Do you all remember that prompt where Danny gets mistaken for a vampire and decides to play along?
When you think about it, ghosts and vampires actually have quite a few things in common. Not culturally, obviously, but in terms of powers and the whole “technically undead” situation. Which naturally made me think about our favorite wannabe vampire: Vlad.
So what if vampires aren’t actually a real species?
What if the entire concept of vampires exists because Vlad once tried to take over the world by traveling back in time? Danny managed to stop him before he could achieve his goal, but he couldn’t undo all the consequences of Vlad’s actions.
Imagine Vlad showing up centuries in the past with ghost powers, flight, super strength, mind control, ectoplasm, glowing eyes, an obsession with dramatic capes, and a tendency to bite people when he’s feeling particularly unhinged. The locals see this and go, “Ah yes, clearly this is a vampire.”
Danny eventually fixes the timeline enough to stop Vlad’s scheme, but he can’t erase the stories. The legends spread. People keep adding details over the centuries until an entire vampire mythology exists.
Fast forward to the present.
Danny gets mistaken for a vampire.
At first he tries to correct people, but then someone mentions that Batman has a file on “possible metahuman vampire activity” and suddenly it becomes way too funny to stop.
So Danny commits.
He hisses at Green Lanterns. Refuses to enter buildings unless invited. Casually appears upside down on ceilings during League meetings. When someone asks how old he is, he gives answers like, “Which century?”
Alternatively since Vlad inspired all vampire myths, by transitive property Danny could take being asked if he’s a vampire as being mistaken for Vlad. And he takes that personally.
“Am I the vampire!? Seriously!?! How dare you! I am nothing like him! That pretentious, egotistical fruitloop with delusions of grandeur? Eugh, screw you. Seriously, never talk to me again. The freaking vampire. Honestly.”
And now whoever asked is left with the knowledge that there’s only one vampire in the world and apparently he’s an asshole.
There’s no dramatic music. No glowing countdown. No sign that reality just decided to ruin your day.
One second, Danny Fenton is mid-flight over Amity Park, chasing a ghost with a half-eaten burger still in his hand.
The next—
Everything tears.
Not explodes. Not shatters.
Tears.
Like someone dragged claws through the sky.
He lands hard.
But it’s not Amity anymore.
The air feels wrong. Heavy. Charged. Angry.
Danny looks up—
And immediately regrets having eyes.
The sky is filled with winged monsters. Buildings are on fire. People are screaming. Something massive is moving behind the clouds like a nightmare trying to crawl out of its cage.
“…okay,” Danny says slowly, “either I took a wrong turn or this is a really bad Tuesday.”
Then he looks down.
And pauses.
“…these are not my hands.”
Gloved. Scarred. Older.
There’s a sword at his side.
A very nice sword.
Danny picks it up.
It hums.
“Oh. Oh that’s fun.”
Somewhere else—
A completely different kind of disaster is happening.
They wake up on a rooftop.
Breathing hard.
Alive.
Which is already confusing.
Because the last thing they remember is being in the middle of a war zone, surrounded by enemies, barely holding the line—
And now?
Silence.
No explosions.
No screams.
Just… wind.
They sit up.
Look down.
Hoodie. Jeans. Sneakers.
No armor.
No weapons.
No—
“…no.”
They try to call their power.
Nothing answers.
Panic hits fast and sharp.
“No no no no—”
They rush to the edge of the building.
Below: a quiet street. A normal town. People walking. Cars passing.
No war.
No monsters.
No them.
“…where am I?”
Back in the apocalypse—
Danny is having a great time.
“Okay, so,” he narrates to absolutely no one, ducking under a blast of energy, “either I’m in someone else’s body or I got a serious upgrade overnight.”
He swings the sword.
A Parademon goes down.
“Leaning toward option one.”
Another one lunges.
Danny doesn’t even think—he phases halfway through the attack, solidifies, and kicks it away.
He freezes.
“…oh good, powers came with me. That would’ve been awkward.”
The comm in his ear crackles.
“Unidentified—state your status!”
Danny lights up.
“Oh cool, free tech.”
“Identify yourself.”
“Danny! Uh… I think I’m borrowing someone right now? Sorry about that.”
Pause.
“…what?”
“I think I soul-swapped with whoever this body belongs to. You guys seem busy though, so I’ll just—help?”
Another Parademon dives.
Danny flips, lands on a wall, runs three steps sideways like gravity is optional, then drops back down with a grin.
“Yeah, I’ll help.”
Across the battlefield, every hero listening comes to the same horrifying conclusion:
That is not their teammate.
“Track that signal,” Batman orders.
“Already on it,” Oracle says. “And you’re not going to like this.”
“I rarely do.”
“That energy spike? It’s not just the invasion.”
A beat.
“It’s him.”
Danny discovers the dog five minutes later.
It’s huge.
Glowing.
Three-eyed.
Growling like it could bite a tank in half.
Danny stares.
The dog stares back.
There’s a moment—
Then Danny crouches.
“…you look like a Cujo.”
The dog’s ears twitch.
“Oh my gosh, are you a good boy?”
The growling stops.
Tail—very slowly—wags.
“YES you are!”
Two minutes later—
Danny is riding the ghost dog straight through the battlefield.
“LEFT! LEFT—no your other left—yeah that one!”
They crash through enemies like a living wrecking ball.
Danny laughs, wind tearing past him, green energy flickering under his skin as Lazarus radiation curls toward him instead of away.
It doesn’t hurt.
It doesn’t corrupt.
It listens.
“…huh,” Danny mutters. “That’s new.”
Meanwhile—
His soulmate finds the truth the hard way.
They break into the lab.
Because of course there’s a lab.
And inside—
A mirror.
They look at it.
Really look.
Black hair.
Blue eyes.
Too young.
Too human.
“…Danny,” they whisper, reading the name off a scattered ID badge.
Memory flickers.
Not theirs.
His.
A ghost portal.
A lab accident.
A boy split between life and death.
Power—immense and unstable and lonely.
Their stomach drops.
“…you’re a child.”
Back in Gotham—
Things escalate.
Fast.
The sky splits wider.
Something begins to push through.
Not a creature.
Not exactly.
A presence.
Old. Hungry. Endless.
Even the Parademons hesitate.
Even the heroes step back.
Danny looks up.
Eyes wide.
Then—
He grins.
“Oh that is definitely not from around here.”
“Fall back!” someone shouts over comms. “That’s not something we can—”
Danny’s already moving.
“Okay, new plan,” he says, patting the dog’s head. “We go say hi.”
They launch.
Straight at it.
“STOP HIM—” Nightwing starts.
“—you’re not going to,” Red Robin says, watching the energy readings spike off the charts.
“Why not?”
“Because whatever he is?”
A beat.
“It’s not scared of that.”
Danny reaches the tear in the sky.
The thing behind it shifts.
Noticing him.
Focusing.
And for the first time—
It pauses.
Danny tilts his head.
“…oh. You can see me.”
The presence presses closer.
Curious.
Hungry.
Recognizing something it shouldn’t.
Danny’s voice drops.
Not playful anymore.
Not human.
“Yeah,” he says quietly. “I see you too.”
For a second—
The battlefield goes still.
Then Danny lifts a hand.
Green light floods the sky.
Cold. Ancient. Infinite.
Not Lazarus.
Not alien.
Something older than both.
“Hey,” Danny says.
Friendly.
Terrifying.
“Wrong universe.”
And he pushes.
The tear screams.
The presence recoils.
Reality snaps back like a stretched rubber band.
The sky seals.
The invasion stutters—
Then collapses.
Parademons scatter.
The war… ends.
Silence falls.
Danny blinks.
“…huh. That worked.”
Below—
Every hero is staring.
Batman steps forward.
Slow.
Measured.
“…who are you?”
Danny smiles.
A little sheepish now.
“Danny Fenton.”
A beat.
“…I think I’m your teammate’s soulmate?”
Across dimensions—
His soulmate finally understands why.
They look at Danny’s reflection again.
At the quiet town.
At the life he protects.
At the power he carries like it’s nothing.
“…of course you are,” they murmur.
Back in Gotham—
The ghost dog barks happily.
Danny hops down.
Hands the sword back like he didn’t just end an apocalypse with it.
Imo it's even funnier if you hc that the Eridian Welcoming Committee don't even know how to read and write English. They're plugging their messages to Saviour Grace into the jankiest first edition version of Edridian Google translate and copy pasting the first thing that it spits out.
Rocky, who is one of Erid's foremost Thinking Machine Experts, has offered numerous times to fix the translation program for them. Rocky has offered numerous times to go over their translations in person since, y'know, he's also Erid's second most fluent reader and writer of English.
The EWC think Saviour Rocky is very kind, but probably overreacting. After all, if their mistranslations and general cultural misunderstandings were as bad as everybody claims, then surely Saviour Grace would have complained by now.
Rocky would really like Grace to complain. Rocky has begged Grace to complain. During a particularly tense discussion on the subject, Rocky went so far as to threaten to change the biodome's wifi password. (Taken back immediately when Grace pointed out that this would mean no more movie nights for the foreseeable future.)
Grace considers the team's efforts to be a key part of his enrichment. The team are just thrilled to be making him feel more at home on Erid, since he's going to be living here for the rest of his tragically short human lifespan (as clarified in their latest message: “YOU WILL DIE HERE. SOON. 😊”).
Rocky is in hell statement. Maybe it's not too late to go back into space again.
DcxDp Idea/Dabble/Prompt(?) idk do what you want with this.
Warning: Mild Swearing, and Kon is probably OOC idk i wrote this at 2am and could not care less about keeping them in character
When Kon woke up in a stranger's bed, it wasn't for the fun reason. He didn't remember much from the day before, just that he'd been running on fumes. The past two weeks had been hell, between shutting down an illegal cloning facility that brought up far too many emotions, and Clark, because of said cloning facility, being extra cagey and avoidant. They weren't the closest before, but at least they could act like distant cousins as a family Potluck, but now Clark was avoiding him, and it was annoying! And then Lex decied he wasn't being enough of an asshole by just existing, and stirred up trouble at 1am, leading to Kon flying to the wrong appartment. Truthfully, Kon just hoped he didn't scare the person too much, he didn't have a secret identity to really worry about, not like the Bats or Arrows did, and he hoped his costume was enough not to give the stranger a heart attack, they didn't call the police at least so that was hopefully a good sign.
As Kon rose from the bed, he did a quick sweep of the room. He wasn't a Bat, but he spent enough time around them to pick up a few practices. The room was simple, modest size, with a king bed pushed against the wall. The bed had a star patterned comforter, but on the desk, next to a bookshelf, was a pile of collage level books, and a number of space themed modles decorated the shelves, along with a few NASA posters. Whoever lived here definately had a thing for space. Next to the bed was a bedside lamp, on it a pill organizer with four slots empty, and on the floor on the same side was a large dog bed covered in a constellation pattern, and the word "Sol" embroidered on it, and it was then that Kon noticed a number of dog toys scattered across the floor, and a dog vest sitting on the desk chair. So the dog either didn't see him as a threat, was so friendly it didn't mind intruders, or the owner stopped the dog before it could think to attack him.
With his environment clocked, Kon finally paid attention to the rest of the appartment, listening further down the hall. He could hear quiet, almost silent, footfalls scurrying around, given the smell of butter and flour, the kitchen, along with the sizzle of something wet as it met a hot skillet, and the low clicking of animal nails on hardwood as the dog lazily followed after something hard, a ball perhaps.
Kon thought about just leaving, the window he presumably came in from was right there after all, but somehow that felt rude. He broke into this person's house and probably scared the crap out of them, at least a little bit, so the least he could do was not be a total ass and apologize. Hopefully they won't try to hold this over him somehow.
Carefully, Kon exited the bedroom, cautiously making his way down the stretch, passing the bathroom and a few pictures on the wall of three kids from the age of about 12 up to 18 where they were holding their highschool diplomas. Kon's lips quirked a bit at that, eyeing each picture fondly, slightly jealous of such a strong friendship. After looking at the pictures, and dodging dog toys as he walked, Kon exited the hallway and came into the kitchen, which opened into the living room and entryway, seeing as it was a small apartment. The living room was furnished with a simple dark blue couch atop a fuzzy off white rug, a small coffee table, a television sitting atop an entertainment center with a beat up gaming console beside it, another bookshelf next to the window, and three other dog beds, one next to the TV, and two by either side of the couch, with more dog toys sprinkled in. And then, Kon turned, coming face to face with the dog in question.
It, he?, was on the lager side of medium-sized with a slightly fluffy coat, and upright ears, he was a goldish looking coloring with a tiny bit of white on his chest. Kon didn't know enough about dogs to even guess at what breed he was, if he was even a purebred at all, but even if he couldn't be hurt by the dog, he didn't want to provoke him. Abandoned at the dogs paws sat some kind of open faced rubber ball, with what looked like food in it. The dog seemed to scrutinize Kon for a moment, before going back to the ball thing, shoving his nose inside to lick at more food, and Kon let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. And then a chuckle sounded behind him, and he whipped around.
"Sorry, Sol's a bit judgemental of strangers." Kon easily recognized the man, he was one of the kids in the photos, with black hair and eyes so bright blue they almost looked like they belonged in a cartoon. But he also looked slightly different in person, his hair was longer, not long-long, but enough for a short ponytail and his skin was pale and kind of sparkling, not like a Twilight Vampire, but almost like he was dusted in a light sheen of morning frost. He was taller than one would expect, but he was very skinny, almost like he didn't eat enough, but not to a sickly amount. "You're quiet, did he scare you? I'm sorry about that, he really is harmless. Well, harmless as any animal is at least."
Kon, realizing he was staring, quickly cleared his throat. "No- sorry. I'm still trying to wake up. Last night was, rough."
The man laughed easily and turned back into the kitchen where he went back to cooking, keeping his hand firmly on the counter as he moved to the stove. "I'd say, how'd you manage to mix up appartments so bad?" As he spoke he carefully poured the last bit of pancake batter on the griddle and moved to the sink, where he washed the bowl.
Kon shrugged. "I have no clue, it's been a stressful two weeks between- family drama and work."
The man, he really should ask for his name, snorted. "Been there, done that, moved out of state." He said breezily. "Are you going to stay an eat or do you want to get going? I made extra just incase but I can have the leftovers tomorrow if you just want to go home. Its just pancakes and some fruit I needed to cut up."
Kon hesitated. He didn't want to inconvenience this guy any more than he already did, but he was hungry, both from emotional exhaustion and physical exhaustion. Also, this guy was just, really nice, in a way that reminded him of Ma and Pa, just warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental. Kon felt like he could tell this guy anything, which was a terrifying feeling to get from a stranger. "Breakfast sounds really good actually." He admitted.
"Have a seat and I'll bring it over." Kon did as told, shuffeling over to the island that seperated the kitchen from the entryway and sat down. "So, what can I call you? Because I've kinda just been referring to you as window guy in my head and its starting to get annoying. I'm Danny, incase you were having a similar problem."
Kon couldn't help it, he laughed shortly before sobering up. "Ah you don't recognize me, ouch!" He joked lightly, but he was confused. He was obviously one of the Supers, he was wearing the costume as everything.
Danny didn't look up from flipping the last pancake. "Are you famous or something?" He asked genuinely. "Because if you are I'm one of the last people who can recognize you on looks alone, since I'm blind."
Kon blinked in surprise. Blind, that was something unexpected, but then again, was it really? Kon thought back to the vest on the desk chair, and how it didn't look like any normal dog vest, and from where he sat, he could even see a cane standing near the door. There was also the way Danny moved, his carefully placed hands on the counters or fridge, every movement mindful even though it was his own home. It was subtle, but then again Kon really didn't know much about the blind community either so he didn't know what was normal. Not wanting the silence to linger and give the wrong impression, Kon kept talking. "No, I'm not famous I just get mistaken for one of the Wayne's sometimes, in Gotham, at first glance I kind of look like one of them so its a common mistake." He lied smoothly.
"Oooh, yeah I would never have made that mistake. I'm not completely blind, I can see a little bit and my left eye has more sight than the right, but I can't make out details like that unless I'm really close and trying really hard." Danny explained setting down the food, followed soon by the plates and cutlery. "Also, while I've been to Gotham a few times, my friend Sam is currently helping a- well known- er botanist, so I visit from time to time, but I've never even met a Wayne, nor can I recognize them. So, Mr. Not a Wayne, what is your name?"
Kon huffed a laugh, his friend was definitely in cahoots with Poison Ivy, so Danny probably has run into the Wayne's, or at least the Bats at one point and just hadn't realised. Helping himself to some pancakes, Kon answered his question. "My name is Conner, but everyone calls me Kon. It's nice to meet you."
Danny grinned at him, showing off slightly sharpened teeth. "Likewise Kon. Though next time, let's not meet with you climbing in through my window, yeah?"
Despite the bite of pancake in his mouth, Kon started laughing, already vowing to drag Danny to meet Tim, Cassie, and Bart, and maybe even Ma and Pa, because something tells him, they'd get on like a house on fire.
Notes:
-Due to Danny's accident, he lost a lot of his ability to see. His right eye is worse than his left, and he can still see a little bit, but hes very much legally blind. As Phantom/a Ghost he can see perfectly well, and he also has, what Tucker named "Ghost Sight" where Danny can focus on turning just his eyes into a ghost so he can see but Ghost Sight is extremely draining, dries out his eyes, and gives him major headaches so he uses it sparingly/not at all. When living with his parents Danny didn't dare ever think about getting a Guide Dog, it just wouldn't be safe. But when Danny went off and moved out on his own, he immediately looked into getting one and thus got Sol. Danny is perfectly capable of moving and functioning in his own home without Sol, or even his canes, but on the city streets its definitely harder.
-Sol is a German Shepherd/Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix[50% GSD, 25% GR, & 25% LR], he's kind of a no nonsense dog that you can just tell has a very dry sense of humor even though he can't speak.
AKA "There's a problem, so Jason Todd does the whole 'I know a guy' routine except his guy is Danny Fenton. And Danny literally just stands around and yaps while Jason fixes the problem. The Batfam are like??? Who the hell is this guy??" prompt idea! Lowkey dead on main but can be read as friends! :)
This literally won't leave my brain! I just imagine how hilarious it would be if one of the Batfam had a problem, maybe their bike got messed up while on patrol, and Jason's just like don't worry about it. I know a guy. He calls up some guy named Danny and asks for a favor.
Danny shows up in civvies - just an old NASA hoodie, ripped jeans, and ratty Converse. Dick expects Danny to be a mechanic or something because he's brought a bag of tools, but instead he just deadass starts talking about his day?? And Jason takes the bag, kneels down next to Dick's bike, and works on it while Danny orbits around him yapping nonstop.
Dick's just like?? Why did you even call this guy, he's not even helping???
("Jay, what-," Dick interrupts Danny's rant about his chemistry professor's obsession with Scarecrow, only to be silenced by Jason's murderous glare from beside the motorcycle. Jason nods at Danny to continue and the guy offers a sunny smile before giving a in-depth analysis of why fear toxin is just bad weed. Dick watches from afar as Danny's monologue forces several abrupt, snorting laughs from Jason. It's a sound Dick hasn't heard for years.)
The next time it happens is at the Manor. Jason is helping Alfred cook breakfast in the kitchen; Alfred opens the pantry door and pauses.
"What?" Jason leans around Alfred to peer at the curiously empty glass jar of what was probably flour.
"We seem to have some wayward flour on our hands. How odd, as I restocked it Tuesday." Alfred's tone made it clear he knew exactly who it was (Dick, who's just visited the manor the other day to 'see his siblings', AKA to raid the pantry since he didn't want to go grocery shopping) and there would be consequences.
Jason brushes sugar off his hands and reaches for his phone, almost smiling when he says, "Don't sweat it, Alfie. I know a guy."
Twelve minutes later, Daniel Fenton knocks on the door of Wayne Manor with a bag of flour in hand and coffee from the little cafe near Jason's apartment. Tim and Steph stumble into the kitchen bleary-eyed from late night patrol about two hours later. Only to find Danny sitting at the kitchen island chatting with Alfred and Jason about the English pre-war printing processes. Jason's smile is so wide that his dimples pop against his cheeks. (Tim stares, feeling some sort of... not nostalgia exactly, but something like it. Jason looks younger, grinning wryly at Danny, a streak of flour on his chin. He looks like the old Robin, the one Tim used to take pictures of and quietly idolize. Jason looks... happy.)
It becomes a well-known habit. Sink's broken? Cat stuck in a tree? It gets to a point where the Batfam know that Jason will call Danny for increasingly ridiculous stuff.
Damian: Todd, I require assistance-
Jason: Sure, I know a guy.
Damian: Is it Daniel?
Jason:
Jason: Do you want my help or not, brat?
Except one time it's serious. End-of-the-world, intergalactic crisis, tell-your-kids-you-love-them kind of serious. Jason's hand goes to his phone even as his siblings, his father Batman, and several of the Justice League grimly debate the world's fate. Nightwing notices Jason typing at his phone before the rest do.
"Hood, you can't be serious. You can't involve a civilian in this!"
Jason ignores him and the subsequent outcries of his family, the confusion of Batman and the JL, to press the phone to his ear. This time, however, he doesn't ask for Danny. When the familiar cheeky voice calls out what's cookin', good lookin'? from the phone, Jason's voice is grim when he says, "Phantom, I need a favor."
There's silence. Then, it's almost like an abrupt change in air pressure or the undeniable crush of tectonic plates grinding together. When a green portal pulls apart the fabric of reality, Danny doesn't step out. It's Phantom, High King of Infinite Realms, Space, and Heir to Father Time, clad in regal attire with a crown of white-hot flames nestled into his hair. His steps are sure when he walks past the tense crowd of superheroes.
"You called?" Phantom asks. His unnatural Lazarus-green eyes burn into Jason, but there's a midwestern twang in his voice that's so reminiscent of Danny that Jason can't help a small huffing laugh.
Jason turns back to his family and the JL, gesturing to Danny. His family have already made the connection. Likely because Danny's accent, the subtle similarities between Danny's human appearance and his Realms appearance, and the fact that there's only one person Jason ever calls. Danny turns to the League with a bright smile and introduces himself as, "Danny Phantom, but you can call me Phantom."
(And then they kiss!! Just kidding. But Danny probably saves the world and then they go back to the Manor, much to the confusion of the batfam. The batfam are all like, wtf, Jason?? You didn't tell us the guy you've been hanging out with all the time was the freakin' King of Infinite Realms?? And Jason just shrugs, and is like, well... I guess living with him kinda desensitizes you to all the ghostly shit? That's how the batfam find out Jason and Danny are living together. Are they boyfriends?? Maybe, maybe not. But it seems suspicious that Jason's always calling Danny, seemingly just because he likes being around him, hm? ;))
Really charmed when fic writers have Rocky internalise Grace as "His human" or even better "His Grace". But I imagine he would not be so happy about anyone else referring to Grace like that.
Rocky: IS NOT ROCKY'S HUMAN!
Grace: *literally has Rocky's handprint burned onto him*
i wonder if any Eridian statues of Grace ever get made that include Rocky’s clawprint scar. and Eridians visiting the statue would reach out and fit their own claw into Rocky’s clawprint on statue-Grace’s arm (maybe Grace is sitting down to make that easier, or something).
and so even when the statue’s other details start to wear smoother with time, the clawprint stays clear from the repeated small pressure of living Eridians touching it - though its edges might shift from being a copy of Rocky’s exact clawprint to being an ‘average’ shape of every Eridian who’s touched the statue there. and so, after many years, the most enduring and clear detail about Grace represented by the statue is the impact that first Rocky and then the whole Eridian people had on him.
Robin: Don't go around singing. I really don't want your siren song messing with the team, you understand right?
Phantom: Oh, sure, of course.
Robin: Thanks for understanding! *tries to pat Phantom's shoulder but his hand goes straight through* Oh, woops didn't realise you weren't solid. Anyway, let's get back to the rest of the team.
Phantom: Sure.
*two weeks later*
Aqualad: *storms into Titan's Tower and drags Robin into a private meeting* What the heck is wrong with you?
Robin: What do you mean? Also, ow.
Aqualad: You told Phantom not to sing!
Robin: Oh, yeah of course I did. I didn't want him to accidentally ensnare the rest of the team. A harem situation is the last thing this tower need, intentionally or not.
Aqualad: Siren's don't always work like that, Robin, especially adolescents! Da-Phantom's songs are almost entirely hypnotic, and cause confusion! He's still a guppy! An older guppy, sure, but that just means he also has complete control over his song! He could sing and it could effect nothing for Poseidon's sake!
Robin: O-Oh.
Aqualad: What you said was so incredibly offensive, do you realize that? Chalking up a Siren song as something purely preditory? Its instinct, it ingrained in him as much as breathing is for you and me. Even if it weren't, would you tell Raven or Starfire not to use their abilities because Demons and Aliens try to take over the world occasionally?
Robin: No, of course not.
Aqualad: Well this is basically the same thing. You need to give Phantom an apology, and maybe ask Aquaman for a lesson in Sirens if Phantom won't give you one.
Robin: You're right, I made assumptions and I am sorry. I'll pull Phantom aside later.
Aquaman: Thank you for being understanding. I hope I don't have to come in here like this again.
*in the hallway*
Phantom: Aqualad! You're here!
Aqualad: Hey guppy. *pats Phantom affectionally on the back*
Phantom: *core purrs before tapering off when he sees Robin, and Phantom seems to deflate a bit.* Oh, hello Robin.
Robin: Ah Phantom, about you singing-
Phantom: I haven't been, like you said, promise.
Robin: I-I know and I need to tell you that I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ask you not to express yourself, or your instincts. Its not an excuse, but I had no clue how important singing would be for you.
Phantom: Really? You won't be angry then?
Robin, wincing: No. I'm so sorry, I'll be talking to Aquaman about understanding Siren's more, something I should have done from the beginning. I hope you can forgive me sometime in the future.
Phantom: It-It might take a bit of time. *winces as if he feels guilty but Aqualad pats his shoulder in encouragement* Normally, people have issues with me being a ghost, so when you didn't blink an eye at it, I got excited thinking I was fully accepted, but then you shut down a part of me that makes me a Siren too and I just, it made me sad and kind of angry.
Robin: I'm sorry.
Phantom: Thank you for apologizing, most people don't. I hope we can be friends when I forgive you in the future?
Robin: Of course, I look forward to being your friend Phantom.
Danny dyed his hair white one day. His adoptive family thinks its teenage rebellion, but really his ghost side Has been acting up, so now he's got to commit to the bit
Bruce does a double take when Danny walks in. His newest son was much more reserved than his other children. He didn't like having attention on himself- unless it was the popular kids at school but Bruce thought that was just something every teenager went through.
Danny spent most of his time locked away in his room, playing video games, writing for his blog, and watching documentaries about space. He was the most normal and well-behaved ward since Jason, and Jason was so grateful for being able to go to school that he used to ask to skip patrol to do homework. Danny had no interest in getting into the life of crime fighting, despite his previous ghost-fighting days.
He mostly stopped the ghosts from attacking because there was literally no one else in Amity Park who could handle the ghosts. In Gotham, however, there were plenty of heroes who were trained and on top of whatever issues were going on. Danny saw no reason to jump in, despite the Waynes each taking time out of their days to give him training in thier respective areas.
Jason and Alfred were happy to report Danny was one of the best shots in the household, while Damian and Cass both agreed his hand-to-hand combat was his weakest point. Duke and Bruce were the ones who helped him the most with his powers, which Danny preferred to use and were his strongest.
Despite all of this, Danny only jumped in as Phantom if it was an all-hands-on-deck or a last-resort situation. He would rather live as a civilian, which was a huge load off of Bruce's and Dick's shoulders. His eldest had turned many young people away from the cape life, but he never managed to get his own siblings to agree. Danny was his first success story.
Danny had no problems in school. He was one of the top students- not the top, but definitely in the top ten. His teachers had nothing but praise for his insightful and well-mannered behavior. He didn't speak too much in class, but he wasn't dismissive of assignments, nor did he leave all his part of group work to his classmates.
Alfred was working on getting Danny's mannerisms and etiquette up to par for the elites, but he was easy to mold, willing to learn, and sort of natural when he was relaxed.
Danny didn't steal; he didn't drink or do any kind of drugs (Bruce knows; he had him tested. Whether that test was done with Danny's knowledge or not was no one's business). Really, the only issue Bruce had with Danny was his social life, but honestly? In a city like Gotham, having his son home, safe and sound, behind the best security money could buy, and the best of minds could build, was much more relieving.
He hadn't thought Danny was capable of rebelling.
Which was why his son, walking in with pure white hair, was so jarring. Bruce tried to find a way to tactfully ask about it-
Tim glanced up from his phone just as Danny was taking his seat and gasped. "What happened to your hair?
-but that was not how he would have done it. Thankfully, Tim always handled things he didn't want to.
Danny smiled, running a hand through his hair, unbothered by the horror that had slipped into the CEO'S voice."Felt like a change."
As he moved his hair, Bruce realized that Danny had gotten piercings as well. Not just one or two, but six, from his lobe to the top. They were small, tiny stars and dots, and one moon at the very top as a flat. Bruce's eyes widened.
That was... surprising because, in thier state, one had to have parental permission until one was eighteen to get piercings. Danny is sixteen, and Bruce had not given any form of permission. Where did he get those piercings?
"This felt right," Danny concludes, leaning back in his chair. As he did so, his shirt rose a little, and peeking from the small slip of skin was an ink image. Tattoos. On Danny's frontal hipbones.
Bruce felt faint.
Tim gasped, knocking over his drink when he sprang up, pointing at Danny accusingly. It was the most animated Bruce had seen his son in the past week, but this was obviously a worthy cause. "Do you have tattoos?!?"
The now white-haired boy smiled warmly, almost proudly, as he lifted his shirt to show off two strips of black and white galaxy-themed tattoos. They tilted from his hip down to his private parts and were honestly a masterful work of art, but Bruce was shocked beyond words.
None of his kids had tattoos. None. Not even Jason. Oh gods, Danny was never going to get a real job now.
"Where?" Bruce croaked, "Where did you get those?"
"Johnny did them for me." Danny chirps, letting his shirt fall back down.
"Who is Johnny?" Tim gasped, falling back into his seat like his heart was being ripped out of his chest and stomped on. He was ready for children. He had the you're going to put me in an early grave act down pact. Bruce was honestly impressed by it.
"He's my friend." Danny shrugged. "He's cool."
Bruce opened his mouth, but once again Tim beat him to the punch.
"Cool? Is it cool to be running around looking like a delinquent?!"
"Didn't you use to skip school to go skateboarding and then break into buildings at night for a photography session?" Danny popped his fork into his mouth, raising one eyebrow. Tim sputtered for a second, looking for an argument but falling short, so he turned to Bruce.
"B. Control your son!"
"I don't need controlling from a man who actively breaks the law. " Danny cut in. He swallowed the salad in his mouth before putting his fork down and raising his hands to create the distinctive bat ears of Batman's cowl on his head. Bruce felt like he'd been slapped.
Tim slammed a hand on the table. "You're breaking your father's heart."
Danny, sweet and innocent Danny, rolled his eyes at Tim. "It's not that big of a deal."
Bruce thinks his heart actually may have shattered. Tim glanced at him before facing the teenager at the table again. "You're killing your father."
"Good."
Danny continued his dinner, humming peacefully in the utter shock silence. He retreated to his room to continue playing his latest game, leaving two of the brightest minds in the Wayne household utterly stumped on what to do or say. It would take hours before either found the will to move, and that was only because Alfred got home from bingo with his friend to find the two staring at the wall.
he bounces around from universe to universe making graves for the dead and putting them to rest. hes not king in this, he just knows how it feels to be without a place to put his bones
danny, of course, carries his own with him, so he is, essentially, his own grave, and its... unsettling. gives him the ghost version of adhd, makes it impossible to take 'settle down.'
and he could technically solve that with a headstone but... well. graves are supposed to be made FOR you. even if youre paying someone or the government is putting you in an incinerator or whatever else is arranged by your family, its supposed to be a mark of affection, of belonging.
Danny died but nobody noticed. Danny left home and nobody cared. Danny left the UNIVERSE, and nobody looked for him.
they call, yeah, and theyre all friends still, but some part of danny feels so distant. he loves his family. he loves his friends. but sometimes he cant help but wonder how much easier their lives are without him. how much safer. if they ever think back on their wild high school years and feel relief that hes not around to mess things up anymore.
so he keeps moving, long beyond the time it starts to feel like running.
and he carves and carves and carves
An Angela here, a Jeoffery there. A Dua and a Haoyu and a Peter. A Zitkala and an Assol and an Ahsan. A Kleio and a Fabian and a Bluebell and so many more he can't remember them all.
It takes longer than he wishes it had for him to start writing their names down in a little book he tucks close to his heart.
He goes to mass graves that makes his stomach roll and his ears ring from how many voices cry out to him, and spends weeks carving name after name into rocks he digs up and places like sentinels around every sliver of bone.
He goes to cities and engraves plaques and nails them to brick walls.
He finds himself in ruins and plains and icy cracks and the bottom of the sea.
His markers won't last forever, he knows. But they don't need to. The dead are, in many ways, similar to the living. They want to be heard, known, cherished. It doesn't matter if it's for a lifetime or a moment.
Danny can give them that moment. For many, it's enough to settle their clamoring and usher them gently on. So Danny keeps doing it, because it feels good, offering people this measure of peace. It feels good, to help without fighting.
eventually, he makes his way to a city called Gotham. He finds many, many unknown dead there. Restless dead. Violent dead.
Danny is in Gotham for college, and during finals month the Joker goes on a spree. After the Joker breaks out of Arkham for the THIRD time Danny in a fit of sleep deprived pique does a bit of research, breaks into Arkham, and swaps prisoner transfers so that the Joker is taken to a prison out of state.
It’s only after finals are over, and he has slept for two days, that he calls Tucker to check on his half brained plan, to find out it worked? Somehow it worked. The Joker is now at a different prison where he has no corrupted guards etc to help him breakout and is now stuck there.
The bats only find this out when their paranoia of “why hasn’t the Joker broken out yet?” kicks in.
I like to think this is one of those things Bruce had been trying to do, legitimately of course, for years. But somewhere between Gotham's corruption, well timed breakouts, and no other prison really wanting to deal with the Joker anyway; every prior attempt to transfer him fell through.
By swapping paperwork, Danny quite accidentally managed to cut through all those problems. The transfer was already happening before anyone knew anything about it. Therefore, it didn't need some corrupt officials to sign off on it; the receiving prison didn't have to be strong armed into taking him; and probably most crucially, Joker had no time to breakout between learning about his transfer and said transfer happening.
I also think it'd be good if Danny didn't even send him somewhere super high security (ie Belle Reve). Those transfer are probably rarer and come with too much fanfare. Instead, Danny sent him to some random prison in, like, Wisconsin* or something. Which, on top of being narratively funnier, actually works out better because it's so far removed from Joker's normal network of goons and corruption. He either has to wait for his normal helpers to get there, or try to build all that influence back from the ground up while being stifled by being under such close watch and having to fight his way to the top of whatever established hierarchy there already is in the new place (again, alone, without his own established network bolstering him).
Either way it's gonna take time. Months and years even. And, once they know about it, time is very useful to the Bats for cleaning house before Joker inevitably ends up back in Gotham. The more of the Joker's network they can root out and clean up, the harder it'll be for him to breakout again later.
Plus, the longer this random prison can hold him, it helps build very strong evidence for Bruce's legitimate attempts to get Joker transferred. No more other institutions arguing they don't have the means to secure someone like the Joker. Security isn't the issue; Exhibit A, this prison did it for years no issue.
*Danny, leaving a voicemail at 3am during his stressed out sleep deprived brilliance: Hey Frootloop! You've got plenty of influence in Wisconsin. Do something to help keep Joker in his new home and I'll go to 3 Packer's games with you every year he's there. Kay thanks, bye! Whoever invented statistics is evil. Evil, evil, bad box of Raisin Bran evil. Where'd my calculator escape to? *Several more seconds of rustling and muttering before Danny actually remembers to hang up.*
What if, in order to make sure to keep Joker in place, Danny goes to Walker and, after some fighting, asks the Warden for a favor.
Walker gets to deal with a very rule breaking/mass murdering albeit mortal 'punk' and Danny gets a clown free Gotham for his finals months. (And if Walker marks Joker so when the clown finally does crossover into the afterlife he'll hunt his ghost down and toss him in his own prison for many, many, many years than good for him)
Also it would be FUNNY, to me, if Joker starts a riot in the prison, takes the 'Warden' hostage to finally get out and 'kills' him. Only for Walker to get up seconds later, grins sharply and just says "Nice try punk, but you can't kill whats already dead"
Bruce Wayne wakes to a pair of blue eyes inches from his own. It takes him completely by surprise, especially when the eyes slowly bleed in green, and he's just about to give in to the reflex of punting whatever it is away when, at the last possible second, the eyes speak.
"Did you sleep with my parents?"
Bruce opens and closes his mouth, stunned by the accusation. A few seconds go by, during which his foggy mind attempts to fight off lack of sleep long enough to make sense of the growled question.
It obviously took too much time for whoever this is for they sigh impatiently.
The eyes move back, and now when they are no longer taking up his entire view, Bruce can see its a creature of some sort. It's humanoid enough that Bruce would even suspect it of being a teenage boy. It's also oddly familiar, as if he resembled someone Bruce knew a long time ago.
"Did you?" The boy repeats, his articulation sharp as steel.
The double raised eyebrows, the slight head tilt, and even the click of a tongue are all habits that scratch a part of Bruce's brain, and like a dam bursting apart, memories flood his head.
"Oh," he breathes, eyes roaming the creature's face, identifying each feature that he stole from his parents. "You're Jack and Maddie Fenton's. You have your mother's glare and your father's face shape."
The creature, for it can no longer be entirely human with that glow, neon eyes, and the fact that it is levitating as if gravity were an unsolicited opinion, narrowed its eyes. "That's right I am. My name is Danny Fenton"
"Danny," Bruce repeats, tasting the sound on his tongue. He can help, but soften his expression at the confirmation that his old lovers kept the name they used to casually talk about. "Its lovely. Where you named after-"
"The street dog that Dad chased until he crashed into window around the back patio of som rich guy. The same rich guy my Mom was trying to seduce by pretending she needed chemistry tutoring, in the very same patio" Danny huffs, repeating the story he likely heard a thousand times in his life.
Bruce chuckles "Jack always had grand entrances. What are you doing here, Danny?"
Danny frown, bitting his lip before pointing to his hair. Bruce watches it switch between dark black and pure snow white, as well as his flickering eyes that can't seem to decide if they should be blue or green "I need a transplant"
"Are you sick?" Bruce frets twisting the blanket in one hand. If this child was here, based on his age, then he likely came to ask Bruce for a kidney or liver. This is likely his son.
Wow
"Somewhat?" Danny runs a frustrated hand through his hair. Bruce admires how the action causes some strands to stay white. It winds up giving his son salt-and-pepper hair. "A couple of days ago I had an accident during a fight. My core took a nasty hit, and now both sides of being are mixing. I can't control my appearance anymore. My Yeti said I need a soul piece transplant, but it has to be someone comparable. Neither my mom, dad, nor sister is a match, so my mom suggested you might be. Since you are likely my biological father. I know its a lot to ask-"
"Should we go see your Yeti today and prep for the surgery? It is a surgery, isnt it?" Bruce sits up, discarding the fact he undstoood only a third of what the boy said, to focus on the important part. His son needed him. "How do we test to see if we're a match?"
Danny squints at him, before folding his arms over his chest "This doesn't mean I'll become your heir or break up my parents for you"
Bruce blinks "Of course. Why would it?"
"My parents are happily married!"
The man nods, reaching for the robe by his bed. He always slept shirtless, but depending on the season he wore pajamas pants or a pair of briefs. Thankfully, he choose the pants last night. "I am aware. They had fun with me, but they didn't love me. Not the way they loved eachother. Jack and Maddie are soulmates."
A loaded silence goes by before Danny's glow spikes up. Bruce fights the urge to look away, wondering if his son somehow got his DNA spliced with a star or even if his ex-lovers weren't as human as he had thought. Danny now looks like a human outline made of light as the boy looks down at his hand, and shakes it around.
He is obviously trying to shake off the brightness, but it doesn't seem to work, for the boy throws his arms into the air and folds his legs under him. Bruce's eyes start to water from the strain of keeping eye contact- or what he assumes is eye contact. He can't make out the boy's face.
"Gah! I hate this!" Danny whines, "I just want this to be over!"
"We'll get the test done as quickly as possible," Bruce promises, moving over to his closet. "Do I need to pack ann overnight bag for the hospital?"
Danny doesn't have a chance to answer because Alfred chooses to speak out. His butler stands in the doorway, holding a tray of Bruce's morning coffee and pastry.
"Master Bruce? Who are you talking to?" The aged man asks glancing around the room
"My possible son with the Fentons," Bruce replies, waving a hand at Danny, who is still just light. He gets the feeling his boy is studying Alfred closely.
"The Fentons?" Pity and worry clouds Alfred's voice as he slowly creeps closer. Carefully he lowers the tray on the coffee table on the right side of the room. Just as delicately, Alfred replies "Master Bruce. The Fentons broke up with you"
A laugh, half hysterical- half devastated, leaves Bruce throat before he can stop it. "Yeah they broke my heart! Taught me that I was unlovable no matter how hard I tried. HA HA HA HA!"
"Oh" Danny winces. "This is worst then the fruitloop."
Damian, raising his eyebrow, unimpressed: What about them?
Jon: Well, you know a lot about them so...
Damian: Spit it out, dancing around the subject, as you are, is unbecoming!
Jon: Th-Theres a guy I really really like and he loves dogs, and is even looking into adopting one or getting one from a good breeder, and I offered to help him because I just wanted an excuse to talk to him! But I don't know anything about dogs! I mean, there's Krypto but does he even really count as a dog? I guess also Titus and Ace but I'm only around them when I'm with you, and all I ever do I pet them!
Damian: You can not be serious.
Jon: This dog thing is really important Damian! Apprentantly he couldn't have any pets when he lived with his parents, but there was this wild dog that he would play with sometimes. He, like, really loves dogs, he gets so excited when he so much as catches a glimpse of them! His eyes get all soft and his smile is so-so bright! And he is, like, obsessed with Krypto whenever Krypto is around, its so cute!
Damian, less judgemental: You are serious.
Jon: I just want his experience with his first dog to be perfect, yaknow? Sorry, I know I'm being unreasonable.
Damian: What is he looking for?
Jon: Huh?
Damian: This guy, what is he looking for with a dog? Does he have a specific breed in mind? Any allergies? What is his house like? Does he have a yard or live in an appartment? Does he live near a park or forest if he doesn't have a yard? Does he have any physical limitations? How much time can he alot to grooming? If we're going to help him, we need to know this information so we can help him properly.
Jon, tearfully: Damian! You're the bestest friend ever!*hugs him*
Damian, embarrassed: Unhand me!
Bonus
*6 weeks later*
Jon, postmission: Agh what are we going to do with this beast? Danny is going to be here in 5 minutes! He can't see this thing! He'll freak out!
Damian, pouting: If father would just see reason and let me keep him, we wouldn't be in this situation.
Jon: What even is it? It looks kinda dogish? Maybe it already has an owner?
Beast in question: *towering golden colored animal with a wrinkled dog like snout, massive dog like paws, scales going up its limbs, long, slightly curled fangs, a curly lion-like mane, and a long curly furred tail*
Jon: I don't see a collar, do you?
Damian: No. Perhaps-
Beast: *perks up*
Danny: Hey, sorry I'm a bit early, astronomy club let out early because Michael was stupid and did a back flip off the- *stops as he makes eye contact with the "beast"*
Jon: Uhhh Danny, listen this this is-is uh-
Damian: A statue. I had it commissioned and it just arrived-
Danny: How in all the afterlives did you find a Fu Dog puppy in America!*eyes glittering in awe*
Damian: Fu Dog?
Jon: Puppy?!
Danny: Hi baby! Oh you're just the cutest thing aren't you?
Fu Puppy: *wags and shoves his nose in Danny's hand, having decided Danny wasn't an evil spirit*
Danny: So how did you find him? Fu Dog breeders are suuuper touchy about where they send their puppies, they're almost unseen outside of China! *happy petting the massive puppy, ignorant to the bewildered looks he was getting*
Jon: Oh uh we jus-
Damian: Jon told me you were in search of a dog. My father has a friend that pulled some strings. He was supposed to be a surprise, but due to some miscommunication the puppy was delivered early.
Danny, eyes soft: Really? Jon thats the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me.
Jon, blushing: Oh uh it was-it was nothing!
Danny: Oh but this must have cost a fortune! How much do I owe you?
Damian: No need, my father happily payed, it barely made a dent. You can repay us by taking good care of him.
Danny: If you're sure. *laughs as the puppy licks him*
Jon: So, uh, not to be a party pooper but how is he going to fit in your house?
Danny, laughing: Uh, spirit shifting silly! All mythical dogs are able to do it, its how they blend in with their owners when they're masquerading as human or living. Its taught to all puppies as soon as they're old enough to be taught, since its so important to our part of the worlds secrecy. Watch, *clicks his tongue to grab the puppy's attention* P̸͚̦͌͆u̴̘̠̞̒͌p̸̡͖͛̈́͊͜p̸̠͉̠̒͘͘ÿ̵̫͚͓́̾͝,̴͕̼͖̓͌ m̸̺͕̘͋͠͝á̵̻͙͐́s̸̙͇̫̓́̚k̸̟̝͛̕͝.̴͓̠͉̐͌
Fu Puppy: *starts shimmering gold, and shinks down. the light dissipates revealing a tiny apricot colored Shar-Pei puppy*
Danny: See? *happily picks up his new puppy* Its fine!
Tucker: I know. When they said we were getting a field trip in Gotham, I thought it would be a lot more exciting. Especially when they listed Wayne Enterprises as one of the tours.
Danny: Axion Labs had a better tour. All we've seen are hallways and closed doors
Sam: Don't forget the Wayne water fountain that was part of the original town hall of Gotham, before it burned to the ground and the fountain was bought out by the Waynes.
Danny: It was a fascinating twelve-minute wait for the small gush of water.
Tucker: Whats the tour guy saying now?
Danny: Don't know. Don't care.
Sam: Ugh, we should play a game. Make the time move faster.
Tucker: Sure, want to play Would You Rather?
Danny: We played that on the bus. How about Have You Ever?
Sam: We don't have anything to drink. Let's do Hot Seat.
Danny: Sure.
Tucker: Go head
Sam: Right, Danny, you're first. If you could sleep with any of the heroes in Gotham who would-
Danny: Red Hood.
Tucker: Good taste. Bouncing off of what Sam said, if you could sleep with any of the Waynes who-
Danny: Jason Todd.
Sam: You seem overly eager to answer these questions.
Danny: Is that a problem?
Jason: No I find it interesting
Danny letting out the highest pitch scream a man of 25 has ever made: !!!!!!
Jason: impressive set of pipes.
Sam whispering to Tucker: Is it just me, or does Danny have a shot?
Tucker whispering back: I think he does. They were about Gotham. Anything can happen here.
#dcxdpdabbles#dcxdp crossover#from a fic i never wrote#College Au#Sam Tucker and Danny join a travel club#Jason liked what he saw and heard#Dead on Main#Wayne Enterprise is boring
I'll bet he especially liked that Danny considers his persona as Red Hood a hero, and that he wants to sleep with him whether he's in civilian mode or not 😏😏😏
