I just recently learned what daemons are, and I've fallen in love. They're amazing and I wish they existed in real life. So, I decided to give each of the Batfamily daemons. I usually would order this by their age, but this time I did it by the order that they joined the family. It just worked better.

TW: death via origin story, referenced child abuse/neglect (Tim, Cass), referenced paralysis (Barbara)

Song of the fic: "All I Know So Far" by P!nk

Word Count: 3,052


And when the storm's out, you run in the rain
Put your sword down, dive right into the pain
Stay unfiltered and loud, you'll be proud of that skin full of scars
That's all I know so far


Comparing the daemons of the Wayne family was like comparing their humans. They came from all corners of the animal kingdom, like how the Wayne's came from all over the world. They had settled at different starters in their humans' lives, some of the humans keeping their childhood innocence longer than others. But at the end of the day, just like their humans, the daemons of the Waynes saw each other as family. Despite their differences, they cared for one another, and they stood by one another through all the difficulties of life. And they had many. Even so, they had the love and support of each other to lean on.

Merel had settled long before she and Alfred arrived at Wayne Manor, back at the beginning of their MI6 days. At first, the pair was nervous that Merel's form would make the Waynes second guess their choice of hire. While a spotted hyena daemon was of great help to a secret agent, it might be slightly unnerving to the employers of a butler. However, Thomas and Martha Wayne were not the usual employers. They saw past the physical appearance of Merel and looked to the meaning of her form. While fierce and predatorial, hyenas are social creatures who are protective of those in their family, especially the females. Merel showed her protective side the very day Young Master Bruce was released from the hospital. The newborn infant hadn't been home more than an hour before Merel could be seen guarding his crib along with Biselok, Ralli, and Breri. Not even a decade later, on that fateful moment in Crime Alley, Merel lay near Bruce and Breri, the newly settled daemon crying at her human's side as he slept. In the years that followed, she would stay outside the boy's bedroom door during the ever-present nightmares. When Bruce returned to Gotham, Merel would sit by Breri's side as Alfred treated Bruce's wounds. Merel would go on to do the same for the multitude of other children and daemons who graced the halls of Wayne Manor. They are a family, and Merel would do anything to protect them.

Breri settled the second after Ralli faded away. As Bruce knelt in his parents' blood, Breri reached out with her snout to the dust, all that remained of Ralli and Biselok. When Alfred and Merel met them at the police station, their sorrow prevented either from congratulating Breri on settling. Not that she even wanted them to. A giant Eurasian wolf was a far cry from the puppy, squirrel, and goat kid forms she previously had taken. After that night, everything changed. As soon as they were old enough, Bruce and Breri left Gotham to start a lifelong mission. They became lone wolves in a rather literal sense. By the time they returned, they could tell that Alfred and Merel were weary of what they had become. But Breri was as dedicated to Bruce's mission as he was. She dyed herself black and joined her human in his crusade against crime. People may be doubtful of a vigilante that was almost a myth, but a giant black wolf was another story. It wasn't until they went to Haly's Circus that they remembered that wolves are pack animals, that they protected their families. When Dick and Nilli joined the household, Breri was weary at first. But as the years went on, Breri opened up to both boy and daemon. When Nilli settled, the entire family celebrated. Breri herself gave Nilli a nuzzle as their humans hugged. Then came the others. By the time Duke joined the family, Breri had long accepted that she'd gained a pack. And it was perfect.

Tarix couldn't remember when he settled. It was at some point during Selina's teen years, while they were living on the streets of Gotham. In those days, Selina and Tarix were the only one the other could count on. Which, given their bond, basically meant they could only rely on themselves. Years later, when choosing a moniker while acting as a thief, Tarix's form was the obvious choice. After all, what was sneakier than a black cat? Was it stereotypical? Sure. But it worked so easily. Selina also thought it worked due to the symbolism. Black cats were signs of good and bad luck, depending on the culture. And Selina's stealing could be seen as good or bad, depending on your point of view. After all, she was basically a modern Robin Hood. Then they met Batman. The experience of being chased by The Dark Knight's Wolf made Tarix laugh at the irony. Despite his bragging that night, Breri eventually caught him. Sure, he'd let her, but it was the principle of the thing. That led to another revelation as to why Tarix was a cat: both he and Selina loved to be pampered. Lucky for them that Selina married a billionaire. Even with the crazy number of humans, daemons and pets in the house, there was more than enough love and money to go around. Cats may be solitary and independent creatures, but that doesn't mean they're completely isolated. It just took his human falling in love with a man who had six kids to remind Tarix of that fact.

Nilli sat frozen on the trapeze platform. As Dick raced down the center pole, Nilli could only stare at the dust, all that was left of Liene and Pung. When unknown men in strange uniforms started to lead Dick away, Nilli tried to follow but still found herself to be numb. Ava, another high wire performer, had to climb up and get her. While they were in The Gotham Juvenile Detention Center, Nilli stayed as a mouse or other small creature, hiding in Dick's pocket or in his bedding. It wasn't until they were rescued by Bruce that Nilli started taking larger forms as Dick grew comfortable with their new home. Both missed the four exclamations of joy the first time she took a form taller than Dick's knee. When Robin started joining Batman on the streets, Nilli flew next to him. As the years passed, Nilli changed forms less and less often. Soon after Nightwing came to Blüdhaven, she settled and lost this ability. Instead, she followed in Breri's paws and started dying herself black at night. Dick and Nilli were frequently told that the form of a border collie was perfect for them. Alfred said it was because they were smart and caring. Bruce insisted it was due to their loyalty. Wally joked that it was because they liked to boss others around. Barbara teased that it was the performer in them. One night, as Nilli cuddled with Zelos, he told her that it was due to them being family-oriented and protective of those they loved. And years later, when John Grayson-Gordon was born, Nilli realized it was all those reasons and more.

Zelos cried out in pain as Barbara crashed through the glass coffee table and to the floor. Feeling Barbara's panic, he instinctively turned into a rabbit and hid under the couch. As Jim and Nisca ran to Barbara's side and The Joker entered, he did his best to not be noticed. It wasn't until the paramedics came that Zelos got the courage to crawl out from his hiding place. Later, at the hospital, he remained at the foot of Barbara's bed as she was surrounded by family and friends. During her recovery, there were days he was the only one she would speak to. It wasn't until Barbara created Oracle that things got better, and that's when Zelos settled. Dick and Nilli were there when it happened, and they both were overjoyed. All of their family and friends agreed that a red fox was perfect for them. Though clever and with a reputation of being wily tricksters, foxes are social creatures. They live in families that have strong hierarchies, much like the superhero community. Within a year, Oracle was basically what held the capes together. Even after Barbara regained the use of her legs, when she was Barbara Grayson-Gordon, they would usually stay in and run the comms for the Bats and Birds. But there were nights when she would join her husband as their city's protectors. And on those nights, Zelos and Nilli would be at their sides, just like they had since the early days of Robin and Batgirl. Just a red fox and a dyed collie, chasing each other on the rooftops of Blüdhaven.

Keira never settled. Not in the traditional sense at least. When Jason was a child, Keira was like all other unsettled daemons, shifting on a whim. Then they met Bruce and Breri, and everything changed. Jason became Robin and started running on rooftops. Like Nilli before her, Keira had loved flying next to her human. Then came Ethiopia, a crowbar, and a bomb, and again everything changed. The first thing she was aware of after the explosion was lying on stone next to a green pool. She recognized it as a Lazarus Pit from the pictures Bruce had shown Jason. It wasn't the Pit Madness had calmed and they were at the League base that Keira realized she'd settled. Or rather, she hadn't shifted since reappearing. As far as forms go, a honey badger wasn't terrible. But it was a far cry from the forms she'd taken before. By the time she and Jason had returned to Gotham, they both had fully accepted the form. It was a good form for a crime lord. The form of a predator, a hunter, resilient and tough. Keira stayed by Jason's side through it all, attacking any person or daemon who dared get too close. While Jason was fighting Bruce, Keira got into a fight with Breri. Even after they were tentatively brought back into the family, neither Jason nor Keira made any moves to conceal her form. There was no need. Jason Todd was still legally dead, and no one would bother someone with such a fierce daemon. That viral ViewTube video certainly helped.

Cerys settled before she should have. At least that's what Nilli told her. When Tim put on the Robin costume for the first time, Cerys shifted in excitement. It wasn't until later that night that they'd realized she'd settled. After the initial celebration of that fact, Cerys saw Bruce and Dick exchange a look. That was when Nilli whispered in her ear. Cerys didn't see what the problem was. Tim was already thirteen, practically an adult. At least, that's what Tim's parents and their daemons always said. They had been encouraging Cerys to settle for months. It took years for both Tim and Cerys to fully understand why that was wrong. Not that anything could be changed. There was no going back after a daemon settled. But everyone agreed that an American robin was fitting for Tim. Not only was it the animal that led him to the family, but robins are often seen as symbols of new life, new beginnings, and rebirth. They are both social and vocal, and while Tim would never be as charismatic as Dick (no one could), he was far from lacking in friends. And there was no denying that Tim was the most adaptive of the Bats. Cerys gets a special pouch in Tim's belt, fit with everything she needs to stay safe. She prefers to fly next to him, though. Tim put the pouch on all his uniforms, and even made something similar to use in civilian life. It eventually became a Wayne Enterprises product.

Emiel's settlement came as a surprise. After all, faking your death and running away doesn't exactly lead to the stability that usually precedes daemon settlement. But as soon as their plane touched down in Africa, both Stephanie and Emiel realized that he had settled during the journey. While unexpected, it was rather fitting really. Land in Africa, and settle as one of the continent's famous animals. Like most others, Emiel didn't expect his settled form, but when it came he saw exactly how well it fit. And they definitely could've done worse than a meerkat. Stephanie was a fountain of creativity and curiosity, much like the small mammal. She also had a strong sense of morality, which is what led her to becoming a vigilante in the first place. And while her desire to prove herself to others ultimately led to her downfall, it was something that couldn't be ignored. When they eventually returned to Gotham, everyone congratulated them on the settlement and form. When Stephanie took up the role of Batgirl, Emiel followed in the steps of Breri and Nilli, dying himself black to look like a mongoose. Most of the time, though, he stayed in a special pouch on Steph's back. It was mostly hidden by her cape, and it protected Emiel without hindering movement. After all, Bats think of everything. And while Emiel wasn't afraid to get his paws dirty, he'd rather have fun than hurt others. Even in the name of justice.

Juxel settled long before he and Cass arrived in Gotham. She'd carried him in her pocket as they ran, and like his human he did not speak. When Cass had been brought into the family, Bruce asked about her daemon. When he didn't appear, Dick became worried they'd been forced to Separate, but Merel said she smelled a daemon on her. Juxel then had cautiously crawled out of his hiding space and onto Cass's shoulder. Everyone looked at him with slight surprise. Like his human, Juxel knew how to read body language. The others weren't surprised that Juxel was there but at his size. A European mantis was not what they were expecting. But the quiet agile predator fits Cass. Unlike his human, Juxel never took to speaking. He mostly stayed silent, using his connection to Cass to convey his emotions to the others. When she became Batgirl, Juxel got his own pouch on her utility belt where he was kept safe. This led to the rumor that Batgirl didn't have a daemon. Unlike the other daemons in the family, Juxel is more of a liability in a fight than an asset. Not that Cass needs any help. But there are definitely times where Juxel feels that she might be better off without him. His human is usually able to tell, though, and she always reassures him that he keeps her grounded. He keeps Cass from getting too lost in a fight. Bruce may have taught her how to use her gifts for good, but Juxel keeps her connected to their past.

Ostome's settlement took longer than Damian would have liked. While in the League, Ra's had tried to force Ostome to settle as soon as possible. Being the only settled daemon of the Waynes only doubled her efforts. In the end, it was Nilli who helped her find her final form. One evening, she told Ostome about her own settling story, and that of the entire family. It made Ostome realize that trying to force herself to settle was preventing her from doing so. From that day, she took Nilli's advice and tried to keep settling from her mind. While it didn't happen immediately, within a few months of this conversation she settled. At first, Damian was excited, thinking she was a coral snake. But then Barbara looked it up and confirmed that Ostome was an Eastern milk snake instead. At first, Dick was the only one who thought it was a perfect fit. He explained: the non-poisonous milk snake's primary offense was looking like the deadly coral snake. Similarly, Damian was less deadly than he appeared, as long as you treated him properly. Dick also added that snakes as a whole are misunderstood as daemons and pets, but once you get to understand them they are amazing. His explanation helped everyone to come to the same conclusion. From that day, Ostome wrapped herself around Damian's shoulders during the day and his arm every night. Occasionally she would launch herself at a thug, but she was still growing with Damian. She still had a few years before she could truly help him in battle.

Yeno was the only unsettled daemon in the family. It made it easier to keep Duke Thomas separate from The Signal. Sometimes she even shifted mid-fight to emphasize that she was unsettled. It also meant she could change her form as needs came up. She could turn into a bird to fly, or a mouse to get into small spaces. Yeno preferred to stay small while Duke was on patrol, staying hidden and safe. Like the smaller daemons, she had a pouch in Duke's belt just for her. Occasionally she helped out though. Out of uniform, she enjoyed larger animals, usually social animals that protected their families. Once she even turned into a lioness when a Wayne gala was interrupted by a robbery attempt. That had surprised everyone. While the Wayne family gave Yeno a large number of daemons to associate with, she didn't see herself like any of them yet. It didn't help that Damian was younger than Duke, yet Ostome had settled before they even met. Nilli and Breri told her not to rush it, that settling would happen when it was meant to. Patience didn't come easy to her, so Yeno doubted she'd settle as a slow-moving animal. But she didn't think she was so hyper as to settle as a rabbit or dog. Maybe a bird, like Cerys. That would be cool. Or a small mammal, like Emiel. Whatever it was, Yeno was ready to do what she could to support Duke and the rest of the family.

Daemons are mysterious beings that are still not completely understood. Millions of dollars went every year towards daemon research: where they come from, why they exist. Each daemon's relationship with their human is different, and while each is their own being neither daemon nor human can live without the other. They complement one another, and both must be known to truly understand either. At their core, the Wayne family are protectors. They strive to bring justice to a city where criminality runs wild. It's only natural that their daemons would reflect their dedication to this mission.


Batfam daemon list:

Alfred – Merel the spotted hyena

Bruce – Breri the Eurasian wolf

Selena – Tarix the black cat

Dick – Nilli the border collie

Barbara – Zelos the red fox

Jason – Keira the honey badger

Tim – Cerys the American robin

Steph – Emiel the meerkat

Cass – Juxel the European mantis

Damian – Ostome the Eastern milk snake

Duke – Yeno, unsettled

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think of my choices. I especially like Bruce's.