#daydreamsandcrashingwaves

"Choice had little to do with the matter, I know I must play my part if we are to fool Mother."

"I could have-"

"No." Damian cut him off firmly but not harshly, his eyes were tracking the rooftops as they get closer to the building watching for Talia's shadows she surely ordered to guard their meeting place. "She requested my presence for the exchange. To ensure things go to plan the most logical course of action is for us to arrive together so she can see my face, lest she come to the manor herself or refuse to hand over to you what she has and draws this interaction out longer than need be risking Danyal's exposure."

Bruce can only grunt in agreement, they both know what Talia is like and if she wants to see Damian she will find a way. Manor security system be damned. They love each other Bruce knows, and things have shifted since Ras' death yes, but this look? Damian's demeanor is reminicsent of when he first arrived in Gotham.

Honestly breaking into the manor would be pretty tame for Talia despite the devastation it could cause to his two youngest sons. Bruce looks over his shoulder to change lanes not bothering to hide his frown. As soon as he has another moment he sends a quick glance at his son. Damian is hiding it well behind a blank face and perfect posture but Bruce can see that he is uneasy.

"I know you're.. worried about Tim overseeing things while we're gone-"

"It is not Drake I am concerned with!" Damian hisses turning his full attention on his father, his nostrils flaring as he takes a deep breath to recenter himself. "Timothy has been a vigilante for years and is up to date on his traumatized civilian handling protocol training, he has had more interaction with the League's assassins than most, and while not impossible, it is unlikely Timothy would be remiss in caretaking duties."

Bruce let his lips twitch into a smile at the growing confidence in his son's voice. Damian and Tim's relationship has changed dramatically since the day Damian was dropped off fresh from being in the League.

This moment, his son's trust in the bonds he has built living in Gotham, reminds Bruce that as long as they are together they will always do the work make a situation turn around. That's what their family does.

With a breath he asks, "Then, would you like to share what is making you restless Chum?"

If possible Damian's face turned even more grave, "Mother could already be suspicious and this could all be an elaborate distraction while she or a team infiltrates the manor, while Alfred, Thomas and Timothy are skilled they will have a handicap protecting Danyal, I am unsure if he's capable of fighting as he is right now. He had a panic attack at the sight of me and threatened to take his own life when he thought I would take him back to the League. Him meeting Mother… or even if he thinks she knows he's with us I can not guarentee he would stay with.. us."

The with me Damain means but doesn't add, Bruce doesn't know what to say to that, instead of a knee jerk response he eases the car onto the exit ramp needed to get to their destination.

"I'm not worried about their skills in fighting," Damian continues, "I'm worried they'll have to keep Danyal from escaping in his panic while they defend against the assassins. Danyal can be quite difficult when he chooses to be."

He can't supress the shudder that Damian's words.

If Damian, his child that struggled the most to adjust to the manor as he also had to deprogram his assassin mindset, thinks Danyal can be difficult to handle, Bruce is worried what that will look like when that happens. (Especially with the addition of his powerset. They'd need to sit down and find out the extent of Danyal's powers when they had the chance.) When it happens not if, because their family has some pretty rotten luck. As they pull up to the meeting place, a community center, he resolves to go into further detail with Damian on the way home so he can try to prepare.

And maybe Bruce could finally get clued in on the run around the boys pulled with the batmobile.

~~~~~~

Danny has been swaddled in his blanket nest since Damian left the bed for the attached bathroom to get ready for the day. It was nice to be warm. The blanket closest to his skin was the softest he's ever felt and isn't eager to emerge from it. The boy slumped next to him hardly has looked over at Danny but he could sense his attention regardless.

Something subtle but curious. Even though Danny's uncomfortable being on his own without his brother, he is grateful that Tim took the 'who is gonna watch the flightrisk' decision from Damian. All of the pacing had made Danny dizzy just watching this morning as Damian seemed to cycle through cannidates only to dismiss them just as quickly.

Tim was… Danny didn't know yet, just that, although he was awkward to sit with, and Danny struggled with the uncertainty his presence brings, it wasn't the- dangerDANGER watching you seeing you- that Damian's predator of a sister Cass exuded when her eyes had landed on him, or the bright ball of bubbly joy that hid dark deep waves that screamed for retribution in Dick, it felt like a live-wire bomb and without being more familiar to him there was no countdown timer, so Danny shied away from him in the sheer intensity.

(They always had had soft smiles and kind eyes. His parents were well seasoned in the skill. They came off as kind and unassuming even as they peeled and flayed the skin from his back. It was always for him, they'd say.

Gently stroking his hair as they ripped out his teeth from his jaw or the nails on his hands and feet with hushed assurances once they figured out what phantom had done to Danny they'd be able to fix it. He just had to be patient, bare with them and endure against that nasty spook because they'd never give up on their son.

They would fix him.

There was no way to 'fix' the change his cells went through.

They would end him.)

Tim was.. more honest, body and mind in sync, so Danny had assured Damian he'd be okay with the teens company while he went out to run whatever errands that were pulling him away from home. There was a hesitancy and a painful hopefullness that Danny could feel coming from the older teen, he wasn't sure why Tim felt that way when they haven't met before but it wasn't bad, not when the emotions were so nakedly displayed for Danny to see on the boy's face.

Danny wasn't a child that needed babysitting. (Damian surely thinks Danny will abandon all rational thoughts and flee on his own, or maybe spontaneously die fully when he isn't looking, not that Danny plans to do either of those now that he's had some proper rest and can plan what's ahead. He's afraid to ask him and hear the answer.) Tim didn't feel as though he was there to keep watch over Danny, more so the mix of emotions felt protective in a way that Tucker felt like. A potential friend then.

Tim's suggestion for videogames was welcome, a familiar distraction from the world outside the bubble of the room. If Danny had been told to guess what Damian's siblings were like it certainly wouldn't have been this.

It was so different from what he was expecting. The guy slouches something fierce, half sprawled across the bed next to Danny yet he never crosses whatever invisible line that's between them. He doesn't seem interested in crowding close to where Danny sits buried into a blanket.

That is, until the start screen blinks back at Danny asking if he wants to play as a guest or login. Danny blinks back. He's not sure what to do, he almost started entering his account information, but he shouldn't, logging in as himself could trigger some sort of an alarm and he's barely had a chance to rest. He shouldn't risk it even with Batman's resources at his disposal.

Tim hums, pushing himself closer to offer a crinkled handful of tissue from his pocket. "What's wrong Danny?"

His eyebrows furrow in confusion as he turns to look at Tim. A tear slips from his chin falling to hit the back of his hand that is resting in his lap. Oh. His fingers come away wet when he goes to wipe his eyes. Danny hadn't been aware he started crying. Over something so silly too, yet it only feels like another consession, another thing they stole from him.

The piece of straw that he underestimated and it had broken something innocent and soft inside him. Danny hesitantly reaches for the tissues, snatching it close when his fingers brush the edge. Tim offers him a small thin lipped smile, but his eyes, they land on him then abruptly look away, over and over.

He clears his throat and roughly wipes his eyes with one of the tissues. "I- uh remembered I can't use my login…" He gets quieter with each word forcing Tim to lean just a smidge closer.

Offering up his favorite game was a mistake, Tim was now frowning at him. Danny can't even get a sense how Tim's feeling over his own tangled mess of emotion. With a soft hum his older brother-that would take some getting used to, him having older brothers other than Damian- turns back to the tv, he messes with the controller and the original Doom start up screen looks back at them.

"This is about accessing an account that could be tracked back to you being alive and with us in Gotham, yeah?" Danny gives him the barest of nods curling deeper into his blankets,his fingers stroking the soft material. He doesn't want to see Tim's expression. "We can just make new accounts together then, or I can login and follow you through the levels as you grab the power-ups and items? I have pretty rounded stats so it'd be easy to watch your six. Which do you prefer?"

"You.. you can use your account," Danny says slowly an old idea coming to mind as he gazes at the screen that has excitement speeding up his heart, " I can create a new one… Can we play my way?"

"Sure Danny." Tim's already pulling up his profile with a small smile. It's a good sign Danny is willing to take some initiative. "That sounds good to me. How do you-"

Tim's words get stuck in his throat as Danny grabs his wrist tightly before there is a flashbang of light and he's being pulled off the bed. There is a weighless sensation, a feeling of static running over his clothes and before he can brace himself Danny pulls Tim straight into the monitor.

Tim blinks the dark spots away from his vision and Phantom is standing infront of him beaming, body buzzing in excitement, doing loops in the air. The boy rushes over to an equiptment bench and Tim gapes at the scenery around them as the ghost boy grabs a few blasters, tucking them in holsters his ghost form creates for him.

A purple sky swirled above him. The..air. wait was there air? How could a human physically transfer into a pixilated world and survive without it? Pixelized pebbles crunch under his boots as Tim turns to examine the space around them.

There was tables and stands filled with armor and weapons, bags and amulets. This looked exactly as the character customizing screen the game produces before you start.

Holy shit.

Tim was in a videogame! An actual video game! He allows himself to be swept up alongside Danny's visible joy for just a moment. Who knew that Danny could merge himself and others into technology? It was so cool! He'd no doubt go over the practical implication of this power when he was alone in his room because it was very rude to ask about his youngest brother so soon into their relationship, for now Tim slammed the door on that thought. He wanted to have fun with his littlest brother and the mission wasn't going to interfere here.

"What- Danny?? Where- Are we inside the game?!" Tim's voice raises a few octaves, eyes wide.

Danny distracted by the cloak choices, frowns down at the forest green one in his hands, "uh- yeah, it-it's more fun this way…interactive...I-I'm sorry, I should've asked you."

The cloak crumples in his grip, its just- he forgot for one moment that none of these people know what being a ghost means, sure he told them he is one and explained as best he could at the time but Tim had no idea Danny could pull them into the program. He risks a glance at his brother through his bangs.

The black and red armor's weave feels the same under Tim's careful touch as his Red Robin suit. He crouches and swings his arms around testing the flexibility of the armor. "Oh, we're gonna kick some major ass." He cheers, beaming back at Danny. The excitement is infectious so Danny lets his own gentle laughter answer back.

"Try to keep up Birdy." Danny eggs him on. A quick flick of the wrists settles the green cloak in place before flying ahead to the door for the first level. Tim follows behind his youngest brother as quick as he can.

~~~~

With a shake of his head Tim refocuses on the scene in front of him. Pixalated bits of NPCs and weapons are being flung about, so he's made dodging them into a challenge. There are plenty of free standing rock and tree clusters to use as cover.

His priority objective here is to protect and support, he's certain Damian never allow him near their youngest again if he gained even a scratch in Damian's absence. It's imperitive he doesn't lose himself in the exhilaration of being inside a videogame.

His brother is zipping to and fro above his head, taking down opponents with ease, a trail of light following him as he moves through the air. Tim makes sure to keep close. Just enough distance Danny dosen't feel crowded but close enough to cover him if he faltered. All Tim's years collabrating with different vigillantes and heroes has almost perfected his shadowing abilities.

His youngest brother was like a comet shooting through the generated sky, a force of nature making landfall. Graceful and quick, taking out advesaries seconds after they generated. Danny looks remarkably confident.

The sounds of his whooping and laughter created a soothing atmosphere as Tim held himself back so Danny could enjoy beating up pixalated enemies. This is likely the first time the kid could really let loose after he started hoofing it away from his old home and well, this was relatively low stakes.

Between one blink and another Danny falters. Tim is already moving towards him analyzing the situation as he runs. Something's changed in the line of Danny's shoulders and his baby brother is grounded in a way he hasn't been since he's transformed.

The tail was gone and in it's place two legs firmly planted. His arms are slack at his side and there's an offbrand ninja coming in hot with the intent to take full advantage of Danny's distraction. Their generated adversary raises his whip and Tim is still a pace or two too far away. Shit.

"Danny! Move!" Tim barks. He throws his weapon on instinct before his brain catches up. The whip is coming down towards Danny's head.

Tim prays it makes it in time, please.

He watches as his borrowed bo staff sails through the air and smacks into the bot's mask right where the eye's would be with enough force for it to explode into a pixel shower. A few of them bounce harmlessly against the boy's cheek.

Danny is still stands there unresponsive. His voice nor the pixels seemed to reach wherever Danny has gone to inside his head. They need to get out of here. There are already more goons generating.

There is no lever or button to hit to pause the game that he's noticed, so Tim wracks his brain as he drags Danny into movement. They had simply walked through a door to start the game.

So, same way in, same way out? It's a start at least. The gate to the next level had appeared from it's hiding spot when they had cleared the previous levels so there shouldn't be more than one to locate at the moment. He just needs to find it. There isn't that many generated clusters that were big enough to hide a door.

Find the door. Bring Danny back to awareness. Exit game. Have him tucked back in his blankets before Damian comes home. He's Red Robin- it shouldn't be too hard.

Tim's eyes dart around the seemingly endless space as Danny bobs like a balloon behind him. He's thankful for his brother's weightless form, it makes it much easier to defend the boy when Tim doesn't have to physically carry him.

Pixels explode around them as he takes down the pursuers and- there! Tim uses a long thin leather tie from an amulet he tucked in his pocket to quickly tie himself and Danny together and is already in motion as they start to close in.

Letting go of Danny Tim uses one goon as a spring board to jump over a couple of his friends and breaks his fall with a roll. The tie does it's job and tugs the floating boy after him without making Danny roll with him, instead the leather twists in his place.

They've reached the door. Tim starts clawing at the vines that had wrapped around it as camoflauge starting to get desperate, he had to get Danny out of this level and into a calm place now!

"Shit!" Tim yelps briefly raising a hand to his cheek, His head jerks to the side belatedly. Now a knife sticks out of the door where his head had just been. He pockets it since it knicked him. It's his blood on the edge which is stronger than Finders Keepers. His cheek stings and starts lazily oozing blood but Tim ignores it. They were so close!

"Tim?" Relief surges through his chest at the confused sound and despite how Danny's voice was breathless and tight. Glancing out of the corner of his eye he sees Danny's lips pressed into a thin line while he looks around trying to understand why this is a different situation than he remembers.

"I'm uh-hungry!" Tim rushes to make any excuse that'll take that guilty kicked puppy look away. Another vine that he successfully yanks off the door bursts into pixels that join the growing pile at Tim's feet. "We should get a snack-or better yet Alfred probably left a tray!"

Danny casts his gaze out across the space, the goons will be just about on top of the two in a few moments. Something in his face goes firm, Tim doesn't know him well enough yet to know what it means. A heartbeat later Danny grabs Tim's wrist and now that strange tingle was back. Between one blink and the next they were back where they started. Danny hadn't opened the door- no no- they went through the door in a way that reminds him of J'onn. The power he's now experienced twice answers Tim's questions regarding the twin's infamous escape. He wonders absentmindedly how long it'll take until the others discover just how the boys evaded them all.