Night Black Owl Bat

Danny and Jason knew each other as kids and did a little kiddie wedding as children like to do- playing at getting married. They didn’t like the traditional vow of “till death do us part” so they changed it. Only it is Gotham and somehow their little ceremony ends up being actually magically binding.

Years later life has separated them the way Death no longer can. Danny’s family moved away. Jason got adopted. They drift apart. Emails becoming shorter and less frequent until the media blackout around Amity Park stops them altogether. Friends fall out of touch. It happens.

They meet as little kids in Gotham and have their puppy love romance until life drifts them apart. Then Jason dies and Death lures Danny into the portal to have the accident so they can meet again as ghosts.

Phantom and ghost Robin have a whirlwind romance- maybe even deciding to ghost elope until for some reason the portal gets shut down with Jaybin stuck in the realms. Danny is heart broken but eventually tries to move on. But unbeknownst to him, the portal closing means Death had to let Jason go back to life because Death cannot be what parts them.

Danny somehow ends up back in Gotham and he and Red Hood get together. But then Danny sees Damian Robin and mistakes him for Jaybin and decides he needs to get a ghost divorce so he can pop the question to Hood. Jason doesn’t remember his time as a ghost so there’s shenanigans as Phantom is seen as a crazy new rogue calling himself Robin’s ghost husband.

Also I kinda want to mention that Danny would be in a different world, where time there moves faster than DC, cuz otherwise Jason would be 30 by the time Danny was 15 and my brain can't imagine Jason as older than 24 lol, especially since that would make Bruce in his mid 50s 😬

Broken Things

...

The place is bright. Jason swings on a vine from the upper branches of the massive fruit tree, rolling onto the deck of his tree house. He pulls out a pomegranate from his pocket, cracking it open as he approaches the library and settles in for to do some reading.

The doorbell rings. Jason grins, greeting the being. He throws on a jacket, taking its hand as they walk along bridge. The world is getting bri-

The bridge shakes and it almost feels like he's being pulled as he's suddenly dangling over the edge of the bridge. Fear spikes in his chest, a cry passing his lips as the being maintains a firm grip on his arm.

Pressure builds on both sides. His flesh is tearing and stretching. His bones crack under the strain.

Something gives.

Something falls.

Someone rises.

Someone cries.

Someone lives.

Someone dies.

...

Danny was always a little odd, always felt like something was missing. Jazz blamed it on their parents. Said it would be different when they left this town.

But no. Danny knew he was missing something.

Sometimes Danny would dream. He dreamed of flying. He dreamed of fighting monsters. He dreamed of a kind eyes holding out a hand.

He dreamed of laughter that made him wake up sweating.

...

Jason clutches his head, laughter and crying and screaming voices drowning out the gasping last breaths of the bloody bodies scattered around him. Talia is arguing with Ras, sword drawn, as she injects him with a sedative.

...

Danny is burning, being torn apart again, being reborn again.

He drags himself out of the swirling green, into the empty lab. A faint tug on somewhere in his being settled in the back of his mind.

...

Jason stares at the broken body of his latest tutor. I'm a monster, so I'll kill the other monsters.

...

Danny floats above amity, exhausted, rhe burning of his latest injury from the house security makes him want to cry in frustration. He wants to leave Amity, leave Phantom. It's not like he has anything to lose. His grades are fucked. His only friends are staying with him out of guilt and pushing him to "take responsibility" for the consequences of his death.

...

Jason is clutches his throat, hot blood spirting through his fingers. The joker falls Jason's ears ringing with the unintentional shot. He sinks over the body, darkness spotting his vision, as the building shakes with explosions.

...

Danny runs through the house, barely dodging blasts. With a cry of relief he throws himself into the lab, sealing the door behind him running for the portal. His go bag is pulled through the floor, a long hidden control panel manipulated for a second before he jumps through the portal into the realms.

...

Roy gives Jason his signature grin as the traffickers hotel burns.

...

Clockwork pats Danny on the head motioning towards the natural rift.

...

Jason can't sleep. Something tugs incessantly inside his chest.

...

Danny: Dude, I'm walking around with a cane. I have obvious medical issues. You think I have money?

Mugger: Shut up! If you don't do what I say, I'll sell your organs!

Danny: Again, medical issues. Who would buy organs that were already failing?

Mugger: Fine! This death is on you-

Batman: *dropping onto the mugger and beating him to pulp*

Danny: Ancients beyond! *pick up dropped gun* Sir. Sir, he's unarmed now.

Batman: Drop that or you get what he's having.

Danny: Oh. *puts gun down slowly* Thanks for saving me. I'm just gonna-

Mugger: HELP ME

Danny: What you want me to do? Fight Batman? I have serious medical issues! I can't beat him.

Batman: Go home.

Danny: I'm going home.

Mugger: No! DON'T LEAVE ME! WHAT ABOUT GOTHAM UNITY!?

Danny wobbling away rapidly: I'm sorry! I have to put myself first! I only moved to this city because of Wayne's medical forgiveness program.

Batman: Is that so?

Danny: *wobbles faster* Please dont take a interest in me, sir! I have enough problems as it is!

Batman: ....

Danny rounds the corner as the screams of the mugger increase: I have to put myself first. Don't look back. He belongs to the Dark Knight now. There was nothing I could do.

Three days later:

Jazz: Danny! This is a miracle!All of your medical bills were paid!

Danny: What!? By who!?

Jazz: Bruce Wayne! Apparently, Batman told him about you.

Danny, in a low whisper of terror: Give back the money.

Jazz: What?

Danny: Give it back. I do not want Batman's attention. He's a menace. Im unarmed 90% of the time, and he will not care.

Jazz: What?????

Danny, closing the blinds: Do you think he knows where we live!?

Jazz: Are you scared of Batman?

Now, Imagine if it's THAT time period where Barbara was shot, blue eyed black haired boy with disabilitys that will STOP him from ever becoming Robin, the "IF Jason survived" having this amount of physical problems, I want Bruce to spiral and hyper focus on Danny and bring in Jazz as a treat😋, if the looks match enough, a never chair bound Barbara, a smart, capable and already fighter with some training that will never left her brother's side, that can be trained and thought and more with the guarantee that she will never use her skill to fight but to protect, defend, the idea of having not only "what could it been" Barbie and Jay/Dick in one, he won't leave his side, he won't run away to fight in the streets, he won't condemn himself the way Bruce did, the way he condemned his boys and his friend's daughter.

Danny without hero complex but keeping his powers can be trained but never let out on the streets, if this is bad fenton parents or nasty burger incident without jazz, their only support system is each other, maybe Danny's friends but they can only do much so far away leaving them vulnerable to the protective yet manipulative care from bruce because no matter how smart Jazz is Bruce is smarter and has connections and money that will make living easier for her little brother and gave her the chance to study and experience life accidentally leaving space for Bruce to occupy.

But also, Dick comes back only to see this pair of siblings will not only break his heart but also make him see RED, "Bruce not only replaces me but also Babs and Jason?!" (If Tim spoke with him about batman going insane and coming back is left open, but if not?) He will Not take it out on the Fentons the same he never did on Tim, there's no third Robin, no reason to be jealous, the siblings obviously were struggling with Danny's health and money and happened to catch his attention, if Jason ever comes back he can hate all he wants but what can he do? Go out of his way to beat up a sick kid that didn't do anything to deserve it? The kid is not Robin, no out fighting crime, not actively replacing him like Tim tried, his only mistake was being adopted by Bruce Wayne, how is that punishable? Specially by a man that already adopted 2 boys, the girl may not even be that important in his plans in the first place seeing as the LOA most likely filled his head with the same misinformation they did in canon, all that is left is the joker and conquest Crime Alley, with the siblings occupying more of Bruce attention (they are trying to heal him, help him mourn and communicate, Jazz more than Danny since his approach is more juvenile like games together or homework or attempts of cooking that is supposed to help relax and will came out wrong but distract nonetheless) while Bruce may be aware of what they are doing he in not opposed to it, may even enjoy the time spent together, with the criminals in jail and busy (he tried to kill joker in canon and HAD to be physically stopped by superman, he may not kill but you can't tell me he didn't beat his other rogues black and blue like the common criminals, specially if taunting him about his dead bird, broken bones are expected, the smarter ones are hiding and praying 🙏).

Damian's situation may be worse or better depending on how they interact, I don't think he will take out his fury and insecurities on Danny like he did Tim. How is this weak, sick, poor bumbling fool supposed to threaten his position as the true blood heir of the Bat mantle, Wayne fortune and Al ghul Royalty? his life goals and current condition have him as nothing more than support and machinery at worse maybe a capable inventor at best, even Phantom powers are something he may be wary but disregard with his superior knowledge and experience if he is not out as phantom and only once in a while like emergency and such and with the Fenton's anti ghost technology that is Definitely in the bat cave just in case, that Damian WILL found out has him even more confident in his victory and position over him, if Danny actively avoids confrontation and stays as support like Alfred they could learn to at least work together and be okay with each other, his weird green glowing puppy just make him easier to tolerate.

No, the biggest threat in his eyes are not the absent disowned first son or the allegedly dead second son or the third sick son, no, the biggest threat is the First Daughter, not only is she being trained on All sorts of martial arts, she has superior physical prowess and senses, with a higher IQ and EQ she is actively studying everything Bruce is teaching her and more, if her backstory is accurate and body continues to develop and grow she may turn up as big as her mother taller and stronger than average, maybe halfway her father's height and durability capable of going through solid walls of steel and concrete and strength capable of carrying tons of weight or even bigger and stronger than that, he will actively try to get rid of her but has less opportunities that he had for Tim since she is not actively putting herself in dangerous situations and Bruce breathing down his neck is not helpful, at worse he will attempt murder or accidents like Tim at best he will dismiss her as a bodyguard for her brother🥀.

I don't know how to integrate Tim since he didn't force his way into the family since the unorthodox (in his knowledgeable opinion🫠) attempts of the siblings to calm or occupy Batman worked, maybe as the weird but nice neighbor's kid friend of Danny? Damian can be aware of him and attempt to fight him but that's a game with no reward (you fight him, you win, you get in trouble because there's no way and untrained no gadgets Tim isn't severely injured, even if he was trained by lady Shiva like in canon they will NOT know that and still come out grounded or punished or something) the Bruce lost in the Timeline can be fixed if Danny is capable of contacting Clockwork or would and getting there or since there's no Tim on a Bruce quest and no one knows or thinks about it he sends a note to Danny himself about it, it won't only be Tim actively being sabotage but the BatFam as a whole on the quest and coming out on top.

Like the idea that he’d see Danny as a substitute for a Jason who survived with crippling injuries and treat him like a broken bird he could keep “safe” in a gilded cage? Someone powerless enough that he can keep him from ever leaving him? Chilling.

And using Jazz as a substitute Batgirl after Babs is shot is utterly diabolical- especially since I think he’d see it as a means to control her brother. Danny very clearly distrusts Bruce and outright fears Batman. But he is reliant on his big sister, and Jazz is a teacher’s pet and doesn’t have his same issues with billionaires and authority figures. She just wants Danny taken care of- if that means she needs to be Batgirl to get him access to top of the line medical treatment then so be it.

Bruce is so clearly abusing his power over these two vulnerable kids. Manipulating Jazz. Basically blackmailing her into being a vigilante. Controlling Danny. Not letting him leave the house. I think I’m kind of in love with the idea of Tim going to Dick and telling him his dad has lost his mind and taken two kids hostage to replace Batgirl and Jason.

This has the potential to be so so scary. Being at Batman’s mercy. Being in Bruce’s all encompassing cage. No escape. He’s forcing Danny’s big sister to fight. He’s keeping Danny captive. He’s always watching. How far will he go?

“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.

Batman: I need the summoning ritual for the ghost king

Constantine: bloody hell. Why?

Batman: to ground him.

Or:

Damian: Never fear Cujo. We shall ensure the safety of yourself and your master Daniel Fenton. In the meantime would you like to play fetch?

Cujo: fetch? Fetch Danny! Okay!

I was sorta inspired by these comments:

Constantine: you can't ground the Ghost King??? Batman: hn (translation: watch me)

Jason has been doing this fake dating/marriage scheme for a while now, and it’s actually been going pretty well. He was suspicious as hell when the nonhuman- Danny- first approached him claiming he could cure Lazarus pit side effects in exchange for a year and a day of this farce but the results spoke for themselves.

And living with Danny- pretending to date him- doing the whole married life thing, it was surprisingly nice. Maybe sometimes too nice. Danny was nice. And sweet, and handsome, and understanding. And open. The only things he asked Jason not to pry into, as part of their deal even, was what kind of being Danny actually was, and why he needed the fake relationship in the first place.

But Jason couldn’t help that Danny slipped up some times. Jason couldn’t help that he was curious. He was a detective, or at least raised by one. And really, what’s a boundary to a bat? And when he came to his conclusion, oh how his heart ached for Danny. He wanted to offer solace. To let him know he understood. So he did.

Jason broke the taboo and admits he knows Danny is dead. But here is the fun angsty part. Because Danny wasn’t fully dead, but since Jason pushed? Now he will be.

(Turns out Danny had done a ritual to close the portal and keep all the ghosts on the other side. Only he didn’t account for the fact that he is also part ghost- the spell will drag him into the infinite realms and trap him there until his living half withers and he is as dead as the rest of them. Unless he breaks the curse through fairytale trial: he must exist in ghost form for a year and a day without his spouse finding out what he is.)

Just picture this scene- a domestic moment between the two. They’ve become closer through this arrangement, feelings have begun to bloom. They’ve shared moments of emotional intimacy, quiet understanding. And then

Jason looks at Danny, at his glowing green eyes and says “You’re dead, aren’t you?”

And Danny- suddenly his hair is black and his feet are on the ground- he’s breathing harshly and there’s a look of panic and utter heartbreak on his face. “No, no- I just wanted to live.”

And Jason is confused because it looks like Danny just revived, shouldn’t he be happy?

But Danny isn’t looking at him. He’s staring at something behind Jason with utter terror. “I just wanted to have a life free from being a hero! Please just let me live!”

Jason turns and sees an eldritch rip in reality- a gaping maw full of teeth and grasping hands and tendrils and it speaks with a thousand voices- “You’ve already died little Halfa. You’ve borrowed enough time amongst the living. Come now to be whole.”

And Jason tries but he can do nothing as Danny is dragged through the hole, begging for his life- “Please, I don’t want to be dead.”

And a feathery tendril wipes his tears and the whispers croon “So? You’re not special. But I will be kind. Sleep now. Sleep through your living half joining the rest of you. You’re in for a slow second death, so sleep.” And Danny does. He’s pulled through and the tear in reality closes.

And Jason, just like the lady of the fairytale, decides to go save Danny from his fate. It is a quest through the ghost zone gathering ghostly allies, trinkets and favors until he makes it to the castle where he must use all he’s learned to wake Danny from his sleep and break him free of his curse.

How? I don’t know. But I’ve seen so many stories where Danny teaches Jason to be a halfa, maybe we need a bit of the reverse. Jason helping Danny to become less of a halfa and more like him; a true mix of living and dead.

Like?? Tell me that doesn’t sound just like Batman. The strange meta who cured your pit rage in exchange for fake dating asked you not to look into his past? He’s really sweet and you like him? Suspicious!! If it’s too good then it must be a trap. He’s tricking you. You must betray his trust and learn everything about him.

Augh, the tension! The slow burn! The conflicted feelings as Jason wavers between wanting to trust this guy he’s falling in love with and the bat-instilled paranoia that everything good is actually out to get you. Well, probably not entirely bat-instilled. At least half of that paranoia is Jason Todd original.

And then the guilt and horror- like Orpheus looking back to see if Eurydice is still with him and by doing so dooming her forever. Like, good job Jason, you’ve confirmed Danny has been nothing but truthful and open to the extent that he can. Congratulations, you can finally trust him enough to allow your feelings for him to the surface. Only it’s too late. You blew it. If only you had respected his boundaries for the allotted period, the curse would’ve been broken and you could’ve been together with no secrets between you!

I just love and hate when the Hero has that moment of utter “Oh no, what have I done?”

And when Jason decides fuck it, I fucked it up and now it’s my job to fix it? How do the other Bats react? Do they say it’s too late, too dangerous? Does Jason tell them he’s going to save Danny and there’s nothing they can do to stop him? Or do they recognize their part in all this from pushing their suspicions? Do they help set up the rescue mission? Prepare the med bay for his hopeful return?

And the quest itself has so much potential as Jason interacts with other ghosts from the show, getting more context and exposition from each of them. Ooh, here’s another idea. What if Danny in the beginning had his own guilt and internal conflict about forcing the ghosts back to the zone? Then during Jason’s quest we can see how the ghosts don’t actually blame him after all and are actually helping Jason to save him. The feels! Especially when Jason tells him this as he’s recovering after the rescue.

All of these thoughts just yesssss

And maybe the longer Jason takes to save Danny, the more at risk he is of being trapped there too like aaahhhhh

“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.

Batman: I need the summoning ritual for the ghost king

Constantine: bloody hell. Why?

Batman: to ground him.

Or:

Damian: Never fear Cujo. We shall ensure the safety of yourself and your master Daniel Fenton. In the meantime would you like to play fetch?

Cujo: fetch? Fetch Danny! Okay!

I was sorta inspired by these comments:

"Is he supposed to be a student?" Tucker whispered to them, eyeing at the new 'transfer' student, Jason Todd, who seemed unfazed at the attention as Mr. Lancer made brief introductions.

Okay, so I just had an absolutely wonderful idea.

I've seen stories where Danny possesses things, and occasionally he gets stuck while possessing them.

Hear me out.

What if Danny got stuck possessing a FatsonTodd plushie?

And somehow, Jason gets his hands on the plushie and decides to keep it, not knowing it's currently being possessed.

And let's just say Danny has a big old crush on Red Hood and is actually the one who made the plushie.

(I just had to lol) But anyway, I could see Jason using this fugly ass plushie as like, his rubber ducky or confidant and Danny feeling really conflicted because Hood doesn’t know it’s a real person he’s spilling his thoughts and feelings too. So every chance he gets Danny sort of just rolls away but then Jason gets this kicked puppy look because his abandonment issues and rejection sensitivity. Even this inanimate object doesn’t want to listen to him? Like he knows it’s nuts to feel hurt that the plushie fell off the table when he turned his back, but he was in the middle of talking about some very personal deep seated issues, okay?! The least Fatson could do is stay upright.

Danny Phantom, who has very explicitly stated before that he is infact a ghost.

Justice League, who have somewhat been exposed to Boston, and know he can possess people with ease.

Phantom, who speaks before thinking.

Danny: *gasp, slams hand over mouth* ……….oh my god…

Leaguer of your choice: ????????

Danny, still gaping: do you guys think I’m possessing someone?!

Leaguer: you’re not??

Danny: NO! WHY WOULD I DO THAT?!

Leaguer: IDK YOU’RE A GHOST

Danny: YEAH but possession is, like, super uncomfortable I can barely hold it for five minutes jfc I can’t believe you thought I’d DO that—

Leaguer: WHAT?!! THEN WHO’S THIS?!!

Danny “Didn’t Think This Through” Fenton: A MEATSUIT, LITERALLY— IT’S GOT NO ORGANS, IT’S JUST FLESH I CLONED OFF MY OLD BODY WHAT THE FUCK MAN YOU THOUGHT I’D POSSESS SOMEONE?!!

Leaguer: UHHH YEAH KINDA

Danny: oh my god I can’t believe you let me do this mission thinking I was possessing some random civilian you’re a fucking monster what the fuck

Behind him, Phantom floated a few inches off the ground, arms crossed and with a scowl that was much less intimidating than the Bat's, but had some promise (no one doubted that he would pick up a Bat-level scowl over time.)

"I am going to preface this by stating that I am disappointed in all of you," Batman began. "Not one of you bothered to conduct the proper research, or to question the evidence before you."

"Why would we bring it up?" Flash asked, tone vaguely desperate, "you didn't say anything."

The look Batman gave him could freeze the sun.

"And if I was compromised?"

Everyone was silent as everyone contemplated the damage that could be done if Batman was possessed... and if no one bothered to make sure he wasn't.

"Ok," Phantom broke in, stepping forward "I get it, security breach, dangerous for the team, yadda yadda."

Most people expected Batman to tell him to stand down, but the Bat simply stepped aside to let the teen speak.

"You all thought that I was possessing someone?" Phantom asked. He was no longer scowling, but instead, an expression of hurt and betrayal had overtaken him. "And you didn't even ask? Don't you all know me better than that? You could at least ask instead of thinking that poorly of me."

Aaaand there were the kicked-puppy eyes.

Every member there averted their gaze, and there was no doubt that this would not happen again. Diana, watching Batman, noted that he was watching Danny with the slightest hint of a smile pulling at his lips.

Lick a switch, Phantom’s kicked puppy expression flipped to fuming rage. “You’d let me take a civilian’s body- one you assumed was possessed without consent- into a potentially dangerous situation? With nothing more than a side-eye and a passive aggressive warning to be careful? WTF!”

Danny: Dude, I'm walking around with a cane. I have obvious medical issues. You think I have money?

Mugger: Shut up! If you don't do what I say, I'll sell your organs!

Danny: Again, medical issues. Who would buy organs that were already failing?

Mugger: Fine! This death is on you-

Batman: *dropping onto the mugger and beating him to pulp*

Danny: Ancients beyond! *pick up dropped gun* Sir. Sir, he's unarmed now.

Batman: Drop that or you get what he's having.

Danny: Oh. *puts gun down slowly* Thanks for saving me. I'm just gonna-

Mugger: HELP ME

Danny: What you want me to do? Fight Batman? I have serious medical issues! I can't beat him.

Batman: Go home.

Danny: I'm going home.

Mugger: No! DON'T LEAVE ME! WHAT ABOUT GOTHAM UNITY!?

Danny wobbling away rapidly: I'm sorry! I have to put myself first! I only moved to this city because of Wayne's medical forgiveness program.

Batman: Is that so?

Danny: *wobbles faster* Please dont take a interest in me, sir! I have enough problems as it is!

Batman: ....

Danny rounds the corner as the screams of the mugger increase: I have to put myself first. Don't look back. He belongs to the Dark Knight now. There was nothing I could do.

Three days later:

Jazz: Danny! This is a miracle!All of your medical bills were paid!

Danny: What!? By who!?

Jazz: Bruce Wayne! Apparently, Batman told him about you.

Danny, in a low whisper of terror: Give back the money.

Jazz: What?

Danny: Give it back. I do not want Batman's attention. He's a menace. Im unarmed 90% of the time, and he will not care.

Jazz: What?????

Danny, closing the blinds: Do you think he knows where we live!?

Jazz: Are you scared of Batman?

I love it when an outside perspective comes in and just goes Nope! This is nuts. Very uncomfy. You are not ok sir- I’d rather you not save me if it’s all the same to you. Please go away and forget my existence. I’m begging you just like that mugger did.

Danny: *sad sigh* No

Tucker: So you don't have a valentine, and I don't have a valentine which means there is only one solution to our problem

Danny hopeful: Yeah?

Tucker: We put Phantom in the Gotham Valentines Auction, get some rich lovelies to bid high for a date with him, and then we split the money 50/50. And before you ask, yes, this is legit. It's a charity event hosted by some rich guy named Cobblepot. His lounge keeps half of the bid money, and we keep the rest.

Danny: ....

Tucker: I'll also be up for auction but I dont think I can compete with the great Ghost Hero. But it be for a good laugh right?

Danny: .....okay

Tucker: Yes! Let's go! If you fly at top speed, we can make it to Gotham with two hours to spare. We have to make ourselves look irresistible!

Danny: Okay.

Later that night:

Tucker: I can't believe I sold for only $100. With the Ice Lounge taking $50 and splitting it with you, I only make $25.

Danny: Sorry

Tucker: Hey, you okay? You've been so quiet. You don't have to do this if you don't want to.

Danny: No no no. I'm just unsure whether anyone will want to go on a date with a ghost.

Tucker: Oh, trust me, there is a large group out there excited for Phantom. Especially since you announced you're going for both teams. The group of guys in the front are especially excited and sound like they come from money. You'll have your pick.

Danny: Unless the one i want is straight

Tucker: Yeah but come on what are the chances the boy you notice tonight is straight?

Danny under his breath: Very likely given that I've been eyeing you since I was 14.

Tucker: What was that?

Danny: nothing. Let's do this

Host: And now we have the one, the only, Ghost Hero Phantom! We can start the bid at $10. Do I have-

Tim: $50,000!

Host: Um..okay wow, large jump. $50,000 going once, going-

Damian: $100,000

Host: Holy-

Tim: 150,000

Damian: 200,000

Tim: 250,000

Damian: 300,000

Tim: 350,000

Damian: 400,000

Jason: 1 million

Tim/Damian: What!?

Host: Sold!

Danny squinting: Jay? Is that you?

Jason: Hey Danny, long time no dead. You still in love with that Tucker boy?

Danny: Maybe. You still in love with-

Jason: SHUT UP.

Danny: COME UP HERE AND MAKE ME!

DP X DC

The Justice League was mid-meeting when it started. Barry was rambling, as usual.

“…like that time we stopped Starro in Metropolis. You remember? He got so big he was stomping cars like Legos—”

Hal snorted. “That wasn’t in Metropolis, that was in Coast City. I was there.”

Barry blinked. “Uh, no? Superman threw him into the harbor, I was the one pulling civilians out of the wreckage.”

Clark frowned. “Barry… that happened in Metropolis. I remember it clearly.”

Voices rose around the table, half the team swearing one version of events, the other half swearing the opposite. Someone even pulled up mission logs—conflicting reports, both equally convincing.

In the corner, Danny sat slouched in his chair, chin propped on his hand, glowing eyes half-lidded. He hadn’t spoken once during the meeting, radiating the kind of exhaustion that only came from cleaning up after cosmic disasters at three in the morning.

Finally, Diana turned toward him. “Phantom,” she said evenly, “you were there as well. What do you recall?”

Danny blinked, sat up a little. “Huh? Oh. Yeah, that happened.”

Everyone relaxed—until Hal pressed, “Which one?”

Danny squinted at him. “Uh. Both.”

The table went quiet.

“Both?” Batman’s voice cut sharp across the silence.

“Yeah,” Danny said slowly, looking around at their baffled expressions. “You’re talking about Starro, right? He trashed Metropolis… and also Coast City.”

“No,” Clark said carefully. “It can’t be both. We would have known.”

Danny tilted his head, still confused by their confusion. “But it was both. I remember both.”

The silence stretched. Dozens of the most powerful beings on the planet, staring at the youngest-looking (but supposedly ancient) member of their ranks.

Then, realization flickered in Danny’s eyes. His shoulders slumped. “…Oh.”

⸻

The Infinite Realms are a strange thing. They stretch beyond dimensions, binding every universe together in a way no mortal mind was meant to comprehend. If the multiverse is a bowl of jello, the universes are its fruit—each separate, yet held in place by the same trembling, otherworldly foundation.

Danny Phantom, Ghost King, sits at the center of it all. Ruler, caretaker, janitor. His job is simple in concept, impossible in practice: keep the jello from collapsing.

But universes do collapse. They rot from within, fall apart at the seams, and bleed into others. If left unchecked, the infection spreads. Sometimes, the only cure is destruction—wiping the entire universe away before it drags its neighbors with it.

Danny is kind. He is softhearted in ways his predecessor was not. He cannot bring himself to condemn the lives still fighting to survive inside those dying worlds, even if most time they do not know their universe is about to end. So instead, he does the impossible. He relocates them.

He finds a reality compatible enough to accept them, moves them over, and patches the cracks before anyone can notice. With Clockwork freezing time to help, the process is seamless. One second, people live in a doomed reality. The next, they breathe in a new one—never realizing they are somewhere else.

But “compatible” does not mean “identical.” The details never line up perfectly. A city might stand where it once fell. A victory might occur in Coast City instead of Metropolis. A name, a date, an outcome—it all shifts in tiny, maddening ways.

And those tiny ways ripple. People argue. Records clash. Whole crowds remember things that never happened in this reality, but did happen in another. It has happened so many time people have even given it a name.

The Mandela Effect.

⸻

Danny gestured vaguely with one hand. “Clockwork stops time, I shuffle everyone over, and if I do it right, nobody notices. Life goes on. Same people, same world—almost.”

“Almost?” Diana prompted.

Danny gave her a tired half-smile. “Some small details may not line up. Different events, different memories. Small things. But enough to make people stop and say, ‘Hey, wasn’t it like this before?’”

He shrugged. “That’s what you call the Mandela Effect, right? Two different realities, same people. Just… stitched together.”

The silence afterward was absolute. Even Batman didn’t speak.

Dick: Bruce, why do you re-open the file about Starro? Did something happen?

Bruce: Do you remember that time the JL fight him at Metropolis?

Dick: I don’t think I know about it, but I remember the time the JL fight him at Gotham. What’s wrong, Bruce?

Bruce looks at him strangely for a few seconds before turn back to the Bat-computer and start typing in speed mode.

Tim, who was asleep next to he Bat Computer, just few inches beside Bruce, mumbled something

Tim: …. and we also fight him at Atlantic. That time Aquaman was being controlled

There is a very real possibility that the Bruce of this world died and no one ever knew. Maybe it was an accident, or bad luck, or maybe he even gave himself for the mission. And then he was just forgotten. And suddenly some other Bruce was waking up in his bed. Greeting his children. Living his life. Like he never died. But he did. And ultimately that death meant nothing.

All those heroes, not lost to the world, even after they sacrificed themselves. All those heroes, still there to protect people - those friends, that you don't feel the pain of loosing.

The sheer comfort of knowing that, if you die, your family won't loose what you give them. There will be another you, one that would die otherwise with a doomed world, to take your place, to protect your family, your people, your friends.

But back to the post. I love Danny’s quiet little “oh.” When he realized what’s going on. Just the weight on his shoulders- how he knows he’s going to break their minds by admitting the truth. It’s almost cruel to tell them even, but also Danny is so clearly tired of carrying this weight all on his own. Every instance of the effect is evidence of a lost reality- of the need for universal refugees, of lives cut too soon and the empty slot given to an alternate in need. And Danny alone has known that. Resigned himself to it. To the point where the tragedy of it is but a dull ache.