I think the most hilarious place to put Post-Canon Sokka would have been the university at Ba Sing Se. I think he would have made a great unhinged professor. Also, in true Sokka fashion, he should have completely dodged fame. Momo is more famous than he is.
He wants to demonstrate to the class how this thing called electricity works, so he's going to be bringing in a Firebender, so everybody be cool, we're all friends here... and in walks Princess Azula of the Fire Nation. One-time conqueror of the city. One of the students is currently writing an essay on how her brief rule of the city affected fruit trade. She says she considers the class to still be her subjects as she doesn't acknowledge any pretenders to any of her thrones, but for now you're exempted from bowing and "Your Highness" will do. It's a really interesting lecture.
"Okay, guys - hey, listen up, everyone - I won't be here next week, me and Aang are going to-" yeah right, sure, Professor Sokka knows the Avatar. Except, of course, the Avatar walks in sheepishly and says that Appa might have gotten into Sokka's hybrid crops, and then you all have to sit there and watch your professor chase the Avatar around with a sword.
One postgrad student is specializing in Water Tribe Cultures. She's currently studying the massive cultural shift that happened in the Northern Water Tribe at the end of the war - oh, and Professor, I absolutely know that you're from the Southern Water Tribe, but it's just that the shift started with Master Katara, and of course I don't think that every person from the South knows one another haha it's just that I need to ask her some questions and I thought maybe you could help me write a letter or write a letter of introduction or...
Sokka looks at her blankly and goes "yeah, she's my sister. KATARA!" which is followed by a faint answering "fuck you!" from Somewhere and to the horror/elation of our postgrad, Master Katara bursts in and is promptly beaned in the head with a rock by Professor Sokka. Her brother. her hero and her professor are siblings and currently brawling on the floor.
Sokka does not teach or study history, but he does sometimes sit in on lectures about recent history. Whenever he does, several doctoral students flock in to sit near him (even if it's an intro course) so that they can eavesdrop on his grumbling. (No matter how they try, an "overheard utterance" is not a valid source according to their professors. No, we have no sources on the Avatar's bison taking part in combat - sky bison are not war animals and...)
He gets regular deliveries with the Beifong family crest on them, and he goes "sweet, Toph must have found some new minerals" and at this point nobody needs to ask which Toph. He seems to have friends everywhere, literally everywhere. Wang was headed out to this massive swamp to study if it's one big organism, and Sokka told him to find some guy named Hue and "don't mind the loincloth." One time the university gets shut down because the Earth King wants to visit. Oh, visit the University? What an honor- Of fucking course not, he wants to visit Professor Sokka, who yells at him and his royal guards for interrupting his day. The Earth King and his many, many royal guards then sheepishly say sorry and file out.
The last straw is when - not a week after he yelled at the Earth King - the assistant head of the Political Science dept walks in to the faculty lounge to find Sokka having tea with a nice normal man dressed in Earth greens for once, and can't resist a little joke. "Let me guess, you're having tea with the Fire Lord." And then she can instantly tell that she fucked up, because both of them go stock still.
So when the two men awkwardly stand up and proceed to introduce the Fire Lord whose portrait she has in her office because she is the assistant head of Political Science as Li, a server at the Jasmine Dragon, she just says "hello Li" and leaves to find a bottle of something strong.
so I have an idea. Danny ends up in some sort of cloning body in Cadmus. but instead of you know being Amazed by the bunch of Heroes and aliens and such he is terrified. not because they're Heroes and such but because his powers are locked up and they're scrutinizing him.
He is confused and disoriented and he is not explained what the Justice League is because to everyone else it is common knowledge and they forget to explain it. So from Danny's point of view he is just being moved to a different facility.
Danny does not realize he is in a different body for a hot minute because he was disoriented. I imagine Danny going along with whatever people are telling him because his experience with everything isn't exactly good.
Everyone would be so used to everyone automatically going into heroism that Danny wouldn't really get a choice in it. Everyone would be trying to help Danny But they're not helping with the right things.
Danny would be seen as a natural at heroism and make it seem like it was something he wanted to do. Danny wouldn't try and show off a bunch of his powers because he is trying to have a few tricks up this sleeve.
his natural response to being quippy when in danger or scared would be seen as his normal personality and because no one knows him they wouldn't see anything wrong with how he is doing.
I imagine there would be a lot of angst when they realize that Danny doesn't know he can say no. He would get really injured and maybe try and hide it or he would literally get up off of a medical bed or ask about other missions and that is when other people start to realize something is up.
if their telling him to rest then him being like I haven't needed rest before and that's when they realize Danny wasn't not injured , he just didn't think he was allowed to be.
it would cause angst for the heroes because they then realize Danny did not know he was safe and the friendliest they thought he was exuding was really him just trying to be on his captors good side. especially if they don't know Danny was Danny outside of the clone body.
Hello! Been a while since I've done a prompt but thought this was a fun idea! (Yes it's dcxdp)
Danny is one of Tim's bio parents and here's how it happened, Jack and Janet have been wanting a child for awhile (whether as an heir or just because is to be determined) but because they do archaeology they get access to the Ghost Kings summoning somehow.
In which they summon Danny who at this point has been king for hundreds of not thousands of years and looks at little Eldritch, they ask him for a child of their own and he accepts with the stipulation that he also becomes a parent (Danny who kinda has turned into a mother hen towards Dani and with a new child Dani won't complain anymore about how smothering he is)
So he then becomes Tim's parent who he sees on the weekend or whenever he wants to visit (Tim is never left alone by himself, Danny is always there or left with Danny on purpose) and while Tim doesn't have any powers cause he doesn't have any near death experience, Danny still teaches him all about the infinite realms and Tim being a Technical Prince when he dies. So when he becomes Robin Tim already knows all about his Papas vigilante days and the things to stay away from, tho Danny did give him a necklace for Tim to call Danny for when he needs help.
In which case when Jacks is in a coma and Janet dead Danny of course stays with Tim and legally takes Tim in as his son, and Bruce finds this out in the most hilarious way (well angsty for Bruce but Danny will fight him if he tries to adopt his baby)
Danny: *Gag* It's okay. Almost done. A few more bites. You can do this, Fenton. *chew* *Gag, chock gag*
Damian: Oh, for Pete's sake! Fenton! Stop it! It's just a salad! You do not have to retch every time you have some! Especially in the school cafeteria! It's gross!
Danny startled: Oh sorry, Mr. Wayne, I didn't mean bother you.
Damian: Tsk. Don't call me Mr. Wayne, we are the same age. Now, what seems to be the problem? Why must you make that noise every time you eat a salad?
Danny: I'm sorry, I don't know why I do that, but every time I try to be healthy, I just gag. My mom says it because I'm a picky eater, and I just have to force myself-
Damian: Your mother is a fool. Forcing yourself to eat something that causes such a repulsive reaction means something else is obviously at play and not you being picky. What part of the salad makes you react?
Danny: *Frog blink*
Damian: Fenton!
Danny: Oh-sorry- the lettuce?
Damian: Are you allergic?
Danny: I don't think so.
Damian: You don't think so? This means you had never had a professional check to be sure, does it not?
Danny: Um-
Damian: I know a free clinic that will test you. If you are not allergic, then it's likely a texture issue or something psychological. Whatever the reason, no more forcing yourself to eat it. Do you understand?
Danny: Um-
Damian: *Slams hand on table* Do. You. Understand?
Danny: But....the salad is all I can afford off the Academy menu and we aren't allowed to bring outside food.
Damian: No matter. I will purchase your meals from now on.
Danny: What!? I can't accept that! I don't want to take advantage!
Damian: Hmmmm so your sense of justice and pride are a issue? Then do something for me in exchange for the meals.
Danny wary: What is it?
Damian: The animal shelter need more volunteers. They do not have enough funds to hire someone full time but the animals are the ones suffering for it and I will not stand it. You will accompany me to the shelter everyday of the week to help out in exchange for five meals out of the week. Do we have an accord?
Danny: *frog blink*
Damian: FENTON
Danny: Yes! Yes, ugh, yes I can do that.
Damian: Good. Now, let's get you some lunch that wont make you sick. Up, pretty boy.
Tim: I may or may not have sold my soul to the Prince of the Dead.
Bart: Well....even I didn't see that coming.
Cassie: You did WHAT!?
Tim: It was an accident! I was minding my own business-
Kon: You LIE!
Tim: Okay, so I was minding someone's else business after noticing how suspicious his amount of contact with Gotham ghosts were.
Gerta: Um, hello? Im floating right here.
Tim: Yes, I mean no offense, but you're the reason I can see ghosts. The more exposure someone has to the paranormal, the more they can see it. That's why it's strange that a regular civilian is so involved with them.
Gerta: Alright, I'll let it slide, but you're on thin ice.
Tim: Anyway, I followed him for a few weeks to see if he was up to something or was just really spiritual. All the guy did was go to work, the gym, and on walks to do errands. He purposely greeted every ghost he came across even ones too weak for me to see. I was just about to stop my recon on him when a portal suddenly open and a ghost yeti abducted him!
Bart: A ghost yeti? Why does that sound so familiar?
Tim: I, of course, followed them with the intent to rescue the guy when he turned into a ghost himself! Two bright rings of light and then bam! Ghost Prince, flouting over a bright gold circle of runes.
Cassie: Oh gods. You followed Daniel Fenton didn't you?
Tim nodding sadly: Yeah
Cassie: And you fell inside the Circle of Marriage didn't you?
Tim nodding even sadder: Yeah....
Cassie: Why are you like this?
Kon: Circle of Marriage? What is that?
Gerta: Well not all ghost are created from a living soul. Its actually really rare for that to happen. Most are born in a neither zone called the Infinite Realms and varies customs and cultures bloom from there. The Circle of Marriage is one of them where basically when a ghost comes of age they stand in that circle and it calls thier fated soul mate. It doesn't alway work but when it does, the ghosts are considered married for all eternity because thier souls are given to the other party as part of the ritual. All they have to do is be able to pass the runes and its a sealed deal.
Tim: yeah that sums it up. Anyway you guys are invited to my bachelor party.
Kon/Bart: Alright! Party at Tim's!
Cassie: What!? No!? We do not celebrate losing our souls!
You know how walker (is that her name? I only saw clips of the show) Got DNA of batman from around Gotham. What if someone else did the same but instead of batman, they got DNA of dick, Jason and Tim to create the ultimate soldier with their best qualities and danny is the result. He had Dicks acrobatics, Jason's deadness and ruthlessness and Tim's smarts.( ・∀・)
The one thing that tied all three DNA donors was their role as Robin. Or so the government sector (with no name, in case they were ever exposed, so they could never be tied to the United States) thought that was all that was tying them together.
He was to have the First's acrobatics and his leadership.
The Second's sharp shooting and his ruthlessness.
The Third's hacking and smarts.
Everything that made those human vigilantes a force to fear would be poured into this clone. Hours and hours of combat, strategy, and American propaganda downloaded into his brain. The clone would be the perfect soldier, the perfect weapon.
None of them were expecting this.
"You will follow commands."
"Why?"
"You will be activated by the phrase The Shadow over the Flag"
"Why?"
"You are a weapon," Waller hissed at the clone who was staring at her evenly from the chair they had strapped him to.
"Why?" The darn thing repeated, tilting his head much like the bird his donors called themselves.
"You don't need to know why." She spat, nodding her head at one of the scientists. They took that as a sign to turn on the electricity, listening to the boy scream as it ran amok through his body. She counted to twelve before raising her hand to signal the electricity to end. "You are a weapon of the United States."
The clone gasps through his pain before raising his head and grinning at her. Almost as if he wasn't just about to pass out from the mental training they were attempting to put him through.
"Why?"
Scowling, she turned away, throwing a command over her shoulder. "Break him."
The clone's voice yelled back. It's eerily cheerful, much like the first Robin had been whenever he attacked goons or the second Robin when he set a building on fire or even the third Robin when he outsmarted adults. "I'll catch up to you later. I'll catch up to everyone involved with my creation, and I'll teach you what happens when you attempt to make a living weapon."
She didn't care. Waller had been threatened her entire life by beings far stronger than the experiment they had created. She doubted that it could fine her or her team. It was a mystery where the clone had developed a personality—one that took nothing seriously and seemed almost happy in the chaos that brought it pain—but she had broken many people before.
One she helped create would be just as simple to break.
A week later, Waller found out that everyone in that unnamed government sector had been hunted down and killed by the clone that had escaped with none the wiser. She found out because it was waiting for her, wearing the wedding rings of those on her team and the badges of those who were unmarried.
Waller had found it sitting comfortably on her desk in her home office, flipping through her laptop and sending files to random emails.
"I wonder how many Americans are going to die with that information out." A wide, wicked grin rested on its lips as it released files and files of government secrets. She stood there, frozen in the doorway, unsure of what to say as it raised its head and stared her down with borrowed eyes. "I wonder how quickly the country you love so much will turn on you for a few files."
Waller responded by raising her gun and firing. But the clone bent in a way that spoke of the First, dodging the bullets with a gentle laugh. As if she wasn't trying to shoot it, but instead they were having a little pillow fight at a sleepover. Then, in the next second, her right hand was gone, nothing more than an explosion of blood.
Like a water spray bottle that had squirted out a stream.
She stared at it, more confused than in pain, watching the blood leak down her arm. The gun clattered against the ground as the Clone giggled. "Oopsie, mother had a little spill~!"
"Protocol Alpha-ten!" She shouted, twisting on her heel and running down the hall as her security system automatically started destroying files and locking down the building.
"Overright: Omega-four-four-three," A voice calmly called out. Her voice. Waller realized with horror that the clone was skipping after her, mimicking her speech so well that the security system halted all movement. It believed the clone.
But they had tested it against the Martians' shapeshifting. And not even taking her form could trick her system!
"Are we playing tag?" The clone called out, and suddenly, bam- her left leg from the knee down was gone. She stumbled, grabbing onto the wall, with a cry as the clone laughed more. "Am I it?"
"Protocol: Nine-Pitch Black!" She screams, praying the message gets out —if only as a warning to the rest of the world —but even before she finishes speaking, another voice overlaps hers.
"Override: White Fall five-nine-eight-twelve." The clone walked up behind her, kicking out her good knee. Waller tumbled to the ground, breathing heavily, trying to think through the pain. It crouched down to her fallen form, tsking. "Calling for help? From the Justice League? After all the grief you've given them? A new low even for you."
"What...what are you?" She gasps, watching his blue eyes shimmer to green and his teeth sharpen. The DNA was human, not even meta-human. None of the Bats were. So, how was this clone changing? Did someone on the team mess with its DNA strand when they were making it?
"Shhhh shhhhhh." The clone cooed, pressing his finger against her trembling lips as a terrible pressure filled the air. A chill broke across her body as frost slowly crept along the walls, and the lights burst one by one. The clone's glowing grin looked more and more haunting by the second.
"My dead Amanda Waller." It purred, leaning in and letting its human features melt away to reveal a monster. "You know what I am. All living things know what I am. They can't escape me."
"Death," The word feels punched out of her, and its green eyes seem to dance with amusement.
"Your death."
No one heard her scream, and no one noticed when she was silenced for good.
Bruce Wayne gets a knock on his door at three in the morning just as the team is coming back from patrol. He wants to tell his kids to go get it, but everyone is half dead on their feet from the latest fight, so after getting out of his suit and throwing on his best bed robe, he makes the trek to the front door.
He doesn't even have to pretend to be exhausted. Bruce is getting up there in age, and hero work was a young man's job.
He rubs at his eyes while swinging the large front door open, a sarcastic remark on the tip of his tongue, but it dies the second he sees what's standing on his doorstep.
A child, the perfect blend of all his sons, that it was almost like he was looking at one of those holographic posters of his children's child school photos, beams up at him.
In his hands, dripping blood onto the steps of Wayne Manor, is the head of Amanda Waller, frozen in a permanent petrified scream for all eternity.
"Hi," the child chirps, eyes crinkling like Dick's, lips pulled into a half-smirk like Tim's, and nose scrunched up like Jason's. Bruce was struck dumb by how adorable he seemed despite more heads of unknown victims resting at his feet. "My name is Danny Phantom. I was told this was where my DNA came from, and that makes it my home, doesn't it? Do you like games?"
What none of the unnamed government sector workers knew was that the blood they collected around Gotham had been contaminated. It was filled with the curse that made even the gentlest souls mad.
And Danny Phantom had once been the gentlest being in the universe before his soul had been accidentally used in a cloning experiment. One that involved using the strange, unknown green goo as a link between three different DNAs, and now housed the very force of death, all cramped into the body of a five-year-old monster.
Tim Drake: a man so pale vampires thought he was one of them
Tim is mistaken as a vampire, and in order to not get killed (since he’s out of costume) agrees to go to a vampire gathering. He meets Danny, the only other non-vampire there. Thankfully, he is more than happy to cover for Tim as he’s been the community for years (since he says the vibe reminds him of some friend he used to have).
Something something, Tim becomes liminal (thanks to Danny helping him blend in more and legitimately loving hanging out with the half-ghost) and now is being courted by Danny in order to become consort of the Infinite Realms… or as Constantine knows it, realms of the living dead.
This causes chaos with JLD as Tim stops really as 100% alive and Jason/Damian keep getting “weird ass vibes” from him.
Aka: Tim is mistaken as a vampire. Danny helps, love follows.
Danny, Dani, and Vlad are the only ones remaining of the old world. Their world had to be reset after it reached the end of it's time. Vlad had long since turned into a Full Ghost, as he isn't a true Halfa. Dani is closer to a neverborn than a Halfa. Thus, she aged a lot slower than normal. Danny had stopped aging physically after his coronation at the age of 20. He is still a Halfa.
None of their loved ones became Ghosts, as they died happily and peacefully. But their spirits do exist in the Afterlife section of the Infinite Realms. They all regularly check in on their loved ones, as they want to make sure they're all still enjoying the afterlife they have been given.
Dani had started a family in their new world. She even got married and changed her last name to her husband's. Danielle Wayne is her new name, and she has children. Danny and Vlad regularly check in on Dani and her family. It wasn't until Dani met her great, great, great grandchildren that her human half finally reached its end. She's enjoying her afterlife with her husband, but unlike the other spirits, she can freely come and go from the afterlife section of the Infinite Realms.
Danny is still in the living world, having recently moved to Gotham. He was trying to find the infamous Hellblazer to see what he was really like, but he hasn't found him, and he doesn't want to cheat by using his Ghost King related powers. Vlad is working on getting the newly freed Dan into a role that would suit him since Dan can not do anything to Danny's family, as only the spirits of those who passed on peacefully can enter the afterlife part of the Infinite Realms.
Danny's descendant, Bruce Wayne, has recently taken in Duke Thomas, and Danny has been working at the Iceberg Lounge, as it's a place he can put his recently learned skills to use, and he can use some psychologically lessons he learned from Jazz to get his boss to turn over a new leaf.
Jack and Maddie Fenton are big LGBTQA+ supporters! Which is why they started hunting anti-LGTBQA+ politicians for Pride Month, and shooting them with dangerous and not technically illegal weapons! Unfortunately, that's super illegal, and it leads to very awkward conversations when Danny and the Justice League get called in to stop them.
“Oh my ancients,” Danny hissed from behind his hands. “You two are embarrassing me!”
Jack and Maddie frowned at him. “There’s nothing embarrassing about protecting our children!”
Hal snickered to himself. “It is a little embarrassing…”
Maddie defended them both, “It was just a little assassination! That man was about to sign in a new bill that hides a clause that prevents trans people from being able to change their names!”
Bruce still frowned. “Doctors Fenton, you do know that assassination is murder and that is still illegal, right? Even if they’re homophobic politicians? There are better ways to solve this.”
Jack and Maddie shared a look.
Then they nodded to themselves reluctantly, glancing at Danny who was still blushing a little from the fact that his parents had to be caught by the Justice League. Diana patted him on the back comfortingly.
“Well….” Maddie said slowly. “I guess we’ll have to find other ways to convince them not to introduce anti-LGBTQ bills….”
Bruce nodded, looking satisfied with himself.
Danny gave a small sigh of relief.
Jack looked at Maddie and nodded as well. “I guess we’ll have to introduce them to electroshock therapy.”
Maddie seemed to have a moment of realization. “You’re right, dear! A little bit of aversion therapy wouldn’t hurt!”
Can we have more Tim falls for Tucker's "spouse" Danny
I'm going to be honest with you: I originally intended this fic idea to be a comedy, but I couldn't figure out how to execute it when I attempted to write it, which is why it ended up in the 'From a fic I never wrote' pile.
Now that I have attempted to write it out, it turned more into humor angst? Or, Tim being sad while in Danny's POV, it's him and Tucker committing marriage fraud.
Hope the change isn't too bad!
Tim has to bite his tongue when Foley once again agrees to go out for drinks with the team, as everyone is heading out for the day. It was the third weekend in a row, and really, how could he leave his husband home alone on a Friday night so often?
If Tim were married to a man like Daniel Fenton, he would never miss dinner or a night in. He would certainly not waste it trying to kiss up to some higher up the way Foley was so blatantly doing.
Tim had half the mind to grab the mid-level employee by the shoulders and scream at him that a promotion wasn't worth his marriage failing. Make him realize what he had before it was all gone.
For all of Tim's jealousy that Tucker Foley was the one married to a man who literally walked out of Tim's dreams, he didn't dislike Foley at all.
The man was charming, eager to work, and excited to prove himself. He never slacked off; he always kept on top of his deadlines, was friendly with his coworkers, and was always on time. Really, the only trouble that Foley had caused was his rivalry with Tammy Johnson from Accounts.
Apparently, the two hated each other on sight, and there was no real reason for it. Tim had a personal theory that Foley's sarcasm clashed heavily with Johnson's no-nonsense way of work. Johnson was exceptionally good at her job, but she tended not to get along with her coworkers because she took everything too literally and often confused a joke for an insult.
Johnson also became incredibly defensive, building up a wall after a perceived offense was made, and spent the rest of her time working with the offender in a passive-aggressive manner.
She also made comments here and there that hinted at her less-than-accepting point of view of the LGBT+ community. Nothing that Tim could drag her to HR for, but certainly something to keep an eye on.
That's why he jumped in so quickly when he overheard Foley and her arguing over their disagreement about the stick tower design at the last all-staff training retreat. He had heard Johnson rip into Foley, taking apart every one of his suggestions, with complete condescension and a bit of mockery until Foley's tired voice rang out.
"Is it because I'm gay, Tammy?"
Tim thought he finally had a chance to get her in some kind of trouble, but Foley had shut that down quickly. After explaining that the question was more internet humor than anything Johnson could have said, Tim found that he couldn't make the guy stop talking. Foley, it seemed, tended to ramble when panicked or nervous.
Meeting and speaking with the CEO tended to make many employees nervous.
Foley babbled on and on about his husband, how they were childhood friends who turned into sweethearts and then married, living the dream in the big city of Gotham with such devotion and love. Tim couldn't help but extend an invitation to bring the man around the office. He did it mostly to watch Johnson's already tight lips press harder into a straight line.
Then he met Daniel Fenton, and he realized the rambles of Foley weren't told from the rose-colored lens of a man in love but a perfect description of his husband.
Fenton was gorgeous in a soft kind of way, like a first blooming, a lot quieter than his husband, but intelligence danced in his eyes just the same. He was quick with witty responses, sarcastic in a more teasing way than Foley's, and when he spoke of his passions, he all but seemed to glow.
The first time Tim spoke to Fenton, the man was lost in the hallway leading to Foley's old office. At the time, the entire IT department had been relocated three floors up due to a leaking pipe in the ceiling of the previous floor.
Foley had failed to inform his partner that the offices were in a temporary location, so he was more than happy to bring Fention to the correct location.
Fenton had gifted him with a dazzling smile once Tim offered to walk him in the elevator, and had easily chatted with Tim enough so that the young CEO had nearly burst a gut, laughing at the other man's jokes.
He told Foley to invite his husband to more company events, and the other must have taken that as permission to have Fenton around as much as possible. Tim had more encounters with Fenton when the man showed up with pastries for Foley's office, when the team would go out drinking, or even just seeing Danny hanging around the lobby waiting for Foley to finish.
Five months passed before Tim could not deny it any longer. He had fallen for Fenton, the husband of one of his employees.
It was torture how often Fenton was around, but it wasn't like he didn't have the time. Fenton didn't have a formal job.
Apparently, he lived off his inheritance from a distant uncle named Pariah Dark and was more than happy to be a house husband who did random hobbies. One of those hobbies included baking.
Tim thinks he had a crush on Fenton for a while up until then, but he might have actually fallen in love when he tried one of Fenton's homemade donuts. Like an idiot, he kept asking Foley to bring Fenton around, because in those few hours or minutes of networking (for that was what Foley was doing. The man was ambitious) Tim could admire him, could listen to his voice, and could pretend- in the darkest corners of his heart- that his love for Fenton wasn't wrong.
He knew it was. Foley may not be a friend, but Tim tried not to be too close to his employee, as that often caused more problems than not. However, Foley was someone he respected. He felt horrible having such thoughts about the man's husband, but his heart yearned for Fenton more than it had ever yearned for anyone else.
This was getting so bad that Tim was making up random events so that Foley would have a reason to bring Fenton to. He even had the team photo, from the last Wayne Enterprises fundraiser for charity, framed and placed on his desk because Fenton was in it, smiling at the camera.
Tim's pathetic excuse that the rest of the employees' families were also present for the fundraiser wasn't a good enough reason to spend hours upon hours wishing that his arm was thrown around Fenton's shoulders in that photo instead of Foley's.
Tim had to stop.
He chose to tell Steph about his feelings for Fenton on the request that she stop him from doing something stupid. As his friend, she vowed to help him out and slowly but surely held him to his word.
Tim hadn't seen Fenton in almost three months, since Steph had started camping out in his office, doing her online classes and keeping an eye on him so Tim couldn't run down the ten floors to IT just to check if Fenton was about. She reminded him that Foley didn't work directly under him and didn't need to have such a close relationship with him, so he limited his interactions with the man as well.
Steph was also the one who held him through his heartbreak. Tim was no cheater, but he was a fool in love with someone who was taken, and it hurt.
It hurt to know that he could never be the one Fenton smiled at, or the one that Fenton lay next to at night, or the one Fenton joked and laughed with, still friends in a marriage.
It hurt to know that a man like Foley, who was sending another "I'm going out with the team for drinks" text as he followed Rico to his car while Tim stood in the lobby watching them go, was the man that Fenton had chosen.
A few minutes go by of him just standing there, thinking of Fenton, all alone, waiting in some living room for a man who didn't even find the effort to call him.
This is stupid. You're being stupid. What does their marriage matter to you? Just go home, Tim. He thinks angrily to himself, opening his umbrella and walking out into the familiar Gotham rain.
The water splashes against the fabric with the same aggression as marbles falling onto concrete. One of Gotham's super storms. He grimaces, gripping the handle harder as he strides down to the dinner at the end of the street.
Despite Tim being able to drive nearly every form of transportation, he had failed to obtain a driver's license, partly due to his secret identity and partly because he was too lazy. As a result, Tim walked everywhere, took the train, or the bus to get around.
He didn't trust people to not kidnap him (attempt to at least), so he never hailed a taxi or used a ride app. Not after it happened five different times. The life of a Wayne could sometimes be too much.
Not that he was willing to walk to the train station or bus stop in this weather.
He'll have a coffee and some food to wait out the rain, but if the storm doesn't improve, he'll have to call the Manor and see if someone can come pick him up.
The door dings when he pushes it through, and a wave of warmth, chatter, and music passes over him. He stops at the stand holding up a sign that reads Please wait to be seated.
He folds his umbrella, shaking out some water, as a waitress comes rushing towards him.
Her hair is falling out a bit from her bun, and she seems a bit stressed, but he can clearly see why. Many people had the idea to hide from the storm in the dining room - not a single table or booth seemed to be free. Even the bar stools were all claimed.
"Hi there!" The waitress greeted with slightly apologetic eyes. "It's going to be a forty-minute wait."
"I don't mind. Can I wait in here?" He smiles, watching her shoulders relax. She must have had someone yell at her today about the wait time. He gets it.
Once he had to go under cover as a waiter himself, and it took every ounce of his Bat training to not throw a tray at some customers' faces. Especially the impatient ones.
"Yeah, of course." The waitress waves to a little area on the side of the door. There are no chairs, and there is barely enough room to stand, but it's better than nothing. "If you give me your name, I can let you know when a table opens up-"
"He can sit with me." A voice interrupts. A familiar voice. Tim's heart leaps in his chest before he can even turn his head in the direction of the man who had spoken.
Daniel Fenton waves at him from one of the tables, smiling widely, over a half-seated plate of pancakes. He's wearing a soft, white, woven sweater, which makes his eyes pop, and his hair is slightly damp, likely from being caught in the rain.
He looks like a painting come to life.
Tim's mouth goes dry.
"Are you okay with that, Sir?" The waitress asks him, but it's Fenton who answers.
"Yeah, of course. I don't think this storm is going to clear any time soon, so I may as well spend it with someone I know." Fenton laughs, and it kicks Tim's brain into action.
"It's fine," He mutters to the waitress who was frowning. "I would be totally fine with sharing that table."
More than fine. Far too fine in fact. The man is married. A voice that sounds a lot like Steph cautions in his head. He ignores it.
"Well, okay then." The waitress leads him to the table, pulling out his seat before handing him a menu she grabbed from the stand at the front. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Let me guess," Fenton grins, snapping a finger and pointing it at Tim, "A coffee, three creams, two sugars, and a bit of chocolate syrup?"
Surprised, Tim stammers, "Yes, that's right."
Fenton laughs gently before giving the waitress a cheeky little smirk that does horrible things to Tim's already buzzing heart. "He always takes his coffee like that. A creature of habit, you know?"
She flashes a dimple, writing down his drink order. "I'll be back in a few minutes to take the rest of your order."
Tim barely notices her walk away, too captivated by the way Fenton's hair seems to curl slightly when wet. "W-what are you doing here, Mr. Fenton?"
"Tuck and I were supposed to go out for dinner tonight, but he cancelled at the last minute. I got caught in the rain when leaving the lobby, so I figured I may as well have my own dinner." The man reveals casually, as if it were normal for a husband to bail on plans so carelessly.
Tim fights the urge to reach out his hand and place it on Fenton's, wanting to offer comfort in case he was hiding his hurt.
He couldn't stop the words that tumble out of his mouth, though. He winces at the offended tone in his voice. "Your husband cancelled plans on you last minute?"
"Tuck is forgetful. He probably forgot he made plans with me." Fenton shrugs, smile still in place. Tim's stomach flips as the man leans on one hand, attention trained entirely on Tim. "What about you? Why are you here?"
"Hiding from the rain, too. Too heavy to walk home in. "
Fenton frowns. "You don't have a car?"
"I don't have a license." Tim laughs, raising a brow at the disbelief on Fenton's face. "Never bothered to get one. Most people don't in a city, where you can walk or us a bus"
"That's crazy. Back home, everyone had a license. You never get anywhere without one." Fenton reveals.
"You and your husband are from Illinois, right?" Tim hopes Fenton didn't notice how his voice had turned slightly strained on the word' husband'.
"That's right. From the small in the middle of nowhere, Amity Park." Fenton picks up his fork, waving it around slightly. "We have like three restaurants, a small mall, and a park. That's the extent of entertainment, so you've got to drive to do anything. You're not planning on walking in that storm, are you?"
"No, I'll call someone to come pick me up later."
"Nah, that's okay. I'll give you a ride when we finish." Fenton replies easily, stuffing a piece of pancake in his mouth. "I won't take no for an answer. Got nothing better to do anyway."
Tim closes his mouth, having been in the process of denying the offer, and instead raises the menu to hide behind. A flutter goes through his stomach as he realizes that Fenton knows his coffee order because of how often he's seen Tim take it while visiting, and is willing to drive him home.
He doesn't think about Foley. It's a dangerous thing what he does think about, but by the time the waitress comes by to get Tim's order, Fenton has pulled him into a fascinating conversation of old cartoons, and Tim can't find it in himself to care.
Besides, he was only looking. There was nothing wrong with looking.
Journalist!Danny, who knows every single dirt about everyone, from corrupt politicians to vigilantes and rogues alike, and has an active gossip blog that every person keeps track of because even if it's the home of the most flabbergasting article ever known to man, it's frighteningly true.
Everyone— and I mean everyone thinks he's a meta, everywhere and nowhere at the same time, once two politicians were having a heated discussion secured area not allowing the media or any outsiders except him, sticking to the corner of the room sipping coffee while typing away at his laptop keeping track of the chaos that's currently happening.
And no one notices him, until like a minute later, when a notification is heard across the room and an article pops up saying:
"This meeting is going to be a bomb: Diplomat Joker tries to fix world problems by bombing gone wrong."
A guard blinks a couple of times at his phone, then turns to face Danny a couple of times before leaning in and whispering, "Why'd you have to title it like some kind of clickbait channel?" Danny, who's just quietly snickering, just said, "It makes it appealing to the audience."
"I just like to be in the front seat when it comes to drama", he explained to Superman, who looked at him in horror as he bounced up and down on the moon with no helmet on to provide oxygen.
While at the same time, Green Lantern is getting demolished by an alien in the background
"Green lantern provides statement about getting smashed—on the surface of the moon."
No one tried to stop him, it's not like they can, no matter how hard they try to track him, he disappears and only reappears when havoc is in the area, and it's not like the government hides it, everyone knows that Danny is highly sought by investigators, villains, and the heroes all alike, yet even if the most powerful and smartest people get together to find Danny he seemed to only slip through their hands like fog, only turning up as a blurry figure from the corner of your eyes and the moment you try to focus on that figure it's gone, just like some kind of ghost.
The only person who could garner his attention was Lois Lane, whom he respects big time; they would co-author articles sometimes. The same can't be said when it comes to Vicki Vale, oh—and he's a big fan of making unhinged article titles.
Danny and Tim are married. (Sacrificial Bride, Meddling Ancients, Tax Benefits, etc.; exact details are dealer's choice.)
The Bats do not know Tim is married. They find out because Tim gets grievously injured. High on pain, blood loss, and/or the good drugs; he turns to the nearest Bat and slurs out, "Don't tell my husband."
Danny helped people. That was what he did. He protected others. That was his job. he ignored the little voice in his head that dreamed of visiting the stars. He did his job well. But it never ended.
"Help us," people screamed at him after they'd shot at him, and he did. They never said thank you. Not one. He helped them nonetheless.
"Help us," the ancients asked him after ignoring his place on the throne for years. After they pretended he wasn't worthy because he was still alive. (at least part of him was.)
"Help us," his friends asked as they applied to colleges. Colleges he'd dreamed of attending, colleges they promised they'd go to together. But he stayed behind, because people needed him.
"help us,' the newly dead begged, uncertain and lost. Just like him, unguided and stuck, wanting to move on. They did, moving forward. Danny remained behind tethered and lost.
"Help us," the GIW begged when the ghosts tried to declare war. Danny did, saving those who cut him open. There was peace once again. Still no one thanked him
"Help us," and Danny did. He helped. he didn't protect, he'd solved all their problems. Now he sheltered them, the little boy who dreamed of the stars stopped dreaming. Some days he'd dream. Not often.
Today was one of the few days, Danny was sitting watching, space was silent, Danny liked that. He was alone with the stars, the stars he'd reached but could never be his. Like something just out of reach on a shelf. Right there, your fingers brushing it but never close enough for you to grab it.
Danny wasn't held back by gravity but by people. By a job he never signed up for. A job he wished he could quit. Couldn't he though? wasn't it just a matter of saying no?
His thoughts were halted by the jerk of a summons. I'll say no this time, he decides. He arrives and waits there's a silence. And suddenly someone bows, others follow suit.
To him. The Ghost Boy. The fake king. The Halfa, a freak of nature. The boy who'd dreamed of the stars.
"High king phantom of the infinite realms," they began. And Danny stares. High King, he'd never been called that before, never with such respect. So he stares, at the man who looks like a wind could blow him over. With a name from the pits of hell and the magic to match it.
"Hellblazer," he whispers the name of rumors. The man startles surprised at being recognized. Danny studies them, he's waiting for them to say it. Demand it as every other has.
"We'd like to negotiate a deal," The hellblazer speaks with such confidence and Danny freezes. This isn't how it goes. This isn't how it works. People don't make deals deals, bargains, agreements, with Danny. They simply make demands of him.
"What do you want?" he asks already bored, waiting for the ridiculous request.
"Well we've tried everything," this time it's a man dressed in complete black who speaks, with a horned cowl, "But we can't defeat them so we were wondering if you could help?" he asks gruffly.
"Who?" he asks quietly.
"Darkside," the name is unfamiliar to Danny but the way the Hellblazer says it. "In return we're willing to offer a soul, or anything else you desire."
Danny stared at them in shock. A deal. They offered a deal, offering a soul for him to defeat a villain they'd tried to defeat,]. They were scared, terrified even. They ddin't tell him to help them. Didn't demand it. He didn't need a soul though.
He didn't need anything, but for once he didn't want to say no. ahe wanted something though. "A home," he speaks first, "A place to stay in this dimension," he specifies just incase.
"Thank you," the Hellblazer breaths, then holds out his hand. "Deal," he offers looking tired and relieved but a bit worried. Danny smiles wearily.
"Deal," he breathes, and magic fills the room, an oath, a binding one. "Guess I'll deal with your problem now?"
"I guess?" the hellblazer smiles and Danny leaves.
--
John doesn't know what to say, doesn't know what to do, the king is powerful, it hangs around him, heavy and soft. When he said deal though the room broke. The magic latched onto his and John didn't know what to say. It was gentle, powerful, and terrifying.
He left without a word, simply vanishing, but he was doing what he'd said, and now it was there turn. Guess he was going house shopping? "We need to fulfill our end of the-" he begans only to be interrupted.
"Done," Batman stares out the window in frustration. "It's by Fawcet so we have one hero constantly monitoring them."
"Why you don't trust him?" John asks sarcastically but the bat nods utterly deadpan..
"Besides they have the most heroes besides gotham," he says easily, "Gotham is cursed, and metropolis has too big a population to be risked."
The rest of the league doesn't argue with his logic the they look amused. "Let's just watch the fight," he grumbles seeing their expresions.
they do so without complaint and the fight is.... horrifying. the king is hardly trying, and Darkside is already down. The king stares him down with those toxic green eyes of his and smiles.
when he starts talking though is when John's blood runs cold. his voice is like ice, nothing like the whispery tone he'd taken with them, it's cruel and dark and angry.
"Help you?" he laughs, "why should I?" the king laughs. "I help people, when they ask nicely, I help people who say please and thank you," he scoffs. "Most don't."
There's a crunching of bones that makes John almost hurl. Or he would if he hadn't forgotten to eat lunch again. "Besides you should know already, I don't like killers, so have fun!" they grin as they wave and suddenly darkside is gone, all that is left is destruction. "
"Hello," the king greets them calmly and John shudders at the sight of him.
"We found a home," John says with as much confidence as he can. "Here's the address," the king smiles, it's surprisingly human.
"Thank you!" the king smiles at him as he passed and John remembers his comment about manners.
"You're welcome," he stutters as the king leaves again.
--
Danny stares at the house with wide eyes, it's large, warm and homey, in a rundown part of the city so he's less likely to be bothered. He smiles softly, until he remembers the fight.
Danny had lost his temper, but the way he said it. "Help me," an order, like he actually expected Danny to listen. Like he expected Danny to just obey. Danny was sick of that, he wanted to live. Wasn't that okay?
He didn't need to obey others, he wore a crown, a mockery of one but it's power was the same even if the title was mocking. He ruled the realms, every detizen had to obey him. He didn't use the power but still... he had the power.
Still he went overboard, he'd thrown him to the realms to be treating, certain that Frostbite would help. He finds a kept on the door, magic practically coating it, metallic and recognizable.
He smiles softly, the hellblazer wasn't who demons painted him out to be.
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