Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The trip to Gotham City was, anything but eventful. The last thing Danny remembers is pain, a lot of pain.

It’s been two months since the GIW took him and experimented on him, He only remembers his big sisters worried voice and Vlad pushing a bunch of cards onto his hands saying this is a credit card and a new identity card and files, explaining how he should have enough money for a year and that the bus is heading to Gotham…the furthest he can go and the only other place where he should have enough ecto in the air to help him heal.

Now Danny was very thankful of course but also scared he doesn’t know what to do and the pain is getting to his head, he can feel his body healing him and couldn’t get a wink of sleep the whole trip.

Danny checked the bag his sister very worriedly pushed onto him to find a lot of clothes, a water bottle and some snacks, he decided to put one of the hoodies on that so happened to be black with green accents and a neon green cat logo on the front.
The other things he found was a fake ID card and two notes which he chose to read.

‘Dear Daniel.
I hope that you are reading this with a clearer mind, I have wrote this to explain the situation at end. The other note will have Samantha and Tucker telling you what’s going to happen to your parents as well as Amity Park so I chose to explain and maybe give advice to you on what to do now. The card has 50k dollars on it so should you be generous and smart it should be enough for a year and then some, Gotham is not an expensive city but very dangerous you should be very careful! We have managed to forge you a new birth certificate as well as an identity card with the help of Tucker. Personal files should also include your school statistics, healthcare records and more. When you get to Gotham I would recommend finding an apartment first thing and resting if you can until being fully healed.
Daniel, I know you can’t trust me but I cannot forgive myself after losing Danielle and while I cannot take you back to California with me due to GIW I will do the best I can to help, so call this number whenever you need help, it’s a burner phone and isn’t traceable Tucker made sure of that.
Yours, Vlad masters.’

The note included a phone number that Danny did not recognize, Danny did not forgive his supposed godfather but Dani’s death has hit all of them and caused great trauma. So big it caused Vlad to move away and leave Jazz and Danny alone with their parents who very recently started working for the GIW.

The second note was in fact from Sam and Tucker and they did their best to explain how his parents are being interrogated by the GIW but they don’t know where Danny is considering they think Phantom that was captured is possessing their son’s dead corpse, Jazz went back to New York for her psychology degree and that’s basically it.

Danny was scared and confused, in a lot of pain and unable to think straight but he knew what he must do.

When the bus hit the last stop Danny got off and with great struggle managed to get his duffel bag on his back and first things first it is now 14:37pm he needs to find the library and an atm. While walking around he finally found the city’s library there seems to only be one.

The doors made a little ding sound when he entered and the place looked…old, it looked like it’s been built when Gotham was at its baby years maybe even prime.

Danny looked around and found the receptionist who was currently on her phone with a smile, probably messaging someone she likes? Danny wondered to himself, he approached her slowly trying to not hiss at the pain in his chest.

“Hey” Danny says lowly, causing her to look up from her phone still with a smile, her name tag reads Barbara.

“Oh hello there what can I help you with?”

She asked kindly which Danny was surprised at, you don’t get a lot of kindness here in Gotham So he turned his gaze to the computers and pointed.

“Ah you need the computers? May I ask what for I might be able to help?”

She asked and he considered her for a second then with a shrug he said “I’m looking to rent also may I use the atm here?” His voice is still not super strong but he’s trying, she smiled at him again and said

“yes anytime you like just for your information you can only pull out up to 1k at a time and as for rent you should be able to find a spot quickly, I have a place near my apartment? A not super dangerous neighbourhood if that helps?”

He looked at her but shook his head as no and continued to go pull out some money he thinks 500 would be enough for rent or an hotel and food can be thought about tomorrow, as he got back to the woman who frankly reminded him of Jazz she pointed to the computer “feel free to use it you don’t need a library card for it!”

as she got back to her phone Danny decided he should start looking for a place to stay.

After surfing for a bit he found an interesting offer, the apartment wasn’t for rent but for purchase. It’s a small store connected to a small apartment it’s in a bad side of town apparently a guy named ‘red hood’s’ territory.

But Danny was sure what he’s going to do and with his plan set he made a reservation at an hotel and stopped looking online, as he leaned back in pain Barbara wheeled herself to him and he just now noticed that she uses a wheelchair and passed him a granola bar.

“you are hard at work! you find anything?”

She asked kindly with the same smile, as he caught the granola bar he nodded and happily started eating it, he can feel his body getting back to healing itself.

He sat up and quietly thanked Barbara after that he got his phone out. Some calls needed to be made.

Chapter Text

Danny woke up at his hotel room, it wasn’t the best one but what can you expect out of Gotham.

Remembering that he has a lot to do today he ignored the burning pain on his chest and went to go refresh and put his clothes on, lots of calls need to be done today and as he debated pressing call on Vlad’s number, he’d much rather avoid the dreadful call to his godfather right now.
He decided that maybe going for breakfast and to meet up with the apartment seller should suffice for now.

He got his duffel bag ready and made sure his phone was fully charged, he picked up his hotel card and put it in his pocket. As he made his way to the reception area he passed by a couple arguing nothing new here in Gotham it seems but as it got heated and the guy seemed to almost attack the woman Danny made sure to grab his arm and when the guy turned around to cuss at Danny.

“Who the fu-“ he was caught off by what he saw, and what he saw was truly scary, Danny made sure his eyes glowed green and his fangs were visible.

“Don’t do that dude, leave her alone” he lowly growled trying hard to not let the ghost speak come out, the guy yanked his arm back and walked away muttering something along the lines of ‘fucking metas’ so Danny turned his attention to the woman who smiled at him.

Danny did not notice someone looking at them and walking off.

“You ok ma’am?” He asked

“I’m ok, thank you so much. The fights have gotten worse David usually doesn’t get…physical” she answered quietly “ah I’m Lara! However can I thank you for helping me?”

Danny looked at her for a second but shook his head, there was no need for that and his stomach reminded him he needs food that isn’t a bag of chips but that caused her to grin.

Lara grabbed his arm and asked if he’s leaving the hotel, Danny nodded so they went to the reception to return their room cards.

“I’m leaving too so why not thank you with some breakfast? On me!” She said happily.

Danny didn’t think to say he can easily pay for the both of them but he guesses it’s the state he’s in so he shrugs and let’s her drag him to a nearby breakfast and lunch place named “Aubrey’s”? He doesn’t question it, he’s sure a local would know which place would be good.

As they opened the doors with a little ding of the door bell a woman gave them a tired smile and greeted them.

“Go sit wherever I’ll be right with you!” She said so they chose to sit at the far corner where there seems to be less noise, people are sure noisy this early in the morning but who is Danny to judge he’s not a morning person.

“So um I don’t think I ever asked what your name is?” Lara asked bashfully after they sat and that made Danny let out a laugh, yeah that’s about right, do not drag strangers to restaurants.

“Ah it’s Danny! Now that we’re done with introductions which item would you recommend?” He asked looking at the menu, it seems to have all the basic morning stuff.

“Ah yes! Danny! Yes they have a great variety but their bacon is to die for, Aubrey used to work by herself but she has cooks now!” Lara explained so Danny chose to go with eggs and bacon and an iced americano.

“Where are you from Danny?” Lara asked “you have an accent haha”.

Danny looked at her, he honestly didn’t want to answer that but alas “I’m from Illinois” he said quickly as Aubrey approached them.

“What would you two like this fine morning?” Aubrey asked “oh Lara! Haven’t seen you in a bit, the usual?” She smiled and even started writing the order down.

“Yes please Aubrey!” Lara smiled back “Danny this is Aubrey the owner, we’re childhood friends! I used to come here everyday when she first opened the place their food is to die for!” Lara encouraged and Aubrey blushed.

“Ah how nice of you to promote your friend, haha may I have the bacon and eggs as well as an iced americano?” Danny asked kindly, Aubrey nodded and wrote it down.

“If that’s all? I’ll be right back with you two’s food!” She left to go give the cooks the order and Lara looked at him with shining eyes.

“You are very mannered Danny! How come? how old even are you?” Lara asked.

Danny considered her for a bit but saw no reason to not answer her.

“Ah probably an habit from my godfather, he’s rich very old talk type of guy, I’m 19 though” he explained to her but that made her look at him excitedly.

“I’m 19 too! Do you go to Gotham U? We can go together?” She said but Danny shook his head.

“No I’m not here for university only here for a change of scenery, I… got into an accident. Um so I’m only here to heal? I guess?” He tried to lie through his teeth but wasn’t very successful Danny isn’t a good liar.

Lara looked dejected but smiled nonetheless as their food arrived, Danny thanked Aubrey and took a sip of the americano and his core made a little happy sound after taking a bite of the bacon, Lara was so right it is to die for. Hah.

They chatted for a bit talking about life and Danny explained to Lara how he’s planning on opening a night cafe which she was very enthusiastic about and offered to support his cafe the second he opens it cause in her words ‘god knows I need a good cup of coffee when I’m late night studying’.

After getting worried David will get his ass for Lara asking for Danny’s phone number and finding out that was actually a very bad break up and making sure Lara was ok he said goodbye and sent a message to the apartment seller asking to meet up.

Danny called him yesterday, he was a very nice fellow named Robert who’s had a very rough time selling his late father’s apartment, his father was a kind old man owning a shoe shop and he also fixed men dress shoes there. Danny made the payment already it’s all about signing the papers in person and for Robert to confirm Danny is who he says he is, you can’t be too careful here in Gotham.

Danny stared at his phone, group chat open and reading Sam and Tuck’s updates on the GIW and his parents, Jazz also made sure to send a good morning text and ask if he got to Gotham alright which he made sure to reply back with an affirmative.

While Danny waited for the taxi he sent an email to his professors that he’s on health concern leave for now, Tucker made sure he had the fake documents to send to get an approval gosh what would he do without his best friends help.

The taxi arrived and Danny gave the driver the address to the apartment where he and Robert agreed to meet the drive was short but Danny made sure to tip the driver even though he doesn’t have to, again god knows how much the driver will need that extra money.

When he got off the taxi he was met with a tall guy.

“Hi there! Daniel nightingale I assume?” Who Danny takes a wild guess is Robert asked so Danny nodded at him.

“Yes, but just Danny is fine!”

Robert offered his hand for a handshake and Danny gratefully shook his hand, anything to not have an awkward moment.

“Yes a very firm grip, I think you will do just fine here in Gotham Mr. Nightingale, you said you are from Illinois?” Robert asked as he led Danny up the stairs to the apartment, the apartment is on the first floor just on top of his soon to be store.

“Yes, I am new here in Gotham!” Danny answered “I want to live comfortably for now, I’m only here due to health concerns so I’m trying to heal”

“But you did say you want to turn my dad’s old shop to a night cafe, am I safe to ask that you don’t mean a club right?” Robert asks as Danny sits down on the sofa in the small living room.

“I don’t think I’m old enough sir” Danny laughs.

“Coffee or tea, Mr. Nightingale?” Robert asks and Danny quietly answers coffee so Robert quickly makes two cups of coffee and returns to the sofa, the paperwork is already on the table.

“First things first there’s a few things I need to explain since you are not a local, the reason why I have had a rough time selling this apartment is not because it’s a 2 in 1 pack deal but more so because this location is at the outskirts of Crime alley and therefore part of Red Hood’s territory, one of the crime lords here in Gotham” Robert explains and Danny nods at him to continue.

“Red Hood’s not a force to be reckoned with but he does seem to care for the kids and elderly of the alley, so I would recommend trying to be nice to him to maybe get him to protect you” Robert continues and Danny almost laughs at that, if only Robert knew that he is very much capable of protecting himself.

“He is one of the vigilantes here I’m guessing you are unaware of them too? I would recommend going to the city’s library to get as much information on them as you can!” Robert rambles a bit but goes serious again “if that’s all, I just need you to sign this paper and this one and the third one is yours keep it in a safe place, my dad’s old safe can do but I’d recommend buying a new one. When you are finished signing the place is yours! Already furnished too!” Robert pushed the papers Danny’s way.

After signing the papers Robert left with a little ‘good luck with your cafe’ cheer as well as gave Danny a business card with his phone number and a note with others titled support and apartment building manager for all and any problems he needs help with so he saved all the numbers on his phone.

After that long ordeal Danny locked the apartment door and crashed on the sofa, it is now time to rest is it not? So Danny shut his eyes and didn’t even notice he fell asleep.

When he awoke to noises he didn’t recognise his chest felt tight a gust of wind flew from his mouth and he sat up in a panic, he looked around only to be met with a shade. The ghost of a little girl? Danny didn’t know what she wanted with him but it must be bad right?

“Phantom” is the only thing she said, great so she can hold a conversation now to ask why she’s here.

“Why are you here little ghost?” He tried to smile at her and get off the sofa so he can crouch to her height, damn his father’s genes.

“I saw you” she answered.

“You did? Why did you follow me little ghost?” He asks affectionately as he rubbed his palm on her head and she giggled.

“Emily followed you because I saw you protect that woman! You looked like one of the knights in the stories my mom reads me!” The ghost child now known as Emily said happily.

Danny couldn’t help but smile, he always likes to listen to the younger ghosts, they are almost always little children with a tragic end. They didn’t deserve to die this early so he made it a point to help them pass on or find what they were looking for.

“Ah yes little Emily! And what are you looking from knight Phantom?” He asks and does a little pose that makes her giggle again but she shook her head.

“I’m looking for daddy” As she said that she hugged Danny and disappeared, Danny knew he would see her again shades can’t materialise for a long time and now he is sure that he needs to open that cafe. To help all these lost souls to either move on, rest or find what they looking for.

He checked the time on his phone, it is now 18:59pm. He slept for that long? Moving on he decided now would be a good time if any to make that dreadful call to his godfather.

After a few rings, Vlad picked up.

“Daniel! How nice to hear from you!”
“Vlad I need to ask for a favour”

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (from yesterday 15:20pm)

Ginger queen: I just had the cutest boy at the library today, obviously new to Gotham and he looks exactly like Bruce but younger! I ran a face identification his name is Daniel Nightingale he is from Amity Park, Illinois!

Demon brat: I fail to understand how this is of importance.

Big bat: I agree with Damian please do not talk about unimportant stuff in the vigilante chat.

Acrobatic legend: nono please continue Barb!

~big bat is typing…

Ginger queen: it actually is important! He was very badly injured and was bleeding from his arms and neck! He looked too skinny to be healthy!

I lived bitch: so what? Maybe he got into a fight or some shit. Half the kids in the alley die because of that.

Ginger queen: Jay no…that’s not what I meant! Also his eyes glowed green and I’m afraid this has to do with the pits.

~Demon brat is typing…
~I lived bitch is typing…

Big bat: and you’re saying he’s very heavily injured? Where did he go, oracle?

Ginger queen: I think he’s going to rent an apartment at the outskirts of Crime Alley? Where old man Will’s shoe shop was?

I lived bitch: alright I’ll keep an eye out for him. It is my territory.

Ginger queen: thank you!

Big bat: thank you Jay lad.

I lived bitch: yeah yeah

Silent but deadly: new brother?

~Tired robin is typing…
~The light is typing…
~Blondie is typing…
~One hell of a butler is typing…

Chapter Text

That was a long week. Danny thought to himself as he sat at a table at Aubrey’s, it became a habit to eat breakfast here everyday and to meet up with Lara who would tell him about the university drama, apparently a guy named Tim who Lara didn’t miss the chance referring to him as the handsome guy at her business class.

He apparently got badly hurt and didn’t go to class for a bit, which made Danny rub at his chest he was fully healed but still feels a lot of ghost pains whenever he gets reminded of the experiments.

“Dan! good morning” Lara approached his table and sat down, Danny nodded at her and took a sip from his coffee.

“How’s your cafe going Dan?” She asked way too enthusiastic this early in the morning, Aubrey already put down Lara’s food which Lara gave her an affectionate smile for. That made Danny smile.

“It’s still in renovation. Will be for the next month or so…How’s your studies though and honestly shouldn’t you ask Aubrey out at this point?” He asked with his famous mischievous cat like grin.

“Danny!” She blushed “not so loud!”

“Anyway! Have you found a job yet?” She asked covering her red face.

Danny’s been on the busy side, he’s been trying to find Emily’s dad every night. He sadly couldn’t transform yet but Emily seemed to enjoy spending time with him so he took it as a win, he only found one lead so far and is that the house Emily took him to has burned down last December. Surely he can’t tell Lara what he’s been doing though.

“No… not really, the old book store in front of my apartment building got back to me but already accepted someone else, honestly I’m that close to calling my godfather to complain about how hard being an adult is” he sighed.

“I still can’t believe you have a rich godfather, he payed for everything right? How did you convince him?” Lara asks “Can you convince him to pay my university tuition so I can leave my job at the clothing store I swear whenever a rich looking woman comes in she stares at me like I’m low trash” she sighs dramatically.

“Let’s just say he owes me a lot for past…issues. And No I wouldn’t be able to convince him to do that” he just gives her a look that says ‘the fuck?’.

For the past week it seems the only thing Lara seems to be worried about is her classmate’s well being and her job giving her a rough time, Danny can’t help but smile at the simplicity. It feels good to be back to this life after 2 months of captivity.

Lara continues to tell him how yesterday went, when he checked his phone he heard the bell of the door and his core gave a panicked feeling throughout his whole body, he looked up only to see two guys who entered the store, the shorter one gave a charming smile to Aubrey and asked her how she’s doing while they both sat down.

The shorter guy wasn’t what made Danny want to bolt out of there but the bigger bulky guy, he looked handsome in his own way with dark hair and is that a little blonde area, does he dye his hair like that? Green…no his eyes just seemed to glow green.

This guy is a halfa! He’s dead! In shock Danny dropped his phone and in a rush to pick it up the sound seemed to catch bulky guy’s attention and their eyes met, big guy smirked which made Danny’s flight reflex even stronger, he dropped money on the table which is enough for both he and Lara as well as a generous tip that Aubrey will yell at him about tomorrow.

Danny yanked Lara by her arm, she let out a little ‘Danny?!’ and quickly pulled them both out of there.

After getting a bit further from the restaurant Lara stopped Danny and held his hand. Through his raging heart beat in his ears he didn’t hear her ask him what’s wrong and why he got so scared.

“It’s not safe, it’s not safe. My friends need to be to be protected. Lara run please!” He kept saying to her and she smiled, she found a bench and forced him to sit down.

“Danny can you hear me?” She asked multiple times and when she finally got an answer from him.

“Can I touch you?” She asked and he nodded so she pulled him into a warm embrace, Danny runs cold so he liked when Lara hugged him. She liked to say she runs hot so it’s always a nice feeling to hug the cold ‘meta’.

“I’m safe Danny I’m not hurt, I’m here with you. You did a good job protecting me now we’re both safe ok?” She said gently as she rubbed his back, this isn’t the first time she had to calm Danny down, he seems to react like that to tall and bulky men but she never asked, she always wandered if it had to do with his scars and accident but she will never force him to tell her, only when he’s ready.

After a bit he managed to get back to himself and returned her hug.

“I’m sorry” Danny said after taking a deep breath.

“Nothing to be sorry about hun, I understand” Lara continues to rub his back, sometimes she worries, how does Danny deal with this alone? Should she ask? She decided not to yet again. Only when he’s ready, she reminds herself.

Danny seemed to relax enough to let her go and she decided it’ll be nice to go on a walk, she got off the bench and offered him a hand. He gratefully took it and let her pull him up.

They ended up at a park near the Wayne estate after a bit of walking and talking, Lara knew a lot of dogs will be here and Danny loves dogs! It’s a good way if any to get Danny’s mind off his earlier scare.

But before they could continue their nice conversation about Danny’s university degree in progress a dog jumped onto him and due to the surprise Danny fell down, with a dog on top of him…licking all over his face, tail wagging happily.

“Danny! Are you ok?” Lara asked trying not to laugh but failing miserably.

“Yeah I’m ok! Hahahaha stop doggo it tickles!” He tried to sit up while also petting the dog, a quick glance at the name tag reads ‘Titus’ huh…

“Titus, I taught you better than that!” A kid? Teen? Approached them, Danny thinks it’s the owner of said dog and luckily that made Titus get off him and run off. The kid reached Danny and offered his hand which Danny took, the kid shivered at Danny’s cold hand but pulled him up.

“My apologies, you would think after years of training he won’t jump onto random strangers” the kid considered Danny for a second, let out a tiny huff and continued to stare.

“I’m ok, I’m stronger than I look” Danny ignores the kid’s weird stare “Titus seems like a good boy don’t take it too hard…uhhhh?”

“Ah I’m Damian sorry for the lack of introduction I thought you would know who I am” Damian gives a little arrogant smile that no one would be able to catch if they weren’t looking closely.

“Damian Wayne?!” Lara says loudly.

“Who…?” Danny asks quietly but gets ignored by the rich kid and his awestruck bestie.

“Yes. That’s me” Damian answers “you two are?”

“Ah I’m Lara! This is Danny, sorry he’s new here at Gotham!” Lara explains

“That explains it, now if you wouldn’t mind I need to get back to Titus before he causes even more problems” sighing in tiredness Damian left, leaving a confused Danny and a very surprised Lara behind.

“Danny how do you do this?” She asks.

“Do what? Ya know what, I don’t even wanna know” is all he answers.

.

After getting back home and locking the entrance door , Danny went to his room and crashed onto his bed, sighing and looking up at the ceiling. His bedroom is already looking very ‘Danny’ his ceiling is filled with glow in the dark stars and some fake fluffy clouds his walls adorned with posters he got from Ember last time she visited.

He rolled to his side.

“What a day…” he says to himself “I’m so sleepy”

After getting to see so many places and people around Gotham Danny felt how his social battery really died. Guess who’s gonna be stuck at home for days? This guy! He laughs to himself, the day was fun though all things considered.

His cafe being built downstairs, getting to hang out with Lara and Aubrey everyday, helping ghosts at night . Could he really ask for anything more?

As he closed his eyes for a second his phone dinged so he unlocked his phone. Ah the daily updates from Sam and Tucker but nothing new, daily messages from Jazz that he made sure to answer as well as Vlad asking if he needs more help.

Honestly? Danny can’t wait to start building his life here, he thinks about all his experiences up until now. The people he got to meet and while it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows he does really like it here, he even got to meet the day vigilante signal? He’s a funny dude. Danny laughs to himself as he wonders how it would be like to be Phantom here in Gotham.

“Danny” Emily’s voice calls out.

Danny looks her way and smiles as she materialises.

“Ready to look for dad again my little princess?” Danny asks as he finally after a week of healing. Goes ghost.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 17:48pm)

I lived bitch: holy fuck!

One hell of a butler: language Master Jason!

I lived bitch: sorry Al but barb was right! He looks exactly like B! Been keeping an eye on him for a few days but…he’s not causing any trouble I don’t think he’s related to ra’s.

Demon brat: I must agree he looks exactly like father as well as I’m sure I saw no one like him back at my…old home.

Acrobatic legend: he is adorable! But he did get super scared when he saw lil bird.

~The light is typing…

The light: yeah I met him, cool dude. Really into space, said he’s learning aerospace engineering.

Ginger queen: he showed up at the library a few days ago but he looked up the vigilantes of Gotham? Specifically where is Red Hood’s territory.

Big bat: I would assume he did because he wasn’t aware of us, the Red Hood thing though? I’m unsure.

I lived bitch: he lives at the outskirts of my territory. Old Will’s shoe shop.

One hell of a butler: ah yes, he made the best shoes! May he rest in peace.

~Tired robin is typing…

Blondie: who is this dude again and why are we stalking him?

Big bat: we’re not stalking him, we’re just making sure he’s not related to the pits.

Blondie: stalking* for all we know he could just be a regular meta.

Demon brat: his hand was so cold.

Blondie: see? He could just be a meta with ice powers. Jason runs hot.

~I lived bitch is typing…

Big bat: if that’s all the information we got that’s it for today. Report more information if you have it.

I lived bitch: yeah yeah, he’s just a normal guy but I’ll continue to “keep an eye” on him, not stalking my ass.

~One hell of a butler is typing…

Tired robin: what’s this about again?

Chapter Text

After a while of flying around and not finding anymore clues of Emily’s father’s whereabouts Danny decided to slowly land on a rooftop, Emily clutching to his shoulders.

“I’m sorry my little princess” Danny said sadly.

“It’s ok, we’re gonna find him!” She said as she started to fade away, Danny sighs but smiles her way anyway. It will be hard to find a living relative let alone a dead relative who might of passed on already.

Danny decided to go sit at the edge of the rooftop his white hair floating around his head, he was deep in thought his hands in his hoodie’s pocket, when he asked about Emily’s house he was told all 20 residents have sadly passed away. It’s the only clue he has of Emily’s parents and where they could be.

Danny was told the house fire was caused by one of the rouges in the city, ‘what a tragedy’ Danny sadly thought and hoped that all residents managed to move on unlike Emily, it’s not unusual for ghost children to be confused and unable to move on. It’s why Phantom is here.

At the sound of quiet footsteps behind him Danny took a deep breath, Even though he doesn’t need to breathe as a ghost. old habits ‘die’ hard. Hah.

“Hey there hun, don’t do it” the feminine voice said, Danny felt she’s not the only person on the roof though. The second one more expertly stealthy.

One of them smelled of an expensive perfume that smelled heavily of strawberries while the second smelled of feminine sandalwood and laundry detergent. It’s nice smells, reminds him of Sam’s cruelty free shampoo and Jazz’s favorite lipstick.

Danny turned around and it was obvious the blonde woman? Oh it’s two of the vigilantes! Goes stiff, no that’s not right his hair is glowing white and is it floating? And what is up with the pit glowing green eyes? Is all Steph could think to herself while her sister could only wonder why this…meta? Felt so familiar.

Danny let out a tiny laugh which caused the two women to stiff up even more and then he flew over to them with his cat like grin fangs out.

“Oh I’m sorry to have scared you two, I wasn’t going to jump” Danny stared at the two vigilantes for a bit and then offered a hand which Spoiler was suspicious of so Black Bat took the offered hand.

“It’s cold” Black Bat thought trying to understand who this ‘meta’ is.

“I’m Phantom! It’s a pleasure to meet you ladies” just as much as Danny gave a firm handshake Black bat gave an even firmer back.

“What were you doing on the roof hun?” After relaxing a bit Spoiler asked which made Danny smile at the memory of his little princess.

“Helping out a friend, no luck so far though” he sadly shook his head.

“What is it you’re trying to find we might be able to help!” It seems the two vigilantes are very willing to help but Danny shook his head yet again.

“Unnecessary, it’s not…a human concern. I must be going now it’s getting late and cold. Stay safe on patrol ladies” he explained, then went invisible and flew away.

Leaving two concerned women behind, reporting to B it is.

.
Danny woke up late again. It’s currently 10:42am. On a Monday.

“Urghhhhh” he groans ‘why does he have to be awake to check on the renovations’ he thinks to himself as he gets up to go freshen up.

He puts on his favorite hoodie again and some baggy jeans, he makes sure he has everything and goes down.

“Ah Danny! There you are!” Someone calls out to him.

Danny can’t help but smile as he recognizes the voice, of course Rahul is here and already has his team working. They are a nice team of Indians that he found looking for construction work. After giving old Rahul a call he knew he had to get them.

“Construction should be finished in two weeks, Son” Rahul says happily.

“You work fast! Would you or the boys want any coffee?” Danny asks since the kitchen of the cafe is already complete Danny started baking and making drinks.

Rahul shook his head no.

“We drank and ate at Aubrey’s like you told us to it was to ‘die’ for! but Danny you need to come over to mama’s we would love to have you over for dinner!” Rahul said and while a good Indian dinner does sound nice Danny didn’t want to be a bother and as he is very busy at nighttime he has to reject the offer.

After 3 hours Rahul took his team for some food at his mother’s place, who also happened to run the Indian restaurant close by, Danny happily sent a progress message to Lara who said she might stop by after her classes for some coffee and a cookie, and one to Vlad who asked how it’s going so far.

As Danny got to work on the cookies and the coffee beans, he heard the door bell and sighed is this Harley and Pamela again? But was surprised to see an older handsome fella in a very nice suit as well as an old guy who looked very well kept with him. Danny sighed.

“I’m sorry gentlemen but my cafe isn’t open yet. Still could I offer some coffee and cookies, my friend isn’t here yet and I just made a fresh batch?” He gave his cat like grin with his hands in his hoodie pocket.

That made both men give him a very thankful smile and nod, since there were no seats yet they were happy to just chat with Danny.

As Danny made their coffee and tea as per the old man’s request, they introduced themselves.

“My name is Bruce and he’s my family butler Alfred, what’s your name young man as I must say your coffee is great!” Bruce asked after they got their drink which made both sigh in relaxation I mean…who said food meant to be served to ghosts wouldn’t have a nice effect on humans.

Alfred also nodded his head adding that the tea is very high quality, yes Vlad would only get him the best and most expensive even vegan! Supply, so Danny is glad that so far the opinions seem to align, Harley seems to really enjoy his blueberry muffins even tho he messed them up the first time he tried.

“I’m Danny, Mr Bruce. I’m the owner of this night cafe!” Danny beamed and poured some more tea in Alfred’s cup which he seemed to appreciate.

“Ah this is going to be a night cafe? Wouldn’t be a bit of a bad choice, if I may Danny” Alfred said genuinely but Danny shook his head.

“It’s going to be a mainly non profit cafe actually” Danny said “I have a sponsor actually…” so Bruce nodded his head.

“That’s nice of you, Gotham needs this. Do you know where you are though?” Bruce asked.

“Yes this is Red Hood’s territory, I looked up all the vigilantes, crime lords and rouges of this city a few days ago when I first arrived, the past rogues known as Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn showed up here two days ago too!” Danny said and Bruce nodded along keeping in mind that he should ask Harley and Pam to keep an eye on Danny.

“You will be well protected here, our vigilantes have a soft spot for the ones doing good for the general public” Bruce said thoughtfully and Alfred agreed.

“I’m sorry master Bruce but you are late, Tim will require your presence at the meeting and we shall not make him wait any longer shall we?” Alfred smiled Danny’s way and went to go get the car ready, Bruce also smiled Danny’s way and passed him a 100 dollar tip, when Danny tried to reject it Bruce shook his head and forced him to take it.

“Please take it and good luck with the cafe!” Bruce said and left with a wave.

As they left someone else entered and Danny will recognize that rose smell everywhere.

“Hey Lara!” Danny waved while cleaning the cups from earlier.

“Danny was that Bruce Wayne just now?!” Lara leaned on the counter but looked shocked. Danny passed her a cup of espresso he also made sure to smile at Rahul and his boys who also just got back and went straight to work.

“Was he? I didn’t know, just thought he was the normal rich dude” Danny said, he really didn’t care to look at the Wayne family he’s only aware of Bruce’s name and how many kids he has adopted, dude has a problem.

“Only you Danny, only you I swear” Lara shook her head.

“What does that suppose to mean???” Danny cried out.

.
“Did you hear, our great one is opening a cafe” a young sounding voice says to another.

“I have heard” a stronger melodic feminine voice answered.

“We should tell the others!” The masculine voice says, all three nodding to each other and disappearing.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (Monday 14:57pm)

Big bat: Tim where are you?

Tired robin: I’m at conference room 3.

Blondie: ok the elephant in the room, Bruce talk.

Silent but deadly: Speak.

I lived bitch: what’s this about?

Blondie: Bruce and Al went and gave our lil friend a visit.

The light: they did? How is he?

~demon brat is typing

Big bat: he is doing ok, he’s opening a night cafe, non profit. Didn’t recognize me either.

One hell of a butler: his tea is to die for! As well as he has a bunch of vegan options apparently.

Demon brat: it’s good that Danny is doing ok, he looked off when I met him.

Acrobatic legend: awww u care for him.

Demon brat: you shut your mouth, I do not. Titus jumped on him and he fell to the ground I was only asking for if he’s hurt.

Acrobatic legend: sure Jen.

~Blondie is typing…
~Silent but deadly is typing…

Tired robin: Bruce I really need u here my head hurts and this bitch is getting on my nerves.

Big bat: lm almost there! Also language please Tim.

Chapter Text

The clock hit midnight, Danny let out a long sigh as he turned his ‘closed’ sign to its ‘open’ side.

His cafe as been open for a week now, Bruce and Alfred came at the grand opening that wasn’t really that grand to congratulate Danny and they even introduced one of Bruce’s sons to him, his name is Dick, yeah Danny wondered too how does one willingly go by that name.

Danny and Dick hit it off great they are both sassy and like bad puns, Dick had mostly talked about his younger siblings and how he really likes his gymnastics class. Dick is a charming young man, his smile is contagious and he has a lot of care for little ones. Emily likes him which in turn makes Danny like him it’s as simple as that.

Harley and her girlfriend Pamela, Danny is still wondering how that happened. Also attended the grand opening and he gave them their usual plus extras as thanks for taking the time to visit him. He appreciated them and the others a lot!

He has quite the regulars, he’s actually unsure how it is that gods and entities travel from different realms to come relax at his cafe but hey don’t bite the hand that feeds you right? Maybe word got around that there is a place where they can relax, tell their stories to a listening ear and maybe even ask for help.

Danny felt a familiar presence and said “my lady?”

“Greetings young Phantom” she answered back as all the shadows that covered her the same ones that seem to hang around the vigilantes started to fade away revealing her human form, Danny turned around and got back to the counter.

“Raspberry black tea tonight too?” He asked preparing her the cup that she likes with the black Dalias on it, making sure it’s clean.

“Yes dear!” She answered happily with a heavy tired smile.

“You should really turn it down a bunch you are more tired by the day, my lady” Danny pointed out as he put her drink on the table for her.

She took a sip of his wonderful tea and smiled “I’m doing fine young Phantom, it is my job to protect my knights who in turn protect my city” she gave a little laugh and added “is why I come here every night for a nice cup of tea to replenish my energy”

“My lady…I-“ Danny starts but the bell dings and in comes Lara and Aubrey. Who Danny smiles their way and starts to work on their usuals.

“Danny why must you open this late” Aubrey dramatically sighs arm linked with Lara’s as they sat down, ah yes sometime when Danny’s cafe was still in renovation Lara and Aubrey finally got together, the tall lady in black made sure to smile their way.

Unsurprisingly the cafe becomes full very fast, ghosts, shades, gods and humans alike fill this place up real fast. Danny sometimes wonders if this small cafe is too small but alas.

It’s also unsurprising how many gifts, trades and tips he gets as payment Danny didn’t think people would just accept things for free but Danny had way too many homeless people and kids offer him things of value as payment which he’d prefer they keep. He had to put ‘non profit’ on one of the windows for them to stop. Other than things he can put on the walls like Ember’s posters that he appreciates and continues to shamelessly promote.

“Danny, is Emily and her dad not here today?” Lara asked from where she was sitting with lady of Gotham, Aubrey left an hour ago she does need to work in the morning. The three got along well, well enough considering this is the only place where a living being would even be able to interact with the dead and entities alike. His lady feels much for the children of Gotham as it is her territory, her haunt and obsession.

“Ah no, not today… usually Emily is here to help me serve the orders but I guess she and Mike are taking a day to themselves” Danny shrugs as he continues to clean a few cups, the cafe is starting to clear up and Danny looks at his wrist watch.

“Lara dear you have school tomorrow do you not?” Gotham asks “please make sure you get home safe”

“Urgh you are so like my mom, don’t remind me cause we have an exam I’m so gonna faillll” Lara slumps in her seat as Gotham rubs her back.

“It is late… 3:47am and I do need to start closing so ladies if I may take your dishes” Danny smiles and shooed Lara out while also grabbing the dishes off their table.

“Come on shoo, you need rest for tomorrow Lara. If you fail no more cookies!” He says half jokingly but Lara still gives him puppy dog eyes and a tiny ‘but Danny!’ As she left.

“I’m leaving too, have to make sure she gets back safe. Thanks for the amazing tea again young Phantom” Gotham smiled and faded away into the shadows.

Danny sighed and started wiping the tables and set the chairs up on them, another night huh. He’s surprised he made it this far, Danny rubbed at his neck where his turtle neck was super itchy as well as held onto the necklace Dick gifted him.

Danny sat on the counter and took out the book he’s been reading recently, he’s not into romance but this author is good at what she does so he bought more of her books with the tips he got but had to freeze as his content core suddenly became sour and scared.

The bell dinged and in came, is that? Red Hood?

“Hey are you um still open? I could use a nice coffee right now” Red Hood awkwardly rubbed his nape. But Danny could smell the dried blood on him and decided to ignore this weird feeling he’s getting from the big man as he chose to nickname him.

“Red Hood right? I smell blood, are you injured?” Danny asks very! Calmly.

“How the fuck-“

“Are you injured?!” Danny asks again using a more powerful voice without noticing.

That made big man shut his mouth instantly and to nod.

“It’s just a scratch dude on my upper arm I’ll patch it up at home” Hood tried to say but Danny gave him a look that said ‘shut tf up and sit yo ass down’.

“I’m grabbing my first aid kit stay. Here.”

After bandaging Hoods wound that was definitely not ‘just a scratch’ and giving him a cup of coffee Danny got two chairs off one of the tables and sat on one signaling for hood to sit too which he did.

“So, big man. How’s being a crime lord going?” Danny asks.

Hood takes his helmet off so he can drink the coffee which was such a treat right now. “Welp it wasn’t going so well some stupid cult shit is happening right now, tried to summon this entity that will destroy earth as we know it, heck if I know.” He crosses his legs and huffs.

“Hmmm here in Gotham? That’s not even surprising man” the more time Danny was with him the weird feeling went away, hood just feels like a very sick ghost but he’s very much alive so is he death touched??? Danny needs to figure this out next time he gets to meet him.

Hood finished his coffee and put 100 dollars in the tip jar that Danny still tries to reject no matter how many times Dick or Bruce give him big tips, seems like big man will join that list.

Hood gave a tiny wave and with a short bye he left, Danny sighed and made sure everything is ready before closing the cafe and transforming into his ghost form. Nothing beats a good flying about and then chilling on a roof top. If scaring vigilantes half to death, hah. Because they think he wants to jump is anything to go by.

.
Danny sat on the rooftop of his apartment building holding a few lost items that he can take off the list of shades requests, the lost items are always the easier requests but requests like Emily’s were luck based and almost near impossible.

“Phantom, you are here again?” Danny smells him before he even landed, the expensive cologne that doesn’t smell strongly but just stuck to your skin after a long day.

“Birdie!” Danny exclaims, and jumps up to float around Nightwing with a smile.

Nightwing was the third person after Black bat and Spoiler to go check on a ‘jumper’ and end up befriending a meta? Alien? He’s not so sure anymore. Phantom was a nice dude all in all and Nightwing always found him holding onto items or a happy small girl talking about her dad? He wasn’t sure but phantom was very protective of her.

Nightwing reached out an arm for phantom to hold onto while floating and smiles.

“Found some lost items to drop at the cafe later! Are you done with patrol birdie?” Phantom happily lays his head on Nightwing’s shoulder, and Nightwing rubs his other hand up and down the cold metas hoodie covered back.

Dick wouldn’t say he thinks Phantom is a threat his siblings will agree, Phantom at one point called Robin baby birdie and couldn’t stop hugging him, he smiles at the memory of Damian trying to fight off the koala that is Phantom.

Nightwing let go of Phantom.

“Off you go it’s late and my patrol is over, you go rest now ok little star?” Phantom smiled at the nickname and nodded as he flew away.

Nightwing shook his head smiling, Phantom reminds him of Tim. Well off to report, he pulls out his phone.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today 4:57am)

Acrobatic legend: saw Phantom on the roof again :)

Blondie: oh? How’s lil star?

Acrobatic legend: happy.

Big bat: Dick.

Acrobatic legend: oh! Yes report, there seem to be some cult problems going on? Little bird wanna tell them what happened?

I lived bitch: nothing happened I got rid of them!

Acrobatic legend: Jay… I saw that knife go into ur arm, please for once just come over so Alfred can treat ur wounds!

I lived bitch: I’m ok really.

Big bat: Jaylad got injured? Jason you know Alfred will be more than willing to patch you up!

One hell of a butler: master Bruce is right, and you know it master Jason!

I lived bitch: I swear I’m ok! Danny patched me up!!!

The light: Danny? The barista who’s into space???

Blondie: our current muse? That Danny?

I lived bitch: I wanted coffee ok I didn’t know he has the smell ability of a fucking dog!

~One hell of a butler is typing…

Demon brat: yes our Danny is amazing is he not? Titus really likes him.

Tired robin: wtf are yall talking about??? Who’s Danny?

Silent but deadly: new brother.

Tired robin: what the actual fu-

Chapter Text

It’s around midnight, Danny’s cafe should be open now right? It’s time to investigate.

His cape flew past him as he landed in front of the cafe that his family has been talking so greatly about, he just. Wanted to make sure! He just wanted to make sure the person they admire so much is safe, yep that’s why!

It surely didn’t help how clean ‘Daniel nightingale’s identity seems to be, no recent medical check up, a school is written there but Danny is here for ‘medical’ reasons, Tim doesn’t buy it, sure Barbara told him that there must be a reason why Danny is here and to just wait till he’s comfortable enough to share. If the scars on his neck that could rival Jason’s is anything to go by.

But Tim cannot help his curiosity, I mean this guy managed to get on Damian’s good side. An impossible feat. Let alone how Jason almost always points out Danny seems to calm the pits.

Really though he was injured for two weeks! Two weeks! His family really can’t chill out for more than five seconds can they? He looks away for a second and they find more adoption bait. He really needs a coffee right now.

Sighing Tim pushed open the doors, what he found was a nice cosy cafe, the walls were adorned with kid’s drawings, some posters of this rockstar named Ember? and paintings that looked way too expensive. It’s a vintage looking cafe maybe that’s the vibe Danny was going for.

“Ah another bird! Don’t think I have seen you around” the guy that Tim could only assume is Danny himself grinned his way, looking around there was only three women here two cuddling in a back booth with a blanket covering them and a beautiful tall lady who gave him a very loving smile.

“Are you Danny?” Tim asked and Danny stares at him.

“Ah yeah? And you’re Red Robin, are we just announcing the obvious?” Danny said while giving him a mischievous grin and Tim could see the fangs, let’s say that Tim never felt his cheeks get hotter, that never happened!

“What is your poison lil birdie, I’ll make it for you real quick!” Danny asks and gives him a smile already holding a few cups with robins painted on them.

“Just regular old black for now will be perfect! Also these are cute” Tim let Danny know and while his back was turned to Tim, Tim made sure to secure the place especially since there’s three women here. You can never be too worried in Gotham, non profit places are really limited to two places which Danny’s cafe is one of. They tend to get attacked and broken into a lot.

“The cups? Ah yes my godfather sent me this set after I told him about Nightwing and lil Robin coming to see me, lil Robin is so impressive! My friend Sam would like him a lot!” Danny says without failing to focus at the task at hand though Tim didn’t miss the sad smile and worried far away look Danny had, could this do with his mysterious backstory? But before Tim could wonder more he felt someone touch his hand, its small.

“Mr Red Robin?” Tim turned his head down to see a little girl with ginger red hair tied in a long ponytail so he smiled and she smiled back.

“Our visitors need to sit down ok?” She asked and he nodded dumbly at her and let her lead him to an empty table.

“Would you like the blueberry muffins, they are my favorite!” She said and looked at him with her big innocent eyes and how could one say no to that so he nodded. After a few minutes he got his coffee and muffin as well as the cafe getting fuller so he didn’t really get to ask Danny the questions he wanted to.

Seeing as he kinda works alone with little Emily as he found out helping him with the further in tables.

.
Throughout the time Tim was enjoying his treat, Danny is a god damn wizard, these muffins are good! The beautiful tall woman kept staring at him, when he finally gave her a questioning look she signaled for him to come over.

“Danny dear one more tea and coffee for my table?” She asked and the barista gave her a big smile, going straight to work.

She currently had Emily sleeping on her lap and running her hand through the red hair. Tim very cautiously sat next to the beautiful woman.

“My little robin, you seem to be enjoying yourself” she said and before Tim could even question why she acted so familiar with him she spoke again “ah I’m sorry! didn’t mean to nickname you, I’m Gotham!” She released one of her hands from Emily’s hair and reached out for a handshake.

“Your parents got very creative there” he laughs a little and shakes her hand, Tim could also hear Danny trying not to laugh, why though he doesn’t know. Maybe Gotham and Danny are close? He makes note of that, as he did for the past hour. Made notes of all the interactions Danny had.

“Ah no my dear, I’m not as young as you think I am, I’m as old as Gotham itself is where the nickname comes from” Tim stares at her but then she boops his nose.

“No my dear I’m kidding! Yes, I am old though” she laughs and sips her tea that Danny just set on the table for them.

Yes a woman who behaves like that has got to be as old as Alfred. But she’s so pretty? She does not look a day older than 40.

“I know what you’re thinking Red, and you should probably stop you’ll fry your brain! Some peeps are just lucky” Danny smirks and continues to clean the Robin painted cups.

“What?! Says you!” Tim wondered how dare Danny say that when he doesn’t look 19 at all! And wayyyy too god dang pretty, did Tim die and go to heaven? He brushed his long bangs behind his ears blushing.

“Awww did I make lil birdie blush?” Danny leaned over the counter and grinned which caused Tim to blush harder, why his family’s muse have to be hot? Did they think Tim’s lil bi ass can deal with that??? Tim got up.

“I- I need to uh patrol! Yeah patrol! Also Nightwing told me to give you this!” In a rush and feeling ashamed Tim passed Danny Dick’s note and put the 50$ he had in his utility belt in the tip jar which he barely heard Danny trying to complain about and Gotham laughing behind him as he almost ran out of there.

Wow Tim, great going you go investigate a dude but end falling in love with his face and baked goods. Wait…what? Tim shakes his head and slaps his cheeks ‘what the actual fuck is wrong with me’.

Tim managed to get a lot done that night, feeling super motivated, was it the muffins? It could have been the muffins it was definitely not Danny and his pretty face!

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (tonight at 4:56am)

Blondie: so? Have you met Danny yet Tim?

Tired robin: the barista that yall like? Yes I have.

Acrobatic legend: isn’t he just the sweetest??? U got home all happi, let me guess u tried the muffins?

One hell of a butler: yes his muffins are to die for, it’s a good combo with his homemade apple juice in the morning.

Tired robin: maybe? No? Yes? I’m tired I’m going to sleep!

Acrobatic legend: but u don’t sleep-

Tired robin: IM GOING TO SLEEP

~tired robin has logged off

The light: he likes him.

Blondie: not like but like like!

Demon brat: have you been running off to Danny’s place without telling me Alfred? I didn’t know he was open at those hours.

One hell of a butler: ah he is not young master Damian, he was just willing to let me converse with him at the early hours of 6am.

Silent but deadly: sweet brother, more muffins?

One hell of a butler: yes there’s a box on the counter, he had many leftovers!

Big bat: if you all are back from patrol I’d appreciate it if you go rest, the muffins can wait!

Chapter Text

“A little help here!” Tim hears Dick cry out as he was trying to push a cultist off of him.

“Can’t! I’m a little busy!” Jason grits out as he currently has two of the bigger ones trying to hold him down, Tim reached to his ear they have to call B, but as he did he almost screamed in pain as one of the cultists took that chance to stab him from behind.

“Red Robin! What are you-“ Damian also yelled out but the two guys holding him down pressed harder on his back.

the cultist ran from Tim back to the circle while smiling like mad, Tim had to drop down to one knee.

“Red! Robin! Ugh get off me!” Dick managed to knock the guy unconscious and run towards Tim all the while Jason managed to knock out the other guys and try to help Damian.

“With this blood of a hero! I shall summon the king who shall save us all!” The cultist cut his own palm with the same blade and raised his hand.

“Agh! No Nightwing! Stop him I’ll be fine!” Dick hesitated but let go of Tim and ran at the cultist where the circle started glowing, he sped up but by the time he knocked the cultist to the ground there was a loud boom and a very strong glowing beam came out of the circle.

Jason can’t believe his eyes, did they finally succeed at summoning this strong entity that will destroy earth?

“Robin! Call the others I’m gonna help dick, if you have bandages on you do me a favor and help Red Robin yeah?” Jason ran to Dick and to the knocked out cultist.

Damian went to go help Tim who’s still clutching his side.

“What is this? Did they summon the entity?” Tim asks and Damian gives him a stiff nod.

“Listen I’m no John Constantine but I’m sure that as long as we’re the ones ordering the entity we can ask him to go back!” Dick says in the coms.

“From what I know, no we cannot. The blood that was used to summon is the only one who can make the command” Bruce said in the coms “Oracle, call Constantine tell him we need him asap and that it could be world ending” Bruce added.

“On it B” is all she says.

After a quick moment of silence the light fades away and they hear a familiar voice.

“God dang that hurt like a bitch!” Phantom shows up but the second he saw the vigilantes and the knocked out cultists.

“Huh.” He let out.

“Phantom? What the fuck, YOU are supposed to be some world ending entity? Jason says in disbelief. But he relaxes cause the pits became calm instantly when Phantom showed up, Jason will not believe for a second that Phantom is this blood thirsty entity that wants them all dead.

“No! Of course not, they were trying to summon the ghost king and I’m sure as heck ain’t that tyrant!” Phantom spit back.

“Ghost king…what are you talking about Phantom?” Nightwing raised a brow and looked him up and down “are you saying you are a ghost?” Nightwing asks in disbelief.

“I am, I thought you guys knew? Ain’t I freezing cold? Able to fly and turn invisible?” Phantom floats with legs crossed one over the other arms crossed too and looking sheepish.

Phantom puts his hand up to the barrier of the circle and the second his palm glowed green the barrier broke, which caused all vigilantes freeze. What if phantom is lying? What if he IS the world ending danger that was supposed to be summoned.

“Chill yall if I was him I would have been bigger, he’s a huge dude not very friendly, attacks on sight. We locked him up so we should be fine I’m guessing the circle just summoned the strongest ghost that was near” he lands on the floor where Nightwing instinctively reached out his arm, Phantom smiles and holds onto Nightwing’s arm as per usual.

“Is help coming for your little friend?” Phantom asks while he layed his head on Nightwing’s shoulder and when Nightwing smiled Phantom approached Red Robin and Robin, who gave Phantom a stiff nod.

“Are you able to heal him?” Robin asks.

“No sadly. I’m a protective spirit not a healing one” Phantom answered but he notices the shadows holding onto the wound, Gotham you are a lifesaver.

“Red!!!” Spoiler yells out and runs towards Red Robin who is a bit dazed but smiled her way anyway. She wasn’t the only one who showed, Batman also arrived with a man he doesn’t recognize with him but the second the stranger layed eyes on Phantom he froze.

“How’s Red?” Batman asked Nightwing who looked away in shame, Phantom knows why, heck he used to be a vigilante himself. But Batman doesn’t look too upset more so worried.

Meanwhile all the vigilantes were helping Red onto Hood’s back so they can go back for medical support. And the police arrived for the cultists. Batman nodded their way but turned towards phantom.

“You. Could I ask you to stay and answer some questions? Mr Constantine over here is basically our magic expert for now” Batman sighed the sigh that only a single dad could let out, hey don’t judge Phantom he’s tired too and that summoning hurt like a bitch.

“Yes sir, Batman sir!” Phantom gave him a grin but that made the stranger let out a gasp.

“You’re… phantom right? Are you aware of the amazing aura you are carrying around you?” Constantine exclaimed. Holding his breath, it’s obvious he’s aware of Phantoms actual form let alone his power Phantom should play his cards well.

“No I do not” Phantom answers lazily.

“Are we safe to assume Pariah Dark will not be summoned, young Phantom?” Constantine asks in a way that screams ‘I don’t wanna be here, answer quickly so I can leave’. Phantom wants to amuse him.

“No. He’s locked up somewhere I don’t know, the guy wanted to destroy the infinite realms, I beat him and here we are” phantom looks at his wrist to check for the time “anyway I have somewhere to be, byeeee” he said with a tiny wave and flew away.

Constantine with wide eyes looked at Batman like he just discovered a second moon, that was actually the ghost king…phantom doesn’t know…

“Batman I do not trust you to do so but please for love of all the infinite realms, DO NOT make Phantom angry! Just listen to me for ONCE” Constantine yells at Bruce who just looks confused, mayhaps because he doesn’t understand who Pariah is or what the infinite realms are.

“I’m contacting Zatanna we need to talk and if you ever see Phantom again please for the love of everything holy give him this” he gives Batman a piece of tied paper that he couldn’t open up so he put it in his utility belt, after that Constantine opened a portal and passed through it murmuring ‘why do I need to deal with baby kings, I need a drink’.

With Constantine gone Bruce goes ahead and makes haste towards home, he has a son to go check up on.

.
“That hurt so bad” Danny complains while Gotham plays with his hair, a while back Danny got back to his cafe and purely out of spite closed the cafe early, after giving Mike and Emily an apologetic smile for needing to run the cafe in his absence he sat down to drink tea with Gotham that also led to him somehow being coaxed into laying his head down on her lap.

“My young Phantom. I’m sorry that you had to go through that” she says and gently still playing with his hair but she let out a lil chuckle as she sips her tea, it’s hard enough to deal with his panic attacks but this? Danny just wanted to run his cosy lil cafe and make friends! Damn you cults!

“I’m ok, my lady…” he hums a bit when Gotham continues to fun her fingers behind his ear.

The door bell goes off as two figures go inside, the smell of an expensive cologne and the second smell that he doesn’t recognize hit his nose.

“Dick my place is closed!” Danny groans on Gothams lap with his eyes still closed, he hears Dick let out a lil laugh but sit down near them anyway.

“We just didn’t know where else to go, our brother got hurt again so we just wanted to chill out” Dick says and his buddy that Danny now recognizes as Jason also sits with him.

Danny groans but gets up anyway and went over to the counter, he starts working on Dicks usual with a muffin.

“Big guy, Jason right? What’s ur poison?” Danny asks and ignores the need to go and cuddle the big guy, this feeling is like Hood? Death touched? But he cannot stop the feeling at his core, how many peeps here are death touched, should he be worried? First Damian and Robin then Hood and now Jason?

“Just black will be fine for now, how’s the cafe going?” Jason chuckles a bit but it’s sweet of him to ask.

“I’m a bit sick today, stomach pain ya know the story, but it’s going great? Well as good as it can” Danny says while preparing their drinks and muffins which he brings over to their table.

“Haven’t seen Bruce in a bit I hope he’s doing ok, Alfred says he is but ya know I can’t help but worry when my favourite regular stops paying a visit, Harley misses him too” Danny laughs but he’s genuine, he really likes the Wayne family so far, they felt like the family he wanted but could never even fight to have, you know with eccentric parents who only care about their science.

His parents didn’t even bat an eye when those two men cut him open, no why would they? When him being cut open meant they get to do more experiments and to prove to the world how a ghost screaming in pain can’t be sentient!

Danny’s core became angry and without noticing it reached out to Jason, Jason and Gotham being the only ones able to feel that were quick to go to Danny, Gotham hugged him and ran her hand through his hair while Jason confused rubbed his hand over Danny’s back.

“What happened Danny? Is it your stomach?” Dick asks while sipping his coffee. Jason gives Dick a look, like he himself is unsure but continues to worry over Danny.

“I think this will be a good time to close shop wouldn’t it” Gotham asks and helps Danny to close the cafe with the help of Jason and Dick too. She smiles their way while they leave and helps a dazed Danny close the cafe.

After locking all doors including his entrance door, she lays Danny on his bed and runs her hand through his hair again.

She noticed the amount of scars he had on his abdomen while he changed his clothes, especially the shape of them. She gave a disgusted look, who dared do that to their young king. She covered him with his blanket and told him to go to sleep for now. She’ll be there tomorrow.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 7:57am)

Acrobatic legend: Tim how are you?

Tired robin: forced off work again and in pain.

I lived bitch: ah yes your arch nemesis, not being able to work.

One hell of a butler: I think this is only good for you master Tim! Now you can work on the class projects you have been pushing back.

Big bat: Hey maybe you should give your project partner a call? Lara was it?

Tired robin: you two are right tho it’s very rude of me to have been ghosting her…

Blondie: YOU? Ghosting a GIRL???

Tired robin: you make it sound like I’m some sort of playboy??? Can you tone it down?!

Blondie: no of course ur not…just gay for Danny at the moment.

Tired robin: whoa?!

~Tired robin has logged off…

The light: 20 bucks he will get with Danny by the end of the month!~

Silent but deadly: no. 50$ by two weeks.

The light: u r so on!!!

Big bat: can you not?

~Blondie is typing…

Chapter Text

“Tim I already told you, your hair looks fine!” Lara says in devastation, Tim has complained over his new hair cut for the
millionth time.

“But Laraaaaa it just feels wrongggg” Tim continues to be a drama queen as they pass through the cafe doors.

“Ah welcome back Lara! And a new friend?” Danny smiles her way and waves, Emily also smiles their way until she saw Tim, giving him a weird stare but said nothing and continued to help with the costumers.

You know, the more Tim thinks about it Danny did acquire regulars and regulars only, with the quality of his cafe he should try to promote his cafe and maybe open a new bigger one, wait no stop it Tim business talk is only for W.E.

“Hi Dan! So meet my Project partner from class, this here is our own handsome Timothy Drake-Wayne he has been ghosting me for a week!” Lara says way too happily Tim is scared that would make Danny hate him but Danny just gives him the usual fanged mischievous grin he gave to the vigilantes every time they visit him.

“Ah another one of Bruce’s boys! Yes I heard of you, sit down handsome what can I get you?” Danny gives a little chuckle which almost! Made Tim lose his balance which Lara did not miss!

“Iced Americano would be nice for now! Maybe one of the infamous muffins Lara told me about?” Tim says gently.

“Coming right up, pretty boy!” Danny answers and gets straight to work.

Danny is still as pretty as always Tim blushed again after his brain finally took in the nickname. Wait wha-

As Lara dragged him to a free booth in the back and started setting her laptop on the table and also taking her notebook out, it’s a cute notebook with little cartoon ghosts on it, it was a gift from Danny.

Lara let Tim sit down and while he got his things out of his bag Lara started whispering in his ear.

“I saw that, you know? Can you calm yourself??? I know he’s hot but he’s still my bestie” Lara says and while a normal person wouldn’t be able to read through the practiced fake tone, Tim knows better. Yes the way he behaved could have not made a good first impression and he could not judge Lara for being protective of Danny, due to the mistreatment.

Emily approached them with their orders and set them on the table, Lara patted her on the head saying thank you and Emily giggled but still stared at Tim like she knows his deepest secrets.

“Listen Lara I-, I’m sorry I ghosted you, things got crazy at the company and you know being the co ceo-“ Tim tried to excuse but that just made Lara give him a look that if looks could kill he’d be so dead rn.

“Did you AT least finish your part of the project?” She asked angrily.

“I- no sorry” Tim tried to answer.

Meanwhile, Emily rushed to Danny “brother Phantom I think our new guest needs help!” As he patted her head and gave a look to Mike who replyed with thumbs up getting up to be at the counter.

Danny approached his bestie and the handsome guy.

“Heyyy I think we can all calm down now” he leaned down on their table eyes glowing a bit green, that made the whole cafe look on edge and Gotham gave a worried but proud look, yes their king can handle it.

Gotham did not like this being about Danny either she understands Lara was hurt by her knight and tries to protect Danny, if only she knew how capable he is of protecting himself… if he wasn’t, no one will hurt him as ‘they’ did ever again. Especially if Gotham has anything to say about it.

“I think we can all get along right?” He gives his fanged grin his eyes still glowing a bit.

“Danny I- I’m sorry, I got angry I’ll just go take a quick breather” Lara gets up and leaves, Gotham goes after her like a worried mother. But gives an encouraging smile Danny’s way which made him blush. Guess it was that obvious that Danny is enchanted by Tim’s looks but will he be a good man for their king?

“I’m so sorry Danny I was not trying to destroy the peace at the cafe” Tim tried to put on a professional voice but when he saw Danny with his fanged smile he crumbled. Professionalism out the window.

And just like that the gentle noise of the cafe came back.

“Nah it’s ok Mr. Drake-Wayne” Danny brushed him off, Tim will forever deny how much that had an effect on him.

“Ah! Just- just Tim is fine, I-…it’s nice to meet you?” Tim offers he’s hand and Danny gladly takes it, Danny chooses to sit down with Tim until Lara relaxes a bit, Gotham has it he’s sure.

Tim shivers a bit at Danny’s cold hand and reminds himself of his family’s suspicion that Danny is an ice powered meta, surely it wouldn’t hurt to just bring it up in the conversation?

“Danny Nightingale at your service, handsome” Danny smiles at Tim this time its not his usual mischievous grin, no not the one where he seems like he can read all your darkest secrets just from your aura alone, like he’s scheming something big.

Tim sometimes wonders if he does, Danny gives off that aura. That he is holding all the world together and no one knows it. Tim was always known to be attracted to power, power is attractive sue him.

“I heard your godfather is Vlad Masters? If we were to invite him to a gala would you join as his son? He never brought anyone, actually he declined all invites in the last 2 years! We didn’t even know he had 2 god children!” Tim tries the professional way again and that seemed to not go too bad.

“Dad… Father actually had a daughter of his own, my… half sister in a way” Danny gives a sad smile in memory of his clone sister “two years ago. She passed away, her body was too weak and then she was gone, father took it very hard that he moved away and disappeared off the face of the earth, he wasn’t there when my accident happened”

Tim felt bad for somehow triggering a bad memory and put his hand on Danny’s shoulder who Danny layed his head on in appreciation.

“After her passing he just didn’t want to go to these events anymore and we almost lost him to suicide… I’m glad he’s doing better now, I offered if he ever wants to start socialising again that I’ll join…” Danny gives a lil tired laugh “Jazz, my older sister as well. We will never let him suffer alone” Danny does not add the fact they saved his life, it was not a mere accident. The medical issues he’s here for are not from a mere accident but Tim didn’t need to know that.

Tim nodded in acknowledgment “where are you from exactly?” He asks.

“Amity Park” Danny says flatly.

“The most haunted town in America?! Dude that’s awesome!” Tim almost yells, at least he doesn’t have to go all detective mode to find these answers, now he just needs to look up his name on the town files.

“Well not so awesome when a ghost attacks you in the middle of class and then Phantom has to get rid of them” Danny lays back in the booth but as Tim was about to ask about what the flying fuck would Phantom be doing in Gotham then.

“Hey guys I’m sorry about that” Lara comes in and interrupts them, but gives them a look after seeing the close proximity they are sitting in, which makes them almost jump away from each.

With his hands raised in surrender Danny excused himself, I mean he does need to get back to the counter Mike doesn’t make the coffee as good as Danny does, Gotham pats him on the back as Danny picks up her tea cup and also excuses herself, Tim guesses she has things to do I mean apparently she’s like 70. He couldn’t help but feel that she’s super familiar though.

“He told you about Danielle didn’t he?” Lara sighed and sat next to Tim, he nodded at her.

They started working on their project together, Tim didn’t forget to keep an eye on Danny. He learned a lot about him today but most importantly, where to look for the real Danny if that’s even his name.

After leaving the cafe he and Lara managed to set up another project date that works for both of them.

.
“Emily aren’t you a sweet child, my princess” Danny says as he’s finished braiding her long hair, and she gives a loud giggle jumping off his lap and into her daddy’s arms.

“Thank you Phantom” he say’s affectionately.

“No thank you Mike! For always helping me when I can’t work!” Danny laughs and Mike does too as he and his daughter fade away for now.

Shades are haunting creatures, it might have been his fault why Mike and Emily are still around, he sighs.

He found Mike but they still stayed, he cannot force them to leave either as again a ghost core built on emotion and upsetting them in any way could turn ugly real fast.

As Danny was closing shop, he felt a familiar presence.

“Hood!” And then he also smells Nightwing’s cologne, he smiles.

“My favorite vigilantes! Lemme start on your on your usuals and hey there’s a few muffins left!” Danny says tiredly but still smiles their way.

“Actually there’s no need!” Nightwing says charmingly as usual which caused Danny to stop midway of taking out his robin coffee cups.

“Kid we wanna ask you for a favour?” Hood says, Hood recognises the feeling now. Had been aware of this fact for a while. He knew something was familiar with Danny and Phantom.

“Do you by any chance, have a way to contact Phantom. Someone would like to meet with him?” Nightwing says and gives Hood an angry look ‘don’t scare him!’.

“If I said yes would you tell me who wants to see him? If you know who Phantom is then are you also aware that he is a very strong ghost?” Danny asks calmly.

“Well kid we did find out the hard-“ Hood says but gets interrupted by Nightwing.

“Batman wants to speak with him”

.
Text chat: between Barbara and Tim (sometime after Tim left the cafe)

Tim: I know what we need to look into.

Barbara: I told you lay off of Danny, he must have his reasons!

Tim: just look up “amity park” and tell me what you can find.

Barbara: Tim what is this?

Tim: it’s what I’m trying to find out! Nothing I can find nothing!

Barbara: is there some sort of firewall? We need to investigate this further, Danny is only a bit hesitant when talking about his home down whenever he’s at the library for a new book but is he aware his home town’s a real ghost town online?

Tim: I’m unsure… do we ask him what he knows? Or do we try to hack through this?

Barbara: I’m saying both, you try and get all info you can get from Lara and Danny, heck invite Vlad to our gala next week for extra information, I’ll continue to break through this wall for now.

Tim: on it! Thanks Barb!

Barbara: and go to sleep already!

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (tonight at 4:57am)

Acrobatic legend: B, Danny said Phantom will meet you on the roof top of the Wayne enterprises building at 11:30pm.

Big bat: thank you son.

Acrobatic legend: yw honestly he wasn’t too hard to convince Danny said he’s a big fan of Batman so he’ll do his hardest to convince phantom!

I lived bitch: no fair bats! I’m way cooler than you, he thinks ur car is cool! I ride a bike!

Big bats: now now, he’s only just a fan.

Blondie: hah Bruce definitely likes that his new son is a fan of him!

The light: definitely!

Silent but deadly: J, I think bike is cool.

I lived bitch: at least SOMEONE knows real cool when they see it, Cass you’re my favorite!

Silent but deadly: Am. Favorite.

Acrobatic legend: wait does that mean I’m not the favorite?

I lived bitch: never was dickbird!

~one hell of a butler is typing…
~big bat is typing…

Demon brat: can you all go to sleep already! I have a test tomorrow!

Blondie: actually same here, goodnight guys!<3

Chapter Text

“They should put a bell on you. Phantom” Batman said as he turned around.

“But that would ‘kill’ all the fun!” Phantom says as he turns visible with his usual mischievous grin, “couldn’t expect more from the master detective Batman, the man himself”

Phantom floats and basically sits on the air with his legs crossed “so to what do I owe the pleasure of wanting a meeting with the dark knight, maybe a dinner could have been nice…I know a good night cafe!”

Batman surprises Phantom by a chuckle, what?! Batman can do that?

“I know of which place you are talking about my birds sure do like going there, but let’s get to a more serious talk” Batman’s voice became growly again.

“While I was asked to be a messenger and to give you a note from Constantine, I have my own concerns and have made my own discoveries” Batman continues and Phantom nods at him still grinning.

“You are a ghost.”

“Correct”

“How are you able to communicate right now?” Batman just gives a long stare, which Phantom returns but even more deadpanned.

“This- this requires a deeper explanation, may I ask for your time Batman?” Phantom asks and Batman gives him a stiff nod.

“Ghosts do exist and while most of them will be as the stereotype goes incapable of interacting with humans such as shades or entities, we’re mostly sentient creatures made of ectoplasm and most of us have a core that helps us keep a shape” Phantom starts but that makes Batman wonder.

“Are ghosts dead people?” Batman wonders aloud.

“Well yes and no, not all ghosts are actually spirits of the dead as most humans will just move on to the infinite realms. Most of the humans who DO become ghosts are shades, they cannot materialize for long and normal humans won’t be able to see them no matter what, trauma and vengeance will have something to do with that” Phantom explains.

“Robin said that you are a protective ghost and not healing one, what did you mean by that?” Batman said sounding like he’s really taking everything Phantom said to heart.

“It is as it sounds every ghost has their own capabilities and obsession, I am a protective spirit my obsession is to protect. Has been since I died oh! And please don’t ask ghosts how they died that’s a big nono” Phantom explains.

Batman looked like he wanted to ask, Phantom does look young maybe 14? And he is somehow related to Danny, they look very similar is it possible they are brothers? A lot of questions that he might not be able to ask.

Batman wonders why he couldn’t have found any info on Phantom other than sightings of him in Amity Park, but when he looks up the town he finds nothing. Barbara said she’s been working on that firewall for a day, whoever is hiding the town really wants the town to not be seen.

What happened to Danny, what happened to Phantom? Batman worries.

“What are the infinite realms?” Batman continues to ask and Phantom looks sad.

“It’s the whole universe and it’s not the whole universe at the same time, a mere mortal wouldn’t be able to grasp the concept” Phantom answers simply and before Batman could show to Phantom how much of a mere ‘mortal’ he is, he remembered that Constantine asked him to not anger Phantom.

Batman decided to take out the note and hand it over to Phantom.

“I am not able to open it I’m guessing Constantine put some sort of spell on it, so do not worry I don’t know what are the contents of this” Batman gives him one final stare, asking the man for a lil thanks is too much apparently but he jumps off the building before Phantom can even comment.

Sighing, god effing damn it meeting with Batman sucked, Danny would never admit it but the vigilante just carries this aura to him is why everyone will not dare to underestimate him. Gotham is so proud of that. But it makes him wonder, Bruce has a very similar aura to him as well.

Wait, Bruce and Batman sharing the same aura, Nightwing using the same cologne as Dick…Jason’s core being the same as Hood’s…could this just be a coincidence? He shakes his head.

Danny opens the paper and finds that it’s a seal which starts glowing the instant he opened it.

Fuck.

“Welp, guess I’ll die”

.
“I’m telling you that there’s a new fucking king and he isn’t even fucking aware Zatanna! I’m effing glad we finished the spell!” Constantine takes another gulp from his drink and sighing dramatically.

Before he could react though someone came crashing out of nowhere right on top of Constantine which made him yelp.

The weight leaves as fast as it arrived though.

“Ah I’m so sorry, Mr. Constantine sir and a friend?” Phantom hurries to help Constantine up but also notices the woman on the screen. Who waves at him trying so hard not to laugh she even muted herself.

“Constantine are you ok? Did I injure you?” Phantom pats Constantine’s back which made him come back to reality.

Dazed and shocked “Phantom your aura is a thing of wonders can you back up buddy?” Constantine asks but they hear a giggle from the screen infront of them.

“Ah no! I’m sorry hahahaha” the pretty lady on the screen continues to laugh and giggle, which made Phantom giggle too and now we have two people laughing. While Constantine scoffed and crossed his arms together.

“Yeah laugh it up Zatanna! Ghost boy! Take this” Phantom took the seal Constantine offered and the instant he touched it a bracelet marked it self onto his wrist and disappeared. Phantom didn’t feel any bind of some sort.

“What did you just do? Not that I don’t trust you but it’s hard to trust someone with a soul as messed up as yours” Phantom snarked while checking out the tattoo looking band around his wrist.

“Relax! I won’t dare hurt you, it’s a spell Zatanna and I worked on, it should reduce you being summoned! Gotham is FILLED with cults, you are the strongest entity they can pull into that circle and don’t think I didn’t notice you are in pain! It should help with that too!” Constantine says and then waves him like it’s nothing.

“Kid we all have things to do please go do what you ghosts do” Constantine turns back to the screen and Phantom doesn’t know what to do so he waves to her which she waves back and flys away.

“You know, I don’t think it’s a good idea not letting him know he is the king” Zatanna says gently, Constantine looks at her and drinks from his bottle.

“Well he is king but there are no disturbances as you have confirmed. The ghosts don’t want to attack him and even seem to sing high praise for him, I think we’re fine for now”

.
Sighing and looking at his wrist again, Danny cannot sit still. He decided to not open his cafe so the only ones there right now are he, Emily eating the newly prepared chocolate chip cookies, Mike sleeping in one of the booths, Gotham as per usual and Lara waiting on Tim.

“Hey Dan! Can I get more coffee?” Lara asked and Danny looked at her as if she’s insane.

“You’ve had our strongest coffee 3 times already, that’s a no! Please let me prepare some green tea for you” Danny scolds as he is preparing the tea, he feels a sharp pain in his stomach.

Tim knocks and comes in “sorry I’m late, Bruce needed me at the company! Hey Danny, hiya Emily!” Tim hugs the little girl and smiles Danny’s way as he goes to sit with Lara, Tim cannot tell them that he’s been busy trying to find information as well as the call he had with Vlad, Amity Park is currently a wonder that they are trying to figure out. Especially what happened to Bruce’s new adoption bait.

While Danny brought over their coffee and green tea, Tim couldn’t help but notice the white tattoo around Danny’s wrist as well as the necklace he’s wearing, wait! Isn’t that Dick’s?!

“Danny how come you are wearing Dick’s necklace?” Tim asked while greatfully taking the coffee from Danny.

“Ah this? He gifted it to me, didn’t explain why but I guess I just wear it out of gratitude… Bruce brought me those very pretty earrings but I mean I can’t wear them I don’t have my ears pierced” Danny lets out a lil giggle that will one day make Tim melt, mark his words!

“Why not pierce them Dan I mean you got a tattoo what a lil needle to the ear gonna do?” Lara dramatically says “I mean you really shouldn’t refuse a gift from a billionaire”

“I didn’t refuse it GIRLY I hold it close to my chest thank you very much, Lara” and as Danny and Lara had their lil bickering Tim couldn’t help but feel he’s behind on something I mean how come Dick and Bruce already managed to adorn Danny with jewelry??? This surreal feeling like Danny SHOULD be all adorned with gold like a king, is it the crush speaking?

Tim held his side in pain for a second.

“Tim are you ok?” Danny looks at him suspiciously.

“I’m ok Danny, I was thinking my family is way too ahead of me is all” Tim answered and Danny gave him a confused look, gods Danny was adorable.

Danny let them finish their uni work while he cleans the cafe with the help of newly awoken Mike who refused to not help and a jumpy energetic child.

It was a long day today, first he gets to meet THREE league members like what next? Wonder Woman??? He would die happy if he got to meet her.

Welp it’s 4am time to get back to Phantom duties, with the help of Gotham who managed to convince Lara to go get sleep, only one left now is Tim.

“Hey Danny I was wondering, are you free next weekend?” Tim says tiredly, Danny wonders if he’s aware of what he’s saying at all.

“I am, what for pretty boy?” Danny says jokingly.

“I’d like to take you on a nice dinner, I mean I can’t let my family steal you yet” Tim says and gets up, he writes down his number on a piece of paper and gives it to Danny. With a smile and wave he leaves, he does have a lot to do.

Danny sighs for like the 10th time today.

He goes ghost.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 8am)

Big bat: didn’t we tell you to not be out too much Tim?

One hell of a butler: I’m sure we have, you came back way too late master Tim I encourage you don’t do that again so you can heal faster!

Tired robin: sorry! Me and Lara didn’t notice the time and-

Blondie: would you give it a rest? Now why did you give him your number hmm?

Tired robin: u guys and ur stalking.

Blondie: pshhhh like ur any better than us.

Tired robin: I found out that Dick gifted him his favorite necklace and Bruce gifted him his mother’s earrings I just…didn’t wanna be behind.

Big bat: oh Tim…but you are the one he calls pretty boy doesn’t he?

Tired robin: BRUCE!!!!

Big bat:😂

Demon brat: and I thought I’d have a good day today.

Chapter Text

“And he’s Scary dude” Phantom huffs.

“I mean yea…that’s his shtick” Hood answers.

Phantom found himself floating around tonight and when he saw Hood, Hood invited him to just chill on a rooftop together, Phantom can’t complain it’s what he does all the time the vigilantes find him, not including the first few times.

Phantom told Hood about his meeting with Batman, Hood confirmed that Batman told his underlings about it too.

Phantom layed his head on Hood’s lap “no bro! He’s scary COOL like I was almost shaking but in a good way! Think I’ll be able to meet Wonder Woman too?” Phantom yaps his little fanboy heart away, Hood smiles he almost can’t believe that this is the same Danny who’s super calm and collected, who likes cars and space.

Of course Jason found out a long time ago that Phantom is Danny while he’s sure it would be hard for someone like his family well maybe not Damian, but the pits are a big sign. It’s true that Danny looks 14 in his ghost form and Batman’s theory that they are brothers is completely off.

Who’s he to tell them? He’ll let them chase Danny as much as he can, it’s entertaining.

“Hoooooood are you listening to meeee?” Phantom whines. Hood takes off his hamlet and smiles which surprised Phantom but he still smiles back anyway.

Hood takes out the bag he kept aside and gives it to Phantom and then forces Phantom off his lap gently.

He checked his phone.

“Duty calls and I think you too have a place to be. See you later Phantom, save some of those Italian beans for me yeah?” Hood smiles his way puts his helmet back on and jumps off the roof, before Phantom could offer to float him down as confused as he was with Hood’s last comment.

“Gosh they just love to be dramatic I swear” Phantom sighs and goes back to the cafe.

.
“B, got one up top!” Nightwing says into the comms, going to the next cultist.

“This is getting freaky it’s the 3rd time we’ve found a cult base, who are they trying to summon again?” Spoiler asks while kicking away a cultist.

“Some ghost king? I am not sure” Barbara says on the comms “wait! Watch out Hood on your left!” She warns.

Hood just barely managed to avoid a knife to the gut and drop kick the guy away.

“Ok what is up with them and knives?!” Spoiler yells fighting off another cultist, who started to madly laugh at her. Black Bat punches the cultist away but that didn’t stop her from holding onto Black Bat’s wrist and taking her down with her.

Spoiler manages to help Black Bat, But that made the female cultist stand still.

“You wanna know what we need? A true warrior blood is what we need, we will summon the king who will save us all!” And she attempts to attack Spoiler, but Batman knocked her out cold.

“Report, robin” Batman says into his comms, and checks on Spoiler and Black Bat who nod at the silent question.

“We knocked them all out and contacted Gordon already” Robin answered simply as Nightwing and Hood tied all the cultists up.

“Constantine said we just need to avoid our blood being used successfully, in his words ‘being a vigilante is warrior enough I guess’ but they are looking for someone before the ages of time at all” Barbara explains, Batman huffs loudly.

“Back to the cave, Black Bat go see Al when we get back. Hood?” Batman says.

“Yeah B?”

“Are you coming back with us or not? I would like for you to be checked out by Al too” Batman sounds if only a bit desperate, Jason still has a bit of bad blood over what happened and is why he doesn’t always agree to join them back at the manor.

“Nah I want Danny’s coffee right now and maybe some good sleep, thanks for the offer though old man. See ya!” Hood gets on his bike and rides away. Causing Batman to deeply sigh his kids are gonna be the death of him.

.
“And I tell you Sam you wouldn’t believe how impressive Lil Robin is, you would like him so much I mean! I know I do!” Danny says over the phone, while Tim couldn’t even focus on Lara and their project, again a family member managed to be ahead of him. Danny is now wearing one of Jason’s favorite hoodies.

Now Danny ain’t short by any means but somehow the oversized hoodie makes him look small and adorable, what is this? Are they forcing Tim to make a move?

He can’t, not until he finds out what Danny is hiding. His family trusts him blindly? Why?

Tim can’t help it too, he feels protected around Danny too this unexplained feeling like he must protect his king who is fully capable of protecting them in return.

It’s not to say though that Gotham gives off the same energy.

“Tim…TIM!” Lara snaps her fingers infront of his face, he looks at her in question.

“Omg lover boy I need help with this part” Lara huffs in annoyance.

“Ah yes sorry” Tim helps her but still focused on Danny and the smile he has on for this ‘Sam’ person which he says would get along with Damian? Tim can’t help the jealousy, Damian somehow left an impression so good Danny thinks he’s a good person to introduce to a loved one.

Tim continues to listen from afar as Danny continues to talk to two people now, it seems they switched to video call.

That’s two people from Danny’s hometown that he knows the names of, it could be prove useful so Tim takes note of that.

Next week is the gala which Vlad has confirmed arrival if it goes according to plan maybe Tim would be able to get some info out of him, he WAS the town mayor at one point.

Barb did let him know that she’s still working on breaking that firewall whoever is blocking them is working hard on not letting them in, which raises a lot of suspicions. Barbara didn’t want to admit but she thinks it had to do with Danny’s ‘accident’

Tim helps Lara with their project as well as take a sip from his coffee.

The bell of the door rings and Danny greets Red hood, who gives Tim a look which he didn’t miss, not at all.

A lil laugh from Danny’s phone made him blush and hang up saying ‘oh my God stop’.

“Lemme start working on your roast hun, honestly ignore what my friend said, she’s feeling fancy” Danny sighed and went to the back to get Hoods usual favorite beans, which made him think for a second well for one he needs to restock. Bruce, Dick and Jason all three like the Italian beans.

Second, this reminded Danny of Hoods last comment.

It’s all in your head Danny just make the man his coffee that he probably deserves after such a long night, come to think of it he didn’t get to see Red Robin in a while and even with lil Robin’s confirmation that he’s healing well, Tim showed up a lot more.

Danny smiles at the memory of their nice chat over text earlier, Tim wouldn’t agree to any place other than the most expensive restaurant in the city they managed to agree that Anita’s place would be fine, both craving Indian food.

They talked about life, Danny didn’t fear telling Tim how much his school life would be disturbed by ghost attacks so Tim managed to learn something new about Amity park. And Danny.

Danny finished making Hood’s coffee and gave him his fav cup, at this point all the vigilantes and former rouges have their own cup as well as Gotham.

Hood took his cup and sat next to Gotham who smiled at her knight and continued to calmly relax at her table.

Tonight was a bit quiet other than some pain on both parties such as Tim and Danny but they did not notice each other holding the same area in pain. Hood reminds himself before the closing time to ask Phantom later if being summoned causes pain.

But would he know how to answer that when he’s ‘not the king’?

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 9:35am)

One hell of a butler: master Tim can you let me check on your stitches for the love of god?

Tired robin: they were not re opened al!

Big bat: please just let Alfred check them Tim.

Blondie: why? Do you have somewhere to be?😉

I lived bitch: I-

Silent but deadly: no, quiet.

Tired robin: maybe???

The light: I know cass i knowwww

Big bat: why are you guys like this, it’s not nice betting on your siblings love life!

Acrobatic legend: Bruce where is my 50$?

Big bat:🫡

Demon brat: you all are hopeless! But drake I am happy for you.

Tired robin: I- thanks????

Chapter Text

“Red Robin!” Phantom floats around Red Robin in excitement.

“Oh Phantom! Funny seeing you here” Red huffs out as he currently is trying to fight off a rubber.

“A little help here?”

Phantom smiles and just grabs the rubber, throwing him away and onto a wall.

Red Robin almost face palms at the amount of strength and flinches a little at the sound of the poor guy hitting the wall, passing out.

“Yeah thanks” Red says bashfully and presses something on his belt, Phantom assumes it’s to notify the police.

Maybe Gordon? He’s a nice dude, he’s the nice lady’s dad from the library! Phantom likes him.

“Hows your wound Red?” Phantom asks as he floats towards Red Robin and lays his head on Red’s shoulder who shudders a bit due to the cold feel of Phantom but smiles non the less.

Phantom is a protective spirit it’s been a week since the summoning and all the family members figured out how much of a protective guy he seems, if it seems like he likes someone case in point Tim for example he tends to be overprotective. He would go out of his way to take hits or the opposite way to help the vigilantes.

He’s been more protective of Red Robin recently which the family did not miss and did not miss the chance to make fun of him either, it seems that Hood found out that yes ghosts are cable of being hurt and yes he was indeed connected with Phantom when Phantom was summoned.

He would never know this but Danny’s constant concern such as asking the other visiting vigilantes about Red Robin to Phantom always hanging around Red Robin is due to the injury cause while Phantom took less to heal Red Robin is only human it would just go against Phantom’s nature to not care for and protect Red Robin.

“It’s doing ok, our lil Star” Red answers warmly, Red like the rest of the family has grown to really like the ghost, who is always willing to help them in fights as well as picking up heavy stuff that they definitely can’t. Something about being able to turn it weightless? Don’t ask him he really doesn’t know.

“That’s awesome, been following you around since Hood said you are back on the field” Phantom grins at Red.

“Oh really now? Sorry hun but I don’t go for kids and I have a hot date later tonight” Red makes it a point to fix and brush off his suit that didn’t need no fixing.

“Awww don’t be like that I’m 19!”

“19 thousand?”

“No comment”

To be fair with all the time traveling situation, Phantom himself isn’t so sure but it’s funny as heck to mess with the bats and birds! Phantom almost lets out a lil giggle remembering how he made Hood become super wary of his surroundings after he pulled a prank on him or when he made Hood proud by stealing Batman’s tires.

Or or!

“Phantom?” Red calls out and pulls Phantom out of his funny flashbacks.

“Yes honey?” Phantom answers but Red just grimaces at him.

The bat signal lights up and after giving Phantom a short apology he grappled away, which honestly? Half of the bats don’t even say goodbye when they grapple away so. If Black Bats hugs are anything to go, he hopes she only does that with him and Danny.

.
While laying on his bed, the cold January cold does not faze Danny at all.

Danny has been, Happy? If not a bit anxious, if you were being chased by an organization trying to kill you and your people you would be stressed and anxious too!

But the week went as smoothly as usual, serving drinks and baked goods, he started branching out to full meals due to the big amount of human and shade university students alike liking his cafe, gosh the cafe’s too small.

Danny smiles though, he likes the life that he built for himself here, in Gotham and his cosy lil haunt.

Dating Tim was something he never expected, his only experience was Tucker and Sam. Tim was such a gentleman nothing like the other rich kids he knows, his own younger brother is anything to go by but Damian cares he just doesn’t show it.

As much as Tim is invasive and nosy he is also IMPRESSIVELY smart and strong willed, Danny can’t expect a newly boyfriend to be loving yet right…wait does Tim even consider them boyfriends yet??? Oh no!

Danny catches himself blushing over the fact.

Good thing that his phone decided to ring in that exact moment, name of the contact is ‘Vlad masters’. He picks up instantly, it’s a rarity for his godfather to be the first one to call.

“Danny my boy!”

“Father!”

Well that’s a nice opening to that conversation.

“Well son before I ask of you for a favor want to tell me how the week went? Of course Jazz already updated me on small things, am very glad lady Gotham is doing ok!” Vlad asks, he never really talked first. He prefers to hear Danny first, he’s trying to make amends.

The show of care made Danny’s core vibrate in warmth everytime, the care being shown by one of his, his family. His coven.

After spending a long 2 hours just talking about life and occasionally exchanging some memories of the good times as they usually do, so they can keep Danielle’s memory alive, Vlad finally asks the big question.

“I’ll be lending in Gotham tomorrow” he says calmly.

“Here, why?”

“The Wayne’s are running a charity gala for an hospital again, thought since I’m trying to get back to my life that I should go” Vlad answers “I honestly expected that you would of known already since your partner is THE organizer of the gala” he adds with a lil teasing chuckle.

Danny blushes at one his goddad’s teasing and two Tim being called his partner, Vlad does it not because he’s old fashioned but because partners ARE the only thing couples could be when it comes to ghosts, and it usually ties in fate, whatever he’s not really super in touch with the fate master anyway.

“Would you be willing to be my plus one, I already have a suit ready for you! Jazz sadly is too busy with her tests and studies” Vlad sounds desperate, honestly he doesn’t have to be Vlad did so much. As much as almost sacrifice his own life to save Danny considering he went there in his ghost form, which meant the GIW would of tried to get him too.

“It’s only a gala dad I’ll be fine and hey you just gave me a reason to hit up my sweet partner and ask why I wasn’t invited” Danny grins mischievously.

After a little laugh and a hearty goodbye, Danny hangs up.

Why did Tim not invite Danny though? They have been dating for a week and Danny thinks it’s going real well, his core hurts a bit at the rejection. He can’t control it as his finger hovers over Tim’s contact.

He takes a deep breath and pushes aside the feeling of being rejected.

He presses call.

.
“You’re gonna want to see this Tim” Barbara says from her computer in the batcave.

“Did you break it?!” Tim dashes towards Barbara, the rest giving them both a questioning look. Bruce especially.

Barbara nods and shows Tim her findings, other than a few laws that shouldn’t even be legal in any state which they should raise the topic to Bruce but what she found was hmmm nastier?

Dick also approached the computer.

She found Danny’s real identity, he lied about nothing but his last name. I mean it was obvious he had a fake identity just by looking at it, from a local article Phantom has stopped showing 3 months ago but ignore that, this picture of Danny with his family he looks 14 here.

“He, he looks like phantom!” Dick says “the colors are just inverted!”

“He really does! It says here that his name is Daniel Fenton, he has an older sister named Jasmine Fenton goes by Jazz, in this picture they seem to have another girl in the picture who looks like him but I can’t find any info on her” Barbara explains by this time all the family members in the cave also came closer.

“Ah that’s probably Dani! She was like a younger sister to Danny she passed away” Tim adds “she’s Vlad’s daughter”

“But what concerns you Barb?” Bruce asks.

“Well these…anti Ecto acts, seem to entail that ghosts are not sentient” she says.

“No they definitely are, Phantom explained as much…they can feel pain and can hold a shape” Bruce says worriedly, and then looks like he’s thinking, Constantine and Zatanna would know right? Should he request the help of JLD? But what is Phantom doing here if he seems to be the local hero at Amity?

“Barb do you know who legalized those acts? And Tim are you willing to try and find all local articles on Phantom? My theory is debunked Phantom is Danny, we need to find as much info as we can” Bruce looks at Tim.

“Yeah I’ll get on it!” Tim can’t believe the lovable ghost they been befriending was his boyfriend this whole time, he’s not that surprised though now that he thinks about it they have the same fanged crooked grin. Wait no snap out of it you need to find out if he’s safe or in danger right now Tim.

“His parents are…ghost hunters and they have been reported multiple times for suspected child abuse. CPS has tried to take Danny away once in 2015” Barbara adds which made multiple heads snap her way.

“If he’s really Phantom and apparently a ghost what would that entail living in a house like that?” Stephanie asks.

“Was he abused by his scientists parents?! I will not stand for it” Damian yells.

“No wait!” Tim yells from his side of the room.

“It says here that an organization named Ghost Investigation Ward, G.I.W for short or as the locals dubbed them the guys in white have taken control of laws at one point and they are the ones who made the anti ecto acts legal, that breaks the meta rights though… wouldn’t it Bruce?” Tim asks.

“It does, we have to investigate further. You just be nice to your boyfriend can you?” Bruce asks and Tim harshly nods, he will never intentionally hurt Danny he really likes him so far, Bruce smiles his way it’s a very small smile but it’s obvious the family were happy for Tim.

“Hello Master Bruce care for tea, Danny gave us some of his high quality ones that we really like” Alfred comes in and everyone looks at him worriedly.

He brings in the tea and starts to pour it for all the people in the cave “ah I guess you found out”

“YOU KNEW?!” Almost everyone but Bruce and Cass screamed.

“Yes” is all Alfred answers back.

“Tim make sure to get as much info out of Vlad tomorrow without rising suspicion” Bruce tells Tim and they all get back to work.

But as Bruce left Tim’s phone rings.

“Ah it’s Danny imma go talk to him” Tim leaves the cave and he doesn’t miss all the teasing and giggles sent his way at all.

.
“Hey Danny, sorry for taking a while to pick up, anything wrong?” Tim asks, I mean after all the things he found out. He’s sure as heck gonna be worried.

“Nah everything is ok well I mean unless something is up with you? Is our dinner tonight cancelled?” Danny asks back but Tim gives a negative hum.

“No we’re still on for that date, did you just call to hear my amazing voice or?”

“No, Vlad called. You guys are apparently organizing a charity gala? He invited me to be his plus one” Danny tells him lazily which didn’t really surprise Tim, Danny told him that this might be a possibility but this is going to hurt the plan.

Danny is obviously against telling them anything and he doesn’t know that they already found out about the being ghost and real identity situation.

“Will you uh be coming I mean?”

“Yes I am joining my dad, why? You don’t want me there? Want to keep me all to yourself? Wow I never could have imagined Timothy Drake-Wayne being a selfish guy!” Danny laughs whole heartedly “Dick wants to see me and I think it will be selfish of you to not let me see Damian and Cass they are my favorite of the siblings, you know that!”

“NO- I mean ‘cough’ that’s not what I meant! Do you have anything to wear I can help you-“ Tim stutteres and panics, no he did not mean to be selfish at all it actually really warms his heart that Danny managed to capture him and all his family around his finger.

“Tim, Honey. My dad is also rich or did you forget?” Danny laughs and Tim will never get used to how happy it makes him feel which furthermore fuels his anger and need to understand what happened to his lovable boyfriend.

His boyfriend, Danny who owns cosy haunt? The same guy who cares more about others than he will ever himself???

This makes absolutely no sense!

Who would want to hurt him, Tim saw Danny changing when they went clothes shopping he saw the scars, those could be the equivalent of Jason’s. But he’s still human isn’t he? Cutting someone up like that, it’s inhumane. Tim hopes that he and the family can bring Danny the justice he deserves.

Well after figuring out what happened.

After talking for a bit, and confirming that they are still up for the dinner date, Danny made kissy noises to Tim over the phone that made Tim blush even tho no one was around to hear them.

Tim hangs up but some stuff needs to be to be done and said. Let’s get to it.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today sometime at noon)

Tired Robin: well change of plan Danny is Vlad’s plus one for tmmr.

Ginger queen: no no it’s fine! You be with your boyfriend you are the safest bet on getting info out of him.

Big bat: I’ll approach Vlad then, maybe a conversation between fathers will set a good vibe.

Acrobatic legend: Brucie Wayne time?

Blondie: ohhhhh I wanna see this!

Tired Robin: no need, be as natural as u can, he has changed a lot since he lost his daughter.

Big bat: noted.

One hell of a butler: shall I ask young Danny for measurements?

Tired Robin: no need, his dad got him a suit already.

I lived bitch: I can smell the jealousy all the way in crime alley, took you guys a while to figure out the truth.

Tired Robin: you mean that he might have been tortured and experimented on by an evil racist organization???

The light: that he’s Phantom? I mean his aura always seemed strange but mostly GIGANTIC and strong.

Tired: wait how do you know?!

I lived bitch: from my second meeting with him, pits.

Chapter Text

“Vlad- dad- I’m serious I look too fancy this doesn’t fit me at all! I’m ya know Danny Fenton the guy who likes hoodies and baggy jeans!” While his god son was having an existential crisis, Vlad helped Danny put in the earrings Bruce gave him.

The suit fit him perfectly, Vlad decided they should go with white and blue suits. Knowing the Waynes are all gonna be adorned in black as they usually like and while Vlad can appreciate a lil red and black action he wants his son to steal the show.

Who wouldn’t fall in love with Danny? Tim is a lucky man and he should appreciate his son!

Vlad lets out a little angry huff.

“Dad? You just got angry what happened?” Danny asks, of course them being a coven and the only two halfas left they are able to feel each other’s emotions through their core.

“Oh you know! Tim is your partner now, I’m thinking how to threaten him to not hurt my son, I never got to do that with Danielle…” he gives Danny a weak smile, yes Dani had no partner before…destabilizing.

Vlad never got to be a father until Danielle and then she was gone, he never got to raise a small one with riches and treat them like children he always wanted.

Danny holds Vlad’s hand.

“She would of wanted us to be happy and live to our fullest, we both knew her survival was low” Vlad nods at Danny but his core sent them emotions you can’t lie to a fellow halfa. Danny hugs him and lets Vlad cry it out for a bit.

“Sometimes I miss being able to take her to galas with me” Vlad says and Danny hugs him harder, yes he gets that he misses his sister dearly too.

“Come on dad let’s go, don’t you wanna dazzle all those rich jerks?”

“Daniel! I am rich” Vlad face palms at Danny “your partner is rich”

Hah! That doesn’t stop Danny from making fun of rich people.

.
“They have arrived master Bruce”

“Ok I’ll be heading there, Tim go grab Danny” Bruce approaches.

“Masters! Oh I have not seen you in a bit! Danny, oh it’s nice to see you again how’s the cafe going?” Bruce makes sure to ask knowing it will get himself in Vlad’s good graces if he showed at most care for Vlad’s son.

“Ah yes! Brucie~ you know my godson already?” Vlad asks but he already knew, Danny does tell him everything.

Bruce smiles genuinely this time, Danny is a wonderful addition to Gotham to that he cannot lie. That’s the truth.

“His coffee is to die for, Vlad can I steal you from your son for a while I’m sure my son would like to see how handsome his boyfriend is in his new suit?” Vlad gives Danny an apologetic look but Danny gives him thumbs up and sends a lil message through his core ‘I’ll be close by if you need me’.

“‘Cough’ um Danny?” Wow real bold of you Tim, as Danny turns around ‘omg my boyfriend is hawt’ is all he could think, Tim PULLS OFF the slicked back hair, Danny is too used to his bangs no matter how long or short hiding his pretty face.

Well the same could be said to Danny his white suit compliments his height as well as how good he looked matching with Vlad, his godfather may have the perfect body type but Danny pays up for it by being tall.

The white suit with the blue accents as well as the blue sapphire earrings that Tim recognizes as one of Bruce’s most valued items complimented Danny well it almost felt like he could see a crown on top of Danny’s head.

“Tim?”

“Huh? Oh! Sorry!”

“No worries I was appreciating how you look too, I really like your suit, I saw Cass earlier too she looked beautiful in her suit. Did you see her dancing with Steph? They were so lively I’m kinda jealous.” Danny ponders which made Tim for one blush but that’s good! He grabs Danny’s hand and pulls him towards the dance area.

“Wait no I can’t dance!” Danny tries to pull away. Tim laughs and puts his hand on Danny’s waist making Danny shut up.

“Do you trust me?” Tim asks.

“With my life” Danny answers.

And that’s how they started dancing, Danny is bad at it but seeing Tim laugh and lead was all worth it, after a few minutes of dancing and messing around Danny was yoinked by Cass who also wants to dance with Danny who later got yoinked by Steph. All four dancing together.

Damian also approached Danny and offers his hand.

Danny looks at the teen.

“May I have a dance too?”

.
Bruce and Vlad smile while watching their kids have a nice evening, while holding the champagne glasses.

Bruce turns to Vlad now that he knows his kids are with each other and having fun, Jason and Dick should be close by to protect them if need be.

How should he go about this, the last thing he remembers about Vlad is Vlad being a full of himself but straight forward guy, maybe he should just ask about the anti ecto laws through a fake deal of some sort?

“You are from Amity Park correct?”

“Well used to, why? What’s the matter Brucie if there’s anything you need you can tell me, me and Danny will gladly help” Vlad assures but Bruce just smiles at him.

“No it’s nothing like that, Wayne enterprises was contacted by an organization named the ghost investigation ward, of course we ignored them because they sounded completely deranged and silly I mean…ghosts do not exist” Bruce lies and Vlad freezes up.

“Oh no…they are coming to Gotham aren’t they? I need to get Danny out of Gotham” Vlad prepares to leave but Bruce grabs his wrists and forces him to sit down.

“Masters. Calm down we are safe here! But what do they have to do with Danny? If you need protection I can get you the best protection in the whole country” Bruce tries to calm down. Vlad starts to speak.

“The GIW, stay away from them Brucie.”

“Why and what do they have to do with Danny, I can protect him. What is it you need?” Bruce repeats.

Vlad looks around of course Bruce holding onto Vlad’s wrist will catch a few stray eyes so he gets up and drags Bruce to where he remembers some private rooms are. To hell with this he doesn’t care to what conclusions those rich jerks come to, dang he really needs to stop talking to Danny he’s being influenced by him.

“Batman, you and your family are the bats” Vlad says simply.

Bruce’s eyes widen but he stays calm. As to signal to Vlad to go on, and on he definitely goes.

“I’ve known for years Brucie, was never in my place to let you know. Was never planning to out you or anything” Vlad continues to say simply.

“I’m guessing you found out about Danny?” Vlad asks. Bruce nods.

Vlad sighs “no matter how much you know, I’ll explain from the beginning. Three months ago me, Jasmine Danny’s older sister and two of his friends went out on a rescue mission, Danny was captured by the GIW for two months before we saved him, the GIW have managed to approve of a law which says all ectoplasmic contained creatures are to be captured and detained”

“But Danny is human right?” Bruce broke the Brucie persona and became serious.

Vlad stares at him for a moment and then turns into Plasmius making Bruce reach out for his ear but Vlad held up his hand.

“No need it’s still me! This is an example of why Danny was taken, me and him? Are what’s known as an halfa, half dead half alive and please I can see your brain ticking all the way over here please let’s not get into the logistics of this” Vlad continues at Bruce’s nod.

“For the GIW even a human with high levels of ectoplasm in their system counts and needs to be captured immediately, Danny was caught in human form and only transformed ONCE which caused them to believe Danny was possessed by Phantom, by them I mean his parents” Vlad looks away for a bit, Danny’s parents are not in a good situation right now.

“What did they do to him?” Bruce is now worried but he already knows the answer and Vlad knows that Bruce knows.

“I sent him to Gotham not only because of the levels of ectoplasm in the air but because I knew you would protect him” Vlad explains, Bruce’s eyes widen again.

“All though I was not expecting him to date one of your own, to that I apologize” Vlad looks at him but if you expected an apologetic look, he gave a very familiar mischievous smile.

“So from what I gathered the GIW are breaking the meta rights acts, and are still looking for Danny. I can help Vlad we can involve the justice league.” Bruce puts a hand on Vlad’s shoulder which he half expects it to go through him seeing as he is in ghost form.

“My kids are already in love with your son, I’m sure they wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on him”

“Of that? You are very correct, would you require my help, do you need me to take Danny back with me?” Vlad asks but Bruce shakes his head.

“No need, we will make sure your son is happy and healthy as well as safe. I’ll make sure to contact the Justice League as soon as possible” Bruce takes hold of Vlad’s arm.

“Switch forms, we have a gala to get back to”

.
Danny looks at the entrance door worriedly and in a bit of jealousy though Danny is not worried if Vlad feels ready to get back to that life, it would be non of his business.

Tim looks at Danny, they had a little conversation while they waited for their fathers to come back from ‘mingling’ as Danny puts it which made the rest of the siblings laugh.

Jason even made a tiny comment while laughing so hard ‘Bruce is into the crazy ones but I’m sure Vlad isn’t his type’.

“Danny you never told us your story, what’s the lore?” Barbara wheels herself to their table with a champagne glass in hand.

“Nothing much to tell…”

“It’s ok babe you don’t have to tell” Danny blushes at Tim calling him Babe, he did ask earlier if Tim even considered him a boyfriend from then Tim didn’t stop calling Danny babe.

“No I’m ok, I’m just a normal dude from Amity Park the most haunted town in America hah! I like space wanted to be an astronaut too, but ya know…the accident”

All the siblings who found themselves around Danny in one way or another. Let out a gasp when he seemed super triggered by talking about it.

“It was bad…” Tim puts a hand on Danny’s shoulder to stop him from continuing, and helping him up.

“Dick do you want to maybe take him to my room while I finish things here?” Tim asks and Dick nods, he helps Danny up and away they go.

They pass Bruce and Vlad on the way, Danny sends Vlad ‘he’s ok’ signals through his core which Jason as well feels, which made him look questionably at Vlad.

Vlad grins at Jason and Jason feels that this grin is wayyyy too familiar.

They all sat down at the table after Tim gave his thanks and goodbyes to the last guests.

Dick came back too.

“Good you all are here, Me and Vlad have something to tell you”

.
Danny woke up to a hand running through his hair, he recognized Tim’s smell and smiles.

The hand moved to his ears.

“the earrings look good on you Babe” Tim murmured, apparently Danny fell asleep and Tim is laying right next to him. Sam and Tucker are gonna have a field day over this, never in a million years would Danny think a boyfriend of a week and him would end up in the same bed this soon.

“Noooo keep doing that, why’d you stop” Danny whines. Tim continues to run his hand through Danny’s hair.

“Tell Vlad to used less hair spray next time”

“There’s going to be a next time? Also it’s gel not spray” the sleepy ghost answers.

“Even fluffin worse babe, wanna take a shower? Vlad left off some of your clothes and you can use my shampoo-“ Danny shuts Tim up by giving him a small kiss.

“Yes my love, I’d love to smell like you for 24 hours why would you even ask?” Danny boops Tim on the nose with his finger and gets off the bed, god he wants to take off this uncomfortable suit. He’s super grateful to Vlad of course but them high quality suits are uncomfortable.

He starts to take the suit off while heading to the door of the bathroom.

Tim blushes but doesn’t even try to hide that he’s staring at his boyfriend semi undressing in front of him, Danny is hot sue him.

But that’s how they spent the night really, making fun of each other in good faith and cuddling and if Alfred came to check on them later to find them freshly showered and cuddled on the bed sleeping, well he definitely didn’t take a picture.

.
Text chat: they have an army, we have Superman (tonight at 2:33am)

~634 unread messages

Grumpy bat: Clark I’m going to have to ask you check on this.
*a document file, and some videos

fastest man alive: OMG!!!! Bruce where did you disappear to🥺

Supes in undies: I’m sorry but what?

Grumpy bat: Check. Those. Files.

Grumpy bat: goodnight.

~grumpy bat has logged off…

Fastest man alive: andddd there he goes, I wanted to ask if he was feeling Japanese snacks😭

Strong lady: ah don’t be like that, I’d love to have them!

Fastest man alive: right away Diana! Be there in 5 seconds max.

The one from mars: do I…need to be worried?

Supes in undies: I ask myself that everyday.

Chapter Text

Danny woke up slowly, its warm.

He found that he’s currently laying cuddled up to his boyfriend who’s on his phone, he’s warm. It’s a nice feeling if you run cold.

“Good morning sleepy head” Tim says casually.

“Did you actually sleep Mr ‘sleep is for the weak’?” Danny asks in his morning voice, Tim decides he should invite Danny over more. Danny sits up and rubs his eyes, he’s still very sleepy that’s just what happens when he’s warm.

“Well I slept for 4 or so hours? I have a lot to do company wise, Bruce will be very busy too so you might not see him a lot today” Tim says simply still pressing a bunch of stuff on his phone and the laptop that Danny didn’t notice at first.

“It’s only 6am, go back to sleep Babe” Tim says but Danny shakes is head.

“Nah I’m hungry imma go grab food, where’s dad?” Danny pulls off the blanket and yawning while getting out of bed.

“Vlad? He’s probably on his way back to California already, he did tell me to ‘watch myself for if I hurt you he will release hellfire on me’” Tim says simply yet again, Danny nods and goes to the bathroom.

“Yeah sounds like him! I’d recommend taking his word seriously, he’s not the type to say anything without a need to” Danny says loudly while looking for a spare toothbrush. “hey Tim, do you have a spare toothbrush somewhere?”

“Yeah! Second cabinet to the right!”

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 6:38am)

Tired robin: Danny is awake.

One hell of a butler: breakfast is ready if he’s hungry, do you wish to come down with him master Tim?

Tired Robin: I will be coming down with him.

Acrobatic legend: oof I missed a chance to hang with Danny.

Demon brat: you have your own house to tend to, stop being selfish.

Acrobatic legend: awwww don’t worry Dami your favorite person will be all yours today, you wanna introduce ur lil animal friends to him?

Demon brat: shut up.

Big bat: you all please.

Silent but deadly: new brother time!

Blondie: I should ask Danny if I can do his nails, did you see how pretty he looked in the royal blue nails?

Tired robin: I did. I’m his boyfriend.

The light: oh yes I should def ask Danny for help with my project!

.
“Who you texting?” Danny asks and makes Tim jump.

“My siblings, Alfred said breakfast is ready. Dick and Bruce aren’t here today though, well and Jason but he doesn’t live here to begin with” Tim gets off the bed.

Tim grabs Danny’s arm and starts to lead the way, somehow Tim figured Danny wouldn’t know the way, he was half asleep not that he would have remembered if he wasn’t.

The manor feels warm and familiar, that’s a funny feeling it’s the first time Danny is there but that’s just what happens when your core decides that yeah, This family? Mine now.

As they entered the dining area a few heads perked up.

“Ah master Tim and young Danny! Good morning” Alfred says as Danny and Tim sit down. A bunch of ‘good morning’s come out
Of the sleepy siblings too.

As much as all the siblings want to all talk to Danny he’s too busy shoving his face with foods right now.

That is very endearing, Alfred smiles and gives Danny more food. Damian too put some of his food in Danny’s plate, the siblings can’t help but feel at ease when Danny is around.

So why? Why would his parents and those GIW freaks hurt him?

And how long do they have to wait till they can kick their ass to the ground?

“Danny, may I request some of your time?” Damian asked which made Danny nod surprisingly at him, Damian wasted no time aggressively pulling on Danny’s sleeve and taking him somewhere, heck if Danny knows the mansion is huge!

“Hey you can’t just take him-“ Tim says loudly instantly getting up and going after them, hearing giggles and laughs from behind him.

Welp time to meet some animals and have fun.

.
“So let me get this right, these G.I.W agents hunt ghosts and then experiment on them. They took a ghost who’s also half human and they cut him open?!” Clark asks ‘calmly’, he has a straight face but it’s obvious he’s very upset about this new discovery.

“Yes” Bruce answers simply.

“I’m still trying to get over the fact that ghosts exists at all” Barry dramatically says.

Diana sat at the table amazingly quiet, J’onn looked at her and then the rest of them. She sighed to signal that she wants all attention on her.

“Actually I’m surprised you don’t know of them. I was of the assumption that humans did believe and respect ghosts” but she continues “they can be very strong and a worthy opponent as well as very legendary beings”

“Some people do believe in them, from my understanding though the ‘ghosts’ we believe exist are what’s called ‘shades’” Bruce explains. Clark just continues to stare angrily at the files on the screen, it’s a kid on that table! Ghost form or not, nineteen or not! Those videos are…unreal.

“This brings us to the next topic, this somehow flew right over our heads” Bruce adds. He heard ‘did he just make a pun?’ Being whispered to Clark by Barry.

“We somehow were unaware of a law that directly goes against the meta rights act, I may not seem like it but I do have Danny’s best interest in mind and I…may have promised an old friend.” Bruce gives a harsh look, Diana can look past that. So Bruce really cares for this kid and his father apparently… could there have been something between them at one point?

“Bruce, why is it that you really want to do something against the ghost investigation ward?” Diana asks and that makes the others look at him too, expectedly.

Of course non of the league members are against the idea, they all would love nothing more but to save innocent people. Ghosts or not.

He looks at them, calculating. He lets out a sigh, how else would he convince them to help him with this matter.

Sure Clark is fully disgusted and angry nothing will stop him from going out there alone and destroying their whole base granted…when they find said base.

“Danny is romantically involved with Tim not only that but the family already sees him as part of us”

A few gasps were heard.

.
Missed calls. Too many missed calls.

Danny looked at his phone, it’s not usual for his friends and sister to spam call him. Just after hanging out a bit with the siblings and them leaving for school and university. Danny headed back home to make a checklist of what he’s out of.

He called Sam.

“Danny! This is bad very bad, the GIW are aware of where you are!”

That’s how Danny’s world came crashing down, Sam continues to explain that a picture of him dancing with Tim at the gala got leaked. No matter how hard Tucker tried to fight the picture becoming seriously viral it still managed to capture the GIW.

Sam and Tucker are unsure what’s their next plan, Danny is unsure if he’s breathing if his brain is working at all.

There wasn’t supposed to be any reporter at the gala.

How did they get that picture.

“Danny? Danny!!! Tuck he’s not answering me!” Sam says worriedly and Tucker in the background tells her what to do, try to make Danny in his hazed mind notice their voices.

Tucker can hack and find Tim’s number or any of the Wayne’s for sure.

“Danny just keep breathing, breath with me help is on the way”

.
“Bruce Wayne talking” Bruce is usually wary to answer random numbers, but he just had the feeling that he needs to answer this one.

“This is Tucker speaking” Bruce instantly got off the chair, the rest of the league members giving him worried looks, Bruce walked out of the room.

“We couldn’t reach Tim we thought our safest bet would be the other siblings, Jason is currently with Danny. Bruce a picture got leaked from yesterday the GIW knows where Danny is, Vlad has told us that you are aware of who they are and who Danny is” Bruce gasped as well as wonders if they also know who Bruce and his family are.

So the GIW will try to get Danny right? That might actually work in the leagues favor but is Bruce willing to put Danny at risk? Especially after they all saw what was done to him.

No he’s not.

“Vlad said that you know the bats, that you can promise Danny’s safety by their protection” Tucker says. Well Bruce can appreciate that Vlad isn’t using his identity against him in anyway.

“Yes I’m well acquainted with the bats, I’ll make sure to tell Jason to bring Danny over to our mansion I’m sure he’ll be safer there” but Tucker gave an unsure hum.

“I promise me and my family can keep him safe, I’m sure you are aware but they really like and enjoy his presence. I’m sure Tim would appreciate his presence too” Bruce tries to encourage.

“Listen man, the choice is not mine. Danny is fully capable of protecting himself we just want you to confirm that the GIW is being dealt with” Tucker sounded fully confident but Bruce cannot be as confident, after seeing those videos those pictures. Danny’s friends might be just as traumatized and angry least of all his sister and Vlad who most than likely needed to patch Danny up before he got here. An hospital was definitely out of the picture.

“I have notified the Justice League, I am unable to confirm anything else. I can only offer to house Danny for him to be under the bats protection” again Tucker sounds unsure but sighs, guess that’s the only thing we can do right now to ensure his safety.

The justice league are still unsure about what to do.

Bruce ends the call after Tucker said he’ll let Sam know about what Bruce offered.

Bruce goes back into the room with the rest of the members, who gave him questioning looks.

“The GIW might be coming to Gotham to take Danny, a picture got leaked. How? I don’t know, there were no reporters at the gala” Bruce explains.

“Welp guess we’re getting to business” Clark says.

.
“I’m taking you to the mansion”

“There’s really no need for that-“

Jason and Danny have a stare down, Sam and Tucker hung up half an hour ago. Jason managed to calm Danny down by using the pits, how he doesn’t know but it worked.

They explained to Danny of the situation, Jason also added that the Wayne’s would not mind housing him for his protection. The Wayne’s are apparently in contact AND under the protection of the bats.

Danny is sure it’s not a must, he can protect himself right? I mean sure he can be in Tim’s bed every night and the warmth of the house, the feeling he gets from being near his coven.

His family, did he forget how it feels to have a family while being held captive and experimented on? Did he really forget Jazz’s warm sisterly embrace whenever he got depressed and unsure of what he’s doing in uni? If it’s even worth it?

Lara and Aubrey were his best friends.

Cass’s hugs felt just like Danielle’s and whenever he gets just a whiff of Steph’s smell he gets reminded of Jazz.

They are his sisters through and through.

Damian’s appreciation for good coffee and the fight against animal cruelty that reminds him of Sam.

Duke being relatable and funny, supporting his love for space as well as always counting on Danny for help on projects reminds him of Tucker.

Jason and Dick were the big brothers he never had.

Gotham and Alfred felt like grandparents and Bruce reminds him of Vlad.

His and Tim’s relationship is going well and he likes it when he’s with his family…Danny no they are not your family.

At least not yet.

He looks at Jason who at this point already figured out Danny’s internal war.

“Just for a while, Danny. You can take care of the cafe as you like, we won’t take that from you we just want you safe” Jason says and Danny’s core gives a little tug, did Jason learn of his core and how to use it… throughout the time he hung out at his cafe Danny always got the impression Jason was not aware of the fact.

Danny looks up at Jason from where he’s sitting on his couch and nods.

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Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 13:47pm)

I lived bitch: he’s packing his bag.

Big bat: thanks jaylad.

Blondie: yayyay! Another sleep over, cass let’s go shopping we should get him a set of pjs!

Silent but deadly: we should. Nice welcome.

One hell of a butler: does anyone know his favorite dishes? He already is a good cook himself.

Tired robin: I do! Also don’t sell yourself short Al you’re the best we know, and Danny said he only bakes well he has a hard time cooking!

One hell of a butler: I would love to teach young Danny how to cook!

Tired robin: I’m sure he will appreciate the distraction.

I lived bitch: we’ll be on the way soon.

One hell of a butler: are you staying too?

I lived bitch: maybe.

Chapter Text

Danny wants to scream. He won’t though cause he won’t want to let out a ghost wail right now.

He looked around at his empty cafe, he didn’t open yet though he’s sure the usuals will show soon after opening.

After dropping off his stuff at the Wayne manor and Alfred convincing Danny and Jason to have lunch with him, they got to business…

Danny talked with Bruce over the phone and he explained how he was protected under the bats and he has connections through Batman to the league. Sounded fake but he’s rich Danny cannot be the one to judge.

Bruce involved himself with people like Vlad, Batman is not the worse of them, not even by a mile though it was just himself isn’t it?

He is to live with the Waynes for now just for his protection, he doesn’t hate the idea he’s just unsure if the Waynes are aware of what they need to protect him from, are they aware that normal humans can get very badly hurt by those weapons.

And…bats or not, they are still normal humans. Yes, Danny knows. Emily told him the first time Tim showed up after the appearance of Red Robin. Shades knows no limits, simple costumes will not hide their identity if they are already acquainted with one of your masks.

Danny figured out afterwards who they are, after figuring out he felt so dumb because it made so much sense, they had the money to even be able to be vigilantes and he only had his gadgets due to his crazy ass parents.

Did it make him want them as his family any less? Heck no, when Alfred gave him that knowing look he gave him his usual fanged grin. Who else knew of his Phantom identity? Mayhaps Jason? Knowing how he somehow managed to use his core only after the many times Danny used his to calm Jason.

Not knowing they all know he is Phantom.

“Young Phantom?” He hears a strong feminine voice ask out and then Gotham comes out of the corner shadows of the cafe, Danny was so stuck in his head that he didn’t notice the time nor her presence.

“It’s been 15 minutes since the supposed opening time, thought I’d check on you Phantom and Emily is worried” Gotham says gently “what’s on your mind young Phantom?”

Danny smiles at her “your knights are the ones on my mind milady”

“Oh? Pray tell?”

Danny turns the sign to open and begins his usuals orders, after he finished them all he made Gotham’s tea and sat with her.

“The ones who hurt me are aware of where I am” Danny puts his hands together and rests his head on them while his eyes glowed a bit green.

“My kin-“

“No no it’s ok, your knights are housing me” Gotham looks proud but she also understands the danger that awaits her knights, they are normal humans at the end of the day.

Someone enters the cafe and Danny can tell right away that it’s Jason…well Red Hood, sure he can continue to play their game of fake identities.

“You two seem to be chilling, Danny I’m on the job” Hood says as well as give a small nod to Gotham while Danny laughs a bit but goes to make him his Italian coffee.

Danny gave hood his cup of coffee and sat back down with them.

The gentle music that Danny likes plays in the background and while drinking his hot black coffee cause god forbid that’s the only way to keep him awake right now, all he can hear is the friendly chatter by college students or the ghosts.

The silence is not loud just how he likes it.

.
“So we’re back to square one, we don’t know where they are and what their plans are” Clark sighs and Bruce stares at him.

“We will figure this out” Bruce says and continues to type on the computer.

“You said Vlad gave you the location of where they rescued Danny from, should we start from there? I can go check real quick!” Barry adds, Diana nodded that’s actually a good idea.

“Not alone no, we should plan this very carefully” J’onn says calmly and Clark looks at him.

“Are we capable of wasting time on checking? What if they are already in Gotham?” Clark says but that just made Bruce look at him thinking.

“Me and Diana will go check on Danny while you three go check on that base, the second you see danger you leave. They are a very big organization with the manpower of 30 thousand men. With presumably strong weapons if they effect ghosts they might effect aliens and metas worse” Bruce orders out not knowing those ‘weapons’ hurt humans a lot worse.

“Wait, why me. Looking for a field trip with me Bruce?” Diana says jokingly and Bruce gives her a nasty glare, looking bored and unamused.

“No, Danny Nightingale is a big fan of Wonder Woman”

That made the room silent. But Diana smiled.

“He also really likes my car” Bruce smirks and leaves the room to get ready.

Diana goes right after, it’s nice to see Bruce happy and caring they can all agree about that.

.
Danny was gently sleeping in one of the back booths cuddling with Emily.

Jason kept his eye on him as well as Gotham, Mike and Lara took over for Danny though it’s been a very quiet night and not too many people visited tonight so Gotham asked Danny to go rest for a while which he surprisingly agreed.

“So they found him” Gotham sips her newly made tea, it will never be as good as Danny’s those people can’t use the magic he does. Well if it’s magic at all.

“Yes they did” Jason says as he pats Coco, the rescue ghost dog Danny has adopted, which now serves as a support dog for many of the blind and or otherwise disabled visitors.

Coco gave a lil happy huff as he layed his fluffy gray head on Jason’s knee.

The whole cafe is aware of Danny’s worries some of the stronger ghosts and even gods offered for Danny to stay with them for his safety, they would do anything for their king but they can’t do anything about his refusal.

Their king is fully capable of protecting himself, there is no higher power than his right?

Ancients… one of them gave one last look at their sleeping king and left.

The cafe is now mostly empty save for Mike cleaning the counter, Gotham and Jason having a conversation over what tea is better, Emily and Coco snuggling with Danny. Lara left to go sleep a while back.

Jason looked at his phone when he got a notification, giving Gotham an apologetic look seeing as they have to stop their nice conversation.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave

Big bat: me and Diana are on route to the cafe, how’s Danny?

I lived bitch: sleeping.

~I lived bitch attached a picture…

Tired robin: awww

Blondie: AWWWW

Big bat: should we visit tomorrow then?

I lived bitch: nah just tell me when you’re 5 mins away I’ll wake him up

.
“The rest of the knights I assume” Gotham calmly says while sipping what’s left of her now cold tea.

“Yes. Ya know…you never told us why you refer to us as ‘knights’” Jason asks “it makes sense for big B that’s for sure”

Gotham smiles at him, oh how she enjoys being around them, they are her children as much as Danny is her king they are not related by anyway but no bond is stronger than chosen family right?

She wonders sometimes what pull it is that Danny has, how did he manage to wrap two of the greatest detectives probably on earth around his lil finger, for her and the rest of the entities here it was just the usual ghost king force, if course she would respect him. They for one could have done nothing when Pariah Dark was king, they all were extremely happy a young promising ghost took the spot after millennia.

“You are the ones who protect this city my darling, I am but an old lady can I not tell you how safe I feel with you around?” Gotham says in her strong feminine voice, her black eyes shined at him, he gave her a curious look.

‘Is she a meta?’

He thinks to himself and then his phone pings, ok bats is 5 minutes away.

“Care to wake up Danny? I’ll be leaving to check on the rest of the alley ok?” Jason gets up and gives the used cups to Mike who smiles at him in thanks and starts cleaning the cups.

“Yes my darling, stay safe out there” Gotham smile and also gets up, she puts a gentle hand on Jason’s shoulder, Jason can’t help but feel like something is different after she did touch him but nods and leaves.

Just a simple guarding spell she’s able to do.

She sighs, time to wake our sleepy king.

.
“Found anything?”

“Nope, checked three times” Barry says but goes to check again.

The rest of them came to the conclusion that the GIW evacuated this base and left barely anything behind, all they found was some paper files that were coincidentally about Phantom.

Barry was quickly reading them and gasped.

“B needs to see these, let’s go back”

.
“Make sure you don’t stress him out, Diana” Batman says lowly, or more so threatened.

“I won’t dare do that to your new son Bruce” Diana laughs and opens the door to the cafe.

“He’s not my-“

“Hello Dark knight, Wonder Woman” Gotham greats them, she now has more hot tea and a sleeping child on her lap while Danny is drinking his coffee in the back while looking like he’s a second away from falling asleep, it sure didn’t help that Emily, her father and Gotham release a lot of warmth through their core as weak as it may be for the shade father and daughter case.

“I knew we should of came tomorrow” Batman says under his breath but nods at Gotham and goes towards Danny, Danny nods at him then at Wonder Woman to let them know they can sit with him.

Diana tho cannot shake the feeling she’s getting from all of them, for one Mike and Emily lack any sort of life energy, and the beautiful tall lady seems to have too much of it.

“Welcome to my cafe Wonder Woman” Danny greets with his eyes bright of course he needs to keep his fanboying in the down low but still “what’s your poison?” As Danny looked over to Mike who nodded back already making Batman’s order.

“Some tea with honey would do” Diana smiles and starts to look Danny over, other than the eye bags and tired smile he’s not hurt, he is adorned with jewelry that she’s sure was given by the Waynes and is that Jason’s favorite hoodie?

So far she’s enjoying his company and understands how he managed to wrap the Waynes around his finger, she still couldn’t shake off this weird feeling about him, his aura is way too strong for a simple ghost.

She has some questions.

After shaking Danny’s hand and confirming something about him is definitely not ‘simple’ ghost.

“Danny, I heard you are a big fan of me?”

After quite the long hour of conversing with Batman and Wonder Woman, Jason showed up to help Danny close the cafe and take him back to the mansion.

.
Text chat: they have an army we have Superman (today at 5:30am)

Fastest man alive: we found a few things you might want to look into B.

Supes in undies: and we think they definitely on their way to Gotham if not already there, the base was empty.

Green dumbo: who are we talking about? Also didn’t we agree to change my name already?

Grumpy bat: no and also you’re off earth it’s non of your concern.

The great wizard: we are taking care of it, get tf outta here.

The great witch: yes please stay tf outta this.

Grumpy bat: why do I even try with these brainless idiots.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave

Big bat: the rest have come to the conclusion the GIW are already on their way here.

Acrobatic legend: will Danny still be safe, can we convince him to stay at the manor?

Tired robin: I don’t think you need to be his boyfriend to understand Danny is a free spirit.

Blondie: we got it Tim, ur bf is hot shut tf up already.

Big bat: we just might have to try, we have no idea where the GIW are but I do have some papers to look into, I’ll be home tomorrow afternoon.

Tired robin: I can take him to work with me?

Silent but deadly: good idea. Maybe he can join me Steph and Duke on campus?

Blondie: Lara goes there too so he won’t be uncomfortable!

Tired robin: we don’t have classes tomorrow, stop trying to steal my boyfriend!

Blondie: 😋

Chapter Text

“So now that we are all here, I have got some questions to ask” Diana says with a scary smile.

Everyone gulped other than Bruce who was more busy on the papers, Diana and Bruce came back and Diana instantly asked for Zatanna and Constantine to be present immediately.

Diana noticed the markings on Danny’s wrist right after their handshake as it became more visible to her eye, seeing the magic was easy, she noticed what it is. It was Constantine’s protection spell all magic users have their own special symbol, with a tiny bit added of Zatanna’s magic to make it stronger.

“Now why would you mark a kid” everyone gasped, marking is a very important thing. You do not mark a simple person, no. You mark a very important person Diana herself has multiple blessings set on her as well and it did not go unnoticed that Bruce and Danny’s cafe had some sort of protective barrier around them though she thinks that was more so Danny’s doing.

“Ok chill out mate, it’s not like that and I can explain” when Constantine spoke all heads turned including Bruce’s I mean to be fair marking IS a big thing, Bruce would not want to put Constantine in prison as much as he hates being in his presence we need him.

“Go on” Diana nodded and said.

“So we need to start from the beginning, Bruce will hopefully add more info if I’m wrong” Constantine takes another swig from his bottle this makes everyone cringe a bit but wait patiently for Constantine to continue.

“In Gotham the cult activity has been on the rise for a year now, all failed attempts more deaths and especially more danger the more they failed. Those cultists wanted to summon an entity, an entity so strong it is capable of destroying the earth and even the whole universe as we know it” Constantine explains.

“Pariah Dark” Diana says slamming her fist on her palm.

“Ay yes… while it’s true that they were trying to summon the ghost king Pariah Dark. He has been dethroned” Constantine continues which made Bruce let out a deep sigh.

Diana almost had stars in her eyes oh what mighty warrior the ghost ending the suffering of millennia was.

“And that was why the attempts failed until Danny showed up, Danny or we figured is Phantom is also the ghost king” Bruce put up all the story together for the rest.

“A baby king!” Diana squeals and then coughs “sorry sorry continue please!” But continues to be excited in the back with Zatanna, who also smiled. She so far really likes Danny and thinks she should give him a visit because they never got to meet face to face it’s overdue.

“A baby king yes!!! And that’s not a fuckin’ good thing girlies!!! I need a drink…” Constantine gave the sigh of a century, Clark looked at him trying to encourage him to continue with a small smile but Clark himself is upset so not only do we need to find the ones who cut him open, Phantom is also a planet destroying uncontrollable king? Someone tell me it’s a joke is all that goes in Clark’s head.

“We are dealing with a young adult able to destroy our whole universe if he so sees fit and HE DOESN’T KNOW IT making our situation a bit more serious”

A few gasps were heard, so they need to protect Danny even from…himself? Basically?

“So how do we go about it, Constantine?” Clark asks calmly knowing everyone is now on edge.

“Well I suggest we find who hurt his highness”

.
Tim woke up in his bed for the second time in a short while, when he opened his eyes he thought he was still dreaming. It just never occurred to him that he will be in bed with possibly the love of his life? Using his body heat to his heart’s content.

It was adorable to wake up to, all Tim remembered is Danny forcing him into bed and magically managing to get his caffeine driven body to sleep cause he was cold and wanted to cuddle.

Tim checked his phone, 6:45am so he only slept for 2 hours but Tim froze when his boyfriend moved a bit, mumbled and then stopped moving.

Fewwwww ok we’re safe, Tim would like to not wake up his boyfriend if he can help it, god knows he doesn’t sleep enough due to his night life but who is Tim to judge I mean he is Red Robin and the rest of his family well with the exception of Duke also live this nightlife.

Tim turned on his side and put his arm around his boyfriend who in turn cuddled more into Tim, bless him and his body heat. Tim decided to check on his messages.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave (today at 6:45am)

I lived bitch: Danny got to bed alright?

The light: yeah I think he and Tim went quiet like 2 hours ago?

Acrobatic legend: wait what you mean went quiet???

The light: they were talking 2 hours ago? Ayo get your head outta the gutter Dick!

Blondie: 🤣

Silent but deadly: gross.

Acrobatic legend: what?! I meant are you sure they ain’t dead?

~I lived bitch is typing…

The light: they were cuddling, asleep I think…

Tired robin: why you talking about me and my half dead boyfriend?

Blondie: he speaks!

Tired robin: yeah and my boyfriend is breathing 🙃

Demon brat: you imbeciles it is too early to be super active in chat, I have school to get to. Shut up.

.
Tim sets his phone back on the counter and continues to cuddle Danny, he just has this weird feeling that something bad is about to happen and he’s not up for it.

Nothing will hurt Danny if Tim can do anything about it, the sad truth is the Wayne’s will not be able to do anything about Danny’s unavoidable kidnapping.

A knock on the door is heard.

Alfred’s head pops in, who smiles at the cuddling boys.

“Breakfast is ready young masters, do you wish to eat now?” Alfred says in his usual gentle manner, Tim tiredly shakes his head while holding onto his freezing boyfriend, no his boyfriend needs more rest. Alfred nods and leaves.

.
Meanwhile with Bruce, he’s finding out things that he really wished he didn’t. So the GIW not only cut Phantom open but they did not stitch him back up either, if the things written down here are correct Phantom was Continuesly healing himself 10x faster a normal human would which is very similar to Superman if not a bit faster.

It is written there that they found ‘human looking organs’ thinking they are not functional cause he is dead, Bruce remembers what Vlad said. That Danny could have been in and out of ghost form, would they have thought that it’s the ghosts attempt to try and escape using their heart strings if he continued to look human?

The more Bruce read through the papers the more he wanted to bring justice upon all those poor souls who decided to hurt his son, wait? His son? When did he start referring to him as such, technically speaking Danny is Vlad’s son and his birth parents are still alive…

However bad they are considering they are being questioned by police right now for child abuse and neglect, Bruce thinks Danny didn’t deserve that, he has a pure soul, a pure smile and a healthy free spirit. He is so good for Tim and the rest of his children, so good to Gotham it’s like he was always meant to be there.

He takes his kingly duties so seriously without even knowing so! He was built for it! Bruce sometimes wonders if they deserve to have Danny around, if they should kneel down and call him ‘your highness’, though he is sure Danny would not like it at all considering his free spirit.

Dang those adoption papers are looking bright right now. He wouldn’t do that to Vlad though.

But the sad truth is that, the papers did not give away a location just made the league members more angry and determined. They will not rest until they find them, of that you can be sure.

Danny was treated badly in that facility and it makes sense the first week of Danny being in Gotham shows how skinny he was for his height and he was also seen hunched over a lot, considering the injuries Bruce was not surprised.

Bruce looked over at his phone, time reading 8:45am and giving a Quick Look at the security cameras of Bruce’s and by extension Tim’s office, he can see both his son and his boyfriend having a good time conversing, Bruce also smiles at Danny’s over exaggerated arm movements while he speaks.

Everyone knows that those who do that have a good head sitting on their shoulders, but the family is already aware of Danny’s smarts. Duke said Danny learned aerospace engineering before the kidnapping, mayhaps offering him a spot at WE for now?

The family so far is doing great at keeping him safe Bruce is sure of that, if Alfred’s lack of sleep is anything to go by.

What will happen to Danny is unavoidable.

But no one will get away with hurting their king, no one.

.
“And then I said ‘no way Tuck that’s insane’ like can you believe that he thought, Red Hood just goes around shooting random rich men? I don’t know man, Vlad was a fruitloop sure but Bruce seems like a chill guy, can you imagine if he was some sort of secret hero?” Danny rants and Tim listens closely cause one it’s nice to hear Danny talk about his friends and family and two yes it was funny to think that, considering Bruce IS a secret hero running around at night.

Of course Danny is still aware of who and what they all are but they don’t know he knows it’s just funny to mess around with them, Jason would be proud.

Tim smiles while his boyfriend continues to yap while sitting infront of Tim on his desk, maybe it’s not normal but Tim already wonders how it will be like to just wrap this gentle giant up in a blanket cause he runs so so cold, turn on the heater and cuddle him in the January cold air.

Tim also looks at Danny’s lips while he tells him about Sam’s success at taking over her Parents company and doing a lot of good in the vegan department, she would really get along with Damian Tim can agree with that, but dang Tim wants to kiss him and watch those fangs, seriously who decided Danny should have fangs? He just wants to talk.

“Tim? Babe?” Danny says and rests his hand on Tim’s shoulder, Tim looks at Danny and smiles again.

“You weren’t listening to me!” Danny pouts, Tim almost aws at him, true Tim wasn’t really listening who can judge him either when your handsome giant boyfriend talks so passionately it’s something to behold really.

Tim remembers that the family decided to let Danny know who and what they are soon, with Jason giving them a weird look when he suggested the idea, Tim doesn’t know what that look meant but he continued to convince his family members, Danny not knowing can put him in more danger. Which is correct but they don’t know Danny knows already.

Tim put himself in between Danny’s thighs and put his arms around Danny’s waist, making Danny laugh a bit cause he is ticklish but he can’t say the feeling ain’t great, all sorts of warmth is great when you run cold.

“Do you wanna go grab some lunch my love” Tim asks and Danny gives him his famous fanged grin.

“Are you trying to distract me Mr Drake-Wayne? I was in the middle of a conversation ya know” Danny plays along and put his arms around Tim’s neck, he’s so much shorter than him. The need to protect is so strong. Danny knows Tim is fully capable of protecting himself but gosh Danny cannot fight his obsession.

“To Aubrey’s?”

“To Aubrey’s”

.
Text chat: they have an army we have superman (today at 13:16pm)

Fastest man alive: anything Bruce?

Grumpy bat: nothing.

Supes in undies: other than getting more and more angry right?

Grumpy bat: no comment.

Strong lady: well then so our research continues, Zatanna do u perhaps wanna go to Danny’s cafe tonight?

~fastest man alive is typing…
~supes in undies is typing…

The greatest witch: ooooo yes I would love to!

The greatest wizard: I’m joining you two, need to see if I can gather info through the “visitors” of the cafe.

Chapter Text

While Danny would not complain usually, He does NOT appreciate all the heros sitting at his cafe right now.

Gotham giving a disapproving look as well muttering something about ‘young people and the need to overwhelm others’ but even though she looked disapproving she still gave a playful grin towards one of them.

That one being surrounded by shades and a one ghost dog which, rude Coco. You are Danny’s and Danny’s alone thank you very much.

The man looking tired but continues to ask questions while the other two men and women look expectedly at the drinks Danny was in the middle of making for them.

With a fresh batch of muffins and other baked goods, Danny would say the league members chose a very nice day to come visit.

So far in conversation Danny can confirm he is liking the speedster a lot but being in the presence of not one but two! Very beautiful strong women can make any guy melt, especially when they are as kind as Diana who didn’t miss the chance to cradle Danny like he’s a baby, Zatanna as well introduced herself formally and made sure the spell is still going strong.

Danny definitely didn’t almost get a panic attack when they all showed up but he digressed, Tim was at least nice enough to have been around until his ya know night activities needed to be done.

It’s kinda cute to see the Wayne family trying so hard to hide the obvious and every time they give a crazy excuse Alfred makes sure to sigh and give an apologetic look to Danny. Danny still remembers waking up at midnight hungry and feeling like he could eat the whole mansion and seeing Alfred already in the kitchen instead of sleeping of course the young king could not let this amazing old fella stay in the kitchen all night.

So Danny helped him clean and make some sandwiches for the family to eat when they get back, while munching on his sandwich Alfred asked when Danny is planning to let everyone know that he knows and Danny just shrugged, ‘it’s funnier this way’ he said and went to go open his cafe.

Now he’s here.

Surrounded by the same people he has worshipped since he was little, yeah sure his respect for them might of died a bit back when they were begging for help back at Amity and no help was there.

They did later find out that the GIW had a hand in their cries not reaching the justice league so Danny healed since then…he had other things to worry about such as Danielle’s death.

Danny finished the drinks and set off to give the hero’s their poison, I mean wouldn’t that much sugar be bad for the speedster? Well that’s not Danny’s problem he made sure to add extra cookies to their small plates with the muffins on them.

Diana ah the amazing lady she is gave him a very warm smile and accepted the drink.

“How I missed your amazing drink Danny, you are a blessing to this world young one” she says like she’s been here more than once, she ordered the same drink she did last time that at the time was a recommendation of the night, a nice high quality lemon and herb based tea that Danny cannot remember the name of or pronounce to save his half dead life.

He also gently gave Zatanna her drink as well who smiled in return, moving on to the men considering Mike already got Constantine’s drink done Danny was left to his own defences meeting the other two.

Barry quickly took his hot chocolate with wayyyyyyy too much sugar and cocoa in it, Danny is ready to call an ambulance. Aren’t there already enough dead people here.

Gotham laughed as if she knew what he was thinking from a table in the distance.

The other two women looked at her questionably.

Superman looks at Danny and accepts his coffee, Danny recognises that look it’s the same one his dad… Jack tended to have when he checked Danny over for injuries or any other problem…before they thought their kid was dead and possessed.

Danny’s eyes glowed green and a little gasp was heard from the beautiful dark haired woman who started to stand up but Superman raised his hand making Gotham sit back, she’s sure they got this.

“Thank you for the coffee Danny” Superman says calmly as if Danny is not currently stuck in his own head, as if the whole place is not shaking. As if Zatanna and Constantine aren’t ready for anything.

As if all the shades and Coco didn’t start squaring up, as if a little beautiful girl didn’t look menacingly scary with her face all morphed to a black void and claws long enough to rip your heart out.

They will do ANYTHING for their king.

Danny took a deep breath.

In. Hold it. Out slowly.

And this is exactly why they need to protect him from himself.

The cafe got back to normal, and Emily finally released the deadly strong hold she had on Constantine’s forearm, all the shades looked around confused and worried all they know is that their king felt threatened.

“Oh sorry about that… I need some fresh air” Danny says quickly and leaves. Superman takes a sip of his drink and looks over to Barry who looks absolutely mortified.

Superman nods his head and Diana instantly goes to check on Danny as scary as this whole experience was, Danny is under their protection currently and can’t be left alone they cannot take that risk.

“How did you manage to mess that up supes?” A voice says from the door and in comes Red hood which Coco very happily ran to.

After giving the doggo a good pat and some treats that Jason knows Danny keeps below the counter, he sits right next to the two men and woman who looks worried he doesn’t know what the fuck Constantine is doing but he doesn’t care.

“Danny just made the whole cafe shake” Barry says unhelpfully which made Hood look at him silently.

“Yea…I know. I’m on Danny duty I live the closest to his cafe, well at least one of my safe houses are” Hood says unamused.

Superman keeps being abnormally quiet, maybe he did learn a thing or two from Bruce, what did he learn? To maybe assess the situation before acting? Jason would never know.

With Coco near his foot and Constantine conversing with the shades, they seemed to have surrounded him for sure.

Hood looks over to Gotham who looks worried mouthing ’we need to talk’ so he gives a huff towards the league members and goes to Gotham’s table which is in the corner of the cafe.

“So what is it?” Hood sits down next to the beautiful lady who still looks worried.

“Are you aware of what Danny is?” She gives him a little grim expression.

“By what he is you mean Phantom? Or something else?”

“I mean that he is the ghost king” Gotham says simply.

“Oh! Yes, the league is aware they let us know too” Hood says simply as well, Gotham looks sad but smiles at Hood again.

“The young king is not aware of what he is, his powers are getting a bit out of control, I may be the strongest entity here but the ghost king is way too strong if he losses control-“

“Wait wait wait-“ they hear Superman say “what do you mean ‘strongest entity’ ma’am?”

“Ah I think introductions are due, greetings my name is Gotham I am the entity who protects Gotham my creation was made when Gotham was built on the children’s belief of lady Gotham who will protect them”

“Wait lady Gotham is an actual thing?!” Barry exclaims loudly, Zatanna shushes him. Give the lady respect she’s a lot older and stronger than you are.

“So… you’re the one! You’re the one who hides the bats!” Barry says like he figured out a whole puzzle.

“Well yes my shadows protect all Gothamites, it heals them and makes them stronger. It’s my obsession it’s my power as the lady of this city” she smiles at him.

Zatanna bows a lil and smiles at the woman “it’s a pleasure to meet you at last lady Gotham”

“As I you Zatanna, thanks for helping my knights and young king”

.
“I keep being reminded of my parents and I hate them for what they did, to me and Jazz. I don’t want to admit this that what they did was wrong” Danny says quietly to Diana both of them on the bench Danny has outside his cafe.

Diana rubbed his back while he was telling her what his parents did to him growing up.

Diana could feel the rage bubbling inside her stomach but it did calm her down a bit that they won’t come looking cause they believe he’s dead, which is a whole other iceberg of neglect but as long as they are here they will care for this boy.

“Dan? Is everything ok?” Danny turns to the familiar voice and smell of Lara and her girlfriend.

Diana smiled at the two women.

“Wonder Woman???” Aubrey asks making Diana nod.

“Only you Danny only you” Lara sighs and they sit down with him. Lara asking why they are outside, is Mike taking care of the cafe again? Are you ok? Did you get a panic attack again sweetie?

Danny not feeling like talking let his new friend well at least he would like to consider Diana a friend, explain that he was just not feeling right mentally at the moment.

So the women continue to comfort Danny and help him back to the cafe.

.
“Danny is currently at the cafe Drake he is ok, you can stop looking at his location” Tim hears Damian say, they currently patrolling. Alfred let them know about Danny being the gentle soul that he is and that he left at exactly 12:05am.

Tim is way too worried and decided to look at his watch from time to time, he knows the league are currently with his boyfriend so he can’t be anymore safe but he can’t shake this weird feeling that something is about to happen.

Obviously the gifts or at least some of them that the family gave to Danny have trackers in them namely the necklace he has on all the time given by Dick and of course Tim approved of the fact, means they can make sure Danny is somewhere safe 24/7.

Alfred though? Not so much, in his words Danny is an adult, heck he’s a supposed god or something along those lines. He can protect himself.

Nothing is gonna stop his boys from being what they are he supposes.

Tim looks again and smiles seeing Danny went back inside the cafe, he’s back safe with the league members.

Sue him, he wants the safety of his partner and his family agreed. Jason doesn’t like people or at least Tim thinks he doesn’t so it was nice to see his older brother give Danny one of his favourite hoodies, his sisters LOVE girl night with Danny and would not let him nor his brothers join, Damian sketching drawings of Danny and asking for his opinion which he never did with any of them save for Alfred.

Duke would be seen with Danny a lot, Danny of course helping him with his uni homework and projects.

Danny helped a lot in the kitchen too as well as their gardens never looked better, in this gloomy dark city Danny managed to make everything look brighter, Tim might be biased though.

The family really liked having him around, it just felt so much better. Danny being around meant Jason is around more, Danny being around means Alfred is less stressed because Danny is the only one Alfred allows to help him around the mansion, Danny being around meant Damian and Bruce are a bit less grumpy.

Welp Danny is safe back to work Tim.

.
Text chat: they have an army we have superman (tonight at 4:57am)

Grumpy bat: so how did the visit to Danny’s cafe went?

Supes in undies: well, I somehow managed to make Danny have a panic attack.

Fastest man alive: please don’t get angry at him!!! We don’t know what triggered him, Clark just checked him over for injuries!

Grumpy bat: you better, cause if I know you all DARED touch him I’m sending Vlads rage on you all.

Strong lady: well he did tell me what brought him here so yeah Clark sorry to say this but we might need you to not be too close for now.

Greatest witch: what why?

Strong lady: Clark reminded him of his dad, who’s not a good man.

Supes in undies: what did his parents do?

Strong lady: let’s talk about it at the meeting, J’onn you will be joining yes?

The one from mars: yes.

Grumpy bat: Constantine…what did you manage to gather?

Greatest wizard: shades have been seeing guys in white suits around the city, an older lady looking shade said they were asking around with a picture of Danny, fortunately the alley citizens are a tight knit loyal like a dog type and no one gave away Danny’s cafe nor location.

Grumpy bat: seems like what we were looking for, thanks.

Greatest wizard: yeah yeah.

~greatest wizard has logged off…

Strong lady: so a plan is in order?

Supes in undies: yes a plan needs to be in order.

Chapter Text

“So what did end up happening with that photo, the noise died down I presume?” Danny asked while he and Tim were having some coffee and sandwiches that’s Alfred forced them to have, before their nightly activities.

It’s been almost three days of the usual taking care of the guests, though Gotham has been getting a bit more protective of Danny and insisted that she fly to the mansion with him, to the point Danny got so used to feeling her shadows around him while he’s on the way home…home yeah. That feels right.

Home is where his family are right? Just like right now sitting with your boyfriend, Alfred softly being heard in the kitchen and talking about life and the problem of being a celebrity of sorts.

“The media team dealt with it babe, I was already out as bi wayyyy before the leaked photo” Tim says and Danny nods he does remember a few years back when the whole school was talking about it, a semi celebrity coming out officially and having a boyfriend, heck Danny doesn’t know if phantom came out there would be as much noise.

The teens of Amity sure would have been raving about it though.

“I don’t think you ever told me what your orientation is babe?” Tim sips his coffee that Alfred really fought so hard to hide but nothing can hide coffee from Tim. Nor Danny their resident ghost.

“Well for the longest time I thought I was straight, I dated Sam for a few and had a thing with Paulina. But at some point both me and Sam thought that maybe we wanted a third so we asked Tuck if he feels the same, Tuck is ace though we all decided maybe that ain’t gonna work we’re good friends. I consider myself pan who’s open to polyamory relationships” Danny explains while Tim nodded, yeah that sounds right his boyfriend has too much love to give it made him a great king.

Tim smiled at his boyfriend and wondered how Danny doesn’t understand just how amazing he is, to Tim Danny is a perfect man.

“Welp time to go to work wanna come with again?” Danny finished his coffee and got up.

Tim nodded and got up as well.

“Wish for me to drive you, young masters?” Alfred asks from the kitchen.

“I thought I told you not to call me ‘master’ Mr Pennyworth” Danny’s statement went ignored by the two men.

“Nah I’ll drive him, maybe stick around and help so that Mike can take a night off” Tim smiles at Alfred who looks bothered.

Tim locks arms with Danny and forces him to come with.

“Master Tim but you-“ Alfred tries to remind Tim about his nightly duties but the two left.

Alfred sighs deeply.

“Is this ok master Bruce?” Alfred asks as Bruce and Damian sit down for their own late night snack before their nightly duties.

“Tim is on Danny duty tonight” Bruce answers simply, granted Bruce will be going to the watchtower and Jason nor Dick are free to look out for Gotham tonight is it really ok for Tim to not be in suit?

“Are you sure? With master Damian injured and Tim out of suit?” Alfred asks gently and Damian huffs at him.

“I am doing fine, it was but a scratch!”

“You were stabbed Damian…” Bruce tries to say.

“Yet you are letting me patrol tonight”

Bruce sighs, there’s really no arguing with any of his kids is there?

.
“Please don’t call, I need another hour. Three more girls are piling in the shower. Don’t call, you know I can’t answer getting pussy like pink panther” Danny sings loudly along to Scene Queen on the radio and Tim laughs, he doesn’t know the lyrics.

Frankly the song is way too noisy for his liking but Danny seems to know and like this artist.

They are still on the way to Danny’s haunt, it’s so cute how Danny can just be a vibe to sit with so they continue their drive while Danny vibes to now playing thriller.

They arrived before long.

Danny found himself with his boyfriend holding onto his arm and now Gotham while he unlocked the doors.

After opening them he turns to the two “wanna help me take down the chairs?”

Both nodded and that’s how they got here cafe full of students tonight doing their homework, word got out which is Lara’s fault that there’s a night cafe in town with great coffee. It being non profit was just a bonus ancients knew those broke students wouldn’t have been able to afford his high quality products.

Tim knows Danny’s cafe could have easily been very famous around those snobby rich bitches, because of the quality alone. Too bad they are missing out on good coffee by being too egotistical to support a cause.

Danny happily worked on all the drinks and surprising amount of food orders, guess adding all sorts of eggs and toasts to the menu was a great idea. He will keep it in mind.

He doesn’t really like to eat full meals after 10pm himself, maybe that’s why he stays skinny.

“Danny~” oh fuck… he kinda hoped she will not come visit again.

“Anita… hey” Danny gives a tiny smile that looks a bit more like a grimace, Tim sitting close to the counter did not like the way she sounded at all but continued to watch the interaction in silence.

“Dad is sending his regards, and mom asks when you will come over for dinner again?~” Anita asks and Tim perks up ‘wait, again? He knows this woman personally?’, the little giggles Gotham lets out doesn’t make it any better for Tim.

“Ah yes how is your father? And send auntie my regards sadly I wasn’t able to come over recently cause I’ve been staying at my boyfriend’s” Danny tries to answer but Anita decides to hold his arm over the counter.

“Since when did you have a boyfriend?” She whines and Tim almost wants to slap her does she live under a rock or something??? Everyone knows that they are together, that leaked photo did wonders if you’re a semi celebrity of the town.

Danny doesn’t have has much restraint as he pulled his arm away.

“Anita my boyfriend is literally THE Tim Drake-Wayne, a photo was leaked like not even a month ago” Danny doesn’t even know how she didn’t know or if she was purposely ignorant.

Heck how the fuck did she NOT see Tim right there?!

Gotham giggled again, that little…

Danny turns to see the shadows hiding Tim but he himself doesn’t seem to be aware of it, to Tim too it looked like Anita is being purposely ignorant.

Danny’s eyes tinted a bit green when she continued to act like she didn’t know who he was talking about I mean COME ON it’s the TIM DRAKE-WAYNE.

“Anita this is very unprofessional, your dad helped me make this cafe happen you know that I owe him more than just the money I payed him. But I am taken” Danny grit his teeth a bit feeling his fangs grow out a bit, Tim gasped seeing them. He tries to get up but feels something push him back down it was a hand, a big hand.

Suddenly he’s consumed with the feeling of dread he can hear the thick armour this… person? Is wearing. But they didn’t move just made sure Tim didn’t as if to tell him Danny got it.

“Danny-“ Anita tries.

“Anita, please. My boyfriend is right next to you, it’s extremely rude to flirt with someone right infront of their partner” Danny says not amused.

When Anita turned around it was not Tim that made her quickly leave but by the time Tim turned around the feeling of the big armoured hand left his shoulder and the cafe felt care free again.

Coco whined at his feet, moving to to pet him and noticing that he held his breath for way too long.

Tim choked and Danny quickly gave him a glass of water and Gotham rubbed his Back as he drank.

“Sorry babe, I- she’s been pursuing me for a bit…I first met her when her father invited me to dinner, she’s his youngest but ya know by the time her parents were trying to set us up I was interested in…someone else” Danny explains thinking of Red Robin granted they are the same person but Danny didn’t know that at the time obviously.

Danny can let go of all the courting gifts and proposal jewelry from the ancients and gods and what not, considering that by their laws which are all different some can have multiple partners but Danny draws the line at being obviously taken and still being flirted with even after asking people (actual living people) to stop.

Tim is still starstruck and looking at Danny’s fangs that are still yet to disappear, man if people say power isn’t attractive they are lying.

“What just happened and who was that?” Tim asks still just shocked.

“You mean one of our guests or Anita? Cause I am pretty confident I just explained who she is” Danny robs his nape and grins awkwardly.

Tim grabs Danny’s face “oh my god shut uppp”

Danny kisses Tim’s cheek and smiles apologetically.

A bunch of ews or awws or even ‘I’m way too tired for this’ can be heard around the cafe, why were they all watching anyway.

“My darling Phantom, may I have more tea?” Gotham asks gently, Danny smiles and goes back to making the drinks.

The gentle jazz plays in the background and Gotham yet again smiles at Tim, yes she didn’t do anything to stop the drama and the jealousy was leaking off Tim in waves but she knows they all can protect their king and his consort.

While swaying her body a bit to the music and watching her king and his boyfriend from her sit, someone sat next to her and she could hear the armour.

“They are coming for him huh?”

.

“What are you doing?” Clark asks.

“Keeping an eye on Tim” Bruce answers. Barry huffs a bit.

“Are you just watching them from the street camera next to his cafe? Is that why you asked me to go fix it?” Barry asks and Bruce doesn’t respond.

“I’m sure he’s just making sure non of those white suits are around the area” Diana adds and leans on the table infront of the computer.

“The big guy seems to be a threat but considering it only seemed he acted on Danny’s anger, I’m guessing he’s one of the ghosts” Clark says and that’s how they spent the next few hours.

Mostly keeping an eye on the cafe and looking at other cameras for other abnormal activities.

If only they checked camera f24 a little more closely.

.
“And I’m telling you, I do not make this up. That dude is like an actual knight he just has that effect on people naturally my love” Danny explains to half asleep Tim while he organises the cafe for closing.

Tim nods sleepily.

Gotham also left to make sure everyone got home safely, Lara showed up to work on her project with her project teammates who didn’t forget to compliment Danny on his coffee which he smiled to.

But, it’s been too quiet tonight wasn’t it?

“Come on sleepy head~” Danny lets Tim lean on him as he was setting down the shutters and locking the doors.

‘I guess my license ain’t so bad to have now huh’ Danny thinks to himself as he took Tim’s car keys and unlocked the car but the second he let go of Tim to open the door, he crashed onto the car.

“Danny!” Tim screamed.

Ok that fucking hurt, he coughed and he could see the mix of blood and ectoplasm spilling out.

“Phantom! You are to be taken back to the lab!” Agent F yelled, Danny recognised him as he looked at the agent holding one of those god forsaken weapons. He’s the one who held him down when he managed to break free, he’s the man that put those chains on him while he was being cut open.

Tim was fully awake now and getting into a fighting position infront of Danny.

That blast…so he wasn’t kidding by saying they had weapons that hurt ghosts.

“Back away from our subject if you know what’s good for you kid!” The agent aimed the gun looking weapon at Tim now.

“No way in hell! You’ll have to pass by me if you wanna get to him”

“I don’t know what he did to make you think he’s human mister Drake but he’s coming with me” the agent shot Tim.

It felt like everything was going in slow motion, Tim fell to the ground and was breathing heavily. Fuck that hurt like a bitch.

Danny kneeled down next to Tim.

“Leave the human, Phantom!” The agent has the gun aimed at Danny again, Danny couldn’t hear him.

His eyes started glowing green and two rings around his middle showed going over his body. Hair white as snow.

“Showing your true colors now huh monster?! I’ll give you 3 seconds to leave the boy!” The agent tried but again Danny is just not able to hear way too worried with Tim’s injury who’s still breathing heavily holding his chest.

“Danny you gotta fly away, the bats…they can help us. Find them” Tim tried to make Danny run away but Danny shook his head, he raised his hands in surrender.

“I’m not leaving you until I know you’re ok”

.
“Tim’s tracker is down!” Dick says while on the phone, he was on his way back to the manor when he got a bunch of notifications from his siblings.

The league was already on the case.

Bruce also just got back from the watchtower when Tim’s tracker went off, Danny’s as well all of his trackers have been turned off after a certain point in the map.

That is currently their latest lead Bruce said, Bruce also needed to take his leave to notify some people on Danny’s and Tim’s abduction, Vlad might be able to know where those said ‘labs’ were.

And he will contact Tucker and Sam who originally managed to find Danny.

First things first, send some of the members to the first base see if they were dumb enough to go back to the same base as it is always an option.

Bruce nodded to his eldest sons and started the call to one of his oldest friends.

.
“Tim you gotta wake up” Tim could hear Danny say, he can feel the cold floor beneath him, the feeling is not new being rich meant you get kidnapped a lot.

Tim blinks and when his vision is finally not blurry he can see his boyfriend in ghost form chained to the wall, they are in a small cell like room, the chains look very similar to to the cuffs they would use on a meta.

So Danny breaking out is not an option.

Tim takes a painful deep breath and sits up.

“How long was I out?” He asks and Danny looks at him sadly.

“I don’t know, I was out too and just woke up. How’s your chest feeling, those guns are no joke on humans too” Danny asks and Tim rubs at his chest, it’s still hurting but not too much, it might of hurt less with his suit.

That is something to figure out at a different time.

Tim noticed that he’s not actually tied up or anything, he might be able to help them escape. It’s also safe to assume they took all their trackers right? He looked at Danny but Danny still has his earrings on.

That is good to see.

“I know what you’re thinking Tim, no usually at their labs those things don’t work anymore” Danny tries to explain.

“What? What do you mean?”

“The trackers” Danny continues, Tim’s eyes widen a bit.

“You knew?” Tim gets up and goes to sit next to his boyfriend “and you didn’t care?”
Danny smiles and rests his head on Tim’s head.

“Sam and Tucker as well as Vlad and Danielle kept a tracker on one of my pants for the longest time, think I was angry at them enough at the time so now I don’t really see it as a bad thing as long as it’s someone I trust, and I mean you guys were looking out for me though it was weird of Bruce to give me a tracker as a first gift I like the earrings though…” Danny explained and Tim smiles.

He doesn’t know when Bruce put a tracker on them but they were actually his late mothers so he doesn’t think Bruce didn’t actually genuinely meant anything by giving them to Danny ya know? And Danny looked so so good at the gala.

So while chatting Tim and Danny recognized that all they can do now is sadly…wait.

Chapter Text

(TW for injuries, experiments? Experiment refs? And cuss words I guess?)

For two days, two long and insufferable days.

Tim had to watch his boyfriend be taken in and out of their tiny cell looking more and more weak as he went.

Tim could of sworn that the creatures across their cell are trying to talk to him but as long as Danny ain’t around he cannot understand a word, Danny explained to him that ghosts speak in ghost speak which only they can understand.

So Tim guessed Danny’s cafe had some form of spell on it because Tim was able to understand everyone.

Apparently a couple is across from them and they looked not as weak as Danny, Tim blames it on the fact Danny is still human and still has the weakness of a human being cut up regularly even with enhanced healing.

Through the couple and other ghosts Danny has managed to try and get the bats closer but from the conversation Tim and Danny had with them, there was no such luck.

So two days passed of the regular Tim being given food and being untouched for the most part and Danny being given nothing and forced to not touch Tim’s either because…

It made sense but it also doesn’t also since when did Tim start listening to everything the mad people say?

What is going on?

Is Tim thinking too much into it?

Tim rubs Danny’s hair as he lay on his lap, in any other circumstance it would of been humorous to see a giant sat on his lap sleeping but in this case it is not Danny feels way too light, and he is freezing cold.

That is nothing new the main reason they thought he was a meta was because of how cold he felt, but now that Tim thinks about it Masters himself always felt cold as well not to Danny’s level but still deathly cold.

This was something else entirely Danny is shaking which would not be normal for a cyro meta let alone an iced based ghost or so Vlad said.

Danny tried to calm Tim by saying his healing takes its tool especially when he’s not being fed, and while Tim tried, key word ‘tried’ to give him some of his food which wasn’t the best to begin with.

They started to have a guard there to make sure Danny didn’t eat, the guard who’s name is something along the lines of Erik also verbally abused Danny to the point Tim had to be cuffed to the wall for trying to attack him.

Tim recalls when that happened.

.
The same day in the morning.

“Mr Drake, we stress to explain this to you time and time again but this is not the real Danny” ‘doctor’ frank tried to say but is stopped by Tim’s glare.

“And I try to tell you that HE’S A HUMAN” Tim snarks back but makes a tiny hmph sound as he was pushed aside by Erik.

“Hey wait-“ Tim tries.

Danny looked at the whole situation in anger while in the cuffs that restrain him from using his powers, soon ‘asshole 1’ and ‘asshole 2’ will come to take Danny back to the lab, I mean hey they at least stitch him back up this time around. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, gosh he wonders how Mike and Emily are doing.

“Hey Monster! Yeah you-“ Danny gave Erik a questioning look “still using that poor boys body as yours?” Danny is just too tired to answer that.

Erik was one of the original GIW agents that captured him last time, and since he likes to torture him verbally Danny never really forgot Erik. Especially not Frank and Eliza.

“Ok ya know what asshole?” Tim was sick and tired of this bullshit, he got up and pounced onto Erik’s back and putting his arms around his neck, successfully blocking his airway.

Frank instantly goes to Erik’s aid and that’s how Tim ended up chained to the wall with the same chains meant for Danny, and after Danny got back from hours of being experimented on he decided to sit on Tim’s lap, Tim wasn’t sure what made that happen.
.

The couple outside were cooing at them but he cannot tell what they said since Danny instantly fell asleep.

Tim just needs to stay strong for Danny the bats are definitely on the way, even if the ghosts outside of the complex have been failing in leading the bats here, Bruce is the world’s greatest detective.

Tim continues to rub Danny’s hair as Danny moved a bit in his sleep and whimpers in pain.

Tim will fucking kill them all for this.

“Ẃ̶̚͜͝ě̸̯̘͘ ̵̤̗͆̈́h̵̠̟̤̀͒ä̵̹͊v̷̞̤͇̏͒é̷̫͙̃̂ ̶̧̾̈́t̵̢̿̀͝ǒ̵̢̫ ̶̢̪̒͗s̵̹͐̂a̷̘͝v̶̨̡̰̽e̸̠͛̒ ̴̭̱͊̏̓õ̵̩̹ư̷̥͍̖r̴̛͔̃́ ̶̯̫̻̉k̴̛̗̍̚i̵͚̪͓̓͐ṉ̷̢̀͒̚g̴͖̍̋͝,̵͇̟͎͊͐̂ ̶̺͎͊͌D̴̡̦͑å̸̼̳͑̏ṋ̶̛̖̒̿ͅn̴͓͕̻̅̽y̴̮̬̺̓͑͂ ̵̡̛ĭ̷̘͈̜̿͠ş̶̻͒ ̵̪͒h̶̩̰̿ų̷̪͉̏̏̅r̵͎̮̓̄͜͝t̶̏͛́ͅ” Tim starts hearing the male ghost, how does he know? Their tone seems…deeper in a way same as Danny’s static sounds deeper than the female’s.

By their tone he can tell they are worried but not exactly what they are saying.

“I̷̫͛͊ ̸͕̪̃k̸̨̙̓͜n̴̨̗̺̍̅͑o̶̱͎̓̈́̂w̵͔̯̽ ̸̳̮͈͐̽̔ḿ̷̺̬̐̚y̶̱̯͋͘͘ ̵̖̕ĺ̴͎̉o̴̦̻͜͠ṿ̴̀̓͋e̵͎̬̻͐̓̕ ̷̩͙͛͠Ỉ̷̲̤͎̚͝ ̷̘͙̀k̶̨͝n̴̢͙̜̍̓̾ơ̵̗̳͒̂w̶̨̱̗͂̔̕…̶͙͕͚͠” came the females reply but Tim still cannot tell what they are saying only that they gave Danny and Tim worried looks every now and then.

Every few hours one of the ghosts will be taken and brought back, non of them looked AS weak as Danny did but Danny seemed to get his strength back little by little by the loud static being thrown around the area every time he is brought back to the cell.

They even once held a puppy! A puppy! Even if the puppy is a ghost dog that is…that is unacceptable, the lil pup even reminded him of Coco… OH GOD Coco! Is Coco being taken care of?!

Tim’s little mental chaos made the dog a few cells down whimper a bit like it knew.

So far it seems Danny’s arms were the only thing being cut open, it seems they are avoiding his torso area or maybe just maybe they got enough information the first time they got him.

Tim thinks in rage.

Throughout all this time Tim was treated fine by the guards of course he was also untouched, he was treated like family by the ghosts around him too.

Well the kings consort but he doesn’t know.

The one time they were all together was in the ‘playground’ area as Tim likes to call it, when one of the female ghosts who kinda looked like a genie from a fantasy movie, rubbed her self on him and called him things, as per Danny’s flustered translation she called him pretty and a very good choice.

She would squish his cheeks and rub his biceps saying he is fit to be Danny’s. whatever the fuck that means, she basically behaved like the maidens who would clean and make sure the consort is ready for the king in old stories.

He got to see the whimpering dog and made sure to hold him and pet him, even though Danny warned him to not fall to that trap Danny himself was shocked over the friendliness the puppy showed which made Tim judge him silently like ‘really dude you scared of lil puppies now?’.

But at least he knows how they all look and sound now, they are all very nice or at least to him. They do seem to actually physically fight each other though Danny explained it’s their form of greeting.

Danny also explained that ghosts do indeed feel pain in their physical form and one of them even made it a point to show Tim how they can turn invisible and therefore non physical, so it all made sense as to why they got chained with cuffs that took away their ability to do so.

“But wait why are you guys not cuffed now?” Tim ever the observant asked, Danny grimaced.

“W̵̠͚̹̌́e̶̤͔̤͘ ̵͈͓̑͘ą̴̩͔́͂̉r̶̥͉͊̈́͠e̸̞̔̾̚ ̶̢̤̬́ņ̶͖̤̐o̷̥̾̓t̵̰̿͆ ̸̖̓͊͘b̸̞̬̏̚e̵͕̒ï̴̼̭̆n̸͍̟͌͜g̵͙̅͌̈́ ̴̪̏̃c̷͉̓͜h̷̘̰̀̅̋a̶͔͚̓i̷͙̒n̶̙̭̖͐̈́e̶͚̪̔̀̄d̸̘̖̑,̵͔̭̌ ̴̲̗̭̂̾Ṫ̸͖̒ĩ̸͓͙̫m̶̤̽̆̏ȍ̵̡̙̙t̷͔̘́͊ḣ̴͎͂y̴̨̼͋̚̚ ̸̹̈́̑͠b̶̰̂̕ẽ̶͔c̷̦̞̥̿̃ǎ̶̙̰̖u̵͈̳͝s̶̰̮̰̈́e̶̟̘͂ ̶̨͈͊t̷̡̜̦̕h̸͙̀̀e̵̱̮̪̅̓͆ ̸͉̹̠̄͂͝ẃ̵̘̞̄̕ͅã̷̟̀͜ḷ̷̨̙͛̇l̶̖̑͠s̷̹̉͒ ̴͍͈̜͐o̸͉͎͑̔͑f̵͚̼͗ ̴͈͙͍̇͝t̵̲̩͒̇h̸̻͌̓̊͜i̶̘͗̋͜s̵̛̻̻͇̽́ ̷̧̹͐f̴̟̲̈́͂â̴̤̰͔̐c̷̬̎͂ĩ̴̝̮͓͝ḻ̴̮̰̌i̸̭͛͝t̷̟̾̒͝y̴̛̦̠̯̍̉ ̸͈̓ă̶̧̠r̵̼͘͘ȩ̷̻̊̿ ̷̢͒m̵̹̄͜ą̶̻͐̾d̵͇̍̈́̀ȩ̷̺̒ ̵̡͍͗b̴̥̈́́y̶̩͚͗̂̚ ̴̟̩͐t̴͇̝͌̿̌ͅh̵̥̖̼̀e̶̲͙̱̿̏ ̵̳̜̅͆̂s̴̞̯̊ȃ̶̺̿m̷̠̙̊̇ě̷͍̇ ̴̦͖̊̔m̷̥̠̂ͅa̵͓̓̊̆t̶͎̲̫̃e̵̛͉͖̐̓r̴̜͑̓i̵̱̟͚͂͑ä̸̛͈́l̶̨̏̅̏ ̶̢̫͍͑͒s̴͚̅͐o̶͍̞̹͘ ̶͓͚̘̅è̵̯̈́v̵͙̒e̵̗̎n̸̛̗̖͜ ̶̮̃̈́ȉ̷̧̹̀́f̶̻͗͒̾ ̸̗͔̀w̷̼̫͖̕ẻ̴̗̫̽̅ ̸̳̖͗̎͐ť̸̯̮̼̔̈́r̶̗͍̜̋̊̅i̴͕͌e̶͖͙̜͐͒͛d̴̽̽ͅ ̸̠̄̆w̵͙̣̋̈́ẻ̶̗̙͜ ̵̙͙̊ẇ̵̦̣́͝ò̸̳͝n̴̡̩̐’̵̢̘̎̈́t̶̢̟͎̆̎ ̵͔̹̏b̴̲͈̩͐̇è̶̻ ̷̮̓ą̸̳̑͑̄ͅb̶̠̪̐l̶͓̥̀e̵̓͑͐͜ ̸̤̻͗͋͘t̸͙̏̌o̸̝̘̅ ̴̖̝̉̅̔ȩ̶̘͛͋͑s̸̼̊͝ͅc̵̡̟̝̒͝å̴̢̡̠̇̃p̶̢̖̕ë̶̹́”

The ghost that Tim now knows as Johnny said.

“He’s basically saying that all of the walls are also made by the same enhanced material the cuffs are made out of so even if we did try to faze through them we won’t be able to” Danny translates, which made Tim understand why they weren’t even trying to escape.

Heck when Tim tried to touch the wall he was pulled back instantly, since he was threatened to not be allowed in the “playground” and since Danny seems to be the only way to calm the lil angry man, they sat him with Danny and left.

“P̴͖̹̃̆ͅh̵̢̡̎ă̴͇n̶̲̟͛̎t̷͉͒̀ǒ̶͉̊͋m̴̱̋̈ ̷̾ͅw̸͔͉̘͂͊͆e̶̳̖͌̓̕ ̶̻͂ă̶̠͛͠r̶͔̻̈́̚e̴̢͋ ̶̳̄ŝ̶̝̝̪͛ò̷̥r̷̰͊̿r̶̛̝̦̳̾́y̵̧̯̒̕ ̶̠͍̿͒͆w̶̤͕̓̉̉e̷̩̓ ̴͓̰̋̆̓͜c̷̫̿͑̒ä̴͓̳ṋ̶̨̋̈́’̶͙̤̹̿̄t̶̨͇̗͗ ̷̖̱̝̊͝p̴͔͇̪̒͐̿r̸͇̓̾͠o̶͙̰̓t̵̪̋̈e̸̟͋͠ͅc̴̹͇̖̀t̷̛̼͠͝ ̴̝̖̼́y̸͉͛̅̃ỏ̷̲u̵̬͙̝̎͌” Kitty adds, kitty was a nice girl, she even helped cut Danny’s and Tim’s hair saying they didn’t managed to go get their hair done before being captured.

It was really nice of her to offer!

She would squeal and giggle every time she touched Tim’s hair and was over careful touching Danny’s she said ghost hair is different and takes longer to grow out so she can’t make any mistakes.

Fucking lies now is it, it’s due to his powerful energy.

Tim doesn’t need to know that it’s for the ghosts to know and for Tim to find out in due time if Danny is ever willing to tell him.

Danny put his head on Tim’s shoulder and started to rest, a little chubby ghost managed to take out a blanket out of nowhere and covered them both.

Tim gave him a quiet ‘thanks’ and a nod.

Gosh this is stupid, where the fuck are these peoples common sense?! Like can’t they see the way these supposed monsters treat Tim???

Scientists my ass. Tim thinks bitterly.

“T̴̙̽h̵̩̒ḁ̸̂n̵̟̕k̵̻͐ ̸̳͋y̶͎̏o̶̹̔u̵̟͑,̶͓̚ ̶̮͋I̷̜͘ ̷̖̀à̵̺p̷̨͐p̶̣̾r̵̻̓ê̶̻c̴̘̒i̸͙͒ḁ̵͑t̵̝̔ê̴̡ ̶̨͌i̸̗͋t” Danny says softly.

“Į̴̿t̶̤͐’̴̨̿s̵̝͆ ̵̭̅t̵̹̐h̶͕̀ě̶̯ ̶͈̌l̴̠̑e̷̪̐a̴̘̿s̸̙̀t̸̖͂ ̷̘̎w̷̬̿e̸̺̕ ̵̜̆c̶̺̀a̷̮̎n̶̨̊ ̴̨̍d̷̮̚o̶̲͠ ̶̗͗f̸͈̀ö̴͖́r̸̹̉ ̵̱̔y̵͕͝ö̴̯́ü̴͜ p̸̠͘h̴̫̽a̷̮̎n̵̡̕t̶̛̬ŏ̴̟m̶͓͐” came the reply that only made Danny smile softly, it’s a harsh life to live right now and it seems the only comfort his boyfriend can get is from his fellow ghosts, the league should really start working on those rights the second they save them, Tim will make sure they do if they aren’t already working on that.

With Danny’s sigh Tim can tell he fell asleep again, heck Danny looks weaker than he did the first time he showed up in Gotham, his stitched up arms are even bleeding.

The ghosts around them looked extremely concerned, at one point they tried to help using their ectoplasm on Danny but Danny’s body straight up rejected it.

Danny explained to the ghosts that only Vlad’s ectoplasm would have sufficed…as well as Danielle’s or even Dan’s but they are not here.

Tim hoped blood would help but Danny confirmed it won’t.

The levels of ectoplasm in the air are just super low in here, the facility either deluded it somehow or it’s just an area thing. He doesn’t know.

Vlad explained to them all how from his countless visits to Wayne galas and charity events he found that for some reason the ectoplasm in the air is strong in Gotham and that’s how he knew to send Danny here.

He did not expect for Danny to end up dating one of Brucie’s boys and a vigilante on top of that when Danny showed obvious distaste for dating a fellow hero.

Heck, Vlad would have swollen his pride to apologize to Bruce for disappearing in his depressive state to ask for a bit of a favor and to maybe take Danny in for a bit.

He didn’t think Bruce liked him in any way, his past behavior was despicable he can admit that.

With that.

Tim continues to rub Danny’s hair and try to help him through the pain of his body painfully and slowly healing him, he sadly can’t do anything to help.

Whenever he tries to escape or do something to help the ghosts escape he is stopped and since he’s an angry little gremlin who tries to attack them all the time they just sit him next to Kitty or Danny cause they seem to keep him calm and non violent.

Tim tried to be smart about it but there’s sadly no escape without outside help.

He can also not stop himself from thinking about his family and what they are doing right now. Maybe he’s letting the emotions control him right now and not be logical, maybe it’s the amount of hopelessness energy going around the ghosts since their king is only getting weaker and weaker.

His family will be coming, they will save them all it’s only logical to think so, Bruce will stop at nothing to find them he’s sure of that.

Vlad will burn the whole world to find his son he’s also sure of it.

So why does he feel so unsure that they are looking for him actively?

Jesus Christ Tim pick yourself up, they are coming, they will be here soon.

Tim could feel Danny wrap himself around him tighter.

“Babe what happened? Your heart rate picked up” Danny asked weakly.

He couldn’t lie to his boyfriend now could he? He explains to Danny that he’s starting to lose hope a bit, yes the logical part of his brain knows his family is probably losing sleep over trying to find them. But…

Danny hums and gives him a little hug, yes even Danny himself the more weak he gets the more hope he loses but he tells Tim to calm down and everything will be fine the ghosts outside will help them all.

The question still stands, is his family really coming? And will they make it in time?

Chapter Text

And looking for them they are.

Bruce made sure to call Vlad the instant their sons disappeared, he said he’ll be there as soon as possible.

But even with the arrival of Vlad for two days they didn’t get anywhere close to finding their boys.

The whole bat family and now even Tucker and Sam are looking for a very small trail, it is true though…they have almost no lead.

Lady Gotham and the freaky knight dude is the only lead they had so far but even they are becoming more blurry and soon won’t be able to be seen at all, the only way for them to communicate now is only inside Danny’s cafe since if they try to talk outside it just sounds like static and in Gotham’s case like she ain’t talking at all.

Save for Vlad.

Lady Gotham explained Danny’s king powers, his powers are not only offensive but are an active force twenty four seven, his cafe is a great example of that because even with Danny missing the cafe still acts a communication place between creatures of different realms.

Gotham still can only take on a physical form in the cafe, the knight dude can go outside though so him and a few others decided to try and help the bats.

Through a lot of static that the bats couldn’t understand without the help of Vlad but no worries he did join in on the searching.

After two long and insufferable days.

They found a lead, not really a lead but that was better than nothing because the whole family was losing sleep in their worry which was starting to become unhealthy and especially unbearable to watch in Vlad’s case.

Sam and Tucker have made sure to keep all and clues they can use nice and organized with that Bruce can now initiate a league meeting, god only knows they really need the magic users right now.

.
At the league meeting, all the members were continuously rewatching a clip from one of the security cameras just on the borders of Gotham.

The footage was taken almost 24 hours ago.

While the footage seemed too staticy to make out anything, so it wasn’t a lead in the end?

“Wait that’s Cujo” the tall guy with bright grey long hair remarked.

“Wait ya see anythin’ in here?” Constantine being on time for once answered but then he did a double take.

“Who the fuck are you?” Constantine looked genuinely confused.

Vlad smirked at him.

“The members of the league this is Vlad Masters, also known as Danny’s Godfather” Bruce introduced gruffly and then continued “Vlad these are the members of the league and two of league dark, as in our magic users”

Vlad continued to smirk and gave out his hand for handshakes which Diana took and shook strongly.

“Yes quite the hold there Mr. Masters, I am Wonder Woman or Diana if you will” after letting go of his hands he gave her more of a genuine smile.

“Ah yes Ms Diana, my son and daughter were very big fans of you” Vlad says Foundly.

“Ah I didn’t know you have a daughter as well” Diana says gently “I’m sure she’s a pride and joy”

“She was” Vlad smiles and goes back to the monitors, ready to explain what he saw and completely ignoring Diana’s sad look.

“She’s no longer with us, his daughter I mean” Bruce speaks up “his daughter, Danielle was actually Danny’s clone but she was created by and lived with Vlad. Up until 2 years ago he showed up to a lot of events with her”

Diana gave a sad look again but nodded, Clark who overheard the conversation thought of Kon. It seemed Vlad actually did care much for his daughter, he guessed the cause of death was obvious and therefore gave Vlad an understanding look as well.

The trio go back to the four at the monitors where Vlad tries to explain who Cujo is.

“Cujo is a ghost dog, he tends to follow Danny around so they can play. There’s a very good chance he followed Danny and got caught as you can see” Vlad points at the guys in the white suits that are not blurry.

“We ghosts make cameras completely useless but not the point humans wouldn’t be visible I mean wouldn’t you already know that sweet Brucie?” Vlad explained and gave a smile Bruce’s way.

“That does make sense Danny is always blurry but Lara is fully visible with no issue in their footage” Diana comments with Zatanna nodding.

“Wait ‘We’?” As per usual Constantine was the most tired of everyone’s bullshit but also the one to pick up on things no one thinks is important to point.

“Yes, we” Vlad smirked at him yet again and showed him his fangs which are a lot longer than Danny’s and his glowing red eyes.

“Gotcha Vlad is also a ghost” Constantine sighs and takes a sip of his alcohol.

This is gonna be a long day.

“Maybe if we go there I’ll be able to pick up on the spell me and Constantine set on Danny” Zatanna offers and receives a few nods from the team though Constantine tsk’s.

“That could be possible if he’s not too far from where that dog was taken but even then we’ll need to make another spell to find the dog and not necessarily Danny since that was useless when we tried that where they were taken, Zatanna”

Clark hums.

“So there we go, Bruce do you recon we’ll need the suits?” Clark asks, Vlad nods.

“I’ll be likely useless even in my ghost form due to their weapons” Vlad adds which make Bruce nod in agreement.

“It’s time to put on the sexy suit, Brucie bear” Vlad says jokingly which he thought was obvious but that drew a few gasps and a knowing smile from Diana.

And unexpectedly Bruce laughs.

“Yes, time to go get our boys back”

.
“Master Bruce, are you sure this is a good idea?” Alfred asks as he helped Bruce and got him some food before the mission at hand.

At the other side of the cave Vlad was forced to wear a bulletproof vest underneath his fancy suit, no matter how much he tried to explain those weapons are not normal.

And that not even superman their resident ‘man of steel’ is safe from them.

“Bruce we can’t by all means just let you two go there alone” Alfred tries to argue and there’s a few sounds of agreement throughout the cave.

“Father I shall join you!” Damian tries to argue as well but Bruce shakes his head and Vlad almost giggles at the teen.

“No Damian patrol is already taking its toll on you when you’re supposed to be studying for finals” Bruce says while Alfred agrees but still.

“Mayhaps Jason or Cassandra, master?” He asks which causes Jason to perk up and Cass to nod her head happily.

“No Al, that’s final we’re going as 5” Bruce finishes setting up and heads towards the Batmobile.

“You coming Vlad?” Bruce asks as he gets in.

“Think I’d rather fly” Vlad says and transforms “I’ll see you there, bet I’ll get there faster~” he laughs in mock evil and flies away.

“God he spent wayyy too much time with Danny” Bruce shakes his head and goes to the meeting point.

.
“I am really unsure about this, can this old man ever get a break?” Alfred sets down some tea for Cassandra and Stephanie, the other siblings seemed to like their juice so far since coffee is currently banned.

“Sorry Al guess he got tired over you all worrying he’d rather do it alone, got diamond 3 take it or leave it?” Dick says while him and a few others were playing some sort of a game using the poker cards.

Sam and Tucker who are new here, decided to join in on the game and also both huffed in agreement.

Yes it got rough and Alfred is releasing his worry in waves, absolutely obvious by the way. Maybe they should convince him to rest before Bruce and Vlad’s return.

“Jason maybe you or Cassandra go after them?” Alfred tries to argue again.

“Relax dude, they got it. I mean they got Vlad” Tucker says coolly and throws a 6 of hearts on the table meaning he didn’t lie and the other peeps missed a chance to get a win.

In the two years they all hung around and especially when Danny’s parents got even more neglectful, as Jazz was away at University.

They all learned how dependable Vlad really is from paying for everything to actually being a good cook. At the end of the day he proved himself to be a trustworthy Dad for all it matters.

(*btw the card game is based of a game that I loosely remember from my childhood)

“I know, but can’t this poor old man worry about his son and grandkids?” Alfred sighs and cleans up after the family “don’t stay awake too late Damian as for the rest of you? Please for the love of god stay put” as he goes away he hears the cheers of Tucker who won’t the card game.

Sam gave the butler another look of encouragement same as the other family, Alfred got almost no sleep from how worried he was about everyone else.

To a degree it meant THE WORLD to Sam and Tucker that Danny found more coven members that cared about him as much as he did about them.

Hell, he would have left Gotham if he couldn’t find himself there. His ghost part of himself wouldn’t let him.

So Sam nodded at the rest of the family members.

“Yes imma go make sure old man over here gets his Zzzs” she says and disappears after him.

.
“Are you able to pick up on anything yet” Clark asks.

“Damn Boy Scout I thought we worked together enough times for ya to have figured it out already but magic takes time” Constantine answers meanwhile him and Zatanna are conjuring up a spell.

“I know…I’m just anxious” Clark sighs and Vlad puts a hand on his shoulder.

“I get you, my son is being held by these madmen and is probably being experimented on now, I get the being anxious but we would get nowhere by panicking” Vlad says calmly and manages to make Superman stand to the side for now.

While the two make their little spell Vlad and Bruce think of a plan, they most than likely will have to break into the labs, that is if the GIW are using labs in the middle of nowhere again.

The odds are pretty high on that one, freakshows like that just don’t change.

After an hour finally Zatanna lets out a sigh of relief.

“We’re picking up on Cujo” she says with a smile “over that way, we have a trail! It won’t be for long though so I think we should follow it and pin point the location”

“I agree, Vlad you coming with me, Superman go with Constantine and Zatanna in case they’ll need your strength” Bruce commands.

“But what if you two got in trouble, Vlad is useless against their weapons-“ Vlad stops Clark.

“We all are useless against them save for maybe the magic users”

“Do you not use any magic Masters?” Zatanna asks genuinely, Constantine nods. They both are able to sense the magic that seems to surround him but no it is not his ability to use magic.

“No ghosts are mostly incapable of using magic, save for maybe the magic users of the infinite realms” Vlad explains.

“Wait, you knew of the infinite realms?” Zatanna asks as they start following Cujos trail.

In a bit they’ll need to break up into two groups.

“Of course I did, who do you think I am? I was also well aware of Danny being the king since I was more aquatinted with the ghosts traditions so I knew him beating Periah also meant taking his place by default” Vlad explains and she hums.

“So why not tell him?” Clark asks, thinking that it’s kinda strange to not let him know.

“Danny was 14 Clark… he died at 14 and came back to life, not only that he was a halfa for bearly a few months back then so he had yet to see and visit the infinite realms let alone learn the norms and traditions other then the fact that ghosts ‘play fight’ to greet each other” Bruce hums thinking of Jason, which really explains why Jason seemed to like it around Danny considering he’s technically Danny’s subject.

“Clockwork and I, Clockwork is the ancient of time by the way. Decided that we would rather give Danny as much as a normal human life as we can the realms can wait that long anyway” Vlad continues.

“As in one human life?” Clark asks.

“As long as he stays half human and not fully dead yes” Vlad responded simply.

And this is where they needed to break up.

.
The trail led both groups to two different openings that go underground.

Seriously nothing will surprise these people anymore cause from alien invasions to political crap in Iran, everything seems to be mid nowadays.

So the two groups decided to investigate, but agreed through a phone call that they shouldn’t stray too far in.

After a while of checking the area, both groups have managed to mark and pinpoint everything that was important, how many guards were at the main gate and how many at the second.

Time to form a plan.

“I can tell that he’s here” Zatanna says and Constantine nods.

“Yes we are finally able to pick up on the spell we put on him” Vlad gives a tiny glare to the two but no one was able to pick up on it but Bruce.

Vlad definitely did not like it but heck he wouldn’t know how to stop the summonings either, they were kinda hoping people would continuesly do it wrong.

Drunken people just don’t have blood to offer in general and kids would fail to do so cause they’d mess up a step anyway.

Ignoring the fact hero blood is required so it’s kinda impossible to a normal person.

Moving on.

Vlad smiled at the other four.

“Let’s go get our boys back Brucie”

.

Text chat: bats in the cave

Ginger queen: *added a pinpoint location*

Big bat: thank you.

Acrobatic legend: when are we going?

Big bat: tomorrow.

One hell of a butler: I’ll make sure everything is ready for the return of the young masters.

Big bat: thanks Al.

Demon brat: I’ll be sure to make them suffer.

Silent but deadly: 👆🏼

Chapter Text

‘This sucks’ Danny thinks as he’s currently tied and being for lack of better word, cut up.

Miserably he had to admit that his power is not gonna show since it’s all working on healing him while the chains block any sort of ectoplasm in the air to help in any way.

It is not a beautiful sight at all, disgusting if any.

How did they even manage to make those?

Magical chains are a thing science is thousands of years behind.

That’s the only thing he is sure of since his interactions with Frostbite anyway.

He wonders if Tim and the rest are safe right now, he’s also sure the other ghosts also namely Kitty would fully die protecting Tim if the bonds he felt them develop is anything to go by.

Of course these are bonds only ghosts could feel and he needed to explain to his boyfriend why the couple really liked to stay close to him, him being the only human held hostage also meant he is by far the weakest no matter how much training he did to become Robin, those weapons are no joke and are sometimes deadly to humans.

The ghosts know this and that’s why they are protecting Tim to the best of their abilities.

What wouldn’t they do for the king’s consort?

But it seems that alas this is another cutting up session as Danny likes to call it now, of course Tim seemed very upset about Danny trying to be humorous when they are in fact being held by insane people.

Mad scientist and crazy men? Whatever.

Danny’s brain is a bit nonfunctional at the moment, sue him.

That is if this stupid bitch didn’t just stop mid way of the session due to screams and loud barks.

Cujo, his core sends him signals that’s Cujo.

Friend, friend, friend is all Danny can think about and since his core wasn’t working properly in three days it overwhelmed him.

Danny took a deep breath as the doctor left to go see what happened.

Danny also looked around and the doctor left the knife clumsily very close to Danny so he grinned ‘oh heck yeah now we talking’ he thought and picked up the knife with a bit of trouble since he is double tied to the metal table.

He cut the leather straps and rubbed his arms, he continued to cut the ones on his legs and get off the table.

Dragging his body through the pain, since he’s not chained with those weird chains he can feel his arms starting to heal themselves but he cannot transform yet.

The door that the doctor left out of was locked. Great now what?

Danny sat down on the floor infront of the door, using his core might be the only option if Cujo is really out and about he can send him distress signals and his location.

The commotion outside may be his only saving grace, he doesn’t know what’s going on but he might be able to help everyone escape so for now he should try to send the waves through the woozy feeling.

.
The dog was all excited to see that the guards didn’t chain him, it means it’s play time right?

He started running towards where he thinks Danny is and that’s where all hell broke loose guards screaming at one another ‘HEY YOU DIDNT CHAIN THE MUTT’ and ‘get back here!’ Could be heard behind him but he didn’t care.

‘Phantom, phantom, phantom’ is all he excitedly sends out as he runs.

A bunch of guards giving chase though the ghost dog is way too fast for the humans.

Excited barks can be heard throughout the cells.

Johnny smirked.

The ghosts cheered.

Tim is confused since he can’t understand what they are saying but he can pick up on the dog barks.

He almost lost feeling in his legs, ‘are we able to escape?’

He looks towards the guard that is still looking towards the cells main gate, she’s close enough for Tim to grab the keys, he gave a look towards the couples cell and got a nod from them.

He waited till the guard seemed really distracted by the commotion and quietly took the keys… now to open the gate as quickly as he can.

He put the keys in as long as the guard seemed distracted and open the gate with full force onto the guard he heard her let out a little yelp as she fell to the ground.

He proceeded to leave his cell and kick her in the head successfully making her pass out.

“Sorry ma’am a cute dog needs my help” Tim apologizes in a blank voice.

This successfully got the rest of the guards attention though, he smirked towards Johnny as a way to tell him he got this.

Knowing they have weapons that had the ghosts completely useless he cannot get them out for help. There’s only around 13 of the guards anyway, only one is bulky enough to be assumed an issue though.

He needs to be smart about this…

As the guards approach the ceiling seemed to have crashed on top of one of the guards.

As the guard got punched in the face and kicked away.

Tim sees the familiar red helmet.

Red hood signals towards the cells with his head as the familiar black and blue suit also lands next to Red hood and they both get into a fighting position.

Oh my god Tim could fucking hug them right now, he went and started opening the gates of the ghosts and once he had all the cells open it seems his brothers managed to take down all the guards and Nightwing is speaking to someone a few seconds later something seemed to have turned off.

And all the ghosts seemed more energized, what the fuck did Oracle turn off??? The lights are still on? The walls! Ok so they were not built like that they are powered!

Kitty flew over to check on Tim and even though he cannot understand her he can pick up on the worried tone, as well as Johnny putting his arm around Tim’s shoulder sounding super impressed.

I mean this is Danny’s boyfriend they are talking about they would settle for nothing less for their king, obviously their consort is a capable strong warrior. And truly, he was capable of taking on those 13 guards on his own but they will accept all the help they could get.

“Tim, the others are looking for Danny. Let’s get on with it a ghost dog needs us” Red hood says and pulling Tim towards the gate, Nightwing and the ghosts following behind.

“But-“ Tim tries.

“No don’t worry the league members are the ones looking for him the rest of the bats got Cujo, let’s go join em!” Red hood stops him and they continue to run towards the barks.

.
This feeling? One of his coven members are near?

Danny perks up at that only two of his coven members would be able to send him reassurance signals through their core.

But one of them would definitely do it a lot more clumsily.

“Father…” Danny stands up and checks the door again, it didn’t hurt him so was it safe to assume he can phase through it? So he tried to phase through it and straight up fell to the other side.

“Ow, great I didn’t think that would work” he mumbles to himself and stands up.

It seems there was no one around, even though there’s usually at least two guards standing outside, catching just one dog is that serious?-

The intercom started going off.

“To all the guards in all the wings, the ghosts in north wing have escaped and we require help on the east wing, I repeat-“ well shit.

The intercoms were cut and then spoke a digitally modified voice.

“To all ghosts, the walls of the laboratory have been permanently turned off, the chains are also electronically based and therefore wont work anymore if you can get outside that would be much appreciated, your cells will be open in approximately 3 seconds” oh my good god he could kiss Oracle right now, this means Tim and the others are able to leave.

He breaths in a breath of relief and leans on the wall still in pain.

As his vision got a bit blurry and he tried to blink it away in confusion.

“Daniel!” He heard someone yell and before he lost his balance he felt familiar strong arms around himself.

“I got him” he heard the familiar low gruff voice of Batman as he picked Danny up and gave him to Plasmius.

Plasmius tries to smile at his god son but nothing will help Danny feel better until they get him in the Wayne’s medical room, for a lil blood transfer.

“Hello son”

“Hi father…”

Plasmius continues to hold Danny closer to himself and Batman looks at them feeling genuinely relieved that they found their sons.

“We got him” Batman says into their coms.

“Same here B” Vlad hears what he assumes is Nightwing answering back and through the alarms going off and the sounds of Guards and scientists fighting.

His son fell asleep Leaning on his chest.

Again Vlad feels the need to hold Danny closer and make sure he’s safe.

After giving Vlad a sad stare Bruce continues to encourage him to fly away throughout the laboratory and meet up with the rest of the league members and bats.

.
Somewhere in Metrapolis.

Lois Lane may the ancients bless her soul, has been HARD at work for the last week!

Ever since Clark came back with the quest of getting the GIW illegal and for the meta rights to protect ghosts too.

Lois has been working her ass off, she doesn’t know what the heck is the king of the infinite realms but that sounds way too serious.

By the time her husband and his team went to the rescue mission the paper was finished and ready.

The league got the whole meta rights for ghosts thing ready for the return of the king but who will make the world aware of said situation and their new ally?

She needs to be ready for News reports, paper reports and interviewing the league as well as Danny when and if able.

All she could do now since everything is ready is hope the league and bats return safely with the new king.

.
Back in the GIW laboratory Vlad and Batman continue forward to the planned location where the rest of the league agreed upon.

As they arrive what they saw was not pretty, they saw a bunch of guards on the floor but they also saw Wonder Woman holding her shoulder while standing infront of spoiler so it seemed she took the hit for her.

And they also saw Superman holding his chest kneeling but Tim and a few ghosts were behind him trying to help him up.

Yes they were aware how dangerous the anti ghost weapons were for themselves but they were also aware that these weapons can hurt the ghosts even more.

Vlad and Batman approached the rest of the team.

Vlad managed to give Danny to Tim so he and some of the ghosts that Vlad does recognize them and he trusts they’ll take care of Danny while he and the league try to take on the stronger guards and Erik.

Vlad also recognised the high ranking guard that is Erik, this man was there when they last saved Danny, he can feel himself growing angry but felt Batman put his hand on his shoulder successfully grounding Vlad.

“No we can’t have you angry, those weapons affect you worse than us” Batman tried to argue with Vlad but Vlad’s eyes just glowed brighter.

“No these men hurt my son”

Batman understood that he cannot convince the other man to stay level headed but before he could stop Vlad the halfa decided to quickly blast away the gun from Erik’s hand and when Erik yelped in pain dropping the gun.

Vlad lost it, he fucking lost it.

he pounced on to the man and put his hands around Erik’s neck making the man fall to the floor.

Vlad’s eyes glowed brighter almost deathly red and his fangs grew longer.

“I’m going to make sure that boy you haunted and hurt for too long, that all you have ever done will have consequences” Vlad said in anger and spite, pure venom came out of his mouth in the form of words.

The man below him choked.

“I will make you pay-“ but before Vlad could cause more damage he was shot through the abdomen and instantly flew away, holding the wound that is instantly starting to close itself.

The scientist that no one knows the name of really, too unimportant that even Tim forgot his name was the one who shot Vlad.

“Plasmius!” Superman screamed out and Wonder Woman squared up ready to attack.

Batman took no time in getting the pistol out of the scientist’s hand knocking him out.

And chaos ensues.

Some of the guards got off the floor, Erik catches his breath and got back up and Three different bulky guards somehow managed to grab hold of Batman.

The league members were hurt, hopefully the others were outside with the ghosts that weren’t with Tim and Danny.

And while the ghosts kept making growling noises at the guards pointing the anti ghosts weapons at them they knew they couldn’t do more then cower back.

Kitty and Johnny as well as the genie looking ghost that Tim still doesn’t know the name of, he should have asked while she was playing with his hair. They all tried to cover the both of them to their best of their abilities, Cujo bless his soul seems to lay on Danny’s lap as he was in Tim’s lap.

It seemed to help him heal so Tim didn’t mind.

The color of Danny’s skin is loosing the deathly paleness it had. Tim thinks it has to do with all the ghosts in the vicinity and Vlad’s presence as well as the walls that restrained their ectoplasm is turned off.

But the situation is looking slim and there’s not much they can do when their strongest are held.

And as Vlad lets out a sound of pain.

The air seemed to thicken… something felt off in the worst of ways, like time itself stopped.

It didn’t though.

All the ghosts including Vlad in his ghost form seemed to transform, they started looking darker, angry and menacing.

The same way the ghosts looked back in the cafe when Danny wasn’t controlling his power and got angry.

They became so unrecognizable other than Maybe Johnny who has a big shadow looking bike now, the rest of them raised in size like Cujo or the genie looking ghost but still kept the void black look.

They were scary and nasty, the feeling in the air was just suffocating.

And out of nowhere a crack in the air opened and through it walked a weird looking tall ghost as do the rest of them really holding a hand clock.

“It was about time young phantom” he said, his voice gentle and loving. Like Danny meant everything to him.

Danny groaned and started sitting up, all his body void black and you can barely see the floating cape around him.

There is a shiny black crown floating on his head and it’s barely visible all throughout the void that is all the ghosts currently save for the newcomer.

Danny floated out of Tim’s lap and everyone turned to him, some bowed some kneeled, the strong looking ghost bowed as well.

“Mighty king phantom!” Are the distorted cheers going around.

“My young king, you have finally awoken to your true power” the ghost continued to say lovingly.

“Clockwork, now is not the time for pleasantries. I need your alls help”

And as the big knight ghost showed up behind Danny and stood infront of his king ready to fight.

This was going to be a long day.

Chapter Text

As Eric was being held down by the big leg of the deformed big knight, shaking in fear and begging for his life. Well isn’t that ironic? The ghost king definitely thinks so.

After such a long time being haunted by this man and his people it definitely didn’t help that with the new unlocked powers came uncontrollable rage.

Danny smiled and the whole place became even darker.

The ghosts around him constantly morphed into terrifying creatures of darkness. That’s is all you could see, barely recognisable.

Some of them would cower in fear everytime a power would surge in the air, some would get a kick out of it. As a kings people always do.

And Danny? Hell forbid if he didn’t get a kick out of it himself.

He is the king after all.

.
15 minutes ago, the bat family some of the league members and Vlad all straightened up at the voice of the young man.

No longer sounding human and all distorted.

The whole air in the area seemed to have gone dark, but not for everyone. The bat family in fact were not affected but all the guards still standing look about to pass out.

Of course some fought through it, some couldn’t handle the pure power in the air and passed out. As well as ectoplasm but we do not worry about that.

The women look at Danny with pure admiration and the guys smirk knowingly.

That type of power.

Tim tried to look at the monstrosity that is his boyfriend right now, and heck no that is making him feel things.

The creature could not be considered human in the least! Not that Danny was fully human anyway, His whole skin turned void black and his human shape turned from well… human to this tall beast like shape.

The humans around the big area will not be able to describe him one bit.

What grabbed their attention were the things that started taking form on top of his head and shoulders.

What looked to be a glowing void that held all the galaxy in it formed around Danny’s shoulders, a massive magnificent cape of a king and a glowing fire that is bluish green in color took form of a crown on top of his head.

“He is truly magnificent isn’t he?” the entity that they all now know as ‘clockwork’ said lovingly again which is starting to get on Tim’s nerves if he’s being honest.

But since they are in such predicament he cannot find it in him to speak, yes his boyfriend is a sight to behold. He did not expect that being the infinite king will mean this.

But still.

“Should you want my liege we can crush them like the bugs they all are”

Danny turned to look at the big knight kneeling in front of him, he kinda forgot for a second all the ghosts as scary as they look right now are all gonna do what he says.

Danny understood his responsibilities the second he woke up and felt the power surge through him it’s like everything just came to him.

He gave him a nod.

“We might as well, Wonder Woman?” He calls out.

The woman in question jumped as she did not expect the distorted voice of the sweet barista she was used to, and turned around giving the beast a bow and a questioning look.

“May you please help fright knight in keeping Eric secured? But I want him alive and awake” Danny said darkly “understood?”

Diana continued to fight off the sheer power floating in the air, if she cannot fight it as an Amazonian she wonders how the humans are faring, she turned around and nodded at the beast beside the new king.

“Yes your majesty, let’s go” she said unsure towards the knight but the knight looking beast nodded at her and dashed towards the shell shocked high ranked guard.

Danny looked at the rest of the guards but did not let up on the power release, these shits deserved to suffer.

And to maybe just maybe, not breath no more.

“Son”

Danny’s glowing green eyes widened a bit and his blood thirst calmed for a second at the voice of his godfather.

His father looked at his now fully awakened son, standing tall full of unawakened blood lust, yeah he and clockwork talked about this they were aware that all the kings always awakened with rage. His son’s awakening couldn’t be any more badly timed though.

As much as he and frankly enough clock boy over here that won’t admit it, love a good fight a bloodbath wasn’t really in the plan ya know?

Of course their king’s feelings are valid but they should encourage smarts in the situation.

“Son I encourage we keep level headedness” Plasmius says while bowing, an hand on his chest.

“I shall agree with sir Plasmius my liege, what is most important right now is that we get you out of here. A newly awakened king comes with its own set of problems and things that need acknowledging as soon as possible” clockwork adds.

“How much time do we have?” Danny asks his godfather and semi mentor/grandfather.

This would surprise the family and league but Vlad answered right away as if knowing what that question meant when it didn’t make any sense to them.

Spoiler and signal just stared on.

“We have 15 minutes before the realms will fully know of your awakening my dear son” Plasmius says.

“10 minutes is all I need” Danny nods at his father and smirks though it is not visible with how he looks right now. Looks more like a sharp grin full of sharp teeth.

He moves towards the guards, the distorted ghosts following.

Johnny on his ghostly bike continued to run some of them over with kitty laughing, to the humans it just sounds distorted but the energy and aura is unmistakable and it made Batman nod towards everyone else.

Seeing as Batman gave the ok all hell set loose.

.
As Eric was held down beneath the knights foot and Wonder Woman was really just there to makes sure Eric is not killed for treason of the high king, she wonders if there is a law like that in the infinite realms.

They would need to get Luis on those papers again, and just when they thought everything was prepared for the king’s arrival.

She gave another look over where the king is if the screams of the ruined is anything to go by, the high king is definitely showing off as to why he is said king.

He is currently managing to push away all the guards with his massive body alone.

The Batfam decided to put most of their energy into tying the guards up, they already have cops on the way since all this turns out was being done behind the law and with no government support making it illegal as Clark and Luis found out throughout their search.

As they all finished up their job they honestly just watched in awe as the massive creature that they knew as Danny fucking Nightingale slash Masters slash Fenton they really don’t know at this point and should definitely get that legal situation sorted later.

Just crashed and burned as he went.

“Dang…he is massive” Spoiler comments while sitting with her back to Red robins back who is very oddly quiet.

Black bat kneeled down in front of him and tapped his forehead so he looked at her.

“Our brother’s boyfriend is a king, who would have imagined” signal jokes.

Nightwing laughs “I don’t think I expected any less from him” he pats Red Robin on the head, sure they all expected it if Tim ended up dating a murderer but a whole king.

Now that is sure something.

Red hood whistles.

But Tim can’t really hear them, he’s blushing and blushing real hard. He never thought he’d ever find himself attracted to such a beast looking…man? What is Danny supposed to be? And why is he attracted to it?!

Tim fought aliens before. He was out of earth with the league and teen titans before but he never thought any of those enemies seemed attractive? Or appealing to the eye at all.

Before he can continue to have his existential crisis he saw a hand waving infront of his face.

“Hey Tim? We finished up here” Nightwing says as cops started taking all the GIW people away.

He stood up and noticed Eric in the corner being held down by the knight, all the ghosts save for Danny all look normal now.

He knows Danny is talking by the distorted voices but can’t pick up on anything.

He decided to start heading towards his boyfriend but the hands on his shoulder stopped him.

“Young Robin, patience. you will get to see his majesty in due time” clockwork said and Tim lets the ghost drag him back to his family.

.
“I never thought that I’d have the opportunity to hold you here and share my pain” Danny says in his ghost speech, knight strengthened his hold on Eric’s chest.

Eric looked confused still, mainly cause he can’t understand what is being said.

Wonder Woman gave Superman a look and they nodded at each other.

Diana continues to approach Danny and gently say “my king we are running out of time I assure you that we will punish those responsible including Eric accordingly”

“Yeah I know” Danny transforms back and the knight lets superman take Eric to the cops, Clark already preparing for the headache he and his wife gonna go through with the news.

Danny felt floaty and his vision is turning black.

Before Diana could catch him the knight who is slowly turning invisible but she’s sure he’s still there catches him and then picks him up bridal style, he is talking but Diana cannot understand what he is saying.

Vlad approaches now back in his human form shaking his head, he took Danny from fright and held him tight. From now on Danny is going to sadly be very busy but maybe with the help of Bruce and his family Danny will have an easier time on earth.

While Vlad will take care of the legality of the situation as well as…Danny’s parents.

They will have that conversation later.

He carried his unconscious son to the car outside with the whole of now invisible ghosts following due to Danny not being awake and actively using his power the ghosts are invisible to the human eye.

From there on his son would have to have an awakening ceremony and then an official announcement and afterwards a crowning ceremony though the infinite realms work different and if not VERY differently time wise Danny could wait on the crowning as long as he wishes to.

.
“How is he?” Batman asks while the rest of the family is calming Tim down.

“Sleeping, self healing. How’s Timothy?” Vlad answers and asks as he lays Danny right next to Tim and watches as Danny instinctively put his arms around his boyfriend which first of all aww second of all it made Tim instantly calmer.

“He was not injured at all, they kept him absolutely clean. We’re debating if the blast from the gun passed with time or didn’t hurt him at all” Batman answered which made Vlad hum.

“Those weapons are not lethal to humans but are quite powerful. The electric weapons can be lethal to humans and all other creatures such as aliens is why I recommended that Wonder Woman and Superman stayed clear of the weapons” Vlad answered simply.

“Are we done here? Danny won’t be awake for a while and me and clockwork need to work on his official Announcement as well as his…parents” Vlad says simply yet again, Bruce is not enjoying how Vlad switched to his stoic professional personality but nods at him anyway.

“Yes, We’ll take care of Danny and the news regarding the GIW are being taken care of by Clark and his wife” Bruce adds simply as well as he and the rest were leaving Vlad turned back into his ghost form and left through a portal with clockwork.

Tim continues to lay together in the back of the big car they arrived with, with Danny asleep he doesn’t seem to be in pain just cold if anything. Even though he and Tim are wrapped in a big blanket and Tim’s warmth doesn’t seem to help either.

Steph tried to help with her own body heat but that didn’t change the shivering, Danny feels almost as cold as he was when he first met him which now makes sense since he was regrowing bones.

Cass kept rubbing Danny’s freezing hands but nothing seemed to work.

“It’s ok guys he has a an ice core, being cold won’t kill him” Tim said which made the rest sigh in relief but they still looked worried.

“We’ll be putting him in his room and we’ll have to connect him to an IV, yes…hmm hm, we’re on our way Al” they can hear Bruce saying from the front and the low sound of Dick typing on his phone.

Tim cuddled closer to Danny as did Cass and Steph the rest of the boys save for Jason who’s on his bike next to their car chatted in a low voice.

.
When Danny woke up it was to the sound of a beeping machine something that smells heavenly and the distant sound of Clark speaking.

Before opening his eyes he felt around first and when someone held his hand he chose to open his eyes only to see a sleeping Tim.

“Babe…” Danny tried to wake Tim but of course he did not wake, looking at the clock it shows 7am yeah he definitely just got back from his nightly heroing like an hour ago.

It looks like he’s in the guest room he was given last time he was here, good that means they successfully got back home, he took in a sigh of relief.

He looked over to the big tv that is still on and Clark was in his civilian clothes and talking about the illegality of the GIW and how ghosts are now part of the meta rights acts however rare they may seem, and promised an interview with their said king.

Danny understands this is a restream.

At least they had him covered when it came to that.

Danny continues to run his hand through Tim’s hair until there was a soft knock and Alfred came in.

“Master Danny! You’re awake, how are you faring?” Alfred says as he layed down some water and food for Tim but don’t worry he’ll bring something easy to digest for Danny as well later.

Danny poured himself some water and hummed in disappointment.

“I thought I told you to not refer to me as master?” Danny asks which makes Alfred laugh genuinely, Alfred is happy Danny is awake it means the family is gonna be less worried and Danny’s famous blueberry muffins will make them less cranky.

Win win honestly.

“Will your majesty be better?” Alfred asks but you can hear the joke behind it.

“Hmmm” they hear Tim let out a little sigh but Danny continues to run his fingers through Tim’s hair and he went back to sleep.

“Just a moment Danny” Alfred leaves, probably to go grab some food for Danny as well, and to mayhaps tell the rest of the family that Danny is awake.

“You should cherish the time you have in silence” Danny hears Tim say after yawning.

“How long were you awake?”

“Woke up just now, heard Al leave” Tim said and stretched, he took one of the toast pieces and started munching on it. He took the other piece and shoved it at Danny’s lips.

“He is right though we were all waiting for your awakening. Especially Vlad he…has very big news for you” Tim added gently but before he could continue the door slammed open and in came a crying giant and two other young adults.

“Danny!!!” Jazz almost fell onto Danny and hugged him “my beautiful brother, you are awake!”

“Yea dude you left us for like 3 weeks with the Wayne’s how uncool” Tucker adds.

“Speak for yourself Tuck, Damian is lovely! And, I got to meet Pamela. Mind you we had delightful conversations!” Sam argues.

“Lovely ain’t the word I would use-“ you can hear Tim say in the back but Danny is busy with his giant teddy bear of a sister and two best friends arguing, he can almost feel their ghostly powers leak out.

Everyone in amity is a bit liminal for example their eyes would sometimes glow if they get too angry or they will sometimes float. Just what they needed with the fucking stupid asses that are the GIW walking around with their detectors going off at everyone that they stopped using em.

But Sam and Tucker are closer to being ghosts than that.

“Good to see you are doing well Danny” Bruce comes in with his hoard of children and Alfred.

“Do you need anything, Danny?” Bruce continues to ask and Danny nods towards the water glass on the side table which made Alfred put down more water, mans prepared.

The family looked a little nervous.

It was Cass who broke the silence as she grabbed Jazz’s arm.

“Danny, Jazz has something to show you” Cass says simply, the family decided this was the best way to break the news to a newly awakened boy from a coma of two weeks.

Seeing as Vlad can’t.

Jazz takes out a card, an ID card. At first Danny thought it was his when he took it but the picture looks new and it’s of Jazz.

“Well…you got a new ID card made?” Danny looks at it confused.

“Ah….look at my name lil bro” Jazz almost sighs but smiles awkwardly anyway.

Danny looks at it still confused nothing seems out of the ordina- huh???? The name shows ‘Jasmine Masters’, he looks at it then at her.

Bruce takes out some papers and hands it to Danny as well.

“When you weren’t awake and we’re sorry that Vlad can’t tell you himself but…Vlad has adopted your sister, as you can see. Your parents…are in prison since non of you are minors she has been adopted voluntarily I have offered to do so myself but since he’s already you twos Godfather the court has offered him full custody that he didn’t agree to unless you sign willingly” Bruce explains.

Yeah Danny was aware this will happen, he knew his parents weren’t only evading taxes but that one thing they hid from him and Jazz did it have to be the GIW? Danny knew that those weapons were Fenton made, it was so obvious.

Danny held the papers tightly and almost crumpled them.

The room started to get colder.

Bruce smiled sadly at Danny and pulled everyone out of the room the only one that stayed was Jazz she was the one he needed right now he was sure.

“I know it’s surprising, they will not have a better time there but there was nothing we could do, Bruce will get a bad reputation if he-“

“No Jazz it’s ok I get it” Danny stops her, Jazz lays next to him on the bed and wipes away the tears he didn’t notice had started to fall.

He was aware of all the neglect but they were still his parents, he held Jazz’s hand and tried to calm himself seeing as his powers could be world ending.

“You don’t have to sign them, you can stay a Fenton…better yet Bruce and Vlad can legally get you to stay a Nightingale! You don’t have to make a decision now!” Jazz tries to encourage.

“I just really need some time alone” Danny says in a quiet voice.

Jazz got off the bed and smiled at Danny as she walked to the door she said.

“I’m just glad you are finally awake little brother”.

The door shut and all Danny can do is hold the adoption papers in silence.

Chapter Text

Danny slept for the best part of his physical therapy.

He’s not as weak as he first was but the support was nice. Sam and Tuck went back to their respective university just when his arms bandages were taken off and jazz was taken back to her own university to continue on her 2nd degree with Vlad who joined her.

Vlad gave Danny a hug as did his sister and now he’s with the batfam alone again.

Danny is doing ok, he really is. His arms are feeling completely ok maybe because the humans are underestimating how fast the ectoplasm in the air will heal him.

The dark members also strengthened the seals on his wrists though it was not hard to learn to just refuse the summonings all together. Now that he is aware of what he is, being the king also meant that there’s not much the two could do magic wise when Danny has the strongest magicians of the realms at his back and call if he so sees fit.

Which include the dark members, if he knows it or not.

But Danny spent most of his time with Clockwork anyway being explained and taught all the things he would need to know before his official crowning.

Him and Clockwork came to an agreement that only when Danny is fully dead will he actually officially become the king, the ancients have his back for now as they did since Pariah’s defeat.

As Vlad already thought Danny would want and was right.

Danny left out of Clockwork’s portal hearing the silent ‘I shall see you soon’ from the ancient and the portal closed.

“You’re back” Danny hears his boyfriend say from the bed and he turns around to smile at him.

“Honey I’m home!” Danny all but giggles at what he says and continues to crash onto the bed.

“Finished with the king classes?” Tim looks up from his laptop, maybe working on a case? Danny assumes. Tim continues to munch on the chips he has next to him which Danny steals one.

“Yeah won’t be having those until I die” Danny says simply and lays on his stomach next to his much smaller boyfriend, that’s just what happens when you’re a giant.

Tim hums happily and moves Danny more to him.

“Have you made a choice considering Vlad’s offer?” Tim runs his hand through Danny’s hair which has started growing rapidly since he awakened so he currently keeps it at a bit below his shoulders, to no one’s complaint since the girls love to braid it and Tim loves to play with it when he is half asleep.

“Not yet no…” Danny lets out a sigh, but then his stomach growls and he laughs.

“Ok you silly goob let’s go ask Al what’s for lunch and continue our conversation at the table?” Tim shuts his laptop and gets up.

“Nooooooo” Danny whines but lets Tim drag him to the kitchen where Alfred was already setting up for three.

“Three plates? Are you finally eating with us Mr pennyworth?” The young king Grins wildly.

“As a matter of fact, yes.” Alfred answers “sit down boys I have prepared some hot curry for us to enjoy” he smiles politely and leaves the table.

Tim sits down and forces his sleepy boyfriend to sit next to him, as Danny snoozes a little bit Tim continues to play with his hair which is not helping the sleepy king wake up.

Alfred comes back and sets down their plates first, and this smells heavenly! He then sets down his own plate.

Danny eats but sleepily.

“Master Danny? Can I have your attention for a bit” Alfred asks and Danny was so sleepy he didn’t correct him and just gave him a sleepy smile while he took another spoon full into his mouth.

Alfred passed him over a few papers and smiled.

“I have a request of my own, seeing as everyone seems to be ‘shooting their shot’ can this old man be selfish for once?” He asks and Danny takes the papers, Tim smiles knowingly because the family already talked about this with Alfred.

Ah…these are adoption papers, but not really it’s legal papers for taking on the pennyworth name and is that Alfred’s will?!

“Mr pennyworth are you gonna die?! What is this?!” Danny freaks out, while the papers do seem on the bit more logical side, he can’t help but think of the worst.

Alfred laughs from the bottom of his stomach.

“No no! I’m very healthy my will has been ready in the last 20 years there is nothing to worry about! Even if you don’t agree to be my family by law I will still like for you to sign the will like the rest of the family did” Alfred explains “since everyone has already offered and you already rejected multiple people and entities, I thought I should offer too!”

Danny looks at the papers and signs the will with the pen he just summons out of nowhere but he gives Alfred back the adoption papers.

“I’m sorry Al I’m just not ready to give up the Fenton name yet” Danny says but Alfred puts his hand on Danny’s.

“It is very much ok to still think about it, if you sign this or not you will still be my family” Alfred takes the papers and his finished plate and leaves the couple to finish theirs.

“I knew you would not take his offer” Tim says simply, he is happy though that in a way Danny still agreed to take part in making Alfred happy he does mean A lot to them.

“Not gonna lie it was tempting, taking on his name would be very honorable! But I am a king you need to understand whoever becomes my family will also become royalty by the realms law, you as my… urgh I hate saying this word, ‘consort’ is already considered my royal ‘wife’ or ‘queen’ if you prefer and we don’t even have to be married for that, funny how that works” Danny explains sleepily and now munches on the not so hot anymore curry.

Tim hums again “well I don’t like it anymore than you do, whenever an ancient sees me they call me the ‘royal consort’ and Dora forced me to wear so many different suits and dresses a few days ago! And Gotham has started calling us your highness and not her knights” he huffs.

“I can always ask them to stop, just say the word babe” Danny gave up on the now slightly warm curry and cuddle into Tim.

“Nahhhh Staph is liking the title and being a freak about it same as Jason, we will deal with everything at the time that it needs to be dealt with. Have you made your speech yet? I can help you?” Tim asks.

Oh shit! He knew he forgot something!

“No I fucking didn’t!!!” Danny runs up stairs to grab some paper, heck he needs this for tomorrow!!

Tim laughs loudly, yep that’s their Danny always forgetting important stuff.

.
“Is the suit too tight? I’m sorry but I only have your human size written” Alfred asks.

Ignoring that completely, gosh how’d he even get his size checked?

“No the suit is perfect, you didn’t have to help me get ready Mr pennyworth I’m sure Bruce would of liked the help?” Danny says but the suit is a lil tight, his ghost king form does not lack muscle and gives him a bit more height.

“I thought it be better if the butler helped the king get ready for the international speech, remember you are signing contracts today and remember that you will need to talk to the president later too also Bruce is not there in a normal suit” Alfred lists off the things Danny needs to do today.

A portal opened next to them.

Clockwork and fright knight came out of it wearing nice suits too, knight offered his hand for Danny to take and he took it.

“Thanks Mr Pennyworth for helping our king get ready” Clockwork says and puts his hand on Danny’s shoulder ”my liege I hope you made sure the speech is up to standards? You refused my help” he adds in worry.

Danny smiles though it is not very visible in his king form and lets the two escort him.

Alfred gives a little smile as he hears Danny complaining about Clockwork not trusting him with anything in the distance as they went.

Today is the day where Danny would give the ghost king speech and introduce his kind to the humans as well as talk about the GIW and later on maybe make some peace treaties but maybe not it all depends on him.

Only a few number of people know that he isn’t officially the king so Danny isn’t capable of doing so anyway…

“My king?” Clockwork asks.

“I’m just thinking” Danny says simply, the two other ghosts give him a blank stare but they are releasing calming energies which should honestly scare him he wasn’t aware knight was even capable of doing that!

“I’m not- I’m not scared you guys” Danny confirms “just thinking… obviously the ones who held me are being punished right about now…”

“You have your speech ready and no one is able to hurt you while knight is here you shall not worry my king” Clockwork puts his hand on Danny’s shoulder even though in this form Danny is much taller.

No one would be able to hurt him if knight was there or not.

“Ya know…humans they don’t accept the unknown they fear it? You know this Clocky” Danny shakes his head “that is still not what I’m worried about so you guys can stop smothering me!” He pouts.

Clockwork shakes his head, his king has nothing to worry about and the last of his worries should be Tim Drake-Wayne.

Yes that’s what their king is worried about, ever since the return to the mansion Danny almost didn’t leave his boyfriend’s side. When he wasn’t with Clockwork most times you see him he would be cuddled together with Tim softly whispering to his sleeping boyfriend running his hand through his rapidly growing hair.

Danny ended up being the ancient of…power? Rage? He really did take after the last king… They weren’t sure and therefore he is continuesly tired, they all thought he will end up being the ancient of loyalty or protection. All the ghosts that ever had a battle with phantom sure are shocked but happy for him all together.

A baby ghost that becomes an ancient? Very unheard of but a baby ghost that becomes a king? Now that is a legend that should be told for centuries.

The humans do not understand how big this is!

They get off the portal and Danny almost loses his balance at seeing how many people are there.

Bruce and Diana are there, in their hero outfits.

He can also see the rest of the league in the crowd as well as Clark in his civilian clothes holding his paper.

Diana reaches out her hand “his highness?”

Danny takes her hand but still trembles, Bruce notices.

“I’m sorry, we tried to make sure the crowd is small but couldn’t do much” he says gruffly.

Danny nods at him in appropriation still and goes to stand infront of the crowd, the mic and stand are not tall enough for him so he continues to shape shift his form to a smaller form.

The crowd cheers for that.

Stupid humans a simple magic is all it takes huh?

Clocky shakes his head and knight growls to shut them up.

“Greetings” Danny coughs as it came out way too deep and tried to play around with his voice since he still can’t control the ghost speak in this form.

After a few tries he manages.

“Greetings…”

.
“Tim! Danny started his speech!!!” Staph calls out with everyone on the couch even Damian is focused on the screen.

Cass is munching on the popcorn with Jason trying to steal the bowl from her to no avail.

The rest sit there too with Alfred listening in while putting drinks on the table for them.

Tim leaves his laptop aside for Alfred to take who smiles at what he sees making sure to not entirely exist the site.

Tim sits at his eldest brother’s lap seeing as there isn’t any space left with Cass being on the floor and Alfred sitting at his arm chair.

“Greetings, I am high king Phantom but you may refer to me as Phantom Nightingale. As you may know…your kind made an illegal company to capture and destroy my kind…” Danny speaks and even though he tried to make his voice less scary it still made most people in the room freeze other than Tim, Damian and Jason.

Batman signals for people especially the reporters to quiet down.

“People! People! Questions are for after the king finishes!!!” Diana adds angrily.

Those two were PERFECT for the job, Staph smiles in pride and Barbara nods.

“Ah yes this is why young Danny refused the offers” Alfred smiles.

“Yeah sorry I didn’t tell you, but we were already working on him being legally Danny Nightingale…” Tim smiles as he looks at his gorgeous boyfriend on the big tv screen.

“No this does not saddens me, I am happy he heard me out even when he was sure what he wants to do!” Alfred says back and focuses on the tv again.

“And while that broke a few infinite realms laws” Danny chuckles “we have made sure these people are being punished and served for what they have done, my people do not wish for war especially I as the new king! This is no time for rage or chaos! It is time for my people to have the peace Pariah never gave~”

Everyone clapped.

“I am very angry still” the claps stopped, Diana looked worried and Batman put his hand on Danny’s lower back which he appreciated.

“Because my people do not wish a start of a war I’m inclined to answer to my people” Danny transformed into his new phantom form with his crown and cape his hazmat suit long gone and is now black armour with white silver gloves and boots.

“I have sworn to serve and answer to my people even if it means that I suffer, now…what would you like to know?” Danny put his hand on his chest and grinned with his elf like features and sharp teeth which made a lot of the human’s uncomfortable.

Clockwork and knight stood behind him as Bruce and Diana made sure everyone is not being loud and being VERY respectful.

Clark sighs, he is only here for the papers anyway.

.
Alfred shut the tv off and clapped.

“How about we make sure to welcome our family members with nice hot herbal tea?” He asks and everyone stood up cheers and gets to work.

An hour later they hear the door open, in comes Bruce and a very sleepy Danny on his back.

“Welcome back master Bruce and Master Danny” Alfred smiles as Bruce lets Danny down.

“Hey Alfieeeee” Danny yawns.

“Nice work master Danny!” Alfred pats him on the head and leads him towards the kitchen where everyone else is sitting.

They welcome the last missing pieces of the family and have a nice chat over tea as Danny fell asleep on Tim’s lap which yet again makes for a funny picture (that Dick took in secret) cause of just how tall Danny is in comparison to Tim.

“He’s getting due to an hair cut” Duke points.

Cass nods and points to herself.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t mind but you still need to ask him Cassandra” Bruce says softly and continues to sip on his tea cup.

.
“So I told him, nuh huh! Old man! But he said ‘my king I am not old I am literally made of goo’ and then-!” Danny tells Emily and Lara as they munch on their sweets and he continues to dry the dishes.

“What next! What next?!” Emily asks in excitement.

“He just disappeared leaving a pile of taxes in his goo behind! Blehhhh” Danny gags and Emily laughs almost jumping in her seat while Lara smiles.

“Ew Danny!!!” Emily says loudly.

It is nice to have Danny back at the cafe is all Gotham can think, Emily and her dad aren’t forced to stay invisible due to not enough magic in the air giving them form.

And Lara has her bestie back.

The king definitely lights the mood in the cafe, the reopening couldn’t have been better. One of her knights mainly the big bat decided to make some ‘changes’ to the cafe while they were gone and now it’s bigger, not big enough to not be cosy anymore but still bigger.

That means more guests at a time.

The cafe is still only open at dead of night or witching hours if you will, credits to the regular costumer witch. We love her.

Gotham sips at her cup sighing in amusement.

2 hours later like clockwork, hah. The knights show up for their before morning meal and hang out time with the barista king.

Red Robin of course will force his boyfriend to be with him and him only as they usually do, the girls will fight for that attention while the youngest brother will not care one bit cause all he cares about are the ghost and shade dogs.

The oldests of course only care about their coffee but will talk here and there meanwhile Duke will be vibing with Emily or snoozing in a corner somewhere. He is a day hero after all.

Danny couldn’t have been happier.

And somewhere in Tim’s pocket lays a box.

.
Text chat: bats in the cave +the almighty KING

King: when are we changing the chat name AND my name?

Blondie: not happening pretty boy.

Silent but deadly: nope.

King: worth a try.

~king has sent a gif of a sad dog…

Ginger queen: sorry your highness!

King: sighhhh.

Big bat: hey Tim I found something in the office-

Everyone in chat but Danny: LEAVE IT!!!

One hell of a butler: you put that down right now young man!

King: another bomb???

Demon brat: YES a HIGHLY dangerous one, father let down the box.

I lived bitch: you better have not opened it!

Big bat: @tired Robin were you gonna tell me about this?…

Silent but deadly: he opened the box…

King: guys…??????