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nataliedanovelist · 2 years

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ROTTMNT - The Apocalypse That Was, But Never Is ch.6

After a lifetime of rebelling against the Kraang, Casey Jones II has a lot to adjust to. He can handle real food and new clothes just fine, but having his parents alive and well and right in front of him is entirely new - and slightly terrifying - territory.

A fanfic dedicated to @fanficmaniatic and @soundwavemain for creating a beautiful idea that I decided to push a little bit further. You can read the premise here.

I want to thank everyone that read this fic! I never imagined it would blow up so quickly! Wow! Thank you all so much! I have some ideas for a “season 3”, on how to recycle scrapped episodes and some ideas of my own, so if you’re interested me sure to let me know!

Thank you all again so much for your love and support! TURTLE POWER!!!

Posted on AO3.

Ch.5

~~~~~~~~~~

After a very successful mission, the bow on the package being that Casey ended the fight by entangling the acrobats in laundry wires, the turtles treated Casey to some pizza before heading home.

The time traveler was please with his first normal-ish mission, but he had been thinking about when and how he should let his secret out, knowing it would only be harder for him the longer he waited; the last thing he wanted was to make his family mad, or an uglier version of Mikey’s initial thought, when he believed Casey was ashamed.

He was not ashamed. He was beyond proud of who his family was, to be a Hamato; he had even hoped Master Leonardo would teach him Hamato Nimpo someday, but now he has so many people who can teach him.

Casey thought, maybe, after all these years, he was ready to have a conversation with his father.

Once back at the lair, Casey now straddling behind the group, he held his arm nervously and called timidly, “Mikey?”

He turned, and Casey asked, “H-How will I know when I’m ready to tell him?”

Mikey smiled, stepped closer, and said quietly, “You’ll just… know.”

“I’ve never known if I was ready.” Casey muttered bitterly. “Master Leonardo, Professor Donatello, you, or Mom always knew when I was ready for more advanced training, a new weapon, a harder task. I’m useless without someone to tell me what to do! I wouldn't have even known what to do if my master hadn’t given me the clearest and most straightforward mission possible. ‘Find the key, stop the Kraang.’ I did that! Now what?! What am I supposed to do?!”

Mikey put a hand on his shoulder and whispered, “Casey Jones, whether it’s in your name or not - heck, whether it’s in your blood or not - you are a Hamato. Which means you’ll always know what to do, that you’ll always rise to the challenge. It doesn’t matter what I think, or your masters, or what anyone else thinks. When you’re ready, you’ll know it in your heart,” Mikey gently pressed his hand against Casey’s chest, and added, “And your family will always be here for you.”

Casey blinked, his eyes wet. He smiled, squeezed Mikey’s hand, and croaked, “Thanks, Dr. Feelings.”

“That’s Uncle Feelings to you, young man.” Mikey joked, making Casey snicker, and he patted his shoulder before heading to bed.

Casey decided as he changed into his pajamas that he was ready, but he just needed a good moment. He thought about waiting a few days, weeks, months, but that didn’t sit right. He thought about waiting until he was alone, or even until training the next morning. That was a good plan! Challenge him to a sparring session in the morning, and tell him then!

But as Casey laid on his back, dreading the moment, counting down the minutes until morning, his stomach ached, bags formed under his eyes, and he knew sleep would never come. He groaned and pushed his wrapped hands against his face. In the darkness, he held up his right arm and pushed up some of his wrappings, giving a peek at his green skin. Casey stared at it for a few minutes, then braced himself and got up from bed.

The lair was quiet as everyone was settling down for the night, but probably a good hour or so from sleep. Changing lights and a hissing noise told Casey that Donnie was working in the lab before bed, and when he approached Raph’s room (a short abandoned tunnel under the stairs, most likely an old storage room in its hay day), a dim light shined from under the door.

Casey approached, took in a deep breath, bit his lip, and knocked on the door, immediately regretting his actions and wishing he was in his bedroom, but he was too stunned to move.

Raph opened the door, not even in his pajamas yet, and smiled. “Oh, hey Casey! What’s up?”

He smiled, trembling where he stood, and said, “H-H-Hey, Raph. Is it cool if I t- h-hang out with you for a bit? I kinda wanted to talk, but y’know what, it’s late, I shouldn't be bothering you…”

“No, you’re not bothering me.” Raph stepped aside and gestured inside. “C’mon in, I was gonna stay up re-reading a comic, but I can do that anytime.”

Casey smiled and entered Raph’s bedroom. The room was paved in a calm, red light for easy sleep. In the back-left corner was a large king sized bed with a large, cozy quilt, and about a dozen different pillows on it. Draped across the back-right corner was a hammock filled to the brim with stuffed animals and teddy bears of every size, shape, and color. A bookcase full of comics and action figures stood at the other right corner, and between the hammock and bookcase sat a very large black beanbag, which Casey recognized had been dragged out for the video game tournament a few weeks ago.

The walls were coated in posters of movies and TV shows and music groups Raph liked, but between the bed and hammock at the back wall, opposite of the door, hung a single bookshelf that held family photos, one being of the turtles as tots, some selfies from throughout the years, and the photo they snapped when Casey had his first slice of pizza stood in a brand new frame.

Casey smiled at the large hammock and said, “Wow, cool stuffed animals.”

“Thanks! Got a favorite?”

The secret hybrid held his chin, studying all the different stuffed animals, and he smiled and pointed at a round, plump penguin. “I like that one.”

Raph smiled as he sat in his beanbag, reached a hand for it, and tossed it to Casey, who caught it. It was pleasantly soft, and he couldn’t help but give the penguin a big squeeze and nuzzle his cheek against it.

“So what’s up?” Raph asked casually. “Couldn’t sleep?”

Casey remembered his mission, and he sat on the large bed cross-legged, hugging the round penguin. “I… I felt like I owed you an answer.” Raph raised a brow, confused, but Casey wasn’t done. “You asked me earlier what you did in the future, and I never answered you.”

“Oh,” Raph waved his old question away. “Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to t-…”

“But I want to.” Casey said, maybe a little too harsh, so he swallowed and reasoned, “Everyone else got to hear how amazing they were in my future. It’s only fair you get the same.”

The snapping turtle smiled and gave a nod, leaving the floor open for Casey to speak.

He tightened his grip on the lended stuffed animal, then said, looking Raph right in the eye, “Raphael, you were the bravest person anyone had ever met.”

Raph was a little stunned by the devotion of the sentence, but blushed. “Aw, shucks…”

“You did so much for your people, for your family. Countless stealth-mission to gather food, to get supplies for shelter and Donnie’s inventions. You saved so many terrified humans from being mutated. You personally introduced yourself to every terrified person - human or yoki - into our caves, and made sure they were safe and cared for. You helped so many people. You gave us a ninja’s greatest weapon: hope.”

“Wow,” Raph breathed, smiling. “I’m… glad. I’ll be honest with you, I kinda assumed you didn’t talk about me cuz I died or something.” And he gave a short glance to his scarred shoulder.

Casey also looked at the hole in his shell and the crack on his plastron, winced, and said, “No, you survived for a few years, but… you died when I was a year old, so…”

“Oh, gotcha.” Raph said casually, thinking he was understanding why the topic was a bit weird for him. “Guess you don’t remember me, huh?”

Casey smiled apologetically. “No, but Mom and Master Leonardo talked about you sometimes and would tell me stories.”

“Oh, that’s good, I guess.” Raph said with a shrug. “So, am I everything you’d thought I’d be?” He asked jokingly, chuckling and making it clear he didn’t have to answer.

But Casey wanted to. He swallowed, and croaked through his emotion, “You’re everything I’d hoped for, and more.”

Raph’s whole face turned red, as red as his bandana.

“I… I’ve wanted to meet you my whole life.” Casey admitted, his head low as he hugged the stuffed penguin even tighter.

Raph gave a kind smile, seeing how nervous the teenager was, and said softly, “C’mon, junior, I can’t be that exciting of a guy to meet.”

Casey braced himself, looked up, and said, “Anyone would want to meet their dad.”

The snapping turtle’s face was frozen; it was a good thing he was sitting down, or he would have fallen to his knees. His mouth was slightly ajar, his eyes wide as he digested what he had been told, but Casey wasn’t done.

He started at the base of his wrapping, an inch below his elbow, and unwrapped his arm, revealing his green skin, the skin he clearly inherited from Raph. He had human hands, but his fingers and hands were green, and he had Raph’s strong knuckles. Showing that both arms were the same, Casey placed the wrapping next to him and hugged the penguin, looking away and giving Raph time to respond, his arms on full display for his father.

Raph bit his lip, repeating what he had been told over and over again in his head. “I’m…” He swallowed the knot in his throat so he could talk. “I’m your dad?”

Without looking at him, Casey nodded.

Out of the corner of his eye, the hybrid could see the turtle standing, a dark shadow hiding his eyes. He stepped towards the bed, and Casey braced himself for whatever Raph was going to say and do.

The wind was knocked out of him and his skeleton was rattled, when he was brought into a sudden, very loving embrace. Raph’s strong arms held him close and his whole body trembled with emotion. Casey’s wide eyes filled with tears, and he wiggled his arms free, only so he could hug his dad around the neck, rather than the penguin in his lap.

“Ohmigosh,” Raph croaked, grinning with his teary eyes squeezed shut. “I’m a dad! I have a kid! I’ve always wanted kids, but… Jumping Jack Flash, I have a son!”

Casey chuckled wetly against his dad’s shoulder, his face nuzzling right where his scar was, but he was too happy to let a bad memory tarnish this moment.

“I’m so proud of you, Casey.” Raph said, releasing him so he could look at him, and his grin - if it was even possible - grew. “Wow, you even have Lou Jitsu’s chin!”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I…”

“Hey, it’s okay.” Raph interrupted gently. “I don’t care, I’m just glad I know now. Just… wow! Wait,” The turtle’s face dropped, something slightly more bewildering coming to his mind than discovering he had a son. “Me and Cass?! Seriously?!”

Casey shrugged with a nervous smile and pink cheeks. “Yeah, watching the world end does crazy things to people.”

Raph copied his shrug and said slowly, “I dunno, your mom’s cool, a great fighter, kinda pretty…”

“Okay okay I don’t need to hear that!” Casey shoved him playfully, making Raph laugh.

“Man, you’re just like… WAIT! That means Leo’s your uncle! Ohmigosh, that means Mikey and Donnie are your uncles! And Splinter’s a grandpa!”

Casey barely got a sound past his lips before Raph grabbed him, carried him out of his room, held him up over his head, and shouted to the whole lair, “GUYS! GUYS! I HAVE A SON! CASEY’S MY SON!”

“Wait WHAT?!” Three voices yelled as four heads poked out of their designated rooms.

“Aw, you finally told him!” Mikey admired, holding his hands by his cheek.

“You KNEW?!”

“Your kid made me swear not to tell anyone!”

“I’M A POP POP!” Splinter sobbed, holding a tissue by his whiskers.

“Holy truffle mac-n’-cheese…”

“YES, I’m an uncle!” Leo cheered, punching the air.

“Can you please put me down now?”

“Oh yeah, sorry Casey, I’m not used to holding sons. Cuz I didn’t know I had one.” Raph snarled, eyeing Mikey, who sweated a little where he stood.

“I can’t believe it!” Donnie explained, looking at Casey’s arm through his goggles. “Our connection to you isn’t just emotional, it’s biological!”

“This calls for a celebration!” Leo declared.

“I already ordered pizza!” Mikey shared, showing his phone’s screen as evidence.

As Casey was bombarded with a million questions and comments, he found it not at all overwhelming or anxiety-causing or too much. Not when all he had to do was look at Raph and see him smile, see that everything was okay, see that after all these years, he finally had his father back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Raph smiled as his ten-month-old cooed and played with the blocks he had carved out of old wood and rocks. Casey enjoyed stacking them, and laughed whenever they fell and clattered against the dirt floor. The scarred turtle looked around the cave he and his family called home, and he desperately wished his son could grow up in a better world than this.

If only he had stopped the Kraang before they came… Casey could live above the ground, on the surface. He could eat real food. He could go to school, make friends, run and play, do all the things raph was deprived of as a child. Casey may be a hybrid, but he passed for a human easily with his back and lower limbs covered; he could have had a normal life.

Raph sighed and pinched his chasm. Nothing he could do about that now, but live to fight another day. Maybe Casey could still have that life, if they ever defeat the Kraang.

The father slowly stood and decided it was time Casey had some dinner. Cassandra’s mission was going to take all night, but luckily there were some spare bottles in the run-down fridge. In the half-built, makeshift kitchen they had to work with, Raph got to work heating up his son’s dinner, ignoring the growling in his gut.

The baby looked at the tall figure before him and smiled, leaning against the dirt wall so he could stand, a skill he had gained two weeks ago, it hadn’t quite figured out walking yet. With a clear mission ahead of him, the baby slowly took a step forward, his hand too far away to reach the cave’s wall, and he giggled as he took another step, his arms above his head and outstretched for his dad.

Raph heard his son giggle and turned, predicting he would see him play, but he was astounded to see his little warrior walking towards him. “Casey!” He gasped and got on one knee, holding out his hands. “C’mere! Come to Dada! Goochi goochi goo!” He cooed, lips puckered and wet eyes shining like stars.

Casey was so close, his giggling music to Raph’s ears. He tripped on the last step, but Raph caught him and hugged him tightly, ignoring the tears falling down his face as Casey hugged him back and laughed, delighted to be in his father’s arms.

“That’s my boy!” Raph smiled, for the first time in a long time, at peace and content, as he rubbed the top of the baby’s head, his cooing and laughter a message to the tunnels, to the world, that they had a ninja’s greatest weapon: hope.

“I’m so proud of you, son.”

THE END

#rottmnt #rottmnt movie #rottmnt spoilers #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt leo #rottmnt raph #rottmnt splinter #casey jones jr #dad raph #fanfiction #gift #fanficmaniatic #i purposely paralleled Raph finding out who is dad is to him finding out he IS a dad #similar dialogue and etc #thank you guys so much for reading!#until next time…

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lilybug-02 · 20 days

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Patience and responsibility....that's a promise....right?

Part 27 First || Previous || Next...

--Full Series--

An exorcism? In my family-friendly Deltarune? It's more likely than you may think. The backgrounds here were very interesting! Much more complex than how I usually do them (especially that computer).

Player POV:

Feral energy.

#Syke! Chara has no idea how to do sh*t with Exorcisms #in a society where it's literally seen as a blessing of some kind. It is seen as unethical! Your hurting the silly little guy :(#Why is Azzy so hesitant with this festival??#WHAT THE HECK IS THE ANGELS LANDING DAY??? Azzy get over here-#without a soul?.....I dont know any creatures like that....plants maybe?#That is totally a knock off Mario cart and not a png I found online. DO NOT LOOK INTO THIS #Salt!? owo hehehe #I was very iffy on how much light I wanted here. I kept layering the darkness lmaoo. They kept the lights low in case Toriel woke up.#can you spot the everyman? ;)#hmm your not supposed to be able to read the computer....but I may make an update so people can actually see it?? I hate to leave it grainy #but im a little tired so thats maybe for tomorrow!#thank you all again for waiting so long!#deltarune chara timeline #deltarune chara timeline comic #bread #art #my art #chara #asriel #kris #susie

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celestialwrites · 6 months

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saying ‘i love you’ without saying ‘i love you’ dialogue prompts

@celestialwrites for more!

♡ “to me, you are perfect.”

♡ "don't you realise? you are my world."

♡ "you brought me back to life."

♡ "the only way i know how to describe what i feel around you is home. i feel at home."

♡ "it's as if my entire life i have been sinking in a storm and you came and pulled me out."

♡ "you know i stayed for you, and frankly, i don't regret it one bit."

♡ "with the whole of my heart, i believe that together we are infinite."

♡ "i never intend on leaving you. you hear me? never."

♡ "thank you for being the shoulder i always needed, even when you hated me."

♡ "i can't live without you!"

♡ "never leave me, my heart couldn't bear it."

♡ "i've spent my whole life waiting for you."

♡ "consumed in darkness, you darling, were my light."

REBLOG TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL WRITERS!!<3

#when i tell you guys im so sorry i haven’t posted much recently - i really am so sorry!!#writing and reading slumps suck and i’ve been so busy #thank you all for your patience !#writing prompts #writing prompt #creative writing #angst prompt #angst writing #writing fluff #fluff prompts #domestic fluff #writing inspiration #story prompt #dialogue prompts #dialogue prompt

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rafeandonlyrafe · 26 days

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proper thank you

words: 600

warnings: 18+ only!, stepbro!rafe, sending nudes, stepcest, kinda dumb/baby reader???

“carry me up to bed rafey?” you coo at your step brother, fluttering your lashes as your pout turns into a giggle when he sighs, unable to resist your pleading face.

“you're the most annoying little sis ever.” rafe says, calling you the nickname just to tease you as he leans down, scooping you into his arms. he carries you like you weigh nothing, so easily slotting into the good older stepbrother role when your parents married, despite him being only a few months older than you.

“thank you rafey.” you say sweetly as he walks you up the stairs, your arms holding him around the shoulders, head leaned against his broad chest.

“yeah, you gotta give me a better thank you than that.” rafe rolls his eyes as he carries you into your bedroom. only once the door is closed do you press a wet kiss to his cheek as a proper thank you.

rafe plops you down on the bed unceremoniously. “there ya go.” he waves as he walks away, knowing it's not actually goodnight as you let out a whine.

“tuck me in?”

rafe hides his smirk before turning around, putting on his slightly annoyed act like he always does when you ask him.

rafe pulls the fluffy blanket out from under you. it's slightly weighted so it naturally tucks around your body anyways as rafe covers you, but his hands still move slowly, feeling your body as he pushes in the blanket until you're stuck tight underneath it.

“anything else? want me to tell you a bedtime story?” rafe says it as a joke, but with the way your eyes light up, he finds himself sitting on the edge of your bed, recounting three little pigs from memory the best he can.

“alright, you gotta get to bed now.” rafe glances at the clock on your nightstand as the hour hand ticks closer to midnight. “goodnight.”

“goodnight rafey.” you smile softly before letting out a yawn. “ill give you a proper thank you soon.”

rafe isn't sure what you mean until he makes it back to his room, scrolling aimlessly through his phone until a text message appears from you.

he clicks it to open up the image, his eyes widening and dick swelling as he sees you in a silky nightgown, the swell of your breasts clearly visible, nipples poking through the fabric. he recognizes the nightgown from a few days ago, but you clearly got further undressed.

rafes eyes bulge as the next image loads, the same pose, now sans nightgown, tits bare and thighs clenched together to make a delicious looking v that rafe wants to dive into.

a proper thank you ;) reads your text, along with one last image, this time with your legs spread, smile on your face as your cunt is on clear display. you took the marker tool to add to your lower stomach “property of big brother.”

rafe is in your room untucking you from your bed before the clock reaches midnight.

taglist: @drewstarkeyslut @forstarkey @f4ll-for-you @dilvcv @drudyslut @jjmaybankswifes-blog @rafescokenostril @jjsmarijuana @seeingstarks @angelofcigs @cece45450 @babygorewhore @vanessa-rafesgirl @michelleisheres-blog @outerbankspov @drewstarkeyswifehoe @cutielando @kamninaries @rafeyslove @rafeinterlude @bellbottombaby @deeaardiary @rubixgsworld @wearemadeofstardust0 @leighbronk @starkeysheart @pradabambie @tobesolovelysstuff @alexiskirkland @rafestar @brioffthegrid @juniebugg @magicalyoura @cokepewpsii @mysticallystilinski @luvdella @aerangi @vogueprincess @yourenogoodforme @auryyz @mayhem-72 @thestarlithideout @marvelfanfics1recs @rafesgiirl @ditzyzombiesblog @chiaraanatra @tobiaslut

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moonlightsapphic · 10 months

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Releasing Nimona on the last day of pride month 2023 was such a great move because it’s a really needed piece of media right now. Lots of countries that legalised gay marriage years ago have been grappling with this rising TERF narrative of “if you’re gay it’s whatever but if you’re trans, non-binary or gender non-conforming in some way you’re a PERVERT! A MONSTER trying to GROOM CHILDREN!” The outrage against simple things like pronouns and drag events, and the movement against gender affirming healthcare have reached a terrifying peaks for contemporary times.

So a kid’s movie set in a fictional country with controlling government officials with personal agendas, with an openly gay couple but also a shape-shifting kid who cannot even be afford to be out is our reality in the US today. Nimona’s feelings about her vibe, body and form, her insistence that she is only “Nimona” no matter what she looks like and her aversion to “small-minded questions” together forms such a beautiful allegory about trans, genderfluid individuals.

Ballister asks her to be a girl, but for whose sake? It’s only for the comfort of people who refuse to understand her, and would rather see her die than let her be herself. And it’s this widespread rejection and loneliness that has eventually made Nimona indifferent to pain, that makes her feel suicidal.

In the end, it is another member of the LGBTQ+ community that truly sees and accepts Nimona for who she is. And that should be a reminder that we cannot let them divide us. Trans people stood up for the rest of us and made historical change happen, and we need to do the same for them. Besides, cis queer people are only the “good ones” until they’re done with trans people and then will turn on us.

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factual-fantasy · 1 year

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Wow, you guys blew me away!

The response to my last Mario post was so immediate and so overwhelming that I just HAD to give you more!

This time with some hugs, because I committed a crime by not including some brotherly hugs in the last post... and some more angst! Because too many people walked away from that post unscathed! :D

Also I apologize if not being able to read what the brothers are saying is a bit annoying.. I liked the idea that during tender moments or casual conversation, Mario and Luigi speak in Italian with each other. And I didn’t want that aspect to be lost in my work by just writing in English.. (aside from the last one lol-)

But hey I provided some Italian to English translations at least! <:D

1: “Luigi!! I missed you baby brother!”

2: Mario!! It’s so good to see you!

3: “There there... easy does it. Take deep breaths.

4: “I’m right here Luigi, you can do this. Just breathe..

9: Mario! That was stupid! What are you 5??”

#super mario bros #mario and luigi #princess peach #princess daisy #daisy and peach #do not tag mario and luigi as ship please thats nasty #Thank you guys so much for all the lovely replies!#I read every single one #my heart is full #y u maka me cry

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stardynamite · 5 months

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Part 2

Oh my god this is longer than i expected lmao

Also I finally figured out the fact that its easier to read a post when you air out the panels lol

Previous / Next

#i’m having so much fun tho #also thank you so much for all of the reblogs #i read all of them #you guys are so sweet #rottmnt #my art #save rottmnt #unpause rottmnt #rise mikey #rise donnie #mhc #rise raph #rise leo

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zu-is-here · 11 months

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<– • –>

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luxaofhesperides · 5 months

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We Are Robins meeting to Signal apprehending Danny ; requested by @zylev-blog!

“Hey, Danny. How are you feeling?”

Danny gives Duke a tired smile, his head falling back against the wall. He’s sitting up today, which is good. It’s definitely an improvement from the many days Danny was unable to do much but lie down and grit his teeth through the pain as Duke checked on the gunshot wound. It’s a good thing Danny’s a meta with a healing factor, or nothing Duke could have done would have saved him.

As it is, the wound was severe enough to keep Danny vulnerable and unable to move on his own without making it worse. Though Duke has looked, he hasn’t had any luck in finding whoever did this to Danny. He hasn’t brought it up to the rest of the We Are Robin gang, but only because Danny only let him help if he kept it between the two of them.

What’s another secret? If it lets him stay close to Danny and make sure he’s healing well, then he’ll keep quiet and carry on the search by himself. He’s got plenty of practice in doing things on his own.

“Busy out there?” Danny asks as Duke sits down next to him, dropping his backpack onto the ground.

“Yeah, it’s tough with the cops after us, but someone needs to help Gotham and with Batman gone…”

A pained expression crossed Danny’s face. Eyeing him carefully, Duke opened his backpack and pulled out a few protein bars and sports drinks for him. Once Danny takes them and began eating one, Duke takes out the first aid kit, always kept at the bottom of the backpack, and sets it in front of Danny.

The most he can do is offer supplies and company at this stage of Danny’s healing. He gets twitchy and tense when Duke tries to tend to his wound, and seems to have plenty of practice in patching himself up.

He didn’t answer when Duke commented on it once, so Duke let the matter drop.

Metas may have legal protection, but that doesn’t stop people from targeting them. Duke has no intention of pushing Danny into remembering unpleasant things while he’s already wounded, hiding out in the upper corner of an abandoned warehouse taken over by a group of homeless people. Most aren’t inside during the day, choosing instead to be out with the rest of the city, which leaves them alone.

Duke keeps an eye on the ground floor of the warehouse, making sure no one comes in while Danny tends to his wound. When he peeks back, he can see that it’s much smaller than it was the night Duke found him, crawling down an alley with one hand clutching his side, tears slipping down his face. There had been so much blood that Duke was sure he had just stumbled upon someone dying and froze, horrified.

And then a shout down the road prompted him to move, hauling Danny up and helping him into the warehouse to hide.

For a normal person, if it didn’t kill them, the wound would still be raw and bleeding, larger than any gunshot wound he’s seen before. But Danny’s wound is closing up quickly, no longer bleeding, the edges a healing pink.

It doesn’t look like it’s going to scar, either.

“Think it’ll be all healed up by the end of the week?”

Danny glances up, then continues covering it with new bandage, large enough to cover the entire wound. “Hopefully,” he says. “Then I’ll be out of your hair and can figure out a way to get home.”

“Your folks gonna look out for you?”

“Probably. I’m not planning on telling them, though, since they’ll get way too overprotective. The only reason they’re not tearing Gotham apart looking for me is because I came here with my godfather and he told them we’d be gone for two weeks. Can’t believe he tried to kill me on day one…”

“Your godfather tried to kill you?”

“Yeah. Not personally, or anything, but he definitely hired the guy who shot me. Though he also yelled at him for shooting me? Not sure what that’s about, but I never trusted the guy and he didn’t try to help me afterwards when I ran away, so. You know.”

Duke wants to have a conversation with Danny’s godfather. Maybe bring the other Robins along to make sure the message sinks in: Don’t touch Danny.

But Danny, acting so casual about his godfather trying to kill him, would be unhappy about it, and Duke would really rather be able to take care of him than be shut out for trying to take control of the situation.

“Shit, man, that sucks,” he offers, instead of prying for details so he can hunt down his godfather. “You want a hug or something? I can’t really do much else, but if it can make you feel better about all this…”

Danny brightens and shoves the first aid kit away, his shirt (one of Duke’s old ones he offered up to replace the bloodstained one) falling to cover the bandage. “Please. I would love a hug, dude, I don’t remember the last time I felt so lonely.”

Carefully, Duke wraps his arms around Danny, leaning back so Danny could relax fully and not worry about holding himself up. Danny sighs into the hug, going fully limp as he drops his forehead onto Duke’s shoulder.

“Thanks for this. And everything,” Danny says some time later. He doesn’t move to pull away, so Duke stays as he is, watching the weak sunlight slowly move across the warehouse as it spills in from dirty windows.

“You don’t need to thank me. I mean, I’m a Robin.” He brings up a hand to tap a finger against the R embroidered into his jacket. “It’s what we’re here for.”

It’s been years since he saw Danny. After he was fully healed, Duke helped him get to city limits, watching as he boarded a bus and disappeared down the road, leaving his life just as suddenly as he entered it.

After spending so much time together, quiet hours of stillness just looking out for each other, his life feels emptier without Danny in it. He knew it wouldn’t last, that Danny would go home eventually, but it didn’t make the parting any easier.

Even now, as Signal, taking a break from going on missions with the Outsiders to spend some time with the Bats, his thoughts drift towards Danny, wondering if he’s alright. In his darker moments, he wonders if Danny’s godfather has tried to kill him again, if he’s succeeded. In calmer, happier moments, he remembers Danny’s quiet stories about his family, his town, all his dreams and hopes for the future, remembers the easy company and how Danny didn’t look at him with pity when talked about his parents, just quiet and contemplative.

Sometimes, he can’t resist the urge to look him up, but there are so many Danny’s out there that he doesn’t know where to start. He never got Danny’s last name or learned when he came from.

It’s not like he can just ask the Bats for help finding a guy he knew for two weeks before he ever joined them. They’re all busy with their own missions, and definitely don’t have time for Duke’s reminiscing.

“Just caught sight of the truck entering city limits,” Oracle says in his ear. “It’s heading towards the Coventry.”

“On it. Any movement from the mobs?”

“None yet. I expect this to change soon. Red Hood and Black Bat are patrolling nearby if you need backup.”

“Got it. Signal out.”

His comline shuts with a little click, and then he’s grappling over the roof tops, keeping an eye on the roads in search of the truck. He doesn’t have time to think of Danny anymore, not when a shipment of new, experimental weapons is passing through Gotham. Spoiler had heard a few whispers of it and Red Robin helped find more solid details; the mobs are all looking to take the shipment for themselves in an attempt to get the upper hand in the nonstop fight for control of Gotham’s streets.

It’s passing through during the day, visible and a good move to keep from being ambushed at night, but it’s not enough to stop mobs hoping to take out their competition with new weapons. Duke enters the Coventry just as his comline beeps once and Oracle begins giving him specific directions, along with a brief description of what the truck looks like.

Apparently, the weapons are being moved in a U-Haul rental truck. That is… certainly a Choice™ to make for moving weapons around the country.

He follows it from the rooftops, but nothing happens. The truck passes through the Coventry without incident and takes a turn that keeps it away from Crime Alley and the Bowery. It gets to the middle of East End then pulls to a stop in the parking lot of a diner.

Two people get out and stretch, then head in to get something to eat.

It would be the perfect time for someone to break in. Duke pulls the light over himself, manipulating it to make him disappear from sight as he looks down from the edge of the rooftop, tense and prepared for anything.

He almost doesn’t see it at first. It’s just a flicker, a flash of color, a shift in the shadows across the street. But he does see it, even if he can’t find it again, and drops down from the roof, creeping towards the truck.

Duke waits, holding his breath, off to the side of the parking lot.

A minute passes. And then a figure materializes out of thin air, floating right behind the truck. All Duke can see is white hair and a black body suit; they’re either a meta or an alien, but either way, Duke is ready to take them down.

The figure lifts their hands and a bolt of neon green energy hits the truck, melting the back and leaving a large hole that gives them direct access to the weapons. And then they shoot again, destroying the weapons.

“Phantom!” someone shouts, and the truck driver comes tearing out of the restaurant, a white gun in his hand. His companion follows, her gun also out, and the begin shooting.

Phantom dodges the blasts, then vanishes from sight. He reappears behind them a moment later, tackling back of them into the side of the truck.

“No you don’t!” Duke say, rushing forward as he pulls at the shadows around him then sends them racing towards Phantom, restraining them. The driver and his companion collapse onto the ground, groaning weakly, and Duke grits his teeth. “O, send someone to look after the people moving the weapons. Apprehending an attacker now.”

He doesn’t wait to hear a response, tightening the shadow’s grip on Phantom, who struggles fiercely.

“We can do this the hard way, or the easy way,” he says, pulling Phantom closer to him.

Phantom doesn’t answer. They just scream, the force of it making Duke fall back. His shadows dissipate, and Phantom flies up.

“Get back here!”

Duke gives chase, dropping in and out of shadows, throwing some at Phantom in the hopes of catching him again. But Phantom is fast and it takes all he has to keep up as they cross Gotham.

He thought Phantom was flying around blindly, but the way they move across the roofs and then through the streets are too confident, too focused to be anything other than someone with a destination in mind. But where? Where could they be going? If they’ve been in Gotham, then Duke would have heard of them.

A flying, powerful meta with a multitude of powers? Yeah, he would have known about them.

Phantom flies through a wall and Duke curses, going onto the roof and looking around, waiting to see them fly out. But they don’t and Duke finds a broken skylight to drop in from, landing on the support beams of the warehouse, well above the ground.

He knows the warehouse, he realizes suddenly. It’s the warehouse Danny hid in while he was healing. Duke hasn’t been back in years.

“Just listen to me, please,” a voice says behind him, and Duke tense, spinning around to face Phantom, floating just out of reaching distance. “Those weapons are dangerous. No one should have them, it’s why I had to destroy them. Please, you can’t let them get those weapons out.”

Duke stares. Something about Phantom is familiar. The shape of his face, maybe. His voice. Maybe it’s just because he’s in the warehouse again, with someone pleading for his help.

Maybe it’s all in his mind.

“Danny?”

Phantom flinches, floating back a few inches. “What— How—”

“What happened? Is it your godfather again?”

“My— Duke? Is that you?!”

He definitely shouldn’t be doing this, but Danny’s here. Danny’s here in front of him, needing help, and he doesn’t need the Signal. He needs Duke.

He pulls off his helmet and lifts his bare face to Danny.

“Oh,” Danny breathes. “Well. I guess I should have known you’d be a hero. Can you help me one last time?”

“Yeah, of course Danny. Tell me what you need.”

“Those weapons, they were first made to kill me and others like me. It’s a whole thing I don’t have time to explain. But they’ve been changed to affect humans, all types of people, as well. I can survive a few hits from those weapons, but for most people, it would kill them instantly. I need to destroy all of them and stop any further production before the rest of the world gets a hold of them.”

“That’s why you—”

“They have to be destroyed,” Danny says. “And the people making and selling them need to be stopped. I can’t do it on my own. I’ve tried, but…”

“I’ll help,” Duke says, “I’ll help. This is a big enough problem to bring the Outsiders into it. Or the Bats, but they like to stay in Gotham.”

Danny floats closer, looking painfully relieved. “Really? They’ll be able to put an end to this?”

Duke reaches for him. “Yeah. they can do it. I’ll make sure of it.”

Danny’s feet land on the support beam as his hand meets Duke’s. They balance above the rest of the warehouse, drinking in the sight of each other. Duke rubs his thumb over Danny’s knuckles in soothing circles and watches as the tension begins to fall away from Danny’s shoulders.

“Duke,” he whispers, “I’ve missed you—”

The door below is kicked open, and a gunshot rings out.

Moving on instinct, Duke tackles Danny, wrapping him up in his arms as they fall off the support beam. They hit the ground hard, rolling a bit, and Duke tucks Danny into his chest, bodily protecting him.

“Narrows!”

The Red Hood stands over him, menacing, a gun pointed at him.

“Hood?” He loosens his grip on Danny. “What the hell was that for?”

“Thought you needed back up. You chased after our guy and lost your helmet, I think I’m right to be a little worried about you. So, who’s this?” There’s a hard edge to his voice, and Duke realizes with a sinking heart that all anyone else sees is an aggressor, a meta who attacked a truck full of weapons, attacked two people, and had to be chased down by the Signal. Jason’s seeing a threat and acting accordingly, putting Duke’s safety first.

And with his helmet off, identity clear, Danny’s even more dangerous now that he has this knowledge.

“I’m sorry,” Danny whispers to Duke. He doesn’t have time to ask for what? before Danny’s shooting another beam of green energy at Jason then taking off, flying through the roof and out of sight.

“Shit,” Jason mutters, straightening up from where he ducked to avoid being hit, then puts his gun away and kneels next to Duke. “You alright? Why’d you let him go? I thought you had him.”

“I’m fine. He’s not… He wasn’t going to hurt me. He just needed help.”

“Sure. And what are you not telling me?”

“I knew him. He’s a good person, but he’s been in danger for a long time. This was him trying to protect others from what he went through.”

Jason takes off the helmet and stares at him. Then he sighs and reaches a hand down to help Duke to his feet. “Alright,” he says, “Let’s head back to the truck. You have until then to convince me that they’re the problem, and if they are, then I’ll help you blow up more of their weapons.” He claps a hand on Duke’s shoulder, then pulls his helmet back on. “Grab your helmet. We’re wasting daylight, Narrows.”

There’s nothing else he can do, no way to search for Danny when there are other leads to chase, so Duke grapples up to the catwalk where his helmet landed and grabs it.

Just before he puts it on, he sees a flicker of white just outside the window he’s facing. He ducks his head to hide a smile. It’s almost like he’s stepped back in time; Danny’s here in Gotham, needing help and asking for it in the warehouse.

And though so much has changed in those years, there’s still one thing that Duke will ensure never changes: he’s Danny’s hero. Above Robin, or Signal, or anything else, Duke is Danny’s hero.

This time, he has the power to actually help Danny. He’s going to make sure no one ever hurts Danny again.

“Let’s go,” he says, jumping back down to Jason, helmet on. “I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”