#Danny refuses to go to any hospital

[nelkcats]

Phantom Fever

When Danny left Amity he was pretty sure it would be a quick trip. He wasn't expecting a few days' visit to Gotham to check some annoying "co-workers" of Vlad's, a gala and a serious case of fever.

Being fair, Danny didn't know that ghosts could get sick, or how much damage this could do. His powers went completely haywire, activating and deactivating in the middle of the street, and it was only thanks to Vlad that he was able to come up with an excuse or two.

Vlad obviously didn't expect him to get sick either, if his disgusted face was anything to go by. The two had a truce of sorts but it was obvious they were only on friendly terms thanks to Jack Fenton.

Danny didn't feel like locking himself in a room and drinking soup. He wanted to call Frostbite, but he was too far away from the Realms, and the halfa refused to let Vlad check on him.

So he ended up on the streets of Gotham, spreading early winter and ice stalagmites in his wake. It was just luck that Vlad found him before the bats, who were obviously interested in the new development. Danny wondered how he was supposed to attend the gala in those conditions.

[im-totally-not-an-alien-2]

Halloween prompts year 2 day 26

Robins look of utter rage fills Danny with adrenaline as he puts the petal to the metal to escape the stabby birds vengeance.

Danny wasn't too worried, after all the car he stole was the Batmobile and he was pretty sure Boy Wonder couldn't hurt the car without being grounded or something.

Whatever. He didn't really even plan to keep the car anyway.

He just needed a way to get them to Amity. Sam and a few other kids had gone missing after she lead a protest against the GIW over the anyi-ecto acts and thier treatment of ghosts and Tucker disappeared a few days later after he got back hacked while trying to find where they took her.

Danny wasn't stupid enough to go in as either Fenton or Ancients forbid, Phantom so he needed help. Unfortunately his track record for asking for help usually ended with him being talked over, talked down to, ridiculed, ignored, ect. So naturally he had to take things into his own hands as usual.

Thus stealing the Batmobile and doing the metaphorical equivalent or hitting a bat flavored hornets nest with a stick and hoping he doesn't die the rest of the way.

He is from the Midwest and this situation was awkward enough to activate his hospitality instincts so he offers to take music requests over the com lines (much to Red Robins bafflement). They of course have noticed a lack of Oracles involvement by this point and Danny informs them of his heavily modified Amazon fire stick and that he used it to not only knock Oracle out of the game -mostly to keep her from hacking into the batmobile and giving him a one way ticket to juvie- but also give him what was pretty much an hologram version of an instruction booklet for the fancy car hes driving.

Yeah, he doesn't know any of the bypass or security codes, but now he doesn't have to wonder that all the buttons do...and if they'll eject him.

Eventually they make it out of Gotham, the bats are miffed and tired. The sun is coming up and the fuzzy fighters break off to return to thier city.

They're likely going to use the trackers in the vehicle to find it once Danny parks so they don't end up chasing him all over the continent.

Good. All according to plan.

Except he waits a day after returning to Amity and hiding the car.

Then two.

Then four pass by without so much as a wing beat.

After five days Danny decides he can't wait anymore and goes back to Gotham to steal more bat themed items. That jet looked rather nice...

In the meantime the bats are flummoxed as to why they can't find this kid

Turns out large amounts of ecto radiation renders most tracking useless. Who knew?

Eventually Danny has a whole collection of expensive bat things and he, on the verge of a breakdown, drives back to Gotham in the GAV (bear in mind hes 14 and has no license throughout all of this) uses the GAV to kidnap Bruce Wayne. He apologizes profusely but explains the situation and that he really needs Batmans help but he seems to be refusing to get involved. So naturally he has to kidnap his sugar daddy to force his hand.

[decentwritings]

Chapter 4

Summary: You’re unable to grasp the luck you have. You were raised to run from danger, to go the opposite direction of bad influences. So when you somehow find yourself right in the center of it, you discover that running wasn’t exactly what you were taught. It only took GhostFace and a pretty girl to remember that.

previous part <- -> next part

Danny paces back and force, hands over his head as he waits for any sign of anyone coming out of the building. Sam watches from a distance, being checked by the paramedics for any sign of injury.

The sun is rising, a glow in the sky that should signal hope but instead it reminds all of them the start of a new day, with the same problems from the night before. It feels like hours until he spots an officer coming out, alone. His blood goes cold, his heart thumping faster against his chest with every second that ticks by without a single sight of you.

"We got one!" Another officer shouts as he makes his way out of the building. He's helping you walk, with a lot of struggle. "They're refusing help." he shouts with a grunt.

Danny rushes over to take over for the officer. When he grabs ahold of you, he feels a huge weight lifted off him. He hears your refusals to get help but ignores you, dragging you to the free paramedics.

"I'm fine," you slur, waving your uninjured hand dismissively. The paramedic puts a cuff around your arm and you look at her, fascination and recognition on your face. "Ahh, Lauren! How have you been?" you ask, fighting the force behind your eyes.

The paramedic, Lauren, glances at your cousin as she takes a listen to your heart. "Let's worry about you, Y/N, okay?" she says, then begins to take your blood pressure.

You nod silently, looking over at Danny. "Is everyone okay?" you ask, concern filling your tired eyes. You grimace when Lauren grabs your injured hand.

Danny's eyes are threatening to spill tears but he chuckles, despite himself. "Everyone's fine," he shakes his head, unable to believe how hurt you are but worrying about others. "Alive, thanks to you."

You try to wave your hand, dismissing the compliment.

Lauren begins to wrap your hand after cleaning the wound. You grimace again, clenching your jaw at the pain.

"How do you know each other?" Danny asks when silence envelopes them.

Lauren waits for you to answer but you remain silent, watching her do her work. "We cross paths at work," she answers, and you hum in agreement. "They annoy the crap out of me and other paramedics when they aren't actually working."

"She flirts with me, all the time," you add.

"I do not," Lauren deadpans, giving your cousin a knowing glance. He nods in understanding, he knows how you are.

A second later, a short figure appears beside Danny. You think you're dreaming, but no, it's Tara. She's watching Lauren clean the cut on your abdomen carefully, and sees the way you grit your teeth to prevent yourself from displaying pain.

Once Lauren is done, she covers the cut with a large bandage. She grabs a computer and starts to type away. "You lost some blood, so I'd like to take you to the hospital," she tells you, though she looks at Danny since she knows you're incapable of absorbing anything right now.

Danny nods but you intervene.

"I'm good," you respond, blinking slowly. You shake your head, hoping it rids the drowsiness. It doesn't.

"Y/N, you need to go to the hospital," Lauren urges, staring at you sympathetically.

You shake your head again, more forcefully this time. "I don't need a hospital. I just need some juice and I'll be good," your voice wavers slightly, betraying the weakness you're trying so hard to conceal. You smack your lips. "I could really go for a Long Island Sweet Tea."

Lauren exchanges a glance with Danny.

In the distance, you spot Ethan making his way towards the scene. The pain in your abdomen and hand cease as you stand and stalk over to boy.

Danny and Tara exchange glances before they follow after you.

"Hey!" You shout after him, walking with a slight stumble. Ethan's face contorts into one of confusion before his eyes widen. You manage to push him against a car, jaw tight as you glare at him intensely. "You piece of shit, you tried to kill me!"

Danny rushes over as you slam the boy again, trying to get something more of a reaction. Blood begins to seep through the bandage on your hand, but you don't care much for it. His hand hovers over your shoulder, hesitating, because he knows you have every right to suspect Ethan but you are not in the right state of mind.

"Y/N, calm down," Danny urges, voice strained with worry. He knows adrenaline has kicked in, but the consequences when it goes away is what he's worried about.

Sam joins when she sees her sister reaching for you. "Hey," your eyes glance at Tara but your hold on the boy remains firm. "This isn't the time, you're hurt."

Ethan looks between all of them, even travels over to Chad standing a few feet behind. By the look on his face, he's sure he would have pulled the same stunt had you not done it first.

For a moment, you falter. The pain that was dulled by your rage creeps back in, gnawing at your abdomen and hand. You sway slightly, your strength ebbing away with each passing second. But just before you release him, you tighten your grip on his shirt and push him against the car once again, harsher than before.

Ethan grunts, holding the back of his head. You take a step back, slow and deliberate, eyes narrowed at him. The pain lingers, but you don't let it show even as Tara tugs you over, away from Ethan.

Chad nearly shoves you aside, pushing Ethan back into the same position. "They make a good point," the boy grunts under Chad stronger, tighter grip, "where were you? You were the only one gone and then my sister nearly dies!"

Ethan winces as Chad's grip tightens on his collar, eyes darting nervously between everyone around him. "I had Econ, you know this!" His voice cracks, but there's something off about the way he says it, like he's scrambling to pull together a story that no one is buying. He glances at all the eyes watching him, he feels caught. "I was in a lecture hall with a hundred other people, ask any of them!" he throws out.

Then, a gurney passes by with a white sheet covering a body.

Ethan's eyes widen. "Oh my god, who–"

"Quinn," Chad shoves him one more time, enlarging the bump on the back of his head. He clenches his jaw, finding some self control to walk away from the boy. Instead, he returns to his sister's side, helping her girlfriend console her.

Ethan attempts to go over to them, but Mindy sends him a glare. "Back the fuck up," she shouts, startling the paramedic caring for her. "You're at the top of my list."

Anika grabs her girlfriend's hand, wanting to calm her down.

"I had Econ!" Ethan shouts again, looking around all their faces.

Your eyes connect with his and for a moment he lets his shy and dorky act drop. A dark look crosses his face and you try to stand from where Tara shoved you down to sit, but she grips your arm to keep you in place.

Bailey is by the entrance of the building, still in disbelief of his daughter's death. Sam gestures to her sister, silently telling her to join her.

"Stay here, don't move," Tara orders you, eyes hard as you stare back at her with a blank expression. She rolls her eyes then walks off to join her sister, looking at Danny to warn him.

Danny nods and hurries to join you before you can make any moves. You hold your injured hand close to your chest, frowning as you look over at your cousin.

"You're not invincible," Danny tells you, shaking his head solemnly. He sighs. "I'm sorry I brought you into this. Especially with everything you've been going through. This is last thing you needed."

Your gaze travels to Tara, unable to put into words the feeling you get when you look at her. You force yourself to look away, looking to your cousin with a head shake. "I needed this," you tell him, aware of his confusion at your words. "I ran away when my dad was dying, avoided seeing him at every cost. I think about what I could have done differently, to help him...to save him."

Danny sees the distant look in your eyes, the gears turning in your head as you go over possibilities. "You're not a miracle worker, Y/N," he says, her tone soft to be sure he doesn't mean it differently. "Your dad knew you, and he knew if you could, you would have been there."

You catch sight of Gale in the corner of your eye, and you see her join the sisters and Detective Bailey.

"Yeah, well," you start, getting to your feet with less struggle than before. Danny still has his hands up, ready in case you need his help. "I can be there now, so I will be."

"Sam..." Danny starts, almost upset by what he's going to say. "They don't trust anyone. I told her to not even trust me."

Your neck snaps to look at him, glaring, because the thought of anyone distrusting your cousin angers you. "You can be trusted, Danny," you state firmly, but he shakes his head in answer. "You've saved them. You went out to search for them, knowing there was a psycho out there willing to kill you if you get in his way–you're the only one they should trust." you insist.

Tires screech as car comes to a rough stop, interrupting your conversation with your cousin. Kirby exits the car and sends you a small smile, nodding once, before she joins the group.

"Y/N," Danny sighs, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder. "It's not about what I've done. It's about what they've been through. Trust is earned, but trauma makes people question everything—even the ones closest to them. You can't take it personally."

You shift, the weight of his words sinking in, though they don't fully quell your frustration. "You're her boyfriend, and you have been put through un-boyfriend like things. You could have walked away–we could have walked away way before we got anymore involved, but we stayed." Danny's lack of response makes you continue. "Practically makes us family. I mean, blood was drawn." you gesture to your injured hand.

Danny shrugs, solemn, and looks down at the ground to avoid your eyes. "Sometimes, family is the hardest to trust."

The words feel like a slap to the face. You know he didn't mean any hurt but it still hit you hard. His words ring true, your mother's harsh words at your father's funeral echoing in your mind. She was emotional, you constantly remind yourself, and she's doing everything to make up for saying those words. Constant checkins, the random texts of expression of her love for you, and the sharing of old photos of when you were younger or an old family photo.

Still, your heart falls and tears form in your eyes. The feeling to crawl into your bed and hide away surfaces, but you force yourself to push it away because that is what got you into this mess. Into the emotional mess that you are in.

"Look," Danny says, breaking the silence between you. "I know you want to jump in, help, fix everything—but you need to take care of yourself first. You've been through hell tonight."

You shake your head, gaze now locked on the group. "I've been through worse," you mutter, though even you aren't convinced by your words.

Just before you can make another move, the sisters move away from the group and walk over to you two. You share a look with Danny just before they step in front of you.

"Gale has something to show us," Sam crosses her arms, appearing upset of having to inform you both.

"We think you guys should stay," Tara says, glancing at her sister. Sam nods in agreement, but remains quiet.

You scoff, opening your mouth to argue but Danny grips your shoulder, keeping you quiet.

"Just be safe," Danny says but his eyes remain on Sam. The older Carpenter nods, then taps her sister's arm before she walks away.

Tara sends one last smile at you before she turns. You glance at Danny, and he's walking away, probably struggling to go; wanting to go with Sam.

You hurry after Tara. "Hey, wait," you grab her hand, and that's when you see it. The scar on her hand, probably similar to the one you may have once your hand heals. She feels your stare, snatching her hand out of your grip.

"Sorry," you apologize, genuinely and try to avoid showing any pity. You hate when people give you the pity look, so you assume everyone else does too. You clear your throat. "Um, I just...I know I have no place to worry, but be careful."

Tara's eyes soften at your words, though her guard remains up. She looks down at her hand, flexing it slightly before meeting your gaze. "You don't have to worry about me," she says quietly, her voice measured but not unkind. "I can handle myself."

You nod, understanding her need to assert her strength, concern still remains within you. "Trust me, I know," you say, remembering the punch she hit Gale with. "But I just wanted to say it," you shrug.

Tara looks at you, and you feel like she's staring right at your soul. For a minute, you wish this was just a normal day and you bumped into her, so you can ask her out to get to know her. But no, this isn't a normal day.

You bite the inside of your cheek, suddenly nervous under her gaze. It makes sense now, what that feeling was earlier when you looked at her. Though, now you're even more upset, because you know you'll never be able to act on these feelings.

Tara bites her lip and takes small steps back, giving you a reassuring nod.

You watch her join her sister, unable to take your eyes off her as she walks away. There's a gnawing feeling and it feels terrible, but you shove it down. You force your feet to move, turning to leave with your cousin.

Danny invites you to stay at a hotel with him, but you tell him you need to check on your sister's dogs. Plus, you were in need of some puppy time after this awful event. He nods, doesn't like that you're going alone, but doesn't say it or show it.

"Besides, Remy's a pitbull and Blackie's a German Shepard," you add, shrugging as you continue your walk down the street. "Alex did a good job on training them. They're guard dogs," you mention your brother-in-law, knowing Danny knew of his determination to have those dogs well trained.

"Fine," Danny relents with a sigh, "but if anything suspicious occurs–I'm talking a trash can falls over, anything, call me. Got it?"

You salute him. With your bleeding hand. He frowns but doesn't hold you back, allowing you to walk away.

\\\\

After a long shower, you collapse on the guest bedroom's comforter. Lauren gave you extra bandages for your wounds since you denied the ride to the hospital again. She also threatened your life if you died and got her fired for it. So with that threat in mind, you did a decent job on trying to imitate the job she did earlier.

You grab a pillow and hug it tight against your chest. Soon, Remy and Blackie join you on the bed, practically shoving you off it.

"I'm regretting this decision," you mutter, patting Remy gently. He gets the hint and moves over a little. You readjust yourself, shutting your eyes and allow slumber to engulf you.

You hear Blackie's growl, awaking you from your sleep. You lift your head, looking around the room for anything. It's pitch dark and you aren't sure when you closed the blinds. Or if you even closed them.

Were they closed when you got here?

Remy stands on the bed, appearing defensive and you sit up cautiously. You look between the two dogs, noticing their defensive stance.

You stand, ordering them to stay as you do. They whine at your order and your suspicions are confirmed when they do. They want to defend you from the danger they feel coming, so you hurry out the room and close it behind you.

Any harm happens to those dogs and you're positive a wrath you're sure you have somewhere in you will be released.

You wander over to your brother-in-law's office, finding his autographed baseball bat hung on the wall. You snatch it off its display and stare at it.

You debate whether to use it as a weapon or not. You shrug dismissively.

"I'll get him another one," you mumble, resting the bat on your shoulder as you prepare your search of the house.

As you peek over each wall as you wander down the house's halls, you hear your phone ring in the kitchen. You had left it there charging, not wanting to search your sister's room for an extra charger.

Making your way to your phone, you're still vigilante, guard still up.

The ringing doesn't stop, not even after ten rings. You huff, unaware phones could ring for that long.

Taking your phone off the charger, you finally answer the phone. And wait.

"Hello, Y/N."

You roll your eyes, already tired of this conversation.

"Sup, Ethan," you greet in return and smirk at the silence. "So, what exactly goes on during these calls? Do we share secrets?"

Silence continues and you check to make sure he didn't hang up.

"Well, I got one," you continue after seeing the call remained connected. "I never really liked you. Yeah. Since the moment Anika introduced me to the group, you were just...I don't know, I just didn't like you," you shrug.

There's a pause on the other end of the phone, and you hear a shuffle then creak over the line. "This isn't a game, Y/N," he finally speaks, and you keep your eyes wandering around to avoid him surprising you. "I'll give you one chance...stay out of this and you won't get hurt; anymore."

You hear his words, you do. But all you can think about is, "I hear you, I really do..., but I also didn't hear you deny that you're Ethan." You stupidly laugh, angering the killer even more. "Yeah, I'm not staying out of this. You almost killed me!" You shout, anger resurfacing at the memory.

"Ten seconds," he says and you roll your eyes, exiting the kitchen, entering the living room. "Run, while you still can."

"What makes you think I'd run?" You scoff, tapping the end of the bat against your foot.

Pause. Another creak sounds.

"Because you run from people who need help," his words echo in your mind and you freeze in place, jaw tightening. You hear a sinister laugh, and it sends a chill down your spine. "Time's up."

Bless your sister and her need for a random mirror in her living room. You swiftly avoid the knife after catching sight of him through the mirror. You turn and swing the bat, dropping your phone on the ground.

GhostFace grabs the bat and rips it from your grip, snapping it in half.

"Hey!" You shout, irritated now.

He tilts his head, and you think you see amusement behind the mask. You take a few tentative steps back, creating some distance.

You see him begin to lunge, but you hold your hands up and shout, "Wait!"

He actually listens, freezing his arm in the air.

"Can we move this outside? My sister will kill me if I make a mess in her house," you say and he unfreezes, attempting to slash at you. You grab his wrist, holding it in place. "Fine! But I'm sending you the bill for everything you break." You snarl before shoving back.

Ghostface stumbles back, surprised at your sudden burst of strength. He tilts his head again, almost considering your words. There's a brief pause before he lets out a low, distorted chuckle. "You don't know when to quit, do you?" he hisses, his grip tightening on the knife.

The voice sounds weirder in person, you think.

You take another step back, keeping your eyes locked on his every move. "I've been told I'm stubborn," you shrug, focusing on his movements. You try to calculate his next move. "Is there usually this much talking during a fight in horror movies?"

He lunges again, ignoring your question, but this time you're ready. You sidestep him, shoving him toward the bookshelf. The shelves wobble, and a few books topple over, but you don't give him a chance to recover. You hear something shatter and you gasp.

"That was my sister's wedding portrait!"

Ghostface lets out a frustrated growl, clearly not expecting you to keep up the banter. He's quick, though, recovering faster than you'd hoped. You barely manage to duck when he swings the knife at you again.

"You talk too much," he snarls between slashes.

You dodge each slash, confusion crossing your face. "You were a lot faster last time," you comment, grabbing his wrist and knocking the knife out of his hand.

Mindy's words return to your memory. She used the term, "killers." Plural.

You're distracted and he uses it to his advantage, lunging at you, toppling you both over. You both crash into the front door, knocking it off its hinges. You manage to lift your arms to blow each of his blows, and you realize these punches are much lighter than the one you felt in Sam's apartment.

"Oh, so not Ethan," you murmur as you succumb some extra strength, kicking this GhostFace off you. You scramble back, feeling the deck under your hands. When you stand, you find the door on the floor. "Come on, man!" You exclaim, gesturing to the broken door.

GhostFace tilts their head, and slowly lifts the knife up to your eyesight. You raise your fists up, getting into an offensive stance. They dangle it in the air for a moment, as if taunting you.

You drop your fists, annoyed, your patience wearing thin. "Can we...please," you make a come here motion, and they take it as permission.

GhostFace charges at you, knife raised. You decide to take them head on, wanting to get close again. You don't why you haven't ripped the mask off yet.

You grab their arm just as the blade nears your neck, and, because you're focused on getting the mask off, you don't see their other hand raising. Your jaw aches and you get light headed for a moment. They get another hit, knocking you down, onto the grass.

It doesn't help you at all, and you take hits to the face twice before you see the glimmering blade of their knife. You stare at it and huff, this is what I get for being cocky, you think.

Then, you see a flash of blue and red. You think you're hallucinating for a second but when you tilt your head back to look, you see it. A chuckle escapes your lips.

"Ha, the cavalry has arrived!" You shout, then grunt when you feel a punch to your face again. You shake your head and lift your head to look around, but GhostFace disappeared. "How do they do that?" You let your head fall back, tired.

There's a plethora of shouts. One from the police, either saying to freeze or announcing their arrival. Then, you hear your name being shouted soon after.

From two different people. There's an outstretched hand in front of you moments later. Your cousin stands before you and you smile, chuckling at the irony that, once again, he's there to pick you up.

You grab his hand, using him as a crutch when you stumble slightly. He makes sure you're well enough before letting you go.

Tara's next to him, eyes filled with worry. You're beginning to hate yourself for making her worry so much. Sam isn't that far behind, and you offer them both a small, but reassuring, smile.

You look back at your sister's house and drop your head with a sigh. "My sister is gonna kill me," you mumble.

Danny pats your back carefully. "Let's get you checked out," he walks close to you as you make your way over to the paramedics.

The flashing reds and blues calms you a little, given that GhostFace appears scared of it. You settle on bumper of the ambulance, allowing the paramedic clean the cuts on your face.

Tara, Sam and Danny all silently watch as you get cared for, almost like they can't believe you made it out alive. It hits you then, along with the sting of your cuts being cleaned, you're alive.

You didn't run. Even when given the option to run.

"I didn't run," you say aloud, and it had a weird taste in your mouth. You notice them all give you looks of confusion. "I didn't run," you repeat to them.

Danny smiles, an actual smile that isn't one to reassure you. But a proud and happy smile.

You look between Tara and Sam, expression contorting into one of determination. "Whatever plan you guys have, I want in," you say, thanking the paramedic when she's done. You stand, more steady than before. "Once you're in, you're in, right?"

Tara and Sam share a look, small smiles on their lips. They look back at you, nodding.

"Okay," Sam says, extending her hand. "You're in then."

You see Tara's smile widen when you take Sam's hand in yours.

[bet-on-me-13]

Reincarnation AU but it's not Danny

So! In basically every single Reincarnation AU I've seen, it's always Danny who gets reincarnated as a DC character. Sometimes it's Jazz, other times it's his Friends, but it never really strays from them. And I think we've been ignoring some people...

The Ancients! Danny is always reincarnated as a "Vacation" from his Ghost King Duties, so why not give the same courtesy to the other Ancients?

Specifically, Fright Knight.

Fright Knight has been a loyal servant and Knight of his Master for Millenia. Ever since he first formed as the Autumn Spirit, the Embodiment of Fear, the Fright Knight, he had declared his Servitude to the Ghost King, whomever it may be at the time. And he stayed in that position, through the passing of the Crown, through the Violent Coups, through every single Ghost King who had taken to the mantle. He was their Loyal Knight. Never Wavering. Never leaving their side.

Until Pariah Dark, but that situation was different. No previous King had even tried to take the human world before.

Thankfully, Pariah had only taken the Throne for a mere 5000 years, so he had not had to put up with him for long, and much of that time was with him stuck in his Coffin. That was the first time Fright Knight had ever left his Masters Side.

Then, that insolent Halfa he had met before came into the picture and Fright Knight had a new master.

King Phantom was...different.

Perhaps it was his remaining Humanity poking through? Or was it was the influence of the Human Realm that he still regularly visited? Or maybe he was simply just a Good Person, and there was no deeper meaning behind it?

Either way, Fright Knight noticed that he cared for his subjects in a far deeper manner than any previous king had. He had personal connections with as many Ghosts as he could, and often called the Ghosts he ruled his, Friends. It warmed his Long Frozen Core to see a King valuing his Subjects as much as he did.

He did not realize that the kindness Phantom extended to his people, also extended to himself.

One day, Phantom had been discussing his Human Life with some of his friends. Not his First Life, but his most recent Vacation. Over the Eons since he had taken the Throne, Phantom had been encouraged to take a Vacation every once in a while. It was not healthy for a Ghost to work non-stop like he did, especially for a Halfa.

It was not an uncommon practice in the Realms, many would take a break from the Endlessness of Death to embrace Life once more through Reincarnation. Although, many were too weak to retain their memories upon their second Forming. Mostly, it was Ancients or Kings who would use this as a Vacation, rather than a New Beginning.

There came a break in the conversation, and King Phantom turned his attention to his Knight. "Frighty, when was the last time you Reincarnated? Pandora did so recently, and it got me thinking."

"I have not taken leave of my post for thr Eons since my Forming, My Lord" Replied the Knight with Pride.

"What? You haven't taken a Break since you formed!? Frighty! That's not Healthy!" Exclaimed his King.

This lead to a whole conversation about how unhealthy his lifestyle was, which was another quirk of his Master. He cared for his Sunjects beyond their happiness.

"Fright Knight, as your King and as your Friend, I implore you to take a Vacation. It doesn't have to be forever, just a simple Human Lifespan, but please take a break, for your own Good."

And how could he refuse a request like that? One based in the kindness that his Majesty always showed his Subjects.

It took a few more years to finally iron out the plan for his Vacation, but what are a few years in the face of Eternity?

Finally, it came time to take his leave to the Mortal Realm, and to Life itself.

"Farewell, my Leige." Bowed Fright Knight, "I thank you for this opportunity."

"There's no need to thank me. Now go, and have fun, My Dark Knight."

...

That day, in Gotham General Hospital, a baby was born.

"What will you name him?" Asked the Doctor.

"I think I'll call him..." Began the need Mother, "...Bruce. Bruce Wayne."

[terrestrialnoob]

To say that Bruce Wayne didn’t like Vlad Masters would be an understatement. Masters refused to treat anyone not obviously rich with any decency, was allergic to admitting he was wrong, used underhanded business tactics to get unconscionably one-sided deals, and kept everything just barely on the side of legal. All on top of having the reputation as one of America’s Most Charitable Billionaires with how much money he gave into rare disease research, that just so happened to also be America’s second biggest tax write-off for one individual. It wasn’t a private feud either. Bruce had gotten, first, in a donation war for who could fund the most charities, which Bruce had thought was in good fun, until it soon became clear that Masters was taking it far too seriously and tried to sabotage a charity event. Bruce wasn’t sure how he did it, but “it was lucky that Batman was there” to get everyone out of the burning building. Bruce then learned just how competitive the man was, and if he didn’t let him win, there��d be more innocent people put into danger.

So, you could imagine his surprise when he got a phone call from a dejected sounding Vlad Masters. “Bruce, it may be hard to believe, but I need your help.”

“With what?” Bruce didn’t want to deal with this man-child’s ego tripping, but he could never refused a cry for help, whether legitimate or a trap.

Vlad sighed loudly into the phone and Bruce thought for a moment he had been hung up on and missed the beep. But after the long pause Vlad said, “Recently, some old college friends of mine died.”

Bruce absorbed that in the shorter pause that followed. First that someone like Vlad had friends, and second, that their deaths meant something to him.

Vlad continued, “Jack had been a rival of mine and I had never forgiven him for marrying the woman I’d loved or – he also caused an accident that had left me hospitalized for months. I still say we were friends because, well, he never stopped trying to be mine despite how horrible I was to him. We had met when he and I were in a horrible punk band, and then I met his friend Maddie and the three of us made – Sorry, I don’t mean to ramble...”

“It’s understandable,” Bruce responded, “But, you said you needed my help? I have a really good grief counselor if that’s something you’d like?”

“Ah no, you see, Jack and Maddie had a son,” Vlad paused, “They had a daughter too, but she was home when their basement laboratory blew up and their entire house collapsed into it. The three of them, as well as three other teenagers, died. Danny was the only one to survive, and he is now in my care.”

“Jesus,” Bruce sighed, “Does he-”

“Before you offer, a bad experience with a school counselor has him sworn off seeing any kind of professional.” Vlad cut in, “And my bad behavior with his parents beforehand has convinced him I’m some kind of evil supervillain who wants world domination or some such nonsense. He wouldn’t trust anyone who’s associated with me in any way.”

Bruce nodded, seeing where this was going, “But you and I are openly rivals.”

Vlad hummed in agreement, “And you unfortunately have firsthand experience with both losing your parents and helping a grieving teen through the same.”

Bruce sighed, he was getting another kid, wasn’t he?

[faeriekit]

Ghosts of Those We Once Knew

a phic phight fill for @silverwing013

Warnings for: implied child abuse, accidental death, dead parents

**💚**

“Oh yeah?! And what are you going to do about it?!” Aunt Alicia snapped into the phone. 

There was a sound on the other end of the line, but Danny couldn’t make it out all the way. There was another solution, but it was…risky; it would require going into his aunt’s bedroom— a well known, forbidden domain— to pick up the only other phone hooked up to the landline. 

…There was no other time to find out what Aunt Alicia was putting off. It had to be worth the risk. Danny crept up the worn carpeting of the stairs, hoping that his sneakiness would hold up to Alicia’s discerning eyes and ears. 

Her bedroom was dark. Carpeted. …Pink. 

Whatever. Danny took a deep breath, lifted the phone off the hook, and tried not to breathe too loudly into the mouthpiece.

“You have no right to keep Daniel in your dismal, miserable, isolated hovel,” someone shouted on the other end. Danny had never heard this voice before. He sounded like someone around Dad’s age, maybe? Maybe a little…smoother, despite the blistering anger coming through the line. “You live with no human contact for nine months out of the year. You speak to no one. Do you— is Daniel even enrolled in a school? Did you get any sort of educational provisions for him whatsoever?” 

“What, so he can get cocky and blow himself up in the garage like his parents?” Alicia snapped. Danny had to clap a hand to his mouth to hide his gasp of dismay. 

“You know full well that punishing your sister’s son by restricting his access to an education and basic human companionship is not a solution to your grief for your sister. You are out of your mind.”

Aunt Alicia’s voice got low. Aunt Alicia’s voice got mean. She sounded like how she looked when Danny had fumbled the water pail from the well or stepped two steps too close to the rhubarb patch out back. “Vladmir Masters, you listen here,” Aunt Alicia muttered. “That boy is everything left of my sister in the whole damn world. He is not going anywhere. Do you understand? Not for you to fill his head with her stupid husband’s supernatural hoo-ha, and not for you to snatch up and teach himself how to kill other people the way those two killed each other. Danny stays here. If you ring me up one more time, I’m going to do more than just mail dog crap to the front step of your stupid castle in Wisconsin.”

The phone cut off. It would be an innocuous end to a phone call, except Danny can hear the clatter of plastic cracking on plastic in the downstairs kitchen.

There was a moment of silence.

“Daniel Jackson Fenton, you get your butt in here right now!”

Danny jolted, heart pounding. He—he went downstairs.

Aunt’s Alicia’s lips were pursed, her eyes tight. “What did I tell you about missing all the sticks in the yard? It looks like a wreck!”

Danny felt his breath stick in his throat.

“Well?”

“Yes, Aunt Alicia,” Danny mumbled. He looked down and away. He wasn’t caught out eavesdropping, but…was this any better?

“If those sticks aren’t piled up beside the woodshed for kindling in half an hour, you can kiss your dinner goodbye.”

Danny hadn’t had dinner in three nights. He was very lucky he didn’t need to eat as much as living kids. “…Yes, Aunt Alicia.”

“So?”

…Danny went outside to collect sticks. It took until nightfall to get all the refuse from yesterday’s storm off the ground.

Aunt Alicia ate canned corn and carrots and butchered rabbit with hot sauce for dinner. Danny ate nothing.

Danny went to bed thinking about somewhere else he could go. Mom and Dad were dead—smithereens in the blast that had killed him and brought him back to life simultaneously. Jazz was in the hospital. He had no grandparents. He had no other aunts or uncles other than Aunt Alicia.

…Who was Vladmir Masters?

*

It took two days for Danny to decide to run away.

Or. Well. Fly.

He’d figured that if he wanted to find out who Vladmir Masters was, he’d need an internet connection. His cell had been on the Fenton Fone Plan™ and had been disconnected from the Fenton Family Patented Ghost-free Satellite™ for almost three months now. But, you know…what was a public library for, if not getting information?

The two-day waiting period was mostly just Danny getting his stuff together, making sure he didn’t leave anything behind, finding anything worth stealing…

…There was a picture of Mom with her big hair at graduation, a black robe thrown over her Hazmat suit. Her hair had been so big. Lots of people were beside her, including Dad, and someone with a matching hair stripe. They looked happy.

It didn’t matter that it had been Aunt Alicia’s photo. The picture had gone into his backpack next to Bearbert Einstein and a filched pocket knife.

Mom was Aunt Alicia’s sister, but Madeline Fenton had been his mom.

…Was still his mom.

Would…would always be his mom.

Danny wouldn’t cry. He wasn’t going to cry. Still, the flying and everything was still new to him. It took almost ten minutes to get himself off the ground without floating off willy nilly.

It took another half an hour to remember how to go through walls.

By the time Danny fell (as in actually, literally, leaned up against the wall and then realized he’d not made contact the way he’d expected to) through the house wall, it was almost eight at night. Aunt Alicia was still listening to Prairie Home Companion downstairs on the radio.

Whatever. He was out of there. He was sure he looked crazy—his hair was white, which was almost impossible to hide—but all he had to do was get out of there fast enough that no one connected one teenage runaway with a backpack to Danny Fenton.

It was fine.

It was all going to be fine.

…And if there wasn’t someone who’d help him. Well. Being homeless didn’t sound…so bad…?

…Or maybe he’d just squat in the burnt out ruins of Fentonworks. That sounded fine too.

*

Morning broke. Danny ended up in a tiny town somewhere in Mississippi.

A nice guy at the coffee shop gave him a cup of water and told him where the local library was. A librarian plugged her login details for him on a public computer, and Danny was able to look up one “Vladmir Masters”…

…CEO and owner of DALVco, millionaire, and Green Bay Packers megafan.

Holy crap.

Like… There were hospital wings with his name on them. Charities operating out of his company. Every picture of the man was perfectly taken in perfect lighting with perfect suits and precise smirks and bright-white magazine article paper.

Danny went back up to the librarian. “Do you have any articles on…uh…Vlad Masters?”

The librarian smiled warmly. “Ah, school project?”

“Sure,” Danny lied, milk on his tongue.

Vlad Masters was a self-made millionaire. He lived in a castle in Wisconsin that used to be owned by a dairy empire kingpin. He went to—

Danny read the line again

—He went to the same college as Mom and Dad. The year looked right, too. They might have even graduated in the exact same year. If only Danny could still check Dad’s college ring in the bottom of their junk drawer.

Wisconsin. Vlad Masters lived in Wisconsin.

…Danny was really lucky he was never all that hungry anymore.

Danny got another cup of water at the coffee shop, washed his face in the bathroom, and got ready to fly another night.

He was no sextant, but he could probably figure out how to get to Wisconsin after a couple of hours of flying, and a little time to gauge the sky.

It would be easy.

…Danny’s white-topped, pale face stared back at him from the restroom mirror.

It had to be. It would have to be easy.

*

So, a cheese castle looked a lot like a regular castle.

Danny squinted up at the stonework. Nah, that looked like…a castle. That being said, it looked more specifically like the castle he was looking for—the one that had been featured in Vlad Masters’s house tour in Architecture Daily magazine two years ago.  

Same…roof bits. Same big door. Danny swallowed. Same…tower? Were there better words for these? There were definitely better words for all the tricky stone bits in the castle.

Whatever. Danny was praying that the man was actually home today, as opposed to flying across the country on some kind of business trip. Rich people did business trips, right?

Danny floated up to the front door. There was no doorbell.

…Danny bit his lip. Okay. So there was no doorbell. There was a very large, brass door knocker. It looked kind of like a big monster face, with a ring held in its teeth.

The knocker was just high enough off the ground that Danny had to float to get there. Lifting it was a struggle.

When it knocked, the whole door buzzed with sound.

Danny waited.

…He waited.

And…Danny waited.

No one came.

Danny picked at the skin of his lip. What if he just…went in?

Like. It was a big house. Maybe Vlad Masters just hadn’t heard him at all? Maybe he was just…in the basement or something…?

Danny paced midair. On one hand. He’d come all this way. He had to follow through. He had to see if there was…something. Anything. Anything at all—anything that could possibly connect Masters to his family.

Any connection that wasn’t Aunt Alicia would be worth breaking and entering.

On the other hand. Home invasion was and would remain illegal.

Danny grimaced.

He…stuck his head through the door. 

There was a hallway on the other side. A little end table. A guest book. 

…Okay. Danny slipped through the door. He was breaking and entering now— or at least…entering. 

Inside was dark. Gloomy. Comfortable, sure— lots of soft furnishings, curtains, couches, pillow, lounging things— but very…opaque in atmosphere. 

He was glowing, he noticed. That probably was pretty bad on the “trying not to get caught” scale. 

There was no one upstairs. Danny drifted through room after empty room and up into floor after empty floor. There was a kitchen, and the food therein were largely preserved items. There was nothing in the fridge. 

Danny’s stomach cramped. There was no one here. 

…Maybe he should look downstairs? 

The castle got colder the further down he went. The windows that at least allowed the minimal light that escaped through the tree cover in the castle vanished. The only light left was Danny. 

Danny floated down deeper. 

There were doors made of metal in a long, stone hallway. Each had different numbers on them. Danny followed the rows of doors.

There were wires on the floor. They were organized by color and bound by little ties, until they weren’t, and Danny eventually ran out of tangled webs of red and blue plastic to follow. 

They ended at a closed door. 

Danny hesitated. He poked his head through. 

On the other side was a ghost. 

Danny jerked back. He’d— he clapped his hand over his mouth. That was—! And sure, Danny was something like that now, but he’d never seen—!

He should leave. Danny should leave. 

Danny barely made it three doors down. 

Going somewhere? something asked him. Danny shivered. 

The ghost appeared on his left in ethereal white, black hair pulled behind him in some sort of half-halo. Unlike Danny, who was in something like half-hazmat, half-hoodie, the ghost wore a long, glowing labcoat, appropriate PPE beneath. 

Danny’s breath fogged up in his mouth. He flinched. “Sorr—” he tried. “Sorry, I’m sorry. I’m not supposed to be here.”

The ghost looked at him with bright red eyes. Danny floated a few steps back. Spying, are you?

Danny shook his head. “No!! No, I just— I was looking for— I wasn’t spying! I’m sorry! I didn’t know you li— died here! I’ll leave!” 

The ghost’s head tilted. For a second, Danny thought that he was going to throw a punch. And then—

You’re already here, the ghost pointed out, and opened a door. Beyond it was…something similar to a doctor’s office. An examination table with the paper on it. One of those blood pressure cuffs, attached to a printer for the readout. A sink. Sundry tongue depressors. You may as well consent to be helped. 

“...Helped with what?” Danny asked nervously, fingers flexing. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

The ghost hummed— not in the way voices hummed, but in the way high voltage sang in distant powerlines. You are newly formed, aren’t you? Most can tell a ghost’s nature from its presence alone.

Danny looked away. “Um. You know. You might be the first ghost I’ve ever met.” 

The ghost’s feet almost touched the ground. It stared down at him. It was taller than he was, and when it stared, it made Danny want to run away. 

…Truly, the ghost asked(?), and it took Danny a second to realize it was a question. 

“Maybe I died a little recently…” Danny tried, trailing off into a mumble. Was there a right answer to this? 

…I see. That would make this check-up more urgent, then. Might I encourage you to come this way? 

Danny followed him into the room. 

It felt… It looked and felt exactly like any other doctor’s appointment, excepting that the doctor involved in the process had blue skin and fangs and a hairstyle that defied gravity. The ghost still wore gloves and didn’t poke him or prod him too hard, though, so that was a bonus.

Danny got his pulse taken. (None.) Danny got his lungs checked. (Not breathing.) Danny got his resonance? looked at? Whatever that was? It was a big scanny thing that looked like an X ray and took pictures of his chest. 

The readings were real pretty, whatever they were; the whole film print was taken up with splotches of white and clear blue. It kind of shimmered when Danny tilted his head. 

You’re quite powerful for a newly formed ghost, the ghost offered, overlooking papers Danny couldn’t quite see on his clipboard. It flipped through once. Twice. You’re clearly not attached to your place of death, so that’s not why… Are you aware of any compulsions to follow an Obsession yet…?

A ghostly obsession? Danny knew what that was— it was one of his parents’ theories on why ghosts persisted after death! Was it was true? 

“Um,” Danny said, unsure. He hadn’t…had he? “Not that I know of?”

The ghost paused. It clicked its pen. It marked something down on Danny’s chart. Interesting.

Ominous. 

May I quickly test something? the ghost asked, looking up at Danny. It would only take a moment. If it does not work, there will be no other side effects other than mild discomfort and an activated flight response. 

Danny shifted. The paper crackled underneath him. “...Does it hurt?” 

No.

The ghost added nothing more. 

Danny’s…head jerked up and down. It was fine. It would be fine. 

The ghost’s hand circled his wrist. Its touch burned like fire. 

And then light, like how Danny burned away one form for another—

—Danny was left on the table, no longer weightless, no longer breathless. He was flesh. He was human again.

Vlad Masters stared back at him. 

…Huh. 

Mr. Masters— Vlad?— licked dry lips, staring at Danny, whose wrist he still held. Danny…didn’t know if he could move. Danny didn’t know if he knew how to move. 

“...Daniel?” Mr. Masters’s voice cracked. His eyes moved up and down Danny’s body, from his raggedy hair to his dirt-stained clothes to his beat-up shoes. “Daniel Fenton?”

Danny winced. “It’s just Danny,” he offered hoarsely. His throat bobbed. “You…know me?” 

Mr. Masters moved his grip to Danny’s hand, apparently moved to tears. Without the red in his eyes, he just looked…human enough. “Daniel— Danny, how did you— Are you dead? What happened?” 

Danny felt the weight of everything push down on him again, as if it had ever let up on him since the portal incident. Mom and Dad’s funerals. Jazz in the emergency room. Being resuscitated by the EMTs. Getting shipped out to Aunt Alicia’s house without warning. 

“House blew up.”

That was succinct enough, right?

The man’s face turned devastated. “I heard— I’m so, so sorry. I’m so sorry, Danny.”

…It was more concern than anyone had shown in a long time. His eyes were wet before he knew it. When he wiped his face with his sleeve, the dampness was enough to leave little streaks of mud on his face— and, ugh, he felt filthy. 

“It’s okay,” Danny lied, because it wasn’t. He pressed his sleeve to his eyes. “It’s…you know my parents?”

Mr. Masters took a deep, surprised breath. “Yes. We…weren’t in contact after we graduated from school together, but Jack always… He asked me by email to be your godfather, right before you were born. I said yes, but I have no idea if he ever filed the paperwork.” 

Oh. 

…Oh. 

There were clearly more secrets here. Mr. Masters was a ghost, and so was Danny. He lived in a giant castle that was clearly haunted, which was made obvious by the owner. He was Danny’s godfather, and Danny had never once met him. 

And he wasn’t Aunt Alicia. 

Danny sucked the spit off of his teeth with his tongue. “Can I stay here?” 

Mr. Masters made a wounded, desperate expression. “I would rather you did.” 

“Can you teach me how to be a ghost?”

The man persevered through what were clearly heavy feelings. “...If I must.” 

“Can I have dinner?” was Danny’s final question. “Like. On the regular?” 

There was a second where Mr. Masters’s eyes went red. The castle suddenly felt taut with anticipation. Fury crawled on Danny’s skin. He could feel the pressure digging in search of some way to burrow into his flesh.

And then it was gone. 

“Of course you can. You are a growing boy.”

Danny smiled shyly, barely showing his teeth. When he smiled for real in the mirror, he had fangs. It was better not to. “Cool.”

Mr. Masters nodded. And when Danny looked down at the floor, he changed his grip so that Danny could hold his hand and hop down like normal. 

“It will be alright,” Mr. Masters promised quietly. It seemed to be just as much for him as it was for Danny. “Or…I’ll take care of it. Whatever happens. You’re not alone, Danny.” 

Danny had been alone for almost half a year. It had felt like forever. “Thanks.” He sniffed. 

They walked upstairs from the basement laboratory together, in a way Mom and Dad never would again. 

[dolphin-writer]

Story Idea That May Never Be Written

Danny almost 18, decides to leave home, Tucker has a new identity ready for him and everything. With help of Jazz he plans to finish his hs classes online.

Right before he leaves his parents find out/he got sloppy/ his mom freaks but his dad stops her and just hugs danny. He is confused, guilty, and hurt by maddies reaction. Tells danny he’ll handle maddy and to just go as he planed

Danny moves to Gothem, for its high ecto levels and basically chill not give a fuck attatude. And other than the petty crime which he knows he can handle it will be great. He finishes his hs classes and gets a job at a mechanics shop.

Jazz is in college in Metropolis as she thinks the rivalry between the sister cities is interesting to study. And now she can use it as an excuse to visit Gotham and Danny.

Sam and Tucker graduate and move to college. Sam goes to Gotham U where Danny is taking night classes as he is now a full time mechanic at the shop. Tucker is at MIT, working at a tech help store.

A year and a half after he ran Danny gets a message from his dad. Jack is now living in Metropolis near Jazz. Maddy lost it, something about everything hitting her at once, the knowledge that her son died in her machine and that she continued trying to end him for years after, and all the things Phantom had to do hit her at once and shifted something in her mind. She was not sane anymore. She wanted to get Danny legally marked as dead because a part of her knew he died. Jack tried to fight it until Jazz told him that it would be good for Danny to lose that last tie so he finally agreed. Shortly after Jack had her assessed and committed to the hospital and then pleaded to the courts for a divorce so he could focus on his last remaining child Jazz instead of watching Maddy rot away. The courts granted it and Maddy became ward of the state. Jack moved to Metropolis and got a job in helping design security systems. 

By the time Sam and Tucker were graduating Danny had risen to running the shop only below the owner. Sam got a job with a Dr. Pamala Islie working on keeping plants from going extinct and trying to revive ones that were. Tucker was still working part time at that tech repair shop but was really working on getting his own tech/coding business more widespread. 

Danny finished his night classes shortly after them and got a good pay raise with it. Right around this time a big bomb hit Gotham in the form of Gothams Prince Bruce Wayne had returned. No one officially knew where he had gone, lots had begun to doubt he would come back saying he was probably dead. So it was a shock to everyone. And soon gotham gossip came to life with the stories of the himbo playboy. Danny could care less but it was fun getting Sam wound up about him. 

Tuckers business officially took off with big names using it such as (Queen Industries, and other companies associated with future heroes) he moved permanently to Metropolis to be close but refused to move to Gotham saying the lack of sun would kill his complexion, which sam returned with like you spend any time outside anyway?

As a year passed Wayne Enterprise started expanding, small at first building up their departments before adding new ones. Then the Martha Wayne Foundation hit the streets. Founding food kitchens and clinics and pharmacies that were cheap to free for anyone. It made a difference for some. Danny started to question the Bruce Wynes' himbo status as it was clear that this wasn’t just a pr move.

Then two years after the circus that was Bruce Wayne's return as the city quieted back down to its normal levels, the people began to hear about a monster, a demon that had been hunting the criminals of Gotham, a shadow that would leave criminals tied up for the police to find. He was a story that word of, would not spread outside of Gothams borders. Now this was something Danny watched and listened for news of. This creature or man was taking over the city little by little and Danny was protective of the city that had become his home. But he was retired and happy so he waited and observed.

Eventually they got a name, Batman. The cost for them gaming the name was that villains, not just criminals were popping out of the woodwork every other week. It was getting concerning to team Phantom, and all of Gotham in general. The press started to blame Batman for these villains' existence, calling him a menace and demanding his arrest. And Danny was conflicted. This man, for he was just a normal human as far as they could figure, was trying his best to save people, stop a problem that was not his fault but he probably felt responsible for, and now the city was against him for it. Danny did not enjoy the parallels and the reminder of his old life, but he sympathized with Batman and became a very vocal supporter of him. 

Eventually others joined Danny in his support of Batman. Eventually the people calling for his arrest were drowned out by those thanking him for trying to protect them. Eventually the police stopped chasing him and started working with him, even asking for help at times.

Time passed Gotham adjusted, as it always does. Danny was getting bored, he loved the mechanic shop it had become his baby, he trained the new hires and even got a couple to tinker and build things with him. But he got home and was bored, so he started experimenting with baking. He had learned how to cook over his time of living in Gotham and quite enjoyed making food for his family, Sam was always stopping by to raid his fridge since he started experimenting with making vegan food. They even got Tucker to admit to liking it. So the natural next step was trying baking. His first few attempts weren’t a disaster but they weren’t very good either. But as time passed he got better but then he faced a different issue. What to do with all the deserts. Everyone he knew was given some, and then the rest were donated to a food kitchen. At Jazzes' suggestion Danny applied to work part time at a small bakery. It was right on the outskirts of Crime alley run by a couple of older ladies and their son. Danny got to bake and work on improving recipes and they got to sell what he made. Though they did try to set him up with their son several times after finding out Danny was bi. So life settled.

Then Batman got a partner, a child partner, and Danny got upset. He had been a child vigilante, he had barely survived being a chile vigilante. Danny who took in and trained as many street kids as he could at the shop. Danny who proudly watched those kids become adults and make it in Gotham. Danny who kept an eye on all the heroes popping up around the globe, and knew that none of them had brought kids into it. Danny who thought about “his” kids as he dug into Robin and realized that Batman was trying to protect the kid in the ways he knew how, and that Robin probably just like his kids didn’t really listen when you tell them no if they’ve set their mind on it. So Danny was still worried but no longer upset with Batman. 

Then Bruce Wayne started showing up at the bakery.

Bruce is a total dork who struggles with basic human interactions at times. So at a cafe/bakery he tells the 17yo cashier, “Compliments to the chief” like a weirdo. She awkwardly hollers back to Danny, who comes out confused.

Bruce has oh fuck hes hot.

*story happens in between but I don't know what*

Something happens Danny speeds away on his bike. Eventually taking it off a bridge into the water before going invisible and flying to his dads in Metropolis. He goes to the realms to lay low for two weeks after visiting with his dad for a couple days. He has to come back because one of his kids is getting married

Bruce who is crushing on Danny, is worried and talks to people. The ladies at the bakery point him in the direction of the mechanic shop. No one there is worried, they say Danny built that bike from the ground up, he has complete control of it, it couldn’t do something if he didn’t want it to. Plus Jerramy is getting married next month and Danny wouldn’t miss that, he’ll be back.  Bruce thinks these people are delusional and still worries and tries to find anything. He finds nothing but dick and Alfred have figured out that he definitely doesn’t have a crush guys, the mission. 

Danny shows up two and a half weeks later just in time to pick up his suit for the wedding. Bruce is kinda losing it. 

[flamingpudding]

Fictober23 Prompt: 5 - "You're the smartest person I know."

Fandom: DPxDC

Rating: T

Warnings: Mensions of Blood, Injury and Violence

A/N: This is kind of a bad timeline kind of situation that plays into the Gamer Pal Prompt I wrote before but can still be read independently.

Danny gasped as he staggered along the alley wall, with no idea where he was. He leaned with his shoulder against the wall as his left hand pressed against the wound on his stomach that refused to stop bleeding. He was confused, dizzy and pretty sure his father had given him a concussion, so closing his eyes and just sleeping on the side of the street was out of the question.

Tucker had thrown him through a portal Wulf had opened and that portal had spit him out here in… he doesn't recognise anything. But he was pretty sure he wasn't in Amity anymore. His vision was blurry but he was pretty sure that there were skyscrapers or at least buildings way taller than he was used to.

"Fuck." Danny cursed as another wave of pain made his body shudder. If he could just transform than maybe these injuries wouldn't be as bad but next to the pain Danny could also feel electricity surging through his body thanks to whatever Vlad zapped him with that stopped his transformation.

He coughed, squinting his eyes at the red spots that splattered to the ground. Things had gone to shit and real quickly and for a moment Danny thought that maybe they should have listened to their Gaming friend. Listened to his words of caution and advice to find a way to leave or to have at least a couple more of back up plans if things go horribly wrong.

Well it all came back to bite Danny like usually, as he spat out another glob of blood. Maybe Tim hadn't been as paranoid as they had assumed.

"You okay there kid?"

Danny needed to blink a couple of times until the red and brown blob before him finally took the shape of a person. He blinked several times more until his brain also finally caught up with who he was seeing before him.

"You're Red Hood?" Danny somehow managed to say in between coughing again. Tim had told them about Gothams vigilantes and how he could contact them to get them to help with Amity. To get them into contact with the Justice League. They had thanked him but refused the help, citing the fact that even one overshadowed hero could spell even worse trouble than they already had.

Now he felt stupid having refused that kind of help.

"Hey there kid." Don't black out now. Your bleeding pretty heavily we should get you to a doctors and-"

"No hospitals." Danny cut the vigilante off, coughing once more. Even though Tim somehow had managed to get the Justice League started on the removal of the Anti-Ecto Acts they were not yet gone. He couldn't risk that yet.

But meeting Red Hood meant that Danny was in Gotham, which meant he could probably go directly to Tim for help. His Gaming Pal did say that he knew his cities vigilantes personally.

"Okay no hospitals then." Hood confirmed for him as the man reached out to Danny just as he lost his balance falling forward. The last thing Danny remembers was muttering something along the lines of "Tim… I need to find him."

The next thing Danny then became aware of was the soft beeping of a heart monitor and loud arguing not too far from him. He groaned audible and the arguing stopped instantly. A wight rested on his shoulder and Danny blinked through the brightness and blurreyness once more until he vaguely recognised the shape of a person he so far had only seen through video chats.

"Tim?"

"You absolute idiot." Was the response he got and yea that definitely was the voice he had heard so often during all the late night Doomed gaming sessions.

"That checks out. You are the smartest person I know." Danny chuckled lightly until a sharp pain made him gasp. "Shit, I will feel that for weeks."

"The smartest person you know is Sam. Between the four of us she has the best grades, remember? Besides that, do you have any idea what kind of panic you and Tuck send us through?"

Danny peaked at Tim and grimaced at the frustrated glare the other teen was sending him. "Tucker was the one throwing me through a portal."

"You're lucky you landed in Gotham." The other then muttered, shaking his head.

"Again. You are the smartest person I know. You would have figured out some way to track me? Like the time you hacked our phones and tuned in onto Desiree's ectosignature to find her. Works better than the Booomerang that keeps hitting my head."

"That's because that thing is only tuned on you."

"And you somehow got rid of the GIW and I still haven't figured out how you did that."

Danny watched how the other teen shrugged. There was a silence between them. Tim was texting on his phone, probably informing Sam and Tucker. Danny, meanwhile, for the first time took notice that he was in some sort of medical bay, also noting that whoever Tim had argued with had already left. If he could believe Red Hood's words, then even if this looked like a hospital room it was not one.

"Hey Tim?" Danny finally broke the silence and the other teen only hummed. "Is your offer to stay with you in Gotham and to go to school and college here still open? I think I am ready to leave Amity behind now."

Tim looked up from his phone at Danny and gave him a feral grin. "About damn time. I had all the papers ready for you for ages now. It's about time we finally make use of them."

Danny chuckled. "And you still don't believe me when I say, that you are the smartest person I know?"

"Anyone in my family can do at least that, you know? These papers are nothing special."

Danny only raised an eyebrow at the other before both teens started to laugh, with one laugh getting cut short by a groan of pain and the other by fussing over the other right after it.

[raaorqtpbpdy]

What Fades, and What Never Will

After Danny's accident, he starts acting strangely, and after exhausting all their other options, Jack and Maddie call upon a long-time friend who once had a portal accident of his own to try and get Danny to open up.

For the Prompts: In another universe, Maddie and Jack did visit Vlad in the hospital, and stayed in contact. What happens when Danny has his accident 20 years later? [from @kinglazrus]

After the accident, the Fentons can't help but notice something wrong with Danny. And since Danny also has that terrible symptom of "being a teenager", he refuses to tell them anything. So they reach out to the only person who could possibly help: an old friend in Wisconsin. [from Mimca]

And Like Danny, Vlad also has an unfading death scar—several of them, actually. Dozens of pock scars mar his skin all over his body, a permanent reminder of his slow, painful death from ecto-acne. [from me :)]

Read also on Ao3

[Warnings for mentions of past trauma/death, and past hospitalization]

Danny's accident had given his parents quite the scare. Their son nearly dying put a serious damper on the excitement of their portal working properly, to say the least.

But after that, even though Danny insisted he was fine, and the doctors said he was in the clear, medically—they couldn't help noticing that there was something wrong with him. Maybe that was a bit harsh, maybe it would be kinder to say there was something off with him, or something different about him. But whatever it was that was different about him... it seemed very wrong.

Maybe it was like Jazz said, and he was just traumatized from the accident and isolating from his family as a coping mechanism after his parents' invention had caused him so much distress. But if that were the case... why was he going into the lab so often? Much more often than before, and it didn't seem to bother him at all to be in a place where he'd experienced so much... distress.

They tried several times to talk to Danny about it, but he also appeared to be exhibiting unrelated symptoms like 'being a teenager', which of course meant he refused to tell them anything and suggested that they, 'butt out of his business' when they pressed even a little bit.

After about a month of trying and failing to get through to Danny in any way shape or form while whatever was going on with him only seemed to get worse, they decided to call in some back-up. As it happened, Danny wasn't the only person they knew who'd had an... unfortunate experience involving an experimental ghost portal. 

Maybe... hopefully, their old friend from Wisconsin could help.

After a month of complete failure to connect, Jack and Maddie started to think that maybe he was the only person who possibly could.

Although they stayed in fairly regular contact with him, they still hesitated to ask him to come all the way out to Amity Park from another state entirely. But Vlad seemingly thought nothing of making the trip out to see them and have a chat with their boy.

After his own accident with the proto-portal, they were the only friends of his who didn't cut ties with him because they found him too grotesque to look at. They'd visited him in the hospital often, and gave the doctors all their research in the hopes that it might help cure him. Although the doctors hadn't asked, and Jack and Maddie were pretty sure they'd just thrown all the research away.

Eventually, Vlad's ecto-acne went away, although it was years before it vanished entirely. He was always terribly self-conscious about it. He refused to be in any of their wedding photos because of it, even though he was the best man. 

And even when the ecto-acne itself finally went away, it left scars, dozens, maybe hundreds of them. Vlad often complained that he had to spend a small fortune on foundation and concealer to keep them covered, even though Jack insisted they made him look cool and mysterious. Vlad argued that they made him look sickly and unkempt.

It would be good to see him again after so long. Oh, sure, they called and e-mailed each other all the time, but they hadn't seen Vlad in person since they moved to Amity Park. Danny had only been four years old at the time, so he almost certainly didn't even remember the man, even though Vlad was his and Jazz's godfather.

Two days after reaching out to him, late Saturday morning, there was a knock on the door. Jazz was the one who answered. It took her a moment to recognize the tall, gray-haired man in a fancy suit standing there, but eventually she did.

"Uncle Vlad?" she asked. "We haven't seen you in ages. What are you doing here?"

"Your parents called me the other day and asked me to come down," he replied easily. "I heard about poor Daniel's accident. They were hoping I might be able to commiserate with him, since I was in a similar unfortunate accident myself with our prototype portal many years ago." 

Jazz nodded slowly. "That... could be good for him. Personally, I'm pretty sure it was a traumatic experience for him, but he won't talk to anyone about it."

Vlad's expression was sympathetic. "It would be a traumatic experience for anyone. May I come in?"

"Oh, right," Jazz stepped aside to let him through the door into the house. "Sorry."

"Think nothing of it," Vlad said. "Are you parents around? I'd like to say hello."

"Down in the lab," Jazz told him, pointing to the basement door.

He nodded his thanks, remarked how good it was to see her, and what a lovely young woman she'd grown into since he last saw her, and then headed down into the lab to talk to her parents.

"Maddie?" he called down. "Jack?"

"Vladdie!" Jack shouted.

As soon a Vlad reached the bottom of the stairs, he was tackled in a massive bear hug. His arms were pinned to his sides and the breath squeezed out of his lungs.

"Let go of me you big oaf!" he wheezed out.

Jack dropped him with a good-natured laugh, and Vlad gasped for air for a bit before chuckling with him.

"It's good to have you over, Vlad," Maddie said, though she didn't move from where she was standing over a laboratory apparatus. "I would walk over to greet, but I'm holding volatile chemicals at the moment. Just give me a minute to stabilize the experiment." 

"It's quite alright, Maddie, dear," Vlad said. "Don't rush on my account; especially not where volatile chemicals are involved."

"Thank goodness you're here, Vladdie," Jack said excitedly. "I'll finally get to show you all the new inventions we've made since moving here."

Vlad gave him blundering old friend an amused smile. "And approximately what percentage of these inventions actually function as intended?"

Jack looked sheepish, though the excitement didn't fade from him.

"Oh, but here, I thought you asked me to come all the way down from Wisconsin to talk to your Daniel," Vlad added. "Perhaps seeing all your hundreds of failed inventions and a dozen or so working ones can wait?"

"I guess so," Jack agreed, though he seemed very reluctant.

"Yes about Danny," Maddie said. 

She'd apparently finished at the apparatus and was carrying a rack of test-tubes to the nearby freezer to be stored until the next phase of her experiment.

"We told you he had an accident in the new ghost portal," Maddie said. "I thought we'd disconnected the power source before leaving it unsupervised, but I guess not. The doctors say he'd fine, physically, and Danny insists he's fine, too, but... something just doesn't seem right with him anymore. Jazz says he's traumatized, but he doesn't seem anxious in the lab at all, so we're just not sure. 

"Obviously he won't talk to us, but we were hoping, if you told him about your own experience, that he might be willing to talk to you."

Vlad nodded thoughtfully. "You know, he probably doesn't remember me," he pointed out. "To him, I'll be a stranger prying into something he probably doesn't want to even think about, let alone discuss."

"We know it's probably a long shot, but we had to try something, you know?" Maddie looked more worried than Vlad had seen her since he was still laid up in the hospital. "I'm just... I'm worried about him. We all are. He's been acting so strangely lately, cagey and short-tempered, maybe it is just stress, but it can't be healthy for him to keep it all bottled up. You'll at least try, won't you?"

Vlad looked at her distraught expression and nodded once, firmly. "I'll try," he agreed. "But if Daniel does talk to me, and he asks that I not relay what we talk about to his parents, I won't violate his trust."

Maddie shook her head, a sigh of relief escaping her. "That's fine," she said. "We don't need to know everything. We just want him to have someone he can talk to, so he doesn't have to bottle everything up. Right, Jack?"

"Absolutely," Jack agreed. "Whatever's best for Danny is good enough for us."

"Alright then," Vlad said. "Is he here now?"

"I think he's out with his friends right now," Maddie said. "He'll be back for dinner though. At least, he'd better be."

He removed his jacket and hung it on a hook next to a lab coat, which he put on in its place. It must've been Jack's judging by the way he practically drowned in it, but he rolled up the sleeves without complaint and ignored the way the bottom of it touched the floor when he bent his knees even a little bit.

"Then, for now, how about I give you both a hand in the lab," he suggested. "Where might I find a spare set of safety goggles?"

—

Danny was late for dinner, but he didn't miss it at least. The Fentons weren't really a regular family dinners kind of household, so when they told Danny they would be having a family dinner tonight, he knew there would be consequences for skipping out. Still, he was surprised to see a mysterious, well-dressed guest at the table when he hurried into the kitchen.

"Uh... hi?" Danny greeted, awkwardly taking a seat between his dad and his sister.

"Daniel, so nice of you to join us," the stranger greeted with a smile. "You know I think this is the best chicken casserole your mother's ever made."

"Not that it's a very high bar," Maddie joked.

"Don't say that, Maddie," the stranger said. "You're a... perfectly adequate cook."

Maddie laughed out loud.

"Um, not to be rude or anything, but... who's this?" Danny asked, jerking a thumb over at the stranger.

"Oh, that's right, you wouldn't remember Vlad," his mother told her. "He's our friend from college, and you kids' godfather. He was really close with the family when we lived in Wisconsin, but since we moved, he mostly just talks with me and your father over e-mail. I'm sure we've mentioned him before."

Danny did vaguely recognize the name Vlad. This was probably the same Vlad his dad called Vladdie and gushed about while his kids tuned

"Yes, the last time I saw you, Daniel, you were only four years old," Vlad said. "At risk of sounding like an out-of-touch old man, you've certainly grown since I saw you last."

"Yeah, that tends to happen in ten years," Danny pointed out. He narrowed his eyes at Vlad, scrutinizing him. "What brings you all the way out to Amity Park?"

"Oh, I was doing some business a couple towns over, and figured since I was so close, I might as well pay a visit to some old friends."

It was a perfectly plausible excuse, especially since Danny was pretty sure his parents had mentioned their Vlad was some kind of businessman. It didn't ease Danny's suspicions at all.

Throughout dinner, Vlad maintained a casual, friendly conversation with the rest of the family, easily defusing Danny's loaded, accusatory questions. When dinner was over, Danny went straight up to his room. He'd had a long day and was hoping to turn in early, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to actually fall asleep until well after midnight, if he slept at all.

He wasn't expecting a knock on his bedroom door a few minutes later.

Vlad being on the other side of it was less of a surprise. He glared at Vlad, but the man seemed completely unperturbed.

"I have a confession to make," he said.

"Oh yeah? I'm shocked," Danny replied sarcastically.

"I didn't want to bring it up in front of everyone and put you on the spot," Vlad said. "But the truth of the matter is that your parents asked me to come in the hopes that I might be able to talk to you, commiserate, I suppose, about your recent accident in their lab."

"And why on earth would I talk to you about about it?"

"Because I know what you're going through," Vlad replied.

"No offense—actually, yes offense," Danny said, "but I'm pretty sure you have no idea what I'm going through."

Vlad raised an eyebrow, and then his blue eyes glowed a sinister red. Danny gasped and his eyes blew wide in shock.

"No offense, Daniel," he said, "but I'm pretty sure I do." He let the light fade and smiled, a little smug, but not unkindly. "May I come in?"

Danny nodded mutely and let Vlad through before closing the door behind him.

"You're like me," he said incredulously. "How?"

"The portal in which you had you own accident was not the first your parents made," Vlad began to explain. He straightened up Danny's blankets before taking a seat on his bed. "When we were in college, the three of us formed a paranormal science club, and we made a prototype portal. It didn't work, but it did turn on and... badly injured me when it did so. 

"Your father turned it on, actually. He got a little over-excited and hit the button prematurely. I was very angry at him about it for a while, but... bygones." He shrugged. 

Danny continued to stand in the center of his room, staring openly at the man who'd already made himself comfortable and was casually describing what must've been a horrific accident—if it was anything like Danny's, that is—as if it were nothing more than another boring anecdote about his past.

"I spent years in the hospital after my accident," Vlad continued. "Your parents were the only people who ever visited me. I was so unsightly after my own accident that all my other quote-unquote 'friends' couldn't stand to look at me."

"You look alright now," Danny observed.

"Ha!" Vlad barked a short laugh. "Not without effort, I assure you."

"Do my parents know you're—"

"Oh, heavens no, can you imagine the embarrassment?" Vlad scoffed. "Of all the things to do me in, ecto-acne was what did it. No, bad enough I had to suffer the nasty condition for so long, nobody needs to know how much it truly affected me."

"Ecto-acne?" Danny questioned.

Vlad waved him off. "Never mind that. Now that I've told you my story, would you care to share yours?"

"I..."

Vlad patted the empty space on the bed next to him. "You can lock the door if you're worried about someone coming in."

"No, you'll just tell my parents," Danny said. "You're their friend, not mine."

"If you don't want me to tell them, I won't tell them," Vlad refuted. "In fact I said as much to them earlier today. Death, even half-death is a very personal thing, and no matter how close I am to your parents, I would never disregard your privacy in such a matter. I may be their friend, but I'm your godfather."

"You promise you won't tell them anything?" Danny asked.

"I promise," Vlad confirmed, then smiled lightly. "Cross my heart and hope to die." 

He patted the bed beside him again, but this time Danny sat. He didn't speak at first, but after a long moment of getting his thoughts in order, he opened his mouth an began to tell his story.

"My friends and I were just... messing around I guess," he said. "I told them about my parents portal, and how they were upset because it didn't work, and they wanted to see it, so I showed them. Sam wanted to get some pictures, and she asked if she could get one of me inside. At first, I said no because I thought it might be dangerous, but... I figured the portal didn't work anyway, and it would be kind of cool, so I did it.

"She got her picture, but then, on my way out... I guess I put my hand on the wall. I don't know what happened, I felt something move under my fingers and then... the portal turned on."

"You were inside it at the time?" Vlad asked, sounding surprised. "Standing fully inside?"

"Yeah," Danny confirmed. "You weren't?"

Vlad shook his head. "No, the prototype portal was only about as big as a desktop computer monitor. I couldn't have stood inside if I wanted to. I was standing in front of it when it turned on, and it... well, I suppose you could say it quite literally blew up in my face."

"Oh..." Danny got real quiet for a moment, and then asked, "Do you still remember how painful it was when it turned on?"

Vlad stiffened, and he got a faraway look on his face. "Every day," he replied. "That agony has stayed with me for twenty years."

"That's comforting," Danny grumbled.

Vlad tilted his head in acknowledgement. "I wish I could give you better news, but something that changes you on such a fundamental level was never going to simply fade away."

"The scar will, though, right?" Danny asked. "He pulled up his sleeve to reveal an angry red Lichtenberg figure sprawling across his forearms and disappearing under his sleeve. "The doctors said it should fade in a day or two, but it's been a month now and.... But you said the portal blew up in your face, and I don't see any scars there, so it will fade, won't it?"

That scar felt like it was staring at Vlad even harder than he was staring at it. His eyebrows drew together in sympathy and anguish. He reached into his pocket and his fingers closed around the small make-up kit he always carried around for touch ups.

"I'm afraid not, my boy," Vlad said apologetically, and pulled up his own sleeve to reveal the pock marks scattered on his forearm. "I use make-up to cover the ones on my face, but death scars never fade. Be grateful you only have the one."

Danny stared down at the marks with despair written all over his face.

"If it's any consolation, you do get used to them," Vlad assured him, pulling his sleeve back down to cover the marks. "It will always remind you of what happened every time you see it, and the memories will always hurt, but the pain, like all pain, gets boring after a while, and starts to carry less weight."

"Really?" Danny covered up his own scar again, but looked up a Vlad hopefully.

"Yes, really," Vlad said. "Humans are the most adaptable creatures on the planet, and, despite everything, you are still human to some extent. As am I."

Danny smiled a bit at that. He'd be ruminating on the fact that he wasn't fully human anymore for the past month, and the reminder that he was still human, at least in part, was more than welcome. It was a nice reprieve, actually.

"How long did it take for you to realize you had changed?" Vlad asked. "Not long, I suspect."

"No, not long at all," Danny said with a slight laugh. "I went into the portal human and came out a ghost, so that was my first clue. When Jazz and my parents came down in a rush after hearing my screams, I was able to change back just on impulse, although I had no idea how I did it at the time. I think maybe I just passed out and turned human automatically.

"Then I got rushed to the hospital."

"So... it was instantaneous for you?" Vlad asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Yeah... it wasn't for you?"

"No, it wasn't," Vlad said, his shoulders slumped and his face fell. "My... condition took much longer to kill me than that. It was years before it had run its course and I discovered how it had changed me and what I could do."

As soon as he saw the pity on Danny's face, Vlad averted his gaze. It had been twenty years since his accident. He didn't need pity anymore. He never had.

"That sounds awful," Danny observed.

Vlad almost laughed at how obvious the statement was.

"Yes, quite," he agreed. "But I've had plenty of time to come to terms with it. You, on the other hand, are still in the existential angst part of your journey. 'What am I? Where do I belong? What do I do with myself? How should I use these powers? Did I even deserve to half-survive? Should something like me even exist?' these questions and more keeping you up into the wee hours of the night. Am I close?"

"Dead on, actually," Danny said, his shoulders sagging. "I haven't been sleeping very well lately."

Vlad put his hands behind him and leaned back slightly on the bed.

"Well that's in part because you simply don't need as much sleep as you once did," Vlad noted. "The more time you spend in your ghost form, the less sleep your human form needs. It's all to do with the delegation of energy. 

"Ghosts and humans regain energy and use energy in ways that are too different to be compatible with each other. Your human brain, body, and internal functions can't consume energy when you're in ghost form, so you don't need to recharge as much in human form, and vice-versa. You may have noticed you don't get hungry as much as you used to either."

"Yeah, actually," Danny confirmed, a little incredulous.

Vlad smiled at him. "I had to figure all this out on my own, but if you accept my help, you won't have to go through all the trial and error that I did. I'm more than happy to teach you. 

"I'm only planning on staying in Amity park for a few days because I do have to get back to my business eventually, but I'll give you my contact information, direct line so you won't have to go through my assistants. That way, if you have any questions, or need help with anything, you can reach out to me, and I'll do my best to answer any question you may have."

For a long moment, Danny just stared at Vlad, like he was trying to see through the thick layer of make-up on his face to the scars beneath. Vlad inhaled deeply and tried not to squirm under the teenager's gaze.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Danny asked. "Just 'cause you're friends with my parents? You barely know me."

"For the same reason you were willing to open up to me, even though you don't have any memories of me before today, I suppose," Vlad answered with a shrug. "It's... it's a relief to know that I'm not alone anymore, especially after all the years. It's terribly lonely to be one-of-a-kind, isn't it?"

Danny nodded and looked down at the floor.

"Besides, even if we don't know each other very well anymore, I'm still your godfather," Vlad reminded him. "I do rather have a responsibility to be nice to you, even if you were a wretched, awful boy, which, thankfully, you don't seem to be."

The not wretched, not awful boy chuckled softly.

"Now, is there anything else you want to talk about?" Vlad asked. "It's getting fairly late."

Danny shook his head. "But uh... thanks for coming all this way just to talk to me."

"I would have flown in from another country," Vlad assured him. He stood up from the bed and straightened his clothes. "Would you uh... like a... hug or something? Physical affection isn't really my forté, but—"

"No," Danny cut him off. "No hugs, thanks."

"Good, good," Vlad agreed awkwardly. "Ah!"

He reached into his pocket and took out one of his business cards. On the back, he wrote his personal phone and email address, along with the words 'direct line', so that Danny would be able to reach him directly.

"Hold onto that, reach out whenever you need to," he said, handing the card to Danny. "Might I suggest that, now that you don't need as much sleep as you used to, you use the extra time to work on your homework? Your parents tell me your grades have been slipping since the accident, and while that's perfectly understandable, you really ought to try to maintain at least a 'C' average. 

"Trust me, you don't want to be in high school any longer than is absolutely necessary, I assure you. Your life will improve dramatically after high school graduation, and anyone who says 'high school is the best years of your life' is an idiot of the highest caliber. I spent a good portion of my college years hospitalized, and it was still better than high school. You do not want to be held back a year."

"Noted," Danny said, looking vaguely horrified at the prospect. "I'll get going on that homework."

Vlad nodded curtly and left the room. He headed down the hall to Jack and Maddie's bedroom, but of course they hadn't gone to bed yet, so instead he headed down to the lab to say goodbye before he went to his hotel for the night. They had offered him their couch, since they didn't have a guest room, but he had politely refused. It wasn't as if he needed to save money on this trip, and the four-star hotel he'd found was much more comfortable than their old, stained couch.

"Still working into the wee hours, I see," he commented when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Vladdie!" Jack greeted, boisterously as always. "How did it go with Danny."

"It went very well," Vlad replied. "After I told him about my experience, he was willing to open up to me about his—although as I expected, he asked me to keep it between us. Still, I think you'll find his demeanor will start to improve now that he had some one he can relate to. He'll probably never be exactly as he was before, but no one ever is."

Maddie stepped over and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "Thank you Vlad, truly," she said into his ear, and he blushed so hard he feared that Jack might see it through his many layers of foundation. "You're a life-saver."

He cleared his throat when she let him go. Even after all these years of being happily friends with her and Jack, his feelings for her hadn't gone away entirely. They probably never would.

"Think nothing of it," he said. "I'm always happy to come to the aid of my god-children, and to you."

She smiled at him, and Jack gave him a hearty pat on the back that nearly bowled him right over. Another thing that hadn't changed after all these years was that Jack still didn't know his own strength.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I only came down for a brief chat and to say goodbye—"

"No! You're leaving already Vladdie?" Jack looked positively crestfallen.

"Relax, Jack," Vlad said. "I'm only going to my hotel for the night. I'll be back tomorrow. The three of us have a lunch appointment, remember? And I agreed to go bowling with you on Saturday. I'm staying in town for six days, you dope." He shook his head, though he couldn't deny it was just a bit fond.

"Oh, hehe. Right," Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "We'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Wouldn't miss it, Jack," Vlad said. "And it's been a delight as always, Maddie. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Vlad!" they both called up after him as he ascended the basement stairs with a hidden smile.

[jessilynallendilla]

DPXDC SUPERMAN AND CONSTANTINE FIC REC

TITLE/LINK RATING COMPLETED-WORD-COUNT SERIES

DP FIC REC HOME POST

let me know if the links aren't working and feel free to suggest any

& SUPERMAN 

Lex Luthor's Chance Of Fate  G 3,730 SERIES 

Years ago, Lex met a little boy at a tech convention. Some thirteen years later, they meet again. He's just as sassy as Lex remembers too. 

Two For One Special  T 12,583 

While in Gotham, Clark gets mistaken for Bruce Wayne. He's not alone in his dilemma, however, because a teenager by the name of Danny is also mistaken to be Tim Drake. At least Clark's having fun with his fellow captive. 

Oh Him? Don't Pay Him Any Attention He's Just Our (Resident Cryptid) New Intern  T 

Lois just wants to protect Danny, Clark just wants to adopt Danny, and Danny just wants to keep his job and NOT get fired. Jimmy Olsen wishes he wasn’t a professional photographer who could clearly tell that Danny Fenton is a spitting photoshop color reverse image of Danny Phantom. Perry White wishes he hired someone else. Needless to say, the Planet is a mess. 

You With The Sad Eyes  M 12,641 SERIES 

All it takes is an attempted kidnapping gone sideways for the Kent family to (eventually) gain a new member. Follow Jon and Clark as they try to unwind the mystery of the meta boy named Danny and all the secrets he keeps. 

Living Is Hell, What Else Is New?  T 5,546 SERIES 

A Connor Kent from a universe where Superman is a huge jerk arrives to the Like and Survive universe right in front of the Teen Titans. Kon takes his new identical brother home to meet his dad. 

Foundling At The Door  T 25,987 SERIES 

Kon had half a second to think so much for the quiet day before the tear in reality warped and twisted in ways that his mind simply refused to comprehend, bolts of green lightning arching out of the shattered mess leaving scars in the sky as a horrible after-image. And then someone fell out of it. A tiny, injured figure tumbled out of the break in time and space, plummeting to the ground in tattered hospital scrubs stained red and green. He moved before he could think, darting forward in the air to grab the battered body, not caring what else might come out of the ominous tear in reality above them. Elle escaped the GIW, if barely. Unfortunately the portal she created has sent her not to the Ghost Zone, but an entirely new dimension - one that doesn't have enough ectoplasm for her to survive, let alone leave. Badly injured and surrounded by strangers, the best option she has of surviving is going along with the assumption that she's a Kryptonian, whatever that is. At least Not-Danny and his boyfriend are nice. 

The Cryptid Of Smallville  G 

Danny gets de-aged and Clockwork sends him to the Kent’s because they’re used to raising superpowered children and time moves different on their Earth. A collection of connected one-shots surrounding the ten years Danny lives with the Kent family. 

Star Child  G 1,291 SERIES 

Although Martha lost her unborn baby, that doesn't stop her from being a mother. Nor does it stop her from showing kindness to strangers. She is surprised to see how one stranger shows his appreciation. 

Tomato Farms And Runaways  G 1,511 

It's amazing how much money merchandise can get you, enough to per-se... get way. Enough to leave behind a bad situation. It's not like he wanted to leave home, but with his parents finding out about the accident, and him being Phantom, there were no other choices left for him. Not with his parents on the loose looking for the "ghost who kidnapped their poor son and impersonated him". And after all, he could use a break. They all could. Him, Sam, tucker, jazz. 

Just the Typical Weirdness  G 6,622 SERIES 

Just a little ficlet with the idea of "Esperanto is Ye Olde Kryptonian" 

Get That Out Of Your Mouth (You Don’t Know Where It’s Been!)  NR 

Spring break, really just a great opportunity to try for the, well, who really knows how many times, to try and map out the Ghost Zone! Unfortunately for Danny, this little field trip of his has taken him much farther from home than expected. In a place that is simultaneously very different, and very similar to his world, Danny Fenton is trapped in Metropolis, powers weak and his own self following after, he needs to either find a way home, or a new source of the ectoplasmic energy he’s living off of. Meanwhile, in the home team, Lex Luther’s change of heart has everyone on high alert, especially as the lives of teenagers become pawns in a dangerous game of chess. Robin and Superboy, Superman and Red Robin, are all pressed to prevent such a catastrophe before it’s too late. 

& CONSTANTINE 

It's Hard To Make Friends When You're Half In The Graveg 886 SERIES 

For the record, neither Barry nor Oliver know how a teenaged Eldritch Abomination got into headquarters. They do know, however, that it's obviously Constantine's fault. 

A King's Gamble  G 

As tensions grow between Phantom and Plasmius, both vying for the title of King heir, the instability of the Ghost Zone affects Earth, pulling a reluctant John Constantine into the world of ghosts and ghost hunters. 

Beach Day Demons  G 4,823 SERIES 

John Constantine mistakes Danny as a possessed teen while he’s on his break to the beach. Chaos ensues! 

Afterimage  G 2,277 

The Justice League are having trouble with a ghost and Constantine really want to deal with it before the ghost's king comes to collect his wayward subject. Bruce thinks it sounds like a good solution for someone to come and collect the untouchable enemy until he suddenly, horrifyingly, doesn't. Barry let out a yelp and Bruce instinctively flinched backwards as he could feel his skin tingling, hands spasming, muscles twitching, and hear stuttering in his chest as the electricity in the air surrounding them increased increased increased. 

“The king has arrived,” Constantine choked out through clenched teeth. 

Really, Danny just wanted to take Skulker back to the Zone. 

Danny What The Fuck??  T 3,731 

Phantom is almost comically overpowered compared to the Justice League on account of not only being a boy king of an alternate dimension, but also because he fought creatures from said alternate dimension and whilst Constantine did that too -on a rather unfortunately regular basis- he didn't fight Darkside level threats on his own at fourteen years of age. Hence how overpowered Phantom was. But he was also still a boy, which might be how Constantine found himself looking down the barrel of a gun. 

Hellblazer And The Phantom  T 

After John Constantine finds himself in Amity Park, Illinois (courtesy of the House of Mystery), he learns about the ghosts of the town, most notably the Ghost Boy, AKA Phantom. When John is strong-armed by the Fentons into helping during a ghost fight, a wayward spell hits Phantom, erasing all memories he has of his human life. Considering the alternative is letting the Fentons experiment on him, John takes the young ghost kid under his wing. However, both of them are in over their heads as they try to get Danny's memories back, and Constantine is NOT father potential. 

Surprise First Meetings With Eldritch Beings Are NOT Fun.  T 1,909 SERIES 

People go missing all the time. It’s a sad fact but true. So it doesn’t catch the Justice League’s attention in the beginning. But when bodies start to be found in failed summoning circles, it finally pings on their radar. Bad news, they can’t tell who, or what, the cultists are trying to summon. 

Be Not Afraid (Or Whatever)  G 1,192 SERIES 

The weather god- though Constantine swore it was 'just' a ghost- had pinned down the entire Justice League. While they'd managed to trap Vortex in a two square mile area and evacuate civilians, and even arrested the cult responsible, they in turn were trapped in a small warehouse, protected only by the blood blossom spray and salt circle Constantine made. Enter the terrifying and awesome (and Barry means that in the biblical sense) Ghost King, stage right. 

Dimensional Sector D3C8QX9 And Why It Sucks (Less Than You'd Think)  T SERIES 

"…Wait. Oh. Oh, no. Oh, fuck. It's that dimension. Why'd have to be that dimension? Urgh, getting back is gonna be such a pain!" 

The Leaguers present exchanged unnerved glances. An eldritch abomination they couldn't contain nor defeat being angry about their stay didn't exactly bode well. 

"What do you mean?" 

The endlessly black eyes singled in on Barry, making him shrink back. For some reason, he doubted even he'd be fast enough if the being in front of him decided to hunt him down. 

"What I mean" it said with a grin willed with too many teeth and too little emotion "is that I'm stuck here for now. And you better buckle up, buddy, because I just decided just now to make it everyone's problem." There was a pause in which the eery glow around the being pulsated. "I'm so going to find whoever did this and move all their furniture two inches to the left." 

Wait, what? 

The Impossible Summoning  G 8,530 SERIES 

There's a new Ghost King in town, and among those freaking out from this news is the Justice League, who want to know if this is something they should be concerned about. Fortunately, John Constantine and Zatanna Zatara are on the case and have a copy of the ritual to summon the ghost king. However, someone, possibly the Ghost King or the ritual's author, really doesn't want the summoning to work. 

Pay Your Dues  T 

For Bruce, the beginning of the end began on an unassuming day in April. Or... John Constantine gets arrested and is sent to trial in the Infinite Realms. Somehow, Bruce's life is worse for it. 

John Constantine Goes To Amity Park.  T 14,811 

John Constantine goes to Amity Park and meets the Fentons. 

The Time I Got Summoned To A Different Dimension To Help Batman's Son  NR 2,129 

Danny became the ghost king after defeating pariah dark. He never really thought of any consequences to that, other than being a ruler of the dead of course. Which meant even less time to sleep and study for school, but still, that was the only downside to being the ghost king. Or, well, at least as far as he bothered to think it through. So yeah, he's quite surprised to find he can be summoned now. And also surprised to be finding it out as he's summoned away from his house to some meeting hall surrounded by people in weird costumes. Yeah, maybe he should also be surprised that apparently the summoning can work across dimensions 

Family Leave  NR SERIES 

He knows he can leave his kids unsupervised in his house. He's done it before. And sure, he has a lot of unexplained incredibly powerful objects just lying about. But his kids aren't stupid. One of em's even in his twenties. Not to say they aren't dumb. They're definitely dumb. They're just not stupid. They'll be able to handle themselves.... ? Nevermind. He's not leaving the house unless the dimensions are colliding. Fuck Gotham, fuck Batman, and fuck the League. No way. Shit. It's mandatory. 

There's Ghosts Haunting The House Of Mystery  T 1,792 

Constantine has an unexpected guest show up to the House of Mystery, funny thing is, he can't find them! Now if only the three suspicious looking ghosts in his living room knew where their guest mysteriously ran off to... 

Constantine's Tournament  G 2,582 

John Constantine is far from the first person to try to worm his way out of consequences by selling his soul to multiple entities. Too bad he doesn't figure that out until he sells his soul to a random teenager. 

The Peacock Chronicles  T 5,418 SERIES 

John Constantine needs help closing up a Lazarus Pit in Gotham. Danny Phantom can close up Lazarus Pits. This should be a perfectly straightforward arrangement between two people with the same interests in mind- unfortunately, Danny's intentions end up just a tad lost in translation. Constantine should've known doing a favour for a guy like Batman would be a mistake. 

Good Ol' Uncle John And His Ghost Nieces And Nephews  G 3,176 SERIES 

John Constantine is Uncle to 4 kids, maybe more. He just wants a smoke and a drink. They just keep causing Chaos. Once they sent the house to the Ghost Realms. That made him late for work. Not fun. 

Amity In The Ghost Zone  T 

What if Amity Park got stuck in the ghost zone after it was teleported? The city doesn't return on its own after Pariah Dark is defeated. Without knowing how to get the whole city back to the living world, Danny tries to evacuate the residents but most Amity Parkers don't really want to leave. Some people do, but many decide to stay. After all, Amity Park is their home, and the idea of having to start over somewhere new isn't very appealing. So the town, for the most part, continues on like normal. In the words of the great philosopher Dr. Ian Malcom "Life, uh, finds a way." 

Of Gravestones And Names  NR 4,862 

John Constantine didn’t know how he ended up as a father of two eldritch abominations but here he is making Mac n’ Cheese for the two horrors. 

Like A Lamb  G 1,376 

John Constantine would never call himself a kind man, much less a good man, but the kid at the corner table of this fast food restaurant was making him want to be both. Not that John’s kindness would really help the kid, in the long run. 

Daniel Wayne - Escape From Fenton: The Infinite Realms  NR 1,720 SERIES 

John Constantine hates scientist, especially ones who cut the fabric of reality to open the a gateway to the Infinite Realms. He also doesn't like the government. And he barely puts up with the Justice League. 

Debts Always Come Due (And Sometimes That's A Good Thing)  M 

After years of playing off one demon against another so that, even with selling his soul multiple times, none can actually claim it, John Constantine finds out that one of his ancestors royally screwed him over and his soul is now the property of the Ghost King. But things don't go QUITE how he expects. 

A Little Accidental Adoption Never Hurt Anyone! Right?  T 

After Constantine meets the supposed High King of the Infinite Realms, they make a deal. It helps them both out, but neither seems to realize it's not just a deal anymore...well except Clockwork, but he's leaving them be for now. Or Constantine accidentally adopts Danny but doesn't realize it anytime soon. 

I Just Wanna Talk  G 

Danny is the inter-dimensional personification of the IRS for Death and the Unliving, and he just has a couple questions. 

Contractual Obligations  T 114,383 

Danny is doing his kingly duties when a demon breaks into a meeting demanding the king’s soul. Now Danny has only a few months to find his birth father and nullify this soul contract or else he becomes a slave to the demon on his 16th birthday. 

The Family  T 

The death of a necromancer caused some of his more sentient belongings to go berserk and the JL is called to clean up. They unearth an ancient scroll from the magician's residence and Justice League Dark is called into investigate. But why does it look like they want to move to the other side of the galaxy? 

Constantine, John  T 1,545 SERIES 

Danny muses on the enigma that is John Constantine and his relationship with the man. 

Who's Helping Who?  NR 4,815 SERIES 

Concerned about rising signs of villains co-conspiring to create a hefty summoning spell, Batman and select members of the Justice League decide to gather information with a summoning of their own. Danny Phantom's been missing from Amity for weeks. His friends have been scouring beneath the surface of the infamous GIW, but any traces of Phantom have been buried deep. Too deep for them to follow. But when Danny feels the pull of an otherworldly force powerful enough to summon him through his binds and chains, he holds out hope for something better on the other side. 

If You Give A Bat A Burger  T SERIES 

Strange things are going on in Gotham: A series of crimes linked only by a sentence uttered. A drug that no one seems to be selling, but lots of people are taking. An old enemy reborn, or someone pretending to be him. Graffiti that can't be photographed by normal means. Bartenders disappearing without a trace. John Constantine is also there. Danny wants nothing to do with any of it. He just wants to sell burgers and survive. Actually, he'd like to go home again, but since that isn't possible, he'll stick with burgers. Gotham's vigilante's have other plans. This is why Danny doesn't do favors. 

Mentory Stable  G 1,162  

Constantine thinks that Danny Phantom should stay in Amity Park. The Justice League thinks that they should be allowed to help. One person gets the last word. 

Dressed For Death  T 

The list of people John Constantine feels bad for is relatively small. The amount of people who feel bad for Phantom is probably smaller. 

WELL, Isn't This A Bitch Of An Unsatisfactory Situation.  M 6,917 

When Danny had been asked where he went when he wasn't hero-ing, he had pointed at the Well. He'd been thinking of a place for a quick ecto-blob ghost snack; he hadn't realized Amity Park would believe that he was murdered and dumped there. He hadn't expected they would try to protect it from the GIW. Hadn't expected the local police to show up to investigate. And he knew he was in deep shit when it turned out that yes, there was a body down that well. Lots of bodies, in fact. Entire families worth. There's a serial killer loose in Amity Park, and if Danny wants to get the stupid out-of-towner heroes off his back and save Vlad, ew, then he needs to figure it out quick. 

Minor Miscommunication Makes Danny A Happy Halfa T 1,525

Danny likes keeping Amity Park to himself. The Justice League can bother some other ghost and leave his city alone. But alas, Batman comes with the dreaded words and apparently he's the Ghost Ambassador and not the King? Oh he might have some fun with this!

[scarabsinthestardust]

Better in the Morning // Ch. 15.1

MASTERLIST

CHAPTER WARNINGS: mentions of hospitalizations; injuries including but not limited to a broken leg, head trauma; medications; headaches; nosebleeds; nightmares; slight mentions of suicide/overdose; arguments; angst (but I promise there's some fluff, just bear with me!) Again, I am not a medical professional and have no formal medical training.

word count: 2600+

DANIEL'S POV

Sam stayed in the hospital for another week and a half after he woke up. He was out of the woods, but they wanted to monitor him in case there were any lasting effects of his head trauma. No matter how many times we were reassured that he would be okay, I couldn’t rid myself of the fear that I had when I thought I might lose him.

Our fight was still fresh in my mind, and I’d beat myself up over it and all the things I said to him for a long time. I don’t know if he remembered any of it, though. Granted, we didn’t have any time alone while surrounded by the Kiszka family at the hospital. But he didn’t seem angry at me. Not once did he show any signs of resentment towards me. That almost made me feel worse. He should’ve been angry. He should’ve been blaming me. But he held my hand and shared soft smiles with me, and it gave me some hope that everything would be alright.

He was finally discharged from the hospital and was more than ready to be out of there. His parents and sister had gotten a hotel to be close by, but made a point to not crowd him. I assumed Josh or Jake would want to stay with him, but when he asked me to, my heart swelled. He still wanted me there.

Sam was trying so hard to feel normal again, but it seemed like an uphill battle. He was frustrated about the difficulty he had moving around, wanting so badly to do things on his own and hating to ask for the help he desperately needed. I didn’t mind, of course. I wanted to take care of him, for as long as he’d let me.

He was struggling with brain fog and drowsiness, but he’d been assured that was normal during his recovery. He slept a lot and wasn’t eating as much as I would’ve liked; he was constantly nauseous as a result of the cocktail of meds he was on. He was resistant to the pills, refusing to take them until he couldn’t bear the physical pain anymore. I always offered them on the allowed schedule, though, just in case. The headaches were the worst. They were often accompanied by nosebleeds, and the pain he felt was so excruciating he could do nothing but lay down and cry. And I could do nothing but lay there and hold him.

He'd have nightmares about the accident sometimes. He’d wake up drenched in sweat and out of breath. At first, he never wanted to talk about them, but he eventually caved. He dreamt about what he remembered, which wasn’t much – the oncoming headlights, the smell of gasoline, and the feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach when he thought he might not make it out alive. I didn’t tell him I was having nightmares, too.

I couldn’t bring myself to ask, but I didn’t think he remembered calling me. On some nights after Sam was asleep, I’d listen to the voicemail again. I don’t know why I insisted on doing it to myself, but I couldn’t stop, much less make myself delete it. The message is fuzzy, broken apart by static and peppered with the pinging of whichever of the car’s warning notifications were going off. Some kind of hissing can be heard, like the sound of a busted hose, intermingled with Sam’s heavy breaths. His voice follows, cracked and fearful. He coughs in between words, and it’s clear that it’s getting harder and harder to breathe.

Hey, Danny boy. I think… I messed up a little… I don’t know what’s… gonna happen. So just know… I’m not mad anymore. I’m scared, Daniel, I’m really scared. I wish I was home with you, sn- snuggled up watching some dumb movie. I love you. I love you. I love you so fucking much, since forever, for always. I love you. Don’t forget about me. Take care of Rose, take care of everyone. Promise…

I think he lost consciousness then. His voice trailed off and all I could hear was static and the incessant dinging. Hearing his voice like that, imagining how terrified he must have been, made my heart feel like it was being ripped into a thousand little pieces. It made me want to vomit. But still, I couldn’t stop listening to it.

He sat on the floor of the living room, leaned against the front of the couch. It was a mystery to me why he kept doing it, as getting back up with a broken leg and a sprained hand was difficult to say the least. But no matter how comfortable I tried to make the couch for him, he always ended up moving himself down to the floor. “Don’t like the altitude,” he joked.

I tried to remind him when he asked me to hand him a guitar that his hand needed time to heal. He would have none of it. But when he tried to play, everything started barreling downhill again. First, he couldn’t get comfortable, and the joints in his hand complained with every movement. Next came the fumbling when switching strings or frets, and the frequent dead notes that reached my ears. He cursed and muttered under his breath but refused to stop trying. He swapped the acoustic for his seafoam bass; maybe he thought it’d be more reliable. He started strumming the first few notes of ‘Caravel,’ then abruptly stopped. He furrowed his brows and tried again with the same result. After a few more attempts, he squeezed his eyes shut and groaned loudly, bowing his head over the instrument, his messy hair hiding his face. “Fuck!”

“Sam? Is it your head? Maybe you should take a break-“

“I can’t remember,” he said, his voice cracking. He looked up at me, his eyes filling with tears. “I can’t remember how to play.”

Fuck. A million and one thoughts raced through my head. What would that mean for Sam? Would he have to relearn everything? Would he even try? And what would that mean for the band? I couldn’t imagine continuing it without him, and I knew his brothers wouldn’t just replace him. But even though it crossed my mind, Greta wasn’t my first priority. Greta Van Fleet didn’t matter without Sam in it. I worried that he wouldn’t be able to cope if he couldn’t play; he worked so hard to get as far as he did. He gave up college and astronomy to play music. If he couldn’t play… what happens next?

I tried to comfort him as he cried and as he hyperventilated through a panic attack. Rose nudged him, laying her head in his lap. I held him as close to me as I physically could and smoothed down his hair. “Sammy, baby, it’ll be okay. You’re still healing from a traumatic brain injury, and I’m sure all the meds are making you feel a little off. There’s probably a lot you won’t be able to do right away, but you’ll get there. You need time to heal, so focus on that for now, and let the music come after.”

“What if it doesn’t come?”

“Then we’ll figure it out. But it will, and you’ll be back to feeling like yourself again before you know it.”

He cried so much that night, which triggered another headache. After some convincing, he took a dose of pain pills. Right before he fell asleep, he mumbled something, so low that it was almost inaudible. But I heard him. “Will you still love me if I’m broken forever?”

My breath caught in my throat and my eyes filled to the brim with tears. I tightened my arms around him as much as I could without hurting him. “I’ll always love you, Sammy. No matter what. I promise.” He didn’t say anything else, and when I heard a light snore, I knew he was asleep.

~

Sam’s slow, clumsy movements as he tried to get up out of bed woke me up. “You okay?”

“Gotta pee.”

I started to sit up and rubbed my eyes. “Here, let me help-“

“No,” he cut me off. “I can do it on my own, I need to.” I could hear the plea in his voice to let him try. He needed to feel some semblance of independence where he could get it.

I nodded and laid back down, watching him closely for any sign he might fall as he grabbed the crutches and hoisted himself up. I relaxed when he made it to the bathroom okay, although I listened out in case he needed any help. I heard the toilet flush, but while waiting for him to finish up, I must have fallen back asleep. I don’t know how long I was out before I woke back up. The room was still dark, but Sam wasn’t in bed, and everything was quiet. I could see light seeping from under the bathroom door, and Rose lying in front of it. “Sammy, you okay?” My heart started pounding with anxiety when he didn’t answer. I slowly pushed the door open and called his name again. It felt like a punch in the gut when I saw him on the floor, eyes closed, leaned up against the bathtub.

I rushed to him, probably bruising my own knees as I hit the cold tile and placed my hands on his cheeks. “Sam? What happened? Are you hurt?”

His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. “I’m okay, Danny boy. Just tired.”

A sense of relief washed over me, and I adjusted myself to sit with him, just until he was ready to go back to bed. But the relief was quickly replaced with dread when my knee touched something on the ground. An empty pill bottle. I snatched it up, now noticing a second one. “Sam, what the fuck… please tell me you didn’t.” He was slow to respond; my blood ran cold, and my breathing quickened. “Sam?! Fuck!” Call 911. I scrambled off the floor and rushed back to the bedroom to find my phone. I grabbed it off the charger but fumbled and dropped it. Sam called my name as I finally had it back in my hand and was running back to him. My hands shook as I started to dial the numbers, and he called my name again.

“Daniel, it’s okay! I flushed ‘em.”

My movements halted and I stared at him for a moment, trying to register his words. “You… you didn’t take them?”

He shook his head. “I don’t wanna take ‘em anymore. They make my brain fuzzy and I don’t feel like me. So I flushed them.”

“Jesus, Sammy.” I scrubbed my hand over my face and lowered myself back to the floor. I willed my heart rate to even out. This was fixable; we could get refills for the pain meds. If he would even take them. I’m sure it seemed like a good idea to him in the moment, but he might regret it next time he got a severe migraine. I didn’t see the point in giving him shit about it at this point. It was already done and there wasn’t anything that could be done about it right now. “Do you want to go back to bed?”

“Not yet.” He leaned his head back carefully on the edge of the tub. “S’ cold. Feels nice.” We sat in silence for a while until he said, “I’m sorry.”

I thought he was apologizing for tonight, for making me think he overdosed. “It’s okay, you just scared me is all.”

“No. Well… that, too. But I meant for what happened before… before I left.”

It took me a second to realize what he was talking about, and I couldn’t hide my surprise when I did. “Oh. I didn’t know if you remembered that.” I kept my eyes trained on the ground as I thought about what I said to him that night, afraid of what I might find in his. If he remembered the fight, he might resent me for it.

“Are you still mad about it?”

“No,” I answered immediately.

“Would you be if all this shit didn’t happen?” He gestured to the cast on his leg. “It’s okay if you’re still mad at me. I deserve it.”

“No, you don’t, Sam. It was stupid and I acted like an asshole. I’m the one that overreacted-“

“Uh uh.” He lifted and shook his head. “I just wanted attention. And I was mad ‘cause I wanted it from you. I wasn’t flirting with that guy because I actually liked him or anything. I didn’t wanna hurt you, I just wanted to make you jealous.”

I stared at him in disbelief. I probably should have been pissed at his confession. Seeing him fawn over some tool at the bar and follow him around like a lovesick puppy had me livid. If all he wanted to do was make me jealous, it certainly worked. When I confronted him after the fact, it escalated into a full-blown screaming match. We both said so many awful things to each other that I know neither of us meant. But his honesty tonight was refreshing. So instead of being angry, I just laughed, earning a confused look from him.

“You know,” I started, “I love you, but you are such a fucking brat.”

It wasn’t long before he joined in, falling into a fit of giggles. “At least I’m your brat.”

Later on, once we were back in bed, snuggled up under the covers, he grabbed my hand that was wrapped around him and held it tightly to his chest. “Daniel?”

“Hm?” I fought to stay awake, tiredness threatening to take me under.

“I wanna tell them about us.”

I opened my eyes and stared towards him in the dark. We’d kept our relationship a secret for so long, and I couldn’t even remember why. I’m sure we had our reasons, but it all seemed so stupid now. A part of me sort of liked having it to myself, like what we had was just for us and wasn’t anyone else’s business. But the other part of me wanted to take this super important piece of my life and share it with the people closest to us. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

“Really?” He sounded genuinely surprised, as if he expected me to say no.

“I don’t want to hide it anymore.”

“Okay, good.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Do you think they’re really gonna be surprised?”

“Nah. If I had to guess, they probably already know and made bets against each other.”

“Hmph. Fuckers,” he snorted.

I chuckled, and I was so happy that he seemed to be getting back to his old self already.

~

It took three more days before he was willing to pick up an instrument again. He was anxious to even try, but with the right amount of encouragement from me and his brothers, he was back in the saddle. It wasn’t perfect, as he was still working on getting full range of motion in his hand back, but it was promising. After successfully hitting most of the notes in ‘Caravel’ and a few others, he was beaming.

“I told you it would come back to you.”

I was wrong to assume that the twins would have any inkling of my relationship with their younger brother. With eyes wide and jaws dropped, they bombarded us with questions. They were mostly baffled how we had managed to keep it a secret for so long, and right under their noses. I did notice that Kya didn’t seem shocked in the slightest; Sam would tell me later that Kya probably knew before we did. When the initial shock wore off, we received nothing but happy sentiments.

“If there’s anyone I trust to take care of my baby brother, it’s you,” Josh said as he hugged me tightly, and I was so grateful to be lucky enough to be a part of this family.

TAGLIST Let me know if you want to be added!

@hollyco @fleetingjake @musicislove3389

[leathergeek]

Your last story has really turned me on. I didn't know you accepted requests. In that case, could you do something about a former retired gangster, who takes over this body? He could be maybe his grandson or something.

https://www.tumblr.com/male-meat-suit/721875725153714176?source=share

Grandpa's New Groove

Jackie Resetti was a former mobster better known now as Jackie the Snitch for having given up his boss in order to live a quite life with his family in Witness Protection. But Jackie wasn't getting any younger so one day he dug out his momma's old spell book from the old country, he was going to steal one of his grandkids bodies and take over their life. He had been planning this for awhile, even giving the appearance that he may be loosing his mind to sell the transformation. He eyed his sexy grandson, Anthony, damn he was handsome, he couldn't wait to get inside his young body, all the girls he could fuck again.

When it happened it happened quick, Anthony, no in his grandfather's body tried to get him to change them back, he went on claiming that grandpa had taken over his body, the poor thing headed off to the hospital to have his faculties checked. Meanwhile Jackie was on top of the world. He got dolled up in his new outfit to head out and sow his wild oats.

What he didn't count on was that he'd take on his grandson's sexual preferences. Seems pops didn't know Tony was gay. In fact all the beautiful women he checked out didn't do anything for him as his dick refused to rise. Fuck, just his luck he thought, he considered giving tony his life back but knew he wouldn't have another shot at swapping again if he did. Nope he decided he'd give living as his gay grandson a shot, that was when he meet Danny.

A dancer at the club he went to, he was so damn h ot that he decided to see if they'd hit it off. They quickly did and Jackie soon learned Tony was a bottom and quite kinky. It was an amazing night and as Tony became the newest member of the retirement home Jackie embraced his young life, one guy at a time.

[blackwolfstabs]

30 Day Writing Challenge: Day 1

TRUTH

takes place the night Scream VI ended

It was over. For now at least.

Wayne, Quinn, and Ethan were dead. Kirby, Gale, and Chad were safe in the hospital, getting the treatment they needed. Mindy was staying with her brother, keeping Sam and Tara updated through text with any news from the doctors. And as for the Carpenter sisters…

They were back home—back at their apartment. Sam had just needed stitches for her wounds, while Tara needed stitches and a more-sturdy sling for her arm. The doctors had advised her to stay the night, because of her previous scar tissue from being stabbed in 2022, but she refused. She didn’t want to stay in a hospital ever again, if she could help it. 

The walk home had been pretty quiet, Danny doing most of the talking while Sam would respond to what was necessary. But after he parted to go to his apartment, it had been silent, with the exception of the sisters exchanging small-talk to make sure they were both okay.

But both of them were exhausted. 

As soon as they got through the door, Sam had gone to take a shower, as if cleansing the resemblance of her father’s actions from her bloodied body. She’d given everyone what they wanted after all—to be stained with the sin of murder, in a ghostface cloak, shadowing the reputation of Billy Loomis.

Tara wanted to hydrate herself a little before she got into the process of taking a shower. She had to be careful of the gunshot wound in her arm, which was still in a sling, and the rest of her cuts and stabs would leave her biting back screams of pain when the water hit them. Plus, the doctors had told her she was severely dehydrated from her blood loss in addition to crying and sweating. So, she sat alone at the table, sipping water and texting Mindy while waiting for her sister to be done. She could’ve used the bathroom she and Quinn shared, but using the shower after some random guy died with all of his guts and glory on the walls gave her the creeps. Plus… she had shared it with Quinn. That, alone, was enough for her to ditch the idea.

It was barely over 20 minutes before she could hear Sam’s bathroom door open. She quickly sent Mindy a text.

‘ gtg. Sam’s done in the shower ’

She left her cup where it was and excused herself from the table. She didn’t mean to, but she met Sam in the hallway right as she was leaving her room. 

Sam didn’t think twice about it though, going to put her clothes and towels in the laundry room. “You’re good to go take one, if you want,” she offered in regards to showering.

“Okay,” her younger sister replied. Beyond the wall she disappeared behind, she was questioned.

“Do you need any help changing or anything?”

For a moment, she felt a twinge of embarrassment at the possibility that getting her clothes off and on would be a chore. She hadn’t thought about that. But she didn’t really want to ask for help, even if it was her sister’s. She had just made somewhat of a statement that she was grown-up enough to handle herself.

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

Would it prove everything wrong if she had to be dressed like a child? “No, it’s fine,” she mindlessly replied, her pride faster than her rationality. “I got it.” 

And she left to cleanse herself. 

As for the shower-portion, all went better than expected as far as maneuvering went. Granted, her good arm was aching from being the only one available to wash her hair, but she wouldn’t complain about it. She got her shirt and jeans off with a struggle, but successfully, so it turned out, she was correct to say she could handle it.

That is, until she had to put her clean shirt on…

It was awkward and inconvenient, the pain in her arm leaving her barely able to shrug her shoulder. She had gotten far enough to have her head and right arm in, but trying to pull the rest on was nearly impossible. She was already so tired, so it just pushed her limits. Her face heated up in embarrassment, even though she was the only one witnessing this crappy job at dressing herself. And as much as she didn’t want to…

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

She yanked off the shirt with an irritated huff, threaded the comb through her hair, and left the bathroom with the top in her fist. In nothing but her shorts and bra, the crisp air conditioning of the late night cursed her carved up flesh, which was a bitch to deal with in its own ways. She brought herself down the hall, already looking for her sister. “Sam?”

“Yeah?”

She rounded the corner to find her in the kitchen. When she turned around, Tara held the piece of clothing up, sounding more tired than frustrated now. “Can you help me put the fucking shirt on?” She could resuscitate Wayne Bailey, just to kill him again for shooting her in the fucking arm. 

Having been drinking her own glass of water that she was instructed to drink, Sam gulped down her mouth-full and nodded as she wiped her mouth and came forward. “Can’t lift your shoulder?”

“Barely,” she snapped.

Samantha took the shirt from her but spent a moment in thought. She then dropped it to her side. “Why don’t you just wear a jacket? You can zip it up, and it’s not as difficult to put on.” Tara blinked at her like she wasn’t alert enough to process the practicality of that suggestion, which led her moving past to go into the younger’s room and get her a light jacket. But then she remembered…

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

She was doing it again—taking control of what isn’t hers to control. She stopped before she reached the invisible line dividing the hall from the rest of the room and turned around. “Only if you want to.”

Her little sister nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s fine.” As if they shared the same brain-wavelength, her own words guided her back to Sam’s actions.

Her older sister returned the nod. “Okay.” She glanced off as if the situation suddenly got awkward, “Are you finished in the bathroom, otherwise? I can take your clothes and put them in the washer, while you get your jacket, if you like.”

Tara held her injured arm close to her torso, her posture waning in her weary state. “Sure.” She started towards her room with a small gesture towards her sibling, “Thanks, Sam.”

“Mm-hmm.”

The rest of the late evening was rather quiet and calm, the complete opposite of the previous 3 nights. The two didn’t stay up too much longer, both barely able to stay awake long enough for their hair to dry. Sam excused herself first, then Tara followed shortly after. Mindy had reported that Chad, Kirby, and Gale all had a good last-round of vitals before they went to sleep, so the last two members of the Core Four were at peace knowing that.

Now, it was close to 1:00 AM, and Tara was still awake. As tired as she was, she couldn’t stop thinking. A thousand thoughts raced through her head about the past 3 days. The frat party, the fight, the convenience store, the interrogation, the planning, the rumors, the staircase, the screaming, the shrine, the sirens, the thrill, the plan, the subway, the kiss, the first stab, the chase, the heartbreak, the insults, the truth, the blood, the gunshot, the slip, the grip, the pain, the plea, the trust, the fall…

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

And then she thought about Sam and the strange amount of composure in her tired eyes as she laid her controlling behavior to rest.

‘ “I knew you could take care of yourself.” ’

It wasn’t that Tara regretted the fight she put up for independence nor did she regret anything that went down between them—words said and promises made. But now, she felt like there was an awkward or uncomfortable distance between her and her sister. She knew it was hard for her to back off, but in the same token, having her not right there like she had been for the past 3 days felt like an absence of security. 

Sure, she’d shouted at her.

‘ “It’s not about you! I mean you’re– you’re out of my life for five years, and then you can’t leave me alone for five minutes.” ’

Resented her.

‘ “She’s all the way up my ass. Like usual.” ’

Cursed at her.

‘ “Before you make the unilateral decision to abandon my college education and flee the fucking state!” ’

Blamed her.

‘ “Just drop it, Sam.” ’

Yes, she had made all of it up in between and afterwards, but now that she had gotten what she wanted… She felt guilty about it. She had just gotten so used to being abandoned—first by her father, then Sam, then her mother—that it was insulting to have someone back who didn’t stick around like they had promised, in the first place.

But she knew now… She knew everything now.

Tara shook her inhaler and put it up to her lips to suck in its medication. The soft glow of her night light struck her the wrong way—it reminded her of the low lighting in the kill-box theater. The end of her bed got under her skin—the last time she was at peace there was when she was with Chad after the party. The shut door made her feel cold—like she was confined and kept away from her sister like when Anika died.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to be alone anymore.

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

Not tonight.

‘ “I wanna be in your life, but only as much as you want me to be.” ’

‘ “I want you to be.” ’

She wanted to be close to Sam tonight.

Tara slowly sat up, keeping her wounded arm as still as possible as she used her other one to push herself up. Even with the medicine she had taken, pain still battered her whole body when she moved. Using her abs had the stitched area creasing, which made her wince with a soft whimper as she slipped off the mattress. She grabbed her phone and her inhaler, before making way to the door. 

The hallway was dark, as usual, the small light in the living room only providing enough light to see through the kitchen. Luckily, Sam’s room was only a few steps from hers. She went to her bedroom door and opened it quietly, trying to peer through the dark to see if Sam was still awake. 

Her sister had a soft night light like hers on the left side of the room, leaving the majority of the right in heavy shadows from her bathroom door being shut. As Tara approached the end of the bed, she could confirm that Sam was fast asleep. She couldn’t tell how deep she was in, but she could tell her wounds were bothering her from the way her arms were specifically positioned. On her right side, the blankets were kept just below her chest with her left arm limply crossed over her right, holding distance from the rest of her body. It reminded the younger Carpenter of the way a dog slept, but at least she had found peace after the hurricane of 72 hours.

Tara went around on the opposite side of the bed. She set her phone and inhaler on the bedside table and climbed up onto the mattress as softly as she could. Her sibling didn’t move or seem to notice, even as she shuffled her way under the covers.

And instantly, she felt a sense of relief that she didn’t know needed to be fulfilled. She felt safe and like she was sure they could move on from all of this.

‘ “I promise you, I’m gonna get so much therapy after this. I’m serious.” ’

She blinked at Samantha’s back, taking in her scent that was heavy on the pillow that she rubbed her face against.

‘ “We’re gonna get through this… Together.” ’

A feeling she knew all too well spread through her chest but became physical in the line of tears that clouded her vision. She’d blame it on how tired she was or an adrenaline dump… but for right now, for tonight… She wanted Sam.

Tara shifted closer to her sister to reach her arm around her waist and press her head against her upper back. She had to bite back a whine of agony to move her shoulder like that, but the embrace was worth it.

In contradiction to what she originally thought, Sam’s figure jumped awake beneath her touch and instinctively tried to move away.

But she tightened her hold to keep her in place. “It’s okay, Sam. It’s just me,” she soothed.

The other stopped, pausing for a moment as if she was still trying to wake up. Around the younger’s arm, she twisted enough to look over her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Tara glanced up at the partial hoarseness of her voice, finding her sister’s eyes glazed over with a hardened brow of concern. She had been sleeping hard, making up for the 72-hours-straight-sleep-deprivation they had endured, and she had just disturbed that. But all she could do was hold her gaze long enough to be honest. “I– I didn’t want to be alone…” 

Samantha blinked at her as she watched her eyes lower, clearing the distortion of sleep from her head. She shifted her weight, turning over to face her baby sister. By the way she refused to meet her eyes again, she guessed that she felt self-conscious admitting that.

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

But Sam didn’t see it the way Tara thought she did. She never had. 

“I’m sorry…” Tara whispered, moving her arm away now that they were facing each other.

“For what?”

“For waking you up.”

Her big sister shook her head. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.” She then tucked the feathered strand of the younger’s bangs behind her ear, before asking, “Were you scared in your room?”

Tara hesitated, unsure what the reason really was. “I don’t know… I just couldn’t sleep, because it didn’t feel right… being by myself.” Sam nodded, not questioning further, and she felt her touch leave. It made something in her chest twinge, as if she wanted to cry. 

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

“Sam?”

Her sibling kept her eyes. “Hmm?”

“Remember when I thanked you for letting me go?”

“Yeah.”

Tara could feel the emotions of sisterhood build up her chest and push to her throat. “Well…” She swallowed it back, but the tears that came into her eyes were inevitable. And she knew Sam noticed, because her expression changed and her irises jumped in a fleeting observation. “The truth is I don’t know what I would do without you,” she whispered, unable to strengthen her voice without having it break. “I wanted you to let me go so bad,” she went on. The words got caught as the memory of feeling helpless, desperate, and distraught behind their apartment door hit her—when she truly thought, for a moment, that she had left Sam to be killed off in the place they had finally started to make a home. “But I don’t want you to go away again… I don’t want you to leave me…”

It killed Sam to watch her start to break down. She never could stand it when she cried, but she kept quiet, nodding as she listened to what she had to say.

“I–” Tara tried to blink away the tears, but they fell anyway. “I just wanted you to give me some space and trust me… But I never meant to push you away…”

It was then that her older sister took some action. She wiped her cheek free of the tears and placed her hand on her shoulder, careful to keep her touch soft as she rubbed it. “I know,” she told her, “I know what you meant, Tara.” Watching her suck in a quick breath, she gave her a small smile. “I couldn’t leave you, even if I tried. Seriously, you’d have to get a restraining order for a galaxy’s distance, if you wanted me gone.”

This actually made Tara giggle as she sniffled and wiped her remaining tears.

Sam then pet the side of her head, brushing away the disheveled traces from her formerly air-dried hair. “I know there are things that you can take care of on your own now—things that I wouldn’t let you do because I was too scared to let you. Not only because I almost lost you last year, but because I can’t forget the Tara I knew before I left 6 years ago.” Tara blinked at her, and even then, she could see those youthful, innocent eyes that she grew up with. The ones that used to be clear of trauma, hurt, and neglect. “But you’re still you. And I’m me. But now, it’s time for me to let you run, like you did, even though you didn’t have that choice.” She confirmed that decision. “I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a hypocrite.”

Tara stared at her, a smile growing on her face as she added, “Most importantly, you’re my sister.”

And that was something no amount of fighting, running, or trauma could destroy.

Sam nodded. “And I always will be.”

The two exchanged a smile before they went to settle for the night. Tara shuffled closer to Sam, enough to be secured in her embrace as she ducked her head beneath her jaw. Sam let her arm guard her baby sister around the back, letting her chin rest on top of her head. She released a settling sigh as Tara gently nuzzled herself into a comfortable position, closing her eyes to resume the peace of night.

The younger Carpenter relished the warmth that secured her. She felt much better, now that they both understood what the truth actually was. She knew that it was okay to be independent but still need help sometimes. She knew it was okay to cry but still be strong. She knew it was okay to run as far as she pleased but still come back home. 

She breathed in her big sister’s scent, the one she’d known forever. 

‘ “You have to let me go.” ’

“Don’t let go,” she whispered.

Sam felt her shirt be held in Tara’s grasp, but she didn’t move. She strengthened her embrace. “Okay.”

probably won't be able to update daily but gonna try

all of these are likely going to be either from Sam or Tara's point of view (few exceptions)

I really do my best to do characters justice and keep them as in-character as possible, but headcanons are a thing and I'm a sucker for them haha

All my best! ♡ - parker

[tallochar]

If the fandom keeps insisting on Ra's hitting on Tim for romantic / predatory intentions (this is not my read of what Ra's is up to but I know it is for lots of people and is a very popular trope currently) I would give a lot for this to go the same way any boy's interest in school over Tim went.

By which I mean: right over Tim's head and completely missing him in any and all implications (because that boy is utterly unable to clock when he is being flirted with) and being utterly ignored by everyone in the official narrative as if it is unworthy to remark on and perfectly straight behaviour.

Tim would sooner notice Danny is flirting with him, than Ra's is.

Also I'd love for Tim, with his charm and tact and usual savoir-faire to react to being told that Ra's is flirting with him with a confused "What? Eugh, no way, he is old." in that specific tone that manages to imply that not only is Ra's older than the dinousars but also that the idea is disgusting and that Tim pretty firmly believes that if a geriatric elderly citizen of Ra's age was to try and get it up it would take an industrial quantity of viagra and would probably end up with the senior citizen throwing his back out before sex happen and a hospital trip, also that is disgusting what is wrong with you?

Pretty much slashing through Ra's ego and making ribbons of it and destroying Ra's budding interest in Tim through injured dignity and a refusal to ever admit he ever even considered the boy anything more than a platonic heir at most.

[satashiiwrites]

Snippet Sunday/Summer Fic Preview

Wasn’t tagged but getting some writing done now that my social calendar is more open on this lovely Sunday morning. If you’d liked to be tagged when I post/update this fic, please like, comment or reblog and I’ll take that as permission to add you to the tag list for updates.

Happy Pride!

Title: Welcome to the Jungle

Fandom: 911, Jumanji

Pairings: Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, Robbie Nash/Danny Buckley, past Eddie Diaz/Shannon Diaz mentioned

Fic Summary:  From the concrete jungle to the actual jungle, five players will be summoned to Jumanji to save it from the wicked Van Pelt.

Rating: Explicit (sex, stereotyped villain, implied/mentioned child neglect) 

Tags/warnings: explicit sex, canon-typical violence, Jumanji AU, time travel fix it, slow burn, long fic, pod fic welcome, deviating from canon where it suits the story, canon timeline is a mess and we’re just not going to stress about it, author doesn’t do straight up adaptations, eventual happy ending, mention of divorce and canon character deaths, aged up Robbie and Brook, mentions of child neglect/abuse from the Buckley parents,

Mom is off somewhere, supposedly talking to his doctors, when the play therapist Tiffany stops by, announcing her presence with a happy little series of knocks and a smile. “Danny! How are you doing today?”

Danny likes Tiffany—she always remembers to call him Danny instead of Daniel, like Mom insists everyone call him because she detests nicknames. Tiffany also always has a smile for him when he’s having bad treatment days. She’s the one who snuck him in his favorite stuffed animal, a golden eagle he’d dubbed Aquila after one of his early babysitters had read him a book about constellations. Aquila is currently standing guard over Evan’s crib since Danny can’t be there, which is more important than being with Danny while he’s in the hospital. 

“Hey, Tiffany. I’m doing okay.”

Tiffany’s blue eyes narrow as she inspects him playfully before she breaks and winks at him, and the smile returns. “Just okay?”

Danny shrugs. He’s stuck here, and they’d had the first hint of spring weather this week. He can’t wait to make a flower crown for Evan like Maddie had made for him last year. 

“Aw, buddy, I get it. Hopefully, the doctors will let you fly the coop soon.”

“Mom’s talking to them.”

“Well, I got a great selection of things to keep you busy while they talk. We even got a donation of a few of the new Game Boys yesterday. How’d you like one of those?”

“What? Really?” Danny perks up. “Which games do you have?”

Tiffany hands him a brand new Game Boy. “We’ve got a few games. Zelda, Mario, Kirby,” she says idly as she sorts through the cartridges. “We’ve got multiples of those but only one of this jungle adventure game, so it’s the only one if you want that one.”

“Jungle game?”

“Ju…man…ji? I’m not sure if I’m saying that right.”

“Let me see it. You said it’s an adventure game?”

“I think so? The label looks adventurous.”

“Give me that one and Zelda.”

“Here ya go. I’ll be back tomorrow to switch you out if you beat both of them by then. Stay out of trouble, kiddo.”

Rolling his eyes at Tiffany’s playful admonition, Danny puts Zelda in first as he’s heard a lot about it. Soon, he’s joyfully adventuring as Link and spends a few hours running around Hyrule. Mom comes back and leaves again, which she’s been doing more and more. She’s spending a lot of time with that one doctor—Dr. Barnes. 

Dr. Barnes is young and has been the biggest advocate for Danny getting a stem cell transplant. He also has the same blue eyes as Evan. 

Danny’s heard the nurses say that more than once. 

Link’s adventures prove to be preoccupying through the dinner hour, and Danny manages to eat a few chicken nuggets before refusing more food (hospital food is generally gross, but even they can’t screw up chicken nuggets). Mom checks in on him briefly before saying something about going to call Dad and then disappears again, leaving him alone.  

There aren’t any good cartoons at night, so he picks up the Game Boy again and decides to try the other game—Jumanji. The screen blinks, and drums echo through his room, startling Danny. It sounds like it’s coming from the walls, not the game in his hands, which vibrates synchronously with the increasing tempo as if the drums are coming closer. 

“Wow,” he says as the drumbeat climaxes and abruptly cuts off, the room silent around him. “This game is wicked.”

Text scrolls across the screen, and he reads it aloud, faking a British accent as it seems to fit the game’s mood. “For those who seek to find a way to leave their world behind, choose your avatar.”

[gregorygerwitz]

Sam Carpenter/Danny Brackett “I know you said I don’t have to thank you for rescuing us or being understanding about all the trust issues, but I want to anyway.”

Sam and Danny my absolute beloveds thank you so much for this. also... this is more than 5 sentences I'm sorry I just love them and think they're neat. I had to expand on the cute. SCREAM VI SPOILERS BELOW.

“I know you said I don’t have to thank you for rescuing us or being understanding about all the trust issues, but I want to anyway.”

The words earned her a little scoff, light and airy, unlike the last few days of their lives had been. It was barely audible over the sound of the water rushing out of the sink, a cheap thing connected to an even cheaper motel wall. None of them had wanted to go back to the apartment complex. Far too much had happened there, and there was more blood on the carpet than there was on her own hands, and with the cheap sink's low pressure, she was having a hard time even getting that off. It was closer to the hospital, anyway, so that they could hurry over if there was an update on any of their friends.

That was where Tara and Mindy were, probably bothering the doctors for every little detail about Chad and Kirby and Gale instead of getting their own wounds taken care of. It was where she probably should be, and where she would be, if there wasn't a million other things to worry about. There was the motel rooms to figure out, and talking to the school about Tara missing class, and all of the police's questions...

They'd handled all of that, and now Sam was trying to scrub the rest of the dried blood from her skin. She could worry about what was left in her hair later, after they figured out a plan for lunch - it would probably be greasy fast food, something they could pick up on their way to the hospital, cheap so they could get enough to make up for not eating as much as they should since all of the ghostface nonsense started up again-

"I said you don't have to thank me, because you don't have to thank me." Danny had refused to let her out of his sight since showing up with his backup that morning, with the exception of when they had to give their reports to the officers on the scene. He'd taken care of booking and paying for the rooms for the night, had talked to the woman at the desk so she didn't have to explain her current state, had hovered and leaned in the doorway while she scrubbed at her hands and arms with soap that would probably dry out her skin. She hadn't asked him to leave again, so he didn't, and she felt safer in the dim motel bathroom than she did anywhere else in that big city. "You know, the bloody look works on you. It might even be hotter than that cherry coke you came back in the other night...?"

Despite everything, the teasing made her smile, and then laugh. He was good at that, and she even let out the sound again while splashing lukewarm water from her fingers in his direction. It left little drop patterns on his shirt, turning the blue material darker, harmless and silly and everything she was used to her life not being.

"It was diet cherry coke, if I recall."

"Right. My bad."

[ send me a ship + 1 sentence and I'll write the next 5 ]