Dc X Dp Promt:

Alice in Gotham Pt 1

  It had been 3 months now. 3 months since Danny escaped the examination table in the basement of the brick house he used to call home. 3 months since Sam, Tucker, and Jazz found him in the basement and freed him and he left with a go bag.

  He used 2 canisters of ecto-dejecto to keep his flight stable. Searching for any space with a heavy amount ambient ectoplasm to recover. He found his way to a dark city covered his heavy clouds. Maybe a storm was on it way? Outside was the worst option for recovery either way. Making his way to a clock tower with would be out of range of most GIW scanners on the streets far below, he slipped in with his last burst of intangibility. He found himself in a crawlspace where there was no clear entry point without a saw of some kind. Setting his bag down, Phantom collapsed silently. Tears without so much as a sniffle steaming down his face as he curled up, his bandages keeping his stitches under a comfortable pressure despite the pain. The last thing he managed to do was slip his phone put from him bag, send a message to Team Phantom that he was going to sleep before he shut it off and hid it within his leg.

He slept for a month straight, regrowing the organs and bones that had been removed after the skin on the surface sealed itself together again. At least his limbs had grown back by the time Team Phantom freed him. Green ectoplasm blood that had spilled was slowly reabsorbed. To redistribute the energy into healing. He woke up groggy, and still weak. He was more ghost-like now than he'd previously been. His ears pointed with his wild white hair that had barely grown with the energy focused on the largest wound he'd ever received. Green eyes struggled into focus, and for the first time in a month and a half, his stomach growled. His human half was starving, despite him spending a month in his ghost form. He needed to eat before he could change back. He rubbed the heavy sleep from his eyes, his suit back to its usual black and silver like nothing ever happened. His bag, untouched and settled with dust. Grabbing it, he found the fresh fruits Sam had packed him that he had covered in frost. Not even dissolving the frost, he bit into an apple. It was cold, but hadn't rotted, like it was frozen in time. He forced himself to eat slowly. The ectoplasm from the frost helping his ghost side as the apple itself was quickly being dissolved is his newly grown stomach and sending nutrients through his core to his human half. Danny didn't even leave the apple core, he ate the stem and seeds leaving nothing behind. He did the same for the other fruits he had in his bag. As well as a granola bar, plastic wrapper and all. He couldn't afford to be picky. It wasn't as if this was the first time he'd eaten plastic, he once swallowed a spork whole after all. It wasn't like he was fed while in the lab…He only stopped when he heard a sound above him. Quiet footsteps normal ears wouldn't be able to hear, but his enhanced hearing was even stronger in his ghost form. Quickly, Danny checked his bag for other missing items. Nothing was gone, all of it was there. He quickly shoved his entire backpack into his chest, a convenient pocket dimension he'd only just started using. His fight with Dan may have been why he discovered it but he really didn't like using it for a long time. Going invisible and flying out of the dusty crawl space, Danny just missed Spoiler taking a peak into an empty space. An empty space with a single area that lacked dust where it looked like a body had been for a long time…

Danny didn't return to the clock tower. He found an area of this city, which looked so familiar but he couldn't remember why, that had lots of homeless people sleeping around or walking. A perfect place to blend in. He found an abandoned building where the stairs from the first floor were unstable to the point of collapse with just a step. he floated up to the 2nd floor, covered the windows with tattered cloths he found and returned to human form. He felt sick and weak, changing forms after his injury was healed. He found one of the rooms had a broken vanity, his clothes from his old life still looked mostly clean. However, they were torn and scorched in some areas. He looked even thinner now, and when he lifted his shirt he felt sore. The injury was healed but the bruise was still there. The stitches weren't, which wasn't weird since his body had a habit of absorbing the stitches from the ecto-line over time. But still, even when he looked like he was starving, which he was, he still looked the same… Same face, same height, same clothes even, from when he was fourteen. But there was more of an uncanniness to him now. His heart faltered a bit as he noticed fangs… Fangs in his human form… Vald didn't have fangs while human…Tears pricked his eyes as he looked back at the cracked mirror and he pulled his shirt back down, it'd taken the Fentons 3 years… 3 years to notice Danny hadn't gotten any taller while Jazz was as tall as Jack. 3 years to notice he still had his baby face… 3 years to figure out he and Phantom were the same…

Looking away, Danny pulled his back pack out of his chest and set out all of his supplies. He had 2 first aid kits, and stuffed the largest one back into his pocket dimension. The other only had one vile of ecto-dejecto and had some supplies for normal humans, so it was safer in his bag that the kit with 6 viles and two rolls of fishing ecto-line. He kept simple things that could be hidden on his person, like the wrist rays which looked like a simple bracelet. And other weapons went into the pocket dimension alongside the space blanket Jazz must have smuggled in, as it had her head band wrapped around it to keep it from unrolling. He left his bag with one first aid kit, and most of the food he had. He kept a few reserved in his pocket dimension, just in case. He found Tucker, his wonderful friend, had left him a basic tool box. And in a bat themed wallet he shoved into his leg, was money from Sam. He had such amazing friends… Sam even left a large black Hoodie inside for him. They had stuffed this bag with so much supplies, it looked so small. It would be perfect for carrying anything he needed. And it was purple with a small keychain of saturn on one zipper, and a ghost keychain on the other. Sam had to have been the one to buy it. He took a steadying breath, and pulled his phone out of his leg before turning it on. There was a fury of buzzing as messages it had received over the past month- had he really been asleep for a month?- came flooding into his phone. He read through all of them. Messages of how Red Huntress distracted the Fentons long enough for Jazz to erase all the data they had on him. That Sam had been working on that go bag since last year when they realized Danny hadn't grown at all and went to visit Frostbite for the confirmation. Messages from Tucker explained that there were 2 usbs in the toolkit for Danny, one with every invention ever created by the Fentons, and the other with their own personal files. Danny would have to build himself a computer for this soon. And Messages of how they miss him and are worried since he hasn't answered in weeks.

—

Clueless1: Just woke up. Didn't know I could sleep for a month straight. Everything is healed, but still sore. Not fully dead yet.

Nightshade: Danny! You scared the shit out of all of us! You seriously just slept for a whole month!?

Have you eaten yet?

Where are you?

Clueless1: I ate, not sure where I am. I woke up from my nap in the crawlspace of some clock tower. I found a new place to crash for now. Not sure what city I'm in yet.

Pharaoh-Tech: Dude, that's a coma, not a nap.

GhostGetter: DANNY! Are you sure your injuries are healed?! I'm glad you could rest but you tend to say you're okay when you really aren't.

Clueless1: Yes Jazz, I checked. Just a bruise is left and I'm sore. Nothing that won't go away in a few days.

GhostGetter: So long as you're sure. Now find out what city your in so we can send you supplies. I'm sure you need more ectoplasm.

Clueless1: Wherever I am, it has a ton of ambient ectoplasm in the air. If I can build and hide a condenser with a scrambler I'll be able to collect my own ectoplasm here for a while.

Pharaoh-Tech: You memorized so much of their tech I felt like the flash drive might be pointless.

Clueless1: Still appreciate it. I'm gonna go scout the area and figure out where I am. Then I'll find a place to get scraps to build a computer and condenser.

GhostGetter: And there better be weekly or at least bi-weekly check-ins from you from now on.

Clueless1: And I will check in weekly.

Nightshade: Don't get into anymore trouble Ghost Boy.

Pharaoh-Tech: Sam, he might be feral but trouble usually comes to him.

GhostGetter: What they mean is be safe little brother. When you find out what city you're in, my gap year will be over. I'm not leaving you alone forever.

Huntress: Nice to know you're still haunting this realm Phantom. Keep yourself hidden, the GIW hasn't left Amity yet and the lock down means your interdimensional phones are the only form of communication we have for now. I'll keep you updated on their movements.

Clueless1: Thanks guys, I'll keep myself out of trouble.

—

Turning off his phone again, Danny sighed and fell back onto the dusty couch which had been eat at by moths and rats had probably burrowed in. He stuck the phone back into his leg before opening his bag and taking out the tool box. He found both USBs and stuck them into the pocket dimension as well. He was exhausted again, so soon after just waking up. He didn't care, he fell back asleep with the hoodie Sam gave him wrapped around him. 

  Danny woke up hours later instead of days. Hungry again, he went out to explore. His ghost metabolism was going to be a problem. Dispite being 17, Danny new his appearance would most likely stop him from getting a legal job. He didn't want to stop to crime, but he may not have a choice. His obsession was going to need to be satiated somehow. Wondering the streets, Danny found himself entering a dark alley. His ghost sense startled him and he looked around. He didn't have the energy to fight, so he hoped the ghost wasn't hostile. The shadows around him grew darker than before, devoid of light in a void of endless darkness. The alley had no clear escape route anymore as it now seemed like an endless hall. Before him, the tendrils of shadows converged into a figure. A dark dress of shadows on her figure. Her skin a sickly grey with piercing yellow eyes looking down at him from behind a vile that flowed from the brim of her hat. Her hat was large, and feather stuck out of the brim. She smiled, too wide for it to be human, and too many narrow sharp teeth to be comforting.

“Ÿ̵͎̹̚o̵̖͝ṷ̴̢̓̀r̸̟̫̂̓ ̵̧̥̈́M̸̦̌͜ȁ̸̙j̷̥̈ę̸͑̓s̶̯̯͊ẗ̷͙̪́̒ẙ̵̪̥͋,̴̪͘ ̵̲̦͑y̵̝͕̚ò̵̘̠ű̷̦̟̓ ̶͉̘̈̚a̴̟̽̚r̷̢̙̀́e̶͍͂ ̴̙̎r̴̺͗̏e̷̝͕̓̑c̷̘͊ö̷̤̔ṽ̵ͅè̸̙̇r̵̜͛î̵̬̂n̵̹͓̒g̷̻̑̓ ̷̘̻̾͑w̶͕͈̌͝é̷̲l̸͚̣̆l̴̤̓,̴̬́͝ ̷̞̂͝Į̶͔͝ ̷̳͕͌s̵̘̓ȅ̵̗e̵̖͋͊ͅ.̴͇͊̓(Your Majesty, you are recovering well, I see.)” The spirit bowed to Danny who kept a tight grip on the strap of his bag. Danny bowed back and she chuckled, amusement emanating from her to Danny, “L̶̦͌͂̐i̴̛̫̰͌t̸̰̀̍̓t̸͔͐l̸̙̓̓̚ë̵̻̼́͑̐ ̷̫̽K̷͔̮̆́i̵̤̬̾̂͒n̵̙̈́̉g̵̨̩̑̌͊͜,̷͚̝̆̇̒ ̴̯̘̒̋͘y̴͈̣̪͊̏͐ö̸̩̖́͌u̶̬̓ ̶̡͙͌d̸̰̏͋̅o̷̠̓͜ ̴̯̋̓͂n̸͎̪̬͆o̷̼̟͒t̴̺̝̣̔̒ ̷͕̬̊̇̕n̵̠̰̈́̎͘ḙ̸̖̭̈͘ė̶͖̣̘́̃d̶̝̟͆͒ ̸̝͈̺̀̓̀t̴̛͍̥͙̓o̴̳̙̥͂̓ ̴͖͝b̴̧̦̘͐o̵̩̞͒̑̚w̵̮͗ ̴̱͎̀t̶̰͜͝o̸̤̿̂͘ ̸̥̫͈̄̏m̴͇͆́è̵͈̾͊.̶̜͌̚͝(Little King, You do not need to bow to me.)”

“Sorry,” Danny raised his head, “I wandered into your haunt to recover without asking for entry.”

  He felt a wave of emotions from her - amusement - sorrow - safe - stay here? Danny looked up at her then to himself, safe? - hurt - alone - sorrow - betrayed - stay? came from his own empathic projection to her and she nodded.

“Y̷̫̕o̷̞̊u̶̠͛ ̷̪̉m̷̙̀a̴͝ͅy̷̛̼ ̵̞̍s̷͓̉t̷̕ͅa̸̪͐y̵̙͠,̶̰̅ ̵̯̕L̴̳͂ȋ̸̤t̴̤̽t̷̟̍l̶̲͒e̷̙̽ ̵̧̈́K̵͙̚i̷̳͂n̸̙̈́g̵̰̊.̶̭̋ ̶̡̑Ṁ̸̗y̷̦̔ ̶̨̊K̸͖͂n̷͙̋į̵̓g̵̹͝h̸̛̬t̴̗̃s̶̡͝ ̶̥̇w̵̻̓i̸͎̿l̸̩̎l̷̲̍ ̶͇̑p̷̲̑r̴͇͂o̸̫͗t̷̗͌e̷̘͋c̸̙̿t̵̫͌ ̵̥̕ỷ̵͕o̵̘͋u̷̯͗.̷͈̈́ (You may stay, Little King. My Knights will protect you.)”

“Your Knights? Forgive me my lady,” Danny quickly bowed again they hadn't even introduced themselves yet. His mind running through all the royal training Dorthea and Pandora had put him threw. It was clear this spirit was old, ancient and powerful. He wouldn't stand up to a fight if he pissed her off. His core fluttering worry - messed up - sorrysorrysorry - fix this- “I failed to introduce myself, I am Phantom.  I'm afraid I don't recognize you.”

  Not angry - small child - care for - stay - safe here - amusement. She chuckled at him again, reaching down and gently moving his hood ruffling his hair with just a finger, “I̸̬̅ ̸̮̀a̵̢͗m̷̲̐ ̶͈͒L̴̙͐a̵̹̅d̶̫̓y̶͚͒ ̸̘͒G̶̱̈́o̴̖̔ẗ̸̺́h̵̢̀ä̴̰m̶͉͐.̴̮̓ ̸̬͗Y̶̪̿o̴̝̚u̴̲̓ ̷͙̔m̴̖̎a̷̮͝y̴̩͂ ̶̼͝s̸̹̒t̴̞͘a̶̢̐y̴͉͐ ̷̱̍h̴̳͒e̴͂ͅṙ̶̼e̷̹͝ ̵̠̃y̴̤͝ò̸͖u̶̺͒r̶͙͛ ̸̯́M̶̛͙a̴͕͠j̷̻̅e̴̼͗s̸̞͗t̷͉̊ȳ̸̧.̸̲̾ ̴̳͗Ȋ̶̯'̸̞̊d̴̲̓ ̴͎̍k̵͇̋ȩ̸̓e̶͈͑ṕ̴̱ ̴̩̕y̴̝͆o̸͂͜u̸̗̿ ̸͙̏i̸̟͋f̸̘̎ ̵̰̈Ï̶͕ ̸͙͊c̷̬̅ö̶̮́u̶̢̚l̸͔̉d̶̻̓,̸͍̈́ ̵̧͝ḇ̶̑u̸̪̍t̷̀͜ ̸̦̍I̸̗͑ ̶̘͐k̶̙̍n̶͇͗o̴̢̚w̶̩̃ ̷̙̐y̵̧͒ọ̴̔ū̸̩ ̶̪̀w̷̼̓ĩ̴̺l̶̙̑l̷͕̇ ̸̩̚b̷̭͊e̷̞̍ ̴̯͝t̵̲̅o̴͓̒ó̸̞ ̴͉̏p̸̀ͅơ̷̱w̴̫̏ę̶̉r̸̫̆f̵͉̀u̴͎̓l̸̗̒ ̷͉͗f̸̂͜ȏ̴̤r̶͚͒ ̶̥̈t̶̳͘h̸̡̅ả̴̪t̵̟̕ ̸̛̰w̶̡̒h̸̺̄e̷̬̾n̷͚̕ ̴̙͛y̷̰̓o̵͕͝u̵̮͝ṟ̷̽ ̶̛͈s̵̨͒t̵̪̄r̵̀ͅẻ̷̟n̷̺̈́g̵̣̍ṯ̷̚h̶̜́ ̴͉̔r̵̖̆e̴̮̒t̸̲̄u̵̳̅r̴͎̿n̴̬̏š̴͇.̷̼͒ ̶̱̔F̴͕̎o̵̢̅r̸̖̓ ̶̪́ǹ̷̡o̵͇̽w̵̭̚,̵͇̒ ̷͖̎y̵̦͂ò̵̢ų̷̅ ̵̅͜á̷̤r̶̬̿e̷̫͛ ̸͚͠m̷̡̀i̸̝̐n̷͉͗ê̸̼ ̷̯́w̴̤̋h̵̟͑í̴̜l̸̢͝è̷̝ ̶̯̾h̵̘̀e̸̘̓r̴̯̔ẽ̵̘.̶̙́(I am Lady Gotham. You may stay here your Majesty. I'd keep you if I could, but I know you will be too powerful for that when your strength returns. For now, you are mine while here.)”

“Thank you,” Danny let her ruffle his hair a while longer before he felt something with his core. She had fraid bond with him now. Though is was more distant than the parental bond Clockwork, Pandora, and Frostbite had on him. More like an aunt, than a siblings like he was with Ellie.

“R̸e̴s̴t̷ ̷w̵e̷l̸l̷,̸ ̷L̶i̶t̵t̶l̴e̵ ̶K̵i̴n̵g̶.̵ ̷I̴ ̶w̴i̷l̴l̵ ̶a̴l̵w̸a̵y̷s̷ ̸b̸e̵ ̷n̸e̸a̴r̸.̴ (Rest well, Little King. I will always be near.)” Just as she appeared, Lady Gotham was gone. The alley now returned to its normal amount of dark, gloomy, and creepy. 

  It didn't take long for Danny to fall into a routine after that. He found a burger place he would occasionally steal invisible meals from. Seriously though why is one burger $15 there?! He would take from all the big corporate stores for food and supplies. He'd sneak into gyms to shower and collected coins for laundry. Simple things. But his favorite thing, was to go to the dump. All kinds of discarded tech for him to scavenge and bring back home. Since his bag was usually empty, he could fill it up with pieces of what ever he needed. Anything bigger, and he could either carry it, or open his pocket dimension outside of his body to bring it back to the house he had made into his base. He even scored some new tools when a rogue attack caused the wall of a hardware store to break down. Not that he needed it too, but the preloaded electronic kits were right there. He knew batman was close by in a fight, but he took the risk and swiped the biggest kit he could carry in his bag. Over the next month, he'd built his condenser and started on the computer. Using ectoplasm in his tech meant it didn't need wifi or service to run. It would work anywhere in either dimension, just like the phones. In addition, he also made a wearable scrambler and ecto signature suppressor as a matching bracelet set. With no way to take them off without phasing them off. He wasn't risking the only tech that let him use his powers without the GIW finding him. He might not be able to change into Phantom without an emergency, but he wasn't going to be helpless if in a ghost attack with no weapons around. Danny made a mental note to make a wrist ray that could only be phased off next. Vlad somehow always found a way to short out his powers. At least he'd still have a weapon of he could make it only work with his specific signature. He definitely needed Tucker to help him Vlad proof his tech.

 Danny continued to check in weekly, lest Jazz hunt him down with a boo~merang and kill him again for forgetting. Once they found out he was in Gotham, Tucker kept pestering him to find Oracle which Sam shot down repeatedly because that would risk the GIW finding him. Sam and Val both told him to keep off the Bats and Birds radar, which Danny agreed with. Jazz was happy to announce receiving a full Scholarship to Gotham academy and would be moving next year. Surprisingly, Vlad offered to pay for her tuition and housing, which was quickly rejected because he'd bug the place again. However Knowing he'd only be on the streets for a year was reassuring. He just had to wait for Jazz. Danny felt more hope than he had in the last 2 and a half months. 

  Then, one day, Danny was at the laundry mat. He had 2 sets of clothes now, and would alternate washing them. The owner's ac had stopped working and everyone was sweating with the dryers running.

“Stupid thing!” He punched the boxy unit, and sat back down with the only working fan at his desk.

  Danny didn't have anymore new projects since the computer, scrambler, condenser, and ghost shield protecting his base. He'd been itching to do something more and raiding the dump was tomorrow's task. Plus, he was running lower and lower on cash. With a breath, he pulled pull his tool box and walked over.

“I can fix it,” he spoke quietly, he hadn't talked to other people in a long time. Most people ignored him outside of insults for being homeless.

“You? What do you want if you can?” He grumbled. In crime alley nothing came without a price.

“Either food, or some cash… but I can fix it,” Danny repeated more confidently the second time. Ac units were simple, it would be an easy fix.

“Fine. I'll buy you something if you can get it working,” he waved Danny off who quickly went to work on the unit. Within 20 minutes, it was working better than when it was new out of the box, “Shit kid you really did fix it! Damn. Here,” he held a $20, “Get yourself something to eat, keep the change to use it here next week.”

“Thank you,” Danny took the cash and grabbed his dried clothes before going back to his base.

  Word spread quickly about the bright blue-eyed boy who could fix anything in exchange for cash, food, or even unwanted tech. He'd earned the name Scraps by the next week. Need the fryer to work but don't have the money to replace or fix it? Ask for Scraps. Need your phone fixed? Ask for Scraps. Need to prank your friend by hiding a speaker with a battery that lasts all week? Surprisingly Scraps will make you one.

  Danny may have stopped a few muggings or assholes harassing night workers while he wondered around like he was patrolling, but never got more involved. He stayed away from gang fights or anything to do with crimes outside of his need for basic survival. Not that he needed to steal as often with the tech people brought him to fix. Everything was going great, and he even had a crime free under the table job. While Danny was still lonely, if he kept himself busy with projects his mind didn't drift back to the lab. If he kept busy, talked like he was normal, like he was human, no one would notice a thing. No one would notice how broken he felt when ever he had a glance at that Y which now scarred his chest.

  Now, 3 months of living in Gotham, Danny had gone out to the warehouses for a job. Someone needed a machine fixed, they didn't specify what kind, but they did offer him a lot of money and even some of their unused power tools if he did it. Danny would be able to use them, or at least their parts anyway. He wasn't about to turn down parts. He had three ecto condensers around the area now. One at base, the dump, and the cemetery. Each with their own ghost shield and ecto scrambler to keep off the GIW's radar and to keep shades from stealing his ecto. He had a been using old jars or even his ice as storage for it. With the money he'd earn, he was going to by a set of beakers and proper storage for it. Then he can start making his own supplies of ecto-dejecto, ecto fishing line and more. Jazz wouldn't need to send him anymore via cujo, and the Fenton Portal could officially be shut down for good. It wasn't like Danny was going to be locked put of the realms forever. While he has still adjusting to the power, he was learning to make portals to and from the zone. They didn't need a permanent portal for now. If they ever did in the future, he'd make one, with the on button on the outside this time. Never making that mistake again.

He arrived at the warehouse with a no longer moving assembly line. The job was simple, one of the machines wasn't work no matter how many times it was calibrated, disconnected and reconnected, and even their usual mechanic couldn't figure it out. They were behind schedule for a “shipment” of some kind. Whatever the machine was manufacturing, not a single product was in view now. It took a few hours, 3 burgers - wrappers still on, a milkshake and the cup, and broken down microwave –no one questioned when Danny manifested it out of thin air– for parts before it was fixed. This particular machine was for screwing the tops onto bottles, so the microwave motor was part of the fix. Though it wasn't a permanent fix, they'd need a new one anyway, it would last until they made their shipment and got the money for a new one. Danny was happily paid, and even given a little extra for the microwave “party trick” before he left. Outside, however, was pouring fucking rain. Danny was soaked even if he was intangible. Stupid ecto contaminated rain, just like Amity. At least that annoying part felt like home, somewhat. And the rain would be collected by the 2 out door condensers and separated into 2 liquids. One side for ectoplasm, the other for purified drinking water. So he could handle being soaked for a while to get home. However the rain and wind made it difficult to see, and it wasn't going to let up anytime soon. So, Danny took shelter is a dark, hopefully empty, warehouse nearby. He was never that lucky. There looked to be some weird ass tea party going on.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Danny flinch when all eyes turned to him, “Just wanted to get out of rain.”

  It was an odd collection, but nothing like fighting ghosts. A Leprechaun at the head of the table. A woman dressed like rabbit was next to his seat on the right with an empty space to his left. The rest of the table had people wearing rabbit masks. If Danny wasn't used to creepy he might have felt a chill.

“Oh my…” The Leprechaun stood up and walked over to Danny, his view completely fixated on the brilliant icy blue eyes that so vibrantly glowed no matter the lighting.

“I can leave, this looks like a private party,” Danny started to turn back as the Leprechaun reached out his hand.

“No need Dear,” he smiled, a face peaceful smile as the rest of the party members stared. The Leprechaun was quick to pick up that the child had no recognition of their group what so ever. He didn’t know to run from Mad Hatter, “Let me introduce myself, I'm am Jervis Tetch. We were having a tea party but hadn't started yet. Let's get you something to dry off with and you can join us. We have plenty of food to go around,” Hatter grinned as Danny slowly nodded, keeping an eye on the characters around the table.

  He didn't feel anything much from the Leprechaun in front of him other than glee at the moment. The others were a little too far for his empathy to fully register. Unlike in Amity where everyone was at least a little liminal, in Gotham he actually needed to be within a radius to feel others emotions. The warehouse was massive, and if he got closer he'd feel their emotions in just a few steps. He'd feel it easier if he focused or stopped repressing his energy, but he wasn't going to risk it. He kept things pretty tight with the revenant, Red Hood, around crime alley. Didn't need to alert him of his presence, no thanks. Red Hood was a known hero in the ghost zone for Gotham spirits. Danny had heard stories, and he didn't need to hear much to know not to fuck with that guys territory.

As he approached, he felt no tension from anyone. They were relaxed, content even. No malicious energy or desire to fight. Although Danny half expected that with his permanent appearance. He followed the man with wild ginger hair to the back room where Danny was given a towel, and a fresh shirt that was way too big for him, and pants that held onto his waist with a draw string, hopes, and dreams. Still, it was better than nothing since he left his change of clothes back at the base.

Mad Hatter, on the other hand, had prepared a small black headband for the child with the most beautiful blue eyes he'd ever seen. His Alice.

“Thanks for the clothes. Can I hang mine to dry somewhere?” Danny emerged from the room.

“Of course, anywhere is fine dear Alice,” He smiled again.

“Alice? Oh, my name Danny,” he corrected.

“This is a costume party, Danny. We're all playing characters from a story, Alice in Wonderland. I am the Mad Hatter,” as far as Danny could tell, he wasn't lying, “We have the March Hair, and his fellow rabbits. You, my dear, have blue eyes just like Alice. He handed Danny the headband, “I don't have a full costume for you as an unexpected guest, but this will do. You are now Alice.”

“Oh,” Danny examined the headband, plain black with a bow. Nothing glowing, no buzzing sound for electricity, just cloth on a metal stick, “I guess I could wear this. I still get to eat right?”

“Of course! It's a tea party,” Mad Hatter smiled again, “We had planned it already when the storm hit. Now we're just waiting out the rain, just like you are. If you enjoy your time here Alice, you can join us again for the next one.”

“Sure,” Danny slipped on the headband.

~~~

Master list

Part 2

Progress of Alice In Gotham. I've written bits of chapter 6 and chapter 5 is done.

I haven't even extended chapter 1-4 for ao3 yet. Slightly afraid of how long this 10 chapter book is gonna get. Oh well. Still gonna write more. But it's gonna a while before I publish it all.

Closest fic I could find to this promt I still haven't found:

Green Flecks

By: Playedcrowd5610

Some post on TikTok talked about a fic/promt os Danny being immortal and physically stuck at 14. He decides to follow around Red Hood to be his "side kick" because he feels like he needs an adult around. Haven't been able to find it, anyone know the promo or any fanfics that has a similar plot? (Or any fanfics with immortally 14 DP pls)

THIS

bugs

i like to think sam met danny first and then met tucker through him. and that sam genuinely thought he was emo which is why she wanted to be his friend in the first place

bonus, they humor her

Some post on TikTok talked about a fic/promt os Danny being immortal and physically stuck at 14. He decides to follow around Red Hood to be his "side kick" because he feels like he needs an adult around. Haven't been able to find it, anyone know the promo or any fanfics that has a similar plot? (Or any fanfics with immortally 14 DP pls)

Alice In Gotham Pt 4

Final Part (for Tumblr)

While clean up was happening along with evidence, Orphan sat off to the side with Scraps sleeping away in her arms. She was able to examine their face closely now. She had caught glimpses before, but hadn't been able to determine the true causes of all the scars on their face mid fight. Part of that was the fact that Scraps was wearing a bit of makeup. Robin brought Orphan a pack of wet wipes and sat down next to her as she cleaned off Scraps’ face. They both wanted to examine the same thing. The scars they'd noticed during the invites and the fights.

“...muzzle…” came softly from Cass as she traced scars from Scraps cheek, over the bridge of their nose to the other cheek. There were more along their jaw line, prongs in the bottom of the muzzle.

“And a collar… a shock collar most likely,” Robin tilted Scraps' head up ever so slightly. Revealing the rings of cuts and burns that decorated Scraps’ neck below the collar of the dress. The lichtenberg scars were still white but now they had some pink irritation around them. They managed to show ever all of the other scars, they were the most prominent on Scraps’ left arm and neck.

“... tortured…” Orphan couldn't remove the bracelets with the green glow, but below them saw the marks of cuffs on their wrists and upper arms, “New sibling.”

“Obviously. Their skills in battle are acceptable and their stealth is impressive with their abilities. We can train them to be stealthy without their powers. I'd personally rather have them as a comrade than a rogue,” Robin agreed, knowing his father would adopt Scraps anyway, “They need treatment, I'll get the paramedics.”

  Scraps started to stir as Robin left. Cass smiled below her mask and gently started coating her fingers through thick black hair. Soothing Scraps back to sleep, they needed more rest. Electrocution again so soon after the first was agony, they had all felt it. Cass knew Red Hood felt it the most for some reason. For now, she needed to focus on helping her new sibling feel safe and comfortable while they recovered.

—

It was quickly found out from the evidence that Tetch was planning a mass takeover of Gotham. The trap hadn't been set up yet, the supplies was down in the basement. Crates containing several cheap Alice costumes that had been stolen from Party City deliveries. His mind control chips were being produced by a machine hidden in the staff break room and hostages who were freed before the basement fight had started. Then one crate held diadem’s like the one Danny wore, were being made. There was one for each invitation and two more. Hatter was hoping to use Batman’s brood against him to over power Batman and take Gotham.

  Interrogations proved Tetch only risked it because of Scraps’ sudden appearance. Having a meta Alice had lead him to believe he could. The only thing unaccounted for were the last 2 invitations. It was unlikely the 2 extra diadem didn't serve a purpose outside of backup.

—

Danny's head ache horribly. It throbbed and swam in a way that was distantly familiar. The last time it felt this way, he woke up on top of a running train while one of his best friends was falling. However there was another feeling nearby. Someone was holding him, gently coating their fingers through his hair. His body was aching, he was electrocuted again… Why? The stinging on his face was a cut, from what? Who did he fight again? Everything is fuzzy… Why was he even fighting? None of his rogues had followed him- ah… right… the leprechaun. Memories slowly started making themselves clearer.

“Fuck…” Danny groaned as everything from the last 24 hrs ago came back clearest, but not as clear as he’d liked.

“She's waking up,” a voice to Danny's left answered.

“Her heart beat is still too low.”

“We can't do much until we know her physiology.”

  Immediately he tensed and noticed the feeling of a heart monitor clipped to his finger and an IV in his arm. He heard the beeping of his heart rate pick up and his blue eyes shot open.

“Hey, it's okay, it's okay!” He was surrounded by people in blue scrubs.

  Danny ripped the iv out of his arm and pulled away from the hands trying to grab him. He pulled off the clip, going intangible, and backing up until he was far away from them near some wooden crates.

“Scraps, it's okay. They're paramedics, they're trying to help you,” a familiar man in a black suit with a blue bird on the front of it, Nightwing.

  Danny hissed at him, well more like he said to back off in ghost speak but it came out like a hiss.

“I warned you the kid is feral,” Red Hood spoke up behind Nightwing and moved his shorter, but older, brother out of the way, “Hey kid, can I patch you up?” Hood crouched  down in front of Danny. Danny was tense, very quietly growling like a feral kitten as the large vigilante held up his hands in surrender, “You don't trust the paramedics, right? I've got a first aid kit. They won't touch you, okay?”

“... I'd rather do it myself,” Danny answered quietly, untrusting eyes scanning the area. Everyone was watching him… He needed to leave.

  They were still in the basement. Orphan was near the paramedics. He couldn't see her expression but he could feel her aura of sorry- mistake- trying to help- safe. She must have been the one who was holding him before. She didn't look hurt, he knew he could get aggressive with nightmares sometimes…

“Okay, can I watch to make sure you're doing everything right? Don't want you bleeding out because of a loose bandage,” Red Hood pulled out a small first aid kit from his belt. Safe- worried- coming from Red Hood. Danny could feel a sort of corrupted anger in the back of his mind. Right, this was the revenant he sensed. Danny's growling stopped, he didn't need another ghost fight right now. Danny was surprised when Hood opened the first aid kit and nothing made for an ecto entity was inside. All for humans, the kit was useless.

“That won't work,” Danny didn't take the kit, “My blood will dissolve it.”

“Shit, okay. Will it hold for a little while? I have your stuff in a safe house. You had a first aid kit in there, that one's special isn't it?” that made Danny tense again, they'd gone through his stuff. Nothing that could give him away was in there, but he could have his first aid kit at least. He'd kept the ecto-dejecto in a secret compartment in the first aid kit only Team Phantom knew about. Huh, he'd hidden something from the bats without using his pocket dimension. Bragging rights acquired.

“It'll only really hold for five minutes at most. I'd rather just,” he coated the open tear in his skin with his frost and only now noticing the blood was eating away at the skirt of the Alice cosplay he was in. He saw the red blood, and reminded himself it was from giving first aid to Batman. First aid… right. Signal had already seen his bigger first aid kit. All the Bats probably already knew about his pocket dimension.

“That works,” Hood waved off the annoyed paramedics who were trying to get close again, “Can you let someone else check over your burns and bruises?”

“Why?” Danny's left hand subconsciously rubbed at the center of the scar on his chest. He may have been asleep for the month he spent recovering but the memory of the pain was still fresh. It wasn't like that was the only injury he sustained in that basement.

“To make sure you're not dying. Your heart rate is low, as in you should be in an ICU low. Your temperature is hypothermic but we're not sure how much of that its your ice and how much is your health,” Hood answered, unknowingly emitting worry- concern- safe over that background anger that remained.

“If it's any lower than 50 bpm I'm actually dying. 55 to 60 bpm Is normal for me. Higher than 70 is not good,” Danny answered with a tone of irritation, “And I'm normally this cold. I'm fine. I have shit to do, can I leave?”

“No. We need you to answer a few questions,” Batman approached, his voice gruff as he narrowed his eyes at Scraps. He couldn't just let such a powerful unknown loose into his city, “Then we'll find you a place to stay before finding your guardians.”

  Danny’s heart rate picked up. He had bled in front of the bats. His blood was now green in his human form. They’d seen him use his ghost powers… Gotham wasn't safe anymore…. Panicpanicpanic- not safe- leave- runrunrun! Danny's eyes zeroed in on the collar attacked to Batman's utility belt. Panic was getting harder to control. Danny recalled the fight in how Batman had tried to collar and cuff him. Batman was going to turn him in, he'd be back on the lab table in the Fenton Works basement or worse, given to the GIW.

“Batman back off,” Red Hood had picked up on the panic quickly, he was standing between him and Danny, “They're scared, now isn't the time for questions.”

“She is an unknown who knows the Themyscira fighting style and has powerful meta abilities. She is dangerous to leave alone. We need to know a better way to handle the situation,” Batman glared. Danny still focused on the collar on his utility belt… a thick collar.

“Father if you attempt to collar them I will stand in your way,” Robin stood next to Red Hood, providing cover as Danny was beginning to spiral and could only think about planning his escape while having flashbacks of the lab. His green blood pooling at his knees on the ground. His arm sore from the injections of ecto-dejecto. The collar which would shock him and injection him with various drugs.

  Orphan approached quietly and knelt down to where Scraps had begun curling in on himself. She held out her hand and gently touched their knee, “Orphan, she/her.”

 Confused- wtf- Danny looked up from his panic attack, completely throw off by Orphan’s sudden introduction. He wasn't calm, but more focused on what Orphan was doing than the arguing behind them. He wasn't in the lab.

“Orphan,” she repeated, keeping Scraps’ focus on her, “She/her,” then she pointed to Scraps. Danny realized she wanted an introduction.

“... D… Danny,” his voice was shaky, his left hand was trembling. Orphan placed her hand over his, calming the trembling, “h… he/him…”

Orphan nodded and Spoiler quietly came up behind them, fully visible with a small plastic bag.

“Nice to meet you Danny. I brought you a change of clothes. They're Robin’s old clothes, they're the only ones that looked like they would fit you,” she handed the bag to Orphan who held it out for Danny.

“...It's fine, I'll… I’ll give them back… when I get my stuff,” Danny started taking deep breaths like Jazz had taught him. Jazz! “H… How long have I…”

“About a week and a half,” Red Robin answered as Nightwing finally got Batman to back off and Robin had cut the collar in half before kicking it away.

  Another deep breath, “... fuck…”

“Will you let one of us check for injuries? Mad Hatter isn't nice to his hostages. There are things we need to check for,” Red Robin spoke up.

“For your health and safety. Let someone, please?” Nightwing continued as they split off again.

  Danny considered his options. He knew Red Hood was a revenant, a sick one from the angry ecto he had. Robin and Orphan were liminal, they could sort of emphatically communicate with him. Red Hood, Robin, and Orphan were the only ones emitting protect- safe- friend… to him… Though every once in a while he would feel protect baby- from Red Hood. Which, rude. Danny was not a baby. He was technically a toddler ghost, not a baby.

“...Robin can do it… if he's trained too,” Robin had cut the collar in half. No one else made a move for it, but Robin did. That, but also something about him reminded him of Sam. Maybe it was how he was rebeling against Batman with that same dramatic flare Sam had.

“I am trained in first aid. I will do the examination quickly. I understand this makes you uncomfortable,” Robin ignored the order from Batman to stay near him and he took Danny to the other side of the crates for privacy. If they went upstairs Danny would end up being surrounded by cops and other freed hostages and both teens would rather not deal with that.

Danny checked the pocket of the apron as he recognized the faint ecto signature within it. He pulled out a batarang he'd pocketed while half mind controlled. A melancholy smile snuck its way onto his face.

“You shouldn’t have that. It's dangerous,” Robin reached for the batarang and Danny pulled it out of his reach.

“No, fuck off its mine. I'm keeping it,” Danny responded, backing away when Robin persisted.

“It's a weapon. Not a souvenir,” Robin glared, “Return it.”

“Well it's got my blood on it and it's radioactive so I'm keeping it,” Danny quickly stuck the batarang into his chest. He grinned and stuck out his tongue, “And now you can't take it even by force.”

“Why…” Robin was both curious and horrified that Danny could just put things into his body without a care.

“My body is a pocket dimension,” Danny shrugged, hand still rummaging around, “It's convenient.”

  The only seemed to cause more curiosity as there was another power to add to the growing list on Danny’s file.

  All is as it should be, right Clockwork? They didn't seem to know about his pocket dimension yet, but Signal was most likely already telling them. Danny felt something unfamiliar and pulled out two envelopes. One was checkered red and black, Harley Quinn, the other was covered in a leaf pattern, Poison Ivy. Invitations…

“I think you need these, for evidence,” Danny handed them over to Robin.

“We do, thank you,” Robin took both envelopes and put them away, “I can look away while you change,” Robin offered as he turned his back to Danny. Not commenting on how Danny said his blood was radioactive, but still adding that information to Danny's file.

“Wouldn't it be easier if I was undressed?” Danny opened the bag and found sweat pants with a shirt that had a paw print over the pocket. There was both a packet of women's and men's underwear. Danny gratefully opened the package of boxers and phased off the cosplay completely. He pulled on the boxers quickly. Danny felt the tug of guilt as he'd forgotten the array of scars which decorated his skin, Robin was a kid who was going to see them. He should have picked Red Hood.

“It would make it faster, yes,” Robin answered, listening to be sure Danny didn't escape. Batman had wanted to collar him because he was a flight risk. Damian didn't care, Danny would never have to wear a collar or restraint again if he could help it.

“Just, don't freak out… it's still sore… you can check now,” Danny's voice became softer as anxious- sad- betrayed- hurt- waved from him, “Or trade with Red Hood. My scars are… a lot…”

“I assure you, scars will not be a problem. I've seen the ugly side of humanity plenty,” Robin's breath stilled for a moment as he turned. He hadn't known the extent of the torture Danny had endured… His desire for justice burned more than ever at the sight.

  No, Danny was an empath, he needed to calm down and stay professional. Still, Danny flinched at each touch. Feeling justice- rage- how dare they- protect- safe here- stay from Robin helped keep Danny’s focus off the memories that were starting to echo on his mind again.

—

“What the hell is your problem old man?” Red Hood could feel Danny’s sorrow, guilt, and fear as he was with Robin, “That kid just went through hell. I don't care how much you want to know everything he is my case. I will handle him, and that means no interrogations.”

“You are compromised Red Hood-”

“No,” it was a strong clear statement from Orphan that caught their attention as the fight was starting again, “No interrogation. Danny… tortured... Shock collar, muzzle, restraints. NO interrogation.”

“Fine,” Batman couldn't go against Orphan’s judgement, especially not after that tidbit of information of Danny’s past had been revealed. Orphan could read anyone better than all of the bats, her word on behavior was always final.

“Hood, you said Danny showed up about two months ago?” Nightwing spoke up.

“Yeah… He must be in Gotham to hide. Lots of homeless kids, he blended in well, no one would notice his scars as anything special. He made crime alley somewhat cheerful fixing expensive equipment for practically nothing,” Red Hood answered.

“Orphan, there's something else isn't there?” Nightwing asked. Batman had gone quiet and brooding. Listening as Cass explained.

“Panicked when guardians were brought up. Guardians tortured him or handed him over. Doesn't like paramedics. Heart monitor and IV torn out in fear. He doesn't trust medical procedures or personnel. Trusts younger adults and teens more,” Orphan sighed as she reviewed the short amount of time she'd known Danny’s behavior. She could be more detailed in her report tonight than a verbal explanation, “Recognized Red Hood while aggressive and calmed down. Danny trusts Red Hood, but only a little.”

“He can stay with me,” Red Hood said, still feeling Danny's anxious energy, “He's not gonna go back to the Batcave. I can keep him in one of my safe houses for a while and see if he wants to talk. But I'm not gonna interrogate him either. Danny can share what he wants to. As much as I'd love to shoot whoever tortured a kid, I'm not going to force that information out of him.”

“It's worse… Oh it's so much worse,” Oracle spoke quietly in coms, “Robin's mask feed… this poor kid…”

“Littlewing?” Nightwing placed a hand on Red Hood shoulder as his eyes were glowing green, “Deep breaths.”

“I'm fine, just want to kill the assholes who hurt him,” Red Hood started taking deep breaths, counting in his head as he pushed the green back. He'd review the footage when he was around some good punching bags for stress relief.

“We are finished,” Robin came back, holding Danny’s hand with the cosplay shoved into the plastic bag. The women's underwear pack unopened and clutched in the other hand. Oracle sent a picture to the family chat. Damian willingly holding someone's hand was a rare sight. After getting dressed Danny hadn't wanted to leave his hiding spot, he wanted to disappear as so as he was alone. Robin offered his hand to give Danny some comfort, they couldn't have Danny disappear on them again. Offering a hand was a suggestion Alfred had made for the hostage protocol for Robin, it was proving useful.

“Can I just go get my stuff?” Danny didn't want to be around any of the bats anymore. He felt groggy, and sluggish. He wanted a nice shot of ecto-dejecto and to sleep for a week. They hadn't mentioned the GIW yet, but whose to say they weren't already on their way. He'd have to hide out in the ghost zone for a while before trying to join Jazz in a few months. He'd be fine in the ghost zone, “And find a place to burn this.”

“Yeah, you can stay with me,” Red Hood approached them with a laughed, “Your stuffs already at a safe house of mine.”

“I'm just gonna get my stuff and leave. I've got my own place-”

“Does your place have food, a shower with hot running water, and a bed?” Red Hood asked. Safe- protect baby- care for- safe- trust was wrapping around Danny from Red Hood. All while safe- trust- protect were coming from Robin and Orphan.

  Danny sighed in defeat as he realized the damn revenant was not going to leave him alone now that they had an empathic connection. Danny hadn't accepted it yet, but he could feel the curious sense of a potential fraid bond from Hood. It wasn't as strong as when Clockwork, Pandora, and Frostbite bonded with him. More like with Ellie, or Ember. Great, a sibling…

“Fine, mostly for the shower. Lucky Charms was a creep,” Danny answered reluctantly.

  Jason burst out laughing, Nightwing and Spoiler soon followed. Robin smirked once he connected the dots. Batman pinched the bridge of his nose as he stayed back. The kid still had a sense of humor at least, but he had no where to go now. It didn't seem like Alfred needed to ready another room just yet. He needed to regain Danny's trust first.

“Come on, let's go,” Red Hood signaled for Robin and Danny to follow. 

“I can stay with you, if that gives you comfort,” Robin whispered, not enjoying Nightwings cooing over his phone in the background.

“Yeah… thanks…” Danny squeezed his hand a little as his lichtenberg scars ached a bit. He'd had so much adrenaline earlier he had been ignoring the pain. Danny added frost to the scars, the cold helping the ache.

“Can you take standard pain medicine? We have some made specifically for metas with a higher tolerance,” Robin reached into his utility belt and found his own small first aid pocket and pulled out a pill packet.

“This doesn't really work for me. I have some medicine in my first aid kit. I need two hands though…” Danny stopped they reached the lobby. Signal was guarding the hostages near the other paramedics.

“Over here,” Robin pulled Danny to a chair off to the side and let his hand go.

“What's wrong?” Red Hood followed them as they diverted from his lead.

“I forgot I had this,” Danny reached into his chest, startling Red Hood, and pulled out the same large first aid kit as before.

“What the fuck…” Red Hood stared at Danny as he opened the kit and pulled out a bottle of pills and mini thermos.

“Pocket dimension,” Danny answered before taking 2, very much glowing, blue pills and drank out of the thermos’ straw.

“That's not fucking fair.”

“It's convenient, are things organized?” Robin asked, getting a peak at the label of the bottle. It was written in a language he didn't recognize. It looked like runes.

“Mhm…” Danny took both pills and chugged the rest of the ecto in the thermos. It wasn't ecto-dejecto but it helped with replenishing his energy. Thank you Frostbite, he thought as he put away the ghost equivalent of ibuprofen. He even had ghost morphine in this kit. Frostbite was the best for giving him this first aid kit after the whole ice power development, “It's kinda categorized in my mind. Mostly I just reach into what ever body part I shoved something into to pull it back out.”

“Why is so much of your shit glowing?” Red Robin was behind them now. Danny didn't answer. Instead he shut the case and stuck it back into his stomach. “Why-”

“That's enough questions,” Hood was quick to pick Danny up in one arm, ignoring the ache in his back, before they left through the back door and began grappling through the city, back towards crime alley.

Danny felt scarily light in Hood's arm. Robin followed close behind. If Danny wanted Robin around, it was fine with him. Demon brat could use a new friend anyway. Danny quickly got down once they stopped on a fire escape.

“One more thing,” Danny tied off the bag with the Alice cosplay and tossed it up in the air before firing an ecto blast at it, cause it to burst into ashes on impact, “I feel better.”

“That's one way to burn a dress,” Red Hood wanted to ask questions, but ignored the detective side of himself in favor of Danny's trust. Besides, Danny was too light. He was absolutely going to feed the kid as much as possible.

“You should rest now,” Robin gestured toward the open window as Danny watched to be sure he didn't accidentally set something on fire. When it was all clear, he climbed into the apartment window after Red Hood. Robin followed him, also avoiding asking questions that would possibly trigger Danny.

“Here,” Red Hood handed Danny his folded clothes and a towel, “You should go wash up. I'll figure out dinner. Your stuff is by the bathroom door.”

“Thanks…” Danny went ahead to start showering. He wanted nothing more than to be clean, and then pack up to leave.

  With the privacy of the shower, he pulled the phone from his leg. Unlike before, he'd learned his lesson and kept the phone on silent most days. It had been on in his body, he was receiving messages from Team Phantom. GIW was leaving Amity park, fuck. And Jazz was annoyed he hadn't called yet, double fuck. He didn't have a lot of time. They wouldn't want him in the shower too long, there might even be a camera around.

—

Clueless1: Can't check in. Red Hood is a revenant and it's trying to fraid bond with me. I think he imprinted on me.

Nightshade: Ha! That's ‘cause you're a baby ghost!

Also, where the fuck have you been all week!

Pharaoh-Tech: Dude, ever since Ember found out you were a baby ghost she's been dooting on you. Now Red Hood is gonna baby you too. What about the rest of the Bats?

GhostGetter: Danny! You made a new friend! I'm so proud. Batman would be a good ally to get the Anti-ecto acts taken down. Use the connection.

Clueless1: Yeah, I don't trust the guy who wanted to collar me for being a dangerous meta. I'll catch you guys up when I get away from this situation.

And Tuck, Robin and Orphan are liminal too. So far they seem okay.

GhostGetter: He what?! I'm packing the creep stick 3.0.

Nightshade: I thought you already packed the creep stick?

GhostGetter: I packed the original creep stick. I'm gonna need the metal one for Batman threatening my baby brother.

—

“Danny, you okay in there?” There was a knock on the door.

“Yeah, just messing with the water temperature to get it right,” Danny quickly turned the heat down when he realized the room was steaming and it would be too hot for him.

“Okay. Use whatever soap you want,” Red Hood’s footsteps were heard walking away.

—

Clueless1: I've got to go. They're getting suspicious. Updates as soon as I get back to my workshop.

—

Danny shoved the phone back into his leg and got into the lukewarm shower and was a little grossed out to see the water turn brown as it ran out of his hair.

“Gross…” he spent 20 minutes washing his hair three times and scrubbing his body. The cut on his cheek and arm had healed without scars. He smelt food as he finished getting dressed in clothes that fit him and Sam’s sweater. He also checked his scrambler and signature dampener to ensure they were working. The GIW wouldn't be able to track them so he would at least stay in the land of the living.

“Feeling better?” Red Hood asked, he and Robin were around the table with three new guests…

“We brought food!” Spoiler cheered as she gestured to the bags of takeout from Batburger on the table. There were six bags total… why?

“These fools had the same idea and failed to communicate to one another,” Robin sighed.

“I wanted to check on Littlewing. We got launched pretty far into those crates,” Nightwing answered, “And the Night-Wings from Batburger are delicious.”

  Danny didn't approached until Orphan gently gestured for him to sit besides her. He liked her, she didn't try to interrogate him and was way better at speaking emphatically than the other two. She handed Danny a bag as he sat down. Spoiler pulled out a six pack of sprites and passed one to each person. It was a sealed can, that gave Danny some comfort. He opened his bag after everyone else and the burgers, various fries, and other items were piled into the center. Except for two burgers labeled vegan, those were handed to Robin.

“We have plenty of food. Eat as much as you want,” Red Hood grabbed the largest wrapped burger for himself. Nightwing was opening a box of chicken wings.

Danny pulled the items put of his bag. Wings, fries, and a burger. Everyone was eating around the table, no one really focused on him as a discussion about watching a movie quickly started. It was nice, he wasn't the focus.

Orphan tapped his shoulder, “Eat? Hungry?”

“...right…” now that he was somewhat aware of his memories and body, Danny recalled Lucky Charms feeding him regularly until today. He was starving, ghost fights always made him hungrier. Using his powers in human form alway had drawbacks.

  Everyone was sharing, he didn't smell any poisons or sedatives. Vlad wasn't here to slip blood blossoms onto his food. Nothing was coming back to life so far… It was okay to eat… Danny took a bite of the burger still wrapped in the paper, he wasn't going to waste anything.

  He heard a soft chuckle from Orphan as he took another bite, “Not the paper. Open, like this.”

“I knew that…” Danny was being taught how to eat a burger… Still, it was a waste. Trash kept him fuller than regular food did. He could eat less if he ate few wrappers. They'd just be tossed anyway.

“It's okay, being new to earth must be hard,” Spoiler spoke up, “You've only been here two months, right?”

“New to…” Danny blue screened for a moment, “Wait, what do you think I am?” Do they not know I'm a ghost? I don't have to leave? 

“It was hypothesized you might have been an alien, your powers are too vast to be a human meta. Please correct us if we are wrong with our theories,” Robin unwrapped his burger and opened his soda.

“Huh…” Danny didn't really know how to feel about that, aside from relief that they didn't know he was a ghost, “Well I've lived on earth my whole life.”

“But are you an alien?” Nightwing asked, “Our friends the Superboys are aliens. My girlfriend Kori is too. Knowing your species would help us find you a home.”

“I'm half human. That's all you get to know,” Danny growled and Robin glared at Nightwing.

“Let the kid eat or I'm turning on Pride and Prejudice,” Hood threatened as he reached for his second burger.

“You have an obsession with that movie,” Nightwing remarked.

“I can appreciate art, unlike you Dickwing,”  Red Hood remarked.

“Movie?” Orphan asked Danny who was still eating the paper around his burger.

“ParaNorman?” Danny suggested, he liked that movie. It displayed ghosts as the complicated species they were. Not just hostile and dangerous, but also peaceful and wanted to carry out their undead lives.

“Para-what?” That caught their attention.

“It's a good movie… This kid can see ghosts. His uncle tells him a witches curse is gonna come true and so he has to help her ghost move on to stop the zombie uprising on the town,” Danny fiddled with the box of wings as he explained. None were moving to attack or grow teeth suddenly, “I like it. It shows that the undead aren't all evil.”

“I wanna watch that,” Spoiler raised her hand. Orphan did the same.

“That movie sounds like it has an unseen perspective on the paranormal. I'd like to watch it,” Robin answered.

“Zombies, ghosts, and witches huh?” Red Hood found the movie on a streaming service and hit play.

  Danny proceeded to eat a chicken wing whole, bone and all like it was a chicken nugget. No one said anything. However Robin did insist he stop eating the paper and containers. Danny only half listened. He had no idea when he would eat again. He even froze a burger to keep in his pocket dimension. Frozen meat was no where near as good as frozen fruit but he wasn't going to waste anything. Jazz never complained about Danny's food hiding habits. She even got herself a mini fridge for her room to hide more food in for the two of them at some point. Sometimes it was nice to not fight your dinner.

  Nightwing and Spoiler were summoned to the bat cave halfway through the movie. Everyone but Danny and Red Hood had stopped eating for the most part by that time. Danny managed to hide another burger before they finished off the pile of fries that was left.

After the movie, the vigilantes changed into comfortable clothes, leaving their domino masks on. Red Hood decided to read a book instead. Robin and Orphan seemed content to continue watching TV after Danny had rejected the idea of going to bed. He was exhausted but he didn't want them to hear what he might say in his sleep. He'd fallen asleep talking on the phone to Sam and Tucker a few times. Waking up to their words of comfort enough time to know he wasn't the quietest sleeper right now. It would only make them want to dig into his background and then they'd hand him over. He didn't have enough energy to try and portal back to the ghost zone to hide if they did. So Danny had to stay awake to keep him from another tireless sleep. He doesn't deserve another nightmare. He needs a dream instead.

  Danny hadn't been winning the battle to fight sleep. He was leaning on Orphan who’d purposefully made sure he was on most of the couch. She could easily run her fingers through his hair if he let her. He still flinched a little when she'd tried about ten minutes ago. This time, he leaned in a little more. Robin handed her a pillow and she was able to get Danny to lay down fully as his eyes shut. Falling asleep surrounded by safe- rest- heal- safe. Cass continued gently petting him as Red Hood covered him with a blanket and move the backpack to lean against the couch so he could see it if he woke. They'd all noticed Danny took occasional glances towards it.

  It was only another minute before they noticed. It was quiet, only heard when it was completely silent. Robin heard it first and was immediately curious. Danny could purr. What other species was Danny that he could not only growl and hiss, but also purr. His behavior was like that of a feisty cat. He was apprehensive, and protected himself with his instincts. He'd been abused, and was displaying behaviors of it. Hiding food for later, eating trash to keep full for longer. Not wasting anything what was safe for consumption… How long was he starved? He was so thin, yet still held enough strength to rival wonder woman.  Danny knew her fighting technique well. It wasn't perfect, and his swordsmen ship was above Robin’s expectations, however the brute strength is what Danny relies on. He said he was half human, but never answered about his hybrid half. Was he experimented on because of his race? It completely violates the Meta Protection Laws.

“Robin, what do you know?” Red Hood spoke up, noticing how Robin had tensed.

“We shouldn't talk about this near Danny. You'll want to be somewhere you can hit something,” Robin answered.

“Listening,” Orphan pointed to her coms, “I'll stay.”

  With that, Red Hood and Robin left to the closest safe house without neighbors.

“It's unforgivable,” Robin spoke up as soon as the room was secure.

“Robin you examined him. What did you see?” Hood took a seat and waved for Robin to take one as well.

“He was starved long before two months ago,” Robin couldn't unsee the sickly pale color of Danny's skin or the obvious way his skeleton threatened to poke through the small layer of flesh he had, “His body was covered in scars. Some looked like they were burns, from a type of laser or small blast. Others were cuts made at random or medically… He'd been… He's been vivisected. Same scar as you.”

  The green felt overwhelming as nothing but rage and hatred for that monster to cut open a kid surged through him. Hood got up and punched the wall, easily tearing through the drywall. Robin was right, it was best to have this conversation far from Danny where Jason could hit something. He pushed the green back, grounding himself before waiting for Robin to continue.

“Another thing I noticed was on his left leg and right arm, he had a thick scar that circled the whole of his limb. Under that scar there were no other scars or very few. It suggests he may have… regrown those limbs… the cut on his face and his arm were also healed. No scars left behind this time. He has a healing factor, a powerful one for how long he's survived.”

“I can not let those assholes live. Who ever was responsible to treating him like a fucking science experiment. I'm going to kill them,” Red Hood snarled, taking his anger out on the wall. Robin silently agreeing that these people deserved death if only to be a mercy from his wrath. 

—

“Bruce,” Tim looked back towards the man reviewing the footage from Robin’s mask which Oracle had recorded, “Danny needs help…”

“Hm…” Batman agreed, disgust and disbelief that someone would hurt a child that way, “We need more information.”

“I do have this,” Red Robin pulled the vile of green front his utility belt. Robin had slipped it to him before they left, “Robin got a blood sample during the fight. We can run an analysis on it. According to Oracle the only information they got Danny to admit was that he was half human, but nothing else so far.”

“Run an analysis and we'll go from there. Robin and Orphan will get us information over time. This situation is more delicate than anticipated.”

“Yeah,” Tim responded, starting an analysis immediately.

—

  Jason and Damian returned to find Cass had cleaned up and was resting on the recliner while Danny was still sound asleep, the purring had stopped when Cass left his side but he wasn't showing signs of struggling while sleeping. It was one of the few nights he didn't have nightmares. And the first time since he'd been found out that he'd had a nice dream. Red Hood stayed in the living room for the night while Robin and Orphan slept. It wasn't just Danny who'd gotten a peaceful rest that night.

  Danny woke to the smell of food. Recognizing the ecto signature which was starting to fade, he'd have to thank Nocturn one day. At some point in the night he'd pulled the still rolled up blanket from Jazz to keep in his arms. He'd been doing that more often. He quickly put it away and found his bag with a new toothbrush and toothpaste on top.

“Sleep well?” Danny recognized the voice coming from his left in the kitchen. Red Hood was standing at the stove with a frying pan, and cooking.

“... Yeah…” Danny answered before quieting down, “No nightmares…” he whispered but Hood hear it. Orphan heard it too.

“We're eating buffet style. Grab a plate and serve yourself as much as you want when you're ready,” Hood instructed.

  He had noticed Danny was more willing to eat from the piles of food in the table than the single bag he was handed. He was going to do what ever let Danny eat more comfortable. The kid needed to eat, he was so frail looking for someone who'd managed to kick their asses into a crate. It made sense when he said he was half human. It still left the question of what his other half is. There was even a bet on it now in the family chat. Damian stayed out of it. Tim and Dick were betting on Martian. Barb, Cass, and Steph bet he was a new species they hadn't met yet. Jason and Duke had yet to place a bet. Yet, the way Danny had pinned him as undead… Jason made a bet: Danny was half supernatural entity.

  That'll caused the others to disagree in the chat because it seemed ridiculous, until Duke agreed. Raven was half demon, maybe Danny was too.

  Danny came back from brushing his teeth and washing his face before grabbing a plate and cup. He'd never gotten to eat his fill more than once before. Vald's one good trait was he always fed Danny as much as he wanted when he kidnaped him. He filled his plate with mostly pancakes. He froze and hid a few. Hood frowned a little as he noticed from the corner of his eye.

“Eat up kid,” he placed 2 fresh sausages from his pan onto his plate. 

  It happened in a second. Danny went still before the dull dinner knife stabbed into both sausages with enough force to split them both in half and break the plate. Danny suddenly took in a breath, the green in his eyes fading back to icy blue and he realized he'd just acted out of instinct. He let go of the dinner knife which was stuck deep in the wooden counter…

“Sorry…” he whispered before starting to pick up the broken pieces. He used intangibility to free the dinner knife.

“You okay?” Orphan asked. She was still in comfortable clothes with a domino mask on, “Don't like sausages?”

“N-not really,” Danny sighed, the adrenaline coming down making him feel tired again, “They're incredibly aggressive when reanimated,” Danny shuttered at the memory of the food wars fridge of Fentonworks.

“What?” Robin stopped eating and simply stared at Danny.

“Danny… What the fuck are you talking about?” Hood stopped cooking and sat down with his own plate and a cup of coffee.

  Fuck… Danny had forgotten food only reanimated in their fridge or the ghost zone. They were all liminal but they weren't radioactive enough to reanimate food. Everyone in Amity already knew food could come back, especially food near Fenton Works. Danny did not need them asking questions. He should just leave.

“I'm just gonna go,” Danny started getting up only for Robin to grab his arm.

“You haven't eaten yet and are recovering. You should stay here to rest,” Robin started clearing away the broken plate and Orphan replaced it.

“I'm not staying if I'm going to be interrogated,” honestly, Danny really wanted to eat the pancakes hot instead of frozen. The more real food he could steal, the better. 

“So long as you eat until your full,” Red Hood placed a Massive pile of steaming pancakes onto Danny's new plate. Then an omelet on the side and a bottle of syrup.

  Danny ate quietly. Actually, everyone did. It was comfortable silence. Content hummed from all four of them as they drifted from breakfast to lounging a bit. Eventually Robin and Orphan had to leave. It was just Danny and Hood. Hood broke the silence after finishing his book. 

“Danny,” Hood called him, “I want you with me from now on.”

“What?” Danny hadn't expected that. He thought he'd be dragged to the batcave eventually if he didn't leave soon. So far each time he tried to leave he was told no and to rest.

“I'm not leaving you on the street. You can stay with me most of the time,” he repeated.

“Are you asking me to move in with you? Why?” There was no way Danny was trusting him.

“I don't think sugar coating this would convince you, so I'm going to be blunt. You look like shit, like a breeze is going to knock you over. Then there's Robin's report on your injuries. I want to keep an eye on you. Not just for your health. You are powerful as fuck and I would hate to have you as a rogue and I'm going to make sure that is not a path in your future,” Danny internally winced at the memory of Dan. That future was always haunting him… “Danny, you're a smart kid. We could put you through school, give you a chance reach for whatever goal you want.”

  Hood waited quietly for the kid to respond. Something in him didn't want to let Danny back out of the streets. He needed Danny near by so he knew he was okay. Still, he couldn't force Danny to stay.

“No thanks,” Danny got up and grabbed his bag. He was still barefoot, “I'm gonna go. Thanks for breakfast.”

“Danny, I know you're scared of something. Of someone. That's why you're in Gotham, right? You're hiding,” Hood got up, blocking Danny’s way, “We all want to help. I want to give you space to be safe.”

“It's none of your business,” it was better they didn't know. They could just hand him in. He still had a high bounty thanks to Vlad. 

“You're scared to trust anyone, I get it, but I'm not leaving you alone out there. Someone hurt you, and they're still after you. You don't have to tell me anything, but if you change your mind I'll help you. Until then, you stay with me. We'll move to a bigger safe house, you are going to learn how to cook and take care of yourself, and I'll give you a warehouse to yourself for whatever machine you want to build. We can even get you specific materials. Give some people jobs by delivering scraps to you and getting you your little handyman jobs. All I want is you sleeping here at night and eating when you're hungry. Sound like a deal?”

  Danny sighed as he felt the gentle nudge against his core. The fraid bond was formed, Hood had claimed him as a fraid member. He had completely imprinted on Danny as it was probably his first encounter with a young ghost. Nothing Hood said had been with malicious intent, he was being genuine when he offered Danny his own warehouse for a workshop. Danny felt his core throb in excitement at the space he'd have for tinkering… The revenant was at risk with the GIW anyway, Danny should probably make him a scrambler bracelet. Robin and Orphan may not ping their sensors but Red Hood would. He couldn't just leave him like this. Being near Danny would help filter out that gross ecto over time anyway… and that warehouse deal… not to mention he'd love to know how to cook without the side effect of necromancy.

“Fine…” Danny sighed in defeat, “But I'll have to move my stuff.”

“So you did have a home base. We've been wondering where you disappear to when you aren't criptidly lurking around, scavenging trash like a raccoon, or fixing someone's ac,” Hood smiled before removing his domino mask.

“Oh, I was not expecting an identity reveal,” Danny quietly spoke to himself as Hood stood up.

“We're going to be living together, might as well get it out of the way early. It's proof I trust, even if you don't trust me. And it’ll piss off Bats when he finds out,” Hood answered, “My name is Jason.”

“... Okay…” Danny nodded. He just stood there awkwardly, not really knowing what to do next.

“Let's go get your stuff. We can move to the next safe house tonight,” Jason answered, having already reset this safehouse.

—

  In the Bat Cave, Tim had disassembled the diadem while he ran an analysis on the microchips he found. They had an eerie green glow, the same glow Danny's blood gave off. Mad Hatter had infused Danny’s blood directly to the chips. Why? Was that how he got a hold of Danny? Why did he use so many microchips? Why was Danny so difficult to mind control that Tetch had to go so far?

The analysis finished…

“What the hell…” it was bizarre… Not even a trace of Martian DNA. He had a fully set of human DNA and it was delicately intertwined with another set the computer couldn't read completely. Danny had quadruple helix DNA. It was something that sometimes occurs in sections of human DNA of cancer cells or mutation areas. However Danny’s entire DNA structure followed the quadruple helix neatly and completely. The base components on half the sets were similar to Lazarus water. The pit water was similar in color, but Danny’s blood had a brighter glow and was thicker, more like a slime than water…

 Tim pulled up the scans of Danny’s scars. It was still a bit blurry but it was the clearest pictures of him they had. Especially when his face wasn't in frame. He had puncture scars in his right arm under the ring of regrowth scar. Not like a regular injection. No, it look like he'd been stabbed several times with a metal boba straw. Still… It was obvious Danny was an experiment of some kind. A half human hybrid, someone made him, then experimented on his body for results. Had he lived his whole life as a test subject? According to Orphan's mask feed, he didn't know he wasn't supposed to eat trash. 

“Master Timothy, it's time for bed,” Alfred shut his computer, Alfred's words were final in this case. Tim had been sucked into investigating after he and Batman searched the Botanical Gardens for more evidence of the trap and found nothing.

  Tim surrendered, after all, if Danny spent his whole life in a lab there was most likely no evidence he existed outside that lab. Tim would need to get information out of Danny to figure out who it was. He left his theories in a separate document for now.

—

“The fuck?!” Jason stood where Danny told him was the safe spot. Jason was only listening because every project looked like it had the potential to blow up with their eerie glow, “Danny… You a fuckin’ mad scientist?”

“I mean, nothing in here is a doomsday device if that's what your asking. Everything I built is essential to my survival. I do have some weapons, but only for my protection,” Danny slipped on a wrist ray bracelet and activated it.

“You got a gun to fit into a tiny ass bracelet?” Jason wanted to shoot it. How much power did it pack?

“Yup,” Danny deactivated it. Some blob ghosts were hanging around as usual. His main concern was the condenser he'd made out of an abandoned refrigerator. He opened the door to see exactly what he was hoping for. Ectoplasm, three 2 liter soda bottles of it. Each bottle was coated in layer of frost to keep the ectoplasm from dissolving the plastic. In the glass jar at the end, a concentrate was slowly brewing. An inch of it from the overflow of the liters cycling through a secondary condenser.

“Danny… I need you to tell me what that is,” Jason’s tone went serious. He had gone stiff when Danny opened the condenser to access the bottles.

“Jason, have you never seen ectoplasm before?” Danny took out one if the bottle and replaced it with an empty one, “Don't leave the safe zone,” Danny growled a bit as Jason tried taking a step forward, “Please…”

  Jason hadn't said anything about the blob ghosts, and they stayed pretty clear from him. Odd, they normally crowded around friendly, more powerful ghosts. 

  Jason took a deep breath, “You called that ectoplasm? What is it?”

“Exactly what I said, ectoplasm. It exists everywhere in every realm of the universes in varying densities and concentrations. This machine condenses it from the atmosphere,” Danny answered before taking a sip, “This is more potent than usual…”

“I know I said I wouldn't ask questions, but I have some serious concerns,” Jason couldn't tell if the green in his vision was the pit or the room. That shit looked like Lazarus water. It was deeper green when he looked at the bottle Danny brought closer. It was a different consistency. And Danny just drank it like it was a bottle of water. Yet, he felt more concern than rage. He took a deep breath, he could ask Danny questions when he earned his trust. The kid was still a flight risk. Even though this shit looked like Lazarus water, it wasn't the same. Danny needed it to live, Jason could get over it, “You need all this to live? How are you doing a week and a half without it?”

“I'll do better after drinking this throughout the day,” Danny shoved the bottle into his chest, “I don't need to bring the machines with me. So long as I can visit a few times a week I can survive away from it all.”

“Okay. Sure. Pack up what you're bringing home,” Jason had so many questions… it was then that his phone buzzed. The girls had won the bet according to the results of a DNA test Timbit ran without Danny's consent. Of course he did.

  Danny had put a few things into his mostly empty backpack. He just stuffed everything else he was bringing into his pocket dimension. Danny was probably going to have to explain the phone at some point… Or build a second one and lie some more.

“I'm bringing a project to work on,” Danny had a feeling it would be a few days before Jason went out as Red Hood again. Deal or no deal, Danny was well aware he was a flight risk to them since they knew his base powerset.

“Do you ever run out of space?” Jason watched as Danny shoved three discarded phones with broken screens into his chest.

“Hm?” Danny paused to think of everything in his pocket dimension. He had gotten lucky and snagged a car engine last month. He was planning on building a larger specter speeder to serve as a kind of mobile home, “I don't think so…? I've got some cool stuff though.”

“Huh…” Jason watched as Danny tore out some wires from a box and grabbed a laptop in a condition that would have Tim in mourning.

They left after Jason okayed Danny taking a smaller portion of ectoplasm for his project. As uncomfortable as Jason was, Danny needed it. They arrived at a two bedroom safe house and Jason gave Danny the master bedroom since he'd be here full time and had more stuff he needed access to. 

“You're allowed to decorate,” Jason spoke up as Danny sat in the mostly empty room. He'd already put away the things he'd brought with him.

“... Sure…” Danny glanced at him, “... You're really not going to ask?”

“I want to. I have a lot of questions, but I'm not going to ask,” Jason answered, “You seemed okay when I asked about the pocket power you have.”

“...You already knew about it. And I'd never considered having limited space before,” Danny answered.

“Hey, you always have the option to pass when someone asks and you don't want to answer yet,” Jason placed his hand on Danny's shoulder, “But there are some questions I want to know just to be sure I'm taking care of you right. You need ectoplasm, you said you had to visit your workshop a few times a week. How often?”

“It fluctuates sometimes, but I estimate two to three times for the next week before it balances out. Then I'll just have to go once a week,” the halfa sighed, he'd spent a week and a half using his powers without replenishing with ectoplasm. His core was hungry to replenish his energy. Not to mention, until last night he'd felt like he hadn't slept in a week. Did mind control sleep count as sleep? It didn't feel like it.

“Okay, sounds like a plan. It's because of that condenser right? Maybe we could eventually move it here,” Jason suggested.

“That would expose you to more radiation than you should be exposed to but…” Danny squinted, sensing the sickly feeling of Jason's revenant ectoplasm, “Maybe that'd be good for you…”

“It can't collect from inside a lead box,” Jason had to line that whole wearhouse for Danny with lead.

“No, but so long as we put a lead casing around the collection bottles there shouldn't be a problem. Can't risk exposing humans carelessly if we move the machine,” Danny had already found a solution. It was a simple fix honestly. Not all the Bats were liminal enough to carelessly be around ectoplasm.

“So long as it works, I'll get you a lead case,” Jason sent a message to one of his contacts for the case, large enough to fit 4 bottles, 2 liters each, “Come on, it's dinner time, you're learning to cook.”

“Fine,” Danny got up to follow. He'd actually been looking forward to cooking lessons. Jazz's food was edible, but he wanted to enjoy food that wasn't just burgers, milkshakes, and the Casper High cafeteria food, “I kinda need that life skill. And you're the best cook I know.”

  Jason learned a few things while they made dinner. Danny was mostly wary of chicken, not as afraid of beef, and had no problem with vegetables, fruits, and carbs. Dairy seemed to make him a little anxious. Still, nothing like his reaction to sausages at breakfast. He'd have to keep his shopping mostly vegetarian for Danny. Sausages and hot dogs were banned from the safe house. Danny was as good with a knife as he was the sword. And his aim had incredible accuracy when he tossed vegetable scraps into the stock pot. Danny was kind, genuinely kind. He was still cautious around Jason, But it was to be expected. When the cooking was done and Danny saw his work, Jason saw him smile for the first time. It was small, and melancholy, but he was happy. Sure, some things were a little burnt and it wasn't meticulously arranged like Alfred would do, but it was great for his first time.

“Good job,” Jason patted his shoulder, “Don't let your hard work go to waste, dig in.”

“I'm not wasting a bite,” Danny had a wider smile now, a bit mischievous. He quickly shoved a large bite into his mouth. His canines were more like fangs. And one of them had punctured the metal spoon in his hand. He was testing Jason's reaction, the revenant noted.

“If you're gonna eat my spoons I'm reducing you to wooden ones,” Jason sat down to eat his own portion.

“I'll try not too,” Danny continued eating, proud his own cooking could taste so good. Jazz was gonna be so proud.

“Sure kid,” Jason made a mental note to buy a box of silverware on his next shopping trip, just in case.

—

  Danny didn't sleep that night. He didn't want to have a nightmare. Last night was lucky. Still, it was nice laying on a mattress that didn't reek of mold and dust. It wasn't comfortable without the green glow of his machines. He took out one of his lucky treasures from dumpster diving. A small lamp. He'd used a thumb tack and sharpie to draw the constatations and allow light to make the stars shine. He infused the bulb with ectoplasm so it wouldn't burn out. Then connected it to an ecto battery in the base of the lamp where the wires used to be. A green night light. A portable map of the stars. He kept it on as he started separating the components of the phones. Setting them up in piles to choose from later.

He'd finally caught up Team Phantom on what happened. Jazz was happy he finally found someone to stay with. Of course everyone was wary about trusting someone. Sam and Tucker were less prickly about it than Valarie since They were more familiar with ghost empathy from Danny. Though, Danny didn't tell them Red Hood had revealed his identity. It wasn't his secret to share.

  Sighing, Danny looked out his window to see a patch of smog had cleared… the moon and tiniest hit of stars peaking through. Danny’s eyes and freckles lit up, chasing the first glimpse of starlight in months. He was stuck in that basement for one.

  As the gap shrunk to only show the moon, a figure appeared. Familiar brimmed hat, and elegant gown of shadows. Jason was asleep on the couch out in the livingroom. Danny had already checked before tinkering. He transformed into Phantom and left the room silently and unseen.

“Ḧ̷͕é̶̩l̶͖̀l̶͖̅o̷̠͑ ̴͍̿l̴͓̄i̸̟͛t̸̙̓t̶̜̂l̸̡͂e̷̛̜ ̸̨̂K̵͈̓i̸̩͗ņ̷́g̴̑͜,̶͍̉ ̵̭̎I̶̡̋ ̴̧̂s̵̢̈́ḛ̶̑e̶̲͠ ̴͍̂ô̵̝n̶͎͊e̸̜͝ ̸̏ͅo̶̹͗f̷̢͐ ̵̪̔m̵̨̕y̶̪̔ ̴̫̓K̶͖̐n̸̫̾i̵͎̎g̶͉͑h̸̳̽t̵̰̿s̷̫͌ ̵̳̐h̸̘̽a̴̹̅s̷̖̍ ̶͓̄ẗ̸͚a̴͍͛k̴̐ͅe̶͖͠ň̵̪ ̵̲͘ỹ̸͚ò̷͉u̴̹͝ ̸͙̾h̸̻͝o̵̹̍m̸̫̊e̸̡̋.̸̼̈́ (Hello little King, I see one of my Knights has taken you home.)” Lady Gotham smiled as Danny arrived in the only moonlit space around them. Danny and Gotham bowed to each other, the image of a small boy and massive entity together would have baffled the bats on patrol of they could see them.

“I'm not sure how much I want to tell him. But I'm willing to accept him giving me a place to stay and teaching me to cook. I can't rely on someone forever. Especially when everyone I rely on will eventually grow old and I'll still be here, like this,” Danny sighed, feeling sorrow- safe- trust- from Gotham.

“Y̷̧͈̪̬͗͠o̷̲̩͍̾̃̃̔͗͆͝ŭ̸̫͙̈́̆͂̿̄͋r̷̛̟̗̯͒̀̑͂̚ ̸͙̘̺̖̩̌H̷̤̼̾͑i̷͎̘̞̜̜̱͙̒̓g̵̞̈́͂̑h̵̛͖̲̰̉̊̃̈́̍ǹ̶̪e̴̛̠̗͍̻̭̓̊̈́̐̚͘s̸̡̹̯͖̰̦͗͜s̸̏͂͋̆̽͜ (Your Highness),” Gotham spoke sternly before speaking the clearest Danny had heard from her, “M̵y̴ ̴k̸n̵i̸g̴h̵t̴s̸ ̸c̴a̶n̶ ̸h̵a̸n̵d̷l̴e̵ ̸t̴h̶e̷ ̴G̶I̴W̵.̵ ̵I̸ ̸u̴n̴d̶e̷r̶s̶t̶a̷n̶d̸ ̴y̷o̶u̸ ̶n̷e̸e̶d̷ ̷t̴i̵m̷e̴ ̴t̷o̷ ̷t̵r̶u̶s̷t̴ ̴t̸h̷e̷m̷.̷ ̸B̵u̷t̶ ̶l̴e̸t̴ ̷t̴h̷i̴s̶ ̶b̶e̵ ̸a̷ ̸s̶i̴g̴n̴ ̵t̷h̷a̷t̴ ̴y̴o̸u̷ ̴c̵a̸n̴.̵ ̶C̴l̵o̵c̷k̶w̴o̶r̶k̸ ̶a̵n̷d̷ ̶N̶o̴c̵t̴u̷r̷n̴e̵ ̶m̴a̷d̷e̷ ̶t̶h̷i̶s̷ ̵j̸u̴s̸t̴ ̸f̶o̸r̷ ̴y̶o̵u̴.̴ (My knights can handle the GIW. I understand you need time to trust them. But let this be a sign that you can. Clockwork and Nocturne made this just for you.)”

“For me?” Danny took note of the box in her hand. He hesitated, Clockwork was his mentor but Danny also knew that man wouldn't hesitate to laugh at his pain. Nocturne, he was a little less certain of. He hadn't caused trouble since he put Amity Park to sleep. Every once in a while Danny would feel his energy pull him to sleep when he'd been up for three days straight. Suddenly becoming King apparently made Nocturne the manager of Danny's sleep schedule. And last night he'd even had a nice dream of hanging out in Tucker's attic with Team Phantom, and Wolf.

“T̵h̸e̴y̵ ̵c̴r̴e̴a̵t̴e̴d̷ ̶i̵t̴ ̸s̴o̸ ̸y̸o̷u̵ ̷c̴o̴u̵l̵d̸ ̸s̶l̵e̸e̵p̷ ̷p̵e̴a̸c̴e̴f̷u̸l̴l̸y̶ ̵f̴r̷o̷m̶ ̶n̴o̸w̷ ̵o̵n̸.̷ ̴N̷o̶c̵t̸u̷r̷n̴e̵ ̶c̷a̵n̷n̷o̸t̴ ̸r̸e̵a̷c̸h̶ ̵y̶o̵u̶ ̴s̷o̶ ̶e̶a̵s̵i̴l̸y̷ ̶s̷o̶ ̸f̶a̷r̶ ̷f̷r̸o̶m̷ ̶a̴ ̶p̴o̷r̶t̶a̷l̷.̴ ̴H̷e̵ ̵w̸o̶r̷r̷i̸e̶s̵,̸ (They created it so you could sleep peacefully from now on. Nocturne cannot reach you so easily so far from a portal. He worries,)” Gotham chuckled, amusement- emanating from her as she pushed a shadow into the box before handing it to Danny, “C̸o̶n̶s̶i̵d̴e̴r̶ ̴i̵t̵ ̴a̷ ̴t̷o̶u̴c̷h̶ ̷f̴r̶o̴m̶ ̴m̵e̴ ̷a̸s̶ ̷w̴e̸l̴l̴.̴ ̴S̸l̴e̸e̸p̴ ̴w̷e̴l̸l̶ ̴f̷r̶o̷m̴ ̷n̷o̴w̶ ̸o̶n̸,̴ ̵L̷i̷t̵t̷l̷e̵ ̴K̴i̸n̸g̴.̴ (Consider it a touch from me as well. Sleep well from now on, Little King.)”

  Danny was alone under the moonlight now. He opened the navy colored box and found a pendant. It was made from a silver metal, with a 2 inch stone. Deep blue, almost black, with white glimmering speckles, it was like looking at the stars. The stone was called blue gold stone, but this wasn't a normal stone. Over the stone on the bottom left side there was a cog like Clockwork's symbol and silver strands in a web pattern. A dream catcher. Danny could feel both their ecto signatures and Lady Gothams as well. He clipped on the pendant and it glowed. Dark shadows pouring from it before a cloak formed around him. A black exterior with the inside a green void like that of the ghost zone.

“Cool, a costume change where Sam didn't have to kill me,” Danny smiled, then grimaced as he realized he'd technically died the same way twice.

  He returned to his room, Jason was still asleep and hadn't moved from his spot on the couch. Danny changed back to human form, the cloak returning to the pendant with his transformation. Danny smiled before tucking it into his shirt. The sun would be rising in two hours. The pendant was supposed to help with his nightmares, then he may as well see if it works.

If it didn't, at least he got a cool cloak out of it.

  And well… of 3 ancient beings of immeasurable power were insisting Danny could trust Jason, then he could live with the revenant for a while.

~~~

Master List

Part 3

Writers on a random Tuesday: Sits down, locks in, giggles, writes 10k, does not sleep

Also writers on a random Tuesday: writes one sentence and then stares into the abyss for five fours

My fucking TikTok was hacked while I was asleep and they changed everything I could have used to get it back so now I'm just annoyed. Anyway I won't be posting on Tiktok again.

Bet they thought they'd be stealing my paychecks from TikTok but I ain't that popular! Jokes on them they just have videos of my art which only I have the original files of.