Chapter Text
Once they had the last piece of information, locating Daniel and Jasmine Fenton/Nightingale became child’s play to Barbara. The haystack shrunk.
Soon she had their address, class schedule and even doctor information. Daniel, Dan and Dani went to the same meta pediatrician. Jasmine went to normal doctors. She found their bank accounts. Internet provider and history. She had everything digitally available.
Their financial history was relatively boring. There was no odd transactions. Daniel and Jasmine spent a lot of money on food and baby things as was expected for a family of four with two infants. Jasmine paid rent but she received a monthly deposit from Masters. Daniel was not emancipated but held a joint custodial account with his sister. He sometimes bought the things normal teenagers did when he wasn’t a parent.
Barbara spotted Masters in the college town from security footage. Her programs picked him up frequently. He visited the Nightingale home often. That had made Barbara worry Daniel was at risk of potentially being given another child he didn’t want again. His two children were close in age after all. Even if Danielle was a clone she’d been given to Daniel to raise as the mother.
Barbara hated Masters. He was good enough to leave no digital record of any of his crimes. If they hadn’t gotten the children’s DNA then there was no amount of circumstantial evidence that Barbara could provide to convict him.
The financial ties he had with the Nightingales was legal. However it showed how much he controlled them from afar. Jasmine was having her education paid from an education trust she had since childhood. Daniel had the same set up. It did not however extend past education nor was the trust set-up to pay for cost of an apartment the Nightingales were currently living in.
If Masters pulled out the monthly stipend he gave them, the Nightingales would struggle to keep a home much less care for themselves. Masters might give Daniel ‘child support’ but he wasn’t legally required to do it by any order. If Daniel tried to assert it legally Masters would likely sick a team of lawyers to get full custody.
Barbara worried about Daniel when he grew up. Would he be allowed to go to school or would he be raising children until Masters either took custody or grew bored of him? It was a troubling situation all around, the meta situation not even put into consideration.
This situation would help Bruce and he others approach Masters and the Nightingales. The Nightingales would need reassurance they wouldn’t need Masters to survive. The children were entitled to a part of Masters’ wealth. Daniel and Jasmine would also be entitled to compensation as his victims.
Barbara let her program gather evidence. This would help their case. The Nightingales wouldn’t worry for anything when this was over.
Bruce, Barry, Duke and Cassandra watched the footage they had of Masters. They had a rather boring lists of habits of his. Masters was not a man of many interests or escapades. He worked remotely and travelled to the town closest to him to work in office twice a week.
He visited Daniel and his children at least twice a month. Daniel and him exchanged emails often. Daniel kept Masters appraised of the children’s development. From the emails they were able to find the daycare Dan and Dani attend while Daniel was at school.
Jasmine received a monthly sum from Masters for rent and expenses for the family.
Masters had created a very intricate web around the Nightingales. Without his support they’d struggle going to school or even having any quality of life. The amount Masters gave in ‘child support’ was mostly eaten by baby expenses once they were able to track Daniel’s habits and web history.
“I can set up a fund for them until we are able to liquidate some of Masters’ fortune.” Barry said. He was well versed in this kind of situation given that he was often trying to aid his own villains in similar ways. Bruce was familiar with trying to rehabilitate his villains but he’d had less success than with Barry’s own retinue. Bruce was able to help smaller time crooks straighten up.
Masters would be a difficult case to make despite the DNA evidence. Daniel did not show any signs of discontent with the situation. It was clear he loved his children. Without Masters he would be at risk of losing them to social services or might feel that was a risk.
“I have been setting up a meeting with Masters. He is wary of me wanting to link a business association. WE would easily price him out of the market if we find an easy way to surpass his company.”
“Can you set up the meeting though?” Duke asked his foster father.
“I didn’t say that. He’s likely going to meet with me out of respect and decline a deal.”
“We strike then.” Cass suggested.
“Preferably I can get him to incriminate himself and you can get him afterwards but honestly as long as he doesn’t tie the Bats to the Waynes I’m fine.”
“I’ll drop in first then.” Barry said. “I dealt with the Fenton situation. I am the most logical hero to potentially have found his crimes. No offense to you, Duke and Cassandra.” Barry said.
“It’s fine. It makes sense.” Duke said. “I can at least be there to stop him from disappearing or following him. My powers would be a reason to bring the Bats in.”
“I’m back up.” Cassandra added. Bruce felt a wave of pride for his children. They were working together more often and more coherently. He wouldn’t doubt that they’d save the world long after he could no longer fight from age or worse.
Now to set up the meeting with Masters.
They’d approach the Nightingales/Fentons at the same time to make sure that Masters did not get to them should he escape.
They needed all situations covered.
Bruce was not looking forward to trying to explain the dangers of Lazarus Water to them. No doubt, Masters had fed them some lies about its properties given that he seemed immune to it’s toxicity. One step at a time though.
They’d need Samantha’s help to get Daniel and Jasmine in one place.
Her upcoming birthday would be perfect.
—-
Danny could hold back his smile at Dani’s excited squeals as he threw her up and down. Dan sat with a sullen glare and hugged his favorite plush toy. His other self ran his hand through his hair. Dan snuggled leaned into the touch. Dani squealed as he swung her around one last throw and placed her onto his hip.
“That’s enough for now. I don’t want you to throw up.” Danny told Dani.
Dani giggled and snuggled against him.
This was exactly why Danny could ever regret being a parent. He didn’t care how many looks he got at their age or their title. Danny loved Dan and Dani so much.
His phone rang. Danny sighed and made another copy of himself. He answered it.
“Hey, Danny!” Sam called. Danny with Dani sighed.
“Hey, Sam. How are you?” Danny with the phone said.
Danny with Dan picked up his son and moved him to the nursery. His baby needed a nap. Danny with Dani moved her to the kitchen to prepare a bottle. It would be nap time for her soon.
“Good. Good. Look, I know this might not be the best idea but I was wondering if you and Jazz would want to hang out on my birthday? My parents don’t have that much money and I don’t want to spend a lot of the money I made from babysitting. It’d be good to hang out with you again. I’ll even help with the babies.”
Danny grimaced. He didn’t want to travel more but he owed Sam her birthday celebration. Jazz would probably want to see them again too.
“Yeah, what were you thinking?” He asked with fake enthusiasm.
Sam laughed. “Great!” Something about her tone wasn’t completely normal but Danny thought she really didn’t want to just hang out. She just couldn’t afford to do more. He’d buy her a vegan cake or something. Jazz could bring food.
It could be fun even if it wasn’t a big deal. That had been Danny’s situation after the babies. Honestly he didn’t mind. He liked celebrating their birthdays more.
He watched Danny with Dani rock her as she fell asleep with the bottle. He loved his babies. Yes, he wasn’t too bothered by his lack of big parties. Luckily Sam could have something more.
They’d make sure of it.