dpxdc fic idea (reposted with some minor edits)
Danny's parents loved him. They loved him when he came out as trans. They loved him when he later came out as bi. When he came home with skinned knees, black eyes, and bloody knuckles they just told him that he's get em' next time. They loved him with every tardy and unexcused absence and ADHD diagnosis. When A's turned to F's they told him to keep his chin up. Telling them he was Phantom should have been just as easy. Who would have known they'd be fine with everything, except that he died.
The next family was evangelical nightmares. They thought his death made him more in touch with The Lord. His troubles were his cross to bear. The trans thing they could even stand behind to a degree. As long as he kept it between him and God. But loving two people simultaneously? They could never.
The Mormons had nothing against loving twice at once in life or death. (Just keep your lips sealed and your voice low) his medical history got lost in the shuffle so Danny doesn't know what they would make of any of that. They seemed to take offense to his propensity for starting fights and black eyes and bloody nose and broken teeth. At least, that's what he thinks they were yelling about. It was kinda hard to hear over the concussion and the blood roaring in his ears.
The next family, devout Catholics, didn't even let him get through the door before they deemed him a Satanist, and sent him off straight away. (which was for the best, their aura of guilt reminded him too much of Spectra. they would have consumed him whole given the chance)
After that he spent some time in a group home, the other boys warmed to Danny at first. They laughed and joked and took turns using him to scare the others. Until they saw his scars. He left soon after that.
The system lost track of him for a while.
He spent some time in Star City and watched The Arrow take on the worst criminals. He watched the man work to do good, even as those in power tried to paint him as a villain. Danny thought he had finally found someone who might understand. Then one day. By accident he swears. He saw the man behind the mask. One Oliver Queen. A billionaire. Raised rich. Spoiled. Pampered. Normal. Tragic and missed. Revered. Never meet your hero's they said. Danny fled.
Before eventually finding him just outside of Philly. There he was placed in juvie while they waited for a home to open up. (One never would) Danny called Amity one night, late, from the pay phone a long the wall (a trick learned from Technus years ago and not even a penny was needed). How was he to know one of the other boys would pass near on the way to the bathroom and hear Danny whisper "I love you. God I love you Tucker" it wasn't long before everyone else knew too. Danny left.
He ended up in Gotham. Stayed for awhile. Got a job. Caught up on the school he had missed. Met Robin. Briefly when the boy saved his life. "Just a child" Danny had thought. Saving others because it was the right thing to do. And then. One day the diner where Danny worked part time came to a dead stop, as there, on the News, was Robin. No Batman in sight. Getting beat by the Joker. They all held their breaths. Waiting for the Bat to drop in and save the day. For Robin to reveal it was all a ruse as he hit the Joker with some hidden weapon. The Bat didn't come. The Bird didn't wake. Eventually Batman did arrive. Far far too late. And the city watched in horror as Batman, let the Joker walk. Again and again and again.
Danny doesn't know how. But he found himself in Central City. A city of Metahumans. Experiments gone wrong. Victims of a tragedy. And he saw the governments response. How they treated everyone the same. They all got their trials. As fair as they could be made. The Flash worked with the police. Was given allowance to handle the supervillains where the regular police couldn't. Danny watched as the public came to love their hero. To rally for better laws to help metahumans. Danny watched as The Flash got his own Merch and a signature drink. Saw the hero talk to those about to jump off a building and those about to rob a bank with the same care. Saw as he tried to understand. Watched as he took no mercy when unforgivable lines were crossed. Watched as he turned on who Danny deducted (based on vibes and limited context clues) was his mentor-killing him- when The Flash learned of the things the other man had done (tried to do, will have done? Danny thought time travel was involved as was confused). Danny saw later. When the deed was done. And the Flash was talking to another man (a police officer he recognized from some of the crime scenes the Flash showed up too) and removed his cowl. To reveal...a guy. A guy called "Barry". Danny saw the guy at crime scenes later. He was a CSI. A scientist. A dude. With super powers. Danny looked him up online and found a surprising amount. A dead mother. Imprisoned father (falsely if the little Danny was able to piece together from the showdown the other day was anything to go by) bullied for things outside of his control. And definitely at least a little gay if his banter with "Captain Cold" was any indicator. (Danny swore Cold was only committing crimes at this point for attention. Dude really needed to get another hobby).
Danny went to the roof of a building for some quiet and cried.
The Flash found him like that. Hours later. And seemed to hesitate. He hated these conversations. He'd gotten better at them over the years. But by the Speed Force they never got any easier. In the end he say near the distraught teen and gently asked if he'd like a hug. He wasn't expecting the kid to launch himself at him. Barry froze only long enough to regain his balance before reciprocating the gesture.
