*sneaks this in despite the fact i said i wouldn't write anything else for this au*
to elaborate on how frostbite fails as a lawyer, its not actually his fault. he's actually a good lawyer, a super good lawyer in fact. but only in the far frozen. frostbite is *too* competent for wacky ghost zone court hijinks.
it's like when ur playing ace attorney and you're making all the logical conclusions but you can't figure out how the game wants you to present the info.
"actually danny was innocent in kidnapping the mayor" oh yeah? where's the evidence? where in the testimony did they lie? and then you have to prove who actually did it instead you know.... just proving that your client *didnt* do it
at that point frostbite is just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks
damian meanwhile is trying to compartmentalize the fact that his dead twin is staring him down across the courtroom and that he needs to help clear his name
damian was offered the chance to go home during the recess but after hearing the far frozen ghosts (and various others) plead dannys case and tell tales of how danny was a good person, damian decided to stay and help. (esp since frostbite was working himself into a tizzy trying to make sense of the court room)
i love the idea that danny is afraid of the person damian would turn out to be after being raised by the league, but the chance to do the reverse is few and far between. think about it, damian shows up for a *trial* in which he has to recount all of the ways danny was a terrible person before he "died" (regardless of choice, danny did those things) reminding himself that the brother he knew was *not a good person*
damian has no reason to believe danny is a different person now. not until he hears people desperate to have him cleared of charges on the grounds of the character they believe he possesses. a good person who wouldn't let anyone come to harm under his care. a hero.
damian may not have the full story but there isn't a chance in hell he'd let his twin weather this storm alone.
meanwhile on the material plane, the batfam are convening to figure out where the hell damian went (i chose to go with the idea that he's been snatched up before breakfast in his pjs) he's not at any of the places he frequents. jon hasn't come by and he didn't even tell alfred where he was going. the only evidence they have is the security footage in which a strange glowing shape blurs into existence before damian disappears. they have no choice but to consult a magic user
tucker, sam and jazz on the other hand have their hands full trying to figure out what they're going to do about danny being gone for an unknown amount of time.
the part of the trio in the human world can't actually go into the zone because: 1) it's a school day and theres a super important test that day 2) theres a ghost guarding the area around the protal to make sure those two *specifically* dont go to break danny out 3) guys idk i just can't have them in the zone rn
jazz calls both her and danny out of school sick and takes to the zone. she hardly ever goes in but she does know where johnny and kitty's lair is. she can only hope they have answers to what exactly is happening.
they just so happen to be watching the trial broadcast. jazz doesn't take well to the fact that johnny is laughing at her brothers predicament.
jazz throws her hands up into the air in frustration, angry tears welling in her eyes "it's ghost court! it could last a century and they wouldn't even notice!"
kitty rubbed her back and glared at johnny from over her shoulder
johnny, who apparently did not have any love of his afterlife, cut in absent-mindedly from where he was working on his bike
"probably, that judge is known for entertaining more than actually doing his job"
that's right kids the real reason they're having a hard time is because the judge is the ghost of a reality tv judge who's obsessed with making every court session as interesting as possible!
call back to my tags on the last post: danny is in fact NOT supposed to be on criminal trial right now! the judge was just so tired of low ratings seeing as nobody in the ghost zone cares to look beyond their own obsessions (in his own words).
so when the case of an acclaimed figure like danny crossed his desk? well, no one wants to tune into something boring like a cut and dry custody transfer (let's face it the fentons aren't keeping danny) so he... tweaks the case a little bit. okay, a lot a bit.
dannys fighting for his afterlife out here because the judge decided that he wanted to be popular again. that would be a fun conflict to have at the end when frostbite and damian manage to clear danny of all charges and the judge goes ballistic. he's trying to bring up any and everything that has relevance, desperate to keep the trial broadcasting ("the best ratings ive had in years! i can't just stop now, they love me!")
both brothers realizing what the heck happened are absolutely furious. they proceed to curbstomp the judge (who has a giant gavel as a weapon! good thing damian can give danny pointers on how to fight an opponent like that due to his experience with harley quinn)
the batfam and the trio finally manage to show up but everything is over already