#adding the old reactions since i accdientally deleted the old version

[flashypunches]

Phantom was going to run, of course.

Sure, he won't make it too far, sure the Bats, or hell, even Damian, his only friend, would track Danny down after only days of running.

It reminds him of home, of running from hunters, from his parents.

Vlad had told him that he would never have to run again. Guess that was another lie.

The roofs were alive, stomps and murmurs running through the night.

Danny didn't gasp for breath, but if he needed to, he would've been panting like Cujo. Ancients, he missed that dog.

He flew up, searching for a place where he could hide properly to transform back, along with releasing Vlad from his thermos.

The wind was cold, hitting his skin and making him numb. Danny didn't bother to go intangible, a waste of the limited power he had from being so starved of ectoplasm, having to depend on the small portal Vlad had and the corrupted atmosphere of Gotham's streets.

It was, as always, Gotham. Something in the city was festering, cracking his core, crawling in his guts, eating him from the inside out. It started months ago, almost a year ago, when Vlad had dragged Danny from the cold metal lab to the frigid concrete city. Trading another hell for something else entirely.

Phantom needed to go back to human, he was going to fall out of the sky if he didn't.

His form was unstable, not like Dani's, but unstable from just lack of use. His invisibility sometimes dropped, his ectoblasts began to short circuit, Gotham was killing him.

Phantom's mind was brought to Damian's house, before the reality set in. Damian had told his family, and sure, he was expecting it, but that also ruled out going to him for any sort of help.

He scanned the top of the city once more, spotting an alleyway. Bingo.

Danny soared down, careful to not slam straight into the dirt and concrete, stayed invisible, listening for anything that could signal a Bat's appearance.

Nothing but the gunshots of a local gang-fight and the scurrying of rats.

He dropped his ghost form, hiding behind a trash-can as the bright light covered him.

Wooly socks greeted his eyes as he blinked away sleep. Danny did not miss his late nights of ghost fighting, and this was just reminding him all about it.

The thermos rattled.

Daniel sighed, reaching for the can, fingers on the cap. Maybe he didn't need to release Vlad.. No. Daniel remembered how it felt before, crammed and enclosed. That'd probably remind Vlad of the hospital. Like how all he could think of inside the thermos, was the portal.

He couldn't make Vlad relive that, no matter how much of a fruitloop he was.

Daniel sat down, leaning against the dirty bricks and grime covered floor.

-

God, why couldn't Damian become friends with someone whose godfather wasn't suspected of abusing his meta powers for his company.

Red Robin was still on the rooftop of the suspect's home, trying to find out what that ray of light was, and how Vlad Masters had escaped, all to no avail.

They had already started on replaying the recordings, with the only advancement being someone, most likely Damian's friend, whispering to someone.

But no one had been on the roof. But then again, where could that light have come from?

He scanned Gotham City's skyline once more, hoping that he had somehow missed something, despite his eyes combing every block.

A flicker of white hair, gone in a second too late for Nightwing not to miss it, greeted him.

He alerted the comms, ringing out a, "Hey B, I think I found something, mind if I go out?"

A grunt was all he got in return, but Nightwing grinned at the confirmation.

The view of the buildings as he flipped around the city never got old. But even with the sight, he kept his eyes on the flickers of a flying meta in a black jumpsuit, most likely attached to the case of Vlad Masters, from their matching pale hair and ability to fly.

Nightwing followed the kid across alleys, watching as they scanned the city, looking for something— a place to hide?

The kid slid into a street. Nightwing watched as Danny lost the light, heading right into the darkness. He swooped right in after, but was blinded by the flashing light that followed the kid.

-

Daniel rose from his place on the ground, adrenaline surging into his veins.

Someone was watching him, someone was there, searching for him. Someone knew who he was, they must've watched him transform.

Not for the first time, Daniel wanted to scream , scream until his throat tore itself out, scream out everything else, and take away what Danny had made, an unwilling heir of a company he condemned, a hateful godson to an even more vile godfather.

Instead, he snuck further into the dark shadows, hopeful that the striped hero would get tired and go away, despite knowing that this could only end in confrontation.

Ancients, did he hate Gotham sometimes.

old version: https://www.tumblr.com/sunnysolaria/755142234499940352/ya-missed-being-in-the-thermos-plas-not-loud?source=share

( REUPLOAD I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED IT im so sorry )

You're someone who's held great resentment for your godfather.

For your first meeting, for his ego, for his murderous intent towards your father.

For his failure to provide comfort or understanding when your parents refused you as a son, when your friends have left you as a corpse.

You suffer through long years, sticking with him through thick and thin, because he’s the only one like you, the only other Death refused to take.

( The daughter he made, the cousin you mourned, Dani, is gone. She will not return to either of you. It is always his fault. )

Because he’s all you have left. The only one who wouldn't refuse you.

He moves you to a city that matches your dreary state. Vigilantes take residence, closing in on crime. Closing in on your godfather.

Vlad leaves. He doesn’t take you with him.

He leaves you his wealth, a place in a school that makes you miss home, and an order to never speak to the ones who made him run– the Waynes.

He doesn’t return. Never properly. You make due with phone calls and brief visits every now and then. You don’t mind, you preferred this more than his haphazard attempts at providing companionship when it was too late.

Your schoolmates does not like you. That is okay, even if it leaves you longing for friends.

( Sam and Tucker are in Amity and will stay there until they die. They would never come and visit a corpse like you. Not when you desecrate their friend's body, parading it around, like you're him. They know who you really are. They've always known, they just couldn't see sense before. )

But you find someone who could be one.

He is prickly, rude, disliked less, but disliked nonetheless. But he is the only other person who does not care about your worn out shoes, for your scars, your clammy skin, all the things that made your parents refuse you as a son, as sentient— or about you coming in the middle of the school year.

You care not about his attitude, desperation clawing at your mind for any form of socialization not from Vlad or who he calls company.

You make quick work of befriending him, a shared rivalry for an annoying schoolmate pulling you close together.

You learn his interests, his pets, his family. You know his name but do not ask for it. Willful ignorance could be considered bliss. Just for a moment.

He lets you stay at his house for a night, though his siblings push the matter more enthusiastically. You do not see his father.

( “He’s on a business trip.” Daniel blinks, looking up at his friend.

“Who?” he asks, despite knowing there’s only one person that Damian could be referring to.

Damian tsked automatically, “My father, you imbecile. He will return in two weeks notice.”

Daniel thinks of his godfather, of his various excuses over the years to many people, including him. But instead of telling Damian the likely truth, that his father won’t return, never like how his best friend wants him too, an “Okay” comes out in place of it.

Let him bask in ignorance, Daniel tells himself, Let your friend have this. )

His father comes back. You don’t call Vlad when he forgets you. For all he wanted you as a son, now he never tries to treat you as such.

You continue the cycle of avoiding an empty house, of sleep-overs, of waiting for something to happen.

And something does. Your godfather comes back. He lies to you that he won’t leave again. He says that he will stay longer, that the family who tried to run him out won’t succeed again.

You do not think of your best friend. Why would he even care?

Your godfather treats you like he had before, when you still had your friends, your home. Like you are a misbehaving child, and him, the tired parent.

( Shouts of an argument ring from an dead manor, before being shut out to the upstairs.

Daniel slammed the door, not caring if Vlad had heard it or not. Ancients, he'd forgotten how much of an utter fruit-loop Vlad was. He gritted his teeth, rubbing the bruise left on his wrist by the man.

Why'd he expect anything different? Vlad was just going to be his usual nutty self, and go back to treating him like he was still some misguided kid, that he would just come around to playing nice with Vlad.

The wood of the door was smooth, most likely sanded down from any splinters by the past families who lived here. Daniel moved his fingers along the grooves, faintly remembering how he had done this before, when he was better. He bit his tongue, ignoring the bitter taste of ectoplasm it brought forth.

He hadn't thought of who he was before since he'd ran. He hadn't been this angry at Vlad since he ran. He hadn't felt so like himself after he ran.

Daniel would be lying if that thought didn't make him feel just a little bit better.

He let his head fall into his knees, back leaning against the wooden door, limbs sagging. He did not cry, because the Danny from the empty home did not do that. )

It irks you, but not like before. Maybe you were doing something right if he’s treating you like this now, treating you normally. Maybe you’re back to who you were before, before the rejection scarred you.

Damian notices the change in your personality, as you notice his change in costume. He is on the rooftops, in the streets, cloaked in muted colors, not unlike your own old costume, and his family knows your godfather is back.

When you come back to school after a week of Vlad trying to bond with you without success, Damian doesn’t say a word about your godfather.

You don’t either. What even is there to say?

“Oh, I know that you are investigating my godfather, and that you’re a vigilante, surprise!”

You would have been killed ages ago if that was your response.

Your friend does not invite you over anymore. You know why, understand why but it still stabs your core, in the way a butter knife does to wood. Dents it but does not cut.

You repeat the loop of boring conversation, of stilted companionship. You grow tired of it, as you always do.

Vlad's signature is easy to forge. You get to skip your classes under the guise of it being a family emergency.

( Damian is near the gate when he gets off the bus. Daniel's ratty sneakers are hitting the ground, as he walks over to him.

The weight of his backpack feels heavy, the evidence that Daniel had stuffed inside not helping his back. Damian twirls around at his steps, a scowl already on his lips.

Daniel smiles back, readjusts the straps on his shoulders. He whispers to Damian, uncaring of the fight currently breaking out in the front, the fight that Damian is watching, "I'm getting out of school today, wanna come with?"

His friend tears his eyes away from the brawl, looking intrigued at Daniel's offer.

Damian considers the chance. The thought of having to sit through another day of school with only Jon for mild company sickens him.

"I suppose I can, though if this is a trap Masters, then let it be known that—"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, you in still?" Daniel flashes his (only) friend a cheesy grin, ignoring Damian's eye-roll at his theatrics.

"..Yes."

-

The route to the local park is quick, though slowed by the need to be away from the public's eyes, lest they be caught right away in their venture.

Daniel gasps in a breath, ancients, did he need to jog way more. Damian easily strides beside him, the only sign that he was showing off being the smug gleam in his green eyes. Bastard.

The papers, the records, the flash-drive, all weigh down his back. Vlad has definitely noticed them missing, and he most definitely knows who took them.

But Daniel didn't care, not right now, because right now, he was spending time with his bestest friend in the whole wide world, and he'll deal with Vlad later. )

You drag Damian over to a secluded bench, taking no mind to the mutations Poison Ivy has given the plants near. The backpack is emptied, and you guide your only friend to the path that leads to Vlad's destruction.

The dread fades away, the high of adrenaline taking its place, at the crimes left behind in pieces, put back together in a backpack, and let loose into the hands of your only friend.

It feels good, like something’s been taken off your shoulders. You know that Vlad has anticipated you telling someone about what he’s done. He’s still not leaving.

Your high is running down, as you start to beg Damian not to arrest him, lying to your only friend that Vlad is a better man, and doesn't deserve to rot in a cell. You know that when you take a separate route to your homes, that he’ll tell anyway.

You can’t bring yourself to care. Vlad’ll just weasel out of it, as he always does.

He knows what you did, doesn’t bring it up, with the only sign being a watchful eye whenever you’re back in his grasp.

You get invited to a gala by your friend. You accept, uncaring of Vlad's reaction.

Your friend gets held ransom. No one’s worried, no one feels anything but annoyance. You stay away, not wanting to feel your core straining to help, to protect.

The Bats swoop in to help. You ignore the envy at their luck at having a team of other heroes to depend on.

( Your friend ) The Waynes send people after your godfather. He tries to bribe his way out of the charges, out of the jail cell that cannot hold him. They leave with him in tow.

You start staying overnight at your friend’s house even more. Damian doesn’t say a word about it.

His father does. His siblings do.

They talk about adopting you, they fight about Vlad, about what they are meant to do with your godfather, and what to do with poor old Danny. You don’t listen in much. They remind you of your parents, just a little bit. It hurts.

Vlad is let go. False charges, apparently. You know he just bribed the judge and juries.

He wants to talk to you, intent on having a conversation that lasts more than five minutes without shouting and tears ending it.

I'm sorry for not being there, please, give me forgiveness, are the only things you remember from the conversation. You do not give him what he wants, but the conversation doesn't end in slammed doors and withheld tears.

You sleep under his roof for the first time in weeks, the most civil conversation you’ve ever been with him looping in your mind. You even wonder if he’ll let you go to your friend’s birthday party.

You don’t sleep at your friend’s house as much. There’s not much need to anymore.

You wake up one night, to hear the sounds of ectoblasts and footsteps. They are on the roof, and you know what they’re here for.

You go ghost, going up the roof, watching invisibly as Plasmius shoots at the vigilantes who yell about something. You stay like that for a moment. You almost decide to let him go.

He's the only one you have left, to leave him, to abandon him, is to leave the last person in your corner. That thought is the only reason why you lift your thermos up, capturing Vlad in one fell swoop, before he leaves too.

The vigilantes are not pleased, as the Bat barks out orders to find you. You can imagine Vlad is the same, fuming at your disrespect inside the can.

With Vlad in your thermos, the Bats on your tail, there is no hope in your mind of getting out of Gotham with everything you need.

Oh Danny, what are you going to do?