The justice league and associates were all congregated in a conference room on the watch tower by 6:30. Everyone was handed a debrief packet.
Everyone was seated in anticipation of the ambassador's arrival by 6:55. At the clock changed to seven, nothing happened.
"Did anyone inform them where we would be meeting?" Hal said to the table at large. A couple people opened their mouths to answer, but before they could, an alert blared over the intercom.
"Code: 304 - Abnormal energy readings at level seven, maintenance hall."
Predicably, Flash was the first to move, several others quickly following. The elevator shot them down to level seven where the watchtower's engineers' workshops and storage were held. Flash was the first to arrive followed by Superman. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern arrived about a minute later.
There in the middle of the middle of the hallway floating in mid air was a neon green line. The group watched as it seemed to widen not unlike gently pulling aside a shower curtain.
From this opaque, neon green portal came an amorphous blob of unidentifiable color. The form whipped and swirled, condensing ipon itself. The first appendage to form was a foot. Toes and heel were visible, but the arch of the foot was covered by a white stir up style shoe.
Followed, was a black, sinched, slightly shear, baggy-style pant leg with a slit in the side showing a white, textured, skin-tight underlayer. A pale hand with what would be considered translucent skin by human standards came next followed by a white wrist guard made of the same fabric as the shoes. It sinched the slightly poofy long sleeves of the entity's black blouse. The waist was snatched by a white corset belt, once again made from the same material as the shoes.
As the entity became more defined they gained a shear shoulder shawl bound over one shoulder by a white pin. The shawl was covered in galaxy patterns that shifted as the entity moved. Upon the entities head was wispy glowing white hair where upon a silver crown or headdress was set.
Now that the entity was more defined, the group could see more of their face. Sharp teeth were pulled into a placiating grin. Pointed ears adorned with dangling star earrings were lifted in intrigue. Finally, bright green eyes with black scalera looked back at them.
The individual floated down, the portal snapping closed behind them, until their feet rested upon the floor. Wonder Woman took the initiative by walking forward and greeting the individual with a handshake. "Greetings! You are the infinite realms ambassador, correct?"
The individual smiled, "Yes, I am. You may call me Phantom. What is your name?"
"My name is Diana. I go by Wonder Woman. I am a princess of Themescira." Wonder Woman replied.
"Oh, Pandora has mentioned you! She's is quite proud of your work." Phantom noted, walking with Diana to the rest of the group.
"Really?" Wonder Woman said, intrigued. Phantom hummed. Now that Phantom was closer, some of the group noticed that, at moments, portions of a neon green translucent skeleton seemed to super-impose onto his appearance.
"We are glad to have you," Hal said, elbowing Flash to stop staring, "I am a Green Lantern. I have been involved in a number of successful intergalactic negotiations."
"Really?" Phantom said, eagerly. "That would be a great help. I appreciate a source of expertise."
The group navigated back to the elevator. "I assumed with the title that you would have a wealth of experience in negotiations," Diana questions.
"You would think that," Phantom chuckled, "Actually, my position as ambassador is new." He shuffled further inside to make room for the rest of the group.
He continues, "The infinite realms has not had a centralized form of government until now, as far as I know. There are regions with their own governments and individual haunts throughout the space. The infinite realms exist naturally in a form of chaos, and it is reflected in the communities there."
"How did you end up as ambassador, then?" Flash asked, receiving a glare for his uncouthness with a diplomat from both Batman and Hal.
"I have a good relationship with a lot of influential people within the realms and have more recent experience with this human realm in particular. I actually spend more time here than I do there," Phantom explained, "Situations like mine are a large part of why these negotiations are so important. They knew I would fight for a good deal."
Could we get Danny being blob but with no brain power? Like, he just blob of shadows and goo, there's nothing much going on up there but the Wii theme and "ooh shiny" brain, maybe a few ghosty instincts to try being menacing despite being like a 1 foot big blob of angy shadows, just no brain until brain can come back, you can choose how he got this way or just decided to manually turn off his brain for a vacation, not realizing how much that would shut down, idk, do what you want!
Summoning wasn't supposed to go like this, Constantine grumbled and then shrieked in his head. It was NOT supposed to go like this.
Enemy capable of ending the world? Check.
Most of the Supers down for the count? Check.
Knowing of an entity that could handle said threat? Check.
Knowing the summing ritual and having all the components? Check.
Entity is willing and able to make a deal to save the world? Fucking should be.
Isn't.
Fuck. Constantine isn't even sure it's capable of understanding English. It's just floating there.
A little green and white blob, with blue eyes, a tiny ice-blue crown, and an even tinier white cape.
The blob yawned and bobbed slowly in the air, turning right, then left, then looking all the way down, and then further and further until it had spun 360 and was facing Constantine again.
"Bollucks."
As though noticing his presence for the first time, the blob cooed in his direction before floating over âignoring the containment circle completelyâ and settling itself into Constantine's hair like a bird with a nest.
"Well. We're doomed. Get your affairs in order, ladies and gents." The blob cooed and warbled again, seemingly content to leech off of his body warmth.
John Constantine stomped off, lighting up a cigarette. If he was going to die because his summoning failed and nicked a blob ghost with accessories instead of the protection spirit of the Infinite, then he wasn't going to die without his nicotine.
ââ€ââ€â
"So that's where you ran off to, Little One." Blue fingers patted the blob, it chirped brightly but stayed where it was.
"I see, it's comfy there, is it?" Chirp chirp. "Need help, do they? Ah, but you cannot help as you are, can you?" A lower humming coo. "Want me to help, do you?" Chirp! "Very well, Little One, They'll be waiting in the Realms for when you're ready to rejoin us in awareness."
Iron and Fire finally relaxed again beneath him, having been scared stiff by Pandora's appearance. No more worries though. An anxious chuckle shook the hair he was nesting in.
"Whatever the bloody hell that was, mate, you have my thanks." Iron and Fire reached up to replicate Pandora's gentle pats. Danny cooed and settled further to purr and comfort.
This little vacation was going so well. Pandora is the best babysitter/advisor he could ask for.
Danny: I forgot to do a entire module for my class this week.
Tucker: What?
Danny: I ussually do them on the weekend since I'm so busy and the professor wants the assignments turned in on Friday at 6:00 PM. But this week really kicked my ass, and I completely forgot to stay a week ahead. What do I do?!
Tucker: How many assignments were in this module?
Danny: Five. The zeros are already in. I went from a 98 to a 63.
Tucker: *pain hiss through teeth* Okay it's time to send a really pathetic, really desperate, and professional email begging for a extension.
Danny: You don't understand! Professor Todd will never go for it. He's strict as hell. Nothing I could say would be believable!
Tucker: Nothing? Not even say, a near death experience?
Danny: What?
Five hours later
Steph: Thanks for bring me dinner Jason. The ER has been non stop and I haven't even gotten a chance to get a break
Jason: No problem, I was just going to do some grading today anyway.
Steph: It was really sweet of you to bring the other nurses some food too. I'm pretty sure almost all the nurse station is in love with you.
Jason: Well shit, get some numbers. You never know. You're future in-law could be on payroll with you. ;)
Steph: Ha ha nice try. That is more stress then its worth. You're like that college kid, desperately trying to write five essays between codes.
Jason: Damn! He coded!? What kind of professor doesn't offer an extension in the face of that? Those deadlines can not be that serious.
Steph: Yeah. Its-
Danny walking by in a hospital gown using speech to text: Hello Professor Todd, I hope this email finds you well. I apologize to ask for this but would it be possible to get a extension on Module 4? Im in the hospital and I have apparently died four times but I am working on those essays between each-
Steph: That was him
Jason: He died four times?!
Steph: Yeah but we got him back-
Random nurse: CODE! CODE IN ROOM 209!
Steph: Damn it! He has got to stop working on those stupid essays! The stress is messing with his heart!
Jason: HE'S DYING RIGHT NOW?!TELL HIM HE HAS HIS EXTENSION, TELL HIM PROFESSOR TODD IS COOL WITH IT.
Danny, Sam, and Tucker create an old school horror game about a circus of stuffed animals purely to spite Dash. It starts off innocent enough and slowly gets more and more disturbing as it goes on. Danny initially gives the only copy to Dash but then Technus attacks and gets a hold of the game and unleashes the monsters in the game with a universal remote. Danny is freaking out and chasing down the monsters with the rest of Team Phantom while Technus somehow manages to upload himself to the watch tower while Danny's distracted. The Justice League and Justice League Dark are now fighting against an unknown threat.
âThis really reminds me of that one game with the animatronics,â Superman said idly. He dodged a fanged bite from a large teddy bear monster. âThe one with the bear and the purple bunny and the chicken?â
Shazam turned his head to look at him weirdly as he wrestled with a pink unicorn creature that had writhing tentacles. âYou know what Five Nights at Freddyâs is?â
Superman beamed at him. âI do! My son plays! How do you know what it is? Do you play?â
Shazam froze in horror for a second before he then blurted out, âBehind you!â
Superman was quickly distracted and Shazam breathed a sigh in relief. Batman stared at them both in exasperation from behind as he was protected by the trio of Wonder Woman, Zatanna, and Constantine while he was trying his best to contact Oracle for backup.
However, his attempts were useless and he was clearly getting frustrated with the computer while everyone else were fighting against the monsters.
âBatman! Are you able to call for backup? Another magic user would be best!â Zatanna said as she and Constantine worked together to drive back a horde of cat plushies with shark-like mouths.
He cursed and tapped furiously at his keyboard. âI canât get a message out! Something is blocking the signal!â
His screen suddenly glitched and maniacal laughter came from inside.
"Muahahaha! None of you shall prevail, not even Phantom! For I, Technus, will take over the world!"
Batman froze and without hesitation, turned on self-destruct mode before throwing away the device just as it exploded, conveniently right into the face of a fluffy chicken creature.
He stood up and prepared his batarangs to help his fellow heroes.
Wonder Woman glanced at him as she cut through another horde of increasingly creepy plushie creatures. "No backup, I'm assuming? Is there any good news?"
"Only that the person hacking into our systems is named Technus, he can somehow get through multiple systems created by computer geniuses like Oracle, and that there's someone named Phantom that is likely to help us."
Constantine sighed. "At least it's a start."
In another city, three teens were being heavily scolded by a young woman as all four of them herded the flock of stuffed animal monsters into a thermos.
"This is why you don't use your powers for revenge! I'm so disappointed in all of you! You better fix this immediately! If I see any of this get into the news and endanger all of us, you're going to be in big trouble!" Jazz screamed.
Sam, Tucker, and Danny looked at each other mournfully, already knowing it was futile, since the monsters multipled quickly.
What if the Lazarus pits don't actually bring you back. Its just Danny shoving your soul back in when you try to enter the realms because he is NOT going to deal with you for the rest of eternity. You better get you ASS outof his house. He is too tired to have random weirdos galavating around here. He would no dought have a bone to pick with hero in particular trying to enter because "I wasn't allowed to quit when I wanted to so neither can you. Get back out there!"
If he really doesn't like you he will put a death ward on you so you can't even get to the pit before being revived. You would just assume you are blessed or some shit but in reality death hates you. Like really hates you. Everyone equally is hated.
The Lazarus pits open into the realms through a closet in Dannyâs haunt. He does not understand why these random people keep interrupting his peace and quiet, but they can go back into the closet and heâll deal with it later. Except every time he goes to deal with it the spirit is gone because he doesnât realize heâs shoving the soul back into the land of the living because he doesnât realize a portal opens in his closet for some reason.
Tactile Telekinesis is a little rare, and as such Kon only rarely gets to pit his own against someone elses.
So he's pretty sure the only reason he's winning right now is because of his years of experience with using TTK in general, and his...opponent, for lack of a better word, hasn't used his own that much.
He's also trying to pretend like he isn't currently in a telekinetic arm wrestling match with the kid, because the kid is currently having a panic attack and unaware that he's trying to crush everything and everyone around them.
That's what Kon's straining against.
He's overlapping all surrounding objects and people with his own TTK, so that he can push against this kid's TTK that's trying to hurt them.
The kid, a white haired glowy boy in a jumpsuit, is curled into a ball on the ground of an alleyway and starting to dissociate.
Kon thinks hard.
The only reason he, himself, would freak out and subconsciously try to destroy everything around him would be if...he'd been caught? Chased?
If he thought whatever was around him was a danger, and he wasn't in his right mind, then naturally he'd just try to destroy it.
He already did something similar, once, in LA; with all the guns in the city exploding and stuff.
So then; this kid had probably been being chased, started having the panic attack, hunkered down, gotten the attention of the people who had flagged Kon down, and whoever was chasing him...honestly?
They're probably watching. Just waiting for a moment to swoop in and...do whatever to the kid.
The kid's gonna have to come with him.
He just uh. Needs to distract him. Snap him out of it.
Then he'll be safe to move.
"Hey. Hey, kid?"
No response.
Fuck.
Kon sighs and rests his head on his fist for a second, calming himself down.
"You ever had malasadas?" He finally asks.
The kid doesn't say anything, but his eyes flick over to Kon.
"There's a few restaurant chains stateside that serve 'em, but there's nothin' like gettin' 'em from a hole in the wall and eatin' on the beach."
"...What...?" The kid whispers, voice shaky and soft.
"Do you wanna go to Hawaii?" Kon asks, hyper-aware of the odd ones out in the small crowd watching them.
The ones in white suits, with hidden weapons so alien he's not willing to attempt to dismantle them with the TTK he's using to hold those freaks in place.
The kid's stalkers.
The idiots who'd almost made a kid kill a bunch of innocents out of fear.
There's more of them, way more, with more of those strange weapons, slowly coming in from both sides of the street.
Kon's not about to get into a fight with unknowns using unknown weapons. Not when there's civilians at risk, not when some kid's life is on the line.
He'll come back for them later.
"...Yeah?" The kid sniffs, his TTK slowly fizzing out from trying to destroy everything around them.
"Permission was given, and now..." Kon breathes deep, slowly standing up and helping the kid to his feet. "...We go! We go now! Cheese it, dude!"
The kid flinches at the shouting, but is so startled that he doesn't resist when Kon sweeps him up and takes to the air. Below them, the dudes in white suits are shouting and aiming those weird weapons, but Kon's gone faster than they can pull their triggers.
First, he's gonna get this kid some masalas and let him unwind on one of O'ahu's many beaches.
Second, he's gonna get answers about who those Mr. Clean fans were.
Third, he's gonna set the kid up at a hotel in Honolulu while he goes and kicks a few asses.
Wally West is sacrificed to summon the Ghost King.
They cut him up, use his blood for the sigil, and have him bound in the middle of it.
But instead of the Ghost King, Wally gets a freaking out teenager who is trying his best.
Danny, meanwhile, was in the middle of taking an English test when he was ripped from the classroom and into some weird secret base. Good news, there's no way Lancer can get mad at him for this. Bad news, he's in human form and there's a hero bleeding out.
I'm so intrigued by this because Danny does *not* know how to do first aid on a Regular Human Person(tm), but also he doesn't know that Wally West ISNT a regular human person.
Like, Danny doesn't have a pulse, so is Wally's pulse of 275 BPM slow, fast, or regular ? Is the amount of blood worrisome or deadly?
Meanwhile all the people outside the sigil are trying to get his attention and he's just like, "Shut UP, howwww do you stop bleeding in a human person?"
Wally was trying his best to breathe through the pain. The many sadistic slices over his chest, arms, legs, and back make it really hard. The cultists were chanting something and all Wally can think of for some reason is a shitty YoTube video that had a song made of gibberish and actual language smashed together with maracas and piano in the background.
He really hopes that stupid song won't be the last thing he thinks about.
The drugs they got him with must've been pretty damn potent. He can barely feel his fingers and toes. Everything feels muted and slow, he wonders if this is dying.
The green glow of the candles flare brighter and Wally closes his eyes to the bright light. Hopefully Barry or someone will come soon. A sudden yelp makes him open his eyes again.
A kid. Probably 16, black hair, blue eyes, Wayne adoption bait, whispers through his mind. Also, terrified. He's yelling something, Wally tries to focus. Oh, ouch. He's pressing on the bigger wound on his right arm. Huh, his head flopped to look at his arm. Thats... a lot of blood.
"Are humans supposed to bleed this much?" Finally registered and Wally has to stifle a giggle. No probably not.
The kid frowned. Huh, maybe he said that aloud. "What are normal human people's heart rates supposed to be? Because I think they're supposed to sit like around 200bpm? And yours is like 275 right now?" Wally slowly glances down at his very obvious hero outfit, which while yes was cut up and covered in blood, was still a hero outfit.
"Do y'not know who I am?" He slurred as his vision started to waver on the edges.
"Uhhh. No? Should I? Are you like famous or something?" He muttered. Wally felt cool air like a winter breeze wash over his arm, the boy moves to another wound and Wally can see what looks like ice bandages slowly stopping the bleeding.
"M'kid Fl'sh " He muttered petulant. "Right right, of course you are. And that cleared everything up." The kid said, clearly not knowing who he was.
Everything blurred. Muffled voices, yelling, flashes of light and smoke.
Ok, but this means the rescue crew? Gonna arrive to see Danny doing his bestâą to stop the bleeding. Probably by taking his shirt off and using to staunch the wound. He's seen that on TV. All the movies can't be wrong! Right? And trying to keep Wally awake.
So Flash comes in and sees several things in quick succession. Cultists surrounding a glowing circle. Trying to get the attention of the teenage boy. The teen boy who is clearly panicking. Covered in worrying scars. The teen who is giving very basic first aid to Wally while trying to calm down. Ok.
First things first take down the cultists.
Then shall in medical and JLD backup. he
Then see if he can pass things into the circle.
Things like a first aid kit and energy bar for Wally.
Now he needs to try and talk down the panicked teen and figure out what the fuck is happening.
All while suppressing his own worry about is nephew who is stuck in a magic circle with a scarred teen. Oh, while he's bleeding a worrying amount.
Danny will be the first to admit, he's kinda really panicking here. He doesn't really know anymore what's normal for living people. Nor what totally human people can handle. Sam, Tucker, and Jazz never get hurt like this. It's always him. It's easier when it's him. Better. He's more resilient anyway.
And some small part of him wonders if this is, like, technically his fault. Just like the ghosts and the portal and the hunters and.. It's just, the cult dudes wouldn't have done this to the other guy if they weren't trying to summon the new Ghost King. There'd be no knew Ghost King if Danny hadn't fought Pariah. He'd never have needed to fight Pariah if he hadn't touched the stupid sword or left Vlad free to carry out his stupid schemes or if he'd just died correctly in the first pl-
Okay, Danny will freely admit he's panicking a bit. If anyone should be freaking out right now, it's this dude. Kid Flash. Whatever that's supposed to mean. These cult guys basically tortured the dude, trying to force him close enough to becoming a ghost to open a portal to drag Danny here because there's a new Ghost King and everyone wants to try to earn his favor or bind him to their will or
If anyone has the right to be freaking out right now, it's the tortured guy. He's so human. So alive. He thrums with the energy of the living in a way Danny has never felt before. It zings across Danny's ghostly sense in a way that screams 'Alive! Mortal! Human! ALIVE!' And Danny really doesn't know what's normal for living people anymore.
Is his heart beating 'I'm scared and in pain' too fast or 'It's about to give out' too fast? Are these cuts bandage deep or sutures deep? Is the red all over the floor and their clothes and his hands- is this juice and sleep blood loss or hospitals and transfusions blood loss?
The guy is too out of it to even try to ask. Actually, he might have passed out. Is that bad? Of course Danny passes out all the time from fights and pain and injuries. But that's part of how ghosts heal. Are livings supposed to do that or is it a sign Kid Flash is dying faster then Danny can stop freaking out and help him?
Ancients, why didn't Danny pay more attention in Tetslaff's Health Class. He should have known that information would be more important than napping or trying to catch up on other assignments or whatever he'd been doing. All that noise on the other side of the summoning circle is not helping Danny organize his thoughts. Yelling and demands and movement and Danny wants it to stop. He needs it to stop. He needs it to be quiet and still and he needs to think and he needs, he needs
A first aid kit slides into the summoning circle. Danny doesn't know where it came from or why. Some part of him notices the change in activity outside of the circle, the red blur and cultists disappearing and attention shifting from him and the tortured guy to said red blur. But most of Danny is still preoccupied and latches immediately onto the first aid kit. Because for all that Danny doesn't know what's normal for living people anymore, this at least is familiar. Hours and hours and hours tucked away in bathrooms or closets putting himself back together after fights lets muscle memory take over. It's a little bit different on someone else than on himself, but it's close enough that Danny calms down and gets to work.
.
As soon as Barry gets a first aid kit to him, the kid's whole demeanor changes. Like a switch, panic turns to calm, confusion to efficient certainty. Barry spares a nanosecond to watch and feel concerned how fast and easy the kid takes to the task. Then another to worry a bit about Wally. But Wally passed out, which means his body should have slowed back down to objective time to preserve itself. He'll be okay while Barry cleans house. Plus, now that he has better than a ratty old t-shirt in his hands, the other kid seems to know what he's doing. Barry spares one more nanosecond to worry about that and how the other kid got here and how he got so many scars and
Plenty of time to worry about and help the kids later. First off, these cultists are still making a big fuss. Flash gets to work.
Tim only knew a few things about Danny. He liked space and astrophysics. He hated Christmas for some reason. Liked 90s video games. Knew alot about the occult. And he didn't talk about his past.
Tim knew when to stop pushing. Danny was too useful of a contact to risk right now. He especially was good for buying gear from. The gear was good quality. Only Danny could get Tim access to cyro bombs better then Mr.Freeze's and make a wide range of non-lethal weapons. As of now Tim didn't dig too deep and what he had dug up were all dead ends.
That is until...well Tim caught Danny shirtless. Danmy was in the middle of a forging something when he existed his workshop to cool off. He had taken off his blacksmith apron and long-sleeved shirt to reveal a series of lines across his body. Each dotted line segmented his body like...like a butchers meat cut chart.
A line for each place to cut. Down his chest weren't just lines they were scars.
"Red? You're here early. Come for your order?" Danny asked cracking his back
"I didn't know you had tats."
ââŠthese?â Danny sighed as he looked at his wrist and the line that separated his hand from his forearm. He rolled it slightly, as if checking the seam of a glove.
Tim didnât answer right away. His brain had stalled somewhere between "thatâs a scar under those" and "that tooks deliberate".
âWhere did you get that scar?â Tim asked carefully.
Danny snorted, a short sound with no humor in it. âA bad idea someone else had about me.â He reached for a towel hanging near the doorway and wiped the sweat from his neck. Across the dotted line that separated his neck from his body, âYou ever see old schematics for industrial machinery? How everythingâs labeled so it can be taken apart and put back together?â
Tim swallowed. âYeah.â
âSame concept,â Danny said. He glanced at Tim then, really looked at him, sharp blue eyes gauging distance and threat levels. âJust⊠applied to the wrong thing.â
The forge crackled behind them, metal ticking as it cooled. The air smelled like ozone and hot iron. Danny pulled the towel over his shoulder and started back toward the workshop like the conversation was already over.
Tim didnât follow. âBut where did you get them?â
Danny paused at the threshold. His shoulders tightened.
âThey where a parting girft,â he said quietly.
That got Tim moving.
âYou donât have to tell me,â Tim said quickly, meaning it. âI just...those arenât normal scars.â
Danny barked a laugh at that. âYouâd be surprised what people are willing to do when they want answers.â
Tim leaned against a workbench, keeping his hands visible. âAnswers to what?â
Danny didnât turn around. He picked up a half-finished device from the tableâsleek, compact, unmistakably one of Timâs orders. His fingers were steady now, practiced, because this was safer ground.
âHow to take something apart,â Danny said. âHow to put it back wrong on purpose. How to make sure it stays dead....and how to keep it around longer.â
The room went very quiet.
Tim exhaled slowly. âThat explains the cryo gear.â
âHarder to design if you donât know exactly what stops a body without⊠ending it.â Danny added.
Timâs mind raced, filing this away, connecting dots. Occult knowledge. Dead ends. Gear no one else could source. Lines that mapped a body like instructions. Must be some sort of undead cult or something.
âYouâre not my enemy, Red,â Danny said at last, finally looking over his shoulder. âIf you were, youâd never have seen these.â
Tim met his gaze. âGood. Because if someone did that to youââ
Dannyâs expression softened, just a little. Tired.
âTheyâre gone,â he said. âMost of them. Thatâs enough.â
He set the device on the counter and slid it toward Tim. âYour orderâs ready. Same price as usual.â
Tim took it, then hesitated. âIf that ever changesâif someone comes backââ
âIâll know what to do,â Danny said. âDonât say anything else.â
The forge flared as Danny turned back to his work, apron already back in place, long sleeves hiding the lines. The moment passed, sealed up like a cooling weld.
"Why butcher cuts?" Tim asked, cutting the tension.
"Because they look metal as hell. Besides if im just a piece of meat to be cut up and dissected, they should at least cut the right pieces.
"So your fine with becoming rump roast?"
"Ribs, flank, and shanks. Im good quality meat." Danny laughed as he examined his work.
"That isn't funny." Tim said sternly before his frown melted into a quivering smile"You meat would be way too tough."
"Ha! I thought you said I was too lean for you. Now you say I have muscle? Wait, till you see the rest of my tats."
"I didn't say that. Waitâhow far do those things go?"
Dead tired except Danny is an idol and Tim is a fan... We all know where this is heading.
After getting kicked out from his parents house on his 16th birthday after they claimed he wasn't smart enough and they won't keep financially supporting failure even though he finally got decent grades. (He's pretty sure kicking your kid out at 16 is illegal but when did his parents ever follow the law?)
So getting freshly kicked out he starts wondering around besides to try and find the city to settle in except some cities don't feel quite right and finds himself leaving and looking around instead. He does odd jobs and the goal is to save enough for college while doing online school except things don't always go to plan.
During one of his odd jobs travels he stumbles upon woman in her late 30s who had the most breathtaking voice he ever heard. It wasn't amber's type of style of pumpkin rock but the more calming hallucinating kind the one that makes you pay attention and sounds absolutely ethereal while having its own beat to it.
It was odd that no one was stopping to listen to her they were acting as if she didn't exist at all which was absurd!
He couldn't help but stay and listen the song was beautifully masked by a soft sweet melody that could put you to sleep with the lyrics a story about failed love and lost dreams. He couldn't help but tear up when the song hit too close to home.
When the woman stopped singing she noticed him and invited him over. He ended up telling her everything he liked about her music every little detail and he could see the woman start tearing up and hugged him.
She introduced herself as melody I'm in spirit that was reincarnated in a human body and sang songs for the living for hundreds of years before a curse was placed on her by a wizard that was payed by a wicked necromancer who wanted her to become a pawn to his game. Ever since then she couldn't sing her songs and eventually the living became restless even though the music industry has grown and such a different variety of songs came out she couldn't help but feel envious toward those singers who sang to their heart's content with crowds hearing their melodies.
She ended up following Danny talking to him seeing as he was the only person who could see and hear her. Melody was sweet lady who often told stories of her youth commenting about how odd Italians reacted to the process of making pizza and pasta. Apparently she once tried to put strawberries in the pizza and candy in the pasta just to see how they tasted in a random home only for the host to get yelled at by her neighbors seriously offended. She slipped away and didn't want to find out
Eventually melody began teaching him how to sing and he loved it singing melodies was something he never thought he would enjoy but singing about the stars their myths and everything he enjoyed was... amazing! Songs often have meanings but it was mostly up to the listener to see how they interpreted those words. How much emotion it can steer inside them it was beautiful to see how music United everyone. Back when he was in Amity park everyone liked music but he didn't think much of it.
But now he loved making people happy sad and enjoyed the meaning of words he would sometimes sing to children or anyone who was willing to listen with a melody watching him with a proud fond smile on her face. Slowly those little interactions became small performances and small performances became a job and eventually that led to something else
Now he was 18 standing on the stage with millions waiting for him. He was really nervous this is the first time he was performing on such a big stage. Everyone was waiting for him cheering his stage name (moon siren) he put on his mask in order to conceal his identity and looked at his mentor and manager in utter anguish as if begging to make the nervousness go away only for them to laugh and walk away... Menaces his manager can't even see melody yet somehow they conspire against him! Blasphemy pure blasphemy!
But he can't keep his fans waiting for so long after all he's been waiting to sing this song all week! He perfected it to the last note it's time for his work to pay off!
.....
Tim will admit the first time he stumbled upon the singer the moon siren had been in red robin gear after a mission with young justice. He was seeing his goodbye to his teammates when he heard the most beautiful voice he ever heard in his life it was soothing and peaceful... He followed the voice and saw it was a black haired teenager with blue eyes singing to a bunch of over-excited toddlers attempting to teach them how to sing as well. Back then he wasn't so well known it wasn't until he started getting popularity that he got his stage name just went by Danny
After he got home he couldn't help but think of the song and slowly falling asleep to it. And it became a habit every time he needed rest he would think of Danny's voice it was just so much easier to rest when he remembered the voice but of course his brain at the time thought this was mind control so he decided to investigate.
... He ended up getting lessons from Danny and may or may not have suggested the name moon siren himself after Danny talked about the stars passionately.... He also may or may not have started finding all his performances in getting tickets to them when he could.... And when the march came out... They just ended up in his room magically
Yeah he liked him a lot so don't blame him as soon as Danny got his first big performance he practically ran to get those tickets seconds after it was announced. He got front row tickets. AND VIP WITH BACKSTAGE PASS He was winning! Listen if other people were allowed to be obsessed with their favorite celebrity then Tim was allowed to be obsessed with this guy's voice and his luck was pretty good!
only for Bruce to suggest going to the concert as a family... He needed to pretend he wasn't going... Well there goes the outfit he just prepared for the concert but that's fine he can hide in plain clothes! But he wanted Danny to notice him beforehand.... He has an Idea
.....
The concert the waynes went through the crowd of people not even staring at them to focused on the main course that is moon siren their songs were good calming even the family decided to take this chance as a way to relax and enjoy some good music. Damian in particular was a really big fan according to him the songs were practically masterpieces and was super excited to go to the concert. Damian was shoving the family for them to get to their spots as quickly as possible.
the family was having a good time until Jason thought he saw a familiar face in the crowd he looked only for the person to walk away he didn't think much of it but found it quite odd.
It wasn't until they got backstage that they saw it... Tim in full dark and mysterious bodyguard fanfiction outfit carrying the singer who was unconscious in his arms...
Dick: tim....
Tim: IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE I SWEAR
Damian: drake why are you carrying the moon siren in your arms.
Steph: yeah Tim WHY are you here wearing that outfit with the singer in your arms
Jason: are you trying to seduce the singer because kidnapping him only works in books not.real.life
Bruce: put the boy down Tim get him back
Tim: NO! I AM NOT LETTING YOU TAKE MY MOON GOD FIANCE AWAY GOODBYE!
God danny taking pics at the gala and tim just being enthralled by him while danny is completely oblivious to the fact that this is his birdie
When Danny reaches the podium, he realizes he doesn't have a speech ready. He doesn't even have a topic on what he should be speaking about. He barely knows what kind of art this charity funds.
Is it painting? The theater? Writers? Digital? Music? Who knows, not Danny. He just knows that it was for kids.
He is also still holding Ryan's hand, so the other man is forced to walk up with him. He didn't mean to cling to the overwhelmed ex-waiter, but Danny was really nervous right now, and he forgot his strength when holding on. So, despite Ryan's few frantic tugs, Danny's trembling fingers locked his plam in an iron cage.
A sea of faces is aimed at them, people who make thousands a day, waiting for Danny to open his mouth and deliver a speech on a donation that he supposedly made.
In the front row, Danny can spot Oliver Green and Bruce Wayne, who each recently gave five million to the art programs. Danny knows this because there was a joke online that the two were trying to outdo each other. It was a game to them, yet somehow, Danny Fenton is the name that appears with the most money donated.
The bright spotlight is blinding, to the point that Danny feels like he is going to sweat through his suit.
How much did Lady Gotham donate?
Rayn nervously shifts on his feet, his hand also starting to get sweaty in Danny's hold. He gives the other man what he hopes is a comforting smile and only receives a bewildered, nervous grimace in turn. Danny wishes he could offer to comfort him, but with the very little Gala training he has from the Ghost Nobility Meeting, he knows he can't afford it.
He turns to the crowd, leaning towards the mic with a crooked smile. Danny swears that whenever he had to uphold the duties of his title, it felt like the transformation of Phantom overtaking his body, covering every inch until the uncool nerdy Fenton was gone. All that remains is the High King Phantom.
"Good evening. I am Danny Fenton, and I just want to thank Mr. Wayne for organizing such an important event for the arts. What is art? Art is everywhere- the melodies of our music, the design of our clothes, and the wonder in our stories, movies, plays, and books. Even the shelter of our homes has art. It's proof of humanity, for it was the first way humans ever recorded their existence, and we used it to change our reality."
He smiles at the crows, using one hand to gracefully gesture to the ceiling that Mr. Wayne's family has tastefully decorated with wood carvings. "It's this wonder that we are now offering to our youths so that they may one day look up at a similar world and fine the wonder in it"
He has no idea what he's going on about. Public speaking has never been his strong suit, but thankfully, he has enough regal to make it appear he does.
Danny's articulation has smoothed out, turning each word into a hypnotic, soothing rumble that washes over the party. He knows it's working because the people's expressions have now shifted, looking both surprised and captivated as more and more phrases fall from Danny's tongue.
If you were to ask him how he knows this, well, he would mention that Sam had once taken a video of him while he was practicing his King's address, and he had been stupefied that Phantom had always sounded so confident, sass, and in control. He never raised his voice, but his words were sharper, and an accent from the high class appeared in his tone.
It had been enough to make Phantom look like a King since the start of the human race, and Danny was grateful that, like invisibility, it could pass along to his human side without a full transformation.
It felt like an out-of-body experienceâhe knew he was speaking, he could see the absolutely enthralled audience, and he could even feel Ryan's hand and the heat of the light, but for the life of him, Danny could not understand what he was saying.
If this was a movie, it would be the montage of a slow pan over the people, dramatic, inspirational music playing in the background to draw out whatever he was saying, and only the visible of Danny dramatically talking, but not actual speech was heard.
It was Lady Gotham. She had taken over his body and set it to autopilot. He knew because Clockwork had once done it to him when Danny was unsure about the move to Gotham.
At least she stepped in when he needed her the most.
"Thank you for your time," Danny finishes, feeling Phantom's confidence melt away as the roaring round of applause echoes through the ballroom. Slowly, he feels the control of his limbs return to him as he pushes away from the podium.
"Wow," Ryan gasps, staring at him with wide shining eyes. He looks like his breath has collapsed in his lungs. Danny feels his face heat up as the handsome man continues to stare. "That was the most beautiful speech I've ever heard. You're... incredible."
"Nah, man, I just really like...the arts." He fumbles. "Like taking photos 'cause I have...a camera." Danny shutters, gesturing to the thing hanging around his neck. "It got lens and everything."
Ryan blinks at him. "Are you nervous?"
"Yeah"
"Why? You just gave the most impressive inspirational speech I've ever heard."
"It's because you're hot and you're talking to me, and I'm not good with people," Danny tells him honestly, dropping Ryan's hand to rub at his neck. I also really want to take the Waynes' photos and be gone, back to the streets."
Ryan laughs, throwing his whole head back and trying to cover his mouth with his hand. Danny's eyes widened, utterly shocked by how bright he seemed now. "You, Danny Fenton, are the strangest man I have ever met, and I've only known you for an hour!"
Danny's face turns hotter. "Yeah...I ugh...I get that a lot."
There is a moment of silence, during which the clicking of people's wine glasses and the slow mutter of voices wash over them. Ryan considers him with a critical eye before he holds out his hand once more. "Do you care for a dance?"
"Dance? With me?" Danny repeats, but at Ryan's answering smile, he feels himself melt. Retaking the hand, he held through the long speech, Danny grins, "I love to. But only one song. I have to find the Waynes afterward."
"Why?"
"I'm on a job, actually. My client hired me to take photos of them."
"That's an odd request," Ryan comments, bringing Danny in close to sway to the music that plays. Danny shrugs his shoulders, carefully following the steps Princess Dora had taught him.
Across the hall, Jason is watching the pair with intensity. Tim can understand the urge to figure out the new player because he knows who Danny Fenton is and where on earth he had hidden his wealth until this sudden splash.
However, that was mostly due to Tim's upbringing and current CEO job. What made Jason so focused on him? His brother usually never even blinked on any new money or old money.
He thought them too annoying and only came to galas to keep the civilian image up.
"Something on your mind, Jay?" He asks quietly, leaning on the wall and sipping his sparkling water.
"That's Ryan Aetos. One of my...employees."
Ah, a Red Hood Goon.
That could mean two things: Aetos needed more money for whatever reason and took a legitimate part-time job when not making rounds with the rest of the gang, or he was going rogue and planning on betraying Jason.
He was going to break one of Jason's rules, likely where they don't target the crazy rich because the crazy rich could buy the law and bring down it's wrath until the gang's territory.
In Tim's experience, it was seldom the first option.
"Do you think he'll do something?"
"I don't know. He seemed genuine when he spoke about his sick sister- she's why he's been trying to make a quick buck to pay for her medical bills- but he also has a reputation."
"What kind of reputation?"
"Manipulating and one hell of a Romance scammer." Jason grunts. "I've seen him trick three people into funding his lifestyle by batting his eyelashes. I've let him be since he never targeted anyone who didn't deserve it, and it was one less corner boy I had to worry about. But if he's pulling that now on Fenton...."
"Then Fenton may not react very well when he finds out. And we don't have enough information on him to know what he would do to Aetos." Tim finishes turning now to also observe the couple. Fenton is a flustered mess, seeming to be rambling and far too interested in the man wearing the waiter outfit.
Aetos, for his part, is smiling down at him with a content little grin and an adoring expression. It's hard to say if it's an honest one, though, because whenever Fenton glances away, hunger bleeds into Aeto's face.
Is the hunger of a man attracted to another man?
Or the hunger of a man attracted to greed?
Crude.
"What's your call?" He asks Jason since it is his employee. Betrayal or not, Jason has always cared deeply for those he considered his, including the men and women in his gang.
Jason watches for three more songs in silence before sighing. "Separate them. I'll take Ryan and see if I can figure out his plan. You find out more about Fenton. Maybe it is just New Money falling in love with a man down on his luck who's trying to care for his little sister."
"Sounds like a Hallmark movie," Tim jokes, pushing away from the wall. "I've always hated how cliche those movies are"
If Ryan ever finds out that Danny isn't as human as he seems, he's going to be playing "I Fucked Cthulhu" on repeat as his theme song.
At this point, Ryan doesn't know Danny has money. He thinks Danny was hired for a charity event and is there to take a picture of the Wayne's.
I can imagine Danny accidentally giving him a blessing, because he was the first person who was kind to him that day. Or maybe say if Ryan ever needs anything, Danny will try to help. As long as no one gets hurt. But all he's really good for is photos. But he knows a lot of people who he can ask favors from as well!
Ryan snorts.
"Unless you know a doctor who works for free, and will take terminal patients, I don't think I'd need to ask for help." Since he still doesn't know Danny is rich.
"Oh! I have just the guy! As long as you're alright with said doctor not being human? He helped me out when I had no one, and he loves helping others."
Frost Bite is completely happy to help Ryan's sister and let's Ryan visit the Far Frozen to see his sister. She's able to go back to the human world in a week.
Ryan is now dedicated to learning magic because he thinks Danny is a magician/sorcerer or is at least friends with magical beings.
God danny taking pics at the gala and tim just being enthralled by him while danny is completely oblivious to the fact that this is his birdie
When Danny reaches the podium, he realizes he doesn't have a speech ready. He doesn't even have a topic on what he should be speaking about. He barely knows what kind of art this charity funds.
Is it painting? The theater? Writers? Digital? Music? Who knows, not Danny. He just knows that it was for kids.
He is also still holding Ryan's hand, so the other man is forced to walk up with him. He didn't mean to cling to the overwhelmed ex-waiter, but Danny was really nervous right now, and he forgot his strength when holding on. So, despite Ryan's few frantic tugs, Danny's trembling fingers locked his plam in an iron cage.
A sea of faces is aimed at them, people who make thousands a day, waiting for Danny to open his mouth and deliver a speech on a donation that he supposedly made.
In the front row, Danny can spot Oliver Green and Bruce Wayne, who each recently gave five million to the art programs. Danny knows this because there was a joke online that the two were trying to outdo each other. It was a game to them, yet somehow, Danny Fenton is the name that appears with the most money donated.
The bright spotlight is blinding, to the point that Danny feels like he is going to sweat through his suit.
How much did Lady Gotham donate?
Rayn nervously shifts on his feet, his hand also starting to get sweaty in Danny's hold. He gives the other man what he hopes is a comforting smile and only receives a bewildered, nervous grimace in turn. Danny wishes he could offer to comfort him, but with the very little Gala training he has from the Ghost Nobility Meeting, he knows he can't afford it.
He turns to the crowd, leaning towards the mic with a crooked smile. Danny swears that whenever he had to uphold the duties of his title, it felt like the transformation of Phantom overtaking his body, covering every inch until the uncool nerdy Fenton was gone. All that remains is the High King Phantom.
"Good evening. I am Danny Fenton, and I just want to thank Mr. Wayne for organizing such an important event for the arts. What is art? Art is everywhere- the melodies of our music, the design of our clothes, and the wonder in our stories, movies, plays, and books. Even the shelter of our homes has art. It's proof of humanity, for it was the first way humans ever recorded their existence, and we used it to change our reality."
He smiles at the crows, using one hand to gracefully gesture to the ceiling that Mr. Wayne's family has tastefully decorated with wood carvings. "It's this wonder that we are now offering to our youths so that they may one day look up at a similar world and fine the wonder in it"
He has no idea what he's going on about. Public speaking has never been his strong suit, but thankfully, he has enough regal to make it appear he does.
Danny's articulation has smoothed out, turning each word into a hypnotic, soothing rumble that washes over the party. He knows it's working because the people's expressions have now shifted, looking both surprised and captivated as more and more phrases fall from Danny's tongue.
If you were to ask him how he knows this, well, he would mention that Sam had once taken a video of him while he was practicing his King's address, and he had been stupefied that Phantom had always sounded so confident, sass, and in control. He never raised his voice, but his words were sharper, and an accent from the high class appeared in his tone.
It had been enough to make Phantom look like a King since the start of the human race, and Danny was grateful that, like invisibility, it could pass along to his human side without a full transformation.
It felt like an out-of-body experienceâhe knew he was speaking, he could see the absolutely enthralled audience, and he could even feel Ryan's hand and the heat of the light, but for the life of him, Danny could not understand what he was saying.
If this was a movie, it would be the montage of a slow pan over the people, dramatic, inspirational music playing in the background to draw out whatever he was saying, and only the visible of Danny dramatically talking, but not actual speech was heard.
It was Lady Gotham. She had taken over his body and set it to autopilot. He knew because Clockwork had once done it to him when Danny was unsure about the move to Gotham.
At least she stepped in when he needed her the most.
"Thank you for your time," Danny finishes, feeling Phantom's confidence melt away as the roaring round of applause echoes through the ballroom. Slowly, he feels the control of his limbs return to him as he pushes away from the podium.
"Wow," Ryan gasps, staring at him with wide shining eyes. He looks like his breath has collapsed in his lungs. Danny feels his face heat up as the handsome man continues to stare. "That was the most beautiful speech I've ever heard. You're... incredible."
"Nah, man, I just really like...the arts." He fumbles. "Like taking photos 'cause I have...a camera." Danny shutters, gesturing to the thing hanging around his neck. "It got lens and everything."
Ryan blinks at him. "Are you nervous?"
"Yeah"
"Why? You just gave the most impressive inspirational speech I've ever heard."
"It's because you're hot and you're talking to me, and I'm not good with people," Danny tells him honestly, dropping Ryan's hand to rub at his neck. I also really want to take the Waynes' photos and be gone, back to the streets."
Ryan laughs, throwing his whole head back and trying to cover his mouth with his hand. Danny's eyes widened, utterly shocked by how bright he seemed now. "You, Danny Fenton, are the strangest man I have ever met, and I've only known you for an hour!"
Danny's face turns hotter. "Yeah...I ugh...I get that a lot."
There is a moment of silence, during which the clicking of people's wine glasses and the slow mutter of voices wash over them. Ryan considers him with a critical eye before he holds out his hand once more. "Do you care for a dance?"
"Dance? With me?" Danny repeats, but at Ryan's answering smile, he feels himself melt. Retaking the hand, he held through the long speech, Danny grins, "I love to. But only one song. I have to find the Waynes afterward."
"Why?"
"I'm on a job, actually. My client hired me to take photos of them."
"That's an odd request," Ryan comments, bringing Danny in close to sway to the music that plays. Danny shrugs his shoulders, carefully following the steps Princess Dora had taught him.
Across the hall, Jason is watching the pair with intensity. Tim can understand the urge to figure out the new player because he knows who Danny Fenton is and where on earth he had hidden his wealth until this sudden splash.
However, that was mostly due to Tim's upbringing and current CEO job. What made Jason so focused on him? His brother usually never even blinked on any new money or old money.
He thought them too annoying and only came to galas to keep the civilian image up.
"Something on your mind, Jay?" He asks quietly, leaning on the wall and sipping his sparkling water.
"That's Ryan Aetos. One of my...employees."
Ah, a Red Hood Goon.
That could mean two things: Aetos needed more money for whatever reason and took a legitimate part-time job when not making rounds with the rest of the gang, or he was going rogue and planning on betraying Jason.
He was going to break one of Jason's rules, likely where they don't target the crazy rich because the crazy rich could buy the law and bring down it's wrath until the gang's territory.
In Tim's experience, it was seldom the first option.
"Do you think he'll do something?"
"I don't know. He seemed genuine when he spoke about his sick sister- she's why he's been trying to make a quick buck to pay for her medical bills- but he also has a reputation."
"What kind of reputation?"
"Manipulating and one hell of a Romance scammer." Jason grunts. "I've seen him trick three people into funding his lifestyle by batting his eyelashes. I've let him be since he never targeted anyone who didn't deserve it, and it was one less corner boy I had to worry about. But if he's pulling that now on Fenton...."
"Then Fenton may not react very well when he finds out. And we don't have enough information on him to know what he would do to Aetos." Tim finishes turning now to also observe the couple. Fenton is a flustered mess, seeming to be rambling and far too interested in the man wearing the waiter outfit.
Aetos, for his part, is smiling down at him with a content little grin and an adoring expression. It's hard to say if it's an honest one, though, because whenever Fenton glances away, hunger bleeds into Aeto's face.
Is the hunger of a man attracted to another man?
Or the hunger of a man attracted to greed?
Crude.
"What's your call?" He asks Jason since it is his employee. Betrayal or not, Jason has always cared deeply for those he considered his, including the men and women in his gang.
Jason watches for three more songs in silence before sighing. "Separate them. I'll take Ryan and see if I can figure out his plan. You find out more about Fenton. Maybe it is just New Money falling in love with a man down on his luck who's trying to care for his little sister."
"Sounds like a Hallmark movie," Tim jokes, pushing away from the wall. "I've always hated how cliche those movies are"
If Ryan ever finds out that Danny isn't as human as he seems, he's going to be playing "I Fucked Cthulhu" on repeat as his theme song.
At this point, Ryan doesn't know Danny has money. He thinks Danny was hired for a charity event and is there to take a picture of the Wayne's.
I can imagine Danny accidentally giving him a blessing, because he was the first person who was kind to him that day. Or maybe say if Ryan ever needs anything, Danny will try to help. As long as no one gets hurt. But all he's really good for is photos. But he knows a lot of people who he can ask favors from as well!
Ryan snorts.
"Unless you know a doctor who works for free, and will take terminal patients, I don't think I'd need to ask for help." Since he still doesn't know Danny is rich.
"Oh! I have just the guy! As long as you're alright with said doctor not being human? He helped me out when I had no one, and he loves helping others."
Frost Bite is completely happy to help Ryan's sister and let's Ryan visit the Far Frozen to see his sister. She's able to go back to the human world in a week.
Ryan is now dedicated to learning magic because he thinks Danny is a magician/sorcerer or is at least friends with magical beings.
Random thought but what if de-aged Danny breaks into Tim's manor and then pre-adoption Tim just goes: "Well, I guess I have a brother now." no questions asked.
How did Danny get de-aged? Probably sum to do with Clockwork, why did he get de-aged? Idk. Why was he placed in Gotham? Clockwork. Why did he break into Tim's manor?
and then danny's hand is at his neck, blood spilling through his fingers, and hes grinning, copper seeping between his lips
and he gurgles a laugh and says 'thats my little brother'
and then hes on his knees
and then hes on the floor
and damian's sword falls from numb fingers
and he cant even scream
cant think
the next thing he knows hes at the lazarus pits
a trail of blood behind him from where he dragged his brothers body
and danny isnt coming up
hes not coming up
why isnt he coming up
all thats left is his sword
and everyone thinks damian did it on purpose
they all knew it would happen eventually, though they thought it would be danyal standing over his brothers body, triumphant
Ra's never needed two heirs
hes not mad at damian
just mildly impressed
didnt think he had it in him
his mother wont show her horror. is she horrified? he cant tell. she becomes more ruthless after that, training him harder than ever, instructing his tutors to offer none of the small mercies he was granted before
(his brother has always protected him. in more ways than one.)
but she remains closer than before. lingers longer. stares harder. her nails dig into his skin, her grip tight tight tight, like she'll never let go
he kneels at the edge of the pits and his brothers blood is cleaned off the floor
theres not a stain left behind
his brothers belongings are cleared away
theres nothing left
theres nothing
only damian
all alone
and then he goes to his father
theres a coup and mother sends him away, drops him off like searing coals and he doesnt know if shes relieved
doesnt know if she blames him
is she taking him to father to protect him or be rid of him
for training or because she cant look at him any longer
damian cant look at himself
he avoids mirrors
and then his father
the one he and danyal wanted to meet
the one who is supposed to be great. worthy of even grandfathers respect
the one who looks at him and tells him 'these are your brothers'
damian does not have brothers
damian killed his brother
damian does not have brothers
he is angry
he is so so angry
at this man who calls him his son
at this man who claims nobodies for children
at these boys who think they can stand in the places his brother his brother his only brother once stood
Sam is a reincarnation of Martha Wayne, and she hates people bringing up that fact. Yes, they have a couple similarities, but she isnât her. Sheâs Sam Manson, not Samantha, and certainly not Martha.
Just because they shared a soul doesnât mean theyâre the same person. Maybe after death their memories will recombine, but for now theyâre entirely separate. Martha is, for all intents and purposes, gone. Only Sam remains, and the connection of their souls is completely irrelevant to her.
So when the Waynes start to act differently around her after learning that information, it starts to really tick her offâŠ
a little Halloween sleepover and accidental discoveries
Sam Tucker and Danny had this tradition of going out for Halloween every year. But this year they decided to stay in and be the ones giving candy having a little sleepover instead.
Though Sam's parents didn't approve of their friendship believing it was beneath Sam's status they couldn't do much about it. They decided to join the kids on the movie marathon as it was also their day off and spending some time with their daughter and her friends wouldn't be that bad.
It started normal. The kids showing their Halloween outfits. Playing a few board games with everyone. Sam attempting to become a cooking witch But ultimately failing (surprisingly enough the Fenton kid was the most skilled one and made some pretty good meatloaf and vegan chili). The parents went to make some popcorn for the movie marathon when they started overhearing the conversation in between the kids.
"come onnnnn phantom admit it which one is your favorite bachelor we freaking know ghost writer put you in a romance novel for halloween!"
"yeah Danny and apparently those people are actually real monsters interested in you!"
"Guys for the life-"
"half a life of you actually"
"yeah yeah anyways stop treating them like love interest we're friends ghost writer just put us in a romance novel like that one time I got trapped in A Christmas story by him"
Tucker raises an eyebrow
"Danny , phantom does a witch who wanted to put a love spell on you for you to be in love with her sound platonic to you?"
"she was lonely and was desperate I just seemed like the safest option to her apparently she said she likes black hair and blue eyes as well as white hair and green eyes it's not her fault I matched the description"
"Danny she and her brother were fighting over you like feral cats her brother literally took you on romantic boat ride last Halloween"
"and we had a lot of fun. We spoke about deep stuff laughed and had a good time is that so suspicious? What do you want to put lucifia and William against each other"
"actually yes let me count the amount of bachelors and what they did that's OBVIOUS they were interested in you. 1 the zombie alex that didn't want your brain but your heart but not to eat it but to hold it and cuddle it. 2 the vampire Mateo who took you on a sky date on a mountain to see the stars while giggling and flirting with each other. 3 the ghost Levi who taught you about ghost culture lovingly in a haunted library while looking for any reason to touch you and be close. 4 the crow lady maranova who took you to the woods and you built crow houses while her birds were unironically claiming you as their father. 5 Klarion do I need to remind you the amount of chaos you two created? Along with the other two that means you have seven bachelors tell me which one is your favorite"
"okay first of all how would you know they like me you barely know them and we barely even met each other how would they like me do you expect me to speed run dating? And to answer your question I don't have a favorite I do have a two best friends though Mateo and William. But I will not hesitate to pick up lucifia and take her to do science things and the others for hangouts as well"
"good to know that the others already lost. wait what about Klarion? Didn't you two get along"
"Sam seriously I'm not interested in anyone not to mention even if I were to date someone it would not be him do you know how disgusting it would be if I aged and he didn't? I may be half ghost but I'm also half human I'll probably stop aging somewhere around adulthood"
"good point but I totally believe that you two should swap costumes it doesn't fit you Danny should have been the witch and Sam should be the grim reaper do I need to remind you that you literally killed Danny a second time for him to become phantom? Danny is a magic boy he gets more magical things than you by accident then you do on purpose and bla bla bla bla-"
Unbeknownst to them Sam's parents were listening to the whole thing learning more than they attended to. Danny was phantom he's half dead half a alive of apparently. Their daughter is the cause of it. And Danny has suitors. And their daughter is a literal witch
So omegaverse superbat, but in a way you donât see often.
Ok so if you havenât ever heard of the work Man of Steel Woman of Tissue, the whole thing is an argument that realistically a human wouldnât be able to survive having a kryptonian baby. But that got me thinking what if Superman was the omega instead. It solves that issue and also there is very little chance of overpowering a kryptonian so if he ever did do it it would most likely be consensual, which takes care of another less savory trope.
But what if we make it so kryptonians had dynamics but humans are normal. So the fact that Clark can get pregnant is a surprise. Heck you could have so that Clark doesnât get the information packet unlocked from the ship that brought him until he is an adult and by then he was surprised by a baby too. Though that could be a tough one to write. Eh what ever you want. What do you think of each possible scenario?
I've been thinking about Dominant Omega Clark for a bit but I'm not actually sure how I'd do it. It's only recently I've really thought super hard about omegaverse particulars.
There's this loose idea of the Omega being the equivalent of an Ant or Bee Queen in the dynamics I've been mentally toying with.
Hell. I'll see if I can summon some help here.
@nigaki
@gaddaboutgriffon
@occasionalauthoring
Sorry about the tag. I'm a little out of my depth with this one.
I think the most interesting aspect would probably be the stress of hiding his more alien behaviors and biology. Could probably pull some body dismorphia equivalence in there?
Omegaverse is a very flexible game. So it all depends on internally consistent worldbuilding unfortunately.
Oh I remember the post where Kryptonians developed almost a ant hive like society due to some sort of catastrophe in its past making natural children more difficult and leading to packs and eventually using cloning tech to keep the population stable. Misplaced the link though. Still we can definitely build on that.
Ok so letâs start with kryptonâs past and go from there. In most iterations Kryptonians had a history of genetic engineering. Trying to improve themselves or whatever idiot ideology bs they used to excuse it. Letâs have it so that almost caused a near extinction due to the genetic tampering caused mass infertility. but what saved them was discovering some remote hidden pack animal species that were hermaphoditical in nature. (Meaning the creatures had both male and female reproductive organs) and they used dna from those to try fixing the fertility issue. It sort of works in that it adds secondary genders and what they classify as alphas and omegas are super fertile and easily can have as many as 20 children in a lifetime, problem is about 50% turn out as what will be called betas with the really low fertility or sterile. They figure that will breed out eventually. (I love the trope that it is kryptonian nature to essentially fly too close to the sun and destroy themselves. And why it is a good thing Clark/Kal was raised as a humble farm boy.)
Fast forward a few thousand years and packs have firmly engrained into the culture. The packs form around the omega who rules with matriarchal power and the rest of the pack supports. But now they have figured out a way to mine fuel from their own star. Chasing it to more rapidly age and change color. This exasperates the firtility issue once again but now the technology has advanced to the point they can create artificial cloning and growth chambers. This leads to only the wealthy being able to have homes that simulate their old yellow star light to still have children naturally and the rest are grown in genesis chambers and society becomes much more of a role based caste system.
It is nearly five hundred years after that when we get to Jor-Elâs time and he notices how dangerously close to collapse their red sun is. His first plan is to send a small crew or even one person in a space ship to find a suitable planet and a phantom zone projector and the rest of the people evacuated into the phantom zone since nothing can age in there. The plan is rejected by the ruling council. Jor-El secretly believes they would rather watch everyone die then run the risk of loosing power since a a younger star would mean that they could loose their grip on controlling the population through the artificial cloning. So he creates a new plan and has his home modified so he and his wife can have a natural child and send them to a new world with all the information he can record and a few select people who believed him voluntarily going into hiding in the phantom zone. Those volunteers try to stage a coup as a distraction so Jor-El can long the little space ship he secretly created. They are all captured as they expected and sentenced to the phantom zone as punishment for treason, but they believe it was a success since they were later hearing the guards talking about how a object had cleared the atmosphere and went into deep space. What they didnât know is that a weapon was fired at it and clipped the tail of the craft. That cussed issues when Karlâs little ship came out of hyperspace near earth. The emergency escape pod protocol kicked in jettisoning the smaller pod which then landed safely in a farm field in Kansas. But the rest of the ship veered off course and ended up crashing into the frozen arctic.
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Alright that is enough set up to the backstory. While I am a science nerd at heart social nuance ïżŒoften escapes me. So for the idea of Clark having to grow up hiding his more Alien biology traits of being an omega I will pass this on to @confusedshades who loves the more psychological side of things and @kizzer55555 who is good at piecing the science and social sides together.
First off, can I just say I adore the hidden lore of Zod actually working together with Jor-El to save their people? Thereâs probably a whole section of how Kal-El can release the âprisonersâ of the phantom zone and how they are actually good people.
Now, I want to go into detail about what growing up as a hermaohrodite probably felt like for Clark. For one thing, his parents probably dodged a bullet on accident. They likely couldnât take him to see a doctor due to having to hide his powers like flight or extra hard skin, so most visits were probably minor checkups or with someone they trusted. Maybe even having to learn medical things personally and only deciding to take him to a doctor if he got sick or injured (that luckily never happened due to his tough Kryptonian physique.) If they had taken him to a doctors his alien biology would have immediately been identified and shown Clark wasnât human. And since humans can usually tell what gender a kid is based on visible âequipmentâ, they likely took one look at him and believed he was a boy. That is, until late puberty when suddenly Clark got really really âsickâ. They finally took him to a doctor who identified Clarkâs other âpartsâ such as a womb. Luckily, they assumed that Clark was just trans and treated him as such. Attributing any other masculine features like an adamâs apple or reproduction parts as something from surgeries or Testosterone (although they DID have a conversation with Ma and Pa Kent about potential risks of taking those procedures so young). The couple thanked the doctor and left. Then sat Clark down and had a very long conversation on gender identity and if Clark felt more like a boy or girl. (They were afraid they might have misgendered him on accident). But Clark still felt pretty comfortable referring to himself as a he. Although now any time they go to the doctors, they treat it as if he was born in a girlâs body so he can get the proper care. And Ma Kent then sits him down for âthe talkâ which Clark was pretty uncomfortable with. However later they learn that he doesnât have periods and instead this bout if âsicknessâ that he gets 4 times a year like clockwork instead. Ma and Pa Kent are out of their depth but they try to keep him comfortable, learn on the go about ânestsâ when Clark collects clothes and instinctively builds them, and other instincts such as being overly affectionate during those times until eventually, theyâve got a system whenever it happens. And they usually schedule time off work or school in advance once they can predict the patterns (they donât know itâs called a heat so theyâve been referring to them as alien periods). They made certain Clark could deal with these things on his own before he moved out though. It was the thing they were most worried about when he left (besides the powers). Clark gets âweakâ during these times but itâs only weak compared to his normal strength. He still has above average for a human. Is anything, Clark loves his alien periods because he can hug his parents with all his strength and not worry about crushing them.
Anyways, back to Clark using the term trans to describe his biology as it is the closest definition. A part of him felt like he was pretending whenever someone found out about his biology. Like Luther might be super supportive of his âtransâ friend. But part of Clark still feels like heâs lying to them. Is it body dysphoria if you feel like you are âfaking â being trans? From what I know, Clark has a pretty supportive group of friends and family so he wouldnât be worried about being misgendered even if they found out. Plus his very muscular physique makes it hard for strangers to misgender him in public. Heâd only have to worry if some strangers somehow somehow found out or overheard about him being âtransâ and made it their problem but even then, Clark doesnât really care. If anything heâd feel like the word trans is whatâs being misgendered. Kinda like how some people donât like being called âheâ OR âherâ and prefer using âthey/themâ pronouns. Sure âtransâ is an easy excuse for what he is and to help with medical care but itâs not the right word. It doesnât truly describe him and thatâs what he has a problem with. His family has figured out that this has something to do with his Kryptonian biology, same with his justice league teammates, but itâs not until he finds his ship and learns the term âomegaâ that it suddenly feels right.
How this world probably works is since Krypyonians decided to mix and match DNA with their own, there were variations. Kinda like how all humans have hair and you can have blonde or brown hair as both a girl and boy because you inherited that gene. Secondary genders are just whether someone inherited the hermaphrodite gene (H gene) and can therefore have the necessary parts. (Like imagine if all blondes were omegas, black and ginger haired were alphas, and brunets were betas. What secondary genders would that make you?)
Alpha male - one of the âsuccessfulâ or âcuredâ kryptonians using the H gene. Able to sire children.
Alpha female - inherited H gene and therefore, both parts. Able to sire and carry children. Physically look more feminine.
Beta - inherited original Kryptonian biology and either infertile or unlickley to have kids. (Possible chance of being a stronger worrier though since they have more of the original tampered genes when society was focused more on power).
Omega male - inherited H gene and contains both reproductive parts. Able to both sire and carry children. Visibly looks more masculine.
Omega female - one of the âsuccessfulâ or âcuredâ Kryptonian using the H gene. Able to carry children.
As for the universe, I think this should be young justice just because thereâs so much potential. Not just for Zod and those in the phantom zone but for cloning. I mean think about it, Connor feels like heâs not a real person. That cloning didnât make him real, only to find out that over HALF of ACTUAL Kryptonians were clones. That it was a part of their society and culture and completely normal to be accepted as a person.
And thereâs a sort of disconnect between him and Superman but not like in canon. I feel like Clarkâs opinions would be waring with his instincts. Itâs not the cloning and âviolation of his anatomyâ he has a problem with but more because a part of his instincts immediately latch onto this kid as HIS. Itâs his omega instincts smelling his sent on him and going yes, this is my pup, this is my kin, I would do anything to protect him. And while Clark has dealt with omega instincts before and their clingyness, heâs always had to develop a relationship first before his instincts latched into someone (another reason he canât completely hate Luther since heâs a friend.) But heâs never felt that sudden attraction and MINE feeling upon first meeting someone. He didnât even know the kid was his clone or who the heck he was before his instincts flared up for this stranger. It was unsettling. And that feeling of sudden attachment without knowing why he was reacting this way made him extremely wary of Connor. I mean if you canât even trust your own body, youâd be afraid too right? (It was his omega instinctively sensing Connor had his DNA. That claim was pretty common if an omega had a clone child. But Clark didnât know that. Had no one to explain things to him.) Even worse because I think Iâll make Connor an alpha in this. Which means he doesnât have both parts. So despite being Clarkâs clone, he still canât connect with the kid as someone else like him. As someone who struggles with different anatomy. Heâd either think Conner took more after his human father or something else happened. But it would just be another disconnect between him and Conner since until then, he was under the impression all Kryptonians probably had both parts. Itâs not like he had anyone to compare his knowledge to. But Connor being an alpha would come with his own sets of instincts. And he would naturally be attracted to Clark as pack only for Clark to be physically unable to reciprocate any pack instincts since neither of them understand whatâs going on or why they feel this way.
I think that things went worse on Krypton than Jor-El thought would happen. I think he assumed there would be some survivors, likely from the upper caste system or nobles. He believed once the star died that there wouldnât be enough time to evacuate everyone, or not enough ships to do so, and the nobles would prioritize their own safety. People went to the Phantom zone as an early evacuation but they were also people who either didnât think they would be allowed on the pods (like lower caste system nobles or even some âpeasantsâ or clones.), people who didnât want to risk their families on the off chance something happened, and some who genuinely hated the caste system and joined the rebellion only to later learn of was for their safety.) But Jor-El still thought there would be survivors. He thought he could send himself or some of his people to earth, the few people who volunteered to stay and help with evacuations. But the higher ups were even more stubborn than they thought. Even when the star was literally falling apart they ordered it to be fixed rather than leaving. Even worse, in order to maintain control they ordered no one to leave the planet on pain of death and had soldiers actually kill any attempts at the pods. When the star got bad enough the planet started collapsing, only then did they try to evacuate, but the people had already been riled up and a real revolt happened. So many people were fighting to get to the pods that it ended up with either the pods destroyed or both sides dying in the conflicts. Clones against clones, peasants against peasants, nobles against nobles, soldiers against nobles, nobles against peasants, soldier vs soldier. It was absolute chaos. No one escaped. No one except those sent to the phantom zone and Kal-El. But even then, Jor-El thought Kal would have someone there. Maybe he thought it would be Kalâs cousin Kara, or one of his people. But he thought his son would be raised by a Kryptonian. He thought all the things like secondary gender and his powers would be explained as he grew up. Thatâs why Jor-El only prioritized urgent messages for things like how to free the people in the phantom zone or the internal struggles and politics of the Kryptonian empire. While other information like history, culture, and biology would be packed to preserve it, but would be deeper in the archives. In a place Clark would have to go digging for.
When Zod is freed from the Phantom zone, he is horrified to learn what has become of Krypton and its people. I think that since he was working with Jor-El, they would have been close friends, like brothers. He grieves for his friend and his family. And he likely wonât try to take over earth since that was never his goal in this universe. Plus, the truth about his captivity would be in the ship so either Clark already knew when he first meets Zod or Zod shows him how to find the truth in the ship (and might be under suspicion until Clark goes to check and learns the truth). Either way, I like Zod being a good guy in this along with his family and people. They lost track of time in the Phantom zone but it was understandable considering the situation. They never could have imagined theyâd be the sole survivors of Krypton. It also leaves them very grateful to Jor-El and his family.
Good guy Zod would definitely be a unique twist that I donât think anyone else has done before. However, since the phantom zone has been used as a prison there would be some bad apples in there. Even if they are out numbered by Zodâs crew of revolutionaries. Huh, would the kryptonian council investigate the coup and would they trace it back to Jor El? Would he have been thrown into the phantom zone too?
But I think we need more ground work for Supermanâs life before he discovers the other half of his ship frozen in the arctic and however long it takes him to figure out how to fix things up enough for the Jor El ai to turn on.
For example @kizzer55555 mentioned that Clark had been friends with Lex before they became enemies. That makes me think of the smallville tv series, but there is room from changing things since this is an au.
Also what about early in his Superman career? How he presented himself to the public. How meeting other superheroes went and how they would find out about his alien biology since that is likely something he wouldnât bring up in regular conversation. You know different Justice League members are going to have different reactions. Also we still havenât figured out how this becomes a superbat fic from the original ask.
Basically how things go from the start of his Superman debut to about when Kon comes into the picture. Oh actually what if it was Kon snooping around the data in that ship and he accidentally finds out about the phantom zone?
I think that Superman probbaly acts pretty normal all things considered. I mean neither Wonder Woman or other female heroes (or villains) seem to have any problem with periods and other things. And in most omegaverse fics, secondary genders donât affect heroing that much. Especially since Clark doesnât have to face enemy alphas who try to take advantage of things like scents or instincts. (Although that might be something to explore if some actual criminals escape the phantom zone since Clark will have zero experience with scents because humans donât have those. Of course, he also might have a natural resistance since he basically trained his body to react to human signals and romantic interest.) So the Justice League would probbaly only find out about the hermaphrodite nature if Clark brings it up or they become concerned about his health from something. I can kinda see him asking Martian Manhunter about these things. Like subtly trying to see if he also has different anatomy since heâs a fellow alien. lol, I feel like that would be a super awkward conversation but also might lead to them bonding. If anything, I think the team might become supicious if Superman seems absent for âsickâ days and Batman in particular might be concerned. (Because Superman canât skip his heats. Humans havenât invented things like âsuppressantsâ that Kryptonians had access too. So Clark has to deal with it.) Might get to the point where Bruce feels not informing the team about his biology could be a risk to Clarkâs health so tries to get him to trust them.
OK, but has anybody written DC x DP with an ex-Talon Nightwing AU?
Skip past all of the deprogramming stuff and start with the main four boys all comfortably brothers (Jason never died because Dick is such a mother hen).
Nightwing (name-pending) is a very rarely seen hero, who is technically part of the justice league, but does not make public appearances. He strictly shows up when the world is ending or when heroes need information that can only be gathered by an insanely well-trained person.
Though he still at peak physical fitness, he doesnât want to risk ever falling back into his programming.
Heâs also ridiculously protective over his little brothers and by extension any sidekick younger than him.
There is and will always be a part of Dick that none of his family understand or can relate to. Thereâs a certain trauma that comes with being undead or half dead that no one can relate to. Of course he says heâs fine but thereâs a hint of loneliness as he tries and fails to make meaningful connections with Deadman and Grundy.
Something much deeper than he can explain, whispers to Dick that this kid is A, also dead and B, in need of serious help.
Whether or not you want to include the absolutely fucked up mental status that would come from Danny being vivisected depends on the author. But it would also be another point that Danny and Dick can deeply relate with, and Dick is uniquely qualified to help.
But either way, Dick picks up Danny like a stray kitten and brings him back to the Batcave.
Originally Danny was a bit freaked out but could tell Dick was a kindred soul, just not a ghost or something from the Infinite Realms. Heâs so physically and emotionally exhausted that he decides to take a chance with this guy.
Later, someone comes down to the Batcave for whatever and acknowledges Dick in the medbay but theyâre distracted. It takes them walking by the med bay three times before they notice that the black-haired, blue-eyed teen that Dick was tending to was not Tim.
Danny has to do his introductions to the rest of the family while Dick is still obsessively testing his baseline vitals.
