I know this is gonna sound really stupid, but hear me out for a moment!! So what if Danny was by himself in Gotham (most likely because his parents kicked him out or smth) and as he wanders the streets he gets hit by fear toxin. But instead of seeing his greatest nightmares or whatever, he instead gets high as fuck.
Quick reminder: He doesn't have his suit or anything on him so instead he's just going through Gotham causing chaos and making messes for the BatFam as DANNY FENTON.
At first he's just a cryptic in Gotham like a myth of sorts, but as time passes more people start to realise that he's actually real. It starts when he began breaking into people's basements to sleep in (mainly Red Hood because he radiates ectoplasm. Even if it is contaminated) and eating their food since he gets the munchies when he's high. And then he just randomly beats up major rogues as if they're normal weak people. Like just imagine:
Joker who's doing joker shit aka terrorizing people before he spots Danny wobbling around in a drug induced haze: Hello little boy, didn't your parents ever teach you to not get too close to fights?
Danny who's absolutely high off his ass: Huh? Oh, ewwwww! Why did you have to be a clown of all things?! You don't even make funny jokes! You're literally just a random ass man who decided to deal with his gay crush on Batman by becoming a villain who focuses only on that Bat guy! Like genuinely what is your motivation??? Are you just a villain for fun or do you get off on people's misery?! Or are you really just that inlove with Batman that you feel the need to have his attention on you at all times?! You need more character depth than just being a psycho clown! Ancients know we have enough of that trope!
Joker who is lowkey just flabbergasted right now: Wait wha-?
Danny just starts beating the shit out of him solely because he's a (evil) clown (everyone else assumes he's trying to save the civilians, but he's to high to even notice they're there): Damn, even box ghost was harder to beat!
Before the civillains run away they record a TikTok video of Danny - 15 year old scruffy scrawny homeless looking Danny - beating the ever loving shit out of Joker. Needless to say it blows up, and rumour goes around that he's some sort of ghost haunting Gotham so people start leaving him shrines.
Danny finds these shrines and thinks they're pretty sweet, and absolutely adores the food they usually have (fear toxin is everywhere so he's always constantly high. The only reason why the rest of Gotham doesn't react to the fear toxin that's constantly in the air is because they're slightly immune at this point. And so he always has the muchies)
Meanwhile Batman is just freaking out 'cause who the fuck is this new guy (kid?? Is that really a kid?? And better question: Is he an orphan?) in Gotham??? And why can't he seem to find anything about him?! (Amity Park is very closed off and only the Government plus the citizens know it exists)
Also as a little bonus I like to imagine that Gotham loves their little ghost boy so any time that the GIW comes (and they come A LOT) the citizens of Gotham simultaneously chase them away. Even the rogues do it at this point (even Joker. He hates Danny for what he said, but he appreciates his humour & bravery against him)
(Should I make a post about Gotham protecting Danny? And while I'm at it, should I do one of the Batfam & Danny interacting?)
I love sanders sides because it is, fundamentally, the story of a man learning to love and accept all the different parts of himself, but all the parts of himself are gay and stupid and he is also gay and stupid
I love sanders sides because it is, fundamentally, the story of a man learning to love and accept all the different parts of himself, but all the parts of himself are gay and stupid and he is also gay and stupid
Danny trying to scare the Drakes away: You're going to die in ten days.
Tim: Is that business days or weekends included?
Danny: What?
Tim: I mean that changes the dates by a lot. I could die next Friday or I could die the following Tuesday.
Danny: I don't think you understand boy. I'M A GHOST!
Jack from another room: Tim, tell your ghost friend to use his inside voice please.
Tim yelling back: Sorry Dad!
Janet from the same other room: Does your friend want to stay for dinner?
Tim yelling back: Can he stay the night?
Janet: Sure!
Tim: This is great! Maybe they will let us stay up pass our bed time!
Danny: What? No! Im haunting you. This is a haunting. You should be scared!
Tim:....oh. you're doing a really good job. I'm terrified.
Danny: Don't patronize me!
Tim: no no no. That whole blood dripping from the walls and the chains? Real classy! You're doing great!
Danny: Really? Cause this my first haunting and I was a little nervous it was a bit cliche.
Tim: It wasn't at all! See Mom and Dad get haunted a LOT when they bring back artificats and you're by far one of the best ghosts! They flinched when they saw you the first time and they almost never flinch when a demon gets out of a amulet or something.
Danny: Aw thanks man. That means a lot.
Tim: Of course. Hey do you want to play some viedo games? I got the new Mega Shooters 5!
Danny: Okay but afterwards we go back to haunting.
Tim: Deal! :D
Janet peaking in: Hey boys I made you some cookies.
Danny: Thank you Mrs. Drake! You didn't have to go through the trouble.
Janet: Oh no trouble at all dear. Im just so happy Tim finally has some friends. And your dead which means you will never leave him! In fact, I can bond you to Tim with all the little nitnacks we found on our digs. forever! :D
Danny:....okay. That's alarming thing to say but....thank you for the cookies.
I know this is gonna sound really stupid, but hear me out for a moment!! So what if Danny was by himself in Gotham (most likely because his parents kicked him out or smth) and as he wanders the streets he gets hit by fear toxin. But instead of seeing his greatest nightmares or whatever, he instead gets high as fuck.
Quick reminder: He doesn't have his suit or anything on him so instead he's just going through Gotham causing chaos and making messes for the BatFam as DANNY FENTON.
At first he's just a cryptic in Gotham like a myth of sorts, but as time passes more people start to realise that he's actually real. It starts when he began breaking into people's basements to sleep in (mainly Red Hood because he radiates ectoplasm. Even if it is contaminated) and eating their food since he gets the munchies when he's high. And then he just randomly beats up major rogues as if they're normal weak people. Like just imagine:
Joker who's doing joker shit aka terrorizing people before he spots Danny wobbling around in a drug induced haze: Hello little boy, didn't your parents ever teach you to not get too close to fights?
Danny who's absolutely high off his ass: Huh? Oh, ewwwww! Why did you have to be a clown of all things?! You don't even make funny jokes! You're literally just a random ass man who decided to deal with his gay crush on Batman by becoming a villain who focuses only on that Bat guy! Like genuinely what is your motivation??? Are you just a villain for fun or do you get off on people's misery?! Or are you really just that inlove with Batman that you feel the need to have his attention on you at all times?! You need more character depth than just being a psycho clown! Ancients know we have enough of that trope!
Joker who is lowkey just flabbergasted right now: Wait wha-?
Danny just starts beating the shit out of him solely because he's a (evil) clown (everyone else assumes he's trying to save the civilians, but he's to high to even notice they're there): Damn, even box ghost was harder to beat!
Before the civillains run away they record a TikTok video of Danny - 15 year old scruffy scrawny homeless looking Danny - beating the ever loving shit out of Joker. Needless to say it blows up, and rumour goes around that he's some sort of ghost haunting Gotham so people start leaving him shrines.
Danny finds these shrines and thinks they're pretty sweet, and absolutely adores the food they usually have (fear toxin is everywhere so he's always constantly high. The only reason why the rest of Gotham doesn't react to the fear toxin that's constantly in the air is because they're slightly immune at this point. And so he always has the muchies)
Meanwhile Batman is just freaking out 'cause who the fuck is this new guy (kid?? Is that really a kid?? And better question: Is he an orphan?) in Gotham??? And why can't he seem to find anything about him?! (Amity Park is very closed off and only the Government plus the citizens know it exists)
Also as a little bonus I like to imagine that Gotham loves their little ghost boy so any time that the GIW comes (and they come A LOT) the citizens of Gotham simultaneously chase them away. Even the rogues do it at this point (even Joker. He hates Danny for what he said, but he appreciates his humour & bravery against him)
(Should I make a post about Gotham protecting Danny? And while I'm at it, should I do one of the Batfam & Danny interacting?)
Tim Drake is many things: a genius, a detective, a vigilante, a caffeine-dependent insomniac with abandonment issues and seventeen backup plans for every imaginable outcome.
What he is not, however, is delusional.
Which is why when he finds a kiss mark—an actual lipstick kiss mark—pressed to the inside of his favorite hoodie, he does not panic. He calmly, rationally, pulls the hoodie off, examines the fabric, and blames Steph. Probably Steph.
Except… it’s neon green. Not Steph’s color. Not Cass’s style either. Babs doesn’t do lipstick. Kon doesn’t own lipstick. And the only people who’ve been in his apartment recently are Bruce (definitely not), Damian (God, no), and Alfred (crime).
He throws the hoodie in the wash. Industrial cycle. Hot water. It should come out.
It doesn’t.
It doesn’t even fade.
It glows slightly under UV.
Okay. Fine. One hoodie. Maybe it’s old. Maybe he forgot something. Maybe he bought it that way.
But it happens again.
And again.
And again.
Old hoodies. New hoodies. Hoodies buried at the back of his closet that he hasn’t worn since he was sixteen. A hoodie still in the packaging, tags attached—he opens the bag and there’s a green kiss mark on the inside sleeve, like it’s been waiting for him.
They’re always placed differently. Sometimes hidden in the seam of a cuff. Sometimes pressed on the back hem. One tucked into the folds of a sleeve. One directly on the chest, over his heart.
He checks for tracking devices. Hidden ink. Sensors. Spoilers. Anything.
Nothing.
And it doesn’t stop with the hoodies.
One day, after a long patrol, he peels off his Red Robin gear and catches a glimpse of green near the collar of his suit. He freezes.
Another kiss mark. Same color. Right on the inside lining.
There’s one on his glove. One hidden under the fold of his utility belt pouch. One on the lining of his cape.
What’s worse? The Batcave scanners pick them up. There’s residual ectoplasm. Babs runs the data three times before looking at him like he’s either cursed or dating something from the beyond.
(He’s not. He’s pretty sure.)
Every attempt to investigate it fails. The cameras glitch. Video footage loops or scrambles. Laser grids are bypassed by something moving through walls. Magical wards short-circuit. Even Constantine shrugs when Tim reaches out.
“Strong liminal energy,” Constantine says, puffing a cigarette. “Someone’s got their spectral claws in you. Not a curse though. Feels like... courtship.”
“Courtship,” Tim repeats.
“Yeah. Spectral wooing. Ghost smooches. Congrats on your engagement, mate.”
Tim hangs up.
He doesn’t sleep that night.
Meanwhile, Gotham is experiencing what can only be described as “mild haunting.” But by Gotham standards, it’s barely a blip.
There are no mass possessions. No destructive battles. Just… ghosts. Hovering. Watching. Whispering things when Tim walks by. They show up at patrol spots. Float past his apartment. Some even drop cryptic notes: “May your union be fruitful,” and “Blessings upon the Chosen.”
Occasionally they throw gifts at him. One leaves him a glowing thermos full of ghost flowers. Another—a floating knight in spectral armor—bows low while handing over a box of what Tim can only imagine is their version of chocolate, before vanishing with the words “For the chosen consort.”
Tim’s furious.
He’s not dating a ghost. He doesn’t know any ghosts. He doesn’t want to be courted by one.
...Probably.
Except.
Except sometimes, when he’s alone, he swears he feels someone there. Not threatening. Just present. A warmth in the air. A flicker in the corner of his eye. A soft sigh on the back of his neck. A whisper:
“Mine.”
And Danny Phantom—Protector of the Ghost Zone, King of the Infinite Realms, 100% a disaster bisexual—floats outside his window every other night with his face pressed against the glass like a cat trying to figure out if the human inside likes him.
Because Danny’s not trying to scare him! He’s just following tradition!
See, ghosts mark their chosen with energy. They ward off rivals. They court with gifts and blessings and acts of devotion. And yeah, maybe leaving lipstick marks on someone's battle gear is a little extreme, but Danny’s working with ghost etiquette, okay? And from where he's standing, no one's stopped him.
(Though Jason did try to stab him once. Danny considered it a bonding experience.)
Now Danny just needs Tim to say yes so the full wedding rite can be completed. The lipstick marks? Those are just... engagement placeholders.
The problem? Tim doesn’t know he’s essentially dating a ghost.
The bigger problem? Gotham’s ghosts do.
And they’re ready to throw hands with anyone who thinks they’re a better match for Tim Drake than the literal Ghost King himself.
Tim? He just wants one hoodie without magic lipstick on it. He’s not even asking for peace anymore. He just wants answers.
What if while Phantom is courting the ghost way, Danny has been trying to court the human way.
Maybe Tim is taking classes at Gotham University or something and they have class[es] together and always do projects and homework together and just generally hang out after class whenever they can. And like, everyone with eyeballs knows that Danny is so whipped on Tim. Even Jason, who stabbed Phantom in part because he knew Danny was courting Tim and wanted the ghost to back off because he thinks Danny is good for Tim. But Tim is just oblivious.
He's just, tired. And usually preoccupied with a dozen other things. And his new friend Danny is fun and funny and cute and brilliant. Plenty smart enough to keep up with Tim when he gets going on one thing or another. But Tim has so much going on all the time, especially now with this whole 'courted by a ghost' situation; that dating, especially dating a presumed civilian, is so far from his mind he's missing all the obvious courting Danny is doing.
Bonus, Danny has actually told Tim he's half ghost. He didn't say the direct words 'I am Phantom' because they were in public on campus and frankly he assumed Tim had made the connection himself. But it only seemed fair seeing as he knew who Tim was in mask due to ghostly shenaniganery.
He also told Jason after the stabbing incident and has freely introduced himself to several other Bats. But through an absolute comedy of errors and miscommunication, this detail has completely gone over Tim's head, much like the courting itself, and Danny has no idea that Tim doesn't know.
So the other Bats do know and they think it's hilarious.
They're siblings. And all brilliant in their own capacities. Still, when Tim really gets into a groove and starts glossing over half the connections his brain is making and not fully explaining his thought processes, it can be hard to keep up. Then when they tell him to slow down and go through it step by step, he gets frustrated. So having just one-thing-kinda-two that they know that has gone over Tim's head; it feels like vindication.
So they'll hold on to this as long as they can, then lord it over him for the rest of his life and apparently afterlife. Until then they'll gleefully sit back and watch everything unfold like it's their personal, weekly telenovella to kick back and relax from Bat work to.
With a sigh of resignation, Tim gives in to the terrible suggestion that Constantine gave. Summon the damn thing and banish it.
Constantine did not have the specific summoning circle that Tim needed, but he did give Tim a name for a bookstore. Doing the research proved to be surprisingly easy.
As Tim meandered the store’s copious shelves, the books he needed were quite obvious. When he sat in one of the plush chairs by a fireplace filled with candles, another book when appear next to him. While checking out, the cashier made a vague comment about his “aura” and tried to convince him to buy a candle “that encourages protective spirits.”
“Just the books, please,” Tim insists.
The cashier gestures to the air around him. “You sure? Your coloring is quite strong.”
“Yup, which is why I’m getting the books.”
They look at the titles while ringing him up. “I see, then I really would recommend using this candle.”
“Okay, fine, sure. And I’ll take an energy drink from your fridge. Whichever is fine.” He buys it just to appease them (and not because he might need protection from this thing. After all, Tim is rational). However, he swears the cashier smirks when they place a neon green can on the counter.
Meanwhile, Danny is over the moon! His chosen is taking an interest! It’s finally happening! Evening though it’s a roundabout method, trying to summon him when Tim could just talk to him after class or something, who is Danny to stop Tim? Danny is more than happy to assist in finding the right information and he’s positive that Tim is smart enough to figure out the right combination. It’s not going to be hard with the marks Danny has given his chosen.
Tim choses one of the safe houses and sets to work in the basement. The books are never far from his reach when he needs to reference them and he swears that a phantom hand guides his through some of the more convoluted symbols.
Finally, he dumps a load of kissed hoodies in the center of the chalk circle (and lights the damn candle). For a moment, Tim feels entirely misled as he calls out into the empty air, “Okay, show yourself, you hoodie defacer.”
Then a shimmer of green light and a figure appears in the circle, floating over the pile of hoodies. The skin is black as night, hair shocking white, limbs a gradient into star flecked purple, but Tim’s attention is locked on that neon green mouth that splits into a smile. “Dear heart, you finally called.”
The voice is almost familiar? Hard to tell with the way it echos. Tim shifts his attention to the luminescent green eyes. “Who are you and what do you want?”
The figure pauses, startled, raises its twinkling hands up as if to plead or to offer everything. “You know me. I’m your betrothed.”
“Nope, that’s not an answer.”
The figure pauses, eyes flicking between Tim’s, weighing and assessing and reassessing. Then there is another flash of light and Danny Fenton is standing before him. “I thought you were supposed to be a genius detective.”
For a moment, Tim is slack jawed as his brain races to connect several red strings into one full picture. Cold hands, slow heart, ghost accident, meta-human liminal powers. Classes and meet-ups and late night study sessions. It’s definitely the caffeine making his heart race.
“My name is Danny Phantom, King of the Infinite Realms, Ancient of Space, Protector of Thieves, and Apprentice to the Ancient of Time.” Danny quirks a smile, his lips flashing green as he clicks his tongue. “But that’s too long, so you can just keep calling me Danny.”
Tim finds his words. “The kisses appeared when you started attending my classes.”
Danny shoves his hands in his pockets as he lands next to the pile of hoodies. He nudges one with the toe of his ratty sneaker. “Yeah, well, you saved me.”
“I saved you?”
“I was lost in the time stream,” Danny explains, “an errand for Clockwork gone wrong. Then I heard your voice and you anchored me. I chose you to anchor me.”
Tim pinches the bridge of his nose, a memory flashing into his head. “I should have died. I was supposed to die. I shouldn’t have survived that fall. The angle to land on the mattress wasn’t right and even then I landed without bouncing. That was you.”
Danny nods.
“Why couldn’t I see you until now?”
Now Danny heaves a sigh. “The energy is fucky here. I had a heard time perching through the veil as my ghost self.”
“Then you could have talked to me like a normal person.”
“It has been… a long time… since I’ve been a ‘normal person.’” Danny’s cheeks flush green. “And since I met you as my ghost self, it seemed right to court you that way.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah.”
“I like your candle,” Danny says. “It’s a poor imitation of an eternal flame, but the sentiment is the same… I hope.”
“I’m gonna need you to be more specific.” Tim says.
Danny blinks at him. “Is this not you agreeing? To marriage?”
Tim nearly chokes. “Marriage! We barely know each other!”
“I see, then you wish to court the mortal way.”
“I-“ Tim pauses, thinking. “Actually yeah. Let’s start with that.”
Danny steps over the circle boundary and places a green kiss on the back of Tim’s hand.
John Constantine: Hey, Batman, you have kids, right?
Bruce: I do.
John: Great. How do you keep them alive? Mine keeps trying to pick fights he can barely win.
Bruce: You're a father?
John: Just adopted a homeless half-ghost boy named Danny. He's a bit of a menace, but I love him as my own. Want to see a photo?
Bruce: Sure.
John: There's my boy, and here he is in his ghost form. He calls himself Phantom when he's glowing like this, a little on the nose, but he's only fourteen.
Bruce:.....Can I buy you a drink?
John: I would usually say yes, but Danny's astronomy club is almost over and he needs me to pick him up
Bruce: How about you both come over for dinner then? My kids would love to have a new challenger for their video game night. My butler is also making Yorkshire pudding-
John: We will be there, Handsome, if only for a fellow Brit's cooking and pick your brain for parenting tips.
Bruce Mentally: I'm going to become Danny's step-father, yes I am.
AU where when Bruce gets lost in time he ends up helping start the Stonewall Riots 🙏. Like it could be an accident or it could be on purpose but I need it to happen. And then whenever one of the batkids tries to jokingly accuse him of homophobia, he’s just like “actually, I threw the first brick at stonewall” and nobody knows if he’s telling the truth or not. But then like he’ll also be so adamantly against homophobia and sometimes he struggles not to bring it up in conversation.
Bruce: You’re grounded.
Tim: Wow, during Pride Month??? Way to let your biphobia show.
Bruce: My brick gave you pride month so I’m immune to that accusation.
Tim: What the fuck??? What does that even mean???
Damian, at dinner, talking about transphobes in his classes: I understand violence is discouraged at the academy, but surely this can be the exception.
Alfred: Unfortunately not Master Dam-
Bruce: Back in my day, we used to hit them with bricks and beer bottles.
Everyone: 👁️👄👁️
Alfred, trying to remember any incidents where this happened: ????
Damian: Thank you for the advice, Father.
Dick and Jason, getting picked up from the police station for getting involved in a riot against transphobes and homophobes: Listen, we can explain -
Bruce, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye: I’m so happy you decided to continue the family tradition. I couldn’t be more proud.
Are you going to make another part for the Angel and Demon Brat? If you do, please have them fumbling and Damian + Danny taking full advantage. Also, could you do something about Cujo please? I don’t think Danny would move without him
Danny will admit that he is having a little too much fun with his birth father's family. But could one blame him? They made it all too easy. Also, he was starting to see why Damian had been a bit hesitant to tell them about him.
It was not that they threatened him in any way, but he could see how hard it was for them to have a normal relationship with anyone. Just his small forms of affection made a lot of the Waynes' skin crawl.
They still gave in regardless. Danny worries it's the most hugs any of them have gotten in years. It couldn't be mentally healthy. Or could it? Some people didn't like to be touched, and that was fair.
He did have to play a careful balance.
He knew that if the League of Assians found out about Damian caring for him, Danny would go from being a Lost sibling to a Dead sibling. The Waynes on the other hand were under the impression that denying him anything would cause Time to erease him- not that Clockwork would dare. Who would try his spicy salsas then?- so they were much more careful in how they handled him.
Tim was his favorite. Danny could tell the other boy really liked being acknowledged, and unlike Dick, who thrived on being the center of attention, Tim struggled to let people know.
So Danny had small ways to give him what he desperately craved and had a little fun with it.
He carefully knocks on the boy's door room, clutching his pillow and blanket. There was a small pause where he could hear Tim scruffling around, likely trying to hide the coffee maker under his bed. Danny didn't have the heart to tell him the whole mansion but Alfred and Bruce knew about his bedroom coffee maker.
Maybe he should hint about it tomorrow at breakfast? Watch Tim sweat?
He shifts his face into an innocent expression when Tim opens the door. The other squints at him, likely catching his more mischievous expression but unwilling - or unable- to call him out on it.
"Angel Brat?" Tim says weary. The nickname rolls off his tongue so easily that one would think Tim has always called him that. Danny applauds his acting ability.
"Hi, Tim! I'm here for our bi-weekly ritual," he chirps, pushing the confused teen aside to step in. He gently rolls his heart pump behind him, mindful of the wires. It's on top of his gas tank, which he chose to wear so he could breathe some clear ectoplasm.
Gotham's ectoplasm was polluted with negative emotions, and it was giving him a headache.
None of the machines was actually doing anything—his heart rate will never be regulated due to his powers—but it was the perfect excuse for why Danny wasn't seen that often in public.
Barbara had gone back into Gotham gossip rags, publishing fake articles and small rumors on the internet that dated to the first day Damian arrived. This gave him some proof of existing before, but with the "timeline reset," it would make sense why no one could recall Danny.
As far as the Gotham citizens were concerned, Danny was an unproven rumor at best. People were asking about him but weren't daring enough to demand who Danny was.
Barbara was the best like that, and Danny should convince Damian to give her and her dad an even longer, all-expenses-paid vacation. She deserved it.
"Our bi-weekly ritual. Of course. Must have have slipped my mind." Tim carefully articulates. His words are clipped enough Danny can tell he's confused. Danny beams at him nonetheless, sitting on the ground carefully after he finishes adding his pillow and blanket to Tim's bed.
He leans his back against Tim's beg, crosses his legs underneath him, and takes a deep breath of ectoplasm.
Tim pauses for only a moment before walking over and sitting cross-leg in front of Danny. The younger boy pays him no mind while fumbling with the bag he brought along.
Danny began pulling out all his needed supplies. Five candles- each with a different color flame are left in a small circle. Five bottles sealed with wax and labeled with different named potions are carefully added to the center of the circle- he makes sure that the glitter liquid inside does not shake too much less the small surprise is noticed.
Then he pulls out a large book, with the image of a screaming skull on the cover. It's large enough that he has to set it on the ground, a thump produced from the weight.
He then carefully claps his hands four times, switching Tim's lights off so the only glow is the green, blue, pink, purple, and yellow light of the candle.
Tim looks a bit distressed. likely thinking Danny was about to start practicing the Black Magic or something. It's hard to keep a straight face as he fights off a giggle at the expression being aimed his way while he flips through the pages.
Tim carefully taps his hand against a bracelet on his wrist, which connects to the Bat's communication lines. The rest of the Bats are probably thinking that Tim is in danger even though he was supposed to be on rest duty and have tuned into the conversation. Danny isn't supposed to know that, though, since he is not "healthy" enough to be a vigilante, so he ignores it.
"Alright, should I start or you?" Danny asks when he lands on the page he was looking for. It's in Latin, which he knows Tim can read but that doesn't stop it from being creepy.
"You can start first."
"Really? You never let me go first in the bi-weekly ritual!" Danny cheers, leaning down to the page. From the corner of his eye, he can see the distress blooming more on Tim's face.
"I'm feeling...generous. I think you're old enough to start our bi-weekly ritual that requires colorful candles, a large black skull book in Latin, and five colored potions." Tim says obviously repeating the materials to the eavesdropping Bats.
"Thanks, Tim! Okay, here we go." Danny holds out his hand above the book muttering in Latin.
"Oh great, Clockwork, master of time, head my call and tell me the answer to my inquiry." Danny quickly switches to English as he grabs the potion in pink glitter. Giving it a good shake, he continues. "Does Kon-El think Tim is cute?"
The glitter shifts until a dice appears with the words- More likely than you think is visible. Danny squeals showing Tim, "Omg Tim, you have a chance!"
Tim's face falters and then turns an alarming shade of red. "What?!"
"Wait the following questions!" Danny reaches for the remaining bottles, making sure to go in the color order of the candles. Will Kon ask Tim to marry him? Yes! Where will they live? A mansion. How many kids will they have? fifteen! What will Tim's future job be? A photographer!"
Danny flips the page over to a table of data, squabbling down the answers. "Okay, you're going to get married to Kon, live in a mansion, have fifteen kids, and be a photographer. This is the third time in a row that Kon has married you. I think Clockwork is on your side for this one, Tim. It's my turn!"
Danny pretended he couldn't hear Jason laughing his ass off in Tim's earpiece or Dick's voice cry out. "No fair! I want to play spooky MASH on a bi-weekly basis."
Tim is beet red, fumbling with his hands. "Who-i-what-?"
Danny frowns. "Are you okay Tim? Should we skip Bi-boys night?"
"Bi-boy night?!" Tim squeaks.
"Yeah! I thought I would give our hang-out night a nickname, and since we mostly end up talking about cute girls and boys, I thought we could name it bi-boy night. You know since you're the only one in the family that's bi like me? I know no one will want to date me. I'm too sick...but it's nice to have a brother who gets crushes."" Danny hunches his shoulders a little ignoring the way Tim's eyes widen a bit with affection. He's touched that Danny came to him for this. Fool. "We can skip my turn. It's not like I'll have someone anyway."
Jason has stopped laughing, and Steph softly whispers. "That's so cute and sad. Who's been hurting our baby?"
Tim swallows. "No. We are not skipping your turn. We are going to play this game because anyone would be tripping over themselves for you."
"Really?" Danny smiles hopefully at Tim. Tim nods firmly, then narrows his eyes.
"No dating until you are sixteen."
"I know." Danny rolls his eyes "You've said that before."
"Good."
"But I can still have crushes right? Because I have one on Jon."
"Jon Kent?" Tim asks at the same time Bruce growls the name.
"You won't tell Dad will you?" Danny asks after nodding and blushing. Damian told him yesterday that Jon pissed him off, and with the power to heat up his ectoplasm just behind his checks, causing them to flush, he thinks he just found a good way to make the super regret upsetting his brother.
Nothing like an overprotective Bat clan to dish out vengence.
"No," Tim says, grinding his teeth. "No, I won't tell. But since I already got married to Kon maybe we can try someone else."
Danny's eyes sparkle with barely concealed glee. "Okay, let's use my second crush! He's super cooler anyway"
"Of course, what's his name?" Tim asks picking up the pink bottle.
"Your friend Bernard," Danny says, knowing Danm well, Tim had an undiscovered crush on the guy. He watches with glee as Tim chocks on his spit.
"What?!"
"Yeah, he's got muscular arms, and he can cook," Danny sighs dreamily. "Damian thinks he's hot too."
"No." Tim gasps.
"I do," Damian says over the cons to the collective shock of everyone. "Dowd has a fine physique. He's also great with animals. I approve of Daniel's involvement with him."
Danny's lower lip wobbles. "No? I can't play the game?"
Tim takes one look at him before caving. "Does Bernard Dowd think Danny is cute......it says no."
"Oh. If Clockwork doesn't think so, then I guess it's not meant to be," Danny sighs.
"Who is Clockwork?" Tim asks, placing the potion down.
Danny blinks. "You don't remember Clockwork? Lately, everyone has been forgetting important things around here. Is something wrong?"
Danny allows his body to flicker a bit with his powers, acting as if he didn't notice as Tim grows alarmed.
"I'm joking! It's a joke! Of course, I know Clockwork! Ha ha ha! Why don't we do the next thing on our Bi-Boy Night!? Want to watch a movie?!" Tim practically leaps out of his seat racing to TV. "What are you in the mood for? Comedy or horror?"
"A musical!"
"A musical!?"
However, Damian has to stop on a roof to laugh into the concrete as he listens to Drake- an active hater of musicals- try to sing along to something called High School Musical and act like he loves it as Danny sings with him. He can hear Drake's blood pressure rise with every new line
I know this is gonna sound really stupid, but hear me out for a moment!! So what if Danny was by himself in Gotham (most likely because his parents kicked him out or smth) and as he wanders the streets he gets hit by fear toxin. But instead of seeing his greatest nightmares or whatever, he instead gets high as fuck.
Quick reminder: He doesn't have his suit or anything on him so instead he's just going through Gotham causing chaos and making messes for the BatFam as DANNY FENTON.
At first he's just a cryptic in Gotham like a myth of sorts, but as time passes more people start to realise that he's actually real. It starts when he began breaking into people's basements to sleep in (mainly Red Hood because he radiates ectoplasm. Even if it is contaminated) and eating their food since he gets the munchies when he's high. And then he just randomly beats up major rogues as if they're normal weak people. Like just imagine:
Joker who's doing joker shit aka terrorizing people before he spots Danny wobbling around in a drug induced haze: Hello little boy, didn't your parents ever teach you to not get too close to fights?
Danny who's absolutely high off his ass: Huh? Oh, ewwwww! Why did you have to be a clown of all things?! You don't even make funny jokes! You're literally just a random ass man who decided to deal with his gay crush on Batman by becoming a villain who focuses only on that Bat guy! Like genuinely what is your motivation??? Are you just a villain for fun or do you get off on people's misery?! Or are you really just that inlove with Batman that you feel the need to have his attention on you at all times?! You need more character depth than just being a psycho clown! Ancients know we have enough of that trope!
Joker who is lowkey just flabbergasted right now: Wait wha-?
Danny just starts beating the shit out of him solely because he's a (evil) clown (everyone else assumes he's trying to save the civilians, but he's to high to even notice they're there): Damn, even box ghost was harder to beat!
Before the civillains run away they record a TikTok video of Danny - 15 year old scruffy scrawny homeless looking Danny - beating the ever loving shit out of Joker. Needless to say it blows up, and rumour goes around that he's some sort of ghost haunting Gotham so people start leaving him shrines.
Danny finds these shrines and thinks they're pretty sweet, and absolutely adores the food they usually have (fear toxin is everywhere so he's always constantly high. The only reason why the rest of Gotham doesn't react to the fear toxin that's constantly in the air is because they're slightly immune at this point. And so he always has the muchies)
Meanwhile Batman is just freaking out 'cause who the fuck is this new guy (kid?? Is that really a kid?? And better question: Is he an orphan?) in Gotham??? And why can't he seem to find anything about him?! (Amity Park is very closed off and only the Government plus the citizens know it exists)
Also as a little bonus I like to imagine that Gotham loves their little ghost boy so any time that the GIW comes (and they come A LOT) the citizens of Gotham simultaneously chase them away. Even the rogues do it at this point (even Joker. He hates Danny for what he said, but he appreciates his humour & bravery against him)
(Should I make a post about Gotham protecting Danny? And while I'm at it, should I do one of the Batfam & Danny interacting?)
Instead of making another Tumblr post I will work on this idea on AO3 under the username "Queer_Weirdo69" so if anyone is interested there is where I will post more (as of right now there is no post yet, but that will probably change in the following week or so)
Danny is the son of Talia Al Ghul, however he is NOT the son of Bruce Wayne. Ra’s has had his eyes on various people across the world that have either impressed him or show a unique skill set that he’d like to have. One such person was under the both categories and he got Talia to collect a DNA sample and as a result Danny was born.
This was before Bruce’s time with the League by a few years, but very quickly Danny was not meeting expectations. And by the time Bruce did show up Ra’s had lost all interest in Danny, moving on to better things.
Talia always hated Danny because she was forced to have him with a man who she never liked in the first place. Furthermore, because his skillset was lacking she found that even more reason for her distain. In her eyes, he wasn’t worth even considering her blood.
Danny, knowing that he was doomed if he didn’t make an escape, left the league sometime around when Bruce was moving up the ranks and was making waves within the organization. Perfect timing honestly, any attention he might have had was quickly gone when this prodigy showed up.
Danny escaped the League and went into hiding quickly after, settling on a rural area of the United States after bouncing around countries for a few months. This was mainly because Jasmine Fenton saw a young boy pick pocketing strangers while her family was visiting Chicago and scolded him. Her mother and father saw the boy and also lectured him to which Danny responded it was his only option (he was trying to get this loud family off his back so he could sneak away). Eventually the Fentons decide that if he has nowhere to go he might as well go with us, and Danny decides blending in with a Nuclear Family is the best way to ensure that his peaceful life away from the League stays that way. Oh how little did he know.
Flash forward a few years, Talia, who was visiting Gotham to check on Damian, sees a glimpse of a boy (now man) she thought she had forgotten. Her blood runs cold, if this abomination is in Gotham then her son is likely in danger and she would never let anything happen to Damian.
Danny had been in Gotham scouting for colleges, Gotham University wasn't half bad if you got past the fact that the physic's teacher was a villain on the side, and the Headmaster was sort of insane.
He had felt a glare burn into his back, and hadn't thought much of it until he had been wandering a fairly empty park.
"Danyal."
He sighed, and counted backwards inpig latin, searching for the illusive feeling of patience.
"Talia."
Not mother, never mother.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed, Danny turned finally, staring at the woman he used to think hung the stars in the sky.
"Collage. Might go here." he said in the most nonchalant voice he could summon. "Then again, I do have a full ride at a few other places, so it's really just looking."
"I don't how you found out about Damian but I will not let you harm him-"
Danny blinked, then blinked again. He took a deep breath, then exhaled.
"Who?"
talia cut off mid rant her eyes wide and oh would you look at that, Robin and Batman were hovering at the edge of the park how nice.
When Talia didn't say anything, still staring dumbly at Danny. And he sighed, Maddie, who in his mind, was his actual mother was beginning to approach from behind.
Danny might not be considered and Al Ghul, but he still knew how to read a situation.
Why else would Talia be in Gotham if not to visit her beloved and their child?
"He's your son isn't he?"
Talia tensed as if he had spat at her.
And Danny just felt tired. He didn't hold anything against Damian, but he dispised the woman in front of him with a passion that rivaled obsession.
Maddie was closer now, and so was Batman and Robin.
"Look Talia, I don't give two flying fucks about you, who ever you slept with, or whatever brat you had. I stopped giving any shits about you or what you do in your free time when you kicked me out and told me to 'fend do yourself you abomination.' So kindly, get the hell out of my life, I'm not some vengeful-"
"Dan-o!" Maddie's voice cut through the tension like a knife, and Danny smiled wide and warm.
"Oh, hey mom, thought you were still in the car." he commented, leaning into the tight side hug he was given.
"Well you were taking forever, and I could've sworn the ecto-detectors went up!" his mother chirped, before she caught sight of Talia, and finally seemed to read how tense Danny was. "Danny whose this?"
Danny looked his birth giver dead in the eyes.
"No one important." he said in a dead tone. Turning around he began to slink away. "I"m skipping Gotham University, to many unpleasant figures, to little learning."
Madide blinked then smiled.
"Ah, well, Star City is much better, want to head there next?"
"Yeah, that'd be great."
_____________________________
Talia blinked after the boy and the redhead.
He had called her mom.
She had been 'no one important.'
Didn't her boy once look at her like she had hung the very sky?
She had ruined that, hadn't she.
but why was he calling that woman mom?
She was his mother.
She was.
"Talia." Danny's voice called. She hadn't seen him turn back, nor the way the woman paused. "Kindly stay at least 100 miles from my Family. I don't need you ruining that too."
Kind of want no one to know who Danny's bio dad is (only Ra's but he doesn't count). It doesn't truly matter to the parties involved, Talia hates that she didn't choose him or even know him, Danny already has a dad and has no need for another, Ra's won't tell. All in all, this just makes Bruce more convinced that he is in fact the father. The less proof of the contrary the more he believes it. After all, if it wasn't him, why would they waste so much time trying to hide it?
It would all be easier if Danny would let them take a quick blood sample to do a paternity test, alas the teen is nowhere to be seen most of the time and in his few appearances, he always notices someone's getting close to him before they have the chance to poke him.
Danny's very done with everything. He knows he's being stalked and just wants them to leave him alone. They haven't even tried to talk to him? At this point, he's considering moving to the infinite realms for a few years to see if he can lose them that way.
In the meantime, Damian's decided to go against his father's orders not to contact his brother and has set up a meeting. He doesn't particularly care if Danny is Bruce's son or not, he just wants to get to know his cool older brother who managed to leave the league and live a normal happy life without the protection of someone powerful like Batman.
Wait, what if after Danny meets Talia again or what ever, Ra's tries to summon the ghost king to find another way to stay forever immortal (or something like that) . Only to find out that the Ghost King is the same boy he once loathed for not being good enough. Like just imagine:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ra's stared at Danny in shock after he emerged from the summoning circle.
Danny glared at Ra's while still wearing his pajamas. "Hey, asshole" He hissed.
Talia also stared at him in complete shock. "Danya-?!" She tried to say, but was quickly cut off.
Danny, who is now glaring at Talia as if she killed his family interupts her. "Shut up. Shut the fuck up." He tells her eerily. "I told you to stay away from me and my family, and yet here I am! You're both such pieces of shits, you know that?! Before you all hated me and treated me like an abomination, and yet you have the nerve to stand here and ask me for some sort of favor?! And before try to defend yourself, I know for a fact that you didn't just summmon me for fun, you want something, and I'm not going to give it to you."
Ra's face started to twist with annoyence rather than shock before he started to talk, venom laced in his voice. "Danyal, you are being unreasonable. You shall not prevent me from earning what I already deserve simply because you feel petty. You were once a disgrace to the Al Ghul bloodline, but now-"
Danny yet again interupts him, but now he looked downright pissed "Didn't I just tell you to; Shut. The. Fuck. Up!"
Th other members of the league watched in horror as the temperature in the room drastically went down, and a bone chilling wail escaped Danny's mouth. Danny took a deap breath to try to calm himself before he straightened his posture, and stared blankly at the people he used to call his family.
"I am done with you all constantly discriminating me for simply being human. I am done with looking up to you as if you were some sort of God. I am done with trying to prove myself to you both despite the fact that I will never be good enough for you. Most of all, I am done with the both of you. I was a child, I didn't deserve being treated like that." Danny spoke with a blank tone that got more and more vulnerable the longer he talked.
Talia tried to ignore the burning guilt in her gut as she listened to the boy who once adored her. She was once his inspiration, why could she only see that now? She looked at his empty face, and mentally compared it to the face of the boy who once looked at her with constellations in his eyes and a smile full of admiration.
Danny sighed.
"I am done. Don't ever contact me again." And with that Danny transformed into his ghost form, and left. Talia continued to stare at his retreating for even as Ra's voice registered in her brain. She simply just stared, and wondered why she never returned his love back when she had it.
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But I don't know, that's just some random crack idea. However, if anyone has any fic recs for either the original post or this one, please comment them!
At some point when Jason and Dick are hanging out Dick goes on a rant about how as Nightwing he can’t lose it like red hood can and how he is sick of everything and how he is angry and how he would love to be able to lose it like red hood does every night just once
About a week later when Dick got back to his apartment after work there was a red hood suit crafted specifically for Dicks measurements with a note saying
“Go nuts Dickhead”
Now he should NOT do this it was a bad idea…but Jason is out of town for a couple of days and he wouldn’t want the ally left unprotected
Bruce was very confused when he saw his son who was supposed to be out of town blow up a warehouse
He was even more confused when said son looked like he had lost some of his bulky muscle it wasn’t super obvious but he was Batman and that was not red hood
He was gonna go stop the fake red hood when cass put a hand on his arm and said that he needed this and to let him have his fun
Dick blew shit up didnt hold his punch’s got to say the things he wanted to say but couldn’t cause they were to mean as Nightwing
Jason and Dick never discuss this but when ever Jason’s outa town he always makes sure that the red hood suit is on his brothers bed
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