#Danny is stuck in a loop

[skylersprompts]

DC x DP Prompt *32*

This was the ninth- no.... tenths loop. He is eating his breakfast and he is dizzy again. Because Mom drugged his oatmeal, because Mom and Dad knew! Danny stood up from his chair and tried to leave the kitchen. (He knew it wouldn't work, it never worked) His eyes grew heavy and a few steps later he hit the ground.

He wakes up to the same gruesome picture as in the last nine loops. But Danny doesn't beg anymore. Or says anything. It hurts, but it's nothing he hasn't had felt before. It would only take them a week before they would destroy his core again and then everything would start anew. Maybe he could think of something better for next time.

.

.

.

The last feeling he remembered was an all encompassing pain, as his Dad crushed his core. But he was at the breakfast table again, already feeling groggy. But maybe this time he could get help? He knew that he could fight the drugs for around ten minutes, as long as he didn't stand up.

So instead he got his phone out of his pocket. He knew that neither his sisters, nor his friends would be fast enough, he already tried them, but maybe someone else could be fast enough.

He opened Twitter and started to write a new post, ignoring his atrocious spelling in favor of getting as many information out as possible.

@theoneandonlyflash I'm kinda stuck in a time looop and my parents will koll me in about a werk they druged me so I'll be in they lab in a fee minotes. Pleaase helpp and fins me iin Amyt Park, Illnois. My name iss Dannyy Fentin

He was able to press send, before his vision would become to spotty. Now he just needed to hope that the fastest man alive would be able to help him. Danny's head fell on the table.

.

.

.

It was the eleventh time he woke up to the same scene and this time he couldn't do anything against his tears. He would die again... and again and again...

Danny's spiraling thought were interrupted by the basement door, that had hit the wall. This was new!

[vibe-howie]

But can Castiel see Danny's true form?

He's fine the electrocution just feels like a slight buzz now

[little-pondhead]

DP AU idea:

There is an Ancient of Rot.

DP x DC AU idea:

The Ancient of Rot is the Lazarus Pits, either banished to the mortal realm or too weak to form correctly and go back home.

[thebiggestfuckgiven]

i was peacefully working a closing shift when i was struck by a horrible yet wonderful and supremely indulgent idea:

Danny Phantom x Voltron crossover

[anachronistic-falsehood]

i feel like i'm stuck in a loop i have so much to do and not enough time to do it and i like both my jobs well enough but i don't want to be a banker or a retail worker i want to be an author i wanna put my art into the world and make a living off it i want people to read my work and enable me to keep putting my work into the world i want to move out and live with someone i care about and have the freedom to do what i want without someone pushing me to always reach for more and make a career out of something i don't want to keep

[rin-may-1103]

Badger Day.

Master Post | Next

Or that's what Danny wants to call this horrible day. He would rather gouge out his own kidney to sell to Skulker than admit that he's living through a shitty live-action remake of Groundhogs Day. You know, the 1993 comedy/romance with Bill Murray?

Luckily, unlike Bill who had to "live" through 34 years, Danny has been stuck in a loop for only 14 years. So, you know. Fun. (He was so going to soup Clockwork after this. He would do it today, but it didn't help the last 273 times he'd tried. It just made his day infinitely more annoying to deal with. At least he knows how to keep the timestream from imploding for at least a good ten hours.)

Flicking his paper ninja star, Danny watched as it bounced off the side wall, hit the table adjacent to him, and sailed towards the door right as Batman stepped through, hitting the man right where his heart would be. (Another checkmark for Danny's mental whiteboard. Batman 97 < Danny 1,858.)

The man, just like every day Danny's done this, stops and stares at Danny, while his left-hand reaches up to pull the paper ninja star out from the seams of his suit. (maybe Danny could convince Batman to fix his suit once he gets free? It's not like Batman had time today, based on the fact that Danny's tried helping him a few times before. Who knew making a hero suit took so long? Danny. Danny does. against his will actually.)

Counting four seconds Danny raises his hand and catches the flying fork as Flash crashes into Batman's back. Batman only grunts as Flash lands on the floor, his yogurt splattering all over him.

Standing up, Danny makes his way to the far corner and sits down. As soon as he does, Green Lanter and the rest of the league flood into the room. Danny knows every single conversation going on right now, having memorized them all over time. Superman's wife has a cold, and his son is doing great on his homework, why thank you for asking Wonder Woman, I did get a haircut!

and blah blah blah.

Danny spins in his chair, just waiting for Batman to sit down and start the meeting. Batman watches him for exactly fifteen more seconds before slowly marching to the front of the room, smacking down his paper folder (which seriously? why use paper when the man literally had state-of-the-art technology? If Sam was here, which Danny has done before, she would have started ranting and raving about deforestation, global warming, and all that jazz.) onto the table.

The loud slap makes a few of the members startle, turning to face the agitated man. Slowly the room quiets down, and the only conversation still going is between Green Lanter and Flash.

"yeah dude, I remember those things!" Flash cheers, turning to face his friend, "they had horrible wooden spoons to eat them with. What were they called again?"

Danny opened his mouth just as Green Lanter did, "those things were horrible!" Their voices melted together almost seamlessly, going unnoticed by most. Batman and Superman glanced over to Danny, both of their eyes narrowing in confusion as Danny continued copying Green Lantern.

"Oh, what were they called! uh," Green Lantern snapped his fingers, Danny doing the same. More and more people started looking over, watching in confusion as Danny continued.

"See, no, ummm, cre." Green Lantern looks down, holding his chin in his left hand. Danny leans back and crosses his arms, holding up five of his fingers to count off how many times the man says it. "Cedar! right, I remember now, it starts with cedar. Cedar. Cedar. ugh! what was it??"

Danny flipped the fork with his other hand, studying it for a second. There was still yogurt covering it. Why was Flash trying to eat yogurt with a fork again? Danny's never been able to figure it out.

"Oh!" Green Lantern exclaims, glancing back up just to notice that everyone else was looking toward Danny. Danny glanced up too, making eye contact with the man as he trailed off, "Ceder crest... ice cream... tubs."

The room sat in silence for a few minutes, everyone just staring at Danny. Danny flipped the fork again, leaning back and watching. this was usually the best part. Super copycat moment. Man, Danny should bring his iPod next time.

"Phantom," Superman started, freezing when Danny said it at the exact same time.

"What are-" Flash starts to ask, his eyes widening just like Superman.

Danny threw the fork, just as a grape slipped out of Aquaman's hand. The fork speared the grape and crashed into the table, landing right in front of Batman's folder.

Aquaman didn't even glance at it, his eyes locked with Danny's, "the young man is looped."

Batman grunted, his brows furrowing as Danny copied him. Yeah that's right, Danny's managed to nail the Batman grunt. An utterly useless skill, but absolutely hilarious if used in other situations; like sneaking up on other league members and scaring the crap out of them. He was going to keep the memory of Flash's face right next to his core. Although, Wonder Woman's reactions weren't that bad either. Maybe he'll keep both?

"Phantom," Batman grunted, ignoring that Danny was copying him. "Is Aquaman correct in his-" Batman cut himself off, just like Danny knew he would. but instead of stopping like he had, Danny continued talking.

"-his belief that you're stuck in a time loop?" Danny spun his chair, lazily, twisting this way and that as he eyed the group in front of him. "yes, yes he is. I'm stuck in a loop and tried everything. I've just given up at this point. Did you know that Flash was eating his yogurt with a fork? That's the only thing I haven't asked about yet."

Danny raised his hand, cutting Batman off before he could even ask. "yes, I know the code. TL00BJLH32. and before you ask," Danny turned to glare at Green Lantern, "I've tried everything."

"How long?" Batman asked, standing up straight.

Danny tipped his chair back, staring up at the crack in the ceiling. It was just a little, nothing significant really. But it's been bugging him lately, why here? Why not by the wall or in the center? Why right above his seat?

Just like every time before this; Wonder Woman hummed and Hawkgirl grunted as her wings twitched at the change in air pattern.

"Fourteen." Danny spat, watching as the crack grew just slightly larger.

Next

DP x DC prompt [4]

It is known in the Justice league that Phantom’s mentor in the Infinite Realms is a very powerful time deity.

What that means for them is that sometimes that mentor sends Phantom on time related missions.

More often than not these turn out to be simple fetch quests, but sometimes they can get a little more complicated. 

And to mostly Batman’s frustration, they don’t really know that’s the case until after the fact.

The other thing is that Phantom knows the Flashes quite well, and not always in a positive way. but that’s not the point right now.

Right now the problem is that Phantom apparently said something Green Lantern was about to say before he said it. Their hearts drop as his moves look rather rehearsed, questions are answered before they get properly asked, he knows who comes into the room and when, and who is going to go where and overall he just looks… tired.

It’s then that most of them have figured out they are about to start a day Phantom has been redoing far too many times.

—

Danny also walked up to Superman and slapped his sandwich out of his hand and said “don’t eat that” and Superman is thinking, “what did that sandwich do to me?” but this was actually not time related. Danny just wanted to mess with the guy.

[deadsetobsessions]

Danny Fenton is so damn sick of rich fruit loops. It’s worse now, since he’s one of them.

It’s not Vlad that he’s with, thank the Ancients, but Danny isn’t sure that this is better.

Because he’s Timothy Drake, a baby, and he’s been reincarnated after the Ancient of Reincarnation accidentally drank too much wine.

He’s going to kick their ass so hard when he gets back.

Danny huffs. He rolls over, ignoring the silent manor. Sure, he’s read the comics. Sure, he laughed and imagined being adopted by Batman- come on, Danny had black hair and blue eyes even back then, he was totally adoption bait- when his parents gave him reason to lose trust in their love. But that’s it, that’s all he thought it was. A day dream, a wish for a universe that didn’t exist.

Danny hadn’t understood the reality of the whole Infinite Realms thing, a place he was now the King of. Batman? Real. Danny? Reincarnated. Hotel? Trivago.

Like, this wasn’t what he meant, dammit.

And now he’s stuck as Timothy Drake, and Ancients, he was starting to see parallels.

——

Danny tried photography. He really did. He wanted to at least stick to the source material. But that’s not who he is. Even with the shiny new brain that memorized, catalogued, and put together clues at the snap of his fingers, but Danny’s never been one to take photos. It’s a respectable art, for sure, but Danny preferred to live in the moment instead of capturing it to remember forever. It’s just-

He watched the Graysons fall. He watched Dick Grayson turn into Robin. And Danny can’t and won’t ever betray his Obsession like that, ever again. He can’t let Jason die for his “story” to begin. That’s not how Danny works.

He’s there to protect.

Danny hasn’t ever been just Tim. Danny was also Tim and the Ghost King without a haunt. But now? Gotham is his haunt. He, in lieu of an actual city spirit, is Gotham. He’s also a Drake. And Drakes were meant to hoard.

Batman and Robin? They are his.

He claimed them, as a Drake. But that claim is weak. So he claimed them as their city, and that is a claim that will never be able to be challenged.

Danny’ll be damned before he allows some lanky starved clown beat the life out of one of his Robins. So, for the first time in his nine years on this planet, Tim-Danny goes ghost and flies.

“Who- who. Are you?” Robin slurred from his place in Danny’s hold. He is broken, yes. But not dead. Danny infuses some of his vitality, his ecto, into Jason’s injuries to help them heal.

“Gotham.” Danny replied, layering his ghostly voice with those of the city.

“Goth’m?”

“Gotham. Sleep, little bird. Your city has got you.”

When Robin, Jason, settled with a sense of trust that tugs at Danny’s core, Danny carried him to Batman, whose eyes were wild and manic. He glared menacingly at the green and white ghost in front of him, who was holding his broken and beaten son-

Well, it’d be menacing if Danny hadn’t watched him eat bricks and mortar, crashing into a building while using his grappling gun.

“You-”

“I am Gotham.” Danny cut him off. Despite his wary nature and natural paranoia, Batman settled at his city’s gaze rested on him. Danny knew that Batman recognized his city. Batman’s head bowed, but his eyes stayed on Robin. “You were supposed to take care of Robin.”

“I- I know.” And that voice was all Bruce Wayne the Dad instead of Batman the Vigilante. Danny gently placed Robin in Batman’s arms, taking in the tremors as he held his son close.

“Go back, Bruce. And make sure Jason knows how much you love him.”

He laughed as Bruce whipped his head upwards. “I am your city. You are mine as much as I am yours. I’ve known of you before you were born.”

Technically? Not untrue. But Bruce will chalk it up to weird magic shit. It’s not like it’s a secret that Gotham’s kind of curse. Besides, this way, Danny will be able to help out more often. And Bruce won’t be able to connect Tim Drake to the “Spirit of Gotham.”

“Return, my knight. This is not your city. I can not protect you as well as I can in Gotham.”

“Thank you… Gotham.”

Danny sighed. He wondered when he’ll have to field questions from a John Constantine. He’s pretty sure Bruce will call in magical help, even if it was his own city he was investigating.

Batman’s lucky Danny liked him enough to allow it.

[rin-may-1103]

Delilah's language (part two)

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"Tomorrow?" Danny repeated, glad he had set his cup down.

Mr. Wayne smiled, relieved Danny hadn't completely brushed him off. "yes, it's tomorrow. Damian, my son, is a huge conservationist. he gets it from his mother."

Danny blinked but before he could cut in, Mr. Wayne continued, "Oh! not that I don't care about the environment and stuff, it's just-"

"I get it," Danny reassured. he did not want to get stuck listening to Mr. Wayne try and fail to 'fix' his self-perceived mistake. "but I still don't really understand why you want me there..."

like sure, the kid's a fan of Danny or whatever (he was still trying to wrap his mind around that one.) but would the kid actually want Danny at his party? wouldn't that be like... he didn't know, weird? to just have this random guy from Illinois show up?

"Right!" Mr. Wayne coughed, scratching his face in embarrassment. "once Damian learned that the purple back gorillas would be in Gotham, I suggested we have his birthday party at the zoo. He told me he wanted to know everything he could about their species. so, I invited all the scientists working with the gorillas to the party so he could talk to them."

Danny nodded in understanding when Mr. Wayne glanced at him, even if Danny thought that that was the most fruitloop way he could have gone about it. then again, Danny's pretty sure all billionaires were fruit loops...

"He started digging into their history once he learned about them, and after some digging, he discovered that you basically saved their species. He has declared that he must meet you at all costs. something about needing to know their language?" Mr. Wayne trailed off, looking at Danny as if to see if he knew what his son meant.

If the kid was looking to Danny so he could learn the language then that meant he read the same paper Danny had. the scientists that had dedicated themselves to studying Delilah had printed one claiming that the purpleback Gorilla language was apparently hard to learn. (Even if Danny had been able to understand it pretty easily and told them so.)

they had listed Danny as the only person fluent in it so far, which now that Danny thought about it was kinda rude. they hadn't asked to put his name in there and now look at him! being visited by Fruitloops looking for him to be at their son's birthday parties.

anyways.

so, if the kid, Damian, read the same paper, he must have concluded it would be easier to learn the language from someone who was already 'fluent' than try and teach himself. (something Danny can't blame the kid for, but still.)

"KIDS!" Dad's voice bellowed from downstairs making Mr. Wayne startle and turn to glance down the hall. "IT WORKS! IT WORKS!"

...

"so, when do we need to leave?" Danny asked, all previous paranoia and reservations thrown out the window.

mr. Wayne slowly turned back, his brows furrowed in confusion. "we, uh, we'd have to leave in," he glanced down at his watch, his eyes widening a little, "an hour. I have to leave in an hour."

mr. Wayne then frowned as he looked back up at Danny, "I just need your parent's permission and you can come with me now, or I can arrange for another flight for you later tonight or early tomorrow?'

danny did not want to find out how they were going to test their new machine, so, he turned and cupped his hands around his mouth as he shouted, "HEY MA! CAN I GO WITH MR. WAYNE TO HIS KID'S BIRTHDAY PARTY?!"

it was silent for a second before she shouted back, "SURE! JUST BE BACK BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR OUR TRIP!"

oh, right. his parents had a trip planned for their anniversary. something about a huge ghost or demon trap in Wyoming they wanted to investigate.

"YOU'RE LEAVING TOMORROW THOUGH!" Danny shouted back, "DAMIAN'S BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW! I CAN'T GO IF I WANT TO BE BACK IN TIME!"

"OH! UH, THEN JUST BE SAFE! TAKE YOUR BLASTERS WITH YOU!"

Danny blinked, then shrugged. He could do that. turning back he found Mr. Wayne staring at the floor, his brows raised and furrowed in concerned confusion. Danny didn't know someone could make a face like that, but seeing as Mom had finally gotten Mr. Lancer to curse in front of him last year, it wasn't that surprising.

"let me pack my bag and then we can get going," Danny announced, standing up and grabbing his cup from the table, silently offering to take Mr. Wayne's as well. the man handed him his full cup and watched as Danny walked away.

well, at least Danny had already told the other ghosts to leave him alone for the rest of the week. they shouldn't get into too much trouble while he's gone. speaking of trouble, Mr. Wayne lived in Gotham, a place riddled with crime and violence.

dupping the cups into the sink, Danny turned and rushed up the stairs. unplugging his phone, Danny sent Sam and Tucker a text to let them know he wouldn't be in amity for the rest of today and tomorrow. he also let them know he'd keep them updated.

once done with that, Danny turned to his closet and rummaged around until he found his old backpack. pulling it out, he dumped the contents onto his desk and made quick work of packing his essentials. Clothes, phone chargers, and ectoplasm in case of emergencies. Mr. Wayne said he'd pay for the travel fair and hotel expenses, so Danny only needed to worry about food.

glancing in the mirror, Danny finally noticed he was still dressed in his pj's. he took a second to debate whether he really cared enough to get dressed properly or not before shrugging. Mr. Wayne's already seen him in them and they're comfy, no point in changing.

zipping up his bag, Danny tossed it over his shoulder and quickly ran downstairs. Mr. Wayne was walking around the room, studying a few of the leftover project pieces that his parents had left lying around. man, Jazz was going to be so annoyed once she learned they hadn't been picking up after themselves. again.

"Alright, Mr. Wayne. I'm ready when you are." Danny greeted, stepping into the room. the man turned to look at him, a strained smile on his face, "Just Bruce is fine."

"Alright, mr. bruce then." Danny agreed, gesturing for the man to start making his way to the door.

mr. Bruce heaved a sigh, shook his head in resignation, and turned to walk out the door. digging his keys out of his pocket, Danny turned to shout into the house one more time, "BYE MA, DAD! I'M LEAVING! HAVE FUN ON YOUR TRIP!"

not waiting for a response, he closed the door and locked it. turning around, he found Mr. Bruce studying him. lifting his brow in confusion, Danny started making his way down the steps and over to Mr. Bruce's fancy car. why the man had a fancy car when he said he'd be flying Danny didn't know, but he's pretty sure it has something to do with image or something.

Vlad did the same thing after all.

Next

[dclovesdanny]

Time loop x Over 9000

Danny was annoyed. Apparently, his soulmate, who he hadn’t even known existed, had broken an artifact that was imbued with some of clockwork’s power.

Now, he was stuck in a time loop and had to desperately search for his soulmate so that it would end. Lucky for him, Paulina and Wes the same issue. Apparently their soulmates had broken it together, which made Danny all the more thankful that he had already told his classmates his identity, and that the three of them were at school in the same areas. (Danny and Wes were going to college in Metropolis, while Paulina went to a fashion design school in Star City.)

He just hoped he could find his soulmate, because having to pretend every morning that he was not in a time loop and like he wasn’t close to having a breakdown when his parents called him to ask how he was doing and if they needed to bring him some fudge for the 25th time, especially since for them it was the first time they had called since orientation.

Both he and Paulina agreed they were going to punch their soulmates, (Well, Paulina was more interested in kicking her soulmate in the balls for causing her so much stress)while Wes was starting to get the glint in his eye that he hadn’t had since they were in high school and Danny had admitted to gaslighting Wes for years.

Meanwhile, Kon, Tim and Bart were trying desperately to figure out how to stop the time loop, and what exactly the curator had meant when he said it would attract their heart mates.



[razrbladekiss]

MAPLE HAZEL | Joel Miller

SUMMARY: he’s grumpy, and you’ve got enough happiness for the pair of you. you visit joel’s little coffee shop every morning, and he can’t deny that he enjoys the monotony of life with you the other side of his counter.

PAIRING: pre-outbreak!joel miller x f!reader

WORD COUNT: 1.8k

WARNINGS: inspired by lorelai gilmore and luke danes, so with that info do what you will. this is full on golden retriever x black cat realness. fluffy. banter-y. dialogue-y. joel is grumpy but he’s sexy so we don’t mind. enjoy, my besties. not sure if i’ll do a part two, but i’ll let you know in due time, of course.🍁🫶🏻

SERIES MASTERLIST

It’s like he’s moving from muscle memory. Putting down a cinnamon roll and maple hazel latte—with two extra shots of espresso—in front of the third purple stool at his counter, is almost ingrained into his brain. He wonders if one day you’ll ever take him by surprise and order pancakes, or a chai tea.

And you will. Just not today.

“Cinnamon roll, please!” You call from the door as you bumble over the threshold, fighting with the belt loop on your coat that’s gotten stuck on a brassy handle for the third time this morning.

“Already one step ahead of ‘ya.” Joel gestures to the breakfast spread at the wooden bar, and you smile.

Despite being a closed-off, stupid-person-hating, placid-at-times, grumpy old man, you can’t help admitting that you enjoy Joel’s company and general presence in your life.

His shop appeared on Birch Grove one sunny Saturday morning about three years ago, and you haven’t skipped a day since. Aside from Christmas Day, you have religiously sat at Joel’s counter and shared the trials and tribulations of life in Dallas as an overzealous twenty-something every single day.

He’s a great listener. Or, at least, you think that he is. He never interrupts you, or speaks over you. Joel always lends an ear to listen, even if he doesn’t always say all that much in response to whatever it is that you’re elucidating or complaining about.

“Thank you.” Breathlessly, you say. You take a seat and dump your purse onto the counter. “Got a busy day today. I’ve got a meeting, and I’m meeting Maria for lunch, and I’ve got a date—“

Joel’s face heats up. He turns to face you, striving to stay indifferent.

“A date?” Nonchalant, he asks. He slings a dish-cloth over his shoulder, and lifts a brow. “Does this man know that he’s going on a date with you?”

You make a face while stuffing a fork-full of pastry into your mouth. He’s so smug. With his stupid flannel and stupid little hat, you just want to rip the complacency from his lips. But he’s a good man. Just likes to try and take you down a few pegs.

But he can’t. Because you’re stubborn. And a little annoying.

“No, I just thought that I’d show up at his house in the middle of the night—because I’ve followed him home from work a few times and know where he lives—and rip him right out of his bed just like the troll that Danny Devito plays in Its Always Sunny.”

Joel let’s out a little laugh, not bothering to argue that what you had just told him didn’t actually happen in that episode, but finding it funny nonetheless.

He nods his head to you. “What’s his name?”

“Marcus.” Exaggerating your heart-eyed gaze, you tell him. “I met him at Costco—“

“Ah, Costco. Where every great love story starts. First you’re bulk-buying toilet paper, the next you’re sharing a dollar fifty hot dog—“

“Ha ha, Joel, you’re soooo funny.”

“I try.” He says, flippant, pouring coffee into another customer’s cup when they appear at the counter for a refill. He lifts the carafe and gestures to your almost-empty mug. “Want another?”

Your gaze is set on your wristwatch. It’s seven twenty-nine, and you need to be at work for nine thirty. Mentally you strive to figure out how much more time you can spend at the cafe, before you’re having to leave to get there on time.

“Is it maple hazel flavored?”

Joel tilts his head, glaring at you.

You swig the dregs of latte in your mug, and then push the polka-dot ceramic across to him. “Please.” You say, shyly.

Joel busies himself with customers, and general business-owner things for a few minutes while you finish your cinnamon roll and coffee. You can’t help watching him.

Because he’s great. He’s very caring—though extremely stern at times—and you know that if you’re having a bad day, Joel is only a two minute and thirteen second walk away.

He feels the same, too. Kind of. He knows that you’ll be sauntering into his shop at some point every day, and finds himself looking forward to seeing your wide-eyed gaze and larger-than-life smile.

And though he won’t admit it in so many words, Joel has a soft spot for you. It hasn’t always been apparent—he thought that you were utterly insufferable and obsessive when he first met you—but he can’t deny the fact that his life would be very dull without you.

Even if you do have a tendency to try to get underneath his skin.

“Are you dating, Joel?”

He rolls his eyes.

“What? It’s a very normal question to ask somebody that hasn’t been in a serious relationship for an entire twelve months.”

He pulls the cloth from his shoulder and wipes at his hands. “You and I both know that I ain’t got no interest in settlin’ down with anyone. Not yet, anyway.”

“You were willing to with Tess.” Pushing things a little, you say. You lift the coffee mug to your lips when Joel opens his mouth to chastise you, but he can’t.

He can’t because you’re right. He can’t because he wanted to, once upon a time. Before Tess walked out of his life—not long after you started frequenting his shop—he wanted it all. A wife, kids, the white picket fence that his parents had back in Austin when he was a kid.

But it doesn’t always work out that way, and Joel has learned to live with the idea that if it’s too good to be true, then it most likely is.

“I can set you up with someone—“

“Not happening.” He says. “Last time you sent me on a blind date, the girl asked me if I was into pegging.”

You giggle. “Well? Are you—“

Joel says your name, glaring pointedly.

“Sorry.” Instinctively, your lips are set into a straight line. “But I can totally do better, this time. I know this girl—she works at this law firm—and—“

“Not interested.”

“Okay.” You smile, tight-lipped. You lift your mug, striving for your third cup of coffee this morning.

Joel pours the liquid gold into the cup, before he’s telling you that he’s not going to be giving you another for fear of you ricocheting off of each wall in his place.

“You’ll turn into a cup ‘a coffee one day.”

Nodding—with a completely content smile—you say; “least I’ll be happy.”

“You’re always happy.” Joel mithers to himself, turning away. It’s one thing that he admires about you, though loathes at the same time.

Endless optimism and positivity is only something that he can long for, because he’s simply not capable of it. It baffles him how you are, especially when he’s—on occasion—so rude to you. So miserable, and cold, and completely undeserving of your friendship.

He likes that you’re so forgiving. That—even after he accidentally offended you last summer when making a comment about your then boyfriend—you can never hold a grudge, especially when it comes to him.

Because you both hold one another on a pedestal so high, neither can seem to do anything to tear themselves down. And Joel really enjoys your daily routine. That’s why he’s never not in the shop.

“You got any weekend plans?”

“Never do.”

You stretch out your arms—intertwining your fingers as you do to make them click—and offer a small smile when he cringes.

“You wanna catch a movie?” Shirking the idea that you have a date tonight—with a man who you really aren’t all that interested in, you’re just being nice—you propose.

Joel’s heart starts to beat at a tempo that’s noticeably quicker than usual. Not a lot, but it’s certainly faster.

“I think that the theatre downtown is showing the original Beetlejuice, on Saturday.”

He nods, approving. “I—uh—I’ll have to get someone to cover—“

“I’m sure you can ask your brother. Or maybe Maria?”

“I ‘spose.” Reluctant, he says. “But what about Michael? What if he wants a second date?”

“Well, his name is Marcus. And if he wants a second date—which I doubt he will—then he’ll just have to live with the fact that I have plans with a friend on Saturday night.”

He hopes that you can’t see him blush.

“Won’t it be weird?”

“Why?”

“We hardly speak outside of the shop.”

“God, Joel.” You throw your head back, laughing. “We’re the same people wherever we are. And we’re going to the movies—not a lot of talking takes place there, hon.”

His nostrils flare at your sarcasm, but mainly at the little pet name. Joel knows that you’re sweet—that you often use those terms of endearment when speaking with those that you care about—but it does something to him.

Something that he does not like.

“You can either come, or stay here and be miserable because you have no social life, or no girlfriend, or no other friends aside from me, your brother, and your brother’s wife—“

“Alright, fine.” Joel stops your miniature hate-train, and puts his hands against the counter. Your eyes zone in on the veins embellished within tan skin—how prominent they are when he’s fronting irritation—and let out a small sigh.

He’d be a lot more handsome if he smiled more, you think.

“So.” You paw at your purse, pulling it off the wood. “I’ll let you know what time the showing is, and we can make plans around that.”

Joel rounds the island and follows you as you pad toward the door, veritably sweating. “Plans?” He asks. “You never said nothin’ ‘bout plans. I thought we were just gonna catch a movie?”

“We are.” You tell him. “But we need to buy snacks, and grab dinner before we go—“

“Now you’re just describing a date.”

You shake your head. “No, I’m describing hanging out with a friend, Joel.”

“A friend?”

“An acquaintance…?” Testing the waters, you ask. Your eyes squint a bit, awaiting his retort.

But he just smiles.

“A friend.”

You smile back. Bigger.

“Perfect.” Your purse is slinging over your shoulder, and you pull your jacket to close so that the darned loops don’t get stuck on the door handle. Again. “I can’t wait.”

“It’ll be…nice.”

“Jeez, Joel. At least try to sound enthused.”

His hands shoot up in defense. “I am. Just have a hard time showin’ it.”

Your head nods. “I know. I’m only kidding. It’s nobody’s fault that you’re the human equivalent of Oscar The Grouch—“

“Alright, get out.” He holds open the door for you, smiling tight-lipped as he watches you leave. “Enjoy your meeting. And your lunch. And your date.”

You chuckle, thanking him with another bright smile.

“See you in the morning, Joel.”

“Yeah, yeah.” You step onto the sidewalk—that’s festooned with red and orange leaves as the tree above starts to shed its skin—turning to wave at him. “See ‘ya, kiddo.”

[clockwayswrites]

(Now) Tired Dads- John meets Danny

John stared, betrayed, at the armchair that he had just stubbed his toe on. Yes, it was only nine in the morning and yes he had only gone to bed at four in the morning after being up for nearly thirty-seven… nine, what-the-fuck-ever hours, but that was fine. That was normal. The armchair being in his way was not.

He’d wandered the House of Mystery plenty of times when half asleep or with his face in a book or bleeding out… whichever of those. Point was, he never stubbed his toe on any of the furniture in any of those states. Him and the House got along pretty well these days. Sure it was a little rough in the start, but now the House looked out for him just like he looked out for it.

That meant that if he stubbed his toe— if the House let him stub his toe— then the House was trying to get his attention about something.

And that was never good.

John rubbed at his face as he spent a moment considering just going back to bed. He was trapped, drained, spent, out of everything. He’d be no good if it was something actually dangerous. But if it was actually something dangerous, the House would have (or should have) done more than just stub a toe. Maybe it was just a clogged pipe or some shit like that and the house was feeling bitchy.

“Right then House, lead the way, show me what you're having a mare about ” John said with a sigh and headed for the closest doorway. He trusted the House to put him in the rooms that it wanted him in.

It was concerning, then, when John had moved through a few rooms without anything of note. If it got to several rooms he was backing out until he had more sleep. Anything that could confuse the House like this was dangerous.

“Fucking— really?” John asked towards the ceiling as he was looped through the kitchen after having just left the kitchen.

A cabinet slammed into the back of his knee, right into the bend. Clutching at the spot, John hobbled out of reach with a string of curses and a glare at the door.

It hung open with a pointed little creak.

“Right, fine, kitchen it is. Gonna be any help with that, mate? Any hints?” John asked as he started opening cabinets. “Clogged sink? Burner out? Something rank in the back of the fridge? Small child hiding in one of your cabinets?”

The small child’s face scrunched up in a scowl. “I’m not small.”

“You’re in cabinet, bruv.”

“I just squish well!”

“… yeah, that isn’t better than being small, Tiny,” John said.

“Tiny?! I’m, like, fifteen!”

John thought the tiny kid might be actually offended, not that John cared. He backed up a step and crossed his arms. “And yet still inside a cabinet. Get the fuck out of there.”

The child— seriously fucking what— glared at John before they finally moved to get out of the cabinet. The stacked saucers and tea cups rattled as they pulled out of the fucking kid’s body as the kid moved to sit on the counter in a huff.

John would so be washing everything in that cabinet before next tea time.

If he remembered.

Maybe.

“Okay Tiny, what the fuck—”

“You can’t kick me out!”

John paused, just for a moment, but quickly got his feet under him and asked, “Yeah? Why not?”

“Because the House let me in! It says I can stay so I can stay and you can’t kick me out,” Tiny said in a rush.

John was pretty sure if the kid was breathing, they would be hyperventilating.

Wait.

What?

---

AN: This used to be possibly black smoke custody, but I went back to it (only had the first few paragraphs) and this is much, much more Tired Dads energy. Poor Danny, stuck being called Tiny.

[tanglepelt]

Dc x dp 59

The nasty burger explosion goes off. The problem is Jack and Maddie put Vlad as their choice of guardian in the will.

Danny doesn’t manage to get away from Vlad quick enough. So he is stuck. Danny does manage to avoid the basement.

Vlad gets annoyed of Danny attempting to escape. All his current devices to restrict powers are temporary and need to be constantly re applied. So he comes up with a device that’s just cuts Danny completely off from his powers. Like the belt, just better and no shocking. In reality it basically doesn’t allow him to release his powers. Which is problematic for his core the power has no where to go.

Vlad thinks Danny had just accepted his fate and finally calmed down. Danny is just trying to keep his cool and not have his core explode or something.

They end up at a gala. Because of course they do. Regardless. Danny is in public.

It’s his time to act.

So while at the gala. He does what anyone who wants to get away would do. Danny manages to go up to you’ll never guess it. Bruce Wayne.

Going up to him asking him if he hypothetically punched him would he get kicked out. Just enough to hypothetically get away from a fruit loop trying to force him to be his son.

Obviously this leads to a punch and a getaway.

This then leads to a run in with a bat or bird. Someone gets to miss the last of the gala. By the end of the night Danny has full access to his powers and is away from Vlad.

[letoasai]

dp x dc

I’m usually more of a lurker in this fandom, you know? But this happened and it just needed to be written down. If someone wants to take the idea or continue it, go for it! Prompt - Consort

~~~ ~~~

Danny is told that while he is officially the Ghost King, there are a few last minute things to check off the list to keep the Observants from being able to mess with Danny's business. Clockwork even subtly confirms that this is something Danny should consider carefully. Being able to keep them in check is important.

 While not keen on a to-do list, Danny sighs and trusts that Clockwork is ultimately giving him less work.

He spends a few years doing odds and ends. Whatever task Clockwork mentions and it honestly suits Danny fine. It’s giving him time to grow into his position. It’s going well, that is until he learns that in his last task he has to consummate his newly acquired position in a very traditional way. With someone else...

That's bad enough, but it's thrown out to him that he must do this with one of his own kind. It's never been an issue before since The Ghost King is usually... a ghost and can pick whoever they want in the Zone.

Danny however is a halfa and because he's only one of three halfa's he's forced to pick between Vlad and Dani. A fruit loop and his clone/sister. The first is horrifying on many levels and the second is just plain unappealing. It's not happening, nope. 

It's practically a miracle that before Danny can completely fall into panic, Clockwork mentions the existence of a forth halfa. 

It doesn't matter who they are, it HAS to be better then his current options. That's how Danny ends up in Gotham.

~

"I can't believe you went without us." Sam complained. "We could have gone with you. What if you need help?" 

"I don't think Gotham is ready for ghost powers, Sam." Tucker commented. "Any trouble he runs into won't know what hit them." 

"Could you both stop wishing trouble on me?" Danny asked, he should have known he'd get ganged up on when he had them both on the phone at once. He was looking around and had noticed how he wasn't headed to the...best of neighborhoods. Had he not had ghost powers he might have turned right around. 

He'd gotten a fairly nice hotel room for the long weekend in a somewhat nice area. All of Gotham looked pretty damn bleak to him but at least he could easily survive in a place like this. There was so much ambient ectoplasm in the air that he was, frankly, surprised he hadn't spotted more ghosts. It was all to his benefit though. 

"Wishing?" Tucker chuckled, the sound of his keyboard clicking on the other side of the call. "It'll find you whether we wish it or not." 

"And then you'll be able to say you got to fight in Gotham." Sam lamented. 

"So this isn't about me not bringing you along to help me find this halfa, but because you just wanted to see this city in particular?" 

"Little bit." 

Tucker started laughing. "Damn, Sam. Nothing's stopping you from visiting." 

"There absolutely is." Sam grumbled. "Their names are Jeremy and Pam." "We're graduating soon, Sam." Danny commented. "After both your eighteen birthday and graduation you'll find your freedom." 

"And possibly your way out of their living will." Tucker commented, but Sam only snickered at the thought.

"That doesn't help me today. Danny's out in one of the coolest cities ever on a quest to get laid, and we’re stuck having a boring weekend." "Sam." Danny hissed as if someone else could have possibly over heard their conversation. This entire situation was beyond awkward. He didn't even know how to start. Hi, you're a halfa too? Wild? Wanna sleep with me so i can make sure my position isn't puppeteered?   "What? That's literally why you're there." Sam was back to being amused, conveniently forgetting for a second that she wasn't with him in Gotham. "You're not gonna seduce anyone with that attitude." "I'm not trying-!" "Aren't you supposed to be though?" She hummed. "Gotta put that charm to work, Phantom." "Oh shut up..." Danny grumbled. If this halfa immediately pegged him as king, would they feel obligated to sleep with him? Ugh, this was the worst. If the ghost he was tracking lived in this neighborhood then it was no wonder he was half dead... "I mean, the wording of this could mean anything." Tucker commented right as the clicking stopped. He'd shown his to-do list to Sam and Tucker ages ago, and this hurdle had always seemed so daunting. "Go forth and find what's just. A night of bliss and trust. A match for your soul in desire. A second coming to conspire." Tucker repeated the lines. "Man, someone did not take a poetry class." Danny just made a face, so sick of the instructions that even making fun of it didn't help anymore. "And you think that can mean anything?" Sam hummed quietly. "I guess you were told it was a basic innuendo so that's what you hear. It’s what we all heard." "Yeah, it doesn't say go fuck." Tucker said. "Could just mean you could hang out for a night and vibe. Video games. Take out." Danny made a face. "I can't see me doing that with Vlad either." "I should fucking hope not." He could practically see Sam's disgusted face. "Okay but that still doesn't make sense. I gotta hang out with another halfa? Why? Why would that block the Observants and their never ending input?" Danny wondered. "No idea." Tucker relented, "But it's worth a shot. right? You can always hang out first and see if it works. If it doesn't... well then you know what you gotta do." "Flirt. Bend over and show your butt. It's eye catching." "Sam..." Danny sighed, this was exhausting. She clucked her tongue. "It's good advice. Even Paulina did a double take last week." Danny just made an irritated sound in his throat, nearly tripping over a destroyed section of the side walk. All the businesses nearby had bars across their windows as extra security and more and more people seemed to loiter. "So glad that ship has sailed." Young crushes were painful. "It could also mean cuddling?" Tucker offered. "How'd you make that leap?" Sam asked. "Guys." Danny interrupted suddenly, his ghost sense chilling him. "I'll call you guys back. I might have tracked them down." "Don't forget!" Tucker said, tone only slightly accusatory. Sam just made a noise of agreement. "We'll want the whole play by play." "Well... maybe not the whole play by play." Tucker added, but Danny just hung up on them. His support system was filled with bullies. See if they got their Gotham tee-shirts now! Danny turned down an alleyway, not sure just yet what he was following but it felt fairly powerful. So far he'd seen mostly shades and remnants of what was. He was left to try to find this halfa the same way he had to track down Dani when looking for her, and that usually meant looking for a big source. When he took a turn and nearly walked right into an obvious drug deal, he inhaled sharply and turned invisible. The dealer had looked up at the sound but brushed it off a moment later when he didn't see anyone rounding the corner. Gotham was nuts but at least they weren't clowns. Deciding it really was within his best interest, Danny transformed completely, staying invisible for the time being as he followed his ghost sense through the scary part of town. Minutes felt like hours but he spotted a dude coming closer on a motorcycle and Danny's skin felt like it was vibrating. The halfa was a guy, okay. Danny could work with that, he really could. Even sitting on the bike, the guy looked a head taller than Danny. All the ghost powers in the world couldn't take away him inheriting his mothers build. For fucks sake, did he have to become evil to bulk up?! Danny flew closer, wanting to get a good look, only to have his vision impeded by a red helmet. When the bike swerved and the rider looked around around, likely sensing him, Danny backed off. His jaw was already hanging open in disbelief. Red Hood. That was Red Hood. Red Hood was a halfa?! Okay, he was the freaking Ghost King. When was that memo gonna land on his desk. Holy crap. Was he actually going to ask Red Hood to have sex ...er... platonically hang out with him? Danny's face was going to explode with heat. He flew away, watching him from the sky. Red Hood slowly brushed off whatever he had felt from Danny and rode on, making only a few more turns before stopping at an apartment building that Danny wouldn't have thought was still in use. This had secret lair written all over it. Danny followed, waited, watched. Of course he knew all about the vigilantes of Gotham but he hadn't really expected to run into any of them. Honestly, what were the odds? What did he do? Red Hood was technically a killer but he'd met more then one ghost who'd been avenged. It caused mixed feelings really. After two hours of nothing, a guy walked out of the same apartment. This time in street clothes. Same build, same height, same half energy. Crap. There goes that secret identity. Danny didn't know his name but he knew what he looked like. Dark hair, that curl of white in the front. Light eyes. Permanent looking frown and... Well now, Danny was frowning too. Something about his energy was off putting. Twisted. Wrong. Well... that would need to be looked into. From afar, Danny watched him go about his evening which involved stopping into those little stores and checking on people. Those people seemed to greet him with a friendly smile and know him somewhat well. Danny also got the impression that none of these people knew he was Red Hood, though he wasn't sure it would have mattered if they had. Red Hood was a crime lord but this was his territory... his haunt. Danny wasn't quite sure how this was both incredibly confusing while making all the sense in the world. He'd have an attitude too if his ectoplasm was all jacked up. What was he supposed to do? Suddenly if felt so presumptuous to show up at this guys doorstep to ask for such a favor from a stranger. He could leave and figure something else out, but the guy clearly needed help too. Maybe they could work out a trade or something. Danny felt torn about the whole damn thing and only decided to suck it up and act like an adult when his alternative was to call Jazz and ask for advice and he was not asking his sister about this. He flew ahead of the guy, making it back to his apartment first. He turned human again and sat on the stoop to wait for him. Internally he went over his lines in his head, what he would say, what parts he could leave out but all of that stopped when a shadow towered over him. The guy somehow seemed so much bigger in person. "You alright, kid?" he asked, there was the strange mix of concern and suspicion on his face. "There's housing up the street if you need someplace to go. They take anyone." "Oh uh..." His haunt had a place like that? Cool. So much for all those lines he’d been rehearsing. "I wanted to talk to you, actually. If you have a second?" He raised a brow but gestured to Danny with a nod to continue. Guess they were doing this out here then. "Okay, this is going to sound strange as hell but i've been looking for another halfa to help me with something. It's like.. a stupid huge favor and, fuck i hate even calling it a favor because that sounds weird. I also wanted to say up front that you can totally turn me down too, this isn't like, a demand or anything." Danny started talking, and couldn't seem to stop. His nerves were getting the better of him along side this guys emotions which were confused and itching with something aggravating. "It's not like i wrote this particular law either. I'm not even sure why i agreed to this shit but i've seen bad alternatives before a-" "What the fuck are you talking about, kid?" he interrupted. "Rude. I am actually eighteen." Danny grumbled. His eyes narrowed. Did he think he was lying about his age? "You sure about that?" "Yeah, my birthday is the same day every year." Danny deadpanned, almost getting a smile. "Let me start over, um, my name is Danny." he stood but didn't offer his hand because this guy didn't look like he'd take it. "And i've been looking for you." "Right i sorta got that, but why?" Danny could already feel his ears turning red. "Okay, hear me out because this sound fucking awful. I need to sleep with a halfa." Just rip that baid-aid off right?

Red Hood's frown was back full force. Guess he was still Red Hood since he didn't offer a name. "What the fuck is a halfa?" Danny short circuited. Was it possible this guy didn't know? "Okay." Danny said slowly. "Backing up and starting over again. Did you... You... You know you died once, right?" He scowled. "Yeah, i was there. How the fuck do you know that?" "Oh good, we don't gotta go back that far. Okay. Okay, so a halfa is someone that died. Like me." He gestured to himself. "Who came back. Someone who is half dead and half alive. There's only four of us. I have to sleep with one because of some political bullshit and i know how desperate that has to sound to you but i absolutely can not sleep with my sister or a fruit loop that wants to marry my mom." Red Hood stepped closer, a large hand wrapping around Danny’s bicep and pulling him along with him towards his door. It was opened long enough for the two of them to slip through and then shut and locked again. "Alright, lets unpack everything that just left your mouth and start to pick out the sane verses insane pieces." He said, somewhat exasperated. He was unhappy. Very unhappy. Danny had to hide a wince, guess Hood wasn’t ready to talk about his death. Jazz would be pissed, he needed to learn to be more sensitive about these things. "You're half dead?" "And so are you." Danny said. "Haven't you noticed any ghost abilities?" "Any what...?"  Distress. That was an odd reaction. Danny looked around, there wasn't much furniture but there was a couch and Danny made a show of going intangible and walking right through it. "Anything like that?" Red Hood was frowning. "No. Look. Half dead and half alive sounds more like a zombie to me. Where are you getting this ghost shit? How did you find me at all?" "Ghost sense." He scowled. "Of course." Danny sighed a little, biting his lip and brushing a piece of hair from his face. "Okay, this is my fault. I'm bad at explaining and i'm sorta having too many conversations at once. Lets start with you. You ever seen like.. glowy green sludge?" His scowl deepened, for a second there was true hatred etched into his face but it wasn't directed at Danny. The suspicion and distrust however were. "What do you have to do with the Lazarus Pit?" Danny blinked, it was evidently his turned to be confused. "The what?" "The green shit, kid. The Lazarus Pit. It's what did this shit to me. What drives me insane." Danny frowned. "The green sludge is ectoplasm, which we need. It shouldn't hurt you, but if it did...could explain why you feel so twisted up inside." He scoffed. "Twisted up, that's the kindest way anyone has ever put it. I don’t need someone elses insane ramblings on top of what i already got in my head. So if you're looking for a fuck, go somewhere else." "Okay." Danny muttered, he'd known that could be an option. "But would you let me see if i could straighten out to ectoplasm anyway? I think i can help at least a little and uh, i think your's is trying to eat away at your soul which is...bad?" Hood actually dropped onto the couch, looking beyond done with this day. "Do you think you there's anything i haven't tried?" "I bet you have." Danny said, stepping closer. "But my ectoplasm is healthy and isn't trying to eat me. You don't really have anything to lose, do you?" Trustme. Trustme.  His expression was nearly murderous and Danny could taste the rage. It seemed like he was having a hard time controlling it, and the more Danny looked, the more he was blaming the tainted ectoplasm. It even seemed to block some of the calm Danny was pushing towards him. "Kid, you have no idea what you're -" Danny stepped closer, hands on Red Hood's chest. He could feel the faint humming of a drowning core, trying to breath through the toxicity that had been forced into his body. Danny added his own ectoplasm to the mix, a sort of ghost transfusion. Ghost King privileges came with a wide aura and a lot of energy. There was a shudder, and the difference was almost instantaneous. The tainted ectoplasm had tried to rear up, tried to roll into rage and snowball but Danny just had more to work with. Danny didn't remember kneeling in front of his new acquaintance, or shutting his eyes, or shifting into his ghost form. He was however, aware of his core tuning into Red Hood's, trying to coax it to life...so to speak. He didn't know what it would have been like, a half ghost but confined only to his human side. Maybe if he'd never known any better it wouldn't have mattered to him but the thought of it now was suffocating,

There was a moment when Danny suddenly felt Hood’s confusion. It seems like he was finally picking up on Danny’s silent messages. 

"What did you do?" Red Hood asked, sounding tired, but far less hostile. "You made it quiet. You're also..glowing." Danny looked up at him with a nervous laugh. "Well, i did say i could fix it. This fix is kinda temporary but I know Frostbite can fix it for you permanently. I'll talk to him." He reached up and rubbed at his eyes, "...Thanks...." "No problem Hood." His eyes jerked up and Danny just smiled. "I won't tell anyone..." He hissed in soft irritation but it didn’t match his emotions. He was still riding the high of being in control of that rage. "So i did feel you following me earlier? I swear there was something around." Danny nodded once. "Had to be sure you were who i thought you were... and all..." Excuse. Excuse... Red Hood shook his head. "My name's Jason. I have a hundred questions minimum about this half ghost thing." "I could probably answer most of them?" Danny offered, realizing he was still on his knees in front of Jason and quickly getting up, a cold blush coloring his face as he shifted back into his human form.  Jason watched him, brow quirking again but he seemed so much more relaxed now that the tension was drained out of him and the taint to his ectoplasm was quiet. It almost made him seem a little younger too, not that Danny would have pegged him any older than early twenties, if that. Maybe he was still a teenager too. "Halfa's... You said there were four of us?" Jason asked cautiously. "Yeah." Danny sat on the other end of the couch. "My sister who is also my clone, and Vlad. Billionaire asshole who's a major creep." "Clone. You have an interesting life."   "That's a lot coming from Red Hood." Jason snorted. "Fair." he paused, proving he'd been listening to all the jumbled up words Danny had been spurting. "Why do you have to sleep with a halfa?" "Aah..." Danny's face went hot again. "So...i..." he paused. "Okay this all sounds bad. I defeated the Ghost King in combat, making me the new Ghost King." Jason brow arched again, "Kudos." "Thank you? Anyway... there's a lot of stupid... add on rules. I didn't make them. Hell i don't even know them all. Some ancient jerk just tells me one at a time. Usually with bad timing which is stupid because he basically is time." "And one of them is fucking?" "Ugh." Danny actually groaned, head falling into his hands. "Someone of my own kind and there's only us four..." he spoke into his hands. "Sucks." "Little bit, yeah." Danny looked up at him, hoping Jason wasn’t actually feeling any of Danny’s nerves or embarrassment. "My friend has a theory that it might not mean sex exactly and might be more of a proximity thing." Jason didn't look overly convinced. "And you decided to try that with some guy you don't know over your clone?" Danny blinked, brain crashing. If he could have just had a sleep over with Dani and avoided all of this... certain ghosts were going to get banished from the Infinite Realm. "Didn't think of that did you?" Jason snickered suddenly and Danny just groaned again. "No.... She's like my sister, i just completely wrote it off." He was going to die... again. This time of embarrassment. Jason laughed softly, the sound not used very often these days. "I mean, i guess i get that. Some times things are easier when you're family isn't involved." "You can say that again..." Danny muttered. Jason leaned back on his spot on the couch, watching Danny with something like amusement in his eyes. He was...so different without the tainted ectoplasm gnawing on his soul. He was finally relaxing. "Well, your Majesty. Would this get me a favor with the king?" Danny's blush stretched down his neck. "Don't call me that. It's too weird." "Nope." Jason was grinning now. "Too much fun. You are way too easy to fluster for a guy that just popped up to ask for sex." "That's not-...!..." Danny winced. "I mean you said no, so that's that." "Changing my mind." Jason said instead, attuned to Danny's look of surprise. Ah, fuck he was definitely able to read Danny now. "Besides. "I have a hundred questions, remember? I'm sure we can mange between rounds." "Rounds?" Danny mouthed the word but no sound came out. Okay, it wasn't a big deal if his heart stopped beating but he was pretty sure it just did. Yeah, it stopped. "O..okay." He attempted, but it just seemed to endear him more as Jason moved again, his time leaning closer. Okay, hot guy in his personal space, he could handle this. It was why he was here.   Jason tugged on Danny’s hair. “It changes. Black to white. That’s cool. Kinda wanna see it more.”

Okay, hot guy in his personal space, he could not handle this. “It uh..yeah. Does that. Alive verses dead i guess. I’ll show you once your ectoplasm is worked out. I don’t see why you wouldn’t gain abilities too once your core is sorted out.”  “You really love to say words without context, don’t you?” Jason said and his amusement was loud.  “I guess... i get ahead of myself.” Danny muttered, unable to make eye contact as Jason slid closer. This was not his first kiss. What was going on with him?  "It’s alright, i’m a quick learner. Besides, i really want to say thank you for you clearing my mind, even if it is temporary." Jason muttered. He’d been screaming for help but no one had ever heard him before.  "We will get that fixed." Danny promised, voice just as quiet. "First thing tomorrow, if you want." "Second thing." Jason said, reaching out to cup Danny's cheek this time before drawing him closer to kiss. Danny didn't think you could see stars in Gotham but he was sure seeing them now. ~~~~  ~~~~

I kinda wonder who’s going to tell Danny he just found a consort. My money’s on Frostbite....  ...As for who tell’s Jason?....That’s Dani barging in to meet her new brother in law  Hope you enjoyed this, feel free to add whatever you want.

Master List 

[flamingpudding]

Fictober23 Prompt: 29 - "That's all? Easy."

Fandom: DPxDC

Rating: G

Warnings: -

A/N: I sometimes like to headcannon that Danny is actually a rich kid that doesn't live the rich kid style cause his parents use their money for their research and like to live a simple life. He goes to galas Vlad or Sam drag him to as his parents representative.

Damian had been prepared for another boring Gala to go through. His elder siblings as well as Pennyworth had made sure to take away any sharp blade he had on him beforehand. With the blades gone Damian refused to socialize with high society. What was the point in enduring the torture of pinched cheeks and repeating comments with double meanings and hidden insults as well as the 'boot' lickers, as one of his brothers liked to put it, when he wasn't allowed to return the favor these people were giving him with a quick blade swipe.

So Damian was hanging back, retreating to the corners and shadows of the room where people aside from his family wouldn't notice him. But being there gave him the chance to notice something else. At first Damian didn't think much of it but with the minutes passing he noticed it more and more.

Small colorful page markers.

He started tracking them. Eyes going from person to person as he scanned them for these markers. Always in spots and placements oneself wouldn't notice them on their own as well as by others around them. Sometimes they were even Color matched with the person's outfit.

Damian scanned the hall and his eyes landed on a teenager, younger than Drake but older than him. The other boy was gliding through the people seemingly effortlessly and unnoticed towards the snack table. Once there the teen appeared to be interested in what sort of food the gala was offering.

His eyes narrowed as he eyed the people the teen had passed.

A blue marker by the belt loop of an older gentleman.

Red marker on the purse of the lady dressed in purple.

Green marker on another man's vest.

He was sure these markers weren't on them before. Interesting, he missed before moving towards the teenager by the snack table. The boy by now had piled up one of the small plates high with some of the overhead foods and Damian first felt reminded of everting Todd went to a gala and immediately would go for the foods.

"You are quite sneaky." He spoke up after waiting somewhat politely for the other to acknowledge his presence. Which never happened even after five minutes and Damian having clearly seen the other looking at him from his corner of the eye.

"Oh, what do you mean?" The teen then said after swallowing a bite of food.

"I presume the page markers are what you're doing?"

"Damit, not even an hour in and I am already busted." The teenager muttered and Damian arched an eyebrow. "Look, I don't know whose rich kid you are but will stop as long as you don't tell the fruitloop. I am here to represent my parents and if this fruitloop hears I am playing the game Sam invented for these galas he will-"

"I believe you misunderstood my intention." Damian smirked as he held out a hand. "My family found it adequate to take my blades. So I want in on this 'game' you are playing."

The teenager blinked at Damian before a grin spread across his face. He hurriedly placed his plate on the table before rummaging around in one of his pockets."Well that is a nice change! Your not a stuck up like the other kids here."

A block of green, red and blue page markers were then placed in Damians held out hand. "I am Danny Fenton by the way, representative of Fentonworks."

"Damian Wayne." He answered out of reflex as he inspected the page markers given to him, uncaring if the teen would now start fawning over his last name like he had seen others do before.

"Cool. So want to make it more interesting? This is more fun in a two player setting then one player." Damian inclined his head, not letting the surprise of the other teens lack of reaction towards his name show. Well it looked like Daniel, because what else got the name Danny stand for, would be nice company for this gala.

"Let's make specific targets for each other, maybe even placements. Sam always dares me to do specific things. If one of us gets caught is an automatic loss, the one with the highest successful placements at the end of this gala is the winner."

He smirked. Daniel had no chance, a game like this was easy for him. This was going to be an easy win. His league training as well as the training his father had made him go through was going to give him a clear advantage. He was playing with the thought of giving Daniel a chance by not using certain skills but after the first three targets, Damian decided that that would be unnecessary.

The gala went by faster, the two pointing out specific people or placements of the marketers to each other. They both had surprisingly their fair share of failures as well as success. In the end they both had a draw and were on their last page marker to place.

"This is going to be the final decision between, win, loss or draw." Daniel hyped up the game and Damian shook his head lightly at the others foolishness that reminded him of Jon.

"Well then, it would be only right to select the most difficult targets for each other."

"Well if that's the case, see the guy over there, the one with gray hair and a ponytail? That's the fruitloop. Place your last marker right to the left on his lower back, where his jacket covers over his belt."

Damian arched an eyebrow but the teen only grinned. He smirked if the other wanted to make it apparently difficult then Damian could provide him with a real challenge. "For you target, my father is currently talking to this 'fruitloop' as you call him. Place the marker on his back on his left shoulder blade."

Daniel would not be able to so, his father was vigilant and despite his act, very aware of his surroundings. His newly made gala acquaintance would fail and Damian would be the winner of this game.

"That's all? Easy."

The two boy's started to move towards the two adults. They shared one last glance before splitting up slightly in two different directions to approach their targets. Damian was close, his steps silent as he neared his target the 'fruitloop'. The page marker was tagged to the tip of one of his fingers. Once he was close enough he would be able to place it without even having to get too close.

His father noticed him and Damian gave him a polite smile as he moved like he was going to pass the man in his way towards his father. He did however not anticipate for his target to place his hand on the hip obscuring his target placement. Damian's hand instantly hid his hand behind his back transferring the page tag to his other hand and unconsciously clicked his tongue. He would have to try again.

"Fruitloop! Who are you talking to?!" He heard Daniel shout out of nowhere suddenly, his head wiping around to see the other clapping his hand on his fathers shoulder. The shoulder where he had told the other to place the marker. Damian ground his teeth. He was not going to accept a loss here.

"Daniel! Where are your manners?! This is Bruce Wayne. CEO of Wayne Enterprise. I am so sorry Mr.Wayne."

"No worries Mr.Masters. He is just like how my sons were at his age. It is good for teens to be so full of energy."

Damian narrowed his eyes as the other teen gave him a peace sign and mouthed the words 'I won.' As the adults returned to their discussion Damian glared at Daniel, his last page tag crumpled in his hand, he switched to stand on his fathers other side so that he was next to the teen now.

"I demand a rematch." He hissed agitated, to which Daniel only grinned wider. "Sure. The next time we see each other at a gala again. I will have two packs ready for our rematch."

Later that night when Damian had returned home from the Gala, he took off his jacket only to notice something green peaking through the folds of it. As he lifted it to inspect where the Color on it game from his eyes narrowed and his grip on the jacket tightened. On his jacked he found several green page markers tagged on it one of them even had a little ghost drawn on it. "Well played Fenton, well played."

[picturejasper20]

Do you have any good Danny and Vlad fics you can recommend to the viewers at home? 👻🎤

That depends on the story you are looking for but i would recommend:

-Seeing is Disbelieving: ¨Caught in the crossfire between Time and Existence, Danny and Vlad are forced to face the Master of Time, the Defenders of Existence, a new Enforcer, and, ultimately, extinction. ¨

These Cold Days trilogy: ¨After tragedy befalls Amity Park, an injured Danny and his friends must flee with authorities snapping at their heels. As Sam and Tucker try to protect their suffering friend from ghost hunters and himself, they begin to worry why Danny is hiding the truth from them. Why the Fruitloop is madly trying to contact him. And what truly happened in Amity Park...¨ -Miasma: ¨When Freakshow is broken out of prison, he teams up with Walker to repair the shattered scepter that grants the wielder the ability to control ghosts. Together, the two form a diabolical plan and agree to go after the one ghost who has ruined both of their lives¨ -The Crossroads Betwixt Life and Death: ¨Takes place instead of Phantom Planet. Danny is left alone after a 'Nasty' explosion and it's up to Vlad Masters to help the lonely ghost boy pick up the pieces and move on. But along the way, they find themselves entangled in a mysterious plot which could destroy all they have left.¨- TUE timeline AU

I would also recommend reading other stories from History101, they are one of the best writers i have seen when it comes to Vlad and badger cereal.

-Protection: Danny and Vlad are on the run from the GIW and they have to work together to survive and getting captured.

-Second Chance: ¨After an intense battle Danny finally receives the chance he's been waiting for. Remembering a valuable lesson from the past, the young half-ghost confronts Vlad Plasmius once more. But what exactly is our hero trying to achieve with his actions?¨ (One-shot)

How to Mentor a Troubled Ghost Child: Takes place after Bitter Reunions. AU- Vlad tries to be a good mentor to Danny instead of becoming his enemy. One of the best badger cereal fics you can find.

Survival of the Fittest: ¨When Danny and Vlad are fighting in the Ghost Zone, they accidentally go through a portal to the human world... one that leads to the middle of nowhere. They later try to learn who was behind sending them there. Takes place after Eye for an Eye.¨

Playing with Fire: ¨Danny knew something was up when in the dead of night he saves the distressed spirit of a phoenix from being captured by the Guys in White. However, what he didn't know was that by doing so, he was in for one heck of a ride… Now the ghost of some sorcerer has abducted his friends and he's stuck in yet another forest with a certain fruit loop..¨ -Sequel to Survival of the Fittest

Shattered Identity: ¨ Vlad has been shot with a weapon that breaks him down to his very core, more specifically, his ghost core. But before Maddie can shoot Danny with the same weapon, he saves the core and flies off, stuck with making sure he stays safe despite his conflicting feelings about it and tries to keep it from breaking despite not knowing what will reemerge from the unstable core. But as Vlad finally reforms, both of them realize that the core fiasco was just the beginning of a new disaster.¨ Written by mutual Hello-I'm-Not-A-Possum

Paradigm Shift: ¨Danny is snapped out of his dream by Vlad of all people, seeking his help to defeat Nocturne. Though they succeed, Nocturne’s latest scheme sets off a chain of unforeseen consequences that lead toward a future even Clockwork cannot see. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance Danny must face one of the most difficult foes of all: his fellow humans, and the tangled messes they weave with one another.¨ This one is more about Jack and Vlad but it has parts about Danny and Vlad. Written by mutual KuzAnn

[darksturnz]

ECHOES OF LIGHT

CONTENTS:・fluff-heavy plot ・ star!reader ・fruity behavior again・bambi!madison・mentions of church (kinda not really!) ・substance use + more WC: 3K

no like you have to listen to this one AFTER the italics😿

The trailer door slammed open, the echo of the impact rattling the thin walls of the small space. Danny stumbled inside, the weight of the late hour and too much cheap whiskey heavy on his every movement. His boots dragged across the floor, leaving scuff marks in their wake as he muttered curses under his breath. The stale smell of alcohol and cigarettes clung to him, mixing with the oppressive silence of the trailer—a silence that seemed to amplify the weight of his bubbling anger.

He scanned the dimly lit kitchen, his bloodshot eyes catching on the empty countertop and the unlit stove. No dinner, no Star. His jaw clenched, the frustration blooming into full-blown rage as he kicked the side of a chair, the clatter breaking the quiet. “Ungrateful little shit,” he hissed, slurring the words together. “Can’t even do the basics, can she? Out runnin’ around like she’s got no damn responsibilities.”

He staggered toward the hallway, the flickering bulb above casting uneven light on the worn floorboards. His movements were uneven, his balance precarious as his shoulder bumped against the wall. “Don’t give a damn about no one but herself,” he muttered, a sneer twisting his face. Each step closer to Star’s room fed the fire of his anger, his mind already crafting a list of her supposed failures.

When he reached her door, he shoved it open without knocking, the old hinges creaking in protest. The sight inside gave him pause—not for long, but long enough to let a flicker of something other than anger cross his features. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the trailer, a small sanctuary filled with the scent of plums and mango. It was uniquely hers, a blend of moody, dark tones with tiny sentimental touches. Posters covered the walls, and string lights looped around the ceiling. The little glowing stars they had stuck up there years ago still clung stubbornly to the surface, a faint reminder of a time long past.

Danny’s gaze lingered on the stars for a moment, his mind flicking to Grace and the hours they had spent arguing over how to get them to stick just right. The memory was a brief, unwelcome intrusion, and he shook it off, his anger swallowing the nostalgia whole.

“Think you’re better than me, huh? Better than this place?” he spat under his breath, as if Star were standing there to hear him. The bitterness in his voice reverberated off the walls as he began rifling through her belongings. His hands were rough, careless, pulling at her clothes, shoving items aside without purpose. He wasn’t looking for anything—he just wanted to disrupt, to vent his frustration in the only way he knew how.

His attention shifted to the window, cracked open slightly to let in the crisp night air. He stumbled toward it, muttering under his breath. “Fucking idiot,” he grumbled, slamming it shut with a loud thud that shook the frame. “Heating bill’s gonna be through the roof. S’not like she gives a damn.”

In his drunken clumsiness, his knee collided with the edge of the dresser. A loud thud echoed in the room as a small pile of items tumbled to the floor—a jewelry dish, a couple of notebooks, and a folded piece of paper. The drawing Chris had left the night before fluttered down, light as a feather, sliding behind the dresser and disappearing into the shadows.

Danny barely noticed, too preoccupied with his own muttered complaints. Satisfied with the misplaced tirade, he turned and stumbled out, slamming the door behind him. The once-cozy sanctuary was left in disarray—Star’s belongings scattered, the scent of mango and plum now mixed with the stale air of his intrusion.

The trailer fell silent again, the chaos he’d left behind a stark contrast to the stillness. And the drawing, a quiet plea folded into a forgotten piece of paper, lay hidden in the dark, waiting to be found.

Madison sat cross-legged on the floor of her bedroom, a clutter of makeup brushes and compacts scattered around her. The warm golden glow from the lamp on her dresser cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the soft ivory of her sweater and the plaid skirt she’d carefully chosen earlier. Her Bible sat forgotten on the bed next to a notebook filled with scribbled notes for church meetings. Tonight wasn’t about scripture or planning; it was about showing up, looking presentable, and being the dutiful daughter of Pine View’s sheriff and mayor.

Star, on the other hand, was sprawled on Madison’s window seat, her back against the wall, one leg pulled up while the other dangled lazily. She held a well-worn copy of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path in one hand, the pages dog-eared and smudged with fingerprints. In her other hand, a joint rested loosely between her fingers, the smoke curling upward and drifting out the cracked window. The faint hum of cicadas filtered in, blending with the low music playing from Madison’s Bluetooth speaker.

“I hate everything I brought,” Star muttered, not looking up from her book as she exhaled a lazy plume of smoke. The words were heavy with frustration, and Madison glanced at her through the mirror, biting back a smile.

“You’ve said that about six times now, check my closet” Madison replied, carefully brushing blush onto her cheeks. She tried to keep her tone light, but the corners of her lips twitched. Watching Star pout and grumble was always strangely endearing.

Star finally lowered the book, tossing it onto the seat beside her before swinging her legs over and standing. She stretched, her hoodie riding up slightly to reveal a sliver of skin, and Madison’s brush faltered for a moment. She swallowed hard and forced herself to refocus on her reflection, even as her gaze darted back to Star through the mirror.

“You don’t get it,” Star said, pulling her hoodie over her head in one fluid motion. She stood there in her sports bra and jeans, her hair a wild mess from the sweater. “Everything I own is either too dark, too tight, or too depressing for whatever this church thing is supposed to be.”

Madison tried to respond, but the words caught in her throat. Her hands stilled on her makeup brush as her eyes lingered on Star’s reflection. The soft curve of her shoulders, the faint shadows of her collarbones, the way her hair tumbled down in uneven waves—it was all so… distracting. Madison’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down, pretending to fidget with her lipstick.

“Not sure why I care,” Star continued, oblivious to Madison’s sudden discomfort. She rifled through Madison’s closet, her movements sharp and frustrated. “S’not like anyone’s gonna say anything.”

“I’ll notice,” Madison said before she could stop herself. Her voice was quiet, almost too soft to be heard, and she felt a flicker of panic as soon as the words left her mouth. She quickly added, “And for the record, you look good in anything.”

Star glanced over her shoulder, a grin tugging at her lips. “That’s cute, Mads, but not very helpful.” She pulled out a black cardigan dress and held it up to her body. “What about this? Or is it too funeral-y?”

Madison turned her attention back to the mirror, pretending to focus on her eyeliner. But when she saw Star holding the dress in the reflection, her breath hitched. The soft black fabric hugged Star’s figure perfectly, and Madison’s stomach flipped in a way that felt both thrilling and terrifying.

“S’perfect,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She hoped Star wouldn’t notice the faint tremor in her words.

Star grinned, tossing the dress onto the bed before turning back to the closet to grab her boots. Madison let out a quiet sigh of relief, her hands trembling slightly as she capped her eyeliner. She told herself it was nothing—just a passing thought, a moment of admiration for her best friend. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t that simple.

The church courtyard was strung with soft yellow lights, the glow illuminating the clusters of townsfolk mingling beneath them. Tables were set up with trays of cookies and cupcakes, and a small speaker played country music in the background. It was a modest event, but the kind of thing Pine View thrived on—simple, familiar, and filled with faces that all knew each other.

Madison’s parents were already in the thick of it, her father shaking hands with other men in uniform while her mother chatted with the local pastor. Madison and Star slipped in quietly, doing their best to avoid drawing too much attention.

“This is… a lot,” Star muttered, sticking close to Madison’s side. Her black cardigan dress and platform boots made her stand out among the sea of pastel dresses and khaki slacks, but Madison thought she looked perfect.

“It’s not so bad,” Madison said, though she could feel the tension in Star’s posture. “We’ll just grab some cupcakes, pretend to care about small talk, and then bail.”

Star’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

They wandered to the dessert table, where Star immediately grabbed one of the cupcakes and made a face. “This tastes like disappointment.”

Madison laughed, the sound light and genuine. “It’s made by the church ladies. What did you expect?”

After an hour of obligatory small talk and polite smiles, Star tugged on Madison’s sleeve. “Y’wanna ditch?”

Madison hesitated, glancing around the courtyard. But when she saw the hopeful glint in Star’s eyes, she relented. “Fine. But only for a little while.”

Star grinned and led the way to the small garden behind the church. The space was quiet and dimly lit, the string lights from the courtyard casting faint shadows across the benches and flowerbeds. Star flopped onto one of the benches, pulling a fresh joint from her bag and lighting it with practiced ease.

“You’re crazy,” Madison said, sitting beside her. “We’re at a church, Star.”

Star exhaled a soft plume of smoke, her grin playful. “S’not like I’m lighting it in the sanctuary.” She held the joint out to Madison, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “C’mon. Live a little bambi.”

Madison hesitated, her cheeks flushing at the stupid nickname. “You’re terrible.”

“And you love me,” Star teased, her voice warm and teasing.

Madison’s heart skipped a beat, but she forced a laugh and took the joint, coughing on her first drag as Star laughed beside her.

Star eventually lays back, resting her head in Madison’s lap as she stared up at the sky. “Did you know the light from those stars is already dead?” she murmured. “It’s just… echoes.”

Madison nods softly, “mhm, you’ve mentioned it only a few times” she says playfully as her fingers brushed through Star’s hair, her gaze lingering on the curve of her lips as Star continued to ramble about constellations. The warmth of the moment settled over them like a blanket, and Madison felt her chest tighten.

She leaned down slightly, her breath catching as her lips hovered before pressing a soft kiss to Star’s cheek.

Star blinked, her gaze shifting to Madison with a soft, confused smile. “What was that for?”

Madison shrugged, trying to hide her blush. “I dunno. You just looked like you needed one.”

Star’s smile lingered, but she didn’t press. Instead, she settled back into Madison’s lap, her voice soft as she pointed out another constellation.

Madison’s heart raced, but for now, she let herself enjoy the moment, the quiet realization settling over her like the stars above.

The quiet of the church garden wrapped around them, the distant hum of voices from the courtyard blending into the symphony of crickets and rustling leaves. Madison’s fingers twitched slightly as they brushed against Star’s hair, her heartbeat loud and uneven in her chest.

Star lay still in Madison’s lap, her body relaxed, but her gaze flickered with life as she stared at the stars above. Her lips parted slightly, and she let out a breathy laugh that seemed to echo in the stillness.

“What’s so funny?” Madison asked, her voice soft and curious, her hand pausing mid-stroke through Star’s hair.

“I dunno,” Star admitted, turning her head slightly to meet Madison’s eyes. The motion caused her cheek to rest against Madison’s leg, the warmth of her skin seeping through the fabric of Madison’s skirt. “I just… it feels nice, y’know? Being out here, quiet. With you.”

Madison nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on Star’s face as her own cheeks started to heat up. “Yeah,” she murmured. “It does.”

Star shifted slightly, her expression softening as she turned back to the sky. “Sometimes, I think about what it’d be like to just… float up there,” she said, her voice dreamy and distant. “Like, if you could just let go of everything and let the stars pull you in. It’d probably be cold as hell, but at least you wouldn’t have to think so much.”

Madison’s chest tightened, a faint ache blooming there. She didn’t say anything at first, just let her fingers trail absently along the ends of Star’s hair, her thoughts swirling. She hated how much Star carried, how heavy her life seemed to weigh on her, and yet… she admired her for still being here, for still smiling and laughing even when it hurt.

“You don’t have to do it alone, you know,” Madison said quietly, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Star blinked, her brows furrowing slightly as she glanced back up at Madison. “Do what alone?”

“Everything,” Madison replied, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves. She cleared her throat, her fingers stilling in Star’s hair. “I just mean… I don’t know. You’re always dealing with so much—your dad, Chris, your mom—and you act like you’ve got it all under control, but you don’t have to. I’m here, Star. I’m always here.”

Star’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but no words came. Instead, she sat up slowly, her gaze searching Madison’s face. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the air between them heavy with unspoken things.

“Madison…” Star began, her voice hesitant, but then she stopped, biting her lip. She looked down, her fingers picking at the hem of her cardigan. “I don’t even know how to let people help. Every time I try, it feels like I just mess it up.”

“You don’t mess anything up,” Madison said firmly, her voice steadier now. “You’re just… you. And that’s enough. That’s always enough.”

Star looked up at her again, her eyes wide and glistening in the dim light. For a second, Madison thought she might cry, but then Star let out a shaky laugh, her shoulders relaxing.

“You’re so cheesy,” Star said, but her tone was soft, almost affectionate. “If this is your way of getting me to come to all of these stupid things, it’s working.”

Madison laughed, the sound light and genuine, and the tension between them seemed to ease. Star leaned back, her head finding its way to Madison’s lap once more, and Madison let out a small breath of relief. Her fingers resumed their gentle path through Star’s hair, and Star closed her eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

The courtyard was emptier now, most of the families having left while a few stragglers lingered near the dessert table. Madison and Star walked side by side, their arms brushing occasionally as they made their way back toward the main event. Madison’s cheeks still burned faintly from the kiss on Star’s cheek, but Star didn’t seem to notice—or if she did, she wasn’t saying anything.

“You’re lucky this thing wasn’t a total drag,” Star said, her voice light. “I mean, sure, the cupcakes tasted like sadness, but I guess the company was alright.”

Madison rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. “Glad I could make your night bearable.”

“Barely,” Star teased, nudging Madison’s arm with her elbow. But her smile softened, and for a moment, she looked at Madison with an expression that made Madison’s heart stutter.

“Thanks,” Star said quietly. “For, y’know… everything.”

Madison’s throat tightened, and she nodded, unable to trust her voice. She wanted to say something—something meaningful, something that would let Star know just how much she meant to her—but the words stayed stuck, tangled in the mess of her feelings.

By the time they got back to Madison’s house, Star was yawning, her eyelids heavy as she kicked off her boots and flopped onto Madison’s bed without a second thought. Madison smiled softly, watching as Star burrowed into the blankets, her messy hair fanning out around her. Comet hopped up onto the bed and curled up near Star’s neck, purring contentedly.

Madison changed into her pajamas quietly, her thoughts a whirl of emotions she didn’t know how to process. When she finally slid into bed beside Star, careful not to disturb her, she lay there staring at the ceiling, her heart racing.

Star’s breathing was soft and even, her presence warm and steady beside Madison. It was both comforting and overwhelming, and Madison couldn’t help but glance over at her, her gaze lingering on the curve of Star’s lips.

The thought came unbidden, sharp and undeniable, and Madison’s chest ached with the weight of it. She didn’t know what to do with the feeling, didn’t know if she even could do anything with it. It was terrifying and wonderful all at once. But as she turned her gaze back to the ceiling and closed her eyes, she let herself hold onto it, just for tonight.

I love her.

AUTHORS NOTE: sorry for ignoring all your ask…as you can see there was a reason why😅😅😅 ANYWAYS WOO GAY MADISON WOO

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