Alfred no idea what the word pansexual means but not about to admit that: I've always had my suspicions, sir.
Bruce: Oh really? Since when?
Alfred: Since you were five years old.
Bruce: You've known for ten years? Wait, is this about the Grey Ghost? Did you figure me out because of that?
Alfred: Yes.
Bruce blushing: Okay, you're right, but it was only the animated version of him!
Alfred confused: Yes?
Bruce: Please don't tell anyone I had a crush on the Grey Ghost.
Alfred, realizing what pansexual might mean: Of course, sir. My mouth is sealed. Is there any particular reason you brought this conversation up this fine morning?
Bruce: Well... you might get a call from the Academy, and I wanted to get to you before they do.
Alfred: Hmm? What happened at the Academy?
Bruce: I may have gotten into a fight, but it was for a really good reason. A couple of blokes found out the new transfer student, Daniel Fenton, was a friend of Dorothy and tried to beat him up in the showers. I intervened.
Alfred in his mind: Who the hell is Dorothy???
Alfred out loud: Well done, Master Bruce. It's always important to stand up for those who are weaker or in less favorable situations.
Bruce: Thank you, Alfred. By the way, I think I'm in love with Daniel. He didn't need my help at all. He was scary. And pretty.
Alfred: Scary how?
Bruce dreamily: He put one of the blokes in the wall.
Alfred: ....pardon?
Bruce: He grabbed one of them. And sunk him into the wall.
Alfred, not knowing if that is another slang phrase, but not about to admit it: Well good for Mr. Fenton. I could see why such a young man would grab your attention. Do you plan on pursuing this new love?
Bruce: Yeah! Maybe he'll me in a wall *dreamy sigh*
Alfred inhis mind: So being put in a wall...is good???
Tim: Did you just throw a brick through my window!?
Steph: You left me on read!
Tim: I was busy!
Steph: With what!?
Danny walking out of Tim's bedroom rubbing his eye: What's going on?
Steph: Oh.
Tim: It's not what you think! He's wearing shorts underneath that oversized shirt!
Steph: I wasn't thinking that.
Tim: Good.
Danny: Tim? Who's this?
Tim: This is Steph AKA Spolier-
Steph: Whoa! I'm the one who gives out spoilers not you.
Danny: Oh the purple one. Can you help me get back to my dimension?
Tim: She doesn't have magic.
Danny: Boo. Okay I'm going back to bed. Wake me up when a magic user gets here. Also Tim you better be in bed when I wake up so I can feast.
Tim: Of course. Night Danny.
Danny: Night. *closes bedroom door*
Steph: So he can ✨️feast✨️
Tim: Its not like that! He feeds on emotions through physical contact and his healing factor depends on the the same thing! I'm literally a medical aid for him.
Steph: *wiggles eyebrows*
Tim: Stooooppp. Aren't you supposed to be mad at me?
Steph:... oh yeah, I am. You left me on read! I'm still wounded and was wearing civilian clothes! I could have died!
Tim: I'm sorry I didn't think killer ballerina was a emergency.
Steph: what?
Tim: Your text.
Steph: *pulling out her phone* Ohhhhhhh I accidentally pressed the ballerina emoji. Sorry I meant to press the crocodile one.
Tim: No worries- Wait. YOU BEING ATTACK BY KILLER CROC?!
Bruce: You can't just bring back every creature you find on missions Damian.
Damian: Why not?
Bruce: First of all, we don't even know if we can provide a healthy environment for this creature.
Damian: Daniel is a creature made entirely of ectoplasm. All we need is a dark, damp, and emotionally driven space. I was thinking we can establish him in an unused cave near the batcave.
Bruce: Damian, this is a manifestation of shadows. It's literally a wrath.
Damian: He prefers the term phantom. Wrath is a slur.
Bruce turning to Danny: I apologize for using a slur. I was unaware abd uneducated in the proper terms.
Damian: Bow when you apologize. Its the proper way
Bruce bowing at the waist in the lowest right angle he can get: I sincerely apologize for my behavior.
Danny: *Whispers of the dead while nodding his head*
Damian: You've been forgiven, Father.
Bruce: Thank you.
Damian: We are keeping him because you would never be a bigot and then deny someone shelter yes?
Bruce:....Fine. He can stay, but you are responsible for looking after him.
Damian: Naturally
Danny stuck in a new shadow form and unable to communicate, he's not an animal but a sentient being: *Purr purr purr purr*
Damian excited: He's happy! Look, Father!
Bruce heart melting: Yes, he seems quite content.
Danny in Purr Language: You're such a good dad. A bit of a fruitloop but in a good way. If I had a body, I would make Damian my stepson.
Could you write more about The Ectoscience Expert? The one where Tim flirts with Danny but he has no idea
I'm really looking forward to seeing where that goes 🥺🙏🏻
Danny leaves the presentation in a blur. The entire thing was a blur if he's honest. He hopes it went well, but he can't recall details. All he knew was that he got through his slides, answered questions, and made Superman, Wonder Woman, and Tim Drake smile.
Thinking about Tim Drake, Danny will not lie and say he wasn't hyper aware of the other. Once he figured out the guy had attempted not once, not twice, but thrice to ask him out, and Danny rejected each time like a fool, all he wanted to do was hide.
He had heard the phrase "shoot themselves in the foot" before, but he had never realized how utterly painful it was to experience it firsthand. Especially when Tim kept staring at him with eyes that were....protraying something.
The problem was, Danny wasn't sure what that something was. He didn't look angry, but he also didn't seem exactly friendly either. Danny tried his best to ignore the corner of the room where the Wayne Enterprise representative sat, and focused hard on his notes. He thinks he did well enough that if he couldn't convince them all ghosts were good, at least he planted the seed that they weren't mindless.
He stuck around to answer a few questions, practically going against everything Fenton Works stood for, but the more they talked, the more confident Danny became. He may not know how to command the room or how to make some of the most important heroes like him, but he knew ghosts.
He gathered data. Studied them for years. Is one of them. Danny grew more into his role as they asked more questions about the culture, the societies, and even how Danny categorized the ecto-beings, even as Danny disregarded the information his parents tried to push. At some point, Danny didn't feel like Fenton. He felt like Phantom, and Phantom was always in control of himself and confident.
By the end, he was able to crack a joke, get a laugh from the room, and gather his things to leave. The meeting was going to continue after lunch, but Danny wasn't part of that. He had done his part, and now he was going back to his hotel, lest his parents find out that he had derailed the plan they had practically beaten into his head as the Fentons struggled with that nasty case of flu.
The longer Danny held off on what exactly he talked about, the better. He knew he would have to face it at some point, but better later than sooner.
Danny had packed everything up in a foldable wagon- Fenton Works slapped on the side to promote the family business- and was dragging it through the lobby towards the exit as quickly as possible. Now that he had finished his presentation, Phantom's confidence had vanished, and the boy who was teased for his parents' research came roaring back.
All his insecurities made everyone walking around feel suffocated, and he sped up, wanting to be out of the public eye and safely back in his room. Maybe he watches a movie, orders some room service, makes a call to Tucker and Sam-
"Hey!" A voice cuts through his thoughts like a hot knife. Twisting around, Danny's sight lands on a large chest, rippling with muscle and covered by a zipped-up leather jacket and spikes. Eyes slowly traveling upwards, Danny finds a boy about his age, just a head or two taller, grinning down at him.
Sunglasses sit on his head, and he fiddles with them, from around his fingerless leather gloves. "Hey, I saw your presentation. I liked what you said about clones."
Danny blinks. For a moment, words fail him because clearly this guy would be an A-lister with a body like that. He was hot, in a near-intimidating way, and Danny had no idea why he was talking to him.
After a beat of silence that lasted longer than it should, Danny's brain finally kicks itself into action. "Oh! Um, thanks! I ugh, I've only ever encountered ecto-beings with cloning abilities, but they are just as sentient and their own person. I want people to know that."
The stranger gives him a boyish grin, lowering his eyelids and tilting his chin downwards. Danny's mouth goes dry.
"Not a lot of folks think like that. It's refreshing to meet someone who's cool about clones." He purrs in an odd new tilt to his dialect.
Danny smiles, knowing it's awkward by the way he has to fight to get across his own face. He reaches up to play with his backpack straps, then remembers he's not wearing it and settles for pretending to straighten his tie. He wore a suit because he thought everyone would, but he felt no more comfortable in formal wear than he did in casual wear. "Thanks. I try my best to spread the message and make more people cool."
The guy chuckles like Danny said something funny and not something so tacky he wants to be swolled by the floor.
"I love to hear more of your plans to spread the coolness. I'm Kon, by the way. Do you want to grab a bite with me in the cafeteria?"
"My name is Danny, and I'm fine. I'm going to order food in my room." Danny assures, waving his hands. In doing so, he drops the handle of the wagon, wincing when the thump makes a few heads turn to him. Flushing red, he scrambles to pick it up and back away from Kon. "Thanks for the offer, though."
Kon opens his mouth, but a different voice cuts in that Danny has actually started to recognize. "Sorry, Kon, were you waiting long?"
Walking up to them like he escaped the grandest of all runways is Tim Drake, head slightly tilted and eyes half-closed, like Kon's were a while ago. Danny can't help it, he stares a little round-eyed as Tim comes up to Kon to loop his arm into the other teenager's.
Right, of course. Guys who looked like them were obviously going to be with someone just as attractive. Danny steps further back as Tim's blue eyes lock him in place. "Oh, hello again. Your presentation was great. I saw you took the notes I gave you to heart."
"Um, yeah, they were helpful. Thanks."
Tim nods, then, without warning, holds out a hand. "Sorry about earlier. I gave it a try, but I can see it made you uncomfortable. I want to apologize for that properly."
"What did you do?" Kon questions intregues as Danny stares at the offered hand, unsure if people his age do handshakes. He also wonders if he can wipe his palm on his pants' leg without the other two noticing.
"Ask him out three times. I should have taken the hint-"
"WHAT?" Danny shouts in shock that he openly admitted it to remember to keep his voice down, "YOU WERE ASKING ME OUT?"
The pair stare at him a little in stunned silence before dual grins bleed across their faces. Danny suddenly realizes he made a mistake when Tim steps closer. "Yes, I was. Seeing as I failed to make that obvious, I ask again. Want to have a meal with me?"
"Or me?" Kon cuts in. "As a date, just to be clear."
"Or us both." Tim finishes with a low voice, promising wicked things. "I found Ecto-Specialists very attractive."
Danny is pretty sure he died in that presentation. It's the only explanation for why something like this was happening to someone like him.
Danny: Welcome to Wonder Wiener, where we put wonder in every wiener. How can I help you?
Jason: They make you say that?
Danny tired: Yes, they make me say that. What do you want to order?
Jason: I don't know. What has the least soul?
Danny: ....You're one of those guys mad that we built over the old chili hot dog vendor's spot, aren't you?
Jason: IT WAS THE BEST FOOD IN GOTHAM AND YOUR COMPANY RAN HIM OUT.I'VE BEEN EATING THESE DOGS SINCE I WAS SIX
Danny: Sir. I don't own this place. I'm just a minimum wage worker. I did not make the corporate decision to screw over a fellow lower-middle-class man.
Jason: Right. Right. Sorry. I....I love those hot dogs. And now he's gone. Run out by a big company that sells the same thing with no taste.
Danny: He's not gone. He just two street away. I bought my lunch from him.
Jason: what?
Danny: Yeah, I liked his food too. So I helped him get a permanent spot with the city. Here is his card.
Jason: I love you
Danny: Yeah a lot of his clients tell me the same.
Jason leaning over the counter to stare into Danny soul: No. I love you.
Danny inches from Jason's face: Ugh. Okay?
Jason: If you need anything. You tell me. And if anyone bothers you, I will kill them for you. I will send Red Hood after them. You just say the word.
Danny: I...I rather not.
Jason: Okay. I'm leaving my phone number for you just in case.
Danny: Yup.
Danny, as soon as Jason leaves: And this is going in the box of all the other numbers of people who claim they can call someone crazy to help me on their behalf. Ha. Like those people know the Bats.
Alfred: Master Bruce, what's that under your shirt?
Bruce: Nothing. This is just big on me and it looks bulky because of that.
Alfred: Lift up your shirt, then.
Bruce: I'd rather not.
Alfred: Why not?
Bruce: Its a cold night and I-
Bruce's bulky shirt: *moves*
Alfred: ....
Bruce: .....Can I keep him?
Alfred: Did you find an animal you want to keep as a pet? Master Bruce, you don't have to sneak the poor thing in like this. You could have just ask and I would have gladly allowed it. Where did you find it?
Bruce: ....In a cardboard box, floating down the river. Someone wrote "This is where you belong for stealing our son, exto-scum" on it. I couldn't let him drown.
Alfred: People are horrible. I'm proud of you for helping. Is it a cat or a dog?
Bruce's shirt: *baby wails*
Alfred: *freezes*
Bruce slowly lifts his shirt to show the crying baby strapped to his chest: It's a boy. He'sNameIsDanny.
Alfred: Wha-
Bruce: *Throws blue confetti into his face from his pocket* IT'S A BOY!
Danny: *Baby laughter*
Alfred: Agh! You little shit- did you pocket sand me!?
Bruce running to his room: He'sMyNewBabyBrotherPleaseDon'tHurtMe.
Alfred: You can't pick up a baby and claim it's your brother! Master Bruce!
Vlad: Hello, Fentons, I wanted to invite you to my daughter's debutante ball. It will be in Gotham this year, hosted by the Wayne Family.
Jack: Wow, you have a daughter?
Vlad: Yes, her name is Danielle, but she insists on being called Dani. With a I. Also, you're the parents of my child.
Jack: ....What?
Maddie: Yeah WHAT?
Vlad: Do you to remember in college when we were short on tuition? Do you remember what the three of us sold?
Jack: Yeah we went to that clinic to-oh
Vlad: Yes. I realized I wanted to be a father, and since I haven't found a wife, I decided to adopt the first child available. That child was my daughter, who was made by the same clinic using random available donations years ago for a couple that broke up before her birth. I checked the donors' numbers and realized I recognized they were the same numbers I used to fill forms out with, and now- well, this is Dani.
Dani: Hi!
Maddie: Oh my, she looks just like Danny!
Jack: That's incredible!
Vlad: Yes, and since you are the reason I have a child, technically. I wanted you there for her debutante ball.
Maddie/Jack: I love to!
Danny watching from the top of the stairs: That's the best excuse they could think of to explain my clone?
Jazz: Well, it's better than saying "Hey, Mom, hey Dad, Vlad used to be obsessed with Mom, and we spent a whole year fighting him from killing Dad to marry Mom. In that time, he made a clone of Danny, who ran away from him. Then that clone met Batman while traveling, living on the streets, and Batman helped her take down her father, only for Batman to somehow recognize Core Corruption in Vlad and get him medical attention that took away his craziness. Now he's a dotting dad, a cool uncle to us, and is either trying to seduce Batman or out Dad him to raise his daughter, who is again the clone of Danny."
Danny: I mean when you say it like that, then yeah, their randomly match up secimen from the old clinic sound story sounds better.
Alfred no idea what the word pansexual means but not about to admit that: I've always had my suspicions, sir.
Bruce: Oh really? Since when?
Alfred: Since you were five years old.
Bruce: You've known for ten years? Wait, is this about the Grey Ghost? Did you figure me out because of that?
Alfred: Yes.
Bruce blushing: Okay, you're right, but it was only the animated version of him!
Alfred confused: Yes?
Bruce: Please don't tell anyone I had a crush on the Grey Ghost.
Alfred, realizing what pansexual might mean: Of course, sir. My mouth is sealed. Is there any particular reason you brought this conversation up this fine morning?
Bruce: Well... you might get a call from the Academy, and I wanted to get to you before they do.
Alfred: Hmm? What happened at the Academy?
Bruce: I may have gotten into a fight, but it was for a really good reason. A couple of blokes found out the new transfer student, Daniel Fenton, was a friend of Dorothy and tried to beat him up in the showers. I intervened.
Alfred in his mind: Who the hell is Dorothy???
Alfred out loud: Well done, Master Bruce. It's always important to stand up for those who are weaker or in less favorable situations.
Bruce: Thank you, Alfred. By the way, I think I'm in love with Daniel. He didn't need my help at all. He was scary. And pretty.
Alfred: Scary how?
Bruce dreamily: He put one of the blokes in the wall.
Alfred: ....pardon?
Bruce: He grabbed one of them. And sunk him into the wall.
Alfred, not knowing if that is another slang phrase, but not about to admit it: Well good for Mr. Fenton. I could see why such a young man would grab your attention. Do you plan on pursuing this new love?
Bruce: Yeah! Maybe he'll me in a wall *dreamy sigh*
Alfred inhis mind: So being put in a wall...is good???
Bruce: What's got you looking so down? Usually, you're brighter than the sun for our monthly coffee and pastries day.
Clark: Sorry, I'm happy for our monthly meet-up, but I've been stressed lately. It's Jon; he's been having trouble in school.
Bruce: What kind of trouble?
Clark: There's this kid who keeps picking on him. Lois thinks he needs to ignore him and tell a teacher when something happens, but she was never bullied like Jon and me, so she doesn't get it. Jon knows not to use his powers to defend himself, but I don't want him to just take it, you know?
Bruce: Bullies are the worst. I had my fair share in school.
Clark: Really? You?
Bruce: I wasn't always the dizzy playboy. In school, I was severely depressed about my parents' death and chose to take comfort in the alternative style.
Clark: You were emo in middle school?
Bruce: I was emo in middle school, high school, and some of college. Got picked on every day for it. It's insane to hear my kids say it's cool now.
Clark: Times have truly changed. Did you know Jon says anime is in now, too?
Bruce: Yes, Damian adores it. Also, get this: Tim openly plays Dungeons & Dragons, and he even cosplays in public without anyone blinking an eye. Kids think everything nerdy or geeky is cool now.
Clark: That's insane.
Bruce: Really makes someone feel their age, huh? By the way, why is that kid picking on Jon?
Clark: Wish I knew. Apparently, the unmannered young man-
Bruce: You can say the little shit. It's fine. Ma Kent is not around.
Clark: Apparently, that little shit just thinks Jon deserves to suffer. And there is nothing I can do about it! I've tried talking to his teachers and school, but there is only so much they can do!
Bruce: You know, whenever my kids have trouble in school with bullies, I always solve it using my connections.
Clark: Thanks, Bruce, but I don't think you'll have enough influence in a Metropolis school. I mean, you could bribe their parents, but-
Bruce: Oh no, not those kinds of connections. I meant the ones in the After Life.
Clark: ....what?
Bruce: I have connections in the After Life. Say the word, and I can have the Prince of Ghosts here within the hour. He'll pose as a regular human boy who can handle Jon's bully for him.
Clark: He's not going to...kill anyone, is he?
Bruce: I don't kill. Just severely mentally scar anyone who thinks they can mess with my kids. The Prince has this wonderful ability to trap someone in their own mind!
Clark: .....You worry me.
Bruce: I get that a lot
Clark: But for my son, I'm willing to overlook it. What's the prince's name?
Bruce: Phantom. His name is Danny Phantom, and he's been my friend since I was ten years old. Trust me, Jon has nothing to worry about. Danny will have everyone thinking a great Evil has rested in that school by the end of the week.
Danny opens a coffee shop. He titles it the Human Bean, a play on "human being" and an excuse to have bean bags everywhere. Mostly, though, it's titled that out of spite because of a bad reveal: his parents no longer consider him a human being, so this is his own personal f-you to them.
Danny decided that the Human Bean must be open in a dangerous city in the country because he thrives on negative emotions. It's his ghost diet. Rather than put himself in negative situations, he goes to places that have a lot of conflict and eats on second-hand sadness, feelings of helplessness, and overall human distress.
He chooses Gotham because it's dangerous and has a big enough difference in classes within the same city, which means that those emotions are always present, but it's not so dangerous that he could die on a regular walk. He avoided Bludhaven despite the fresh, for-the-picking emotions. That place is crazy.
Despite his necessary ghost diet, Danny is unusually upbeat and friendly. In Gotham, that usually means he's either A. Mad B. A goon/upcoming rogue. Or C. was a front for something far worse. People weren't too willing to get close to his brightly colored business/home, especially since he set up right smack in the middle of Crime Alley. He fixed up the building and chose white, yellow, and blue as his main colors, standing out even more among the broken-down buildings with faded red.
Danny doesn't mind. As Ghost King, he has so much money that he might be the richest man in the world- he just has no paper trail for his funds, so he runs his coffee shop for fun and as an excuse for where he gets his money.
He values comfort above all and has various seats throughout the building, including bean bags, electric recliners, hammocks, swing chairs, and, of course, regular tables and chairs. He wants it to be a place where someone can spend hours regardless of age. The oddness of the setup grabs the attention of a group of middle school kids who wander in cautiously. They spread the word about how cool the place is, and more and more people started to show up.
He offers odd services, too: free wifi, free printing, various craft supplies, rentable gaming systems, and message machines for feet or backs (the last two cannot leave the building). He only charges for drinks; all food items are free. Though he only offers pastries, it's first come first serve and he makes something different every day. If he runs out of pastries, he refuses to make any more until the next morning.
He encourages people to share their woes with him. Much like a bartender, Danny knows things about everyone because they find it easy to tell the man when he's offering them a warm drink and free food. It's almost therapeutic for some to just babble to the man in the comfort of his little coffee shop. Everyone in Crime Alley feels helpless and anxious. Danny is so well fed.
Then one day, a man arrives wearing a suit that might be worth more than Danny's entire building. He orders one black coffee, picks one of the regular plush chairs in the far corner, and doesn't talk much. He just spends two hours typing away on a laptop with a peaceful look on his face. It's almost believable if the emotions Danny senses from him weren't nearly as black as a void. It's delicious.
Danny does everything he can to talk to the man, taking small "bites" of his emotions (He needs to just stand next to someone long enough to start absorbing emotions), but for him to truly feed, he needs them to either share their woes or allow physical contact. But it's like talking to a dumb brick wall. The man has an iron grip on his emotions through sheer will, so Danny can sense the meal but can't reach it.
He all but begs him to come back as they settled the bill. He says he might, but it doesn't sound very convincing. Despite all of Danny's very generous offerings of wares and services, he knows that a man with that suit likely can offer far better. Too bad. He was the best meal he had had in a while. Danny almost accepts he won't see him again until two weeks later, the man returns, once again nearly dripping in sadness but held together by the duct tape of his will.
Danny nearly trips over himself trying to get him to stay. He pays attention to other customers and provides service, but whenever he can, he finds himself wandering back to the same table. He's nearly overwhelmed by how delicious the negative emotions are, and winds up a flustered mess. If anything, this seems to amuse the man who slowly allows himself to get pulled into conversation. Danny learns he is a single father of nine kids and is having a hard time with his two eldest.
Family issues are something Danny knows firsthand, and he finds himself offering advice, taking a seat at the table when his other customers leave, making them the only two people in the building. Danny makes them both a fresh pot of coffee and grabs some scones to share. Outside, Gotham decides it's a perfect time to let rain pour in buckets, and the man decides to wait it out with Danny, even though Danny had flipped the closed sign hours ago. By the time he left, Danny had eaten as much as he could, so much that he felt bloated.
This becomes a bi-weekly tradition, and Danny even starts marking his wall calendar in his room with a heart and "Tasty man comes in". Now, does that mean Danny doesn't know his name? Yes. Why? Because the man introduced himself, but Danny had been so busy taking sniffs of the air and savoring the depression, he didn't hear. It's too late to ask now. He avoids his name by using a nickname. Calls him B because he's pretty sure his name starts with that. B calls him D in turn. Danny is half convinced the other man doesn't know his name either.
This trend has persisted for 6 months. Still, Danny notices the man's depression slowly lessening, and soon, Danny realizes he's happier and actually brighter when he walks into the Human Bean. Which is great! Danny is happy for him! Except he's hungry. That was his favorite meal. What's going on!?
(Bruce Wayne is having trouble with his eldest kids again. Jason refuses to go to the Manor ever since Red Hood and Batman went on a mission together, and Dick is mad about something Bruce said. He isn't sure what it was, but midway through their conversation about Dick's relationship with Koriand'r, his son got angry and stormed out. This caused tension at the Manor with his other children, and Bruce just couldn't handle it. He had gone to a random cafe, somewhere discreet, just to hide from his family while he did some work. Just somewhere quiet and away from it all for a few hours. That's where he met Danny, a cute barista who was earnest and offered some advice on Bruce's dilemma. He tried the advice the other man gave him, and it somehow seemed to work; his sons had forgiven him.
(Bruce went back to the Human Bean more and more just to see) Danny. Somehow, the man made him feel better every time, like the sadness that had been clinging to him since his parents' death slipped away. It didn't take Bruce long to realize he had started to look forward to seeing Danny, as he felt better every time he did, and it showed in his everyday life. They even have nicknames for each other! Not too creative ones since it's just the first letter of their names, but still.)
( His kids were convinced he was hiding a therapist or lover, but Danny wasn't any of those things. He was just happiness personified. Everyone who came to Human Bean loved Danny and agreed his cafe felt like a home away from home. Now, does Bruce's heartbeat speed up whenever he sees the man? Does he feel like he could watch Danny run his cafe for the rest of his life because of how much life Danny had? Does he lie at night wondering what Danny is up to? Yes, but that doesn't mean love! It just means Bruce really needs to make more friends.)
Tim: Did you just throw a brick through my window!?
Steph: You left me on read!
Tim: I was busy!
Steph: With what!?
Danny walking out of Tim's bedroom rubbing his eye: What's going on?
Steph: Oh.
Tim: It's not what you think! He's wearing shorts underneath that oversized shirt!
Steph: I wasn't thinking that.
Tim: Good.
Danny: Tim? Who's this?
Tim: This is Steph AKA Spolier-
Steph: Whoa! I'm the one who gives out spoilers not you.
Danny: Oh the purple one. Can you help me get back to my dimension?
Tim: She doesn't have magic.
Danny: Boo. Okay I'm going back to bed. Wake me up when a magic user gets here. Also Tim you better be in bed when I wake up so I can feast.
Tim: Of course. Night Danny.
Danny: Night. *closes bedroom door*
Steph: So he can ✨️feast✨️
Tim: Its not like that! He feeds on emotions through physical contact and his healing factor depends on the the same thing! I'm literally a medical aid for him.
Steph: *wiggles eyebrows*
Tim: Stooooppp. Aren't you supposed to be mad at me?
Steph:... oh yeah, I am. You left me on read! I'm still wounded and was wearing civilian clothes! I could have died!
Tim: I'm sorry I didn't think killer ballerina was a emergency.
Steph: what?
Tim: Your text.
Steph: *pulling out her phone* Ohhhhhhh I accidentally pressed the ballerina emoji. Sorry I meant to press the crocodile one.
Tim: No worries- Wait. YOU BEING ATTACK BY KILLER CROC?!
Danny: I mean you can try you're best but I'm already half way there.
Dick: You destroyed Haly's Circus!
Danny: Ohhhh, you're one of them!
Dick: Yes I am-
Danny: Odd. There aren't any angry spirits around you. Did you not know the real reason that circus existed?
Dick: What are you babbling about-
Danny: It was a breeding ground for a super-secret rich organization to train children and then steal them to turn into undead weapons. Some of the spirits of past victims came to me asking for vengeance. I joined the circus just to track the organization and kill everyone involved. Not my fault, that was most of the circus folk.
Dick: LIAR
Danny: Don't believe me or do, I don't care. All that matters is that I killed everyone involved with that little plan. And I mean everyone. I have quite the collection of white masks.
Dick: I'LL KILL YOU-
Danny: Cute. Try your best. Countless others have attempted to end me and none have ever succeeded * Shifts into Phantom and Flies away*
Dick yelling after him: I WILL CHASE YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD. YOU WILL DIE BY MY HANDS
So we all mostly headcanon that Jason was around tiny Damian when in the League right? And if we do demon!twins or siblings Danny they meet too?
Well what if, now hear me out, what if while taking care of them Jason notices early on how Danyal, or as he likes to be called Danny, doesn't seem to have the heart to be an assassin compared to Damian. And even under the pits influence and the LOA teachings, Jason's protective instincts of protecting kids is still strong. And notices how... lack the protection around Danny is compared to Damian, the true heir.
What if, when Jason leaves the League to start his revenge against Bruce, he fakes Danny's death by killing off the little 'guards' he did have and takes the kid with him.
But as he goes to Gotham Jason has to decide.
Drop the kid off in a good family, give him a new identity and keep him hidden or keep the kid and raise them?
Damian was League of Assassins raised we all know that so what if he takes ques on how to woo you're potential partner from those teachings.
And we get mainly outsiders POVs and think Damian is trying to kill or threatening one Daniel 'Danny' Fenton after the boy accidentally knocked Damian onto the ground via punch to the face (Danny was stressing hard that day, new school and had just gotten out of a fight with Vlad that night so he was running on little sleep)
Eventually the family (everyone but Bruce) get together to try to get Damian to stop his 'threats' and one of two things can happen.
Either they eventually bring it up to Bruce who at first is worried like the rest of them but then realizes what Damian is actually doing because he has the same experience from Talia's courting.
OR Babs warns them that Damian was spotted entering the Fenton home and seemed geared for a fight, they go running to stop Damian from maybe carrying out his plan, and stumble onto the two making out after a brawl.
I like to think when the rest of the Bats bust in, many are in disbelief or shocked, someone is screaming about their eyes, meanwhile Dick is crying in both joy and horror cause he realizes Damian is growing up (he has FEELINGS for someone) and over the fact Damian is GROWING UP (Noooo his baby brother is growing up now)
Meanwhile Damian starts hissing at them to GET OUT and leave! Danny is blushing and hiding his face. Ooo this is not how he wanted to meet Damian's family. Everyone ignores the weapons on the floor by their sides or the obvious signs of the two fighting before their make-out.
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AN: I'm not sure, but something about this chapter just feels off to me, so if you guys notice something that doesn't make sense, let me know. I'm literally losing my mind over this.
They were silent as they followed Mother through the winding path. Damian occasionally glancing back, like he was reassuring himself that Danny was still there. Mother would do the same, but played it off as her checking her surroundings. Danny debated between pretending not to notice or not, but decided it would look more suspicious if he didn’t notice how obviously worried they were.
Mother’s loyal followers trailed behind the three of them, their black suits blending into the darkness and making the path behind him look more omminoius then it actually was. He could hear them breathing behind him, and it was starting to get really annoying, but he couldn’t do anything about it because he wasn’t supposed to be able to hear them. Enhanced hearing sucked.
~
They traveled for a while, Danny estimated about thirteen minutes, before he finally spotted the specific symbol carved in the wall that designated they were close. Clicking his tongue to get her attention, he signaled Mother to pause. Gently prying his hand from Damian’s, Danny rushed forward and past Mother before she could stop him. He heard the soft curse Damian hissed and Mother's aborted step to follow.
Crouching down, Danny held up his hand to order them to wait. Once he was sure they would all stay still, he shuffled forward and wrapped his hands around one of the scattered boulders. Slowly lifting it just enough to peek under neither.
Green light immediately shone up and illuminated his face, and through the crack, Danny could see the large bubbling pool of lazarus water. Grandfather was standing at the edge of the pool, impassively watching as a body thrashed around in agony in front of him. Their screams filled the air, raising the hair on his arms.
Slowly, Danny set the boulder down and turned to face his Mother.
“Grandfather is letting someone use the pool; they didn’t meet its standards and should be completely dead in five minutes,” he carefully signed, glancing back at the boulder before continuing, “Grandfather usually waits for seven minutes after they’re completely taken by the waters, just to be sure they don’t come back. He usually gets lost in thought and stops paying attention very briefly around the five-minute mark. That’s when you should strike.”
Mother’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. Damian, on the other hand, looked sick. Danny was half tempted to walk over and feel his forehead. Blinking the urge away, Danny gestured to his left, “This path will lead to an opening to the right of the pool, though it becomes quite obvious someone is coming through shortly before entering the cavern, seeing as the walls don’t cover the footpath down. I recommend only leaving that path once the fight has already started. This one,” Danny gestures behind him, “ leads to a spot where you can drop down right where Grandfather stands. You have to be very silent, because any sound you make gets amplified and echoes into the cavern.”
He remembered how many close calls it took just to learn all this; how he hadn’t died of a heartattack back then was beyond him.
Danny glanced up nervously before pointing to the path on his right, “This path leads to a darkened corner of the cavern where you can sneak up on Grandfather’s guards. They, uh, don’t know about the opening behind them. Grandfather does, though, and occasionally glances over. You’ll have to time it just right to not set them off early.”
“You’ve thought this through,” Mother signed, studying Danny curiously.
Rubbing his neck, Danny shuffled out of the way and against the wall, “You told us to think of any possible scenario and prepare for its possibility. I was only doing what I was taught.” That’s believable, right? He doubted she’d actually believe (or like) the real reason; obsessively learning Grandfather’s routine so he could spend as much time as he could wall climbing all over the cavern just to get a closer look at the markings in there.
Mother didn’t respond, instead she turned and started splitting her spies into groups. Damian crouched down next to him, still looking vaguely sick.
“Are you alright?” Danny couldn’t help but ask, his hands signing before he could even think it through.
“How do you know the exact times?” Damian asked, eyes focused on the boulder still lying next to Danny.
It took him a moment to figure out what his brother was asking, and he couldn’t help but wince once he did. Younger him had watched exactly four failed rituals. And in all of them, the unfortunate victim was dumped into the pool and determined unworthy. Their bodies would boil and burn and heal, just to do it all over again before their life force finally faded and their bodies got absorbed by the waters. Everyone took a different amount of time to fade, but it was pretty easy to figure out how long they had left based on just how burned and melted their skin got during the process.
“I may have watched this happen a few too many times,” Danny sheepishly admitted, not sure how else to answer without also admitting that his younger self had watched the rituals partially for learning Gradfather’s schedule and partially because he had been convinced he’d never be accepted by the waters. (an unfounded fear back then, but now completely reasonable) He wanted to know how that could go wrong for him, considering he knew Mother would try offering him (and Damian) if he were to die.
Which she did.
And to be fair, his assumption was correct. He hadn’t been accepted by the waters, but instead of flailing around and letting himself get absorbed, Danny had put one of his many theories to the ultimate test and had come out the other side alive because of it.
The lazarus water had to have come from somewhere after all.
He doubted anyone would like to know that there was an underground lazarus river that fed into the pool in the cavern. He also doubted anyone wanted to know that it was possible to survive falling down a 500 ft waterfall and into an even deeper underground cavern. (He’s pretty sure he only survived that because some ancient cosmic being wanted him too, but that’s not important.)
What’s important is the fact that, once you survive all of that, if you time it right, you can crawl out of the lazarus waters and be mostly healed, and the effects completely stop once the water isn’t touching you anymore. Thank you, conveniently placed groundwater pool.
Anyway.
Damian slowly stopped looking like he was going to be sick, and Mother finally turned to face them.
“Both of you, with me. Don’t engage unless necessary. Stay close.”
Nodding his head, Danny stood up and followed Mother down the path, his brother keeping right beside him. Only four of Mother’s spies followed behind them. The resting, splitting up, and traveling down the other two paths.
They quickly arrived at the opening, green light illuminating the small pocketed room. The screaming had stopped by now, meaning the person should be gone soon, if not already. Mother stayed back for a moment before quickly and silently making her way around the hole to stand on the other side. Her spies followed suit, surrounding the opening in preparation for what was to come.
Damian grabbed Danny’s hand, holding him back from moving closer. Tilting his head curiously, Danny let his brother pull him even further back into the shadows.
They stood in silence for three minutes before Mother tensed and then leaped down, pulling her weapon at the last possible moment. Grandfather only had enough time to take a single half step back before Mother’s blade sliced down his shoulder and across his chest, leaving a deep gouge behind.
Mother landed silently, her Katana singing through the air with a sharp whistle. Instantly, the cavern was flooded with her spies, and the battle began.
“Talia,” Grandfather hissed, eyeing her curiously, his eyes dark with tempered anger.
Mother didn’t respond, just lunged forward with another attack. Grandfather twisted out of the way, pulling his katana out of its sheath. Their blades met in a loud screech, the sound of metal scraping against metal.
“I wonder, daughter mine, what could have possibly convinced you this was a good idea.”
Damian crouched low and poked his head over the edge, watching as the two danced around the cavern, expertly dodging stray attacks from those around them. Danny joined him, eyeing the ongoing battle curiously. Mother’s spies, having the upper hand, were quickly overpowering grandfather’s. More bodies littered the ground every few seconds.
Grandfather’s voice dragged Danny’s attention back to him, “It wasn’t anything I could have possibly done, no. You’ve been slowly pulling away; if it had been just that, this wouldn’t have happened so soon. No, it’s something else. Someone else.”
Mother feigned a left, managing to nick grandfather’s left wrist when he moved to block. She stayed silent, though she was now scowling at the man in obvious anger. Grandfather hid it well, but it was startlingly obvious to Danny that the man was flagging. His front was completely soaked in blood, though his body showed no sign of wavering. It was his eyes that gave him away; dark in anger, but sporadically darting around the room.
He wasn’t fully focused on the fight; he was looking for exits, and he was watching as his subordinates dropped one by one.
He was cornered, and he knew it.
Mother lunged again, this time going low and slicing a line across Grandfather’s thigh. Grandfather snarled, forgoing his calm persona. He whirled around and threw a shuriken at Mother, managing to draw blood across her shoulder.
Mother retaliated with a slash across his forehead.
“Who could have possibly convinced you?” Grandfather taunted with a knowing voice, dodging back and slicing off one of Mother’s spy’s head.
“Was it your Beloved?” he questioned ammusedly, narrowing his eyes.
“Bruce has nothing to do with this,” Mother hissed, tossing one of her hidden knives at him. Damian hummed under his breath, drawing Danny’s eyes from the fight. His brother was staring intently at Grandfather, angrier than Danny had ever seen him.
No, not angry. Furious.
His brother was furious.
What in the world was going on???
Also, Bruce? His Father’s name is Bruce??? He was not expecting that reveal, but whatever. Now is not the time to lament the fact that his father’s name was Bruce.
Grandfather twisted out of the way of another attack, a glint of mental catching Danny’s eyes. He tackled Damian out of the way, feeling the sharp metal embed itself into his side.
“Then, logic only leads to someone convincing you one of your… sons was in danger from me,” Grandfather growled.
“Danyal!” Damian shouted, pushing Danny back to get a look at him. His eyes widened at the blade in his side. Danny blinked at him, then down at his new wound. He couldn’t feel it, which wasn’t great, but like… he’s lived through worse, he’ll be fine. He’d just have to leave it there until he could get some medical supplies.
“I’m fine,” Danny replied, turning back to watch in time to see Mother’s face turn absolutely murderous.
“You are not fine,” Damian hissed, nudging Danny’s arm out of the way to get a better look, “you’ve been impaled!”
“Eh,” Danny rebucked, eyes wide as Mother went ballistic. Her katana whistled loudly, blurring at the speed of her attacks. Grandfather staggered, barely keeping up, gaining more and more cuts.
“Danyal,” Damian hissed, grabbing Danny’s shoulder and forcing him to look at him. “You have been stabbed. There is a knife in your side.”
“Yes,” Danny slowly agreed. Damian’s left eye twitched, “And the knife will be staying in my side, until this is over and I can get medical attention. So, I don’t know why you’re freaking out so much, brother.”
Damian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, “Right,” he breathed, “My apologies, Danyal. I’ve been,” Damian glanced down, his eyes narrowed as he watched Mother stab another knife into Grandfather’s ribs, “stressed.”
“Right…” Danny slowly agreed, turning to watch the fight again, but still keeping an eye on Damian as the boy pulled back.
With a ferocious yell, Mother used all her strength to shove Grandfather’s Katana out of the way and stab him through the chest. She was so forceful that Grandfather was briefly lifted off his feet.
“You will never harm them again,” Mother hissed, her eyes narrowed.
Grandfather coughed, blood covering his teeth as he snarled at her, “Again?” His knees gave out from under him, and Mother let him hit the ground to kneel before her. She sliced his hand with one of her shuriken, making him drop his weapon with a loud clatter.
“Who convinced you of this lie?” Grandfather demanded, eyes fully focused on Mother now.
“You did,” Mother revealed, pulling her katana back and grabbing a fistful of Grandfather’s hair. Grandfather stared up at her, his face morphing between confusion and hysterical humor.
“I did?” He laughed, “How could I have possibly done that, Daughter mine. They’re my heirs, aren't they?”
“Not anymore, they’re mine.” Mother denied, swiftly swinging her Katana through the air and across his shoulders.
Grandfather’s body stayed kneeling for a second before slowly tilting forward, hitting the floor with a dull thud. His head still gripped in her hands, staring up at Mother, his eyes slowly dulling and unfocused.
“Ra’s al Ghul is dead,” Mother declares, turning and lifting the head in the air, “you listen to me, and only me, from now on. I am the Demon Head.”
The few league members left standing, not already loyal, kneeled, their arms crossed in an X across their chest. News traveled fast, and in no time, the cave started to fill with league members, all bending the knee and declaring their new loyalty to Mother.
Mother stood tall before them, her silhouette lit up by green light, but instead of relishing her victory, Mother’s full attention zeroed in on Danny, and the knife still embedded in his side.
She did not look happy.
Next (to be written)
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