Danny: [spinning in Bruce’s chair] So, does this make me an honorary Bat?
Dick: Only if you survive Bruce’s approval process.
Danny: Please, I’ve fought ancient ghosts. What’s he gonna do? Scowl me to death?
Damian: [glaring] Father doesn’t scowl—he instills fear.
Danny: Uh-huh. Cute sword, by the way. Does it come in “not compensating”?
Jason: So you’re the ghost kid everyone’s talking about?
Danny: Yup. Half-dead, full of sass. Nice to meet you, Zombie Robin.
Jason: [narrowing eyes] …I like him.
Tim: You set off LexCorp alarms during a recon mission?
Danny: Hey, I got the job done.
Tim: Bruce hates when things get messy.
Danny: And yet he still lets you work here.
Stephanie: You can fly? Can you give me a lift?
Danny: Sure! But it’ll cost you.
Stephanie: What do you want?
Danny: Snacks. Lots of snacks.
Alfred: Master Danny, your presence has certainly brightened the manor.
Danny: Aw, thanks, Alfred. You’re way cooler than my ghost butler.
Bruce: [entering the room] You have a ghost butler?
Danny: You have a butler-butler. Same difference.
Danny: So… you’re the Batman?
Batman: Correct.
Danny: Cool, cool. Heard a lot about you. Big fan of your whole brooding aesthetic. Very goth.
Batman: …I’m not goth.
Danny: Yeah, sure. Says the guy standing on a gargoyle in the rain.
Batman: Who are you?
Danny: Danny Phantom. Half-ghost superhero.
Batman: Ghosts don’t exist.
Danny: Says the guy who dresses like a bat to fight a clown.
[Danny in the Batcave]
Danny: Dude, your cave is so cool! You’ve got, like, all the gadgets and a freaking dinosaur?!
Tim: It’s a T-rex, actually.
Danny: Okay, but why?
Batman: It’s a trophy.
Danny: Sure. And I’m the king of the Ghost Zone.
[Group Chat: “BatFam + Phantom”]
Jason: Who let the glowstick in here?
Danny: Wow, you must be fun at parties.
Dick: Ignore him. Welcome to the chaos, Danny!
Danny: Thanks! Btw, do you guys have a “no ectoplasm on the Batmobile” rule? Asking for a friend.
Tim: [frantically typing] Ectoplasm is corrosive?!
Damian: Why is there a child with ghost powers in Father’s city?
Danny: Why is there a child running around with swords in Gotham?
Damian: …
Dick: He’s got a point.
[Batman observing Danny fighting a ghost]
Batman: [Batarang passes through the ghost] …
Danny: Yeah, no. Ghosts aren’t a “punchy” kind of problem.
Batman: I adapt.
Danny: Okay, but adapt faster, Bat-Dad.
[at the manor]
Alfred: Master Wayne, the half-ghost boy is currently floating through the kitchen walls.
Batman: …And?
Alfred: He’s helping himself to a sandwich. Should I prepare another plate?
Batman: Just keep him out of the wine cellar.
Batman: This is a simple reconnaissance mission. Infiltrate a LexCorp facility and gather intel.
Danny: Got it. Sneak in, grab the goods, and don’t touch anything shiny.
Superman: And don’t cause trouble.
Danny: [grinning] No promises, Big Blue.
[Outside the LexCorp Facility]
Batman: Stick to the plan.
Danny: [turns invisible] What plan? I’m already inside.
Wonder Woman: [to Batman] He reminds me of Barry.
The Flash: Hey! I resent that.
[Inside LexCorp]
Danny: [phases through a wall and grabs a glowing device] Easy. Why do you guys overthink this stuff?
Cyborg: [over comms] Be careful with that. It’s probably booby-trapped.
Danny: [tilts the device] Pfft, it’s fine—
The device glows bright red and alarms start blaring.
Danny: …Okay, my bad.
[The Team Reacts]
Batman: [gritting his teeth] You had one job.
The Flash: That might’ve been a record for fastest mission failure.
Danny: Relax! I can handle this.
Superman: You set off every alarm in the building.
Danny: [grins, holding up the device] Yeah, but I got the thingy!
[LexCorp Security Arrives]
Danny: [dodging lasers] These guys are terrible shots.
Wonder Woman: [deflecting bullets with her bracelets] You’re lucky we’re here.
Danny: Or am I just giving you all a good workout? You’re welcome.
[Superman vs. LexCorp Mech]
Danny: Hey, Supes, tag out!
Superman: [lifting the mech] I don’t need help.
Danny: [blasting the mech with ectoplasm] Yeah, but I make it look cooler.
[After the Mission]
Batman: That was reckless and irresponsible.
Danny: [phasing through a chair to sit down] And yet, effective.
Cyborg: Gotta admit, Bats, the kid’s got style.
Wonder Woman: He’s brave, I’ll give him that.
The Flash: And chaotic. We should keep him.
Superman: Absolutely not.
Danny: So, what’s the verdict? Do I get a membership card or what?
Batman: No.
The Flash: Maybe.
Danny: [grinning] Sounds like a “yes” to me.
[Later, in the Batcave]
Alfred: Master Bruce, the ghost boy is raiding the pantry.
Batman: Why is he still here?
Danny: [with a mouthful of cookies] Because I’m awesome.
The Wayne Manor was buzzing with activity. It was New Year’s Eve, and Bruce had begrudgingly agreed to host a joint celebration for the Batfamily and Justice League. It was supposed to be a low-key affair—at least, as low-key as any gathering of superheroes could be.
Danny Phantom found himself caught in the middle of it all, still adjusting to his new life with the Batfamily. He had been invited under the guise of “family bonding,” but he strongly suspected it was also to keep him from sulking in the Ghost Zone.
Danny floated into the massive dining hall, where Alfred was directing a small army of caterers. Damian was off in a corner, meticulously arranging his own set of decorations because "no one else can do it properly." Dick and Jason were arguing over the placement of a massive “Happy New Year” banner, while Tim was buried in his laptop, attempting to hack into the Times Square countdown clock “just for fun.”
Danny raised an eyebrow at Bruce, who was overseeing the chaos with his usual stoic expression.
“So, is this what every holiday is like with you guys?” Danny asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
Bruce sighed. “It’s a work in progress.”
As the clock ticked closer to midnight, the Justice League began to arrive. Superman greeted everyone with his trademark warmth, Wonder Woman brought traditional Themysciran pastries, and Flash immediately started zipping around the room, grabbing snacks.
Danny found himself standing awkwardly near the punch bowl, unsure of how to handle being in a room with so many iconic heroes.
“Phantom, right?” Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) approached him, holding a drink. “The ghost kid?”
“Uh, yeah,” Danny replied, scratching the back of his neck. “That’s me.”
“Cool powers. You ever think about joining the League?”
Before Danny could answer, Batman’s voice cut through the conversation. “He’s not ready.”
Danny rolled his eyes. “Nice to see you believe in me, Bruce.”
As midnight approached, the room grew more lively. Danny found himself dragged into conversations, mostly by Dick and Diana, who both seemed determined to make him feel included.
Jason handed Danny a glass of something suspiciously glowing. “Here, kid. Don’t ask what it is—just trust me.”
Danny sniffed it and grimaced. “This better not turn me into a zombie or something.”
“Relax. You’re already half-dead,” Jason shot back with a grin.
When the countdown began, everyone gathered around the massive monitor Alfred had set up. The Batfamily stood together, with Danny awkwardly sandwiched between Damian and Tim.
10......9......8....7.....
Danny looks around him. He sees Barry who has his hands around Clark, standing next to Diana and Hal..both happily counting along with the countdown.
6.....5....4....
Danny’s core began to hum softly, reacting to the excitement in the room.
3.....2.....1.....
“Happy New Year!”
Green and gold ectoplasmic fireworks exploded from Danny’s hands, lighting up the room. Everyone stared for a moment before bursting into cheers and laughter.
“Not bad, Phantom!” Barry called out, clapping him on the back.
Danny grinned, his usual sarcasm giving way to genuine happiness. "Call me Danny".
For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged.
