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confessedlyfannish · 6 months

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DP x DC Prompt #7

Robin is heretofore thought to be alone when he swings his katana behind him, almost catching the Adam's apple of his mother's new lover.

"Whoopsie!" Danny says, taking an agile step back, as if Robin's slice was a slip of the hand rather than a deliberate and likely fatal attack.

"What are you doing here," Robin demands, mask hiding the momentary widen of his eyes. No one sneaks up on the heir of Batman, least of all his mother's latest toy.

"I wanted to chat, just you and I," Danny says, as if they are standing on a sidewalk and not the rooftop of a forty floor building in the dead of night, Robin in full costume. "I know you were kinda caught off guard yesterday night."

"I was not caught off guard."

This is a lie. Yesterday night when Talia had appeared at the latest Wayne Charity Ball as the date of Daniel Fenton, an up-and-coming name in renewable energy, Father's dumbfounded look had been nothing less than genuine.

And even the Annoyance had choked on his non-alcoholic champagne when Talia had instructed Damian to greet his "new stepfather".

"Talia," Danny had said levelly, running a hand over hers placed delicately in the crook of his arm, "Remember how we were going to break this gently?"

"Darling, Al Ghuls do not require a gentle break," Talia had replied.

"What is happening," Tim had quietly muttered, squinting at the contents of his glass suspiciously. "What."

Tonight Danny is as calm as he was the previous night, looking amused if anything. Damian resists the urge to take another swing at him. Mother would probably not like that. Danny's affections towards her had seemed quite genuine, his eyes often on her with a light Damian reluctantly recognized from Grayson's many dalliances. And dare he say it, Mother had seemed to reciprocate.

"My mistake. Still," Danny says, "I was hoping to speak with you alone."

"I do not require another father," Damian says promptly. This is true. He already has a father, and a Grayson, and the other annoyances, and Alfred. "And you should not be speaking to a...minor...without their guardian present." He does not like saying this, as he is fully capable of being his own guardian, but Dick had been adamant once updated by Tim and Barbara that should Damian come in contact with Danny alone he was to say as such. He had extracted a promise from Damian after a high-pitched lecture via video call going on nigh an hour. Damian had been waterboarded, twice, and would have preferred a third time to one of Grayson's seminars on "stranger danger" and "parental custody". It had prevented him from going on patrol with Batman, who had left shortly after the gala, presumably to meet with his mother.

Batman had not succeeded, returning without a word. Red Hood, cackling, had pulled up behind him to congratulate Damian on his new "daddy" and loudly tell Oracle how Bruce had gotten an eyeful. An eyeful of what, Damian wasn't sure, and asking only made Jason laugh harder and Dick yell from the Batcomputer.

"Good thing I'm speaking to Robin, then," Danny says with a grin. Damian updates his mental file on the man to less of a goody two-shoes than previously thought. "And like I said last night, I'm not here to overstep."

"Then?" Robin asks crossing his arms.

"You and I are a lot alike, actually," Danny says. Despite the chill of the night, wind whipping at his hair, he seems very comfortable in his t-shirt and jeans.

Damian scoffs and Danny holds his hands up.

"Okay, I deserved that one. What I mean is, and bear with me here, I had a lot going on when I was your age, and my parents weren't always super...present. Their work kept them pretty distracted as we got older and more independent."

The background check they'd run indicated Danny's parents were scientists, his sister a therapist and women's self-defense instructor. The man himself had nothing remarkable on his record beyond a public intoxication charge in his early twenties, but that hardly meant anything. Talia Al Ghul's public record was nothing short of exemplary, one of the many facts that had made the judge reluctant to grant Bruce full custody.

"And listen, I know the way I was raised in the midwest is vastly different from your upbringing, and comparing the two would likely be condescending and a disservice to you, but I also know that while I liked my independence, I wish I had been able to talk to my parents more when things got tough."

"I fail to understand what you are saying," Damian says flatly. "Are you instructing me to speak to my parents as you believe I am having a hard time? And your basis for this incredibly incorrect hypothesis is you were once a teenager whose parents were neglectful? Also, this is certainly overstepping."

Danny's smile is sheepish. "It is, isn't it?"

Damian turns to leave.

"What I'm trying to say," Danny says loudly. "Is that I intend to stay in Gotham. I have some things I need to see to here so I'll be here a while.

"And this is important to me because--"

"Talia will be staying." When Damian continues to stare at him blankly, he clarifies: "With me. Here. I mean, we definitely will go on a honeymoon at some point, even though I'm not sure we're actually married no matter what Talia says about that ceremony--"

"Tt. Grandfather will never let Mother simply galavant around."

"You don't need to worry about Ra's any more," Danny says, straightening. His voice is firm and certain. "He won't be bothering you or your mother."

"That's impossible," Damian says sharply.

"You can ask Talia yourself." Danny pulls out a card. "This is the hotel we're staying at. Room 805. You are right that you definitely shouldn't come without your father's permission, but if he's alright with it please feel free."

Danny takes a step closer, and if Damian's quick grip on his katana bothers him he doesn't show it.

"I mean it Robin. I'm not saying Talia's going to petition for joint custody, and I'll make sure Batman knows that as well. I just want you to know she's here. If you ever want to...see her."

He holds out the card until Damian plucks it from his hand with a growl.

"And also, Damian?"

"What?" Damian snaps.

"Your mom talks about you all the time. I think she'd like to see you too."

"Tt." Damian says, eyes darting down to the card. When they flick back up, Danny is gone.

Damian pulls a quick 360, sword drawn, but the man is nowhere to be seen.

"Robin," Batman says in his comm. "Need you on the west docks."

His comm line was open the whole time, he realizes, but Oracle is uncharacteristically silent. A further investigation shows no time has passed since Danny arrived at the roof. Only the card clenched in his fist indicates he was ever there.

"On my way," Damian says, sheathing his weapon.

Hmph. Of course. His mother is no fool, least of all in her selection of lovers.

Upon arriving at the cave later that night, Damian exits the clock at the rear of the group.

"Father," he says as he clears the threshold. "I wish to spend time with Mother and Stepfather at their earliest convenience. Perhaps tomorrow after school."

Everyone stops still, turning to look back at him. Tim pauses mid-stretch, Steph's jaw drops, and Cassie smiles pleasantly at him. Even Alfred, a tray of freshly baked cookies in hand, blinks at him.

Bruce's mouth opens and closes, wordlessly.

"Absolutely not!" Dick Grayson screeches from the other end of the hallway, dufflebag in hand. Behind him Jason grasps the doorway, doubled over in laughter.

#dick ain't no one bad touching my baby grayson #danny: I think it's important I meet your son #talia: why tho #batman #batfam #in case it wasn't clear bruce thought this was some sort of trap #then accidentally peeped on two newly wedded people getting it on #damian wayne #talia al ghul #danny phantom #danny fenton #dp x dc #dp x dc au #dp x dc prompt #I also subscribe to the concept where this is a diff dimension #danny's been alive for a millenia #and talia is sam reincarnated #puppy dog stepdad ghost god loves his goth assassin single mom gf #my writing

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pitch-pearl-void · 4 years

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Aladdin AU, Pitch Pearl style

An hour after arriving, Danny was still gawking at the room and all the furniture inside. Phantom reclined on some cushions in the corner and watched the human explore the luxuries like a kid in a candy shop...or like an orphaned street rat who never knew when his next meal would be. Did Danny have a home before he met Phantom? The way he was touching the bed made Phantom wonder if he had ever seen one before, let alone one stuffed with feathers.

I could have given you a bed when we were traveling through the desert, Phantom thought, watching the quiet wonder grow on Danny's face. I could have fed you dates and all the apples you could have wanted.

But Danny had never asked. It had never even occurred to him despite how Phantom flaunted his powers that Danny could take advantage of his services. The masters before him had seen Phantom bring a horse into existence so he could ride unobtrusively beside his master through the marketplace and thought: His horse is better than mine or He could create a whole herd for me to sell. They had asked about it, and Phantom had smiled and required them to use one of their wishes.

Danny had seen Phantom produce a thick blanket in the desert during one of the freakishly cold nights, just one more scheme to trick his new master into wasting his wishes. Danny had seen but instead of being envious or greedy, Danny had asked if they could share.

Share.

Such a novel concept. Even Phantom hadn't known the full meaning of the concept until Danny, responding to Phantom's hesitant acceptance, slid under the blanket and snuggled close to his new genie. At some point he had even draped an arm over Phantom. It hadn't been possessive or sexual or anything Phantom had experience with, something he understood. It had simply been to...share body heat.

To Phantom's surprise, he had enjoyed it. Despite not needing sleep, there was something deeply...satisfying about laying under the blanket with Danny, feeling the cold toes and slight shivers from the too skinny body decrease as the human slowly fell asleep against him.

In fact, he had enjoyed it so much he had created a blanket the second night and suggested the same arrangement himself. And the next. And the next.

There would be no such arrangement tonight. Danny had his own blanket now. He had his own bed. Danny had all the luxuries a prince inside a palace could ask for, what need he of a genie's generosity? All he wanted for now was the heart of another, and that was something no magic could give him.

Phantom closed his eyes and leaned his head back with a sigh. Danny announced he was going to see Princess Samantha, and Phantom raised his hand to bid him good luck, the bangles of his enslavement jangling as he waved.

He expected the sound of a closing door, but apparently Danny was hesitating. "Are you okay?" he asked, worried. "Did the parade wear you out? Is there something I can do?"

You could stay, Phantom thought, but aloud he said, "I will be fine, Master. A little rest is all I need."

That should have been the end of it, and yet Danny lingered. Phantom could sense his master's confusion and unease. "Why..." he started, paused, and then tried again. "’Master’? You can still call me Danny. Just because we're inside a palace now doesn't mean you're no longer my friend."

It was a nice sentiment, Phantom was glad to hear it, but it missed the point. "I must call you master or I will forget myself."

"Forget yourself?"

Phantom pried his eyes open and looked at Danny. The human, dressed now in princely garb but still slightly slouched like the street rat Phantom had first met, had abandoned the door and the bed, the fruit and the balcony, and was walking toward Phantom, blue eyes concerned and focused solely on the genie.

Phantom had to close his eyes again and look away. Danny had no idea what he was doing to him, the pain he was causing. "It's nothing you need concern yourself with, sire. Proceed with the wooing of your princess before she retires for the night."

Danny sat on the pillows nearest Phantom. Nearer than any other master had dared unless they were trying (and failing) to convince Phantom to serve them in a different way. Unlike them, Danny didn't caress Phantom's bare chest or finger his slave bangles or pull at his chest piece. Danny dared sit beside him because they were friends. He dared touch Phantom's shoulder because he had never been afraid of his friend.

And Phantom had to resist resting his cheek on Danny's hand because friend was a woefully inadequate word for what he was feeling. What he was feeling was simply not allowed. More painfully, it was not wanted. When Phantom first materialized before his new master, he had chosen to form himself as a reflection of his master, albeit a reflection with different colored eyes and hair. In the past, doing so had protected him from certain types of masters. In the present, it shielded him too well, and yet he liked the form. He might just keep it.

It wasn't anything like the black haired, violet eyed beauty Danny was infatuated with, however, so what use was it currently?

"Phantom," Danny insisted gently, "what's wrong?"

With the excuse a conversation granted him, Phantom allowed his head to turn, his cheek to fall on Danny's hand. He opened his eyes to meet Danny's. His master's eyes were so close Phantom could see the web of lighter blue fibers weaved around the iris, so fascinating, so beautiful. Phantom had never thought a human could have this pull on him, that he would find any form of theirs attractive, and yet here he was. A fool.

"I'm not one for castles," Phantom said, dodging the greater truth and landing on a lesser. "Too many bad memories, you know? Humans who seek power and status always wind up in one eventually. And then I am trapped behind these walls, forced to watch their greed twist a once great land to suit their purpose."

Danny frowned. He connected what Phantom was saying to the returned use of 'master' and landed at the wrong conclusion. "You think that will happen to me? Phantom, I promise, I'm only here because I want Samantha."

Phantom's eyes twitched. His mouth thinned slightly. "She is all you want? Then why not wish her free from her palace instead of you within it? From what you told me, that's exactly what she would've wished for herself, or do you think she ran away from the palace simply because she wanted to stretch her legs?"

His words seemed to strike Danny harder than he intended. He recoiled, his hand sliding from beneath Phantom's cheek. Phantom bit his lip. "I don't--I mean, I didn't--maybe I could have--her family--"

Phantom caught Danny's wrist before he could pull away too far. "Don't make excuses for yourself," he said in a softer tone. "There is no need." He turned Danny's wrist over and brushed his thumb along the bulging veins, the jutting wrist bone. "You were seeking to provide for yourself--and her--in the only way you knew. Starvation and danger is the world you are trying to escape. Isolation and responsibility was hers. I understand."

Danny watched him. He didn't say anything when Phantom's touch became less pointed and more like a caress. Perhaps he didn't notice. "Are you upset with me?" he finally asked, confused.

Phantom sighed and released his wrist. "A little," he admitted. "More at myself. I can't keep my emotions in check." He stretched, arching his spine in a way that, had Danny been receptive, might have been suggestive. "Go along, though. I will sort myself out."

Danny didn't leave. After a few minutes, Phantom looked at his master and saw him staring thoughtfully at the balcony. Moonlight was shining through the sheer curtains, a light breeze stirring the fabric into an inviting dance.

"Would it help you to get away for a bit?" Danny asked.

Phantom eyed the balcony hungrily. "It would," he replied, somewhat reluctantly, "but it wouldn't do much good. I am bound to the lamp. I can only go where it goes. I would be trapped and forced to return before I cleared the palace grounds."

"What if I go with you?"

"With me?"

"Out there." Danny turned his head to look at Phantom again, something alive and wild in his eyes. "To see the world. Let's get out of here. Just for tonight."

Phantom sat up. If he had a true human heart, it would be pounding. "Are you serious?"

"You said you wanted to, right? Once you're free? I know it's not the same, but..."

Phantom had said that. It was his dearest wish. The freedom to go wherever he pleased, to see sights he had only heard about. That dream did not involve being chained to his master and the lamp at the time, and yet...

"What would be the point of seeing the world if you weren't there beside me?" Phantom said slowly, realization dawning in his mind. Danny's eyes softened as he smiled, and Phantom felt elated, weightless, and heavy all at the same time.

This human is going to destroy me, he thought, staring into Danny's eyes. I can't have him. I can't. I'm just going to get myself hurt.

Phantom looked from Danny to the balcony, to Danny, and then to the carpet. The only other magical being in the room had perked up as well. They had known each other for millenia, it knew Phantom as well as he knew himself. It must have felt Phantom's ambient magic pulling uselessly at Danny's emotions, like a dog outside a house begging for scraps of love and affection, but would it help him? Wanting Danny was such a useless, ridiculous, pointless--

The carpet leapt into the air and flew in circles around Phantom and Danny, its tassels at one point brushing Phantom's white hair.

Danny laughed. "Looks like Carpet wants to go too!"

Phantom smiled. "It would seem so."

He watched Danny climb onto the carpet and settle into a cross-legged position and wondered. Wondered, wondered, wondered. The flight Carpet offered was a powerful tool to earthbound humans. With it, Danny could have easily swept Samantha into a romantic flight, free of all the restrictions that had once kept her tied to her palace. Yet Danny was offering the night to Phantom.

And, whether Danny intended it or not, the potential to sweep a human off their feet remained. If Phantom could show Danny the freedom they could have, together, away from a palace, away from responsibilities that came with marrying a princess, could he, an enslaved genie, win back the heart that had already been given to someone else?

Maybe, Phantom thought, hope rising within him. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

It was a foolish hope, but what did Phantom have to lose?

So instead of flying alongside Carpet as he had done out in the desert, Phantom sat on Carpet behind Danny, his knees bracketing Danny's, his arms encircling his waist.

Danny may have missed the other signs of Phantom's growing interest, but this one he caught. His stomach muscles tensed beneath Phantom's arms. "Uh, Phantom?"

"We'll have to fly faster if we're to see anything in only one night," Phantom explained, neglecting to mention he intended to stretch the night out as long as his powers were able. "Can't have you falling off. This thing doesn't come with seatbelts."

Slowly, the tense line of Danny's spine relaxed. He didn't lean back against Phantom. Not yet. "Seatbelts?" he asked.

"Not important." Carpet drifted toward the balcony, and with a swipe of his fingers, Phantom willed the curtains to part for them. "Where do you want to go?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

Phantom shook his head. "I don't know what all your world has to offer. I don't even know where we are in relation to the ones I do know. It's a whole new world for me."

"Me too." They flew over the balcony rails, and Danny's arm pressed against Phantom's, his hand grabbing Phantom's forearm. A human instinct to the fear of falling, Phantom supposed. "I'm a street rat remember? I've never been outside the city. Well, aside from the trip to the cave."

Phantom smiled. He wanted to rest his chin on Danny's shoulder. He wanted to hold him against his chest. But no. No, not yet. Not yet. "Pick a direction," he suggested.

Danny thought about it a moment as Carpet flew lazily upward, higher and higher above the city. Phantom took the opportunity to stare at Danny's face. It was highlighted by the moon, and some of his black hair had fallen near his eye. Phantom could brush it aside. Maybe. His eyes dropped to Danny's lips and lingered there, heat rising within him as he watched Danny thoughtfully bite down on the plush skin.

Danny pointed toward the distant mountains with his free hand. "There. I always wondered what was beyond those. They're like a wall."

Phantom followed Danny's hand and nodded. They were, weren't they? "Sounds good. Let's go!"

Carpet took his word as a command and shot forward, its speed strengthened by Phantom's magic. Danny had never flown so fast, and he yelped as he was thrown back against Phantom's chest. His other arm wrapped around Phantom's arms, holding on tight to the genie. He yelled out in delight and urged the carpet to fly higher, into the scattered clouds, closer to the moon.

Phantom rested his chin on Danny's shoulder, held his master a little closer, a little tighter, and smiled. Tonight would be everything Phantom could wish for, and Danny was the one giving it to him.

#Danny Phantom #Danny Fenton #Pitch Pearl #Pitchpearl #aladdin au #writing trance #I watched Aladdin last night #I couldn't help myself

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