#But some days it's a close thing | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nelkcats · 1 year

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Hood Assistant

Prompt Part 1 Part 6 Part 7 Ao3

Part 8

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We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be

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"Danny's sleeping so talk Dickhead," Jason said over the comms. Since last night he had noticed that the boy was a heavy sleeper, so it was unlikely that he would wake up during their conversation.

"Talk? We have nothing to talk about" Dick feigned innocence, although neither of them believed it.

"Of course, why did you come to my apartment then? And don't say you were worried about me" Jason stopped him, although it was possible that this was the reason, he was sure there was a bigger one.

"I was worried about you!" Dick shot back, sounding offended by the conversation.

"Sure, sure, now talk about your fight and why you didn't ask Kori to cook" Jason rolled his eyes, not caring that his brother wasn't looking at him.

"Kori is an amazing girl, and you know I'm very much in love with her" The vigilante in blue started.

"I know there's a but, keep going," Jason encouraged.

"Well, she's been using materials from her planet again," Dick finally said, sounding like he was about to cry, "I love Kori but if I have to eat slime one more time I'm going to throw up."

"And that's why you were going to ask Alfred for food but Bruce was inside the mansion?" Jason theorized. Dick and Bruce didn't have as good of a relationship as they had in the past. After all the misunderstandings and situations it was noticeable.

"You're right, I argued with him again but I still think Dami totally deserved to go to the zoo, and he's always so caught up in his own thoughts that he forgets that people don't work like the code in his head" Dick complained grumbling.

"As much as I love to complain about Bruce I'm going to stop you there, right now I need to know what you were looking for inside my apartment" Jason sighed, though he'd probably call later to find out everything the old man had gotten wrong, a bit of gossip didn't hurt anyone.

"Oh that, it's just that Pitter-" Dick started but was immediately interrupted.

"Don't call me that, my name is Peter" Jason growled under his breath but Dick seemed to ignore his complaints as he continued talking.

"Pitter seemed very possessive of the boy and that made me curious, okay? And when I went to your apartment I realized that you like him too, are you in love with him, Little Wing?" His older brother's tone turned playful and Jason could perfectly imagine his smile from the other side of the line.

"I'm not in love, and don't you dare tell them about him" Jason complained, he knew that Dick was the gossip in the whole mansion even if he didn't live inside it, but he still had a trick up his sleeve.

"My silence has a price" Dick said, faking an old man's voice and stroking his imaginary beard. He had forgotten they weren't making a video call but no one was going to judge him for it.

"Yeah, Roy and I will teach Kori how to cook, so she'll stop poisoning you" Jason said with a growl as Dick began to celebrate in the background. All his complaints had disappeared from one second to another.

He didn't mind teaching Kori how to cook, she was one of his best friends and it was always quite fun to do something with her. After all, even if he spent a lot of time organizing his own faction in Crime Alley, the Outlaws would always be his family.

They were just taking a vacation while guarding his territory and Roy was having an existential crisis with Lian entering preschool. Jason had tried very hard to ignore the messages in the group chat because he knew that 80% of them were audios of Roy crying over his baby growing.

Curiously, he had no idea what Kori was doing during that period of time. Apparently using her cooking knowledge to accidentally poison his brother. Or he was hoping it was accidental.

Kori was one of the best chefs on her home planet, the only problem was that they weren't on her home planet and she had forgotten that the earth uses very different ingredients. She probably still hadn't gotten used to it, but an evening with friends cooking sounded pretty good to correct that. He might even invite Danny.

Jason stopped his train of thought at that moment. Since when did he think of Danny as a friend? And that it was safe to be with him? He was still getting updates of Babs screaming in rage while she was trying to hack Amity every couple of days, and the boy was definitely extremely suspicious.

It was just that since he'd given him the benefit of the doubt he'd been having fun. And the cute boy who had called him on his phone one day to get the most dangerous job ever had been slowly but surely stealing his heart. Jason had never felt so relaxed in years.

He shifted his gaze to the boy who was fast asleep hugging his arm, he was pretty sure he was drooling at that moment and he could feel that Danny was seconds away from biting him. Jason wondered if he was hungry.

"Yeah, I think I am," he muttered before hanging up. Ignoring the cries of confusion that his brother was throwing at him. Not that he could help it anyway, he was well aware that Nightwing would be visiting them the next day.

He sadly knew that he couldn't escape a late-night visit from Blueheaven's vigilante but he could stay with Danny until then, and maybe dance one more time. That was fun.

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"I understand that you can't present yourself in front of Danny as Danny, however" Johnny took a deep breath, seeing Amorpho's new form.

He exhale, closed his eyes and opened them again, no, the appearance was still there. It wasn't a bad dream after all.

"What? I think the cover is perfect" Amorpho complained adjusting his skirt "Although the clothes are uncomfortable"

"Amorpho" Johnny said feigning calm "DON'T MORPH INTO MY GIRLFRIEND"

Facing Johnny was Kitty without green skin and wearing sunglasses, but definitely Kitty, Johnny wanted to bang his head against the wall.

"Why not? I look fabulous." Amorpho modeled his new look as if he were in a fashion show and blew Johnny a kiss, who squashed his kiss in frustration.

"No, I refuse to play along with you on this" the blond complained, crossing his arms. Though he was sure if he sent Kitty a picture about it she would start laughing and agree with the ghost about looking good as a human.

Not that Johnny was going to tell her, the situation was humiliating enough as it was. He stared at Shadow, daring them to say something but his friend shook their head before going back into the shadows.

"Come on honey, don't be such a killjoy, we have to find our son" Amorpho put an arm around the blond's shoulder, grinning widely.

"I'm doing it so I don't get eaten and don't say it's our son, it's extremely awkward" Johnny winced, it was definitely weird.

"Why? It's not like you guys dated or anything" the ghost sneered, but at the sudden silence his jaw dropped "DID YOU GO OUT WITH HIM? YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!"

"Dammit, don't start yelling, Kitty dated him too," Johnny grumbled with a frown. "And of course we dated, did you think we called each other exes for the joke or something?"

"Probably, teenagers are weird" Amorpho shrugged, Johnny ignored how much he physically resembled his girlfriend with an attitude so different from hers.

"Remind me to never ask you how old you are," Johnny said huffily as he walked out of the apartment. He looked at an old woman who was coming out of one of the nearby apartments. He was about to greet her but she gave him a dirty look before leaving.

"What? I didn't even do anything" Johnny was stunned at the kind old lady's reaction before remembering that Amorpho had definitely yelled earlier "Damn Amorpho, I didn't need you to make my non-existent reputation any worse than it already was."

Amorpho simply ignored the blonde as he kept looking for something on his phone. Johnny approached out of curiosity, wondering since when the ghost knew how to use phones until he saw that Amorpho was sending a message to Technus.

"Seriously? I just told you!" Johnny complained as he pointed to the techie ghost's gossip blog. It was obvious that Amorpho was telling him about his failed threesome relationship.

"Yes, but Technus didn't know and that can't be, he has to know everything" Amorpho complained. He didn't get along so well with the Ghost of technology but he was his main purveyor of gossip in and out of the Infinite Realms.

He was pretty sure that was one of the main reasons why Technus had created phones in the first place and had dedicated himself to expanding its use throughout the dimension. He just liked to know everything. At least he hadn't discovered yet that he could overstep personal boundaries.

Although Technus loved gossip he was quite respectful of personal space, of course, he didn't refuse to check news of his new followers either.

Amorpho wondered if he could merge the new applications that his theater friends had taught him with the ones Technus had created for the Realms. It would be fun to see them interact with each other but those would be plans for another time; When a hungry halfa was not lost.

"Okay then, if you were an starving and definitely not kidnapped halfa where would you hide?" Amorpho questioned as they left the apartment.

Shadow came out of the shadows to look at both of them with annoyance while they pointed insistently at the apartment. Cujo continued to lie in the living room, paying no attention to the two ghosts who had definitely forgotten that dogs existed.

"I have no idea" Johnny denied as he looked at Shadow with confusion, he didn't quite understand what the other ghost meant. Shadow hid in his shadow again while they snorted in annoyance, their partner was an idiot.

"Perhaps my theater friends can help?" Amorpho questioned aloud as they walked through the streets.

"No, you were disguised as Danny, their help is completely useless, on the other hand" Johnny looked at the road "We could explore a bit, I always see colorful people and I'm sure they will help us"

"It's not like I had a better plan so sure" Amorpho shrugged as they headed towards the first person they saw.

Potential Help #1

Strangely, the first person they managed to see was a man flying a kite in the sky. Johnny supposed he couldn't judge considering it was early in the morning and they had seen stranger things in Amity Park.

"I'm judging him" Amorpho said, definitely not sharing his thoughts "Mr. Comet?"

"My name is Kite Man!" The man on the kite happily declared. Amorpho wondered why he was so proud. Perhaps the air had reached his brain.

"Well, Kitty Man" Amorpho interrupted him, the man seemed a bit offended by the comment but the ghost kept talking "Have you seen a boy with black hair? He's my boyfriend's ex and it seems he was recently kidnapped"

Johnny tried to retort by saying that he definitely wasn't his boyfriend but Amorpho shut him up before he could say anything.

"You know, I think there are a lot of people with black hair in Gotham, and a lot of them get kidnapped daily, you could ask the Waynes" Kite Man replied with a snort, if they were trying to find someone with such a vague description they were definitely lost.

"Okay, a boy with black hair and blue eyes" Amorpho tried again. Johnny was considering whether he should bite his hand.

"He could definitely be at Wayne Manor" Kite Man shrugged, it would be no surprise with the number of children Bruce Wayne adopted. Some Rogues even had a competition over whether he would transform into an adoption villain.

This might not make sense, but Bruce Wayne despite his idiotic attitude had a PhD, a motive and most importantly, money. The three most important factors in becoming a villain within Gotham.

Although maybe stealing children from orphanages wasn't so bad, it could get them out of poor living conditions and so on. It would be worth it if it wasn't so morally questionable and Brucie didn't have such an obvious preference when it came to foster children.

"Okay, where is- OW-" Amorpho removed his hand from Johnny's mouth as he saw the obvious bite on it "Did you just bite me!?"

"I'm sorry honey, you were suffocating me" Johnny said innocently. Their fake relationship was definitely suffocating him at the moment "Where's Wayne manor anyway?"

Kite Man simply pointed at the obvious mansion located in the center of Gotham and Johnny definitely turned around as he walked away.

"No, we're not messing with millionaires" the blond grumbled as he walked away from the strange comet man "I don't want another Vlad masters breathing down our necks"

"We agree on something" Amorpho grumbled as they continued on their way. They didn't need more millionaires in their lives, nor more halfas, two and a half was enough of a headache.

As they walked away from the site neither of them noticed a boy with a Katana complaining as he fought Kite man. They didn't care very much and had left it as some kind of background noise.

Potential Help #2

"I'm hungry" Amorpho complained as they continued walking, they had forgotten to eat breakfast before leaving and that wasn't doing them any good.

"You're a ghost, you spent years in the Realms without eating anything" Johnny said, shooting him a stink-eye. Even if he was friends with Lunch Lady, which he doubted, it was impossible for him to have a constant food source in the Realms.

"Yeah, but that was there, now that I'm here I'm not going to miss any food, ecto or not" Amorpho frowned and took Johnny's hand as he led them towards an establishment.

Above them the "Batburger" sign could be seen glowing. The blonde assumed that the workers at the restaurant would be able to help with the search. After all, the red girl at Amity always answered a few questions when she was working.

Of course she was aggressive and with a weapon, but she always ended up answering in one way or another.

To both ghost disappointment the workers couldn't help as they were being held back by a man in a strange suit with guns full of condiments? Well, better than nothing

"Hey, do you work here?" Amorpho ignored all the commotion and headed towards the man with the strange weapons. Surely the ketchup and mustard guns were to prepare the burgers faster or something. The city was that weird.

"Me? No! I'm the great Condiment King and I'm here to steal-" the man was about to say his speech but was stopped by one of the ghosts.

"The secret formula for the Krabby Patty?" Johnny was quick to guess, he had been watching some TV shows since he arrived at the apartment, which miraculously had a connection thanks to Technus. Shadow seemed to strongly disagree with his deduction but didn't say anything.

Similarly, the crows outside the restaurant seemed to be disappointed. Although the blond was sure that what he said was correct.

"No, this is a Batburger, we don't sell Krabby patties here" the restaurant manager answered, forgetting about the hostage situation, he seemed pretty tired of the whole situation.

"Too bad," Johnny shrugged as Amorpho waved beside him as if to say see what I have to live with?

"Now, if you and your girlfriend don't want to end up with a mustard shot to the head, you'd better sit quietly there" Condiment King pointed to the corner of the Batburger.

"She's not my-" Johnny tried to correct the supposed villain but Amorpho beat him to it.

"Excuse me!? Are you going to stain my beautiful clothes with that thing?" He protested in offense, ignoring the fact that it wasn't even his clothes in the first place.

"Sure girl, so sit still and-" the man tried to say but was interrupted again.

Of course, this ended badly for the rogue because before he knew it he had "Kitty's" handbag in his face, which seemed to be full of bricks as he blew it off the wall. Amorpho lowered his glasses showing him his angry red eyes before making a "hmp" sound and heading to the cash register, looking offended..

The ghost dusted his skirt as he addressed the employees who looked at him doubtfully "Two #3 orders with Jokerized fries to go please"

The employees rushed to place the orders as Condiment King held his head from where he had landed on one of the restaurant's tables. The Gothamites were getting more and more savage.

"You could have gone intangible if he threw the mustard, dammit" Johnny complained about his partner's drama as he picked up the orders. The workers seemed too scared to charge. "And you forgot to ask about Danny!"

"Oh right" Amorpho went back to the establishment where the employees were trying to pick up Condiment King "Have you seen a boy with black hair and blue eyes?"

Both the dizzy Condiment King and the employees pointed towards Wayne Manor, so Amorpho only frowned as he walked back to Johnny.

"Well?" The blonde asked, raising an eyebrow as he ate the fries from one of the orders.

"Creepy mansion again" Amorpho grumbled, snatching the bag from the other's hands and eating his burger.

Possible help #3

With full stomachs and renewed energy, they both returned to the streets of Gotham. Not noticing the red vigilante looking at them weird as he was on his way to Batburger.

"Okay, what weirdo are we asking now?" Amorpho complained, looking down the street. It didn't take long for them to find a calendar salesman, or that's what they assumed he was.

Johnny pointed to the strange man who had a calendar on his shoulders and Amorpho reluctantly agreed, he didn't see any other options.

"Your time is running out! The end of Gotham is near!" The man laughed as he held a gun in his hands and pointed it at both ghosts who looked unimpressed.

Calendar Man was excited, he had barely started his plan and two idiot Gothamites had bumped into him. He would show them to fear his name, it would be the worst day of their lives!

“He reminds me of someone" the blonde whispered, ignoring the drama as he thought about the legend of a ghost with many clocks that was extremely cryptic.

"Yes, he looks familiar to me too" Amorpho circled the villain curiously. Calendar Man looked offended by the lack of fear in both of them.

"Didn't you hear me? Your end is near!" Calendar Man repeated, but the dramatic effect in his voice was gone.

"Yeah, yeah, end of the world, end of our lives, blah blah blah" Johnny repeated unimpressed. They were ghosts, they couldn't be less scared by that threat.

"You guys notice the gun in my hand right? I could kill you at any moment" Calendar Man pointed to the gun that was pointed directly at the boy and his girlfriend "You should be begging for your life!"

"There are things more terrifying than death" Amorpho smiled widely as he lowered his glasses, exposing his red eyes. He had noticed that this scared most people and made them answer his questions faster.

"Things that can't wait to meet you," Johnny teased as Shadow got up and surrounded them "Now, do you have time to answer a few questions?"

Calendar Man had a feeling they weren't normal Gothamites as his own shadow rose up to snatch the weapon from him and toss it aside. Would that be all? The end of his days terrorizing Gotham?

He closed his eyes waiting for his end but nothing happened. When he opened them again, the two Gothamites were in the same place, looking the same as at the beginning of the conversation. Although definitely more annoying than before.

"You could have just said no" Johnny complained with a frown. Amorpho stared at him as he waved the rogue away. Which Calendar Man took advantage of before running off.

Orphan watched from the ceiling as Calendar Man ran off yelling about the "Monsters that have come to Gotham".

Possible help #4

"That guy was useless and these heels are killing me" Amorpho complained as they continued walking.

"You could just take off the heels or you know, change your shoes, stop being my girlfriend" Johnny listed the options hoping the ghost would accept the last offer.

"No, as I told you at the beginning, I look fabulous this way" Amorpho pointed at himself "and beauty hurts"

"Then suffer in silence" Johnny said unimpressed as he entered what appeared to be the local Gotham park. Plants were everywhere, which definitely reminded him of something or rather someone.

"Everyone will surrender towards the green!" A woman on a picnic blanket exclaimed. A girl with clown-like makeup seemed to be cheering right next to her.

"This scene looks familiar" Amorpho muttered, to which Johnny agreed "Oh, I remember."

"It's like Sam!" Johnny yelled..

"It's like Undergrowth!" Amorpho yelled at the same time as the blond. They both looked at each other with a frown.

"It's obviously like the time Sam got possessed," Johnny grumbled as he pointed at the plants littering the park.

"But she was possessed by Undergrowth," Amorpho pointed out in an attempt to cut the argument off.

"Maybe Undergrowth is trying to have kids?" Johnny muttered as he watched Ivy, he could see the family resemblance.

"Or maybe they're illegitimate children he doesn't know about," Amorpho said happily. Shadow was wondering why they didn't stay with Cujo.

"Anyway, if anyone knows where to find Danny it's probably her right?" Johnny pointed to the picnic blanket. Amorpho nodded and they both headed off to probably break up a romantic date.

"Those heels look fa-bu-lous on you!" Harley exclaimed with happiness as she saw a young couple approaching them. Though Ivy didn't look thrilled by the interruption.

"Thank you! Your makeup is magnificent" Amorpho exclaimed happily, perhaps they had made new friends.

"Don't get distracted" Johnny growled at his partner as he complained about the blond not understanding the importance of fashion.

"Oh right, sorry for the interruption" Amorpho cleared his throat "Our friend is lost and we wanted to know if you know where to find him?"

"We're kind of busy right now," Ivy pointed at the picnic. Although she was curious as to how the couple went through all the plants without alerting her.

"It sure is a lovely evening" Johnny nodded "and I'm sorry to interrupt your date, it's something that's happened to me a lot so I understand how frustrating it can be but we really need to find our friend."

Johnny was already thinking about how to make up for the interruption to the date while he was at it. Obviously they had prepared everything: plants that gave a romantic atmosphere, homemade food, hostages, nosy bats behind the plants. It was beautiful!

"If you understand why interrupt?" Ivy raised an eyebrow.

"Our friend has a very special diet and if we don't find him soon all of Gotham could turn into a zombie movie" Amorpho tried to explain. Although obviously the zombie part was only for them.

"We're not getting into another weird drama-" Ivy said with a frown but was interrupted by Harley.

"That's terrible, we also have a friend with a strange diet so we'd love to help!" Harley nodded thinking of Waylon as Ivy heaved a defeated sigh beside her.

"Excellent, he's quite short and always wears the same jacket" Johnny described the clothes the halfa was wearing the last time he saw him "the most important thing is that he has black hair and blue eyes"

Harley & Ivy looked at each other before grimacing at the last description. They hoped that Bruce had avoided that bullet.

"Did you search at Wayne Manor?" Harley questioned after a few seconds of silence.

"No, but we're pretty sure he's not there, he hates millionaires" Amorpho hastened to assert.

"You should check, that's where all the boys with that description end up" Ivy frowned "but we'll keep our eyes open, what's your friend's name?"

"His name is Danny! Thank you very much, we promise to make up your date" Johnny brightened as Amorpho exchanged his number with Harley, they seemed to have become friends.

"I hope so," Ivy snorted as she watched the lively couple walk away, "although I still wonder how they got through the floral barrier”

"Uh, that's weird" Harley mumbled looking at her new contact. The name and photo were definitely different from what she had expected.

"What's wrong honey?" Ivy approached the girl looking at her phone. In it you could see the profile of "Amorpho" shining as an added contact.

"Looks like our new friends have more than one surprise up their sleeves." Harley smiled as she put her phone down and focused on her date. She hoped to find them again, that was for sure.

Spoiler looked at the interaction between the four of them with doubt but ignored how both civilians walked away while she focused on telling Ivy to let the other people enter the park.

Amorpho and Johnny just went intangible to get through the flowers as they headed back to Crime Alley, maybe Danny's crush lived in the same neighborhood if they were lucky.

Possible help #5

In the middle of the street was a rather strong man with a gas mask over his face, which seemed to be connected to tubes on his back. Bane looked at them and walked past them.

"Hey! Don't be rude!" Amorpho complained putting himself in front of the man "It seems that you are not having a good day but this will only take a few minutes"

"My time is precious and I won't waste it on you," Bane growled, trying to push the woman out of his way but she didn't move.

"It will only take a few minutes" Amorpho planted his heels on the cement, leaving a hole. Bane raised an eyebrow curiously.

"What do you want?" Bane crossed his arms, still annoyed by the interaction.

"Thanks, we're looking for our friend," Johnny said, finally catching up with them.

"Your friend?" Bane did not hide the doubt in his tone. Were they causing him so much trouble to ask something so pointless? Why would he know about a random guy in the first place?

"Yeah, he's got blue eyes, black hair, he's kind of goofy and probably has white hair on his head if you look closely," Johnny hastened to describe.

Bane hummed "maybe I know where he is"

"Oh really!?" Both ghosts cheered up seeing the one who was finally giving them an answer.

"Yes, but you have to beat me for that" Bane challenged them both. Considering the strange strength of the girl it was obvious that they were not normal people.

Bane didn't really know where the boy they were looking for was, but he needed some training and if all he needed was a little bribing then he would do it. It wasn't every day that two interesting metas stood in the way.

"We don't have time for a fight" Johnny grumbled but Amorpho stepped forward.

"Hold my bag honey" Amorpho handed his handbag to the blond ghost with a grunt "I've been in these heels all damn day, my feet hurt and all the information we collected was totally useless, if you think I'm going to let go the opportunity to hit someone today you are wrong"

Bane smirked as Amorpho tossed his glasses aside and charged at him in utter rage. After the fight all that was left were broken pieces of the street. Something that was carefully observed by Signal, who was stopping himself from entering Red Hood's territory.

"What do you mean the mansion!?" Amorpho yelled at Bane chuckling on the ground.

"Even though you are a strong opponent, all children with that description end up in the mansion, if he's not there then I don't know where he is" The villain sneered standing up.

"What? Is the show over?" The blond complained putting away his popcorn "I thought it would last longer"

"That was a good fight though, we should do it again sometime," Bane commented as he stretched, ignoring the blond's words. He wondered if he would have special abilities like his mate.

Bane sized up the blonde but his eyes were caught on his shadow, was it moving or was it a trick of the light? Maybe he should do more research on Gotham's new people, these new players were definitely interesting. Of course, that would happen after recovering from the fight and getting more poison. His had run out but it was worth it.

"Yeah, yeah, next time, we have to go get our friend" Amorpho growled, pulling Johnny towards the creepy mansion. He wasn't going to tolerate any more people leading them there again without checking. And if the halfa was inside that damn mansion he was going to figure out how to double kill the biker.

"That's too long, why don't we just use my motorcycle?" The blond asked curiously as he measured the distance to the creepy mansion located in the middle of the city, walking was relaxing for a few hours but he missed his motorcycle.

"WE WERE ABLE TO USE YOUR MOTORCYCLE ALL THE TIME!?" Amorpho's scream was heard throughout the street. To which Johnny shrugged. Bane's laughter was audible in the distance.

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When Jason woke up it wasn't a surprise that Danny was biting his arm. He still considered that it had something to do with the boy being starved for his whole life, but he found the little fangs a little adorable.

They were less adorable when he realized that they were taking blood from his arm, and that his blood had green drops inside it. Jason blinked a few times trying to get the sleep out of his eyes but the green spots were still there.

"Danny, Doll wake up" Jason waved him worriedly, partly because he didn't think drinking blood, even accidentally, wouldn't be poisonous. And on the other hand he was afraid that it had something to do with the Pits.

Danny just growled as he bit his arm a little harder, probably trying to shut up whatever was disturbing his sleep.

"Danny no!" Jason screeched as the boy bit him again, the new vampiric tendencies of his new love interest were becoming extremely worrisome.

Not knowing what else to do, Jason began to wave his arm in an attempt to pull the boy away, but the boy clung on again and the vigilante swore Danny had grown claws because it was impossible for him to stay in the same place without moving an inch.

"Doll, you have to get off, you're not a cat!" Jason got up from the bed but the boy had gone from just biting his arm to completely clinging to him as he kept biting.

Jason ran into the kitchen and tried to bribe the boy with some food he had left in the microwave, if he was hungry that would surely help.

His plan obviously didn't work, the boy seemed quite comfortable still biting his arm. Jason wondered if the toxic blood was going to kill him, if it was really part of the Lazarus Pits.

"Come on Doll, you can't die after I just accepted that I like you" Jason grumbled as he sat down on the couch. He stroked the halfa's hair lovingly as he sighed. The boy was extremely troublesome but he had come to love him, a special kind of love that he hadn't given to many people and that was terrifying.

"Love" Poe sang happily as he landed on Jason's head. Who was having an existential crisis.

If his blood had some of the fluid from the pits in it, why hadn't it come out until now? Was it toxic? Was he killing Danny!?

He hadn't even asked him on a date and he had already killed him! He was the worst boyfriend candidate ever.

While he continued lost in his thoughts he didn't notice how the boy slowly detached himself from his arm and the green color on his blood disappeared.

The halfa seemed to have consumed all the corrupted ectoplasm available in the boy, whether that was a good or a bad thing was hard to say. The boy would probably end up with side effects from the corrupted ectoplasm though. On the other hand, Jason's corrupted core might be healing now that he had a source of natural ectoplasm in the air, and perhaps he would find some surprises soon.

Oblivious to everything that had just changed, Danny continued fast asleep, happily clinging to Jason's arm. The vigilante began to wonder if the boy would stay after the whole gas disaster was over. He slowly started to fall asleep, so much excitement so early in the morning had definitely left him tired. Or maybe it was just the missing blood.

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"I'm telling you Kori, Jay is completely in love, he looks at him the way I look at you" Dick murmured as he lay on his girlfriend's lap, he hadn't slept all night thinking about the meaning of his younger brother's last words " I'm so proud of him"

"Okay, now say what you're really thinking" Kori replied with a smirk. She knew her boyfriend too well to believe that.

"I'm so scared" Dick said in a teary tone "my baby brother is growing up, and he's falling in love, what am I going to do if he gets his heart broken?"

I think that should be his concern" Kori raised an eyebrow "Besides, if something happens I'm sure Roy and I can take care of it"

"Oh, so you think I should spy on his future boyfriend?" Dick questioned happily as he thought about the amazing idea his girlfriend was suggesting.

"I never said that" Kori replied with a snort even though she was aware that her boyfriend wouldn't listen to her and would go bother his brother "In fact, I'm pretty sure it's the opposite of what I told you"

"No, I heard you perfectly, you said it should be my concern so I'll make it my concern" Dick nodded misunderstanding the message "Thank you honey"

"I know you won't listen to me no matter what I say so if Jason gets mad at you I had nothing to do with it, I discouraged you from doing whatever you're thinking" Kori said, sometimes your boyfriend and your best friend being brothers had its disadvantages. Like getting into family fights for example.

"Yes ma'am, I haven't heard anything from you" Dick gave her a military salute before thinking of something else to do while visiting his brother "Maybe I can even find something to tease Jay with while I'm at it."

"I don't know if you want to protect him or make his life miserable" Kori replied doubtfully "But well, have fun"

"Oh by the way" Dick mumbled remembering something at the last moment "Jason said he would teach you how to cook with things from Earth during the call"

"That's wonderful, will Roy join?" Kori asked, at Dick's nod she clapped her hands happily "We could invite his future boyfriend to join"

"How do you know he can't cook?" Dick questioned curiously. He had noticed that while he was trying hard to make the potatoes, Danny hadn't managed to get the cuts right. Jason had definitely been helping him.

"I didn't know, besides, this isn't a course for people who cook badly, is it?" Kori's eyes flashed with annoyance as Dick scrambled to come up with an excuse. In the end, he settled on the truth.

"You know it's not, but I don't know how many otherworldly ingredients my stomach can handle," Dick murmured sadly, "I love that you're trying, and I'm the one who lives on takeout so I can't say anything, but- "

"You're not adapted, I understand" The anger on Kori's face softened "Sorry, I forgot that our dietary needs are not the same"

"It's okay Kori, you were really trying" Dick said "Do you want to plan my fabulous entrance as Nightwing?"

Kori simply denied with a smile and they both ended up talking about different things throughout the night. Their main topic of discussion, though, was Jason's new boyfriend. Kori didn't say it out loud but she was also thinking about the future consequences that his boyfriend's antics would bring her.

───────────────

When Jason woke up again, it was noon. He wondered if what had happened in the morning had been imagined somehow. It was quite likely since green blood didn't exist if you weren't an alien or a meta. And as far as he knew he wasn't either of them.

He sighed as he checked the bite marks on his arm. Although they were present they were very light and were not bleeding. One more point to his theory about him having a strange nightmare. He didn't have an enhanced healing factor and the bite marks were too light to have drawn blood.

However, he felt that he should ask. Even though the wound didn't appear to have drawn blood it could still be a concern.

"Danny, do you have rabies?" Jason asked moving to the boy who was opening an eye next to him. It probably wasn't the most polite way to ask, but he woke up with his arm bitten off, sue him!

"What's with that comment?" The halfa frowned grumpily "I was hoping for a good morning"

It was definitely a unique way of waking up though. Opening your eyes to see the face of your crush with a contemplative expression and the most random question ever.

Danny sighed, why did he like eccentrics? At least Jason didn't have a secret identity with a red mask. Though he couldn't say the same for Red Hood. Damn gene Fenton with peculiar tastes!

"Well, considering you bit my arm, I wanted to know if there was anything I should worry about." Jason pointed to what the halfa was hugging. As Danny got closer he looked at the small bite marks and winced.

Frostbite's thousands of scoldings about how ghosts should protect themselves against diseases and how dangerous it could be to bite the living flashed through his mind, but Jason looked pretty good.

"Not at all" he answered with a nervous laugh "Besides, I'm not a dog"

"I'm aware, just making sure" Jason ruffled his hair affectionately "by the way, Nightwing is coming to visit today, Officer Grayson left a very upsetting message about it"

"Oh, I didn't know you were that close. Do you like him?" Danny teased raising both eyebrows, though wishing that wasn't the case.

Apparently it wasn't, because Jason's face twisted in horror at the implication and he looked at Danny with betrayal. That was a mental image that he wished to get out of his head.

"NO!" Jason yelled completely offended "he's almost my brother, please don't ever say that again"

Plus, there was something definitely painful about your love interest asking if you had a crush on someone. It's not like he could kiss him, that would be going too fast.

"Okay, okay, sorry, I was really kidding" Danny hoped Jason didn't notice how relieved he was by his reaction, "but while we're on the subject, can I ask something?"

"About Officer Grayson?" Jason asked curiously, at Danny's assent he looked at him with a bit of doubt but decided to accept "as long as it's not about our non-existent relationship, go ahead"

"So, do you think Nightwing is dating Officer Grayson?" Danny whispered curiously, looking at a poster of the vigilante in the living room. He wouldn't be surprised if Jason was a fan of his boyfriend's friends.

"I'm pretty sure one of them is dating Strarfire" Jason raised an eyebrow not knowing where such a theory came from. Wasn't he asking if he was dating one of them a minute ago?

"They must be in a polycule" Danny nodded wisely, while Jason looked at him confused.

"If you believe that, why did you ask me if I was dating him?" Jason questioned curiously.

"I wanted to see you nervous," Danny shrugged, "No offense, but the way the officer spoke of Nightwing betrayed a very obvious love"

Probably because he was talking about himself

Jason refrained from commenting, frowning. He turned to ask what the halfa meant by making him nervous when Danny kissed his nose by mistake; he was definitely aiming for his cheek, it was only his reflections that kept him from kissing him directly.

"What was that for, Doll!?" The vigilante stepped away, the action had made him nervous, and he wouldn't admit how flustered the action had left him.

"Actually, I wanted to blow your nose but it was a miscalculation" Danny shrugged sheepishly, the smile not leaving his face "It was worth it though."

───────────────

"Well, we only have one place left to go" Amorpho pointed to the creepy mansion that was visible from the other side of the street "most people told us that he could be here, we have to check"

"Danny would never be there, you know very well his contempt for people with money" Johnny immediately denied "he would have run away"

"Not if he was weak and lacking ectoplasm" Amorpho grumbled "come on, we look like idiots standing in the middle of the street and I have classes at night"

"Since when have you become a responsible student?" Johnny stared at him in disbelief, it had only been two days.

"Yeah, I can't lower my grades or I'll get kicked out of drama club" Amorpho shrugged "I'm lucky Danny has perfect attendance"

"Speaking of which, maybe we should save this creepy adventure for later," the blonde muttered, looking at his phone, "we've been on this all day and Kitty is going to call me in a few minutes."

"I thought Kitty would call you about 10 minutes before my classes started, she's pretty punctual" Amorpho muttered. He had noticed that pattern quickly.

"She does," Johnny agreed happily "and I really don't want her to see you in that outfit, or appearance"

Amorpho looked at him incredulously and checked the time on his own watch, indeed there was the alarm for the start of classes. He stopped himself from choking the blonde and ran into one of the alleys, he needed to change quickly. The skirt definitely looked fabulous on him though.

"Rude" Johnny muttered with a frown as he watched Amorpho leave. He noticed a burst of light coming from a nearby alleyway before "Danny" emerged with a backpack (which definitely wasn't there before) running towards the university.

───────────────

Because unfortunately they couldn't sleep all day, they both decided to do something productive. At first Jason had suggested that they have a relaxing day, maybe read a couple of books and try to learn something new in the kitchen.

Unfortunately the day turned into the opposite of relaxed when the kitchen became a mess of ingredients. Although it had been a very fun experience, cleaning it up wouldn't be so much.

"Okay, maybe we should find something else to do, Doll," Jason admitted as he stood on his tiptoes to clean up the mess that was left on the ceiling.

How had it gotten there? They weren't even cooking anything that required dough!

"Yeah, probably," Danny admitted with a small laugh. Despite how embarrassed he felt about the whole situation he had to admit it was fun "Dance?"

"As much as I love dancing, my muscles are killing me" Jason refused. Plus, he didn't want Nightwing to find them dancing.

It felt like something private. Something that needed to be hidden since it was theirs alone. Jason felt like that little action belonged to him.

The images of them swaying, laughing, expressing their emotions openly. They were his, and he wouldn't hand them over to any of the bats, no matter how curious they were.

“How do you feel about a movie marathon?" The halfa finally asked happily. Whenever he had some free time he would watch one or another interesting movie.

It was a bit sad but since he had arrived in Gotham he had lost the habit. He still remembered the day where Ellie forced him to watch a whole Disney marathon and although he thought it would be tedious he ended up crying with her.

"It depends, what movie are we watching?" Jason raised an eyebrow curiously. Not that he had a preference, family nights included movies of all genres due to the differences between each family member so he wasn't picky.

Danny didn't know that, he wondered what was the correct answer in this situation. Maybe Jason didn't like ghost or zombie parodies with bad death jokes the way he did. He could be an action guy, or a romance guy considering all the books he saw on his bookshelf.

He turned on the TV wondering what he should answer when a movie poster appeared in front of him and he knew. That was always the correct answer.

"Barbie!" The halfa pointed at the screen completely proud. A wide smile on his face.

"I thought you'd never say it" Jason smiled as the movie Barbie and the Twelve Dancing Princesses played on the screen.

That was how Nightwing found them hours later. Cuddled up while singing nursery rhymes out loud.

The vigilante wondered if he should let them know he was in the room but decided to enjoy the view a little longer.

He took a photo of the two of them singing with a wide smile and sent it to Tim.

DiscoWing: Don't tell B but Jay is in love~

DiscoWing: Aren't they cute!? I trust you to keep the secret but watch them! This is the perfect blackmail!

Followed by lots of surprise stickers performed by Nightwing

DiscoWing: It was worth stealing the Helicood for this!

Dick decided to ignore the Restauran't is typing as he approached his brother. Jason was in love with his new helicopter, he had built and modified it until it was perfect and even named it "Helicood" after himself.

But Dick was sure Jason would forgive him for stealing his new helicopter. And maybe crash it slightly, after all he can fix it! He just needed to sneak a few minutes into the batcave.

"HERE I AM, BEING WHO I WANT~" Dick sang the line from the movie scaring the two people on the couch.

"WHAT THE FUCK WING!?" Jason yelled seeing the vigilante hanging from his window.

"Wait! I came with a peace offering!" Nightwing raised both arms swinging to keep from falling. In his hands could be seen a…duck candle?

"Watch out! You could fall!" Danny yelled worried, he didn't want to see a vigilante pancake. What would he say to Starfire and Officer Grayson!?

"I wish so" Jason snorted watching the vigilante do a flip and land next to them "he's an acrobat, don't worry."

"Oh, so we don't have to inform Dick and Starfire about his death?" Danny asked, relieved.

"Inform who about my what?" Nightwing asked confused while Jason shook his head, it was better for him to let the topic slide "Besides, don't worry! If I fall I can always fly!"

"Just because your name has the word Wing doesn't mean you can fly a birdbrain" Jason grumbled, maybe a squashed Nightwing wouldn't be so bad.

"I'm pretty sure I can fly" the vigilante grumbled "anyway, here"

Nightwing handed Danny a red duck candle. Danny stared at the candle before looking up at the vigilante and muttering "thank you."

"A nice civilian gave it to me to ward off evil spirits, she's pretty sure the ghosts of the dead just came to Gotham or something." Nightwing shrugged. He didn't believe the story but it was good to be grateful to those who wish to protect you.

"Evil spirits in Gotham?" Jason raised an eyebrow, they had enough rogues to consider a new one.

"Spirits in general: ghosts, shadows, shapeshifters and stuff," Nightwing explained, "Jessica was pretty sure about that so it's best to be cautious!"

Danny chuckled as he continued to stare at the candle, surely the girl wasn't referring to him and his friends?

"It's very kind of you to want to protect us" The halfa laughed nervously as he placed the candle on the nightstand.

"Yeah, she said the candle warded off evil spirits, and what's better than supporting local businesses?" Nightwing nodded, happy that they both liked his gift. "We should buy more!"

"Maybe later, weren't you here for a reason?" Jason reminded his brother.

"Oh sure the cure" Dick nodded, he had stopped by the cave but they seemed to be discussing strange sightings all over the city: red eyes, super strength, shadows and the end of the world.

Dick wondered if his other siblings had copied Tim and needed a few hours of sleep.

But at the end he managed to see Steph and the progress of the cure.

"Good and bad news on that one," Nightwing cleared his throat "we have a cure!"

"That's great!" Danny said, though it was strange to think that the days of him living with Jason were coming to an end, "Where is it?"

"I dropped it on my way here!" Dick gave them jazz hands as he watched their reaction, Jason seemed minutes away from declaring himself an orphan.

"Explain." Jason sighed, maybe he was jumping to conclusions and his brother had a good reason.

"It was my first time driving the helicopter," Dick explained sadly, "and it was modified in a way I didn't know about"

On second thought, his conclusions were completely correct and Jason hoped that Dick wasn't referring to the Helicood. Because he would have twice the reasons to remove him from the family tree.

"Sacrifice, sacrifice," Poe said, coming out of his hiding place in Jason's hair.

"Besides! Since you are the only human affected we didn't know if it would work since we only tried it on crows" Dick hastened to find an excuse "and as a responsible hero I thought we needed another test before applying it on you"

"I guess I can see the logic in that" Danny frowned thinking he wasn't even human, how could a cure intended for humans work on him?

"No, don't listen to him Doll" Jason complained "he's just an idiot who steals helicopters"

Dick was very offended by that comment.

"Anyway, since it was the only sample" Nightwing continued his explanation, ignoring Jason's gasp about the only sample!? "We have to wait another 3 days"

Dick winked at his brother. Completely ignoring the fact that he was still wearing the mask and therefore it wouldn't show.

Unfortunately Jason was well aware of what his nosy older brother was up to.

"That means the safest thing for you is to stay with Jason and Hood for another three days," Nightwing stated, looking at the boy.

"I guess we can catch up on Disney movies" Danny muttered doubtfully, then looked at Nightwing trying to climb on the table and decided to invite him to join.

Jason stared at Danny in horror, well aware of the suggestion he would make to the vigilante and denied multiple times but his pleas went unheeded. The halfa looked at Nightwing and asked anyway.

"Do you want to watch some movies with us?" Danny asked, pointing to the TV.

Nightwing launched himself onto the couch happily, agreeing with an excited “Yes!”. Maybe his brother's future boyfriend wouldn't be so bad after all.

He decided to write to Tim about the antidote which he had definitely broken accidentally and not to save Jason's love life. In addition to sending more photos of the two boys while they were distracted. They looked quite adorable.

Maybe he should set up a movie date with Kori. It looked like a pretty relaxing activity; after only a few minutes he was carried away by Barbie's voice.

Danny didn't think it was strange that the vigilante was talking so comfortably with Jason. Jason told him that bats were considered family (or friends?) when he asked so they would be something like Jay brothers-in-law, right? It was only natural to invite Hood's brother to hang out with them. Maybe he could convince Nightwing to help him get Hood and Jay back together!

───────────────

When Tim volunteered to review Wayne Enterprises scholarships to various universities he didn't expect to see the boy who was supposedly still affected by Scarecrow gas in class.

He looked more animated than a recently attacked boy should be and seemed to be in the middle of leaving his night classes. Tim raised an eyebrow as he looked over the photo Dick had sent him a few minutes ago.

Restauran't: Is that image recent?

DiscoWing: Yes, it was taken a few minutes ago, why?

Restauran't: And you're still at Jason's?

DiscoWing: Yup, you're not thinking of telling B are you? I only told you because of the antidote and the blackmail

Tim considered his options as he looked up at the boy. He was wearing dark glasses, definitely weird in the middle of the night but not alarming.

Restauran't: No, but can you send me another photo?

The photo his older brother sent him screamed sugar. Jason was practically laying on the boy. Which seemed to be talking about something very lively. It was obvious Jason wasn't happy with his older brother from the photos if the scowl had anything to say about it.

Tim picked up his phone and compared both photos. Definitely the same guy, but something weird was going on. If Dick's observations were true then the victim couldn't stay away from Jason for long without going crazy. He also doubted that he could be in two places at once.

Restauran't: Do you trust me?

Tim bit his lip, it was definitely a risky plan and if Jason found out the assassination attempts on him wouldn't fail this time but he needed to prove it somehow. If it was a duplication skill then surely something would happen.

Dick's response took a few seconds to come, probably because he was distracted by bothering his little brother.

DiscoWing: Sure, what do you need me to do?

Tim was at least relieved that his older brother knew him well enough to know that he was planning something. He at least knew he had a purpose for all the disaster he was about to unleash.

Restauran't: Separate them, I need to check something.

Question marks appeared in the chat window along with a sticker of a sad Nightwing but Dick ended up agreeing. Tim sighed, figuring if the plan worked he could ask Jason for a quick funeral. If Dick was right and he was in love he was about to walk into the lion's den.

He fixed his sight on the boy who may or may not be a clone, better to watch him like a hawk until Dick sends a confirmation message.

───────────────

After another quick Karaoke session with the boy where they both ignored the blue vigilante who had decided to crash their movie marathon Jason and Danny stared at each other, mirroring the scene in front of them where Odette was looking up at the prince.

They were grinning, obviously tired after singing the sixth song of the Barbie movie. And although Jason was sure that some video of him would end up in the family chat, he didn't really care, he felt calm, happy.

He quickly looked over at Nightwing but he seemed quite distracted by his phone so he guessed that he wasn't paying attention to them.

Come on Jason, this is no time to be a wimp.

He took a deep breath, remembering all the laughs Danny had brought him in the few days of meeting him, his clumsy attempts at cooking, his misplaced heroic streak, his bad bedtime habits and his knack for attracting strange situations.

And although his head was also thinking about the consequences that the action he was about to do would bring him, or how he was rushing to conclusions and it was not the time, he didn't listen to it. Danny had earned the right to be considered more than a suspect.

Damn, don't think about it just do it!

He did so, he took a leap of faith and leaned into the boy who had been stealing his heart. He felt the increase in his heartbeat as he closed his eyes and hoped that this was the perfect moment, maybe Danny would even kiss him back.

Of course, all his fantasies were interrupted when he felt a hand blocking his path and decided to open his eyes to confirm what was happening...

"Jay, you are a wonderful boy and these days with you have been amazing but I have to stop you here" Danny said, placing a hand over Jason's mouth, who looked very confused.

Jason tried to speak but Danny immediately silenced him again.

"Unless you're considering a polyamorous route I think you should consider your boyfriend's feelings on this" Danny said "Please think about it."

Jason just stared at him in confusion, but his mind just repeated the words "your boyfriend" like a broken record until he could finally process it.

Sorry, his what now-?

SINCE WHEN HE HAD A BOYFRIEND!?

He was about to ask the boy about it when he looked at his brother and frowned. Dick looked a bit nervous, which was a bit obvious when you considered how animated he had been all night. Being a nuisance in general.

He hadn't even commented on Danny mentioning his supposed boyfriend which made him doubly suspicious.

“Danger, danger!” The little crow warned him.

He got the answer quickly when Dick approached them and taking advantage of the confusion separated the union in their hands, pushing them away and grabbing Danny to put distance between them

He didn't know whether to feel angry or betrayed. His brother knew very well that Danny wasn't pretending and he really needed the contact, didn't he believe in him? He was about to approach them when he saw the doubtful expression on his brother's face.

"I'm sorry" Dick whispered as he held the boy in his arms. Danny was trying to break free of the vigilante's grip. The boy seemed very busy fighting Nightwing, desperately looking for Jason. Jason expected the fury of the pits but instead he felt fire in his soul, something strange considering how much the sensation was like the All-blades.

But he didn't have time to think about it. A few seconds had passed but it was obvious that the separation was hurting the halfa. When Jason looked at the boy he saw green.

───────────────

Danny was scared. He had forgotten that the gas was still in his blood and everything around him began to go dark. He needed to know that Jason was okay but he couldn't hurt the Gotham vigilante while he was at it, as easy as it was for him to become intangible or crush bones his awareness was screaming at him that this was not the time.

But in his head the memories and harmful comments began to play, playing with his memories over and over again. He had felt so secure before but all his confidence was shattered in seconds.

Inevitable

You can't escape your destiny!

Creepy boy with creepy powers

You hurt everyone around you!

You didn't protect us!

GET AWAY

What he felt the most was the need to get away, hide, and hide everyone he still had where no one could find them. Protect them from everything and everyone.

Before he knew it, his eyes were glowing and all he could feel was despair and fear.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

I think a lot happened in this chapter but it was honestly quite fun to write so I hope you enjoyed it!

In case anyone's curious, yes, Danny just healed Jason (and got sick at the same time?), so Jason might develop some changes. Tim is making bad decisions but Dick trusts him! On the other hand, no matter how easy it is for the halfa to use his powers, remember that he wants to be just Danny :)

And yes, they both accepted their feelings but whoops, it looks like Danny misunderstood something?

@skulld3mort-1fan@sorryiwonnoob@idfk-man10@avelnfear@criticaloverthinker@confusedandghostly @lunadoll36 @spidey29phangirl @suppengott @yjfk@apointlessbox@mimilikey@thegatorsgoose@jaggedheart11@dyinggirldied@pyramaniac@akikkobara@thedragonqueen1998@lostlightandfoundcrazy@xye-chan@saltyladynightmare @ashleysmshly @thewondersoflebanon@illusionwolfwriter24r8@littlefeather345@asphyxia778@amercurio@leftmiraclechaos @dixiwoods @satoshy12@lyra689@meira-3919@quietlyscared@plotwholls @kyrianclawraith @blacksea21090@basilf1res @flowers-n-fauna @8-29pm@phantom-dc@luer-mirin@taniaundertaleau@cloriform@readerkayden@oddlydrawnpuppets@basementloser@little-green-asparagus@echoednonny@yummy-yummy-mmmbones@confusionchaos@ectoplasm024@autumnwulf@666deaddash999@redhoneysugarorange@blue-avis@sailor-goddess@satanicrutialspecialist

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factorialsotherfandoms · 6 months

Text

There is a strange path which Philza finds while out exploring one day. It winds between the trees, and it is set along its side by flowers - not poppies, not Tallulah's flowers, but flowers.

He hesitates at it for a while, but eventually decides, why not? He may as well just take a peek.

Around and around the little path goes, until eventually it leads him to a little house.

No sharestone.

Odd.

Still... He makes sure his scythe is ready and his armour intact, and pokes his way inside.

Just a little, empty room, with a very obvious elevator inside.

It's a trap - it has to be a trap - but curiosity killed the crow and Philza takes it anyway.

Whatever he had been expecting down the elevator, it is not what Philza finds; from a quaint wooden room to a large area, not unlike the election dinner arena. It is entirely underground, however, the glass replaced with stone, and the stone decorated with buttons.

The stone floor, too, is decorated with buttons.

Or pressure plates, to be more exact.

A great, great many pressure plates...

Philza's eyes trail up from the immediate, to what should perhaps have been the more obvious; where the stage was before is a plinth. On that plinth is a bed, and strapped to the bed lies the struggling form of Forever.

Forever, who vanished into the Nether, and has been missing for weeks.

"Forever!" he calls, to no avail.

There's a knife attached to some sort of redstone contraption very close to Forever's throat, a bloody line already drawn across it.

Blood in his hair, too, matted and dirty. Torn clothes, bruises and cuts and ugly looking burns covering his body, and yet Philza is drawn to the knife at his throat, and the blade at his neck.

He looks around for a clue, desperately for a clue, and finds only arrow traps in the walls.

"Forever!" he tries again.

This time he earns his friend freezing up, going completely still, angled just perfectly to see where something has burnt away the skin across half of his face.

Philza's heart drops through his stomach, but he has to stay strong. He might not have control of the situation, but if Forever is going to get out if this… If Forever is going to get out of this, Philza has to keep his head perfectly level.

"Forever, look at me." He orders.

It takes a moment, and the indescision is clear across Forever's face. After a moment he does, however, turn his head to the sound.

"You're doing well," Philza tries to soothe as well as demand. "Now just stay still, and open your eyes."

"Phil?" Forever's voice trembles.

"I'm right here," Philza repeats. "I'm right here, just open your eyes."

Forever does as he is told, and Philza does his very best to keep his swearing quiet. The eyes that greet his are terrified, bright and scared and the pupils are uneven. He doesn't even know if he is recognised right now, with the signs of a concussion so very apparent on Forever's face.

"It's going to be okay," he promises, forcing his voice to stay calm. "We're going to get out of this."

They so fucking aren't. Anywhere Philza could step is a pressure plate, and any one - maybe more - of them will swing the blade at Forever's throat. From others, arrows. From others still, perhaps poison.

If he had his wings, if he could just fly, he could save Forever.

For now... He isn't quite sure what to do.

"Don't move," Philza instructs, trying to keep things simple. "I'll get you out, just don't move."

He's pretty sure it would be impossible, but he says it anyway. One slip, one movement, and Forever is dead. A knife through his throat, whatever.

And with the Federation as it is... Philza does not trust them not to have forced him to respawn on the bed in which he lies.

"Philza?" Forever asks, voice desperate and confused. The Portuguese that follows is too disjointed for the communicator to follow, so Philza just gently shushes him in reply.

"It's okay," he says in a voice reserved for eggs and panicking teenagers. "It's okay, I'll get you."

He can grapple up to the ceiling, then maybe float down? But the ceiling has buttons on it, and he's not sure it will work. Chorus fruit, perhaps, but it could equally land him on a pressure plate. He looks up and around, searches his backpack, checks his things... Takes a photo, looks at that for clues. Whatever the solution is, it is not obvious.

In the end he has to make a choice.

Still Philza hesitates, until he looks up, and sees that Forever's eyes have slipped shut.

The panic tips over, and he cannot hold it down any more.

"Forever!" he screams. "Forever! Look at me!"

Forever's eyelids flutter, but do not open. Philza curses and screams and yells encourage, but no matter what he does...

Forever manages to crack his eyes open for a moment, whatever he tries to say too quiet and too slurred for Philza to make out.

"Shit, okay, um," Philza looks desperately around for any sort of key.

There isn't one.

"Don't move," Philza asks of him. "Trust me, and don't move."

Philza does not deserve Forever's trust in that moment.

He's given it any way.

The only option he has, in the end, is to step forwards.

The first pressure plate does nothing.

Neither the second.

He doesn't like his chances so he steps to the left a little - still fine.

On gut he keeps slowly approaching, knowing it is inevitable his luck will not last.

It does not, of course, last.

Philza can only be thankful that the arrows in the walls turn to him, not to Forever, tearing through his armour and nestling deep.

He sees the shooter reload, breathes against the pain. Forever's eyes have slipped shut again, and his body has gone limp, and Philza does not have the /time/ to do anything other than suffer the pain.

Step. Step. Step.

Another trap, this time lava starts pouring in from the edges of the room.

Step, step, step, faster now, get Forever and /get out/.

It's the last pressure plate before he can jump to Forever's side that brings hell down upon them; a blade shoots through the bed Forever is laid on, piercing through his chest. Too far to the right to hit his heart, but the blood and the lung and - and Philza can see how Forever /barely/ reacts, even to that.

He doesn't chance the final pressure plate - he jumps over it instead.

"Forever!"

As soon as he is past the worst of it, he runs over, grabbing Forever's hands. He only holds them for a second, just long enough to squeeze them, before he starts unbuckling the straps keeping him to the bed. Somehow, somehow, despite the blade through his chest and the concussion in his eyes, Forever manages to look at him.

"I knew you would come for me," blood drops from his lips as the slurred words struggle to be heard.

"Fucking moron, getting yourself trapped like this." Philza pulls free the last buckle, then looks at the blade.

He doesn't know if potions are going to cut it, and respawn... Respawn is not an option, when he doesn't know where Forever will end up.

There's not much else to try, though; Philza pours potion all over the wound, then ducks under the bed. It's not too hard to disconnect the mechanism, and then all he has to do is...

Forever /screams/ as Philza pulls.

As soon as the blade is free Philza pulls himself back out, slamming one hand to press against the wound while he grabs potions in the other.

"It's okay, it's okay, you're okay," he promises, all he can do between the blind panic himself.

It's not okay - even concussed and bleeding to death Forever can tell that, even blind with panic as his backpack straps slip from his grasp for a moment Philza knows that.

He still pours a potion down Forever's throat, and more on the wound, and begs his lady not to take his friend away.

The winds twist and turn and when Forever passes out Philza cannot pause to worry about the concussion because no matter what he does the wound still bleeds. The potion should have healed it; there must have been something on the blade because no matter what he does, Forever still bleeds.

He bleeds less, and less, but still bleeds.

With one shaking, bloody hand - the other still trying to treat the wounds - he manages to turn his communication's location to public and yell for help in the chat. He does not know if anyone sees. He does not know if there even is anyone to see, he can only bring a potion back to his hand and continue pouring it.

The wound is smaller now, Philza thinks at least most of the internal damage might have finally healed, but the external... The skin is still gone, and the blood is still blood.

Philza is an Angel of Death, not of Life, but he does his best regardless.

Somehow, he stops the blood pouring from Forever's chest.

But more drips onto is suit and

the blood is his.

Some of the arrows came dislodged in his panic, others fell, some just left space from the start.

Philza sits heavy on a bloody bed, rests a bloody hand on Forever's bloody chest, stares as bloody drips hit a bloody plinth, and the lava pools all around.

His awareness narrows until he cannot feel the panic, or the pain, or the adrenaline in his veins, only the delicate rise and fall of Forever's chest beneath his hand and that quiet

drip

[break. This should be a new chapter but I'm taking pity on tumblr]

Philza does not know how long it takes for them to be found, only that Forever is still breathing when they do. Not awake, but breathing.

Family voices swear from the doorway, there is the sound of water buckets placed down, a thousand other sounds he has trained every part of himself to pick up on because knowing those sounds means the difference between life and death.

He does not look up, he does not even think he can. Some of his wounds have closed up now, but others still continue to drip

drip

Someone tries to lift his hand from Forever's chest. He does not know who it is, where they are, but he moves all in a start. He does not even think, he just throws himself over Forever - protect protect PROTECT - and twists to hiss at the offender.

It's only Baghera, wide eyed, hands raised in surrender.

Only Baghera...

Philza backs off, only to freeze again when he sees his blood drip down, mixing with Forever's now drying blood in the gorey pool.

Someone takes Philza's hand.

"Stand down," a voice says. "We're here to help."

Philza must check out for a few moments, because the next thing he knows he is sat, hugged in Bad's lap, the other surprisingly warm beneath him. Someone - Etoiles, he thinks - is dabbing a potion-dipped cotton wool bud along a cut on his cheek.

Shakily, Philza raises a finger to it. He is allowed to - the dabbing turning to his arm instead - and he finds a graze from a clipping by an arrow.

Huh.

He doesn't remember that.

"You are back with us?" Etoiles asks.

"I-" Philza glances around, trying to place himself, and- "Forever?"

"Baghera and Cellbit are looking after him," there's a swish of a tail against cobblestone, though Bad will always deny it. "He'll be okay."

"What happened, bro?" Etoiles pulls out a bandage, wrapping the wound on Philza's arm. "We just see a call for help and then this!"

"I..." Philza's gaze travels back to the entrance way.

"Maybe not just yet, Etoiles, he's still in shock."

"It will help."

"There was a weird building out here, so I thought I'd take a look," Philza frowns slightly, looks at his hands as he tries to remember. "It was... Trapped. And Forever was in the centre. I think... He was already injured, all chained down like a gift. I couldn't... I- look under the bed."

Etoiles does. Philza does not see his expression, and does not bother to pay attention to what Etoiles tells those treating Forever. He just... leans a little harder on Bad - earns an "oof" - and clings to one of the arms around him.

"Cold," is all Philza whispers.

Bad's arms tighten a bit.

"Guys," Bad calls. "I'm gonna get Philza back to the Order!"

Philza hisses.

Cellbit pauses, then, "we'll meet you there shortly."

"Before you pass out on me," Bad whispers to Philza and, okay, maybe Philza feels a little bit bad about that.

He doesn't want to make more problems. He just wants his family, and as he can't have his family, he wants to be sure his friends are okay.

"Favela," Bad reminds him.

Right, yes, warping.

His hands are shaking as he pulls out his warpstone, and Etoiles eyes are definitely worried as he watches the two leave.

---

As soon as he reaches the Favela, Philza has to grip the warpstone for support. A moment or two after Bad's arm crosses his back, providing what support he can.

They don't say anything until Philza is sat on one of the beds in the infirmary, a blanket around him and a mug of... something in his hands. He doesn't drink it, just holds it, and Bad seems willing enough to squirm on the chair while obsessively reviewing security footage.

Philza, honestly, cannot blame him.

"Forever will be fine," Philza says, trying to convince them both. "He always is."

Neither of them glance at the bed that has been Forever's so many times that they just leave it decorated with Richarlyson's art these days.

"Drink up," Bad says.

Begrudgingly, Philza does so. Worse, he feels better for the sweetened, warmed milk. He still keeps the blanket, and clings to the warm cup, but the cold is a little more tolerable now.

"Aren't you going to ask me questions?"

"What? And take Cellbit's fun away?" Bad cocks his head to one side. "No, we have enough details for now. Once Forever's up and about we'll worry about that."

"Might take a while," Philza frowns at the thought. "Idiot has a concussion, and a bad one at that."

"Ah, fudge," Bad switches to his communicator, presumably messaging the people left behind. "Maybe before then, then."

"Maybe."

They lapse back into the quiet as they wait for the others. It takes another five, maybe ten minutes, before they stumble through. Forever is, somehow, on his feet - if supported from both sides by Baghera and Cellbit. Etoiles quickly abandons the trio to come sit next to bad.

"You good?"

"Better," Philza tests the shoulder he knows got an arrow in it. "Stings like a bitch."

"Weakness potions do that, yes," he agrees.

Philza's eyes glance to Forever, also sat on a bed and offering a shaky smile and a shakier thumbs up.

"Idiot!" Philza calls over to him. "Don't let the fu-dging bear stab you next time!"

Forever just laughs, coughs up a little blood to Cellbit's panic and Baghera's eye roll, "but you came for me anyway!"

Nobody in the room is impressed to learn that Cucurucho had something to do with this. Philza can see their minds whirring, but everyone has the sense to restrain from saying it aloud.

"Always will, dumbass!" he replies.

Bad cuffs him on the knee for that. Forever, though, gives him a lopsided grin, ended only by the flinch as Baghera forces some drink or another on him.

By the time he is done with it, Forever looks about exhausted all over again. Reassured they let him sleep, though Baghera, Bad, and Cellbit all agree to take turns watching him for the night.

Head injuries, and toture, and all that.

"I guess I should be heading home then," Philza says as they work it out. "Thanks guys."

He tries to stand; Etoiles grabs him, and sits him back down.

"You're staying," he says. "You are not allowed to do that again. And, this way, you can see when Forever gets up again, no?"

Three other pairs of eyes seem to agree.

Philza is too tired to argue; he lies back down.

"Sorry for scaring you," he says, instead of a goodnight.

"Scaring me?" Etoiles replies, though he does not deny it.

"You've got nothing on this idiot," Cellbit provides. "At least you texted and didn't get kidnapped."

Bad just pats Philza's head, then wanders over to give the same to Forever, and then heads out to get some sleep before his Forever-sitting shift.

"Night," Philza pulls the blanket over his head, and pretends he doesn't hear the quiet talking all night.

#qsmp fanfic #blegh ending things #qsmp forever #qsmp philza #etoiles baghera bad and cellbit are also here #not the comfort I wanted but it does wind them nicely down after so it'll do #forever needs a few days close checking then a few weeks with some painkillers and he'll be physically fine #mentally... depends just what else happened in his kidnapping I guess

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