#constantine: no I mean... how did you get your hands on ectoplasm?

[lolottes]

@transgressionsunmoonwizzard tag

I didn't know this story!!! Could someone talk about it or give me the name of the character in question!

we have parallels to do!!!

new DP/DC couple (at least that I haven't seen yet)

Constantine / Tucker

both monster fucker

Tucker fanon is poly: he would totally be the type to encourage Constantine to tell him about his other relationships and encourage him to continue to be THE monster fucker DC

hot clue that tucker is the type to like them slightly older

A couple's argument about how magic works despite the fact that their two ways of doing things resulted in small miracles

Constantine who begins to take out (with reluctance) strange gadgets from his trench coat that he refuses to reveal the origin of. Constantine absolutely does not want to talk to them about Tucker or that technology/technomancie exists and works.

The relationship can remain platonic or queerplatonic but I think this duo has relational and comic potential. So much potential :') but curse

[long-live-astronerd-ghost-king]

DPXDC prompt. Dead on main. Someone who knows you better than you know yourself.

Perhaps Fentons are not able to recognize their child, despite the fact that they hunt him day after day. But for childhood friends, who saw each other in absolutely ridiculous situations that parents are never allowed to know about, just one sneeze and a bored sigh is enough to realize that this weirdo fighting next to him is the same guy with whom you tasted soap and then stood looking at each other from different corners and giggling.

And so, the dialogue after the battle with the creatures of Infinite Realms, to which Constantine had to invite a potential ally not yet approved by the League:

Phantom: Well, mom always said you were bad news...But a crime lord, seriously? What happened to your plans to become a literature teacher? Red Hood: Hey! For Gotham, this is a very high-paying in-demand job. And I don't want to hear anything from Casper. At least I have my own business. What kind of part-time job do you have? Are you selling sheets to your buddies from this green goo? Phantom: This is ectoplasm. And they're not my friends, and anyway… Constantine: King Phantom, do you know Red Hood? Phantom: Do I know him? Ha! This street rat was Splinter of my beginnings until my family moved out of Gotham.

Red Hood: Wait, wait a minute. Phah...Holy shit. I thought I was the best example of what it means to be a disappointment to a family, but you beat me here. Oh, man, only you...The ghost king who is the son of the ghost hunters? Seriously? Hahah! I thought your rebellious phase ended the moment you told your father that you wanted to be an astronaut and not inherit the family business.

Danny*groans and covers his face with his hands*: My life is over.

Red Hood: Literally~ No, of course I always knew that your parents' disregard for safety in the laboratory would someday kill someone, but I didn't really expect this? Like, wow… Phantom: What makes you think it was an incident in the lab? I mean, there are so many possibilities around. It's ridiculous and…hah Red Hood: Dude, look me straight in the face and tell me I'm wrong if you dare. Phantom:…Fuck you, stupid bookworm. Red Hood: Stubborn nerd. Phantom: Red bucket! Red Hood: Pale toadstool! Nightwing: Um, can you guys please stop fighting? Red Hood: What are you talking about? This is how we always communicate. Phantom: Yeah! Well, in our defense, my sister always thought we both could use a therapist. Oh, man, he made me lose my train of thought. Where were we, J? Red Hood: Since when are you able to think? And I complimented your new hair and skin color. Phantom: Right, right… But, hey, not all of my parents' hypotheses really have a right to exist, and you know it! Hm, did I mention that you're built like a fridge and how does this leather jacket suit you? Red Hood: I believe not. And who's talking about your parents' work? You were an airhead when you were alive too to be honest. And as I see it, not much has changed. Why the hell are you still starting a fight with puns? Stop telling your opponent your position. This is terribly stupid! Phantom: Oh, please, these ghosts are definitely not a threat to me. What's wrong with having a little fun? The fact that you don't have weapons to handle something stronger than a blob ghost is your problem not mine, loser. But let's get back to our greetings. Red Hood: Sure. Then listen here…

~~~~~

Nightwing: Jay, why didn't you say right away that you knew Phantom? We've wasted so much time wondering if it's worth summoning him, and you just stood there and said nothing. Red Hood: Pfff…Because I didn't know that until today. He used to be human. And we haven't seen each other for a long time. So how was I to know that he would take such a ridiculous pseudonym? Nightwing: Then why the hell didn't you feel worried about teasing this creature? Red Hood: Why should I? It's just Danny.

~~~~

Tucker: Oh man, 84 murders, attempts to kill Joker and to much fights with Batman and Black Mask and… Danny: Yeah, yeah. It's all very interesting, but it's not what I asked you to find. Get to the point, Tucker. What I will wear to our dinner tonight depends on this. Tucker: Seriously? As far as I'm concerned, whether he's single or not is less important than all this shit. Aren't you afraid to show up at his house? Danny: I'm invited. And for that matter, I'm Amity Park's former public enemy number one. Which one of us should be worried, hah? So he's not dating anyone, right? Don't try to distract me. Tucker: Dude! Danny: Ugh, in my experience, when he acts like he's lost his mind, he usually has good reasons for it. And if not, given some of the events of my alternative future, I have no right to judge him, so…

[wolfjackle-creates]

Ghost!Robin Part 8

Look at you lucky ducks! Two WIP Wednesday excerpts today! I'm afraid you won't be able to get used to it. Going forward I may update each fic on alternating weeks. I have a busy few months coming up if everything goes to plan and could use the buffer in case I can't get much writing done. We'll see, though.

I'm going to start leaving a fic summary at the beginning of every excerpt in case people find this in the wild and want to know what they're getting into.

Summary: Danny is finally going to meet Jazz's boyfriend Jason. At Jason's family's mansion. He spent weeks making sure he could have an evening off of any Ghost King business. But when he meets Jason on the steps of the mansion, he can barely pay attention to the guy because his focus is on the ghost of the dead Robin hanging off his shoulders. Who is very happy to find someone who can actually see him.

Word Count: 1.4k

First, Previous

----------

“Right. Um… Well, I do just kinda do whatever is necessary or find someone who can. Because, um, well, I’m… kinda the High King of the Infinite Realms? There’s a bunch more titles after that but I refuse to memorize them because ugh.”

Danny looked down at his plate, not wanting to see everyone’s reactions. Jazz must’ve made sure he got a piece of pie because it sat in front of him. It looked so good. Did they even know about the Infinite Realms? Justice League Dark members did, but did Batman? Jazz reached over and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Tim and Barbara’s typing seemed to get faster. And then a pair of pixie boots and legs settled on the table next to his plate. He looked up and met Robin’s eyes.

Robin reached out an poked Danny on the nose. He gave a little trill of safe, friends drawing a smile out of Danny.

At the same time, Duke exclaimed, “That’s why you have a crown!”

And Steph said, “Okay, I may be out of the loop, but what the hell are the Infinite Realms?”

Damian snorted. “Aren’t you too young to be a king of anything?”

Danny half stood. “Look, do you want to go spar or something? Is that why you keep picking fights? Because we can do that. Fighting is good for young liminals. But I really don’t think this is the time or place.”

Jazz groaned and dragged him back into his seat. “Stop it, Danny. You’re on Earth right now.” Speaking over Danny’s protests, she explained to Damian, “We wish. Managed to get them to delay until he turned eighteen at least, but his grandfather wouldn’t let us wait any longer than that.”

Danny let the fight drop, but he did notice how Damian’s grip on his spoon tightened. Looked like they would be having that spar tonight if Damian had anything to say about it. Still, Jazz was right and he had to follow human customs on Earth so he bumped his sister’s shoulder and spoke to her instead. “You know as well as I do that he would’ve if it was possible. But thanks to Pariah, there are things that haven’t been done in a thousand years and it’s been causing so many problems.”

“Steph,” said Barbara. “The Infinite Realms are the spaces between universes according to Constantine. His documentation states that the Realm’s inhabitants are all incredibly overpowered and should not be approached under any circumstances. Just one being can evade all methods of capture with standard supplies.”

Jazz nodded. “And our parents dedicated their lives to building a portal to the Infinite Realms, or the Ghost Zone as they call it, and destroying all ghosts.”

“By ‘ghosts,’” asked Bruce, “Do you mean beings from these Infinite Realms?”

Jazz nodded. “Yes. Most beings from the Infinite Realms come into being when a living creature dies in a traumatic way, with a lot of emotion, or near a large source of ectoplasm. Usually some combination of all three.”

Both Tim and Bruce tried to ask further questions, but Jason’s voice cut in over theirs. “Jazz, when you say your parents wanted to ‘destroy all ghosts,’ did they stop after Danny’s accident?” Jason’s question did, at least, cause silence to fall as everyone stared at the two siblings.

Jazz looked down and gripped the tablecloth tightly, jaw clenched. Now it was Danny’s turn to lay a comforting hand over hers.

“No,” Danny said. “They didn’t. They didn’t know what happened for several years and when they found out… Well, there’s a reason I can’t use their last name and Jazz won’t call them ‘Mom’ or ‘Dad’ anymore. But”—Danny clapped his hands—“this is a great segway into what is actually important. Does the Justice League know about the Guys in White? More formally known as the Ghost Investigation Ward? Or even just GIW?”

“That name is unfamiliar to me,” said Bruce.

Tim agreed. “Babs and I aren’t seeing anything in the JL databases.”

Even Robin just shrugged.

Danny didn’t expect the jolt of pain that sent through his chest and Jazz turned their hands around until they were gripping each other’s hands with more force than any baseline human would’ve been able to.

“I told you, Danny. They didn’t know. They didn’t know.” Her eyes were wet, but she forced a shaky smile. “You could’ve had help.”

Danny just shook his head. “Even if I had believed they didn’t know… Without meeting them, without knowing how many of their own were in danger, I would’ve never trusted them. Too many people rely on me for me to risk it.”

“Care to enlighten the rest of us?” asked Dick. His posture was relaxed, but his voice had an edge that hadn’t been there earlier.

Robin nodded from where he sat staring at Danny. He sent out a questioning Danger? pulse at Danny.

“Yeah, danger,” agreed Danny. “Barbara, Tim, if I give you a law code number, can you pull up the law I’m referring to?”

“Of course,” agreed Barbara. “Just a moment… And shoot.”

Danny gave them the code for the Anti-Ecto Acts. “The Guys in White are the government agency responsible for enforcing the Anti-Ecto Acts which classify all ‘ectoplasmic entities’”—he made the air quotes—“as non-sentient and non-sapient and excludes us from the metahuman protection acts.”

“What the fuck!” shouted Duke.

Next to Danny, Dick suddenly was sitting up tense. “That’s impossible.”

“The league would’ve noticed such an act being passed,” said Damian, though he didn’t look as sure as his words would seem.

Cass merely tilted her head and looked at him while Steph choked on her drink.

Bruce looked to Tim and Barbara. “Is this true?” he asked them.

Robin pointed to himself and mouthed the word ‘Me?’ at Danny.

“I’m afraid so. And Bruce, Cass, Steph, and Damian as well.”

Dick’s spluttering got louder. “How are they all in danger?” he demanded to know.

Before Danny could reply, Tim was speaking. “It’s all true. And far worse than Danny implied. Not only are ecto-entities not protected by the metahuman protection laws, but they are to be actively hunted and turned over to the GIW for experimentation and extermination and anyone who assists them is declared guilty of treason.”

“When did they pass?” asked Bruce.

“Four years ago,” said Barbara. “While Luthor was president. They were hidden in some laws about green energy.”

“Ghost are made of ectoplasm,” explained Jazz. “Ectoplasm is a fantastic energy source.”

“It happened a few months after I defeated the previous king but before my coronation,” added Danny.

“Why do you think myself, Damian, Cass, Stephanie, and Jason will be targeted by this Ghost Investigation Ward?”

“It’ll be easier to show you.” Danny reached down and pulled up his bag. The thing was made in Pandora’s realm and was bigger on the inside. Once open, it took him a moment to find what he was looking for. He could see Robin signing to the group next to him. “Here we are,” Danny said as he pulled out three devices. “These are all different ectoplasm detection devices. One is my own design, one is the Guys in White’s design, and one is my parent’s design. I’ll show you mine first because it’s the best.”

“Might be a dumb question,” started Dick, “but what the hell is ectoplasm?”

“So you know how all the elements in this universe came about from nuclear fusion of hydrogen in the cores of stars?” asked Danny. When most everyone nodded, he continued, “In the Infinite Realms, that base element is ectoplasm. But there’s no need for a star to transform it into anything else. It will mold to the shape any consciousness that interacts with it wants. When sentient creatures slip through, either by a portal or through death or any other means, they shape the part of the Realm they’re in to their will. The stronger the ghost, the larger the area they control.” Holding out his hands, Danny called forth a ball of ectoplasm, shaping it into a glowing-green ice duck. “Something like this,” he commented grinning around the table.

Only to be met with horrified looks as most of the table were staring at his hands with distrust. Damian had his knife out again. Jason, his gun with the other arm held protectively in front of Jazz. Bruce was standing and Cass tense.

“What’s wrong?” asked Danny. “It’s just an ice duck sculpture. Completely harmless.”

Jason’s voice was low and threatening. “It’s an ice duck made of Lazarus water.”

More alarming than his voice was the way his eyes glowed ecto-green and the fear-anger that filled the room.

----------

Next

Challenge: Stay on one topic for more than two sentences.

Outcome: Failed.

They keep getting side tracked with more questions. And Danny still hasn't had a bite of his pie. This evening will never be over.

Tag List Part 1

@addie-lover-of-stories, @justwannabecat, @gin2212, @amercurio, @regonold, @overtherose, @readerzj, @sjrose1216, @echoednonny, @deeterzz, @blu-lilac, @number-one-jew, @rowanaway-fromthisbs, @vythika96, @tired-yet-awaken, @themirrorghost, @emeraldcorpral, @all-mights-asscheeks, @darkhinauniverse, @blep-23, @phandomhyperfixationblog, @larkcoe1, @thegatorsgoose, @job-ross-the-second, @britcision, @lenacraft, @bubblemixer, @androgynouslordofescapism, @purefrickingspite, @leftmiraclechaos, @lizisipancardo, @starlight-sparks, @miraculousandmore, @gildedphoenix, @sometimesthingsfallapart, @letmesayfuxk, @phoenixcatch7, @skulld3mort-1fan, @abaowo, @dhampir-princess, @idkmrpianoman, @sarina-elais, @ballzfrog-blog, @undead-essence, @spookytragedyshark, @flyingpansaurus, @akintoabitch, @marivictal, @8-29pm, @justreadingthefanfics, @happybear135, @kisatamao, @spoopyspoony, @adorablechaos, @sara0055, @screamingtofillthevoid

Looks like 50 is the limit for active user tags in a post. Good to know

[starkandthewaynes]

Ghosts from the past Pt. 7

All the founding members of the Justice League and Dark team were seated around the conference table, with the bats, three young adults, and a toddler. "Batman, what is going on?" Wonder Woman asks as two of the young adults stand up, powering on their presentation. The first slide read: The American government is trying to declare war on ghosts???? Tucker smirks at the clickbait title. "Danny, Jazz, what haven't you told me?" John Constantine asks his niece and nephew. "We're getting there Uncle John." Danny says, crossing his arms. 

Sam nods as she hits a button. "First thing you have to understand, Ghosts, just like people, can be good or bad, and they can reform. They are sentient, they have their own ruling systems of government and laws, and culture. They are a people simply on the other side of the veil." Sam says as pictures are shown of the ghost zone. "Now the Ghost Zone or more widely known by Ghosts as the Infinite Realms is essentially a mirrored dimension to our own, and there are scientists who have punched a whole into this dimension without the citizen's permission. This portal has led to our hometown, Amity Park, being ground zero for the paranormal." Sam says, as the slides continue.  "Now because biased scientists are considered the lead experts in the field of ecto-ology, the united states government has passed laws called the ecto laws and have created their own ghost hunting branch," Tucker says as everyone in the room's stomachs filled with dread. 

"The ectolaws state that any beings that are made of or consume ectoplasm in any form are non-sentient and therefore cannot feel pain, they deem it is acceptable to capture and experiment on the beings from the Infinite Realms." Sam says, as Danny wants to run out of the room. "And they have already done so to the ruling monarch of the Realms." Sam says as Danny stands up, taking a deep breath. "Danny?" Sam asks, as Danny stands up on a chair to be seen by everyone. "My name is Danny Fenton, and the Dr.s Fenton, my adoptive parents, are the scientists Sam talked about. Their portal didn't work, until I hit a button on the inside. It gave me a shock, and I woke up to what the ghosts call a half, half-ghost, half-human." Danny says, his eyes watering, but he looks at JJ. 

"After a year of me being my towns only hero, another ghost awoken the evil ghost king, Pariah Dark, a ghost so feared his real name was erased from our history." He says as Jason nods. "He, he took my town into the Infinite Realms, where I then defeated him in single combat. I became the new Ghost King." Danny whispers, looking down. "And now my friends are getting hurt because I can't protect them, because I was hurt." Danny says, sniffling. "And, and I gotta help them, I wanna help them, they're my friends. "I was captured, and then, the Dr. Fentons cut me and hurt me really badly. And, and after they were done, they handed me over to the GIW, where I was hurt and drained." Danny says, as tears go down his face. "Pawpaw had to rescue me, he had to turn me into a toddler to keep me safe, and then Jazzy took me to Gotham." Danny says, as he wipes his eyes. "I need your help, to help my friends, I don't want what happened to me to happen to them, so pwease help, you're my only hope." He says, as he runs to Jazz's arms, crying even more, so she and Red Hood leave. 

"How did the meta-human protection laws miss this?" Superman asks as Sam sighs. "The GIW built a firewall to keep Amity Park separated from the rest of the world. They captured a ghost of technology to create it. Nothing gets in or out unless you have access to ectoplasm." Tucker explains as Sam is watching the door. "He'll be okay, Sam, it's Danny." Tucker says, as Sam shakes her head. "We don't know if he's stuck like that, Tucker!" Sam shouts as Tucker sighs. "I know that, but getting upset won't help him at all." Tucker says as Sam growls. 

"What do you mean?" Wonder-Woman asks as the two friends nod. "Danny was 14 when everything started. We tried calling you guys, to get help, but we kept getting a busy signal, so Danny took on the role of a hero all on his own." Sam says, her voice telling how much she cares. "We were his backup, but there were so many times where we couldn't help him or we just got in his way. Tucker and I were on our family's vacations when he was taken. and by the time we got back, Danny and Jazz were packing, and Danny was a baby." Sam says, as Tucker holds her shoulders. "He's gotten a little older in just the year they've been here. He looks like a three or four-year-old." Tucker says as Sam shakes her head. "We should've seen the signs." Sam says as Tucker shakes his head. "We couldn't have known." Tucker says as John stands up. "I want you two to hear this and listen well. My nephew and Niece don't want you two beating yourselves up over what's happened. You're here now, you're doing your best to help. And as far as his age is concerned, I've had a chat with Chronos about it, the spell will eventually dissipate as Danny gets safer and safer. He's already 6 or 8 since finding Hood and the bats." John says as the two young adults look hopeful. Thank the Ancients. 

@blacksea21090 | @ashenfairytale | @pastalavistamf | @runoverghost | @emergentpanda-blog | @bobred18 | @blankliferain

last next

[musicfeedsmysoul12]

Alright so John Constantine gets a call from an ex… who owns part of his soul. (This is my Viking btw)

“John, I will give you your soul back if you do me a favour.”

“Uhh…”

“I will TELL you what they’re going to do to you when you die if you do this for me.”

“Aren’t they gonna just fight each other luv?”

“Don’t call me that and oh god you fucking DUMBASS.”

So John agrees and comes to see her. With her is a young boy in the shape of a 5 year old.

“John, you idiot, this is Danny Phantom. Crown Prince of the Infinte Realms. I need you to take care of him for a few years.”

Constantine goes brain dead and kind of splutters. Because WHAT?! But it’s legit.

Viking here was taking care of Danny but can’t anymore because the LOA took exception to her murdering Ra’s again by dismembering him while scattering his pieces and blowing up a Lazarus Pit so they’re hunting her. She has to take care of that. Danny was in her care as a favour to Clockwork because he was badly hurt during a fight with the GIW and so his parents got him to CW, and went to deal with it. Turned into a suicide run and killed them. Sam, Tucker and Jazz died to sadly, and now are ghosts along with the adult Fentons. But the Infinite Realms aren’t safe for Danny as Vlad is trying to take control as due to his injuries Danny had to be deaged.

Viking is really short on people to call. She’s an immortal Viking who fights for fun and has more enemies then friends. Constantine is the ONLY ONE she trusts.

Yeah she’s aware how sad it is. But she can’t give the kid to anyone else. Even the baby Revenant she fucks with isn’t a choice due to him subconsciously eating all the ectoplasm around him. Danny can’t fight that off. Meaning she can’t go to Batman.

So she has to get Constantine. So now he’s in charge of baby Danny. Of course he doesn’t want to but Viking reveals that “Before the injury Danny had to do paperwork for the Realms and got so annoyed at your soul bullshit he declared he’d give people a 10 year tax reduction for your soul. He owns all of it now. And if Vlad manages to get the throne your soul will belong to him.”

A crazy ghost obsessed with control or a boy who went: I dunno I’ll make him like… clean shit? Who knows. I’m done with his bull.

Yeah not much choice. So now John is in charge of Danny!!

Other notes:

- Danny remembers and doesn’t remember being his proper age. He’ll remember more when he’s older though.

- Danny is a little shit as a child whose embraced the feral Racoon life.

- Viking routinely gets chased by the LOA, usually though it takes a few years after she’d murked Ra’s. It’s been 5 since and he came back way to early. She’s gonna drop his head into the ocean next time. She’s also going to get her own body chopped up but she’s going to make it hell for them first.

- I like the idea that Constantine went and spoke to Batman about backup for this. Batman was on the watchtower, heard Constantine was talking to an old ex. He decides to put speakers on and listen in with the rest of the JL for shits and giggles.

- Batfam is also listening in.

- Constantine didn’t actually know what a Revenant was, getting them confused with Remnant which to be fair are kind of similar. Everyone else actually did to. Viking finds it funny.

- This is how Jason learns he’s one to and that he has to kill the Joker to actually die. He’s a little smug that Bruce has to let him do it now or damn him to walking the world.

- Constantine being the dad of the next Ghost King is both hilarious to everyone and terrifying but really: he’s the ONLY ONE other then Batman who can do it as Gotham is heavily protected thanks to *hand wave* and no one else has as much history with the occult like he does. Or as many fingers in pies or whatever the saying is.

[sagaduwyrm]

Now on AO3

See, the thing was, the bats did investigate the ghosts. They didn’t have time for a deep dive, but there wasn't anything in the world that could make them not investigate at all. Tim, Damian, and Barbara sat down for hours, digging their way through the various available research on ghosts. And for the most part? It checked out.

The behavioral stuff was iffy and questionable, but the biology work was well done and accurate, as far as they could tell. They were certain that the banishing spell would work, and what’s more, it might be more than a few people's only hope. Many of the ectologists and ghost hunters the Justice League reached out to showed evidence of ecto-contamination. No real effects for the lightly contaminated, but others were already dying in hospitals. Ectoplasm was a subtly infectious substance, not noticeable until too late. With how many ghosts were flying around Illinois, it was impossible to say how many people were already contaminated. The ritual would get rid of the source of the infection by banishing the ghosts and closing any portals on Earth, and it would decontaminate all those poor people at the same time before they could start dying en masse.

Except, something had to be up because the equipment Tim had on him was picking up more ecto-contamination than the Justice League had ever seen, and his soulmate seemed anything but unhealthy. What with almost killing Tim and all.

“We’re trying to help you, you asshole!” Tim snapped after narrowly avoiding getting his leg crushed by a rush of sand. He’d made the mistake of letting the sorcerer have the time to get properly set up at the start of the battle, and now wards were preventing him from getting too close or too far away, limiting both his offense and his chance at retreat. He was left to frantically dodge while trying to put together some sort of action plan.

“Help?” the man laughed. It lit up his face in a way that Tim would have been attracted to if it wasn’t for his wild eyes. “Is that what you guys are calling killing someone now?”

“The hell you mean we’re killing you? You’re sick, you bastard! Your contamination is what’s killing you!” Maybe it worked a bit like the magic in the Lazarus Pits? According to Constantine, they weren’t related at all, but they could still have similar symptoms. Maybe his soulmate was just affected mentally instead of physically by the contamination, and that was why he was trying to kill Tim.

Something in Tim doubted it even as he considered the possibility. He was from Gotham. He knew what insanity looked like. His soulmate was terrified, furious, and betrayed, but he was also completely sane. Tim desperately wanted to ignore it. Magic insanity was far easier to fix than righteous anger.

“Man, I’ve been Liminal for half a decade. I think I’d know better than you what ‘ecto-contamination' means. Digging the ecto out of me would rip up my soul. Not to mention the rest of Amity.”

Tim wrinkled his brows. “Amity Park?” That town in Illinois that was in the contamination zone?

His soulmate smiled, except it was more like a baring of teeth. His canines were sharper than they should be. “You know, the entire town of Liminals? The ones who spent half a year begging for the Justice League’s help before giving up and taking care of shit ourselves? The ones you’re about to kill?” A curse launched itself at Tim from the man’s glowing hands, and he barely dodged. Behind him a chair crumbled to sand, joining the storm his soulmate had generated. “I thought you talked to the Fentons? Didn’t even notice that they didn’t mention the town that drove them out after they nearly killed their own kids, did you?”

The Bats did notice that the Fentons were lying about something. They thought it had to do with the records of two children that they never mentioned. Killed by ghosts, the Bats had assumed. Tim was getting the picture that either that was wrong, or his soulmate was delusional. Again, he had a really bad feeling, instinctive to the place where his soulmark lay, that the other man was perfectly, entirely sane.

“Of course, it’s not like you’d care,” the sorcerer snarled. “I know what you did to Danny, you asshole.” 

The ghost held in the watchtower? They’d had to put it under some pretty heavy restraints; that sonic scream was nasty. Their records indicated that it called itself Danny Phantom, but what did that have to do with the Fentons? Oh fuck, was it the ghost of one of the kids? That would explain why the Drs. Fenton couldn’t bear to look at it.

“What about it? It’s not like it’s sentient. We checked, you idiot. It’s got as much brains as a virus,” Tim snapped.

The weight of magic in the air ratcheted up another notch, furious and volatile. Tim suspected anyone without defenses would struggle to breathe. Luckily, soulmate connections were known to protect from this sort of thing.

Maybe the guy would run out of magic soon. He couldn’t have that much more, he’d been throwing around power like a fire hydrant. Unless he was borrowing someone else’s energy, like one of the ghosts’, for instance… Fuck.

“You fuckass! You had your telepath break into his mind, didn’t you!?! Should have known human rights only apply to humans, regardless of what you say. Hypocrites,” the man’s snarl didn’t stay in the human register, vibrating in Tim’s hindbrain.

“Legal protection against telepathic intrusion didn’t apply because ghosts aren’t sentient, dingbat! We all listened in, and guess what we heard? Nothing! The ghost barely had a mind, let alone thoughts!” Dodge. Dodge. Get a bit closer. There had to be a weakness in the wards. Tim couldn’t keep this up forever.

Tim finally got close to the other man, and shit, it’s an illusion. The real(?) version laughed raggedly across the room. “Did you hear nothing, or did you just not understand what you heard?”

There was nothing to hear. Just screams and static—

“G̴̢͔͊͆̌̓̄̉̔̂́̓͐͘͝ě̸̳̙͓̥̤̟̻͇͕̾̐̕͠ẗ̸̘́͑́̋̅̕ ̷̭̈͒͛̀͋͑̔͝o̷̳͚̝̬͛̓̐̄̒̀̾̐͑̽̽͝ử̶̦̪͌̀̔̈́̂͑͂̐ṯ̴̢̰̝̯̟͚̼̦̠̩̩͐̏̊́ ̸̝͂͊̉̌͂̇̈́̈́̐͝͝ͅở̷͓̝̹̥̎̾̋̅̅̀̽̈́͊͠f̴̡͖̲͕̻̖̲̳͓̙̪̀̒̐̈́̓͝ ̸͈̤͎̠̯̱͕̼͍̥̝͔̣̅͗̀͋̇̀̍̏͐̓͆̚͝͝m̸͇̮̟̮͆̈̒͌͐̅̆́̈́́͘͠͝y̸̨̪̼̫̝͉̲͗͋͐ ̵̘͗̿͒͊͊͗̑̈́̀h̵̡̢̨̙̲̱̭̳̤̯͚͈̥̱̉̐̚è̷͇̦͈̣̬͕͖̤̘̓̀̊͛̿̑͒̚̕͜͝a̷̛̱̼̙͕̯̒̀͊̊͐̈̓̽̐͆̆͠͝͝ď̴̖̯̗̣͉̱̤̓̾̃̒̍̃̎̄́̚͝͝!̵̛̙̭̩̪̣̾̿̄̓̽̿̀͝”

Just screams and static that sounded exactly like the noise that just came out of his soulmate. He recognized that exact set of pitches and whines even.

“You recognize that, don’t you,” his soulmate snarled, something almost heartbroken in his gaze. “Did he tell you to l̶̟̣̞̼̠͍̇̂͆̔ȩ̸̹͕͔͇͋͘ā̷̖̻̗͙͓͍̀̀̚͜ͅv̶̝̦̹̥̍̓̚e̴̡͖̱̐ ̶̛̰̠̜̣͈̙̾́͆̓̊t̷̨̹̝̖͇̙̒͝h̵̳͆͒̓̅͒̒̄͘e̸̟̝͉̾́͋͗̎͐͜m��̡̛̝̼̟̈́ ̷̡̙̱͙͔͉̀̋͛̚a̵̦̫̪͙͊̊̀̌̂͝l̴͉̠̫̉́̂̔̕͜͠ō̷̧̞̥̉͂̿̚n̸̲̱̥̗̭̝̈͂ḛ̸̣̍͑? Or to ģ̶̱̭͓͙̩̦̇o̵̡̪̜͓͓̪͉͎͂̈́̅̆̾́͊͐ ̷̩̝̹̹̩͊͆̒̌̒̓̇ͅǎ̴̲͊̔̈͑̀̀̉w̸̰̪̜̒͝á̸͎͙͗̌̊̈́͌y̸͔͖͖̤̱̱̪̏?”

Tim recognized every single one of those inhuman phrases. He started to get a bad feeling, something in his stomach twisting. “What the hell is that?”

“Ghost speak, you asshole! It’s the language Danny uses when he’s upset and can’t remember how to speak English!”

Shit, that would make sense. Previous League records indicated that many supernatural species had languages that humans didn't know. But that shouldn’t affect telepathy! ‘Ghost Speak’ should automatically translate for telepathy, since thoughts aren't just words but also impressions and images. Unless ghost brains were so different from Martians that it affected J’onn’s ability to connect, like that alien species from two years ago…

Something had felt wrong from the moment this confrontation began. Of course it did, soulmates trying to kill each other wasn’t exactly natural. But it was even harder for them to lie to each other, and the longer they talked, or screamed at each other across the battlefield, the more Tim came to the inevitable, horrible conclusion that this was his and his family’s fault. That he’d messed up so badly he wasn’t sure he’d be able to fix it.

His soulmate was crying, he suddenly realized. He had been for the last several minutes if the red in his golden eyes was any evidence.

The toll of the Clock Tower interrupted their battle, and things stilled for a moment. Relief painted itself on the other man’s face, and Tim finally put things together. Of course his soulmate was a distraction, what would be the point otherwise? By his expression, whatever rescue mission was going on had to be over by now. Which meant— fuck. It meant his soulmate was about to leave, and Tim would never have the opportunity to make this right.

Tim lunged before the bells even finished. Sand and magic blocked his way, but he’d picked up the pattern over the course of their fight and just barely managed to dodge. He had to— He didn’t know what he had to do, but he had to do something. He couldn’t let it end like this.

He was too late. The sand that wasn’t preventing Tim from getting close rushed towards his soulmate, spiraling down in a crash before settling, revealing the other man was gone.

Almost in the same second, his comm turned back on, and Nightwing crashed through the window in the absence of the wards. He found Tim standing still, with an expression like the world had been ripped out from under him. He looked towards his brother with watery eyes.

“Dick. Dick, we messed up.”

DCxDP Idea - Tucker x Tim Soulmate AU:

So the Justice League believes the Fentons and the GIW. Not completely, but enough. That’s the bad news. The worse news is that they have Danny, and are apparently planning to use him in some kind of spell to banish all the ghosts from the living plane. Which, okay, sure, not the worst idea, except that trying to banish a Liminal is a great way to kill them instead, and guess what everyone in Amity Park is? Not to mention what powering such a ritual could do to Danny.

Tucker is not having a panic attack. He might have one later, but right now he has a job to do.

So the thing about the Justice League is that they’re powerful and together they cover each other’s weaknesses, but individually they are, if not manageable, then at least survivable. They can’t take on the entire league, but Ghosts and their ilk have fangs for a reason, and every predator knows how to divide and conquer.

Technus and Skulker are using Lex Luthor’s tech to deal with the Supers. Jazz has got emotional manipulation and FrightKnight’s sword to take down the Flashes. Desiree agreed to start a mage’s duel with the Justice League Dark. Sam, Ember, Johnny, and Kitty hopefully have the watchtower in hand, with Walker playing backup to get Danny free.

Tucker has two jobs. One, work with Technus to take down the Justice League communications without making it look like anything is up. Two, for the love of the Ancients, do not let the Bats realize something is wrong.

And you know what? He’s got this. Duul Aman was the most feared sorcerer of his time. Tucker isn’t him, not really, but he’s no slouch in the magic department. Egyptian magic, the way Duul Aman knew it, was almost like code. Relearning it was as easy as breathing, but the real reason Tucker’s job is to deal with the bats is because he took it further than his last life ever could. Sure, he’s a dab hand at illusions, his curses are almost as nasty as Sam’s, and instant sandstorms are never not useful, but where he really thrives is with tech. Afterall, if ectoplasm can be combined with computers, why can’t magic?

Tucker is the world's first technomage and he’s goddamn proud of it.

It’s his saving grace now. Infiltrating Oracle’s system took weeks, and he still wasn’t able to look at or do anything important, but it was enough of an opening for his magic. He wormed his illusion through every single piece of bat-tech he could reach, whispering in their ear, Gotham needs you. The Justice League is fine. Gotham is where the problems are. 

Weeks of work and sleepless nights, and he still doubts he’ll be able to keep them from noticing anything for more than a few hours. Luckily, by that time Danny will be free and Tucker will be long gone from Gotham.

This confidence lasts until he brushes hands with another guy in the cafe. He can feel the bond snap into place, a soulmark crawling across his body. Tim Drake stares at him, eyes wide but sharp. 

Tim Drake.

Red Robin.

Shit.

Time to see whether fighting ghosts extends to fighting humans, because he is not letting this asshole mess up Danny’s rescue.

+++

The first thing Tim notices when he meets his soulmate is the rage in the man’s eyes.

They’re really pretty eyes. A bright, glowing gold, lined in kohl. Almost certainly a sign of magic. 

They look at him like the man wants to turn him inside out and burn the remains. Tim’s a little offended, beneath the shock and awe.

“Fuck,” the man hisses. Tim’s offense is starting to supersede his surprise. He’s a catch, thank you very much.

He says as much. The man laughs, and it’s almost friendly.  The cafe is empty. The people of Gotham have good instincts, and there’s something in the air around this man that puts Tim’s hackles up.

“You know, I think that’d be more believable if you hadn’t started this.”

Tim’s brow wrinkled. He felt like he’d remember starting something with his soulmate though? What was he supposed to have started, anyway? Saying ‘this’ wasn’t very specific. 

He rolled and dodged to avoid the sudden lash of golden sand. Ah. A fight. He could do that. Figure out why his soulmate was angry later, defeat him now.

He reached up to call for backup and only got static.

Shit.

He was on his own. Time to show this bastard why underestimating a bat was a bad idea.

[sparkletastic-cookiedough]

Tim had become invested in another research binge. The kind where he sat obsessively at the Batcomputer for multiple days without eating or drinking or remembering to take care of himself.

It was up to Bruce to shake him out of it.

Alfred had said “He is your son, Master Bruce” which meant that Alfred was (rightfully) pushing this responsibility onto him.

Bruce lurked behind Tim, watching him click through a series of documents: a civilian ID of Daniel Fenton, an operating manual for some kind of lab equipment, and various data pages from Justice League Dark.

“Bruce” Tim spoke without turning around. “Just a few more minutes. I’m on the verge of a breakthrough.”

Tim glanced through mission briefs about the Lazarus pits, scribbling down different dates.

“Hrn” Batman grunted behind him. It was a curious and encouraging grunt, Tim noted as someone fluent in Batman Grunts.

“A few days ago we get an application for one Danny Fenton to work with Wayne Research and Development. He submits this invention, which he claims can ‘detect trace amounts of ectoplasm in blood samples’. He demonstrates this using the blood samples of some of his friends, all of which show some concentration of ‘ectoplasm’ that can only be measured and seen after going through this machine that Fenton invented”

“Hm”

“That’s what I thought too. So he hands over the the machine after I express enough interest in it, and I get to looking at it. The Ectoplasm thats in the machine is from a ‘powerfully-sourced sample so that other ectoplasm must resonate with it’ whatever that means. But I get to testing what this chemical is and…”

Tim slides out a printed chemical analysis report from the bat computer. Batman reads the document twice. It looks remarkably similar to Lazarus water.

“Hrm” Batman grunts with growing concern.

“Exactly. So I go into this guys records because how the hell did he get a chemical like this, and it turns out that his ID is fake. He comes out of nowhere. I’d suspect him of being a League plant, but there’s still something off there. For one thing, he calls it Ectoplasm and not Lazarus water or something. For another, a lot of his work is very obviously faulty, in a way that Ra’s would never do. He cites sources regarding the use of ectoplasm in his machine that don’t actually exist. And the only one I found that DOES exist is the one he refers to as an ‘inter dimensional phone book’. I saw it once being used by Constantine, and he won’t let me even touch it. So for some ungodly reason, he’s referencing a rare and ancient demonic text like its information I should be able to google. I mean it’s possible that Ra’s and the league are playing some kind of sick joke, or that they’re giving me red herrings to distract from the bigger picture. But it also might be possible that it’s not related to the League at all and I’m on the wrong track entirely…”

Batman thinks it over for a moment. “I think we need more evidence to go off of. He applied to Wayne Enterprise. Maybe Bruce Wayne should ask about the invention.”

“That or Constantine needs to get back to me about using the ‘phone book’.”

“Neither of which will be helped by you staying up any longer and refusing to sleep.”

Tim groaned, but let himself be dragged away from the batcomputer.

“Night, B”

Batman grunted, and glanced towards the files Tim had left open. Sure, it was late. But maybe he could notice something that Tim had missed.

Batman sat down at the computer and started reading through files.

DP x DC prompt #184

Danny's having trouble with his project. He's currently applying for a college grant from Wayne Enterprises. But thanks to various reasons, Danny's level of engineering skills far surpasses anything you'd see on Earth. So the problem arises from Danny having trouble making something simple and standard for Earth.