Going Ghost

Returning to the previous post. DP request. This can be connected to DC, Marvel, Percy Jackson, mythology, or solo.

Danny was severely damaged by the G.I.W., or by his parents, or the Nasty Burger explosion, or some powerful Ghost. Trying to protect the ghostling, Clockwork sends his Core into the deep past. Sleepy Gaia senses an energy similar to Kronos's in the Stone (core) and sends it to Rhea without further ado. Do you understand my point?

Rhea replaces baby Zeus with Danny's stone. Danny "hatched" from the stone, either after some time in the stomach, completely confusing the 5 Kronides about what childbirth is or what it looks like, or perhaps while the core was rolling down the esophagus, sensing the familiar energy, Danny transformed into a baby, and now all the Kronides are convinced that Danny is their 6th sibling.

"Cheryl, I just locked Joker in the deep freezer, what do I do?" The words came out in a rush as he leaned against the hallway, nervously looking at the door as if the clown demon would somehow punch through six inches of metal and survive subzero temperatures.

"Are you fucking with me, Fenton? You know I'm in the middle of a shitshow right now."

He breathed out a little hysterically. "No, I'm not fucking with you. There's a bunch of Joker goons in the base on 7th street. I lured them into the deep freezer—"

"The one without exits?"

"Yeah, uh-huh, the one with no exits. And then I barricaded the door."

There was an audible muffle of words and a few shouts and what sounded like gunshots. Danny was worried his closest coworker got shot until she came back on the line, out of breath.

"Let me get this straight— your first thought when the Joker invaded our headquarters was to lock him in a freezer?"

"No, I had time to think about it." Danny answered absently as he wandered down to the utility room after he turned on the fans to full blast. He wasn't the designated handyman, but a Fenton with a screwdriver could do anything, really.

Just because he was the janitor didn't mean he somehow lost the ability to fix a washer, oil a door, or wire a ghost electric chair. (Yes, that was a real thing, and yes, he did destroy it when he moved out of Amity Park.)

Speaking of moving, he supposes it's important on A. why he was in a Red Hood base (and more broadly, Gotham), B. Why he was a janitor in a Red Hood base, C. why he knew a lieutenant of Red Hood and D. why he had just committed what most would call felony murder.

(Danny would call it self defense, but potato pahtato when you're working for a gang.)

It all came down to one thing. He was good at cleaning. How, Danny "The Slob" Fenton, do such a thing when his room was sometimes more of a bio risk than the literal lab?

It's that Jazz was constantly stressed with school and taking care of him, so a lot of chores often fell to him.

Which meant cleaning up the lab.

Sure, he was no where near happy about this arrangement, but it wasn't like he could tell his sister "Hey! Stop giving me non-contaminated food and clean, woman!"

He was a lazy, deeply sarcastic, a borderline delinquent and a vigilante, but he drew the line at misogyny And, you know, his hotdogs trying to murk him in his stomach.

Ergo, Danny the bitter cleaner of all things radioactive and probably illegal.

The thing with the Fenton lab? There was always something staining the floor. Whether it be blood, ectoplasm, oil, lubrication for bolts, coffee, or an ungodly mix of all of it.

He had to get creative and fast.

Ectoplasm is a bit corrosive and stains like you wouldn't believe, even on metal floor. So he learned to put a bit of his own ectoplasm and mini ice particles so it would actually be able to be scrubbed out of the floor.

Coffee? Oil? Yeah. Cleaning supplies were mixed together like a potion master, toeing the line between dangerous and genius. He was always careful enough not to make chlorine gas or chloroform.

It became an uncanny skill, along with other things. He knew how to get spots out of clothing, how to make homemade detergent and how to get any stain or blemish out of almost any material.

So, when he moved to Gotham to complete his bachelors in chemical engineering at G.C.U., he knew he had to get a job somewhere.

And there was a lot of benefits for custodial staff in his position. Good hours, mostly at night or afternoons when he'd be free. And he knew a lot about cleaning, so why not?

...He hadn't really planned to be scouted as a crime cleaner, though.

Especially for a gang.

But hey! They even gave dental. Red Hood didn't even seem all that bad, drug peddling and murder aside. (Unsurprisingly, he could put a lot of things aside. His parents and well, Phantom, etc.)

If he kept his mouth shut, head down and hands working, he could get a good wage and even better benefits.

Danny, much to his dismay and minor shock, became known as 'the guy who can get stains out of literally everything.' Goons would literally stop and watch him like he was preforming black magic on a crime scenes walls. Even more surprisingly, he got clients and friends from this arrangement.

(Ignoring that one time of the jackets he was randomly given looks like Red Hood's.

No pressure. Just a crime lord who (allegedly) put heads into a duffel bag and mailed it to another crime boss.

He does it anyway, because he has a reputation (and monetary gain) to keep.)

So! Back to the present.

"What the fuck. What the fuck!" Cheryl hissed, whether at him or what he assumed was a gunfight in the background, "Jesus effin' Christ Danny, get out of there."

The halfa swung open the maintenance/janitorial supply room, trying to be nonchalant as his brain spirals and calculates. "I don't think Jesus can fuck Christ. They seem almost identical, y'know?"

Hydrogen sulfide would be the quickest killer, but chloroform could also do it if they didn't have enough acids and sulfur cleaning products.

Decisions, decisions.

Eh. Fuck it.

Danny grabbed some plywood, a box full of tools, his handy dandy cleaning supplies and a big plastic bucket. He would call his shaky hands adrenaline instead of being absolutely terrified that the most notorious mass-murderer in America was a few rooms down.

"Danny, I'm not fuckin' joking. You need to get the hell out of there. That's an order, you brilliant, stupid piece of shit."

He began trotting back to the deep freezer, inhaling through his teeth and scrubbing his face. "Kinky," he said, with levity he sure as hell didn't feel, "Hey, so, I'm gonna have to call you back. Tell me once you get out of your Nerf gun battle."

"Dann—!"

Danny snapped on a respirator, tucked his phone away, and quickly dumped a mixture of chemicals he knew would kill, well, a lot of things.

He'd heard the screaming and gunshots even through the thickest 1950s subzero room known to man. Kind of hard to muffle even that.

But alas. He went partially intangible, hauling his bucket of unicorn love and sparkles, floating up towards the air ducts. With no pizzaz, he dumped the entire thing in the vent system for the room.

The screams immediately rose in volume, and so did the ping of gunshots. Not wasting the time to poke his intangible head in and see how they were doing, he reappeared back in the hallway.

To be a safeguard even for an empty base, he quickly hammered in some plywood to any vents, duct taping the edges.

And for the coup de grâce, he sealed the door with his ectoplasm ice, cranked up the fan and turned the temperature to the lowest it could reasonably go.

"Have fun in there kiddos," he rapped the door, and then got the fuck out of the base. So really, he was following Cheryl's order. So it wasn't insubordination, no siree. Just insurance.

— — —

Danny found himself grabbing a cup of coffee. It wouldn't help his nerves, absolutely not, but at least it gave him something to do with his hands as he called up Cheryl.

"Danny!" She immediately snapped, and he winced.

"Hi, Cheryl," He demurred, hoping to project the most charming air that she could definitely see through. "How're you doing?"

"Don't change the subject, pretty boy."

He held his tongue at a sarcastic comment to that. "Mmmm yeah, so. About that. Would you mind like, not telling the Big Guy about what I did? Keep it like, anonymous act of charity?"

"Why." The word was sharp, almost unquestioning. Danny kept from squeezing his plastic ice coffee cup so hard that it would explode.

Okay. Okay. He had to do this. "I'm a Meta." He explained. "I really— Like, I left something definitely a Meta could do to keep the Joker in the deep freezer room." He really didn't want to become some super soldier or enforcer. He would quite literally rather kill someone before he did that.

It wasn't like there wasn't Metas in Gotham or, hell, some gangs. But he wasn't just Danny the Throw Him At Any Problem Because He Has Powers guy, and he never wanted to be. He just wanted to get his degree, get paid, and get out.

"Too late. I'd already told him that you'd locked Joker in there."

Danny smacked his head against the cafe table, wishing he inhaled more of the chemical weapon in the plastic Home Depot bucket.

"Cheryl," He said, with thinly veiled horror and dread.

Her voice audibly softened. "Danny. It's fine. You know he wouldn't throw you off the Harbor or anything. Hell, he's probably going to be grateful, however uncharacteristic. Everyone 's gonna be. It's the Joker."

Danny gave a truly pathetic groan as the now murderer of the Joker, and wondered if being fed to the fishes was truly a worse fate.

— — —

Jason was smoking on one of the balcony of his many safe houses, holding a picture of the man in front of him.

It'd been a long night and a long morning. Once he had gotten the intel that the Joker was locked in a deep freezer, in one of his goddamn bases, you bet your lucky fucking stars he had gotten there faster than Bruce had gotten to him.

It had taken hours to get into the room from whatever the hell was coated over the door, and dear fuck was it worth the effort.

The Joker was dead. So were many of his closest lieutenants and underlings. Some had died from GSWs, other from chemical burns or inhalation, and the Joker? The best of all.

He'd died slowly and painfully from hypothermia and the chemicals.

It had been a mixture of vindictive, vengeful glee and deep exhaustion as he carefully monitored the cremation process of all of the bodies.

It was over. It was fucking over. His syndicate would be in pieces that Jason would euphorically grind his heel into.

Now all that remained of the infamous, homicidal Joker was a plastic bag of grey ashes.

Jason wasn't sure what he was going to do with it now. Maybe he could flush it down his toilet. It'd clog, but he wouldn't give two shits.

Maybe he could even sent it to Bruce. The thought brought a huff from his lips as he blew out the smoke from his cig, eyes examining the picture from the file.

Cheryl had referred to this Danny as 'pretty boy' on many occasions, and Jason was inclined to agree. A mischievous, almost boyish face of a 22-year-old. The famed Red Hood Janitor, jack-of-trades.

The killer of the most prominent killer of all time.

He couldn't summon as much jealousy of it should have been me, twisting the knife in his gut rather than the feeling of relief. Red Hood had struggled even getting close, whether it was his obscene amount of gang members or it was fucking Batman or one of his little soldiers preventing him from putting a bullet in his head.

No, it wasn't as much anger but interest that he twisted around in is mind, thumb hovering over the face of Danny Fenton.

He'd like to meet this man. Jason was sure that it would be a conversation he wouldn't want to miss.

"So..." Dnany began that had Cherly looking up with eyebrows raised that said 'yes, go on'. He grimaced, and just blurts it out, "Am I fired?"

So much for that.

Cheryl nearly chokes. "What?"

"I mean..." He made some vague gestures. "I still killed someone."

"Danny, I told you. It's the Joker. Nobody cares. In fact, I wouldn't be surprise if you're getting a promotion after this."

"what?!?"

...

Cheryl has to be lying, because Danny is currently panicking when earlier, he was doing his usual duties (and cleaning some blood cuz he can't let his colleagues get implicated from some crime) till Red Hood just walked into the room and said:

"You. Come with me." He said, making it clear he's talking to Danny, before walking out of the room.

Fuck, I'm going to die, Danny internally wept as he sent pleading glances to Cheryl's way who just cheerfully waved at him. Bastard.

And when Red Hood leads him to his office, a very suspiciously clean office that even Danny had no access to.

He started sweating when Hood just closes the door behind him and ...locks it. That it really feels like a horror movie now.

All Danny could think of: Oh god. This is where I'm getting executed. Crap. how pissed is the big guy going to get if he realizes that I can't die from bullets? as his mind continued to spiral in panic.

Even worse when Hood starts to sit down and open a drawer to pull out...

FUCK HE'S GONNA PUT A BULLET IN MY HEAD! Danny internally screamed.

...and it was a pile of documents.

Danny blinks. Stares. And then looks at Red Hood, and say dumbly, "...huh?"

Eventually he meets Danny and they fall in love and even have a baby (how they aquire said baby is up to interpretation; like they either got cloned again, actually had one the natural way or maybe took one in). Damian decides he wants to focus on family than the mission (he won't turn out anything like Bruce) and takes a step back from his path that he created on his own to stay and be present with Danny and the baby.

Danny is happy if Damian is happy but knows he still has his duties as King of the Infinite Realms and spends as much time with his family as he can.

Danny tells just about his whole family and friends; Jazz first, who takes the little bundle in her arms and stares absolutely mystified. Sam and Tucker, who comment jokingly on how fast they're moving (Damian and Danny have been together for like, a year or so).

The Fentons are absolutely delighted, they always did like Damian ("such a polite boy he is, Danny."), and are happy to be grandparents.

Damian does not mention a family member he wants to introduce the baby to.

While he does step back from his old life, that doesn't mean he's done. He has to wrap up some loose ends first and, unexpectedly, takes the baby with him after an agreement with Danny. He can't run the Infinite Realms alone and watch the baby, so Damian takes the baby with him.

He finds himself in Gotham, secretly hoping he runs into Richard as to show him his baby, maybe reveal himself but runs into Jason, full Red Hood attire with his guns out and everything.

"Nobody's heard from you in a while. Figured you were taking a break." Jason says casually, hands resting on the gun as he talks.

"You'd be correct. I have important matters to attend to, and I'm here to wrap up some loose ends." Damian says, his cape bellowing in the wind. He has his baby hidden in the cape and in his arms.

"Yeah? Alright, whatever you got in Gotham won't trace back to you, if you tell me why you're leaving." Red Hood asks, voice modulated from his helmet.

Damian narrows his eyes, and, without breaking eye contact, opens his cape. He reveals a baby, a dark haired girl, who sleepily yawns and opens her eyes, revealing emerald green eyes.

It'd been a few weeks since the..."birth" of their daughter.

Damian didn't think he was capable of such love, but after holding her for the first time, Damian knew he'd never love anything as much as his baby.

Yet it made his heart pang with a sick feeling . Why wasn't he worthy of that kind of love.

His parents loved him...in their own way. They just always had some goal or mission that was more important than him.

He couldn't imagine anything being more important than his daughter and his partner more than agreed.

He'd kill for her without question.

This more than anything is what fueled his decision to stay in Amity Park.

He loves his family as difficult as they can be. But he knows if he went back it wouldn't be long before he was dragged back into the Vigilante life and the chaos of Gotham.

He couldn't put his daughter at risk.

Perhaps he will find the courage one day to inform them about this decision. Until then...

The small bundle in his arms wiggled before making a small chirping sound, alerting Damian to his Partners presence.

Danny's arms wrapped around Damians waist as he propped himself up on his tip toes to peer over Damians shoulder and chirp back at their daughter.

Allowing a smile to grace his face Damian turned his head and placed a kiss on Danny's temple.

" Hello, Beloved," he mumbled into Danny's hair before turning around to face his partner.

They both took a moment foreheads pressed together as they gazed down at the now wide awake green eyes. Her button nose scrunched as she pouted about being awoken.

" She has your pout" Danny whispered to him and lightly laughed.

The effect of him rolling his eyes was lost as he wasn't able to keep the smirk off his face.

She really did have his scowl.

A natural Bat Glare.

The small new family's moment was paused as Danny's parents walked(burst ) into the room.

"Boys! There you are!" Maddies smile beaming.

Damian was quite fond of the Fenton Parents. Yes, they were perhaps a bit.. eccentric, but not only were they amazing scientists, but they loved their kids so wholly and didn't hesitate to extend that to him.

Madeline took a seat on the couch and everyone took the que to follow suit.

" Now, as you boys know, I've been sorting out the paperwork. And I got everything sorted. However, I have to fill in the birth certificate so- Maddie trailed off knowing her husband was about to explode in excitement.

" What's our GrandPrincesses Name!". Jack clasped his hands together in excitement.

Danny and Damian looked at one another. They hadn't really discussed it. They had been calling her Ellie this whole time, but neither had considered a full name.

Danny hummed as Damian passed Ellie to him. " Well I don't like Danielle considering.. ya know" Danny trailed off but his parents nodded their understanding.

It was his Dead name afterall. (Heh get it "Dead")

" but I'd like to keep the nickname Ellie".

Danny looked over to Damian who pondered it for a moment.

"Eleanor".

"Yeah" Danny looked down at the newly dubbed Eleanor.

"I like it. Eleanor Andromeda " Danny and Damian smiled at each other.

"Alright! What about last name? Also, Damian honey, what's yours for the birth certificate? " Maddie handed the pen over to Jack to start writing. Her penmanship was atrocious, and despite how chaotic everything about her husband was, he had beautiful handwriting.

" I- uh," Damian uncharacteristically mumbled. He was once so proud of both his family names. Now he's hit with the suffocating feeling of neither feeling as if they belonged to him.

Danny leaned over and placed his hand on top of Damians. Giving him a reassuring smile.

Jack's hand slapped him on the back, jostling him out of his spiraling thoughts.

" Well, Mads! Damian Fenton, of course!".

Jack wrote out the names on the birth certificate and handed it to them both.

Eleanor Andromeda Fenton.

Parents: Danny Fenton and Damian Fenton.

Danny placed Ellie back in Damians arms before cuddling into his side. And if a small tear dripped down Damians cheek, nobody mentioned it. Just held him a little tighter.

It was a calculated choice, and one he hopes they would understand once he returns back to the Manor. Damian couldn't bare the thought of anyone dangerous following him as he made his was to Danny and his family.

He also didn't want them to panic and think he was taken by the League. So he left a simple message before he slipped off into the night, Robin costume draped over his bed.

"To whomever reads this letter first.

A personal matter has come to my attention and so I must disappear for a while.

I can not afford to be tracked nor followed, so I have left all my personal belongings behind such as my phone and costume.

Do not worry, I will come back when I deem it is time.

-Damian"

Now as he stood in front of an armed Red Hood with is daughter in his arms, he now has to face the consequences of his sudden disappearance. Damian just hopes the wrath would be focused on him and not his baby as he watched Todd's fingers twitch on his guns grip.

Footsteps echoed in the empty alley as the vigilante came closer and closer, his arms tightening around the baby blanket.

He allowed, with great control, the gloved fingers to brush cross Eleanor's pudgy cheeks. Her giggle broke the silence as a chubby hand wiggle out of her blanket to grasp the appendage, shaking it up and down with glee.

A choked sound came from Hood as he watched the baby his brothers baby? play around with his hand despite the roughness of the armour. "Are they yours?" it came out quieter than Damian thought was possible, it was tinged wit awe.

"Of course she is Todd, her name is Eleanor." Damian said with pride, a small smile on his lips as he started down at his bright daugher.

"Eleanor..." He straightened from his hunch, leaving is fingers in the baby's hands.

"Is she why you left a over year ago?" Jason asked is brother.

He watched as Damian's eyes glanced away from her, flicking up to his and around the alley. "I couldn't afforded to stay here, not when she could be in danger."

"Why didn't you just tell us you had a baby on the way? We could have done something Dami."

Ellie let out a small whine when the finger was taken away from her, kicking her legs in displeasure. Damian quickly tucked the blanket back around her while gently rocking from side to side, letting out quiet soothing chirps.

Chirps? what?

"We couldn't afford any information of her getting out, you know what would occur if that where to happen." The green eyed man growled.

"We? You're in contact with the mother?"

"Of course I am, I was there when he had her."

Jason let out a huff, eyeing the two up and down. "So what now?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Now we introduce her to the others," Damian paused "although I wished to have found Richard first."

Red Hood let out an indignant gasp, "Wha- hey!" He rushed to stand in front of a retreating Damian. "What about me?!"

Damian merely raised a brow, "What about you?"

"Aren't you gonna tell me anything, I want to know more about the niece I apparently have!"

"You can get to know her once I have found Richard and informed the others." he simply stated as he walked around the shocked figure and out of the alleyway, it began to stink too much for his liking anyways.

"Bloody demon brat." Jason hurried to catch his brother as they headed towards one of the closest safe houses, whipping out his phone to text Dick about the new arrivals.

'He's gonna freak out when he learns about being an uncle'

...

He has...a strange request.

He's nervous, flustered, fading in and out of the visible spectrum. It's clear that what he's about to ask of her is important to him, and even though she has an uncomfortable voice in the back of her head telling her this young hero is about to ask her out, she resolves to listen before she jumps to conclusions.

She's glad she did.

"Can...can you put a grave for me in Themyscira? I know it's just for women, but it's the safest place I can think of for it! I just...I don't have a grave, and Clockwork says it's starting to stunt my growth as a Ghost, and I have too many enemies on American soil, so. It's okay if you say no, though, I'll figure something out, it's fine."

Diana lets him ramble to the end, already knowing what her answer is going to be.

"We would be honored to host your grave, Phantom. Do you have any remains I can take home? Do you require a funeral service?"

Phantom looks...he looks beyond grateful. Close to tears.

"No, no remains. A symbolic grave is fine, it just. It has to have my real name on it, my mortal one." He says, looking hesitant. "Please don't reach out to my family, Wonder Woman. They don't know."

With that, he hands over a small slip of paper, torn from a notebook and clearly folded one too many times.

She takes it as though he were entrusting her with the rarest diamond in the world. She wants to, but she does not ask how they could not notice the death of someone so very bright.

Instead she nods, tucking the paper away.

Mostly because she is an Amazon and lived in this society for majority of her life. What does this change in this situation? Amazons are based on Ancient Greeks and from what little I know about their funerary traditions (I should change it ig, gimme links if you have something good), they were quite different from nowadays. Like, they gave their dead a coin (or three I haven't read reliable source on that and what I did contradicts each other) so they could get a ride on Charon's boat. There is probably much more to it but once again, I have no idea. But the thing is, I don't think they actually were giving their dead any flowers. So for Diana, Amazon born and raised, when she has to show a respect to the dead flowers aren't first instinct. So this means she repeatedly went out of her way to honor him in a way appropriate to his culture.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love idea of people honoring Danny in a way appropriate to their culture, I brought up this idea literally yesterday on other prompt but I need you all to see how absolutely precious it is this way.

A Dead Kid who asked for a Place Of Safety where no one could harm his resting place. Who's OWN FAMILY didn't even notice he was dead.

......Not On Their Watch. *slaps down adoption papers in front of the grave* Honey! I adopted the dead kid!

Just? Imagine it? A whole island of immortal bamf warrior women. Casually stopping by this child's grave. They don't know him, he's not one of their's, but they care because he is a child. That should be reason enough. He lived and now is dead.

Y’all, the thought of all those women just casually patting Danny’s grave as they walk past? The gentle touches, do you think he feels them? Does he feel them like a mother carding her fingers through their beloved child’s hair?

I bet Diana tells them his hero name, so whenever he is injured, a few dedicated women do maintainance, such as cleaning, re carving, and replacing and washing worn-out offerings.

This boosts his recovery and gives him extra strength.

They won't fail him, just like they don't fail any of their other fallen sisters and mothers.

His grave will be kept sacred and holy, until he wishes to rest.

I GOT INSPIRED BY THIS AND DIDN'T MEAN TO SPEND 5 HOURS DRAWING THIS LMAO

Danny probably hears the people who touch his gave, the sudden words telling him to rest well, that he's fought long enough and he's loved would move him to tears.

Masterpost

Danny hides most of his ghostly traits in Gotham and decides to throw off the GIW’s trail in a more creative fashion.

He limits to using specific ghostly powers and traits, (i.e: super speed, flight, immortality, pale white skin, glowing eyes, inhuman movements, fangs, batform(?), ghostly magic that look akin to spells, etc.) and does his best to pretend that certain items are weaknesses to him (i.e: running water, silver, garlic, holy water, or crosses).

A villain attack throws the batfam in through a portal to another dimension. they go seeking out there alternatives to find a way back home. 

One of the specific things that they needs to bring them home is to have all of Their dimensions alternates in the same place. they have to go searching for Danny/Damian. What they find is not what they expected.

He had finally got the house to himself. He wanted to finally watch his own shows and have his ice cream but he hid the back in the freezer.

Just as he turned on the TV and got comfortable, there was a knock. He thought it was the door until they knocked again and he realized no it was from the fire escape.

it was 10:00 in the morning who the hell needed him. It was his day off work and both Ellie and Dante were in school.

Danny reluctantly got up and moved to the fire escape. He looked at the window that led to the fire escape. There were three vigilantes. Nightwing, Red Robin and was that another Nightwing.

What The Hell.

Danny opens the window and asks “what the hell do you need, you're never out during the day.” one of the Nightwings looks taken back like he was not expecting that.

 Danny has no idea what they were expecting; they're interrupting him on his first day off in two weeks. Well he technically had multiple days off last week but that was only because Ellie was sick.

”We need you to come with us. It pertains to a case”.  Red Robin demands. 

Danny does not like the tone.

“How long is it going to take and is it going to end up with me arrested?”

The Nightwing that didn't look like he was hit overhead with a baseball bat every time Danny spoke up and said “you're not a suspect in any cases, we will tell you the full details once we're at the destination, you are not in trouble”. 

Danny makes sure it shows on his face but he doesn't believe them.

”Again, how long is this going to take?” Daniel responds in a tired tone. 

He just wanted to go back inside and eat his ice cream..

“It will take a couple of hours,” Red Robin  answered.  

“I have to be back by 3:30 to pick up my kids.” Danny said as he pulled out his phone to set an alarm for 3:10 just in case he had to ask Amanda from next door to pick them up.

 Danny Hears a thud and looks up as the other Nightwing falls off the fire escape. Danny sighs as he looks home at his phone. 

I'm going to guess that Danny's death was faked. So even Talia doesn't know her son is still alive. This Bruce was never told.

(Maybe Maddie was a double agent? She wanted a look at the pits for her research on ectoplasm and had the fighting prowess to be deemed suitable to join. When she realizes that they were training a baby to kill, was sending him on his first mission at three, all she could see was Jazz. So she had an alibi, that she was researching part of the pit at the time. She had put a code to write down her documents she already had on the pits so they could track the exact time she was doing it. (Kinda like Google doc's that show when things were made, added, and edited.) She faked Danny's death and had her sister take him for a bit while she finished up reports and gave them to Talia, saying she'd do more independent research on the subject.

She faked documents that she'd had a son with a heart condition. That he's been with her sister in the middle of nowhere, where no one could get to them. And talked with Danny how he should have his own life.

Danny doesn't remember much from this time. He barely even remembers that he's adopted, but is registered as being a Fenton by birth. He does remember the feeling from when his aunt caught him looking at her star charts and she took him and a telescope out in the dead of night. She had pointed out the constellations and told him their stories.

He has looked into the void, for the first time at three years old, and felt it gaze back with a billion eyes. Winking at him. Inviting him to hear them. He had never felt so small yet so comforted.)

So when Damian is next to them, a 17 year old boy who looks like Bruce just a few steps to the left, and asking where his alternative is? Rigging Talia ends with her looking puzzled, saying her son had blue eyes and she named him Danyal, how Bruce's son died at three on his first mission.

And Bruce? Both of them? Look devastated.

But alternative Tim brings up that this world's version still has to be alive. Otherwise, the spell wouldn't have sent them there. The whole point is to keep them busy in another universe by finding that world's alternate versions. The spell wouldn't have sent them here if there wasn't an alternative version of all of them.

So they needed to hunt down his lost little brother. First, with face recognition. Both with Bruce's face when he was a teen and Damian's face now. They got a ping. Daniel Fenton. Who just moved from Amity Park to Gotham six months ago, if public cameras are to be believed. They couldn't go into his files though.

And now, news of two children, both in school/daycare. Both biologically this underage child's children.

Someone was going to be tasting his escrima stick. And probably Red Hood's bullets.

(On another note, he's not the favorite big brother. Tim is.

Danny loves space photography, and deep water photography. And he's a tiny, sarcastic, genius. A genius with lazer guns, mech suits, a portal to the multiverse...! And gave Tim a red and black flying hoverboard with a multitude of weapons.

"You're this world's version of me? How pathetic."

Danny, understanding that this is a liminal that has probably never had a proper ghost fight and thus is not getting the enrichment his baby core needs to produce a healthy amount of ectoplasm.

Immediate Mom Mode™ activated.

"Do you want to spar? I'm sure we probably have enough time while the others get everything set up for... Whatever it is that I was dragged here for." Said in the softest, most gentle tone. Like a mom asking her child if they want they crusts cut off their sandwich.

"Tt. Fine. But be warned, I won't go easy on you."

"Of course."

Once on a mat away from everyone else, they begin. Of course, they did this while the others weren't paying attention. Both are holding wood swords.

Danny waits, lax and open. When Damian goes in for a swipe, Danny's sword slides upwards. He twists it in his hand to hold the sword up and it swings Damian's up as well. Then he pushes the other away. Gently.

Damian goes through several katas as he looks for openings that never are actually open.

"You're doing so well. It's like you practiced these moves a thousand times. But you're so stiff. Try relaxing your body as you go through the motions."

Danny is like grains of sand in the wind. No matter how desperately he tried to hold him down, Damien couldn't land a proper strike.

He bends, flexes, leans, flips, bows, and twists. It looks like dancing.

"You have such amazing speed. But you need to learn how to stop locking up. It slows you down when you go for a strike and lets others know your next move. On top of that, you've shown you have a wide range of motion, but you're so focused on watching as you strike. It's like watching your feet as you walk or dance; great for learning in the beginning but impedes you from more fluid movements."

Danny knocks Damian's sword out of the ring and tosses his own out after a moment of surprise.

Danny is just as fluid when it comes to his hands being his only weapons. He most just redirects any blow sent towards him.

Damian tried to get a kick in but Danny just leaps and uses Damian's shoulders as a spring board to get over him. He lands low and swipes the other boy's feet from under him.

Danny make a move to catch him, but Damian manages on his own. Landing and springing up with just his arms, Damian tries to use this to his advantage and tries to sideways drop kick Danny from this position.

Danny's forearm comes up to block it. It feels like Damian just rammed his shin against a steel pole. Little to no give and painful.

"Add stretches to your routine especially do them before and after your patrols. It'll keep you limber, longer. And can help prevent the development of chronic pain latter in life."

Damian leaps away to the other side of the mat. His legs finally give way and he fall to the floor panting.

Neither realized when they got an audience.

"You need to learn to unlock your joints. Not dislocate. Unlock. You lock up constantly while fighting and, while it can definitely give you momentum and makes using your body as battering ram easier, it is preventing you from twisting and dropping properly."

Danny got up, walked over, and offered Damian his hand to help him get up.

"Damn! If we didn't already know you were someone else, I would'a thought you were Nightwing." Red Hood commented.

"Thanks," was delivered dryly. "Now I need to go pick up my kids. We can continue this tomorrow, since you were unprepared and decided to make that my problem."

"Nevermind. You're just a less violent version of Robin."

"I'm not a rabid animal, so long as I'm in polite company. I have self control."

"Well, you still have to stay here." Red Robin interjected.

"No, I don't. You're lucky I even came with you. Let alone that I'm offering to come back tomorrow. I'm going to have to call in to work because of your nonsense. You are not preventing me from picking up my kids."

"We can have your kids picked up and taken care of. We can even have them brought here."

Danny whips around to face this world's Nightwing. Other world Nightwing is trying to back away from the entire mess, putting his other self in-between them. Danny knew his deadpan death stare made his face... Uncanny. When light couldn't catch on his eyes. The shadows on his form became darker.

"You are not involving my children in your recklessness."

"You're biologically related to Batman. We're family. Might as well get everyone introduced now. It's not like we're asking you to be a Vigilante. You're a civilian, we're not going to purposely endanger you or them."

"We are not family. Blood is not the same as love. And for your idea that I'm a civilian, I suggest you go refresh your training. You're a mockery of a sleuth despite being taught by a supposed genius. How is Batman considered one of the greatest detectives of our time, yet still refuse to instill common sense in his 'children'?" Danny scathed. "Despite having a very different upbringing, what made you think that me handing my other self his own ass meant anything less than the obvious. I needed it. I've used it. I've saved lives, just as I've taken them. Now, if you'll excuse me," he raked his nails in the air and opened a swirling green portal.

"If any of you try to go after me before my kids are in school, you'll lose the privilege of teeth. If any of you try to go after my children?" Teeth turned from human to animalistic fangs. The blue of his eyes consumed by the color of Lazarus water. His hair flickered between black and glowing white as it dances in the winds of the portal.

"Gotham will keep finding your bodies. For years. I'll make sure your alive for most of it. I'll start with your finger nails, then your teeth, then your toes. I'll see how my ability to skin prey still holds, after all these years." His skin became waxy. Limbs elongated.

"Joint by joint, bone by bone. I'll even show you what I preserve before I display it for all to see. So. Don't. Touch. My. Children."

Honestly? Danny should’ve expected this - what with how insistent those bats were that he stay with them. But when he steps up to the daycare entrance and sees one of the bats he hasn’t met yet playing with his children?

…well, he did warn them. Though the poor kid wasn’t there for the warning, so maybe he’d go easy on them. He was clearly a Liminal, after all.

————————

Duke was honestly a little surprised when the Alternates (as he’d taken to mentally calling the bats from the other universe) showed up at the manor. He was less surprised to find out that they needed to find all of their alternate selves to get home.

But then he met Damian, and oh…knowing that Bruce had a biological son out there, all this time? That Duke had an older brother out there? It made his heart clench, and something deep inside him sing with the need to find him. To get to know him, to have an older brother that might understand.

And then, they did found him. And something deep inside Duke calmed as he saw the face of one Daniel Fenton, who looked so much like Bruce it made his head hurt. And then they found out about the children.

That thing deep inside Duke that cried out for him to find the older teen his new brother cracked. He drifted through the rest of the meetings, the planning, the discussions. His mind his proto-core singing with the need to find and protect. So the first chance he got, when the rest of his family went to get Danny?

He left.

He knew where the kids were, which daycare it was. He’d paid enough attention to the planning meetings to get that much info. And once he saw their little faces through the window, that thing inside of him sang with relief. He spent the next 5 hours just casually sitting outside of the daycare in his signal costume. Glaring at everyone who came by, practically growling at every perceived threat.

When it hit 2:30, one of the caretakers - “Linda, Mr. Signal.” - invited him inside to thank him for protecting the daycare. Gothamites being Gothamites, it was just assumed that if a bat showed up somewhere, they had a reason to. So they were thankful for the perceived protection.

Duke accepted, if only so he could protect the kids the ghostlings closer. Once he was inside, the two little bruce lookalikes practically shot over to him. Sending something with him that made him approachable his proto-core. So, he kept an eye out, but he sat down and played with them when they babbled at him and held up the drawings they were making.

Duke felt something at the edge of his senses, and when he looked up and over at the window - he noticed Danny stepping toward the building. He smiled down at the kids - Danielle and Dan, he had been told. “Your dad’s here!”

To say that Duke is surprised when Danny his new older brother tried to punch him in the face, would be an understatement. He ducks, and rolls away…right into a waiting glowing green portal.

“Tell the rest of the bats I’m serious!” Is the last thing Duke hears before the portal closes in front of him, revealing the rest of his family on the other side. All of them panicking in one way or another.

Danny hides most of his ghostly traits in Gotham and decides to throw off the GIW’s trail in a more creative fashion.

He limits to using specific ghostly powers and traits, (i.e: super speed, flight, immortality, pale white skin, glowing eyes, inhuman movements, fangs, batform(?), ghostly magic that look akin to spells, etc.) and does his best to pretend that certain items are weaknesses to him (i.e: running water, silver, garlic, holy water, or crosses).

He was thrilled to see the joy on Danny's face after he asked the question. He wasn't as thrilled to see the hesitation.

"I would love to be your boyfriend Tim, but..." Danny let out a deep sigh, "You see, I have an older brother and he's like, crazy protective of me. If you want to be boyfriends you have to meet him first." Danny was worried, and he made it known in the days leading up to Dante's visit. The man had only ever approved of 2 relationships and even then his partners had to work for it.

They had arranged to meet up with him at a café to do introductions over coffee. Tim tried his best not to be intimidated when Dante entered, sat himself across the table silently, and just stared Tim down. He didn't even dare to breathe until Dante nodded and sat back, finally taking his eyes off Tim and turning his attention to his little brother.

Jason: Where the hell have you been?

Tim, casually: Found a hot guy in the woods, we hung out for a bit.

Steph: Okay so we all agree that guy was not human and was probably a werewolf, or fae, or something, right?

Bruce: Yup.

Dick: Oh 100%.

Damian, scoffing: Figures.

Duke: Nothing we do can ever be normal.

Barbra: Either way, I'm pretty sure someone owns Tim now.

Bruce, sighing: Great.

Tim: I am 100% okay with Danny owning me.

Tim: *blinks in surprise before leaning into his phone* Uh Tam...when did I get married? And what did I do to ruin it?

Danny: *looking around* Oh my Ancients I'm in the wrong office! I am so sorry! *starts to leave only to back track* By the way your security kinda sucks. I stormed in here, obviously angry, and not once did anyone try to stop me or search me for weapons. I work for a security and bodyguard buisness, I'll leave my card with your assistant if you want to hire more competent gaurds. Sorry again for barging in like that! *leaves, politely shutting the door*

Tim: Tam I need that buisness card, and I need to know everything about that man!

Tam: Tim hes married.

He screamed for help, covering his ears to block out the bat screeching echoing all around him- and curled himself against the stone for any sort of stability.

The wall gave way, and he thought for sure he had died when he woke up in total darkness. Only a distant dripping of water.

His fears were seemingly confirmed when he looked up and saw a single light, not illuminating anything- simply acting as a gentle beacon.

Did his parents see this when they went?

His heart skipped a beat.

Would his parents be on the other side?

His morbid hope turned to a strange sense of horror and relief when he realized his heart skipped a beat.

His heart was beating. He was.. cold, and he was wet. He had water in his socks and he hated water in his socks.

He was horribly uncomfortable and his ankle hurt so bad, and he was alive.

Bruce took a few deep breaths, feeling around, and he realized he was in a shallow puddle.

He dragged himself out, onto smooth hard stone.

His eyes never adjusted, there wasn’t enough of the light-

And he realized the light he saw was an exit.

He tried to run, but he cried out and fell back down, smacking his face hard against the rock and splitting his lip.

Now he was cold and wet and tasted blood, and he hated blood, he hated blood-

Bruce dragged himself towards the faint light sobbing, only to cry in sheer agony when he realized it was too steep.

He lay there for what felt like years, wondering if he was going to die down there alone, wishing someone would please come save him when he heard something else.

A tiny, distant echo..

“Hello?” He called hoarsely, squinting at the light fruitlessly.

…

No, of course not. He was alone.

But then..

“Is someone there?”

Bruce choked on his tears, screaming for help over and over-

“I’m sorry- I- I can’t! I’m.. I’m stuck!”

What?

Oh.. oh no.. Bruce finally registered that the voice was coming from deeper in the cave.

He started to drag himself towards the voice, to hear them better- but he knocked his ankle into a rock and shrieked with pain-

“Stay there! It’s not safe down here, please, stay where you are!”

The voice called, and it was much clearer now than it was before. Bruce curled up on his side and held his leg close, whimpering softly.

He needed to ask.

He needed to ask.

“How- how long have you been stuck?”

Silence.

“I don’t know. I.. I keep seeing the light get way brighter for a few hours, so that must be daytime, and this is nighttime.. so.. a long time I think.”

Bruce shrieked, with fear this time, and the voice was much quicker to respond-

“I- no, it’s ok! You’re going to be ok, I promise, I’m going to help you get out, I just.. I..”

Bruce was still panicking, he didn’t want to die, he just wanted to go home, but home never felt like home anymore, it was why he came out here in the first place.

The voice came back.

“Do you have anything with you?”

Of course he did, his mom and Alfred always told him to be prepared for anything.

He turned out his pockets, feeling for his small pocket knife, a few bandaids, hand sanitizer, and a small ball of twine.

He relays all of this to the mysterious voice, who sounds a lot like an older boy.

“Good! That’s really good, kid, you’re halfway to a flare. Wrap some of the twine into a sort of stick shape, and soak one end with the hand sanitizer. It’s the alcohol kind, right?”

“Yea,” Bruce called back, already finished weaving a small chord keychain like his dad taught him.

He started to squeeze the hand sanitizer bottle; but then he realized something.

“How am I gonna light this?”

“With my lighter. I dropped it on my way down, and if it didn’t flood too bad up there since then, it should still work. It’s metal, so it’ll feel colder than the stones.”

Bruce gingerly set the twine in his pocket, and began feeling along the ground.

It took him several minutes, but as he searched, the voice tried comforting him.

“I know this is scary.. but you’re going to be ok.”

“You don’t know that!” He snapped.

“I do. Because I’m going to get you out. I’m going to save you.”

“Like you saved yourself?”

Silence for a moment. Bruce felt horrible, why would he say that? He was trying to help, and now he was gone, what if he died-

And then.. laughter.

“Aha.. yea, you got me there!”

Bruce wiped his tears and pretended they’d never fallen.

“But hey, you’ve got supplies up there. I’ve got.. well pretty much just the clothes on my back. What’s left of it, anyway.”

Bruce felt sick thinking of what could possibly be keeping the mysterious boy trapped, what he meant by that..

Cold under his hands. Something square.

“I- I found it!” He cried out, scrambling to sit and pull out the chord.

“Yes! I told you, you’re gonna be just fine! Hold the wet end of the chord away from you, then flick the wheel on the lighter. It might take a couple tries, but that doesn’t mean it’s broken!”

Bruce nodded, even though he couldn’t be seen- and soon he was holding fire in his hands.

“I did it! I made a flare!”

“Perfect! Ok, now throw it at the light! Don’t worry, there’s another opening for oxygen on this side- the smoke will go up, not in here!”

Bruce was suddenly very afraid. He wasn’t much of a thrower.

“I.. what if I miss?”

“Then light it again and try again. Don’t give up. Never give up, ok? Giving up is what traps you, not any kind of rocks or broken bones. Never ever give up.”

Bruce took a deep breath, pulled his arm back, and threw as hard as he could.

The flare smacked against the rock wall and rolled down the steep slope.

He almost cried, but he refused to give up.

He pulled himself over and relit the smoldering twine, and threw it again.

And again.

And again.

He grunted with effort, feeling his face heat up and his ankle throb.

I’m not giving up.

He threw it one more time.

And it disappeared into the hole, igniting the sticks and leaves that he had landed on in the well- that was the well! He was still in the well? There’s a cave in the well!?- and illuminating half of the cave.

Bruce saw shimmering stalagmites and stalactites, saw several of the bags had followed him in- he nearly had a heart attack- but they’d simply settled in and started to make their nests.

He looked off to the side with hope and dread, but he still couldn’t see deep enough to get a glimpse of his savior.

“I got it!” He called out, almost smiling.

“Woo!” The boy cheered, not bothering to hide his excitement.

“Now what?”

“Now, sadly, we.. wait. But don’t worry, you lit a fucking well on fire on private property. Someone is gonna come check on it.”

Bruce didn’t worry. Because Alfred would come.

And Alfred would come because Bruce lit a beacon fire.

And Bruce was able to light a fire because of a poor trapped boy who didn’t have an Alfred to come save him.. Did anyone even know he was missing?

“Once we get out, Alfred will help you too,” he promises.

Silence.

“He’s my dad’s.. he’s my butler. But he’s been really good at taking care of me.”

More silence.

And then, “I don’t think I’m getting out of here, kid.”

Bruce frowned. What was he talking about? They were about to be rescued.

“Alfred wouldn’t just leave you here- well maybe he’d have to call some rescue people from the fire department- but we’re not gonna let you wait here all alone either!”

The boy laughed.

“You’re a good kid.. but I’m pretty sure I’m.. stuck.”

Bruce didn’t understand.

“Then we’ll get you unstuck?” He called out.

Silence for a moment.

“Not that kind of stuck, bud..”

Bruce wanted to ask what he meant.

But then he heard what he’d been so desperate for,

“Master Bruce!“

Bruce screamed at the top of his lungs like his mom taught him, words are very difficult to get out loud enough, if you make your voice ring then everyone will look

Alfred’s voice came from much closer, but still so far away- echoing down the well and into the cave.

“Master Bruce, are you down there!?”

“Yes! I’m here!”

“Thank goodness! You, call the fire department at once..”

He must be talking to another member of staff- he must have gotten people together to search for him..

He turned back towards the darkness, “See? You’re gonna be okay too, Alfred’s gonna get us out!”

Silence.

“Hey! Did you hear me?”

Silence.

“Master Bruce, is someone down there with you?” Alfred called.

“Yes! He’s stuck really bad, I think he’s hurt!”

Alfred told someone to make sure they brought two ambulances, not just one.

Alfred kept talking to him, keeping him company for the next half hour while they waited for the fire department to bring a ladder- and then the paramedics carried him up, and he begged them to be careful with his friend because he sounded really really hurt..

They set him down in the ambulance to look over, and he saw the other paramedics leaving the well.

All of the firefighter’s radios went off, and they spat out some kind of code. Bruce wished he knew what it meant.

“Where are they going? Do they need tools?” He asked the lady that was feeling his ankle. He realized she had stopped when the radio went off.

“..Yea. They need to get some special people and equipment.” She looked pale. “Your ankle doesn’t feel broken at all, but I’ll let your guardian know an x-ray would be a good idea. Let’s get you something to drink..”

Bruce realized that Alfred was talking to police officers, and he resisted a recoil of disgust. He really didn’t like cops..

Alfred looked really worried, though.

He came back over to Bruce while the woman was handing him an opened bottle of water.

“I don’t want go to the hospital, Alfred, I wanna wait by the well!” He said earnestly.

Alfred looked just as pale as the paramedic.

“Master Bruce, I..”

Bruce realized he recognized that face.

He thinks he knows what the code meant.

“No..” he started tearing up, “No, I told him we’d wait for him, that he-“

Alfred pulled him into a tight hug.

Bruce felt hollow.

Bruce was taken to the hospital to have his leg x-rayed, and his ankle ended up just being bruised. He was really lucky.

They patched his lip, which he’d somehow forgotten was bleeding- he’d somehow been completely distracted from the horrible blood taste.

His friend had distracted him.

He lay in the hospital bed slowly sipping apple sauce, when Alfred came in with a cop.

Ew.

But then he realized that he recognized this man. He relaxed a bit, recalling soft wool around his shoulders on a cold rainy night.

“Master Bruce, Mr Gordon has a few questions he would like to ask about the cave.”

Bruce nodded.

Mr Gordon sat down in the chair next to Bruce’s bed, and he took a deep breath.

“I wish we could meet again under nicer circumstances,” he said, “You’ve been through too much for.. a lifetime. I don’t want to sit here and make you go over it all again. You’re a smart kid, so I’m not going to beat around the bush like some of the other guys that were on the scene. You deserve the truth before I ask you for anything.”

Bruce was scared. He was confused. He had no idea what was about to come from Mr Gordon’s mouth and he didn’t know if he wanted to know.

Bruce just nodded again.

“When the paramedics went down into the cave, they found a rockslide. They followed it to the bottom.” Mr Gordon gripped his notebook tightly. “They found a skeleton.”

Bruce’s heart sunk. “What?”

“They look to be around teen age, and they were buried halfway under the rockslide. The ME says they must have been over five years dead.”

The rest of the details, the rest of the questions were a blur.

He just nodded and shook his head, offering up only the details about finding the lighter and making the chord flare. He didn’t know what they would think if he said how he learned to do it.

Alfred took him home, and he lay in bed quietly, staring up at the ceiling.

They found a skeleton.

Five years dead.

…

Not that kind of stuck.

The last thing anyone would expect is for the Joker to believe in the supernatural, but apparently Gotham was in luck, because the clown was about to make a deal with the King of all ghosts to revive his prized foe.

Said King was not happy about the request, nor did he care about the clown's feelings, but he knew it was a necessary evil. Or at least, that's what Clockwork told him; of course, Danny didn't intend to do anything for free.

The Joker got his wish, Bruce came back from the dead and Danny wondered what he should do with the clown's soul. With a shrug he decided to put it to the best possible use and wrapped it in a little bow before handing it over to Jason Todd.

Jason thought it was a joke, a cute guy giving him a gift out of nowhere and claiming that the frozen ball in his hand was the Joker's soul? Yeah, right.

However, John Constantine came through Gotham and it became obvious that it wasn't a joke and that the cute guy was more than just a regular guy. It also came with the feature that Bruce returned to the living, which made him strangely relieved.

Danny has found himself as a cat. And there’s good news and bad news about it. The good news is that he’s a magical cat or something similar, seeing as he has two tails and can go Very Big if he wants to. Bad news? He’s pretty sure they’re in a different dimension now. 

Cute news, both Ellie and Jordan are itty bitty kittens and utterly adorable, he would murder for them. They’re so tiny! Like, yeah they got physically de-aged before all this so they could properly pass as his kids- along with part of Dan’s parole- but this? He could hold them in his hands if he still had them! 

…

Wait a minute.

Idea.

If Jason comes up with the idea of (ugh) asking for help (you know after the initial thoughts of 'no one can see him like this' then CW and Gotham are doing everything in their power to make sure they miss the Bats or are just cut off entirely)

Gotham is already a big place and now while theyre all cats? That place is gonna feel huge.

(Unfortunately it seems danny, dan and ellie cant fly anymore. they can still float tho not for long it seems but atleast they can still go thru walls (Danny will ignore the fireball that Dan let out when he sneezed on account of the sneeze being adorable™️) )

Luckily, Jason grew up on these streets. Even as a magic cat, he'll know how to get around.. In fact? it feels EASIER to get around? Danny and the kittens just have to stick close to him.

Oh they cant just get to the Bats to get help? Well it seems they have time. Jason takes Danny sightseeing. The Parks, A nice pet groomer place that "the demon brat mentioned" ,

"i just wish there wasnt so much smog. i kinda miss the stars"

"We could go to the observatory"

"There's an observatory!? Fuck yeah!!"

kitten dan + ellie: "Fuck" >:)

Meanwhile people have been posting picture and videos online of this "adorable little family of cats" that have been seen all around gotham

Now they have a safe place to go back to? Time to go on day trips. Where do you want to see kits? Jason has no idea, but being a good guardian to Jordan and Ellie? Is making Danny feel all giddy. Danny might just be falling for the bad boy with a heart of gold. He's good with his babies! How could he not! Look how happy he made the kittwens!

Jason falls when he watched Danny take out a group of thugs who threatened the Alley kids. Danny was so elegant and precise. Just amazing! He's in love. Doesn't hurt that the kids are walking him through finding his element. Nekomata often have elemental powers. Jordan has fire. Danny and Ellie both use ice. When Jason managed to spit a fire ball? He was so excited. He could breathe fire!

Jason has managed to get Jordan and Ellie on side! They approve of him! He's allowed to court their Mom! Actually, not just accidentally. He's VERY excited. They even helped him plan. Jason has also noticed that many of the Alley residents? Are definitely helping him woo Danny. Which is hilarious and cute and a bit weird. But this IS Gotham. So, it's not that unusual. Now, Jason? Managed to sneak into a local eatery. The chef seemed oddly thrilled to be meeting him. Muttered something about Disney dreams coming true?? But he will take it! Guy cooked up a full meal. For the four of them. Cut up the beef and fried it up nicely. Added some greens. Poured on a thick creamy sauce. Jason has good food to provide! Proving that even as a cat he can provide properly! The chef seemed highly amused when Jason dropped a 100 dollar bill. Jason wasn't gonna make the man suffer a loss! He ain't an asshole!

Jason, with the 'help' of Jordan and Ellie? He managed to set up the front room. Danny was having a nap while he watched the kids. Dan even taught him how to safely light a candle with his fire breath! So, the kittens got their food on a mini version of the set-up for Jason and Danny. It was very cute. Sure it wasn't the fanciest. But he was lacking in hands. Thumbs were probably the part of his human form he missed the most. Being a nekomata wasn't that bad, except for that. Nope! Not the time for mopey thoughts. Time to go wake Danny up. And start flirting. With purpose. Gosh, he was cute sleeping like that. Jason lightly nudged Danny to wake him up. He just knew he would have THE dopiest look on his face right now. Especially when Danny pouted up at him for the disturbance.

Jason: C'mon! I convinced a local chef to make us real food!

Street kids even helped gather things to decorate for a romantic dinner and they would 100% be spying if they could.

Dan and Ellie ? Discreetly trying to take pictures, it's not easy but they're trying, they know their aunts and uncle will want to see it.

A great ending for this would be a family outing to a park. Danny and Jason are happily watching the kids play. And Danny just realises that Jason? Is someone he wants to keep. He wants him to be in his life forever. Wants to date him. Make him part of the family. Have him as the kids Dad. So a random citizen watches, probably recording them. Danny tucks his head under Jason's chin and gives him the cat headbutt of love.

Danny: Even if we never get back to being human. Could we, be together? Would you be the kids Dad?

Jason is of course ecstatic. Yes! Yes that's what he wants! His courting has worked! He rubs his cheek along Danny fondly.

Jason: I'd love that. I adore you and the kids!

The two snuggle, and are suddenly glowing. Then they begin to shift back into human form. Which of course ends with Danny sprawled over Jason's lap. Bright red. The kids tumble over their feet. No longer used to human form. Danny and Jason scramble towards them. Both off balance. Laughing and giddy. What the fuck!?! Really?!?

Danny: Oh my babies! Are you ok? Did the fall hurt?!

Ellie: We're ok Mom! How did we turn back?!?

Jason: You're Mom agreed to date me?

Dan: Wait! Wait! We got turned into cats as some sort of blind date!?!? What the hell!!!!

All four of them are laughing and wobbly. How do you even walk without a tail? Ellie scrunched her nose. This is weird!!!! Suddenly she's a kitten again. Dan focuses too and is also a kitten.

Jason:.... Huh. You think we can do that to?

With their return to human form being filmed? I think Damian would be the first to find out. He has been trying to find them to make friends. He is going to be devastated that one of them was Todd. Give him back his affection! Father! Todd was turned into a magical cat! Call him! He's human again now!

Bruce: How do you know that?

Damian shows him the video. They see Jason and a young man the same age turn back into humans. Looking very surprised but pleased. See the two children turn back. Then be able to access the form again as they please. The video fades out with them trying to relearn to walk on two legs. Well, now not being able to find Jason makes a lot more sense.

---

Jason and Danny get back to the safe house and are just staring at each other. They are grinning widely. Jason tugs Danny's hair softly.

Jason: Y'know? I expected your hair to be blonde?

Danny: I mean. My Nekomata form took my ghost forms colours. Same with these two kittens.

Jason: Huh. Fair enough. I get to see your ghost form?

Danny: Hmm. Later. I want to cuddle first! And let my babies! Look how tiny they are! So cute!!

Jason: Right?! They helped me plan out courting you.

Danny: Really! Oh good, that means you have their approval! Given how we turned back? I think I know who caused this. If I don't get a green sticky note saying otherwise? It was definitely my Clockpa.

Jason: That's your ghost dad right? Wonder why he chose me?

Danny: Well, we can always ask! You did say you've died before. Maybe you have a ghost parent. If you can't remember what happened when you were dead?

Jason: Huh. Fair. One sec. I'm gonna see if my phone is still in my pocket.

Jason searches his jacket. Yup, that's his phone. Still somehow charged. Huh, whatever caused this out it in suspended animation or something. Weird. Ooft. That's a lot of messages. Annnd, that's B calling. Urgh. Fuck it.

Jason: Love? B has sent, hundreds of messages. You and the kittens ok if I call him?

Danny: Of course! We can even say hi if you do a video call!

Damian is convinced that the Kittens are Jason’s bio kids due to their size being that of a kitten under C weeks old ie less than the amount of time Jason has been missing.

That video is online, right? Does anyone recognize them or do the think that the magic cats’ love for each other caused them to spontaneously gain the ability to transform into humans?

Are people excited? Angry? Confused?

I’m hoping this is before Jason was legally back to life and shortly after Danny + kids moved to Gotham that way there isn’t really anyone to recognize them other than their family and Gotham just accepts they have a Magic Cat Family now.

(plus it would be funnier if the public began to be like JASON TODD-WAYNE WAS REINCARNATED INTO A MAGIC CAT?!?! THEN BECAME HUMAN AGAIN!!! GUYS WE BROUGHT BRUCE WAYNES SON BACK TO HIM!!)

Meanwhile the bats are freaking tf out because in the weeks Jason's been gone he apparently fathered 2 children and started a romance with a magical interdimensional being

Bruce saw the video pop up. With his son and the unknown being cuddled into his side. The children on their laps staring at him in fascination. Well, this would be interesting.

Jason: So. Guessing someone filmed us turning back?

Danny: The citizens have been watching our every public move love.

Bruce: They did yes. Do either of you have any idea what happened?!

Danny: I have a suspicion. Sadly I don't have proof. I need to go track down my adoptive Dad. It was PROBABLY him. But, he would have needed help. So...

Bruce: I see. And the children? Are, we're they?

Danny: Jordan and Ellie are mine. Their biological father is in prison. He will never be allowed near MY babies. Never again. They are coming up on six!

Jason: Yeah. Dan here taught me how to spit fireballs. gotta say, the only downside to being a cat? Was the lack of thumbs.

Ellie: We can still be cats though! Gotta practise so the change is easier though.

Bruce: Right. So. Your adoptive father is sufficiently powerful to change you into a new species? And decided to target my son as well?

Jason: Given we changed back after we agreed to date?

Danny: Yeah... I get the feeling Clockpa wanted to play matchmaker.

Bruce: Right. Do you need anything to contact him to ask?

Danny: Oh, he'll show up sooner or later to brag of it was him.

Dan:... If Jason is gonna be out Dad? Does that mean you're gonna be out Grandad!

Jason got the absolute joy of watching Bruce freeze. B visibly needed to take a moment to process that. Jason dropped a kiss on Dan's head for that. Glorious little mischief maker.

Jason: I mean. B IS my adoptive Dad. So yeah. When I convince your Mom to marry me.

Ellie: Sweet! We get a normal Grandad too! Clocky is so weird!

Dan: Uhuh. Fun though!

Danny: You love him. Dramatic time piece that he is!

Jason: B. Send Alfie over? I'm not sure if I can drive yet. My legs are still a bit wobbly. I want him to meet Danny and the kittens.

Jason then quickly hung up and grinned down at Danny and the kids. That should keep B nicely off balance. He sent a message on the family group chat as well. With a selfie of them on the sofa. Dan had retreated to Nekomata form. Ellie was cuddling him and say in their laps. Danny pecked him on the cheek just as the camera went off. It was a perfect way to cause chaos.

---

Now! To answer on my thoughts about the reveal? If the person filming was close enough? They heard them mention it being a curse of some sort. So people know they were human before. Somehow were both cursed, and met after. Falling in love and confessing broke the curse. Now, the biggest question Gotham has? Was it really a curse. Or was some higher being playing matchmaker really weirdly. Who were they? Was, was that Jason Todd-Wayne? Recently declared not dead actually™? Does Brucie now have a son in law and grandkids?!

A) it’s funnier

and B) it makes it easy to explain away a lot of stuff:

None of them have any legal paperwork with their current identities (assuming Jason isn’t revived, Danny changed his name, and the kids don’t officially exist)? Of course they don’t, they were once cats!

They get extremely hostile and wary around certain people? It’s the animal instincts! They can sense danger!

They often act weird and not quite human? They’re not human! They’re magic cats!

One of the looks suspiciously like Jason Todd? Bam! People are going insane wondering if this counts as proof of reincarnation!

They real interesting question would be how the public would help them enter society. Do they need lessons on how to be human? Should we crowdfund them an apartment? Do they wanna go to school or get jobs? Should they let Bruce adopted his reincarnated son and his cat fam? Would Batman take them in and make them sidekicks? Should we protect them in a nature reserve? Should we get them protected species status? Fight the government for custody if they try anything?

It's just, uh, happening out in the open, here, which means that it's an opportunity for the Justice League to get some precidents in place for a government to provide legal identification for magical entities that spontaneously became human! A potential win for the good guys!

It’s Vicki Vale harassing Danny and the kids about getting an early interview. He looks super uncomfortable and wants to leave when one of the kids hisses at her and the other chomps on her leg.

It should be noted they were all in human form when this happened.

Vicki cried out and Danny made his move. He snatched up his kids, yelled “Sorry! Not day lady!”, and booked it out of there.

Then the video turned back to the person recording as the struggled to hold in laughter.

“I guess the cat instincts are still strong!” They say between giggles before the video cuts out.

They do eventually get visited by Clockwork and Lady Gotham. Jason is not going to complain about the fact his ghost Mom played matchmaker. He got Danny and the kids from it. Danny is just irritated that he wasn't given any information on the new dimension before being dumped here!

Alfred of course drove all four of them to the manor so he could meet them. He has also pulled up all of the videos of them online. He wants to watch their courtship to get a feel for their relationship. Seeing them like that makes it much easier to accept. Watching them now? Makes it even easier. They are clearly besotted.

Dan and Ellie make use of their new forms to thoroughly explore the manor. Playing hide and seek as kittens is even better than in human form! Also! Papa Jay has so many siblings? They get more family? Sweet! Adults to extort for treats! Adults who aren't used to their bullshit yet! Mwahahaha!