The Justice League Dark is under some...misinformation.
Now John feels like a berk.
JLD had been operating under the assumption that Phantom was an Ancient, a being very close to being a god. When they heard that Amity had been straight up dragged into the Infinite Realms, and that Phantom had defeated Pariah Dark, to them that meant that Phantom had allowed it to happen in the first place for an excuse to attack Pariah.
Because Realm's Ghosts are notoriously territorial, and always itching for a fight.
So John Constantine agreed to summon the little tosser, and put a caveat into the summoning circle that bound Phantom to his will.
John had already pissed off multiple demons, why not add a Realm's Ancient to the list?
Then they summon Danny, in human form.
John very, very quickly realizes that this kid is Phantom. He also very, very quickly realizes that this is a actual teenager, and not an Ancient. A teenager who is so scared he's shaking, and paler than his Ghost form.
And he just enslaved said scared teen, who has no idea who John is or what is happening. From the looks of it, the kid didn't even realize he could be summoned.
John mentally scrambles. Old plan bad, need new one now.
"Just realized you don't have a mentor, kid," he hears himself say, and wants to stop talking immediately but can't because he's gotta make it up to the kid somehow. "Figured I'd take that spot. Bond I just slapped on ya means that if you're in trouble, I'll know. If I'm in trouble, you'll know. That way the whole 'Pariah Dark' thing doesn't happen again, yeah?"
The kid seems to buy it, and Zatanna is staring at him in disbelief.
But it's fine; if she keeps her mouth shut and doesn't say anything, the kid'll never know, because John has zero intention to use the binding the way he wrote it down.
Alright I know this is supposed to be angst and all... But I'm suddenly imagining Danny learning the truth and subverting their expectations.
Instead of him being all, "You all lied to me! Was anything of the mentorship real!? It's not fair I am the one who has to suffer for your mistakes..."
Danny cries on the ground needing comfort as the Justice League Dark looks absolutely guilty, trying to console the child they didn't mean to hurt like this.
It's instead has Danny go, "Wait hold on. You're telling me that according to this caveat you used when you summoned me that I now belong to John Constantine? So what you're saying is... I'm HIS responsibility now."
Danny runs away laughing maniacally, already planning to create absolute chaos and let John take the blame as his responsibility.
Constantine is chasing right after him, reluctantly trying to stop Danny with his voice. However the Ghost Boy is so focused on his chaos that he's ignoring John to the point his voice is white noise, the Hellblazer's commands fall on deaf ears.
Alternatively, Danny was a young ancient when the summons and bindings happened. But he’s grown. He’s learned how magic works and he’s come into his future title of king slowly but surely.
Do you really think any binding could hold down the ruler of an entire realm? Do you really think the zone would allow such a binding to persist with her *chosen*.
She lets the little farce continue because Danny is learning things he needs to know. About the world. About the threats and ways to handle them. About magic and the other beings the fall under his purview. She lets it continue because Danny is still human. Still young. He needs that connection. He needs to learn about the nature of humans because for the most part, that nature stays when they arrive in the realms, just narrowed in and focused on one trait, and where better to learn that than from observing the mixing pot that is the justice league?
But no. It was never meant to last. No mere mortal would ever be strong enough to hold command over Her Chosen. And mortals, as she had learned over the course of her infinity, always ALWAYS fall short. And while she chose Danny, she needed Danny to also choose her willingly. To choose the crown willingly. And the realms is infinite. She’s willing to wait. She has all the time in the world to wait for her chosen to choose her and finally the day comes.
He finds out on accident. Batman had that list of contingencies for every member and their mentees doesn’t he? Maybe Danny happens upon it one day. How he found out is up to you, but it wasn’t from john, and it wasn’t from anyone else in JL dark. Maybe someone mentions it offhand thinking Danny was already aware of it. Idk. The point is the people he trusted failed to tell him this. Lied to him from the moment he met them. You don’t work with JLD without developing a healthy sense of paranoia. Their enemies are never direct. Layers upon layers of plans and steps in order to achieve their goals and suddenly, Danny realizes that JLD is just like every enemy they’d faced.
They’d manipulated him from the start. Got him to trust them, got him to depend on them, to see them in a positive light. Guided him down a route they designed and if ever Danny stepped out of line well… they could just ORDER him to stop. And Danny had experience with his will being overturned. Knew what it was like for someone to pluck him around like a little puppet on strings. Never again. NEVER AGAIN.
Danny had been on the watchtower when he discovered this and the size and extent of his rage was so intense that it incapacitated Martian ManHunter who was currently located on Earth. He had been betrayed AGAIN! and by the time anyone realized what happened, Danny had already sequestered himself into the infinite realms.
The realms essentially locks itself down. No going in, no going out. Summoning suddenly stop working across every dimension. Ghosts appear more frequently in haunted locations because the afterlives within the realms are not accessible to spirits with such high levels of ectoplasm absorbed upon death. The realms let Danny rage somewhere he will not hurt anyone. And he’s not accepted the crown yet, so he has no impact on the infinite dimensions around him. He rages and rages in the depths of the realms while she cocoons around him in the closest thing she can get to a hug. Sends him waves of emotions. Comfort for her chosen. Others may betray him, but she never will. From the first moment Danny touched the realms, she knew he was hers. Her champion, her chosen, her king. She was patient. The time would come eventually, but only when Danny wanted it. Only when he was ready. The crown would wait for no one but him. And after who knows how long essentially communing the realms and nothing else Danny finally makes a decision.
John cannot reach Danny in any capacity to try to explain himself. He’d been searching for a way to break the binding since the moment he met the kid, but he’d had no luck. He didn’t want to tell the kid what the binding actually was either because John had zero intention of ever invoking it outside of the weird two way sos signal they’d turned it into and he knew about the kids previous encounters with mind control. Understood how the kid would reasonably react. The only relief he had at the moment while they try to locate the kid is that John could still feel him through the bond.
And then suddenly, like the shattering of glass against marble floors, the bond breaks. The shards seem to dig into John’s spirit, causing him to double over and fall to the ground. Through the pain, he’s mostly feeling fear and confusion. He didn’t break the bond. Which means something must have happened on Danny’s end, and anyone/anything powerful enough to break a bond that powerful is Dangerous. And Danny is alone with it.
It’s about a month later when there’s a summons for an emergency meeting from a call number every single member of the JLD and JL have been on the look out for. Everyone arrives in record time, a little more exhausted than before because there’s been more unexplainable situations than before (the zone may be a bit petty. She may have kept the zone closed to this dimension longer than any other).
When they arrive Danny stood at the head of the table look just like they recall and also distinctly not. He was in his phantom form, dressed partially in a deep midnight armor that seemed to absorb the light around him as if it were its own contained black hole. A cape draped over his shoulders looking less like a fabric and more like a collection of gas and nebula ever shifting around him. He seemed to be glowing more so than before, bright in a way that drew moths to flame, but otherly in a way that made looking at him directly difficult and headache inducing. Like you were viewing a mirage or illusion and your brain couldn’t quite make sense of it without fracturing. Danny had grown into his height. He was an intimidating figure before and even more so now. he was ethereal. People who wanted to rush up to him, check his health ask questions, found themselves sitting down and staying quiet instead, not entirely of their own free will, but also entirely of their own free will.
Danny was something else now, and he maintained this odd silence he’d created until John Constantine finally arrived. Constantine who was the first one to realize this being in front of them was not entirely Danny.
“Worry not,” it said with Danny’s voice. “My chosen offered himself as a conduit for me to deliver this message to you, laughing magician.” And John, frozen in the gaze of this being of otherness, suddenly seemed to realize what exactly he was facing. “Did you really think your paltry attempts of a slavery bond would hold up against the greater power of the realms? You foolish mortal. Spend the rest of your pathetically insignificant life fearing the day you return to my embrace.”
And with the message delivered the oppressive aura of the room lessened. Heroes seemed to fall out of their odd stupor but they still didn’t speak. The green from Danny’s eyes faded to a bright glowing blue, and the soft patronizing smile he’d worn before fell into a something more hateful.
“Hello,” he said to the room, but there was none of the childlike inflection to his tone that he’d always held on to. No humor in his tone or light in his eyes. His voice was cold—authoritative in a way they’d never heard. He waved his hand and a paper materialized on the table. “Consider this my formal resignation from your numbers.” He smiled at the group, but it was hauntingly empty. A smile many of the members would see in their dreams for years to come.
“Before you begin to concern yourself and come up with possible explanations or excuses, no I am not being possessed by the realms. In fact, until the day that I fall out of favor, may it never come, the realms is arguably the only being who will likely never truly hurt me. At least, not the way you have. And no, there was no ultimatum. I took the crown willingly, as was my right from the moment I beat Pariah in single combat. Turns out, accepting the crown would have simply burned away that little slavery bond you all decided to build into your original summons. How convenient, right. But the realms wanted me to choose the crown. She would have waited if I said no. She would have burned the bond away herself if I didn’t want the crown yet. But it felt like the right move to make. The realms has been doing its best to protect me from the moment I died. To prepare me for what would eventually be inevitable. I figured it was time I return the favor.”
Danny’s eyes scanned over the group of heroes before him, seeing them in a new light. Understanding the light of naivety he had viewed them in during his false mentorship. Finally his eyes settled on John, who was still standing pale by the rooms entrance. Danny knew John never would have invoked the slavery bond, but Danny also knew that the members of these team could have easily found a way to force his hand if they really wanted to. The realms held no love for John, but Danny couldn’t bring himself to truly hate the man.
“You know, they say the crown takes a form that best represents its ruler.” Danny summoned the crown from where it was floating above his head, into his hands. A crown of ice that looked almost as if forged by metal. Glowing blue as one might see in the coldest part of glaciers. “A crown so cold—so hard—it will never melt or break. Seems fitting after everything you’ve all taught me. Me, who gave you my trust, my kindness, my time, only to learn this was all just an elaborate hoax. A way to keep an eye on a threat. A way to potentially train up a weapon you’d be able to summon and command at you beck and will. How pathetic you all are. How very much like every person who’s ever betrayed me you turned out to be. But what can I expect. You are of the mortal realm. You fear what you don’t know, control it if you can and destroy it if you can’t.” He tapped the crown and it returned to its place above his head.
“Trust should be withheld—Kindness reserved. These are lessons I’ve been taught time and time again, but only fully realized and accepted with your aid.” Danny slid the paper forward. “If I were smarter, I would raze this entire dimension to the ground simply for having such knowledge capable of enslaving denizens under my protection. If I were crueler I would have done as such without coming to speak with you first. As it is, I am half mortal. I am the infinite balance. Such actions would go against my purpose. So I’ve chosen to spare you by ignoring you. The realms will no longer accept your dead. The realms will no longer look upon this dimension in favor or in distaste. You shall be trapped here in an infinite loop of reincarnation. You shall never be allowed to reconnect with the loved ones who have passed before now, and you, in this room (the heroes, not their sidekicks/mentees) will always remember this life. Remember those you loved and have now lost. Know that you and your hubris are the reason you will never be able to truly move on. No amount of prayers to your gods, no amount of science or magic or summonings will allow you to reconnect to the realms again.”
Danny looked around the room once more and nodded before pulling a portal into being and stepping through. This punishment was not up for debate. There would be no negotiations or apologies. As much as he may have hated them, he appreciated the skills and knowledge they taught him that helped prepare him for this role. So he would spare them, but he would not let them off. Balance, as it was meant to be.
He wondered how long it would be until they began to realize just how much impact the realms had in every dimension.
Im adding more to this because I can. Genuinely and truly I think Danny pulls Constantine from this dimension and drops him in a new one. The infinite realms wants him to return to her realm and he can’t if the one he lives in has been cut off. So this is the only kindness Danny offers him. A chance to live out the remainder of his life in a dimension as close to a utopia as possible. A gift for John who redirected his intent as soon as he realized Danny was a child. Who Danny knew would never invoke the slavery bond on him. However, if Danny had been anyone else, had been the being John had been anticipating, John would have held no qualms about utilizing the binding, and that’s not something he can look past. So yes. He will give John this kindness. Let him live his remaining life in peace, because Chosen or not, Danny does not know if he could stop the infinite realms from enacting her own justice once the man returns to the realms and he’s not entirely sure if he wants to.
this post will have each part linked! I will update this with each individual part that I post. any questions I answer about the comic will remain on my profile like normal. at the very end, if I manage to finish this comic, I might make physical copies! ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ
please do not post my work to any other platforms. I am posting my comic here on my Tumblr, on my Instagram, and on my Tiktok.
Duke, blushing: No! I didn't mean- I mean you are very p-pretty! But-But I meant! I meant-
Danny: *slowly getting redder and redder*
Damian, sighing: *walks past Duke, grabs their order, shoves a very generous tip into Danny's hand, and shuts the door before Duke can embarass himself further* That was disgusting to watch.
I'd like to present the different various responses Danny gives to this one comment from each Wayne.
---
( mentioned pizza pick up) only glowing to his special vision. Staring in awe and wonder with a slight blush.
Duke: you're glowing!
Danny: aww thanks, you're not too bad yourself.
---
Mid coffee run at 6am post a long patrol and pre a long buisness meeting going on no sleep for over 72 hours. Danny is getting coffee before heading off to college himself and they bump into each other on their way out the door.
Tim: I'm so sorry, are you oka-... glowing?!. Are you glowing?
Danny Gaslight Nightingale: No I'm not... Are you ok dude? When was the last time you slept?
---
In the new crime alley resource center, prepping for an after school tutoring program. Jason's setting up tables and moving chairs while volunteers arrive and get ready. Danny is teaching science in exchange for help with his english. Sadly its mandatory for his Wayne scholarship if he wants a full ride.
Danny gets super excited when he finally gets the underlying meaning behind some complicated flowery words a character says to the protagonist.
Danny: wait! Oh my ancients! Did they just claim their mother's a whore? In front of everyone? I thought they were nice... no wonder I nearly failed this class in highschool.
Jason: Now you're getting it!! Wait...Are you... glowing?
Danny: WOW... RUDE much? I didn't say anything about whatever YOU'VE got going on. (Gesturing to his chest)
Later that night. Jason staring in the mirror
Jason: Hey, Roy... Is... Is there something wrong with my chest?
Roy, sticking his head between his man's pecks: Glory Glory, What a helluv a way to die!
---
Danny on his way home from his first day as a WE intern. Doing the happy dance while alone on the elevator, not even caring that the elevator is going up before going down. Enter Damian Wayne on his way out to head home as well after visiting Tim about a bat tech issue. Danny playing cool when the kid and his dog gets on.
Damian: ...
Danny: ...
Damian: You're glowing.
Danny: oh crap, sorry, can you pretend you didn't see that? I don't want to be run out of town again.
Damian: ... Very well I will keep it to myself... for now.
Danny: Uh... you can try to blackmail me but I don't have anything you would want... Unless you want to set up doggie play dates with Cugo and your smart boy here.
Damian: Acceptable.
---
One night while Danny is stargazing after a bad night. On the rooftop of WE where Danny was hoping to get a better view of the sky.
Nightwing shows up and gets him off the ledge and talking about stars.
Nightwing: You must really love stars, you're glowing.
Danny, giggling at the inside joke: You could say I'm obsessed... I wanted to be an astronaut...
Nightwing: I didn't think there was a space program in Gotham.
Danny: There isn't... Some dreams just... die. (Giggling again at his own awful joke)
Nightwing: I don't know what's going on here but I'm not liking the atmosphere we've created on this rooftop.
Danny: Don't worry, I've already survived the worst out there, I'm not going to give in to some bad thoughts. Besides, every day I live is the ultimate fuck you to the beings wanting to keep me down.
Nightwing: Beings that want to keep you down? Like family? Or your depression?
Danny: More like a well funded sector of the american government.
Nightwing: What?.. I have concerns...
Danny: Aww, still optimistic enough to have concerns... Don't let reality break you, birdman.
Danny forces the roof door to walk down through the WE building to escape the vigilante.(he goes invisible and flies home on the 11th floor leaving NW and O flabbergasted. It bugs Tim when he looks into it a day later too.
---
Alfred comes to pick up Duke after a date at Danny's place that ran late enough it was dark and Danny didn't want Duke to walk home alone so late in crime alley.
Danny walks Duke to the car where Alfred greets him and ushers Duke into the car.
Alfred: So you are aware young sir, you seem to be glowing.
Danny: Well, its no surprise. Your young master is a complete and proper gentleman. I believe I have you to thank for that, at least in part.
Alfred: Very well... Do treat him well young sir. It would be regrettable to have you... taken care of... Should any harm come to young master Duke.
Danny, saluting: Yes Sir, no funny buisness here. Just one half human falling for another.
---
After a call with Ellie which Danny took in the hall between games at the Wayne family game night.
Cass: you are glowing.
Danny: Yeah, been doing that a lot recently. I guess you guys have actually been really good for me.
Cass: Good. You make Duke brighter too.
Danny glowwing brighter: Good, I mean uh... Dont tell anyone but... I was the most nervous about getting your approval. He doesn't say it much but he really looks up to you.
Cass: You're both good sweet boys. Come, time to beat you at more games.
---
Batman and Danny both captured by the GIW and stuck in a dimly lit transport container. Batman was taken in for being liminal enough to register and staying to try and get more information on the abductions going on around town. Danny gets tossed in after, chained and detained as 'the Fenton problem child'. The GIW still don't know Phantom and Danny are the same person and Danny doesn't want to let them find out.
Batman: You... Glow...
Danny: Did the chained up furry hiding in the shadows just judge me?
Batman: ...
Danny: ... That's what I thought... Wait why are you even here?
Batman: ...
Danny: ... Their scanners picked you up?
Batman: ... what do the devices scan for?
Danny: a type of radiation given off by a type of death energy, specially a death energy connected to another realm.
Batman: and you have this energy because?
Danny: An accident in my teens should have killed me... I'm guessing you've been near death a few times in your life. High enough to register as liminal on trackers, not low enough for them to let you keep your human rights.
Some occult group thinks the Fenton portal is a great option for summoning Hades. Hades is lord of the underworld and Phantom is king of the restless dead, which would normally make them equals. Except Danny has home field advantage (deathplace/grave/lifetime focal location. He was probably born there too, given his parents). Wonder Woman was working with JL Dark to stop the cult from summoning Hades only to see him get curb-stomped by a tiny teenager, who is also apparently a death god.
the concept of just a tiny Danny kicking an ancient god's ass is incredible
These fucks summon Actual Original Greek Myth Hades, who:
- does not give a fuck about killing people, everyone comes to him he can wait
- is about as destructive as a sleeping kitten
- barely fucking pays attention offerings were mostly to HIS WIFE and HER MOM to get favour from him
- is also the god of wealth, volcanoes, and diamonds
Hades pops through this portal in full “what the fuck where am I where did everybody go” to see a room full of cultists in pitched battle with superheroes, and also Danny, who is another death god
There are two options from here:
1) Hades spots Danny, locks in on him as “ah yes an adult I shall ask him wtf is going on” and is utterly befuddled when Danny kicks his ass but assumes it’s a challenge or something and fights back
2) Hades gives a version of “wrong number, sorry” and dips
Maybe the League freak out because Where Did He Go What Is He Doing The God Of Death Is Loose
And Diana has to explain to them (yet again) that Hades is not Satan, he’s gone fucking home because Zeus THOUGHT he gave Hades the shitty kingdom…
But he fucking gave him the one with all the wealth of the universe, and all Hades has to do is chill the fuck out and wait because even the gods will come to him in time
There is a reason you only really see him in myths as a passive observer someone else wants something from, with the sole exception of Persephone
He’s like the one guy who did not get Ouranos’ Dramatic Bitch Genes (even Persephone’s story was fucking tame as far as the Greeks go, he grabbed her, pulled her down, and offered her a snack, no animal transformations or shit)
Hell, if Persephone’s in the story she’s usually the one making the final call (holla Orpheus) Hades deadass is not an active guy
He doesn’t have to be
He’s a whale shark just vibing along and occasionally someone grabs his fin
(He would however be very grateful if Danny or Diana could spread the word and stop people from trying to summon him for destruction it’s embarrassing and Zeus gets pissy they didn’t text him
Mr Lightning Bolt would like to be considered)
Anyway sorry it’s just that the constant monotheistic lenses on polytheistic religions gets on my tits and it’s also funnier if Danny thinks he’s fighting to the death against a very confused upper level manager
Danny: I WON’T LET YOU DESTROY THE WORLD *big dramatic attack*
oopsie i tripped and spilled my link to archive dot org's downloadable copy of Microsoft office suite for 2007, which features no AI tools and is a powerful word processor that still holds up just fine on windows 10!
oopsie i tripped and spilled my link to archive dot org's downloadable copy of Microsoft office suite for 2007, which features no AI tools and is a powerful word processor that still holds up just fine on windows 10!
Danny is unable to control his ghostly form at times of extreme high emotion and distress. Trying to control his form causes him extreme pain/discomfort.
Danny gets gassed with fear toxin. [Batfamily member] is in the room with him and they don’t know his secret identity. This is the opposite of a good situation.
I interpreted this as his form going spooky eldritch from high emotions, but others took it as him turning to human form, but I like the idea he is desperately trying to get away from them because he's struggling to hold back from going full terrifying eldritch void monster and would rather not cause mild insanity should they try to comprehend his form beyond what their mortal kinda can.
Someone, somehow for some reason, tried to poison Danny to death. But he's a halfa, his blood is mildly corrosive and he's pretty much for every intent purpose and action, in theory and in practice, immortal. So this means instead of being dead in seconds and gone for good, as whoever tried to kill him intended, unaware of his inhumanity, it ended up with a very powerful, reality bending and altering being, being *very* drunk and *very* high at the same time. He has reality bending power, and now has *0* impulse control or ability to think things through. He is out of it, and has absolutely no proper thinking.
The jl is concerned that there seems to be some reality bender attacking, only to learn its that type of being's equivalent of a child, who is very on something and has more reality bending power than klarion or darkside, even as young for their kind as he is. They are now trying to stop him from thinking that making the sky purple is a good idea.
Bruce talks to the kid, much to the protests of the rest of the league. Slade's...unfortunate transformation into a wolf pup meant they didn't know what he'd used to poison the currently humanoid being, and couldn't provide an antidote to help him process it quicker.
Currently the casualties were several allergic reactions to the sky raining biodegradable glitter, several billionaires turned into animals, and the island from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 becoming real.
In the safety of the watchtower, a Batman themed Lego set and several other toys were now alive, and Bruce's suit was hot pink and bejeweled.
Bruce sighs as a more Legos come to life. His tiny Lego counterpart still yelling from under the glass they stuck him in.
Danny finally gives up on Amity. Jazz is in College. Tucker and Sam were moved away after their respective possessions and they hadn't gotten in contact since.
Danny completely alters his phantom appearance with the ghost shifting he finally mastered, removing the full coverage mask from his hasmat suit and creating a proper super suit.
Danny travels, helping whoever he comes across and portaling shades, ghosts, demons, etc, to their proper dimensions as harmlessly as they let him.
Now he's staring at a trio that caught him pulling a bunch of caged kids he ran across to safety, led there by a shade of a child.
Poltergeist (Danny) continues the rescue as the Outlaws go to work taking down the traffickers. Jason realizes that Poltergeist is the mystery hero that the leagues been tracking, and since they didn't have a territory or support, want to travel with us?
Poltergeist is an interesting character. He's rather recognizable, and doesn't appear to have a civilian life. He's reluctant to share details of his history, but incredibly open about his opinions and interests.
Poltergeist is...sad. He has an air of wistfulness and regret. Like he's lost on his purpose or desires for the future.
Gotham native ghosts are absolute freaks, and it kinda weirds Danny out. One eats human bones, one poisons candy, one just follows people around to stare at them super intensely. Danny eventually ask Batman who the hell these people were in life.
Bruce: …. Who?
Danny: Y’know! The ghosts in Gotham! Don’t you know who they are?
Bruce: …. No?
Danny: …….. so you mean that person who’s been licking your boot for the past three hours isn’t someone you know?
Bruce: *immediately jumps onto his chair* WHAT THE F—
Warnings, this is VERY long, Bruce is a mess, the Batfamily is going through a rough patch, Jason has low self-esteem, Danny is his own warning (?) English is not my language, it's just me and a terrible translator.
____________________
It doesn't surprise him that Jason's family suspects him. Technically, in a way, Jason is the cause of the situation in Gotham. His existence now breaks preordained destinies. With every step, with every breath, things in that world change now that he has Hortensia.
If someone else had done that, any other god or deity, they would receive criticism from some beings. For starters, the Ancient of Time would be annoyed that someone was altering his timeline, but his mother, Clockwork, simply looked at him, shaking her head affectionately, stroking his hair, putting down one of her mirrors, and continuing on with her business. His other mother, Pandora, kissed his temple and wrapped him in a blanket embroidered with gold threads. His father, Nocturn, looked at him, realizing he had used some of the Dream Sand. The Ancient of Dreams said nothing and gave him a little more sand to replenish what he had already used, even a little more. (Although the sand he used was from his own supply.)
Some of the palace's regular visitors heard about it, didn't comment, and others hadn't noticed; it didn't matter.
Frostbite had explained it to him long ago: everything belongs to the Infinite King. Everything was already his, both what was newly born and what was dying. All dimensions were his. Attaching himself to a specific dimension? There was nothing wrong with that; he was simply paying more attention to something that was already his.
He remembers thinking then that coming to feel that everything belonged to him was dangerous, insane. All existing lives couldn't be his. He couldn't have everything; it was overwhelming. For the ancients, the fact that something belonged to them was natural in a way. That knowledge that they had something of their own, something to fight for and something to use. They didn't understand why that possessiveness was frightening. Ghosts, in general, didn't understand why they were frightening.
"It's yours because you earned it, because you fight to keep it. It wasn't given to you. You fight for it, and it's yours," the Yeti had said.
Everything belongs to the Infinite King, What could he possibly want who has everything?
Pariah apparently didn't understand. Since the crown was his, everything was his. Perhaps he felt he hadn't earned everything? Perhaps it was his need to control and humiliate others, perhaps it was simply his nature. A tyrant couldn't be content simply to decree that everything was his; he needed to conquer it even if it already was.
No one said anything about him finding something to do in his free time (at one point, it infuriated him that people thought he saw people as pets or toys. That had been his family, those were his friends, that city… but things changed, and it was better to think of those people as objects). For such an efficient king, for someone who rules with balance, a just king, the prosperity he dreamed of, why would they tell him anything when he gets distracted?
He's just a good boy who takes care of his things. The gifts he's given, and the ones he likes, are a treasure.
With the few believers he currently has, he tries not to have too many, not even 10 at a time.
He pretends not to notice the obvious pattern; no one criticizes him for his small group of believers.No one should; he's been guided to these believers.
Princess Dorothea asked him for a favor. An object had fallen into another world: "So you can breathe a little and relax from work for a while, little king."
In a world where fantasy was the norm, where people were born with powers, a lonely boy was born without a Quirk, but his heart was that of a hero. The world expected him to give up. Someone so useless couldn't be a hero. But the boy had so much kindness, so much selflessness and strength…
[It reminded me of the boy who was desperately trying to save them all. It reminded me that it wasn't really his responsibility; it was negligence. His death was caused by negligence, but I had to do something. I had to save them all. It reminded me that no one was grateful, just as that blond boy wasn't grateful for being saved. It reminded me of how the adults scolded him because he couldn't help it, for having saved others.]
This had to be the story of how that boy becomes a great hero, the number one hero. So he gave him a dangling earring: "Angel." An almost godlike power, a jewel obtained from Desiree, for the boy who desired all the quirks, and then get everything you wish for.
[Touch to copy, modify at will, keep it, or give it to him if you see fit. Touch, modify what already exists, make it more friendly. Touch and delete if it's too dangerous.]
Don't let fear infect those around you. He gave him his blessing, and the child wept with gratitude.
The following believer, at Frostbite's suggestion, found interesting books in a magical world.
The Boy Who Lived, what an atrocious epithet.
A prophecy, two possible candidates, so two children are left "orphaned": one, with his parents still alive, but mentally too damaged. The others have been betrayed and murdered in front of their baby.
[A feeling of envy briefly welled up in his chest: the true love of a mother saving her child, the love that must somehow save this child; at least someone will die for you, even if you're not special yet; at least someone loved you more than anything in this world.]
Friends become family, brothers in all but blood; even if they sometimes don't get along, even if they're totally different, the friends this boy makes will truly remain by his side.
[Silly fights escalate, boredom poisons their relationship, guilt becomes a right, a burden, he's the only one who died, he shouldn't drag them down any further... he lets them go, but they don't come back, he gave them what they wanted, but they didn't come back]
This boy who will be loved by death, upon meeting her like those before him... his home life is horrible, so he turns to her. Before starting third grade, he fixes some things, removes what taints him, the son of the prophecy, gives him a bracelet. Specifically, "Lily" he chose it because she shares his mother's name!
He doesn't pray to her often, though he hears her rant and gossip when she talks to him at the small altar she made for him. He often writes her letters, which brightens their correspondence.
Surprisingly, Undergrowth leads him to the next one. That one was more confusing. Although they get along better now, it's still a little strange, but it was to look for a spider, more specifically the corpse of a spider actually.
That's a consummate hero. It's heartbreaking because he's so unlucky it hurts. It hurts to see him. It hurts to see how he struggles, how he's loved despite everything, how he clings to his loved ones only to have them taken from him, how he doesn't give up. He's so young, he's young. Oh, ancients, this hero is so young.
[He has so much future ahead of him, so much to live for. What a clever little genius you are. You try so hard. You have so much power that you try to contain. You wish you could hug someone tightly, but it's too strong. Your senses go crazy so easily, but you smile. The friend in the chair and the activist girl. A great responsibility because this power must be used well, because bad things happen if you're mediocre. You mend your own wounds, lie to your family, lie and keep lying, but then you can tell the truth. Then they're still by your side... only death can separate you.]
It hurts so much.
So he has to help, he stops time for this boy who's fading away, suffering in the arms of his father/mentor. He gives him a ring, "Bella," to wear on his pinky finger. This boy needs more luck.
He doesn't speak to her solemnly; in fact, it seems more like a podcast that relaxes him and makes him laugh.
His newest believers are the most curious. Maybe because no one actually chose them, because he stuck with them.
He wonders if Ellie insisted so much that time because she wanted to catch little Harpy or if she just found it entertaining.
He loves his daughter, he loves her, he loves her so much that sometimes he wonders if he somehow resents her and convinces himself that he does. He loves her, he cares for her, he wishes she would stay home, that they could live together as father and daughter or whatever their relationship is.
He wishes Ellie would call more often, that she would miss him more, that she would seem to miss him.
(Sometimes the crown felt like shackles, like a cage she couldn't escape. Whether she did anything or not, it would still be there.)
Ellie gets into trouble sometimes, rarely does she just not get over it, and when it overwhelms her, that's when she calls out to him. When she feels the unease, the impending sense of calamity, her head fills with despair and she's searching for her baby, she needs to find her baby.
Sometimes she feels she's hurt but not in mortal danger, she hears her like a kitten crying softly from its hiding place for its mother. Then she drops everything she's doing to make sure her baby doesn't disappear.
Ellie likes street children. She prefers them to adults or children with families. It would be better if she understood that for those children, her living situation is hated. For Ellie, a spirit, a traveling ghost, she can't stand staying in one place for too long. The idea of belonging to something fixed isn't pleasant; she needs to get out, see more places, more people, a new adventure.So the idea of staying home, living with the same people for too long, belonging to something, not being completely free makes her core feel sick.
It's the selfish part she undoubtedly inherited from Vlad; the part of her that can only tolerate being attached to him isn't enough.
So Ellie landed in Gotham. She liked the street kid who saved her. "He reminded me of you, you know?" Knowing her little Harpy, the part that reminded her is that she's a mother hen to little kids.
Jason Wayne prays to her with a little more solemnity and mischief. he rewards him with one of the strongest because he was able to glimpse his possible future. The light of Gotham that hides his pain and will one day be killed…He gives him “Azalea,” the queen of slaughter.
[He jumps as if flying, the feeling of freedom, the feeling that he will achieve something, hasn't happened yet, it hasn't happened yet, but if this boy one day steals those tires… this boy who already buried his dreams in life, survives, longing for things to be different, for a mother who survives and a father who finds a better path, what a foolish boy, he feels too much, he is so transparent, pretending that everything will be okay but yearning for a family]
Giving Azalea away was impulsive, sentimental, a little different from the others, because he didn't expect him to grow attached to him. So he returned, told her he could pray, and Harpy listened, fearing that one day her family would discover the secret. They share a secret, and he will protect it, but it was impulsive.
And his Harpy brought him another version of himself.
Red Hood
Almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Jason. He's falling apart, questioning himself more than once if existing was worth it, if he mattered at all, if he was doomed in some way.
[Always failing, wants to be loved, wants his family, but it seems impossible, so close and yet so far, misunderstandings pile up, always fighting for the love that doesn't seem to reach him until he feels alone with the people around him]
Stopping his ramblings, he continues checking what he can do. He needs the perfect world so they can appreciate what they have.
He feels offended. They wanted Jason to be closer, to stay home, but now they avoid him. What more do they want? He snorts, but he seems to have found the right universe.
Fine, it's just a matter of moving things a little to the left.
_______________________________________
He feels miserable with himself; it's been three months since the Joker's death. He should be happy; he wants to be happy, but he can't.
Everything in him wants to blame Jason. His first thought is that Jason is to blame, that Jason did this, but he knows better.
Jason wasn't even there; he was in the cave, being entertained by Duke and stopped by Cass. Jason was in Bristol! It's not a 78-step plan, it isn't, not when he remembers the breakdown his son had.
The laughter that gives way to tears, Cass described as relieved, scared, disbelieving, yearning, and grateful.
After some time alone, he started coming home more, staying longer, and he should be happy. But he can't get it out of his head that Jason is to blame, that Jason killed Joker, Black Mask. How responsible for the Scarecrow, Luthor, and Bane incident must be. Jason was less than three miles from Riddler when one of his traps failed and he ended up electrocuted.
He wants to accuse him, but he has all the evidence that he didn't do it.
Her son was right; he always thinks the worst of him, he's biased, he's unfair. This is the turning point when she realizes she's being cruel to her son, that Jason is right. He's not the only one, actually; this mistrust spits in their faces. Tim keeps investigating because something is definitely going on; it has to be Jason's fault somehow, or he has something to do with it. Barbara also seems uneasy because her investigation clearly favors Jason's innocence, but she doesn't feel right about Jason being innocent. Even Cassandra seems to doubt herself, because she's always read guilt into Jason, but if not in this, then why?
Stephanie and Duke are uncomfortable.Damian seems confused that it's not Jason's fault.
And Dick has been yelling at him for never being partial to Jason, scolding them for still having doubts when Tim and Stephanie were there during black mask incident. Then Tim defended himself by saying that Dick himself had doubts too but felt too guilty to admit it.
Be that as it may, Alfred is just disappointed in all of them for this.
He wanted Jason to stop using live ammunition -> Jason had only used rubber bullets for a long time.
He wanted Jason not to kill the Joker or some other rogue -> Jason hasn't killed anyone, not the Joker. He wasn't even close; the whole town saw it!
He wanted his son to calm down -> Jason has calmed down more since the Joker's death; he doesn't start fights with any of his siblings or with him.
He wanted his son to be at home more -> Jason spends three or four days a week, has dinner with them, sometimes breakfast with everyone, bakes a lot with Alfred, and is sure he's gaining just a little weight from the pile of cookies or cakes Jason is baking. If he's not in the library reading, he's not even trying to provoke him anymore!
Alfred keeps making comments about how they should legally revive Jason because their son has been saying something about school.
He has everything he wanted and he's not happy.
The blame has always been a partner who lives and sleeps in his bed all the time. But this is a different kind of blame. He's never considered himself a good father, he's made countless mistakes, and he keeps making mistakes. This is just another one on the list.
Dick has tried to smooth things over; the movie nights he always wanted his brother to attend are uncomfortable. His son isn't stupid, but he's putting up with his nonsense more than usual.
Now it's his other children who are making excuses.
Alfred becomes a little more passive-aggressive as the days go by.
The knowledge is obvious, routine, and by-the-book. But it makes them uncomfortable, but they don't know how to deal with something so... like this?
He recognizes a family system with a scapegoat.
As if his family couldn't function if Jason stepped out of the box they've assigned him, as if they needed him to be the black sheep for everything to be okay.
It shouldn't be this way. When he thought he wasn't being biased toward Jason, he thought he was letting him get away with it, that he allowed him too much, but given the evidence, it's clear that's not the case. Jason could do anything he wants and still not be happy.
Jason never seems to win, damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, and he knows it will reach a critical point.
Damian didn't seem worried; as he had said, it was only a matter of time before his second son exploded and went back to being himself and everything would go back to normal. Even if he's innocent, he'd get fed up and go back to treating them the way he was.
That opinion seemed to guiltily reassure the others. Jason couldn't stay calm for that long; he'd get angry, yell, and push them away again.
He doesn't want to get to that point because then it'll be obvious, everyone will know, Jason will know. That he could give Bruce everything he wants and it still wouldn't be enough.
He shouldn't be relieved that his son won't be joining the patrol some days. He shouldn't allow everyone to wait for the catastrophic outcome just because the familiar is comfortable and the unknown is bad.
Tim stands his ground, using Jason's slow eye color change as a sign that something is up.
He's been looking for magical clues, though Jason wasn't around either.
The last encounter with a mage was handled by Duke. The last group of cultists was stopped by Tim, Stephanie, and Cassandra. The last cursed object was secured by Dick and Damian.
His children even plotted to have some steal the old rosary Jason obtained on his dimensional journey, and the other half entertain him. But Zatanna and Raven refused; it was just an ordinary old rosary, just old wooden beads.
Alfred scolded them for it, and also for allowing it.
"Master Wayne," he shuddered under the butler's stare and monotone.
"Tell me, Alfred."
"This old butler has decided to take a week off."
"Oh..." They were really getting on his nerves if he wanted to take a week off after his usual schedule. "Okay... may I ask what your plans are?"
"Of course I can ask, since you're my boss." He wanted to groan in sadness; his adoptive father wasn't happy at all. "I've decided to take a short trip to New York. I'll go with my grandson. He's gotten tickets to some plays we want to see on Broadway."
"That's great. They've always loved it... They can use the Jet."
"Mr. Wayne, are you implying that the salary I've earned with my hard work isn't enough to take my grandson on a short trip to New York?"
"No, of course not."
"I thought as much." He was underestimating how truly upset Alfred was.
"Then...? "
"We're leaving the day after tomorrow afternoon, sir. I expect the mansion to be intact for my return."
"Yes, Alfred..." The old man didn't even say goodbye as he left his office to get on with his business. He sighed; more difficult days lay ahead.
Blinding Sun🌞: So, Alfred is cooking a lot, but it's all the dishes we hate.
Purple Waffles💜: Glad I don't live there right now!
Blinding Sun🌞: He even bought that juice flavor you hate.
Purple Waffles💜: Damn! 😭💔
The Favorite: He's really upset :(
200% Caffeine: We're not even going to dinner tonight because he's doing that?
Blinding Sun🌞: He asked Bruce for a week's vacation and is leaving the day after tomorrow
🪽Hot Boneless 🪽: He's so upset if he asked Bruce for a week's vacation outside of his normal vacation.
The Favorite: =(
Dog Whisperer: Has Pennyworth said where he's going?
Blinding Sun🌞: I didn't find that out, Alfred said he was too busy
👑Real Brain: He's going to New York. He's booked two first-class plane tickets for Jason and him. They're going to see some Broadway shows, operas, and a ballet
Purple Waffles💜: Wait! So that's why he asked Cass and me if we had days off?
The Favorite: 💔
🪽Hot Boneless 🪽: He asked me too! I told him I couldn't! 😭😭 Because I have responsibilities?! 😭😭😭💔
200% Caffeine: Is he leaving for a week??? Who's in charge of the alley??
👑Real Brain: Kate, Selina, and Harley. In fact, from what we talked about, Tim, tried to tell you, and he was going to ask about Duke, but he's in exams.
Purple Waffles💜: This is crap. I wanted to see SIX The Musical 🙃😭
Alfred and Jason take a taxi to the airport.
The final verdict is that if they don't find anything suspicious on Jason's territory that week, they'll have to admit they're terrible people, that any suspicions that Jason is guilty or knows anything related to the strange things that have been happening in the city for months are merely their prejudices about him.
Tim and Damian bond even more surprisingly because this challenges the status quo, and they only have a few days to close the case.
Bruce tries to stay away from Crime Alley, as stipulated.
It took them almost three days to check all of Jason's safe houses, with nothing relevant, nothing to prove their suspicions. They check everything, every corner, every alias, every available electronic device, even books in case something is hidden in them, and nothing.
Tim has to admit it's just his prejudices, that he'd actually rather Jason be doing something against the family than the idea that Jason is trying to be nice to them. Even though she'd said she forgave him and knew him, well, apparently not.
The only regrettable thing was a phone with a disposable Reddit account asking for advice. In addition to more recipe books with dishes everyone might like, the safe houses also had more supplies for everyone, favorite drinks and snacks, new clothes (at least two sets of underwear), blankets, and more pillows. That was the only incriminating thing, the only out-of-place and new thing that made them feel like garbage.
(“Heck, there are even those silly chocolate bars Bruce swears he doesn't love!”
“Why does he have a waffle iron in almost every safe house?”
“Not to mention bath and sanitary products, because he knows my brand of tampons?”
“Where did he get these silly baskets? He decorates them himself?!”
“Does he have a list of all our favorite restaurants in the area and their phone numbers written down?”
“I have to admit, this product sounds… interesting…”
“Because he has a supply of my meds?”)
They were bummed out on patrol when it happened. He's the brother of the same guy who caught Jason a few months ago.
It's ridiculous, really, because he catches them all.
When they wake up, they're on the roof of an apartment building.
______________________________
When Bruce opens the library door, Jason is there, reading. He approaches him, sitting on the couch across from him. Their single couches now matched.
Jason looked at his adoptive father, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. Bruce seemed tense, serious, which made the young man grip his book tighter, preparing for an argument or a fight.
"Jason, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me."
The young man simply sighed, closed the book, and set it aside. "Okay, say it," he said defensively. It was always like this. It was exhausting to keep up with this tangle of questions and accusations.
"How did you end up in that warehouse?"
The question took him by surprise. It wasn't what he expected. Seriously, what was it about? Why so suddenly? Everyone had been acting strangely since he and Alfred returned from New York.
They looked at each other in the heavy silence. "Excuse me?"
"How did you end up there, Jason?"
"Does it matter?" he replies, much more apprehensively. "You know, right? Haven't you grown tired of telling everyone?" He's accusatory, he's harsh, there's resentment in every word.
"It matters, because I never asked you... I want... I need to know."
"Of course it's always about you." There's anger and resignation in his words. He crosses his arms, and the look he gives his former mentor reflects much more now.
They no longer have that Lazarus green tint; his eyes have returned to that blue, the blue of the ocean. The stormy ocean that has always tormented Bruce in his dreams, nightmares, and hallucinations.
But Jason doesn't get up; he just sighs again, tired. "Does it matter?" he asks again. "Whatever I say, you won't even listen to me. You wouldn't believe it if you decided long ago that that's what happened." There is so much bitterness emanating from his words, from his gaze.
"I'll listen to you, I'll really listen to you," he promises, though inside he's dreading the whole situation.
Jason seems to realize that this time he's being sincere. Somehow, he shrinks a little inward, taking his time. "Sheila tricked me, sold me to the Joker because I owed her money? And she smoked in a corner of the warehouse while he beat me."
There are no words, just silence, the son looking at his father, watching and waiting for the judgment that always follows.
It's always been this way.
It always will be this way.
"At some point, I regained consciousness. The Joker had already tied her up there, left us there… so she yelled at me to help her. I wasn't tied up anymore, but my fingers were too broken to defuse the bomb, so I crawled to free her." He tries to pretend it doesn't affect him anymore, that he doesn't care anymore, but his gaze is as expressive as ever. That's why he's wearing a helmet, he remembers in a corner of his mind, so transparent it's annoying. "It wasn't fast. I tried to open the door, but it was locked from the outside. My hands were useless, and I knew it was the end, that you wouldn't make it in time. In fact, I worried about you for a moment, though you'd get over it... The truth is, I always knew I'd die young. I'm a street rat, all the kids in Crime Alley know that. We're not supposed to live long. I knew I'd die young. I knew I'd fight to live, but it would be... A stray bullet, some rouge, or the weather that would kill me. That's why I never held a grudge against you for not getting there in time," he confessed, trying not to exaggerate. "So when time was up, I tried to cover for Sheila. You know the rest. I died."
Bruce looked stunned, with no reaction other than widening his eyes. Even the tension in his shoulders disappeared. "Why?"
"Why what? Because I still tried to save Sheila? I didn't do it because she was my biological mother. I did it because she was Robin. Because that's what you taught me, and I believed that was the hill I chose to die on."
Even if Robin's magic had run out, even if for years his sacrifice, his death had been tainted with lies. He died a hero, trying to save the woman who must have loved him a little, the woman who gave birth to him, but ultimately the woman who sold him out to the most vile of beings because he was Robin, because Robin is the light in Gotham, because he would always save everyone.
"Why did you think I'd get over losing my son?" There's more emotion there; it's not accusatory as usual, just genuine confusion and pain. "Why?"
“Oh Bruce” there’s so much pity in the way it falls from Jason’s lips, so many emotions in the pained smile Bruce sees on his son, as if he were stupid. “If I had known you loved me, that you truly cared for me, if I had truly believed you, I wouldn’t have even sought out Sheila.”
That somehow breaks something, they’re not sure what, but it does.
“What?...”
“Bruce, you were everything to me, but you never understood me. You never truly looked at me. You saw my anger, but you never saw the frustration, my desperation to truly help. You could never understand,” he says, more fluently. “You never trusted me. I’ve always been your biggest mistake. Reckless, violent, stupid. The one who needed to be saved from the darkness. You failed, and despite everything, I loved you. In truth, loving you has been the biggest mistake of my life.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“When Felipe slipped, you didn’t even hesitate. You accused me. You were angry, just a street rat that you tried to save because obviously since my father was a criminal and my mother a drug addict, I would be just another criminal. Of course I should have killed him. Your attempts to save me failed, and I was a criminal, not your son.
"I... no."
"It had nothing to do with Felipe being drunk and high. Someone like that obviously has the best balance. It's not like he could slip by tripping over his own feet."
"Jason."
"We kept fighting. You never believed me. I would have sworn under the lasso of truth, but surely you'd say that since you taught me to evade him, I could get away with it. Then that would be further proof that I was a criminal, a vile murderer," he mocked, finally standing with his smile, enjoying his former mentor's expression. "Then one day you said, 'I don't need your teenage problems. You're not my son.' You finally came clean, right? The theater was over. You took Robin from me shortly after."
"I wasn't saying it, Seriously, it wasn't like that," he barely defended himself, a weak murmur.But Jason just shook his head, so calm and more confident.
"You kicked Dick out of the mansion, and he was the only one you loved, your precious Robin, the only one none of your other children could ever match. There's only one Dick Grayson, the only one you're proud enough to say it out loud and to his face. But you kicked him out of the house, so what would happen to me? The street rat who sullied your Robin's legacy? It was only a matter of time before you kicked me out onto the streets, and I couldn't bear it. I'd rather die than go back to that alley like that. I was afraid of what you'd do because I knew too much, and you've done worse things to other people for less. But I found out Catherine wasn't my mother. Then I thought someone might love me, that I wouldn't go back to the streets... and you... you weren't even there for me. I didn't even try to cover my tracks, but you didn't come after me."
“No… I didn't know, I just wanted you to take a break,” he stammered. “I love you.”
“Of course, your actions prove it so well,” he says sarcastically. “You buried me next to Sheila. You took away my name, not on hallowed Wayne grounds because I wasn't your son. You couldn't even wait for me to settle in my grave to have a new model, not a single charity or building named after me. You erased all memory of me from the mansion. You didn't even tell Dick I died. You couldn't even give me a decent funeral. You've left the memorial even though I've been alive and breathing for years. You used me as a fable, ‘You must be obedient or you'll be like Jason, my greatest failure.’ It was never really about you killing for me. I wanted you to kill him to protect me. And what did you do, Bruce? What have you been doing all this time?”
But Bruce couldn't answer, staring at the scar on his son's neck. Even though he'd done worse things, he'd hurt his son so much that he couldn't even list them all. "Why did you stay?" ask now
“The truth is, I’m a statistic. I always wondered why, when Willis got aggressive because of his drinking, when they fought, when he hit her, why wouldn’t she leave him? Why wouldn’t he leave? He went back to his drug-addicted wife when he could have left and had a better life. Because they both stayed because they loved each other… And I’m a statistic. I’m staying here even though it killed me. I don’t know any better, Bruce. I don’t know how to live” he confessed, losing her smile and her energy, letting the vulnerability show in her voice. “I’m staying because I love this family and because you’d never really let me go.”
“Jason.”
“You’ll never let me go. Even if I stop being Red Hood. If I retire, you’ll never let me go. You and your kids won’t let me be happy. If I leave this city, they’ll come after me. They’ll watch me like I’m an animal. Every step I take, with every person I talk to, they’ll put trackers, cameras, microphones on me. When I try to move on, make a friend, they’ll appear on my Door, in every place I am 'because they have to watch me'... I couldn't even kill myself in peace because they won't respect my damn corpse. Bruce, you've never been able to respect me, you trample on my memory... you'd look for a Lazarus Pit to bring me back to life and then you'd be offended when I came back even more crazy."
There were no more words between them. Only the revelations settling between them. The horror, the things that remained unsaid, that were implied but that they still heard.
Jason took a deep breath, taking a step back, picking up his book but not sitting back down, his hands shaking, but he didn't expect more from that conversation.
“It wasn’t my intention”
“It’s never your intention, it’s never your fault, you never asked me to love you, or all the effort I put into you, all the sacrifices I made for you, or how willing I always am to die for you and your children…and everyone always says ‘don’t be so hard on him Jason, your death tore him apart’ ‘Bruce suffered so much Jason’ ‘why do you always have to be so dramatic Jason?’ ‘why do you always have to make it about you?’ ‘get over it Todd, you died and came back you’re not special’ ‘you have no idea what he suffered when you died Jason’ ‘you have no idea what your reckless death did to this family Jason’ ‘because you can’t stop being impulsive and reckless you’ll get yourself killed again’ ‘it’s not your fault, you did the best you could Bruce’ ‘you came back wrong’ ‘you came back wrong’ it’s so bold of you and everyone else to assume that I would even try to come back to life, I wanted to wake up in my Coffin suddenly, I wanted this."
"Jason," he called again, although again, as throughout the conversation, Bruce wasn't able to get up or do anything more than say a few words.
"I won't continue this conversation. It's pointless. Why aren't you going to change the files about my death? You won't tell anyone you were wrong. In fact, you're taking too long to accuse me of lying or not having my memories straight. And before you do, I'm leaving. I don't want to talk to you for the rest of the day."
Bruce was left alone in the library, the few rays of mid-afternoon sunlight streaming through the window.He stood there, unable to do anything, the weight of his actions and the things he didn't do crushing his heart and resolve.
Oh Bruce, if any of your children truly believed you loved them, they wouldn't do half the reckless things they've done, desperate to prove themselves to you, desperate for your love, anguished at losing their place at your side if only any of them believed you loved them.
That person's words repeat in his head, with their cheerful smile, their tone of false pity, and obvious mockery of him.
Your parents must be turning in their graves. You used their deaths to be "Batman, the world's greatest detective" while you crush your children, children you never take responsibility for, but from whom you demand the impossible. But of course, you never asked them to love you, so it's not your fault.
All he can do is lament and refuse to let things stay this way, even though his way of loving is so obsessive and twisted.
[On the other side of the handheld mirror, the little king smiles contentedly, watching the man. Will this be enough to wake the man? Although he hopes it's too late to right his wrongs, the ghost has a better place to be, so he sets off.]
__________________________________
Despite everything, the ghost king, Danny, insisted that he doesn't need to do the same as his counterpart, Jason Wayne. He doesn't have to pray to him in a church or chapel. So, although he initially hid in the mansion's chapel to pray, he now hides in Wayne Manor's smallest library (there are actually four libraries in the entire mansion; the one normally used isn't even the largest, just the one with the most read collection of books).
The room is "smaller." There aren't as many shelves, the books are neatly kept. He's been cleaning the place like it's his true personal refuge. Alfred is the only one who knows he's been lurking around the place even though everyone thinks he's left the mansion.
So now he's there, in his corner, which allows him to see if anyone opens the door, but is hidden by it. The beanbag is the largest he could find; it was worth every penny he paid for it, worth Alfred's incredulous look, which the butler helps hide when he locks the door.It's big enough for him to hide and curl up in, so soft to the touch from the finest fleece fabric he could order, since it's as far away from the family area as it gets cold.But he doesn't mind, not when he can hide from the world, from Bruce and the others, but without leaving the mansion. He doesn't mind being there, wrapped in a blanket while hugging his knees and trying not to cry... but failing.
What was all this about? Why did Bruce ask him about what happened now? Why? Why? Now what? Surely he had a stupid idea in his head, and that's why he was acting strange; he must be planning something.
He felt Hortensia trying to swallow down his panic. The weight of the necklace around his neck felt like an anchor, a life preserver in the middle of the sea, so instinctively he reached out to hold her.
"Hey Jaysun."
The ghost king appeared, floating a little to sit in the air near him, but not enough to invade his personal space. He seemed worried. It's comforting to have a friendly face nearby. It's incredible that Danny considers him his "friend."
At this moment, that's welcome, because he hadn't lied before. Even if he managed to get away from Bruce and the others, they would never let him go. He'd never have the courage to stand up to the bat and his birds. Roy, Kori, Artemis, Bizarro, Rose, and Kyle, no matter how hard they tried to stay by his side, would always have to deal with the Waynes. Their lives could be ruined if Bruce and the others really tried to get past them to get to him.
Even if he left the planet, he knows Bruce. He's so stubborn, so controlling, he'd seek him out just because he can't stop being paranoid, because he's not his son, but a "something" that belongs to him. He won't let him go, but he won't let him live, nor will he let him die.
But Danny is the Ghost King. Bruce doesn't even know of his existence. Bruce has no influence over the Ghost King. Batman is nothing more than a grain of sand against the calamity that is Danny. And at some point, realizing that made him feel better, because neither Bruce nor his brothers can influence his friendship with the Phantom. They can't touch him, they can't hurt him, they can't do anything against him.
So he looks up to see him, tears still streaming down his cheeks. He doesn't even have to ask or think about it, and the shortest one is already hugging him.
Even if his skin is so cold, it doesn't matter. He can just exist in the thin arms of his god.
Danny tells him about his boring paperwork in the kingdoms, about the petty disputes he resolves, and asks about his short vacation in New York. He gets him talking, relaxing, and they return to their fun topic of comparing all the movies or shows they've seen to see if they're the same or not. As time goes by, he manages to send a message to Alfred telling him not to dine with the others because he doesn't want to see Bruce, and he doesn't have the energy to try to see his "siblings." He'll eat in his little hideout with the door closed, and maybe if his mood improves, he'll go out on patrol.
Nowadays, the alley is held up very well by his men. Without the black mask, he doesn't have to fight over territory. Most of the other drug lords and a few renegades are too busy surviving to coordinate drug, weapons, and human trafficking.
So now, when he's guarding his territory, he's focusing on the scum. Abusers of all kinds. He doesn't even have to kill them personally; he just beats them up a bit, insults them for a while, and they all start to hate him. And when they taunt him back because he doesn't kill anymore, doesn't even shoot them, when they keep bragging that the bat castrated him and lets them go, it won't be long before they die.
His people have noticed; they keep the secret. All the men Red Hood lets go now end badly. Some of them are still alive and wish they were dead.
Bad luck is a funny thing, Danny had told him.
From slipping on nothing to breaking a leg, the broken leg can end up causing a stomach infection, and a fever that doesn't go down causes death.
Others are suddenly run over, accidents at work, at home, at the bar. Some don't even die, but the results are random, like the guy from the other day. His fall down the stairs ended up castrating him. His hip is also broken, and his wife, who was already the breadwinner, whom he used to beat, is very happy because since her hip is broken, she can't go up to the bedroom. She sleeps on the uncomfortable couch. Her stepdaughter, whom he had been tormenting, now throws her pain medication at him. Who is he to stop a teenager from her petty revenge against her disgusting stepfather?
Other times, they're tormented by nightmares. There are so many punishments and tortures he can devise, and Hortensia will do just that. She'll bring the bad luck and pain that already exists throughout Gotham to the people who come to hate him, to the people who want to fight him, to die.
"Everything will be okay, Jay, I'm on your side," Danny assures.
"I'm happy to have met you," he says without looking at him. It's still surprising that he can be more sincere when the pit isn't in his head, when Hortensia makes his emotions less overwhelming.
"Me too." The little great king smiles at him, shaking his hand under the blanket for a few seconds before giving him his space.
"Are you coming with me on patrol?" he asks. He has to keep tormenting as many bastards as possible.
"Sure, it'll be fun."
Hortensia melts back into his skin to hide from mortal eyes.
A little later, Red Hood is almost fully suited up. Phantom invisibly rises and hides among the stalactites.
[Jason doesn't know why the others are acting so strange; he just wants to get out. The others can't help but look at him out of the corner of their eyes in concern. Danny can only smile; it seems his plan worked.]
Red Hood doesn't even comment on Batman's absence. Nightwing distributes the equipment and appoints himself Hood's partner. He doesn't get very far with it. Hood's boredom is too obvious. He wants to be alone. He doesn't want any therapy or another interrogation.
"Let's get this over with," he says before putting on his helmet and getting on his motorcycle.
Everyone looks at him: Dick like a deer in the headlights, Tim with all his crazy intensity. Cass waits, making a gesture that she's listening, that everyone is listening.
"What's happening in the city, the stupid accidents, Joker, Black Mask, and everyone else dying, is my fault," he admits.
"I knew it!" Tim says with a slightly manic expression, Timmy definitely needs to sleep “How did you do it?!”
"Whatever they came up with, I did it, that, every crazy plan, yeah, I definitely did it, they found out, blah blah blah, we didn't kill Jason, you're better than this, Jason, we can't trust you again, we'll be watching, let's get back to the same old programming, done, I've confessed to my evil crimes."
Tim stops looking happy. In reality, no one is happy or seems to be feeling better, even Cass looks uncomfortable, sad.
"It wasn't you," Tim says, now regretting having been happy.
"Does it matter?" he replies, tired of pretending.
"Jay… of course it matters." Dick looks hurt, takes two steps toward him, worried.
"Why do you feel relieved to say it's your fault when it isn't?" Cass's question is very important, it's difficult, she really wants to understand.
He's been sighing too much. It's actually his fault. He keeps giving Hortensia ideas. He keeps yearning for so many people to die. He keeps causing so many deaths, leaving a trail of corpses that others will eventually discover. It's his fault.
"Because it's always my fault, somehow. This time shouldn't be different. They just haven't figured out how I'm supposed to do it."
"Jay, it's not your fault," Dick insists.
But he just looks at him angrily. "Sure, whatever makes you sleep better." He puts on his helmet to end the conversation, starts the engine, and drives off.
The cold touch of hands on his shoulders relaxes him. He's not alone. He won't let the others return him to his bad mood.
(He can't see it because he's barely out of the cave, but the computer triggers an alarm. Barbara quickly investigates, showing an explosion at the Iceberg Lounge. The place has practically collapsed on itself, and the flames… they still don't know who was inside or who died.)
Most of them head to the Iceberg Lounge to help and investigate. The firefighters were already more or less close because they had put out a fire two blocks away, so the police are there too.
The Iceberg Lounge should be full of customers despite it being a weekday morning, but not this time. It seemed to be in the middle of a secret meeting between the Penguin and some other mafia leaders who were still left. Of course, now all of them, along with some thugs and other people, were dead. The few who survived were too burned, and the luckiest ones only had a lot of broken bones from the building falling on them.
Oswald Cobblepot is dead. His body is still easy to identify. He wasn't that close to the explosion, but closer to some highly flammable compound, but they still haven't figured out what it is. The surprise is Two-Face, Harvey Dent, because he's not supposed to be there. Last time they checked, he was still in Arkham, but now he's dead.
Red Hood showed up only to see the disaster and then leave after commenting, "Well, someone should make sure they don't rise from their graves afterward."
Of course, he ignored Batman's orders to stay nearby.
Nightwing just grimaced, grateful that at least the place hadn't been open to the civilian public that night, but still uneasy that another accident would take two rogues, along with a few others and their thugs. In general, some firefighters and police officers weren't even mourning this. Not that he can complain when most of the survivors have criminal records that will send them to prison as soon as they leave surgery or the hospital.
The news already knew what had happened: two more rogues were dead, Penguin and Two-Face.
Nightwing left the chaos to look for his younger brother. Oracle gave him the location of Hood's tracker; it was about a 20-minute motorcycle ride away, so he slipped away.
It gave him time to think about what had happened in the cave and at dinner. His brother wasn't stupid; he just kept silent this time, swallowing his emotions about it, saying he was responsible for everything going back to the way it was before. The truth was, it didn't matter, just like he said. The family had to function as long as everyone played their part. So Jason apologized for something that wasn't even his fault so they could all rest easy and nothing would break the status quo… He didn't want that. Everything had gotten out of control, and he didn't want to get to the point where he couldn't return.
Bruce had to admit what had happened under Alfred's annoyed gaze. Confirming their worst fears at the time, they had been wrong. Jason never tried to correct the narrative, never tried to clarify how he had died because it didn't matter. Bruce had already decided what happened and they were never going to believe him, so why waste time like this? Why tire himself out like this?
And in the cave it was the same, Jason taking the blame to get everything back to normal. He didn't even seem upset, just tired.
Leaving his motorcycle hidden, he climbed onto a rooftop to continue his search. It didn't take long to find his brother. He was hiding on three other rooftops farther away, apparently eating because he'd left his hamburger in the paper bag.
He just stood up, not even reaching for any of his weapons to threaten. He wasn't wearing his jacket, which made his strong, muscular arms visible as he crossed them over his chest.
"What are you doing here, idiot?" he asked, annoyed.
"Just catching up with you. I told you we'd team up," he tried to mediate. "You know, eating sounds like a good idea. I'll go get more food at Batburger. Do you want something?"
He then noticed something moving behind Hood. Blue eyes looked at him, frowning. It was a teenager who was using Hood as a shield, hiding from him.
There's the jacket, he thinks, as the thin arms tried to wrap around Red Hood's waist, but they were too short, too skinny, the pale hands were small. He could see the wrists so thin he mentally wanted to grimace.
The teenager was short next to Jason, swimming in the leather jacket, with pale black hair, dark circles under his light blue eyes, and his lips were twisted. It was clear he was annoyed at being interrupted.
"Hi, you too," he greeted, but the teenager just hugged Jason closer, still giving him the dirty look. "Can I get you more food too… it's all adoption bait, Wayne?" He couldn't help but say it.
Although Jason was now hugging the teenager. "This one has decent new parents. He doesn't need Brucie Wayne. He already has too many orphans."
"Momma will snap that guy's neck if he even tries to rob me," the teenager assured, even more annoyed. "Go away, you're in our way."
Jason simply nodded, amused. "You heard me, Wing, go."
"Do your parents know you're out so late with Hood?"
"Yes, they like Hood. He's my friend, and you're in the way," he remarked in an authoritarian tone, which I didn't expect from a teenager perhaps under 15. It's hard to gauge his age when he's standing next to Jason, a winged titan of his.
"Okay, okay. I know where they don't even want me. See you later, Hood."
"Try another day. Hood's mine for today."
Hood's laughter broke the tension, since if looks could kill, he'd already be dead from how badly the boy viewed him. It had been a long time since he'd heard his little brother laugh like that.
"Please, kidnap me tomorrow too," he asked the younger boy, who nodded. He finally smiled, a mischievous smile, nodding in all seriousness.
"Sure, God knows you need to spend time with better people."
"Of course you do." There was another chuckle, as if it were an intended joke between them.
Although he pouted, he left. It was better to leave Jason with one of his boys.
[Blue eyes sparkled, the boy smiled with amusement, both people returned to their evening lunch and shared a small giggle]
_________________________________
I finally remembered what flower Jason Wayne was: Azalea. Here they are~
This is practically a fanfic because of how long it is. I said to myself, "I'm going to split it up because it's too much," but I kept adding to the draft and ended up with this long post. Sorry (?).
There's a lot about Danny at the beginning, plus mentions of crossovers. Because why not? So Danny has Izuku (from the anime), Harry (from the movies), Peter (Tom Holland), Jason Wayne, and Jason Red Hood.
Izuku has "Angel" for Angel's Trumpet or Brugmansia.
Harry has "Lily" for Lily of the Valley or Convallaria majalis
Peter has "Bella" for Belladonna, Jason Wayne has "Azalea," and Jason Todd has "Hortensia = Hortense" for Hydrangea. So the pattern of Danny's followers is obvious: they are all "child heroes."
I have no imagination for nicknames, it shows in my attempt at a group chat and in "Jaysun," sorry.
Jason is starting to lose faith in his family; a certain king has been advising him ~
Danny has a strange relationship with Ellie. She's his daughter, but she rarely needs him. He can't help but resent her sometimes, which makes him feel guilty, so he doesn't call her as much as he'd like. Ellie doesn't even see anything odd about their relationship; everything is perfect for her, and the ancients are worried about their lonely little king.
I originally had a lot written about what happens to most of the Batfamily when they end up in another dimension, but I didn't like how it turned out, so I'm going to redo it for the next time I write more. This is almost a fic. I don't post it on AO3 because it's just me and Google Translate, so that's it.I also have a lot of notes about what each gem does and scribbles of what they're supposed to look like, but it's already a very long note, so I'm disappearing.
grace is THIS 🤏 close to unleashing a sequel to his unesco crashout. he's been trying to work on his anger lately. especially because he doesn't want to scare prism
i wanna see more angry grace can we all draw more angry grace ❤️
thank youuu to @spaghetti-steven93 (i cant seem to tag you?) @mentallyunstableducky @goodieprocter for sacrificing your eridians :]
