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It’s Gotham, every few weeks a new crazy thing will come out of the woodwork and absolutely flip their shit. Tim logically knows he should be used to this song and dance of ‘ohhh wow there’s a new villain in town’ already but… what the hell is this…
He can tell it's killing the rest of his family by the way they’re pulling at their hair staring at these files–and for good reason too.
Well, reasons.
Reason Number One: New entities have been found appearing around Gotham and wreaking havoc, and usually this would not be an issue. The standard protocol would be Batman calling out a team to capture and interrogate these entities, to find out things like: motives, cause for appearance in Gotham, powers and abilities, allegiances, etc.
These things seem to drop some sort of substance similar to Lazarus pit and the fact they're moving around Gotham with this stuff coming off them is really worrying. The best option would be communicating with them and maybe conducting a few experiments so that Gotham civilians would be safe if that goop really was harmful.
But the thing is, they can’t manage to catch any! Jason calls them simply ‘slippery bastards’ while Dick calls them a colorful array of names that tend to be more colorful than the actual entities themselves–because well, they’re translucent.
And after hours of image processing the Waynes’ discovered that— drumroll please! They cannot tell what the hell those things are. The images are all blurry static messes which are real fun for people who are desperate for clues and answers because it provides basically none to their questions and in fact, raises more questions.
So yeah, they're doing awesome. Stellar. Finding the new bad and having to come to terms with that after a week of full hands-on-deck work they’ve learned pretty much nothing about the creatures destroying their home aside from what they can gauge with their own two eyes makes them feel so great. Totally fine, not panicking whatsoever.
And it wouldn’t be fun if there wasn’t another ordeal that came with it!
Reason Number Two: The bats can't do anything to these entities, can barely even find them on time–but there's a new player in the field whose been sweeping up these creatures for them without a trace or notes of themselves aside from the sighting of someone ‘Floating in a hazmat suit’ which could be complete bullshit considering the guy who told them this seemed to be dazed and out of it (possibly drunk).
So while yes this person has been helping them quite a bit with this… problem. They aren’t sure where this person stands with the Bats.
Does their mysterious hero hate them? Like them?
Are they cautious about civilians? Do they want to protect the regular people? Would they like to work with the Bats or do they fly more solo?
“What is that person like?”
“What abilities do they have?”
“Are they dangerous?”
This is an unforeseen completely new variable that the Bats are unsure how to approach
Running this all down in his head makes Tim even more frustrated than before. The sleep-deprived young man slams his head down and hopes he gets enough brain damage to use as an excuse to go to bed and– wow this is the first time he’s ever wanted to not work on a case and wanted to go to bed. New day for everything huh?
Tim’s this close ripping up some of the mediocrely ‘filled up’ documents on this case, setting the shreds on fire, and dancing on its ashes all in front of his family
He’s replaying the ‘wiggle wiggle’ he’ll do for the 5th time in his head before a ring at the door makes him perk up instantly, saving him from getting a lifetime sentence for arson.
Tim bounces toward the door–maybe it’s the new pens he ordered, or the camera lens his favorite shop said they were sending his way as a gift, or maybe—
He twists the door open and is greeted by his brother, Duke, who has his arms full with “Thank You” plastic bags and a cup holder carton full of drinks
A little dismayed at the sight of no package, Tim greets his brother with a pleasant smile nonetheless, thankful for a distraction away from the hell of a family work meeting.
“Woah, where have you been Duke?” Tim tilts his head holding the door open for Duke to slide inside and walks with him back to the Batcave's conference table (which is more like a dining table you do math homework at)
“Caught up with an old friend who came for a visit at a cafe, on the way we stopped by a bodega and I got some snacks for you guys.” Duke grins plopping the bag on the wooden table
Dick’s and Cass’ eyes which were previously fogged with frustration and annoyance have lighted up entirely at the sight of chocolate chip cookies, Dick chips his thanks while Cass smiles gleefully at Duke.
Damian seems to wind down considerably as well as he snatches the corn pops and sends a grateful glare at Duke (no one knows how he sends so much gratitude through such angry eyes)
Steph cheers snatching up the sour worms with a, “Thank you!” and Jason takes the beef jerky with a muffled, “Thanks!”
“Oh yeah,” Duke holds out two coffees toward Tim, “Went to a cafe, remember?”
Tim has changed his mind, nothing is better than the delivery of coffee! Duke has been officially moved up the favorite brother ranking, reclaiming his spot in #1 after Jason’s brief stint there for helping him get back at Bruce for being, well, Bruce.
Tim greedily accepts the coffee–he’s not an affectionate person per-say but he completely wraps him up in a hug with a big smile, “Thank you so much!”
Duke smiles goodnaturedly and hands the last coffee in his cup holder to a pleased Bruce, “No problem! You guys looked like you needed it.”
For a few minutes, they settle down peacefully content just indulging in the treats.
Then Duke pops the question
“So, what are you guys researching?” He asks raising a brow to the papers littered all over the room
Collectively the entire room groans as Duke absentmindedly picks up a paper on the table with the failed, static over-run image.
“We don't know!” Steph bemoans frustrated
Tim starts, “There are new entities–”
“Creatures.” Bruce corrects
Tim casts a piercing glance at his father, “I am pretty sure those are entities. Eye witness reports state that they look fairly human-like–”
Bruce challenges him right back, “Eye witness reports were also very likely to be unfactual, they seemed partially intoxicated. It’s more likely they are some kind of mutated animal.”
His son’s teeth grit, “Even so we still can’t rule out–”
“Oh right, the ghosts are back in town,” Duke's comments, gaze absorbed in the static image
Silence drowns the room as their weary eyes blink at Duke, processing what he had just said.
Then it clicks
“R-repeat that?” Tim stares intensely at Duke
“Um, the ghosts are back? That's what these are.” Duke nervously replies confused, “It’s been a bit since they visited Gotham
Tim opens and closes his mouth, immensely struggling to find any words to say. It seems like the rest of his family is fairing no better, some of them letting out noises of surprise and shock with others trying to hear if they heard that sentence right.
“There used to be ghosts in Gotham?” Bruce says incredulously
“Yeah?” Duke tilts his head, “I mean they don’t like living here with the corrupt ectoplasm but I’m friends with a few ghosts?”
Jason springs on him with wide eyes, “What are ghosts like, personality-wise?”
Duke thinks and responds with the first thought that comes to mind, “Fickle, they can be super friendly or super destructive. They do whatever they’re in the mood to.”
“Are they aggressive?”
“Sure? Sometimes?” Duke blinks at them bewildered before a petty smile crosses his lips, “They can be, hmm, commanding .”
Dicks eyes turn cold and protective, “What–”
“Listen guys,” Duke backs away from the discussion going with his internal task list in mind, “I gotta go wrap up putting together all my documents for my topic on my science fair project so uh, see-ya!”
The second youngest bounces out of the cave and the rest of the family stare dumbstruck at him.
New entities (ghosts?) pop up in Gotham + Duke describes them as fickle and commanding =
Duke is being made to do things for Ghosts who can be kind and cruel = …
Duke is being bullied by Ghosts?!
Not on their Bat-watch!
Damian is already sharpening his ‘not murder tools’, Tim has sprung into research on the bat computer and the rest of the family have already dipped into Gotham ready to search for these perps!
Paranoid Family #1 will help Duke’s ghost problem starting now!
*Approximately at 9 in the morning, hours before the bat family meeting*
Duke blearily blinks at the message that popped up on his phone, half awake.
Today was Saturday and his science teacher sent him home with a buttload of assignments the previous night that he tried, (And failed) to conquer. Today he woke up feeling exhausted and drained, even a well-rested night couldn't help him
The day before Tim had texted the ‘BatChat’ and announced Bruce said all patrol would be put on hold as he said something about ‘Strange Entities in Gotham’ and a meeting that would be called to discuss and research the problem that popped up.
And listen he’s all for spending time with his family but, these are just not really his thing. He’s not exactly a detective at heart like the rest of them and oftentimes prefers to just go out and examine stuff on cases than sit down with a ton of files and clues.
The Waynes respect that, he discussed alternatives to being there with Bruce and he agreed with his ideas–So yeah, he’s not required in these meetings thank god, and can just come and go as he pleases but,
He’s still dead tired from last night.
Late-night patrol mixed with a ton of school work makes him feel like he's been zapped by a great powerful energy-sucking ray. So he closes his eyes once more this morning, he can sleep in–
Beep! Beep!
He groans and picks up his phone
MrSpooks: DUKE
MrSpooks: DUKEEEE
MrSpooks: I’m in Gotham for the week!
MrSpooks: We are gonna meet up at the Cafe on the corner of 7th
Duke rolls his eyes but an involuntary smile works his way up his face nonetheless
Bumblebee: Woah commanding much?
Bumblebee: What makes you think i'm gonna do that ~your highness~
MrSpooks: Ew
MrSpooks: Dont ever call me that again
MrSpooks: Or use the ‘~’
MrSpooks: Also you’ll go because you love me and we’re besties for all eternity
Bumblebee: sigh, unfortunately
MrSpooks: Be there at 10 :)
Bumblebee: Kkay :)
Duke smiles throwing on a fresh t-shirt and heading into the bathroom with a reinvigorated positive attitude. His phone beep! ’s as he leaves it on his bed
MrSpooks: Oh by the way I have a bit of an ,,energy presence,,
MrSpooks: So some ghosts have been popping up here and there in Gotham
MrSpooks: Don’t worry too much about it though, I’ve been cleanin them up quickly so that there isn’t any panic!!
MrSpooks: I mean you can barely see these guys, the people here will be fine and won't lose their minds over them
MrSpooks: Probably
*It's been 10 minutes since Duke dropped that bombshell and left to do his school work.*
They are absolutely losing their minds.
“Oh my god ghosts are real…” Stephanie mutters to herself for the 5th time
Dick holds his head in his hands, “My baby brother is being bullied by the paranormal.”
Tim tenses, “Maybe it’s just a hoax? I mean g-ghosts aren't real, when people die they stay dead…”
Jason barks at him, “Hey!”
“Oh sorry,” Tim starts, “When normal people die they stay dead.”
“I’m plenty normal!” Jason hisses, they ignore him
“Does that mean Todd is a ghost?” Damian quirks a curious brow
“Dude,” Jason says offended, “I wish! Look at me, you can see me, I’m not a ghost.”
Cass cuts in, “Perhaps, half -ghost?”
Jason rolls his eyes, “That's definitely not a thing.”
She narrows her eyes in silent disagreement while Jason goes back to eating jerky with a pout.
“I think we are overlooking one big thing here guys!” Tim cuts through their side conversations, “New dangerous entities have appeared in Gotham, are possibly sentient, and also might be bothering our baby brother.”
The air clears as they all focus on Tim’s words
“We need to find out information about these Ghosts if we want to protect Duke and Gotham! Now is the time to work–it's not like someone will be there to help when it gets really dangerous!” Tim stresses
Their eyes light up at the uncomfortable realization, now is the time they have to get down to business, these ghosts are threatening their home and they need to crack down now.