Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Bruce sighed as he watched Raven start working on a summoning circle in the middle of the Watchtower. Darkseid had been causing problems again and had managed to put all of their heavy hitters in the medical bay, Clark and Diana included. He was causing chaos all along the cosmos and the Justice League had no idea what to do. Or at least they hadn’t until Raven had the idea to call for help from a being she had learned about from her father. 

Apparently a being known as the Ghost King had managed to do the impossible and had imprisoned Trigon for his crimes against Earth and Azarath. She was sure that if anyone could help in the Darkseid situation it would be the Ghost King. Especially since she was the only standing member of Justice League Dark at the moment. Bruce had made sure to keep his children as far away as possible from the intergalactic war happening but if they didn’t hurry, he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to keep his children away any longer. 

“As daughter of Trigon, I summon Ghost King Phantom to me,” Raven said in her monotone voice before slipping into a language that Bruce did not recognize. Soon the circle she had drawn lit up in a bright, Lazarus green and a being slowly started to materialize in front of the two heroes. 

He was space incarnate, the galaxy taken physical form. Stars and planets littered his dark body, claws grazed the ground beneath him, a crown of stars and flame floated atop his head, bright green eyes stared at the two of them before a giant maw opened. 

“Daughter of Trigon? That is not your name, you are Raven, Mistress of Magic and Queen of Azarath, do not link yourself to such filth,” the being said, though his mouth did not seem to move. His voice sent a chill down Bruce’s spine as he stared the being down. 

“I apologize, my king,” the young woman said, taking a knee in front of the being. Green eyes then landed on Bruce. 

“And who is this, young one?” The being asked, its head tilted to the side as it took in Bruce, staring at him with what the hero considered a calculating look as if he were sizing just what kind of threat Bruce was. 

“This is Batman, he is a member of the Justice League. We need your help, Majest. Darkseid has risen and decided to conquer the universe,” Raven said with a bowed head. 

“Rise,” the King instructed, pressing a clawed hand to Raven’s shoulder. In a flash of blinding light, the Ghost King changed forms, now looking more humanoid. Skin turned light blue, hair flowed in the air a stark white color, freckles scattered along the king’s face in the shapes of different constellations. He was regal in a suit of armor, cape still looked as though it had captured the galaxy and forced it inside of the fabric. He was beautiful, breathtaking. Bruce felt his knees nearly buckle beneath him as he took in the appearance of the king. 

“Your highness,” Bruce said, kneeling to the ground before the king. “We would not have called if we did not have any other option. Most of our teammates have fallen-”

The Ghost King held up a hand and gave Bruce a serene smile. “Allow me to help,” he said softly. In a blink of an eye, the Ghost King was gone. 

Raven gave Bruce an amused smile. “You’re such a simp. I can’t wait to tell Nightwing,” she said with a snicker.

“I’m a what?” He growled, standing once more. 

The half demon turned and shook her head as she looked the vigilante over. “I may not be able to see your eyes past your cowl, but you have a thing for the Ghost King,” she said, sounding amused. “He’s single if it makes you feel any better.”

Bruce frowned and crossed his arms. “How do you know that?”

“We have tea at least once a month. King Phantom is my mentor, he’s been helping me with this whole queen thing. It’s pretty well known that he became king when he was fourteen and while I became queen at twenty two, he’s been here to help me for the last two years,” she said with a small smile. “He’s a truly wonderful being.”

Suddenly the Ghost King appeared before them once more with a small smile. “My ears are burning,” he teased, throwing an arm over Raven’s shoulder and gave the young girl a tight hug. 

“Only good things, I promise,” the queen assured with a chuckle. “Batman was curious about you.”

Phantom looked Bruce up and down once more and gave him a sly smile, a single fang stuck out from under his top lip. “Well, if you’d like, we can go grab something to drink and I can tell you anything you’d like to know,” he said with a chuckle, eyes hungry.

Bruce felt a chill go down his spine at the way the king pinned him in place with nothing but a stare. “And Darkseid?”

“Gone, he’ll be in my care for the next few millennia,” Phantom said with a shrug. “Next time something like this happens, don’t wait so long to call on me. I’m always happy to help Raven, you know that.”

The girl smiled. “I know, Uncle Phantom, I just didn’t want to bother you,” she said and pulled away from the king. “I think I’ll let you two get to know one another.”

Phantom grinned and looked at Bruce once more. “I think that’s a good idea. I’ll see you for our next gossip session kiddo.”

The girl nodded and took off down the hall to the closest zeta tube. 

Phantom shifted once more in front of Bruce, this time appearing as a young human man. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties, with stark black hair, streaks of white spread throughout, bright blue eyes shone in delight as he stared at Bruce. He still had the same freckles, only they had lost that luminescent glow. And instead of armor, he was dressed in a pair of worn out jeans and an oversized hoodie. Whereas before, in his Ghost King form, he seemed larger than life, the human form for Phantom stood at what seemed to be five foot three if Bruce was guessing correctly. 

“You can call me Danny,” he said with a small smile, his eyes twinkling like stars. Bruce felt himself take off his cowl and smiled at the man. 

“Bruce,” he said kindly. Danny just smirked and held out a hand. 

“Would you like some coffee? It’s been a while since I’ve been to the human realm and the ghost stuff just isn’t the same,” he said with a chuckle. 

“I would like that,” the billionaire said with a small smile. 

Bruce walked up the steps of the manor slowly, his hand wrapped around Danny’s tight as his heart pounded in his chest. He wasn’t sure how this was going to go. His children were going to murder him as soon as they found out. And Bruce couldn’t even blame them. How was he going to explain this to his crazy, insane children? How was he supposed to be the leader of this family? Stoic, brave, someone who only made the best decisions, even if it angered or hurt someone. But this? This was probably the stupidest thing he had ever done in his life.

But did he regret it? Not one damn bit. Not when his hand fit so comfortably in Danny’s. Not after they had spent what felt like a year getting to know one another, only for Danny to have time unfrozen and sent back to the very moment they had left off on. A year with the most perfect, beautiful man Bruce had ever met. Yet for everyone around him, it had only been a day.

Somehow Bruce had managed to find himself married to man who looked like a twink, someone who looked old enough to be his son. Although, according to Danny, he was well over two hundred years old and had continuously called himself a cradle robber in jest. 

“Bruce,” Danny said with a small smile, looking up at the forty year old man. “It’s fine, it’s going to be completely okay. All we have to do is go in there and tell your kids that while you were away on a mission, you met an interdimensional being and fell in love then managed to convince this interdimensional being to marry you.”

“They’re going to kill me, Danny,” Bruce said with a sigh. “You have no idea just how judgemental my children are.”

Danny just let out a laugh and pressed a kiss to Bruce’s cheek. “It’s fine, I’m sure I can win them over. I’m pretty damn charming like that,” he said and smoothed Bruce’s hair back carefully. 

Batman just let out a breath and shook his head. Danny was far too optimistic. He was about to be murdered by his children. Their entire marriage had been an absolute whirlwind of romance. The immortal ghost king had managed to sweep Bruce off of his feet and he had fallen hard.  “Alright, but don’t laugh when they start making fun of me.”

“Oh baby, I’m gonna laugh the entire time. As far as they know, you’re the old one in this relationship,” Danny said with a cackle and followed his husband up the steps of the Manor. 

Bruce just scowled and squeezed Danny’s hand once more and the two walked through the doors together,

“Master Bruce, you are back sooner than I expected,” Alfred said as the couple walked through the doors. “And who might this be? A new ward?”

“Do I look that young?” Danny hissed to Bruce, a look of amusement danced in his eyes. 

“Yes, I told you, you look like you’re twenty six,” Bruce muttered back. Danny let out a groan and threw his head back in annoyance. “No, Alfred. This is my husband, Daniel. Daniel Nightingale Wayne,” he said with a grin.   

“I-I’m sorry, Master Bruce?” Alfred stammered, looking between the couple and their conjoined hands. “Your husband?”

Chapter Text

Bruce gave the older man a small, nervous smile as he squeezed Danny’s hand. “Yes, Alfred. This is my husband,” he said as Danny beamed up at Alfred with that beautiful, wide smile of his. He knew his adoptive father was probably more than just angry with him, no he was probably disappointed. Especially since Bruce hadn’t invited him to the wedding. 

But, it really wasn’t a wedding. The two had gotten eloped in space with Raven and Danny’s grandfather Clockwork as the two witnesses. It had just been the four of them and then just the two of them. It had been amazing and beautiful and Bruce wouldn’t change a thing. Besides, he and Danny had already talked about planning a large wedding for their friends and family to enjoy. 

“It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Pennyworth!” Danny said, holding out a hand for the butler to shake. “I know this all seems so crazy, trust me, I can’t even believe it myself. Why would Bruce of all people want an old man like myself? But, we just talked about it, and everything just clicked and it felt right. Surprisingly, the Justice League were all very happy for us too after they had a few members of the Justice League Dark check for mind control and everything like that,” Danny said with a smile. Alfred slowly shook the man’s hand before he raised an eyebrow. 

“You’re awfully cold, Mr. Wayne,” Alfred said, slowly shaking the man’s hand, trying not to flinch at the freezing cold feeling of Danny’s hand, or the fact that his skin seemed to have very little give to it. 

“Danny is half dead,” Bruce said with a smile. “Even though he may not look it–”

“I’m over two hundred years old! Technically I’m two hundred and thirty four but I feel like after you turn two hundred you stop keeping up with the individual years and just start counting the centuries. Bruce was okay with it, though.” Danny held tight to Bruce’s hand and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to the vigilante’s cheek. Alfred held back the gasp that threatened to escape as Bruce blushed and gave his husband the softest smile the butler had ever seen. This was not a Bruce Wayne that Alfred had ever seen before. Even with his other paramours such as Selina Kyle, he never let himself go soft in such a way. Alfred did not even realize that his adopted son could even blush like that.

Bruce for his part just wrapped an arm around Danny’s waist and smiled down at him, a lovestruck look on his face. “Love you.”

“I love you too!” Danny said, bumping their noses together before giving him another kiss. 

“So, if I may ask, how exactly did the two of you meet?” Alfred asked, pulling the couple from their moment. The two gave him twin smiles as they started walking to a sitting room. 

“Danny is the King of the Infinite Realms, during the Darkseid issue, Raven summoned him to come and help us stop him. He managed to stop the demon in less than ten minutes,” Bruce said and gave Danny an amazed smile. “He’s amazing, we went for coffee afterwards and then he took me to the Realms to explore for a while and the more we got to know each other, the more in love I fell. And I don’t know, Alfred, it just went from there. Danny understands me in a way I never imagined someone ever would,” Bruce said, cupping Danny’s face in his hand and running his thumb along the skin underneath one of his eyes, right over one of his constellations of freckles.

Danny just craned his head back and gave the man a small smile, his eyes hooded slightly as he stared up at the vigilante. Alfred smiled, he had never seen Bruce like this before. It seemed as though the man had finally reached a peace that he had been looking for since his parents had died. He didn’t care how fast their engagement and marriage had happened, it was obvious that this man was exactly what Bruce needed. And who knows? Maybe he would be able to convince Bruce and Danny to throw another wedding so that Alfred would get the chance to be there for it. 

“Well, Masters Dick, Damian, and Tim should be getting back from patrol soon, if you would like them to meet their new stepfather, I believe Master Duke is asleep, ” he said with a small smile. Danny perked up, a wide grin on his face. 

“Babe, babe,” Danny said, wrapping his arms around Bruce’s waist as he looked up at the man with his wide, blue eyes that made Bruce unbelievably weak in the knees. “Can we stay up to meet my new step-kids? Or-or should we talk to Mr. Pennyworth more and we can introduce me to all of them tomorrow when they’re all here?”

Bruce chuckled and brushed some of Danny’s hair out of his face carefully before he gave him a kiss. “We have some things to talk to Alfred about first. Remember? You wanted his help planning the wedding ceremony and reception,” Bruce said before pulling away from his husband to look at Alfred once more. 

“Right!” Danny exclaimed and turned back to Alfred. “So, I know that we eloped and all that, but i really want to have a chance to have a real wedding with My Star. We were talking and I hve not been in the human realms in quite some time. Would you by any chance be willing to help me plan our wedding? I would also really love to get to know more about you, Mr. Pennyworth. My sweet Brussel Sprout has already told me so much about you and I would love to get to know you more.”

Alfred gave the man a surprised smile but nodded his head nonetheless. “I would be honored to get to know you better, Master Daniel,” Alfred told him. Danny grinned happily and followed the older man down the hallway until the two were sitting in a small living room together. Danny arranged himself on his chair carefully, his feet tucked underneath him as he pulled a notebook out of a pocket dimension. 

“Before we start the wedding planning, Master Danny, would you be interested in getting to know one another? You are married to my ward, afterall,” Alfred said, crossing a leg over the other as he sat across from the ghost king. 

“What would you like to know, Mr. Pennyworth?” Danny asked, resting his chin on his fist as he took in the shades that seemed to surround Pennyworth. He wondered if the old butler knew how many shades were protecting him at all times. He had quite a few guardian angels keeping an eye on him at all times it seemed. It had even looked like a few of the shades had given their energy to keep the man long living. Danny wondered if he should tell the man about the gifts he had been given or if he just needed to leave it be.

“Please, call me Alfred,” Mr. Pennyworth said, giving the immortal being a polite smile. 

Danny just grinned at him in response. “Only if you call me Danny. It’s only fair, Mr. Pennyworth.”

Pennyworth chuckled and nodded his head once. “Very well, Danny.” The butler folded his hands over his knee and arched an eyebrow. “What does an immortal being, such as yourself, want with my ward?”

“What does anyone want when they get married, Alfred?” Danny asked, opening a pocket dimension and pulling out a tea set that he had made just earlier that had been staying warm under a stasis charm. He poured himself a cup as well as Alfred before floating the teacup to the butler. “I love him, our meeting was certainly unorthodox and strange and our marriage may come across to you as a surprise. But time is different in the Infinite Realms. What feels like just a day since Bruce met me and Darkseid was defeated, we have been together for a year now. It had actually taken Bruce quite a lot of convincing to get me to agree to a relationship with him. And imagine my surprise when he proposed marriage?”

Danny chuckled and took a sip of his Lady Gray before he glanced up at Alfred who stared down at the tea in interest before taking a sip himself, looking pleasantly surprised after he had swallowed. 

“Wonderful tea, Danny. Lady Earl Gray?” He asked, arching an eyebrow at the man. 

Danny smiled. “It is, Bruce told me it was your favorite. I want to assure you, Alfred, I have no desire to hurt anyone in your family. I love Bruce more than anything in the world. I understand that you worry for the safety of your family and I do as well,” Danny said softly. “I have been around for two hundred years now and I have learned quite a bit in that time. One of the most important things is the importance of taking care of the ones you love. Allow me to help you take care of them? Please,” Danny asked with pleading eyes and a kind smile. 

It had been so long since he had a family. His own had moved on from this world, turning into nothing more than recycled stardust and borrowed energy once more. He still had Dani but just the two of them had been lonely. She had made a life for herself in another world far from this one, had found a family of her own that she loved and cared about. Had even managed to join a group of heroes that called themselves the Avengers. Danny was ready to move on and find his own family. 

He had managed to mostly get over the pain of his loved ones moving on and he was ready to live again. He was ready to love again, to bare his heart for others to see, to be a part of a family once more.

“I am honored that you chose our family then, Danny,” Alfred said with a small smile.

“And, I do not want to step on any toes, Alfred. But, if you will allow me, I would like to help you as well. I know that you have been taking care of Bruce and his children for a very long time now.”

Alfred smiled at the man before him. Danny seemed more put together than most people that Alfred had met. He seemed to not only care but also had a very clear and obvious desire to help take care of Bruce and their children. Maybe Danny was just what this family needed. 

.. 

Bruce smiled to himself as he finished writing up his report for the mission with Darkseid and the success of working with Phantom. 

Danny had asked that he not be a part of the vigilante business. He had said that he wasn’t interested in that life anymore and was much more interested in taking care of his new family. Of course, he had agreed to jump in and help if they truly needed him. But he had told Bruce already that he wanted to do more to help take care of them, that he already had ideas for how to make their family safer and happier and better. 

He wasn’t entirely positive what Danny was going to do to accomplish this task, but he was interested in seeing what his husband was planning on doing. 

“Oh, hey B! I didn’t realize you were back so soon,” Dick said with a smile as he, Damian, and Tim came into the batcave after their patrols. 

“Yes, the mission started out difficult, but thankfully by the end we were able to defeat Darksid and banish him,” Bruce said, finishing up his report. “By the way, thank you Dick for picking up on patrols while I was away.”

“How did you manage that?” Tim asked in surprise. “Kon told me that Darkseid had him and Clark in the med bay at one point.”

“Raven and I managed to find someone who would help us destroy him,” Bruce said and turned away from his batcomputer. “It’s all in the report. Now, all of you wash up and get to bed. I will be calling Jason and the others to come over tomorrow morning for breakfast. I have news to share and it is important that you are all here for it.”

“Is everything okay, Father?” Damian asked with a furrow of his brow. 

Bruce smiled. “Everything is better than okay, Chum. Things are about to be a lot better around here,” he said quietly. “Now, go get ready for bed, all of you,” he said and turned back to his computer and checked a message from Danny. 

Danny: Alfred showed me where your rooms are so I’m getting ready for bed. He’s letting me help him make breakfast tomorrow! I think he approves of me! Love you my sweet Potato, try not to stay up too late or else I’ll have to come down there and drag you to bed.

Bruce smiled at the text and signed out of his work on the Batcomputer. Maybe it wouldn't be too terrible if he finished his report tomorrow and went to bed. Besides, he had someone pretty and loving waiting for him in bed.

Chapter Text

Bruce smiled and combed his fingers through Danny’s hair as the two laid in bed, legs tangled together. It had been their first night together in the manor and it felt so nice to just sleep with Danny in his arms, holding him close. Danny had a habit of using Bruce’s chest as his pillow and cuddled close up to him.

It was the best feeling of his life having Danny in his arms like this. “I love you,” he whispered quietly, pressing his lips to the crown of Danny’s head. 

“I love you too,” Danny said softly. “Are you ready to go see your kids?” He asked, craning his head back to look at Bruce and cupped his face carefully. 

“I guess,” Bruce groaned. “How long have you been awake?”

Danny snickered and moved around to straddle his husband. “Long enough to hear you wax poetic about how much you love me,” he teased and pressed a kiss to his husband’s lips. “It was very cute, did you know that you mumble when you’re deep in thought?”

Bruce flushed. “I have never done that around anyone but you. I think it’s just because I’m so comfortable around you,” he said. 

Danny’s face shone in joy at that response, causing butterflies to stir in Bruce’s stomach. “I love you String Bean,” he said and kissed him deeply. 

The vigilante chuckled and flipped Danny over in the bed and gave him another kiss. “What is with you and vegetable pet names?”

Danny shrugged. “They’re fun! And it always makes you blush,” he said before his ear twitched slightly. “Alfred’s coming to tell us that breakfast is ready, some of the kids are waiting on us but not all of them are here.”

“Alright, let’s get this over with,” Bruce groaned and rolled off of Danny after giving him one more kiss. The two shrugged on their robes, opting for comfort just as Danny opened the door for Alfred. 

“Good morning, Alfred,” Danny said with a happy smile. 

“Danny! It’s nice to see you up and ready,” Alfred said with a smile. 

“How did you sleep?” Danny asked with a polite smile as he and Bruce followed Alfred down the hall. 

“I slept rather well, and what about you, Danny?” Alfred asked, giving the couple a knowing look as Bruce tangled his fingers with Danny’s. 

“I slept great! I will say, though, this manor is very haunted. Did any of you know about the ghosts in the manor?”

“I had a feeling that I had a few residing within the halls, how many are there, do you know?”

Danny shook his head as they headed down the stairs. “No, I mostly just heard the whispers. I’ll do some actual investigating once I get more settled in the manor.”

“There’s ghosts?” Bruce asked, looking between the two curiously. 

“This manor is super haunted,” Danny laughed. Danny frowned when he heard three distinct heartbeats and let out a breath. “Do you think they’ll like me?”

“Once the shock of it all, they’re going to love you,” Bruce assured him, pressing a kiss to the top of Danny’s head just as they made it into the dining room where everyone already sat gathered around. 

“Tim, Duke, Damian,” Bruce said, walking into the room. “This is my husband, Daniel.”

“You can call me Danny!” The man said, waving excitedly at the three before him. “Bruce has told me so much about all of you! I’ve been so excited to meet you guys.”

He let go of his husband’s hand and bounded towards the three vigilantes, smiling wide. “You’re Tim! Or better known as Red Robin, super smart, slight coffee addiction, very good with computers,” he said and booped the young man on his nose. 

He moved to Duke and grinned. “You’re the newest addition to the family-well besides me now! Duke, also known as Signal, super cool meta powers. What do you see when you look at me?” He asked, bouncing on his heels.

Duke blinked in surprise. “You’re very bright,” he said, blinking his eyes a few more times. Danny deflated slightly. 

“Carrot Cake! You said that he had ghost vision!” He whined, turning to look at Bruce. The oldest vigilante just chuckled and shook his head. 

“That’s just what he calls it, Love. It’s just sensing the ghosts of light that had been there before,” Bruce explained. Danny simply frowned and pouted before he moved onto Damian and let out a coo. 

“You are the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my life, Damian Al-Ghul Wayne! I can’t wait to get to know you,” he exclaimed and wrapped his arms around the demon child, hugging him tight. A knife quickly embedded itself in his side, the only reaction from Danny, though, was to just let out a laugh. “Oh! That tickled,” he said, pulling back and throwing the knife behind him. The blade sailed through the air before it landed hilt deep into a wall. He looked down at his shirt and frowned. “I did like this shirt, though. I’ll have to see if I can sew it up.”

“You were just stabbed…are you not in pain?” Tim asked slowly. Danny just looked back up and grinned happily. Oh he was going to have so much fun freaking these kids out all the time.

“Nope! If getting stabbed would cause me pain I would be in big trouble,” he said before ruffling the young assassin’s hair and skipped back to Bruce, wrapping his arm around the man’s waist.

“I have so many questions,” Duke said, brow furrowed. 

“Father, what is this? You’re marrying children now?” Damian demanded, stomping towards the couple, a glare prominent on his face. 

“Actually, Danny is older than me,” Bruce said with a small smile as Danny kissed him again. “He’s two hundred years old.”

“So, you married a vampire?” Tim asked, looking between the two before zeroing in on the sharp fangs that poked past Danny’s upper lip. 

“How emo can you get, Bruce?” Duke asked with a sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. Danny pulled away from Bruce and made a face at the young adults in front of him. 

“I’m not a vampire! I’m dead!” Danny exclaimed. “I died two hundred years ago in a different dimension–”

“Darling, you’re going to overwhelm them,” Bruce said with a small smile. Duke and Tim gave one another an alarmed look over Damian’s head. Jason, Dick, and Cass and all gave him differing levels of surprise.  When was Bruce soft? What the actual fuck? Tim quickly whipped out his phone to send a message in the batkid group chat. 

Timerino ☕– SOS Bruce got married to an apparently 200 year old twink. Everyone to the manor NOW. 

“When is everyone else supposed to be here for breakfast? I was hoping to announce it with everyone here,” Bruce said, looking around the sitting room curiously.

….

Dick Grayson had never felt so utterly betrayed in his entire life. Bruce? Married? And he didn’t even tell Dick? He wasn’t even invited to the wedding! How could his adoptive father do this to him? And that had to be a typo, maybe the twink was 20 but–what was better? His father marrying someone who was 200 hundred years old or someone who was 20 years old? He had kids older than 20! It would be so fucking weird for Bruce to marry someone so young. 

It was also, unfortunately, something he could one hundred percent see his father doing. Regardless, Bruce had asked all of his children to come over for breakfast so he had assumed it had something to do with this new husband of his.

“What do you think is going on?” Jason asked, falling into step with his older brother as they started towards the manor door. 

“No clue. I’m more confused than anything,” Dick admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. Jason frowned but nodded in agreement. Alfred opened the door with a wide smile on his face. 

“Alfie?” Jason asked. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh Master Dick, Master Jason, it is far better than okay.”

“So, he’s actually married?” Dick asked, eyebrows shot up to his hairline. 

Alfred nodded. “Yes, Master Daniel is quite an interesting being, I must say. But, I have never seen Master Bruce as happy as he is right now. Not even when he was a child, it’s odd.”

“Daniel?” Jason asked. 

“He prefers to go by Danny,” Steph said, coming out of the sitting room, a wide grin on her face. “He’s amazing and I love him so much. Damian has stabbed him at least five times and Danny hasn’t even blinked!”

“What?”

“I think it’s a game now. He keeps speaking to Danny in different languages and is getting angrier and angrier every time Danny responds. Honestly, this is the best thing Bruce has ever done.”

Dick and Jason shared a confused look before following the girl into the dining room where the rest of their family was waiting. At the edge of the table sat Bruce and a young man who looked no older than 25 sat together, Bruce had his arm wrapped around the man’s waist, a fond smile on his face. Danny was currently waving his arms wildly as he told a story to his captive audience. 

“Anyway, and that was the day I learned that I am faster than the Flash and I just think that this is impressive,” Danny said with a grin. Bruce just let out a fond chuckle before he glanced up at the brothers. “Especially since my grandfather is the ancient of time and hates the speedsters more than anything.”

“Darling,” he murmured, tugging on his ear lightly. “Everyone is here now.”

Danny looked away from the bats and grinned at Dick and Jason. He quickly stood and bound towards the brothers. “Richard! Jason!” He exclaimed before he stopped in his steps. “Oh Hot Potato, you’re right. Jason is very contaminated, we’ll have to fix that,” he said before his eyes flashed a familiar Lazarus green. Jason immediately took a step back from the man and shot Bruce a startled look. 

“What the fuck? You talked about us to some stranger?”

Danny pouted. “No, he barely said anything except the bare bones explanations. But, I do know that you reek of contaminated ectoplasm which makes sense if you took a dip in what my vidalia onion calls Lazarus Waters,” Danny said, tilting his head to the side as he observed the vigilante with those frightening green eyes. “Anywho, Richard Grayson, also goes by Dick, detective by day, Nightwing by night. Avid lover of puns and former gymnast. It’s nice to meet you,” he said with a small smile, two little fangs sticking past his lip. He then looked at Jason. “Jason Todd-Wayne. Died and came back to life, former crime lord, current Red Hood. Interesting fascination with guns that has Bruce slightly concerned. It’s nice to meet you both, I’m Bruce’s husband, Danny. You guys can call me Danny or if you feel so inclined, call me Dad. I don’t care,” he said with a grin before he pulled the two into tight hugs.

He skipped back to Bruce and slipped his hand back into his husbands and leaned in close. Bruce just gave the man a dazzling smile before he looked at his children and pseudo children. “I know that you all must have a lot of questions. This is a rather big change, so Danny and I will do our best to answer them to the best of our ability.”

“How did you meet Danny?” Steph asked, practically frothing at the mouth at the couple. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She had never seen Bruce so happy, so soft! He was like a different person. 

Danny smiled and shrugged. “Bruce needed help defeating Darkseid during a recent incident and my niece Raven summoned me to come help,” he said with a laugh. 

“Wait Raven’s your niece? How were you able to defeat Darkseid?” Dick asked, looking at Danny in surprise. Why hadn’t Raven ever mentioned an uncle?

At this Danny’s smile widened even further, looking just a little less human. He looked at Bruce. “Should I show them?”

The man shrugged his shoulders. “Darling, our family is made up of detectives. If you don’t, they’ll just start investigating you,” he said with a mirthful smile. “I’m sure they’re all ready to check me for brainwashing as it is.”

Danny nodded and two large rings of light surrounded Danny before he shifted into a new form. Gone was the gangly twenty something year old and his place sat a large, looming being. Danny’s hair turned stark white, his fangs elongated, eyes shone Lazarus green. He was the definition of eldritch horror with his too long claws and green skin. He was a nightmare. 

“Holy fuck,” Jason whispered, eyes landing on the crown with blue flames that licked up in the air. His knees nearly buckled beneath him as he stared at the being, something in his very soul telling him to bow. It took everything in his being to not do so. 

“This is High King Phantom, king of the Infinite Realms and ruler of the dead,” Bruce said with a smug smile. “And my husband.”

“Danny, you’re too bright,” Duke whined, covering his eyes from the bright green glow that emitted from Danny’s form. Danny let out a squeak of surprise and swiftly shifted back into his human form and ran over to Duke. 

“Oh! I’m so sorry, I’ll try not to do that again, I can’t promise anything but I’ll figure out a way to turn down the brightness!” He exclaimed, hands hovering over Duke as though he didn’t know what to do. 

Duke gave him an awkward smile. “It’s okay, really,” he said. “I’ll just make sure to wear sunglasses or something next time.”

Danny grinned and nodded before patting Duke’s head and sat next to Bruce once more. “Anyway, as the High King, it’s my job to step in when my subjects are causing trouble. Darkseid had been warned before and he had caused quite a bit of damage this time around.” He smiled and looked around. “And my next job while I’m here, I’ll be looking into these stinky Lazarus Waters Bruce has told me so much about.”

“I have more questions than answers so far,” Barbara said slowly, looking at the couple in surprise. “The most important one, though, is: are you happy? Both of you?”

Bruce smiled and pulled Danny close and gave him a soft kiss. “I’m more than happy. Danny makes me happier than I can ever explain.”

Dany smiled and kissed his husband once more. “You make me happy too, Celery Stick.”

Bruce chuckled and shook his head. Even if his kids and pseudo kids didn’t approve, Bruce would never be able to leave Danny. Not when he filled the man with so much joy.

Chapter Text

“So,” Jason said, leaning back in his seat at the table, resting his hands behind his head as he took in his new step dad. They had finished dinner and were now gathered around the living room getting to know the apparent ruler of the dead. “As Ruler of the Dead, what are your views on murder?”

Beside him, Bruce stiffened slightly and narrowed his eyes at Jason.  

Danny on the other hand let out an amused chuckle. “Obviously, your father and I have very differing views when it comes to death. You see, after being around for as long as I have, things such as life and death don’t matter as much. Crab Apples here doesn’t fully understand that, he’s still in that pesky phase in his mortality where he believed that all life is sacred regardless of what the person does. We did have a very long talk about how he believes that killing is bad but, I will tell you the same thing I told Bruce during our conversation, I am King of the Dead, I can decide who enters my realms whenever I want, I’m what you humans would consider a god,” he said, giving Jason a large smile, with far too many sharp teeth. “As much as I love my husband, he cannot stop me from decidingwho lives and who dies.”

“So… since you’re my new step dad, would you be mad if I killed the Joker?” Jason asked slowly, deciding that at the very least it was worth a shot.

The Ghost King gave Jason a curious look, his crystal blue eyes glowed unnaturally and seemed to stare into Jason’s very being for a moment before the brightness dulled ever so slightly, going back to normal. “I don’t see why I woud be. It is very healthy for murder victims to avenge their deaths. Especially if they have come back as revenants such as yourself,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “If I had been murdered when I died, I would have wanted to avenge my death as well.”

“So… I can?” Jason clarified. 

“Sure. I’ll help you if you want,” Danny offered, a happy smile on his face. This would be perfect the ghost decided! Bruce had been so worried that Jason would be the one to be less likely to accept Danny had his new step father! This would be a great way to bond with his new stepson. Besides, Danny hated clowns with a passion anyway so this would be great bonding moment for them and Danny would be getting to send yet another evil clown to the nightmare realm to get a taste of their own medicine.

“Oh my god, you’re the best dad ever,” Jason exclaimed. He looked at Bruce and gave him the most withering, annoyed look he could. “That’s the kind of attitude a father should have when their murdered son wants to avenge their murder.”

“Shut it, Jason,” Bruce said, crossing his arms over his chest in annoyance. 

“I am just saying life and death really does not mean that much. Besides, once Joker is in my realm, he is subject to whatever I would like to do to him,” Danny said with a wave of his hand. “And I really, really hate clowns. Especially the kind that are evil.

Jason grinned and looked at his siblings. “I dunno about you guys but I approve,” he said and fell onto a couch, crossing his arms over his chest as he gave his new step father an appraising look. Sure, Jason had questions regarding this whole revenant thing and how Danny knew Joker had murdered Jason. But, he could get more information later on. It seemed Danny would be around for a very long time and he would be getting as much information as he could from his new dad. “Welcome to the family.”

“A father who approves of murder? I think that I am okay with this new change,” Damian stated before he looked Danny up and down. “I will not call you dad.”

Danny grinned. “What do you want to call me then?”

Damian let out a hum as he thought about this. He was more than okay with his father getting married and by the display of power that this Danny has shown, he was more than worthy of his father’s time. Not only that but Danny was more than okay with murder if it proved to be necessary. He was also a king of an entire realm and loved his father. He saw no true issue with this union. Besides, it didn’t seem to bother him when Damian had stabbed him, he hadn’t even gotten upset by the action. “Step-Father,” he decided. 

Danny gave the youngest Wayne an excited smile. “I’ll take it!” He looked at Bruce and took his hands in his own. “See my sweet Cabbage Patch, you were so worried about Damian and Jason’s approval and they’re the first ones who are okay with us being together!”

The batman just gave his husband a disapproving look. “Because you just gave them both the go ahead for murder, of course they’ll like you,” he said in annoyance. Danny just let out a giggle and kissed his husband softly. He was going to take it as a win regardless of what his husband thought. Besides, he had a new goal of teaching Bruce that the world was not as black and white as he thought it was. There was no real thing as good vs bad, it al just varying shades of gray. No one was inherently good and no one was inherently bad. But until then, he would just slowly get Bruce comfortable with the idea. 

“It will only be in moderation, right boys?” He asked, glancing at the two brothers. Jason and Damian both gave their father twin innocent smiles as they nodded their heads. 

“Of course, Father, in moderation,” Damian said smoothly. 

“If Dad gives us the go ahead first, I don’t see a problem,” Jason said crossing his arms. At this, Bruce let out a huff. Jason rarely called him Dad and usually only when he was upset or in need of comfort. Danny immediately got the dad name. He wasn’t jealous, definitely not. 

Dick let out a hum and took a seat next to Tim and looked at his other siblings and their de-facto siblings, Barb and Steph. “What do you guys think?”

Cass smiled. “ Bruce is happy. New Dad is nice,” she signed, shrugging her shoulders before she looked at Danny. “ Dad?”

“Dad,” Danny agreed, a happy smile on his face. 

“I mean, Cass is right. Bruce is happier than I’ve ever seen him and I bet Danny can keep him on his toes,” Tim stated, giving Danny a look. 

“I’m right here,” Bruce grumbled. Danny shushed his husband and looked at the siblings. 

“Do I pass?” He asked. Duke, Tim, Dick, Steph, and Barb all looked at one another before they shrugged. 

“Dad,” they all stated happily. 

“Will you be joining us on patrols?” Damian questioned, giving the man a hopeful look. 

Danny simply shook his head. “No, I’m just going to be Bruce’s happy little housewife. I’ll be here with Alfie, bonding and doing my own work. If any of you need me, you’ll be able to get a hold of me at any time. I’m more than happy to help but the vigilante thing isn’t my thing anymore. If anything, I’ll be trying to relieve Alfred of some of his duties, he’s doing too much as it is and that’s with all of the ghosts around here giving him a hand as much as they can. From now on, you’ll also be coming to me for any injuries you sustain while out on patrol.”

“What a shame,” Damian said with a tch. Danny just shrugged his shoulders and wrapped his arm around Bruce’s shoulders and kissed him again. Sure, he knew they would all be disappointed in Danny’s lack of engagement in their costumed escapades. But he just wasn’t interested in that life anymore, he really had never been interested in the vigilante life, he had kinda been dragged into it without much choice. But, being the one to help them? To stitch up their wounds and heal their broken bones? Danny could do that. 

“Love you,” he murmured, nibbling at Bruce’s bottom lip softly. Bruce just smiled. 

“Love you too,” he said in response, causing all of the siblings to stare in surprise. Bruce? Emotionally vulnerable? He could never.

…

The weeks after Danny had moved into the manor had been strange to say the least. Dick couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that the man who had become like a father to him had turned into some love drunk dork. Bruce followed Danny around like he held the vigilante’s entire world, he seemed to easily make space for Danny in every aspect of his life.

They were still slightly in their puppy love stage but Danny had managed to keep Bruce’s hands off of him long enough for Danny to decide that he was going to bond with each one of Bruce’s kids. He had apparently decided that the first one to do this was with Dick. 

Danny and Bruce had been back on Earth for about a month now as Danny settled into living in the manor and getting used to how everything ran. According to Damian, Duke, and Tim it was an interesting adjustment but they all seemed to enjoy having the man there. He had managed to seamlessly join the fray that was their family. He helped Alfred in the kitchen, he took the three youngest to school each day and picked them up, encouraged Alfred to indulge himself in his own hobbies, and had given him a team of undead maids to help him manage the manor. 

Danny had apparently been horrified that Alfred had been managing it all on his own. Dick didn’t think he had ever seen Alfred so relaxed in his life. 

Tim had reported that at first, Alfred had seemed lost, like his entire life had been ripped away from him. But he had slowly relaxed, started spending more time with Danny who had apparently been trying to hook the older man up with a being called Clockwork. He had argued that the two would hit it off immediately. And judging from the extra pep in his step when Alfred finished visiting the being, he had enjoyed spending time with the being. Things were calming down in the manor, Danny had brought a light that no one really knew they were missing.

“So,” Danny said, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin on them. They were currently at some random diner in Bludhaven, Danny insisting that he could come to Dick to see him. Something about making a point to make an effort in this familial relationship. He rested his elbows on the table and stared at Dick with those blue eyes that looked as though they had seen their fair share of trauma in the world and refused to let it get him down. “Tell me about your relationship with Bruce. Is he good to you? He’s not shitty or anything? You get plenty of love and affection from him?”

“Uh…no?” Dick said slowly, furrowing his brows. “Bruce is the most emotionally constipated person I know. I think you’re the only person I’ve ever seen him act like that with anyone before.”

Danny made a face and nodded. “I see. Well, just so you know, Bruce will be starting therapy next week. He will be going three times a week until his therapist decides he can go less. He’s also going to be starting some medicine to help with his depression,” Danny said with a small smile, tiredness shone in his eyes. 

“H-how did you get him to agree to that?” Dick asked, eyes wide in shock. Bruce? In therapy? What the actual fuck? What had Danny done to the man?

The Ghost King simply shrugged his shoulders. “My sister was a psychiatrist and took mental health very seriously. I myself see a therapist twice a month. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about all of the craziness that can happen in the world and in our existences. I told Bruce that if he wanted this relationship between the two of us to work he would need to be in some form of therapy. Then last week he met my sister and Jazz basically made him agree to meeting with her three times a week.”

“Wait, your sister? I thought you were like some immortal being, I didn’t realize you had a living family?” Dick asked, looking at the man who had declared himself his stepfather in confusion.

Danny grinned. “Yeah, Jazz died like two hundred years ago or something like that. She’s a ghost in my realm. Our parents both moved on, as did my friends that I grew up with. But Jazz decided that she had to be a pain in my life for eternity. Like I said, when she was alive she was a psychiatrist. And she’s insisting that she works with Bruce to make sure she’s okay.”

“Isn’t it like a breach of trust or something since she’s your sister?” Dick questioned, taking a sip of his soda. There was just something about his new dad that he didn’t trust, something felt wrong. He felt far too good to be true. How oculd a being just suddenly appear and magically make all of their problems disappear?

At this his stepfather’s face fell in annoyance. “Trust me, Jazz is a pain in the ass. She would never break Bruce’s trust and if anything she’ll just tell him anything he wants to know about my childhood or something. But, he’s going to be getting therapy and Jazz is going to start working on that emotional constipation ASAP.”

Dick smiled at the man. “Danny, you’re an amazing step dad. I can’t believe you got Bruce into therapy. Alfred has been trying to convince him since the guy was eight and nothing worked. You just feel too good to be true, I keep finding myself waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Danny gave him a rueful smile and took a bite of his burger. “I love Bruce a lot, Dick. I’m going to make sure he’s taken care of, whether he likes it or not. I have been around for a very long time, Bruce is the first person I’ve ever loved like this. And because of that, I’m going to make sure he’s okay and isn’t hurting. Under that emotional constipation is a man who loves his family more than anything in this world. The entire year we spent together, all he could talk about was how proud of you guys he was and how much he loved you all. It was very sweet.”

“How’d you do it? How’d you get past it?” Dick asked, looking at the man like he was his own personal hero. At this point he pretty much was. 

Danny just gave him a secretive smile, eyes shining. “I have my ways to get under people’s skin. I can also read people pretty well and knew just which buttons to push. It also didn’t help that from the moment I met Bruce he just looked at me like he either wanted to fuck me or whisk me away to protect me forever. He also had this look like he wanted to learn all of my secrets which was pretty fun. But we just got to know each other and the more I opened up about my life and after life the more he was willing to do the same.”

Dick took a bite of his own burger and smiled as he mulled over it. If Danny was able to successfully get Bruce in therapy to work on his problems and get the man to open up more, Dick would probably lose his ever loving mind. He couldn’t believe the changes he was seeing in Bruce but he was excited to see how it would go. 

“I think you’re going to be really good for him, Dad,” Dick said with a small smile. 

Danny beamed at him. “I think he’s going to be really good for me too,” he said quietly. He tapped his fingers for a few moments before he let out a hum. “But enough about me and Bruce, though. I want to know about you, Dick. What are you like? What do you like?”

Dick smiled before he launched into his own life story, telling Danny about his life before he moved in with Bruce, his parents deaths, how it made him who he was now. He shared with Danny his love for gymnastics and his dream to open his own gymnastics center. 

“Why haven’t you?” Danny asked, tilting his head to the side. 

“Because I need to be a cop,” Dick told him honestly. “I should be helping people in whatever ways I can and that includes doing what I can to fix the coruptness within the legal system.”

“Why?” Danny asked him, narrowing his eyes slightly as he observed the younger man. 

“What do you mean why?” Dick asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise. 

“I mean why?” Danny asked him simply. “Why are you the one who has to do that? Not only that but has being a cop in Bludhaven made any difference? Have you been able to bring down the corruptness in the Bludhaven police department? Are you enjoying what you’re doing?”

“Because if I don’t, know one else will,” Dick said slowly, feeling his heart race as Danny asked him all the questions he seemed to ask himself everyday when he woke up and got ready to go back to the police station. 

“I’m going to give you some very important advice,” Danny told him softly. “If there’s a fire you’re trying to douse, you can’t put it out from inside the house,” he said with a small smile. “Regardless of your intentions as long as you’re working for a corrupt institution you’re complicit in what is happening. If you want to fix things, do it as Nightwing, not as Detective Grayson.”

“You think so?” Dick asked with a frown, his shoulders slumped as he contemplated what his stepfather was telling him. There was truth to his words, not only that but Dick was miserable. He hated his job, it was a struggle to wake up each morning to go into an office where no one really cared about the people in their city. 

“I wouldn’t tell you if I didn’t think so. Not only that but, I can see it in your eyes, honey,” Danny said softly. “You want more in life than to be a a cop. We just talked for over an hour about your passion for acrobatics and gymnastics. There’s more to life than justice, you’re allowed to do things because you enjoy them, because they’re fun. Take it from the King of the Dead, there’s a lot of life to live and most people who come through my realm are filled with regret for the things they didn’t do. Not only that but I’ve spoken to your parents, they worry about you Dick. They want you to be happy.”

“You’ve spoken to them?” Dick asked softly. Danny just gave him a small knowing smile, amusement glimmered in his gaze, full of secrets that Dick doubted he would ever truly learn about. 

“Of course I have. I’ve met them a few times since becoming your step-father, they were elated to know you had someone in your corner,” Danny said with a grin. He threw a few bills on the table and stood with Dick following suit. “They want you to live your life, Dick. So do it,” he said quietly. “What’s the worst thing that could happen if you did?”

“Dad,” Dick said quietly a few moments later as they walked out of the restaurant together. 

“Yeah kiddo?”

“I think you’re the best thing to have ever happened to this family,” Dick said before hugging his new father tight, neither of them noticing the paparazzi taking pictures of them from afar.

Chapter Text

Bruce stared at the magazine in absolute horror this was a bigger nightmare than he had ever expected. 

Dick Grayson’s New Mystery Beau?

This couldn’t be happening. His husband mistaken for his son’s boyfriend? He flipped to the next magazine, his horror growing as this one speculated whether or not Danny was a new sibling. He couldn’t decide what was worse, people thinking that Danny was his son? Or that he was dating his son?

Danny pressed his chin on Bruce’s shoulder and read over the headline before he let out a loud cackle, throwing his head back as he laughed, carefully balancing to keep from spilling his coffee. 

“Oh Ancients, I thought I saw someone taking pictures of us. That’s fantastic,” he giggled before giving Bruce a soft good morning kiss. “How are you going to take care of this, my sweet apple bottom?”

Bruce threw the magazines down on the dining room table before burynig his face in his hands. “I don’t know,” he groaned. 

“Why don’t you go on a public date together? Like kiss in public or something? No need to do a whole press release over the fact that you’re in a relationship,” Duke stated, as he ate his breakfast across from them with sunglasses on. 

“Oh baby, I’m sorry, am I too bright again?” Danny asked with a frown, taking note of the sunglasses on his son’s face. 

“It’s fine, I’m not going to expect you to dim yourself constantly, Dad. Besides, I think I look cool,” the seventeen year old responded.

“I know but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,” Danny said with a frown before he tucked his aura inside of himself once more. He was going to have to get better at this. It had been so long since he had to hide his aura it would take getting used to keeping it tucked in once again. But he’d rather do that than hurt his son any day. 

Once the brightness was completely tucked away, Duke took his sunglasses off and smiled at Danny in thanks. 

“Well,” Danny said, taking a seat on his husband’s lap and took a bite of his omelet. “I have been wanting to get out of the manor a bit more recently. And I think it’s about time you took me on a fancy date in the human world ,” Danny said, after swallowing his food. “Wouldn’t it be nice to get dinner and then go out on a cute date and then just come home and completely ravage each other?” he asked, ignoring the choking that came from their three youngest sons.

“Not in front of the children, my love,” Bruce said, squeezing Danny’s thigh lightly as he gave him a lust filled look, leaning forward to kiss him hungrily. 

“I love you,” Danny hummed, wrapping his arms around Bruce’s neck and let out a giggle when Bruce started to tickle at his sides. 

“They’re going to make me sick,” Tim mumbled, pushing his half finished plate of breakfast away. “Dad, are you taking us to school or should I ask Alfred?”

“I can take you!” Danny said, perking up and slapping Bruce’s hands away from him quickly. “Are you guys ready? Oh, Tim, eat the rest of your breakfast, you’re going to be starving by lunch time! Which, I made lunch today! I finally proved myself to Alfred and he let me prepare your lunch!” he said, hopping out of Bruce’s lap to fly to the kitchen to grab their lunches.

He came back with the three lunch bags and set Damian’s in front of him first. “For my sweet little Assassin Prince, we’ve got vegan Katsudon. Instead of pork, I used some tofu for the katsu and vegan dashi instead. I also know that you need extra protein for your diet so there also some shiitake mushrooms which Alfred told me is your favorite! For the egg, I found this really neat egg substitute called Just Egg so it should be pretty tasty I think. As for you two, I know Bruce is Jewish but I wasn’t sure if you all practiced so I used chicken instead of pork. I hope they taste good! It’s my first time making Japanese food and I’m super excited!” Danny said, clasping his hands together once he had finished handing out their lunches. 

“It’ll be great, Dad! Thanks!” Duke exclaimed, grinning at the meal. 

“It is very much appreciated that you have learned our food preferences step-father,” Damian said with a small smile. 

Danny squealed in joy before he looked at Bruce. “Can I use a portal?”

“Normal, remember?” Bruce said, raising an eyebrow. Danny and the three kids all glared at Bruce in annoyance, knowing that he was right but not happy about it either way. 

“Wanna take them to school with me, then? We can even be cute and walk them to the door and everyone can see how hot their dads are.”

“Please stop, for like two hours,” Tim said, looking at the two in horror. He was so unbelievably happy for Bruce for finding someone who loved him as much as Danny did but god, they were on each other constantly. It was sickening at this point.

“I would love to, but I have a phone conference this morning with a few of the execs at Wayne Enterprises,” Bruce said as he stood and gave Danny one last kiss before he left for the day. “I love you.

“And I love you,” Danny crooned, kissing Bruce deeply, the two floated slightly in the air before Bruce pulled away and gave his husband an amused smile. 

Danny simply giggled and landed back on the ground once more. “Come on my little ghosties, school time it is!” He called before leading the three children out of the manor in a line as though they were his little ducklings. 

Danny first dropped off the two teenagers, getting out of the car to give them both tight hugs before he got back in the ridiculously large SUV to take Damian to the middle school. The two got out of the car and after some coaxing, he managed to get Damian to agree to hug him.

A young woman came scurrying to the car and the duo, as they hugged, though. “Mr. Wayne, oh! Are you Richard?” The woman asked, looking at Danny in surprise when he had pulled away from Damian. 

“This is my step-father, Daniel,” Damian said stiffly as he stared up at the woman with disdain. 

“Oh, I uh, I hadn’t realized Mr. Wayne had gotten married,” she said in surprise. 

Danny just smiled and rested a hand on Damian’s shoulder. “It’s fairly recent, what can we do for you-”

“Ms. Watson,” Damian provided for him. 

“Ms. Watson,” Danny finished. 

“Yes, um, well we were wanting to schedule a time to talk about Damian’s behavior as of late,” she said, ringing her hands nervously. 

“Well, I don’t think that will be necessary,” Danny said with a laugh and looked down at his son. “Damian won’t be behaving poorly again. I can promise you that, isn’t that right kiddo?”

“It is,” Damian said in a disgruntled voice. “My step-father and father have put me in therapy and anger management classes,” he grumbled before giving Danny one last hug and running off to class. 

“If there are any continued issues, please feel free to give Bruce or I a call,” Danny said with a small smile. “It was nice meeting you.”

The rest of the day blew by in a whirlwind as it always seemed to do. Unfortunately, Bruce had been stuck in his meeting most of the day and when he had finished it was ftime for his therapy appointment with Jazz which their sessions could go on for hours at times. Danny also found himself stuck in the ghost zone dealing with conflicts that were arising in two territories that shared a border. It had taken him hte better part of the day and well into the evening. The two finally got to see one another right before bed. 

They stood side by side, fingers intertwined as they brushed their teeth together. Danny’s core felt at peace just getting to stand at his husband’s side, feeling his love radiate from him. Once they had finished brushing their teeth, Danny led Bruce to their bed, waving a hand to shut off the lights lazily.

He leaned up on his tip toes and gave his husband a quick kiss. “How was therapy?” he asked, climbing into their large bed. Bruce just gave him a look   that basically told Danny everything that he needed to know. He simply gave the man his best innocent smile and waited for a response. 

“Jasmine has decided that we are going to approach my lack of trust in others first,” Bruce said with a sigh as he pulled off his slacks. Danny chuckled to himself as he watched his husband undress for bed. 

“Could be worse. She could have tried to tackle your mommy and daddy issues,” he said only for a shirt to be thrown in his face. The Ghost King let out a dramatic whine as he pulled the shirt off his face. 

“Danny!” Bruce whined, giving his husband a look of utter betrayal. Danny just chuckled and used telepathy to help his husband out of his shirt noticing him wince as he tried to do it himself. He sighed at the large bruise that covered his husband’s right shoulder and chest. He gave his husband a disapproving look as the man had absolutely hidden the injury from him. Once Bruce got close, Danny pressed a kiss to the bruise, healing the dislocated shoulder before he pulled away and brushed Bruce’s hair out of his face. 

“I’m just telling you the truth. It’s okay to have parental issues, I have them and I’m  over two hundred years old!” He exclaimed. Bruce just rolled his eyes and got into the bed, pulling the covers over him. 

“I don’t have parental issues,” he mumbled, resting his head on his fist so that he could still look at his husband. “I think that you are delusional, Darling.”

Danny just smiled and moved closer until his leg was tucked between his husband's. “Whatever you say. Now, Clockwork already froze time for us so that you could actually get a decent amount of sleep before our duties in the morning so let’s not make him wait any longer. You could truly use some rest you know. I can see the bags under your eyes and it makes me worry,” Danny said, cupping Bruce’s face in his hand, running his thumb along the darkened skin under one of Bruce’s eyes. 

Bruce placed his hand over Danny’s and smiled. “I don’t know what I did without you. You know that, right?” He said quietly, staring up at his husband and falling into those cerulean blue eyes. “Dick was so happy after the two of you went to lunch. And I know you are planning on going out with Jason sometime this week to bond with him, he’s going to have a wonderful time.”

“I don’t know what you did without me either. But it’s fine, we don’t have to think about that anymore. I’m here now,” he said, thumb now moving to trace up and down Bruce’s cheekbone with cold, feather-like touches. “And I know, I’m still figuring out what we are going to do. Don’t worry, we won’t go out and kill the Joker. Even though I really do hate clowns and have clown trauma of my own.”

At this Bruce made a pained face. “Do I even want to know what happened?” He asked. 

Danny’s face darkened ever so slightly. “T’was a dark day in Amity Park,” he said solemnly before his face brightened up once more. “I was thinking about taking Jason out for drinks or maybe we can just do some light torture with the Joker. I don’t know yet but I want to get to know him better. I feel for him, I really do. I remember how lost I felt when I came back from dying. It’s really scary and you feel all alone. I don’t want him to feel alone anymore, now when I’m here to help him out along the way.”

“Well, I suppose that’s better than you outright murdering him,” Bruce said with a sigh. 

Danny just smiled at him, the corners of his eyes scrunching up ever so slightly. “I may not completely understand it, but I am trying to respect your wishes. The only time I’ll go against your no killing rule is if one of your rogues hurts my kids,” he said causing Bruce’s heart to soar. Danny had already taken his kids in as his own and loved them with everything in him.

 Bruce had never thought he would ever find someone who would not only accept Bruce as he was and work with him on the things he struggled with but also accept his kids and their nightly adventures. Danny did all three. He legitimately wanted what was best for Bruce and his children. It was why he had managed to convince Bruce into going to therapy, why he and Dick were now able to have weekly phone conversations without it turning into an argument. It was also the reason why Jason had actually come home the last two Sundays for family dinner. He was beyond interested in seeing what would happen next in their lives.  

Danny smiled as he swung his hand and Bruce’s between them as they walked down the street to some fancy bistro tht Bruce had chosen for their lunch. Some fancy french cafe, Danny had a feeling it was about the be the fanciest restaurant he had ever eaten at considering it was Bruce and the man had never even eaten at Batburger of all places! 

“They’re taking pictures of us,” Bruce hummed in annoyance. 

“Would you like to give them a show my darling Batata?” He asked with a small smile.

Bruce sighed and nodded before Danny grinned happily and leaned forward on his tip toes to wrap his arms around Bruce’s neck and give him a sweet and loving kiss. 

“You look beautiful today,” Danny murmured, brushing his fingers in Bruce’s hair as they stood with their faces just a hair’s breadth away from one another. 

Bruce chuckled and kissed Danny once more before the halfa’s stomach grumbled. “You’re even more beautiful, now I think I should feed you, my love.”

Danny snickered and followed his husband into the restaurant as the paparazzi flocked to the windows. He wondered what stories the press would spin this time.

Chapter Text

Danny giggled hysterically in his husband’s lap as they read the cover of the most recent copy of Gotham Weekly together. He buried his face in Bruce’s chest, his chest heaving with laughter. Bruce threw the copy of the magazine down on the floor and fell backwards on the couch in dismay. Is this what his life had come to now? 

Bruce Wayne’s Newest Son? The magazine had read. 

Danny let out a wheeze on top of him, his entire body shaking in absolute joy and amusement as Bruce contemplated his life. Was it worth it? Was being married to Danny worth being seen as his father ? It wasn’t like he could tell anyone that Danny was actually well over two hundred years old and had more money than even Bruce could ever amass in his lifetime?

Danny sat up and gave Bruce a kiss. “I love you, Old Man,” he teased before he checked his phone after it buzzed and let out a howl of laughter, shoving his phone in Bruce’s face. “Dick just sent me this!”

Bruce read the text in dismay, his heart falling into his stomach. “Son or sugar baby? Who is the mystery guy seen with both Playboy Brucie Wayne and his son Dick Grayson?”

“Keep reading,” Danny said through giggles, his shoulders still shaking in laughter. Bruce groaned and took the phone from his husband and continued to read what the article had said. 

“ Last week Richard Grayson was seen with a mysterious young man with black hair and blue eyes, the usual look for Bruce Wayne adoption bait. It was then where we here at Wayne Watch wondered whether or not this could be a new Wayne siblings or a possible love interest for Gotham’s sweetheart, Dick Grayson. The photos of the two sharing an intimate hug had our entire city falling to their knees in adoration at the absolute cuteness that was Dick showing his love for another man. This week we find photos of the same mystery twink going to dinner with Gotham’s Play Boy Brucie Wayne at one of the fanciest restaurants in town holding hands and sharing kisses. We here at Wayne Watch wonder what really goes on inside of Wayne Manor. Is this adorable little twink a new son who’s a little too close to Daddy? Is he a sugar baby for both Dick and Brucie? Are the Waynes secretly part of a sex cult where they share their partners with one another? We aren’t sure but we are desperate and ready for the truth! Who is this mystery twink and what is his connection with the two cutest Waynes in Gotham City?”

Danny laughed so hard he managed to fall off of Bruce’s lap and floated in the air, holding his stomach as he giggled harder. “Sex cult! We’re a part of a sex cult Cabbage Patch Bat! Ancients, I love you so much,” he wheezed, watching his husband slowly set the phone down and cross his arms in a pout. 

The doors to the room slammed open to show both Tim and Jason giving the couple shit eating grins. 

“Can we be a part of the sex cult?” Tim asked, snickering wildly. 

“Dad, we have to go out for dinner ASAP we have to cause more drama!” Jason said, walking into the room looking more amused than Bruce had ever seen his son. He should have known, though. He should have known that his sons would all want to be a part of the drama and chaos. They enjoyed watching their poor father suffer for no reason whatsover. 

Bruce Wayne was a good man. He paid his taxes, he donated so much of his money to charities all around Gotham and hell even the world! Not only that but he had committed the last twenty years of his life to fighting the forces of evil here in Gotham as its very on dark knight! And this was how they repaid him? This was how they showed their gratitude for all that Brucie Wayne had done for them?

By making him seem as though he was a part of a sex cult with his sons?

Why was this his fate? Hadn’t he done enough in this world to at least be treated better than this?

“We can go to dinner tonight before patrols!” Danny said happily. “B is going to make a press release probably sometime this weak before this turns into an even bigger scandal but before then? Let’s have some fun,” he said with a mischievous smile of his own. 

Why did Bruce marry this man again? How the hell did he fall in love with someone who was just as bad as his children? Was he just a glutton for punishment? That had to be it. He had to just hate himself. 

He smiled though as he watched Danny conspire with Tim and Jason, his two biggest troublemakers if Bruce had to pick any of them. He watched the three with their heads close together plotting whatever chaotic scheme they were planning now. This was it. 

This was why he loved Danny. Why he had gone against everything he believed in and impulsively married the man anyway. Because for someone who was half dead, he was just so full of life. 

He knew when to be serious and take care of business. But he also knew how to have fun, he knew how to let loose and have a good time and he knew what buttons to push to get Bruce to relax as well. Bruce hadn’t smiled as much as he had since he met Danny. 

Danny made him laugh harder than anyone in his life. He loved Bruce so ferociously. He cared about Bruce in a way that no one had before. Sure, his parents had loved him when they were alive, Alfred loved him and did what he could to take care of him but Danny? Danny was on a completely different level. 

He was like a bulldozer who took one look at the disaster that was Bruce Thomas Wayne and decided he was going to completely tear him to the ground and build him up once more. His talks with Jazz mostly consisted of him talking about how much he loved Danny, how he had managed to do the impossible and break through his iced over heart. He had taken an ice pick and forced his way through happily and with no issue. Jazz usually had to force the conversation towards other topics or else Bruce would spend the entire hour waxing poetic about Danny. 

He couldn’t help it, though. Not when Danny just changed his life so completely. He had gotten not only Bruce into therapy but their entire family. Damian was thriving in a way that Bruce had never seen. Danny had seen how angry the boy was and decided that it was up to him to help him fix that anger. He had gotten Damian into kickboxing of all things! It was the perfect class for a ten year old desperate to release some anger. Sure, the instructors had to put him in the most advanced classes but he had an outlet that wasn’t being Robin. He was getting to fight and release the tension he held inside of him. 

He had convinced Dick to quit his job as a cop and was now helping him develop plans for a rec center where he could teach gymnastics to those who couldn’t afford to pay for classes. 

He still hadn’t been able to get one on one time with the other kids due to his busy schedule but he was still planning on meeting with each of them. 

Tonight was his and Jason’s night. Jason had managed to talk Danny into doing a patrol with him and Bruce had specifically asked to not be told the details of that patrol or what they would be doing tonight. 

He had plans next week to teach Tim how to take pictures of ghosts without it messing up his tech and for the two to have a talk after Bruce had confessed to his fears that Tim could turn into a supervillain at any point. Danny had taken that confession seriously and had told him he would do something about it. 

It was just, somehow so much easier to talk to Danny about his fears and worries than it was his children. Not only that but Danny helped him come up with ideas for how to take care of it and encouraged him to talk about it in therapy while he tried to help fix the problems. 

Danny had made plans to help each of his kids and his pseudo kids work through some of their more pressing issues. He was the most positive thing that had ever happened to this family and Bruce was beyond thankful to have him in his life. 

Even if all of the tabloids and gossip blogs accused him of being in a sex cult of all things. 

Danny pulled away from Tim and Jason with an evil grin before he skipped over to Bruce to give him a kiss. “Are you okay my spicy asparagus?” he asked, looping his arms around Bruce’s neck as he sat on his lap. 

“I’m fine, why?” Bruce asked, moving to place his hand against Danny’s ass to keep him from falling off. If he gave it a little squeeze, well that was no one’s business but theirs.

“Come on old man, quit being gross,” Jason muttered, rolling his eyes in disgust. 

“Well,” Danny said, pointedly ignoring their son. “What if we as a family went out to dinner tonight before i went on my patrol with Jason?” He asked, running his fingers through Bruce’s hair slowly. 

Bruce smiled. “What are you up to, my love?” 

The ends of Danny’s lips twisted up into a devilish grin. “Don’t you want it to be a surprise? I think it’ll be fun,” he purred, running his fingers along Bruce’s chest slowly. “And if you’re good for me, you might even get a prize this weekend when I have Clockwork freeze time for us for our session,” he whispered in Bruce’s ear, causing the man to shiver in delight. 

“I think I can handle that,” Bruce murmured, running his hand up and down Danny’s back. “Do I need to make reservations for anywhere?”

“No, we’re going to batburger,” Tim said with a happy smile, rocking back and forth on his feet as though he were up to something. Bruce simply let out a sigh as he sent a text to their family, telling everyone to meet them at Batburger in an hour. 

Danny grinned as they got the giant family table in the back of the restaurant and watched as his kids and in Steph and Barb’s case, pseudo kids, dug into their dinners. 

“So, not that I don’t love Bat Burger, but what exactly are we doing here?” Dick asked before taking a sip of his chocolate bat shake. Danny smiled as he stabbed at his Joker Fries with a fork. 

“We’re having a public family outing,” Danny said, from his place between Jason and Damian.  

“You’re up to something,” Steph accused, pointing her burger at Danny. 

“I’m not,” he said just as Jason slowly grabbed his plate of fries and slammed them into Dick’s face before he stood up and shouted as loud as he could. 

“How dare you start dating our dad’s new husband!” He shouted, throwing his arms wide. “I can’t believe you’d do that to Bruce! After everything he’s done for you!”

“I for one am horrified by this behavior Dick! We expected better of you,” Tim exclaimed before throwing his soda at Dick.

Dick spluttered, wiping off the fries and soda as best as he could before he narrowed his eyes at the two. “That’s it you little shits!” He snarled before jumping across the table, smushing his burger into Jason’s face roughly. Jason laughed and pushed him away.

“He’s our step dad and you’re trying to screw him!”  Tim shouted. “He’s my step dad and you’re trying to take him away!”

Duke and Steph starred at one another in surprise before getting in on the action only they turned on Danny. 

“Are you really cheating on Bruce? Really Danny! You just married him and you’re already hooking up with his son! How sick are you Danny! We trusted you! We let you into our home!” Steph bemoaned, hitting her fist on the table roughly. Cass silently giggled at her side, throwing her fries at Danny one at a time. 

“It’s not like that! We weren’t doing anything! Dick came to me for advice!” he cried out, trying his best to suppress his giggles. Bruce stared at his children in dismay as even Duke and Damian, his most well behaved children joined in on the food fight that was now taking place in the middle of the Bat Burger. He would have to leave such a large tip for all of this. 

Why the hell did he agree to this? Why was he letting himself think with his dick rather than his brain? Danny knew exactly what words to use to get him to agree. He knew better than to agree to any kind of schemes Tim and Jason came up with. But also, it was so nice to see two getting along that Bruce just couldn’t help it! He loved watching all of his kids having fun and letting loose the way they currently were.

Barb even got in on it as she started throwing her fries at Bruce. 

“Let’s not forget Bruce over here! He married someone younger than some of his sons!” She exclaimed. All of his children suddenly turned on him with varying looks of evil on their faces. 

“That’s right! You did! You married someone who’s even younger than me!” Jason exclaimed, throwing his food at Bruce now.

“How could you marry someone the same age as your children?” Damian demanded, shaking his head in disappointment before throwing a fry at his father. Bruce couldn’t help but laugh and show an evil grin of his own before he started pelting his children with french fries and condiments.  The fast food joint quickly became a wreck as the food started flying through the room. 

Soon a manager shakily came over to ask them to leave. Before Bruce could say a word, though, Danny brightly apologized for causing such a mess in their restaurant and snapped his fingers, cleaning the entire place instantly. 

“I really do apologize about that, we were just caught up in the fun of it all,” Danny said before slipping some bills into the man’s hand. “Please, accept this for all of the troubles we have caused you. Make sure to share with your staff, I fear in our overzelousness we may have gotten them a little messy too.”

And with that, the family left the starstruck employees and fast food goers in shock and awe. 

“Okay, part two of tonight before patrols!” Tim announced, standing in front of the other vigilantes and Alfred as they gathered in the living room, all nice and clean after their shenanigans at the restaraunt. 

“What are we doing?” Danny asked, laying his head on Bruce’s shoulder as he watched their kids gather in front of them.

“Fanfiction has been written about you guys,” Duke said with a smile. “And we want to read it for everyone to hear!”

“It’s called Wind Beneath My Bat Wings by SummerSixEcho!” Tim said, swiping his hand in the air dramatically. Danny looked up at Bruce with a small smile. 

“I didn’t know about this part,” he whispered with a giggle. 

“I’m just happy to see everyone getting along so well,” he murmured. 

“And now, let me introduce you to our cast,” Tim said. “First, Damian Al Ghul Wayne as our wonderful narrator this evening. Second, Jason Todd who will be taking on the role of Batman. Third we have Duke Thomas, playing Bruce Wayne, and lastly, me as Danny Nightingale Wayne, the harlot of our story,” Tim said with a wide smile.  “Oh and Steph who will be jumping in to read the wonderful author’s notes!”

“Harlot?” Danny mouthed before he glanced up at his husband in surprise. “Am I a harlot?”

“Well, you are allegedly sleeping with both myself and Dick, so I would say so,” Bruce said with a chuckle.

“It must have been cold there in my shadow. To never have sunlight on your face. You were content to let me shine, that’s your way. You always walked a step behind,” Damian read seriously, staring at his phone with a dead expression that already had Danny giggling in amusement. “The caped crusader landed on top of the building in front of Wayne Enterprises-”

Steph cut him off. “Lmao guys, I totally forgot what it was called! I live in Bludhaven x d but you know the one!”

Damian glared at her for interrupting but Danny didn’t pay too much attention. He had been to enraptured in the tale and the story that his kids were spinning. He didn’t know who this SummerSixEcho person was but wow were they talented. 

Halfway through the story, though, Danny felt his husband elbow him lightly. He followed the man’s gaze to find Dick staring in horror, his face bright red. 

“Ten bucks says Dick wrote it,” Bruce said quietly. 

“Fifty bucks says none of the kids know Dick was the one to write it,” Danny responded back in a whispered, watching as their eldest son buried his face in his hands, looking embarrassed beyond words. Thankfully for him, the only ones who had noticed was Bruce and Danny.

“Batsy?” Duke whispered. 

“In surprise as a shiver ran down his spine from the cold touch of the rain,” Damian narrated his voice still flat and annoyed. Danny genuinely wondered how his siblings had managed to convince him to narrate. 

“Bruce,” Jason said. 

“Gotham’s defender whispered back, cutting the distance between them short as he used the shadows to glide him to his love.They approached, their noses in front of one another, an inch away from their lips. Brucie’s trembling lips quivered the next words. 

“I never stopped love you. Thank you from saving me from that harlot,” Duke simpered, standing nearly chest to chest with Jason as they recited their lines as if they were professional actors. 

“It had been long months of research that uncovered the truth about that harlot. About how he was a guy from the midwest-”

“Authors note!” Steph chimed in. “When you know, you know.”

Damian rolled his eyes. “Who was looking for Brucie’s fortune and name. A hoax,  a phony…a joker. And Gotham–and Batsy– really hated jokers.”

“No,” Jason whispered. 

“Batman whispered as he brushed the droplets of rain off his beloved’s face. 

“Thank you,” Jason said in a gruff voice. “For saving me. You’ve always been my hero.”

Damian cringed as he started the final line of the story. “The two melted as one in a passionate kiss, tongues fighting for dominance, knowing they were back home. And together without obstacles, their love would soar high.”

All of the children then recited the final song lyrics before bowing deep. 

Barb smirked from her wheelchair as she sat beside her poor boyfriend who stared at his siblings in horror. “And give it up for the author as he decided to make a rare appearance for this special showing, Dick Grayson,” she said. 

The children all gasped, before Jason let out a loud cackle. 

“That makes so much sense. The author knew far too much about Danny for it to be some random outsider,” he said with a snicker. 

“I am ashamed that I did not catch it with Brown’s annoying author’s notes. I’m sorry, Richard, but your writing is abysmal, you should look for a different career,” Damian said with a sniff. 

“I thought it was lovely, Dick. You really captured the love between Batman and Brucie,” Danny said with a small smile. His eyes narrowed, turning a bright green. “If you ever call me a harlot again, I will drop you in the nightmare realm.”

Dick gulped. “Understood.”

Chapter Text

Danny stared at the fanfiction with a look of annoyance on his face. Really? This is what people were writing about Danny and Bruce’s relationship? 

“This one isn’t even funny,” he mumbled, slumping down in his seat beside Tim, a small pout on his lips. The two were currently at a coffee shop in Upper Gotham. According to Tim, it was the best coffee shop in the entire city. He simply said that because they didn’t bat an eye at their ridiculous orders, the coffee itself was subpar at most. 

“You’re just mad because they had Batman drink your blood,” Tim said with a snicker. Danny just pouted, staring down at his coffee. He couldn’t believe this! All of the fanfictions were making him the villain? Why couldn’t there be one where Bruce and Batman loved him? Where he was in a healthy polyamorous relationship like the one he once had with Sam and Tucker years and years ago. 

“Yes! I keep being made into the villain!” He whined before downing the rest of his cold brew. He slumped back in his seat just as someone started to turn the volume up on the little flat screen that hung from the wall closest to Danny and Tim. They both turned their attention to the screen and Danny grinned when he saw Bruce standing at a podium. 

“He’s so pretty,” he said with a sigh, resting his chin on his hand as he watched Bruce give his statement on their relationship. 

“You’re disgusting, Dad,” Tim said with a huff. Danny just smiled. He and Tim had started having weekly coffee meet ups so that Danny could check in on the kiddo every so often to see how he was doing and make sure he was doing well mentally. Sure, Tim was nineteen years old but he couldn’t take care of himself to save his life and his boyfriend was just as bad. Danny had been more than excited to learn that Tim’s boyfriend was a clone, he had gushed and raved demanding that he meet the boy. He still hadn’t met Kon yet but he was counting down the days to when he got to meet him. 

…

They had been sitting in the batcave the first time they had their coffee meet up. Tim had been benched for a week for not getting enough rest and he had woken up from a nap to find Danny manning the batcomputers. 

“Thought you weren’t going to be helping with the vigilante stuff,” Tim had said, shuffling into the cave in a hoodie that was five times too big for his small frame, and a pair of too baggy sweatpants. 

“I thought your dad had enough money to buy you clothes that fit, but here we both are,” Danny said, reading over a file Bruce had asked him to check on. Bruce had a suspicion that ectoplasm was being used as a drug in this universe and he wanted Danny’s expertise on the subject. On top of that, Barb and Dick were on a date that Danny had forced them on after both stated they were too busy for that kind of thing and he was taking Oracle’s chair for the night. He may not be Oracle, but he had been taught by the best– the best benign Tucker and Technus of course.

“They’re my boyfriend’s. He left them the last time we were both at the manor,” Tim said and frowned as he looked over Danny’s shoulder. “Venom?”

“Yup,” he murmured before he looked over at the other screen to track Bruce and Damian while they tracked a few suspicious rogues. “Who’s your boyfriend, kiddo?”

Tim smiled. “His name’s Conner,” he said as he read over the file Danny was making notes on.

Danny shut the file. Tim was benched for a reason, no work for him and created two duplicates of himself. One to keep an eye on the vigilantes and another to make the two a pot of coffee. Once the two were set to their tasks, he looked back at his son. 

“Tell me all about him!” He said with a wide smile, pulling his feet underneath him as he gave Tim his full attention. 

“What was that?” Tim asked with wide eyes as one version of Danny left the room and the other started manning the computer. 

“Clones, or well, I prefer duplicates really. My real clone would be offended if I compared her to them.”

“You have a clone?” Tim asked hesitantly. “How do you feel about her?”

Danny gave Tim a soft smile as he thought about Dani. “I love her more than words could ever describe. She was created by my nemesis to replace me when I was fourteen. He told her to destroy me but once she learned he had been lying to her, I basically pestered her until she agreed to be my sister,” he said with a laugh, thinking about the first few months of Dani learning what their new dynamic would be like. “Jazz thought that since she’s my DNA that it would make Dani my daughter but I mean she was maybe ten physically and mentally when she was created and I was only fourteen ya know? Saw her more as a sister, still do really. She’s a hero in another universe kicking ass and having fun. We still see each other every so often when we’re not busy. I still haven’t told her I got married so she’s probably going to kick my ass when she finds out and will demand to meet everyone.”

Danny shook his head and grinned. “Sorry, I got off topic. We were talking about Conner, not my sister,” he said. 

Tim just gave him a small smile. “Conner’s a clone,” he said softly. 

His dad arched an eyebrow. “Please don’t tell me he’s your clone. I dunno if I can condone selfcest.”

His son spluttered and laughed. “No! No, he’s a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor,” he said before his shoulders dropped and he gave Danny a sad smile. “Neither of them are very accepting of him. Kon’s only family is the Young Justice team and my family. Bruce is pretty okay with him but Superman is his best friend.”

Danny’s eye twitched. “What do you mean they aren’t accepting of him? Who created him?” He asked slowly, no longer was he the fun happy dad that Tim had gotten used to. This dad meant business, this was the look of a man who was ready to destroy the world if he had to.

Tim launched into the entire story of how Conner came into existence and how Superman had never accepted him as his son and still didn’t see him as family. How Lex just wanted him to be a weapon and when Conner hd refused threw him to the side like he was garbage. 

“So, Kon’s originals don’t like him,” Danny said grimly as he sipped his coffee. 

“Nope,” Tim said with a sigh. “They won’t even try to get to know him. And he’s amazing Dad! He’s so kind and caring and he’s got this rough exterior at times but he really cares about people and he tries so hard to be a good person and he just wants to connect with Clark, to get to know more about his heritage. I mean sure he’s a clone but he’s still part kryptonion and he deserves to know what that means for him.”

“I would like to meet him one day,” Danny said with a small smile. “I’ll let him meet Dani too, she’d die to meet another clone, all of her siblings died in creation and being a clone is a lonely existence. Not only that, but you schedule a time I can meet Conner and I’ll tell him anything he wants to know about Krypton and what it means to be a Kryptonion.”

“What do you know about that?”

Danny laughed. “Kid, I am two hundred years old and a death god. I’ve met thousands of Kryptonians in death and when the planet was still around and thriving I visited a few times. I know probably more about Krypton than Clark does,” Danny said. 

Tim just smiled and nodded his head. “I’d like that, I think Kon would like it too. Next time he comes to visit, I’ll have you meet him.”

…

Danny smiled and shook his head at the memory as he went back to watching his husband.

“I’m here today to address some rumors about the mysterious man that has been in the newspapers,” Bruce said seriously as he looked out at the sea of reporters. 

“Mr. Wayne! Is it true that he’s your sugar baby!?”

“Mr. Wayne! Are you and your sons in a sex cult and this boy is just your newest victim?!”

“His name is Daniel Wayne, he isn’t Richard’s boyfriend, he isn’t my son. Daniel is my husband. We were married in secret last year and just recently decided that it was a good time to introduce him to the public. We ask for your privacy and support while Danny gains his bearings in Gotham and grows more comfortable with our family. You may see him with our children out and about as he tries to bond with them and get to know them better as their step father. But that is all he is. There is no strange Wayne Family sex cult that I am aware of, Danny is not with me for my money. In fact, my husband has no need of money or anything of the sort. He is also much older than he seems.”

“What do you mean by that?” A reported demanded and Danny smiled as he watched his husband chuckle and not answer the question. 

“How is Danny older than what he seems?”

“Danny is a Kryptonian!” Bruce blurted out, looking just slightly panicked. Tim and Danny looked at one another in horror.  “Danny and I are happily married and would like to keep the media out of our private lives as much as possible. Thank you for your time, but I will not be taking any questions at this time,” Bruce said before leaving the podium. 

Danny and Tim looked at one another and burst into laughter. 

“That was probably one of his worst press conferences ever,” Tim said with a wheeze.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me I was a Kryptonian?” Danny asked with a chuckle. 

“Was that part of the plan?” Tim asked, his shoulders still shook with laughter. 

“No! Bruce was supposed to tell people that my dad was the inventor of the toaster strudel,” Danny whined, pressing the palms of his hands into his eyes as he chuckled. Oh his wonderful, idiot husband. Brucie wasn’t completely an act sometimes. He really was just that stupid sometimes. Tim’s phone rang and he answered quickly, still laughing. 

“Hey babe I-”

“Why didn’t you tell me Bruce married a Kryptionian Refugee! I’m coming to Gotham right fucking now!”

“Kon,” Tim said hesitantly only for his boyfriend to hang up. Tim gave Danny a nervous smile. “Wanna meet my boyfriend?” He asked hesitantly. 

Danny snorted and stood up. “Yeah, better break the news to him first.  I have a feeling your father is about to get a call from some of his friends,” he said as the two walked out of the coffee shop together. Danny let out a huff and pulled Tim into an alleyway. “Come on,” he said, opening up a portal for the two to step through.”

“This is so weird,” his stepson said as the two stepped through and into Tim’s loft. 

“Yeah, it takes some getting used to,” Danny said as they found Kon on the couch staring at them both. 

“Kon!” Tim exclaimed before he flit over and gave his boyfriend a quick kiss. “I’d like you to meet my step-dad, Danny. He’s not a kryptonian and we aren’t sure why Bruce said he was but he knows all about Krypton and anything you might want to know. Plus! He has a clone that’s like his sister.”

“Not like my sister, she is my sister,” Danny said with a smile as he opened a small portal and looked through to find Dani sitting in the common room of Stark Tower happily talking to Peter Parker and Kate Bishop. “Dani, are you busy?”

His sister jumped when she saw her brother’s head, ignoring the startled gasps from her friends. “What do you want? I’m busy.”

“Met a clone, but if you’re not interested in meeting him, I’ll just keep him for myself. It’s a shame too, his originals don’t want anything to do with him,” he said with a sad sigh and started to pull away just as Dani barreled towards the portal. 

“Meet Dani!” Danny said as she landed on the ground.  “Dani, meet my new stepson Tim and his boyfriend Kon!”

Dani let out an excited squeal. “Which one is the clone!” She demanded before her eyes landed on Kon. “Oh it’s so totally you, huh? You just give off the vibes of someone who’s still not comfortable in their own skin,” she said. 

“Kon is half kryptonian,” Danny also supplied. “He wants to know more about Krypton and I know you’ve been there a few times in your journeys. Maybe you guys should talk,” he suggested, falling into a seat beside Tim who stared at Dani in surprise as she started to animatedly talk to Kon about everything. 

“Woah,” he said softly and looked at Danny. “She’s your clone?”

Danny nodded with a small smile. “Yup, she’s been stuck with me for two hundred years now.”

“This is a dumb question, but why is she a girl?” Tim asked quietly, tilting his head to the side. 

His dad just shrugged his shoulders. “She didn’t feel like she was born in the wrong body like I did. A fun perk about being a ghost king? I can change my body parts to suit my needs. Made transitioning so much easier for me than most humans,” he said with a soft smile. “But she was happy as a girl and now we just look like twins most of the time, although she’ll always be my baby sister.”

“Man, you get cooler every time I talk to you,” Tim said, watching the grin on Kon’s face grow bigger and bigger as Dani told him her stories about travelling and learning to accept that she was her own person. 

“I think the fact that she’s not trans like I am is big enough proof to show that clones are their own people,” Danny mused. “If she was a carbon copy of me, she would have been trans too but she’s not. She’s just Dani, she’s happy and her own person and she loves showing others that they are too. Kon’s not her first clone friend, she tends to take all of them under her wing if she can.”

Tim nodded and just watched the two clones get on, listening as Dani told his boyfriend stories of her time on Krypton, how she knew all kinds of old Kryptonian recipes and could even probably find some of the more extinct ingredients so that they could cook together. Tim honestly couldn’t wait to get to know more about his aunt now too.

Chapter Text

“So, you’re telling me that you just panicked and it slipped out?” Tim asked incredulously, giving his adoptive father a look of pure disappointment. 

“We didn’t prepare for them asking how old Danny was! How was I supposed to explain that yeah, my husband looks like he’s twenty four but he’s also older than that! I can’t exactly say that he’s a two hundred year old ghost!” Bruce exploded. 

“So, it was easier to tell the world that you married a member of an extinct species of alien instead?” Damian asked from where he was sitting and Danny snickered into his hand. After Kon and Dani had gotten to know one another they had all migrated back to the manor. The entire family had pretty much raced back home to give Bruce shit for his fuck up and it had been a great time so far. Danny had just been watching in amusement as everyone roasted the ever living shit out of Bruce for fucking up. 

Suddenly the front door of the manor slammed open and Danny listened to the steady steps of someone rather angry walk through. He watched as Bruce stiffened as did Kon. 

“Oh man,” Danny said with a giggle. Clark stormed in and pointed a finger at Bruce. 

“You!” He snarled. 

“You married a Kryptonian and you didn’t tell me!?” He demanded, his brows furrowed in a glare. “What kind of a friend are you? You know there’s only like four of us in existence and only one of us who even remembers Krypton and you kept this from me!”

Danny watched as Kon covered his mouth as he snickered. Each of his kids did the same as they watched Clark give Bruce a thorough tongue lashing for his secrets and lies. Danny just looked over at his own sister who just glared daggers into Clark for being so shitty to her new little clone baby. 

And ancients, Danny maybe if Dani stayed angry at Clark she wouldn’t focus her anger on Danny. The trip back to the manor had been beyond awkward as Dani demanded that her original explain to her how the hell he got married and got a million kids in her words. Wasn’t she enough for him? Which honestly, he had never even seen Dani as his daughter considering they had both been kids when she had been created but it was fine.

In Danny’s defense, Dani was in the middle of fighting Thanos and apparently the only one available to help her had been a hero called Squirrel Girl when Danny had gotten married so you know, she was busy. 

Thankfully his sister hadn’t been too put out about it. She had simply said she had plans to work on now and left it at that. Danny had sneaking suspicions that his sister was going to start planning a one year anniversary wedding ceremony but he didn’t have any proof to accuse of her of it just yet. 

“Well Bruce, do you have anything to say for yourself right now? Do you even feel bad for what you’ve done?” Clark demanded, putting his hands on his fists as he glared at Bruce.

“Um, you see,” Bruce said with an awkward cough. “He isn’t actually kryptonian and I just panicked.”

Clark deflated and he looked at Danny. “You’re not?” He asked softly. 

Danny gave him an apologetic smile and shook his head. “No, unfortunately not. But, I did spend quite a bit of time on Krypton about eighty years ago. My clone has spent even longer time there, she’s already decided to teach Kon-El all about Krypton and their customs. You’re welcome to talk to her about it if you would like,” he suggested with a small smile. 

Clark fell down on a couch and gave the couple an incredulous look. “What? B catch me up,” he said, looking shaken to his core. 

Bruce gave Danny a pleading look only for the immortal to shake his head in amusement. 

“This is my husband Danny. He helped us defeat Darkseid. He is the ghost king and we’re married. I didn’t want to tell people I was married to a dead guy, I didn’t want to be accused of being a necrophyliac!” Bruce said, looking sheepish as Danny glared at him in pure disgust. 

“I’m half dead!” He berated. “It’s not necrophilia!” 

“Isn’t it, though?” Jason asked, making a face. 

“Is it necrophilia if someone slept with you?” Danny shot back at his second eldest. “Mr. Zombie?”

“Now you’re just being mean,” Jason mumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. 

“Anyway,” Bruce said. “It felt better than saying he’s dead!”

“What are you going to do if people start accusing Danny of not being out there like the supers to fight crimes?” Dick pointed out, giving his father a look. 

“I didn’t think about it,” Bruce mumbled.

Danny smiled and patted his husband’s head placatingly. “It’s alright, my little pickle, we’ll get it figured out,” he said soothingly. 

“I do apologize, though, for screwing up. I should have just stuck to the script,” he said apologetically. Danny just smiled and gave him a kiss before he let Bruce explain everything to his best friend who was now practically foaming at the mouth to learn more about Krypton from the two immortals. Once Bruce was done, though, Danny stood and gave Clark a small smile. 

“We should have a talk,” Danny said politely. “I think there are some things that the two of us need to talk about.”

Clark frowned but followed Danny as he glided out of the room. Once he was gone, Bruce looked at Dani in confusion. 

“I apologize, but who are you?” He asked politely. Dani beamed from her seat and got up to shake her new brother in law’s hand. 

“I’m Dani! I’m Danny’s clone slash sister,” she said happily. “He called me when he met Kon over here so I could get him to join my awesome clone club.”

Bruce raised his eyebrows and nodded once. “Oh, interesting. Well, would you like to help me with something?” He asked. “I want to plan Danny a make up wedding. He says he doesn’t want one and that getting eloped was fine but I know he wants a real wedding.”

Dani’s eyes flashed that familiar ectoplasmic green as she smiled at the man. “I’m already ahead of you, kiddo,” she said with a sharp tooth grin. 

“So, what did you want to talk about?” Clark asked. 

Danny frowned as he stared ahead, trying his best to come up with the right words. “I only ever visited Krypton once, it was for a year I believe. Very nice, and I can try to answer your questions. But that’s not what I’m wanting to talk about right now,” Danny said as they walked into Bruce’s office and shut the door. 

“What is it? Are things okay with Bruce?” Clark asked kindly. “I know he can be hard to deal with sometimes but he’s a really good guy-”

“We’re fine,” he said and leaned against Bruce’s desk as he looked Clark up and down. “I met Tim’s boyfriend and I’m just wanting to talk to you about some of the things I’ve learned.”

“What is it?” Clark asked, his face darkened at what he probably assumed the topic was. 

“I’m not going to beat around the bush with this. I have a clone, I know what it feels like. You feel like your privacy has been invaded. It can be overwhelming, especially when that clone has been created for the sole purpose of destroying you. I know Kon has been around for a while but how are you feeling?”

Clark looked hesitant. “You’re not upset?” He asked, his brow furrowed in confusion. 

“Everyone handles trauma differently. From what I learned today you had an enemy steal your DNA and create a clone without your permission. It’s hard to come to terms with, I had to do it. Dani and I didn’t have an absolutely perfect relationship when I met her. She was made to kill me and had really struggled with living in my shadow. And while I never said it out loud to anyone at the time, I really struggled with the idea of my enemy stealing my genetic make up. It hurt and it really sucked. And I blamed Dani at first,” he admitted and looked at Clark. “So, how are you doing?”

“I don’t know how to feel,” he admitted quietly. “Logically, I know that Kon-El is just as much of a victim in this as I am but every time I look at him I just feel violated all over again. He has my face and my voice and-”

“And your body and your everything. But you know what’s different?” Danny asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“What?” Clark asked curiously. Danny tapped his temple. 

“His soul is different, his mind is different. He may look like you but he’s still his own person with his own thoughts and feelings. Look at Dani for example. I was born biologically female but I knew from the time I was ten that I was meant to be a boy and I started socially transitioning at that time. Dani has never felt like she’s a boy, it shows she’s different than I am. She has never felt uncomfortable in her own skin due to her assigned gender at birth or the body parts she has. She’s just fine with them. She is also, unfortunately painfully straight, much different than her “original” as I’m called,” Danny said, using air quotes. “We are very similar in a lot of ways but, fundamentally we’re very different. She wants to be a hero, I hate the very idea of being a superhero ever again. Actually makes me want to barf just to think about.”

“And I know you’re right, I’ve had three years to come to terms with this but I’m struggling with it. I’ve been working on it, I’m trying to be more comfortable with it but it’s hard,” Clark stressed. “And no one has been understanding of that. Bruce disapproves and tells me I’m being ridiculous, the kids in Young Justice hate me and think I’m a monster and I don’t know how to fix it. I feel like it’s been so long that even if I did want to fix things with Kon-El he wouldn’t be interested.”

Danny gave the super a small smile and shook his head. “I bet you’d be surprised what just sitting down and being honest with someone can do for everyone involved. Dani is like a sister to me, sometimes when she really wants something she calls herself my daughter but that’s mostly for shits and giggles. But I can imagine Kon is really desperate for a family of his own, one that isn’t just a bunch of superheroes. He wants some place to belong just like you probably did when you realized you weren’t just a regular human,” Danny said, giving Clark a pointed look. 

This wasn’t how he wanted to have the conversation with Clark. In all honesty, his entire core was screaming at him to beat the shit out of Clark for how he treated Kon but something told him it wouldn’t click as well. He looked like the kind of man who didn’t respond well to beratement. He also looked like he dealt with getting berated pretty damn often from everyone about his reaction to Kon being created. 

Danny didn’t want to add to that situation. It obviously wasn’t making a difference in the man and how he’s struggling and from what Danny could see, Clark was struggling. Not with Kon himself but with the feelings of being violated with what happened. He was having issues separating the two issues and Danny could help, he could walk him through those complicated feelings. 

Not because he really felt bad for Clark, he was a grown adult and should have handled the situation better. But for Kon who desperately wanted Clark’s approval. And for Bruce who worried about his best friend and couldn’t seem to figure out how to fix this situation. 

Danny could help him. If anyone knew how to navigate a situation such as this it would be Danny.

“You’re not alone with this. Call me if you need to talk about it. But you should definitely invite Kon for dinner, try to talk to him, get to know who he is because he’s a pretty badass kid,” Danny said with a small smile as he pushed off of the desk and walked towards Clark. “And if you don’t, I think Dani is ready to bite your head off any second now and I’ll let her.”

Clark nodded once and smiled. “I’d like to have someone to talk to about it. And,” he took a breath and looked at Danny. “Would it be weird if I asked him now if he wanted to go to to dinner?”

“Not at all,” Danny said with a shrug as they started walking out. “I think Kon would be pretty pumped if you took the time to get to know him and maybe even apologize.”

“I don’t want him to feel like I’m doing it just because we talked,” Clark said in a worried tone. 

Danny shrugged his shoulders at that. “I mean just explain that our conversation made you aware of some things or whatever. You obviously want to get to know him, tell him what it is that’s been stopping you from doing it and be honest.”

They stepped back into the room and Danny skipped over to Bruce to give him a kiss. “I guess i forgive you for telling everyone I’m a Kryptonian but if anyone gets mad at me for not being a hero, I’m going to kick your ass. Understand me?”

“Understood,” Bruce said and kissed Danny softly. “Everything okay?”

Danny nodded. “Tell you later,” he said as he watched Clark awkwardly approach Tim and Kon to talk. Yeah, things could be okay.

Chapter Text

Danny gave his husband a soft kiss as the two curled up on the sofa as they watched the evening news together before Bruce went out on patrols. It was so utterly domestic of them but Danny had to admit it was probably some of his favorite time with the man.

All of their kids knew to leave them alone during that time. Jason liked to joke that it was the old fart’s bonding time. Danny had thrown a shoe at him for implying Bruce was old. He was Only forty one, definitely not old compared to Danny. 

If Bruce was old then Danny was ancient and he still didn’t feel a day over seventy eight most days!  

“Breaking news! The Joker has been found dead in his cell this evening at Arkham Asylum,” the news caster exclaimed and slowly Bruce turned his head to look at Danny. 

“Hello my beautiful cucumber melon!” Danny beamed, his head resting on Bruce’s chest, their legs tangled together. 

“What. Did. You. Do?”

“ I didn’t physically do anything,” Danny refuted, giving his husband his most innocent look possible.

“Danny,” Bruce scolded, flicking his husband lightly in between the eyes. 

“All I did was collect all of the ghosts of his victims and asked them to haunt him. It isn’t my fault he only lasted a week,” Danny mumbled, pushing his lips out in a pout. “A little pathetic if you ask me. You can dish it out and traumatize and murder all these people but can’t handle it yourself? Pathetic.”

“I said no kill-”

“I didn’t kill him!” Danny said shrilly just as someone burst into the room. The couple turned to find Jason giving them a crazed look of absolute joy. 

“He’s dead! The fucker didn’t even last a month!” Jason shouted, looking like he was about ready to throw a party. 

Danny zipped his lips and pointed at Bruce who was now staring at Jason in disappointment. 

“You knew?” He asked with a breath. 

Jason snickered. “I asked . I told him it was only right that he gets tortured by all of his vicitms. I’m kinda sad I didn’t get to be a part of it but Danny said he couldn’t turn me into a temporary ghost so I had to sit it out. But apparently they got the fucking Joker to slit his wrists! What a fucking coward,” he said with a loud cackle before he gave Danny a tight hug. “God, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to this family,” he said when he pulled away and wiped a tear.

“Do you really think it was necessa-”

“Bruce,” Danny interrupted to turn and look his husband in the eye. “It had to happen. He was never going to be reformed, he was never going to turn into some upstanding member of society. He was just going to continue to kill each time he got out of Asylum and no matter how many times you caught him and brought him back changed that. You became complacent in the murders and crimes he committed and now he’s never going to hurt another person. Besides, I already have my guys waiting to pluck his soul and stick him in his own personal kind of hell.”

“Danny,” Bruce said, giving his husband that constipated look he usually gave and Danny ignored him to look at Jason who looked like he was texting everyone he knew about Joker finally dying. 

“Jason, you know the rules. Between five pm and nine pm Bruce is mine ,” he said before shooing his second eldest out of the room. Jason happily obliged and Danny turned back to his husband and smiled. 

“Are you going to keep pouting or are we going to keep hanging out?” Danny asked him pointedly. Bruce huffed and gave Danny a quick kiss. 

“You’re right, I’m just being an ass. I just, I know it was never going to happen but i would have loved to see him be reformed and better,” Bruce said, letting Danny lay on his chest once more. Danny just hugged him tight and let out a purr, telling Bruce he understood. 

“Unfortunately, not everyone can be saved,” Danny murmured before the newscaster went on to their next matter of business.

“Next we have one question for Bruce Wayne’s new husband, Daniel Wayne. If he’s a kryptonian, why is he not out with the other supers saving the world? We asked you all for your opinions and this is what you had to say,” she said before the screen change to show someone out in the city with a microphone. 

Danny let out an indigent sigh and rolled his eyes. “Maybe I don’t want to be a superhero? How about that?” He mumbled petulantly. 

Bruce chuckled underneath him. “I’m sorry, Darling. I really did put my foot in my mouth this time,” he said, stroking Danny’s hair as the public gave their opinions on whether or not he should be using his powers for good. Thankfully the majority were saying he should be able to live his life in peace as an alien refugee but there were still a few who thought Danny needed to use his powers for the better. 

“Then we managed to run into the Wayne children,” the reporter said excitedly. “And this is what they had to say.”

Danny stifled a giggle as Tim, Damian, and Cass showed up on the television. 

“So tell me, what is it like having a second father in the house? Are you kids comfortable with having two dads?”  The man asked them. 

Tim glared at the camera and leaned forward towards the microphone. “I like Danny more than Bruce,” he stated plainly making Danny giggle in response. 

“Our new step-father is wonderful, even if he did insist that we all needed therapy,” Damian said with a scoff and roll of his eyes.

“I love him,” Cass said with a wide smile. Danny let out a cheer and turned to Bruce. 

“I did it! Damian said I’m wonderful!” He said before he gave Bruce a deep kiss. Bruce just chuckled against his husband’s lips and held him tight. It was nice to know that all of their kids approved of their relationship so much. They all loved Danny a lot and had taken to him pretty well. He and Duke had quickly become close once Danny had managed to hide his aura to keep from blinding their son. 

The two had plans the next day to go to the aerospace museum after Duke had expressed interested in space and astronomy. 

Danny also had weekly coffee meetings with Tim. 

He went shopping with Steph every weekend. 

He went to every single one of Cass’ recital and cheered louder than anyone else in the crowd. 

Danny also met with Dick to help him plan his new community center he was building along with going with Jason to feed the homeless in Crime Alley. 

He even went to art classes with Damian. 

His husband had made sure to be active in each of their kids lives and their pseudo daughter (Steph). 

Bruce was so unbelievably pleased how seamlessly Danny had fit into their lives. He mostly just worried that maybe he was doing so much for everyone else that he wasn’t taking care of himself. But it was fine. 

That’s what Bruce was for anyway. He was here to hold Danny each night and show him how much he loved him. He was here to listen to Danny complain about the politics in the Infinite Realms, to listen to his stories from his childhood and just be here as support. 

Bruce had never imagined himself in this kind of life but he loved every single moment of it. He smiled as Danny deepened the kiss and Bruce flipped them over on the sofa, one hand pressed against the back of the couch to keep him steady, the other blocking Danny in as he slipped a knee between Danny’s legs and let out a soft moan. 

“I love you,” he murmured, trailing kisses down Danny’s jaw. The words just felt so easy for him to say. For him to express and show Danny just how much he was adored, how treasured he was. “More thna you will ever know.”

“Oh Bruce,” Danny sighed, wrapping his arms to rest on Bruce’s shoulders. “I would destroy worlds for you, you are my absolute everything,” he said with a dopey smile on his face.

Bruce grinned and sucked a soft mark onto Danny’s throat, knowing it would heal before the morning. Danny giggled at his ministrations and wrapped his legs around Bruce’s waist, practically hanging from him as they continued their silly, teenage style makeout session on the sofa. 

This was the life Bruce thought to himself as he dipped down to kiss Danny one more time, listening to the moans that slipped from his husband’s mouth. 

…

“Jesus Christ, did he throw an octopus at you?” Jason asked when Bruce and Danny walked down to the batcave later that night, happy smiles on both of their faces. 

Danny just beamed at him and slid into his seat at the batcomputer. Danny had decided that while he didn’t want to do the vigilante stuff, he did have fun being the man behind the computer with Oracle. The two had a great time together, too. They talked about life and marriage and relationships. 

Barb was thinking about proposing to Dick for their anniversary and Danny was all for the idea. He had thought the two were the cutest couple ever and loved the idea of them being married. 

It also made him reminiscent on his own wedding with Bruce. 

He had been thinking about it for quite some time now but he was thinking about asking his husband if he wanted to do a vow renewal for their one year anniversary so that their friends and family could actually be in attendance. Now that he had gotten to know his kids and pseudo kids he wanted them to be a part of the wedding. He wanted to show the world who his amazing, strong, and beautiful husband was. He wanted to proclaim to the Infinite Realms that Bruce Wayne was his husband and consort. 

Bruce still hadn’t really thought about what that meant yet, his husband still hadn’t done much to acknowledge the fact that he was married to the King of the Infinite Realms. It was going to be interesting when he realized that. 

There were a lot of things they needed to figure out but the last year and a half of dating then being married had been an absolute whirlwind. Bruce knew that his soul and his lifeline was connected to Danny’s now but they still hadn’t really talked about what exactly that meant, it was probably a necessary conversation for them to have eventually. Maybe during his nightly gossip session with Barb they could talk about it and what it meant for the family. Danny had gotten attached to his children and the idea of watching them die had his core aching. 

He was tempted to offer each of them immortality but he wasn’t sure if they’d take it or know what that really meant. Some saw immortality as a curse, others saw it as a blessing. Danny himself was rather neutral about it. He had gone for so long refusing to get close to anyone for fear of losing them at some point in life, he didn’t know if he would be able to handle seeing it happen to his kids. He didn’t know how Bruce would handle that considering how he had reacted after Jason’s death. 

From what Bruce and the kids had disclosed regarding the situation it hadn’t been pretty that was for sure. 

“No, but your father is amazing at making love,” Danny answered his son as he sent Barb an amused smile through the monitors. Barb was currently in her set up in the Clocktower across town but the two would be gossiping all night as soon as the vigilantes were gone. 

“Stop,” Dick cried out, covering his ears as Tim and Duke let out twin gagging noises. Danny just smirked and waved the vigilante’s off before he put on his headset and smiled at Barb. 

“So, did you see the news?” She asked conversationally before they launched into conversation.

Danny grinned. “It’s such a shame what happened to Joker, isn’t it?” He asked with a hum as he watched Bruce head in one direction with Damian as the others split off for their own missions. Duke took a seat beside Danny, though and put on a headset. 

“Mind if I join you guys for your gossip session?” He asked with a grin. 

Danny beamed. “Of course! I was just about to ask Barb her opinions on something but I’d love to hear your thoughts as well.”

Duke grinned and nodded his head before Danny launched into his immortality spiel and how he was scared about losing his kids and what it meant for Bruce to be married to him and how he didn’t know if it would be rude to offer immortality to his children or if it would be healthier to allow them to age and grow old and die like normal people did. 

Duke let out a hum. “I don’t know about the others but personally? I’d be okay with just dying and coming back as a ghost. I don’t think I’ve really thought too much about my mortality and what it would mean to die. I mean the profession we’re in, there’s always a chance we die on the job,” Duke said and looked at Danny. “That would be hard for you, huh? To see that happen to one of us.”

The ghost king gave him a pained look and nodded his head once. “You have no idea. I had to watch my entire family die along with my ex spouses who wanted to move on. It was one of the hardest things I had to go through. I don’t know if I could stand seeing it happening to my kids but I can’t be selfish and force you all into immortality with me.”

“Is that something you can grant?” Barb asked curiously through the comms. 

“Of course. I would just do for you all what I did for Bruce when we got married. Your soul would be tied to my core. You’d be essentially a halfa after a while and wouldn’t die unless I was destroyed.”

“I think I wouldn’t mind living forever,” Barb mused from across the monitors as she rested her head on her hand and thought about it. “It’d give me the chance to see so much and do so much and that’d be pretty nice. I know most of my life is committed to being a part of the bats but to one day do something else and not feel guilty for it? It’d be nice. Dick and I would get to have so much time together.”

Duke hummed as he thought it over. “Right now, if you saw me mortally wounded, I would want you to bring me back. I’m not ready to die just yet.”

Danny tilted his head to the side as he thought about it. “I could always put my protection on all of you and if you change your mind later and decide you want to move on, I can rescind it,” he thought out loud. 

“I think that’d be great,” Barb said with a smile. “Just a sprinkle of immortality for each of us until we’re ready.”

A sprinkle of immortality. Danny liked that. 

Chapter Text

“Alright Dad,” Dick said, hands firmly pressed over Danny’s eyes as he led him through to the gardens of the manor where everyone was already waiting on them. “No cheating.”

“I’m not!” Danny whined, trying not to trip over anything. He didn’t know what the hell was going on. Dick had just ordered him to put on a tux and then started shoving him out of the manor. “Dick, what on earth are you and your father planning? I have to finish-”

“Nope. Bruce wants to take you on a nice date but you have to humor us,” Dick said and Danny narrowed his eyes beneath Dick’s hands. His son was a terrible liar, something was going on and he was going to strangle his family if they didn’t stop acting all weird and secretive about it.

“Can you just tell me-”

“No, Dad. Just suck it up and go along with it,” Dick ordered before he finally finished leading Danny to wherever they were supposed to be going. He uncovered Danny’s eyes and the ghost gasped.

The gardens had been completely redone. There were rows of chairs with guest sitting in them. Members of all parts of the Justice League, members of Danny’s court, his sisters, everyone he loved were sitting in the crowd or standing beside Bruce at the front. 

Bruce. 

Danny’s eyes fell on him and a small smile grew on his face as his core fluttered. His husband stood nervously at the end of the aisle with his hands folded in front of him, standing in front of Clockwork himself under a large arch of flowers. The kids stood on either side, along with Dani and Jazz who wore gorgeous black dresses and held lillies in their hands as they smiled at their brother. 

“A wedding?” He gasped, staring at everything and then looked at Bruce and a disbelieving laugh slipped out of his mouth. “But we’re-”

“Renewing your vows,” Dick told him and held out an elbow. “Now come on, you guys promised Alfie you’d have another wedding that we could al be here for.”

Danny nodded and took his eldest son’s arm and allowed him to lead the way to Bruce at the end of the aisle. The man who held his core in the palms of his hands. The man who Danny loved more than anything in the world. 

The Prettiest star Danny had ever seen. 

He smiled and took the first step towards his forever.