#Dani: Nah

[wandixx]

Ghost of fries and Hero of cookies

All work words count: 14 593

Words in this part: 2 224

Summary of whole work: Duke wasn't expecting to wake up from his quick rooftop nap to some meta kid with fries. He also wasn't expecting kid to stay Or Danny asked Dani to stay safe while she was in Gotham. Where would she be safer than under the wing of local hero? And he looked like he needed bad day combo anyway

This part summary: First meeting and training discussions Beta read by @audhumla-sailor though English is second language for both of us, so proceed with this in mind. I also know all of the charaters through fics alone, so probably ooc. Stay catious if it's something you don't like

Duke was running out of fumes to run on. Last few days would be exhausting if it was just vigilante or just civilian stuff but no, he had to have it both. Because of Arkham break out he had been called in three nights in a row, not for a whole patrol but he couldn't exactly sleep it of during the day like others did, especially not in a week when every teacher decided they need to have test or quiz or what not. Naps meant he wasn't as sleep deprived as he could be but he needed far more. But he couldn't because crime in Gotham never sleeps so he had normal patrol to finish and there were about two ours left.

Would something bad happen if he just stopped for a moment and laid on a roof? Ten up to fifteen minutes. It was a slow day too...

Yeah, no, he deserved a moment to rest and if something disastrous was to happen in the meantime he would shame other Bats for not giving him enough time to sleep.

It certainly said something that he found gravel covering this roof to be quite comfortable. He set a timer for ten minutes and let himself close his eyes.

When loud screech of timer jolted him awake, he was suddenly fully aware that he wasn't alone anymore. He sat up a little too quickly.

"Oh, you're awake," white haired girl around Damian's age chimed, sitting cross legged just few feets away from him. She wore something that could only be described as an unholy mix of lab safety hazmat and skintight workout jumpsuit, white and black. When had Gotham gotten a new vigilante? "Good, I just returned from snack hunt," she added, gesturing at a big textile bag lying next to her. Duke didn't have enough brainpower to do anything more than ask.

"What?"

Girl shrugged, take out from BatBurger in her hand.

"You look like you have a bad day if not few days, so I've got you my cousin's bad day combo or at least closest thing I could. BatBurger burger isn't as good as NastyBurger but you certainly have better fries," as she spoke, second take out bag, 1 quart bottle of energy drink, juice bottle of same size and pack of convenience store brownies joined greasy paper bag sealed with a sticker.

"Is your cousin a speedster?" Excuse Duke, it was a totally valid question, he saw with his bare eyes both Wally West and Bart Allen when they visited Manor. Noone else would be able to stomach the amount of food they inhaled during their stays.

"Nah, we're not that fast or that hungry. Though I think I may get closer to speed of sound," So, clearly a meta if white hair and weir aura that let his eyes rest weren't enough indication "My cousin when he has bad few days he often forgets to eat so this combo has to help with there too. But I'll steal your fries of course."

Duke was not going to look gift horse in teeth, so he grabbed one bag and tore it open. There was classic combo with bigger fries and NightWings inside.

"Thank you..." he trailed off, hoping that girl would take a clue and introduce herself but she didn't. She just drowned her fries in ketchup and started munching. She had her own juice.

"My cousin always said that each part of this combo has different purpose," she explained instead, slightly muffled because of fries in her mouth, "This" she gestured towards fast food meal "is to sooth your stomach. This "she tapped energy drink "is to sooth your brain and kick it back online. This "she raised bottle of juice, "is to sooth your taste buds because energy drinks are war crime against them and this "she nudged brownies "is to sooth your heart because Ancients damn it, this day is awful and you deserve it. At least that's what he told me when I had day bad enough to deserve that," she shrugged, licking ketchup of her finger. Suddenly she froze "You aren't allergic, are you?

"No, I'm not," he confessed bewildered.

"Good"

For a long moment they sat in silence, devouring food the little girl brought. Duke distantly wondered if this was how night shift spent their snack breaks. It felt nice.

He was finishing his part of brownies when girl spoke up again.

"Do you feel better now?"

"Yeah" he was a little surprised to realize that it was true. He'll have to note down what she put in this 'bad day combo'. "Thank you"

"Don't mention it," she shrugged with general gesture of dismissal, "You're one of my cousin's favorite heroes because you're vaguely his age and handle Gotham alone during the day and I quote, "she did honest to God air quotes at that" 'As only hero in Amity-' which is a lie by the way, Val is doing great and even if he suddenly got problem with how she feels about his alter ego, he still has Sam and Tuck even if they're usually more of moral support. And I helped when I visited, so no, he isn't only one. Anyway as he said 'As only hero in Amity, my heart goes out for anyone who deals with this type of bullshit so Dani if you absolutely have to prank heroes, leave them out of it, especially Signal, he can't be older than Jazz, he doesn't need any more mess to handle.' All aliens and lanterns are also off limits because he is a space nerd. But you aren't space related so I'm like 80% percent sure he has celebrity crush on you," she slurped more juice, unbothered.

Duke was thankful he wasn't swallowing anything because for sure she would choke. He took split second to consider addressing... this whole situation and choose not to. He was not ready to be anyone's celebrity crush.

"Your name is Danny?" he asked instead.

"Dani" she corrected" with an I"

"Ok. It's nice to meet you Dani-with-an-I," She giggled, nodding her head slightly.

"It's nice to meet you too Signal"

Duke stood up, stretching a little. Dani joined him after hastily putting all the trash in her bag. She was a little higher than expected.

"I have to get back to my patrol"

"Cool," she drifted back a bit, making him realize that she was floating a few inches above the ground. She fixed her bag on her arm.

"Hey, can I hang out a little bit more? My cousin will go green out of jealousy when I tell him," she added with a mischievous smirk but Duke could tell there was more to it. He took a moment to consider it, which apparently made girl nervous "I can be invisible the whole time, like before," she offered, disappearing in the meantime. He could still tell where she was, because of her heat signature and other waves she excluded but for regular people she would be no different than surrounding air.

"Yeah, you can hang around and you don't have to be invisible. Just don't get in my way when I have to actually do some fighting."

She popped back to visible spectrum and pouted like Damian whenever he got benched.

"I can fight, y'know? I stopped mugging on a snack run."

It was ten god damn minutes, how could she get so much food and stop mugging in such a short time?!

Oh, right, superspeed. Still, impressive.

"I haven't seen it-" he started, channeling all Dick-trying-to-wrangle-Damian-into-socially-acceptable-activity energy he could muster "-so I don't know how you fight or even what powers do you have. If we tried to fight together we would trip over each other" It was a bare faced lie, Bat training made sure of that but he knew for fact that if he said anything else, the girl would be mad and probably did her own thing.

Was that what Bruce thought about all of them?

Oh no.

Dani still looked displeased but after a moment of consideration she nodded with a defeated sigh.

Suddenly she straightened like she got struck by lightning and whipped around.

"Wha-"

She just shushed, raising finger to her mouth. Duke did indeed quietened.

"I have enhanced hearing," she whispered "There is a mugging somewhere this way."

"Let's go then," he shot his grapple, waving his other hand at Dani to come with him before he jumped off the roof. He heard the girl giggle as she flew right after him.

"After this you'll show me the coolest gargoyles, okay? Sam asked for photos"

"Okay"

It seemed that the end of this patrol wouldn't be as bad as the start was. Hopefully.

And afterwards he was going to lock himself in his room until sky falls down or he was well rested.

Yeah, that was a good plan.

********

"Hey kid," Signal started, dropping from fire escape to cuff weirdo in clown mask who Dani just fought. He did it deliberately slowly to show her how to do it like he always did. She choose to not be to annoyed at being called kid again and noted to herself to come up with good codename later. All her previous ideas apparently weren't cutting it and she couldn't keep going by Dani because reasons.

"Yes?"

"Who gave you a combat training?" he asked getting up from a crouch and gesturing towards roof. So it's going to be longer talk, okay.

"My cousin," well, Flashes in Central taught her some stuff but it was more rescue and reassure type of deal not punch and kick, Sam tried to get her through basics of psychological warfare in activism, Tucker sweared he would teach her some programming and hacking but never got around to it, Jazz did some emotional training and Val offered to teach her Red Huntress skills when she got back, but yeah, all in all, Danny was the one to show her how to punch people. Even though it was more of 'shit we have to fight, observe maybe, idk' most of the time. She picked some tricks from Vlad too now that she thought about it, not that she planned to give him any credit for it, like, ever. "Why?"

"I have a bone to pick with him," vigilante announced, melting with the shadows. Dani sped as much as she could to beat him to the roof. She was competitive spirit like that.

Unfortunately he was first. She made another note to herself (she was so going to forget them in next five to ten minutes) to train her speed a bit more. She got tips from the guy with the title of The Fastest Man Alive for crying out loud, she shouldn't loose with the person who technically doesn't even have superspeed!

Signal sat cross legged on the gravel and tossed her a healthy granola bar. He kept doing it for some reason.

"I'm sorry to break it to you, but almost everything in your fighting technique is horrible. Your cousin did shitty job as a teacher" he started in warm slightly teasing tone. Dani felt attacked anyway.

"It's not like he has any sort of training either," she started, trying to sound nonchalant, rolling her eyes. "Cut him some slack," She bit a snack in attempt to cover her furry. It had chocolate and raspberries, was quite tasty and she was kinda hungry anyway. She wasn't sure she wanted to know how Signal knew it though "Everything he learned is from the trial and error by crashing through a few walls. Quite hard to care about 'technique'. I at least got his mistakes to learn from so don't you dare to speak about him like that!" alright, she lost it, she can admit it. But, Signal might be cool and Danny may or may not like him (she hoped he didn't, Val was much better option) but Gotham's hero had no right to say anything bad about her template. He didn't know anything. He didn't understand.

Signal looked like he was going to say something so she put her ghostly vocal cords to use and growled.

Don't-harm-family/will-fight/ protect-mine/don't-you-dare

She didn't stop to consider how unlikely it was for him to understand her. She crossed her hands on her chest, glaring.

Turned out, growl was enough of the warning. He carefully picked his next words.

"Sorry, it's not the way I should've phrase it," he started, his mouth doing the thing it did when people were embarrassed with themselves but in an uncomfortable, a bit angry way. He understood his mistake, good. She calmed her glare a bit. "I wasn't aware of you circumstances. If you want, I can show you some tricks, Batman is very throughout with his training"

"No, thank you, I'm good" she was still mad. So mad. And she was not pouting.

"Of course you're good but you can be better, more efficient."

"No." Whatever Signal would propose to her, she wouldn't agree. He said mean things about Danny not even a minute before. She couldn't let him have it on a principle!

"I'll give you a cookie after every training," he pleaded "The homemade, tasty one"

Well, that changed things. A lot of things.

"Yes please!"

He apologized anyway.

********************

Second part

I know democratic winner in poll for now is "publish all at once" and believe me, I respect democracy, especially now that I finally have rights to do things, but Tumblr wouldn't let me. Too long or something. So, it'll be in parts, sorry guys. I'll try to post all of the parts this weekend though (or one each day, I'll see).

Yes, I didn't have a name for this fic until five minutes ago, how did you know? It's quite alright though, I think. If you have better idea I may reconsider

[amaltheas-garden]

people still shocked that in the year of our lord 2024 some of us don't want to see Dany get her 'happy ending' by becoming the white savior who was promised

[danieyells]

[slightlycomicobsessed]

illyana: guys help lockheed keeps eating my homework

illyana: magneto is NOT going to believe that kitty’s fucking dragon ate my goddamn calc for the THIRD TIME

dani: L

illyana: fuck you

dani: fuck me yourself u coward

rahne: DANI

dani: just joking fuzzy dw u know you’re my one and only 🫶🏽

rahne: awww ily2 dani 🫶🏻

illyana: gross

dani: you’re just bitter we’re together and you’re still pining

illyana: yeah. and what of it

xuân: dani & rahne i support the gayness but can you MOTHERFUCKERS stop HOARDING THE GODDAMN COUCH I WANT TO WATCH TV

illyana: anyway can we get back on topic

illyana: as in the topic of LOCKHEED EATING MY DAMN HOMEWORK AGAIN

berto: yknow you could just. not babysit (dragonsit?) him for kitty anymore

xuân: nah she’s too whipped for that

xuân: OW WHAT THE FUCK

sam: what happened??

illyana: oh now you show up samuel

xuân: yana ‘ported into the room and threw a shoe at my head???

xuân: it’s not even her shoe where did you get this???

illyana: hell

xuân: yeah yknow what i should’ve expected that

berto: o7 comrade

doug: o7

rahne: doug??? when did you get here?

doug: im always here i just like to lurk

doug: also yeah i second shan can u 2 chill with the making out

dani: so ur being homophobic :/

doug: BRUH IM LITERALLY GAY WDYM

dani: haven’t you heard of internalized homophobia doug????

illyana: rahne definitely has

rahne: shut up

illyana: make me furball

dani: nooo rahne don’t leaveeeee

rahne: …

rahne: okay

berto: ha whipped

sam: dani put that shoe down you’re the co-leader you CANNOT keep instigating shit

dani: boo

rahne: boo

berto: ha

sam: berto that goes for you too stop antagonizing dani

berto: :( but it's so fun

sam: you already have had like 7 concussions id like to go a day without you getting more brain damage ty

doug: can't damage something he doesnt have B)

illyana: lmao old man who even uses the 'B)' emoticon in the year of our lord [REDACTED BY EDITORIAL]

doug: B(

dani: look what you did. you made doug sad. how does it feel to kick a puppy

illyana: ngl pretty good

doug: B((

dani: doug you need to chill with that emoticon i can't keep defending you

doug: B(((

dani: nvm

dani: loser

sam: DANI

dani: i stand by it

berto: wheres her gf. rahne reign her in

rahne: nah im good

[azurecoffin]

if you are taking requests and want to draw some small time x-men, i'd like to see a surge, please. if you aren't, dont worry

Casual Surge!

anon I binged new mutants volume 2/young x-men last month don't worry she was actually on my list!

requests are open! just be warned i'm like so slow

Prev: Boom-Boom Trinary M Armor Pixie

[blind-band-geek]

Ahaha :3 *crosses over my two special intrests*

[wes-weston-ghostly-blog]

Hi Wes :3

🤚✊🚮

Unless you're here to admit to being Phantom/Fentons clone, then no.

[danidoesathing]

I'm sure people will upload the comics like they did with the world ender one but. only releasing the comics with the vinyls is so unnecessary and for What. lord huron i am shaking you around violently and also kind of manifesting they release the comics on their own but that probably won't happen

I’m like. Genuinely so bummed about this. It’s such a blatant cash grab which kills all the excitement I would’ve had. Like we have a Danielle face reveal and story promise after eight years of NOTHING and a yawning grave story FINALLY and a new fool for love adaption and I want to be excited about but man it’s just. Such a bummer. What is this

Knowing how fucking weird they are about releasing merch they won’t release it separately and it’ll be a one time deal like the World Ender comic. Man

[trippin-chippin]

Bruh I just wanted to see the moonshine shack on the ride bro I- 💀

I pulled a silly 💀

I got that dang plush tho 💀🙏

[comradecowplant]

Yippee, a Dichen Lachman episode 🥳🥳🥳

[sevynchaos]

my little madrid squad & asensio 🥰🥰

[springs-hurts]

Man I love Dany, I just don't want to see her on Iron Throne, tbh I don't want to see Iron throne intact for that matter but that's different point altogether. I don't want to see targs rule again it's as simple as that! Aegon conquered Westeros after almost 300 years people were done with them and rebelled. And that's it! 300 is more than enough, let new dynasties flourish

[danieyells]

"Hey this is the pharmacy, I have your testosterone!"

GOOD THING I AM PRESENTABLE AND TECHNICALLY WEARING PANTS(LEGGINGS BUT EHATEVER EVERYONE WEARS THEM AS PANTS) BECAUSE I AM PUTTING MY BINDER ON AND PICKING THAT SHIT UP RIGHT NOW 🏃🏾‍♂️‍➡️

[vis3rys]

all my homies hate d.rogo here. - viserys.

[danidoesathing]

"Talis literally fist fought the narrative and archetype he was assigned to be with Viktor and won." YES. YES, YOU GET IT! JAYCE TALIS FOUGHT THE NARRATIVE AND WON!!

RIGHT!!! LIKE!!!! one of the reasons i love Jayce's arc in s2 is because of the his role in the lore and the fact that he actively pushes back at every turn. the fact that s1 set up this arc for him where he'd turn against the Undercity, where the his bias and ignorance and the arrogance he got while working on the council would come out full force under the threat of war, and that + the tempering with the hexcore and the death of sky is what would destroy his relationship with viktor. and given how his and vik's relationship functioned in the lore, where they always choose their own moral stances and ideals and pride over any understanding they could have with each other, it would make sense for it to follow that. all the pitfalls for Talis's fall from grace were right there. everything needed for him to become Giopara were right there

but then s2 drops and he IMMEDIATELY throws all of it away for Viktor. fuck his morals, fuck his pride, fuck all the unethical bullshit viktor did and all the unethical bullshit he's about to do, his partner is dying (dead) and he isn't going to let anything get in the way of saving that. he doesn't care what he has to do he IS going to save viktor's life and he DOES NOT CARE if Viktor is human or not. all he cares about is his partner. like all of giopara's core ideals thrown out the fucking window because it came at the cost of his partner and Jayce decided it wasn't worth it. none of it means anything if he cant have Viktor.

and then the finale. first off obligatory none of this shit wouldn't have been possible without ekko everyone say thank ekko our boy savior. but like still jayce like. grabbing Viktor by the fucking shoulders and going "WE DONT HAVE TO BE THIS!!! WE CAN BE MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE MADE FOR!!!" once he saw the astral expanse he understood. he understood what viktor was trying to do and why. and he understood what to say to get through to him that and the best part is all of it is TRUE. he meant every word he loved every part of him no matter how "weak" or even how changed they were. he's going to chose viktor over and over and over again no matter what and it literally changed their fate. hes so fucking insane what the fuck

[dvarapala]

@jmaas13: follows me me: immediately flashes back to yesterday when i told my cousin "wow, so people show up to watch dudes chase a ball across the field for sixty minutes" my cousin, immediately: "90 minutes."