Orion

Next was a woman few people knew: Talia al Ghul. Although she was a gorgeous Alpha and had more than enough funds to be considered elite, the lack of recognition her name carried made people doubt her chances. The very last candidate theory was kept mostly alive by how dubious and hilarious the public found the theory: A reporter from Metropolis named Clark Kent, who was the least Alpha man to ever actually be an Alpha, and had no funds that would make someone like Wayne look in his direction.

Wayne was a kind soul, slightly dumb, but no one could deny he chose the finer things in life. He gave a lot to charities and fought for equal rights, but he only rubbed elbows with those of his standing, and even then, the Omega was picky about which events to attend and who made it onto his guest lists. It was probably why so many tripped over themselves to impress the Omega, despite some people still grumbling that an Omega shouldn't be at the top like Wayne was.

That aside, it was never confirmed who Daniel's Alpha sire was, and one late morning, the boy was born, with only an omega father on his birth certificate. As time went on, Daniel's parentage faded into obscurity, while he grew under the watchful eye of his father and Omega brother, Richard Grayson, who was officially adopted upon the eldest retrun from Bludhaven sometime during Wayne's third trimester.

Speculation circulated that Wayne only did this to ensure that Grayson would inherit some of the family wealth, as previously, the entire fortune was meant to be Jason Todd's before his desmise That was likely due to Wayne's inability to adopt Grayson, as some laws made it harder to adopt Omega children, in an effort to protect them from those with less-than-kind intentions.

The best Wayne had been able to do was gain the boy through wardship, but now, as adults, Grayson and Wayne made quick work of the adoption through a notary. Following this, Wayne made it clear to every elite in the city that his son would not be participating in Match Balls, even though it was considered the normal way to gain connections with Omega children at the elite level.

A few turned their noses up, whispering that the Waynes felt themselves too good for tradition, but the majority applauded Wayne's decision to protect his son, even if the Omega in question was no longer a child. Wayne himself was controversial. On one hand, he proved that secondary genders had nothing to do with one's ability and importance, building himself up as the most powerful Omega in the city's, if not the country's, history, but on the other, his constant dismissal of traditional secondary gender roles made people seeth (they were ussually of the older generation as those in Wayne's and younger, thought it a great step in the right direction).

Daniel's first year of life was spent with those same people attempting to tear down Wayne, but pointing out the accident and saying this like "See? This is what happens when you let an Omega behave like an Alpha."

Wayne rebutted by posting a photo of his private water park with his baby floating inside an inflatable with the words "He's richer than you'll ever be, and he's not even potty trained."

Needless to say, by the time Daniel Wayne was a toddler, the media storm settled down, and he became another happy bundle of joy. By this point, Timothy Drake was well established as the third son, and things were looking up for the Omega Man and his family.

Then came Daniel's fifth birthday, and everything broke apart. Everyone knows that a child's fifth birthday is a very special occasion. It was the day that the child's secondary gender would be revealed, which was held during a grand party to celebrate.

Everyone was expecting Wayne to go above and beyond for his child, seeing as it was the first one he had who would be having a Reveal under his care. And Wayne did not disappoint.

For an entire year before the boy's Presentation Day, Wayne meticulously planned every little detail. He got permission from the city to close out the park, filling it to the brim with street vendors, performers, and decorations in the various colors of a reveal. Five different firework companies arrived, setting up a display to celebrate Daniel's presentation as soon as it was known, and everyone in the city was invited.

It got so big that the party had to be broken down into five locations. The elites and the Waynes would be celebrating at the manor, where the reveal would take place, while the people of the city could choose between the Robersin Park, two streets of Old Gotham, Gotham's amusement deck, and Gotham's harbor to celebrate.

A few of the older generation joked that it was like Gotham's aristocratic festivals, where Lords of the land would allow the common folk to celebrate as an extension of the nobles' own parties.

Wayne encouraged everyone to wear the color they believed Daniel would be. Like pink for girls and blue for boys during the birth gender reveal, a presentation reveal also has certain colors.

Lavender for omegas, Mint for betas, and cream for Alphas. Each firework show had the three colors on standby, for whatever the presentation was. The entire city was covered in the three colors up to then, and most workplaces closed early for the event.

Even the Waynes were in colored suits. Bruce Wayne was in a lavender suit, alongside his butler, but Dick Grayson was wearing cream, and Timothy was wearing mint. The Waynes all made jokes about it, based on a different memory with Daniel. People outside the Waynes' started jokingly placing bets, and that grew into a fairly large pot, where everyone was biting their nails waiting for the announcement.

Daniel spent his birthday running around with the kids, dressed in white, who he would change into different colored outfits the moment his presentation revealed. He had go-carts installed around the manor and spent most of his time flying around with a group of laughing children. He didn't seem to care much about his party, but it was blamed on his age.

The family butler had to chase him down to clean him up multiple times since Daniel seemed to enjoy rolling around the grass and letting the wind blow through his hair. Some of the elites thought it unsightly, but their children were ecstatic.

It was one of the first parties that didn't feel like a miniature gala but an actual party for their ages.

Then the Presentation began. As Daniel stood in the center of the circle, listening to Wayne read from the family presentation book, he remained still as water was poured over his head and down his neck. Everyone held their breath as they waited for the boy's body to naturally let out the Scent of his presentation, but when nothing happened, Wayne tried again.

Then again. And then he actually dunked the by into the family water stream, but still nothing.

People muttered, a wave of confusion fell through the entire city- Wayne had been streaming live, and people were gathered around TVs with their betting tickets at the ready. Wayne seemed conflicted, whispering with his two other sons, obviously as confused. Suddenly, the sky ripped open, and a floating man in purple emerged, carrying a time staff that glowed blue.

A proud smile on his face, as a pink-wrapped gift floated behind him.

Wayne let out a cry, pointing at the figure with outrage, "You! What are you doing here?!"

"I came for my son's presentation Day. I'm not sure why you insisted on throwing a party. Danny does not have a secondary gender."

"He's not supposed to have one until today," Wayne gritted through clenched teeth, "Which you would know if you ever bothered to come by after running out on me-"

"He's not a full human. And you know, I can not be in this plane of existence for long hours. Not that it means anything to you, but some of us exist in different timelines."

"How dare you-"

And that's the story of how Daniel Wayne became the first known born human- or half human half ghost??- that didn't have a secondary gender. He was also the child of the concept of time and the richest man in the country.

"Hi Bruce!" Dick chirps, carrying in a lawnchair in one arm and a bucket of popcorn in the other. "Don't mind us. We're just going to borrow your window."

"Us?" He asks between clenched teeth.

"Yeah! Us!" Dick moves into the room with a spring in his step. Behind him, all of the rest of Bruce's children file in. Each carrying their own lawn chair, with various snacks. "We watch to watch Alfred and his boyfriend."

"Don't. Call. That. Worm. Alfred's. Boyfriend" Bruce grunts, blood veins thumping from the barely controlled rage. His children ignored him as they set up around their viewing stations, each justling each other for a better view. Bruce would have been happy if his children had wanted to be in the same room for hours on end, but if not, they could spy on Alfred.

In all the years that Bruce had known the British man, the other always refused to cross the fine line between employee and father figure, despite Bruce seeing him as a father figure. This means that he never used any of the Wayne facilities that weren't meant for servants.

That is, until today, when Alfred had asked if he and his boyfriend could use the pool. Bruce felt like the other man had slapped him with a live fish, then asked him to clean its scales. Bruce didn't want to look, but Steph made a heartfelt "aw" sound that dragged on longer than it should have.

It piqued his interest, and unfortunately, Bruce was never one to leave a mystery alone. Against his will, he found himself rising from his desk. He walked up behind Tim and Jason, ignoring the crunch of Tim's spicy chips and the smell of Jason's three-chili cheese dogs. Over their shoulders, he had a clear view downwards of the pool where two figures were floating in the center.

Down below, Danny Fenton giggled again after splashing Alfred, swimming around the older man to get him from all angles. Alfred was rooted in spot, staring into the distance as water covered him. Bruce almost thought he wasn't enjoying himself- not a surprise since Alfred hated it when someone splashed- but he turned at the last second when Danny leaned in to whisper into his ear.

The two were pressed super close, and then they kissed.

"Yeah!" Tim shouted, pumping a fist into the air like he was watching his favorite team score a point during the finals, "Go Alfred!"

"Get some!" Steph shouted in equal glee. "Get some of that good-looking little tw-"

"Stephine, please!" Bruce cut in, feeling his stomach turn. He didn't have a problem with Alfred dating; in fact, he had often tried to get the man to go out and meet someone, but he wasn't okay with Alfred being with that man.

Not only was he the same age as Bruce, but his attitude was much to be desired. Often, the man would try to be a step-parent to Bruce, talking to him like Bruce was an eight-year-old child instead of a man of thirty-six. He mostly addressed the antics that Bruce Wayne was known for, which was somewhat fair, but why did Fenton think he had the right?

"Honestly, they brought back my faith in love," Duke said to Cass. He takes a sip of his smoothie while the girl nods around her grapes. "I mean, if Alfred can find the one at his age, then there is hope for me-"

"Fenotn is not Alfred's one. If anything, he's just a leech trying to take all of Alfred's money."

"That's false. Fenotn has more money then Alfred, Father." Damian spoke up, green eyes glancing up and down between the drawing he was making of the- ugh- couple. "In fact, he's richer than you, Father. Not that it's too hard to be richer than you, after all, you have a rather humble home."

Bruce ignores the snipe about his wealth. Damian still believed that, compared to his mother, Bruce was rather poor, and nothing could convince him otherwise. If the other elites of Gotham heard him talking, they would have heart attacks from offense. If Bruce was poor in the boy's eyes, they were just sad.

"Then he's just playing with Alfred!" Bruce hisses, which causes Jason to snort a laugh. He swings his eyes down to his second-oldest as the other young man shakes his head.

"He literally was talking about their wedding the other day. If anything, I think he's desperate to be married."

Bruce opens his mouth to hiss out an insult when Fenotn lets out a whoop of joy. He glanced down just in time to see Alfred swing the man up and then jump into the deep end with Fenton in his arms, laughing loudly. The two swim around in circles for a bit, looking to be having the time of their lives, and suddenly Bruce feels as if his no-killing rule should have exceptions.

Especially when Fenton glances up, and their eyes meet. The disgusting man sends him a wink, as if mocking him, and Bruce's fist punches the window without thought.

It filled him with dread to one day wake up and find that Master Bruce was another one he had lost to his own mind. Alfred had reservations about the whole Batman thing, but it was better than Master Bruce running through the night killing, or heaven forbid, taking his own life.

As dirty as it made him feel, Alfred didn't doubt that if Master Bruce chose to go on a killing spree, he would help him hide the bodies. Then Master Bruce started bringing children home, who slowly started going out in the field with him, and Alfred's worry grew, but so did his tendency to look the other way.

His boy- for Alfred had raised him. Had thought of Master Bruce as his- was starting to heal. There was light in his eyes, his steps were lighter and the manor was filled with laughter again.

Then Master Jason died, and Master Bruce's light dimmed. From there, he began spiraling, losing what made him Bruce and surrendering to the darkness within. More children came, but now they had to fight through a wall that Master Bruce had built, and they were partners on the field before they were his children.

Alfred was horrified, and yet still, he looked the other way. Until one day, when Master Bruce was able to fight off a mind reader after Miss Stephanie and Master Tim were compromised. His reason?

"I don't call myself Bruce. In my mind, I'm Batman"

Master Bruce said so carelessly, and Alfred felt like the man had pushed him to a frozen lake. He hadn't realized until that very moment that Master Bruce may have physically come back to Wayne Manor, but Alfred had allowed him to die out in Gotham's darkness all the same.

No, Alfred hissed in his mind, racing through the darkest corner of the cave system. Somewhere the sun no longer touches, where he had to strap an oxygen tank to reach. It was the one pocket space that Alfred knew, but neither Bruce nor the kids knew about. No, I will not lose my boy. Not to anyone. Not even himself.

Here in this pit, as close to hell as the Waynes had been able to get when the first generation purchased this land hundreds of years ago, was one secret Alfred never shared with Bruce.

It was Master Bruce's birthright, but Alfred feared what he would have done if he had known of it. What he would trade for his wish.

Here sat the altar of King Phantom, the high ruler of all the dead and the deity that once blessed the Waynes' bloodline with riches and power in exchange for their lives always being cut short. Not Wayne, since the year this deal was made, lived past fifty.

King Phantom worked with complete balance. Both alive and dead, his boons had to have an even match of gain and loss.

Alfred kneeled before the altar, careful of his breathing mask, and opened a jar of healing ointment for burns and covered one hand in the cream. Then, as carefully as he can, he places a blade between his knees, holding it steady to cut his palm and let his other hand be coated in blood. Once both are ready, he smears his hands against twin rocks carved wirh runes and two images of boys- blood for Phantom and ointment for the human Phantom had once loved Fenton.

The runes began to glow an eerie green, which slowly spread across the cave floor in a green, luminescent frost. Alfred's bones ache from the chill, even through layer upon layer of fabric meant for the coldest of climates. The images of the two boys go from holding up a snowflake to the heavens, facing each other, as they turn towards Alfred, displacing their twin grins. The snowflake in their hands flies off the stone, gleaming so bright he has to close his eyes as a haunting wail rocks the cave walls.

Alfred starts to doubt his plan, but it's too late now. The snowflakes float in the air, circling each other like they were doing a waltz until bursts of electricity swirl with them. A portal booms to life before Alfred, pushing the old man back with the air pressure along, and the entire cave lights up in green.

A horrific feeling of forboding fills the air, reaching through Alfred's chest and setting his heart racing.

Alfred scrambles back, his mask fogging from the panic, but that means nothing to the demonic, grinning carvings of the boys as their mouths open. A voice speaks out of them, making the dread spread through Alfred intensify. "Who calls upon me?"

Alfred scrambles to yank off his mask, his lungs screaming as he gasp "My name is Alfred Pennyworth. And I come searching for a boon from King Phantom"

The human, Fenton, mouth closes as the carving of King Phantom, grin sharpens. "To earn a boon from me, you must give up something. Are you prepared for that human?"

"Yes"

"What do you wish to gain?"

"The happiness and mental well-being of Bruce Wayne," Alfred gasps out, pressing his mask against his face for a quick breath.

Phantom's grin turned sinster "What are willing to loss?"

"All I am" Alfred swore.

Phantom frown, the haunting wail cuts off so abruptly, that Alfred is actually startled by the silence. "That's not a even trade"

"What?"

"You can't trade yourself for someone else."

Stun Alfred blinks "Why not?"

"You value him more then he values himself. That makes the trade void"

The words hits harder then any bullet wound "what?"

Fenton's mouth opens glowing blue instead of green. "What if we take something Bruce values?"

Dread slipped down Alfred back "Hold on-"

"We will take his sense of control," Phantom decides. "He doesn't value his happiness, but he values his control. You have your boon Alfred Pennyworth"

"Wait what does that mean-"

A explosions of snow blows him away, as if someone set off a grenade in front of him. He screams behind his gad mask as he slams into the stone wall and the world goes black.

A blink later Alfred finds himself on his bedroom floor, blankets pooling around his naked waist. "What?"

"Are you alirght?"

The voice makes him snap his neck to his bed, where a young man, about Bruce's age,, is watching him. His eyes are a bleaming blue, with something otherworldly resting in them. Deep in his soul, he knew who it was.

"Fenton" he breaths

"Danny," The lad corrects, stretching his arms over his head. In a moment of horror, Alfred realizes the lad is also naked. "Fenton and Phantom are the same person. Its just a dual last name but Danny is my first"

"What....what are you doing here?"

"Well, Bruce Wayne adores his control and what is a better lost of control then finding out your dad is banging someone your age?" Danny laughs.

Before Alfred can even process that ridiculous phrase his door is thrown open. Master Bruce and the children in the doorway, armed and still wearing thier sleepware. "What's going on in here?!"

Danny let out a dramatic yelp, pulling the blanket up to his shoulders. "Don't you know how to knock!?"

Master Bruce freezes entirely, staring wide-eyed at Danny, then at Alfred on the floor, thoughts running a mile behind his eyes as he processes what he's seeing. Alfred can see when the misunderstandings take root. On instinct, he opens his mouth to deny everything, but an unknown force holds his tongue.

He can't say. He's not allowed.

The boon has made its payments.

"Oh my god," Miss Stephanie gasps,, "Alfred is getting some! And he's hot!"

Master Bruce's eyes rolled into his head as he fell into a dead faint. Master Tim and Master Jason catch him before he hits the ground, slapping at his face and screaming his name.

And his readers adore them. Sometimes, Danny spent his evenings lying on his bed, smiling into his pillows after re-reading some reviews. His favorites were always from the username "SkateboarderDrake," as that person also pointed out what they loved about the story and their theories about what they believed would happen.

It was their comments that often led Danny to stay up late into the night to write.

His stay in this new world had been slowly growing on him. Danny had a new friend in Barbara, one who now invited him to outside work events, online friends who gave him nothing but support, and his core was finally starting to stop thumping painfully in his chest even when at rest.

Really, the only thing he missed about Phantom was the flying. There was nothing more freeing than the wind in his hair and the clear blue skies. Sometimes he got a little homesick when he looked up at the sky and saw nothing but grey.

He missed his blue skies with cotton white clouds and jeweled nights

"Hey, Danny," Barbara calls, rolling by his hiding spot with a smile. "Another fic idea?"

"Yeah, this one is going to be about Red Robin finding and rescuing a young boy, unaware he is the prince of an alien race." Danny chirps pens moving frantically over the pages. "The twist is he's not an alien at all, but the physical embodiment of wishes. He was riding his wishing star when he got trapped in a human body by a wizard attempting to steal his powers and only managed to steal his memories."

Barbara's face melts. "And he fell in love with Red Robin?"

Danny's face warms against his will. He isn't ashamed of his adoration of romance, but it's one thing to babble about his ideas online and another to see a friend react to them in person. "Hmm-mm. He falls in love."

"Oh, Danny, you have got to let me beta read that when you finish it." Barbara sighs dreamily. "I just know it's going to be another big hit."

"Thanks, Babs." Danny smiles at her, putting his notebook away once he finishes getting the idea down. He'll go back and touch up the details when he has the time. "Honestly, it's a bigger help that you're willing to beta read for me."

"Think nothing of it. I work in a library, so you know I adore reading." She grins. "Otherwise, I would have taken my computer science degree and gone off to some big company by now."

"You can't do that!" Danny gasps dramatically with one hand over his core. "Who else will run our IT department? We need you more then anyone else."

"Ha!" Barbara hits his arm, shaking her head in amusement. "Like you can't decode all these computers."

A sudden wave of homesickness hits Danny, as his smile dims just a little. "Yeah, well, you don't have a tech geek best friend for years without picking up a few things."

Barbara notices the change of mood, but doesn't ask. She's good at that. Knowing when and where to bring up tough subjects. Or maybe she's just used to it, because almost everyone in Gotham has experience or has known someone who suffered a great tragedy. His cover story was that he had just gotten out of the system and gone to Gotham to start over.

Everyone assumed he had gone through something terrible because no one chose Gotham to start a new life. Most of the time, it was people running away from this place.

Especially with Danny's "heart condition".

"Say, what are you doing for lunch?" Barbara asks, smoothly moving the conversation along.

"I brought a sad PB and J sandwich." He grins, shrugging a shoulder. "Why?"

"There is a new Mexican place that opened up on Green Hill Street. I was planning to stop there for lunch today. Wanted to know if you wanted to come along."

Danny thinks it over. He could save some money and eat his sandwich, or he could get food that actually tastes good besides his sandwich. Out of all the skills he mastered in life, cooking was not one of them. "I'm game. Let me grab my jacket and we can-"

Whatever Danny was going to say was cut off by the doors of the library literally being blown open. Acting on instinct, he threw himself onto Barbara, using his body to shield her from the few debris that landed on him.

Nothing too heavy, but he did have to flare his powers just a little to shield his own body. His core aches, and he knows Frostbite will bite his head off at his next check-up.

"Danny!" Babs screams, clutching onto him in worry, but he shakes off some glass that attempted to sink into his skin. He prays she didn't notice.

"I'm okay." He grunts, closing one eye against the pain in his chest. "You get hit anywhere?"

"No. I'm fine. What was that?" Babs pushes him off her, raising her head to look at the door. It's a smoking mess, but he can make out the sound of gunshots and fighting.

Danny leans back, scotting until his back hits the knocked over shelves- he just filed those!- and clutches the front of his shirt. The pain is now spreading through his body, sending miniature shock waves of pain to the tip of his toes and the top of his head. It's been a long time since he went partially intangible, and surprisingly, that took more effort than allowing himself to go completely intangible.

"Danny! Are you hurt!?"

"My...heart...." Danny pants, feeling more and more shock waves run through his body. "Hurts...."

"You need a hospital." Babs decides, reaching for her phone before Danny can stop her. She taps something on her screen, humming in concentration.

"No...ambulance! Can't afford-"

"Don't worry. It's not an ambulance I'm calling. I posted a message of assistance on-"

Whatever she was going to say was cut off by the rumble of a motorcycle, as a person burst through the broken-down doors. They kick up dust, blocking a view of them, whirling to a stop before the two fallen librarians.

Danny had to close his eyes so the dust wouldn't fall into them. He is still clutching his shirt when a smooth voice speaks. "Someone is injured?"

"Yes, my co-worker Danny. He has a weak heart and needs to get to a hospital ASAP." Babs replies, her voice barely louder than the purr of the motor.

"I'll take him." The voice replies. Closer now. Danny cracks open his eyes and finds himself staring right into the mask-covered face of Red Robin himself.

The hero reaches out, gently places a hand on his back, and under his knees. With no effort at all, the hero lifts him up from the floor. "It's alright. I got you."

Danny can't stop staring, gaping up at the man who carefully carries him over to a red motorcycle shaped like a bird. He easily throws a leg over it, securing Danny with a wire clip onto the librarian's belt loop. The hero then secures a gas mask over Danny's face. "You're going to be alright."

Danny was pretty sure Frostbite would have to restart his heart. He thinks he is having a heart attack as the man leans over and takes control of the handles. "You'll be alright, ma'am?"

"Yes. Please take him." Babs replies firmly, and suddenly the bike turns around, revving through the doorway into chaos. They ride down the library's ramp, with Red Robin clutching the handles in a tight grip. He swirls to the side as a boom goes off near them, followed by a hiss of gas being released. Above Red Robin's head, Danny can see the rest of the Bats swinging by with their grappling hooks, launching themselves towards the source of the gas bombs.

He has no idea who they are fighting, because he can't bring himself to look away from Red Robin, staring up at him with doe eyes like a moron. Danny swears the only thing ruining this moment for him is the fact that he can feel his body growing cold.

Is it his ghost powers or his fast-approaching death?

Danny isn't sure he cares. He is in Red Robin's arms, on his motorbike, sitting in front with the hero, having to lean over him to drive. He is so glad Frostbite sent him here.

Danny passes out before they can arrive at the hospital, and he isn't exactly sure what happens, but he wakes to Babs sitting by his bedside holding his hand. Her eyes are red and puffy, indicating that maybe he should have paid just a slight more attention to that cold sensation instead of the muscles rippling in Red Robin's arms.

The feeling of those caging him in was still fresh on his mind.

"Babs....I need..." He coughs roughly. She straightens, clutching his hands tighter.,

"I'm here, Danny." She chokes. "I'm right here. What do you need?"

"My notebook....need to write about Red Robin's muscles... they were divine."

The Bakery is a Front!...right?: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

Cave Boy: Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3 , part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 6.1, Part 6.2 Part 7 part 8 part 9 Part 10 Part 11

The Adoptive Son: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9

Alfred's Boy: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 Part 6 Part 6.5 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

Congratulations! It's Triplets!: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Tim wasn't brave enough to tell Danny that, based on the results, they were perfect together in every way. He spent a good hour rolling on his bed and kicking his feet as he compared their answers. Thankfully, Danny had been at work and not aware of Tim's little celebration.

He was present for Tim flinging himself into his arms without explanation, but, again, Danny took that in stride.

Another thing they had to get sorted was the lie they told his family.

They also planned every detail of Danny's fake pregnancy. It started with both deciding what kind of being Danny was. Tim knew everything about Danny being a Halfa; however, Danny asked him not to tell his family yet because he still didn't feel comfortable sharing it. Since it was his secret to tell, Tim decided to create a fake trail.

They would not say what he was, but they would do their best to hint at Danny being a Changeling. It would be a bit of work to leave the right amount of crumbs to manipulate the Waynes into thinking they were doing detective work, but they could do it.

They already have some groundwork laid.

Tim knew that his family was taking care to follow Danny home, drive by his workplace to ensure he was fine, and Bruce let it slip more than once that he could add Danny to the payroll- outside of Tim's line of command to not break any rules- and ensure he wasn't overworking in his state. All that because they were under the impression that Danny was carrying very precious cargo.

Tim had managed to dodge their attempts at conversation, playing that he was upset they almost drove his partner away, but a month was all the Waynes could handle. Thus, the pair was on their way to the first family dinner and the one where Tim was meant to officially introduce Danny.

"Are you ready?" Tim asked one last time when they pulled up towards the Wayne Manor gate.

Danny turned to him with bright, glowing eyes that he could flicker on and off, wiggling his eyebrows. "But of course."

A rush of affection bleeds through Tim's chest, and he can't help but lean over for a kiss, knowing that the camera on the gate just moved and zoomed in on their window. He also knows that his tint won't allow his family to see their faces, and more specifically, their lips, to figure out what they are saying.

The gate opens slowly, and Tim redundantly pulls away from Danny's lips (they aren't soft. He needs to get the other into the habit of using Chapstick.). They slowly roll up to the front of the Manor, Tim choosing to park by the fountain in front of the door instead of the garage, so they have an excuse to leave without staying the night. He knows that they are in view of his family, and with one final nod to Danny, he throws his door open to scramble to Danny's side.

In the gentlest movements he can muster, Tim opens the passenger seat, holding out his hand to Danny, who makes an effort to slide out. He wobbles a little but straightens once his feet are under him.

Tim takes his cue to say his line. "Are you alright, Danny?"

"Yes, just some motion sickness," Danny mutters, smiling weakly.

Tim sighs, caressing his cheek, still holding Danny's hand in his other hand. "I can ask Alfred for some nausea medication."

"No. No. No. I don't want to be a bother."

"It's not a bother. Especially in your condition."

"I'm fine, Tim, really. I just need a minute. I'm already feeling better." Danny nods his head to the manor. His words are slightly annoyed, but there is affection underlying them, like he can't help but find Tim endearing for his concern. "Come on. Your family is waiting."

Tim hesitates for a second or two before dropping the subject. He leads Danny up the stairs, still holding his hand. He runs his thumb over Danny's cold knuckles, taking enjoyment from the contact. He pretends he didn't notice Stephine and Duke scrambling away from the windows.

Before they can even get near the door to use the knocker or the doorbell, the heavy wood swings open. Standing in the doorway, beaming with barely concealed excitement, is Dick; he claps his hands, spreading his arms as if he were still in the circus and was about to introduce the showstopper of the night. "Hello, Danny! Welcome to Manor! I'm Richard Grayson, Tim's older brother. You can call me Dick. It's so lovely to meet you!"

Danny doesn't have to pretend to be surprised by the greeting, but he recovers quickly to reply. "Nice to meet you too, Dick. I'm Danny Fenton. Tim's boyfriend."

It's not the first time he's heard that title. Tim's boyfriend. And yet they make his stomach flip, and his heart leap with joy. Tim can't help but squeeze Danny's hand, knowing he's making an utterly bestoyed expression like an idiot, but does not care.

If anything, Dick looks to beam even brighter. If he were a meta, he likely would give the sun a run for its money. "That's wonderful! Come in, come in! Are you cold?"

Danny's face stiffens, just as planned, when someone notices he is wearing an out-of-season wool hat, scarf, and gloves. He even reaches up to nervously fiddle with it as he gives a nervous laugh, "Yeah....a little."

Dick notices but doesn't bring attention to it as he assures Danny they can turn up the heat or even get him a blanket. He leads them through the main hall with the ease of a man who is used to taking charge and charming even the most stubborn of people. Dick makes the offer to accommodate Danny's needs as if it were second nature, not an odd request.

Danny relaxes next to him, allowing his shoulders to fall and the tension to ease out of his back. He looks just like any man who was grateful that someone hadn't bothered to dig deeper into the conversation. If anyone- besides Cass, as she was a 50/50 chance of seeing through everything- were to see Danny, they would have never guessed this was premeditated.

He's hot, and he can lie, Tim mentally cheers. And He's all mine!

The trio makes pointless chatter, Danny asking questions about the decorations and throwing in compliments. Dick is happy to answer as many questions as he can, giving a brief explanation of the piece or retelling a funny family story of a certain area. Tim remained mostly quiet, as if trying to observe how his brother reacted to his boyfriend, but he made appropriate throat-clearing noises in the back of his throat whenever Dick mention a embareessing moment of his.

"Everyone is already seated for dinner. You just arrived in time." Dick announces the opening of the door to the main dining hall. The most elegant one. The one Bruce only uses for special family moments like the holidays. Tim is surprised by this, seeing as meeting a new romantic partner was usually reserved for the green room dining hall.

This means Bruce is either trying really hard to impress Danny or he thinks Danny is the one for Tim. He isn't sure how he feels about that, but he won't like that it's a nice thought to have Danny to himself until death do them part.

Very nice thought, in fact.

"Tim and Danny are here!" Dick yells unnecessarily, and the family turns to look at them. They are all wearing formal casual, with elegant hairdos and even some tasteful makeup on Cass, Steph, and, surprisingly, Harper (she normally hates it). It's obvious an attempt to impress Danny, but all they did was make Danny and Tim seem underdressed.

Danny notices immediately. He pauses, glancing down at his best pair of jeans and the softest milk-cream cardigan beneath his dark brown wool set. Tim can practically hear him scream that he was not dressed to impress, watching panic bleed into his eyes as he nervously smiles at the room.

The Waynes' sharp eyes catch the entire thing too, staring with hawk eyes and bright smiles. Tim wants to smack them all on the back of the head and yell, "They look creepy as hell," but chooses to lean in to whisper into Danny's ear. "You look fine. There was no dress code, which is why I came in jeans and a t-shirt."

Danny's smile turns strained, but he tries to push through as he gives out a greeting. Before he can finish the last syllabus, Damian appears at his elbow- like a danm shadow- making both Tim and Danny jump.

"Good evening, Daniel. I want you to have these," Damian declares, holding up a pair of the most expensive and best supportive slippers on the market. "They make being on your feet easier and help with any swollen ankle pain."

"Oh," Danny blinks. "Thank you....?"

"Damian Wayne." The boy replies, staring at Danny like he was seeing a field of baby ducklings. Tim had no idea that kid could make such an innocent expression. He almost feels bad about lying about Danny having a baby. The boy was obviously very excited about the idea of a baby in the family.

Then again, almost is not entirely. Tim thinks, amused as Danny takes the slippers, patting Damian's head. The boy's face spasms, fighting the displeasure of being treated like a child, and the happiness that Danny accepted his gift before he nods and bows.

A proper bow of respect with a hand over his heart, back straight and lean, though not bent at the waist. Damian then turns on his heels, going over to his seat, ignoring the gawking of everyone but Bruce, who smiles proudly.

"Well, don't just stand there. Sit. Sit," Bruce calls out, gesturing to the two empty seats next to him. Dick has already settled in before his own dinner, folding the napkin in his lap. Tim leads his partner, ignoring the way he has to use Danny's shoulder to push him, since Danny's entire attention is on his gift.

He seems unaware of Tim helping him into his seat as his family watches on. Tim doesn't need to look around the room to know everyone is silently confused about why Danny seems hyper-focused on the gift, while Damian shifts nervously.

Danny's eyes flash green as he turns the gift over and over in his hands. Tim wonders what he is up to before Danny abruptly stands. "I have to leave."

Tim raises a brow at the odd echo that took over Danny's voice. That's a little of Phantom's voice, which means this is part of the game. Not only that, but Danny's eyes weren't just green; they were glowing like neon signs, and even his hair was slightly flickering with a glow that you only notice if you are observant. Thankfully, the Waynes were all heavily observant.

Tim didn't have to pretend to be confused about this behavior.

What could-oh.

Danny was following an old piece of folklore: giving a Changeling a gift of kindness compels them to leave. He almost cackles but manages to stand and gently place his hand on his boyfriend's shoulder, lowering him into his seat.

"Danny Fenton, may I have some of your snacks?" He asks patiently, and Danny's eyes swing to him. They appear unfocused for a moment, but then clear as if he was just becoming aware of his surroundings again.

"Sure!" Danny chirps- slightly too high to be human- as he digs out a candy bar from his pocket. "I made it myself. You must eat it. "

Tim accepts the candy, and at once, Danny's appearance snaps back to human as he blinks, looking surprised. He glances down the table, turns beet red, and lowers his hat, hiding his face. "I ugh... apologize about that...I um...I had funny brain because of the bab- I mean I didn't sleep well last night!"

Tim carefully unwraps his candy using the movement to discreetly glance at his family's reaction.

He sees the moment they all take the bait, and even Cass seems to be unable to see through their act. They truly believe that Danny is carrying a baby and that he is not human. They would likely spend the next few months desperately trying to figure out what he was based on his little act.

None of them would even wonder why Danny makes his own candy and his own coffee blends.

Hook. Line. And Sinker. Tim smirks around his chocolate as Bruce easily throws on a half act of Brucie and his real self to assure Danny it was fine. They are saved from any further questioning by Alfred, who chooses to wheel out the dinner.

Tim does not doubt the man was listening and chose that exact moment to do so.

Tam countered with open job positions Danny could do, but they weren't too different from Danny's current work. A custodian is an important job, and Tim is grateful for every single one on his team, but he didn't want Danny doing such a hard job. He whined about Tam's unfairness to Danny that same night, and the man laughed, citing that he would rather die than work in an office anyway, even when Tim offered a fairly large- and ridiculous- starting pay. He wasn't in it for the money.

Danny just liked being around Tim. He didn't fully state it but Tim could tell.

Or at least he thought he could.

It was easier to let himself believe that than to think that the reason Tim got to head home every night to Danny cooking dinner with a content little smile on the edge of his lips, like his roommate was always one comment away from a laugh and the lingering smell of freshly brewed coffee around him was that Danny liked him enough to wait.

Yes, he started this all because he needed his daily fix of Heart Attack, but somewhere along the way, it was the brisa that meant more than the coffee.

Tim couldn't quite name when it happened, but he knew he couldn't go back to a life without Danny. The other man managed to fill a room even when he wasn't in it. Danny was the one who cared about the decorations in their penthouse, the one who hummed as he moved from room to room, and the one who tried his best to see the shots Tim could capture on his way home just so the two could try to find them on a walk together.

He was whimpsical in a way Tim, couldn't hope to match even with the eyes of a artist.

Danny only really started working at Heart Attack because he had nothing else to do. He didn't pursue a higher degree or had dreams of making it big in a city like Gotham. In fact, he only left his little town because he was bored with it, and landed in the first place that was secure enough for him to do so.

He had no goal past making it to the end of the week and starting over.

Tim often felt like Danny was a lost boat, floating in a sea, letting the waves take him without a care. Tim, on the other hand, needed an end goal; he needed to know what he was striving for.

His best plans were made on the seat of his pants, but they still existed, and when he had the time, they were among the hardest in the world to counter.

Where Danny needed structure, Tim provided it, and when Tim needed to be reminded, there was more to life than all the responsibilities he shouldered; Danny would have given him a coffee and taken him through the city, seeing things he hadn't known were there despite being the one born and raised there.

They complemented each other in this way, like yin and yang.

And now his Yin was missing.

Tim sighs, rolling to a stop on his bike, cracking his neck to ease the tight tension building up there. Danny had not been at his old home, his favorite restaurant, he hadn't passed through any airlines, trains, or buses, and no hotel room was booked under his name.

Tim wasn't sure where on Earth he could have gone.

After his family had gotten it into their heads that Tim had a possibly pregnant boyfriend waiting, they had tripped over themselves to apologize for delaying him and practically pushed him out the door. Tim managed to keep his act together before losing it at the end of his old street, pulled to the side of the road, and grabbed his phone, intending to let Danny know this new humorous development.

He was also planning to casually ask in the same conversation where the jars his roommate was hiding were, only to freeze at the message Danny had left.

Horrified, he nearly entered the Speed Force as he raced across town, hoping to catch Danny before his roommate ran. He arrived at a cold, empty penthouse, most of Danny's possessions gone- he left behind little things like a toothbrush, some socks, a random jacket discarded across the piano- and a still steaming coffee on the counter.

Danny had poured it into one of those thermos mugs because he was considerate like that. It didn't give him any clue how long ago Danny had left, that a regular mug might have, but it at least told him that his family had kept their word and stayed away for the night.

As far as his family knew, Danny and Tim were discussing whether Wayne knew about them and was prepping for the vacation they were going on together the following morning. This meant Tim had to find Danny before the idiots thought they had scared away his pregnant nonhuman boyfriend. Once they inadvertently went back on their word and swung by his home to get a good look at Danny, they realized there was a large lack of said boyfriend around his home.

"Where are you?" He muttered, looking down at his phone. He had placed a tracker in Danny's phone, but it seemed that his friend had forgotten the darn thing in his personal bathroom.

If there was one habit of Danny's that drove Tim up a wall, it was his constant misplacing of his cell.

"Where could you have gone?" He sighs, leaning the screen on his face as the dot that should have been Danny is still beeping back at home. Tim isn't even sure why he ran.

The cold wind made Tim shiver as he thought about Danny's text message.

I'm sorry I kept my powers hidden from you. I just couldn't bring myself to speak about them when we first met, and once I got to know you, I was too afraid you'd be disgusted by me.

Why did Danny assume Tim would be disgusted by discovering he was a meta, or a nonhuman? Had he ever given the other a reason to think Tim was a bigot? How had he not noticed Danny hoarding, whatever the green goo was?

The thought swarmed around his head, as memories flashed by, and Tim tried desperately to pinpoint the moment he had made Danny feel like he wasn't safe with him.

Another burst of cold wind made Tim hunch over, annoyed that even the weather was against him-wait a minute.

It shouldn't be cold. It's supposed to be a cool night, sure, but not freezing. Tim had triple-checked the weather on various sources so he could know exactly what they would need for their camping trip.

Looking up, Tim is shocked to find himself on a very familiar street, clear across the city. He must have come here unconsciously while thinking of Danny.

He was standing before the very branch of Heart Attack Coffee, the very one Danny worked at, and the one where he met the man. It looked the same since the last time Tim had been there, though it had been a while, since Danny brought him the drinks instead of Tim coming to him. There was just one jarring change.

The entire building was covered in ice, and large iceicle spikes made a trail from the front of the building into the back alley. It looked like it had been blasted by Mr.Freeze's latest ray.

Or by a non-human who had stored a green liquid that may or may not be a version of Mr. Freeze's formula, and the kind of person Tim has been searching for in the last few hours.

Cautiously, Tim got off his bike, taking time to kick the lever down properly. He pocketed his keys, bouncing his eyes around the building, looking for clues. The first thing he noticed was that the spikes grew from the ground up, meaning they sprouted rather than emerging from a shoot. Mr. Freeze's freeze gun always showed where the man was standing when he shot it.

The building itself seemed covered in layers of frost, not nearly as affected as the rest of the area. The left side had the most layers, looking nearly white and allowing only a few red hints from the old brick to slip through. It was the same side of the alleyway.

Tim approached carefully, keeping his eyes and ears peeled for any movement or sound. Thankfully, nothing jumped out at him, though he did nearly slip when his foot landed on a patch made entirely of ice. Around him, small piles of snow appeared, and by the time he was completely in the alley, he found himself in a winter wonderland.

The snow expanded, growing from small piles to halfway up his calves, forcing Tim to dig and trudge through it. The cold fluff sank into his jeans and shoes in an uncomfortable, wet chill, but Tim pushed on, because at the end of the alley, where it opened onto the area where he first met Danny for coffee, stood the spikes, much taller and thicker, rising to a good seven feet. The large crystals were shaped into a circle, forming a bizarre nest enclosed on all sides.

Through the ice, he can see a blurry figure sitting on the ground, knees pulled to his chest, and head bent over his folded arms, hiding from the world.

Danny.

His breath caught in his chest, and the tight fear that had formed around his chest since reading Danny's text eased just a little. It had to mean something for Danny to go to the alley in which their strange arrangement came to be right? Tim ignored the little voice that told him this was Danny's workplace, as he paced back and forth looking for a way inside Danny's enclosure.

Eventually, it became apparent that the only way in was to climb up and hop down from above. Tim ran his hands over the ice, testing the best way to grip onto it before moving back to give himself a running start. Running through the snow slowed him down a bit, but not enough to be a problem. His movement made a lot of noise, yet Danny didn't move an inch, sending a spike of worry through him.

Leaping up, Tim used his feet to push himself upwards, taking a few steps until his hands could grip around one of the spikes, using his training to pull himself up and over the edge. He leaps down, ensuring his knees bend to take most ot eh shock of the fall, landing with a loud thump.

Danny flinches, lifting his head as Tim crouches before him. Tears roll down Danny's face, his eyes red and puffy, his cheeks flushed. Danny's a pretty crier.

Tim shouldn't be surprised by this, but he is, because he's never seen Danny since they met. His heart aches.

"Tim?" Danny whispers, as if he isn't sure whether it's a dream. Tim slowly rises to his full height, forcing Danny to lean his head back to keep eye contact.

"Danny...." Tim starts, flattering a little before pushing on, "Danny, I'm so glad I found you."

He is thinking of dropping to his knees before him, but Danny leaps to his feet before he can, a look of fear on his face now. "Tim, I can explain-"

Tim cuts him off by flinging himself into Danny's arms, dragging him into a desperate hug, and squeezing without his might. "Danny, I found you."

There is a pause, where Danny seems more confused than anything before the other man wraps his arms around Tim, hugging just as tight. "You aren't mad?"

"I'm mad, alright. Mad, you just left without giving me the chance to even talk!" Tim huffed, pressing his nose into Danny's shoulder and breathing him in. He smelled like winter, coffee, and a smell so distinctly Danny that Tim felt himself melt. "Why on earth would I care that you're a meta? "

"I...just....Gotham isn't very accepting and I..." Danny choked, burying his face into Tim's shoulder as well. But instead of breathing him to calm himself, Danny likely did it to hide his new wave of fresh tears. Tim could feel them on his shoulder. "I couldn't risk it....I wouldn't have survived seeing hate in your eyes...."

"Never. Not for you or anyone like you."

"Even if I'm not a meta? Not even a human?"

Tim suspected as much, but it was better to let Danny tell him. "Even then."

Danny gasps, pressing himself closer. "You're warm."

The comment surprises him, but now that he mentioned it, Tim noticed that Danny was alarmingly cold. Like dead-cold. His friend had always run a slightly cooler temperature than others and seemed to always need a blanket, a sweater, or a heater, but he's never been ice-cold like this. "Godness, Danny! Let's get you somewhere warmer. Can you feel your toes or fingers? How long have you been out here? Do we need to go to the hospital?!"

He pushed the man back so he could run his eyes up and down Danny's body. Nothing seemed wrong, but frostbite was no joke. Hell, Tim couldn't even rule out pneumonia, given that Danny is always this cold. His immune system must be shot.

Danny's eyes softened from the surprise, raising one hand to cup Tim's cheek. The flush from the cold spreads across Tim's face. "I'm alright. It's part of my biology. If I don't use my powers for too long, the ice starts to attack my insides. I let a lot of it out. I just need to warm up."

"How long has it been since you've been suppressing your powers for?" Tim demands not letting up. Icy blue eyes, like the crystals surrounding them, flicker to the side in shame, and Tim feels dread dip low in his stomach. "Since we've met?"

"No further than that." Danny sighs, "I've been suppressing my powers since I moved to Gotham. Not many places can I just freeze everything over in a city known for hating metas. Sometimes it will burst out of me when I can't hold it anymore."

Tim considers his options. "Okay, you can come over to the Wayne manor and let loose there. Bruce won't mind, and the Waynes' property is private, so no one will see. I'll buy us a more secluded area if it makes you feel-"

"Tim!" Danny cuts him off, pushing his face to the side with a laugh, "You are not buying me an island."

"An island? That's a great idea. I was thinking somewhere high in the mountains, but that risks exposure. But an island would make it less likely for someone to stumble upon us. I'll search for a location once we get back home."

"....It's still my home?" Danny's voice is small and shy, but very hopeful, and Tim can't help but pull him into another hug.

"Of course it is. It'll always be our home."

"Even though I hide everything from you?"

"Yeah." Tim hums. "Though I am curious. What was that green stuff you were hiding?"

"Natural ectoplasm," Danny replies. He gestures with his hand, and although Tim can't see it, he can feel the movement on his back. Danny is talking about the ice and snow surrounding them. "When this melts, it doesn't turn into water. It turns into natural ectoplasm that I freeze when I use my powers. Ectoplasm is like a natural element, born of death. As long as there is life in the area, there is death."

"Oh, cool. Is it like toxic waste that you need to dispose of safely?"

"No, if left alone, it just returns to nature. But I need ectoplasm to survive. I drink it whenever my ice core starts attacking my body; it's not enough, but it gets me by."

Tim hums, nodding his head. "I see. I see."

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"

"Not a clue, Love."

The word of endearment slips out without his meaning to, and both men stiffen up, tense and awkward as the word flouts in the air. Tim is mortified, screaming at himself while Danny remains silent, then slowly, he pushes himself back, his eyes running all over Tim. Slowly, Danny says, "I can explain everything, if you're willing to listen."

"Yeah. I...ugh yeah. Should we head home?"

Danny smiles. "Yeah, let's."

"You want to gather your ectoplasm from this?" He asks but Danny shakes his head.

"Let it melt."

The ride back is silent, but with Danny's arms wrapped around his waist and his cold presence at his back, Tim feels at ease. They stumble into the penthouse, nodding their heads at the doorman who gives them a grimace smile, and Tim practically buries Danny in blankets and a pair of his warmest pajamas.

He changes, too, though he keeps his door open, just so he can hear if Danny tries to run. He hears him move around the penthouse, the sound of the kitchen cabinets opening and closing, and lets himself relax long enough to take a quick warm shower. He was planning it cool, but Tim was shaking from the cold, too.

When he returns to the living room, Danny is sitting in the middle of the couch, a hat, gloves, and a scarf wrapped around his sleepwear. On his lap are the four blankets Tim threw at him. Sitting in front of him on the coffee table is a steaming cup of coffee that fills Tim's nostrils and makes his insides settle.

His knees go weak from how much he adores this man.

Danny offers Tim a shy smile, pulling the blankets back. He pats the space beside him, looking a little flushed. "Come sit with me?"

Tim nearly trips over his own two feet as he scrambles to sit. Their shoulds are pressing together, and a wicked amount of hope that his feelings aren't one-sided blooms in Tim's chest. After all, the couch is large enough that he doesn't have to sit right there. In fact, it's five feet wide; he literally could do social distancing.

"Comfortable?" Danny asks

"Hold on." Tim leans forward, stretching out his arms until his fingers close around the mug's handle. "Okay. I'm ready."

Danny takes a deep breath as if gathering all his courage. "First thing you should know is that I'm not a full human. I'm dead."

"Like a zombie?" Tim never thought he would be the one to date an actual zombie, but at least he beat Jason. They always assumed Jason would find a vampire and try to romance, as a result of overconsumption from all those romance novels he was obsessed with.

"No," Danny says, and suddenly there are two bright rings of light, overlapping his body. Tim closes his eyes on instinct, but when the light disappears, he lets his mouth drop. Sitting next to him was Danny, but now with white hair, green eyes, and a slight glow. Other than that, he looked exactly the same and nothing like before at the same time.

The most gorgeous man he had ever seen. Somehow more beautiful in this form than his human form, like he put on a filter, but in real life. Danny takes his silence for something else because he gives a similar smile to the one the doorman had, even offering a weak "Ta-da. I'm a ghost."

Tim continues to stare, so tongue-tied he can't get a reply out. Danny's face falls, and the sight has Tim moving before Tim's brain kicks in, and he's blurting something out before he can actually think. "I'm so in love with you right now."

"What?!"

Tim's eyes widen when he realizes what he said. "I....well...okay, I'm going to be honest with you. I've developed feelings for you. And I want to date you. And I think I love you."

The glow around Danny Brightens, and Tim is blessed with the most beautiful smile in the history of humanity. "Really? You like me?"

"I do."

Danny lets out a whoop, flinging himself onto Tim, "I love you too!"

"Thank you," Tim replies stun, making Danny draw back.

"Did you just thank me for saying I love you?"

"I'm going to be honest with you, I can't really think right now, I'm too happy, and I think this might be a dream," Tim says evenly, causing Danny to laugh, before-oh.

Cold lips are pressed against his, and well, that is nice. It's really nice. It's super nice when Danny tilts his head, deepening the kiss, and moving his lips in a way that urges Tim to do the same. He knows they should talk, knows that there is a lot that needs to be aired out, but his mind shuts off as he kisses back, wrapping his arms around the man that he can't live without anymore.

A couple of hours later, after more kisses, snuggles, and whispered confessions of love, Danny tells him his story. About the little boy that died in the lab of his parents' basement, and the life he's lived as a halfa ever since. Tim retells the story of the one unwanted Robin, who answered a call that was never made, and how he's always remained on the field, fighting a good fight.

Bruce will have his head for telling Danny about Red Robin, and normally, he would be the one reminding his siblings that romance shouldn't blind them into revealing too much, but he knows he can trust Danny.

Knows it like he knows his soul needed that Heart Attack coffee that started all of this to function. Danny tells him about the theory that he may become a coffee-crazed ghost after he dies, since a potential obsession flares whenever he drinks it, but Tim thinks it's more than just the coffee that has him like this.

He thinks it's more his urge to hoard the things he loves. Tim's always had an obsessive personality, almost hyper-fixated on his interests to the point of worry, and his ancestors did have something to do with dragons if the family legends are to be believed. Maybe Tim will be a dragon like a ghost when he dies.

Danny promised that when that day came, he would be there with him as Phantom because he wouldn't let death do them part. It was cheesy and stupid, and it made Tim cover Danny's face with kisses. In retaliation, Danny threw him on his back and climbed over him, pressing his cold lips against Tim's neck, causing a laugh to burst from the rich man.

He was so warm and happy with Danny that he nearly forgot about his family, until he spotted Damian peering through the window over Danny's shoulder. The boy was using his grappling hook to hang off the side of the building and was dressed in his full Robin gear. His brother has a sign pressed against the window, giving him a glare.

Don't play fight with your pregnant lover. What if you hurt him!?

Oh. Tim forgot that the family thought Danny was pregnant. Leaning down to whisper into his lover's ear- and wasn't that the best thing ever? As of tonight, Danny Fenton was his lover!- to whisper. "My family thinks you're pregnant with my child, and we're in a sugar daddy-sugar baby relationship. Want to play along?"

Danny's eyes sparkle. "Of course I do. I've been so bored this week anyway."

Tim laughs again, giving this brillant wonderful man another kiss.

They keep up the lie until four months later, when the lack of a baby bump lets the others know that, no, Danny is not pregnant. They suspected as much at the three-month mark, but Danny was able to hint that his species doesn't show signs until later for a whole month. The Waynes are still in the dark about what kind of being Danny is, though, since they heavily implied he's a form of changling.

Tim is having the time of his life, sipping his coffee and bringing Danny around the office just to watch the media storm around his "Sugar baby." The interns who overheard his conversation had graduated to full-blown employees, and one of them let it slip because everyone at Wayne treated Danny like royalty whenever he came by.

All in all, Tim can say with certainty that Bruce, ironically, had been right. Cutting his access to his normal Heart Attack coffee had been the best thing that could have ever happened to him.

A year later, Danny proposes using a ring he saved up money for- something far less than what Tim can afford- but it's the type of ringTim had always been obsessed with since he was a child, and it fits perfectly on his finger. The wedding ceremony is attended by humans, aliens, ghosts, and anyone else dear to the men's lives.

On the anniversary of the day they met, only half a year since their wedding and honeymoon, Danny asks for two things. The first is for Tim to help him open his own cafe, after Danny has experimented with different drinks on him throughout their entire relationship, and won more employee contests. Tim honestly thinks he could put Heart Attack out of business with how good his original recipes are.

The second is for Tim to look into adoption agencies. Not right away, he wants to at least be three years married before they start properly, but Danny wants a family. The white lie they told the Waynes had made him realize how much he adores the idea having more then two hot steaming cups ready for a night in. He even bought a family set with little cups for the possible three children he wants.

(Of course, their kids would be drinking hot chocolate until they were old enough for coffee.)

The morning sun over Mondstadt always seemed to catch the crest of Starfell Valley first, pouring like liquid amber over the cider-scented orchards of the Dawn Winery.

It was a quiet sort of beauty, the kind that didn’t demand an audience but simply existed, grounding and immense.

Inside the manor, the atmosphere was much the same.

You sat at the long, polished oak table in the dining room, the crest of the Ragnvindr clan catching the early light from the high arched windows.

A cup of black tea steamed faintly beside your plate, the scent of bergamot mingling with the rich, earthy aroma of the breakfast Elzer had just laid out.

From the doorway, the soft, rhythmic click of leather boots signaled his approach.

You didn’t need to look up to know the precise cadence of Diluc’s step.

It was a march born of years of discipline, yet whenever he entered a room where you sat, that rigid pace invariably softened, rounding at the edges until it was nothing more than a gentle glide.

Diluc paused behind your chair, his gloved hand coming to rest lightly on the carved wooden back. With his other hand, he reached down, his long, pale fingers gently tucking a stray lock of your hair behind your ear.

His touch was warm, always so incredibly warm, a silent testament to the Pyro Vision that rested against his coat but it was also remarkably tender.

To the rest of Teyvat, Diluc Ragnvindr was a man of iron and ash, a silent protector who wore a permanent scowl and carried the weight of Mondstadt’s sins on his broad shoulders.

But here, within the private sanctuary of the winery, surrounded by the staff who had known him since childhood, he was simply yours.

"Did you sleep well?" his voice was a low, gravelly rumble, rich and soothing in the quiet of the morning.

"I did," you replied, tilting your head back to look up at him.

A small, soft smile graced your lips as you reached up to cup his cheek.

His skin was rough from years of handling claymores and reins, but he melted into your palm, his eyelids fluttering shut for a brief, sacred second.

"Though the bed felt a bit empty after dawn."

Diluc leaned down, pressing a lingering, warm kiss to your forehead. "I had paperwork to review with Elzer regarding the summer vintage. I didn’t wish to wake you."

Across the room, Adeline stood by the sideboard, a silver teapot in hand.

A knowing, deeply affectionate smile softened her features as she watched the two of you.

She had seen Diluc through his darkest, most turbulent years, the years of grief, of self-imposed exile, of bitter isolation.

To see him now, anchored so completely by your presence, his sharp edges thoroughly blunted by the sheer depth of his love for you, brought a quiet joy to her heart.

"Master Diluc, the carriage is being prepared for your trip into the city," Adeline murmured, her tone respectful yet warm. "And forgive me, Lady Ragnvindr, your dynamic with the Knights’ logistics team is scheduled for early afternoon, is it not?"

You laughed softly, shaking your head. "Adeline, please. Just my name is fine. And yes, Jean asked if I could assist with the inventory of the elemental reserves. With the Stormterror aftermath still causing minor anomalies, she wants an extra Vision holder on site."

Diluc’s eyes flicked down to your hip, where your own Vision rested, glinting softly in the morning light.

A subtle, protective tighten crossed his jaw, though it vanished as quickly as it came.

He trusted your strength implicitly. You were a formidable fighter in your own right, an equal partner who could stand back-to-back with him in the dead of night against an abyss pack without flinching.

His protectiveness wasn't a doubt of your capabilities; it was simply the natural law of his universe.

He loved you, and therefore, the world was a threat to be managed.

"I will be at the tavern by nightfall," Diluc said, his hand sliding down to your shoulder, giving it a firm, reassuring squeeze. "If your duties wrap up early, come find me at the Angel’s Share. We can ride back together."

"It's a date," you teased softly.

He didn't smirk, but the corners of his eyes crinkled a rare expression that only you ever truly witnessed.

To the world outside these stone walls, you were a dedicated ally of the winery, a capable Vision user, and a dear, trusted friend of Diluc Ragnvindr.

When the two of you had married a year ago, it had been a quiet affair, held in the estate’s private chapel with only Adeline, Elzer, and a profoundly smug Kaeya in attendance.

It wasn't that you were hiding your love; it was simply that neither you nor Diluc felt the need to perform your marriage for the court of public opinion.

You didn't hold hands in the streets of Mondstadt; you didn't exchange sweet nothings over the counter at the Good Hunter.

You walked side by side, equals, autonomous and private.

If anyone asked, neither of you lied. But Mondstadt was a city of gossip, and when people didn't see grand gestures, dramatic declarations, or a woman dangling off the winery master's arm, they assumed what they pleased.

To the average citizen, you were just an exceptionally close confidante. A brilliant friend.

And that suited you both perfectly. But privacy, you would soon remember, often left room for the imaginative malice of those who envied what they could not understand.

The afternoon air in Mondstadt was crisp, carrying the scent of dandelions and fresh bread from Sarah’s ovens.

You walked down the stone steps from the Knights of Favonius headquarters, stretching your shoulders after hours of cataloging elemental crystals with Lisa.

Your Vision hummed with a faint, resonant energy, responding to the ambient elemental flow of the city.

As you made your way past the flower shop, intending to head toward the plaza, a sharp, carrying voice cut through the midday bustle.

"Oh, look who it is. I swear, some people simply don't know when they are overstaying their welcome."

You paused, turning your head slightly. Standing near the city gates, leaning against a crate of goods, was Donna.

Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her lips curled into a sneer that looked entirely out of place on her usually bright face.

A couple of other townspeople stood nearby, shifting uncomfortably under her intense, venomous gaze.

You blinked, genuinely caught off guard. "Good afternoon, Donna. Is something the matter?"

"Is something the matter?" Donna scoffed, taking a step toward you, her heels clicking sharply against the cobblestones. "You have a lot of nerve acting so innocent. Everyone in the city sees it, you know. The way you constantly hover around the Dawn Winery. The way you practically force yourself into Master Diluc’s schedule."

You stared at her, utterly bewildered. "I work closely with the winery on elemental defense and trade routes, Donna. It’s matters of business."

"Business! Is that what you call it when you follow him around like a stray dog?" Donna’s voice rose, deliberately drawing the attention of passing citizens.

A few merchants turned to look; a pair of Knights on patrol slowed their pace. "You think just because you have a Vision, you're somehow special? You’re just a commoner clinging to his coattails, desperately trying to climb the social ladder. It’s pathetic, really. Master Diluc is a nobleman of highest caliber. He’s far too polite and well-bred to tell you to your face that you're an annoying nuisance, but it’s obvious to everyone else."

A low, collective murmur passed through the small crowd that had gathered.

Some looked sympathetic toward you, while others, fueled by the natural human appetite for scandal, began to whisper among themselves.

Is she really clinging to him? Well, they do spend an awful lot of time together... and Master Diluc never did seem the type to tolerate idle company.

You felt a prickle of annoyance, but you kept your composure.

You didn't need to defend your honor to Donna; the ring tucked safely on a silver chain beneath your shirt pressed warmly against your collarbone, a solid, unshakeable truth.

"Donna," you said, your voice calm, steady, and entirely devoid of the anger she was trying to provoke. "I assure you, Master Diluc is entirely capable of expressing his discomfort if he had any. My presence at the winery is welcomed."

"Welcomed? Keep telling yourself that!" Donna spat, her eyes flashing with a desperate, bitter jealousy.

For months, she had watched you slip in and out of the winery gates, had seen you walking beside the man of her dreams.

She had convinced herself that you were an opportunist, a parasite exploiting Diluc's solitary nature. "You're just a parasite. A desperate, clinging little girl who thinks a shiny glass orb on her hip makes her worthy of a Ragnvindr. You don't belong near him. You're nothing to him."

Before you could even open your mouth to reply, a long, dark shadow fell over the cobblestones between you and Donna.

"My, my. What an incredibly loud performance for such a quiet afternoon."

The smooth, theatrical drawl was instantly recognizable.

From around the corner of the alchemy station stepped Kaeya, his single eye gleaming with a dangerous, icy amusement.

His hand rested casually on the pommel of his sword, his posture relaxed, yet there was a distinct, predatory sharpness to the air the moment he arrived.

Donna paled slightly, stepping back. "Captain Kaeya! I-I was just... I was just pointing out the truth. She’s always bothering Master Diluc, and-"

"And since when did the logistics of the Ragnvindr estate become the civic duty of a floral assistant?" Kaeya interrupted, his smile never reaching his eye. He walked over, deliberately stepping into your space, his arm coming around your shoulders in a loose, protective, brotherly drape.

He looked down at you, his expression softening into genuine fondness. "Are you alright, little lady? Did the bad weather wash up some refuse?"

"I'm fine, Kaeya," you sighed, though you appreciated the warmth of his presence.

Over the past year, Kaeya had firmly established himself as a fiercely protective, albeit incredibly teasing, older brother figure to you.

He might have a fractured relationship with Diluc, but when it came to you, Kaeya was fiercely, uncompromisingly loyal.

Kaeya turned his gaze back to Donna, the temperature in the immediate vicinity seeming to drop by several degrees.

"Let’s clear something up, shall we? The lady you are so carelessly slandering happens to hold a position of utmost respect within the Knights' strategic network. Furthermore..." His grin widened, flashing a row of white teeth.

"If Master Diluc found her presence 'bothering,' he wouldn't be the one constantly ensuring her favorite tea is imported directly from Liyue just to keep her comfortable at his table. So, unless you want me to write up a formal report for public disturbance and harassment of a Knights' liaison... I suggest you take your flowers and your fascinating theories somewhere else."

Donna choked on her breath, her face flushing a deep, humiliated red.

She cast one last, hateful look at you before turning on her heel and storming off toward the flower shop, her hands trembling with rage.

The crowd dispersed quickly under Kaeya’s sharp, lingering gaze. Once the street was relatively clear, Kaeya dropped his arm from your shoulder, letting out a soft sigh as he looked down at you.

"You let people trample over you too much," he chided gently, though his voice held no real bite. "You could have flattened her with your Vision in three seconds flat."

"And cause a scene? Diluc hates scenes," you reasoned, smoothing down your coat. "Besides, her words don't change the truth. Let her think what she wants."

Kaeya shook his head, a complex emotion flitting across his face. "You and Diluc... I swear, the two of you are stubborn to a fault. This whole 'private romance' bit is all well and good, but it leaves the door wide open for fools like Donna to think they have a chance, or worse, to drag your name through the mud. Diluc would burn Mondstadt to the ground if he knew she spoke to you like that."

"Then let's not tell him," you said softly, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "He has enough on his plate with the Abyss Order activity near the Wolvendom borders. He doesn't need to waste his energy on town gossip."

Kaeya stared at you for a long moment, before letting out a defeated, amused chuckle. He reached out, rustling your hair affectionately. "You're too good for him, you know that? But fine. I won't say a word.

Just... be careful. Jealousy makes people do incredibly stupid things."

As it turned out, Kaeya’s warning was entirely prophetic.

A few days later, a grand celebration was held in Mondstadt.

The Knights of Favonius had successfully cleared out a massive hilichurl camp that had been blocking the main trade routes from Liyue, and the acting Grand Master had declared a night of festivity to boost morale.

The entire city was alive with light, laughter, and the heavy scent of Barbatos’s favored brew.

The Angel’s Share was packed to the brim.

Every table was occupied, the wooden rafter echoing with the loud choruses of bards and the clinking of heavy beer mugs.

Diluc stood behind the bar, his expression as impassive as ever as he poured drinks with practiced, flawless efficiency.

He wore his usual high-collared vest, his fiery red hair tied back in a neat ponytail.

Despite the chaos of the crowded tavern, his eyes continuously tracked a single point in the room: you.

You were sitting at a table near the corner, laughing softly as Venti spun a ridiculous, entirely fabricated yarn about a dragon and a giant dandelion.

Beside you, Kaeya was nursing a glass of Death After Noon, his eyes occasionally scanning the room with quiet vigilance.

"Master Diluc!"

Diluc’s gaze snapped back to the bar counter.

Standing there, leaning heavily against the polished wood, was Donna. She had clearly had a bit to drink, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glassy, though fixed on him with an intense, desperate focus.

"A glass of your finest white wine, please," she purred, trying to pitch her voice lower, trying to emulate the sophisticated ladies she read about in novels.

Diluc didn't utter a word.

He simply reached for a clean glass, poured the requested wine, and slid it across the counter to her, already turning away to wipe down a tap.

"Master Diluc, wait," Donna called out, her hand reaching out across the wood, nearly catching the sleeve of his coat.

Diluc subtly stepped back, entirely out of her reach, his eyes narrowing into a cold, flat stare.

Undeterred by his icy demeanor, Donna leaned in closer, her voice carrying over the din of the tavern to the surrounding patrons. "I... I just wanted to say how much everyone appreciates you hosting these events. You are always so hardworking, so noble.

It must be so exhausting... especially with certain people constantly draining your time and resources."

Diluc’s hand paused on the towel. "What are you referring to?"

Donna took his response as an invitation, her eyes lighting up with a cruel, triumphant gleam.

She glanced pointedly over her shoulder toward your table. "Oh, you know. There are rumors all over the city about how some people take advantage of your generosity. Always hanging around the winery, acting like they belong there, using their Vision as an excuse to get close to your wealth and status. It’s disgusting, really. Someone like you deserves a woman who truly understands high society, someone who values you for you, not just your name."

The immediate area around the bar went dead silent.

Six-Fingered José stopped strumming his lyre a few paces away.

Several patrons lowered their mugs, sensing the sudden, suffocating drop in atmospheric pressure.

Diluc did not blink.

His crimson eyes fixed onto Donna with a terrifying, absolute stillness.

The heat radiating off him became palpable, a heavy, oppressive warmth that made Donna’s breath hitch in her throat.

"Is that so?" Diluc’s voice was dangerously quiet, a low hiss of embers before a wildfire.

"Y-yes!" Donna stammered, emboldened by her own delusion. "Everyone thinks so! She’s just a clinging, desperate nobody who’s dragging down your reputation. You should just ban her from the estate, Master Diluc. You don't need that kind of dead weight—"

"Donna."

The name slipped from his lips like a sentence from a judge.

Diluc slowly placed the towel down on the counter.

He didn't raise his voice, but the sheer command in his tone cut through the entire tavern, silencing even the rowdy tables in the back.

"You are speaking of my wife."

The words dropped like a claymore splitting a boulder.

Donna froze, her eyes widening to the size of saucers. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. "W... W-wife...?"

Across the room, you raised your eyebrows, a quiet sigh escaping your lips.

You had hoped to avoid a scene, but looking at the absolute fury vibrating beneath Diluc’s calm exterior, you knew there was no stopping him now.

Kaeya, on the other hand, let out a loud, delighted bark of laughter, leaning back in his chair with a thoroughly entertained grin.

Diluc walked out from behind the bar counter.

He didn't spare Donna another glance as he crossed the floor of the tavern.

Every single eye in the establishment followed him as he made his way directly to your corner table.

As he approached, you stood up, a soft, apologetic smile on your face. "Diluc, you didn't have to-"

Before you could finish your sentence, Diluc reached out. His large, warm hand cupped the back of your neck, his fingers tangling into your hair with an intense, possessive gentleness.

He pulled you to him, and without a single shred of hesitation, he leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against yours.

It wasn't a chaste, polite kiss.

It was deep, breath-stealing, and heavy with a profound, unyielding adoration. It was the kiss of a man who was utterly consumed by the woman in his arms, a declaration made in the language of fire and absolute devotion.

Your Vision pulsed in tandem with his, a warm, harmonious light flaring briefly between you.

The tavern erupted.

Cheered, gasps, and the slamming of mugs against wood shook the rafters. Venti clapped his hands with glee, while Patton near the door looked like he might faint from sheer shock.

When Diluc finally pulled back, his forehead rested against yours for a brief second.

His breathing was slightly shallow, his eyes dark with an emotion so raw it made your heart skip a beat.

He looked down at you, his thumb gently wiping a trace of moisture from your lower lip.

"I am tired of listening to fools speak your name with anything less than the reverence you deserve," he whispered, his voice for your ears alone.

He then turned his head, his sharp, lethal gaze locking onto Donna, who looked as though she wished the floorboards would open up and swallow her whole.

"Let me make this entirely clear to everyone present," Diluc announced, his voice ringing with absolute authority through the Angel’s Share.

"The lady standing beside me is the mistress of the Dawn Winery. She holds my heart, my trust, and my name. Any insult directed toward her is a direct declaration of hostility against the Ragnvindr house. If I hear a single whisper of slander against my wife again... you will find yourselves permanently barred not only from this establishment, but from every trade route, estate, and asset I control in Mondstadt. Am I understood?"

Donna looked as if she might burst into tears.

She gave a frantic, terrified nod before grabbing her bag and sprinting out of the tavern doors, the laughter of the patrons following her into the night.

Diluc let out a soft breath, the tension leaving his shoulders as he looked back down at you.

His expression immediately melted back into that soft, gentle gaze that was reserved entirely for you. "Are you alright?"

"I'm more than alright," you smiled, wrapping your arms around his waist, burying your face in his chest. "Though I thought we agreed no public displays of affection?"

"Exceptions can be made," he murmured, wrapping his arms securely around you, holding you close against his chest, entirely ignoring the catcalls and cheers of the tavern around him.

From the table, Kaeya cleared his throat loudly, a massive, mischievous grin stretching across his face. He stood up, swirling his drink before tossing it back.

"Well, well. Quite a performance, Master Diluc," Kaeya teased, walking over to the two of you. He clapped a hand heavily onto Diluc’s shoulder, a gesture that made Diluc’s eyes narrow, though he didn't pull away. Kaeya looked at you, his single eye glittering with a brilliant, sudden idea.

"You know... since the town is clearly so confused about your martial status, I think there’s only one logical solution to put this entire matter to rest permanently."

Diluc glared at him. "And what would that be, Kaeya?"

Kaeya smirked, leaning in. "A proper, grand wedding. Right in the middle of the city, at the Cathedral of Favonius. A full mass, the entire town invited, the grandest decorations the winery can buy."

He winked at you.

"And most importantly... we ensure Donna is given a front-row seat to watch you slide the ring onto her finger all over again. What do you say, sister-in-law? Want to give Mondstadt something real to gossip about?"

You looked up at Diluc, who was already looking down at you, awaiting your verdict.

The thought of a grand wedding was usually against his private nature, but seeing the soft, unspoken warmth in his eyes, you knew that if it made you happy, he would rent out the entire city for a week.

"I think," you said, a beautiful, radiant smile breaking across your face, "that sounds like a wonderful idea."

The morning following the announcement at the Angel’s Share did not arrive with the usual quiet dignity of the Dawn Winery.

Instead, it arrived with the sound of Kaeya Alberich’s boots clicking across the polished flagstones of the manor’s entrance hall at an hour that Diluc considered borderline criminal.

Inside the study, the air was thick with the scent of old paper, sealing wax, and the rich aroma of dark-roasted coffee.

Diluc sat behind his massive mahogany desk, his crimson hair tied back loosely with a black ribbon, a pair of reading glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

You sat on the chaise lounge across from him, a ledger of elemental inventory resting on your lap, though your attention had long since drifted to the way the morning light caught the sharp lines of your husband’s jaw.

The door flew open without a knock.

"Good morning, newlyweds or should I say, the soon-to-be publicly newlyweds?" Kaeya breezed into the room, his fur-lined cape swirling behind him like a dark blue cloud.

He held a thick stack of parchment in one hand and a half-eaten red apple in the other.

Diluc did not look up from his ledger, though his brow twitched with an immediate, practiced irritation.

"Kaeya. It is barely eight in the morning. Do the Knights no longer require their Cavalry Captain to pretend he has duties?"

"Oh, Jean has given me a temporary leave of absence for a matter of grave diplomatic and cultural importance," Kaeya said smoothly, dropping the stack of parchment directly onto Diluc’s immaculate desk, right over the trade reports from Liyue.

Diluc finally raised his eyes, his gaze flat and lethal. "And what matter might that be?"

"Your wedding, of course," Kaeya smiled, his single eye glinting with pure, unadulterated mischief.

He turned to you, his expression softening into that warm, brotherly fondness that had become so familiar over the past year. "Good morning, little lady. I trust my dear brother didn't keep you up all night discussing wine fermentation statistics?"

You laughed softly, closing your ledger and setting it aside. "Good morning, Kaeya. And no, we actually managed to sleep. Though I see you’ve been busy."

"Busy? I haven't slept a wink!" Kaeya declared dramatically, pulling up a high-backed chair and spinning it around so he could rest his arms across the backrest.

"Do you have any idea how much coordination it takes to plan a grand ceremony at the Cathedral of Favonius on less than a month's notice? Jean is already organizing the honorary guard. Lisa is curating the evening's musical repertoire though she threatened to electrocute me if I suggested any sea shanties and Amber has volunteered to handle the decorations for the plaza."

Diluc slowly took off his reading glasses, placing them precisely on the desk. He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"We agreed to a ceremony, Kaeya. We did not agree to turn the city into a carnival. A quiet, dignified service at the Cathedral is more than enough to satisfy whatever... point you are trying to make."

"Oh, this isn't just about making a point, Master Diluc," Kaeya purred, his smile widening into something genuinely wicked.

"This is about community morale. And, more importantly, it is about civic education. The good people of Mondstadt need to learn the consequences of gossiping about the winery’s Lady."

Kaeya reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a separate piece of parchment, tapping it against his chin.

"In fact, I’ve already taken the liberty of handling the floral arrangements. I thought to myself, 'Kaeya, who in Mondstadt is most qualified to provide the highest volume of Cecilias and Windwheel Asters for the Ragnvindr estate?' And then it hit me."

A sudden, terrible suspicion flashed across Diluc’s face.

"Kaeya. What did you do?"

Kaeya’s grin was blinding.

"I placed a massive, non-refundable, incredibly lucrative order with Flora’s shop. Specifically, I requested that the order be processed, curated, and hand-delivered directly to the Cathedral by her senior assistant."

The room went dead silent for three seconds.

You blinked, a slow, disbelieving smile breaking across your face as the pieces clicked together.

"Donna."

"Precisely!" Kaeya snapped his fingers, looking thoroughly pleased with his own genius.

"I ordered five thousand Cecilias, three thousand Windwheel Asters, and a dozen arrangements of silk flowers imported from Liyue. And I made sure to specify in the contract that the delivery must be supervised at all hours by Mondstadt's most dedicated floral enthusiast. She will be spending the next three weeks surrounded by the very flowers that will adorn your bridal aisle. She will practically smell your happiness every time she breathes."

Diluc let out a long, heavy sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose where his glasses had just been.

"You are a child. A petty, vindictive child."

"I am a protective older brother," Kaeya corrected, his tone shifting for a brief second into something entirely sincere as he looked at you.

"And I don't tolerate people throwing dirt on my family. Besides, think of the economic boost for the flower shop! It’s an act of pure charity."

"It's psychological warfare," you corrected gently, though you couldn't deny the small, wicked spark of satisfaction it gave you.

Donna had spent weeks trying to poison your reputation; letting her carry the flowers for your wedding felt like a poetic, if slightly chaotic, form of justice.

"Exactly. The best kind of warfare," Kaeya chuckled, standing up and dusting off his trousers.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go check on the wine selection with Elzer. I told him we need at least fifty barrels of the 1984 vintage, and he looked like he was going to have a stroke."

"Kaeya, do not touch my cellar," Diluc growled, his voice dropping an octave.

"Too late! See you at lunch!" Kaeya waved a hand over his shoulder as he sauntered out of the study, his laughter echoing down the hallway.

Once the door closed, the heavy silence returned to the study, but the tension had evaporated, replaced by a warm, lingering amusement.

Diluc turned his head to look at you, his crimson eyes softening as the rigid persona of the Darknight Hero melted away entirely.

He stood up from his desk, walking across the room with that silent, graceful stride of his.

He stopped before the chaise lounge, reaching down to take your hands in his.

His palms were large, covering yours completely, the ambient Pyro energy within him making his skin feel like a hearth on a winter night.

He pulled you up to stand, wrapping his arms around your waist and drawing you flush against his chest.

"If this is too much," Diluc murmured, his face burying into the crook of your neck, his breath warm against your skin, "we can stop it. I don't care about the city's rumors. I only care about your peace."

You wrapped your arms around his neck, fingers tangling into the soft, thick waves of his red hair.

"Diluc, it's fine. Honestly. It’s a little chaotic, but... seeing everyone want to help, seeing Kaeya get so worked up to protect us... it makes me realize how much love we actually have around us. And besides..."

You pulled back slightly to look into his eyes, a playful glint in your own. "I wouldn't mind seeing you in a proper tailored suit at the altar."

Diluc’s chest rumbled with a rare, low chuckle.

He leaned down, pressing his lips to yours in a slow, deep kiss that tasted faintly of coffee and sweet morning air. "If it pleases my wife, I will wear whatever she desires."

Over the next two weeks, Mondstadt was transformed into a whirlwind of wedding preparation.

Because you and Diluc were already technically married, the typical stress of a wedding was absent; there was no anxiety about vows or legalities.

Instead, it became a massive, community-driven festival, with every major figure in the city finding a way to involve themselves.

At the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Jean had practically turned her office into a war room specifically for the logistics of the ceremony.

"The honorary guard will line the steps of the Cathedral," Jean explained, tapping a quill against a map of the city plaza.

You were sitting across from her, while Lisa lounged on the sofa nearby, sipping tea.

"We will have four squads of Knights in full ceremonial armor. No weapons drawn, of course, but it will ensure the crowd remains orderly. Master Diluc’s standing in Mondstadt demands a certain level of security, and given your status as a vital liaison, the Knights are proud to sponsor the guard."

"Jean, you really don't have to go to such trouble," you said, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the scale of it all. "A simple walk up the steps is fine."

"Nonsense, darling," Lisa chimed in, setting her teacup down with a elegant clink. "Mondstadt hasn't had a proper noble wedding since Diluc's father was a young man. The people need something beautiful to look at. And besides, Jean needs an excuse to think about something other than paperwork. Look at her, she’s practically glowing with tactical wedding enthusiasm."

Jean flushed slightly, coughing into her hand. "I am merely ensuring that the event goes smoothly. Furthermore, Klee has requested to be the flower girl. I have... strictly forbidden her from using any 'special' flowers, and Albedo has promised to supervise her to ensure no explosives are disguised as bouquets."

You laughed, the vision of Klee accidentally blowing up the Cathedral altar with a companion sphere of dandelions both terrifying and hilarious. "Thank Barbatos for Albedo."

Meanwhile, down in the city plaza, the real drama was unfolding at the floral shop.

Kaeya had made it a personal habit to check on the progress of the floral orders at least twice a day.

He didn't just check the inventory; he brought a chair, sat near the fountain, and watched with a look of supreme satisfaction as Donna worked.

Donna was utterly miserable.

Her fingers were raw from trimming the thorny stems of the silk flowers, and her eyes were permanently red from a combination of pollen and bitter, furious tears.

Every single flower she touched was a reminder of the woman she hated, the woman who had turned out to be the legal, fiercely adored wife of the most eligible man in Mondstadt.

"Careful with those Windwheel Asters, Donna," Kaeya called out from his chair, swirling a glass of sparkling cider he had brought from the tavern.

"We need them to be perfectly symmetrical. My sister-in-law has a very keen eye for detail, you know. If a single petal is wilted, I’ll have to report it to Master Diluc, and we both know how particular he is about quality."

Donna bit her lower lip so hard it nearly bled.

She kept her head down, her hands trembling as she tied a silk ribbon around a massive bouquet of Cecilias. "Yes, Captain Kaeya. I am being very careful."

"Excellent!" Kaeya beamed, taking a slow sip of his drink.

"Oh, and make sure the delivery to the Cathedral on Friday morning is prompt. Master Diluc requested that the altar be completely covered in white lilies. He told me just yesterday while looking at his wife with the most sickeningly sweet expression I've ever seen on his face, mind you that she reminds him of a fresh lily after a spring rain. Truly, the man is a closet romantic. Who knew?"

A sharp snip echoed through the plaza as Donna accidentally cut the head completely off a pristine white rose.

"Oops," Kaeya murmured, his eye flashing with cruel amusement.

"That’s coming out of your commission, dear."

Donna looked up, her eyes wide with a mix of terror, humiliation, and deep-seated jealousy. "Captain Kaeya... why are you doing this to me? I... I only said what everyone else was thinking! How was I supposed to know they were... they were..."

"Married?" Kaeya’s voice lost its playful edge, dropping into a cold, sharp tone that made Donna flinch.

He leaned forward, his single visible eye locking onto her like a dagger.

"Because, Donna, a sensible person minds their own business. You let your jealousy cloud your judgment, and you tried to publicly humiliate a woman who is worth ten of you. Consider this a lesson in humility. You’re lucky it’s me sitting here teasing you, and not my brother. If Diluc had his way entirely, you wouldn't even be allowed within the city walls right now."

Donna swallowed hard, her throat tight with unshed tears. She looked down at the ruined rose in her hand, the reality of her situation sinking in. She had lost any chance she ever thought she had, and now she was forced to build the stage for her rival's ultimate triumph.

The night before the ceremony, the Dawn Winery was filled with a warm, bustling energy.

The entire staff: Adeline, Elzer, the maids, and the stable hands had gathered in the main hall to finalize the preparations for the reception, which was to be held on the estate grounds.

You stood in the center of the hall, wearing the beautiful, flowing white gown that Margaret and the city’s finest tailors had spent the last two weeks perfecting.

It was elegant, with delicate lace along the sleeves and a high neckline that managed to look both classic and modern.

Your Vision was subtly integrated into the sash at your waist, glowing with a soft, comforting light.

"Oh, look at you," Adeline whispered, her eyes misty with tears as she adjusted the long, sheer veil that trailed behind you. "You look absolutely breathtaking, my lady. Master Diluc won't know what to do with himself."

"He'll probably just scowl to hide how nervous he is," you joked softly, though your own heart was fluttering with a sweet, nervous anticipation.

"He doesn't scowl when he looks at you," Elzer remarked, entering the hall with a tray of polished silver chalices.

"In all my years serving the Ragnvindr family, I have never seen Master Diluc as at peace as he is when you are in the room. This ceremony... it is a good thing. The people of Mondstadt need to see that the Dawn Winery has a mistress who is strong, graceful, and deeply loved."

Just then, the heavy front doors of the manor opened, and Diluc stepped inside.

He had just returned from a final sweep of the perimeter with the Dawn Winery guards, ensuring no Abyss Order elements would disrupt the following day.

He stopped dead in his tracks the moment his eyes fell upon you.

The entire room went quiet.

The maids stepped back, smiling secretly among themselves.

Diluc stood perfectly still, his breath catching audibly in his throat. His crimson eyes scanned you from head to toe, taking in the elegant curve of the dress, the soft glow of your Vision, and the radiant, loving smile on your face.

For a man who never lost his composure, Diluc looked completely undone.

He slowly walked forward, his boots making no sound against the thick rugs. He stopped just inches away from you, his hands rising as if to touch you, but pausing, afraid to disturb the pristine perfection of the lace.

"You..." Diluc’s voice was barely a whisper, thick with an emotion so deep it felt heavy in the air. "You are beautiful."

"Do you like it?" you asked softly, reaching out to take his hands, pulling them to your waist.

Diluc didn't answer with words.

Instead, he leaned down, his lips finding yours with an intense, quiet reverence.

The kiss was gentle, almost hesitant, as if he were trying to commit the exact feeling of this moment to memory forever.

His hands slid around your back, pulling you close against him, completely unbothered by the fact that his entire staff was watching.

Adeline let out a soft, emotional sniffle, while the younger maids giggled into their aprons.

"I love you," Diluc murmured against your lips, his forehead resting against yours. "More than my own life. Tomorrow, the whole world will know it."

"They already know it, Diluc," you whispered back, squeezing his hands. "But tomorrow, we make it official."

The morning of the wedding arrived with a sky so clear and blue it looked as though the Anemo Archon himself had personally swept the clouds away.

The bells of the Cathedral of Favonius began to ring at noon, their deep, resonant chimes echoing across the rooftops of Mondstadt, signaling the start of the grandest celebration the city had seen in a generation.

The plaza outside the Cathedral was packed to absolute capacity. Citizens from every walk of life: merchants, Knights, adventurers, and farmers from Springvale had gathered along the grand stone steps.

The atmosphere was electric, filled with the sounds of laughter, the chatter of excited children, and the beautiful music of bards playing traditional Mondstadt love ballads.

Standing near the base of the steps, holding a massive basket of flower petals, was Donna.

She wore her finest dress, but her face was a mask of pale, frozen misery.

True to Kaeya’s word, she had been given a designated position right at the front of the spectator line, forced to watch every single guest arrive.

Her hands were trembling so violently that a few dandelion seeds slipped from her basket, scattering into the wind.

"Oh, look! The Knights’ leadership is arriving!" a merchant nearby shouted.

Jean walked up the steps in her full ceremonial uniform, her blond hair styled elegantly.

Beside her was Lisa, wearing a stunning purple gown that turned heads with every step.

Then came Barbara, leading the Cathedral choir, her face bright with a pure, angelic joy.

And then, the carriage from the Dawn Winery arrived.

The crowd went completely silent as the door opened. Diluc stepped out first.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Diluc Ragnvindr, who spent his entire life in dark coats and practical combat gear, was dressed in a pristine, tailored black tailcoat with gold embroidery along the lapels.

His fiery red hair was tied back in a flawless braid, and a single, perfect white Cecilia was pinned to his breast. He looked every bit the high-born nobleman he was born to be; regal, imposing, and breathtakingly handsome.

But what caught everyone’s attention was his expression.

There was no scowl.

There was no cold detachment.

His eyes were fixed entirely on the carriage door, a soft, incredibly tender look softening his sharp features.

Diluc reached his gloved hand back into the carriage, and then, you stepped out.

The silence of the plaza broke into a roar of cheers and applause that could be heard all the way to Whispering Woods.

You looked like an absolute goddess, the white silk of your gown shimmering in the Mondstadt sun, your Vision gleaming at your hip like a star.

Diluc took your hand, drawing it through his arm. He looked down at you, a proud, deeply affectionate smile touching his lips. "Ready?" he whispered.

"With you? Always," you replied.

As the two of you began your walk up the grand stone steps, Kaeya stepped into view near the Cathedral doors.

He was dressed in his formal captain’s uniform, his cape flowing dramatically.

As you and Diluc neared the front row where Donna stood, Kaeya deliberately caught your eye, casting a subtle, mischievous glance down at the floral assistant.

Diluc, noticing the movement, paused right in front of Donna.

Donna froze, her breath catching in her throat as the terrifying, magnificent master of the winery stood just two feet away from her.

She looked down at your joined hands, the gold wedding bands catching the light, an undeniable, permanent reality.

Diluc looked at Donna, his crimson eyes cold, but entirely indifferent.

He didn't need to speak an insult; his happiness, his devotion to you, and the sheer grandeur of the moment were a far greater defeat than any words could inflict.

"Thank you for the beautiful flowers, Donna," you said softly, your voice filled with genuine kindness and grace, entirely devoid of malice. "They make the day perfect."

Donna’s face flushed a deep, burning red. She lowered her head, her voice a tiny, broken whisper. "Y-you're welcome, Lady Ragnvindr. I wish you... a lifetime of happiness."

Kaeya, standing just a few paces away, let out a soft, satisfied hum, crossing his arms as he watched the final piece of his plan fall into place.

Diluc looked down at you, his eyes immediately melting back into that soft, private warmth that belonged to you alone.

He squeezed your hand, and together, you walked through the grand wooden doors of the Cathedral, leaving the gossip, the jealousy, and the whispers of Mondstadt far behind.

Inside, the altar was a sea of white lilies and glowing candles.

Barbara began to sing, her voice filling the high stone arches with a melody of pure peace.

The high stone doors of the Cathedral closed behind you, shutting out the roar of the Mondstadt crowd and leaving only the ethereal, echoing resonance of Barbara’s choir.

The ambient temperature inside the sanctuary felt instantly warmer, charged by the quiet intensity of Diluc’s presence and the harmonious hum of your twin Visions.

As you walked down the grand aisle, flanked by rows of white lilies that Donna had spent the last two weeks painstakingly preparing, Diluc’s arm beneath your hand felt as solid as stone.

Yet, the way his fingers loosely entwined with yours showed a profound, almost hesitant gentleness.

He was a man who handled a heavy claymore with lethal precision, but with you, he always moved as if a fraction too much pressure might break the most precious thing he owned.

At the altar stood Acting Grand Master Jean, her expression a mix of professional dignity and deep personal relief.

Beside her, Albedo stood with a watchful eye on Klee, who was bouncing on the balls of her feet, clutching a velvet basket filled with shimmering Anemo-infused dandelion seeds.

"We are gathered here today," Jean began, her voice rich and carrying through the vaulted ceiling, "not to initiate a bond, but to honor one that has already stood the test of time, trial, and secrecy. Diluc Ragnvindr and his lady have long been the silent pillars of Mondstadt. Today, we bring their devotion into the light of the Archon."

Diluc turned to face you, taking both of your hands in his.

The gold embroidery on his tailored coat caught the flickering candlelight, casting a warm glow up into his crimson eyes.

In this sacred space, the stern, unyielding master of the Dawn Winery vanished completely.

The gaze he leveled at you was so raw, so entirely soft, that it made your breath catch.

"I, Diluc Ragnvindr, take you once more, before the gods and the people of Mondstadt," he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly timbre that vibrated straight to your heart.

"I swore my life to you in secret, but today I gladly bind my name, my house, and my honor to yours for all to see. No rumor can shake what we have built, and no shadow will ever come between us."

You smiled, tears pricking the corners of your eyes as you squeezed his warm, leather-gloved hands.

"And I take you, Diluc. With my life, my sword, and my Vision, I am yours. Yesterday, today, and for every tomorrow Mondstadt has left to give."

Kaeya, standing just a few paces back as Diluc's best man, let out a soft, theatrical sigh, wiping a completely imaginary tear from his eye.

"Beautiful. Truly, I might cry," he whispered loudly enough for Lisa to chuckle behind her hand.

"You may now seal the vow," Jean said, a genuine, warm smile breaking across her face.

Diluc didn't wait.

He stepped forward, his hands sliding up from your waist to cup your face with an immense, protective tenderness.

When his lips met yours, the Cathedral choir hit a breathtaking crescendo. It was a kiss of absolute victory; a silent, powerful declaration that the rumors, the jealousy, and the petty malice of the world outside had officially been incinerated by the hearth of his love.

Klee threw her hands in the air, sending a flurry of glowing dandelion seeds exploding into the air like miniature, harmless fireworks.

The crowd inside erupted into applause, led by a fiercely beaming Grand Master and a thoroughly satisfied Cavalry Captain.

The reception at the Dawn Winery later that evening was an affair that Mondstadt would talk about for decades.

The rolling hills of the estate were lit by hundreds of floating paper lanterns, casting a soft, golden glow over the grapevine trellises.

Tables groaned under the weight of Mondstadt's finest delicacies, and Elzer had indeed been forced to crack open the legendary 1984 vintage, much to the delight of the gathered Knights and citizens.

You stood on the stone veranda overlooking the festivities, a glass of sparkling apple cider in your hand.

The heavy lace of your bridal veil had been removed, leaving your hair to fall softly around your shoulders.

Your Vision pulsed with a gentle, contented rhythm against your hip.

"A penny for your thoughts, Lady Ragnvindr?"

You turned to see Kaeya leaning against the stone balustrade, a glass of Death After Noon tilted lazily between his fingers.

The chaotic smirk he had worn all day was gone, replaced by a quiet, genuinely protective expression.

"I'm just thinking about how perfect everything turned out," you smiled, leaning back against the railing.

"Even with all your chaotic planning, Kaeya. Thank you. For everything."

"Oh, don't thank me," Kaeya chuckled, looking out over the crowd where Diluc was currently trapped in a conversation with Jean and Venti, though his eyes were still firmly locked onto you across the courtyard.

"I simply expedited the inevitable. You two deserved a day where you didn't have to hide in the shadows of that big old manor. Mondstadt needs to know who holds the reins around here."

He paused, his expression turning serious for a brief moment. "Donna was at the gate earlier, helping the catering staff. She looked like she wanted to melt into the dirt. I think she finally understands that some fires burn too hot to play with."

"I don't harbor any ill will toward her," you said softly, watching the lanterns drift into the night sky.

"Jealousy makes people blind. I just hope she finds her own peace."

"You're far too kind," Kaeya sighed, shaking his head with a fond smile. "But that's exactly why my stubborn brother needs you. Speak of the devil..."

Kaeya gave a polite nod as Diluc excused himself from the Grand Master and walked up the stone steps toward the veranda.

His posture relaxed the moment he stepped away from the crowd, his eyes entirely consumed by your image.

"I believe it's time for me to mingle elsewhere," Kaeya said smoothly, tapping his glass against yours.

"Don't keep her up too late, Master Diluc. She's had a long day of being adored by the public." With a sharp wink, the Cavalry Captain sauntered back down into the gardens, leaving the two of you alone in the quiet dark of the terrace.

Diluc closed the distance between you instantly.

He didn't say a word at first; he simply slid his arms around your waist from behind, pulling your back firmly against his chest.

He buried his face into the crook of your neck, inhaling the sweet scent of your perfume and the faint, familiar trace of elemental energy that always lingered around you.

"Are you tired?" he whispered, his chest rumbling against your back.

"A little," you admitted, tilting your head back to rest against his shoulder.

Diluc looked out over the crowded courtyard, watching his staff laughing with the Knights, watching the city he protected in the dead of night celebrating the light of his life.

For the first time in years, the heavy burden on his shoulders felt completely weightless.

He leaned over, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your jawline, his Pyro warmth enveloping you completely in the cool night air.

Yuu: You all seem very satisfied with your exams, despite having studied the night before *critical look*

Ace: I aced it.

Deuce: I think I'll get a really good grade *happy*

Grim: The great Grim is going to be top of the class!!!

Yuu: … Said no teenager of your ilk ever.

Ace: Oh come on, can't you have more faith in us?

Yuu: I'm not so far from that to believe you… *narrowing their eyes* nor am I so far from it to reproach you for trying to save the semester in two days.

After handing out the grades

Crewel: The average grade is too high… something's strange here.

Yuu: You don't have to swear to it.

Crewel: So you think it's strange too?

Yuu: I live with them, I know how they live, I know what they do. It's more likely that I'll develop magic than that they'll get such good grades.

Crewel: Heh, I see you know your cubs well.

After seeing the grades, they get a anemone on their heads

Ace: You cheated!

Grim: You're one to talk, Ace!

Yuu: …

Ace, Deuce, and Grim: … *swallowing hard*

Yuu: *blank stare* I don't expect anything from you, and yet you still manage to disappoint me.

Ace, Deuce, and Grim: We're sorry!!!

Jack: Are you okay?

Yuu: I don't think I'm doing the right thing with them.

Jack: They're not your children, Yuu *placing a hand on their shoulder*

Yuu: *knowing the Mostro Lounge* We're in a high school, right?

Jack: Yes?

Yuu: How the hell is this legal then?

Jack: You are disgusting!

Yuu: Thank you, Jack, for being the only decent person, a good kid. From now on, you're the only one I trust.

Jade and Floyd appear

Floyd: *smiling widely* Hello~

Yuu: What are teenagers fed in this magical world?

Crowley: Why are all the students at this school delinquents in some way?

Yuu: You only have to look at the role models they have as teachers…

Crowley: What are you implying, Yuu?

Yuu: I don't know, Crowley, what do you think?

Jack: *nervous*

Crowley: Why am I the only one you treat so badly???!

Yuu: Because you deserve it, and because I don't recognize you as an competent adult… *covering Jack's ears* bitch

Seeing how Azul is so good at everything

Yuu: You know that feeling of inferiority when someone younger is better than you at something? It happens to me a lot at this school.

Floyd: Shrimpy!!

Yuu: A what now?

Yuu and Jack lend them a hand at the Mostro Lounge

Jade: I have to say, you're very skilled.

Yuu: Work as a waiter has saved me on many occasions. Don't underestimate those who make a living in this industry.

Azul: So what does our dear novice adult want from me?

Yuu: *serious* Free all the students, Azul. What you're doing isn't right.

Azul: They accepted the terms, besides, why would you help them? Do you feel some kind of responsibility?

Yuu: NO! Well, yes, well… *putting their hands to their head* Maybe if I had been a better example, this wouldn't have happened.

Jack: Again, they're not your children, Yuu.

Azul: I want your bedroom as collateral.

Yuu: … Wow, I didn't think I was old enough to put my house up as collateral for a loan.

Azul: ??

Yuu: And it's not even a loan, nor do I have a house. This is crazy.

Azul: Just one photo for the students' freedom, It's not a bad deal, right?

Yuu: Obviously it's a bad deal, a terrible deal. You can see the trap a mile away, *signing* very bad, like almost any contract in this life.

Yuu: *with a backpack on one arm and Grim on the other, looking at his dorm room in the distance*

Grim: They kicked us out of our home!

Yuu: It wouldn't be the first time, nor will it be the last.

Leona: …

Yuu: ..

Leona: pff-

Yuu: Enough.

Leona: A teenager took your house away.

Yuu: In my defense, Azul is about as much of a normal teenager as I am a competent adult.

Explaining the rivalry between NRC and RSA

Yuu: Nooo, how can that be? You guys are so good at working together.

Leona: … Save the sarcasm for yourself.

Leona: I know that cefalopunk's tricks, why on earth would you make a deal with him?

Yuu: I feel responsible for them.

Leona: They're grown-ups now, and you're not their parent.

Yuu: That's what Jack says, but… I can't say no when they ask me for help... If they can't turn to me when they need me, who are they going to ask for help?

Leona: … Sometimes you seem like someone I can trust and everything.

Yuu: Thank-

Leona: There's no way you're going to succeed.

Under the sea, Floyd and Jade appear in their original form

Yuu: …They're mermaids.

Deuce: Yuu-san!

Yuu: Mermaids...

Jack: Yuu, react!

Yuu: Take that! I knew they were real.

Ace: Who are you talking to???!!

Leona: I mean, who would go to their territory?

Yuu: I would have really appreciated that information, Leona, honestly.

Leona: Why should I help you? *smiling mischievously*

Yuu: … That's why you always lose the competition.

They decide to steal the contracts

Jack: *lowering his ears*

Yuu: Jack *putting a hand on his shoulder*, you're a sweetheart, but you're going to have a really hard time in life.

Azul: *scolds Floyd with some panic* You have to be more careful!!!!.

Yuu: !!

Floyd: EH??? It's not that big a deal, don't get so worked up!!!

Yuu: Hey, they're still sophomores… *thoughtful* despite being gangsters.

Yuu: Oh, Tsunotaro.

Malleus: ?? Are you talking to me?

Yuu: Well, I have to call you somehow, right?

Malleus: …*smiling* I'll allow that nickname. I like you, child of man.

Yuu: What a nice guy.

Cleaning Leona's room

Yuu: My goodness, how unfair the world is.

Ruggie: Totally, I always tell him not to leave his wallet lying around.

Yuu: This could pay several months' rent, and you just leave it lying around like it's nothing… I'VE GOT IT.

Leona and Ruggie: ??

Yuu: How did I not realize this before???? It was as clear as day.

Leona: I think being around kids has finally driven them crazy…

Ruggie: Or maybe being around you.

Yuu: Okay, *excited* Leona, I need your help.

Leona: I refuse, and you're not going to be able to convince me otherwise.

Yuu: :)

Yuu: Listen carefully, this is the plan.

Jack: You have a plan?

Ace: It might sound impressive.

Deuce: But don't underestimate Yuu's ideas.

Grim: My henchman is much more capable than he appears.

Yuu: Thanks, and ouch.

Ace distracts the guard

Yuu: I'm very proud of him, even if it's with dirty tricks, it's so rewarding to see him cooperate *wiping away a tear*

Floyd: I don't like how you act like you're older.

Yuu: I am older!

Floyd: That's a lie, why are you so small then?

Yuu: I'm average height for someone my age! You're the one who's giant!

In the Mostro Lounge

Azul: How… HOW???!!

Leona: Ha, turns out that joke of an adult was right.

Azul: Yuu??! *panicking* I- I'll offer you a deal, anything you want!!

Leona: That's tempting…

Azul: *smiling hopefully*

Leona: But nah, Yuu is pretty persistent, and I don't want to spend another sleepless night listening to all their work experiences again…

Azul: You'll listen to them rather than me?

Leona: They may seem like an idiot, but they're someone I respect, and I'm not going to break my word, so *smiling* King's roar!!!

Grim: It's gone!!! The anemone is gone!!

Yuu: Leona did it!!

Floyd: Sea Lion??!

Jade: Floyd, we have to go back.

Yuu: Oh no, now it's your turn. It's time for the bad guys to learn a lesson. Every action has a consequence *smiling*

Ace, Deuce, Grim and Jack: Tell them, Yuu!!

Back in NRC

Yuu: … Get ready.

Jade: For what?

Yuu: For an Overblot.

Leona: Are you sure? *summoning his staff*

Yuu: At this point, the pattern is clear.

Seeing Azul's original form

Yuu: I know this isn't the time, but knowing that you are mermaids is the most wonderful thing that has happened to me since I came to this world.

Seeing Azul's past

Yuu: I see that this remains the same regardless of the world…

After the overblot

Yuu: Are you telling me this is what you were so desperate to hide?

Azul: Do- don't look at it!

Yuu: But you were adorable!!!! How did such a cute kid turn into a gangster????

Azul: But what if-

Yuu: No, we have to be responsible and do the right thing *pointing at everyone*

Azul: But that stain, that moment in my life… it's pathetic.

Yuu: Azul, your past is proof of how far you've come, don't belittle the child you once were.

Jack: Sometimes you say things that make a lot of sense, Yuu.

Floyd: Must be true that shrimpy is an adult.

Yuu: Oh, thanks for the advice.

Malleus: I don't remember giving you any advice.

Yuu: Well, talking to you helped, so thank you, you're a good kid.

Malleus: … *smiling* You're welcome.

Knocks are heard on the mirror

???: Is anyone there?

Yuu: … *half asleep* I hope it's schizophrenia, because I can't take any more magical events, I can't take it anymore.

Floyd: Shrimpy!!! We're here!!!

Yuu: You're early.

Jade: Of course, we're pretty excited about this little trip.

Floyd: It's going to be fun!!!!

Yuu: Ha, ha, now you seem your age, I almost forgot how scary you two are.

Putting the photo in its place

Azul: I've spent my whole life trying to hide this, trying to erase who I was…

Yuu: And you think that would solve anything?

Azul: Well, at least no one would be able to see that pathetic version of me…

Azul: That's easy to say when you're not an octopunk, incapable of doing anything right.

Yuu: *looking at him* Being different isn't pathetic, neither is not fitting the mold, and just because others don't understand that doesn't make it true.

Azul: *smiling slightly before becoming serious again* Aren't you afraid of making a mistake and having everything you built falling apart?

Yuu: *laughing* Azul, you're incredible, you've literally put an entire school in check, that's pretty impressive, as well as terrifying. With that shark mentality, you'll go far in the adult world, I usually run away from guys like you.

Yuu: Of course, but no matter how much you prepare, it can still happen to you, and it will happen, and then what?

Azul: *looking at them doubtfully*

Yuu: Well, you get up and start over, as long as you're alive, you'll have a chance to rebuild everything or build something new. It's not like you have any other choice anyway.

Azul: *laughing* I'll keep your advice in mind.

Yuu: *ruffling his hair* Although you should enjoy your teenage years, you'll have plenty of time to worry about that later.

Explaining the new point system

Yuu: *laughing* That's how I like it, being good kids.

Azul: *blushing* If you say so, Yuu-san

Floyd: We're good kids too, right, shrimpy?

Yuu: Absolutely *laughing even more*

Grim: What's gotten into you guys?

Jade: The truth is, Yuu-san's recognition feels really good, it makes you want to make them proud.

Ace: I know what you mean.

Jack: *blushing* Totally.

.

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I didn't think I'd ever finish this part!!! Finally. Although I'm a little disappointed in myself, I feel like with each chapter I'm losing the essence of the young adult Yuu from the prologue, or maybe Yuu is getting more tired as the story progresses, who knows 😂

Anyways if you made it this far, Thanks for reading 🩷

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