Chapter Text
When Bruce felt a dangerous presence approaching the medbay, it wasn’t just the subtle sixth sense he’d acquired after years of training and experience. He felt it as if someone had grabbed his heart out of his chest and dragged it across fifty miles of granite. He shivered, colder than he’d ever been before, recognizing the familiar chill of death brushing against his soul.
Bruce sat up on the medical cot, backing up desperately into the wall behind him without any control over the action. His hands were trembling as he tried to protectively wrap his arms around himself. He hadn’t ever had a reaction like this. The only thing that came close were the worst nights of Scarecrow’s fear gas, and still then, it wasn’t this… visceral.
The other heroes in the room shared the same reaction. No. It was worse. The other members in the room hadn’t had Batman’s mental training or quite the same experiences in facing unexplained horrors. Most had momentarily passed out or at least fallen to the floor, many gave shrieks of horror, and those few who could move were pathetically trying to crawl away. Though he had been in the suit just a second ago, Green Lantern had transformed back into his civilian form, the ring refusing to activate. There were various dents in the wall from various superheroes who had super strength that jumped back in shock.
Something that squelched was dragging on the floor outside, along with steady footsteps. It must’ve been right in the hallway, yet no shadow appeared on the walls. Instead, there was a pulsing glow. Following the light source with his eyes, he looked up at the figure and saw void-void-void-void-
Shaking his head and trying to calm his erratic breathing by going through his usual breathing exercises and meditation, he closed his eyes and focused them again on the one superhero who wasn’t affected, standing right by the alien(?)–monster(?)–demon(?)’s side without any fear whatsoever. In fact, he seemed like he had been the one to lead it, whatever it was, here.
Letting out a shaky breath, Bruce tightened his hands into fists, not to prepare for combat. Rather, fearing that if he let go, he would fall unconscious. He hadn’t lost this much agency over his own reactions in a long time. Had the creature taken advantage of Billy to get into the Watchtower? Had he been tricked? Threatened? Mind-controlled–?
How could he have let this happen? Bruce knew Captain Marvel would always be in danger; it came with the title. But why did it have to be a child? A child that didn’t deserve to carry that responsibility?
The child in question had never complained, though. He always took his duties in stride, never backing down. Bruce had once asked Billy if he really wanted to be in the Justice League, risking his life. Reminding him of a certain tenacious circus kid, Billy had said that he would be saving lives whether he had the support of the Justice League or not. Bruce knew what the kid was signing up for. And now he had a chance to witness it. Even though he said that he would be able to help when this time came…
The Justice League didn’t seem like they would be able to help. But the other one might.
Bruce sent a distress signal to the Justice League Dark with shaky fingers. Swallowing, he also decided to send one to Jason just in case the creature really was supernatural.
Refocusing on the doorway, Bruce noticed Billy wasn’t looking at the superheroes. They hadn’t even entered the medbay yet or spared it a glance, instead staring straight ahead rather than left. What were they looking at?
His eyes widened when he saw a suit of bright yellow armor show up from the other side of the doorway, right in front of the being. Captain Marvel seemed to be saying something, but his mind threatened to shatter when he tried to eavesdrop. He opened his mouth to give a warning to leave, ask for help, or anything, but his words choked up before he could even form them in his head. No –why was Duke here? Not his son–!
-
Duke strolled up to the two of them and waved. “Oh, hey, what a coincidence! I was just trying to text you. Wanna play some Overwatch with me and–” He paused, tilting his head up and down, then from side to side. “What’s up with the light? I’m used to it, but, like, did it get bigger? I can’t even see the end of this hallway. Could you tone it down a bit?”
Billy turned to Danny. <What’s he talking about?>
<He can see my core with his powers. It’s probably going haywire from all the power that this form has and I can’t control it. Could you translate for me?>
<Yeah, sure.>
“It’s Captain Marvel here, since I’m assuming you can’t see me, and he wanted me to say that he can’t control his core cause he got stuck in his summoning form or something.”
“Oh. Hey, Captain! Uh, that sounds inconvenient. Does that mean you have a ton of power then? Is that why you have so much…aura?” He managed to keep a straight face until Danny let out a few trills, remembering Damian, of all people, spamming him with aura memes after he heard about Danny’s core from Duke. It was stupid, but that’s why it was funny. The first time Damian sent him a Gen Alpha meme, he had to double check the contact three times before he believed it was actually the child assassin texting him at that moment.
Billy snickered as well. “Hi. Apparently he’s the ruler of an entire dimension and didn’t even tell us, can you believe it?”
“I’m just not gonna question that right now. Sounds cool though. How were you summoned, though? Does that just happen ?”
<Well, not that often. Someone just got lucky with the setup. Anyways, what was he saying–? > He stopped talking when Billy nudged one of his tentacles. < Hm?>
“Don’t you think that we should explain to, um, them?”
Danny and Duke followed Billy’s line of sight, staring at the superheroes huddled against the far wall of the medbay trembling. Not in a million years did Danny think he would ever see Batman trying to inch away from him in fear, even when he was somehow still using a watered-down version of his bat-glare.
<Oops.> Danny immediately tried to suppress his power as much as he could. When his power was as uncontrolled as in his summoning form, people around him could feel like they were passing through a ghost. It only seemed to terrify people if they didn’t know who he was, though, and the effect diminished the more the person knew about his real form, allowing them to stay comfortable in his presence like Sam, Tucker, and the two teens beside him at the moment. He wasn’t really sure how it worked.
Duke turned to them. “Wait, what happened to B?! Why's most of the Justice League in the medbay?”
“There was this wizard the Justice League was chasing, and he somehow kept activating these super powerful ancient spells to knock them all out–which I’m sure was a fluke or something that sapped lifeforce, because he didn’t even know how to cast a simple defense spell–but now he’s locked up in one of the containment cells. I wasn’t knocked out, and then he”–Billy pointed back at Danny–“was summoned and helped me out.”
“Oh. So everything’s good?”
“Yeah.”
Batman’s gruff voice sounded even more aggressive than normal when he choked out a strangled, “Who are you?”
<Wait, hold on.> A tentacle rushed in front of Billy to catch his attention.
The teen looked at him quizzically. <Huh? Aren’t you going to tell him you’re Danny?>
<Well…don’t you wanna get him back for constantly trying to adopt you?>
<I’m listening.>
<Just tell them I’m the King of the Infinite Realms first.>
Billy’s eyes widened. <Wait, those Infinite Realms? That’s the realm you control?!>
Danny knew that the Infinite Realms were a big deal among those with magic, and even those without. Anyone who died went there, after all. < Yep. Comes with being a ghost king, apparently.>
<Ghost king–> Billy facepalmed. <Oh. How did I not realize? Wait, is that what you were talking about with Deadman the day we met?>
<Yeah, I was just telling him not to tell others about my royal status. I’m surprised you didn’t accidentally find out earlier, considering you could understand what I was saying.>
Billy hummed in acknowledgement.
<Anyways, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to mess with the Justice League. We could even get the others in on it. > Sensing Billy was just about to agree to the prank, he added, < And Bruce will go insane trying to figure out who I am. Again. There’s only so many identity reveals a ghost can have up his sleeve.>
Billy smirked, and Danny knew he was onboard. He faced the room, an arm outstretched towards Danny. With a booming voice, he announced to the heroes, “This is the King of Ghosts. He rules over the Infinite Realms, and the one who the wizard summoned. We are all very lucky that he does not want to harm us, and instead helped me defeat the wizard.”
To their surprise, Wonder Woman’s complexion brightened instantly.
“Oh! The Ghost King! I’ve heard tales of the good you’ve done during your rule!”
“What?” Aquaman interjected. “Is he not a tyrant?” His eyes shifted quickly, terror seeping into his heart again as his momentary confusion dissipated, realizing it probably wasn’t the best idea to badmouth a king right in front of them.
“No, no.” She waved her hand in dismissal. “My deceased aunt can't stop rambling about how much better he is than Pariah Dark, the old king. That is who you're referring to, Aquaman.”
“Ah…if there is a new king, that explains it. Most Atlean stories are ancient, and there has never been one about an usurper to the throne.” Aquaman turned to Danny, legs still unsteady, and kneeled to show his allegiance. “My apologies, King of the Ghosts. I have terribly slighted you and I beg for your forgiveness.”
<Umm…tell him he really doesn't have to do all that.>
“The Ghost King acknowledges your plea and mercifully acknowledges it,” Billy said with a faint dramatically posh accent to his voice.
Danny just stared at him deadpan. Billy stared back. <You want to mess with them? You go all out.>
If Danny could sigh without a mouth, he would. Alas, he was reduced to a slump of his shoulders. <You're so gonna take advantage of the fact that you're talking for me, aren't you?>
“The King has proclaimed that this dwelling is too quaint! He requests that we move to a larger room.”
Now that, he could understand. Most of Danny's lower half wasn't even in the medbay, with most of his back struggling to pass the doorway. Tentacles were squeezed up on the wall and crowded. Way too crowded. Eyeballs on his tentacles touching other eyeballs on his tentacles was not a pleasant feeling.
A larger room it was.