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Danny is injured (due to some reason or another) and needs to take refuge somewhere safe. He ends up occupying a doll to hide from his parents/GIW. That doll is picked up by Jason Todd.

Jason Todd loves that doll.

The rest of his family, not so much.

In short, Danny ends up possessing a doll, unintentionally making it creepy. Jason sees it as a regular, cute doll. The rest of the batfam sees it as an Annabelle-esque creature.

Cass wasn't overly bothered, but wasn't fond. But oh boy did Steph hate them. Babs would pretend they didn't bother her. And well, he didn't know where Duke fell on them yet. But Bruce? Oh poor B grew up with these things haunting the manor. There was a room set aside for them now. They belonged to Martha so B couldn't bring himself to throw them away, but he still didn't like to see them.

Jason grinned, a plan was coming to mind. He gave it a quick wipe down to get the dirt off it and held it up to take a selfie with it. He attached it to the group chat;

"My new friend here says hi guys!"

The Doll that was originally kept in Jason’s room, but eventually keeps moving it’s resting place. Sometimes the Doll sits on the mantle in one of the many sitting rooms. Sometimes the Doll sits at one of the many seats in the dinning room that isn’t claimed. Sometimes the Doll sits in the library, sometimes on the clock in Bruce’s office, sometimes in the garden.

Jason doesn’t say anything about the Doll’s game of musical chairs, not even to claim responsibility.

Out of everyone who dislikes and is unsettled by the obviously haunted Doll, Alfred openly likes the Doll and is even caught on occasions talking to the Doll when alone.

When asked Alfred just says that it is good company and a nice helper, as if that explains anything!

Bruce will not admit he jumped when he spotted the doll on the bat computer while coming in from patrol, Oracle will say otherwise.

The bird boys have attempted multiple times to make the Doll “disappear”, Damian even going as far as to break the porcelain face! But it always reappears completely unharmed in one of it’s various resting places, always facing the guilty bird who attempted to rid the house of it when they find it.

Danny is enjoying haunting the family, even more so after finding the batcave and befriending the butler! Not that he has spoken to him, just sort of helped him out a bit here or there when he wasn’t looking.

It is easy to fix any cracks of damages to the Doll he is possessing after he has infused the entire thing in his ectoplasm, he is a little bitter when he was lit on FIRE that one time by the tired one! That was uncalled for!

He will have to hide the coffee for that slight.

It is slowing his healing factor down a bit being so active, but it is worth it. He wants to stick around a bit longer, it will be a while before he completely settles the ecto contamination in Jason after all.

There is no other reason, nope.

I love the idea that Jason and Alfred have FULLY accepted the Haunted Doll (tm) as part of the family. Like, our little buddy is NOT creepy. He is sweet and helpful! Even if he does, sometimes like to hide in dark rooms to make you scream. The idea that Jason just, lets Danny terrorise his family, purely out of spite as well. Is incredibly on point.

Not to mention other random people. Just the image of Red Hood walking out of a house holding a doll and telling it off, very seriously though. Is golden.

"What have I told you about running off like that? Yes I know you can't exactly be permanently damaged, but what if someone finds a way huh? What would I do then?"

One of the batfam comes across the footage and is found rocking backwards and forwards like "no, no no no. Jay why!!!! If you KNOW it's haunted!!!"

Danny is REALLY enjoying this as well. He's never really had the chance to do a long term haunting. And oh boy has he been missing out! The butler is amazing. Danny loves helping him. He can't let himself be seen obviously. That would ruin the joke. But it's ok he knows. He just likes making sure Mr Alfred can rest a bit. He does SO MUCH work for this huge house! So what if Danny helps out by moving the heavy things? Or dusting in the hard to reach spots. Mr Alfred said he did a good job the other day. And Jason said thankyou to him for helping him!

Danny knows there is something unspoken that happened between them in the past, but they seemed to be working past it.

Now though, that thick green rageful aura...

Danny is gonna get to the bottom of this.

What he doesn’t expect is for Dick to willing TALK to him after Jason storms out of the mansion one evening long before patrol. If Danny could blink like this he might have when Dick peeks into the sitting room looking around before his eyes land on where Danny sits on the fireplace and his eyes flicker with nerves before steeling. “I know you can hear me, whatever you are. Jason cares about you for some godforsaken reason! And and-” Danny would laugh if he didn’t already know that it would scare Dick out of whatever he is building up to, so he holds back with some difficulty. “Just, the Joker has escaped from Arkham again and that alone has got Jason on edge... But Bruce had to go and open his big mouth and...”

Dick sighs bringing his hand up to rub his face before looking Danny in the eyes. “Can you do something? I don’t know, some prank or whatever it is you do that cheers Jason up? He really needs it, before he does something he will regret... again...” Danny tilts his doll head and Dick twitches like he wants to jump back. Danny thinks about it, he has overheard alot about the joker, alot of things that makes him green with rage similar to Jason now. No one has said how, but Joker has HURT Jason in the past. And if what they have said about the Joker is true, he isn’t against hurting him again.

Danny audibly giggles and Dick stumbles back in shock as the doll in front of him fucking VANISHES before his eyes as if it wasn’t real to begin with.

“WHAT THE FUCK”

Danny floats invisibly over Dick and out of the room, he’ll worry about him later.

Jazz stood her ground, crossing her arms at the red helmeted man that broke into her home. Cujo, in small form, growled beside her.

Hood: Y'know. This might be the first time someone said no to me in costume and wasn't a criminal. I'm impressed.

Jazz: Boys boys! Be hood. Nightwing has a serious concussion we don't want getting worse hmm?

She picked Nightwing up and set him on his feet easily. Jason couldn't help but stare. She was tall, and ripped. And stared him down. And.. Yeah he wanted her number so bad. Fuck... Babs owed him one right? Maybe?

Nightwing: I don't like how sensible you are. That's no fun...

Jazz: My little brother says the same thing. Now. Since your little brother has come to pick you up! Off you go!

Hood: ... How'd you know?

Jason: Dick I need a favor.

Dick: What is it?

Jason: I need you to get your ass beat and get rescued by the redhead again.

Dick: ...What?

Jason: I need to see her again so I cam ask for her number.

Dick: ... And you need me to get another concussion for that?!?

Jason: …should a dislocated shoulder be enough

the same evening

Jazz was quietly reading her newly purchased book when she heard a crash near her window and went to see

Distant Dick: Don't worry little wing, I got this one flee

Jason: ... No?

Jazz: Oh my Ancients. you're an idiot? I can't believe you did this! Get in here so I can set your shoulder!

Jason: does this mean I have a chance?

Jazz: I can't believe I'm saying this. Danny is going to be a nightmare. When did I.... Oh no... I got mums taste in men... Danny can never know!

Jason perking up despite the pain. Because... That sounds like a yes! Jazz drags him to her sofa and fusses about him. Making sure to get everything in the right position. And then without warning sets his shoulder. God's that was ruthless. Jason might be in love

Jason: So... Can I get your number?

Jazz, knowing she actually likes him. Somehow the fact he was willing to hurt himself to have a chance endeared her. Danny can never know.

Jazz, Absolutely Not thinking about her mother’s taste in men: Uh, I’m partial to bookshops or coffee houses.

Jason, who has his own library and employs various goons who happen to love baking and making fancy coffee: Give me a week. Maybe two.

Jazz: What?

*One Week and Three Days Later*

*Jazz and Jason sitting at a booth in a brand new library/coffee house that is Absolutely a Front due to the stuff being served being Actually Good. (its a front for Red Hood’s gang. It employs troubled teens and goons trying to get out of the goon life, or smthn along those lines)*

Jazz: You know, when I said ‘make up a meet-cute’, I meant a lie, a story to tell.

Jason, out of costume: I have no idea what you’re talking about, this is the first time we have met, beautiful mysterious lady. Thankyou so much for getting that book for me by the way, I could have never reached that shelf myself! (he absolutly chose to reach for a book on a shelf too tall for him when he saw Jazz about to enter the place)

It is indeed a much better story for meeting. And it is indeed how she met 'Jason' instead of Red Hood.

Jazz: You are such a dork. I can't believe I'm into that..... Damn you pretty boy!

Or their wedding.

Danny meeting Jason and immediately being all feral little brother about it. Being an absolute pest.

Danny:.... He rides a bike doesn't he. Hey Jazz, was it the bike that did it? Or the leather jacket?

Jazz: Shut up little brother. Do you really want to throw those stones Mr "She shot me and I think I'm in love?"

You CANNOT just leave this in the tags!

Screenshot text:

#the first time a reporter asks him like #mayor masters says he's your dad is that true #danny just like. bluescreens for a solid three seconds #and then in a shining moment of revenge based clarity leans into the mic and goes #well yeah who do you think killed me #turnabout is fair play #vlad is ousted from the local government and now has to prove a negative - no no see i was LYING about him being my son #for clout #i've never killed that specific teenager before in my life #we're not even related #danny is living the high life every time someone asks how he feels about the case progress #like no see i don't know where he buried my body on account of i was in the Zone at the time #of course i would love to see him prosecuted

"That bastard! Can't believe he'd pull something like this."

"Is that a no...?"

"He's not my dad," said Phantom quickly. "He'll never be even a fraction of the man my dad is." He swallowed. "was."

Oh, now that was interesting. However, Phantom was a child, and seemed even more so up close. That fact had been brought in stark clarity during the mayor's press conference when he tearfully relayed his and Phantom's connection to all of Amity Park. Even though he was a ghost, there were certain ethics in interviewing children; it wouldn't look good on the recording if she probed Phantom for answers. "Do you want to talk about it? You don't have to if you don't want to."

He crossed his arms defensively and breathed out through his nose. Maybe he actually needs to breathe, or maybe it's out of habit. He couldn't have died that long ago. "You know what? Screw it. If that fruitloop's been telling lies, then I might as well come clean."

"So what is your connection to Mayor Masters exactly?"

"He's not my dad, that's for sure." He looked away and stared intensely into the distance. "He can't take that title no matter who he kills."

"Care to start at the beginning?"

He snapped out of his brief reminiscence and turned his attention back to her. "Oh yeah right, so I'm not his son, but he sure did want a son. However, because he can't be original to save his life and is a complete nutjob, he decided the best way was to murder my parents and take me in after their 'tragic' death." Phantom hugged himself tighter, that million-yard stare on his face left little to the imagination as to what he was recalling.

"I... wasn't supposed to see it, which threw a wrench in his plans. I guess knowing he was a murderer would really hurt our 'father-son bonding.' Heh." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I regret not being there in time to save them. I think that's why I'm still here. I just want to protect people from bad guys, I guess, and here I can."

"Are your real parents with you?"

He shook his head. "No, I can't find them. I think they moved on, or whatever happens to dead people who don't become ghosts." He laughed weakly. "They probably would still be around if they knew I was coming with them so soon. Or maybe they didn't have time to think before they...well..." He trailed off.

"What would you think about an investigation to bring him to justice?" Privately, she wondered why Phantom hadn't gone after Mayor Masters sooner.

Phantom scoffed, which surprised her. "He's a billionaire. He's already wiped any record of my and my parents' existence. And then there's Plasmius, or the Wisconsin Ghost. He's basically Vlad's pet. I've accepted that he won't be tried for my murder. I just can't believe he had the gall to follow me here."

She couldn't imagine how stressful that must be. She remembered that one of the first things Mayor Masters did was put a bounty on Phantom. In retrospect it was obvious he couldn't be Phantom real dad, especially not a good dad. Who puts a bounty on their own child? "It must be really hard for you now that he's the mayor."

Phantom laughed again. "Yeah, I didn't want to say anything because that'd be the second time I've had an incident with the mayor. And for the record the first time was a big misunderstanding. The mayor was possessed and trying to make me look bad."

"Is this going to change anything about how you operate?"

He shrugged. "Not really? As long as no one tries to force him on me nothing's really changed."

Harriet nodded. "Okay. Is it okay if I use this recording in the news tomorrow?"

"Uh, sure? Just... do you have a specter deflector from the Fentons?"

"Yes?"

"Good. You can use it if you don't like, make it seem like I said something I didn't. And you should probably keep an eye on the footage before you air it in case Plasmius does something."

"All our equipment is ghost proof. I wouldn't be able to interview you if it wasn't." Ghosts were hard to interview with conventional equipment because the recordings always have heavy static that the interns have yet to be able to remove from the audio.

"Okay, well see you around!" Phantom waved and flew off.

----

Danny let out a breath he didn't realize he wasn't holding. That was the most stressful and most complex string of lies he had ever told. He had to pause for a few seconds to come up with something good.

Step 1 of lying was to make sure the lie matched his initial expression. If he looked nervous or embarrassed, the lie better sound embarrassing. He was pretty sure he nailed that. (Imagining his parents dead at the hands of Plasmius was...not something he wanted to think about, but it sure did sell the story.)

Step 2 was that the lie needs to be self-consistent. He's...pretty sure he did that will the whole, "you won't find any records of me."

Step 3 was to sprinkle in some truth so new information doesn't contradict the lie. His tall tale was in character for Vlad, and was probably as close to the truth of Vlad's motives as he could get without outing himself.

That'll teach Vlad to not claim he's his son on the news.

It will...probably blow over. Hopefully. Maybe Vlad won't be mayor anymore.

----

Harriet watched the footage again and again, rewinding and playing back one line. "And then there's Plasmius, or the Wisconsin Ghost. He's basically Vlad's pet." Phantom's bitter tone rang out loud and clear.

She remembered the Wisconsin Ghost from the reunion party. He had possessed Jack and wrecked the party. it was the reason she even ended in this job. Soon after, he was spotted in Amity Park a short time before Vlad moved here from Wisconsin.

If she was right, Vlad Masters wasn't here for Phantom. He'd found a new target. A new boy he planned to make his son. A boy he was apparently the godfather of despite having not seen the family in 20 years.

And if Jack doubts, because Phantom is an Evil Ghost and Vlad is Vladdie? Maddie knows that Vlad wanted to break her and Jack up. She can be like “honey, I thought this was an issue I handled, but if the murder of ourselves and our children is on the table, you need to know this.” Jazz knows why Vlad’s playing this card, so she can be like “I thought I was overreacting, but he’s actually made me uncomfortable a few times?” And Danny can be like “yeah, he’s weird and I don’t like being alone with him, but he’s Dad’s friend so I put up with it” and Jazz can feed him some standard ‘isolating the victim’ lines to ‘demonstrate’ Vlad using ‘the same tactics’ on Danny. Danny’s still gonna panic, and he’s gonna have to maneuver around Jack’s and Maddie’s new overprotectiveness because someone they trusted targeted their son, but this is a really good way of getting Vlad out of their lives for good!

Vlad is now in the impossible position of proving a negative and any HINT of ghost activity will bring accusations of Plasmius from EVERYWHERE, and Danny ID’d them as separate people, so the duplication trick will not help! He is FUCKED!

Danny’s GPA and attendance dropped

Now it’s not ‘smart kid stopped caring,’ it’s ‘billionaire manipulated smart kid to damage his prospects and prevent him from escaping said billionaire’ and Vlad can’t prove it wrong BECAUSE HE WAS, IN FACT, CAUSING SOME OF DANNY’S NON-ATTENDANCE AND/OR CAN’T PROVE DANNY WRONG BECAUSE HE WAS DOING GHOST SHIT AT THE TIME

Phantom's cover is now perfect. There was a mystery surrounding who he was before he died and naturally there would be no one who fit the description. That's still the case, but now everyone assumes it's because one of the richest men in the world killed and then erased every trace of him. If Vlad murdered him, it's not surprising if you find nothing. The story's loose ends are all tied up in a neat little bow with almost no leads. And the similarities between Danny and Phantom is evidence that Vlad wants his ideal son to have a specific appearance, not evidence that they're the same person.

While it's going to blow up in Danny's face, it's not unmanageable because it's true and explains the bad blood without explaining that he's Phantom or the precise reason Vlad wants Danny as his son. (It would also be nice if the Fentons spent more time hunting Plasmius instead of him)

(Sidenote: I never actually thought about the parents reactions to the news. To me, the moment Danny realizes he fucked up is when Harriet gets invited over and she discreetly asks him about Vlad and if he feels safe around him.)

He can also justify his refusal to push his case that way: if he says that he FEELS fragile about it, that he feels like pursuing Vlad will take him too close to revenge when his purpose is to protect…it’s not like most people understand ghosts, so they can’t prove him wrong!

That said imagine if the public doesn't think the reason glad is going after Danny is because he looks like phantom. What if the public thinks he went after phantom because phantom looks like Danny.

He can't have gotten everyone.

Find ONE(1) girlfriend. A sugarbaby. The gardeners. People who KNEW those folks. Heard them planning long term. Vacations in Tahiti. Only to suddenly sell to this NO ONE? Then die?

But who would listen?

Tim gets sacrificed in a ritual to summon "the ALL powerful conqueror, Phantom". And by sacrificed, I mean Tim really dies and Danny is forced into his body forcefully.

Feeling the weight of his stare, one of them hurriedly spoke: “Your Majesty! We’ve not dared to hope that you would answer our request, but you have graced us with your presence. For that, we are humbly grateful. We have—”

“This was a child,” Phantom noted. His voice was hoarse, the vocal chords repairing themselves as he spoke. He knew that the body was young, fresh and soft in a way that spoke of inexperience. It was nothing about a physical feeling—the actual physical state of the body, but it was a feeling nonetheless.

The cultist blinked. “Ah, we do not know the exact age of Red Robin. But, surely you are pleased, Your Majesty? The younger the vessel, the more time you may have to guide the world.”

“A vessel,” Phantom repeated, rolling the word around in his mouth, tongue feeling foreign. In the back of his mind, he thought he heard a tinny amalgamation of voices. He forgot how limited hearing was. (Forgot how quiet it was when the Infinity in his head was muffled.) “Vessel. Ves-sell. You have given me a child for a vessel.”

There were shifts among the cultists. “We are aware it is not the most dignified vessel for you, Your Majesty,” a new one said. They faltered for moment as Phantom turned his gaze towards them. “But he is one of Gotham’s most significant vigilantes! Surely, his body is fit enough to contain you?”

“You slaughtered a child. . . to contain me.” Phantom’s voice was cold, a quiet danger in his voice. “You thought you could contain me, the High King of the Infinite Realms? The audacity you have rivals the king before me. I do not require a vessel. You slaughtered a child for something I did not need.”

The air grew heavy. Out of the corner of his eye, Phantom saw one of the cultists fall limp. A flinch went through the rest, and multiple people started quietly gasping as it got harder to breathe. “Your—Your Majesty,” the first cultist choked out. Phantom made sure to keep his own breathing level, consciously keeping track of every breath the body needed. It would not be good if it died just because he forgot to breathe.

Phantom continued: “The only reason this body has not died is because I am now inhabiting it.” Distantly, he realized that all background noises had stopped. It was now only him and the quiet wheezing of cultists. “To assume that I, the High King of the Infinite Realms would require a vessel, would condone a child vessel, is a crime worthy of death. This child’s blood stains your hands, and so your blood will pay it back in full. Only out of respect of this child, I do not use my own hands to do this.”

The average human body was not able to withstand a high level of power. The most it could take would be the power of a Being. Frost started to cover the floor, and the cultists began pleading Phantom to stop. He did not; the child probably pled for his life too. The cultists did not stop, and so neither would he. Just as the last person dropped to the floor, hair frosted over and blue in the face, Phantom heard a window shatter. He did not look away from the cultist, but he did hear a deep voice start to talk.

“Red Robin.” More footsteps from the window area, all different levels of noise, all different people. “Red Robin, report. What happened?”

Slowly, Phantom turned to look at the people who just came in. All were regarding him with caution, the closest being a large man in an all black vigilante suit. After Phantom took note of their outfits, he looked at the body he was inhabiting, seeing the suit he had ignored earlier. He looked back up. “You are his team,” he said. After a moment, he corrected himself: “You are his family.”

“And you’re inhabiting my brother’s body,” a man with a black and blue suit stated, smiling. It was not a nice smile. “We heard over the comms.”

“Comms,” Phantom said slowly, rolling the word around like he did with ‘vessel.’ “Comms. Comm. Com-mun-i-cation. C—”

“Who or what are you?” a man with a red helmet harshly interrupted. His hand rested on a holstered gun that Phantom eyed in idle interest.

“I am Phantom, of the Infinite Realms.”

“Why would they summon you? What is your purpose here? Is Red Robin still in there?” the black-clad man from earlier asked. On the last question, a note of desperate urgency bled through. Ha. Bled through.

“Red Robin is your son?” Phantom asked.

There was no hesitation. “Yes.”

Phantom looked at him. Looked at the sweat lining the man’s exposed jaw; he could easily imagine the man running towards the warehouse as he listened to his son bleed out. “I am keeping his body alive.” He tilted his head up, exposing his neck and therefore the blood caked slit of his throat. It was wide enough that they could see a sliver of muscle throbbing beneath. “My ectoplasm is bonding to the body, accelerating the healing. Once the body is fully healed, I will leave.”

“You will not!” a child demanded. Another child, his mind crooned, a young one.

Phantom paused and looked at the people staring at him with grief barely hidden in their eyes. He took in their ready stances, the determination filling their frames. Oh. “You misunderstand,” he soothed. “Once the body is healed, your Red Robin will inhabit it again. While I heal this body, I will have Fright Knight search for his soul. It might take a while.”

“Fright Knight?” the child asked.

“A friend.” Phantom smiled at him. It only seemed to anger the child further.

“Why?” the blue-clad man asked. It was not a question. “How long will it take?”

He thought for a moment. “The body can be healed relatively quickly,” he informed them. “Red Robin’s soul will be the real determinator. Newly departed souls are. . . fragile. Some do not form at all. The time it takes relies entirely on their willpower, resilience, purpose. What is the time dilation here relative to the Realms?” Phantom mumbled the last sentence to himself.

“Red Robin has high levels of all three,” the black-clad man informed him, clearly wanting Phantom to give them a specific time frame.

“Mm. Then, at most—considering the time dilation—three months. At least, two weeks. Time here moves faster,” Phantom politely told them.

“And how do we know you’re not just trying to save your own skin?” the red helmet demanded.

Actually, the bats are here. They can see Danny call Frighty in the first place! Lemme noodle in here for a minute 😈

—————

The newcomers didn’t look particularly convinced by his reassurances, still very tense and aggressive. It’s almost cute, really; little creatures rallying around a wounded pack mate.

Like they seriously believe they’re a threat to him.

Phantom smiles, careful not to let it spread too wide. This body is human, young, and he’s already putting it back together.

“If I did not wish to return your Red Robin to you, I wouldn’t still be here,” he reminds them gently, inclining his head.

Honestly, in more ways than one. Nothing but his own desire to protect the child keeps him in his flesh. And if he did want to take this body and go, there’s nothing they could do to stop him.

This also doesn’t seem to reassure these people, the smallest gripping his sword like he’s about to attack. It’s the blue one that speaks though, smiling in spite of his tension.

Maybe because of it? Phantom can dimly remember adrenaline. There’s probably a lot in this body right now. It’s hard to tell, when everything is still so much smaller, slower, duller than he’s used to.

“We’re not that easy to escape,” the blue and black one says confidently, and Phantom’s smile turns fond.

Well, once his new halfa is ready to be himself again, he’ll have people to look after him. (Danny’s really not letting himself think about what a new halfa will mean. How that will change things.)

He decides to give them just… the faintest indication. After all, if they keep up this posturing, keep pushing for a fight, they’ll only run the risk of hurting this body.

If they could force him out too early, they’ll only kill Tim. Best they at least believe that he is staying for his own reasons and those alone.

It’s been a while since he’s done it in a human shape, but the feeling comes with a wash of nostalgic familiarity. Phantom turns invisible, flies across the room before the humans can complain.

Stands behind the blue and black one. To prove his point.

“I’m not that easy to catch,” he says simply, switching invisibility for intangibility as the man swings.

The batons sing with electricity as they pass through him, leaving a bitter taste on his tongue, but no further damage. He raises his hands, the same calm smile still on his face.

“I promise you, I mean you no harm. I will heal this body, and keep it alive until Red Robin can return. Then I will leave.” He stops for a moment, considering, a slight frown on his face.

It might not be quite that simple. He remembers dimly that being a fresh halfa is… a learning curve.

“I will leave his body,” he decides, the smile returning as he looks between them, “but I will remain, should he wish it. There are… complications when coming back from the dead.”

They all jerk at that, and Phantom belatedly realises a woman has joined them. She’s above, in the rafters, dressed in black and silent as a shadow. He barely notes her before the red helmeted speaks, bitter and angry.

“The fuck are you doing to him?” He growls, the mechanical stripping of the helmet not quite taking the worry past what Phantom can hear.

Phantom blinks, surprised.

“Healing him,” he explains again, and then he understands. Death-touched, but probably not familiar with the Realms. They haven’t even worked out who he is.

Hmm. How best to explain.

“Red Robin died in the ritual that summoned me. In his last breath, he left this body and I was forced inside, unnecessarily but… I am glad. My true summoning requires no sacrifice, and certainly not the death of a child.” His voice drops to a growl, low and rough through the slit throat, and Phantom clears his throat, forcing himself to remain calm.

The temperature dropped several degrees, and several of the new children are now looking at the frozen cultists like they’ve put something together.

“For this offence, those performing this abomination have been punished. But by placing me here… there is a chance for me to right this wrong. To give your brother his life back, should his soul return. But there is a cost.”

That seems to settle them, oddly, as none of his reassurances have. Well, Phantom won’t judge.

“He is steeped in my power, and what it takes to heal him will leave its mark. So will his death, and his transformation into a ghost. This body is his and he will be able to rebind to it, but he will be conscious before he is strong enough to do it. It will be a strange experience for him.”

Off the top of his head, Phantom can’t think of any that would rival it. Even ghosts who form normally don’t do it while watching their own body walk around.

The all black clad man doesn’t look appeased, exactly, but the explanation has worn down an edge. He is still gruff.

“You won’t object if we verify your claims?” He asks, aggression tempered but not gone.

Phantom shrugs, moving to sit on a box.

It’s been so long since he had muscles, he almost forgot they tired. He’s got to be careful with this body. It’s still missing most of its blood.

“Not at all. Please, summon any magic users you trust. In the meantime, I must call my knight to set him to find your son. The sooner he begins the search, the sooner he will be safe.”

Not that anything would happen to a fresh baby ghost, even if he had gotten sucked into the realms as Danny was pulled out.

He pauses for a moment, watching them. Still armed, still tense, still looking for any excuse to make this a fight. Thinks about Fright Knight.

“He, ah… he’s a little alarming. You may wish to prepare yourselves,” he adds, and as expected, they all tense further. The black and blue one approaches, slowly, carefully.

Like Phantom might spook. Or bite him. He hadn’t planned to, but now…

“How about we just get confirmation on your story first? It shouldn’t take long, they’re on their way now,” he adds when Phantom cocks his head.

Ah. The comm-unications again. That might be the source of those tinny voices he’d been hearing too.

Phantom takes a moment, tests the ectoplasm in the room. There’s enough that if the Red Robin soul is here, it will be able to grow. Not enough to tell for sure where he is.

“I would say… an hour before Red Robin can be tracked,” he decides, nodding. Gives the young man a gentle smile. “It will not matter before then.”

Of course, if they’re all extremely lucky, the poor kid’s soul will be right here. Phantom makes sure to leak a little more ectoplasm than usual, nourishment in case he has not been taken further.

The odds aren’t great, active summoning to the Realms and all, but they’re there.

His agreement at least takes the edge off, the others all returning their weapons. The ceiling woman doesn’t come down, and they don’t look up, but they know she’s there. He can taste the knowledge on his tongue.

And blood.

He’s kinda gross right now.

He turns intangible again, this time more focused, and the dirt falls through him to the box below. Phantom shifts to a new box, frowns down at the blood still caking him.

It’s his, the body’s, and it comes with him. Annoying.

The black and blue one, still the closest, notices. Gives a strained smile.

“Do, ah… do you need to wash up?” He asks carefully.

The others are talking. Hushed whispers, conferring. Planning.

Phantom just hopes they won’t try anything foolish. He’ll take Red Robin’s body somewhere safe if he has to, but… his family should know. Have the chance to accept him.

He refocuses on the blue and black one, nods.

“Please? I’m not usually sticky,” he adds, regaining solidity and frowning at his bloody hands.

The blue and black one nearly laughs, high and more adrenaline than humour, and nods. Pulls a pack of wet wipes from a belt pouch.

It takes Phantom a while to remember how they work, but the blue and black one helps, and they at least have his hands clean before the practitioners arrive.

Things promptly get loud, overwrought, and tense again, but Phantom pays it little attention. Everything he told them is true, and at least those magic users know who he is.

No matter how upset they are that he’s here, they won’t find any lies.

There’s a pretty woman, long dark hair and a fancy top hat, who approaches him with cautious respect in her eyes. She asks what he wants, what price he expects them to pay to return Red Robin.

Phantom explains again. No price; it was a stupid, botched summoning, so he’s just cleaning up the mess.

She isn’t happy with that, and nor is the trenchcoated man behind her. So Phantom thinks of a price.

A warning. Spreading the word to all magic users, at least in this world, that you do not fucking sacrifice children to summon the High King Phantom. Preferably not sacrificing anyone, but he knows what cults are like.

It’s just not fun without a little blood sacrifice, is it?

They go back to reassure Red Robin’s family, and Phantom decides it’s time. They know he’s telling the truth now, their own friends are with them, and it’s been most of that hour.

Calling the Fright Knight is as easy as breathing. The body isn’t his, doesn’t hold any of his possessions, but the Ring of Rage appears on his finger the second he wishes for it.

The blue and black one, Nightwing as he’s asked Phantom to call him, has stuck close. Keeping an eye on his fallen brother.

Phantom likes him. He makes word jokes, more when he’s nervous.

So when he asks what the ring is, what Phantom is doing, Phantom smiles.

“Calling my knight. He will find your brother, and keep him safe. There are very few more skilled.” More skilled in nightmares and fear, but there’s no need to specify.

The Fright Knight has only grown more powerful with an active King to serve, and he is an excellent guardian. He will find the forming ghost, should there be one, and keep him safe.

Phantom raises the ring to his lips, Nightwing watching curiously but not interrupting the others. They’re still in heavy debate.

That ends when a glowing green rift tears through the warehouse and the Fright Knight, atop his beautiful black Nightmare steps through. The sword isn’t in his hand, but his burning hair flares hotter when he sees they have company.

The magic users are swearing, scrabbling, the other heroes (Nightwing calls them that, at least. Phantom thinks they may be a little young for heroics) reaching for weapons.

Phantom clears his throat, and once more the Fright Knight has eyes only for him. Even a prison of flesh cannot disguise the King from his subjects.

The Fright Knight dismounts his steed, ignoring the panicking humans (since that is his favourite kind), and kneels before Phantom. His head dips, awaiting command.

Nightwing manages a shaky laugh, the only human not holding a weapon and primed to attack.

“So…. You weren’t kidding about him making an impression,” he offers weakly, and Phantom smiles.

He remembers, just dimly, the terror his knight used to evoke in him. Fright Knight remembers too. It’s the bar of how far they have come.

“You should see him when he’s angry,” he remarks idly, then nods to his knight. “The boy whose body this is. His soul will be forming soon, becoming a ghost. Find him and bring him to me, that I may return this body to him.”

Simple commands, the kind the Fright Knight likes best. Not quite his usual mission of spreading order, but he has always liked a hunt. Which does make Phantom pause.

“Try not to scare him,” he adds, aware the Fright Knight is terrifying without trying to be. The kneeling knight hesitates for a moment, gleaming black armour unnaturally still.

Not even breath to cause movement. He’s thinking, probably how best to obey Phantom’s order. It’s really, really hard for him not to scare anyone.

An idea strikes, and Phantom turns to Nightwing.

“Is there something of your family he could take? A symbol to soothe your brother and know he’s a friend?”

Nightwing’s still staring, awestruck and unable to look away from the massive kneeling knight.

It’s the father, black clad and tensed who steps forward. Reaches into the innumerable pouches on his belt, and pulls out a yellow cape that should not have fit.

The red helmeted one stops breathing when he sees it. The smallest hisses between his teeth, backing away.

Their father ignores both, stepping slowly, surely towards Phantom and his kneeling knight. Offers the cape.

It’s made for a child, and as Phantom takes it he notes that it’s just too small for the body he’s now wearing. Wouldn’t be half bad as a blanket though.

“This. This will be… he will know who gave it to you.” It’s the most emotion he seems capable of, and Phantom nods, taking the cape with the reverence that deserves.

He passes it down to the Fright Knight, who takes it with a gentleness that still surprises Phantom on occasion. Such a large, spiked figure seems like he’d always be rough, but he can be delicate.

Then the Fright Knight nods and stands, turning to survey the room, and even the humans at the other side of the warehouse take another leap back.

Red Robin’s soul isn’t here, as Phantom expected, and it’s confirmed when the Fright Knight remounts his steed and turns, spurring her back into the Infinite Realms.

Phantom smiles at the humans.

“So. That’s that sorted out.”

"Yeah, you're possessing my little brother's fucking corpse. He-fuck!" The red helmeted one (he should probably ask for names) snarled and kicked out at the wall.

"Hood-" the one in black and blue tries to speak, but is ferociously cut off.

"No, don't you DARE tell me to fucking calm down! He's dead! Tim fucking died! Another Robin died alone and in pain in a warehouse, help just a few minutes too late and- fuck! Motherfucking," Hood let out an incensate noise of raise, half cry of anger half sob, "We heard our little brother die, and you ask me if there's a fucking ISSUE?!" It was at this point that Hood turned violently and accusatorily to Phantom.

Phantom paused. He... rarely dealt with the bereaved anymore. He remembered guilt. He remembered grief. He knew that in each moment of intense grief, he imagined that it had felt like dying. Again. He knew better now.

But he also knew it was distant. It had been so, so long since he was human and felt things the way they did. He had long gotten over that, but every so often it panged back into him. The feeling of other. The feeling that though he may command Space, there was still so much between him and others.

Phantom slid off the box he was sitting on and approached Hood. The beings around him scrambled; to get out of or into his way, he didn't know. Hood refused to move. Phantom stopped in front of him.

"I grieve with you," He spoke through still healing vocal cords (deadaloneafraidpainnononoIwanttolivenonoIwantmyDad-) and let the tears he had hardly noticed holding back began to fall. "Your grief is mine, and I grieve with you," And then Phantom began to Sing.

It wasn't in any human tongue. It didn't use vocal cords so it wouldn't strain the child's (a child) body any further.

It echoed and reverberated through the warehouse and heard as others began to sob underneath its weight. It was loss. It was grief. It was despair and pain made into a noise and driven into the soul in horrible, haunting melody.

But there was hope. Of course he added hope, this wasn't the end. Trauma and memories would remain, as would scars, but healing would be found in time. A new joy of lost loved ones coming back because they would not truly rest until they did. It wasn't the end. Not a goodbye, but until I see you again.

Death was not the end.

His Song tapered off in one final warble that rang through the warehouse until silence returned. The people within stared at him. The pretty magic user sniffed heavily before lowering her head. Good, she knew the significance of a Song delivered by one of the dead.

"We are honoured," She spoke tremulously through her own tears.

Phantom inclined his head in return. "The honour is mine," he replied. Then paused. "Hood?" He asked.

"What?" The man asked, voice warbling and broken through his helmet. There was a sharp burst of static that might've been a sniff.

The edges of Phatom's vision through this body was darkening and blurring at the edges. He had forgotten a lot of things about blood loss. Like the dizziness that came with, lightheadedness, and fainting.

̴̧̡̛̪͍̬̣̱̟̇͆̿́̄́͒̔̔̽̀͐̈́̈͠H̶̢̟͎̱̠̜̰͉͌̀̊̈́̿̅̑͂̓͗͐̐͂͛̿̅̚͜͝ͅų̴̺̜̰̩̥̤̩̹̲͙̼̗̓̊́̽̈̿͌̎̿̉̀͒̄̏͜͝m̶̜̻̱̝̮̹̞͔̦̙̑̃̍̓̇͗̆͘ą̶͇̬͕͍̥̤͕̝̳͙͍̺̬̪̱̻͛̈́̀ņ̷̡̛̣̹̠̳͕̟̞͔̞͇̺̘̻͗̄̐̒̈́̓̎̅͂̍̂̇̋̀̇̕̕͜͠ ̶̗̠̰͉͖̟̈̈́̿̒̑̀̏̀̍͝͝h̴̲̺̹̊́̊̄̉̕͜u̷̡̨̟͚͙̦̞̹̼̬͆͐̎̓̐̆͗̈́͒̑̕͜͜͠ḿ̷̺̪̝̹̼͍͊̋́̓́͋̎͋͛͒͊̅͌̿̚͠à̷̭͂͝n̷̢͖̠͍̗̈́́̋ ̷̨͉̪̟̩̙̙̥̯͚̔̈́̽͂̀̉͊h̴̡̟͉̭̞̝͔͕̻̼̲̫̮̰̮̑̌́͐̎͜͠u̷̡̢̖̪̒͑̃͊̐͗̀̔̽̐̋̂̇̚̕͝͝m̴̰̻̹̦͗͊͂̉̆̈́̈́̾̉̓̒͋̅̿̕̕̚͝ḁ̴͙̱͚̠̎̆̎̕͝n̵̞̰̈́̓͛͊̀̇̿͂̈́ ̷̦͉͔̩͋͐́̕ḥ̴̰͎̮͈̬͓͕̑̋̈́ụ̵̰̻̻͔̣̙̹͓͖̪̮̻̻̹͉̗̰͈̒̃̈́͌̈́̕m̸̛̛͖̥͍͚̥̤͚͗̌̇́͑̈́ą̴̢̧̰͈͈͎̜̗̫̞͖̟̳̰̼̼̙̓̇̆̓́̔̆͂̉̐̄̈́͑̂̇̑̔͐͘n̶̛͎̫̲̫̳͓̙̖̤̝̂́̂̇͐̔̈́͂̓̀͐͊͐͠

Phantom shook the obsession away, taking breaths to make sure his mind quieted. Focusing on the task at hand, he made sure to clean the boy's wounds that still needed attending before deciding a shower would unfortunately be required. The boy's body chose the temperature it liked, and he stepped in to clean himself up. Somehow, by the time he was out of the shower, the boys body was shaking.

Weakness? Pain? He ran a mental checklist through but couldn't find anything to match. Even the distant idea of hunger wasn't quite what was needed. Dressing himself quickly, he set out to find someone who might know what was happening. Gratefully, the one who had called himself Nightwing was nearby.

"Nightwing." The dark-haired man jumped, and Phantom mulled over the idea he was in his civilian identity. He'd have to keep names straight in the future.

"T-Ti- I mean, High Ki-"

"Phantom is fine here. You are not my subjects, even if Hood is a tad liminal." He waggled his hand at the end of his sentence and got a bit lost in the moment at the sensation of talking with ones hands. Had that come from himself, or the boy? He didn't remember to listen to what Nightwing was saying, and zoned back in to him having seemingly asked a question.

"I apologize, I came to find you because of an issue I'm unable to find with the boy." Horror crossed over the taller man's face, and Phantom continued. "He seems to be shakey, but I don't believe hunger is what is causing it, though I'm positive he will need to eat soon, yes?"

An incredulous laugh fell out of Nightwings mouth, stressed and genuine at the same time.

"Let's get some coffee in your system. That should help."

Phantom sat at the table of dressed-down team members with all eyes on him. Oh well, at least the shaking had stopped after his second cup of coffee. He never liked the stuff when he was alive and couldn't help but fight the body of the boy that craved it. The smallest's glare never left him, and Phantom tried not to find amusement in it. In the end, he couldn't help but push his buttons.

"Isn't there a kids' table for you to be sitting at?"

The boy bent the fork in his hand, and the one who had been dressed in purple snorted at the end of the table, trying to hide it with choking noises.

Danny felt himself smile as he looked down at the toast in front of him. He understood the idea of eating gentle foods on an empty stomach, but after forcing himself through the coffee, he didn't know if he could do /toast/.

"Something not to your liking Master Ti- Phantom?" The butler, Alfred, he picked up, stood beside him as Phantom cleared the grimace from his face.

"Is this what the boy typically eats?"

"Define 'eats'." Nightwing asked, and Phantom tilted his head. "Tim didn't... doesn't." He clarified firmly. "Eat very often. He usually just runs on the coffee." He nodded to the empty cup in front of Phantom. He mulled around his options, not wanting to be picky, but taste really was bothersome.

"Maybe something similar then. A can of soup?" The woman who'd almost slipped Phantom's attention scoffed.

"Don't insult Alfred's cooking like that. He makes all his soups from scratch!" Phantom sighed.

"I will not request labor to be done at my personal expense. If this is what the boy eats, I will oblige."

The next day, they made eggs for him instead. Phantom was positive the amount of caffine being requested by the body was absolutely absurd, and spent most of the first day in the boys' room trying to outlast the shaking. He had four cups of coffee by the end of the day. Nightwing, Dick, had explained he was about 2 short. Mission accomplished so far.

He hadn't heard from Fright Knight yet, which was what he expected, but he could feel the unease as each day went by. After a week, he made sat down to talk to Bruce, the father, to make sure Tim's absence wouldn't have any repercussions. The man assured him they were used to keeping up appearances, and just asked him to focus on keeping his boy safe.

"Right, vi-g-il-antes. I remember the balance of keeping up appearances." Danny tapped his chin, reaching to find a memory before smiling with whimsy. "I never was good at that when I needed to be." Bruce gave him a look of surprise and suspicion, but Phantom left to give the boy more rest. He felt like he needed to catch up on sleep but was determined to keep a skeep schedule similar to the others so the boy didn't come back out of sorts.

"Do not confuse yourself for one of us 'Phantom.'" Damien, the littlest, was outside of Bruce's office as he left. He stopped and tilted his head at the child. He continued.

"/You/ are not a vigilante, Red Robin is, /is/. And the sooner we are rid of you, the better off we will be."

"How old are you?"

The child seethed with anger at the question.

"What does that matter to you!"

Phantom did not answer.

"....13."

Phantom laughed, and some ghost speak rolled out with it. The boy covered his ears at the nails-on-a-chalkboard sound.

"I was about your age the first time I died." He said before walking off. At the end of the hall, the one called Hood punched a wall before stalking off.

"He's playing us dammit! I heard him talking to Damien, calling himself a vigilante, talking about when he died. He's using us to take Tim's body." Jason was pacing in front of Dick who was leaning against the back of the couch.

"Bruce trusts Zatanna and Constantine, and they said everything checked out on their end. All we have to do is wait."

"And what if he changes his mind?" Dick didn't have an answer, and Hood stalked off. Phantom, sitting invisible in the corner of the room, took into account the frustration still lingering in the boy's family. He'd have to find something to get Tim home as fast as possible.

The next morning, Danny woke up to decor around the mansion. He hadn't stepped outside since being brought to the manor and was surprised to realize it was December. His rage boiled inside him all over again at the idea that this child might miss a Christmas due to the cultists. Dick was the first to check on him when the temperature of the manor dropped to as cold as it was outside. He had to break the door open with his shoulder to get through the ice.

"I let my emotions get the better of me," Danny explained, "I meant no harm. I just want this halfa to get home safely." Eye twitching, he hardly registered Hood's question, who had rushed up almost as quick.

"Half!? I thought he was coming back fine. You lied to us!" Hood jabbed a finger into Phantom's chest, and it amused him.

"Halfa is a term for a half ghost, half human. There's only been a handful in existence in the history of time. Like I said, it will take him some time to adjust once he returns."

"But he will return..." Dick asked, and Phantom sighed, smiling as honestly as he could.

"He will."

In fact, even Phantom was getting impatient with his own timeline. He wanted the boy home for Christmas, even if it meant little to him. Cass found him bouncing his knee incessantly in one of the many sitting rooms and sat with him. They let the silence hang a moment until she urged a conversation.

"I thought you'd gotten Tim's caffine addiction under control?" Phantom laughed and steadied his knee, pausing to find the right word.

"I'm... frustrated, that's all."

"You don't trust your knight?"

"I do, I'm simply being impatient. But I do not want to call upon someone who could make things worse." Cass shifted in her seat, on edge.

"Who could make things worse? More cultists?"

"Worse. A trophy hunter."

He decided to leave it to a vote. Bruce gathered the team for him, and Phantom proposed Skulker.

"Unfortunately, he will come with a price, one I'm willing to pay, but his demands can be very... specific."

"Will he hurt Tim?" The father asked, and Phantom had to be honest.

"There's a possibility. His weapons on a newly formed Halfa are brutal as is, let alone one separated from his body." Danny shuddered, and a glance was shared between the family.

"We can wait then."

"Bruce-" Hood objected, but Bruce stood.

"We trust your knight to deliver my son back to me." Phantom nodded.

"It will be done."

It was two days before Christmas, and the vigilantes seemed as busy as ever. While some of their more friendly denizens laid low during the holiday, others seemed to ramp things up. Phantom had taken to wearing the "comms" the boy usually wore and stayed with Oracle in the batcave to monitor. Something about the body needing to be where it was meant to be, or whatever Danny told them when he worried about their safety.

"Even the infinite realms have a treaty for the holidays!" He'd complained once after they got home from a particularly rough night. He wasn't equipped to deal with their combat, though, and didn't join them on any patrols. Not his ghost-monkeys, not his ghost-circus. Until it was.

"What is with these guys and rituals lately!?" Red Hood's voice crackled through the comms, sounding about as pissed off as always. Phantom smiled, amused. Oracle was clacking away, giving them intel to get them into the building, and Danny glanced at the monitor. Cass was first inside, so Danny watched her feed.

Wait... why did that look familiar? Phantom ran through his own mind and realized where he'd seen that before. "Shit."

Oracle did a double take before telling everyone on comms to hold.

"What!? Oracle, what's going on!" Nightwing said, others joining in on the sentiment.

"Phantom, what is this? Don't tell me they're running into a trap."

"Do you want me to lie then?" His eyes shifted to her, then continued. "Whats the fastest way to them?" They glanced at the snow storm whipping around on the monitor, even flying he'd never be able to see his way through the storm.

"Take the batmobile, the spare has self driving disabled at the moment, but it's the fastest way, and you'll be able to follow the roads on the map. Everyone should be off the streets in this weather." Phantom, who had started walking immediately, suddenly faltered, muttering.

"Drive myself? Of all the things...." Danny growled before hopping into the car and getting on comms. "Everyone, ditch the stealth. Disrupt the summoning at all costs. I have a backup in case I'm unavailable to be summoned, but he doesn't exactly play nice. Stop the ritual, I'm on my way in case you cannot."

Looking around at all the buttons and wheels, Danny groaned.

"Why oh why did I never learn to drive."

"WAIT WHAT-"

The screeching in his comms had no time to react before Danny floored the car, definitely hitting a rock on the way out. He didn't bother trying to look out the windshield. Everything was pitch black, but he was able to follow the map on the screen well enough. Now, was the dial on the right speed or RPM? He decided it must be RPM since it was maxed out at a thousand. How did he used to know /rocket science/ and yet a car baffled him. Huh. Speaking of baffled, the little marker on the map was getting very very-

"Oh shit-" was all that came through the comms before a large explosion on the first floor of the building, making the foundation shake. Ten floors up, the cultists brought more muscle this time, and it was even harder than before to get to the ritual.

Nightwing and Red Hood were able to break through the ranks first, but not in time to stop the shockwave of energy as the ritual was completed. The entire room filled with darkness, spare pin sized lights like stars, and two giant glowing red eyes.

"Your Majesty! We have succeeded where our brothers did not! No sacrifice was made in a human attempt to contain the High King of the Infinite Realms."

A haughty cackle reverberated throughout the space.

"Your flattery is welcome, but I am not that bastard king. He's pleasantly unavailable, which is lucky for me." A ripple of muttering and fear rolled through the cultists, and Nightwing and Red Hood readied their weapons. Where was Phantom!?

Their movement brought attention to themselves, and the red eyes shifted onto them.

"Do you dare raise your weapons to me, human and death-touched? I am Nocturn, the ghost of sleep, I am the king of dreams, so please. Give me a reason to start my harvest."

"You will do no such thing, Noct." Phantom proclaimed as he flew to stand with Nightwing and Hood. The being hissed and spit at him, shrinking down to a being still well over twelve feet tall, with ram's horns and a body made of stars.

"The bastard king himself, my my, it's been a while since I've seen you in a human body. Playing pretend are we?"

"Silence!" Phantom commanded, but the being didn't back down.

"You command me while parading around playing puppet, leaving me to clean up your messes." Nocturn gestured at the cultists cowering, and the ones captured by the rest of Red Robin's team as they joined the room.

"I defetead you like this once before Noct. Will you make me do it again?"

The two glared at each other, trying to assert some kind of dominance until the larger of the two hissed and looked away.

"You have done what you were meant to by coming here, take these cultists, and do what you wish with them. I have already disposed of part of their organization, so you will tell me if you find out there are more as you pick through them." This seemed to please the demon, and an army of green horned creatures with eyes sewn shut appeared to cart the cultists away. Phantom seemed to sneer at their presence. "Sleepwalkers..."

In they blink of an eye, they disappeared. Leaving Phantom alone with the heroes.

"My apologies for how he acted. We have not gotten along in the past." As they started to head back, Danny reluctantly apologized again. "And for the car."

Stephanie hadn't stopped laughing since they hit the first floor. Bruce had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt. There were a lot of buttons. But Damien couldn't let it go that the button was very clearly labeled, and that the windshield shield was in fact, meant to be opened while driving. He sort of wondered why it was pitch black instead of white.

"N-Not to interrupt but ah... is that normal?" Dick pointed to the mist pouring from Phantom's mouth, and it was then he felt the tug of Fright Knight.

The Wayne mansion came into view, breaking through the snow that Tim could see but couldn't feel. They phased through one of the second story windows and landed with surprising gentility in the living room, right in front of Alfred.

"Hello, Master Drake. Welcome home," Alfred nodded towards the pair of them without so much as a flinch. "Master Wayne and the others will be returning shortly. Please make yourselves comfortable."

"What, Alfred, not going to offer any tea? No cookies?" Tim tried to joke, but he sobbed slightly on the last syllable. "God, I'm never going to have coffee again, am I?" Tim looked at his translucent hands, which somehow managed to shake despite not having any muscles to pull bones back and forth.

"Fear not, Master Tim," Alfred said, stepping forward, trying to catch Tim's eye. "This, ah, condition of yours is only temporary. A great deal of effort has been put forth to ensure your body's safety. You will be back to your caffeinated self in short order."

Tim tried to believe Alfred, he really did, and at least he appreciated how the old man was trying, so he nodded and settled a bit further onto the Night Mare he rode, his silent and terrifying, uh, guard, behind him.

Some time passed, but Tim didn't feel it. It was almost as though he was on night duty, awake and aware but just off-kilter enough for time to move quickly. He noticed everything but didn't clock any details, which was for the best, since trying to feel anything at all would send him into another panic. This stasis worked for him, and eventually he heard a combined clamoring of WAY too many people bursting up from the tunnels below the mansion.

Damien and Dick ran through the door first, and Dick skidded to a stop while Damien hopped to the side. They weren't sure what they were expecting, but a green, translucent Tim straddling a flaming skeletal horse with the Fright Night holding him by the back of his neck was definitely NOT it. "Way to go, klutzes," Tim made a second attempt at a joke, and he was pleased it worked a little better this time.

Oracle, Bruce, and Cass followed at a much normal pace shortly after, and did a better job of holding their faces somewhat neutral, though Cass did stare maybe a bit too long, and Bruce was wearing his full Batman getup so it was actually pretty hard to tell how he was feeling. Everyone was in their fighting suits, actually, and a couple of them looked like there might be some bruises forming underneath the dirt and melting snow. "WOOOOW, I'm gone for a couple weeks and you're already out kicking ass without -"

Tim's body filed in at that moment, the eyes strangely flat and green and moving with an almost robotic jerkiness. It looked at him coolly, then looked above his shoulder.

"O-oh. I guess you weren't kicking ass without me." Tim finished, but no one responded.

"You did well. Release him now, you have done your duty," Tim's body said.

The Fright Night picked Tim up by his neck and dropped him unceremoniously on the wooden floor (which Tim promptly fell halfway through and had absolutely NO idea how to get back out). The Knight and his Mare bowed to Tim's body before reaching his sword behind him with a silent swing, and rending a gash through the fabric of the world that he then hopped through. Tim felt the green light of the world he jumped into, an almost magnetic pull that whispered 'follow me, follow me, you belong here now.' before the gash healed, and Tim was left halfway between the first floor and the wine cellar of his own house.

"Are you fucking serious?" Tim sputtered. He flailed like a toddler, trying to grab onto the floor to push up, or down, or anything at all. All the panic he had felt for the past who-knows-how-long burst back into the forefront of every thought he had, and he began kicking. Kicking, swearing, "HolyfuckingshitwhatthefuckdoyoumeanmybodyhasjustbeenWALKINGAROUNDWHATTHEFUCKISGOINGON CAN SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE????" Several of his siblings moved towards him to try to help, but none of them could touch him.

"Be at ease, you will not be able to control yourself if you continue to be riled so," Tim's body said, standing perfectly still by the door. Bruce whipped around to him in response "Aren't you gonna help him?" The rest of his siblings bristled. Tim could tell some deal had been struck here, and all of them were waiting, maybe expecting, the deal to go south.

Tim's body stood completely still, watching Tim and ignoring Bruce and everyone else. He waited, and waited, as Tim tired and stopped thrashing. He felt the need to breathe heavily, like he had just gone ten rounds in the gym downstairs, but he didn't actually need to breathe. He chose to stop instead, letting his arms fall to his sides in the subfloor.

"Good. Now, hold in your mind what solidity feels like. Remember what wood feels like- the grain, the temperature of this room when you have resided here before. Once this is ingrained in your memory again, attempt to rest your palms on the wood and push upwards."

Tim leered at his body, but nodded. He remembered the feel of the wood under bare feet, and what it felt like to do a pushup. The wood should smell like THIS with me being so close to it, and that scratch there is from THIS event that felt like THIS.... Tim began to feel the wood tighten inside of his chest- as if he was being cut in two. He lifted his arms, pressed his green palms against the floor (prompting a "holy shit, I can touch it!" under his breath), and with a quick shove upwards, he was solidly in just the living room.

So this starts with Danny becoming the ghost king on his 18th birthday and almost immediately every power-hungry ghost in existence starts proposing to him. At first he just ignores it but after the 10th time someone tries to kidnap him to marry him Greek god style, he’s fucking sick of it and goes to Clockwork for help.

He’s not much help. The only way for other people to stop trying to marry him is if he’s already married. What’s more, because he’s the king of the infinite realms, it has to be someone that’s considered a citizen of the Infinite Realms. (Like he can marry someone that’s still alive but they wouldn’t count and people will just keep trying to marry him) CW also warns him that people will try and kill anyone he marries if they can so a living person isn’t really ideal. The only bit of real helpfulness he does provide is a list of non-evil non-power-hungry citizens so he can have an easier time finding someone.

So Danny takes the list and starts crossing of names (like Johnny, even tho the guy won’t abuse the power of being the ghost princess, kitty would kill Danny for good this time) when he comes across the perfect candidate.

Jason Todd (Robin/Red Hood)

He’s been to Gotham before, knows the Robins all do good work and knows the Red Hood is already a good and fair ruler of his criminal underground. Plus the guy could definitely fight off any ghost trying to kill him even without the power boost and some helpful weapons Danny would give him if he agrees. Plus he has the perfect bargaining chip to get the guy to help by offering to fix the corrupted ectoplasm in him (not that he wasn’t gonna do that anyway when he had the time to but Hood didn’t need to know that)

So Danny hops over to Gotham and after quickly getting permission from Lady Gotham (she’s very protective of her Knights) heads over to crime ally and pitches the idea to Red Hood.

Which basically goes like-

Danny: so I give u, the title of prince, access to the Infinite Realms whenever u wish, a sweet private wing in my castle, any of the op ghost weapons in the castles armoury and a fix for ur rage problems and u marry me so I stop getting people trying to propose to me in increasingly more annoying ways :)

Jason, a literature geek with a secret desire to be the protagonist in a shitty YA romance: u had me at Prince

So the two of then jump over to the Infinite Realms to get married thinking it’ll take 30 minutes top only to learn that CW left out that a Royal wedding has to take at minimum a week otherwise no one will consider the Marriage valid. So the two, not backing out at this point, join in on the week of parties and celebrations without putting much more thought into it.

Meanwhile back in Gotham, after not having Red Hood check in after his patrol, Oracle searches CCTV and finds Jason having a conversation with a figure that is glitching out the camera to much to identify them, then the figure seemingly grabs Jason and drags him into a portal and the two of them disappear.

So obviously the Batfam comes to the conclusion that Jason was kidnapped by some sort of magical being and calls in John. He identify the magic as that of the ghost king’s and has been hearing that the king had been looking for a bride so comes to the conclusion that Jason has been kidnapped Persephone style to be be married and is under the (wrong) conclusion that it will mean Jason can’t leave the realm of the death after.

It had taken nearly a full week to get the necessary items. And by this point Bruce had to admit he may be ... Fretting. But they were close! Everyone was as well rested as they could be. Fully suited up. And ready to go save Jason.

Meanwhile. Danny and Jason found they actually got on really well? Like. This was definitely a marriage of convenience. But, well. They were definitely gaining at least friendship out of this. It was going great. Jason had gotten to meet so many amazing beings!

Pandora was amazing! The original Amazon! What was not to love! Ghost Writer! His library was amazing! And, he offered to let Jason visit as he pleased! Clockwork was odd. But he was a time god. That was pretty much to be expected. And Frostbite had completed cured the pits. No more rage!

And then their was his husband to bed fraid. Sam and Tucker were hilarious. And Ellie was a riot. He wanted to set her on Dickie bird sometimes. See what happened. Jazz was kind. And she approved of the match. Which, thank fuck!

And, today was the last day. Soon they would be officially married. And he would be a Prince. Which! Fuck yes. And he got to meet Lady Gotham. The spirit who had been helping him all these years. She formally titled him even before the wedding apparently. He had been knighted by her for years. Which was mind boggling.

Jason was loving his wedding suit. It was extremely comfortable. But also well armoured. And easy to move in. A perfect warrior wedding outfit. They chose red for it. In various shades. With a symbol Lady Gotham gifted him. To signify his status as a knight of Gotham.

He was kinda, a little, hoping something dramatic happened. Like, this was already so ridiculously cliche. And now, during the final moments. thematically, someone should do a love confession, or rush to destroy the wedding for evil plot reasons right? That would just be amazing! Him and Danny could kick ass together. Say their I dos. And just. Perfection!

Danny knew he was grinning a lot these last few days. But his new fraid mate was kaput fun! And generous be married to him soon! Jason was great to talk to! And he knew he wouldn't have to protect him! Best husband to be ever! They got on so well!

His wedding outfit was a bit too formal for his tastes. But he let the others design it. Easier not to argue. At least it wasn't white. He argued for blue. And got blue. And he could move properly. Which was another bonus. And the nerves were starting to hit. He would be married in less than an hour. Ooft. At least he got on with Jason?

As the wedding ceremony started there was a sudden ruckus outside. A fight was starting. Jason and Danny shared an amused glance. Of course. It wouldn't be a royal wedding without a problem right?

Only, when the attackers got into the hall, Jason could only feel shocked. What the fuck was his family doing here?

Batman had fought his way to the doors. And was breathing hard. This place made little sense. But the compass Constantine made was pointing to those doors. So he would go through those doors! He slammed the doors opened.

"I object! I do NOT give you permission to wed my son!"

Jason just couldn't stop it. He had to laugh. He started to laugh so hard Danny had to hold him up. As he giggled as well. Jason just looked over trying to stop laughing.

" how the fuck did you ever get here B? And why do you think you have a say? "

Danny just grinned and waved.

"Sorry Batman. Last Gotham agreed. No take backs! You should take a seat though."

Batman was confused. Why was Jason going along with this?

"What did you do to my son!"

Danny just grinned and shook his head fondly.

" We'll talk after ok. Just be glad Clockwork let you in on time for the ceremony. "

Lady Gotham grabbed Batman and sat him next to her.

"Sorry not my knight. Our boy is entirely willing. King Phantom asked before he even brought him to the Realms. It is a good match. Calm yourself."

She held him still and silent with her shadows. Her knight would be angry for now. But he would understand in time. And he could hardly miss the fact that the boys did get on well. Entirely naturally.

The wedding was soon concluded and once Jason and Danny could get away they headed to where Lady Gotham was holding Batman. Jason leaned on for a quick hug from her and shook his head.

"Lady Gotham. You can let him go now you know."

Lady Gotham just poured at her young knight.

"Only just Prince Consort and already giving orders. I see how it is!"

Jason leaned into her side playfully.

" Mama G. Please? "

Danny was no help snickering behind them. But he did shake his head.

"My Lady. Please release my Father in law before he has an aneurysm?"

Lady Gotham pretended to pour but did let her knight free.

"You should listen my knight. They chose freely"

Jason nodded.

"Yeah. Danny was getting constant offers from power hungry morons. Only way to avoid it was to already be married. But. He couldn't choose uh, anyone 1 00% alive. "

Danny hugged Jason from behind and leaned his head on Jason's shoulder.,

"As a Revenant Jason has the necessary credentials so to speak. As one of Lady Gotham's knights he has status. It's a marriage of convenience. Jason gets full access to the Realms. As many weapons from the armoury as he wants. "

Jason laughed again.

"Don't forget, access to medical. They cured the pit rage. And, I'm a Prince Consort now."

Lady Gotham grinned at the boys.

" my knight, I think we both know that as soon as the deal was offered Jason took it freely. A chance to live out one of his stories yes?"

Bruce just sighed.

"And you couldn't have told us? Do you know how worried we were! "

Jason raised an eyebrow at him in question.

"About that. How'd you even find me?"

Bruce glared at his son. The brat had him running ragged for a week.

" We saw you dragged into a portal!"

That was when Danny had a thought. And started to giggle.

"Oh! Oh no! I think! Clocky! He intefered! To make it more fairy tale! For you! "

Jason thought it over... He would as well.

"That would explain the perfect timing...."

He reached out a hand to Bruce.

" come on B. We have a first dance to do. You should at least enjoy the party. Where are the rest? "

Bruce grumbled a little. Rammed brats the lot of them.

Danny grinned and bounced a little.

"So. Fright Knight got them all. He'd put them in the dungeon. I asked him to bring them to the ballroom."

Jason just smiled fondly.

Batman: But you can't come home?

Danny and Jason share a glance and crack up at that. Danny is floating from how hard he laughed, and Jason is leaning on a wall.

Danny: Oh! Man, who told you that? Cause he doesn't have to stay here!

Batman: hm?

Jason: Nah. No. Use your big boy words.

Batman: Hm?

Danny: Don't speak mumble sorry!

Batman: Constantine. Said Jason wouldn't be able to leave.

Danny: Well, if he was just some random human no. Because I'd have to protect them 24/7. But Jason is a Revenant. He can come and go as he pleases.

Jason: Aww, they thought you were playing Hades!

Danny: Hades is a fucking simp. I mean, Persephone is worth it. But ooft. But then thinking I would do a Hades? Pretty big compliment for you my Persephone!

Jason blushed slightly and punched Danny in the arm.

Jason: Wait. You know them?I

Danny: Yeah. They are here. Wanna go meet them?

Jason is overwhelmed by all the historical and mythological figures he is getting to meet due to his husband

He gets to meet Pandora? And Hades? And Persephone? Queen Dorathea is a what now? Host Writer has all the books? And I get to see unpublished works from my favourite recency authors? And ones they wrote in the Realms?

sorry Bruce, I'm going on a honeymoon. Yes, I am planning to stay with my new husband for a while. No I don't know how long it will be. I'll call you when I reach Gotham.

Bruce: What anti Ecto acts!?

Danny: The ones saying me and Jason are non salient threats to be eradicated with extreme prejudice!

And now, well no Bruce has a new objective. To see if those acts are real. And in the mean time, he supposed Jason can stay here. Just in case.

And hoo boy. Batman when he finds the acts? He is going to go on a rampage so he can go back to Phantom. And be like, here. Fixed it! Give me back my son!?!?

Only to find them making out like teens on the beach. Sorry Bruce. Jason took one look at what he could get and decided this was going to be a proper marriage. He is not wasting his chance at all this.

But on the plus side. Now the laws are him a Danny is more than happy to split his time and live in Gotham with his hubby. Bruce will just have to deal with having eldritch royalty as a son in law.

"Uh boss? Who's the twink? "

Jason just grins, really soft and happy.

"My husband! Ain't he sweet?"

2 IC is now confused.

"Didn't know you was dating boss?"

Jason " Oh I wasn't! It was entirely political. He was sick of power hungry assholes trying to force him to marry them. So he asked me. Cause he knows I can look after myself. "

2 IC is now even more confused.

"Boss? Why do you look like you're over the moon happy then? If it's just political?"

Danny leans over and winks.

No one really knows where it came from or why it spread. People outside of Gotham just shake their heads about it, like they do with everything else Gothamites do strange.

Eventually, it becomes popular enough that there are big academic theories and debates about the origin of this phrase.

Popular enough to be studied in Gotham University courses about the linguistics of modern slang.

Every time he has to go back to the Realms for King stuff, he stops by and asks Jason if he wants to visit the Library or see what's new in the Armory.

It's not his fault everyone else assumes Danny and Jason are just shameless about their bedroom activities.

Actually, that's the joke for them. Getting to see everyone else react based on their assumptions about Danny's totally honest and innocent explanation.

ghosts have the natural ability to change their form in various ways. Not complete shapeshifting maybe. But, stretching? Changing the size and shape? Yup, those they can do.

Danny: Hey my Persephone. Wanna head to the Realms? I've expanded the library again! Wanna check if it's to your liking?

Nat heard that. And... No! We did NOT need to know that! Why would you! My ears! Why!!!!!!

Jason: Hey. I hear the armoury has some sweet new toys. Can I l go play?

Danny: Sure thing!

Danny: Oh my Persephone! Are you busy? Fright Knight and Pandora said they had some new toys for the Armory they want to teach us how to use.

Tim: *Misses a grapple jump physically flinching hearing that over Hood's comm line.* Why?!?!

Jason: Hello my Best Visa Husband. Think Ghost Writer is available to visit the Library today?

Steph: Ahhhhhhhhhh! This is worse than when Bruce forgets to cut his comm when Selina is out.

Damian: Todd. Were the new weapons in the armoury suitable?

Jason: They were downright perfect! And with how old Fright Knight and Pandora are? They've had SO much practise! I have learned so many new things!

Cass: have fun?

Jason, sweaty and disheveled and beaming after sparring with Pandora: yeah! It was great, got to play with some new toys and everything!

Cass: ☺️

Batfam: 😱🤢

Batfam: Cass why

Also hilarious if we run with Damian completely missing the innuendo and asking to see the armory. Que not-my-baby’s-virtue-panic from Dick. Even better if he finds out after the fact and Dami is just like ‘Todd took me to the armory to see his new ‘toys’ and demonstrated their use. Fenton even allowed me to try some myself.’

And Dick would just explode in righteous big brother anger because Jason and Danny did WHAT.

Damian of course does not understand the problem. It’s not any different from what they do in the cave???? Why are you make such a fuss, Richard?

This route of course likely means that the ‘truth’ comes out because Dick would probably kill Jason again if what he thought was happening was actually happening.

But then Jason and Danny can be innocently confused because ?????? They never lied??? There is an actual library and armory with actual books and weapons???? They never said anything about sex??? That’s on you guys. You’re the ones who decided all that junk was true, don’t try to pin that on them.

"He has to fund the Justice League. They often have a space program."

"But couldn't he do more good if he just invested-"

I want to see Bruce Wayne go off

For all his billions, for all his activity, for all his efforts, Gotham is a bonfire fed by the madness of mortal people, cultivated by dark powers and just existing there makes living souls like kindling for it. And left to its own devices,it’d become a breeding ground for supernatural unrest that no mere social service system or social awareness of activist campaign, no government program, no actions of a singular vigilante, could ever hope to undo.

by their very definition, they are gone forever

there are ones that were truly unique, like Polar Tropical Forests and Fern Prairies, that we just could not have today

but there were ones that have equivalents to today, as well, like the first savannahs and steppes of the Miocene - they just have earlier versions of the plants and animals

there were so many because there are so many today, and each one had its own flora and fauna and was glorious

There's the wetlands and forests of Hell Creek in the Latest Cretaceous

the bizarre Volcanic Lake Forests of the Jehol Biota

whatever the hell the Ediacaran Reefs were

the Scale Tree Swamp Forests of the Carboniferous

"Mesozoic 2" aka pre-human Aotearoa

the Western Interior Seaway dominated by Mosasaurs

that isn't what I mean by "Polar Tropical Forest"

I mean a tropical forest

at the poles

ie, the ecosystems present during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

we have fossils of plants that showcase how different tropical plant lifestyles had to be up at the poles because of the light weirdness

the important part is "tropical", not "wet/rainforest". those are two different things

it first evolved in the latest Cretaceous, but it didn't actually take over everywhere until the Miocene, when grasses that process light differently (look up C3 vs C4 photosynthesis) evolved and just took the fuck over the planet

before then, other plants formed the low ground cover over the earth, and in many places those plants were ferns - spread all over the ground and covering it, much like grass, but significantly less dense. Dirt would have been much more common everywhere.

Like the reefs of the late Devonian, which were made of stromatoporoids, which may have resembled corals but were actually a highly diverse extinct group of sponges!

This is one of my own reconstructions of a stromatoporoid reef off the coast of Devonian Australia (plus anachronistic underwater baited camera):

The Cretaceous also had some wild extinct reefs which are known as carbonate reefs and were dominated by a group of bivalve molluscs called rudists!

Danny's chosen for a space mission, along with a group of other astronauts. They're gonna rendezvous at Justice League Watchtower, and then go for a part of space as of yet unexplored as a part of a Justice League effort to map the cosmos.

But something goes wrong with the ship.

And one of the escape pods gets damaged.

So Danny tricks the Captain of the team into a pod and fires it away into space.

He then immediately turns around and makes sure that the ship won't explode, just turning off his breathing on the way.

Danny did this because, unbeknownst to his employers, he is the only person on the crew capable of surviving the harsh nothingness of Space. As a half ghost, he doesn't need to breath and his heart doesn't need to beat, even while in human form.

So when the Justice League sends out Hal for salvage and corpse retrieval, Hal get's the absolute shit scared out of him. Like, the dude almost legitimately shit himself.

It went a little like this.

He managed to pry his way into the dead ship; no oxygen, no gravity, no nothing. He checks the rooms one by one, noting along the way that the ship shows signs of attempted repair.

His head is filling with images of the lone astronaut, Fenton, desperately doing his best to save the ship.

All the rooms are empty.

So if Fenton was trying to save the ship, then that would mean the last place to check would be the engine room.

Hal goes to the engine room, and there, cradled in wires that had been pulled from the ceiling, is the corpse of astronaut Daniel James Fenton.

The wires show clear efforts from the man to anchor himself in place, probably when the gravity went, so that he could still try to save the ship.

With a heavy heart, Hal moves forward and starts to detangle Fenton.

Only for Fenton's hand to shoot out with inhuman speed and catch his wrist in an iron grip, and when Hal looks up he sees a pair of glowing, inhuman eyes staring at him from an impossibly pale face, the neck at a strange an unnatural angle.

Hal screams like a little bitch and runs to the other side of the engine room.

And not, like, your typical hero, like Phantom, but like the man who saved his whole crew at the expense of his own life. Who sacrificed himself for his captain, and fought for his life and got his ship until the end.

He is praised by his crew when they come back. They have nothing but kind words for him, the curious, intelligent boy with a fascination for the stars.

There are tears all around. From people who simply met with him in passing, who brought him coffees and received his smiles, who worked on tech with him and heard his brilliance.

Danny was just kind, and his death, his sacrifice, touches the hearts of everyone in the building/department he was working in.

Imagine this huge memorial for Danny Fenton. The brave, kind, brilliant astronaut who did his best in everything he could. Who, until the very end, shined just like the stars he so admired.

He gets his name engraved in something, his whole life story reaches the news (or at least what is publicly known) and even the Wayne's have like, a speech for him.

It's devastating all around, but the world knows one thing. Danny Fenton will be a name for the history books.

And then. Suddenly. He's back. Or, at least, there's news that maybe, somehow, he survived space.

People riot

And the public explodes

There are theories everywhere, and suddenly funding is skyrocketing, because everyone wants to get their hero back, wants to send out as many rescue teams as possible for him.

Now a government agency (?) is looking to organize kidnapping removal plans when they return to earth…

Damian, despite being 14, has been accepted to a gifted school as he had already been taught in the most subjects one usually learns at a slower pace.

(He still gets a headache over the fact his son won't get a normal childhood.)

Which is how he befriended the 17 year old Daniel, an overworked and sleepdeprived college student, getting dragged along and following with no complaint.

Bruce is, even if he wanted damian to befriend someone more around his own age, very welcoming of the student.

Alfred made sure the boy took enough food with him home, always leaving the mansion at point 4 pm.

It really shouldn't have been surprising when Bruce Wayne, yes, THE Brucie Wayne, summoned him to his office.

Danny entered the room fidgeting, giving a nervous smile to the man behind the desk and questioning what he did wrong to offend the patriarch of the family.

(Lies and slander, we, the readers, are fully aware that Alfred is the patriarch.)

"Uh— hi, Mr. Wayne." He sat when gestured to the chair, shitting bricks with how nervous he's.

The man nods in greeting, smiling. "Hello Danny–"

"Please don't kill me!" The teen in question blurts out, flushing in embarrassment once registered.

Taken aback and startled, Bruce snorts, stifling laughter by putting a hand against his mouth.

Shit.

"I don't know what I did! Very sorry if I offended someone!" He rambles, panicking and waving his hands around.

"Danny—"

"I must have done something! Why else would you call me? Oh god– I'm gonna be murdered by THE Brucie Wayne!"

At this point, the rich guy in front of him is barely restraining himself from laughing, trying his best to stay professional.

"Danny–! I- I won't murder you." He reassured, eyes crinkling from smiling.

"But–" he sniffs, both embarrassed and teary.

"I'm not gonna— danny." Bruce sighs, which sounds a lot like a choke, really. "Look, I just wanted a 1-on-1 talk with you about your friendship with damian and some concerns."

"Oh."

"Yes, oh."

Danny sighs in relief at this. "I can do some good old interrogation–" "it's not an interrogation–" "totally interrogation."

He huffs lightly, getting comfortable in his chair and preparing himself mentally.

"Alright Mr. Wayne! Shoot me!"

(Was that a pun? A joke to murder? Really?)

The man clears his throat, straightens his back and looks serious as he was before the accusations of murder.

"What are your intentions with damian and why become friends in the first place?"

Blinking, the teen brightens. "Oh, that's easy! Damian needs a friend. We just kinda clicked after I scared away a few pesky bullies."

Then he shrugs. "Besides, it's great training."

"Training?" Bruce asks, curious, tone light in the way that shows he's very interested.

"Yes. Despite his badly hidden murderous tendencies, love for knives, and slight lack of slang language and knowledge, he's still a kid." He nods.

"A young teen that goes through teen stuff that I barely remember going through and now get to relearn will be handy once Ellie becomes a teenager herself."

Batman was filing the information away, but Bruce kept going.

"Ellie?" He questions.

"My daughter– has damian not mentioned her? We always leave around 4 to get her from my sister. Sometimes, dami stays over for a few hours!"

Ah. Well. Seems like Alfred will have to make more food for the teen now.

"Would you like to stay for dinner today?" He asks, "Bring your daughter too. We won't mind you joining us." smiling and already planning for the new adjustments to make.

"On another note, what are your and your daughters preferences? Any allergies?"

Danny didn't even agree yet, not that he was gonna— mind you.

"No allergies, soft foods only, easy to eat." He answers, listing the stuff from the top of his head.

In a whirlwind of– of planning dinner?? Danny is out of the door and wide eyed.

"What just happened?"

(On the other side, Bruce face-palms, having forgotten to ask what age Ellie is. Damn in Bruce.)

—

On the fifth visit, Danny stayed for dinner.

Damian must know the age, for there are bowls with freshly cut fruits, yoghurt, and rice mixed with veggies and chicken.

On that note, where is damian?

Dick meets his eyes, asking the same quetsion with a look.

Just as Bruce was gonna ask, the door opened, and the cutest picture to ever exist was created.

(Dick RIPPED his phone out of his pocket, swiping a picture of the scene as fast as possible.)

Steph can't hold back the coos at the sight of Damian walking with a toddler into the dining room, her tiny feet propped up on his and in hand together.

She's wearing a Robin onesie and he is wearing his (stolen) Nightwing hoodie.

"Sorry, hope we aren't late!" Danny waves with a grin from behind the pair.

"You aren't, just perfect, in fact." Bruce reassures, waving the teens over to the free seats.

Damian leads the two to his seat, making sure they're next to him.

The conversation during dinner is one spoken fondly, Cass likes to make Ellie laugh with silly faces, Duke and Steph "secretly" feed her tiny pieces of strawberry and Dick is in a rather passionate discussion with both Tim and Danny.

Damian, once he makes sure no one is watching him, wipes the mess from Ellies face.

(Bruce was watching, looking away once damians face snapped to him. He wasn't aware his youngest had such a soft spot for toddlers.)

(It takes a while, but Danny and Ellie become family like every other person, while having not slept over yet, Alfred already has prepared a room for the two in the Family wing.)

(It's barely a week after that everyone bought and gifted him onesie's of their hero personas, with the excuse of them being the gotham vigilantes when questioned. After all, the Robin can't be a one man team.)

—

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