The Problem With X-Ray Vision (Is That It’s Not Good Enough)
The Watchtower is… a lot.
Danny floats in through the teleporter a few inches off the ground, hands shoved into his pockets like he’s trying very hard to look unimpressed.
He’s not.
He’s just not giving Batman the satisfaction.
Because yeah.
That’s Batman.
Great.
Cool.
Totally normal.
“Danny Phantom,” Batman says, voice calm and unreadable. “Thank you for accepting the League’s invitation.”
“Mm,” Danny hums. “Still deciding if that was a good idea.”
Flash snorts.
Superman smiles politely.
Wonder Woman nods.
Everything is going fine.
Everything is—
Danny freezes.
There’s a shift in the room.
Not visible.
Not audible.
But wrong.
His eyes snap across the room.
Lock.
Target acquired.
A man in red.
Lightning emblem.
Cape.
Power—ancient. Loud. Crackling like thunder wrapped in divinity.
But underneath—
Danny squints.
“…Okay,” he says slowly. “I’ve got a question.”
Batman immediately doesn’t like that.
“Go on.”
Danny points.
Directly.
“Soooo… does this universe not have child labor laws?”
Silence.
Flash chokes.
Green Lantern turns away, shoulders shaking.
“Excuse me?” Batman asks.
Wonder Woman steps forward. “We do not allow children in the League.”
Danny doesn’t blink.
“I am looking at a child right now.”
He points harder.
“That is a child.”
Captain Marvel straightens, clearly offended.
“You must be mistaken—”
“…That kid hasn’t even hit puberty yet.”
Flash wheezes.
“What? No,” Flash says. “We’ve got records going back centuries—”
“Exactly!” Captain Marvel jumps in.
Batman is staring now.
Danny tilts his head.
“No,” he says slowly. “His magic is ancient.”
Beat.
“But he’s practically a toddler.”
“A toddler?!” Marvel blurts. “I’m ten and a—”
The universe stops.
“…half,” he finishes weakly.
Silence.
Batman turns.
Slowly.
“Marvel.”
“…damnit.”
