Soul-Lime

In North Carolina, USA, a South Eastern state along the coast, the Episcopal Church has just elected and welcomed in its very first out lesbian bishop. Bishop Sarah Fisher is married and now presides over 66 parishes and two college campus ministries. (1, 2)

In Hungary, Hungarian police have announced that they will allow the Budapest Pride Parade to take place this year following the removal of former Prime-Minister Viktor Orbán. This happens after years of protests and community action in Hungary, including last year's Budapest Pride Parade in which more than 100,000 people defied the ban in one of the largest protests against the then Prime-Minister. This year's parade is planned for June 27th. (3, 4)

Dr. Q Manivannan(they/them) and Iris Duane(she/her) were elected in Scotland on May 8th as the first two out transgender MSPs'. Following the election, the new MSPs' are quoted with the following:

“My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them, I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise and I am standing here as your MSP now with care.” per The Independent, to a crowd in Edinburgh.

“Hope. All we ask for is hope," Iris Duane via Instagram Stories, per People. (5, 6)

In Kenya, following over a decade of legal battles, Audrey Mbugua has won another landmark case for transgender rights. The Kenyan High Court has ruled that refusing to update gender markers on official documentation is a constitutional violation. Additionally, they have ordered government agencies to begin receiving and considering gender marker applications within sixty days of the decision. (7, 8)

Electricity trailed along fractured nerves; braiding old miseries into the new. Throbbing pain through his skull where he hit the floor. Broken eyes dug into the thin clothes and he-. He'd been shot! It was shoved to the side of his mind as the hum of power began to flicker and fade. Someone was breathing erratically into a panic attack. Boots over glass and ice and metal. The same things which shifted under Danny as he forced himself upright.

Ice cracked and cascaded down his body to mix with rest of the rubble. The freeze gun had gotten him. A full body hit which probably would have killed him if the gun's power had been higher. Blank eyes skittered from the panicking woman to his right, the frozen man to his left, and Victor.

Victor had uncoupled Nora's pod and was adjusting it onto it's gurney.

It was would start all over again, wouldn't it? Victor was locked in his obsession. Had been indulged too many times because of his love until it had been poisoned. It had become poison leeching into Gotham; deadly and cold. If Victor succeeded then it would never stop.

Ice, metal, and rubble splayed out around him. Broken doors and tools and scientists. This would never stop. Never. It would happen again and again and again and Danny forced himself to his feet. His fists tightened and he kicked a chunk of ice across the room were it collided against a boot. "Stop. Victor."

Victor turned slowly. Where madness gleamed brightly there was a shine of impressed surprise. A hand fell to the gun. "You should have stayed down, Daniel. No one needs to get hurt if you just listen to me!"

His first instinct was to punch. So he did. Throwing himself across the room, ducking under a blast of ice and coming up in Victor's personal space to punch him in the stomach. it wouldn't damage his suit but it did send him stumbling to the right and away from the pod. Danny followed to slam him into the wall. Victor kneed him in the torso and with his greater height and weight of his suit forced Danny away.

He moved much more quickly for a scientist but he hadn't spent the last year getting slammed into fistfights with goons and other villains. With strength Danny wasn't sure he had; he managed to topple the man over one of the desks. With Victor distracted with his sudden change in orientation Danny returned to reconnecting the power. This was an older piece of machinery. Danny could see where it had been repaired a few times and parts replaced.

The first coupling went easily and the lights turned back on within the pod; vital signs began to load as Danny kicked backward and caught Victor on the thigh. Grunting, the older man scrabbled at his clothes to yank Danny backward.

Dazed, Danny rolled. Ice erupted where he'd been just moments before. The next two shots he dodged. Ice caked the walls now. Snow and ice fluttered around the rooms on the breeze of automated circulations systems. Just enough cover for the teenager to seize the barrel of the gun and jerk it toward the ceiling. Metal burned under his fingertips and in a brief both had fallen silent.

Victor's eyes burned with fury, leaking tears which froze to lashes and flesh. "GET OUT OF MY WAY, DANIEL! SHE IS MY WIFE! I WILL CURE HER! I DO NOT NEED IDIOTS IN MY WAY!"

Reasoning was no longer possible. Having become so the moment the weapon had turned on Danny. He been shot! Shot the the man he trusted. Shot by the first person in Arkham who didn't treat him badly. Shot by someone he'd wanted to look up to. Someone whose intelligence he respected. He needed to get the man back. He needed to stop him.

Danny planted himself as best he could, yanking the gun.

Victor pivoted, heavy suit managing to slingshot the younger man across the room and into the couch. His head rang and the gun went skittering across the floor. Fumbling over the armrest, he managed to kick the ice free of the doctor and right himself just in time to recognize that the ringing echoed from the pod's damaged systems. Interior lights flickering was the only detail he could see with Victor in the way.

Alarms overhead continued to sing, harmonizing with panicking life support, and Victor's endless denials as he screamed and worked to reactivate the pod. An abrupt pop of thunder echoed within the sound waves of the chaos. Destructive interference hide the discharge. When Danny's right leg gave out, hand coming up to clutch his side.His blood was the warmest thing he'd touched all day.

A cold unlike anything Victor had produced seized his throat.

A ghost? Here? Had Victor's rampage caused someone to become a ghost? Did they just die? He thought he'd saved everyone on the way down! The other doctor had a few more minutes before he succumbed! Danny hadn't died fully yet! Had he? His eyes drooped downward toward bloody clothes. It hissed and spat when it hit the ice. There seemed to be a lot of it but...he wasn't dead. His heart was still pushing blood around and out of his body. The cop in the doorway was clearly alive. Shouting...something? His mouth moved and with his beard it was more like a tribble yelling. Why was he wearing sunglasses inside? It looked dumb and there weren't enough lights on in the first place. Even the flicker by Victor had stopped.

Pressure! Keep pressure on it! Wasn't that he'd read in the Princess Bride? Danny dragged one of the throw blankets on the couch toward his side and did his best His limbs were shaking Sliding to the floor; he glanced at the pod just as Nora Fries sat up.

Nora....NORA! Long blond hair hung limply over shoulders and neck. Puncture sites littered along elbow and neck. both thin and bony. Her shirt hung from an emaciated torso, the pattern having long since been leeched away. Pale eyes shifted to meet Danny's directly.

Noise and pain and cold faded under a heavy gong of a church bell. Something ticked. Something tocked. Alternating again and again until the cascading noises faded with a faint chime.

"Nora?" Danny stood as she shifted to the side and pale, stick-thin legs swung out and tapped the floor. Nora stood, and he saw she'd been wearing a dress. It billowed around her as she swayed. She raised her arms and let her head roll back. "Ma'am?...Mrs. Fries?"

"Hello...." Once her head completed it's circuit; pale eyes focused on him. "Who are you?"

"...I'm Danny. I...." He'd never dealt with a newly formed ghost. Only himself and he wasn't sure that would help. "Victor is trying to get the pod fixed. You have another 8 minutes before it's too late. I've been working on a cure with Victor. He hasn't stopped. No one has." She swayed thoughtfully. He wasn't sure she knew what was going on, but she'd been in a coma for decades by this point. He wouldn't be surprised. He inched closer and held out a cautious hand.

She accepted, "You're so warm. So warm. Danny. You're so kind to help my Victor. He was always so single-minded. It's what made him so attractive when we met. He wanted to solve any problem he met. He wanted to perfect everything...and he was so wonderful....so gentle."

Tears burned behind his eyes, stinging his heart as he tried to consider what Victor might have been before his wife had gotten sick. Was he this man out of desperation or because he'd always been like this and had no difficulty relying on it to get what he wanted. "Yes...I'm glad...."

"We never had children, you know. We'd wanted them so badly before I got sick. I wish we'd had the chance to have a son like you."

Danny couldn't help the wobble in his voice, eyes focused where their hands were laced. Didn't she see the mess? Didn't she know what he'd done? Didn't she realize? "You don't even know me."

"I don't think I need to. Victor trusted you. I trust Victor."

Danny swiped away a tear. Over Nora's shoulder at the very back of the room a pair of glass-pane double-doors had appeared. Figures and shapes moved on the other side. Danny squeezed her hand as a primal terror seized every nerve. He knew who it was....what it was. Who was shifting into view by one of the doors. In a sturdy work uniform over a blue polo and black slacks. The round cheeks sporting wide, round splotches of rosacea. Thin mousy hair was drawn back into a work bun where a pencil had been stabbed. Her cat-eyed spectacles secured around her neck with a chain of tiny connected vertebrate. A gold coin hung from each ear and a box-cutter from her belt.

"I've come for you." She announced in a voice born from lungs scorched by pollution, cigarettes.

Nora turned. "You know. My parents had this door which lead into the den. I don't remember them being shut. Everyone was supposed to be invited in. We had so many different dinners and parties. Victor loved it so much. When we bought the house from them we wanted to do that same. Have dinners and parties and holiday's...right up until." Her voice faded and a clock ticked.

"Nora," he pulled on her hand. "Nora...you." Another tick. They began to speak up, but only Danny and the other woman could seem to hear them.

"Oh...Danny...you're dead too. Will you be coming?"

Danny forced himself to smile. "I'm only halfway there, but I...I'll walk you to the door."

As both the shortest and longest walk of his life and half-life; Danny wasn't sure if they'd teleported or hiked the Appalachian trail. They paused just within arms reach of the door and it's attendant.

Nora stared and swayed. The longer she swayed the less skeletal she became. Limbs widening as long-digested fat and muscle returned. Puncture marks sealed themselves. Blond locks smoothed themselves and bounced into faint curls. Fabric faded and shifted to a pair of slacks and Gotham University sweatshirt. Black slippers settled over bare feet and at once a whole, healthy Nora Fries stood at the door.

Clocks sounded faster and louder in Danny's ears. he knew it might be silly to want to know a woman who had only ever been a patient, an inked name in a book or report, a hand-drawn picture over his schoolbooks. Here she was whole and the most real she'd ever be. Before anything could be said the door creaked open. Light and laughter spilled over Nora's feet only to vanish when the door snapped shut.

The woman in the apron jerked her head towards Danny's body, still slumped against the couch. Ticking and clicking tumbled over each other in a waterfall until a resounding GONG.

Pain overrode all sense as his eyes flickered open. Fuzzy sound echoed through the room. Someone...people were still screaming.Victor was yanking glass from the pod. Every instinct urge Danny upward to help. To help them no matter the costs but he couldn't move. Why couldn't he move? Yeah, he'd been shot but he should still be okay! He'd fought through worse! But he only slumped sideways with tears freezing halfway down his face.

Emergency lighting glinted off a shard to glass wielded by a desperate man

Danny was unsure if he'd ever get the chance to wake up. Afraid that he'd be next on the woman's list. His life line cut carefully and eternally.

The shiny scrap of metal stamped with the Big Dipper was the last detail he could make out as another frozen breath escaped trembling lips.

Danny fell into darkness.

previous

"Don't get mad at me, Vic. Sometimes the best idea is a really stupid one."

"You cannot be any more foolish than the doctors currently attending to her." Victor agreed. "They are idiots. I wonder if they even care to find her illness or intent to suckle Bruce Wayne's grant money for as long as possible."

"I think they're trying. Bruce said he'd send me some of their notes. We can look at them together."

"Daniel."

"Danny."

"Daniel, I am the most knowledgeable on Nora's illness. I know what is needed. I do not want to be disturbed while I work."

"You kept robbing banks, Vic. That's why you're here. Remember?"

"To pay for her upkeep!"

"But you don't need to pay for it! They're taking care of Mrs. Fries and not charging you! You don't need to rob any banks or shoot any doctors you don't like. Other people are working on it. Hell, you've got me working on it."

"You, I trust. When I am freed, I will save my Nora...I will resume my research."

Danny scoffed, folding a piece of notepaper into a paper airplane before throwing it at Victor. "She's in one the best hospitals on the eastern seaboard, Vic. you know that moving her could be just as dangerous to her, right? If you broke in then you'd have to face security and then you'd have to hurt people. Then you'd have to find a villain lair, set the...pod thing up, and the go back to robbing banks to pay for everything. Do you really want to do that?"

Victor considered the airplane he'd unfolded. A sketch of himself in a lab coat and working alongside a bunch of doctors. "Perhaps."

"I'll show you the notes when I get them."

"Aren't you due for a visit today?"

"Yeah! He's actually pretty good at keeping a schedule. I'm a little impressed. I thought he was dumb as hell. He's...not al that dumb."

"He must be versed with parenting. It's what he has been doing longer than he was a single moron sleeping across Gotham's social scene."

Daniel leaned back with a scoff. "He's not trying to parent me. I think it's for publicity or something. Or to bring attention to the classes I'm in to get more people interested."

Victor scoffed. Daniel was brilliant and clever and brutal but he could be obtuse when the mood suited him. Everyone in Arkham knew Bruce Wayne was trying to foster Daniel. The bleeding heart moron. with more money than sense and almost more children than money. "Bruce Wayne is everyone favorite rich moron, Daniel. He does not need to work on his public image as he is already well-loved. "

They sat in silence. Victor wondered if Danny had noticed that they could sit a little more closely with each passing day. He took up his own pen.

"Mr. Fenton." A pair of CO's entered the recreation room.

"Hi, Bert. Hi, Ernie." Daniel didn't look up from his medical textbook.

The guard sighed. "You have a visitor."

"Yeah....nice bling?" The boy's head tilted. Victor caught site of the black and green bracelets now clamped over their wrists. Confusion warred over his face. "Is that allowed with your uniforms?"

"New part of the uniform." The man on the left said. "What do you think?"

"I think it's.....uh...effective?"

"What do they do?" Victor wondered.

"It's just another ID security measure. Don't care. Mr. Fenton, this way please."

"Yeah, yeah." Danny jumped down, wave and then vanish.Victor glanced down at the drawing where he'd added Danny in his own lab coat working alongside him. Everyone else was drawn over with beakers and cabinets.

#$#$#

"I understand, Mr. Wayne. Truly, I do. However, this young man is considered very dangerous and while your father comes to visit."

"He is unavailable to make the journey, Warden Valery. It is my duty to take his place."

"Mr. Wayne, please. He broke someone's arm."

"Richly deserved, I'm sure. My father insists that consistency is key when dealing with children. To break an important pattern would be to introduce doubt in intentions and hurt feelings."

"I'm not a child," Danny announced as he entered the visitation room. Damian Wayne was dressed in an impeccably tidy suite. Dark hair neatly tidied and wearing a firm scowl. He was young, but his tone was haughty and self-satisfied. "I'm pretty sure I'm older than you."

"My point still stands, Warden. I am here to visit Danny Fenton. Please give us some privacy."

"You don't get much privacy in this place." Jade eyes focused on Danny. Damian Wayne did look as intimidating as everyone said but Danny....Danny had already had his teeth kicked in by his worst fears. One of which was already around his neck. "Danny Fenton."

"Damian Wayne. My father is occupied this afternoon. I apologize that he cannot visit and I shall take his place."

"....thanks."

"He told me that you have been playing chess. I enjoy chess. However, I am a Master and think it would be poor form to face you until you have trained more. I have brought another game to test your capabilities."

"Connect four?"

Damian ignored his snark. "Go."

"I'm already here."

"Go." He produced a strange chessboard with more lines carved into the top and two round bowls with black and white stones. Danny reached for the white stones, thought about it, and then grabbed the black ones. "I find it far more relaxing than chess."

Danny wasn't sure if he agreed but sat through Damian's explanations of houses, capturing, and where to put each little stone to keep the game moving forward. He lost the first and second games badly. Damian trouncing him thoroughly until Danny settled into the third game with more focus and intention. He was pretty sure he was doing a good job because Damian was beginning to scowl.

"What's your dad up to?" Danny asked as he mapped out all of Damian's possible moves.

"He's is dealing with a business rival?"

"Oh, yikes."

"You've beaten him at chess several times."

"I...well. I honestly don't think he's all that good. I mean, everyone here only ever talks about how...uh...silly he is." Danny tried to smile at Damian's intense, calculating expression. It was like being pinned open on a science lab table. Curious students peered into a beating chest and carving out the more interesting pieces.

"Yes. He is...peculiar," Damian agreed.

"Yeah....nice guy though. He talks about you and your siblings a lot. He's really proud of you. He said you won first in an art competition."

"Yes. I must enter all anonymously. My name used to net me wins that I did not earn honorably. My father speaks highly of you as well. He is impressed with your wit."

Danny fought a sudden blush. Sykes was on guard duty right now and was the biggest gossip out of the CO's. He grinned at the red blush raging over his cheeks. Everyone was going to tease him about this.

#$#$

"Mr. Wayne, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Vladimir Masters' voice dipped in oily assurance and self-satisfaction. He was doing his best to loom over Bruce. Blocking the faint light of the dining room, crowding too close for comfort, and with a tone which was far too intimate.

"Vladdie! It's good to meet you! Welcome to Gotham!" Vald was forced to retreat as Bruce stood so quickly he almost cracked into the pointed chin. He clasped the mans hand shake vigorously. "Hey! You're pretty ready for Gotham...or Halloween. Going for the vampire look? you know, we've got a few here. You might be able to find a coven!"

Vlad Masters gritted his teeth which only displayed his unnaturally sharp K-9s. "Thank you, Mr. Wayne... but this is not."

"Of course! Of course! No coven in Gotham. They might like an out-of-towner. I'm glad you made this little visit to Gotham. You know. I could really use the competition from VladCo."

They retook their seats. Vladimir Masters flinching just a little at the sight of Bruce's new ring. Green and black with the Orion constellation etched into the surface. Jason's report had included a list of known ghosts, their poiwers, and what could happen if they were used against others. The Wisconsin Ghost was apparently something of a ecoplasm vampire. Power hungry and hateful. The report stopped just short of outright of accusing Vlad of being said ghost; but Bruce would work with deduction.

If he was a ghost capable of over-shadowing someone then he would have no trouble with getting into Akrham. No trouble with getting a hold of Danny.

"Oh? I'm glad to hear that, Mr. Wayne."

"Of course!" Bruce grinned. "Tim, my son, he's just waiting to see what you're capable of. You haven't been much competition yet so we hope you can step up your game!"

Fury colored Vlad's face, a flicker of murderous hatred which Bruce could have preened under. "How...kind of you. I hope I don't disappoint."

"I hope so too! Here, let's have a drink, shall we?"

He waved for his order. The bartender would know what to bring him and he hoped Vlad got bombed enough to get stupid. Any excuse to punch him in the face. Bruce Wayne could get away with a punch or two, so long as it as correctly applied. It was why the Riddler had spent a week in a dark room with a concussion after he'd kidnapped Cass and Bruce.

The ring seemed to be holding up against the assault. It flickered a bit each time something tried to get to Bruce. He kept running rings of conversational dead ends, deploying every tactic Tim had assured him would work. "I've got my oldest with his own studio now. I'm so proud of his work. Hes teaching a dozen women's defense classes. I couldn't be happier. Oh, and Damian won an art competition. Let me show you." Vlad suffered a dozen photos of his surly son standing in front of his paintings. "He worked with Duke on that one. What do you think?"

"Quiet...charming." Vlad gritted his teeth.

"Do you have children, Vladdie?"

"I...do not."

"That's a real shame. They're wonderful."

"They're messy...and don't listen."

"That's true! That's not the hard part. The hardest part is watching them get older. I mean, I remember when Dick was just nine and he used to sit on the front steps and pose like a gargoyle to try and scare me. It never worked since gargoyles don't giggle. I remember the first time Jason snuck out...." Bruce ran over the memories with an affectionate hand.

"My godson is perhaps...a difficult child. A very troubled young man. You've met him, I believe."

"Oh? Probably, but my kids bring home so many friends, what's his name?"

"Daniel Fenton," Masters watched Bruce too closely. Every attempt at manipulation ham fisted and obnoxious. He wasn't as smart as Tim, not as clever as Lex Luthor, and not even nearly as aggressive as Oliver.

Burce almost smacked the table. "Danny! Oh, he's wonderful! you know, he's beaten me at chess almost a dozen times."

"Yes...I'm sure you're equally matched." Master's grin flickered as he took a deep drink. "He is, however, a troubled child."

"He is not! He's not troubled. I think he's a kid who got caught up in something the hadn't meant to get involved with; a little in over his head but not trouble or bad. I get why you'd be confused, Vladdie. You don't have much experience with kids." The look leveled his way was one to savor. He hoped Barbara was recording.

"I have found Daniel to be rude, brash, and disrespectful, Wayne. I have offered to assist him with his legal case and he refuses."

"He has? That doesn't make sense, you're his godfather." Vlad nodded, affecting a sigh. "I mean, I'm a stranger and he accepted my help."

"HE HAS?" The other man nearly rising out of his seat. He bumped the table and Bruce offered the table leg a kick. Wine spilled over the front of the white suit, a thick red stain which continued to spread. "Butter Biscuits!"

"You'd best get some white wine on that, Vladdie. You know. White is opposite of red. That should help with the stain."

"Are you...never mind you stupid buffoon!" Vladimir rose and stormed from the restaurant. Bruce watched him leave and pulled out his phone to text Duke.

$2000 each time you ruin Vlad Masters suit. A thumbs up came back and Bruce returned to his drink with a grin.

#$#$#

"Ten minutes till, folks." Skye's told the teenagers.

Danny shook free from his haze, blinking as Damian reached into his bag and pulled out a stack of books. "Your education will mostly focus on western literature. I have taken the liberty to bring a few which may prove helpful in expanding your knowledge. The Essential Rumi, Ramayana, The Book of Songs, The Tale of Genji, and The Prophet."

"These look."

"They are a very simple introduction. I look forward to hearing your discussions."

Books, Go, and Damian had brought snacks too. He forced back the reflexive lump in his throat. "Right....thanks, Dami."

"I will expect a rematch." Damian held out a hand which Danny accepted on habit. A CO hissed behind him. Danny jolted at the strange, familiar zing of the modified anti-possession tools he'd worked on before being arrested. Where the hell had he gotten that?

"Sure, dude. Uh...you know where to find me. I'm going nowhere fast."

pt 9

https://www.tumblr.com/planningconquest/808502728287502336/choice-of-prisoner-pt-9

chapter 11

He blinked. Under the blanket....blankets he'd been given. It dampened the agony between his skin and his jumpsuit. Shifting his head the ugly reminder around his neck dug into the tender skin. Swallowing harshly, he turned on his side to stare at the wall.

His parents had designed this new tool. Something they must have done with Vlad and has his request. It worked too. They were mad but their science was sound. It wasn't as if he couldn't feel his Other. It remained there but utterly muted. Even the Specter Deflector hadn't done such a thorough job. Just dampening his power for a limited time; but this felt...secure. As if his parents had put their best work into this collar before handing it off to Vlad.

Vlad. Vlad wasn't supposed to be allowed to visit him after Dr. Kingfisher had recommended it; but overshadowing was a powerful tool very few people could resist. It wasn't a surprise he'd gotten in or that he'd brought the collar. Danny was more surprised with how betrayed he felt by the whole thing.

"Danny?" Pamela spoke up as she turned the corner into his cell. "You're up?"

"Hi." Tucking every rough emotion away, Danny turned to face the supervillain.

"Thank God you're up. It's been three days, kiddo." She produced a protein bar and bottle of water. "I guess they wammied you good?"

He hummed, sitting up just enough to drink the water without spilling over himself. The bar went down like a rock, but it was food and he couldn't complain that much. "Three days?"

"Three days. Victor has been beside himself. I've been pretty worried myself."

"Anything happen?"

"Not really. Two-Face has been reciting Shakespeare. He's pretty good at it. You missed an appointment with the doc and you Classic Lit class. I guess that's about it. Honestly, you're the most interesting thing around here right now."

"You didn't take me to the infirmary?" Could he go back? Back where this thing had been forced around his neck, back when he'd felt Vlad's cold breath on his face?

"They dragged you here on purpose, kid. There's no fucking way." Pamela reached out, brushing back his bangs. Both jerked away from each other, blinking. "Sorry...don't know why I did that. Your hair...it's getting pretty long."

"It is." Danny reached for the collar. It was cool under his fingertips, thrumming with energy and...he paused over the logo. It wasn't just the shape was different now; there were bumps.

Bumps?

"I'm sorry." Pamela muttered, handing him another protein bar.

Danny shrugged. "So am I. I."

"Daniel!" Victor appeared at the door in his suit. "You're awake!"

"I'm up." He agreed. "Why is it so cold?"

"I believe your powers insulated you from the cold. This is as close as I dare get." He remained just within the door. "My friend. Are you feeling well?"

"No. I feel like shit." He ignored Victor's flinch.

"And your powers?"

"I can't....feel them." He squeezed his fingers around the wrapper. "I'm...tired."

"Ah, of course." Victor nodded at Pamela before retreating.

"You're not immune to his cold anymore. He's been really upset."

"Gee...poor Victor." Danny drew a hand through his hair, sighing. It was getting long and disgusting. "I.."

"I can take care of your hair." She gestured to her own, bouncing up when he gave a slow nod. Returning not much later with a few hair care products. It was calming, almost meditative as she ran a comb through his hair. Careful with the tangles and clumps. With a tie she worked it into a shallow pony tail.

"I look like a founding father." Danny smiled, almost dozing.

"A very cute one," Pamela offered, "Get some sleep, alright?"

"Sure." He let himself be tucked back under the blankets; dozing with the collar digging into his neck.

Over the next few days he wobbled around with unsteady legs and sudden racing aches over his limbs. He was cold and hollow but food did no good. When he finally made it to the mess hall for a meal a hushed silence washed out away from him. Goons, villains, and guards watched Danny proceed up the aisles toward the line.

Just like high school. He told himself and ignored everyone.

"Well. Well. WELL! Isn't that a shiny new toy!"

Fear washed through his system, then anger, which morphed into a white-hot fury totally at odds with his personality. Danny was turning before he knew what he was doing, bringing the tray up to catch the descending limb against the wrist. Pained cackling followed and increased as Danny dragged the tray back around dig into the flesh behind his elbow. It wasn't a strong tray. A thin plastic not designed for hand-to-hand combat or allowing injury; but Danny did his best until it broke under his fingers.

He didn't have his strength. He didn't have his ghost half and betrayal sat hot and sick in his stomach. Taking his anger out on the Joker was the easiest decision he'd made since waking up. "JUST BECAUSE I'VE GOT THIS DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T KICK YOUR SORRY, PATHETIC EDGELORD ASS!" The Joker was a monster. Hideous and wretched and cruel with a soul splashed gleefully about in a bathing pool of blood he'd spilled; but he was still a man. Mortal, with flesh which could rip and bone

They weren't given heavy shoes as a matter of principle; too many dangers when angry patients wore weapons. Years of training and ghost battles and bullies left him with an intimate knowledge of where to stomp to get someone to stop moving. It didn't even take that much force to hear the crack he'd been aiming for.

It didn't take long for a the guards to converge. Jolted out of their stupor by a pitched screamed.

Without his powers and strength he really didn't have the ability to fend off anyone. Surprise and skill over true strength; but when he was hauled out of the mess it was with blood sprayed over the base of his pants and clean, white socks.

This time, solitary was interrupted by an unexpected figure. Warden Valery with his guards and secretary; sputtering hopelessly. "Danny! You just recovered! You shouldn't be starting fights!"

Danny stared down at his fingers, hairline cuts from flying plastic just red enough to show they'd broken skin. "You're awfully concerned, Warden."

The man nearly flapped his arms around, sputtering. "Young man! I know you're not from Gotham, but this is a serious matter!"

"You know. I can count on one hand how many fucks I give." Danny flipped the older man off. Taking immense satisfaction with the way his eye bugged.

"Mr. Fenton!"

"I feel like you're more worried about what Bruce Wayne is going to say rather than my actually getting into a fight. And, for the record, I didn't start that fight. I finished it."

"He hadn't even done anything!"

"So? His existence is a declaration of war, and fuck you for yelling at me especially after you fucked up and let Vlad fucking Masters in."

Warden Valery blinked. " I What?"

Of course. Vlad had covered his tracks. The Warden was pathetic and stupid but he was decent enough that Vlad would have had to overshadow him to gain access into Arkham."

"Are you stupid? Where do you think I even got this?" Danny flicked the collar with a fingernail. "It's sure as not shit standard issue."

People overshadowed rarely remembered anything they'd done. If they noticed, the memory gap was enough to alarm and upset them. For someone with security access and concerns, Warden Valery would be deeply worried. Or Danny hoped he would be. "Right. Yes....well. I'll....look into that. You know the consequences for fighting, Mr. Fenton."

"Fighting goons or that lunatic, because when the goons jump me no one does a damn thing. So it is about Wayne."

Valery pinched the bridge of his nose. "Mr. Fenton. You'll be out in the morning. Get to class once you do, alright?" He was gone a moment later and Danny let his head sag back against the wall. His fingers traced over the logo again, and curiously, he traced them out on the wall. Seven dots outlined in the sweeping calligraphy. Seven dots and in a moment he was staring at the distinct outline of a constellation smeared into the all.

Ursa Major. The Great Bear. The Big Dipper.

Danny stared blankly at the quickly fading sketch, grappling with a confusion he couldn't place. Why? Why would it be there? They'd designed this. Locked away Phantom and his powers and....his parents didn't know he was Phantom.

Did they?

If they'd designed this for a meta then it wouldn't have been half as effective. Designed for a ghost it was brilliant.

But they didn't know. He'd been arrested and tried as a human. Vlad had been perfectly clear and deliberate about that. So...why did this work? This wasn't Vlad's design, that much was clear. His dads nano-tech was groundbreaking.

Vlad wanted to be brilliant. He was good, but nothing compared to Danny's parents. He couldn't have designed this collar and Danny wouldn't have trusted him not to put an extra bit of torture in there for his own amusement. A shock collar. A tracking piece. A camera....something.

So, now...what did that mean?

Danny shifted onto his back. It wasn't as if he forgave them...but this didn't make any sense.

Ursa Major....probably the easiest to fit in this new logo and; but why?

It was still bugging him in class and then when he saw Bruce Wayne. It wasn't until he'd gotten a few moves into their chess match when the man finally spoke. "Something on your mind, chum?" He'd been quiet aside from the general greeting. Apparently reading Danny's expression and acting accordingly. Danny wondered what his kids were like.

"A lot of somethings." Danny admitted, peeking up from his arm to glance at the board. He'd put the rules together during their last match."I guess it's more of a mystery."

"Oh?" Bruce had brought some cookies with him. A batch made by his butler, and milk from a cow he kept on the manor grounds. He'd laughed when Danny had told him that rich people were crazy. "Well, if you read Sherlock Holmes, "when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, However improbable, must be the truth."

"You just know that?" Danny muttered, toying with the captured knight. "Which...I guess still confuses me."

For a moment, the blue eyes were a sea-hairs shy of too-calculating. "I'm sorry. I'm no good with mysteries."

"Do you call up your boyfriend? I mean, Batman?'

With a suddenly aggrieved sigh, Bruce shook his head. "You know....sure. Yeah." It was funny and Danny managed his first smile in a few days. "I heard you got into a fight with the Joker."

"Oh yeah? Warden blabbing to like it's a fucking report card? Calling home to tell you your kids have been in a fight?"

"Something like that. Well, my children's school calls my secretary."

Danny flicked at his collar. "He was reaching for this. It didn't seem like a good idea to let him get within grabbing range."

"No...it was not. Well done." Someone made a choked noise in the background.

Well done. So far every had fussed and worried and scolded but being complimented....Danny looked away. "Thanks." He must have been feeling better. He wasn't as cold these days, even around Victor. Still, Wayne's smile managed to warm him further.

#$#$#

Bruce hadn't made it past the front door of Arkham when the wardens' voice called. "Mr. Wayne! Mr. Wayne!"

"Mr. Valery!" Bruce grinned, chess set tucked under his arm. "What can I help you with?"

Valery was panting faintly from the run to catch up with him. "Mr. Wayne....do you mind a private conversation?"

"Not at all!"

"Well...Mr. Wayne, I know you have a...relationship with...uh, the Dark Knight. No. No. I've heard the rumors; but listen. I need to talk to him...there was a security breach and as far as I can tell.....well. I think he might be able to handle it."

"Not you?"

"This seems...Justice League level, if I'm honest, but I know how your man feels about other heroes in the city. Listen, this is serious. Do you think he'd mind?"

Bruce thought about protesting, but he sighed instead. "I'll let the commish know. You know, he's got connections."

Warden Valery winked, "of course. The commish....just, it's urgent."

Was it urgent? To do with Danny's new collar? The sight of it had curdled his stomach and knowing just how effective it was alarmed him greatly. No one was sure how powerful Danny was; but his children were taking bets. He wanted to take this run himself but pulled out his phone. He needed plausible deniability.

#$#$#

Valery lived in an upscale section of Gotham. Being warden to the most notorious asylum in America netted him a tidy income as well as proportional death threats. Very few people had access to his apartment, so it was a nasty shock when he turned on the light in the kitchen to find Nightwing leaning against his counter and arranging the magnetic poetry strips into dirty limericks.

"Jesus Fuck!"

"Nope! Nightwing." The vigilante tilted his head, whites of his mask narrowing. "So? Security breach?"

"Your step-father works fast. well. I guess he's got everyone on speed dial. Look, I don't..." He waved for the man to take a seat on the couch and produced two sodas. Glass bottles like his grandmother used to serve. "I don't want to go to someone outside, but there's no one I can think of who could handle this threat. We had a security breach a week ago. My cameras are glitched out at the time and the men involved don't remember a damn thing. I don't remember a damn thing. The thing is, Vlad Masters is barred from seeing or visiting Danny Fenton. It used to be that the kid just turned him down, but then...well. Dr. Kingfisher heard some alarming things and we decided to ban him officially."

"Alarming things?"

"Best we can guess is that he's a creep to the kid. I know he was involved with his trial and is his Godfather, but even that doesn't negate what the doc said. He tried playing that angle a bunch of times to get a visit." God, he wanted a beer. He wanted something hard that would make the edge of the world go fuzzy.

"You listened to Dr. Kingfisher?"

He rolled the cold bottle between his hands, humming thoughtfully. "Yes. I mean. I know there's...I'm limited, but that I can do. That I could do, but a week ago...Vlad Masters got access to Arkham. By my permission and he came in with my men and he....he put that collar on Fenton. Apparently dragged him back to his cell by the sounds of it. I don't know how. I don't remember, but he got in and....fuck!" Valery ran his hands through his hair. If anything really unsavory happened to Fenton and the press found out? If someone explicitly barred from the teenager suddenly managed to barge in and slap a new debilitating collar on him? He would be crucified. His career would be over!

Nightwing hummed thoughtfully and thus began the longest and most intensive interrogation Valery had ever dealt with. By the time the younger man seemed satisfied the warden already felt like passing out on his couch. "We'll be in touch."

That was something. Better than nothing, he supposed.

"But...did he really break the Joker's arm?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah." Nightwing grinned and vanished off the balcony a moment later. Only once he was gone did Valery sink sideways onto the cushions. He wasn't sure if he dreamed or not. but the only thing he remembered was the ringing gong of a grandfather clock jolting him out of sleep just as his alarm might have gone off if his phone hadn't died.

pt7

https://www.tumblr.com/planningconquest/807130136434589696/choice-of-prisoner-pt-7

"Today the Joker will be released from solitary. He will be out by dinner."

The Joker. One of the more infamous rogues and Danny hated clowns. "Okay? I'm not...."

"You must be careful around him. He is a mad dog and enjoys this fact. He kills on a whim and does not care for reason. Only his own amusement. If he puts his sights on you it may be the last thing that happens."

Another psycho killer with his attention on Danny. Great. "Ok, Victor. I'll be careful. If he's so crazy, why is he being let out of solitary?"

"Who knows? Some head shrink suggested that it would help. It doesn't. He recruits from the idiots here. I don't like your studying with the Wayne program but do not get mixed up with the Joker."

"Dude. I'm not planning on it." He tried to return to War and Peace, only to be shocked when Victor moved toward his desk and knelt at side.Freezing gloves which would have given anyone else frostbite, flinched toward him. As if Victor wanted to take up his hands or hug him. Something or anything. Danny wondered when the last time he'd held anyone hands was. "Victor."

"Daniel. Please. I have been in Gotham my whole life. I have been a madman and I have never seen such a monster." Behind the thick protective glass the frantic nervousness was covered in a sheen of terror.

Danny stared at the hands held out in front to the man's torso as if he wanted to reassure himself of Danny's presence and impress the dangers. Still, he knew to some degree he couldn't touch anyone without hurting them. With equal care, Danny took both hands in his. Victor's eyes were wide. "I'll be careful, Victor. Seriously."

But the attention was elsewhere. The wide blue eyes were on Danny's hands, bare and unprotected, easily holding his. When they glanced upward it was with an awe that made Danny want to look away. Something squirmed in his chest and first the first time since he'd come to Arkham; tears threatened. Victor nodded, unfocused.

"Yes....be careful, Daniel. Do not draw his attention."

Danny wasn't sure that was possible. "I'll do my best."

"Good. It is fortunate his release was delayed due to the idiots visit; but it was bound to happen. Why did you meet him?"

"Vic, they basically dragged me out there. I guess to make their program look good. But that's not important. I'm not sure how to balance this formula." Danny lied, turning the page toward Victor. It wasn't hard to balance but he needed the man to shut up.

Bruce Wayne had been weird. Intense, but not pushy. Curious and respectful and hadn't dissolved into hysterics when he saw Danny's bruises. He was...odd.

The guards and warden had told him to behave himself. Not to start a fight, or make any threatening moves. Every other inmate who'd heard about the visit had come up to him. Victor had told him that Bruce was an idiot. Poison Ivy had, for some reason, told him that he was a good kisser and a total dumb ass. Oddly enough, Two-Face had said the same thing.

"He's rich and stupid, but he'd not a bad guy." Ivy had continued. "I've seen him with his kids. He's a good guy. you don't need to worry. "

"So he's not a psycho fruitloop?"

"I mean, he's weird as hell. I remember helping the Riddler on a job and one of the answers was like, some ancient Sumerian word and he knew it. I guess his genius kids had switched around the keyboard on his phone for a bit. I don't know the details, but it was weird. Oh, and he can figure skate."

Danny wasn't sure how a keyboard meant the guy knew a Sumerian word, but decided not to press. The rogues said Bruce Wayne was safe, but his dad had told him Vlad was safe, so he wasn't sure he trusted their judgement. Not to mention, they were supervillains in the same cell block.

"I can't believe I'm in prison and I still have homework." He complained as the walked toward the mess hall.

"It is something to do. It can be very boring and tedious in Arkham. Some people go mad in plenty of other ways when there is nothing to do."

Danny tried not to roll his eyes.

"Oh! Are we going MAD?" Hands gripped at his hair, broken nails dragging over his scalp. Yanked backward and held in the punishing grip of a cackling madman. Without makeup or clown markings the insanity gleaming in watery eyes was more than enough to convey his identity. "Ohhhh, is this a little bat? Hmmmm? A little Wayne boy?"

Danny's ears rang, tears flooding his eyes at the sting and pain came to the forefront. He grasped as the wrist holding him in place. "GET OFF! LET GO!" Others were shouting too. Guards and inmates as a broken pencil tip was buried against his collarbone,

"I am the clown prince of crime!" The Joker cackled. "And it was so gooood of Gotham to give me my own morsel!"

Pain and terror and confusion warred against fury. However he'd gotten the pencil was immaterial. But it was just sharp enough to break skin. Over his collarbone and up to his neck to where Danny knew a thundering artery lay. Hot blood spilled down his chest; and Danny's focus sharpened. Long-used training and practice reasserted itself. His hand tightened over the wrist, and he left his weight fall.

His mother had used a similar move on his dad. Throwing Jack over her shoulder and explaining how leverage could be used against a taller enemy. It worked the same now as it had then. Joker went flying, sailing over the tables to collide against another. Sliding down the length before falling to the floor. Danny couldn't enjoy the victory. Electricity arched over the metal as a scream erupted from his throat.

When the world came back into a blurry focus, the Joker was holding himself up on a table with a bloody smile. "AHAAAAAaaaaAAAAHHHAHAHA A little meta whose collar only half works!"

It wasn't electricity which flooded Danny, but terror as two guards dragged him upright. They could fix the collar. They would get a new one which would actually dampen his powers completely and if they did that.,..then he would had no back up. No recourse. Just Danny Fenton. Alone and powerless.

"Let go! GET OFF! LET GO OF ME!" They didn't, and the collar continued to fritz and spark. Someone was fighting behind him. Victor shouting. The Joker cackling and then the world went dark.

chapter 6

"I would like to dispatch an investigator." Batman added. "Not just the JLD. Someone who won't be noticed and will report back what might be missed."

"I won't disagree. We'll need a great deal more intel for this case." Superman took his seat. "Batman, who do you intend to send?"

"A trusted associate." When nothing further was incoming, Captain Marvel spoke.

"The door to the Infinite Realms has been open longer than any natural portal would be. While it might not stagnate as a whole, contamination is possible. Magic and metas may exist; but some things cannot be meddled with."

"Then what about Daniel?" The Flash asked. "He's still in Arkham. Which is blowing my mind. He's 15. Hell, I know some of my rogues would bust him out on principal."

"Leave Captain Cold out of this, Flash. We have not managed to make contact with Daniel Fenton at this time. Resources within Arkham are limited. However, We are working on a plan." The rest of the League stared at the screen at the end of the table. "Does anyone have anything further to add?"

"I can call in a favor with Captain Cold if necessary."

Batman scowled. "We will discuss your relationship with your rogues later, Flash."

"Yeah, like your relationship with Catwoman?" Flash tilted his head, grinning. Marvel grinned, turning his head.

Once the meeting was adjourned, Batman found himself waylaid by the Zeta tubes. Captain Marvel hovering at his side. "Batman...I know you're trying to help that kid...but whatever your plan and your contacts...he will never be like other children. You can't have unrealistic expectations."

Batman stiffened. "I have experience, Captain. The Robins."

"Are subordinates. Not children." Bruce felt something twist in his stomach. "If you're going to help him the don't expect him to be particularly grateful."

"Is this something you have experienced, Captain?"

"Yes," he admitted sadly. "Sometimes people only help because they think it will benefit them or they'll be showered with praise and good feelings. Helping hurts more than harming, Batman. I think we both know this. Danny will know this."

"....I will take your words into consideration, Captain Marvel. Thank you." The man grinned, taking off for his planned snack time with Flash. Batman returned to Gotham and made his way toward Crime Alley. it didn't take long for Red Hood to appear. Grappling onto the building with one hand on his holster.

"What the fuck do you want, Bats? This is my territory."

"An investigator needs to look into Amity Park. While we have a great deal to look at already, we need an on-hand approach."

"You want me to play fetch for evidence?"

"To investigate the teams responsible for Daniel Fenton's imprisonment."

Jason, masked and armored, would always be his son. He could spot the faint twitch of his fingers as he considered the proposition. "The kid Harley's asking about?"

"Yes. Stealth mission." He re-iterated. "The JLD will be on site to close the portal."

"Kay, send me the details. I'll let you know what I find out." Jason turned with an upright middle finger at Bruce and flung himself off the building.

Only a few more things to consider now.

#$$#

Danny did sign up to take classes. Classes got him away from some of the goons squad trying to prove themselves and got him a moment of respite. Even if his neighbor continued to bitch and moan about it. Lucrative connections were made when the teachers were shaking in their shoes or trying not to wet themselves.

"Don't you have a few degrees already?" He asked Pamela Isley. The orange clashed with green; but he wasn't about to say anything. Her attention shifted from the flowers she was doodling. There was no reason she should have been in a high-school level civics class.

"Sure. But it keeps me out of trouble." Her grin sharp and wide.

Pretending it made any sense would take more effort than he was willing to expend. He turned his attention back to the teacher. It reminded him of Mr. Lancer. Another paunchy middle-aged man. Bald and with a shiny, sweaty as he trembled under the collective stares of goons, rogues, and guards. He never thought he'd miss the older man. Never thought he'd miss the A-Listers and high school and the shitty cafeteria food. He wished he'd gotten letters from them...any of them. From Sam or Tucker or even Val. None had come, and he wasn't sure he could blame them for not wanting to be associated with a supervillain.

Still, it hurt and every time he tried to think about it.

"Now. I do have a bit of a treat." The teacher clapped his hands. Bored inmates glanced up. "We're going to be moving to history next. Now....erm. I will be including a class on histories greats heists." A few people straightened. Danny glanced up. "Now, it won't be anything from the last few decades for obvious reasons. I mean heists which are historically significant. The Great Train Robbery, smuggling silk worms out of China. I promise it will be interesting."

"Smuggling silk worms?" Danny wondered.

"Yes! Oh. So. We'll be passing out your history books. Please open to Chapter Five, Oceanic Trade." Danny winced. That sounded about as boring as anything...but at least he wasn't getting a bloody nose in the yard."

"Oh, god." Pamela flipped the book open, letting her head thump down with a whine.

"You don't need to be here." Danny pointed out.

"I promised my girl that I'd stay out of trouble this time around." She admitted.

"Your girl?" He glanced down, eyes catching on the various boats depicted sailing across the sea.

"Harley."

"Oh...that's. Nice."

"What about you? Have a girl waiting for you?"

He thought of Sam. The last expression he'd seen on her face. Dreams of dates they'd never have while in Nocturne's grasp. "No."

Pam sighed. "Sorry. I guess you're pretty young for that."

"Excuse me." The teacher coughed, shivering when Pam glared. "If you two wouldn't mind."

"Sorry," Danny told him reflexively.

"Well. Thank you. Now, please play attention."

#$#$#$

"Do you intend to bring another child into the manor?" Damian raised his voice to be heard across the dining room. He hadn't said much all evening. While not an unusual circumstance, it was clear he'd been thinking of something all day. Of course, dropping it into the middle of the first family dinner they'd managed in two months was the sugar on the cream.

Silence fell over the assemblage. Eyes turning toward Bruce as he set down his fork. "Damian?"

"The child, Daniel Fenton. Will you bring him to the manor?"

Heads swiveled to follow the conversation. "We're only investigating the case now, Damian."

"Yet the harlequin requested your direct assistance as both the Batman and Bruce Wayne."

"The arsonist?" Dick asked. "The kid supervillain? Bruce?"

"I thought Bruce was over baby fever stage." Stephanie grinned.

"You brought the Imposter into the house."

"Hey! Fuck you!" Tim shifted with a glower.

"Language, Tim. Please. Damian. While my help was requested, we have not decided how to go about this."

"He's in Arkham, Damian. We have to approach this carefully."

"Attend an event to commemorate the new expansion of Jason's charity," Tim suggested. "At Arkham."

"That's so stupid! Half of the people in there have tried to kidnap him!"

"And Brucie Wayne isn't the brightest ball of wax." Duke pointed out. "I mean, you could probably swing something. If he's signed up for the program then he'll be the first person they want you to meet."

"I agree with Thomas."

"It's not a bad idea." Tim mused. Dick shoved his face into his hands. "It's got to bet he easiest way to manufacture a meeting with him."

"Bruce Wayne in Arkham doesn't make a damn bit of sense! It would be a security breach. The warden would never agree to it."

part 2

https://www.tumblr.com/planningconquest/804150511408431104/choice-of-prisoner-pt-2?source=share

pt 4

"Harley."

"Bats! I can't believe you haven't come to see little 'ol me! I got out a few weeks ago! Not even worth a visit?"

"How is Poison Ivy?"

"Oh! She's great!" Harley's train of thought came to a screeching halt, she held up an unnaturally pale finger to jab his direction. "No! I got something you need to do."

"Harley."

"Listen up, Bats. I know you're fucking Wayne." He stilled just enough for her to grin. "I'm not blaming you. He's hot and he's got money. It's everyone's dream. He's a good choice for Sugar Daddy; but Pam's got a problem. See, she told me about the new kid there. He's just the littlest thing! She swears he's not all bad and nothing like us. He's just some super powered freak."

Bruce waited. Oracle hummed in his ear. I'm looking into the new registry, B.

"Anyway, he's just a kid." Harley's expression shifted. Years as a rogue hadn't dulled her skills; but she clearly had no idea how to phrase the questions. "Bats. I know you're...I know you've got this hard on for justice; but he really is a kid. If he could get help that's better than Arkham then he's got a real shot. Pam swears, Bats."

"And Bruce Wayne can help?"

"He's got a million kids! I mean. If anyone can help then it's him!" Oracle giggled through the comm piece.

"What's his name" Bruce asked. He might as well look into it. Harley didn't ask for much and she'd seemed to retire. It was the least he could do.

"Danny Fenton."

#$#$#

Books in the prison library had been stripped down to their bare bindings. Covers cut away, staples removed, and some held together by tape. One of the guards said it was because they'd been used as escape materials, Danny was pretty sure the man was a full of shit. Telling him had resulted in being banned from the library for two weeks. As it turned out, they had been used as escape materials. Danny wasn't sure if he was getting dumber in Arkham or if he didn't have the imagination to figure out how that worked.

"Do you think this counts as a weapon?" He hefted his chosen book.

Victor Fries smiled faintly. "War and Peace? Of course. It doesn't seem your style, young Daniel."

"Danny. And I think it's better than Crime and Punishment." He tried to smile. Tried to make an expression until the strain had him sitting. He flipped to the first page before looking up. "What are you doing?"

"Formula testing...as best one can with paper and pencil."He twisted the papers around. Marks and scribbles over the pages alien to Danny's eyes. "The chemical formula of my wife's illness. The structure, and then what I hope may work."

"They let you keep this?"

"It's considered to benefit my mental health." Came the dry response.

"...oh." Danny wondered if he could fight the oncoming wave of not caring which had powered him through the last few weeks. Months really. A level of disengagement Jazz would have called dissociating. The assigned therapist said the same thing. Everyone seemed to think the same thing.

"Of course, you've studied this in your school. Look here." Victor shoved more papers at him. "You may assist."

Danny raised an eyebrow, his elbows propped up on his book. "I may?" Well. It least it was more interesting than staring at the wall and running his thoughts over the past like a tongue over a broken, bleeding tooth. "Sure. Okay."

#$#$#$

"Ghosthunters?" Barbra muttered under her breath. Disbelief and annoyance sharpening the tone. "Ghost hunters and ectoplasm and ghosthunters. Unbelievable."

"Do you have anything else on this kid?" Red Robin asked.

"His file is redacted." There was silence down the line. "I mean, his file was scanned in redacted and the digital copies are just that. There's nothing to hack."

"Does it say where he's from?"

"No."

"Does it say what he's done?"

"Assaulting a federal officer. Interfering in a federal investigation. Assaulting a federal building."

"I like this kid," Jason mused.

"Illegal weaponry. Assisting in prisoners escapes....and." Barbra pinched her nose. "Driving without a licensed driver in the front seat. Apparently out of Illinois."

"Chicago?"

"...just Illinois."

"That's pretty flimsy." Dick muttered. "I'll look on my end. See if there's anything in the data base. B. What did Harley want with him?"

"She's adamant he can be rehabilitated outside of Arkham. Posion Ivy has vouched for him as well. She specifically asked for Bruce Wayne to assist."

"Bruce Wayne will need a reason to be vising a 15 year-old rouge in Arkahm, B. Your foster parenting paperwork is up to date, right?"

"Hmmm."

"I guess even Harley can feel bad for a kid, huh."

part 2