Chapter 6

Summary:

Batman and Red Hood have a -discussion- about Danny at the Watchtower. Then, Danny shares a bit about himself. Later, at Wayne Manor, there is bonding.

Notes:

Thank you to everyone who has left comments and questions! I promise that all questions will be answered by the end of this story. There is going to be more elements of mystery here. I'm holding tightly to my secrets with this one! I hope you all continue to enjoy it.

👻👻👻

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

On the Watchtower:

Conference Room 3:

Bruce glanced towards the boy and then at Jason. "Danny originally appeared as a teenager, approximately the same age as you were when you were…gone. If you were cloned at that time, then it means he was artificially aged to some degree."

Jason's voice wavered a bit. "That was only seven years ago! Why did he look like a teen before he got shot and then change?"

"Perhaps the concentrated Lazarus water in those weapons reverted Danny's body to its actual age, instead of its enhanced age. Or it is possible that the weapon reverted Danny to a state in which he was the most stable."

"You have got to be fucking kidding me! That kid can't be more than four or five now!" Jason started pacing again, this time he was moving faster and shaking his head.

Batman clamped down on his emotions. If he did not keep tight control, things would get…messy. "His mind has likely been affected by the changes to his biology. We'll need to keep that in mind when we have him scanned for trackers, mental traps, mind control, and any other threats."

"Danny is NOT a threat!"

"You can't know that. Just his presence here is proof that Ra's is up to something. We need to find out what."

"And you're going to do that how? By rummaging through a little boy's head?" Jason was spitting mad now.

"He was a teen up until a short while ago."

Jason wanted to punch Bruce right in the fucking cowl. "You don't know what that weapon did to his mind. I cannot believe you would let someone go mucking around in a child's brain—especially one that has just been through hell!"

"J'onn is very skilled at what he does. I do not believe it will cause any difficulties for the boy."

"You don't believe…" Jason mocked his father, then he scoffed. "Who gave you permission to make decisions for the kid anyway? I should have more say-so than you."

Bruce sighed and pinched his nose through the cowl. "Hood, this is neither the time nor the place. Can we just table this discussion for now?"

"I think it should definitely be on the discussion table now. If his age-loss is irreversible, then he is going to need a guardian…"

"I am aware."

"Oh, let me guess…Brucie Wayne is going to adopt another lost soul?"

"Would it be so horrible to have him as your brother instead of having him as your son?"

The thought brought tears to Jason's eyes. He pulled off his hood and wiped his face on his sleeve. He wanted to look his father in the eyes when he answered. "Yes. Yes, it would. You don't understand. I gave up my life for the opportunity to connect with my blood mother, and you don't think I'd do the same for my own son??"

Bruce looked away first. Silence rang between the two arguing men. Then a small, currently black-haired child peeked out of the doorway to the private meeting area. "Are you guys fighting because of me?"

Everyone whipped their eyes around to stare at Danny. There was no way he should be awake already; he shouldn't have even been able to get out of bed, much less walk to the door. Jason wasted no time. Four long strides later, he had Danny in his arms. "Hey squirt, how are you feeling?"

Danny wriggled himself into a more comfortable position. "I think I feel better. M' not hurting on my chest anymore."

Jason booped his boy (his boy!) on the nose. "That's good, kiddo. What about the rest of you?"

Danny looked at the floor and bit his lip. "S' not so bad."

Jason's eyebrow lifted. "Really, now? Are you sure you just told me the truth?"

Danny frowned. His bottom lip curled out into a pout. "Jazz always asked me that too." He looked up at Jason's face. "I miss Jazz."

"Who's Jazz?" Jason asked softly; his heart broke at the tears in the boy's eyes.

"Jazzy was my sister…b'fore."

"Oh kiddo, I'm so sorry. I'm sure she loved you very much. I bet they all did." Jason gave Danny a little hug.

"Yeah. I dunno if I'm gonna see 'em again. Momma 'n Daddy Jack didn't like ghosts. So I dunno if they went to the Zone when they died. Jazz might be there, though…" Danny stared at the wall, apparently thinking.

"What's the 'Zone'?"

"It's the place where all the ghosts 'n stuff live. I went there a lot. It's weird, but nice."

"Huh. How did you get there? Is that one of the things you can do?" Jason didn't like the thought of his little guy dimension-hopping to the land of the dead.

"Nuh-uh. Momma and Daddy built a thing. A portal. It went to the Zone." Danny looked at the floor and whispered. "That's how I got my ghost powers... I died in it."

Jason choked and turned it into a cough. "You died?" He looked at Danny's downcast eyes and hunched posture and shook his head. He needed to break the tension—he wasn't ready to deal with the thought of his newfound kid dying. He cleared his throat. "You don't look dead." He poked Danny's side and the boy let loose a small giggle. "You don't feel dead." He poked him again.

Danny laughed. "I can change, silly. Watch!" The boy squirmed out of Jason's grasp and landed bare feet on the floor. "I'm goin' ghost!" He giggled again, and a bright ring appeared around his waist—just like it had before. This time, the change was reversed. The boy now floated in the air, his face level with Jason's.

His eyes were glowing neon green, and his snow-white hair floated around his head. Then he laughed. "Watch me!" The boy's legs joined together and formed a long tail that trailed behind him as he flew in circles around the room. He did loop-de-loops and twirls. If anything was in his way, he just flew straight through it.

Neither Batman nor Jason could take their eyes off of the amazing child who was showing off his acrobatic skills. After the initial shock wore off, a chuckle escaped Jason. He couldn't help it. His little boy was just so adorable.

Bruce looked over at his smiling son and knew in his heart that Danny and Jason belonged together. He decided that he wouldn't get in the way of whatever developed between them.

Danny finally touched down next to Jason and Bruce. "That was fun!"

Bruce spoke up. "Danny, would you be willing to let us to take care of you for a while?"

Danny grabbed Jason by the leg and monkey-climbed the man's strong body until he was resting on his hips. He looked at Bruce quizzically and then back to Jason. He squeezed the man's massive arm. "Could you be the one to take care of me? You feel safe. Like home."

Jason swallowed. "I'll be your home for as long as you'll have me."

"Even forever?" Danny hated sounding so needy.

"Even forever." Jason's words soothed a broken place in Danny's soul. The young halfa could feel the broken parts inside of him starting to gel back together. Lady Gotham had promised him safety and everything he needed.

Danny thought that she had provided it in the strong arms that were still wrapped around him. He yawned and blinked slowly. He turned his head up to his new guardian.

"Forever, then."

Wayne Manor

Hours later, after all the checks at the Watchtower had been done, and the testing of Danny's powerset had been arranged, Bruce and Jason sat in the den at the Manor. Danny was sleeping across their legs. He had fallen asleep watching old cartoons.

Bruce turned to his son. "We need to get your living arrangements straight if you want him to legally become yours, you know."

"Yeah, my apartment in the Narrows won't cut it for a kid. I hate to move uptown, though. There's not enough room for a kid to just be a kid there."

Alfred, who had come in unnoticed a while ago, finally spoke up. "You still have your room in the Manor, Master Jason, and there is an adjoining room next door through the bathroom, if you recall."

"Alfie, are you suggesting that I move back in with Bruce?"

"Who better to teach you the ways of juggling parenthood with your "nightlife" than the man who has been doing it for a decade?"

Jason's eyebrows rose. Alfred had a good point—as much as he hated to admit it. The simmering anger that had stayed present deep inside of Jason had evaporated the first time he held Danny. It had yet to come back. Maybe moving back home wouldn't be that bad…

"Hey, B? What would you think about me and Danny moving in here with you guys? I mean, I know we have our differences, but if it means that Danny and I can be together, I'm willing to do whatever it takes." He looked around the room at all the signs of his siblings hanging on the walls—the trophies, and medals, diplomas, and certificates. He realized that he'd have the whole family around to help take care of Danny if he just let go of a little bit of his pride. Would it be worth it? He looked at the sleeping boy on his lap. Yeah, it would definitely be worth it…

Bruce looked surprised. "That's actually not a bad idea. Thank you, Alfred, for suggesting it."

The elderly gentleman gave a proud smile. "Splendid! I shall begin refreshing the rooms post-haste."

A muffled voice spoke up from the top of Jason's leg. "Who even says that anymore? 'Post-haste'??"

"Men with manners, young sir." Alfred's lip quirked into a tiny smile. "Young men with manners get to decorate their rooms how they like."

"Really?!" Danny's head popped up and his glee lit up the room—literally. His entire body started to glow fluorescent green; his hair started floating as if gravity was an option, not a constant. Most stunning, were his eyes and freckles. His eyes lit up like the Northern lights—bright green blended with neon blue. His face became a light-studded star-scape filled with glowing freckles. Everyone tried hard not to stare.

Bruce cleared his throat. "Alright, you guys call it a night." He looked at Jason. "Tomorrow, we need to go over the Metahuman Protection Acts. We need to get Danny covered as soon as possible—that will grant him—and us, privacy and time to get our stories straight."

"Ok, Old Man" Jason smiled. "Sounds good. I think I'm gonna stay down here with my little gremlin tonight."

Bruce nodded. "Goodnight boys." A giggle followed him out the door. He made his way to the Batcave—he had some prisoners to check on.

The next morning, Danny woke up feeling safe and rested. He tried to think of the last time that had happened, but he couldn't remember. Most of his memories were intact—he remembered Amity Park, the Fenton family, Sam and Tucker—even Dash, but everything was…fuzzy. It was difficult to focus his thoughts. A part of him wondered if it might have to do with the weapon that had so drastically changed his body. He stretched, and he felt weird. The…architecture of his body had changed. And man, was it hard to find the right words! Now that he was fully rested, the differences were very noticeable.

Danny belatedly realized that he was sleeping on someone's chest. It was…Jason…He was sleeping on Jason's chest! He could hear the steady thump-thump of the man's heartbeat and the swish of air in and out of his lungs. It was so comforting that Danny thought he might cry. He didn't remember ever feeling this safe—not since the day he was found in a field outside of Amity Park, anyway. Everything before that was a blank. The thought made the half-ghost frown and instinctively snuggle in closer to his living "bed". Strong arms wrapped around him, and the feeling of safety intensified. This time, Danny did cry.

His sniffles brought Jason to wakefulness. "Hey little man, what's wrong?"

"Nothin's wrong." Danny's voice hitched. "I just…you just feel so safe."

Jason's heart broke a little because feeling safe was apparently not something his boy was used to. He hugged Danny tighter. "I've got you, kiddo. I've got you."