perfectly edible food if they can't sell it. A lot put locks on the bins. Guess which two clones on the run have the ability to break said locks! That's right, our boys. It does mean the shops will have grainy footage of two blurs ripping open then bins, taking food, and then vanishing. But like, Danny and Match have food now!

Match? Constantly purring and keeping Danny close. He doesn't entirely understand what a panic attack is, but he knows whatever just happened to his little bro is bad.

Tim, Tim no! You are going to make them paranoid! Tim, you are going to spook the babies! Match is on fact baby. Danny? Might be a reincarnated soul. But his body? Baby. You can't bully babies!

Tim, you can't stalk the clone kids- They're barely able to go to a library without having a panic attack!

The funniest thing I can imagine is when they do actually come face to face with Superman it goes like: Match scooping Danny up and running, dropping him somewhere safe-ish for them and then immediately running back and going absolutely feral on Superman or something.

Or, alternatively, Danny's attention is occupied and Match fights Superman behind his back. He's not gonna win because Superman has had more access to sunlight, but still!

Anyways back on track.

Tim already got a picture of Batman before Robin training, now expect how much better he'll be with it. He wouldn't mean to but hr'd definitely scare the shit out of Danny and Match, seeing this, wouldn't really be holding back.

Funny how I just realized Match has no concept of morality and probably doesn't have a grasp on the concept of death either.

Annyways do you think Danny and Match are just... the local cryptids of the various libraries in Metropolis? Like, one day they appear in this one library and the next day they appear in one that's very far from said library?

It would be funny if they refer to them as cryptids (affectionate) because of their habit to just appear and disappear throughout Metropolis' libraries. Maybe they even have a bet on which ones they'll appear at next!

Another funny thing I thought of, like the hissing cat bit, so you think Match copies more animals than just that? He's already purring and hissing, why not add in a few barks here and there. So basically, what I mean is that Match bites when fighting, scratching and kinda just copies different animals because he, really, hasn't seen many people fighting to copy that.

Danny has an entire plan marked out in his notebook and clutches it like it's a lifeline because, well, it really is. Miraculously, the pen hasn't ran out of ink yet despite how often he's used it and, disregarding the guy Match either killed or severly injured, things are looking up for them!

He just needs a bit more paper to flesh out his plan and then avutally follow through with it!

Which is when tragedy strikes.

It was just so out of nowhere and Danny didn't think much of it. But he started to sniffling more, he started coughing and his body felt hotter even though he hasn't been out in the sun recently. Then he started sneezing a lot more and eww snot, it was harder for him to think and he was getting pretty sluggish too.

It took until a librian saying something that Danny realized.

Oh, he was sick.

He forgot that was a thing that happened and, really, who could blame him? Not Match, of course, he's too busy fretting over his little brother and doesn't know what do to. So he retreats back into the abandoned buildings and darkness of Metropolis to keep Danny safe until whatever... this is was over.

Which could be the perfect time for Tim to reenter the scene, along with the Young Justice, and offers aid to help Danny with a very distrustful and snarling Match.

Or, alternatively, Match was out trying to refollow the steps he took when Danny directed him to a place with food (the bin) abd, as much as he disliked leaving his little brother alone, they (more so Danny) needed to eat.

When he finally comes back Danny is gone. His tiny, kind, worrying, smart, caring little brother. Is gone.

So Match, already worried about his brother's seemingly random condition, for the first time since he was awake he feels scared and fear. Coupled all of that with his feral mind and pritectice big brother instincts.

Well.

You could say he would shed hiding and tear Metropolis apart is he coumd fine his baby brother.

First of all, love the idea of Match mimicking animals he sees because that is how children learn, is copying their surroundings. (Also mood with the draft vs post lol)

Not gonna lie, love the idea of Match being taught sign language by library volunteers during slow days! Danny would also try to learn too so they could better communicate with each other in public without being looked at too weirdly (because you know, speaking in a language made from grunts, chirps, etc) and I could even seeing a few people cooing over him because he's that determined to learn for his brother! Also because he's cute, and able to sit still for so long.

Young Justice when seeing sick Danny: Panik

Match when he comes back with food and can't hear his brother's heartbeat: Major panik

Feel like Match would be searching all over the place for Danny even though he already knows that Danny is gone but his hearing might just be wonky so there might be a small chance that Danny was still there.

When he doesn't find Danny, he searches around the immediate area, finds nothing.

Match knows he's supposed to be hiding in the shadows to avoid the lab people his brother is so afraid of and yea, he doesn't want to go back to unawareness either. But he can't find Danny, he's panicking, he's also very, very angry at whoever took Danny and both fearful at the same time.

So.

When he sees someone flying -Superman, the information in his mind supplied- and sees that S symbol with no Danny there to distract him or lead him away from it and just angry.

He crashes him head on and starts to fight with the reason he was made in the first place.

Meanwhile, the Young Justice team is kinda freaking out because they currently have a sick baby that, yea, they're treating but also because his big brother what do they do about him-

Okay so, maybe kidnapping wasn't the best idea, but the kid genuinely looked so miserable that they just had to help. also adding onto the fact, he was one of two cryptids they were hunting down. They do tease Connor a bit about how the kid clung onto him on the way back and is still kinda holding on to him.

Tim questioned if that was a Kryptonian thing.

Connor didn't know the answer to that question.

And then Bart said that there was something they should really, really look at and. Oh holy shit.

The older cryptid was fighting Superman. He was losing, yea, but he also seemed to be getting stronger and faster under the sun because kryptonian and was fighting like an actual animal. Which meant he actually managed to get a few surprise attacks in on Superman, despite how simple his fighting style was.

And then he pulled out the goddamn heat vision.

Hm. Well. That's not good.

So, they may have fucked up. Just a teeny, tiny bit.

Meanwhile, somewhere else, this has quite obviously attracted Luthor's attention and he goes: Oh yes, the clone I lost is fighting Superman, how great.

He's honestly surprised it took this long for the clone to make the news or, at the very least, to be known to the wider public through video. The thing was, unfortunately, quite feral and thus uncontrollable and Lex lost most of his interest in it after that. It being stolen was a non-issue, no one could get through to the thing and he could always reclaim it if he wanted to.

Or at least, that's what he thought.

For it to be capable of hiding itself for so, so long and not immediately cause a ruckus means that there was a way to control it. Which is something that he was very, very interested in, from the method to how it was found in the first place.

Which led his thoughts back to the other clone that went missing.

It was a failure, plain and simple. It was developed after their first attempt at a pure Kryptonian and took quite a bit of resources to get the required genetic material needed for it. But alas, it was unfortunate that it was no better- in fact, even worse than the first attempt.

Not only was it in the body of a mere toddler, the furthest they could push it without destabilizing it. It also was utterly immobile and unresponsive, even when they planted things in its brain, it did nothing. It was so unresponsive that, even though it had the blood of a goddess running through its body, they didn't use many resources to contain it.

After all, what was the use to contain something that wouldn't move, wouldn't respond and seemingly couldn't think?

He tapped his finger against his desk, staring the video in front of him down.

Perhaps, he was wrong.

There was something that could control the first of their first attempt and, seeing as there was no report of anyone getting in but rather out Lex Luthor had reason to believe that the key would be none-other than the unresponsive, no, previously unresponsive little clone he disregarded.

Perhaps the divine blood running through its veins gave it the ability to command its 'siblings'?

No matter, he would have many a chance to test that theory when he gets them back.

Oh nooo, the consequences of their actions, whatever will they doo...

The heroes realise really freaking quickly that anything with the S on it? Will trigger an attack immediately. So both other Kryptonians? Get forced into the dorkiest t-shirts the team can find. They saw the top Match wears. Bart, Tim and Cassie made sure they got something similar. Hoping to offset the initial aggression. Especially as they are both sick. Yes the little one is more ill. But the bigger one is also starting to run a fever. They cannot stress them out more. They also look through the bag they found. Hoping for some sort of clue.

yastaghr reblogged

Prompt 283

Now Jason would like it known that there was no mpreg situation going on. He isn’t even sure where people got that idea in the first place. Sure, he had taken a few Cores from the goons-in-white who had dared to set up in his turf.

And sure maybe the excess energy from the pit (no wonder he’d been so irritable) was what said baby halfas (Okay, so they’re half human? Alright) had used to reform. And maybe the oldest is visibly less than a year old.

But there Was No Mpreg Situation! He is this close to shooting someone! It was annoying (and slightly amusing) when it was just his goons, but now the Bats have seemingly got it in their heads! Dear Gotham it’s a good thing he’s not planning on like, ever revealing who he is because he would never be able to live this rumor down.

queerpurpledragon

Red Hood came in one afternoon not long after the true forming of his gang, the forming a power structure and accruing street cred, looking exhausted with three young infants strapped to his person.

The goons had three immediate simultaneous thoughts.

1. Trans rights? And discrete pregnancy?

2. Magic bullshit?

3. Science/cloning bullshit?

Now, most everyone in Crime Alley is familiar with young parents. They’re one of the few situations where the Alley binds together for babysitting and what not.

“What’cha got there, boss?” Probes Bill, who is too important to kill for insubordination.

“The tots finished cookin last night, couldn’t get anyone to watch ‘em,” Hood says distractedly, taking his place at the head of the table. “What’d I miss last night?” He asks, firmly moving along the topic.

This feeble backstory did not particularly support any one of the Three Theories.

One of the tots-of two strapped to the Boss’ chests-opens their little tiny eyes, and they are glowing green in that way that the Boss’ does sometimes. Squeals are stifled.

“Uh, boss, if that’s the case, I think it may be best that you give everything some time to settle-“ Bill starts hesitatededly.

Red Hood gives one of those long, fierce glares. Bill reluctantly stops talking.

The meeting is then moved along as quickly as possible.

The gossip session after Hood leaves is less brisk.

“You tellin’ me that take over was cuz a pregnancy hormones?”

“We need to convince the boss to accept babysitters-he’s the type to run around with the tots still attached to him. Anyone have any certifications?”

“Did you see the eye glow? They’re meta! Who can handle a meta baby?”

“How did they even become meta? Don’t they have ta go through s’mn for that to happen? They’re oddly young for it…”

And so on.

Eventually, the obvious conclusion is reached. The criticism of incoming members needs to increase-they need to become The Best Aunts and Uncles to these little hellions.

(Hood later learns about their intentions and assumptions and lectures about how It Was Not A Pregnancy, while clearing up nothing.)

confusedshades

Bill is the one to say something about babysitting being difficult to his wife, who just looks at him, before asking for details. One long conversation later Bill now must have an awkward conversation with Hood about how apparently there's this sort of roster/phone tree/weird scheduling system that some of the women and single parents in crime alley maintain for who can come in to babysit in a pinch.

Unfortunately Jason who is currently extremely tired and exhausted in a way that is specific to new parents (which apparently even a lifetime of vigilant-ism and League training cannot stand up to) thinks he needs to host kids. Bill takes pity on him and calls his wife to come help because Bill can't figure out where to even start explaining.

A week later, after much rest and return to regularly scheduled crime lording, Hood puts the babysitting roster under his protection and it sort of accidentally kickstarts the Hood Community Service Program.

... Bruce and the Batfam? Are going to be SO confused when they hear the rumour about Hood's explosive entry to Gotham being due to pregnancy hormones. Excuse them? Did you just imply Hood is a single Mom? What do you mean he has triplets? He's protecting the single Moms network in the Alley? And they hear this from enough people that well... It checks out as at least being believed. Plus, when Bruce brought up the kids when trying to take him in? Hood uh, beat the shit out of him. Threatened to kneecap him if he tried to touch his kids. Hmm.... He needs to think on new tactics clearly.

Also, Jason is a nesting halfa. He will absolutely just kill Joker. For just himself? He would play out his grand plan. But he has kids now. No way is he letting the clown live and be a threat to them. His goons are going to be terrified and impressed. Which does NOT help the idea that he was pregnant. The goons know how far a Mom will go to protect a kid she loves. Especially a newborn. Checks out.

Jason is just glad he now has a network of people to talk child care with. Are kids always this exhausting? Like, holy shit you guys. He knew kids weren't easy. But are they all a test directly from the pits of hell??

confusedshades

One night while Hood is patrolling his territory, he gets word of a kid looking for him. He goes looking for this kid - either it's one of the Alley kids with information or acting as a messenger. Robin knows better than to enter - all the Bats do, and all of the Alley knows better than to use kids for anything else.

He reaches the building where he was told and finds a familiar figure on the rooftop. He pulls off his helmet before approaching her.

"Talia."

"Jason. I hear congratulations are in order."

"Congratulations aren't the only reason you're here Talia."

"No. Damian has decided that going to his father unnecessary as he has no interest. Instead he wishes to stay with you and I need to know he'd be safe from the Demon Head while I move against him."

"That sounds...." Jason wasn't sure what to say honestly. Talia deciding to move against Ra's would be big - split the League into factions big.

"My father has been making questionable decisions for some time now and lately those decisions have been going against everything he taught me, everything he claims to stand for." She moved closer to Jason and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I regret not moving against him before but I must do so now before it's too late. I need to know that Damian is safe and I trust you over anyone else."

Jason nodded before looking to the shadowed corner of the rooftop. A small figure clothed in dark coloured League garb stepped out. "Akhi."

Jason knelt down to one knee to be at eye level with the figure. "Habibi. Will you follow my lead and trust me to protect you? To keep you safe and put your needs ahead of my own?"

"I shall. I shall guard you and yours in turn, follow your lead and and ensure your safety and needs as you will mine."

Talia put one hand on each of their heads, fingers lightly carding through their hair once, twice before moving away. "It is done. Good. I shall try and return soon but it may only be for short periods of time. I will call you both frequently to check in." With that she turned and left.

Guess Jason had to introduce his kids to their family now. Would Damian be their uncle or older brother?

Jason grinned at the soft look on Damian's face. His little brother had never been allowed around children so young. This would be good for him, Jason could tell his by his face. He was so gentle as he gave each a quick hug. He was glad Damian would get a chance to be outside of the LoA. This could only be good for him.

confusedshades

Jason definitely takes a lot of pictures and shares them with Talia whenever he gets the chance. (She melts whenever she sees them but only Jason knows that.)

Meanwhile Damian's taken like a duck to water with his new family and helps out whenever he can. This also means that Jason needs to impress the importance of school (all four need socialising outside themselves even if "I have been trained by the world's best tutors Akhi! School isn't interesting at all! I already learnt everything they could teach me and more! They asked me when was the last time I used a jungle gym!") and the no sneaking out at night bit.

He lets Damian do "modified patrols" - a route he runs with him that he's already cleared. The only things they'll encounter would be elderly people needing help to get back home, maybe a few stuck animals that Jason watches as Damian helps out, a few kids bringing him information, a check in with the working girls. Small stuff. Jason knows he can't stop Damian from going out but he can control what he comes across.

Then one day Damian asks whether his children usually have wings and Jason stops like someone yanked out all the wires from his brain.

See. He'd seen shimmers of wings on the kids earlier but never really clearly and always chalked it up to exhaustion/Gotham specific toxin exposure/what have you. None of the babysitters had ever mentioned anything about it so he'd just shrugged and ignored it. (he's seen the wings maybe a handful of times. The kids are fine otherwise.)

He's going to need to take them for a check up isn't he? Because if Damian can see the wings then the wings are real.