𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖'𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒.

❝ you're a flashback in a film reel on the one screen in my town ❞

It was a city ruled by shadows.

And Mavis Gaynor was its queen. Forged from the deepest shadows, she'd learned them better than most other masked crusaders in Gotham. She'd risen from the dirt stuck to buildings in alleyways, and like the dirt, she'd always clung to the city. Even when its citizens cursed her very name, she would cling tight. Even if she wanted to, she never could have left. Gotham City created her. The windows of its buildings were reflected in her eyes, its sandy shorelines mimicking the rugged indentations on her fingertips, her calluses as rough as the poorest streets. When she was upset, Gotham paid with its suffering - the same suffering that had woven the ligaments beneath her skin. She was Gotham City.

No, they could never rid of the stains she carried. She was a parasite. And she was not alone.

Jack Napier had found her in the shadows, and he'd taught her to lace the abyss into a crown. She watched him become the Joker, and he gave her the gift of her own alias: the Siren.

Neither of them expected a rising, new shadow. Its teeth were sharp and its darkness just as  piercing, nearly indiscernible from the shadows it hid in. The new shadow - the Batman - intended on commanding himself as the shadow to rule the rest. And, with the Siren locked in Arkham Asylum, he was free to rule the darkness without intervention.

That is, until he found himself needing the Siren. When old cities fall, new ones will rise, and some cities painted the sky with riddles in their uprising. In order to ascertain the Riddler's plans, Batman would have to visit Mavis in Arkham, but he promised his quivering nerves that it would only be temporary. And it was. At least, until he was forced to strike a deal: Mavis would help him find the Riddler and the Joker, if he would only release her from the confines of Arkham.

Thus, Mavis would find herself here: making deals for her freedom beneath the shadow's wings.

( featuring... )

krysten ritter as MAVIS GAYNOR

❝ the siren ❞

✧

robert pattinson as BRUCE WAYNE

❝ the batman ❞

✧

barry keoghan as JACK NAPIER

❝ the joker ❞

✧

asa butterfield as SIMON GAYNOR

❝ the prodigal ❞

( and the rest of 'the batman cast as their respective characters )

author's note. okay so i didn't do a very good job actually giving info about the plot in the summary so here's some more: mavis & bruce are childhood friends to enemies to lovers and it's just so good. also...the last part of the summary basically means that bruce visits mavis while she's in arkham to ask her questions about the riddler & crew bc she used to work with them sometimes, but she refuses unless he lets her out & since she's his only good lead...he literally has to.

also: this story is the first of my dc series titled 'the damned and the holy'. it's not necessary for you to read the whole series, but if you'd like, those will eventually be posted on my account as well(depending on when you're reading this, they might be up already). LITERALLY this is the best thing my brain has ever created so i hope you enjoy :)

warnings. the atmosphere of this story is extremely dark. that being said, TREAD CAREFULLY. it will discuss topics like mental health, drug use, depression, and will include many instances of violence and gore. and if you've seen 'the batman', then you know - it is A LOT, and this book will not be any different. if any of this makes you uncomfortable, i'd highly suggest you would avoid reading this book.

dedications. this story is dedicated to remuslupout, void-daniella, pseudonym-lux, and to -beewrites- even though she didn't reply to my story bc she's never active anymore(yes this is an attack). and to girlofstarlight and protectremus bc they've always been super supportive of anything i do <3