Jason’s emotions were difficult to discern. He wouldn’t even look up from the white box, a quirked, dubious eyebrow lilting judgmentally. His hands planted on his hips gave Danny flashbacks to when his parents lec—
Nope; don’t think about that.
“Open it.” Danny encouraged. He couldn’t take this anymore. The last few days had been of few, tense words, awkward exchanges on Danny’s part, and quiet upset on Jason’s. Which was understandable. But Danny wanted them to be “good” again. It was painful, like a throbbing, open wound digging and twisting on his heart like a physical manifestation of the anxiety and stress.
Jason didn’t know that Danny knew his secret identity, but the incident had still left an off-centredness in their relationship no matter how the former had tried not to let there be.
Jason was his best friend. His first friend since he’d arrived here. His neighbour.
His neighbour’s jaw contorted a bit as he sucked on a tooth, and reached out.
He opened the box.
Danny would be the last person ever to say he could bake after the incident with the flour demons nesting inside the fresh pan of cake and the slimballs of icing that almost chomped off his fingers.
So, instead, he’d made one out of ice cream. He couldn’t go wrong with store bought ice cream.
He’d tried his best, really he had. The instructions were pretty clear, he’d done. . .er, tried to do layers. The Oreo cookie crumbs had managed to mostly stay in the middle layer, and the vanilla ice cream had sorta kinda begun to melt whilst he was making it and mixed with the vanilla in a way it wasn’t supposed to. But it was all inside a pan and was. . .sorta the right shape.
The picture he’d looked at had pretty white icing, and rimmed the top edge in graceful, grooved edges.
Danny’s looked like it was done by a toddler who was trying to make a cylindrical block toy fit the wrong shaped hole.
He bit his lip, hoping it was good enough. This one was his fifth try and he was pretty sure it was about as good as it was going to get. Jason blinked at it, stone faced, reading the words Danny wrote. After a moment of silence, he spoke. “What is that supposed to say?”
Danny coughed. Geez. He didn’t think it had been that illegible.
“I’m sorry.” He said weakly, a small, shaky smile fighting to his lips before falling.
Gosh, he really was so sorry. He couldn’t say for what exactly on the cake, but he could do better; he wanted to. His friendship with Jason meant a lot to him and he didn’t want to mess up like that again.
The sound Jason made could have been a laugh or a scoff, amused, or making fun of him. . .or both, Danny couldn’t tell.
“That’s supposed to be English?” Okay. Definitely both, Danny decided, as Jason proceeded to laugh at him. But, he was laughing, he didn’t look that anxiety-inducing mix of upset and stressed anymore, so Danny would take it.
——————-
The blanket was nicely laid out, the picnic basket was full, there were extra blankets in case Orphan got cold, and there were a couple bottles of sparkling juice. Of course, the hard cement roof wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable as grass and earth, and it was overcast and dark out instead of clear sunny skies in the daytime, but it would have to do. Danny wasn’t a magician.
. . .
Well, not a very advanced one. He only knew some basics of ghost magic.
Pleased with the set up, Danny moved onto the next step; raising his hands and shooting off thin streams of ectoplasm to sing high into the air, bursting into green and blue fireworks. That was sure to get Orphan’s attention. At least someone’s attention to let her know about it, right?
He was so excited. Was this a date? They’d only confirmed they’d be hanging out, not that it would be a date. Should he ask? No. That was stupid. What if Orphan didn’t see him that way? She’d called him a friend, and that was a good sign, but he shouldn’t push it.
It was the only reason he’d rejected the temptation to bring candles.
After a few minutes, Danny debated sending up more fireworks when he heard the mechanical whir of a grappling gun scrape onto a corner of the building, and Orphan appeared on the roof, gracefully and effortlessly pulling herself up.
Butterflies fluttered in Danny’s stomach at the sight of her, shooting ridiculously giddy nerves up into his throat, and he had to clear it with a soft cough.
Danny grinned wide and gave a small wave. “Hey.”
“Hi.”
Gosh. What did he do now? He was suddenly very nervous. Danny looked around and gestured awkwardly at the cushions spread around for her to sit on.
“Uh. . .I thought, er, you might be hungry, with the, ya know, swinging all around Gotham thing. Or, oh, of you don’t have a way to eat without covering your face, we could, just talk, or. . .um. . .go somewhere else?”
In response, Orphan reached into a pouch of her utility belt and pressed a mask to her upper face, and removed the cloth covering the lower half.
Danny took it in, the angles of her jaw, the shape of her lips and nose. If he was being honest with himself, he would have been able to pick her out of a crowd just by the aura of her soul. And if not that, then her eyes and hair and structure of her body shape, and he had a feeling Orphan knew that too.
Giving the appearance she was at least trying to protect her identity was a formality at this point.
She took the hand he held out to her. Her hand was small, but even through her gloves and gentle hold, he felt the strength in it. It was a battle not to focus on it too much as she followed to settle on the ground next to him.
He may be struggling with the whole. . .trying to date her by not dating her but not trying to trick her into dating him cause that would be a jerk move(she wouldn’t fall for it anyway, she was too clever for that) but hoping to bring her around to the idea of dating, but if there was anything his parents had succeeded in teaching him was how to be a gentleman!
They broke hands once they were sat.
Danny bit his lip and went to open the basket.
He had come very prepared. Other than Mac and cheese and Minute Rice, he couldn’t cook to save his life, and so he’d gone to the Lunch Lady for help. Still, despite the variety he’d brought, he didn’t know Orphan’s preferences, or if she had allergies or anything, and he anxiously withdrew the first few dishes.
He almost went to Jason to get the scoop, and then realized Jason didn’t know he knew he was Red Hood, and therefore, Orphan’s brother.
. . .
Oh no. . .
Was Jason still upset with him? He hoped Jason didn’t mind that Danny was pursuing Orphan(not that Orphan would ever let anyone influence who she dated so heavily), but he wouldn’t want this to put a strain on their relationship. Orphan was his favourite, but if he couldn’t be good to her family as well as her, then he may as well burn down this potential bridge right now.
“So, um. . .how’s patrol been so far?” Danny placed down a bowl of proper Mac and Cheese—not the “swill” Lunch Lady had blown up in his face—a hot pan of fresh lasagna, and Lunch Lady’s famous garlic bread, all still covered in tinfoil to keep the heat in.
In his peripherals, he saw Orphan nod. Danny nearly jumped out of his skin when she reached out to gently touch where his shoulder and chest met in a purposeful way, the butterflies suddenly turning into flesh-eating moths with the intensity they were trying to escape the burst of warmth.
He was nodding before he could even form the words in his brain, mouth moving uselessly before it did what it was supposed to. “Ye—uh—ga—gogood—good too. . .” He clamped his mouth shut, quickly turning the burn in his face studiously towards the food and drinks he continued pull out.
He was gonna die. That was so embarrassing.
But then, Orphan giggled softly, and he thought dying of embarrassment might be fine if it could elicit that sound.
What happened next, happened so fast, that he almost didn’t register it.
He turned to face her, gaze flicking to her hand which lay comfortably in her lap, but he knew he hadn’t imagined it.
“Everything okay?”
She nodded.
Danny licked his lips, fumbling for a topic to address as he took out bottled waters and packaged foods, packed in case she was dubious about eating things from unknown sources. “So, anyway. . .” Danny didn’t know what to do with his hands or what to focus on, so he just kept unpacking more and more food. Orphan didn’t bring attention to it. “Any-anything new going on?”
Gah! Why was he so bad at this! Why was talking to her so much easier when it took place in crime scenes!
He supposed they hadn’t really had a proper conversation yet. . .
Okay, he just had to chill. Talk to her like he would talk to Sam and Tucker and Jaz—
No, NOT Jazz! Definitely not Jazz!
Keeping his sights on both the basket and Orphan, so that he wasn’t directly looking at either, he saw her move to sign. But then she aborted, whipping a hand up to her ear and down again to sign, so fast, he thought he saw after-images.
Danny paused to actually look at her, trying to focus on what she was signing rather than that marvellous act of impressive speed and agility. Did that count as agility? He was counting it towards her superior agility.
‘Actually—‘ Orphan huffed, interrupting herself to tap a series of clicks against the com in her ear.
Not a second later, the Duckling appeared on the roof, soon followed by Red Robin.
Danny sagged while Orphan rolled her eyes.
He had been wondering when they’d show themselves. NightWing and Spoiler seemed to have decided to remain in hiding.
“Hey, guys.” Danny sighed not so subtly. This was his first opportunity to get some sorta alone time with Orphan and they were crashing it.
He couldn’t say he didn’t understand it though.
Red Robin crossed his arms, his stance relaxed but very obviously judgemental, like a high school girl assessing his worth.
“Tt.” The Duckling also crossed his arms, appearing much more condemning, in a “I’m better than you in every aspect and will execute you if I want to” way. So. The usual. “A roof is a poor choice for a romantic venue.”
Danny’s face turned beet red. “This isn’t. . .it’s not meant to be—we’re just—“
“Is your ultimate goal not to woo Orphan?” The Duckling narrowed his eyes at him. Red Robin snorted out a laugh.
“Wha—well—I mean—“
“You can do better than this, surely.”
“Stop.” Orphan said.
Robin’s lips pursed, face scrunching adorably.
‘Need something?’ Orphan signed, a clear invitation for them to leave. That was a good sign, right?
“Yeah. Robin has something to say to Danny, don’t you?’
If it was possible, the Duckling’s face screwed up even further in displeasure. “Tt.”
“Oh? What is it?”
Robin didn’t look down at the ground, that would be much too unbecoming of his stature, but he did avert his gaze, the slightest shift in the weight between his feet giving away his discomfort. “You’re. . .interference last week didn’t result in catastrophe.”
Danny fought to keep the smile down. He had a feeling that was the closest he was going to get to a “thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He said anyway, garnering a glare in return, though there wasn’t much heat to it.
“Speaking of interference.”
Danny leaned back on his hands and threw his head to the sky with a sigh as NightWing and Spoiler finally decided to join them.
“What was that rock you had?”
WOW. What a smooth segue.
“And how did you find us?” Red Robin sauntered closer and dropped to the ground across from him. Orphan did not look amused.
Danny hummed, slightly annoyed they were using his time with Orphan to corner him. They must have known escaping just wouldn’t be worth sacrificing this. “I won a guided trip through the Himalayas and got separated from my group. I heard something going on in this temple thing and followed it.” He shrugged.
Thankfully, they didn’t question his story further, either from resignation or (the more unlikely reason) from belief. “And the rock? You just so happened to have a rock that could magically break mind-control?”
“Yep.” Danny popped the “p”. It wasn’t even a lie. Ever since he came across it in the treasury, he’d kept it on his person to avoid having his mind taken over again, in the unlikely event that his mental resistance and training was not enough. “Never leave home without it.”
“Where’d you get it from?” Spoiler looked at him suspiciously.
“I inherited it.”
“You did not just inherit it.” Red Robin rejected like it was the most outlandish thing he’d ever heard.
Danny glanced over the lot of them, taking in their more-than-usual suspicion and wariness. They didn’t appear hostile, however.
He sat up.
This was because they hadn’t been able to find records of him, wasn’t it?
Welp. He’d known to expect this.
“It’s the truth, I don’t know what to tell ya.”
“Are you magic?” RR asked casually.
“Um.” He rose an incredulous eyebrow, as if he didn’t know how to respond to such an obviously ridiculous question.
“An inter-dimensional being?” RR leaned forward slightly, tone lowering and becoming more intense in a quiet way, like if he pretended to be calm enough, Danny wouldn’t notice his overwhelming need for knowledge.
He’d already failed. It was very noticeable.
“What? Where did you that idea from?”
“What’s your real name?”
“Danny Fenton.”
“It can’t be! Unless you’re an alien or something!”
“Stop it.”
Danny and everyone else turned to Orphan’s unexpectedly exasperated tone. RR, the Duckling, NightWing, and Spoiler all shared looks.
‘Trust him. Leave or be nice.’
Danny’s jaw went slack at the ultimatum, indescribable emotions burning in his chest. If he wasn’t already in love, this would have been IT.
He wouldn’t even have been able to deny how his expression slowly turned smitten. He could feel it in every muscle of his face.
Red Robin went quiet like a kindergartener silenced by his teacher, looking put out and displeased. He picked sullenly at a seam on his armoured pants.
The Duckling clicked his tongue and picked his way to a cushion where he primly sat down. Danny met his unwavering glare with a self-satisfied smile. It faltered a bit when Spoiler and NightWing followed the Duckling’s example.
Orphan sighed, not happy about their continued presence, and sent him an apologetic look.
Oh boy. Did he ever sympathize.
Danny huffed a small laugh, flapping an unworried hand. “It’s ok. I get it. After my last girlfriend tried to kill me, my sister and friends were paranoid about anyone new I met.” He rolled his eyes.
“Hold on, your what tried to do what?!”
Danny sighed. “Yeah. Apparently I’m not “a good judge of character”.” Danny used finger quotations and scoffed. Letting them fall, he leaned back on them once more. “But my sister dated an undead biker who used her body to stuff his real girlfriend into, so I don’t think she has room to judge. Oh yeah—“ Danny ignored the choking sounds and straightened to dig into the basket. He retrieved a large, reusable bag.
“You can’t just—!”
“Wait, you have a sis—“
“I pi—er—ordered some desserts from other countries that I thought we could try after we eat.” Danny placed the bag near Orphan and began emptying it. She took a curious peek inside and withdrew a box of Tres Leches Cake. Danny was excited to try that one.
“How’d that even!—ohh, that looks good, can I have some?” Spoiler, easily distracted, leaned forward.
NightWing did too. “I haven’t had Papanasi in forever.” He murmured, eyeing another box.
Even the Duckling’s and Red Robin’s ever suspicious sights had been lured to the various desserts.
Danny glanced at Orphan. “Up to you if you wanna share.”
Orphan turned to look at her siblings like she was sizing up her mortal enemies. The vigilantes stared back.
She pulled all of the desserts closer to her in a possessive motion and began storing them back in the bag, never taking her eyes off of them. “Mine.” She uttered with no room for argument.
Danny grinned and laughed at all of the pouting.
“It’s okay. You guys can have some of the other food.”
Boom!
An explosion rocked through Gotham, debris blowing out from a building further down the street. Heads turned to it, listening for screaming, noting the damage and number of fleeing civilians, for anyone injured.
No one moved to get up and turned to look back at Orphan, Danny, and the spread of delicious smelling food.
Danny glanced between them all and the smoke now drifting up and melding with the sky. “Umm. . .shouldn’t you guys get that?”
“Batman’s got it.” They said it as one, and chills went down Danny’s spine.
“. . .Okay?” He carefully got some plates and cutlery out and placed them in the middle of everything for each person to take what they wanted.
“Did you make all that?” Spoiler gestured to the homemade food and took a large bite out of the sandwich she’d had to wrestle out of the grocery packaging.
Danny barked out a laugh. “No way. When I tried to make lasagna, it gained sentience and screamed at me when I tried to cut into it.”
NightWing looked up from his Mac and cheese with a confused face. The Duckling rose a dubious eyebrow. Red Robin snorted as if he thought it was funny, but didn’t really understand.
How cute. They thought he was joking.
“Plus, ya know, I forgot to add the hamburger. And the cheese. And to take it out of the oven.”
Spoiler nearly choked on her sandwich when she laughed.
“How do you forget the cheese!?” NightWing exclaimed, affronted.
“I did grate it the night before, but then I put it in the fridge, and forgot about it.”
“You’re pathetic.” The Duckling said coolly and stabbed at the salad he’d gathered for himself. “How will you provide for Orphan in your wretched state?”
Danny spluttered, startled into dropping the fork he’d just picked up.
‘It’s okay. I’ll do the cooking.’ Orphan signed.
Danny gaped at her like a fish, feeling the burn return to his face with a vengeance.
Spoiler dropped her food, wheezing through her laughter as she doubled over, bracing a forearm on the ground. The others weren’t far behind her.
Danny leaned on his knees and covered his face with his hands. He let an eye peek out when he felt fingers drifting briefly through his hair. Orphan was touching his hair.
Oh, Ancients, he really was going to die again.
He re-hid his eye.
Boom!
Everyone stopped laughing, straightening to the sound of an even larger explosion. A voice synchronized through several coms came to life, telling the vigilantes to get their butts in gear.
NightWing sighed, sadly putting down his half-eaten Mac and Cheese. “We gotta go. Catch ya next time.” And he swung off.
“We’re not done talking.” Red Robin pointed at him before he dove off the building, followed by a cackling Spoiler. The Duckling gave him a stink eye as he got up to leave.
Orphan rose as well, and Danny held in a disappointed sigh. Instead, he grabbed a few bottled waters, packaged granola bars, stuck them in the desserts bag, stood up with her, and held it out to her.
“Here, take this.”
For once, Danny could actually see her smile. Gentle, yet strong, like a tell towards her personality, subtle and quiet, but no less immovable for it. Her gentleness could move mountains.
Danny must have heartburn or something, drilling right through his soul. It was intense, and he wobbled from side to side on his feet for a second, slightly dazed at the sight.
She took the bag and turned to leave, but paused with a foot on the edge. She came back.
Before he could blink or process what she’d done, her soft lips pressed a quick peck to his cheek, withdrawing just enough for her gaze to meet his.
Danny gasped, barely holding himself from flinching back at the sudden sensation, and reached up to touch his face with wide eyes.
“Next time, we date.” She said. No, commanded. And then she was suddenly gone on the wind, grappling gun shooting out.
Danny could only watch her go, stunned. The world was still. The world was upside-down. The sky was falling, or maybe it was falling upwards. The universe had aligned in his favour for once.
No, he wasn’t going to die from embarrassment, he was going to die from pure overload.
