#uprooting foundations

-

Two days.

It barely took two days for Jazz and Danny to end up in Gotham.

Neither sibling could sleep after initial contact so they ended up holding each other in Jazz’s room until the sun finally rose, desperate for any comfort they could get. Deeming it close enough to morning to be awake, they got dressed and tried to eat breakfast, only to be interrupted by Jack barreling into the kitchen, grabbing some granola bars while rambling to himself about fueling a breakthrough with wide, manic eyes, and was gone again before either sibling could react. Their father had barely acknowledged they existed. Jazz and Danny silently agreed they weren’t hungry anymore and left.

Team Phantom met up at Sam’s mansion, Sam and Tucker quickly getting over their annoyance at being up so early when informed of last night’s surprise meetings with Batman himself during patrol. While initially upset at being left out of the loop and not getting to meet Batman, the two grumbled understanding that Jazz and Danny wanted to talk to each other first, and it’s not like they kept it secret for long. Admitting what had happened, and what was going to happen, finally broke through the numb shock the siblings had been stuck in all night and they spilled everything; sharing as much of the exact conversations as they could remember and letting all of their feelings out until well past lunch. The siblings were, understandably, a hot mess.

After being force-fed some soup, the only thing their nerves would let them keep down, Jazz and Danny had a long debate about how to spend their parents’ last days hours? of freedom. They didn’t know when Batman would pull the trigger, just that it was “soon”.

While she felt incredibly guilty, Jazz decided that she needed to drop the rope; she wanted to remember their parents as they used to be, equal parts eccentric scientists and loving parents, instead of the over-zealous ghost hunters they had become. While they had always been focused and driven in pursuit of their goals, they had still made time to support and bond with their kids; but even back then, they were headed down a dangerous path, and once the portal opened, they had been locked into a stead spiral towards ghostly levels of Obsession. Danny wanted so badly to disagree, to give them one last chance to change, to get one last hug, one last “I love you” out of them, but ultimately he knew it was a losing battle as long as they had access to their precious ghost science. He was convinced to stay with the family that had always been there for him.

Jazz needed him right now, and the people who lived in that basement lab were practically strangers to the siblings. They weren’t the parents Jazz and Danny remembered, not anymore.

In a daze, Danny couldn’t remember how they’d gotten to Nasty Burger as the sun set, and barely managed to choke down some fries while Jazz’s milkshake sat unfinished and melted. At some point, Jazz received a text from an unknown number. She sighed but didn’t question how Batman had gotten her phone number, and told him about their decision. Batman said the arrest would happen as soon as he returned to town, having left to retrieve a few extra League heroes, and that everything in the house would be seized; if there was anything they couldn’t live without, they should retrieve it now. Due to radiation readings Batman had taken earlier, everything that could be replaced, would be, as soon as they arrived at their foster home, whoever that might be with.

Sam and Tucker waited in the Fenton’s living room, giving Danny and Jazz some privacy to pack before they would spend the night with Tucker’s family. What couldn’t Danny live without?

Clothes could be replaced.

Bedding could be replaced.

Posters and decorations could be replaced.

Knick knacks, model rockets, toys, games, books, all of them could be replaced.

Even his awards had been tainted, his latest achievement years old by now.

When was the last time he’d gotten something meaningful from his parents?

He left with his favorite astronomy encyclopedia, filled with sticky notes and loose papers, and a change of clothes for tomorrow in his backpack, already in his pajamas.

Jazz’s selection was equally bare; a change of clothes, her laptop instead of a book, a binder of evidence to be handed over to Batman, and Bearbert.

Sam and Tucker didn’t hide their surprise well, or their sadness, at how little the siblings wanted to take with them but didn’t push it. Danny and Jazz grabbed a bug-out-bag each on their way to Tucker’s house and they all faked smiles for his parents before holing themselves up in his room. Danny asked Jazz to tell Batman that he wanted a copy of whatever they end up pulling from the lab computers; now that he’d made his decision, he couldn’t bear seeing his parents, even in passing. They seemed to have no intention of leaving the lab, though, and Danny wasn’t sure if he’d be allowed to return after their arrest, assuming he would even have time to. Jazz asked to be informed when the heroes arrived in town, and reminded him to shut down the Ghost Portal before he left. Batman had easily agreed to their requests. Sam and Tucker drifted off at some point, but sleep evaded the siblings once again.

As the second day dawned, the Fentons’ arrest was all over the news, having gone down around three that morning. They had resisted. It was not quiet. Jazz was suddenly glad for the media blackout so no one outside Amity would hear about it.

Batman came to collect the siblings at some point and the rest of the day was a blur of answering round after round of questions with various heroes and law enforcement; Danny didn’t bother remembering where they’d come from, or if they’d all come from the same place, but refused to tell them more than the bare minimum. He didn’t trust any branch of the government with the truth, and didn’t trust his sleep deprived brain to keep it hidden from them, so he just silently stared at the would-be interrogators. He barely answered more of the heroes’ questions, only really speaking freely to Batman. He was the safest option since he’d figured out everything else anyways and seemed undeterred by what he’d learned, and knew better than to reveal secrets. Danny was finally reunited with Jazz as they were strapped into a transport; he couldn’t be bothered to care what kind of vehicle they were in, let alone where they were going, but they were with Batman so it was probably fine.

They both passed out leaning against each other.

-

Danny didn’t remember being carried to bed, but he must’ve been since he woke up in one and knew he definitely hadn’t fallen asleep in one.

Light filtered through his eyelids but he couldn’t bring himself to open them yet; just a few more moments of peace. He heard quiet breathing nearby, slow and steady, and felt hands loosely clasped around his own. The fear of being vulnerable hadn’t even had time to settle before he recognized Jazz’s presence and a tension in his core uncoiled. He hadn’t even known it was there until it wasn’t anymore. 

Jazz was here. 

She was safe. 

He could handle anything else.

Memories from the past few days began filtering into his consciousness, unbidden, and he groaned. Jazz’s hands reflexively tightened around his as she was pulled from her own oblivion.

“Hey,” Jazz breathed, accepting her fate of being awake.

“Hey,” Danny smiled, finally opening his eyes. He chuckled. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks, little brother,” she deadpanned, rolling her eyes but couldn’t stop her own smile. “You always know just what a girl wants to hear.”

“I aim to please,” he grinned back before his smile fell. “So, we’re in Gotham now, huh?”

“Yeah,” Jazz confirmed, looking around. The banter had been a nice reprieve, but the real world demanded their attention. “We did agree to stay with Batman for now, so we must be in his house. I don’t remember if he told us his civilian identity yesterday, but judging from this room, he’s definitely wealthy.”

“I mean, he’d have to be,” Danny said, glancing around as well. “You’ve said yourself that his gadgets can’t be cheap. What? I listen to your superhero rants!”

“Only sometimes!” Jazz retorted, pushing him away with her hand over his entire face, pulling back before he could lick it, just as she had expected him to. She sat up, grimacing as she realized she was still in yesterday’s clothes. “Shoulda grabbed another set of clothes,” she muttered, heading to the bathroom. That was attached to the bedroom.

Holy shit, this room was huge!

Danny sat up, finally taking in his surroundings. He was in a king-sized, four poster bed, the kind he’d only ever seen on TV, and the rest almost looked like a fancy hotel room. There was a desk that held both of their backpacks and the bug-out-bags to his left, an entertainment unit with a flat screen TV that was bigger than anything available to the general public facing the foot of the bed, and a dresser to his right that was probably empty. Otherwise, the room was vast and vacant, impersonal but not necessarily cold. A guest room, then; they’d probably get permanent rooms later. There was a large window with the curtains still mostly drawn to the right, next to a door to the bathroom that Jazz had entered, and on the other side of the room was a door that he assumed led to the rest of the house, next to another, smaller door that almost blended into the wall; he wasn’t sure what that one was for. He heard the toilet flush and started to get up for his own turn when there was a knock at the door.

“Who’s there?” Danny called as Jazz reentered the room.

“Don’t start, Danny,” Jazz pleaded.

“The butler,” responded the posh, British voice on the other side. Jazz sighed. Danny grinned.

“The butler who?”

“The butler who would like to deliver some fresh clothes.”

It wasn’t exactly a joke, but Danny appreciated him playing along anyways, snickering to himself while Jazz opened the door.

“Good morning,” the butler nodded to both of them. “I'm pleased you both are already awake. My name is Alfred Pennyworth, head butler of Wayne Manor-”

“Wayne?!” Jazz gasped. “I was right! Uh, sorry, my name is Jasmine Fenton, but please call me Jazz,” she smiled, ignoring her embarrassed blush and holding out her hand to shake. “But you probably already knew that, right, sorry-”

“And I’m Danny,” he took pity on his sister, interrupting her spiral before it got too far as he came up behind her. “You said something about clothes?”

“Yes,” Alfred gently shook Jazz’s hand with a nod and a warm smile, gracefully ignoring that his spiel had been interrupted and gestured to the rolling cart beside him. “It came to my attention that neither of you brought a sufficient change of clothing with you. These have been generously donated by other residents of the manor, though we will need to acquire more clothes of your own soon.”

“Right, I... wasn’t really thinking that far ahead,” Jazz rubbed the back of her neck self-consciously.

“Same, so don’t feel too bad,” Danny shrugged. “I’m gonna go to the bathroom and then you can shower first.”

“Thanks, Danny,” Jazz smiled, accepting both sets of clothes as Danny wandered off. “I’m kind of surprised you didn’t put us in different rooms, though,” she mentioned as she went to spread the clothes out on the bed to assess them.

“Despite being unconscious, you both displayed distress when separated, even for the short trip inside,” Alfred revealed, face technically neutral but with a sadness in his eyes as he took a single step into the room. Jazz’s eyebrows shot up as she looked at him in alarm. “From what I understand, yesterday was quite the ordeal and we didn’t want to cause unnecessary stress. As much as I would like to allow you both to rest today, there is still much that must be done, but only after I’ve made sure you are both sufficiently fed. Press this button when you are ready for brunch and I will send someone to collect you. Do you or Master Daniel have any food allergies or preferences I should be aware of?”

“Um, first and foremost, don’t call him ‘Daniel’, he hates it,” Jazz said quietly with a grimace as she took the device, glancing over her shoulder at the bathroom door. “As for food, no allergies that I can think of, but Danny hates toast and I prefer lighter foods in the morning. Otherwise, we’ll both eat just about anything that we don’t have to fight first.”

Jazz froze, then cringed; she did not mean for that to come out. Alfred raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t comment.

Danny exited the bathroom, saving Jazz from embarrassment once again.

“Alright, your turn, Jazz,” he announced and Jazz took her escape, patting his shoulder as she passed.

“As I mentioned to Miss Jazz,” Alfred addressed Danny as he approached. “There is much to do today, but that can all be discussed after brunch. I gave her a button to call me once you are both ready. Miss Jazz mentioned your aversion to toast but no food allergies to speak of; are there any other preferences I should be aware of, Master Danny?”

“Ummm, I don’t think so,” Danny replied. “Jazz prefers veggies and stuff over meat, though, especially in the morning. Not that she doesn’t like meat, but it always had a habit of uh coming back to bite us.”

Danny shrugged with a helpless grin but didn’t miss how Alfred stiffened slightly. He wondered how much the butler had been told about what ecto did to meat.

“I see,” Alfred said slowly. “I await your arrival in the Family Dining Room, then, Master Danny. Welcome to Wayne Manor.”

-

Almost an hour later and armed with generic T-shirts and sweats, Jazz and Danny had pressed the button a few minutes ago and were taking stock of the bug-out-bags when they heard a knock.

“Who’s there?” Danny asked again, grinning at his sister’s groan.

“Uh, tank?” the voice on the other side of the door said, unsure.

“Tank who?” Danny’s grin widened.

“I haven’t even done anything yet!” the voice cried and Danny giggled like the chaos gremlin he is. Jazz just sighed and opened the door. The voice belonged to an African-American teen with buzzed black hair and brown eyes, waving a greeting with a bright smile.

“Hey, Alfred told me to- uh to get you,” his cheery greeting faltered partway through as his eyes flashed gold, looking at them in surprise. He shook his head to clear it and smiled apologetically. “I’m Duke Thomas, also pretty new to Wayne Manor, so I know it’s a lot to get used to. Come on, I’ll show you to the Family Dining Room.”

He gestured to follow and started walking away while Jazz and Danny shared a look, confused and mildly concerned, before following. Batman himself had left them here, so he obviously trusted Duke, right? But how much did he know? About the Fentons? About Batman?

“My name is Jazz,” she introduced herself, walking next to Duke and opting to play it safe with secrets, as well as ignore his earlier oddness. “And this is my brother, Danny. We really are in Bruce Wayne’s mansion, then?”

“Yeah, I was already asleep when you two got here or I would’ve greeted you then.”

“It’s alright,” Danny replied, falling into step on Duke’s other side. “Apparently we were both dead to the world anyways.”

Jazz rolled her eyes at the phrasing.

Two quick turns and the three were greeted by a hallway with giant windows to a big, enclosed courtyard, complete with a fancy water fountain in the middle. Jazz hid her awe better than Danny did as Duke chuckled at them.

“That was my first reaction, too,” he admitted. “Just wait ‘til you see the rest of the Manor.”

“I knew the Waynes were rich but I wasn’t expecting knowing it and seeing it to be so different...” Jazz trailed off, snagging Danny’s wrist to drag him away from the window he’d stopped in front of. Danny suddenly snickered.

“What were you saying the other day?” he grinned a little too wide, too sharp, as he turned to Jazz. “About rich, fruitloop mentors?”

“Hey, just because Mr. Wayne is rich doesn’t automatically make him a fruitloop,” Jazz scolded lightly. “I, at least, am withholding judgement.”

“Fruitloop?” Duke repeated slowly. Jazz looked somewhat embarrassed but Danny shrugged, grin returning to normal.

“Our godfather, Vlad Masters, is the definition of a rich fruitloop,” Danny informed him. “Our parents are blind to it, but he keeps trying to kill our dad, marry our mom, and take me as his protégé. Which is kinda weird, you’d think he’d go after you, Jazz, since you look so much like mom.”

“Yeah, well, that’s misogyny for you,” Jazz deadpanned. They both knew exactly why Vlad was after Danny, but keeping this secret almost felt like second nature by now.

They all turned into a wider, impossibly fancier hallway.

“Jeeze, how much farther is it?” Danny complained. “I’m starving.”

“Don't worry, we're almost there. The Family Dining Room is just at the end of this hallway,” Duke assured them. “I warned you this place is massive. I asked for a map when I moved in but I guess it hasn’t been a problem until now, so I’ve been trying to map it out on my own. I’ll show you what I have later. I already ate a few hours ago, so I’ll just be snacking, the rest is all yours.”

Duke pushed the double doors open and led them inside a large room with a long table and a lot of chairs. The siblings paused in the doorway, hesitating, while Duke continued into the room. Danny was finally able to tear his gaze away from the mansion itself long enough to notice the forced casualness in Duke’s movements that betrayed how uncomfortable he still was here and glanced at Jazz. She glanced back, confirming they’d both noticed, and that it somehow made them feel a little better.

“You kept calling this the Family Dining Room?” Jazz asked, hesitating another second before taking a seat at the end of the table closest to them, facing the large windows. “That implies there are multiple dining rooms.”

“The Banquet Hall is through those doors,” Duke gestured to the other side of the room, taking his own seat opposite Jazz, his back to the windows. “And there’s another room or two above us specifically for eating, too, though I don’t remember what their proper names are. Those are the only ones meant for food, but I assume any of the Ballrooms could be used for food too, if necessary.”

“That also implies multiple ballrooms...”

Danny had just taken his seat next to Jazz when the single door in the middle of the wall behind them opened, revealing Alfred and a rolling cart. Jaws dropped and eyes wide, Danny and Jazz had only ever seen so much food at buffets; eggs in every form imaginable and omelets with various filling; waffles, pancakes, and French toast; bacon and sausage, both regular and turkey, and even Canadian bacon; pigs-in-a-blanket and biscuits with gravy on the side; hashbrowns and diced potatoes with peppers and onions; chopped fruit in every color of the rainbow, with both oatmeal and yogurt to mix it in; a wide variety muffins and bagels with cream cheese of various flavors; and were those mini quiches? While mostly breakfast-type items, there were some lunch dishes as well; namely a platter of sandwich materials, including lettuce and slices of various meats, cheeses, and vegetables. There were also several pitchers of drinks and a few things they couldn’t readily identify but looked very fancy and, frankly, delicious.

“Good morning again, Miss Jazz, Master Danny. Thank you for retrieving them, Master Duke,” Alfred acknowledged all three of them as he began unloading the smorgasbord onto the table in front of the drooling siblings. “I don’t know when last you two ate at all, let alone a decent meal, nor am I certain which items you would like more than others, so I made a bit of everything. Eat as much as you’d like, there is always more, and don’t worry about wasting anything you don’t like, it will be taken care of. Growing bodies require nutrients and you are both far too thin. I won’t stand for it. Master Duke, I know you ate not long ago but you are also welcome to whatever you’d like.”

“Thanks, Alfred,” Duke nodded with a bright smile. “I think I’ll just snack on some of these fruits.”

“Very well,” Alfred nodded. “Please inform me if you need anything, or if something is not to your liking for future reference.”

Alfred cleared his throat for their attention, which they all had to drag away from the impressive spread.

“I really do mean that,” he continued a bit quieter, voice full of sincerity. “I take great pleasure in providing for this family, and I promise, whatever your request, I am more than happy to fulfill it. You will never be an inconvenience to me. Now,” his back straightened, his British poshness returning. “I will be in the kitchen, and Master Bruce has been informed that you two are up and will be joining us in about an hour. All business and serious topics will be discussed then and not a moment sooner.”

With various sounds of assent, and a chorus of “thank you”s, Alfred bowed and left.

“While we eat, would you mind telling us about the rest of the family?” Jazz asked, filling her plate and dutifully ignoring Danny already shoveling food in his face. “I know he’s adopted a lot of kids over the years but I’ve never paid much attention to celebrity news.”

“Sure!” Duke said brightly. “I’ve met all of them at least once, but the easiest way to make sure I don’t miss anyone is by order of adoption. So, first is Richard Grayson, usually goes by Dick-”

“By choice?” Danny paused, fork halfway to his mouth, and Jazz elbowed him.

“Yeah,” Duke chuckled. “I asked him about it once; he said English wasn’t his first language and nobody realized what dick meant until it was too late and he was already attached to the name. He’s pretty cool, though, currently working as a cop in Bludhaven, just south of Gotham. Barbra Gordon isn’t officially adopted, since her dad is still around, but she may as well be. Next was Jason Todd, who went missing for a few years, but now he’s back and does not get along with Bruce. It’s apparently better than it was when he first came back but that’s hard to believe considering their current relationship. Then there’s Tim Drake, current Co-CEO of Wayne Enterprises. His family’s mansion is actually nearby but Bruce took him in after both his parents died. He’s kinda weird but an absolute genius. Stephanie Brown is also not technically adopted, but hangs around often enough to be considered one of Bruce’s kids anyways. She has way too much energy but she’s great at parties, and I think she’s in charge of taking you guys shopping later. Cassandra Cain is nice but really quiet and uses sign language more often than not. She’s been trying to teach me but it’s been slow going. Last but not least, is Damian Wayne. He was just dropped off in January this year and is apparently Bruce’s bio-kid, which Damian loves to rub in all of our faces. His mom taught him a ton of martial arts stuff and he is not shy about using it. And then there’s me. Three or four months ago, my parents got caught up in one of Joker’s schemes and were exposed to a ton of chemicals that really messed them up. They uh, they’ve only recognized me as their son once during visits so far. I’m... not ready to talk about it yet.”

Jazz and Danny froze when Duke mentioned chemicals and curled in on himself slightly. They glanced at each other with matching looks of horror.

“I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Duke,” Jazz said quietly, Danny nodding his agreement as he tried to not choke his unchewed mouthful. “You don’t have to say anything before you’re ready, but we’d be more than happy to listen once you are. Our parents had a lab in the basement since before I was born, so we’re both very familiar with the effects of chemical exposure.”

“Dodging trauma, though,” Danny said with a too-bright smile. “Thanks for the run-down. That is a lot of kids. You said Dick isn’t in Gotham but do any of the others live in the mansion?”

“Not really,” Duke shook his head, gratefully returning the smile as the siblings resumed eating at a more respectable pace. “Right now it’s just Bruce, Alfred, Damian, me, and now you two. Everyone but Dick lives in the city somewhere, but Cass and Steph are roommates and live in the same building as Barbra. And if you think that’s a lot, don’t even get me started on the extended family! Not to mention family friends that may as well be family! Those I have not all met yet but I’ve heard good things about them.”

“What’s Mr. Wayne like?” Jazz asked between bites.

“Well, first he’s gonna tell you to call him ‘Bruce’ or just ‘B’, ‘cause family shouldn’t have to be so formal,” Duke chuckled before humming, carefully considering his words. “Bruce is... interesting. The ‘Brucie Wayne’ you’ve probably seen on TV is actually just a mask he wears so everyone underestimates him. He says people are easier to manipulate if they think they’re the one in control, and Tim has adopted that strategy, too. It’s honestly kinda creepy seeing them both go from bubbly airhead to dark and serious as soon as the door closes. Despite being good at public speaking and manipulating social situations, Bruce isn’t great at communicating. Dick says it’s ‘cause he assumes he knows what others are thinking instead of just asking them, and assumes everyone else knows what he’s thinking so he doesn’t have to say it. Everyone I’ve asked says he’s a lot better than he used to be, though; I was told to remind him to think like Brucie to get him out of his own head. He does care, though, and doesn’t even mind saying it, he’s just really bad at remembering to say it.”

“I can only imagine he grew up being alone a lot,” Jazz nodded. “If I remember correctly, he’s an only child and his parents died when he was pretty young, right?”

“Yeah,” Duke nodded, looking away. “Not my story to tell, but I don’t think he ever got over losing them, not that I blame him.”

“Hm. Do you know what time it is?” Jazz asked, silently agreeing that the topic felt a bit too much like gossip. “How long do you think we have until Mr. - I mean Bruce gets here?”

“I think we have, like, ten minutes before we should start looking for him,” Duke said, looking at his watch. “Give or take. It was only an estimate anyways.”