Everything and anything from fandoms I’m in that I enjoy(I can’t deny it any longer. This is a dc and dpxdc blog). Main is @aconitum-nerium Header image from digital blasphemy
Partially inspired by something that happened last weekend
While on a trip to tour collages for Jazz, the Fentons stop to fuel up, get some sleep at a hotel, and get snacks for the next day. Danny wanders away from the hotel, because of course he does, and stops by a market. As hes going through the store isles he can't help but notice that someone has started following him. Not seeing anywhere to slip away, Danny approaches the first person he sees that he could, reasonably, seem related to, doesn't look sketchy af, and he approaches them.
Or
Danny wanders off on Gotham/Metropolis/Gateway City(pick your favorite). As hes wandering around in a store he realises hes being followed and quickly attaches himself to the first person his ghost sense tells him he can trust that looks reasonably related to. While startled at first, Bruce/Clark/Diana quickly understand the situation, and treats Danny like one of their children, glaring at the person who was following Danny. Once the person is gone they walk Danny back to his hotel to make sure that person is gone.
I dont know how this would end, that's up to you, this is called a half baked idea for a reason.
If Clockwork at the very least reads as time god, then wonder woman may sense something off about Danny. The whole apprenticeship aspect could read as a claimed/blessed human. This also might be enough for her to leave things alone once Danny feels safe again.
Danny will run into trouble if it's batman or superman, because they will want answers/ be concerned adults meeting the Fentons. And they have a bad habit of assuming their way is absolutely the correct way.
Flash is actually a good in-between choice.
Booster Gold/Blue Beetle would be a fun choice.
Honestly I'd go with Captain Cold for some variety.
Partially inspired by something that happened last weekend
While on a trip to tour collages for Jazz, the Fentons stop to fuel up, get some sleep at a hotel, and get snacks for the next day. Danny wanders away from the hotel, because of course he does, and stops by a market. As hes going through the store isles he can't help but notice that someone has started following him. Not seeing anywhere to slip away, Danny approaches the first person he sees that he could, reasonably, seem related to, doesn't look sketchy af, and he approaches them.
Or
Danny wanders off on Gotham/Metropolis/Gateway City(pick your favorite). As hes wandering around in a store he realises hes being followed and quickly attaches himself to the first person his ghost sense tells him he can trust that looks reasonably related to. While startled at first, Bruce/Clark/Diana quickly understand the situation, and treats Danny like one of their children, glaring at the person who was following Danny. Once the person is gone they walk Danny back to his hotel to make sure that person is gone.
I dont know how this would end, that's up to you, this is called a half baked idea for a reason.
Usually, Clark likes to get Lois to be the one to interview him whenever he saves Metropolis, but when she's working on another case on the other side of the city. So he gets interviewed by the new reporter at the Daily Planet who he knows has wanted to interview Superman for a while now, Daniel Fenton.
What follows is an interview unlike any he's ever had before.
So! When Bruce was travelling the world, finding masters to teach him how to fight and investigate, he came across a strange building in Tibet.
He had followed rumors of an ancient Monk who lived atop a mountain just on the edge of a Village, who had learned how to conquer Death itself, and stole its secrets for himself. Hoping to find a new Teacher, Bruce climbed the mountain and found the home of that Monk.
What he found was strange though...
The building seemed much more modern than he had been expecting, built with metal and drywall rather than ancient bricks or stones as he had assumed. There was also a strange machine on the top of the building, and if he didn't know any better he would have said it almost looked like a spaceship.
Hesitantly, he knocked on the wooden door and waited.
The man who answered looked nothing like he had expected, but so far nothing had met his expectations so he wasn't really surprised at that point. He looked relatively young, in his late 20's or early 30's, and was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans. He had short black hair, blue eyes, and pale skin that didn't exactly match the tone of the other people living in the area. In fact he looked as if he could have been an American, rather than Tibetan.
Bruce introduced himself, explained why he was there, and managed to convince the Monk that he deserved his training.
It was unorthodox, certainly very different from the training he had recieved in the League of Assasins, but the Monk said that he was well suited for this style of training.
Under the monk he learned a variety of techniques. The ability to shield his mind from Telepaths, how to Astral Project, how to completely hide his presence from others, even from those with enhanced senses, and so much more.
By the time he was finished training with the Monk, he was confident that he could finally achieve his goal of saving Gotham from itself. He bid the monk farewell, and returned to his home ready to begin the legend of the Batman.
Meanwhile Danny had just sent his most recent student off after a few months of training.
He had to do this every once in a while. There were hundreds of Liminal and Ecto-Contaminated people out there in the world who didn't know how to manage their abilities. They didn't know how to innately seperate from their physical bodies so they could more easily feed on natural Ectoplasm, or how to shield their minds from the volatile stray emotions of the people around them thay may influence their thoughts.
It was dangerous for people with that level of Ecto-Contamination to live without knowing how to keep themselves healthy. So every once in a while, Danny would find a way to contact them and to teach them all they needed to know to stay healthy.
The "Centuries Old Monk" routine was an old favorite of his for this purpose. He would intentionally spread rumors where he knew they would hear, add in some incentive like "conquering death" to make sure they would follow those rumors, and than meet them and take them under his wing.
A few of his other favorite routines were the "Circus Act who knows more than he should", "Mechanic with great advice", and sometimes even just "Life Coach" for the more conventional cases.
And if he heard Bruce's story and decided to teach him how to use a few extra useful Ghostly Abilities, like hiding your presence or merging with Shadows, then who could really judge him? The kid had taken up a huge burden, he needed all the help he could get.
Besides, its not the first time he's ever done that.
...
Years later, Bruce met Dick and found out that he also knows how to Astral Project and Guard his Mind. He couldn't merge with the shadows or hide his presence nearly as well, but he could apparently slow how fast he fell and bend in ways even bruce couldn't.
Apparently he was taught how to do so from an old member of Haley's circus, who told him that they were meditation techniques to get "in the zone" for his trapeze acts.
Then he met Jason, who could also Astral Project and Guard his mind, and he could also heal faster than normal people and read other people's emotions. He learned from a Mechanic who used to live on his street, who told him it was just some street skills that would let him avoid the people who would hurt him or give him trouble.
Then Tim came in, also with Astral Projection and a Telepath-Proof mind, and he could apparently last for weeks on end with no food or even water, and could hide his presence from even Batman. He was taught by a butler his parents had briefly hired while away from home, though Tim's parents didn't know what he was talking about when he brought it up to them later. He was told it was just a way of "keeping his spirits up" when he was alone.
Stephanie had also been taught by an old Mechanic on her street. Same as all the other she could leave her body behind and guard her mind, but she could also read emotions and convince people to do what she said. The mechanic never gave a reason for why he was teaching her, but did say that it would help her gauge the people in her life easier. He left barely a week before Steph realized her dad was the Cluemaster.
Damien was, suprisingly, trained by the same Master that Bruce had been taught by. Talia had sent him up the mounting saying that his Father had learned from the man on the mountain, and he would as well. He was taught the same as all the others, though instead of merging with Shadows like his Father he was taught how to converse with Animals.
Cass had been taught by a man while she was running from her Father. He never said why, only that it would help her live a better life. She had the "normal" abilities of Astral Projection and Guarding her Mind, but she could also Merge with Shadows and Perfectly Read other people's emotions beyond their body language.
Duke was taught by a man who had also taught other members of "We Are Robin" during the cataclysm. He said it would help them survive their attempts at heroism, though he gave Duke extra training for some reason. He had taught Duke even more than he had taught the other Bats, alongside the now typical Astral Projection and Guarding his Mind, Duke could also talk to the Dead, See into the Past, and even Phase through Walls. With enough effort he could even Fly.
A few of his abilities were attributed to his Metahuman Powers, but he claimed that they were never that powerful before that man came along.
He also said that the man "Glowed" in a strange way. He was the only one who could see it among the members of We Are Robin, even the others he had taught.
Bruce had long since decided he needed to pay his old Master a visit.
"Yes, mom," Jasmine Fenton said, stifling an aggravated sigh as she finished putting away her groceries, "I'm being safe."
"It's just," her mother said, "I'm not sure you're prepared for just how bad Gotham can be."
"Mom, I've already been here for two years, and I've got the collapsible creep stick and the new wrist ray you sent me and my Fenton Phone on me at all times."
"Honey, listen, I know you feel like Amity Park prepared you for anything, but you're not from Gotham like your father and I. Okay? So I want you to do me a favor, I'm texting you my sister's phone number, if you run into any trouble I want you to call her."
From behind Madeline, Jasmine heard her father let out a startled yelp. "Your sister the eco-terrorist supervillain? THAT sister?!"
"Reformed," Maddie bit back. "Pam got a clean bill of health from the Bat, you know that."
"The Bat," Jack snapped, "is a pantomime the GCPD puts on to explain police brutality. Everyone knows that!"
Jazz rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time they'd had this argument, and it wouldn't be the last. As much as Danny hated their arguments about Santa Claus, Jasmine hated their arguments about Gotham. "Mom," she tried to interrupt.
"Why don't you ask your idiot cousin if he thinks the Bat is real?"
"First of all, Brucie isn't an idiot, and he's settled down a lot since he adopted what's-his-name. Deckard?"
"Dick," Jasmine said, at the same time as her mother, who absentmindedly disconnected the call as the argument continued.
She wondered if Danny had to deal with arguments about whether or not Superman was half-ghost like him when he announced he was going to Metropolis for their excellent rating in engineering and avionics.
Danny and Raven are both hybrid supernatural creatures. Which means, they end up meeting during a couple of pagan celebrations.
They get to talking, and realize they get along really well. So, since on Raven's side of things, she still hasn't met the Titans yet, Team Phantom just essentially adopt her. Sam adores her new goth friend. They help her feel normal, and she gives them precious advice on magic and how, sometimes, defeating an enemy comes at the cost of their life, because they might not give you much of a choice...
Soon, Raven meets the Titans, while Danny goes along his usual business of keeping Amity Park safe. They keep meeting up for celebrations, birthdays and random meetings for no reason other than a slightly feral sense of "I missed your presence at my side" they all have with each other.
The Titans are very curious on why she keeps disappearing every year at the exact same time, but all they know is the bare bones "magical meeting of magical entities that practice magic".
Until one day, when Raven almost tore Titans Tower apart while desperately trying ANYTHING to contact a friend who seemed to be "gone, and nothing can reach him. What did that idiot do?!?!?!" They are...justifiably concerned...and Robin smuggles the Batplane out of it's hangar so they can help their friend, who's always so composed, actually get to Amity with some backup in case things are going wrong.
Nothing would have prepared them for the SMOKING GODDAMN CRATER in the ground where a town should be. Raven can't reach past the Veil. The way seems to be blocked (since Amity, in the Ghost Zone, has the Ghost Shield up and running) and her powers are going a little wonky and unstable, random rocks lifting and orbiting her and the town limits as the Titans investigate as much as they can.
Until, with roaring thunder, Amity is thrown back into it's proper spot. But something's wrong. Phantom is easy to feel. He's always been a shimmering beacon in Raven's senses, but right now he feels...subdued, and yet swelling with new power...
It's not until Twam Phantom goes to meet her, that raven realizes what's wrong. She knows that Crown, and the Ring her friend is cradling in his hands. Ectoplasm is staining his hands, his suit, and, most noticeable, his teeth.
He looks like he'd rather be anywhere than here, and Sam goes in for a hug, and tells Raven they're calling a "Code Panda" (because pandas have a startlingly high chance of abandoning their Cubs before adulthood, and are generally idiots).
Robin volunteers to destroy the portal when they're ready to go, while the rest of the Titans start closing ranks around the seemingly traumatized teenage hero in case he needs help. The most he reacts is to let Raven float to him and hug him as he whispers a soft "Hey Ray...I had to follow your advice..."
(I imagine that Raven's own experiences would help Danny come to understand that, even if his Rogues can be reasoned with, there will eventually come a time where a new one might not. So they have to be prepared for that eventuality. So Danny treats Pariah's Core like one of those chewing gums with the liquid in the center of it, when he realizes the Old Tyrant King isn't going to go quietly, nor will he listen to reason. And hearing his parents talk about how Phanton would have to be exterminated soon before he "got too powerful" leads Danny and his friends to get out of Amity ASAP. Luckily, they have a friend who's very happy to have them around. Is this an "Everlasting Trio+the DC character they fell for" thing? Not necessarily, but my brain pictures them as starting to date while Raven got busy with the Titans, and when they're all together, they platonically drag Raven to their cuddle pile, where they romantically confess their shared feelings for her. But it's really up to interpretation of whoever reads it.)
Dick: What are we going to do? Half the world is on fire, and the Justice League is gone.
Jason: Plus our resources are dwindling fast. With all the refugees we've been taking in, we'll all go hungry in a month.
Tim: We're out of guns, out of men, and out of options. If only we could go back in time and change everything.
Duke: That's a great idea Tim. I'll arrange it.
Cass: I'm sorry. You'll arrange it?
Duke: Yeah, I got a guy who can help.
Damian: This isn't something as simple as you calling your cake guy! Father is dead! The world is ending!
Duke: Okay, first of all, my time travel guy is also my cake guy, so it is that simple. Second, when Danny takes us back in time, we will save Bruce, save the world, and we'll have an amazing three-layer cake to celebrate.
Dick: Wait, the cake guy was real?
Duke: Yeah why wouldn't he be?
Tim: It's just that you would call him up at the oddest of times. Like that time when you called him at 3 am because you wanted coffee while on patrol and needed something to pair it with.
Duke: I get cravings when someone messes up my sleep schedule. Sue me!
Jason: Duke's bad eating habits aside, this time travel mission might be just what we need. The only reason we lost was that Earth was taken by surprise. If we go back and prevent the tragedy or even buy the past heroes time, we can save our world.
Duke: I'll dial Danny now
Cass watching him step away to make a call: Is this the same Danny, from Fenton Pastries?
Damian: Does it matter?
Cass: It does. He was trying very hard to get Duke's attention. I'm pretty sure he was attempting to seduce him with cake.
Dick: Was he successful?
Cass: No. Duke's only real love is bread.
Tim: Then we keep that to ourselves so the pastry chef/ time master helps us out as quickly and as effectively as possible.
Duke: Good news! Danny is on his way with Clockwork amulets and cake slices for us all! Isn't he the best? A true friend! Heck, he's practically family, like a brother!
recently ive been reading more jason stuff and i noticed how often we get to know him through other people's narrations/thought boxes instead of his own, we know more what other people think of him than what he thinks in general
which leads me to prime obsessing over one of the few characters he can't read. like, he actually can't read jason, so he ends up hyperfixated on him trying to catch a sliver of a thought or anything
like he can read ahead and know other superheroes from reading their comics but he can't do that with jason and it itches at him, he needs to know what he's thinking, no one can accurately read that man and prime should be able to! where's his narration and inner monologue? where's his thought bubbles with actual real information and not just a hidden quip or complaint???
anyway,i was telling my roommate about this and she told me "so jason is prime's bella swan" and i needed to tell you this specifically because it ruined and made my night
i brought this up in a different but similar way on twitter once... let's find it...
here we go. it's not the same at all to what you said, but it's like, close enough, right? either way, prime likes jason on his own not just because of Everything Else but because there's something about him that makes him FEEL more real. he can't get a grasp on that dude like he can with everyone else, which makes him attracted to him.
in any case i think it's extremely funny to bring up bella. i think another friend of mine said they were twilight coded. i don't personally enjoy twilight and i probably never will but i Get it. this person is the one i cannot crack. i cannot understand him. I Have To. > leads to an obsession. happens to everybody, i'm sure
unfortunately i do like world's foulest mostly because its funny but also because the shittiest brother in the world would absolutely be in a homoerotic situationship with your best friend's murderer idk
I needed this gif to be on here because it’s SO funny you have no idea how much this silent communication means to me. The fact that Jason shushed his own brother. The fact that Dick LISTENED.
When Danny left the vigilante life to become a paramedic in Gotham he didn't think he'd ever step back into that scene. Much less in this way, because now Danny has Robin riding along with him in the ambulance every shift he's on.
He didn't think Robin would even remember him after he had helped the kid take care of a hurt and sick kitten at the end of his shift. How wrong he was though because the next night Robin was suddenly in the ambulance saying that he would be shadowing Danny from this point forward. Danny's coworkers were also no help in getting the kid to not do this.
Robin called this an intern opportunity to learn more about medicine and how to treat people. Danny called it a HIPPA violation. What he thought doesn't seem to matter though as everyone is always just excited to talk to the kid. He ultimately decides to just let it go and be the unwilling mentor to the young vigilante.
It really isn't until Danny is being cornered after one of his shifts by Batman demanding to know what he's doing to Robin that he wished he had fought harder to convince Robin to not ride along.
There's no way Damian would show up to such a thing unprepared so imagine:
Danny's already running through the list of excuses reasons why he can't have Robin shadowing him. He's expecting some push back but he knows Robin will give up in the end. Robin does not in fact give up.
What actually happens is that Robin keeps throwing fully valid paperwork at each of his objections and refuting them like they're nothing. HIPAA violation? Robin pulls out a certificate that's several levels higher than what would be required for an actual intern. No medical training? Robin pulls out his recently earned credentials on different healing techniques (like CPR and EMT training and idk what else). He has more qualifications than people Danny has worked with before. Danny questions the validity, Robin has him check on the official (national? Gotham?) websites and he has in fact taken the trainings/tests required. There's even a log and videos so he couldn't have just hacked his way into the system.
Danny starts grasping at straws. He brings up child labor laws, Robin shows him a signed permission from Batman with all the requirements filled out perfectly. Danny says he's not comfortable with a minor seeing the level of gore they encounter in Gotham. Robin shows him a few pictures of the more gruesome cases he has participated in during his tenure. Danny talks about disturbed bedtimes and not wanting Robin's grades to drop, Robin shows him his full academic history (name redacted, of course) and his current schedule as a vigilante. Everything's official. Batman's signature is everywhere.
In a last ditch effort, Danny says there's no budget to pay Robin, Robin says that's why it's an unpaid internship and refuses to relent. By the time Danny's officially run out of excuses, Robin's looking at him like he's ready to learn from Danny specifically. His binder's still half full. Danny sighs. He knows when he's been beaten. (Of course he refuses to acknowledge that the actual last blow was when Robin offhandedly mentions his need to know everything he can on medical procedures while mobile just in case anyone in his family ever needs them while working on their more dangerous cases. Danny understands the need to protect family as much as possible. He would do anything to avoid a repeat on the nasty burger incident. He can't deny Robin the chance to get what could possibly help save his family at some point)
Weeks later, when Batman shows up to question Danny about his activities with Robin, Danny stares at him unblinkingly for long enough that Batman almost starts to fidget (Danny's exhausted, ok? He needed the time to even process what Batman was saying). Then he finally just gets up, opens a drawer, pulls out an overstuffed binder and shoves it at Batman. It has a log of all the things Robin has done since he started his internship. It has an index. It's a copy of the official one already filed with the company Danny works for. Robin might be thorough but Danny has experience with OSHA violations and he's not about to compromise safety by cutting corners.
Batman's reluctantly impressed. Neither mention the fact that he clearly didn't sign any of the paperwork Danny saw.
I've had this sitting in my WiP folder for a while and I just don't think I'll ever finish so... up for adoption! Have this Price of Peace inspired prompt.
꧁ 𓆩⋆.˖❅⊹˚✧༺⊰❄︎⊱༻✧˚⊹❅˖.⋆𓆪 ꧂
You are cordially invited to the wedding of
His majesty Phantom, High King of the Infinite Realms
⋆⁺₊༻ ❄︎ And ❄︎༺ ⋆⁺₊
Sir Revenant, Knight of the Realms
·⋆༻⊱❅⊰༺⋆·
Bruce and his fellow rulers stared down at the scroll that had just been delivered to them. They had been relaxing, the yearly meeting between the various kings and delegates from distant lands almost a mere formality now, seven years since the sudden retreat of King Pariah Dark's forces back across the border. They still don't know the why of it, simply that after over a decade of pillaging and bloody battles suddenly the enemy had retreated.
The completely different name listed with the title of High King may explain it.
Bruce and the rest of the kings of Justria, along with representatives from various allies, had gathered in the Watchtower, a fort built next to the border between the two regions and the only known pass through the treacherous mountain range that separated them, as had become tradition. A single rider on horseback had been spotted approaching from the enemy's side, but all she did was hand over a box to the messenger from their side that dared approach before turning and heading back the way she came.
And now here they were, staring at the scroll that had been on the very top, laying neatly on a bed of crisp, cream colored envelopes, each with a name and a title written in neat, precise handwriting and sealed with wax stamped in an unfamiliar royal crest. Bruce had carefully opened his to find a simpler, less decorated copy of the scroll along with writing in a script Bruce didn't recognize under. It also had additional information such as when and where the wedding was to take place.
"Who's this King Phantom guy?" King Barry of Centralia asked. "I thought the king was Pariah Dark."
"He was, during the war," Sir John Stewart of the Order of the Green Dawn said ominously.
"This may explain why they suddenly just stopped," Delegate Shayera of Thanagar said coldly. "Internal politics, someone got sick of the old tyrant and overthrew him."
"Why invite us?" King Clark of Metropolis asked, forehead wrinkled as he stared down at his own invitation.
"An offer of friendship, or at least peaceful coexistence," Princess Diana of Themyscira said decisively.
"If truly this new king overthrew Pariah Dark out of displeasure for the war, then this is indeed the first attempt at holding a hand out in friendship." Delegate J'onn of Martia looked around the room as if reading their faces.
"I find it unsettling they knew exactly who was here to receive these invitations," Bruce said darkly. While Atlantis was a part of the League of Justria it was so distant King Arthur couldn't always make time to attend, King Oliver of Star had refrained from attending due to Queen Dinah's impending labor, and other, smaller kingdoms such as Blüdhaven or Dakota Kingdom had only sent delegates to these meetings before, if they sent anyone at all. And yet they were often here for the alliance review, so where were their invitations?
Everyone around the table looked back down at their invitations in a grim new light.
Barry leaned back, "Bruce is right, this suddenly feels like a trap."
"Nevertheless, to refuse would be a grave insult," Diana said decisively. "I shall take this home and discuss with my mother about sending a delegation and the proper gifts such a momentous occasion calls for. If this truly is an attempt at opening peaceful relations we cannot afford to offend."
"Right, as always Diana," Clark said with a chuckle. "I think we'd do well to contact the other members of the League and find out if they also received invitations as well."
Bruce nodded along.
Tim took a deep breath as he and his delegation approached High King Phantom's castle. They had stopped at the Watchtower, where Bart and Cassie were already waiting, Conner and the Metropolis delegation had arrived the next day and together they had set out, now the whole group were finally arriving at their destination. Every kingdom in the Justria League had indeed received the invitations, all had agreed that sending their actual rulers was not happening, but a representative from each royal family must go. Conner, Bart, and Cassie had been chosen by their respective families, Tim had volunteered.
It made sense. Dick couldn't go, both because he had never been legally adopted by Bruce and thus wasn't legally a member of the Wayne royal family, and because he had Blüdhaven to rule. Damian was too young. Duke may be a ward, like Dick, but he was not adopted, like Dick. Cass had also volunteered, but she was technically not in line for the throne, not immediately. Tim was fairly certain if the worst happened and all the men of the Wayne family were to die the nobles would find some way to make someone else king before putting a woman on the throne.
More fools they.
But Tim wasn't a Wayne by birth. He was in line for the throne before being adopted, yes, but he was way down on the list. The nobles had been happy when Bruce adopted him, they thought he was using the tragedy of the Drakes' death as a way to secure himself a proper heir. Then Damian had come along, the blood son born out of a foreign marriage no one had known about. Now there was question on who would inherit. Should something happen to Tim in the Realms… well that would just secure Damian as the true heir. It made sense.
Considering the similar contention Conner's birth caused the royal family of Metropolis Tim could only guess there was similar reasoning behind him being chosen. After all, do you choose the son born of a legal marriage birthed by the current queen, though he's technically second born, or do you choose the son born to both the current king and the previous king, though he was born of the dark and twisted magics of their enemies, out of wedlock, and certainly without the current king's consent or knowledge?
Cassie and Bart were lucky, they got chosen simply because they were closely enough related to be appropriate choices.
"Well, here we are," Bart said a bit nervously as they approached the castle, their retinue following behind them.
"Here we are," Cassie agreed.
Tim stared up at the castle with its tall towers and taller turrets. The whole thing was imposing, built out of dark, reddish stone.
"It was actually built by Pariah," one of the Realms soldiers that had joined their delegation after crossing over the mountain pass said casually. "I hear King Phantom hates it, but refuses to renovate or build new."
"Well, I imagine with a new… spouse perhaps it may happen yet," Tim said with a twist of his lips. He had assumed the titles of King and Sir were a misunderstanding, someone unfamiliar with Justrian culture using the male titles by default rather than Queen Regnant or Dame. They had found out that both parties were in fact male, something considered unthinkable for a position that required an heir and a clear line of inheritance in Justria. Then Tim remembered how Conner was born and realized for the people of the Realms that may not matter.
He was perhaps a bit jealous.
He'd asked their guides about how the titles would work, but had been given their titles in the Realms' native language, which told him nothing. It was like the Great Retreat all over again, none of the Realms soldiers who spoke Justrian had bothered to tell them what was going on, just celebrated in their native tongue as they all returned home.
"I think Sir Revenant rather admires the castle," their guide replied airily. "Poor King Phantom may have missed his opportunity to remodel."
Another soldier said something in Ghost Speak, then made kissy noises and batted his eye lashes dramatically. It was clear he was saying the king was smitten with his future husband.
Bart gasped in delight, "Are they a love match?!"
"A love match? Oh, oh that. Yes. A love match." He turned to the other soldiers and said something that had them all laughing.
Tim frowned at the rudeness, but they were entering the courtyard and the immediate bustle of activity took Tim's attention. He and his friends all dismounted and headed in, eager to be shown to their rooms and wash off the road.
A group of well dressed people waited inside. In the center stood a young man close to their age, white hair braided out of his face, bright green eyes peering at them from unnaturally pale skin, dressed in deep black trimmed in blinding white. Most notably, floating above his head was a flaming black crown. He smiled, showing off sharp looking fangs, and held his hands wide. "Welcome!"
Tim stood for a moment, stunned. This couldn't be High King Phantom himself, could it? Surely not! Surely this must be a lesser king sent to greet them on Phantom's behalf. Tim decided not to risk it and bowed deeply, "Thank you."
The stranger flapped his hands, "Oh no need for all that. We can do the formalities later, right now you must be tired from your journey. I won't keep you, just wanted to welcome you to the Infinite Realms." The people lined up on either side of the stranger, also all around their own age, tittered. The stranger turned and glared at them, then turned his attention back to their group. "Your rooms have all been prepared, Sir Hal Jordan and Miss M'gann have already arrived. There'll be a feast tonight." The stranger lowered his voice like he was telling them a secret, "There's been feasts every night!" More tittering from the rest of the welcoming committee. "Anyway, I won't keep you, we'll do the proper formalities before the feast. Rest well!" With that, the stranger left, followed by his retinue.
"Was that really King Phantom?" Cassie asked in shock.
"Yes," a blond woman with bright red eyes and shimmering green scales for skin approached. "That was indeed King Phantom."
"By the gods," Tim murmured. His friends elbowed him.
"I'll show you to your rooms, this way."
---
Tim stood gathered in a cluster with the other Justrians, lost in a crowd of Realmsmen in every shape and size imaginable and a few even Tim could never dream of. Everyone was gathered in the throne room, lined up to leave a clear walkway for the wedding procession to walk down. It was only two days after Tim's group's arrival and the wedding was already happening. Two days! The date on the invitation had been the date of the actual event, not the start of events leading up to the ceremony. It was utter insanity. Apparently in the Realms it was completely normal.
Tim was just thankful they had arrived on time for the ceremony, rather than in the middle of it.
He was also rather curious to see Sir Revenant for the first time, the "bride" to be had been notably absent from the few events there had been in the last two days. He'd been told the king had decided to include the Justrian tradition of separating the prospective newly weds leading up to the ceremony. Considering the easy way King Phantom spoke Justrian with a faint country drawl, completely absent of the lilting accent most Realmsmen spoke with, Tim had a suspicion on the why.
Perhaps there was more hope for friendly relations than they previously believed.
King Phantom and his retinue, most of the same one that had greeted Tim and his friends, stood at the foot of the dais the thrones sat upon, Phantom just before his throne and his retinue lined up just to the side. Floating practically between the thrones was an old man in a royal purple cloak who seemed to be growing slowly younger. And now presumably Sir Revenant's retinue was walking up the aisle.
A woman wearing Amazonian armor walked confidently up the aisle and stood to the side of the queen's throne. Tim and his friends exchanged glances. "I don't recognize her," Cassie whispered.
A man with pale skin and dark hair followed next. His skin was so pale and sickly it appeared gray, but he looked well muscled and walked confidently, defying any illness. He also wore the crest of the House of El but reversed upon his chest. Again Tim and his friends exchanged glances, Conner shrugged and shook his head.
"Is that Roy Harper?" Sir Hal asked in a harsh whisper.
Indeed, King Oliver's ward was just passing them to go stand off to the side from the queen's throne. Roy Harper stepped from between M'gann and Bart to stare at himself in utter disbelief. "What the fuck?"
The Roy Harper in the wedding party looked them over and sneered when his eyes landed on the Roy Harper standing in the crowd.
"What the fuck indeed," Sir Hal agreed with Roy.
They were so distracted by the second Roy they almost missed the "bride" passing them. Tim looked over in time to see a tall, bulky man pass them by, somehow walking silently despite wearing full plate armor that gleamed black under the faerie lights lighting the hall.
Tim felt his breath stop.
"Jason?" The hair was a glowing, ethereal white, his eyes were a luminous green, but the face… one Tim had only seen in paintings and drawings or occasionally at a distance the few times he'd been dragged along to court by his parents when he'd been younger. "It can't be." But it must.
"Who's Jason?" Bart asked.
"Bruce's son, he died before I was adopted." The body had been authenticated, but lost before he could be returned home and properly buried. What was he doing here? Alive and well in the Realms? Getting married?!?!
"That is him," their Roy agreed. "But how? He's dead!"
A few of the Realmsmen around them shushed them. Up front King Phantom was smiling brightly as Jason carefully removed his gloves and handed them off to other Roy, then took Phantom's hands in his own.
Tim's head was spinning, too caught off guard to pay much attention to the ceremony. Simply that it was very similar to Justrian traditions, with oaths and a crowning at one point, then Jason and his new husband walked out hand in hand, followed by their retinues. Was the ceremony unusually short or was Tim too caught up in questions he had no way of answering.
Tim blindly followed his friends as the crowd spilled out into the courtyard to celebrate. There was already drink flowing, taps set up on barrels and the sound of bottles popping, glasses and tankards already being passed around. Music and laughter filled the air, Realmsmen already dancing. In the center of the courtyard a pole had been set up with ribbons hanging from it. Tim found himself wondering at its purpose, a far safer subject than Bruce's seemingly prodigal son.
"Cousin!" The man from Jason's retinue, the one wearing the crest of the House of El, slapped Conner on the back before any of them could react to his jovial greeting. "Me am happy see you!"
Conner reeled under the friendly back slap, "Uh… what? Cousin?"
Tim looked the man up and down, he'd changed into more casual clothes, no longer wearing the family crest from earlier.
"Yes! You am cousin. Been a long time since me see family, am good finally meet new cousin!"
"Like cousin Kara?" Conner asked.
"Oh, cousin Kara here too? Me am want see her." The man looked around the crowd as if expecting Kara to just pop out.
"No, no she didn't come with us. Um…" Conner looked to his friends. Tim held his hand out and mimed shaking hands. "Ah, right. I'm Conner, it's nice to meet you." Conner held his hand out to the man.
"Me am Bizarro, am nice meet cousin Conner."
The read haired woman in Amazonian armor from Jason's retinue approached, holding out a tankard for Bizarro.
"Red Her look! Am cousin Conner!"
"Yes, we're all happy you get to meet a family member. I'm sure he'll stay a bit longer so you can get to know each other, right?"
Conner nodded, "Of course, there's so few of us, we should all get to know each other."
"Are you an Amazon?" Cassie cut in, moving closer to Red Her.
She looked Cassie up and down, "No."
"But-"
"I'm not from Themyscira, never even been there."
"But your armor," Cassie insisted.
"Is my armor, it doesn't make me your sister."
"I never-"
"Well this wasn't fun, I'm going to go party with people who actually know how to party." With that she left, slipping into the raucous crowd.
"Red Her so funny! Come, meet Red Him and King Man." Bizarro jovially hustled Conner towards a long table, of course the rest of their group followed. At the center of the table sat King Phantom and Jason, who was leaning over to speak into the ear of the other Roy. All of them had changed into more comfortable clothing, gone was the armor and in its place were tunics dripping in embroidery, on the other Roy's head was a fur cap, the tail of the animal hanging at a jaunty angle. "Red Him, King Man! Am cousin Conner!"
The three looked up, King Phantom and Jason both looked to Conner and Bizarro, while the Other Roy looked to their Roy. "What the fuck?"
"I should be the one asking that!"
"Well now I know where my missing arm went," Other Roy said snidely, holding up a hand that was made of red, translucent, glowing flesh.
"Like hell I'm believing a word you say."
"Let's all just stop before this turns into an international incident," Hal cut in.
Their Roy grit his teeth, "You and I will be having words later."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Jason?" Tim asked, unable to hold it in anymore as he finally saw the new queen up close.
The three sitting at the table all stiffened. "How do you know that name?!"
"Jason Peter Todd-Wayne, first prince of Gotham." Tim hesitated a moment, then added, "My older brother."
Jason looked completely confused, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Wouldn't the first prince be Dick?" Other Roy asked.
"He was never adopted," Tim gently corrected. "He has since become the Prince of Blüdhaven."
"Well either way I think you mistook me for someone else," Jason said, looking Tim up and down.
Sir Hal stepped forward, "No, no he hasn't. Unless you're another copy," he motioned towards their Roy, "you're Bruce's son. I recognize your face, though the hair and eyes are a bit off. Considering the company you keep…" Hal pointedly looked at King Phantom, who also had glowing green eyes and silvery white hair.
"You do have amnesia," King Phantom said gently.
Jason's brow furrowed, "I don't have amnesia, I died. My past life doesn't matter anymore, whoever that person was is dead now."
Tim felt his insides twist, hearing Jason talk about his own death in such an easy manner. "You did die, and it nearly killed Bruce. But you're here now, you're alive."
"No, I'm not." Jason turned to Phantom, "Hey, I wanna dance."
Phantom glanced nervously between Jason and Tim for a moment, then stood and offered his hand to Jason. "As my queen commands."
Jason laughed as he stood and took Phantom's hand before leading him into the crowd.
Several hands patted Tim's shoulders consolingly.
Tim shook them off, "I'm not feeling well and I'd hate to put a damper on festivities, if you'll excuse me." Tim bowed to what remained of the wedding party, then turned and left for his rooms. He had a letter to write.
Fandom Blog @ohrandomfandom - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
