#ghost puberty

[rustyironskillet]

Day 5: Nails

Danny messed up, and now the consequences of his action have come to reap.

This morning, while brushing his teeth, he realized his canine had almost tripled in size, and the rest of his teeth sharpened and grew too. Then later in the day, while he was fighting Johnny, he accidentally popped one of his tires when his fingers turned into claws. Johnny was really pissed at him, but when he saw how confused and concerned he was about his fingers literally turning into monstrous-looking claws, he calmed down a bit and grumbled something about how it was probably ghost puberty and he should learn how to control that so it doesn’t happen again before he left.

After Johnny left, Danny went to class early since Sam's parents took her on a vacation for the holidays and Tucker was sick. No one was there, so why not check out his new additions?

While his teeth were permanent, his claws were retractable, even in his human form, kind of like a cat. He decided to experiment with them, showing them, then rectrating them, showing them, then rectrating, and on and on.

He was so enamored with his claws that he didn’t realize when a person walked into the room. However, he was quickly made aware as Paulina ran over to him, grabbed his hands, and just stared at his claws. She started looking between them and him with a sharp look, as if she were piecing everything together.

After what felt like eternity, Paulina finally spoke up.

“After school, you are going to my house,” she said in a way that left no room for argument.

Flashback to the present day: he was walking to Pualina’s house with her, Star, and Valerie. He wanted to make a break for it, but Valerie would probably tackle him. It felt like he was marching to his grave.

Finally, he made it to Pualina’s house, and they all went upstairs to her room before Paulina shut the door and locked it, leaving Danny to their mercy.

“Show them your nails." Paulina ordered, and hesitantly, Danny complined; however, he only showed his human nail.

“NO,” Paulina grabbed him by the arms and pulled him closer to her. “Show them what I saw before I scratch up your face with mine.”

“Okay okay!” Danny said worriedly as he jumped back. Paulina was scarier than any ghost, god, or government agent he had every face.

Slowly, he brought up his hands and showed off his claws. The three girls stared at them and him with indescribable expressions, and all Danny could do was hope and pray that they were feeling merciful.

Suddenly, Star broke the silence by running up to Danny and grabbing one of his hands before exclaiming,

“Oh my god, your nails are so cute!!!”

“That’s what I thought!” Paulina agreed as she rushed to grab his other hand. “But I knew I could make them look cuter, so I just had to grab him so that we could give him a manicure!!”

Valerie, who had been the most skeptical and sympathetic to Danny, was still quietly staring at him and finally spoke up, “Hey, Danny, your nails weren’t able to do that yesterday, right? What happened?”

“Uhh… I have been drinking ectoplasm.”

“Why???” Valerie and Paulina stared at him dumbfoundedly, but Star took that as a perfectly valid reason.

“It, um, keeps me awake? It’s kind of like Monster.”

“Does it taste like Monster?” Valerie said, still concerned but understanding.

“No, it tastes like battery acid.”

“Who do you know what battery acid tastes like-” “Is that why your teeth look like fangs too?” Star cut Paulina off.

“Oh yeah, I think.”

“Okay, cool, whatever,” Paulina said dismissively, “now can we give you a manicure?”

“Uh, sure, I guess.”

All three girls celebrated as they all got ready to fix up Danny’s claws.

[nelkcats]

Ghost Fangs

After so much time changing between forms, Danny thought that he would no longer have external changes. His human and ghost forms were a bit more combined than when he was a teenager but it wasn't as much of a problem for him now that ghosts weren't actively trying to wipe out humanity and his parents had more or less accepted him.

The problem was when he started his internship at Wayne Enterprises and his teeth started to hurt. He didn't pay much attention to it at first since maybe he should visit Frostbite or some normal dentist. Cavities were pretty common when you ate fast food growing up.

The problem was when three days after the pain started, one of his teeth fell out. That didn't make much sense since the halfa had shed his baby teeth long time ago, and those were supposed to be "permanent".

He decided not to smile and continue working, avoiding anyone that could notice the change but the hole in his teeth was obvious when he looked in the mirror. Then another tooth fell, and he felt his gums itch. Something was beginning to grow.

That was how Danny started changing his teeth into ghost fangs at the worst possible time. Worst of all, he was sure he was growing a third, maybe fourth row of fangs, and fuck how was he going to hide it from his bosses?

He couldn't pretend that he was mute! What if a tooth fell out during work and someone found it? It was a nightmare!

[confessedlyfannish]

DP x DC Writing Prompt #8

The day Bruce Wayne knocks on her apartment door Sam knows it's going to be a doozy.

"Mr. Wayne, I really do hope no one saw you," she says, ushering him in. "And for the record, a text ahead of time would be appreciated."

"I parked the car a few streets away," Bruce says, sticking a finger in his heel to peel his polished leather shoes off. Sam raises an eyebrow. "It's a sedan, not a Lamborghini."

"You own a sedan?"

"Taught Dick to drive in it...after he crashed the Lamborghini."

Sam snorts despite herself. The charm Bruce Wayne exhibits would usually rub her the wrong way, too reminiscent of wealthy men that feel comfortable placing a hand on the small of your back at a crowded gala, but Bruce is honest enough about his playacting that she has come to find its insincerity comforting. She's actually sought him out more than once, leading to several annoying headlines that can't seem to decide if she's aiming to date him or one of his eligible sons. None of whom are eligible by the way, as they are a) taken, b) legally dead, c) practically a minor, and d) an actual minor.

Sam's generational wealth is peanuts compared to Wayne Industries, so naturally her parents have been thrilled and rooting for option c.

"I also didn't want Danny to see I'd texted you. Or force you to lie to him."

Sam doesn't quite tense, but it's a near thing. She does slide to the other side of her kitchen island, under the context of finishing prepping her feta fried eggs, laid on a bed of smashed avocado and warm tortilla. She pulls a bottle of crunchy garlic oil out of the fridge and drizzles hot red crisps across the runny yolk. She takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully, not so much as offering him a glass of water.

"You realize, Mr. Wayne, I have no intention of lying to Danny now?"

Bruce sits at the stool on the opposite side of the island. "I understand. And if you want to ask Danny to return home before we continue, I'd understand that as well. I didn't mean to discomfit you--"

"Please do not lie to me now, Mr. Wayne," Sam says, rolling her eyes. "By your own admission you showed up at noon without warning knowing my superhero boyfriend wouldn't be present. If I am discomfited, all the more likely you get your information, right?" Golden yolk runs down her fingers, and she sacrifices it to the napkin rather than lick up her arm in front of her boss, with no small amount of resentment. The yolk is the best part.

"Get to it then," she demands.

Bruce straightens in his stool, chin raising and firming in a jawline she most often sees under a cowl. His eyes attempt to pin her in place, but Sam has stared the Master of Time in the face and demand he reschedule so she is built. different. She takes another bite of egg taco.

"I was not aiming for you to feel threatened, and moreover, I doubt you could be."

Except a smart person should always feel threatened by a threat, no matter their capability of handling one. It keeps them alive.

"Can you tell me how I'm not like all the other girls after lunch? You'll spoil my appetite."

Bruce clears his throat. "I'll get to the point--"

"Thank you."

"--Danny has been exhibiting paranormal behaviors beyond his baseline. We welcome all biologies; human, alien, and paranormal alike, but I have observed actions unlike what he had previously established as his, for lack of a better word, 'normal'

"I want to make sure he is not experiencing any unwelcome outside influence. Or, if this is merely a facet of his evolution, I'd like to know if this is something we or his family should be monitoring."

Sam has been an eco-consultant with Wayne Industries and unofficially, the Batfamily, for half a year now and this is the most she's ever heard the man speak in one sitting.

"Wow," she says. "How long have you been rehearsing that one?"

"A while." Bruce grunts, voice finally taking that final drop into Batman's gravelly rasp. "I see you're not surprised by any of this."

"No, not really," Sam says. She pours him a tall glass of lemon water from the pitcher, freshly sliced that morning, and he takes a polite sip.

"So what can you tell me?"

"Probably a lot. And Danny would probably prefer that I do, knowing him, the big baby," Sam sighs. "Listen Mr. Wayne, I can appreciate that you came here from a place of caution rather than intrusion. And if Danny was undergoing something negative or from an 'unwelcome outside influence' that would be the right call, and I, albeit begrudgingly, encourage you to do so in the future."

"But he's not."

"He's not," Sam confirms. "And in fact, I think he could really use someone to talk to about it. Outside of his family."

"I see..." Bruce says, shifting.

"If you want to tag team this one with one of the higher EQ players, such as Superman, I give you permission." Sam does not think she's imagining that slight sag of relief.

"Thank you," Bruce says, sliding off the stool. "I don't suppose you have material we could consult...?"

"Actually yes, I happen to have a pamphlet right here. 'So your ghostly body is changing, and how.'"

"You're being more sarcastic than usual."

"You interrupted my lunch, Mr. Wayne."

[puppetmaster13u]

DP X DC X Subnautica

Where the Justice League (mostly focusing on the Superfam or Batfam or Flashfam) are large leviathan-esque creatures living on Planet 4546B. Maybe they can change forms due to Precursor experimentation, maybe not. Those with young hang out around the shallows more than the others, what with most of them being large super or specialized predators.

Enter Danny Fenton, interning on the Aurora when the ship is shot down by the Quarantine Enforcement Platform. Oh sure he probably would have tried to stop the destruction and help, but his ghost powers are a bit on the fritz and a well-meaning worker pushes him into one of the last life pods seeing as he's a child.

Now the leviathans may not know what a ship is exactly, but they can definitely understand that in most cases things technology = precursors. As far as they understand, a metal deathtrap not unlike the old labs or caches fell alongside several metallic eggs, with the emerging hatchlings misshapen and not living long.

But then there's the egg that landed in the shallows, which at first they thought was empty. But a hatchling- much smaller than the previous ones- emerges, a day later than the rest, but they're alive even if their swimming is all wobbly! It's so tiny, and obviously hatched too early with the strange split tail and how it keeps swimming to the surface for air, and they have to protect it! Now if only the little hatchling would answer their calls and not dart into hiding spots whenever they approach...

Honestly this is up to the writer lol, but I like to think that Danny's ghost form, when he finally manages to achieve it again, goes a little naga-esque. Almost like a sea snake instead of just a whispy ghost tail, which while better for swimming doesn't help his freak out over most ghost powers still not working.

Danny is just trying to survive man, maybe find other survivors, turn off this big alien gun, stop creating frost crystals when he sneezes, the usual. He doesn't need giant humanoid-esque leviathan-sized sea creatures poking around!

[stagefoureddiediaz]

23 years!! So Eddie hasn’t been to confession since he was around 10?!

Well if that isn’t interesting!!! That feels so pointed because that is a very young age to stop going to confession - unless you’ve started to realise you’re different - that the church as been teaching you the things you’re feeling and realising about yourself are not ok according to their teachings and beliefs and the best and easiest way to avoid religious wrath, not look at yourself too closely and bury your feelings is to just stop going to confession (assuming he was still going to church with his parents as I can’t imagine they’d not have him go to church every Sunday at 10!)

[little-pondhead]

Nature vs. Nurture vs. Whatever the Hell This Is

-

Vlad fucked up.

To be fair, just because he was smart enough to figure out how to make a clone, didn’t mean he was good at it. That became very obvious when the first few clones of Danny melted. Then Danielle destabilized, and Danny had to save her.

By the time the events of AGIT came about, Vlad thought he’d perfected the practice. Dan had a new body and a second chance at life, and Vlad now had a son like he always wanted. They both gained a family, and Danny was happy for them.

However, after a few years, Dan was the first to realize that he and Dani weren’t aging. Danny was.

Through panicked calls and the digging of old files, Vlad discovered that while he’d forcefully grown both Danielle and Dan’s human bodies to what they were now, he’d somehow frozen the intrinsic and extrinsic aging processes.

Both Danielle and Dan were more ghost than human, and with Danny finally bringing peace to Amity Park, their bodies simply did not react to any of the normal stressors in the human world. They didn’t breathe oxygen, they didn’t have to fight off world ending threats every week, and they just simply didn’t expose themselves to enough ectoplasm to continue new cell production. (They even tested this theory by cutting off a lock of Dani’s hair and waiting a few months. It didn’t grow at all!)

Their bodies were just…frozen in time.

Well, damn.

Both Dan and Dani wanted to be on their own by now, but their eternal baby faces were making it impossible. Danny was well off into college at this point, having grown into the Fenton genes quite well, and looked like their older brother or dad rather than Dan’s twin.

Cue a coming-of-age story featuring Dan and Dani as they, quite literally, try to force themselves to grow up and match their mental ages.

[milimeters-morales]

Spider-Man/Woman fighting someone, and they land a hit that makes Spidey go down and hiss in pain, which makes them think the hit was really good + makes them overconfident when the truth is that Spidey had a painful pimple there and hitting it felt like being stabbed a few times in a single second

[ponyt4il]

your mother wouldn’t approve of how my mother raised me. but i do, I think i do

[clonerightsagenda]

Speaking of middle grade lit I know there are some things in MG stories you are not supposed to question, but I am an adult now and can't help it. Lucy joined an agency at 8 and didn't have any non-career education beyond that point, which wasn't abnormal for most of human history but does have implications for society. Does Lucy know math?? Do the bigger agencies have to host 'your changing body' talks for the teams that last that long? Is Kipps so crabby because he's having to study for the GCSEs

[blankcassette]

I am finally free from the chokehold us artists call, the eog week. I can now continue with comics. Here, enjoy this one

We tend to avoid topics that bring up painful memories.

[ghostpepperworld]

I want yall to know that my skincare is literally a cleanser and a moisturizer. Sunscreen if I’m going out, and a slug before bed.

Sorry I’m literally better than all of you

[jinsakaiboobies]

what the fuck happened

[officeobject]

Hi, do ghosts go through puberty? I'm also asking about living ghosts. Is there also a special ghost puberty?

[wisecloudnightmare]

And this was how Danny found him.

Oh, baby, shh shh.

A stranger was hugging him, Tim should back away, he should-

What hurts?

Embarrassingly, more hot tear spilled out of Tim's eyes, his throat clogging up.

Everything hurts. Help-

Tim froze. He didn't mean to say that, but... it also didn't feel like he was actually saying anything?

Tim was forcibly pulled out of his thoughts by a warm touch brushing away his tears. He should feel humiliated, violated. This is somebody he didn't even know. Tim chased the warm anyway when the stranger sensed his teasing up and tried to create some space between them.

The room was quiet for a moment as Tim was considering hitting the panic button, but well... Tim wasn't panic (he was not).

A sigh escaped the person in front of him, unlike most, it came out fond.

How about we move you to the sofa and I'll clean up this mess huh?

Tim surveyed the floor and cringed in embarrassment.

Shh, no no no, baby. It's okay. It's just coffee. There won't even be any strains left, I promise.

Tim let himself being picked up, bringing owlishly when he felt how dry his pants, no, his legs were. There wasn't even any stickiness. What magic-

Shit. Did Tim really let someone he didn't know WITH MAGIC HE DIDN'T KNOW touching him without protests?

Was it mind-control?

Watching the man glided his hand through the air like he was brushing off invisible dust, the mess of ceramics and coffee disappearing not a second later, Tim quietly went through the routine steps one took when they believed they were mind-controlled but was still conscious.

As quiet as someone who couldn't stop himself from crying his heart out like a very upset baby that was, which what the fuck?

He finished checking his body (which was in the same condition as the morning—hurt like a bitch when moved, but that meant the stranger didn't think he needed to restrain Tim- focus.) the same time the man's vibrant green eyes snapped back to him.

Okay, now that the cleanup is done, let's look at your body, huh?

Tim tensed up, which in turn made his everything flared up in blinding pain, shit.

Hey, it's okay. Nothing scary. Just, there are some changes in your body and it's very distressing, right? I'm here to help!

Tim wanted to focus on his words but Tim's bones suddenly shrank in some places and elongated in the others.

What. The. Fuck.

Tim fell out of the sofa screaming, peering up to the man through his tear, the panic button forgotten.

HURT

The man kneeled down, hands hovering frantically over Tim.

Can I touch you? Aw baby, I want to help but I need your consent first. Hey hey, let's me make it better, okay?

Even through tears, a semi-transparent third eyelid, and pin feathers, Tim could see his genuine concern.

Fuck the regs, Tim would weather Bruce's disappointed stare later but he needed to survive (what sounded like a fucking puberty of all things) first.

Tim put his snout-beak thing into the man's lap, it barely fitted.

...please help.

A blink and darkness swallowed his office whole. A cold yet gentle hug lured Tim into unconsciousness.

Tim didn't know how long he slept but stars and literal space greeted him when he woke up. He seemingly lay on a dark nothingness but the young and fragile thing nesting inside his sternum told him that he was inside the stranger.

Well, Tim couldn't call him that anymore. While Tim didn't know his name yet, he knew they were as close as a child and its caretaker could be.

Spiritually, emotionally, physically.

Had Tim brought up the fact that he was curling up inside the man? Yes? Did it feel as weird as it sounded? Yes. Okay, move on.

He didn't know exactly what happened but like the man said, Tim changed. Tim moved his upper set of wings. Yep, all real.

Damn, this was going to be a long ass report.

Oh, you're up! Feeling better?

Tim hummed and stood up. All of his spines cracked concernedly loud but it felt so good. Tim tried to make it happen again.

Ooh, big stretchyyy.

Tim smiled, making a show of rolling around in the stardust, tail sweeping a nebula closer to wrap it around himself like a glowing blanket.

How long have I been here?

Tim felt like it was something a part of him was worried about... probably his human side. It focused on the dumbest things sometimes, like paperwork, the company, the linear concept of time, the works.

I thinks... three days? I would probably let you rest longer but we have a situation.

So that was why Tim still tired...

Wait.

Tim's vigilante side reared its head.

Tim pushed it down because the man sounded more exasperated than anything.

What situation, er... Can I ask for your name first?

A silence rang out through the space, some stars in Tim's nebula blanket jumping out like particularly embarrassed fleas.

I didn't-? Aw, sorry, baby. You can call me Danny or Phantom.

Tim burritoed himself in the nebula and rolled after the stray stars like cleaning slime, grinning at the man's sheepish voice.

So... the situation?

Oh!

Instead of an answer, Tim was pulled out of a very comfortable blanket, Danny, why are you suddenly-

Oh, he was back at the office.

With Batman and Nightwing poised for a fight at the door.

In Danny's lap lay Robin and Red Hood's heads, both fast a sleep. Nothing worrying there.

Tim lifted his head from Danny's shoulder, sensing Nightwing tensing up like he prepared to fight Tim too, which, rude.

Danny?

Danny rolled his eyes and finally explained. In human language, ugh.

"They don't listen to me when I said your siblings needed help too, and tried to take them away-"

"HOW DARE YO-" Nightwing stepped forward but halted when both Danny and Tim hissed at him (though Danny's was more like the ringing of cracking ice... while Tim's had smokes accompanying).

"I knew they didn't know before, but their ignorance persists even after I told them you all were suffering and I could help." Green eyes shine like hell fire. "I would kill them but I don't want to make trouble for you."

Eye softened by affection, Danny crooned, "sorry to wake you up early, baby"

Tim sighed. Time to face angry Batman and angry Nightwing. At the same time.

Fun.

Can he get he (star)dust bath back please?

...

Fine, okay. He could do this.

First thing first, to assure them that he was fine, everyone was fine, the monsters were still your brothers, pinky promise!

Human body.

Human language.

Human monochrome morality and boring rationality-

Focus, baby.

With Danny's cold hand as a focal point, Tim thought of the warm and light feeling before he woke up and reeled himself in like that nebula blanket.

"...Tim?" Nightwing's hopeful voice greeted Tim's painfully human ears. He can't anybody's heart beating, blood pumping, other organs working anymore. How could he know if they worked right?

It's fine. I'm here. I'll protect all of you... Even these dumb father and older brother of yours.

Tim scratched the scales on one of Damian's heads (He was purring. Cute.) and glided his hand through Jason's slimy acidic (not as harmful as it would become) "hair" that clung to his fingers a little before letting go.

Yeah, everything would be fine.

Tim looked at Batman and Nightwing.

"I have something to tell you."

When he stood up, nothing hurt.

Short DPXDC Prompts #579

Tim doesn’t know what’s going on. His teeth are growing sharper, his eyes are turning green, he can jump farther, run faster, and has quicker reflexes than ever before. It’d be interesting to study if doing anything and everything didn’t hurt so damn much.

———

Danny can hear the telepathic cries of a baby ghost changing from Human to something Other. The baby ghost that’s without a Guardian. Said caretaker is essential to this stage of their development so they don’t wither into nothing from their newfound power. He needs to find this youngling and he needs to find them fast.

[silverspectre51]

Summoning the Boy King

Darkseid was rampaging through Metropolis, Superman was injured, and the Justice League was desperate. As the League hid between fallen skyscrapers, John Constantine prepared a last-ditch effort to save the Earth.

The Hellblazer drew an intricate sigil on the ground; its circular design stretching over six feet in diameter. Most of the symbols within were space-related, while the others were themed to royalty. Batman, one of the few heroes in-the-know, grunted.

"Are you sure this king ghost can help?"

Constantine sighed and pinched his nose.

"He's the High King of the Infinite Realms, Bats, an' he's bloody powerful. He'll stop Darkseid, alright, but what he does afterward is anyone's guess. Believe me, I wouldn't be doin' this if we had a choice."

Batman sighed and glanced at the smoke-filled horizon.

"Alright, get on with it, then. We're running out of time."

Constantine nodded and placed a single offering in the center of the sigil: a squishmallow of Disney's iconic blue alien, Stitch.

"I beg your finest pardon," Batman sputtered, "What on Earth is that?"

Constantine sighed again as he took his position at the edge of the sigil.

"Mate, the book was very specific. Unlike his predecessor, the new king requires a single offering of space or alien theme that is suitable for children. It's bloody strange, but beggars can't be choosers."

Batman just shook his head and looked on. Constantine raised his hands and started the summoning chant. An eerie, green glow spread across the sigil, and light fog gathered above it. Little white orbs floated up from the ground and spiraled together, forming the slowly spinning visage of a spiral galaxy.

"Incredible..." Zatanna gasped, "This summoning is on a level all its own. This king of yours is on the level of Gods."

Finally, something began to form over the small galaxy. Batman's expression quickly softened, much to the surprise of his teammates. It was mere seconds before they understood, as a black blob full of white stars formed into the shape of a boy. The blob had spiky 'bangs' if you could call them that and eerie, glowing green eyes.

The squishmallow floated into the boy's arms and he squeezed it excitedly. At the same time, he took on a far more human form, with pale skin and snowy white hair. His eyes had whites now but still glowed green. He was dressed in black and white, royal attire with green accents, a black crown floating in a green aurora, and a black ring with a green stone. A black cape flowed down his back, its underside looking as if it were cut from a clear night sky.

"Awesome offering, dude! What can I do for ya?"

The voice was a reedy tenor in the throes of puberty, and its owner was more than a little geeky. The boy's smile was infectious, or it would have been were it not for the specific circumstance.

"How old are you?" Batman asked, his tone soft, "We weren't expecting a child."

The boy waved him off like it was nothing.

"No one ever does. And, um... technically I'm fifteen. I know, I don't look it."

Constantine cut in, clearly out of patience.

"Look, this monster Darkseid is destroying our world. We need you to stop him."

The boy turned in the air and took in the destruction around him. Somehow, he seemed to understand the situation immediately.

"Okay, but I gotta get permission first. This'll take a lot of power." He paused, taking a breath, and then yelled in a strange language. "Mom!"

Constantine paled and the other heroes shrank back as a green portal tore into existence. A young woman, barely an adult herself, floated out. She had waist-length blue hair and the same glowing, green eyes. She wore a royal outfit in white and maroon, complete with a glittering, silver tiara studded with rubies.

"What's the matter, Danny? Are you okay?"

Danny nodded.

"Mhmm! These guys need me to take out this Darkseid guy, though. Can I use my full power?"

Constantine snuck a drink from his flask. He did not sign up to deal with the fucking Queen Mother of the Infinite Realms, nor had he known she existed. God, he needed a smoke...

The Queen Mother smiled softly and pressed a kiss to her son's forehead. She spoke whilst taking his new plush.

"Yes, Danny, you may. Let me hold onto this for you so it doesn't get dirty."

Danny nodded and turned away.

"Okay, thanks mom!"

The Queen Mother vanished through and with the portal she had created. Moments later, Danny shot off into the city, with the remaining able-bodied heroes hot on his trail. The young king reached Darkseid rather quickly, engaging him while the Leaguers looked on from cover. Darkseid was foolishly amused.

"A child dares oppose me? Flee, whelp."

Batman tensed as Darkseid unleashed his Omega Effect. Two red beams shot from his eyes, and yet the young king floated firm. Two eerie, green beams shot from his own eyes and, to the shock of everyone, overpowered his foe's. Darkseid shattered into many tiny pieces which then vanished into thin air.

"Man, he really wasn't smart!" Danny grinned, "Who fires a death beam at the king of the dead?"

He received no response, as the heroes were too stunned to speak. Smiling, he saluted the group before tearing open another portal.

"Oh well; villain gone, carry on. Later guys!"

Batman glared at Constantine, but the Brit had already absconded. Heaving a sigh, he resigned himself to this new reality. Darkseid was gone, but there was an incredible new power to worry about.

(Note: My only source of information is DP canon, DP fanon, and the Justice League cartoons from the early '00s. I apologize for any inaccuracies with Batman's or Constantine's behavior.)

[bodybaggage]

Monthly Phantom Check Up

Frostbite, Danny’s overly enthusiastic yeti doctor, shows up at the Watchtower for a surprise check-up, and things get awkward fast.

———

The Watchtower was in chaos. It wasn’t a typical day of chaos—no alien invasions or time-traveling villains—but something far more uncomfortable. Frostbite, Danny Phantom’s towering Yeti doctor and self-proclaimed “Master of Ghost Medicine,” had arrived unannounced. His massive, fur-covered frame loomed in the main meeting room as he carefully unpacked a series of glowing, intimidating medical instruments.

Superman leaned over to Wonder Woman, voice low. “Is this... normal?”

Wonder Woman’s brow furrowed in thought. “I don’t think this falls under the usual protocol for supernatural beings.”

Across the room, Danny Phantom stood in all his half-dead glory—or rather, slouched in defeat, wearing a hoodie that seemed far too large for his ghostly frame. He was clearly trying to shrink away from the entire situation, one pale hand covering his face in mortification.

“Frostbite,” Danny hissed in a hushed whisper, “you couldn’t have waited until we got back to the Ghost Zone?”

Frostbite beamed, oblivious to Danny’s pleading. “Nonsense, Great One! Your health is of utmost importance, and I detected a slight imbalance in your ectoplasmic core. It must be addressed immediately!”

Batman stood against the wall, eyes narrowing as he watched the scene unfold. “Ectoplasmic core?”

Frostbite nodded solemnly as he began to prepare an absurdly long, glowing probe. “Indeed, Batman. The Great One is half-ghost, and thus, his core requires regular maintenance. There are many nuances to his biology that need tending to.”

Danny groaned. “Oh, Ancients, kill me now…”

The Justice League—gathered for what they thought was going to be a strategy meeting—could only look on in awkward silence. Aquaman coughed and pretended to adjust his trident. Green Lantern pulled up a holographic projection of the solar system, which he stared at intensely despite not needing to. Flash, of course, was barely containing his laughter, lips twitching every time Frostbite said something ridiculous.

“Now,” Frostbite continued, holding up a glowing vial of something green and gooey, “the first concern is the ectoplasm imbalance. Too much exposure to the Ghost Zone can cause buildup, which leads to... ah, let’s say, irregularities.”

Superman cleared his throat. “Irregularities?”

Frostbite nodded gravely. “Yes. In the human digestive system, it might be compared to... indigestion. But in ghosts, it manifests as random phasing, ectoplasmic leakage, and occasional transformation into a much more terrifying version of oneself.”

Superman blinked. “That sounds... worse than indigestion.”

“Oh, much worse!” Frostbite said brightly, not catching the sarcasm. “Especially during ghost puberty. It’s when the ghost’s core is developing at its most volatile stage.”

Danny’s entire face turned bright red. “Frostbite! Seriously?!”

“Ghost... puberty?” Batman echoed, voice laced with what could only be described as grim fascination.

“Indeed!” Frostbite said, now fully in doctor mode. “The Great One is well past that stage, but it’s important to note that ghost puberty can last several decades for some. Phantom’s transformations would have been wildly unpredictable for years, often triggered by emotional stress or large quantities of fast food.”

Flash actually lost it at that, letting out a snort and quickly covering his mouth. “Sorry, sorry! Just—did you say fast food?”

Danny rubbed his temples. “Yes. I went through my ‘ghost puberty’ eating burgers and stressing about math tests. Can we move on?”

Frostbite chuckled warmly. “Ah, yes. The human world does have its unique challenges for the Great One. Now, the next matter—”

“There’s more?” Danny wailed, half considering flying straight through the floor and never coming back.

“Oh, yes!” Frostbite said with far too much enthusiasm. He turned to the League. “His dual nature also means his ghost half sometimes conflicts with his human immune system. It’s a fascinating process! For example, Danny can phase through objects, but if he catches a human cold, it throws his phasing abilities off and he might accidentally phase into a wall and get stuck.”

The room went silent.

Batman stared at Danny. “You’ve... phased into a wall?”

Danny gritted his teeth, wishing for the sweet release of invisibility. “I was twelve, okay? And yes, I got stuck. It was fine.”

“Mostly fine,” Frostbite corrected, waving around a spectral thermometer. “There was that one time we had to extract you from a particularly thick brick wall in Amity Park. Took several hours.”

Wonder Woman, who had remained silent up until this point, exchanged a concerned glance with Superman. “Is this something we should... prepare for?”

Danny shot them both an exasperated look. “No. I’m not going to phase into the Watchtower’s walls. Probably.”

“Unless his ectoplasmic levels are low,” Frostbite added cheerfully. “Which is why this check-up is vital!”

As Frostbite pulled out what looked suspiciously like a ghost-themed blood pressure cuff, Danny gave up. “I’m going to die—again.”

Flash wiped away a tear of laughter, his shoulders still shaking. “This is the best day of my life. I didn’t know ghost puberty was a thing.”

“I’ll send you my research papers,” Frostbite said kindly. “There’s a great deal of fascinating biology involved!”

Danny, ignoring everyone, shot a glare at Batman, who was watching all this with far too much interest. “Don’t even think about adding this to my file.”

Batman didn’t respond, though his fingers twitched ever so slightly toward his utility belt.

Frostbite, oblivious to the ongoing awkwardness, finished prepping his tools. “Now, Great One, if you could just sit still. This next part involves extracting ectoplasmic residue from your pores—”

“I’m phasing through the floor,” Danny muttered, promptly sinking halfway through the Watchtower’s pristine floor, only his head remaining visible. “See you guys never.”

The Justice League stood in stunned silence as Frostbite packed away his tools with a serene smile.

“Very well,” Frostbite said. “I’ll schedule the next check-up for next month. Goodbye, Justice League!”

And with that, the massive Yeti doctor vanished through a portal, leaving the League standing there, trying to make sense of what they had just witnessed.

Superman finally turned to Danny, whose head was still poking out of the floor.

“Danny... you okay?”

Danny didn’t respond, choosing instead to fully disappear beneath the floor.

Flash wheezed. “I love that kid.”