#and since danny grew up with that of course he uses them

[quadrantadvisor]

I think it would be funny if Bruce found out about Danny Phantom-style ghosts and immediately started reading the leading scientific research on the topic, which of course comes from the Doctors Fenton. So he's got like, a basis of knowledge, and decides to bring in a magic expert. He asks Constantine what he knows about ectoplasm and the Ghost Zone, and Constantine just groans. He can tell you've been reading materials by those Fenton quacks, Bruce. It's called the Infinite Realms you dolt. "Ghost Zone" isn't just inaccurate it's borderline offensive. If you want to call the un-matter of the Infinite Realms "ectoplasm" then sure, go ahead, see how many ghosts want to talk to you. Don't internalize that dehumanizing slop.

So Bruce mentally notes all of that down, and when he finally meets a ghost he makes sure to use the right terminology for the Infinite Realms, and Danny is like, "haha, you mean the Ghost Zone?"

Constantine receives a very passive aggressive email.

[evilminji]

Okay, you know how bird don't ACTUALLY look the way we think they do?

They are far more colorful? But only to the eyes of other birds?

And it has to do with how light reflects off them and how their eyes are shaped etc etc.?

Well..... humans can see the most shades of green, right? But! We sure as shit can't see UltaViolet and InfraRed? Or shades BEYOND those. Ectoplasmic colors. Magical ones. Third eye, need to see with your SOUL type ones.

Danny? Could very well still have lil baby "kitten's eyes who haven't open yet" syndrome.

He thinks the Zone is Green and his hair is white.

But it's not.

His hair is Starlight colored. Frost. His suit is specifically "the void between stars" colored. Which looks... different? Then black? No, no, guys. How can you guys not see it? It looks REALLY different! How did he not NOTICE before?! They're not ever CLOSE to the same shade! It's like calling salmon and hot pink the same. You know... if you were to compare an actual fish and some irradiated, violently glowing version of "hot pink".

......guys?

His gloves are.... guys, these ares stars. Pressed so close together there's no gap. His body is the night sky, all rearranged. He's wearing SPACE, guys.

*continues to stare at his gloves for the next five hours*

Now... why is this relevant? Because! Danny slowly, as all humans do, adjusts! It's like finally having glasses after years of blurry vision. He... forgets, what it was like, not NOT See Zone Colors. Not completely, mind you, but enough he has to be reminded.

And the Zone? A Realm of the Dead. Specifically, the great catch-all and highway of the Dead. They get EVERYBODY. Misfits and vagabonds. Those who don't quite fit. Funky lil dudes. And of course, assholes, but everybody has those! See, Zone colors?

Are DIFFERENT.

They're all of um!

It's like looking at the technicolor, stobe light, multi galaxies in one, Sun. Tingly(tm)!!! You get used to it. What helps? Is that as garish as the Zone is? The painting and grand tapestry of it all? Keeps changing. Like weather. If it's too much for you, you can stay inside your Lair until the current Color changes. Until the designs shift. Vibe changes.

There are even glasses for that! "Temperate" areas for people to set up, that get headaches or are just... kinda killjoys. Too each their own. Though the stormy areas? Those guys are freaks. Watch out for those guys. They're the kind who stare directly are stars until their eyes burn out.

Where was I? Oh yeah! Danny!

No longer a wee baby, smol baby, twig-o!

Sad. We miss it.

But he did get used to Seeing The Colors. Got a handle on his powers. And! Finally worked with his parents on how to safely turn the portal OFF. There was much booing. Cries of "kill joy" and "booo! You suck!". But? Like? Dude DID have the right to protect his home. Go to college. What can you do?

Problem with THAT is? Baby grew into his "built like a brick shit house of constantly running off to literally tackle the Supernatural excellence" Fenton genetics. He Tall. Muscles! And he PUMPING out "somethings fucked up with me" Vibes!

Add in his DEEPLY Sus off hand comments. Weird ability to tell when someone has or is about to die. Basic immunity to the cold. Fuckin EYE GLOW?

Ha ha... *Horror movie screams from his college dorm mates*

Clearly a demon!

He gets kicked out. Well... not kicked out. He's a model student and broken no rules. They'd never survive the lawsuit. But... he's? STRONGLY INCOURAGED to finish his education elsewhere. Repeatedly. By like... 15 colleges.

Sam is not just livid, she's actively foaming at the mouth.

Breathe, Sam! Remember what your doctor said! Your mortal body can't handle that kinda Vengance spiral! Think of your blood pressure! Breathe!!! (Were not for the laws of this land... and the weak, fleshy constraints of her mortal form!)

Thankfully? Tucker's been interning, remotely of course, with Wayne Industries. He asked his manager where he could find some of those scholarship forms. (Since Gotham University is just a touch out of Danny's price range.) Manager wanted to know why. And oh! Oh holy shit. Apparently? Danny is the hot new office gossip.

People in the main office are OUTRAGED. Danny's "too spooky"?! Too FUCKIN SPOOKY!? Are you KIDDING THEM? Even juicier, a Meta kid from some wacky ghost hunters turned scientists. From a line of Supernatural hunters. Wants to be a aeronautics engineer.

Ooooooh how SPOOKY! Better watch out! He'll design an ENGINE at yooooou!

Fuckin casuals. Non-Gothamites are WEAK. "Too scary" their collective asses. Yeah, maybe the kid SHOULD come too Gotham. He can be the weird kid. Mildly unsettling or something. His powers won't be SHIT in Gotham. Just remind him to buy a gas mask.

So! Danny gets his Scholarship! Merrily packs his bags for darker, Gothic hellscape hills. Unaware... that Constantine has been following reports of a "demon" that he's? 80% sure is a Banshee but MIGHT be a winter spirt with a shtick? For the past 13 colleges. He's getting closer. And this sucker is a strong one.

Not "this is going to cause me serious, life imperilling danger" strong. But more? "Man, that cat is HUUUUUGE". Could he still get mauled a lil? Yeah. Scratched to all hell and back? Probably! But DIE? Unlikely.

He just needs to know why the FUCK this spirit his hanging around colleges.

Which is made harder... by the fact that what HE sees? And what OTHER people see? When they look at this guy? Separate things. Yeah, he'd LOVE to give you guys a description! IF HE HAD ONE.

@the-witchhunter @hdgnj @hdgnj @spidori @babbling-babull @nerdpoe @lolottes

[thekitsunesiren]

Dc x DP #52

Danny knew that he managed to stop the future with Dan, but he couldn't help but fear the worst. That just because he avoided it once, it wasn't the end of it. What if he came back? What if? What if?

Danny knew that he had to do something-anything-as not to end up like Dan. Well, Dan happened due to many things, but there was much violence and fighting after his parents deaths. So what if Danny slowed down on the fighting and started healing? It wasn't bound to work, but it was a start.

Jazz was excited about his revelation, excited about the potential of them both becoming doctors in some form. Maybe they could even work together! She of course warned him that if he wanted to become a doctor, he would to have work on his grades. Medical school would take a lot of time. And if he was still interested in the stars and technology, engineering would be a good minor or double major. She was sure NASA had a medical team or something similar.

His parents were more than thrilled that both of their children wanted to be doctors in their own rights, even if not ectobiologists like them. Though, they don't know the real reason for Danny's change of heart, they are excited for him nonetheless.

His friends were more than accepting about this career path, knowing how much the fear of Dan returning haunted Danny ever since the incident. Word got to the ghost zone and Ember, Kitty and Johnny have been calling him "Doc" everytime he popped up. Many of the other ghosts who heard the news congratulated him on his decision and praised that healing was a wonderful profession. The most excited about this news was Frostbite. He knew that the Chief of the Far Frozen would be excited about his idea. Which hit Danny with another thought: why didn't he learn about ghost biology and healing too? It would help him learn more about his ghost biology as he grew and adapt. Who knows, maybe the people of the Infinite Realms would like their new ruler as well.

It didn't take much when it came to convince Frostbite to teach him the art of healing. The leader was ecstatic that he wanted to be taught, even. Though he warned that it would be a long and difficult journey, seeing that was a completely different race he was going to be tending to. And each ghost had their own differences. Whether their cores, their biology, or how their obsessions affected them as a whole. He also had to learn the differences between the ghosts who arrived to the Infinite Realms and those who were born from it and how to treat them. Since he himself was a new anomaly for the Infinite Realms, he was both often a subject and a patient for himself and other healers in the Far Frozen. But it interesting getting both view points. It even helped him more when he was

With his skills, Danny was able to go to Gotham with the plans of majoring with a medical degree and perhaps the minor in engineering as to his sisters suggestion. And with so many people cheering him on, it made all the studying and endless hours worth it.

As he studied, Danny was excited to learn more and put his practices to good use. And he believed he found the perfect person to take as his first patient: this Red Hood guy who seemed to be full of rotten ectoplasm.

[dcxdpdabbles]

Always the bridesmaid never the bride

I'm not going to lie. I forgot if this was a prompt or a response to something I posted since I got it back before Thanksgiving. But if it's the former then:

Danny says this to Bruce at Clark and Lois' wedding. He is convinced Bruce is in love- or in lust, at the least- with Clark because the wealthy man constantly popped up at their office for important "business" and "private exclusive" interviews.

Now, Danny won't lie and say he's a better journalist than Clark or Lois- those two are the top two of the Daily Planet. There is a reason almost all Superman stories are covered by them- but he's darn good himself. After retiring from protecting his town from Ghosts, he's only ever used his powers scarcely, but they have helped him with a few articles here or there.

His career as a reporting journalist was mainly made by his ability to stumble across trouble alone! Danny had won awards for his articles. He has been included in a city time capsule project.

Danny got the scoop on Jason Todd being alive story way before everyone else. After realizing the boy was in witness protection, he hadn't even exposed it without speaking to Mr.Wayne first. The man was nothing like the tabloids had one believe. Danny found him a severely intelligent man with a deep love for his family and city. He just distracted people with his razzle and dazzle, hiding his beautiful soul in plain sight.

It had been an eye-opening conversation. The duo made a deal to wait until Jason was safe to be announced; Danny waited three whole months before he was greenlighted to release his story. Jason Todd had officially "returned" from the dead with an exclusive interview with Danny Fenton.

Danny honored and protected his dignity by writing a story that made the public love the returned young man. He hated reporters who only dragged people's names through the mud because that wasn't real investigation; that was just accepting the latest gossip on the streets.

Bruce was so grateful that Danny hadn't put his son in danger that he even gave Danny a business card that went to his home office!

And yeah, okay, Clark had Bruce's personal cellphone, but Danny just couldn't understand why the billionaire was so hung up on Clark Kent. It wasn't like the guy was Superman!

And maybe he was overly happy to find out Clark and Lois were an item. Sure that someone as good as Bruce, for all his facade of being a party boy who never grew up, would never chase a taken man. Danny had been right, too, because Bruce Wayne appeared less and less around the Daily Plant office.

It was.....sad not to see him, but Danny was a very busy journalist. He was grateful that the distraction had finally taken the hint and scurried off somewhere. What irked him in the following year and a half of Clark and Lois dating was how often Perry signed the two to cover Gotham News.

Mostly at one of Bruce Wayne's extravagant parties! Yeah, it was sort of cool that most of Bruce's parties were charity events. He had checked the numbers himself, finding that Bruce's efforts were honest and working to better his city. How many billionaires actually kept their word when wanting to be a philanthropist?

Of course, Danny had to write a piece on it. The people needed to see the positive change Bruce was making. Sometimes, it felt like people forgot how much he gave to the city. The article went viral, and people on the other side of the world were praising the good man Bruce.

Perry had given Danny a raise for it.

Clark had ruined that significant mark on his record by placing a wrap present on his desk with a wide grin. Apparently, the two had gone on a yacht trip together without Lois or Bruce's significant other. Whoever that was. "Bruce wanted me to give you this as a thanks."

Ugh, the smug asshole was just rubbing it in Danny's face that he was still friends with his ex. The present had been a shitty ship in a bottle that Danny had placed beside his writing awards in his living room. You know it would be a waste to just throw it out.

Or let it get dusty. Or not stare at and wonder if Bruce knew he liked pirate movies, so the fact he had a model replica of Captain Jack Sparrow's Black Pearl made for Danny was really no big deal.

Then Bruce came by the office after buying out the Daily Planet, giving Clark a month's vacation paid due to some "family emergency."

Danny had been worried about Ma Kent and Pa Kent- the pair had visited the Daily Planet and were the nicest people to ever walk the planet- so like the well-mannered man his mother raised, he had gone to the farm with some of his Dad's famous fudge. Only to find the Kents unaware there was an emergency in the family until Danny reminded them.

He had been a journalist long enough to call bull on their meaningful glances. Danny knew that neither Bruce nor Clark would dare cheat on Lois. They were both too good for something as sleazy as that- and honestly, Lois would kill them- but that didn't stop Bruce from obviously still carrying around a torch for Clark.

Which meant he gave him unfairly favorable treatment in the workplace. Ugh! Perry didn't even seem to care, stating that Bruce had signed their paychecks, and as long as he wasn't forcing Clark into anything harassment-worthy, Danny just had to deal with his coworkers having friends in high places.

That meant they got away with different things. He just had to suck it up and accept it.

But now, Clark and Lois tied the knot. Bruce had to back off. He would never overstep a friend's relationship like this. Danny might have seen him sneak a few glances at the dancing couple- not that he was staring at Bruce Wayne! But the man was one of the hottest topics to write about, and he never knew when a good story would pop up.

It was rather sad, really. How Bruce forced himself to come to a celebration of the man he loved marrying and choosing someone else. Danny had dedicated a drink to his heartbreak- from clear across the room.

He wasn't on a personal cellphone number basis with Bruce Wayne, let's allow a "Drink your broken heart sorrow away with me" basis. And maybe Danny had a few too many. Perhaps he lost count after realizing it was an open bar because, surprise surprise, Bruce was footing the drink bill for all guests.

Danny doesn't remember what made him think he could cross the room to Bruce or why he found the courage to point a finger in his face before slurring, "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, eh Brucie?"

He does remember those piecing blue eyes locking him in place, brow folding in concern as Bruce replied. "Mr. Fenton, are you alright?"

"Me? Oh yeah! Just enjoying the party." He throws his arm up, spilling some of the alcohol out of the cup. He doesn't mind since the DJ starts to play one of his favorite songs, and he just has to sway to the beat. "This is a fun party. Are you having fun? I'm having fun!"

"I think you've had a little too much," Bruce says, helping Danny to his feet. When did he fall? Oh, right, when he was dancing. He laughs again, curling up on Bruce's chest. He feels it shift with the vibrations of the other man's voice. It's rather nice. "Did you come alone? Is there someone I can call for you?"

"Can I tell you a secret, Brucie?" Danny mutters, leaning forward to whisper into the man's ear before he can respond. "I live alone. I have no one to take care of me. I can't even drive."

"I see. I can have my driver take you home then. Can I see your wallet? I want to read the address-"

Danny has a second to think Oh no before his stomach lurches, and vomit falls out of his mouth all over Bruce Wayne's fancy suit that probably costs more than his house. Danny's eyes water. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't usually drink, and I feel terrible, and I-"

"It's alright. " Bruce says, smile still perfectly kind, understanding, and slightly dizzy. Danny knows he's lying, though- his reporter eyes can see right through that facade. He's pissed that Danny threw up on him. Understandably.

He starts sobbing, apologizing even more, and pointing out how he knows Bruce is actually upset.

Bruce looks mildly surprised before throwing one of his arms over his shoulder and helping him out of the hotel ballroom. The reception had started hours ago, and despite it not being anywhere near over, no one would bat an eye at them leaving early.

They were walking down the hallway. Danny found himself leaning on a counter, laughing into his hands about a potted plant, while Bruce chatted up the lady at a computer. He told the pair that Bruce should rebound with a man instead of a woman if he wanted to get over Clark but was ignored by them.

Rude.

Then suddenly, Danny was being pressed into a soft mattress on his back while someone was taking off his shoes and losing his tie. When did he get home? How had he moved that quickly?

This didn't feel like his pillow. Danny has a special one. He can't sleep with it. He packs his pillow when he travels, even if it's just one night he plans to stay. Danny has used the same pillow for years now.

"I'm sorry, I can't get your special pillow, but I can give you lots of water." A man says, making Danny blink and open his eyes. His eyelids feel so heavy that it takes him a moment to stay open.

Above him, Bruce is carefully unbuttoning his suit jacket. The billionaire had removed his own coat, but the vomit-covered white shirt remains. Danny feels ashamed at the sight even as Bruce pulls his arms out of the jacket sleeves.

"Sorry," He whimpers. "About the vomit."

"It's alright. You needed to throw up. Do you feel better?"

Danny nods, closing his eyes and feeling a warm towel run along his face. He sighed as the sticky, gross feeling around his mouth was gone, and he sank further into the Not Right But Comfty pillow.

"Sleep well, Mr. Fenton," Bruce says, tucking the blankets around Danny once he finishes cleaning him up. Danny hums, already half gone, when he whispers.

"You're a good man. No matter what you present to the world. No matter if you believe you're not, I know you're good."

There is a moment of silence before Bruce replies. "I paid for the hotel room. It comes with a free breakfast, so when you're feeling up to it, come down for food tomorrow. Have a good night, Mr. Fenton."

"Stay?"

"I'm sorry. I never intended to stay; I just wanted to get you somewhere safe. Going home in your state would have been a bad idea."

Danny's words are nearly too slurried to be understood as he slowly slips away: "Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, Fenton. Bruce would never want you."

He wakes up with a killer hangover, confused about where the hell he is, and almost has a heart attack when he realizes he crumpled up the suit pants he rented. All that is so hard to process in thirty seconds that he nearly missed the written note on the nightstand.

Call me xxx-xxx-xxxx

XOXO

Bruce Wayne

What in the world happened at Clark's and Lois's wedding!?

[clockwayswrites]

City Pigeons Bleed Green - Part 18

masterpost

“You’re still here.”

Danny hated that he said that.

Of course Bruce was still there if he was sitting at the table, coffee raised halfway to his mouth. Danny didn’t need to state the obvious like that, especially not to someone like Bruce Wayne. Since apparently Bruce Wayne was Batman. But, it was just that… Bruce was still there.

The morning light was drifting through the window, bright compared to the rain of yesterday. Danny had woken up back in the apartment, slipped away from Hood with a soft explanation he was hungry, and there Bruce was. It was a new day and Bruce was still there.

Bruce set his coffee down and smiled. It was a little crooked and slightly uncertain.

It was Danny’s own smile.

“Morning, chum,” Bruce said. His voice was rough with sleep, the letters almost seemed to catch on each other. Clearly Bruce wasn’t a morning person either. “Are they letting you have coffee yet and do you want any?”

Danny stepped fully into the main living space. “Only a cup and not with any sugar. I can have cream though.”

Bruce nodded and stood. “How much cream?”

��Oh, I can get it—” Danny said quickly, jolting forward a step.

“It’s not a problem, Danny. Go ahead and take a seat,” Bruce said with a little wave to the table. He grabbed one of the cups from the drying rack and held it up in question.

Danny pouted for just a moment before he relented and headed for the table. “About a quarter cream, since I can’t have sugar.”

Bruce nodded and made up the coffee. When he came back to the table he brought the plate of muffins Hood had made with him and set it in the middle of the table. Danny waited for Bruce to sit before he pulled the coffee close to him, cradling it for the warmth.

The apartment was silent for a time as they both drank their coffee and Danny started on a muffin. He unwrapped it before turning it upside down and starting to pick at the bottom first. When he noticed Bruce’s curious gaze he ducked his head with a little shrug.

“The top is the best bit, so I save it for last. My p— they… no one cooked much at h—where I grew up.”

“That’s smart,” Bruce said, thankfully ignoring the rest of Danny’s stumbling words. “Jason learned a lot of what he cooks from Alfred, though he’s expanded his flavor combinations since he’s lived on his own.”

“He’s good. It’s been really nice,” Danny said. He hesitated before asking, “Who’s Alfred?”

Bruce smiled fondly. “Officially my butler, but he’s the man who raised me after my parents died.”

“He’s the real head of the house,” Red— Tim said through a yawn as he stumbled into the room. He looked at the table with the two of them and the muffins before he just made some sort of strangled noise and dropped onto the couch that was still made up as a bed.

“Tim is right,” Bruce said, unconcerned by the fact his son seemed asleep again. “Alfred does his best to keep us all in line. I know he’s looking forward to meeting you, once you’re ready to come be at the Manor.”

Danny jolted, a chunk of muffin crushed suddenly between his fingers. “The Manor?”

Bruce set his mug down slowly. “Once you’re ready, of course. There’s no rush for you to move, we all want you to be comfortable first.”

“No, I mean, just… you’d want me there? At your home?”

Bruce’s whole face softened sadly. It was in little ways, but Bruce’s face was one Danny could read easily. It felt almost invasive how much Danny could see in Bruce’s too familiar eyes.

“Danny, I get that… it might take you time to accept it, but I meant it yesterday: I would love to have you in my family. The others were right to keep me away before because you asked to not meet me yet, but if you hadn’t, they would have brought you home that night. You’ve been family since you found us.”

“They found me,” Danny whispered. He was worried if he said much more, if he thought much more about Bruce’s words, that he would start crying again.

“You got to Gotham— you got to where we could find you,” Bruce said, “and that was very, very brave of you.”

Danny sniffled and wiped at his eyes. Okay, so maybe he was crying again.

“What did you do to him, old man?” Hood snapped, voice still heavily with sleep.

Danny shook his head. “N-nothing. He— he wants me to go to the manor.”

The resulting silence gave Danny enough time to get his tears mostly under control, though he still accepted the tissue Hood handed up as he crouched down by Danny’s chair.

“You don’t have to go, if you don’t want,” Hood said.

Oh he was making a mess of this, of course he was. “No! I do! I just… I just didn’t think I’d get a home again.”

“You’ve got lots of homes now, Dandelion,” Hood said, his words a soft rumble. “You’ve got the Manor and my place and Dick’s place. And I’m pretty sure you could weasel out of Tim access to his place we all pretend he doesn’t have that he goes to when he needs space.”

“Fuck you,” Tim mumbled into the pillow.

Danny clutched desperately at Hood’s sleeve. “Will you come to the Manor? Just… just at first?”

Hood’s whole face softened. “Course, kid. We all still have rooms there. We’ll have to do it like here, where we change around some so we can keep looking after the city, but I’ll still be around lots until you settle.”

“All of my kids are always welcome, whenever they want,” Bruce said in a purposeful sort of way.

Hood gave a little snort. “Yeah… anyways, I’m not letting you just eat muffins. What sort of egg do you want?”

Danny made himself let go of Hood’s sleeve. “Scrambled, please.”

“Timbit?”

“Smfts.”

“Sure. Bruce?”

“Scrambled is good,” Bruce said softly.

---

AN: You al voted so here is the first chunk of the chapter! Lots of little gentle ways Danny being there is helping heal the rest of the family that hopefully you all can see, even if Danny doesn't.

[corkinavoid]

DPxDC Fae!Danny But Make It Fantasy

I've already made a whole Changeling AU with fae!Danny, but guess what, I have decided not to achieve any level of chill with fae ideas.

We all know Danny is Ghost Kind. Now, what if he is a Fae Prince? A Prince of Winter, to be exact. Imagine all the ice castles (Elsa, I'm looking at you), the snowy lands, northern lights in his crown, a cape made of tiny ornate snowflakes. Crystalline ice swords, skin so white he doesn't even look alive, eyes clear and blue like a frozen lake. Formal gowns, ballrooms, duels and carriages pulled by horses made of snowstorms.

He used to be a changeling, put in place of Dan. Grew up in a village with his parents being witch hunters, or maybe just hunters in general. Meanwhile Dan, a human child whose place he took, grew up in a fae realm, surrounded by magic creatures and miracles.

But Danny couldn't hide he was a fae his whole life. He used to look human when he was a baby, but as the time went by, he started to look more and more fae-like. Jazz was the first to notice it, of course, but this was Danny, a child she practically raised, so she dealt with it. Their parents, though, did not.

Sam and Tucker are in the know, for sure. Sam used this opportunity to learn witchcraft - who is better to learn from than an actual fae? Tucker is a blacksmith, as is his family. The first thing he asked Danny when he discovered he is a fae, was "how in the seven kingdoms are you a fae, and you decided a blacksmith is your best friend?" because, honestly, not even Fentons have so much iron around them as Tucker does.

Now, you may be thinking of where the DC part comes in here.

Well, the Waynes are actually the royal family. Bruce is the King of Gotham, and his children are princes, princesses, and heirs. They are also protecting the country not only by the word of the law, but also from the other, more shady side. I think they should go by Shadows, not Bats, though, since I doubt a name like 'Batman' would fly in the fantasy world.

Constantine is a mage, the strongest one alive, and yet he couldn't care less for his uniqueness if he tried for a week. Diana is the Queen of Themyskira, of course. I think Krypton should be its own country or a continent, ruled by the family of El. Although Jon is the first heir to a throne, due to Kon being, well, a bastard in terms of medieval customs.

After Danny's race is found out by his parents, he leaves for the fae realm, and he offers his friends and his sister to join him. Tucker refuses, Sam and Jazz take him up on that, but Sam leaves shortly after - she mostly used it to get away from her overbearing parents. She is now a witch who lives in the woods all alone, and no one can find her. She keeps contact with Danny, though. Jazz is traveling both the fae and the human realms, just having fun with it.

Jason is part-fae. After he died, a cult has abducted his body - the cult leader being Ra's, of course - and used it for an experiment. They used some fae magic to bring him back, or, maybe, they have tried to merge a fae and a human, creating a chimera. This was the first option of Ra's trying to get closer to Bruce in order to take power. It was not a very successful option since both Jason and whatever was left of the fae inside him decided not to obey the madman.

Damian was... slightly more successful. He was not merged with anything, but his development was magically enhanced.

And now, while Danny is back in the fae realm and he is a crowned Prince of Winter, Clockwork has a problem. He knows humans are afraid of fae, but this is not a very productive way to go. And there is a timeline somewhere there that can fix it.

Of course, Danny is right in the middle of that timeline. Now, Clockwork just needs to find a way to help Danny make an alliance with humans.

[luciaintheskyainthi]

Hi!!! I LOVE ECM!! I'm completely down this rabbit hole now, (spider web?) And I'm reading jason/peter fics 🫠 I'm not really a fan of DC so this is a 1st for me to love 🫠 I initially went through a peter/danny phantom thing then peter/harley mostly because tom's been my person for spidey now, you can imagine those pairings wouldn't necessarily deal with the morality debate like it does with jason/peter so this really made me think how they'd work

But then, in my personal thing, for the DC, it's not really a question of who's right or who's wrong or who deserves the privelage to live or how to solve the question of who's morally superior but who can endure and live with the decisions they make you know?

One thing i see in like my general knowledge of DC and what you've opened my eyes to regarding Jason and Peter, is that they're the type of people who mingles with the community. They want to save or help people because these are THEIR people u know? They grew up in these streets, mingled with what would constitute as background characters and npcs at most to the dc world, just statistics as u say, but they're people to them even the villains

Jason in my head in these case, will understand that while the 'bad guys' can be redeemed, he's not willing to take a chance that it will cost other people's lives. Innocent people that don't deserve to be just part of a redemption arc of a criminal and he can endure killing, what that does to him and other's views of him but he's someone who survives and can do this as long as it saves those future victims

Peter on the other hand wants to help everyone because he believes and has seen those that can be saved from 'villainy'. He can endure continuing to try and continuing to save possible victims but that's because to me, he's kind of op in his possible abilities and smarts u kno, he has the option to think of a way to help both 'villain' and victim and keep standing up after he's hit. In a way that Jason, as a relative normie can't. I think peter's experiences and what he witnesses in marvel verse shows the type of power and ability that allows them to help what other's would call iredeemable, like how he did in nwh.

It's a matter of how well they'll be able to endure either killing someone who could've been redeemed or allowing someone to live who continues to kill.

They're both stubborn tho, so I imagine in these scenario they'll just be each other's support 😃 in a happy place, that's what I want to think anyway.

How would you happen to see them in this context? 'Cause honestly, in bruce and tony's case as people who don't technically mingle with the community the way the other 2 do, they kind of come off as sanctimonious pricks who has a privelaged view of how to handle their criminals.

Considering they think that the people they fight with will target them and everything they may or may not do is associated with them, they certaimly don't think about the 'background' people affected in their actions the way I imagine peter and jason do. Sorry I rambled too much I'm not even sure I explained mythoughts properly 😃

Still ur an amazing writer 🥹 thank you for your generosity in sharing your worls with us

Finally getting to this ask! 🫣 I loved it very much and have been waiting for the right bandwidth to respond because I knew I'd end up writing a damn essay ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 (and would you look at that? I HAVE)

Let me start by saying I LOVE how you've put the moral debate that lies at the heart of Jason (and of course the Jason/Peter pairing!):

it's not really a question of who's right or who's wrong or who deserves the privelage to live or how to solve the question of who's morally superior but who can endure and live with the decisions they make you know?

I DO know and it's something that I've had Jason touch upon a few times previously (but also more in later chapters). He's long since accepted that burden - in some respects, because of his training with the All Caste I think he sees it in part as a responsibility, too (the All Caste kind of exists to fight against the Untitled, who are meant to embody evil, so there's a bit of that going on with Jason, too).

At this point, I think Jason understands that Bruce isn't someone who should take on that burden like Jason has. And he understands too, that the world is better without a Batman that's willing to kill. But at the same time, he also sees Bruce's 'inaction' as hypocritical and harmful because he DOES prioritise the lives of mass murderers over the lives of their inevitable future victims. Unlike Bruce, who is an optimist, Jason is a realist and a utilitarian. The greatest good and all that.

(Of course, I don't think that was entirely his motivation throughout the events of Under the Red Hood, but I'd like to think he's matured in the 4 years since then... Of interest: the Batman: Urban Legends issue covers pretty well the reasons why comics!Jason would stop using guns, after he lets his temper get the better of himself and he kills an admittedly shitty guy, but someone he knows shouldn't have been killed. While I still have Jason use guns here so that event's non-ECM canon, I do think it made a good argument.)

I do see Peter as a hero who should be very firmly community-minded (certainly far more than he was set up as in the first few showings of MCU Spider-Man), which does bring him into alignment with Jason, despite their differing views on killing villains. The thing is though, and I said this in an earlier ask, Peter's recent villains have been men who have been changed/altered, and its primarily this alteration that led to their villainy (with the exception of Beck and Toomes). Likewise, Peter is stronger, and that's meant he's not been made a victim in the same way that Jason has. So the way he views villains has been tarred by the belief that they can change.

But the thing is... while, sure, there are Gotham villains who are like that, there are also some who are just... irredeemable assholes. There's no 'fixing them' because there was nothing 'broken' about them. Or not broken in the way Peter's used to....

I think you also bring up a great point about the fact that Peter and Jason, living in the heart of Crime Alley, and community-centred heroes, would see Bruce's POV as sanctimonious because those future victims aren't just faceless victims, they're their neighbours. They're friends. They're the petty passive-aggressive arch-enemy whom Jason's in a constant battle with for the final parking space on the street.

There's no ivory tower for Peter or Jason. And that means something. To both of them.

I would also note, that while Peter's against killing and certainly would never bear the knife himself, he's capable of nuance. Because LBR, both MCU and comics Peter has associated with characters who've killed. MCU Tony killed Thanos, yet Peter never decries that decision. He still hero-worships the man after death. Same goes with all the Avengers, which there's no doubt Peter was aware of, yet he still wanted to join the roster in Homecoming.

Likewise, comics Peter still associates with killers like Deadpool, and though I've not read the comics, from what I'm aware it's not so much that he's antipathetic towards Deadpool because he kills but because he's a mercenary.

(Of course, one could make comparisons between Jason and the Punisher, who Peter canonically hates, and thinking of the Jason from UTRH, there's no way Peter would associate himself with the Red Hood then. Because like the Punisher, the Red Hood was indiscriminate when it came to killing 'bad guys'. But the Jason of now is a very different beast from the Jason of UTRH.)

To me, that says that the motivations behind having to kill someone matters to Peter. As of course, do the circumstances. Though you never saw that conversation from Peter's POV, he was immensely relieved when Jason confirmed that he wasn't interested in just breaking into Arkham and killing the villains inside executioner-style, even if that would still prevent them from creating any more victims.

Anywho, all of this to say, that while Jason thinks himself capable of taking on the burden, he doesn't think that should be the case for every hero. Likewise, while Peter would never allow himself to kill someone, even in the heat of a battle, that doesn't mean he's going to immediately condemn someone else for being forced to do the same.

[dilemmaontwolegs]

Great update, thank you for feeding us we love Temptation Danny 😩 I was thinking of a request following up with it. Daniel loves providing and taking care of the reader, especially post injury, but one day she overhears one of his friends called her a gold digger and she’s hurt by it but doesn’t tell Daniel because his friends are important to him and she doesn’t want to cause problems. So when she needs to buy or get something essential, perhaps she asks Lando to get it for her and she’ll pay it back. Lando refuses and tells her there’s no need to and gets it for her but when Daniel finds out, since there was no bank statement, he loses it because he’s the only man that should take care and provide for you. He gets furious at his friend for making you think you’re not worth it :(

The Taste of Temptation || DR3 {5}

Warnings: 18+ only, nsfw, angst, soft Danny, sexual themes WC: 2.6k F1 Masterlist Story: One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six Snapshots One || Two || Three || Four || Five

The weather was terrible for the start of summer and you were finally reminded of why you needed to replace your car that broke down months ago and was towed to the wreckers. Walking was usually your preferred way to move around the small city but with the rain outside growing heavier you would have to borrow Daniel’s Porsche, since you still had some shopping to do for his birthday. Thankfully he was more than happy to have you drive his car and already had the keys hanging from his fingers when you finished putting your makeup on in the bathroom. 

“I’ve been meaning to take you to the dealership, kitten,” he apologised with a kiss. “We’ll go tomorrow and you can choose whatever car you want.”

His smile grew at the excitement on your face and you threw your arms around his neck. “Thank you,” you grinned between kisses.

“Of course, anything for my girl.” He unwrapped your arms before he was tempted to pull you back into the bathroom for a quickie but with his friends waiting for him in the living room he wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of hearing your sweet cries. “Don’t get anything heavy, I don’t need you hurting yourself just when you are healed.”

“Yes, sir,” you saluted, smirking when you saw the look in his eyes before you escaped the bedroom.

“-talk to him, she’s obviously using him-”

“-total gold digger-”

The conversation paused as you stepped into the room and you barely breathed as their condemnation settled over you. Determined to make sure they didn’t see the affect their words had, you plastered a smile on your face and asked if they needed anything while you were out.

Your handbag felt heavier than usual as you walked to the garage and climbed into the Porsche. The Hermes bag had been a gift from Daniel for your first anniversary and the LV wallet inside was another. You had never asked for them, but suddenly you felt guilty for having them. Even the key in your hand suddenly felt like a lump of hot coal, hurting the longer you held it.

Grabbing your phone, you climbed out of the car and started your journey on foot.

“Lando?” you choked as you stepped out in the rain, making your way to the city centre on foot. “Can I ask a huge favour?”

“You should just ignore them,” Lando said as he pulled his hoodie higher to fight the rain and followed you through the car park. 

“But they are his friends.”

Lando screwed up his face. “Are they? Because if Max spoke shit about the girl I love then I would have to reconsider that. It’s just not their place to comment. Plus, not to flex or anything, but we kind of get paid pretty well. It’s nice to have someone to spend it on since we are pretty much too busy for 10 months of the year.”

You had heard the argument before. The drivers loved to spoil their girlfriends and you had enjoyed it up until now. “Are you going to help me or not?”

Lando sighed and nodded reluctantly at your pitiful pout. “Of course I’ll help you, I just wish you didn’t feel the need to have to.”

“I’ve been meaning to get a new car anyway, I just don’t have all of the money on me at this moment.”

Your savings had swelled since Daniel covered all the bills and had given you cards linked to his bank accounts for anything else you might need, but it still wasn’t enough to buy a car outright and you didn’t want to have to go through the bank process to get a loan.

“I promise it won’t take long to pay you back” you said before hugging him. “Thank you.”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to.” You started to argue and he gave up knowing you weren’t going to stop. “Fine. Just pay it back as you can, there’s no rush.”

The Mazda 3 was nothing fancy, and certainly nothing as pretty as the Porsche you had become used to driving, but the hatchback was only a couple of years old and had low mileage. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s…no comment.”

“It’s cute, and you drive a friggin Fiat!”

“That’s unique,” Lando corrected as you pulled the price sticker off the window. “This is something my grandma would drive, and it has a three star safety rating.”

“I only drive around the city so it’s not like I’ll be going more than 30 mph.”

“Well it beats your old piece of crap,” he conceded with a smile to soften the blow.

“Wow, that makes me feel much better.” You opened the driver's seat and grimaced at the overpowering smell of faux cherry fragrance. “Want a ride home?”

His nose twitched at the heavy scent and he shook his head. “I think I’d rather walk on this fine day. Put your windows down a bit before you get high on - whatever that is.”

You took his advice and leaned towards the fresh air from the window as you made your way to the shops before heading home. Daniel was already in the garage when you arrived, a look of confusion on his face as he stood at the hood of his car, leaning against it with crossed arms as he watched the unfamiliar car park in your reserved spot.

“What’s this?” he asked as he opened your door, his brows lifting at the cherry bomb that invaded his nostrils.

Biting your lip, you hadn’t been prepared to see him so soon - thinking you could have carried the shopping bags upstairs without him even noticing you hadn’t taken the Porsche. “My car.”

“Your…car?” he confirmed as he ran his thumb over his lip and circled the compact vehicle. Returning back to your door, he pulled his phone out and checked his bank account, scrolling through the transactions and failing to find the car’s purchase. “Tell me you didn’t waste your money on this, kitten?”

“Not exactly,” you murmured under your breath, knowing lying about it would only be worse. “I borrowed some money.”

“Why would you do that when I could literally buy you any car? Even a fucking Bugatti, if that’s what you wanted.” He kicked the front tire and it shook the whole car, the suspension creaking with it. “Is it even roadworthy? You know what, you’re not driving this.”

“It’s my car, Danny.”

“And you’re my fiancée,” he growled as he took your hand and looked at the diamond ring on your finger. “I’m not gonna have you driving around in a tin can. We’ll go to the bank tomorrow and sort out the loan. You’ll be paying high interest rates for no fucking reason.”

You looked down at your feet and a moment later he curled a finger under your chin until your head was back and he could look into your guilty eyes. “I’m not going to like this, am I?” His hand fell away to land on his hip and he pinched the bridge of his nose with the other as he exhaled heavily. “Where did you get the money, kitten?”

“Somewhere that doesn’t charge interest…”

You could see his chest rising with the deep breaths he was taking to stay calm before he asked through gritted teeth. “Lando? Fuck, I don’t know if I want to hug him or hit him.”

His arms fell slack at his side and his eyes turned down as his fingers itched to reach out and touch you but he held back and asked quietly, “Did I do something wrong?”

The sound you made was unintelligent as you were blindsided by the question. It was something between a ‘huh’ and ‘what’ yet somehow neither. Like a guppy fish, your mouth opened and closed silently before you could even fathom an answer.

“No, god no,” you stammered as you stepped into the wall of his body and wrapped your arms around his waist, wishing he would return the embrace. “Danny, you haven’t done anything wrong. You are the most amazing man I know and you always take care of me, more than I deserve.”

“What does that mean?” he asked as he frowned at the self-depreciation and his instincts went wild. He leaned back against the car and spread his legs as he pulled you between them so you were standing eye to eye. “Kitten, what did you mean by ‘more than you deserve?’ Has someone said something?”

You shook your head quickly but his arms tightened around you, pinning you to his chest so you couldn’t look away. You could feel a heart slamming against its cavity walls but it was impossible to tell whose it was as his eyes wildly searched yours for an answer.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered as you cracked under his stare. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, I swear, but I heard Leroy and Davis talking before I left and…you treat me so well, you absolutely spoil me, baby. I just don’t want you to think I’m ever using you for your money, or your car or anything.”

His hold on you relaxed enough that you could bury your face in his chest but you could feel his hands shaking where they splayed across your spine. “They said you were using me?” he asked quietly, the volume doing little to hide the seething tone.

“And…that I was…a gold digger.” You screwed your eyes shut waiting for the explosion to come but his face was blank. He cleared his throat and with a nod he stood up a little too calmly, slipping his fingers into yours and leading the way to the elevator. “But your presents,” you said as he took your keys and locked the car.

“Later, we have a dinner reservation.”

Daniel was calm, too calm, as he sat beside you in the waterfront restaurant with his hand resting on your thigh. He smiled at the jokes, chatted with his friends and kissed your cheek until the plates were cleared away. Rising with his flute of champagne, he called for a toast and the large table of family and friends fell silent.

For a few seconds all that could be heard was the muted sounds of the kitchen behind closed doors and the rain falling on the roof.

“I’d like to thank you all for coming and celebrating my latest lap around the sun. It’s been quite the year: I’ve made some new friends, started a few side ventures, and best of all, I was lucky enough to start calling this beautiful woman my fiancée.”

He smiled at you as he took a sip of his drink before he turned that smile on everyone seated around the room.

“I’d like to say I’m maturing with age, but I’m not so sure about that, but I am getting wiser. Something I have learned is who my true friends are, the ones there for me through thick and thin, always there with support when I need it. You’re the real MVP’s.”

He raised his glass to Scotty seated on his other side and they shared a chuckle before he looked further down the table to the two guys who had arrived early and spent the afternoon at your apartment.

“Unfortunately, I have also learned some harder lessons this year, like when I have outgrown the company I keep.” He was sedate as he ran his finger around the rim of his glass before putting it down. His fingers spread across the tablecloth as he leaned forward and pinned them with a glare. “I welcomed you into my house, but you can show yourselves out.”

The table was deathly quiet as everyone looked between Daniel and the men he was obviously staring at.

“The fuck, mate?” Leroy exclaimed. “We’ve been friends for years.”

“And they were good while they lasted, but you fuck with my future when you call my fiancée a gold digger. That’s where I draw the line.”

“Oh, shit,” Scotty muttered under his breath. “That’s fucked.”

You watched as all eyes turned to you and you sank lower in your chair at the attention laden with pity by most of them, certainly the F1 drivers and Daniel’s family.

“She’s using you, mate, you just can’t see it,” Davis said as he shifted under the cold glare. “Marry her and you might as well donate half your money to charity.”

You saw Lando kick someone under the table before grabbing Pierre as he bumped the table, ready to stand up.

“Just fuck off, cunt,” Daniel said with a short laugh before he took your hand and pulled you to your feet and into his arms. “And anyone else that thinks the same can leave now too.”

No one else rose when Leroy and Davis did, tossing their napkins down angrily. They shook their heads like they wanted to say more but wisely kept their mouths shut this time.

“Oh, and since you’re both so worried about how I spend my money,” Daniel called out. “I cancelled your plane tickets and hotel rooms that I paid for. Wouldn’t want anyone to think you were using me.”

The atmosphere had thankfully lightened after the strange toast and quick departure and soon the party moved to the club next door. There was already a house DJ there but Martin was going to be taking over for most of the night since his sets were unbeatable.

Taking a breather from dancing, you sat on Danny’s lap, his arms automatically circling your waist as he laughed at something Max said.

“Max had a really good idea,” he said in your ear after the other Red Bull driver left to dance with Kelly. “He’s gonna buy a shitbox too and we are going to get one of those giant blow up balls to play demolition car soccer.”

“But it’s my baby,” you pouted as his laugh warmed your cheeks.

“You’ve had it for six hours, kitten, I don’t think you are that attached,” he teased between the soft kisses he peppered across your neck. “I’ll get you a better baby, a bigger one that’s safer, maybe a tank.”

You giggled at his silliness and combed your fingers through his hair as you bared more of your neck to him and moaned, “I love you. Terrible toasts and all.”

“Love you too, but that was a great toast. I fucking nailed it.” He nipped your shoulder and the crowded club seemed to fall away as he stole all your attention, from his palms sliding up your thighs to his beard tickling your skin.

“I don’t think Scotty will be keen on letting you make one at his wedding now,” you said with a shiver of delight when his fingers reached the edge of your panties.

“As long as I can toast to my gorgeous bride at ours, that’s the one that really matters.”

He pulled back to grin as he saw how affected you were not just by his touch but his words. You always had the same dreamy smile on your face when he mentioned the wedding and he always found a reason to bring it up.

“I suppose you might be able to convince me,” you teased before standing up with your finger hooked between the buttons on his shirt. He downed the last of his drink and followed as you led him down the stairs of the mezzanine floor and into the dark corner beneath them.

Your back pressed to the wall as he hiked your dress up and hid your body with his. “You want me to convince you right here, kitten,” he chuckled as he fingers pushed your panties aside and found you already wet for him.

“No,” you moaned against his lips. “I just want you to fuck me.”

Click here for the next part.

[piedpiperart]

Phantom in Gotham

Due to Ao3 being down, I’m posting my DP x DC fic here!

Chapter 1

Tim wasn't sure what about the new kid caught his attention. Maybe it was the black hair and blue eyes, or the fact that he seemed to be as sleep-deprived as Tim considering the deep eyebags. Tim figured it could also be the numerous red flags that somehow keep appearing the more he gets to know Danny. The unnaturally cold hands, slower than usual heartbeat (discovered by Connor), or the fact that Danny used the lunch period as more of a nap time instead of actually eating. To put it lightly, Tim was concerned. So was Connor, but less in a way of ‘hey this kid probably needs help’ like Tim was and more ‘hey this kid might be dangerous’.

But the kid was nice. Tim could see that Danny was a good person. Every morning at school since Danny started showing up- halfway through the school year, which was another red flag- he'd talk to Tim before their class started about everything and anything. Tim learned that Danny liked astronomy, wanted to meet Martian Manhunter someday to ask about space, he had an older sister Jazz and a younger sister Ellie, both of whom he hadn't seen in a while. Tim didn't press, but he was pretty sure Danny was living on his own. He just wasn’t sure why. 

Of course, many possibilities crossed his mind. Tim was a detective first and foremost, and he could never leave an unsolved mystery alone. His list included runaway, kicked out, in danger, or on the run because of meta abilities. Because of that last oneTim wasn’t sure if he should look him up on the batcomputer or not. If Danny was running or laying low for some reason, tipping Batman off about it would not work in Danny’s favor. Tim also wanted to find this out on his own first, without Batman’s help. 

Tim helped as best he could. He brought granola bars for Danny in the morning, who lit up like an excited puppy at the prospect of snacks. He felt good about being able to help his new friend, but wished he could do more than keep him company during class and lunch. Speaking of lunch, Danny never ate much of it. Tim usually tried to get him to eat something, but Danny usually waved him off and took a nap at their table instead. Tim would share a concerned glance with Steph and Connor, but for the most part they let him sleep, and made him eat a bunch of his school lunch after he woke up.

Danny never asked for anything, and he was always cheerful- a forced cheerfulness, Tim could  recognize- catching him in those rare moments when he wore a sad smile, like something he remembered was painful to think about. Tim wasn't sure what Danny had gone through, but he knew it probably wasn't good. He assumed the kid was a runaway of sorts, but Gotham Academy was a rich prep school, so Tim wondered how a runaway would be able to afford attendance at such a school. Obviously the kid wasn’t from Gotham, and that worried Tim with how much crime went on around the city. One possibility was that his parents sent him away as a ‘boarding school’ of sorts. Tim wasn’t sure how Gotham Prep was the best option for that though. 

Tim wanted nothing more than to investigate Danny's life, but had put it off. Part of him wanted Danny to tell him himself, but he had also been swamped with a new vigilante on the streets. None of the other bats ever saw who it was, but they all could feel something helping them or other people out. Like some invisible force they couldn't detect. It was hard to notice at first, with a few crooks tripping conveniently, a well placed pot falling on someone’s head. But it grew to become more, like one of them getting pushed out of the way, or sheets of ice appearing magically on the ground in the middle of summer. Tim had tried to call out, but no one ever answered. After a month, the invisible ghost still hadn’t showed itself, but they knew he- it? she?- was still around. Dick thought it was like a ghost friend, unsurprisingly nicknaming it Casper. Bruce, not so much.

But back to Danny. Tim was worried. Granted, they'd only known each other for a month at most, but he reminded Tim of Dick. Always hiding sad smiles behind false cheer, caring more about the people around them than themself. Tim shook his head, trying to disperse the thoughts around Danny's mysterious past. It would be rude to pry. 

"You sure you don't want to come over after school?" Tim asked,"Steph and I are gonna do homework, you can totally join us if you want."

"Ah," Danny froze, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly a moment later. Tim could see his pale skin and deep eyebags from standing so close. He chewed his lower lip in worry while the taller teen stammered through an excuse.  "I- I have some things to do at home, you know, chores and stuff. Maybe next time."

"Alright,"Tim answered easily, filing the answer down to analyze later. Meanwhile Steph booed at Danny from behind Tim. "Maybe next time? You could come over for movie night on Friday?" Steph added, frustration seeping into her voice,. Tim was sure Danny was either ignoring her outburst or didn’t notice. 

"I'll think about it,"Danny smiled nervously, stepping away and waving goodbye when they got to the street.

Tim waved back, shoulders slumping in disappointment. Steph shot him a knowing glance. "Looks like you're wearing him down at least. He'll be a Wayne before you know it!" Steph cheered, latching onto Tim's arm and dragging him to the car.

"I hope so," Tim sighed. The wearing down part at least, but he wouldn’t argue to having a new brother his age. 

"Hey, maybe he's just nervous about visiting the mansion?" Steph speculated. "Rich people's stuff can be a bit overwhelming. Maybe we can go to his house or somewhere else."

"I don't think so," Tim frowned. "Anytime we ask him to hang out after school he has some sort of excuse to get out of it, even if we invite him to the movies or bowling."

Steph pulled a face,"Well, maybe he just doesn't like you," She teased, then turned serious at Tim's glare.

"I am worried about him though,"Steph admitted, looking over to where Danny disappeared to,"He reminds me of Dick, but like, more sad. You said he was sick?"

Tim nodded in agreement, worrying his lip between his teeth as he thought. “Slow heartbeat, possibly malnourished, and lower body temperature, but other than that he acts fine. No low energy, he does pretty average in Gym class. I found a few diseases that it could be online, but I don’t have enough symptoms to narrow it down and it’d be weird to ask.“

"Have you looked him up on the batcomputer yet?" Steph asked, climbing into the car.

Tim shook his head. "Not yet. I don't want to pry too much, but I think he might be a runaway. It doesn't explain why he's at school, but it would partially explain his poor health. I just really don’t want Batman to find out, and he will if I use the Batcomputer. Connor also said his heartbeat was lower than he’d ever heard on someone not dying, so he might be a meta? It wouldn't be a stretch for his family to have kicked him out for being a meta. It happens."Tim thought aloud.

"Could also be a medical condition, like you said before." Steph pointed out. "I don’t know any metas that would have slower heartbeats, cuz usually enhancements means faster. He does seem kinda tired all the time. And he really doesn't eat much during school."

Tim hummed in agreement. "I'm just worried about him,"Tim sighed. 

"Alright Bruce,"Steph teased, smacking him lightly on the shoulder,"Should I get Alfred to set up another bedroom?"

Tim shoved her playfully, frown morphing into the beginnings of a smile. "I'm not gonna adopt him Steph, he's our age."

"Sure,"Steph shrugged with a smile that told Tim she didn't believe him at all. 

"Maybe Bruce would though, if we introduced them."

"Tim, no."

Chapter 2

[radiance1]

Hc where Vlad genuinely loves Christmas.

Like, it's not even to drive Danny up the walls for his hatred of it, bro just genuinely loves Christmas. It's how that even someone like Vlad could stand by and not break the Christmas truce despite his personality.

The one day a year where Danny gets left alone before Vlad somehow, someway, got redeemed and became an ok-ish guy.

Danny, genuinely, thought it was because Vlad being the careful fruitloop he is, doesn't want to get dogpiled like Ghost Writer did when he, himself, broke the Christmas Truce.

But no, biggest reason is that he genuinely loves Christmas.

Unfortunately, Vlad has no one to celebrate with.

So, he celebrates with himself, using his many duplicates of course!

Danny finds out when he encounters one of his many duplicates trying to buy gifts for himself, Danny sees it as very sad honestly when he found out, but was he going to do anything about it?

No.

Vlad can go bugger off to his mansion for the holiday and leave Danny alone for one day a year. Fudge, the guy even seemed to be aware of it by saying that he wouldn't want to oppose when invited by the Fentons, even though he's literally obsessed with his mother.

When Vlad somehow became redeemed, and stopped being a creep towards his mom and trying to force him into being his son he... sorta grew a conscious. I.e, going over to Vlad's mansion and dragging the man out to join his family in celebration.

Apparently, he still never got the hint that he's invited, like, at all. So Danny has to drag him over, every. Single. Year.

At the very least, the man made great non-living treats.

This, has gone on for years, Danny still looks 14, Vlad for some reason stopped aging at 45 and everyone else in the Fenton family knows that they're half ghost and has no problem with it (Jack and Maddie don't anymore after realizing everything they knew and thought were wrong) and celebrated Christmas just as hard as before, if not more so.

Even Dani stopped travelling the world to come back and join in.

It eventually turned into a tradition at that point, and after their family lived and died at a rip age (they never became ghosts) it sorta put a damper on the mood.

Then Vlad left, suddenly thinking he isn't invited anymore since Danny hates Christmas.

Danny, come next year, proved him wrong by showing up out of nowhere, as Phantom, wearing a Santa hat and star cape in the shape of a tree that Vlad stitched himself, with Dani also in ghost form also wearing one with a Christmas themed gas mask on her face.

Danny then just floated down towards him, took him by the back of his Christmas themed cape (Yes, Vlad is also in ghost form), looked at both the heroes, and villains who decided to fight on Vlad's personal property since he was probably funding one of either, or even both sides.

Then said they were taking him, his treats (Dani picked them up because she missed them) and excused themselves.

Vlad won't lie, he's incredibly touched by this event. But he was also a bit sad because he spent so long carefully manipulating both sides for one final, climatic, giant crash that he could sit back and watch while enjoying his cup of hot cocoa and enjoying his goods on one of the best days of the year.

[evilminji]

I got distracted, BUT I REMEMBERED!

The Dr.'s Fenton? Would ABSOLUTELY fight a child.

Specifically, Hatsume Mei. Future CEO of Hatsume Industries! And ENGINEERING RIVAL of their's! They may be new to this whole "support industy" business, but they are SEASONED weaponry makers! And that brilliant little upstart is good! Audacious! A THREAT!!!

COME GET SOME!!! D:<

See, they needed to Move. Things were getting a bit... spicy. They may have made so unfortunate choices, back before they knew the truth about their Son and Ghosts in general.

Ignorance, bigotry, and academic bias are curses in their house for a REASON, after all. They never thought... after all the DECADES of facing it themselves...

Well...

Needless to say, they were, are, and will always BE horrified by how they acted. There may have be a whole host of reasons behind WHY they acted that way. But those WHYs aren't good enough. They should have been better. Done better. They don't offer any excuses, but but they can give an explanation, if it's wanted.

And, together, as a family, they got through Maddie n Jack's horrifying mistakes.

God they don't deserve those kids. Love them to pieces. The things they don't warn ya about parenthood, you know? The mistakes you might make. You think you're ready. Think everything's alright. Then your life's work KILLS your son and brings him back.

And you don't notice.

......what sort of parents DONT NOTICE?

They still have nightmares. Feel sick. God, if they were working in ANY other field. With ANY other materials! If it wasn't SPECIFICALLY ectoplasm? He... he wouldn't have come back. Oh god.

........

So.... so, yeah.

They're working on some things! As a family! Seeing a therapist from the Zone. Lovely... Them? They're a tree person. Neither Jack or Maddie is quite certain what gender pronouns, if ANY, they are supposed to use. They've been defaulting to They/Them just to be safe. Still! Alien therapist! Neat!

But, of COURSE. The BABIES in White throw a FIT. "Wah, wah, wah you've been compromised blah blah blah" oh PLEASE! Just because they've had a little personal growth! And stopped shooting at Phantom in public! And in general! You shoot ONE little Goverment agent for trying to shoot your baby and suddenly YOUR the bad guy!

He didn't even die!

So, yeah, BIT spicy.

Honestly? Feels like a long time coming. They were never very popular. This ultimately just feels like the ends of a road that began in college. Them, the two "crazies" with their backs to the wall, as the government closes in, trying to tear them down for knowing the TRUTH and refusing to shut up about it. Their reputations so deep in the mud, they're tasting bedrock.

At least they are together.

And thank god they've had years to plan for the inevitable.

So? They have the kids grab their go bags and head off too stay with Danny's new celebrity friend from another dimension, Mr Wayne. Nice man, little dim, but since he's willing to open his home to the kids in case of emergency? Perfect. And frankly, as long as Mr. Pennyworth is there, everything will be fine.

Besides! Lil Damian is a very respectful and responsible young man. Tim and Danny may get up to mischief, but they can trust the youngest to put his foot down.

THEM on the other hand?

Not so lucky. THEY have to stay with the house. It's not exactky like they can move the portal after all, it's built in. And this is where the kids grew up! Where Jack and her scrimped and saved, lived out of cars and off nickle noodles, to afford! This is their HOME! And no jack booted THUG is going to take that.

So the kids go first. They go to the command center. Jack takes pot shots while she fires up... THAT machine. The one they wired into the house itself, right along with the Ectoplasmic Shielding. It was all theoretical, once. But not anymore.

Now they have The Zone.

It's been collecting energy runoff from the open gate ever since it opened. Siphoning them into the sub-basment mega batteries. Enough to run two-thirds the planet for the next half a millennia. If only the damn patent office would LET THEM PATENT THEIR WORK-!

But that doesn't matter anymore. No, what matters is checking how full the battery banks are. Decently. It HAS been a while since they've done a controlled drain. Good, that means they have more then enough.

So, with no kids to witness things getting nasty? She pulls out her keys and unlocks the parental commands, flips the the shields to "strobe-kill". Let's see you crowd us NOW fuckers. With Jack freed up to help aim the house? They set to work.

It's... not EXACTLY an exact science, as much as they'd prefer it to be. More of a controlled jump. Set preferences, power jump, hop sideways an unknown distance. Land. Look around.

Is it what you want?

Habitable?

A zombie apocalypse?

Jump again. And again. And again. Until the battery runs out. Then sit... or float...or drift, there, until the batteries refill. You have to be mindful, of course, that you don't lose Shield coverage. Because it keeps the House air tight and together. If you jump and immediately lose power to the shields because you misjudged the energy left in the batteries?

Better HOPE you land somewhere with a breathable atmosphere and no zombies!

And Fentons don't rely on HOPE! They rely on good ol firepower and hutzpa!

Also advanced ectoplasmic scientific engineering! But that was a given.

It... takes a while. They run out of canned peaches. Have to stop TWICE to help cure a zombie plague, since they are the only ones with a still working lab. They were actually sort of joking with the kids about the zombies. Oof. Good thing Ectoplasm eats EVERYTHING. One specialized ecto shot and that disease is TOAST.

Granted, the surviors are all limnal now. But they don't seem to care in the slightest.

Then there was the whole "oop! Planet's gone." Couple of worlds. The one with the crabs. The ocean one. The ice age. The robots. The cartoon horses. The inappropriately dressed high-schoolers with weapons fighting God. The boring one. The one with ninjas...

I mean, they are just NOT having any LUCK!

Okay, next moderately stable world, they are doing a groceries run! A Man can not live off freeze dried meals forever! Well, you CAN. But it's making Jack sad, and frankly that's a war crime. Plus she's run out of tea! AND coffee! A life of no caffeine? She can't endure that.

She's started to eye her son's God awful energy abominations in a can, for God sake! Desperate time's and all that...

Zyeyooom!

Thunk!

Which? Is how? The ENTIRE class of 1-H? Turns to stare in ABSOLUTE HORROR at the cackling, head thrown back, hands clawed, mad scientist "it's alive! It's aliiiiiiive" type insanity that is Hatsume Mei and her "this green goo I found from some guys Quirk" powered teleport anchor.

It MADE A HOUSE.

On SCHOOL FUCKING GROUNDS. An ENTIRE house! Is... is that a blimp? That's English right? What's it say?! What the FUCK is that sh- OH MY GOD ARE THOSE PEOPLE!? MEI!!!!!

So begins... the Fentons Beef With A Child™.

Because! Mei will forever more claim! That SHE brought them to this universe with HER magnificent machine! But Maddie and Jack? At first, trying to be nice about it, helpfully point out, actually? No. THEIR house can and does reality jump. THEY brought themselves.

Mei ignores them.

Crows about her magnificent machine. Scoffs about them thinks they haspd anything to do with it.

Oh... oh it is ON, you tiny pink haired little shit!

Does the Japanese Government want to take control of the situation? Of course they do. They want these scientists and they want that house. Local Nedzu's say? "It's nice to want things" :) *sips tea mockingly*

They landed on HIS school's grounds. Finders keepers!

You may say "threat to national security" but HE says "free support gear for the students and security for the school"! Not to MENTION all this delightful FREE clean energy! They are a delightful couple. With a portal to the fabric between realities in their basement!

Not found of the laboratory, but that's a personal issue. The ZONE however? Oooohohohohoho~☆

It? Would DRIVE THE HPSC and Japanese government BATSHIT INSANE that they can't get at the portal? That threats and stealth Heros and every other method? Just... hits a brick wall. A big ol "lol nope!" Meanwhile Nedzu and occasionally random teachers or students are popping in and out of this house they can get into?

Nedzu especially standing just on the other side of the shields going >:3 neener~ neener~ neener~ Ha ha! I could be mature about this but am CHOOSING NOT TO BE!

@legitimatesatanspawn @mutable-manifestation @hdgnj @hypewinter @babbling-babull

[thewayhomehallmark]

3x01: You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet -

The reunion was so beautiful! I love that Jacob is back and part of the family although I wish he'd kept the beard. The story they came up with to explain everything was good. It was sad to see him struggling but coming home and adjusting to life in present day is no easy feat, obviously. I really, really want him to reunite with Danny. I was disappointed we didn't get that.

It's great to see everyone functioning nicely months later. Kat and Elliot are cute but THOMAS IS ALIVE!! The recap really made a point of reminding us of that fact and Kat basically couldn't stop talking about him.

I honestly didn't expect Kat to go back going into this season. It felt like we'd wrapped that storyline up but I loved getting to see Susanna again. AND THOMAS!!! He waited by the pond for her!!! Ugh. I hope it's not the end of them but I guess it needs to be. Whatever. She can be with Elliot I guess. Fine.

The mysterious letters about Del's lie... did Colton and Del give up their first born son or something wild? Did Evelyn raise him? The secret could be literally anything. I was thinking maybe that baby grew up to be Casey's father but then where does that leave Casey if they're potentially a time traveler? So many questions already! Who is sending the letters? They look like they're from another time.

Colton knew about the pond! We already knew that, of course, since we saw him lurking in the bushes last season but it's all very exciting that the family is putting everything together and the world is expanding.

Can't wait for next week!

Let me know your thoughts and what gif requests you have.

[clockwayswrites]

Not So Imaginary

Parts 1-3 cw: Ethiopia, nightmares, medical care, non-graphic torture

Bruce had a file on Jason’s “imaginary” friend already, of course he did, but now it was being handled in a different light. Now it was being handled as facts. There was a theory, that Jason didn’t want to think too hard about, that Shelia had been able to see the Jason’s friend because they shared the same DNA.

(She wasn’t his mother, no matter the DNA.)

When Jason was well enough to sit and talk, they went through the file, occurrence by occurrence. When the file ran out— when Jason had stopped telling them about his friend— Jason had a lot more talking to do. The problem was, the more he was awake to talk, the more he worried about the fact that he hadn’t seen his friend.

He picked at the worry like a scab, constantly fussing over it out of worry. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“Maybe they’re not around because we’re around you more,” Dick said, prattling on like he did. “Or they used up a lot of energy! They did go all the way to Ethiopia. They could even still be traveling back.”

They were all good enough reasons, Jason supposed, but Jason wasn’t convinced so despite Dick’s effort, Jason stayed worried. Then he grew despondent. Then the nightmares changed.

Jason’s dreams had been uneasy since Ethiopia. His therapist said that was to be expected.

Some nights they were horrifying.

This was a different sort of horrifying.

This wasn’t his nightmares of being beat, endlessly, by that crowbar. Of Joker’s laughter. Of Shelia’s cold stare. The place he dreamed of wasn’t a warehouse but a facility. The cold eyes were hidden behind face shields. The pain was sharp and cutting.

Jason woke up screaming and knowing that the dream wasn’t his.

“They’re being tortured,” Jason mumbled into Bruce’s side after the tremors had faded and they all had calmed. They were piled in Bruce’s massive bed. Bruce still had his fingers against Jason’s pulse, Dick was gripping Jason’s ankle, and Jason didn’t even fight the nasal canal of oxygen.

“Little Wing?”

“It’s why they’re not here. I saw it in my dream. I know…” Jason had to close his eyes and focus on breathing for a little bit before he could continue. “I know how it sounds, but that wasn’t my dream. It was theirs. I know it was. They can… they always know when I’m in danger, is it crazy to think it works both ways?”

Bruce did that sigh of his, the one he did when he had too much in his head and needed to set it aside. “No, Jaylad, it’s not crazy. If you’re up for it chum, we’ll go to the Watchtower today and have J’onn see if he can sense any sort of telepathic connection.”

“And if he does? If they’re being hurt?”

“Then we’ll save them.”

---

AN: This story has turned very mean lol sorry. But! Danny soon? Still a very little bit, writing is a struggle atm with this week long migraine, but! It's something. Stay delightful, darlings.

[mattybstqrn]

𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚 (𝐏𝐓.𝟏) - 𝐂.𝐖

𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚔𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐?

Female Reader x Cole Walter

Y/n, Erin's older twin and her hotter sister, best friend of the Walter brothers, known them almost all of her life because of her sister. 

She never really hung out with them until she found herself falling for Cole, she grew closer with all of the Walter's and sometimes she even babysat, she mostly did it so she could get closer to Cole, but she found herself actually liking the Walter's and found herself talking to them in the halls, texting them, come over to their house to hang out. She liked them a lot more than she planned to. 

 Erin and Y/n had been both liked the boy and with how competitive Erin was, she made Y/n fight for Cole practically competing for him until Y/n eventually gave up, not wanting to fight over a boy, with her sister especially, she didn't care to compete for him.

She knew he'd pick her.

And he did. 

Of course she was right, it was pretty obvious who he'd pick, he had been leaning towards her from day one.

The two had started dating a few weeks before Jackie, Katherine's best friend's daughter moved in with them since the passing of her parents and older sister.

Cole and Y/n had been pretty close, physically and mentally, they talked a lot and so did their bodies. They had a lot of fun. All the time.

So, when the famous bonfire came around the planned to have some more fun.

Y/n and Cole were very clingy and touchy, whether they were holding hands, kissing, hugging, interlocking pinkies, they always found a way to be close to each other. 

So, all of their friends and siblings were pretty used to it, they found it disgusting but they found a way to either ignore it or just deal with it, but in their defense they're just hormonal teenagers.

Currently the couple stood at the bonfire, the two snuck off and found a place where they could have some alone time. 

Cole kissed down, Y/n's neck as she tugged on his hair in pleasure, their hiding spot wasn't the best place, in fact people could still see them and what they were doing but they didn't care, they were in their own world. 

So, as some people watched in disgust, they continued what they were doing until they were done. Long story short they did it, they gave each other hickeys, they were very loud, as were others, but they didn't care, and they carried on.

A little while later, the two were both exhausted from earlier and planned to leave to go have some more fun, but they decided to stay and spend some time with their friends.

They played games, beer pong, truth or dare, never have I ever, and more. They were all very drunk, well except for Jackie, of course, Danny, and Lee who was way too young to be anything near drunk.

So, as Cole boredly played truth or dare, because Y/n forced him too, she went to go get some drinks for them. She quickly refilled their cups before returning to the group to see Cole kissing another girl.

She dropped one of the cups in shock, tears stinging her eyes as she watched the two until they pulled away.

She was sad and then pure rage took over her. She stomped over to the two and threw the cup at them, sending beer all over them. The girl sat there shocked at what Y/n had just did as did Cole.

Y/n stormed off in anger and sadness, whipping her tears, that just kept coming as she tried to make her way towards her car while Cole followed after her.

"Y/n!" he yelled as she quickly opened her car door, hopped inside and angrily drove off leaving Cole to watch her until he could no longer see her car, "Fuck!" he yelled in anger.

Y/n drove very fast as she made her way to her car, her tears were stinging like fire, she couldn't believe what she just saw, what she did, well she could believe it, but she couldn't believe Cole, he promised all the hookups would stop and there he was kissing another girl.

"Ugh, he's unbelievable!" Y/n yelled to herself, she was on the edge of breaking down and crashing her car but luckily, she was home. Her mom was out, so she didn't have to deal with her, not they talked anyway.

She ran straight up to her room, slammed the door, and broke down on the floor, bursting into tears. She thought things would be different, that he wouldn't do her like he did everyone else, but man was she wrong.

She sat on the floor in front of her door, as she cried and cried, ignoring the text of her now ex-boyfriend. She didn't want to talk to him, she didn't want to text or call him and she sure as hell didn't want to see him.

Cole on the other hand repeatedly texted and called the girl praying that she'd answer. He tried to explain what happened over text, but she didn't answer, so he tried calling but she didn't answer that either.

He started freaking out and drove home, he contemplated on going to her house, but he wanted to get someone's opinion on it first. 

So, as soon as he got home, he asked Danny, who told him to give her some time, but he didn't want to hear that, he wanted him to tell him to go to her house and explain what really happened, but no matter who he asked the responded the same as Danny.

Cole decided it would be better if he listened to them and gave her some space, but that didn't mean she wasn't on him mind twenty-four seven.

Y/n stood in her room not knowing what to do with herself, she wanted to cry but she was pretty sure she ran out of tears.

She was sick and tired of crying, she wasn't sad anymore, she was angry, she was so angry she started breaking stuff, tearing things off of the walls, throwing all her stuff off of her dresser and onto the ground, ripping up everything.

She was going insane. 

She was just so angry at Cole, she looked at a picture of the two from a couple of weeks ago, they looked so happy. They were happy and he ruined everything. 

"How could he do that!?! Oh my god!" she yelled as tears ran down her face, she ripped the picture in half and threw both halves into the trash before she continued to break everything until she eventually she got so tired and just sat on the floor beside her bed in exhaustions.

She stared at the mess she had made, a mess that she was so not looking forward to cleaning later...

[creedslove]

DESERVE IT - PART EIGHTEEN

Javier Peña x f!reader

Summary: You're finally in Laredo, ready to start your life beside Javi and the two of you couldn't be happier together

Warnings: fluff, so much fluff, Javier is so husband material it makes me want to cry, mentions of smut and FLUFF

A/N: I don't know besties, I didn't like this chapter very much because I think I could have done it better but at the same time it felt I just couldn't write it anymore, and to make things worse I'm suffering from a real bad JOEL FEVER which makes it hard for me to focus in Javi 🥺

• PART ONE TO SEVENTEEN ON MY MASTERLIST

3.6k words

At first Javier didn't want to go to Danny's and whatever was her name's wedding, but his father had insisted, saying it was a good opportunity for Javier to see the people from Laredo - as if he hadn't been seeing them for the past weeks, hence all the congratulations he was getting from them, as well as the usual gossip spreading around town that Javier Peña was back. Chucho then grunted and told his son it was a good opportunity for him to unwind, socialize a little, dance and relax, as he'd been tense since his arrival. And then it was time for Javier to scoff and roll his eyes, as if he was actually going to dance at that place.

"Well, why don't you go and meet a girl then? This is something that you used to like…" Chucho suggested him, getting annoyed at his son's attitude and not understanding why he still behaved like a naughty little boy even after becoming a grown man.

Javi laughed this time and shook his head, which caught his dad's worried attention at his refusal, because Javier never refused women and if he had just done it, it was concerning.

"¿Qué pasa mijito?" He frowned and Javier just knew he would have to give him an answer, however, he didn't know why he felt so anxious at a simple thing such as telling his pa he had a girlfriend. No, not just a girlfriend, a fiancee. Still, it wouldn't be the first time he broke the news to Chucho but unlike the first time, now he knew his dad had the right to second guess him.

Javi's tongue ran around his lips and he sighed, pacing the kitchen softly and shook his head "there's someone I met… a woman, we met in Colombia and I fell hard for her" and his dad just took a deep breath. He had seen that movie once and wasn't pleased to know it would repeat itself, at the same time it also puzzled him, because his son wasn't one to admit his feelings, not even when he nearly married Lorraine, of course he'd say she was pretty and things like that, but he never once admitted to love someone.

"What?" He asked and sat down at the table, as Javi lit up another cigarette and proceeded to tell his father all about you. How you two met, how hard he tried to fight your love and then you two pretended to hate each other's guts until you couldn't hold back anymore. You were too in love to resist and the need of being together grew stronger and stronger until Javier proposed to you.

Chucho then choked on his coffee, looking at his son with big wide eyes "you did what? With your mother's ring? Are you out of your fucking mind, pendejo?" He raised his voice at his son, who pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, knowing his dad would have that reaction, and worse: he had the right to. He had lost the ring once because Lorraine was petty and knew how much that ring meant to Javier and his dad, and then Chucho had to interfere and ask Lorraine's father for the ring back, in one of the most embarrassing and humiliating situations of his life, so he was not pleased at all to learn Javier had handed the ring to another woman - one he hadn't met but was sure his son would break her heart just like he did with every other girl he'd been with. Javier knew how little faith his dad had in him, and even if a part of him still took it hard and felt offended, another part of him just couldn't blame his father at all, there were things Javi couldn't simply fight and his evil ways towards women were one of them. Used to be one of them, because ever since you came into his life, you taught him how decent he could be, and he liked this version of him, where he could dream about being a good husband and father without worrying every five seconds about screwing things up and ruining his relationship.

"Dad… it's not like that, I promise you… Y/N is the real deal. I love her, like I hadn't loved anyone in my entire life. She's the one for me and she was also the person who loved me and accepted me besides my flaws. I've always wanted something like you and mom had and I thought it wouldn't happen to me… But it did and that's why I gave her the ring, because she deserves it. We'll get married as soon as she is able to leave Colombia, so far she's trapped in the Escobar paperwork but we'll be together, she'll live here and maybe in a couple of years you will be sitting on the same spot ranting with your grandkids instead of ranting with me"

Chucho laughed softly, that sounded too good to be true. Even if he wanted that all to be real, he still had his doubts. Yet, seeing Javier as happy as he seemed at that moment, was worthy and he decided to play along not wanting to disappoint him at all. He nodded as he rubbed his hand over his chin and looked at him "if you say so, son, I'll make sure this girl feels at home with us, if she'll be your wife she will also be like a daughter to me. But I ask you one thing in exchange of that"

"What is it pa?"

"You come to Danny's wedding with me!"

So when Javi got to the wedding, after sitting through a really boring ceremony in a packed church in a temperature almost as high as Colombia, he couldn't help but keep daydreaming of you. He would like to have you by his side, for you to be his date, wearing one of your beautiful dresses and holding his hand among all those people, but at the same time he also liked to picture himself up there, at the altar, waiting for you. He was sure you would be the most beautiful bride in the world, but he also felt anxious to think of it, knowing what you went through in your last attempt and what he did in his last attempt, he didn't know exactly how you two would make that part work, he was dying to see you in a wedding dress, so not having a ceremony would was definitely off the table. He would have to talk to you about it, maybe in your next call. He felt guilty to know he wouldn't be able to call you that night, even if he had told you he would be at a wedding with his pa, he still felt sad about not being able to talk to you. Little did Javier know you were literally on your way to see him.

You on the other hand, would be completely mortified to be crashing at someone else's wedding at any other occasion. The idea of attending an event so meaningful like a wedding as an uninvited guest was enough to make your skin crawl, but at that moment you couldn't care at all. You had quit your job, left the life you've known for the past year behind just to be with the man you loved. Some people might have said it was a mistake, that leaving your job and the prospect of building your career over a man was just crazy, but what these people didn't understand is that it wasn't just any man. It was Javier Peña and they wouldn't understand it at all, because he was yours and only yours.

The girl from the motel - Camila, as you learned in the car, asked you why you were in such a hurry to find them, and couldn't help but laugh softly when you told her the sweet truth: you were engaged to Javier. She felt embarrassed as you frowned at her and she cleared her throat "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh, it was disrespectful. It's just that Javier has quite the reputation and nobody in town expected him to be engaged" and at your words you were the one who couldn't help but laugh

"You think I don't know about his reputation? Honey, I've witnessed his reputation being built with my own eyes… but the problem is that Javier is too much of a sexy motherfucker and before I could help myself, I was madly in love with him and the best part is that he's just as in love with me, believe it or not'' Camila smiled at your words and nodded "well, I have only seen him from afar, all I know it's the gossip about him, but he looks good, his father is a very kind man, a little rough on Javier, after what happened with his… you know… former bride" she said blushing a little and you nodded, showing her you knew the whole story.

Once you two arrived, Camila wished you luck and went to hang out with her friends. You swallowed as you looked around, the party was going strong, a lot of people were wearing their best clothes, dancing, eating and cheering. You felt an excitement inside of you, knowing seeing your man was just a matter of locating him in the crowd and you couldn't help yourself but giggle at how appropriate your recounter would be at a wedding.

You walked among people, being careful so you wouldn't bump into the people who were dancing and having their fun. You liked the energy of that place, people were so warm and even if they didn't know you, they still greeted you as you passed by.

And then you finally spotted him.

Your heart drummed in your chest and relief flooded your body at the sight of Javier standing a few meters away from you. He had his arms crossed and he talked to a blonde woman you already knew, recognizing her from the time you went snooping through his apartment and found pictures of Javi and his old group of friends. It was Lorraine. She looked better in person, you had to admit that and there was a time your heart would burn with jealousy at that sight, but not now, as you were so sure of Javi's feelings for you. Besides, you just knew he was apologizing to her, he always did that out of guilt and it soothed your heart, because it showed Javier had become a better person, it showed he would never do that again, break a heart like he did before. Javi finished his conversation as soon as the man you pressured to be Lorraine's husband showed up with a couple for children - probably their kids - and he went back to his seat.

Next you know, you walked to him, placed your hands on his shoulder and asked him to dance.

Javi was so distracted that among all the people there he thought he had smelled your perfume and he shook his head softly, wanting to get rid of that painful impression, knowing you were miles away from him and also slightly worried he was growing a little obsessed with you, but he couldn't help himself, he was so drunk in love he didn't know how to act otherwise.

He leaned his face on his hand, watching as the party went on and hoping he could get home already when he felt hands on his shoulders and tensed up, he didn't usually like unannounced physical touch like that and frowned, ready to turn around and face whoever was touching him with no permission he heard your voice.

"Would you like to dance, Javi?"

It was a trick, it had to be a trick. Maybe he'd drunk too much, he was in too deep with you and he was starting hearing things, but then, he felt the presence leaning towards him and pecking his cheek gently, your lips on his skin as your arms wrapped around his neck and you giggled

"Te extrañé tanto mi amor" you whispered into his ear and let go of him, giving him space to get up and face you.

When he finally did it, you couldn't help but chuckle, smiling wide as your Javi took all of you. He could barely believe as he took a step forward and placed his big hands on your hips "Y/N…" he whispered still a little shocked to see you there but couldn't contain his happiness the moment he felt your hot skin under the thin cloth of your dress, seeing you were real, and you were there for him.

You nodded and took both hands to his face, cupping his cheeks gently, as you stroked them at first, before finally running through his soft hair, tugging at it gently and loving to have him so close to you.

"Yes, it's me Javi, your cariño, I came for you, I couldn't stay away any longer" Javier smiled and leaned in, kissing your lips, his arms immediately snaked around your frame, pulling you closer.

His kiss was so urgent and he really showed you how much he'd missed you. You moaned into his mouth needing his touch as much as he needed yours, but you remembered you were in a public place, and not only that, you were in a public place where everyone knew Javi and he could easily become the town's gossip - more than he already had. And much against your will, you broke the kiss, but your hands didn't leave his face, not yet, as you wanted to feel his skin under your touch, you wanted to make sure he was actually there, standing next to you. And boy he looked handsome. Painfully handsome like you grew to love each time more and more, never getting enough of your man.

"How?" He asked, mesmerized, his grip around your waist was tight as he didn't want to let go of you and you proceeded to briefly tell him what happened in the last few days and how you simply quit and took the first flight to him. Javi just smiled and pulled you for another kiss, he didn't want to stop touching you at any moment, but as his father cleared his throat, he forced himself to break another kiss and turn to him.

"Pa, this is Y/N, my fiance… She left Colombia and she's gonna stay with us" he told him and you blushed hard.

You realized you had just flew to a city you knew nobody and you were imposing your presence in someone else's house. What if Javier's dad didn't want you around? You gulped but still extended your hand to him.

"Mucho gusto, don Chucho" you said nervously, as the older man shook your hand and observed you, seeing you were wearing his late wife's ring. He wasn't one to smile a lot, but he gave you a nod

"Welcome home, mijita. Javier has told me a lot about you, but I think he forgot to mention how truly beautiful you were" he added and it made the tension go away. Now you knew where Javi's charms came from and it was soothing to know his dad was warm to you, after all, he welcomed you home, so you assumed he was okay with you staying.

He turned to Javier and frowned, his expression hardening again "she must be hungry, take her to the buffet and do this pretty lady a favor and dance with her" he told his son and you held the urge of bursting out laughing. There was something just so amusing in seeing Javier being treated like a child that even if it angered you, it was still adorable.

You helped yourself to the delicious food once Javi led you to the buffet table and you explained to him how awkward you felt in being at someone's wedding without being uninvited, but he just brushed it off assuring you there was no problem. He had so many questions to ask you, but at the same time he just wanted to undress you from the pretty summer dress you wore and touch you in the most inappropriate ways he could think of, but at the same time he wanted to hold you in front of the whole town and dance with you, show them Javier Peña had found someone he loved, someone he trusted and he would be happy with. He wasn't just a manwhore, he wasn't the kind of guy women wouldn't want to preserve their reputation away from, he was yours.

So he waited patiently for you to finish eating and then he took you by the hand, "come on, hermosa, let's dance" he winked at you and led you to the dancefloor, his hands always on your body, as you two swayed gently to the romantic ballad that played.

People stared and watched, some of them didn't care, but others were shocked and amused to see Javier Peña tied to a girl like that. Some even managed to spot the infamous ring on your finger and that would lead to some juicy gossip the next day, and you knew that if the people from Laredo wanted a show, then you would give them a show. So you just kissed Javier once more, mid-song, for everyone to see, so there wouldn't be any doubts of what nature your relationship was.

•••

At the end of the party, Javi drove Chucho back to the ranch and then took you to the motel, so he could help you get your stuff and you would also have some time alone to talk things through. As he drove, you told him in details everything that went on the weeks he had been absent and how you simply couldn't stand being away from him. You mentioned how fed up you were with your job and how Manu was the one to apologize and suggest you went after Javi, which surprised your man, but he felt thankful deep down inside, because then, you were there for him.

Javi was just so happy, he couldn't hide the excitement about having you closer to him, he couldn't leave his hands away from your skin, as one of his hand always rested on your thigh as he drove. He was taking the road back home, when you bit your lips

"Javi wait…" you asked "I want to talk to you in private, before we get to the ranch" you said and he immediately parked on the stretch of the road and a sudden memory of the night he took you on a date in Colombia and fucked you in his car made you blush. God, you'd missed that man.

"It's just that… I know we talked a lot about our future on the ranch and how we wanted it, but we also stressed it was a plan for the future, so if you don't feel ready to have that, or you think that us living together is too soon, let me know, okay? I don't wanna impose on your or your dad and I can find a place for myself here, I saved a pretty good amount of money so I can get by for some time until I find a job" you told him, but he calmly smirked at you "come with me" he said exiting the car and waited for you to do the same, taking you to the back of his truck, helping you up so you could sit down as he joined you.

Javi took your hand in his and stroked it gently, looking into your eyes and pecking your lips gently

"Mi amor, if you want I can marry you tomorrow… you are my future, and I want whatever you give me, all I need is you baby girl, so yeah, if it's up to me, you'll call that ranch your home, and you'll pick a beautiful wedding dress downtown tomorrow and we can get started on trying for a baby Peña tonight" he tilted his head and winked at you, his old charms always there, which made you throw yourself into his arms and kiss him.

You thought Javi would fuck you in the back of his trunk, but instead he made love to you that night. And as you rested against his naked chest, with only his jacket thrown over your body as a blanket, you looked up at the sky and realized how clear and starry it was.

"Look how beautiful it is Javi" you pointed at the stars to draw his attention but he just shrugged "it doesn't compare to how beautiful you are, cariño" he said in return making your heart melt.

When you began shivering, Javier helped you get dressed and drove you back to the ranch. It was dark and silent as his dad was already asleep, but you really liked what you saw. You knew how happy your fiance had been there and you just wished you could be just as happy as he was once, but you had a gut feeling telling you you would, as you'd live there with the love of your life.

When you were in his bedroom, you and Javi went for another round, you just craved his cock as much as he craved your entire body and when you came down from your bliss, you two decided to set the date to the wedding. It would happen in a few months, so you would have time to adapt to the city and plan things.

You knew you were the luckiest person in the world when you snuggled closer to Javier and watched his side profile as he slept peacefully. That man was yours and you were his. You two loved each other and would get married soon.

_____

A/N: I don't know about you besties but I'm very depressed right now simply because I'm not engaged to Javier Peña 🥺😢😭🤧

[jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka]

Hello, hello 👋 I’ve been looking forward to this chapter, it’s a fun one, I hope you enjoy!

Pairings: Sam Kiszka X Danny Wagner *slash

Warnings and tags: 18+ only, no minors please, adult themes including: mentions of past parent death, coping with parent death, lots of brotherly banter, sexual situations including: allusions to oral sex, making out like horny teenagers, vampire!AU, *I don’t really know anything about cars ok but I tried

Word count: 4.2k

“Are you ready?” Danny leaned in to whisper with a kiss against Sam’s cheek as they walked up the concrete pathway from the driveway to the front door, Sam’s arm slung confidently over his forearm.

“Are you ready?” Sam copycat, holding emphasis on his words to show Danny that he indeed wasn’t prepared for what he was about to get himself into. “Also, what are you going to do about dinner? You can’t eat can you?”

“I’ve been doing this for a while, I’ll figure something out” Danny offered a reassuring smile as they stepped up to the front door to face whatever may come together.

Danny was thoroughly impressed when Sam turned down this street and parked. It was an older neighborhood, but one of the areas of town that had been meticulously upkept over the many years since he had last been this way. Sam’s house wasn’t the largest on the block, but it was beautiful from the exterior with its wide windows, the inside hidden behind long flowy white curtains that stood out against the cream color of the freshly painted trim and meticulously manicured bushes.

Sam knocked, standing stiff and straight as they waited for someone to answer. After a few minutes of waiting, Josh finally pulled the door open with a slightly frustrated look that he quickly concealed by pulling on a bright smile. “Sam, Danny, you’re early” Josh greeted them, wiping his hands off on the apron tied around his neck to shake Danny’s hand.

“No we’re not, you’re just always late. Are you going to invite us in?” Sam quickly suggested so they wouldn’t have to awkwardly ask for Danny’s permission to enter.

“Of course! Come in, both of you!” Josh stepped aside and allowed them entry, closing the door behind them and hurrying back towards the kitchen. “Fuck I can smell the sauce burning. Sam, you know where everything is at”.

“Yeah, we’ll wait in the living room. Come on, this way”. Sam led Danny through the entryway, avoiding looking into the small home office to the left of the foyer because he knew that’s where all of his dad’s belongings they had decided to keep were stored, mixed in with the work from the bar that Josh often brought home with him.

“I’ll give you a tour after dinner” Sam offered as they got comfortable on the loveseat to wait for dinner to be ready. The couches and the TV were new, but everything else down to the stack of outdated magazines in the basket underneath the coffee table was the same as it had been since their mom had put them there years ago.

“You have a beautiful home” Danny commented even after having only seen very little of it. He wasn’t just being polite though, expectedly a house lived in by two young men would maybe be a little messy or bare, but he could tell that Sam’s brothers took good care of the property and the belongings left behind.

“Where’s Jake?” Sam questioned when Josh joined them, having removed his apron and choosing to take a seat on the sofa on the other side of the coffee table.

Josh glanced at the stairs behind them that led up to the second floor bedrooms, and as if on queue the muffled sound of music came seeping out. “Well sounds like he’s up”.

Sam was about to suggest going to get him, but as the music grew louder they all began to recognize the particular song of choice: The Great Gig in the Sky. Someone was in a mood.

“Pink Floyd was one of our dad’s favorites” Josh mentioned with a slightly anxious chuckle.

“It’s a great album” Danny replied, the three of them all nodding in agreement until a second female’s voice that was not on the track began to chime in, catching them off guard.

“Oh gooood” a whiny moan escaped the drowning music, making it clear to everyone now what had Jake so busy upstairs.

“Is he serious right now?” Sam complained to his other brother who was currently trying to act like what they were hearing right now wasn’t entirely embarrassing.

“Imagine waking up to that at 6am” Josh retorted. “When he gets home it’s like a three ring circus is going on up there. Makes me want to take a broom to the ceiling like a grouchy old man”.

He was rambling, afraid of somehow fucking this evening up beyond repair and that Sam would never want to visit home again- and what the fuck was Jake even doing?

“Wait,” Sam spoke again, putting two and two together when he fully took in what nonsense Josh had said. He grew up in this house, and despite how long it had been since he’d last set foot inside he still knew the layout like the back of his hand. Their bedrooms were upstairs, Sam’s room on the left and the room Jake and Josh had shared since they were children just across the hall. There was only one bedroom on the ground level, the master suite. “Did you move into mom and dads room?”

“I umm, well yeah” Josh stumbled over his words now as he scrambled to find a quick excuse, one that Sam would hopefully understand.

“Sam-” Danny muttered under his breath as he pulled one of his hands into his lap.

Through the growing tension building in the room like a distant thunderstorm, no one had noticed the music from upstairs had died down until a girl in a pair of wrinkled green scrubs and a mess of bed hair came down the stairs, pausing on the last step when she noticed there was company.

“Wow, it smells amazing down here” she commented with a shy smile as she raked her French Tip manicured fingers through her tousled hair and pulled an elastic from around her wrist to secure it.

“Thanks,” Josh jumped up, more than willing to trade the awkward interaction with Sam for the less but still pretty awkward conversation with Jake’s hookup. “You’re more than welcome to stay for dinner?”

“Oh, thanks for the offer but I’ve got to head into the hospital. I’m about to be late for my shift” she politely declined.

Jake emerged from the top of the stairs wearing just a pair of faded blue pajama pants, no shirt, equally messy hair, and clearly no underwear, with a toothbrush sticking out of his mouth as he hurried down to return a tiny silver necklace she’d forgotten she took off in the bathroom before when they showered together in the early morning.

Her eyes raked over Jake’s body, slightly tanned despite his schedule of near back to back over nights at the hospital. “It was worth it though” she cheekily added with a smirk, taking the necklace and prancing down the hall to let herself out.

“What the fuck was that?” Josh hissed, his eyes darting back to Sam and Danny who were staring at the entire scene unfolding before them.

“Hey Sammy” Jake waved, his nonchalant greeting mumbled up by the toothbrush still in his mouth. “And that was Liz”.

“Alright, well I see you’ve already had dessert. Are you going to get dressed and join us for dinner?”

“Jesus, I will. Just give me 5 minutes ok?” They both agreed, and Josh tried calming down for a brief moment before Jake started back up the stairs with one last remark. “You’ll pull your G-string out of your ass before I come back down?”

“I fucking swear, I’m gonna kill him!” Josh grumbled under his breath as he pinched his nose and walked back into the living room. “Would you like to reposition to the dining room?”

“Yes, please, I’m starving” Sam jumped up first, waiting for Josh to take the lead who stood by until Danny also stood. “I’m sorry, Jake is actually a really respectable guy. At least when he’s working at the hospital he controls himself… if you can get past all the nurses he brings home… actually you know what? He’s really just an asshole”.

Putting his foot in his mouth Josh turned on his heel and stormed back into the kitchen, bringing all of the dishes out and setting them in the middle of the table which he had already set before they arrived.

Sam took his old place at the table, Danny following suit and sitting at an open spot next to him.

Jake reemerged from upstairs again, only this time he was wearing a proper pair of pants and a shirt with half of his combed out hair tied back. He also sat in his usual spot, which was directly in front of Danny, and when he looked across the table peering steadily into a pair of wide curious eyes it was like he registered for the first time that Sam had someone important over.

The two of them shared a silent moment as they internally gauged each other’s presence. In the meantime Josh returned with an open bottle of wine and he went around filling everyone's glasses before sliding into his chair beside Jake. He and Sam made eye contact next, and he discreetly kicked Sam’s boot from under the table to get him to say something.

“Jake, this is Daniel” Sam piped up, waiting to see now that introductions were started who would break their unwavering eye-contact first.

Jake did, his gaze flickering away as he picked up his plate and started to fill it with food. “So, what did you do to convince Sammy to come home for dinner?”

Though he wasn’t looking at anyone as he spoke, everyone understood exactly who his question was directed at.

“Umm, I’m not sure I really did anything” Danny replied, following Jake’s lead and spooning some peas and carrots from the dish in front of him onto his plate. The others did the same, each of them trying to act like this was just a normal meal when in reality everyone was on the edge of their seats.

“Well, whatever it was. Thank you” Jake added, making Danny look back up in shock at his otherwise welcoming attitude. “Josh has been cooking all day. He’s really happy you’re here”.

Danny hoped it was clear that he wanted to do this, wanted to show that he was willing to sit through a meal with Sam’s family even if it meant he would have to pretend he fit in. “I’m happy to be here too”.

The initial tension started to ease and boisterous laughter began to fill the room as Josh and Jake took turns sharing childhood stories about the youngest to which Sam continuously groaned in embarrassment. Even if Sam wanted to tell them to shut up, the conversation kept everyone thoroughly entertained and no one had noticed that Danny hadn’t eaten much of anything until Josh happened to look down at his plate.

“Not hungry?” Josh questioned, not in a defensive way but just concerned that maybe Danny didn’t like his cooking that, as Jake previously revealed, he had spent all afternoon preparing.

“Sorry no, it’s hard to eat when I’m nervous” Danny answered swiftly on the spot.

Josh nodded in understanding, but Jake continued to silently regard Danny from across the table like he was trying to catch him in some sort of lie.

“So, has Josh told you about the fire department coming by last Friday?” Sam steered the conversation away from both him and Danny, pulling Jake’s look back towards him with his interest piqued again.

“Oh?” Jake replied, the questioning tone in his voice showing that he indeed had not been looped in yet.

“Relax, I was going to tell you after I got it all sorted out”. Josh tried to brush it off, but no one was dropping the subject now that Sam had strategically brought it up. “They gave me a list of things around the bar that need to be brought up to code”.

“Josh, you should have told me sooner. I could’ve been helping you” Jake scolded his twin.

“‘s fine. Danny’s been helping me actually”. He muttered into his wine glass as he finished off the rich burgundy liquid.

“It’s true,” Sam chimed in, “they were outside together all last night. I had to deal with that group of rowdy drunk construction workers all by myself”.

“Is that so? Because what I heard when Diane finally came to get me was Terry had to pull you away from them” Josh countered with an authorative cock of his brow.

“Yeah like I said. Dealt with them myself” Sam puffed out his chest as he too finished another glass of wine.

“Sam, you keep running off my customers like that we won’t have anyone left to serve. Then we really will be closing down”.

“No I think it's good he stood up for himself” Jake butt in. “You don’t want to have a reputation for giving service to jackasses that harass your waitstaff”.

Sam nod his head in agreement, but what Jake said next sent everyone back into an awkward silence. “Besides, Dad wouldn’t let anyone treat any of us that way”.

“Right, well I should get cleaning up” Josh’s chair was the loudest noice in the room now as it scraped against the hardwood floor and he stood, gathering his plate in one hand and his empty wine glass in the other. Jake jumped up too, collecting his dirty dishes and following Josh into the kitchen to apologize in private.

“They’re alright” Sam placed a hand over Danny’s before he could start cleaning up as well. “Let’s just give them a minute. How about that tour?”

Danny smiled, his shoulders finally relaxing again after having sat so stiff in his chair while everyone else ate. They stacked their plates together to make it easier for the twins to carry away and Sam led Danny back towards the living room, this time taking a left and heading up the stairs.

“Jake and Josh’s room, or I guess just Jake’s now” Sam motioned towards the first door on the right, closed and concealing everything inside that might give Danny a clue how to crack the more complex brother. Not that Josh wasn’t complex, but after all the time they’d spent working together last night he was confident he didn’t have to worry about making a good impression on him anymore. Josh was an all around likeable guy, very talkative as he quickly learned, and insanely dedicated to his job and providing for his employees. He respected that from the oldest, considering he had to abandon his family before he ever got the opportunity to really give back.

Jake on the other hand was becoming harder and harder to crack the longer Danny spent with him. One second he would be smiling and drinking along with the group, and in the next he would be off in his own thoughts, completely dissociated until his attention was miraculously grabbed again. He marched to the beat of his own drum, much like Sam did, which made Danny more intimidated to try and get to know him too.

“Bathroom is at the end there,” Sam pointed to another door a bit further down the hallway from Jake’s before turning with a shaky breath. “And mine”.

Sam’s old bedroom door had been left open, a low humming coming from inside as the window unit worked to keep the room cool. It was actually too chilly in fact, goosebumps appearing across Sam’s arms as soon as he stepped inside. He went over to the air conditioner and messed with the controls a bit until the fan died down before shutting off completely. When he turned back around Sam was filled with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia punching him right in the gut. The feeling was so strong he practically doubled over, grabbing his stomach as he quickly moved to sit on his bed.

Danny came running over of course, his reflexes carrying him across the room before Sam’s bottom had even made contact with the comforter. “Sam? Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, sorry it’s just a lot. Being back here after running away for so long”.

“Do you want me to go get one of your brothers?”

Sam reached out where Danny was crouched down in front of him, weaving his fingers into the curly strands at the back of his neck and bringing him in for a kiss.

Though Danny’s strength could easily maintain his control he allowed Sam to pull him down, climbing onto the bed with him as Sam laid back. “You know, you’re the first guy I’ve ever kissed in my bedroom”.

Danny grinned. He knew Sam really meant that he was the first boy he’d ever brought home, but he’d take this as admission enough. “Honestly, you are too”.

“A first for both of us then” Sam's voice came out in a whisper, nearly concealed with the sound of the air conditioner as it kicked back on. He felt a chill shake his bones, and although he knew Danny wouldn’t be able to warm him up, he tugged him even closer and connected their lips once more.

“What do you say we make good on the teenage angst pent up in here?” Sam jokingly offered as Danny moved his kisses lower, teasing his neck with nips of his front teeth. When Danny didn’t reply, Sam took matters into his own hands by pushing him over and throwing a leg around Danny’s lap. In a show of his own strength, Sam pinned Danny’s arms above his head with a smug grin. “You’re trapped now. It’s time I get what I want”.

Though Sam’s feeble attempt at coming out on top was cute, Danny cocked a challenging brow. Within seconds he had Sam upright again with his back against the wall, using his body to hold him steady as he attacked that sassy mouth with his own. Sam whimpered as he tried to squirm, but there was nowhere for him to go with one of Danny’s arms wrapped around his shoulders and the other hand planted firmly against the wall next to his head. His legs hooked behind Danny’s hips as he allowed his full weight to be supported and got lost in the heat of the moment. “And what would your brother’s say if they really knew who you had up here with you?”

“I don't care” Sam groaned, the slight vibration coming from the wall due to the window unit still running a few feet away making his body quiver with want.

Danny clicked his tongue and let Sam easily back down onto his feet, making sure he was capable of returning to standing on his own before backing away. “Come on, it's getting late. We should go check on them one more time”.

Sam tried to pull himself back together, flattening his clammy palms over his tousled hair in an attempt to smooth down the fly aways. Danny reached over and helped and when Sam’s eye met his with a look of utter disappointment he sighed and cupped his cheek softly. “Will you come back to mine after? I have something I want to show you”.

Sam’s eyes glowed golden with renewed hope and he instantly perked back up, never more ready to leave here than when he had first moved out. They made their way back down the stairs and into the kitchen where Josh was finishing up a few of the dishes.

A pang of guilt struck Sam’s heart when he saw the towel sitting on the counter beside the dishes that were waiting to be dried before going back into the cabinets. It had always been his job to dry, but now here was his brother doing it all by himself. Sam stepped next to him, taking the towel in one hand and a plate in the other and silently began to help. Josh didn’t make any comment, only glanced over his shoulder and smiled, dunking the next plate into the soapy water and passing it along.

“Jake went out to the garage. The door is over there if you’d like to go”. Josh called behind his back to Danny and pointed in the general direction he needed to head in to find his way. Leaving them to it Danny took the opportunity for a little one on one time, taking a steadying inhale in when he found the door Josh was referring to and turned the knob.

There were a few work lights set up in the garage, and an old stereo that took up a good third of the work bench was tuned into a classic rock channel, its blocky speakers filling the room with the smooth sounds of instrumentals and unparalleled vocals of all the greats. It was a roomy garage, probably enough space for two vehicles, but parked right in the middle was a single vintage car. The body was slightly rusted but the black paint that remained gave hints of what the car looked like in its heyday, an image to strive for when restoring a beauty such as this.

“Plymouth? Good taste” Danny announced his arrival in case Jake hadn’t heard him enter over the sound of the music playing. Jake was hidden behind the hood, propped open as he stood on a stool to peer deep inside at the guts of the motor.

“You like cars?” Jake questioned casually, wiping his hands off on a rag already stained dark brown with use.

“As much as the next, I have a soft spot for this era though”.

“And what era is that?” Jake quizzically tested him to see if he could really put his money where his mouth was, or if he was just talking out of his ass.

“Well considering Barracuda’s were only manufactured between 1964 though what ‘75?” Danny purposefully misspoke by one year, making Jake nod his head and correct him with a soft “Mmm, ‘74”.

Danny stepped closer, looking down into the mess that was the old engine mostly taken apart. “Is this a V8?”

“Indeed it is” Jake replied, growing more impressed by the second. Though he didn’t show it on his face.

“By the body shape I’d say it’s a second generation. So somewhere between ‘67 and ‘69”.

“You’re right, it's a late generation 1969. It was my grandfather’s car, my Dad kept it around so we could restore it together, but he died before we ever finished”. Jake took his dirty rag and went back to loosening up bolts, just tinkering around while he waited for some more parts to come in.

“Sam told me about your parents. I really am sorry” Danny extended a heartfelt apology, but Jake only pulled out a component and brought it over to his work bench to take a closer look at it under some better light.

Danny stood back, letting Jake have his own space to move freely when he reached over and turned the volume knob on his stereo down. “Did Sam also tell you it was his birthday the night they died?”

Danny's brows crinkled in thought, though he knew he would absolutely remember a detail like that. Jake took the look of bewilderment on his face as an answer enough. “April 3rd 2000, only about two weeks before Josh and I turned nineteen” Jake continued. “We always used to complain about sharing a birthday in the same month as our little brother. I mean we already had to share it with each other, like we shared everything else, and then Sam came along too… Now though, none of us really care anymore. Birthdays are just another day to us, another trigger to avoid”.

“I’m not much of a birthday celebrater myself either” Danny muttered, he himself having given up on keeping track when he began to really look too young for his age. “Wait, April 3rd? That’s only a few days from now”.

Finally Jake looked up from his part, meeting Danny’s confused and slightly flustered gaze dead on. “Yeah, why do you think Josh was so excited about you guys coming over tonight? We may not have celebrated, but he was counting tonight as a gift of sorts that’s Sam’s home”.

“He’s doing well you know”. Danny knew it wasn’t his place to tell Sam’s own brothers to not worry, especially when he wasn’t exactly the best person for Sam to be getting close to, but if his assurance could ease any worry he at least wanted them to hear it from someone who did really care about him.

“I do, and I’m proud of him”. Abandoning what he was doing just to keep himself busy, Jake turned his body towards Danny and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m glad he’s found someone good this time too. You are good, right?”

Danny hesitated for a moment, biting his cheek to keep himself from saying something rash. “I wouldn’t ever do anything to hurt him”.

“I’ll hold you to your word” Jake left him with one more warning. “Last thing any of us need is more hurt”.

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@sanguinebats @holdingup-fallingsky @musicislove3389 @i-choose-the-road @alantern-inthenight @scarabsinthestardust @josh-iamyour-mama

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