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atiyasnake · 2 years ago

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So I never expected to be googling a lot about clowns but here we are. I got inspired to write a bit of a blurb :p

After Freakshow Danny had less than positive feelings about clowns, but he pushed himself to face that fear and anger and he was so glad he did. Clowns allowed laughter and fun into what could be a difficult stressful life. They did it in different ways that had been cultivated throughout history. From Jesters that would be the only ones who dare suggest the King was a fool in his own court to a Clown making the birthday kid a balloon animal. There were different sorts of clowns too, with different acts and costumes.

Danny liked them. He respected them. He respected the commitment, art, humor, and skill that they had. Hell, Clown School was actually very difficult to get into and successfully graduate from. Painting an egg wasn’t as easy as you would think.

Danny had even met some ghosts whose profession when they were alive was being a clown. Some of them were the best of the best. Masters of their craft and he loved talking and hanging out with them. Getting to see their various shows and tricks. Even being encouraged to make some of his own. It had been freeing to be able to act goofy and fun. To let the inhuman side of being a halfa out in curious ways that enabled an act a clown would be proud to have even if he still had much to learn.

So when he moved to Gotham and learned about the Joker and the pain, sorrow, and rage that man caused all in the name of being a clown - it made Danny hate him with passion. People in Gotham were wary of clowns, they hated them. You didn't see much of merchandise for the profession. There weren't any clown employees really in Gotham. No birthday parties where a kid wanted one. No theater that would have any sort of clown-related performance. There was even a warning for passing circuses (which rarely visited) that they would be unable to show their clown act.

Any mention of a clown was met with fear, anger, and wariness. It was something that no one dared to talk about, no one wanted to talk about.

It made Danny feel twisted inside.

He hated the Joker. Not only for the evil and pain that he had caused in Gotham City but because he twisted something Danny loved. He had twisted it for so many people. Danny wouldn’t have any more of that, he couldn’t.

So with permission from the ghosts of Master Clowns he had known for years and permission from Lady Gotham herself, Danny began his task.

___________________

There were a group of children that had been kidnapped from a hospital by the Joker and his goons. With an evil smile only emphasized by the red-smeared makeup, the Joker had told them of their fate if his demands weren’t met. He laughed at how they would make wonderful decorations after his joke played out and would sure be a treat for ‘batsy’. The kids didn’t dare say a word or even a sound. It made the Joker annoyed for a bit and he didn’t let them leave until they smiled and showed that they were having fun. Only when they did, did the Joker have his goons take them away with too-tight grips and nudges with guns into their back No care for the pain or injuries they already had that were the reason they were in the hospital in the first place.

They were shoved into an empty dirty room and left there waiting. They huddled close, cold and scared. Hurting. There were men outside and they knew it would be impossible for them to leave unless someone like Batman showed up and rescue them.

But time crept by and no one showed up.

Much much later as the children grew to believe that they would never leave there was suddenly a faint twinkling sound in the room. Someone else was sitting in the room with them, in front of their huddled forms was someone sitting with their legs crossed.

They had tensed up and froze at the sudden appearance but there was something that kept the fear away. Which didn’t make sense to them because in front of them, in the dim light was a clown.

Clowns in Gotham were never a good thing. It was a clown that had taken them from the safety of the hospital, men wearing those painted white faces and red noses that had shoved them into the room. Except…there was something different about the person sitting in front of them.

This clown didn’t look anything like the Joker or the masks. There was no red nose or creepy red smeared paint in the shape of a smile, not even the dark makeup that surrounded the Joker’s eyes. Instead, this clown had a white star painted on their cheeks, the points of stars peeking out from the inner corner of their eyes while on the other side were small black-shaped stars. Other than that there was nothing else covering skin that showed warmth or eyes that were nothing like the Joker’s.

Even the clothes were different.

While the Joker had a vivid purple suit with green and stains that they didn’t want to think about, this clown had darker cleaner clothes that actually looked like what a clown might wear in a circus. The shirt was poofy with sleeves fitted at the wrists. The fabric was dark but sparkled and they could see star designs, it looked like the night sky. There was a white lace ruffle fitted around their neck. There was a white fabric tied around their waist that could have been a ribbon, meanwhile, their pants were black and fitted and they wore flat shoes. Nothing at all like the Joker, especially with white hair at the top of their head instead of green.

But still, the children had to be careful. The Joker played tricks, mean ones.

“Are you one of the Joker’s?” a small voice asked from their huddled-up group. It was Sally, a girl with cancer and a bandana covering her head.

The clown shook their head and scrunched up their face until their eyes were closed. It was exaggerated and made it clear that they didn’t like the Joker.

“Who are you then?” Joseph, a boy with a broken arm and a reputations for ‘falls’ despite his caution, asked.

The clown smiled and pointed to their cheek where one of the white stars was.

“Star?”

At that, the clown nodded enthusiastically. With the motion came the sound of twinkling like when the clown appeared. The clown smiled and tilted their head. They looked curious, pointing at themself and to the star on their cheek before pointing at the children again.

Star wanted to know their names.

The children looked at each other. Each of them could see the different injuries, exhaustion, and fear. But then they looked at Star who was sitting calmly with a gentle smile. Star was nothing like the Joker and so, quietly they introduced themselves. Each time Star listened closely, nodding at their names and giving each of them a little wave of hello.

After they were finished there was a lightness in the air and a few of the children had small smiles on their faces they weren’t even aware of. They didn’t feel so scared anymore.

Then Star looked side to side as if seeing if anyone was there before looking at them with a mischievous smile. They crooked their finger which wasn’t covered by any gloves for the children to come closer. When the children leaned forward Star pointed at them and to themself before making their fingers walk on the other hand. A question was on their face.

Star was asking if they wanted to leave.

“You can help us leave?” Nadia asked with a bit of hope in her raspy and quiet voice.

Star nodded with a confident smile.

The children hadn’t heard anything that showed signs of police or one of the bats showing up. Already too much time had passed. Tamara needed her medicine. Leo’s pain in his stomach was getting worse. The bandages and casts the others had in various places were getting dirty. They needed to leave but had no idea how to other than waiting for someone to come and rescue them.

But Star showed up.

Star stood up, much taller than them but not tall like the goons outside or the Joker. The clown offered a hand.

One by one, the children took it using it to get up from the floor. Each of them noted how warm and reassuring the gentle but firm grip was. Then Star motioned for everyone to hold hands and if they couldn’t hold hands because of casts or any injuries, Star diligently helped them figure out how. Once everyone was linked up in some way or other Star stood up straight with beaming eyes. Looking at them proudly as if the children had done something amazing.

Bryan was at the beginning of the chain of children and Star offered their hand to hold. There was no hesitation when Bryan took it and Star simply smiled before putting one finger to their lips in a shushing motion.

This time, the children did not remain silent out of fear.

___________________

It had already been two days since nine children were kidnapped from the hospital and the Joker had made his demands that were due in less than three hours. There were no clues left behind in the hospital. Even Batman had yet to stop by and tell Commissioner Gordan if he had an idea of where the children were.

Hope was dwindling down and it had started to rain. Already the lives of nine were weighing heavily on them. Commissioner Gordon was in a room with other detectives and Gotham officials arguing about what they were going to do. They were yelling when suddenly the door to the room burst open.

An officer stood there, her eyes wide in shock. “The kids! They’re here!”

With that, there was a burst of questions from everyone else and the officer clarified. She told them that a group of children had shown up at the front desk all of a sudden. Their names and descriptions matched those of who were kidnapped.

It was a mad rush to go and see the children with their own eyes. But it was no lie, Gordon saw them. All nine sat together as a few paramedics were checking over them along with a few officers who had some medical training as well. None of the children looked harmed. There was no sign of hidden weapons or bombs that the Joker was so fond of.

Each of their faces matched those of the children taken, nothing was amiss. There was no trick in sight.

Commissioner Gordan made his way around as the children were checked out. Surprisingly they were calm and showed no signs of harm other than in need of the medical treatment they were receiving at the hospital and the basic necessities of food and water

It was odd and when Batman stopped by, he had no answer for the police. Even with his stoic face, Gordon could tell that Batman didn’t know what happened either. None of the other vigilantes were involved in the sudden appearance of the children.

But the oddest thing was that when asked, the children told the police and even Batman that it was a clown that had rescued them.

“Honey are you sure?” someone asked a little girl named Sally.

Sally nodded her head. “Yeah and they even gave us a sticker,” she said and pointed at the simple sparkling white star sticker she had put on her bandana. There were eight more stickers that the other children had who said the same thing.

It was only after much haggling that one of them let Batman take a sticker to test it for anything harmful. But the results showed nothing that would cause any harm.

It was just a regular sticker in the shape of a star.

@echoednonny

DP x DC Of Clowns and Professional Pride

So we all like to make it that Danny hates clowns. After the Freakshow thing and the circus related trauma, it just makes sense. But what if he didn’t?

what if, in an effort to overcome his trauma related to the circus, he decided to learn more about them. Obviously not every circus is like Circus Gothica, so maybe learning about them would help him get not associate his trauma with normal circus things.

and it works

It more than works, he actually gets super into it. He loves learning about the history and the various acts. He even gets really into clowns, the different types, the different acts, the famous clowns, and the rules around being a clown. He even applied for clown college but didn’t get in. It’s surprisingly prestigious. He even managed to meet a few of the great clowns of the past in the GZ and really learned a lot from them.

Then he moves to Gotham

He loves clowns, but he hates the Joker. He hates the Joker because he loves clowns, and the Joker is actually a really shitty clown. Danny has a love of the craft and the Joker is just bad at clowning.

So, Danny takes it upon himself to mess with the Joker the best way possible.

By stopping him while being a better clown than the joker could ever hope to be with or without his ghost powers

#batty ghosts #Atiya writes #Danny is a clown that is visibly different from the joker #the joker is kind of like a twisted Auguste clown so Danny is a bit like a whiteface clown tho not with the fully painted face since that #too much like the joker so we have painted white stars instead.also whiteface clown r known for being the top rank or boss of Auguste clown #so its like joker bouta be scolded by a clown which is basically is tho danny starts small #space themes clown cause space obsession also i think it would look realllyyy pretty #im not a professional clown so i dont know all the rules and so on plz dont hurt me for inaccuracy im small and sensitive #sort of cryptid danny since hes upping the mysticness with his clown act #def gonna bother the bats with how there r no answers bout this new clown #prob be more and more sighting and appearances before theres a showdown and Danny shows up while the bats are there #Danny's clown persona is named Star and feel would be quiet playful vibes but ofcourse very mischievous #main goal is to ruin joker's plans. comfort hostages/victims. mess with the bats i guess but safely like a real clown would.#Star would def do some circus flips and shit to add to it which i think nightwing would love to see

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paganinpurple · 2 years ago

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AO3 Etiquette -UPDATED

Based on both decent and not so decent replies, I have made some changes to my original post below.

It would seem a whole new kind of AO3 reader/writer is emerging and it is becoming clear not everyone quite understands how the website community works. Here is some basic guidance on how most people expect you to go about using AO3 to keep this a fun community archive that funtions correctly:

As well as likes, kudos is for when the story was interesting enough to make you finish reading. If it sucked or was badly written, you probably left. If you finished it, you liked it - so kudos.

If you really liked it, you should try to comment. It can be long and detailed or a literal keysmash. Writers don't care, we just love comments.

No critisism unless the author has specifically asked or agreed to hear it (so use your notes to say if you want some constructive feedback). Even constructive critisism is a no-no unless an author note tells you it's okay. No, posting it online is not an open invitation for that. Many people write as a fun hobby or a way to cope with, among other things, insecurity and just want to share. Don't ruin that for them. I've seen so many authors just stop writing coz they can't handle the negative emotions the critism brings, and it's only meant to be a fun thing shared for free (pointing out tagging errors is not included in this).

Do not comment to ask the author to write/update something else. It's tacky and off-putting and will probably have the opposite effect than the one you want.

There is no algorithm, it's an archive. Use the search and filter function to add/remove the pairings/characters/tropes etc. you want to read about and it will find you the fics that fit the bill.

For this to work, writers must tag and rate stories. This avoids readers finding the wrong things and missing the stuff they want. I don't care how cringy that trope is in your eyes - it gets tagged.

The tag exception is if you don't want to tag a million things or spoil your story, you can rate it as "chose not to use warnings," and maybe tag the bare minimum.

Don't censor tags. How can someone exclude a tag if the word isn't typed out correctly? There are no content bans for terms so don't censor them.

If the tags are mostly content/trigger warnings, especially if they are things considered very fucked up or graphic, you might want to use "dead dove - do not eat" to ensure people know that you're not messing around with tags and what they get is exactly what you've warned them about.

Character A/Character B means a ROMANTIC or SEXUAL relationship of some kind. Character A&Character B is PLATONIC, like friendship or family.

Nothing is banned. This is an rule because banning one thing is a slipperly slope to banning another and another, until nothing is allowed anymore. Do not expect anyone to censor for you. Because of the tags system, you are responsible for your own reading experience.

People can create new chapters and sequels/fic series any time after they "complete" a story. So it's considered perfectly normal to subscribe, even to a finished story. You can even subscribe to the author instead just to cover your bases.

Do not repost stories or change the publishing date without an extremely good reason (like a complete top to bottom rewrite or an exchange youve written for going public). It's an archive, not social media. No one cares what's the most recent, only what fits their tag needs.

Instead of deleting a story you wrote if you hate it - consider making it anonymous or orphaning it so others can still enjoy it, without it being connected to your name anymore. If you still want to delete it, fair enough.

It's come to my attention that metaworks ARE allowed on AO3, which is something I wasn't aware of. So if you do post an essay or theory, please tag it as such so others can choose to search for it or exclude it. Art is also allowed.

The only reason this archive works is because NON ONE PROFITS. Do not link to your ko-fi or patreon or mention monetary gain in any way or you violate the terms and risk having your account removed. If anyone does link, it leaves the archive open to people claiming it's for profit and having the whole thing removed.

I KNOW there's plenty more I missed but I'm trying to cover most of the basics that people seem to be struggling with.

I invite anyone to add to this, but please explain, don't berate.

#ao3 #using ao3 #archive of our own #fanfiction #fanworks

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givemewallywestorgivemedeath · 8 months ago

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I see this and I raise you:

pretending to rejoin Helio's church, going to heaven and killing Sol

pretending to reunite with her parents, having a heart wrenching scene about it, and ultimately using it as a ploy to kidnap her brothers

And, what I think it's most likely going to be:

Brennan's fun little 'vulture dimension' bit (that he made as a way of making fun of them and giving a nod to their origins as DND players) being twisted into an OP plot device by Ally 'Nat 20' Beardsley

current theories about ally's character choice that almost made brennan quit:

hooking up with tracker

seducing kipperlilly

something with her parents

punching helio (again)

a poorly timed "hey girlie"

#im thinking they get a nat 20 and make the vulture vote for Kristen as president?#OR BECAUSE BRENNAN SAID THAT THE VULTURE WASN'T ON THE SCALE OF GOOD OR EVIL AND WAS IN FACT ON A SEPARATE SCALE #OF VULTURE TO NON VULTURE. MAYBE THE VULTURE IS A DEITY LIKE ENTITY THAT IS IMMUNE TO DEITY RULES #AND CAN SAY THE NAMES OF DEAD GODS #AND ALLY ROLES A NAT 20 AND MAKES THE VULTURE GIVE THEM A NAME AND RUINS BRENNANS NEXT FIVE EPISODES #fhjy spoilers #fhjy #dimension 20 #kristen applebees #ally beardsley #fhjy theory

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mrsparrasblog · 6 months ago

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Regency Ghost

pt 2

Regency Simon never wanted to find a wife after he saw how his father treated his mother. He was ready to let the Riley family name die.

Regency Simon doesn't care about the ton or the fancy balls he never attends.

Regency Simon, who still is one of the most popular bachelors in England due to his handsome attributes.

Regency Simon, who doesn't even go to the brothel like his friends Viscount Price and Prince MacTavish do. It's too much of a risk of getting one of the poor women pregnant and sharing his cursed line.

Regency Simon, whose only friends, Viscount Price, Earl Garrick, and Prince MacTavish, invite him to the Gentlemen's Club, and he goes there.

Regency Simon, who sees you walking through the streets of Mayfair and thinks you're the most stunning creature he has ever seen, and is immediately in love.

Regency Simon, who doesn't pursue you because of his beliefs, knowing you will be gone soon since a woman like you must have good prospects on the marriage market.

Regency Simon, who is just a man after all and needs to see you one more time before he forgets you.

Regency Simon, who goes to his first ball watching you from afar until you run away crying in the garden.

Regency Simon, who doesn't know the rules of the ton since he never cared and runs after you, trying to comfort you.

Regency Simon and you, who get caught unchaperoned, standing next to each other by night.

Regency Simon, who needs to marry you now or your reputation will be ruined.

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rxmye · 7 months ago

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" 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 , 𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐈 𝐁𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 ? "

𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐌 — ruin him or even break him, and yet still his thoughts will be solely devoted to you . .

nsfw / sixteen + / gender neutral reader / yandere content / oc x reader / knife play (reader cuts into his skin, he enjoys it) / blood play / submissive yandere / dominant reader / slight bondage / worshipping(?) / dacryphilia / marking (reader carves their name into him) / begging (he's really noisey tbh)

masterlist | requesting rules | character info . . . a/n: gotta finish the character info's before these fics guys . . anyways meet Elliot Bourne . .

The blade dipped into Elliot's skin, cutting the soft flesh, leaving a scar in it's wake, blood dripping from his torso, while his screams were muffled by the rag in his mouth. Drool escaping the corners of his mouth, while tears escaped his reddened eyes as you carved into his soft supple flesh.

Muffled whimpers for more, while his body rejected your touch, squirming at the feeling of your nails digging into his thigh, holding him still. He struggled against the binds, that trapped his hands—bruises forming from the rough feeling of the ropes that held him down—wanting nothing more than to touch your radiance in front of him, to feel the divine being in front of him doing whatever they desired to his worthless being.

His mind was rotten, filled with only thoughts of you, your touch, the filth that escaped you mouth—the way the knife felt on his skin—the way your nails dug deep enough to draw blood, leaving beautiful scars for him to cherish and preserve.

His throat felt raw, all the moisture dried as his body involuntarily buckled towards you, his eyes rolling back as he felt your fingers glide over the newly carved piece of art you've left on his skin—he grew more and more light headed as the blood escaped the fresh wound.

The rag fell from his mouth, tears escaping his eyes as he starred at you half lidded, he choked out plethora of i'm sorry's and thank you's—he wasn't exactly sure what he was sorry for—yet he knew he had to please you somehow, after you gave him this delightful gift.

He felt his stomach churn, a delightful feeling, as he watched you lick the blood off from your fingers, an involuntary moan escaped his mouth—he wanted to turn away—yet he couldn't, you were just so perfect, pristine, superior . .

He watched you smile, leaning down into the crook of his neck, before you sank your teeth into him—the pain was delightful—he sucked in his breath, his head leaning back, feeling even more light headed than before, he'd be fine with dying right now . . at your hands.

Elliot blinks slowly, finally waking up . . his body was sore, aching all over . . he was still in the place where you had last left him—untied thankfully—he leaned back, sighing, trying to muscle up some strength before he got up—he looked down at the wound on his torso, your name carved deeply into his skin, claiming him whole . . and despite his weak state, he couldn't help but giggle, blushing as he traced the wound with his fingers.

@ rxmye , do not repost, plagiarize, translate, or adapt my work/theme without prior permission and or confirmation.

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deadsetobsessions · 10 months ago

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Danny used to be a vigilante, firmly on the side of good. Like, illegally, but morally good.

Danny’s 100% sure that whatever he is now, it’s not good.

Is Gotham’s influence just Like That?

He was homeless when he got to this thrice damned city (literally, because Lady Gotham was so cursed) and now he’s… here? In a mid-level penthouse with a rotation of homeless kids going in and out of his kitchen and eating out his pantry??

Danny adjusted the cuffs of his dress shirt, making the conscious decision to ditch the tie. He’s a tall 6ft 4 now, taking after his Dad. His head smarted all of the time, hitting doorframes when he was being a bit clumsier than the normal ghost-like grace he had learned to channel as The Phantom.

The Phantom instead of just Phantom. Why? Because Phantom was the name of a teenage vigilante in another dimension. The Phantom, on the other hand, is an intimidatingly tall, deceptively kind, extremely dangerous kingpin.

Honestly? Danny didn’t even want this life. Like, he had no idea it would snowball like this??

He supposed that it all started when the Penguin was trying to snatch kids off of his block on Crime Alley. Not officially his block, of course, because Danny didn’t actually enter this city to be a crime-shadow thing. But he hadn’t lost enough of Phantom the Vigilante to ignore kids getting hurt. He still hasn’t, if he’s being honest. He flew into a frantic search, tracking down the missing kids to Penguin’s bar. The Iceberg Lounge. Apparently, he wanted the kids to do some menial tasks and what not. Danny, rage flickering through his core, intangibly went in and robbed Penguin of every coin and secret the man kept.

Then? Danny blackmailed the Penguin to guarantee his kids a measure of safety from the Rogue. That began the slippery slope into whatever it is he does now. Penguin was being kept in line by Danny’s threats, the grip he had on the Rogue’s weak points, and a wonderful bit of intimidation.

——

“What, you stinking phantom? I’m stickin’ to yer rules!” Penguin snarled, forced to his knees by invisible blob ghosts.

Danny, salty and pissy from the lack of sleep he’d experienced trying to keep Penguin’s men in line as a result of Penguin trying to test where Danny’s lines were, dropped the temperature to the point where Penguin started shivering. Considering the place was already cold- the Iceberg lounge lived up to its name- it meant that Danny was standing nonchalantly in a room that was negative twenty five degree Celsius in a sweatshirt, Danny was already making good on his natural intimidation factor.

“It’s The Phantom to you, Oswald.” Danny said, in the tone of someone saying “it’s the shit, to you.”

Danny narrowed his blue eyes, letting a tiny tint of ectoplasm make his eyes glow a bit in the suddenly icing over room.

“Your people have been getting on my nerves, Oswald. Roughing up kids is so… uncultured. Are you sure you’re a Cobblepot?”

Penguin snarled, the effect of which was rendered ineffective due to his increasingly violent shivers. Plus, Danny loomed over him without even trying.

Danny, annoyed and asking himself “What Would Dan Do To Intimidate This Guy?”, gripped Penguin’s shoulder and hauled him up one handed. He dragged the mob boss over to one of the booths, avoiding the bodies he’d dropped (non-lethally) when Danny first walked in to ruin Penguin’s night. He shoved Penguin in chair he iced over, because Danny’s petty and if he saw one more bruise on his kids at Penguin’s hands, Danny was gonna go full Dan the Murderer.

He at least allowed to room to warm up before laying into Penguin, though. He stayed standing. Hey, he had the height advantage to use. He could have kept Penguin kneeling, but it was probably god the best that the mob boss got some sense of pride back.

(Danny had no idea that sitting as someone loomed over you to lecture and threaten you was even worse than kneeling. At least with kneeling, you knew where you stood. But sitting? It leaves you horribly off kilter.)

“I told you to keep your people in line. Kids are off limits, Oswald.”

“I kept them in line!”

Never let it be said that Oswald Cobblepot had a normal functioning sense of self preservation.

“Really?” Danny jabbed his pointer finger lightly on top of Penguin’s trachea and allowed his fingernails to sharpen into Phantom’s sharper digits. Penguin tried to lean away. “Then why did they start a gun fight when there were kids visible on the street? Why did I see one of my kids get hit by one of your poor excuses of a bouncer?”

“I-”

“Don’t care much for your excuses, if I’m being honest. I let you mess around with the little projects you have, without even breathing a whisper of your secrets. Sionis would love to know how you double crossed him the last deal, yeah?”

“I- I’ll keep them in line!” Penguin stuttered.

“Well, I believe in second chances,” Danny bullshitted. Ancients, how was this even working? “So I suggest you make an example of the guy that smacked Hailey around before I make an example out of you, Oswald.”

“Fine! Fine!”

——

And with that, he got access to Penguin’s resources and men and more importantly, the corrupt police officers. He made Penguin “boot out” the pedophilic ones (in a very violent way) and kept the rest.

Then? Mr. Freeze froze over the god damn pipes and Danny had to intimidate and make a deal with the Rogue so he and his increasing roster of orphans had access to warm water.

In exchange for Danny’s restorative and, more importantly, unmelting ice, Mr. Freeze was now Danny’s… on-call enforcer?? When he’s not researching cures for his frozen in a pod wife, that is.

Danny was satisfied with that. He was! But then Black Mask happened, with the man trying to engage in a battle of wits with Danny over the control of Crime Alley which, at that point, was firmly Danny’s territory.

The thing is, Danny doesn’t play nice anymore. Why bother with pointless mind games when he could just…

——

“So, you’re The Phantom.”

“And you’re Sionis.”

Black Mask twitched at the name, gloved hands pulling out his guns. Danny sat on the counter, head touching mid cabinet, and sipped out of Sionis’ favorite mug.

Because Danny broke into Black Mask’s safe house and stole his quality coffee. The man’s eyes were wary.

“How did you get in here?”

Danny shrugged. “Walked.”

Danny held the coffee out of the way as Sionis unloaded a clip into his chest and lunged forward to slap a mask onto Danny’s face. After waiting a bit, as Black Mask’s smug triumph bled into shock, Danny laughed and, using a bit of his natural strength, tossed the guy off of him. He casually took the mask off of his face.

“Jeez, I’m trying to be nice, here.”

“So, you’re a Meta.”

Danny grinned. “Eh. And you’re a cult leader with a mask fetish.”

Danny tuned out the rant about the “true face of Gotham” or whatever, already bored, and sipped at Sionis’ coffee. The ass might be a psycho, but his coffee tastes were wonderful. Danny stood up, rinsed his mug, and turned back to Black Mask.

“You’re trafficking people. Kids.” He said, cutting through Sionis’ chatter. He was sly about it too, committing violence and torture in a way that would ensure obedience and fear. Danny probably would have never caught on, Black Mask’s schemes being so ingeniously created and executed, had he not kept a hawk’s eyes on the more vulnerable members of Crime Alley’s community. And the rest of Gotham’s vulnerable communities, of course.

“My, a wonderfully obvious conclusion. Now, Phantom, I have a proposition for you.”

Sionis seemed to have gotten his bearings back. Danny tilted his head at him, looking down.

“You can work for me,” Sionis said, before opening a laptop with video feed to one of his masked men or whatever holding a knife to one of Danny’s more fearless kids. Danny snarled.

“Or, refuse, and your kid will lose a finger for every instance of your defiance.”

“I told you not to touch the kids, Sionis. I don’t allow trafficking either.”

Black Mask chuckled. “Cut off a finger, Sadness.”

“Yes, bos- ARGHHHH!”

Danny watched as Mr. Freeze froze the goon’s arms before breaking them.

“I’ve got her, Phantom.”

Danny nodded at Freeze, keeping an eye on Sionis in case the fool bolts.

“So, what are your cards now, Sionis? You’ve sure pissed me off with nothing to show for it.”

And that was the last night anyone heard from the one that was supposed to be the King of Crime.

But Gotham knew the head mounted on a pike at one of Black Mask’s hastily abandoned bases was a warning, that The Phantom was watching.

——

Then he somehow got a gaggle of more orphans that were undead zombie “Talons?”

From there, he just obtained influence over the crime bosses of Gotham. Because his Talons kept bringing him heads and blackmail and his crime alley kids and Gotham orphans kept bringing him information for food and safety?

But like, Danny never wanted anything in exchange for the safety he provided. His core could give less of a shit whether he got anything in return. But he couldn’t convince his kids of that! They’re putting themselves in danger and ugh-!

Danny checked himself once more in the mirror. Ready, he stepped out into the night to wait for the Bats at his new favorite VIP spots.

On the way, he passed Ivy and Harley, who he waved to. Pamela worked under him because he controlled Gotham’s criminal underground (which also mean the official parts of the city considering the sheer amount of corruption) and influenced them into more plant friendly methods. His dominion over Undergrowth also helped immensely.

Harley? They’re friends. He beat up and crippled her abusive ex. She gave him therapy and stopped torturing people for fun.

Danny stepped into the back door of the Iceberg Lounge. No one stopped him. No one dared to.

He settled onto a velvet couch, nodding respectfully at the server that had immediately and nervously set down his mai tai. He glanced around for cameras and wire taps, before giving up and upping his ectoplasmic output to short any recording devices out.

He sipped his drink as he waited.

“Batman.”

“Phantom.”

“Oh, good. You didn’t bring Robin,” Danny said, watching Batman tense. “Kids shouldn’t be in places like these.”

Batman stayed silent.

“Come on, sit.” Danny gestured to the couch across from him.

“This isn’t a social call. I’ll stop whatever you’re scheming-” Batman growled.

“Oh my god, you’re so dramatic. Is this where Nightwing gets it from?”

Batman snarled.

“Sit, sit.” Danny rolled his eyes.

Batman stayed stubbornly looming. Danny sighed, allowing his voice to slip into velvet danger.

“I told you to sit, Bruce Wayne.”

“You-”

“I won’t repeat myself again, Bruce. You’re testing my patience.”

Bruce sat, wary and hyper vigilant. Danny sighed, settling back in his chair.

“You’ve heard of Red Hood, yes? Don’t answer that, it was hypothetical. I know you’ve heard of him.” Danny waved a hand impatiently. “I don’t really care why he’s setting up shop in my Alley, but he’s upsetting the other crime lords. They’re asking me to interfere.”

“I don’t work for you.”

“No,” Danny acknowledged with a nod. “But I could make you, if you push it. Politeness would serve you much better right now, Bruce, seeing as I am doing you a… favor. And since I’m not shouting to the world who you are under the cowl.”

Danny gave Batman a pointed, patented, mom glare.

“… Apologies.”

“Now, you might be wondering what that favor is.” Danny watched Batman’s cowled face carefully. “I thought you should know that the Red Hood is your “Jason Todd.’”

Batman was still. And then Batman leapt at him, snarling, “How dare you-!”

Danny caught the vigilante by the throat and squeezed.

Batman’s flurry of punches- which, mildly ow, those gauntlets kind of hurt- quickly changed to clawing and maneuvers to get out of the choke hold. Danny held steady, cutting off the vigilante’s air supply until he began to go limp. He’s not Superman. Danny will bruise and kill, if he had to.

“Are you going to listen to me now?” Danny asked mildly, emulating both Black Mask’s drawl and Dan’s effortless psychosis.

Batman gave a weak nod. Danny plopped him unceremoniously back onto his couch. He sipped on his drink once more as he waited for Batman to cough some sweet air back into his lungs.

“I’m telling you to get your little birds in line before I have to go hunting, yeah? Keep your kids out of danger, Bruce, and I won’t have to step in.”

“He- how do you know..?” The growl isn’t there anymore, and Danny felt a smug sense of vindication of having smothered it out of the guy. Woah, no, that thought was too Dan and too little Danny. Danny handed him a cup of water, which Batman didn’t drink.

Danny rolled his eyes and raised an eyebrow. “Drink. If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it by now. And as for how I know…”

Danny held up a beat up copy of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, filled with Jason’s writing. He tossed it to Batman, who caught it with blank eyes.

“Water,” Danny reminded him firmly, feeling like a mother hen. Batman gulped down his water, eyes flicking between the pages of Jason’s annotated book. Ancients, Danny couldn’t believe he annotated his book. A crime lord, like that? Well, it’s not like Danny could say anything.

Batman looked up at him, a silent demand- no, plea, because he’s not in a position to make demands- for an answer.

“Broke into his safe house. You should contact your fling, Talia. Seems like she dunked him into these “Lazarus pits” and told him you replaced him with the current Robin.”

Danny could see Batman’s emotional gears hard at work and honestly, he doesn’t have time for that.

“Now, we’re done here. You owe me one for the information. I’ll collect later.” Danny grabbed the Dark Knight, who stayed oddly unresisting (shock, maybe?) , and hauled him up.

“Tell Tim Drake to eat more. He looks too skinny.” With that, Danny dragged the Dark Knight to the window and punted him out. His kids were waiting on hot chocolate night and Danny had to go shopping for quality ingredients.

——

“YOU COULDN’T HAVE TOLD ME THE BIGGEST CRIME LORD OF YOUR CITY WAS THE FUCKING HIGH KING OF THE INFINITE REALMS?!”

“Hn.”

“BLOODY HELL, DON’T YOU GRUNT AT ME, YOU BROODY BASTARD!”

Constantine let out a scream. Shite, the king who held his soul contract was a crime lord. Great.

——

The reason intelligence and convoluted schemes and genius doesn’t work against Danny is because he’s got weird standards of what he’ll tolerate and the fact is that his normal dumbassery and mother hen tendencies cancels out and coherent thoughts or plans he might have had.

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