Chapter 8
"He has kryptonite in his heart."
"What?" Bruce's voice caught in his throat.
"I saw...I saw it," He hissed, "Right in his heart there's a circle of kryptonite. That...that's why he bleeds."
"If...if he has kryptonite in his heart...how is he not dead?" Bruce asked fearfully.
"...He...his body may have evolved to live with the kryptonite," Clark breathed out.
"...He's living but not with all that he is," Bruce realized, "How...can we even help him?"
"The kryptonite's in his heart," Clark exhaled shakily, "I...I don't think we can remove it. I think...I think he'll stay suffering with the kryptonite in his heart forever."
★・・・★・・・★
Danny flew and flew and flew. He didn't stop, he couldn't stop. He had to get out.
His skin itched, his core screamed with panic so he just...flew.
Before Danny knew it he was floating in space, exhaling deeply, embraced in the calm of his stars.
When Danny no longed felt like he was suffocating in panic he noted he was actually pretty near to the Watchtower, so near in fact that he could see a large hero waving at him frantically from one of the windows. Danny wordlessly flew to the watchtower, entering via the now open docking bay.
Danny was immediately greeted by the Earth's Mightiest Mortal, the man pulling him into a frantic hug, holding him tight and close.
The grounding hug Captain Marvel held him in...had him falling apart.
In moments Danny was weeping, clinging to the man like a lifeline.
Danny cried, which ew, for what felt like an eternity before he calmed, stilling in the man's embrace, resting his head on his chest, listening to his steady heart. A heartbeat...when...when was the last time Danny had found peace by listening to one?
Danny silently released Marvel, the man staring down at him in concern as Danny pointedly looked away.
"You don't have to feel embarassed about seeking out and needing comfort," Marvel said gently.
"...Thanks," Danny smiled slightly.
"Are you...okay?" The hero continued in that same gentle tone.
"I'm calm now," He smiled sheepishly, "Thanks for taking care of me, Cap."
"You sure? We can talk about it if you want," Marvel smiled softly, "I mean, you did fly into space to, er, avoid whatever it is you were avoiding."
"Can...can I have another hug?"
Marvel smiled wider and wordlessly tugged Danny into another grounding, comforting hug.
★・・・★・・・★
After Danny's cuddlefest with Captain Marvel, thanking and apologizing the Champion of Magic profusely he returned to Earth or more accurately, he returned to Gotham. Setting the photograph, which he'd held in a pocket dimension, in the destroyed trophey case he headed to the also destroyed basketball gym, floating up to the rafters.
It was beyond easy to find the residue of the girl's presence and follow it to her.
It wasn't until Danny was flying through her open window that he realized this behavior might be stalkerish and weird. Oh well, he was already here.
"Hello," Danny called out cheerily to the girl who had her back to him.
With a startled yelp she aimed a crossbow at Danny, firing, the ghost catching it with ease.
"You done?" He asked ernestly.
"What the-who are you?" She hissed, "What're you doing here?"
"I just wanted to check in on you," He admitted, "That was some precise shooting. Despite your obvious skill with arrows villains can always be stressful."
"I...what?" She gawked at him.
"I was wondering how you were handling things," Danny said, "Well, I hope."
"Yes, no, yeah, I am handling things well," She stressed.
"Wonderful," Danny smiled, "I'm Phantom, by the way."
"Is that...really the only reason you're here, er, Phantom?"
"Actually, I suppose it's not," Danny said thoughtfully.
"Then what do you want," The girl growled.
"Your hello kitty pants," Danny said, "Where did you get them?"
"...?" The girl silently gawked at him.
"They're very cute, super fetch," He hummed, "I would like to get a few pairs for myself."
"Did...did you just say fetch?" The girl looked to him with a withering glare, "Like...from Mean Girls?"
"Mmm," Danny nodded with a casual smile.
"Fuck, alright," The girl shrugged, "If you kill me oh well, here, I'll show you where I got it," She opened her laptop.
★・・・★・・・★
Danny hummed as he exited a certain shop with five pairs of soft hello kitty pants, all varying sizes.
He got a pair for himself, a pair that should fit Hal, a pair for Superboy and Amazo and a smaller pair...for Ellie. He could leave them at her grave as an offering.
It felt...nice to go into the store without his hero costume on, sure he received weirded out looks because of his white hair but he still felt almost...normal.
Danny no longer felt even a hint of the distress he felt when confronted by his insides earlier. It...it wasn't even a real thing that set him off and he knew...he knew Superman didn't see him, not truly but...he just got so scared. The last time someone was interested with his insides...was when Maddie and Jack were cutting into him. It had just been...instinct to run.
Danny heard the distinct noise of someone stifling their sniffling, their crying.
The boy, already dead, ignored the unspoken rules not to enter alleyways, after all? What was the worst that could happen to him?
Danny ventured into the alley where, with his keen eyes spotted a child with large tears rolling down their dirty face, cutting lines through the dirt and grime and blood marring their face.
Danny twitched, wanting to move forward immediately but holding back when he realized his form was usually unnerving to people. He couldn't imagine how his glowing aura would frighten the clearly young child so...with a shaky exhale...two rings formed around Danny's body...and he turned human...for the first time in centuries.
Once he looked normally human Danny moved into the alley, bag of pants still over his shoulder.
"Hey," Danny called out, still a good twenty feet away from the kid.
"St-stay away!" The child cried out.
"Okay, okay," Danny stopped, hands up in surrender, "I'll stay here if that's what you want."
"Wh-what?" The child sniffled before whimpering in pain, "You're...you're going to listen to me?"
"Yes, I want nothing more than to help fix up your face but if you don't want me to come closer I won't."
"...You...you want to help me?" The kid asked, "Are you...are you Batman?"
"No, I'm not Batman," Danny said gently.
"R-Robin then?" And there was a hopeful tone in his voice.
"Sorry kid, no," Danny smiled softly.
"Then-then you're just someone who wants to help?" The boy looked bewildered.
"Yeah."
"What...what are your qualifications?"
"I patch myself up all the time," Danny said.
"I...you...you promise you won't hurt me?"
"I swear on my grave," Danny said firmly, although...in this timeline he didn't have one.
"...Okay," The boy gestured for Danny to get closer.
Danny obliged, moving forward slowly, kneeling before the boy.
"Can I see you?" He asked gently.
The boy nodded and leaned forward and away from the wall, Danny carefully taking the boy's face in his hands. Gingerly, with barely there touches, he felt the boy's nose, manuevering around the cut over his nose.
"Well, luckily nothing's broken," Danny smiled, "So we'll just seal up this boo-boo. It's nothing too bad so it shouldn't take too long."
"Did you just say 'boo-boo?'" The boy snickered, "What're you five?"
"Time is irrelevant," Danny shrugged with a goodnatured shrug.
"You're weird."
"Thank you," Danny smiled, "Now then, I'm gonna have to clean it, to make sure it doesn't get infected, it might sting."
"I can handle it!" The boy puffed out his chest.
"Alright," Danny smiled as he reached into his bag of pants, reaching into a pocket dimension and pulling out some gauze, saline solution, surgery tape, a towel and a bottle of water, "Mmm, you like Robin, right?"
Danny soaked the towel with water and gently cleaned the boy's whole face, dark blue towel not showing how it would've darkened exponentially if it were white. This had been a conscious decision on Danny's part, he didn't want to make the boy feel self conscious.
"Yeah!" The boy beamed.
"It's probably gonna start hurting now," Danny warned as he soaked the gauze with saline.
The boy tensed, preparing himself.
"What's your favorite thing about Robin?" Danny wondered as he reached out, gently dabbing the small cut, cleaning it with the gauze.
The boy screwed his eyes shut in pain and grit his teeth.
"His light," He said, tensely, "He...he's just so beautiful. He's...it's just life in Gotham's hard," He flinched in pain as Danny continued to clean his cut, "In the beginning I remember he was...scary but then after time he changed he...he became the person I want to be. Witty, strong, living life with a cackle and a smile!" The boy beamed, "And he's just so cool! With his flips and his fighting and-and everything!"
"Robin's pretty great, huh?" Danny smiled tenderly, he wondered if he should tell his teammate how much this kid adored him.
"The greatest!"
Danny finished cleaning the wound and moved forward, gingerly applying the surgery tape along the cut.
"All done," Danny beamed, leaning back and away from the boy.
"Already?" The boy gasped in delight, "Can I see?"
Danny smiled and reached into the pocket dimension in his bag, pulling out a handheld mirror.
"What're you, a magician?" The boy gaped in awe.
"You can just call me Mary Poppins," Danny winked, reaching back into the pocket dimension, pulling out a small stack of books, "Here, a gift," He smiled.
The boy's brows furrowed and he hesitantly accepted the books.
"Mary Poppins?" He read the cover, "An autobiography?" He wondered.
Danny merely grinned sharply.
"Here," Danny held out the roll of surgery tape, "Change it whenever it falls off and here," He pulled a box of bandages from the pocket dimension, "It wouldn't hurt to put one of these over the surgery tape. And lastly..."
Danny didn't even hesitate before offering the boy the pants he'd gotten for Ellie. She'd want this, she'd want him to give an offering for her to a boy who so clearly deserved better.
"What...?" The boy trembled as he shakily accepted the pants and bandages and surgery tape.
"I can walk you home, if you want?" Danny offered.
"..." Danny could tell the boy wanted that but...he was a street kid and Danny didn't wanna make him uncomfortable.
"Alright, kiddo," Danny hesitated before ruffling his hair and rising to his feet, "Maybe I'll see you around."
"Maybe!" The boy beamed.
Danny hummed to himself, heading out of the alley.
★・・・★・・・★
Jason couldn't wait to get home! He had so much to tell his mom!
Yeah, his dad would definitely chastise him and sneer at him and call him an idiot for trusting someone but Catherine...so much softer and kinder and loving than Willis would hold Jason's face in her hands and gently kiss the bandage over his nose.
Jason couldn't wait to put on the super soft pants!
And so...the boy ran all the way home, unaware of the eyes of a certain white haired ghost king following him, making sure he got home safe.
★・・・★・・・★
Hours had passed since Danny fled by the time he returned.
"Phantom," Robin sighed in relief when he flew into the cave.
"I'm...I'm sorry for running away again I really need to stop doing that," Danny winced.
"I'm just glad you're okay," Robin pulled him out of the air and into a hug.
Danny softened and relaxed in the other boy's embrace, revelling in the comfort of his arms.
★・・・★・・・★
The whole team, minus Wally, were having a beach day and when was the last time Danny had done that? The answer was, not in a very long time.
"Hello Megan!" The girl in question exclaimed as they walked across the sand, "We should hit the beach everyday!"
"I...do not comprehend the purpose of this," Amazo frowned, wiggling his toes in the sand.
It was cool to learn but he was actually genuinely human. When he used Martian Manhunter's shapeshifting ability he literally shapeshifted into a human, with a human brain and human heart.
"It doesn't have to have a purpose," Superboy explained, "I think."
"You're absolutely right," Danny ruffled Superboy's hair, "It doesn't have to have a purpose, we're just doing this for fun," He rested his other hand on Amazo's cheek.
"Fun," Amazo repeated, "I...would like to try it."
"First," Robin spoke solemnly and dramatically, "A moment of silence for our absent comrade."
Everyone bowed their heads, eyes closed in sympathy for their teammate.
"Poor Wally," M'gann frowned.
"Alright, party time!" Danny cheered.
He was glad his ghost form didn't have any of his scars because boy did he not wanna have to explain those.
And so, Danny in black swimtrunks with stars adorning them and no top played around in the water with his...friends.
M'gann was leisurely swimming around in the water, Kaldur was looking on at everyone just revelling in the comfort of his home element, Amazo was nervously sitting in the water, head barely above it, testing out the new environment and Robin and Danny were both cackling as they continued to splash each other with water. Superboy suddenly cannonballed into the water, causing a large wave to encase everyone in water. When they all broke the surface they all burst into laughter, even Amazo who was new to feeling joy.
After a while they got out of the water and decided to have some food.
Danny hummed pleasantly as he cooked their sausages on the grill. Amazo was hovering over his shoulder, curious to study the precise way the sausages cooked but Danny didn't mind.
Once the food was done they all sat together and talked about any and everything as they ate.
"Whoa!" Robin gasped suddenly, "I just realized, I'm the only human here!"
"You don't have to feel lonely," Danny immediately consoled him, "You're not the only earthling he reassured."
"Oh!" Robin smiled at him, "Thanks for trying to cheer me up but, I was moreso shocked and in awe than saddened by that news."
"Ah," Danny nodded in understanding.
After they ate Danny created a volleyball net out of ectoplasm, keeping the structure up as their game started.
It was Kaldur and Robin vs. Danny and Superboy with M'gann and Amazo as the referees, which was difficult as they didn't really know the games rules.
After a few rounds they moved onto something else. It wasn't that they'd gotten bored of the activoty moreso they just wanted to do something else.
Danny hadn't felt so happy, so at peace in eons as he did burying Superboy in sand.
The kryptonian lay on the warm sand, shades over his eyes, soaking in the sun as his team created almost a pyramid of sand over him.
They had a great day a great day that wasn't even ruined when Batman sent them a message to suit up and prepare for a meeting in thirty minutes.
Then, thirty minutes later, the team, in their outfits were gathered in the meeting room, waiting for Batman to arrive and start their meeting.
The zeta beam recognized Batman and Green Arrow who inputted something into the system. A moment later the beam was recognizing someone else and a girl in a green hero costume, reminiscent of Green Arrow's came striding out, her head held high, bow in her hand, quiver on her back.
"Well hello there," Danny's eyes shone behind his mask, "I didn't think we'd be seeing each other again so soon."
The girl looked to him in surprise.
"Phantom," She greeted.
"You two know each other?" Green Arrow blinked.
"Yes, I stalked her to her home," Danny smiled cheerily.
"Wait, what?" Robin hissed.
"Yeah, it's, um, cool though," The girl smiled awkwardly, "I got a quick briefing on you, you're alien, right?"
"Aren't we all?" The boy hummed casually, "But yes my lack of human comprehension made me realize it was probably...creepy to enter your room without permission."
"Well," She shrugged, "At least you know now? What about the pants, did you end up getting them?"
"Yes, actually!" He beamed, "I got severa; pairs, one for me, a stranger, my two brothers and my...dad?"
"Oh, Hal's gonna love that," Green Arrow remarked to Batman goodnaturedly.
Batman levelled the man with a stern glare.
"Right, er, everyone, this is Artemis," Green Arrow said, "My niece and protégé and your new teammate."
Immediately Artemis was flocked by the team who introduced themselves and asked her all kinds of questions about herself.
★・・・★・・・★
They were in the middle of their briefing when the automated voice of the zeta tube suddenly rang out with, "Recognized Kid Flash, B03."
"The Wallman is here!" Wally gushed.
His arms were full of bags a beach ball, an umbrella, a boombox, and a cooler presumably full of snacks. He wore sandals and his swim trunks and shades and had a towel wrapped around his neck, Danny winced in sympathy, they'd definitely have another beach day soon.
"Now let's get this party star-" He tripped on his umbrella falling on his face, sliding across the floor.
Danny couldn't help but snicker at the tense atmosphere, especially when Wally's beach ball bounced over Batman's shoulder.
"-ted," Wally finished.
"Wallman, huh?" Artemis cooed, "I love the uniform. What exactly are your powers?"
"Uh, who's this?" Wally joined the team.
"Artemis," She put a hand on her hip, standing tall, head held high, "Your new teammate."
"Kid Flash, never heard of you."
"Um, she's my new protégé," Green Arrow stepped forward, hand on her shoulder.
"What happened to your old one?"
On cue the automated voice said, "Recognized Speedy B06."
"Well, for starters," A figured clad in red stepped out of the zeta tube, "He doesn't go by Speedy anymore."
"How could he hear Wally from the other end of the zeta tube?" Danny muttered to Superboy who looked equally as confused.
"Call me Red Arrow."
"...I think if you ask her to call you that she will," Danny spoke up hesitantly.
"..." Danny was on the receiving end of some blank stares.
"The nice announcer," Danny nervously wrung his hands, "If you ask her to call you that nicely she will."
"..." 'Red Arrow' looked uncertain but turned to the zeta tube, "Call me Red Arrow," He said and at Danny's encouraging nod added, "Please."
"Recognized Red Arrow," Was her response.
Red Arrow gave Danny a nod of thanks the boy softening and smiling.
"Roy, you look-" Green Arrow stepped forward.
"Replaceable," Red Arrow, or Roy, sneered.
"It's not like that," Green Arrow said ernestly, "You told me you were going solo."
"So why waste time finding a sub?" Roy pressed with a small growl in his words.
Danny made his way over to Artemis giving her a reasurring smile, hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze.
"Father-son relationships are hard," He said, "Red Arrow's negative feelings of being replaced shouldn't undermine your own worth. His negative feelings are valid but so are any one's you have if you feel he's questioning your qualifications to be apart of our team."
"...What the fuck are you some kinda shrink?" The girl blurted out softly.
"..." Danny cocked his head to the side, he supposed in his eons of existing he'd gotten good at advice, "No?" He said a beat later.
"Can she even use that bow?" Roy directed at Artemis.
Her eyes blazed with annoyance and challenge, stepping forward, Danny's hand falling off her shoulder. The boy was tugged back over to Superboy and Amazo's side.
"Don't want ya gettin' caught in the crosshairs," His brother whispered.
"Yes," She glared up into Roy's domino mask, "She can."
"Who are you?!" Wally exclaimed.
"Artemis," Danny provided helpfully the same time Artemis said, "I'm his niece," and Green Arrow said, "She's my niece."
"Another niece?" Robin sounded amused, even Danny could tell their story was bullshit so it was no wonder Robin did too.
"But she is not your replacement," Kaldur spoke, "We have always wanted you on the team and we have no quota on archers."
"And if we did," Wally spoke, "You know who we'd pick."
In response Danny formed a bow out of ectoplasm and an arrow with a blunt end, pulling the arrow back and letting loose, ectoplasm arrow smacking into Wally's head.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, rubbing his head as Danny allowed his ectoplasm creations to vanish.
"I'm here to stay," Artemis said confidently.
"You came to us for a reason," Kaldur adressed Roy after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah, a reason named Dr. Serling Roquette," Roy said.
"More people?" Danny asked horrified.
Superboy soothingly patted his brother's head.
"Nano-robotic genius and claytronics expert at Royal University in Star City," Robin gushed, throwing her information up on the holograms around the briefing room, "Vanished two weeks ago."
"Abducted two weeks ago," Roy corrected, "By the League of Shadows."
"Whoa!" Robin gasped, "You want us to rescue her from The Shadows?"
"Hardcore," Wally hissed.
"I already rescued her," Roy said nonchalantly, "Only one problem, The Shadows had already coerced her into creating a weapon. Doc calls it 'the Fog.'"
"Spooky," Superboy muttered to his brother.
"The Fog," Amazo recited immediately, "Comprised of millions of microscopic robots. Nanotech infiltrators, capable of disintegrating anything in their path. Concrete, steel, flesh, bone. Primary objective: thievery. The infiltrators are designed to eat and store raw data from any computer system and deliver the stolen intel to The Shadows," Amazo concluded.
"That's...exactly right," Roy frowned at Amazo.
"Yikes," Danny oofed to Superboy.
"Who's this?" Roy questioned, "And that?" He eyed Danny warily.
"Our teammates," Robin piped up, a slight edge in his voice.
"Well your teammate is right, the Fog can provide the Shadows with access to weapons, strategic defense, cutting edge science and tech."
"Perfect for extortion, manipulation, power broking," Artemis listed, "Yeah, sounds like The Shadows.
"Like you know anything about The Shadows," Wally scoffed.
Artemis merely smirked at him.
"Who are you?!" He pressed exuberantly.
"Artemis," Danny once again helpfully provided.
"Roquette's working on a virus to render the fog inert," Roy said.
"But if The Shadows know she can do that..." Robin's eyes widened.
"They'll target her," Roy nodded, "Right now, she's off the grid. I stashed her at the local high school's computer lab."
"Because as we've seen previously high school's are the most secure places," Danny huffed to Superboy and Amazo, the former snickering, Amazo feeling humor but not knowing quite how to react decided to follow the clone's lead.
"You left her alone?" Green Arrow questioned.
"She's safe enough for now," Roy said coolly.
"Then let's you and I keep her that way," Green Arrow stepped forward.
"You and I?" Roy growled, "Don't you wanna take your new protégé?"
Green Arrow took another step forward but Batman put a hand on his shoulder stopping him and giving him a certain look.
"You brought this to the team," Green Arrow said curtly, "It's their mission, which means it's hers now, too."
"I thought Batman assigned missions," There was a slight whine in Danny's voice.
"Then my job's done," Roy scoffed...and he walked out the cave with a "Recognized Red Arrow B06."
okay super quick note before i forget
robin: B01
aqualad: B02
kid flash: B03
superboy: B04
miss martian: B05
red arrow: B06
danny: B07
artemis: B08
And as the glow of the zeta tube died down Wally sent Artemis a dark look as if she were to blame for their friend storming off which resulted in another harmless ectoplasm arrow to the head.
★・・・★・・・★
The team piled into the bioship and were off, heading to the school.
"So..." Robin asked casually, turning around in his seat, looking intently at Danny, "Why'd you stalk new girl home?"
"Well, she was there at Gotham Academy when we gave Amazo free will so I wanted to check on her," Danny said.
"She was there?" Robin repeated, "It was her arrow," He realized.
"Mmm," Danny nodded.
"She mentioned...pants?"
"Yeah, our hello kitty pants!" Superboy beamed, "They're fuzzy and soft and awesome!"
"Wait," Artemis frowned, "I thought you said you got two for your brothers?"
"Yeah," Danny blinked, "Superboy and Amazo."
"Amazo?" She asked.
"The other white haired boy back at the cave."
"They're...your brothers?" She rose a brow.
"Yes."
"Alright," She shrugged, "Why is your other brother not here?"
"He's...not cleared for missions, yet," Danny said instead of telling her the explicit truth which was Batman didn't trust Amazo enough yet to send him on missions.
Finally they reached the school and briefly introduced all of themselves to Dr. Roquette before Kaldur was giving instructions to the team, sending them to do various jobs, like sending Superboy and M'gann to patrol the perimeter while everyone kept the room Roquette was in secure.
Everyone online? Ms. Martian's voice sounded in everyone's head suddenly.
Oh, ugh, Artmeis cringed, This is weird...
And distracting, Dr. Roquette sneered, Coding a distributive algorith virus on a kiddie computer with less ram than a wristwatch is hard enough. Now I have to hear teen-think in my skull?
Lady, do you always complain when someone tries to help you? Wally questioned while eating.
Pot, kettle, Artemis hummed, Have you met?
Danny moved forward wordlessly, offering her his phone.
"What is this?" Roquette scoffed.
Hey, hey, I do not need attitude from the newbie who drove Red Arrow off the team.
Danny wordlessly took one of the loose computer plugs and pluged it into his phone where the charger would be plugged in. Roquette gasped in awe at how much ram and power it gave the computer.
"I will be taking this back when you're done," Danny said firmly.
That is so not on me! Artemis growled.
Fate of the world at stake, Roquette reminded the group heatedly.
She started it, Wally crossed his arms, speaking with a bit of a whine in his voice.
How 'bout I just help Miss Martian and Superboy patrol the perimeter?
Good idea, Aqualad said coolly.
As soon as she was out of the room Danny crossed his arms.
"Nice welcoming party, dipshits," He growled.
Aqualad's brows furrowed.
"I get that you're upset your friend's not here but do not take it out on her," Danny growled, "Can you even imagine how this must feel for her? You all decided to shun her for something that isn't even her fault. You decided to shun her because your buddy boy Red Arrow couldn't handle a little dissapointment at not going to the-" He stopped himself, "How do you think she feels that you guys resent her for this? And how do you think Miss Martian, Superboy and I feel? We're also newbies. Don't you think there's a little doubt in us now? Questioning if you resent us too?"
"Of course we don't blame you guys, Phantom-" Wally protested.
"Whatever," Danny huffed.
He flew out of the room after Artemis.
"Ignore them," He encouraged.
"It's kinda hard," She huffed, "Y'know, 'cause they're supposed to be my teammates."
"I understand," Danny smiled softly.
You might cut her some slack, Robin's voice rang through the link suddenly.
C'mon man, I just got this shit from Phantom, I don't need it from you too, Wally huffed.
It was her arrow that saved your butt against Amazo.
What? Wally sputtered, No, that was Speedy's. I mean, Red Arrow's arrow, right?
Not so much.
Well, still not giving her the satisfaction, Wally grumbled.
Artemis and Danny shared an unimpressed but amused look.
You know I can still hear you, Artemis' voice rang out.
Ugh! Wally groaned.
I couldn't get the Justice League, Roquette huffed.
The virus won't be of much use if we cannot find the weapon, Kaldur said, Can you track it?
My utility fog is not a weapon, Roquette said firmly, It's science. Brilliant science.
Ah yes, Danny's voice rang out sarcastically, Because science is always used for good.
Of course I can track it, Roquette ignored Danny, But I'd have to go online. Might as well rent a billboard with 'asassinate me' written in neon.
We will protect you, Kaldur's voice was firm and soft and sincere.
Tracking the fog now, Roquette sighed.
★・・・★・・・★
Danny hummed to himself as he heard a new heartbeat enter the vicinity.
"Hear something?" Superboy wondered.
Danny nodded and the duo made their way to the other side of the building where M'gann and Artemis were patrolling.
Miss Martian, Kaldur's voice rang out, Dr. Roquette has located the fog. Reconfigure the bio-ship so that Robin, Superboy and Phantom can pursue.
M'gann called out to the bioship which lowered.
"Careful," Danny said softly to the duo, "There's someone near," He peered into Artemis' eyes, "You can beat her," He promised her.
"'Course I can," Artemis agreed.
Ready, M'gann called out as the bioship opened up.
Later, Danny bade everyone farewell, he, Robin and Superboy running onto the ship and taking off into the air.
★・・・★・・・★
"Do you think Amazo's alright?" Superboy wondered as the bioship flew though the air.
"Amazo's strong," Danny smiled, "Like his brothers. Yes, I think he's alright."
"You're very sweet," Robin spoke up, smiling tenderly from where he was piloting the bioship.
"Just like candy!" Danny beamed winking at Robin.
★・・・★・・・★
Phantom winked at him, winked at him.
Dick ducked his head, hiding his red face and giddy smile from the other boy.
Dick wondered, not for the first time what color Phantom's eyes looked like? Were they shining as he smiled at him and winked at him? Were they expressive and open and beautiful? Could Dick sigh dreamily and stare into them forever?
Dick snapped out of his mullings abruptly when the bioship lurched, the boy having lost his concentration.
The boy awkwardly cleared his throat and regained control of the ship, ignoring Phantom curiously cocking his head at him and looking to him with a confused but goodnatured smile as well as ignoring Superboy looking to him with distaste and dry amusement.
★・・・★・・・★
"Robin to Aqualad," Robin called out, "We're over Philidelphia. We've located The Shadows' next target, Star Labs," Robin's voice faltered as they peered out the window at the crumbling building before them, "We're too late. It's destroyed, totally destroyed. The fog decimated it."
"No casualties," Danny noted, he didn't feel a single death in that concentrated area from anytime soon.
"This is bad," Robin muttered, "Star Labs is cutting edge science and now their secrets are in the hands of the enemy. What's our next move?"
"Rescan for that fog," Kaldur said, "Find it, we're moving the doctor."
Robin wordlessly obeyed.
"The next target's the Waynetech facility," Robin breathed out, "In theory, its systems software could be used to hack the..." He faltered.
"The what?" Superboy's eyes were wide.
"Doesn't matter," Robin denied, "Wh-what matters is Waynetech operates a 24-hour workforce. We'll never evacuate the building in time.
Robin immediately course corrected, heading for Gotham.
"We're on our way," Superboy adressed Kaldur, "But you need to get that anti-virus, or-or cure whatever done."
"Can't we also send a message on ahead?" Danny asked, "Warn the workers to start an evacuation?"
"They wouldn't believe us," Robin huffed.
"What if we make it seem like the message is from your dad?" Danny suggested, "I mean, it's Batman, who wouldn't listen to Batman? Plus, some vampires have minor hypnotic abilities so just his name could carry some wayward influence, encouraging the workers to listen to his advice."
"Well-well I mean," Robin stammered, "He's not my...y'know what? Um, su-sure? I guess, I'll send the message. I mean, it can't hurt."
★・・・★・・・★
A tense thirty minutes later the trio were at the Waynetech facility. They stood at the entrance of the bioship, the ship's doors opening for them.
"It's downloading!" Robin exclaimed excitedly.
"Don't need it," Superboy declared as he spotted the Shadow's van opening up.
"Superboy!" Robin cried out in alarm.
Danny bristled with rage as the Shadow shot a ray of energy at Superboy but he forced himself not to succumb to his rage as he spotted the fog flying through the air.
"No!" Robin cried out with desperation.
Danny created a ball of ectoplasm around the fog. Danny cried out in pain as the fog tried to eat through his ectoplasm. Ectoplasm being destroyed never hurt before but this...this just felt wrong.
"Get the people out," Danny commanded, "I don't know how long I can hold it. And get the algorithm ready."
"Phantom-" Robin cut in.
"Fuck, just do it!" Danny cried out, wrapping another layer of ectoplasm around the first.
Robin nodded and grappled to the building, bursting through the front door.
Danny continued to try and contain the Fog, idly noting his brother pushing through the laser, knocking out the member of the League of Shadows.
"Alright, Phantom," Robin's voice rang distantly in his ear.
"What?" Danny bit out harsher than he intended, gritting his teeth as he struggled to continue to contain the Fog.
"I need you to let out a little bit," Danny could practically hear Robin wince as he said that.
"What?" Danny hissed.
"Just a little!" Robin exclaimed, "A little needs to be patched into Waynetech's syste,ms so I can apply the algorithm which'll take out all the fog."
Danny groaned...and opened a faint hole in the ectoplasm barrier, sealing it back up just as fast with a strangled cry of exhertion. It did its job, though a little of the fog escaped and went towards the building.
Danny didn't pay attention as the fog ate through the front door and lurched into the front computer. He didn't pay attention as Robin hooked into said computer. And he didn't pay attention as Robin uploaded the algorithm. He didn't pay attention as the reddish and greyish fog turned blue.
"Yes!" Robin cheered, "The infiltrators have been outfiltrated!"
Danny let out a strangled gasp, lowering his ectoplasm and falling to his knees on the ramp of the bioship.
Moments later Robin and Superboy had returned to him, duo going on either side of him, helping him stand.
"You okay?" Superboy asked worriedly.
"Yeah just-just winded," Danny lied.
How could he explain that when the Fog tried to eat through his ectoplasm it felt like it was eating through him? How could he explain that ectoplasm was such an integral part of him and for it to be destroyed in that way was agony? How could he explain his intimate bond with ectoplasm? He couldn't explain this pain.
★・・・★・・・★
The team returned to Dr. Roquette and the rest of their team with the destroyed Fog and League of Shadows member in tow.
"Justice League," Danny provided.
"What?" Dr. Roquette frowned.
"You wanted the Justice League, right?" Danny rose a brow, "Here they come."
And sure enough Green Arrow, Red Tornado and Black Canary arrived with Amazo who, not a Justice League member was still strong.
Tornado took the League of Shadows member to Belle Reve while the team gave a recounting of events to Green Arrow and Black Canary. After the recap, in which Superboy and Robin talked about Danny's 'tiredness' in which immediately the ghost kind found himself on the receiving end of doting from everyone, fussing over his health.
After that the team went their separate ways.
★・・・★・・・★
★・・・★
★・・・★・・・★
Beneath Wayne Manor, in the Batcave, Bruce Wayne was waiting patiently for his son to step out of the zeta tube. A small smile tugged at his lips when sure enough he did.
"Dick," He greeted fondly, "How was Red Arrow's mission?"
"Good!" Dick peeled off his domino mask, shining blue eyes meeting blue.
"And how was our dear Phantom?" Alfred asked with a knowing glint in his eyes, entering the cave with a trolley of tea.
Bruce frowned at the glint in Alfred's eyes and the way Dick's ears burned red bashfully.
"He's good," Dick hastily said, "Although, he, um, wasn't doing too well at the end of the mission. He's good now, though, so that's, yeah, that's good. We had a lot of fun today at the beach," He rambled, "And he was super nice to Artemis which was cut-sweet!" He frantically corrected himself, "Sweet! It was super sweet!"
"He sounds very sweet," Bruce smiled tenderly.
"Indeed," Alfred agreed with a barely there smirk.
"You did good work," Bruce praised, "You kept all those employees safe."
"Yeah," Dick smiled, "I was surprised with how many actually listened to the warning I sent out and got out of the building but Phantom was right, who wouldn't listen to Batman?"
"Phantom trust Master Vampire's influence enough?" Alfred seemed surprised.
"What'd you just say?" Bruce faltered.
"I said Master Wayne, of course," Alfred hummed, eyes twinkling with mischief and mirth, Dick hiding a snicker.
"Right, of course," Bruce looked unimpressed.
"But yeah, Phantom said," Dick trailed off, playing a recording of Phantom's words.
"What if we make it seem like the message is from your dad? I mean, it's Batman, who wouldn't listen to Batman? Plus, some vampires have minor hypnotic abilities so just his name could carry some wayward influence, encouraging the workers to listen to his advice."
Alfred was chuckling at the remark that Bruce was a vampire. The man in question was also smiling exasperatedly at the remark but faltered and focused on another aspect of what Danny had said.
"Dad?" He repeated.
"Oh yeah, he um," Dick flushed pink, "He...doesn't seem to grasp the concept that I'm, um, not your kid?"
Bruce softened and reached out, gingerly resting a hand on the side of Dick's face, "Maybe not biologically," He said, "But that doesn't make you any less mine."
"You...you mean it?" Dick asked insecurely.
"Of course I do," Bruce whispered, "I love you, Dick."
Dick softened and surged forward, hugging Bruce fiercely. Bruce smiled tenderly and hugged Dick back, pulling him in closer.
Dick revelled in the comfort of Bruce's hug. It was tight, not painfully so. It was grounding and warm and he felt so safe and so loved. He felt like he was just a normal boy, coming home from a long day and receiving a hug from his normal father who'd also had a long day.
"I love you too..." Dick hesitated, "Dad," The monicker was muffled as he buried his face in Bruce's chest but it was heard nonetheless.
Alfred looked on at the domestic display between father and son with fondness and adoration.
The butler wondered, not for the first time, what their lives would look like had Phantom not been dragged, thank you Hal, into them. Would Bruce know Dick wanted him to be his dad but was insecure and thought perhaps Bruce didn't care about him the same way? Would Dick know Bruce considered him his son in all but blood? Would they be holding each other like this? Would Alfred make mental plans to prepare the necessary paperwork to turn Dick from ward to son?
Would any of this be happening without Phantom? No...the coldness of the cave seemed to whisper...and Alfred knew it was right.