#@mayoota blog1

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost helpline part 4. “Well then,” John huffed out a cloud of smoke “that could have gone worse.”

“Debrief in 10.” Batman stalked towards a nearby meeting room. This hadn’t gone at all as he thought it would. Bruce hated unknown variables and right now his ignorance could have cost them dearly. He needed to know as much about magic society as he could before Konstelacio came back with the cure. Something about all of this just didn’t sit right.

Sure the child had seemed happy and calm. All to willing to help for a low price. But she was defensive even before the perceived insults landed. Like his sons, like Tim, waiting for the rug to be pulled under them. Scared but joking, happy. Until a dark look passed over her face, happiness flying away the moment Dr.Fate was mentioned. That look reminded Bruce of just how dangerous this demon was and just how much he need to prepare for everything. He refused to lose anyone else, not now not ever.

—- —- —-

The demon unfolded her legs from underneath her, legs scraping against each other with a metallic rasp. She held the handkerchief up to the sun, spots of blood disappearing into the air. She exhaled overwhelmed, stomach sinking as she inhaled rage filled.

She didn’t have to answer every summons, doing so would be a waste of time. She had even been told to avoid the Justice League all together. But when she had sensed Batman of all people on the other side she had to. She had to know, her family her sweet precious family would be moving to Gotham soon. Her brothers had reassured her that everything would be fine but this this wasn’t fine at all.

She hated them she hated them with every fiber of her being why ! Why! Why! Did she have to bump into this again! This time will be different tho she promised, this time no one was going to get hurt. She refuses to lose anyone else, not now not ever again!

She crumpled her new handkerchief into her fist. She, she had work to do. Gotham was no longer as safe as she had assumed it to be.

Not when Batman was working with an Al Ghul.

#@busterkeel

#Batman #al ghul family #damian al ghul #batfam #redeemed vlad #danny phantom #justice league #clones #Ghost Helpline #Helpline part 4 #@mayoota blog1 #@busterkeel #@akikoyuii #@roseisred #@vixen uichah #@starkcravingmad #@alikoyuii #@r4inlov3r #dp x dc #dc x dp

[britcision]

Ahem… anyway… THE GALA BEGINS! Available on AO3, linked in the first chapter

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—————-

Party At Brucie’s

Jason had been added to the Team Phantom group chat pretty much immediately on return from the Ghost Zone.

And maybe Danny hadn’t been the most tactful, but he’d sure as shit made Jason laugh.

‘DannyP: New halfa just dropped!! *DannyP has added JTodd to the chat*’

Jason then got to spend a couple hours explaining the situation and watching Sam and Tucker roast Danny to within an inch of his life about it.

He liked the Team Phantom group chat. Definitely preferred it over the Wayne family group chat or the Bat Chat for those few days leading up to the gala.

Fucking Dick sending pictures of him.

Red Hood was NOT cute. No matter what any of them said. He was just glad Dick had been considerate enough to crop it to his own face, not showing Danny’s.

Small mercies.

He’d have avoided Wayne manor until the last second if he hadn’t known he’d then have to deal with them at the gala, in front of Danny.

So, the morning after the photo (and his brief, apparently unnoticed sojourn to another dimension) he made his way back to the mansion, wondering idly what he’d be doing if the pit rage wasn’t a still a soft, gentle ball of calm.

He could see himself being pissed he’d been spied on. Turned it into something dark and nasty.

As it was… well, he was mildly annoyed. Maybe just the tiniest, ittiest bittiest bit touched Dick had come to check on him.

Mostly? Dread. Apprehension, really. They weren’t gonna hurt him or do anything nasty.

Buuuuut Jason remembered being an Extreme Little Shit to Dick when he was crushing on Babs, and while he totally, absolutely did not have a crush on his new king…

Well, it was a cute picture. Smiling, blushing Jason, and even he had a hard time believing it was of him.

It looked like he had a crush.

But really it was exertion from the wrestling just before it was taken, definitely for sure.

He wasn’t gonna argue that though; it’d be admitting the idea had merit beyond just dismissing it.

He’d managed to wake up in time (after chatting with Danny’s friends online into the night) for Alfred’s pancakes, and that’d make up for damn near anything, even Steph being home.

She didn’t always stay at the manor, but there was a chance she’d crashed out for those same sweet heavenly pancakes.

Jason had another mission now anyway, and the good news was that Bruce would be home; no one in business got shit done in the week between Christmas and the New Year.

The bad news was… Bruce would be home, Jason would have to talk to him.

Joy.

But for Alfred’s pancakes Jason would fight the devil himself, with his bangin’ new gun to boot.

(He’d taken the time to have a longer look at that too; a Colt revolver, not quite his usual machine pistols, but classic. It had a satisfying weight in his hand and was a neat matte black, with just the strangest hint of red light flickering across it.

Danny said the sword burned green in its owner’s hand; something to check out at the range. Maybe in the cave. And, apparently, it was definitely non lethal.

Knowing this because Danny’d seen people stabbed with the sword version did not reassure Jason.)

The table was mostly empty when Jason arrived, which wasn’t exactly a shock. Duke was in, and he gave Jason a half shy smile and nodded.

They hadn’t interacted much; Duke was new, and he was Gotham’s daytime hero, while Jason still preferred to patrol at night. Still, he’d helped out a couple times.

They got along, even when Jason was at odds with the rest of the bat clan.

And his phone was on the table, likely with the group chat on it.

Jason gave him a nod and a half smile of his own as he took his seat. Not right next to Duke; the table was big and empty, he didn’t wanna crowd. He sat across from him instead, so they could talk.

“You can ask,” he said by way of greeting, tipping back to grin at Alfred as the man brought him a stack, “and you are the real hero, Alfie.”

Duke hid a grin in his juice as Alfred raised an eyebrow at Jason, not quite in reprimand.

“As you say, Master Jason,” the butler said calmly, setting down his plate. “You were missed at dinner. Twice.”

Jason made a face and shrugged, knowing full well what Alfred actually meant. He hadn’t actually decided how much he wanted to tell them about Danny yet.

Alfred? Alfred he trusted without question or reservation. Even to keep secrets from Bruce, if he didn’t think it would hurt someone.

But if Bruce knew he told Alfred something and not him, he’d pout. And while Jason wouldn’t have to deal with it, the others would, and Jason dealt with them.

For now, it was better to keep anything ghost related quiet. Bruce would want to know absolutely everything, and frankly?

Just once, Jason would like a handle on something first. Just this once, he wanted to know what was going on with his body. With his life.

It wasn’t that much to ask.

So he gave Alfred a sheepish smile, half wishing he could just put a hand on the man’s shoulder. Touching with Danny was so easy, he hadn’t realised how much casual touch was missing from his life.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Wasn’t exactly myself, so I figured I’d keep out of everyones’ hair.” He wasn’t expecting the worried look Duke gave him as he turned back to the table.

Wary? That’d make sense. They were all fucking pros at talking around the pit rage, and Jason knew they all expected him to lose it at some point.

He had. More than once.

“Are you feeling better now?” Duke asked softly, not quite able to make eye contact and poking at his pancakes instead.

Jason took a moment to just. Enjoy the warmth that rose from the simple question. No worrying it was fake, no green hunting for ulterior motives.

His brother cared. It could be that simple.

He spread his hands and smiled, shrugging.

“Good as I can be. Figured I’d come back and socialise since I have a party to go to this weekend. Are you coming?” Fuck, was it really tomorrow?

Duke studied his face for a long moment (being in the detective family was finally getting to him, Jason knew that squint) then smiled back.

“Nah, I’m working before and after. I got a conveniently timed lead,” he added smugly, leaning back in his seat.

Jason made the appropriate noises of jealousy and Duke chuckled, shaking his head.

“Hey, I have another three weeks to go to beat Damian’s record, and I haven’t even stabbed anyone. I’ll come to your next one,” he promised. Paused again.

Coming to a decision, he leaned in across the table and beckoned Jason to join him. Shifting his plate aside, Jason did so, wondering what Duke wouldn’t want overheard.

“It seems like the pit’s been worse lately,” the younger man said softly, finally meeting Jason’s eye, “are you okay?”

And oh, apparently since the pit itself was still in post-Danny bliss, Jason’s regular emotions were going to choke him. Lovely.

He forced a smile, leaning back so there was half a chance Duke might not read it in his face. For half a second, he considered telling the truth.

Buuuuut the truth would get complicated real quick.

“It’s been bad,” he agreed, keeping his voice level with all the stubbornness that propelled him to the Far Frozen, “but it’s gonna be fine. I’ve got a new strategy and it’s getting it back under control.”

Duke didn’t quite follow his lead right away, sharp eyes scanning every inch of Jason’s posture. Fuck, if Dick was here, Tim, maybe even Cass?

He’d be screwed. Just had to hope Duke wasn’t at that level of intrusive bastard yet.

Whatever he saw, it settled him enough that he relaxed as he leaned back, crossing one ankle onto his knee and grinning.

“And would this strategy have anything to do with a hundred pound twink throwing you around?” He asked, suddenly cheeky.

Jason’s cheeks flushed at just the memory and his smile spread, becoming something more real.

“Fuck, I said you could ask, didn’t I?” He groaned melodramatically, letting his head drop back for a moment before getting back to his pancakes.

Letting them go cold would be worse than a sin.

“You did,” Duke confirmed, a hint of laughter in his voice.

There was a lot of laughter in Jason’s life lately. It felt really good to notice that. Swallowing a large bite of syrupy goodness he thought about Danny for a moment.

Danny and everything he’d learned both from and because of him. A soft, sappy smile stretched across his face entirely without his noticing.

“Yeah. It does.”

Duke considered snapping another quick pic for the group chat. But honestly… it was just nice to see, and he hoped whatever it was worked.

Duke had seen people struggle with addiction, some of whom never found out who spiked their first dose. It wasn’t the same, but… he hated seeing people fighting something beyond their control.

On impulse he reached across the table and patted Jason’s hand.

“Then I’m happy for you man. Right up until Dick gets here,” he added as loud steps descended the stairs towards them, debating fleeing the room himself.

Some of the rowdier birds still managed to surprise him, but. Fuck it. He had to get used to it some time.

Jason groaned and shovelled another large bite of pancake into his mouth, speaking as he chewed.

“Dick’s here?”

The eldest usually went back to Bludhaven at the end of the night, to his own place and his cop job and… aaaaand Dick had taken the day off to help Jason get a fucking suit.

Of course.

He’d forgotten, possibly by sheer optimism. He didn’t have time to lament the slip before Dick charged into the kitchen, spotted him, and slammed into the chair beside him hard enough that it skidded over and hit his own.

“Jaybird! I thought I heard your voice! Tell me everything about your new boyfriend, is he nice? Do we get to meet him? What’s his name?” He asked without pausing for breath, resting his chin on Jason’s shoulder and grinning.

Jason stared him dead in the eye and took a slow, deliberate bite of pancake. Across the table Duke snickered, toying with his juice.

Dick groaned as loudly as he could, flopping back into his own seat as Alfred brought him a stack of his own.

“Awwww, c’mon Jaaaaaaaay, you know you wanna tell me everything! Is he coming to the gala? We can bring him suit shopping, I have Bruce’s card and he’ll never notice a second charge,” he wheedled, reaching for syrup without glancing at the table.

Duke pushed the bottle closer to his hand, giving Jason an entirely unapologetic shrug.

“You’re the one who said we could ask,” he pointed out innocently. Dick gasped in delight and Jason pointed his fork at the younger man.

“I said you could ask,” he corrected, stifling a grin when Dick pressed a hand to his chest, feigning injury.

Yeah, he and Danny would get along just fine. Drama queens the both of them.

Shit, Danny had black hair and blue eyes too, maybe Jason should keep him away from Bruce. Could you adopt a king?

“Jason! Little Wing! You’re not gonna tell our baby brother and not me!” Dick proclaimed dramatically, breaking off that train of thought.

Duke grinned wider, leaning over to grab a jug and refill his juice.

“Hey, I’m the cute one,” he said smugly as Dick protested. Jason chuckled, taking advantage of the distraction to finish the last of his pancakes.

He snagged Duke’s empty plate as well while the two argued, Dick utterly insistent that he was still the cute one, Duke calling him cute for the nursing home, and filled the dishwasher.

Alfred gave him a raised eyebrow from the stove, another set of pancakes already underway, and Jason shrugged.

“It’s quieter over here,” he said innocently, turning to lean back against the counter and watch his oldest and newest siblings fight.

Alfred made a low hum of approval, expertly flipping a pancake.

“You were always the quiet one, Master Jason,” the older man agreed and Jason almost argued before looking back to the table.

Compared to Dick? Yeah he kinda was. Jason could semi-reliably be persuaded to sit still with a book. Dick wouldn’t sit still if he wasn’t upside down.

Best to put him out of his misery though.

Giving Alfred a half smile, Jason made his way back to the table and swung back into his seat.

“Alright, fuckwits, you’re both adorable, now shut up or I won’t tell you shit.”

Dick’s mouth slammed shut immediately as he turned, leaning on the table and watching Jason wide eyed. Duke, eyes crinkled with laughter, leaned back in his chair and raised both hands.

Satisfied that he had their attention, Jason opened his mouth to give them some basics, then hesitated.

He’d been planning on asking Bruce if he could add a plus one to the list, so Danny’s friend Tucker could come and say hi. Just a friend.

He didn’t know much about the guy, except that he was fucking hilarious and worshipped the ground Tim walked on, but he didn’t know much about Danny either.

Buuuuut, if his siblings were all gonna be gushing fuckheads… it couldn’t hurt to mess them around a little. Schooling his smile into innocence, he turned his cup between his hands.

“I’m gonna ask Bruce today if he can come. He’s got a suit,” (Jason fervently hoped, but when they’d made the plan it hadn’t come up) “but you’ll all meet him at the gala.”

Duke groaned and flopped back in his chair, dropping his cup.

“Aw fuck, that’s not fair. Just three more weeks, Jason!” He complained, and Jason hid a grin in his own juice.

Tucker’s reaction the night before had been pretty similar; annoyed he wouldn’t get to meet the new halfa with the others. Too bad Duke wasn’t coming. There’d be more of their own class than at any other gala ever.

Dick was about as sympathetic as Danny and Sam had been too, grinning over at Duke and pointing with his knife.

“Hey, no one’s forcing you to go for Damian’s record for longest without attending a gala, Duke.”

Duke stuck his tongue out at Dick and sighed, glancing around.

“Yeah, but you guys don’t exactly make it sound fun. And if I go to one, neither of you assholes live at the manor anymore, and Bruce’ll expect me to show up for more. Can’t he meet you here, Jay?” He wheedled, trying the puppy eyes.

Sucks to be him, Jason spends half his time with the Alley kids and they were smaller, cuter, and more likely to kick him in the shins.

“Sorry Narrows, he’s coming in from out of town tomorrow. I’d bring him after but you’ll be in bed,” Jason teased and Duke groaned again.

Dick frowned, cocking his head.

“Wait, he’s gone out of town? He was here last night, why not stay?” He asked, looking for pieces to put together.

Luckily this was an easy one. Jason just shrugged.

“Gotta go get his suit. Apparently not everyone brings the good three piece to college,” he added and Dick grinned, shaking his head.

“Already going? My you’re certain Bruce’ll say yes,” he laughed and Jason grinned, spreading his hands.

“It’s my party, and it’s not like the venue charges by the head. I just gotta get his name on the list.”

“Hey, if I don’t get to meet him early, I want all the juicy details,” Duke cut in, pointing seriously at Dick. “You gotta tell me everything that happens.”

Dick raised his hand in a boy scout salute, which none of them had been. Jason only barely recognised it.

“Your words, my bond little man. I’ll even get you a pic of Jay and his date all gussied up,” he swore and Jason rolled his eyes.

“What makes you think we’re taking pictures?” He asked mostly rhetorically. Dick shot him a wicked grin.

“What makes you think you’ll know I’m taking it?”

Which, fair, expected, and totally valid. They’d all been just as annoying when Tim and Connor finally got together. Dickie kept a scrapbook.

There was some more noise from upstairs now, footsteps getting closer, and Jason wondered how many people had stayed overnight. Usually the manor just held Bruce, Alfred, Damian, Cass, and Duke.

Maybe half of those would be going to a given gala, so Jason had been reasonably confident he could be in and out. From the sounds of it, either all three missing members were on their way down, or there were extras.

Seeing his expression, Dick shrugged.

“Tim’s bribe to escape the gala was three nights of Alfred-supervised sleep, Steph stayed over with Cass to gossip, and Damian had Jon over. You’ve got a full house to satisfy,” he explained, eyes bright with laughter.

Jason hesitated for only a moment, considering bailing. His siblings were fine, one or one or in small groups. All at once? A little overwhelming.

Someone always managed to set him off eventually.

Almost reflexively he reached for the pit. Felt its warm, gentle peace. And let his shoulders settle.

Why not give it a shot? See how much was just something else’s rage and how much was him not being able to handle them all.

And they were getting close. Leaning in, he lowered his voice and hissed to the other two.

“Wanna pretend I’ve already told you everything?” He hissed, and very much enjoyed watching both of his brothers’ eyes light up with mischief.

“Okay but you actually do have to later,” Duke hissed back, all three now watching the doors avidly for the first sight of bodies. Dick nodded eager agreement, finally making headway on his own breakfast.

Footsteps in the hall. Not long left.

“His name’s Danny, we met at my grave on the 24th, he loves space and puns, he goes to Gotham U and I’ll text you more later,” Jason said quickly, not missing the light that went on above Dick’s head, then pushed back in his chair and sitting casually. “Pretend I told a joke.”

Duke and Dick burst into immediate, mostly genuine laughter as they dropped into similar poses and Jason grinned, a wave of affection for both washing over him.

Like the universe itself was giving him a gift, it was Steph who burst into the kitchen next, Cass and Tim both at her heels. Steph’s eyes gleamed almost unnaturally when she caught sight of Jason.

“You’re here! Did you bring your danger twink?” She exclaimed eagerly, almost tackling Duke when she slammed into the chair next to him even harder than Dick hit Jason’s.

That pushed Jason to cackle as well, even as Cass came and draped herself over his shoulders.

“My fucking what?“ he asked, leaning back to give her more space. Steph stole Duke’s juice and chugged it.

“Your danger twink! Tim said he kicked your ass!” She exclaimed, ducking away from Duke’s revenge smack and grinning unrepentantly at Alfred.

The butler tutted but didn’t say anything as he delivered another two plates of pancakes, coming back a second later with cutlery and a replacement cup for Duke.

Jason shot Tim a Look that went mostly unnoticed by the younger man, who looked still about half asleep as he dug into a stack. Must have been needing those three nights, especially if he agreed to so many.

Before he had to form a response, Dick cut in with a broad grin, dropping his own cutlery on a cleared plate.

“Oh no, he didn’t bring Danny today. Kid’s gotta run home for his tux so Jason can bring him on a fancy date,” he cooed, waggling his eyebrows at Jason.

Steph gasped, slamming her fists down on the table and setting everything bouncing. A quick swipe from Duke saved the juice, Dick dived for the syrup, and Jason kicked back from the table and away from his own falling cup, Cass pulling her feet up to skid with him.

Tim, completely missing an attempted stab at his pancakes as the plate bounced, gave the table a very suspicious look. Alfred gave him a fond smile and started the coffee maker.

Steph ignored all consequences.

“JASON! You already told them about him?!” She squeaked, half way across the table.

“Should have been up early, you missed all the spoilers,” Duke teased, holding the juice up and away incase she turned on him.

Which she did, clearly thinking about tickling, and saw the juice perilously close to over her head. And reconsidered.

Unable to match that firepower, she settled on ignoring the comment as though it were beneath her. Which put Jason back in her line of fire.

Hooking an arm around behind the chair, he scooped Cass into his lap as a human shield. She settled obligingly into place, tapping his shoulder for attention as she signed.

‘Coming to gala?’

Must be a nonverbal day. Not that Jason minded; their present siblings were loud enough for a whole squadron on their own. He liked that she was different; liked that she’d missed touch as much as he had, and the way she’d never move away.

Cuddling with Cass was one of the reasons he’d come back to the family at all. And one of the main reasons he’d stayed.

Alfred didn’t comment, placing her plate and cutlery in front of Jason’s spot as he scooched them both back to the table. Once he was sure she was comfy, Jason let his arms fall around her waist so she could eat.

“Yeah, he’s coming, if I can get Bruce to put him on the guest list. Are you coming, Cass?”

She didn’t bother looking around at him, lowering her knife for a moment to sign a firm ‘yes’ and he grinned, resting his chin on top of her head.

“Steph?” He asked, cocking a brow at the blonde.

Steph narrowed her eyes at him, taking a slow and deliberate bite of pancake.

“This feels like a trap,” she complained through a mouthful of food, accepting Alfred’s withering look as he placed a fresh black coffee in front of Tim.

This did at least serve to bring Tim back to life, even if there was less than no effect on Steph.

“What’s a trap?” He asked muzzily, fighting a yawn and chugging the coffee in one.

“Coming to the gala to meet Jason’s new booooyfriend,” Dick teased, ruffling Tim’s hair as he ran his plate to the dishwasher.

The younger swatted at his hand a full ten seconds too late, then huffed and got back to his pancakes.

Jason wondered if Danny might have some magic ghost powers that’d get the little fucker to sleep. He’d be replacing Jason in a grave at this rate.

And no matter what he might have thought early on, Jason’d die again himself before letting that happen. Or bribe the king of the dead.

The mention of the gala also served to perk him up though, and he gave Jason a suspicious frown.

“So he is a new boyfriend?” He asked, straightening and scooting closer to the table to rejoin the land of the living.

Jason shrugged.

“He’s coming to the gala, once I talk to-”

“Well I know you’re not talking about one of your siblings, not if he’s coming willingly,” the man himself said from the door, smiling when he saw the table full of most of his brood.

Which on Bruce, meant a barely there twitch of the lips. One they all recognised but still.

Brucie Wayne had beaming smiles for days.

Jason stiffened minutely against an anticipated wave of green, and felt almost lightheaded when nothing happened. Nothing but Cass leaning back into him a little more, one hand coming to cover his at her hip.

Of course she noticed. Turning his hand into hers he gave it a reassuring squeeze, then nodded to Bruce.

“Yeah, I came by to ask if I could add a plus one to the guest list? He won’t be arriving with me but I’d like you all to meet him.”

Visible surprise passed across Bruce’s face, which was a fun rarity, and Jason hid a smirk. Which faltered in the face of an almost wistful look, there and gone so fast he might have missed it.

And then Bruce was just his usual stoic self again, taking his own seat at the table while Dick bartered for more pancakes. If he put some work into it he could probably get some enjoyment from the stick up his ass.

“It’s your party Jason, you can add whoever you want to the guest list,” Bruce said calmly, like Jason had had any input whatsoever on the list so far.

Ideally he’d have cut more than half of it, but the whole point was to reintroduce him to “high society”.

He was still semi-seriously considering Dick’s offer to find him a cotillion gown for the evening. Less so now that Danny was coming.

For now he just nodded, giving Cass a quick squeeze.

“Who else is coming from the family?” He asked, mostly to the rest of the table as he turned from Bruce.

It was too weird to look at him, waiting for the pit to rise and not feeling anything. He wasn’t even sure how much of it was his own actual anger and what was just anticipation.

Cass raised a hand again and he gave her a quick jostle with his knees, making her giggle.

“I know you are, smart ass.”

“Just Cass, as far as I-“ Bruce began, cut off almost immediately as Dick swooped in to grab his seat, fresh pancakes in hand. So much for the dishwasher.

“Me too! I’m coming, Jaybird’s been telling us alllllll about his new boyfriend and he sounds great,” he declared firmly, also very much relishing in the flicker of surprise across Bruce’s face.

Steph chewed her lip, visibly considering her options, then sighed heavily.

“Yeah, I’ll come,” she agreed with a huff, “Jason only told those two and I wanna see him too.”

Duke, the other of “those two” as marked by Steph’s fork, grinned and rose from the table, both hands in the air.

“I’m out, I’m gonna be patrolling too close to the party start to get presentable in time,” he said cheerfully, snagging his and Jason’s glasses for the dishwasher.

“You could always come later in the evening,” Bruce offered, the hope in his voice only noticeable to his kids who knew him best.

“Nah, I’ll be out early too,” Duke cut in smoothly, giving Jason a nod, “but I’ll meet Danny later. Want me to go see if Damian and Jon are up?”

“His name is Danny?” Steph demanded, eyes narrowing as she zeroed back in on Jason. “Family name?”

“So you can stalk him?” Jason shot back, sticking his tongue out at her. “Detect it yourself. And nah, either I’ll see them before I go or on patrol tonight. I came by to see who was coming and warn you all to back off anyway.”

“Damian hasn’t said he’ll be attending, but if you’d like him to,” Bruce began, and Jason cut him off again, half wondering how long they could keep the streak going.

“Nah, it’s not like me and Danny are gonna be a one and done thing. He’ll have time to meet the demon brat later,” he added while Steph squealed.

Bruce had his pinchy bitch face on again and Jason had to admit, it wasn’t just the pit. He also did not like the guy.

But seeing as Bruce alternated between treating him like a rabid animal and overbearing “paternal affection”, Jason was giving himself a break on this one.

On his way to the door Duke paused, turning back and grinning at Jason.

“Oh, before I go. Tell ‘em the best part, Jason. What you told me before Dick got here,” he added when Jason looked momentarily confused.

Dick, highly offended, looked for a piece of Jason to poke that wasn’t covered by Cass.

“What! You left out the best part!” He bemoaned as Steph laughed at him.

It took Jason a moment to work out what Duke was talking about. He hadn’t told Duke anything funny or scandalous before Dick attacked. Except…

Yeah, that’d get Bruce’s panties in a twist.

Arms still hooked around Cass’s waist, partially to give Dick less targets, Jason watched the old man from the corner of his eye.

“Oh yeah. He’s been helping me with the pit,” he said innocently.

Silence but for the gentle sizzle of Alfred’s cooking choked the room. And lasted for a whole thirty seconds before erupting.

**

About an hour later Jason was leaving the manor again, the smile on his face satisfied if not particularly joyful.

Bruce had tried for an interrogation, but with Cass in his lap and Alfred glaring shotguns over his head, he hadn’t gotten far. Steph was declaring it True Love.

Dick had settled down immediately, which Jason had kinda expected. He’d had more pieces to put together than the others after the graveyard.

Tim was speed-googling every Danny in the city, and Jason half considered giving him a fake last name just to see what happened. Buuut Tim had slept last night, which meant they should be nice to him.

See if they could make it a habit. Jason maintained Tim wasn’t a dog to be pavlov’d, but he wasn’t the one who’d dated the guy. Steph insisted it could work.

And once Bruce had been silently threatened by every waking member at least once, Jason told him he’d text first and last name for the guest list. That the first name wouldn’t be “Daniel” might raise a brow, but hey.

It was Jason’s party.

Bruce could research Tucker Foley all he wanted to, right up until tomorrow evening. Maybe Jason’d send the message late.

Pulling out his phone, he shot a quick message off to the Team Phantom group chat.

‘JTodd: Tuck’s on the list. Also, two of my nosey bastard brothers saw us on my bike yesterday, so they think Danny’s my boyfriend. Also that Danny is my mystery plus one. Can we add them to the fuckery list?’

Three sets of scrolling dots appeared immediately, which meant all three were already up. Good to know.

Without waiting for an immediate reply, Jason stuffed his phone into his pocket and hopped onto his bike.

Him having a “secret boyfriend” would only add to the drama they were hoping to cause. Too bad he wouldn’t be seeing any of the gang in person before the gala, but they’d have plenty of time to plot.

***

Danny’s morning started a couple of hours later than Jason’s, and with much less breakfast incentives. No pancakes in this college kid’s life, and who needed them when he had a lifetime supply of Lucky Charms?

Unless he could make Lucky Charms pancakes. Now that would be perfection.

He didn’t bother getting dressed before eating either, secluding himself and his bowl straight back into bed to pull out his laptop.

They’d made a brand new group chat last night, one for just Sam, Tucker, and him. Sam had insisted they’d have some planning to do and Danny, fully aware they meant “grilling him endlessly about Jason Todd”, was more than happy to pop up a chat Jazz couldn’t see.

She’d have So Many Thoughts on them meeting in a graveyard. Hard pass. Hopefully she wouldn’t be able to scroll back through last night’s mess far enough for that part of the story.

They’d also planned a video call for this morning, which was basically why Danny was up before noon. Comfortably tucked into bed, he booted up his laptop and started the call.

Sam popped on first of course, already fully dressed and immaculately made up. She was also looming over her webcam like she was ready to pounce.

“Alright Danny, spill. When the fuck did you learn Jason Todd was a halfa?” She demanded.

Used to her by now, Danny took a noisy slurp of cereal milk. Sam rolled her eyes and pointed firmly at the lens.

“I will ask my parents to lend you one of Dad’s ties Danny, I swear I will.”

And that made Danny flinch. Mr Manson’s “ties” were never just a tie; each one had matching cufflinks, pocket squares, and a forty minute lecture on returning all items in pristine condition.

He wasn’t even sure the suit Jazz and Sam had helped him buy could take cufflinks. Most people in this century used buttons.

Lowering the bowl, he raised a hand in unequivocal surrender.

“Look, Tucker’s not even on yet, I don’t wanna have to answer the same questions twice. I swear I told you guys the truth last night!” He added when Sam’s eyes narrowed.

Folding her arms, she sat heavily back onto her bed and continued to glare, but all looming operations ceased. Close enough; she was willing to wait.

Danny relaxed as well, taking another spoonful of cereal.

“So, how’s Val?” He asked to fill the time.

And grinned when Sam’s expression immediately softened. She had it fucking Bad.

“She’s fine. Swears she isn’t pissed that my parents won’t let her come, but she wants back in the group chat. I didn’t tell her about Jason yet,” she added with another roll of her eyes when Danny opened his mouth, still chewing, “she just has some thoughts on shit you can get up to.”

That last part made Danny frown a little and he paused to swallow before speaking.

“Wait, you didn’t tell her about Jason? Why?” Sure, they hadn’t gotten that far into the full Phantom Personal History last night, but they would eventually. Especially if she went back into the chat.

Sam gave him a withering look.

“Because we ask Jason who he’s happy with learning that he’s half dead,” she said slowly, like he was stupid.

Which, fair. Danny had kept his own secret for so long he’d kind of forgotten it was a secret to keep. But…

“The whole world knows he died, and they’re all gonna learn he’s back tomorrow,” he pointed out, adding more cereal to the dregs of his milk.

Sam pressed her hands together, probably praying to Clockwork for patience.

“Danny I swear I will add Jazz to this call and have her give you the consent rant,” she said sweetly, in her most innocent Manson Party Voice.

Danny snickered into his cereal, fully aware he’d be hearing a lot more of that voice soon.

“You’re swearing a lot today Sam, wake up cranky?” He teased and grinned when she flipped him off.

“Anyway, do you wanna text Jason and check he’s cool with looping her in or should I message the chat?” She asked, already scooping up her own phone.

Danny hesitated for a second, glancing at the clock. Like he had any idea what schedule the guy operated on.

“I’ll text him later, he said he was gonna go deal with his family this morning to get Tuck on the invite list. And speak of the devil!” He cheered as the third window popped open, a sleepy Tucker in frame.

Clearly still in bed too, Tucker wiped drool from his chin and waved.

“Hey, sorry guys, I’m here… slow morning,” he said, like it was an anomaly.

Sam rolled her eyes, then tugged her laptop in and loomed over the camera again.

“So Danny, tell me when you found out Jason Todd was a halfa,” she demanded again, and Danny snickered some more.

“That’d be way more menacing if you hadn’t done it five minutes ago,” he pointed out and she flipped him off again.

“Eat dick, Fenton. Jason’s. Do you seriously expect me to believe you met that guy yesterday? You were sending us selfies from his fucking lap.”

Danny frowned, scooping more cereal into his mouth and swallowing half of it whole.

“Hey, he’s just a touchy guy! Also, his couch is shit and just that small.”

“And Jason himself is fucking enormous,” Tucker snorted, moving momentarily out of screen as he sat up and stretched, then repositioned his laptop.

“And that,” Danny acknowledged, pointing to Tuck. Hoping that’s where Tuck’s feed showed on Sam’s computer. She still didn’t look impressed.

“Dude. You’ve been in Gotham for like, a year. You didn’t know there was another halfa running around?” She asked sceptically.

Danny rolled his eyes back, see how she liked it.

“Yeah, because we all advertise on Craig’s List. He didn’t know he was a halfa until yesterday! And it’s not like I run around in the same social circles as Bruce Fucking Wayne.”

“Yeah, but you kinda do now though,” Tucker pointed out, visibly waking up as excitement flashed in his eyes, “which reminds me, can Jason get you any of the new Wayne Tech? I’d kill to get my hands on their newest tablet.”

“Okay one, no expanding my kingdom,” Danny scolded, raising a finger and then flipping up a second, “and two, you didn’t see this guy’s place. It was kinda a shithole, and I live in a dorm. I don’t think he’s that close to the family.”

Sam gave him her very best deadpan look, only slightly withered by screens and distance.

“We are literally going to a high society ball tomorrow in his honour, Danny. I think Bruce likes him just fine.”

Danny dropped his fingers and just wiggled the whole hand in the air beside his head.

“Eh, unlikely? I dunno, something went on with them when Jason died, or when he came back maybe, Jay won’t speak about it. But he didn’t want me to tell Bruce anything.”

Didn’t want it to get back to Batman, but they were withholding that particular detail from the rest of the team for now. These were the people Danny trusted with his secret, and now with Jason’s, but that one wasn’t theirs to tell.

Tucker rolled his eyes too, throwing both hands into the air.

“Then Bruce is clearly trying to buy back into his good graces, and guilt’s gotta be worth at least two new tablets!” He declared passionately.

Danny snorted most of a laugh through his nose, discarding his now-empty bowl onto the floor beside his bed.

“Look, I’ll ask, but no promises. They probably don’t want hackers cracking them right off the line,” he added with a smirk.

Tucker put on his very best offended face.

“Daniel, you wound me! I am no mere hacker! I am the sweet and loving god of technology, and I neeeeeeed a sacrifice!”

“Ew, don’t use the Vlad-nickname,” Sam hissed, flailing a pillow at the camera.

Tucker obligingly dropped onto his bed like she’d actually hit him, rolling through the sheets.

“Okay but the rest of my point stands!” A sudden thought occurred and he shot back up, snatching desperately at his laptop to keep it from falling to the floor. “WAIT! Danny, can he get me an internship?!”

Danny rolled his eyes, stuffing his fist into the cereal box to grab a dry handful. He was gonna need more sugar for this bullshit.

“Wrong Wayne adoptee, you’re thinking of Tim Drake. I dunno if he’ll even be at the gala, but you could always ask him,” he added thoughtfully, glancing at his phone.

Jason hadn’t known who else would be there from his side, beyond Bruce himself. Danny wasn’t quite sure if he wanted any of his brothers or sisters to come either.

For all they’d shared life secrets and soul underwear, he still didn’t know much about Jason’s day to day life.

Which wasn’t surprising. They’d properly known each other for a day.

It was just that he’d never met a halfa his age, who wasn’t his clone. Of course he wanted to know all about Jason. What he did, where he went, who was important in his life.

It was just regular curiosity. Totally normal.

Tucker was a gasping ball of delight at just the potential chance to meet Tim himself, while Sam lectured them both about “no ethical consumption under capitalism”.

Danny stuffed another handful of cereal into his mouth and looked back at his phone.

Jason was probably up now.

He could probably just text him.

He could ask for Tucker if Tim would be at the gala.

He could ask what Jason was wearing to the gala, and if he knew how the fuck cufflinks worked.

His phone buzzed like he’d willed the message to appear and he snatched it up, opening directly to the group chat. It was Jason!

‘JTodd: Tuck’s on the list. Also, two of my nosey bastard brothers saw us on my bike yesterday, so they think Danny’s my boyfriend. Also that Danny is my mystery plus one. Can we add them to the fuckery list?’

Tucker and Sam had gone quiet too, both checking their phones at the same time. Sam let out a triumphant laugh and began typing, even as Tucker whooped and joined in.

Probably asking if Tim Drake was coming.

Danny tapped out a couple of emojis before the rest of the message sunk in. They thought he and Jason were dating?

He could feel the heat creeping up his face as Sam looked up at the camera again, at exactly the wrong moment.

“Hey Danny, did you see?” She cooed sweetly, an utter shit eating grin on her face. “The rest of the Waynes sure think you’ve known each other for more than a day.”

Danny dropped his phone, message unsent.

“Yeah but they saw us for like a second, what would they know?“ he asked quickly, shooting for nonchalant and fully aware he’d missed by a mile.

Tucker cackled, sending off a message and then grinning back up at the call.

“I dunno, they might be onto something, those selfies you sent us were pretty cute,” he added slyly.

Danny flipped him off, scrabbling through the sheets for his buzzing phone.

“Cuz I’m fucking adorable. I don’t even know if he likes guys, or anyone at all, he’s just a new friend!”

“And the only member of your whole species that isn’t your clone or creepy beyond belief,” Sam cut in, sending off her own message too, “you might have a social responsibility.”

“To repopulate halfas?” Danny asked, rolling his eyes and finally snatching his phone back up, scanning their messages. “Shame we’re both men and that’s physically impossible.”

‘TechMasterF: Thanks dude! Always down to help fuck with family. Any idea who’ll be there?’

‘2Goth2Glorious: oh that’s perfect, we gotta keep them away from my parents… or let them think Danny’s stringing us both along 😈’

Well, Tucker was being surprisingly discrete. Good for him.

“I dunno, you could just shove more people into those ectoplasm pools that made Jason,” Tucker pointed out thoughtfully, now typing away on his laptop. Clearly had another window open.

Danny rolled his eyes, finally shooting off his own string of emojis. He was. Just not gonna address the dating thing.

“Somehow I don’t think it’s that easy, apparently a bunch of people have gone in and we don’t know how many changed or are just liminals.”

‘DannyP: 🙌🙌🎊🎊🐼🍷’

‘DannyP: definitely adding them to the fuckery list’

He knew the message had reached the group because Sam and Tucker both glanced at their phones, then groaned in unison.

“Dude, way to make him think you’re not interested,” Tucker sighed, wiggling his phone.

“It sounds like you’re insulted they’d think it,” Sam agreed firmly.

Danny stared at them, then down at his phone.

“Fucking how?? All I did was answer his question! And maybe I’m not interested,” he added quickly when Sam began to smirk.

“Give me a minute, I’m gonna work out how to delete your messages,” Tucker said solemnly, attention switching fully back to his phone.

“Hey, fuck off!” Danny half chuckled, shaking his head.

Sam sighed, speaking slowly again. It was her own damn fault for hauling them both up before noon if they were slow.

“Danny, you haven’t sent a message without emojis since you learned about emoticons. For you? It looks like you’re mad,” she explained, and Danny pouted, scrolling quickly back up through the chat.

Fuck. She had a point.

Jason hadn’t popped up on the read receipts yet, so he quickly swiped to delete the message.

“Okay but again, me and Jason don’t know each other all that well,” he protested, now staring at the empty message box and wondering what the fuck to type.

There wasn’t an emoji for “oh ancients your family thinks we’re dating and we’re totally not but not because you’re not a catch”.

Knowing Jason for long or not, those hints of low self esteem were pretty obvious. Danny saw them every day in the mirror. No wonder Sam and Tuck noticed over texts.

Okay, he might have noticed the lack of emojis. Being Robin probably meant overthinking everything when playing detective.

Sam sighed and actually poked the lens of her webcam.

“If I see a laughing emoji I am going to slap you tomorrow,” she said firmly.

Danny quickly hit backspace.

“Well what the fuck do you think I should say to that then?” He asked sharply.

Tucker sighed, abandoning his phone in favour of the laptop again.

“I dunno Danny, have you been flirting?” He asked, tone suggesting it was a rhetorical question.

Which was bullshit. It’s not like Danny and Jason had relayed all their conversations. No reason for him to know they’d been calling their meet ups “dates”.

That probably didn’t count as flirting anyway, they were just fucking around.

“Yeah, right after he read me Romeo and Juliet on his grave,” he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes extra hard to get his point across.

Tucker had the sheer audacity to laugh at him.

“Okay but you know that move would be a slam dunk on Sam,” he said with a sly look to the left. Must be where Sam showed on his screen.

The lady in question rolled her eyes and flipped Tuck off too, giving the camera a flat look.

“Danny, that is in fact called flirting.”

“It totally isn’t!” Danny argued, at least partially panicking.

Jason wasn’t flirting with him. Jason couldn’t be flirting with him. Danny might have been flirting with Jason, but that certainly didn’t mean the guy was flirting back!

Sam gave him a second secret even flatter look, then sighed and shook her head.

“I will never hear a single word from you about me and Val being “disaster lesbians” again, Danny Fenton,” she said firmly, and Danny huffed.

That wasn’t fucking fair. Sam and Val had been goddamn adorable when they were awkwardly flirting back and forth, both certain the other wasn’t interested.

This just couldn’t be the same situation.

Tuck snickered at both of them indiscriminately, glancing down at his phone.

“Yeah, well, Jason hasn’t messaged back yet so we’ll see. We picking up a Fenton Phone for him tonight too?” He asked suddenly, frowning at the camera.

Danny shrugged and nodded.

“Yeah, gotta come get you and a suit anyway so I figured I’d swing through Amity Park. Mom and Dad promised to take Jazz out so the lab’ll be empty.”

Which wasn’t technically a necessity anymore, since the Fenton parents were in on the secret. It was just an emotional necessity, because if Sam and Tuck were already this bad they’d be so much worse.

Probably try and send some message to Bruce Wayne congratulating him on being their new brother in law.

Nope.

No fucking way.

They had no one to blame but themselves.

***

New Years Eve came.

Jason was beginning to wish it hadn’t.

Dick had been as good as his word, sweeping Jason away to a tailor in the better parts of Gotham who took one look at Dick and told him to fuck off.

Finally, Jason had a suit made by a man with both good taste and the ability to read the room. He didn’t even condescend to either of them, with no witnesses at all.

Jason kept his card. Heavens forbid he need to go to more galas, but at least he could be well dressed now.

He hadn’t worn a proper suit since he was knee high, felt like. Dick insisted he looked fantastic, both at the tailor’s shop and tonight, giving him a sweeping once over and a wolf whistle.

Jason looked in the mirror and mostly saw Bruce, except for the shock of white hair. Kinda hated that.

He’d agreed to come to the manor first rather than going straight to the gala, which was being held at one of the city’s numerous ballrooms. Cheaper for Bruce when the inevitable rogue attack happened.

He was being reintroduced as Bruce’s ward, it made sense for them to arrive together. And Jason was maybe just a little smug that there were now enough of his siblings coming that they had to take a limo.

No sentimental heart to hearts in the back seat while he choked down rage for this asshole.

Cass had her own suit, blacker than black with a black undershirt. She made an adorable baby goth, the only pop of colour the red embroidery on her collar.

Jason hadn’t put it together until she’d tapped it and signed to him, ‘yours’. She was wearing his Red Hood colours, and the urge to laugh just about beat out the urge to cry.

Dick was a little more traditional, black suite, white shirt, emerald green tie. Matching Jason, except Jason had gone for blue. Tim matched them both except for the deeply sullen look on his face.

(Dick confided in a whisper that he’d still spent the night at the manor, even after deciding he’d come to the gala. Alfred had switched immediately from the bribe not to go to threatening not to let Tim go if he didn’t have enough sleep to look presentable.)

Steph had shown up after all, in a long sweeping dress that was almost the same purple as her suit, cut short enough not to get in her way if she had to run. Or go up and down stairs, conveniently, so she had a civilian excuse.

Even Damian was present, looking extremely suspicious of the lot of them. He’d wasted no time telling Jason that he was there solely to assess this “Danny” and determine if he was worthy of joining the family.

Jason kinda considered slipping away to send Danny a warning text that he might be getting a shovel talk. Decided against it.

Watching the boy king of the dead being menaced by an actual baby was just too funny to miss.

Jason hadn’t deliberately waited til most of the family were in the car on purpose, but was rather pleased to find his siblings had been thinking of him.

Bruce was stuck down at one end of the car, Dick and Steph sandwiching him in while Steph talked animatedly to Cass on the closest side seat, Tim and then Damian beside her. Jason would be damn near at the other end of the vehicle.

Obviously Bruce had noticed despite Dick’s passionate and ongoing monologue about how funding Bludhaven’s police might mean less officers fell to bribery (which even Dick knew was bullshit). He seemed resigned more than anything.

The drive was quick and loud, and Jason had to wonder if he could have handled it at all with the pit before.

His… anticipation. Definitely anticipation.

Resignation.

Not fear.

Whatever he was feeling, it had garnered some attention, and the waters were shifting much sooner than they had after the last time he saw Danny.

He’d spent more than half the day on the couch, hugging Frostbite’s ghost succulent to his chest. It hadn’t noticeably helped, but maybe it had done something.

He’d spent the drive gently needling Damian about Cass wearing her suit better instead of fighting down green. That was a result in his books.

Cass wore her suit better than both of them combined. No matter how she felt, she didn’t look like she wanted to shrug her skin off. Jason was getting the hang of that still.

And now… now it was just the red carpet, the flashing cameras, and some asshole in an over starched suit announcing the Wayne Clan’s arrival.

Jason sucked in a breath, trying not to tense as his hand found the door handle. This wasn’t a fight. He wasn’t going into combat. He’d be fine.

Combat was much more fun. Even when he got shot, he was allowed to shoot people back.

His situational awareness was fully shot though, because he didn’t notice Bruce until the taller (fucker) man’s hand covered his.

“Allow me,” the older man said softly, those all too perceptive eyes tracking over Jason’s face. “I should get out first. Let them get a few shots to settle down, and then we all go in and you don’t have to do anything but stand for the speech.”

Jason fucking hated the part of himself that still wanted to lean in. To nod and let Bruce take the lead like a good little soldier.

And maybe he should, Bruce had done this way more than him, had always done his best to shield his wards from it. To his credit, he’d pretty much succeeded.

But Jason wasn’t a little kid anymore, and the one time he’d needed Bruce’s shield it hadn’t come.

He pushed the door open himself and stepped out, pulling on a smile at the last second.

Coming “back to life” meant back to the Wayne name, but let no one think he was still hiding behind Bruce.

On some level Bruce must have understood that, because there was a short pause before he followed him, all wide Brucie smile and fond affection. A warm hand clapped on Jason’s shoulder, almost the least they could be touching and still play happy families.

Then Damian followed, Tim and the girls, and finally Dick, throwing an arm around his shoulders and “coincidentally” tugging him away from Bruce’s hand.

He owed the guy a drink. And possibly some reassurance that he wasn’t actually going to bite Bruce for touching him.

They stayed for a moment for the family photos, then Dick cheerfully messed up Jason’s hair and they made their way up the carpet and into the event. Bruce was taken aside for a moment by an attendant and then they were being announced like it was a fucking Regency novel.

There was the slightest hint of a chance that Bruce had set it up with Jason in mind specifically. Not asked him if he wanted it or checked in, just gone ahead and done it.

That wasn’t what Jason liked about his classics, but the thought was warm in a soft way he hadn’t associated with Bruce in a long time.

They were about to disperse, the rest probably on the hunt for Danny, when Bruce caught Jason’s eye and nodded to a quiet spot. Sucking in a breath, Jason followed.

He’d been prepared to go through tonight with the pit in his ear, back when he thought it wasn’t optional. He could do it as just himself. No sweat.

Bruce waited a moment after Jason joined him, glancing around the room and lowering his voice below easy eavesdropping range.

“Your plus one has arrived, Jason. Would you like to make introductions now, or just go and join him? He seems a little… unaccustomed to these events, apparently,” he added with a sympathetic half smile.

None of them liked these events, but Jason had assumed Tucker would be arriving with Sam and Danny. Apparently not, as a quick scan of the room produced only one signature red beret.

By the refreshments. Perfect.

Jason even managed a smile of his own for Bruce, and felt more sad than angry at the flicker of surprise. He knew exactly how they’d come to this, yet… all he’d wanted was a home.

“I’ll go check on him. We’ll catch up with you later,” he added with a short nod.

He did want to introduce Danny and his friends to his siblings. And maybe to Bruce too. But that could come later.

He still had to officially meet Tucker first.

A slight smile pulling across his lips, he made his way across the hall to that trademarked red beret.

**

The bat siblings took a moment to put their heads together while Bruce and Jason talked, finalising their plan of attack.

“Alright, I think we need two teams. Tim and I will split so we each have someone who’s seen Danny,” Dick whispered, giving Tim a nod as he scanned the room.

Steph nodded firmly, liking her arm through Tim’s.

“I’ll take Tim and Damian to be my top stealth operative. You take Cass for yours. Stay within around 10 feet of each other but not obviously together, no need to let anyone think something’s up. Tim stay in the middle, so you can signal us if necessary,” she commanded and the others all nodded.

Damian pouted just a little, but he wasn’t about to argue with being put on stealth. It meant less talking to people.

They split apart, all doing their most charming smiles, just in time to see Jason moving purposefully across the room.

“Well shit, here we go,” Dick chuckled, offering Cass his arm. She slipped a hand into the crook of his elbow and let him guide her off in the same general direction as Jason.

Tim, Steph, and Damian split up, meandering gently along the other side of Jason’s path. Dick turned a beaming smile on a nearby couple that were moving in close enough the same direction.

Gala talk never went beyond surface level anyway, so it was easy to keep up the conversation while watching Jason make his way to the refreshments. And… joined someone.

Dick’s brow furrowed.

**

“That’s not him,” Tim hissed into Steph’s ear, catching her at one end of the drinks table.

Steph stopped, frowned, and looked down towards the middle, where Jason was chatting amicably with a young Black man in an off-the-rack suit.

“Are you sure?” She hissed back, leaning back towards him to reach for a glass.

Tim gave her a flat look.

“The guy at Jason’s was white. I’m not that tired,” he said flatly and Steph stifled a giggle.

“Yeah, okay, I believe you. So who’s that?”

“That would be Tucker Foley, the man Jason added to the guest list,” Damian said smartly, coming to Tim’s other side and passing Steph a glass.

Both turned to face him and he sighed, rolling his eyes.

“I checked Father’s phone this morning.”

Straightening, Steph took a careful sip of her juice, turning so her back was to the table.

“I checked last night, Jason hadn’t sent anything,” she whispered and Damian smirked.

“The message was from 9am. I believe he wanted to give Father less time to research him.”

“And us,” Tim agreed with a huff, grabbing his own drink at random. And hastily putting it back when it stank of whiskey.

“Apparently effectively,” Damian noted smugly, looking across the floor. Following his gaze, Tim saw Bruce pretending he wasn’t also watching Jason and his new friend.

Fighting a grin, Tim grabbed a glass that matched Steph’s instead.

“Yeah, okay, I’m less mad. Wanna try and get closer, demon brat?”

By the time he’d glanced down, Damian was already gone.

Steph hid her smile in another slow sip, then straightened and moved away from the table.

“I’ll be around. Oooh shit Dick’s moving in, not missing that,” she said suddenly, walking away at speed.

Tim spun back around and groaned. Okay, the oldest wasn’t the most subtle of the bats by a fucking long shot, but they should have at least had a minute.

With a philosophical shrug, he headed away just off Steph’s path to find his own eavesdropping spot. It’s not like they were trying to hide from Jason specifically.

Just his new friend.

**

Tucker had lit up like a sunbeam when Jason called out, turning to give him a once over and grinning.

“Okay, holy shit, how are you even bigger in person? I’d almost think you were a Fenton,” he exclaimed as Jason drew closer.

Jason didn’t bother trying to hide his curiosity.

“Oh? Danny’s not that tall.” Which had made it all the better when Danny took him to the floor, honestly.

Tucker’s grin widened.

“Danny’s dad is 6’9, and Jazz is 6’4. We think Clocky’s holding Danny’s growth spurt hostage til he takes the crown,” Tucker explained easily, deeply satisfied with the way Jason’s eyes widened.

Okay, the thought of Danny looming over him was not one he was prepared to deal with. Shaking his head like that’d help, he gave Tuck a curious look.

“I thought you were gonna be arriving with Danny and Sam by the way, are they around?” He couldn’t imagine they’d have left Tucker alone.

Tucker did look a lot more comfortable than he’d feared though, grabbing a few more of the delicate canapés.

“Yeah, Danny got me this afternoon, but then we thought it’d be funnier if Sam’s parents didn’t know I’m a guest of honour. Like a one-two punch when Danny’s Sam’s date,” he explained, then waved a hand. “It’s not the worst just waiting.”

Jason took a moment to glance around, clocking all five of his siblings and resisting the urge to wave. Barely. Another fun thought occurred.

“So do you want me to make myself scarce when they get here? Let them see you, and then drop that you’re a guest of honour?” He asked innocently, and Tucker’s eyes gleamed.

If Danny hadn’t told him both his friends were still living humans, he might have wondered. But apparently there was still a whole lot that none of them understood.

Jason had gotten through the entire ghost database Team Phantom had gifted him, and he had questions. But those would have to wait for another, less fun day.

Tucker nodded happily, looking around and back towards the entrance.

“Oh fucking yes, can you just kinda hover and then I’ll say hi? Let them get a couple sentences in before you come say hello?” He asked eagerly, and Jason grinned back.

Today was for fun. And crime. Gala crime, and not the inevitable rogue attack, the fun kind.

Fuck it was nice to have the chance to have fun.

“Abso-fucking-lutely. Also, my older brother is coming up behind you,” he continued innocently and Dick groaned, abandoning the sneak attempt and closing the rest of the distance, Cass still on his arm.

“Jason! I was trying to be cool and discrete,” he huffed, giving his little brother the puppy eyes before moving on to grin at Tucker. “Hey, as Jaybird says, I’m his brother Dick, this is our little sister Cass, and you are?”

And Jason maybe fell the littlest bit in love with Tucker as he turned to Dick, most innocent smile you’ve ever seen in your life on his face, and said,

“Oh hey, nice to meet you! I’m Danny.”

Dick’s sheer confusion lasted just long enough for Tucker to register it too, then he held out a hand to shake.

“Oh, really? Would you be the Danny Jason was telling us about at breakfast the other day?” He asked carefully, eyes flicking between Tucker and Jason.

Jason kept his smile utterly opaque. Tucker took the offered hand, innocent as anything.

“Well I wouldn’t know anything about that, Dick, but Jason did say he’d be getting me on the guest list, and here I am! It’s great to meet you both, Jason’s had only nice things to say.”

Which seemed to surprise Dick again, but not Cass as she smiled up at Jason.

She, of course, was already onto them. It was damn near impossible to get a lie past Cass but she could be quickly persuaded to join in with any fuckery.

Jason tipped her a quick wink while Dick went down some internal pathways and her smile widened, giving just the slightest hint of a nod back.

Sweet angel baby sister.

Dick was doing his best to make innocent, normal, definitely-not-interrogation conversation and Tucker was very happy to oblige him.

Absolutely none of them expected Tucker to turn and cheerfully address his next comment to the table.

“Yeah, well, Gotham’s a beautiful city but I bet this kind of event can get a little dull for the younger crowd, right?”

Immediately Jason scanned the area for Damian while Dick did his very best mildly-confused-puppy face.

“Uh… what do you mean, Danny?” He asked carefully, glancing in the direction Tucker was looking.

Tucker grinned at him and pointed down.

“Someone’s kid is hiding under the table. Pretty harmless way to keep out of trouble, right?” Tuck asked cheerfully.

Jason’s eyebrows shot into his hairline when Damian reluctantly crawled out from under the table, rising to frown up at the taller boy.

It made a kind of sense? Amity Park’s version of the rogues gallery was actual, literal ghosts and Tucker had been fighting them since he was Damian’s age. Being more observant than most went with the territory.

But he really wasn’t shy about outing himself at all.

Dick picked up the trailing question, knowing full well Damian wouldn’t, and pulled on his best Public Relations smile. He’d definitely noticed.

“Oh, yeah, this is our youngest brother Damian! He doesn’t really do parties,” he added by way of explanation when Damian just kept glowering.

Tucker nodded agreeably, giving Damian a nod of his own.

“I’m gonna have to introduce you to Sam, Damian, you guy’s’ll get along great! She hates these kinds of events too,” he added by way of explanation, apparently completely missing at least three bats zooming in on the information.

“Sam? Do you know someone else who’s coming?” Dick asked with very convincing casual curiosity.

Tucker just nodded again, as open as a well thumbed book, picking at his little plate of canapés.

“Oh yeah, Sam Manson, from Amity Park. She should be here soon, she’s a good friend. She always hides behind the fake plants,” he told Damian, winking conspiratorially.

If looks could kill, Tucker would have become a ghost.

Fully aware that at least two of his siblings were about to be doing some frantic googling, Jason took Tucker’s arm and turned him from the table.

“Well, we should get out of the way so the other guests can get at the food. Has anyone given you the tour, Tucker?” He asked, definitely not grinning at Damian.

It wasn’t “getting caught by a civilian” bad, but Damian didn’t know that.

Tucker gave a slightly sad look back to the trays of finger foods but quickly twigged, snapping his gaze back to Jason.

“No, they haven’t. Which way are the bathrooms?”

**

Five bats reconvened immediately in a distant corner of the ballroom.

“That’s definitely not the same guy, right Dick?”

“He said his name was Danny, he might be some kind of chameleon meta? He and Jason definitely knew each other.”

“Did he just catch Damian? Slipping there, baby bat.”

“There is something unnatural about him,” Damian insisted firmly, shooting Steph a murderous glare that was fully ignored.

After a brief moment, all four turned their full attention to Cass. She was the human lie detector.

Cass gave them all a polite smile and half shrug.

‘Very honest. Very open. Not hiding anything,’ she signed.

Damian’s eyes narrowed.

“He prattles like a fool but there is most definitely something off about him. No one as obtuse as he pretends to be would have detected my presence,” he said firmly, eyes locked with Cass’.

Tim rolled his eyes and waved a hand at the pair of them.

“Look, you slipped up Damian. None of us bothered bringing our A game to a party, it happens.”

Damian’s glare promised more cut grapple lines in Tim’s future.

“I did not slip, Drake. Todd and Grayson did not register my presence, but this boy did. And his name is Tucker Foley, not Danny,” he added sharply to Cass, “so he is also an exceptional liar.”

Tim flipped him off pretty much on principle. Dick shrugged, retaining his position as “everyones favourite brother” by not choosing sides.

“It might be a middle name or a nickname, D. He didn’t hesitate or stumble over it.”

Damian shook his head mulishly, turning a much milder glare on Dick. He pulled out his phone.

“Tucker Foley does not have a middle name, Grayson. He does have a Facebook connection named Daniel Fenton, mutual contacts with Samantha Manson.”

The other four convened on the phone screen, frowning. There indeed was Tucker’s Facebook page, which looked to have been dead for at least two years. Annual birthday messages from elderly relatives filled most of the wall.

Satisfied that they were now listening, Damian turned a sharp eyed stare on Tim.

“Drake should be next to engage. Foley is currently a student at MIT in science and technology, and his records are sealed beyond my ability to immediately break. You are the most technologically inclined and may bond with him,” he added, like they’d need an explanation.

The news made the others sit up and take notice. Any records sealed beyond what a Robin could get into, any Robin, meant better than normal encryption.

Steph already had her phone out too, browsing heavily.

“I can’t find any other trace of him,” she chimed in a moment later, frowning at the rest of the group, “the Facebook email’s definitely going somewhere, but there’s no other social media associated with it.”

Tim frowned, leaning towards her phone.

“Any leads on what his other email addresses might be? What’s the name?”

Steph flashed him her screen.

“It’s a private web server, he’s set up his own, but that’s empty too, at least at first glance. Anyone wanna text Babs?” She asked, eyes flashing from one to the other.

Dick sighed and pulled out his phone as well, glancing around the room.

“We shouldn’t be out of sight too long, people will notice. I’ll text Babs and see if she’s busy, then do some laps. See what people have to say about Foley and the Mansons. Same teams?”

Cass, who had no intention of letting anyone at these parties even suspect she could communicate with them without a translator, hooked her hand through his arm again.

Not only were people much more loose lipped when they thought you couldn’t understand them (and a certain type of asshole just knew that mute people were all stupid), she also wasn’t giving up a gold standard excuse to ignore anyone who tried to talk to her.

Tim, Damian, and Steph exchanged quick looks, then nodded.

“I’ll see if I can catch them somewhere on the tour,” Tim volunteered, nodding to Steph, “do you wanna see if anyone in our age range knows anything about Sam Manson? I’ve seen her before but never spoken to her..”

“Ours up to Dick’s, it looks like Foley’s a little younger than Jason,” she agreed, then turned to Damian, “I think you’re gonna have to stay in sight for the rest of the night though.”

Damian’s brow furrowed into its typical deep scowl lines. Boy would have wrinkles by 15.

“I shall find Father and see what he knows of Foley or the Mansons,” he decided sulkily, looking around the room.

Getting caught still stung, even if he was certain Foley was up to something suspicious. The real question was, what were Foley’s intentions?

Damian didn’t believe Todd would be willingly involved in anything that would hurt the family. Hurt Bruce, possibly, but nothing that would put any of his siblings in the potential crossfire.

The question was, what did Todd know about Foley?

**

Tim considered playing it subtle for about 30 seconds. Something about the look in Jason’s eye when he caught Tim’s changed his mind immediately.

Jason knew Tim and Dick had seen the real Danny. Jason was having fun. Why bother playing subtle when the game was on?

He put himself directly in their path and headed over, a nice, sociable gala smile on his face. Jason could try and duck and weave him, but that’d be obvious.

He didn’t, and even drew to a stop, something wicked in his smile as he turned to his companion.

“And this is my younger brother, Timothy Drake. Tim, this is…” he trailed off, clearly prepared to be absolutely steamrollered by the wide eyed young man.

“Tim Drake?! Hello, I’m Tucker Foley, I’m a huge fan of your work, some of the things coming out of WT this year were just incredible,” he gushed, holding out a hand to shake.

The hand was pretty much vibrating on its own. Tim took it and shook firmly, the smile growing just a little more genuine.

Score one for Demon Brat. He was a tech head. And, he noticed not hearing “Danny”. Jason didn’t seem upset, so this wasn’t the big game.

Tim wanted in on the big game.

“Hey, it’s always great to meet a fan. What kind of Wayne Tech are you rocking?”

Jason coughed suspiciously into his hand as Tucker dived into a pocket, pulling out… a weirdly clunky PDA? Definitely not something Tim had seen off the line.

“Oh, I don’t really go for prebuilt tech, but I’ve incorporated the motherboards from a couple of older WT tablets and got a couple extra gigs of RAM just to make it juicy,” he explained happily, turning it on.

Tim’s eyebrows rose as he moved in to peer at the screen. From the outside it looked like something Alfred might have used during his adventuring days, but it loaded like a dream.

Just from the few screens Tucker flicked through, Tim had to wonder just what this PDA was capable of. And maybe if he should be hanging out more in hardware hacker spaces.

Even Jason looked impressed, leaning in over Tucker’s other shoulder to watch as he ran them through a couple of different functions.

And that, the app they scrolled past super fast? That definitely said SpyWare, which was not something Tim had seen in an app store. Especially not for a device running WayneTech.

It was no Batcomputer, but for something built on older tech instead of better-than-new, it was easily the next best thing.

Tim looked back at the young man, significantly more impressed. This guy might actually be more interesting than the danger twink.

Just so long as he was on the right side.

“This is pretty cool, Tucker, I can’t wait to see what you could do with some of our newer stuff,” he said earnestly, and had the pleasure of watching the guy fucking melt.

“It would be such an honour to have you take more of a look some time, there’s soooo much I’d love to do with some of your newer tech and I have so many ideas,” Tucker absolutely gushed, and Tim stifled a laugh.

Even if he was a supervillain, Tucker Foley seemed like he’d be an easy one to handle. Hell, easy to get in his good books too.

If Jason didn’t mind him muscling in. Which, given the deeply satisfied grin on his face, he clearly didn’t.

“I’ve got some time free tomorrow, if you’re not in town for long?” Tim was genuinely considering giving this guy a job offer, an interview would save him some formalities to gather his paperwork.

And give Tim someone he knew for sure was both competent and willing to speak to him on the team. But…

Well. Jason wasn’t the only one with very few actual civilian friends. It was what made it so interesting.

And speaking of which, before Tucker could bite his hand off for the offer he raised it quickly, grinning. “On one condition.”

Tucker’s face fell just a little and Tim felt like an asshole, but Jason just raised an eyebrow.

“What’s the condition?” He asked for Tucker, who was stuck in some serious puppy eyes.

Tim smirked.

“You tell me who you’re fucking with tonight. And I want in.” No need to ask how if he could just join the game.

Tucker brightened right up too, stuffing the PDA back into a pocket that really shouldn’t have held it. Fuck Tim wanted to see more of it.

“Oh, sure! The more the merrier, right Jason?” He asked, glancing up at the taller man.

Jason shrugged, glanced around the room for a second, then nodded to a corner.

“Perfect timing, actually. Tuck, our mark is here. You go ahead and get started and I’ll fill Timmo in here as I follow.”

Turning as one, Tim and Tucker watched a well dressed couple at the top of the stairs, followed by a sullen young woman who was obviously their daughter and…

Danny. Real Danny. Arm in arm with the young woman.

Tucker’s grin was all mischief as he nodded, making a beeline for the couple.

“See you in five, guys,” he called over his shoulder.

Tim turned expectantly to Jason. Who grinned and linked an arm through his.

“Go have fun, Tuck.”

Was that why Jason was so open to Tim getting closer to his new boyfriend? If they already weren’t exclusive, that’d explain it.

Had Jason gotten himself involved in a polycule?

**

Danny’s New Years Eve was not going as well, hard as that may seem.

He liked to think he’d found a pretty nice suit for the event, Sam had footed the bill and sent him to her family’s outfitter. It was actually basically a smaller version of the one Mr Manson was wearing.

Sam’s parents had taken one look at him and called it cheap.

Now, the slow dawning horror on her mom’s face when Danny walked through the door? Classic. Incredible. Perfect start to the night.

First sight of Sam and the dress her parents had forced her into today? They might be burning the gala building down.

It was pastel purple. There were ruffles. There were bows. The bows were even still attached, which was an achievement on its own.

One probably only achieved because Sam had already planned her vengeance for later that day. This? This was just fuel for the fire.

He leaned closer while the parents were having their own little moment, trying to work out how they could have known and banned Danny. How they could get away with not bringing him.

“You look like Bo Peep,” he hissed from the corner of his mouth. Sam punched him.

“Shut the fuck up, you look like the Penguin,” she hissed back, eyes narrowed.

Danny snickered, watching the two adults in evening dress whipping themselves into a frenzy. His arrival had been very carefully timed; they had two minutes to get in the car or they’d be more than fashionably late.

“Think the Bat would get confused?” He asked half-interested, half wondering if Jason would save him.

Sam snorted a laugh and gave him a gentle shove, her mom reaching fever pitch in the background.

“Between you and the one person on Earth you’re taller than? Nah. Should we go get in the car?” She was about to move towards the vehicle when Danny caught her arm, grinning broadly.

“Fifty bucks for you to go give them your best baby girl eyes and ask what’s wrong.”

Sam visibly considered it, looking back at where the gesticulations were beginning to muss cuff-lines. Then she rolled her eyes and grabbed his wrist.

“Nah, they’ll suspect something’s up. I want them to be surprised,” she added darkly, eyes already filled with a swirling bubbling vengeance.

Danny cackled and followed her to the door.

“Oh, that’s definitely gonna happen. I’m still having a hard fucking time believing this is real.”

**

The limousine ride had been tense to say the least, the older Mansons joining them just before the last second. They’d still gotten stuck in the winding trail of cars waiting to drop their guests off.

Mr Manson seemed to have resigned himself to Danny’s presence, and spent most of the ride lecturing him firmly on standards of decorum.

Every single part of Danny demanded he slump fully horizontal then and there, but Sam wanted them to be surprised, so best behaviour it was.

He let the older man correct his posture, did his best to answer seriously and respectfully, and charitably ignored Mrs Manson’s long suffering sighs. He could behave, when he wanted to.

He just wasn’t fucking going to.

He’d thought they were nearly at the fun part when the limousine finally stopped long enough for the door to open and let them out, but no. No, now they were in a standing line, waiting to be announced.

Mrs Manson had finally recovered her good mood, gushing excitedly to Sam, her husband, and the empty air above Danny about how this was Mr Wayne’s special request, such a traditional touch.

Clearly it meant the young Mr Todd was a romantic, and might be open to the idea of courting. Perhaps even looking to meet a suitable young lady.

If Danny was actually Sam’s date, he might have been offended. As it was, they were both hiding giggles behind their hands as often as they could raise them.

Finally, finally they reached the top of the stairs overlooking the main ballroom, an attendant checking an actual physical guest list before reading off the names.

Danny was going to fucking die again. The idea that rich people were actually still like this, in the twenty-first century? The laughter he was holding in would stop his heart.

And they hadn’t even gotten started.

Danny’s eyes swept the room automatically as they shuffled into place, their names called to the guests below.

Finding Jason was easy. He wasn’t the tallest man present, or even the broadest; he was in the same boring black and white penguin suit as most of the room.

He drew Danny’s gaze magnetically anyway, walking with a younger man with similar black hair and blue eyes. Probably a sibling. Jason might already be looping him in, they were making their way over.

Which meant… Danny slipped his arm down from Sam’s elbow til he could squeeze her hand, nodding subtly to the crowd.

Tucker Foley, entering stage left. From the corner of his eye he got to watch her grin go utterly feral as her parents reached the floor and Tucker stepped perfectly past the last small group.

“Mr and Mrs Manson! What a pleasure to see you here, it’s so nice to see more Amity Park faces!” He said smoothly, holding his hand out to shake.

Mrs Manson visibly recoiled, both hands snatching back to her bosom.

“You- you’re Sam’s little friend, aren’t you?” She asked sharply, gaze snapping all over his suit and stopping on his beret. She shuddered.

Tucker just kept smiling, turning to offer his hand to Mr Manson instead, who looked at it like it held something dead.

“That’s me! Tucker, remember? Isn’t this a great party? The decorations are just to die for.”

Danny stifled a snicker. No need to let on just yet as he and Sam drifted around to the side. From what he’d seen on the way over, Jason should be here soon.

“Oh, hey Tucker, I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said loudly instead, reaching neatly past Mr Manson to shake his friend’s hand.

Mrs Manson very nearly slapped his hand away from it before realising that no, Danny was the other trash friend, he couldn’t be contaminated by touch.

Sam was fucking simmering in satisfaction, her hand now tucked in the crook of Danny’s elbow like a sweet little damsel. Tucker’s eyes shot over the both of them and his grin broadened.

“Yeah, it was a little last minute, but I got a VIP invite so I couldn’t say no.”

Mr Manson’s laugh was just barely on the right side of blatantly insulting as he gave Tucker a sharp once over.

“You? A VIP guest? And who are you here with?” He asked nastily.

Silly man. Tucker’d clearly already gone through the flunky gauntlet. He shoulda known there would be an answer.

And the answer appeared in the far too handsome figure of Jason Todd himself, wearing a suit that at ground level? Yeah, Danny finally understood just how a good suit could fucking highlight a man’s figure.

Jason somehow looked even broader in the shoulders, well muscled but also polished, and Danny was almost too distracted to hear his next words.

“Tucker, hey, sorry I lost you for a moment. Are these friends of yours?” He asked, voice smooth as silk.

For a beautiful, glorious moment Mr Manson drew himself up higher and Danny almost hoped they wouldn’t recognise Jason.

He’d been “dead” a long time after all, and this was his first night back in public. And, y’know, he was about three feet taller than his last gala. And that new puff of white hair, that should have been a clue.

And then the other guy had stepped up on Tucker’s other side, his grin just as friendly.

“Hi, Tim Drake-Wayne, I see you’ve met my brother Jason and his plus one?” He said cheerfully, holding out his own hand to shake.

Something subtle yet twitching pinched in Mr Manson’s face. He shook Tim’s hand, then gingerly accepted Tucker’s still outstretched hand like it was some kind of unpleasant rodent.

Jason, still grinning broadly, shook his hand third, then turned towards Danny and Sam.

“And who is this ravishing young lady?” He asked, and both Mansons immediately perked up.

“This is our daughter, Samantha,” Mrs Manson said eagerly, neatly swiping her hand down between Sam and Danny to move her daughter to the fore.

Danny considered resisting, he really did, but not laughing was taking up a good chunk of his brain. Jason took Sam’s hand, bent over it and kissed her knuckles, blue-green eyes watching her through his lashes.

“A pleasure to meet you, Samantha,” he said but now his voice was low, sultry, and oh dear even Danny was getting a bit squirmy. Jason wasn’t even looking at him!

Sam twitched and her mother’s grip tightened to white knuckled on her elbows, clearly suspecting the temptation led towards violence. Danny and Tucker knew her a little better, knew the smile she put on was being held back from giggles, not forced.

“Same. So, how was being dead?” Sam asked casually, keeping up her usual semi-abrasive front. Mrs Manson gasped, but Jason just smiled wider as he rose.

“Restful. But we don’t all get to rise again, so I intend to take the chance with both hands,” he all but purred, still not releasing her hand.

Sam gently but firmly tugged it free, reaching back to grab Danny’s and pull him forward.

“Great. This is my date for the evening, Danny,” she added, giving her mother a very convincing sharp look.

Danny didn’t really notice anything else. Just that his hand was in Jason’s now, and Jason’s hand was big and hot, and Jason looked big and hot, and he was giving Danny that same smouldery look he’d given Sam. He had to lock his knees against shaking.

They’d had a plan. There was a plan. What the hell was the plan?

“A pleasure to meet you too, Danny,” Jason said softly as they shook hands, his voice still low and just maybe also holding onto laughter. Then he seemed to snap out of it, turning back to the others. “And of course, you’ve met Tim?”

Sam rolled her eyes and shook Tim’s hand too, and flicked Tucker in the forehead when he held his out with a shit eating grin.

“We went to high school, asshole, we do not need a fancy introduction,” she told him sharply.

“Oh, you already know Tucker?” Jason affected great surprise, moving very subtly until it looked like he was gently edging Danny out of the conversation.

It gave Danny a chance to check out his shoulders and maybe sneak a peek at his ass in those pants, so it was a win in his book.

Mrs Manson’s too, obviously, as she was visibly brightening by the second, even bestowing a warm smile on Tucker himself.

“Oh yes, he’s been one of Samantha’s best friends since she was just a teenager! Very close to the family,” she oozed, and Danny bit the inside of his lip to hide a grin.

Even Tucker looked a little shell shocked, but he pulled the smile back up before it became obvious.

“How did you two meet, by the way?” Mr Manson asked, looking calculatingly between Tucker and Jason. “I wasn’t aware you’d visited Gotham before, Tucker.”

Tim swooped in to field that one, so he was definitely in on the act now. What fun.

“Oh, they met through my work. Mr Foley here does some very impressive technical engineering, and I came across him scouting for a very prestigious internship position at WE. Jason came early to meet me after work on the same day as Tucker’s interview.”

And Tucker was right back to wide eyed awe. Quickly scooping his jaw off the floor, he puffed himself up, overcompensating a little in the rush of glee.

“Yeah! I was super honoured to get that far, and then Jason and I got to chatting on my way out. Of course I had no idea who you were,” he added quickly, grinning at Jason.

Jason shrugged modestly, keeping most of his attention on Sam.

“My unfortunate circumstances left my social life the real casualty I’m afraid. I don’t really know many people my own age.”

“Oh, perhaps you and Samantha can spend some time together then,” Mrs Manson gushed, immediately jumping on the opportunity, hand in the small of Sam’s back fully shoving her forward.

Sam narrowed her eyes, giving her mother a reasonably convincing glare.

“Mom, I’m here with Danny,” she stressed, reaching back to grab Danny’s hand and pull him after her.

Danny, still enjoying Jason’s shoulders from behind, nearly bumped into her from the sudden tug.

Jason gave them both another shot of that dazzling smile, stepping to the side like he’d never been blocking Danny. Which was a shame, since it meant the Mansons could see him again.

Mrs Manson visibly soured, then brightened again as Jason spoke.

“I’d love to spend some more time with both of you. I was just giving Tucker a quick tour of the venue, since it’s his first Gotham gala. Would you like to join us?” He offered, eyes still fixed on Sam.

She gave a barely mollified huff and allowed him to take her other arm.

“Fine. I need to show Danny where the bathrooms are anyway,” she declared, letting Jason lead them away from her parents.

Tim gave some quick apologies and hurried after them, all five teens falling silent to hear the Mansons as they left.

Not that it was hard.

“Isn’t that the alley trash Bruce took in?” Mr Manson asked, his voice barely quieter than his regular conversation.

“He is a Wayne now and besides, he has better prospects than that Fenton,” Mrs Manson hissed back, at least pretending to be more discreet.

Danny stifled a snicker as Tim gave him a sympathetic smile.

“Lovely people, your folks. Jason’s filled me in about them not letting you bring your girlfriend,” he said to Sam, and she rolled her eyes.

“They’re the fucking worst. I take it you’re in?” She asked, and Tim nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh, always. I get dragged to these things more often than any of my siblings, so anything to make it more tolerable,” he added with a modest shrug.

Jason snickered, keeping Sam’s hand in his mostly for appearances.

“Your own fault for buying in to the family business, Timbo,” he teased and Tim stuck his tongue out at him.

“Yeah, well, it’s your fault I’m here this time, so the least you can do is keep me entertained,” he shot back cheerfully.

“Jason’s fault? How so?” Tucker asked innocently, keeping pace with Tim and trying not to look like an actual puppy. Game number two, Fucking With Siblings, was apparently still on.

Jason rolled his eyes, very intentionally not looking at Danny.

“Yeah Tim, why is it my fault?” He asked, clearly not expecting Tim to fess up.

Tim, of course, grinned straight at Danny.

“He told us we could meet his new friend the danger twink if we came tonight,” he said, entirely shamelessly.

Sam cackled, her grip tightening on Danny’s hand as she shot him a spectacularly filthy grin. Tucker sputtered and nearly tripped.

Danny felt his cheeks heat, but grinned back.

“Danger twink? Really?” He asked, turning and looking up at Jason. Whoooo still wasn’t looking at him.

“They came up with it,” he said stolidly, just the faintest hint of a smile on his face.

Tim nodded cheerfully, but whatever he was about to say was cut off by the next call from the top of the stairs.

“Mr Vladimir Masters!”

Danny actually did trip, stumbling into Sam and pushing her into Jason.

“Holy fucking shit what?!” He gasped, head whipping around a little faster than should be normal.

Tucker stared at him for a long, slow moment as Jason’s hands came up, steadying the pair of them.

“You fucking forgot Vlad was coming,” he said with a slowly dawning awe.

Danny, really doing his best not to beat his head off Jason’s very muscular arm, buried his face in the other man’s suit instead.

“I fucking forgot Vlad was coming,” he mumbled into very expensive fabric.

Sam burst out laughing, letting her weight sag into Jason too so she didn’t have to hold herself up.

He, the unfairly muscular bastard, was having no trouble supporting both of them.

Tucker’s entirely graceless snort of laughter almost covered Danny’s loud groan, and he treated himself to one bonk off a flexed tricep.

Ow.

Solid bastard. His life was just awesome today.

—————-

Next Chapter:

#dp x dc #dpxdc #dc x dp #danny fenton dead and loving it #dead on main #jason todd x danny fenton #the gala begins!!!! #and also is gonna be at least one more chapter #maybe two #i totally never at any point forgot vlad was gonna be there hush #just danny

[basilf1res]

"Project Gh05T"

I did it. :'D

Okay, first of all- so many of you liked this???? Seriously- This was a brain blurb that I came up with during a Pathfinder session (DnD but different somehow?- It's fun!).

This will be slow to update- so ignore the "1/1 Chapter" thing, there will be more.

And uh- a lot of you wanted a continuation so, tags :D

@frostedthroughghost @akikoyuii @spiteismymiddlename @thefearfullone @confusionchaos @mewzaque @rainbowbunny0159 @seraphinedemort @the-legal-shipper @talafairy @lehana37 @mnemovoid @2t-productions @tlise21 @beelze-the-bubkiss @valiantsuitcaseskellington @kyrianclawraith @timdrakeismysoulmate @mayoota-blog1 @ariaicefall @cloethetealsnake @serasvictoria02 @thefanficcup @jaggedheart11 @longlivethefallen @readerkayden @meira-3919 @jaytriesstuff

H-holy shit there's so many of you 😭😭

#dp x dc #dc x dp #danny phantom #tim drake #danny fenton #tim drake x danny fenton #brainrot #ao3 #project GH05T #dick grayson #damian wayne #danny fenton is a little shit #danny fenton is an invasive species #haha he's a virus #silly little computer virus #funky little man #danny is a computer virus #but only sometimes #im too invested #there's no turning back #why is this community so nice 😭 #there's no going back once i post this

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline Part 5

“Tt-” Damian opened his phone as soon as he received the second notification, his ‘colleges’ were making too much insipid noise.

“What just happened,” Hal held his head in his hands. He really thought nothing else’s could surprise him anymore. Monsters, magic, hell Hal dealt with aliens everyday… yeah right he dealt with aliens every day. Different cultures, values and morals. And after all what’s an interdenominational demon but another type of alien? Hal settled down next to Barry, this wasn’t bad. Right this wasn’t bad at all kids an are still just kids no matter the species.

Clark took control of the meeting outlining everything that had happened and going over the next steps with the magicians. Constantine insured everyone that there was such a thing as ‘good’ demon, but that they were not the type to want to involve themselves with humans … like at all. Which left the group at an impasse.

“I’m not saying she’s evil or anything! She might just be a sweet girl but she is still dangerous. Demons are known for their greed and deception. Even if she isn’t strong enough to fight any of us she can just as easily trick one of you idiots out of your lives.” John hated all of this. He hated working with the justice losers, he hated himself for dragging a kid into this mess and he was just so tired.

Red Robin fingers were clicking quick and sharp, making a file on Konstelacio. Writing down looks, personality and of course theories. “Tim! You can’t just put in “ex-criminal” or “disease” maybe her skin is just like that!”

“Then why wasn’t any of it on her face?”

“Tt- unlike the rest of you, some of us are actually doing something important here.”

“Robin we are trying to strategize-“

“Yes well I am am trying to zero in on her location.”

The room quieted.

“Robin report.”

“She was in Wisconsin a few minutes ago, some forest in the middle of nowhere. I’ll share the coordinates.” Dick was absolutely appalled, “When did you put a tracker on her?!?! Oh my god what if she figures it out and comes back to hurt you! What were you thinking?” Wait… no, oh damn it Damian, “It was on the handkerchief wasn’t it?” That’s why Damian had been so ready to part with it. He would admit that it was clever, but this was his little brother! Dick had every right to worry.

“Well where is she now?”

“Pismo, California where else.”

Barry felt Hal tense next to him, “Bear, Bear please tell me that isn’t where the dragon is.”

——- —- —- —- —- —- —- —— —— —— —— ——

Billy Batson boarded the javelin, missions with Dr. Fate were the worst! He missed Nelson. The man had a way of making conversation, of keeping Nabu silent. This new Dr Fate just didn’t know went to stop, and was just so uptight! No wonder Klarion hates the guy.

Billy sighed at least he’d be home soon. Well one of them at least… he wondered if his family would be done moving into the new house yet. Ugh Gotham

#Ghost Helpline #danny phantom #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #billy batson #batman #clones #batfam #Helpline part 5 #@busterkeel #@alikoyuii #@vixen uichah #@mayoota blog1 #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@in4lov3r #@icedbluesoul

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline Part 12

Zatanna had told Batman her misgivings about the demon girl. Her aura made Zatanna feel small, and dirty. As if she was covered in a layer of dust she could never scrub off.

Her eyes, Zatanna had never seen a demon with golden eyes before. Red and blue, even green but gold? Gold felt like an omen.

The girl reeked of death magic. It was brutally strong. It reminded her when Batman had contacted her about the Lazarus Pit. His expression when she told Batman spoke volumes.

And what the girl got in payment spoke even louder.

Zatanna’s father always had warned her demons were evil.

—- —- —-

Black Canary was busy strangling her husband as Batman went over the minutes.

“Our cameras were unable to pick up much of anything Batman, sorry.”

“It’s fine I remember the demons explanation well enough. First-“

“I CANNOT Believe you could be so stupid! Oliver ! What were you thinking!”

“Sorry sorry!”

Superman pulled a grim smile, “Canary please tell some sense into the man later. If this has taught us anything is that we need to be more prepared.”

“Right we will talk about this later Oliver,” Canary released her husband onto their seat, fuming and lovingly worried.

The green archer picked him self up and turned to the blond magician currently drinking himself to death, “Hey what do you think was up with Konstelacio? Poor girl wasn’t looking too hot.”

Dinha will always admire her husbands caring nature but god sometimes she just wanted to shake him.

Barry released a sigh, “So it want just me then! She really didn’t look to good! She was even acting differently! Want if she hurt? Or in trouble?”

“Bear calm.”

John shuffled threw a stack of paper on Vampire Fog. Bloody hell, for the price of this information the kid really hadn’t asked for much. But the rest of them weren’t going to see it that way.

“She’s -“

“Are you serious? Are you lot seriously worrying about a demon? After what just happened!” Zatanna really couldn’t understand these guys sometimes it was sweet but also incredibly naïve.

“Hey now it was my choice okay I signed the contract with her. We need this cure, ten hours of my life isn’t much in comparison! And I know that so can all of you just stop!” Oliver could understand why they were upset he could. But why couldn’t the see that the girl had cut them some slack… again! In a room of self sacrificing idiot it wouldn’t have been hard to sell her an entire life. Or if her interest in Connor was any indication an entire soul.

“Everyone just hold your bloody horses okay! She’s probably fine looks like she’s got a bit of teleportation sickness that’s all, a magical equivalent of dehydration really. Some rest and food and she’ll be right as rain in no time.”

John said as he fumbled around for their copy of the contract, which was another thing demons typically didn’t let you keep a copy.

Barry vibrated in his seat. Robin, Nightwing, Kid Flash and Superboy (Jon) walked into the meeting. Barry couldn’t concentrate ‘teleportation sickness’, was she teleporting too much? Were … were they hurting her by summoning her? ‘Rest and food’? Was she not resting ? Not eating? What do demons eat? Barry felt his best friend put a hand on his shoulder, and welcome the boys. Right they could talk about this later…. may be Diana would understand.

“Fucking hell,” John was internally screaming as he looked over the contract, “Well then Arrow looks like your contract is air tight- however there is one vague loophole. And a kind one at that.”

Canary shot up in her seat, “What is it?”

John continued, “In the case that contractee cannot fulfill this request another may do so but only at the acceptance of both parties.”

The contract went on for several more pages, goddamn what nutter even wrote this shit?

(Ghost Writer did and made Konstelacio carry around several with her at all times.)

“Wait wait wait,” Wally zipped out, “What happened ? What contract?”

Dinha was too upset for this, nodding to Diana before Oliver opened his mouth to down play the whole thing.

“Well what happened is-“

—- —- —-

// Diana wanted to give the girl the benefit of the doubt, she wanted to get to know her. To hear stories of Pandora and make a new sister. So when Diana saw Konstelacio’s entrance she was worried, “What do you want as payment? I’m sure we can work something out.” Smile Diana don’t scare her, she looks hurt.

Konstelacio looked about the room, Diana hid a smile she really hadn’t thought this threw. Well it was alright, Diana tapped absent mindedly on her sword maybe she could convince a trade for sword lesson? A trip to paradise island? May be Hal was right and they should offer a pet ?

The demons eyes flicked between Flash and Green Arrow. Left, right, left, right, left, left, left. “Him,” she pointed at the archer, “I want him.”

The Amazonian got into a defensive stance. No one was taking her friend.

“No!” “No way!” “Arrow no!” “Stop!”

“Hold on hold on now,” John approached the circle, “You can’t expect us to hand over one of our own. You can find someone else to eat.”

“I don’t want to eat him!”

“You want his soul then?”

“Not really I just want him, I try not to dabble in souls too much. It’s too much work.”

“Too much work? Then what would you need a person for ? Humans are really boring you know, lots of work and needy!”

The demon pouted, “I don’t care I want him!”

John pat Oliver on the back as he nodded to Diana mouthing “play along”.

“Oh well I guess I tried, oh well GA say your goodbyes! I’m sure your wife will miss you very much old friend.” He shook his head sadly, “We will have to call your son. Well then girl how would you like to-“

“WAIT!” Konstelacio wobbled, “You’re married.”

Dinha rushed to Oliver’s side as if to shield him, “Yes he is.”

Oliver picked up on the act, “Yes here she is my better half.”

A look ran across the child’s face, “Well then I can’t have you then.” She stared to breathe a little harder.

“What about me?”

“Superboy!”

“If you don’t care about souls then it shouldn’t matter that I am a clone and I’m not married.”

Hera Conner no! What is he-

“Who said that!!!” The demons face began to shift in color, anger steaming out of every pore.

“What?”

“Who said that you don’t have a soul because you’re a clone? You have one! You have one I see it!” She begun to clench her hands into the skirt of her dress, “Where you like it or not, clone or no clone, Superboy you were meant to be here.”

“Oh I -“

“Forget it. I don’t want you anyway. I need the archer,” she begun to pace the inside of the circle, “But I can’t break up a set!”

She turned to face them, “Ten I want ten hours of your life.”

“Deal.” //

—- —- —-

While the boys sat and digest what they just heard, Constantine finished reading over the cures recipe.

“Bloody hell are you kidding me it’s an energy potion!”

“What’s an energy potion?”

“The cure Z the cure to fucking Vampires Fog is fucking magic caffeine!! Maybe even real caffeine I dunno I’m not a chemist!”

Zatanna took the offending papers glancing over them. She stopped at some papers that were bound together the first page titled like a story book, “Hunting the Sun”.

“What’s this?”

“That is our historical insight to the disease, or at least some of it. No doubt Konstelacio has a better understanding on everything.” And more than likely has already chosen what side she’s on.

Nightwing stepped up to look at the little booklet with Zatanna, “So what is it what’s the story on Vampires Fog? I assume this might lead us to what caused the out break?”

Clark coughed as he stole a look at Bruce. The Bat was updating the files on the disease, he had an idea and as Clark recounted the explanation Konstelacio had given them he hoped that they were both wrong.

—- —- —-

// Clark watched as Oliver signed an agreement that would lead to an early grave, for being Superman he felt both powerless and grateful.

“Alright so first off Vampire Fog was not a disease released from Pandora’s box. The sickness was man made to eradicate their enemies.

The illness is meant to cause the infected to move and think erratically. Leading them to ether kill them selves or kill each other. If anyone survived this stage the next stage would put them to sleep rendering them defenseless.

One side says Vampires made it to level a kingdom in the aftermath of a botched marriage. Some sort of petty revenge.

Another side says the humans made it. The king was a zealot that refused to marry off his daughter to a kingdom of monsters. So when the wedding day came, the humans infected the whole city.”

After that the conversation had devolved and slowed. Batman didn’t ask any questions it was worrying, when was the last time he slept?

—- —- —-

“What the Boy Scout said, it’s a bloody sodding mess.”

Damian stopped to think about this politically, he stopped to think over all of this not like a Wayne but like an Al Ghul. It didn’t sit right with him, the occurrence of this disease and new information way too much of a coincidence. Someone must have planned it on purpose.

“So we have two completely different stories of origin so what ? We got the cure what does it matter whether the humans or the vampires made the disease?”

Diana fixed the young super with a motherly look, “Knowing about the past can help us protect the future. For example know we know that ether way the illness is something consciously made. Which means someone must have made it and released it on purpose.”

“Right now we just need to figure out why.”

“Tt- isn’t it obvious the vampire scum are behind this if humans are the only ones getting sick?”

Boston, visible thanks to John, stepped in,

”Actually a lot of magical creatures have been infected too! They are just a lot better at hiding it. Especially in the larger cities, word is a whole gaggle of vampires died not to long ago from it.”

Zatanna nodded her head, “It would explain why some creatures have been causing havoc in broad daylight- uh - In front of everyone. Magical creatures usually prefer to keep hidden. But if they were sick and could help it. They would rampage regardless of wether regular humans could see them or not.”

Hal thought about the hundreds of times he had to play mediator over the years. He thought of all the aliens and everything they would do to win. God he hated politics, “so ether a group of humans or vampires did this in order to play the blame game. The human group could easy point at magical creatures and blame them for being out of control monsters. Or vampires could be making everyone sick in order to blame the sickness on humans while also looking like the victim.”

The league talked over political moves as they passed the little booklet around. Batman had sent the magians out to gather information and Boston had come back with a lot of it.

The book finally made its way to Green Arrow, he flipped the pages and stopped at the drawing of a castle. It was an old European style with only two distinctive traits. A tower with circle windows and a circle on the entrance grounds covered in swirls.

// “My home! My castle! My kingdom ! Everything’s changed.”//

After the “fight” with the dragon, Oliver had done some detective work of his own. He needed to know more about this ghost and had found almost nothing. But looking at this drawing, he recognized that castle.

The archer looked up at Batman, his shoulders were hunched taking in and writing down every piece of information he heard. His face was passive and he didn’t even bother to look at his sons. Oliver thought about Batman’s distrust of Konstelacio and in turn Captain Marvel. He thought about what he had heard about the two leaguers fight, swallowed and decided to keep his mouth shut.

Batman didn’t need to know.

#ghost helpline #helpline part 12 #danny phantom #batman #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #billy batson #clones #the justice league #@alikoyuii #@busterkeel #@mayoota blog1 #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@vixen uichah #@icedbluesoul #batfam #@mimilikey #@mysticsoulgirl #@dodekakophonie

[elvesandlanterns]

Bruce’s Interlude Warning! Unfulfilled smut

- this takes place between chapters so you don’t have to read it especially if you don’t like smut anyway enjoy!

Against popular belief Bruce was not entirely emotionally incompetent. He could realize somethings about himself quite well.

He could realize the the strain between him and Tim was his own fault.

He could realize that most of his relationships with his sons were his fault.

He could realize that ever even looking in Talias direction had been a mistake.

He could realize that Catwoman never loved Bruce only Batman.

He knew when he was physically attracted to someone, and often his playboy persona was perfect for it. So yes he was attracted to Vlad but he wasn’t going to make a move. He wasn’t.

Vlad didn’t show any inclination of liking Bruce more than a friend. He called Bruce that a lot, his friend. He didn’t deserve it.

Bruce knew he was selfish.

Utterly selfish. Bruce was use to harsh quips and leather. But Vlad was different, he was all snark with no bite and softness that lulled the caped crusader under.

Bruce was selfish and wanted anyway.

He wanted to sleep on top of his plush looking thighs. He wanted to take care of this vulnerable man who loved his children and baked and tried to make Bruce smile on bad days. He wanted to take care of Vlad who sometimes looked at his children with sad eyes. Who crumpled to the ground when Bruce had accidentally called him Vladdie once.

Bruce’s heart sputters when he’s called Vlads friend. And he pretends to be emotionally unaware as to why.

—- —- —-

They’re warm and snug into the couch of Vlad’s living room watching a K-drama when it starts.

Bruce doesn’t have the words to tell the silver haired father that he is falling for him. Somehow he ends up allowed to kiss him anyway.

Allowed to soak in the man’s sigh as their mouths part for air. To pepper his face with kisses and watch that gentle smile paint his face. The same one Vlad makes when he’s secretly, utter fond of something. Like deserts, and his children’s screams and cheesy cliches in movies. Bruce wants to earn one of those smiles.

Bruce kisses his neighbors mouth again. Hands roving over his sides, perching themselves on that wonderful tummy and squeezing. Vlad gasps prettily as he licks down the man’s throat.

Bruce is hard in his trousers and has to stop himself from jumping his companion. If he could he’d smack himself for the audacity, Vlad wasn’t Selina or Talia or any of his countless flings. Vlad was fragile and soft and perfect.

“Mmuh,” the man in question groans, fuck. Fuck when had Bruce started touching Vlad like that. He looked down at his hand that were playing with Vlads tummy, skirting around his bulge.

Bruce moves his hands up to cares his face before his kisses him again. He wants to take this slow. Wants this to work.

“Ahh ah Bruce,” legs spread.

Bruce slots himself into the space instead of taking his own advice. And is rewarded with Vlad lifting his hips up to rub their erections together. His resolve snaps and he is rutting down on his partner like a horny inexperienced teenager. It feels so good, so warm. Vlad runs his hands gently threw the vigilantes hair, there’s no pulling it doesn’t hurt. It makes Bruce slow down and kiss him again.

Bruce props pillows behind Vlad and picks him up by the legs until he’s sitting down at the edge of the couch. “Hhhmmm Bruce what are you doing?” Amusement filling his features.

Bruce slides off the couch, Vlad’s legs twitched around him. He leaned into the aborted touch and laid his cheek on a thigh. Bruce was again at a loss for words he didn’t know what he was doing. This is all he wanted.

All he wanted was to be allowed to rest in Vlad’s thighs and breathe. He gripped the meat of his partners thighs closer to his head, turning his head to kiss the thigh he was laying on.

“Oh, oh Bruce.”

His entire being stiffened. No, no no! Why did Vlad sound sad? He wasn’t supposed to be sad anymore, Bruce’s stomach twisted. What had he done wrong?

He looked up at the man that had filled his life with so much light. Vlad was crying, why why was he crying? Bruce could apologize, he could fix this he could-

“I have to go now.”

Go where? No no no. Don’t go! Don’t leave him alone please, please. Bruce shut his eyes, remembering being abandoned at the alter. He didn’t want to be alone anymore.

“You lied to me.”

Bruce shook, and swallowed as his throat dried. Batman. Always Batman he-

Hands caressed his head, Bruce had lied about being Batman and Vlad still-

“Oh darling. You can’t save me.”

Bruce’s head spun, his heart lurched.

“You can’t save me.”

What ? No he-

“You can’t save me. “

No no no wait ! Bruce reached out and his fingers connected to noting.

-

Bruce wakes up in a quiet house, cold and alone. He sits up in his own bed uncomfortably hard in his pants and feels nothing but shame.

He sees his phone charging on the bedside and ignores Vlad’s texts. He doesn’t deserve to inflict his brokenness on to the kind man.

Bruce regrets his self punishment four days later.

It causes him to hate himself more. It starts the vicious cycle all of Bruce’s relationship go threw. It’s a routine a more emotionally aware person would be able to notice and maybe even stop.

#danny phantom #batman #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #@dodekakophonie #@busterkeel #@alikoyuii #@mayoota blog1 #@roseisred #@icedbluesoul #@vixen uichah #@vixen-uiuchah #Bruce/vlad #fruit bat

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline chapter 40

Secrets before dinner 3

Jack peered closely at the green vials, “No way, you actually pulled off recreating a medical grade ecto degecto?!!”

“What like it’s hard?” This bitch.

Before the two could start another fight Ziyad placed their hand down on the little vamps shoulder. Ziyad took over the conversation quickly, “This is great Wilbur, I assume were being given the test batch?”

“Well I cant just go around poisoning my patients now can I？” the manic man laughed, “Though I suppose I can but that would be bad for business.”

Ziyad held back sighs, he admittedly hated working with Wilbur but this was for the greater good. Magical creatures (half breeds his mind unwontedly whispered to him) in the mortal world needed healthcare, and they surly weren’t getting it. Trust came hard to them. Understandably. And while king Phantom was doing his best he couldn’t be everywhere at once. And even if he could be there would always be a sour taste at accepting aide from royalty.

No instead people were more willing, happier even to seek out black market healing guilds like Wilburs. At least then you knew exactly what the catch is.

“Im sure your clientele appreciate it.” Ziyads smile stretched thin. He really hated working with Wilbur, “Speaking of your clientele, when can I schedule my sister to see you?”

Ecto degecto was still in its infancy of being considered a universal blood type for magic kind, but for the death touched it was a necessity. A necessity they weren’t even sure she needed or not. It would be best to check, and Wilburs guild was good at gathering info on his sisters illness. It probably helped that their family paid him so well. Ziyad thought as he bit the inside of his cheek raw.

—- —- ——

Tims heart raced, his sister? His sister?!!! Tim could sill remember the first time he saw the Masters family. The were all gathered about laughing and smiling. They looked so happy.

She looked happy, wheelchair bound and attempting to run her siblings down.

He’d been jealous. Jealous and sad. And suddenly any thoughts of Vlad Masters being some up and coming big bad had disappeared from his mind and he sold his old empty house on the spot. As if the money could somehow be as warm as that laughter.

No no after that first meeting he never suspected Vlad Masters.

He should have suspected his son. Tim grimaced at his own sense of vindication. Guess there not such a happy family after all.

— —- ——

Jason was actually properly shocked at what he heard. …Was …..was this guy EXPERIMENTING on his sister!!! Green threaded to swallow him whole, how dare he! How dare he hurt someone like that! Hurt his family! Hurt a kid.

Holy shit the kid!

Was the kid his sister?? They needed to intervene now!

This sick fuck is going down.

—- —- —-

Jack wasn’t named after anyone in particular. Violet had renamed him far before she had met the Masters family. Far before they knew. /that/ story. Before any of the kids knew about any of the stories that came before them and by then the name Jack had stuck. But being called Red, even as a code name, felt special in its own way.

Violet and Red like a ridiculous beautiful color combination a pair idiots would make up. And they did. Violet, Konstelacio and Red, Jack. The first time around he had been named Jack because it was common, grounding, easy to play off as foreigner trying to fit in. It was practical. But Red? Red was like roses and hearts and blood and Violet. Like being renamed to compliment her entirely. It made him feel secure.

Now if only it also wasn’t also so common.

“It’s Red —-Red——!”

What ?

All Jack heard was his own name as he tripped over the side of a table clutching his stomach as a bullet wizzed by. Crying out as the bond between him and Violet chooses right then and there to flare up terribly.

“Red!”

“Kid! Oh my gods they shot Red!”

—- —- —-

Ziyad feels something off. Gotham was full of shades and shadows and spirts. He had grown use to the felling of being watched but this felt different. Different he scoured the warehouse turning his eyes up the window just as glass shatters to the ground, damn it, “Its Red Hood and Red Robin!! Get down!” He cant reach Jack before he falls yelping in pain clutching his side, he can hear Wilburs yell clearly too clearly, “Kid! Oh my gods! They shot Red!”

He’ll think about how horrible he is later. Later in bed he’ll think about what Reds blood hands and never seeing that kid in the kitchen at fucking midnight ever again. How he’d never get to hear him and — argue over mechanics and science ever again. Later he’ll think about how lucky they all are to not be mortal. Later, later Ziyad will tear himself apart over his piss poor decision making.

But in the moment all he can think about as he sees the kid get shot is, ‘shit, Violets never going to forgive me.’

He doesn’t think at all as Red Hood rounds closer to them, doesn’t pull back his punch because whoever this guy is he is most defiantly not mortal. Not anymore. And while Ziyad might not be a halfa, he is also defiantly not mortal. He doesn’t think and punched Red Hoods helmet hard enough to crack it.

—- —- —-

Jason is momentarily thrown at the shout of “Oh my gods! They shot Red!” Whipping his head around to look at Tim. Tim whose throat he cut, Tim who he hurt and ignored and mistreated. He looks for only a second and a second is all the man needs to get one over on him.

Gripping his head Jason dodges a kick rights himself back up. The kid is on the floor behind them, shes on the floor. Just like Tim. Jason hadn’t been aiming at her. He didn’t mean to.

Swing. The bastard doesn’t let up for a minute and it takes too long for him to realize the space growing between them and the kid until its to late. Beanie guy throwing various liquids at Red Robin as he yanks the pink teen up harshly and makes a dash for it. Whatever he threw at Tim is turning to smoke, odviscating his view of the man he’s fighting.

All he can see is green eyes. All Jason can hear is Tim choking on smoke. On his own blood. On the blood Jason put there.

Oh it is on!

—- —- ——

The vigilantes take stalk of their surroundings. The men had run off with the case of lazerous water but several crates remained, Marked with letters SBS. Tim walked over to the closest one, he had work to do.

He does his best to block out the sound of Jason behind him, he cant do this right now. He cant. Focus on the case. Focus on the case. This was way bigger than the initial drug ring he assumed it would be and he needed as much info as he could get.

“I need an explanation Tim! And I need one now.” He heard his brother growled out, lovely.

Ignoring his questions he pried the top of the box open. What the hell. What the actual hell? This wasn’t drugs or lazerous water this was so much worse.

“Jason shut up.”

“Fuck no you -“

“Jason shut up and look.”

The crate was insulated, cold. And filled with blood bags.

#danny phantom #dp x dc #dc x dp #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #@starkcravingmad #@akikoyuii #@mayoota blog1 #@vixen uichah #@r4inlov3r #Tim Drake is paranoid

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline part 8

All in all Uncle Dans lecture had been rather short and to the point. There had been no yelling, no anger, no demeaning or things thrown. While there had been a scowl at hearing the term Uncle he took Konstelacios explanation in stride. Dan sighed a lot but he wasn’t angry.

So why did she feel so awful? Uncle Dan always had anger problems, but she trusted him ether way. How couldn’t she after surviving an entire war with him. She was use to anger, she could take anger. Not, not whatever this was.

Konstelacio felt pressure push down on her chest. She didn’t like this at all! Her head hurt, yelling would have been easier.

//“ Let me get this straight. You did a favor for the Justice League and for payment you asked for loose change?!!!!”//

She rubbed at her horns in a attempt to soothe herself. They didn’t know who she was, it’s not as if she had defamed the family in any way. It’s not as if she asked for money directly… then again maybe that would have been better. She may be a Masters but it’s not as if any of the money was hers. She frowned, was it because she didn’t assert herself for their house? Had she made them look poor?

The little demon hunched in on herself she hadn’t meant to do any of that at all. Thank god she didn’t mention the handkerchief.

At the thought of the article she pulled it out and looked at it along with the rest of her prizes. She smiled a tad lopsided, “Looks like I need a belt.” And she knew someone just tech savvy enough to make her one.

— — —-

Dan was tired, but sated. Better than being soup in a thermos shaped cell. He missed war.

The fight for the throne hadn’t been as easily won as Danny’s family had assumed. Pariah, Dark had been gone for too long, the infinite realms cutting themselves into pieces. Distancing themselves, becoming stagnant, refusing to allow a ‘ghost’ of all beings rule them again. But Danny had grown to be more than that; a child of death herself, true balance, the great one. Dan snickered to himself, what a lame title.

Dan had demanded his place among the throngs of soldiers. He had earned his place as general. He killed and fought… and protected. Jazz was his sister again, his confidant (therapist). So when she pulled him a side one day to ask him a favor, Dan said yes.

Dan should have asked more questions.

Dan ended up keeping an eye on three forever children on a battle field. Which was easier said than done. They were reckless, suicidal shit heads with everything to prove. And they did; the witch boy, the host, the demon-ling. He hated to say it but the war might have not been won with out them. It hurt to think about.

It hurt to think about Vlad swooping in and giving them what Dan couldn’t. It hurt to see the host be a hero instead of a child. It hurt to see the demon sell her abilities for change. He huffed, flaming hair waving. At least the witch had the sense to run away from those that used him.

Dan sighed and signed and signed and signed papers. Fucking Aragon.

—- —- —-

No one paid attention as Booster Gold hobbled threw the doors. Blue Beetle should be in soon. Some of the leaguers even rolled their eyes honestly Booster was such a douche.

They ignored him as he practically threw himself on the couch, holding his ice pack to his head. So the idiot had also managed to get himself injured. Huh figures.

“Hey! Nightwing!”

“Haha hey Booster! How was space?”

“Crazy! Hey what’s up with everyone?”

“It’s along story.”

“I got time.”

“Honestly Booster it’d probably be faster for me to give you a copy of the reports.”

“Ugh reading! Come onnnn.”

Nightwing figured he could humor the man for a few minutes, “Well long story short we meet a demon.”

“Mmmhhhmm”

“They seem to be helping us but we just want to get more info on her to be careful.”

“Wow a real demon. Was she hot?”

“She was like 13.”

Booster got quite in a way Nightwing wouldn’t recognize until later, “Oh word? What did she look like?”

“All the footage was corrupted but Robin managed to make us a decent sketch.”

Booster Gold got everyone’s attention when he almost face planted onto Dicks tablet, “Oh my god! Oh my god! Did she have metal legs?”

“You mean boots yeah she had metallic …”

“Oh my god! And stripes right!!!” Booster was practice on-top of Nightwing dopey smile on display.

Dick thought back to the mass of black cracks on the girls body, “Stripes?”

“Oh MY Ancients! It Konny!!! I’ve missed her so much!” Booster started to laugh before devolving into tears, “I hope she’s not working for CW anymore. Last time I heard she was on trial for some bogus shit. I hope she’s okay.”

Booster continued to cry as Kord came in glared daggers an Nightwing and took off with his husband.

Dick stared at the open door, “What just happened???” His eyes widened as he stood up ‘Konny’ he never told Booster her name.

— —- —- —-

#ghost helpline #helpline part 8 #the justice league #batman #shazam #billy batson #danny phantom #dc x dp #dp x dc #@alikoyuii #@vixen uichah #@mayoota blog1 #@busterkeel #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@mimilikey #@icedbluesoul #@dodekakophonie

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost a helpline part 10

Uncle Tucker part 2: conversations are had and the Masters family finally move to Gotham.

Diana could practically see her comrades sputtering at the Captains words. She felt conflicted, “I understand Marvel you are also my brother in arms. The trust I have in all of you because of that is very important to me. We are not writing her off as a threat nor are we going to go after her.” At this she threw a pointed look at Bruce, “We just want some information on her that’s all. We don’t know anything about her and are justified in being cautious. “

“From my understanding you all decided it was a good idea to contact her not the other way around. And now the Batman is going to do what he does best and come up with contingencies because he feels insecure.”

Diana put her hand on Clark’s tense shoulder.

“Captain that is not-“

“The same way you’ve been trying to find my weaknesses for years. So if you’re that desperate to find one then here. She is my weakness and if anything happens to her I don’t know what will happen. Do you understand me?”

“Marvel! We are not-“

“Understood.” Batman grunted, “I still have questions.”

“So do I.”

Diana looked between them and shared a look with Clark, hopeful Batman would know what not to ask…. Clark opened his mouth first, “You two were in a war?”

A grin, “What did you think I just made up the Captain part of my name for kicks?” a humorless laugh left him.

“Right that makes sense, you’ve been around along time but isn’t she too young.”

“In a way, Konstelacio is considered a ‘forever child’ uhh she’s pretty much stuck that age.”

“So she just has the body of a teen but is actually an adult.”

“No she is a kid, and always will be. She’s just sorta stuck. She may have lived a long life but she’s still a child.”

Diana pondered over it. It’s wasn’t anything she didn’t expect. She was even use to it, on Paradise Island children were taught to fight, to kill when necessary. War was something Diana knew. But it felt wrong.

“A demon child with resources, connections and reality altering powers.”

“She’s a child who loves her family, collects trinkets and helps people.”

“But who exactly is she helping. What is stopping her from being summoned by Lex Luthor or Felix Faust or any number of villains.”

“She can decide who to help and who not to help you know. They can’t force her. Trust me they’d be sorry if they tried.”

“You just said she’s a child, anything could happen. They wouldn’t have to force her when they could manipulate her.”

Diana smiled leave it to Bruce to care about a child he barely meet, even when he was scared of them.

“Also we can’t just allow a potential danger to run around buying souls.”

Diana took it back, Bruce was making a mess.

—- —- —-

Konstelacio followed the guard to the sitting room, Uncle Tuckers kingdom always felt comfortable to her. It was warm, sun filled and quite frankly Konstelacio had a lot of leeway here. A type of get out of jail free card that made her feel safe, but also nervous. She would not embarrass her family again, not here.

She bowed to her uncle as he entered the room, “I greet Pharaoh Tuck, Prince Consort to High King Phant-“

“That is enough my constellation, Princess Violet how many times must I ask that you call me Uncle?”

“I only mean to show my respect.”

“None needed come here. Tell me what I can do.”

“What I didn’t !” Had he heard from Dan already?

“Come on Violet I know you and I know that if you came here for help it must be something big.” Her Uncles smiles always looked genuine, she loved them.

“It’s a long story.”

“Eat some snacks and tell me everything.”

—- —- —-

Well that had been a mess Clark thought after both the dark knight and Captain had stormed out. Clark still wasn’t sure were he stood on the matter, he didn’t want to make the same mistakes he made with Connor. But just like with Connor none of them had enough information. It was time to call another meeting, ugh and invite Constantine to it.

Clark stopped walking, wait wasn’t there a demon on the Titans?

—- —- —-

Vlad’s eldest, Dandy Masters, parked the car outside the Gotham estate. Their new home was located far enough away that their neighbors wouldn’t be able to hear them scream, the manor was gothically decrepit, and the outside plants looked dead. It’s perfect thought Vlad, just perfect.

—- —- —-

Tucker nearly spat his coffee, “YOU MEET BATMAN.”

- The guards outside the door twitched, their pharaoh never yelled. He sounded shocked and was quickly shhhuhed by the princess. Hopefully this Batman would not be causing ether of them stress in future. The bird like guard pursed his beak, whoever this bat was did bode well. He would have to tell the others to keep their swords sharp.

“You SWINDLED Batman out of his gadgets!!”

- Yes the guards were probably due for some more training, just in case.

“Guards please get ready to escort the Princess to Pandoras realm.”

- All the guards, the bird adjacent ghost thought to himself. He had a felling something was coming.

“A WHAT?!”

- Something bad.

—- —- —-

Tucker moved his newly allotted gadgets into piles looks like he had a belt to work on. He picked up the handkerchief. “Violet what did you want this for?”

“I… had a suspicion I needed to prove.”

“And did you?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m guessing the tracking device wasn’t a part of your plan?”

“A WHAT!”

The man held his nieces hands, “Konstelacio please tell me what else is going on. I’ve already promised not to tell anybody.”

Violet wanted to believe him but she knew he’d tell on her to keep her safe. He wouldn’t understand, the Al Ghuls were dangerous she need to keep THEM safe! No matter what.

“Not yet, not until I figure everything else out for sure.”

“Alright but when you do please please come and talk to me okay.”

“Okay.”

“Alrighty then off to Pandoras then okay, be nice to the guards and tell her and Ghost Writer I said hi okay. And be careful delivering that antidote to the league. Minimal contact is the - oh you’re hugging me.”

Konstelacio smiled into her uncles shoulder, she would tell him everything someday.

#danny phantom #batman #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #helpline part 10 #billy batson #shazam #@alikoyuii #@vixen uichah #@mayoota blog1 #@busterkeel #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@mimilikey #@icedbluesoul #@dodekakophonie #@shirolover14

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline part 7

“What exactly did she say?”

“I’m telling you bats she just went ‘Questions cost extra’ and then the two of them just disappeared into thin air!!” Arsenal couldn’t fucking believe this, they had been talking in circles for five minutes. The girl left Roy feeling off balance, she creeped him out. There he said it she creeped him the fuck out! A part of him was so unsettled by her all he wanted to do was shoot both those fuckers and be done with it. Then he pushed that unpleasantness down and looked again. All he saw was a tired tired kid. Had he ever been that tired as Speedy? Now he was pushing all those feelings down again because now he didn’t want to kill her or sympathize with her, he guessed some part of being a father had made him weak, now all he wanted were answers!!

Tim was begging to grow worried for Bruce Batman. It was clear to Tim that he was spiraling, understandably, all security forage in the watchtower had come up as static. Glitching widely, the best picture they could capture was of the floor covered in fire Konstelacios metallic boots in the corner. There were no leads; no ancient murals, crumbling statues or off handed anecdotes in a dead man’s journal. Nothing. And according to the team on dragon watch duty there were possibly even more threatening players involved. A group of people strong enough to take down a villain that thwaped Superman like a fly. It was unnerving for Tim, which only meant it must be driving Bruce Batman up a wall. Tim worried.

—- — —-

Konstelacio arrived at Masters Manor with her friend approximately 10 minutes later. A headache forming in between her ears and a sigh escaping her.

All of her brothers ran about packing their things, “See I told you she’d be back! She’s fine.” Konstelacio didn’t bother to check which one of them had spoken, it hardly mattered.

“I’m heading down to the lab, I need to use the portal.” No one answered as she took Aragons hand and descended the steps.

“Whelp, time to face the music buddy.” She pouted, listening to Uncle Dans lecture was going to be a pain.

—— — — —-

Booster came back three days after the meeting, a whole day and a half before Captain Marvel, with a massive concussion .It was a mistake.

#danny phantom #justice league #batman #redeemed vlad #dc x dp #dp x dc #billy batson #ghost helpline #dan redemption #fruit bat #batfam #@alikoyuii #@busterkeel #@mayoota blog1 #@vixen uichah #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@icedbluesoul #@mimilikey #@dodekakophonie #helpline part 7

[elvesandlanterns]

Hey everyone!!! Finally got around to putting my fic on Ao3!! Please check it out and comment I love all your support!!! Ao3 is way better to keep up with chapters but I’m still gonna be posting here first :)

#danny phantom #justice league #redeemed vlad #batman #billy batson #clones #dan redemption #Ghost Helpline #fruit bat #@alikoyuii #@vixen uichah #@mayoota blog1 #@busterkeel #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@icedbluesoul #@mimilikey #@dodekakophonie

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost helpline part 13 Neutral Ground

Diana and Clark had fought for more information. Boston needed more time to convince Jason Blood to help and Dick was still talking Raven out of retirement.

They needed more information, it was late, everyone was tired, and frankly this had grown into a bigger problem than Batman’s paranoia over a child demon. If shit hit the fan, a war between the magic community and humans could start. They need to know if a human group had made disease and they needed proof. The league needed to know the political landscape before doing anything more than cure administration. Which would take days.

Diana and Clark are reasonable good friends. They would later force Bruce to leave with his children and lock the zeta tube to the tower behind them.

—- —- —-

Jack had been born on the fourth day of the fourth month at the tail end of the Qin Dynasty in a bustling prefecture of China.

Jack had been born already dead. Skin white as snow, ruby eyes wide open, sunlight causing him pain. His mother attempted to love him, she did. She would braid his faded ginger hair away from his face and buy him small sweets when he behaved correctly. She tried.

At the age of six he had been given to his grandmother. He was moved away from the city to a backwater town in the midst of nowhere.

At seven his grandmother spent money they didn’t have for a doctor. He called them an albino. The town called him demon.

At age eight war came and he never saw his mother again. He didn’t have the courage to ask grandmother if it was done on purpose or not.

At nine grandmother introduces him to a man that will change his fate.

The first time Jack meets Violet, he’s ten hiding from bullies in the forest. She stands heads taller than him, drenched in blood, dark claws growing from her finger tips holding someone’s entrails.

She’s the most beautiful thing the little Chinese boy has ever seen.

The second time they meet, Jack is eleven eating alone. She sits at his table without horns and nobody notices.

The third time they meet, Jack is twelve and lost. She explains to him that his self pity is unattractive and that he is wasting his life.

The fourth time they meet, Jack is fourteen and his grandmother has died. She tells him that his existence is natural. He notices that he is finally taller than her, she hasn’t aged a day.

At fifteen he can no longer bare the cruel words and actions of the village. He runs away and decides to give Violet his name the next time he sees her.

At sixteen he is freezing to death too tired to move, then the man corners him.

He never makes it to seventeen.

—- —- —-

Boston had a knack for information gathering but this job was going to be difficult. Rumors so many rumors. But Boston at least knew these main things about magic society that everyone knew:

1 - Vampires and Werewolves hate each other to the point of fighting on site

2- You never ask a ghost why they died

3- Any Atlantean on land is considered neutral ground NO fighting

4- Every species has their own royals

Boston finished writing it all down and left the watchtower last with John and Zatanna. He hoped it would help.

—- —- —-

Violet lands on her ass in alley way in Gotham. It’s cold, dark and she has no energy left to teleport again. Her skin stings as she shifts slow and stuttered. Her hair grows and flattens straight down like a pin. Her eyes water as they go from gold to purple. Her scars tuck themselves away from prying eyes. Her horns imply vanish she’s not sure at all about where they go when she does this.

She’s still in her dress from days ago. Her front is dripping in a wet viscous fluid. It’s a disgusting orange color chin is of something falling to the floor. She smells rancid.

This is fine. She’s fine. Now that she’s properly awake all she needs to do is find a phone. Hers having gotten smashed before the move, multiple times. She had already destroyed three this month.

Alright, she picked her self up. She has a plan. Find a phone.

Across the street lights blare.

The Ice Berg Lounge.

—- —- —-

Bruce stubbles out of the zeta tube dead on his feet. Maybe just maybe he had been too harsh on Konstelacio. She had helped them a lot, and while her ‘price’ was worrisome Bruce knew it could have been a lot worse. It left a bitter feeling in his mouth. An unknown having any control over a leaguer, even a non powered individual, didn’t sit right with him.

He needed contingencies against her.

He needed contingencies for her too. She had looked sick, he had noticed Barry running to get a trash can.

Bruce and his kids began to strip off their clothing changing into civilian clothes. Bruce got as far as his pants when his kids conversation caught up with him.

“I know Dami I’m just worried! How could our new neighbor just let his kids wander Gotham! And apparently now the man is alone at his house! He’s so going to get robbed.”

“Tt- the two that we meet shall still be there.”

“I dunno Dami if I was that age and all my siblings were out I’d leave too.”

Neighbors? No they couldn’t possibly have new neighbors the closet house to them was the Drake Manor…. Oh. He probably owed Tim an apology but how could his son decide something like that with out him!

And he apparently had sold it to someone who let their kids run around Gotham to boot! Was the Drake house cursed to have neglected kids within its walls. Neglected kids like Tim. Not again! Not On His Watch!

The car ride only served to make him more upset. Masters? Seriously? That pompous asshole. The man was aggravating, Bruce considered it a blessing they hadn’t crossed each other often in galas. It was a bit of a mystery where he had fucked off to all these years, tho Bruce took the new kids as a simple explanation. His new found lack of villainess behavior could also be attributed to his new found fatherhood. Which made him better than most sadly. Still tho! Batman didn’t trust him not at all.

The millionaire made his way to the front door, a pan lasagna in his hand, and survived the area…. Not a single camera. He knocked. Twice.

After a few minutes the door opened and the vigilante dredged up the most innocent Brucie smile he had. The door opened and he almost dropped the pasta.

The man who opened the door was bleary-eyed, yawning softly. He was wearing a “today is paw-fect” shirt. Baby pink, two sizes too short exposing his muffin top. His pants were fuzzy and matched his open robe.

Bruce gulped at the sight of him. His long platinum hair tangled and frizzed. Cornflower blue eyes looked up at him filled with mirth.

“Well then I’m going to assume your partying had you losing track of time neighbor mine. It’s a bit late but if you’d like to come inside, that pan looks heavy…. Hello?”

The way the man had said ‘mine’ had Bruce feeling warm and … oh oh no. He was in trouble.

#danny phantom #batman #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #helpline part 13 #billy batson #@alikoyuii #@busterkeel #@mayoota blog1 #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@vixen uichah #@icedbluesoul #@mysticsoulgirl #@mimilikey #@dodekakophonie

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost helpline part 15 sibling adventures

Klarion just wanted to cause some mischief, just because he left the Lords of Chaos doesn’t mean he’s no longer a trickster after all. Having Violet and Billy gone for so long had made him restless. So when he heard that there was an Atlantean artifact being shown off in Happy Harbor Museum the same color as his only sisters dual eyes he HAD to have it.

It was supposed to be an easy trip. Teleport in cause some chaos, steal the trinket and teleport out. May be he’d get to throw some sidekicks around, he hadn’t been expecting

Dr. Fate.

God he missed Nelson.

—- —- —-

Violet followed the celery dog and it’s master into the empty building- oh not empty. There were people talking at the bar and ten hidden guards. She sniffed the air, the one in green was bleeding.

“Goddamn it Harleen what did you do? Who is this you can’t just bring in strangers to drug deals!”

“Oh hold your horses Penguin. I’m just looking after the kid until someone comes to get her. What was I supposed to do just leave a meta kid alone in Gotham.” Harley spouted while r the walked to the bar, immediately grabbing a drink and downing it.

“A meta huhhh?”

“Oh no Penguin don’t be getting no ideas there, this kid is in no condition to join a gang.”

“Tch- so girly what’s your power?”

The girl was starting to anger Cobblepot, there was something about her that didn’t seem right. She wasn’t even answering she was just staring at all of them! At him, like he was some sort of freak show!

“Well I’m talking to you!”

The girl clocked her head, opening and closing her mouth a few times. She was getting on Oswald’s nerves, that vacant expression was creepy on a kid.

Oswald hated when people stared.

“Your green friend is bleeding.”

What?

The Penguin followed her gaze, around him and to Riddler. She hadn’t been staring at him at all?

“What? How did you figure that out?” Riddler smiled as Harley read him the riot act.

Cobblepot rolled his eyes at the twos antics, “Maurice! Bring the new fish some food!”

Noise could be heard from the kitchen, huh Violet thought - nine guards then.

“Oh come on Oswald don’t be cruel! Look at her!” Nygma chastised as the chef brought out a platter of dead, fully intact fish.

Instead of the usual shrieking the girl stared at it… “This is for me?”

“It’s in front of you isn’t it. Dig in.”

Violet was hungry, and Harleys phone was still charging. She knew she should eat food from people who weren’t her family but it didn’t seem that this came with any strings attached.

- Harley was horrified, the girl was reaching over to grab a fish. She was holding it in her gloved hands, “Hey kid you don’t gotta -“

She bit straight into it. Since when we’re her teeth sharp like that? She was chewing quickly, slurping on guts and swallowing with out hesitation. Like a train wreck Harley couldn’t look away, even as she took her other hand and pulled another fish apart by the ribs.

Oswald laughed and laughed, this was great. He reached over to take a morsel for himself and the girl flinched. Letting the fish drop onto the counter she covered her mouth with her soaking gloves, “Oh, sorry.”

It was the villains turn to stare.

Surprisingly it was Riddler who got over .. all of that .. first, “Why are you apologizing? We told you to eat and you ate. Good job.” He stared over her head to Oswald and mouthed, “Fix this.”

She was still covering her mouth.

The thing about the Ice Berge Lounge was that it was a place that ran on Villains and freakish clientele, this sense of shame simply would do Oswald thought - not here.

“You can keep eating I -“

“It’s okay I’m not hungry.” She said while eyeing the plate.

“Hey bud we already saw your teeth, and we know you’re a meta so you can keep eating okay? Look even Ossy has sharp teeth!”

“Don’t call me that Harls! - But she’s right do eat comfortably.”

The moved her hands down onto her dirty dress, her teeth looked normal now. “I’m not suppose to … I know it’s … ugly.”

Oswald felt enraged, “Look here no one in this lounge is ever going to give you crap about something like that okay kid? So just eat, we’re going to be deal with work so we won’t even look at you Capeesh?”

The kid looked entirely bewildered, Oswald slowly grabbed a fish for himself and swallowed it whole. The girl started eating again and he called it a win.

- Violet continued to eat as the adults talked. She felt mouths water under her skin, she could still smell blood. If it hadn’t been for the one dressed in green she might have not figured it out. But to be fair none of these villains were acting very villainous at the moment, drug deal aside.

It wouldn’t take that long for Harley’s phone to charge… who was she going to call? She definitely couldn’t call dad or Dandy she thought. She knew how mad and disappointed they’d be. And she wasn’t even sure where Billy was…

Alright that leaves seven brothers left.

—- —- —-

All Dandy had wanted to do was go on a nice drive with his brother to pick up their sister. But nooooo his little brother had to pick a fight with a lord of order and a gaggle of side kicks.

The worst part was that Charles and Klarion were utterly enjoying themselves.

“Awww is the Baby League gonna cry?”

Both of them had located Klarion quickly after entering the town, turning into their ghost selves before entering the museum.

Half of the place was destroyed, the entire town was semi floating and Charles was throwing fireballs like it was the only move he knew. At least it slowed the martian down. It was pure havoc.

Dandy saw a blond pocket the necklace. Uhhh, this is why you don’t send Klarion to do a stealth mission. He squared up against the girl, this necklace better be worth it.

- Charles was having the time of his afterlife! He was fighting real superhero’s! … and Dr.Fate.

Unlike his brothers Charles ghost form, lovingly called Danka, wasn’t … fleshy. Instead of a pallet switch, his black hair became black fire and his body discorporated into sizzling unbreakable bone.

Charles laughed as he spotted his brother buzzing around the young Amazonian. Dandy’s specialty was shrinking, collapsing in on himself until he was nothing more than a ball of light. Often confused for the ghost of a fairy instead of a human.

“I got it! Klarion portal us out now!”

Charles whooped out loud, best day ever.

Dandy looked around their new location and held the urge to scream, “Klarion. Where are we? And where is our car?” Worst day ever.

—- —- —-

Billy knew that beating in Dr. Silvana wasn’t a constructive out lit for his anger. But he couldn’t throw a punch at his “co- workers” so this would have to do.

Billy walked down the streets after leaving the reject pediatrician for the police. He knew Fawcett like the back of his hand, even after getting adopted Vlad could never take him away from here. Not that the old man had tried, Billy was almost convinced his family thought the town was his haunt. He slowed down near a drop for homeless kids and stuck a roll of cash inside, all crumpled ones and fives. Maybe they were right.

He kept on walking, staring up at graphite and half finish murals. He couldn’t shake Batman’s words out of his head.

// The three of them had been taken in by Duke Vlad Plasmius at the end of the war. Violet had been promised asylum and adoption for her contributions in battle.

Klarion demanded asylum from the Court of Chaos that had abandoned him and had thrown him into war like a lamb to slaughter. He refused to leave Violets side.

The gods whispered their apologies to Billy. He shrugged this worked for him, they were a packaged deal now.

The trio explored Phantoms Keep like children and played politics like adults. Billy didn’t trust Vlad yet , he knew what adults were like. There had to be an ulterior motive here.

“Vlad! What’s happening what’s going on?”

Violet looked excited. They had all been worked up and dressed up in their finest, which wasn’t saying much. Vlad smiled back at her, “The royal painter is here dear, we are to be cataloged as part of the Royal Family.”

“Us? But-“

“All three of you are to be my children, so all three of you will be afforded the rights of one.” The man kneeled down, actually knelled! It left Billy bewildered. “I can’t promise things will be perfect, and I can’t promise a fairness in the line of succession or anything like that. But I will fight tooth and nail that you are all given the respect and dignity you deserve. So please please let me try.”

Billy could see Klarion waver, and Violet was already sold on the idea. “Okay dad! Let’s go!”

They meet up with their new siblings and all was well. It was a slow and tedious process but both him and Klarion ended up looking good. The human magician was old and stand off-ish but it didn’t matter. He bowed at the appropriate places and was deceptively polite.

… until Violet stood up for her portrait last.

It was all a blur and the painter almost got shanked.

“I’m sorry my Duke, I just don’t see why I have to paint her. It’s not like she’s in any line of power-“

“She is my daughter.”

“Right. Well I just don’t feel comfortable painting someone … like her.”

“Get. Out.” It was a lot easier to believe Vlad after that.//

Billy looked at the city mural and fiddled with his dads credit card inside his pocket. He thought about taking up painting.

—- —- —-

Jazz and Danny don’t get much time together these days, which was fine really. What was a little time apart when they had eternity.

Jazz smiles as Aragon walks into her territory, time to get to work.

—- —- —-

The werewolf stopped in front of the group heaving in anger, “What to scared to fight your own battles blood sucker?”

“I didn’t do anything wrong! I don’t even know you!”

“Liar! My friend dies and you just happen to be in the same area!!”

“Hold on,” Kaldurs voice harden, “Let’s talk this threw calmly. We are actually here investigating a death, if you could give us any information we can take care of this for you. There is no need for undue violence. If -“

The beast man growled, “His name was John Mark he worked in the building you just came out of. Do whatever you want. We know who’s really to blame.”

“I didn’t-“

“Better watch your back bloodsucker! Gggrrr You can’t hide behind the Atlantian forever.” The werewolf bared his teeth one last time before turning away from them.

- Kaldur was left sharing a confused look with Dick. That man had seem ready to hack them to pieces, they had been expecting a fight at least but instead he had spoken as if Kaldur was nothing but a shield. Maybe -

The girl bowed to Kaldur, “Thank you! Thank you so much! I-“

Nightwing stepped in with his easy going persona, “It’s alright you’re safe now. Do you mind if we ask you some questions? We-“

“I didn’t do it! I swear I just got here! I hardly even spend time in the mortal realm!”

“Wait if you hardly spend time here, then how did you know we were heroes?”

Jacks eyes blinked at them, oh shit. “Your heroes?!?!” Fuck fuck fuck

Dick could see the internal panic, “Hey hey it’s okay, just talk to us you’re not in trouble. Here you’re bleeding.” Dick took out his med kit, it would be an ideal time to get a blood sample.

“Don’t! Don’t touch me! You should never touch a bleeding vampire!”

Jack stepped back, god how dumb was this human?

Kaldur was getting worried, “If you didn’t know we are heroes why did you hide behind me?”

The pink dressed mess stared at him, “Do do you seriously not know????”

More bowing, “The stories of Atlantis king are terrifying, no one would be stupid enough to fight one of his subjects … so I kind of used it to my advantage. Sorry.”

Kaldur felt pride swell in chest, “Right.” Kaldur looked at the vampire, they were cute and clever. If only they were a boy Kaldur might, well it doesn’t matter.

“So what were you doing here?”

“I was collecting some flowers for my fright-mate!” A pink bag opened to show off a collection of flower heads, stems, leaves and ziplocks of soil. “She’s sick so I came, into your haunt without thinking.” The stranger flushed.

“Right well you should be wary, especially in places like Bludhaven and Gotham. Also walking around at night is dangerous for girls in these parts, lot of trafficking rings and stuff.” Nightwing debated tacking on a piece about not wanting to see any murders out of her but that felt unnecessary and perhaps a tad to mean.

A confused look took over their face, “But plenty of Vampires live here? And I’m not a girl?”

Well Dick was embarrassed now, Kaldur was just straight up shocked- the surface world really was different.

“Uhhh I should uhhh go… now… sunrise and all that.” She- uh they stepped away from them slowly.

Kaldur reached out, “Wait! What if we need to contact you again? … for the case!”

“Oh here, call for me if you need me. I owe you one for this whole mess I guess- But just one.”

Kaldur held on to the pink headband as the boy speed off.

“Uhhh great now I owe Tim money.”

—— —- —-

Note

For anyone wondering Teekle, Klarions cat, is at home with Vlad.

I can see Billy not trusting Vlad at first only to completely take advantage later.

Yes Tim is definitely a conspiracy theorist that fully believes Vampires live in Gotham.

Dandy hates humans and the painter being a human magician, only add fuel to the fire.

#danny phantom #batman #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #billy batson #@alikoyuii #@busterkeel #@mayoota blog1 #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@icedbluesoul #@dodekakophonie #@vixen uichah #@vixen-uichah

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline part 11

Dick drove home in good weather(for Gotham). He had his phone pressed to his ear as he spoke with Clark, damn was B over thinking things again. “No Raven doesn’t work with the Titans anymore. After defeating Trigon we all agreed she deserved time to figure herself out I could call her but…”

He slowed the car when he came upon Drake manor a lump forming in his throat. He was sad to admit that he and Tim weren’t as close as before but surely he would have known if Tim was moving back into his old home? But there he was with Jason and Bart carrying boxes inside. He was an awful brother wasn’t he? How could he not know? Tim hated that place! He would never move back in unless-

He slammed the brakes as he got closer to the gate because that wasn’t Tim or Jason and that definitely wasn’t Bart.

“Clark I’ll have to call you back.”

— —- —-

Dick ran up the steps of the manor to the living room and was greeted with the sight of Jason pressing binoculars to the window. As Jon and Damian chatted animatedly about the new neighbors.

“Don’t be an imbecile Jon! The rich and elite do not move to Gotham unless they have something to hide!”

“All rich people have something to hide! You have something to hide! They sound like nice people!”

“Ha! So you are spying on them! What are they saying?”

Dick texted Wally as he spoke, “Everyone hold on a minute where is Tim?”

“Tt- who cares. That idiot has given away our location and put all of our identities at risk.”

“Or perhaps Master Tim have given us a grand opportunity to as you would say ‘pull a fast one’ on the media. After all excusing yourself to play with a wealthy neighbor is a good excuse to leave a boring gala. And a second pair of eyes to support your ‘accidents’ would be beneficial.”

“Tt- perhaps Pennyworth but see that I have no desire to befriend these intruders at all.”

“Mmm perhaps but either way the only way any of you will be getting information today will be to good neighbors and introduce yourselves. Thankfully for all of you I have prepared cookies as an opener.”

“Did somebody say cookies?”

Dick smiled, “Wally just in time !”

—- —- —-

Constantine was looking over the list of names Superman had handed him when the circle left on the floor began to glow. He took a long drag of his cig and felt like making a run for it.

It looks like their little helper had finished their end of the deal and found an antidote after all. John sighed he contemplated doing this exchange on his own but knew he’d be in for a lecture if he did so. From Zatanna and bats ugh.

Welp time to call the cavalry.

—- —- —-

Dick held the platter of cookies and took the lead, Jason deciding to stay home and watch in case they needed an extraction. Or more than likely to call Roy. Dick knew Jason had been dying to meet up with Roy since the dragon incident but hadn’t been able to yet. None of them had been able to relax now that Dick thought about it. Well it was fine, Dick smiled down at Wally, all this craziness would blow over soon.

The group of boys started their walk over to ex-Drake Manor. “Hhhuummhum ha ha,” Jon smiled.

“What?”

“Oh nothing Damian your new neighbors just seem really nice.”

Dick smiled, “Hey no spying alright we are just going to be two normal families making friends okay,” Dick gave a short pause, “So what they say?”

“Dick!”

“What now I want to know !”

Jon laughed, “They’re fighting over their sister.”

“Fighting?”

“Yeah apparently they all forgot to set stuff up for her and are running around blaming each other.”

Dick nodded, sibling were like that sometimes. Tho usually everyone at his house just ended up blaming Bruce.

They kept walking when they came upon the short fence dividing the land of the two well off houses. Two teens sat on the dead grass, surrounded by pieces of wood and metal. Dicks eyes surveyed the area, it didn’t look dangerous.

“God damn it Alcor! That’s not how you put a swing set together!”

“Well how would you know? And it’s not a swing set! It’s a whole cozy area for her you absolute shit head!”

Dick smiled right a swing set made way more sense. Well these boys seemed rather normal older than Damian by a few years but hey his little bro was very mature so-

“I’m going to turn you into fucking soup!”

Dick froze, okay so maybe not that normal.

“Fuck off I am trying to work!”

“Well I want to help why are you the only one that gets to build Princess something?”

“Maybe because I’m the only one that knows how to build stuff! Now get lost!”

Damian tsked under his breath, “Idiots.”

“Damian that isn’t nice, know let’s head over and introduce ourselves right okay.” Dick continued walking, he found it a bit concerning. Both of the teens had black hair and blue eyes. Hopefully his family wouldn’t scare them off.

The group approached the gate.

“Hello there, we’re Dick and Damian Wayne and these are our friends. It’s nice to meet you!”

The one dubbed as Alcor in Dicks head stood up and waved at them, “Oh hello, I’m Alcor and this is my brother Brett. We weren’t expecting company sorry for the mess.”

Damian held back a sneer, “Why ? Not expecting the party going Wayne family to be polite?” God did Damian hate fathers civilian mask.

Alcor frowned looking between all of them, “Ugh more like the fact that you guys live like five miles away from us? Did did you guys walk here?”

Dick smiled, “Oh you know daily exercise is good for you. We ugh brought cookies!”

Brett reached over the gate to grab them, “Nioce.”

“We hope you like them! They’re our favorite our butler Alfred makes them.”

The teens nodded together, alright then the type of rich where having a butler was normal then. Dick cataloged the info for later.

“Thanks,” Algor smiled, “I’ll go put these inside. Id invite you all inside but our dad’s asleep and our other brothers snuck out.”

“To Gotham?”

Alcor shrugged, “I’m sure they’ll be fine they wanted to grab food and stuff before the babies of the family get here.”

“Oh are they coming with your mom?”

“We don’t have a mom.”

“Oh Jezz I’m sorry.”

“No worries man.” Alcor turned and walked inside.

Dick coughed, “So I don’t suppose you need any help putting that swing together would you?”

“It’s not a swing,” Brett flushed, “I suppose if you’re volunteering.”

Dick hopped the fence with a grin, “Come on Wally let help the kid out.”

—- —- —-

The kid was right it wasn’t swing as much as it was a floating seat, a little nook facing the sun.

During the building Alcor came back out and pouted. On the upside he was the only brother willing to keep the small talk going.

“So does your butler make all of your guys food? The cookies are great by the way.”

“Yeah Alfred does a lot of stuff for us, why?”

Alcor shrugged, “I dunno just wondering like isn’t there supposed to be a lot of Wayne kids running around. There’s a lot of us and Dad practically makes all our food.”

Dick chuckled, “Yeah there’s a lot of us but we aren’t always home. It’s even rarer for us to all be home at the same time.” He felt himself shake off a bitter feeling, “Its nice that your dad makes time for you like that ours can’t even boil water haha.”

Alcors smile looked sad, “Yeah he’s great, we all love him a lot.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth!”

“Shut up Brett!”

Wally laughed, god Dick loved that laugh, “How many of you guys is there anyway? Cuz I gotta say my boyfriend sure does have a lot of siblings.” Wally elbowed Dick good naturedly.

“Oh I have nine siblings!”

—- —- —-

Konstelacio felt wobbly, eyes forced open. Her talk with Pandora and Ghost Writer had taken hours! Days? Time in the zone was weird. She was tired but trudged forward she needed to get this shit over with.

Konstelacio frowned to herself as she knocked on the Justice’s Leagues proverbial door, the circle. Pandora and Ghost Writer were always kind to her, they were phenomenal teachers but the constant pushing to make ally’s within her own species was beginning to annoy her. Living up to her position in ghost high society was already hard enough. Demons of her stature didn’t care about low born demons… well one did. One did but they didn’t talk much anymore, Konstelacio but at her lip. May be she should get back in touch with him?

The demon-lings head throbbed, the scar on her face felt numb. What is taking these heroes so long!!! Frustration made her head fell worse. She wanted to get this test over with. Because that what this had to be right both Pandora and Ghost Writer had left payment for the antidote up to her.

She was so screwed. Ask for something to small and look like a fool. Ask for something too big and risk the King taking interest, maybe even losing the Kings trust. She couldn’t think of anything to trade for, she needed something perfect. Something that wouldn’t seem like a disrespect to ALL parties involved.

Throb. Throb. Throb. Ugh! How many times did she use teleport? The circle began to open, she’d figure it out. She’d pass this test! She wouldn’t disappoint these people who gave her so much.

- Flash ran to grab as many prominent leaguers as he could as soon as he saw Constantine run out the door. He was not giving that British asshat a chance to do things alone with Zatanna and Batman. He trusted the trio…duo, he did! But he worried, half of the team was divided on whether the girl could be trusted or not. It made Barry feel awful, all he wanted to do was tell that girl to go home. To run away from this hero villain game for as long as she could. Honestly fuck child heroes.

Flash managed to be the last one in the room as the magician start at the circle up. This time there was little to no fanfare; no smoke, the fire around the floor comparable to a candle, and no ominous sounds. Konstelacio showed up with a ‘pop’ and nothing else. It was kinda disappointing.

Oh, oh. She does not look okay. Konstelacio leaned on her right side, covered in sweat, breathing through puffs, vibrating slowly. Except people who aren’t speedsters don’t vibrate… oh she’s shaking. Barry disappeared to grab a trash can. Please don’t be sick, please don’t be sick Barry repeated to himself.

“I got the antidote.”

“What no small talk this time Sheila ?”

“I told you not to call me that!” The demon snapped, her teeth became longer sharper. Digging in to her own lip, hands fisting at the hem of her dress. Names must be a sore subject with her Connor thought. It was understandable Connor had to work so hard to find his sense of self even without people screwing up his name, he got it he did but, “Please excuse Constantine he speaks to everyone that way … he’s British. It’s just slang. He isn’t using Sheila as a placeholder for your name.”

“Whatever,” it didn’t take a detective to see that the girl was on edge. She was on a short wick, Konstelacio was not as happy as she was the last time they had summoned her. They could only conclude that she wouldn’t be willing to be as kind as last time ether. Clark internally wondered if Captain Marvel had told her to be wary of them, if the captain no longer trusted the league as much as he always had. The notion made the invincible man sorrowful, and annoyed. Bruce needed to learn when to let things go.

Because Clark knew Bruce, knew that this was all stemming from his compulsive need to keep them safe. All of them safe including Marvel. No matter what the Bat said he knew the man cares about each and every one of them, even Hal. It was in the little things he did; Flash appreciation day, pulling extra monitor duty, asking Hal about space, answering Manhunters questions about earth sincerely. It was everything. At the end of the day Bruce was a man who cared but looking at the kid again really made it click. Bruce was probably worried about her too in his own messed up way. But if Batman didn’t let it go, if he didn’t stop- Captain Marvel would never forgive him for it.

“I found out what your mystery sickness is, congratulations you have a case of Vampire Fog.”

The league could see Zatanna and Constantine give each other a look. “And what exactly is Vampire Fog.”

“Uh uh uh no more freebies. Payment for both the information and the cure. Upfront.”

Oliver didn’t like this, but hey at least the kid had balls.

—- —- —-

Jon’s jaw dropped as he sputtered, “Ten! Ten kids!!” There were stars in his eyes, Damian’s hand keeping him from floating away. “Ten kids!”

“Yes that’s what he said Jon.”

“That’s so many! What are they like? Why did you all move to Gotham?”

Alcor laughed, “We all have our own thing I guess, they’re a pain but I love them. Two of our brothers are taking classes at the college in town and dad couldn’t bear to split us up for the whole summer.”

Dick frowned as he filed that info away, “Wait so are you guys only staying for the summer?”

“Yes.”

“Shut up Brett! It hasn’t been decided, but more than likely we’ll just be staying off and on for their classes or something,” Alcor shrugged.

Dick felt his communicator ping and if Wally’s body language was anything to go by so did his, “Well we should be getting out of your way. I can’t wait to meet the rest of you family sometime.”

“Likewise,” Alcor waved goodbye, “Good luck, hopefully we stick around long enough to see the wedding.”

Wally bursted out laughing at Dicks embarrassment, “I’ll be sure to invite you Alcor!”

“Brett to please- ouch what? You love weddings.”

The boys left as the brothers yelled at each other.

—- —- —-

Constantine sighed as he put his hand up to his head, the meeting about the little Sheila was going to be absolute Hell.

“Yo! John!”

His cigarette fell to the linoleum floor, “God damn it Boston!”

#danny phantom #batman #justice league #dp x dc #dc x dp #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #billy batson #clones #helpline part 11 #@alikoyuii #@vixen uichah #@mayoota blog1 #@busterkeel #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@icedbluesoul #@mimilikey #@dodekakophonie #@mysticsoulgirl #@may-rbi

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost helpline part 19 Back to Work

Alright so throwing herself off a tall tree hadn’t been the best idea but it had worked! The kid was off her trail, now she’d be able to … spy on him? Stop his evil pan? Alright so she didn’t know exactly what she could do with this information but she would figure it out!

Al Ghuls are dangerous and Robin is an Al Ghul. Batman had to know that! But … did the Wayne’s? Violet had watched a lot of their TV appearances while she was out sick and …Brucie was just that Brucie. Adorable but dumb.

This was the guy who crashed into a tower champagne flutes at his own party! The guy who got drunk and fell off ships! … The guy who sent her flowers and texted dad cat pics. There’s no way he knew just how evil the Al Ghuls were, one of them must have used him for the money. Or maybe his kid was adopted like the rest of them… but then why hide it?

“Uuuughhhhh why does this all have to be so confusing!” Ahhhh! She just wanted to fight something! Having a clear target would be so much easier!

Were the Wayne’s in trouble? Chances were the kid was a master manipulator, a killer trained from birth!

Birth… the statement made Violet feel bad. But it was probably the truth, she remembered those swords, that smug look her gave her during the summons. The look humans get when they think they can kill something bigger than them. The kid was a killer… the same kid that tried to catch her when she “fell”. The same kid that apparently painted, and panicked. And allowed himself to be dragged away by his older brother.

Maybe … maybe …

Knock knock

“Come in!”

Step step cccrreeaakk step step ccccrrreeakk

“Oh, hey Chad.”

This was weird… Chad never sought Violet out.

“Sit down let me look at your legs.”

“Oh! Am I due for a tune up? We can go down to the workshop instead?”

“Stop talking and sit down.”

She sat, igniting a magic circle on her leg. Hearing air escape for a brief moment before her leg popped off and clanged to the floor. Repeating the process with her other leg she took a chance to look at Chad. Her brother seemed …sad?

“You should take better care of yourself.”

“What?”

“I said take better care of yourself, you’re making dad worry.” He tinkered with the metal legs.

“Oh sorry.” Violet had meant to make dad worry, he already had enough on his plate. And now she had even bothered Chad over something simple. If she were smarter she’d be able to keep up with her prosthetics by herself.

“Good. Don’t get sick again. It’s bothersome.”

Right. Bothersome.

She laid back as Chad kept at it. A nap wouldn’t hurt—

Knock knock knock

The person behind the door didn’t wait for a response and walked right in.

“Violet we need to talk.”

“Oh Dandy, me and Chad are already-“

“Done.” Chad left like a wolf was chasing him out.

“Violet,” Dandy aborted a motion to rake threw his hair and sat down instead, “Violet we will be getting a visitor soon, around three or so. That boy is coming over to apologize to you.”

“Oh that’s nice of him.” Oh shit.

“I need you to promise me you’ll be careful if father pushes you two to be friends.”

“Yes yes I know to be careful! No magic no slip ups I-“

A look filtered threw her brothers face, “That’s not what I mean.” Dandy reached over.

Dandy held her hand. They had held hands before, Violet loved holding hands with Dandy and dad. It made her feel safe and warm sure but more than anything it gave her something Violet craved the way other demons craved blood. Hold their hands made Konstelacio feel wanted.

But this… this was different, there was a look in Dandy’s eyes she’d never seen before.

“You know not to trust humans, Violet. You know how awful they all are.”

Violet swallowed, she knew.

“I need you to be careful don’t let your guard down for a moment.”

“But Dandy—“

His grip on her hand hardened, “Promise me Violet. Promise me you won’t trust any human with your heart. They don’t deserve you.”

Violet scooted closer to him, now that statement didn’t make any sense. Her heart?

“… is,” her voice was quite, “Is this about dad and Mr Wayne?”

“Promise me.”

“Dandy—“

“Please. I don’t want to see you get hurt again. Any of you. I don’t think I could take it.”

Oh Dandy was crying. She’d never seen her biggest big brother cry before…

“Okay I promise.”

They hugged like it was the first time all over again. Like someone was going to reach out and snatch her out of his arms.

—- —- —-

Violet stayed in bed with her one remaining knee up. She didn’t know what to think anymore. Humans are bad sure but not all of them.

The humans in Fawcett were kind. And she had meet Jack when he was still a human. A lot of magical creatures started off as humans and and … and Mr Wayne was nice.

He sent her flowers when she was sick. And talked to her sweetly whenever she picked up the phone. He made daddy happy. Why can’t Dandy see that?

She levitated her prosthetics, one at a time, on to the bed. Their flight was wobbly, they were the heaviest thing she could carry.

Putting her legs back on she felt a pull. A tug.

She spared a look at the clock, 1:33pm.

Tug tug tug - she had enough time.

She stood up, “Alright then back to work.”

A second layer and she was gone.

#danny phantom #batman #justice league #dc x dp #dp x dc #redeemed vlad #ghost helpline #billy batson #@alikoyuii #@busterkeel #@mayoota blog1 #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@vixen uichah #@icedbluesoul #clones #the justice league #@dodekakophonie #@vixen-uiuchah #helpline part 19

[elvesandlanterns]

Ghost Helpline part 9

Konstelacio walked to the Egyptian palace. Much like how Johnnys bike rode on nonexistent roads Konstelacio walked on invisible ground, she believed the Zone would not let her fall and so it didn’t.

—- —- —-

Tim drove past his old home what use to be Drake Manor. He somehow doubted his family had noticed he sold it. He doubted they had noticed the moving trucks and contractors. He told himself it would be because they were busy. It felt like a hallow excuse.

Once Bruce figured it out he would want answers. Tim had them planned, Masters dubious escapades in criminal activity had been on the decline. As well as Masters sudden disappearance a few years ago, required their attention just in case.

Inwardly Tim had had a single conversation with the man, spotted a gaggle of teens who looked happy and sold it to the man on the spot.

When Tim thought over the conversation later, he would call the emotion that came over him jealousy and decide to ignore it.

—- —- —-

“Your highness, it appears Princess Violet will be sealing an audience.”

“Send her in immediately! “ Tucker shouted excitingly, Violet was such a sweet girl, he adored her visits. She usual came with the pretense of picking up her more technically inclined brother but Chad wasn’t here as of late. Which only meant one of three things.

She was coming here to hide.

She was coming in for a check up. (Doubtful.)

Or she was coming here to ask for help.

“Prepare some light snacks, our comfiest seat and coloring pages.” Tucker hoped she was okay, he would never admit it but if he didn’t know any better he would have assumed Violet was Danny’s clone too. In personality at least. Where Dani had gotten Danny’s loud passion, Violet had gotten Danny’s self loathing. Where Dani had his fearless determination Violet had his self sacrificing down to an alarming degree. Dani had her fathers laugh, Violet had his best friends fear of abandonment.

Yeah, Tucker would never admit it but Danny and his ex-arch enemies kid had a lot in common. He sighed oh well. It was fine, if anything it made him and Sam love her all the more. Their niece, their little constellation.

—- —- —-

Billy breathed a sigh of relief. It was good to be back home.

“Captain Marvel, Dr Fate we need to talk. We have a situation.”

Billy sighed he thought to soon.

Zeus: lolz!

Hercules: L L L

Mercury: Run fuck this noise

Billy shushed them, he just wanted to go home. The faster they got threw this the better.

Batman explained.

Solomon: He’s on to us! Kill him!!!

Billy: No we are not killing Batman

Atlas: he’s a threat to our your family Billy, I hate to agree with the old man

Solomon: Hey!

Atlas: but perhaps it’s time to move on

“Captain Marvel are you paying attention. This is serious.”

“Of course of course. But uh what exactly do you want me to do here?”

“I need information.”

“I don’t -“

“Marvel you are a terrible liar, also.” The man dressed as bat shrugged in the direction of superman. Right Superman, a living lie detector.

Billy: well fuck

Mercury: RUN

Solomon: oh is that it? Well then Billy just don’t ‘lie’

Billy could hear the smirk in man’s voice. Well two could play at this game. But first to get Dr.Fate off the field.

“I’m leaving.”

Well never mind then Fate was doing it for him.

Maybe he isn’t so bad after all.

“Dr Fate we need-“

“All is as it should be. Before I am a leaguer I am a Lord of Order. You would all do better to not interfere with which you do not understand.”

Yeah you tell them!

“Especially not with those as vile as demons.”

Billy took it back the bastard could suffer.

In that moment Fate left and two pairs of eyes landed on Billy himself. Goddamn it.

“So … what exactly do you want to know. I’ll do my best but I make no promises to answer everything.”

“THATS -“

“That is enough boys.” Wonder Woman walked in, “We are her to ask for help not interrogate our fellow leaguers. Now then Batman what evidence do you have to think both the girl and Captain Marvel know one another in the first place.”

“ Coordinates“

“What?”

“Coordinates from the demons location line up with the new coordinates you’ve sporadically been taking for the past year or so.”

“Batman that hardly proves-“

“Yes I know her.” Billy wasn’t getting around this, and maybe he could use it to paint Konstelacio in a better light. After all they had to understand, they were his heroes they had to understand that his sister wouldn’t hurt them. Not unless provoked.

—- —- —-

Clark could see Bruce sag in relief, the quest for answers over. But Clark didn’t think it be that easy, Captain Marvel may be immature but his loyalty was relentless. Something in the way he held himself could only leave Clark to believe that Konstelacio had earned that loyalty. Clark looked at Bruce again and sighed instead of voicing his opinion after all it’s not as if he was the detective, no he was just a journalist. Clark eye rolled internally.

“How?”

“She is… my sister in arms.”

Both him and Diana froze.

// … even by demon standards I assume you’re rather young …..//

Clarks hands clenched and unclenched, “What?” He must have heard wrong? Right, right even demons must care about their young.

“She is my sister in arms. She is a good person.”

“A good person, she’s a demon.”

Captain glowered actually glowered at Batman, Clark thought as he twitched to put himself between the two.

“And so is Superman and he’s an alien, so so what? Or is it different because he happens to look like you?”

#ghost helpline #danny phantom #batman #the justice league #dp x dc #dc x dp #dehumanization #demon culture #@alikoyuii #@vixen uichah #@mayoota blog1 #@busterkeel #@roseisred #@starkcravingmad #@mimilikey #@icedbluesoul #@dodekakophonie #Shazam #billy batson #billy batson totally does curse #Shazam god chat