Chapter 4
just a quick note: conner will be this kon not this kon
"The protégé's of the other heroes got into a kerfuffle the other night," Guy said one morning.
"Kerfuffle?" Danny repeated incredulously, "What are you a grandmother?"
"Hah, sorry," Guy winced, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, "Yeah, I dunno where that came from. Anyways," He stressed, "They were actually pretty efficient and the League decided they'd make a kinda of junior team. The Young Justice, they'd operate in the shadows and...be the heroes we can't, basically."
"I...see," Danny nodded, "And...what does this have to do with me?"
"There is a place on the team for you," Batman stepped out of the shadows, startling Guy but not Danny, "Should you accept. You could be a team with them. A hero."
A hero...he hadn't been a hero in so long was...was that even something he wanted anymore? Yes...he realized with longing, yes, he wished to be a hero once more.
"...I would like that," Danny said softly.
"Okay," Guy smiled, "We can meet them now if that's your wish."
"It would be better not to wait," Danny admitted, he didn't want his nerves catching up to him.
"Alright," Guy smiled, "Hal wanted to be the one to take you so when he gets here in a minute you'll be leaving with him."
"Okay," Danny nodded.
He really hoped it really would be only a minute because each moment that passed he grew more and more unsure if he should be a hero again...or even if he could. He was much changed by his many years.
The zeta tube flashed as it announced Hal's arrival, the green lantern immediately flying to Danny and Guy.
"So..." He pressed eagerly.
"Our protégé will join the junior team," Guy declared with a wide grin.
"Oh, Danny that's great!" Hal gushed, pulling the boy into a hug, "So...you ready to go now?"
"Yes," Danny smiled softly.
With his hand on Danny's shoulder, Hal guided him toward the zeta tube. It would be Danny's first time going through it and...he couldn't deny how similar it was to his Jack and Maddie's portal. Danny tensed in fright under Hal's hand, the man giving him a reasurring squeeze.
"I'm right here with you, kiddo," Hal smiled tenderly.
Danny hummed and forced himself to relax. Stepping into the zeta tube. A few moments later it whirred to life and...they were gone.
The feeling was...disconcerting to the say the least. The way he...broke apart and reformed somewhere else.
"You alright, kiddo?" Hal held Danny's shoulders, frowning worriedly at him.
"Yeah just...dazed," He decided.
"Yeah," Hal winced, "It can be a weird sensation."
"Where...are we?" Danny wondered.
"Happy Harbor!" Hal chirped, "I figured you might wanna fly to your new base of operations!"
"Yeah," Danny blinked, "Okay."
And so...the duo both lifted off the ground with ease, Danny doing it with more ease, floating more gracefully. He looked to Hal, faltering.
"How do you fly?" Danny wondered curiously, observing the green hue around Hal.
"I use my ring," He beamed, "How do you fly."
"Well...I can just do that naturally," Danny admitted.
He frowned and with great consentration had a thin layer of ectoplasm surround him, controlling that to continue to allow him to fly.
"Oh, I don't like this at all," Danny recoiled.
He pulled back his ectoplasm, flying on his own again as Hal laughed goodnaturedly.
Danny followed Hal, the duo eventually coming upon a looming mountain.
"Mount Justice," Hal declared with a beaming grin as he and Danny slipped through an opening that closed behind them.
"Cool," Danny nodded, "Who...picks the names for things like this?" He rose a brow as he and Hal touched down on the ground.
Hal's grin sharpened and he ruffled Danny's white hair.
Danny felt a familiar presence in the room ahead of them.
"Kyle's here?" He wondered.
"Mmm, yeah," Hal nodded, "Can you hear him?"
Technically he could so...Danny nodded.
"You're so cool," Hal grinned, Danny flushing pink bashfully.
"Am not," He grumbled.
"So, you ready to meet the team?"
"I guess..." Danny pursed his lips.
"Don't be shy, kiddo," Hal ruffled his hair again, "I'm sure they'll love ya."
"This cave was the original secret sanctuary of the Justice League," They could hear Batman speaking in the next room, "We're calling it into service again. Since you four are determined to stay together and fight the good fight," Danny could practically hear his stern glare, "You'll do it on League terms. Red Tornado volunteered to live here and be your supervisor, Black Canary's in charge of training. I will deploy you on missions."
"Real missions?" Pressed a younger voice.
"Yes, but covert."
"The League will still handle the obvious stuff," Rang a voice unfamiliar to Danny, "There's a reason we have these big targets on our chests."
"But Cadmus proves the bad guys are getting smarter," Another unfamiliar voice to Danny spoke, "Batman needs a team that can operate on the sly."
"The six of you will be that team," Batman spoke.
"That's our cue," Hal let out a giddy giggle.
"Cool!" The young voice who pressed Batman gushed, "Wait, six?"
"This was a mistake," Anxiety churned in Danny's core.
"This is the Martian Manhunter's niece. Miss Martian," Batman's voice was muffled to Danny's ears as he had his mini freak out.
"Hi," A feminine voice rang out.
"We can always head back to the watchtower if you want," Hal reminded him.
"This is only five," Rang a gruff voice.
"No," Danny took a deep breath, "I can do this."
"Alright," Hal smiled reasurringly.
Hand on Danny's shoulder, they walked into the large room. Immediately all eyes were on Danny and Hal. He tensed slightly, subconsciously shifting a tad closer to Hal, the man giving his shoulder another reassuring squeeze.
"This is Phantom, the final member of your team," Batman introduced with that same softness he always had when in Danny's presence.
"Uh...hi," Danny waved shyly at the group.
"Hi!" The Martian greeted enthusiastically.
She hurried over to him and Danny took an instinctive step back not that she seemed to notice. She looked to him with a delighted grin, the girl's face changed and she now wore a mask similar to Danny's.
"I like your mask!"
"Thank...you?" Danny winced, "I feel...overdressed," He looked to his new team, they were all in civies, if you could call what the kid in the Kryptonian was wearing 'civies.'
In a green flash, Danny dropped his ectoplasm, well, most of it, keeping up his mask but turning it into shaded glasses like that one teen had on. His white hair ruffled at the change and he now wore blue jeans, combat boots, and a red hoodie with a large white shirt, with the Nasa logo on it, over the hoodie.
"Wow!" Miss Martian gushed, "That was cool!"
"Um...thanks," Danny flushed.
He looked on at the team once more yeah...he could do this.
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At Wayne Manor Dick and Bruce were sitting for dinner. Bruce at the head of the table, Dick on the longside of the table, close to Bruce.
"So..." Dick grinned at Bruce, "Who's the new kid?"
"Miss Martian is, again, Martian Manhunter's nie-"
"You know I'm not talking about her," He rolled his eyes.
"...We recently found Phantom floating in space," Bruce began.
"What?" Dick gawked.
"He wasn't hurt," Bruce promised the boy, "Quite the opposite, actually, he wanted to be in space and seemed offended when Hal grabbed him."
"I noticed Hal was with him," Dick said.
"Phantom's a Green Lantern too," Bruce spoke.
"Why didn't ya lead with that, B?" Dick huffed.
"He wasn't using any ring capabilities to survive in space," Bruce said.
"So...alien?"
"We're thinking Kryptonian."
"Two new Kryptonians," Dick whistled, "How's the Big Guy taking it?"
"Clark is..." Bruce sighed, "Not handling the clone well."
"Poor Supey," Dick winced, "You said 'thinking' Kryptonian, what, you're not certain?""We've exhibited that he can breathe in space, his skin is impenetrable and but from what little Alfred could ascertain he's missing more than a couple organs. And we learned today from Hal the kid can naturally fly."
"Did you guys have Clark take a look at him?" Dick wondered, "Y'know with his," He gestured to his own eyes.
"Not yet, we were worried about overwhelming the kid."
"You like him," Dick noted.
"...Yes," Bruce admitted, "He's...a good kid. Frightened and alone but good."
"Should we be preparing a new room?" Dick grinned.
"Despite my intimidations I doubt I'd be able to pry him away from Hal," Bruce let out a wry chuckle.
"What's he like?" Dick wondered, "He seemed mostly anxious today."
"Understandable," Bruce commented, "He is anxious often but he's also clever and witty and smart and kind. He gifted Alfred with a piece of the sun."
"With a piece of the what?!" Dick gawked.
"Master Dick, Master Bruce," Alfred cut in, "Dinner is for eating, not for speaking."
"He gave you a piece of the sun?!" Dick looked to Alfred in awe.
"A piece of a yellow star, yes," Alfred pulled out his stopwatch, which had a gem of sorts connected to it. He presented it to Dick, the boy looking on at the encased swirling energy with awe, "He said his father got it for him."
"Kryptonians not only get their power from yellow stars bit they're imprevious to it, right?" Dick pointed out.
"You're very right," Bruce smiled softly at the boy who beamed at the praise.
"Why'd he give it to you in the first place?" Dick wondered.
Bruce immediately and pointedly looked away.
"Ah, Phantom seems to be under the impression that Master Bruce is a vampire," Alfred shook his head fondly, "This is a source of protection."
All was silent for a few moments before Dick threw his head back, bursting out into laughter. Alfred and Bruce both softened at the noise, a small smile tugging at Bruce's lips.