Danny knew he was adopted. The Fentons had never kept it from him. He’d been five when he was adopted. Danny though, he’d kept from his adoptive parents some of the weird things he could do. Mainly his super hearing and super strength. Thank goodness for Tucker, who Danny could use to match how much strength he should use. It didn’t help that Jack Fenton was stronger than the average person. Once Danny half died, he could basically pretend that all of his powers came from being a half ghost. Scarily, half dying had made his very well hidden powers even stronger.
Danny mostly survived on coffee and sunlight until that fateful day.
At first it was yelling. Screaming. Accusations. Grief.
Then came the anger. The anger was what had caused the first ectogun blast in his direction.
Once the first shot had been fired, neither parent held back. He needed to get out. He left, flying far and fast till he made it to the park. He collapsed, tears dripping down his face.
Danny snapped his head up. Floating next to him was Clockwork.
“They hate me. They hate me. I’m their son. Their SON! Why? How?” he wailed.
“I am sorry. It was… a future that was likely to occur,” the elder ghost admitted. “It was presumptuous of me to put you here, in this world. I have had a soft spot for you. You have always been my favorite among the many beings I have watched throughout time. Your parents as well. I had hoped… to spend more time with you, and for you to experience what a close to normal life is like. I had… have other intentions as well.”
“I am a flawed being. I am selfish, even though many would assume that I am uncaring. Do you… do you wish to return to your birth parents? I will return you to a point in time where your parents can take care of you, and where your existence has the potential to bring them together,” the time ghost offered.
“Sure,” Danny said bitterly between tears. “Living with them has to be better than this.”
“Had I not removed you, it would have been worse than your life here. When I am returning you… it will be better than this dimension. I warn you, you will not be exactly the same as you are in this dimension.”
“Do it. I don’t care. They have to be better parents than the Fentons.”
“Very well Danny. I wish you all the best, and shall do what I can to make your new life as smooth as possible. Any obstacles you face will be because they are necessary.” Clockwork removed the medallion from around Danny’s neck, and he knew no more.
Tim fiddled with his pocket watch. He was arriving with Conner. WITH CONNER. The world was going to know that they were dating. They’d been dating for about three years now, but as Robin and Superboy. It had also been something they’d tried to keep secret. Obviously Bart and Cassie knew, along with Tim’s family. There was no way they’d be able to keep that a secret from the Bats. They’d told Clark after a few months. He’d likely already known, his super senses detecting it.
Together, they exited the limo, Tim holding out his hand to take Conner’s as his boyfriend exited the vehicle. Take that assholes who were going to assume things based on size. They both ignored the flashes, walking arm in arm into the gala. It was a fundraiser for endangered animals that Damian was putting on, which meant that Tim should show up. All of his siblings were here too. This was probably going to be a bigger deal for Conner than it was for Tim, as Tim had been out already for some time and had prominently dated some men and some women.
Conner hadn’t been out for long, just a few months.
Publicly at least.
Lex, the asshole, had offered them the use of some of the cloning pods, should they want kids. Neither could mention that they’d had one. While Conner was presumed dead, Tim had… gone off the rails. Just a bit. When none of the clones of Conner were working, were living, he’d gotten the idea in his head that he could make a child. Their child. That way at least some part of Conner could live one.
The little boy had been beautiful.
Pretty blue eyes that had taken after Conner’s. A nose that was all Tim’s but a radiant smile and giggle that was Conner. He’d been strong too, when he’d gripped Tim’s finger. Tim had named him Daniel. That made it so his Kryptonian name could be Dan-El. He was perfect.
High off of the success of creating a son made from himself and Conner, he’d gone back to trying to clone his best friend, his crush. Sometime in his madness… he’d misplaced Daniel? Tim… didn’t know. His notes on the matter were incomplete. He’d broken the news to Conner, that he’d tried to clone him. His best friend had been upset, rightly so. Conner had been furious when he’d found out about Daniel and that Tim had lost him.
Conner hadn’t spoken to Tim for nearly seven months.
It had taken time and work before Conner was willing to let Tim back into his life.
He was grateful every single day that Conner decided Tim was worth it, that they could be friends again. He never could have imagined that Conner could forgive him and eventually ask him out. The last three years had been bliss. They celebrated every year on April 3rd, the day Tim had removed Daniel from the artificial womb. Neither had told their parents or their families about Daniel. It was too painful. They’d mourned their son’s fifth birthday together just two months ago.
Smiling for the camera, they entered the ballroom. Damian had decorated it in green and gold, his usual colors. It worked well for a fundraiser about animals. Rao, had Damian brought out Batcow? Yes, yes he had. Conner snorted.
“I wasn’t expecting to see a cow today. Almost thought I was back in Smallville,” Conner said.
“You know Damian. He loves his animals, and I’m sure he’s thrilled to be showing off his pets.”
Conner leaned in to kiss his cheek. That wouldn’t do. They kissed a few times, off in the corner of the ballroom. They had to pull apart before it came too heated. There was a time and a place for jumping his boyfriend. Damian might give him a new stab wound if they did that.
“How much did you bring to donate?” Tim asked as they made their way to the silent auction. Conner hummed.
“He dropped another cool million into my account. I barely use any of it. He gives me one hundred thousand a month as an allowance. What am I going to do with that? How can he expect me to spend it?” Conner complained.
Conner’s relationship with Lex was complicated, but so was his relationship with Clark. It didn’t sound like real complaining though. It was similar to how Tim complained that Alfred would switch his coffee to decaf and then Bruce would try to send him to bed.
They pursued the silent auction. Conner happily bid on some ridiculous looking art pieces. Tim wanted a sculpture of the Justice League. It would look nice, in their apartment in Metropolis. It wouldn’t fit with the vibe of their apartment in Gotham. They needed both. Even if Conner could fly between the two cities in an instant, Conner Luthor needed an apartment in the city. There was also a pair of tickets to a musical in Gotham. That would make a nice date night, if he got them. Conner would probably appreciate seeing Six: The Musical. Or a separate pair for Hamilton when it came to the city in a month.
The auction began, the announcer calling out the items. Conner bid on the dog treadmill. If he got it, it would only be a matter of time before they got a dog. Tim wanted a pet, but he preferred a cat. A cat could be left alone for a day or two, while a dog needed a lot more attention. The two of them flagged down a passing waiter, stocking up on the appetizers. Having their fill, they wandered to one of the french doors that opened to the garden. This section of the garden was filled with roses. There were climbing roses that snaked up the lamp posts and the wooden archways. They framed the white marble benches along the brick path.
It had not been changed since Martha Wayne had redesigned it decades ago.
The two lovers talked for a while, enjoying themselves and their outing. It was nice to no longer have to hide and to be free to show affection for each other. Their conversation halted when there was a knocking on the glass panes. They turned around, seeing a young boy. He had black, fluffy hair and ethereal blue eyes. His skin was bronze and he was barefoot and in beige pants and a shirt. The little boy couldn’t have been older than five. He looked up at them pleadingly. It was hot and humid outside. Poor thing was probably getting bit by mosquitoes.
They were Kryptonian blue.
Five year old boy. Kryptonian eyes. Tim’s nose. Conner’s mouth.
“Daniel?” Tim whispered, awed.
