Chapter Text
As the others had been talking Frostbite turned from the analyzer to Bruce, “You are his father?”
“Yes, I adopted Jason when he was younger. Why did you suspect that?”
“The Great One mentioned you were all family but I based it more on how his ectoplasm is reacting to your presence. I admit some surprise that your connection is via adoption and not blood. The link between you and his ectoplasm is extremely well formed. Your presence is causing the ectoplasm to react. This may prove useful in his treatment.”
“For the cracked core? Isn’t that what the obsession treatment is about?”
“The playing to his obsessions is to treat the crack, the problem I am looking at now is that there are impurities in his ectoplasm. He was exposed to some sort of tainted ectoplasm and it has infected his core. It would be best to heal his core before treating the infection.”
Bruce glared at the analyzer, which the read out was completely indecipherable to him, “If there is an infection wouldn’t it be best to remove that before healing up the crack? Wouldn’t it be easier to get to the infection now?”
“Easier yes, but the crack may be stable right now but if we start filtering his ectoplasm it would possibly stress his core so it would be best to heal him, and have him recover from that before we place the additional stress on his currently damaged core.”
“When will you be able to treat it?”
“It all depends on the rate he heals. Gotham has a higher level of natural ectoplasm than most of the places in the mortal world and with the number of spirits that care for him he should heal enough to regain normal activity within a week. I would want to wait for a month before starting the filtering treatment. It will be similar to kidney dialysis.”
“How long would he need treatment?”
“It depends on how the toxin responds to treatment; I am not familiar with this toxin. Without knowing more about the toxin, I cannot say.”
Bruce frowned, “Would this toxin be similar to the color of Jason’s eyes currently?”
“Most likely.”
“There are these pools of water called Lazarus Pits, they can revive someone near death to full health but have an effect on the individual’s minds. Jason was placed into one of these pits after he was taken by Talia to the Parada Nara after he reanimated.”
“Hm,” Frostbite scratched his chin, “When he was removed from Gotham did his health deteriorate in any way? Or maybe he became more obsessive?”
Bruce blinked, “Talia says he appeared to be brain damaged, that he reacted to outside stimulus but that was it.”
“Outside stimuli?”
“Talia mostly spoke of his reactions to being attacked as extremely skilled but he would also follow simple commands such as follow, eat, sit, and similar things.”
Frostbite nodded, “That would make sense… did this woman have positive thoughts for Jason?”
“She initially… collected him, in an effort to win my favor. Her initial plan was to heal him and give him back to buy into my good favor, but she says as time progressed, she came to see him as her own son as well. When her father ordered Jason dealt with, since he was showing no sign of improvement she went against his orders and placed Jason in one of the pits hoping it would revive him.”
“I am guessing it worked as he is here with us today.”
“Yes, it cured his brain damage and healed him from the effects of his malnutrition as a child, but it infected him with something called ‘Pit Rage’ where he goes into a period of extreme anger and typically attacks something violently. He spent time after emerging from the pit learning different dangerous skills from different teachers and eventually came back to Gotham which is when he cut off the heads of eight drug lieutenants, placed them in a duffle bag and used this to take over most of the drug trade in… his area of Gotham.”
“This action won him possession of the area?”
“Yes, why?”
“He was securing his haunt. Such an action would be expected, I would not be surprised if he was more violent than even was typical of him before and after that time due to suddenly entering an area with sufficient ambient ectoplasm to support his needs. Those pits most likely contain a type of corrupted ectoplasm, which with Jason’s starving ectoplasmic system he absorbed into himself. Filtering out the toxins will most likely take some time if he went from an almost empty ectoplasmic system to completely filled with the corrupted ectoplasm.”
Danny walked over to the pair, “Is there anything else we can do for Jason right now? We have Tim and Damian helping soothe the Robin obsession and uh, Barbara is preparing a video of the bombs that were in the school being disarmed for him to watch next.”
Frostbite shook his head, “We do not want to move too fast. There is a risk of further upsetting his core if we approach too many of his obsessions at once. I believe we should see how Jason reacts to the Robin situation and video before making further plans.”
“TT.” Damian scowled at the board, it was obvious that he was losing, and not just by the smirk on Tim’s face as he leaned his chin on his hands as his elbows rested on the table.
“Your play Damian.”
Glaring at the board Damian knocked his king over, “I will not continue when it is obvious that I have lost. You,” Damian grit his teeth, “Win. Another game then? If we are to cure Todd I must gain your approval to be Robin.”
Tim sat back chuckling, “No need, you passed.”
Damian stared at him, “But I lost!”
“That wasn’t what I needed you to do to pass my test.”
“Then what could I have done that you would say I passed? You better not be doing this out of some sort of ill typed pity Drake.”
“It’s not pity, my challenge wasn’t to see if you won or not, it actually would have been awkward if you had won the match.”
“I was meant to lose? How does that prove anything?”
“You admitted you lost.”
“What?”
“Something you have a problem with is admitting defeat. Over the years I’ve seen you keep going in fights or other challenges even after you realized you would be unable to succeed. An important part of being a hero is recognizing when something you’re attempting isn’t working so you can reassess and continue on a new path more likely to succeed. That’s one of the major things, along with your arrogance, that made me not think you were ready to be Robin. So congrats, I officially declare you, Damian, my successor.”
Tim turned to look at Jason and then the rest of the group as Damian crossed his arms and grumbled, “Fine, by admitting my loss Drake has declared me a worthy Robin in his view. Was this useful?”
Danny tilted his head to the side, “He’s putting off less ectoplasm, and looks less agitated so I think it did, is the video ready?”
In response Cass tapped on the cell window wall and pointed at the screen where a video had started playing. Jason’s eyes followed her hand to stare at the screen, as he watched his shoulders dropped, his fists loosened and slowly his eyes went from a bright glowing green to his now normal blue-green color.
As the video kept going Jason shook his head and glanced around the cell confused, “What the hell? What am I doing in the holding cell? And what’s with the damage?”
Dick grinned as he ran to hit the numbers on the keypad to open the door, “You got hit with a major pit rage episode, those dents are all you.”
Jason looked down at his knuckles as he stepped out of the room, “Huh. So… who’s the Yeti? And the new kid? B didn’t go adopting anyone while I was out of it right?”
Danny blinked, “Adoption? And I’m actually nineteen, not a kid.”
Jason blinked down at Danny as he got closer, before glancing up at Frostbite, “Okay not a kid, what’s up with the Yeti?”
Frostbite smiled, “I am Frostbite young halfa, I am a doctor that was called after the Great One recognized you were being affected by a cracked core.”
“Okay, I need you to back up and explain basically all of what you just said.”
“Understandable young one. I am told you are aware that you died and came back to life.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed but he nodded.
“What occurred when you revived was a special circumstance that has only happened, as far as our records indicate, twice before. Although you are the first case where technology was not directly involved.”
Cass blinked, “You said four.”
“Yes, young Danni’s situation is also unique due to her stabilization as a halfa was created from the Great One’s mid-transformation ecto-DNA.”
“Great One?”
Danny waved, “Name’s Danny Fenton or Phantom depending on the situation, but I defeated this guy called Paria Dark and ever since then the yeti of the Far Frozen call me Great One no matter how many times I’ve asked them to just call me Danny.”
“Wait Danni and Danny?” Jason blinked, “Are you siblings with unfortunate uncreative parents or is this a clone situation?”
Danny blinked, “Um she’s my clone… how did you figure that out?”
“TT.” Damian rolled his eyes, “It is obvious. Frostbite said there are four of these halfas now and that two were caused by technology. Since he expresses some surprise that a halfa was created without technology it is clear that she must have also had an origin in technology. With halfa’s being so unique the most likely cause of another person coming to be a halfa, especially one needing a special kind of DNA for stabilization, would be a clone.”
Danny looked around the door and each of the Bats was nodding, “Okay… that’s rather scary that apparently all of you figured that out.”
Constantine snorted, “They’re all Bats, all of them are bloody detectives. I swear they can look at you and know everything you’ve ever done.”
Steph grinned, “What did you think of waffles you had this morning? I’m always looking for new waffle stores.”
He jumped as Cass appeared beside him, “Seven cigarettes.”
“They were eggos out of my toaster and stop showing up like that before I shoot a spell at you.”
“Miss.”
“Just because you’d manage to dodge doesn’t mean whoever might be standing behind you would!”
Cass blinked and pointed directly behind her, “Wall.”
“I’m going to go have my eight through twelfth cigarettes if you don’t mind!” Constantine started to storm towards the stairs out of the cave, knowing better than to light up in the cave, before pausing for a moment, “Actually you still need me King-ling or can I go somewhere a Bat won’t pop up and scare me half ta, oh you know what I mean.”
Danny, as well as most of the others laughed, “Yeah Const, we're good, thanks for sticking around this long.”
Constantine waved and with a word formed a new portal for himself and went to find somewhere calmer to catch a smoke, maybe in hell.
Jason snorted, turning back to Frostbite, “Alright you were talking about me coming back and this has something to do with me apparently being a halfa?”
“Yes,” Frostbite nodded, “When you came back the ambient ectoplasm in the city of Gotham caused you to become a halfa. Whatever caused you to come back would have most likely only worked with the ectoplasm binding your developing core into your revived body.”
“My what?”
“Core, it is an integral part of a ghost, you were on your way to develop into a full ghost, a strong one, when the revival triggered your body and core to combine and end up with your revival.”
“Okay, what’s it mean that I’m a halfa and what proof do you have?”
“Actually,” Danny held out his hand, “The proof will be pretty simple, and it’s the next step in treating your core. Just hold my hands and I’ll help you transform for the first time. It should seal up the crack. It will help with the pain you're currently feeling in the middle of your chest.”
Jason narrowed his eyes, “How do you know I’m feeling any pain?”
“Cracked cores hurt but once you get them closed it’s like stretching your entire self. My, well, Vlad cracked his core and he was screaming in pain, said it was the worst pain he’d ever felt and Frostbite said that was normal. So if you could grab my hands I can lead you through the transformation and the crack will seal and relieve the pain you must be feeling.”
“It’s not that bad, I’ve had far worse than this but sure why not.” Jason took a hold of Danny’s hands.
Danny smiled, “Okay it’s easier to control the change if you use a kind of trigger word or phrase so this time I’m going to use the one I used when I first became a halfa to help you recognize when the change starts so you have a better idea on how to choose to change. So Going Ghost!”
As a circle appeared around Danny’s stomach as a more complex shape formed around Jason and when Danny’s rings flowed down his body Jason’s symbol actually pivoted vertically and much faster than Danny’s rings flipped over Jason’s body.
Danny let go of Jason’s hands as he blinked down at his hands, which were covered in dark red gloves, the color that he used for his bat symbol. Looking down his body he realized the black and red of his armor switched places, the bat symbol now black. His normally brown coat was now a dark gray.
Looking around the room he could tell he was wearing his helmet, which was annoying, shaking his head he lifted his hands to remove the helmet only for it to disappear as he thought to remove it. Out of the corner of his eye he could see his hair now a bright white, “Oh fuck no.” Glaring at the hair he watched as it turned black.
“That’s just not fair.” Jason turned his attention to Danny who was floating across from him to get to his eye level, “It took me years to figure out I could change my appearance.”
Frostbite chuckled, “There are benefits to being both an adult and having a vision of what your alternative form would look like,” He turned to Jason, “Now Red Hood would you please remove your eye covering? Your eye color can be a sign of the status of your health.”
Focusing on what he did with his helmet he thought of removing his domino without moving his hands.
“Thank you. Hm,” Frostbite leaned in closer, Jason not moving even as the giant Yeti leaned into his personal room, “Your eyes are red but I don’t believe it is a sign of the corrupted ectoplasm. I believe you naturally are meant to have dark red eyes, although the specks of green in your eyes are alarming. Once you have recovered from resealing your core it would be best to start with aggressive ectoplasmic filtering.”
“Filtering? Why does my... ectoplasm need filtering?”
“I believe your father referred to your exposure to a corrupted and thus toxic ectoplasm source as a Lazarus Pit.”
“Great that things still fucking with me. Can I change back now? Alfred will be annoyed if I go up like this and I’m really hungry.”
Danny nodded, “Did you feel your core when I helped you through the change? Try to focus on that and changing it back to how it was before.”
Nodding Jason felt for the flash of heat and felt it flash again and felt himself seem to get heavier. Blinking, he opened his eyes and he looked around the room, “Well that’s weird, but I’m starving, can we save further explanations till after I get some of Alfie’s food in me?”
Frostbite nodded, “It would be best to consume both food and ectoplasm as you recover. I would like a new sample of your blood to compare with the previous sample to further my study of your ectoplasm to best figure out when we can start the filtration treatment.”
“Sample?”
“Blood would be optimal.”
Jason grimaced, “You really need it?”
“Yes.”
“Fuck fine,” Jason held out his arm, “Take it so I can go get something to eat.”
Frostbite carefully slid the needle into Jason’s arm and withdrew a single vial of blood, “Very good. Now, Great One, can you get him a glass of nutritional ectoplasm to consume before he starts on human food?”
Creating a glass out of ice Danny stuck his hand out and pushed it through a hole he formed and after waiting a moment pulling it back and handing it to Jason, “It’s like a smoothie, I can’t really describe the taste but it’s not bad.”
Jason accepted the glass staring at the ice, “Interesting glass.”
“I have the ability to control ice. It's an ability I gained well after I developed my other powers.”
“So I might get something like this?”
Danny nodded, “Possibly, it depends on if you have an elemental core or not.”
Shrugging Jason tipped the glass up and drank it in one go, looking at the now empty glass Jason ran his tongue around his mouth, “Yeah that tastes strange. A really good strange, but definitely strange.” Looking up he swore, “Fuck! When did you get here?”
All of the bats blinked as Jason looked at someone they couldn’t see. Dick frowned, “Jason?”
Danny gave an awkward laugh, “Uh, the whole time? She’s one of the spirits that reside in Gotham. With you starting to get proper amounts of ectoplasm in your system you will probably be able to see more of them. The stronger they are the easier it is to see them. It will also be easier to see them inside your haunt as your ectoplasm in the air will allow them to pull themselves into your view.”
“Right…” Jason moved his head towards the stairs to the cave, “I’m going to go get something to eat and then think about all of this.”
Frostbite hummed as he looked at his machine, “When the little one reforms, he should have another glass or two.”
Jason looked at him, “Little?”
Danny laughed, “He’s talking about the blob ghost.”
“What blob ghost?”
Smiling Danny held out his hand towards Jason and made a becoming motion, Jason stared as a pair of floating eyes flew out of his stomach and over to hover over Danny’s hand, “Blob ghosts are the best way to consume ectoplasm.” Danny glanced down at where the eyes were bobbing in the air, “This one really wants to go again, apparently you feel fuzzy.”
“Fuzzy?”
Damian blinked at the ghost, “Is Todd eating an actual creature? That seems…”
“Yeah,” Jason looked at the yes, “That seems a bit weird even to me. I mean I’m not a vegetarian like the Demon Brat but eating something that is apparently able to tell you I feel… fuzzy seems really not kosher.”
Danny shrugged as a green glow started forming around the eyes, “Blob ghost like being eaten. We remove most of the ectoplasm they’ve built up so they can go back to flying around collecting more which is what they enjoy doing. They actually get sad if no one will remove the excess ectoplasm. I’m going to put him back in the zone and grab him back once he’s had a chance to run around.” Danny pushed the eyes back through the portal, dropping the glass in as well so he didn’t get the ground of the cave wet when he let it melt. “Do you think I can get something to eat as well? I was about to go eat lunch when Const called.”
Dick slid up beside him and pulled Danny into his side, “Sure! Alfred will have more than enough for all of us, he probably somehow already knows you’re here. Now come on, I want to hear more about what Little Wing should expect. I think Alfie will let the shop talk go this time.”
With that everyone but Bruce headed up into the mansion, where Danny would sigh about being in another mansion, and headed to get something to eat.
As everyone, minus Danny, stared at how much food Jason managed to eat, Danny explained more about halfas and what to expect. When he went to grab the blob ghost back to get more ectoplasm for Jason several blobs fell out of the portal.
Apparently the first blob had told their friends about the fuzzy eater. Which led into a debate about whether eating blob ghosts counted as cannibalism for ghosts, and partially for halfas, as they are made of ectoplasm. Danny was surprised when Damian threw a blade at Tim who merely grabbed it and flung it back at Damian. This of course stopped as suddenly as it started at Alfred’s light cough.