Bruce pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes. He’s usually not one for such an open sign of distress, but he feels in this case it was warranted. And he was having such a peaceful morning, too.
“Did she just write ‘yeti doctor’?”
Bruce’s head snaps up at Steph’s voice, looking once again at the letter on the screen. “Dear Mister Wayne,” it reads, and that is where normalcy ends. “Thank you so much for taking in Danny, I was so worried when he had to escape our parents.” Which is already an extremely worrying sentence. Made even more worrisome with the fact that there is no Danny currently residing in his manor.
His family is in chaos. Tim has three screens in front of him, ranting about living firewalls to Barbara, while Dick leans over his shoulder.
Alfred has lifted a thick three-ring binder out of the care package that this Jasmine Nightingale has sent them, and is flipping through it. Apparently this binder contains all of the medical, psychological, and cultural information needed to make sure that Danny’s species can thrive. Because the missing teen that should be in his manor is not human, but some sort of human/ghost hybrid.
“Father, I think this warrants an emergency meeting with the Justice League.” His youngest says. “There is currently a government agency hunting Cujo and Daniel, citing laws that directly counter the Meta Human Protection Acts. This cannot stand.” Cujo, the green glowing, 10 foot ghostdog that delivered the package and letter this morning by density shifting into the dining room during breakfast. Damian was of course attached.
“Uh, Alfred?” Duke starts form where he and Jason have been emptying the care package, “there’s a huge first aid kit here, but most of it is glowing.” Jason, of course, is turning the high tech laser pistols over in his hands, getting a feel for the handling and grip.
Bruce let’s his eyes skim over the letter again, his eyes catching on words like “Ghost King”, “Infinite Realms”, and “vivisection”. “I know it takes Danny a while to open up,” the letter reads, “so I’m beyond grateful that he feels safe enough with you.” Except he doesn’t, because Danny is not here. Somewhere out on the streets of Gotham is a half dead teenager, hurt and alone. And Bruce didn’t know. Didn’t know any of it until his sister sent him a care package, because apparently this kid has lied to his sister that he’s safe, that he found somewhere to stay.
He doesn’t notice the sudden hush behind him until Jason breaks it. “Is that fucking Lazarus Water?!” Bruce lowers his head back into his hands.
“I will prepare a room for the young master.” Alfred sniffs as his footsteps go towards the elevator. “I’m finding this kid.” Jason answers, leaving towards the lockers “Wait, Little Wing! I’m coming with!” Well, at least Dick can hopefully keep Jason in line. He prays to Rao this doesn’t mean he has to deal with a half-ghost, immensely powerful teen that struggles with Pit Rage.
A small hand lands on Bruce’s shoulder. He looks up into the sparkling eyes of his daughter. “New brother”, she grins.
From @augundy's tags: #this is very himbo of danny#I approve#though I feel like he probably made up this lie on the spot while on the phone with Jazz and feeling incredibly stressed out and/or in pain#and/or extremely tired#and then he might've forgot about it after
From @geekyrie in the notes: "Bruce's first order of business is finding the teen he's supposed to take care of. The second order of business is most likely to ground him for giving him a heart attack, probably."
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All in all, Danny’s life is going pretty well. Sure, he’s homeless on the streets of Gotham, but he hasn’t seen a white van in a few weeks, he can phase into gyms to use the showers, and he just found a coupon for a free fro-yo! So, yeah, life is great!
Which is of course when weird things start happening to him. He should have known it wouldn’t last. He’s just enjoying his fro-yo – blueberry, hell yeah – when a car passes him, breaks with tires squealing, and drives onto the sidewalk, coming to a stop uncomfortably close. It’s a nice car though, very sleek. Danny wonders what kind of engine it has, and if someone would notice if he took a look under the hood.
He never gets that chance. Instead a tall man with broad shoulders steps out of the car. He looks mad, and he looks specifically at Danny. Whelp, better keep moving then! Danny focuses hard on the next bite, looking down, and starts power-walking out of there.
“Daniel Thomas Nightingale-Wayne!”
Wait, what? He looks back to the tall man in the suit, and yeah, he’s still looking at Danny. More people stopped at the commotion, aaaaaaand great, here come the phone cameras. Tall man is walking towards him and Danny really doesn’t want to cause a scene, right now. Also the man is familiar. Somewhere.
“Where have you been?” oh, the man is still talking to him, “We’ve been looking all over for you. You can’t just disappear for six days.”
Again, what? “I’m sorry?” He tries, “also, I think you ha-”
“I appreciate the apology, chum, but you’re still grounded.”
“Wha- Grounded?!”
The man, wait – Wayne? Bruce Wayne?! Why would billionaire and himbo Brucie Wayne think he’s one of his kids? Mister Wayne crouches down, not caring about the dirty sidewalk and places his hands on Danny’s shoulders. “Sweetheart,” he starts and Danny absolutely does not melt, nope, “your sisters have been worried sick. Jason is stress-baking, Tim hasn’t slept in three days, and Damian has been – well you know Damian doesn’t show it, but I know he’s been worried.”
Danny is so confused. And now confused and slightly guilty. He doesn’t even know these people! Does he?
“Now come on, get in the car. I think Alfred was making one of your favorites for dinner tonight, and you can call your sister when we get to the manor.” Wayne’s hand on his shoulder is gentle and warm as he guides him, nothing like Vlad’s bruising grip.
“You talked to Jazz?” He asks as he’s deposited into the passenger’s side.
“Oh yes,” Wayne says, with a weird twinkle in his eye, “she’s been waiting to talk to you.”
And oh, oh no, that does not sound good at all.
---
Meanwhile the Gothamites are having a blast. Brucie Wayne full-naming someone only happens when his kids really messed up. Like, Richard swinging from the not-enforced chandelier in Mrs. Plotnik’s mega yacht messed up. Also this kid is obviously homeless. Does Bruce really get empty nest syndrome so bad that he’s now picking up random kids off the streets? The Waynes are so weird.
